amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第58节

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Pinch　fellow　knows；　too。〃
　　Only　the　dark　prevented　Haligon　from　betraying　surprise　that　Torlo　would　know　Pinch　by　name　and　could　hint　at　his　discreet　function　within　the　Hall。　Since　Turn's　End；　Haligon　had　developed　a　healthy　respect　for　Torlo's　discretion　and　judgment。　Son　of　a　Lord　Holder　though　he　was；　and　allowed　into　many　conferences　his　father　held；　he　was　surprised　at　how　much　more　Torlo　knew　and　understood　about　matters　in　Fort　Hold　and　all　across　the　two　continents。
　　〃Tell　that　MasterPrinter　to　be　especially　on　his　guard。　It　was　his　Hall　printed　that　paper　that's　got　folks　so　worried。　I'd　send　a　fire…lizard　soon　as　I　could；　Lord　Haligon。〃
　　〃I　will。〃
　　〃Like　right　now；〃　Torlo　added　at　his　driest。　〃See　Tenna　back。　She's　got　a　hard　run　tomorrow。〃
　　So　dismissed；　both　rose。　As　they　strolled　around　the　corner　to　the　Station　door；　Haligon　circled　her　shoulders　with　one　arm；　wishing　they　didn't　have　to　separate　quite　so　soon。　In　front　of　the　Station；　Haligon　gave　her　a　quick　hug　and　let　her　go。　He　didn't　know　how　many　eyes　followed　him　up　the　steps　to　the　Court；　but　no　one　would　have　seen　that　he　made　for　a　narrow　side　staircase　on　the　far　left　of　the　Court　that　led　to　the　Harper　Hall。　Later；　on　that　moonless　night；　the　departure　of　a　fire…lizard；　from　an　upper　window　in　the　Hall；　was　seen　only　by　the　vigilant　watch　dragon　who　wished　Menolly's　Beauty　a　safe　flight。
　　
PRINTER　HALL　AT　WIDE　BAY…SAME　NIGHT
　　If　Beauty　woke　the　Masterprinter　by　picking　delicately　at　his　ear；　he　had　the　good　sense　not　to　thrash　about　in　surprise。　In　fact；　the　fire…lizard's　unexpected　arrival　merely　confirmed　the　presentiment　of　trouble　that　Rosheen　had　confided　in　him　three　days　ago。　To　cap　her　uneasiness；　Stationmaster　Arminet　had　sauntered　into　the　Hall　the　day　before；　ostensibly　to　get　a　fresh　notice　of　Runner　fees　printed。　He　had　seemed　far　more　interested　in　prowling　the　big　Print　Hall；　asking　if　the　glass　were　Morilton…made　or　the　original。　It　was　now　a　joke　that　the　impact　from　the　et　had　smashed　glass　that　had　e　from　old　Norist's　Hall　while　Morilton's　remained　intact。
　　〃Morilton；　of　course；〃　Tagetarl　had　replied　with　a　grin。
　　〃Good　locks　on　the　windows；〃　Arminet　had　closed　one　eye　with　slow　significance。　〃Sky…broom　wood　in　gates　and　the　Hall　doors；　too。〃
　　Tagetarl　raised　his　eyebrows　but　Arminet　had　gone　straight　on　to　discuss　his　printing　needs。　That　night　Tagetarl　had　checked　the　gates；　Hall　doors；　and　windows　himself；　and　slid　into　the　brackets　of　the　outer　gate　the　heavy　bar　of　sky…broom　tree　wood；　which　the　former　owner　of　the　warehouse　had　used　to　dissuade　pilferage。　At　both　ends；　the　bar　had　ingenious　fastenings　that　made　removing　it　difficult　if　one　didn't　know　how　to　release　the　latches。　Sky…broom　wood　was　too　dense　to　break　or　chip　so　he　felt　safe　enough。
　　No　matter；　on　top　of　Rosheen's　uneasiness　and　Arminet's　odd　remarks；　a　late…night　message　from　the　Harper　Hall；　and　from　Beauty；　Menolly's　gold；　was　alarming。　Tagetarl　wondered　why　Ola；　Rosheen's　fire…lizard　queen；　did　not　instantly　appear　to　〃supervise〃　the　visitor。　Ola　wasn't　usually　absent　when　needed。
