amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第42部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


st　one　to　fly　to　mate　would　be　the　new　Weyrwoman）。　For　Lessa；　that　was　great　fun　and　for　F'lar　a　chance　to　assess　the　bronze　riders。
　　M'rand　is　right。　F'lar　agrees　that　there　are　four　well…experienced　men　who　can　take　over　immediately；　Mnementh　told　Lessa。
　　Which　queen？　she　asked　the　bronze。
　　Yasith；　Ramoth　said　so　firmly　that　if　Mnementh　had　a　different　candidate；　he　did　not　now　mention　her。
　　Lessa　kept　her　opinion　to　herself。　Yasith's　rider　was　Neldama；　weyrborn　in　High　Reaches　twenty…five　Turns　before；　and　twelve　Turns　younger　than　the　oldest　of　the　queenriders。　So　she　was　of　this　Pass；　which；　in　Lessa's　estimation；　meant　fewer　problems。　Not　exactly　a　pretty　girl…attractive　enough　to　rate　a　long　look　from　F'lar…with　green　eyes　that　looked　right　at　a　speaker　and　a　considerate；　sensible　manner　as　she　set　about　collecting　the　items　that　Pilgra　said　she'd　want　to　pack。
　　M'rand　fretted　over　how　to　inform　three　main　Lord　Holders　and　the　most　prominent　minor　ones　of　his　sudden　departure。
　　〃It　would　be　courteous；　but　it's　only　a　formality。　'Due　to　continued　ill　health；　in　the　best　interests　of　the　Weyr　and　the　Holds　that　look　to　High　Reaches　for　protection　from　Thread…fall　during　a　Pass。'　〃　F'lar　rattled　off　the　phrases。　〃A　change　of　Weyrleadership　is　our…〃　he　rocked　his　hand　to　indicate　the　four　of　them；〃…business。〃
　　〃It's　not　as　if　the　whole　Weyr　is　retiring；〃　Lessa　said　just　as　Neldama　and　Curella；　the　oldest　queen　rider；　brought　in　mulled　wine　and　small　hot　savories　to　be　served　in　the　Weyrwoman's　quarters。　〃And　it's　not　as　if　you　haven't　traveled　between　both　continents　before。　Be　easy；　Pilgra；　M'rand。　This　time　you're　doing　what's　best　for　you！〃
　　Of　the　other　two　Oldtimer　Weyrleaders　remaining　in　control；　G'narish　of　Igen　was　flexible　enough　in　his　mind　to　accept　suggestions　while　G'dened　of　Ista　was　nearly　as　contrary　as　R'gul　had　been。　All　the　Weyrs　needed　to　look　ahead　to　After。　G'dened　gave　her　the　impression　that　he　didn't　even　consider　After。　He　certainly　wasn't　suggesting　to　any　of　his　riders　that　they　would　have　to　look　to　their　own　support　once　this　Threadfall　was　over　and　the　traditional　tithing　of　Hold　and　Hall　no　longer　appeared　on　a　regular　basis。
　　
BENINI　HOLD…EAST　MONACO　AND　HONSHU…1。20。31
　　〃If　one　more　person　asks　me　'what　are　dragonriders　going　to　do　about　things　that　fall　out　of　the　sky　on　us'　or　'how　we're　going　to　keep　the　sky　from　falling　on　them；'　〃　F'lessan　said　with　a　great　deal　of　bitterness　to　Tai；　〃I'll…I'll　tell　Golanth　to　drop　him；　or　her；　between。〃
　　He　stood　up；　stretching　to　ease　his　back　muscles　from　bending　over　to　plant　saplings　around　Benini's　cothold。　The　dwelling；　a　sprawling　extended　family　site；　had　lost　its　roofs　from　the　tsunami　winds。　Mud；　sand；　and　debris　had　been　dug　out　of　hold　and　beasthold；　the　structures　had　been　soundly　built　twelve　Turns　before　and　could　be　repaired。　The　large　family…by　craft；　herders；　Benini　himself　a　Journeyman…were　out　early　and　late；　hunting　strays　that　had　been　scattered　inland　ahead　of　the　wave。　Redfruit　trees　and　the　giant　fronds；　which　had　amazing　vitality　and　could　be　trimmed　to　provide　windbreak；　had　once　shaded　the　hold。　Paradise　River　had　offered　new　starts　of　both；　as　well　as　young　fellis　saplings。
　　Planting　was　not　work　most　riders　would　volunteer　to　do　but；　when　F'lessan　saw　Tai's　was　the　only　name　on　that　list；　he　added　his。　He　had　done　very　well　getting　on　work　teams　with　Tai；　mostly　jobs　as　backbreaking　and　thankless　as　this；　waiting　until　he　saw　where　she　was　going　to　spend　her　spare　hours　before　he　signed　up。　She　was　willing　enough…even　eager…to　discuss　their　mutual　interest　in　astronomy。　They　were　sometimes　the　only　dragonriders　on　such　sites。　She　seemed　to　know　many　of　the　more　isolated　cotholders　and　was　weled　warmly。　The　two　dragonriders　had　been　shown　where　to　find　tools；　where　fresh　water　could　now　be　obtained；　and　what　was　available　for　their　lunch。　All　the　Benini　holders　had　ridden　out　on　their　runnerbeasts　for　another　long　hot　search。
