amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第37节

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　　〃Sit　by　me；　Toronas；〃　Lessa　said；　smiling　encouragingly　at　Janissian　who　remained　close　to　Sharra　and　Jaxom。　The　Southern　Boll　girl　posed　herself　to　listen　but　her　eyes　were　darting　to　the　red…streaked　maps　and　then　back　to　the　other　members　of　this　emergency　meeting。　Ranrel　nodded　a　greeting　to　her　and　Kashman　stared　boldly。
　　〃If　you　will　begin　again；　Journeyman　Erragon；〃　Lessa　said　formally；　〃then　everyone　will　have　a　better　understanding　of　why　this　meeting　is　so　vital。　Some　of　us　have　less　time　than　others　and　none　of　us　have　time　to　waste。〃
　　Just　as　Erragon　was　about　to　explain　how　the　multiple　waves　would　inundate　the　southern　coastline；　a　rumbling　boom　made　him　stagger。　Lessa　clutched　at　the　arm　of　her　chair　as　the　awesome　noise　vibrated　through　the　soles　of　her　feet。
　　〃What　was　that？〃　she　cried。　They　could　both　hear　the　shouts　and　screams　from　the　hallway。
　　〃That；〃　Erragon　said　on　his　way　to　the　door；　〃was　the　ground　shock　wave　from　the　fireball　impact。〃　He　glanced　at　the　clock。　〃Right　on　time！　Excuse　me！〃　He　hauled　open　the　door。　〃It's　all　right！　That's　the　shock　wave　reaching　us！〃　He　shouted　to　those　milling　in　fright　in　the　hall　and　closed　the　door　behind　him；　leaving　Lessa　to　contemplate　the　multiple　disasters　of　the　day。　
　　
　　SUNRISE　CLIFF　SEAHOLD…TIMED　BACK
　　The　three　dragons　arrived　at　Sunrise　Cliff　Seahold　circumspectly；　above　the　first　rank　of　dunes　that　marked　high　tides。　The　dunes　would　no　doubt　be　wiped　away；　dragged　back　by　the　tsunami；　F'lessan　thought。　The　dragons　glided　along　the　shore　to　where　the　granite　escarpment　had　been　broken　during　an　earthquake；　tumbling　boulders；　creating　the　wide　shallow　bay　and　a　defile　along　which　a　stream　now　found　its　way　to　the　sea。　Beyond　the　stream；　the　escarpment　began　to　rise　again；　ending　in　another　height　on　the　eastern　arm。　Along　the　white　sand　beach；　they　could　see　small　fishing　craft　pulled　up。　Don't　let　them　talk　you　into　rescuing　their　boats；　T'gellan　had　said；　but　maybe　they　could　somehow　sling。。。　
　　Not　before　people；　Golanth　told　him　sternly。　People　we　save　today。
　　It　looked　like　the　entire　population　of　the　Seahold　was　out；　standing　on　the　dunes；　gazing　northward。　White　sands　sloped　down　to　the　little　waves　lapping　serenely　up　the　wide　beach　with　a　picturesqueness　that　would　shortly　be　devastated。　They　had　barely　two　hours　to　evacuate。　F'lessan　sensed　that　was　not　going　to　be　easy。　Who　would　believe　his　tale　of　catastrophe　in　the　making？　Everyone　was　so　intent　on　the　fiery　ball　inclining　now　toward　its　impact。　The　air　was　so　crystalline　clear！
　　There　were　twelve　holds　leaning　up　against　the　orange　cliffs　where　the　granite　began　to　rise　from　the　sands。　These　seaholders　had　done　well　in　the　fifteen　or　so　Turns　since　they'd　settled　here；　F'lessan　thought。　They　wouldn't　abandon　their　prosperity　so　easily。　Babes　were　being　held　up　to　see　the　fireball；　and　a　scatter　of　children；　in　various　states　of　dress；　had　followed　their　parents　to　behold　the　wonder！　Near　to　a　hundred　people　in　all；　F'lessan　estimated　quickly。　Some　of　the　older　folk　would　have　a　hard　time　scrambling　up　the　switchback　way　to　the　safety　of　the　cliff　height。
