The CS on Pern
The CBB -> St Clare's House
#1: The CS on Pern Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:57 pm

During a very boring day at work, with no network connection, let alone the Internet (Oh woe!!! No CBB or MSN!!!), the bunny really took a bite!

The last term that the triplets spent at the Chalet School came to an end and the girls dispersed to their homes as usual. Jo and her extended family departed for the Tiernsee shortly afterwards as usual to spend the summer at their home by the lake and the Chalet School staff also departed to their various homes. All at first seemed the same as every other summer holiday. However, as the weeks went by some people noticed a subtle change creeping over them. A sense of unreality, a distancing from the life going on around them, as if they no longer really belonged. Hilda Annersley spoke to her great friend Nell Wilson on the phone and brought the subject up almost at the end of the conversation, as if it was an afterthought carrying no importance rather than the major concern she felt it to be.
“Have you noticed anything odd recently Nell?” she asked. “A feeling of unreality is the nearest I can come to describing it.”
“Now you mention it I have,” replied Nell. “It’s as if we no longer belong here somehow.”
“You know that the author has died, don’t you? I think that that is the direct cause. It’s subtle at the moment, but I suspect that it will become more pronounced as time goes on.”
She was correct in her assumption. The next term began with no new girls at all. The Gornetz Platz had the same slight air of not belonging that the central characters had felt. It was clear also that it was affecting some of the girls more than others. The strong characters created by the author were still firmly part of the school, but many of the girls were starting to fade slightly. The triplets noticed that they were often overlooked by their tutors, both in class and in tutorials as if they had forgotten that they were there – a disconcerting experience at first, though all three grew used to it in time. The three years that Len & Con spent at university passed with the phenomenon getting worse all the time and they returned to the Gornetz Platz after graduation with a feeling of relief. Only Margot would return to England in the Autumn and she was dreading it as she knew she would feel almost totally isolated by then.
There was a sudden return to normality at the start of the next term however, and Hilda and Nell agreed that it had to be because of the new Chalet School book, written by someone new, which detailed the events of the term. The countryside returned to something approaching normality for the whole of the term, though the Maynards in particular would have preferred things to have stayed as they were after Jo had had her accident. The wedding of Len and Reg signalled an end to the interlude and things almost snapped back to the way they had been before that start of the Autumn term. Gradually former pupils began to drift back to the Platz – the more strongly drawn ones that had had an impact on the series. Mary Lou and her gang, most of the first pupils who had been at the school when it was in Tyrol, all the members of the Russell/Bettany/Maynard clan, people like Tom Gay, the Lucys and Chesters had all arrived by the time the summer holidays started. Jack and her friends just never left when term ended, as if they knew that there was really nowhere for them to go.
Hilda and Nell were having afternoon tea with Jo a couple of days later and all three were discussing the situation.
“I think that it is only because people are writing stories about us that we still exist,” said Hilda reflectively. “If there were more stories about us after Len’s marriage it would be better, but there isn’t, so we are just carrying on as we were. There will be no new girls next term, you know, so the school will gradually wind down until there is nothing left.”

Last edited by Pat on Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:49 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#2:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:10 pm

Glad your day was boring, Pat! Cue the CBB?

 

#3:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:14 pm

I thought you were quiet, Pat!!! *Awaits a further installment, which may possibly add to the sense of unreality*

 

#4:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:35 pm

So by writing this drabble, Pat is saving Hilda et al from fading away completely? I wonder if they'll realise...?

 

#5:  Author: Lisa, Location: South Coast of England PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:13 pm

Oh wow! What a great idea. I look forward to seeing how you develop this ... *weebles at thought of characters fading away* What will happen to the characters when they are resurrected by drabbles? I mean, if a horrid or funny drabble is written, how will it impact on the much maligned characters? Interesting.....

 

#6:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:32 pm

Wow!!! More of this please Auntie Pat!!!

 

#7:  Author: catherine, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:35 pm

Wow, Pat! This could be very interesting - please continue!

 

#8:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:59 pm

Fantasic idea Pat, with all the stories now produced they will be postively thriving!!

 

#9:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:25 pm

“But what can we do about it?” demanded Jo. “We can’t write about ourselves, it wouldn’t work. Equally there is no way of contacting the people who are writing to ask them to write more about the future of the school.”
“I think we must hope that someone else brings us into their own books. We would change, of course, but we would still exist,” Nell Wilson contributed. “I have been thinking for some time that that might be our solution.”
“In which case you may very well have started the process just by mentioning it. What do you feel about it Jo? Could you transfer to another book do you think?”
“I don’t know Hilda. It would be very strange I would think. Are you talking about another school series?”
“Not necessarily,” replied Nell. “Anything would do. It would perhaps be easier to transfer to something totally different. Another school would be too much the same as well as being too different. I know I haven’t expressed that very well, Hilda, so don’t pick me up on it please. You both know what I mean!”
“I was not going to say anything Nell. It’s a rather difficult concept to express and I believe you managed quite well in the circumstances. I agree that it would be harder in some ways to move to another school series – we would be comparing and contrasting too much to settle down properly. Something completely different would keep us on our toes, but give us no room to compare things to the detriment of the new place.”

Meanwhile another conversation was taking place on a planet far, far away, circling a star that cannot be seen from Earth.
“You must rest more, Sebell,” urged Menolly. “I’m worried about your health. If you go on as you are you will strain your heart as Robinton did.”
“I’m aware of that!” snapped Sebell, though he immediately apologised. “Menolly, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that. I’m trying to run two busy schools and oversee all the Harpers in the various Holds at the same time. To be honest, I’m exhausted.”
“You need to delegate Sebell. No one can do everything as you are trying to do. Can’t you find someone to take over the schools for instance?”
“We don’t have anyone suitable for one of them, let alone both! The Harpers are very good at what they do, don’t get me wrong, but there is no one I would trust to carry out my ideas for the schools.”
“We need someone in from outside then. Someone, or preferably two someones, who are experienced in running a school. Couldn’t the author find us a solution like that?”
“Who would be prepared to come? No one wants to leave their own scenario like that. The only way would be if their own author died, but you know as well as I do that the characters usually die at the same time. Once there is no one writing about them they fade away, pretty quickly too.”
“I know. It’s a real problem Sebell. But so is your health. We must hope that we can accomplish something now we have voiced it.”

Back on the Platz everyone who still had some life about them began to congregate at the school. Madge and Jem Russell had joined their children when the San in the Welsh mountains had started to fade away. The branch on the Platz was still there, though it was not very noticeable any more, kept there by the occasional mention in the stories that were still being written. There were very few patients and very little for the doctors to do anymore. They too wanted something to stretch themselves and stood grouped together in the school gardens a little apart from their women folk. The two groups drifted closer together as almost unnoticed a wall of air formed about them. It started to spin slowly around the party speeding up as the minutes passed until it was impossible to look at it. The people caught in the middle of this vortex huddled together in fear, wondering what was happening until a soft American voice broke the unnatural silence that had fallen.
“Don’t be afraid, my dears. You voiced a wish to transfer to another series. I have a place for your experience and I could not throw up the opportunity you presented me with. Most characters pass away when their author dies, which makes all of you somewhat unique. Try not to panic and try to make the most of the opportunity I have given you. You will find that there is work for you that you will understand, for there are two schools which need experienced Heads to run them. That is all that will be familiar though. I must warn you that my genre is Fantasy and you will find yourself on another planet with problems that you have never dreamed about. I think you are all people who can adjust to this, so please don’t disappoint me.”
The group of people looked at each other in surprise and with a good deal of fear. Then Jo gave a short laugh.
“Beware of what you ask for,” she said. “For you may get more than you bargained for. Well we have certainly asked and now we must make the best of it, I suppose. I see that Hilda and Nell will certainly have work in this new place. I only hope we can all find a place where we fit in.”

As she spoke the vortex began to slow down rapidly. As it stopped and the wall of air surrounding them vanished they realised that they had been separated. The Chalet School staff found themselves standing in a large stone-paved courtyard, with a number of buildings around the perimeter. They had sturdy shutters that could be closed over every window though now they stood open to the air. Ahead of them was a doorway that seemed to lead inside a great cliff that stretched away out of sight in both directions. Windows had been cut into the cliff face and there was a murmur of young voices drifting out. A bell rang from somewhere inside and almost immediately the noise level increased. Suddenly a mixed group of girls and boys erupted into the courtyard shouting at the tops of their voices. Hilda turned to Nell.
“A mixed school, it seems. Well that will be different I expect!”

 

#10:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:33 pm

This is great Pat. I'm so glad you have decided to do a Pern crossover, such a shame it appears to be after Robinton as I would have loved to see him and Hilda.

 

#11:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:40 pm

Trying to work out how Joey will fit into Pern - another Lessa perhaps? Thanks Pat! Kiss

 

#12:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:01 pm

Yay!!!!!! Loving this Auntie Pat!!!

 

#13:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:07 pm

Before Nell could reply a voice spoke from the doorway.
“Welcome to Pern. My name is Sebell. I know who you are as a group because we have been warned to expect you. Won’t you come inside and we can start to get to know each other.”
“We aren’t all here,” said Nell Wilson as they started to move forward. “Where are the rest of our party please?”
“Don’t worry, they have gone where they are most needed. The doctors and their families have gone to our Healer Hall and the rest to the main Hold. They are all expected and will be warmly greeted.”
Before long the party were seated in a comfortable room with beautifully woven hangings covering the rock walls. They had been served with a hot drink called Klah that tasted delicious and a variety of cakes and biscuits.
When everyone had been served Sebell cleared his throat and the conversation died away.
“I think I had better give you some background to our story,” he said. “We are all descended from people who came from Earth about 2,000 Turns ago. These are equivalent to your years. This explains why we speak the same language, though I understand that it has changed more than a little. Some eight turns after our ancestors arrived on Pern they were struck by a rain of what we called Thread which literally ate everything living with which it came into contact. Nothing survived that it hit. The defended their homes and livestock by attacking the thread from aircars, using flame throwers but the toll it took on the aircars made them realise that they would soon stop functioning. To replace them the scientists amongst them developed large flying creatures that would bond with a human at birth, and communicate with them telepathically. They also had the ability to move form one place to another instantaneously, to teleport, and these have enabled us to survive the onslaught of the Threads. The attacks lasted for about 50 years and returned every 250 years until the last attack. With the help of a computer that our ancestors left behind we have been able to stop the reoccurrence of these attacks. We are now trying to educate our population to the standard initially desired by the first people here and that is where we need your help. I simply do not have the time to run the school here and the one on our Southern continent. Are you willing to take this off my hands?”
“I don’t see why not,” replied Miss Annersley. “We will need to see exactly what is involved of course, but I would prefer to be occupied now that I’m here. How will we travel to the school on the other continent?”
“By dragon,” said Sebell simply. “You will be there extremely quickly and travelling by boat takes weeks. The Harper Hall can call on dragon transport when it needs to.”
“Dragons?” queried Nell Wilson. “Do you mean the animals your ancestors developed are dragons?”
“That’s the nearest description we have. They are very safe Miss Wilson, even though they do breathe fire as the legends describe. They only burn Thread I assure you.”

 

#14:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:12 pm

Whoo hoo!!! Please may we have Hilda and Nell adragonback????? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?

 

#15:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:37 pm

Ooooh, what an interesting crossover! Gave me quite a surprise as I clicked on the next page and someone Sebell and Menolly were there! (I don't like Menolly Smile) Looking forward to more! ~LadyG

 

#16:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:58 pm

Thanks Pat! (I like Menolly)

 

#17:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 10:14 pm

Brilliant, Pat! I would also have liked to see Robinton and Hilda Rolling Eyes I love the books and have everything she has written.

 

#18:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:29 am

I have never read the Pern books (I am not that keen on fantasy) but am liking this crossover.

 

#19:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:18 pm

Just a little further along the cliff face, the Russells and Maynards had also found themselves gazing up at the towering heights above them. The courtyard they were in linked to the Harper Hall’s and they glimpsed their friends standing together in a group. Then they were being greeted by the Head of the Healer Hall and had no more time for looking about them. Jem and Jack found that their skills were as much in demand as the Chalet School staff, both as Healers and as teachers.
“Your families will be encouraged to find their own ways to help the community. We encourage everyone to contribute as our economy depends on the skills of every person.”
“But women are fully occupied looking after the home and children!” objected Jem in surprise, though Madge looked intrigued at the thought.
“Not here doctor. We can’t afford to support people who aren’t contributing. I’m sure both your wives will be happy to follow our customs.” He had seen the pleased reaction of both women at his announcement.
Len had looked around her as they walked into the Hall and noticed that there was no sign of Reg. He had been a minor character until their engagement and had been fading ever since their wedding. She found herself relieved to have left him behind and a little guilty that she felt that way. Her parents had not yet noticed his absence and she wondered what they would say when they did. With no author to push things along she was not ‘busy’, much to her relief now that they were away form her normal environment.
“I shall return to teaching if I may,” she said firmly. “I will have to find another specialisation, since I think there is no call for Earth languages here.”
“I would like to complete my medical training,” said Margot. “I was into my final couple of years when we left.”
The rest of both families were happy to find their feet before they decided on their futures and before long they were settling into quarters deep within the cliffs.

Most of the other Chalet School people had been deposited outside the main doors of Fort Hold to be greeted personally by Lord Groghe, the elderly Lord Holder. As with the other two groups they were given a brief explanation of the planet’s history before being shown the quarters where they were to live, at least until they had decided on their futures.

 

#20:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:23 pm

Silly Jem! Glad Len and Margot have the chance to contribute! What will Joey and Madge do? Thanks Pat!

 

#21:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:28 pm

Wonderful Pat!!!! Love that Reg has faded........ Wink

 

#22:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:33 pm

I do hope Anna was sufficently unfaded to make the move. I can see her in her element working with Manora Razz Wonders if Joey's voice will qualify her as a harper? Sorry to those who have not read the books! I'm thrilled at this crossover as the Pern books are my favourite comfort reading when I'm too tired or stressed to look for something new. Lovely, Pat!

 

#23:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:46 pm

Oh, you're tempting me into a re-read! Now which books do I have with me (probably none of them, grrrr. Will have to wait until bank holiday weekend then) I think Margot will do really well! And I'm kinda glad Reg has gone as well. So, we're set post-Robinton, but the action all takes place in the North? Hey, do we get to see some dragonriders some time? Especially F'nor? I can just imagine Con being struck with wonder at the sight Very Happy Beautiful! ~LadyG

 

#24:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 7:54 pm

Just read Lady G's post and realised that Con was not mentioned as they arrived Crying or Very sad Come on, let's believe in Con, like we did in Tinkerbell!

