Dolphins Of Pern Part 29

"You are not the only dolphineer,' she startled him by saying.

"I'm not?" He jerked bolt upright, the sudden movement whoos.h.i.+ng water over her eye. She blinked.

"There are dolphineers at Eastern Weyr, at Monaco Bay, and she was the only dolphin he had heard p.r.o.nounce it correctly, "Paradise River, Southern, Ista, Tillek, Fort, Nerat Bay "There are?" His heart sank within him. He would not be the first new dolphineer. The new Hall he had so proudly thought he might found was a dream dying in a single, casual sentence.

Others had pre-empted his grand idea. He might as well go home now and take whatever punishment his father decreed for him. He probably wouldn't be able to go back to school so he'd lost that opportunity, too. He might even have lost the best chance to secure Paradise River. But he would have to make it very plain to his mother that he must swim with dolphins. He couldn't give that up now. He was eighteen now, he realized suddenly, if he'd counted days correctly. He was old enough to go off on his own in any case. Maybe, maybe, he could just come back here. He already had the makings of a small hold. And if he could prove enough land around him, under the terms of the Ancients' Charter, he could own that. And he'd have Cal and Tursi to swim with, he could listen to Loki's poems, and "Come, swim with me, Readis,' Theresa said in the very gentlest tone he had heard a dolphin use.

"I'm sorry, Theresa, I don't feel much like swimming right now." For all he was eighteen now and judged a man, a sob caught in his throat and he turned his face from the dolphin's knowing eye.

He was knocked off his perch by a deft swipe of her rostrum.

He was coughing as he bobbed up and she was facing the cavern entrance.

"Come, Readis, swim with me."

"I need my vest,' and he extended one arm towards the ledge, meaning to climb back up.

"No vest is needed if you swim with Theresa,' he was told and he was nudged away from the side of the pool.

"I didn't mean to offend you "None taken,' she replied.

He caught her dorsal fin with his right hand. Her tow was deceptively smooth but the speed with which he pa.s.sed out of the cavern told him she was fast. That surprised him in such a large mammal. Just outside the cave, they were joined by the others, and Cal poked her head up on the other side of him, grinning.

"You help her?" Cal asked.

"She had a wicked bloodfish, yes, and I removed it."

He was being pulled with such speed he had more water in his mouth than words and gestured that he couldn't speak. Then he saw that the entire pod was here, ranging on either side of Theresa. Some were in advance, leaping and diving as if they escorted a s.h.i.+p. Behind him more were dipping in and out but not displaying the more athletic maneuvers. He spotted Loki and she rolled her head at him before dipping her nose under again.

Theresa just kept swimming, heading directly toward the Great Western Current. He'd been out to it several times with the pod, and had been caught up in the incredible current, fearless only because he had been in the company of dolphins.

They were nearly upon the s.h.i.+ps before he realized that her bulk had kept him from seeing them bearing down on them.

Two s.h.i.+ps, one of them Master Idarolan's Dawn Sisters, and second was Alemi's Fair Winds.

"Oh, no, Theresa." He dropped his hand and was immediately upheld by Cal on his left.

"Take hold, Readis,' Theresa said, s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g her head around so that he could not deny hearing her words. "You will come with me.

"She speak, you obey!" Cal said, squeeing emphatically.

That was when Readis had the first suspicion. Later he realized how stupid he had been. Just then more pods could be seen, leaping and diving, plunging and cavorting, all heading towards the s.h.i.+ps which had furled their sails and seemed to be standing still. Sea anchors out, he thought in his bemus.e.m.e.nt.

As they neared, and Theresa was closing the distance with incredible speed, he could see that each s.h.i.+p had a longboat in the water beside it, and that there were dolphins cl.u.s.tered all around. He'd never heard that dolphins had gathers, but that's Afo had suggested, the only time dolphin pod met was in the Northwest at the Great Subsidence for "You're The Tillek, Theresa!" he shouted, lost his grip and swallowed a mouthful of water that had him gasping for breath and grasping for the nearest solid form. Which happened to be The Tillek Theresa and that had made him reach for any other form, for to grab at her seemed tantamount to sacrilege.

