The negative side of his personality had perversely suggested that he’d be left standing on the hot sands and he’d never live down such a humiliating experience.
“In conclusion,” S’nan said, “let me assure this Gathering that the Weyrs are ready.”
With that, he sat down to an approving applause. “I hope that the Holds are too” Not his voice end on an up-note but he raised”. Only did his thick brows questioningly at the Fort Holder.
Paulin stood up again, shuffling until he found the right clipboard and cleared his throat. “I have readiness reports in from all but two major Holds,” and he glanced first at Franco, Lord Holder of Nerat, and then tilted his head towards Chalkin. “I know you received the forms to fill in.”
The tall, thin bronze-skinned Neratian raised his hand. “I told you the problem we have with vegetation, Paulin, and we’re still trying to keep it under control” he grimace.
“Not easy with the excellent weather we’ve been having and the restriction against chemical deterrents. But I can assure you that we’ll keep at it. Otherwise, we have emergency roofing for the seedling nurseries and sufficient stores of viable seeds to replant when that’s feasible. We’re also continuing our research into dwarfing plants for indoor propagation. All minor holders are fully aware of the problems and are complying. Everyone’s signed up for the ground-crew course. “
Paulin made a notation, nodding. “Agriculture’s still working on the problem of an inhibitor for your tropical weed types, Fran.”
“I hope so. Stuff grows out of pure sand without any cultivation at all. “
Then Paulin turned to Chalkin who had been polishing his rings with every evidence of boredom.
“I’ve had nothing at all from you, Lord Chalkin of Bitra,” Paulin said.
“Oh, there’s plenty of time.”
“A report was required by this date, Chalkin,” Paulin reminded, pushing the issue.
Chalkin shrugged. “You all can play that game if you wish, but I do not believe that Thread is going to fall next spring, so why should I bother my people with unnecessary tasks…” He wasn’t able to finish his sentence for the acrimonious reactions from everyone at the table.
“Now see here, Chalkin - -.”
“Hey, wait a bleeding minute”
“Just where do you get off. “
Bastom was on his feet with indignation.
Chalkin pointed one thick be ringed finger at the Tillek Holder.
“The Holds are autonomous, are they not? Is that not guaranteed in the Charter?” Chalkin demanded, rounding on Paulin.
“In ordinary times, yes,” Paulin answered, waving a hand to the others to be quiet. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the angry remarks and protests. However, with…”
“This Thread of yours coming. So you say, but there’s no proof” Chalkin said, grinning smugly.
“Proof? What more proof do you need?” Paulin demanded. “This planet is already feeling the perturbation of the rogue planet. “
Chalkin dismissed that with a shrug. “Winter brings bad storms, volcanoes do erupt.”
“You can’t so easily dismiss the fact that the planet is becoming more visible… “
“Pooh. That doesn’t mean anything. “
“So,” and Paulin again had to quell angry murmurs to be heard, “you discount entirely the advice of our forebears? The massive evidence that they left for our guidance?”
“They left hysterical.”
“They were scarcely hysterical” Tashvi bellowed, “And they coped with the emergency, and gave us specific guidelines to follow when the planet came back. And how to calculate a Pass. “
“Hold it, hold it,” Paulin shouted, raising both arms to restore order. “I’m Chair, I’ll remind you,” and he glared at Tashvi until the Telgar Lord resumed his seat and the others had quietened down.
“What kind of proof do you require, Lord Chalkin?” he asked in a very reasonable tone of voice.
“Thread falling…” someone muttered, and subsided before he could be identified.
“Well, Chalkin?” said Paulin.
“Some proof that Thread will fall. A report from this AIVAS we’ve all heard about Landing is under tons of volcanic ash,” Paulin said, and then recognized S’nan’s urgent signal to speak.
“Nine expeditions have been mounted to investigate the installation at Landing and retrieve information from the AIVAS” S’nan said in his usual measured tones. As he spoke he searched for and found a sheaf of plastic and held it up.
“These are the reports. And?” Chalkin demanded, obviously enjoying the agitation he had aroused.
“We have been unable to locate the administration building in which the AIVAS was located. “
Why not?” Chalkin insisted. I remember seeing tapes of Landing prior to the first Threadfall. “
“Then you will appreciate the size of the task,” said S’nan, “especially since the blanket of volcanic ash covers the entire plateau and we have not been able to locate any landmark by which we could judge the position of the administration building. And since the housing was similar, it’s difficult to establish where we are when we have dug one out of twenty feet of ash and debris. Therefore we have not been able to establish the location of the building.”
“Try again,” Chalkin said, turning his back to S’nan.
“So you have done nothing at all to prepare your Hold for the onslaught?” Paulin asked calmly, reasonably.
Chalkin shrugged. “I don’t perceive a need to waste time and effort… “
“And money” murmured the original heckler.
“Precisely. Marks are hard enough to come by to waste them on the off-chance… “
“OFF-CHANCE?” Tashvi erupted out of his chair. “You’ll have a revolt on your hands. “
“I doubt that,” Chalkin said with a sly smile.
“Because you haven’t bloody seen fit to warn your holders?” Tashvi demanded.
“Lord Telgar,” Paulin said repressively, I’m Chair.” He turned back to Chalkin. “If the rest of us, however misguidedly, do believe in the forewarnings - backed by irrefutable astronomical evidence of an imminent Pass - how can you deny them?” Chalkin’s grin was patronizing.
“A space-borne organism? That drops on a large planet and eats everything it touches? Why wasn’t Pern totally destroyed during previous visitations? Why is it every two hundred years? How come the Exploration Team which did a survey of the planet before it was released to our ancestors to colonize… how come they didn’t see any evidence? Ah, no,” Chalkin said, flicking the notion away from him with his be ringed hands, “ridiculous!”
“My calculations were confirmed by -“ Clisser said, feeling that he was being maligned.
“There was evidence of Threadfall,” Tashvi said, bouncing once more to his feet. “I’ve read the report. There were hundreds of circles where vegetation was just starting to grow… “
“Inconclusive,” Chalkin said with another flap of a hand. “Could have been caused by one of the many fungus growths. “
“Well then, when this inconclusive evidence comes dropping out of the skies onto your Hold, don’t bother us,” Bastom said.
“Or come crying to my Hold for help,” added Bridgely, completely disgusted by Chalkin’s attitude.
“You may be sure of that,” Chalkin said and, with a mocking bow to Paulin, he left the Hall with no further word.