amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第40节

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　　〃He　respects　me；〃　Idarolan　said　with　one　of　his　fierce　growls。　〃Get　him　organized　and　we　can　proceed　on　to　assist　at　Southern　Boll；〃　he　added　with　a　quick　sideways　glance　at　young　Janissian。　He'd　heard　good　things　about　her；　taking　hold　with　her　grandmother　ever　since　old　Sangel　became　so　erratic。　This　might　be　an　excellent　time　for　the　girl　to　show　her　leadership　qualities。　She　was　the　best　of　Sangel's　blood。　〃Unless；　of　course；　Master　Curran；〃　and　he　deferred　amiably　to　the　successor　of　his　rank；　〃you　have　need　of　me。〃
　　〃I　have　need　of　you；　Master　Idarolan；〃　Ciparis　of　Nerat　put　in　quickly；　almost　apologetically。　〃Nerat　has　more　coastline　to　be　affected。〃　He　glanced　at　F'lar。　〃We'll　need　so　much　help。〃
　　〃Sweepriders　are　already　out　informing　holders；〃　F'lar　said；　〃but；　Master　Idarolan；　if　you　will　share　those　invaluable　charts　of　yours？〃
　　〃They　can　be　copied；　indeed；　they　can。〃　Idarolan　slid　out　the　relevant　sheets。
　　Idarolan　was；　F'lar　thought；　the　only　one　who　had　e　at　all　prepared　to　this　meeting。　An　early　riser　by　nature；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　scanning　the　morning　skies　for　weather　signs；　so　he　had　seen　the　fireball。　He　was　also　aware　of　the　phenomenon　of　tsunami　and　had　immediately　consulted　his　charts　and　logbooks。　As　Erragon　had　done；　he　had　used　red　for　the　most　vulnerable　seacoast；　orange　for　danger；　and　blue　for　easily　accessible　highlands。　Before　the　Benden　Weyrleader　appeared　to　ask　for　his　help；　he　had　a　pretty　good　idea　how　serious　the　situation　was。
　　〃Here！〃　With　a　deft　finger　Idarolan　extracted　an　open　sheet　and　flicked　it　toward　F'nor。　〃Toric　likes　charts　and　maps　and　details。　This'll　give　you　what　he　needs　to　know。　He'd　have…let's　see。。。〃　Idarolan　turned　his　eyes　up；　mentally　figuring。
　　〃Eleven　hours；　minus　the　time　of　this　meeting；〃　Erragon　said　with　an　apologetic　nod　to　the　old　MasterFishman　for　giving　the　answer；　〃before　the　tsunamis　meet　the　shoreline　of　his　hold。〃
　　〃At　that　he'll　get　off　lightly。　And　consider　himself　ill…used　to　be　assaulted　from　east　and　west；〃　Lessa　said；　her　expression　inscrutable。　F'nor　gave　her　a　long　wide…eyed　look。　She　responded　with　a　smirk　as　Erragon　agreed　with　her。
　　〃But　not　entirely。　He　has　many　seaside　holdings。〃
　　〃Southern　Boll　will　be　hit　harder；〃　Idarolan　said；　nodding　solemnly　at　Janissian。　〃And　Tillek。〃
　　〃More　rock　face　than　shallows　along　that　south…facing　coast　of　ours；〃　Ranrel　said；　speaking　almost　for　the　first　time；　he'd　been　taking　copious　notes。　〃We　are　very　lucky　that　there　has　been　such　advance　warning。〃
　　〃The　Yokohama　has　more　than　justified　her　continued　existence；〃　Idarolan　said　with　a　slightly　sanctimonious　air；　glancing　sideways　at　Kashman　of　Keroon。
　　〃I　wonder　what　the　Abominators　will　say　about　this；〃　Jaxom　remarked　in　a　deliberately　languid　tone。
　　Into　the　dismayed　silence　that　greeted　that　ment；　F'nor　noisily　pushed　back　his　chair；　reached　across　the　table　for　the　sheets　Idarolan　had　sent　in　his　direction　and　finished　the　last　of　the　klah　in　his　cup。
