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"And just what does that all mean when translated into normal speech?" Corman demanded.
"That the Yokohama can be used as a base from which to attack Thread in space, Lord Corman."
"So all the dragons are going up to the spaceship and attack Thread at a distance from the planet?" His sarcastic remark must have seemed as silly to himself as it did to the others, for he flushed and looked away from Jaxom.
"No, that is not the plan, Lord Corman. The plan is to divert Thread from ever falling to the surface."
"And how far are you toward that desired end?" Laudey asked, not quite as contemptuous as Corman had been.
"There are still two Turns, five months, and seven days before that end is achieved, Lord Laudey."
"And I suppose that you're here to ask our permission to draft more journeymen from our halls, more drudges from our holds?"
"No, sir, we don't 'draft' anyone," Jaxom replied. He couldn't help gri
"And I suppose you're unhappy that those lower caverns of yours are pretty much empty of beggars and layabouts?" Groghe asked pointedly.
"And will they all stay usefully employed two Turns, five months, and however many days from now?" Laudey demanded.
"Do you, or do you not, wish to be rid of Thread, Lord Laudey? Lord Corman?" Jaxom demanded. "Admittedly, in two hundred and fifty Turns, you won't have to care whether or not we succeed. But your descendants will!"
"Are you speaking as a Lord Holder or a dragonrider, Jaxom?" Nessel asked snidely.
"Both, Lord Nessel!"
"Then we won't need dragonriders anymore!" Sigomal roared. "What're you dragonriders going to do then?"
Jaxom gri
"And how do you arrive at that?" Sigomal demanded.
"They do a lot more for you, and everyone here, than rid the skies of Thread. Think on it, Lord Sigomal." Jaxom smiled enigmatically. Let them cudgel their brains over that one. "Lord Toric knows what I mean, I'm sure."
Startled, Toric swung his piercing gaze to his sister's husband and began to frown.
"I don't get what you mean, young man," Sangel said in some agitation.
"My Lord Sangel, I would have thought that was too obvious to require explanation. May I continue, Lord Lytol?" When he had received the nod, Jaxom went on. "I will also tell you that Harper Piemur and I have seen this lovely world of ours, turning in space, from day toward night. It is the most incredible sight!" He knew his voice trembled slightly, but he was not ashamed. "Once we are certain that the life-support systems-oxygen and heat-are stable, I will take it upon Ruth and myself to bring any Lord Holder who wishes to the bridge of the Yokohama to see for himself what a splendid world we live on and how essential it is for us to rid ourselves of Thread forever."
Jaxom looked around, inviting someone to take up his offer. When his first round of the startled faces produced no other responses than nervous throat clearings and foot shiftings, he fixed his audience with a look that dared them to volunteer.
"I'd like to go," Larad said quietly, and Asgenar held up his hand, as well.
"And I," Lytol added.
"One doesn't see too much of the north from the Yokohama's bridge," Jaxom admitted, "but Aivas is hoping to repair the damaged port-side viewers. That should make some of the east coast visible from space." He looked pointedly at Toronas who, after visible hesitation, raised his hand.
"How much of the Southern Continent is visible?" Toric asked in a hoarse bark.
"More, if we can repair the stern viewers," Jaxom replied, delighted that Toric had responded.
"I don't see what good'll come from all this," Begamon began querulously. "Risking lives on foolish sundreams of destroying Thread. It's been with us for hundreds of Turns. And I say again, if the ancients knew so much, why didn't they get rid of the stuff in their time? Huh? Why didn't they?"
"Aivas has answered that to my satisfaction," Lytol said firmly. "And don't forget that every task we have undertaken since his discovery has benefited everyone on this planet."
"How? Tell me, how?" Begamon demanded.
Lytol held up the pad, the ink pen, and a sheet of the weather reports that Aivas had been producing for the past two Turns to the delight and relief of holders, major and minor. Then he pointed to the ornate clock on the wall, ticking away the minutes of the meeting, and to the new clothing in which Begamon was dressed, made from one of Master Zurg's latest fine fabrics.
"I also heard that you've new power to irrigate your fields and portable stoves to heat your orchards during frosts," Lytol replied. "Not to mention the fact that your youngest granddaughter owes her life to Master Oldive's new surgical techniques."
"They're things we can use, see, touch, Lytol." Begamon waved his hand over his head. "Not something beyond our reach and our ken."
"Then let the things you can use, see, and touch reassure you that there is more to be learned, more to be explored, more to be understood to improve our lives, to insure our lives," Jaxom said, speaking so earnestly that even the oldest, most hidebound Holders listened with something akin to respect for his sudden authority.
"Thank you for your report, Lord Jaxom," Lytol said, smoothly breaking the long pause. "Let us now address the subject of-" At the murmur of disagreement, he held up his hand. "You will all have plenty of time to speak to Lord Jaxom after the business of this Council is over. The second matter to be brought to your attention is a notification from the Mastercraftsmen of Pern."
"Not all the Mastercraftsmen," Corman said, jutting his chin out belligerently.
Lytol neither glared nor stared, but his look succeeded in making Corman feel abashed at having interrupted so rudely. "The Mastercraftsmen of Pern, with one exception, that of Master Norist of the Glass-smithcraft, notify this Council of their intention to form two new Halls: Printer Hall, to be loosely allied with the Harper Hall but independent and autonomous, with three main crafthalls: the main Hall to be at Landing, with additional installations at Ruatha, which currently harbors no Crafthall, and at Lemos, in conjunction with the paper industry of Masterwoodsmith Bendarek. The second new Hall is to be Technicians Hall, loosely allied with the Smithcrafthall, to deal with problems arising from the new equipment-"
"I'll say no to that one immediately," Sigomal said, jumping to his feet. "That's catering to the Abomination and-"
"There will be no vulgar epithets at this table, Lord Sigomal," Lytol said at his most censorious. "Nor should I have to repeat that the Mastercraftsmen have no need of your permission. You have only to abstain from the purchase of any materials produced by a Crafthall which distresses you. Since it comes to my notice that certain projects of yours have benefited from new gadgetry of which only Aivas could be the source, you would be wiser to refrain from uttering such arrant hypocrisies in the Council."
Gaping, Sigomal sank back.
Jaxom managed not to smile at the Bitran Lord Holder's discomfiture. One of the men who had tried to attack Aivas had been a Bitran, but that was scarcely proof that the Lord Holder had been co
"We will be duly informed when the new Mastercraftsmen are chosen and the parameters of their professional spheres decided. Let me further remind the Lord Holders that such additions to the Crafthalls require no ratification by this Council since the Halls have, by long custom, been autonomous. This is a formal notification of intent."