amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第53部分

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　　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　should　be。　When　was　the　last　time　he'd　hunted　Golanth？
　　I　will　hunt　very　well　today！
　　The　bronze　was　ing　in　slowly…almost　stealthily…to　land　so　that　Zaranth　was　directly　in　front　of　them；　her　rider　stripping　the　safety　harness；　which　was　never　used　when　dragons　went　after　a　meal。　F'lessan　could　not　miss　Zaranth's　condition。　She　was　gleaming　with　more　than　health。　Why　hadn't　Tai　noticed　that　the　green　was　ing　into　heat？　He　tried　to　think　which　dragons　had　been　at　Honshu　early　this　morning。　Most　had　gone　well　before　dawn；　as　they　had；　to　begin　whatever　work　was　slated　for　that　day　in　the　reconstruction　of　Monaco's　Weyr　building。　In　a　traditional　Weyr；　with　dragons　basking　on　their　ledges；　her　readiness　would　have　been　noticed　long　before　the　green　herself　might　be　aware　of　her　form。　Honshu　had　been　guesting　dragons　since　the　Flood。　True；　both　riders　and　dragons　arrived　tired：　riders　eating　quickly　and　seeking　their　beds；　dragons　finding　a　spot　on　sun…warmed　terraces　and　rousing　only　when　their　riders　called　them　the　next　morning。　He　and　Tai　had　gone　directly　to　Paradise　River　and　from　there　to　Benini　Hold；　their　dragons　sprawling　in　full　sun；　several　hours　in　the　sun。　Heat　was　known　to　trigger　a　dragon's　mating　instinct。　He　swore；　wondering　if　any　of　the　other　dragons　had　been　awake　to　the　nearness　of　Zaranth's　cycle？　Riders　were　known　to　remember　when　greens　were　likely　to　e　into　heat。　Most　of　those　staying　at　Honshu　were　Monaco　Weyr　riders。　Would　they　e　storming　in　from　all　over　now　Zaranth　was　active？　Was　this　a　delayed　reaction　in　Zaranth？　Overdue？　But　he　was　a　Wingleader　and　he　shouldn't　have　missed　the　signs。　Well；　Tai　had！
　　I　didn't。
　　For　once；　Golanth　jolted　gracelessly　onto　the　terrace；　throwing　his　rider　forward　in　an　unexpected　assist　in　dismounting。　F'lessan　was　lucky　to　keep　on　his　feet；　running　a　few　steps　to　restore　his　balance。　Did　Golanth　sense　other　male　dragons　near　enough　to　challenge　him？　Certainly　the　bronze　demonstrated　his　eagerness　by　arching　his　neck；　tucking　his　head　into　his　chest；　proudly　male。　Sweeping　the　skies　for　the　appearance　of　more　dragons；　F'lessan　quickly　stripped　off　safety　straps；　shucking　the　pile　to　the　nearest　bench；　as　he　began　to　shed　his　flying　gear。　Golanth　moved　carefully　toward　Zaranth；　his　eyes　beginning　to　whirl　in　anticipation。
　　Tai　was　standing　there；　the　harness　folded　over　her　arms；　gazing　fatuously　at　her　dragon。
　　〃Good　to　see　her　looking　so　well。　She'd　gone　quite　dull　there　for　a　while　after　the　Flood；〃　she　remarked　as　F'lessan　strode　up　to　her。　〃How　near　are　the　felines？〃
　　〃Looking　so　well？〃　F'lessan　paused；　astonished　by　her　choice　of　words。　Then　he　pointed　dramatically　at　Zaranth。　〃By　the　Egg；　look　at　her；　Tai！〃
　　Her　eyes　gleaming　orangey…red；　Zaranth　angled　her　head　coquettishly　back　at　Golanth　who　was　displaying；　moving　cautiously　nearer；　his　faceted　eyes　sparking　more　redly。
