amccaffrey.theskiesofpern-第97部分

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rhead。
　　Now；　slowly；　Golanth　turned　his　head　to　his　rider　and　Tai；　and　focused　on　them　what　remaining　vision　he　had。
　　I　see　you；　F'lessan。　I　see　you；　Tai。　I　see！
　　Dragons　do　not　weep。　F'lessan　did；　burrowing　into　his　dragon's　neck；　clasping　Tai's　hand　so　tightly　in　his　that　some　of　her　tears　were　for　pain　as　well　as　joy。
　　Neither　Wyzall　nor　Oldive；　nor　any　of　the　beastmasters　and　healers　they　had　consulted　had　thought　that　Golanth　would　have　any　use　of　the　left　eye。　Nor　did　they　know　if　the　undamaged　eye　could　pensate！　While　dragons　often　got　their　eyes　full　of　stinging　char　and　occasionally　a　direct　score；　the　nictitating　lids　could　close　so　quickly　that　rarely　had　more　than　a　few　facets　been　hurt。
　　I　do　not　see　much。　But　I　see　with　two　eyes。
　　Tai　began　to　hiccup　with　sobs。　F'lessan　was　gasping　and　hissing　more　than　sobbing；　sagging　against　his　dragon；　his　injured　leg　sticking　out　to　one　side。
　　〃I　had　to　see；　I　had　to　know；〃　he　murmured。
　　Tai　tried　to　support　him；　but　he　kept　slipping；　exhausted　by　his　efforts；　tears　running　down　his　face　in　a　quiet　despair　that　was　far　worse　to　hear　than　his　initial　sobs　of　relief。
　　Zaranth；　put　us　in　his　worn。
　　Where？
　　The　bed！
　　Being　moved　telekinetically　by　Zaranth　was　not　at　all　the　same　thing　as　going　between。　If　anything；　Tai　thought；　it　was　between　between。
　　Not…so…fast！　Tai　heard　Golanth　say；　like　a　tiny　distant　sound　deep　in　her　ear；　not　a　phrase　said　aloud。　And　the　breathless　propulsion　down　the　corridor　eased　somewhere　in　between　the　start　and　the　finish；　and　by　its　finish；　they　were　slowly　falling　onto　a　bed。　The　larger　bed　they　had　shared…a　logical　enough　destination　for　Zaranth；　who　would　have　recognized　from　Tai's　mind　that　this　bed　was　preferable　to　the　narrow　one　that　F'lessan　had　left。　Tai　was　able　to　ease　F'lessan's　descent　to　the　mattress。
　　As　she　hastily　checked　for　any　blood　seeping　from　his　bandages；　F'lessan　lay　there；　supine；　limp　arms　over　his　head；　gasping　for　breath；　his　face　pale　even　in　the　darkened　room；　his　left　leg　jutting　straight　out　over　the　end　of　the　bed。
　　〃A　bit　sudden；　isn't　it；　Tai；〃　he　said；　opening　his　eyes。　
　　〃I'm　thirsty。〃　That　was　plaintive。　The　next　was　definitive。　
　　〃And　I　do　not　want　any　fellis　juice。　I　want　water；　lots　of　it。　Cold。〃
　　Limping　a　little　because　she'd　strained　her　bad　leg；　Tai　paused　at　the　door　to　listen　for　any　activity　in　the　hall；　and　then　slipped　as　quickly　as　she　could　back　to　F'lessan's　sickroom。　She　took　the　pitcher　and　the　glass　from　the　table　and　returned　with　them。　Maybe　she　should　have　found　some　wine；　or　something　sweet；　for　the　shock。　Now　that　she　had　had　a　few　moments　to　get　accustomed　to　the　uncovered　eye；　it　could　have　been　worse：　Golly　had　some　sight。　It　must　have　been　much　worse　for　F'lessan；　not　able　to　check　but　very　able　to　lie　in　that　bed；　numbed　with　the　weed　and　fellis；　thinking；　thinking；　and　thinking。　There　would　be　considerable　relief　in　knowing　just　how　bad　it　was。
　　She　got　back　with　no　one　the　wiser　in　the　sleeping　weyrhold。　She　poured　water　for　F'lessan；　who　dragged　himself　to　a　sitting　position　on　one　elbow。　He　drained　the　glass。　She　arranged　pillows　and　pushed　him　back　against　them　before　she　took　a　long　swig　from　the　pitcher　to　quench　her　own　thirst。
　　〃More；　please。〃　He　held　up　the　empty　glass。　When　she　refilled　it；　he　sipped　in　mouthfuls　this　time。　She　drank　again　from　the　pitcher。　The　water　was　nearly　gone。　Should　she　get　some　fruit　juice　from　the　kitchen？　Sagassy　could　be　relied　on　to　have　a　beaker　cooling　there。　It　wasn't　just　the　sea　that　had　made　her　mouth　dry。
　　When　she　made　a　move　to　leave；　he　caught　her　hand。　〃Don't　go；　Tai。　Don't　leave　me；　my　very　dear　green。〃
　　〃Golanth's　patch；　I　should　replace　it。〃
　　He　grabbed　at　her　hand；　his　fingers　unexpectedly　fierce。　〃No；　he　can　use　the　lids　if　he　needs　to　shield。。。　what's　left　to　see　with。　He　hated　that　patch。　I　promised　I'd　get　it　off。〃
　　〃If　you'd　only　told　us！〃
　　Eyes　closed　with　exhaustion；　he　gave　a　weak　smile。　〃Would　you；　Tai？　Would　you　have　flouted　Wyzall；　Ballora；　all　of　them？〃
