Nurevin snorted. "I heard that one at Bitra. I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now. That Aivas thing is scary, but I've not seen anything produced yet that didn't help us in some way or t'other. Best axle grease I ever had was something that Aivas gave the Smithcrafthall. And that new metal for cotter pins that don't bend or snap when the wheels are stressed."
Kimi reentered, chittering about the success of her trip and stroking her golden head on Sebell's cheek before she held out her message-laden leg. Excusing himself, Sebell read the message.
"Late as it is there, I'm bid to Cove Hold. If you'll excuse me..."
He was ushered out by the two Lord Holders.
"You wonder sometimes, don't you, Asgenar," Larad said sadly as they turned to reenter the warm, comfortable room, "why people can be so ornery."
"I think it has to do with a resistance to being done good to.'
"Not if they're putting Master Robinton at risk," Larad said, still horrified by that possibility. "He's never harmed anyone in his life. This world would rise up to the least child to protest such infamy."
"Which, unfortunately, makes him the most useful hostage," Asgenar said with a sigh of regret.
By the time Sebell reached Cove Hold, it was early morning there. He and the brown dragon who was conveying him were immediately greeted by swarms of chittering fire-lizards as dense in the sky as Thread. Tiroth, ensconced on the grassy sward before the hold, blinked orange-laced eyes until he and brown Folrath identified each other. Sebell was pleased to see so many guardians already in place. Not that the whilom abductors could as yet have gotten so far as Cove Hold, given the journey they would have to make from Bitra, or even from the nearest seaport.
Every glowbasket in the main room was wide open, shedding light on Robinton, D'ram, Lytol, and T'gellan, who were sitting at the big round table. A collapsed wineskin indicated that much discussion had already taken place. Sebell was glad to see the Eastern Weyrleader present.
"Ah, Sebell," Robinton cried, raising his arm in welcome, his expression so merry that Sebell thought the Harper was perversely enjoying his jeopardy. "Any more news of this scurrilous scheme?"
Sebell shook his head, grinning at his reception but noting immediately that the Harper's ebullience was not echoed by others at the table.
"You know as much as anyone, though Nurevin has assured me he'll keep in touch with Brestolli, by fire-lizard, in case the man hears more to the point."
"I've sent Zair with a message to Master Idarolan," Robinton said, "in the hope that he can intercept the conspirators."
"We've had quite enough of petty vandalism and wanton destruction of property," Lytol said, a deep angry scowl on his face. "This time we must catch the scofflaws and discover everyone who has aided and abetted them. For anyone to even contemplate harming Master Robinton, a man to whom all Pern owes a very great debt..."
"Now, now, Lytol," Robinton said, circling Lytol's stiff shoulders with a soothing arm, "don't carry on so. You're embarrassing me. And this whole scheme only shows how basically stupid our detractors are. As if they had a chance of penetrating my loyal minions." The Harper gestured to the storm of fire-lizard fairs outside the window.
"I know they can't reach you, Robinton," Lytol said, banging his fist on the table and making the goblets jump, "but the fact that they would dare..."
Robinton grinned maliciously. "Maybe I should let myself be captured? Hauled off unceremoniously," he began as Lytol stared at him, aghast, "taken to wherever they plan to incarcerate me, and then-" He lifted his free hand and clenched it suddenly into a fist. "-let the avenging wings swoop down on the despicable rabble and carry them off forthwith to be dropped in the deepest of Larad's mines, condemned to toil off their misspent energies in useful work."
Lytol's expression turned to resignation and disgust. "You should take this seriously, my friend."
"I do. I really do!" Robinton altered his mobile face. "I'm deeply saddened that I, or anyone, on Pern could be victimized in this horrendous fashion. But," he added, holding up one finger, "it's more ingenious than trying to burn space-engine fuel or sabotage Aivas. We really ought to ask his advice, you know."
"If it weren't for Aivas-" Lytol began heatedly, then broke off when he realized what he had said. T'gellan and Sebell tried to smother their spontaneous guffaw. Lytol abruptly got to his feet and strode out of the room.
When Sebell made to go after the old Warder, Robinton held up his hand, and the younger harper settled back into his chair.
"He has every right to be upset," D'ram said in a slow, sad voice. "It is terrible to think that there are people who oppose all the good that Aivas has done for us and would go to such great lengths to destroy him and those of us who have the vision to appreciate the potential."
"Look, I see no real chance of anyone reaching Master Robinton," T'gellan said, leaning forward on his elbows across the table. "They cannot have thought this through very carefully. They can know nothing of Cove Hold or how many people are in and out on a daily and-" He gave Sebell a wry grin. "-early-morning basis."
"Have you forgotten the raid on Landing?" Sebell asked. "Horses, gear, experienced mercenaries. If Aivas hadn't his own defenses, that could have succeeded. We can't allow ourselves to be complacent."
"Well said, Sebell," D'ram replied. "However, what Robinton suggested so glibly has merit. If we wish to find the ones behind these attempts, it would be smart of us to set no apparent"-and he held up his hand to emphasize that adjective "reinforcements, make no obvious alterations of our daily routines."
"Agreed..."
"All the while making certain that Robinton is never left alone."
"As if I ever am," Robinton said, feigning an outraged glower.
"I apologize in advance," Sebell said in a contrite tone, "for suggesting this. But if G'lanar was disaffected..."
D'ram raised his hand in understanding, but it was T'gellan who answered, his expression bleak.
"Ramoth herself spoke to the remaining Oldtimer, dragons they're the only ones who might still be contentious enough to cause problems. But every one of them was appalled by G'lanar's action," the bronze rider said, "and none can dissemble before Ramoth!"
Sebell looked immensely relieved. "Then we can rule out that possibility."
"Somehow that doesn't greatly reassure me," D'ram said in a lugubrious voice. "We're not dealing with fools."
"No, we're dealing with fearful men, and they're more dangerous."
The silicone fluid, worked well into the joints of the waldo gloves, restored mobility-except in the third finger of the left hand, a limitation that posed no great problem.
"What would we have done if the silicone fluid didn't work?" Manotti asked, winking at his colleagues to indicate that he was teasing their mentor.
"There is always an alternative course of action, though it may be less efficient and productive," Aivas replied. "Now, Sharra, be good enough to place a Thread section in the chamber and, using a blade, slice the specimen at a slant, thus exposing all layers. Now, what do you see?"
"Rings, springs, and the shapes you called toruses," Sharra said. "An odd goo, a yellow liquid, some strange pastes in peculiar shades of yellow, gray, and white, and some other substances that seem to change color."
Tamara made a revolted noise deep in her throat and turned away.
"You must all realize," Aivas began in a stern tone, "that the most important piece of apparatus in the laboratory is your brain. Just as you made the microtools to effect this dissection, you must make your brains the right instrument for this task. The most useful thing is the moment-by-moment interaction of your brain seeing these things for the first time. Even your reaction, Tamara, has a certain validity. Now, set that reaction aside, and observe. What else do you see, Sharra?"