amc.masterharperofpern-第47部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


song。　She　had　had　excellent　training：　she　sang　with　a　sweet　light　soprano　and　played　fiddle　and　pipe。　She　was　envious　of　his　harp；　which　she　played　middling　well；　not　having　an　instrument　of　her　own。　So　he　concocted　the　notion　of　making　one　for　her　in　his　spare　time。　Tillek's　port　shipped　quantities　of　timber；　as　well　as　storing　it　for　the　building　of　hulls。　He　made　himself　agreeable　to　the　local　MasterCarver；　an　acplished　carpenter　named　Marlifin　who　was　only　too　happy；　when　requested；　to　find　him　well…seasoned　and　unusual　woods。　Tillek　Hold　had　a　well…equipped　workshop；　as　most　large　establishments　did；　so　Robinton　had　only　to　start　his　project。　He　did　ask　Marlifin　to　do　the　carving　of　the　forepillar　in　patterns　of　the　flowers　which　Kasia　had　said　she　loved。　Robinton　couldn't　carve　fancywork　without　mining　a　lot　of　good　wood；　and　this　harp　had　to　be　special。　It　was　going　to　take　long　enough　as　it　was。　After　several　faulty　starts　and　not　a　few　cuts　on　his　hands；　he　did　manage　to　carve　the　harmonic　curve　and　the　neck；　which　would　hold　the　pegs　to　tune　the　strings　of　the　harp　。。。　when　he　got　that　far。
　　　He　also　took　Minnarden's　advice　to　learn　more　about　a　fishing　hold　and　found　great　favour　with　Melongel；　and　incidentally　with　Kasia；　when　he　volunteered　to　go　out　on　a　fishing　run　with　Captain　Gostol；　whom　he　had　met　at　the　Harper　Hall。　Kasia　shipped　out　on　the　same　voyage　as　galley　cook　and　panion　to　Gostol's　daughter；　Vesna；　who　was　going　for　her　second's　ticket。　There　were　two　other　women　in　the　crew　of　fourteen；　for　the　Northern　Maid　was　the　length　of　a　queen　dragon。　The　female　sailors　surprised　Robinton。　Being　harper…trained；　he　was　accustomed　to　women　having　equal　status　as　performers　and　posers；　but　it　had　never　occurred　to　him　that　other　Crafts　also　promoted　women　to　positions　of　trust　and　responsibility。　He　was　astonished　to　find　them　fishing；　since　that　was　a　hard　life：　he　discovered　just　how　hard　on　that　trip。　Fortunately　his　immunity　to　sea…sickness　was　a　great　mark　in　his　favour。　He　straggled　to　help　lower　and　haul　in　the　trawling　nets；　slipped　on　fish　guts；　laughed　when　he　got　up　covered　with　gore　and　slime　…　and　was　teased　for　the　stench　of　him　until　the　job　was　done　and　he　could　change。　If　he　wasn't　considered　able　to　stand　a　watch；　he　was　available　to　heat　soup　or　klah　in　the　galley　for　those　who　did。
　　　Of　course；　Kasia's　post　was　the　galley；　though　she　was　also　a　dab　hand　at　gutting　and　salting　the　catch。　So　they　had　time　to　talk。
　　　He　was　as　subtle　as　he　could　be；　light…hearted；　and　finding　odd　bits　and　pieces　of　humorous　things　to　tell　her；　to　dispel　the　sadness　which　still　lurked。　And　of　an　evening；　or　sailing　to　another　likely　spot　to　fish；　he　would　manage　to　place　himself　close　to　her　while　they　helped　pass　the　time　by　singing。　He　toned　down　his　heavier　baritone　to　blend　with　her　light　voice　in　duets　or　choruses。　He　also　picked　up　a　few　local　work…songs；　favoured　by　the　Tillek　Fishmen。
　　　The　most　vivid　memory　he　had　of　that　seven…day　was　the　sight　of　ship　fish　who　were　in　the　habit；　Captain　Gostol　said；　of　acpanying　the　fishing　vessels。
　　　〃That's　old　Scarface；　that　is；〃　the　captain　said；　pointing　to　one　whose　bottle…nose　was　indeed　scarred。　〃Got　hisself　caught　somewhere。〃
　　　〃Are　they　singing？〃　Robinton　asked；　hearing　sounds　when　the　leaping　shipfish　were　airborne。
