amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第16节

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ding　bareback　on　a　gray　runnerbeast　that　wore　no　more　than　a　head…collar。　Haligon　hauled　it　to　a　stop　just　short　of　the　captives；　doing　a　flying　dismount　to　confront　them。　Such　was　the　fury　in　his　face　and　manner　that　the　group　backed　away　from　him。
　　In　one　of　those　irrelevant　observations　that　can　occur　even　in　moments　of　crisis；　Sharra　noted　that　gray　hairs　marred　the　brown　of　Haligon's　fine　Gather　clothes。　Horon；　taking　a　belligerent　stance　next　to　his　brother；　was　equally　untidy。
　　A　group　of　blue…clad　Harpers；　led　by　Masterharper　Sebell；　arrived　on　foot；　to　increase　the　force。　The　cart；　driven　by　N'ton　and　crammed　with　holders；　some　clutching　clubs；　nearly　rammed　into　them。　With　an　enlarged　audience；　the　prisoners　renewed　the　volume　of　their　defiant　messages。
　　〃Destroy　all　the　Abomination's　devices。〃
　　〃Purity　for　Pern！〃
　　〃Turn　to　Tradition。〃
　　〃Avoid　abominations！〃
　　The　holders　began　booing　from　the　cart　as　they　jumped　down；　clubs　raised　threateningly。　Those　in　Healer　green　continued　to　where　Sharra　and　Oldive　stood　on　the　top　step。
　　〃See　what　damage　has　been　done；　Keita；〃　Oldive　ordered　in　a　low　voice　to　the　Healer　journeywoman　who　rushed　to　him。　A　convulsive　shiver　ran　through　him。　〃Check　the　infirmary　first。〃
　　Sharra　was　wracked　with　passion　for　him。　〃A　cloak　for　Master　Oldive；〃　she　added　urgently；　suddenly　realizing　that　she　was　feeling　the　cold　seep　through　the　adrenaline　rush　of　the　last　few　minutes。
　　〃Harpers！〃　Sebell　said；　gesturing　for　his　men　to　help。　〃Assist　Keita。〃
　　Over　these　orders；　the　chant　continued　in　rabid　cadence…until　Lord　Groghe　reached　the　scene。　As　well　his　mount　had　been　saddled；　Sharra　thought；　just　as　someone　threw　a　fur…lined　wrap　over　her　shoulders；　for　Groghe　was　no　longer　agile　enough　to　ride　bareback　like　his　sons。
　　〃Abomination　away！〃
　　〃Restore　our　tradition！〃
　　〃Shut　up！〃　Groghe　bellowed；　the　volume　of　his　voice　as　intimidating　as　the　powerful　runnerbeast　he　pulled　up　just　short　of　knocking　the　leader　down。　The　man　rocked　back　and　it　was　then　that　Sharra　noticed　that　he；　and　the　rest　of　his　vandals；　had　the　effrontery　to　be　wearing　green：　not　the　genuine　Healer　green　but　close　enough　to　answer　how　they　had　been　able　to　gain　access　to　the　Hall。
　　At　his　most　fearsome；　face　suffused　with　fury；　eyes　protruding；　Groghe　stared　down　at　the　man。　He　looked　larger　than　life；　fine　in　his　Gather　clothes　with　a　cape　billowing　out　over　his　mount's　rump。
　　The　silence　was　palpable。　Then　it　was　broken　by　a　plaintive　moan。
　　〃I'm　bleeding；〃　one　of　the　women　said　in　a　mixture　of　outrage；　shock；　and　horror　as　blood　dripped　from　her　face　to　her　upheld　hand。
　　〃You　can　bleed　to　death　for　all　I　care；〃　Sharra　snapped；　furious。
　　〃Head　wounds　invariably　bleed　freely；〃　Oldive　said；　descending　the　wide　steps。　Sharra　hurriedly　followed。　Throwing　back　the　corner　of　the　cloak　someone　had　put　on　his　shoulders；　Oldive　reached　into　the　belt　pouch　that　he　always　carried　and　drew　out　a　bandage　to　staunch　the　wound。　Although　the　woman　shrank　away　from　him；　her　eyes　wild；　he　was　able　to　assess　the　long　gash　on　her　head。　〃It　will　require　stitching。〃
