amc.masterharperofpern-第30部分

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　　　As　it　happened；　he　didn't　go　with　his　mother：　his　father　did。
　　　Merelan　collapsed　after　singing　the　exacting　solo　at　the　end　of　the　Equinox　Ceremony；　and　Petiron　could　no　longer　ignore　the　fact　that　his　spouse　was　ill。
　　　Robinton　did　send　the　drum　message；　requesting　F'lon's　assistance；　and　he　did　help　his　mother　on　to　Simanith's　back。　He　had　to　step　away　as　his　father　mounted　behind　her。　The　fact　that　his　father　looked　distinctly　nervous；　anxious　and　worried　did　not　at　all　alleviate　his　own　fears　for　her。　Just　this　once　…　he　sent　his　thoughts　at　his　father　…　just　this　once；　think　of　her　first！
　　　An　hour　later；　F'lon　returned　and；　over　a　cool　juice　drink　and　more　of　Lorra's　light　pastries；　gave　details　of　how　he　had　installed　Merelan　in　the　cliffside　dwelling　with　its　splendid　view　of　the　sea；　and　how　Petiron　had　hovered　like　an　old　wherry；　fussing　until　F'lon　was　sure　he'd　drive　Merelan　insane　with　his　attentions。　Her　youngest　sister　had　appealed　to　her　spouse　to　take　the　man　away　and　let　Merelan　rest；　and　promised　to　see　that　Merelan　did　do　so。
　　　〃She　was　upset　when　she　saw　your　mother。　I　remember　her　being　slight　at　Benden　but　not　。。。　not　。。。　frail；〃　F'lon　said；　glancing　at　Lorra；　who　nodded。
　　　〃I　spoke　to　Ginia；　and　she　believes　that　a　full　summer　off　will　restore　my　mother's　health。〃　Even　as　Rob　spoke；　he　caught　Lorra　and　F'lon　exchanging　glances。　〃Now；　look；　if　there's　something　I　should　know；　tell　me。　She's　my　mother！　I　have　a　right　to　know。〃
　　　Lorra　turned　to　him；　making　a　sudden　decision。　〃Ginia　doesn't　know；　so　what　can　she　tell　you？　But　she's　hoping　the　rest　will　help。　Merelan　has　never　been　very　strong。。。〃
　　　〃You　mean；　after　giving　birth　to　a　big　lug　like　me？〃　Robinton　demanded。　He　had　overheard　his　father　plaining　that　having　a　child　had　seriously　damaged　her。
　　　〃You　weren't　that　big　at　birth；　for　all　of　you　now；〃　Lorra　said　in　her　droll　fashion；　〃so　don't　cover　yourself　with　midden　dung　in　guilty　reparation。　You　have　never　been　at　fault。〃　She　cleared　her　throat；　realizing　that　her　emphasis　implied　that　she　knew　who　was。
　　　〃Merelan's　always　lived　on　nerve。　It's　the　energy　she　uses　to　sing　and　perform　at　the　level　she　does　that　drains　her　so。　But　there　es　a　time　in　a　woman's　life　when　she　isn't　as　resilient　as　she　was　in　her　twenties。〃
　　　〃Mother　would　die　if　she　couldn't　sing。。。〃
　　　〃It's　unlikely　to　e　to　that；〃　Lorra　said　sharply。　〃But　she　certainly　will　have　to　cut　back　on　these　exhausting　performances。　It　isn't　as　if　Maizella's　not　capable；　or　he　can　write　for　Halanna；　who'd　be　only　too　happy　to　take　on　Merelan's　First　Singer　duties。〃　Her　eyes　flashed；　and　Robinton　couldn't　resist　chuckling　at　her　ment　about　Halanna。　〃Your　father　needs　a　scare　like　this；〃　she　went　on。　〃He　takes　Merelan　too　much　for　granted。〃
　　　〃She's　really　the　only　one　capable　of　singing　some　of　his　scores；〃　Robinton　said；　oddly　on　the　defensive。
　　　〃Well；　he　can　just　write　simpler。　Anyway；　your　songs　are　the　ones　anyone　can　sing　and　enjoy；　Rob。〃　When　he　started　to　demur；　she　flicked　her　fingers　at　him。　〃Oh；　I　know；　I　know；　but　it's　the　truth；　isn't　it；　dragonrider？〃
　　　F'lon　grinned；　nodding　vehemently。　Then　he　rose；　brushing　pastry　flakes　from　his　lips　and　off　his　undershirt。
　　　〃Any　time　you　want　to　visit　her；　give　me　a　roll；〃　he　said；　beginning　to　close　the　fastening　on　his　jacket。　〃I've　got　to　hunt　Simanith　on　the　way　back。〃
