amc.masterharperofpern-第9部分

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rom　the　Hall　on　a　confinement；　and　she　was　rather　plimented　that　Merelan　would　turn　to　her　at　all。
　　　〃I　mean；　I've　heard　third…year　apprentices　who　couldn't　sing　the　Duty　Song　as　well；〃　Merelan　said；　venting　both　anger　and　frustration　as　she　pounded　around　the　room。　〃Not　a　note　wrong；　not　even　a　poorly　timed　breath。　Why；　the　performance　was　excellent。〃
　　　〃Petiron　said　that　much；　didn't　he？〃　Lorra　asked；　hoping　to　soothe　the　singer。
　　　〃Yes；　but　there　was　so　much　more　he　could　have　said。　Robie　sang　splendidly；　better　than　a　lad　of　fourteen；　and　he's　barely　four　Turns！　And　Petiron　acted　as　if　it　was　no　more　than　he　expected　of　his　son。〃
　　　〃Ah！〃　Lorra　pointed　a　finger　at　her　distraught　visitor。　〃You've　said　it。　He　expected　such　excellence　from　his　own　son！　If　Robie　hadn't　been　as　accurate　and　correct　as　Petiron　expected；　then　you'd've　heard　all　about　it；　now　wouldn't　you？〃
　　　Merelan　paused　in　her　pacing　and　stared　at　the　headwoman。
　　　Then；　with　a　rueful　laugh；　her　anger　dissipating；　she　sat　herself　down　in　the　other　fortable　chair；　chuckling。
　　　〃You're　right；　of　course。　If　Robie　hadn't　been　note…perfect；　he　would　have　had　to　repeat　the　Duty　Song　until　he　was。　Oh；　by　the　first　Egg；　what　am　I　to　do？　The　boy　so　much　needs；　and　wants；　his　father's　approval。　He's　never；　never　going　to　get　it。〃
　　　〃Shouldn't　wonder；　since　Petiron's　shyer　about　giving　credit　where　it's　due　than　any　other　harper　in　the　Hall。　But；〃　Lorra　pointed　out；　〃now　you　don't　have　to　fret　so　much　about　when　Petiron　finds　out　his　own　son　is　lengths　ahead　of　him　musically。〃
　　　Merelan　shot　Lorra　a　stunned　look。
　　　〃Oh；　c'mon；　Merelan；〃　Lorra　returned；　〃you　know　it　yourself。　The　boy's　already　more　of　a　musician　than　apprentices　three　times　his　age。　I　shouldn't　wonder　but　that　he　makes　journeyman　by　the　time　he's　sixteen。〃
　　　〃A　journeyman　has　to　be　eighteen　。。。〃　Merelan　began　in　a　feeble　denial。
　　　〃Well；　by　the　time　he's　sixteen；　we'll　see。　Meanwhile；　I'd　say　that　after　today；　you　won't　have　to　watch　Robie　around　his　father　so　carefully。　It'll　be　easier　for　Rob；　too。　It's　obvious　to　me　that　Petiron　won't　notice　much　until　Robie's　voice　breaks　and　he　realizes　his　〃infant〃　son　is　nearly　a　man。〃
　　　〃Really？〃　Merelan　asked　pensively；　considering　Lorra's　facetious　words　seriously。
　　　〃Wouldn't　surprise　me　in　the　least；〃　Lorra　replied　with　a　flick　of　her　fingers。　〃Now　you　stop　fretting　so　much。　The　strain's　ing　out　in　your　voice　…　I'm　sorry　to　mention　that　to　you；　but　I　don't　think　anyone　else　would。　Except　Petiron；　and　it's　as　well　he　hasn't　noticed。　Or　am　I　overstepping　the　line？〃
　　　〃No；　you're　not；　Lorra。　Never。〃　Merelan　hastily　laid　her　hand　on　Lorra's　plump　forearm。　〃I　just　didn't　think　anyone　would　notice。　I've　just　been　vocalizing　and　tried　to　go　easy　on　my　voice。。。〃
　　　〃Not　easy　when　you're　in　between　a　rock　and　a　hard　place　with　those　two　men　in　your　life。〃　Lorra　leaned　forward　and　patted　Merelan's　nervously　drumming　fingers。　〃I'm　not　a　healer；　but　a　glass　of　wine　would　not　go　amiss　right　now。　For　both　of　us。〃　She　rose　and　went　to　the　cabinet；　taking　down　a　wine…skin　and　two　glasses。　Merelan　waved　away　the　courtesy；　but　Lorra　insisted。
