amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第26部分
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〃Some are spreading evil untruths about the Healers； with vile pamphlets。。。〃
〃Runners burn the ones they're given。〃
〃They've seen some？〃 Haligon was jolted so badly he spilled klah on his hand。
〃Runners won't spread filth like that。〃
〃But where？ When？ Does it happen often？〃 So Crivellan was right to fret over the matter。
Torlo gave him a long stare。 〃Runner business。 We take care of it。〃
〃But where？ We must stop it。 Do Runners know where it es from？〃
Torlo shrugged。 〃Runners stop it going further。〃
〃Yes； but not all of it；〃 Haligon said； being more agitated。 〃The vandals had a particularly grisly copy。 Master Crivellan was distraught。〃
〃He's not the only one。〃
Haligon stiffened at the satiric tone of Torlo's voice。 〃What quarrel do Runners have with the Healer Hall？〃 he asked in a low voice though there was no one else in the dining room just then。
〃None。〃 Torlo was surprised by Haligon's query。
〃With whom then？〃
Torlo paused； then a slight grin lifted the corner of his mouth and his eyes met Haligon's squarely。 〃You're not what you seem； Lord Haligon。〃
〃Runners are as essential to us all as Healers； Stationmaster。 What's the problem？〃
Torlo considered that and then； making his decision； leaned forward。
〃We've no objection to Healer Hall improvements： they benefit all。 When 'improvements' threaten an entire Craft； now that's a different track altogether。〃
〃Who would threaten Runners？ Weyrwoman Lessa said last night that Runners would always be needed。〃
Torlo gave an ironic bark。 〃Did she？ And who'll be needing the dragons if the truth is told about the Red Star？〃
Haligon reassembled his thoughts。 He'd never thought to step among so many verbal snakes。
〃Red Star？ You don't believe the Red Star was moved？ But surely you saw it happen； here in the North？〃
〃Saw the light in the sky； but what did that mean to someone ground…tied？〃
Haligon tried another tack。
〃All right； usually a Pass is fifty years。 This time Aivas definitely said it would be less。 We know from our own Records that that has happened several times before。 So there're sixteen more Turns to go till the end of this Pass。 If it ends in sixteen Turns； then grant that Aivas knew more than we ever could： that when he gave a definite answer； it'll be proved truth。 He said the dragonriders acplished what he set them out to do…alter the Red Star's orbit so it can never e close enough to Pern to drop Thread on us again。〃
Haligon was rather surprised by his own intensity。 He'd only been on the fringes of the massive effort that had occupied the planet for nearly five Turns。 But； in his own heart； he'd believed in Aivas's solution to Pern's cyclical problem。 He'd wanted…needed…to believe in it。
〃I may live another sixteen Turns to the end of this Pass；〃 Torlo replied。 〃So will you； but it'll take another two hundred to be sure that Aivas was right。〃
〃The point is； Stationmaster； there are so many smaller miracles available to us right now to give Aivas credibility。〃
Torlo's cynical smile was lopsided。 〃Like making dragons…and Runners…unnecessary？ If dragons won't be needed against Thread； they'll be looking for other things to do。 Runners'll be unnecessary！〃
〃Runners unnecessary？〃 Haligon exclaimed； throwing up his hands in dismay。 He knew the dragonriders were working hard on their own future but Runners had an assured one。 〃Why； your Craft started serving a need before the dragons had their first Weyr。 Right now； Runners're making traces and Stations in the south。 Your Craft； like all the others； is expanding。〃
Torlo leaned forward across the table； his eyes sparking with anger。 〃Not when there are dragonriders taking messages and packing people and parcels。〃
Haligon countered quickly。 〃How many small halls and holds can afford to hire a dragon？ Running a message costs only a thirty…second of a mark。 There are currently six thousand two hundred and forty dragons； and half of them are brown； bronze； and gold who wouldn't consider running messages。 You've that many Runner families working all the hours of a Turn and using youngsters on the short runs to keep up with the demand； not to mention what'll happen when the traces are laid in the south。 The queens aren't flying to mate as often or clutching as many； scaling down now that the end of this Pass is in sight； so I don't really see greens and blues in petition with Runners。 You've never been upset about fire…lizards。〃
Torlo snorted。 〃Only a few of them can be trusted to deliver messages。〃
〃That's true enough；〃 Haligon agreed； though his father's queen； Merga； having been exceedingly well trained by Menolly； had always proven reliable。 〃And no Runner has ever failed to bring messages through。〃 His thought went to Tenna； out on the frozen traces at the moment。
Torlo regarded him thoughtfully。 〃Nor will we ever。〃
〃So what is really bothering you； Stationmaster？〃
〃Those SmithCraftHall thingummies。。。 〃 Torlo made a cradle of his fingers； scowling as he tried to find the exact word。
〃The m units？〃
〃Them！ Seen one myself。 People'll be able to 'talk' to anyone。 Won't need Runners to take messages then。〃
Relief made Haligon laugh。 〃No； Torlo。 Can't happen。〃
〃Why not？〃 Torlo's sharp question was tinged with a belligerence he rarely displayed。
〃Too expensive；〃 Haligon blurted the words through his laughter。 〃Simple as that。 Takes Master Bassage and his Hall months to make the things。 Have to get the elements from several other Halls。 And they have a short range here in the north because there isn't a satellite relay。〃
〃A what？〃
〃Like the Yoko to relay the signal。 Healer Hall has to put up the relay for this part of the west and one up at Tillek； possibly a third at Telgar。 Two in the east； 1 heard。 They'd work better on the southern continent because of the Yoko； but with so many starting out holds and halls down there； it'll be a long time before they have marks for that sort of gadget。 My father will use Runners for a long time。 He trusts you。 For all he's forward looking on many issues； he trusts people more than machines。 No； Stationmaster； Runners'll be necessary for as long…as long as they've legs to run with。 They were the first Craft Fort Hold supported。 Turns before the first Weyr was established。 We'll never not need you； Master Torlo。〃
Torlo's expression had cleared as Haligon enumerated the problems to be surmounted by the new technology。
〃Aivas is like that； isn't it？ Shows how to do things better and that takes time all in itself。 Perhaps that's the best way。 No need to have things when we don't know we really need 'em。〃 Torlo rose； tactfully bringing their dialogue to an end。
As he got to his feet； Haligon wasn't sure whether or not the Stationmaster had agreed to help the Hold。
〃We support healers road and trace； Haligon；〃 Torlo said with an emphatic nod of his head as he escorted the young Lord across the big long…ceilinged room。 〃Those as hears will give a word to the wise to them as is too badly informed to know what's what！〃
〃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
