amc.masterharperofpern-第24节

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　　　〃Is　that　son　of　yours　to　be　a　harper；　Merelan？〃　Robie　heard　S'loner　asking。
　　　He　didn't　hear　his　mother's　exact　answer　and　he　wondered；　once　again；　if　maybe　he　could　possibly　be　harper　and　dragonrider。　And　he'd　Impress　a　bronze；　too。　Well。。。　he'd　settle　for　a　brown　and　be　in　Falloner's　wing　and　fight　Thread　when　it　came　back。
　　　Falloner　showed　him　everything。　The　Hatching　Ground　was　awe…inspiring；　with　the　great　vaulted　roof；　the　steep　ranks　of　seats　where　guests　could　watch　Impression　and　the　raised　stone　couch　where　the　queen　stayed；　guarding　her　clutch　and　viewing　the　Hatching。　Then　there　were　some　places　which　Robinton　wasn't　sure　visitors　were　usually　shown。　Falloner　took　him　up　steps　at　the　side　of　the　Hatching　Ground　and　pushed　through　a　door　into　what　had　to　be　the　Weyrwoman's　quarters。　Robinton　gulped；　hoping　that　Feyrith　was　still　fast　asleep　on　her　ledge　and　that　Carola　did　not　take　a　sudden　urge　to　leave　his　mother。　He　walked　on　tiptoe　and　noticed　that　Falloner　was　putting　his　feet　down　more　quietly　than　usual。　From　there；　they　went　to　the　Council　Chamber；　with　its　immense　stone　oval　table　and　the　massive　stone　chairs　where　the　Weyrleaders　and　wingleaders　sat　for　meetings。　Then　down　into　the　musty…smelling　rooms　which　housed　the　Weyr's　Records。
　　　〃Our　Archives　smell　exactly　like　this　too；〃　Robinton　remarked；　feeling　a　little　safer　this　far　from　the　Weyr　and　Feyrith。　As　he　ran　one　finger　across　the　spine　of　a　bound　volume；　leather　rubbed　off；　and　he　hastily　cleaned　his　finger　and　hoped　the　mark　wouldn't　show。　The　Weyr　really　needed　to　have　these　seen　to：　they　were　in　far　worse　condition　than　those　Master　Ogolly　worried　over。
　　　Falloner　had　noticed　and　now　snorted。　〃That's　another　thing　I　like　about　Benden　Hold　…　they　keep　their　Records　in　good　condition　so　that　you　can　actually　read　them。〃
　　　Which　Rob　allowed　was　true　enough。　There　was　one　drudge　whose　sole　job　was　to　dust　and　oil　the　leather…bound　Records；　and　check　that　no　insects　had　burrowed　into　the　hide　pages。　His　mother　had　shown　him　some　of　the　oldest　ones；　the　ink　still　bright　and　who…knew…how…many…hundreds…of…Turns　old。
　　　Only　when　they　had　gone　back　up　and　out　the　way　they　had　e　in　to　the　Weyrwoman's　quarters　did　Robinton　draw　a　sigh　of　relief。　He　did　wonder　why　Falloner　was　venturing　up　here：　did　he　do　it　because　it　was　a　way　to　annoy　or　get　back　at　Carola　for　not　liking　him？　Sneaking　into　her　private　quarters　was　a　bit　silly；　Robinton　thought；　but　he　was　glad　he　had　had　the　chance　to　see　the　Council　Chamber。　This　was　where　the　bronze　riders　would　assemble　before　a　Threadfall。　But　those　Records。。。　Wouldn't　they　be　needed　then；　too？　And　in　much　better　condition　than　they　were　in　now？
　　　Moving　quickly　across　the　warm　sands；　Robinton　expected　to　go　back　to　the　main　living　area　of　the　Weyr；　but　Falloner　beckoned　him　towards　the　top　of　the　Bowl　with　a　wicked　grin　on　his　face。
