amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第52部分

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　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　line；　lest　she　retaliate　with　some　of　the　stink…spray　to　defend　her　offspring。
　　〃No；　no！　Wait。〃
　　〃They're　heading　right　for　her。　I　don't　know　about　Zaranth　but　Golanth　hates　'em　crawling　on　him。　If　he　wakes；　he'll　squash　them。〃　F'lessan　did　not　add　that　Golanth　was　showing　more　and　more　of　a　proprietary　interest　in　the　green's　well…being；　one　of　the　subtler　reasons　why　he　was　glad　Tai　preferred　to　work　away　from　projects　with　other　dragonriders。　He　wasn't　ready　for　others　to　notice　the　growing　relationship　between　Golanth　and　Zaranth。
　　〃Watch；〃　she　said；　her　eyes　sparkling　green　as　she　rose　from　her　knees。
　　F'lessan　dropped　to　the　ground；　narrowing　his　eyes　in　the　bright　sun　to　check　the　angle　of　the　trundlebug　approach。
　　Tai　held　up　her　hand；　grinning。　〃Just　a　moment！〃
　　〃They're　heading　right　for　her　nose。　Doesn't　she　sense　them？　Golanth　usually　does。〃
　　〃Wait！〃　Putting　up　her　hand　to　stay　his　attack；　Tai　grinned　widely；　her　look　almost　mischievous。
　　The　trundlebug　parade　marched　relentlessly　in　its　unswerving　path；　oblivious　to　what　was　in　its　way。　Zaranth's　nose　twitched　but　she　didn't　open　so　much　as　a　slit　of　one　eye。　The　parade　was　abruptly　at　right　angles　to　its　original　path；　heading　back　into　the　scrubland。
　　〃There！〃　Tai　beamed　at　her　dragon。
　　〃She　blew　them　away？〃　F'lessan　exclaimed。
　　〃No。　She　didn't。　They　can　only　get　so　close　to　her　and　they　go　off　in　another　direction；　any　direction　so　long　as　it　is　away　from　her。〃
　　She　reclaimed　her　spade　from　him　and　began　to　dig　another　hole。　〃There're　two　spades；　you　know。〃
　　〃Yes；　yes；　of　course；　my　dear　green；〃　he　said；　making　a　play　of　diligence；　going　for　the　second　one。　Anything　to　keep　her　from　noticing　the　brilliant　green　of　the　sleeping　Zaranth；　lounging　so　gracefully　in　the　sun　by　the　sleeping　bronze。　How　long　would　Golanth　continue　to　fake　sleep？　F'lessan　wondered。
　　〃Tai；　a　question；〃　he　began；　digging　busily。　〃I　was　watching　and　Zaranth　didn't　move。　She　only　twitched　her　nose。　How　could　she　make　a　trundlebug　detour　doing　that？〃
　　Tai　dabbed　at　a　drop　of　sweat　rolling　down　her　nose　and；　picking　up　the　next　to　last　plant；　removed　the　wrapping　and　dropped　it　in　place。
　　〃I　don't　know。　But；　if　they　get　close　to　her；　they　are　suddenly　perpendicular　to　the　original　line　of　progress。　You　know　trundlebugs：　they　never　deviate　from　their　chosen　path。〃
　　〃Amazing！〃　He　blotted　the　sweat　from　his　face；　then　unwrapped　the　last　plant；　placed　it　firmly　in　the　ground；　and　tamped　dirt　around　it。　〃That's　that。　We're　supposed　to　water　them　now；　aren't　we？〃
　　Probably　the　first　thing　Benini　had　done　after　the　flooding　receded　was　to　sink　a　new　well　and　provide　a　long　watering　trough　from　which　they　could　easily　fill　buckets　for　that　last　garden　chore。
　　〃Didn't　Benini　say　they'd　rigged　a　shower　over　by　the　beasthold？〃　he　asked；　when　they　had　finished。