"Hold me, Dolphineer, he was commanded and his hand was flung up and landed against the dorsal fin which he obediently clutched.

"I shouldn't Tillek." he gasped. "It's not right. You're The Loud squees and clickings of approval answered him and then they were so close to the longboats he could hear the welcoming shouts. The Tillek swam him up to Master Idarolan's s.h.i.+p, and slowed to come to a complete stop, her flippers holding her steady with deft subtle movements, by the Dawn Sisters' longboat. Looking up he saw his father, smiling, his mother, unsmiling but somehow looking proud, Alemi, and Kami, of all people, looking as if she was about to weep. Beyond her were T'gellan, the Benden Weyrleader, D'ram, T'lion looking excessively pleased, a dour-looking man he didn't know, Master Samvel, Master Menolly and Master Sebell. His father and Alemi held out their hands to him.

"Grab hold, Readis,' Jayge called. Too surprised to disobey, he held up his arm and was hauled aboard. His mother herself handed him a big towel, even as she ran critical eyes up and down his tanned body as if she hadn't expected to find him in such good and healthy condition.

"Thanks, Mother,' he mumbled and didn't know what else to do because there was The Tillek herself raised up from the water to be part of whatever was about to transpire in the boat. For this had the feeling of more than the recapture of a recalcitrant truant.

"Well, Readis, lad, Master Idarolan said, planting his hand on his hips and grinning at him. "Led us a fine and merry chase you have, lad."

"I just wanted to help the dolphins,' Readis said, speaking to his father despite the press of other important people around him. "No-one else was.

Jayge took Readis' arm and pressed it affectionately, the expression in his eyes wistful. "We know that now, son. And I honour you for what you did that day, despite what I said, and felt, at the time.

"I should never have said what I did,' Aramina murmured right beside him, and there were tears in her eyes when he looked around at her.

"Ah hem, we can't keep The Tillek waiting, friends," Master Idarolan said. "We have come at her request, Readis,' he added.

"At her . Readis looked from the Fish Master to the looming shape of The Tillek.

"She wishes you to be The Dolphineer,' Master Idarolan said. "We've never had a Dolphin Hall on Pern . . . never realized we should have had one all these years. But, well, she's been very understanding."

"The Thread caused many problems for humans,' The Tillek said in a tone that suggested she really couldn't understand quite why. Beyond her, Readis could see the ma.s.ses and ma.s.ses of dolphin bodies. Why, every pod on Pern must be here! "We are grateful to men for many things. For history, for knowing what we are, and for giving us the tongue to speak. For speech is what raises the mammal above the animals and fish of land and sea."

"And you, Theresa The Tillek,' said the Master Harper Sebell, "are obviously my counterpart among dolphins."

"I do not play music makers. But I sing the songs of old so that the young do not forget the past and the old Earth and how men and women swim with us in these new seas.

"Close your mouth, Readis,' his father murmured softly.

"But he said she said . A Dolphin Hall?"

"A Dolphin Hall,' repeated Master Idarolan.

"A Dolphin Craft Hall,' said F'lar of Benden, "and I speak for all the Weyrleaders "And I, Oterel of Tillek Hold, speak for the Lords Holder said the gaunt man Readis didn't know and then he smiled and didn't look half as forbidding.

"And I for the Harper Hall,' said Sebell, "that the new Hall is needed and is herewith situated at the Sea Caverns of . . . what will you call your place, Readis?"

"Huh? I don't know. I don't know anything "Kahrain is the name we dolphins know of that place from the Ancients,' The Tillek said.

"Kabrain Hold it will be then,' Readis said, wondering if a man's heart could burst from his chest. "But I really don't have much of a Hold there right now, only the caves and the pools where I can do the healing. And I'd need to learn much more healing to be a good dolphineer "That has been promised you,' The Tillek said and ducked down into the water, rising again to blow out of her hole.

