sure that the device worked, but technically, Clisser thought it would.
Kalvi was the shortest, he was tallest, M’shall was a half-head shorter,
and Jemmy between the Weyrleader and Kalvi. If all could see the Red
Planet in the Eye, the device would be proven.
Well, it would really be proven in another two hundred and fifty years
or so with the Third Pass!
But this moment was exciting. He slapped his body with his arms, trying
to warm himself. His feet, despite the extra lining, were frozen; he
could barely feel his toes, and his breath was so visible he worried
that it might cloud his chance to see the phenomenon.
Here it comes,’ said Kalvi, though Clisser could see nothing in the
crepuscular dawn light. Kalvi was looking at his instrument, not the
sky.
A tip of red appeared just over the bottom of the Eye a breath or two
later. A redness that seemed to pulsate. It wasn’t a very large planet
– from this distance, it wouldn’t be, Clisser thought, though they had
the measurements of it from the Yokohama observations. It was
approximately the same size as Earth’s old sister, Venus. And about as
hospitable.
Somehow, Clisser thought – and told himself to breathe as he watched,
the wanderer managed to look baleful in its redness. Hadn’t one of the
other Sol satellites been called the red planet’? Oh, yes, Mars.
Suitable, too, since it had been named after a war god.
And equally a suitable colour for a planet that was about to wreak havoc
on us. How could such an avaricious organism develop on a planet that
spent most of its orbit too far away from Rubkat’s warmth to generate
any life form? Of course, he was aware that very odd Life’ forms had
been found by the early space explorers. Who had blundered into the
Nathi, to name another vicious species?
But the reports on this mycorrhizoid gave it no intelligence whatsoever.
A menace without malice. Clisser sighed. Well, that was some
consolation: it didn’t really mean to eat everything in sight, people,
animals, plants, trees; but that was all it could do.
Which was more than enough, Clissser thought grimly, remembering the
visuals of recorded incidents. That’s another thing he ought to have
done – a graphic record – even a still picture would make vividly plain
how devastating Thread could be. lantine’s sketches done at the Bitran
borders had impressed the Teacher immensely. Though it was a shame to
waste lantine’s talents on a cop)’ job. Anyone could copy; few could
originate.
Meanwhile, the red edge crept up over the Rim of Benden Weyr.
THAT’S IT!” Kalvi cried. He was lying on his stomach, the iron circle
in his hands. I got it. Cement it in place now. Quickly.
You there at the Finger Rock. Eyeball the phenomenon. All of you
should see it bracketed by this circle.” The viewers had lined
themselves up and each took a turn even as Kalvi raced back to grab a
look from this vantage point.
Yup, that’ll do it. You got that solidly in place? Good,’ and the
energetic engineer turned to M’shall. As you love your dragon, don’t
let anyone or anything touch that iron rim. I’ve used a fast-drying
cement, but even a fraction out of alignment and we’ve lost it.”
No-one’ll be up here after we leave,’ M’shall promised, eyeing the
metal circle nervously. For all he knew that the ring was iron, it
looked fragile sitting there, the Red Planet slowly rising above it.
But that’s going to be replaced, isn’t it? With stone?” It is, and
don’t worry about us messing up the alignment later. We won’t,’ Kaivi
said, blithely confident, rubbing his hands together and grinning with
success. Now, we’ve got some more dawns to meet.” Yes, surely, but
take time for breakfast.” Ha! No time to pamper ourselves. But I was
indeed grateful for the klah.” Kalvi was gathering up his equpment,
including five more iron circles, and gesturing to his crew to hurry up.
Not with five more stops to make this morning. The things I talk
myself into!” He looked around now in the semi-dark of false dawn.