Dolphins Of Pern Part 13

And then there was that infamous meeting of Weyrleaders and Lords Holder - which he had been unable to attend while he was involved with ousting the renegade Denol from lerne Island. That's when all those old-womanish Lords had actually established that the dragonriders had the right to control the Southern Continent land grabbings. "Out of respect for the services dragonriders have given Hold and Hall over the centuries of Threadfall." As if t.i.thing to support the indolent riders hadn't been reward enough for dragons doing what they had been bred to do. Much less the gratuities which had always been lavished on dragonriders.

When Toric had heard of that decision, he had been infuriated, especially as it had been voted on behind his back. He'd have stopped the whole notion right then if he'd been able to come.

The first insult to him had been that the Northern Lords hadn't waited until he could come to a meeting that, when all was said and deplorably done, affected him more than any of them, since he was the only confirmed Lord Holder in the south.

And Lord of Hold so much larger than anything in the north, including Telgar, that it had been ludicrous to hold such a meeting without him. Of course, the Weyrleaders had planned it that way, knowing he would protest. Knowing he would have been able to sway some of the indecisive idiots who had their t.i.tles by default and certainly wouldn't have been able to survive a season in the south. He'd've seen that the Southern Continent would be wide open for those with the guts to work to hold any land. And apply for confirmation to a full Council of Lords Holder and no Weyrleaders present for it wasn't up to dragonriders who held and where! Not in Toric's lexicon.

On his bedroom and office walls were outsized copies of the Southern Continent: several aspects, including one which had cost him a sack of marks, a spatial view of the south, its terrain stretching out and out to the curve of the horizon. That view caused him the most irritation since it was proof positive that he had been cheated. The Weyrwoman had shown him only a small section of the continent when she and F'lar had tricked him into settling for only the land between the two rivers. He had been deceived into settling for a tiny portion when he could have had more, much more. And those two Weyrleaders had known it. Although his wife had tried to convince him that they couldn't have known the extent of Southern, not until Master Idarolan and Master Rampesi had sailed, one west and one east, until they had met, was the size of the southern continent truly discovered. Toric could not be convinced otherwise. He had wanted more and, since the Weyrleaders had thwarted him in that devious meeting, he would have more. Especially when the dragonriders had not helped him regain the big island from Denol's clutches. He was especially bitter about that.

Right now, of course, with everyone scurrying about following the orders of that machine, Aivas, he had to bide his time. It was as essential to his future plans as everyone else's that Thread be stopped from ever falling on Pern again. He had even allowed Hamian to spend full time experimenting and contriving the new machines and equipment needed to end the airborne menace. He had informants in place so that anything of any significance occurring at Landing was reported to him.

He appeared when vital decisions were being discussed. He also tagged those who would be of use to him later on. If, and Toric entertained some doubts, Aivas managed to do as it had promised: rid the planet of Thread.

He had already started to make his plans: spurred by his animosity for the Benden Weyrleaders. He still had the notes which young Piemur had made of his explorations along the coast. He himself had taken short trips - no absences long enough to arouse suspicion, and never where dragonriders might inconveniently overfly him. He would personally select those he placed where he wanted them, and enough on large enough holdings so that, after Threadfall, there would be enough Lords Holder grateful to him, Toric, to vote a majority over the northern idiots. When the time was ripe . . . And he smiled again. The domination of the Weyrs over the Southern Continent would suffer a major curtailment. He had no doubt he would find support among the Lords Holder, especially since he could use that Ancient doc.u.ment to justify the actions. Ah, yes, when the time was ripe The next morning was the seventh day when Boojie was supposed to report to Persellan. Healer and dragonrider arrived at first light on the beach and saw dolphins cavorting in the water on a sh.o.r.eward course.

"I do hope Boojie isn't one of those leapers, Persellan said in a grouchy tone. "He'll pull his st.i.tches and I won't sew him up again.

T'lion gave the bell a few pulls to be sure their presence was noticed. Then he and Persellan, who was dressed in shortlegged pants and had put what he needed out of his healer's bag in a small pouch slung over one shoulder, waded out to meet the incoming sea creatures.

The one who glided in across their path stopped right in front of them and eased over on to his back. The long gash was visible, just under the water.

"Gaddie, we may need you again . T'lion began.

