amc.masterharperofpern-第48部分

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　　　The　day　was　overcast；　rain　threatening；　but　the　roadway　was　bustling　with　people　on　their　everyday　activities。　Many　greeted　the　harper　and　Kasia　without　interrupting　their　progress。　Occasionally　their　free　hands　touched；　and　Robinton　was　aware　of　each　brash。
　　　He　didn't　dare　look　down　at　Kasia　to　see　if　she　noticed　the　contact；　but　he　did　feel　that　the　trip　had　been　very　worthwhile　in　cementing　a　relationship。　A　glow　of　satisfaction　added　to　his　contented　sense　of　acplishment。
　　　〃Let's　do　it　again；　Rob；　and　soon；〃　Kasia　said；　her　face　glowing。　〃You're　a　good　sailor；　and　Captain　Gostol　said　he'd　take　you　on　board　any　time　you　wanted　to　lend　a　hand。〃
　　　〃I'll　sail　again；　any　time；　with　you；〃　he　said；　grinning　down　at　her　and；　daringly；　caught　her　hand　in　his；　squeezing　it　a　trifle　and　eager　to　see　her　reaction　to　such　a　familiarity。
　　　She　squeezed　right　back。　〃I　can't　wait　to　get　clean；〃　she　exclaimed　and　raced　up　the　steps　to　the　Hold　so　he　had　to　follow　with　more　haste　than　dignity。
　　　In　fact；　she　seemed　intent　on　leaving　him　behind　as　she　careened　into　the　hall　and　then　around　to　the　first　flight　of　steps。　They　had　two　more　to　go　before　they　were　on　their　level。　She　was　half　a　step　ahead　of　him　as　they　reached　the　top　landing；　breathless　with　laughter　and　the　climb。　She　turned；　grinning　at　her　success　and　he　paused　on　the　next…to…last　step　…　their　faces　on　a　level。　He　didn't　think　…　he　just　caught　her　about　the　waist；　pulled　her　to　him；　and　kissed　her。
　　　He　hadn't　known　he　was　going　to　before　he　did；　and　as　she　leaned　into　him；　arms　about　his　neck；　he　was　thrilled　that　she　didn't　reject　him。　It　was　the　sweetest　of　kisses　but　far　too　short　because；　hearing　steps　ing　down　one　of　the　halls；　they　broke　apart。　Kasia　whirled；　flashing　him　a　brilliant　smile；　and　dashed　off　to　her　apartment；　leaving　him　more　breathless　than　ever　but　surely　the　happiest　man　in　the　Hold　at　that　moment。
　　　All　during　his　bath；　which　he　was　half　tempted　to　shorten　so　that　he　could　search　Kasia　out　that　much　sooner；　he　fantasized　about　their　possible　future　together。　After　all；　a　journeyman　harper　who　was　going　for　his　Mastery　was　a　good　match　to　make；　even　for　a　Holder's　Blood。　And　his　father　had　Telgar　Blood。　They　couldn't　fault　his　mother's　achievements　as　a　MasterSinger。　He　could　always　make　instruments　for　extra　marks。　His　contract　with　Tilek　Hold　was　fair　enough　for　a　single　man；　he　felt　he　could　rely　on　Lord　Melongel's　basic　sense　of　fair　play　to　make　an　adjustment　for　an　espoused；　especially　one　espoused　to　kin。　He　could　finish　his　contract　here；　and　make　certain　his　next　one　improved　enough　to　support　a　spouse。
　　　Since　Kasia　was　Blood　kin　to　the　Lady　Holder；　they　could　expect　to　receive　larger　quarters　for　an　espoused　pair；　and　there　were　rooms　available。　He　chided　himself　for　such　thoughts　on　the　one　hand　and；　on　the　other；　relished　the　joy　of　having　them。
　　　Since　he　suspected　Kasia　would　take　her　time　bathing　off　the　brine　and　fish　oils；　he　forced　himself　to　be　as　thorough。　The　colour　of　the　water　and　the　thin　slick　of　oil　suggested　that　he　was　wise　to　soak。　His　hands　stung　a　bit　from　the　soap…sand；　and　he'd　several　broken　nails　as　well　as　various　scrapes　and　nicks。　Nothing　that　wouldn't　heal。　Salt　water　was　good　to　clean　wounds；　even　tittle　ones。
