amc.masterharperofpern-第33节

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！


is　worry　to　MasterHealer　Ginia；　when　Maizella　told　him　his　mother　had　fainted　after　one　intense　rehearsal　prior　to　the　Spring　Equinox　Gather　at　Fort。
　　　〃I　really　don't　know　what's　ailing　her；　Rob；〃　Ginia　said；　frowning　slightly；　〃though　I've　made　her　promise　to　take　the　remainder　of　the　summer　off　and　rest。　Let　Petiron　handle　whatever　vocal　training　has　to　be　done。。。〃　She　shot　him　a　searching　look。　〃Or　you。〃　Her　expression　softened　and　she　patted　his　hand。　〃You　almost　do　anyway；　from　what　I've　heard。〃
　　　Robinton　sat　up　straighter　in　the　chair；　alarmed。　All　he　needed　was　for　his　father　to　know　about　his　coaching　some　of　the　chorus。。。
　　　〃Now；　don't　fret。　Your　father　notices　only　what　he　wishes；　and　he　certainly　has　not　seen　what's　happening　to　Merelan。〃
　　　〃But　you　don't　know　what　is　happening；〃　Robinton　protested。
　　　〃I　know　that　she　needs　rest；　a　lack　of　tension　…　you　know　how　your　mother　is　before　a　performance；　learning　new　music。。。〃　He　nodded；　because　she　often　worked　herself　as　hard　bringing　the　soloists　up　to　the　level　Petiron　expected　as　he　did　his　instrumentalists　and　chorus。
　　　〃I　think　a　summer　down　in　South　Boll　with　her　family；　with　absolutely　no　performances　and　responsibilities；　will　see　her　right。　It　has　been　a　very　hard　winter。〃
　　　She　patted　Robinton's　hand　again。　〃You're　a　good　son；　Rob；　and　your　concern　does　you　credit。　Now；　I'll　keep　you　informed；　but　you　help　me　in　getting　her　to　take　a　good　long　rest；　will　you？〃
　　　〃Have　you　spoken　to　Master　Gennell？〃
　　　〃Repeatedly；〃　Ginia　said；　pursing　her　full　mouth　with　indignation。
　　　〃But　we　all　know　that　the　Spring　Equinox　is　important　in　our　calendar　and　had　better　go　off　with　no　problems。。。〃　She　rose；　a　signal　that　their　interview　was　at　an　end；　and　smiled　at　him。　〃You　should　go　with　her　and　be　sure　she　eats　well　and　rests　every　day。〃
　　　〃I'll　try。〃　And　he'd　take　F'lon　up　on　his　offer　to　fly　MasterSinger　Merelan　anywhere。
　　　As　it　happened；　he　didn't　go　with　his　mother：　his　father　did。
　　　Merelan　collapsed　after　singing　the　exacting　solo　at　the　end　of　the　Equinox　Ceremony；　and　Petiron　could　no　longer　ignore　the　fact　that　his　spouse　was　ill。
　　　Robinton　did　send　the　drum　message；　requesting　F'lon's　assistance；　and　he　did　help　his　mother　on　to　Simanith's　back。　He　had　to　step　away　as　his　father　mounted　behind　her。　The　fact　that　his　father　looked　distinctly　nervous；　anxious　and　worried　did　not　at　all　alleviate　his　own　fears　for　her。　Just　this　once　…　he　sent　his　thoughts　at　his　father　…　just　this　once；　think　of　her　first！
　　　An　hour　later；　F'lon　returned　and；　over　a　cool　juice　drink　and　more　of　Lorra's　light　pastries；　gave　details　of　how　he　had　installed　Merelan　in　the　cliffside　dwelling　with　its　splendid　view　of　the　sea；　and　how　Petiron　had　hovered　like　an　old　wherry；　fussing　until　F'lon　was　sure　he'd　drive　Merelan　insane　with　his　attentions。　Her　youngest　sister　had　appealed　to　her　spouse　to　take　the　man　away　and　let　Merelan　rest；　and　promised　to　see　that　Merelan　did　do　so。