　　Tai　gasped；　eyes　widening　with　an　expression　of　such　fear　and　intense　loathing　that　F'lessan　wondered　just　what　had　happened　during　Zaranth's　other　mating　flights。
　　〃But　there's　just　us！〃　she　cried　defensively；　the　harness　slipping　off　her　arms　as　she　spread　them　wide　in　a　gesture　of　panic　and　confusion。
　　How　had　she　thought　there　was　safety　in　that？　Of　course　there　had　been　other　dragons　and　riders　around；　in　and　out　of　Honshu。　Until　right　now！　But；　with　a　green　in　heat；　there　was　no　safety　in　numbers。　Her　hands　turned；　palms　toward　him　in　flat　rejection。　And；　of　course；　he　thought　in　fury；　when　Zaranth　had　gone　proddy　before；　every　blue；　brown；　and　needy　bronze　had　appeared：　their　riders　had　corralled　her　rider；　waiting　to　see　which　dragon　would　win　the　green。　He　closed　his　eyes；　he　knew　very　well　how　intense　the　mood　would　be。　But　the　green　rider　would　choose！
　　〃Tai；　did　you　never　choose？〃　he　cried；　outraged　for　her　as　he　started　to　close　the　distance　between　them。　And　halted。　He　mustn't　crowd　her。　The　others　had。　How　much　time　could　he　give　her？　How　could　he　soothe　her？
　　She　was　trembling　violently；　her　eyes　wide…not　in　an　answer　to　her　dragon's　sensuality；　but　in　sheer　terror。　She　seemed　to　draw　into　herself；　denying　what　was　about　to　happen。　Crossing　her　arms　in　a　defensive　position！　Shards！　Had　previous　riders　raped　her　as　their　dragons　twined？　He　tried　to　remember　which　blues　and　browns　weyred　at　Monaco。
　　Tai　continued　backing　away　from　him；　looking　about　wildly　for　some　refuge。
　　〃They　were　all　the　same；〃　she　muttered。　〃There's　no　escape　from　them。　From　their。。。〃　She　swallowed；　trying　to　lick　dry　lips；　white…faced　with　revulsion：　her　green　eyes　stark。
　　〃Tai；　were　you　forced？〃　With　those　words　Tai　shot　F'lessan　a　look　of　such　fear　laced　with　guilt　that　he　felt　his　belly　fall　flat。　〃You　didn't　choose？〃　He　spoke　very　gently；　appalled。　This　should　be　the　most　wonderful　experience：　a　doubled　ecstasy　as　both　dragon　and　rider　exalted　in　the　union。　He'd　thought　he'd　made　it　so　for　those　he'd　partnered。　The　queen　riders　had　always　known：　they　had　chosen　him。　With　the　state　she　was　in；　there　was　no　way　Tai　had　ever　chosen。　〃It　shouldn't　be　a　violation。　It　should　be　a　celebration　for　you　and　your　dragon。　The　most　glorious　union！〃
　　〃Union？〃　She　snarled　the　word；　the　panic　in　her　eyes　telling　him　that　mating　had　been　far　from　that。
　　How　many　times　had　Zaranth　mated？　How　many　times　had　she　been。。。　he　struggled　to　find　the　appropriate　word。。。　violated？　He　knew　hold　and　hall　girls　often　were；　it　was　one　reason　so　many　sought　sanctuary　in　a　Weyr。　Dragonriders；　except　at　this　one　time　in　their　dragon's　cycle；　were　known　to　be　considerate；　and　ardent；　lovers。　Without　conceit；　he　knew　that　he　enjoyed　a　certain　reputation。　Is　that　why　Tai　had　been　so　chary　of　his　pany？　He'd　thought　she　was　just　naturally　reticent。　Now　he　realized　she　had　been　motivated　more　by　fear　than　reserve。　He'd　have　a　few　well…chosen　words　for　Mirrim　after　this…if　he　could　only　reach　the　girl　now；　when　it　was　vital　to　soothe　her。
