“I do believe I’ve been kicked out of my own office,” he said, pivoting to regard the door. His name, which had recently been repainted, was centered in the upper panel.
“Hmm.” He turned the sign hung there on a nail to DO NOT DISTURB” and walked away whistling the chorus from the ‘Duty Song’. He’d catch Sallisha before she climbed up the stairs to his office. That would please her. Well, it might.
He hurried down the steps and met her coming in the door.
“I’m not late,” she said, at her most caustic, her arm tightening convulsively on the bulging notebook she carried.
He was in for it.
“I didn’t say you were. Let’s take the more comfortable option of the teachers’ lounge.”
“My conclusions are not something you’ll wish to discuss in public,” she said, recoiling. She might be one of his best teachers though the rumor was that children learned their lessons to get out of her clutches - but her attitude towards him, and his proposed revitalization program, was totally hostile.
Clisser smiled as graciously as he could. “It’s empty right now and will be for at least two hours.”
She sniffed but, when he courteously gestured for her to precede him, she tramped on in an implacable fashion. Like a Morinst to his Clisser shuddered and hurriedly followed her.
The lounge was empty, a good fire crackling on the hearth.
The klah pitcher rested on the warmer and there were, for a change, clean cups. He wondered if Bethany had done the housekeeping.
The sweetener jar was even full. Yes, it would have been Bethany, trying to ease this interview.
As he closed the door, he also turned the DO NOT DISTURB” sign around and flipped the catch. Sallisha had seated herself in the least comfortable chair - the woman positively enjoyed being martyred. She still held the notebook, like a precious artifact, across her chest.
You can not exclude Greek history from study,” she said, aggressively launching into an obviously prepared speech.
“They’ve got to understand where our form of government came from to appreciate what they have. You have to include…”
“Sallisha, the precedents can be covered in the outline, but not the entire culture,” he began.
“But the culture determined the form of government.” She stared at him, appalled by his lack of comprehension.
“If a student is curious enough to want to know more, we shall have it to give him. But there is no point in forcing hill farmers and plains drovers to learn something which has absolutely no relevance to their way of life.”
“You demean them by saying that.”
“No, I save them hours of dull study by replacing it with the history of Pern.”
“There is scarcely enough of that to dignify the word ‘history’.”
“Yesterday is history today, but do you want to repeat it?
“’History’ is what happened in the life or development of a people… we,” and he tapped his chest, “the Pernese. Also a systematic account of us,” he tapped his chest again, “with an
analysis and explanation. From the beginning of the Pern colony. That is history, grand and sweeping, surviving against incredible odds and an implacable menace, daring-do, ingenuity, courage, and of this planet, not of a place that’s only a name. It’s better than our ancient history - if it’s taught right.”
“Are you impugning my -“
“Never, Sallisha, which is why I particularly need your complete cooperation for the new, enriched, relevant curriculum. On average, your students rank higher in their final examination papers than any other teacher’s… and that includes the hill-farmers and the plains drovers. But they never again use the information you imparted. Pern is difficult enough… with an external menace to contend with… Let them be proud of the accomplishments of their ancestors, their most recent ancestors. Not the confused and tortured mindlessness the Pern colonists left behind.
“Furthermore,” he went on relentlessly as she opened her mouth to speak, “the trials at Telgar and Benden have proved that not enough time is spent teaching our people their rights under the Charter.”
“But I spend…”
“You certainly have never been remiss, but we must emphasize,” and he slapped one fist into the other palm, holder rights under their Lord: how to claim Charter acreage, how to prevent what happened in Bitra.”
“No other Lord Holder is as wicked,” and her mouth twisted with disgust as she enunciated the last word, “as that awful man. Don’t think you can get me to teach there now Issony’s left!” She waggled her index finger at him and her expression was fierce.
“Not you, Sallisha, you’re far too valuable to waste on Bitra,” he said, soothing her. Bitra would need a more compassionate and flexible teacher than Sallisha. But I’m amazed at just how many people were unaware of the Charter Rights. And that’s wrong. Not that I think the cowed folk up in Bitra would have dared cite the clauses to him… even if they had known about them. I mean, it was appalling to realize just how few people who attended the trial KNEW that ordinary holders had the RIGHT to freedom of movement, and lawful assembly, or to appeal for mediation for crippling tithes.
“Why haven’t the Lord Holders impeached him?” she wanted to know, her fierceness diverted towards a new victim. It’s patently obvious he is unfit to manage a Hold, much less one during a Fall. I cannot see why they have been waffling about over the matter.
“Sallisha, it takes a unanimous decision to impeach a Lord Holder,” he said with a light admonishment.
She regarded him blankly for a moment. Then flushed.
“Who’s holding out?”
“Jamson.”
She clicked her tongue irritably. “And that’s another place you mustn’t send me. The cold would exacerbate my joint problem.”
I’m aware of that, Sallisha, which is why I wondered if you’d consider Nerat South this year?”
“How much travelling?” she demanded, but not unappeased.
“Six major holds and five smaller units, but all within reasonable distance. And, of course, your journeys would fall on Threadfree days.
“Excellent accommodations and a very good contract. Gardner made sure that everything complies with your wishes as regards conditions.” He reached into his jerkin pocket and pulled out the document. “I thought you might like to see it today.”
“Sweetening me up, are you?” she said with an almost coquettish smile, hand half outstretched to the sheets.
“You are my best teacher, Sallisha,” he told her and extended his hand until her fingers closed around the contract.
“This won’t make me approve your butchery of pre-Pernese history, Clisser.”
“It’s not intended to, but we can’t have you in danger on the plains of Keroon.”
“I did promise to come back.”
“They will understand.”
“There are some really fine minds there.”
“You will find them wherever you go, Sallisha, you have the knack.” Then he hauled out the larger sheaf of papers, the new syllabus. “You may find this much easier to impart to your students.” She eyed it as she would a tunnel snake.
High Reaches and Fort Holds
“So,” Paulin asked Thea and Gallian in the comfortably warm High Reaches solarium where the High Reaches Lady Holder received her guests, “is there any way we can get him to change his mind?”
Thea shrugged. “Not by reasoned argument, that’s for certain. He was indignant that ‘a Lord Holder’s right to deal with his own folk’ had been set aside for the two trials.”