Fill your lungs, Canth advised him and Fnor felt the dragon sucking air down his throat.
He didnt have time to consider Lessas tactics because the cold of between enveloped them. He felt nothing, not the soft hide of the dragon against his cheek, nor the straps scoring his flesh. Only the cold. Black between had never existed so long.
Then they burst out of between into a heat that was suffocating. They dropped through the closing tunnel of cloud fingers toward the gray mass which suddenly was as close to them as Nerats tip on a high-level Thread pass.
Canth started to open his wings and screamed in agony as they were wrenched back. The snapping of his strong forelimbs went unheard in the incredible roar of the furnace-hot tornadic winds that seized them from the relative calm of the downdraft. There was air enveloping the Red Star a burning hot air, whipped to flame-heat by brutal turbulences. The helpless dragon and rider were like a feather, dropped hundreds of lengths only to be slammed upward end over end, with hideous force. As they tumbled, their minds paralyzed by the holocaust they had entered, Fnor had a nightmare glimpse of the gray surfaces toward and away from which they were alternately thrown and removed: the Neratian tip was a wet, slick gray that writhed and bubbled and oozed. Then they were thrown into the reddish clouds that were shot with nauseating grays and whites, here and there torn by massive orange rivers of lightning. A thousand hot points burned the unprotected skin of Fnors face, pitted Canths hide, penetrating each lid over the dragons eyes. The overwhelming, multileveled sound of the cyclonic atmosphere battered their minds ruthlessly to unconsciousness.
Then they were hurled into the awesome calm of a funnel of burning, sand-filled heat and fell toward the surface crippled and impotent.
Painridden, Fnor had only one thought as his senses failed him. The Weyr! The Weyr must be warned!
Grall returned to Brekke, crying piteously, burrowing into Brekkes arm. She was trembling with fear but her thoughts made such chaotic nonsense that Brekke was unable to isolate the cause of her terror.
She stroked and soothed the little queen, tempting her with morsels of meat to no effect. The little lizard refused to be quieted. Then Berd caught Gralls anxiety and when Brekke scolded him, Gralls excitement and anguish intensified.
Suddenly Mirrims two greens came swooping into the weyr, twittering and fluttering, also affected by the irrational behavior of the little queen. Mirrim came running in then, escorted by her bronze, bugling and fanning his gossamer wings into a blur.
Whatever is the matter? Are you all right, Brekke?
Im perfectly all right, Brekke assured her, pushing away the hand Mirrim extended to her forehead. Theyre just excited thats all. Its the middle of the night. Go back to bed.
Just excited? Mirrim pursed her lips the way Lessa did when she knew someone was evading her. Wheres Canth? Why ever did they leave you alone?
Mirrim! Brekkes tone brought the girl up sharp. She flushed, looking down at her feet, hunching her shoulders in the self-effacing way Brekke deplored. Brekke closed her eyes fighting to be calm although the distress of the five fire lizards was insidious. Please get me some strong klah.
Brekke rose and began to dress in riding clothes. The five lizards started to keen now, flitting around the room, swooping in wild dives as if they wanted to escape some unseen danger.
Get me some klah, she repeated, because Mirrim stood watching her like a numbwit.
Her trio of fire lizards had followed her out before Brekke realized her error. Theyd probably rouse the lower Caverns with their distress. She called but Mirrim didnt hear her. Cold chills made her fingers awkward.
Canth wouldnt go if he felt it would endanger Fnor. Canth has sense, Brekke told herself trying to convince herself. He knows what he can and cant do. Canth is the biggest, fastest, strongest brown dragon on Pern. Hes almost as large as Mnementh and nearly as smart.
Brekke heard Ramoths brassy bugle of alarm just as she received the incredible message from Canth.