If only Farli could understand, Jaxorn thought, searching his own mind for any clues that he, or Ruth, might be able to give her. Ruth had perceived the difference, but he was much smarter than Farli. He understood so much-as much as I do, Jaxom thought with great pride.
As you understand, so do I. Ruth's tone was almost accusatory. It is not really a very long way between but it is up far.
Although Jaxom leaped to his feet, shouting "No, Ruth, no!" he was too late. For Ruth had already gone between.
"Jaxom!" Lessa exclaimed, her face white. "You didn't send him? "
"I most certainly did not. He just went." Jaxom was aghast, and Farli began shrieking protests, her wings extended, her eyes whirling with startled, angry red.
Outside, Ramoth and Mnementh bugled their own warnings.
Don't, Ramoth! Mnementh! Lessa cried. "We'll rouse everyone in Landing and they'll know something's gone wrong." Then she turned into F'lar, clutching at him in her fear for Ruthand for Jaxom.
"Jaxom?" F'lar bellowed seeing the shock on Jaxom's race. Mirrim, her tanned cheeks bleached white, had leaped to Jaxom's side, as had the other green riders, their expressions anxious, ready to support him. Robinton and F'nor were too stunned to react, so there was only Jancis to watch the screen and count.
"He's all right," Jaxom managed to say, though his mouth had gone terribly dry. The strong link with Ruth had attenuated to just a faint touch. "He's still with me."
"Did you tell him to go?" F'lar demanded, his expression so fierce that even Lessa recoiled.
Jaxom gave the Benden Weyrleader an inscrutable glare. "He bloody just went and did it! Ruth's got a mind of his own!"
Then Jancis leaped to her feet, gesticulating at the screen. "There! There! He's there! On the count of ten."
There, undeniably on the bridge, wings tucked tight, his whole body flattened, was Ruth. Before their eyes, he drifted upward, peering about him with an expression of astonishment, until his head touched the ceiling.
"Ah! Well done, Ruth! Jaxom!" Aivas's bellow of triumph cut across the racket of astonishment and surprise that reverberated around the room. "Jaxom, tell Ruth not to be surprised to float. He is, in free-fall, with no gravity for up and down. Warn him not to make any energetic movements. Does he understand, Jaxom?"
"I am, I did. He understands," Jaxom said, staring in fascination at the screen.
"See, Farli!" Piemur pointed excitedly. "Ruth's led the way for you." But Farli was so confused by the sudden cheering and shouting in the room that Piemur had to grab her by the cheeks and turn her head toward the screen and Ruth! "Go to Ruth!"
The little queen gave a squawk and, launching herself from Piemur's arm, disappeared.
"Jaxom, you tell Ruth to get back here right now!" Lessa shouted, recovering from her shock. "Mind of his own, indeed! I'll give him a mind to obey!"
"Restore yourselves to calm observation!" Aivas's voice once again cut through the furor. "Ruth is unharmed. And... Farli has found her way."
Piemur let out a yelp of surprise, plainly audible in a room suddenly gone very quiet. For Farli had indeed found her way to the bridge of Yokohama and, with one talon firmly hooked on the edge of the console, was diligently pulling toggles and pressing buttons. Lights appeared on the board.
"Mission accomplished," Aivas said. "They may return."
Farli came and has done her job, Ruth said, not realizing that Jaxom could see him. I'm floating. Let go, Farli. It's not at all like being between. A most unusual sensation. Not like swimming, either.
It was also a most unusual sight for those observing Ruth as he drifted gently across the bridge, a handspan above the arc of consoles, ducking his head to keep from scraping the ceiling.
As Farli released her grip, she, too, began to float. Startled, she extended her wings and gently revolved end over end, colliding with Ruth. He reached out to steady her, and both were propelled farther away from their original locations, toward the great plasglas window on the bow of the bridge complex. Suddenly Jancis began to giggle, and the tension in the room evaporated.
I think that's quite enough clowning about now, Ruth, Jaxom said, trying to sound stern. But he couldn't help grinning along with everyone else over the antics of the two creatures. You scared the life out of me! Now get back down here.
I knew exactly where to go. I showed Farli. I had no problem at all doing it, and this is fun. With a negligent shove of one wing, Ruth executed a complete turn in the air and began floating back toward the lift. Will we get to come back again?
Only if you and Farli get your bodies back on Pern this instant!
Oh, all right. If you say so.
Laughing with a mixture of amusement, sheer relief, and fury, Jaxom dashed down the corridor and outside. The others were close on his heels, full of triumph and the laughter of relief. Lessa, however, was raging at the risk Ruth had taken, and she knew from the set expression on F'lar's face that he felt the same.
Halfway down the corridor, F'lar caught Lessa by the arm. "You may be furious, Lessa, but we can't intervene in this. And I probably lost as many seconds of my life as you did over Ruth's leap."
"Ruth cannot be allowed to be so irresponsible," she said, fuming. "Jaxom isn't. I don't understand how Ruth gets away with such disobedience. Ramoth wouldn't."
"Ruth and Jaxom were not Weyr-trained. But don't think Ruth's going to get off easily for this escapade." He managed a droll grin. "Judging by the look on Jaxom's face, he's had a fright he won't forget. That will inhibit Ruth far more surely than threats from you and me." He gave her one of his little shakes. "More important, the less furor there is right now, the fewer rumors will abound."
Lessa let out a heavy sigh, glared at him, and then gave herself a shake, releasing herself from his grasp.
"Yes, we don't want this bruited about-at least, not quite yet. But I tell you, and I'll tell Jaxom, too, I don't want to live through another few seconds like that again. All I could think about was how under the heavens would we explain to Lytol."
F'lar grinned wryly. "As it's turned out, Lytol can print this up as a turning point in the modern history of Pern."
"And just won't he!"
Discretion muted the congratulations for the brave venturers, but everyone patted Ruth and scrubbed at his eyeridges until his eyes were whirling with delight. When Farli finally settled down again on Piemur's shoulder, she also received extravagant caresses. False dawn was just lightening the eastern horizon, so there was a good chance that few were awake to wonder at the fuss being made of Ruth.
"I think," Robinton began when the elation abated, "that we'd better return to Aivas. I, for one, would like to know what's next."
"Well, that depends on what Aivas learns from the instrumentation that Farli just turned on," Jaxom replied. "If the bridge is intact, warms up, and there's enough oxygen left in the tanks that supply that area, Ruth and I go up-together." He grinned. "That's when we initiate the telescopic sequences that will reaffirm the position of the system's planets-most particularly, our old enemy, the Red Star."
That was, however, not quite all that Aivas had in mind when, late the next day, the bridge atmospheric conditions were found to be satisfactory.
"Piemur, I would like you to accompany Jaxom," Aivas said when the group reassembled.
"I'm not supposed to go with him this trip," Piemur exclaimed.
"Originally, no. Two men will be needed for what should now be the first project. To demonstrate proper respect for Sallah Telgar, it is fitting that her mortal remains be brought back to Pern and properly interred. No doubt, Lord Larad would like to attend to whatever burial rituals are currently practiced."
A profound silence prevailed until Robinton cleared his throat.