amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第48章

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p　in　the　other　and　continued　on　to　the　spacious　kitchen　that　was　also　their　main　living　room。
　　Then　Tagetarl　berated　himself　for　assuming　that　the　message　dealt　with　the　Print　Hall。　There　were　any　number　of　reasons…all　equally　worrying…that　could　have　prompted　Menolly　to　send　Beauty　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　It　wasn't　that　late　at　the　Harper　Hall。　Maybe　she　was　merely　inquiring　about　the　musical　scores　she　had　recently　sent　him　to　be　printed。　Even　with　Beauty　impatient；　Tagetarl　took　the　few　steps　to　the　porch　door。　It　had　a　fine　lock；　strong；　well…cast　metal　with　another　cunning　catch　that　you'd　have　to　know　about　to　open　the　door　once　it　was　set。　And　the　glass　was　Morilton…made；　not　easily　shattered。
　　Tagetarl　turned　right　into　the　big；　dark　kitchen；　warm　enough　from　the　banked　fires　in　the　big　range。　Orange　light　from　the　ash　grate　made　an　eerie　glow　on　the　flagstones：　not　bright　enough　to　read　by。　The　shutters　were　closed　against　the　winter's　cold　so　he　flicked　on　a　small　light　and　saw　Beauty　perched　on　a　chair　back；　ruffling　her　wings　shut。　She　held　up　her　left　foreleg　for　him　to　remove　the　message　tube；　cocking　her　head　at　him　as　if　reproving　his　slowness。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Tagetarl　unrolled　the　thin　sheet　of　the　message。
　　〃Runners　confirm　trouble　at　Wide　Bay。　Guard　the　Hall。　Assistance　planned。〃
　　Rosheen　had　been　right。　Had　Arminet　been　just　passing　on　suspicions？　Which　now　the　Harper　Hall　was　confirming？　Trouble？　From　whom？　Instantly　the　Abominators　came　to　mind。　But　there　hadn't　been　any　more　activity　from　that　source　since　Turn's　End。　Of　course；　the　Fireball　Flood　had　kept　everyone　busy。
　　〃Trouble？　What　sort　of　trouble？〃　Out　of　habit；　he　filled　the　kettle；　put　it　on　the　range；　and　stoked　the　fire　with　blackstone。　Then　he　stared　at　the　range。　〃Fire　trouble？〃　He　swallowed　hard。　Paper　burned　just　as　easily　as　dried　herbs　or　powdered　medicines。　And　he　had　all　those　books　displayed　in　the　Hall；　more　packed　to　be　shipped　north　and　south。　The　presses　could　be　smashed　just　as　easily　as　medicine　bottles　and　equipment；　toner　and　ink　could　be　spilled；　and　the　sheds　where　he　stored　paper　had　wooden　doors；　because　he　hadn't　been　able　to　afford　steel　doors。
　　The　note　didn't　mention　Abominators。　What　made　him　think　they　would　attack　his　Hall？　What　made　him　think　they　wouldn't？　He　was　using　a　process　that　Aivas　had　provided；　encouraged。　Was　the　use　of　〃Aivas　procedures〃　all　that　was　needed　to　agitate　them？
　　〃What　sort　of　assistance？〃
　　Perhaps　he　should　ask　some　of　his　male　apprentices　to　sleep　in　the　Hall；　or　in　the　sheds。　And　Ola。　Which　reminded　him。　Where　was　she？　Menolly　had　helped　train　her　and　she　was　certainly　most　responsible　when　Rosheen　sent　her　with　messages；　going　and　returning　as　quickly　as　anyone　could　expect。
　　〃Shouldn't　you　be　getting　back　to　Menolly？〃　he　asked；　a　little　sharp　with　worry。
　　She　blinked　her　green　eyes。　Well；　she　wasn't　worried　if　her　eyes　were　green。
　　A　whir　of　wings　and　into　the　kitchen　flew　Rosheen's　gold　queen；　Ola。　She　may　have　landed　on　his　shoulder　but　the　warble　of　her　message　was　for　the　Harper　Hall　queen。　For　a　brief　second；　Tagetarl　was　amused　at　Ola's　proprietary　perch。　Beauty's　eyes　whirled　and；　with　a　very　definite　air　of　mand；　she　trilled　several　long　musical　phrases　at　the　younger　fire…lizard。
　　Ola　straightened　on　Tagetarl's　shoulder；　sending　her　claws　into　shirt　and　flesh。
　　〃Easy　there；　Ola！〃　She　stroked　his　cheek　with　her　head　in　apology。
　　Beauty　trilled　again　briefly　and　disappeared。
　　〃So　she　was　waiting　to　speak　to　you；　eh；　Ola？　Just　what　did　she　say？〃