　　　When　Merelan　returned　to　the　Harper　Hall　in　the　autumn；　she　was　sun…browned　and　appeared　much　restored。　Petiron　continued　to　be　solicitous　and；　as　Robinton　heard　Master　Bosler　remark　to　a　journeyman；　he　seemed　to　have　mellowed。　Well　he　might　have　mellowed　towards　others；　Robinton　realized　later；　but　never　towards　him。　In　fact；　if　anything；　Petiron　ignored　his　son　more　thoroughly　than　ever。　There　were　not　even　any　of　the　usual　pithy　plaints　levelled　at　the　baritone　section。　But　then；　because　Robinton　was　more　or　less　the　leader　of　that　section；　Petiron　had　no　real　cause　for　plaint。　Everyone　did　better　than　their　best　at　all　times；　as　a　sort　of　aid　to　keep　him　from　his　father's　shafts　of　criticism。　Petiron　did　smile　more　frequently；　if　mainly　at　the　sopranos　and　altos；　and　he　did　praise　the　trebles　more　often。
　　　Merelan　still　coached　his　soloists；　but　she　was　given　fewer　voices　to　train。
　　　Master　Gennell　called　Robinton　in　one　morning　two　seven…days　after　his　parents'　return。　Sensitive　to　appearances　now；　Robinton　thought　the　MasterHarper　looked　tired；　as　well　as　older。
　　　〃You've　turned　fifteen　now；　haven't　you；　Rob？〃　Gennell　began。
　　　Robinton　nodded。　〃So　how　are　we　going　to　keep　you　busy　this　term？〃
　　　The　question　shook　Robinton　and　he　shifted　nervously　in　the　chair　〃I'm　not　sure　what　you　mean；　sir〃　He　paused；　cleared　his　throat；　and　then　blurted　out；　〃Theory　and　position　are　usually　third　term。。。〃
　　　〃Ah；　my　lad；　you've　mastered　those　long　since。　I　saw　the　orchestral　piece　you　did　for　Washell；　and　none　of　us　can　fault　it。〃　Gennell　smiled　reassuringly。　Then　his　expression　altered。　〃But　I　cannot　assign　you　to　your　father's　class。　And　I　must　find　suitable　studies　for　you。〃
　　　Robinton　closed　his　eyes　in　relief　at　the　knowledge　that　he　would　not　have　to　endure　a　class　with　his　father。
　　　〃I'll　be　plain；　Rob；　I've　never　understood　your　father's　antipathy　towards　you；　yet　there's　never　been　a　word　of　plaint　from　you。〃　〃He's　my　father；　Master　Gennell。。。〃
　　　〃Well；　we　won't　go　into　that　any　further　since；　in　effect；　the　entire　Hall　has　fostered　you　…　and　your　talent。〃　When　Robinton　ducked　his　head　with　embarrassment；　Master　Gennell　prodded　his　knee。　〃Modesty　is　all　very　well　and　good；　Robinton；　but　don't　let　it　get　in　your　way。〃
　　　Robinton　didn't　know　what　to　do　and　looked　around　the　fortable　office　for　inspiration。　His　glance　caught　the　map　with　its　little　coloured　pegs　signifying　the　position　of　journeymen　and　Masters　across　the　continent。　There　were　many　places　without　pegs；　which　meant　they　were　waiting　to　be　assigned　a　harper。
　　　〃Sir；　I　like　teaching；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　map；　〃and　I've　had　good　results　with　those　I've　tutored。〃
　　　〃Not　that　all　those　unassigned　holdings　would　accept　a　harper　if　I　had　one　to　assign　them；〃　Gennell　said　drolly。　And　when　Robinton　looked　apprehensive；　he　added　with　a　sigh；　〃There　are　some　holds　who　profess　not　to　require　the　services　we　provide。〃
　　　〃I　find　that　hard　to　believe；〃　Robinton　said；　appalled。　Not　want　to　learn　how　to　read；　and　write；　and　reckon？　How　could　people　get　along　in　life　without　such　basic　skills？
　　　〃Believe　it；　Rob；〃　Gennell　said；　shifting　in　his　chair　〃At　least；　since　there　are　so　many　still　who　do；　we're　not　in　any　danger　of　going　empty　the　way　the　Weyrs　did。〃　He　cleared　his　throat；　and　moved　records　about　on　his　desk。　〃You　may　discover　that　not　everyone　respects　harpers　as　we　would　like　them　to。　However；　to　a　happier　topic；　would　you　take　on　a　purely　teaching　assignment？〃
