CHAPTER XIX
BY THE TIME Jaxom and Piemur had reluctantly struggled from their furs the next morning, Sharra told them that the Harper had risen at the first light of day, taken a bracing swim, made himself a breakfast and been long in his study, muttering over the charts and making copious notes. He now wished to have a few words with Jaxom and Piemur, if they didn't mind.
Master Robinton acknowledged their entry with a sympathetic grin for their deliberate and slow movements, the aftereffects of a very convivial evening. He then began asking for explanations of their latest additions to the main chart. When he had satisfied himself on that point, he asked how they had arrived at their conclusions. When they'd told him, he leaned back from the desk, fiddling with his drawing stick with such an unreadable expression on his face that Jaxom began to worry about what the Harper might be planning.
«Have either of you happened to notice the trio of stars we have been calling erroneously, I might add the Dawn Sisters?»
Jaxom and Piemur exchanged glances.
«Do you have a far viewer with you, sir?» Jaxom asked.
The Harper nodded. «Master Idarolan has one aboard his ship. I construe that question to mean that you've noticed that they also appear at dusk?»
«And whenever there's enough moonlight…» Piemur added.
«And always in the same place!»
«I see you did profit by your classes,» the Harper said, beaming at both of them. «Now, I've asked Master Fandarel if we could prevail on Master Wansor to visit here for a few days. Why, might I ask, are you two grinning as if you'd eaten all the bubbly pies at a gather?»
Piemur's grin deepened at this reference to his apprentice pastime.
«I don't think anyone on Pern would refuse to come here, given the whisper of an invitation,» he said.
«Does Master Wansor have his new far viewer finished?» Jaxom asked.
«I certainly hope that he does…»
«Master Robinton…» Brekke stood in the doorway, a curious expression on her face.
«Brekke,» the Harper held up a warning hand, «if you have come to tell me that I have to rest, or drink a potion of your making, I beg you, don't! I have far too much to do.»
«All I have is a message which Kimi has just brought from Sebell,» she said, handing him the small tube.
«Oh!»
«As to your resting, I've only to watch Zair to know when that's necessary!» Her glance, as she turned to leave the study, fell on Jaxom and Piemur. There was no doubt in Jaxom's mind that he and Piemur were under tacit orders not to overstrain the Harper's strength.
Master Robinton raised his eyebrows in surprise as he read the message «Oh, dear. Toric was invaded by a shipload of holders' sons last evening. Sebell feels he should wait till they've settled into temporary quarters.» He chuckled and, when he saw the expressions of Jaxom and Piemur, then added, «I infer that all did not progress as smoothly as the holder boys could wish!»
Piemur snorted, with the contempt born of his Turns' exploring and his knowledge of Toric and his Hold's accommodations.
«Once you can go between, Jaxom,» Robinton continued, «our investigation can proceed more rapidly. I've in mind to set you and the girls out as teams.»
«Harper and Holder?» Jaxom asked, seizing the opportunity he'd been waiting for.
«Harper and holder? Oh, yes, of course. Piemur, you and Menolly have worked well together, I know. So Sharra can go with Jaxom. Now…» Oblivious to the sharp look Piemur gave Jaxom, the man went on. «One sees things from the air in a perspective not always possible at ground level. The reverse, of course, applies. So any exploration should involve both methods. Jaxom, Piemur knows what I'm looking for…»
«Sir?»
«Traces of the original habitation of this continent. I can't for the life of me imagine why our long dead ancestors left this fruitful and beautiful continent for the colder, duller North, but I assume that they had good reasons. The oldest of our Records states: When man came to Pern, he established a good Hold in the South. We used to think,» the Harper smiled apologetically for that error, «that Fort Hold was meant, since it is south in the Northern Continent. But that particular document goes on to state ambiguously: but found it necessary to move north to shield. That never made any sense, but so many of the old Records have deteriorated past deciphering, much less coherence.
«Well, then Toric discovered an iron mine, worked in the open fashion. And N'ton and I sighted unnatural formations set in a mountainside which, when we had finally reached the spot on foot, were clearly mine shafts.
«If the ancients had been long enough in the Southern Continent to discover ore and mine it, there must be other traces of their habitation somewhere here in the South.»
«In hot weather and rainy forest, nothing survives very long,» Jaxom said. «D'ram built a shelter here a scant twenty five Turns back and not much remains of it. And what F'lessan and I stumbled on in Benden Weyr had been sealed up, protected from weather.»
«Nothing,» Piemur said emphatically, «could dent, scratch or mar the pit supports we found in that mine. And not even the best stoneman can carve through solid rock like cheese. Yet the ancients did.»
«We have found some traces. There must be more.»
Jaxom had never heard the Harper so adamant, but he couldn't suppress a sigh as he glanced at the size of the map before him.
«I know, Jaxom, the scope is daunting, but what a triumph when we find the place. Or places!» Master Robinton's eyes shone with anticipation. «Now,» he went on briskly, «once Jaxom is pronounced fit enough to fly between, we will progress southward, using that symmetrical mountain as our guide. Any objections?» The man barely waited for an answer. «Piemur will start out on the ground with Stupid. Menolly can accompany him, if she wishes, or can wait for Jaxom to take her and Sharra on Ruth to the secondary camp. While the girls survey the immediate vicinity, which I understand has not been done, you, Jaxom, can fly ahead with Ruth to set up another camp to which you can fly between the next day. And so on.
«I think you must have been drilled at Fort Weyr,» the Harper said, looking at Jaxom, «to be able to observe and distinguish ground formations from the air? However, I want to impress on you both that though this is a joint effort, Piemur is far more experienced, Jaxom, and you will please bear this in mind when problems occur. And send me your reports for this…» he tapped the chart, «every evening! Off with you both, now, and organize your equipment and supplies. And your partners!»
Though explaining the situation to Menolly and Sharra and organizing their supplies and equipment took very little time, the explorers did not leave Cove Hold that day.
Master Oldive arrived on Lioth with N'ton and was lavishly welcomed by the Harper, more sedately by Brekke and Sharra, and with some reservations by Jaxom. Robinton immediately insisted on showing the Healer the beautiful new hold before, as Robinton expressed it, Oldive had to see his old carcass.
«He's not fooling Master Oldive,» Sharra said, her rich voice for Jaxom's ear alone as they watched the Harper striding vigorously about the holding, Master Oldive murmuring appropriate comments. «Not one fingertip is he fooling the Healer.»
«That's a relief,» Jaxom said. «Otherwise the Harper'll be coming with us.»
«Not between, he won't.»
«No, he'd ride Stupid.»
Sharra laughed, but her amusement ended as they both watched the Healer firmly steer the Harper into his sleeping quarters and quietly close the door.
«No,» Sharra said, shaking her head slowly, «Master Robinton wasn't fooling Master Oldive!»
Jaxom was very glad he didn't have to try to fool the Master Healer when it came his turn to be examined. The ordeal for him was brief a few questions, Master Oldive's inspection of his eyes, tapping on his chest, listening to his heart and the pleased smile on the Healer's mobile face gave Jaxom the favorable verdict.
«Master Robinton will be all right, too, won't he, Master Oldive?» Jaxom couldn't resist asking.
When the Harper had emerged from his room, he had been too quiet, rather thoughtful, and the bounce had gone out of his step. Menolly had poured him a cup of wine which he had accepted with a wistful smile and a deep sigh.
«Of course. Master Robinton will be all right,» Master Oldive said. «He's much improved. But,» the Healer held up one long forefinger, «he must learn to pace himself, conserve his energy and ration his strength or he will bring on another attack. You young people can assist, with your strong legs and stouter hearts, without seeming to curtail his activities.»
«Indeed we will. In fact, we do!»
«Good. Continue and he will soon be completely recovered. If he keeps in mind the lesson he learned from this seizure.» Master Oldive glanced through the open window, mopping his forehead a little. «This beautiful place was a grand idea.» He favored Jaxom with a sly smile. «The heat makes the Harper drowsy midday and forces him to rest. The prospects on all sides delight the eyes, and the scent of the air pleases the nose. How I envy you this spot, Lord Jaxom.»
The beauties of Cove Hold had evidently worked their charm on the Masterharper as well, for he had recovered his good spirits even before the arrival of Master Fandarel and Master Wansor from Telgar. Robinton's delight was doubled when Fandarel and Wansor proudly exhibited the new distance viewer that had occupied the Starsmith's time for the past half Turn. The instrument, a tube as long as Fandarel's arm, and thick enough so that he needed two hands to surround it, was carefully encased in leather, with a curious eye piece set, not on its end where Jaxom thought it ought to be, but on its side.
Master Robinton commented on that variation as well, and Wansor muttered something about reflective and refracting, ocular and objective and that this was the arrangement he thought best for the purposes of viewing distant objects. Whereas the instrument found in Benden Weyr made small things larger, the principles employed here were somewhat similar.
«That is neither here nor there but we are very pleased to use the new far viewer in Cove Hold,» Wansor went on, mopping his brow for he'd been so busy explaining his new device that he'd not bothered to remove his wherhide flying clothes.
