All The Weyrs of Pern

by Anne McCaffrey

  Master Robinton suddenly put his hand up. Surprised, Jaxom allowed him to speak. As the victim, the Harper had the right to be heard, as well as to face his assailants. Jaxom worried that Robinton might plead for leniency, which he thought would only exacerbate the problem-especially with a man as narrow-minded and vindictive as Norist had proved to be.

  "For those of you who witness this," Robinton began, speaking not to the Lord Holders or the Craftmasters but to the people outside the court, lining the walls, the ramp, and the roofs of the nearer cots. His voice was weak but true. He cleared his throat and started again. "For those of you here, let me say that Aivas has taught us nothing that our ancestors did not know. He has given us no machines and tools and conveniences that they did not have and use when they first came to Pern. He restored to all crafts only that knowledge which time had blurred or eradicated in Records. So, if that knowledge is evil, then we all are. But I do not think any of us here believes that we are intrinsically evil, or work evil in our crafthalls. For the Holds, he filled in the gaps in their separate histories, so that all know of their past and which of those who traveled to start a new life on Pern started each Hold. And they do not consider themselves evil, or spawned by evil men and women." Master Robinton stared at Norist, who refused to make eye contact.

  "For our Weyrs, he gave the promise of deliverance from a long, long struggle, a deliverance made possible by the abilities of our dragons, who were created by our ancestors, and the courage of their riders. They are not evil, or they would have turned the power of the dragons upon us and enslaved us all. But they have not.

  "The evil that was done to me by these men was brought on me for the worst of reasons: to force others to destroy our link with our past, our chance of making this world what our ancestors hoped it would become-peaceful, prosperous, pleasant. I have done none of these men harm," Robinton went on, a wave of hand indicating Sigomal, Begamon, and Norist, "nor wished them harm, nor wish them harm now. I pity them for their fear of the unknown, of the unusual, for their violence and unthinking narrowness of vision and spirit."

  Master Robinton then looked at the three abductors. "I forgive you for myself; but you took marks to do evil, which is a great wrong. And you were ready to silence a Harper, and that is a greater wrong, for when speech is restricted, all men suffer, not just I."

  He sat down, almost as if he could not stand any longer, but when Menolly would have gone to his side, he shook his head.

  Groghe bent across Warbret beside him and whispered to him and Bargen; Toric, who couldn't hear, stepped around the table to be where he could. Ranrel, Deckter, and Laudey followed his example. Nessel looked exceedingly uncomfortable with Asgenar on one side and Larad on the other, while Sangel and Toronas disputed a point.

  The Craftmasters also huddled close together, Fandarel in the center, his voice lowered to a harsh rumble. Morilton spoke only once and then was silent, though he listened intently to the others. He was representing the Glasscraft on the tribunal, as none of the other Glassmasters had been willing to accept the onus.

  "My lords and masters, you may retire if you choose," Jaxom repeated.

  "We're well enough here," Groghe said loudly.

  Thinking that Robinton might be the better for a glass of wine, Jaxom poured it, then sipped from it himself before passing Robinton the glass, with a reassuring grin. Master Robinton made a little show of distrust but then, after raising the glass to Jaxom, drank eagerly and smiled approval-a little byplay that sent a ripple of applause and laughter through the waiting crowd and succeeded in reducing somewhat the tension that had been building.

  "I find that what I resent the most," Robinton said in a guarded aside to Jaxom, "is that people might think I could no longer handle my wine, to see me sprawled asleep like that so early in a Gather."

  "We have come to a decision, Lord Jaxom," Groghe announced. The Lord Holders resumed their seats.

  "And we," Master Idarolan, said standing up.

  "What is your decision, Lord Holder Groghe?" Jaxom asked.

  "Sigomal and Begamon have proved themselves totally unacceptable to this Council; they must not govern their Holds. They are dishonored. In the first part, to plot and carry out a punitive action in another Hold or common property, which is the designation of Landing; and in the second part, to abduct a person against his will for purposes of extortion against the best interests of the planet and all of us."

