amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第21部分

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ered　when　such　perversions；〃　she　added；　waving　at　the　pamphlet；　〃are　discovered。〃
　　〃Such　damage　is　easy　to　do；〃　Sebell　remarked；　〃and　very　hard　to　undo。〃
　　〃Runners　listen　and　are　listened　to；〃　Haligon　put　in　hesitantly。　〃They　are　wele　everywhere；　too。〃　All　eyes　were　on　him　and　he　cleared　his　throat　nervously。　〃People　believe　what　they　say。〃
　　〃Harper　Hall　often　hears　of。。。　rumors；　inconsistencies；　minor　problems；〃　Sebell　said；　〃but　I　wouldn't　care　to　involve　Runners　too　much。　They　are　as　vulnerable　on　their　routes　as　healers。〃
　　〃But　faster　on　their　feet；〃　Haligon　said　with　a　little　smile。　〃And　able　to　deal　with　danger。〃
　　〃If　they　would　be　willing　just　to　listen　a　little　harder　right　now；〃　F'lar　suggested；　raising　an　eyebrow。
　　Haligon　nodded。　〃I'll　ask。〃
　　〃Anything　that　will　prevent　a　repetition　of　today's　attacks；〃　Lessa　said　firmly。
　　〃Any　assistance　would　be　wele；〃　Crivellan　added　urgently；　leaning　toward　Haligon。　〃Master　Oldive　is　going　to　be　terribly　upset　by　that　vileness。　He's　had　such　plans　for　the　extension　of　healer　services。　If　such　untruths　are　circulating；　healers　may　be　discredited；　or　endangered。　So　often　they　travel　alone　and　great　distances。〃
　　〃Any　healer　who　requires　the　assistance　of　the　Weyr　need　only　let　us　know；〃　F'lar　said；　looking　to　N'ton；　who　nodded　vigorously　in　agreement。
　　〃The　problem　often　is　that　we　can't　know　how　serious　an　injury　or　a　condition　is　when　we're　called　to　attend；〃　Crivellan　said。
　　〃How　many　healers　have　fire…lizards？〃　Sharra　asked；　acutely　aware　of　how　useful　hers　were。
　　〃Not　many　here　in　the　north；〃　Crivellan　replied　regretfully。
　　〃I　thought　healers　had　priority　on　Master　Bassage's　little　hand　units。〃　Lessa　turned　to　F'lar。
　　The　Weyrleader's　expression　was　rueful。　〃They　do　and　Master　Bassage　is　working　as　diligently　as　possible；　but　the　materials　e　from　various　sources　and　have　to　be　handmade。　Again；　it　all　takes　time。〃
　　〃Oh；　some　have　been　delivered；〃　Master　Crivellan　hastily　admitted；　〃but　not　enough；　and　even　then；〃　he　added　with　a　little　shrug；　〃the　things　don't　work　in　deep　valleys。〃
　　〃The　benefits　of　Aivas's　technology　are　often　ambivalent；〃　F'lar　remarked。
　　〃They　require　work；〃　Groghe　announced　bitingly；　〃determination；　and　application。　Too　few　of　this　generation　want　to　work。〃
　　〃We　know　the　problem；　it's　the　solution　that　eludes　us；〃　Sebell　said。　He　sounded　and　looked　tired。
　　〃Shall　we　deal　with　the　problem　of　this　Batim？〃　Groghe　asked；　regarding　Lessa　with　a　benevolent　eye。
　　〃For　all　the　good　it's　likely　to　do；〃　Jaxom　remarked；　hooking　one　arm　over　his　chair　back。
　　〃He　might　just　let　some　clue　drop；〃　F'lar　said　blandly。
　　Groghe　gave　a　sharp　nod　to　Haligon；　who　rose　and　left　the　room。　〃He's　been　cleaned　up。　He'll　undoubtedly　start　claiming　his　'rights。'　His　sort　usually　does。〃
　　〃And　the　rest　of　his　crew？〃　Lessa　asked；　frowning。
　　〃And　the…ah…Scalp's　injury？〃　Sharra　asked；　not　at　all　solicitous。
