amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第24部分

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　　〃That's　what's　needed；　Torlo。〃
　　〃Myself；　or　Tenna；　will　tell　you。〃　The　Stationmaster　tipped　two　fingers　in　a　salute；　leaving　Haligon　no　option　but　to　leave。
　　How　could　the　Runners　think；　for　even　a　moment；　Haligon　wondered；　as　he　made　haste　in　the　cold　weather　to　tell　his　father　of　this　conversation；　that　their　services　would　ever　be　redundant？　But　the　Weyrs　would　be。　His　step　faltered　as　his　eyes　went　instinctively　toward　the　distant　Weyr　in　the　hills　above　Fort　Hold。　Weyrs；　but　not　dragons！　There　would　be　a　reason　for　dragons　to　remain　in　Pern's　skies。　Doing　something。　Why；　it　was　ludicrous　to　think　of　Pern　without　dragons！
　　The　air　froze　the　hair　in　his　nostrils。　Was　it　warmer　down　near　Boll　where　Tenna　was　running？　He　hoped　so。　His　much…respected　sire　had　been　somewhat　dubious　about　Haligon's　keen　interest　in　Tenna；　but　it　was　proving　a　very　useful　connection。　Haligon　wished　he　could　persuade　Tenna　to　make　it　a　lasting　mitment。　There　were　enough　children　of　the　Fort　Bloodline　to　carry　on；　short　of　another　plague。　Maybe　she'd　like　to　go　south；　once　he'd　been　released　from　his　filial　duties　to　Lord　Groghe。
　　He　should　also　tell　Sebell　about　his　interview　with　Torlo。　The　MasterHarper　should　know　about　their　fears。　And　so　much　to　be　done。　So　much！　He　had　all　those　petitions　to　sort　through；　to　find　those　that　did　merit　his　father's　particular　attention。　Well；　today　was　a　good　one　to　stay　inside　and　be　warm。　He　took　the　steps　to　the　Hold　two　at　a　time。
　　
KEROON　PRINTER　HALL…1。3。31
　　Tagetarl　squeezed　tired　eyes　shut　and　pinched　the　bridge　of　his　long　nose；　wondering　at　the　same　time　why　he　thought　that　would　restore　his　eyesight。　Sleep　would　help；　but　he　had　to　get　through　the　corrections　to　the　dictionary；　some　old　harpers　with　too　little　to　do　were　challenging　definitions　and　deploring　the　new　technological　ones；　which　were　vital　if　young　students　were　to　understand　the　language　in　which　manuals　were　written。　Being　able　to　print　many　copies　of　the　same　material　was　a　vast　improvement　on　hand　copying。　Any　Harper　apprentice　who　had　had　to　do　his　hours　in　the　Archives　Hall　blessed　the　introduction　of　printing　presses；　but　there　must　be　a　trick　to　finding　all　the　mistakes　that　could　creep　into　typeset　lines。　In　his　apprenticeship；　if　he　made　a　mistake；　he　was　able　to　scratch　it　out　with　a　knife　blade　and　rewrite；　preferably　before　Master　Arnor　caught　him　at　it。
　　It　wasn't　as　easy　to　correct　a　mistake　after　several　hundred　copies　had　been　printed。　So　many　printing　runs　were　technical　and　had　to　be　accurate：　explanations　and　instructions　crystal　clear。　Rosheen　was　particularly　good　at　this；　and　her　fast　fingers　could　set　up　a　page　quicker　than　he　could。　But　they　were　both　learning　how　to　manage　the　plexities　of　this　new　Hall；　and　Tagetarl　was　particularly　determine　to　honor　Master　Robinton's　faith　in　him　by　making　this　project　the　most　successful　of　all　that　had　been　initiated　by　his　Master　and　Aivas。
