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tude correct to minutes and seconds。 〃That's why the harpers keep…you'll excuse the pun…harping on the subject of reading and understanding the Charter。〃
M'rand started to chuckle； it turned into a hard coughing spasm。 Anxiously Pilgra handed him the rest of his liqueur and Lessa rushed into her room； ing back with a dark brown bottle and a spoon。
〃Here！ Take a dose of this。 It's reinforced with something Oldive found in the Aivas files to reduce just the sort of hacking cough you have。〃 She measured and gave him the dose。 〃Not that getting into the sun won't correct it in short order。〃
F'lar finished the official Deed； separated the copies； and shoved one with M'rand's original little map into a plastic sleeve。 While M'rand was recovering his breath； the Benden Weyrleader presented the Deed to Pilgra with a bow。 〃Take him there today。〃
〃Today？〃 Pilgra was as breathless as M'rand； Deed clutched in her hand。
〃Certainly。 What else were you going to do on such a miserable day？ Get your weyrfolk to pack up what you need for a few days： plan there； 'in the warm；' 〃 and Lessa pointed southward； 〃what else you'll need。〃
〃Go？ Today？〃
〃Think what a pleasant surprise it'll be to your Wingleaders and the junior queens；〃 Lessa said； eyes bright and wide and far too innocent。 When Pilgra looked unhappy； she added more solicitously； 〃Oh； they'll miss you because you're both good…hearted and fair。 But who would fault you？〃 She shook her as Pilgra took a breath。 〃And don't say old leather…face G'dened。 Cosira has her work cut out soothing his injured feelings。 D'ram's not likely to gripe。 Living in Cove Hold has put Turns on his life。 You're both popular leaders but I cannot imagine anyone faulting you for going； and making the break quick。〃
F'lar says if we go with them； Mnementh told Lessa； it will stifle any plaints G'dened might make。 He adds； don't think you'll get him to retire so easily。
Not when he's twenty Turns younger than M'rand and G'dened。 I expect your rider to finish the Pass with me！ Lessa replied stoutly。
And me！ Ramoth said。
〃We'll e with you；〃 Lessa said out loud； brightly； as if she had just thought of it。
〃That's a better way to spend a miserable evening than anything you've e up with； Lessa；〃 F'lar remarked； knowing perfectly well he would pay her a forfeit later for such a remark。
Taking into consideration the difference of time between western High Reaches and eastern Ruatha； the Benden Weyrleaders had plenty of time to assist M'rand and Pilgra in their hurried departure south and get back to Benden for a late supper。 In the interval； they had supported M'rand and Pilgra in his explanations to their Wingleaders and queen riders； organized the men and women who were to acpany them south； and allowed M'rand a hurried conference with his Wingleaders； some of whom had trouble concealing relief and anticipation。 Pilgra； too； spoke to her queen riders （the youngest one obviously upset and the older three eyeing each other speculatively； since the first one to fly to mate would be the new Weyrwoman）。 For Lessa； that was great fun and for F'lar a chance to assess the bronze riders。
M'rand is right。 F'lar agrees that there are four well…experienced men who can take over immediately； Mnementh told Lessa。
Which queen？ she asked the bronze。
Yasith； Ramoth said so firmly that if Mnementh had a different candidate； he did not now mention her。
Lessa kept her opinion to herself。 Yasith's rider was Neldama； weyrborn in High Reaches twenty…five Turns before； and twelve Turns younger than the oldest of the queenriders。 So she was of this Pass； which； in Lessa's estimation； meant fewer problems。 Not exactly a pretty girl…attractive enough to rate a long look from F'lar…with green eyes that looked right at a speaker and a considerate； sensible manner as she set about collecting the items that Pilgra said she'd want to pack。
M'rand fretted over how to inform three main Lord Holders and the most prominent minor ones of his sudden departure。
〃It would be courteous； but it's only a formality。 'Due to continued ill health； in the best interests of the Weyr and the Holds that look to High Reaches for protection from Thread…fall during a Pass。' 〃 F'lar rattled off the phrases。 〃A change of Weyrleadership is our…〃 he rocked his hand to indicate the four of them；〃…business。〃
〃It's not as if the whole Weyr is retiring；〃 Lessa said just as Neldama and Curella； the oldest queen rider； brought in mulled wine and small hot savories to be served in the Weyrwoman's quarters。 〃And it's not as if you haven't traveled between both continents before。 Be easy； Pilgra； M'rand。 This time you're doing what's best for you！〃
Of the other two Oldtimer Weyrleaders remaining in control； G'narish of Igen was flexible enough in his mind to accept suggestions while G'dened of Ista was nearly as contrary as R'gul had been。 All the Weyrs needed to look ahead to After。 G'dened gave her the impression that he didn't even consider After。 He certainly wasn't suggesting to any of his riders that they would have to look to their own support once this Threadfall was over and the traditional tithing of Hold and Hall no longer appeared on a regular basis。
BENINI HOLD…EAST MONACO AND HONSHU…1。20。31
〃If one more person asks me 'what are dragonriders going to do about things that fall out of the sky on us' or 'how we're going to keep the sky from falling on them；' 〃 F'lessan said with a great deal of bitterness to Tai； 〃I'll…I'll tell Golanth to drop him； or her； between。〃
He stood up； stretching to ease his back muscles from bending over to plant saplings around Benini's cothold。 The dwelling； a sprawling extended family site； had lost its roofs from the tsunami winds。 Mud； sand； and debris had been dug out of hold and beasthold； the structures had been soundly built twelve Turns before and could be repaired。 The large family…by craft； herders； Benini himself a Journeyman…were out early and late； hunting strays that had been scattered inland ahead of the wave。 Redfruit trees and the giant fronds； which had amazing vitality and could be trimmed to provide windbreak； had once shaded the hold。 Paradise River had offered new starts of both； as well as young fellis saplings。
Planting was not work most riders would volunteer to do but； when F'lessan saw Tai's was the only name on that list； he added his。 He had done very well getting on work teams with Tai； mostly jobs as backbreaking and thankless as this； waiting until he saw where she was going to spend her spare hours before he signed up。 She was willing enough…even eager…to discuss their mutual interest in astronomy。 They were sometimes the only dragonriders on such sites。 She seemed to know many of the more isolated cotholders and was weled warmly。 The two dragonriders had been shown where to find tools； where fresh water could now be obtained； and what was available for their lunch。 All the Benini holders had ridden out on their runnerbeasts for another long hot search。
When the two dragonriders had collected the plants at sunrise； rootballs wrapped and secured on wooden flats； Jayge had greeted F'lessan with surprise and gravely shook hands with Tai； remarking on what a fine green she rode。
〃Didn't think to see you again so soon； F'lessan；〃 the Paradise River Holder said； grinning at the bronze rider。
〃And will do as long as Paradise River is intent on reforesting Monaco；〃 F'lessan responded。 He waggled his finger at Jayge。 〃You and Aramina have been exceedingly generous。 T'gellan told me。〃
〃The least we can be；〃 Jayge said。 〃We were very lucky here； protected from the tsunami by the Kahrain cape。〃 He gestured first over his shoulder and then down the river。 〃We can find as many young trees and bushes as are needed。 You two look tired。 Have you eaten？〃
F'lessan dismissed that with a wave of his hand。 〃Yes； yes； thank you。 We can get untired when things are more or less back in order。〃 He examined the thick lift knot on the flat； the net that secured the young saplings to it； and the corner ropes。 All the dragons were now deft at lifting such carriers。 One trick was to keep the ropes taut a