Telgars broad valleys had been hard hit by the almost constant Threadfalls. Telgars ground crews were disheartened by the prospect of ceaseless vigilance.
Time is what we havent got, Larad of Telgar had cried when he heard that grub protection would be a long-term project. We lose fields of grain and root every other day. The men are already weary of fighting Thread interminably, theyve little energy for anything. At best weve only the prospect of a lean winter, and I fear for the worst if these past months are any indication.
Yes, its hard to see help so close and as far away as the life cycle of an insect no larger than the tip of your finger, said Robinton, an integral part of any such confrontation. He was stroking the little bronze fire lizard which he had Impressed a few days earlier.
Or the length of that distance-viewer, Larad said, his lips tight, his face lined with worry. Has nothing been done about going to the Red Star?
Yes, Flar replied, holding firmly to an attitude of patient reasonableness. Its been viewed every clear night. Wansor has trained a wing of watchers and borrowed the most accurate draftsmen from Masterweaver Zurg and the Harper. Theyve made endless sketches of the masses on the planet. We know its faces now …
And … Larad was adamant.
We can see no feature distinct enough to guide the dragons.
The Lord of Telgar sighed with resignation.
We do believe, and Flar caught Ntons eyes since the young bronze rider did as much of the investigating as Wansor, that these frequent Falls will taper off in a few more months.
Taper off? How can you tell that? Hope conflicted with suspicion in the Telgar Lords face.
Wansor is of the opinion that the other planets in our sky have been affecting the Red Stars motion; slowing it, pulling it from several directions. We have near neighbors, you see; one is now slightly below the middle of our planet, two above and beyond the Red Star, a rare conjunction. Once the planets move away, Wansor believes the old routine of Threadfall will be established.
In a few months? But that wont do us any good. And can you be sure?
No, we cant be sure which is why we have not announced Wansors theory. But well be certain in a few more weeks. Flar held up his hand to interrupt Larads protests. Youve surely noticed the brightest stars, which are our sister planets, move from west to east during the year. Look tonight, youll see the blue one slightly above the green one, and very brilliant. And the Red Star below them. Now, remember the diagram in the Fort Weyr Council Room? Were positive that that is the diagram of skies around our sun. And youve watched your fosterlings play stringball. Youve played it yourself. Substitute the planets for the balls, the sun for the swinger, and you get the general idea. Some balls swing more rapidly than others, depending on the speed of the swing, the length and tension of the cord. Basically, the principle of the stars around the sun is the same.
Robinton had been sketching on a leaf and passed the diagram over to Larad.
I must see this in the skies for myself, the Telgar Lord replied, not giving an inch.
Its a sight, I assure you, Asgenar said. Ive become fascinated with the study and if, he grinned, his thin face suddenly all creases and teeth, Wansor ever has time to duplicate that distance-viewer, I want one on Lemos fire height. Were at a good altitude to see the northern heavens. Id like to see those showering stars we get every summer through a distance-viewer!
Larad snorted at the notion.
No, its fascinating, Asgenar protested, his eyes dancing with enthusiasm. Then he added in a different tone, Nor am I the only one beguiled by such studies. Every time I go to Fort Im contending with Meron of Nabol for a chance to use the viewer.
Nabol?
Asgenar was a little surprised at the impact of his casual remark.
Yes, Nabols forever at the viewer. Apparently hes more determined than any dragonrider to find coordinates. No one else shared his amusement.