　　Dolphins！　Golanth　said。　Startled；　F'lessan　switched　his　gaze　to　the　sea。　Scarcely　fifty　meters　offshore；　where　the　shallows　sloped　into　deeper；　bluer　water；　the　curving　bodies　of　eight　or　ten　dolphins　dove　in　and　out：　but　not　idly。　He　could　hear　their　high…pitched　screeing。　He　was　accustomed　enough　to　their　graceful　movements　to　realize　that　their　antics　today　were　frantic。　Three　rose；　tail…walking；　then　splashed　heavily　back　into　the　water；　their　dorsal　fins　cutting　the　waves　they　made。　Their　squeeing　was　shrill　though　he　couldn't　hear　what　they　might　be　saying。
　　So　they　know！　Relief　diminished　at　least　that　worry　from　F'lessan's　mind。　Natua　and　her　calf；　all　the　Monaco　Bay　pod；　would　be　somewhere　safe。　I　can't　hear　them　but　it's　obvious　this　pod　is　trying　to　warn　the　seaholders！
　　If　they　are；　no　one's　watching　them；　Golanth　said；　gliding　in　to　a　landing。　We　will　be　more　noticeable。
　　〃Look！〃　One　of　the　youngsters　had　noticed　the　dolphins。　〃Da；　da；　the　dolphins！　They're　squeaking　their　warning　calls。　But　there's　no　storm！　What's　wrong　with　them？〃　So　the　boy　was　the　first　to　see　the　dragons　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　heard　the　grunts　as　dragon　feet　made　contact　and　skidded　in　the　soft　sand；　backwinging　adroitly　to　a　halt。
　　〃They　are　warning　you；〃　F'lessan　shouted；　hands　cupped　about　his　mouth。　〃That　fireball　in　the　sky。　It　will　land　in　the　sea　and　cause　tidal　waves。　Worse　than　the　worst　storm　you　ve　ever　been　in。〃
　　〃We　can　hear　you；　dragonrider；〃　said　one　of　the　men；　turning　slightly　toward　F'lessan　without　taking　his　eyes　off　the　fascinating　orange　ball　that　was　far　more　of　a　spectacle　than　three　dragons。
　　〃They've　gone！〃　cried　the　youngster　with　keen　disappointment。　He　whirled　at　the　dragonriders　as　if　their　appearance　had　frightened　the　dolphins。
　　F'lessan　was　intensely　relieved　that　not　a　single　dorsal　fin　remained　visible。　They　might　be　cutting　it　fine　to　reach　safe　depths；　but　they'd　kept　their　pact　with　humans　once　again　in　giving　an　alarm。
　　〃The　dolphins。。。　the　shipfish；〃　he　continued　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　reach　those　still　mesmerized　by　the　vision；　〃are　warning　you。　Surely　you　know　they　consider　that　their　duty　to　all　sea　folk。〃　He　pointed　at　the　man　who　had　challenged　him。
　　〃Yeyah；　they　let　us　know　where　fish　schools；　when　squalls're　ing；　but　never　seen　'em　act　like　that　before。〃　The　man　preferred　to　watch　the　sinking　fireball　than　attend　the　dragonrider。
　　〃Look；　man；　it's　not　just　Thread　that　falls　from　the　skies！〃
　　F'lessan　said。　〃We're　here　to　move　you　to　the　cliffs；　up　there；　high　enough　to　be　away　from　the　wave。〃
　　〃Wave？〃　Another　man　walked　toward　F'lessan；　his　expression　patronizingly　amiable。　〃We're　well　above　the　high　tide。。。〃
　　〃Not　this　one；〃　F'lessan　said。
　　〃Ah；　now；　bronze　rider；　I　can　see　you　ain't　even　wearing　Monaco's　badge。　What　call　have　you　to…〃
　　〃We're　Monaco！〃　C'reel　said　and　St'ven　nodded　emphatically。　〃Listen　to　F'lessan；　Golanth's　rider！〃