 

#25:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 8:20 pm

I just realised I missed out a sentence in my post - Con was not supposed to be struck with wonder at the sight of F'nor, but instead the dragins! Lol! ~LadyG

 

#26:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:01 pm

It was only a few days later when the future of two of the Maynards were settled and in a more spectacular way than any of them had expected. The family were walking down the main road towards the distant sea port when there was a rush of icy cold air and a blue dragon settled onto the ground in front of them. Everyone stopped abruptly, for this was the first time any of them had seen one of the dragons and they were all more than a little nervous. The Rider slipped nimbly to the ground, using his dragon’s foreleg as a step, and walked up to them.
“Good morning,” he greeted them courteously. “I am T’melth. Milenth, my dragon informs me that you are some of the new people who have recently arrived. May I welcome you to Pern?”
“Thank you,” said Jo, feeling that someone should return the greetings. “It’s all very strange at the moment, but I’m sure we shall get used to things in time.”
“You may find it happening rather more quickly I’m afraid. Ramoth, the Benden Queen has laid a gold egg, a Queen egg, and it is nearly time for hatching to start. Milenth says that one of the young ladies, your daughter I presume, would make an excellent candidate for the Queen egg. Also her brother has the necessary skills to attract one of the other dragonettes at hatching. I know this is plunging you in at the deep end, but we really do need to have all the candidates at the Weyr as soon as possible. If the two young people are willing I would like to take them with me now. You will all be invited to the Weyr for the Hatching of course.”
“Who do you have in mind?” asked Jack, feeling a little belligerent at this calm assumption that this man could take his children away.
T’melth turned briefly to his dragon before looking back at Jack.
“The twins, Felix and Felicity. We always have more candidates than eggs so that the dragons can have some choice. They may not make Impression you know.”
The twins had moved closer to the dragon as the conversation went on, and Felicity reached out and tentatively scratched the huge beast under his chin. Milenth closed his eyes in ecstasy and almost purred his delight at the attention. Not wanting to be left behind, Felix also began to stroke the beautiful smooth skin of the dragon.
“He is beautiful, Papa,” said Felicity. “Please let me go. I’m sure it will be all right.”
“I’m going whatever you say,” said Felix. “If I can have a chance to Impress a dragon I want to take it.”
Jo and Jack looked helplessly at their offspring, wanting to protect them from the strangenesses of the new world they found themselves in. It was Con who broke the tableau, surprising both her parents.
“Let them go,” she said. “We have to make our own way here, more than we would have had to do at home. You can’t keep on protecting us all you know. They are young enough to adapt quite easily.”
Seeing their parents wavering, Felix and Felicity took matters into their own hands and climbed onto the dragon’s neck, with a little help from his Rider, and settled themselves between the neck ridges.

 

#27:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:03 pm

Awww, lovely - and good for Con!

 

#28:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:22 pm

Lovely. Now will thy impress, and if so what. I do hope it's not a green, I can't see the maynards coping with that! Twisted Evil

 

#29:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:24 pm

A gold and a bronze - have to be! .....Though let's hope they are not stationed in the same weyr - could be interesting at mating time!

 

#30:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:51 pm

*bounces excitedly* More please Auntie Pat!!!!

 

#31:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 7:58 pm

“When we take off we will be going Between to Benden Weyr,” explained T’melth. “You will see, feel and hear nothing Between, but don’t be afraid, Milenth and I will still be here. It’s also very cold, but we will be Between only as long as it takes to cough three times, though it may feel much longer to you.”
Milenth beat his great wings and the ground fell away beneath them, reminding them of the only time they had flown on Earth. They both felt the signal as T’melth asked Milenth to go Between and suddenly they were in darkness so complete that they could not even tell whether their eyes were open or not. It seemed to last forever, but suddenly they popped out into daylight again and the view below had completely changed. They were spiralling down over a huge volcanic crater that looked to their bemused gaze to be occupied. As they dropped lower they could see a lake at one end and row upon row of cave openings in the walls of the volcano. People were crossing the floor from great openings at ground level, and around the edge of the heights were ranged dragons. Blue, brown and green predominated, but there were some huge bronze beasts basking in the sunlight and two magnificent golden ones – the Queens. On a ledge below, outside one of the largest cave entrances, Felicity caught a glimpse of another Queen – large than either of the ones basking on the cliff tops, and beside her an enormous bronze dragon.
“Those are Ramoth and Mnementh,” explained T’melth when he saw where they were looking. “They are the Weyrleader’s and Weyrwoman’s dragons. Lessa and F’lar will want to greet you, I’m sure.”
Milenth landed gently in front of the main entrance to the Weyr and the group slid to the ground. Hurrying towards them were two people, looking fit and strong although it was clear that they were no longer young.
“Welcome to Bendon. Come along inside and we’ll get you sorted out.” Lessa smiled at the pair, who were just beginning to realise that they’d let themselves in for more than they’d bargained for.
F’lar smiled down at them, his strange amber eyes showing a great deal of sympathy at their obvious confusion. “You look as if you don’t know whether you’re on your heads or your heels,” he said. “I know that you’ve only just arrived on Pern so all this must be very strange to you. Unfortunately we have very little time to get you settled in, for the eggs will start hatching at any moment. We do need to introduce you to the eggs and give you some sort of idea of what to expect when Hatching starts.”

 

#32:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2004 9:02 pm

Oh good, please let both of them Impress!

 

#33:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Aug 15, 2004 11:13 pm

Oooh! Thank you Pat! *crosses fingers for more!*

 

#34:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 11:10 am

*seriously tempted to dig out the Pern books* I've only read The Rowan, Damia, Damia's Children, etc. This is brilliant, Pat!!!!!!!! (I like telepathy. Shades of Darkover... not to speak of the Trillium books) BTW, has anyone here read Lois McMaster Bujold?

 

#35:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 5:09 pm

Quote:
This is brilliant, Pat!!!!!!!! (I like telepathy. Shades of Darkover... not to speak of the Trillium books)
I like telepathy too (to read and write it). Am currently reading Sharra's Exile Smile I'm looking forward to more fo this! ~LadyG

 

#36:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:19 pm

When the twins entered the Hatching Ground they found that Ramoth had returned to her eggs which were hardening on the hot sand. There were around twenty large mottled eggs lying in a group, and a glistening gold one to one side, which Ramoth was guarding jealously. A group of teenage boys were gathered about the main group of eggs and a handful of young girls were trying to pluck up the courage to approach the Queen egg. F’lar took Felix across to an older man who was clearly in charge of the groups and spoke quietly to the man.
“This is Felix, he’s one of the group that has just transferred from Old Earth,” he said quietly. “He’ll need more than the basic introduction that we give the other candidates so that he won’t get too alarmed when the time comes.”
“Don’t worry F’lar, I’ll see to him. He’s got plenty of courage if he was prepared to take this on when he’s only just got here. Is that his sister?”
“Felicity, yes; they’re twins, so we may have to consider moving one of the other in due course if they both Impress.”
Lessa led Felicity across the burning hot Sands to the golden egg and encouraged her to reach out and touch it. It was hard and warm and Felicity could almost sense the life inside the egg waiting for Hatching to begin. With no preconceived ideas she listened to Lessa’s quiet words of instruction carefully.
“When Hatching starts you will join the other girls around the egg,” she said. “You will find that it starts rocking a little time before it cracks open, but once it starts cracking everything will happen very quickly. The baby Queen be looking for someone to Impress. That means she will bond with one of the girls for life. The dragons are telepathic, so if you are the lucky candidate she will tell you her name and immediately demand food. They all know their names, don’t ask me how, but it’s a fact. Some of the Green dragons may look at the unsuccessful girls, so don’t think all is lost if you don’t Impress the Queen.”
The two spent nearly an hour with the eggs, getting used to the feel of them and learning more about what would happen when the Hatching started. By the time they returned to the main cave they were worn out with trying to make sense of everything and were very happy to sit down with a hot mug of klah and wait for the evening meal.

 

#37:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:30 pm

Like the little point of moving one of them if both Impress, Pat! Laughing Excellent.

 

#38:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:30 pm

Wonderful, Auntie Pat!!!! More soon please!

 

#39:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:36 pm

That was great. Hope to see lots more when I get back.

 

#40:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:36 pm

Thanks, Pat. *adds choir of "more" chanters piano
Quote:
Some of the Green dragons may look at the unsuccessful girls, so don’t think all is lost if you don’t Impress the Queen.
Glad you put that in -- when I saw there were no girls around the main egg cluster, I wondered, as I thought Mirrim had broken that barrier by this point in the series! Don't know about the "unsuccessful" adjective, though, with the implication that a green would be second best. Well, maybe, in a rank conscious sort of way, but it always seemed Impression left dragon and rider feeling blissful about each other, no matter what Confused .

 

#41:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 3:00 pm

But it was always there, implicitly, that green riders were inferior to the others, perhaps because the greens would mate fairly promiscuously.

 

#42:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 5:39 pm

Oh, I don't deny that greens were second from the bottom in McCaffrey's ranking system. I just didn't think it the kind of thought one would express at an Impression! Though, come to think of it, there were comments such as the one to the effect that the miner lad 'had done rather well, Impressing a brown.' *not always comfortable with the class issues and promiscuity, but enjoys Pern all the same* Pat, where are you?

 

#43:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:45 pm

The Chalet School staff had spent their first full day touring the Harper Hall and looking at the teaching methods employed there. It was clear that there were distinct anomalies in the teaching. Much of the basics were taught by rote, using song in many cases, but there were also some areas that were well in advance of anything they had come across before. Computers were the obvious example of this and they soon realised that they would need to learn how to use them very quickly. After the midday meal Hilda and Nell retired to Sebell’s office to discuss business.
“I have a great deal to do and no time to do it in,” said Sebell once they were settled with cups of hot klah. “I have all the Harpers to oversee as well as organise the education for the whole planet. The two main sites for education are here, where the teaching is more traditional and on Southern, where we concentrate on modern technology. There is no problem with the music side of things, but I am desperate for help running the two schools. Could you help out? I understand you were in charge of an educational establishment on Earth?”
“We were, but it was very traditional. For example, we know nothing about computers.” Hilda was determined to be open with this very harassed man, as it would give him no help to mislead him.
“Could we see the establishment on Southern?” asked Nell. “Would it take too long to get there?”
Sebell grinned. “No time at all on dragonback,” he said. “Do you think you are ready for that?”
The two Heads looked at each other. They had seen the great dragons from a distance and had seen them abruptly disappear when going Between.
“We will have to be ready at some point,” said Hilda, though Nell could see that it took an effort to appear as unconcerned as she did. There was not a twitch nor a tremor in face or voice and Sebell smiled in relief.
“Very well. I’ll contact Fort Hold for a Rider and we can be off as soon as he arrives. Stay here and finish your klah while I deal with it.”
They looked at each other ruefully as the door closed behind him.
“You were quite right, you know Hilda,” said Nell encouragingly. “We’ll have to do this at some point.”

When Sebell returned it was with a fit young man wearing leather riding gear. “This is G’len, the rider of bronze Ranith,” he said. He has agreed to convey us to Southern. The two women rose and followed them from the room, stepping out into the courtyard with some trepidation. In the middle of the vast space was a bronze dragon, gleaming in the sunshine. Hilda swallowed slightly and fastened the helmet G’len passed her over her hair., Nell following suit. Then they climbed carefully onto the back of the dragon, settling into the neck ridges. When they burst out of Between into the skies above Landing both were white but had regained their normal calm appearance by the time they had landed. As they slid to the ground Hilda heard a voice though she was sure that none of the men around her had spoken.
“Well done. I will be happy to take you anywhere.”
It would be some time before she realised that the voice was Ranilth’s, and that he had spoken to her alone.

 

#44:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:51 pm

Pat, this is wonderful, and getting more wonderful with each post! Very Happy Thank you!

 

#45:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Tue Aug 17, 2004 8:58 pm

Excellent! And we get to see some of the South as well Smile ~LadyG

 

#46:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 5:31 pm

Yeahhhh! Hilda can hear dragons!!! Thanks Pat. Kiss

 

#47:  Author: Anne, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 1:36 pm

Lots more please!!!

 

#48:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 2:26 pm

More! More! Please! I love all the Pern books, actually, most of Anne MacCaffrey's books! This is a crossover I would never have thought of! Please write more soon, I'm all agog to see whether the twins impress!

 

#49:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 12:10 am

Lesley wrote:
Yeahhhh! Hilda can hear dragons!!!Thanks Pat. Kiss
Is there something significant about being able to hear dragons? Sorry, but I've never read any of these books.I'm finding this all very interesting, although a little confusing, Pat.

 

#50:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:48 am

Ellie from what I understand (and bear in mind I've not read the books either and all my knowledge is gleaned from googling Pern and then reading various extracts online) most people can't hear the dragons and to be able to do so is something rather special. Generally they only speak to the Weyr (their riders) and select others. Is that about right?Oh and I am now thinking I will have to acquire soem of the Pern books - I may be on my way to being hooked!

 

#51:  Author: Cathy, Location: Sydney, Australia PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:56 am

Nell wrote:
Ellie from what I understand (and bear in mind I've not read the books either and all my knowledge is gleaned from googling Pern and then reading various extracts online) most people can't hear the dragons and to be able to do so is something rather special. Generally they only speak to the Weyr (their riders) and select others. Is that about right?
That's pretty spot on. Masterharper Robinton could always hear them and Aramina could also hear them. It's quite fitting that Hilda can hear them also.

 

#52:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 11:34 am

The dragons were developed using advanced genetics techniques (remember the confusing thing is that this 'was' way out in our future) to be able to communicate by telepathy. Some humans also had the innate ability and these people were likely candidates to be dragon riders. Dragons impress at hatching with one human partner who can 'hear' them. Occasionally a human can hear all or several dragons. It is rare and greatly prized on Pern.

 

#53:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 11:46 am

Very occassionally a dragon will choose to talk to a human who is not his own. It is very rare and a very great honour.

