amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第47部分

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　　〃If　they　don't　already；　they'll　learn　today；〃　Tai　replied。　〃Trundlebugs　are　survivors。〃
　　He　does　understand　what　to　do；　Zaranth　said。　He　was…well；　maybe；　too　enthusiastic？
　　〃I　think；〃　F'lessan　said；　making　good　use　of　a　chance　to　put　his　arm　around　Tai；　〃that　more　practice　will　determine　exactly　how　much…energy？　enthusiasm？…is　enough　to　do　the　trick。〃
　　
FORT　HOLD…2。13。31
　　When　Tenna　came　in　from　her　run　and　handed　Torlo　her　packet　of　letters　from　the　Southern　Boll　stations；　he　leaned　close；　on　the　pretext　of　making　a　notation　of　her　arrival　on　his　schedule　pad。
　　〃Need　to　see　your　friend…〃　The　old　man　paused　so　that　Tenna　would　appreciate　which　friend。　〃…tonight。　You；　too。　Side　bench。　Ten…thirty。〃
　　Tenna　was　being　accustomed　now　to　arranging　meetings　with　Haligon　for　Torlo。
　　〃You've　a　run　uphill　tomorrow；　Tenna；〃　he　said　more　audibly。
　　She　made　an　amused　grimace。　〃Then　I'm　for　the　baths　and　a　good　long　soak。〃
　　〃As　well；　things　considered；〃　was　his　reply　and　she　went　off；　pausing　first　in　the　dormitory　she　shared　with　other　girls。　It　faced　the　main　street　and　she　pulled　the　curtain　across　to　the　exact　center　of　the　window。　Haligon；　who　knew　she　was　back　at　the　Station；　would　now　realize　that　she　wished　to　see　him。　She　didn't　know　which　hold　child　ran　his　messages　but　they　always　got　to　him。　She　gathered　up　clean　clothes；　and　then　had　a　long　soak　and　a　brisk　leg　massage　before　the　evening　meal。
　　It　was　a　fair　evening；　if　cold；　and　a　wind　always　blew　down　the　main　road　from　the　hills　so　she　had　her　lined　jacket　ready　when　Haligon　appeared　at　the　door。　Everyone　expected　the　two　to　be　together　when　she　was　in　Station　so　she　smiled　him　a　wele　and　was　glad　to　see　his　expression　lighten　at　the　sight　of　her。　He'd　had　a　lot　of　responsibility　laid　on　him　by　Lord　Groghe　this　Turn；　being　what　Haligon　privately　described　as　〃the　Lord　Holder's　Runner；〃　and　had　remained　cheerful　and　acmodating。　Or　such　was　the　impression　she　had　from　Torlo；　as　much　because　of　what　the　Stationmanager　didn't　say　as　what　he　did。
　　〃Walk；　Tenna？〃　Haligon　asked；　nodding　courteously　to　Torlo　and　his　wife；　and　extending　the　acknowledgment　to　the　others　in　the　main　room。
　　The　usual　jibes　of　〃a　walk　will　do　her　good　after　the　run〃　and　〃don't　walk　her　legs　off　〃　followed　them　out。　Such　impudent　ments　were　better　than　disapproving　silence。
　　The　new　electric　lights；　fashioned　like　glowbaskets；　were　positioned　on　poles　up　and　down　the　main　road　so；　despite　the　chill；　they　weren't　the　only　ones　taking　an　evening　stroll。　They　walked　beyond　the　fixed　lights　and　off　to　the　side；　near　a　shed　by　the　beastholds。　In　the　shadows　there；　she　and　Haligon　could　embrace　without　being　overseen　and　with　considerable　enthusiasm。　She'd　been　away　a　sevenday　and　she　had　missed　him。　Considering　the　ardor　with　which　he　kissed　and　nuzzled　her；　the　feeling　was　mutual。
　　They　had　not　really…not　in　so　many　precise　words…discussed　their　association。　She　knew　that　he　knew　she　felt　that　she　wasn't　good　enough　for　a　son　of　one　of　the　oldest　Bloodlines　on　Pern。　He　felt　she　would　miss　the　freedom　of　her　profession　and　did　not　wish　to　constrain　her。　He　had　other；　older　brothers　so　his　father　might　not　be　so　particular　about　whom　he　espoused。　With　the　problems　caused　by　the　Fireball…which　Haligon　called　the　et…and　Flood；　they　had　both　been　extremely　busy。　Fort　Hold　had　taken　no　damage　but　Lord　Groghe　had　sent　Haligon　to　arrange　assistance　in　Southern　Boll；　which　had　had　bad　flooding。　Tenna　wondered　if　perhaps　that　was　Lord　Groghe's　way　of　suggesting　that　Haligon　favor　Lady　Janissian。　That　would　have　been　an　acceptable　alliance　to　Tenna's　way　of　thinking。　Haligon's　only　ment　was　that　the　young　woman　would　make　a　good　Holder　and　he　liked　her。
