All The Weyrs of Pern

4

For most of that day, Jaxom had been as thoroughly thwarted as Piemur could have wished. He and Ruth had transported five loads of cartons from the caves to the Aivas building, then just when the last had been off-loaded, Master Fandarel had urgently requested the two of them to convey Bendarek back to Lemos and his crafthall. The woodsmith couldn't wait to initiate Aivas's plans to redesign his paper-making machinery and to improve the quality of the product by adding a rag content to the wood pulp.

When Jaxom and Ruth returned to Landing, Master Terry had needed help in locating cables and wires which, after much scrambling about, were found in an almost-overlooked alcove in the caves. Jaxom and Ruth naturally obliged Master Terry by transporting him and the coils back to the Aivas building. Jaxom tried not to care, reminding himself that he was assisting the overall effort, except that he had had rather different notions of how he and Ruth would spend the day.

The white dragon had looked forward to basking in the hot Southern sun. The winter in the North had been cold and clammy, with little sunshine. And Jaxom had especially wanted to work on Aivas's contraptions with Piemur, Jancis, and Benelek.

But Jaxom had made a habit of being accessible, amiable, and helpful. People found it much easier to ask him to oblige than they did other dragons and riders. As Ruth never objected, Jaxom felt constrained to assist whenever they could. Sharra thought it was because he was so determined to be the opposite of his despotic sire, Fax. She felt Jaxom carried this second-generation atonement too far sometimes, and she was quick to interfere if she felt his willingness was being abused. But she was back in Ruatha, and this was rapidly becoming one of those times when amiability was a bloody nuisance.

By the time Terry had off-loaded his coils of wires, Jaxom became aware of a rumbling in his stomach-not surprising, since he had had nothing but klah and a meatroll with Menolly and Sebell in the early morning. Sharra always worried about him remembering to take time to eat, and Jaxom tried to remember her injunctions. He wished that her gravid condition had not prevented her from accompanying him here, but she couldn't risk going between right now. So he walked over to the kitchen building, unaware that F'lar was holding the extraordinary meeting, or he would have been there to lend his support. Jaxom had to help himself to food, because the cook and the drudges were busy dealing with an apprentice who had badly burned his hand do a hot spit-which reminded him that he had promised to convey Master Oldive to Landing. Maybe when that chore was done, he and Ruth could do as they wished.

When Jaxom and Ruth came out of between above the great courtyard of the combined Harper and Healer Halls in Fort Hold, Ruth was suddenly surrounded by a chittering fair of fire-lizards, their demands shrill with warning.

"What's the matter with them, Ruth?" Jaxom asked.

Master Oldive doesn't want you to land in the courtyard, Ruth replied. He says the harpers will latch on to you and he'll never get to Landing. Ruth sounded puzzled, but Jaxom laughed.

"I should've thought of that myself. So what does Master Oldive suggest we do?"

I don't know. They've gone to tell him we're here. Ruth glided to the far side of the big Harper Hall complex, where they would not be so easily seen from either the Hall or the adjacent Fort Hold.

He comes, Ruth said, just as they were once again surrounded try now happily chirping fairs of fire-lizards, doing one of their intricate aerial displays of delight. They see us from the Hold, he added, as another full fair of fire-lizards came zooming in on them, shrieking urgently. No, we have more important things to do than stop at the Hold right now, Ruth said, and added a warning bugle that sent the newcomers whizzing back, their voices thin with distress at his reprimand.

"Lord Groghe's at Landing," Jaxom said, trying not to feel guilty about ignoring the request. "He'll tell them all he wants them to know when he gets back."

His queen fire-lizard has been in and out of the Hold with messages. They know all they need to know about this Aivas, Ruth rumbled in subtle discontent.

Jaxom slapped the white dragon's neck affectionately. "You wouldn't fit in the room, dear friend. Piemur said his Farli went to sleep, totally uninterested in Aivas."

