All The Weyrs Of Pern Part 29

"Is his fallibility a danger to us?" F'lar asked.

"I don't really think so. I'm just commenting on it since we are private today," Jaxom went on, "and because I was so surprised when Aivas did not know that Thread's descent pa.s.sed so close to the Yokohama." Yokohama."

F'lar blinked, absorbing that information, and Lessa's frown deepened. "Surprised? Or worried?" she asked.

"Well, it's not his fault. The ancients didn't know it, either," Jaxom said with some satisfaction.

F'lar grinned back at him. "I see what you mean, Jaxom. Makes them more human."

"And Aivas not so inhumanly perfect."

"Well, it doesn't please me," Lessa snapped. "We've believed everything Aivas has told us!"

"Don't fret, Lessa. So far Aivas has not lied to us," F'lar said.

"But if he doesn't know everything, how can we now be sure he's guiding us in the right direction with this great plan of his that's supposed to destroy Thread forever?" she demanded.

"I'm beginning to figure out what that's going to be," Jaxom said so confidently that Lessa gave him a long look. "Aivas is obviously teaching us at the rate at which he feels we'll be able to absorb the revolutionary ideas; these exercises are what we have to perfect before we can achieve his goals, which are ours, and were our ancestors'."

"And will you let us in on your conclusions?" Lessa's tone was as caustic as Jaxom had ever heard it.

"It has to do with having a Thread in the airlock and being able to a.n.a.lyze it unemotionally, the way Sharra, Oldive, and the others can identify bacteria and develop ways of combating infection. It has to do with becoming accustomed to moving in free-fall or in airless s.p.a.ce, in using sophisticated equipment as if it were a third arm or an extra set of brains. That's all Aivas is, you know. An extra set of brains with a phenomenal, and infallible, memory." As Jaxom spoke, F'lar regarded him with growing respect. "And possessing a knowledge of the advanced technology we have lacked, so we couldn't do more than hold Thread at bay. But it's the dragons, and their riders, that Aivas needs to demolish Thread."

"That's obvious, considering the questions Aivas keeps asking us," Lessa put in sharply. "I'd feel happier if we knew what he wants our dragons to do." Ramoth gave a crisp bark of agreement. "I'd also like to know when he'll let the larger dragons up on the Yokohama." Yokohama." Both Ramoth and Mnementh bugled. Both Ramoth and Mnementh bugled.

Jaxom grinned at Lessa. "Now, Lessa, don't be mean. It's not often that the greens get the jump on their bigger clutchmates. Allow them their moment of glory. At any rate, your chance comes soon. Sharra and Mirrim are monitoring the oxygen levels in the cargo bay, and as soon as the atmosphere's at the proper consistency, you'll be very welcome. Of course, you can always ask a green to fly you up there."

Emitting an angry rumble, Ramoth turned to fix Jaxom with eyes that whirled with occasional flickers of red.

"There! You know what Ramoth thinks of that idea," Lessa replied with a glint of amus.e.m.e.nt. "As if I'd consider for one moment being conveyed by a green," she added to soothe her weyrmate.

"A white?" Jaxom offered slyly.

Ramoth rumbled again, but not quite so angrily, and sneezed.

I'll be exceedingly careful carrying Lessa, Ramoth, Ruth said. I Ruth said. I fit fit on the bridge, which is warmer than the cargo bay, and Lessa would see much more on the bridge than in that dark cavern. on the bridge, which is warmer than the cargo bay, and Lessa would see much more on the bridge than in that dark cavern.

"I heard," Lessa said when Jaxom opened his mouth to relay the message.

"I know that Aivas wants all the bronze and brown dragons to get used to free-fall conditions. The bay's the only large open area that they'll fit in. The algae farm is developing beautifully, so it shouldn't be long now."

Lessa c.o.c.ked her head at Jaxom, her expression thoughtful. "Does Aivas plan for the dragons to move those ships?"

"Move the ships?" Jaxom asked, surprised.

"Why? How?" F'lar asked.

"Remember, F'lar, when Aivas insisted that the dragons should be able to move things telekinetically?"