 

#54:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 1:07 pm

Jack and Jem enjoyed their tour of the medical facilities and soon found their feet. TB was unknown on Pern, having been wiped out on Earth hundreds of year earlier. However, their general medical knowledge came in useful, especially their practical knowledge of operational procedures. Surgery was very new on Pern and there was a lot of opposition to overcome before it gained general acceptance. Healers had a good standing on Pern and before long both men had settled in well. Madge found that she could make a role for herself teaching literature again. She quickly learnt to search the archives of the computers to unearth the classics she was used to, and delighted in learning the new works written since the Pern landing.

Jo found things a little more difficult. She was stunned at the defection of the twins. The huge dragons had scared her a little and she could not understand how the two could have gone off so blithely. The triplets rallied round in support, but she was aware that they had to find their own paths on this strange new world. Margot soon found her way into the Healer Hall training, finding her level and continuing her training almost as if nothing untoward had happened. Con drifted into various literary groups attached to the Harper Hall and Jo saw less of her too. She was aware that it was only Len’s sense of responsibility that was keeping her with her mother, for she wanted to return to teaching. Mike had very soon found the harbour on one of the long walks he took whenever he had the chance. He found the sailing boats used on Pern fascinating and before long had signed on as an Apprentice on one of the deep sea fishing boats. Stephen was till looking around at his options and had no idea what he was going to do. Charles felt much the same now that he could no longer enter the priesthood, there being no religion on Pern.

Madge’s children were also trying to get settled. David had already followed his father into medicine, and was quickly settled. Sybil, finding that her husband, like Reg, had not been transferred to Pern, discovered the Weavercraft Hall, and her delight at finally being able to pursue her ambition to do fine embroidery knew no bounds. Madge was thankful that Sybil had found her feet so quickly and was pleased to see her welcomed into the Hall so readily. Josette had had to give up her ambition to study law when she married, but she to discovered that it was not too late. She entered the Harper Hall as an Apprentice specialising in law and was soon happier than she had been since leaving school. Ailie, Kevin and Kester attended lessons with the Healer Hall children, finding themselves very ignorant of many things the local children took for granted, but ahead in some others.

 

#55:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:55 pm

Lovely Pat!!By the way, did the Bettanys make the transfer too?

 

#56:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:10 pm

Lovely way so many of the Maynards and Russells slotted in! But what's the problem with Joey? Surely she can find something she would like to do!

 

#57:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 12:17 am

Obviously hearing dragons is very significant then! Thanks for all the explanations everyone.I actually feel a little bit sorry for Joey in this, her main interest seems to have been the school, and now it's been taken away with nothing to replace it.

 

#58:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 1:35 am

It's nice to see most of them fitting in so well. Surely Joey will find something soon, given her talents for writing and singing and kibbitzing! *thinks a St. Bernard lover should be OK with dragons ... eventually at any rate*I hadn't really thought about the "no religion on Pern" angle, and imagine more CS transplants than Charles will find it rather disconcerting....Looking forward to more about Hilda & Nell, not to mention the results of the Impression!

 

#59:  Author: Rachel, Location: West Coast of Scotland PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:58 pm

I'm really enjoying this Pat, particularly as I have only just started reading the Pern books! The more actual books I erad, the more I am picking up on significancies (real word? made up word? do I care?) that you are writing into this drabble. Looking forward to seeing lots and LOTS more thankyou Smile

 

#60:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:42 am

Please more....? I've just read the only Pern story in the house (Runner of Pern, the short one in the 'Legends' book), and I like. May have to go and investigate the libraries. JackieJ

 

#61:  Author: keren1,  PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 6:29 pm

I have read that too. often looked for her books but couldnt find. so why do so many of the CS fans like Sci fi/fantasy?

 

#62:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 6:57 pm

keren1 wrote:
so why do so many of the CS fans like Sci fi/fantasy?
I've wondered that, too! Actually, we seem to have very broad tastes and any book someone mentions, someone else has read Very Happy *Wonders if the CBB is keeping the whole book publishing industry alive Shocked *

 

#63:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 7:13 pm

I think you might be right, PatMac.

 

#64:  Author: auntie karry, Location: Stoke on Trent PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:37 pm

This is fantastic, Pat! Very Happy My Pern books have gone through several incarnations - mainly because both No 1 Son and I read in the bath! Sad It is a shame that hilda and Nell can't meet AVIAS!

 

#65:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 1:03 pm

I think the reason is just cos at bottom we're all book lovers. I used to be a member of the Amelia Peabody mailing list on yahoo, and most people there were big fantasy/ sci fi fans. In fact, if i remember rightly, Ann Sharp (who is something or other MZB publishing) was a member of the list so it's not unique to the CBB! Wink (imagine that!!!!) I haven't read any of these but assuming i can get a move on today, I'll pop in to the bookshop on the way up to uni and buy one! Laughing At least with a Darkover background I don't find the telepathy aspects of it too difficult! *remembers Pat is away and resigns self to wait*

 

#66:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:17 pm

Dick Bettany was delighted to discover that there was land available in Southern, forestry land as well as agricultural, and the main test for suitability, apart from the necessary knowledge, was to be able to be outside during Threadfall. Without the history of this phenomenon behind him he had no fear of this. After all, with dragons in the sky to sear the menace, very little got anywhere near the groundcrew. He therefore put in a formal request for land and signed up for Groundcrew duty at Fort Hold. His first sight of the scourge gave him cause to think a little more deeply about committing himself to the venture. One strand of the stuff escaped the dragons’ flames and struck a bush near his position. His horror as the bush dissolved before his eyes was total, but the initial paralysis did not last and he used his flame-thrower to good effect, blasting the writhing mass of Thread to cinder. It was the only time he was called upon during that Threadfall, but he had considerably more respect for his foe. He was appalled to discover that the crews were mixed, his old-fashioned instincts being to protect his women-folk from harm. However, his request for land was approved and he and his family set sail for Southern equipped with all they would need to start their own Holding. Even so, he was very relieved to know that Southern was protected by grubs, so that there was no need to mount a groundcrew during Fall.
The land they had been ceded had belonged to one of the Ancients, and the buildings they had used were still available for use once the encroaching vegetation had been cleared. The family arrived just after Threadfall, giving themselves the maximum time to prepare the Hold. The main building was built of stone, with deeply sunk windows, making the rooms cool in the heat of the southern continent. Once the taps and pump had been replaced, water again flowed from the system that had been set up over two thousand Turns before. The family soon had the undergrowth cleared from around the house, finding it a substantial dwelling, with large rooms and a wide veranda running round the whole building. There were a number of outbuildings that would be utilised for storage and for other families should they wish to expand. By the time Thread fell again they had a secure home, and Mollie had made it homely with the soft furnishings she had been given at Fort Hold.

 

#67:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:23 pm

Oh, excellent - so glad that Dick and Mollie transferred over, and that they've found a good place to Hold!BTW did Madge transfer???

 

#68:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:29 pm

Lesley wrote:
BTW did Madge transfer???
I thought you'd been reading this, Lesley? Twisted Evil Rolling Eyes

 

#69:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:34 pm

I have but cannot remember and was too lazy to look back.

 

#70:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:00 pm

Lovely that you're getting them all settled, Pat, but what about the Impressions?

 

#71:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:03 pm

What about them Jennie? Twisted Evil

 

#72:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:35 pm

PATRICIA!!!!!!! Stop teasing!!!!

 

#73:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:40 pm

Oh but Vikki teasing's fun!!!! Twisted Evil

 

#74:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 3:42 pm

I've been waiting (impatiently Shocked ) to hear about that myself... You left us on a slight cliff there, so: Please?! Please. please... Very Happy

 

#75:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 4:02 pm

How nice that Dick could go back to his first love, forestry. Likewise prepared to nag about impressions Wink

 

#76:  Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 7:21 pm

This is so fantastic, you're almost making me want to go back and read the books (I really didn't get on with them alst time I tried)

 

#77:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 7:45 pm

I'm obviously not a proper CS girl at all since I really don't like Fantasy - I think I did start one of these books once, but I didn't get very far. Somehow though, having familiar characters gives them a grounding in reality and akes the x-over drabbles fun

 

#78:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:34 pm

The twins were woken in the middle of the night by the most extraordinary noise, that seemed to go right through them. It was a deep throated humming noise that echoed round the Weyr almost shaking the solid rock. They sat up in bed wondering what was happening as the Weyrling Master erupted into the room.
“Up you two and hurry up! The Hatching is starting - that’s what that sound is. It’s the dragons humming a welcome. Get into the white tunics and hurry or you’ll miss it. Dragons have gone to fetch your parents and they’ll be there before you if you aren’t careful.”
With that he was gone again and they rushed to obey. It was impossible to conceive missing Impression buy being too late! The noise got louder and louder as they ran for the Hatching Cavern until it was reverberating round the inside of their skulls. The stands around the great cavern were rapidly filling with people and they could see their parents sitting at the far side of the of the Ground. Both of them were looking a little stunned, and Jo was distinctly white, her black eyes staring out of her face in shock at the journey she had just undergone. Felix and Felicity had just time to exchange grins before they formed up in a loose circle around the eggs, Felicity joining the group around the glistening Queen egg. Some of them were already rocking madly as the Hatchlings battered their way out, and late arrivals scurried frantically for their seats afraid of missing something. Suddenly there was a loud crack and one of the eggs burst open, the tiny dragonette falling out of the shards onto the hot sands.

 

#79:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:41 pm

PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!! Please tell me you aren't planning on leaving us there!!!!

 

#80:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:44 pm

People wanted the Hatching. There has been a Hatching!!! Twisted Evil

 

#81:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:52 pm

You are EVIL Pat!! You KNOW we want the FULL Hatching! Not just one measly egg and no Impression!!!

 

#82:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:57 pm

An egg with measles - doesn't sound too good Wink sorry Vikki Very Happy

 

#83:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 11:06 pm

poke 's Dawn!

 

#84:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:02 am

Quote:
People wanted the Hatching. There has been a Hatching!!!
I believe the chanting was for Impressions, Pat! Cool *Glad to see this (and Pat) back anyhow.* Dick and forestry in Southern -- what a great match! Poor Joey, dragonsick. T'would be most amusing if a dragonette decided she was its soul-mate Smile .

 

#85:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:32 am

Well done Pat! ROFL ROFL ROFL

 

#86:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:09 am

Thanks Pat - but, keep going! *Guessing again* I don't think Joey is dragon sick.

 

#87:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:16 pm

The twins looked on with interest as the tiny creature staggered upright and looked around him. It was a beautiful deep bronze colour, shining in the light of the glows. Suddenly it caught sight of a young lad standing on the far side of the circle and he made a sudden dive, trampling across the shards of his shell. The other lads skittered out of the way and he butted his head against the lad’s legs. M’Trek scratched the little dragon on his eye-ridge and gazed at the crowd with a look of exultation on his face.
“He says his name is Calenth!” he said. A sigh went round the great cavern, but there was time for nothing more. The sound of cracking eggs was echoing back off the rocky walls as more eggs began to Hatch. Then the golden egg gave a convulsive lurch as an enormous crack appeared. The dragon’s humming deepened even more as the shell feel away and the miniature queen staggered out of her shell.

 

#88:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:27 pm

Pat, that was very nice!!!! But ANOTHER cliff?????? Personally I hold Lesley responsible.........

 

#89:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:29 pm

Don't we all....she sets such a good example!

 

#90:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:37 pm

Felicity looked at the little queen, catching the imperious gaze with her own eyes. The most peculiar feeling came over her as they looked at each other. Here was a friend like no other she had ever known. Someone who would be on her side through thick and thin, who would never find her wanting. Her legs were knocked from under her as the golden dragon pushed against her and Felicity sat down with a bump, the queen’s head burrowing into her lap.
“I’m Ragoth,” the voice said in her mind. With a start Felicity realised that it was the dragon. “I’m hungry. Please give me some food.”
“In a minute,” said Felicity out loud. Then she looked up, straight into her mother’s eyes. “Mamma,” she said. “Her name’s Ragoth!”
Jo’s eyes filled with tears at her daughter’s success and she hugged Jack hard as Felicity climbed to her feet, the Queen clamped so close to her that she found it difficult to move at all.

 

#91:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:54 pm

Yay!!!!!!What a lovely scene Pat!!!Now we need the other half of it.....

 

#92:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:22 pm

Fantastic, now we just need to know hat happens to Felix, or should I say: F'lix????

 

#93:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 4:08 pm

LOL at F'Lix as a name! Good for Felicity! I wonder if Joey is about to do a Mirrim - that's see a dragon not impressing, butt in and get impressed, for the non-Pern readers.I must admit to seeing Mirrim as an OOAOML character Wink

 

#94:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 5:16 pm

Thank you Pat - lovely scenes. Smile

 

#95:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:29 pm

Felix had been vaguely aware that the Queen egg had Hatched and Impression had taken place, but he had had no time to notice who the lucky girl was. It seemed that all the eggs were Hatching at once and he didn’t know where to look first he was so afraid of failing. It seemed that everyone around him was successful and the eggs were running out fast. A dainty green Hatched right in front of him, but headed across to a slim boy a few places round the circle. Now there was only two eggs left and both were cracking together. The nearest dragonette was a pretty blue that he quite fancied, having totally given up all hope of a bronze. Then the last egg broke open cleanly, leaving the young dragon standing cleanly and looking around with the typical arrogance of a bronze. Felix held his breath, gazing at him with the last faint hopes fading away. The bronze stepped out of the remains of his shell and shook himself to settle his wings against his back. Felix thought that this one was easily the most arrogant young bronze of the bunch that had Hatched tonight.
“And why shouldn’t I be arrogant?” The voice matched the dragon’s attitude but Felix didn’t understand for a good few seconds, not until the bronze was standing right in front of him.
“Are you talking to me?” he stammered, unable to believe his luck.
“Who else would I be talking to?” came the reply. “I am Varanth and we are together.”
Just then Felix felt a tap on his shoulder. “If you and your dragon would follow me we can give him some food, F’lex.” The Weyling Master smiled at the stunned young man. “I think you have the best of this Hatching young man. Though I must warn you that the best of Ramoth and Mnementh’s breeding can be a little difficult to deal with at times. But they are generally worth it.”
“We’ll be fine, Sir,” said F’lex, revelling in his new name. Then he thought of his twin. “How did Felicity get on?”
“She Impressed the Queen, young man. Your family has been exceptionally lucky tonight. Your parents must be very proud.”
F’lex and Varanth followed the Weyling Master out of the Hatching Cavern and across the floor of the Weyr to the Weyrling Barracks. Here he found a huge bowl of steaming red meat which he piled into a smaller bowl for his dragon.
“From tomorrow you will have to prepare this yourselves,” warned the Weyrling Master. “It will be some time before your dragons can fly and hunt for themselves, or even manage to take one of the herdbeasts we keep in the Weyr.”
F’lex grimaced slightly, but realised that there were always downsides to good things, and this was one of them. Then he had to respond to a demand for more meat and he stopped thinking. It was only when the dragonettes had eaten themselves senseless that the new Riders were able to leave them and cross to the tables where the rest of the Weyr and their families were celebrating the Hatching.