　　　〃There're　a　lot　of　things　Petiron　won't　notice；　including　wine　on　your　breath；　if　that's　what　you're　worried　about。　And　right　now　you　need　to　relax；　which　is　what　my　herbal　cordial　will　help　you　do。〃　Merelan　glanced　out　of　the　office　at　Robie；　who　was　making　the　girls　giggle；　his　round；　happy　face　smeared　with　deep　purplish　berry　juice。　She　settled　back；　accepting　the　glass。
　　　〃Has　Master　Gennell　told　you　about　the　new　girl　yet？〃　Lorra　asked。
　　　〃Halanna？〃　When　Lorra　nodded；　Merelan　went　on；　〃Yes；　I'd　a　letter　from　Ista　Hold's　harper；　Maxilant。　He's　done　as　much　as　he　can　with　her　vocal　training　and　says　she's　too　good　to　be　messed　up　by　an　amateur　like　himself。〃　She　smiled　over　Maxilant's　modesty。
　　　〃Petiron　would　be　happy　to　have　a　good　contralto　on　hand　too；〃　Lorra　said。　She　sang　in　that　range；　though　never　as　a　soloist。　〃Odd；　isn't　life？　You　never　really　know　how　things'll　turn　out　until　they　do；　do　you？〃
　　　〃No；　you　don't。〃　As　Merelan　sipped；　she　could　feel　the　cordial　seeping　down　her　veins　and　the　knot　of　tension　in　her　belly　beginning　to　ease。
　　　〃She's　of　an　age　with　the　Hold　daughters　here；　so　I've　placed　her　with　them　in　the　cottage；〃　Lorra　said。　〃They　may　be　here　only　until　TurnOver；　but　they'll　help　her　ease　into　the　routine　here。　It　can　take　a　bit　of　getting　used　to；　can't　it？〃
　　　Merelan　couldn't　help　smiling　at　Lorra's　use　of　the　word　'routine'　in　connection　with　the　Harper　Hall。　No　two　days　were　ever　alike　in　the　fascinating；　and　sometimes　frantic；　atmosphere　within　this　rectangle。　She　did　very　vividly　remember　her　own　first　days　there；　and　would　help　young　Halanna　as　much　as　she　could　to　bee　accustomed　to　the　requisite　study　and　practice。　In　fact；　if　Lorra　was　correct　about　Petiron；　and　she　rather　suspected　the　head…woman　was；　Merelan　herself　would　wele　having　a　female　student　to　bring　on。　She'd　have　less　time　to　fret　herself　into　stress　over　all　the　confrontations　she　imagined　between　son　and　spouse。
Chapter　THREE
　　　Halanna　arrived；　and　created　an　instant　impression　on　all　who　met　her　of　an　overly　self…confident　seventeen…Turn…old　young　woman　who　found　fault　with　everything　at　the　Harper　Hall；　and　especially　the　cottage　where　she　was　lodged。　She　was　accustomed　to　a　room　of　her　own；　she　informed　Isla；　who　acted　as　foster…mother　to　her　charges：　she'd　never　be　able　to　sleep；　sharing　a　room。　Why　was　there　so　little　fresh　food　to　be　had　when　she　was　used　to　plenty　of　fruit？　The　weather　was　dreadful　and　she　hadn't　the　right　clothing；　though　the　three　large　bundles　laboriously　taken　up　by　carrier　beast　from　the　ship　which　had　delivered　her　at　Fort　Hold　Harbour　contained　an　immense　quantity　of　clothing。　Nor　had　she　sufficient　space　to　arrange　half　her　things　in　the　tiny　room　she　had　to　share！
　　　And　where　could　she　practice　in　peace　and　quiet　with　all　the　instruments　and　voices　blaring　constant　cacophony　into　the　rectangle？
　　　The　only　one　who　found　her　at　all　bearable　was　Petiron。　Once　he　heard　her　sing；　he　dismissed　Merelan's　remarks　about　her　lack　of　discipline　and　a　lack　of　general　knowledge　about　music　which　was　close　to　illiteracy。　Jubilant　over　having　a　contralto　with　such　a　rich　timbre　and　wide　range；　with　no　'break'　whatever；　he　immediately　began　to　write　contralto　solos　into　the　TurnOver　music　he　was　currently　posing。　He　discounted　Merelan's　suggestion　that　the　girl　would　not　be　able　to　'read'　the　contralto　line；　much　less　manage　the　tempo　changes　or　the　cadenzas。