"Dragons can only move themselves, their riders, and what they carry," F'lar said categorically. "They cannot move things they're not holding. And what good would come of moving the ships? If his plan is somehow to use the ships to blow up the Red Star, I don't see what good that would accomplish. Not as I understand his lessons in spatial mechanics."

"No more do I" Jaxom took the last gulp of his klah and rose. "Well, I've delivered my report of today's surprise."

"For which you have our grat.i.tude," F'lar said.

"If that kind of predestruction turns out to be beneficial, we can set up a regular schedule to switch the shields," Jaxom said. "You can even have a chance at programming the mode yourselves."

"I'm sure it will be feasible, Jaxom. Anything that destroys Thread is helpful," F'lar said, rising to accompany the young Holder to the ledge.

"You won't worry about Aivas's fallibility, will you, F'lar?" Jaxom asked in a lowered voice when they were in the short corridor beyond the weyr.

"Me? No, certainly not," the Weyrleader a.s.sured him. "We've learned so much already from Aivas that, even if his vaunted Plan fails, we'll surely find our own ways of ridding Pern of Thread by the next Pa.s.s. But, somehow, Jaxom," F'lar said, gripping Jaxom's arm hard to show his implacable resolve, "I know we'll manage to do it in this Pa.s.s! Make no mistake about that! We'll do it in my lifetime!"

When the Smithcrafters returned to Landing, thoroughly elated by their time aboard the Yokohama, Yokohama, there was some contention over who should be allowed the opportunity to initiate the destruct mode. And of a more immediate nature, who would have the opportunity to dissect the Thread specimen. there was some contention over who should be allowed the opportunity to initiate the destruct mode. And of a more immediate nature, who would have the opportunity to dissect the Thread specimen.

"You'd have to choose carefully," Lytol said, "for too many folk believe that just being in the presence of Thread is followed by a terrible death. I've sent quite a few messages off to find qualified persons to perform the task, and so far, there's been no response."

"You might not get one," Piemur said. He had been waiting for Jancis's return, a sleeping Pierjan limp in his backpack. "I suppose the knowledge would be useful even if it'll become academic by the end of this Pa.s.s."

Master Robinton held up his hand. "I'll go, if no one else will."

He was so besieged with protests that he grinned. "So long as I can visit the Yokohama Yokohama at some point in the very near future. And at some point in the very near future. And don't"-he glared don't"-he glared about him-"tell me that my health won't permit it. I found data in the medical files on how heart patients were frequently sent to free-fall wards on satellites to recuperate. A visit to the about him-"tell me that my health won't permit it. I found data in the medical files on how heart patients were frequently sent to free-fall wards on satellites to recuperate. A visit to the Yokohama Yokohama would, therefore, be would, therefore, be beneficial beneficial for my health, and it could do my heart good to stab a sequence that destroyed Thread! Did one of your messages go to Oldive or Sharra, Lytol? Well, then, they're both busy folk, but they'll get back to you in time. And if one of them goes, why, I'd have my healer at hand." for my health, and it could do my heart good to stab a sequence that destroyed Thread! Did one of your messages go to Oldive or Sharra, Lytol? Well, then, they're both busy folk, but they'll get back to you in time. And if one of them goes, why, I'd have my healer at hand."

Considerable consternation was roused when it became more widely known that a Thread ovoid had been procured. Aivas obliged with scenes of it reposing in Airlock A. It remained there unchanging for several days, proving that in its present state it posed no danger to anyone.

More importantly, Lessa and F'lar reported favorably on the reduction of Thread density during the largest Fall over Nerat. There had been three long columns entirely free of the deadly rain. So Lessa and F'lar came to Landing to discuss adding that task to the on-board duties. Aivas had a tape of the incident so that Benden Weyrleaders could view it, which they did several times.

"Incredible to think Thread can be destroyed without dragon a.s.sistance," Lessa murmured in a low voice.

"Too bad there aren't a dozen more colony ships up there," Piemur said.

"Then dragons wouldn't have been needed, and that that doesn't bear thinking of, " Lessa snapped back at him. doesn't bear thinking of, " Lessa snapped back at him.