  Sigomal took his censure with some dignity, but Begamon began to sob, falling from the bench to his knees.

  "Sigomal's third son, Sousmal, is known to most of us, and it is our decision that he should temporarily manage Bitra Hold until further notice by the Council of Lord Holders. As Begamon has no children old enough to Hold in his stead, we appoint his brother, Ciparis, as temporary Lord Holder, also until further notice. Gomalsi is to be exiled with his father for his part in the first attack on the Aivas installation, for his part in the abduction, and because, by setting himself up as a captain of a seagoing ship without qualifications, he has offended all members of the Fishercrafthalls. We suggest that one of the islands in the Eastern Ring be designated the place of exile."

  Sigomal groaned, and Gomalsi bit back a cry of protest.

  "Master Norist is also stripped of his rank, as are the other Craft members of this conspiracy," Idarolan said. "All are to be exiled. The same place would doubtless give them the company of like minds." He turned to where the other Glasscraftsmen were standing in the crowd. "It is the decision of this body that you must accept Master Morilton as your Craftmaster until such time as we, your peers, decide that you can choose, without prejudice, a man with a more open mind and forward vision than Norist."

  Lytol nodded at Jaxom, whose task it was to pass judgment on the other scofflaws. Jaxom had never had to discipline a man for the rest of that man's natural life, but he thought again of the anguish he had felt on that wild ride to rescue Master Robinton.

  "Exile!" he announced. Most of the men accepted that, though two of the younger ones looked so desperate that Jaxom added, "Your families may accompany you into exile, if they so choose."

  He saw Sharra's slight smile and Lessa's approving nod.

  "The convicted will be returned to their quarters and tomorrow will be taken to their place of exile. From this time onward, they are holdless, craftless men and no longer protected by the Weyrs." Jaxom raised his voice over Begamon's frightened babble. "This court is adjourned."

  Guards closed in around the condemned, and judges and jury filed into the Hold.

  Somehow food had been prepared to serve the unexpected numbers who had come to Ruatha. Sharra told Jaxom in the few moments they had for private conversation that everyone had been exceedingly helpful, Hold, Hall, and Weyr, in accumulating enough provisions to send none away hungry.

  "You were, by the way, my love, magnificent," she added. "It was a terrible case to have to judge, but given the evidence and the admissions, no one can fault your decision. The sentence was fairer than they deserved." Her face set in angry lines, and she clenched her fists. "When I saw the bruising Master Robinton sustained..."

  "He'll be all right?" Jaxom wondered if maybe he had been too forbearing, though he could not have ordered a death sentence. Had Master Robinton died-or had Biswy not died of heart failure-he might have had to decide differently.

  Lord Groghe sought him out then, to reassure Jaxom that he himself, had the offenses happened in his Hold, would have done exactly the same. To Jaxom's surprise and a certain sad gratification, Lord Corman also approached him later in the evening.

  "Well handled, Jaxom. Only thing you could have done under the circumstances."

  The Keroonian Holder did not remain for the evening meal, nor did he ever visit Landing again. But from then on he neither prevented his holders from using the new products nor objected when young folk asked to go South to study. Of Aivas-developed items, Lord Corman purchased only paper, remarking once in his harper's hearing that B
endarek had discovered a form of paper on his own before "the machine" had awakened.

  The next morning three Fort Weyr wings arrived at Ruatha to convey the convicted to their place of exile. Delivery of the letters the men had written to their families was promised. Those wishing to join their menfolk would be brought to the island as soon as they were ready.

  Master Idarolan had chosen the exile site. "Not too large, not too small, with good fishing and some game, though wherry makes a dull diet. Plenty of fruit and root vegetables. They'll have to work to survive, but that's no more than we must do."

  "Threadfall?" Jaxom asked.

  Master Idarolan shrugged. "There're a few caves, and you're taking care of the future of that problem. They can endure it or not as they choose. There's also an old volcano and evidence that the island has been inhabited before. It's far more hospitable than Far West Continent, where they'd have only sand and snakes."