Master Robinton winked at Menolly and Sharra and the two girls divested the lecturing Starsmith of his outer garments while he explained, almost oblivious to their assistance, that this was his first visit to the Southern Continent and yes, he had of course heard of the aberrant behavior of the three stars known as the Dawn Sisters. Until recently he had put the anomaly down to the inexperience of the observers. But, with Master Robinton himself noting their peculiarities, Wansor felt justified in bringing his precious instrument to the South to investigate the matter himself. Stars did not remain in fixed positions in the sky. All his equations, not to mention such experienced observers such as N'ton and Lord Larad, had verified this characteristic. Furthermore the Records handed down from the ancients, though they were in a shocking state, mentioned that stars undeniably followed a pattern of movement. Stars obeyed laws. Therefore when three stars had been observed to be in defiance of these natural laws, there had to be some explanation. He was hoping to find it this evening.
Not without a good deal of discussion, the site for this viewing was placed on the slight elevation of the stony eastern tip of Cove Hold, beyond the spot where the roasting and baking pits had been dug. Master Fandarel drafted Piemur and Jaxom to help him erect a frame on which he placed a swivel to mount the new viewer. Wansor, naturally, supervised this project until he was so in the Smith's way that the good man sat his Craftmaster on the edge of the promontory, near the trees, where he had a full view of all the activities but was no longer in his way. By the time the frame had been completed, Master Wansor was fast asleep, his head cushioned on his hands, snoring in a soft rhythm. Finger against his lips to indicate the little man was not to be disturbed, Fandarel led Jaxom and Piemur back to the main beach. They all took a refreshing swim before joining the others in the afternoon rest. Rather than miss a single moment of the dusky display of the Sisters, everyone ate on the promontory. Master Idarolan brought out his ship's viewer, and the Smith quickly constructed a second frame from the materials left over from making Wansor's.
Sunset, which had previously come upon them all too quickly, seemed delayed and delayed. Jaxom thought that if Wansor adjusted either the viewer or his bench, or his position on the bench, one more time, he would probably display some aberrant behavior of his own. Even the dragons who'd been playing in the water as if the sport had just been invented, were sprawled quietly on the beach, the fire lizards sleeping about Ruth or perched on their friends' shoulders.
The sun finally went down, spreading its brilliant aftercolors across the western horizon. As the eastern sky darkened, Wansor put his eye to his instrument, let out a startled cry and nearly fell backward off his bench.
«It can't be. There is no possible logical explanation for such an arrangement.» He righted himself and looked once again through, the viewer, making delicate adjustments to the focus. «
Master Idarolan had his eye pressed to his own viewer. «I see only the Dawn Sisters in their usual alignment. Just as they have always been.»
«But they can't be. They are close together. Stars do not congregate so closely. They are always far distant.»
«Here, let me have a look, man.» The Smith was almost dancing in eagerness to have a glimpse through the instrument. Wansor reluctantly gave way to him, repeating the impossibility of what he had just seen.
«N'ton, your eyes are younger!» The Seaman passed his viewer to the bronze rider, who quickly accepted it.
«I see three round objects!» Fandarel announced in a booming voice. «Round metallic objects. Manmade objects. Those are not stars, Wansor,» he said, looking at the distressed Starsmith, «those are things!»
Robinton, almost shoving the Smith's bulk to one side, bent his eye to the viewer, gasping.
«They are round. They do shine. As metal does. Not as stars do.»
«One thing sure,» Piemur said irreverently in the awed silence, «you have now found traces of our ancestors in the South, Master Robinton.»
«Your observation is eminently correct,» the Harper said in such a curiously muffled tone Jaxom wasn't certain if the man was suppressing laughter or anger, «but not at all what I had in mind and you know it!»
Everyone was given a chance to peer through Wansor's device, since Master Idarolan's was not powerful enough. Everyone concurred with Fandarel's verdict: the so called Dawn Sisters were not stars. Equally indisputable was that they were round, metallic objects that apparently hung in a stationary position in the sky. Even the moons had been observed to turn a different side to Pern in the course of their regular cycles.
F'lar and Lessa as well as F'nor were asked to come with all urgency before the nightly appearance of the Dawn Sisters was over. Lessa's irritation at such a summons evaporated when she saw the phenomenon. F'lar and F'nor monopolized the instrument for the short space of time that the peculiar objects remained visible in the slowly darkening sky.
When Wansor was seen trying to work equations in the Sand, Jaxom and Piemur hurriedly brought out a table and some drawing tools. The Starsmith wrote furiously for some minutes and then studied the result he'd achieved as if this presented a more inscrutable puzzle. Bewildered, he asked Fandarel and N'ton to check his figures for error.
«If there's no error, what is your conclusion. Master Wansor?» F'lar asked him.
«Those… those things are stationary. They stay in the same position over Pern all the time. As if they were following the planet.»
«That would prove, would it not,» Robinton said, unperturbed, «that they are manmade.»
«My conclusion precisely,» but Wansor did not appear to be reassured. «They were made to stay where they are all the time.»
«And we can't get from here to there,» F'nor said in a regretful murmur.
«Don't you dare, F'nor,» Brekke said with such fervor that F'lar and the Harper chuckled.
«They were made to stay there,» Piemur began, «but they couldn't have been made here, could they, Master Fandarel?»
«I doubt it. The Records give us hints of many marvelous things made by men but no mention was ever made of stationary stars.»
«But the Records say that men came to Pern…» Piemur looked at the Harper for confirmation. «Perhaps they used those things to travel from some other place, some other world, to get here. To Pern!»
«With all the worlds in the heavens to choose from,» Brekke began, breaking the thoughtful silence that followed Piemur's conclusion, «had they no better place to come to than Pern?»
«If you'd seen as much of it as I have lately,» Piemur said, his spirit undaunted for any appreciable length of time, «you'd know that Pern's not all that bad a world… if you ignore the danger of Thread!»
«Some of us never can,» F'lar replied in a wry tone.
Menolly gave Piemur a sharp jab in the ribs, but F'lar only laughed when Piemur suddenly realized the tactlessness of his remark.
«This is a most amazing development,» Robinton said, his eyes sweeping the night sky as if more mysteries were to be revealed. «To see the very vehicles that brought our ancestors to this world.»
«A good topic for some quiet reflections, eh, Master Robinton?» Oldive asked, with a sly grin on his face and an emphasis on the quiet.
The Harper made an impatient dismissal of that suggestion.
«Well, sir, you could hardly go there,» the Healer said.
«I cannot,» Master Robinton agreed. Then startling everyone, he suddenly thrust his right arm in the direction of the Three Sisters. «Zair, the round objects in the sky? Can you go there?»
Jaxom held his breath, felt the rigidity of Menolly's body beside him and knew she wasn't breathing either. He heard Brekke's sharp, quickly muffled cry. Everyone watched Zair.
The little bronze stretched his head toward Robinton's lips and made a soft quizzical noise in his throat.
«Zair? The Dawn Sisters?» Robinton repeated his words. «Would you go there?»
Now Zair cocked his head at his friend, clearly not understanding what was asked of him.
«Zair? The Red Star?»
The effect of that question was instantaneous. Zair vanished with a squawk of angry fear, and the fire lizards nestling by Ruth woke and followed his lead.
«That does seem to answer both questions,» F'lar said.
«What does Ruth say?» Menolly whispered in Jaxom's ear.
«About the Dawn Sisters? Or Zair?»
«Either.»
«He's been asleep,» Jaxom replied after consulting his dragon.
«He would be!»
«So? What did Beauty image before she winked out?»
«Nothing!»
Despite an evening of earnest debate and discussion, the humans solved nothing either. Robinton and Wansor would probably have kept the conversation up all night if Master Oldive hadn't slipped something into Robinton's wine. No one had actually seen him, but one moment Master Robinton was arguing forcefully with Wansor, the next he had wilted at the table. No sooner was his head down than he began to snore.
«He cannot neglect his health for talking's sake,» Master Oldive remarked, signaling to the dragonriders to help him carry the Harper to his bed.
That effectively ended the evening. The dragonriders returned to their Weyrs, Oldive and Fandarel to their respective Halls. Wansor remained. A full wing of dragons could not have dragged him from Cove Hold.
It had been tactfully decided not to broadcast the true nature of the Dawn Sisters, at least until such time as Wansor and other interested starcrafters had had a chance to study the phenomenon and reach some conclusion that would not alarm people. There'd been enough shocks of late, F'lar commented. Some might construe those harmless objects to be a danger, much as the Red Star was.
«Danger?» Fandarel had exclaimed. «Were there any danger from those things, we should have known it many Turns past.»
To that, F'lar agreed readily enough but, with everyone conditioned to believe that disaster fell from skyborne things, it was better to be discreet.
F'lar did agree to send anyone who could be spared from Benden to help search. It was, the Weyrleader felt, more important than ever to discover just what this land contained.
As Jaxom pushed his legs into his sleeping blanket, he tried not to be annoyed with the thought of another invasion in Cove Hold, just when he thought he and Sharra would be left alone for a while.
Had she been avoiding him? Or was it simply that circumstances had intervened? Such as Piemur's premature arrival in Cove Hold? The worry over Master Robinton, the need to explore which left them too tired to do more than crawl into their furs, the arrival of half of Pern to complete the Hold for the Harper, then his arrival, and now this! No, Sharra had not been avoiding him. She seemed… there. Her beautiful rich laugh, a tone below Menolly's, her face often hidden by the strands of dark hair which kept escaping thong and clip…
He wished, intensely, that Cove Hold would not be overrun again a wish that did him little good since he had no control over what was going to happen here. He was Lord of Ruatha, not of the Cove. If the place belonged to anyone, it was Master Robinton's and Menolly's by virtue of their being storm swept into it.