　　〃C'mon；　then！　We　can　send　a　fire…lizard　to　apprise　Sintary　of　our　arrival。〃　He　looked　to　Lessa　and　F'lar。
　　〃Might　as　well；〃　Idarolan　said；　also　rising　to　his　feet。　〃I　shan't　be　long；　Lord　Ciparis；　and　then　I'm　yours　to　mand。　But　I'll　point　out　that　the　Keys；　and　Long　Beach　at　the　head　of　Nerat　River；　will　reduce　the　violence　of　the　tsunami　there。　The　Tip　of　Nerat；　Bent　Ridge；　Grethel；　Saluda；　and　Berea　will　be　affected　and　the　river　may　flood　all　the　way　up　to　Waneta。　I'll　be　back。〃
　　〃I'll　return　Janissian　to　Southern　Boll；〃　Jaxom　said；　〃once　we've　copies　of　all　this　for　you　and　Curran；　Ranrel；　and　for　us。〃
　　
BACK　AT　LANDING…LOCAL　TIME…3：40
　　The　instinct　that　saved　dragons　from　colliding　during　Threadfall　kept　Golanth　and　his　rider　from　disaster　as　they　came　out　of　between　over　a　Landing　that；　at　first；　seemed　covered　by　dragon　wings；　like　a　vast　multicolored　sunshade。
　　Ramoth　says　to　land　on　the　square。　We　are　to　rest！　And；　without　waiting　for　F'lessan's　ment；　Golanth　pivoted　wearily　on　one　wing　tip；　gliding　over　to　the　edge　of　the　wide　Gather　square。　F'lessan　had　time　enough　in　that　spin　to　see　Ramoth；　perched　behind　and　above　Admin；　wings　half　open　as　she　constantly　swung　her　head　from　side　to　side　across　the　area　below　her。　Two　more　queens…the　juniors　from　Benden　who　were　accustomed　to　working　with　Ramoth…sat　on　either　side；　slightly　below　her　position。　They　also　were　watching　and；　quite　likely；　directing　dragon　traffic　in　and　out　of　Landing。
　　Golanth　was　making　his　way　toward　the　roasting　pits　and　the　nearest　open　space。
　　She　is　here。
　　Wearily　F'lessan　blinked　his　eyes　at　the　several　green　dragons　immediately　below　him。
　　Both　shes？　F'lessan　asked；　trying　to　inject　some　humor　into　his　voice。　His　body　felt　as　battered　as　if　they　had　been　rolled　by　a　tsunami。
　　Both。　I　land。　Should　you　see　a　healer？
　　I'll　be　fine　when　I've　had　some　rest。
　　Golanth's　thought　rumbled　with　disbelief　but　he　landed；　flicking　his　wings　up　so　that　the　tips　and　claws　touched　over　his　head　and　he　didn't　touch　the　greens　on　either　side　of　his　chosen　landing　site。　Zaranth　was　on　his　right；　several　shades　lighter　than　she　had　been　that　morning。　The　other　green　had　curled　her　head　under　one　wing　and　was　asleep；　her　rider's　head　pillowed　on　her　wrist。　With　narrowed；　blurry　eyes；　Zaranth　watched　Golanth　settle。　When　the　green　extended　her　head　to　nuzzle　the　bronze's　shoulder；　F'lessan；　tired　as　he　was；　felt　a　spurt　of　surprise。　The　touch　was　more　caress　than　acknowledgment。
　　She　likes　me；　Golanth　said。
　　F'lessan　saw　that　the　green　cradled　Tai　on　her　forelegs；　the　girl's　sprawled　figure　covered　by　two　beautifully　marked　feline　pelts。
　　So；　F'lessan　thought；　she　did　save　them。
　　〃F'lessan？〃　Someone　pulled　at　his　leg。　He　looked　down　at　S'lan；　amazed　to　see　his　son　in　the　south。　The　boy　and　his　brown　Norenth　were　only　just　out　of　the　weyrling　barracks。
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　Grinning　proudly；　S'lan　held　up　a　small　cup。
　　〃All　of　us　were　brought　down　to　help。　Healer　says　to　drink　this　down　and　then　dismount　and　eat。〃