Ruth rumbled again. Here comes the Masterhealer. He veered sharply, descending at such an angle that Jaxom reflexively grabbed the riding straps and arched backward against the steep

"You could have warned me," Jaxom remonstrated mildly. Ruth had a habit of sharpening up his rider's reflexes with unexpected maneuvers. The white dragon grunted with satisfaction at the success of his trick as he back-winged to land neatly a length from Master Oldive, who shambled up to them at a surprisingly rapid rate for a man with legs of unequal length and a humped back. He had a large satchel thumping behind his normal shoulder, but he waved a greeting, a huge grin on his face.

"Ho, there, Jaxom! I feared that you'd forgotten me in all the furor." He leaned against Ruth for a moment to recover his breath. "I'm not as fit as I think I am," he said. They both heard the shouts and saw folk in harper blue charging out of the courtyard archway. "Quickly. If they catch you, we'll never leave."

Ruth crouched down on his forequarters, crooking his left foreleg as a step for the Masterhealer. Jaxom leaned down to grasp Oldive's arm. Winded the man might be, but he exerted a powerful pull as he hauled himself to Ruth's back and settled behind Jaxom.

Immediately Ruth sprang aloft, his white wings taking the first important downstroke and beating upward so that the disappointed cries were quickly lost.

"When you're ready, Ruth," Jaxom said, picturing the Aivas building and being very careful to detail the alteration of the mounds in front of it so as not to have Ruth land out of time. Since the initial excavation, enough space had been cleared there for several dragons to land.

The cold of between sucked warmth from their bodies, and then they were suddenly in the bright, hot southern afternoon sun. A good-sized fair of fire-lizards swirled up to welcome Ruth, who was a particular favorite of theirs. As usual in the South, there were as many wild ones as those whose necks were banded in the colors of the people they were beholden to.

"By the first Egg, I don't recognize the place," Oldive said in an awed voice as Ruth glided in to land.

"Um not sure I recognize it either," Jaxom said, grinning over his shoulder at Oldive. "Master Esselin has already got one annex up." He pointed to the swarm of men working furiously to erect walls on the right-hand side of the Aivas building.

"Oh, you're using parts of the old building!" Oldive exclaimed.

"F'lar suggested it! Makes sense, instead of having to haul in building materials when there are all those empty buildings."

"Oh, true, true." Oldive's tone did not indicate complete approval.

"And only from the smaller buildings-the family units, Aivas called them. There are several hundred of them," Jaxom went on reassuringly. During their rummaging in the Catherine Caves, Terry had given Jaxom an account of the morning's session with Aivas and the renovations planned.

"Is every Weyrleader here?" Oldive went on, suddenly aware of the long line of sunbathing dragons on the ridge above the settlement.

Jaxom laughed. "Since Aivas promises to help obliterate Thread, they wait on his every word." He held up a steadying hand as Oldive dismounted from Ruth's back.

"How?" The old man almost lost his footing in surprise. Jaxom braced him, catching the pack before it could swing around and totally unbalance the healer.

"I don't exactly know." Jaxom shrugged, experiencing another surge of annoyance at being out of things so far that day. "I was hoping to find out more this morning, but I've been otherwise occupied."

Oldive put a sympathetic hand on Jaxom's arm, his expression apologetic. "Conveying the curious to the new wonder?"

"Oh, I don't mind, Oldive." He grinned slyly at the healer. "If you will remember to ask Aivas about those two patients Sharra's so worried about."

"They are first on my list, I assure you, Jaxom. Marvelous woman, Sharra, always giving of her own energies and as selfless as you are yourself!"

Jaxom looked away, his embarrassment made all the more acute by the awareness that he would have preferred to have spent the morning learning new things from Aivas. But he was here at last, and he eagerly anticipated Master Oldive's reaction to Aivas.

Inside the building, Esselin's craftsmen were making an appalling amount of noise with their hammering. There was dust everywhere. Jaxom was amazed at how much had been accomplished. Walls had been washed clean, revealing bright, cheerful colors. He wondered how color had been impregnated into the material, for it didn't look like any painted surface he had ever seen. He could hear lively conversations off to the left; F'lar's voice was recognizable, as were T'gellan's and R'mart's. He guided Master Oldive to the right and relived the thrill of the previous day's discovery as they faced the closed door to Aivas's room.

