McCaffrey, Anne - Pern 18 by McCaffrey Anne

Author:McCaffrey, Anne
Language: eng
Format: epub

BeginningwiththeclassicDragonridersofPern®,AnneMcCaffreyhascreatedacomplex,endlesslyfascinatingworldunitinghu CHAPTER VII

Watch-wher, watch-wher in the mine,

Help save life, yours and mine,

Guide us in the darkest night,

With your keen unfailing sight.

B e tween only lasts as long as it takes to cough three times," M'tal told the others as he helped them up onto bronze Gaminth's back.

"Cough three times?" Natalon repeated. He coughed experimentally three times. "Like that?"

Kindan was glad to hear the Miner ask the question; he had been too afraid to ask it himself.

"Just like that," M'tal reassured him.

"It won't take any longer this time?" Master Zist asked with a strange look in his eyes.

M'tal shook his head warily. "No, not longer. We'll be there in time."

"I don't see how," Natalon said sourly.

"Oh," M'tal replied airily, grinning at Master Zist, "dragons are faster than you think."

When they were all settled on Gaminth's neck, M'tal made one last check of his passengers and called out to his dragon, "Let's fly, Gaminth."

The great bronze jumped into the air, swooped down toward the Camp, and with one beat of his wings soared high.

96

BeginningwiththeclassicDragonridersofPern®,AnneMcCaffreyhascreatedacomplex,endlesslyfascinatingworldunitinghu The dragon slowly flew higher. Master Zist knew that Gaminth was capable of much quicker ascents — in their youth, M'tal had been proud to illustrate his dragon's capabilities to those who were properly appreciative — so he guessed that the bronze rider was making this slow climb only to avoid upsetting his more nervous passengers. A quick glance assured him that Kindan, who was wide-eyed with an ear-to-ear grin, would never be considered a nervous passenger.

Natalon, however, was quite pale.

M'tal turned back to them again. "We're ready to go between. Are you ready?"

"I still don't see how we can get there in time, my Lord," Natalon said, with only the slightest hint of nervousness.

M'tal grinned at him. "Trust me, we'll be on time," he answered. "You might find the effects a bit more draining than you'd think, but that's the price of the journey, as it were."

Natalon swallowed hard and nodded uncertainly.

M'tal took this for acceptance. "Good," he said. He turned to Zist and Kindan. "All ready?" When they nodded, he instructed them, "Take three deep breaths and hold the third one. Ready? One ... two ... three..."

And suddenly it was all darkness around them. Kindan felt a thrill of terror and excitement as he realized he could feel nothing but the press of the men before and behind him and the neck of the dragon beneath him.

M'tal's words came back to him: Between only lasts as long as it takes to cough three times. Kindan started coughing.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. He started to get worried.

We are almost there, a soundless voice said to him. Kindan was so surprised that he didn't react at all.

And then there was light. Or rather, lights. It was dark outside, as compared to the midday sun they'd left. Kindan could see a few twinkles spiraling toward them and realized with a start that they must be gliding steeply down to the ground. Unable to contain himself, he let out a whoop of pure joy.

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