　　They　were　both　conscious；　though　no　one　in　Fort　mentioned　the　fact；　that　Lord　Groghe　was　losing　some　measure　of　his　phenomenal　vigor。　Not　surprising；　considering　he　was　eighty…nine。　The　vandalism　at　Turn's　End　had　so　shocked　the　old　Lord　that　he　was　determined　to　prevent　a　repetition　in　his　Hold　and　to　identify　who　was　behind　this　〃resurgence　of　all　that　Abomination　nonsense。〃　He　had　managed　to　enlist　the　support　of　Torlo　and　many　other　Stationmasters；　but　not　all　Runners；　there　were　those　who　still　did　not　understand　that　it　would　be　many；　many　Turns　before　the　〃abominable〃　hand　units　significantly　affected　their　profession。　Nevertheless；　most　would　follow　Station　policy：　they　abhorred　the　violence　displayed　by　the　Abominators　and　their　callous　attack　on　the　Healer　Halls。　Tenna　might　be　one　voice　but　she　did　her　part；　when　she　could；　repeating　what　Lady　Lessa　had　said…that　Runners　had　long　served　Pern　and　would　continue　to　do　so。
　　Held　passionately　in　Haligon's　arms；　she　could　forget　duty；　responsibility；　and　anything　but　the　sensual　contact　she　was　enjoying。　Tenna　did　nothing　by　halves　and　neither　did　Haligon。
　　With　the　innate　sense　of　time　that　most　Runners　possessed；　she　reluctantly　wriggled　out　of　his　arms　and　started　pulling　her　clothing　straight。　She　smiled　when　she　heard　his　deep　exasperated　sigh。
　　He　finger…bed　his　hair…which　he　hadn't　had　time　to　have　trimmed…into　a　neat　club　at　the　back　of　his　neck；　fixed　the　collar　of　his　jacket　and　lengthened　his　stride　to　match　hers。　Tenna　certainly　could　set　a　brisk　pace。
　　Torlo；　or　rather　a　shadow　that　could　be　a　man；　was　already　seated　on　the　side　bench；　where　the　corner　of　the　Station　jutted　out　from　the　line　of　its　neighbors。　Tenna　and　Haligon　often　sat　there；　out　of　sight。　Without　a　word；　they　sat　on　either　side　of　him。
　　〃Runners　finally　traced　all　those　messages　to　Keroon；〃　Torlo　said　without　preamble。　〃Wide　Bay　and　two　inland　holds；　both　isolated。　Another　reason　it　took　so　long　to　confirm　Lord　Groghe's　request　was　because　sometimes　the　messages　were　handed　to　Runners　already　on　the　trace。〃
　　〃They　were？〃　Tenna　was　astonished。
　　〃Runners　were　paid；　so　it　was　permissible。　'Cept　it　happened　quite　a　few　times　in　Keroon；　and　Chesmic　got　suspicious　and　asked　Runners　and　other　Stationmasters；　sort　of　quiet…like；　how　often　that　happened。　That's　why　we　got　a　network　for　Runners…never　too　far　for　someone　to　bring　a　message；　proper…like；　to　the　Station　and　have　it　logged　in　from　source。　Then　it　took　time　to　catch　up　with　the　Runners　who　logged　in　such　messages　at　their　next　Station。　Seems　odd　to　have　it　happen　in　sort　of　bunches；　like　in　twelfth　and　thirteen　month　last　Turn。〃
　　He　paused。　〃Then　I　got　confirmation　that　sort　of　thing　had　happened　elsewhere；　too。　Same　time。　Only　now…〃　and　he　paused　again；　〃same　thing's　happening　and　all　down　Keroon　way。　Three　times　in　the　past　two　sevendays；　man　twice　and　woman　t'other；　stopped　Runners　to　take　on　messages。　Chesmic　may　be　old；　but　he　doesn't　forget　a　face。　Seen　one　too　often；　in　different　clothes；　garbling　words；　too；　saying　he　was　picking　up　for　Apprentice…this　or　Holder…that。　Sent　some　off；　too。　Recently。　We're　still　tracing　where　they　were　collected。　We；〃　and　putting　his　thumb　to　his　chest　indicated　he　was　referring　to　all　other　Stationmasters；　〃think　it's　how　those　Abominator　fellows　are　passing　messages。　Make　sure　that　Pinch　fellow　knows；　too。〃
　　Only　the　dark　prevented　Haligon　from　betraying　surprise　that　Torlo　would　know　Pinch　by　name　and　could　hint　at　his　discreet　function　within　the　Hall。　Since　Turn's　End；　Haligon　had　developed　a　healthy　respect　for　Torlo's　discretion　and　judgment。　Son　of　a　Lord　Holder　though　he　was；　and　allowed　into　many　conferences　his　father　held；　he　was　surprised　at　how　much　more　Torlo　knew　and　understood　about　matters　in　Fort　Hold　and　all　across　the　two　continents。
