amc.masterharperofpern-第57部分

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more　tightly　about　his　body；　trying　to　keep　warm。　〃Got　yourself　in；　get　yourself　out。〃　He　turned　the　cadence　into　a　chant；　rocking　from　side　to　side；　which　eased　the　numbness　in　his　buttocks。　The　chant　went　to　his　feet；　and　he　stamped　them　in　turn。　And　he　sang　and　stamped　and　rocked　and　thumped　the　tiller　bar　with　his　hands；　inventing　new　rhythms；　and　altogether　enjoying　the　activity　when　he　suddenly　realized　that　something　was　ing　out　of　the　darkness　ahead　of　him；　large　and　white；　and　someone　was　yelling。
　　　〃Sloop　ahoy！〃
　　　〃Shards；　what　do　I　do　now？　Steer　starboard；　right；　starboard！〃　he　yelled　at　the　white　shape　bearing　down　on　him。　As　hard　as　he　could；　he　pushed　the　tiller　over　and　nearly　clouted　himself　in　the　head　as　the　boom　swung　past。
　　　They　were　rescued　by　the　schooner　Wave　Rider。　Two　sturdy　fish…men　lifted　Kasia　aboard　to　other　willing　hands。　Robinton　managed　to　climb　the　rope　ladder；　awkward　with　fatigue　and　stiff　joints。
　　　With　the　little　sloop　tied　on　behind；　Wave　Rider　swung　round　and　headed　back　to　Tillek　Hold；　her　mission　plete。　A　glowbasket　was　hung　from　the　top　of　the　mast　to　let　other　ships　know　that　the　lost　had　been　found。
　　　The　second　mate；　Lissala；　who　was　also　Captain　Idarolan's　wife；　tended　to　Kasia　while　Idarolan　did　similar　services　for　Robinton；　remarking　on　how　a　mere　harper　had　managed　so　well。
　　　〃Kasia　told　me　what　to　do；〃　he　protested　between　spoonfuls　of　a　hearty　fish　stew；　bobbing　with　root　vegetables　which　had　never　tasted　so　good；　and　bread　which　had　been　fresh　the　day　before　when　the　search　parties　were　organized　to　locate　the　missing　and　long…overdue　sloop。
　　　〃Aye；　Harper；　but　it　was　you　doing　it。〃
　　　〃She'll　be　fine　now；〃　Lissala　said；　returning　and　slipping　into　a　seat　opposite　Robinton。　〃Wise　of　you　to　be　sure　she　drank　so　much。　No　frostbite；　but。。。〃　She　sharply　looked　at　his　discoloured　fingers。
　　　Startled；　because　without　his　hands　he　was　nothing；　he　held　them　both　out　to　her　and　felt　the　pinch　she　gave　the　tips。　〃No；　they're　all　right；　but　another　coupla　hours　out　in　that〃　…　she　nodded　her　head　to　indicate　the　cold　night　…　〃and　it　might've　been　different。　But　we've　got　you　safe　and　snug　aboard。〃　She　reached　round　for　a　cup　and　poured　klah；　holding　the　pot　up　and　looking　enquiringly　at　Robinton；　who　shook　his　head。
　　　〃Where　were　we　when　you　found　us？〃　Robinton　asked。
　　　Idarolan　chuckled；　rubbing　his　chin。　〃Halfway　up　the　coast　from　Fort。　You'd've　done　better　to　go　to　port。　You　weren't　that　far　from　a　fish…hold。〃
　　　Robinton　groaned；　but　then　reminded　himself　that　they'd　had　no　idea　at　all　where　the　storm　had　blown　them。
　　　〃Kasia　told　me　right；　starboard；〃　he　said；　gesturing　with　the　appropriate　arm。
　　　〃Not　to　worry。　We　have　you　now。〃　Then；　as　Robinton　could　not　suppress　an　immense　yawn　…　one　part　relief；　one　part　being　warm；　and　the　other　total　fatigue　…　Idarolan　added；　〃e；　man；　I'll　bed　you　down。〃
　　　〃Where's　Kasia？〃　Robinton　asked；　looking　up　and　down　the　passageway。
　　　〃In　there；〃　the　captain　said；　indicating　a　door　they　were　passing　by。　〃You're　in　here。〃　He　opened　another　door　across　the　way　and　slid　the　little　glowbasket　open。　〃Take　the　lower　bunk。　Ellic's　on　this　watch。〃
　　　Robinton　wondered　how　long　'this　watch'　was　before　he'd　have　to　leave　the　bunk；　but　as　soon　as　he　laid　himself　down；　he　lost　hold　of　the　question　and　never　heard　the　answer。