 

#96:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:45 pm

awwww!!!! Lovely Pat!!!! *longing for the next bit*

 

#97:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:32 pm

Ooooh.... lovely bits Pat (and I've read 'em all in one so I avoided any cliffs Very Happy) I'm just reading The White Dragon (after fininshing Pegasus in Space, not Pern but still good) so I'm getting more into this now. I don't suppose there's any chance of some more, please? JackieJ

 

#98:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 10:07 pm

Aahh!!! I do like the F'lex rather that F'lix! Very well thoght out Pat Very Happy

 

#99:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:29 pm

Excellent Pat - so glad they both impressed! Wonder what Jack and Joey thought - and what the twins will say when they realise they'll have to live in different Weyrs.

 

#100:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:49 pm

Lovely bits of story Pat, thank you so much.

 

#101:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:01 pm

Oh good, Impressions! Interesting the way Felicity looked at her mother right after. *Re/ Varanth: trying to remember whether a dragon ever admitted arrogance before* Laughing

 

#102:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:38 pm

Jo and Jack had watched the Hatching in utter amazement. They had been picked up in a great hurry and flown to the Weyr with only a very brief warning about Between to prepare them. The shock of the sensory deprivation was almost too much for Jo even though it only took as long as the time needed to cough three times. She had been so excited that she had taken in very little of the brief explanation and so was taken almost completely by surprise. Jack had had the sense to listen very carefully and was therefore less affected. When they realised that both their children had succeeded in Impressing the best of the dragons they were delighted, though neither had any real idea of what had happened. They followed the crowd out of the Hatching Ground and across to the entrance to the main cavern, where long tables had been set up for the Feast. They hesitated a little, noting knowing quite what to do, until the tall man with strange amber eyes came across to them.
“You must be the parents of Felicity and F’lex,” he said. “I am F’lar, the Weyr Leader here at Benden. Come and make yourselves comfortable at the table and enjoy the food. The new Riders will have to feed their dragonettes before they can join us.”
“What have you done to Felix’s name?” asked Jo in confusion.
“Oh, of course! You won’t know about that. We shorten the name of anyone who becomes a Rider as a mark of their new status. For example, our son changed from Felessan to F’lessan when he Impressed. Therefore Felix become F’lex.”
“I see. We shall have to try and remember,” Jack grinned at the tall Rider, recognising someone who was used to dealing with a wide range of people as he was himself.

The Hatching Feast was something that the couple would remember for a long time, and not just for the food. The Harper Hall had supplied some of its best musicians and Jo especially revelled in the music. Some of it she recognised, much to her astonishment , for she had understood just how many years had passed since her own time on Earth. A lot of it was new, written in the hundreds of Turns since Landfall, and had relevance to the life the people of Pern were living. When a group of musicians announced that they were going to sing some new works that they had discovered in the AIVAS computer banks, she pricked up her ears. This was music she had learnt at school. And then a very familiar piece of music fell on her ears. As the opening chords to ‘Brittany’ drifted through the Weyr she couldn’t stop herself joining in with her favourite song. She had sung it so often that she knew every note and word by heart and sang from her heart. As her voice lifted over the crowded tables the Harpers let their own voices fade away, providing just the accompaniment to Jo’s voice, still as pure as when she had been at school, though with the added depth that the years had given her. When she finally fell silent there was a long moment of silence, and then the applause rang out around the tables. Jo suddenly realised that she had been singing alone and blushed scarlet. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see the senior Harper at her side. He indicated that she should walk away from the tables a little, and she rose to her feet in some bewilderment.
“Where did you learn to sing like that?” he asked when they were out of earshot of the other guests. “You knew that song perfectly and I know for a fact that it was only discovered in the archives very recently.”
“I sang it on Earth,” said Jo. “It’s one of my favourite pieces of music. I’m sorry I joined in, but I simply couldn’t help it.”
“I’m not! If you can sing like that you belong in the Harper Hall,” he said. “We do more than teach Hold youngsters, you know. Do I understand that you are one of the people that have recently arrived on Pern? That would account for the fact that I haven’t heard you sing before.”
“Yes, we arrived only recently. My first twins have Impressed tonight, that’s why we are here.”
Jo arranged to visit the Harper Hall within the next few days and returned to her seat, just in time to greet her children who had come to find them once their dragonettes were fed and asleep.

 

#103:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:42 pm

That was lovely Pat!!! (very convenient that they happened to have found that particular song though.... Wink ) PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE may we have a bit more?

 

#104:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:50 pm

Joey as a harper sounds just right. Thank you Pat - you don't need telling we want more do you?

 

#105:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:51 pm

Awww, how lovely! Laughing Nice for Joey.

 

#106:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 10:36 pm

Lovely piece Pat. Nice that Jo impressed oin her own way. More soon please.

 

#107:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:06 am

I like the idea of Joey as a harper! Also curious to see how she'll interact with the denizens of Harper Hall (my favorite place on Pern, btw). Can just see her trying to convert some of Dunca's charges into true CS girls, for example Razz .

 

#108:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 12:21 pm

Ooooh... Joey as a Harper, that would be nice. Found a copy of Skies of Pern as well, so I'm in the middle of that one. Please may we have some more Pern drabbling Pat. JackieJ

 

#109:  Author: dackel, Location: Wolfenbuettel, Germany/Cambridge, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:38 pm

Wheyhey, another bit about Pern! Thank you Pat, I really enjoyed that, and can see that Joey would fit in to the Harper Hall really well! Maybe she'll pick up a few "foster" children, too, just to keep her occupied! She seemd to manage that well enough in CS, even without there being an established fostering tradition!

 

#110:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:57 pm

What's the betting that she tries to tell the Masterharper what to do. I can see her being sent off to somewhere awful such as Crom Minehold.

 

#111:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:16 pm

Joey would be brilliant as a Harper I think Smile Perhaps she could compse some songs too Smile~LadyG

 

#112:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 6:43 pm

dackel wrote:
Maybe she'll pick up a few "foster" children, too, just to keep her occupied! She seemd to manage that well enough in CS, even without there being an established fostering tradition!
I hadn't thought of that! I was thinking of Domick composing to fit her talents.

 

#113:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:55 am

Auntie Pat???????????????? May we have more please?

 

#114:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2004 1:28 pm

No more, yet?

 

#115:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 5:09 pm

Pat.... it's been nearly a week, and I would like some more Pern drabble if it's not too much trouble.... please? Smile JackieJ

 

#116:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:31 pm

*agrees wholeheartedly with Jackie!* More please Auntie Pat!!!!!

 

#117:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 6:33 pm

Joins the pleas for more!

 

#118:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 4:10 am

Got all excited when I saw there were new posts in Pern. Now I'm going to go away and sulk (OK I'm really going to eat chocolate and read my new copy of "Trickster's Queen). I'd still like more if it's not too much trouble.

 

#119:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:48 pm

Hilda and Nell had found Southern a very different place to the Harper Hall. To begin with it was very much warmer, and they were quick to discard their warm clothes needed for the intense cold of Between. All around them was a scene of intense activity as people moved between the buildings scattered about them. It was clear that they had been abandoned for a long time and had only recently been rediscovered, for many still had volcanic ash piled against their walls. They were led across to a larger building than most, with strange tiles on the rook.
“They are special tiles,” said Sebell when he noticed their interest. “They take sunlight and convert it to electricity in some way. The electricity is used to power the computers inside, though originally it was sued mainly for AIVAS. However, he has shut himself down now so we use the power for our own devices. We have extended the building somewhat to accommodate the computer classes that are held here. Other new technology teaching is carried out in the houses left by the Ancients, and most of the folk who live in Landing use some of the other buildings. They are still sound, even after the hundreds of years that have passed.”
They entered the AIVAS building and immediately felt a good deal cooler. It seemed as if there was some sort of air-conditioning in here and they guessed that it had something to do with the machinery kept here. They were taken to the AIVAS room first and saw the now dead computer that had guided the people of Pern in their successful quest to rid the planet of the scourge of Thread. They also learnt that this was where the greatly loved former Masterharper had died, along with his fire lizard and AIVAS himself. Then they were shown around the rest of the complex, Nell’s eyes gleaming as she saw the equipment in some of the rooms. This, she decided, was where she would be happiest. And it was clear that the people studying here, comprising all ages and Crafts found on Pern, were highly motivated to learn.
They had just left the final building on their way to find some refreshments when they felt the now familiar blast of cold air that heralded the arrival of a dragon. As the dragon spiralled down to land they noticed to their surprise that it was white.
“I thought there were only five colours of dragon on Pern,” said Hilda. “Surely that one is white?”
“That’s Lord Jaxom on Ruth. Ruth is unique, my friends, the only white dragon there has ever been, and without him we would have failed to destroy Thread. That dragon was absolutely essential to the outcome.”
There was no time for more as Ruth landed neatly in front of them and the Lord Holder slipped down from his back with a broad smile on his face.
“Hello Sebell,” he said. “Are these some of the new folk I’ve been hearing about? Welcome to Pern.”
Both women responded to his welcome with smiles, for his was genuine and infectious. “We’re having a look at the teaching facilities at Southern,” said Hilda. “they are certainly impressive.”
“Both these ladies are experienced teachers Jaxom,” explained Sebell. “I’m very much hoping that one of them will take over down here and the other take over the Harper Hall. I might have a few minutes to call my own then.”
“I think your wish is likely to be fulfilled, at least as far as Southern is concerned,” said Nell thoughtfully. “I am really very impressed with your facilities down here.”

 

#120:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 5:54 pm

Thank you Pat!

 

#121:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 7:40 pm

Thank you Pat, great to see some more of this.

 

#122:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 7:46 pm

Thank you, Pat.

 

#123:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 8:19 pm

Thanks Pat - nice to see more of this.

 

#124:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:12 pm

Oooh, thank you Pat, lovely to see more Pern drabble, and especially Ruth. JackieJ

 

#125:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:18 pm

I can well imagine Nell at Southern - right out on the leading edge of discovery. The idea of Hilda taking over the Harper Hall seems right too. the apprentices would find her right on her toes and can you imagine Lord Groghe with her Cool

 

#126:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:20 pm

Yay! Smile Shame they they'd be separated! Though I suppose with dragons's abilities, that's hardly far away! ~LadyG

 

#127:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:44 pm

Thank you Auntie Pat!!!!!! PLEASE post more soon!!!!

 

#128:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:37 am

Yay there's more! Thank you Auntie Pat!

 

#129:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 1:44 pm

We need more of this Pat. PLeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaasssssssssssseeeeeeee!

 

#130:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:55 pm

“I am a specialist in the sciences” went on Nell, “and this is right up my street” she gave Hilda a wicked grin, daring her to comment on the blatant use of slang, but Hilda forbore to rise to the provocation and smiled serenely back at her friend.

After a leisurely lunch, where the two Chalet School refugees were introduced to a number of the folk living at Southern, they flew back to the Harper Hall to finalise arrangement. Both Hilda and Nell feeling a good deal of enthusiasm for their new roles, and happy that they were only a dragon flight away from each other.

 

#131:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:00 pm

There must be more than that Pat. You wouldn't write just two small paragraphs would you? Crying or Very sad Take pity on us please and post some more. Very Happy

 

#132:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:23 pm

More in the pipeline, but it's about a different person.

 

#133:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:24 pm

Yes, I think Pat would just write two small paragraphs Sad Thanks for the updates Pat, good to see some more of this.

 

#134:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:24 pm

You tease! Laughing Laughing

 

#135:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:42 pm

Don't you love us any more Auntie Pat?PLEASE may we have the next bit?

 

#136:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:50 pm

Not yet! I'm not here you see!!

 

#137:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 1:52 pm

Hmmm, so is that last post a figment of our fertile imaginations then??? Laughing

 

#138:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 2:03 pm

Yes, of course! What else did you think?

 

#139:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 2:28 pm

I see, mass hallucinations AGAIN, is it??? Rolling Eyes

 

#140:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 3:46 pm

You must admit that some of them are fun, Vikki.

 

#141:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:10 pm

Thanks Pat, lovely little post! Kiss

 

#142:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:16 pm

Here's a bit more then. About one of our favourite characters too.

Mary-Lou Trelawney had been totally astounded to find herself standing on a dusty road that led up to an enormous cliff which seemed to have been turned into some sort of fortification. She was only vaguely aware that there were other Chalet School characters around her, as she had been only vaguely aware of the invitation from the new author to make their home in her world. As she gazed around her she saw a community that seemed rooted in the Middle Ages - no mechanisation that she could see and horses and carts for transport (though their seemed to be something subtly wrong about the horses that she couldn’t put her finger on). The vegetation was wrong too, though she put that down initially as being from a different continent. Impatioently she dismissed the problem as she realised that the others were making their way to the huge main entrance of the building in front of her. Hurrying to catch up, she tagged onto the back of the group as they passed through the open doors, and nearly stopped dead in amazement. The doors were totally out of place in this environment. They were made of some sort of metal, and were thick enough to close a bank vault. She had little time to wonder however, for the party was being greeted by an elderly man who was obviously in charge of this place wherever it was.
“Welcome to Pern,” he said. “Let me introduce myself. I am Lord Groghe and I am Lord Holder of Fort Hold, which is where you are now. Come with me and we will have some refreshments whilst I tell you something about the history of this planet.”
He eld the way into a comfortable room, lit by what the party would learn were called Glows. There they had their first taste of klah, served with delicious small cakes and pastries. Mary-Lou noticed that the room was in keeping with the rest of the place - warm and comfortable, with deep-set windows along the outside wall. She was intrigued by the heavy shutters that were designed to completely cover the windows. As they talked and heard a brief history of the planet, Mary-Lou suddenly noticed a creature appear on the shoulder of Lord Groghe. It was a beautiful golden winged creature which shone in the soft light of the glows and the daylight coming through the windows. Lord Groghe smiled and reached up to bring the animal down to where they could all see it more clearly.
“This is Merga,” he said. “She is a queen Fire Lizard and I am so very lucky to have Impressed her. These are the beautiful creatures that our Ancestors developed the dragons from and she has all their attributes. We can communicate quite well together, can’t we my beauty? Fire Lizards and dragons are telepathic you know.”
“Rubbish,” said Mary-Lou in her forthright way. “There is no such thing as telepathy.”
“Oh but there is my dear,” replied the old Lord Holder. “On this planet at least. You will discover the truth of it for yourself before very long, I have no doubt.”
Madge Russell frowned at Mary-Lou to indicate that she should keep quiet and turned to the Lord Holder. “I am sorry for Miss Trelawney’s rudeness,” she said. “She has always been outspoken, and perhaps we should have done more to restrain her when she was at school.”

