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！
〃Much obliged； Master。〃
〃Thank you； Master Tagetarl。〃
〃You're very kind； Master。〃
〃Appreciate this。〃
〃Eight； Pinch？〃 Tagetarl said； automatically steadying cups as he filled them； trying to absorb the presence of the Harper and the assistance。 Would there be enough klah left for him？
〃Yes； that's the number we figured it would take to paint all the wood you've got；〃 Pinch said with a weary sigh。 He snagged a stool to set his backside on； gesturing for his followers to be easy。 〃For all that most of your Hall is made of good fieldstone； you've wood in your doors and floors and window frames。 They'd burn just as easily as paper will。〃 Pinch raised his hand to soothe Tagetarl's explosion。 〃So we have thoughtfully brought a fire…retardant。 A coat of that's to go on all your wooden surfaces between now and full daylight。 Doesn't smell either。 Or won't with all the stinks this close to the wharves。 The stuff dries quickly； Piemur assures me； and since our Abominators would scarcely have delved that far into Aivas's files to know such useful substances exist； it'll help foil their plans。〃
〃It is the Abominators？ You know what they plan？〃 Tagetarl exclaimed； nearly sloshing hot klah over Macy's hand。
〃We can make some pretty good guesses； based on what they've done before；〃 Pinch said condescendingly。 Then his lips thinned with distaste。
〃But why should they attack the Print Hall？ We're supporting the teaching program after all and。。。〃
〃Well； you printed a concise report of the Fireball and the true extent of the Flooding；〃 Pinch said； grinning at the outraged Tagetarl。 〃We've surmised that the Abominators wanted to set about the rumor that Aivas had meddled with the very rhythm of Pern and that this Fireball was a direct result。 Therefore anything that Aivas had suggested； remended； dispensed the plans of； offered solutions to should be suspect； avoided； discarded； and forgotten so we can go back to the pure days when all we had to do was worry about Threadfall every two hundred and fifty Turns…give or take a few。〃
〃Is that what they were going to say？ After the good that's been done by the Healers since they learned how to rectify so many ailments and provide cures for maladies that used to kill people by the hundreds？ Not to mention being able to refer to books that provide explanations and…and…〃
Tagetarl was stunned。 Pinch poured a cup of klah and put it in his hand。
〃Drink。 You're not awake yet。 But that gives them more reason to try and put a stop to the Hall。〃
〃More reason？ Stop the Hall？〃
〃The written word has a power all its own； that rumor can never replace。 So you publish truth。 The Abominators circulate rumor。 A person can reread words and reestablish truth。 Rumor can't be caught； can't be traced。 It may be more fun to pass along but a book； a sheet of printed paper； that's tangible and the sense of it doesn't change when it's passed from hand to hand。 Drink the klah； Tagetarl；〃 Pinch said very gently； raising Tagetarl's hand to bring his cup to his mouth。
The MasterPrinter managed one sip of the hot liquid。 〃What do I do？ I'll need guards。 My apprentices aren't going to be enough！〃
Pinch raised hands to silence him。 〃Of course they aren't。 Nice enough lads but not trained； though I suspect Marley's a good man in a brawl； but my reinforcements here…〃 He gestured broadly at the young people who were quietly sipping klah。 〃…have a few tricks and they know one end of a brush from another。 We've arrived timely； too； since Beauty was here and my suspicions have been confirmed by the Runners。〃 He grinned brightly at Tagetarl。 〃Dragonriders aren't the only ones who can be where they're needed when they're needed。〃
Tagetarl's jaw dropped at what was almost a profane remark from a harper。
〃Now you've finished your klah； boys and girls； we've a lot to do before daylight。 Smear the retardant on anything wooden。 The gloves may be clumsy but they'll save your skin。 Work quietly； if you please。 I don't want even to hear the slap of brushes on the wood。 You've all had practice。〃
While two of the group gathered the cups and set them in the sink； the others went out； collecting their supplies and quietly leaving by the kitchen porch。 Tagetarl glanced out the window and； in the dim predawn light； could barely see the other side of the wide court。
〃Stuff's dark going on； dries transparent。 Don't worry；〃 Pinch said； rising to refill the kettle from the tap at the sink and put it back on the stove。 As he swung his leg over the stool； he took a sheet from a pocket and smoothed it on the table in front of Tagetarl。 〃Seen him around here lately？〃
Tagetarl frowned。 〃That's the same man you drew the last time you were here。 I thought he looked familiar。 I thought it odd of him to ask for a copy of Teaching Ballads。 I'd actually filled an order for Lord Kashman and had none in stock。 Told him to e back in a sevenday。〃
Pinch nodded as if that wasn't news to him。 〃Tomorrow。〃
〃You mean； he plans to just walk in here。。。〃 Tagetarl was appalled when he remembered the incident。 〃I showed him through the Hall。 It seemed only courteous。〃
Pinch's smile was sardonic。 〃I hope you limited it to the Hall。〃
〃I did； but I also mentioned how many apprentices I'm training。〃 Tagetarl slammed his forehead with his hand。 How naive of him！ Had he lost all his Harper…trained acuity？ He had seven lads； none of them fully grown except Marley； and three girls； who were all of them light…boned； hired for their quick fingers。 Add in the eight Pinch had brought…
〃Don't fret；〃 Pinch said soothingly。 〃You'd no cause…then…to suspect anything。 No reason not to be courteous。 You are； after all； offering a special service。 Even if the Abominators don't like it。〃
Tagetarl swallowed； the hot klah cooling too rapidly in his belly to give him the fort it usually did。 〃How many were there in that attack on the Healer Hall？ Ten？ No； fifteen。〃
〃I'd say there'd have to be at least ten for the job here；〃 Pinch said casually； as if that made no difference。 〃Had any other 'curious' visitors lately？〃
Tagetarl buried his face in his hands； rubbing it and then scrubbing his scalp with his knuckles。 〃Quite likely and all of them seemed perfectly reasonable folk。〃
〃They may well be；〃 Pinch remarked amiably； 〃except those who get a notion that you're a wicked tool of the Abominator because you can turn out whole books in days instead of months。〃
Tagetarl groaned。
Pinch reached over and patted Tagetarl on the shoulder。 〃But we've warning and I know who…and what…to be looking for。〃
〃The three sketches you showed me？〃
〃I'm hoping all three will e to this party。〃 Pinch's expression turned enigmatic。
〃Party？〃 Tagetarl was livid。
〃Evening exercise； if you prefer。 Since they expect to surprise you； we'll just prepare a few of our own。〃 He rose and Bista glided from her perch on the windowsill to his shoulder。 〃I'll go give them a hand。〃 When Tagetarl started to rise； throwing off the last of this infamous shock； Pinch motioned to the kettle。 〃We'll need a lot more klah。 And don't notice me walking about today； will you？ The others