amc.masterharperofpern-第37节

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oved　escaped　Robinton　pletely；　but　it　did　give　some　of　the　rumours　more　credibility　than　he　had　originally　thought。
　　　One　evening　Fax　went　out　of　his　way　to　get　Robinton　on　the　wrestling　mats：　not　with　himself　but　with　one　of　his　younger　holders。
　　　〃An　even　match；　I'd　say；　pound　for　pound　and　inch　for　inch；〃　Fax　said；　his　expression　bland　but　his　eyes　challenging。
　　　〃I　fear　I'd　be　no　match　at　all；〃　Robinton　said。　〃As　a　harper；　I've　only　the　usual　training　in　body　sports。　Now；　if　your　holder　sings；　then　I'll　accept　a　contest。〃
　　　Fax　regarded　him　a　long　moment　and　then；　with　a　sneer；　swung　towards　Lobira。　〃One　phase　of　training　that　is　so　often　ignored；　Master　Lobira。〃
　　　Lobira　was　able　to　give　back　as　well　as　take；　and　he　did　so　with　a　matching　contempt。　〃Many　a　man　has　rued　the　day　he　tried　to　best　a　harper；　young　Fax；　for　song　and　story　last　longer　than　mere　physical　prowess；〃　he　replied。　〃Or　is　your　lad　still　plaining　that　my　long…legged　lad　has　bested　him　in　the　Hall　runs　every　time　they've　peted？〃
　　　Robinton　was　surprised　that　his　Master　was　aware　that　Robinton　had　won　so　many　of　those　races；　and　frankly　amazed　that　his　wins　had　disgruntled　Fax。　At　the　time；　the　runner…up　had　taken　his　losing　in　good　part。
　　　Fax　awarded　Master　Lobira　a　sustained　and　disturbing　look；　gave　Robinton　a　final　contemptuous　glance；　and　left。　Robinton　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。
　　　〃Watch　him！　He　really　wanted　an　opportunity　to　humiliate　you　in　front　of　the　entire　Hold；〃　Lobira　said。　〃I　can't　have　that。　Ruins　discipline　in　the　class。　But　if　you　wanted　to　do　some　work…outs　with　Mallan　on　the　defensive　moves　you　were　taught　at　the　Hall；　it　wouldn't　be　a　bad　idea。　For　you　both。　And　the　apprentices。〃
　　　〃I　think　I　will；　Master；〃　Robinton　replied　soberly。　There　was　little　doubt　that　Fax　had　a　personal　grudge　against　him。　Or　maybe　it　was　against　all　harpers。　In　any　event；　Fax　did　not　request　a　harper　for　his　holding。　That　was　his　decision　and　his　folk　would　be　stinted　by　the　lack；　but　only　Lord　Faroguy　could　require　his　holders　to　provide　education。　Since　Fax's　holding　appeared　to　be　so　much　more　profitable　under　his　management；　Lord　Faroguy　had　little　reason　to　question　his　methods。　Somehow　Fax　managed　to　keep　from　his　uncle　the　fact　that　his　profits　were　obtained　by　whippings　and　threats　of　eviction。
　　　Mallan　and　Robinton　went　through　the　drills　on　mats　and；　if　Robinton　was　able　to　floor　Mallan　occasionally；　the　other　journeyman　was　just　as　deft。　At　least　they　were　each　capable　of　quick；　reflexive　action。
　　　With　the　pass　shut　by　massive　drifts；　munication　was　now　limited　to　the　drums　and　an　eight…hour　evening　watch　was　one　of　Robinton's　less　agreeable　duties　as　a　journeyman。　Even　a　blazing　fire　in　the　hearth　did　not　keep　the　Drum　Tower　warm　enough　for　fort。　The　pacing　of　every　drum…watchkeeper　since　the　Hold　had　been　carved　out　of　solid　rock　had　worn　a　trough　around　the　perimeter　of　the　Tower。　One　had　to　be　careful　not　to　stumble。　One　good　thing；　though　…　the　Tower　could　be　reached　from　within　the　Hold　itself。　Some　of　the　Southern　Holds　had　outside　stairways　to　their　drum　heights。