"No, I don't think we need trouble Gadareth,' Persellan said because the dolphin was holding steady, presenting the injury well enough for the purpose of removing the sutures. "Here, hold this for me,' the healer said, having removed a blunt-ended pair of scissors from his pack before he pushed it at T'lion.

Running skilled fingers along the injury, Persellan gave one of his meditative hums, his expression registering approval and satisfaction.

"It's well closed, not a single suture torn or pulled. Really, if I'd known they heal so quickly, I could have removed the st.i.tches earlier. Remarkable recovery."

"The salt water?"

"Could be, and the excellent state of health these wild creatures enjoy. Now tell him not to move. I don't want to inadvertently puncture him at this stage of his recovery."

T'Iion bent close to Boojie's head, noticed the brightness of the eye regarding him and patted the melon.

"Hold as still as you can, Boojie. Won't hurt."

Boojie dropped his jaw in token of understanding. T'lion nearly fell backwards, though, as the tip of another dolphin snout protruded from the water just beyond Boojie's head.

He hadn't been aware that a dolphin lurked that close, Tana probably.

"Hold your hand out, please, T'lion. I need to be sure I've removed all the st.i.tches."

T'lion obeyed and the procedure was very quickly accomplished. Persellan bent his head to peer at the closed wound.

"Hmmmm. Yes, remarkable. I really should encourage patients to swim Or at least to immerse themselves in the water here for its curative powers. Good fellow, Boojie. You've been a grand patient. Where do I scratch?"

"Not there,' T'lion said hastily and grabbed Persellan's hand away from what was indecently close to dolphin privates. "Here, under the chin. They love it."

Persellan caressed Boojie. "You've been a very good patient.

I could wish humans were as well behaved. But then I didn't have to oversee you in your watery ward, did I?" Persellan's hum turned into a chuckle. "Dragonriders do not take kindly to having to remain in bed. Shards!" Persellan backed away in surprise as Boojie suddenly loomed up out of the water until he was on eye level with the healer. Then, with great care, the dolphin touched his nose to Persellan's mouth before dropping back into the water.

"Thank you, Peerrssss-lan,' Boojie said with an enthusiastic squee to emphasize his statement.

"You are very welcome, Boojie. Very welcome indeed, Persellan said, executing a few short bows at the dolphin.

"Hmmm. I don't always get thanked by my human patients either. You know, T'lion, I don't think I'd mind being healer to the dolphins after all. D'you think I should see what other information Aivas has on sea mammal ailments and cures?"

T'lion grinned as he handed the healer back his pouch and they both waded out of the sea.

"I don't see why not. The more we learn from Aivas the better. Have you heard anything from Master Oldive?" T'lion asked.

"Yes, I have. Most gratifying. Oddly enough, it was the Harper Hall - Master Menolly, in particular - which supported my suggestion,' and Persellan glanced quizzically at T'lion.

"She was at Paradise River Hold and Alemi is her brother.

He might have told her what he was doing with the dolphins."

"Which is?"

"Much what I'm doing, getting to know them and teach them our words."

"But they know them "No, they know the words people used to use,' T'lion said, mastering an urge to grin at the healer's confusion. "Our language has s.h.i.+fted slightly from what the dolphins learned long ago from us.

"Language s.h.i.+fted?" Persellan was indignant.

"Aivas told me."

"For a rider who hasn't even flown Thread yet, you seem to be remarkably well connected."

"Me? Shards, no, Persellan, I just have to convey a lot of people here and there,' T'Iion said in an earnestly selfdeprecating tone. He didn't wish to give Persellan the impression that he was boasting or anything. "I was conveying Master Alemi when he rang that old bell they dredged up from Monaco Bay and summoned the dolphins. That's how I got involved."

"But you've put up a bell here."

"Aivas asked me to. I'm supposed to help count how many dolphins there are these days.

"Doing well, I see. Hmmm. What does Gadareth think about all this?"

"You saw for yourself, healer. He was quite ready to help with Boojie."

"So he was. Well,' and they had entered the clearing around the Weyr Hall, "let me know if they need any more st.i.tching or something. Like dragons, they are appreciative!" He sniffed once disparagingly and made for his quarters.

At Fort Hold, Menolly. Sebell, Master Oldive and two of his journeymen had made their way to the Fort harbor.