　　〃Yes！〃
　　His　smile　broadened；　tinged　with　doubt；　as　he　turned　his　head　on　the　pillow　toward　her；　his　hand　patting　hers。
　　〃Yes；　I　would　have；〃　she　said　firmly。
　　Then　he　scowled。　〃And　what　were　you　doing　away　from　Honshu　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　dear　rider？〃
　　She　grinned。　〃We　went　swimming。〃
　　〃Swimming　in　the　middle　of　the　night？〃　he　cried；　astonished。
　　〃Belior's　up　and　it　did　me　a　lot　of　good。〃
　　〃Alone？〃　He　tried　to　scold　her。
　　〃Not　with　nearly　a　full　pod　of　dolphins　about。〃　Then；　before　he　could　continue；　she　added；　〃And　all　the　good　of　that　swim　might　be　undone　coping　with　your　jaunt　tonight。〃
　　He　sighed；　giving　a　weary　shake　to　his　head。　〃I　think；　my　very　dear　green；　my　very　dear　Tai；　we're　all　the　better　for　tonight。〃　Wearily　he　closed　his　eyes　but　his　lips　curved　in　a　slight　smile。
　　He　is；　Golanth　is；　I　am；　you　are；　Zaranth　said。
　　F'lessan　gave　her　hand　a　final　pat　before　the　fingers　lay　lax。　She　checked　again　for　any　seepage　from　the　bandages。　It　would　be　like　F'lessan　to　be　unscathed　by　such　a　desperate　antic。　When　she　fumbled　to　draw　the　light　cover　over　them；　he　was　breathing　evenly　and　the　fretful　lines　on　his　face　had　relaxed。　He　almost　looked　like　himself；　except　for　the　scar　and　the　lack　of　hair　around　it。
　　He　sleeps；　said　both　dragons。　We　sleep。
　　She　gave　a　happy　sigh；　ignored　the　ache　in　her　leg　and　her　bruised　hand；　put　her　head　on　the　pillow　beside　F'lessan's；　and　turned　her　cheek　against　his　bare　shoulder。
　　Excited；　concerned　whispers　and　running　feet　awakened　her。　She　was　in　that　state　of　limp　repose　that　allowed　her　to　be　aware　of　the　distraction　but　unwilling　to　respond　to　the　air　of　alarm。
　　Fortunately　it　was　Sagassy　who　put　her　head　in　the　door　and　stared　at　them。　With　a　sense　of　mischief　that　astonished　Tai　as　much　as　it　did　the　hold　woman；　Tai　put　one　finger　to　her　lips　to　keep　Sagassy　from　alerting　the　searchers。　At　that；　Sagassy　did　give　them　a　few　more　moments'　peace；　going　back　into　the　hall。
　　〃The　dragons　are　sleeping；　aren't　they？　So　the　riders've　e　to　no　harm　or　be　sure　we'd've　all　heard　the　bugling。　Now　let's　all　be　sensible。。。〃
　　Then　someone　called　urgently　from　the　terrace。　And　Sagassy　ran　off。
　　Beside　her；　F'lessan　moved；　stretching　a　little。　〃I'll　bet　they　found　Golly's　patch　has　been　removed。〃
　　That　was　the　startled　news　reverberating　down　the　hall。　F'lessan　slowly　slid　his　arm　under　Tai's　shoulder　and　nestled　her　against　him；　his　head　on　hers。
　　〃It　won't　be　long　now；〃　he　murmured　indolently　and　kissed　her　temple。　Tai　felt　something　inside　her　snap；　as　if　all　her　guts　and　her　ribs　had　been　tangled　in　a　great　knot；　which　the　kiss　had　untied。　〃I'm　going　to　insist　that　we　occupy　this　room　from　now　on。　It's　big　enough　so　you　won't　be　bashing　into　me。　You're　a　quiet　sleeper　anyway。　I　don't　think　you　moved　all　night。〃
　　〃They　have　to　be　somewhere；〃　they　heard　Keita　shouting。
　　〃That　is；　if　it's　your　choice；　Tai？〃
　　For　a　split　second…wanting　to　throw　her　arms　about　him　in　an　excess　of　relief…she　didn't　know　where　it　was　safe　to　embrace　him。　So　she　demurely　rubbed　her　head　against　his　left　shoulder。　〃I　choose。　I　choose　you　in　any　condition　and　any　way　I　get　to　choose　you。〃
　　By　then；　their　refuge　was　officially　discovered　and　they　were　the　victims　of　some　choice　sarcastic　official　displeasure　and　tongue…lashing。　Tai　was　ejected　from　the　bed　so　that　Keita　could　be　sure　that　F'lessan　had　done　no　damage　to　himself。
　　The　main　puzzle…how　had　they　gotten　to　this　room…was　the　easiest　to　answer。
　　〃Zaranth　put　us　here；〃　Tai　said。　〃She　can；　you　know。〃
　　〃And　brought　F'lessan　out　to　Golanth？〃　Keita　demanded；　still　outraged　by　finding　the　patch　removed。
　　Tai　gave　a　negligent　shrug　and　let　them　assume　what　they　wanted　to。　Then　the　healer　had　F'lessan　carried　back　to　his　sickroom　where　medicines　and　bandages　were　stored；　to　make　sure　that　he　hadn't　done　himself　any　harm。　F'lessan's　grin　might　have　been　a　trifle　off…center　as　Keita　changed　dressings　to　reassure　herself　that　no　stitches　had　broken；　but　he　remained　unrepentant。
　　〃I'm　soaked　in　num