　　The　slight　creak　of　the　office　door　sounded　overloud　in　the　still　night。　He　jumped　to　his　feet。　Night？　A　glance　at　his　eastern…facing　window　told　him　that　it　was　nearly　morning。
　　〃It's　me！〃　a　whisper　announced。
　　〃The　correct　grammar　is　'It　is　I；'　or　'It's　I；'　〃　Tagetarl　told　Pinch　wearily。　〃How　did　you　get　in？　The　gate's　locked。〃
　　There　had　been　no　more　Abominator　attacks　after　the　spate　at　Turn's　End；　but　that　didn't　mean　there　weren't　more　being　planned。　Tagetarl　had　never　figured　out　just　how　discards　from　the　medical　texts　he'd　printed　a　Turn　ago　had　gotten　into　their　hands。　To　be　on　the　safe　side；　the　Printer　Hall　now　shredded　all　imperfect　sheets。
　　〃True；　and　it's　a　fine　strong　gate；〃　Pinch　said；　ing　forward　into　the　pool　of　light　from　the　desk　lamp。
　　He　was　not　tall　and　his　angular　face；　blurred　now　with　dirt　and　fatigue；　had　no　distinguishing　features。　His　present　apparel　was　Keroon　hill　folk；　and　smelled　it。　His　ability　to　blend　into　his　surroundings；　to　imitate　the　accents　and　manners　of　speech　in　any　quarter　of　Pern；　north　and　south；　along　with　his　keen　ears　and　sharp　eyes；　made　him　the　ideal　observer。　His　very　active；　cynical　mind　allowed　him　to　interpret　what　he　heard。　Pinch　cocked　his　foot　around　a　stool　and　pulled　it　to　him；　sitting　down　as　if　he　hadn't　a　care　in　the　world。　An　engaging　smile　showed　very　even　teeth；　and　there　was　a　clever　twinkle　in　his　brown　eyes。
　　〃I　didn't　use　the　gate。　Didn't　really　expect　you　to　be　up　at　this　hour　so　I　came　in…〃
　　〃Across　the　roof　again？　One　day　you'll　fall　through　the　weaver's　roof。〃
　　〃Oh；　it's　safe　enough。　Rosheen's　Ola　came　to　investigate；　by　the　bye；　but　when　she　saw　it　was　me…〃
　　〃It　was　I；〃　Tagetarl　mercilessly　corrected。
　　〃…and　Bista；　she　went　back　to　bed。〃　Pinch　clicked　his　tongue。　〃Say　hello　to　the　MasterPrinter；　Bista。〃　The　little　gold　creature；　who　looked　like　an　extra　scarf　around　the　harper's　neck；　cocked　her　head　and　blinked　her　green　gemstone　eyes　at　the　Printer。　〃So　why　are　you　up？〃
　　Tagetarl　jerked　his　thumb　at　the　proofs　he'd　been　correcting。　〃If　you　ever　encounter　someone　in　your　travels　who　can　spell　and　who　recognizes　proper　sentence　structure　and　syntax；　I've　a　job　for　him；　her；　preferably　them。〃
　　Pinch　gave　a　sharp　nod。　〃I'll　keep　my　eyes　open。〃
　　〃I　know　you　will。　So　what　brings　you　over　my　roof　at　this　time　of　night？〃
　　〃It's　nearly　day；〃　Pinch　corrected　kindly。　〃I've　been　checking　a　few　things；　snooping　about　isolated　holds　and　trader　sites；　sitting　in　Runner　stations。　Keroon　has　all　sorts　of　hill　folk；　you　know；　the　kind　that　don't　want　their　kids　Harper…taught　or　Healed。　Then　there're　the　ones　who　aren't　really　hill　folk。　Who　get　too　many　visitors　and　have　had　very　interesting　indoor　occupations。〃
　　He　reached　into　his　jacket　and　removed　a　square　of　much…folded　paper。　Carefully　he　opened　it　to　reveal　small　sketches：　full　face　and　profile。
　　〃Mind　you；　I　wasn't　exactly　an　invited　visitor；　but　I　found　me　a　spot　to　watch　and　make　a　few　notes。　I　can　flesh　these　out　better　with　some　decent　paper　and　a　carbon　point。〃　He　looked　inquiringly　at　Tagetarl。　〃Paper；　Master？　Pencils？　Aivas's　latest　improvement　on　ink？〃