　　When　the　two　dragonriders　had　collected　the　plants　at　sunrise；　rootballs　wrapped　and　secured　on　wooden　flats；　Jayge　had　greeted　F'lessan　with　surprise　and　gravely　shook　hands　with　Tai；　remarking　on　what　a　fine　green　she　rode。
　　〃Didn't　think　to　see　you　again　so　soon；　F'lessan；〃　the　Paradise　River　Holder　said；　grinning　at　the　bronze　rider。
　　〃And　will　do　as　long　as　Paradise　River　is　intent　on　reforesting　Monaco；〃　F'lessan　responded。　He　waggled　his　finger　at　Jayge。　〃You　and　Aramina　have　been　exceedingly　generous。　T'gellan　told　me。〃
　　〃The　least　we　can　be；〃　Jayge　said。　〃We　were　very　lucky　here；　protected　from　the　tsunami　by　the　Kahrain　cape。〃　He　gestured　first　over　his　shoulder　and　then　down　the　river。　〃We　can　find　as　many　young　trees　and　bushes　as　are　needed。　You　two　look　tired。　Have　you　eaten？〃
　　F'lessan　dismissed　that　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃Yes；　yes；　thank　you。　We　can　get　untired　when　things　are　more　or　less　back　in　order。〃　He　examined　the　thick　lift　knot　on　the　flat；　the　net　that　secured　the　young　saplings　to　it；　and　the　corner　ropes。　All　the　dragons　were　now　deft　at　lifting　such　carriers。　One　trick　was　to　keep　the　ropes　taut　and　lift　vertically　very　slowly　to　keep　the　load　from　swaying；　dragons　were　perfecting　the　maneuver。　The　other　step　was　going　between　very　close　to　the　ground；　again　to　prevent　swaying。　After　being　root…pruned　several　days　before；　the　young　bushes　and　saplings　were　wrapped　in　balls　early　on　the　morning　they　were　to　be　replanted。　Dragon　transport　meant　they　could　be　in　the　ground；　watered；　and　staked　within　hours。
　　It　also　meant　that　the　transplanters　could　finish　before　the　sun　started　baking　gardeners　and　plants。　F'lessan　checked　the　angle　of　the　shadows；　his　watch　was　in　his　jacket。　It　was　just　midmorning　and　they　were　nearly　finished。　He　wasn't　sure　how　much　longer　he　could　keep　up　this　pace；　even　if　they　had　both　stripped　down　to　sleeveless　tops　and　shorts。
　　〃You're　getting　pretty　good　at　this；〃　Tai　said；　pushing　her　hands　up　to　her　knees　until　she　was　upright；　too。　She　removed　the　sweatband　from　her　forehead；　mopped　her　brow；　and　retied　the　kerchief。
　　〃I　like　restoring　things；〃　he　said；　looking　at　the　zigzag　line　they　had　been　working　on；　a　windbreak　on　the　eastern　edge。　The　holding　was　actually　on　a　rise；　which　had　saved　it　from　more　damage。　Redfruit　on　the　inside；　handy　to　the　hold；　a　curving　line　of　fellis；　and　then　the　fronds。　Some　untagged　saplings；　which　didn't　resemble　either　redfruit　or　fellis；　they　decided　to　plant　in　the　rich　loam　here　and　there。　Someone　had　started　a　garden　patch。　Luckily　this　was　midsummer　and　they'd　have　fresh　vegetables　in　a　few　weeks。　With　just　a　little　husbandry；　there'd　be　good　growth　in　the　windbreak　plants　before　winter's　winds。
　　〃Like　Honshu？〃　she　asked；　leaning　down　for　the　canteen。　Benini's　spouse　had　left　cool　juice　to　slake　their　thirst。
　　〃Yes；　like　Honshu。〃　F'lessan　grinned；　sweeping　sweaty　hair　back　from　his　forehead。　He　gave　her　a　quirky　grin。　〃Place　fascinates　me。　There're　still　levels　of　it　I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　show　you。〃
