amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第32章

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ten　that　line。　You；　rig　the　portside。　You；　do　a　running　bowline　through　the　anchor　bracket。　Make　it　real　tight！〃
　　When　C'reel　and　Galuth　arrived　to　find　the　first　ship　rigged　to　be　conveyed；　the　brown　rider　obviously　thought　F'lessan　was　asking　too　much　of　them。　All　sorts　of　odds　and　ends；　buckets；　rakes；　hand　nets；　a　pair　of　sandals；　more　nets；　fish　spears；　small　buoys；　floats；　light　anchors；　and　even　some　folded　sails　had　been　dumped　in　the　dories。
　　〃Nothing　really　heavy；〃　F'lessan　said；　peering　over　the　new　cargo　as　he　wondered　how　all　that　had　been　stashed　in　when　he　was　looking　elsewhere。
　　〃We　can　do　it；　C'reel。　Galuth　can　do　it！　Up　you　go；　Galuth！〃　And　he　gave　the　Wingleader's　signal　to　lift。
　　Golanth　added　a　roar　and　Galuth　was　aloft　so　fast　C'reel's　head　snapped；　but　the　brown　dragon　had　the　knot　in　his　claws　and　the　dory　was　rising；　swinging　erratically　in　the　air。　Galuth　waited　until　its　swaying　lessened　and　slowly　rose；　leading　the　sway　slightly。　If　he　didn't　get　the　height；　the　ship　could　be　dashed　to　bits　on　the　cliff。　It　just　cleared　the　edge。　The　fishmen　cheered　and　then　Mealth　positioned　himself　to　receive　the　knot　for　the　second。
　　F'lessan　nervously　eyed　the　still…calm　surface　of　the　wide　bay　until　a　spray　of　sand　announced　the　return　of　the　man　who　had　gone　to　check　the　cotholds。
　　〃Everyone's　out；　Binness。〃
　　〃Then　we're　for　the　steps；　dragonrider。　Mount　and　I'll　give　the　knot　to　your　bronze。〃
　　Just　then　the　sea　seemed　to　creep　up　the　sands；　leaving　behind　a　wide　lacy　border。　Binness　stared　at　it。
　　F'lessan　swept　his　eyes　across　the　sea　but　he　could　see　nothing　that　looked　like　the　crest　of　a　tsunami。　The　shoals　were　at　least　fifty　meters　out；　where　the　dolphins　had　been　swimming。　And　shoals　were　bad　when　a　tsunami　was　rolling　shoreward。
　　〃Lift；　dragonrider；〃　cried　Binness；　knot　in　one　hand；　waving　urgently　with　the　other。
　　F'lessan　obeyed；　Golanth　rising　and　craning　his　head　down；　trying　to　look　between　his　front　legs。　F'lessan　felt　Golanth　catch　the　knot　and　take　up　the　slack　in　the　lines。　They　had　barely　risen　a　few　feet　from　the　sands　when　they　saw　Binness；　arms　and　legs　pumping　as　the　fishman　raced　toward　the　steps。
　　It　isn't　that　heavy；　Golanth　reassured　his　rider；　but　it　took　him　time　to　lift　so　as　not　to　unbalance　his　load　or　lose　his　grip　on　the　rope　cradle。　The　summit　was　alive　with　people　and　goods；　leaving　no　clear　spot　for　the　dory。　Shouting　orders　from　her　rocking　chair；　the　old　woman　solved　the　problem。　It　was　with　great　relief　that　F'lessan　felt　the　tension　ease　in　the　bronze　shoulders　as　Golanth　succeeded　in　getting　the　third　dory　landed。　Golanth　soared　up；　bugling　with　his　success。　Well；　it　wouldn't　be　their　problem　to　get　the　dories　back　down　to　the　shore。
　　Not　today！
　　Golanth　tilted　northward；　dipping　low　around　the　granite　outcrop；　so　that　they　could　see　the　last　of　the　seaholders　reach　the　top　of　the　rough　stairs；　crawling　a　little　farther　from　the　cliff　edge。　Rider　and　dragon　could　see　Binness　still　racing　for　the　first　step。　The　man　stumbled；　obviously　winded；　and　regained　his　balance　with　difficulty。
　　That's　when　F'lessan　saw　the　water　being　sucked　back；　away　from　the　beach；　all　along　the　shoreline。
　　He　will　not　make　it！
　　Golanth　did　not　wait　for　an　order　but　dove　sideways　toward　the　man　who　was　straining　with　effort；　head　up；　arms　carried　tight　to　his　chest；　elbows　flaring　to　suck　air　into　his　labored　lungs；　knees　pumping。
　　The　bronze　intercepted　him；　dipping　to　secure　the　man　in　his　front　paws。
