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o deflect etary fragments or asteroids？〃
F'lessan gave the Star Master a long speculative look； amusement sparkling in his gray eyes。 He caught a similar twinkle in Lytol's hooded gaze。 If he had Lytol on his side； his preposterous notion might just have a chance。
〃Togo's records showed the Fireball on an approach orbit months ago。 If it had been moved then； by just a slight tap； if I can put it that way；〃 and F'lessan could no longer suppress a broad grin； 〃the Fireball would not have impacted。 Maybe it might not even have grazed the surface but trundled…〃
He chuckled as he rotated his hand； index finger circling expressively。 〃…back out into space。〃
D'ram； Erragon； and Wansor gawked at him。 Lytol's lips formed a smile of approval； and Tai stifled laughter at his description。
F'lessan went on。 〃I'm not saying that we can perfect this ability to have a significant effect on what's in our skies。 But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try。〃
He looked around； satisfied by the thoughtful expressions。 Lytol was nodding with prehension。 F'lessan leaned urgently forward across the table； the look in his eyes challenging them all。
〃We already know that dragons can go into space without harm。 They can manage a journey of fifteen minutes' duration before they incur oxygen debt。 We lifted massive engines from three spaceships。 We planted them on a dead world。 The Red Star was much farther away from Pern than anything in the asteroid belt； or among the minor planets。 What's to say we can't do more in our own space？ We still have the helmets； suits； and the oxygen equipment。 I think we should keep them in good condition。 I think dragons should practice telekinesis and control their use of it。
〃And another thing；〃 he said； still noting that both D'ram and Erragon were having some difficulty in absorbing his remarks； 〃the Ancients may have had sleds。 We have dragons。 We don't have to waste time； or reinvent a fuel； to lift dragons from the surface of this planet。 If a dragon knows where he's to go。。。〃 He waved his hand to let imagination finish the sentence。
〃Just a minute； F'lessan；〃 Erragon began； his eyes wide with confusion； 〃we can't afford to risk dragons。。。〃
〃They're risked every time they go into a Fall；〃 Lytol said； having no difficulty with F'lessan's suggestion。
F'lessan nodded； his smile still in place。 〃We have the Yoko in its permanent orbit。 It has the southern array of weather stations reporting to it。 I often wondered why there wasn't a northern one。〃
〃Perhaps because the southern continent was chosen； having the larger landmass and more temperate weather；〃 Lytol suggested。
Erragon held up one hand。 〃Now don't tell me there are plans in Aivas records for weather satellites。〃
〃There are；〃 Lytol said。
〃I was thinking of them more as links between the observatories；〃 F'lessan put in； 〃which you know we'll need if we're to do a proper job of sky…watching。〃
With an exclamation of confused aggravation； Erragon rocked back on his chair； looking from Lytol to F'lessan to Tai； hoping for more explanation。
〃Doesn't young Jaxom boast that his Ruth always knows where and when he is？〃 Wansor asked； twiddling his fingers as the tension in the room increased。
〃Even in space？〃 Erragon's baritone voice rose to tenor levels in surprise。
〃Well； not today； or even by the time the Western Telescope is lit；〃 F'lessan said； 〃but we evidently have a way of putting objects up！〃 He pointed skyward。 〃Of course； it will take practice。 Maybe；〃 and he threw this out with a gleam of mischief in his eyes； 〃there is a prosaic use for this draconic ability…apart from defending themselves against felines。〃
〃May we never have to do that again！〃 Tai said fervently。 Outside； in the cove； three dragons echoed the sentiment。
〃Meanwhile；〃 F'lessan said briskly； gathering up the reports and prints that Erragon wanted them to study； 〃we have much to occupy us。 Studying for our Mastery；〃 and he gave Tai a sly glance； 〃and altering our ways。 We must do as much as we can to make Pern fair up to our means； to make it the world our Ancestors hoped to create。〃
He felt his chest fill with determination to succeed in his new tasks。 He could feel fears ing to his eyes as he held out his hand to Tai。 She rose； inclining her body toward him； her eyes shining； too。 He saw Lytol's face light up so that he seemed younger and more vital than ever。 D'ram and Erragon got to their feet； while Master Wansor beamed benignly around the table。
The dragons continued to bugle and； m his head； F'lessan was certain that their call reverberated through every Weyr on the planet。 He had the dragons' support。
〃Whatever we have to do； we shall；〃 he said in a choked voice 〃There will always be dragons in the skies of Pern！〃
THE PHYSICS OF PERN
Anne McCaffrey
Did Anne McCaffrey plan the physics of Pern or did it develop along the way？ Here's her response：
The Physics of Pern…ah； yes； well； they have been developed by Dr。 Jack Cohen of Warwick University in Dragonsdawn and All the Weyrs of Pern。 They are basically Newtonian physics and/or biology in which Jack holds both a Ph。D and a D。Sc。 He is also a generalist； and was able to correct some of my basic errors； which were legion。 I satisfied the science requirement at Radcliffe by taking cartography。 Although I did not know at that point in my life that it would be a valuable asset in my life's work； being able to develop a map of new worlds has been extremely valuable。 Even expert Karen Wynn Fonstad； whom I helped with details in the Atlas of Pern； remarked that most of my suppositions about Pernese terrain jibed well with what was geologically possible。 It was a case of the subconscious running with an idea in the best of possible directions。
To Jack Cohen； I owe the biology of Pern； especially of the dragons and the fire…lizards who supplied the genetic material used to create…by a special and now…unknown process of the alien race…the Eridani； the dragons of Pern。 （You can't just breed large examples of a species to other large examples and keep increasing the size in a few generations。） He also figured out how to decimate the malignant and possibly dangerous life…forms that inhabited the Oort Cloud with the zebedees （his name and creation； a creature that replicates itself despite its environment）。
I had； you see； backed myself into a corner in The White Dragon； because there was no way the present day population of Pern could eradicate the mycorrhizoid Thread life form without the help of the original colonists。 It was my notion to have a voice address artificial intelligence unit…AIVAS…as part of the settlers' equipment； and for the present day Pernese to discover this device and learn from it。 I might have been ahead of the game in suggesting such a puter in 1970； but current puter techniques indicate that such a device is within the realm of possibility。 What I desperately needed was a system by which the Pernese generation could access the technology left by their progenitors so that they could actively fight Thread and honor the Weyrleader's vow to end the Threat of the Red Star forever。 Jack was ingenious in working out details that would forward this ambition。 For instance； how the colony ships were powered。 He figured out that； in order to move such a mass as a planet； there would need to be several attacks on it。 He utilized the draconic ability to move between time and place； and also set up the zebedees to be sure that the mycorrhizoid spore did not again leave the Oort Cloud。 According to the Hoyle…Wickramansingh theory （to which Jack does not personally subscribe but was willing to use as a mechanism in the story） about Oort clouds； many organisms might lurk within such astronomical features； as well as embryonic etary masses； and it would be as well to disseminate a killer virus in the cloud to prevent any recurrence of Thread or similar nebular virii。
So； as far as the physics of Pern is discussed by me in the books； it is legitimate even if it hasn't happened elsewhere。 Jack was adamant that I give a logical explanation of as much as I could； because then people would be more apt to t