"I spoke as a harper, Weyrwoman," Piemur said courteously, "as I, for one, am very glad dragons do exist."

"I think, F'lar, that we should go to the Yokohama," Yokohama," Lessa remarked. "There's enough oxygen for Ramoth and Mnementh in the cargo bay by now. isn't there, Aivas?" Lessa remarked. "There's enough oxygen for Ramoth and Mnementh in the cargo bay by now. isn't there, Aivas?"

"There is. It is essential that the larger dragons become accustomed to the conditions of s.p.a.ce," Aivas replied. Lessa and F'lar exchanged meaningful glances. "The next stream should intersect with the Yokohama's Yokohama's...o...b..t in three days' time, at precisely 1522 hours ship time." orbit in three days' time, at precisely 1522 hours ship time."

"That's late morning, isn't it, Benden time?" F'lar asked, turning to Lessa. "We'll go then, direct from Benden."

"Who's going to take me then?" Robinton asked, sitting straight up in his chair and looking aggrieved.

"I will," D'ram said. "Surely there's enough air for three big dragons, isn't there, Aivas?" The old Weyrleader's tone implied that there had better be.

"Certainly," was Aivas's prompt a.s.surance.

"Well, then," Robinton said, brushing his hands together in complete satisfaction, "that takes care of that."

13.

LESSA WAS JUST a trifle put out when Ruth, with Jaxom, Sharra, and Oldive astride, joined the three big dragons the morning of their first ascent to the Yokohama. Yokohama.

"Sharra and Oldive volunteered to dissect the Thread egg," Jaxom said without apology, "and I'm to man the telescope and give Aivas fore and aft views of the Thread stream."

What Jaxom did not say was that Ruth might need to give the big dragons a few helpful hints on how to manage themselves in free-fall. So far, none of the green dragons had experienced any difficulty with the unusual sensation of weightlessness. The fire-lizards had been totally fearless and almost casual about coming up to see what the dragons, especially Ruth, were doing on the Yokohama. Yokohama. Mirrim was scheduled for algae-farming on the other two vessels that day, so that would give the party two dragons suitable for bridge-to-bridge transfer. Mirrim was scheduled for algae-farming on the other two vessels that day, so that would give the party two dragons suitable for bridge-to-bridge transfer.

Going between between from the brilliant sunlight and balmy air of Landing to the big, dimly lit cargo bay on the from the brilliant sunlight and balmy air of Landing to the big, dimly lit cargo bay on the Yokohama Yokohama brought exclamations from all the initiates. brought exclamations from all the initiates.

"Jaxom, I thought you said there were lights," Lessa said.

"There are," he replied, agilely dismounting and expertly pushing himself toward the main switches on the wall by the lift. He was rather pleased that, with such an audience, he arrived effortlessly at the exact spot. Being well aware of the load soon to be taxing the solar panels, he activated only the ring lights, not the power-eating overhead globes.

"Amazing!" Master Robinton exclaimed, staring around the immense, empty facility.

Ramoth made an odd little noise in her throat as she viewed her surroundings, her eyes idly whirling. Mnementh lowered his head, sniffing at the scarred deck plates, peering into the corners, his eyes calm. D'ram's Tiroth stretched his neck until his head reached the ceiling. At that point, his feet lifted slowly from the floor, startling the big bronze into a bellow of protest.

You are in free fall, Tiroth, Tiroth, Ruth said casually. Ruth said casually. Every action has a reaction. Gently push yourself back to the floor with your snout. See? That was easy. Every action has a reaction. Gently push yourself back to the floor with your snout. See? That was easy.

Then Ramoth swung her head too rapidly about to see what was happening to Tiroth and started to drift.

Don't fight the motion, Ramoth, Ruth said, Ruth said, just relax and let yourself go with the movement. Now, easily swing your head back. See, it's not hard at all. Look at me. just relax and let yourself go with the movement. Now, easily swing your head back. See, it's not hard at all. Look at me.

"Ruth!" Jaxom said repressively, "don't you dare show off."

