amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第68部分

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　　Tagetarl　thought　he　had　never　seen　a　more　impressive　sight：　twelve　dragons　leaping　into　the　night；　the　fairs　of　fire…lizards　escorting　them　and　disappearing　at　the　same　moment。
　　In　an　unnaturally　quiet　way；　those　who　had　witnessed　the　night's　incredible　event　left　the　wharf　side　or　climbed　aboard　the　ships　anchored　there　for　the　night。
　　〃It　was　what　had　to　be　done；　Lord　Jaxom；　Master　Tagetarl；〃　said　Captain　Venabil　in　a　low　but　firm　voice。　He　shook　their　hands　and　then　made　his　way　down　the　wharf。
　　〃Yes；　it　was　what　had　to　be　done；〃　Pinch　said　as　they　all　turned　to　go　back　to　the　Hall。
　　Then　Pinch　dropped　back　to　Jaxom　who　was　walking　more　slowly；　his　head　bent。
　　〃Dorse　was　among　them；　wasn't　he；　Jaxom？〃　he　asked　so　softly　only　Jaxom　could　hear。　Jaxom　flashed　him　the　most　quelling　stare　the　Harper　had　received　since　he'd　been　an　apprentice。
　　〃No　hold；　no　hall；〃　Jaxom　finally　replied。　〃Even　if　he　was　my　milk…brother；　what　else　could　I　do？〃
　　〃I've　been　trailing　him；　Jaxom；〃　Pinch　murmured；　〃a　long　time。〃
　　〃You　have。　I　haven't。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　and　there　was　great　passion　in　the　Harper's　voice。
　　〃Was　he　in　this　from　the　beginning？〃
　　Pinch　shrugged。　〃We　don't　even　know　when　the　Abominators　were　revived　to　plague　us。　Not　all　of　those　participating　in　these…events…are　interested　in　keeping　Pern　pure　or　traditional。　I've　no　doubt　some　of　these　people　were　motivated　by　blind　adherence　to　what　their　fathers　or　mothers　taught。　I　recognize　some　as　hill　folk　who　never　took　kindly　to　teachering：　like　the　woodsy　ones　down　in　Southern　Boll；　or　the　mountain　holds　in　upper　Telgar　and　Lemos；　or　the　desert　nomads　in　Igen。　Any　and　all　of　them　simply　fear　change。　They　might　even　resent　losing　the　Red　Star　as　a　permanent　problem　on　which　to　blame　'things　that　go　wrong。'　Unfortunately；　two　of　the　people　that　I　suspect　have　been　churning　up　ill　feelings　against　healers；　and　now　the　Print　Hall's　new　technology；　aren't　among　those　in　tonight's　catch。〃　He　quickened　his　pace　and　fell　in　step　with　Tagetarl；　leaving　Jaxom　to　his　own　somber　stride。　〃It　would　be　wise；　MasterPrinter；　to　issue　a　concise　statement　of　what　happened　here　tonight。　The　Runners　can　see　that　the　truth　is　circulated。〃
　　A　truth　that　would　not　name　the　milk…brother　of　Lord　Jaxom　of　Ruatha　Hold　as　one　of　the　vandals　who　had　been　exiled　that　night。
　　A　handful　of　men　and　women　stood　by　the　open　outer　gates　of　the　Hall。　Ruth　could　be　seen　quietly　awaiting　the　return　of　his　rider。
　　〃If　you　need　some　help　tonight；　or　tomorrow；　Master　Tagetarl；〃　began　one　of　the　men　stepping　forward；　〃we'd　be　willing　to　do　repairs。〃
　　Tagetarl　thanked　them；　aware　that　the　doors　to　the　Print　Hall　would　have　to　be　replaced。　Steel　would　have　reassured　him　but　he　didn't　have　enough　marks　and　he　doubted　the　SmithCraftHall　had　the　time。
　　〃If　one　of　you　is　a　carpenter。。。〃
　　〃Five　of　us　are；　Master　Tagetarl；　the　reason　we　bother　you　right　now。〃
　　〃I　am　extremely　grateful。　e　when　you　can　in　the　morning。〃
