All The Weyrs Of Pern Part 13

He had cooled off by the time Ruth glided to a gentle, faultless halt in front of the gracious ancient residence of the Paradise River Hold.

"And a good day to you, Lord Jaxorn and Ruth!" Jayge said, coming down the stairs from the wide porch. "Ara started squeezing fresh juice the moment Ruth told her you were coming. And I'm glad you did, because something's come up!"

I'm going swimming. The fire-lizards said they'll scrub I'm going swimming. The fire-lizards said they'll scrub my my back, back, Ruth told Jaxom, his eyes whirling with green delight. At Jaxom's approval, the white dragon hop-glided right into the river, several full fairs of fire-lizards, both wild and banded, circling ecstatically above him. Ruth told Jaxom, his eyes whirling with green delight. At Jaxom's approval, the white dragon hop-glided right into the river, several full fairs of fire-lizards, both wild and banded, circling ecstatically above him.

"Off for a scrub, is he?" Jayge asked. He was of medium height, his bare chest burned a fine deep brown, his legs not quite as dark. His oddly flecked green eyes stood out in a tanned face that reflected a hint of a strong personality and a basic tranquility, even though a slight frown crossed his face as he led Jaxorn up to the coolness of the porch. "I'm glad you stopped by, Jaxom. How did you work up such a sweat in between?" between?"

"Stealing sand."

"Indeed?" Jayge regarded him thoughtfully. "Now what would you need Paradise River sand for? As I'm sure you're going to tell me anyway." He gestured for Jaxom to take the hammock while he leaned against the porch banister, arms folded across his chest.

"The settlers had a sandpit back in that scrubland of yours. They thought highly of Paradise River sands-for gla.s.s making."

"There's enough certainly. Did Piemur and Jancis find those whatchamacallums..."

"Chips?" Jaxom supplied with a grin.

"Chips, then, useful after all?"

"Well, we managed to salvage the usable transistors and capacitors, but they haven't actually been put onto a board yet."

Jayge gave him a long, hard, suspicious look before grinning. "As you say!"

Just then young Readis, clad only in a clout, came out onto the porch, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. He eyed Jaxom steadily. "Ruth?"

Jaxom pointed to where the white dragon, surrounded by industrious fire-lizards, was wallowing in the shallow water.

"He's enough of a guardian, isn't he?" Readis asked his father, tilting his head back in a stance that reminded Jaxom of Jayge.

"Ruth's bathing right now, and besides, I d like you to tell Jaxom what happened to you and Alemi the other day," Jayge said.

"Did you come just to hear?" There was a certain element of vanity in young Readis's grin. Jaxom was suddenly aware of how much he missed his own son, Jarrol, an engaging two Turns old.

"Well, that was one reason," Jaxom replied mendaciously. "So what did happen to you and Alemi the other day?"

Aramina emerged from the house, carrying her squirming daughter under one arm and a tray in her free hand. Jayge sprang quickly to relieve her of the tray, but she gave him two-Turn-old Aranya instead and served Jaxom a tall, cool drink and some freshly baked sweet biscuits. It took a few more minutes until Readis had been sat in a chair, his small gla.s.s and two biscuits to hand. As Aramina settled herself, Readis looked to his father for his cue to begin.

"Uncle Alemi took me fis.h.i.+ng three days ago in the skiff. The big reds were schooling out there." Readis's brown arm indicated a general northerly direction. "We was to have a beach meal 'cos it was Swacky's nameday and we needed big 'uns to grill. There was only little squids on the edges of the school. Then, all o' sudden, a big one got Uncle's hook and it dragged us, boat and all"-Readis's eyes were s.h.i.+ning with remembered excitement-"right into the current. But Uncle Alemi, he wrestled it aboard and it was this"-he held his arms as wide as they could go-"big. No funning!" He glared briefly at his father, who was hiding his laughter in his hand. "It was big! You ask Alemi! But he hung on, and I helped him gaff it aboard. Then my reel started spinning, and Uncle Alemi and I had to plat our backs into landing that one. That's why we didn't notice the squall coming up."

