amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第93节

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ider　assuming　a　full　wing。
　　The　Honshu　attack　had　been　a　near　thing；　even　though　both　F'lessan　and　Golanth　had　survived。　Riders　often　had　trouble　accepting　such　severe；　and　limiting；　injuries　to　themselves　or　their　dragons。　The　ones　who　were　not　strong　enough　in　character　and　resilience　to　deal　with　the　reality　would　just　go　between。　That　had　been　the　most　important　factor　to　the　Benden　Weyrleaders：　that　F'lessan；　once　he　understood　the　severity　of　Golanth's　crippling；　would　not　suicide。　Keita　had　dismissed　that　fear　instantly。　F'lessan　did　not　have　that　sort　of　personality。　Then　there　was　Tai　to　fort　him。　Frankly；　Lessa　had　not　foreseen　F'lessan　making　such　an　attachment　but　the　bination　had　lasted　well　past　mating；　and　Zaranth　was　as　supportive　of　the　bronze　as　her　rider　was　of　the　man。　Ramoth　had　kept　an　ear　open　for　Golanth　and　Zaranth　every　moment　of　the　crucial　period。　So；　Lessa　thought　privately；　had　F'lar　and　Mnementh。
　　Lessa　could　now　be　doubly　grateful　for　F'lessan's　keen　interest　in　Honshu　and　she'd　been　much　relieved　to　know　that　he　and　Tai　had　begun　to　pick　up　the　sky…watching　during　the　convalescence。　F'lessan　was　too　important…not　just　as　their　only　living　issue；　but　to　Pern。　How　he　had　given　heart　at　that　Weyrleaders　meeting！　When　she　herself　had　despaired　of　finding　a　solution　to　what　the　dragonriders　could　do　After；　her　one　child　had　supplied　a　direction。
　　She　gave　herself　a　little　shake；　reliving　that　moment　of　cold　terror　when　Ramoth　had　gone；　without　her　rider；　to　aid　Golanth　and　Zaranth。
　　〃That　moment　is　nearly　a　month　ago；〃　F'lar　said；　ing　from　behind　to　bend　and　embrace　her。　〃I　know　you　wanted　to　be　there；　but　Zaranth　is　a　Monaco　dragon　and　having　the　support　of　her　Weyr　is　as　important　as　learning　how　to　give　Golanth　just　enough　lift　to　get　airborne。　It's　not　as　if　we　aren't　getting　plenty　of　practice　in　telekinesis　lifting　those　telescope　ponents　for　Erragon。〃　He　hugged　her。　〃A　fine　control　you　and　Ramoth　have。〃
　　〃And　Mnementh's　potential　is　seemingly　unlimited；〃　she　said；　returning　a　sincere　pliment　as　she　leaned　against　him；　accepting　the　strength　he　always　shared　with　her。　〃So　many　new　things　to　learn　in　this　new　dimension　of　dragonkind。〃
　　F'lar　gave　a　dry　chuckle。　〃It's　no　wonder　it's　too　much　for　some　people　to　absorb。〃
　　〃We've　not　had　more　trouble　with　Abominators；　have　we？〃　Alarmed；　she　turned　in　his　arms　to　see　that　he　wasn't　hiding　anything　from　her。
　　〃Fortunately；　we　have　enough　to　do。〃
　　〃But　you　don't　think　we've　heard　the　last　with　that　death　at　Landing？〃
　　F'lar　sighed。　〃Pinch　has　evidently　seen　Fourth　in　Tone's　keeping。　Who　can　be　sure？　Such　people　are　afraid　of　what　they　don't　understand；　won't　understand。　So　they　pretend　to　despise　and　reject　it　since　they　can't　and　won't　understand。　They　retaliate　by　defiance　and　witless　destruction。　And　claim　they're　acting　on　behalf　of　people　and　for　reasons　those　people　don't　understand　either。　It　may　just　be　a　sign　of　our　changing　times。　And　life　on　our　planet　is　indeed　changing。〃
