amc.masterharperofpern-第15节

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　　　〃In　appreciation　of　those　times　when　the　dragons　did　keep　the　danger　away；〃　she　said；　at　her　most　reassuring。
　　　Robinton　asked　his　mother　about　Thread　and　got　much　the　same　answer；　which　really　wasn't　sufficient　to　satisfy　his　curiosity。　If　the　dragons　were　so　important；　and　they　were　still　flying　the　skies　of　Pern；　they　were　there　to　keep　Thread　away。　They　were　keeping　it　away；　but　there　weren't　as　many　as　there　used　to　be　…　not　with　five　Weyrs　empty。　Would　they　be　enough　if　Thread　came？
　　　Lexey　had　told　him　once　…　Lexey　talked　a　lot　to　Rob　because　he　would　listen　to　him　…　that　his　mother　kept　telling　him　that　if　he　didn't　behave　better；　they'd　leave　him　out　for　Thread　to　get。
　　　〃You　know　so　much；　Rob。　Would　it？〃　Lexey　asked　plaintively；　sufficiently　scared　of　the　threat　that　most　times　it　achieved　the　object　of　making　him　more　obedient　…　at　least　for　a　few　days。
　　　〃I　never　heard　of　it　being　done　to　anyone；　no　matter　how　bad　you　are。　And　'sides；　there　isn't　any　Thread　in　the　skies　right　now。〃　〃But；　if　I　was　bad　enough；　would　it　e　to　get　me？〃
　　　〃Hasn't　yet；　has　it？〃　was　Robinton's　logical　reply。　〃You　were　awful　bad　yesterday；　making　a　mess　with　the　colours　when　you　were　told　to　clear　them　up。〃
　　　〃Yes；　I　was。〃　Lexey　grinned　in　retrospect；　thoroughly　pleased　with　himself。　〃But　it　was　so　fun。〃　He'd　smeared　every　surface　in　the　classroom　while　Kubisa　was　out　on　an　errand。　She'd　made　him　clean　it　all　up　…　which　was　almost　as　much　fun　for　Lexey　as　doing　it　…　but　he'd　had　a　real　scolding　from　her　and　his　mother　for　the　state　of　his　clothes。　〃Mother　was　real　mad　at　me　last　night。〃　But　that　seemed　to　give　him　a　satisfaction　which　Robie　couldn't　understand。
　　　He　always　tried　very　hard　not　to　upset　either　his　mother　or　his　father　…　especially　his　father。
　　　Lexey's　paint…smearing　occurred　the　day　before　the　dragons　came；　so　they　were　at　the　forefront　of　Robie's　mind　when　they　came　circling　down　into　the　big　Harper　Hall　courtyard。　His　parents　were　busy　packing　for　their　trip　to　Nerat；　so　he'd　been　told　to　go　outside　and　play。　He　always　missed　his　mother；　but　it　would　be　nice　to　stay　with　Kubisa　and　her　daughter　Libby；　where　he　could　sing　and　play　his　pipe　or　his　drum　without　worrying　about　annoying　his　father。　It　was　his　turn　to　hop…it　without　smudging　the　chalk　lines　on　the　flags　and　his　attention　was　utterly　focused　on　the　movement　of　his　feet　…　until　Libby　made　him　miss　the　longest　hop　by　suddenly　pointing　skywards　in　astonishment。
　　　〃Oh；　look；　Robie！〃　she　cried。
　　　〃That's　not　fair。。。〃
　　　His　plaint　died　as　he　realized　that　the　dragons　soaring　above　were　ing　closer　to　the　Harper　Hall；　rather　than　the　Hold　where　they　usually　landed。　Half　a　wing　of　dragons　…　six　of　them。　As　they　swept　closer；　backwinging；　their　hind　legs　stretched　downwards　to　land　in　the　Harper　Hall　rectangle；　Robie；　Libby　and　Lexey　pressed　themselves　tightly　against　the　wall　to　stay　out　of　the　way。　As　it　was；　two　of　the　dragons　had　to　land　outside；　since　the　four　made　the　big　quadrangle　suddenly　appear　very　small。