Jaxom glanced anxiously at Jayge and Aramina. Alemi knew his Craft, and he would never endanger anyone.

"It was some squall, I can tell you," Readis said, jerking his chin to emphasize the details, in the manner of any good storyteller. "We got tossed and spun about 'cos there was no way the sail would have lasted in a blow like that. And then a big wave overturned the skiff and I came up coughing and sputtering, Uncle Alemi hanging on to my arm fit to break it." The little brown face regarded Jaxom seriously. "I'm not afraid to admit I was some scared. The sky around us was black and the rain coming down so heavy we couldn't see the sh.o.r.e. But I'm a good swimmer and I can see now why Uncle Alemi always makes me wear my deep-water vest even if it is hot most times and rubs my back. See?" He swiveled his torso, raising one arm over his head, to show Jaxom where the underarm skin had been abraded. "Then it happened!"

"What happened?" Jaxom asked as if on cue.

"I had my arms out, trying to keep my head up, when suddenly something came smack-dab into my right hand. And And started pulling me. Uncle Alemi yelled at me that it was all right. We were safe. I was to hang on tight, just as he was doing." started pulling me. Uncle Alemi yelled at me that it was all right. We were safe. I was to hang on tight, just as he was doing."

"s.h.i.+pfish?" Jaxom asked with an incredulous glance at Readis's parents. He knew that Jayge and Aramina owed their lives to s.h.i.+pfish; even Master Idarolan swore that the sleek big sea creatures would rescue humans in stormy areas.

"A whole pod of 'em," Readis said proudly. "And every time my hand slipped off, there was another one right behind to hang on to. Uncle Alemi says there must have been twenty or thirty. They pulled us far enough in for us to see the beach and reach safety on our own. And," he added, pausing to give emphasis to his final words, "the next morning the skiff was found beached up by the Fishhold, like they knew exactly where it belonged."

"That is some tale, young Readis. You're a harper born. An amazing rescue: Truly amazing," Jaxom said with genuine feeling. He glanced at Jayge, who nodded supportively. "The redfish weren't by any chance returned with the skiff?" he asked.

"Nah." Readis dismissed that with a flick of his wrist. "They drownded. So we had to eat of stringy wherry 'stead of good juicy redfish steaks. And you know something else?"

"No, what?" Jaxom asked politely.

"The s.h.i.+pfish kept talking to us all the time they was saving us. Uncle Alemi heard them, too."

"What did they say?"

Readis frowned deeply in concentration. "I don't 'xactly remember the words. The wind was shrieking, but I know they were shouting at us. Encouraging us like."

Until Jaxom caught Jayge's eye, he thought it was a youthful embellishment on a hectic rescue story, but Jayge nodded in confirmation.

"Readis, why don't you run down and see if the fire-lizards are giving Ruth a proper scrubbing?" Jayge suggested.

The st.u.r.dy little boy jumped to his feet. "Can I? Really?" He flashed a radiant grin at Jaxom.

"Really, you can," Jaxom a.s.sured him, wondering if Jarrol would be as enchanting as Readis when he was five.

"Yahoo," Readis cried, tearing off down to sh.o.r.e where Ruth was afloat.

"That's exactly what happened to him and Alemi?" Jaxom asked.

"With no invention," Aramina said, obviously proud of her son. "Alemi said that Readis didn't panic and obeyed him instantly. Otherwise-" She broke off, her face paling under her warm tan.

Jayge leaned toward Jaxom. "I wondered if you'd mind asking this Aivas thing of yours what he knows about the s.h.i.+pfish. Alemi also swears that they were speaking words, though over the wind and sea noises, he couldn't distinguish exactly what they were saying. He thinks they were giving them directions or rea.s.surances. Piemur mentioned a pa.s.sing reference to the big fish-doll-fins-which Aivas said were brought here from Terra. I asked him to inquire, but I guess it slipped his mind."

