Alessan made his way back to the hold on the roadway, passing dark lumps of people rolled in sleeping furs. It had been a good Gather and the weather had held. A slight dampness in the dawn air heralded fog or mist. But the weather wouldn't be the only thing foggy that day.
The Hall, too, was crowded with sleepers, and he walked carefully so as not to disturb anyone. Even the wide corridor outside his apartment accommodated Gatherers on straw pallets. He considered himself fortunate that his mother had not insisted he share his quarters. But then, perhaps she had hoped that he would! He smiled as he closed the door behind him and began to strip off his finery. It was only then he remembered that Moreta had not retrieved her Gather gown. No matter. That gave him an excuse to talk to her at the next Fall. He stretched out on his bed, pulled the furs over him, and was asleep in moments.
In what seemed like no time he was being so vigorously shaken that, for one disoriented moment, he thought he was a boy again, being attacked by his brothers.
«Alessan!» Lady Oma's indignant exclamation brought him to complete awareness. «Holder Vander is extremely ill and Masterhealter Scand insists that it is not from overindulgence. Two of the men who accompanied Vander are also feverish. Your race-course manager informs me also that four animals are dead and more appear to be sickening.»
«Whose animals?» Alessan wondered if Dag had known more than he'd admitted.
«How should I know, Alessan?» Lady Oma had no interest at all in the runnerbeasts that were Ruatha's principal industry. «Lord Tolocamp is discussing it with,»
«Lord Tolocamp presumes!» Alessan rolled out of the bed, reached for his trousers in a fluid movement, stuffed his feet into the legs and pulled them up as he rose. He dragged a tunic over his head, slammed his feet into boots, kicking aside his discarded Gather finery. He forgot about the sleepers in the hallway and nearly trod on an arm before he checked his haste. Most of those who had slept in the Hall were awake and there was a clear path to the door. Cursing Tolocamp under his breath, Alessan managed a smile for those who noticed his passing.
Tolocamp was in the forecourt, an arm across his chest, propping the elbow of the other arm as he rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Norman was with him, shifting anxiously from foot to foot, his face gaunt from a sleepless night. As Alessan strode out, Norman's face brightened, and he turned eagerly toward his own Lord Holder.
«Good day to you, Tolocamp,» Alessan said with scant courtesy, controlling the anger he felt at the older man's interference, however well intentioned. «Yes, Norman?» He tried to draw the manager to one side but Tolocamp was not so easily evaded. «This could be a very serious matter, Alessan,» Tolocamp said, his heavy features set in a frown of portentous concern.
«I'll decide that, thank you.» Alessan spoke so curtly that Tolocamp regarded him with astonishment. Alessan took the opportunity to move aside with Norman.
«Four of Vander's runners are dead,» Norman said in a low voice, «and the other is dying. Nineteen beasts near them have broken out in sweats and coughing something pathetic.»
«Have you isolated them from the healthy?»
«I've had men working on that since first light, Lord Alessan.»
«Lady Oma said that Vander's ill as are two of his men?»
«Yes, sir. I called Masterhealer Scand to attend them last night. At first I thought that Vander was upset from losing his runner, but his two men are fevered. Now Helly's complaining of a terrible headache. As Helly don't drink, it can't be from last night.»
«Vander had a headache yesterday, didn't he?»
«I don't rightly remember. Lord Alessan.» Norman released a heavy sigh, pulling his hand across his forehead.
«Yes, of course, you did have rather a lot to manage, and the races went off very well indeed.» Alessan grinned, reminding Norman of the times when he had been his assistant.
«I'm glad you think so, but,» Norman's attention was held by something in the road and he pointed at a travel wagon, four runners led from its tailgate. «I'm worried about Kulan's leaving.»
Even as the men watched, one of the led horses coughed violently.
«I told Kulan he hadn't ought to be traveling with that runner but he won't listen to me.»
«How many decamped this morning?» Alessan felt the first stir of real apprehension. If a coughing illness spread through the Hold with the plowing only half completed …
«Some dozen left first light, mainly wagon travelers. Their stock wasn't pastured near the racers. It's just that I know Kulan's one is sick.»
«I'll speak to him. You find out how many have started home. Tell some of the holders to report to me here as messengers. We'll retrieve our departed guests. No animals are to leave this Hold until we know what causes that cough.»
«What about people?»
«Since the one usually takes the other, no, no people. And I'll want to have a word with Master Scand about Vander, too.»
Kulan was not pleased to be halted. The animal only had a morning cough, he asserted, from the dust raised the night before and the change in grass. It'd be fine once it got moving. Kulan was anxious. He had three days' hard travel before he reached his hold. He'd left his next oldest son in charge and had doubts about the lad's capabilities. Alessan pointed out firmly that Kulan wouldn't want to bring an infected beast home to mingle with his healthy stock. Another day to find out what the ailment was would be well worth a delay.
Tolocamp followed, reaching Alessan and his holderman in time to catch the end of the argument. The older Lord's polite concern became an active anxiety but he held his peace until Kulan and his handlers had turned back to the Gather fields.
«Are such drastic measures necessary? I mean, these people must get back to their holds, as I must return to mine.»
«A slight delay, Tolocamp, until we see how the animals fare. Surely you and your good ladies would be glad of a longer visit?»
Tolocamp blinked, surprised by Alessan's smiling intransigence. «They may stay if they wish but I was about to request you to drum Fort Weyr for a conveyance.»
«As you yourself said a few minutes ago, Tolocamp, this could be a serious matter. It is. Neither of us can afford to have a sickness run through our stock. Not at this time of the Turn. Of course, we may find that it only affects the racers, but I would fault myself severely if I didn't take preventive measures now, before the infection can spread from the Hold proper.» Alessan watched Tolocamp's obvious reflections over the merits of a delay. «Kulan's one of mine, but I'd take it kindly if you would speak to those of your own Hold who gathered with us. I'm not spreading alarm but four racers dead and more coughing in the picket lines …»
«Well. now …»
«Thank you, Tolocamp. I knew I could count on your cooperation.»
Alessan moved away swiftly before Tolocamp could muster an argument. He made for the kitchens where weary drudges were preparing large pitchers of klah and trays of fruits and sweetbreads. As he had hoped, he found Oklina supervising. From the fatigue apparent on her face, she hadn't had any sleep.
«Oklina, there's trouble,» he told her quietly. «Sickness down at the flats. Tell Lady Oma that, until I'm sure what it is and how it can be cured, no one is to leave the Hold. Her powers of persuasion and hospitality are required.»
Oklina's dark eyes had widened with alarm but she controlled her expression and peremptorily called one of the drudges to task for spilling klah.