Chalkin shrugged. I don’t perceive a need to waste time and effort..
And money murmured the original heckler.
Precisely. Marks are hard enough to come by to waste them on the
off-chance…
OFF-CHANCE?” Tashvi erupted out of his chair. You’ll have a revolt on
your hands.
I doubt that,’ Chalkin said with a sly smile.
Because you haven’t bloody seen fit to warn your holders?” Tashvi
demanded.
Lord Telgar,’ Paulin said repressively, I’m Chair.” He turned back to
Chalkin. If the rest of us, however misguidedly, do believe in the
fore warnings – backed by irrefutable astronomical evidence of an
imminent Pass – how can you deny them?” Chalkin’s grin was patronizing.
A space-borne organism?
That drops on a large planet and eats everything it touches?
Why wasn’t Pern totally destroyed during previous visitations?
Why is it every two hundred years? How come the Exploration Team which
did a survey of the planet before it was released to our ancestors to
colonize . . . how come they didn’t see any evidence? Ah, no,’
Chalkin said, flicking the notion away from him with his be ringed hands,
ridiculous!” My calculations were confirmed by – Clisser said, feeling
that he was being maligned.
There was evidence of Threadfall,’ Tashvi said, bouncing once more to
his feet. I’ve read the report. There were hundreds of circles where
vegetation was just starting to grow…
Inconclusive,’ Chalkin said with another flap of a hand.
Could have been caused by one of the many fungus growths.
Well then, when this inconclusive evidence comes dropping out of the
skies onto your Hold, don’t bother us,’ Bastom said.
Or come crying to my Hold for help, added Bridgely, completely
disgusted by Chalkin’s attitude.
You may be sure of that,’ Chalkin said and, with a mocking bow to
Paulin, he left the Hall with no further word.
What are we going to do about him?” Bridgely asked, because sure as
night follows day, he will come running for aid to Franco and me.
There is provision in the Charter,’ Paulin began.
Jamson of the High Reaches stared with wide and disbelieving eyes at
Paulin.
Only if he believes in the Charter . . . Bastom said.
Oh, Chalkin believes in the Charter all right,’ Paulin said
sardonically. The patent conferring the title of “Lord Holder” on the
original major northern Stakeholders is what gives his line the right to
Hold. And he’s already used the Charter to substantiate his autonomous
position. I wonder if he also knows the penalty for failing to prepare
his Hold. That constitutes a major breach of the trust .
Who trusts Chalkin?” Jamson put in.
the trust which holders rest in the Lord of their Hold in return for
their labour,’ finished Paulin.
Ha!” said Bridgely. I don’t think much of his holders either.
Useless lot on the whole. Most of em kicked out of other holds for
poor management or plain laziness.” Bitra’s badly managed, too.
Generally we have to return a full half of his tithings,’ M’shall said.
Half the grain is mouldy and timber unseasoned, hides improperly cured
and often rancid. It’s a struggle every quarter to receive decent
supplies from him.
Really?” Paulin asked, jotting down notes. I hadn’t realized he
shorted you on tithes.” M’Shall shrugged. Why should you know? It’s
our problem. We keep at him. We’ll have to keep at him over this, too,
you know. Can’t let him away with a total disregard for the upcoming
emergency. Not every holder in Bitra’s useless, Bridgely.” Bridgely
shrugged. Good apples in every basket as well as bad. But I’d really
hate to have to cope with the problem come springtime and Threadfalls.
Benden’s too near Bitra for my peace of mind.” So what is the penalty
for what Chalkin’s doing? Or, rather not doing?” Franco asked.
Impeachment,’ Paulin said flatly.
Impeachment!” Jamson was aghast. I didn’t know Article Fourteen,
Jamson,’ said Paulin, “Dereliction of Duty by Lord Holder”.
Can you give me a print-out on that, Clisser? Perhaps we all should
have our memory refreshed on that point.
Certainly,’ and the Head of the College made a note in his folder. In
your hands tomorrow.
So your system’s still working?” Tashvi asked.