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"You have harpers who instruct by set lessons. You had even managed to rediscover papermaking before accessing this facility. Most papermaking techniques, Masterharper, are refinements of techniques you already employ, made easier by some basic machinery and of no higher level than your ancestors brought with them. It is little more than correcting long-standing errors and misconceptions. The spirit of the original colonists is still intact. Even the technology that must be utilized to thwart the return of the wanderer planet will be of the same level as your ancestors'. There may be other scientifically advanced methods now available to Earth scientists that could be utilized if there were still communication between this planet and Earth. Great strides in cosmology were being a
Robinton pensively rubbed his chin. He could scarcely fault Aivas for doing what had been specifically requested, that Pern be brought back to the level of knowledge it had originally enjoyed. It was also obvious that Aivas was obeying the initial request that only what was really needed be revived. It was just stu
"This world has survived, Master Robinton, with more dignity and honor than you would imagine-as Lord Warder Lytol is discovering in his exploration of history."
"Perhaps I have not paid as much attention to his studies as I ought."
"That statement was a private analysis of achievement, Master Robinton. It is for Lord Warder Lytol to arrive at his own conclusion based on his studies."
"I wonder if his conclusion will parallel your impartial one."
"You should delve into history and arrive at your own, Master Robinton." There was one of the interesting pauses that Aivas tended to affect. "Printed books would make that much easier for you."
Robinton glared at the green light on the face of the Aivas facility and wondered, once again, what constituted "artificial intelligence." The several times he had asked that direct question, the reply had been a repetition of a translation of the acronym. Robinton now understood that there were explanations which Aivas either could not, or was programmed not to, make.
"Yes, printed books would be much easier," the Harper agreed at last. "But according to what you've shown us, the settlers had other devices, much more compact."
"That technology is too advanced to be considered at the present time and would involve processes that are presently beyond your abilities or needs."
"Well, then, I'll settle for books."
"That would be prudent of you."
"And you will remain prudent in what you ask us to recreate? "
"That is a corollary to the prime goal of this facility."
Robinton was content with that answer. But just as he had his hand on the door pull, he turned. "Would this printing press be able to print musical scores, as well?"
"Yes."
"That would be much, much easier for the entire Hall," he said. He felt so buoyant as he retraced his steps down the hall that he began to whistle.
7
Lessa roused abruptly, opening her eyes to a darkness which suggested that daylight was still hours away. F'lar lay sprawled beside her, his forehead touching her shoulder, one arm thrown across her, one leg pi
Ramoth was sound asleep, too. And Mnementh! All of Benden Weyr was asleep, including, she discovered with irritation, the dragon and rider supposedly on watch on the Rim. She would blast him as soon as she figured out why she was awake at this appallingly early hour.
Then she saw the lighted clock face on the bedside locker. Three bloody of the clock! Progress was a two-edged dagger. Having a reliable timepiece that was visible in the dark only made the darkness and this early rising harder to endure. But seeing the clock reminded her of why she had to get up early that morning. She pushed at F'lar, who was never easy to wake up unless Mnementh called him.
"F'lar, wake up! We've got to get up." Ramoth, dear, wake up! We've got to be at Landing. Aivas particularly wants us there. She prodded F'lar's shoulder more urgently and, struggling to pull her legs out from under his, reluctantly rose from the comfortable, warm bed. "We've got to get down to Landing early this morning. Early their morning."
There were moments, and this was one of them, when Lessa's enthusiasm for the Project faltered. If, however, this was the morning when Aivas would set in train the results of two Turns of hard studying and work, the early rising would be a minor sacrifice.
In the bigger chamber of the queen's weyr, she could hear Ramoth mumbling and grunting, denying the summons just as F'lar was doing.
"Well, if I have to get up, you will, too," she said, and callously hauled the sleeping-fur off her weyrmate.
"What the-" F'lar tried to grab the fur, but Lessa, with a chuckle, snatched it from his hand.
"You've got to get up."
"It's the middle of the bloody night, Lessa," he complained. "We don't have Fall for another day and a half."
"Aivas wants us there at five of the clock Landing time."
"Aivas! " He sat bolt upright, wide-eyed, pushing his tumbled hair back from his face.
Lessa snorted at F'lar's response to that name.
"My shirt!" he cried, shivering convulsively in the predawn cold. "Heartless woman!"
She snatched shirt and pants up from the chair and tossed them to him. "I am not at all heartless!"
Then she opened a glowbasket to find fresh clothes for herself. F'lar made a quick stop in the bathing room while she poured klah for them both. With her cup in her hand, she passed F'lar on her way in; then she washed quickly and replaited the ends of her braids.
"Watch rider's asleep," she told him when she got back into the weyr, where he was stamping into his boots and shrugging on his riding jacket.
"I know. I've sent Mnementh to scare the living lights out of both of them." He cocked his head then as they both heard a reverberating roar and a startled squeal. "That'll teach them."
"One day Mnementh's going to startle one or both of a watchpair off the Rim!" she replied.
He gri
"That makes me shiver! " But she didn't pull away, so he kissed her again and hugged her affectionately. Leaving one arm across her shoulders, he guided her out to Ramoth's weyr.
The gold queen's tail was still in the weyr; the rest of her was out on the ledge. And, as F'lar and Lessa joined her there, Mnementh lowered his head from the level above the queen's weyr, his eyes gleaming brilliant blue-green in the darkness.
Who did you scare awake on watch up there, Mnementh?
Lessa asked.
B'fol and green Gereth. They won't, sleep on watch again.
The bronze dragon's tone was particularly severe, an attitude with which Lessa had no quarrel, for both B'fol and Gereth were well enough on in Turns not to be delinquent.
"Next Fall, B'fol and Gereth will handle firestone sacks," F'lar remarked, having followed the exchange. This was no time for Benden Weyr to get slipshod. "Have we time for porridge? " he asked hopefully.