  When the men were mounted on the dragons, they were handed sacks with basic tools and a few supplies. Then the wings took off between.

  Jaxom felt enervated as never before, his spirits sunken to a bleak nadir. But as Ruatha's Lord Holder, he had to respond with courtesy and civility to others who were acrimonious in their opinions and harbored considerable rancor for the guilty. Those he admired most among the Lord Holders said little or nothing.

  Asgenar and Toronas departed to assist young Sousmal at Bitra. On their way back to Cove Hold, D'ram and Robinton would drop Lytol off at Nerat Hold to apprise Ciparis, who had previously acted as Begamon's Steward, of his new status.

  Brand and his under-stewards were busy arranging for transportation for the many visitors, seeing to travel supplies for those who had exhausted their own and directing the drudges to clear up the debris and repair the damage caused by the large crowd.

  Jaxom was perversely grateful when Sharra, looking extremely torn between her responsibilities, asked him if she was needed to help.

  "You're wanted back at the laboratory on the Yokohama?" he asked.

  "Oldive and I both."

  He gave her a brief hug and a kiss and nodded. In a way it would be a relief to be able to sort out his thoughts without infecting her with his dejection.

  "I'll spend some time with the boys," he said. "I'm not needed right now for anything at the Yokohama or Landing."

  That was not essentially true, and Sharra knew it. She gave him a quick stare, but then she smiled sadly, kissed his cheek, and left him alone in their quarters.

  From his window, he watched her and Oldive mount on the young blue who was now on duty at Ruatha-and that, unfortunately, reminded him of G'lanar.

  I am here, Ruth said softly from his weyr in the Hold.

  You always are here for me, dear friend, Jaxom said, intolerably weary.

  You did as you had to, as you ought to. No blame is yours.

  But I am left to deal with its aftermath.

  You have acted with honor. Others did not. Can you do more than act with honor?

  A good question, Ruth, a very good question. Jaxom stretched out on his bed, hands clasped behind his head. Could I have avoided this outcome?

  How? By not helping Piemur and Jancis to uncover Aivas that day? The machine would have been found by someone. More good has come of that day's work than any other-except, of course- and Jaxom, hearing the odd satisfied chirp in Ruth's tone, smiled faintly-the day we brought the queen egg back to Ramoth. And yesterday, when we went forward and assured our success...

  Jaxom's smile deepened in spite of his disconsolate mood, as he envisioned Ruth's eyes twirling with blue mischief.

  Men think differently than dragons do, Ruth went on thoughtfully. Most of the time dragons understand their mates. Sometimes, like now, I cannot quite understand why you are troubled. You allow people to think as they wish so long as they do not impose their thoughts on you. You are good about listening to both sides of a problem. I've heard you. You allow people to do as they wish, so long as they do not injure anybody, especially someone you love and admire.

  Ah, but when we knew that Sigomal was plotting against Robinton, we should have confronted him then, Jaxom said.

  Were the plans known?

  No, not exactly.

  And you took measures to protect the Harper.

  Which didn't work, did they?

  Not your fault. Who could have thought that they would try something at a Gather, with so many other people about? You must put aside such useless thoughts, Jaxom. You only make yourself miserable. We have much to look forward to...

  Don't we! Jaxom grimaced as he flopped over onto his stomach, burying his face in the pillow, knowing as he did so that he was merely evading that issue. He made himself think of it: Would he and Ruth tackle the problem Aivas had posed them?

  It is not a problem, Jaxom. For it has been solved. Aivas has told you so. He has shown you so.

  And you agree with him? You'll risk it?

  We went forward to see if it worked. It had. Therefore we will do it because we have done it. It will be quite a feat. Ruth sounded eager and elated. Surprised, Jaxom pushed himself up to his elbows. It will be even more challenging than saving Ramoth's egg, Ruth went on. And even more important for the future of this world. That is what you must think of, not these sad and useless pasts. What has been done, has been done and cannot be undone.