　　Binness　looked　up　at　the　outstretched　claws；　panic　contorting　his　face。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　F'lessan　could　see　the　wall　of　water　that　was　rising　higher；　higher；　higher　and　ing　straight　at　them。　He　saw　the　cliff　looming　up：　if　the　tsunami　didn't　drown　them；　they'd　smash　against　the　cliff。　Having　slowed　to　catch　Binness；　Golanth　did　not　have　enough　air　speed　to　gain　altitude！
　　Between　had　never　been　so　cold　or　so　forting。　Eight　seconds；　four　deep　gasping　breaths；　and　then　a　watery　deluge　all　but　drowning　them。
　　The　wave　is　nearly　as　high　as　this　cliff；　Golanth　said；　sounding　amused。　He　had　changed　position　to　bring　them　out　of　between　not　far　from　the　point　where　they　had　first　entered　over　Sunrise　Cliff　Seahold。
　　The　bronze　had　also　timed　that　rescue！　On　his　own　initiative！
　　Dazed；　F'lessan　stared　down　at　the　tremendous　tsunami　wave　that　should；　by　any　rights；　have　drowned　them。　Water　splashed　high；　its　topmost　point　lapping　the　summit。　Behind　the　first；　a　second　tsunami　roared　ashore；　battering　the　land；　taking　with　it　the　steps　that　had　so　recently　led　the　way　to　safety。
　　I　will　put　him　down　near　the　others；　Golanth　said；　back…winging；　hovering　in　front　of　the　terrified　seaholders　who　were　clutching　at　each　other；　watching　as　the　crest　of　the　second　wave　just　missed　the　summit。　Mealth　and　Galuth　had　spread　their　wings　high；　providing　some　cover　from　the　windblown　spray　for　the　ancient　woman　sitting　very　upright　in　her　chair　that　was　rocking　in　the　wind。　I　hope　my　claws　did　not　scratch　him　badly。
　　He's　lucky　to　be　alive　to　be　scratched；　F'lessan　responded　weakly。　He　couldn't　quite　believe　they　had　survived　the　double　peril。　One　more　second　and　the　three　of　them　would　have　been　pasted　on　the　cliff　face！
　　I　knew　you　wouldn't　mind　getting　here　before　that　happened。　Golanth　turned　his　huge　head　to　his　left　as　the　tsunami　flooded　inland；　boiling　up　the　streambed。　Almost　daintily；　Golanth　turned　on　his　forequarters　and　paused　midair；　lowering　Binness　safely　to　the　damp　ground。
　　F'lessan　stared　down　at　the　man；　supine　on　the　thick　drenched　ground　cover。　There　were　indeed　red　marks　on　Binness's　bare　arms；　where　the　dragon　had　clutched　him。　The　bronze　rider　sagged　across　Golanth's　neck　ridge。　He　was　aware　of　a　booming　noise；　not　like　the　shock　wave　but　frightening　in　its　intensity。　Water　splashed　high　on　the　cliff　again；　as　if　seeking　to　regain　a　victim　that　only　the　initiative　and　quickness　of　his　dragon　had　rescued。　He　did　feel　Golanth　land；　he　was　aware　of　Golanth　tucking　his　wings　loosely　along　his　back；　of　the　darkness　that　had　replaced　the　bright　sun；　of　the　cries　of　those　who　had　seen　the　tsunami　curl　and　nearly　inundate　their　summit　refuge。　These　were　dim；　background　noises　to　the　rush　of　blood　pounding　in　his　body；　the　dryness　in　his　throat；　the　extreme　weariness　he　felt。
　　Breathe　deep；　said　his　dragon　with　proud　affection。　We're　all　safe　now。
　　〃Who　has　the　wineskin？〃　The　rasping　voice　cut　through　his　self…absorption。　〃Help　him　down。　Can't　you　see　he's　wore　hisself　out　saving　us。　Give　him　a　drink。　Cona；　go　help　your　man。　He　thinks　he's　dead　of　drowning。〃
　　〃It　was　real　close；　Granddam；〃　a　young　voice　said。
　　A　hand　tugged　at　his　sleeve。　〃Dragonrider；　here's　the　wineskin。〃
　　St'ven　and　C'reel　had　to　help　him　down；　Golanth　crouching　as　low　as　possible　to　make　that　easier。　The　brown　riders　propped　him　up　against　his　dragon　and　put　the　spout　of　the　wineskin　against　his　lips。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　accept　a　sip　of　wine。　It　was　a　rough　sort；　but　its　effect　was　more　important　than　its　quality。
　　〃Get　a　cup；　someone！〃　Lady　Medda　ordered。　〃Can't　have　a　dragonrider　who　saved　our　lives　drink　like　a　sot　right　from　the　skin！〃
　　〃Get　several　cups。。。　〃　St'ven　yelled　over　his　shoulder。
　　〃Could　only　find　one；〃　said　a　woman；　a　moment　later　extending　it　to　the　brown　rider。　〃Everything's　mixed　up。〃