　　He　held　out　his　hand　and　Beauty　stepped　onto　it。　He　could　see　the　message　holder　on　her　left　foreleg　but　it　was　too　dark　to　read　it。　Rising　carefully　so　as　not　to　disturb　Rosheen　unnecessarily；　he　slipped　yesterday's　shirt　and　pants　from　the　clothing　rack　and　left　the　room。　He　pushed　his　hand　for　Beauty　to　leave　it　and　motioned　her　down　the　stairs。　He　pulled　on　his　clothes；　her　annoyed　chirp　hurrying　the　process。　The　thin　carpet　on　the　hall　was　cold　under　his　bare　feet；　another　incentive　to　move　quickly。
　　As　he　descended　the　stairs；　he　peered　out　the　windows　into　the　court；　silent　and　shadowed。　Maybe　that's　where　Ola　was；　lurking　on　the　rooftop。　The　weaver's　roof　abutted　the　Hall's　outbuildings。　Pinch　had　made　use　of　that　entry。　But　Ola　knew　him。　Tagetarl　paused　on　the　landing；　listening　for　any　sound　from　the　hall　that　led　to　the　upper　story　of　the　Print　Hall。　Nothing　moved　in　that　direction。　He　heard　an　admonitory　chirp　in　the　other　and　continued　on　to　the　spacious　kitchen　that　was　also　their　main　living　room。
　　Then　Tagetarl　berated　himself　for　assuming　that　the　message　dealt　with　the　Print　Hall。　There　were　any　number　of　reasons…all　equally　worrying…that　could　have　prompted　Menolly　to　send　Beauty　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　It　wasn't　that　late　at　the　Harper　Hall。　Maybe　she　was　merely　inquiring　about　the　musical　scores　she　had　recently　sent　him　to　be　printed。　Even　with　Beauty　impatient；　Tagetarl　took　the　few　steps　to　the　porch　door。　It　had　a　fine　lock；　strong；　well…cast　metal　with　another　cunning　catch　that　you'd　have　to　know　about　to　open　the　door　once　it　was　set。　And　the　glass　was　Morilton…made；　not　easily　shattered。
　　Tagetarl　turned　right　into　the　big；　dark　kitchen；　warm　enough　from　the　banked　fires　in　the　big　range。　Orange　light　from　the　ash　grate　made　an　eerie　glow　on　the　flagstones：　not　bright　enough　to　read　by。　The　shutters　were　closed　against　the　winter's　cold　so　he　flicked　on　a　small　light　and　saw　Beauty　perched　on　a　chair　back；　ruffling　her　wings　shut。　She　held　up　her　left　foreleg　for　him　to　remove　the　message　tube；　cocking　her　head　at　him　as　if　reproving　his　slowness。　Taking　a　deep　breath；　Tagetarl　unrolled　the　thin　sheet　of　the　message。
　　〃Runners　confirm　trouble　at　Wide　Bay。　Guard　the　Hall。　Assistance　planned。〃
　　Rosheen　had　been　right。　Had　Arminet　been　just　passing　on　suspicions？　Which　now　the　Harper　Hall　was　confirming？　Trouble？　From　whom？　Instantly　the　Abominators　came　to　mind。　But　there　hadn't　been　any　more　activity　from　that　source　since　Turn's　End。　Of　course；　the　Fireball　Flood　had　kept　everyone　busy。
　　〃Trouble？　What　sort　of　trouble？〃　Out　of　habit；　he　filled　the　kettle；　put　it　on　the　range；　and　stoked　the　fire　with　blackstone。　Then　he　stared　at　the　range。　〃Fire　trouble？〃　He　swallowed　hard。　Paper　burned　just　as　easily　as　dried　herbs　or　powdered　medicines。　And　he　had　all　those　books　displayed　in　the　Hall；　more　packed　to　be　shipped　north　and　south。　The　presses　could　be　smashed　just　as　easily　as　medicine　bottles　and　equipment；　toner　and　ink　could　be　spilled；　and　the　sheds　where　he　stored　paper　had　wooden　doors；　because　he　hadn't　been　able　to　afford　steel　doors。
