amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第86部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ized　she　had　gone　in　answer　to　Golanth's　alarm。　I　saw　what　she　saw；　and　that　was　too　many　of　those　wretched　predators　latched　on　to　him　and　the　green。　The　green　was…somehow…picking　them　up　and　flinging　them　off。　It　was　a…motion…that　Ramoth　imitated。　So　did　the　other　dragons。　Grabbing　the　felines　and　tossing　them　off　the　two　dragons。〃　She　rubbed　her　forehead　as　if　that　would　clear　the　confused　images　Ramoth　had　projected　to　her　rider。　〃F'lessan　was　on　the　ground；　being　viciously　attacked；　he'd　no　more　than　his　belt　knife；　you　know。　And…Tai…was　jumping　from　the　ledge　with　something　flaring　out　behind　her。
　　〃Then；〃　and　Lessa　paused；　frowning；　〃I　think　Golanth　shouted　'time　it'　and　Ramoth　saw　the　one　feline　Zaranth　hadn't　deflected　with　her　body。〃　Her　frown　deepened　and　she　spoke　slowly；　measuring　the　words　with　the　fleeting　moment　that　had　made　all　the　difference。　〃If　its　jump　had　connected；　the　beast　could　easily　have　severed　Golanth's　spinal　cord。〃　A　shudder　ran　down　Lessa's　body　and　F'lar　pulled　her　head　against　him　in　a　tight　embrace　as　if　he　could　press　the　horror　of　that　moment　out　of　her　mind…and　his。　〃It　had　to　have　been　Golanth。　Greens　don't　know　the　mechanics　of　timing　it　without　guidance；　and　Golanth　had　done　so　much　at　Monaco　and　Sunrise　Cliff；〃　Lessa　said　softly。　〃The　others　had　just　e。　Even　Ramoth　didn't　grasp　the　danger　immediately。　So　it　had　to　have　been　Golanth　who　said　'time　it。'　He　must　have　seen　his　peril　through　Zaranth's　eyes。　Or　Tai's。　And　Ramoth　perceived　what　action　was　imperative。　To　deflect　the　feline's　spring。　I　lost　touch　with　her…and　you　know　that　sense　of　blankness　that　is　between！〃　she　asked；　looking　up　at　him；　her　eyes　swimming　with　tears。　〃I　felt　that。　It's　unmistakable。　Ramoth　timed　it　back　to　push　the　feline　just　far　enough　off　balance　so　it　missed　its　target。　And　didn't　kill　Golanth。　Oh；　F'lar；　if　it　had；　F'lessan　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　survive　Golanth's　death。　Wouldn't　have　wanted　to。　We'd　have　lost　them　both！〃
　　She　crumpled　then；　having　been　calm；　steadfast；　and　efficient　for　the　past　few　hours。　She　burrowed　into　F'lar；　struggling　to　hold　him　closer；　closer；　to　drive　away　the　appalling　words　she　had　just　uttered。
　　〃It's　reaction；〃　she　sobbed。　〃I'm　just　reacting！〃　Tears　streamed　down　her　face；　Lessa　of　Ruatha　and　Benden　Weyr；　she　who　had　rarely　cried；　not　even　when　Fax　had　slaughtered　her　family　and　everyone　else　in　Ruatha　Hold：　now　she　wept！
　　She　felt　other　tears　drop　onto　her　forehead；　as　she　clung　to　her　weyrmate　and　realized　that　he；　too；　cried　even　as　he　stroked　her　body　and　tried　to　soothe　her；　and　let　her　weep。　She　couldn't　stop；　even　if　everyone　or　anyone　else　in　Honshu　heard　her。
　　No　one　hears；　Ramoth　said；　and　her　mental　voice　sounded　very　deep　and　echoing；　but　us。
　　It　took　time　for　both　Weyrleaders　to　release　pent…up　emotions　and　regain　posure。　In　the　dark　F'lar　found　the　room's　water　basin　and　tap；　discovered　a　towel；　left　behind　when　Monaco　riders　had　been　at　Honshu；　and　they　washed　faces　and　hands。　Still　trembling；　Lessa　made　an　attempt　to　braid　her　hair　and　F'lar　found　a　cup。
　　〃Amazing！〃　he　said；　sitting　beside　her　again；　close　enough　that　their　thighs　touched；　as　if　he　could　no　more　bear　separation　in　the　aftermath　of　their　emotional　storm　than　she　could。　〃The　theory　has　always　been　that；　if　we　knew　the　time；　we　could　forestall　a…a　fatal…accident；〃　he　said　in　a　low；　shaky　voice；　reaching　for　her　hand。　〃Like　Moreta's　death。〃
　　〃Theory；〃　she　said　with　a　derisive　shrug。　She　sipped　slowly　from　the　cup　of　water；　willing　her　body　to　stop　shaking。　F'lessan　hadn't　died　because　Golanth　hadn't　died。　Golanth　hadn't　died　because　Ramoth　had　prevented　it。
　　It　isn't　theory；　Ramoth　said；　her　mental　tone　tart；　I　timed　it　to　the　exact　moment。　Golanth　showed　me　just　how　he　had　saved　F'lessan　and　himself　from　being　crushed　by　the　tsunami　wave。　He　was　most　resourceful　to　act　on　his　own　initiative。　He　learned　something　important　that　day　and　was　too　tired　when　he　got　back　to　Landing　to　tell　even　me。　Today；　Zaranth　showed　us　how　to　push　without　touching。　I　admit　that　I　had　never　thought　greens　could　do　something　so　unusual。　I　saw　how　she　did　it。　Very　clever　of　her。　We　two　taught　the　others。　But　it　was　I　who　timed　it　to　save　Golanth　from　that　last　feline。　Only　I　could　have　done　that。
