Thats what we believe, Robinton said. Oh, I can appreciate your incredulity. I had to sleep on the notion for several nights. However, if we check the Records, we find that, while there is no mention that dragonmen will attack the Red Star and clear it of Thread, there is the strong, recurring belief that Thread will one day not be the menace it is now. Flar is reasonably …
Not reasonably, Robinton; completely sure, Flar interrupted. Ntons been going back to Southern jumping between time, as far back as seven Turns, to check on Threadfalls in the southern continent. Wherever hes probed, therere grubs in the soil which rise when Thread falls and devour it.
Thats why there have never been any burrows in Southern
The land itself is inimical to Thread.
In the silence, Andemon stared at the tips of his muddy boots.
In the Farmercrafthall Records, they mention specifically that we are to watch for these grubs. He lifted troubled eyes to the others. We always have. It was our plain duty. Plants wither wherever grub appears. He shrugged in helpless confusion. Weve always rooted them out, destroyed the larval sacks with and he sighed, flame and angenothree. Thats the only way to stop the infestations.
Watch for the grubs, the Records say, Andemon repeated and then suddenly his shoulders began to shake, his whole torso became involved. Lessa caught Flars eyes, concerned, for the man. But he was laughing, if only at the cruel irony. Watch for the grubs, the Records say. They do not, they do not say destroy the grubs. They say most emphatically watch for the grubs. So we watched. Aye, we have watched.
The Harper extended the wine bottle to Andemon.
Thats a help, Harper. My thanks, Andemon said, wiping his lips with the back of one hand after a long pull at the bottle.
So someone forgot to mention why you were to watch the grubs, Andemon, Flar said, his eyes compassionate for the mans distress. If only Sogranyd been as reasonable. Once, so many men must have known why you were to watch for the grubs, they didnt see a need for further implicit instructions. Then the Holds started to grow and people drifted apart. Records got lost or destroyed, men died before theyd passed on the vital knowledge they possessed. He looked around at the tubs. Maybe they developed those grubs right here in Benden Weyr. Maybe thats the meaning of the diagram on the wall. Theres so much that has been lost.
Which will never be lost again if the Harpercraft has any influence, said Robinton. If all men, Hold, Craft, Weyr have full access to every skin he held up his hand as Andemon started to protest, well, weve better than skin to keep Records on. Bendarek now has a reliable, tough sheet of his wood pulp that holds ink, stacks neatly and is impervious to anything except fire. We can combine knowledge and disseminate it.
Andemon looked at the Harper, his eyes puzzled. Master Robinton, there are some matters within a Craft that must remain secret or …
Or we lose a world to the Thread, is that it, Andemon? Man, if the truth about those grubs hadnt been treated like a Craft secret, wed have been hundreds of Turns free of Thread by now.
Andemon gasped suddenly, staring at Flar. And dragonmen we wouldnt need dragonmen?
Well, if men kept to their Holds during Threadfall, and grubs devoured what fell to the ground, no, you wouldnt need dragonmen, Flar replied with complete composure.
But dragonmen are su supposed to fight Thread the Farmer was stuttering with dismay.
Oh, well be fighting Thread for a while yet, I assure you. Were not in any immediate danger of unemployment. Theres a lot to be done. For instance, how long before an entire continent can be seeded with grubs?
Andemon opened and closed his mouth futilely. Robinton indicated the bottle in his hand, pantomimed a long swig. Dazedly the Farmer complied. I dont know. I just dont know. Why, for Turn upon Turn, weve watched for those grubs exterminating them, razing an entire field if it got infected. Springs when the larval sacks break and wed be … He sat down suddenly, shaking his head from side to side.