Chapter　FOURTEEN
　　　Clostan　went　over　both　of　them　thoroughly。　Kasia　had　recovered　some　of　her　normal　colour　and　strength　by　the　time　they　docked　at　Tillek；　where　relieved　folk　helped　them　on　to　the　wharf　and　up　to　the　Hold。　Lissala　supported　Kasia　on　one　side　and　Robinton　on　the　other；　though　Robinton　wanted　to　carry　Kasia　and　spare　her　the　walk。
　　　〃You　can　barely　carry　yourself　yet；　man；〃　said　Idarolan。
　　　Robinton　had　to　admit　that　he　was　shaky　on　his　feet。　He　was　only　too　glad　to　follow　Clostan；　who　met　them　at　the　Hold　door　and　swooped　Kasia　up　in　his　arms　to　carry　her　down　to　the　infirmary。
　　　By　then　the　Lord　and　Lady　Holder　had　learned　of　their　safe　return　and　hurried　to　the　infirmary　too。　Juvana　hovered　anxiously　over　her　sister　and　Melongel　frowned；　having　clearly　been　very　worried。
　　　〃You've　both　had　quite　an　ordeal；〃　Clostan　said　with　a　deep　sigh。
　　　Kasia　coughed　politely　into　her　hand；　and　the　healer　scowled。　〃I'll　fix　a　soothing　draught　to　ease　that　right　smart。　But　neither　of　you　is　to　do　anything　for　the　next　three　days。　I'll　go　over　you　again　then。〃
　　　Juvana　insisted　they　stay　in　one　of　the　low…level　guest　apartments。
　　　Their　own　level　was　cold；　being　too　far　from　the　source　of　heat　with　which　the　Ancients　had　warmed　the　Hold；　and　they　needed　the　warmth　of　hearth…heated　rooms。　Indeed；　Robinton　couldn't　seem　to　heat　the　cold　out　of　his　bones　and　was　drawn　to　the　fire　like　a　forest　insect。　Following　Clostan's　orders　they　rested　in　bed　a　full　day；　Juvana　keeping　hot　water…bottles　in　a　row　under　the　furs；　causing　Robinton　to　plain　that　his　feet　were　fine　…　it　was　the　rest　of　him　that　wasn't　warm。
　　　Mostly　Kasia　slept；　not　even　rousing　when　she　coughed。　Rob　dosed　fitfully；　waking　briefly　every　time　she　coughed。　He　woke　once　to　find　himself　beating　out　the　cadence　of　〃Got　in；　get　out　。。。〃　And　another　time　from　a　nightmare　where　he　couldn't　hear　her　or　see　her　in　the　mist　which　blanketed　him。　He　knew　she　was　calling　and　he　kept　trying　to　answer；　but　his　jaws　were　frozen　stuck。
　　　Captain　Gostol　came　in；　apologetic　that　he　had　left　a　search　almost　too　long。
　　　〃Kasia's　knowledgeable　about　the　sea　and　little　ships。　And　you　two　finally　having　a　chance　to　be　alone　for　the　first　time。。。　That　storm　only　reached　us　late　the　other　night　…　which　is　when　we　began　to　get　concerned　with　you　being　overdue　back　in　the　harbour。〃　He　kept　turning　his　sea　cap　in　his　hands；　working　round　and　round　on　the　brim。
　　　〃I　did　what　Kasia　told　me；〃　Robinton　murmured；　refusing　to　take　much　credit。　〃You　should　have　seen　her　handling　the　sloop　in　that　storm；　though。　You'd've　been　proud　of　her。　As　I　am。〃　He　patted　her　leg　under　the　furs；　and　she　smiled　wanly　up　at　him。
　　　〃You　got　us　home；〃　she　said；　just　the　hint　of　a　sparkle　back　in　her　eyes。
　　　Then　she　coughed；　a　funny　dry　hack　that　Clostan's　potion　didn't　seem　to　ease。
　　　If　the　healer　was　concerned　about　the　way　the　cough　hung　on；　he　made　no　mention　of　it　to　Robinton。　And　soon　they　were　well　enough　to　go　back　to　their　own　quarters。　Juvana　had　put　braziers　in　both　rooms；　to　take　the　chill　off。　The　black　rock　burned　hotly；　but　with　a　smell　and　an　acrid　smoke　which　sometimes　irritated　Kasia's　cough。　Rob　suggested　returning　to　the　warmer；　lower　level；　but　she　said　she　wanted　to　be　in　the　place　they　had　fixed　for　themselves；　with　all　their　own　things。　And　anyway；　she　added；　they　would　both　be　spending　much　of　their　time　in　the　warmer　schoolrooms　when　they　resumed　their　duties　the　following　seven…day。