　　Lessa　managed　a　shaky　little　laugh。　Only　you；　my　dearest。　I　do　admit　that　today　I　learned　something　from　a　green　dragon。　Ramoth　sounded　as　chagrined　as　her　rider　had　ever　heard　her。　I　have　told　the　others　what　Zaranth　showed　me　how　to　do；　how　she　pushed　felines　away；　she　added　calmly。　It　is　a　useful　skill　for　all　to　know。
　　Stunned　by　her　dragon's　attitude　toward　this　new　ability；　Lessa　turned　to　F'lar；　whose　expression　was　probably　as　incredulous　as　hers。　Lessa　gave　one　last　hiccup。
　　〃In　case　you're　wondering；〃　he　said；　with　a　little　smile　on　his　face；　〃Mnementh　agrees。　And　Aivas　was　right。〃
　　She　twitched　her　mouth　and　drew　her　brows　together　in　a　scowl。　〃Right　again　and；　while　I'm　glad　he　is；　I'm　annoyed；　too。　He　has　plicated　life。〃
　　〃Maybe；〃　F'lar　said　softly。　〃Maybe　not。　D'you　remember　Aivas　trying　to　understand　the　abilities　of　our　dragons？〃
　　Lessa　scowled；　perplexed。　〃He　knew…we　told　him…that　they　had　always　municated　with　us　mentally。〃
　　〃Telepathy；　he　called　it。　And　teleportation　is　the　ability　of　dragons　to　go　between　from　one　place　to　another。　Or；　however　briefly；　one　time　to　another。〃　He　finger…bed　his　hair　back　from　his　forehead。　〃Today　they　practiced　the　third　of　those　special　talents…telekinesis。　Aivas　could　not　understand　why　they　could　not　do　that　if　they　telepath　and　teleport。　Now　they　can。　I　wonder　how　he　would　have　used　this　new　ability　to　physically　move　other　things　without　contact。〃
　　〃They　moved　felines　who　would　have　killed　Golanth；　F'lessan；　Tai；　and　Zaranth。〃　Lessa　said　in　a　soft　pensive　voice。
　　They　were　both　silent　in　consideration　of　these　startling　new　concepts。
　　〃As　long　as　they　think　they　can；〃　she　said；　tightening　her　fingers　on　his。
　　〃That's　the　requisite；〃　he　agreed；　nodding；　a　smile　twitching　at　one　side　of　his　mouth。
　　〃Then　that　means　there　is　something　dragons　can　do　about　things　in　space。〃
　　He　jerked　straight　up；　hand　gripping　hers　tightly。　〃Let's　take　this　one　slowly；　shall　we；　my　love？〃
　　She　swung　her　head　back　and　forth。　〃Very　slowly。〃
　　Someone　tapped　on　the　door　and　called　her　name。
　　She　took　a　deep　breath；　felt　F'lar　do　the　same。
　　〃Yes？〃
　　〃It's　Manora。　I　just　arrived　to　help。　G'bol　brought　me　on　Mirreth。〃
　　〃We'll　be　right　there；〃　Lessa　called。　When　she　turned　her　shining　eyes　to　F'lar；　they　were　no　longer　full　of　tears；　but　hope。　He　embraced　her；　cheek　on　her　head；　trying　by　the　language　of　his　body　to　tell　her　the　words　in　his　heart。
　　Calm　and　mutually　supportive；　they　emerged　from　their　brief　respite　to　greet　Manora。
　　Manora；　headwoman　of　Benden's　Lower　Cavern；　was　seated　beside　the　bed　when　Tai　next　woke；　an　honor　that　had　Tai　reeling　until　she　felt　Zaranth's　mental　touch；　initially　anxious　and　then　relieved。　You　are　better！　I　am；　too。
　　〃Ah；　good；〃　Manora　said；　examining　Tai's　face。　〃Your　eyes　are　clearer　and　your　fever　is　gone。〃
　　〃F'lessan？〃　Tai　tried　to　sit　and　wished　she　hadn't：　she　ached　all　over。　This　was　much　worse　than　the　mauling　she'd　had　from　the　men　at　Landing　Healer　Hall。　She　made　no　resistance　when　Manora　pushed　her　back　down。
　　〃His　fever　has　lessened；　yes。　His　injuries　were　extensive。　There　was　some　internal　damage；　you　see；〃　and　Manora's　serious　face　made　no　light　of　that；　〃but　Oldive　and　that　clever…fingered　Crivellan　stopped　the　bleeding；　repaired　the　damage　the　claws　did；　and　he　will　heal。〃
　　Tai　heard　a　note　in　her　voice。　〃What　else　is　wrong？〃
　　She　gave　Tai's　hand　a　reassuring　clasp；　her　expression　approving。　〃You're　very　quick；　Green　Rider　Tai。　Muscle　was　torn　from　F'lessan's　left　leg　and　not　all　the　new　skills　that　the　Healer　Hall　has　developed　can　replace　that。〃　She　paused。　〃He'll　have　a　few　scars　on　his　face　but　I　do　believe　that　once　the　wounds　have　healed　they　won't　be　so　noticeable。〃
　　〃F'lessan　is　not　a　vain　man；〃　Tai　said；　after　a　moment's　consideration；　〃but　he　will　hate　a　limp。〃
　　〃You　are　quite　right。　How　do