Jaxom sighed, his conscience nagging at him. Master Oldive had rated him fully recovered from the effects of fire head. So he could go between. He and Ruth could return to Ruatha Hold. He ought to return to Ruatha Hold. But he didn't want to and not just because of Sharra.
It wasn't as if he were needed in Ruatha. Lytol would manage the Hold as he'd always done. Ruth was not required to fight Thread either at Ruatha or at Fort Weyr. Benden had been lenient but F'lar had made it plain that the white dragon and the young Lord of Ruatha were not to be at risk.
There had been no prohibition, had there, Jaxom suddenly realized, to his exploring. In fact no one had suggested that he ought to return to Ruatha now.
Jaxom took some comfort in that thought, if he took none at all in the knowledge that tomorrow F'lar would be sending in riders riders whose dragons could fly considerably faster and farther than his Ruth, riders who'd be able to reach the mountain before him. Riders who might just discover those traces which Robinton hoped existed somewhere in the interior of the Southern Continent. Riders who might also see in Sharra the beauty and gentle warmth of spirit that attracted Jaxom.
He tried, turning on the rushes yet again, to find a comfortable position, to find sleep. Maybe Robinton's plan for himself, Sharra, Menolly and Piemur would not undergo revision. As Piemur constantly reminded them all, dragons were great for flying over, but you still had to traverse the ground on foot to really know it. F'lar and Robinton might well want the dragonriders to spread out, cover as much territory as possible, and let the original explorers continue on to the mountain.
Jaxom then admitted to himself that he wanted to be first to the mountain! That serenely symmetrical cone had drawn him, sick and fevered, back to the Cove, had dominated his waking hours and intruded with nightmarish drama into his dreams. He wanted to be first to reach it, irrational as the notion might be.
Somewhere in the middle of these reflections, he did fall asleep. Again those overlapping scenes figured in his dreams: again the mountain erupted, one whole side shattering and spewing pulsingly red orange flaming rocks and hot flows of molten lava down its side. Again Jaxom was both frightened refugee and dispassionate observer. Then the red wall began bearing down on him, so close to his heels that he could feel its hot breath on his feet…
He woke! The rising sun was slanting through the trees to caress his right foot which protruded from a rent in the light blanket. Rising sun!
Jaxom felt for Ruth. His dragon was still asleep in the clearing for the old shelter where a sandy wallow had been made to accommodate him.
Jaxom glanced across to Piemur, who slept in a neat ball, both hands resting under his right cheek. Slipping out of his bed, Jaxom noiselessly opened the door and, carrying his sandals, tiptoed out through the kitchen. Ruth stirred briefly, dislodging a fire lizard or two from his back, as Jaxom passed him. Jaxom paused, struck by some puzzle. He stared at Ruth, then at the fire lizards. None of those nestled against his friend were banded. He must ask Ruth when he woke if the Southern fire lizards always slept with him. If they did, those dreams could be fire lizard dreams old memories triggered by the presence of men! That mountain! No, from this side a perfect cone appeared to the naked eye, unblemished by eruptive damage!
As soon as he reached the beach, Jaxom glanced up to see if he could sight the Dawn Sisters. But it was, unfortunately, already too late to catch their morning appearance.
The two viewers, Wansor's carefully covered with wherhide against morning dew and Idarolan's in its leather case, were still mounted on their frames. Grinning at the futility of his action, Jaxom nonetheless couldn't resist uncovering Wansor's viewer and peering skyward. He recovered the instrument carefully and stood looking southeast, toward the mountain.
In his dream the cone had blown out. And there were two sides to that mountain. Suddenly decisive, he removed the Seaman's viewer from its case. Though he might get more definition from Wansor's, he wouldn't presume to alter that careful focus. Besides, Idarolan's was strong enough for what he needed. Not that it could show the damage that Jaxom had half hoped to see. Thoughtfully he lowered the instrument. He could go between now. Further, he was under Master Robinton's orders to explore the Southlands. More important, he wanted to be first to that mountain!
He laughed. This venture was scarcely as dangerous as the return of the egg. He and Ruth could go between and return before anyone in Cove Hold was aware of their intention. He took the viewer from its mounting. He'd need this with him. Once he and Ruth were airborne, he'd have to get a good long look at the mountain to find a point to which Ruth could move safely between.
He pivoted on his heel and lurched backward in surprise. Piemur, Sharra and Menolly were standing in a row, watching him.
«Do tell. Lord Jaxom, what you saw in the Seaman's viewer? A mountain, perhaps?» Piemur asked, showing all his teeth in that smug grin.
On Menolly's shoulder. Beauty chirped.
«Did he see enough?» Menolly asked Piemur, ignoring Jaxom.
«I'd say he had!»
«He wouldn't have planned to go without us, would he?» Sharra asked.
They regarded him with mocking expressions.
«Ruth can't carry four.»
None of you are fat. I could manage, Ruth said.
Sharra laughed, covered her mouth to silence the sound and pointed an accusing finger at him.
«I'll bet anything Ruth just said he could!» she told the other two.
«I'll bet you're right.» Menolly didn't take her eyes from Jaxom's face. «I think it really is best if you have some help on this venture.» She drawled the last two words significantly.
«This venture?» Piemur echoed the words, alert as ever to nuances of speech.
Jaxom clenched his teeth, glaring at her. «You're sure you could carry four?» he asked Ruth.
The dragon emerged on the beach, his eyes glowing with excitement.
I have had to fly straight for many days now. That has made me very strong. None of you are heavy. The distance is not great. We are going to see the mountain?
«Ruth is obviously willing,» Menolly said, «but if we don't make a move soon…» She gestured toward Cove Hold. «C'mon, Sharra, we'll get the flying gear.»
«I'll have to rig flying straps for four.»
«Then do it.» Menolly and Sharra raced off down the sand.
Hunting ropes were handiest and Jaxom and Piemur had them in position when the girls returned with jackets and helmets. Jaxom hefted the Seaman's viewer and mentally promised that they'd be back so quickly that the man wouldn't have had time to notice its disappearance.
Ruth did have to strain to get himself off the beach, but once airborne, he assured Jaxom that he was flying easily. He veered southeast as Jaxom focused on the distant peak. Even at this altitude, he could discern no damage in the cone. He lowered the viewer fractionally until, clear and detailed, there was a distinctive ridge in the foreground of the mountain.
Jaxom asked Ruth if he visualized the objective. Ruth assured him he could. And took them between before Jaxom could have second thoughts on this venture. Abruptly, they were above the ridge, gasping. Breathless because of the incredible shock of cold between after months of baking in tropical suns, and because of the spectacular panorama before them.
As Piemur had once said, distance was deceptive. The mountain rose on the shoulders of a high plateau already thousands of dragonlengths above the sea. Far below them a broad sparkling inlet cut high cliffs: grassy on the mountain's side, densely forested on theirs. To the south, a towering range of mountains, snow capped and misty in the distance, lay as a barrier east and west.
The mountain, still a good distance from them, dominated the scene.
«Look.» Sharra suddenly pointed to their left, seaward. «More volcanoes. Some are smoking!»
Studding the open sea, a long chain of peak tops bent northeast, some with substantial islands at their feet, others mere cones poking from the water.
«A loan of the viewer, Jaxom?» Piemur took the instrument and peered. «Yes,» he replied casually after a long look, «a couple of them are active. Far out though. No danger.» Then he swung the viewer toward the barrier range, slowly shaking his head after a moment. «It could be the same barrier range I saw in the west.» He sounded dubious. «Take months to get there! And cold!» He turned the viewer in a short arc. «Useful thing, this. That water goes deep inland. Idarolan could likely sail up if he has a mind to.» He handed the viewer back to Jaxom and stared ahead at the mountain.
«That is the most beautiful sight,» Sharra said on a long sigh.
«Must be the other side that blew out,» Jaxom said, more to himself than to the others.
«The other side?» Sharra and Menolly spoke at once. And Jaxom could feel Piemur stiffening behind him.
«Did you dream, too, last night?» Jaxom asked.
«What on earth did you think had awakened us in time to hear you creeping out?» Menolly asked, a bit sharply.
«Well, let's go see the other,» Piemur said as if he were merely suggesting a swim.
«Why not?» Sharra replied with the same carelessness.
I would like to see the place of my dreaming, Ruth said and, without any warning, he dropped from the ridge height.
Jaxom heard Menolly and Sharra exclaim in surprise and he was glad that he'd rigged flying straps for them. Ruth expressed apologies which Jaxom had no time to relay as the white dragon swooped into a current of warm air that bore them up and over the broad inlet. When his flying had leveled, Jaxom used the viewer and found a distinctive rock formation on the northern shoulder. He gave Ruth the visualization.
They were between: they were hovering above the rock formation and the mountain seemed to bend frighteningly toward them for the space of several breaths. Ruth recovered his flying speed and veered further north, beating strongly in a wide arc toward the eastern face of the mountain.
