按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
as insinuated into our way of life； corrupting the traditions by which we have survived so long。〃 Fifth had no trouble dominating the conversation again。 〃I do not…〃 He paused。 〃…approve of harming a living thing。〃 Again； he left a significant pause before he continued。 〃But permanently removing items that can have dangerous effects on innocent people is another thing。 It would be wise to make certain that such new materials and objects should never see the light of day。〃
〃Much less glowbaskets or electricity；〃 Third said in a facetious tone that was not well received even by Second。 Fifth and Fourth glowered so repressively that he recoiled。
〃I go along with removing some of those gadgets and new junk；〃 Second murmured； but he didn't sound entirely convinced。 〃It's more that some of us；〃 he added； glancing from one face to another； 〃never seem to get our fair share。〃
〃I agree wholeheartedly。 Like dragonriders getting what they want first；〃 Third said。 〃Get our share。〃
〃There are more folk than you might think；〃 Fifth said in his pelling voice； 〃who have genuine doubts about improvements from all this Aivas stuff。 Machine oughtn't to know more than a human being does。〃
First gave another emphatic nod of his head and rose。 〃Be right back with some other right…thinking human beings。〃
By the end of the evening； there were over twenty 〃right…thinking〃 men and women； discussing in low voices the possibility that the Aivas machine…the 〃Abomination〃 seemed as appropriate a name as it had been for the original protestors…might not have the good of real people at heart； it being a machine and all。
No one exchanged names and hold or hall affiliations； but they all agreed to meet at the next Gather； if they could。 They agreed to find out who else might wish to organize a protest about undesirable and possibly detrimental changes that were introduced as 〃progress。〃
It surprised First and Second； but not Third； Fourth； Sixth； and Seventh…and especially not Fifth…who continued to use those numbers as their Gather identities； that many people had grievances； small and large； real or fancied； that needed to be aired and perhaps addressed。 Fifth never again spoke about the synchronicity of the death of the Masterharper and the Abomination； but that little rumor bound many to the cause who might not have given it much credence。 Master Robinton had been very popular； and if…if…that Abomination had been responsible in any way for the Masterharper's death； then that was cause enough to ally against it。 If devices or procedures they couldn't understand were sponsored or suggested by the Abomination； distrust or fear…along with that damaging rumor of which death had been first…supplied an impetus that could be successfully channeled into action。
There were those who found fulfillment within the group and in the planning； and with a certain perverse joy in subtly thwarting 〃progress〃 with minor deeds of damage。 But for others； such 〃minor〃 deeds…which did not cause real alarm in Hold and Hall； or have deeper consequences in preventing the making and distribution of more and more abominable devices…were not enough。
Though it caused some distress to healers to find the latest shipments of new preparations from the Healer Hall missing from their shelves； it did not immediately occur to them that none of the older remedies were ever stolen。
If a Crafthall； manufacturing parts for new devices； found work damaged by 〃accidents〃 or acids spilled on packing crates； they put stronger locks on their hall doors and kept eyes open for strangers visiting in the area。
If the Printer Hall found discarded sheets missing from the bin in which the ruined paper had been placed for recycling； none of the apprentices thought to report the matter。
Then the Lilcamp traders； who were transporting some valuable ponents from one Smith Hall to another； found the carefully packed crates missing one morning and reported it to Master Fandarel at Telgar Smithcrafthall。 Fandarel sent an indignant message to Masterharper Sebell； reminding him that this was by no means the first time delicate items had mysteriously disappeared on the way to Smith Halls。 One of the healer journeymen had casually plained about having to resupply new medications to a rather large number of healers； working in isolated areas。 Fandarel； Sebell； and Masterhealer Oldive began to notice such depredations。
It was Master Harper Mekelroy； better known to the Masterharper as Pinch； who sifted through such incidents and found a pattern to the thefts and pillaging。
PART I…Turnover
TURNOVER AT LANDING…1。1。31 PRESENT PASS AIVAS…AIVAS ADJUSTED TURN 2553
Since it was not at all unusual for dragonriders to be found poring over the volumes in the extensive Aivas archives； F'lessan； rider of bronze Golanth； was not surprised to see a girl wearing the shoulder knots of a green rider from Monaco Bay deeply engrossed in study。 What did strike him as odd was that anyone at all was here in the main archive reading room during Turnover。 Tonight the planet； north and south continents； would officially celebrate the beginning of the thirty…second Turn of the present and； hopefully； final Pass of Threadfall。 Even through the thick walls of the building； he could hear drums and occasionally the sound of the brass instruments from Landing's Gather Square。
Why wasn't the girl； especially a green rider； out dancing？ Why wasn't he？ He grimaced。 He was still trying to overe the carelessly lustful reputation that he had earned early in this Pass。 Not that he was any different from many bronze and brown riders。 〃Just more noticeable；〃 Mirrim had told him in her candid fashion。 Mirrim had astonished everyone； including herself； when she had Impressed green Path at a Benden Weyr Hatching。 Being T'gellan's weyrmate had mellowed her natural assertiveness； but she never spared him her blunt opinions。
The girl was engrossed in her study of a foldout page depicting Rukbat's planetary system； spread across the tilted reading desk。 Not everyone's reading choice certainly； F'lessan thought。
Many of the younger riders； who would see the end of this Pass in sixteen Turns； were studying to bee proficient in another craft。 In that way they would be able to support themselves once the traditional tithe to the Weyrs ceased。 While Thread still fell； Hold and Hall would continue to support the dragonriders； in exchange for aerial protection against the voracious organism that could destroy anything but metal and stone。 But when Thread ceased； so would that support。 Those riders whose families owned holds or halls might simply be reabsorbed； but weyrbred dragonriders like F'lessan had to find another way。 Fortunately for F'lessan； he had discovered Honshu； in the foothills of the great Southern mountain range； and since the Weyrs had wrung out of the council that loosely governed the planet the concession that dragonriders might claim holdings on the Southern continent； F'lessan had claimed Honshu as his。 He had based most of his argument on the fact that he intended to restore and preserve the Ancient habitation and its splendors for everyone to enjoy。 He had used every ounce of his considerable charm and every jot of guile with other Weyrleaders； Craftmasters； and Lord Holders in order to secure that title to himself。 And once the formidable intelligence of the Artificial Intelligence Voice Address System…Aivas…and the bined might of all the Weyrs of Pern had diverted the orbit of the menacing Red Star； he had begun to spend all the time he could spare from his duties as a Benden Wingleader in refurbishing Honshu。
F'lessan had never been a studious youngster…his interests as well as his concentration span had been limited to escaping lessons whenever he could and having the greatest amount of fun。 Impressing bronze Golanth had imposed discipline at last； because there was no way he would neglect his dragon。 He had learned a determination and focus that had resulted in his being one of the most adept riders； held up as a fine example…at least of riding…by weyrlingmasters。
Honshu had bee another passion。 The Ancient holding； with the splendid murals in its m