amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第25章

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　　〃You're　very　good　to　Lord　Groghe；　you　know；〃　she　added　in　quiet　approval。
　　〃Then　it　has　to　have　e　from　beyond　Pern；〃　Sebell　said。　〃Abominators　cannot　have　contrived　that。〃
　　〃Whatever　it　is；〃　Menolly　said　cheerfully；　handing　Haligon　his　cup　of　klah；　〃the　Abominators　will　be　sure　that　somehow　Aivas　arranged　it　Turns　ago。〃
　　〃How？〃　demanded　the　three　men　in　chorus。
　　She　shrugged。　〃Or　maybe　the　Red　Star　is　on　its　way　back？　You　know　how　many　people　feel　that　we　should　never　have　tampered　with　it　in　the　first　place。〃
　　
LANDING…LOCAL　TIME　10：12　MID…MORNING…1。9。31
　　Fairs　of　fire…lizards　blanketed　the　air　above　Landing　as　F'lessan　arrived。　They　were　volatile　at　any　time；　and；　on　this　morning；　were　exceedingly　raucous　and　flying　in　intricate　acrobatic　displays；　screaming　in　cacophonous　descants。　Their　antics　did　not；　however；　obscure　the　next　burst　from　the　object　in　the　sky。　It　amazed　F'lessan　that　the　phenomenon　of　a　fireball；　which　could　seem　directly　above　Benden；　could　be　visible　in　almost　the　same　position　here　at　Landing。　It　was　brighter；　which　meant；　he　thought；　that　it　was　very　bright　indeed　to　be　seen　in　daylight　over　Landing。　And　casting　odd　shadows；　ing　from　the　west；　which　was　eerier。　He　hoped　that　Yoko　would　have　noted　the　increase　in　its　magnitude。　Could　it　be　a　et；　swooping　down　so　close　to　Pern？　Hopefully；　he　thought；　on　a　hyperbolic　orbit　that　would　give　everyone　a　beautiful　display；　a　bad　fright；　and　then　disappear；　still　shedding　part　of　its　mass。　Unusual！　Most　unusual！　Exhilarating；　too；　in　a　scary　way！
　　He　saw　more　dragons　emerge　from　between　and　recognized　Monarth；　with　green　Path　on　his　right。　So　Monaco　Bay　was　curious；　too。　A　host　more　of　dragons　appeared。　These　were　occluding　his　view　of　the　fireball；　clearly　visible　on　the　northeastern　horizon。　He　shouldn't　waste　any　time　getting　to　the　Interface　office　and　Yoko's　screens。　He　wondered　how　long　the　old　ship's　telemetry　had　been　monitoring　it。　This　would　be　much　more　interesting　than　astronomy　accounts　of　things　that　had　happened　a　long　time　in　the　past。
　　Put　me　down；　Golly。
　　There're　too　many　people。　Golanth　said；　backwinging　strongly　as　he　was　unable　to　find　enough　space　in　the　dense　swarm　of　people　in　front　of　Admin；　nervous　fire…lizards　dipping　and　flitting　above　them。
　　They'll　move。　F'lessan　had　to　see　the　thing；　the　fireball；　whatever　it　was；　land。
　　They've　nowhere　to　move　to；　Golanth　told　him。
　　Cursing　under　his　breath；　F'lessan　examined　the　mass　of　heads　and　bodies；　the　ring　of　guards　around　the　door　preventing　entry。　It　would　take　time　to　push　through　that　crowd　and　he　was　boiling　with　eagerness　to　see　Yoko's　telemetry　reports。
　　Land　on　the　roof；　he　told　his　dragon。
　　But　I'm　heavy。
　　Just　get　me　close　enough　to　drop　on　it。　F'lessan　swung　his　right　leg　over　the　last　neck　ridge；　slightly　swaying　with　Golanth's　maneuvering　to　get　directly　over　the　roof。　Golanth　raised　his　foreleg。　This　was　an　exercise　rider　and　dragon　had　perfected　in　drill　for　use　when　the　dragon　couldn't　land　and　the　rider　had　to　reach　the　ground。　F'lessan　smoothly　dropped　to　the　sturdy　forearm；　his　feet　dangling　in　the　air　as　he　let　his　hands　slide　down　to　Golanth's　paw；　hanging　on　to　the　talons。　Right　over　the　entrance；　F'lessan　added。　I'll　just　drop　to　the　ground。　Someone'll　break　my　fall。
　　His　right　foot　connected　with　something　solid。　He　dropped　to　all　fours　on　the　roof；　sliding　down　backward　until　his　feet　caught　on　the　drain。　Slipped　on　that　and　slithered　until　his　knees　lodged　briefly　in　the　rain　gully。
　　〃Drop；　dragonrider；〃　someone　below　him　shouted。　〃We'll　catch　you。〃