　　He　and　the　others　had　no　sooner　walked　away　than　two　fire…lizards　whisked　out　of　the　night；　landing　on　the　shoulders　of　Rosheen　and　Pinch。
　　Jaxom　walked　straight　toward　his　dragon　and　vaulted　to　his　back。　Tagetarl　lifted　his　arm　in　farewell　but　he　didn't　think　the　Lord　Holder　saw　him。　In　silence　Pinch　and　Tagetarl　closed　the　gates。　Then　Pinch　made　his　way　to　the　loft　where　undoubtedly　his　assistants　had　taken　themselves。　Tagetarl　and　Rosheen　turned　to　the　right　and　the　steps　up　to　their　hold。
　　In　the　morning；　while　the　five　carpenters　put　up　new　doorposts…made　of　sky…broom　wood；　they　proudly　informed　Tagetarl…the　Masterprinter　took　the　report　that　he　and　Rosheen　had　spent　a　sleepless　night　posing　to　the　Runner　Station。
　　Pursing　his　lips；　Stationmaster　Arminet　read　the　text。　〃Well　said；　Master　Tagetarl。　Fairly　said。　It　will　go　in　every　pouch　to　e　through　here。　I　may　even　need　more。〃
　　Tagetarl　made　a　protest；　wondering　how　much　more　the　night's　work　would　cost　him。
　　〃Keep　your　marks　in　your　pocket；〃　Arminet　added；　pushing　away　the　ones　Tagetarl　proffered。
　　〃It's　a　Harper　Hall　announcement。。。〃
　　〃It's　a　munity　announcement；〃　Arminet　replied；　straightening　himself　to　his　full　dignity　though　he　was　not　as　tall　as　the　well…built　Tagetarl。　He　glared　up。　〃I'm　the　one　who　decides　what　should　or　should　not　be　spread　from　my　Station。　The　people　of　Wide　Bay　were　very　much　aware　of　the　atrocity　mitted　by　persons　who　would　not　claim　hall　or　hold；　Master　Tagetarl；　and　others　must　know　about　the　matter　so　as　not　to　be　left　in　doubt　as　to　the　exact　details　of　the　matter。〃　He　tapped　the　bottom　paragraph。　〃As　I　was　one　of　those　witnesses；　this　is　exactly　as　I　recall　the　incident。　Thank　you；　Master　Tagetarl。　Let　it　not　be　said　that　the　Runners　did　less　than　their　best；　too。〃
　　
RUATHA　HOLD…LATE　EVENING…2。9。31
　　〃You　recognized　one　of　them；　didn't　you；　Jaxom？〃　Sharra　asked　softly；　having　watched　his　silence　all　day。　She　knew　he　had　been　called　away　that　night。　When　he　had　returned；　he　had　tried　to　disguise　both　fatigue　and　a　preoccupied　air。　He　had　pushed　food　around　his　plate　at　both　lunch　and　dinner。　He　had　not　been　able　to　display　any　enthusiasm　for　the　hour　he　usually　spent　so　panionably　with　his　sons。
　　She　had　waited；　without　appearing　to　hover　close　by；　in　case　he　might　wish　to　talk　about　what　was　depressing　him。　She'd　seen　him　terribly　distracted　like　this　only　once　before：　when　he　had　presided　over　the　exile　of　those　who　had　been　responsible　for　abducting　Master　Robinton。
　　She　waited　until　they　had　gone　up　to　their　own　quarters　and　he　was　leaning　against　the　deep　window；　looking　out　on　nothing。　Just　as　she　was　sure　she'd　have　to　pry；　he　gave　a　deep　sigh。
　　〃Ruth　and　I　went　to　Wide　Bay；　to　assist　Tagetarl。　There　was　an　attempt　to　damage　the　Print　Hall。〃
　　〃More　Abominators？〃　Who　else　could　it　have　been；　since　the　Print　Hall　had　been　so　enthusiastically　received　by　every　Craft。
　　He　nodded　but　did　not　elaborate。
　　In　the　silence　that　followed；　Sharra　watched　her　spouse；　absentmindedly　running　his　hand　up　and　down　the　heavy　brocade　curtain　that　prevented　the　worst　of　the　winter　winds　from　penetrating　into　their　sleeping　room。　She　waited　quietly。　She　knew　when　he　was　fretting　over　something。
