amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第68部分

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st　time　in　centuries　the　Weyrhold　had　been　even　half　full。
　　He　encouraged　her　to　talk　about　her　interest　in　astronomy　and　managed　to　bring　texts　from　the　Archives　that　she　was　certain　Master　Esselin　did　not　realize　he　had　borrowed。　He　was　very　conscientious　about　returning　them。
　　〃We've　put　it　off　long　enough；　I　think！〃
　　A　sparkle　in　his　eye　was　all　the　warning　she　had　before　he　swung　her　up　in　his　arms　and　twirled　around。　She　clung　to　his　shoulders；　not　fearing　that　he　would　drop　her；　but　so　she　had　this　excuse　to　touch　him。　She　wasn't　yet　accustomed　to　either　his　spontaneity　or　his　preference　for　touching　but　she　was　learning　to　wele　them。　His　gray　eyes　echoed　his　smile。　If　she　weren't　so　familiar　with　the　weather　and　worry　lines　on　his　face；　she'd've　thought　him　much　younger　than　she　knew　him　to　be　when　he　smiled　like　that。　Such　an　open；　merry　smile！
　　〃Put　what　off？〃　she　said；　humoring　his　mood。　He　wanted　to　surprise　her；　that　was　certain。
　　〃It's　a　beautiful　clear　night。〃　He　paused　tantalizingly；　and　then　she　knew　what　he　meant　and　could　not　suppress　a　gasp　of　excitement。　〃Yes；　tonight；　my　dear　green；　we　can　hook　up　the　scope。〃
　　Tai　couldn't　suppress　her　crow　of　delight。　〃You　got　a　monitor！〃
　　〃And　the　operating　disks。　Erragon　copied　them　for　us　and　supplied　fresh　blanks　for　the　imager。　He's　given　us　a　search　pattern　to　follow。　As　if　we'd　ever　get　enough　exposures　to　do　a　thorough　job。〃　His　eyes　flashed　with　determination。　〃All　we　need　is　the　right　one　at　the　right　time　of　night　or　piece　of　sky。〃
　　He　was　right；　of　course；　she　knew；　but　with　his　merry　grin　and　wide…open　eyes；　it　was　as　if　he　was　somehow　going　to　succeed　despite　the　odds　against　it。　His　was　a　personality　of　great　contrast。　She　was　fascinated　by　it　and　rebuked　herself　that　she　had　ever　considered　him　shallow。　Over　the　last　few　sevendays；　she　had　seen　how　seriously　he　took　responsibilities；　exuding　an　optimism　that　could　fire　those　around　him；　and　how　he　never　shirked　tasks；　like　the　Benini　Hold　planting；　which　he　could　have　delegated　to　another　rider。　He　was　certainly　not　the　casual　reckless　weyrbred　lad　Mirrim　had　described。
　　〃I　can　certainly　help　with　the　search　patterns；〃　she　said；　noticing　how　easily　he　involved　her　in　his　schemes。　〃Erragon　trusted　me　with　parisons　and　scannings。〃
　　〃I'd　prefer　scanning　just　you；　Tai　m'dear；〃　he　said；　kissing　the　hollow　in　her　throat；　his　teasing　lips　were　warm　against　flesh　still　chilled　from　her　trip　between。　〃But　we'll　have　to　show　Erragon　results　from　Honshu　or　he'll　insist　on　dragging　you　back　to　Cove　Hold。〃
　　Slowly　he　let　her　down。　She　liked　the　feel　of　his　body　against　hers；　F'lessan　was　so　vital；　so　energetic；　so…alive！　He　did　not　release　her　entirely；　affectionately　looping　one　arm　across　her　shoulders。
　　〃I　also　spent　my　day　doing　what　Aivas　used　to　call　a　refresher　course；〃　he　added　with　one　of　his　mischievous　grins。　〃I　don't　think　I　paid　as　much　attention　to　him　the　first　time　as　I　should　have。〃
　　She　noticed　how　his　eyes　darkened　with　the　knowledge　of　wasted　opportunity。　She　touched　his　cheek　in　a　brief　caress。　〃If　only　we　all　knew　then　what　we　know　now。〃
　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　and　his　lips　curved　with　a　touch　of　bitterness。
　　Once　again　she　was　amazed　that　F'lessan　was　willing　to　show　his　regrets。　He　always　appeared　so　self…confident。　Still　feeling　a　little　embarrassed　by　such　intimacy；　she　caught　sight　of　the　steaming　pot　on　the　range。
　　〃You　cooked？〃　And　looked　again。　〃That　isn't　a　Honshu　pot。〃
　　〃No；〃　and　he　chuckled；　giving　her　a　hug　as　he　guided　her　to　the　range。　〃I　stopped　off　at　Sagassy's　hold　on　the　way　back。　I'd　some　nails　for　them　from　Landing's　SmithCraftHall。　She　insisted　that　I　take　this　as　a　delivery　fee。〃　He　shrugged。　〃Remind　me　to　return　the　pot。〃
　　〃I　will；〃　she　replied。　〃After　I'm　sure　you've　washed　it　properly。〃　She　couldn't　resist　teasing　him　as　she　picked　up　the　wooden　spoon　to　stir　the　stew。　〃Oh；　you've　nearly　let　it　scorch！〃
　　〃Then　it's　hot　enough　to　eat。〃
