amc.masterharperofpern-第65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！


　　　Robinton　managed　not　to　grin。　He　had　heard　about　the　fine　rows　his　father　had　with　Domick；　arguing　chromatic　variations；　and　he　rather　thought　Petiron　might　have　met　his　match。
　　　〃I　just　thought　that。。。〃　he　tried　again。　〃Well；　you　thought　wrong。　What　contracts　are　available？〃　And　Petiron　held　out　his　hand；　all　but　snapping　his　fingers　at　his　son　to　speed　him　up。
　　　Robinton　stepped　round　to　the　front　of　the　desk　where　messages　were　piled　in　order　and　by　subject。　For　the　last　few　weeks　of　his　life；　Gennell　had　kept　Robinton　up　to　date　on　all　Hall　matters；　so　he　knew　which　pile　contained　the　requests　for　harpers。　He　picked　it　up　and　handed　it　to　Petiron。
　　　〃See　if　one　of　these　suits；〃　he　said；　acquiescing　to　the　inevitable。
　　　In　a　way；　he　was　relieved。　He　would　indeed　feel　a　slight　inhibition　that　his　father　might　question　some　of　the　decisions　he　would　have　to　make　…　especially　as　Petiron　had　widely　opposite　notions　about　the　imminence　of　Threadfall　and　what　fourth…turn　position　apprentices　had　to　learn　even　if　they　were　unlikely　ever　to　have　to　teach　theory　and　position。　It　would　be　easier　if　Petiron　were　not　here。
　　　〃I　have　made　it　quite　clear　to　my　peers　that　this　is　my　choice；　Robinton；　and　none　of　your　doing；〃　said　Petiron；　picking　out　one　message　and　handing　it　to　his　son。　〃This　one　will　suit　me。〃
　　　Robinton　looked　at　it　and　blinked。　〃Half　Circle　SeaHold？　Father；　you　can't！　It's　the　back　end　of　nowhere。　I've　been　there。　The　only　ways　in　are　by　sea　or　dragonback。〃
　　　〃Still；　it　is　right　on　Nerat　Bay；　and　any　halfway　decent　captain　can　get　me　there。　They　haven't　had　a　harper　in　six　turns。　There'll　be　a　lot　of　work　to　remedy　that　sort　of　neglect。　You　are　so　determined　that　everyone　shall　know　the　Teaching　Ballads：　here's　a　challenge　for　me。〃
　　　〃But　there　are　holds　in　Keroon；　and　that　one　on　the　Telgar　River。。。〃　〃I　have　chosen　Half　Circle　SeaHold。　Do　not　deny　me；　Robinton。〃　〃Please　consider　another；〃　Robinton　insisted；　worried　about　the　degree　of　isolation　afforded　by　Half　Circle　SeaHold。
　　　〃I　have　chosen；　MasterHarper。〃　With　that；　Petiron　made　a　formal　bow　and　left　the　office。
　　　〃By　the　Egg！〃　Robinton　flopped　down　into　the　fortable　chair　which　Gennell　had　occupied　and　wondered　if　he　would　ever　fit　in　it　as　well　as　the　dear　old　man　had　hoped。　He　had　already　made　…　or　had　made　for　him　…　his　first　official　decision。　He　devoutly　hoped　it　was　the　right　one。
Chapter　SIXTEEN
　　　Many　of　Robinton's　duties　that　Turn　were　simply　to　keep　the　ordinary　daily　doings　of　the　Harper　Hall　going　smoothly；　accepting　new　apprentices；　conferring　journeyman　status　on　those　qualifying；　and　confirming　one　Master：　Jerint；　who　took　over　from　the　frail　Gorazde。
　　　F'lon　was　ecstatic　with　his　friend's　rise　to　the　MasterHarpership　and　would　e　at　the　roll　of　a　drum　message　to　take　him　to　any　Hold　or　Hall　that　required　the　presence　of　the　MasterHarper。
　　　Robinton　often　availed　himself　of　that　courtesy　since；　in　his　role　as　mediator；　he　did　a　great　deal　of　travelling。　Sometimes　it　was　the　hope　that　he'd　find　a　new　candidate　for　the　Harper　Hall；　remended　by　the　youngster's　harper。　But　only　one　girl　singer　was　brought　to　his　attention　and　her　parents　felt　she　was　too　young；　yet；　to　be　away　from　home。　She　was　sixteen；　with　a　sweet　voice　he　felt　could　be　trained　up；　but　she　also　had　a　young　lad　from　the　next　hold　whom　she　was　keen　to　espouse。　Singing　was　second　best。