"I find it most fascinating that no-one . . . " Master Oldive paused to emphasize the negative, "ever bothered to ask why that bell was known as the "doll fins bell"."

Menolly laughed, enjoying this outing from the Healer Hall now that the weather was more clement with an early spring warming. It was good to be on runner-back and especially to have something which could pry Sebell loose from his increasingly heavy duties as Master Harper. They scarcely seemed to have any time together these days with all the activity and industry connected with Aivas' plan to rid Pern of Threadfall. "Surely you've had come across enigmas in your Healer Hall records."

"Oh, indeed,' Master Oldive said with a laugh. "Even the most legible entries contain references to procedures the authors were familiar with but which we lost over the centuries.

Thankfully, Aivas is explaining more and more." Then he sighed, his expression thoughtful. He shook off whatever reflection troubled him and spoke more briskly. "And you'll be able to communicate with the dolphins? If any come in response.

"My brother a.s.sures me that they a.s.sured him that all dolphins have maintained their traditions. And we know that there are dolphins in these waters. So we shall ring the peal and see what happens.

"I do so hope they come,' Oldive said, sighing heavily. "If they can, as Weyr Healer Persellan said, pinpoint irregularities in a human body with this sonar ability of theirs, I might just be able to treat three puzzling cases that have worried me excessively."

Menolly lowered her voice so it would not carry to the journeymen riding behind them. "You're having trouble convincing your Craft of the "surgical" treatments the old records recommend."

"Indeed!" Oldive's comment was heartfelt. "The caesarean to release a womb-held baby is permitted, and the one to remove the pend.i.c.ks, but neither are the lengthy repairs and deep delving that Aivas reports were last measures even then. But we don't have the medicines that the Ancients did that would dissolve or shrink other conditions to which occasionally people are subject."

They had reached the pier and were welcomed by the Master Fishman who delegated men to take the runnerbeasts from their riders. Menolly noticed that all five vessels of the Fort fis.h.i.+ng fleet were in port. She grimaced. She hadn't antic.i.p.ated an audience but they had had to inform Samvel of their intentions for the day's excursion.

Master ldarolan had, of course, informed him of dolphin intelligence. Sebell, also spreading such news, had met with considerable skepticism, especially from those inland who had never seen dolphins escorting s.h.i.+ps. -A long cold ride, you will need at least a cup of klah before you ring any bells,' Curran said jovially, gesturing them to enter his hold, situated on the height above the sea. There was another smaller cot built on the T-bar of the pier itself for the harbormaster.

Menolly, always conscious of being away from her children, would have preferred not to dally but courtesy required the grateful acceptance of hospitality. And hot klah would be welcome. She was somewhat stiff after the long ride, having had little occasion to exercise of late. She almost resented the ease with which Sebell, who was constantly riding both runners and dragons, dismounted.

More than klah was offered which was very nice of Curran and his wife, Robina, and actually very welcome: small fish rolls that were delectably spiced, the cold roe of fish spread on tiny bread rounds, the hot spiced klah and a cup of a chowder that was also highly seasoned. But then Robina was from a southern Fishhold and liked such blood-warming preparations. The journeymen, as hungry as any ever born, tucked into the food with a good will. Even Master Oldive made a good meal.

Finally, they were able to go to the long pier, with a throng of interested fishers and cotholders. Menolly should have known that this would become an occasion, especially after a long and sequestering winter. Everyone took what excuses for diversion they could find. This would certainly be a more interesting one. No sooner had she stepped out of the hold than Beauty, Diver and Rocky launched themselves from the roof, Beauty settling to her shoulder while Diver and Rocky swanned about in the air above. Other fire-lizards joined them, uttering glad cries, though Menolly knew they could hardly appreciate the reason for the day's activities.

The dolphins' bell had been given a new housing, the wood preservative still rank enough to catch you in the back of the throat despite the light breeze. The bell itself had been s.h.i.+ned to a high polish.

"We added a new clapper,' Curran said proudly. "Made Master Fandarel hold up some other work to get it done in time."

"I could wish to know how you did that, Master Curran, Oldive said with a wry smile.

"How long has the bell been without a clapper then?" Sebell asked in his quiet way of extracting information.

"Oh,' and Curran threw up arms thick from years of hauling nets and sails, "it had none when I became Master here."

