amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第91节

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　　Maybe　swimming　and　dolphin　massage　would　loosen　that　joint　just　enough…
　　〃Don't　consider　anything　else；　rider；〃　said　his　father　in　a　low　voice；　striding　past　him。
　　F'lessan　turned　back　and　held　out　his　hand。　〃Tai？〃　he　asked　hopefully。
　　She　came　out　of　the　shadow　of　the　ramp；　too；　and　took　his　hand。　They　walked　out　to　Golanth。　〃Remember；　F'lessan；　I　have　chosen　you。　I　now　reaffirm　it。〃　Her　hand　was　tight　on　his　as　they　began　the　walk　up　the　ramp。
　　
SOUTHERN　HOLD…3。23。31
　　Toric　was　overseeing　the　unloading　of　several　prime　breeding　pairs　of　canines：　big　strapping　animals；　deep　in　the　chest；　thick…necked；　well…set　teeth；　sturdy　legs；　dark　to　mid…brown　short…haired…a　necessary　trait　since　parasites　could　cling　to　long　fur　to　burrow　into　the　host　body。　Shrewd　calculating　eyes；　unafraid；　despite　a　journey　stuffed　in　a　cramped　forward　partment。
　　〃They　weren't　seasick；〃　the　handler　said　approvingly；　with　a　slight　emphasis　on　the　pronoun。　〃Name's　Pinch；　Lord　Toric。〃
　　〃Why　the　muzzles？〃　Toric　asked；　flicking　his　thick　fingers　in　acknowledgment　of　the　name。
　　〃One　of　the　females　is　near　her　heat。　Couldn't　have　them　biting；　fighting。〃
　　〃Aren't　they　trained？〃
　　The　handler；　a　medium…sized　man　with　an　angular　face　somewhat　marred　by　tar　stains　and　dirt；　brown　eyes；　serious　sort　of　expression；　gave　Toric　a　hard　stare。
　　〃If　they　wasn't　when　they　came　on　board；　they　are　now。　Sit！〃
　　All　six　dogs　instantly　obeyed；　heads　pointing　at　the　handler。　Though　they　didn't　move；　it　was　obvious　by　their　rolling　eyes　and　the　movements　of　their　nostrils　that　they　were　taking　in　such　sights　and　smells　as　they　could　at　the　sit　position。
　　〃Stand！〃　On　their　feet　in　a　shot。　They　took　advantage　and　glanced　about　in　every　direction。　One　of　them　whined　softly。
　　The　man　gave　a　sort　of　smug　smirk。　〃Voice　and　hand。〃　He　demonstrated　by　firmly　depressing　his　hand　to　the　ground　and　the　dogs　sat　down　again。　〃Make　sure　you　feed　'em　by　hand　yourself　and　they'll　be　yours。〃
　　Toric　had　no　time　to　feed　dogs　but　his　sons　did。
　　〃Here're　their　papers；〃　the　handler　said。　He　fumbled　in　a　clean　but　well…mended　jacket；　and　passed　Toric　a　sheaf。　〃Master　Ballora　guarantees　fertility　or　you　can　return　the　dogs。〃
　　〃Can　you　manage　to　get　them　to　my　hold？〃　Toric　asked；　eyeing　the　man。　Any　one　of　the　dogs　stood　higher　than　the　handler's　knee：　heavy　collars　as　well　as　choke　chains；　paired　up　on　three　thick　leather　leads。
　　〃Up　to　top；　turn　second　left；　up　the　wide　stairs　and　Lord　Toric's　Hold　is　directly　in　front；〃　the　man　said　in　quick　phrases　and　then　grinned；　showing　very　white　and　even　teeth。
　　〃Get　going　then；　and　you're　responsible　if　you　lose　one　or　any　get　damaged　or　do　damage。〃　Toric　gestured　him　to　be　off。
　　〃e！〃　The　dogs　followed　their　handler　down　the　gangplank；　shoving　a　little　with　their　shoulders　to　be　closest　behind　him。　At　his　order；　they　moved　in　front　of　him。
