amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第33部分

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；　he　was　in　the　habit　of　scanning　the　morning　skies　for　weather　signs；　so　he　had　seen　the　fireball。　He　was　also　aware　of　the　phenomenon　of　tsunami　and　had　immediately　consulted　his　charts　and　logbooks。　As　Erragon　had　done；　he　had　used　red　for　the　most　vulnerable　seacoast；　orange　for　danger；　and　blue　for　easily　accessible　highlands。　Before　the　Benden　Weyrleader　appeared　to　ask　for　his　help；　he　had　a　pretty　good　idea　how　serious　the　situation　was。
　　〃Here！〃　With　a　deft　finger　Idarolan　extracted　an　open　sheet　and　flicked　it　toward　F'nor。　〃Toric　likes　charts　and　maps　and　details。　This'll　give　you　what　he　needs　to　know。　He'd　have…let's　see。。。〃　Idarolan　turned　his　eyes　up；　mentally　figuring。
　　〃Eleven　hours；　minus　the　time　of　this　meeting；〃　Erragon　said　with　an　apologetic　nod　to　the　old　MasterFishman　for　giving　the　answer；　〃before　the　tsunamis　meet　the　shoreline　of　his　hold。〃
　　〃At　that　he'll　get　off　lightly。　And　consider　himself　ill…used　to　be　assaulted　from　east　and　west；〃　Lessa　said；　her　expression　inscrutable。　F'nor　gave　her　a　long　wide…eyed　look。　She　responded　with　a　smirk　as　Erragon　agreed　with　her。
　　〃But　not　entirely。　He　has　many　seaside　holdings。〃
　　〃Southern　Boll　will　be　hit　harder；〃　Idarolan　said；　nodding　solemnly　at　Janissian。　〃And　Tillek。〃
　　〃More　rock　face　than　shallows　along　that　south…facing　coast　of　ours；〃　Ranrel　said；　speaking　almost　for　the　first　time；　he'd　been　taking　copious　notes。　〃We　are　very　lucky　that　there　has　been　such　advance　warning。〃
　　〃The　Yokohama　has　more　than　justified　her　continued　existence；〃　Idarolan　said　with　a　slightly　sanctimonious　air；　glancing　sideways　at　Kashman　of　Keroon。
　　〃I　wonder　what　the　Abominators　will　say　about　this；〃　Jaxom　remarked　in　a　deliberately　languid　tone。
　　Into　the　dismayed　silence　that　greeted　that　ment；　F'nor　noisily　pushed　back　his　chair；　reached　across　the　table　for　the　sheets　Idarolan　had　sent　in　his　direction　and　finished　the　last　of　the　klah　in　his　cup。
　　〃C'mon；　then！　We　can　send　a　fire…lizard　to　apprise　Sintary　of　our　arrival。〃　He　looked　to　Lessa　and　F'lar。
　　〃Might　as　well；〃　Idarolan　said；　also　rising　to　his　feet。　〃I　shan't　be　long；　Lord　Ciparis；　and　then　I'm　yours　to　mand。　But　I'll　point　out　that　the　Keys；　and　Long　Beach　at　the　head　of　Nerat　River；　will　reduce　the　violence　of　the　tsunami　there。　The　Tip　of　Nerat；　Bent　Ridge；　Grethel；　Saluda；　and　Berea　will　be　affected　and　the　river　may　flood　all　the　way　up　to　Waneta。　I'll　be　back。〃
　　〃I'll　return　Janissian　to　Southern　Boll；〃　Jaxom　said；　〃once　we've　copies　of　all　this　for　you　and　Curran；　Ranrel；　and　for　us。〃
　　
BACK　AT　LANDING…LOCAL　TIME…3：40
　　The　instinct　that　saved　dragons　from　colliding　during　Threadfall　kept　Golanth　and　his　rider　from　disaster　as　they　came　out　of　between　over　a　Landing　that；　at　first；　seemed　covered　by　dragon　wings；　like　a　vast　multicolored　sunshade。
　　Ramoth　says　to　land　on　the　square。　We　are　to　rest！　And；　without　waiting　for　F'lessan's　ment；　Golanth　pivoted　wearily　on　one　wing　tip；　gliding　over　to　the　edge　of　the　wide　Gather　square。　F'lessan　had　time　enough　in　that　spin　to　see　Ramoth；　perched　behind　and　above　Admin；　wings　half　open　as　she　constantly　swung　her　head　from　side　to　side　across　the　area　below　her。　Two　more　queens…the　juniors　from　Benden　who　were　accustomed　to　working　with　Ramoth…sat　on　either　side；　slightly　below　her　position。　They　also　were　watching　and；　quite　likely；　directing　dragon　traffic　in　and　out　of　Landing。
　　Golanth　was　making　his　way　toward　the　roasting　pits　and　the　nearest　open　space。
　　She　is　here。
　　Wearily　F'lessan　blinked　his　eyes　at　the　several　green　dragons　immediately　below　him。
