amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第94节
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reaming; they're so excited。 Fless? Fless; they say? Surely it can't be F'lessan? Didn't you tell me; Lytol; that he and his dragon were badly wounded?〃
〃Yes; they were wounded; Wansor;〃 Lytol said; ing to stand beside him。 〃They are here together to see you and discuss the Honshu scope。〃
They are here together。 Lytol's sentence reverberated in F'lessan's mind and he felt tears spring to his eyes…not of pity; but for his new perception of Lytol's victory over the loss of his brown Larth。 Lytol had re…created his life; not once; but three times。
Between one careful step and the next; the staggering concept that blossomed in detail in F'lessan's mind made him reel against Tai; who instantly supported him。
As she always had; as she always would! She and Zaranth!
You are all right? Golanth asked apprehensively; halting the water play in which he; Zaranth; and Tiroth indulged while dolphins leaped and played around them。
Quite right。 Quite all right! F'lessan reassured his dragon。
Soon Zaranth would be practiced enough to be the only dragon whom Golanth would need for a lift to safe entry between。 Tai and Zaranth were essential parts of the new future he had just stunningly envisioned for them…and for as many other dragons and riders who wished a part of such a bright; new adventure。
With such inner elation; F'lessan found it doubly hard to walk sedately when once he would have broken into a run。 The ache in his left leg seemed irrelevant; even if he couldn't speed up their pace to reach Cove Hold。
〃We're nearly there;〃 Tai said; sensing the surge of excitement in her partner's body。
As he took hold of the stair post; F'lessan paused and grinned; almost reverently; up at Lytol。 He saw surprise in Lytol's expression; then D'ram moved past Lytol; gesturing for F'lessan to hurry up the stairs。
〃e; lad; you're not so pletely recovered that you can run around in wet clothes and not catch a chill。 This way。〃 D'ram beckoned for F'lessan to follow him。
When they finally settled at the table on the porch where the three dragonriders could keep an eye on their water…sporting dragons; F'lessan was wearing clothes supplied by Erragon while his dried。 They'd had fresh klah and fruit。 Boxed and ready for transport were the remote units that would control the Honshu scope from the main level。 A technician; highly remended by Master Benelek; would install these and the circuitry necessary to operate the opening and closing of the observatory roof。
〃What I want to know; F'lessan; Tai;〃 Master Wansor asked; almost testy with impatience; 〃is what's happened to the feline problem?〃
That was perhaps the last question the two dragonriders expected; and they stared at each other。 Lytol and D'ram flinched at their blind friend's tactlessness。
〃Yes; well; Master Wansor;〃 Tai began; recovering more quickly than F'lessan。 〃None have been seen around Honshu lately。 The holders protect their fields with dragon dung and firestone mash; so we've spread that mixture on our perimeter。 Seems to do the job。〃
〃I understand;〃 Lytol added; shifting in his chair after Wansor's blunder; 〃that Master Ballora sent teams to investigate the habits and lairs of these creatures on Southern。〃 He paused。 〃She's of the opinion that they were originally developed to hunt the large variety of tunnel snakes that preyed on herdbeasts in the early colonial days。 The experiment went wrong; the creatures escaped; and; with no predators to inhibit their numbers; they proliferated unchallenged after the Ancients went north。 It would be an impossible; as well as a very dangerous; task to eradicate them。 Master Oldive suggests that it should be possible to decrease their numbers by using bait tainted with an infertility substance; but first the species must be examined。 Master Ballora is not the only Council member who is adamant that we may not do away with any species that inhabits this planet。〃
〃Except Thread;〃 F'lessan murmured; his sense of mischief suddenly dominant。
Lytol gave him a long; almost amused look。 〃That organism is not indigenous。〃
〃No more than the felines;〃 D'ram put in; 〃since they were developed by the Ancients。〃 He shuddered。
〃I shouldn't like to think that there were any lurking near;〃 Wansor added; his face furrowed。
〃Not with Tiroth on duty;〃 D'ram said stoutly; patting Wansor on the hand。
Erragon cleared his throat; taking charge of conversation。 〃Quite true。 Quite true。 Now I want to thank you; F'lessan and Tai; for the work you've already pleted; analyzing the images I sent。 What I'd like to know is…〃 and the Star Master hesitated。