　　Toric　watched　as　the　dogs　led　the　man　up　the　stairs　without　pulling　at　him。　Toric　approved。　He　must　remember　to　oversee　his　sons　while　they　were　getting　accustomed　to　the　beasts。　Maybe；　he'd　keep　one　pair　by　him。　Might　be　prudent。　Ballora　had　offered　him　watchwhers。　He　couldn't　stand　the　look　of　the　creatures；　and　they　were　really　only　good　watchers　at　night。　They　had　to　be　blooded　at　birth　to　recognize　the　legitimate　members　of　a　Hold。
　　He　pretended　to　read　the　dogs'　papers　as　the　rest　of　the　passengers　began　filing　off　the　ship；　assessing　the　newest　arrivals　at　Southern。　More　ragged　ones　who　were　unlikely　to　devote　any　time　to　that　newest　fad；　sky…watching。　If　things　fell　out　of　the　sky；　they　fell；　and　there　was　more　water　on　Pern　than　land。　What　were　really　needed　in　the　sky　were　more　accurate　weather　satellites。　That　spaceship　had　only　its　southern　array　and　the　worst　winds　came　down　out　of　the　north；　which　was　what　had　happened　two　Turns　ago　and　his　coastline　had　been　sharding　ruined。　Dolphin　warning　hadn't　given　anyone　enough　time。
　　He　shifted　his　feet　and　glared　as　the　last　man　off　the　boat　led　a　small　girl　and　encouraged　three　boys　to　move　quickly　now。　Then　the　captain　and　the　Runner　Stationmaster　emerged；　the　latter　hefting　the　heavy　message　sack　to　his　shoulder。　The　captain　smiled　and　the　Runner　murmured　something　and　made　his　way　to　the　gangplank。　He　saw　the　Lord　Holder　and　nodded　courteously。
　　〃You've　nothing　for　me；　Runner？〃　
　　〃No；　Lord　Toric；　or　I　would　have　had　it　to　hand　the　moment　I　saw　you　e　on　board。〃
　　Toric　swore　under　his　breath；　pursing　his　lips。　The　Runner　Stationmaster　angled　past　Toric；　onto　the　pier；　and　up　the　stairs　to　the　new　Runner　Station　at　Southern。
　　Sharding　Fifth！　He'd　had　no　message　since　their　meeting　at　Telgar。　Fifth　had　indicated　there　were　many　men　and　women　who　obeyed　his　directions　but　not　who　or　where　they　were；　only　the　most　discreet　shared　his　theories　about　the　Abomination　and　Master　Robinton。　Very　prudent　of　Fifth　but　sharding　infuriating　for　Toric。　He　consoled　himself　with　the　fact　that　there　were　plenty　of　men　like　that　Ruathan　renegade　that　he　could　recruit；　but　it　meant　starting　out　again。　Dorse　had　been　almost　worth　every　mark　Toric　paid　him。
　　Of　course；　he　could　approach　Kashman！　Now　there　was　a　man　who　had　a　legitimate　grievance　with　the　high　and　mighty　Lord　Dragonrider　Jaxom。　Toric　might　be　able　to　work　on　that。　Gain　another　freethinking　man　in　the　Council。
　　He　also　had　had　no　word　from　Master　Esselin　about　the　meeting　with　Fifth　that　he　had　set　up。　Surely　the　old　fool　could　do　that　much　correctly。　Unless；　of　course；　Fifth　had　decided　to　take　the　marks　and　disappear。　Toric　rather　thought　not。　The　man's　obsession　would　keep　him　fueled　for　the　revenge　he　sought。　Kashman　might　be　a　willing　associate　even　if　he'd　been　only　a　child　when　the　beloved　Robinton　had　been　alive。
　　That　was　when　he　saw　the　thin　woman；　at　one　side　of　the　wharf；　watching　him；　standing　in　a　very　awkward　position；　one　hand　in　front　of　her　clasping　the　elbow　of　her　other　arm。　He　swaggered　down　the　gangplank；　knowing　she　waited　to　speak　to　him；　Lord　Toric。　There　was　only　one　person　she　could　be：　Dorse　had　described　her　in　unflattering　terms；　but　had　grudgingly　admitted　that　she　was　meticulous　with　details；　unpromising　in　her　devotion　to　Fifth；　and　determined　to　destroy　all　Abominations　if　she　had　to　do　it　single…handedly。