　　Both　shes？　F'lessan　asked；　trying　to　inject　some　humor　into　his　voice。　His　body　felt　as　battered　as　if　they　had　been　rolled　by　a　tsunami。
　　Both。　I　land。　Should　you　see　a　healer？
　　I'll　be　fine　when　I've　had　some　rest。
　　Golanth's　thought　rumbled　with　disbelief　but　he　landed；　flicking　his　wings　up　so　that　the　tips　and　claws　touched　over　his　head　and　he　didn't　touch　the　greens　on　either　side　of　his　chosen　landing　site。　Zaranth　was　on　his　right；　several　shades　lighter　than　she　had　been　that　morning。　The　other　green　had　curled　her　head　under　one　wing　and　was　asleep；　her　rider's　head　pillowed　on　her　wrist。　With　narrowed；　blurry　eyes；　Zaranth　watched　Golanth　settle。　When　the　green　extended　her　head　to　nuzzle　the　bronze's　shoulder；　F'lessan；　tired　as　he　was；　felt　a　spurt　of　surprise。　The　touch　was　more　caress　than　acknowledgment。
　　She　likes　me；　Golanth　said。
　　F'lessan　saw　that　the　green　cradled　Tai　on　her　forelegs；　the　girl's　sprawled　figure　covered　by　two　beautifully　marked　feline　pelts。
　　So；　F'lessan　thought；　she　did　save　them。
　　〃F'lessan？〃　Someone　pulled　at　his　leg。　He　looked　down　at　S'lan；　amazed　to　see　his　son　in　the　south。　The　boy　and　his　brown　Norenth　were　only　just　out　of　the　weyrling　barracks。
　　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　　Grinning　proudly；　S'lan　held　up　a　small　cup。
　　〃All　of　us　were　brought　down　to　help。　Healer　says　to　drink　this　down　and　then　dismount　and　eat。〃
　　He　climbed　onto　Golanth's　foreleg　to　hand　the　cup　to　the　bronze　rider　and　F'lessan　tossed　back　the　liquid。　Just　as　well；　he　never　would　have　sipped　the　beverage　if　he　had　sampled　the　taste　of　it。　What　a　taste！　Worse　than　the　seaholder's　wine！　It　did　revive　him　enough　to　dismount；　if　only　to　eat　something　to　get　rid　of　the　taste　of　it　in　his　mouth。　Golanth　groaned　as　he　sank　to　his　belly；　stretching　out　as　much　as　he　could　without　interfering　with　the　tired　dragons　on　either　side　of　him。　Using　Golanth's　shoulder　as　a　prop；　F'lessan　slid　down　to　a　sitting　position　against　his　dragon。
　　〃Help　me　out　of　my　jacket；　Sellie。〃　I　must　remember　to　call　him　S'lan　now；　F'lessan　thought。　〃Hang　it　on　Golanth　to　dry；　will　you？〃
　　That　done；　he　took　the　breadroll　the　boy　offered。
　　〃You　have　to　rest；〃　S'lan　said；　scowling　at　his　father　and　looking；　at　that　moment；　like　his　grandmother。　He　unslung　the　two　canteens　looped　over　his　shoulder。　〃One's　water。　Don't　drink　the　klah　in　the　other　one　yet。　It'll　keep　warm。　Ramoth　says　every　dragon　and　rider　has　time　to　rest。〃
　　〃Ramoth　says　we　have　time？　Good。　Do　I　get　back　what　time　I　lost？〃　F'lessan　murmured　facetiously；　more　to　himself　than　for　his　son's　ears。　〃Thanks；　S'lan；〃　he　added。
　　F'lessan　glanced　slowly　across　the　panorama　of　so　many　dragons　sprawled　in　or　near　the　square。　Sticking　the　breadroll　between　his　teeth；　he　put　the　canteens　on　the　ground　beside　him。　Was　Lessa　aware　of　how　much　his　son　looked　like　her？　Dark　haired；　dark　eyed；　with　a　certain　familiar　tilt　to　the　chin？　Scamp！
　　〃No　one　argues　with　Ramoth；　you　know；〃　the　boy　said。　〃Gotta　go！　I'll　be　back。〃
　　It　seemed　to　F'lessan　more　like　a　threat　but　he　chewed　a　huge　bite　of　the　roll…the　bread　was　crusty　and　still　slightly　warm。　With　his　free　hand；　he　slipped　the　sweat…soaked　helmet　off　his　head　and　spread　it　where　it　could　dry。　Shards！　That　tsunami　shed　a　lot　of　water！　Wearily；　he　looked　over　at　Tai　but　she　was　sound　asleep。　She　was　lucky。　Would　he　see　that　damned　wave　hovering　over　him　if　he　slept？　Or　himself；　Golanth；　and　Binness　plastered　like　insects　on　the　cliff？　A　vision　out　of　a　nightmare　sure　to　bee　one！　Golanth　really　was　the　best　dragon　on　all　Pern。
　　Of　course　I　am；　murmured　the　bronze　immodestly。
　　F'lessan　chuckled　around　the　last　piece　of　the　breadroll　that　he　barely　tasted；　he　was　so　tired。　He　swallowed　the　last　of　it　with　a　sip　from　the　water　canteen。　He　could　hardly　keep　his　eyes　open。　Had　there　been　a　dash　of　fellis　in　that　healer's　cup？　He　took　a　long　swallow　of　water。
