The tack, he said, was all apprentice-made, pointing out the flaws that would have made them unsalable at any reputable Tannerhall.
"These could have been picked up from various Halls over the course of a Turn or two, from 'prentices needing Gathermarks. I'd say that whoever planned this has planned long and well," the Masterherder stated.
The sturdy but worn clothing was of a style and fabric available all across the continent, and the camping equipment had seen considerable use.
"Could've staked out here for a spell, just waiting for a good opportunity," Briaret guessed. "Like the ceremony at Telgar."
In one saddlebag the searchers found a small collapsible telescope of the sort used by fishermen, but it bore no other mark than the usual Telgar Smith stamp on the metal rim of the eyepiece.
When Master Idarolan was asked his opinion, he was outraged that any of his Craft could have been involved. He promised to investigate, admitting that there were some who were, unfortunately, no credit to their calling and were not above making a clandestine voyage for a full purse of marks after a bad season. He would name no one as yet, but he knew whom to watch, he assured everyone.
Swacky volunteered to stay at Landing as warder of the invaders, hoping that he might yet get one of them to confide in him.
Jayge lingered, too, finally admitting to Piemur and Jancis that he would very much like an interview with Aivas, if that was at all possible.
"No problem, Jayge," Piemur reassured him. He grinned broadly. "Beginning to think all this new technology has some use?"
Jayge gave a wry chuckle. "I need to know if Readis and Alemi are both losing their wits. They swear they've had more conversations with shipfish-dolphins. The dolphins say they came with the original settlers." Jayge set his jaw as if waiting for derision.
"Dolphins did come with the settlers, Jayge," Piemur reassured him. Jancis nodded, as well. Then the young harper's expression turned rueful. "We've been so busy with space that we really still haven't caught up on other important details. C'mon. Everyone else's busy with the intruders right now, so Aivas is free."
"The dolphins are indeed capable of communicating with humans," Aivas told Jayge when he asked. "Mentasynth enhancement is genetically transmitted, so that the ability would have survived through any number of generations. They were the most successful of the mentasynth experiments. It is good to know that the species has survived. Are they numerous? It would appear from the question, Holder Jayge, that contact has not been maintained. Is that so?"
"No, it has not," Jayge admitted apologetically. "Though my wife and myself, as well as my son and Masterfisherman Alemi, owe our lives to them."
"The species has always been considerate of humankind.
"And they do speak a language we humans could learn?"
"Since humans taught them the language, yes. But it would be the language of your ancestors, not that which is in current usage. This facility was able to make linguistic adjustments that would not be available to the dolphins, despite their great intelligence."
"The shipfish have great intelligence?" Piemur asked in surprise.
"They possess an intelligence measurably equal to, if not surpassing, most human intellects."
"I find that hard to believe," Piemur muttered.
"Believe it," Aivas replied. "Holder Jayge, if you are interested in reviving the communications link with dolphins, this facility would be glad to assist you."
Jayge grimaced. "It's not me, Aivas. I was just here and wanted to know. It's my son, Readis, and our Masterfisherman Alemi, who thought the dolphins were speaking."
"The resumption of that link could be of great value to fishermen and all who use the seaways. Time can be allotted to that study."
"I'll tell Alemi. He'll be delighted to hear it."
"Your son?"
"Oh, Readis is a child."
"A child has fewer inhibitions in learning new languages, Holder Jayge."
Jayge's eyes bulged in surprise. "But he's only five!"
"A most receptive age. This facility would take great pleasure in instructing young Readis."
"I'd really thought you all were embellishing your accounts of that Aivas of yours," Jayge said in a low voice to the grinning pair who escorted him out of the room, "but you were harpertrue this time."
"Aivas doesn't need embellishments," Piemur assured him smugly.
"You will bring Readis, won't you?" Jancis asked. "Tell Ara that I'd take very good care of him while he's here." She giggled. "I think it's the best thing I've heard yet. Shipfish are smarter than us humans!"
"I think we better keep quiet on that score," Piemur said, his expression solemn. "We've got enough trouble as it is. That opinion'd really start a snake hunt. Even with folks who've got a lot of common sense."
"I think it's marvelous," Jancis repeated, grinning in broad malice. "It's perfect. Alemi'll be over the moons."
Jayge looked chagrined. "Ara'll beat him there. She swore blind that the dolphins talked to her when they saved us from drowning."
"Then bring Ara, too," Piemur suggested. "There ought to be more than just two to learn dolphin talk. Say, you know it might be smart to teach more kids than just Readis. Not meaning to detract from him, Jayge, but if, say, we put it about that Aivas was teaching mainly kids, no adults would get suspicious. Because I'm serious, people. I don't think we ought to spread this intelligence thing about."
"I agree," Jancis said.
Jayge shrugged. "I'll accept that judgment. And I'll bring Readis, Alemi, and whoever else he thinks we should include. Talking to shipfish! Wow! That's a real stunner." And he shook his head slowly as his friends escorted him back to where V'line and bronze Clarmath waited to convey him back to Paradise River Hold.
The day before the Lord Holders Conference, the Benden Weydeaders held a short meeting at Cove Hold to decide whether to bring up the matter of the attempt to disable Aivas.
By then all eight men had recovered from the sonic coma: two would never be of use to anyone; none had recovered their hearing. Three wrote messages asking for relief from unbearable head pains, which finally abated after considerable dosing with fellis juice. Since none of them were willing to divulge any information about those who had hired them to attack Aivas, his guardians had no recourse but to have them all transported to the mines of Crom to work underground with other incorrigibles.
"Why do we have to bring the subject up at all? Let's just let rumor work for us," Master Robinton suggested with a devious smile. "Let them ask us for explanations. That is, if any are required."
"Seeing it my way for a change?" Lytol asked sardonically.
"The rumors are alive and exploding with inventiveness," Jaxom said, grinning at Piemur.
"I'm not sure that's altogether the wisest course," Lessa said, scowling.
"Who has ever controlled rumor?" Robinton demanded.
"You!" Lessa retorted promptly, her scowl disappearing into a wide smile for the person who had so often deliberately spread rumors.
"Not really," Robinton replied smugly. "Not after I sent off the original version."
"Well, then, what's being bruited about right now?" F'lar asked.
"That Aivas perceives the motives of anyone approaching him and has withered the unworthy," Piemur answered eagerly, ticking off the variations of his fingers. "That he horribly maimed some innocent petitioners who had the audacity to approach him early one morning because they overheard him plotting with Lord Jaxom." Jaxom had apparently heard that variation and only snorted. "That we installed a squadron of Gather champions to defend the place and they'll beat up anyone they didn't like the look of; that there is a full wing of dragons constantly on guard and that they are somehow under Aivas's complete control; that fire-lizards are afraid of their lives to come near Landing anymore; that the Aivas has deadly and powerful weapons that can paralyze anyone not totally committed to his intentions for Pern's future. That Aivas has control of all Weyrleaders and Lord Holders-" Piemur had to wait until the indignation of the attending Weydeaders subsided. "-and was going to take over the running of the planet, and that all too soon the three Dawn Sisters were going to come crashing down on Pern, causing irreparable damage to any Hold or Hall that won't support Aivas. And if the Dawn Sisters lose their position in the sky, all the other stars will go out of control, so that's how Aivas will prevent any further Threadfall, because Pern will be totally destroyed and not even Thread will find it hospitable." Piemur took a deep breath and, his eyes glinting with amusement, asked, "Heard enough?"