Jaxom rapped on the door in a courteous warning and then opened it on a scene of great industry, which only served to reinforce his niggling resentment. Seated in front of a table made of a board supported by empty cartons, Piemur, Jancis, and Benelek were crouched over the units that he had helped resurrect from the Catherine Caves. And, adding insult to his sense of injury, the sharding things were working. His three friends were tapping away industriously at the keyboard units in front of them. He inhaled deeply through his nostrils to disperse his pique: a reaction he found unacceptable in himself.

Piemur craned his neck around to see who had entered. "Good day to you, Master Oldive. Welcome to the hallowed Aivas chamber. Where've you been all day, Jaxom?"

"I see you've made good use of your time," Jaxom replied, trying very hard to neutralize his ill feelings and not quite succeeding. He caught Oldive's sideways glance and made himself smile. "But I'm here now, and you can teach me what I need to know."

"No chance of that," Piemur replied with his usual impudence. "You have to start from the same point we did. Aivas's orders."

"I'm quite willing," Jaxom said, trying to see the writing on Jancis's screen, the closest to him.

She had stopped whatever she had been doing to smile at her old friend Master Oldive. Now she wrinkled her nose at Piemur. "You are the limit sometimes. The components are all carefully set out in the next room, Jaxom. I'll help you, even if he won't."

Benelek didn't look up from his work. "He's to muddle through all by himself, Jancis, or he doesn't learn."

She rolled her eyes at Benelek's uncompromising attitude. "Oh, he'll have to do it himself, but a wink is as good a nod at times. Besides, I think wed all better move into the other room. I can't stand it when Master Oldive goes into gory details. And that's what he's here to do with Aivas." She winked at the healer. "Every Craft has its hazards, I suppose."

"Oh, yes, we certainly should allow him some privacy," Piemur agreed, rising from his stool.

"Interruptions, always interruptions," Benelek muttered sourly. But he got up, too, and carefully began to start the transfer.

"I heard the Weydeaders back there," Jaxom began, wanting to effect the introduction protocol for Aivas. "Should I get one in here?"

"Won't be needed," Piemur said. "Special dispensation has already been recorded by Aivas. Just go ahead and introduce Master Oldive."

Which Jaxom did, exceedingly grateful that he would have no further delay in catching up with his friends.

"It is a pleasure to meet a man who is so highly praised by all," Aivas said.

The rich voice, so humanly inflected, caused Master Oldive to stare about in considerable consternation.

"Aivas is, so to speak, all around you in this room," Jaxom said encouragingly when he saw how disconcerted the healer was. "He's a bit much to get used to at first, I agree. Scared the lot of us."

Busy disassembling the makeshift table, Piemur shot Master Oldive an indulgent grin. "You'll get used to a disembodied voice real quick, the kind of sense Aivas talks."

"Go teach yourself to be sensible for me, young Piemur," Aivas said in a jocular tone that startled everyone.

"Yes, sir, good Master Aivas, yes, sir," Piemur quipped, bowing humbly as he backed out of the room, carrying the table board and nearly knocking himself down when he forgot to lower the board to get it through the door.

Jancis, following Piemur and Benelek, pulled the door shut behind her as she left.

"Please make yourself comfortable, Master Oldive," Aivas suggested. "Did you by any chance bring recent Records from your Hall? Those from the Harper, the Mastersmith, and the Woodsmith have already been assimilated, but for a proper assessment of your society's achievements, Records from every Hall, Hold, and Weyr are gratefully accepted."

Master Oldive had absently seated himself, and his satchel, heavy with the notes he had brought with him, began to slide from his shoulder. He caught the strap and, with a shake of his head, recalled his wits.

"Lord Groghe said that-" Master Oldive hesitated briefly, not knowing the appropriate form in which to address the entity, -you know, well, everything."

