“I could…” Hegmon began.
“Just don’t supply him, Hegmon.”
“He’s already insistent that I give him vine starts so he can grow his own,” said Hegmon, furious at such importunity. “Not that he’d do that any better than any of those other projects he starts.”
“Ignore him,” Zulaya suggested with a flick of her fingers.
“M’shall and Irene do. He’s such a toad.”
“Unfortunately,” said Tashvi with a grimace, “he’s managed to find like minds.”
“We’ll settle him at the meeting”, said K’vin.
“I hope so,” Tashvi said, “though a man like that is not easily convinced against his will. And he does have a following.”
“Not where it matters,” Zulaya put in.
“I hope so. Ah, and here’s food to soak up all this lovely stuff before we’re too muddled to keep our wits about us this evening.”
Zulaya waved at the wine cooler. “I doubt there’s more than two glasses apiece, scarcely enough to muddle us, though it’s lovely stuff.” And she sipped judiciously. “Hegmon is generous, but not overly so. And here’s our dinner…” She sat back as a swarm of men and women in Fort colors began to distribute platters of steaming foods among the tables. And bottles of red wine.
“You spoke too soon about muddling, Zuli,” K’vin said, grinning as he served her roast slices from the platter before passing it around the table.
They had finished their meal and all the wine before Paulin rose from his table and signaled those in the upper Court to follow him into the Hold for the meeting. Dancing was well under way in the square and the music made a cheerful processional.
K’vin hoped the musicians would still be playing when the meeting ended. Despite the height of her, Zulaya was so light on her feet she was a pleasure to partner and, because he was so tall, she preferred him as her partner too. And a full orchestra of professionals was far more entertaining than the half-trained if enthusiastic players currently in the Weyr.
Different music, too.
“Ah,” said Zulaya appreciatively as they filed into Fort’s Great Hall, they’ve done a great job of freshening the murals.
“Hmmm,” K’vin agreed, craning his neck around and impeding Chalkin’s entrance into the Hall. “Sorry.”
“Humph,” was Chalkin’s response and he glared sourly at Zulaya as he passed, shrugging his garments away from touching them.
“Consider the source,” K’vin said when he thought Zulaya might fire a tart comment after the Lord Holder.
“I want to be at Bitra when the first Fall hits his Hold,” she said.
“Isn’t he lucky, then, not to be beholden to us, but to Benden?” K’vin asked wryly.
“Indeed,” agreed Zulaya and allowed herself to be guided to Telgar Weyr’s usual seat at the big conference table. “I wonder did anyone get any sleep in this Hold the past week,” she said, stroking the banner of Telgar’s colors that clothed their portion of the table.
“Makes such a nice display,” she murmured as she pulled out the chair which also sported Telgar’s white field and black grain design.
The table itself was made up of many smaller units hooked together, forming a multi-faceted circle: Telgar’s Weyr and Hold leaders were between High Reaches and Tillek since they were the northernmost settlements. Across from them were Ista Weyr and Hold, and Keroon Hold, with their brilliant colors. Benden Weyr was seated with Bitra on one side and Nerat and Benden on the other. The Chief Engineer, the Senior Medic and the Headmaster were also included in the meeting. Fort, traditionally the senior Hold, with Ruatha and Southern Boll on either side, was at table center and this time was the Chair.
“Now, if any of us still have our heads after Hegmon’s fine new wine, let’s get this over with so we can get in some dancing,” said Paulin, smiling around the table.
Chalkin banged the table in front of him with a very loud “Hear, hear!”
K’vin stifled a groan. The man was half-drunk, if not all drunk; his face flushed red.
“I’m sure we’re all aware of the imminence of Threadfall.”
Chalkin made a rude noise.
“Look, Lord Chalkin,” said Paulin, scowling at the dissident, “if you managed to get too much of the champagne inside your skin, you can be excused.”
“No, that’s exactly what he wants,” said M’shall, Benden’s Weyrleader, quickly. “Then he can claim anything decided today was done behind his back.”
“If he can’t shut up, we can always hold his head under the tap until he sobers enough to remember common courtesy, put in Irene, Benden’s Weyrwoman. He doesn’t like getting his Gather clothes wet.” Her expression suggested she’d had experience enough to know.
“Chalkin!” Paulin said, his voice steely.
“Oh, all right,” the Bitran said in a surly tone and he settled himself more squarely in his chair, leaning forward on his elbows at the table. “If you’re going to be that way…”
“Only because you are,” snapped Irene. Paulin gave her a stern look and she subsided, though she kept narrowed eyes on Chalkin for a while longer.
“Three independent calculations were made and there’s no doubt that the Red Planet is getting closer spatially speaking.”
“Is there any chance of a collision?” asked Jamson of High Reaches.
“Fraggit, Jamson,” Paulin said, “let’s not bring that up.”
“Why not?” said Chalkin, brightening.
“Because that… improbability has already been discussed to the point of nausea,” Paulin replied. There isn’t a hint in any of the information collected by our forefathers to indicate there is any chance of a collision between the two planets. Or that they considered the… improbability for any reason.
“Yes, but does it say anywhere that there can’t be?” Chalkin was obviously delighted with this possibility.
“Absolutely not,” Paulin said simultaneously with Clisser who was not only the College Head but the senior of the trained astronomers.
Paulin gestured for Clisser to continue.
“Captains Keroon and Tillek,” and he paused in reverence, “both annotated the AIVAS report which included data from the Yokohama’s records. I have repeatedly reworked the relevant equations and the rogue planet will Pass Pern on an elliptical orbit that can NOT alter to a collision course with us. A matter of celestial mechanics and Rukbat’s gravitational pull.”
“I’d’ve brought the diagram of the orbits involved if I’d had forewarning.” Clisser gave Chalkin a disgusted glare.
“Bad enough it brings in the Thread. Do you want to be blown to smithereens, Chalkin?” asked Kalvi, chief of the mechanical engineers.
“And I checked the maths, too, so I concur with Clisser and everyone else who’s done the equations. Why don’t you, if you’re so worried?” Chalkin ignored the jibe since he had never been noted for scholarship in any field. He was also well pleased with the reaction to his remark. No matter what they said, there was no proof that they were really that safe.
“Now, calculations indicate early spring will bring the first Threadfall of this Pass. There are several Falls which could be live, depending on the weather conditions, mainly the ambient temperature, at the time of Fall.” Paulin reached under his table then and hauled up a board on which Threadfall areas had been meticulously delineated.
S’nan cleared his throat, moving restlessly, as if he felt Paulin should not have usurped a Fort prerogative. “The first two will be in Fort Weyr’s patrol area, the second two in High Reaches and the third two in Benden’s. These are due to occur in the first two weeks, about three days apart. The second Fall in Fort territory and the first one in High Reaches happen on the same day - different flows of the same Fall. Also, we know from the records that there will be live Falls over the Southern Continent for about a week before the Falls commence here in the North.”