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〃The Western Ring of islands will absorb much of the tsunami's force； though； from the tip of Tillek and south to the end of Southern Boll； they can expect to experience tsunami about sixteen hours after impact； or four…thirty in the morning their local time。 It will reach the west coast of Fort； much of which is rocky； about twenty…one hours after impact； seven in the morning their time。 Tomorrow。〃
〃Tomorrow？〃 Lessa echoed。
〃Yes； it takes time even for something as violent as a tsunami to cross that much sea。 The farther away from the impact point or the secondary points； the less the expected effect of the ining wave。 It will spread out and reduce amplitude until it encounters an obstacle。〃
〃Like Monaco Bay；〃 Lessa murmured bitterly。
〃For instance；〃 Erragon said； trying to interject a positive note； 〃the west coast of Southern； from lerne Island to the tip on the east side of Great Bay； will feel only a small effect from the eastward wave。〃 Now he looked closely at the map and； checking longitude and latitude； made a little X。 〃The two waves； what's left of them after losing much of their energy； will intersect in the open sea at about Longitude two degrees at Latitude fifteen degrees； but I don't think that'll be notable。〃
Lessa regarded him blankly。 Erragon continued。
〃The worst of all this should be over in about sixteen to seventeen hours；〃 he said in an attitude of encouragement。
〃I hope you'll be able to repeat this； Erragon；〃 she said wearily。 〃We are obliged to inform those Lord Holders most affected。 Now that we know who they are。〃
He bowed his willingness。 She closed her eyes briefly while she contacted Ramoth to bespeak the dragons at the various Holds。 It saved some time； at least； that Benden had the right to convene an emergency meeting and expect those invited to respond speedily。 Even as speedily as that sharding wave was going to smash along both coasts。
When she opened her eyes； Erragon's expression showed deep concern。 He was rather a good man； she thought； and not like some who could thoroughly enjoy spreading bad news。
〃Sit down； man； and I'll get us something more to eat。 We'll need to fortify ourselves。〃 She left the room； giving him a few moments alone。
Twenty minutes later； Master Idarolan and Erragon had contrived to red mark the vulnerable portions of coastline along both continents； including some quick estimates of how deep inland the flood would surge。 To Lessa's intense sorrow； they had intricately marked the projected paths of the five different assaults on Monaco。 F'lar had returned with F'nor。 No sooner had the two Benden riders started to eat a hasty luncheon from the food Lessa had found than Lords Ciparis and Toronas arrived。 Close behind them came Haligon； representing Lord Groghe； Jaxom； and Sharra； Lord Ranrel of Tillek with the new MasterFishman Curran； Fortine of Ista； Langrell of Igen； Kashman of Keroon； Janissian from Southern Boll as Lord Sangel was too old to travel anywhere； even a…dragonback； and the other six Weyrleaders。
〃What's this about some sharding wave going to destroy the coast？〃 demanded Fortine。 〃Surely it can't reach from the Ring Sea all the way to my coast？〃
〃e； e；〃 Master Idarolan said； gesturing impatiently to the newers。 〃All of you be seated。〃 He waved at Haligon to distribute chairs from those stacked in one corner。
〃It had better be good；〃 Toronas of Benden said； 〃getting us up and down here so precipitously。〃
〃Oh； it is； I assure you；〃 Lessa said in such a caustic tone that no one else spoke as they hurried to get settled around the table。
〃At least it was already morning for you； Toronas；〃 Jaxom said； seating Sharra； who was blinking to clear her eyes from what little sleep she had had。 〃Not the middle of the night and yet you see Ranrel； Haligon； and Janissian wide awake and with us。〃
Lord Toronas clearly wanted to object to the presence of Janissian； who looked younger than she was； even if she had been sent to represent her grandfather； Lord Sangel。
〃Sit by me； Toronas；〃 Lessa said； smiling encouragingly at Janissian who remained close to Sharra and Jaxom。 The Southern Boll girl posed herself to listen but her eyes were darting to the red…streaked maps and then back to the other members of this emergency meeting。 Ranrel nodded a greeting to her and Kashman stared boldly。
〃If you will begin again； Journeyman Erragon；〃 Lessa said formally； 〃then everyone will have a better understanding of why this meeting is so vital。 Some of us have less time than others and none of us have time to waste。〃
Just as Erragon was about to explain how the multiple waves would inundate the southern coastline； a rumbling boom made him stagger。 Lessa clutched at the arm of her chair as the awesome noise vibrated through the soles of her feet。
〃What was that？〃 she cried。 They could both hear the shouts and screams from the hallway。
〃That；〃 Erragon said on his way to the door； 〃was the ground shock wave from the fireball impact。〃 He glanced at the clock。 〃Right on time！ Excuse me！〃 He hauled open the door。 〃It's all right！ That's the shock wave reaching us！〃 He shouted to those milling in fright in the hall and closed the door behind him； leaving Lessa to contemplate the multiple disasters of the day。
SUNRISE CLIFF SEAHOLD…TIMED BACK
The three dragons arrived at Sunrise Cliff Seahold circumspectly； above the first rank of dunes that marked high tides。 The dunes would no doubt be wiped away； dragged back by the tsunami； F'lessan thought。 The dragons glided along the shore to where the granite escarpment had been broken during an earthquake； tumbling boulders； creating the wide shallow bay and a defile along which a stream now found its way to the sea。 Beyond the stream； the escarpment began to rise again； ending in another height on the eastern arm。 Along the white sand beach； they could see small fishing craft pulled up。 Don't let them talk you into rescuing their boats； T'gellan had said； but maybe they could somehow sling。。。
Not before people； Golanth told him sternly。 People we save today。
It looked like the entire population of the Seahold was out； standing on the dunes； gazing northward。 White sands sloped down to the little waves lapping serenely up the wide beach with a picturesqueness that would shortly be devastated。 They had barely two hours to evacuate。 F'lessan sensed that was not going to be easy。 Who would believe his tale of catastrophe in the making？ Everyone was so intent on the fiery ball inclining now toward its impact。 The air was so crystalline clear！
There were twelve holds leaning up against the orange cliffs where the granite began to rise from the sands。 These seaholders had done well in the fifteen or so Turns since they'd settled here； F'lessan thought。 They wouldn't abandon their prosperity so easily。 Babes were being held up to see the fireball； and a scatter of children； in various states of dress； had followed their parents to behold the wonder！ Near to a hundred people in all； F'lessan estimated quickly。 Some of the older folk would have a hard time scrambling up the switchback way to the safety of the cliff height。
Dolphins！ Golanth said。 Startled； F'lessan switched his gaze to the sea。 Scarcely fifty meters offshore； where the shallows sloped into deeper； bluer water； the curving bodies of eight or ten dolphins dove in and out： but not idly。 He could hear their high…pitched screeing。 He was accustomed enough to their graceful movements to realize that their antics today were frantic。 Three rose； tail…walking； then splashed heavily back into the water； their dorsal fins cutting the waves they made。 Their squeeing was shrill though he couldn't hear what they might be saying。
So they know！ Relief diminished at least that worry from F'lessan's mind。 Natua and her calf； all the Monaco Bay pod； would be somewhere safe。 I can't hear them but it's obvious this pod is trying to warn the seaholders！
If they are； no one's watching them； Golanth said； gliding in to a landing。 We will be more noticeable。
〃Look！〃 One of the youngsters had noticed the dolphins。 〃Da； da； the dolphins！ They're squeaking the