McCaffrey, Anne - Pern 13 by McCaffrey Anne

Author:McCaffrey, Anne
Language: eng
Format: epub

TheDolphinsofPern

“Ohhhh!” T’lion buried his head in his hands again, shaking it from side to side. “He was like my brother …”

“Now, T’lion, enough of this guilt. It was an unfortunate concatenation of circumstances. However, I may say unreservedly that Readis is delighted. He finds it no chore to have to associate with dolphins daily. I heard him tell his mother that he walks in water better than he can on land!”

T’lion gave a rueful laugh. “He would, wouldn’t he? He’s such a brave lad.”

“He’ll be fine. You will be, too.”

Chapter Nine

Over the next four Turns, while Readis earnestly exercised his legs in the warm waters of Paradise Head, momentous events unfolded at Landing, Benden Weyr, Cove Hold and Fort Hold. With advice and counsel from Aivas, Weyrs, Halls and Holds combined their efforts with the technology available from Aivas and altered the orbit of the Red Star so that it would never again come close enough to Pern to threaten the planet with Threadfall. On the day that the explosion of the anti-matter engines of the three colony ships was viewed through distance lenses, everyone on Pern celebrated the end of Thread tyranny. Only Thread did not stop falling, a demonstrable fact which confused many, including Readis.

“Then why did you celebrate?” he asked his father, four days later when Thread fell across Paradise River Hold.

“Because Thread will end - this is the last Pass.”

“It is? Harper says that we’ve had it for centuries and every time we think it’s going to stop - in a long Interval - it comes back anyhow.”

Jayge grinned at his son, tall for his eleven Turns, and tried not to glance down at the wasted right leg which cocked on tiptoe beside the uninjured left foot. He ruffled Readis’ curly hair and thought instead that it was unfair for the boys in the family to have the curls while the two girls had straight hair.

“The dragonriders have gone to the Red Star and steered it away from getting close enough to bring Thread to Pern ever again.”

“How could they move a star?” Readis demanded. “It’s too big, even for dragons.”

“They used the engines from the Dawn Sisters. They pulled the Star out of an orbit that brings it too close to Pern Do you understand what I mean?”

“Sure. Harper’s told us all about our star system. He put a coconut down for the sun and then walked all the way to the edge of the river to put down a tiny pebble for Pern.” Readis giggled. “He said that’s the re-la-tive distances involved.” Patently Readis could only repeat what he had been told and did not quite comprehend the subtleties of the explanation. “Pern isn’t as small as that pebble. I know that!”

“You’ll understand better as you grow up.”

“Everyone’s always saying that,” Readis replied disgustedly.

“You’ll find it’s true,” Jayge said, hearing an echo of his own boyish voice. “However, Boskoney has advised us to enroll you in the Landing school.”

Chapter Ninespan

111

TheDolphinsofPern

“Huh? And leave Paradise?” Readis was appalled at the very thought.

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