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！
ying to carry too many hides as well as various tools； and dropping things。 And where was T'gellan with his maps？
By the time much of the Weyr's most urgent household items had been shoved or bundled into packs； brown； blue； and green dragons had arrived to be loaded and sent off。 Three other blues took the cradled children。 Browns were draped with fabric rolls and sleeping furs； and bulky items were tied to willing backs。
It was as well that dragons had an innate instinct for avoiding each other on the ground as well as in the air； for the traffic in and out of the main Weyr clearing was amazing。 With Zaranth； Golanth had made three more trips between without his rider； conveying the healer and half a dozen patients。
T'gellan finally came to F'lessan's end of the porch； lugging one end of a heavy chest as two brown riders held the other。 Tucked under his belt were maps。 While the brown riders lifted the chest to Monarth's back； T'gellan beckoned to F'lessan； who was beginning to worry about how much time this was all taking。
The Weyrcook； arms full of bundles； nearly fell down the steps； followed by weyrfolk struggling with sacksful of clicking pots and leaking supplies just as Golanth touched down again。 T'gellan rolled his eyes significantly at the younger rider and F'lessan offered Golanth's services。 The cook mounted first； securing as many things as she could to Golanth's ridges。 When no more could fit on his back； he raised just high enough above the ground to go between yet again。
Then T'gellan was at F'lessan's side； unrolling one of the maps just as three bronze dragons deposited their riders on the recently cleared space。 Two riderless brown dragons hovered above the trees； waiting to land。
〃I suspect you're more adept at timing than that trio； my friend；〃 T'gellan said； admirably cool in manner； 〃so you get to go the farthest。 Take St'ven on Mealth and C'reel and Galuth to help。〃 The Weyrleader gestured to the browns。 He unrolled the map to F'lessan who took one edge as he recognized a copy of the aerial maps that Aivas had supplied to all the Weyrs。 〃We were out over this area last time you flew with us。 You'll remember this orange cliff！〃 T'gellan tapped at the recognizable landmark。 〃Long wide bay； long； sloping sands to the sea。〃 He grimaced at the thought of the clear path that would give the ining tsunami。 〃Granite cliff。 White sands stand out against it。 Bay looks like the sea took a toothless bite out of the coastline。〃 He gave the younger rider a reassuring grin。 〃Don't let them talk you into conveying their boats。 Those are replaceable。 Lives are not！〃
With that philosophy F'lessan agreed； but he also knew how difficult it was to make holders abandon whatever treasures they might own。
〃Holds're mostly near this stream； but that would provide the tsunami with a channel to flood badly way inland。 Be sure everyone is well back on the summit。 We can't estimate how high the tsunami crest will be。 Reaching the heights will be a climb for some but there're switchback steps cut in the lower levels。 But among the three of you； you ought to be able to evacuate them all。 Somehow or other。〃 T'gellan's expression was grim again as he thrust the map at F'lessan。 〃You're a good rider。〃 He gave F'lessan a supportive clout on the shoulder。 〃Secure that chest on Monarth； will you； C'reel； St'ven？ Then F'lessan's your Wingleader。〃
〃I've called in as many riders as can be spared to clear Monaco Harbor and Cove Hold；〃 T'gellan said； his forehead furrowed with worry。 〃Sweep riders are warning inland holders but we can't take time to figure out how far above sea level they are。 They'll just have to get as high as they can。 But all have got to be warned。〃 In a final aside； before the Weyrleader mounted； he leaned into F'lessan。 〃Don't shave time too close！ Lessa would kill me if you got time…lost。〃
Then he was astride his dragon and Monarth leaped skyward and was gone between before the upper sail of his wings cleared the rooftree on the Weyr building。
〃C'reel； St'ven； mount up！ Golanth？ Golanth？〃 He felt the sudden air pressure on his body and didn't need to look to know that his bronze had landed on the ground beside him。 He couldn't resist a proud grin at such accuracy。 〃We're going to the Sunrise Cliff Seahold。 Take your directions from me；〃 he added； stuffing the aerial map into a thigh pocket。 Remember where the fireball was when we got here first； Golanth？
Of course。
Put it in the same place above Sunrise Cliff Seahold and let's go then！ F'lessan vividly imagined the grass…topped rock face with white sands for contrast。
Golanth sprang upward； once again going between a leg…length above the ground。 In the cold between； F'lessan had just time enough to wonder if the dragons were all embarked on something like Moreta's Ride。 What had she used for a time…mark？ Or had its absence caused her death？
IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT LANDING…LOCAL TIME 1：10…1。9。31
After seeing Master Wansor leave with D'ram and Lytol to return to Cove Hold to organize its evacuation； Lessa's mind raced with all the details that had already been sorted out。 She'd need time； of another sort； to organize her thoughts。 How F'lessan must be loving this license； she thought sardonically。 Erragon or Idarolan would be here soon enough to explain how bad this tsunami…tidal wave…wall of water phenomenon might be。 She turned off the monitor。 She'd had enough of its depressing show of figures for the time being。 She felt the klah pot and decided its contents were still warm enough to be drinkable。 Who knew when she might have time to eat or drink in the time…tossed turmoil that had just been set into motion？ She sipped as she reviewed the last hectic half hour。 She thought they'd done rather well； leaping into action after the initial shock。
F'lar had gone to muster Benden Weyr； sending sweep…riders to warn the most obviously vulnerable holdings along the Nerat and Benden coastline。 Few on the rest of the planet would have any idea what had just happened in the Eastern Sea。 It was Monaco that would suffer the first huge wave。 T'gellan had thirty…four experienced older bronze riders to manage evacuations。 F'lar would ask J'fery at Telgar and G'dened at Ista to send more bronzes to assist。 Manora and Brekke would organize supplies； food； medicines； and healers。 She would organize Landing。 She had before。 Ramoth had called Benden's junior queens to help with dragons ing and going。 Jaxom and Sharra would bring Sebell。 They'd have to call a conference with Lord Holders and Craftmasters…that is； as soon as she had enough details。
She finished the last of her klah and turned as she heard the door click open。 Erragon stood there； his face expressively conveying that his 〃details〃 were not going to be good news。 Resolutely； he closed the door and strode over to the Mercator projection； fumbling to extract a red marker from his pocket。
〃I'm afraid；〃 he said； 〃that while Monaco Bay is in the direct line of only one main wave； it will also be inundated by several waves； diffracted by the inner Ring islands。〃 He put his red marker on the islands and made a rapid downward stroke； ending a