"The memory banks of this facility contain the most comprehensive data available at the time the colony ships set out for their destination of the Rukbat system. That includes medical information."

"May I ask how that information is organized?"

"Basic anatomy, microanatomy, physiology, autocrinology, medical biochemistry, and many more categories, such as immunology and neuropathology-which, it is fair to suggest, may no longer be known to you."

"In that you are correct. For we have lost so much knowledge, so many techniques." Oldive had never been more keenly aware of the gaps in his Craft.

"You distress yourself unnecessarily, Master Oldive, for all those whom I have met so far are in excellent health and well above what was considered normal weight and height by the medical standards of your ancestors. There is much to be said for a non-industrialized civilization."

"Industrialized? That term is unfamiliar to me, though I recognize the root word."

"Industrialize, " Aivas intoned. "Transitive verb: to organize large industries in; as, to industrialize a community; to introduce the economic system of industrialization into; as, to industrialize a new nation. An industrialized society, in contrast to an agrarian one like yours."

"Thank you. Why would an industrialized society produce less healthy folk?"

"Pollution of the atmosphere and environment by industrial wastes, noxious fumes, chemical effluents, contamination of field-grown edibles, among other evils."

Master Oldive was speechless.

"Those who settled Pern wished to found an agrarian society. To that end they were receptive to many anti-industrial cultures, like the ancient gypsies, as well as retired military types. Their objective has been attained in this, your present," Aivas said.

"It has?" Master Oldive was surprised that Pern had succeeded in anything other than surviving nine Passes of Threadfall.

"In more ways than you might imagine, Master Oldive, being too close to have an objective view. Apart from the inconvenience of the organism, Thread, you have achieved much."

"Addressing you, Aivas, I perceive that we have also lost much."

"Perhaps not as much as you think, Masterhealer."

"In my Craft, I know that we have lost the capacity to alleviate much suffering, prevent the plagues which have all but decimated the population from time to time..."

"The strong survived, and your population was renewed."

"But so much knowledge was irretrievably lost, especially in my Craft."

"Those losses can be remedied."

Master Oldive was caught up short by what sounded very much like a pun to him. But surely a machine... He cleared his throat, but it was Aivas who continued speaking.

"Would it ease your mind to know that even the most astute medical. practitioners among your ancestors sometimes felt themselves helpless against plague? That they constantly sought new methods of easing pain and correcting afflictions?"

"It should, but it doesn't. But, to urgent matters, if I may, Aivas?"

"Of course, Master Oldive"

"There are several patients, three suffering severe pain which we are unable to relieve, wasting in both flesh and spirit. If I tell you their symptoms, would that be sufficient for diagnosis?"

"Proceed with the symptoms. If they can be matched with cases on record, a diagnosis is possible. As there are three point two billion documented histories that can be consulted, a similarity may be found that would suggest suitable treatment."

With fingers fumbling with hope, Master Oldive opened his casebook to the first of Sharra's two patients. He owed Jaxom that courtesy.

"What're you doing?" Jaxom asked, mystified by the way the others were intently regarding their gray screens. Aivas's main screen was not at all like these smaller ones.

Benelek gave a snort of impatience and bent further over the board. He pecked about with his index fingers in no pattern that Jaxom could discern.

"We're becoming familiar with the keyboard configuration," Piemur said, with a malicious grin at Jaxom's ignorance. "We're learning our way through the commands. Don't let us keep you from contrapting your own. You're a half day behind us already.

"That's mean, Piemur," Jancis said. Taking Jaxom by the hand, she pulled him over to the boxes and cartons that had only been partially unpacked. "Take a keyboard, then one of those larger boxes. Put them on the table, and take one of the liquid-crystal display screens."

"The what?"

"One of those." She pointed. "And be careful. Aivas said they're fragile, and we only have so many of them. Take off the plastic, and you'll need your knife. That stuff is unbelievably tough. Then," she continued, handing him a very small-headed screwdriver and a magnifying glass, "unscrew the big box. You'll have to check over all the circuits to be sure none of them have come adrift. The glass will help you quickly locate any breaks."