　　Hands　tugged　at　the　toes　of　his　boot。　He　went　limp；　mitted　to　the　downward　fall。　Instantly　his　ankles　were　caught；　then　hands　fastened　on　his　knees；　letting　him　down；　supporting　his　thighs。　In　the　next　moment　he　was　on　his　feet；　being　congratulated　and　enthusiastically　thumped　for　the　success　of　his　daring　stunt。
　　Made　it；　he　said　somewhat　smugly　to　Golanth　who　was　hovering　above。
　　〃Thanks！　Thanks；　thanks！〃　he　said；　skewing　around　to　those　behind　him　and　then　turned　to　the　door。　〃Benden　Weyr's　orders；〃　he　said　to　the　two　guards　who　were　preventing　anyone　from　entering。　The　crowd　behind　was　bombarding　him　with　a　babble　of　questions。　〃I'm　F'lessan。　Lemme　in；〃　he　shouted　above　the　tumult。
　　They　did；　immediately　resuming　their　defensive　postures。　F'lessan　strode　forward；　wondering　how　much　time　that　stunt　had　taken；　opening　his　jacket　and　peeling　the　helmet　off。　She's　here；　Golanth　said。　Which　she？　F'lessan's　tone　was　amused。　Both　of　them。　She　studies　stars；　you　know；　Golanth　added。　She's　shared　night　watches　at　Cove　Hold。
　　Then　please　inform　Zaranth　that　F'lessan　requires　her　rider's　assistance　in　the　Interface　office。
　　F'lessan　turned　back　to　the　door　guards。　〃The　Monaco　Weyrleader's　on　his　way　in。〃　He　had　to　shout　to　be　heard　above　the　babble　outside。　〃See　that　green　rider　Tai　es　in；　too；　as　quickly　as　possible。〃　Then　to　all　the　others　shouting　questions；　he　smiled　and　waved；　saying　〃We'll　sort　it　all　out　and　report　to　you　shortly。〃
　　Monarth　said　he　saw　how　you　got　in；　F'lessan；　and　Golanth　rumbled　with　amusement。　They'll　　try　it。
　　Maybe　Mirrim　will　break　a　leg；　F'lessan　muttered；　feeling　uncharitable　toward　her。　As　he　continued；　he　nodded　in　a　blithe；　unconcerned　manner　to　a　knot　of　anxious　men　and　women　at　the　other　end　of　the　reception　area　and　hurried　down　the　right…hand　hall　to　the　Yokohama　Interface　offices。
　　At　the　end　of　that　hall；　the　door　to　the　Aivas　chamber　was　open。　He　felt　the　usual　grab　at　his　throat　when　he　saw　the　blank　screen　that　had　once　given　humans　access　to　the　most　amazing　intelligence　on　Pern。　He　swallowed　the　lump　and　turned　left　into　the　room　where；　seven　Turns　ago；　he　had　learned　how　to　build　a　puter。
　　There　had　been　significant　additions　to　the　original　office；　of　course；　to　deal　with　all　the　data　sent　down　from　the　Yokohama；　the　one　remaining　colony　ship。　Ordinarily　the　office　was　pleasantly　busy；　people　at　the　four　banks　of　workstations　that　were　arranged　back…to…back　in　the　center　of　the　large　room。　Now　an　odd　anticipatory　silence　dominated　the　room　as　all　eyes　were　trained　on　the　wall　monitor；　which　F'lessan　couldn't　see　from　the　door。
　　〃You　can't　e…〃　began　the　burly　door　guard；　whom　F'lessan　recognized　as　Tunge；　one　of　the　regular　men。　He　skipped　aside　and　explained　with　soft　intensity。　〃Sorry；　bronze　rider；　but　everyone　and　his　fire…lizard's　been　trying　to　get　in　here　since　that　thing　in　the　sky　was　spotted。〃　Tunge　was　impressed；　and　scared。
　　F'lessan　made　a　quick　survey　of　those　in　the　room；　where　was　Wansor？　Surely　Lytol　and　D'ram　had　got　him　here　so　the　phenomenon　could　be　described　to　him？
　　〃Master　Wansor？〃　he　murmured　to　Tunge。
　　〃Oh；　him。〃　With　a　quick　grin；　Tunge　jerked　his　head　back　down　the　corridor。　〃Him　'n'　Lord　Lytol　'n'　bronze　rider　D'ram　are　in　the　conference　room。　There's　a　big　screen　there；　too；　you　know；　so　they　could　tell　him　what　information's　being　processed。〃
　　Directly　across　the　room；　one　of　the　smaller　monitors　was　blinking　the　legend　PHO。　F'lessan　shook　his　head；　trying　to　remember　what　the　initials　stood　for…possibly　hazardous　object？　Why　had　he　assumed　that　the　bright　light　was　a　et？　Below　the　title　〃Encounter　Analysis〃　were　eight　columns；　headed　ESTIMATED　TIME　TO　PERIGEE；　DISTANCE；　VELOCITY；　PROBABILITY；　ATMOSPHERE　BREAKUP；　IMPACT　ERROR；　LATITUDE；　AND　LONGITUDE。　These　were　showing　numbers　that　altered　rapidly；　either　decreasing　or；　in　the　case　of　longitude；　increasing。　As　F'lessan　watched；　the　Estimated　Time　to　Perigee　ticked　over　to　5800。