　　F'lessan　pushed　her　out　of　the　way；　gesturing　her　to　sit　at　the　end　of　the　table　that　she　saw　had　been　set　for　two；　and　began　ladling　the　stew　into　the　wide；　deep　bowls。　Mirrim　would　never　believe　that　F'lessan　could　be　so　useful。　She　pinched　the　bread　loaf　and　it　was　fresh；　there　was　a　salad；　too；　as　greens　were　beginning　to　flourish　again　along　the　coast。　She　poured　wine　from　the　skin　into　glasses　while　F'lessan　brought　heaped　plates　to　the　table。
　　〃Sagassy　said　that　Riller；　Jubb；　and　Sparling　have　all　seen　signs　of　felines　creeping　back　into　the　valley；〃　he　said。　〃They　haven't　run　a　check　for　missing　stock　but　the　herds　have　been　spooky　lately。〃　He　blew　on　his　spoon　to　cool　the　gravy…soaked　meat。　〃Those　sharding　creatures　may　be　hunting　on　this　side　of　the　ridge　again。〃
　　Eight　families；　gradually　clearing　enough　land　to　grow　essential　crops　as　well　as　round　up　wild　herdbeasts；　had　settled　the　valley　that　spread　out　north　of　Honshu。　They　protected　their　cluster　of　buildings　and　beastholds　with　dragon　dung　and　firestone　mash；　the　best　deterrents　for　any　pests　in　the　south；　apart　from　trundlebugs。　Visiting　dragons…and　those　staying　at　Honshu　after　the　Fireball　had　added　considerably　to　the　perimeter…were　encouraged　to　donate。　Once　the　residues　dried；　there　was　little　smell　to　aggravate　human　sensitivities；　but　what　there　was　was　sufficient　to　put　off　all　but　the　hungriest　predators。
　　She　and　F'lessan　had　hunted　there　during　their　first　week　together。　She　and　Zaranth　had　just　missed　catching　one　of　the　cloudy…coats　that　wore　such　valuable　pelts。　There　was　so　much　else　to　do　that　they　hadn't　been　able　to　take　time　to　hunt　felines　again。
　　〃We'll　have　to　plan　to　swing　round　the　holds'　borders　and　re…discourage　the　carnivores；〃　he　said；　breaking　off　a　piece　of　bread　and　offering　it　to　her　before　taking　some　for　himself。　〃You've　about　finished　curing　the　last　pelts　we　got；　haven't　you？〃
　　〃Just　about。　Someone　else　must　have　pegged　skins　on　the　wall　I'm　using；〃　she　said。
　　〃Probably。　Hold　records　suggest　they　were　self…sufficient。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃I've　never　understood　what　happened　to　the　people　who　were　doing　so　well　here。　Why　they　simply。。。〃　he　spread　out　his　hands　in　bewilderment；〃。。。　left？〃
　　She　felt　gravy　on　the　corner　of　her　mouth　and　used　a　bit　of　the　bread　to　remove　it；　right　past　her　lips。　〃Plague？〃　Disease　had　wiped　out　so　many　holdings　it　was　always　the　first　guess。
　　He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　no　skeletons。〃
　　〃Vermin　would　have　scavenged　the　remains。〃
　　〃Their　effects　were　all　neatly　put　away。〃
　　〃As　if　they　meant　to　return？〃　she　asked；　surprised；　but　then　F'lessan　had　been　researching　the　history　of　this　weyrhold　of　his。
　　〃No；　as　if　that　was　the　way　they　took　care　of　tools　and　equipment。〃　He　gestured　to　the　kitchen　and　the　utensils　visible　on　the　work　surfaces。
　　〃As　they　did　in　the　workshop。〃　All　the　shelves　and　drawers　fascinated　Tai；　the　contents　neatly　packed　away　in　oil　or　grease　and　the　airless　plastic　envelopes　that　the　Ancients　had　had。　Even　the　flying　machine…a　sled；　F'lessan　called　it…had　been　cocooned。　She'd　never　had　the　opportunity　to　visit　the　Catherine　Caves　as　F'lessan　had；　but　he'd　said　that　these　weren't　thoroughly　explored　or　emptied　of　treasures。　Samples　of　the　things　the　Ancients　had　used　were　on　display　at　Landing；　some　still　encased　in　the　packing　used　for　the　voyage　to　the　Rukbat　system。　She…and　others…had　puzzled　over　the　use　of　some　items。　〃Why　would　they　leave　such　a　beautiful　place？〃
　　〃Once　this　Pass　is　over；　you　may　be　sure　I　won't　leave；〃　he　said　resolutely。　〃As　it　is；　I'm　here　more　than　I　should　be；〃　he　added　with　that　irrepressibly　engaging　grin　she　so　enjoyed。　〃Eat　up；　my　dear　green。〃
　　〃Shouldn't　have　eaten　so　much；〃　he　remarked　twenty　minutes　later　as　she　trudged　behind　him　up　the　steep　stairs　to　the　observation　room。　He　was　panting；　too；　she　noticed。　〃As　well　we　don't　have　to　lug　things　all　the　way　up　these　stairs。　Only　down　one　level　when　we　get　where　we're　going。〃
　　F'lessan　had　explained　the　almost　secretive　design　of　Honshu's　observatory；　not　all　the　secrets；　he'd　said；　grinning　with　a　boyish　delight；　but　Kenjo　had　made　sure　it　was　not　readily　accessible。　The　first　challenge　was