“That you have urgent need of Makfar’s advice.” Oklina grinned.
“Exactly.” He gave her an affectionate pat on the shoulder. “And inform our other brothers that security is required for the Hold proper.”
By the time Alessan returned to the forecourt, Norman had arrived with a number of Ruathan holders. Alessan told them to find short swords and ride in pairs along the main roads to turn back travelers on whatever pretext came to mind. The holders were ordered to use force where persuasion failed. His brothers, in varying stages of discontent, reported to him. He dispatched them to get
Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern 89
arms and assist the messengers, if need be, but to be sure that no one else left the Hold. Just then Lord Tolocamp bustled out of the Hall. He looked full of arguments.
“Alessan, now I’m not sure that all this fuss is absolutely necessary”
Echoing up from the south, the message drums of River Hold could be heard plainly. As Alessan counted the double-urgent salutation and heard the healer code as originator, he took a moment’s pleasure in the astonishment on Tolocamp’s face, but lost it as the meat of the message boomed out. Those who could not understand the code caught the fear generated by those who did. Drums were a fine method of communication but too bloody public, Alessan thought savagely.
Epidemic disease, the drums rolled, spreading rapidly across continent from Igen, Keroon, Telgar, Ista. Highly infectious. Highly contagious. Two to four days’ incubation. Headache. Fever. Cough. Prevent secondary infection. Fatalities high. Medicate symptoms. Isolate victims. Quarantine effective immediately. Runnerbeasts highly susceptible. Repeat Epidemic warning. No travel permitted. Congregating discouraged. Capiam.
The final roll commanded the pass-on of the message.
“But there’s been a Gather here!” Tolocamp exclaimed fatuously. “No one’s sick but a handful of runners. And they haven’t been at Igen or Keroon, or anywhere!” Tolocamp glared at Alessan as if the alarm was somehow at his instigation.
“Vander’s sick and two of his handlers”
“Too much to drink,” Tolocamp asserted. “It can’t be the same thing. Capiam just says the illness is spreading, not that it’s here in Ruatha.”
“When the Masterhealer of Pern calls a quarantine,” Alessan said in a soft angry voice, “it is my duty, and yours, Lord Tolocamp, to respect his authority!” Alessan didn’t realize that he sounded very much like his sire at that moment, but Tolocamp was silenced.
That was all the time they had to speak for those who had understood the drum message were now searching for the two Lords Holder.
“What’s Capiam talking about?”
“We can’t be quarantined! I’ve got to get back to my hold.”
“I left stock near to birthing …”
90 Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
“My wife stayed at the cot with our babies …”
Tolocamp rallied, standing stolidly by Alessan’s side, confirming the dreadful message and Capiam’s right to broadcast a quarantine restriction.
“Master Capiam is not an alarmist!” “We’ll have further details once that message has passed.” “This is just a precaution.” “Yes, a runnerbeast did die yesterday.” “Master Scand will tell us more.” “No, no one may be permitted to leave. Might endanger your own hold and spread illness further.” “A few days is not too much for health’s sake.”
Alessan answered almost by rote, letting the first panic roll over his head. He had already taken the first steps toward recalling people and to avert a mass exodus. He and Tolocamp did their best to quiet apprehension. Alessan rapidly calculated how much food he had in convenient storage. The Gatherers would soon exhaust their travel rations. Assuming some people might catch Vander’s illnessif it was Capiam’s epidemic, would it be better to house them in the Hall? Or clear one of the beastholds? The Hold’s infirmary could accommodate no more than twenty and that with crowding. Four dead animals, another dying, and Norman said nineteen more were coughing? Twenty-four animals out of a hundred twenty-two in twenty-four hours? The emergency had nothing to do with what he had been trained to meet. Nothing to do with the immemorial evil that ravaged Pern. As impartially as Thread, this new and equally insidious menace would blight the inhabitants as Thread could devastate the land. “Fatalities high,” the message had said. Were there no dragons to combat disease? Was this sort of disaster provided for in the Hold Records his father had always referred to?