 

#143:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:46 am

Pat wrote:
Madge Russell frowned at Mary-Lou to indicate that she should keep quiet and turned to the Lord Holder. “I am sorry for Miss Trelawney’s rudeness,” she said. “She has always been outspoken, and perhaps we should have done more to restrain her when she was at school.”
Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing

 

#144:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:10 am

Lovely piece there Pat!!! Doesn't look like Mary Lou will fit in terribly well though, does it?

 

#145:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 2:24 am

I never noticed that Pern was a particularly polite society, but can see tact might be more of a problem than usual around some of the more rank-happy types! Still, there are plenty of niches where talent matters more. How about shipping ML off to the Smithcrafthall? *tries to remember who's in charge of digging up artefacts.* Benelek?

 

#146:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:12 am

Trust ML Rolling Eyes I'm sure there are excavations still going on in Southern. I wonder what she will say when she sees a dragon? thank you Pat

 

#147:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:29 pm

Nah.... just get her training to be a runner, I seem to recall her long legs eating up distances in races, and as a runner she'd be able to annoy so many more people (and maybe get caught in a Threadfall? *hopeful smiley*).This is good though Pat, I suppose there had to be someone doubting about the telepathy though. Nice choice with OOAO.Now could we have some more please?JackieJ

 

#148:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:36 pm

Thank you Pat. Might have guessed if there was to be trouble it would OOAOML that would cause it.

 

#149:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:30 pm

Since Mary-Lou swam so well she could be a dolphineer, I think by this time Readis had rediscovered the pods hadn't he, (thinking Dolphins of Pern was set alongside and after All The Wyrs?) Would love to see her put in her place by the Tillek. Would she ever believe that the dolphins could talk?

 

#150:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 3:14 pm

Would just love to see her reaction to that!

 

#151:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:49 pm

Excellent! So will Mary-Lou eat her words when she sees a dragon? Or maybe just a dragon rider (thinking Lessa here Laughing )

 

#152:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:53 pm

Lesley wrote:
Or maybe just a dragon rider (thinking Lessa here Laughing )
Shocked Shocked Shocked

 

#153:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:25 pm

Can't we get her to meet up with Mirrim.... I have a feeling there may be some interesting fireworks if that happened. Each trying to out-do each other. Twisted Evil JackieJ

 

#154:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 11:30 pm

*STILL waiting eagerly for the next installment!!*

 

#155:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 5:31 pm

Mary-Lou shot her ex-Head a rather annoyed look and then suddenly seemed to realise who was on the receiving end, for she went an unbecoming scarlet and shut up for the time being. Lord Groghe smiled at the byplay and continued with his introduction. By the time they had finished the repast and been shown to their rooms most of them were quite ready for bed.
The next day Mary-Lou wandered outside to explore before trying to find any breakfast. She was up early, as was her habit, and she stood just outside the Hold doors to look around her. In the distance the valley ran down to what she assumed was the sea and she decided to walk in that direction. Before long a cart drew up beside her and she was happy to accept the offer of a lift. The people here were very friendly, she mused to herself as she tried to explain to the old man where she had come from. She had dressed in her own clothes, rather than the outfit that she had found laid out for her the night before, as she felt more comfortable in the familiar style, but it did broadcast her different background, and she started to wish that she had put on the tunic and trousers provided.
When they reached the coast she found that there was a good sized harbour, with berths for a number of boats. Fishing was obviously the principle purpose of the place, but a big bell hung low to the water at the end of the quay puzzled her. Not for the life of her could she fathom out what it could be for. That being so, she dismissed the problem for the time being, until she could ask someone, and wandered down to the water’s edge. She was passed by a small horde of children who stopped at the waters edge to fling off their clothes before plunging into the water dressed as nature intended. Mary-Lou stared in amazement. She had never seen such unconcern in her life, coming from a place and a time that placed modesty high in the scheme of things, but she felt a good deal of envy at their freedom. Leaving them splashing happily in the shallows she made her way back to the dry land and along the quay to the mysterious bell. There was no one but the children in sight and she stood staring out to sea, lost in thought. Suddenly she heard a voice which seemed to be coming from the sea.
“You like bell?” it said. “We come. Reporrit!”
Mary-Lou looked around her wildly. The voice was very strange and she had found it a little hard to understand. Suddenly a dolphin leapt out of the water right in front of her and she jumped.
“Ouch! I’m all wet!” she exclaimed.
“Sorree”
The voice came from below her, in the water, and she leant over the edge of the quay to see who had spoken. She found herself looking straight into the eyes of the dolphin.
“You dry soon?” It was definitely the dolphin who was speaking and poor Mary-Lou was struck dumb for almost the first time in her life. Dolphins couldn’t speak – she knew that. But here was a dolphin, indisputably the same breed as those on Earth, speaking to her.
“Err, was that you who spoke?” she asked, feeling all kinds of a fool even as she did so.
“Yess. We speak good. You dolphineer?”
“A dolphineer? No, I don’t know what they are. I’ve only just arrived here,” said Mary-Lou. “I came from Earth.”
There was a wild and noisy screeing from the dolphin below her. “You come from Earth? I go tell the Tillek.” The dolphin made a graceful turn and shot away from her out to sea.

Mary-Lou rose to her feet, a bemused expression on her face. Had she just held a conversation with a dolphin? It had seemed quite normal to reply, but now that the dolphin had vanished out to sea she tried to persuade herself that she had imagined it all – it was impossible for dolphins to speak, she knew that much. OK – they were clever, that was understood, but they simply did not have the ability to speak. By the time she finally reached the Hold – walking all the way – she had convinced herself that she had been dreaming, so she said nothing to anyone else about her early morning encounter.

 

#156:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 6:15 pm

Thaks, Pat! Poor ML. Her absolute faith in her own world and how 'right' it is will take some nasty knocks. First not accepting telepathy, then rejecting the clothes, then (shock horror) nudity and last of all persuading herself she imagined the dolphin conversation. It's amazing what a closed mind she is showing compared with the others you've shown us.

 

#157:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 7:30 pm

He he he, serves her right for being so fossilised in her own sense of rightness.

 

#158:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 8:01 pm

Let's hope she can make the adjustment - if she can speak with dolphins she'll probably be in demand. Thanks Pat - lovely slice of normal Pern life.

 

#159:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 8:50 pm

Oooh, The dolphins aren't something I know too much about on Pern. Could be interesting if ML finds that her niche is something so bizarre to her way of thinking. More please Pat. JackieJ

 

#160:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 9:50 pm

Wonderful Pat!!! Hope Mary Lou can learn to cast aside her preconceptions, and accept life on Pern.

 

#161:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:12 pm

Vikki wrote:
Hope Mary Lou can learn to cast aside her preconceptions, and accept life on Pern.
I don't think she has much choice Shocked Lovely Pat.

 

#162:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:13 am

Poor ML so closed to all the new experiences around her. Thanks Pat.

 

#163:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:20 pm

However, the following morning changed all that. The old Fishercraft Master, Idarolan came into the breakfast room just as the whole group were finishing their klah.
“Which one of you met Yip yesterday morning?” he asked. “She went straight off and told The Tillek that there were some people from Old Earth here and now The Tillek wants to meet you.”
Mary-Lou went red. “I thought I’d imagined that,” she said. “I spoke to a … a dolphin … yesterday morning who said something about going to the Tillek. Was that Yip?” Even now she had some difficulty in coming to terms with the new and changed species to be found on Pern. Her training had taught her to look for evidence in situ, and not to take what she heard to be the truth unless there was some proof. Now she was having to turn everything upside down and she was finding it hard, especially as she had always been looked up to as a leader who knew what she was doing. It made her feel helpless and more than a little afraid.
Mike had also found the harbour the day before, though later in the day than Mary-Lou and had decided that he would try to find some way of going to sea. He had already talked to some of the fishermen and was intending to go back later that day.
“I’m going down to the harbour myself,” he said. “I’ll come and talk to the Tillek whoever that is.”
“The Tillek is the leader of all the dolphins on Pern,” explained Idarolon. “She has all the knowledge that the dolphins have collected since before they left Earth, passed on from one Tillek to the next. The title is taken from one of the leaders who first came to Pern, Jim Tillek he was called, and he was one of the first dolphineers. We have re-established that Craft now, and Readis is the Craft Master, though the Tillek is still training him."
Stephen and Charles had been listening intently. They spoke almost together. “Do they really speak?” Then they laughed as they realised they had both thought the same thing.
“Oh yes, they speak. The dolphins were genetically enhanced so that they could talk to the settlers. It’s proper speech, not the telepathy that the dragons use, and anyone can understand them.”
“May we come down too,” asked Stephen after a quick glance at his brother. “We know nothing at all about dolphins but I for one would love to learn.”
“Me too,” said Charles, earning an agonised squawk from his mother about his grammar.
In the end Stephen and Charles, along with a reluctant Mary-Lou , accompanied Idarolon down to the harbour. The Tillek was waiting impatiently, circling just outside the harbour mouth and close to the dolphin bell.
“You have taken a very long time Master Idarolon,” she said when the party finally reached the end of the quay. “Are these the people from Old Earth?”
“Yes. This is Mary-Lou and she spoke to Yip yesterday. The two young men are Stephen and Charles. They are part of the group that arrived recently.”
Mary-Lou stared at the big dolphin, far larger than the one she had seen the day before. “You speak very clearly,” she said. I tried to tell myself that I’d imagined the talk I had yesterday, but I didn’t did I?”
“No. You excited Yip out of a good year’s growth young woman,” said the Tillek. “Yip is still young, but did exactly the right thing when he came to tell me. Now I want to know all about you and how you came here. Tell me all about Earth too please.”
Mary-Lou gaped at her for a minute, and before she could muster any sort of reply Stephen sat himself down on the edge of the quay and grinned down at the dolphin.
“Wehere do you want me to start?” he asked. “There’s an awful lot to tell you and we won’t finish it today you know.”
Charles plonked himself down beside his brother. “It’s hard to know where to start too,” he said. “You see we come from a time that was much, much earlier than the people who came out here came from. That’s why Mary-Lou found it so hard to believe that she was talking to a dolphin. They couldn’t talk at all then.”
“Don’t put words into my mouth Charles,” snapped Mary-Lou. “I can speak quite well for myself.”
A distinct chuckle came form the Tillek at this by-play, making the three young people look sharply at her. Idarolon grinned and walked away up the quay, leaving them to it, and Mary-Lou gave in to the inevitable and joined the two young men sitting on the end of the quay.

 

#164:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:47 pm

Thank you, Pat! Very Happy Interesting that at least Charles has already accepted that there's been both time- and space-travel. They're learning quickly! *looks forward to seeing ML's take on dolphin culture*

 

#165:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 12:11 am

How nice - places for more of the refugees. Thanks Pat.

 

#166:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 8:24 am

It's a shame ML hadn't read any Sci-Fi! I know we're knocking her for having a closed mind but can you imagine finding yourself on Pern? And of course the Pern books hadn't been written in time for ML to have read them anyway. *head spins with paradox* *Worries that meeting between 2 fictional cultures feels real* Thanks Pat

 

#167:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 5:20 pm

That was wonderful Auntie Pat!!! *hoping for another bit soon.*

 

#168:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:02 pm

Dawn wrote:
Pat wrote:
Madge Russell frowned at Mary-Lou to indicate that she should keep quiet and turned to the Lord Holder. “I am sorry for Miss Trelawney’s rudeness,” she said. “She has always been outspoken, and perhaps we should have done more to restrain her when she was at school.”
Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing
Love that bit too! Nice to see the boys as well, Pat, thanks.

 

#169:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:32 am

Thank you Pat - nice to see they are all finding their feet in their new surroundings.

 

#170:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 2:53 pm

Quote:
It's a shame ML hadn't read any Sci-Fi! I know we're knocking her for having a closed mind but can you imagine finding yourself on Pern? And of course the Pern books hadn't been written in time for ML to have read them anyway.
Actually I'm wondering just how much SF would have been available for her to read. In the libraries available to me as a child, there certainly wasn't much, and the librarians were a little shocked that a girl would read it! A few Lester del Rey, the juvenile Heinleins, some Andre Norton (pseudonym carefully concealing her gender). Jules Verne if he counts. That's about it. And I didn't read those until my mind was opened by A Wrinkle in Time, then a "new book."