　　〃Hill　folk？〃
　　〃No；　people　living　in　the　hills。　Paper？　Pencil？〃　He　hooked　the　stool　closer　to　the　desk。
　　Immediately；　Tagetarl　gathered　up　the　pages　he　was　working　on；　swiftly　rearranging　them　into　a　neat　stack　out　of　Pinch's　way。　From　a　drawer；　he　pulled　fresh　paper；　as　well　as　a　collection　of　different　drawing　tools。　〃Sit！　Sit！　D'you　need　klah；　food；　wine？〃
　　Pinch　grabbed　a　sharp　carbon　stick　with　one　hand　as　he　turned　the　sheaf　of　paper　to　his　right…he　was　left…handed…and　began　sketching。　〃Thanks；　yes；　yes；　and　yes。　And　something　for　Bista。　We　came　straight　here　without　a　stop；　using　Runner　traces。　They　let　me；　you　know。　Give　me　tips。　Good　folk；　Runners。　Get　me　some　food　and　drink；　man；　just　don't　stand　there　gawking。〃
　　When　Tagetarl　returned；　lugging　a　heavy　tray　along　with　a　bowl　of　fresh　meat　for　Bista；　Pinch　continued　speaking　as　if　the　Printer　hadn't　left　the　room。
　　〃Told　the　Runners　not　to　worry　about　mechanical　things。　Wouldn't　want　one　of　those　things　squawking　about　my　person；　I　can　tell　you。　It'd　make　folks　notice　me；　and　I　don't　need　to　be　noticed。　Anyway；　I'll　always　trust　legs　over　spare　parts。〃　He　gave　Tagetarl　a　sideways　grin；　full　of　malice。　〃Have　a　traditional　outlook　on　life；　you　know。〃　And　when　the　Masterprinter　snorted　at　such　a　remark　from　such　a　source；　he　added；　〃Well；　I　do。　It's　why　I　risk　life　and　limb　on　Harper　business。〃
　　Bista　finished　her　meal　and　curled　up　on　a　shelf。　By　then；　Pinch　had　pleted　one　sketch　and　tossed　it　to　the　side；　making　the　first　line　of　the　next　sketch　even　before　Tagetarl　could　pick　up　the　first　one。
　　Tagetarl　examined　the　drawing。　It　was　economically　drawn；　but　it　vividly　depicted　a　big　man；　his　right　shoulder　cocked　up；　a　high　forehead；　black　brows；　a　zigzag　scar　from　his　right　temple　and　down　the　side　of　his　nose　to　a　gouge　on　his　cheek；　a　thick；　wide…bridged　nose；　gaunt　cheeks；　a　thin　mouth；　a　narrow　chin；　and　a　scrawny　throat　with　a　pronounced　larynx。　The　left　hand；　which　he　was　holding　up　as　if　to　warm　at　a　fire；　was　missing　the　first　joint　of　the　index　finger。　His　clothes…the　usual　heavy　leather　tunic　and　trousers…were　worn　and　patched。　Thongs　just　under　his　knee　in　typical　hill…style　tied　leggings；　and　his　boots　were　long　and　thin；　the　leather　cracked　from　wading　through　too　many　streams　or　bogs。
　　Using　his　right　hand；　Pinch　pushed　some　bread　and　cheese　into　his　mouth　and　washed　that　down　with　a　long　swallow　of　beer；　while　the　left　kept　drawing。　A　real　gift；　Tagetarl　thought；　especially　for　someone　involved　in　discreet　surveillance。　But　then　Master　Robinton；　the　late　MasterHarper；　had　had　the　ability　to　mand　the　talents　of　many　unusual　men　and　women。　Before　the　Present　Pass　and　the　awakening　of　Aivas；　when　dragonriders　had　been　denigrated　and　even　the　Harper　Hall　in　jeopardy；　Master　Robinton　had　made　use　of　rare　talents…harpers；　men　and　women；　who　knew　their　way　about　most　of　the　settled　holds　and　halls；　large　and　small。　Tagetarl　had　met　Nip；　the　first　roving　harper　who　had　nonspecific　assignments　and　rarely　sang。　What　Nip's　real　name　was；　no　one　remembered　now。　Nip　had　trained