amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第87节

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k　into　the　hall。
　　〃The　dragons　are　sleeping；　aren't　they？　So　the　riders've　e　to　no　harm　or　be　sure　we'd've　all　heard　the　bugling。　Now　let's　all　be　sensible。。。〃
　　Then　someone　called　urgently　from　the　terrace。　And　Sagassy　ran　off。
　　Beside　her；　F'lessan　moved；　stretching　a　little。　〃I'll　bet　they　found　Golly's　patch　has　been　removed。〃
　　That　was　the　startled　news　reverberating　down　the　hall。　F'lessan　slowly　slid　his　arm　under　Tai's　shoulder　and　nestled　her　against　him；　his　head　on　hers。
　　〃It　won't　be　long　now；〃　he　murmured　indolently　and　kissed　her　temple。　Tai　felt　something　inside　her　snap；　as　if　all　her　guts　and　her　ribs　had　been　tangled　in　a　great　knot；　which　the　kiss　had　untied。　〃I'm　going　to　insist　that　we　occupy　this　room　from　now　on。　It's　big　enough　so　you　won't　be　bashing　into　me。　You're　a　quiet　sleeper　anyway。　I　don't　think　you　moved　all　night。〃
　　〃They　have　to　be　somewhere；〃　they　heard　Keita　shouting。
　　〃That　is；　if　it's　your　choice；　Tai？〃
　　For　a　split　second…wanting　to　throw　her　arms　about　him　in　an　excess　of　relief…she　didn't　know　where　it　was　safe　to　embrace　him。　So　she　demurely　rubbed　her　head　against　his　left　shoulder。　〃I　choose。　I　choose　you　in　any　condition　and　any　way　I　get　to　choose　you。〃
　　By　then；　their　refuge　was　officially　discovered　and　they　were　the　victims　of　some　choice　sarcastic　official　displeasure　and　tongue…lashing。　Tai　was　ejected　from　the　bed　so　that　Keita　could　be　sure　that　F'lessan　had　done　no　damage　to　himself。
　　The　main　puzzle…how　had　they　gotten　to　this　room…was　the　easiest　to　answer。
　　〃Zaranth　put　us　here；〃　Tai　said。　〃She　can；　you　know。〃
　　〃And　brought　F'lessan　out　to　Golanth？〃　Keita　demanded；　still　outraged　by　finding　the　patch　removed。
　　Tai　gave　a　negligent　shrug　and　let　them　assume　what　they　wanted　to。　Then　the　healer　had　F'lessan　carried　back　to　his　sickroom　where　medicines　and　bandages　were　stored；　to　make　sure　that　he　hadn't　done　himself　any　harm。　F'lessan's　grin　might　have　been　a　trifle　off…center　as　Keita　changed　dressings　to　reassure　herself　that　no　stitches　had　broken；　but　he　remained　unrepentant。
　　〃I'm　soaked　in　numbweed；〃　he　said。
　　〃You　both　should　know　by　now；〃　Keita　said；　reproachfully；　her　expression　severe；　〃that　the　deadening　effect　of　numbweed　is　deceptive。　It　is　so　very　easy　to　damage　tissue　or　tendon　because　you　can't　feel　what　strain　you're　inadvertently　exerting。　If　the　green　dragon　did　indeed　effect　your　unwise　and　unauthorized　trip　to　the　terrace；　then　that　at　least　proves　you're　not　totally　bereft　of　mon　sense；　bronze　rider。〃
　　〃And　Golly's　eye　suffered　no　further　damage？〃　F'lessan　asked　with　a　touch　of　arrogance　and；　to　Tai；　a　wish　to　be　reassured　that　it　was；　indeed；　all　right。　〃Persellan　has　seen　it？〃
　　〃You're　very　lucky　that　the　lids　have　healed　as　well　as　they　have；〃　Keita　said；　giving　them　full　measure　of　her　censure。　〃They　were　in　shreds　after　the　attack。　Fortunately　dragon　membrane；　unlike　the　more　delicate　eye　facets；　can　regenerate。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　F'lessan　said　in　a　dry　tone；　〃that's　been　explained。　Golly　knows　he　has　limited　vision　but　he　does　have　some。〃