These days Jaxom always carried a small pad and pencil in his belt pouch. He made a notation. "I won't forget," he a.s.sured them, patting his pouch when he had replaced pad and pencil.

As soon as Ruth had had time to dry off in the sun, Jaxom called him up from the beach. Readis was squealing with rapture, for Ruth Ruth had allowed the lad to climb up on his back for the short walk back. Aramina gave Jaxom a full net of fresh fruit to bring Sharra and Jarrol, and he thanked her profusely. had allowed the lad to climb up on his back for the short walk back. Aramina gave Jaxom a full net of fresh fruit to bring Sharra and Jarrol, and he thanked her profusely.

As Ruth ascended to a safe height, Jaxom came to a conclusion, based on the guilt he experienced in being so long away from Ruatha-yet again!

Ruth, let's shave three hours of our return. That's safe enough, and we'll be back in Ruatha just as everyone's getting up.

You know Lessa doesn't like us timing it.

We haven't in Turns, Ruth.

Sharra will know.

I'm hoping she'll be so glad to see me she won't mind-this once. Jaxom stroked Ruth's neck urgently. Jaxom stroked Ruth's neck urgently. Let me handle my mate. Let me handle my mate. Ruth didn't like to deceive either Sharra or Lessa. Ruth didn't like to deceive either Sharra or Lessa. It's not deceiving Sharra. It's getting home early for a change. Not a big thing to ask. It's not deceiving Sharra. It's getting home early for a change. Not a big thing to ask.

Oh, I suppose it won't matter this once. I always know when we are.

However, as soon as they came out of between between above Ruatha Hold, Jaxom had cause to regret coming home at all. A wild blizzard blowing down from the mountains all but obscured the Hold. above Ruatha Hold, Jaxom had cause to regret coming home at all. A wild blizzard blowing down from the mountains all but obscured the Hold.

A good thing I always know where where I am, too, I am, too, Ruth remarked, craning his neck and blinking windblown particles out of his faceted eyes. Ruth remarked, craning his neck and blinking windblown particles out of his faceted eyes.

Can you see to land, Ruth? I never thought to check on the weather conditions. Jaxom covered his cheeks with his gloved hands, feeling the chill entering his bones despite the heavy riding jacket. His legs, clad in trousers appropriate to Southern's summer, felt like lengths of ice. Jaxom covered his cheeks with his gloved hands, feeling the chill entering his bones despite the heavy riding jacket. His legs, clad in trousers appropriate to Southern's summer, felt like lengths of ice.

I didn't either, Ruth replied forgivingly. Ruth replied forgivingly. Only a moment or two longer. I'm right above the courtyard. Only a moment or two longer. I'm right above the courtyard.

Suddenly he backwinged, and Jaxom felt the jar as the white dragon landed with an uncharacteristic thud.

Sorry. Snowdrift.

Jaxom wasted no time sliding off his dragon, but his path to the big doors that opened into Ruth's weyr at Ruatha Hold was impeded by the heavy drifts. He had to scoop snow away to get one leaf of the door open wide enough that Ruth could find purchase for his forepaws. Then dragon strength hauled the stout metal door back through the drifts.

Get inside. Go on, Ruth ordered his rider, and Jaxom was all too willing to obey. Ruth ordered his rider, and Jaxom was all too willing to obey.

Once inside the weyr, which was only warmer by virtue of being out of the chill and gusting wind, both dragon and rider struggled to pull the door shut. Rubbing his legs fiercely to restore feeling, Jaxom half ran across the stone floor of the chamber to the capacious hearth, where a fresh fire had been laid. His fingers fumbled with the firemaker before he got it lit, but at last the flames were eating hungrily at the dry wood, and Jaxom was able to warm himself.

"I don't usually mind mind the cold," Jaxom said, removing his jacket and shaking off the snow. "It's just coming from all that lovely weather . . ." the cold," Jaxom said, removing his jacket and shaking off the snow. "It's just coming from all that lovely weather . . ."