　　　Manning　the　Drum　Tower　was　no　sinecure　and　required　close　attention。　Snowfall　sometimes　muffled　ining　messages；　and　outgoing　ones　could　cause　minor　avalanches；　heard　as　distant　thunders　in　the　night　and　made　eerier　by　the　darkness。　On　clear　evenings；　when　both　Belior　and　Timor　were　full；　Robinton　could　sometimes　see　the　seven　spires　of　the　abandoned　High　Reaches　Weyr。　He　wondered　how　it　varied　from　the　other　two　he　had　seen。
　　　Probably　not　by　much；　but　maybe　he'd　see　if　he　could　get　in　that　one　too；　simply　for　parison's　sake。
　　　All　the　new　surroundings　and　experiences　struck　fresh　chords　within　him。　Rather　boldly；　he　posed　a　song　for　the　miners'　double　quartet　that　was　more　suited　to　their　vocal　skills　than　many　available　ballads：　a　humorous　tale　of　six　verses　and　a　chorus　about　a　miner　and　his　love；　just　their　style。　It　was　so　well　received　that　Master　Lobira　wanted　to　know　where　Robinton　had　been　hiding　it。
　　　〃Oh；　well；　it　was　among　the　stuff　I　brought　up；〃　Robinton　said；　caught　unawares。
　　　〃Really？〃
　　　〃Well；　sort　of。　I　mean；　the　melody　was　written　out。　I　kind　of　rearranged　it　for　the　miners　and　added　the　chorus　so　everyone　could　join　in。〃
　　　〃Did　you　now？〃　Master　Lobira　eyed　his　journeyman　and　pursed　his　lips　thoughtfully。　〃Well；　if　you　say　so。〃
　　　Robinton　retreated　as　soon　as　he　politely　could。　Master　Lobira　had　only　glanced　at　the　last　packet　to　e　in　from　the　Harper　Hall　before　handing　it　over　to　him。　There　were　such　good　voices　and　players　here；　and　a　new　song　could　liven　evenings　so　much　that　Robinton　hadn't　been　able　to　resist　the　temptation　to　sneak　in　his　new　song。　He'd　be　more　circumspect　and　just　adapt　other　music；　already　in　the　repertoire。
　　　But　he　underestimated　Master　Lobira。
　　　〃You　wrote　these；〃　Lobira　said；　stamping　into　his　bed　cubicle　one　evening　with　a　sheaf　of　neat　music　scores　in　one　hand；　his　expression　accusatory。
　　　As　Robinton　was　in　the　process　of　writing　down　yet　another　tune；　he　could　scarcely　deny　it　when　Lobira　snagged　the　hide　out　of　his　hand　and　began　paring　them。
　　　〃You've　written　almost　all　the　new　music　the　Hall　has　been　sending　out；　haven't　you？〃
　　　Robinton　straggled　to　his　feet；　a　difficult　enough　manoeuvre　due　to　the　cramped　space　and　Lobira's　proximity　to　his　bed。　He　felt　at　an　extreme　disadvantage　lying　sprawled　on　his　back。　Then　he　realized　that　towering　above　Lobira　was　not　exactly　a　good　tactic　either；　because　it　forced　his　agitated　Master　to　look　up。
　　　〃Master　Lobira；　I　can　explain。。。〃　He　squeezed　past　the　man　and　gestured　for　him　to　exit　into　the　larger　living　room。　Mallan　was　not　to　be　seen。
　　　〃By　the　First　Egg；　I　am　waiting　to　hear！〃　Lobira　said；　his　neck　red　and　swollen；　his　eyes　blazing。　〃All　this　time　…　it　must　be　five；　six　turns　…　I've　been　passing　music　around　that　was　written　by。。。　you！　It's　bad　enough　you're　a　journeyman　at　fifteen；　but　a　poser　at　…　at　ten！〃　Lobira　slammed　the　offending　scores　down　on　the　table　and　then　pinned　them　down　with　his　fist；　glaring　around　at　Robinton　who　had　seated　himself　so　as　to　be　diplomatically　lower　than　his　Master。