Momentarily they were all blinded by the full brilliance of the rising sun which had been occluded by the mountain's bulk. Ruth shifted to a southerly heading. Before them lay the most incredible sweep of land that Jaxom had ever seen far broader, and deeper than Telgar's flatlands, or the desert of Igen. His eyes were drawn quickly from that spectacular vista to the mountain.
The view was suddenly all too familiar to Jaxom, the product of so many uneasy nights and unfocused dreams. The eastern lip of the mountain was gone! The gaping mouth seemed to snarl, its left hand comer pulled down. Jaxom's eyes followed that line and he saw, crouching on the southeastern flank, three more volcano mouths, like malevolent offspring of the larger. The lava flowed down, south, toward the rolling plains.
Ruth continued to glide instinctively away from the mountain, toward the kinder valley.
As much as Jaxom had admired and feasted his eyes on the northern aspect of that volcano, now he turned from the malevolent teeth of the blown side, the side of his nightmares.
Jaxom all but anticipated Ruth's words: This place I know. They say this is where their men were!
Out of the sun, fairs of fire lizards dove and veered out of Ruth's flightline. Beauty, Meer, Talla and Farli, who had ridden their friends' shoulders to this incredible place, took off to join the newcomers.
«Look, Jaxom! Look down!» Piemur yelled in his ear while tugging at his shoulder and pointing frantically to a spot below Ruth's left foreleg. The early sun threw the outlines in bold relief. Regular outlines, mounds, and then straight lines dissecting, forming curious squares where no such regular formations should be.
«That's what Master Robinton is looking for!» He grinned back over his shoulder at Piemur, who had turned to attract the girls' attention to the ground.
Then Jaxom gasped, pressuring Ruth with his legs to turn northeast. He felt Piemur clutch at his shoulders as the Harper, too, saw what he'd seen. Where the haze from the distant smoking volcanoes in the sea was joined by a gray haze from the skies Thread!
«Thread!»
Thread! Before Jaxom could direct him, Ruth had taken them smartly between. In the next instant they were hovering above the Cove, its beaches accommodating the bulks of five dragons. Master Idarolan's fishermen were scurrying from shore to ship, placing slates on a frame rigged to protect the wooden decks from Threadfall!
Canth asks where have we been? I must chew firestone immediately. The fire lizards are to help protect the ship. Everyone is annoyed with us. Why?
Jaxom asked Ruth to land them near the firestone pile on the beach and to start chewing.
«I've got to find Stupid!» Piemur dropped to the sand and was off in a run toward the forest.
«Give me Master Idarolan's viewer,» Menolly said to Jaxom. «I got a look at his face and though I don't say it's his viewer he's angry about…»
«I'll brave the storm in Cove Hold,» Sharra told Jaxom, grinning at him and gripping his arm in reassurance. «Don't look so depressed! I know I wouldn't have missed this morning's jaunt. Not even if I get scolded by Lessa.»
We have been exploring south as we were told to do by the Harper! Ruth announced suddenly, lifting his head and staring in the direction of the other dragons. We are back here in time to fight Thread. We have done nothing wrong.
Jaxom flinched, surprised at the determination in Ruth's tone, particularly since Jaxom was certain the white dragon was answering Canth since the brown dragon was looking in their direction and his eyes were whirling. Jaxom saw Lioth next to Canth, Monarth and two other Benden browns whom he did not know on sight.
Yes, I will fly across your pattern, Ruth said, again responding to words Jaxom didn't hear. As I have done before. I have enough stone to flame. Thread is nearly on the Cove.
He craned his neck toward Jaxom, and his rider sprang to his neck, truly relieved that the imminence of Thread delayed a confrontation with either F'nor or N'ton. Not, Jaxom realized, that he was in the wrong with either rider.
We have done what the Harper told us to do, Ruth said as he launched himself into the sky. No one told us not to fly to the mountain today. I am glad we did. I will not be bothered with dreams now that I have seen the place. Then Ruth added with some surprise:
Brekke does not think you are strong enough to fly Thread the first day you are allowed between. You are to tell me if you tire!
Nothing would have induced Jaxom to admit fatigue after that, had they flown the entire four hour Fall. As it was, they met Thread three coves east. Met and destroyed it, Ruth and Jaxom weaving over, under, through the other five who set the triangle pattern east and west. Jaxom hoped that Piemur had got Stupid to safety. After a moment, Ruth replied that Farli said the beast was on the porch of Cove Hold. She was ready to flame any Thread that attacked the Hold.
Jaxom noticed, as they wheeled above the Cove itself, that the tall masts of the Dawn Sister seemed to have sprouted fire and then realized that it must be the other fire lizards protecting the ship. There seemed to be rather a lot of them flaming! Had the Southerners joined forces with the banded ones? Had they decided for some reason to help men?
He hadn't time for more speculation in the dive, swoop and flame of Threadfall. He was very tired by the time the silver rain had dwindled to nothing and Canth bugled return. Ruth swept east and Jaxom saw F'nor give the signal: Well done. Then they glided back to the Cove.
Jaxom landed Ruth on the narrower portion of the western beach to allow the bigger dragons more space. He slid from Ruth's back, thumping the sweat dampened neck, sneezing when the reek of firestone blew in his face. Ruth gave a little cough.
I am getting better and better at chewing. No flame left. He raised his head then, looking toward Canth, who had landed near them. Why is F'nor annoyed? We have flown well. No Thread escaped us. Ruth craned his neck back at his rider, his eyes beginning to whirl faster, flicks of yellow appearing. I do not understand. He snorted once, the firestone fumes making Jaxom cough.
«Jaxom! I want a word with you!»
F'nor strode across the sand to him, unbelting his jacket and stripping off his helmet in sharp angry gestures.
«Yes?»
«Where were the lot of you this morning? Why did you leave with no word to anyone? What have you to say for yourself arriving so close to Thread? Did you forget Thread was due today?»
Jaxom regarded F'nor. The brown rider's face was suffused with anger and fatigue. The same cold rage that had erupted within Jaxom that day so long ago in his own Hold began to possess him. He straightened his shoulders and raised his head higher. His eyes were level with F'nor's, a fact he had not previously noted. He could not, he would not, permit himself to lose control of his temper as he had that morning in Ruatha.
«We were ready for Thread when it fell, brown rider,» he responded calmly. «My duty as the rider of a dragon was to protect Cove Hold. I did. My pleasure and privilege was to fly with Benden.» He gave a slight bow and had the satisfaction of seeing the anger in F'nor's face give way to surprise. «I'm sure the others have by now reported to Master Robinton what we discovered this morning. Into the water with you, Ruth. I'll be glad to answer all your questions, F'nor, when I've cleaned Ruth up.» He gave F'nor, who was staring at him in honest amazement, a second bow and then stripped off hot and sweaty flying gear, leaving on only the shortened trousers that were more suitable to the heat.
F'nor was still staring at him when he ran and dove neatly into the water, coming up beside his wallowing white friend.
Ruth twisted, blowing water in a fountain above his head, his half lidded eyes gleaming greenly just under the surface.
Canth says that F'nor is confused. What did you say that confuses a brown rider?
«What he didn't expect to hear from a white rider. I can't wash you when you're rolling over all the time.»
You are angry. You will tear my hide scrubbing so hard.
«I am angry. Not at you.»
Should we go to our lake? Ruth's question was tentative and he turned his head toward his rider in an anxious manner.
«What do we need with a freezing lake when we've an entire warm ocean? I'm just annoyed with F'nor. It isn't as if I were still sick, or a child that needed a guardian. I've fought Thread with you, and without you. If I'm old enough to do that, I don't need to account for any of my movements to any one for any reason.»
I forgot that Thread would fall today!
Jaxom couldn't help but laugh at Ruth's humble admission.
«So did I. But don't you ever let on to anyone.»
Fire lizards descended now to assist, needing a bit of scrub themselves to judge by the reek their wet hides exuded. They scolded Ruth much more unkindly than Jaxom did if he wallowed too deeply in the waves when they wanted to rinse him. Among the fair were Meer, Talla and Farli. Jaxom bent to his task. He was tired but he decided that as long as he kept himself going, he'd be able to finish bathing Ruth. Then he'd have all afternoon to rest.
He didn't. He also didn't have to bathe Ruth all by himself because Sharra joined him.
«Would you like me to take the other side again?» she asked as she waded up to him.
«I'd appreciate it no end,» he said with a grin and sigh.
She tossed him a handled brush. «Brekke brought these with her. Thought they'd help clean dragons, and things. Good stiff bristles. You'll like that, won't you, Ruth?»
She scooped handsful of sand from the cove floor, dribbling the wet stuff on Ruth's neck and then applying the brush with vigor. Ruth whistled through the water with pleasure.
«What happened to you while I was fighting Thread?» he asked her, pausing before attacking Ruth's rump.
«Menolly's still answering questions.» Sharra regarded him over Ruth's recumbent body, her eyes dancing, her smile full of mischief. «She talked so fast he couldn't interrupt, and she was still talking when I left. I didn't realize anyone could outtalk the Master Harper. Anyway, he stopped fuming very early on. Did you get scorched by F'nor?»
«We exchanged… opinions.»
«I'll just bet you did the way Brekke was carrying on. I told her that you'd got pretty fit while she was away. She acted as if you'd risen from your deathbed to ride Fall!» Sharra made a scornful sound.