　　　The　ridged　tail　of　a　bronze　was　so　close　to　Robie　that　he　could　reach　out　and　touch　it。　Which　he　did；　greatly　daring；　while　Lexey　regarded　him　with　staring　eyes；　aghast　at　his　impudence。
　　　〃You'll　get　left　out　for　Thread　for　sure；　Robie；〃　Lexey　whispered　hoarsely；　pressing　his　sturdy　body　as　close　to　the　stone　wall　as　he　could；　well　away　from　the　dragon's　tail。
　　　〃He's　soft；〃　Robie　whispered　back；　surprised。　Runner…beasts　were　soft；　and　the　spit　canines；　but　watchwhers　had　hard　hides；　sort　of　oily。　At　least　the　Harper　Hall's　o1'　Nick　did。　Were　watchwhers　another　kind　of　dragon；　the　way　runner…beasts　were　another　kind　of　herd…beast？
　　　No；　not　precisely；　a　voice　said　in　his　mind。　The　dragon　turned　his　huge　head　to　see　who　had　touched　him；　causing　Lexey　to　hiss　in　alarm　and　Libby　to　whimper　in　terror。　There　are　many　differences。
　　　〃I　do　apologize。　I　didn't　mean　to　insult　you；　bronze　dragon；〃　Robie　said；　giving　a　jerky　little　bow。　〃I've　never　seen　one　of　you　up　close　before。〃
　　　We　do　not　e　as　often　to　the　Harper　Hall　as　we　used　to。　It　had　to　be　the　dragon　speaking；　Robie　decided；　because　the　deep　voice　couldn't　have　e　from　anyone　else　near　by。　The　rider　had　dismounted　and　was　standing　on　the　steps　talking　to　his　mother　and　father。
　　　〃Are　my　mother　and　father　going　to　ride　on　you　to　Nerat？〃　Robie　knew　that　was　why　the　dragons　had　e；　to　take　all　the　harpers　to　Nerat　for　the　espousal。　His　mother　had　told　him　that。　Nerat　Hold　had　asked　the　Weyrleader　to　provide　dragon　transport。　Going　a…dragonback　meant　they　didn't　have　a　long　land　journey　to　make；　so　they　wouldn't　be　away　long。　And　besides　it　was　a　great　honour　to　go　a…dragonback。
　　　They　are　harpers？　the　dragon　asked。
　　　〃Yes；　my　mother's　MasterSinger　Merelan　and　my　father　is　Master　Petiron。　He　writes　the　music　they're　going　to　sing。〃
　　　We　look　forward　to　hearing　it。
　　　〃I　didn't　know　dragons　liked　music；〃　Robie　said；　greatly　surprised。
　　　That　had　never　been　mentioned　with　all　the　other　things　he'd　learned　about　dragonkind。
　　　Well；　we　do。　So　does　my　rider；　M'ridin。　Robie　could　not　miss　the　affection　with　which　the　dragon　named　his　rider。　He　asked　especially　to　convey　your　mother　and　father。　It　will　be　an　honour　for　us　to　take　a　MasterSinger　to　Nerat。
　　　〃Who　are　you　talking　to？〃　Libby　asked；　her　eyes　still　wide　with　fright　for　Robie's　presumptuous　behaviour　towards　the　huge　and　powerful　creature。
　　　〃The　dragon；　o'　course；〃　Robie　said；　having　no　real　sense　of　doing　something　unusual。　〃You'll　be　careful　with　them；　won't　you；　dragon？〃
　　　Of　course！
　　　Robie　was　certain　the　dragon　was　laughing　inside。　〃What's　so　funny？〃
　　　I　have　a　name；　you　know。
　　　〃Oh；　I　know　that　all　dragons　have　names；　but　I've　only　just　met　you　so　I　don't　know　your　name。〃　Robie　turned　his　head　ever　so　slightly　to　be　sure　his　friends　were　observing　how　brave　he　was。
　　　And　courteous。
　　　Cortath　is　my　name。　What　is　yours；　little　one？
　　　〃Robie　。。。　that　is；　Robinton；　and　you　will　fly　my　parents　very　carefully；　won't　you？〃