Benelek suddenly uttered a resounding oath and banged his fists on the table. "I've lost it all. Everything!"

Piemur glanced up, surprised at Benelek's uncharacteristic outburst. "Well, reboot." The new word tripped easily from his Harper-trained tongue.

"But you don't understand!" Benelek waved his hands wildly above his head. "I lost all I had typed. And I had it almost done!"

"Did you save?" Jancis asked sympathetically.

"Yes, I did, up until just the last bits," Benelek said, his frustration dissipating. Jaxom watched in fascination as the journeyman jabbed at various places on the board in front of him and then ahhed in satisfaction at the result.

"Don't dally now, Jaxom," Piemur said with a wicked grin. "You must join our jolly band, where one misused key can destroy a whole hour's hard work."

"Aivas did say we'd have to learn many new skills," Jancis said reasonably. "Oh, shards! I've done something wrong now, too." She peered at the blank screen, then frowned down at the keyboard. "Now what key did I press that I shouldn't have?"

As he drew his beltknife, Jaxom wondered just why he wanted any part of what was obviously an occupation fraught with frustrations.

The quick tropic evening caught them unawares. Piemur, cursing under his breath at any interruption, darted around the room, opening the glowbaskets. But the light was not shining at the correct angle to light up his screen so, still swearing, he altered his chair. Absently, still tapping away, Benelek followed his example. Jancis and Jaxom, seated at the right angle, continued with their lessons.

"Who's in here now?" Lessa's voice said from the hallway. The door opened and she stuck her head in. "So this is where you all got to. Jaxom, Master Oldive needs you and Ruth again, and I think it's high time you left here. Your eyes are burnt holes in your head. And the rest of you are no better."

Benelek glanced up only briefly. "This is no time to stop, Weyrwoman."

"This is the time to stop, Benelek," she replied in an uncontradictable tone.

"But, Weyrwoman, I've got to assimilate all these new terms and be able to-"

"Aivas!" Lessa raised her voice as she turned her head to the right. "Can you turn these things off? Your students are too diligent. Not that I don't approve-in theory-but they could all use a good night's rest."

"I didn't save-" Benelek shouted, spreading his hands in high indignation and staring in horror at a suddenly darkened and unresponsive screen.

"Your work has been saved," Aivas's voice assured him. "You have toiled without renewing yourself all day long, Journeyman Benelek. Even machines need maintenance. Your body can be considered a soft machine which also needs frequent sustenance. Refresh yourselves. Return tomorrow with energy and concentration renewed."

For a few seconds Benelek looked as if he might rebel. Then he sighed and pushed himself back from the table over which he had been bent for hours. He gave Lessa a sheepish grin. "I will eat and rest. And begin again tomorrow-but there is so much to be learned, so much more than I ever imagined."

"Indeed there is," Master Oldive said, emerging from the Aivas room, a thick sheaf of papers clutched in one hand and his satchel in the other. He looked from one to the other in bewilderment. "So much more than I dreamed." And then he sighed with great satisfaction, holding up the sheaf. "But this is a good start. A very good start."

"You will need some klah before Jaxom takes you anywhere, Master Oldive," Lessa said. She took the healer firmly by the arm and nodded to Jancis and Jaxom to take his encumbrances from him.

He relinquished the satchel readily enough but he clutched the sheaf to him.

"Let me at least tidy them up, Master Oldive," Jancis said earnestly. "I shan't disarrange their order."

"It wouldn't matter anyway," Oldive said with a weary flick of his long-fingered hand. "They're numbered and separated into categories." Jancis still had to gently pry his fingers loose. "I have learned so much, so much," he muttered with a bemused smile on his face as Lessa led him down the hall. The others followed, suddenly aware of their own fatigue.

You have been in there for six hours, Jaxom, and you had better eat something, or Sharra will blame me, Ruth said. You're very tired, you know.