  Did Sharra have a word with you before she left? Jaxom wouldn't have put it past his wife to enlist the aid of his dragon.

  She did not need to. Am I not always close to your heart and your mind?

  Always, dear heart. Always! And Jaxom swung his legs over the edge of the bed. There was still a lot to be done at Ruatha before he could return with a clear conscience to Aivas and Landing.

  19

  AIVAS HAD EXPLAINED to Fandarel and Bendarek exactly how to alter and reinforce the HN03 tanks that were to corrode the metal casing of the antimatter engines. Fandarel followed his instructions, though he thought that the tolerance needed on the alloy of the tanks as well as the padding seemed redundant. He did enjoy constructing the gauges and the nozzles that would let the agenothree drop on the engine casing.

  "A slow process, to be sure, but the rate of penetration can be measured and monitored," Aivas told the Smithcraftmaster. "The safety factors built into the great star-crossing engines were immensely sophisticated. The construction data are not available to discover a more efficient way of broaching the antimatter suspension, so this crude method is the only option. Sometimes the simple solutions are best. Therefore, it is prudent to allow a wide window, which has been calculated as two weeks, give or take a few days. By the time the dragonriders transfer the engines to their positions, the corrosion should have penetrated almost to the antimatter capsule."

  "Now, look here, Aivas," Fandarel began. "I know the rate at which agenothree corrodes metal-"

  "Not metal such as the builders of this ship used, Master Fandarel."

  "That's so." Fandarel scrubbed at his close-cropped scalp. "What puzzles me is the amount of agenothree required to reach the antimatter material."

  "As has been explained"-a diagram appeared on the monitor in the engineering section: a massive block surrounding a ridiculously small cube in a slightly larger sphere-"the antimatter material is not a large mass, approximately two hundred grams. Even the suspension unit masses only about fifteen hundred kilograms."

  "Frankly, Aivas, that's what perplexes me. How could two hundred grams of anything power a ship the size of the Yokohama through space?"

  "Do you not appreciate efficiency, Master Fandarel?" Aivas asked in reply, in a tone that could have been interpreted as amused. Fandarel often had the feeling that the machine was amused. "The matter/antimatter engine is the quintessence of efficiency. Only a small amount is ever required."

  "With two hundred grams of black powder or even nitro, one cannot explode very much," Fandarel replied.

  "Do not equate black powder or nitro, or anything used in mining operati
ons, with antimatter on any count. There is no comparison to the explosive energy released. Despite the distance involved, you will be able to see the flash of the explosion with an ordinary telescope when the antimatter explodes on the Red Star. You would see no trace of an explosion using two hundred grams of black powder, or even nitro. You must be assured that this facility does comprehend the power that is to be discharged."

  Fandarel continued to scratch his pate in wonderment, nodding as he tried to accept what Aivas had said.

  "You are an excellent craftsman, Master Fandarel, and have advanced at an astonishing pace in the past four years and nine months. Since antimatter, unlike the atom that you have recently been investigating, cannot be studied in laboratory situations, you must rely on explanations. It cannot be exposed to matter as you know it-ore, earth, gases, water. Antimatter can be contained, as it is in the ship's engine, and, with control, become the most efficient source of power Mankind has at its disposal. At this point in your study of physics, you cannot understand these concepts. But you can use them to your advantage-with proper guidance, techniques known to this facility, and the safeguards that have already been explained to you. As you pursue your studies, you will come to understand even the anomalies of antimatter. But not now. Time becomes a critical factor. The Red Planet must be jarred out of its current orbit just where it will later approach the fifth planet of your system.

  "Do you have the couplings to attach the HN03 tanks to the engine blocks?"

  "Yes," Fandarel said with a sigh, and indicated the metal braces and T-junction that he and his best smiths had built to hold the tanks tightly against the engines in a way that would allow the corrosive material to leak onto the metal in a regulated flow.

  "Then you should proceed to install the tanks as indicated." The screen altered to show a new diagram.