 

#171:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:18 pm

I think the adjustment will be made doubley hard by the two sides of Pern post AVIAS. There is the lifestyle that to the CS characters will seem almost medieval, the day to day living, the hold arrangements etc. They may view the agrain culture on Pern as old fashioned or even backwards, but then there is the new technology that the Pernese rediscovered with AVIAS, computers, solar power some of which will be advanced for the CS people, a curious mix for them. The whole journey to Pern and the bioengineering of the dragons happened in the future for the CS people and yet the culture they have been resettled in does not immediatly make them think that. Wondering how Bill and Farandal will get on. Razz

 

#172:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:19 pm

At first she found the conversation fascinating, mainly because she had never held such a surreal conversation before. However, as the two young men really got going she found that she had less and less to say, and she began to get bored. Finally, she stood up and wandered back up the quayside, intending to make her way back to the Hold. She was almost back when she saw a dragon spiralling down out of the sky. When it landed close by her she stopped and frankly stared. This was her first sight of one of these creatures, and she was intrigued. It was a green, so quite small as dragons go, but large enough to Mary-Lou. The rider slid from the dragon’s back and walked towards her and it was only then that she realised that it was a woman.
“Hello, I’m Mirrim,” said the woman. “Are you one of the new people?”
“Hello. Yes, I’M Mary-Lou Trelawney. “
“Good! In that case I’ve found the right person. I’ve been talking to that Nell Wilson of yours. She’s taking over the Technology School at Southern, you know.” Mary-Lou didn’t, but she said nothing, finding the woman in front of her a little un-nerving. “Nell said that she thought you’d be interested in coming to Landing as there is a lot of work going on digging up the Ancients things. Nell said that you are a trained Archaeologist.” It was clear that Mirrim had no idea what that meant, and was just repeating the word as she remembered it.
“And just how am I supposed to get there?” demanded Mary-Lou, determined not to let this woman manage her. She had guessed that that is what would happen if she wasn’t careful.
“I’ll take you, of course,” said Mirrim. That’s what I’m here for. Hurry up and get going.”
“I’m going to tell the others where I’m going first,” said Mary-Lou. “I can’t just go haring off when I like it, you know. People would worry.”
“Oh if you think you have to, but for goodness sake hurry. I can’t spend all day up here, you know.”
Mary-Lou had not been Head Girl of the Chalet School for nothing, and at this remark she just looked at Mirrim. More than one naughty Middle had quaked in her shoes when on the receiving end of one of these looks, and while Mirrim was old enough to avoid this, she was perfectly clear as to Mary-Lou’s thoughts.
“If you are in the habit of disappearing without a word, especially in the middle of a Fall, I am not,” said Mary-Lou at length. “I can conceive of few more stupid things to do than to risk a full stage hunt when most people have better things to do with their time. Now if you will kindly wait here, I will tell my people where I am going and who with.”
Mirrim looked at the disappearing figure with a measure of respect. Generally on T’Gellan, Lessa, and Brekke were normally able to deal with her like that, and she was impressed. This Earth woman seemed to have something quite unusual about her.
Mary-Lou returned wearing some borrowed riding gear, since it was clear that Mirrim had forgotten to provide any.
“Well, what are we hanging about for?” asked Mary-Lou, knowing that the question was bound to antagonise Mirrim and enjoying the thought. Her back had been very thoroughly put out by the overbearing attitude of that lady, and she was determined to redress the balance. Together they walked across to Path, Mirrim’s dragon, who was looking highly amused at the byplay between the two women.

 

#173:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:36 pm

oooh!!! Me likey!!! Thank you Auntie Pat!!

 

#174:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:15 pm

Thank you Auntie Pat! More Pern, hooray!

 

#175:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:24 pm

Lovely, Pat! I love the interchange between ML and Mirrim. and also Path's amusement!
Kathy_S wrote:
Actually I'm wondering just how much SF would have been available for her to read. In the libraries available to me as a child, there certainly wasn't much, and the librarians were a little shocked that a girl would read it! A few Lester del Rey, the juvenile Heinleins, some Andre Norton (pseudonym carefully concealing her gender). Jules Verne if he counts. That's about it. And I didn't read those until my mind was opened by A Wrinkle in Time, then a "new book."
Edgar Rice Boroughs published The Pirates of Venus in the 30's, E E Doc Smith published in the '40's. Farenheit 451 was published in 1953 and some of Arthur C Clarke's best books were written in the 1950's. I read them all in the 50's so it is possible - though not probably for CS girls! *Can imagine Nell having read them, though!*

 

#176:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 2:51 pm

When Path went Between Mary-Lou gasped. Having had no idea what to expect, and no warning from Mirrim, the sensory deprivation hit very hard. It seemed a very long time before they burst out into the warm skies above Landing and Mary-Lou felt justifiably annoyed. As soon as they had landed she rounded on Mirrim.
“Just what happened there?” she demanded. “One minute we were flying quite normally – or at least I presume so – and the next nothing. No light, no feeling, no sound, nothing. So just what was going on!”
“Didn’t you know about Between?” asked Mirrim with an innocent look on her face that completely failed to deceive Mary-Lou. “That’s what happens when we go Between one place and another. It only takes enough time to cough twice. You weren’t afraid were you?”
“Not at all,” said Mary-Lou with dignity. “I would have appreciated a little prior warning though. After all, you knew that I was new here.”
“What’s going on here?” asked a tall man also dressed in riding leathers.
“Nothing but a lot of fuss over nothing,” said Mirrim.
“I had no warning of what to expect when we transferred here, went Between, whatever you call it. It would have nice to know what was going to happen.”
“Didn’t you tell her anything Mirrim?”
“I thought she’d know T’Gellan. She’s been here long enough and I expected they would have had some sort of explanation.”
T’Gellan looked at the two women and saw all there was to see. “You two didn’t hit it off, did you? I know that Mirrim can have that effect on some people, but this looks like it worked both ways. I would suspect that you have quite a lot in common. Now make it up like good girls and come along. Nell is waiting for you both, and I would judge that she doesn’t take kindly to people who dawdle.”
“You’re right there. She can be a tartar at times.” Mary-Lou was recovering her equilibrium and was annoyed that she had revealed her fear to Mirrim. She would have to work hard now to make up the lost ground. She knew full well that she had been expected to react as she had done, and was furious with both herself and with Mirrim. She was used to being a leader and hated to lose face. Gathering her dignity in both hands she started to walk in the direction that T’Gellan had indicated, leaving her adversary behind her.

 

#177:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:04 pm

Goodness! Hope we haven't started a feud here! (or do I? ROFL ) Very nice, Pat! And t'other Pat- At least some of those books were in the Adult Section and Strictly Forbidden. Shocked Laughing

 

#178:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:08 pm

Woohoo more Pern-ness. I'm quite glad that both Mirrim and OOAO have met their matches in each other Very Happy BTW, is this set before the discovery of the telekinesis, or after? :dontknow: JackieJ

 

#179:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:10 pm

Lovely. It's going to be interesting to see how those two make out! they are awfully alike Twisted Evil Kathy:
Kathy_S wrote:
And t'other Pat- At least some of those books were in the Adult Section and Strictly Forbidden. Shocked Laughing
Shocked *whispers* I think I chose them and they went on my mother's library ticket Wink Now you mention it, I can remember where they were in the library and it wasn't the children's department!

 

#180:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 5:39 pm

I love the way Mirram and Mary_lou react with each other, brilliant. :worthy: :worthy:

 

#181:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 6:54 pm

Excellent couple of posts Pat! :red: Think Mary Lou and Mirrim will get on like a house on fire ................flames, burning timbers, collapsing walls, thick smoke etc

Last edited by Lesley on Fri Oct 01, 2004 4:17 am; edited 1 time in total

 

#182:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:38 pm

Luvverly Pat!!!!! Very Happy Very Happy I can definitely see a Pern reread looming on the horizon!!

 

#183:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 1:29 pm

Thank you, Pat. It was great to see two truly irritating characters colliding.

 

#184:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 6:29 pm

Really enjoyed that bit Pat.

 

#185:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 11:00 am

Mary-Lou entered the building where Nell Wilson was waiting and looked around her with interest. She had been to worked up to take in much of her surroundings outside and so this was really her first chance to see one of the Ancients’ buildings. It seemed to be made of some sort of artificial material that was outside her experience - hard and resilient to have withstood a volcanic eruption and the years since. She had stopped almost as soon as she entered the building, inadvertently blocking the entrance, and was recalled to her senses when Mirrim, of all people, walked straight into her. She moved forward then, not saying anything in response to the impatient noise coming from behind her.
“Which way?” she asked, as the passage opened up in both directions.
“Left,” said T’Gellan. “Nell has an office just down the corridor.”
Mary-Lou turned in the direction indicated and found the office quite easily, recognising Nell’s voice coming through the open door.
“Lord Jaxom, I couldn’t possibly accept something like this. After all, I have only just arrived on Pern and there must be many more deserving people.
“Your friend Hilda will also receive one,” came the reply as Mary-Lou reached the doorway. Inside she could see Miss Wilson standing near a desk and a tall young man, a few years older than she was, holding a fur-wrapped bundle in his hands. She hesitated, thinking that this was a private conversation, but ‘Bill’ waved her into the room.
“Lord Jaxom, this is Mary-Lou Trelawney. She came with us from Earth. Mary-Lou, this is Lord Jaxom of Ruath Hold.”
Jaxom grinned at Mary-Lou. “I keep trying to tell Nell to drop the title,” he said. “I only use it when I must. She will insist on formality though.” His voice changed slightly as he spotted Mirrim standing behind Mary-Lou. “Hello Mirrim. Did you do convey duty? I hope you two will be friends, as from what Nell says you have a lot in common.” The affront on both their faces was quite comical and he laughed. “Too much alike, I see! Never mind, give it time.”
“To go back to our previous conversation Jaxom,” said Nell. “I really am grateful, but cannot possibly accept.”
“I am trying to persuade your friend to accept a fire lizard egg,” explained Jaxom. “She seems very reluctant to do so, as you can see. Think of it as a welcome and thanks you present,” he went on. “You will need to keep in contact with your friend in the North, and once this little beauty has matured he will be able to take messages for you. Fire lizards have the same ability as dragons to go Between you know.”
“Our own personal postal service,” said Nell. “That could be useful I suppose. And the fire lizards I have seen are very beautiful.”
“They can be good friends, and very loyal. My wife’s gave her a very great deal of help before we married. I don’t think you will regret accepting the egg. Will your friend be as hard to convince as you are?”
“Worse I would think,” said Nell with a grin. “She can be very stubborn! Now how do I look after this thing till it hatches?”
“You need to keep it warm. Hot sands or near a fire are the best. How do you manage in Southern Mirrim?”
We use the Hatching Ground, but I think most people light a fire to keep them warm. It won’t be for very long will it? Eggs are normally presented only a few days before Hatching.”
No, not long. We think within the next day or two. You will need to have some raw meat ready for it when it Hatches, so the kitchens will need to be warned. It’s just like a dragon Hatching really.”
“Since I have yet to see one of those the knowledge is not a lot of help,” Nell said in her best Headmistress voice.
Jaxom just grinned, letting the sarcasm slide off his back like water. “Sorry Nell. It’s easy to forget you know. Feeding the fire lizard will Impress him to you and he will always return to you. You will be able to understand some of his thoughts and feelings too, though not in any way to the same extent as with a dragon. By the way, I am saying ‘he’ but it could quite easily be a gold or a green, both of which are female. There is no way to tell which is a queen egg in a fire lizard clutch.” He carefully said nothing about the emotions aroused when a fire lizard rose to mate as he was perfectly sure that Nell would instantly refuse to take the egg. Once the lizard was Hatched and Impressed she would feel differently about such things he was sure.

 

#186:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 11:18 am

Loved the sly digs Jaxom managed to get in about OOAO and Mirrim. I'm sure Nell will get used to the fire-lizard.

 

#187:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:37 pm

Excellent - love the easy relationship Jaxom has with Nell! Laughing

Last edited by Lesley on Mon Oct 04, 2004 7:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#188:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:43 pm

Lovely post. I was amused that Jaxom saw the likeness between OOAML and Mirrim! Glad Nell has a firelizard!

 

#189:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:01 pm

Awww.... I love fire lizards Smile I want to know what Bill gets now! And well done! I usually find Jaxom almost as annoying as Mirrim and Mary-Lou, but not when you write him! ~LadyG

 

#190:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:38 pm

That's made me want a fire lizard of my own. Thanks Pat.

 

#191:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 3:11 pm

Lovely Pat! Can't help wondering how Hilda and Nell will react when their fire lizards rise to mate though.......

 

#192:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 5:06 pm

Vikki wrote:
Lovely Pat! Can't help wondering how Hilda and Nell will react when their fire lizards rise to mate though.......
You know, I thought that too.......just didn't post it! Shocked

 

#193:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 9:22 pm

LadyGuinevere wrote:
I usually find Jaxom almost as annoying as Mirrim and Mary-Lou, ~LadyG
I like him. He's had a peculiar upbringing, poor lad!

 

#194:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 9:43 pm

I really like Jaxom, too.

 

#195:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:25 am

Wonderful, Pat! *looks forward to Nell's (and Hilda's) fire lizard(s), and more of ML and Mirrim* Question: Are Mirrim & T'gellan already weyrmates in this drabble? I know they were by the beginning of All the Weyrs, but somehow Mirrim seems more like ML's age here. *chronologically befuddled* I always wanted McCaffrey to write something with Mirrim as protagonist. I know she's far more prickly than Mary-Lou ever was, but she's gone through a lot, and is often trying too hard/talking too much as a way of dealing with/covering up her emotions. Instead she gets Grizeled, poor girl. Oh yes, and I also like Jaxom. And Mary-Lou, as you all know well Very Happy .

 

#196:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:25 am

I want a fire-dragon, too. But I also want an Alaspinian mini-dragon as well.

 

#197:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:27 pm

I like Jaxom as well, although that's possibly because White Dragon was the first full-length Pern I read.*Also looking forward to more Mirrim/ML bits*JackieJ

 

#198: The CS on Pern Author: Guest (Anna),  PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:18 am

I just discovered this two days ago and I've read it all - any chance of more soon please? (it's been over a week since a piece of story was posted) Wink

 

#199:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:12 pm

Just another little reminder to Pat.

 

#200:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:39 pm

Mary-Lou heard a soft snort of amusement from Mirrim, who was standing behind her and turned an enquiring look on her. Mirrim just grinned at her – response calculated to annoy. Mary-Lou shrugged mentally, refusing to show any reaction, and walked further into the room.
“Did you send for me for anything in particular Miss Wilson?” she asked.
“I thought you’d be interested in seeing what these people are doing down here Mary-Lou. This is where the settler first landed you know, and there is a great deal of work going on recovering anything they left behind when they moved north.”
“That does sound interesting. Better than talking to dolphins anyway. Nearly what trained for.”
“Talking with dolphins?” Nell was obviously intrigued.
“Oh yes. That’s what I left Mike and Charles doing. They’ve apparently been enhanced so that they can speak – the dolphins I mean.”
Jaxom could see that Nell was finding this hard to believe. “She’s quite right Nell,” he said. “They were part of the group that came out form Earth, and were very much part of the team then. We are only just re-discovering their abilities.”
Mary-Lou was more interested in the excavations at Landing and other parts of Southern. “What is different here is that the artefacts being uncovered are more advanced, not less. In advance of our own time too. It should be fascinating to be involved.”
“We’ll make sure you are introduced to the team here, and then you can also tour some of the other places where there are finds,” said Jaxom. “F’Lessan’s Hold would be a good place to start. It was founded by one of the first settlers and we have found all sorts of wonderful things out there. It looks as if the family didn’t move north with everyone else, and continued living there for a good few years afterwards. They also seem to have left in something of a hurry. The wall paintings in particular are incredible.”
“First things first. We need to get Mary-Lou settled here with somewhere to live before we do anything else.” Nell was not inclined to let anyone go off half-cocked if she could help it!
Before long Mary-Lou found herself installed in one of the smaller houses, occupying a room that had obviously been meant as a bedroom. She had it to herself too, for which she was grateful. The people of this planet were still strange to her, and she was still having trouble adjusting to the different levels of technology being used. She had been invited to share the midday meal with Nell and she was looking forward to comparing notes with the redoubtable Head who seemed to be settling into the new environment a good deal better than Mary-Lou, despite the difference in their ages.

