amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第17部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　〃Would　you　be　kind　enough　to　check　Fort　Harbor；　Weyrleader？〃　Groghe　asked　N'ton。
　　〃My　pleasure；　Lord　Holder。〃　Pivoting；　N'ton　singled　out　four　riders；　standing　by　their　dragons。　As　soon　as　the　dragons　were　aloft；　fire…lizards　appeared；　shrieking　glad　cries　and　following　them　in　graceful　fairs。
　　〃Rather　stupid；　really；〃　Groghe　said；　easing　himself　in　his　saddle　and　staring　down　at　his　prisoners。　〃Never　considered　the　possibility　of　discovery；　did　you？　Thought　you'd　do　the　dirty　and　get　away　without　being　seen？〃
　　The　leader　looked　arrogantly　in　another　direction；　but　the　rough　body　searches　had　considerably　subdued　the　others；　most　of　the　bluster　was　drained　out　of　them。　Two　looked　dismayed　as　Haligon　and　the　others　led　the　mounts　out　for　inspection。　Willing　hands　emptied　the　saddlebags　onto　the　ground；　spilling　out　the　usual　camping　gear。
　　〃Fifteen　of　them；　aren't　there？〃　N'ton　said；　rubbing　his　jaw。　〃One　of　my　sweepriders　saw　such　a　group　camping　in　the　Trader　clearing　by　Ruatha　River　a　few　days　back。〃
　　〃He　didn't　report　it？〃　Groghe　demanded；　offended。
　　〃To　me；　Lord　Holder；　as　he　reported　all　those　heading　toward　all　the　Turnover　celebrations；〃　N'ton　replied　with　a　diffident　shrug。　〃He　mentioned　them　wearing　Healer　green。〃
　　Groghe　harrumphed　at　that　detail。　Who'd　know　these　were　not　legitimate　folk；　braving　the　disfort　of　winter　travel　for　the　magnificence　of　Turnover　feasting　and　dancing？　Who'd　have　thought　the　Healer　Hall　would　be　attacked？
　　Sharra；　standing　close　to　Oldive；　could　feel　the　man　beginning　to　shake。　The　cold　was　penetrating　her　boots；　and　he　was　only　wearing　soft　leather　shoes。
　　〃You　must　go　in；　Master。　This　has　been　a　terrible　shock　to　you；〃　Sharra　murmured　and　began　to　withdraw　him　from　the　scene。
　　〃No；　I　must　stay。　It　is　my　Hall　they　have　defiled。〃　He　hunched　into　the　wrap；　pulling　it　tighter　against　him。
　　Sebell　stepped　close；　offering　Oldive　a　small　flask。
　　〃It's　some　of　that　fortified　wine　of　yours；〃　the　MasterHarper　murmured。　Oldive　gratefully　took　a　hefty　swig。
　　〃Father！〃　Haligon's　cry　was　triumphant　as　he　held　up　a　thin　wallet。　He　hastened　to　put　it　in　Groghe's　hands。
　　As　the　crowd　watched　in　anticipation；　the　Lord　Holder　made　an　exaggerated　inspection　of　the　wallet's　contents。
　　Groghe　held　up　a　piece　of　paper　by　an　edge。　〃What？　You　make　use　of　abominations？〃　he　cried；　eyes　glinting　with　malice　as　he　turned　to　the　leader。　〃No　less　than　a　map　printed　by　Master　Tagetarl's　abominable　press。　Useful　things；　abominations！〃
　　Sharra　tried　not　to　grin　at　Groghe's　style；　he'd　always　appeared　so　pragmatic。　Mockery　was　unusual　for　him；　but　today　the　gatherers　loved　it。　Dancing　and　singing　was　all　very　well；　but　this　was　the　most　unusual　diversion！　They　must　remember　every　detail　to　tell　missing　friends　and　kin　in　hold　and　hall。
　　〃B？〃　Groghe　read　by　dropping　the　single　sheet　to　eye　level。　〃That's　you？〃　He　fixed　the　leader　with　an　inquiring　look。