　　　Of　course　I　will；　young　Robinton。
　　　Greatly　reassured　by　that；　Robie　took　advantage　of　this　unparalleled　opportunity　and　asked；　〃Will　you　be　fighting　Thread　when　it　es　back？〃
　　　The　tail　gave　such　a　convulsive　twitch　that　it　nearly　swept　both　Lexey　and　Robinton；　who　were　nearest；　off　their　feet。　The　dragon　swerved　his　body　around　so　that　his　great　head；　with　its　many…faceted　eyes　swirling　with　a　variety　of　colours　rapidly　turning　into　orange　and　red；　came　closer　to　Robie。
　　　Dragons　always　fly　when　Thread　is　in　the　sky；　was　the　unequivocal　answer。
　　　〃You　know　the　song　then？〃　Robie　asked；　delighted。
　　　But；　before　Cortath　could　answer；　his　rider　was　at　his　head；　turning　it　back　so　that　he　could　introduce　the　bronze　to　Merelan　and　Petiron　who　were　standing　beside　him。　A　nervous　apprentice　hovered　discreetly　behind　them；　carrying　their　various　sacks。
　　　〃Robinton；　what　are　you　doing　back　there？〃　his　father　demanded；　noticing　him　at　last　and　gesturing　for　him　to　get　out　of　the　way。
　　　〃We　were　just　playing　hop…it；　only　Cortath　landed　in　the　middle。。。〃　At　the　boy's　words；　the　great　dragon　Cortath　courteously　moved　his　feet。　〃It's　all　right；　Cortath。　You　smudged　the　lines　a　bit　with　your　tail；　but　we　can　fix　it　when　you　leave。〃
　　　〃Robinton。。。〃　His　father　roared；　scowling　his　amazement。
　　　Robinton　risked　a　nervous　glance　at　his　mother　and　saw　her　slight　smile。　Why　was　his　father　angry　with　him？　He　hadn't　really　been　doing　anything　wrong；　had　he？
　　　〃Cortath　says　he's　enjoyed　conversing　with　your　son；　Master　Petiron；〃　M'ridin　said　with　a　reassuring　chuckle。　〃There　aren't　that　many　children　these　days　who　will；　you　know。〃
　　　Robinton's　sensitive　ears　caught　the　plaintive　note　in　the　tall　bronze　rider's　voice。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　say　that　he'd　be　happy　to　talk　to　Cortath　any　time；　when　he　saw　his　mother　raise　her　finger　in　her　signal　for　him　to　be　silent　and　noticed　the　deepening　scowl　on　his　father's　face。　So　he　looked　anywhere　but　at　the　adults。
　　　〃Out　of　the　way　now；　boy；〃　his　father　said；　gesturing　urgently。
　　　Robinton　scooted　off　towards　the　Hall；　Libby　and　Lexey　well　in　front　of　him；　all　too　relieved　to　be　allowed　to　leave。
　　　〃Goodbye；　Cortath；〃　Robinton　said。　Seeing　the　dragon　turn　his　head　to　follow　him；　he　waved　his　fingers　in　farewell。
　　　We　will　meet　again；　young　Robinton；　Cortath　said　clearly。
　　　〃Shards；　Rob；　you　were　lucky；〃　said　Lexey　enviously。
　　　〃And　brave；〃　Libby　put　in；　her　blue　eyes　still　as　wide　as　saucers　in　her　freckled　face。
　　　Robie　shrugged。　He　was　probably　lucky　he　hadn't　been　close　enough　to　his　father　to　get　a　smack　for　bothering　a　dragon；　but　he　didn't　think　he'd　been　particularly　brave。　Though　he　should　not；　perhaps；　have　pared　a　dragon　with　a　watchwher！
　　　He'd　caught　the　surprised　note　in　the　dragon's　voice；　and　he　guessed　he　was　lucky　Cortath　had　deigned　to　speak　with　him；　instead　of　just　lashing　out　with　his　tail　at　the　presumptuous　boy。
　　　〃Did　you　hear　what　Cortath　told　me？〃　he　asked　his　friends。
　　　〃They're　leaving；〃　Lexey　said；　pointing　as　the　dragons　sudden