　　Keita　had　to　admit　that。
　　〃He　said　the　lids　get　very　dry。〃
　　〃Part　of　the　injury　includes　an　inability　to　generate　sufficient　moisture　to　lubricate　the　lids。　I　think　we　can　help　there；　with　a　light　gel；　applied　when　needed。　We　coated　the　eye　with　it　before　we　sewed　the　lids　shut　against　sun　damage。〃
　　〃Then　perhaps　I　can　take　over　that　duty　now；〃　F'lessan　said；　easing　his　body　into　a　sitting　position。　Keita　watched　him；　one　hand　lifting　to　suggest　great　care。
　　Then　she　said；　〃I'd　very　much　like　to　see　how　green　Zaranth　does　this　telekinesis。〃
　　I　can't　do　it　slowly；　Tai。　Tai　could　almost　hear　her　dragon　gulp　in　anxiety。
　　I　do　the　slow　part；　Golanth　said。　You　apply　the　lift。
　　There　is　a　chair　out　here；　Zaranth　added。
　　〃Master　Keita；　would　you　have　the　gel　handy？〃　Tai　asked　to　distract　her。
　　Keita　turned　to　the　chest　where　healer　supplies　were　stored。
　　Stay　very　still；　Tai　heard　her　green　say。
　　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　Tai　saw　F'lessan　disappear。
　　Not…so…fast！　Golanth　said。　Her　heart　gave　a　thump　of　alarm；　and　she　shot　a　glance　down　the　hall　in　time　to　see　F'lessan's　body　inserted　in　the　chair；　a　look　of　surprise　on　his　face。　Trundlebugs　had　never　appeared　to　notice。
　　We　didn't　even　bump　him；　Zaranth　said；　highly　pleased。
　　A　matter　of　practice。　You　shove。
　　I　don't。　I　move。
　　I　slow。
　　We　can　try　it　the　other　way　round；　and　to　Tai　her　dragon's　voice　sounded　wily。
　　You　can　practice　on　other　things；　F'lessan　said　firmly　to　Zaranth　and　Golanth　but　Tai　could　hear　the　amusement　in　his　voice。
　　Hand　reaching　for　a　small　jar；　Keita　swiveled；　stared　accusingly　at　Tai。　She　gave　a　deep　sigh　of　exasperation。　〃I　suppose　it's　similar　to　going　between！〃
　　〃Not　really。　It's　sort　of　all　at　once；　instead　of　by　degrees。　Is　that　the　gel？　I'll　just　take　it　out　to　him。〃
　　Tai　left　the　room　as　fast　as　she　could。
　　〃Just　so　long　as　he　es　out　of　it　alive　on　the　other　end；〃　Keita　called　after　her。
　　When　she　reached　the　terrace；　F'lessan　was　still　in　the　chair；　leaning　down　to　look　at　Golanth's　hind　leg。　One　of　the　other　healers　was　just　staring　at　him。　Zaranth；　on　the　upper　ledge；　was　blinking　and　looking；　Tai　thought；　rather　paler　green　than　she　should　be。
　　Does　it　take　a　lot　of　effort？
　　No；　Golanth　helps。　Last　night　I　was　afraid　I　might　hurt　him。
　　I　slowed　him　down；　Golanth　said。　That's　important；　too。　He　isn't　a　feline。
　　He　also　isn't　a　trundlebug。　Heavier。　Zaranth　replied。
　　He　seems　to　have　survived；　Tai　said；　walking　quickly　down　the　hall。
　　It　may　be　just　a　matter　of　control。　We　must　find　out　how　the　other　dragons　are　doing；　Golanth　said。
　　Tai　reached　F'lessan　in　his　chair。
　　〃How　was　the　ride？〃
　　〃It's　not　like　going　between；〃　he　said　firmly；　looking　her　in　the　eye。　〃But　I　got　here　and　Golly's　leg　isn't　near　as　bad　as　I　thought　it　was。　Couldn't　really　see　it　last　night；　you　know。〃
　　〃You　had　too　much　time　to　think。　I　told　you　it　was　healing。〃