Jaxom leaned over Ruth's back, grinning at her, thinking how pretty she was with the mischief in her eyes, and beads of water on her face where Ruth had splashed her. She glanced up at him, raising one eye in query.
«Did we really see what I thought we saw this morning, Sharra?»
«We surely did!» She pointed her brush at him, her expression severe. «And you're very lucky that we were along to vouch because I don't think anyone would have believed just you.» She paused, the twinkle back in her eyes. «I'm not entirely sure they believe us anyhow.»
«Who doesn't believe us?»
«Master Robinton, Master Wansor and Brekke. Weren't you listening to me?»
«No,» he said, grinning, «I was looking at you.»
«Jaxom!»
He laughed as the blush deepened the tan on her face and neck.
I have a severe itch where you are leaning against me, Jaxom.
«There now, you see?» Sharra said, slapping his hand with the bristles. «You're neglecting Ruth in a shocking fashion.»
«How'd you know Ruth was speaking to me?»
«Your face always gives you away.»
«Say, where's the Dawn Sister going?» Jaxom asked, noticing the ship, her sails billowing out in the breeze, standing out to sea.
«Fishing, of course. Threadfall always brings out schools. And our escapade this morning is going to bring people down here in droves. We'll need the fish to feed 'em.»
Jaxom groaned, closing his eyes and shaking his head in dismay.
«That…» Sharra paused for emphasis, «is our punishment for the unauthorized jaunt this morning.»
They were both dumped into the water as Ruth unexpectedly lunged out.
«Ruth!»
My friends are coming! The white dragon bugled happily as Jaxom saw, bleary eyed from the ducking, a half wing of dragons appearing in the sky.
There is Ramoth and Mnementh, Tiroth, Gyamath, Branth, Orth…
«All the Weyrleaders, Sharra!»
She was spitting and choking over the water she'd swallowed.
«Great!» She didn't sound happy. «My brush!» She began searching about her.
And Path, Golanth, Drenth and he's here on our watchdragon!
«There's Lytol! Stand still, Ruth. We've still got your tail to clean.»
I must give a proper greeting to my friends, Ruth replied, pulling his tail out of Jaxom's grasp to sit up on his haunches and warble to the second group of dragonriders appearing over the Cove.
«He may not be clean,» Sharra said with some acerbity as she began to wring her long hair dry, «but I am.»
I am clean enough. My friends will want to swim, too.
«Don't count on another swim, Ruth. It's going to be a busy day!»
«Jaxom, did you get a chance to eat anything yet?» Sharra asked. When he shook his head, she grabbed his hand. «C'mon, quickly, the back way, before someone catches us.»
He paused long enough on the shore to collect his flying gear, then they both ran up the old path to the kitchen entrance of Cove Hold. Sharra breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief to discover the place empty. Ordering him to sit, she poured a cup of klah, and served him slices of fruit and warm cereal from the pot on the back of the warming hearth.
They both heard the calls and exclamations from the new arrivals, Robinton's deep baritone dominating as he called greetings from the porch.
Jaxom half rose from his bench, gulping down another mouthful, but Sharra pushed him back.
«They'll find you soon enough. Eat!»
«Ruth is on the beach,» Lytol's voice was audible suddenly, «but I don't see Jaxom anywhere…»
«I know he's about…» Robinton began.
A bronze arrow whizzed into the kitchen, cluttered and zipped away.
«He's through that door, Lytol, in the kitchen,» Robinton said with a laugh.
«I could almost agree with Lessa,» Jaxom said in a mutter of disgust. He scraped a huge spoonful out of his bowl, cramming it into his mouth. He had to rise, catching the overflow at the comers of his mouth as Lytol came striding in.
«Sorry, sir,» Jaxom mumbled through his food. «Had no breakfast!»
Lytol stood, his eyes so intent that Jaxom grinned in nervous embarrassment. He wondered if Lytol could already know of his excursion that morning.
«You look a great deal better than when I last saw you, lad. Good day to you, Sharra.» His greeting was absent minded courtesy as he crossed the remaining distance to clasp Jaxom's arm strongly in his. A smile pulled at his lips before he stepped back. «You're tanned, you look fit. Now what is this trouble you created today?»
«Create it? Me? No, sir.» Jaxom couldn't help grinning now. Lytol was delighted, not annoyed. «That mountain's been there a long time. I didn't create it. But I did want to see it, close up, first!»
«Jaxom!» The Harper's bellow was impossible to ignore.
«Sir?»
«Come here, Jaxom!»
In the hours that followed, Jaxom was grateful that Sharra had thought to feed him breakfast. He didn't get much time for more food. The moment he entered the main Hall, questions were thrown at him by the Weyrleaders and Craftmasters assembled. Piemur had been very busy during Fall because Master Robinton had already completed a sketch of the southeastern face of the mountain to show the incredulous visitors, and a rough, small scale map of this section of Southern. From the almost rhythmic way Menolly described their jaunt, Jaxom decided she had already repeated the account many times.
What Jaxom remembered most of that session was feeling sorry that the Master Harper was unable to see the mountain first hand. But, if Jaxom had waited until Master Oldive permitted the Harper to fly between..
«I know you've just flown Fall, Jaxom, but if you'd just give Mnementh the visualization…» F'lar began.
N'ton burst out laughing, pointing to Jaxom. «The look on your face, lad. F'lar, he's got to lead us! Give him that!»
So Jaxom got back into slightly damp flying gear and roused Ruth from his sandy baking. Ruth was pleased enough with the honor of leading the bronzes of Pern, but Jaxom could barely contain behind a composed expression the thrill he was experiencing. Jaxom and the white dragon, leading the most important people on Pern.
He could have asked Ruth to jump directly to the southeastern side of the Two Faced Mountain, his private designation. Somehow he wanted everyone to experience the full impact of those two sides the benign and beautiful.
From the expressions on the riders' faces as they settled briefly on the ridge, he could see that he had achieved the desired effect. He allowed them time to sight the Barrier Range, glistening in the sun, ragged white teeth on the horizon. He gestured seaward where neither morning mists nor Thread now obscured the tail of volcanoes snaking northeasterly out into the sea, smoke just curling from the curve of the world in that direction.
At his request, Ruth soared across the inlet as he had done before, climbing high before he gave the coordinates of the next jump between. They came out above the broad expanse of the southeastern side of Two Face, as dramatic an approach as anyone could have wished.
Mnementh suddenly surged into the fore and, as Ruth relayed to Jaxom, said that they should land. Politely, Ruth and Jaxom circled as the great bronze settled near the intersection of some of the regular lines, as far as possible from the three secondary cones. One by one the great bronze dragons of Pern settled in the grassy sward, their riders and passengers striding through the tall waving grasses to join F'lar, who had hunkered down to dig with his belt knife into the edge of one of those curious lines.
«Covered with Turns of blow dirt and old grasses,» he said, giving up his attempt.
«Volcanoes often blow out quantities of ash,» T'bor of the High Reaches said. He would know since quite a few old volcanoes were in Tillek which was beholden to the High Reaches Weyr. «If all those mountains blew at once, there'd be half a length of ash before you'd reach anything.»
For a split second, Jaxom thought they were being threatened with ash. Sunlight was blotted out and a chittering, fluttering mass swooped down, almost touching Mnementh's head before the hundred fire lizards lifted up again.
Amid shouts of consternation and surprise, Jaxom heard Ruth's announcement.
They are happy. Men have returned to them!
«Ask them about the three mountains, Ruth? Do they remember the mountains blowing up?»
There was no doubt they did. Suddenly there wasn't an unbanded fire lizard in the sky.
They remember the mountains, Ruth said. They remember fire in the air and fire crawling on the ground. They are afraid of the mountains. Men were afraid of the mountains.
Menolly came running up to Jaxom, her face contorted with concern. «Did Ruth ask those fire lizards about the mountains? Beauty and the others just had a fit. About those blasted mountains.»
F'lar came striding up to them. «Menolly? What was all that fuss with the fire lizards? I didn't see any banded ones. Were they all Southern ones?»
«Of course men were here. They're not telling us anything we didn't know. But for them to say they remembered?» F'lar was scornful. «I could accept your finding D'ram in the Cove with their aid… but that was only a matter of twenty five Turns in the past. But…» For want of appropriate expression of his skepticism, F'lar merely gestured at the dead volcanoes and the long covered traces of a settlement.
«Two points, F'lar,» Menolly said, boldly contradicting the Benden Weyrleader, «no fire lizard in this time knew the Red Star, but they were, nonetheless, all afraid of it. They also…» Menolly paused, and Jaxom was certain she had been about to bring up the fire lizard dreams about Ramoth's egg. He hastily interrupted.
«Fire lizards must be able to remember, F'lar. Ever since I've been in the Cove, I've been troubled with dreams. At first I thought it was leftovers from firehead fever. The other night I found out that Sharra and Piemur have had similar nightmares… about the mountain. This side of it, not the one facing the Cove.»
«Ruth always sleeps with fire lizards at night, F'lar,» Menolly said, pressing their case. «He could be relaying those dreams to Jaxom! And our fire lizards to us!»
F'lar nodded, as if granting them this possibility.
«And last night your dreams were more vivid than ever?»
«Yes, sir!»
F'lar began to chuckle, looking from Menolly to Jaxom. «So this morning you decided to see if there was any substance to the dreams?»