　　Closing　the　first　lids　over　her　eyes；　Ola　regarded　him　in　what　Rosheen　called　her　〃you…don't…need…to…know〃　response。　But；　under　the　lids；　her　eyes　were　picking　up　speed；　with　little　flecks　of　yellow。　Tagetarl　was　not　as　good　as　Rosheen　at　reading　fire…lizard　eye　colors　but　he　knew　the　color　was　edging　toward　alarm。　Orange　or　red　meant　danger。　She　pushed　against　his　shoulder；　digging　her　talons　into　his　flesh　deep　enough　to　make　him　wince；　and　then　she；　too；　disappeared。
　　Tagetarl　went　to　the　window　and　put　back　the　shutters；　wondering　if　Beauty　had　ordered　her　to　guard　the　Hall。　It　wasn't　quite　dawn…the　brightest　of　the　northern　stars　just　fading…so　he　could　distinguish　the　uneven　roofs　against　the　dark　blue　sky。　All　of　a　sudden；　he　saw　the　silhouette　of　one　fire…lizard；　wings　cupped　high；　head　extended　and　the　wink　of　a　yellow…green　eye。　He　liked　to　think　his　harper　hearing　sharp　enough　to　catch　the　call　she　was　obviously　sending。　Her　summons　brought　immediate　results：　it　was　rather　heartening　for　him　to　see　the　mass　of　fire…lizards　that　congregated　along　the　rooftops。
　　〃Assistance　planned〃　the　note　had　said。　He　knew　that　fire…lizards　could　be　fierce　in　protection　of　their　human　friends　but　Ola　was　only　one　and；　while　Wide　Bay　had　several　large　fairs　of　wild　fire…lizards；　the　creatures　were　notoriously　short　of　memory。　Surely　Menolly　meant　more　substantial　assistance　than　a　watch　maintained　by　fire…lizards？
　　The　kettle　began　to　steam　so　he　measured　klah　into　the　big　pot　and　poured　in　hot　water　to　the　top。　Hadn't　Benelek　told　him　at　the　last　Gather　that　he　was　experimenting　with　an　electrically　heated　kettle？　His　stomach　grumbled　so　he　looked　in　the　bread　cupboard　and　cut　himself　several　slices　to　toast　on　the　reawakened　range。　He　was　looking　for　sweetening　to　spread　on　it　when　he　detected　just　the　barest　sound；　a　scuff。　Had　he　been　stupid　enough　to　unlock　the　outside　door　when　he　examined　it？　He　picked　up　the　full　klah　pot；　moved　toward　the　hall；　ready　to　fling　the　hot　contents　on　anyone　who　appeared。
　　〃It's　me；〃　a　familiar　voice　whispered。
　　〃It　is　I；　please；　Pinch；〃　Tagetarl　corrected　irritably；　lowering　the　klah　pot。
　　One　step　brought　Pinch　to　the　doorway；　his　gold　Bista　clinging　to　his　jacket。
　　〃How　did　you　get　in？　No；　don't　tell　me。　Over　the　roof。〃
　　Pinch　made　an　apologetic　face。
　　〃How'd　you　get　in　the　hold？〃　Tagetarl　was　really　startled　now；　having　spent　so　much　on　a　difficult　lock　for　the　hold　door。
　　Pinch　held　up　a　slender　key。　〃You　told　me　how　to　release　the　safety　catch　when　you　gave　me　this。　I　didn't　want　to　wake　you　up。〃　He　dropped　the　key　back　into　an　inner　pocket　where　it　gave　a　muffled　clink　as　it　settled　and　Tagetarl　wondered　how　many　other　keys　the　Harper　had　collected。
　　〃But　Ola's　on　the　roof　with　fairs　of　fire…lizards。〃　What　good　would　fire…lizards　do　in　his　defense？
　　〃For　one；　she　knows　me。　And　two；　Bista　vouched　for　me。　I'll　give　her　this；　she　was　ready　to　call　her　fairs　down　on　me。〃　Then　Pinch　sniffed；　noticing　the　klah　pot　still　in　Tagetarl's　hand。　〃You　knew　I　was　ing？〃　he　asked；　faintly　surprised。
　　〃Beauty　brought　me　a　message。　Are　you　and　Bista　my　'assistance'？〃
　　Pinch's　weary　face　was　wreathed　in　a　smile。　〃Part　of　it；　but　I'm　glad　to　know　that　the　warning　got　through　to　the　Harper　Hall；　too。〃　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　and　said　in　a　louder　voice；　〃It's　safe　to　e　in　now。　There's　fresh　klah。　And；〃　he　went　on　to　the　startled　Tagetarl；　〃by　the　way；　I　suspect　that　when　they　decide　to　enter　these　premises　for　their　subversive　activities；　they；　too；　will　use　the　weaver's　roof。　He's　listened　to　loom　clacking　so　long　he's　deafer　than　a　shuttle。〃
　　Pinch　moved　confidently　to　the　wall　cabinet　and　started　hooking　cup　handles　on　the　fingers　of　his　left　hand；　gathering　four　more　together　with　a　clink　in　his　right　fingers。　He　placed　all　on　the　table　as　his　panions　solemnly　entered　one　by　one。