〃If we'd be willing to undertake regular reviews of the southern starscape;〃 F'lessan finished。 〃I think from T'gellan's presence here today;〃 he said; glancing at Tai; 〃that Tai must gradually return to her duties with Monaco Weyr。 With their agility; speed; and control; greens are the most useful dragon in any Fall。〃
Lytol bowed his scarred face in acknowledgment of F'lessan's tacit allusion to the fact that he would never again fly a fighting wing。
〃Perhaps you should consider spending the Nine Fall here at Cove Hold with us; bronze rider;〃 Lytol said。
〃I shall hope to be able to land more gracefully by then;〃 F'lessan replied with a self…deprecating grin。
〃Practice; I believe;〃 Lytol murmured; his eyes alive with understanding and passion; 〃always improves performance。〃
〃I will; however;〃 and F'lessan paused; 〃need to pursue another future for myself and my dragon。〃
〃Well; you've already proved that you can be useful as a star…watcher;〃 Master Wansor blurted out。 〃You don't need a dragon for that。〃 His plump hand covered his mouth as he realized what he had said。 〃I mean; you still have Golanth; even if he。。。〃
〃Even if he is battered;〃 F'lessan finished for him。 〃So; I entreat you; Master Wansor; Master Erragon; to allow me to study astronomy so that Honshu can bee fully operational as the second Pern observatory。〃
〃Oh; dear; there never has been a dragonrider astronomer;〃 Wansor said; and then beamed in F'lessan's direction。 〃But then there wasn't even a StarSmith until very recently。〃
〃Tai's already trained to near journeywoman status;〃 F'lessan said; laying his hand on hers。 〃Isn't she; Erragon?〃
〃She is; indeed;〃 Erragon agreed with hearty approval。
〃We work well as a team;〃 F'lessan hurried on; 〃and she'll need a profession; too; when Threadfall stops。〃
〃True; very true;〃 Erragon said enthusiastically; slapping his hands on his knees in emphasis。 〃Hope you'll be the first of many。〃 Then; in an abrupt change of mood; he said; 〃Do tell us; F'lessan; how did you and Golanth get here today?〃
〃I was wondering when someone would ask;〃 F'lessan replied。
〃This new ability that the Weyrleaders mentioned in Council? Something。。。〃 Erragon clicked his fingers; impatient with his memory lapse。 〃。。。 about the ability Aivas perceived in dragons that has some bearing on averting future dangers?〃
〃Given that dragonriders are apparently responsible for what falls out of the sky;〃 F'lessan said with a touch of irony; 〃yes; it bears directly on that; and on my very keen interest in astronomy。〃
〃What? What is it?〃 Erragon prompted。
〃Actually you all witnessed a demonstration of that ability on my arrival。〃
Erragon; Wansor; and D'ram regarded him without prehension; but a smile eased across Lytol's seamed face and he nodded。
〃I thought so。〃 When the grinning F'lessan gestured for him to continue; he did。 〃Consider; my friends; that Golanth sustained terrible injuries to eye and wing。 I do not think Golanth could have launched himself from even the topmost terrace of Honshu to gain sufficient height to go between。 Also; he arrives in the pany of five other dragons。 He falters in landing and is righted…without any use of that damaged wing。 The other dragons assisted him。 Correct?〃
F'lessan nodded。 〃While it doesn't require five dragons to lift Golanth; it does require a good deal of control to lift and land。 From what the Monaco riders told us; it appears that female and male dragons work best as partners in such telekinesis。〃
〃I still don't understand;〃 Erragon murmured; shaking his head。 〃How did a wing…injured dragon fly?〃
Beside him; D'ram was gaping open…mouthed at F'lessan and Lytol。
〃Master Wansor; I know that you;〃 and F'lessan nodded toward him; 〃remember that Aivas was fascinated by dragons; by a species that municates mentally and moves freely between one place and another。 He called these abilities telepathy and teleportation。 He thought they should have a third: telekinesis。 He very much wanted dragons to have that facet。 They've evidently had it all along but…〃 F'lessan paused to grin at a speechless D'ram。 〃…until the feline attack on Golanth and Zaranth; had never needed to use it。〃
Turning to Erragon then; he went on。 〃What you saw today is a refinement of telekinesis。 Controlled!〃 He paused to stress that。 〃Golanth can't…yet…use the damaged wing effectively。 So the dragons lifted him vertically; high enough above Honshu to go safely between; which he can still do for himself。〃 F'lessan leaned back in his chair;