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She noticed how his eyes darkened with the knowledge of wasted opportunity。 She touched his cheek in a brief caress。 〃If only we all knew then what we know now。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 and his lips curved with a touch of bitterness。
Once again she was amazed that F'lessan was willing to show his regrets。 He always appeared so self…confident。 Still feeling a little embarrassed by such intimacy； she caught sight of the steaming pot on the range。
〃You cooked？〃 And looked again。 〃That isn't a Honshu pot。〃
〃No；〃 and he chuckled； giving her a hug as he guided her to the range。 〃I stopped off at Sagassy's hold on the way back。 I'd some nails for them from Landing's SmithCraftHall。 She insisted that I take this as a delivery fee。〃 He shrugged。 〃Remind me to return the pot。〃
〃I will；〃 she replied。 〃After I'm sure you've washed it properly。〃 She couldn't resist teasing him as she picked up the wooden spoon to stir the stew。 〃Oh； you've nearly let it scorch！〃
〃Then it's hot enough to eat。〃
F'lessan pushed her out of the way； gesturing her to sit at the end of the table that she saw had been set for two； and began ladling the stew into the wide； deep bowls。 Mirrim would never believe that F'lessan could be so useful。 She pinched the bread loaf and it was fresh； there was a salad； too； as greens were beginning to flourish again along the coast。 She poured wine from the skin into glasses while F'lessan brought heaped plates to the table。
〃Sagassy said that Riller； Jubb； and Sparling have all seen signs of felines creeping back into the valley；〃 he said。 〃They haven't run a check for missing stock but the herds have been spooky lately。〃 He blew on his spoon to cool the gravy…soaked meat。 〃Those sharding creatures may be hunting on this side of the ridge again。〃
Eight families； gradually clearing enough land to grow essential crops as well as round up wild herdbeasts； had settled the valley that spread out north of Honshu。 They protected their cluster of buildings and beastholds with dragon dung and firestone mash； the best deterrents for any pests in the south； apart from trundlebugs。 Visiting dragons…and those staying at Honshu after the Fireball had added considerably to the perimeter…were encouraged to donate。 Once the residues dried； there was little smell to aggravate human sensitivities； but what there was was sufficient to put off all but the hungriest predators。
She and F'lessan had hunted there during their first week together。 She and Zaranth had just missed catching one of the cloudy…coats that wore such valuable pelts。 There was so much else to do that they hadn't been able to take time to hunt felines again。
〃We'll have to plan to swing round the holds' borders and re…discourage the carnivores；〃 he said； breaking off a piece of bread and offering it to her before taking some for himself。 〃You've about finished curing the last pelts we got； haven't you？〃
〃Just about。 Someone else must have pegged skins on the wall I'm using；〃 she said。
〃Probably。 Hold records suggest they were self…sufficient。〃 He shook his head。 〃I've never understood what happened to the people who were doing so well here。 Why they simply。。。〃 he spread out his hands in bewilderment；〃。。。 left？〃
She felt gravy on the corner of her mouth and used a bit of the bread to remove it； right past her lips。 〃Plague？〃 Disease had wiped out so many holdings it was always the first guess。
He shook his head。 〃No； no skeletons。〃
〃Vermin would have scavenged the remains。〃
〃Their effects were all neatly put away。〃
〃As if they meant to return？〃 she asked； surprised； but then F'lessan had been researching the history of this weyrhold of his。
〃No； as if that was the way they took care of tools and equipment。〃 He gestured to the kitchen and the utensils visible on the work surfaces。
〃As they did in the workshop。〃 All the shelves and drawers fascinated Tai； the contents neatly packed away in oil or grease and the airless plastic envelopes that the Ancients had had。 Even the flying machine…a sled； F'lessan called it…had been cocooned。 She'd never had the opportunity to visit the Catherine Caves as F'lessan had； but he'd said that these weren't thoroughly explored or emptied of treasures。 Samples of the things the Ancients had used were on display at Landing； some still encased in the packing used for the voyage to the Rukbat system。 She…and others…had puzzled over the use of some items。 〃Why would they leave such a beautiful place？〃
〃Once this Pass is over； you may be sure I won't leave；〃 he said resolutely。 〃As it is； I'm here more than I should be；〃 he added with that irrepressibly engaging grin she so enjoyed。 〃Eat up； my dear green。〃
〃Shouldn't have eaten so much；〃 he remarked twenty minutes later as she trudged behind him up the steep stairs to the observation room。 He was panting； too； she noticed。 〃As well we don't have to lug things all the way up these stairs。 Only down one level when we get where we're going。〃
F'lessan had explained the almost secretive design of Honshu's observatory； not all the secrets； he'd said； grinning with a boyish delight； but Kenjo had made sure it was not readily accessible。 The first challenge was the stairs that went up six levels inside Honshu's cliff。
〃Does Golanth watch stars with you； too？〃 she asked。 Zaranth affected to and never objected when Tai spent long hours on her green back； studying the night sky。
〃He pretends to be interested；〃 F'lessan said in a mock…soft voice； turning to grin down the metal spiral at her。
I hope I will not hurt these things when I bring them to you so high up； Golanth said facetiously。
〃Golanth； you will carry them as carefully as fire…lizard eggs；〃 F'lessan said； his voice stern as he winked down at Tai。 〃When I found the place； it was a mess and outside most of the solar panels were fouled or missing。 Worse than the Admin building。〃 He took a deep breath before the next step。 〃Golanth was very good about helping me repair and reinstall them。 He doesn't fit in the observatory； of course； but he's good at encouraging me to work hard。〃 He chuckled as he plodded up several more steps； boots clanking on the metal。 She could feel the climb pulling at her muscles。 He went on。 〃Good thing the cylinder had been vacuum…wrapped…another point in my theory that they intended to e back！〃 She could see that he was using the handrail to pull him upward。 Good idea！ She followed his example。 〃So we cleaned and repaired the vents and solar panels； and let power build up。 I'd the finder scope to use to see if the instrument still worked。 It did。〃 He gave a deep sigh of satisfaction。 〃We'll have to run a pointing recalibration but I've got the files for the stars we use。 Once we've hooked up the puter and are sure it's pointing accurately； we can proceed to search whatever part of the sky Erragon wants us to scan。 The program makes it possible to shift the primary mirror。 We'll get pictures on the monitor and decide what to save。〃
He paused； taking in deep breaths before he started upward again。 She wondered that he didn't save his breath for the climb but F'lessan loved to talk and； since his voice was v