«Yes, sir!»
«All right, Jaxom.» F'lar thumped him good naturedly on the back. «I suppose I can't blame you. I'd have done the same thing given the opportunity. Now, what do you… and those precious fire lizards of yours… suggest we do now?»
«I am no fire lizard, F'lar, but I would dig,» the Mastersmith said, striding up to them. His face was aglow with perspiration, his hands grass and dirtstained. «We must dig beneath the grass and soil. We must find out how they managed to make lines straight as rules that last Turn after Turn. Why did they build in mounds, if that's what those things are. Dig, that's what we must do» He pivoted slowly, staring about him at the desultory digging efforts of some of the dragonriders. «Fascinating. Utterly fascinating!» The Smith beamed. «With your permission, I will ask Masterminer Nicat for some of his craftmasters. We will need skilled diggers. Also I promised Robinton that I would return immediately and tell him what I have seen with my own eyes.»
«I'd like to go back, too, F'lar,» Menolly said. «Master Robinton is in a swivet. Zair's been here twice. He must be impatient.»
«I'll take them back, F'lar,» Jaxom said. Suddenly he was as possessed by an irrational desire to leave as he had been eager to come that morning.
F'lar would not permit Ruth to carry weight again, not after the morning's excursion and Threadfall. He sent Master Fandarel and Menolly back to Cove Hold with F'lessan and Golanth, with instructions to the young bronze rider to take the Mastersmith wherever he wished to go. If he was surprised at Jaxom's wish to return, he gave no sign.
He and Ruth were away before the Smith and Menolly had mounted Golanth. They returned to a Cove delightfully empty of people. The warm, sultry air, after the cooler, clear atmosphere of the Plateau, was like an enveloping blanket, enervating Jaxom. He took advantage of his unremarked return and let Ruth take them to his clearing. It was cooler there and, when Ruth had settled himself, Jaxom gratefully curled up in the dragon's forearms. He was asleep in two breaths.
A touch on his shoulder roused him. His flying jacket had fallen from his shoulder and he felt chilly.
«I said I'd wake him, Mirrim,» he heard Sharra say, her tone one of annoyance.
«Does it matter? Here, Jaxom, I've brought you some klah! Master Robinton wants to talk to you. You've slept all afternoon. We couldn't figure out where you'd got to.»
Jaxom muttered under his breath, wishing with all his heart that Mirrim would go away. He resented her implication that he hadn't any right to sleep in the afternoon.
«Come on, Jaxom. I know you're awake.»
«You're wrong. I'm half asleep.» Jaxom indulged in a massive yawn before he opened his eyes. «Go away, Mirrim. Tell Master Robinton I'll be in directly.»
«He wants you now!»
«He'll get me a lot sooner if you go tell him I'm coming. Now, get out of here!»
Mirrim gave him one more long hard look, brushed past Sharra and stomped up the stairs to the kitchen.
«You are my true friend, Sharra,» Jaxom said. «Mirrim irritates me so! Menolly told me that once Path had flown, she'd improve. I haven't noticed any sign.»
Sharra was peering at Ruth, who was still fast asleep, not even an eyelid twitching.
«I know what you're going to ask…» Jaxom said with a laugh, holding up a hand to forestall her words. «No, nary a dream.»
«Nary a fire lizard either.» She smiled at him, shaking her head and retying her hair thong. «You were smart to come here and rest. There's none up at the Hall. Fire lizards popping in and out, from Cove to the plateau, nearly hysterical! No one can make any sense out of what ours say or the Southern ones tell them. And it's not as if some of the Southern ones hadn't known we were here.»
«And Master Robinton thinks Ruth can sort it all out?»
«He just might.» She regarded the sleeping white dragon thoughtfully. «Poor darling, he's exhausted with all he's done today.» Her rich voice was a tender croon and Jaxom could have wished her words included him. She saw him looking at her and flushed a little. «I'm so glad we got there first!»
«So'm I!»
«Jaxom!»
At Mirrim's shout, she moved back hastily.
«Scorch her!»
He grabbed Sharra's hand and ran with her toward the Hold, nor did he relinquish her hand when they entered the main Hall.
«Was I asleep an afternoon or a whole day?» Jaxom asked her in an undertone as he saw maps, charts, sketches and diagrams pinned on the walls and propped up on tables.
The Harper, his back to them, was bending over the long dining table. Piemur was occupied in sketching something; Menolly was looking at whatever absorbed the Harper, and Mirrim stood at one side, bored and irritated. Fire lizards peered down from the crossbeams. Every now and then, one would flick out of the room and another would swoop in the window to take its place. An aroma of roasting fish filled the air as a sea breeze began to clear away the day's heat.
«Brekke's going to be furious with us,» Jaxom said to Sharra.
«With us? Why? We're keeping him completely occupied at a sedentary task.»
«Stop mumbling, Sharra. Jaxom, come over here and add your mark to what the others have told me,» Robinton said, skewing his body about to frown at them.
«Sir, Piemur, Menolly and Sharra have done a lot more exploring than I have.»
«Yes, but they don't have Ruth and his way with fire lizards. Can he help us sort out their conflicting and confusing images?»
«I'm certainly willing to help. Master Robinton,» Jaxom said, «but I think you might be asking more of Ruth and those fire lizards than they can do.»
Master Robinton straightened up. «If you'd explain?»
«Granted that the fire lizards seem to share violent mutual experiences like…» Jaxom pointed in the direction of the Red Star, «and Canth's fall, and now, of course, the mountain. But these are all momentous events.. not everyday routine.»
«You did locate D'ram here in the Cove,» Robinton said.
«And lucky at that. If I'd asked about men first, we'd never have got an answer,» Jaxom replied with a grin.
«There was scarcely more detail to go on in your first venture.»
«Sir?» Jaxom stared in stunned amazement because the Harper's drawl had been so deceptively mild, with just a slight emphasis on «first,» yet the implication had been unmistakable; somehow the Harper knew Jaxom had rescued the egg. Jaxom shot an accusing glance at Menolly, whose expression was slightly perplexed as if the Harper's subtle reference surprised her, too.
«Come to think of it, I had much the same information from Zair,» Master Robinton continued smoothly, «but not the wit to interpret it as cleverly as you did. My compliments, however belated,» he inclined his head and went on as swiftly as if this were just some passing matter, «on the way you handled the feat. Now, if you and Ruth can turn your fine perceptions to today's problem, we can save ourselves endless hours of vain effort. As before, Jaxom, time is against us. This Plateau,» Robinton tapped the sketches before him, «cannot remain a secret. It is the heritage of everyone on Pern «
«But it's in the east. Master Robinton, which is to be dragonrider land,» Mirrim said, her tone almost belligerent.
«Of course it is, my dear child,» the Harper said soothingly. «Now if Ruth could charm the fire lizards enough to focus their memories…»
«I'll certainly try, Master Robinton,» Jaxom said when the Harper regarded him. expectantly, «but you know how they are about…» and he pointed skyward. «They're nearly as incoherent about the eruption.»
«As Sharra put it, the dream eye is unfocused,» Menolly said, grinning at her friend.
«My point exactly,» the Harper said, bringing the flat of his hand down hard on the table. «If Jaxom, through Ruth, can sharpen the focus, maybe those of us with fire lizards can get distinct and helpful images from their minds, instead of this confusion of perspective.»
«Why?» Jaxom asked. «We know the mountain erupted. We know the settlement had to be abandoned, that the survivors came north…»
«There's a lot we don't know, and we might find some answers, perhaps even some equipment left behind, just as the enlarging viewer was left in those deserted rooms at Benden Weyr. Look how that instrument has improved our understanding of our world and the heavens above us. Maybe even some models of those fascinating machines the old Records mention.» He pulled the sketches over the map. «There are a lot of mounds, great and small, long and short. Some would have been for sleeping, storage, general living: some quite likely workhalls..»
«How do we even know that the ancients did things the way we do?» Mirrim demanded, «storage, and workhalls and such.»
«Because, my dear child, neither human nature nor human needs have changed since the earliest Records we have.»
«That doesn't mean they left anything in the mounds when they left the Plateau,» Mirrim said, frankly dubious.
«The dreams have been consistent in some details,» Robinton said with more patience for Mirrim's obstructionism than Jaxom would have accorded him. «The fiery mountain, the molten rock and lava raining down. People running…» He paused, looking expectantly at the others.
«People in a panic!» Sharra said. «They wouldn't have had time to take anything with them. Or very little!»
«They could have come back after the worst of the eruption was over,» Menolly said. «Remember that time in western Tillek «
«That's precisely what I had in mind,» the Harper said, nodding approval.
«But, Master,» Menolly went on, confused, «the ash spewed out of that volcano for weeks. The valley was eventually level with ash,» she made a flat gesture with her hand, «and you could see nothing of what had been there for the debris.»
«The prevailing wind on that plateau is southeast, and strong,» Piemur said, and his gesture was one of sweeping clear. «Didn't you notice how strong it is?»
«That's precisely why something was left for us to see from the air,» the Harper said. «I know it's just an off chance, Jaxom, but my feeling is that the eruption caught the ancients completely unaware. Why, I can't comprehend. Surely people who could hold the Dawn Sisters in the sky in a stationary position for who knows how many Turns ought to be wise enough to identify an active volcano. My surmise is that the eruption was spontaneous, totally unexpected. The people were caught going about their daily tasks in cot, hold, crafthall. If you can get Ruth to focus those disparate views, perhaps we could identify which of the mounds were important from the numbers of people coming from it, or them.