　　　So　he　tended　to　his　appearance　and　nails　as　he　dressed　in　clean；　warm　clothes。　He　must　see　about　getting　some　new　things。　These　were　all　old：　serviceable；　but　not　exactly　stylish。　Clostan；　the　Hold's　healer；　was　always　so　well　turned　out　that　he　might　ask　the　man　which　tailor　he　used　in　Tillek。　Clean　at　last；　Robinton　became　conscious　of　the　reek　from　the　carisak　of　dirty　clothing。　He'd　take　it　down　to　the　washroom　himself　rather　than　have　it　contaminate　his　quarters。　After　all；　maybe　Kasia。。。　and　he　cut　short　that　delightful　thought；　although　the　prospect　might　be　possible。
　　　He　was　apologizing　to　the　old　auntie　in　charge　of　the　laundry　drudges　for　the　state　of　his　clothes　and　she　was　grinning　toothlessly　up　at　him；　when　light　steps　on　the　stairs　alerted　him　to　Kasia's　arrival　with　her　bundle。　Their　eyes　met；　and　he　was　sure　he　was　blushing　at　the　intensity　of　her　gaze。　That　her　cheeks　reddened；　too；　was　an　excellent　sign。
　　　〃Juvana　wants　to　hear　how　we　fared；　Robinton；〃　Kasia　said；　almost　formal　in　manner。　She　passed　over　her　clothing　to　the　auntie；　all　too　casual；　and　the　woman's　grin　broadened　as　she　looked　from　one　to　the　other。
　　　〃Well；　by　all　means　let　us　relate　our　adventures；〃　he　said　as　blandly　as　he　could；　and　taking　her　arm　in　his　with　a　grand　gesture　…　at　which　the　auntie　cackled　…　he　led　her　up　the　stairs。
　　　This　time　they　did　not　race　but　walked　slowly；　eyes　meeting　when　their　legs　brushed　as　they　climbed　the　steps。　At　the　top；　Robinton　was　almost　trembling。　Oh；　he'd　sung　lover　songs　and　knew　the　various　degrees　of　loving　as　well　as　the　next　harper。　But　to　be　himself　immersed　in　precisely　what　the　lyrics　described　was　another　experience　entirely。　To　see　Kasia　responding　to　him　was　an　even　greater　miracle。
　　　They　spent　an　hour　with　Juvana　and　helped　her　to　sort　mending　yarns；　allowing　their　hands　to　meet　in　the　process。　Robinton　knew　how　to　spin　out　a　good　tale　about　his　inadequacies　on　board　a　working　ship；　while　Kasia　loyally　corrected　him　with　her　version　of　the　matter。
　　　〃I　have　considerably　more　respect　for　fishmen　now；　I　assure　you；　Lady　Juvana；〃　he　said　when　the　bell　sounded　for　the　midday　meal。
　　　〃D'you　think　Gostol　will　give　Vesna　her　ticket　now？〃　Juvana　asked　Kasia　as　they　made　their　way　down　to　the　dining　hall。
　　　〃I　know　he　was　pleased　with　her　docking。。。　stylish　and　accurate；〃　Kasia　said　after　a　pause　to　consider　her　answer。　〃And　she　certainly　knows　her　craft。　Is　she　after　the　new　hull　in　the　shipyard？〃
　　　〃Which　joumeyman　isn't？〃　Juvana　said　in　a　droll　tone。　〃Now　you're　back；　will　you　help　me　with　fitting　the　children's　new　clothes？〃　〃Did　you　get　the　borders　all　done？〃
　　　〃I　didn't　waste　my　time　while　you　were　having　fun　sailing。。。〃
　　　〃Fun？〃　Kasia　protested；　giving　her　sister　a　stern　look。　〃In　the　weather　we　had？〃
　　　Robinton　felt　left　out　of　this　exchange；　but　told　himself　not　to　be　silly。　Just　because　he　was　besotted　with　Kasia；　it　didn't　mean　he　could　expect　her　undivided　attention。　And　she　might　not　wish　to　ascribe　more　to　that　quick　kiss　than　the　whimsy　of　the　moment。
　　　Gloomily　he　added　to　himself　that　it　might　only　have　been　the　elation　of　getting　home。　There　were　other　men；　as　he'd　told　Gostol；　who　showed　a　keen　interest　in　Kasia。　What　did　he；　a　journeyman　harper；　really　have　to　offer　a　girl　of　good　Blood？