 

#201:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:10 pm

Goody goody gumdrops more Pern!

 

#202:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:14 pm

Thank you Pat! Kiss

 

#203:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:47 pm

Thank you Auntie Pat!!!!!!!!

 

#204:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:57 am

Woo Hoo! More Pern! Thanks Pat.

 

#205:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:37 am

Nice to see Nell so open minded! the paradox of excavating artifacts from the future is enough to blow anyone's mind. Poor Mary-Lou, she's not prepared for this, is she.

 

#206:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 10:24 am

Love the last line about Nell adapting so but better than ML despite the age difference! Thank you, Auntie Pat!!

 

#207:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 2:29 pm

Thank you, Pat! Looking forward to seeing how ML deals with the excavation, though I'm not sure she'll be able to ignore the dolphins. Also wondering what Nell will have to say.... Smile

 

#208:  Author: jacey, Location: Ireland PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 9:36 pm

I love the Pern books, but a crossover would never have crossed my mind. This is so good Pat. Really enjoying it. :reading:

 

#209:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:18 pm

Thanks, Pat, I'm hoping for lots more soon.

 

#210:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:23 pm

Auntie Pat dearest, did you think we'd forgotten this one?

 

#211:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:53 am

'Cos we haven't you know!!

 

#212:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 3:05 pm

Not at all at all

 

#213:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 8:51 pm

Nope we haven't. JackieJ

 

#214:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2004 9:31 pm

Not have I but I need to do a bit of reading before I can write any more!!

 

#215:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:34 am

OK - here's a bit more.

When she arrived at the dining hall she found Nell deep in conversation with Lord Jaxom and a couple that she hadn’t met before. That they were a couple was clear to see, though they were being very discrete. Nell indicated the long servery where she could help herself to food and Mary-Lou wandered across and loaded her plate with a savoury stew and some fruit. When she rejoined her old Head she realised that the conversation was all about a site of the Ancients, called Honshu.
“You’ll be interested in this Mary-Lou,” said Nell. “It has a great many artefacts still in place and I understand that that is what you archaeologists prefer. These are Piemur and Jancis, by the way. Piemur is a Harper and Jancis a Smith.”
Mary-Lou looked at Jancis expecting some sort of muscular wrestler type of woman and was surprised to see that she was no more heavily built that Mary-Lou herself.
“I don’t do the heavy smithing,” said Jancis with a smile, correctly reading Mary-Lou’s expression. “Besides, I’m still only a Journeyman, you know. One level up from apprentice. It’ll be a long while before I reach the dizzy heights of Master.”
“That’s reassuring! I thought you’d have to be built like a mountain.”
“Grandad is! He’s Fanderal, the MasterSmith you know, and he’s huge,” Jancis grinned at Mary-Lou.
Mary_Lou dumped her tray onto the table and pulled up a chair. “What’s this about an untouched place?” she asked.
“A rider called F’lessan and his dragon Golanth were exploring the far side of Southern. They had a map supplied by Aivas and knew roughly where to look. This was before Aivas died, so a good Turn or so ago. It’s only recently that folk have had the time to really look at what’s out there, since F’lessan and Golanth have recovered from the injuries they got in the cat attack.”
Piemur saw that Mary-Lou was completely in the dark, not only about the attack, but also the people concerned.
“F’lessan is the only son of F’lar and Lessa,” he explained. “He’s been living out at Honshu since we moved the Red Planet, and he and his partner and their dragons were attacked by a large group of cats. They nearly died, F’lessan and Golanth in particular, but we managed to keep them and they are recovering, though I don’t think Golanth will ever be able to fly Thread again. Anyway, Honshu is absolutely incredible. F’lessan found a complet sled there, all neatly wrapped in some sort of wrapping that has kept it like new. It won’t fly of course, since it used something called power packs, which we can no longer make, but it’s fascinating to look at.”
“Like a helocpter of something,” said Mary_Lou, trying to make sense of what she had been told.
“Not if I understand it correctly,” said Nell. “This is technology a great deal ahead of anything we knew Mary-Lou. Like a lot of the things taken for granted by these people’s ancestors.” She smiled at the Pernese around her. “It’s a little frustrating to find that the things we take for granted are ahead of your culture, but that you have access to things that a so far in advance of ours.”
“You’re telling me,” said Mary-Lou, with a grin at Nell for her use of slang, though Nell said nothing at all, merely acknowledged the look with a twinkle in her eyes. “I keep getting caught up in the discrepancies. You take such widely differing levels so much for granted that it’s hard to adjust.”
“I’ll take you around this place after we eat if you like,” suggested Piemur. “We can visit the Catherine Caves and see where the Ancients stored all the stuff they couldn’t take with them when they left. But first you will have to see the Aivas Room. Of course he no longer functions, but it’s important to see it to understand how far advanced the Ancients were. Robinton died in there too," he finished sadly.
“Sebell’s predecessor,” explained Jancis. “We all loved him, and he has been badly missed. He and Aivas went together, along with Robinton’s firelizard, Zaire.”
True to his word Piemur guided Mary-Lou to the main building, and along the corridor to the end room which she had glimpsed when she first arrived. It had clearly been enlarged at some point, but now looked more like a shrine than anything else. There was seating arranged around the room, focusing on what looked like one of the computer consoles with which she was becoming familiar, though she had yet to touch one. This looked far bigger than any she had seen to date though, and much more impressive, even though the screen was dark. A chair was set in front of the screen, which looked as if the last person to use it had only just got up.
“That’s Aivas,” said Piemur, his normally boisterous voice hushed and almost reverent. “That’s where we found Robinton too, right in front of the screen, with his head resting on the console. I didn’t want to believe he’d gone. Robinton I mean. He’d been my Master, you know, when my voice broke and I couldn’t sing any more. I worked for him while it was settling down, and afterwards too.” He brushed his hand across his eyes impatiently, as if he didn’t want anyone to see how much he still missed the old MasterHarper.
“Grief is natural Piemur. Don’t try to hold it back,” said Mary-Lou. “I lost both my parents and my step-father who loved a very great deal, so I know you can’t bottle it up. It’s not good for you. It can take much longer than people think to get over that sort of bereavement, believe me.”
Piemur nodded. “You understand,” he said in a slightly thicker voice. “It’s OK. It doesn’t usually hit me like this now, but this is where we found him and it’s harder here.”

 

#216:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:05 am

Yay! Piemur! (one of my favourite characters) Awww. You've inspired me to read the Pern books again, but I only have four of them with me at the moment! Smile ~LadyG

 

#217:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:25 am

How lovely to see Piemur and how nice that ML can help him by understanding. I like the way Nell is finding the paradoxes confusing! ETA Really glad to see this back Pat. Thanks. :balloons:

 

#218:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:32 pm

Thank you Pat!! That was lovely! I REALLY am going to have to start that Pern re-read soon!

 

#219:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 4:01 pm

Really love this, Pat, so interesting seeing the clash and melding of different communities and technologies. Laughing

 

#220:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:54 pm

Thank you Pat, that was lovely. So nice to see Piemur again (just finished reading Dragonsong and Dragonsinger).Can't wait for more (but I'll be patient)JackieJ

 

#221:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:02 am

Thank you, Pat. This is one interesting mix of characters and preconceptions!

 

#222:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 2:46 pm

Thank you Pat.

 

#223:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:52 pm

Piemur then took her across to the Catherine Caves, called after one of the original settlers who had found them by falling into them. They had subsequently been used to store materials that the settlers could not take north with them. Aivas had been delighted to find the parts for a number of computers, which had been reassembled for the use of the current population. Mary-Lou was fascinated by all the treasures that were there, carefully wrapped in some sort of plastic material that had perfectly preserved them. A great deal of the things were far in advance of her own time, though the simple things like chairs and tables hadn’t changed much in design, only in the materials they were made from.

F’lix and Felicity had never worked so hard in their lives! The dragonettes seemed to be permanently hungry, so that they had to spend half their time chopping up raw meat for them. Then they had to be washed and oiled every day, the oiling being especially important to prevent cracking when the dragons went Between. The grew at a tremendous rate, which meant that there was more to wash and oil every day. In between times they ate and slept, with very little time to call their own. They had also to fit in basic lessons in tactics and orientation talks on the Weyrs and how they worked. The real training would start when their charges could fly. The twins were looking forward to that as they were beginning to feel confined by the high walls of the Weyr, and it was telling on their nerves. That and the all-consuming tiredness!

Mike and Charles, left to talk to the Tillek, hardly noticed Mary-Lou’s departure. Mike was still determined to follow a career at sea, which mean fishing or transportation. In either case, he could see the help that the dolphins could give to anyone on the high seas. Charles had a different perspective. He had been slowly drifting towards the priesthood on earth, as much because of his introspective nature as because of any true calling, though his faith was deep. Pern had no religion as such which had shocked him deeply at first. However, knowing that he had to come to terms with the situation, he had thought things through and settled matters to his own satisfaction. His faith became deeper as he realised that he would have to depend on himself as much as anyone else for that side of his life. It was so much a part of him that he did not necessarily need the outward show of public worship. Now he began to see a direction he could follow on this world that would satisfy him and he was delighted to find that the Tillek was as pleased to see his interest as he was.

He ws so engrossed in his conversation that he failed to notice the arrival of another pod of dolphins until a cheery voice hailed him from the sea.
“Hello Charles! I’m told that you might be a candidate for the Dolphin Craft. I’m Readis, by the way, and I’m training to become a Master. Let me warn you that the Tillek here is a hard taskmaster!”

 

#224:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:10 pm

Feeling very satisfied! It is nice to see Charles working things through and I can imagine him as a dolphineer. Likewise, Mike seems to have found his calling. Looking forward to hearing about F'lix and Felicity's first flight. I jsut wonder how Joey is getting on ?(hint, hint) And Hilda?

 

#225:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 8:11 pm

Thanks for the update, it is good to see how they are all getting on, and to see Mary-Lou finding her niche. Not at all suprised at Mike and Charles, but would echo the biot about Joey, Jack and Hilda.

 

#226:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:25 pm

Lovely post, thanks Pat! Very Happy

 

#227:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Oct 28, 2004 11:16 pm

wonderful post Auntie Pat! Thank you!

 

#228:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 3:53 am

Thanks Pat. Like everyone else I am looking foward to hearing about what's going on at Healer Hall, Harper Hall and in the Weyr. amazed to see I now know three words of German. Does Ein Bier Bitte count?

 

#229:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 12:08 pm

Thanks Pat!

 

#230:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 7:49 pm

Jo Maynard looked around the apartment in the Healer Hold that she shared with Jack. They had been lucky enough to get one of the outer suites of rooms, mainly because there were still many people who refused to live so close to the danger of Thread. The fact that the shutters were securely closed when Thread fell was irrelevant, the fear was there and very real. They had what amounted to a small flat, with lounge and bedroom having windows that looked out over the valley and down to the sea. The view was incredible, for their suite was high up in the cliff, and both Jo and Jack revelled in it, for they missed the wonderful views of the Alps that they had had in their old home. The bedroom had en-suite facilities that were all that could be wished for. The lounge was large enough for them to host a small party if they wished to. Behind this was a kitchen for them to cook for themselves if they did not wish to eat in the communal dining room. Jo had quickly learnt how to use the cooker, which was the result of the new technologies opened up by the discovery of Aivas, but the technology behind it was beyond her. Today however, she had no time for more than a quick glance around her domain, for she had an important appointment. She was disconcertingly nervous about it, for it came as a direct result of her singing at the Hatching feast. She had been invited to join the choral groups based at the Harper Hold, and today she was to face Master Shonager, who was in charge of all the singing in the Hall. She had heard that he was a hard task master, and though she knew that she had been well taught by the eccentric singing master at the Chalet School it had been a good few years since her last lesson with Mr Denny.
She checked herself quickly in the mirror that hung just inside the bedroom door to make sure that she looked her best. The fashions on Pern suited her, especially the trousers worn by more and more of the women, with the long tunic over them, which accentuated her slim figure, and had brought a gleam of appreciation in Jack’s eyes the first time she had worn them. She smiled at the thought, as she walked out of the room and along the corridor to the main staircase. This ran from the entrance hall to the highest landing in the Hall and was reserved for Masters and their partners. Apprentices and children were confined to the back stairs. There was not very far to walk to the Harper Hall, for they were beside each other in the huge sweep of cliff that also housed Fort Hold. A Journeyman Harper was waiting for her inside the Hall and came forward at her appearance.
“Good morning,” he said. “You must be Jo. I am Tagetarl and Master Shonagar has asked me to show you the way to his rooms. He rarely leaves them, so everyone must go to him. He really is the best at his job, so it’s worth it.”
By this time they had reached the second floor of the vast Hall, and Tagetarl indicated a closed door ahead of them. “Just go in, he’s expecting you,” he said. “And don’t worry! He’s bark is far worse than his bite.”
Jo swallowed nervously and opened the indicated door. Inside she found herself in a large airy apartment which opened onto the wide forecourt of the Hall. The afternoon sun blazed in and blinded her for a moment, until she moved forward a little.
“Well come right in and don’t dither,” said a voice from somewhere ahead of her. “I can’t abide tardiness, so I hope you don’t indulge in it.”
Jo moved forward as instructed and saw that the voice came from a man sitting in a chair in the centre of the room. He was so large that Jo could easily understand why he stayed in his chambers, and he was leaning back in his chair. Resting his head in one hand, his eyes half closed as if he was about to go to sleep.
“I understand that you think you can sing,” he said, immediately increasing her nervousness tenfold. “Well, let me hear what you can do. Sing for me.”
“What would you like me to sing?” asked Jo in a small voice.
“Anything! That thing you sang at the Weyr will do. Why people think they can sing without my permission is beyond me,” he continued.
“Well since I didn’t know I had to have your permission before I sang,” said Jo indignantly. “You think a lot of yourself don’t you.” Her nerves vanished under the surge of indignation that she felt at this unfair dismissal of her singing ability. ‘Well,’ she thought, ‘I’ll show him!’ She wasn’t angry enough to forget her training, however and she took the time to settle herself down a little. Then taking a deep breath and using her diaphragm as she had been taught, she sang the song she had sung at the Hatching feast. Shonagar listened silently, his eyes closed so that Jo began to think he had truly gone to sleep. As the last notes died away, he stirred and lifted his head.
“You have had a good teacher young woman,” he said quietly. “He had taught you almost as much as I could have done. Don’t take offence, for there is no one on this world that I would say such a thing about, and from me it is high praise.” He smiled at her suddenly and her indignation melted away. “I do not say that you could not learn more,” he went on. “It will be my privilege to bring out even more. I suspect that it is also some time since you had any singing lessons at all.”
“Some years, yes. I have been raising my family and have had little time for singing. It will be wonderful to go back to them.” Jo’s face was alight with excitement, for she loved singing, and knew that there would be a great many new songs for her to learn on Pern. With her children grown and finding a new life for themselves on this strange planet she realised that she would now have the time to indulge herself properly for almost the first time in her adult life. Being Jo she forgot how much of the chores of child rearing had been taken off her hands to allow her time to write. She had early realised that her writing would not be appreciated here, and that she would have to spend a great deal of time absorbing the culture of this world before she could start again. Now she could use her other love to give herself an occupation and she was well satisfied.

