amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第23节

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　　The　young　Lord　sipped　the　klah…it　was　always　excellent　here…and　deliberated　exactly　how　to　approach　Torlo。　He　had　several　very　good　reasons　for　not　antagonizing　either　the　man　or　the　Runners　and　for　carrying　out　last　night's　request；　not　the　least　of　which　was　his　firm　regard；　although　his　brother　called　it　an　obsession；　for　Tenna。
　　〃The　Abominator　who　led　the　vandals　let　drop　some　information；〃　he　began；　choosing　his　words　carefully。
　　〃He's　one　of　them？〃　Torlo's　contempt　was　deep。　〃Same　as　who　abused　Master　Robinton？〃
　　〃Similar　but　this　time　turning　their　spite　on　the　Healer　and　Glass　Halls。〃
　　〃Glass　Halls；　too？〃　Torlo's　spiky　brows　shot　up　on　his　lined　forehead；　his　deep…set　eyes　fast　on　Haligon's　face。　He　leaned　forward　slightly　across　the　tables。　〃What　about　SmithCraftHalls？〃
　　Something　in　Torlo's　manner　suggested　to　Haligon　that　they　would　have　been　legitimate　targets。　Haligon　wondered　why。
　　〃SmithCraftHalls　set　up　tighter　safeguards　after　the　first　raids　on　their　Halls　ten　or　more　Turns　ago；〃　he　said。
　　〃Hmm。　Yes。　Recollect　now。〃　Torlo　rubbed　his　chin　thoughtfully。　〃That　Aivas　guarded　itself；　didn't　it？〃
　　〃A　Hall　shouldn't　have　to　protect　itself；〃　Haligon　said。
　　〃True。〃
　　〃Especially　Healers；　the　one　Craft　that's　benefited　most　from　the　knowledge　Aivas　left　behind。〃
　　〃Agreed。〃　Torlo　motioned　for　Haligon　to　help　himself　to　the　sweet　rolls　on　the　board。　He　broke　a　piece　off　himself；　pushing　the　crumbs　into　his　mouth。
　　Delaying；　Haligon　thought；　so　he　continued。
　　〃Stationmaster；　didn't　Master　Oldive　remove　that　growth　from　Grolly's　leg？　Couldn't　have　been　able　to　do　that　before。　I　believe　Grolly's　running　again。　And　the　cataract　film　from　Tuvor's　eyes？　He's　got　clear　sight　now。　I　heard　they　can　keep　guts　from　popping　out　of　a　man's　belly。　And　they're　not　niggardly　with　their　help。　Didn't　they　show　Beastmaster　Frawly　how　to　reduce　the　wobbles　in　that　fine　colt？〃
　　〃Aye？　So　what're　you　driving　at；　Lord　Haligon？〃
　　〃Some　are　spreading　evil　untruths　about　the　Healers；　with　vile　pamphlets。。。〃
　　〃Runners　burn　the　ones　they're　given。〃
　　〃They've　seen　some？〃　Haligon　was　jolted　so　badly　he　spilled　klah　on　his　hand。
　　〃Runners　won't　spread　filth　like　that。〃
　　〃But　where？　When？　Does　it　happen　often？〃　So　Crivellan　was　right　to　fret　over　the　matter。
　　Torlo　gave　him　a　long　stare。　〃Runner　business。　We　take　care　of　it。〃
　　〃But　where？　We　must　stop　it。　Do　Runners　know　where　it　es　from？〃
　　Torlo　shrugged。　〃Runners　stop　it　going　further。〃
　　〃Yes；　but　not　all　of　it；〃　Haligon　said；　being　more　agitated。　〃The　vandals　had　a　particularly　grisly　copy。　Master　Crivellan　was　distraught。〃
　　〃He's　not　the　only　one。〃
　　Haligon　stiffened　at　the　satiric　tone　of　Torlo's　voice。　〃What　quarrel　do　Runners　have　with　the　Healer　Hall？〃　he　asked　in　a　low　voice　though　there　was　no　one　else　in　the　dining　room　just　then。
　　〃None。〃　Torlo　was　surprised　by　Haligon's　query。
　　〃With　whom　then？〃