　　　〃Show　you　something　not　even　many　weyrbred　know　about；〃　he　said。　Casting　a　glance　around　to　be　sure　that　no　one　was　looking　in　their　direction；　he　ducked　behind　a　large　boulder。　When　Robinton　hesitated；　Falloner　hauled　him　along　by　his　sleeve。
　　　Though　there　was　still　a　good　deal　of　spring　daylight；　the　space　was　dimly　lit　…　only　showing　a　cleft　in　the　cliffside　through　which　Falloner　disappeared。　A　moment　later　a　light　sprang　up　inside；　and　Robinton　nervously　gulped　as　he　bravely　stepped　towards　whatever　new　surprise　Falloner　had　in　store　for　him。
　　　Falloner　held　a　small　glowbasket　over　his　head；　the　glows　still　bright　enough　to　make　shadows　on　the　walls　of　the　narrow　fissure。
　　　〃Don't　talk　loudly；〃　he　whispered；　his　mouth　close　to　Robinton's　ear；　〃because　there's　an　echo　and　anyone　near　the　Ground　will　hear　it。〃
　　　Robinton　nodded　vigorously。　He　didn't　want　his　mother　to　discover　that　he　was　doing　something　possibly　forbidden；　maybe　even　dangerous；　at　Benden　Weyr。　Falloner　led　him　down　the　twisting　passage。　Anyone　even　two　hands　taller　would　have　had　to　duck；　and　it　was　as　well　both　boys　were　slender；　because　once　or　twice　they'd　had　to　suck　in　their　stomachs　to　get　past　protrusions。
　　　Then　suddenly　there　was　a　dull　light　ahead　and　they　came　to　an　uneven　crevice　where　they　could　stand　erect　and　look　directly　out　at　the　Hatching　Ground。
　　　〃This　is　where　we　e　to　watch　the　eggs　while　they're　hardening；〃　Falloner　murmured。　〃I　even　got　out　there　and　touched　the　eggs　last　time　we　had　a　clutch。〃
　　　〃You　did？〃　Robinton　was　truly　impressed　by　Falloner's　daring。
　　　〃Did　you　get　caught？〃　Would　that　be　one　of　the　reasons　the　Weyrwoman　didn't　like　him？
　　　〃Naw；〃　Falloner　said；　flicking　his　fingers　in　dismissal。
　　　〃What　do　eggs　feel　like？〃　Robinton　couldn't　resist　asking。
　　　〃Sort　of　rubbery　at　first。。。〃
　　　〃At　first？〃　Robinton　was　shocked。
　　　〃Yeah；　they　get　harder　every　day。〃　Falloner　shrugged。　〃More　fun　checking　every　day　or　so。　They　get　warmer；　and　then　the　shells　begin　to　feel　thin　under　your　hand。　The　dragonet　eats　the　stuff　around　it　in　its　shell；　you　see；　while　it's　growing　strong　enough　to　hatch。　You　ever　see　a　wherry　egg　when　the　chick　is　only　half…made？〃　Robinton　hadn't；　but　he　nodded　anyway。　Lorra　had　once　told　him　that　some　of　the　poultry　eggs　did　that　when　they　weren't　used　quickly　enough。　〃Same　thing。　That's　why　dragonets　e　out　of　their　shells　starving　to　death。〃
　　　〃But　they　don't　ever　die。　Do　they？〃
　　　〃S'loner　says　some　do；　but　I　haven't　seen　any　eggs　that　didn't　hatch。〃　There　was　the　implication　of　long　experience　in　his　tone。
　　　〃Not　that　we　have　that　many　in　a　clutch。〃　Falloner　sighed。　〃We'll　get　more；　though；　nearer　to　the　next　Pass。〃
　　　〃We　will　have　one；　then？〃
　　　〃Sum；　we　will。　There's　been　Long　Intervals　before。　You're　Harper　Hall；　you　should　know　that。〃
　　　〃Sure；〃　Robinton　agreed　hastily。　He　did　know　that　…　sort　of。　But　he　was　going　to　check　up　on　it　once　he　got　back　to　the　Hall。　〃But　none；〃　he　added　as　he　suddenly　remembered；　〃when　there　weren't　all　six　Weyrs　waiting　for　the　next　Fall。〃
