amc.masterharperofpern-第27部分

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　　　All　save　Robinton　scrunched　down　further　under　their　sleeping　furs；　trying　to　disappear。
　　　〃I　guess　I　wouldn't　mind　getting　it　all　over　with；〃　Robinton　said；　throwing　back　his　covers。
　　　〃Good　for　you；　Robie；〃　Shonagar　said；　nodding　encouragingly。
　　　Robinton　dressed　in　the　warmest　of　his　clothes　and；　grabbing　his　jacket；　prepared　to　go。
　　　Shonagar　and　his　two　deputies　waiting　out　in　the　corridor　led　him　down　the　back　stairs　and　out　of　the　side　door　on　the　Hold　side　of　the　Hall。　There　were　five　runner　beasts　waiting　there；　held　by　a　fourth　apprentice。　Robinton　had　always　wondered　how　the　round　trip　to　the　Weyr　was　managed　in　the　one　night　without　all　the　Masters　knowing　of　the　unscheduled　excursion。　He　was　glad　he　didn't　have　to　hike　up　the　long　hill　road　that　led　to　the　Weyr。　That　would　be　scarier　than　being　in　it　alone　all　night。　Too　many　tunnel　snakes　across　mountain　roads　at　night。。。　and　other　things。
　　　They　walked　quietly　across　the　huge　Fort　Hold　square；　up　past　the　beastholds　and　cots；　and　then　Shonagar　led　them　through　the　tunnel　which　had　been　bored　in　the　Fort　Cliffside；　one　of　the　minor　wonders　of　the　world　that　their　ancestors　had　made；　and　through　to　the　next　valley。　Across　it　…　at　a　good　pace　now　that　the　noise　the　runners　made　wouldn't　be　heard　…　and　up　the　winding　road　that　led　to　Fort　Weyr。　Again　another　tunnel　had　been　bored　by　the　amazing　equipment　the　Ancients　had　once　possessed；　and　through　this　they　went。　For　Robinton；　that　was　the　scariest　part；　even　though　Shonagar　opened　the　glowbasket　he　had　brought。　Then　they　were　out　into　the　night；　on　the　floor　of　the　Weyr　itself。　Robinton　could　just　about　make　out　the　openings　to　the　Lower　Caverns　and　a　few　of　the　individual　weyrs　in　the　weak　light　of　a　half…moon。
　　　〃You　can　build　a　fire　if　you　want　in　the　Cavern；〃　Shonagar　said；　pointing　and　gesturing　for　Robinton　to　dismount。
　　　One　of　the　other　lads　laughed。　〃If　you　can　find　any　firing；　that　is。〃
　　　〃Leave　it；〃　Shonagar　said　sternly。　〃We'll　be　back　for　you　an　hour　before　dawn。　Have　a　good　night。〃
　　　With　that　he　led　the　others；　and　Robinton's　mount；　away　and　Rob　stumbled　towards　the　black　maw　of　the　living　quarters　which　had　once　teemed　with　weyrfolk。
　　　His　footsteps　echoed　slightly　in　the　still　night　and　he　hugged　his　jacket　closer　around　him。　Well；　it　wasn't　as　cold　as　between。　He　did　wish　he'd　had　some　warning　so　he　could　have　saved　a　bit　of　his　supper。　Eating　always　made　him　feel　better。
　　　Once　under　the　vaulting　roof　of　Fort's　Lower　Cavern；　he　could　see　little　but　the　hearths　along　its　outer　edge。
　　　〃If　you　can　find　any　firing；　indeed；〃　he　said　with　a　snort。　〃And　nothing　to　light　it　with。〃　He　thought　he'd　best　get　some　matches　and　hand　them　out　to　the　other　lads　so　that　they　could　start　a　fire　on　their　turns。　Maybe　see　that　there　was　some　tinder　for　them　to　smuggle　along。　A　glowbasket；　even　the　smallest　of　them；　couldn't　be　hidden　under　a　jacket。　Even　the　smallest　blaze　would　be　better　than　this　deep　black　darkness。　Not　as　dark；　though；　as　between。
　　　But　there　was　light　outside；　so　Robinton　went　exploring。　He'd　taken　the　precaution　of　looking　at　the　plans　of　Fort　Weyr　in　the　Archives。　He'd　told　his　room…mates　to　do　so；　as　well；　when　they　had　a　chance　during　their　script　lessons。　So　he　found　the　steps　leading　to　the　rank　of　junior　queen　weyrs。　They'd　be　warmer　since　they　got　their　heat；　as　Fort　Hold　and　the　Harper　Hall　did；　from　deep　inside　the　earth。　No　one　now　knew　how　that　had　been　done；　but　it　was　why　they　didn't　all　freeze　in　the　bleaker　months　of　full　winter。