　　　〃New；　just　the　sounds　they　make；　shooting　the　air　out　of　them　blow　holes；〃　Gostol　said。　〃Though　I've　known　instances　when　a　man　blown　overboard's　been　rescued　by　'em。〃　He　paused　and　tilted　his　head　mid…ships。　〃Storm　was　too　fierce　to　save　that　'un's　man。　Shame；　too。　Good　fisher。　Nice　girl。　She　shouldn't　pine　too　long；　ya　think？〃　And　now　he　cocked　his　head　at　Robinton；　a　sly　grin　on　his　rugged；　weather…worn　face。
　　　Robinton　laughed。　〃Considering　how　many　fellows　e　round　to　see　her　at　Tillek　Hold；　it's　only　a　question　of　her　pointing　a　willing　finger。〃
　　　〃So　you　say；　do　you？〃　Then　Gostol　pointed。　〃She's　got　another　young'un　since　last　time　I　saw　her。　That　one　with　the　mottled　rostrum。　See　her？〃
　　　The　shipfish　was　in　fact　almost　hovering　in　the　air；　squeaking；　crackling　at　the　humans；　who　she　knew　were　admiring　her。　Her　baby；　half　her　size；　was　doing　its　best　to　match　her　leap。
　　　〃Do　the　same　ones　swim　in　these　waters　all　the　time？〃
　　　〃Think　so。　Recognize　'em　certainly。〃　The　captain　gave　an　uncharacteristic　sigh。　〃Like　watching　them。　Sometimes；〃　he　said；　leaning　his　forearms　on　the　rail；　〃I　think　they　sort　of〃　…　he　made　a　slanting　motion　with　his　thick…fingered　tight　hand　…　〃ease　us　one　way　or　t'other；　and　we　follow；　'cos　they　seem　to　know　where　the　fish　are　schooling。〃
　　　〃Really？〃　Robinton　leaned　his　arms　on　the　rail　too；　as　if　he　could　get　closer　to　the　leaping　shipfish　who　were　still　clicking　and　squeaking　at　him；　almost　as　if　they　were　saying　something　he　just　couldn't　quite　catch。
　　　〃They're　good　luck；　they　are。　No　fishman　ignores　them。　Always　give　'em　something　from　each　net。〃　The　captain　stood　up；　peering　over　the　rail；　his　stance　alert。　〃Watch！　Yup！　We're　sailing　tight　into　a　mess　a'　bordos。　Good　eating；　bordo。　Good　for　saltin'。〃　And　he　started　forward；　shouting　orders　to　the　crew　to　be　ready　to　drop　the　nets。
　　　Robinton　could　actually　see　the　school　over　the　starboard　side　of　the　Northern　Maid。　The　sleek　thick　bodies　were　grey…striped；　as　long　as　his　forearm；　with　bulging　eyes　on　either　side　of　their　blunt　heads。　He'd　never　seen　such　a　concentration　of　fish。　Oh；　he'd　fished　as　a　child　down　at　Pietie　Hold　but　had　never　seen　a　multitude。
　　　However　did　they　wend　their　way　without　accident？　Did　they　have　a　leader'　the　way　some　of　the　herd…beasts　did？　Or　an　instinct　similar　to　dragons；　who　never　interfered　with　each　other　even　when　they　came　out　of　between　in　wing　formation？　He　was　fascinated。
　　　When　Gostol　roared　out　the　mand　to　lower　the　nets；　Robinton　went　forward　to　lend　a　hand。
　　　That　was　actually　the　last　fair　day　of　the　run；　for　the　clouds　closed　in　and　they　had　to　work　in　a　driving　rain；　making　a　difficult　job　even　more　arduous。　Robinton　was　exhausted；　his　muscles　protesting　their　abuse　and　his　hands　raw。　So；　when　they　finally　had　time　to　relax　over　a　late　meal　and　he　was　asked　to　play；　he　brought　out　his　faithful　pipe　as　being　the　easiest　for　his　sore　fingers。
　　　He　could　not　help　but　be　relieved　when　they　sailed　back　into　the　deep　natural　harbour　which　made　Tillek　the　best　port　on　the　long　western　coast。　There　were　long　rows　of　terraced　cots　carved　out　…　or　built　out　from　…　the　several　levels　of　cliff　above　the　harbour。
　　　Some　fishmen　could　anchor　their　ships　right　in　front　of　their　cot…holds。
　　　Floats　that　rose　and　fell　with　the　tides　gave　access　to　stairs；　some　cut　deeply　into　the　cliffside。
