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Roused from his bed early that morning； Tagetarl had gone to his office to find what reassurance he could from his maps。 The Eastern Sea was a long way from Keroon。 But he was awake so he went down to the kitchen level to make fresh klah。 He had a hunch he'd need it before this day was done。 Several hours later； when the shock wave rumbled over Wide Bay； he blithely told everyone that this was natural enough。 Most believed Harpers； but not all。 His spouse； Rosheen； gave him a skeptical stare。
Drums rolling a message on to Keroon Hold informed him； and anyone else who could interpret drum messages； that 〃everything was under control。〃 A tag to it…that only a harper would know…was an urgent invitation for Lord Kashman to be conveyed to Landing。
Nor was what 〃was now under control〃 explained。 Situated in an old warehouse that had been converted to its new purpose； Tagetarl's Printing Hall was on the north side of Wide Bay。 He had a good view of ships entering and leaving the harbor but the Hall was not conveniently situated to see if a dragon had taken off from Keroon Hold。 With his good long…range vision； he could make out frantic activity on the wharves as goods waiting to be shipped were taken back into warehouses。 He didn't need his prized collapsible far…seer to see colored sails being hoisted on the dozen or so ships； some of which he knew were waiting for cargo。 All through the morning； a tension seemed to pulse in on every wave that splashed the seawalls。 Gales whipping either east or west of Nerat's tip often blustered up past Igen's headland and up wide Keroon Bay。 Tagetarl frequently found reasons to stop in his office for a few minutes and check what was happening in the bay。 The ships were sailing south on a wide port tack； evidently heading up Keroon Bay。 For safety。
A shuffling reminded him that he'd nearly forgotten the messenger。
〃Sorry。。。〃 he caught back 〃son〃 because the person in front of him was a young girl。 He was still not accustomed to girls as green riders。 She looked very uncertain of herself； but somehow proud； he'd seen that bination when a young student managed to play a plicated score correctly。 She had her riding helmet crushed in one hand and a thin message packet in the other。 Hesitantly she held it out for him to take。 She wore Monaco colors and a green weyrling's knot on her flying jacket。 〃Sorry； green rider。 Is all well at Monaco？〃
She stammered。 〃Very wet； Master。 I am to deliver you this。〃 His polite inquiry produced fear and anxiety in her face。 〃For your urgent attention； Masterprinter。 I must wait until you've done it。〃
〃You must； must you？〃 Tagetarl smiled reassuringly。 She couldn't be more than sixteen Turns and he wondered if this was her first long journey as a weyrling。 She also looked very tired。 However； any news from Monaco might clarify and enlighten the tense situation…and explain why Lord Kashman had been called to Landing。 Of course； the new Lord Holder may not be quite sure of procedure in what appeared to be a widespread emergency。
〃Yes； sir； and where may I wait？〃
〃Sit； before you fall； girl；〃 Tagetarl said； pointing to a stool before he opened the message。 〃From F'lar？〃 he exclaimed； recognizing the handwriting…bad enough under any circumstances； though the bronze rider had obviously tried to be legible。
〃Tag； urgent notice to publish facts。 Should get inland where sweepriders have not already given warnings。 Runners have been asked to distribute。 Give the messenger a hundred to take to Nerat。 Please ask Keroon Stationmaster to distribute another hundred。 Riders will be sent for the rest。 Rush。〃 This last was underscored several times。
Any irritation Tagetarl felt for the peremptory tone was discarded when he read the copy for printing。 The body of the message was in another handwriting altogether； much easier to read。
〃Rosheen！ Turn on the big press；〃 he shouted down the hall。 He heard her answering 〃What？〃 and continued to call orders at what his spouse called his 〃harper volume；〃 audible inside and outside the hall。 〃Apprentices！ I'll need the big notice sheets。 Check the toner cartridges。〃 He turned back to the green rider。 〃Where's your dragon？〃
〃Ptath's in the court。 F'lar told me we'd fit。 That's why I was chosen to bring the message。 The Printer Hall wasn't hard to find once I got to Wide Bay。 I'm Danegga。 No one here seems to mind a dragon dropping in on them；〃 she added with a charming naivete。
〃The Printer Hall is accustomed to visitors； Danegga； but you look tired and you may want to get something hot to eat。 Between is cold。〃 He gave her an encouraging smile。 〃Your first assignment out of Monaco； Danegga？ Good ride。 Much damage at Monaco Weyr？〃
Her face twisted and tears came to her eyes but she pulled her shoulders up proudly。 〃They say the water will recede。 We'll rebuild； Masterprinter。 We saved everybody and as much else as the dragons could carry。〃
〃Then you did very well； Danegga。 Very well indeed。 Now； run down to the kitchen…just follow your nose。 There's always soup on the stove and there was fresh bread this morning。 Might just be time for you to get a short nap while I print these。 Monaco will be proud of you。〃
〃Thank you； sir； thank you；〃 and as she turned to leave； she nearly ran Rosheen down； bobbing again to excuse herself。
As Rosheen reached Tagetarl； he flourished F'lar's message at her； not allowing her time to read it。
〃We'll both need to set copy。 Headline in the boldest print face we have； biggest letters；〃 he muttered； pulling her down the hall to the Print Hall proper。
〃FIREBALL WILL CAUSE COASTAL FLOODING！〃 he said； making a big bracket with his hands。 Good time to try that 26…point they'd just added。
She grabbed the message from his hand。
〃So this is what's got the ships sailing away。 A fireball？ What's that？ Oh； the text explains。 And they got Master Esselin to sign this； too？〃
She nearly tripped in surprise and Tagetarl grinned at her。 They'd both done their stints of copying under his critical eye。
〃Makes it more official； though； doesn't it？〃 Tagetarl grinned。 〃Apprentices； front and center！ We'll need to wrap in hundred…copy packets。〃
〃Did I see Monaco colors on the girl？〃 Rosheen asked as they took the last few steps to the Hall floor。
〃You did and you know as much as I do。 Let's get this job done as fast as possible。 Rumors of course will spread faster； but if the Runners distribute a written message； people are more likely to believe the printed word。〃
〃Considering how scarce they are。。。〃 was Rosheen's whimsical remark as she followed him。
The results were not bad for a rush job： the new toner dried fast so the copies didn't smear。 He gave Danegga the first packet； he'd be on up the hill to deliver the second one as soon as he saw her off。 Over his shoulder； he saw Ptath lift from the ground； but only high enough to safely go between。 It didn't take him long to reach the Wide Bay Runner Station； situated as it was on the wide main road。 He paused on the threshold since the entrance was full of men and women； a few dressed as Runners。 When the very air buzzed with excitement； Stations were good places to garner news。
〃Stationmaster；〃 Tagetarl said； effortlessly projecting his voice through the babble。 To his right； inside the main room； Arminet stood on tiptoe to see him。
〃Let the MasterPrinter pass。 He's just the man to explain all this；〃 cried Arminet in his equally loud deep bass voice。
People stepped on each other to get out of Tagetarl's way but almost everyone asked 〃The fireball？ Do you know about the fireball？〃 as he passed them。
Tagetarl held the package over his head； waving it。 〃It's all in here。〃 He almost stumbled when he saw Pinch duck to one side。 Trust that one to be in the thick of things。 〃Stationmaster Arminet； I've been asked by the signatories of this message to request Runners to pass these along inland。 Sweepriders are warning coastal areas。 I'll pay any charges you think fair。〃
〃Ha！ You know we carry munity messages free； Master Tagetarl；〃 Arminet said； his bass voice rumbling with sardonic amusement。 〃What does it say？〃
Tagetarl began to recite