amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第18节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　〃And　Southern；〃　K'van　said；　nodding　courteously　to　Lessa　and　Sharra。
　　〃We　had　just　got　Toronas　calmed　down　when　F'lessan　contacted　us；〃　Lessa　said；　her　voice　as　weary　as　her　face。
　　〃This　can　no　longer　be　considered　random　damage；〃　F'lar　said；　〃but　a　planned　and　coordinated　attack！〃
　　〃Let's　go　inside；〃　Oldive　said；　his　voice　low　with　fatigue。
　　〃The　dining　hall　is　warm…and　wasn't　touched；〃　Keita　said　encouragingly；　appearing　on　the　top　step。
　　〃We　could　all　use　something　hot；〃　Sharra　said；　urging　Oldive　to　lead　the　way。
　　〃These　incursions　were　far　too　widespread　not　to　have　been　planned；〃　Lessa　said　when　they　had　all　been　served　klah　fortified　with　the　Healer　Hall's　restorative　liqueur。　〃Making　too　much　good　use　of　the　laxity　everywhere　at　Turnover。〃
　　〃Not　well…enough　executed　or　timed；　though；〃　F'lessan　remarked　sardonically。　〃One　of　T'gellan's　green　riders　investigated　the　sound　of　breaking　glass　and　forestalled　a　more　prehensive　destruction。〃　His　usually　amiable　expression　was　harsh。　〃T'gellan　is　questioning　the　three　that　were　caught。〃
　　〃The　Benden　Healer　was　not　as　lucky；〃　F'lar　said；　〃though　his　journeywoman　says　he'll　recover。　Our　wings　will　search　until　full　dark。〃
　　〃Sintary　got　just　a　glimpse　of　the　vandals；〃　K'van　said；　and　added　in　an　apologetic　tone；　〃The　jungle's　too　thick　to　hope　we'll　find　them　easily。〃
　　〃We've　got　this　lot；〃　Groghe　said　with　great　satisfaction　as　his　fist　came　down　on　the　table　in　emphasis。
　　〃That　leader　looked　an　obstinate　sort；〃　Sebell　remarked。　〃The　kind　who　might　die　for　a　principle。〃
　　〃I　doubt　the　others　are　of　similar　fortitude；〃　Sharra　said　wryly。　〃Scalp　Wound　is　a　moaner。〃
　　〃Itch's　rash　is　going　to　spread　all　over　her　body；〃　Keita　said；　passing　around　a　tray　of　tiny；　hot　Gather　rolls。
　　Sharra　tsked…tsked　in　mock　pity。　〃Let　them　get　thirsty；　too？〃
　　〃Thirsty；　Itchy；　Scalp　Wound？〃　Lessa　asked　pointedly。
　　Sebell　explained　and　Lessa's　grin　of　understanding　turned　into　a　wide　yawn。
　　〃My　apologies；　but　we　didn't　get　much　sleep　last　night；〃　she　said。
　　〃There　are　guest　quarters　here；　Lessa；〃　Oldive　offered　quickly。
　　〃We're　not　that　decrepit；〃　F'lar　said　stiffly。
　　〃Maybe　you're　not；　F'lar；〃　Lessa　said；　rising　slowly　to　her　feet；　〃but　I　was　looking　forward　to　a　good　night's　sleep　eight　hours　ago。　And　I　would　be　grateful　for　some　of　it。　Anywhere。〃
　　〃Of　course；　of　course；〃　Groghe　said。　〃You're　always　wele　at　Fort。〃
　　〃And　Ruatha；〃　Jaxom　and　Sharra　said　in　unison；　knowing　how　much　Lessa　liked　to　visit　at　her　birthplace。
　　The　Benden　Weyrwoman　shook　her　head　with　a　rueful　smile。
　　〃Ramoth　and　Mnementh　are　already　ensconced　in　the　sun　on　Fort's　fire…heights；〃　she　said；　rising。　〃I'm　for　a　quiet　room。　Here。〃　She　pointed　downward。　〃No　Gather　noise。〃
　　〃Shards！　I　have　to　get　back　to　the　Gather。　Explain　this　mess　and　collect　petitions；〃　Groghe　said；　getting　his　feet　under　him　to　stand。　〃Those　Abominators　can　bloody　wait。　Do　them　good。〃
　　〃If　anything　will　do　that　wretched　lot　any　good；〃　Sharra　added　bleakly。