Oh, I know I am. I know I am. Jaxom wondered if klah would be enough to revive him.

"Is it our turn now?" Terry asked as he and several eagerfaced journeymen came around the corner from the entrance hall. When Lessa nodded, he urged his followers down the hall at a jog trot.

Their energy appeared almost obscene to Jaxom. No one had the right to have that much vitality at the end of a day. As they passed him, he noted that their shoulder knots identified them as coming from Tillek, far enough west that it was actually early in the day for them. He sighed.

Lessa installed Master Oldive in a chair at the table and gestured for the drudges to supply everyone with klah and plates of roast beast and tubers. Never had such a plain meal smelled so appetizing to Jaxom. He gobbled down the food, and when he was offered a second helping, he took as much again.

There was more color in Master Oldive's cheeks as he made inroads on his generous serving. Benelek ate with single-minded intensity, his eyes focused on some obscure distance, and occasionally he nodded his head as if approving his ruminations. Jaxom decided he hadn't the energy for thinking right then. He would think again the next morning. Sharra would understand. He hoped Brand would, since he would once again have to leave the Steward to cope with the details of running Ruatha Hold. Brand never seemed to mind. On the other hand, Lytol might, but surely Master Robinton would explain the importance of Aivas to Jaxom's old guardian.

"I must send a message to that young journeyman of Wansor's," Oldive told Lessa, his enthusiasm vivid on his long face. "I must have an apparatus similar to the one that was found in Benden Weyr. It will magnify blood and tissue so that we can identify disease and infection." He reached for the neat pile Jancis had made of his papers and started leafing through them. "Aivas states that the use of a microscope is essential to improve medical diagnosis and even treatment. He has given me the details of how to run other necessary diagnostic tests."

"A microscope?" Lessa asked indulgently. She thought highly of the Masterhealer, who had recently sent her a woman possessed of a miraculous talent for repairing even the most damaged wings or hideous Thread scores.

"That's the word." Oldive put a hand to his forehead. "Aivas crammed so much into my poor head today that I wonder I can remember my name."

"It's Oldive," Piemur said, putting on an innocently helpful expression. He rolled his eyes at the quelling glance Lessa threw him. Jancis poked him in the ribs, and he subsided meekly enough.

When they had finished their meal, Jaxom presented himself ready to convey Master Oldive back to the Harper Hall.

"Ah, no, Jaxom, I would like to go directly to Ruatha. I have advice for Sharra." There was a radiant smile of erect satisfaction on the healer's face.

"Aivas knows a cure?" Jaxom asked.

Master Oldive nodded toward his stack. "Cure? Perhaps. Certainly several avenues of investigation that may provide relief." Then he sighed. "There was so very much medical acumen lost over the centuries. He didn't say so, of course, but Aivas was clearly taken aback by our lack of remedial surgery. He was, however, most commendatory about our preventive measures and non-surgical techniques. Ah..." He made a weary gesture with one hand. "I could go on and on." He smiled with self-deprecation. "With whom should I arrange additional time with Aivas? There are both Masters and journeymen who would benefit immensely by consultations with him."

Lessa looked up to see a weary-looking F'lar standing in the doorway. He shrugged.

"I hadn't thought about apportioning Aivas's time," the Weyrleader said.

"As soon as we manage to set up these individual stations," Piemur said, "there'll be four more links to Aivas."

"The Healer Hall should have priority," Lessa added with a frown, scrubbing at her face in fatigue.

"Those are to be teaching consoles," Benelek said, scowling.

"For us, maybe," Piemur said. "But if they access Aivas, then they can be used for other purposes. At least that's what I figure."

"You're a harper, not a journeyman mechanic."

"I'm a Mastersmith," Jancis put in, her tone edged, "and let me remind you that Piemur got his unit up and running before either of us did."

