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e office had the only automatic copier； another of the many technological wonders that were ing in so very useful。 Considering the panic of drum messages into the Harper Hall from those minor holds and halls that had drummers； Sebell needed accurate information to give them。 It was still night in the west but the constant drums had interrupted the sleep of many and lights were on in cotholds as well as in Fort's great facade。 A messenger came running up from the Healer Hall with queries from Master Oldive as to where he was to send healers to help in this emergency of which he'd like pertinent details so he could organize his craftsmen and …women。
〃Have you time for something to eat and drink？〃 Sebell asked when the core of the emergency had been explained to him。
〃No； it's earlier at Southern Hold and we'd best not delay explaining it all to Toric；〃 F'nor said； grimacing。
〃He'll demand to know why he's had to wait to learn about the fireball；〃 Sebell added。 Then he chuckled； his eyes bright in the gleam of the Hall's night lamps。
〃I could use a laugh；〃 F'nor said。
〃I think he may regret having so many…ah； shall we say undisclosed…coastal holdings？〃 Sebell snorted； his expression amused。 〃Truth will out。 K'van probably knows。〃
〃We'd best go。 He and Sintary will be waiting for us at the old Weyr site。〃
〃We will try to defuse rumor with fact；〃 Sebell said。
A task that F'nor did not envy him。
Idarolan gave a malicious smile。 〃Keep ears open for what those seaworm Abominators spread。〃
〃It's a natural disaster； isn't it？〃 F'nor remarked。
〃Reported by the Yokohama；〃 Sebell demurred。
〃And sharding fortunate we are to have at least one eye on the skies above；〃 Idarolan said in his caustic fashion。
F'nor thought about timing it； there was no question in F'nor's mind that Toric's informers would eventually mention the exact minute and hour Landing had recognized the fireball as a threat； but he decided against making the effort just as Canth spoke。
Ramoth said not to！ We do not know what else we will have to do today。
All right； Canth。 I'm chastised。
You are not！ his dragon replied in mild protest。
You know me too well。
Another drum message rolled in and with a backward wave； Sebell trotted up the steps to deal with it。 Once sure that Idarolan was seated fortably again behind him； F'nor gave Canth a vivid view of Southern Hold's rocky cliffs…at night。
Ruth is not the only dragon who knows when he is； was Canth's exit remark。
F'nor experienced an odd dislocation as they arrived over Southern Hold； the peaceful sight of the riding lights of four coastal ships anchored in the harbor and night glows up the harbor steps： all serene here。 Landing had been chaotic！ Fort Hold had been alive with activity and tension。 Silently and； F'nor hoped； unseen by anyone watching below； Canth glided through the warm air over the sleeping Hold and on to the original Southern Weyr site。 He was painfully aware that right now； on the other side of the planet； Monaco Bay Weyr would be experiencing the tsunami。 There had been enough dragons to rescue every man； woman； and child； hadn't there？
The news he brought Toric was not as dire； though the Southern Holder might not agree。 Idarolan was reasonably sure that Southern Hold's cliffs were high enough to withstand the diffraction effect of the tsunami； pressed between Ista Island and the Southern headland。 Unfortunately； Toric would be experiencing the event on both sides of his Holding。 Idarolan's chart； and Erragon's calculations； indicated a direct line of westbound tsunami； which might…just…lose significant energy。 Either way； there were coastal holds that must be evacuated and herdbeasts moved inland from the low…lying pastures。 However； during the bad； bad； bad blow of which the dolphins had warned Toric； he had not moved quickly enough to reduce the devastation of the horrific gale winds of that hurricane。
K'van； with his Weyrwoman； Adrea； Master Sintary； and four of the Southern Wingleaders； moved out of the shadows as Canth landed in the flower…scented night。 Five pairs of blue…green eyes shone as the brown dragon crooned a greeting and went to join them。 K'van distributed hand lights。
〃Neither moon's out tonight；〃 the young Weyrleader said； his white grin visible in the reflection of the light he carried。 〃R'mart wanted to e but we convinced him that retired means no more responsibility。〃
F'nor bowed to Adrea； nodded to the other bronze riders； and finished stripping off his flying gear。 He was grateful for the fresh breeze on the plateau。
〃I have my own light；〃 Sintary said； turning his beam on the well…worn track from the old open Weyr to the Hold。
〃Of course； Toric could just ignore all this；〃 F'nor remarked in a low tone as the eight of them carefully proceeded to the Hold。
Before they reached the first bend； a fierce challenge stopped them。
〃Who's out there？〃
〃F'nor； Canth's rider；〃 and F'nor tilted the light to his face。
〃K'van； Adrea； M'ling； N'bil； S'dra； H'redan；〃 the Weyrleader said； also lighting his face and flashing it at his panions as he named them。
〃Idarolan and Sintary；〃 the Harper said in turn。
〃Bringing an urgent message to Lord Toric from Landing；〃 F'nor said。
〃A very urgent and very important message；〃 Idarolan said； stepping forward in a purposeful manner； 〃and you had best guide us to him immediately。〃
〃It's the middle of the night！〃 was the protest。
〃Since when has the middle of the night been free of trouble！〃 Idarolan did not pause in his stride and the guard gave ground。
〃You sound like Idarolan；〃 he said dubiously。
〃If you don't know your Weyrleader by sight；〃 Sintary remarked acidly； 〃you're in a lot of trouble。〃
〃This way； Master Harper； Weyrleader K'van。 This way。〃 They were going past the large square when he made one more remark。 〃You've got to wake him； not me！〃
F'nor wasn't the only one who chuckled。
Luckily； it was Ramala who answered their summons； holding up a glowbasket to identify the visitors。
〃Bad news？〃 she asked； leading them to the main hall。
〃Perhaps not as bad for Southern as it is for others；〃 Idarolan remarked which made her stop and regard him speculatively in the dimly lit hall。 〃If you would be good enough to wake Toric？〃
〃Yes； it had better be me；〃 she said and waved them to chairs as she opened the nearest glowbaskets。
She disappeared on her errand and； because they were listening； they heard Toric's muffled shout of protest。 Then she came back； nodded at them and said； if they wouldn't mind opening more lights； she would get fresh klah。
〃Or wine； if you feel that would suit better。〃
〃Both；〃 F'nor said bluntly。 He could use a glass of wine right now。 Breakfast at Benden seemed to have been a long time ago despite the food that had been served during the emergency meeting at Landing。
Sintary and two of the bronze riders opened only sufficient glowbaskets to light the front part of the big hall。 They had taken seats at one end of the long table when they heard the scrape of sandals on stone。 Idarolan grinned； arranging his papers on the table； preparatory to an argument with Toric。
Shirt open； drawstring shorts rucked at one hip； the Lord Holder swung into the room； scowling； and the scowl deepened as he paused on the threshold； regarding those awaiting him。
〃What the shards is the matter now？ This can't constitute a Council！〃
〃A fireball impacted in the Eastern sea at approximately twelve hours twenty minutes Landing time；〃 F'nor said bluntly。
〃The impact of what we believe is a etary fragment has created tsunamis；〃 Idarolan said。 〃You will remember what happened when that volcano Piemur discovered erupted。〃
Toric's eyes rounded； thick sun…bleached eyebrows turning his scowl into an expression of unpleasant surprise。
〃Some of your Hold is in the path of the tsunamis…two sets of them； one with three different waves from the east and the other from the west；〃 Idarolan went on relentlessly。 He used the map in front of him to point them out。 〃Journeyman Erragon and Master Wansor confirmed the phenomeno