amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第41节

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e　office　had　the　only　automatic　copier；　another　of　the　many　technological　wonders　that　were　ing　in　so　very　useful。　Considering　the　panic　of　drum　messages　into　the　Harper　Hall　from　those　minor　holds　and　halls　that　had　drummers；　Sebell　needed　accurate　information　to　give　them。　It　was　still　night　in　the　west　but　the　constant　drums　had　interrupted　the　sleep　of　many　and　lights　were　on　in　cotholds　as　well　as　in　Fort's　great　facade。　A　messenger　came　running　up　from　the　Healer　Hall　with　queries　from　Master　Oldive　as　to　where　he　was　to　send　healers　to　help　in　this　emergency　of　which　he'd　like　pertinent　details　so　he　could　organize　his　craftsmen　and　…women。
　　〃Have　you　time　for　something　to　eat　and　drink？〃　Sebell　asked　when　the　core　of　the　emergency　had　been　explained　to　him。
　　〃No；　it's　earlier　at　Southern　Hold　and　we'd　best　not　delay　explaining　it　all　to　Toric；〃　F'nor　said；　grimacing。
　　〃He'll　demand　to　know　why　he's　had　to　wait　to　learn　about　the　fireball；〃　Sebell　added。　Then　he　chuckled；　his　eyes　bright　in　the　gleam　of　the　Hall's　night　lamps。
　　〃I　could　use　a　laugh；〃　F'nor　said。
　　〃I　think　he　may　regret　having　so　many…ah；　shall　we　say　undisclosed…coastal　holdings？〃　Sebell　snorted；　his　expression　amused。　〃Truth　will　out。　K'van　probably　knows。〃
　　〃We'd　best　go。　He　and　Sintary　will　be　waiting　for　us　at　the　old　Weyr　site。〃
　　〃We　will　try　to　defuse　rumor　with　fact；〃　Sebell　said。
　　A　task　that　F'nor　did　not　envy　him。
　　Idarolan　gave　a　malicious　smile。　〃Keep　ears　open　for　what　those　seaworm　Abominators　spread。〃
　　〃It's　a　natural　disaster；　isn't　it？〃　F'nor　remarked。
　　〃Reported　by　the　Yokohama；〃　Sebell　demurred。
　　〃And　sharding　fortunate　we　are　to　have　at　least　one　eye　on　the　skies　above；〃　Idarolan　said　in　his　caustic　fashion。
　　F'nor　thought　about　timing　it；　there　was　no　question　in　F'nor's　mind　that　Toric's　informers　would　eventually　mention　the　exact　minute　and　hour　Landing　had　recognized　the　fireball　as　a　threat；　but　he　decided　against　making　the　effort　just　as　Canth　spoke。
　　Ramoth　said　not　to！　We　do　not　know　what　else　we　will　have　to　do　today。
　　All　right；　Canth。　I'm　chastised。
　　You　are　not！　his　dragon　replied　in　mild　protest。
　　You　know　me　too　well。
　　Another　drum　message　rolled　in　and　with　a　backward　wave；　Sebell　trotted　up　the　steps　to　deal　with　it。　Once　sure　that　Idarolan　was　seated　fortably　again　behind　him；　F'nor　gave　Canth　a　vivid　view　of　Southern　Hold's　rocky　cliffs…at　night。
　　Ruth　is　not　the　only　dragon　who　knows　when　he　is；　was　Canth's　exit　remark。
　　F'nor　experienced　an　odd　dislocation　as　they　arrived　over　Southern　Hold；　the　peaceful　sight　of　the　riding　lights　of　four　coastal　ships　anchored　in　the　harbor　and　night　glows　up　the　harbor　steps：　all　serene　here。　Landing　had　been　chaotic！　Fort　Hold　had　been　alive　with　activity　and　tension。　Silently　and；　F'nor　hoped；　unseen　by　anyone　watching　below；　Canth　glided　through　the　warm　air　over　the　sleeping　Hold　and　on　to　the　original　Southern　Weyr　site。　He　was　painfully　aware　that　right　now；　on　the　other　side　of　the　planet；　Monaco　Bay　Weyr　would　be　experiencing　the　tsunami。　There　had　been　enough　dragons　to　rescue　every　man；　woman；　and　child；　hadn't　there？
