amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第46章

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　to　have　made　little　headway　with　the　stacks。　〃Did　you　do　nothing　today　about　all　those　petitions？〃
　　〃I　put　them　in　different　piles。　What's　your　news？〃
　　Pinch　poured　klah　for　them　both　before　he　made　himself　fortable　on　the　edge　of　the　desk　again。
　　〃The　prisoner　did　not　have　a　scar　on　his　face　when　he　left。　He　lost　the　top　joint　of　the　first　finger　on　his　left　hand　in　a　mining　accident。　He　had　tried　to　escape　before　but　was　easily　caught。　The　trackers　were　sure　he　couldn't　hear　them　ing。　That's　one　reason　they　delayed　going　after　him。〃
　　〃When　were　those　attempts　made？〃
　　Pinch　consulted　notes　he　had　made　in　the　margin　of　Serubil's　message。　〃In　the　first　couple　of　Turns　he　was　there…〃　His　eyes　widened　and　he　pointed　at　the　MasterHarper　just　as　Sebell　reached　the　same　conclusion。
　　〃So　he　got　enough　hearing　back　to　try　again！〃　They　spoke　in　unison　and　then　both　grinned。
　　〃And　he　waited　for　the　right　time…〃　Sebell　said。
　　〃What　better　time　than　when　a　meteorite　has　knocked　out　holes　to　escape　through！〃　Pinch　jumped　to　his　feet　again。　〃Right。　The　prison　bathroom　has　partitions　in　its　stalls　so　no　one　there　remembers　any　scars　on　his　arms。〃
　　〃And　no　name？〃
　　〃They　called　him　Glass　because　of　the　pipe　calluses。〃
　　〃So　he　could　be　Norist's　journeyman？〃　Sebell　asked。
　　〃That's　likely。〃
　　〃So　he'd　have　plenty　of　reason　to　hate　Aivas。　Norist　thought　of　Aivas　as　the　Abomination。　There's　enough　circumstantial　evidence　to　believe　that　the　escaped　prisoner　is　the　new　leader。〃
　　〃My　man；　Fifth；〃　Pinch　put　in。　With　a　sigh；　he　sat　back　down　on　the　edge　of　the　desk。　〃Now　all　we　have　to　do　is　find　him　and　see　if　he　can　hear　our　questions　clearly　enough　to　answer　them。〃
　　〃I　suggest　we　set　our　minds　first　to　finding　out　what　he　and　his　fellow　Abominators　plan　to　do　next；〃　Sebell　said　gloomily。
　　Pinch　watched　his　Master　for　a　long　thoughtful　moment。　Then；　with　an　artificially　bright　expression；　he　asked；　〃Did　you　hear　that　M'rand　and　Pilgra　are　retiring　to　Cathay？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Sebell　said。　〃And　I'm　glad。　For　their　sakes…they've　fought　Thread　long　enough…and　because　the　new　Weyrleaders　are　young　and　will　balance　old　G'dened　who's　so　conservative　you　wonder　where　he　got　the　courage　to　make　the　trip　Forward　thirty…odd　Turns　ago。〃
　　
HONSHU　HOLD…2。1。31
　　F'lessan　and　Tai　still　reported　to　their　respective　Weyrs　for　Threadfall　but　F'lessan　was　in　Benden　as　infrequently　as　possible；　returning　to　Honshu　and　his　continued　maintenance　of　the　weyrhold。　Though　he　knew　that　most　of　the　Monaco　riders　were　now　settled　in　new　quarters；　Tai　kept　returning　to　Honshu…and　him。　He　also　got　her　to　talk　to　him；　about　her　childhood　in　Keroon；　her　schooling　with　Master　Samvel；　her　work　at　Landing；　and　her　apprenticeship　with　Master　Wansor　and　Erragon。　In　the　bright　evenings；　they　would　take　turns　identifying　more　and　more　of　the　stars　in　the　southern　skies。
　　〃You　know；　I've　often　wondered　why　there　are　four　more　telescopes　in　the　Catherine　Caves；〃　F'lessan　said　one　night　on　the　terrace　as　they　lay　fortably　beside　each　other　on　a　wide　mattress。
　　〃I　didn't　know　you　knew　that；〃　she　exclaimed；　lowering　the　binoculars　to　her　chest　and　looking　at　him。
　　He　chuckled。　〃You　forget；　I　was　in　Landing　almost　from　the　beginning　and　I　certainly　took　every　opportunity　I　could　to　poke　about　in　those　Caves。　I　even　made　up　outrageous　treasures　for　the　sealed　cartons…that　is；　before　I　learned　to　read　the　bar　codes　and　ancient　invoice　words。　Speaking　of　outrageous；　how　does　Zaranth　move　trundlebugs？　And　for　that　matter；　how　did　she　rescue　those　hides　of　yours？　The　ones　Mirrim　got　so　upset　about　the　day　after　the　Fireball。〃
