amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第51节
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Not when he's twenty Turns younger than M'rand and G'dened。 I expect your rider to finish the Pass with me！ Lessa replied stoutly。
And me！ Ramoth said。
〃We'll e with you；〃 Lessa said out loud； brightly； as if she had just thought of it。
〃That's a better way to spend a miserable evening than anything you've e up with； Lessa；〃 F'lar remarked； knowing perfectly well he would pay her a forfeit later for such a remark。
Taking into consideration the difference of time between western High Reaches and eastern Ruatha； the Benden Weyrleaders had plenty of time to assist M'rand and Pilgra in their hurried departure south and get back to Benden for a late supper。 In the interval； they had supported M'rand and Pilgra in his explanations to their Wingleaders and queen riders； organized the men and women who were to acpany them south； and allowed M'rand a hurried conference with his Wingleaders； some of whom had trouble concealing relief and anticipation。 Pilgra； too； spoke to her queen riders （the youngest one obviously upset and the older three eyeing each other speculatively； since the first one to fly to mate would be the new Weyrwoman）。 For Lessa； that was great fun and for F'lar a chance to assess the bronze riders。
M'rand is right。 F'lar agrees that there are four well…experienced men who can take over immediately； Mnementh told Lessa。
Which queen？ she asked the bronze。
Yasith； Ramoth said so firmly that if Mnementh had a different candidate； he did not now mention her。
Lessa kept her opinion to herself。 Yasith's rider was Neldama； weyrborn in High Reaches twenty…five Turns before； and twelve Turns younger than the oldest of the queenriders。 So she was of this Pass； which； in Lessa's estimation； meant fewer problems。 Not exactly a pretty girl…attractive enough to rate a long look from F'lar…with green eyes that looked right at a speaker and a considerate； sensible manner as she set about collecting the items that Pilgra said she'd want to pack。
M'rand fretted over how to inform three main Lord Holders and the most prominent minor ones of his sudden departure。
〃It would be courteous； but it's only a formality。 'Due to continued ill health； in the best interests of the Weyr and the Holds that look to High Reaches for protection from Thread…fall during a Pass。' 〃 F'lar rattled off the phrases。 〃A change of Weyrleadership is our…〃 he rocked his hand to indicate the four of them；〃…business。〃
〃It's not as if the whole Weyr is retiring；〃 Lessa said just as Neldama and Curella； the oldest queen rider； brought in mulled wine and small hot savories to be served in the Weyrwoman's quarters。 〃And it's not as if you haven't traveled between both continents before。 Be easy； Pilgra； M'rand。 This time you're doing what's best for you！〃
Of the other two Oldtimer Weyrleaders remaining in control； G'narish of Igen was flexible enough in his mind to accept suggestions while G'dened of Ista was nearly as contrary as R'gul had been。 All the Weyrs needed to look ahead to After。 G'dened gave her the impression that he didn't even consider After。 He certainly wasn't suggesting to any of his riders that they would have to look to their own support once this Threadfall was over and the traditional tithing of Hold and Hall no longer appeared on a regular basis。
BENINI HOLD…EAST MONACO AND HONSHU…1。20。31
〃If one more person asks me 'what are dragonriders going to do about things that fall out of the sky on us' or 'how we're going to keep the sky from falling on them；' 〃 F'lessan said with a great deal of bitterness to Tai； 〃I'll…I'll tell Golanth to drop him； or her； between。〃
He stood up； stretching to ease his back muscles from bending over to plant saplings around Benini's cothold。 The dwelling； a sprawling extended family site； had lost its roofs from the tsunami winds。 Mud； sand； and debris had been dug out of hold and beasthold； the structures had been soundly built twelve Turns before and could be repaired。 The large family…by craft； herders； Benini himself a Journeyman…were out early and late； hunting strays that had been scattered inland ahead of the wave。 Redfruit trees and the giant fronds； which had amazing vitality and could be trimmed to provide windbreak； had once shaded the hold。 Paradise River had offered new starts of both； as well as young fellis saplings。