　　〃Oh；　you　heard　her　reject　Oldive's　offer？　Magnanimous　of　him　when　you　think　what　she'd　just　done。　However；〃　Groghe　continued　with　a　malicious　grin；　〃they've　been　fed；　and　washing　took　care　of　the　dried　blood　and　other　dirts。〃
　　〃You　had　them　washed？〃　Lessa　asked。
　　〃They　objected　strenuously　to　being　hosed　down；〃　Groghe　said；　〃and　Haligon　said　they　plained　that　the　food　they　were　given　was　too　salty。〃
　　Lessa　grinned　at　Sharra；　who　also　felt　that　some　deprivation　was　very　much　in　order；　but　Master　Crivellan　was　dismayed　by　the　news。
　　The　door　opened　to　admit　Haligon；　followed　by　the　prisoner；　propelled　into　the　room　by　two　guards。　No　longer　in　bogus　Healer　green；　he　was　clad　in　a　patched　shirt　and　too…short　trousers　from　which　his　hairy　legs　protruded。　His　feet　were　bare　and　his　lank　hair　was　still　damp。　His　expression　was　both　arrogant　and　sour；　expecting　the　worst　and　prepared　for　it。　When　Batim　realized　who　was　present；　he　twitched　his　shoulders　defiantly　and　strutted　right　up　to　the　table。　Involuntarily；　his　eyes　darted　to　the　bread；　cheese；　and　fruit　on　the　table　and　he　licked　thin；　dry　lips。
　　〃I　want　my　clothes。　I　demand　my　rights；〃　Batim　said　without　preamble。
　　〃Sorry　about　the　clothes；　Father；〃　Haligon　said；　clicking　his　tongue　apologetically。　〃I　really　couldn't　present　him　in　what　he　was　wearing。　Beyond　cleansing。〃
　　〃I　have　my　rights；〃　Batim　repeated。
　　〃Which　do　not；〃…Groghe's　fist　came　down　hard　on　the　table；　bouncing　plates　and　glasses…〃include　destroying　the　Healer　Hall。〃
　　〃Abominations！　We　destroyed　abominations！　I　have　rights。〃
　　〃Not　in　my　Hold　you　don't！〃
　　〃What　is　your　Hold？〃　Lessa　demanded；　almost　idly。
　　〃If　any　would　claim　you；〃　Groghe　continued　contemptuously。　〃We　know　you　came　down　from　Crom。〃
　　Batim　twitched　a　lip　derisively。
　　〃Sometimes　it's　what's　not　said　that　speaks　for　itself；〃　Sebell　remarked　across　the　table　to　Lessa；　who　shrugged　indifferently。
　　Batim　glared　at　the　Harper；　who　took　a　sip　of　wine；　ostentatiously　savoring　the　taste　in　his　mouth　before　swallowing。
　　〃Holdless　then；　are　you？〃　Groghe　remarked。　〃Viscula　left　a　Crom　hill　hold　to　follow　you；　didn't　she？　Minsom；　Gaiter；　and　Lechi　are　Bitran。　They're　often　so　gullible；　those　Bitrans。〃　He　gave　a　pitying　shake　of　his　head。　〃Small　wonder　Zalla　has　such　a　great　fear　of　tunnel　snakes；　ing　from　Igen　Caverns。　Bagalla；　Vikling；　and　Palol…〃　He　stopped　naming　the　other　prisoners　as　the　sneer　on　Batim's　face　deepened。　Leader　he　might　have　been；　but　he　had　no　loyalty　to　those　who　followed　him。　That　also　was　information…of　a　sort。　〃Ah；　well；　not　that　that　matters。　They　chose　to　follow　you。〃
　　F'lar　pushed　back　his　chair；　impatiently　cutting　through　the　air　with　one　hand。　〃This　is　such　a　waste　of　time；　Groghe。　Do　let　me　take　him　for　a　short　dragon　ride。　If　between　doesn't　loosen　his　tongue；　I'll　just　leave　him　there　and　that's　the　end　of　the　matter。〃
　　That　startled　the　prisoner。　Master　Crivellan　stared　in　shocked　astonishment　at　the　Benden　Weyrleader。
　　〃Why　bother　Mnementh；　F'lar？〃　Jaxom　mented；　flicking　an　indolent　hand。　〃When　we'll　know　by　morning　where　those　Runner　messages　originated？〃