Meer says that Jarrol has a bad cold and Sharra's not feeling good with being up all night, Ruth told his weyrmate, his eyes tinged with the yellow of worry. Ruth told his weyrmate, his eyes tinged with the yellow of worry.

"Young children often have colds this time of year," Jaxom replied, though he knew that Jarrol had had far too many sniffles that winter. And poor Sharra was exhausted from nursing him, for she refused to allow anyone else to tend their firstborn. "Sometimes, Ruth, I'm very stupid," he exclaimed abruptly. "There's no reason in the world Sharra can't come south, enjoy decent weather, and study with Aivas!"

How? She can't go between between carrying a baby. carrying a baby.

"She can come by s.h.i.+p. We'll just find out from Master Idarolan when he can accommodate her on a trip south. They make the journey often enough. Yes, that's what we'll do. We'll all go south. There's nothing here at this season that Brand can't manage without me."

Suddenly Jaxom felt a great deal better. And not long after, when he found Sharra rocking their cold-fussy son in the warmth of their apartment, her instant enthusiasm for the removal was as keen as his. The subject of his unusual arrival did not come up at all. As soon as Jarrol was lulled back to sleep and laid down in his cot, Sharra proved to Jaxom's delight just how glad she was to have him home and in bed.

His face screwed in an anxious grimace, Harper Journeyman Tagetarl came striding out of the Aivas complex toward Robinton's desk in the foyer. "Aivas would like to speak to you and Sebell when it's convenient," he announced.

"Oh? What's he stewing up now? " the Harper asked, noting how uncharacteristically perturbed the journeyman appeared to be.

"He wants the Harper Hall to build a printing press." Tagetarl agitatedly ran his hair back from his face with both hands and heaved an exasperated groan.

"A printing press!" Robinton gave a gusty sigh, then reached up to nudge his bronze fire-lizard awake. "Zair, please find Sebell and ask him to join us?"

Zair chirruped sleepily but obediently unwound his tail from the Harper's neck. He walked down Robinton's arm and onto the table; stretching himself as he did so, and then leaped away and flew out the open door.

"Sebell can't be far if Zair's not bothering to go between," between," Robinton remarked. "Have some klah while we wait. You look as if you need some. Why did Aivas suddenly decide the Harper Hall needs a printing press?" Robinton remarked. "Have some klah while we wait. You look as if you need some. Why did Aivas suddenly decide the Harper Hall needs a printing press?"

Tagetarl gratefully poured himself a cup, hooking a chair to Robinton's desk and, once again, smoothing back his long black hair, less urgently this time.

"I asked could we please have copies of the string-instrument quartets he played the other evening. Domick particularly wanted to have a transcript. He said he's tired of hearing us rave about ancestral music. Domick added,"-Tagetarl smiled ruefully- "that with so many masters and journeymen working here, he's not able to come and hear for himself."

Robinton grinned, knowing that Tagetarl had probably edited the Composition Master's acerbic comments.

"Aivas said that he's got to conserve the paper he has left and he has to consider music to be a nonessential in view of the demands on his resources. He's down to the last two rolls. He feels we ought to have our own replication machines." Tagetarl grinned expectantly.

"Hmmm. That's certainly reasonable." Robinton tried to sound enthusiastic, since Tagetarl was evidently much taken by the idea. But he was considerably concerned over just how much more could be added to the "essential" mechanizations already being undertaken. There were so many people from so many Halls already working full tilt on half a dozen critical projects. "Undeniably a great deal of information ought to be circulated. Especially for distant Halls and Holds that cannot send representatives here."

Zair returned, chirping in the tone that said his errand had been successful. He had only just settled himself again across Robinton's shoulders when Sebell came running. He had obviously dressed in a hurry, and his hair was still wet.

"Easy, Sebell. There's no urgency," Robinton said, raising a hand to slow the Masterharper down. "I hope Zair didn't misinform you."