　　Torlo　paused；　then　a　slight　grin　lifted　the　corner　of　his　mouth　and　his　eyes　met　Haligon's　squarely。　〃You're　not　what　you　seem；　Lord　Haligon。〃
　　〃Runners　are　as　essential　to　us　all　as　Healers；　Stationmaster。　What's　the　problem？〃
　　Torlo　considered　that　and　then；　making　his　decision；　leaned　forward。
　　〃We've　no　objection　to　Healer　Hall　improvements：　they　benefit　all。　When　'improvements'　threaten　an　entire　Craft；　now　that's　a　different　track　altogether。〃
　　〃Who　would　threaten　Runners？　Weyrwoman　Lessa　said　last　night　that　Runners　would　always　be　needed。〃
　　Torlo　gave　an　ironic　bark。　〃Did　she？　And　who'll　be　needing　the　dragons　if　the　truth　is　told　about　the　Red　Star？〃
　　Haligon　reassembled　his　thoughts。　He'd　never　thought　to　step　among　so　many　verbal　snakes。
　　〃Red　Star？　You　don't　believe　the　Red　Star　was　moved？　But　surely　you　saw　it　happen；　here　in　the　North？〃
　　〃Saw　the　light　in　the　sky；　but　what　did　that　mean　to　someone　ground…tied？〃
　　Haligon　tried　another　tack。
　　〃All　right；　usually　a　Pass　is　fifty　years。　This　time　Aivas　definitely　said　it　would　be　less。　We　know　from　our　own　Records　that　that　has　happened　several　times　before。　So　there're　sixteen　more　Turns　to　go　till　the　end　of　this　Pass。　If　it　ends　in　sixteen　Turns；　then　grant　that　Aivas　knew　more　than　we　ever　could：　that　when　he　gave　a　definite　answer；　it'll　be　proved　truth。　He　said　the　dragonriders　acplished　what　he　set　them　out　to　do…alter　the　Red　Star's　orbit　so　it　can　never　e　close　enough　to　Pern　to　drop　Thread　on　us　again。〃
　　Haligon　was　rather　surprised　by　his　own　intensity。　He'd　only　been　on　the　fringes　of　the　massive　effort　that　had　occupied　the　planet　for　nearly　five　Turns。　But；　in　his　own　heart；　he'd　believed　in　Aivas's　solution　to　Pern's　cyclical　problem。　He'd　wanted…needed…to　believe　in　it。
　　〃I　may　live　another　sixteen　Turns　to　the　end　of　this　Pass；〃　Torlo　replied。　〃So　will　you；　but　it'll　take　another　two　hundred　to　be　sure　that　Aivas　was　right。〃
　　〃The　point　is；　Stationmaster；　there　are　so　many　smaller　miracles　available　to　us　right　now　to　give　Aivas　credibility。〃
　　Torlo's　cynical　smile　was　lopsided。　〃Like　making　dragons…and　Runners…unnecessary？　If　dragons　won't　be　needed　against　Thread；　they'll　be　looking　for　other　things　to　do。　Runners'll　be　unnecessary！〃
　　〃Runners　unnecessary？〃　Haligon　exclaimed；　throwing　up　his　hands　in　dismay。　He　knew　the　dragonriders　were　working　hard　on　their　own　future　but　Runners　had　an　assured　one。　〃Why；　your　Craft　started　serving　a　need　before　the　dragons　had　their　first　Weyr。　Right　now；　Runners're　making　traces　and　Stations　in　the　south。　Your　Craft；　like　all　the　others；　is　expanding。〃
　　Torlo　leaned　forward　across　the　table；　his　eyes　sparking　with　anger。　〃Not　when　there　are　dragonriders　taking　messages　and　packing　people　and　parcels。〃
