amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第8部分

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the　bination　of　the　digital　lock。　Inside　its　airtight　case；　the　Charter　had　been　revealed　to　be　pristine。　Upon　close　examination；　Masterwoodsmith　Benelek　remarked　that　the　plastic…coated　pages　could　not　have　been　damaged　by　anything　short　of　being　chopped　into　little　pieces　by　very　sharp　blades。　Now　the　Charter　was　enshrined　behind　some　of　Master　Morilton's　clear　thick　panes；　mounted　on　a　mechanism…also　an　Aivas　design…that　turned　its　pages　to　the　one　required。
　　〃The　capital　letters　would　be　similar；　wouldn't　they？　Printed　or　written；〃　F'lessan　muttered。　〃Your　research　skills　are　better　honed　than　mine。〃　He　shot　her　an　appreciative　grin。　〃Let's　get　to　the　end。。。　Ah；　contractor；　contractor；〃　he　said　under　his　breath　as　the　pages　shifted　in　sequence　to　the　final　ones　containing　signatures；　many　of　them　mere　illegible　scrawls。　There　were　three　sections：　the　first；　of　the　Charterers；　the　second；　longer；　included　the　names　of　all　the　Contractors；　while　the　third　listed　all　minor　children　over　five　years　of　age　who　had　e　with　their　parents　on　this　momentous　venture。
　　〃There；〃　Tai　said；　her　right　index　finger　tapping　the　glass　so　that　he　could　find　the　bold　handwritten　Stev　Kimmer；　Eng。
　　With　careful　fingers；　F'lessan　smoothed　his　note　on　the　glass；　just　above　the　bold；　and　legible；　name。
　　〃Couldn't　be　anyone　else；〃　Tai　said。　She　ran　her　finger　down　the　listings。　〃No　other　S。K。〃
　　〃You're　right；　you're　right。　He's　here。　It's　him。〃　With　his　characteristic　exuberance；　F'lessan　grabbed　her　by　the　waist　and　spun　her　about；　forgetting　the　reserve　she　had　shown　any　of　his　overtures　of　friendliness。　〃Oops！〃　He　dropped　her；　staring　in　mute　apology。
　　She　staggered　a　little　off　balance　and　instantly　he　steadied　her。
　　〃Thank　you　very　much　for　finding　it　so　quickly。　I　was　looking　so　hard　I　couldn't　see；〃　he　said；　giving　her　a　quick　bow。
　　She　had　a　very　nice　smile；　he　thought；　as　the　corners　of　her　wide　mouth　curved　up；　showing　her　teeth；　white　and　even；　accented　by　a　tanned　plexion　that　was　as　much　heredity　as　exposure　to　southern　sun。
　　〃Why　was　it　so　important　to　you？〃
　　〃Do　you　really　want　to　know？〃　he　asked　with　the　ingenuousness　that　could　still　surprise　people。
　　Her　smile　deepened；　causing　two　dimples　to　appear　in　her　cheeks。　He　didn't　know　any　girls　with　dimples。
　　〃If　a　dragonrider　finds　it　more　important　than〃…she　tilted　her　head　toward　the　noise　of　very　loud　dance　music…〃Turnover　eating　and　dancing；　it　must　be　important。〃
　　He　chuckled；　〃You're　a　dragonrider　and　you're　here。〃
　　〃But　you're　F'lessan　and　a　bronze　rider。〃
　　〃And　you　are　Tai　and　a　green　rider；〃　he　countered。
　　The　dimples　disappeared　and　she　looked　away　from　him。
　　You　are　a　bronze　rider　and　you　are　F'lessan　and　she's　shy；　Golanth　said。　Zaranth　says　she　wants　to　make　something　of　herself　for　After。　She　never　wants　to　be　beholden　to　anyone　else　ever。
　　Like　all　dragonriders；　F'lessan　said　with　considerable　irony。
　　Not　even　to　other　dragonriders；　Golanth　added；　slightly　offended　by　Tai's　utter　independence。