　　〃One　of　'em　es　from　Crom；　Lord　Groghe；〃　shouted　a　holder　busy　examining　a　runnerbeast。　〃Brand　on　this　one's　rump。　Under　the　mud！〃　He　shot　a　disdainful　glare　at　the　prisoners　for　such　shoddy　animal　care。
　　〃This　one's　Crom；　too；〃　a　harper　reported。
　　〃They　could　have　been　stolen；〃　N'ton　remarked。　〃But　even　that's　significant　enough　to　start　a　search　there　for　stolen　runnerbeasts。〃
　　〃B？〃
　　〃Father；〃　Horon　began；　〃if　there's　a　B；　could　there　also　be　an　A　and　C；　and　Abominators　raiding　other　healer　halls　today；　when　they're　apt　to　be　empty？〃
　　The　sound　of　distant　drumming　echoed　down　the　canyon；　startling　everyone。　As　one；　heads　were　turned　toward　the　Harper　Hall　Drum　Heights。
　　〃I'm　sorry　you're　right；　son；〃　Groghe　said　with　a　weary　sigh　as　he；　and　the　others　familiar　with　the　drum　messages；　identified　the　source…Boll…and　the　message：　vandalism。
　　Sharra　became　rigid　with　renewed　anger　as　the　message　provided　crisp　details。　〃Janissian　sending。　Healer　hall　destroyed。　Two　journeymen　and　one　apprentice　injured！〃
　　〃Don't　hold　with　hurting　healers！〃　Groghe　cried　and　his　mount　danced　as　he　tightened　his　legs　in　angry　reaction　and　barely　missed　knocking　into　the　intruders。　The　Lord　Holder　began　to　give　crisp　orders。
　　〃Use　the　cart。　Take　'em　to　the　Hold。　Horon；　put　them　in　one　of　those　rooms　on　the　lower　level。〃　His　expression　was　malicious。　〃One　without　abominable　lights。　No　contact　with　anyone　for　any　reason。　Give　'em　only　water。　Bottled　water！〃
　　The　onlookers　cheered。
　　〃Him！〃　And　Groghe's　finger　jabbed　at　the　leader。　〃Take　B　to　the　small　room。　N'ton；　Sebell；　we'll　question　him　there。　Will　you　attend；　Master　Oldive？〃
　　〃I　must　oversee。。。〃　The　Healer　waved　vaguely　at　the　Hall。　Sharra　moved　to　support　him。
　　〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；　you've　better　things　to　do　with　your　time；　Master；〃　Groghe　agreed；　circling　his　mount　while　he　decided　what　else　needed　organizing。
　　〃But　she's　unconscious；〃　cried　the　woman　with　the　rash；　pointing　to　the　wounded　one　who　was　still　in　a　heap　on　the　ground。
　　〃Then　she　can't　object　to　being　handled　by　abominable　hands；〃　Groghe　said　dismissively；　motioning　to　the　nearest　men　to　put　her　in　the　cart　that　had　been　backed　up　to　receive　its　load　of　prisoners。　There　were　certainly　enough　hands　and　clubs　to　ensure　that　the　prisoners　quickly　obeyed。
　　〃Take　all　that　gear　up　to　the　Hold；　lads；〃　Groghe　told　the　men　still　inspecting　the　saddled　runners。　〃Bring　me　that　bony…backed　Crom　nag。　Haligon；　throw　B　over　the　beast　and　tie　his　hands。　I'm　not　about　to　stay　here　in　the　cold　any　longer。　I've　other　duties　today。〃　He　made　his　mount　pivot　on　its　hindquarters；　for　a　final　survey　of　the　scene。　He　kneed　it　to　the　stairs　as　Master　Oldive；　with　Sharra　and　Sebell　beside　him；　started　to　ascend。
　　〃Dreadful　display　of　ignorance。　Dreadful；〃　Groghe　said　bending　from　the　saddle　to　sympathize　with　the　Healer。　〃You　took　no　hurt；　Master　Oldive？　I　shall　deal　with　that　rabble　to　the　full　extent　of　my　power　as　Lord　Holder。　They　expected　to　wreak　their　worst　and　disappear　to　the　pits　they　came　from。　Ha！〃　The　runnerbeast　sidled；　sensitive　to　his　rider's　anger。　〃Abomination！　I'll　show　them　abomination！　I　will　find　and　punish　all　who　perpetrated　these　outrages。〃