　　〃Runners　don't　talk；〃　Batim　protested。
　　〃They　may　not；〃　Lessa　agreed　with　a　wickedly　innocent　smile；　〃but　they　keep　records　of　acceptance　and　delivery；　don't　they？　In　case　anyone　wishes　to　trace　the　progress　of。。。　important　messages。〃　Clearly　Batim　hadn't　considered　that　at　all：　she　could　see　his　impudence　wane。　〃Traders　would　remember　where　they　sold　enough　green　cloth　to　outfit　fifteen　people。〃　He　hadn't　considered　that　either。　〃I　hate　to　keep　thinking　that　so　much　evil　emanates　from　Bitra；〃　she　added　artlessly　and　was　not　the　only　one　who　caught　the　glitter　in　the　prisoner's　eye。　〃Though　I　rather　suspect；〃　she　said　on　the　end　of　sigh；　〃that　Nerat's　partly　responsible　this　time。〃　He　gave　an　involuntary　twitch　before　she　added　with　a　patient　smile；　〃and　Keroon。〃　No　one　missed　his　nervous　swallow。　〃They're　so　hidebound　in　Keroon！〃　She　sat　back；　smiling　with　satisfaction。　〃Really；　Sebell；　you　must　increase　your　efforts　there　to　show　the　hill　folk　how　to　improve　the　quality　of　their　lives。〃
　　Sebell　held　up　one　hand　in　a　rueful　gesture。　〃We　would　if　we　could。　Hill　folk　are　the　most　hidebound　of　all。〃
　　Inadvertently　Batim's　face　mirrored　the　Harper's　opinion。
　　〃That　narrows　it　down；　doesn't　it？〃　the　Lord　Holder　said；　rubbing　his　hands　together　in　satisfaction。　〃Take　him　away；　Haligon。〃
　　〃I　have　rights！　Chartered　rights！　You're　all　so　big　about　that　blinding　Charter　of　yours；〃　Batim　cried　hoarsely　as　Haligon　called　the　guard　in。　The　prisoner　made　a　frantic　surge　toward　the　table　but　was　thwarted　by　the　quick…footed　Haligon。　Struggling；　Batim　reached　straining　fingers　toward　the　glasses。　〃Water。　I've　had　no　water　all　day。〃
　　〃Actually；〃　Lessa　said　in　a　cold　voice；　〃the　Charter　does　not　cite　water　in　the　list　of　rights。〃
　　〃But　it　has　to！〃
　　Haligon　and　the　guard　hauled　him　out　of　the　room　and　they　heard　him　demanding　water　as　the　door　closed。　Lessa　gave　a　shudder　of　distaste。　Master　Crivellan　continued　to　stare　fixedly　at　the　Benden　Weyrleader。
　　〃Crivellan；〃　N'ton　said；　touching　the　Healer's　arm；　〃F'lar　only　threatened　the　man；　no　more。　You　know　that　dragons　won't　hurt　a　human。〃
　　〃The　threat　is　usually　sufficient；〃　F'lar　remarked；　resuming　his　seat；　〃but　the　culprit　has　to　believe　the　threat　will　be　carried　out。　Batim　would　have　ignored　any　physical　coercion…apart　from　a　one…way　trip　a…dragonback。　So　we　put　him　off　balance。〃　He　grinned　at　Lessa。　〃And　elicited　some　interesting　reactions。〃
　　〃Oh！〃　was　the　Healer's　relieved　response。　〃My　pardon　for　doubting　your　methods。〃
　　〃Considering　what　harm　the　man　did　your　Craft；　you　are　remarkably　forbearing；〃　Lessa　said；　dropping　her　pose　of　indolence。
　　〃I　am　dedicated　to　saving　life；　Weyrwoman；〃　Crivellan　replied　with　great　dignity；　〃not　taking　it。〃
　　〃And　learning　all　you　can　from　Aivas　to　improve　your　skills。　Whereas　the　Abominators　seem　to　want　to　stop　progress　in　its　tracks；〃　she　replied　coldly。　〃We　found　out　as　much　from　what　he　didn't　say；　though　the　thought　of　trying　to　trace　him　in　Keroon；　where　the　hill　folk　won't　even　discuss　the　weather；　is　daunting。〃　She　caught　Sebell's　ey