　　Haligon　countered　quickly。　〃How　many　small　halls　and　holds　can　afford　to　hire　a　dragon？　Running　a　message　costs　only　a　thirty…second　of　a　mark。　There　are　currently　six　thousand　two　hundred　and　forty　dragons；　and　half　of　them　are　brown；　bronze；　and　gold　who　wouldn't　consider　running　messages。　You've　that　many　Runner　families　working　all　the　hours　of　a　Turn　and　using　youngsters　on　the　short　runs　to　keep　up　with　the　demand；　not　to　mention　what'll　happen　when　the　traces　are　laid　in　the　south。　The　queens　aren't　flying　to　mate　as　often　or　clutching　as　many；　scaling　down　now　that　the　end　of　this　Pass　is　in　sight；　so　I　don't　really　see　greens　and　blues　in　petition　with　Runners。　You've　never　been　upset　about　fire…lizards。〃
　　Torlo　snorted。　〃Only　a　few　of　them　can　be　trusted　to　deliver　messages。〃
　　〃That's　true　enough；〃　Haligon　agreed；　though　his　father's　queen；　Merga；　having　been　exceedingly　well　trained　by　Menolly；　had　always　proven　reliable。　〃And　no　Runner　has　ever　failed　to　bring　messages　through。〃　His　thought　went　to　Tenna；　out　on　the　frozen　traces　at　the　moment。
　　Torlo　regarded　him　thoughtfully。　〃Nor　will　we　ever。〃
　　〃So　what　is　really　bothering　you；　Stationmaster？〃
　　〃Those　SmithCraftHall　thingummies。。。　〃　Torlo　made　a　cradle　of　his　fingers；　scowling　as　he　tried　to　find　the　exact　word。
　　〃The　m　units？〃
　　〃Them！　Seen　one　myself。　People'll　be　able　to　'talk'　to　anyone。　Won't　need　Runners　to　take　messages　then。〃
　　Relief　made　Haligon　laugh。　〃No；　Torlo。　Can't　happen。〃
　　〃Why　not？〃　Torlo's　sharp　question　was　tinged　with　a　belligerence　he　rarely　displayed。
　　〃Too　expensive；〃　Haligon　blurted　the　words　through　his　laughter。　〃Simple　as　that。　Takes　Master　Bassage　and　his　Hall　months　to　make　the　things。　Have　to　get　the　elements　from　several　other　Halls。　And　they　have　a　short　range　here　in　the　north　because　there　isn't　a　satellite　relay。〃
　　〃A　what？〃
　　〃Like　the　Yoko　to　relay　the　signal。　Healer　Hall　has　to　put　up　the　relay　for　this　part　of　the　west　and　one　up　at　Tillek；　possibly　a　third　at　Telgar。　Two　in　the　east；　1　heard。　They'd　work　better　on　the　southern　continent　because　of　the　Yoko；　but　with　so　many　starting　out　holds　and　halls　down　there；　it'll　be　a　long　time　before　they　have　marks　for　that　sort　of　gadget。　My　father　will　use　Runners　for　a　long　time。　He　trusts　you。　For　all　he's　forward　looking　on　many　issues；　he　trusts　people　more　than　machines。　No；　Stationmaster；　Runners'll　be　necessary　for　as　long…as　long　as　they've　legs　to　run　with。　They　were　the　first　Craft　Fort　Hold　supported。　Turns　before　the　first　Weyr　was　established。　We'll　never　not　need　you；　Master　Torlo。〃
　　Torlo's　expression　had　cleared　as　Haligon　enumerated　the　problems　to　be　surmounted　by　the　new　technology。
　　〃Aivas　is　like　that；　isn't　it？　Shows　how　to　do　things　better　and　that　takes　time　all　in　itself。　Perhaps　that's　the　best　way。　No　need　to　have　things　when　we　don't　know　we　really　need　'em。〃　Torlo　rose；　tactfully　bringing　their　dialogue　to　an　end。
　　As　he　got　to　his　feet；　Haligon　wasn't　sure　whether　or　not　the　Stationmaster　had　agreed　to　help　the　Hold。
　　〃We　support　healers　road　and　trace；　Haligon；〃　Torlo　said　with　an　emphatic　nod　of　his　head　as　he　escorted　the　young　Lord　across　the　big　long…ceilinged　room。　〃Those　as　hears　will　give　a　word　to　the　wise　to　them　as　is　too　badly　informed　to　know　what's　what！〃
　　〃That's　what's　needed；　Torlo。〃
　　〃Myself；　or　Tenna；　will　tell　you。〃　The　Stationmaster　tipped　two　fing