«I am not able to get to the Plateau to do my own exploring, but nothing prevents my brain from suggesting possibilities of what I'd do if I were there.»
«We'll be your hands and legs,» Jaxom offered.
«They'll be your eyes,» Menolly added, gesturing to the fire lizards on the crossbeams.
«I thought you'd see it my way,» the Harper said, beaming fondly on them all.
«When would you like us to try?» Jaxom asked.
«Would tomorrow be too soon?» the Harper asked plaintively.
«All right by me. Piemur, Menolly, Sharra, I'll need you and your fire lizards!»
«I can arrange to come, too,» Mirrim said.
Jaxom caught Sharra's closed expression and realized that Mirrim's presence would be as unwelcome to her as to himself.
«I don't think that would work, Mirrim. Path would scare the Southern fire lizards away!»
«Oh, don't be ridiculous, Jaxom,» Mirrim replied, brushing aside that argument.
«He's right, Mirrim. Look out in the Cove right now. Not a single fire lizard that isn't banded,» Menolly said. «They all disappear the minute they see any Other dragon but Ruth.»
«It's ridiculous. I have three of the best trained fire lizards in Pern…»
«I must agree with Jaxom,» the Harper said, smiling with sincere apology to the Benden dragongirl. «And, though I quite agree that yours are undoubtedly the best trained fire lizards in Pern, we don't have time for the Southern ones to get used to Path.»
«Path needn't be in evidence «
«Mirrim, the decision has been made,» Robinton said firmly, with no trace of a smile now.
«Well, that's plain enough. Since I'm not needed here..» She stalked out of the hall.
Jaxom noticed the Harper's gaze following her, and he felt acutely embarrassed by her display of temperament. He could see that Menolly was also disturbed.
«Is her Path proddy today?» the Harper asked Menolly quietly.
«I don't think so. Master Robinton.»
Zair chittered on the Harper's shoulder and his expression changed to chagrin. «Brekke's come back. I was supposed to rest.»
He half ran out of the hall, turning briefly at the door to put his finger to his lips as he quickly ducked into his room. Piemur, his expression bland, took a step sideways to fill the space so precipitously vacated. Fire lizards zipped into the room. Jaxom spotted Berd and Grall.
«Master Robinton really should have rested,» Menolly said, nervously twitching sketches across the table surface.
«He wasn't exerting himself,» Piemur pointed out. «This sort of thing is bread and meat to him. He was going out of his skull with boredom and with Brekke fussing over him when you weren't. It isn't as if he was up on the Plateau, digging about…»
«I told you, Brekke,» F'nor said, his voice carrying from the porch as he and his weyrmate mounted the last step, «you worried for no reason at all.»
«Menolly, how long has Master Robinton been resting?» Brekke asked, coming right up to the table.
«Half a skinful,» Piemur replied, grinning as he pointed to the wine on the back of the chair, «and he went without a protest.»
Brekke gave the young harper a long and searching look. «I wouldn't trust you for a moment, Harper Piemur.» Then she looked at Jaxom. «Have you been here all afternoon, too?»
«Me? No indeed. Ruth and I slept until Mirrim woke us.»
«Where is Mirrim?» F'nor asked, glancing about.
«She's outside somewhere,» replied Menolly in a voice so devoid of tone that Brekke glanced at her apprehensively.
«Has Mirrim been…» Brekke pressed her lips in a thin, disapproving line. «Drat that girl!» She looked up at Berd, and he immediately darted from the hall.
F'nor was bending over the maps now, shaking his head with pleased surprise.
«You lot work like twenty, don't you?» He grinned at all of them.
«Well, this part of the twenty has done quite enough work,» Piemur said, stretching his arms until his joints cracked. «I want a swim, to wash the sweat from my brow, and the ink from my fingers. Anyone coming?»
Jaxom's acceptance was as enthusiastic as the two girls' and, with F'nor's jocular complaint about being deserted ringing in their ears, they all made for the beach. Jaxom managed to grab Menolly by the hand as Sharra and Piemur pelted around the bend.
«Menolly, how did Master Robinton know?»
She'd been laughing as they raced down the path, but now her eyes darkened.
«I didn't tell him, Jaxom. I didn't have to. I don't know when he figured it out. But the facts all point to you.»
«How?»
She ticked off reasons on her fingers. «To start with, a dragon had to return the egg. Only way. Preferably a dragon who was totally familiar with Benden Hatching Ground. The dragon had to be ridden by someone who wanted earnestly to return that egg, and who could find it!» The last qualification seemed to be the most important. «More people will figure out it was you now.»
«Why now?»
«No one in the Southern Weyr returned Ramoth's egg.» Menolly smiled up at Jaxom, and put her hand to his cheek, giving him an affectionate slap. «I was so proud of you, Jaxom, when I realized what you and Ruth had managed to do! Prouder even because you didn't noise it about. And it was so critical just then for Benden to believe that a Southern rider had relented and restored Ramoth's egg…»
«Hey, Jaxom, Menolly, c'mon!» Piemur's roar distracted them.
«Race you?» Menolly said, turning and dashing for the beach.
They weren't to have much time for their swim. Master Idarolan's ship reappeared, the blue full catch pennant flying from its foremast. Brekke called them to help gut enough fish for the evening's meal. She wasn't certain how many of those now at the Plateau would return to Cove Hold for dinner but cooked fish could be served in rolls the next day, she said, cheerfully ignoring the protests. She sent Mirrim off with supplies for Master Wansor and N'ton, who planned to make an evening of star watching or, as Piemur said irreverently, the Dusk Dawn and Midnight Sisters.
«And what do you bet Mirrim tries to stay there the night, too, to see if Path does keep away the Southern fire lizards?» Piemur asked, a slightly malicious grin on his face.
«Mirrim does have well trained fire lizards,» Menolly said.
«And they sound just like her when they scold everyone else's friends,» Piemur added.
«Now that's not fair,» Menolly said. «Mirrim's a good friend of mine…»
«And as her best friend you ought to explain to her that she can't manage everyone on Pern!»
As Menolly prepared to take umbrage, dragons began popping into the air over the Cove, and with their bugling no one could hear anything else.
The dragons were not the only ones in good moods, An atmosphere of intense excitement and expectation pervaded the evening.
Jaxom was grateful for his afternoon's nap, for he wouldn't have missed that evening. All seven Weyrleaders were there, D'ram with some private news for F'lar's ears about the affairs in the Southern Weyr, and N'ton, who stayed only part of the evening since he was sky watching with Wansor. There were also Mastercraftsmen Nicat, Fandarel, Idarolan, Robinton, and Lord Lytol.
To Jaxom's surprise, the three Oldtimer Weyrleaders, G'narish of Igen, R'mart of Telgar and D'ram now of Southern, were less interested in what might lie hidden in the settlement than N'ton, T'bor, G'dened and F'lar. The Oldtimers were far more eager to explore the broad lands and the distant range than dig to unearth their past.
«That is past,» R'mart of Telgar said. «Past, dead, and very much buried. We have to live in the present, a trick, mind you, F'lar, that you taught us.» He grinned to remove any sting from what he said. «Besides, wasn't it you, F'lar, who suggested that it's useless to muddle our brains thinking how the ancients did things… that it's better to build for ourselves what is useful for our times and Turn?»
F'lar grinned, amused to have his words returned. «I suppose I'm hoping that we'll find undamaged records somewhere, filling in the holes in what came down to us. Maybe even another useful item like the enlarger viewer we discovered in Benden Weyr.»
«Look where that got us!» R'mart exclaimed, whooping with laughter.
«Undamaged instruments would be invaluable,» Fandarel said, very solemn.
«We might just find you some. Master Robinton,» Nicat said thoughtfully, «because only one section of that settlement sustained much damage.» He had everyone's attention. «Look,» he drew out a sketch of the general site, «the flow of lava is to the south. Here, here, and here, the cones of the mountains broke, and the flow followed the slope of the land, away from much of the settlement. The prevailing wind also carried the ash away from the place. From the little digging I did today, I found only a thin layer of volcanic debris.»
«Is there only this one settlement? When they had a whole world to occupy?» asked R'mart.
«We'll find the others tomorrow,» the Harper assured them, «won't you, Jaxom?»
«Sir?» Jaxom rose, half startled by his unexpected inclusion in the main discussion.
«No, to be serious, R'mart, you may be quite correct,» F'lar said, leaning forward across the table. «And we really don't know if the eruption made the ancients leave the Plateau immediately afterward.»
«We won't know anything until we've entered one of those mounds and discovered what they left behind, if anything,» N'ton said.
«Go carefully, Weyrleader,» Master Nicat told N'ton, but his glance took in everyone. «Better still, I'll send a craftmaster and a few steady journeymen to direct the excavations.»
«Show the tricks of your craft, eh. Master Nicat,» R'mart said. «We'd better learn a thing or two about mining, right, Masterminer?»
Jaxom stifled a chuckle at the expression of puzzlement and then indignation on the Masterminer's face.
«Dragonriders mining?»