　　　〃Actually。。。〃　Robinton　quailed　at　having　to　tell　the　honest　truth。
　　　〃One　or　two　were　written　when　I　was　a　little　younger。〃
　　　〃A　little　younger？〃　Lobim's　eyes　nearly　popped。　Planting　both　fists　on　the　table；　he　leaned　menacingly　over　Robinton。　〃Just　when　did　you　write　the　first？　How　old　were　you？〃
　　　〃I。。。　I　did　some　variations　when　I　was　three；　my　mother　says。〃　Lobira　regarded　him　and　then；　in　one　of　his　characteristically　abrupt　changes；　threw　back　his　head　and　started　to　howl　with　laughter。　He　laughed　so　hard　that　he　had　to　steady　himself　on　the　table　edge；　and　then　collapsed　into　the　other　chair；　holding　his　sides。　As　the　door　was　open；　the　laughter　carried　down　the　hall　and　brought　Lotricia　to　see　what　had　her　husband　in　such　a　mood。
　　　Journeymen　quartered　just　down　the　hall　also　came　to　see　what　was　happening。
　　　〃Whatever　did　you　tell　Lobira？〃　Lotricia　asked；　eyebrows　risen　almost　to　her　hairline。　〃I　haven't　heard　him　laugh　like　that　since　Fax　got　caught　in　the　wine　barrel。〃　She　was　smiling。　In　fact　everyone；　except　the　now　concerned　Robinton；　was　grinning。
　　　〃I。。。　didn't　tell　him　anything；〃　Robinton　said　truthfully。　The　reason　for　the　laughter　was　still　spread　across　the　table；　and　hurriedly　he　tried　to　gather　the　sheets　up。
　　　Lobira's　hands　stopped　him；　and　his　laughing　abated　as　he　stammered　out　an　explanation　to　his　spouse。　〃This　one。。。　is　the。。。　one　who's　written　。。。　all　the　new　tunes。〃
　　　〃Oh；　no；　not　all。〃
　　　〃No？　Not　all？　You　gave　others　a　look…in？〃　And　that　set　Lobira　off　again。
　　　Lotricia　planted　her　hands　on　her　ample　hips。　〃You're　not　making　much　sense；　Lobira；　and　you　usually　do；〃　she　said　with　a　hint　of　pique。　〃And　if　it's　made　you　laugh　so　much；　I　want　to　hear　the　whole　story。　Do　calm　down。　Rob；　is　there　any　klah　in　the　pitcher？〃
　　　Robinton　hurriedly　poured　lukewarm　klah　into　a　clean　cup；　which　Lotricia　took　from　him　and　passed　to　Lobira。　Still　in　spasms　of　laughter；　Lobira　paused　long　enough　to　take　a　sip；　which　seemed　to　steady　him。　Wiping　tears　from　his　eyes；　he　beckoned　for　the　onlookers　to　e　closer。　He　tapped　the　music。
　　　〃Robinton；　our　newest　and　youngest　journeyman；　is　the　poser　of　most　of　the　songs　…　which；　by　the　First　Egg；　we　both　have　been　teaching　you。。。〃
　　　〃Did　you　write　them；　dear？〃　Lotricia　asked；　her　blue　eyes　wide　with　pleasure。　〃I　told　you　he　was　a　clever　lad；　and　modest　too；〃　she　added　to　her　husband。　〃Whyever　isn't　your　name　on　the　music？〃　〃As　a　journeyman；　I'm　not　allowed。。。〃
　　　〃That's　what's　so　funny；　Lotricia。　Don't　you　see？〃
　　　〃No；　I　don't；　Lobira；　although　I　think　his　music　is　so　singable。〃
　　　〃That's　it！　That's　why　it's　so　funny；〃　Lobira　said；　patting　her　hands　for　being　so　clever。
　　　She　regarded　him　blankly。
　　　〃His　father's　music　isn't　copied　and　sent　to　every　Hold　and　Hall；〃　Lobira　said。　〃But　Robinton's　tunes　have　been　since　he　was　three！　Get　it　now？〃　He　was　agitated　further　by　his　spouse's　failure　to　see　the　humour；　and　h