　　　〃She　was　upset　when　she　saw　your　mother。　I　remember　her　being　slight　at　Benden　but　not　。。。　not　。。。　frail；〃　F'lon　said；　glancing　at　Lorra；　who　nodded。
　　　〃I　spoke　to　Ginia；　and　she　believes　that　a　full　summer　off　will　restore　my　mother's　health。〃　Even　as　Rob　spoke；　he　caught　Lorra　and　F'lon　exchanging　glances。　〃Now；　look；　if　there's　something　I　should　know；　tell　me。　She's　my　mother！　I　have　a　right　to　know。〃
　　　Lorra　turned　to　him；　making　a　sudden　decision。　〃Ginia　doesn't　know；　so　what　can　she　tell　you？　But　she's　hoping　the　rest　will　help。　Merelan　has　never　been　very　strong。。。〃
　　　〃You　mean；　after　giving　birth　to　a　big　lug　like　me？〃　Robinton　demanded。　He　had　overheard　his　father　plaining　that　having　a　child　had　seriously　damaged　her。
　　　〃You　weren't　that　big　at　birth；　for　all　of　you　now；〃　Lorra　said　in　her　droll　fashion；　〃so　don't　cover　yourself　with　midden　dung　in　guilty　reparation。　You　have　never　been　at　fault。〃　She　cleared　her　throat；　realizing　that　her　emphasis　implied　that　she　knew　who　was。
　　　〃Merelan's　always　lived　on　nerve。　It's　the　energy　she　uses　to　sing　and　perform　at　the　level　she　does　that　drains　her　so。　But　there　es　a　time　in　a　woman's　life　when　she　isn't　as　resilient　as　she　was　in　her　twenties。〃
　　　〃Mother　would　die　if　she　couldn't　sing。。。〃
　　　〃It's　unlikely　to　e　to　that；〃　Lorra　said　sharply。　〃But　she　certainly　will　have　to　cut　back　on　these　exhausting　performances。　It　isn't　as　if　Maizella's　not　capable；　or　he　can　write　for　Halanna；　who'd　be　only　too　happy　to　take　on　Merelan's　First　Singer　duties。〃　Her　eyes　flashed；　and　Robinton　couldn't　resist　chuckling　at　her　ment　about　Halanna。　〃Your　father　needs　a　scare　like　this；〃　she　went　on。　〃He　takes　Merelan　too　much　for　granted。〃
　　　〃She's　really　the　only　one　capable　of　singing　some　of　his　scores；〃　Robinton　said；　oddly　on　the　defensive。
　　　〃Well；　he　can　just　write　simpler。　Anyway；　your　songs　are　the　ones　anyone　can　sing　and　enjoy；　Rob。〃　When　he　started　to　demur；　she　flicked　her　fingers　at　him。　〃Oh；　I　know；　I　know；　but　it's　the　truth；　isn't　it；　dragonrider？〃
　　　F'lon　grinned；　nodding　vehemently。　Then　he　rose；　brushing　pastry　flakes　from　his　lips　and　off　his　undershirt。
　　　〃Any　time　you　want　to　visit　her；　give　me　a　roll；〃　he　said；　beginning　to　close　the　fastening　on　his　jacket。　〃I've　got　to　hunt　Simanith　on　the　way　back。〃
　　　When　Merelan　returned　to　the　Harper　Hall　in　the　autumn；　she　was　sun…browned　and　appeared　much　restored。　Petiron　continued　to　be　solicitous　and；　as　Robinton　heard　Master　Bosler　remark　to　a　journeyman；　he　seemed　to　have　mellowed。　Well　he　might　have　mellowed　towards　others；　Robinton　realized　later；　but　never　towards　him。　In　fact；　if　anything；　Petiron　ignored　his　son　more　thoroughly　than　ever。　There　were　not　even　any　of　the　usual　pithy　plaints　levelled　at　the　baritone　section。　But　then；　because　Robinton　was　more　or　less　the　leader　of　that　section；　Petiron　had　no　real　cause　for　plaint。　Everyone　did　better　than　their　best　at　all　times；　as　a　sort　of　aid　to　keep　him　from　his　father's　shafts　of　criticism。　Petiron　did　smile　more　frequently；　if　mainly　at　the　sopranos　and　altos；　and　he　did　praise　the　trebles　more　often。