"Enough!" Lessa brought her hand down on the table with a slap of authority. "We're all tired." She rose abruptly. "Ramoth!" Outside, the golden queen dragon bugled a response. "You're all to leave this building now!" She leveled a stern look first at Benelek and then the others. "Including us." Her gaze settled on F'lar, who grinned and held up both hands as if to fend her off. "The two buildings to the left of this one have been set up as dormitories. Go!" She shooed them off with her hands, then glared at them until they started to move.

Master Oldive chuckled softly as he accompanied Jaxom out of the building. "Not that I think I will sleep tonight at all with so much to absorb and review. Why, Jaxom, even what I learned today is only the veriest crumb of the medical knowledge which Aivas had stored! He clarified my understanding of several perplexing conditions. I must have Master Ampris, our herbalist, bring him our pharmacopoeia." A weary smile lit Master Oldive's face. "He said we have made very good use of indigenous plants, and he recognized many as those brought by our ancestors from Earth. Earth!" And Oldive looked up at the star-spangled sky, turning his twisted body to scan the dark heavens above them. "Do we know where Earth is in relation to Pern?"

"I don't think so," Jaxom replied in mild surprise. "I don't remember that Aivas gave the direction. Maybe he didn't want to. Our ancestors came here to escape a war, a conflict of such scope and dimensions, waged against an evil far more destructive than Thread, that they wanted to forget Earth."

"Really? Could anything be more destructive than Thread?" The healer was both astonished and appalled.

"I find it hard to believe, too," Jaxom agreed.

Ruth glided in from his sunning spot to the cleared area in front of the Aivas building. He ducked his head to receive his weyrmate's affectionate slap.

"You must have baked yourself," Jaxom said, shaking his hand as if to cool it.

Yes. It was good. Ramoth and Mnementh are waiting for us to leave this space, Ruth said. There's really enough room, but you know Ramoth. She likes to boss me.

Jaxom chuckled as he mounted, aware that fatigue was making him clumsy. With no prompting needed, the white dragon crouched down to accommodate Master Oldive.

Hauling the healer up only emphasized Jaxom's weariness. But they would be home soon. Inwardly he groaned: They would have to make yet another run later, to take Oldive back to his Hall.

Sharra will make him stay the night. He'll want to talk, so she won't let him go, Ruth said.

As Ruth rose from the ground, Jaxom and Oldive were able to appreciate just how busy Landing had become. Paths lit by glowbaskets spread like the spokes of a wheel radiating out from the Aivas building. Carpenters and joiners were working by glowlight to finish roofing the substantial annex. All of the housing immediately adjacent was lit, and the warm evening air was redolent with the aromas of roasting meats. On the mounds beyond, large, vivid, blue-faceted dragon eyes punctuated the darkness like immense jewels on a deep blue background. Two rose and glided beneath Ruth as he continued to rise.

All right, Ruth, let's go home to Ruatha. Jaxom gratefully focused his thoughts on the Hold, the big courtyard in front of the wide steps, and the smaller court that had been their quarters during their youth. The cold of between held a wicked bite on tired minds and bodies. It did not help to emerge into the weak afternoon sunlight and the chill of winter. Jaxom could feel Oldive shivering behind him. But Ruth had emerged only a few wing strokes above the Hold and glided effortlessly into the main courtyard, the Hold's fair of fire-lizards wheeling in raptures at his return.

Sharra, a thick furry cloak thrown over her shoulders, came running down the steps to them, effusive in her welcome, helping Master Oldive dismount, securing his satchel as it swung off his shoulder, smiling her delight up at Jaxom, and with her free hand giving Ruth an affectionate slap. Though she asked nothing, Jaxom knew his wife well enough to know that she was bursting with questions. He threw one arm across her shoulders and kissed her cheek; her smooth skin and the scent of her revived him as he guided Oldive up the steps and into the warmth of the Hold.

I'm going inside immediately, Ruth told his rider, or I'll lose all the benefit of my sunning. And he took himself off to his weyr in the old kitchen where, Jaxom knew, a fire would be waiting in the hearth.