　　The　note　didn't　mention　Abominators。　What　made　him　think　they　would　attack　his　Hall？　What　made　him　think　they　wouldn't？　He　was　using　a　process　that　Aivas　had　provided；　encouraged。　Was　the　use　of　〃Aivas　procedures〃　all　that　was　needed　to　agitate　them？
　　〃What　sort　of　assistance？〃
　　Perhaps　he　should　ask　some　of　his　male　apprentices　to　sleep　in　the　Hall；　or　in　the　sheds。　And　Ola。　Which　reminded　him。　Where　was　she？　Menolly　had　helped　train　her　and　she　was　certainly　most　responsible　when　Rosheen　sent　her　with　messages；　going　and　returning　as　quickly　as　anyone　could　expect。
　　〃Shouldn't　you　be　getting　back　to　Menolly？〃　he　asked；　a　little　sharp　with　worry。
　　She　blinked　her　green　eyes。　Well；　she　wasn't　worried　if　her　eyes　were　green。
　　A　whir　of　wings　and　into　the　kitchen　flew　Rosheen's　gold　queen；　Ola。　She　may　have　landed　on　his　shoulder　but　the　warble　of　her　message　was　for　the　Harper　Hall　queen。　For　a　brief　second；　Tagetarl　was　amused　at　Ola's　proprietary　perch。　Beauty's　eyes　whirled　and；　with　a　very　definite　air　of　mand；　she　trilled　several　long　musical　phrases　at　the　younger　fire…lizard。
　　Ola　straightened　on　Tagetarl's　shoulder；　sending　her　claws　into　shirt　and　flesh。
　　〃Easy　there；　Ola！〃　She　stroked　his　cheek　with　her　head　in　apology。
　　Beauty　trilled　again　briefly　and　disappeared。
　　〃So　she　was　waiting　to　speak　to　you；　eh；　Ola？　Just　what　did　she　say？〃
　　Closing　the　first　lids　over　her　eyes；　Ola　regarded　him　in　what　Rosheen　called　her　〃you…don't…need…to…know〃　response。　But；　under　the　lids；　her　eyes　were　picking　up　speed；　with　little　flecks　of　yellow。　Tagetarl　was　not　as　good　as　Rosheen　at　reading　fire…lizard　eye　colors　but　he　knew　the　color　was　edging　toward　alarm。　Orange　or　red　meant　danger。　She　pushed　against　his　shoulder；　digging　her　talons　into　his　flesh　deep　enough　to　make　him　wince；　and　then　she；　too；　disappeared。
　　Tagetarl　went　to　the　window　and　put　back　the　shutters；　wondering　if　Beauty　had　ordered　her　to　guard　the　Hall。　It　wasn't　quite　dawn…the　brightest　of　the　northern　stars　just　fading…so　he　could　distinguish　the　uneven　roofs　against　the　dark　blue　sky。　All　of　a　sudden；　he　saw　the　silhouette　of　one　fire…lizard；　wings　cupped　high；　head　extended　and　the　wink　of　a　yellow…green　eye。　He　liked　to　think　his　harper　hearing　sharp　enough　to　catch　the　call　she　was　obviously　sending。　Her　summons　brought　immediate　results：　it　was　rather　heartening　for　him　to　see　the　mass　of　fire…lizards　that　congregated　along　the　rooftops。
　　〃Assistance　planned〃　the　note　had　said。　He　knew　that　fire…lizards　could　be　fierce　in　protection　of　their　human　friends　but　Ola　was　only　one　and；　while　Wide　Bay　had　several　large　fairs　of　wild　fire…lizards；　the　creatures　were　notoriously　short　of　memory。　Surely　Menolly　meant　more　substantial　assistance　than　a　watch　maintained　by　fire…lizards？
　　The　kettle　began　to　steam　so　he　measured　klah　into　the　big　pot　and　poured　in　hot　water　to　the　top。　Hadn't　Benelek　told　him　at　the　last　Gather　th