amc.masterharperofpern-第10部分

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hat　she　was　a　beauty。　Blond　hair　bleached　almost　silver　by　the　sun　in　Ista　Hold；　a　flawless　tan　that　accentuated　her　light　green　eyes　and　white；　even　teeth；　a　figure　more　mature　than　those　of　most　girls　her　age　…　and　she　knew　far　more　than　she　ought　of　how　to　accentuate　her　sensuality。　She　did　not　obey　the　cottage…keeper's　basic　rules；　deciding　they　were　for　children　and　not　the　daughter　of　a　Holder；　though　all　the　other　boarders　were　of　the　same　rank；　and　some　more　prestigious　than　hers。　She　was　caught　time　and　again　sneaking　in　late　at　night。　　Then　Halanna　took　a　dislike　to　Robinton。。。
　　　Merelan　conducted　her　voice　lessons　in　her　own　quarters；　as　they　were　spacious　enough　and　offered　some　privacy。　Right　now；　preparing　for　the　TurnOver　celebrations；　she　was　coaching　quite　a　few　students　and　often　had　to　schedule　them　when　Robie　was　not　in　the　Hall　nursery　school。　He　had　always　played　quite　happily　and　quietly　in　the　other　room。　Now　Halanna　said　his　very　presence　so　close　to　her　was　distracting；　even　with　the　connecting　door　closed；　and　she　hated　anyone　to　overhear　her　lessons。　That　was　too　much　for　Merelan。　Nor　was　it　an　excuse　to　find　favour　with　Petiron；　who　was　busy　dreaming　of　the　success　of　his　new　position。
　　　〃Since　it　is　so　important　to　you；　love；〃　Merelan　said　from　behind　gritted　teeth；　〃I　really　think　you　ought　to　take　over　her　coaching。　As　you　may　have　observed；〃　she　added；　knowing　perfectly　well　that　he　hadn't；　〃she　will　probably　do　better　with　a　male　coach。　I've　already　more　than　I　can　handle　with　the　secondary　parts。〃
　　　〃But　I　can't　teach　her　what　you　can；〃　Petiron　protested　in　surprise。　In　his　estimation；　Merelan　was　much　the　better　vocal　coach；　and　he　couldn't　quite　understand　how　she　was　having　difficulties　with　a　voice　as　fine　as　Halanna's。　〃You're　not　annoyed　that　I've　written　in　a　duet　for　you　to　sing　with　her？〃
　　　〃Me？　No；　why　should　I　be？　She　has　a　magnificent　voice；　but　she's　a　little　shy　on　technique　and　I　know　she'll　respond　better　to　your　ments。〃
　　　Petiron　was　not　at　all　sure　of　that；　but　there　was　something　about　Merelan's　attitude　which　made　him　keep　his　private　views　to　himself。
　　　He　anticipated　no　trouble　at　all。
　　　〃She's　a　musical　idiot！〃　he　railed　when　he　returned　from　his　first　lesson　with　her。　〃Haven't　you　been　able　to　teach　her　anything　in　the　full　month　she's　been　here？〃
　　　〃No；〃　Merelan　said　quietly；　and　pointed　to　the　closed　door　where　Robinton　was　taking　a　nap。
　　　〃But　she　can't　even　read　notes；　even　when　I　beat　out　the　tempo　for　her。　Nor　is　she　able　to　maintain　pitch　when　I　change　signatures。　She　expects　me。。。　me。。。〃　and　Petiron　laid　an　eloquent　hand　on　his　chest；　〃to　teach　her　the　entire　score　by　rote。　Could　Maxilant　have　done　that　with　her？〃　he　enquired　in　a　petulant　tone。
　　　〃I　believe　Maxilant　only　raved　on　about　her　beautiful　voice；　love；　and　said　nothing　about　the　lack　in　her　general　musical　education。〃　Merelan　spoke　as　levelly　as　she　could；　having　great　difficulty　masking　her　inner　jubilation。
　　　〃She　wouldn't　vocalize　to　warm　her　voice　and　told　me〃　…　Petiron　swung　on　his　spouse　…　〃that　you　didn't　bother。。。〃
　　　〃I　didn't　'bother'　because　I　could　never　get　her　to　see　the　necessity；　Petiron；〃　she　replied　with　considerable　vehemence。　〃Washell　is　of　the　opinion　that　if　she　continues　to　sing　in　alt　for　another　few　years；　she　won't　be　able　to　squeak。〃
