He recovered and drew Fnor to the tubs.
Nton was able to get Thread and we infected three of the big tubs, Flar told him, speaking in a low undertone as if he didnt wish to disturb the Masterfarmers investigations. The grubs devoured every filament. And where the Thread pierced the leaves of that fellis tree, the char marks are already healing. Im hoping Master Andemon can tell us how or why.
Andemon straightened his body but his lantern jaw remained sunk to his chest as he frowned at the tub. He blinked rapidly and pursed his thin lips, his heavy, thick-knuckled hands twitching slightly in the folds of a dirt-stained tunic. He had come as he was when the Weyr messenger summoned him from the fields.
I dont know how or why, Good Weyrleader. And if what you have told me is the truth, he paused, finally raising his eyes to Flar, I am scared.
Why, man? And Flar spoke on the end of a surprised laugh. Dont you realize what this means? If the grubs can adapt to northern soil and climate, and perform as we all of us here, his gesture took in the Harper and his Wingsecond as well as Lessa, have seen them, Pern does not need to fear Thread ever again.
Andemon took a deep breath, throwing his shoulders back, but whether resisting the revolutionary concept or preparing to espouse it was not apparent. He looked toward the Harper as if he could trust this mans opinion above the others.
You saw the Thread devoured by these grubs?
The Harper nodded.
And that was five days ago?
The Harper confirmed this.
A shudder rippled the cloth of the Masterfarmers tunic. He looked down at the tub with the reluctance of fear. Stepping forward resolutely, he peered again at the young fellis tree. Inhaling and holding that deep breath, he poised one gnarled hand for a moment before plunging it into the dirt. His eyes were closed. He brought up a moist handful of earth and, opening his eyes, turned the glob over, exposing a cluster of wriggling grubs. His eyes widened and, with an exclamation of disgust, he flung the dirt from him as if hed been burned. The grubs writhed impotently against the stone floor.
Whats the matter? There cant be Thread!
Those are parasites! Andemon replied, glaring at Flar, badly disillusioned and angry. Weve been trying to rid the southern parts of this peninsula of these larvae for centuries. He grimaced with distaste as he watched Flar carefully pick up the grubs and deposit them back into the nearest tub. Theyre as pernicious and indestructible as Igen sandworms and not half as useful Why, let them get into a field and every plant begins to droop and die.
Theres not an unhealthy plant here, Flar protested, gesturing at the burgeoning growths all around.
Andemon stared at him. Flar moved, grabbing a handful of soil from each tub as he circled, showing the grubs as proof.
Its impossible, Andemon insisted, the shadow of his earlier fear returning.
Dont you recall, Flar, Lessa said, when we first brought the grubs here, the plants did seem to droop?
They recovered. All they needed was water!
They couldnt. Andemon forgot his revulsion enough to dig into another tub as if to prove to himself that Flar was wrong. Therere no grubs in this one! he said in triumph.
Thats never had any. I used it to check the others. And I must say, the plants dont look as green or healthy as the other tubs.
Andemon stared around. Those grubs are pests. Weve been trying to rid ourselves of them for hundreds of Turns.
Then I suspect, good Master Andemon, Flar said with a gentle, rueful smile, that farmers have been working against Perns best interests.
The Masterfarmer exploded into indignant denials of that charge. It took all Robintons diplomacy to calm him down long enough for Flar to explain.
And you mean to tell me that those larvae, those grubs, were developed and spread on purpose? Andemon demanded of the Harper who was the only one in the room he seemed inclined to trust now. They were meant to spread, bred by the same ancestors who bred the dragons?