The Flying Sorcerers by David Gerrold & Larry Niven

Author:David Gerrold & Larry Niven [Gerrold, David & Niven, Larry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781932100235
Google: G9I5mQEACAAJ
Publisher: BenBella Books
Published: 2004-03-10T20:00:00+00:00

“But it would work?’

“Yes,” I admitted. “It would work. You will just have to replace them more often.”

“How often?” asked Lesta

“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I haven’t had a chance yet to see how fast they wear.”

“Well, give me an idea-how long would a set of wet bone loomteeth last?”

“I can’t even give you an idea. It’s a totally new situation for me. I’ll guess four hands of days, maybe more, maybe less-how’s that?”

Lesta curled his upper lip in disgust. Obviously he didn’t think it was good enough. But Purple said, “That’s fine, Lant, that’s fine.” He looked at his skin of figuring. “Even three hands of days per set would be fine.”

“Good,” I said. Already I was eager to start training apprentices.

“Then I guess that settles everything, doesn’t it?” asked Gortik.

“No,” said a voice. Lesta’s.

We all looked at him.

“There’s still one question that hasn’t been answered-where will the thread come from?”

“Oh, yes,” said Purple. “The thread. I should think the answer would be obvious to you by now.”

It wasn’t. We all shook our heads.

“There is a large untapped source of labor already right here in our midst,” said Purple.

We looked around at each other curiously. What was he talking about?

“I’m referring, of course, to the women.”

“The women!” It was a shout in unison from more than a hundred horrified throats.

All was uproar. Men were standing, shaking their fists, cursing and spitting. Not even a half dozen fireballs from Shoogar could quiet them. It wasn’t until Shoogar threatened to call down Elcin himself that the noise began to subside.

“Let me explain! Let me explain!” Purple was saying. Before anyone else could interrupt, he went on. “Listen, there is nothing sacred about spinning-even old Lesta admits it. The only reason you use boy apprentices to do it is that there is no weaving for them to do. Well, now that there is weaving for them to do, they don’t have to spin any more. The success of this whole plan depends on using the women for spinning-and your apprentice weavers can move up to being novices. Your novices can be promoted to journeymen. Your journeymen will all become team leaders.”

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