amc.masterharperofpern-第23部分

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　　　〃As　ever；　Milla；〃　he　replied　with　an　innocent　smile。
　　　〃Rangul；　go　fetch　the　tubers；〃　she　added。
　　　〃I　had　to　peel　'em；〃　he　protested。
　　　〃All　the　more　reason　to　serve　the　product　of　your　labours。　Go！　Jesken；　you　get　the　salad。〃
　　　Grumbling　under　his　breath；　Rangul　pushed　back　his　chair　and　with　no　good　grace　collected　the　large；　steaming　bowl。　Jesken　was　back　before　him　with　the　basket　of　salad。
　　　Falloner　had　by　then　served　two　big　slices　to　Rob　and　himself；　before　passing　the　platter　on。　He　gestured　for　Rangul　to　bring　him　the　tubers。　The　lad　plied；　but　sullenly：　Falloner　was　clearly　not　one　Rangul　cared　to　antagonize。
　　　〃You're　a　guest；〃　Jesken　said；　offering　Robinton　the　salad。
　　　〃And　he'll　be　singing　later；　too。　Good　voice；　good　music。〃　And　Falloner　winked　at　Robinton；　who　was　then　rather　nervous　about　anyone　finding　out　who　had　written　the　songs　which　Merelan　had　told　him　were　to　be　the　Weyr's　evening　entertainment。
　　　〃I　suppose　we'll　have　to　listen　to　you；　too；〃　Rangul　said　nastily　to　Falloner；　his　expression　a　mixture　of　both　irritation　and　envy。
　　　〃I'm　the　one　who　can　carry　a　tune；〃　Falloner　said；　grinning　snidely　across　the　table。
　　　〃Those　who　can't　sing　play　instruments　at　the　Harper　Hall；〃　Robinton　said；　sensing　this　sort　of　teasing　could　easily　turn　nasty。
　　　Weyr　lads　were　really　no　different　from　Harper　Hall　apprentices。
　　　〃Hey；　this　roast　is　really　good；〃　he　added；　hoping　to　divert　the　conversation。
　　　〃Yeah；　it　is；〃　Falloner　agreed；　chewing。　〃Not　that　we　don't　eat　well　here。。。〃
　　　〃Most　of　the　time；〃　Jesken　put　in；　his　mouth　so　full　that　he　had　to　push　the　gravy　back　in　with　one　finger；　which　he　then　licked。
　　　〃Real　good　tonight。　Must　have　been　younger　than　we　usually　get。〃
　　　〃We've　got　Robinton　at　the　table；　after　all；〃　Falloner　said；　grinning。
　　　〃You　staying　up　here　a　while？〃　Sellel　asked；　glancing　from　Falloner　to　Robinton。
　　　〃Tonight　for　sure；〃　Falloner　said。　He　nudged　Robinton　in　the　ribs。　〃They'll　have　you　singing　'til　dawn；　you　know。〃
　　　〃Then　you'll　be　singing　right　with　us；〃　Robinton　said；　and　put　another　forkful　of　the　tender　roast　into　his　mouth。　He　sort　of　regretted　that　he'd　have　to　eat　lightly；　but　he　couldn't　sing　properly　with　a　full　gut。
　　　Sing　he　did；　with　Falloner；　with　his　mother　and　as　a　soloist。　First；　of　course；　they　did　the　Duty　Song；　in　which　the　entire　audience　joined；　singing　both　chorus　and　verses　once　Robinton　had　sung　the　opening　verse。　There　was　applause　for　him　through　the　first　chorus。
　　　He　rather　liked　that　and　took　it　for　the　pliment　it　was。
　　　Then　his　mother　mouthed　'Question　Song'　at　him。　It　was　not　next　on　the　programme；　but　as　she　was　conducting　the　concert　he　sang　it　…　to　a　hushed　and　very　thoughtful　audience。　S'loner　was　beaming　with　delight　at　the　weyrfolk's　surprise　and　attention。
　　　Robinton　and　Falloner　did　several　of　his　songs；　without　saying　who　the　poser　was；　and　these　were　well　received。　The　Weyr　might　not　have　a　highly　trained　harper；　but　there　were　a　lot　of　good　voices　and　folk　who　picked　up　quickly　on　tune　and　chorus。　This　was　a　totally　different　audience　from　any　Robinton　had　ever　sung　for　…　and　quite　possibly　the　best。　His　mother　was　responding　to　it；　too；　because　her　voice　was　joyous　again；　even　in　the　more　nostalgic　melodies。　They　had　established　an　unusual　rapport　with　this　audience；　a　new　depth　of　'listening'。