　　With　the　stunning　warble　of　a　lustful　green；　Zaranth　issued　her　challenge　to　Golanth　and　launched　herself；　straight　up。　Unlike　the　queens　who　needed　to　blood　a　kill　to　give　them　extra　strength　for　longer　mating　flights；　greens　required　little　preparation　beyond　the　onset　of　their　cycle。　Golanth　did　not　hesitate　for　a　moment；　the　bugle　of　his　acceptance　echoing　back　to　their　riders。
　　Tai　screamed　in　anguish；　reaching　out　futilely　as　if　she　could　have　stopped　her　green。
　　〃Tai；　listen　to　me；〃　he　said；　keeping　his　voice　light。　〃Let　me　explain　how　it　should　be。〃　Carefully；　slowly；　he　held　out　one　hand　but　she　backed　away　along　the　terrace。
　　Eyeing　his　hand　as　if　even　his　touch　would　sully　her；　she　cowered　away；　her　green　eyes　frantic。
　　〃Oh；　Tai；　my　friend；　if　I　could；　I'd　stop　Golanth；〃　and　he　would　have　given　anything　to　have　been　able　to　prepare　her　more。　If　he　hadn't　been　so　callous　as　to　ignore　what　he'd　thought　was　a　natural　reserve　rather　than　sexual　fear。　〃I　can't；　not　now　when　Zaranth　wants　him　so　badly。〃
　　〃How　can　she　want　him？　I　don't　want　you！　Not　that　way！〃
　　That　admission　was　at　least　something　in　his　favor；　F'lessan　thought；　struggling　to　find　a　way　through　panionship　to　solving　the　intensely　immediate　problem　of　their　situation。　All　too　soon　the　rider　would　be　consumed　by　the　dragon　in　a　bonding　neither　could　escape。　He　had　to　reach　Tai；　the　human　being；　before　her　mind　was　locked　into　her　mating　dragon。
　　〃But　you　see；　she　does。　She　just　challenged　him；〃　he　said　softly；　infusing　as　much　gentle　persuasion　into　his　voice　as　he　could。　〃He　answered。　He　has　been　admiring　her　in　so　many　ways。　Just　as　I　admire　you；　Tai。〃
　　She　blinked；　confused。
　　That　was　good；　F'lessan　thought；　somewhat　frantic　himself。　If　he　couldn't　reach　her；　she'd　never　realize　that　it　needn't　be　rape。　He　knew　he　could　control　his　human　self；　no　matter　how　he　might　wish　to　revel　in　orgasm　with　his　Golanth。
　　〃Haven't　you　learned　anything　of　me？〃　he　cried　in　soft　desperation。　〃Have　I　offended　you？　Slighted　you　as　friend；　Tai？〃　She　blinked　again；　shaking　her　head；　more　confused　than　ever　as　the　hold　of　her　dragon　increased。　〃In　this　let　me　be　your　friend…and　lover；　too。　Challenge　me；　Tai；　as　your　dragon　challenged　mine。　Challenge　me　to　make　love　to　you；　to　you；　Tai；　not　to　Tai…rider。　Choose　me！〃　He　spread　his　hands　across　his　chest。　〃Choose　me；　Tai！〃
　　〃I　have　no　choice；〃　she　said；　whimpering。　She　collapsed　inwardly。
　　〃Oh；　Tai；　love；〃　he　pleaded；　holding　out　his　hands　but　careful　not　to　crowd　her。　She　was　so　near　the　edge　of　the　terrace。　She　was　suddenly　so　dear　to　him；　he　was　surprised　to　realize。　This　was　not　all　Golanth's　yearning：　F'lessan　the　man　was　yearning；　too。　〃Please；　Tai；　please　choose　me！〃
　　Whether　it　was　Tai　who　reached　slowly　out　to　her　friend　for　support；　or　the　dazed　rider；　he　wasn't　then　sure　but　she　did　reach。　Was　there　enough　of　the　human　there　to　have　made　a　choice？
　　〃Please；　Tai；　e　with　me　now；〃　he　said；　taking　her　hand　in　a　light　grasp　and　gently　turning　her　back；　toward　the　nearest　door。　〃My　friend；　we　must　go　in。〃
　　He　tried　not　to　startle　her；　slowly　guidi