amc.masterharperofpern-第2部分

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e　noise　her　baby　was　making；　and　her　fingers　twitched　on　the　stained　sheet。　〃Soon；　Singer。　Let　me　clean　you　up。。。〃
　　　〃I　must　hold　him。。。〃　Merelan's　voice　was　feeble；　but　her　need　was　fierce。
　　　〃Now；　you'll　have　plenty　of　time　to　hold　him；　Merelan；〃　Betrice　said；　a　hint　of　sternness　in　her　soothing　tone。　〃I　promise　you　that。〃　And　hope　I'm　not　lying　in　my　teeth；　she　added　to　herself。
　　　Just　then　Sirtie　and　the　healer　arrived。　Betrice　breathed　in　relief　when　she　saw　Ginia　and　the　bottle　of　clear　liquid　she　carried　which　might　mean　the　difference　between　life　and　death　for　the　new　mother。
　　　〃Petiron；　take　that　yowling　child　of　yours　and　show　him　off；〃　Ginia　said　in　a　peremptory　tone；　scowling　at　the　nervously　jiggling　father。　〃They've　all　been　waiting　in　the　Hall　to　see　him　in　person；　not　that　anyone　doubts　he's　here　with　that　set　of　lungs。　Off　with　you！〃
　　　Petiron　was　only　too　willing　to　go。　He'd　been　as　much　help　as　he　could　be；　rubbing　Merelan's　back　and　sponging　her　sweaty　forehead　during　the　long　labour；　and　he　desperately　needed　a　drink　to　soothe　his　nerves。　He'd　been　so　afraid　for　Merelan　towards　the　end；　especially　right　after　the　birth　when　she　seemed　to　shrink　into　nothing　in　the　bloodied　bed。　They　wouldn't　have　told　him　to　leave　if　it　weren't　all　right；　he　was　sure　of　that！　He　was　also　sure　that　he'd　never　put　Merelan　in　such　danger　again；　he　hadn't　known　just　how　difficult　childbirth　was。
　　　〃The　lungs　on　him；〃　Ginia　said　with　a　mirthless　smile　as　she　bent　to　examine　Merelan。　〃She's　torn　all　right。　You　can　give　her　some　fellis　now；　Betrice。　Sirtie；　strap　her　arm　to　that　splint　board。　She　needs　fluid。　How　I　wish　we　understood　more　about　whole　blood　transferences。　That's　what　she　really　needs；　with　all　she　seems　to　have　lost。　You　know　how　to　find　a　vein　with　the　needle　thorn；　Sirrie；　but　if　you　have　trouble；　let　me　know。〃
　　　Sirrie　nodded　and　began　her　ministration；　while　Ginia　did　what　she　could　to　mend　the　torn　flesh。　The　baby's　protests　were　still　audible　despite　the　distance　between　this　room　and　the　main　Hall。　〃She's　fighting　the　fellis；　Ginia；〃　Betrice　said　anxiously。　〃What's　she　saying？〃
　　　〃She　wants　her　baby。〃　Then　Betrice　mouthed　words　that　Ginia　could　easily　read：　〃She　thinks　she's　dying。〃
　　　〃Not　while　I'm　here；　she　isn't；〃　Ginia　said　vehemently。　〃Get　the　babe　back。　It　won't　hurt　her　to　have　it　suckling；　and　that　would　help　contract　the　womb。　Either　way；　it'll　calm　her；　and　I　want　her　as　calm　as　possible　right　now。〃
　　　Betrice　went　herself　and　brought　back　the　now　outraged　infant；　grinning　broadly　at　his　ferocity　and　grip　on　life。
　　　〃He'll　put　right　back　into　her　with　his　own；　so　he　will；〃　she　said；　smiling　as　she　laid　the　baby　beside　Merelan；　whose　right　arm　instinctively　curled　about　her　child。　He　found　her　breast　with　no　help　from　anyone。　And　Merelan　sighed　with　relief。
　　　〃I　swear　he's　doing　the　trick；〃　Betrice　said；　amazed　at　the　sudden　flush　of　colour　in　the　singer's　cheeks。
　　　〃I've　seen　stranger　things　happen；〃　Ginia　replied；　glancing　up。
　　　〃There。　That's　all　I　can　do　。。。　except　caution　Petiron　that　she's　not　to　get　pregnant　again。　I　doubt　she　can；　but　he'll　have　to　restrain　himself。〃
　　　The　three　women　grinned　at　each　other；　for　the　entire　Hold　knew　how　devoted　the　couple　were　to　each　other：　enough　so　that　thinly　disguised　love　ballads　about　their　adoration　circulated　Pern。