　　〃We　were　getting　along　quite　well　when　you　found　Stev　Kimmer's　signature　for　me；〃　F'lessan　said　gently。
　　Be　very　careful；　his　dragon　said　softly。
　　〃I　think　the　numbweed　is　dry　enough　now；〃　he　added。　〃I　know　I'm　hungry　and　thirsty　and；　while　I　would　prefer　to　go　back　to　Honshu；　I　have　to　put　in　an　appearance　out　there。〃　He　nodded　in　the　direction　of　the　music。
　　〃Is　that　where　Stev　Kimmer　went？　To　Honshu？　Why　would　that　be　his　destination？〃
　　〃Ah；〃　and　F'lessan　held　up　a　finger；　〃that's　part　of　the　puzzle　I've　got。　I　did　find　his　initials　on　surfaces　in　the　Hold；　and　yet　the　records　Ita　Fusaiyuki　kept　until　a　few　months　after　Kenjo's　death　make　no　mention　of　him。〃
　　〃She　died　there？〃
　　F'lessan　shook　his　head　as　she　absently　followed　his　slow　drift　out　of　the　Archives　room。
　　〃I　don't　know　that。　Aivas　has　records　of　messages　sent　to　her；　urging　her　to　e　first　to　Landing　to　cross　north。　So　she　was　still　alive　during　the　Second　Crossing。　Or　someone　at　Honshu　was。〃
　　〃I　promised　I'd　lock　up；〃　Tai　said；　pausing　in　the　entrance　hall　to　enable　the　alarm。
　　F'lessan　nodded　approval。　All　archival　material；　whether　here　or　at　a　Hall　or　Hold；　was　provided　with　safeguards　against　natural…or　unnatural…accidents。
　　Outside；　both　stopped　on　the　wide　top　step。　The　quick　transition　from　twilight　to　full　tropical　night　had　occurred　as　they　talked。　Below　them；　spread　out　in　festive　splendor；　were　the　lights；　sights；　and　sounds　of　Turnover。　More　enticing　were　the　luscious　aromas　of　the　fine　feast　awaiting　the　revelers。　As　one　they　inhaled　the　odors　and　then；　again　simultaneously；　turned　slightly　to　see　the　round　blue　lanterns　of　massed　dragon　eyes　on　the　heights；　the　blue　denoting　the　dragons'　own　enjoyment　of　the　happy　scene。　The　music　came　to　a　raucous　finale　and　the　sound　of　laughter　and　excited　chatter　drifted　back　to　them。
　　〃The　harpers　are　setting　down　their　instruments；〃　F'lessan　said；　pointing　to　the　platform。　He　rubbed　his　hands　together。　〃That　means　it's　time　to　eat　and　I'm　very　hungry。〃
　　He　looked　around　at　her：　she　was　exactly　the　right　height　for　him。　But　would　she　dance　if　he　asked　her？　〃I　am；　too；〃　she　admitted　and　tilted　her　chin　just　slightly。　He　made　a　bow　and　swept　his　hand　gracefully；　indicating　they　should　proceed。
　　〃You've　got　long　legs。　I'll　race　you　to　the　roast　pits。〃　And　he　took　off；　hearing　her　laugh　before　he　heard　her　boots　scrabbling　in　the　beach　pebbles　that　lined　the　path。
　　Tai；　who　knew　rather　more　about　Benden　Wingleader　F'lessan　than　he　was　aware；　surprised　herself　by　responding　to　the　challenge。　Despite　all　the　tales　she　had　heard　from　Mirrim　about　the　bronze　rider…including　dire　warnings　about　his　fecklessness…he　had　acted　considerately　and　courteously　toward　her　in　the　library。　She'd　been　surprised　that　he　appeared　to　know　his　way　around　the　shelves。　He　had　certainly　prevented　her　from　getting　in　trouble　with　Master　Esselin；　who　had　his　own　ideas　about　what　dragonriders　should　study。　Especially　green　female　riders。　After　Tai's　first　distressing　encounter　with　the　pompous　Archivist；　Mirrim　had　forted　her　with　a　tale　of　how　nasty　Esselin　had　once　been　to　her；　in　the　early　days　of　the　discoveries　at　Landing；　before　Aivas　was　discovered；　and　how　MasterHarper　Robinton　himself　had　acted　on　Mirrim's　behalf。　The　fussbudget　was　the　main　reason　Tai　tried　to　pick　unusual　hours　at　the　library：　times　when　she　wouldn't　have　to　deal　with　the　persnickety　old　man。
