As Groghe turned away, Jaxom took the opportunity to inform Ruth of what was happening, asking him to tell Sharra.
Master Robinton thought it would go that way, Ruth replied. He asked have you told Toric? He didn't say what.
Groghe did, with Larad and Asgenar backing him up, Jaxom replied. Certainly it's giving Toric something to think about. More'n I could get him to do. There's a recess on right now. The west coast contingent needs more klah to wake up enough to listen. I'll keep you all informed.
Shortly thereafter, Lytol called the Lord Holders to order again and asked if anyone wished to add anything or supply new information to the Council.
"Another vote, Lytol," Deckter said. "There is other business to be discussed."
Jaxom had noticed Deckter in deep discussion with Warbret and hoped for success in that area. Two votes were all that was needed-unless Toric decided to be more difficult than usual.
This time everyone appeared to be counting as Lytol sorted, so all knew before the formal announcement that Ranrel had won. Sigomal looked ready to spit nails, glowering at Toric and Warbret, who had abandoned his cause.
"Ranrel has polled the requisite majority of twelve votes and is duly elected to succeed to his father's honor as Lord Holder of Tillek." Lytol gave Jaxom a warning sideways glance that the young Ruathan had no trouble understanding: He was not to make any premature announcement through Ruth.
"There are two other important reports to discuss in this Council. I now call upon Lord Jaxom of Ruatha Hold to inform us of any progress made toward the end of destroying Thread." Lytol inclined his head courteously to his former ward and sat down.
Jaxom stood abruptly, catching the attention of the entire table. The phrases he had rehearsed so often piled out of his mouth and continued even when he heard someone mumbling imprecations about the "Abomination's corruptions."
"Having received extensive training from the Aivas, Journeyman Harper Piemur and myself rode Ruth safely between and landed on the bridge of the Yokohama. We completed the programming of the telescope for use by Aivas from the Landing facility and initiated a damage report on the space vessel. We retrieved the remains of Sallah Telgar, which have since been suitably interred at Telgar Hold." He bowed deeply to Larad. "The next day Ruth transported me back to the bridge. I then proceeded to the cargo-bay area to close the outer doors, which had not shut due to a malfunction in the remote-closure program. Once the doors closed, I returned to the bridge and from there to Landing. Additional journeys to the Yokohama will be necessitated to improve the basic life-support systems, namely to replant the algae tanks. Additional personnel must become acclimated to free-fall conditions, and there will be several missions composed of different teams, using green dragons, in order to alter the telescope to maximize its use."
"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 grinning-the problem was turning unsuitable people away from Landing without giving offense.
"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 grinned back. "I think you will find, Lord Sigomal, that you will always want to have dragonriders on Pern."
"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."