　　F'lessan　silently　berated　himself　for　startling　her　with　those　questions。　Hurriedly　he　went　on；　〃I　mean；　I　don't　doubt　it　was　Zaranth　who　saved　them；　but　how？　All　the　while　I　was　there　helping　clear　Monaco　Weyr；　you　were　too　busy　loading　Zaranth　with　personal　things；　you　couldn't　even　have　timed　it　to　your　place。〃　He　rose　to　one　elbow；　turning　his　body　against　hers；　and　running　a　caressing　finger　down　her　face；　which　had　turned　all　stiff　and　unmunicative。　〃Zaranth　told　me　she　got　them。　I　know　her。　I　know　you。〃
　　Tai's　taut　body　relaxed　and　she　turned　her　face；　inviting　his　touch。
　　〃All　I　know　is　she　got　them。　Sometime　before　we　had　to　leave　Monaco　ahead　of　the　first　tsunami　wave　and　before　we　got　to　Landing。〃　She　shook　her　head　back　and　forth　on　the　mattress；　vaguely　waving　one　hand。　〃I　was　so　tired　by　then。　I　don't　know　how　long　T'lion　kept　us　timing　it；　back　and　forth…〃　Her　voice　trailed　off。
　　He　kissed　the　side　of　her　mouth　and　nibbled　at　her　lips。　〃Did　you　ever　ask　her？　I　mean；　later；　when　all　the　furor　had　died　down　and　we　could　start　thinking　again？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Could　we　ask　her　now？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　she　knows。　But　I'll　ask　her。〃　Her　eyes　took　on　the　unfocused　look　of　a　rider　speaking　to　a　dragon。　She　blinked　and　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃She　says　she　knew　I'd　want　them　before　they　floated　away　so　she　just　brought　them　to　me。〃
　　F'lessan　thought　that　over；　not　much　the　wiser。
　　〃Well；　does　she　know　how　she　moves　the　trundlebugs？　The　ones　at　Benini　Hold？〃
　　〃Oh；〃　Tai　said；　her　voice　less　taut；　〃she　does　that　with　any　that　get　close　to　her。　She　just　points　them　in　another　direction。〃
　　〃How？〃
　　This　time　Tai　closed　her　eyes　to　speak　to　Zaranth。　〃She　says　she　used　to　do　it　to　tunnel　snakes　who　got　close　to　my　weyr；　too。〃
　　〃What　could　she　do　it　to　here？　Now！　Tonight！〃
　　〃There　aren't　that　many　trundlebugs　around　here　and　snakes　would　all　be　holed　up。〃
　　F'lessan　sat　up　and　looked　around　the　terrace。　〃Ask　her　to　move　that　bench；〃　and　he　pointed　to　one　against　the　wall；　〃here。〃　He　patted　the　ground　beside　him。
　　〃The　bench　is　not　threatening　you　and　it　won't　climb　into　your　nose　or　your　bed。〃
　　〃So；　something　has　to　be　harmful　for　her　to　shift　it？〃　F'lessan　asked；　a　little　vexed　with　Zaranth's　lack　of　prehension。　Then　he　remembered　how　patient　Aivas　had　been　when　trying　to　get　the　fire…lizard；　Farli；　to　go　to　the　Yoko's　bridge；　so　far　above　Landing。
　　〃No；　just　aggravating。　The　bench　is　not　aggravating　her。〃
　　Swiftly；　F'lessan　took　a　bowl　from　the　tray　of　refreshments　they　had　brought　out　to　eat　while　stargazing。　He　aimed　it　at　Zaranth；　lounging　beside　Golanth　on　the　upper　terrace。
　　〃What…〃　was　all　Tai　had　time　to　say　before　the　bowl　reappeared　on　the　tray。
　　Glaring　at　him；　her　fists　clenched；　Tai　turned　on　her　lover　with　more　anger　than　he　had　ever　seen　her　display。
　　〃You　may　not　throw　things　at　my　dragon！〃
　　〃It　was　aggravating　of　me　but　look　how　she　reacted！〃
　　It　took　him　time　and　much　coaxing　to　calm　Tai　down；　a　pleasurable　enough　activity　since　her　body　responded　to　his　deft　caresses　even　if　she　did　not　wish　it　to。　When　she　did　see　what　he　had　been　trying　to　prove；　she　herself　made　a　suggestion：　a　cover　from　their　bed　since　the　night　wind　was　proving　chill。
　　〃Maybe　Golanth　could　bring　us　some　wine？〃　she　proposed。
　　Golanth　peered　down　from　the　terrace　above；　his　eyes　whirling　with　some　anxiety。　I　don't　know　how　Zaranth　brings　things　you　want。
　　〃Maybe　we　should　try　him　with　trundlebugs　in　his　way；〃　Tai　said；　giving　her　lover　a　sly　grin。　〃If　he　does　it　Zaranth's　way；　they　don't　get　upset　and　spread　that　stink　of　theirs。〃
