八喜电子书 > 文学名著电子书 > amc.masterharperofpern >

第6部分

amc.masterharperofpern-第6部分

小说: amc.masterharperofpern 字数: 每页4000字

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!



   〃It's true;〃 Segoina went on。 〃Ask at the Healer Hall when you return。〃 Petiron recoiled slightly; but Segoina continued affably; 〃It is the best time to remind a child of what it knew in the womb。 And then we don't have to worry so constantly; with us so near the sea as we are。〃 She pointed down the steps to where a gentle surf made white scallops on the equally white sand。 〃There is a rite of passage which requires a lad to dive from that height;〃 and she pointed to the headland that jutted out a fair distance into the sea; 〃to prove he is a man。〃
   Petiron visibly swallowed and blinked furiously。
   〃Do you swim?〃 Segoina asked blandly。
   〃Yes; actually I do。 We had the Telgar River to learn in。〃
   〃It's much easier to swim in the sea than a river。 More buoyancy。〃 Segoina turned away before she could catch the apprehensive expression on Petiron's face。
   Merelan controlled her amusement。 If he hadn't been able to answer positively; it was obvious he feared that she would have immediately appointed herself his instructor。 He swam well enough; and the mid…summer races were months away。 By then they would be safely back at Harper Hall。 She sighed; for she would have liked to stay for the Full Summer Gather when the entire peninsula gathered for races; both in the water and on the water as everyone tested his or her skills at swimming and sailing。
   It was as well; Merelan thought as they continued on to their quarters; that he was over the age when he would have been required to make the high dive。 That was also a feature of the High Summer Gather。 Maybe she could talk him into it。。。
   He'd learned so much about himself; as well as about how the ordinary people lived。 As a lad at Telgar; he had been more inclined to scholarship; which was why he had been sponsored to go to the Harper Hall in the first place。 So he had had little chance; as an adult; to expand his horizons … until now。 And he'd never looked fitter; or more handsome。 Hair down to his shoulders; skin tanned; he was more secure on the back of a runner; could walk a good day's journey; and had done more harpering than his duties at the Hall had ever required of him。 If only he could be more in harmony with his own child。。。
   When Robinton began to talk; she told herself; when he needed to learn things a father should teach his son; then the affection and pride would develop。 At least Petiron had shown himself nervous about his child's safety with the swimming business。
   That much was obvious when Petiron acpanied spouse and son to the cove beach the next First Day。 By then Robinton was paddling happily; not the least bit concerned if he fell under the water; though a white…faced Petiron snatched the sun…browned little body up into his arms; startling Robinton。 Wide…eyed with surprise; the boy struggled to be released back into the water which was such fun; the waves lapping bubblingly around his ankles and pushing treasures of flotsam for him to examine。 He even gave the next smooth pebble; a very pretty red one with white intrusions making a pattern; to his father to be admired。 And Petiron did so; without any prompting from Merelan。
   When it was handed back to him; Robinton toddled off to place it with the growing pile of unusual objects he had retrieved。 Then he was off in another direction; running as fast as his legs would take him to see what his cousins had discovered among the seaweed they had just hauled up on to the beach。
   〃Sit; love;〃 Merelan said softly; patting the woven reed mat beside her where the sunshade cast a shadow。 〃He isn't far from help; should it be needed。〃
   〃Isn't he younger than the lad of Naylor's?〃 he asked; with the first sign of paternal parison he had ever exhibited。
   〃By two months;〃 Merelan said nonchalantly。
   〃He's a full hand taller;〃 said Petiron; his tone almost smug。
   〃He'll be a tall man when he gets his growth;〃 she said。 〃You're not short; nor were my parents。 How were you in height against those brothers of yours?〃
   〃I suspect Forist will be taller but the other three won't make his height;〃 said Petiron; who had never liked his brothers at all。
   〃Nor yours。〃 Idly she brushed sand out of his heavy dark brown hair; flicking it off his shoulder and giving herself the excuse to touch his warm; smooth skin。 She liked his back。 He had muscled up a great deal。 Not that he would ever carry much flesh: he was too intense to put on weight。 But he looked better than he ever had; and she loved him more than ever。
   He glanced up at her; saw her look and responded to it。 Catching up her hand to his lips; he nibbled at her fingers; never breaking eye contact。
   〃When Robie takes his afternoon nap; can we find shade somewhere?〃 he asked; his breath ing a trace faster。
   〃We can indeed;〃 she murmured; feeling her own ardour rising to meet his。 〃Segoina has given me a potion that will make it safe for us all the time。〃