　　Keita　hurried　forward；　to　escort　the　Benden　Weyrleaders　to　guestrooms。
　　〃I　must　return　to　report　to　Lord　Toric；〃　K'van　said　ruefully；　pushing　back　from　the　table。　〃I　doubt　he'll　appreciate　that　he's　only　one　of　many　targets。〃
　　〃Toric　does　indeed　prefer　to　be　singular；〃　F'lar　said；　lifting　a　hand　to　acknowledge　K'van's　uneasy　truce　with　the　Southern　Holder。
　　〃We'll　keep　him　informed；〃　Groghe　promised　with　a　curt　nod　of　his　head。　He　had　his　own　quarrel　with　the　testy　man。　〃Landing；　Benden；　Boll；　Southern？　How；　ah；　many　targets　could　there　be？〃
　　〃I　wonder　did　they　count　on　blizzards　at　High　Reaches？〃　Lessa　asked　drolly　and　followed　Keita　out　of　the　dining　hall。
　　F'lar　paused　briefly。　〃F'lessan；　are　you　ing　with　us？〃
　　〃No；　sir；　though　I'm　tempted。　I　want　to　see　if　that　green　rider's　all　right。　They　messed　her　about　before　her　dragon　arrived。〃
　　As　the　meeting　broke　up；　no　one　was　tactless　enough　to　voice　the　customary　Turnover　good　wishes。
　　Before　Groghe；　Sebell；　and　N'ton　reached　the　Gather　Square；　more　drum　messages　came　rolling　in。
　　〃Alert；〃　Sebell　said；　translating　the　initial　beat　and　setting　himself　to　hear　more　bad　news；　〃from　the　Smithcrafthall。〃
　　〃Not　Fandarel；　too？　He's　been　extraordinarily　conscientious　in　locking　his　Halls　and　stores　against　incursions。　Ah；　yes；　I　see。。。〃　Groghe's　face　relaxed　into　a　pleased　expression　as　the　drumrolls　ended。　〃They　tried！　I　wonder　what　he'll　find　out　from　them。　Oh；　shards；　everyone's　waiting！〃
　　They　could　all　hear　the　harpers　playing　a　sprightly　tune　to　a　sparsely　populated　dance　square。　Around　all　four　sides；　knots　of　people　were　warming　their　hands　at　the　braziers；　murmuring　among　themselves；　and　anxiously　watching　the　progress　of　their　Lord　Holder　on　his　big　mount。
　　〃Father！〃　Horon's　shout　reached　their　ears　as　he　came　down　the　wide　hold　steps　at　an　almost　dangerous　clip。　He　rushed　over；　waiting　till　Ke　was　close　before　he　gasped　out　his　message。　〃Father；　we've　found　something　you　have　to　see！〃
　　〃Later；　Horon；　later。〃
　　〃It's　extremely　important。〃
　　〃Sharding　Abominators！　Thought　we'd　seen　the　last　of　their　kind；〃　Groghe　said　impatiently。　〃Sebell；　go　see　what's　so　bloody　important。　I'd　better　deal　with　them。〃　His　gesture　indicated　the　waiting　Gatherers。　〃Damnable　way　to　start　Turnover。〃　With　that　he　kneed　his　mount　to　a　trot　all　the　way　to　the　harpers'　platform。　The　tune　was　brought　to　a　conclusion　with　a　flourish　that　Sebell　wryly　approved；　and　the　crowd　flowed　forward　to　hear　what　the　Lord　Holder　had　to　say。
　　Sebell　caught　the　eye　of　the　nearest　person　in　harper　blue；　an　apprentice　girl　who　rushed　up　to　him。
　　〃Worla；　I'll　be　at　the　Hold　with　Lord　Horon。　Bring　me　the　text　of　all　the　messages　ing　in。　I'll　send　any　replies　directly　to　the　Drummaster。〃　He　summoned　his　gold　fire…lizard；　Kimi。　Holding　her　to　his　shoulder；　he　and　Horon　jogged　up　the　wide　staircase　to　the　freezing　expanse　of　Fort's　upper　court。　He　heard　the　cheers　as　Lord　Groghe　stepped　up　on　the　harpers　platform。
　　〃So　what　is　so　important；　Horon？〃　Sebell　asked　once　they　were　out　of　the　wind。