　　They　had　spent　several　evenings　on　the　upper　terrace；　sharing　the　use　of　his　binoculars；　held　steady　on　the　stand。　He'd　let　her　have　more　time　using　them　because　he　liked　watching　the　intent　expression　on　her　face　as　she　observed；　jotting　down　time　and　references。　She　was　quite　circumspect；　taking　down　notes…but　then　she'd　been　training　with　Erragon…marking　degrees　carefully；　asking　him　to　verify　the　objects　she　viewed。　He　even　teased　her…she　had　to　know　that　he　was　teasing　her　or　she　got　quite　upset…about　minutes　and　seconds　in　the　degree　readings　of　the　fifth　planet　out　from　Rukbat；　currently　visible　at　right　ascension　19　hours；　32　minutes；　53。7　seconds；　declination　27　degrees；　16　minutes；　25　seconds；　just　below　Acrux。　She　said　it　was　a　habit　she'd　got　into；　sky…watching　at　Cove　Hold；　to　keep　a　record。　Erragon　was　collecting　such　information　from　other　sky…watchers。　F'lessan　had　wanted　to　take　her　high　on　Honshu's　eastern　face　for　a　panoramic　view　of　the　forest　and　foothills　below　where　sometimes　he'd　used　the　binoculars　to　spot　felines；　hunting　at　dawn；　but　the　long　spiral　staircase　was　not　a　climb　he　could　face　with　equanimity　and　she　was　as　tired　as　he　was。
　　〃I　would　really　like　to　see　this　mysterious　observatory　of　yours；　F'lessan；〃　she　said　shyly　as　she　passed　him　the　canteen。
　　〃Oh；　I'll　take　you；　never　fear…one　night　when　we　aren't　dragging　tired。　It's　a　steep　climb。〃
　　〃Well；　whenever；〃　she　agreed　amiably　as　she　reached　for　the　next　plant　from　the　nearly　empty　flat。　〃We're　about　done　here。　Let's　just　put　these　untagged　ones　near　the　garden；〃　she　added　with　a　sigh　and　glanced　over　at　their　dragons；　lounging　on　the　ridge　behind　the　hold；　in　the　thick　ground　cover　that　not　even　the　tsunami　had　been　able　to　scrape　away。
　　F'lessan　took　note；　but　did　not　mention；　that　the　dragons　were；　unusually　for　dragons；　so　close　they　were　touching。　He'd　had　a　few　ideas　of　his　own　but　with　a　personality　as　reserved　as　Tai's；　he　deliberately　kept　his　manner　as　casual　as　possible。　The　excuse　of　sky…watching　had　reduced　tensions　and　given　both　F'lessan　and　Tai　a　respite。　Not　that　he　had　been　able　to　join　her　every　evening。　F'lessan　was　only　too　willing　to　give　Tai　the　chance　to　replace　the　notes　that　had　been　swept　away。　He　had　several　reasons　for　rediscovering　an　interest　in　astronomy。
　　Most　of　the　weyrfolk　had　left　whatever　temporary　acmodations　they'd　been　in；　riders　had　cleared　space　for　their　dragons　and　built　personal　shelters。　A　new　Monaco　Center　was　being　constructed　on　a　height；　well　back　from　the　shoreline。　Today；　certainly　tomorrow；　the　very　last　displaced　riders　would　be　gone　to　new　quarters。　As　far　as　he　knew；　Tai　had　not　found　any。　She　might　have；　when　he　was　at　Benden；　he　hadn't　wanted　to　appear　to　be　keeping　a　watch　on　her。　And　Zaranth。
　　He　watched　now　as　Tai　gravely　considered　where　to　dig　holes　for　the　unidentifiable　plants。　He　picked　up　an　armload　and　carried　them　over　to　her。　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　right　eye；　he　caught　movement　in　the　thick　grass　cover　just　beyond　Zaranth。　He　looked　more　closely　and　muttered　in　surprise。
　　〃Trundlebugs；〃　he　said。　He　deposited　the　plants　within　her　reach。　〃I'd　thought　most　of　them　got　swept　out　to　sea。〃
　　〃They　can；　and　have；　tread　water；〃　Tai　said；　grinning　at　him　as　she　pushed　the　spade　into　the　ground。
　　〃Really？〃　F'lessan　regarded　their　relentless　progress。　〃How　long？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　But　I　have　watched　them　cross　streams。〃　She　dug　deeper。
　　〃Hmmm。〃
　　She　handed　him　the　spade　and　knelt　to　take　the　wrapping　off　the　balled　plant；　deftly　spreading　its　roots　before　she　put　it　in　the　prepared　hole。
　　〃Big　mother；〃　F'lessan　said；　menting　on　the　size　of　the　lead　bug。　〃Four　offspring。　If　she's　not　careful；　she'll　lose　the　biggest。〃
　　Tai　shot　a　glance　at　the　trundlebugs；　then　quickly　knuckled　loam　around　the　plant；　tamping　it　down　well。　For　some　reason；　she　was　smiling。
　　〃ing　right　at　Zaranth。　Shall　I。。。〃　He　hefted　the　spade　and　took　a　step　forward　to　intercept　the　trundlers。　One　had　to　swat　the　wretched　mother　bug　out　of　her　line　of　march　but；　at　the　same　time；　be　careful　not　to　break　off　her　largest　offspring　at　the　end　of　the　reproductive　li