Страница 68 из 85
"It won't be, I assure you," Capiam said warmly, adroitly steering them to an isolated area, away from others. "The theory is as sound for animals as it has proved for people. And"-he lowered his voice, peering first at Alessan and then at Tuero with a meaningful stare– "absolutely essential at this juncture." He shot Desdra a quick look at his inadvertent use of one of Tirone's favorite phrases. A twist of her lips showed that she had marked it. With a quick motion of his hands, Capiam circled the others closely around him, tucking his hands about Alessan's and Tuero's arms. He glanced about to be sure that everyone was busy, Follen with his group around the centrifuge and the holders about the animals being retacked. "Lord Alessan, the plague could break out again."
Moreta caught Alessan's free arm as he staggered back from Capiam. The Healer supported him on the other. Tuero's first reaction was to see how Alessan coped with the news. The harper's expression was unusually serious and compassionate.
"Animals as well as humans must be vaccinated this time round," Capiam continued. "All across the continent. I have worked out a plan of distribution, and Moreta will seek dragonrider assistance. What is needed is serum from recovered animals. You have them, sufficient at least to supply the needs of this Hold, Fort, Southern Boll, and that portion of Telgar which marches your boundaries. Lord Shadder, I know, will accommodate us in the east."
"But the herds in Keroon are vast . . ." Alessan was clearly stu
"No longer," Capiam said gently. "If this Dag of yours has saved bloodstock for you, you are richer than you think. May we have your help?"
Alessan looked at the Masterhealer, a curious expression playing in his light-green eyes and the oddest twist to his lips.
"Ruatha lost much-of its people, its herds, its honor, and its pride. Any help which Ruatha can now offer may perhaps remove the stain of our enduring"-Alessan indicated the burial mounds-"hospitality."
There was no bitterness in the young Lord Holder's voice but there was no doubt in anyone's mind that the aftermath of his first Gather had burned indelibly into his soul.
"What makes you think that you are responsible for that? Or any of this?" One nourish of Capiam's hand indicated the burial mounds, the next their meeting in the beasthold and the veterinary preparations being made to one side. "No blame adheres to you, Lord Alessan. Circumstance, unpredictable circumstance, drove the Windtoss from her course. Opportunism prompted its master to land in the Southern Continent, and greed kept him there for three days. What prompted the crew to transport that animal to the unprotected north will never be known for every witness to that reprehensible decision is now dead. But that circumstance was beyond your control. What has been in your control, my Lord Alessan, is the courage with which you have conducted yourself, your care of the sick, your effort to sow crops, and the preservation of Ruathan bloodstock. Most of all"– Capiam drew in a deep breath-"most of all, that you are, in the midst of the severe trials you have endured, willing to help others.
"When bad fortune occurs, the unresourceful, unimaginative man looks about him to attach the blame to someone else; the resolute accepts misfortune and endeavors to survive, mature, and improve because of it.
"A fishing ship is blown off course in an unseasonal squall and that minor event has influenced us all." Capiam's expression was rueful. He glanced at Desdra, who was staring at him in a baffled ma
Outside Arith suddenly bugled in welcome and was answered by a deeper note.
"A bronze? Here?" Moreta hastily made her way to the entrance of the beasthold. M'barak stood by Arith, who was gazing skyward. The blue was not agitated even if Moreta feared that Sh'gall might have followed. "M'barak! Who comes?" Why hadn't Orlith contacted her?
"Nabeth and B'lerion," M'barak said without concern, shielding his eyes from the sun.
"B'lerion!" Moreta was relieved but, when a slender figure rushed down the ramp from the Hold, she began to understand B'lerion's presence.
Arith rose on his hindquarters, emitting what Moreta could only interpret as a challenge.
"I don't know what's got into him, Moreta," M'barak cried, embarrassed. "He's gotten to be awfully protective of Lady Oklina."
"There is a queen egg on the Hatching Ground, M'barak," she said, and added when it was obvious her explanation eluded the weyrling. "Blue dragons are often very keen on Search. Arith would seem to be precocious, though." She frowned, observing Oklina awaiting B'lerion. "I don't think Fort Weyr has the right to deplete Ruathan resources . . ."
She swiveled around. Alessan was escorting Capiam, Desdra, and Tuero to the centrifuge. The big wheel was slowing and the next batch of serum could be examined. Turning her head, she saw that Nabeth had landed and B'lerion was sliding gracelessly from the bronze back. Oklina greeted him with restraint, pointing toward the beasthold. B'lerion caught her hand, and the girl fell in step with him willingly enough but did not reclaim her hand. As the pair turned down the roadway, Moreta could see B'lerion's left arm was in a sling. He could not fly Threadfall. Had he been glad to escape from his Weyr when the High Reaches wings rose? Did B'lerion feel-as she did when the wings rose without her-an irrational compulsion to be with them? Or did he feel the injury was little more than a valid excuse to visit Oklina?
Drawing back into the shadow, Moreta turned to join the group by the centrifuge, standing a little to one side-the better to watch Alessan-as the healers discussed the quantity of vaccine they would need, the minimum effective dose, and how they could discreetly discover how many ru
"Body weight is always the factor," Moreta said, slipping into the conversation.
"We must make the determination of dosage as easy for the uncertain and the inept as possible," Alessan said. "Some of the handlers in the back holds are going to be incompetent as well as skeptical. Where handlers are still alive, that is." He flushed as Capiam fixed him with a reproving eye.
"We have been relocating capable people and trying to ascertain where more might be needed. It is amazing what people can do when they have no other options available."
"Master Capiam, how crucial is it that the ru
"With zoonosis the determining factor-and I thought we had agreed on that point-"
"We have, but we ca
"I know. I know." Capiam pulled his hand across his forehead and down his cheek, rubbing at his jaw. He gave a weak laugh, tossing his hand in the air in a futile gesture before he eased himself to a bale of straw, "And we can only be sure of eradicating the threat of plague if we vaccinate both."
"It is just needlethorn which you lack?" Moreta asked, catching Capiam's despondent gaze. The Masterhealer's eyes began to widen and his stricken expression changed to incredulity as he realized what her question implied.
"And will lack, unfortunately, until autumn," Desdra was saying, turning away from the disappointment she had just inflicted on her master. She did not see the exchange that passed between Moreta and Capiam. "I have appealed to every hall and hold on the drum network to send us their inventory. As it is, we may be forced to exclude some people-"