　　　Clostan　became　very　busy　as　the　unnaturally　cold　weather　brought　him　many　coughs　and　colds；　running　noses　and　fevers。　He　continued　to　check　up　on　Kasia；　but　she　kept　insisting　that　she　felt　fine。
　　　〃Except　for　the　cough；〃　Robinton　added；　chiding　her　for　not　mentioning　it。
　　　〃It's　only　now　and　then；　Rob；〃　she　said。　Her　listlessness　still　worried　him。　She　seemed　so　tired　by　evening　that　she　would　fall　asleep　in　his　arms。　He　didn't　mind；　she　felt　so　good　against　him；　and　he　felt　so　protective　of　his　lovely　green…eyed　spouse。
　　　The　cold　was　further　pounded　by　three　blizzards；　following　one　after　the　other。　No　one　moved　about　the　Hold　or　attempted　to　take　the　ships　out　for　fish。　Lord　Melongel　was　a　good　provider　and；　while　the　weather　remained　so　bitter；　opened　his　stores　to　those　who　were　short　of　food。　It　was　essential　to　keep　everyone　healthy　in　this　awful　weather。
　　　A　feverish　cough　developed　and　spread　from　the　schoolroom　to　the　old　aunties　and　uncles。　Clostan　asked　for　assistance　in　his　nursing　duties　and　both　Robinton　and　Kasia　volunteered；　since　many　of　the　patients　were　their　students。
　　　Then；　one　night；　Robinton　was　awakened　by　Kasia's　thrashing。
　　　Moaning　and　mumbling；　throwing　her　arms　and　legs　about；　she　was　burning　up　with　fever。　Robinton　charged　down　to　the　infirmary；　where　the　assistant　healer　on　night　duty　gave　him　the　powdered　herb　which　would　reduce　the　fever；　and　the　salve　to　rub　on　her　throat；　chest　and　back。　Robinton　detoured　to　the　kitchen　and　got　himself　klah　and　a　pitcher　of　the　flavoured　water　that　was　being　used　for　invalids。
　　　Kasia　had　managed　to　throw　off　the　furs　and　was　lying　uncovered　in　the　cold　room。　He　quickly　covered　her　and　then　applied　the　salve；　its　pungent　smell　seeping　into　his　nose　and　lungs。　Then　he　roused　her　to　take　a　few　sips　of　the　herb　drink。　He　dozed　now　and　then；　between　forcing　her　to　drink。　By　morning　she　was　delirious；　and　he　was　being　more　and　more　worried。　The　herb　had　seemed　effective　with　everyone　else　he　nursed；　but　her　coughing　fits　were　getting　harder　and　longer。
　　　He　almost　cried　out　with　relief　when　Clostan；　red…eyed　and　weary；　came　in。　Kasia　chose　that　moment　to　indulge　in　one　of　her　coughing　spasms；　and　Clostan　came　swiftly　to　the　bedside。
　　　〃That　doesn't　sound　good；〃　he　said；　feeling　her　forehead　and　cheeks。　〃You've　the　salve　on？　Use　more；　and　repeat　it　every　three　hours。　Here；　let's　give　her　my　special　remedy。〃
　　　He　mixed　the　draught　himself　and　made　her　drink　it。
　　　〃She　obeys　you　more　than　she　does　me；〃　Robinton　remarked　peevishly。
　　　〃You're　her　spouse；〃　Clostan　said　with　a　weary　grin。　〃Mind　you；　most　of　your　patients　have　recovered；　so　I'm　sure　she　will。〃
　　　There　was；　however；　a　note　in　Clostan's　voice　that　caught　Robinton's　ear。
　　　〃You　are？〃
　　　〃Of　course　I　am。　She's　young　and。。。　well；　she's　far　less　vulnerable　than　those　down　the　hall。〃　His　face　fell　into　sad　lines。
　　　〃More　deaths？〃　Robinton　asked；　and　Clostan　nodded。
　　　〃The　very　old　have　no　stamina。　And　we've　got　their　quarters　as　warm　as　an　oven。〃
　　　He　left　then；　but　Juvana　arrived　shortly　afterwards　and　together　they　moved　Kasia　down　to　a　guest　room；　where　a　fire　roared　on　the　hearth。
　　　Together　Juvana　and　Robinton　nursed　Kasia。　Clostan　came　in　several　times　that　day