　　　Robinton　shifted　again；　this　time　with　excitement。　He　knew　his　room…mates　thought　him　daft　to　enjoy　teaching　…　lighting　the　dim…wits；　they　called　it。　But　Robinton　never　saw　the　task　as　a　chore。　He　looked　for　the　end　result；　the　bright　smile　of　understanding　on　a　student's　face　when　knowledge　suddenly　seeped　in。
　　　〃I　think　I'd　like　that；　sir。〃　He　took　a　surreptitious　glance　at　the　map　but　then　realized　a　fact。　〃But；　Master　Gennell；　who's　going　to　take　instruction　from　someone　only　fifteen？　I　know　I'm　well　grown；　but。。。〃　He　flicked　his　hands　out　in　a　helpless　gesture。
　　　〃If　you're　assigned　to　work　under　a　more　experienced　teacher；　you'd　be　wele　anywhere；〃　Gennell　said；　rubbing　his　chin；　〃especially　if　you　promise　me　to　continue　writing　those　songs　and　ballads。〃
　　　Robinton　flushed。　〃I　can't　seem　to　stop　writing　them；〃　he　said　meekly。
　　　〃Good。　We　need　to　freshen　up　the　repertoire　with　catchy　tunes　and　musical　nonsense。　People　like　to　whistle　a　tune；　like　to　sing　a　new　song　and　find　harmonies。　You're　good　at　that。　I　expect　you　to　continue。〃
　　　〃As　long　as　it's　all　right。。。〃　Robinton　said　in　an　almost　unintelligible　murmur。
　　　〃It　is　more　than　'all　right'；　Robinton；　it　is　essential。　Now；　stop　colouring　up　like　a　glowbasket。　Learn　to　take　honest　praise　with　the　same　dignity　with　which　you've　received　criticism。〃　Abruptly；　Gennell　cleared　his　throat。　〃Well；　that's　decided；　but　I　wanted　to　know　if　you　wished　to　stay　on　in　the　Hall。　We'd　find　something　to　keep　you　busy　if　you　did；　though　your　mother's　much　better　since　she　came　back。〃
　　　Robinton　met　Master　Gennell's　concerned　grey　eyes　and　gave　a　grateful　smile。　〃I'm　your　apprentice；　sir；　you　can　assign　me　where　you　will。　Where　I'd　do　some　good。〃　What　he　didn't　add　hung　in　the　air：　Because　I　can't　do　any　good　here。
　　　〃Well　then；　that's　settled。　I'll　see　who　can　use　an　assistant　harper。〃
　　　Robinton　was　still　trying　to　absorb　this　astonishing　news　when　he　found　himself　out　in　the　corridor。
　　　To　be　utterly　truthful；　he　looked　forward　to　leaving　the　Harper　Hall　and　getting　away　from　the　constant　censorious　glances　of　his　father。　Privately　he　thought　this　was　what　was　eating　away　at　his　mother：　the　tension　and　having　to　placate　his　father　all　the　time。　He　wanted　to　get　on　with　his　own　life　…　without　constraint　and　with　an　enthusiasm　he　wasn't　able　to　give　scope　to　here　in　the　Harper　Hall。
　　　He'd　really　enjoy　being　away　…　and　as　Master　Gennell　had　promised　to　keep　him　informed　about　his　mother's　health；　he　could　go　with　an　easy　conscience。　It'd　be　so　much　better　for　her；　too；　if　she　didn't　have　to　worry　about　him；　had　a　reason　to　be　proud　of　him。
　　　He　went　back　to　putting　the　final　coat　of　varnish　on　the　lap　harp　he　was　making。　He　would　take　that　with　him；　he　thought；　though　originally　he　had　made　it　to　sell。　He　had　already　earned　quite　a　few　marks　at　Gathers　with　his　output。　When　Master　Jerint　asked　him　what　the　MasterHarper　had　wanted　him　for；　Robinton　shrugged　it　off。　〃Next　term's　duties；〃　he　said；　which　had　the　advantage　of　being　the　truth。
　　　Robinton　had　bee　so　adept　at　keeping　emotions　to　himself　that　it　had　bee　a　habit。　And　though　he　yearned　to　tell　his　mother；　he　knew　she　was　busy　with　lessons　this　afternoon。　He'd　just　have　to　hold　his　good　news　in。　It　wa