　　We　don't　have　trundlebugs　in　Benden；　Golanth　told　his　rider　but　he　was　plainly　curious　about　how　Zaranth　had　managed　to　move　things　around。　Dragons　moved　themselves　and　their　riders　across　great　distances　all　the　time；　and　recently　Golanth　had　moved　between　times；　but　this　moving　something　else　was　another　matter　altogether…one　he　had　never　attempted　and　could　not　do。
　　〃We'll　find　some　then；〃　F'lessan　said　aloud　as　well　as　mentally　to　his　bemused　bronze。　Some　stray　memory…associated　with　the　time　Farli　and　Ruth　had　gone　to　the　Yoko…hovered　at　the　back　of　his　mind。　〃Will　you　have　time　tomorrow　to　help　us　locate　some？〃　he　asked　Tai。
　　〃In　the　afternoon；　perhaps；　but　I　did　volunteer　to　help　Erragon　calculate　orbits。〃
　　〃Well；　if　you　should　see　any　trundlebugs　at　Cove　Hold；　give　us　a　shout。〃
　　〃Why　not　e　help　me　calculate　orbits？〃
　　〃A　splendid　notion　since　you　know　very　well　that　I　need　the　practice。　Speaking　of　practice…〃　Carefully　he　lifted　the　thong　of　the　binoculars　from　her　neck　and　put　them　to　one　side　and　practiced　making　love　to　her。　That　was　the　most　important　reason　he　had　brought　the　mattress　out　to　the　terrace　and　suggested　they　lie　down　and　challenge　each　other　at　identifying　stars。
　　When　they　met　the　next　afternoon　on　the　west　side　of　Cove　Hold　where　Tai　had　already　spotted　trundlebugs；　they　landed。　Golanth　was　still　dubious　about　arranging　himself　in　the　direct　path　of　a　mother　trundlebug　and　two　offspring；　and　Zaranth　crouched　behind　a　nearby　thicket　to　encourage　him。　F'lessan　and　Tai　stood　in　the　shadow　of　a　large　frond　tree　as　spectators。
　　Sublimely　unaware　of　the　obstacle　set　in　its　path；　the　trundlebug　continued。
　　〃Zaranth　is　telling　Golanth　that　it's　just　a　matter　of　turning　it。〃
　　With　a　wide　and　mischievous　grin；　F'lessan　closed　his　fingers　around　Tai's　hand。
　　〃My　very　dear　green；　I　can　hear　everything　she　says。〃
　　〃Can　you？〃　Tai　shot　him　a　surprised　glance。　She　knew　that　Ramoth　and　Mnementh；　even　Monarth　and　Path；　spoke　to　each　other's　people。
　　The　unmistakable　stink　of　trundlebug　interrupted　this　revelation。
　　What　did　you　do？　both　riders　cried；　holding　their　noses　as　they　ran　for　their　dragons　to　mount　and　leave　the　clearing　before　they　were　actively　ill。
　　I　turned　it；　Golanth　said　as　he　leaped　into　the　air；　hoping　between　would　absorb　the　awful　reek。
　　Into　mush；　Zaranth　said　with　some　disgust。
　　They　came　out；　so　high　above　Cove　Hold　that　they　could　see　the　whole　of　it　spread　out　before　them　and　the　observatory　sitting　on　its　hill。　I　can't　smell　me；　Golanth　said　in　an　unusually　meek　voice。
　　I　hope　no　one　visits　that　clearing　in　the　next　day　or　two；　F'lessan　told　Zaranth。
　　Tai　says　she　sees　another　clearing　and　that　Golanth　must　try　again。　I　think　I　know　what　he　didn't　do；　Zaranth　said。
　　Riding　at　Golanth's　right　wing　tip；　Tai　grinned　across　at　his　rider　and　gestured　down。　F'lessan　nodded　vigorously。　Zaranth　and　Tai　veered　left　and　let　the　following　wind　ease　them　down　until　both　dragons　circled　the　new　clearing　of　the　thick　young　growth　that　was　springing　up　after　the　tsunami　flooding。
　　Again　Golanth　sat　himself　down　in　the　path　of　the　trundlebug；　one　with　five　offspring；　the　last　nearly　big　enough　to　go　off　by　itself。
　　Now；　you　want　to　turn　them　just　enough　so　they　go　in　another　direction；　Zaranth　was　saying　calmly。　Not　grind　them　into　the　sand　at　the　same　time。　Just　point　to　the　east　and　give　them　a　gentle。。。　I　SAID　GENTLE。。。　Where'd　you　send　them？
　　East；　Golanth　said　very　softly。
　　The　green　dragon　and　both　riders　looked　to　the　east。　There　was　a　noticeable　passage；　trundlebug…wide；　in　a　straight　line　through　the　grasses　as　far　as　they　could　see　to　the　very　waters　of　Cove　Hold。
　　〃Didn't　you　say　they　can　tread　water？〃　F'lessan　asked；　almost　as　chagrined　as　his　dragon。
　　〃If　they　don't　already；　they'll　learn　today；〃　Tai　replied。　〃Trundlebugs　are　survivors。〃
　　He　does　understand　what　to　do；　Zar