amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第39部分

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　　Typical　Mirrim；　he　thought；　but　at　least　she　was　over　the　panic　that　had　seized　her　in　the　Interface　office。　Immediately　there　were　screams；　sobs；　shouts；　and　general　confusion。　The　loudest　plaint　was　〃There's　bread　to　be　baked。。。　〃
　　〃How　far　inland　is　safe？〃　F'lessan　cried；　catching　Tai　before　she　could　follow　Mirrim　indoors。
　　〃They　can　get　high　enough　in　twenty　minutes　fast…walking。〃　Tai　pointed　toward　a　well…used　path　that　led　around　one　corner。　〃Not　much　time　for　packing　but　we'll　need　some　things。〃
　　She　wavered　for　a　moment　on　the　threshold；　looking　beyond　the　clearing；　then　sighed　and　shrugged　her　shoulders；　hurrying　on　inside。
　　Mirrim's　shrill　voice　was　organizing　the　weyrfolk　inside；　while　others；　alarmed　by　the　tolling　bell；　were　racing　in　on　the　various　paths；　to　find　out　what　was　wrong。　Just　then　a　crowd　of　half…grown　boys　and　girls　came　swarming　to　the　end　of　the　porch；　joining　the　other　worried　weyrfolk。
　　〃The　Weyr　must　be　evacuated；〃　he　told　them。
　　〃I　told　you　that　fireball　was　bad　luck；〃　one　of　the　older　boys　told　the　others。
　　〃How　could　it　make　the　sea　burn？〃　a　girl　demanded；　looking　to　the　bronze　rider　for　an　answer。
　　〃It　won't；〃　F'lessan　said　authoritatively。　〃Don't　make　guesses。　Right　now　you　need　to　do　what　you're　told。〃　He　gave　them　his　best　reassuring　grin。　〃This　is　going　to　be　an　adventure！　You've　got　to　get　to　your　own　weyrs。　Pack　as　much　as　you　can　as　quickly　as　you　can。　No　more　than　you　can　carry。　Tell　everyone　to　make　for　the　heights。〃　He　pointed　the　path　Tai　had　indicated。　〃You　need　to　be　at　least　two　hundred　meters　from　the　shore；　up　into　the　grove　of　fellis　trees。〃　He　gave　the　bell　another　clanging　to　reinforce　the　urgency　and　those　who　had　heard　what　he　had　to　tell　them　dispersed　in　seconds；　running　in　all　directions。
　　Mirrim　came　out；　herding　little　ones　in　front　of　her；　helped　by　her　sturdy　son；　Gellim；　while　other　weyrwomen　followed　her；　some　carrying　sacks　and　bundles。　Tai　had　one　arm　burdened　with　packs　and　the　other　around　a　screaming　toddler。
　　〃Tai；　get　aboard　Zaranth　and　I'll　hand　the　babies　up　to　you。　F'lessan；　use　the　safety　straps　to　tie　them　to　her。　Oh；　do　stop　screaming；　Vessa；〃　Mirrim　said　to　the　hysterical　child　behind　her。　〃F'lessan；　get　her　aboard　Golanth。　She　can　hold　another　once　she's　on　his　back。　He　can　follow　Zaranth　to　the　heights　with　this　lot。　Then　e　back　for　another。　It's　too　far　for　them　to　make　it　on　their　own。〃
　　Minim's　bossy　streak　was　in　full　operation；　F'lessan　thought　as　he　hoisted　an　hysterical　mother　up　to　Golanth　and　started　passing　up　sacks　and　bundles。　Tai　placed　the　screaming　toddler　on　Zaranth's　neck；　an　action　that　instantly　silenced　it。　She　leaped　astride　and　took　the　others　Mirrim　lifted　up　to　her。
　　〃I'm　ready；〃　Tai　cried。
　　Follow　Zaranth；　Golly！
　　Of　course！
　　〃I　know　we're　responsible　for　all　of　Monaco　but　I　can　work　better　if　I　know　our　folk　are　safe；〃　Mirrim　said；　excusing　her　actions。　〃While　Golanth's　gone；　you　can　help　me　organize　the　others　inside。　We　have　cradlers　to　take；　too。　Will　Golanth　mind？〃
　　〃Not　likely；〃　F'lessan　said；　even　his　dragon　would　not　thwart　Mirrim　in　this　mood　or　under　these　circumstances。　Fortunately　Mirrim　was　already　on　her　way　back　inside　the　room　and　did　not　see　how　close　to　the　ground　both　green　and　bronze　had　been　when　they　went　between。　Think　of　the　time　they　saved；　he　told　himself。
　　〃You；　you　can　go　on　Path；〃　he　heard　her　saying　and　she　nearly　ran　him　down　on　her　return　with　three　older　women；　barely　able　to　move　for　the　things　they　were　clutching。　〃F'lessan；　we'll　need　rope　to　tie　the　cradles　to　Golanth。　Over　in　that　closet。〃
　　〃We　have　some　time　to　spare；　Mirrim；〃　he　told　her　as　he　plied。　Golanth！　Carry　cradles？　Well；　who　better？
　　〃I'll　send　these　off　on　my　Path。　She　knows　where　to　go。　F'lessan；　when　you've　got　the　ropes；　put　them　on　the　porch。　The　tanner　journeyman　needs　your　help　with　his　materials。　And　we've　rolls　of　fabric　in　the　loft　we　simply　must　save。〃