   When they did return to the Harper Hall; everyone remarked on the tremendous improvement in Merelan's health; on how big Robinton had grown in six months; and how much the change had improved Petiron's temperament。
Chapter TWO
   Petiron was working on his latest score; when a soft noise distracted him。 Listening; he could hear it ing from the other room。 Merelan had stepped out on an errand; Robinton was having his nap。
   The faint noise was an echo of the theme he was hastily inscribing before he lost it … he didn't realize that he had been humming it as he worked。 Irritated; he looked around for the source of the mimicry。
   And found his son awake in the trundle bed and humming。
   〃Don't do that; Robinton;〃 he said in exasperation。
   His son pulled the light blanket up to his chin。 〃You were;〃 he said。
   〃I was what?〃
   〃You hummmmdded。〃
   〃I may; you may not!〃 And Petiron shook his finger right in the boy's face so that Robinton pulled the blanket over his head。
   Petiron pulled it down and leaned over the little bed。 〃Don't you ever mimic me like that。 Don't you ever interrupt me when I'm working。 D'you hear that?〃
   〃Whatever did he do; Petiron?〃 Merelan exclaimed; rushing into the room and hovering protectively at the head of the cot。 〃He was sound asleep when I left。 What's been going on?〃 Robinton; who rarely cried; was weeping; stuffing the end of the blanket into his mouth as the tears crept down his cheeks。 The tears were more than Merelan could endure; and she picked up her sobbing son and cradled him; reassuring him。
   Petiron glared at her。 〃He was humming while I was writing。〃 〃You do; why shouldn't he?〃
   〃But I was writing! How can I work when he does that? He knows he's not to interrupt me。〃
   〃He's a child; Petiron。 He picks up on anything he hears and repeats it。〃
   〃Well; I'm not having him humming along with me;〃 Petiron said; not the least bit mollified。
   〃Why shouldn't he if you wake him up?〃
   〃How can I possibly work if you're both interrupting me all the time?〃 He flung up his arms and stalked out of the bedroom。 〃Do take him somewhere else。 I can't have him singing in the background。〃
   Merelan was already halfway across the sitting room; her crying son in her arms。 〃Then you won't have him in the background at all;〃 she said in a parting shot。
   〃I don't know when I've been more annoyed with him;〃 she told Betrice; who was fortunately in her apartment when Merelan tapped at her door。
   〃I don't suppose he noticed that the child hums on key;〃 Betrice said in her droll fashion; clearing the mending from the padded rocker so that Merelan could sit and calm her child。
   Merelan blinked at Betrice and then began to chuckle。 〃I'm certain he would have mentioned it if Robie were off…key。 That would have been injury added to insult。〃 Then she paused。 〃You know; Robie hums along with me when I do my vocalizes。 I hadn't realized it before。 There now; little love。〃 And she dried Robie's eyes with an edge of the blanket he was still clutching to his mouth。
   〃Your father didn't really mean to yell at you。。。〃
   〃Ha!〃 was Betrice's soft response。
   〃But we do have to be quiet when your father's working at home。〃
   〃He has his own studio 。。。〃 Betrice put in。
   〃Washell borrowed it to speak to those parents who wandered in unannounced。〃
   〃Only Washell could get away with that。〃
   〃So; my little love; we'll have to learn to keep our hummings to just you and me from now on。 And let father get on with his important work。〃
   〃Ha! More of his inprehensible; meaningful and significant musical conundrums。 Ooops; sorry!〃 Betrice covered her lips with an unrepentant hand。 〃I know he's the most important poser in the last two centuries; Merelan; but could he not once contrive a simple tune that anyone … besides his own son … could sing?〃 She rose and walked to the wall cupboard; where she opened one door。
   Merelan regarded Betrice without rancour。 〃He does rather plicated scores; doesn't he?〃 Then she smiled mischievously。 〃He just likes to embellish。〃
   〃Oh; is that what it's called? Give me a simple tune that I can't get out of my mind!〃 Betrice said。 Having found what she wanted; she returned to Merelan。 〃But we both know I'm a musical idiot; for all the MasterHarper and I have been espoused now thirty turns。 Here you are; my fine lad。 Much more appetizing than blanket to chew on。〃 And she handed Robinton a sweet stick。 〃I believe you prefer peppermint。〃
   The tears were nearly dry; but the gift brought the winsome smile back and a clear 〃t'ank you〃 from the recipient。 He pushed himself straighter on Merelan's lap; accepted the offering and leaned back against his mother's forting body as he sucked happily on the sweet。
   〃I'm not criticizing Petiron; Merelan;〃 Betrice said earnestly。
   Merelan smiled gently。 〃You say nothing that isn't the truth; but he's much easier to deal with; generally speaking; when he's posing。〃
   〃Which seems to be often。。。〃
   Merelan laughed。 〃Petiron naturally plicates things。 It's a knack he has;〃 she said indulgently。
   〃Humph! He's a very lucky man to have such an understanding mate;〃 Betrice said emph

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的