　　Fortunately　the　path　from　that　wing　of　the　Archives　was　wide　all　the　way　down　to　the　open　area　where　the　Turnover　festivities　were　being　held。　Now　that　the　sun　was　down；　lighting　had　e　up　so　they　didn't　have　to　watch　where　they　put　their　feet。　F'lessan　was　ahead　of　her；　as　he　passed　the　Aivas　section；　but　he　slowed　and　looked　to　his　right　with　a　respectful　bend　of　his　head。　Tai　knew　that　he'd　been　very　much　involved　with　Aivas；　almost　from　the　day　of　discovery；　so　his　reverence　was　understandable。　She　slowed；　too；　as　much　from　surprise　as　to　nod　her　own　respects。　Then　he　lengthened　his　stride　and　so　did　she；　trying　to　catch　up。　She　wasn't　a　Runner；　but　she　was　no　drag　foot　either　and　really　wanted　to　catch　up。　Riders　kept　fit…it　was　part　of　their　dedication　to　their　dragons…and　running　was　good　exercise。
　　She　ran　into　the　dragonrider　when　he　abruptly　stopped；　rounding　a　curve　and　trying　to　keep　from　knocking　over　a　couple　who　were　so　involved　in　each　other　that　they　were　oblivious　to　their　surroundings。　His　halt　and　turn　were　close　to　acrobatic　as　he　kept　her　from　tripping　over　him。
　　Contrary　to　what　Mirrim　had　led　Tai　to　expect　in　F'lessan's　behavior；　he　held　her　no　longer　than　was　necessary　for　her　to　regain　her　balance。　His　eyes　were　merry　with　amusement　as　he　jerked　his　head　at　the　still　unmindful　pair；　lost　in　their　private　world。
　　〃Let　us　not　be　an　obstacle　in　the　path　of　true　love；〃　he　murmured　to　her　and　gestured　that　they　circle　around　the　lovers。　He　was　breathing　only　a　little　hard　from　the　run；　though　no　more　than　she　was。
　　They　made　the　detour　and　then；　the　race　forgotten；　loped　easily　side　by　side　toward　the　roasting　pits。　Diners　were　just　beginning　to　assemble。
　　There　was　always　an　evening　breeze　at　Landing；　and　that　dried　the　sweat　on　her　brow　as　they　stood　in　line。　They　arrived　just　before　the　crowd　streaming　from　the　square。　By　the　time　they　were　served　roast　beast　and　quarters　of　grilled　avians；　and　took　their　choice　from　steaming　bowls　of　tubers　and　vegetables；　the　line　at　the　serving　tables　had　tripled　its　length。
　　〃Where　shall　we　sit？〃　F'lessan　asked　her；　looking　around。
　　〃Surely　you're　joining　your　friends？〃
　　〃Ha！　No　one　in　particular。　I　wanted　free　time　at　the　Archives。　Look；　over　to　our　right；　there　at　the　edge。　A　quiet　table。〃　He　raised　his　voice。　〃Hey；　Geger！〃　A　wineman　glanced　their　way。　〃Serve　us；　will　you？〃　F'lessan　pointed　and；　putting　his　free　hand　on　her　elbow；　steered　her　in　that　direction。
　　The　wineman　converged　on　the　table　just　as　they　arrived。
　　〃White？　Red？〃　F'lessan　asked　her　before　turning　to　the　wineman。　〃D'you　have　any　Benden　there；　Geger？〃
　　〃Well；　seeing　as　it's　you；　F'lessan；　yes；　I　can　get　one。〃　The　wineman　put　his