the Fort ground crews how to use and service the HNO3 cylinders, taking
his audience from assembly of the parts and then a quick rundown of
common problems likely to be encountered in the field, Every small
holder within Fort’s authority was present; many had brought their elder
children. All had come on foot, their own or on horseback. Fort Weyr,
like the other five, was beginning to restrict dragon rides.
Lord Paulin understood and approved.
We’ve had it far too easy, using the dragons the way our ancestors
would have used the sleds and airborne vehicles, he was heard to say
when one of his holders complained that he had been denied his right to
a dragon ride We haven’t been breeding horses just to run races, you
know. And the dragon riders have been far too accommodating.
Do us all good to walk or ride. You have, of course, extended your
beast holds to shelter all your livestock?” There had been moaning over
that necessity, too, with complaints that the engineers should really
have spent more time trying to replicate the marvellous rock-cutting
equipment with which their ancestors had wrested living quarters out of
cliff-sides.
Kalvi had come in for considerable harangue over that, which he shrugged
off.
We have a list of priorities: that’s not one. Nor could be.
We still have two sleds in the north, but no power to run em.
Never did find out what they used,’ he said. No way of duplicating
such power packs either, or I’m sure our ancestors would have. Otherwise
why did they engineer the dragons?
Anyway, renewable resources make more sense than erudite or exotic
imports.” When the main lecture was concluded, everyone was told to
reassemble after the noon meal for target practice. This was vastly
more interesting than having to listen to Kalvi waffle on about how to
adjust the wands of the HNO3
throwers to give a long, narrow tongue of fire or a broader, shorter
flame. Or how to clear the nozzle of clogged matter.
You’ve got almost as much variation in flame as a dragon has…” Kalvi
said as he slung the tanks to his back, his voice slightly muffled by
his safety gear. You, there, the hard hat has a purpose.
Put it on your head! Lower the face screen!” The offender immediately
complied, Kalvi scowling at him.
The effective range of this equipment is six me tres on the narrowest
setting, two on the broader. You wouldn’t want it to get closer to
you…” He was fiddling with his wand. Damn thing’s stubborn He took
out a screwdriver and made a slight adjustment.
ALWAYS . . . he said loudly and firmly as he held the wand away from
his body, keep the nozzle of the wand pointed away from YOU and anyone
in your immediate vicinity. We’re flaming Thread, not folks.
NEVER . . . never . . . engage the flow of the two gases without
looking in what direction the wand is pointing. You can also burn,
scorch, sear things without meaning to. CAN’T YOU, Laland?” he said,
aiming his remark at one of his students.
The man grinned and shifted his feet nervously, looking anywhere but at
his Master.
Now, signal the topside crews, will you, Paulin?” said Kalvi, setting
himself firmly on both feet and aiming the wand up.
Paulin waved a red kerchief and suddenly a tangle of something’
catapulted off the cliff, startling everyone in the crowd behind Kalvi.
Those with wands raised them defensively and others gasped as the tangle
separated into long silver strands – some fine, some thick and falling
at slightly different rates. As soon as they were within range, Kalvi
activated his flame-thrower.
There was a brief second when the fire seemed to pause on the ends of
the launched strands before the flame raced along the material and
consumed it so that only bits of smoking char reached the ground . . .
and the rock that had been tied to the leading edge. There was a roar
of pprova and great applause.
Not bad,’ Paulin said, grinning as he noted the new alertness in the
crowd.
Well, we tried for the effect we just delivered,’ said Kalvi, turning