　　〃Yes；　with　a　big　enough　cistern　above　to　wash　all　of　them；〃　she　said；　looking　eagerly　around　to　point　to　the　freshly　painted　enclosure。　〃Or　so　his　spouse　said。　We'll　get　clean　much　quicker　showering　than　having　to　wash　in　a　bucket；〃　she　added；　dropping　hers　on　the　shadowed　side　of　the　well。
　　〃Leave　enough　warm　water　for　me；〃　he　said；　waving　her　to　go　first。　〃I'll　return　the　tools。〃　He　gathered　them　up　and　started　for　the　shed；　calling　after　her。　〃I　plan　to　hunt　Golanth　this　afternoon　at　Honshu。　How's　Zaranth's　appetite？〃　Well；　he　thought　privately；　〃appetite〃　was　one　word　for　it。
　　Tai　cast　a　look　over　her　shoulder　at　her　sleeping　dragon。　〃She　isn't　the　least　bit　off…color。〃
　　F'lessan　blinked　and　then；　with　an　engaging　grin　that　Mirrim　would　have　identified　as　〃devious；〃　added；　〃We　could　hunt　felines。　Saw　some　a　little　closer　than　they　should　be　to　the　Honshu　herds。　Get　us　some　good　pelts。〃
　　Since　the　Flood；　most　green　riders　had　been　giving　all　their　customary　courier　services　free　of　charge。　But　there'd　be　a　Gather　in　Telgar　in　two　sevendays；　when　the　Council　met；　and　that　was　time　enough　to　cure　hides　for　sale　and　give　her　book…money。
　　〃Fine　by　me！〃　Tai　called　back。　He　caught　just　a　glimpse　of　her　back　and　long　tanned　legs　as　she　entered　the　shower　enclosure。
　　He　gathered　their　riding　gear　and　packs　and　walked　slowly　up　to　the　shower；　giving　her　time　for　a　good　wash　and　rinse。
　　〃Hey；　leave　me　some；〃　he　said；　speaking　above　the　sound　of　vigorous　splashings。　He　slipped　off　his　muddy　sandals。　Well；　cleaning　them　could　wait　till　he　got　back　to　Honshu；　but　he　smacked　them　against　the　side　of　the　wall　to　remove　as　much　mud　as　he　could。
　　〃You'll　find　it　warm　enough；〃　she　assured　him。　〃Can　you　hand　me　my　towel？〃
　　He　opened　her　pack　and　dragged　it；　and　her　fresh　clothes；　out。
　　〃Where　is　it？〃　she　asked。
　　He　saw　her　bare　arm　extending　from　the　shower　wall　and　accurately　lobbed　the　towel　to　her　searching　fingers。　There　were　shiny　new　hooks　screwed　to　the　wall　and　he　hung　her　fresh　clothes　on　one；　his　own　on　another。　Riders　were　not　as　bothered　by　nudity　as　holders　or　crafthall　folk　so　he　stripped　down；　glad　to　be　out　of　the　sweaty；　dirty　shorts。　As　she　emerged；　toweling　her　body　dry；　she　gave　him　a　fleeting　glimpse。　He　stepped　courteously　past　her；　into　the　shower；　and　looked　around　for　sweetsand。
　　When　he　had　had　a　good　scrub；　especially　his　feet；　he　rinsed　off　well　and；　vigorously　drying　himself；　sauntered　across　the　changing　area　to　his　clean　clothes。　Dressed　in　her　leathers；　with　her　jacket　still　open；　she　leaned　against　the　wall；　in　what　shade　there　was；　looking　out　at　the　scene　of　their　morning's　hard　work；　feeling　pleased。
　　Summoning　their　dragons；　they　took　off　before　heat　brought　fresh　sweat。
　　As　they　came　out　of　between　above　Honshu；　F'lessan　first　noted　that　there　were　no　dragons　lounging　on　the　summit　or　the　main　terrace。
　　Will　you　hunt　today；　Golanth？
　　I　will　hunt　well　today；　Golanth　replied；　watching　Zaranth　as　she　glided　past　him　to　land　on　Honshu's　main　terrace。
　　Startled　by　the　odd　note　in　his　dragon's　tone；　for　a　moment　F'lessan　worried　that　he　hadn't　been　as　sensitive　to　Golanth's　needs　as　he　sh