　　〃There's　Monarth　doing　nothing；〃　F'lessan　muttered　under　his　breath；　but　he　got　the　ropes；　put　them　on　the　porch；　and　went　to　the　assistance　of　the　crafter　who　was　trying　to　carry　too　many　hides　as　well　as　various　tools；　and　dropping　things。　And　where　was　T'gellan　with　his　maps？
　　By　the　time　much　of　the　Weyr's　most　urgent　household　items　had　been　shoved　or　bundled　into　packs；　brown；　blue；　and　green　dragons　had　arrived　to　be　loaded　and　sent　off。　Three　other　blues　took　the　cradled　children。　Browns　were　draped　with　fabric　rolls　and　sleeping　furs；　and　bulky　items　were　tied　to　willing　backs。
　　It　was　as　well　that　dragons　had　an　innate　instinct　for　avoiding　each　other　on　the　ground　as　well　as　in　the　air；　for　the　traffic　in　and　out　of　the　main　Weyr　clearing　was　amazing。　With　Zaranth；　Golanth　had　made　three　more　trips　between　without　his　rider；　conveying　the　healer　and　half　a　dozen　patients。
　　T'gellan　finally　came　to　F'lessan's　end　of　the　porch；　lugging　one　end　of　a　heavy　chest　as　two　brown　riders　held　the　other。　Tucked　under　his　belt　were　maps。　While　the　brown　riders　lifted　the　chest　to　Monarth's　back；　T'gellan　beckoned　to　F'lessan；　who　was　beginning　to　worry　about　how　much　time　this　was　all　taking。
　　The　Weyrcook；　arms　full　of　bundles；　nearly　fell　down　the　steps；　followed　by　weyrfolk　struggling　with　sacksful　of　clicking　pots　and　leaking　supplies　just　as　Golanth　touched　down　again。　T'gellan　rolled　his　eyes　significantly　at　the　younger　rider　and　F'lessan　offered　Golanth's　services。　The　cook　mounted　first；　securing　as　many　things　as　she　could　to　Golanth's　ridges。　When　no　more　could　fit　on　his　back；　he　raised　just　high　enough　above　the　ground　to　go　between　yet　again。
　　Then　T'gellan　was　at　F'lessan's　side；　unrolling　one　of　the　maps　just　as　three　bronze　dragons　deposited　their　riders　on　the　recently　cleared　space。　Two　riderless　brown　dragons　hovered　above　the　trees；　waiting　to　land。
　　〃I　suspect　you're　more　adept　at　timing　than　that　trio；　my　friend；〃　T'gellan　said；　admirably　cool　in　manner；　〃so　you　get　to　go　the　farthest。　Take　St'ven　on　Mealth　and　C'reel　and　Galuth　to　help。〃　The　Weyrleader　gestured　to　the　browns。　He　unrolled　the　map　to　F'lessan　who　took　one　edge　as　he　recognized　a　copy　of　the　aerial　maps　that　Aivas　had　supplied　to　all　the　Weyrs。　〃We　were　out　over　this　area　last　time　you　flew　with　us。　You'll　remember　this　orange　cliff！〃　T'gellan　tapped　at　the　recognizable　landmark。　〃Long　wide　bay；　long；　sloping　sands　to　the　sea。〃　He　grimaced　at　the　thought　of　the　clear　path　that　would　give　the　ining　tsunami。　〃Granite　cliff。　White　sands　stand　out　against　it。　Bay　looks　like　the　sea　took　a　toothless　bite　out　of　the　coastline。〃　He　gave　the　younger　rider　a　reassuring　grin。　〃Don't　let　them　talk　you　into　conveying　their　boats。　Those　are　replaceable。　Lives　are　not！〃
　　With　that　philosophy　F'lessan　agreed；　but　he　also　knew　how　difficult　it　was　to　make　holders　abandon　whatever　treasures　they　might　own。
　　〃Holds're　mostly　near　this　stream；　but　that　would　provide　the　tsunami　with　a　channel　to　flood　badly　way　inland。　Be　sure　everyone　is　well　back　on　the　summit。　We　can't　estimate　how　high　the　tsunami　crest　will　be。　Reaching　the　heights　will　be　a　climb　for　some　but　there're　switchback　steps　cut　in　the　lower　levels。　But　among　the　three　of　you；　you　ought　to　be　able　to　evacuate　them　all。　Somehow　or　other。〃　T'gellan's　expression　was　grim　again　as　he　thrust　the　map　at　F'lessan。　〃You're　a　good　rider。〃　He　gave　F'lessan　a　supportive　clout　on　the　shoulder。　〃Secure　that　chest　on　Monarth；　will　you；　C'reel；　St'ven？　Then　F'lessan's　your　Wingleader。〃
　　〃I've　called　in　as　many　riders　as　can　be　spared　to　clear　Monaco　Harbor　and　Cove　Hold；〃　T'gellan　said；　his　forehead　furrowed　with　worry。　〃Sweep　riders　are　warning　inland　holders　but　we　can't　take　time　to　figure　out　how　far　above　sea　level　they　are。　They'll　just　have　to　get　as　high　as　they　can。　But　all　have　got　to　be　warned。〃　In　a　final　aside；　before　the　Weyrleader　mounted；　he　leaned　into　F'lessan。　〃Don't　shave　time　too　close！　Lessa　would　kill　me　if　you　got　time…lost。〃
　　Then　he　was　astride　his　dragon　and　Monarth　leaped　skyward　and　was　gone　between　before　the　upper　sail　of　his　wings　cleared　the　rooftree　on　the　Weyr　building。
　　〃C'reel；　St'ven；　moun