　　　〃With　all　the　talent　available　on　this　continent；　it　isn't　as　if　Petiron　had　to　breed　a　choir；〃　Ginia　said；　rising。
　　　Briskly　the　women　changed　the　bedding　for　fresh；　Merelan　barely　stirring　as　they　did　so；　the　baby　clinging　tightly　to　her。　When　Ginia　and　Betrice　felt　they　could　leave　her　safely　in　Sirrie's　care；　she　was　asleep；　but　looking　far　less　pallid。
　　　〃Tell　you　one　thing；〃　Betrice　confided　in　the　healer；　〃she　won't　be　all　that　pleased　having　just　one　baby。〃
　　　〃Then　we'll　see　that　she　fosters　others。　It's　far　better　for　a　child　to　have　siblings　than　not；　especially　the　way　Merelan's　going　to　dote　on　that　boy。　Keep　that　in　mind　next　year。　That　is；　if　she　continues　to　pick　up　strength。〃
　　　Betrice　gave　a　snort。　〃She'd　better。　I've　a　reputation　to　keep。〃　〃Haven't　we　all！〃
　　　It　was　Petiron　who　objected　to　his　spouse　fostering　the　children　of　others。　He　found　it　hard　enough　to　share　her　with　their　son；　and　he　didn't　believe　other　fathers　and　mothers　when　they　informed　him　that　young　Robinton　…　for　that　was　what　they　had　named　him；　in　memory　of　Merelan's　father；　Roblyn　…　was　a　good　child　and　very　undemanding。
　　　〃I　always　thought　Petiron　a　generous　man；〃　Betrice　told　her　spouse；　MasterHarper　Gennell。
　　　〃Why　have　you　changed　your　mind？〃　Gennell　asked　with　mild　surprise。
　　　She　paused；　pursing　her　lips　…　she　was　not　much　of　a　tattler。　〃I'd　say　he　was　jealous　of　the　time　Merelan　spends　with　Robie。〃　〃Really？〃
　　　〃Not　that　it's　much；　for　I　think　she's　aware　of　his　resentment　and　does　her　best　to　ease　it　all。　But　young　Mardy's　had　another　child　for　all　I　warned　her　not　to；　with　her　third　not　yet　a　full　Turn　old〃　…　Betrice　sighed　with　exasperation　…　〃and　Merelan　could　help。。。　if　Petiron　weren't　so　set　against　it。〃
　　　〃Young　Robinton's　what？〃
　　　〃A　full　Turn　next　Third　Day　and　already　walking；　stout　as　you　please。　Tending　one　in　a　cradle　during　the　day　to　give　Mardy　a　hand　wouldn't　be　troublesome。　Robie's　no　trouble　and　as　sweet　as　his　mother。〃　Betrice　beamed　with　an　almost　maternal　pride。
　　　〃Leave　it　for　now；　Betrice；〃　Gennell　said。　〃There's　all　this　excitement　over　Petiron's　new　Moreta　Cantata　at　TurnOver；　with　Merelan　as　the　major　soloist。〃
　　　〃I　can't　say　I　like　her　working　so　hard　at　it；　though；　Gen；　and　that's　the　truth；　for　she　isn't　fully　recovered　from　such　a　difficult　birth。。。〃
　　　Gennell　patted　his　spouse's　capable　hand。　〃Petiron　wrote　the　music　for　her；　and　there　isn't　another　soprano　with　her　range　in　all　Pern。　I　can　quite　understand　how　he'd　be　jealous　of　anyone　taking　up　too　much　of　her　time。〃
　　　〃Unless　it's　himself　doing　it；　you　mean。〃
　　　〃There's　more　than　one　way　to　acplish　the　same　purpose；　you　know。〃　He　caught　and　held　her　eyes　and　smiled。
　　　〃At　it　again；　are　you？〃　Betrice　said　with　no　heat　and　some　affection。
　　　Gennell　was　not　MasterHarper　of　Pern　just　for　his　expertise　on　every　instrument　in　the　Hall。
　　　〃No；〃　he　replied　cheerfully；　〃but　I'll　get　at　it　on　this　matter　now　that　you've　been　good　enough　to　point　it　out　to　me。　Petiron's　a　good　sort；　you　know。　And　he　really　does　love　the　boy。〃
　　　Betrice　firmed　her　lips　together。　〃Loves　him；　does　he？〃
　　　〃You　doubt　it？〃
　　　She　regarded　her　spouse　critically。　〃I　do。〃　She　curled　her　hand　around　his　arm。　〃But　then　I　have　you　as　an　example。　You　were　as　eager　to　tend　the　first　of　our　five　as　the　last；　and　they　have　certainly　turned　out　well。　Oh；　Petiron　looks　in　the　cot　now　and　then；　or　at　the　child　when　he's　toddling　in　the　yard；　but　only　if　you　remind　him　that　he's　fathered　a　son。〃