　　　We　listen；　too；　you　know；　harper　boy；　a　voice　said　in　his　head；　almost　throwing　him　off　his　harmony。
　　　That　explained　much　to　Robinton；　but　he　didn't　have　time　then　to　think　it　all　through：　he　had　to　keep　singing　so　as　not　to　disappoint。
　　　There　were　calls　for　old　favourites　from　the　gathering；　and　it　wasn't　until　Robinton's　voice　cracked　with　fatigue　that　Merelan　called　a　reluctant　halt　to　the　evening's　entertainment。
　　　〃We've　imposed　outrageously　on　you；　Merelan　and　young　Robinton；〃　S'loner　said；　rising　to　his　feet　and　scissoring　his　hands　at　the　requests　still　being　shouted　from　the　tables。　〃It's　late；　even　for　a　Weyr　gathering；　and　you've　been　more　than　generous　with　your　time　and　repertoire。〃
　　　〃The　Harper　Hall's　tithe　to　the　Weyr；〃　she　replied；　dipping　her　knees　in　her　elegant　bow　and　spreading　her　left　hand　to　include　the　entire　audience。　〃It　is　a　pleasure　to　sing　for　you。〃
　　　〃Our　dragons　have　enjoyed　it　almost　as　much　as　we　have；〃　the　Weyrleader　said；　and　looked　from　her　to　Robinton；　winking。
　　　Suddenly　the　elation　which　had　sustained　him　through　a　very　long　performance　seemed　to　drain　out　of　Robinton；　and　he　wavered　on　his　feet。
　　　〃Falloner；　take　young　Robinton　to　bed；〃　S'loner　said　arbitrarily；　pointing　towards　the　dormitory　area。
　　　〃I'm　near　as　tired　as　he　is；〃　Falloner　said　and；　throwing　an　arm　about　his　friend's　shoulders；　he　led　him　off。
　　　〃As　for　you；　my　dear　Merelan；　Carola　will　escort　you　to　our　guest　weyr；　one　that　should　be　occupied　by　a　queen　dragon。　Well；　soon　enough；　soon　enough。。。〃　S'loner　was　saying　as　the　two　boys　left　for　the　Lower　Cavern。
　　　The　next　day；　S'loner　himself　took　them　back　to　Benden　Hold；　Robinton　and　his　mother　quite　conscious　of　the　honour　even　if　they　were　both　still　fatigued　by　their　exertions。　Even　Falloner　was　not　his　usual　self；　silent　in　his　father's　presence。
　　　〃I　shall　sleep　all　week；〃　Merelan　said　as　they　waved　farewell　to　the　bronze　rider　and　Chendith。　〃But　what　a　splendid　evening；　Robie。　That　was　a　glorious　performance。　I　know　I've　never　sung　so　well　before；　and　you　were　fabulous。　I　only　hope　that　you　keep　that　treble　a　while　longer。〃　She　sighed　and　ruffled　his　hair　as　they　climbed　the　steps　into　the　Hold。　〃And　have　a　mature　voice　too；　of　course。〃
　　　Lady　Hayara　arrived；　waddling　awkwardly　since　she　was　nearly　at　the　end　of　this　pregnancy。　〃I　was　sure　they　would　keep　you　overnight　when　you　didn't　arrive　at　a　decent　hour；〃　she　said　as　she　acpanied　them　into　the　Hold　and　towards　the　main　stairs。　〃You　look　exhausted。。。　did　it　go　well？　You　have　a　glow　about　you；　you　know。　Do　you　need　anything？　I　won't　go　up　the　stairs　with　you　today；　I　think。〃　She　gave　a　breathy　sigh　and　fanned　her　face　with　her　hand。　〃I　had　hoped　to　be　delivered　on　time　this　time。。。〃
　　　miserating　with　the　Lady　and　assuring　her　that　they　were　all　right；　Merelan　led　her　son　up　to　their　quarters；　her　shoulders　sagging　only　when　they　were　out　of　Hayara's　sight。
　　　〃Singing　like　that　certainly　takes　it　out　of　one；　doesn't　it？〃　his　mother　said　as　they　entered　their　quarters。　〃Oh！〃
　　　They　both　saw　the　roll　of　a　large　message　on　the　table；　its　origin　obvious　by　the　Harper…blue　band　spiralling　its　length。　Her　hand　hesitated　above　the　tube　just　a　moment；　but　then　she　grasped　it　firmly　and　broke　the　seal　as　she　seated　herself。　She　pulled　out　a　sheaf　of　music　and　spread　it　open。　Robinton　saw　her　face　pale　and　her　fingers　shake　slightly　as　she　read　the　brief　message　attached　to　it。