　　Horon　gulped。　〃The　most　ghastly。。。　〃　His　face　contorted　with　revulsion。
　　〃Abominator　cant？〃　Sebell　was　surprised。
　　Horon　gave　a　shudder。　He　opened　the　door　into　the　Lord　Holder's　five…sided　office。　A　table　had　been　set　up　on　which　the　vandals'　gear　was　spread。　Grainger；　the　trusted　steward　of　Fort　Hold；　was　busy　searching　a　saddle　pack。
　　〃That！〃　Horon　pointed　to　a　thin　pamphlet　with　a　dirty　cover；　its　pages　roughly　fastened　by　crude　stitches。　His　nostrils　flared　and　it　was　plain　he　wanted　nothing　more　to　do　with　it。　Grainger's　expression　was　similarly　revolted。
　　Sebell　bent　over　to　examine　the　pamphlet：　obviously　a　very　amateurish　effort。　Why；　Tagetarl's　youngest　apprentice　could　have　done　a　neater　job。　In　bold　block　letters…similar　to　the　single　letter　on　the　vandal's　map…the　title　of　the　pamphlet　read　Tortures　of　the　Abomination。　Yes；　the　same　hand　had　made　the　B。
　　〃Just…just　look　inside；　Sebell！〃　Horon　flicked　his　fingers；　his　mouth　contorted　with　revulsion。
　　Sebell　lifted　the　cover　and　only　stern　self…control　kept　him　from　slapping　it　shut。　He　could　see　what　had　made　Horon　squeamish。　The　picture　was；　indeed；　revolting　to　look　at。　It　depicted　shapes；　indecently　colored；　of　unusual　appearance　and　what　looked　like　knives　holding　flesh　back　from　what　could　be　a　long　incision。　A　caption　had　been　blacked　out。　Underneath；　again　in　the　black　block　lettering：　〃A　body　laid　bare；　pulsing　in　torture。　It　could　be　yours。〃
　　〃It's　all　like　that。　Revolting　pictures；〃　Horon　said。　〃Where　could　they。。。　get　such　things？〃
　　Impassively；　Sebell　flipped　several　more　pages　and　found　one　picture　he　actually　recognized。　The　pound　fracture　of　a　human　tibia；　the　flesh　colored　an　unrealistic　pink　against　which　the　ivory　bone　nauseatingly　contrasted。　He'd　seen　such　an　injury　in　a　hill　hold；　Turns　before。　The　printed　caption　read　〃Shattered　by　blows。〃　Sebell　made　out　page　numbers；　almost　obscured　by　the　dirty　finger　marks；　and；　right　by　the　margin　of　the　picture；　〃Fig。　10〃　and　〃Fig。　112。〃　Checking；　he　found　none　of　the　pages　were　sequential　and　realized　that　the　pamphlet　was　prised　of　random　photographs；　undoubtedly　removed　from　a　perfectly　proper　medical　text　released　from　Aivas's　prehensive　records。
　　〃Kimi。〃　Sebell　turned　his　fire…lizard's　head　toward　him；　one　finger　stroking　her　neck　affectionately。　He　scribbled　a　quick　note　on　the　pad　he　kept　with　him　and　tucked　it　in　her　message　cylinder。　〃Take　this　to　Keita　at　Healer　Hall。　You　know　her。〃　He　projected　a　vivid　image　of　Oldive's　discreet　journeywoman。　The　little　queen　made　a　throaty　noise　and　disappeared　from　sight。
　　〃Revolting　to　us；　perhaps；〃　Sebell　said；　negligently　pushing　the　pamphlet　away　from　him；　〃but　instructive　to　a　Healer　when　not　used　as。。。　disinformation。〃
　　Horon　shuddered。
　　〃Those　photographs　are　quite　likely　of　surgical　procedures。　Those　are　not　well　understood　as　yet；〃　Sebell　went　on；　looking　directly　at　Horon。　〃Your　own　grandfather　died　of　a　burst　pendix　that　the　then　MasterHealer　could　have　removed。　Such　an　operation　was　known…and　successfully　performed。〃