amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第30节

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　　〃Go　back　to　sleep；　Menolly；〃　he　said　softly　and　watched　her；　with　the　deep　and　abiding　affection　he　had　for　his　extraordinarily　talented　mate；　as　she　cuddled　into　the　warm　spot　he　had　just　left。　He　picked　up　the　hand　light；　found　his　fleece…lined　house　shoes；　and　made　his　way　through　their　apartment；　down　the　stairs。　Ronchin；　who　was　on　duty　in　the　Hall；　was　turning　on　more　lights。　He　pointed　out　the　window　and　Sebell　saw　a　figure　running　down　the　steps　of　the　Hold；　toward　the　short　tunnel　that　linked　the　Hold　with　the　Hall。　Haligon；　probably；　Groghe's　usual　messenger。　He　was　not　particularly　surprised　to　see　a　dragon　settle　in　the　big　forecourt　of　the　Harper　Hall。　He　gestured　for　Ronchin　to　throw　up　the　bar　on　the　heavy　door　and　open　one　leaf　for　their　visitors。
　　〃Ruth　and　Jaxom　called　me　to　Ruatha；〃　N'ton　said　urgently。　〃There's　a　meteor　or　a　et　in　the　east；　showering　stuff。　Had　a　look　at　it　through　those　binoculars　of　Jaxom's。　It　isn't　a　late　Ghost　and；　for　all　it's　in　the　east；　it　most　certainly　is　not　a　return　of　the　Red　Star。〃
　　〃Red　Star？〃　Haligon；　just　entering　the　Hall；　repeated　that　with　scornful　incredulity。　〃Couldn't　be。　Father　thinks　the　Abominators　are　up　to　something。〃
　　〃Not　this；〃　N'ton　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃I　spoke　with　Sharra；　as　Jaxom　and　Ruth　had　gone　straight　to　Landing。　There　are　reports　of　seeing　these　shooting　flares　from　Telgar；　Benden；　Cove；　and　Landing。　There'll　be　more　messages　in；　Sebell；　so　I　thought　you　ought　to　be　aware。〃
　　〃Then　what　is　it？〃　Haligon　asked；　straightening　hurriedly　donned　clothes　and　trying　to　look　more　alert　than　cold　and　sleepy。
　　〃That's　what　we'll　have　to　find　out；〃　Sebell　said。　He　motioned　them　to　go　into　his　office。　〃Bring　us　some　klah；　Ronchin；　will　you？　I'm　sure　the　Harper　Hall　will　be　the　first　to　know　what's　going　to　keep　us　up　all　night。〃　He　stirred　up　the　fire　and　threw　more　black　stone　on　it。
　　〃It　has　nothing　to　do　with　Abominators；　does　it？〃　Haligon　asked。　〃I　told　Father　it　couldn't　have。〃
　　〃How？〃　N'ton　asked　with　some　exasperation。　Lord　Groghe　had　been　seeing　Abominators　in　anything　unusual。　He　strode　to　the　big　map　of　Pern　hanging　on　the　wall　and　pointed　as　he　explained。　〃Watchrider　at　Telgar　saw　it　and　at　the　same　time　it　appeared　to　be　directly　overhead　at　Benden；　visible　from　Cove　Hold　and　Landing。　That　would　make　it　very　high　up；　probably　above　the　atmosphere。　I　doubt　even　Aivas　could　have　rigged　such　a　display　over　such　an　immense　distance。　So　tell　Lord　Groghe　to　discard　any　notion　of　an　Abominator　scheme。　Ramoth　said　Golanth　and　F'lessan　have　gone　to　Landing。　They'll　report　directly　to　her。　We'll　know　as　soon　as　she　does。〃
　　Haligon's　face　was　thoughtful；　obviously　trying　to　figure　out　what　to　say　to　allay　his　father's　alarm　when　Menolly；　well　wrapped　in　a　robe；　arrived　with　a　tray　of　steaming　cups　of　klah。
　　〃I　didn't　mean　to　wake　you；〃　Sebell　said。
　　〃You　didn't　but　Haligon's　boots　did；〃　and　she　gave　the　Holder　a　mock…angry　scowl　as　she　passed　cups　around。
