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第60部分

amc.masterharperofpern-第60部分

小说: amc.masterharperofpern 字数: 每页4000字

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   Yes; it was the best piece of music he had written。 And listening to it; somehow he found he could think of Kasia without the terrible sense of loss and the constriction around his heart。 As the final chords died away; he sighed and went back to his studying。
   He tried to absent himself from the Hall whenever he knew they were practising the sonata … even if its chords sometimes seemed to follow him no matter how far away he took himself。
   When it was performed at the Autumn Gather; he did not go to the performance。 Instead; he saddled his Ruathan runner and took a long ride; camping out overnight。 But his dreams were laden with memories of Kasia and he woke sweating; to lie awake until dawn; still remembering what he had loved about her: her laugh; the crinkling of her eyes; the lilt in her voice; the way she would swing her hips; deliberately enticing him。
   Winter was just settling over Fort Hold with an early snowshower when Master Gennell came looking for him。
   〃Ah; Rob;〃 he said; ing towards him。 Placing a fatherly arm across Robinton's shoulders; he guided the younger harper into his office。 〃We've an emergency。 Recall Karenchok; thin; dark…skinned journeyman in the same group as Shonagar?〃
   〃Oh; yes; I do。〃
   〃Well; he's broken his leg badly and will be unable to plete his rounds。 Would you be willing to take over for him down in South Boll? Until he's able to travel again?〃
   Robinton was delighted to do so and hastily organized his packs for a noontime departure。 He paused only long enough to tell his mother where he was going and why。 She listened; nodding her head and giving him an encouraging little smile。 As she walked him to the door; she reached up to caress his cheek。 〃The sonata received a tremendous ovation; Rob;〃 she said softly。
   He nodded; took her hand; kissed it; and left。
   Karenchok's home base was a cluster of seaside holds on the eastern shore of South Boll。 It was hot and steamy when Robinton arrived; and the SeaHolder greeted him enthusiastically。
   〃We've all been worried about him; Journeyman。 He's very popular here; and so we've kept someone with him to help。〃
   〃You're very kind; Holder Matsen。 Master Gennell asked me to thank you for your care。〃
   〃We've a very good healer; local woman but trained properly in the Hall。 She's been overseeing his care; but she's busy too。〃
   The Holder was a short man; stockily built in the barrel; with thin legs that didn't look strong enough to hold up the weight he carried。 But he moved quickly as he led the way to the cot set back from the little harbour。 There was a long chair out in front; made by attaching a flat…topped stool to a padded chair。 Vines had been trained over a lattice to shield the front from the morning sun。
   〃Ho; Karenchok; brought you a guest;〃 Matsen bellowed; giving advance warning。
   A woman appeared in the door; giving the loose; long skirt she wore a final twitch。 Her smile was guileless as she greeted harper and Holder
   〃Ah; Laela; that's where you got to;〃 said Matsen in a slightly strained voice。
   Laela's smile turned on Robinton; and her eyes widened slightly。
   Then her manner became subtly seductive and her smile warmer。
   〃This is Journeyman Harper Robinton;〃 Matsen said stiffly。
   〃Laela helps Healer Saretta with hold…bound patients。〃
   〃I do my part;〃 she said in a sultry voice; and Robinton felt his lips twitching。 He could not deny her sensuality … or that it was affecting him。 It was the first time in the nearly nine months since Kasia's death that he had felt this way。 He didn't know if this was a good thing or not; but there was no missing the invitation in Laela's voice and eyes as she slid past him。 〃Karenchok is in good spirits;〃 she said; her laughter trailing her departure。
   In spite of himself; Robinton turned to see where she went。
   〃Karenchok is here;〃 Matsen said; prompting his attention。
   〃Sorry。〃
   Matsen cleared his throat and led the way into the cot。
   Karenchok was sitting by the table; his splinted leg straight out in front of him and a pair of wooden crotches handily slanted against another chair。 Robinton did recognize him: one of Shonagar's wrestling partners。 Seeing Robinton; Karenchok waved a friendly hand。
   〃I remember you; Robinton;〃 he said in greeting。 〃Very good of Gennell to send me help so quickly。 e; sit。 Matsen; can you find the wine…skin for me?〃
   Matsen did; but not without a glance which told Robinton that Karenchok had been drinking rather more than might be good for him。 A curious peek at the label on the skin disclosed the fact that this was a Tillek red; which was likely harsh。 Well; it was wine and would go down as well as best Benden。