　　　Then　there　were　his　necessary　appearances　at　Gathers　and　the　once…a…Turn　Conclave　to　which　Fax　was　never　invited　and　where　his　name　was　never　mentioned；　even　when　Robinton；　Melongel　or　Tarathel　tried　to　initiate　a　discussion　about　the　man's　totally　illegal　usurpation　of　power。
　　　〃Why　do　you　fuss　so？〃　the　grumpy；　aged　Lord　Holder　of　Igen　demanded。　His　face　was　a　sea　of　lines；　graven　by　squinting　all　his　life　at　the　hot　sun　over　his　Hold。　〃Fax　is；　I　do　believe；　a　nephew　of　old　Faroguy　and　if　his　sons。。。〃
　　　〃Farovene　was　killed。。。〃
　　　〃Yes；　yes；　so　everyone　says；　but　Fax　is　of　the　Hold's　Bloodline　and　if　the　other　one。。。　whatever　his　name　was。。。〃
　　　〃Is；〃　Robinton　said　firmly；　〃Bargen。。。〃
　　　〃Bargem　then；　can't　stomach　a　challenge　duel；　eh？　Then　he　isn't　the　sort　of　Lord　his　holders　will　follow；　is　he？〃　And　when　Melongel　started　to　protest；　Tesner　of　Igen　interrupted　him。　〃Ever　think　that　Faroguy　wanted　a　stronger　man　in　his　Hold？　Huh？　Ever　think　Fax　might　have　been　told　by　Faroguy　to　take　Hold？〃
　　　No　one　had　an　answer　for　that；　even　Robinton；　though　he　tried　desperately　to　think　of　a　diplomatic　way　of　expressing　his　deep　and　instinctive　distrust　and　anxiety　over　Fax's　aggressiveness。　There　had　been　that　time；　close　to　Robinton's　espousal　to　Kasia；　when　Melongel　had　wondered　if　the　drum　messages；　purported　to　be　sent　by　Faroguy；　had　really　originated　with　the　old　Lord。　Robinton　did　keep　F'lon　from　speaking　in　his　blunt　way　lest　the　Weyrleader　antagonize　the　Lord　Holders。
　　　〃Why'd　you　do　that？〃　F'lon　growled　at　Robinton。　〃At　least　we　had　them　on　the　subject。〃
　　　〃There's　an　old　maxim　…　'A　man　convinced　against　his　will　is　of　his　own　opinion　still。'〃　Robinton　sighed；　shaking　his　head。　〃We'll　have　to　wait　until　Fax　moves　again。〃
　　　〃Or　the　next　Pass　starts！〃　F'lon　said　bitterly。　〃Then　it'll　be　too　late！〃
　　　〃Or　just　right；〃　Robinton　added；　as　he　imagined　the　chaos　and　backtracking　the　return　of　Thread　would　cause　among　those　indolent　and　incredulous　Holders　and　Masters。
　　　Towards　the　end　of　the　next　spring；　Nip　brought　new　reports　on　Fax's　activities。
　　　〃Man's　taken　over　another　hold；〃　Nip　said；　slipping　into　Robinton's　room　late　one　night；　wearing　his　runner's　shorts。　He　was　barefooted；　carrying　spiked　running　shoes　in　one　hand。　〃It's　late；　I　know；　but　your　glows　guided　my　steps　to　your　door　again；〃　he　added　with　a　grin　as　he　stopped　by　the　chest　where　Robinton　stored　wine…skins　and　glasses。　The　running　shoes　clattered　to　the　floor。
　　　〃Which　two　holds？〃　Robinton　said；　gesturing　to　indicate　that　he'd　need　a　drink　too；　to　help　swallow　the　news。
　　　〃Not　big　ones；〃　Nip　said；　〃not　greedy　is　our　self…styled　Lord　of　Three　Holds。　Just　prosperous　ones。　And　he　plays　no　favourites。。。〃　Robinton　said　nothing；　letting　Nip　vent　his　fury。　〃Just　ventures　a　little　ways　into　Telgar　to　nobble　Radharc。〃
　　　〃It's　not　like　Melongel　to　allow　him　away　with　that。〃
　　　〃Ah；〃　and　Nip　held　up　a　forefinger；　〃you　hadn't　heard　that　Melongel's　ill？〃
　　　〃No；　I　hadn't。〃　Robinton　sat　up。
　　　〃Had　a　fall　off　a　runner…beast。。。〃　〃Melongel's　a　good　rider。。。〃
　　　Nip's　smile　was　grim。　〃So　he　is　but　not　when　the　animal　is　fed　something　that　sends　it　into　convulsions　and　pins　the　rider　under　him　in　its　death　throes。〃
　　　〃How　could　Fax。。。〃
　　　〃Who　knows；　but　Melongel　is　lucky　to　be　still　alive。〃　〃Clostan's　a　very　good　healer。。。〃