"Did your master not notice?" Sebell asked, his eyes twinkling.

"I suppose he did but he must have taken it on in that condition." Curran looked a trifle embarra.s.sed.

"The Monaco Bell had no clapper either,' Sebell said to pacify the man but Menolly noticed her mate did not mention that the Monaco Bell had been at the bottom of the sea for centuries.

"But it has one now and can be put to its original use again. Will you do the honors, Menolly?"

"Delighted,' she said and seized the rope by the end. "I think, Curran, the purpose of the Dolphins' Bell is for them to be able to ring it, too, to summon men to hear their reports. "I didn't know that,' Curran said, surprised. "But what would I do if they should ring it?"

Menolly smiled rea.s.suringly at him. "Ask why they rang it, of course. This is to let them know the Bell's back in service." She gave the pull a hefty yank, and then settled into the "report' sequence that Alemi had taught her. She sincerely hoped it would be effective or Curran would think he had wasted time, effort and badgered the Master Smith for no purpose.

So, pretending that the sequence was longer than it actually was, she pealed off the "report' a second time. "Alemi's had very good fis.h.i.+ng since he's listened to the dolphin reports.

He's also been able to avoid some of those appalling squalls the southern waters sp.a.w.n.

"Look!" cried one of the fishmen who had followed them to the pier. On her shoulder, Beauty let out a piercing cry. Rocky and Diver swooped off to investigate.

Distance viewers appeared from pockets to aid the naked eyes.

"Fins!" cried Curran's first mate. "Half a dozen . . . no, more than that. Coming from all directions. Heading here!'

Curran reached for the distance view from his mate and peered out to sea. Beauty spread her wings, tangling them in Menolly's winter cap so that Menolly had to grab it before it fell into the sea.

"Easy there, now, Beauty. You've seen dolphins before.

Beauty chittered something but obediently folded her wings and blinked bright blue eyes.

"Quite a display they're making,' Curran remarked and politely pa.s.sed the viewer to Menolly. She grinned and gestured for him to give it to Sebell who had not yet had a chance to see a dolphin pod arriving in answer to the age-old summons.

How had the creatures remembered for such a long time!

Maybe there were dolphin equivalents to harpers? The pod leaders?

Sebell sucked in his breath as he watched. "They are moving at an incredible rate and doing all those leaps and ah one just somersaulted midair."

"I'd say they were delighted to hear the bell rung again, Menolly said with a nostalgic little smile and a catch in her chest. To be ignored, to have one's abilities neglected must have been hard and yet the dolphins had continued to do what they could to aid humans all these long centuries. She must write a special song for them. A very special song of loyalty and joy.

The squeeing was soon audible to the watchers on the dock.

"How can they speak?" Curran asked.

"They do,' Menolly said, "if you listen." She glanced up at Sebell, standing straight and tall beside her and grinned impishly. "Despite all we harpers did, the language s.h.i.+fted but the dolphins are adapting to the new words."

Sebell gave her a jaundiced stare for that familiar tease and she chuckled at harper discomfiture over the "purity of speech' which the Craft had tried so hard to preserve.

"But I thought "Curran began and then stopped, clearing his throat.

The vanguard were now closing the gap and the watchers were unable to count the number of dolphin bodies in their leaping and plunging.

"Where's the boat, do we need to be close to them?" Menolly asked and Curran pointed to a ladder at the side and, peering over the edge, Menolly saw the long boat bobbing at its painter.

Curran led the way and carefully guided her feet to the rungs and safely into the tossing boat. It was one of the off-sh.o.r.e fishers and accommodated a fair number of folk: an orderly descent was made by those whom Curran had apparently ticked off as audience to this momentous occasion.

They were barely settled when the first dolphin raised its head above the waters.

"Bellill ring. Oo-ee come! Bellill not ring long long." The creature squeeed, and was joined by other importunate heads, all of them jostling for a view of those in the boat.

"Your name? I'm Nolly,' she said, leaning over the side of the boat and extending a hand to scratch a bottlenose chin.

Almost ecstatically the dolphin allowed the caress, the jaw dropped into the water in its excess of delight.

"Inka! Inka! Pod-leader. Inka!'

"By the first Egg,' Curran cried and there was excited muttering from the other fishmen.

"Here is Curran,' Menolly said. "Fish Master.