　　〃I　had　to　see　it。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　she　agreed　affably　but；　when　he　started　to　get　up；　she　pushed　him　back。
　　〃I　want　to　see　all　of　Golly；〃　he　protested。
　　〃Golly　can　turn　around。　You　stay　put。　It'll　do　Golly　good　to　move。〃
　　〃But　he's　smeared　with　numbweed；〃　F'lessan　replied　hotly。　〃You　heard　Keita　lecture　us。〃
　　〃It　won't　hurt　Golly　to　turn　around　in　place。　He　has　done　it。〃　Tai　spoke　firmly；　sounding　a　bit　like　Keita。
　　I　can　do　it。　And　Golanth　ended　that　argument　by　rising　to　four　feet；　and　whatever　the　turn　might　have　lacked　in　grace；　it　did　allow　his　seated　rider　to　see　all　of　him；　glistening　in　ribbons　and　patches　with　recently　and　generously　applied　numbweed。　Except　for　the　deepest　ones；　the　claw　marks　were　now　mostly　black　tracings；　where　the　wing　sails　had　been　punctured；　the　membrane　tissue　was　ringed　with　pale　new　growth。　When　F'lessan　asked　him　to；　Golanth　obediently　stopped　so　his　rider　could　lean　forward　for　a　closer　look　at　one　deep　groove　or　the　imprint　of　claw　tips。　At　the　point　where　Golanth　was　facing　Zaranth　on　her　ledge；　he　raised　his　head　and　gave　her　an　affectionate　lick。
　　Tai　tried　to　gauge　F'lessan's　assessment　of　his　dragon's　condition　but　his　usually　mobile　face　was　expressionless。　His　hands　expressed　his　anguish；　his　fingers　clenching　and　unclenching　as　if　he　wished　he　could　erase　the　injuries；　finally　settling　helplessly　to　the　arms　of　the　chair。　Then　Golanth　halted；　in　front　of　his　seated　rider。
　　〃Swimming　would　do　F'lessan　a　lot　of　good；〃　Tai　murmured。
　　Zaranth　made　the　most　astonishing　sound　of　surprise；　her　eyes　whirling　into　yellow　and　she　extended　her　head　and　neck　in　protest。
　　I'm　only　a　green。　I　would　need　a　lot　of　practice　to　move　as　much　as　Golanth。
　　F'lessan　gave　a　burst　of　laughter。　When　you　bounced　all　those　felines　like　so　many　wherries？
　　I　was　angry。　I　was　afraid。　Zaranth's　look　was　so　apologetic　that　F'lessan　laughed　again；　shaking　his　head　at　her。　I　didn't　bounce　you　last　night。
　　I　helped；　Golanth　said　with　dignity；　sweeping　his　weyrmate　a　kindly　glance。　When　I　need　to　move；　I　will　move　myself。　I　can　fall　over　the　edge　of　the　terrace　just　as　you　did　last　night。
　　Not　just　yet；　Golly；　both　riders　said　urgently。
　　Zaranth　curved　her　head　back。　You　couldn't　have　seen　me。　And　you　can't　go　falling　off　the　terrace。　You've　too　much　wingspread　to　drop　off
　　When　I　need　to　move；　I　said；　and　his　dignity　increased。　I　heard　you　last　night。　Nothing's　wrong　with　my　hearing。　Swimming　would　be　good　for　my　rider。　You　must　take　him　today。　F'lessan；　tell　the　healers　you　must　swim。
　　I'm　not　leaving　you；　F'lessan　replied　stoutly。
　　I　am　much　better；　you　know。　So　are　you；　Golanth　said；　shoving　his　nose　gently　at　F'lessan's　knees；　the　good　eye　serenely　steady。　Then　he　cocked　his　head　so　he　could　see　through　the　left　eye。
　　〃Keita　gave　me　this　to　help　lubricate　his　lids；〃　Tai　said；　handing　F'lessan　the　jar。　It　took　her　breath　away　to　see　the　ruin　of　the　left　eye　in　full　light　and　she　knew　it　must　be　worse　for　his　rider。
　　〃Yes；　that's　a　good　idea；〃　F'lessan　said　in　an　even　voice　and　unscrewed　the　jar。　With　the　tip　of　a　delicat