　　〃For　the　better？〃　she　murmured。
　　He　tipped　her　head　up　with　one　finger　and　lightly　kissed　her　lips。　〃Definitely　for　the　better！〃
　　〃You　do　believe　that？〃　Lessa　said；　seeking　reassurance。
　　〃I　wouldn't　say　it　if　I　didn't　believe　it。　After　how　many　Turns；　don't　you　know　I　wouldn't　give　you　false　hope；　dear　heart？〃
　　She　put　her　hands　on　the　arms　that　enfolded　her。　〃We　lived　for　nearly　a　whole　Turn　on　nothing　but　hope。〃
　　〃And　I　survived　three　days　without　any；〃　F'lar　said；　kissing　her　as　he　reminded　her　of　his　own　private　despair　when　she　had　gone　back　in　time　to　bring　forward　the　five　missing　Weyrs。
　　
COVE　HOLD…SAME　DAY；　SAME　APPROXIMATE　TIME
　　As　F'lessan　counted　the　eight　seconds　in　his　head；　he　never　thought　he'd　be　so　happy　to　be　in　the　black　coldness。　Then　they　were　above　the　blue　waters。　Golanth　eased　to　the　right；　lowering　the　left　wing's　sail　to　pensate　as　they　glided　toward　the　lightly　rippling　surface。
　　This　is　good！　I　have　missed　this！　Golanth　said。
　　All　right；　my　friend；　how　do　you　propose　to　land？　F'lessan　almost　laughed　as　this　problem　had　to　be　considered。　And　quickly。
　　I　will　settle　as　neatly　on　the　water　as　I　always　do；　Golanth　said；　but　in　his　joy　at　being　aloft；　he'd　briefly　forgotten　that　the　stiff　joint　would　not　respond　as　usual。
　　Later；　Erragon　and　D'ram　who　had　been　watching　from　the　deep　porch　of　Cove　Hold　said　that；　considering　the　handicaps；　it　hadn't　been　a　bad　landing。　Golanth；　who　had　been　gliding　in　without　assistance　from　the　other　dragons；　tried　ineffectively　to　backwing。　He　couldn't　balance　and　tilted；　trailing　his　left　wing　tip　in　the　water　and　that　swung　him　round。　Before　the　left　wing　could　be　wrenched　by　a　rough　immersion；　he　was　skimming　the　water；　supported　by　his　guides。　He　had　time　to　fold　his　wings　before　he　splashed　down；　skidding　forward　another　length。　With　no　riding　strap；　F'lessan　lost　his　grip；　went　over　his　right　shoulder　and　into　the　water。　He　was　able　to　turn　his　assisted　dismount　into　a　creditable　dive。
　　Sorry！　Monarth　said。　Should　have　caught　you；　F'lessan。　There's　a　trick　to　this　we　haven't　figured　out。　Getting　Golanth　up　is　one　thing。　Getting　him　down　is　another。　Water　is　at　least　soft。
　　Water　is　not　the　least　bit　soft！　was　F'lessan's　response。
　　Although　his　heavy　riding　jacket　was　sodden　and　hampered　him；　he　surfaced　and　started　swimming　to　Golanth；　now　bobbing　on　the　sea；　and　looking　anxiously　about　for　him。
　　Is　your　wing　all　right？
　　I　think　so。　Golanth　demonstrated　by　cautiously　stretching　it　out　as　fully　as　he　could。　Waves　lapped　across　its　surface；　the　stiff　joint　sinking　into　the　warm　sea。　That　feels　good！
　　F'lessan　had　done　no　more　than　seven　or　eight　strokes　when　his　outstretched　right　hand　was　filled　by　a　dorsal　fin。　He　caught　it　gratefully　and　was　conveyed　toward　Golanth　at　speed。　Others　surfaced　beside　him；　squeeing　with　delight　at　his　appearance；　calling　his　name　and　Golly's　and　grinning　at　him　as　they　arced　above　his　head。