　　　Petiron　recoiled　in　surprise　at　his　gentle　spouse's　critical　remark。
　　　〃No　wonder　you　were　so　eager　for　me　to　coach　her；〃　he　said　almost　sullenly。
　　　〃If　you　can't；　no　one　in　this　Hall　will　be　able　to；〃　she　said；　looking　him　squarely　in　the　eye。　〃She　might　believe　you；　where　she's　certain　I'm　jealous　of　your　interest　in　her。〃
　　　Petiron　scowled。　〃Aren't　you？〃
　　　Merelan　laughed。　〃My　love；　I　wouldn't　be　that　child　for　all　the　diamonds　on　Ista's　beaches。　Washell's　right；　you　know。　She　won't　have　a　voice　left　if　she　keeps　on　this　way。〃
　　　〃He　is　right；〃　Petiron　admitted；　and　scowled　more　deeply。　〃Well；　she　is　not。。。〃　he　paused　dramatically　〃。。。mining　either　the　duet　or　the　aria。　I　shall　make　some　changes　in　both　that　will　put　the　music　at　a　level　she　should　be　able　to　sing。〃
　　　Merelan　merely　nodded。
　　　When　Petiron　held　his　next　session　with　Halanna；　she　was　so　insulted　that　she　tried　to　walk　out　on　him。　The　argument　that　ensued　was　heard　by　nearly　everyone　on　the　rectangle　as　the　two　voices；　one　baritone　and　one　contralto；　rose　in　volume　and　piercing　clarity。
　　　〃You　can't　do　that！〃　Halanna　began；　an　astonished　screech　in　her　voice。
　　　〃Oh；　yes　I　can！　You're　incapable　of　singing　what　I　wrote。〃　〃Incapable？　How　dare　you？〃
　　　〃How　dare　you　address　a　Master　in　such　a　tone；　young　woman！　I　don't　know　what　Maxilant　taught　you；　but　it　wasn't　manners　and　it　certainly　wasn't　how　to　read　a　simple　score。〃
　　　〃Simple　score？　You're　notorious　all　over　Pern　for　the　plexity　of　your　music。　I　never　hear　anyone　singing　what　you　write。　No　one　can！〃
　　　〃The　first…year　apprentices　have　no　trouble。　But　then；　they　can　read　music　and　know　the　value　of　the　notes　they're　singing。〃　〃I　do　know　how　to　read　music。〃　〃Then　prove　it。〃　〃No！〃
　　　〃You　will　sing。〃
　　　〃You　can't　force　me！〃
　　　Many　agreed　that　they　had　heard　the　crack　of　flesh　hitting　flesh。
　　　And　it　was　true　that　the　right　side　of　Halanna's　face　was　darker　than　the　left　when　she　was　finally　allowed　to　leave　the　studio。　But　she　did　begin　to　sing　in　a　much　muted　voice。　And　she　continued　to　sing　the　music　as　written　until　she　did　so　correctly；　sometimes　until　she　was　hoarse。
　　　〃I　hope　he　didn't　push　her　too　far；〃　Merelan　murmured　to　Washell。
　　　〃Perhaps　it　might　be　better　for　all　of　us　if　he　did；〃　he　replied　uncharitably。
　　　After　that　session；　Halanna　hurried　out　of　the　studio　and　disappeared。
　　　She　was　seen　a　little　later　on　her　way　across　the　great　Fort　Hold　courtyard　to　the　cottage　where　she　slammed　and　bolted　the　door　of　the　room　she　still　shared。
　　　What　they　didn't　realize　until　the　next　morning　was　that　she　had　bribed　a　Drum　Tower　apprentice　to　send　an　urgent　message　to　her　father；　Halibran；　saying　she　was　being　abused。　Petiron　admitted　that　he　had　slapped　her；　to　stop　her　hysterical　ranting　…　to　which　everyone　in　the　Hall　had　been　audience。　Any　Master　was　permitted　to　chastise　a　student　for　inattention　or　failure　to　learn　assigned　lessons。
　　　When　MasterHarper　Gennell　and　Healer　Journeywoman　Betrice　interviewed　her　about　the　impropriety　of　her　actions；　not　to　mention　the　content　of　the　message；　she　was　defiantly　tearful。
　　　〃No　one　understands　me　in　this　place。　I'm　being　humiliated　at　every　turn；　and　I　had　expected　so　much　from　you！〃　she　said。　〃So　much；　and　you're　like　everyone　else　after　all！〃
　　　Betrice　later　told　Merelan　that　she　almost　laughed　out　loud　at　such　a　performance。
