amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第63章

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　　She　crumpled　then；　having　been　calm；　steadfast；　and　efficient　for　the　past　few　hours。　She　burrowed　into　F'lar；　struggling　to　hold　him　closer；　closer；　to　drive　away　the　appalling　words　she　had　just　uttered。
　　〃It's　reaction；〃　she　sobbed。　〃I'm　just　reacting！〃　Tears　streamed　down　her　face；　Lessa　of　Ruatha　and　Benden　Weyr；　she　who　had　rarely　cried；　not　even　when　Fax　had　slaughtered　her　family　and　everyone　else　in　Ruatha　Hold：　now　she　wept！
　　She　felt　other　tears　drop　onto　her　forehead；　as　she　clung　to　her　weyrmate　and　realized　that　he；　too；　cried　even　as　he　stroked　her　body　and　tried　to　soothe　her；　and　let　her　weep。　She　couldn't　stop；　even　if　everyone　or　anyone　else　in　Honshu　heard　her。
　　No　one　hears；　Ramoth　said；　and　her　mental　voice　sounded　very　deep　and　echoing；　but　us。
　　It　took　time　for　both　Weyrleaders　to　release　pent…up　emotions　and　regain　posure。　In　the　dark　F'lar　found　the　room's　water　basin　and　tap；　discovered　a　towel；　left　behind　when　Monaco　riders　had　been　at　Honshu；　and　they　washed　faces　and　hands。　Still　trembling；　Lessa　made　an　attempt　to　braid　her　hair　and　F'lar　found　a　cup。
　　〃Amazing！〃　he　said；　sitting　beside　her　again；　close　enough　that　their　thighs　touched；　as　if　he　could　no　more　bear　separation　in　the　aftermath　of　their　emotional　storm　than　she　could。　〃The　theory　has　always　been　that；　if　we　knew　the　time；　we　could　forestall　a…a　fatal…accident；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　shaky　voice；　reaching　for　her　hand。　〃Like　Moreta's　death。〃
　　〃Theory；〃　she　said　with　a　derisive　shrug。　She　sipped　slowly　from　the　cup　of　water；　willing　her　body　to　stop　shaking。　F'lessan　hadn't　died　because　Golanth　hadn't　died。　Golanth　hadn't　died　because　Ramoth　had　prevented　it。
　　It　isn't　theory；　Ramoth　said；　her　mental　tone　tart；　I　timed　it　to　the　exact　moment。　Golanth　showed　me　just　how　he　had　saved　F'lessan　and　himself　from　being　crushed　by　the　tsunami　wave。　He　was　most　resourceful　to　act　on　his　own　initiative。　He　learned　something　important　that　day　and　was　too　tired　when　he　got　back　to　Landing　to　tell　even　me。　Today；　Zaranth　showed　us　how　to　push　without　touching。　I　admit　that　I　had　never　thought　greens　could　do　something　so　unusual。　I　saw　how　she　did　it。　Very　clever　of　her。　We　two　taught　the　others。　But　it　was　I　who　timed　it　to　save　Golanth　from　that　last　feline。　Only　I　could　have　done　that。
　　Lessa　managed　a　shaky　little　laugh。　Only　you；　my　dearest。　I　do　admit　that　today　I　learned　something　from　a　green　dragon。　Ramoth　sounded　as　chagrined　as　her　rider　had　ever　heard　her。　I　have　told　the　others　what　Zaranth　showed　me　how　to　do；　how　she　pushed　felines　away；　she　added　calmly。　It　is　a　useful　skill　for　all　to　know。
　　Stunned　by　her　dragon's　attitude　toward　this　new　ability；　Lessa　turned　to　F'lar；　whose　expression　was　probably　as　incredulous　as　hers。　Lessa　gave　one　last　hiccup。
　　〃In　case　you're　wondering；〃　he　said；　with　a　little　smile　on　his　face；　〃Mnementh　agrees。　And　Aivas　was　right。〃
　　She　twitched　her　mouth　and　drew　her　brows　together　in　a　scowl。　〃Right　again　and；　while　I'm　glad　he　is；　I'm　annoyed；　too。　He　has　plicated　life。〃
　　〃Maybe；〃　F'lar　said　softly。　〃Maybe　not。　D'you　remember　Aivas　trying　to　understand　the　abilities　of　our　dragons？〃
　　Lessa　scowled；　perplexed。　〃He　knew…we　told　him…that　they　had　always　municated　with　us　mentally。〃
　　〃Telepathy；　he　called　it。　And　teleportation　is　the　ability　of　dragons　to　go　between　from　one　place　to　another。　Or；　however　briefly；　one　time　to　another。〃　He　finger…bed　his　hair　back　from　his　forehead。　〃Today　they　practiced　the　third　of　those　special　talents…telekinesis。　Aivas　could　not　understand　why　they　could　not　do　that　if　they　telepath　and　teleport。　Now　they　can。　I　wonder　how　he　would　have　used　this　new　ability　to　physically　move　other　things　without　contact。〃
