amc.masterharperofpern-第95部分
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Over the next few days； Robinton had a feeling of imminence； of something impending。 He was not surprised then to have Sebell escort a runner； mud…spattered and exhausted； into his office。 But was stunned by the message。
〃Tuck says you'd better e； Master Robinton。〃
〃e where？〃 Robinton had been on his feet the instant he saw Sebell's panion。 Master and journeyman helped the man to a chair； and then Sebell poured him wine。
〃Fax has left 。。。 for Ruatha Hold。 Dragonriders。。。 with him。〃 〃At Ruatha？ Dragonriders？ With him？〃
The runner nodded； sipping the wine。 〃On Search。〃 And he grimaced。 〃Takes guts。。。 to go to the。。。 High Reaches。〃 Robinton was amazed。 〃Who？〃
The runner shook his head。 〃You're to do a Nip and Tuck； he said。〃
〃How much time do I have？〃 Robinton asked； waving aside the objections he could see Sebell about to utter。
〃Fax is forcing his march。 You'd best be in place。〃
〃Hmmm； yes； I had； hadn't I？〃 Robinton felt a surge of wild excitement and sighed with relief。 He ignored the pointed anxiety on Sebell's face。 〃Take care of him； will you； Sebell？〃
And Robinton bolted down the steps to Silvina's rooms。 〃I'll need rough clothing； suitable for a drudge；〃 he told her。
〃And what are you up to？〃 she demanded； hands on her hips as she glared up at him。
〃Now； don't you start on me too；〃 he warned； far more sharply than he intended； and pointed to the keys on her belt。 〃I have to look the part。〃
〃If you think you can do a Nip； you're gone in the head； Rob。 Send Sebell for you。〃
〃No； not Sebell；〃 Robinton said angrily。 〃I won't risk him。〃
〃But you will yourself；〃 she plained as reluctantly she led the way down to the storage rooms。 〃How can you possibly disguise yourself？〃 she demanded； trying another tack to dissuade him。
He immediately pulled in his shoulders； scrunched down and； with one hand hanging loosely； affected a hobbly gait。
〃A limp might even be better；〃 she said after a moment's observation。
〃Hmmm。 As if you'd been kicked by a boot in the wrong place。〃 Then she sighed in defeat。
By the time Sebell joined them … a look at his Master's face and he kept his objections to himself… the two had found appropriately ragged clothing for Robinton to wear。 Even Sebell had to agree that； once Robinton assumed his odd stance and gait； he no longer resembled the tall； dignified MasterHarper of Pern。
〃If you've time； I can cure them in the midden；〃 Silvina suggested helpfully； but her eyes gleamed with mischief。
Sebell began to chuckle at Robinton's expressive shudder and was caught off balance when Robinton thrust the clothing into his hands and told him to see to it。 〃The smell will undoubtedly keep others from examining me at too close range；〃 he said with a long…suffering sigh。 〃Now； while I'm away； Sebell； you'll tell everyone that I've caught a fever and keep them out of my rooms。〃
Sebell nodded； though he was clearly unhappy with his Master being involved in such a subterfuge。 Still； he knew when to keep his ments to himself。
Robinton waited until he got to the Red River before he put on his disguise。 Black had sidled away from the saddlepack holding the reeking clothes。 He left the runner…beast with the border guards and warned them to be extra vigilant。
From there Robinton made his discreet way to the beasthold at Ruatha to discover that there weren't but two sorry…looking milch animals to be cared for。 He was looking around the beasthold in dismay when a wing of dragons appeared mid…air and a frightened man came running so fast he was in danger of tripping over himself as he shrieked his message at the top of his lungs：
〃Dragonriders； and Fax es。 Dragonriders。。。〃 Still yelling； he disappeared into the Hold。
In his guise of a witless drudge； Robinton could e out to stare up at the amazing sight of a full wing of dragons； some of whom had the remnants of flame still trickling beyond their muzzles； appearing in Ruathan skies。 One after another； they bugled。
They sounded surprised； he thought。 As the dragons wheeled to e in for a landing； he spotted a blue who had to be Tagath … which confirmed his suspicion that this was F'lar's wing； after all。
Searching at the High Reaches would take the nerve of F'lon's son。
Maybe he could get a word with C'gan somehow。 Maybe even get a chance to meet F'lar at long last。 He wondered if R'gul had authorized the Search in this area。 Somehow he doubted it。 Then he put his mind to the pressures of this moment。
A witless drudge would be terrified and rush to find shelter from such a frightening sight； he thought； and he shambled as fast as his assumed limp would allow him to join the other drudges milling about the courtyard。
The Warder； his face ghastly； appeared on the steps to verify the message and then started yelling conflicting orders at those near by； grabbing the nearest drudge and propelling him towards the Hold。
〃We must prepare。 We must do something！ There has to be food！ There has to be order in this Hold。。。 and you are。。。 going。。。 to。。。 work your nuts off！〃 Each pause was to allow him to kick or shove some ragged body into the Hold。
Robinton managed to evade the full force of the kick aimed at him； but he went willingly into the Hold。 There he paused briefly in dismay at the sight of the once beautiful entrance hall and the Main Hall seen past the broken…hinged double doors which led to it。 Then someone bumped into him； and that restored him to his character。
An old woman struggled to hand out brooms and mops； another shaggy…haired drudge distributed other cleaning equipment。 They were herded up the steps to sweep and ready rooms which； to judge by the appalling condition of them； had not been used since the massacre。 He was pushed into a room which had obviously had its window left open for turns： leaves； branches and dirt were piled like snowdrifts in the corners。 The hearth held ashes which had hardened into rock。 The bedding was soiled and damp and would have to be discarded； though what would be available to take its place； Robinton didn't know。 Nor was a single cleaning going to do much more than loosen the surface of dirt thickly caking the bare floor。 The steward raced from one room to another； yelling for haste； for more clean water； for more effort from each and every drudge； bestowing kicks where he felt the cleaners faltered。 How any steward worth his mark could have allowed the once graceful Hold to fall into such desuetude； Robinton could not understand。
Even a monthly sweeping would have kept this room habitable。
He did manage to clean the floor before Fax and his entourage arrived。 Then he was hauled by the scruff of his neck out into the hall and sent down to help stable Fax's runner…beasts。
The main Hall had survived the concerted attack by the drudges； and looked slightly better。 There were damp spots here and there； and no one had been able to reach the crawlers or their filmy webs which hung in tatters from the ceiling。 There was huge confusion； yells； shrieks； and the excited barking of the spit canines ing from the kitchen； and Robinton was just as happy to be sent to care for the runner…beasts。 He just hoped that someone had cleaned up the beasthold。 He saw Fax scowling fiercely； beating his boot with a heavy baton…whip。 He saw Lady Gemma； great with child； being lifted off her mount by two of Fax's strongest men。 He could see her wincing； although the men were handling her with great care。
Several of the ladies in this very mixed group rushed to her assistance once she was on the ground； supporting her as she waddled up the steps and into the Hold。 He felt immense pity for her； and hoped that the quarters she was to inhabit had not been in such bad condition as the one he had tried to clean。 Was Fax trying to kill the woman？ Probably； if some of Nip's earlier reports bore any truth … and they undoubtedly did。
Robinton was prodded to take several beasts at once； which was awkward； given the infirmities he was affecting。 Two of Fax's bullies came along to oversee him and the other hastily organiz