　　　〃No　one　has　humiliated　you；　young　woman；〃　Gennell　replied；　as　stern　as　Betrice　had　ever　seen　him。　〃You　were　weled；　and　the　very　best　instructors　assigned。　You　have　been　paid　a　high　pliment　by　Master　Petiron；　who　wrote　a　part　especially　to　show　off　your　voice　…　scarcely　a　humiliation；　but　an　honour　you　seem　unable　to　appreciate。　You　will　apologize　to　Master　Petiron　for　your　unresponsiveness。。。〃
　　　〃Apologize？〃　Halanna　rose　from　the　stool　in　amazement。　〃I　am　the　daughter　of　a　Holder；　and　I　apologize　to　no　one。　He's　to　apologize　for　slapping　me；　or。。。〃
　　　〃That's　enough　out　of　you；〃　Gennell　said；　and　turned　to　his　spouse。　〃She's　to　be　quartered　in　an　appropriate　room　and　given　only　basic　rations。〃
　　　That　was　more　easily　said　than　done。　It　took　Gennell；　Betrice　and　Lorra　to　get　her；　screeching　and　straggling；　up　to　the　third　storey　of　the　Harper　Hall　to　one　of　the　spare　rooms　used　by　messengers　or　overflow　guests。　She　refused　to　eat　the　food　supplied　at　mealtimes　and　actually　emptied　the　first　three　pitchers　of　water　until　her　thirst　got　the　better　of　her　histrionics。　Since　it　took　nearly　six　days　before　her　clandestine　message　brought　results；　she　got　hungry　enough　to　devour　what　she　was　given；　though　she　refused　to　apologize　or　promise　to　remedy　her　attitude。　Such　interviews　usually　resulted　in　her　hurling　threats　and　promises　of　just　retribution　at　those　trying　to　talk　sense　into　her。　Even　MasterHealer　Ginia　had　no　luck　in　trying　to　talk　sense　into　the　girl。
　　　The　sentry　on　the　Fort　Hold　eastern　tower　spotted　the　ten　armed　men　racing　up　the　harbour　road　and　blew　the　alarm；　which　alerted　both　Lord　Grogellan　and　the　Harper　Hall。　Having　been　informed　of　the　illegal　drum　message；　Grogellan　assembled　a　larger　force　from　his　sons；　nephews　and　armsmen　to　meet　the　newers　just　as　they　turned　into　the　Harper　Hall　quadrangle。　Master　Gennell；　Betrice；　Ginia；　Petiron　and　Merelan　were　waiting　on　the　broad　steps；　while　every　apprentice；　journeyman　and　Master　had　found　some　vantage　point　from　which　to　view　the　confrontation。
　　　As　Halibran　and　his　troops　halted　their　runners；　he　had　no　trouble　locating　his　〃abused'　daughter　who　was　screeching　at　the　top　of　her　lungs　from　an　upper　window。
　　　〃She's　been　at　it　again；　father；〃　one　of　Halibran's　riders　said　in　disgust。　〃She　was　the　one　abusing；　I've　no　doubt。〃　The　resemblance　to　his　sister　was　obvious；　and　he　was　not　the　only　young　blond　male　in　the　group　with　a　similar　cast　of　countenance。
　　　Halibran；　dismounting；　waved　the　young　man　to　hold　his　tongue。　Not　a　major　holder；　though　a　wealthy　one　from　the　produce　of　his　lands　and　the　mines　under　them；　he　had　none　of　his　daughter's　arrogance　as　he　mounted　the　steps　and　held　out　his　hand　to　the　MasterHarper。
　　　〃Since　she　is　sequestered；　I　assume　that　Halanna　has　not　seen　fit　to　apologize。　Let　me　do　so　in　her　stead；〃　he　said；　allowing　everyone　to　heave　sighs　of　relief。
　　　Master　Gennell；　however；　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃It　is　her　place；　not　yours；　Holder　Halibran；　to　make　restitution　for　her　behaviour　and　her　refusal　to　accept　the　usual　necessary　disciplines　of　the　Harper　Hall。　She　has　much　to　learn。〃
　　　The　screeching；　which　the　new　arrivals　were　pointedly　ignoring；　took　on　a　shriller　note。
　　　〃The　fault　lies　in　me；〃　Halibran　said　with　a　weary　sigh。　〃Her　mother　died　at　her　birth；　and　with　six　brothers　she　has　been　much　cosseted。〃
　　　The　brother　who　had　spok