Planting was not work most riders would volunteer to do but； when F'lessan saw Tai's was the only name on that list； he added his。 He had done very well getting on work teams with Tai； mostly jobs as backbreaking and thankless as this； waiting until he saw where she was going to spend her spare hours before he signed up。 She was willing enough…even eager…to discuss their mutual interest in astronomy。 They were sometimes the only dragonriders on such sites。 She seemed to know many of the more isolated cotholders and was weled warmly。 The two dragonriders had been shown where to find tools； where fresh water could now be obtained； and what was available for their lunch。 All the Benini holders had ridden out on their runnerbeasts for another long hot search。
When the two dragonriders had collected the plants at sunrise； rootballs wrapped and secured on wooden flats； Jayge had greeted F'lessan with surprise and gravely shook hands with Tai； remarking on what a fine green she rode。
〃Didn't think to see you again so soon； F'lessan；〃 the Paradise River Holder said； grinning at the bronze rider。
〃And will do as long as Paradise River is intent on reforesting Monaco；〃 F'lessan responded。 He waggled his finger at Jayge。 〃You and Aramina have been exceedingly generous。 T'gellan told me。〃
〃The least we can be；〃 Jayge said。 〃We were very lucky here； protected from the tsunami by the Kahrain cape。〃 He gestured first over his shoulder and then down the river。 〃We can find as many young trees and bushes as are needed。 You two look tired。 Have you eaten？〃
F'lessan dismissed that with a wave of his hand。 〃Yes； yes； thank you。 We can get untired when things are more or less back in order。〃 He examined the thick lift knot on the flat； the net that secured the young saplings to it； and the corner ropes。 All the dragons were now deft at lifting such carriers。 One trick was to keep the ropes taut and lift vertically very slowly to keep the load from swaying； dragons were perfecting the maneuver。 The other step was going between very close to the ground； again to prevent swaying。 After being root…pruned several days before； the young bushes and saplings were wrapped in balls early on the morning they were to be replanted。 Dragon transport meant they could be in the ground； watered； and staked within hours。
It also meant that the transplanters could finish before the sun started baking gardeners and plants。 F'lessan checked the angle of the shadows； his watch was in his jacket。 It was just midmorning and they were nearly finished。 He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up this pace； even if they had both stripped down to sleeveless tops and shorts。
〃You're getting pretty good at this；〃 Tai said； pushing her hands up to her knees until she was upright； too。 She removed the sweatband from her forehead； mopped her brow； and retied the kerchief。
〃I like restoring things；〃 he said； looking at the zigzag line they had been working on； a windbreak on the eastern edge。 The holding was actually on a rise； which had saved it from more damage。 Redfruit on the inside； handy to the hold； a curving line of fellis； and then the fronds。 Some untagged saplings； which didn't resemble either redfruit or fellis； they decided to plant in the rich loam here and there。 Someone had started a garden patch。 Luckily this was midsummer and they'd have fresh vegetables in a few weeks。 With just a little husbandry； there'd be good growth in the windbreak plants before winter's winds。
〃Like Honshu？〃 she asked； leaning down for the canteen。 Benini's spouse had left cool juice to slake their thirst。
〃Yes； like Honshu。〃 F'lessan grinned； sweeping sweaty hair back from his forehead。 He gave her a quirky grin。 〃Place fascinates me。 There're still levels of it I haven't had a chance to show you。〃
They had spent several evenings on the upper terrace； sharing the use of his binoculars； held steady on the stand。 He'd let her have more time using them because he liked watching the intent expression on her face as she observed； jotting down time and references。 She was quite circumspect； taking down notes…but then she'd been training with Erragon…marking degrees carefully； asking him to verify the objects she viewed。 He even teased her…she had to know that he was teasing her or she got quite upset…about minutes and seconds in the degree readings of the fifth planet out from Rukbat； currently visible at right ascension 19 hours； 32 minutes； 53。7 seconds； declination 27 degrees； 16 minutes； 25 seconds； just below Acrux。 She said it was a habit she'd got into； sky…watching at Cove Hold； to keep a record。 Erragon was collecting such information from other sky…watchers。 F'lessan had wanted to take her high on Honshu's eastern face for a panoramic view of the forest and foothills below where sometimes he'd used the binoculars to s