   By late evening he had learned all about Karenchok's accident and admired the man for the grit it must have taken to crawl; with a leg broken in three places; to a path where someone would find him。 He'd been riding back to his cot when his runner … 'one of the stupidest ever bred' … had been frightened by a tunnel snake and thrown him down into the gully。 Once over its scare; the runner had been in no hurry to return to its home; so it was late night before a search party went out to find him。 When Robinton remarked on his fortitude; Karenchok shrugged。
   〃Well; the misbegotten runner got me into the ditch; it was up to me to get out。〃
   The phrases caught Robinton's attention: 〃Got into; get out!〃 Notes began once more to spin in his head。
   He didn't get the rest of the tune until much later; but it was a start; and he was grateful to be able to think music again。
   Although he had spent some time with his mother's family on the west coast; this part of eastern South Boll was quite different; with land sloping down into fine beaches and piers thrust far out to where the water was deep enough to acmodate the fishing boats。 He even forced himself to go out to sea in Matsen's sloop; though it was five times the size of the sloop he and Kasia had sailed。 But he made another step forward out of grief by doing so。
   Tactful questioning of Karenchok elicited the information that Laela was her own person; beholding to none。 She gave her favours where she would; and Karenchok was grateful for her generosity。
   So was Robinton; although he winced when she boldly claimed that she would lift the sadness from his eyes。 It annoyed her that she couldn't … though she tried often enough during his winter stay at the SeaHold。
   Just after turn's End at the SeaHold; a dragon was spotted in the skies。 The children Robinton was teaching at that moment could not contain their excitement: it wasn't often that dragons came this far south。 As Robinton shielded his eyes from the brightness of the morning sun on the water; he tentatively spoke the name。
   〃Simanith? Is that you?〃
   It is; and there was such a note of joyfulness in the dragon's voice … so like F'lon's … that Robinton grinned。
   〃What is it? What brings you so far away from Benden?〃 Robinton asked。
   You。 We've been to the Hall。 They told us you were here。
   F'lon was half…off Simanith's neck before the big bronze had touched the sand of the beach。
   〃I'm a father; Rob; I'm a father!〃 F'lon shouted; waving one arm and charging up the strand to thump the harper soundly on the back。 He had a wine…skin thrown over the other shoulder。 〃A son! Larna gave me a son!〃
   〃Larna? So you did get her!〃 Robinton had to dismiss the pang in his heart。 Kasia had been alive when he'd first learned about F'lon's interest in the grown…up Larna; who had been such a plaguy nuisance to Falloner; the boy。
   〃Dismiss your class; Rob;〃 F'lon ordered。 〃Off you go; children! Class again tomorrow。〃
   Robinton had to laugh at the dragonrider's high…handed way; but F'lon's exultation brought smiles to the fishmen mending nets on the strand。 Robinton hurriedly introduced F'lon to Matsen and the others; and then led his old friend to the cot he shared with Karenchok。
   〃A fine strong lad; just like his sire;〃 F'lon boasted; splashing wine into the cups Karenchok hastily set out。
   〃Don't waste this;〃 Robinton said; having had a taste of the white wine that was being so liberally poured。 〃It's Benden; isn't it?〃
   〃What else would I provide to toast the health of my first son?〃 F'lon demanded; and he quaffed his glass dry。
   It was a merry time; though all too short because F'lon was anxious to return to Benden and his child。
   〃I gather Larna did forgive you for pushing her into the midden; then?〃 Robinton remarked after listening to F'lon's ravings。
   The dragonrider gave him a startled look。 〃I never pushed her into the midden。 That was Rangul。 R'gul; I should say。 That isn't where he'd've liked to push her; but I〃 … and he slapped his chest proudly … 〃got her as weyrmate; not R'gul。〃
   〃I'm sure she'll be happier with you;〃 Robinton said; remembering what a stuffy child Rangul had been。
   〃Of course she will;〃 F'lon replied。 Finishing his third; or maybe fourth; glass of wine; he decided he had best return to the Weyr; Larna and his son。 〃I've named him Fallarnon。〃
   〃A fine choice for a dragonrider…to…be。〃
   〃Bronze; of course;〃 F'lon added as he waved a cheerful goodbye to Karenchok。
   〃He came all the way from Benden Weyr to tell you that?〃 Karenchok asked; hobbling to the doorway to watch the drugonrider depart。
   〃We're old friends。〃
   〃Good friends。〃 Karenchok lifted his wineglass appreciatively。
   〃You don't get good Benden often in South Boll。〃
   Nine days later a runner brought Robinton a short message from F'lon: Larna had died two days after Fallarnon's birth。 Robinton sent back a message by the same runner; expressing his condolences。
   In his heart; though; Robinton envied F'lon; who had a son to remember his love by。
   When Karenchok was finally walking soundly and able to ride again; Robinton reluctantly bequeathed him the Ruathan runner … a much sounder and smarter animal than the weedy elderly runt which had thrown him。 He rode Karenchok's back to the Hall; having no other; and it was indeed the most unfortable 

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