　　　Unfortunately；　Petiron's　approval　merely　increased　Halanna's　already　overbearing　manner。　Merelan　needed　all　her　tact；　and　the　weight　of　her　position　as　MasterSinger；　to　get　the　girl　to　do　the　vocalizes　that　would　strengthen　her　breath　control；　sustain　her　range　and　prepare　her　for　the　rigours　of　singing　Petiron's　kind　of　vocally　extravagant　music。　That　Petiron　had　also　envisaged　a　soprano/contralto　duet　did　nothing　to　help　Merelan；　for　it　automatically　put　the　girl　on　a　par　with　a　MasterSinger；　which　Halanna　clearly　was　not　despite　an　amazing　natural　voice。
　　　Merelan　hadn't　a　jealous　bone　in　her　body　and　was　quite　willing　to　prepare　the　girl　or　remedy　the　gaps　in　her　education　…　if　Halanna　had　been　the　least　bit　amenable。　But　the　young　singer　decided　that；　if　she　was　good　enough　to　sing　a　duet　with　the　leading　MasterSinger　of　Pern；　she　had　no　need　to　do　such　dull　exercises　and　study　vocal　scores。　She　sang　loudly；　pletely　ignoring　any　dynamic　alteration　for　the　appropriate　performance　of　a　song　or　aria；　concerned　only　with　showing　off　the　power　of　her　vocal　equipment。　'Soft'　was　an　unknown　quality。
　　　〃If　she　keeps　on　shrieking　like　that；〃　Washell　said　to　Merelan　when　she　approached　him　for　advice　on　how　to　deal　with　Halanna；　〃she　won't　have　a　voice　in　a　couple　of　turns。　That'll　solve　that　problem　rather　neatly；　I'd　say。〃
　　　〃Washell！〃　Merelan　was　shocked　by　the　acid　tone　of　his　voice。
　　　He　raised　his　eyebrows；　wrinkling　his　forehead；　and　gave　her　a　long　look。
　　　〃Of　course；　it's　a　lot　harder　to　sing　softly；　since　it　requires　considerable　breath　control。　I've　had　many　difficult　students　in　my　life　as　a　teacher；　m'dear；　but　that　one　is　unique　in　my　experience。　Whatever　was　Maxilant　thinking　of　to　encourage　her　to　think　so　highly　of　her　ability？〃
　　　〃Sheer　desperation；　I'd　imagine；〃　Merelan　replied　with　understandable　disgust。　〃And　a　chance　to　get　her　out　of　his　hair。〃
　　　〃You　may　be　right。　Though　how　he　could　let　her　away　with　so　little　fundamental　understanding　of　note　values　is　really　beyond　me。〃
　　　〃And　quite　possibly　beyond　Halanna；〃　Merelan　added。　They　exchanged　understanding　grins。
　　　〃Let　Petiron　handle　this　one；　m'dear；〃　Washell　said；　winking。　〃He　won't　like　her　messing　up　his　music；　you　know。〃
　　　〃There　is　that；〃　Merelan　mused；　and　then　grimaced。　〃Only　he's　likely　to　find　me　lacking　as　an　instructor。　And　I'm　not！〃　she　added　with　a　touch　of　desperate　anger　in　her　voice。
　　　〃By　no　means；　m'dear；　as　everyone　else　in　the　Hall　will　vouch。〃　Washell　patted　her　arm。　Then　he　paused；　thinking。　〃There　may　be　another　way。　We'll　contrive。　Just　you　wait　and　see。〃
　　　Many　of　the　Masters；　and　even　journeymen；　at　the　Harper　Hall　were　eccentric　in　one　fashion　or　another；　traits　which　were　respected　or；　sometimes；　endured　as　a　necessary　evil　to　the　results。
　　　But　they　had　all　put　in　the　essential　work　to　master　the　basic　mechanics　of　music。　Halanna　could　not　be　bothered　with　such　slogging。
　　　Merelan　kept　at　it；　as　obstinate　in　her　attempts　to　instruct　Halanna　as　the　girl　was　to　avoid　such　lessons。
　　　Halanna　was　an　acplished　flirt　and　quickly　isolated　those　whom　she　would　favour　…　because　of　their　rank；　either　within　the　Hall　or　from　prestigious　Holds。　She　chose　only　the　attractive　journeymen　and　Masters；　of　whom　there　were　quite　a　few　just　then：　back　at　the　Hall　either　for　reassignment　or　to　take　part　in　the　TurnOver　rehearsals。　Not　only　did　she　have　a　voice；　even　her　worst　enemies　had　to　admit　that　she　was　a　beauty。　Blond　hair　bleached　almost　silver　by　the　sun　in　Ista　Hold；　a　flawless　tan　that