Dragonriders of Pern 25 - Dragon's Fire by McCaffrey Anne & McCaffrey Todd J

Author:McCaffrey, Anne & McCaffrey, Todd J. [McCaffrey, Anne & McCaffrey, Todd J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pern (Imaginary place), Epic, Fantasy, Dragons, Space Opera, Fiction, Science Fiction, Adventure, Life on Other Planets, Fantasy Fiction; American, Space Colonies, General
ISBN: 9780345480293
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2007-11-27T00:00:00+00:00

Three days later, after Masterminer Britell, his assistant, Master Jannik, and Harper Zist had conducted an extensive investigation, the whole camp was summoned to the great room in Natalon's house.

Cristov was familiar with the room; he had taken classes from Harper Zist there. The room was arranged as it usually was when Harper Zist was teaching, with one small table placed at one end and the remaining tables arranged in two long rows perpendicular to it.

Cristov and his mother, Dara, sat near the end of their table, closest to the small table where Zist, Britell, and Jannik sat.

When everyone was seated, Masterminer Britell rose. "We have completed our investigation," he told the room. "And I have communicated my findings to Lord Holder Fenner."

A ripple of surprise spread through the room as people wondered why the Masterminer had needed to communicate with Crom's Lord Holder.

Britell gestured to a group of men standing in the doorway and silence fell as Tarik marched into the room, flanked by two guards.

"Miner Tarik," Britell said to him. "I have heard evidence that you did purposely steal the wood intended to shore up your mine-shaft and that you did purposely mine the pillars of your shaft. Will you explain what you did with the wood and the coal?"

"Who said I did any such thing?" Tarik demanded, seeking out Natalon among the crowd and glaring at him. "It's all lies--"

"Among others, miners Panit and Kerdal," Master Zist's voice cut across Tarik's outburst.

A vein bulged in Tarik's forehead as he tried to jump out of the grasp of his guards, lunging toward Panit and Kerdal.

"You're dead!" he shouted to them, struggling against his guards. "Dead!"

"Silence," Zist said, his voice not loud but commanding.

Tarik fell silent, still glowering at Panit and Kerdal.

"Would you answer our question?" Britell said.

Tarik looked nervously around the room. He opened his mouth to speak but decided against it, shaking his head.

"Very well," Britell said. "Miner Tarik, it is our conclusion that your actions did severely endanger the safety of the mine and directly caused the death of two miners. Further, it is our conclusion that you took your actions repeatedly, in full knowledge of the dangers you were creating and against the directions of Camp Natalon's leader. Your actions were taken, we believe, for your own gain."

Beside him, Cristov could see his mother shaking as silent tears wracked her body.

"Beyond that, when the mine did collapse as a result of your negligence, you purposely refused to allow any rescue attempts to the extent that you struck a child unconscious to prevent him from attempting a rescue," Britell continued, his voice harsh with repressed rage. "There is also some question as to whether your orders to pump air into the mine after the shaft's collapse were not an attempt on your part to ensure that there would be no survivors."

"That's not so," Tarik protested feebly. He raised his head to look Masterminer Britell in the eyes. "I didn't know, I swear!"

Britell glanced down to Masters Zist and Jannik.

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