«Why not?» F'lar asked. «Thread will Pass. There'll be another Interval on us all too soon. I promise you one thing, with the Southern lands open, never again will the Weyrs be beholden to anyone during an Interval.»
«Ah, yes, a very sound idea, Weyrleader, very sound,» Master Nicat prudently agreed, though he would plainly need time to assimilate such a revolutionary idea.
The dragons lounging on the shore crooned a welcome to someone,
N'ton suddenly rose. «I must join Wansor in our star watch. That must be Path and Mirrim returning. My duty to you all.»
«I'll light your way, N'ton,» Jaxom said, grabbing a glow basket and unshielding it.
They were well out of hearing range of the others when N'ton turned to Jaxom. «This is more to your fancy, isn't it, Jaxom, than flying tamely in the queens' wing?»
«I didn't do it on purpose, N'ton,» Jaxom said with a laugh. «I just wanted to see the mountain before anyone else did.»
«No hunch this time?»
«Hunch?»
N'ton threw a companionable arm about his shoulders, chuckling. «No, I suppose it was inspired by the fire lizards' images.»
«The mountain?»
N'ton gave him a bit of a shake. «Good man!»
They saw the dark bulk of a dragon settling to the beach and then two gleaming circles as Lioth turned his head toward them.
«A white dragon has an advantage at night,» N'ton said as he pointed to the visible hide of Ruth a little to one side of his bronze.
I'm glad you've come. I've an itch I cannot reach, said Ruth.
«He's in need of attention, N'ton.»
«Leave the glows with me then, I'll pass them on to Mirrim so she can find her way to the point.»
They separated as Jaxom moved aside to attend to Ruth. He heard N'ton greet Mirrim, their voices carrying on the quiet night air.
«Of course, Wansor's all right,» Mirrim said, sounding peevish. «He's got his eyes glued to that tube of his. He never knew I came, never ate the food I brought, never knew I left. And further,» she paused, taking a deep breath, «Path did not scare away the Southern fire lizards.»
«Why would she?»
«I'm not allowed to be on the Plateau when Jaxom and the others try to coax some sense out of the Southerners.»
«Sense? Oh, yes, seeing if Ruth can focus the fire lizards' images. Well, I shouldn't worry about it, Mirrim. There are so many other things you can do.»
«At least my dragon is not an unsexed runt, good for nothing but consorting with fire lizards!»
«Mirrim!»
Jaxom heard the coldness in N'ton's voice; it matched the sudden freezing in his own guts. Mirrim's petulant comment resounded over and over in his ears.
«You know what I mean, N'ton…»
Just like Mirrim, Jaxom thought, not to heed the warning in N'ton's voice.
«You ought to,» she went on with the impetus of grievance. «Wasn't it you who told F'nor and Brekke that you doubted if Ruth would ever mate? Where are you going, N'ton? I thought you were going…»
«You don't think, Mirrim!»
«What's the matter, N'ton?» The sudden panic in her voice afforded Jaxom some consolation.
Don't stop, Ruth said. The itch is still there.
«Jaxom?» N'ton's call was not loud, meant to reassure, but the sound carried back.
«Jaxom?» Mirrim cried. «Oh, no!» Then Jaxom heard her running away, saw the glow basket jolting, heard her weeping. Just like the girl, speak first, think later and weep for days. She'd be repentant and hanging on about him, driving him between with her need to be forgiven her thoughtlessness.
«Jaxom!» N'ton was anxious.
«Yes, N'ton?» Jaxom dutifully continued to scratch Ruth's backbone, wondering why Mirrim's cruel remark did not rankle as it ought. Sexless runt! As he saw N'ton striding toward him, he was aware of a curious sense of relief, of relaxation deep inside him. The memory of those riders, waiting for the Fort green to mate, flashed through his mind. Yes, he'd been relieved then that Ruth had proved disinterested. He could somewhat regret that Ruth would be deprived of that experience; but he was relieved that he would never be called upon to endure it.
«You must have heard her.» There was a tinge of hope in N'ton's voice that Jaxom hadn't.
«I heard. Sound carries near water.»
«Blast the girl! Scorch the girl! We were going to explain… then you took the fire head, and now this. The opportunity hasn't presented itself…» N'ton's explanations came out in a rush.
«I can live with it. Like Mirrim's Path, there are other things we can do.»
N'ton's groan came from his guts. «Jaxom!» His fingers closed tightly on Jaxom's shoulder, trying in the contact to express his inarticulate regret.
«It's not your fault, N'ton.»
«Does Ruth comprehend what was said?»
«Ruth comprehends that his back itches.» Even as Jaxom said it, he found it curious that Ruth was not the least bit upset.
There, you have the exact spot. Harder now.
Jaxom could feel the slightly flaky dryness in the otherwise loose and soft hide.
«I think I guessed, N'ton,» Jaxom went on, «that time at Fort Weyr, that something was wrong. I know K'nebel expected Ruth to rise for the green. I thought that Ruth, being born small, maybe would mature later than other dragons do.»
«He's as mature as he'll ever be, Jaxom!»
Jaxom was rather touched by the genuine regret in the bronze rider's voice.
«So? He's my dragon and I'm his rider. We are together!»
«He's unique!» N'ton's verdict was fervent, and he stroked Ruth's hide with affectionate respect. «So, my young friend, are you!» He gripped Jaxom's shoulder again, letting the gesture stand for words unsaid. Lioth crooned in the darkness beyond them and Ruth, turning his head toward the bronze dragon, made a courteous response.
Lioth is a fine fellow. His rider is a kind man. They are good friends!
«We are ever your friends,» N'ton said, giving Jaxom's shoulder a final, almost painful squeeze. «I must get to Wansor. You're sure you're all right?»
«Go along, N'ton. I'll just settle Ruth's itch!»..
The Fort Weyrleader hesitated one more moment before he pivoted and walked quickly toward his bronze.
«I think I'd better oil that patch, Ruth,» Jaxom said. «I've been neglecting you lately.»
Ruth's head came around, his eyes gleamed more brilliantly blue in the darkness. You never neglect me.
«I have too, or you wouldn't be patchy!»
There has been much for you to do!
«There's a fresh pot of oil in the kitchen. Hold tight.»
His eyes accustomed to the tropic darkness, Jaxom made his way to the Hold, found the pot in the kitchen press and trotted back. He was conscious of a weariness, in mind and body. Mirrim was the most awkward person! If he'd let her and Path come… Well, he'd have learned the verdict on Ruth sooner or later. Why wasn't Ruth upset? Maybe if he had been completely willing for his dragon to experience that part of his personality, Ruth would have matured. Jaxom railed at the fact that they had always been kept from being full dragon and rider: brought up as they were in the Hold, instead of the Weyr where the mating of dragons was an understood and accepted fact of the weyr life. It wasn't as if Ruth were immune to sexual experience. He was always present when Jaxom had sex.
I love with you and I love you. But my back itches fiercely.
That was clear enough, Jaxom thought as he hurried through the forest to his dragon.
Someone was with Ruth, scratching his back for him. If it was Mirrim… Jaxom strode forward angrily.
Sharra is with me, Ruth told him calmly.
«Sharra?» Swallowing an irrational surge of anger, he acknowledged her presence. «I've got the oil. Ruth's got a bad flaky patch. I've been neglecting him.»
«You've never neglected Ruth,» she said so emphatically that Jaxom had to smile in surprise.
«Did Mirrim…» He began, holding the oil pot out so she could dip her hand in.
«Yes, and no sympathy from any of us, let me assure you.» Her anger translated itself to an overly hard rub on Ruth's back that made him complain. «Sorry, Ruth. They sent Mirrim back to Benden!»
Jaxom glanced up the beach to where Path had landed and, indeed, the green dragon was gone.
«And you were sent to me?» He found he didn't mind Sharra: her presence was, in fact, a boon.
«Not sent…» Sharra faltered. «I was… I was called!» She finished her sentence in a rush.
«Called?» Jaxom left off rubbing oil into Ruth's back and looked at her. Her face was a pale blur with dark spots for her eyes and mouth.
«Yes, called. Ruth called me. He said Mirrim…»
«He said?» Jaxom interrupted her as her words finally sank in. «You can hear Ruth?»
She needed to hear me when you were sick, Jaxom, Ruth said at the same moment Sharra was saying out loud, «I've been able to hear him ever since you were so ill.»
«Ruth, why did you call Sharra?»
She is good for you. You need her. What Mirrim said, even what N'ton said but he was kinder, has made you close up. I do not like it when I cannot hear your mind. Sharra will open it for us.
«Will you do that for us, Sharra?»
This time Jaxom didn't hesitate. He took Sharra's hands, oily as they were, and drew her to him, inordinately pleased that she was so nearly his height and her mouth so close to his. All he had to do was tilt his head slightly.
«I would do anything for you, Jaxom, anything for you and Ruth!» Her lips moved delightfully against his until he made more speech impossible.
A warmth began in his belly, dispelling the cold closeness that distressed his dragon and himself a warmth that had to do with Sharra's lithe body against his, the scent of her long heavy hair in his nostrils as he kissed her, the pressure of her arms on the skin of his back. And her hands, flat against his waist, were not the hands of a healer, but the hands of a lover.
They made love in the soft warm darkness, delighting in each other and fully responsive to the moment of ecstasy that came, totally aware that Ruth loved with them.
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