　　〃You're　very　good　to　Lord　Groghe；　you　know；〃　she　added　in　quiet　approval。
　　〃Then　it　has　to　have　e　from　beyond　Pern；〃　Sebell　said。　〃Abominators　cannot　have　contrived　that。〃
　　〃Whatever　it　is；〃　Menolly　said　cheerfully；　handing　Haligon　his　cup　of　klah；　〃the　Abominators　will　be　sure　that　somehow　Aivas　arranged　it　Turns　ago。〃
　　〃How？〃　demanded　the　three　men　in　chorus。
　　She　shrugged。　〃Or　maybe　the　Red　Star　is　on　its　way　back？　You　know　how　many　people　feel　that　we　should　never　have　tampered　with　it　in　the　first　place。〃
　　
LANDING…LOCAL　TIME　10：12　MID…MORNING…1。9。31
　　Fairs　of　fire…lizards　blanketed　the　air　above　Landing　as　F'lessan　arrived。　They　were　volatile　at　any　time；　and；　on　this　morning；　were　exceedingly　raucous　and　flying　in　intricate　acrobatic　displays；　screaming　in　cacophonous　descants。　Their　antics　did　not；　however；　obscure　the　next　burst　from　the　object　in　the　sky。　It　amazed　F'lessan　that　the　phenomenon　of　a　fireball；　which　could　seem　directly　above　Benden；　could　be　visible　in　almost　the　same　position　here　at　Landing。　It　was　brighter；　which　meant；　he　thought；　that　it　was　very　bright　indeed　to　be　seen　in　daylight　over　Landing。　And　casting　odd　shadows；　ing　from　the　west；　which　was　eerier。　He　hoped　that　Yoko　would　have　noted　the　increase　in　its　magnitude。　Could　it　be　a　et；　swooping　down　so　close　to　Pern？　Hopefully；　he　thought；　on　a　hyperbolic　orbit　that　would　give　everyone　a　beautiful　display；　a　bad　fright；　and　then　disappear；　still　shedding　part　of　its　mass。　Unusual！　Most　unusual！　Exhilarating；　too；　in　a　scary　way！
　　He　saw　more　dragons　emerge　from　between　and　recognized　Monarth；　with　green　Path　on　his　right。　So　Monaco　Bay　was　curious；　too。　A　host　more　of　dragons　appeared。　These　were　occluding　his　view　of　the　fireball；　clearly　visible　on　the　northeastern　horizon。　He　shouldn't　waste　any　time　getting　to　the　Interface　office　and　Yoko's　screens。　He　wondered　how　long　the　old　ship's　telemetry　had　been　monitoring　it。　This　would　be　much　more　interesting　than　astronomy　accounts　of　things　that　had　happened　a　long　time　in　the　past。
　　Put　me　down；　Golly。
　　There're　too　many　people。　Golanth　said；　backwinging　strongly　as　he　was　unable　to　find　enough　space　in　the　dense　swarm　of　people　in　front　of　Admin；　nervous　fire…lizards　dipping　and　flitting　above　them。
　　They'll　move。　F'lessan　had　to　see　the　thing；　the　fireball；　whatever　it　was；　land。
　　They've　nowhere　to　move　to；　Golanth　told　him。
　　Cursing　under　his　breath；　F'lessan　examined　the　mass　of　heads　and　bodies；　the　ring　of　guards　around　the　door　preventing　entry。　It　would　take　time　to　push　through　that　crowd　and　he　was　boiling　with　eagerness　to　see　Yoko's　telemetry　reports。
　　Land　on　the　roof；　he　told　his　dragon。
　　But　I'm　heavy。
　　Just　get　me　close　enough　to　drop　on　it。　F'lessan　swung　his　right　leg　over　the　last　neck　ridge；　slightly　swaying　with　Golanth's　maneuvering　to　get　directly　over　the　roof。　Golanth　raised　his　foreleg。　This　was　an　exercise　rider　and　dragon　had　perfected　in　drill　for　use　when　the　dragon　couldn't　land　and　the　rider　had　to　reach　the　ground。　F'lessan　smoothly　dropped　to　the　sturdy　forearm；　his　feet　dangling　in　the　air　as　he　let　his　hands　slide　down　to　Golanth's　paw；　hanging　on　to　the　talons。　Right　over　the　entrance；　F'lessan　added。　I'll　just　drop　to　the　ground。　Someone'll　break　my　fall。