　　〃They　moved　felines　who　would　have　killed　Golanth；　F'lessan；　Tai；　and　Zaranth。〃　Lessa　said　in　a　soft　pensive　voice。
　　They　were　both　silent　in　consideration　of　these　startling　new　concepts。
　　〃As　long　as　they　think　they　can；〃　she　said；　tightening　her　fingers　on　his。
　　〃That's　the　requisite；〃　he　agreed；　nodding；　a　smile　twitching　at　one　side　of　his　mouth。
　　〃Then　that　means　there　is　something　dragons　can　do　about　things　in　space。〃
　　He　jerked　straight　up；　hand　gripping　hers　tightly。　〃Let's　take　this　one　slowly；　shall　we；　my　love？〃
　　She　swung　her　head　back　and　forth。　〃Very　slowly。〃
　　Someone　tapped　on　the　door　and　called　her　name。
　　She　took　a　deep　breath；　felt　F'lar　do　the　same。
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃It's　Manora。　I　just　arrived　to　help。　G'bol　brought　me　on　Mirreth。〃
　　〃We'll　be　right　there；〃　Lessa　called。　When　she　turned　her　shining　eyes　to　F'lar；　they　were　no　longer　full　of　tears；　but　hope。　He　embraced　her；　cheek　on　her　head；　trying　by　the　language　of　his　body　to　tell　her　the　words　in　his　heart。
　　Calm　and　mutually　supportive；　they　emerged　from　their　brief　respite　to　greet　Manora。
　　Manora；　headwoman　of　Benden's　Lower　Cavern；　was　seated　beside　the　bed　when　Tai　next　woke；　an　honor　that　had　Tai　reeling　until　she　felt　Zaranth's　mental　touch；　initially　anxious　and　then　relieved。　You　are　better！　I　am；　too。
　　〃Ah；　good；〃　Manora　said；　examining　Tai's　face。　〃Your　eyes　are　clearer　and　your　fever　is　gone。〃
　　〃F'lessan？〃　Tai　tried　to　sit　and　wished　she　hadn't：　she　ached　all　over。　This　was　much　worse　than　the　mauling　she'd　had　from　the　men　at　Landing　Healer　Hall。　She　made　no　resistance　when　Manora　pushed　her　back　down。
　　〃His　fever　has　lessened；　yes。　His　injuries　were　extensive。　There　was　some　internal　damage；　you　see；〃　and　Manora's　serious　face　made　no　light　of　that；　〃but　Oldive　and　that　clever…fingered　Crivellan　stopped　the　bleeding；　repaired　the　damage　the　claws　did；　and　he　will　heal。〃
　　Tai　heard　a　note　in　her　voice。　〃What　else　is　wrong？〃
　　She　gave　Tai's　hand　a　reassuring　clasp；　her　expression　approving。　〃You're　very　quick；　Green　Rider　Tai。　Muscle　was　torn　from　F'lessan's　left　leg　and　not　all　the　new　skills　that　the　Healer　Hall　has　developed　can　replace　that。〃　She　paused。　〃He'll　have　a　few　scars　on　his　face　but　I　do　believe　that　once　the　wounds　have　healed　they　won't　be　so　noticeable。〃
　　〃F'lessan　is　not　a　vain　man；〃　Tai　said；　after　a　moment's　consideration；　〃but　he　will　hate　a　limp。〃
　　〃You　are　quite　right。　How　do　your　legs　feel？〃
　　Tai　had　to　think　because　she　felt　awfully　heavy　below　her　knees。
　　〃There　should　be　little　feeling；〃　Manora　added　quickly。　〃I　have　only　just　finished　dressing　them　with　numbweed。　You'll　have　scars。〃
　　Tai　dismissed　that　with　a　snort。　〃How　badly　was　Zaranth　hurt　and　when　may　I　see　her？〃
　　Manora　gave　her　a　slow　look。　〃As　I'm　sure　Zaranth　has　told　you；　she　is　better：　not　so　stiff　today。　She　was　clawed　and　bitten；　not　as　extensively　as　Golanth　or　in　any　way　crippling　to　her。　She　is　slathered　with　numbweed　the　moment　she　so　much　as　twitches。　She　has　been　fed　a　plump　and　tender　herdbeast；　which　Gadareth　chose　and　brought　for　her。　She　is　able　to　move　and　to　fly　if　she　should　wish　to。〃
　　Tai　closed　her　eyes；　all　too　keenly　aware　of　how　much　worse　the　bronze's　injuries　must　be。　The　predators　had　savaged　him。　She　could　see　him　struggling；　Zaranth　trying　to　defend　them　both。　Oddly　Tai　felt　no　resentment　that　her　dragon's　primary　concern　had　been　for　her　weyrmate。　Golanth　had；　after　all；　taken　the　brunt　of　the　attack。
　　〃G…G…Golanth？〃
　　Manora's　expression　altered　for　a　brief　instant　and　then　she　smiled　with　gentle　reassurance。
　　〃He；　too；　is　improving；　but　it　will　take　much　longer　for　him　to　heal。　His　injuries　were…dreadful。〃