　　And　here　she　was；　Toric　thought；　seeking　him　out。　Did　she　intend　to　take　Dorse's　place？　Or　Fifth's？　Whichever；　he　could　control　her　as　he　had　Dorse；　as　he　hoped　to　manipulate　Kashman。　She'd　be　very　useful　in　Toric's　scheming。　Dorse　had　once　said　that　she　had　a　knack　of　recruiting　the　disgruntled　to　their　cause。　At　the　very　least；　she　could　give　him　the　names　and　whereabouts　of　those　already　〃persuaded。〃　She'd　be　convenient　to　use　as　an　emissary　to　Keroon　Hold。
　　He　smiled　at　her　as　he　approached。　She　met　his　glance　squarely；　her　face　a　mask；　her　body　motionless；　facing　him　as　an　equal。　Toric　kept　his　smile；　but　thought　that　he　had　better　make　sure　she　didn't　consider　herself　an　equal　in　any　respect　to　Toric；　Lord　Holder　of　Southern！
　　Neither　saw　that　the　dog　handler　paused　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　and　observed　their　meeting。
　　The　dog　handler　remained　in　Southern　Hold　long　enough　to　instruct　Toric's　twin　sons　in　how　to　care　for　and　use　the　mands　to　which　the　dogs　had　been　trained。　During　that　sevenday；　he　listened　but　heard　nothing　about　any　untoward　incident　at　Landing　or　any　word　about　Master　Esselin's　demise。
　　When　Toric　set　off　with　Fourth　to　some　destination　along　the　coast；　Pinch　summoned　Bista　to　him。　She　had　been　inconspicuous　among　all　the　fire…lizards　that　darted　about　Southern。　He　met　with　Sintary　in　Southern's　Harper　Hall　and　gave　the　Master　a　sketch　of　Fourth；　asking　him　to　keep　an　eye　out　for　her。　Then　he　sent　Bista　to　Sebell；　requesting　a　dragon　to　convey　him　back　to　the　Harper　Hall。
　　　
HONSHU　WEYRHOLD…3。27。31
　　It　took　two　days　to　recover　from　the　party。　Lessa　had　managed　to　talk　F'lar　into　staying　overnight　as　a　snowstorm　had　blown　in　over　Benden　from　the　Eastern　Sea　and　she　wanted　to　stay　warm。　T'lion；　who　had　helped　build　the　ramp；　talked　one　of　the　Monaco　harpers　into　ing　along　for　the　celebration：　Jubb　had　a　guitar；　Sparling　a　fiddle；　Riller　a　drum。　Keita　sang　a　fine　light　soprano；　Sagassy　a　rich　contralto；　and　everyone；　even　Tai；　laughed　when　F'lessan　tried　to　sing　the　chorus　with　them。　He　didn't　try　to　dance　but　F'lar　partnered　everyone；　including　Tai；　though　she　excused　herself　from　other　invitations　on　the　grounds　of　her　sore　leg　and　sat　with　F'lessan　when　he　wasn't　busy　trying　to　keep　his　bronze　dragon　from　walking　up　and　down　the　ramp。　But　it　was　a　fine　evening。
　　The　next　morning　both　rider　and　dragon　were　so　lame　that　Tai　plained　that　they'd　used　up　two　whole　pots　of　numbweed　between　them　to　ease　their　aches。　Keita　decided　that　she　was　redundant　and　asked　T'lion　for　a　ride　to　the　Healer　Hall。　She'd　send　more　numbweed。
　　The　third　morning　saw　the　last　of　the　party　cleared　up。　Sagassy　said　they'd　enough　food　left　over　for　several　days　and　she'd　best　get　down　to　her　hold。　Tai　offered　to　fly　her　back；　with　the　favorite　pots　and　pans　that　she'd　brought　up　to　Honshu　to　help　out。　Suddenly　F'lessan　had　his　weyrhold　to　himse