　　　As　the　Northern　Maid　slid　past　the　breakwaters　which　extended　the　arms　of　the　U…shaped　harbour；　folk　waved　to　the　sailors　who　were　making　right　and　tight　the　sheets　and　lines；　preparatory　to　docking。　Gostol　was　allowing　his　second　to　bring　his　ship　in；　and　Robinton；　knowing　how　important　it　was　for　Vesna　to　plete　the　manoeuvre　satisfactorily；　was　holding　his　breath　for　her　when　Kasia　joined　him。　She　had　changed　from　her　rough…weather　gear　into　a　long　skirt　and　a　thick　woolien　jumper　against　the　chilly　wind；　her　hair　was　newly　braided。　Her　eyes　didn't　seem　quite　as　shadowed。
　　　Maybe　she　had　sailed　with　them　to　dissipate　the　last　vestiges　of　her　sorrow　for　Merdine。　She　had　actually　mentioned　his　name　at　one　point　during　the　voyage。
　　　〃Breathe；　Rob；〃　she　said；　laughing　at　him　and　lightly　clasping　her　hands　around　his　left　arm。
　　　The　use　of　a　short　name　for　him　made　him　catch　his　breath　twice　in　a　row。　Did　that　mean　she　liked　him？
　　　〃Will　she　make　it？〃　he　asked。　Kasia　had　more　experience　with　such　things　than　he。
　　　〃The　ship's　just　making　enough　way；　so　that　I　think　she'll　nudge　the　dock　and　e　to　a　full　stop。　Which　is　exactly　what　she　should　do。〃
　　　The　Northern　Maid　did　seem　to　be　moving　but　imperceptibly；　the　smallest　hint　of　a　wake　visible　on　this　side　of　the　bow。
　　　Kasia　laughed；　leaning　into　him；　as　he　unconsciously　exhaled　as　if　his　breath　could　give　the　ship　just　that　touch　more　forward　motion。　They　were　nearly　broadside　of　the　fishing　dock；　their　destination。　Seamen　stood　fore　and　aft　on　the　Maid's　deck；　ready　with　mooring　lines。　They'd　already　put　out　the　buffers。　Men　and　women　on　the　dock　were　edging　forward；　to　catch　the　lines　and　snag　them　on　the　bollards；　eager　to　proceed　with　unloading　the　perishable　cargo。
　　　Time　seemed　suspended　as　the　Maid　drifted　more　and　more　slowly　until　she　just　barely　touched　the　dock　and　slid　along　it；　the　protective　bumpers　kissing　the　dock　edge；　ing　to　a　final　halt　as　the　mooring　lines　were　secured　with　deft　loopings　which　stopped　all　movement　with　just　the　least　little　jar。
　　　Kasia　let　go　of　Robinton's　arm　and　clapped；　shouting　a　'Well　done'　in　the　direction　of　Vesna　at　the　wheel。　There　were　other　congratulatory　roars；　and　Robinton　grinned　at　Vesna's　pantomime　of　wiping　sweat　from　her　brow。　She　was　smiling　happily。
　　　〃Gostol's　a　hard　taskmaster；　but　I'd　say　she's　passed　this　test；〃　Kasia　said。　〃Let's　go。　They'll　be　at　the　unloading　for　hours；　and　I'm　dying　for　a　long　hot　soak。　My　hair　must　reek　of　fish　and　cooking　oils。〃
　　　Since　she　hadn't　spoken　a　word　of　plaint　throughout　the　voyage；　Robinton　was　surprised　at　the　return　of　fastidiousness。　Not　that　he　wasn't　just　as　eager　for　a　bath　as　she。
　　　They'd　given　Gostol　formal　thanks　and　made　farewells　as　the　Maid　was　on　her　final　tack　into　the　harbour；　so　now　they　were　free　to　disembark　with　carisaks　of　wet　and　dirty　clothing　over　their　shoulders。
　　　〃There're　worn　spots　on　this　wharf；　Rob；〃　she　said　as　they　started　across　the　wooden　expanse。　〃Watch　where　you　go。〃
　　　〃A　mere　several　hundred　turns　old；　Minnarden　said。〃
　　　〃A　mere？〃　She　tossed　her　head　sideways；　laughing　at　him；　her　sea…green　eyes　sparkling。
　　　They　wove　past　the　fish…factory　workers；　guiding　their　carts　to　the　ship；　and　strode　up　the　wide　steps　to　the　right　and　on　to　the　wide　road　which　led　to　the　Hold。
　　　The　day　was　overcast；　rain　threatening；　but　the　roadway　was　bustling　with　people　on　their　everyday　activities。　Many　gree