　　〃They　all　went　for　him。。。〃　Tai's　voice　broke。
　　〃The　predators　attacked　both　dragons。　Zaranth　has　many　claw　marks　on　her；　they　are　just　not　as　deep　as　those　on　Golanth。　Do　you　know…〃　and　here　Manora　hesitated；　〃how　she　defended　herself　and　Golanth？〃
　　Vividly　Tai　remembered　Zaranth　staring　intensely　at　something　in　the　underbrush。　She　thought　of　deflected　trundlebugs；　such　minor　nuisances。　She　thought　of　the　pelts　that　Zaranth　had　somehow　retrieved。　That　night；　she　hadn't　moved　anything　to　prove　to　F'lessan　that　she　could…until　he　threw　the　bowl　at　her。　Nothing　could　have　been　more　threatening　than　the　felines！　Neither　dragon　had　hesitated　in　pushing　them　away。　But　Zaranth　had　had　more　practice　with　that　technique　while　Golanth　had　had　ever　so　many　more　to　deal　with。　Until　the　other　dragons　came　to　help。　She　remembered　now；　too；　something　that　Aivas　had　said　in　her　hearing；　when　she　was　working　in　Admin。　〃The　white　one　leads　the　way　but　why　is　it　that　they　do　not　use　telekinesis　if　they　can　telepath　and　teleport？〃
　　As　that　incident　had　been　prior　to　her　unexpected　Impression　of　Zaranth；　she　hadn't　understood　what　he　meant　and　certainly　wouldn't　have　dared　to　raise　a　question　then。　She　had　puzzled　over　the　remark　from　time　to　time。　Aivas　had　been　very　interested　in　draconic　abilities。　He　had　also　been　somewhat　disappointed；　even　after　the　incredible　feat　dragons　and　riders　had　performed　to　alter　the　orbit　of　the　Red　Star；　no　one　had　ever　understood　why；　for　the　plan　Aivas　had　devised　had　been　impeccably　carried　out。　Everyone　had　seen　the　explosion　of　the　antimatter　engines　placed　on　the　Red　Star。
　　〃It's　something　she　learned　on　her　own；　to　keep　trundlebugs　from　bothering　her。〃
　　〃Trundlebugs？〃　Manora　asked　in　amazement。
　　〃As　far　as　I　know；　the　species　is　limited　to　the　southern　continent；〃　she　said。　〃They're　only　a　nuisance。〃
　　〃And　Zaranth　would　move　them　out　of　her　way？　So　it　is　conceivable　that　she　also　moved　the　felines　in　the　same　fashion。〃
　　〃There　were　so　many。〃　Tai　could　not　stem　the　tears　that　flowed　down　her　cheeks。　Manora　cradled　her　hand　and　stroked　it　soothingly；　a　tacit　permission　to　cry　as　much　as　Tai　needed　to　ease　her　distress。　〃She　tried　to　help　Golanth。　There　were　more　attacking　him。　Then　more　dragons　arrived。　They　took　care　of　the　others。　Except　that　last　one。　And　Golanth　told　Ramoth　to　time　it？〃　Brushing　tears　from　her　face　with　her　hand；　she　looked　up　at　Manora。　〃But　what　good　could　that　have　done？　Only　it　seemed　to。　Golanth　was　not　killed。〃　With　her　eyes　she　begged　some　explanation　of　Manora。
　　Manora　soothed　her　with　a　gentle　stroke。　〃I　believe　that　is　the　paradox　of　timing　it。　F'lar　said　something　about　causality。　The　beast　had　aimed；　jumped；　and　even　by　timing　back；　Ramoth　could　only　make　the　most　infinitesimal　alteration　in　the　second　she　had；　but　she　deflected　a　lethal　blow。　I　gather　that　there　was　so　much　going　on　at　that　moment　it　is　miraculous　she　managed　what　she　did。　And　this　started　with　a　dislike　of　trundlebugs？〃
　　Tai　managed　a　little　smile。　〃They've　scratchy　feet　and　if　you　swat　at　them；　the　female　lets　off　the　most　incredible　stink。　So　you　have　to　move　them　carefully　and　before　they　know　what's　happened。　So　it　takes　a　certain　amount　of　skill。〃　She　paused；　allowing　the　amusement　of　Golly's　first　attempt　to　flicker　across　her　face。　〃F'lessan　and　Golanth　saw　her　do　it　at　Benini　Hold。　It　wasn't　anything　much。〃　Tai　started　to　shrug　one　shoulder　but　it　was　painful。　〃Just　Zaranth　avoiding　an　inconvenience。〃　Tai　hesitated。　〃And　then　there　was　the　problem　with　pelts。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；　the　pelts。　Mirrim　mentioned　those；〃　and　somehow　Manora　implied　that；　although　Mirrim　might　have　been　talking　a　lot；　Manora　was　not　the　sort　of　person　who　heeded　gossip。