　　　He　was　somewhat　glad　that　this　ordeal　occurred　in　the　early　autumn。
　　　He　stumbled　twice　going　up　the　stairs：　the　steps　were　slightly　uneven；　though　wide　enough　to　acmodate　his　whole　foot。　He　found　the　entrance　to　the　first　weyr　by　almost　falling　into　it　…　he'd　been　guiding　himself　along　the　ledge　with　one　hand　on　the　stone　wall　on　his　right。
　　　Entering；　still　one　hand　on　the　wall；　he　once　again　almost　fell　inside　when　he　reached　the　outer　room；　where　the　queen　dragon　had　slept。　As　he　moved　cautiously　into　the　room；　he　could　smell　the　odd　spicy　odour　that　was　so　'dragony'。
　　　Where　had　the　weyrfolk　gone　to？　There　were　so　many　notions　about　that：　including　the　one　which　had　all　the　dragonriders　and　weyrfolk　returning　to　where　the　Ancients　had　e　from。　If　they　had；　then　why　had　no　one　else　e　to　Pern？　Surely　there　would　be　interest　in　the　dragons　of　Pern！
　　　He　barked　his　shin　on　the　dragon's　couch　and　let　out　an　exclamation；　rubbing　his　leg。　In　the　ensuing　silence　he　heard　the　faint　rustle　of　tunnel　snakes　making　their　way　out　（he　hoped）　of　the　weyr。　He　decided　he'd　gone　far　enough　into　the　darkness；　and　sat　down　on　the　raised　stone。　Unexpectedly；　he　sat　in　a　shallow　declivity　and　felt　around　in　it。　Obviously；　large　and　heavy　dragon　bodies　had　formed　depressions　in　the　stone；　and　he　ran　daring　fingers　in　the　dust；　as　if　he　could　conjure　the　creatures　which　had　made　the　hollows。　That；　more　than　anything　else；　reassured　him。　He　grinned　and　rearranged　his　body；　swinging　his　legs　round　so　that　he　was　facing　the　faint　light　ing　down　the　hall；　the　wallow　acmodating　his　still　slight　frame　while　he　could　pillow　his　head　on　his　arms　on　the　outer　edge。　He　must　remember　to　thank　Falloner　for　taking　him　around　Benden　Weyr。　Fort　might　be　empty　of　its　people　and　creatures；　but　it　was　still　a　Weyr　and　one　of　the　safest　places　on　his　world。　He　could　smell　dragon；　and　dust；　but　mostly　dragon。　He　went　to　sleep　listening　to　the　faint　rustlings　of　tunnel　snakes；　but　he　doubted　they　would　dare　venture　where　dragons　had　lain。
　　　It　did　him　no　harm　with　all　the　other　apprentices　that　he　had　to　be　wakened　in　the　dusk　preceding　dawn　by　some　loud　shouting。　When　Robinton　emerged　on　the　weyr　ledge；　Shonagar　urgently　waved　him　down。
　　　〃Where　have　you　been；　Rob？　We　gotta　get　back　to　the　Hall　before　they　know　we've　borrowed　the　runners。　We've　been　all　over　the　place　looking　for　you。〃
　　　〃It's　warm　in　a　weyr；〃　Robinton　said；　yawning。
　　　〃Sorry　to　disturb　your　slumbers。　Mount　up。　We're　going　to　have　to　move！〃　Shonagar　had　a　respectful　scowl　on　his　face　as　he　handed　the　initiate　the　reins。　〃And　remember；　not　a　word　to　the　others。　They　must　do　it　themselves；　too。〃
　　　〃Oh；　it's　not　so　bad；〃　Rob　said；　grinning。
　　　〃Just　don't　let　me　hear　you've　warned　'em　about　anything；　Robinton！〃　Shonagar　repeated；　bailing　his　hand　into　a　fist。
　　　〃No。　I'll　obey。〃
　　　Of　course；　Robinton　realized　he　wouldn't　actually　tell　them　anything；　but　he'd　show　them　the　matches　and　tinder　he'd　put　in　their　pockets。
　　　As　they　cantered　towards　the　tunnel；　Robinton　looked　up　at　the　Star　Stones；　immense　black　dolmens　against　a　lightening　eastern　sky。　He　caught　a　flick　of　something　and　wondered　if　the　ghosts　of　departed　dragons　still　kept　a　watch　on　the　heights。　Looking　again；　he　saw　a　wherry　wheeling　down；　probably　from　its　nest　in　one　of　the　upper　weyrs。