　　　So　he　plunged　back　into　the　work　he　was　contracted　to　do　and　tried　not　to　think　of　ways　to　intercept　Kasia　in　her　daily　rounds。　But　it　was　hard　and　they　did　seem　to　keep　meeting　…　in　the　halls；　on　the　steps；　certainly　in　the　schoolroom　and　for　meals。　She　accepted　his　pany　at　table　as　readily　as　she　accepted　that　of　Valden；　who　was　soon　to　take　over　a　new　hold　created　in　the　forested　lands　above　Tillek　…　which　Robinton　devoutly　hoped　might　be　too　isolated　to　attract　a　socially　active　girl。　Or　Kalem；　who　was　a　journeyman　shipbuilder　with　a　cot　of　his　own　up　the　hill；　so　that　Kasia　would　be　near　her　sister。　Emry　was　exceedingly　handsome　and　managed　one　of　the　Storage　and　Shipping　holds　for　Melongel。
　　　He　evidently　made　plenty　of　marks；　to　judge　by　the　fine　clothing　he　wore：　even　what　he　wore　when　bringing　reports　to　his　Lord　Holder　was　better　than　Robinton's　best　Gather　wear。　And　during　the　evenings；　when　Rob　might　have　monopolized　her　pany；　he　had　to　play　or　sing　with　the　other　harpers。　He　only　had　one　or　two　dances　with　her；　when　Mumolon　or　Ifor　took　turns。　The　other　men　had　the　whole　evening　in　her　pany；　with　no　responsibilities。
　　　It　was　frustrating；　but　he　worked　on　the　harp。　Her　birthing　day　was　in　early　spring　and　he　wanted　it　ready　by　then；　but　he　had　to　restrain　himself　from　slighting　any　of　the　steps　required　in　its　making。
　　　The　glue　had　to　harden　on　the　sound　box；　he　had　carved　the　pegs　and　set　the　sharping　blades；　which　would　permit　modulation　and　even　changing　keys。　He　intended　to　tune　the　harp　to　C　major。
　　　He　had　to　wait　for　the　strings　to　arrive　from　the　Fort　SmithCraftHall；　which　specialized　in　extruding　the　fine　wire　needed。　Still；　he　spent　less　time　working　on　the　harp　than　he　did　looking　at　it　…　and　thinking　about　how　it　would　look　in　Kasia's　lap；　being　touched　by　Kasia's　hands。
　　　Everyone　in　the　Hold　seemed　anxious　to　celebrate　Kasia's　day　with　her；　and　Robinton　desperately　wanted　to　have　privacy　when　he　presented　her　with　the　harp。　He　was　beginning　to　think　that　such　a　gift　would　establish　the　depth　of　his　feeling　for　her。　Which　was　what　it　was　supposed　to　do；　really。　It　was　scarcely　on　a　level　with　the　casual　gifts　that　were　generally　presented　on　a　birthing　day。
　　　Presenting　it　to　her　publicly　would　leave　him　open　to　teasing；　as　well　as　speculation　about　his　affection　for　her。　Affection？　His　love！
　　　And　the　harp　was　a　fine　one。　He　gave　himself　that　much　credit。　He　did　do　good　work　…　especially　when　his　heart　was　in　the　doing。
　　　So　that　he　did　not　appear　empty…handed　in　public；　he　had　found　some　early　berries　in　the　woods　above　the　Hold。　She　made　much　of　his　thoughtfulness　and　exclaimed　a　lot　over　the　pretty　basket　he　had　woven　to　hold　them。　He　managed　to　get　a　private　word　in　her　ear　because；　fortunately；　it　was　customary　to　give　a　birthday　girl　an　embrace　and　a　quick　kiss　…　if　you　were　so　inclined。　In　Robinton's　mind；　there　were　too　many　so　inclined。　He　watched　to　see　just　how　long　she　permitted　the　familiarity　and　rather　thought　she　had　clung　just　a　moment　longer　to　him。　So　he　took　that　chance　to　murmur　in　her　ear　that　he　had　something　special　to　give　her　but　not　in　front　of　everyone。　Could　she　meet　him　in　the　workshop？
　　　She　nodded；　her　eyes　dancing；　and　murmured；　〃After　the　meal；〃　before　releasing　him　and　turning　to　accept　other　tokens。　For　she　was　popular。　There　were　presents　from　everyone；　including　a　lovely　b　which　Vesna　had　scrimshawed　on　the　Northern　Maid　for　giving　her　the　moral　courage　she　needed　in　getting　her　second　mate's　ticket。　There　were　the　usual　lengths　of　cloth；　and　scarve