"Why? Why me? You said there were other dolphineers Readis said, almost accusing her of gentle treachery.

"There are,' T'lion said, bursting with the news, "because Gaddie wants to help, too, and T'gellan says I can spend my free time with you and I've copied a whole "nother set of medical stuff for you, Readis, and Readis began to s.h.i.+ver suddenly, though the sun was warm and the breeze mild.

"He is cold and needs hot food,' The Tillek said. "We will retire and return when he has been cared for." She either did not hear or did not care to acknowledge the outraged "well, I never' from Aramina for she went on. "You swim strong and well, Dolphineer Readis. You will be Tillek and Thea to all in your Hold." Then she disappeared below the side of the long boat. Stunned by all that had just happened, Readis stared at the s.p.a.ce she had been occupying until he saw her long body gracefully arch out of and then back in the water, many dolphins following her away from the s.h.i.+ps.

Readis was then bundled up the rope ladder and into Master Idarolan's cabin, and given hot soup and hot klah and made much of by his mother, attentions which he endured out of grat.i.tude for the day and her forgiveness. His father handed him a new s.h.i.+rt and muttered something about other things that had been brought along that he would possibly need. Then, with Aramina still anxiously hovering over him, he was ushered back out to the deck. There everyone else on this extraordinary voyage had wine gla.s.ses which were being topped up by Master Idarolan's seamen.

"Now, lad, I've some cargo destined for your new Hold,' Master Idarolan said, handing Readis a full gla.s.s. "I know The Tillek wants to talk to you further . "I think I'd like to talk to you first,' he said and included his father and mother with a glance in their direction. "I didn't know anyone knew where I was.

"We have for the past three sevendays, Jayge said, laying an arm across his son's shoulders. When he saw Readis glance suspiciously toward the sea, he added, "No, the dolphins didn't tell on you."

"I've been on daily sweeps trying to find you and then I saw the seaside caves and I figured that they were so perfect for you and dolphins, you had to be there,' T'lion said, looking very pleased with himself. "Only, what with one thing and another, Gaddie and I didn't get a chance to check the place out. Made yourself right comfortable, didn't you?"

"I got by fine,' Readis said, a remark calculated to take the anxious expression off his mother's face and, at the same time, prove to his father that he'd coped well.

"Then,' Master Idarolan said, beaming about impartially, "I was approached by no less than The Tillek herself. The dolphins at Paradise River were upset when you didn't return."

"I got questioned by the Eastern Pod,' T'lion put in, "and so did Master Persellan who forgave me, by the way!'

"That's a relief,' Readis said.

"And The Tillek asked me when would dolphineers come back to the sea to work with her pods,' Idarolan went on. "So naturally I informed Lord Oterel - and he gestured to the Lord Holder.

"And I asked T'bor of High Reaches and he - - Oterel said and then turned to the Master Harper.

"Didn't know anything about dolphin pods and, while I knew a little from Menolly here,' Sebell said, "I conferred with Alemi, who told me of your disappearance, Readis, and why. I also spoke to "Us,' Lessa said, picking up the tale in her turn, "and I remembered something that Master Robinton had told me about these creatures." She turned to D'ram.

"And I remembered all the tapes which Aivas had shown of the early days when there were dolphineers,' the old Weyrleader said and then shrugged. "So The Tillek went to Paradise River and spoke to your parents."

"She asked us, Jayge said, looking slightly embarra.s.sed while Aramina ducked her head and nervously twitched the hem of her tunic - one of her gather tunics, Readis now noticed, "if we objected to your becoming a dolphineer.

Readis waited.

"It is an honour to be asked,' his mother said softly, hesitantly, before raising her head to look him straight in the eye. "I was once asked to accept and honour,' and she shot Lessa a quick glance, "and could not. I cannot stand in your way, Readis."

"Thank you, Mother,' he murmured, his throat blocked with the surge of relief and happiness.