　　　Falloner　was　thoughtful。　〃We'll　be　all　right；〃　he　said　with　more　conviction　than　his　expression　implied。　〃We　keep　replacing　the　old　ones　who　die　off。　Benden's　at　full　fighting　strength。〃
　　　〃But　there's　only　Benden；〃　Robinton　whispered　as　a　sudden　pang　of　fear　shot　through　him。
　　　〃Benden　will　be　more　than　enough；〃　Falloner　said　proudly；　and　then　covered　his　mouth　with　one　hand；　for　he　had　spoken　more　loudly　in　his　surety　and　his　words　echoed　across　the　empty　Hatching　Ground。　〃C'mon；　let's　get　out　of　here。　I'll　show　you　the　barracks　and　have　you　meet　some　of　my　friends。〃
　　　They　carefully　retraced　their　steps　and　Falloner　hid　the　glow…basket　under　a　protrusion。　Then　the　weyrbred　lad　took　to　his　heels　and　raced　towards　the　right…hand　side　of　the　Bowl；　beyond　the　Lower　Caverns；　where　there　was　a　great　deal　of　talking　and　laughing　and　general　noise。　As　they　flashed　by；　Rob　caught　a　glimpse　of　his　mother　talking　to　some　of　the　old　aunties　and　uncles　at　one　of　the　tables。　Well；　that　duty　would　be　over；　so　he　wouldn't　have　to　nod　and　smile　at　the　oldsters。　The　look　of　them；　not　to　mention　sometimes　their　smell；　distressed　him。　People　shouldn't　get　that　old。　When　harpers　could　no　longer　work；　they　went　back　to　their　birthplaces　or　down　to　the　warmer；　southern　holds。
　　　The　weyrling　barracks　were　empty；　since　members　of　the　last　clutch　had　long　since　graduated　to　individual　weyrs；　but　the　place　looked　in　good　order　for　the　next　Hatching。　Falloner　knew　a　back　way　out　of　the　barracks　plex；　too；　which　took　them　into　a　broad　corridor　that　he　said　led　to　the　supply　caves。
　　　〃There're　lots　of　them；〃　he　said　proudly。　〃Benden；　Lemos　and　Bitra　still　tithe　properly　every　year；　and　the　Telgar　and　Keroon　Lord　Holders　tell　us　where　the　dragons　can　hunt；　culling　the　herd…beasts　for　them。〃
　　　Through　other　narrow　aisles；　Falloner　led　Robinton　to　the　living　quarters；　showed　him　the　alcove　he　had　shared　with　three　other　lads；　and　then　the　bathing　area：　the　Weyr's　main　bath；　steam　rising　from　the　water；　was　big　enough　to　swim　in；　Rob　thought　enviously。
　　　Beyond；　Falloner　said；　were　more　storage　rooms。
　　　〃And　a　maze　of　old　hallways　and　too　many　locked　rooms。　I'll　get　in　to　see　them　when　I'm　Weyrleader。〃　He　chuckled。
　　　Over　his　laugh；　they　heard　the　muted　tones　of　an　enthusiastically　rung　bell。
　　　〃Supper！〃　And　Falloner　wasted　no　time　leading　Robinton　back　to　the　Lower　Cavern。
　　　〃Are　all　the　Weyrs　the　same？〃
　　　〃Well；　I've　only　been　to　Telgar　once；　and　they've　got　the　same　sort　of　places；　like　a　Hatching　Ground　and　a　queen's　weyr　and　Records　Hall　and　stuff　like　that。　Haven't　you　ever　been　up　to　Fort　Weyr？〃
　　　〃You're　not　allowed；〃　Robinton　said　cautiously；　with　a　sideways　glance　at　his　panion。
　　　Falloner　laughed。　〃Since　when　did　that　keep　someone　from　doing　something？　I'll　bet　it's　visited　a　lot。〃
　　　〃Well；　actually；　I　think　it　is；　but。。。〃
　　　Falloner　put　a　finger　over　his　lips　and　winked。　〃No　two　Weyrs　are　laid　out　quite　the　same；　but〃　…　and　he　gave　a　shrug　…　〃you've　been　in　one；　you'll　find　your　way　around　Fort　after　this。〃　〃I　know；　and　thanks；　Fal。〃　〃Sure　thing；　Rob。〃
　　　They　swung　into　the　Lower　Cavern　then。　His　mothe