　　〃Still；　it's　wiser　to　let　them　use　a　known　vulnerability　and　prepare。　Oh；　by　the　way；　these　are　more　of　the　promised　'assistance。'　Don't　gawk；　Tag。　Pour　the　klah　while　I　introduce　them。〃
　　Five　young　men　and　three　girls　filed　in；　packs　on　their　shoulders；　covered　buckets　in　their　hands；　giving　him　a　nod　or　a　shy　smile。
　　〃Oh；　leave　the　stuff　on　the　landing　or　there　won't　be　anywhere　to　stand；〃　Pinch　said；　gesturing　them　to　do　so　before　he　handed　out　the　cups。　Then　he　named　them　as　he　poured　klah。　Macy；　Chenoa；　Egara；　Magalia；　Fromelin；　Torjus；　Garrel；　and　Niness。
　　〃Much　obliged；　Master。〃
　　〃Thank　you；　Master　Tagetarl。〃
　　〃You're　very　kind；　Master。〃
　　〃Appreciate　this。〃
　　〃Eight；　Pinch？〃　Tagetarl　said；　automatically　steadying　cups　as　he　filled　them；　trying　to　absorb　the　presence　of　the　Harper　and　the　assistance。　Would　there　be　enough　klah　left　for　him？
　　〃Yes；　that's　the　number　we　figured　it　would　take　to　paint　all　the　wood　you've　got；〃　Pinch　said　with　a　weary　sigh。　He　snagged　a　stool　to　set　his　backside　on；　gesturing　for　his　followers　to　be　easy。　〃For　all　that　most　of　your　Hall　is　made　of　good　fieldstone；　you've　wood　in　your　doors　and　floors　and　window　frames。　They'd　burn　just　as　easily　as　paper　will。〃　Pinch　raised　his　hand　to　soothe　Tagetarl's　explosion。　〃So　we　have　thoughtfully　brought　a　fire…retardant。　A　coat　of　that's　to　go　on　all　your　wooden　surfaces　between　now　and　full　daylight。　Doesn't　smell　either。　Or　won't　with　all　the　stinks　this　close　to　the　wharves。　The　stuff　dries　quickly；　Piemur　assures　me；　and　since　our　Abominators　would　scarcely　have　delved　that　far　into　Aivas's　files　to　know　such　useful　substances　exist；　it'll　help　foil　their　plans。〃
　　〃It　is　the　Abominators？　You　know　what　they　plan？〃　Tagetarl　exclaimed；　nearly　sloshing　hot　klah　over　Macy's　hand。
　　〃We　can　make　some　pretty　good　guesses；　based　on　what　they've　done　before；〃　Pinch　said　condescendingly。　Then　his　lips　thinned　with　distaste。
　　〃But　why　should　they　attack　the　Print　Hall？　We're　supporting　the　teaching　program　after　all　and。。。〃
　　〃Well；　you　printed　a　concise　report　of　the　Fireball　and　the　true　extent　of　the　Flooding；〃　Pinch　said；　grinning　at　the　outraged　Tagetarl。　〃We've　surmised　that　the　Abominators　wanted　to　set　about　the　rumor　that　Aivas　had　meddled　with　the　very　rhythm　of　Pern　and　that　this　Fireball　was　a　direct　result。　Therefore　anything　that　Aivas　had　suggested；　remended；　dispensed　the　plans　of；　offered　solutions　to　should　be　suspect；　avoided；　discarded；　and　forgotten　so　we　can　go　back　to　the　pure　days　when　all　we　had　to　do　was　worry　about　Threadfall　every　two　hundred　and　fifty　Turns…give　or　take　a　few。〃
　　〃Is　that　what　they　were　going　to　say？　After　the　good　that's　been　done　by　the　Healers　since　they　learned　how　to　rectify　so　many　ailments　and　provide　cures　for　maladies　that　used　to　kill　people　by　the　hundreds？　Not　to　mention　being　able　to　refer　to　books　that　provide　explanations　and…and…〃
　　Tagetarl　was　stunned。　Pinch　poured　a　cup　of　klah　and　put　it　in　his　hand。
　　〃Drink。　You're　not　awake　yet。　But　that　gives　them　more　reason　to　try　and　put　a　stop　to　the　Hall。〃
　　〃More　reason？　Stop　the　Hall？〃
　　〃The　written　word　has　a　power　all　its　own；　that　rumor　can　never　replace。　So　you　publish　truth。　The　Abominators　circulate　rumor。　A　person　can　reread　words　and　reestablish　truth。　Rumor　can't　be　caught；　can't　be　traced。　It　may　be　more　fun　to　pass　along　but　a　book；　a　sheet　of　printed　paper；　that's　tangible　and　the　sense　of　it　doesn't　change　when　it's　passed　from　hand　to　hand。　Drink　the　klah；　Tagetarl；〃　Pinch　said　very　gently；　raising　Tagetarl's　hand　to　bring　his　cup　to　his　mouth。
　　The　MasterPrinter　managed　one　sip　of　the　hot　liquid。　〃What　do　I　do？　I'll　need　guards。　My　apprentices　aren't　going　to　be　en