“Preferably on the same day to all distribution points.” Capiam carefully unfolded a copy of his plan. He peered at her from under his brows, watching her reactions as he handed her the document. “Mass vaccination is the only way to stop the plague. It would require a tremendous effort. My halls have already started to accumu-late human vaccine. To be candid, my Hall had not quite evaluated the runner susceptibility. Between Tirone’s reports and Desdra’s exhaustive investigations, we can find no other way than zoonosis for the plague to have spread so rapidly and so far. We now know that
244 Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
the only way to prevent a recurrence of this viral influence is to stop it within the next few days or endure a second wave.”
Moreta shuddered with dread. She studied his plan.
“Of course,” he added, tipping the edge of the parchment, “the scheme depends first on the feasibility of the runner vaccine and the cooperation of the Weyrs to circulate both.”
“Have you approached any of the other Weyrs yet?”
“I needed an answer to my question on runner vaccine and you are the nearest authority.” He grinned at her.
“Surely Lord Tolocamp”
“I’m leaving Lord Tolocamp to Master Tirone.” There was considerable acrimony in the healer’s voice. “And such a question as this to someone who can give me a rational answer. Not only have I an answer, I have a source.”
“That is also an assumption”
“Which I will confirm as soon as you can also assure me that the Weyrs can assist us in delivering the vaccines. One of my journeymen is a wizard at figuring out what he calls time-and-motion processes. If we could rely on a minimum of six riders from each Weyr to cover their traditional regions, in a scheduled roster of stops to the various halls, holds, and Weyrs, that would be sufficient.”
Moreta was doing some calculations of her own. “Not unless the riders” She caught herself and gulped in astonishment. In Capiam’s broadening grin she had an unexpected answer.
“I’ve been doing rather a lot of reading in the Archives, Moreta.” Capiam sounded more pleased than apologetic for the shock he had
given her.
“How did that bit of information come to be in the Healer Archives?” she demanded, so infuriated that Orlith came fully alert, claws hooking protectively about the queen egg.
“Why shouldn’t it be?” Capiam asked with deceptive mildness. “After all, my Craft bred the trait into the dragons. Can they really go from one time to another?” he asked wistfully.
“Yes,” she finally replied, as austerely as she could. “But it’s not encouraged at all!” She thought of K’lon, knew very well how often the blue rider had been at the Heafer Hall, and wondered about such convenient Records. On the other hand, Capiam’s Craft had been credited with many incredible feats and displays of skill, secrets forgotten by disuse. She chided herself for doubting the integrity of
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern 245
Master Capiam, especially at such a critical hour when any strategy that might restore the continent to balance might be condoned. “Capiam, traveling in time produces paradoxes that can be very dangerous.”
“That’s why I suggested the progressive delivery so there is no overlapping.” The eagerness in his manner was disarming.
“There might be some trouble convincing M’tani of Telgar.”
“Yes, I’d heard of his disaffection. I also know that F’gal of Ista is very ill of a kidney chill and L’bol of severe depressionswhich is why I specify the minimum number of riders the effort would require. I don’t know how the continent would have survived without all the assistance the dragonriders have given hall and hold up to this point.”
“You have enough vaccine for people?”
“We will have. Master Tirone is adroitly broaching the subject to hall and hold.”
“A wise precaution.”
Capiam heaved a sigh. “So, what must be ascertained now is whether or not Lord Alessan has successfully produced the animal vaccine.”
Go to Ruatha with them, Orlith said. After a flicker of a pause, she added, Holth agrees.
Illogically, Moreta resisted that gratuitous permissionand wondered why. She had a perfectly natural wish to see the results of Alessan’s experiment, not necessarily Alessan. Was she resisting the attraction she felt for him? She was not normally bothered by indecision.