"You're in for a lot more training before you can become a Craft Master, young Readis,' Master Idarolan said, "but you've made a fine start. Ahemm,' and he cleared his throat, "however, The Tillek plans to instruct you herself which is why she has come all the way down from her natural habitat."

"She will?" Readis closed his mouth as soon as he realized that it had dropped open in surprise.

"She has insisted,' Sebell said with a wry grin. "She is the living repository of all delphinic history, tradition and knowledge."

"She speaks the best of any dolphin I've ever heard,' Readis said.

"She claims it's because she has to repeat the Words and History every spring to all the new dolphins wis.h.i.+ng to take the Test. I gather that's swimming across the great subsidence whirlpool."

Readis nodded and then asked softly, "I wouldn't have to do that, would I? I mean, I'm a good enough swimmer but Sebell wasn't the only one to chuckle. "She'll set her own test and you should know that you've already pa.s.sed the critical entrance examination."

"I did?"

"You did, that's why she brought you to us.

"You'd have all just gone home?" Readis was astonished.

"No, we'd've gone in and brought you back home, lad,' Alemi said, "and no blame.

"Oh!'

"Listen!" Menolly said, holding up one hand. "Listen!'

"To what?" Idarolan asked but now Sebell held his hand up and they fell silent. Even the sailors in the rigging and on deck stopped what they were doing, as the odd but melodious sound reached their ears.

"Music, but where is it coming from?" Sebell said, glancing around the s.h.i.+p.

"I've heard that before,' Aramina murmured to Jayge and leaned close to him. "Only it's not quite the same.

"It's not so lonely a sound,' Menolly said as she swung slowly to face the sea. That's when those on deck saw the wedge of leaping dolphins coming alongside. Suddenly Menolly jumped back in surprise as a loud squee was clearly heard.

"The big one's back, Master,' one of the seamen in the rigging said, pointing. He, too, involuntarily flinched away as The Tillek reared high from the sea.

"Readis,' she said plainly before she fell back into the water.

"Coming,' he said and started toward the rail. Then he paused, startled by his own compliance, and not sure he could just leave the eminent company on the Dawn Sisters' deck. "Do I just go?"

"When your Master calls, lad, you go,' Idarolan said, grinning, and giving him an encouraging push on his way.

"We'll drop the supplies at your caves,' Alemi shouted after him.

"Listen well, learn hard,' Sebell added.

"We're proud of you, son,' his father said just as Readis arched himself in a dive over the railing and into the sea, carefully aiming himself at the s.p.a.ce left free for him by the dolphins waiting there.

Epilogue he dragonriders stayed a while longer, talking about this unusual meeting between humans and dolphins and eating the small repast which Master Idarolan had had prepared.

"Sometimes, I feel that we are rus.h.i.+ng forward at unbelievable speeds,' Menolly remarked, "with hardly time to catch our breaths. So much has happened!'

Sebell nodded. "And not enough time to make songs out of most of it." He gave his wife a droll smile and ducked as she playfully swatted at him.

"The song . Aramina said, leaning toward Menolly, "the song we heard. Where did you hear it?"

"At night, near the sea, I must admit. And Menolly paused, frowning, "at Paradise River when I was there harpering the children. You've heard it?"

"Yes,' Aramina said in a sad, wistful tone. "I always thought it was a dream but I wasn't always asleep when I heard it."

"When you think how long the dolphins have waited for us to acknowledge them again, it would make any creature sad,' Sebell said, slipping a rea.s.suring arm about his wife.

"Dragons don't sing, so I knew it wasn't them, but Ramoth has complained about "lonely" sounds impinging on her sleep,' Lessa said. Then, with a brisk twist of her shoulders, she smiled at Aramina. "Now we all know, don't we, that the Dolphins of Pern are part of our future. I like to think, one of the better parts of our future when this Pa.s.s is over."

"When this Pa.s.s is over!" said Master Idarolan loudly, raising his gla.s.s.

And the others drained their gla.s.ses to that toast!