　　Golanth　groaned　and　dropped　his　muzzle　to　one　foreleg。　F'lessan　reached　up　to　pat　the　right　eye　ridge；　nuzzled　himself　into　a　fortable　spot　against　Golanth's　shoulder；　and　immediately　fell　asleep。
　　
HARPER　HALL…5：00　IN　THE　MORNING；
AND　SOUTHERN　HOLD…2：00　IN　THE　MORNING…1。9。31
　　At　wintry　Fort；　F'nor　and　Idarolan　informed　Sebell　of　the　dangers　and　the　details。　Idarolan　had　acquired　sufficient　extra　copies　of　the　projected　tsunami　path　through　the　Southern　and　Western　Seas　to　give　a　set　to　the　MasterHarper。　The　Interface　office　had　the　only　automatic　copier；　another　of　the　many　technological　wonders　that　were　ing　in　so　very　useful。　Considering　the　panic　of　drum　messages　into　the　Harper　Hall　from　those　minor　holds　and　halls　that　had　drummers；　Sebell　needed　accurate　information　to　give　them。　It　was　still　night　in　the　west　but　the　constant　drums　had　interrupted　the　sleep　of　many　and　lights　were　on　in　cotholds　as　well　as　in　Fort's　great　facade。　A　messenger　came　running　up　from　the　Healer　Hall　with　queries　from　Master　Oldive　as　to　where　he　was　to　send　healers　to　help　in　this　emergency　of　which　he'd　like　pertinent　details　so　he　could　organize　his　craftsmen　and　…women。
　　〃Have　you　time　for　something　to　eat　and　drink？〃　Sebell　asked　when　the　core　of　the　emergency　had　been　explained　to　him。
　　〃No；　it's　earlier　at　Southern　Hold　and　we'd　best　not　delay　explaining　it　all　to　Toric；〃　F'nor　said；　grimacing。
　　〃He'll　demand　to　know　why　he's　had　to　wait　to　learn　about　the　fireball；〃　Sebell　added。　Then　he　chuckled；　his　eyes　bright　in　the　gleam　of　the　Hall's　night　lamps。
　　〃I　could　use　a　laugh；〃　F'nor　said。
　　〃I　think　he　may　regret　having　so　many…ah；　shall　we　say　undisclosed…coastal　holdings？〃　Sebell　snorted；　his　expression　amused。　〃Truth　will　out。　K'van　probably　knows。〃
　　〃We'd　best　go。　He　and　Sintary　will　be　waiting　for　us　at　the　old　Weyr　site。〃
　　〃We　will　try　to　defuse　rumor　with　fact；〃　Sebell　said。
　　A　task　that　F'nor　did　not　envy　him。
　　Idarolan　gave　a　malicious　smile。　〃Keep　ears　open　for　what　those　seaworm　Abominators　spread。〃
　　〃It's　a　natural　disaster；　isn't　it？〃　F'nor　remarked。
　　〃Reported　by　the　Yokohama；〃　Sebell　demurred。
　　〃And　sharding　fortunate　we　are　to　have　at　least　one　eye　on　the　skies　above；〃　Idarolan　said　in　his　caustic　fashion。
　　F'nor　thought　about　timing　it；　there　was　no　question　in　F'nor's　mind　that　Toric's　informers　would　eventually　mention　the　exact　minute　and　hour　Landing　had　recognized　the　fireball　as　a　threat；　but　he　decided　against　making　the　effort　just　as　Canth　spoke。
　　Ramoth　said　not　to！　We　do　not　know　what　else　we　will　have　to　do　today。
　　All　right；　Canth。　I'm　chastised。
　　You　are　not！　his　dragon　replied　in　mild　protest。
　　You　know　me　too　well。
　　Another　drum　message　rolled　in　and　with　a　backward　wave；　Sebell　trotted　up　the　steps　to　deal　with　it。　Once　sure　that　Idarolan　was　seated　fortably　again　behind　him；　F'nor　gave　Canth　a　vivid　view　of　Southern　Hold's　rocky　cliffs…at　night。
　　Ruth　is　not　the　only　dragon　who　knows　when　he　is；　was　Canth's　exit　remark。
　　F'nor　experienced　an　odd　dislocation　as　they　arrived　over　Southern　Hold；　the　peaceful　sight　of　the　riding　lights　of　four　coastal　ships　anchored　in　the　harbor　and　night　glows　up　the　harbor　steps：　all　serene　here。　Landing　had　been　chaotic！　Fort　Hold　had　been　alive　with　activity　and　tension。　Silently　and；　F'nor　hoped；　unseen　by　anyone　watching　below；　Canth　glided　through　the　warm　air　over　the　sleeping　Hold　and　on　to　the　original　Southern　Weyr　site。　He　was　painfully　aware　that　right　now；　on　the　other　side　of　the　planet；　Monaco　Bay　Weyr　would　be　experiencing　the　tsunami。　There　had　been　enough　dragons　to　rescue