　　〃We're　evacuating　you；〃　St'ven　added。　〃All　the　coastal　holds。　Every　Weyr　is　helping！〃
　　F'lessan　swung　his　leg　over　and　slid　down；　gesturing　for　the　brown　riders　to　dismount。　Maybe　face…to…face；　not　perched　on　a　bronze　dragon；　he　could　instill　some　urgency　for　the　present　crisis。
　　〃Who's　Seaholder？〃　he　asked；　striding　as　fast　as　he　could　across　the　soft　sand　to　the　crowd。
　　〃Me！〃　The　first　man　jerked　a　thick；　scarred　thumb　at　his　tanned　chest。　He　wore　the　customary　sleeveless　top　and　shorts。　He　had　strong　hairy　legs　and　was　barefoot；　toes　splayed　in　the　sand。　〃Binness；　Journeyman；　FishCraftHall！〃
　　〃Journeyman　Binness；　we　are　acting　under　orders　from　T'gellan；　your　Weyrleader　and〃…F'lessan　had　a　sudden　surge　of　inspiration…〃MasterFishman　Curran；　to　evacuate　all　your　people　to　high　ground。〃　He　gestured　broadly　to　the　western　arm　of　the　cliff；　higher　by　a　half　dragon…length　than　the　eastern　one。
　　Binness　chortled。　〃Don't　try　that　one　on　me；　bronze　rider。　The　Master's　way　east　at　Tillek　as　he　should　be。〃
　　〃It　makes　no　difference　where　he　should　be；　Journeyman；〃　C'reel　said；　losing　patience。　〃He　is　at　Landing；　meeting　with　everyone　trying　to　save　lives。〃
　　〃Binness；　wake　up　and　listen！〃　F'lessan　said。　〃When　that　thing　hits　the　ocean；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　bit　of　the　fireball　still　visible　on　the　horizon；　〃the　biggest　wave　you　ever　had　nightmares　about　is　going　to　e　straight　to　this　bay。　There's　no　Ring　island　in　its　way　to　break　its　crest　and　this　holding　is　going　to　be　drowned！〃　He　scissored　both　hands　together　to　indicate　the　totality　of　the　disaster。　He　caught　sight　of　his　watch；　visible　as　his　jacket　cuff　pulled　up。　〃In　one　minute；　that　fireball　hits　the　ocean。　You　might　be　able　to　see　the　cloud　of　steam　that　the　impact　creates！〃　Again　he　pointed　northward。
　　〃It's　gone！〃　a　woman　cried；　flagging　her　hand　in　a　pathetic　farewell　to　the　novelty　the　fireball　had　presented　to　an　isolated　munity。
　　F'lessan　closed　his　eyes　at　the　waste　of　time。　Two　hours　to　move　over　a　hundred　people；　and　whatever　possessions　they　could　grab；　and　he　hadn't　even　managed　to　get　them　to　see　the　gravity　of　their　peril。
　　〃You've　a　far…seer；〃　he　shouted；　abruptly　noticing　the　one　slung　in　a　holster　at　Binness's　side。　〃Take　a　good　look！〃
　　Binness　did　use　the　glass；　more　as　an　acmodation　to　the　dragonrider's　whim　than　because　he　expected　to　see　anything。　It　took　him　more　precious　time　to　focus　the　instrument。　Only　because　F'lessan　knew　exactly　in　which　direction　to　look　did　he　see　the　top　of　the　rising　cloud。
　　〃Sompin's　there；　Binness；〃　one　of　the　net…bearers　said。　〃He's　right　about　that。　You　know　my　far…sight's　good。〃
　　〃Yeyah；〃　Binness　grudgingly　admitted。　〃Probably　a　storm。〃　He　collapsed　the　telescope　and　returned　it　to　its　keeper。
　　〃Dolphins　was　warning　us　then；〃　another　fisherman　put　in　his　opinion。
　　〃Why。。。　will。。。　you。。。　not。。。　believe。。。　me？〃　F'lessan　demanded；　spacing　his　words　as　he　sensed　the　passage　of　such　valuable　time。　〃Pack　your　belongings！　We'll　convey　children；　your　aunties　and　uncles　first。〃
　　The　reaction　of　the　women　was　to