Therefore, Clisser hoped that the music which had been composed as psychologically uplifting would have the desired effect: developing the morale and encouraging the effort.
Briefly he wondered what would have happened on old Earth, during the National period, if there’d been a common extraterrestrial enemy to unite the diverse races.
Jemmy and Sheledon had certainly written some stirring music, martial as well as hopeful. Some of the less ambitious tunes had a tendency to stay in the mind so that you woke up in the morning whistling one or hearing it in your head: the mark of a good melody to Clisser’s way of thinking. And they had scored the music for various solo instruments or combinations of those readily available, so that even inexperienced players in the most isolated Hold or Hall would be able to accompany singers.
Jemmy’s riddling song was a delight and Clisser hadn’t quite got all the answers yet, but it would prove useful during the hours of a Fall to distract folk about what was happening outside. Bethany’s lament - the first song she had ever composed - was next on the program and he settled back to listen to it.
But his mind, working overtime in anxiety over the success of his new program, refused to be caught up in the music.
Among other things, WHAT was he going to do about Bitra Hold? The last teacher he’d sent there had left, voiding his contract with Chalkin - not that Clisser blamed Issony when he’d heard the way the man had been humiliated and threatened by unruly holder children - but children had to receive rudimentary education. You couldn’t afford to let one whole province lapse into illiteracy.
To be sure, children learn at different rates; he knew that, and learning should be made as interesting as possible, to lay the foundations for further study and for life itself, for that matter.
That was the purpose of education: to develop the skills required to solve problems. And to utilize the potential that existed in everyone - even a Bitran, he added sourly.
Maybe he should reappoint Sallisha to that area? Then he chuckled. Not much chance of that. She had enough Seniority to refuse point blank.
He made up his mind then, with the lovely phrases of Bethany’s song soothing him, to bring up the problem of Chalkin, Lord Holder of Bitra, in the next Conclave. Something had to be done about the man.
During the final evening meal in which all three groups joined up on the Fort court for a dinner featuring three whole roasted steers, Clisser heard Chalkin’s name come up and homed in on the group discussing the man.
“That’s not all,” M’shall was saying, a deep frown on his usually amiable face, “he’s put up guards at the borders, and anyone who wants to leave can take only their clothes with them. Nothing else, not even the animals which they may have raised themselves.”
Clisser had not realized that the Benden Weyrleader had arrived, but his presence was certainly fortuitous.
“You’re speaking of Chalkin?” he asked when the others acknowledged his presence and made room for him in their circle.
M’shall gave a scornful laugh. “Who else would turn folks out of their holds right now?”
“I’ve just heard from one of my travelling teachers, Issony, and he’s quit and nothing would persuade him to go back to Bitra. But even they have to grow up literate.”
“Ha!” M’shall’s scoffing was echoed by the others.
“School hours keep Bitrans from other jobs which earn their Holder more marks. What did he do to Issony?”
“He’ll give you chapter and verse if you ask him. In fact, it would do him good. I understand one of your riders rescued him.”
“We do a lot of rescue work in Bitra,” M’shall said, not at all pleased by the necessity.
“But only non-Bitrans,” he added.
“Now, look,” and Bridgely seemed about to explode, “I will not succor all his refugees. And I will not lift a hand to help him when his Hold is overrun by Thread.”
“Ah,” and M’shall raised one finger in a sardonic gesture, “but you see, he doesn’t believe Thread’s coming.”
“Wouldn’t we feel silly if he was right after all?” said Farley, one of the other minor Fort holders. “Oops, wrong thing to say,” he added when coldly repressive stares rejected his witticism.
“Chalkin has always been contrary by nature,” Clisser said.
“But never such an outright fool.”
“Well, he’s exceeded even ‘damned fool’,” Bridgely said. “Is your teacher, Issony, here now?”
“Well, then, bring him up to Fort. We’re about to do something definitive about Chalkin.”
“Right now?” Clisser couldn’t help looking over at the roasting carcasses and sniffing at the succulent odors they were producing.
“I expect to eat, too,” said Bridgely, relenting.
“I just finished eating at Benden,” M’shall said, but his nose was twitching at the aromas. “Ah, well, we could have a slice to allow you to enjoy your meal.”
“Timed it just right, didn’t you?” Farley said with a grin for their obvious interest in the roasting meats. “Can something be done about an irresponsible Lord Holder?”
“Read your copy of the Charter, Farley,” Clisser advised.
“And how long have border guards - - -“ and Paulin paused, made indignant by such a measure “been in place?”
He’d assembled those concerned in his office at the Hold when they’d finished eating.
Issony was on call if his testimony was required.
“As near as we can figure out, about seven days,” M’shall said.
“As you know, we’ve been canvassing all the holds to see who, if any, of Chalkin’s people has been told about the imminence of Thread.”
“Surely they’d have heard that much at Gathers” Paulin began.
“Ha!” Bridgely put in. “Very few of his folk hear where or when Gathers are being held, much less attend them.”
“That isn’t right,” said Paulin, shaking his head.
“Frankly, Paulin, I’d say his tithing of them is punitive. None of them ever seem to have a mark to spend even when they do bring work to sell at a Benden Gather. Not that they’re encouraged to travel at all.”
“Even to Gathers?” Paulin answered his own query. “No, he wouldn’t encourage them, would he?”
“Not if he’s afraid they’ll compare conditions in another Hold. Also, he doesn’t like Bitran marks to go past his borders. And gets every one those high rollers have when they attend those friendly little games he runs,” M’shall said.
“I must confess I hadn’t known how restrictive he is.” Paulin spoke in a very thoughtful tone of voice.
“Well, how would you?” Bridgely replied, absolving him. “You’re west coast. We know because we see so few Bitrans at east coast gathers. Oh, his gamesters attend every one.”
“Hmm, yes, they’re ubiquitous, you might say,” Paulin murmured under his breath. “So, if he’s had to close the it would appear that some holders panicked when they learned Threadfall is indeed expected?”
“Indeed,” Bridgely agreed with a grim expression, “and when delegation got the nerve to approach him, he had them beaten out of the Hold. I saw the lash marks so I know they aren’t lying. They said they’d never seen him in such a temper.
“He announced that the dragon riders are trying to get extra tithing on false pretences by spreading such rumors. He was also quite damning about the new mine being opened above Ruatha when good Bitrans could have worked the Steng Valley ones.
“The world is against Bitrans?” Paulin asked in a droll tone.
“You got it,” M’shall agreed.