　　Oldive　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃I　doubt　they　will　be　the　last。〃
　　Sebell　shot　him　a　wary　glance；　pursing　his　lips　tight。
　　Groghe　scowled　fiercely。　〃I　thought　we'd　got　rid　of　the　lot　of　'em　after。。。　after。。。　the　problem　at　the　Ruatha　Gather。　Didn't　I　see　Ruth　here？〃　he　added；　looking　about。
　　〃He's　probably　gone　for　Jaxom；〃　Sharra　replied。
　　Groghe　cleared　his　throat　and　reined　his　runnerbeast　back　to　where　B　was　being　trussed　aboard　the　nag。　Haligon；　bareback　on　his　gray；　held　the　lead　rope。　Standing　up　in　his　stirrups；　the　Lord　Holder　addressed　the　crowd。
　　〃Any　of　you　who　care　to　help　the　healers　restore　order　to　their　Hall　will　be　well　rewarded；〃　he　shouted；　circling　again　to　be　sure　all　heard　his　message。　〃Let's　clear　the　way；　then。　Thanks　for　your　help；　every　one　of　you。〃
　　He　led　the　way　back　to　Fort　Hold；　Haligon　just　behind　him　while　those　not　tempted　by　his　reward　followed　at　the　brisk　pace　he　set。
　　The　dragons　and　riders　who　had　not　gone　on　search　sweep　sprang　off　into　the　air　and；　with　great　wings　working；　made　the　short　flight　back　to　the　square。
　　They　were　halfway　up　the　canyon　when　the　air　exploded　with　new　arrivals　of　dragons；　from　several　directions。　Surprised；　Meer　and　Talla　set　their　talons　into　the　cloth　on　Sharra's　shoulders。
　　〃What　else　can　have　happened？〃　she　cried　in　alarm。　She　recognized　not　only　Ramoth　and　Mnementh；　but　also　Golanth　carrying　F'lessan；　and　Heth　with　K'van。
　　〃I　fear　Master　Oldive　may　be　right；〃　Sebell　murmured；　〃that　the　attacks　here　and　at　Boll　were　not　isolated。〃
　　Ruth；　the　last　to　arrive；　uttered　a　squawk　of　surprise　and　agilely　winged　in　under　the　others　who　were　still　hovering。　He　dropped　precipitously　to　the　ground；　a　maneuver　that　sent　a　sharp　current　of　air　up　to　lift　the　skirts　of　Sharra's　coat。　Her　pulsive　shudder　was　stilled　when　Jaxom's　arms　encircled　her。
　　〃Did　they　attack　Ruatha；　too？〃　she　cried；　horrified　by　the　thought　of　all　her　carefully　prepared　and　preserved　medications　destroyed。
　　〃No；　no；〃　Jaxom　hastily　reassured　her；　hugging　her　tight。
　　〃But　Boll　was　attacked。〃
　　〃I　heard　the　drums。〃　He　held　her　tighter。
　　Alerted　by　the　arrival　of　more　dragons；　Groghe　came　galloping　back；　his　cloak　flying　and　his　expression　fiercer　than　ever。　He　dismounted　very　agilely　for　someone　his　age　and　joined　the　newers。　In　that　brief　interval；　Sharra　fretted　that　Ruth　had　inadvertently　alarmed　too　much　support。　F'lessan　might　not　be　annoyed　by　a　needless　summons；　but　she　doubted　the　Benden　Weyrleaders　would　be　so　charitable。　Not　when　they　were　close　enough　for　her　to　see　their　stern　expressions。　They　both　looked　tired。
　　〃The　Healer　Hall；　too；　huh？〃　F'lar　said　in　a　far　too　accurate　assessment　of　the　scene　as　he　strode　over　toward　Sharra；　Oldive；　and　Sebell。
　　〃What　d'you　mean　by　that；　F'lar？〃　Groghe　demanded。
　　〃The　same　sort　of　thing　has　happened　at　Benden　Hold　and　Landing；〃　F'lar　said。
　　〃And　Southern；〃　K'van　said；　nodding　courteously　to　Lessa　and　Sharra。
　　〃We　had　just　got　Toronas　calmed　down　when　F'l