I'm not showing off, off, I'm showing! I'm showing! Ruth executed a slow backflip, careful to keep his wings tight against his spine where they would not interfere with his progress. Ruth executed a slow backflip, careful to keep his wings tight against his spine where they would not interfere with his progress. We weigh no more than a fire-lizard up here! We weigh no more than a fire-lizard up here! And then he twirled around on his tail end. And then he twirled around on his tail end.

"Ruth!" Jaxom bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls of the bay.

"I think you've made your point, Lord Jaxom," F'lar said, a ripple of suppressed amus.e.m.e.nt in his voice. "Easy does it, right?" Moving carefully, F'lar swung out of his accustomed perch between Mnementh's neck ridges and found that he had propelled himself deckward. "An incredible feeling! Try it, Lessa. I know you don't weigh much under any circ.u.mstances, but I just drifted down! Amazing sensation! No strain for you, Robinton."

There were a few misjudgments as the pa.s.sengers experimented. Sharra, discreetly a.s.sisting Masterhealer Oldive to the deck, made for the lift to start their day's project: a close examination of the egg in the airlock. Aivas has recommended that they take the Thread to the medical station on the top coldsleep deck. Laboratory facilities were still in place there, including a microscope more powerful than anything they had yet managed to build. The section had sufficient air but was not yet too warm, Aivas a.s.sured them. For an unemotional piece of machinery, Aivas was exhibiting an odd insistence for what Sharra would have thought a relatively unimportant element of the total project. There were a few misjudgments as the pa.s.sengers experimented. Sharra, discreetly a.s.sisting Masterhealer Oldive to the deck, made for the lift to start their day's project: a close examination of the egg in the airlock. Aivas has recommended that they take the Thread to the medical station on the top coldsleep deck. Laboratory facilities were still in place there, including a microscope more powerful than anything they had yet managed to build. The section had sufficient air but was not yet too warm, Aivas a.s.sured them. For an unemotional piece of machinery, Aivas was exhibiting an odd insistence for what Sharra would have thought a relatively unimportant element of the total project.

When the others had grown somewhat accustomed to the vagaries of free-fall, Jaxom escorted them to the bridge. Certainly he was as eager to show Lessa, F'lar, Robinton, and D'ram his familiarity with the Yokohama's Yokohama's bridge as Ruth was to discreetly supervise the big dragons. Standing in the open lift, Jaxom's novices did not disappoint him: they were as genuinely awestruck by the view of Pern as he could wish. He gave them time to absorb the wondrous sight of the sunlit continent and the brilliantly blue sea, then gently shooed them into the room so that the lift door could close. They clung for a while to the guardrail, coming to terms with their experience. bridge as Ruth was to discreetly supervise the big dragons. Standing in the open lift, Jaxom's novices did not disappoint him: they were as genuinely awestruck by the view of Pern as he could wish. He gave them time to absorb the wondrous sight of the sunlit continent and the brilliantly blue sea, then gently shooed them into the room so that the lift door could close. They clung for a while to the guardrail, coming to terms with their experience.

Propelling himself smoothly to the captain's chair, Jaxom fed the telescope program, checked the ready room, where Sharra was helping Oldive into a s.p.a.ce suit, and tuned one of the ceiling screens in to the laboratory.

F'lar dragged his gaze away from the riveting view of Pern to eye the specimen. "It's not as big as I thought it'd be," he said.

"No, it's not. That's why it d be interesting to see how a big, long Thread fits into such a confined envelope," Jaxom replied.

Lessa shot one glance at it before turning back to the more compelling panorama. "Can we go to the window?" she asked.

"Just push yourself off gently-don't worry," he added when she started to float and tried to stop herself. "Just flow. Don't struggle." She went by him, rotating, and he reached up and halted the motion. Then, with a gentle shove, he aimed her at the window.

Robinton, having observed her mistakes, did not repeat them, and shortly he was beside her at the window, his feet dangling a handspan above the floor. D'ram gave a grunt and went handover-hand down to the nearest console, where he strapped himself into the chair.

"How long before the stream starts to intersect the Yokohama's Yokohama's path?" he asked. path?" he asked.