　　The　news　he　brought　Toric　was　not　as　dire；　though　the　Southern　Holder　might　not　agree。　Idarolan　was　reasonably　sure　that　Southern　Hold's　cliffs　were　high　enough　to　withstand　the　diffraction　effect　of　the　tsunami；　pressed　between　Ista　Island　and　the　Southern　headland。　Unfortunately；　Toric　would　be　experiencing　the　event　on　both　sides　of　his　Holding。　Idarolan's　chart；　and　Erragon's　calculations；　indicated　a　direct　line　of　westbound　tsunami；　which　might…just…lose　significant　energy。　Either　way；　there　were　coastal　holds　that　must　be　evacuated　and　herdbeasts　moved　inland　from　the　low…lying　pastures。　However；　during　the　bad；　bad；　bad　blow　of　which　the　dolphins　had　warned　Toric；　he　had　not　moved　quickly　enough　to　reduce　the　devastation　of　the　horrific　gale　winds　of　that　hurricane。
　　K'van；　with　his　Weyrwoman；　Adrea；　Master　Sintary；　and　four　of　the　Southern　Wingleaders；　moved　out　of　the　shadows　as　Canth　landed　in　the　flower…scented　night。　Five　pairs　of　blue…green　eyes　shone　as　the　brown　dragon　crooned　a　greeting　and　went　to　join　them。　K'van　distributed　hand　lights。
　　〃Neither　moon's　out　tonight；〃　the　young　Weyrleader　said；　his　white　grin　visible　in　the　reflection　of　the　light　he　carried。　〃R'mart　wanted　to　e　but　we　convinced　him　that　retired　means　no　more　responsibility。〃
　　F'nor　bowed　to　Adrea；　nodded　to　the　other　bronze　riders；　and　finished　stripping　off　his　flying　gear。　He　was　grateful　for　the　fresh　breeze　on　the　plateau。
　　〃I　have　my　own　light；〃　Sintary　said；　turning　his　beam　on　the　well…worn　track　from　the　old　open　Weyr　to　the　Hold。
　　〃Of　course；　Toric　could　just　ignore　all　this；〃　F'nor　remarked　in　a　low　tone　as　the　eight　of　them　carefully　proceeded　to　the　Hold。
　　Before　they　reached　the　first　bend；　a　fierce　challenge　stopped　them。
　　〃Who's　out　there？〃
　　〃F'nor；　Canth's　rider；〃　and　F'nor　tilted　the　light　to　his　face。
　　〃K'van；　Adrea；　M'ling；　N'bil；　S'dra；　H'redan；〃　the　Weyrleader　said；　also　lighting　his　face　and　flashing　it　at　his　panions　as　he　named　them。
　　〃Idarolan　and　Sintary；〃　the　Harper　said　in　turn。
　　〃Bringing　an　urgent　message　to　Lord　Toric　from　Landing；〃　F'nor　said。
　　〃A　very　urgent　and　very　important　message；〃　Idarolan　said；　stepping　forward　in　a　purposeful　manner；　〃and　you　had　best　guide　us　to　him　immediately。〃
　　〃It's　the　middle　of　the　night！〃　was　the　protest。
　　〃Since　when　has　the　middle　of　the　night　been　free　of　trouble！〃　Idarolan　did　not　pause　in　his　stride　and　the　guard　gave　ground。
　　〃You　sound　like　Idarolan；〃　he　said　dubiously。
　　〃If　you　don't　know　your　Weyrleader　by　sight；〃　Sintary　remarked　acidly；　〃you're　in　a　lot　of　trouble。〃
　　〃This　way；　Master　Harper；　Weyrleader　K'van。　This　way。〃　They　were　going　past　the　large　square　when　he　made　one　more　remark。　〃You've　got　to　wake　him；　not　me！〃
　　F'nor　wasn't　the　only　one　who　chuckled。
　　Luckily；　it　was　Ramala　who　answered　their　summons；　holding　up　a　glowbasket　to　identify　the　visitors。