　　〃But　it's　here；〃　said　Lady　Medda。　〃Lias；　Petan；　haul　Binness　back　outta　all　that　splashing。　Then　e　back　and　carry　me　to　shelter。　Don't　aim　to　sit　in　all　this　wet　any　longer'n　I　have　to。　You　fixing　to　stay　longer；　dragonriders；　you'd　better　get　under　cover；　too。　Never　saw　a　storm　blow　up　so　fast。〃
　　〃It'll　pass；〃　F'lessan　whispered　to　C'reel　who　repeated　his　words　loud　enough　to　be　heard。
　　The　wine　revived　F'lessan　sufficiently　to　get　to　his　feet；　propping　himself　against　Golanth；　hoping　no　one　but　his　bronze　noticed　his　trembling。
　　Ramoth　says　to　e　back　to　Landing；　Golanth　said。　Evidently　an　order　which　Mealth　and　Galuth　heard　because　the　brown　riders　straightened　up　at　the　same　time。
　　〃We　are　ordered　to　return　to　Landing。。。　〃　F'lessan　began。
　　〃Can　ye　get　that　far？〃
　　F'lessan　turned　himself　toward　the　sound　of　her　anxious　voice。
　　〃Yes！〃
　　Lady　Medda　had　pushed　herself　to　her　feet…she　had　a　cane　on　which　she　leaned　heavily…as　she　extended　her　right　arm　in　a　gesture　that　still　retained　a　vestige　of　youthful　grace。
　　〃We　owe　you；　dragonriders。　We　owe　you　much。〃　Behind　her；　the　wet　and　bedraggled　seaholders　paused　in　transferring　their　belongings　and；　as　one；　bowed！
　　〃We　owe　you　much；　dragonriders。〃
　　The　dignified　simplicity　of　their　tribute　rewarded　all　three　riders　for　the　effort　they　had　made　to　save　the　ships。　Then　Lias　and　Petan　waited　until　Binness's　dam　had　reseated　herself　before　they　carried　her　into　the　shelter　of　the　forest。
　　〃Send　the　lads　out　to　see　what　fruit's　on　the　ground。　Find　enough　dry　wood　to　build　a　fire。。。〃　Lady　Medda　was　saying　as　she　went。
　　〃Thought　you　were　dead；　F'lessan；〃　C'reel　murmured；　his　face　wet。　〃Here；　get　your　arms　in　your　jacket　or　you'll　freeze　solid　between。〃
　　When　St'ven　saw　F'lessan's　hands　trembling；　he　did　the　jacket　fastenings；　then　found　F'lessan's　helmet　and　put　that　on；　too。　Then　he　and　C'reel　heaved　the　bronze　rider　astride　Golanth。　〃You're　some　Wingleader；　F'lessan。　Proud　to　fly　with　you！〃
　　〃I；　too；　bronze　rider；〃　C'reel　said　and　saluted　before　he　ran　to　his　waiting　brown。
　　
IN　THE　CONFERENCE　ROOM…LOCAL　TIME　2：12　AT　LANDING…1。9。31
　　〃I've　got　to　break　the　news　to　Toric？〃　F'nor　demanded；　staring　first　at　his　half　brother；　then　at　Idarolan　who　nodded　emphatically。
　　〃You　and　K'van　are　the　logical　messengers；〃　F'lar　said。
　　〃I'd　send　G'bol　as　my　emissary　but　he's。。。〃　He　quirked　one　eyebrow　expressively。　〃。。。　making　time。〃
　　K'van　shrugged；　raising　both　hands　in　reluctant　acceptance。　The　expression　on　his　angular；　tanned　face　did　not　suggest　great　enthusiasm　for　the　task。　〃We　could　take　Sintary　with　us。　He's　used　to　dealing　with　Toric。〃
　　〃He　respects　me；〃　Idarolan　said　with　one　of　his　fierce　growls。　〃Get　him　organized　and　we　can　proceed　on　to　assist　at　Southern　Boll；〃　he　added　with　a　quick　sideways　glance　at　young　Janissian。　He'd　heard　good　things　about　her；　taking　hold　with　her　grandmother　ever　since　old　Sangel　became　so　erratic。　This　might　be　an　excellent　time　for　the　girl　to　show　her　leadership　qualities。　She　was　the　best　of　Sangel's　blood。　〃Unless；　of　course；　Master　Curran；〃　and　he　deferred　amiably　to　the　successor　of　his　rank；　〃you　have　need　of　me。〃
　　〃I　have　need　of　you；　Master　Idarolan；〃　Ciparis　of　Nerat　put　in　quickly；　almost　apologetically。　〃Nerat　has　more　coastline　to　be　affected。〃　He　glanced　at　F'lar。　〃We'll　need　so　much　help。〃
　　〃Sweepriders　are　already　out　informing　holders；〃　F'lar　said；　〃but；　Master　Idarolan；　if　you　will　share　those　invaluable　charts　of　yours？〃
　　〃They　can　be　copied；　indeed；　they　can。〃　Idarolan　slid　out　the　relevant　sheets。
　　Idarolan　was；　F'lar　thought；　the　only　one　who　had　e　at　all　prepared　to　this　meeting。　An　early　riser　by　nature；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　scanning　the　morning　skies　for　weather　signs；　so　he　had　seen　the　fireball。