　　　Gennell　picked　at　his　lower　lip　and　began　to　nod。　〃Yes；　I　believe　I　see　what　you　mean。　But　I　don't　think　loading　Merelan　with　Mardy's　latest　is　going　to　remedy　a　fatherly　absentmindedness　…　especially　as　Petiron's　so　involved　in　the　TurnOver　rehearsals。〃
　　　〃Them！　Well；　let's　hope　he　doesn't　wear　Merelan　out　beforehand。〃
　　　〃That　I　can　oversee；〃　Gennell　said　briskly；　〃and　will。　Now；　off　with　you。〃　As　she　turned　away；　he　managed　an　affectionate　slap　on　her　backside　as　he　resumed　his　task　of　assigning　newly　promoted　journeymen　to　the　many　holds　and　halls　which　required　such　services。
　　　Merelan　sang　the　difficult　role　of　Moreta　in　the　TurnOver　cantata　which　her　spouse　had　written　for　her；　dealing　with　the　cadenzas　as　easily　as　if　they　had　been　mere　vocalizes。　The　warmth　of　her　voice　and　her　effortless　performance　held　the　audience　…　and　Petiron　…　enthralled。
　　　Even　those　resident　in　the　Hall　who　had　heard　her　practicing　and　were　well　aware　of　her　vocal　abilities　were　on　their　feet；　awed　by　her　skill。　Merelan　not　only　had　superb　breath　control　to　support　her　coloratura　voice；　she　could　also　imbue　such　emotion　in　her　tone　that　there　were　many　tears　in　their　eyes　when　her　voice　trailed　off　as　Moreta　and　her　dragon　jumped　between　on　their　last；　fatal　transfer。　Fort's　Lord　and　Lady　Holder　were　so　enthusiastic　that　they　led　the　rush　up　to　the　stage；　to　be　sure　she　heard　their　pliments。
　　　Petiron　beamed　as　she　modestly　accepted　praise；　subtly　reminding　people　that　the　music　her　spouse　had　written　was　a　joy　to　perform。
　　　He　didn't　seem　to　notice　how　pale　she　was。　But　Betrice　did；　and　she　gave　the　singer　a　potent　restorative　drink　in　the　brief　interval　during　which　those　in　the　chores　not　required　for　the　next　part　of　the　programme　filed　out　of　the　stands。　Merelan　would　be　singing　…　less　demandingly　…　in　the　second　part　of　the　evening's　entertainment；　but　she　was　off…stage　during　the　male　chores　which　came　next。
　　　Betrice　watched　the　singer　all　through　that　and　saw　her　colour　gradually　return。　And　when　she　rose　to　sing　a　descant　to　the　final　selection；　she　did　not　appear　as　faint　as　she　had　earlier。
　　　When　the　evening's　programme　was　over　and　the　Hall　cleared　for　the　dancing；　Fort's　Lady；　Winalla；　sought　out　Betrice。
　　　〃Is　MasterSinger　Merelan　all　right；　Betrice？　She　was　trembling　so　much　when　Grogellan　and　I　were　speaking　to　her　that　I　feared　to　let　go　of　her　hand。〃
　　　〃I　had　a　restorative　drink　ready　for　her；〃　Betrice　said　at　her　most　nonmittal。　It　was　kind　of　Lady　Winalla　to　be　concerned；　but　this　was　a　Harper　Hall　affair；　not　the　business　of　the　Hold。　〃She　puts　so　much　into　her　singing；　doesn't　she？〃
　　　〃Hmmm；　yes；　she　certainly　does；〃　Winalla　said；　tacitly　accepting　the　rebuff　and　moving　on　to　speak　to　other　guests。
　　　If　it　surprised　Petiron　when　Merelan　caught　a　chill　and　developed　a　feverish　cough；　he　was　the　only　one。
　　　〃Sometimes　I　think　that　man　is　only　interested　in　her　for　her　voice；〃　Betrice　said　waspishly　to　Gennell　as　she　returned　to　their　apartment　after　a　shift　of　nursing　the　singer。
　　　〃That　may　well　be　a　good　part　of　her　importance　to　our　resident　poser；〃　Gennell　said。　〃No　one　else　could　manage　either　the　range　or　the　difficulty　of　the　vocal　scores　he　creates；　but　tha