　　〃Shore；　Fless？　Shore；　Fless？〃　Alta　asked　him。　Beyond　her　he　could　see　Dik　and　Tom。　Five　more　of　the　Cove　Hold　pod　were　tail…walking　about　Golanth。　He　could　hear　their　excited　clicking。　〃We　take　care　of　Golly。　You　leave　clothes　on　shore；　Fless。〃
　　As　with　everything　this　morning；　F'lessan　did　not　apparently　have　any　options。　He　could　at　least　submit　with　grace。　The　dolphin　escort；　squeeing　and　squealing；　guided　him　inshore　until　he　could　get　his　feet　under　him　and　walk　out。
　　A　grinning　D'ram　was　there　to　hand　him　a　towel；　offering　to　take　his　jacket　and　to　make　sure　it　dried　properly。　Zaranth　landed　Tai　on　the　beach；　Monarth　hovering　briefly　as　T'gellan　leaned　down　to　speak　to　the　green　rider。　F'lessan　saw　her　stiffen　and　then　nod　in　acquiescence。　Monarth　veered　off　and　gained　height　to　go　between　with　the　other　dragons。　Zaranth　splashed　into　the　bright　cove　waters；　swimming　out　to　join　Golanth　and　the　dolphins　who　seethed　in　the　water　about　him。
　　Tai　hurried　up　the　beach　to　join　F'lessan；　stripping　off　her　jacket　and　helmet；　but　F'lessan　knew　that　her　conversation　with　T'gellan　had　been　significant。　She　looked　very　thoughtful。
　　〃Just　the　people　I　wanted　to　see；〃　Erragon　called　out；　waving　for　F'lessan　and　Tai　to　join　him　at　the　Hold。　〃I've　got　all　the　equipment　you　need　for　remote　access　to　the　scope。〃
　　Vigorously　both　F'lessan　and　Tai　waved　arms；　acknowledging　that　good　news。
　　Then　Master　Wansor；　hearing　the　motion；　shuffled　to　the　steps；　Lytol　beside　him。　As　Tai　reached　F'lessan；　he　was　wringing　out　his　dripping　shirt　and　trying　to　keep　his　balance　on　the　slant　of　the　beach。
　　〃Clever　of　you　to　dive　in；〃　she　said；　giving　him　a　proud；　shy　smile。
　　〃Oh？　You　thought　so？〃　he　asked；　teasing。　Just　then；　his　left　leg　gave　under　him。　She　gave　him　quick　support　until　he　recovered。
　　〃I　forgot　the　cane；〃　he　said　through　clenched　teeth。　The　euphoria　of　his　ride　here　on　Golanth　instantly　dissipated。　He　glanced　across　the　sands　to　the　Hold；　a　long　walk　for　a　man　with　a　lame　leg。　He　did　not　want　to　fall　on　his　face　in　front　of　Lytol　or　D'ram。　Especially　Lytol。　How　humiliating　that　would　be。　He　was　still　incapacitated。　His　dragon　was　still　injured。　He　would　never　again　be　what　he　had　once　been：　the　carefree　self…indulgent　bronze　Wingleader　from　Benden　Weyr！
　　〃We　did　sort　of　leave　abruptly；〃　Tai　said　with　an　encouraging　chuckle　as　she　laid　his　bare　left　arm　across　her　shoulders　as　if　walking　that　way　was　customary。　〃Your　skin'll　be　dry　by　the　time　we　get　to　the　porch。〃
　　〃Give　me　that　shirt；　F'lessan；〃　the　old　bronze　rider　said；　taking　it　from　the　bronze　rider's　limp　hand。　〃You'll　want　to　be　out　of　those　wet　pants；　too。　e　along　to　the　house　now。　I'll　just　run　ahead　and　get　things　ready。〃
　　F'lessan　made　himself　match　his　stride　with　Tai's。　He　told　himself　that　walking　up　the　long　beach　to　Cove　Hold　was　really　just　another　step　on　his　way　to　recovery。　After　all；　he　and　Golanth　had　nearly　died　a　bare　four　sevendays　before。
　　〃What's　all　the　fuss？　Who　just　arrived？〃　Wansor　was　asking；　his　eyes　wide　in　his　sightless　face。　〃I　can't　hear　what　those　dolphins　are　screaming；　they're　so　excited。　Fless？　Fless；　they　say？　Surely　it　can't　be　F'lessan？　Didn't　you　tell　me