　　　〃No；　it's　not　from　your　father。〃　She　looked　at　the　music　before　finishing　the　note。　〃It's　from　Master　Gennell。　Hand　me　my　guitar；　Robie。〃
　　　He　uncased　it　instantly；　surprised　at　her　urgency。　It　was　then　that　he　realized　his　mother　had　not　sung　any　of　his　father's　positions　in　the　Hold　or　in　the　Weyr。　He　knew　that　she　was　probably　the　only　singer　who　could　technically　handle　the　difficult　works　Petiron　wrote。　Seeing　her　struggle　a　bit　to　stop　the　score　from　rolling　up　again；　he　planted　his　hands　on　the　edges。
　　　She　struck　the　opening　chord；　paused　to　tune　the　strings　slightly；　and　began　again。　Halfway　through　the　first　page；　she　looked　up　at　her　son；　confused　and　surprised。
　　　〃This　isn't　at　all　like　your　father。。。〃　She　peered　closely　at　the　script。　〃But　it　is　certainly　his　writing；〃　she　said；　and　continued　playing　the　notes。
　　　Robie　followed　the　music；　deftly　shifting　the　pages　from　one　to　the　next。　He　almost　missed　one　turning　because　he　too　became　touched　by　the　plaintive　melody；　the　minor　chordings；　the　whole　tenor　of　the　music。　As　the　last　of　the　guitar　notes　died　away；　mother　and　son　looked　at　each　other；　Merelan　perplexed　and　Robinton　anxious。　He　wanted　her　to　like　it；　too。
　　　〃I　think　I　can　say；〃　she　began　slowly；　〃without　fear　of　contradiction〃　…　a　little　smile　turned　up　the　corners　of　her　mouth　…　〃that　this　is　the　most　expressive　music　your　father　has　ever　written。〃　She　wrapped　both　arms　around　her　guitar。　〃I　think　he　misses　us；　Robie。〃
　　　He　nodded。　The　music　had　definitely　been　melancholic；　where　his　father　usually　wrote　more。。。　more　positive；　aggressive　music；　full　of　embellishments　and　variations；　with　wild　cadenzas　and　other　such　flourishes。　Rarely　as　simple；　and　elegant；　a　melody　as　this。
　　　And　it　was　melodic。
　　　She　picked　up　Master　Gennell's　note。　〃Master　Gennell　thinks　so；　too：　〃Thought　you　ought　to　see　this；　Merelan。　A　definite　trend　towards　the　lyric。　And；　in　my　opinion；　quite　likely　the　best　thing　he's　ever　written；　though　he'd　be　the　last　to　admit　that。〃'　Merelan　gave　a　little　laugh。　〃He'll　never　admit　it；　but　I　think　you're　right；　Master　Gennell。〃　She　looked　at　her　son。　〃What　do　you　think；　dear？　About　the　music？〃
　　　〃Me？〃　Flustered；　he　didn't　know　what　to　say。　〃Are　there　any　words　to　it？〃
　　　〃Why　don't　you　write　some；　dear？　Then　it　would　be　a　father…and…son　collaboration。　The　first；　perhaps；　of　many？〃
　　　〃No；〃　Robinton　said　thoughtfully；　though　he　wished　with　all　his　heart　right　then　that　there　could　be　a　chance　his　father　would　use　words　he　had　written。　〃I　think　you'd　better　add　the　words；　Mother。〃
　　　〃I　think；　my　son；　we'll　both　work　on　the　proper　lyrics。〃　She　ruffled　his　hair；　her　eyes　sad　despite　the　slight　smile　on　her　lips。　〃If　we　can　find　appropriate　ones。。。〃
Chapter　EIGHT
　　　Robinton　didn't　know　what　his　mother　wrote　in　her　reply　to　Master　Gennell；　but　she　did　explain　to　her　son　that　she　had　to　serve　out　her　contract　with　Benden　Hold。　She　also　wanted　to　give　C'gan；　the　Weyrsinger；　more　training。　He　was　musically　sound　enough；　but　needed　to　develop　more　confidence　in　his　harpering。　She　would　also　insist　that　a　good；　voice…training　harper　be　assigned　to　Benden　Hold　when　apprentices　walked　the　tables　to　journeyman　status　this　summer。　Benden　deserved　the　best　there　was。
　　　〃For　a　variety　of　reasons；