　　〃Bad　news？〃　she　asked；　leading　them　to　the　main　hall。
　　〃Perhaps　not　as　bad　for　Southern　as　it　is　for　others；〃　Idarolan　remarked　which　made　her　stop　and　regard　him　speculatively　in　the　dimly　lit　hall。　〃If　you　would　be　good　enough　to　wake　Toric？〃
　　〃Yes；　it　had　better　be　me；〃　she　said　and　waved　them　to　chairs　as　she　opened　the　nearest　glowbaskets。
　　She　disappeared　on　her　errand　and；　because　they　were　listening；　they　heard　Toric's　muffled　shout　of　protest。　Then　she　came　back；　nodded　at　them　and　said；　if　they　wouldn't　mind　opening　more　lights；　she　would　get　fresh　klah。
　　〃Or　wine；　if　you　feel　that　would　suit　better。〃
　　〃Both；〃　F'nor　said　bluntly。　He　could　use　a　glass　of　wine　right　now。　Breakfast　at　Benden　seemed　to　have　been　a　long　time　ago　despite　the　food　that　had　been　served　during　the　emergency　meeting　at　Landing。
　　Sintary　and　two　of　the　bronze　riders　opened　only　sufficient　glowbaskets　to　light　the　front　part　of　the　big　hall。　They　had　taken　seats　at　one　end　of　the　long　table　when　they　heard　the　scrape　of　sandals　on　stone。　Idarolan　grinned；　arranging　his　papers　on　the　table；　preparatory　to　an　argument　with　Toric。
　　Shirt　open；　drawstring　shorts　rucked　at　one　hip；　the　Lord　Holder　swung　into　the　room；　scowling；　and　the　scowl　deepened　as　he　paused　on　the　threshold；　regarding　those　awaiting　him。
　　〃What　the　shards　is　the　matter　now？　This　can't　constitute　a　Council！〃
　　〃A　fireball　impacted　in　the　Eastern　sea　at　approximately　twelve　hours　twenty　minutes　Landing　time；〃　F'nor　said　bluntly。
　　〃The　impact　of　what　we　believe　is　a　etary　fragment　has　created　tsunamis；〃　Idarolan　said。　〃You　will　remember　what　happened　when　that　volcano　Piemur　discovered　erupted。〃
　　Toric's　eyes　rounded；　thick　sun…bleached　eyebrows　turning　his　scowl　into　an　expression　of　unpleasant　surprise。
　　〃Some　of　your　Hold　is　in　the　path　of　the　tsunamis…two　sets　of　them；　one　with　three　different　waves　from　the　east　and　the　other　from　the　west；〃　Idarolan　went　on　relentlessly。　He　used　the　map　in　front　of　him　to　point　them　out。　〃Journeyman　Erragon　and　Master　Wansor　confirmed　the　phenomenon。〃　He　paused　for　a　moment　and　then　rushed　on；　as　a　man　who　regretted　what　he　had　to　say。　〃Even　as　we　speak；　Monaco　Bay　is　probably　being　drowned！〃
　　Adrea　gasped；　and　S'dra　and　N'bil　inhaled　sharply。
　　Toric　stared　at　the　retired　MasterFishman　and　then　glared　at　K'van。　〃Then　what　are　you　dragonriders　doing　here　instead　of　being　there　to　help　them？〃　He　waved　his　arms　furiously　to　indicate　the　different　sites。　He　dropped　his　eyes　to　study　the　chart；　pulling　it　toward　him。
　　〃Every　Weyr　has　sent　wings　to　help；〃　F'nor　said；　〃We're　here　to　tell　you　what　to　expect　in　roughly　eleven　hours　from　now。〃
　　Toric　blinked。
　　〃I　will　have　riders　in　the　sky　rousing　the　coastal　holders　as　soon　as　Adrea's　queen　gives　them　the　orders；〃　said　K'van　with　a　stiff　bow　to　Toric。　〃We　know　you　prefer　to　be　informed　of　the　Weyr's　movements。　I　have　just　returned　from　the　emergency　meeting　at　Landing。〃
　　〃I'll　rouse　your　portmaster　myself；〃　Idarolan　volunteered；　〃to　warn　the　ships　at　anchor。　They'll　be　safe　enough　at　se