　　　Robinton　really　liked　being　an　apprentice。　In　this　he　astonished　his　room…mates　and　the　other　twenty　in　his　class。　They　would　e　to　him　for　his　advice　and；　often；　fort；　and　he'd　help　the　slow　ones　with　their　lessons。
　　　〃Going　to　take　over　from　me；　Rob？〃　Shonagar　asked　him　once。
　　　〃Me？〃　Rob　grinned　back。　〃You　can　keep　the　responsibility　…　for　now。　And　I'm　just　one　of　them；　so　it's　easier　for　them　to　ask　me　because　I'm　handy　and　know　the　place；　that's　all。〃
　　　〃To　all　of　that；　you've　not　had　it　that　easy；〃　Shonagar　said　with　a　wry　smile。　They'd　just　finished　a　long　rehearsal　for　the　Turn's　End　concert：　Rob；　as　usual；　was　singing　the　solo　treble　parts。
　　　Halanna　and　Maizella　were　also　soloists；　but　though　Petiron　remarked　favourably　on　their　performances；　he　had　not　so　much　as　a　nod　for　his　son。　The　apprentices；　being　as　astute　as　they　were；　did　not　fail　to　notice　this。　But　if　any　plained；　he'd　shrug　and　remark　that　his　father　expected　him　to　be　note…perfect。
　　　His　mother　kept　up　his　vocal　training；　and　he　had　now　graduated　to　apprentice　classes。　He　particularly　enjoyed　his　stint　in　the　Drum　Tower；　because　at　last　he　got　to　learn　the　meaning　of　the　codes　he　had　been　hearing　all　his　life。　Like　everyone　else；　he　knew　that　the　initial　beats　indicated　the　final　destination　of　the　message　and　who　had　sent　it；　but　it　took　time　to　get　the　sense　of　the　actual　message。
　　　In　fact；　he　was　on　duty　the　day　Feyrith；　Carola's　queen；　produced　her　final　clutch　…　though　no　one　knew　at　the　time　that　it　would　be　her　last。　The　best　news　was　that　there　was　a　queen　egg；　and　the　drum　message　added　the　extra　beats　for　excitement　and　major　news。　A　large　clutch；　too；　with　nine　bronzes。
　　　Robinton　spent　a　few　seven…days　hoping　that　there　would　be　a　Search　and　he'd　be　found　acceptable；　and　bee　a　harper…dragonrider。
　　　But　no　dragons　came　on　Search　to　Fort　Hold　or　the　Harper　Hall；　and　no　other　Hold　reported　the　arrival　of　dragons　looking　for　candidates。　Robinton　was　bitterly　disappointed。　He　had　been　so　sure　that　the　dragons　liked　him。　Didn't　they　like　him　enough　to　e　and　find　him？
　　　For　fear　of　being　ridiculed；　he　didn't　tell　anyone　about　his　thwarted　desire。　He　did　ask　a　few　questions　of　his　Masters；　in　case　they　knew　how　Searches　were　conducted；　but　the　answers　he　got　did　nothing　to　assuage　his　anxiety　or　hopes。　〃That's　always　up　to　the　Weyr；　lad；〃　or　〃Who　knows　what's　in　dragon　minds？〃　〃Sometimes　the　dragons　don't　Search。　Don't　need　to。　Didn't　you　tell　me　there　were　lots　of　lads　your　age　at　Benden　Weyr？〃　Which　was　true　enough；　but　it　still　didn't　keep　him　from　searching　the　skies　for　a　dragon；　in　case　he　could　get　one　to　speak　to　him。　His　distraction　was　noticed　in　class；　and　he　was　given　extra　duties　to　encourage　him　to　'pay　proper　attention　to　your　lessons　and　stop　daydreaming'。　He　had　time；　while　sweeping　down　the　main　court；　to　see　the　folly　of　his　disappointment。
　　　He　was　on　Drum　Tower　duty　again　when　the　news　of　the　Hatching　came　in。　Swallowing　the　final　vestige　of　his　own　disappointment；　Robinton　just　had　to　find　out　if　Falloner　had　been　Impressed。　After　all；　Falloner　had　a　real　right　to　be　Impressed。
　　　Greatly　daring；　he　asked　permission　of　the　journeyman　in　charge　of　the　tower　to　find　out。
　　　〃You　see；　I　met　a