　　　Nip　nodded。　〃He　is　but　he's　worried。　Almost　every　bone　in　Melongel's　body　was　broken。　He　may　never　walk　again。〃　Robinton's　fist　hit　the　table。　〃How　could。。。〃
　　　Nip　was　rubbing　his　finger　and　thumb　together；　a　very　cynical　expression　on　his　face。　〃Fax　buys　loyalty　and　service。。。　with　the　added　incentive　of　fear。　Who　knows　how　he　managed　it？　But　I'd　say　he　did。　Which　means　there'll　be　no　opposition　from　that　quarter　Oterel's　a　good　lad　but　who　would　expect　him　to　have　to　deal　with　this　sort　of　crisis　so　early　in　his　Holding？〃
　　　〃How　is　Juvana？〃　Robinton　owed　her　for　her　support　when　Kasia　died。
　　　〃Working　as　hard　as　Clostan　to　save　her　spouse。　They　may　bring　it　off　yet。〃
　　　〃Is　it　just　your　suspicion　that　Fax　was　behind　the。。。　accident？〃　Nip　laughed。　〃Who　else？　It　is　so　timely。　Fax　mardes　the　recently。。。〃　and　Nip　gave　another　false　smile；　〃orphaned　eldest　daughter　of　the　deceased　holder　on　Tillek　lands　…　no　mention；　of　course；　of　any　male　siblings　or　relatives。　On　the　Keroon　side；　he　has　a　document　that　makes　him　the　incumbent's　choice　of　successor。　I　don't　think　the　present　holder　can　count　on　seeing　the　Turn　out。〃
　　　Robinton　thumped　the　table　again　in　frustration。　〃Can't　something　be　done？〃
　　　〃Off…hand；　since　no　one　will　give　us　a　hand；　no；〃　Nip　said　pragmatically。
　　　〃That　man's　determined　to　own　the　entire　west　coast。　Slowly；　by　inches；　he　moves　into　an　area；　eliminating〃；　and　here　Nip　drew　a　finger　across　his　throat；　〃any　opposition。　He's　got　three　spouses　now；　more　than　a　sane　man　would　wish。　Doesn't　the　Charter　restrict　how　many　a　man　can　have？〃
　　　〃No；〃　Robinton　replied　thoughtfully；　pinching　at　his　upper　lip。
　　　〃Actually　it　doesn't　deal　with　personal　relationships　at　all　…　at　least　not　the　usual　variety　…　though　it　is　specific　in　the　violation。。。〃　and　Robinton　paused；　〃such　as　rape　or　other　unwanted　acts。〃　〃Damned　Charter　was　written　by　idealists。〃
　　　〃Quite　likely；　but　the　Charter　does　work　for　the　majority。〃
　　　Nip　grimaced。　〃It's　the　minority；　the　damaged　and　oppressed　minority　in　Fax's　general　area　we're　talking　about。〃
　　　Robinton　shook　his　head。　〃I've　done　all　I　can　with　the　Lord　Holders。〃
　　　Nip　leaned　across　the　table；　the　expression　in　his　eyes　anxious　and　intent。　〃You're　the　one　good　with　words；　Harper。　Find　some　stronger　ones　before　it's　too　late。〃
　　　Robinton　nodded；　though　both　he　and　Nip　understood　the　reluctance　of　any　of　the　Lord　Holders　to　act　…　singly　or　together。
　　　What　would　it　take　to　force　them　out　of　their　fortable　…　and；　they　hoped；　impregnable　…　Holds　to　act？　He　shuddered。　Fax　had　already　mitted　many　offences　against　the　peace　of　Pern。　He　shook　his　head；　unable　to　contemplate　the　kind　of　impetus　needed。
　　　F'lon？　No；　Fax　would　enjoy　taking　him　on　but　Pern　needed　the　Weyrleader's　strength　and　belief　as　much　as　Gennell　had　needed　Robinton's　in　the　position　of　MasterHarper。
　　　〃I'll　keep　my　eyes　peeled　and　my　ears　open；〃　Nip　told　Robinton；　draining　the　last　of　his　wine　and　setting　the　glass　down。　〃I'll　borrow　your　spare　room。。。　since　you're　all　alone　tonight？〃
　　　Robinton　chose　to　ignore　the　cocky　grin　and　knowing　eyes　of　his　roving　harper　but　he　wasn't　at　all　surprised　that　Nip　knew　that　he　and　Silvina　often　spent　nights　together。
　　　〃Are　you　officially　running；　Nip？〃　he　called　out；　sitting　himself　down。　He　would　write　Juvana　a　letter。　The　MasterHarper　was　at　h