　　　Merelan　still　coached　his　soloists；　but　she　was　given　fewer　voices　to　train。
　　　Master　Gennell　called　Robinton　in　one　morning　two　seven…days　after　his　parents'　return。　Sensitive　to　appearances　now；　Robinton　thought　the　MasterHarper　looked　tired；　as　well　as　older。
　　　〃You've　turned　fifteen　now；　haven't　you；　Rob？〃　Gennell　began。
　　　Robinton　nodded。　〃So　how　are　we　going　to　keep　you　busy　this　term？〃
　　　The　question　shook　Robinton　and　he　shifted　nervously　in　the　chair　〃I'm　not　sure　what　you　mean；　sir〃　He　paused；　cleared　his　throat；　and　then　blurted　out；　〃Theory　and　position　are　usually　third　term。。。〃
　　　〃Ah；　my　lad；　you've　mastered　those　long　since。　I　saw　the　orchestral　piece　you　did　for　Washell；　and　none　of　us　can　fault　it。〃　Gennell　smiled　reassuringly。　Then　his　expression　altered。　〃But　I　cannot　assign　you　to　your　father's　class。　And　I　must　find　suitable　studies　for　you。〃
　　　Robinton　closed　his　eyes　in　relief　at　the　knowledge　that　he　would　not　have　to　endure　a　class　with　his　father。
　　　〃I'll　be　plain；　Rob；　I've　never　understood　your　father's　antipathy　towards　you；　yet　there's　never　been　a　word　of　plaint　from　you。〃　〃He's　my　father；　Master　Gennell。。。〃
　　　〃Well；　we　won't　go　into　that　any　further　since；　in　effect；　the　entire　Hall　has　fostered　you　…　and　your　talent。〃　When　Robinton　ducked　his　head　with　embarrassment；　Master　Gennell　prodded　his　knee。　〃Modesty　is　all　very　well　and　good；　Robinton；　but　don't　let　it　get　in　your　way。〃
　　　Robinton　didn't　know　what　to　do　and　looked　around　the　fortable　office　for　inspiration。　His　glance　caught　the　map　with　its　little　coloured　pegs　signifying　the　position　of　journeymen　and　Masters　across　the　continent。　There　were　many　places　without　pegs；　which　meant　they　were　waiting　to　be　assigned　a　harper。
　　　〃Sir；　I　like　teaching；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　map；　〃and　I've　had　good　results　with　those　I've　tutored。〃
　　　〃Not　that　all　those　unassigned　holdings　would　accept　a　harper　if　I　had　one　to　assign　them；〃　Gennell　said　drolly。　And　when　Robinton　looked　apprehensive；　he　added　with　a　sigh；　〃There　are　some　holds　who　profess　not　to　require　the　services　we　provide。〃
　　　〃I　find　that　hard　to　believe；〃　Robinton　said；　appalled。　Not　want　to　learn　how　to　read；　and　write；　and　reckon？　How　could　people　get　along　in　life　without　such　basic　skills？
　　　〃Believe　it；　Rob；〃　Gennell　said；　shifting　in　his　chair　〃At　least；　since　there　are　so　many　still　who　do；　we're　not　in　any　danger　of　going　empty　the　way　the　Weyrs　did。〃　He　cleared　his　throat；　and　moved　records　about　on　his　desk。　〃You　may　discover　that　not　everyone　respects　harpers　as　we　would　like　them　to。　However；　to　a　happier　topic；　would　you　take　on　a　purely　teaching　assignment？〃
　　　Robinton　shifted　again；　this　time　with　excitement。　He　knew　his　room…mates　thought　him　daft　to　enjoy　teaching　…　lighting　the　dim…wits；　they　called　it。　But　Robinton　never　saw　the　task　as　a　chore。　He　looked　for　the　end　result；　the　bright　smile　of　understanding　on　a　student's　face　when　knowledge　suddenly　seeped　in。
　　　〃I　think