Sharra ordered food and drink as she pushed the two men toward the small office where they would have some privacy from the many people eager to hear Jaxom's report of the ongoing events at Landing. "Later, later," she told them firmly, and closed the door.

Before Oldive joined Jaxom and Sharra at the fire, he carefully laid his satchel on the wide desk where Jaxom generally sat to manage the details of his Hold. A pile of messages and Records lay waiting for his attention. There was a scratch at the door, and then the Steward himself entered, carrying a laden tray.

"Oh, that's kind of you, Brand," Jaxom said. "Lessa made us eat before she'd let us leave, Sharra, but klah will go down well. With a lashing of that fortified wine I see you brought along." Jaxom grinned at the stocky man who had been his friend since his childhood and was now his most valued assistant. "No, stay, Brand. You've the right to hear what keeps me from my proper tasks."

Brand waved his hand in a disclaimer as he helped Sharra pass the hot drinks, the pungent wine masking the klah's fragrance. Jaxom took a judicious sip and felt the liquid rushing to restore warmth. Master Oldive, too, seemed to revive somewhat and sank into the chair that Brand placed close to the fire for him.

"My dear, your female patient is suffering a gall bladder malfunction," the old healer told Sharra. "Unfortunately, the man appears to have a cancerous growth, as we suspected. We can cure the one, for I have been given a specific medication for dissolving the gravel within the organ, but we can only ease the other from life." Master Oldive paused, his eyes wide and bright with excitement. "Aivas has the most extraordinary fund of medical information, which he is quite willing to impart to us. He can even help us revive corrective surgical procedures, which you know I have yearned to do. Our Craft may have been limited to repair surgeries for lack of proper training, but he can help us recover much of that lost skill."

"That would be wonderful, Master, but would we be able to overcome the prejudice in the Hall about intrusive measures?" Sharra exclaimed, her face mirroring her hope.

"Now that we have a mentor of unquestionable probity, I think that once we have proved the benefits to patients who will not mend without drastic measures, we can overcome those scruples." He drained his cup and resolutely rose to his feet. "A few moments in your infirmary, my dear Sharra, and we shall have the medication for your gall bladder sufferer. The other poor wight..." Oldive shrugged, his expression deeply compassionate.

"Come then, and you can tell me all the medical details that would bore Jaxom and Brand to tears," Sharra said, grinning fondly at her mate.

"You never-" Jaxom paused to give that adverb full emphasis. "-bore me, Sharra." The loving look that she gave him warmed as the klah had not.

"You look tired, Jaxom," Brand said when the door had closed.

"I am, Brand, and my head aches with what I've seen and heard in the last two days. But I feel-I feel-" Jaxom stopped, clenching one fist. "That this is most momentous thing that has happened to Pern since-" and he laughed. "-our ancestors landed here." His second laugh was not as easy. "Not that everyone will see it that way, I'm sure."

"There are always those who oppose change," Brand said with a resigned shrug. "Has the Aivas told you exactly how it proposes to eliminate Thread?"

"We are mere babes, Brand, and must put in much hard work and learn many new things before Aivas will give us any details. But you should have seen Fandarel." Jaxom's laugh was uninhibited. "And Benelek. They were spinning like tops to do everything at once. When Ruth and I got off transport duty, I was allowed to put together one of Aivas's gadgets." He examined the fingers of his right hand, the solder burn and the nicks where the screwdriver had slipped. "I'm learning to access knowledge. Tomorrow I may even get to read some of Aivas's stored wisdom. I tell you, Brand, the next few weeks are going to be fascinating."

"Another way of telling me you'll frequently be away from the Hold?" Brand asked, grinning.

"Well, apart from overseeing Falls, there's not much to do right now in the depths of winter, is there?" Jaxom replied defensively.

Brand laughed and, with the familiarity of their long and close relationship, clapped Jaxom on the shoulder. "That there isn't, lad. I'd be happy to learn if Aivas knows any way of heating stone-cold holds."

"I'll ask him!" Jaxom promised earnestly. "I'll ask him." And he leaned forward to warm his hands again.