　　The　woman　went　white　with　shock；　a　look　of　absolute　horror　on　her　face　before　she　folded　in　a　faint。
　　〃No！〃　cried　the　leader；　dropping　to　his　knees　to　shield　her　body。　〃No！　No　abomination！　Spare　her　that！〃
　　Groghe　let　out　a　contemptuous　oath；　his　mount　dancing　nervously。　All　the　onlookers　echoed　Groghe's　reaction　and　cries　of　〃shame〃　were　loud　and　angry。　Oldive；　however；　turned　a　look　of　mixed　passion　and　rebuke　on　the　protester　and　sighed　with　genuine　regret。
　　〃Let　her　bleed；　Healer！〃　someone　advised。
　　Others　around　Oldive　mockingly　repeated　〃No；　spare　her；　spare　her。〃
　　〃Healers　have　been　stitching　wounds　as　needed　for　the　past　two　and　a　half　centuries；〃　Oldive　told　the　leader　with　quiet　dignity。　〃Still；　she　is　unlikely　to　bleed　to　death。〃
　　〃More's　the　pity；〃　was　the　quick　gibe　from　a　spectator。
　　Oldive　held　up　his　hand　and　the　crowd　turned　respectfully　silent　as　he　went　on。　〃The　laceration　is　long　and　shallow。　If　the　scalp　is　not　stitched；　there　will　be　an　unsightly　scar。　The　hair　must　be　cut　away　to　prevent　infection。　Numbweed　would　reduce　her　disfort。〃　He　paused　and　then　added　in　a　wry　tone；　〃Numbweed　flourished　on　Pern　long　before　our　ancestors　arrived。〃
　　With　each　of　Oldive's　sentences；　the　prisoners　had　moaned　or　writhed。　The　leader　glared　at　the　Healer。
　　〃By　giving　my　advice　freely；　I　have　fulfilled　my　duty　as　a　healer；〃　Oldive　said　stolidly。　〃It　is　up　to　you　to　accept　or　reject。〃
　　〃Spare　her！　Spare　her！　Away；　abomination；〃　cried　several　of　the　prisoners；　lifting　their　hands　in　entreaty。
　　Oldive　gave　a　slight　nod　of　assent。　〃Her　healing　is　now　in　your　hands。〃　He　turned　from　them；　outwardly　posed。　Sebell　stepped　solicitously　to　his　side；　and　he　acknowledged　the　tacit　support　with　a　little　nod。
　　Just　then；　Journey　woman　Keita　came　storming　out　of　the　Hall；　other　healers　behind　her；　all　shaking　their　heads；　visibly　devastated　by　what　they'd　found。
　　〃They've　smashed　every　piece　of　Morilton's　last　shipment！〃　she　cried；　glaring　at　the　culprits；　hands　clenched　at　her　sides。　〃It'll　take　months　to　replace　our　supplies。　The　still…room's　a　plete　shambles！　Every　sack；　canister；　and　bottle　in　the　treatment　rooms　has　been　emptied；　and　what　they　didn't　burn…〃　She　paused　in　her　telling　to　take　a　deep　breath　before　she　could　continue。〃…they　urinated　on！〃
　　Before　Groghe　could　intervene；　a　holder　launched　his　club　at　the　prisoner　nearest　him；　whacking　the　man　to　his　knees。
　　〃No！〃　Groghe　roared。　〃No！〃　The　crowd　wavered　but　its　forward　surge　aborted。　〃I　am　Lord　Holder。　I　mete　out　punishment。　And　they　shall　be　punished！〃　His　face　was　livid　with　fury　that　anyone　would　usurp　his　prerogative。　He　legged　his　big　mount　forward。　〃You！〃　He　jabbed　a　finger　at　the　leader；　who　skittered　to　one　side　on　his　knees　as　the　runnerbeast's　hooves　came　very　close　to　stamping　on　his　feet。　〃Name！　Hold！　Craft！〃
　　〃Notice　that　they're　wearing　dark　green；　Lord　Groghe；〃　Keita　said　in　a　taut　voice。　There　was　an　angry　murmur　for　the　additional　insult。
