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〃Can we help you turn the herd back out of immediate danger？〃 Tai asked as they flipped the hide from the legs and wrestled the carcass over。 Rency was almost as good as Zaranth as a helper。
〃We'd sure appreciate it；〃 Rency said。
Herdbeasts were as terrified of dragons in the air as felines on the ground； so herding them merely required the dragons to keep their shadows on the beasts。
〃Sure。 Dragons have to fly straight with full stomachs； you know；〃 she said。 〃No reason we can't help you spook the herd in the right direction for now。〃 Today's feed would last Zaranth a sevenday。
〃Just need to set them in the right direction； Tai；〃 he said。 〃There's a ravine〃…he pointed in a northwesterly direction…〃and water。 Whooshing 'em that way is all we'd need。〃
〃No problem；〃 Tai said。 If you'll be kind enough to stop eating long enough to tell Monarth what's needed； she said to her dragon。
He just told me； Zaranth said； sucking the tail into her mouth and licking her lips。
〃Makes short work of it； doesn't she？〃 Rency remarked approvingly。
Tai grinned。 〃Monarth says we'll be glad to help。 Half the wing has fed today。〃
I am the only one who has two。 Zaranth； her faceted eyes flickering with orange pleasure； strolled indolently over to them to await her second course。
Rency and Tai pulled the skin cleanly off the flesh。 Once they had rolled it up； he went back to his mount； which stood far enough away from the dragon to feel safe。 Tai； letting Zaranth move in on her bloody kill； followed him； hoping to get away from the worst of the insect swarms。 Rency handed her the water bottle and a towel。
〃Take a good swig and then we can wash off some of the gore。 Like I said； I'm not that far from water；〃 he said and Tai was grateful to be able to rinse herself。
Feeling somewhat less sticky； they walked to the top of the incline。 Though they had washed off most of the blood； the swarms began a renewed assault in waves so that they clenched their teeth and kept their eyes narrowed。 Fanning vigorously with his hat； Rency watched with satisfaction as they could see other riders heaving pelts to their dragons' backs。 Suddenly the mass was whisked away。 Zaranth had finished eating and was sweeping her wings broadly； scattering the insect cloud。
I'm ready to leave when you are； Zaranth announced with a final lick of her lips。
〃D'you need the loan of my rope？〃 Rency asked。
〃That'd be real wele；〃 Tai agreed。 Her riding harness would secure one。。。 but two？
〃Be sure to check no nits burrowed into your skin；〃 he said。
〃I most assuredly will；〃 she told him through clenched teeth。
Deftly the two humans roped the pelts on either side of Zaranth's second neck ridge。 Flying straight was time…consuming； but Zaranth could fly high enough…once they'd helped move the herd…to be cool and escape the insects。 Tai held out her hand to Rency to thank him for his help and the loan of his rope； and swung onto Zaranth's back。
〃My pleasure； dragonrider；〃 Rency said； stepping back； fanning with his hat as swarms tried to settle to the hides。
Get us out of here before I eat bug； Zaranth； Tai said； wind…milling her hands in front of her face。
I ate very well； Zaranth said smugly and Tai could feel a satisfied belch rumbling from her chest； to her throat and out。 Inelegant； Tai muttered with mock severity as Zaranth leaped skyward。
Courteously； Zaranth dipped her wings； causing Rency's mount to back away from him in sudden panic。
Out of here。 The man doesn't need to be chasing his runner。 Then they were out of range of bloodsuckers and into cooler air。 Zaranth circled； looking for Monarth and the rest of the dragons。
Monarth is aloft； and so is Path； Zaranth told her and headed in their direction。 We are to swing wide behind the beasts； she added。
It's not the first time we've herded； Tai said grumpily。 She wished she had more in her belly than cold water； she'd had no lunch。
At this altitude； she had a good view of the bright…shirted herders； stringing out over the grassy plain； starting the beasts back the way they had stampeded。
It would be good to have a swim when the herd is turned。
It most certainly would。 There were plenty of hospitable coves on the way back to Monaco Weyr； and trees full of ripe fruit。
Altogether； Tai thought； apart from the insects； the day had been profitable。 It would take time to clean and stretch the pelts； but once word got around to the traders of today's kill； she might even get to sell them raw。 One day she might keep a particularly fine one…she fancied a clouded fur with ghost stripes…but in the meantime； northerners prized whatever was taken。
PART 2…Disaster
（Throughout the Same Day）
RUATHA HOLD…LOCAL TIME 12：04 IN THE MORNING…1。9。31
Stepping out of the cothold； Sharra wrapped her cloak tightly around her。 It was very cold； but the wind； which could cut like a knife down the broad avenue back to Ruatha Hold； had died out。 She was tired from a long nursing； but relieved that the weaver would recover from his accident。 She silently thanked Aivas once more for the medical information he had left。 She had been able to repair the tendon in Fossil's hand…something she could not have done five Turns earlier…and to stitch shut the jagged wound。 She could honestly tell him that he would have the use of his hand and be as skillful as ever in two months' time。
A light caught her eye。 To the east！ Startled； because it was automatic to be fearful of anything ing from the east； she saw shooting stars； long straight slashes in the dark sky。 She stopped in her tracks。 These were not like the Ghosts of Turnover； for all they'd been bright this year。 Ghosts lasted a second or two。 These were visibly longer； almost ribbons in the night sky。 One bright spot seemed to linger； then exploded。
She blinked。 This could not be the result of fatigue after a delicate surgery。 Certainly not Thread！ She told herself firmly。 Thread isn't due to fall anywhere tomorrow； and Thread came down silver…gray； like rain； in daylight； not like a streak of fire at midnight。
She didn't realize she was running until she was halfway up Ruatha's broad causeway and could hear the fretful whine of the watchwher。
〃Mickulin！〃 she called； remembering from the duty roster who was on guard that night。
〃I'm not seeing things； am I； Lady Sharra？〃 Mickulin's hoarse whisper sounded scared as he leaned over the top of the smaller tower。
〃If you're seeing long white streamers； you're seeing the same thing I am！〃 She raced up the stairs。 〃I'm calling Jaxom。 Go rouse Brand。 But it's not Thread； Mickulin； and it's not Turnover Ghosts either。〃 Ruth！ Ruth！ Wake up。 She felt the very reassuring presence of the white dragon…a sleepy one…in her mind。 Wake Jaxom。 Tell him to bring his binoculars。 There's something he must see。 Hurry！ And it's cold。
Mickulin rushed past her to open the great Hold door just wide enough to slip through it on his way to wake Steward Brand。 Sharra stood with her back to the door； facing east； hoping that this amazing display would continue long enough for Jaxom to see it。
There！ Another long streamer； shading to a yellow tinge in the trail…the Ghosts never had colors…and another！ A long drop and then nothing。
〃What's the matter？〃 Jaxom hauled the door open； the sound echoed by the opening of a second door in the lower； inner courtyard as Ruth poked his head out of his quarters in the old kitchen。 The white dragon's eyes began to whirl as he stared at the splashings in the sky。 〃Shards！〃 his rider cried； and lifted his binoculars to focus on the display。 〃What are they？ What are they？〃
〃That isn't Thread；〃 Jaxom said decisively； 〃and they're too bright for Ghosts…besides which； according to Wansor and Erragon； that etary shower is long past us。 And they seem to be ing from one place in the sky。 I think。 Hard to focus。〃 He propped himself against the door frame and held his breath。 〃A little better。 Here！ Brace yourself before you look！〃 He handed the binoculars to her。
It took her a moment to alter the focus of double…eye； they were a relatively new acquisition； an instrument that