　　He　climbed　onto　Golanth's　foreleg　to　hand　the　cup　to　the　bronze　rider　and　F'lessan　tossed　back　the　liquid。　Just　as　well；　he　never　would　have　sipped　the　beverage　if　he　had　sampled　the　taste　of　it。　What　a　taste！　Worse　than　the　seaholder's　wine！　It　did　revive　him　enough　to　dismount；　if　only　to　eat　something　to　get　rid　of　the　taste　of　it　in　his　mouth。　Golanth　groaned　as　he　sank　to　his　belly；　stretching　out　as　much　as　he　could　without　interfering　with　the　tired　dragons　on　either　side　of　him。　Using　Golanth's　shoulder　as　a　prop；　F'lessan　slid　down　to　a　sitting　position　against　his　dragon。
　　〃Help　me　out　of　my　jacket；　Sellie。〃　I　must　remember　to　call　him　S'lan　now；　F'lessan　thought。　〃Hang　it　on　Golanth　to　dry；　will　you？〃
　　That　done；　he　took　the　breadroll　the　boy　offered。
　　〃You　have　to　rest；〃　S'lan　said；　scowling　at　his　father　and　looking；　at　that　moment；　like　his　grandmother。　He　unslung　the　two　canteens　looped　over　his　shoulder。　〃One's　water。　Don't　drink　the　klah　in　the　other　one　yet。　It'll　keep　warm。　Ramoth　says　every　dragon　and　rider　has　time　to　rest。〃
　　〃Ramoth　says　we　have　time？　Good。　Do　I　get　back　what　time　I　lost？〃　F'lessan　murmured　facetiously；　more　to　himself　than　for　his　son's　ears。　〃Thanks；　S'lan；〃　he　added。
　　F'lessan　glanced　slowly　across　the　panorama　of　so　many　dragons　sprawled　in　or　near　the　square。　Sticking　the　breadroll　between　his　teeth；　he　put　the　canteens　on　the　ground　beside　him。　Was　Lessa　aware　of　how　much　his　son　looked　like　her？　Dark　haired；　dark　eyed；　with　a　certain　familiar　tilt　to　the　chin？　Scamp！
　　〃No　one　argues　with　Ramoth；　you　know；〃　the　boy　said。　〃Gotta　go！　I'll　be　back。〃
　　It　seemed　to　F'lessan　more　like　a　threat　but　he　chewed　a　huge　bite　of　the　roll…the　bread　was　crusty　and　still　slightly　warm。　With　his　free　hand；　he　slipped　the　sweat…soaked　helmet　off　his　head　and　spread　it　where　it　could　dry。　Shards！　That　tsunami　shed　a　lot　of　water！　Wearily；　he　looked　over　at　Tai　but　she　was　sound　asleep。　She　was　lucky。　Would　he　see　that　damned　wave　hovering　over　him　if　he　slept？　Or　himself；　Golanth；　and　Binness　plastered　like　insects　on　the　cliff？　A　vision　out　of　a　nightmare　sure　to　bee　one！　Golanth　really　was　the　best　dragon　on　all　Pern。
　　Of　course　I　am；　murmured　the　bronze　immodestly。
　　F'lessan　chuckled　around　the　last　piece　of　the　breadroll　that　he　barely　tasted；　he　was　so　tired。　He　swallowed　the　last　of　it　with　a　sip　from　the　water　canteen。　He　could　hardly　keep　his　eyes　open。　Had　there　been　a　dash　of　fellis　in　that　healer's　cup？　He　took　a　long　swallow　of　water。
　　Golanth　groaned　and　dropped　his　muzzle　to　one　foreleg。　F'lessan　reached　up　to　pat　the　right　eye　ridge；　nuzzled　himself　into　a　fortable　spot　against　Golanth's　shoulder；　and　immediately　fell　asleep。
　　
HARPER　HALL…5：00　IN　THE　MORNING；
AND　SOUTHERN　HOLD…2：00　IN　THE　MORNING…1。9。31
　　At　wintry　Fort；　F'nor　and　Idarolan　informed　Sebell　of　the　dangers　and　the　details。　Idarolan　had　acquired　sufficient　extra　copies　of　the　projected　tsunami　path　through　the　Southern　and　Western　Seas　to　give　a　set　to　the　MasterHarper。　The　Interface　office　had　the　only　automatic　copier；　another　of　the　many　te