　　〃Tell　that　MasterPrinter　to　be　especially　on　his　guard。　It　was　his　Hall　printed　that　paper　that's　got　folks　so　worried。　I'd　send　a　fire…lizard　soon　as　I　could；　Lord　Haligon。〃
　　〃I　will。〃
　　〃Like　right　now；〃　Torlo　added　at　his　driest。　〃See　Tenna　back。　She's　got　a　hard　run　tomorrow。〃
　　So　dismissed；　both　rose。　As　they　strolled　around　the　corner　to　the　Station　door；　Haligon　circled　her　shoulders　with　one　arm；　wishing　they　didn't　have　to　separate　quite　so　soon。　In　front　of　the　Station；　Haligon　gave　her　a　quick　hug　and　let　her　go。　He　didn't　know　how　many　eyes　followed　him　up　the　steps　to　the　Court；　but　no　one　would　have　seen　that　he　made　for　a　narrow　side　staircase　on　the　far　left　of　the　Court　that　led　to　the　Harper　Hall。　Later；　on　that　moonless　night；　the　departure　of　a　fire…lizard；　from　an　upper　window　in　the　Hall；　was　seen　only　by　the　vigilant　watch　dragon　who　wished　Menolly's　Beauty　a　safe　flight。
　　
PRINTER　HALL　AT　WIDE　BAY…SAME　NIGHT
　　If　Beauty　woke　the　Masterprinter　by　picking　delicately　at　his　ear；　he　had　the　good　sense　not　to　thrash　about　in　surprise。　In　fact；　the　fire…lizard's　unexpected　arrival　merely　confirmed　the　presentiment　of　trouble　that　Rosheen　had　confided　in　him　three　days　ago。　To　cap　her　uneasiness；　Stationmaster　Arminet　had　sauntered　into　the　Hall　the　day　before；　ostensibly　to　get　a　fresh　notice　of　Runner　fees　printed。　He　had　seemed　far　more　interested　in　prowling　the　big　Print　Hall；　asking　if　the　glass　were　Morilton…made　or　the　original。　It　was　now　a　joke　that　the　impact　from　the　et　had　smashed　glass　that　had　e　from　old　Norist's　Hall　while　Morilton's　remained　intact。
　　〃Morilton；　of　course；〃　Tagetarl　had　replied　with　a　grin。
　　〃Good　locks　on　the　windows；〃　Arminet　had　closed　one　eye　with　slow　significance。　〃Sky…broom　wood　in　gates　and　the　Hall　doors；　too。〃
　　Tagetarl　raised　his　eyebrows　but　Arminet　had　gone　straight　on　to　discuss　his　printing　needs。　That　night　Tagetarl　had　checked　the　gates；　Hall　doors；　and　windows　himself；　and　slid　into　the　brackets　of　the　outer　gate　the　heavy　bar　of　sky…broom　tree　wood；　which　the　former　owner　of　the　warehouse　had　used　to　dissuade　pilferage。　At　both　ends；　the　bar　had　ingenious　fastenings　that　made　removing　it　difficult　if　one　didn't　know　how　to　release　the　latches。　Sky…broom　wood　was　too　dense　to　break　or　chip　so　he　felt　safe　enough。
　　No　matter；　on　top　of　Rosheen's　uneasiness　and　Arminet's　odd　remarks；　a　late…night　message　from　the　Harper　Hall；　and　from　Beauty；　Menolly's　gold；　was　alarming。　Tagetarl　wondered　why　Ola；　Rosheen's　fire…lizard　queen；　did　not　instantly　appear　to　〃supervise〃　the　visitor。　Ola　wasn't　usually　absent　when　needed。
　　He　held　out　his　hand　and　Beauty　stepped　onto　it。　He　could　see　the　message　holder　on　her　left　foreleg　but　it　was　too　dark　to　read　it。　Rising　carefully　so　as　not　to　disturb　Rosheen　unnecessarily；　he　slipped　yesterday's　shirt　and　pants　from　the　clothing　rack　and　left　the　room。　He　pushed　his　hand　for　Beauty　to　leave　it　and　motioned　her　down　the　stairs。　He　pulled　on　his　clothes；　her　annoyed　chirp　hurrying　the　process。　The　thin　carpet　on　the　hall　was　cold　under　his　bare　feet；　another　incentive　to　move　quickly。
　　As　he　descended　the　stairs；　he　peered　out　the　windows　into　the　court；　silent　and　shadowed。　Maybe　that's　where　Ola　was；　lurking　on　the　rooftop。　The　weaver's　roof　abutted　the　Hall's　outbuildings。　Pinch　had　made　use　of　that　entry。　But　Ola　knew　him。　Tagetarl　paused　on　the　landing；　listening　for　any　sound　from　the　hall　that　led　to　the　upper　story　of　the　Print　Hall。　Nothing　moved　in　that　direction。　He　heard　an　admonitory　chirp　in　the　other　and　continued　on　to　the　spacious　kitchen　that　was　also