　　〃Dorse　was　one　of　them。〃
　　Sharra　felt　something　within　her　lurch　at　that　soft；　chilling　admission。　Jaxom　did　not　have　many　fond　memories　of　his　milk…brother　but　had　kept　giving　him　the　benefit　of　the　doubt；　long　after　his　foster　mother　had　died。　Dorse　had　left　before　one　more　outrageous　act　would　have　pelled　Jaxom　to　send　him　away。
　　〃I　thought　he　had　gone　south。　Worked　for　Toric。〃　She　gasped　as　soon　as　she　finished　speaking。
　　Jaxom　nodded　his　head　slowly。　〃He　did　not　speak。〃
　　〃But　surely；　love；〃　and　Sharra　went　to　lay　her　hand　on　his　shoulder；　feeling　the　tension　in　his　body；　〃he　had　only　to…〃
　　〃They　were　asked　to　name　hall　or　hold。〃　Jaxom's　grip　tightened　on　the　curtain　so　that　the　fabric　was　stretched　from　its　rail；　the　upper　hem　tearing。
　　〃Are　you　distressed　because　he　didn't　speak？〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure。〃　Sharra　could　hear　the　anguish　in　Jaxom's　voice。　〃I'm　not　sure！　I　think；〃　and　now　Jaxom　buried　his　face　in　the　folds　of　the　curtain；　〃he　was　the　leader。　I　think　he　was　challenging　me。　Defying　me　and　what　I　stand　for。　What　did　he　expect　me　to　do？　See　that　they　were　only　sent　to　the　mines？〃
　　Before　he　tore　the　curtain　from　the　wall；　she　closed　her　hand　around　his　fingers　and　gently　detached　them。
　　〃I　suggest　that　either　way　he　is　getting　his　own　back　on　you；　Jaxom；〃　she　said　in　a　quiet　nonjudgmental　tone。　〃By　any　chance；　did　anyone　else　recognize　him？　Ruth　said　you　did　not　go　alone。〃　He　gave　her　a　fierce　look。　〃No；　no；　my　love。　I　never　asked　him。　He　knows　I　worry　that　sometimes　the　pair　of　you　might　get　into　trouble　and　not　tell　me。〃　She　tried　to　speak　lightly；　to　ease　his　distress。　She　didn't　even　get　a　rise　out　of　him　for　what　he　usually　termed　unnecessary　anxiety。
　　〃Pinch　has　been　on　his　trail；　he　said。　It's　possible　N'ton　recognized　him；　though　he　wouldn't　have　seen　him　in　Turns。〃　He　was　silent　a　moment　then　added；　〃I　should　somehow　have　had　a　word　with　him。　To　see　if　he　would　tell　me　more。〃
　　〃More　about　what？　Isn't　it　enough　that　he　was　caught　destroying　what　he　can　very　well　recognize　as　a　tremendously　important　asset　for　all　Pern？〃
　　Jaxom　gave　her　a　long　closed　look。　That　made　her　flinch　inwardly　because　they　were　usually　so　open　with　each　other　about　everything　in　their　lives。
　　〃I　thought　he　had　been　well　placed　in　the　south　with　Toric；〃　he　said　finally。
　　〃Oh！〃　Sharra　had　to　sit　down　quickly　as　she　absorbed　the　implications　of　that。　Jaxom　had　been　trying　to　shield　her。
　　〃It's　preferable　to　think　that　he　was　on　his　own；　perhaps　just　taking　an　opportunity　to　be　paid　for　making　the　kind　of　trouble　he　enjoys。　It　wouldn't　be　unlike　him；〃　and　Jaxom　spun　from　the　window　and　began　pacing　the　floor；　looking　everywhere　but　at　his　spouse。
　　〃My　brother；　Toric；〃　Sharra　said　in　a　voice　as　taut　as　Jaxom's　had　been；　〃was　greedy　as　a　child　and　would　allow　no　mon　sense　to　dissuade　him　from　what　he　felt　was　his；　or…〃　she　paused　a　beat　〃…perceived　was　his　by　right。　He　has　since；　as　y