　　His　right　foot　connected　with　something　solid。　He　dropped　to　all　fours　on　the　roof；　sliding　down　backward　until　his　feet　caught　on　the　drain。　Slipped　on　that　and　slithered　until　his　knees　lodged　briefly　in　the　rain　gully。
　　〃Drop；　dragonrider；〃　someone　below　him　shouted。　〃We'll　catch　you。〃
　　Hands　tugged　at　the　toes　of　his　boot。　He　went　limp；　mitted　to　the　downward　fall。　Instantly　his　ankles　were　caught；　then　hands　fastened　on　his　knees；　letting　him　down；　supporting　his　thighs。　In　the　next　moment　he　was　on　his　feet；　being　congratulated　and　enthusiastically　thumped　for　the　success　of　his　daring　stunt。
　　Made　it；　he　said　somewhat　smugly　to　Golanth　who　was　hovering　above。
　　〃Thanks！　Thanks；　thanks！〃　he　said；　skewing　around　to　those　behind　him　and　then　turned　to　the　door。　〃Benden　Weyr's　orders；〃　he　said　to　the　two　guards　who　were　preventing　anyone　from　entering。　The　crowd　behind　was　bombarding　him　with　a　babble　of　questions。　〃I'm　F'lessan。　Lemme　in；〃　he　shouted　above　the　tumult。
　　They　did；　immediately　resuming　their　defensive　postures。　F'lessan　strode　forward；　wondering　how　much　time　that　stunt　had　taken；　opening　his　jacket　and　peeling　the　helmet　off。　She's　here；　Golanth　said。　Which　she？　F'lessan's　tone　was　amused。　Both　of　them。　She　studies　stars；　you　know；　Golanth　added。　She's　shared　night　watches　at　Cove　Hold。
　　Then　please　inform　Zaranth　that　F'lessan　requires　her　rider's　assistance　in　the　Interface　office。
　　F'lessan　turned　back　to　the　door　guards。　〃The　Monaco　Weyrleader's　on　his　way　in。〃　He　had　to　shout　to　be　heard　above　the　babble　outside。　〃See　that　green　rider　Tai　es　in；　too；　as　quickly　as　possible。〃　Then　to　all　the　others　shouting　questions；　he　smiled　and　waved；　saying　〃We'll　sort　it　all　out　and　report　to　you　shortly。〃
　　Monarth　said　he　saw　how　you　got　in；　F'lessan；　and　Golanth　rumbled　with　amusement。　They'll　　try　it。
　　Maybe　Mirrim　will　break　a　leg；　F'lessan　muttered；　feeling　uncharitable　toward　her。　As　he　continued；　he　nodded　in　a　blithe；　unconcerned　manner　to　a　knot　of　anxious　men　and　women　at　the　other　end　of　the　reception　area　and　hurried　down　the　right…hand　hall　to　the　Yokohama　Interface　offices。
　　At　the　end　of　that　hall；　the　door　to　the　Aivas　chamber　was　open。　He　felt　the　usual　grab　at　his　throat　when　he　saw　the　blank　screen　that　had　once　given　humans　access　to　the　most　amazing　intelligence　on　Pern。　He　swallowed　the　lump　and　turned　left　into　the　room　where；　seven　Turns　ago；　he　had　learned　how　to　build　a　puter。
　　There　had　been　significant　additions　to　the　original　office；　of　course；　to　deal　with　all　the　data　sent　down　from　the　Yokohama；　the　one　remaining　colony　ship。　Ordinarily　the　office　was　pleasantly　busy；　people　at　the　four　banks　of　workstations　that　were　arranged　back…to…back　in　the　center　of　the　large　room。　Now　an　odd　anticipatory　silence　dominated　the　room　as　all　eyes　were　trained　on　the　wall　monitor；　which　F'lessan　couldn't　see