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〃Tai； a question；〃 he began； digging busily。 〃I was watching and Zaranth didn't move。 She only twitched her nose。 How could she make a trundlebug detour doing that？〃
Tai dabbed at a drop of sweat rolling down her nose and； picking up the next to last plant； removed the wrapping and dropped it in place。
〃I don't know。 But； if they get close to her； they are suddenly perpendicular to the original line of progress。 You know trundlebugs： they never deviate from their chosen path。〃
〃Amazing！〃 He blotted the sweat from his face； then unwrapped the last plant； placed it firmly in the ground； and tamped dirt around it。 〃That's that。 We're supposed to water them now； aren't we？〃
Probably the first thing Benini had done after the flooding receded was to sink a new well and provide a long watering trough from which they could easily fill buckets for that last garden chore。
〃Didn't Benini say they'd rigged a shower over by the beasthold？〃 he asked； when they had finished。
〃Yes； with a big enough cistern above to wash all of them；〃 she said； looking eagerly around to point to the freshly painted enclosure。 〃Or so his spouse said。 We'll get clean much quicker showering than having to wash in a bucket；〃 she added； dropping hers on the shadowed side of the well。
〃Leave enough warm water for me；〃 he said； waving her to go first。 〃I'll return the tools。〃 He gathered them up and started for the shed； calling after her。 〃I plan to hunt Golanth this afternoon at Honshu。 How's Zaranth's appetite？〃 Well； he thought privately； 〃appetite〃 was one word for it。
Tai cast a look over her shoulder at her sleeping dragon。 〃She isn't the least bit off…color。〃
F'lessan blinked and then； with an engaging grin that Mirrim would have identified as 〃devious；〃 added； 〃We could hunt felines。 Saw some a little closer than they should be to the Honshu herds。 Get us some good pelts。〃
Since the Flood； most green riders had been giving all their customary courier services free of charge。 But there'd be a Gather in Telgar in two sevendays； when the Council met； and that was time enough to cure hides for sale and give her book…money。
〃Fine by me！〃 Tai called back。 He caught just a glimpse of her back and long tanned legs as she entered the shower enclosure。
He gathered their riding gear and packs and walked slowly up to the shower； giving her time for a good wash and rinse。
〃Hey； leave me some；〃 he said； speaking above the sound of vigorous splashings。 He slipped off his muddy sandals。 Well； cleaning them could wait till he got back to Honshu； but he smacked them against the side of the wall to remove as much mud as he could。
〃You'll find it warm enough；〃 she assured him。 〃Can you hand me my towel？〃
He opened her pack and dragged it； and her fresh clothes； out。
〃Where is it？〃 she asked。
He saw her bare arm extending from the shower wall and accurately lobbed the towel to her searching fingers。 There were shiny new hooks screwed to the wall and he hung her fresh clothes on one； his own on another。 Riders were not as bothered by nudity as holders or crafthall folk so he stripped down； glad to be out of the sweaty； dirty shorts。 As she emerged； toweling her body dry； she gave him a fleeting glimpse。 He stepped courteously past her； into the shower； and looked around for sweetsand。
When he had had a good scrub； especially his feet； he rinsed off well and； vigorously drying himself； sauntered across the changing area to his clean clothes。 Dressed in her leathers； with her jacket still open； she leaned against the wall； in what shade there was； looking out at the scene of their morning's hard work； feeling pleased。
Summoning their dragons； they took off before heat brought fresh sweat。
As they came out of between above Honshu； F'lessan first noted that there were no dragons lounging on the summit or the main terrace。
Will you hunt today； Golanth？
I will hunt well today； Golanth replied； watching Zaranth as she glided past him to land on Honshu's main terrace。
Startled by the odd note in his dragon's tone； for a moment F'lessan worried that he hadn't been as sensitive to Golanth's needs as he should be。 When was the last time he'd hunted Golanth？
I will hunt very well today！
The bronze was ing in slowly…almost stealthily…to land so that Zaranth was directly in front of them； her rider stripping the safety harness； which was never used when dragons went after a meal。 F'lessan could not miss Zaranth's condition。 She was gleaming with more than health。 Why hadn't Tai noticed that the green was ing into heat？ He tried to think which dragons had been at Honshu early this morning。 Most had gone well before dawn； as they had； to begin whatever work was slated for that day in the reconstruction of Monaco's Weyr building。 In a traditional Weyr； with dragons basking on their ledges； her readiness would have been noticed long before the green herself might be aware of her form。 Honshu had been guesting dragons since the Flood。 True； both riders and dragons arrived tired： riders eating quickly and seeking their beds； dragons finding a spot on sun…warmed terraces and rousing only when their riders called them the next morning。 He and Tai had gone directly to Paradise River and from there to Benini Hold； their dragons sprawling in full sun； several hours in the sun。 Heat was known to trigger a dragon's mating instinct。 He swore； wondering if any of the other dragons had been awake to the nearness of Zaranth's cycle？ Riders were known to remember when greens were likely to e into heat。 Most of those staying at Honshu were Monaco Weyr riders。 Would they e storming in from all over now Zaranth was active？ Was this a delayed reaction in Zaranth？ Overdue？ But he was a Wingleader and he shouldn't have missed the signs。 Well； Tai had！
I didn't。
For once； Golanth jolted gracelessly onto the terrace； throwing his rider forward in an unexpected assist in dismounting。 F'lessan was lucky to keep on his feet； running a few steps to restore his balance。 Did Golanth sense other male dragons near enough to challenge him？ Certainly the bronze demonstrated his eagerness by arching his neck； tucking his head into his chest； proudly male。 Sweeping the skies for the appearance of more dragons； F'lessan quickly stripped off safety straps； shucking the pile to the nearest bench； as he began to shed his flying gear。 Golanth moved carefully toward Zaranth； his eyes beginning to whirl in anticipation。
Tai was standing there； the harness folded over her arms； gazing fatuously at her dragon。
〃Good to see her looking so well。 She'd gone quite dull there for a while after the Flood；〃 she remarked as F'lessan strode up to her。 〃How near are the felines？〃
〃Looking so well？〃 F'lessan paused； astonished by her choice of words。 Then he pointed dramatically at Zaranth。 〃By the Egg； look at her； Tai！〃
Her eyes gleaming orangey…red； Zaranth angled her head coquettishly back at Golanth who was displaying； moving cautiously nearer； his faceted eyes sparking more redly。
Tai gasped； eyes widening with an expression of such fear and intense loathing that F'lessan wondered just what had happened during Zaranth's other mating flights。
〃But there's just us！〃 she cried defensively； the harness slipping off her arms as she spread them wide in a gesture of panic and confusion。
How had she thought there was safety in that？ Of course there had been other dragons and riders around； in and out of Honshu。 Until right now！ But； with a green in heat； there was no safety in numbers。 Her hands turned； palms toward him in flat rejection。 And； of course； he thought in fury； when Zaranth had gone proddy before； every blue； brown； and needy bronze had appeared： their riders had corralled her rider； waiting to see which dragon would win the green。 He closed his eyes； he knew very well how intense the mood would be。 But the green rider would choose！
〃Tai； did you never choose？〃 he cried； outraged for her as he started to close the distance between them。 And halted。 He mustn't crowd her。 The others had。 How much time could he give her？ How could he soothe her？
She was trembling viole