Let me adjust the focus for you, Lord Oterel, Wansor murmured politely.
Yes, do. Im not half blind like Sangol there, the Lord of Tillek said.
Now, see here, Oterel …
Fascinating, isnt it, Lord Sangel? said Lessa, wondering what reaction the mans blathering had concealed.
He harumphed irritably, but his eyes were restless and he frowned.
Wouldnt call it fascinating, but then I had barely a moments look.
Weve an entire night, Lord Sangel.
The man shivered, pulling his cloak around him though the night air was not more than mildly cool for spring.
Its nothing more than a childs miggsy, exclaimed the Lord of Tillek. Fuzzy. Or is it supposed to be? He glanced away from the eyepiece at Lessa.
No, my Lord, Wansor said. It should be bright and clear, so you can see cloud formations.
How would you know? Sangel asked testily.
Wansor set the instrument up for this evenings viewing, Fandarel pointed out.
Clouds? Tillek asked. Yes, I see them. But whats the land? The dark stuff or the gray?
We dont know yet, Fandarel told him.
, Land masses dont look that way as high as dragons can fly a man, said Pzar the Fort Weyrleader, speaking for the first time.
And objects seen at a far greater distance change even more, Wansor said in the dry tone of someone who does know what hes talking about. For example, the very mountains of Fort which surround us change drastically if seen from Ruatha Heights or the plains of Crom.
Then all that dark stuff is land? Lord Oterel had difficulty not being impressed. And discouraged, Lessa thought. Tilleks Lord Holder must have been hoping to press the extermination of Thread on the Red Star.
Of that we are not sure, replied Wansor with no lessening of the authority in his manner. Lessa approved more and more of Wansor. A man ought not be afraid to say he didnt know. Nor a woman.
The Lord of Tillek did not want to leave the instrument. Almost as if he hoped, Lessa thought, that if he looked long enough, hed discover a good argument for mounting an expedition.
Tillek finally responded to Nessel of Croms acid remarks and stepped aside.
What do you think is the land, Sangel? Or did you really see anything?
Of course I did. Saw the clouds plain as I see you right now.
Oterel of Tillek snorted contemptuously. Which doesnt say much, considering the darkness.
I saw as much as you did, Oterel. Gray masses, and black masses and those clouds. A star having clouds! Doesnt make sense. Pern has clouds!
Hastily Lessa changed her laugh at the mans indignation to a cough, but she caught the Harpers amused look and wondered what his reaction to the Red Star would be. Would he be for, or against this expedition? And which attitude did she want him to express?
Yes, Pern has clouds, Oterel was saying, somewhat surprised at that observation. And if Pern has clouds, and more water surface than land, then so does the Red Star …
You cant be sure of that, Sangel protested.
And therell be a way of distinguishing land from water too, Oterel went on, ignoring the Boll Lord. Let me have another look, there, Nessel, he said, pushing the Crom Lord out of the way.
Now, wait a minute there, Tillek. And Nessel put a proprietary hand on the instrument. As Tillek jostled him, the tripod tottered and the distance-viewer, on its hastily rigged swivel, assumed a new direction.
Now youve done it, Oterel cried. I only wanted to see if you could distinguish the land from the water.
Wansor tried to get between the two Lords so that he could adjust his precious instrument.
I didnt get my full turn, Nessel complained, trying to keep physical possession of the distance-viewer.
Youll not see anything, Lord Nessel, if Wansor cannot have a chance to sight back on the Star, Fandarel said, politely gesturing the Crom Lord out of the way.
You re a damned wherry fool, Nessel, Lord Groghe said, pulling him to one side and waving Wansor in.
Tilleks the fool.
I saw enough to know theres not as much dark as there is that gray, Oterel said, defensively. Perns more water than land. Sos the Red Star.