Catching his breath, Sebell gave his mentor a salute and a wry grin. "Obedience to any summons from you, Master, is too deeply engrained to change now."

"Even when you're Masterharper of Pern?" Robinton's grin was sly. "Especially now that you are Masterharper of Pern, you should be allowed to finish your morning ablutions."

"Klah?" Tagetarl suggested, and when Sebell nodded appreciatively, the journeyman poured him a cup.

"I'd just finished showering," Sebell replied, accepting the klah. "So now that I'm here, how can I a.s.sist you?"

Robinton gestured to Tagetarl.

"It's really Aivas who wants to talk to you and Master Robinton," the journeyman said. "He needs a printing press, and he says that according to his understanding of our present structure, that should be the responsibility of the Harper Hall."

Sebell nodded, accepting the information. Robinton recognized the mannerism as a habit of his own, which Sebell adopted when he, too, was absorbing unexpected requests.

"Any form of communication is indeed a Harper Hall function. What exactly is a printing press?" Sebell asked after taking several thoughtful sips of his klah.

"An improvement on Master Arnor's crabbed script, I devoutly hope," Robinton remarked in a bland tone. The other two harpers rolled their eyes. "Something approximating the readable print which Aivas produces would be an enormous help."

"Aivas is apparently the only one in the world who easily reads Arnor's script. What's the problem?" Sebell asked Tagetarl.

"Domick's been after me to get copies of some of the splendid music Aivas has been playing for us."

Sebell nodded understandingly. "That was inevitable. And certainly the request is only fair, when he's had to take over so much Hall management to keep us here."

"Don't let Domick pressure you with insidious suggestion," Robinton said, wagging a finger at his colleagues. "Though he will certainly find the string music utterly fascinating."

"We all do," Sebell said as he rose. "Let's see exactly what this printing-press project entails. We are certainly not a mechanically inclined Hall, even if we produce our instruments." And all three harpers went to consult with Aivas.

"Harpers may not be mechanically inclined," Aivas replied when Sebell expressed his concerns, "but they are not without skill or intelligence, Master Sebell. Replicating or duplicating written material can be achieved by a variety of methods, of which the current laborious hand copying is the most p.r.o.ne to error. Using the relics of machinery and parts still available in the Catherine Caves, it will be possible to a.s.semble a more efficient method of reproducing multiple copies of essential information, and the musical scores requested by your colleague in the Hall."

Sheets spewed from the print slot into Tagetarl's agile hands.

"The drawings itemize the parts you should be able to find in the caves, and the few that Master Fandarel will need to fabricate for you. It will be in his interests, also, to cooperate." There followed one of those pauses that Robinton liked to interpret as indicative of the various humors of Aivas. This one, he was sure, was a pointed reminder of how much the Smithcrafthall had already benefited by Aivas's a.s.sistance. "With the intelligence that appears to mark even apprentices in your Hall, you should be able to a.s.semble the apparatus by the time Master Fandarel has finished installing the water-turbine station. There will then be sufficient power to run the printing press, as well. Master Bendarek has succeeded admirably in producing continuous rolls of paper, which are also essential to the process.

"The manufacture of the individual letters and numbers to comprise a legible type font, and the musical and scientific signs, should be relatively simple for those with good manual dexterity." Another page came out, ill.u.s.trating a highly readable type font. "Journeyman Tagetarl is a dexterous carver." His remark astonished Tagetarl, who could not imagine how Aivas had learned about his handiwork. "There may be others with similar artistic talent who might a.s.sist."

"There isn't a printing press in the Catherine Caves?" Sebell asked, his tone slightly wistful.

"Unfortunately, no. Replication and data storage had developed well past such c.u.mbersome processes. This method will, however, be sufficient for your needs for some time to come."

Sebell had taken the type-font sheet from Tagetarl. "It'll be nice not to have to squint or use a magnifying gla.s.s to read." He gave his head a shake. "Master Arnor won't like it."