Jaxom set D'ram's screen at its highest magnification and called up the appropriate sector. As D'ram's screen refocused, the old bronze rider reared back in his chair, his expression blank with shock as the ragged beginnings of the wave appeared so immediately in front of him.

"It's not that close to us yet, D'ram. I just gave you an enhanced image. Here, I'll give you the actual perspective." Jaxom altered the magnitude so that the incoming stream was merely a sunlit smudge dropping toward them from the fourth quadrant.

"How near is it?" D'ram asked, his voice dry and cracking.

"Proximity monitor suggests we've a good ten minutes before contact," Jaxom said.

F'lar cautiously made his way to D'ram and hung on to the chair back, his legs almost horizontal to the floor. Then he levered himself into the other station and strapped in. his legs almost horizontal to the floor. Then he levered himself into the other station and strapped in.

Are you all right down there? Jaxom asked Ruth as privately as he could so as not to be overheard by Ramoth. Jaxom asked Ruth as privately as he could so as not to be overheard by Ramoth.

She's far too busy enjoying free fall, Ruth replied, his tone amused. She's better at it then Mnementh and Tiroth, for all she's bigger. She's not using as much shove. I think they are doing much better without their riders watching. Watch your wings, Ramoth! Not much room in here! She's better at it then Mnementh and Tiroth, for all she's bigger. She's not using as much shove. I think they are doing much better without their riders watching. Watch your wings, Ramoth! Not much room in here!

Jaxom grinned, then froze as he caught movement in the lab. Sharra and Oldive were entering the room, Sharra moving as gracefully as the magnetic boots allowed, one gloved hand guiding Oldive's jerkier progress. Jaxom watched, rapt, as they attempted to penetrate the hard sh.e.l.l of Thread. Then Mirrim, on green Path, arrived on the bridge.

"Who'm I taking to the Bahrain?" Bahrain?" she asked, grinning at the sight of Lessa and Robinton stretched across the window. she asked, grinning at the sight of Lessa and Robinton stretched across the window.

"Whoever will go with you," Jaxom said. "Lessa? F'lar?"

Lessa made an injudiciously sharp movement of her head and flattened herself against the window. "I'll go with you, Mirrim." No, No, Ramoth, it's perfectly all right. I a.s.sure you that you Ramoth, it's perfectly all right. I a.s.sure you that you would not would not fit on the. bridge here, much less on the fit on the. bridge here, much less on the Bahrain's. Bahrain's. You learn to keep your balance down there in the bay where you have some s.p.a.ce to maneuver. You learn to keep your balance down there in the bay where you have some s.p.a.ce to maneuver.

Jaxom asked Ruth to oblige F'lar, and the white dragon jumped between between to the bridge. to the bridge.

"You know the drill?" Jaxom asked the Benden Weyrleaders.

Lessa gave him a hard stare as she floated across to Path, but F'lar chuckled and replied meekly, "I a.s.sure you, we've been practicing hard, Jaxom. My thanks, Ruth, " he added as he glided up to the white dragon's back and settled himself.

"Bit easier to bestride than that great hulk of yours, isn't he?" Jaxom replied, grinning at the mild surprise on the bronze rider's face. "Have a good destructive time! You've got three minutes before contact."

"Where do I sit, Jaxom?" Robinton asked eagerly, pushing himself off from the window.

"Where F'lar was."

Much as Jaxom's fingers itched to insert the command, he found it equally gratifying to watch the expression on the Harper's face as he performed the task. As the smiths had on the previous occasion, Robinton and D'ram both recoiled as the ovoids hurtled toward the window. D'ram grunted as the first puffs signaled the destruction, then sat with arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowed, a look of deep satisfaction on his face.

"You know, D'ram, we really ought to get Lytol to come here one time," Robinton said. "It might ease his heart to destroy Thread. He never had the chance as a rider."

"Might do him some good at that," D'ram remarked thoughtfully.

"Aivas?" Jaxom opened the channel to Landing. "Are the pictures coming in clearly enough?"

"Yes, Jaxom, and the density is up by seven percent or more on the previous Fall."