　　That　display　gave　him　another　frisson　of　apprehension。　When　had　that　clock　started　ticking　down？　He'd　e　as　fast　as　he　could　without　timing　it。　But　then；　he　hadn't　anticipated　that　this　could　be　a　real　crisis。
　　He　inched　carefully　along　the　wall；　moving　people　who　were　almost　unaware　of　being　manipulated；　so　intent　were　they　upon　the　monitor's　reports。　He　recognized　several　as　off…duty　technicians。　Being　tall；　he　eased　into　a　spot　in　the　corner　and　still　had　a　clear　view　of　the　monitor。　In　front　of　him；　Stinar；　the　duty　officer；　was　standing　with　the　barrel…chested　man　of　medium　height；　dark…haired；　with　a　handsome　hooked　nose；　whom　F'lessan　recognized　as　Erragon；　Wansor's　assistant。　Shouldn't　he　have　been　in　the　conference　room？　F'lessan　chided　himself。　Lytol　and　D'ram　could　explain　adequately　to　Wansor　but　Erragon　was　needed　in　here；　interpreting　the　Yoko's　telemetry。　When　this　was　over；　he'd　undoubtedly　report　to　Master　Wansor　the　more　technical　details　of　this　unusual　occurrence。　The　two　were　intent　on　the　visual　transmitted　to　Landing　by　Yoko。
　　At　maximum　magnification；　Yoko　showed　a　small　image　of　the　nucleus；　embedded　in　clouds　of　dust。　Yoko　added　another　window；　attempting　to　trace　it　back　to　its　original　orbit。　Details　came　up　as：
　　Semi…Major　Axis　=　33。712。　Period　=　195。734　Eccentricity　=　0。971　Perihelion　=　0。95　3　AU　Inclination　=　103。95　degrees。
　　But　F'lessan；　knowing　all　these　figures　would　be　available　later；　concentrated　on　the　et；　now　resolving　jets　and　debris。　Yes；　it　must　be　a　et。　That　would　explain　its　slowing　with　respect　to　the　stars。　Outgassing　can　push　a　et　about；　making　an　estimate　of　its　orbit　even　harder。　Furthermore；　with　the　long　axis　running　from　the　northwest　to　the　southeast；　who　could　tell？　It　may　skid　across　our　atmosphere　and　disappear　south；　thought　F'lessan　hopefully。
　　Yet　another　working　window　opened；　labeled　SEARCHING。　Images　of　what　F'lessan　knew　to　be　Pernese　space　flashed　past；　the　streaking　orbits　of　some　of　the　minor　planets　against　the　background　of　northern　hemisphere　stars。
　　〃What's　all　that　about？〃　Stinar　asked　Erragon　who　was　blinking　at　the　rapidly　altering　display。
　　〃I'd　hazard　the　guess　that　it's　searching　for　any　old　images　of　the　et。　It　is　possible；　you　know；〃　Erragon　went　on；　frowning　at　the　speed　of　the　search　pattern；　〃that　the　et　originated　in　the　Oort　cloud。〃　His　grin　was　forced。　〃It　might　even　have　been　seen　by　our　Ancestors。〃
　　〃Really？〃
　　Erragon　sighed；　flicking　his　attention　to　some　of　the　other　sidebars。　〃We　have　a　lot　of　material　to　review；　you　know。　Just　for　our　home　system。　Ah；　yes；〃　and　he　pointed　back　to　the　search。　〃The　material　we're　seeing　was　released　from　the　et　two　to　three　weeks　ago。　Here　we　go；〃　he　added；　intent　on　the　newest　sidebar　readings。
　　Encounter　Analysis　Estimated　Perigee　in　1800　seconds　Projected　Perigee　Distance　16km；　error　±　296km　Encounter　Velocity　58。48km/sec　±　0。18km/sec　Probability　of　Impact　48。9％
　　Probability　of　Atmospheric　Breakup　（Airburst）　1。3％　Impact　Error　Ellipse　3698　times　592km　Location　and　Orientation　of　Ellipse　9°　north；　18°　east；　Major　Axis　bearing　130°
　　At　that　point；　Erragon　visibly　tensed；　leaning　slightly　forward　on　the　balls　of　his　feet　in　an　attitude　that　confirmed　F'lessan's　bad　feelings　about　the　alteration　in　probability　of　impact。　He　wasn't　certain　that　the　error　ellipse　of　impact　was　reassuring。　Unless　the　et　suddenly　pulled　itself　up　in　an　escape　parabola。　Estimate　to　Perigee　decreasing：　1500　seconds；　or　25　minutes；　F'lessan　told　himself。　He　also　didn't　like　standing　around；　watching；　in　a　room　full　of　people　who　didn't　seem　to　realize　what　co