　　〃No　rank　knots　or　hold　colors；〃　Sebell　said；　walking　around　the　vandals；　closely　observing　them。
　　〃I'll　ask　you　once　more！〃　Groghe　said。　〃Names？　Holds？　Crafts？〃
　　He…and　the　crowd…waited　with　brief　patience。　The　prisoners　looked　more　obdurate　than　ever。
　　〃Search　them！〃　Groghe　said　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　More　than　enough　erupted　from　the　crowd　to　obey。　〃I　said　'search　them；'　not　strip　them；〃　Groghe　added　when　he　observed　the　force　used。
　　〃Why　not？　Maybe　the　cold　will　loosen　their　tongues；〃　suggested　a　burly　holder　wearing　Fort　colors　and　a　journeyman's　knot。
　　The　vandals　found　their　tongues　only　to　protest　vehemently　against　such　handling。
　　〃We　have　rights！〃　the　leader　cried；　surrounded　by　willing　searchers。
　　〃You　just　lost　'em。　Not　answering　the　Lord　Holder！〃　the　holder　bellowed；　roughly　turning　out　the　leader's　pockets；　scattering　a　few　quarter　marks　on　the　frozen　ground。
　　Suddenly　Keita　pointed　to　one　of　the　women；　whose　shirt　and　jacket　were　opened　to　expose　a　red　and　inflamed　chest。
　　〃I　recognize　her；〃　the　journeywoman　said。　〃She　came　to　the　Hall　for　ointment　to　ease　a　rash。〃
　　〃e　here！〃　Groghe　gestured　to　the　woman。
　　〃You　will　not　touch　her　with　your　abominated　hands；〃　the　leader　said；　shaking　himself　loose　of　his　searchers。
　　〃You　had　no　problem　with　my　abominated　hands　when　you　wanted　something　to　stop　the　itching；〃　Keita　said　as　she　pulled　the　woman　out　of　the　group。　〃And　from　the　look　of　it　now　I'd　say　you　didn't　even　use　the　salve。　Well；　I　hope　you　itch　forever！〃　She　released　her　and　the　woman　sidled　hastily　back　to　her　panions。
　　〃Keita；〃　Oldive　asked；　〃can　you　remember　exactly　when　she　was　here？　If　she　gave　a　name　or　any　details？〃
　　Keita　nodded　and　dashed　up　the　stairs　to　the　Hall。
　　〃No　doubt　she　had　a　good　look　round　the　Hall；　as　well；〃　Sebell　said。
　　Nothing　more　significant　was　discovered　on　the　vandals'　persons。　Groghe　ended　the　search　and　the　prisoners　adjusted　their　rumpled　clothing。
　　Sebell　spoke　up。　〃The　clothes　and　boots　they're　wearing　will　tell　us　where　they　were　made；　and　we've　weavers　and　tanners　enough　at　the　Gather　to　make　such　identification。〃
　　Then　Sharra　gave　a　bark　of　laughter；　pointing　to　travel　stains　and　scurf　on　the　worn　boots。　〃They're　not　dressed　for　the　Gather；　are　they？　In　fact；　they've　done　some　hard　riding。　Could　they　possibly　have　stabled　their　runners　in　the　Hall's　beasthold　for　a　quick　escape？　And　left　interesting　items　in　their　saddlebags？〃
　　She　saw　several　of　the　vandals　flinch　and　laughed　again　as　Groghe　roared　for　Haligon　to　check。　The　Hall's　stabling　was　to　the　west　of　the　main　entrance。　A　half…dozen　holders　acpanied　Haligon　on　the　search。
　　〃Stuffed　in　here；　Father！〃　Haligon　shouted　back。　〃Still　saddled。　Eating　their　heads　off。〃
　　〃A　gallop　to　the　harbor　and　a　ship　to　sail　away　in？〃　N'ton　asked。
　　〃It's　been　done　before；〃　Sebell　said；　his　eyes　narrowing　with　anger；　his　expression　grimmer　than　ever。
　　〃Would　you　be　kind　enough　to　check　Fort　Harbor；　Weyrleader？〃　Groghe　asked　N'ton。
　　〃My　pleasure；　Lord　Holder。〃　P