 

#231:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 8:46 pm

Lovely, Pat! Joey's other great love can be fulfilled. And what praise from Master Shonagar for Mr Denny - now that would have been a meeting to savour Shocked

 

#232:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 9:39 pm

Lovely - and good for Joey! Thanks Pat! Laughing

 

#233:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:21 pm

Glad Jo has found a purpose.

 

#234:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:41 pm

Thank you, Pat! Sounds like Jo really will find her feet in Pern. Funny how the singing masters in both series are both eccentric and touchy about their subjects. Interesting comparison! Though my first thought when Jo got the "bark worse than bite" description was that she'd be thinking of Matey when she walked in the door Laughing .

 

#235:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Nov 01, 2004 12:16 pm

Wonderful post Auntie Pat!!! Thank you!!!!

 

#236:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 9:38 pm

Jack Maynard and Jem Russell had settled into the Healer Hall quite quickly. Their practical knowledge of many of the surgical techniques that the Healers were trying to revive helped a great deal, especially in the eyes of Masterhealer Oldive, who had welcomed them with open arms. It took Jem a little longer to adjust to the fact that he was no longer in overall charge, but Oldive’s obvious competence and desire to learn started the process of reconciling him to a lower status. Jack found that he was required to undergo Ground Crew training and take his turn as Healer to the crews that checked for Thread incursions during a Fall. There was always the odd strand of the stuff that escaped from the fiery breath of the dragons, and the patrols were an essential back-up.
Jack went out on his first patrol with a good deal of trepidation, for he had heard a lot about Thread and how it consumed anything living that it hit, with no chance of rescue. His training had told him otherwise of course; that if caught immediately it was possible to drown Thread, but the surest way to save a life was by emergency amputation of an affected limb. He really did not want to find himself in that position, but Crew service was a requirement for a Healer of his age, so he accepted the inevitable. The Ground Crew were quiet as they gathered in the courtyard in front of the Healer and Harper Halls, hearing the heavy clang of the doors as they closed behind them. Fall was due in the area shortly and they made their way to the rendezvous with little of the light-hearted chatter that was normally so much a part of Pern life. When they reached their destination they spread out into a long line, with jack more or less in the middle. The area was one of open countryside, given over to grazing for herdbeasts and runners, so they could see for a considerable distance in all directions. The man on jack’s right, a herdsman of some sort judging by his clothing, was the first to spot the oncoming flashes of fire from the dragons that signalled Threadfall.
“There they are! See the fire from the dragons?”
Jack peered in the direction indicated and caught the bright flashes against the strange looking cloud that was rushing up fast.
“I take it that the cloud’s Thread?” he asked.
“That’s right. Forgot this was your first time. Don’t worry about ti - the dragons catch it all mostly.”
Jack smiled slightly, aware that it was likely to be more of a sickly grin, and watched the odd cloud rushing towards them. The dragons were flaming and diving, winking in and out of Between in a deadly dance, the gleaming Queen’s Wing criss-crossing beneath them. Suddenly Jack realised that this was what his second twins would be doing one day, and felt even sicker. Then the wings were upon them and the Ground Crew became very busy, checking the vegetation for any sign of incursion. Jack was aware of the blast from a flame-thrower off to one side of him. Then suddenly there was the most dreadful scream away to his left and the shout went up for the Healer.

 

#237:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:00 pm

Eeek!!!How will Jack react?Thank you Auntie Pat!

 

#238:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:33 pm

Good for Jack. Glad both he and Jem are accepting of the situation. Have we found out what Madge is doing yet? Did I miss that?

 

#239:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:38 pm

Awww.... poor Jack.... but glad he and Jem seem to be settling well!~LadyG

 

#240:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Nov 04, 2004 10:44 pm

Running through a quick catch up.Great as ever, Pat. I'm amazed how you have managed to meld two of my favourite series into on story.I love your portrayal of Master Shonagar - glad Jo managed to breath from the diaphram.Having a quiet wibble about Jack and what he faces. Pleeeeease put me out of my misery!

 

#241:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 12:53 am

I'm even more worried about the person screaming!Hope Jack deals with it OK.... Perhaps if J & J gave it a good try, they could come up with a new treatment? Cool

 

#242:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 6:21 pm

How lovely, not one but two parts to catch up on as I had missed the bit about Joey. I loved Joey's flash of indignation and the way she controlled herself to sing. What is it about the way music teachers are portrayed in GO lit! Still with Mr Denny and Vater Bar she was well prepared for what she found. I know her writing skills wouldn't be appreciated in the same way, but reading that alongside hearing about her singing made me wonder if she could end up writing Pernese Ballards. Jack, this almost makes me think back to his war days, wonder if he would compare the two. It's certainly another form of active service. So, how is Madge coping? Did Robin come with them as well, or was she lost in a convent back in CS land??

 

#243:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:54 pm

By the time he reached the victim his neighbour had already used his machete to good effect and jack was presented with a charred mass on the ground, and a man with half an arm, who was sitting on the ground but looking very relieved to still be alive. Swallowing bile, Jack set to work to stop the bleeding, carefully concentrating on the job in hand to avoid looking at the mess on the ground. By the time he had stabilised the man, Fall had moved on and he was able to turn his patient over to the sweep-up team for transport back to the Healer Hold. When he caught up with his crew again, Fall was all but over and there were no more casualties for him to treat.
“That wasn’t usual,” said one of the men as they walked back to the Hall. “It’s usually minor burns from the agenothree that the Healer has to treat, not something like that. He was lucky his mate was as quick as he was though.”
Jack shuddered at the thought.

 

#244:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:13 pm

*feels sick and looks round frantically for a bucket!* Thanks Auntie Pat!

 

#245:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 9:18 pm

Thanks Pat - funny even in the Pern books the possibility of injury to the ground crews is glossed over

 

#246:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:16 pm

I have a feeling that someone's life is saved like that in Dragonsdawn, but can't swear to it without checking the book.

Madge Russell put down the embroidery with which she was trying to occupy herself and stood up to wander restlessly around her apartment. Situated next door to her sister, she was normally able to talk to her, but Jo was spending more and more time at the Harper Hall, and Madge was alone. She had made few friends so far, and found little to occupy herself. The Healer Hall drudges kept the rooms clean and laundered their clothes. Her children were adult, and were trying to make a new life for themselves here on Pern. She tried to understand why she was so restless and dissatisfied but could not put her finger on anything. She liked Pern and the Pernese. They were a strong self-sufficient people who lived life to the full, working hard and playing hard. Madge wandered over to the window and looked down the valley to the sea. It was a lovely day, but she could see a squall blowing in from the open sea. The sound of young voices drifted up to her as the Apprentice Harpers spilled out into the courtyard for the mid-morning break. Madge came to a sudden decision, put away her sewing and hurried outside. She threaded her way between the groups of young people and entered the Harper Hall, turning up the wide staircase to the airy room that had been given to Hilda Annersley as her office. She tapped on the door and went in when bidden. Hilda looked up from the piles of paperwork that were stacked in front of her.
“Hello Madge. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“I hope I’m not interrupting you too much Hilda. You seem to have a fair bit to do, but I needed to talk to someone.”
“That al right Madge. Most of this is learning about the way the Harper Hall operates, the courses the Apprentices follow and so on. What do you want to talk about?”
“I’m not sure. This is silly Hilda. I’m restless and find it hard to settle down to anything. It was wonderful to find all the books I had never had time to read sitting waiting in the computer memory banks, but I can’t read al day. My sewing doesn’t keep me occupied for long either. It isn’t considered wise to go for long walks as we used to do either. I really don’t know what the matter is with me these days.”
Hilda looked at her sympathetically. “I think I do my dear. Tell me, how did you fill your days on Earth?”

 

#247:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 10:47 pm

Thank you Auntie Pat!!! I hope Madge finds something to occupy herself!

 

#248:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 11:07 pm

Pat wrote:
“I’m not sure. This is silly Hilda. I’m restless and find it hard to settle down to anything. It was wonderful to find all the books I had never had time to read sitting waiting in the computer memory banks, but I can’t read all day.
Thing is - I think I could... Wink Lovely thanks Pat!

 

#249:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:39 am

Lesley wrote:
Pat wrote:
“I’m not sure. This is silly Hilda. I’m restless and find it hard to settle down to anything. It was wonderful to find all the books I had never had time to read sitting waiting in the computer memory banks, but I can’t read all day.
Thing is - I think I could... Wink !
Well, I would like to walk in between, and suffer less eyestrain when the books are on paper, but... *agrees with Lesley* Thanks, Pat! (not sure about the amputation--the only bloody stump I remembered was Sallah Telgar's heel, courtesy of the evil Avril Bitra rather than thread. In a quick check of Dragonsdawn I found the suggestion that they cauterize, but could easily have missed more stringent measures. I personally would recommend that all ground crews carry super-soakers Smile)

 

#250:  Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 2:53 am

Aggress with Lesley and Kathy_S. Read all day, no problem. Who needs a social life or to be socially usefull? Enjoying the adventures on Pern, but wondering how on earth (or in space) people keep up with all the drabbles...

 

#251:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 2:18 pm

Miss Di wrote:
Aggress with Lesley and Kathy_S. Read all day, no problem.
I used to think that. Now I've got the time to do that I don't have the energy or concentration :Bang:

 

#252:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:08 pm

Miss Di wrote:
Enjoying the adventures on Pern, but wondering how on earth (or in space) people keep up with all the drabbles...
With great difficulty! there are so many 'must reads' at the moment that I even waste time swithering about which to read first. It is really good, Pat. I seem to remember an amputation in Dragons Dawn but needless to can't remember where. I'm glad Madge is making a move to find an occupation. Reading all day is one of those things that we all dream of when we're busy but I don't think I could really do it for months and years.

 

#253:  Author: LadyGuinevere, Location: Leicester PostPosted: Mon Nov 08, 2004 6:25 pm

I didn't spot one in Dragonsdawn (was looking!), but I'm SURE I remember one somewhere along the line. Can't think where though! ~LadyG

 

#254:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:05 pm

Hope Madge does find something to occupy her properly soon. I dream whem I'm at work of having nothing to do all day but sew and read but I do know it would not satisfy me for long.

 

#255:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:23 pm

Madge thought back to her old life, to the Round House just outside Howells village. It seemed a life-time away rather than the few weeks it actually was, so much had changed.
“I was on one or two Committees, mainly charities,” she said. “I suppose they took up a fair bit of time. Then there was the house to run, though we had servants of course.”
“So you are saying that you had plenty to occupy yourself with then Madge. And here on Pern you have none of those things. Nor have you found a niche for yourself. No wonder you are bored. You must find something to occupy yourself with here.”
As with many bored people, Madge could think of nothing to fit the bill. “Don’t you think I would have done that if I could think of anything?” she asked indignantly.
“Don’t be so childish Madge Russell,” came Hilda’s swift rejoinder. “No one would believe you had founded a successful school if they heard you speak like that. I happen to know that there’s a good deal more to you than that.”
Madge suddenly saw herself clearly and blushed like the schoolgirl she had sounded like. “I was rather childish wasn’t I? I’m sorry Hilda.”
“So you should be! Now let me think about the ways you could use you skills and experience here on Pern. I take it Jem would have no objections to anything you wanted to do? I seem to remember he had strong ideas about married women working.” Hilda smiled to take any sting from her words.
“I very much doubt that he would have such notions now,” replied Madge with a small laugh. “He’s had to put up with me for the last week or so! I’ve been like a bear with a sore head.”
“I have noticed that although Pern has a strong tradition of music, and relating it’s history and teaching through song there is very little in the way of written or spoken literature as we have known it on Earth. Now obviously part of that is due to the lack of printing; the writing of any sort of fiction only really got off the ground when it was possible to produce books en masse, but we had a strong tradition of oral story-telling before that. Now that Tagetarl has efficient printing at his disposal there is no reason that Pern cannot develop this way too. I suspect that Pern has the same sort of story-telling tradition as Earth had, especially in the days of the old Sagas. I suggest that you could find these story-tellers, starting locally, but going around all the Holds, especially in the North, since that is where they have lived for most of the time they have been here. Record the stories and the sources that you find. Pern deserves it’s own literature, not just what has been rediscovered in the old computers. I am sure that there are many people with the talent to write, but who have not had the opportunity or encouragement till now.”
“I’m sure you have something there Hilda. People tell tales around the fire in winter on Earth, and I have heard that they can be quite fierce on Pern. They are bound to have developed their won entertainment.”
“Of course they will. They have musicians and artists, so why not novelists too.?”
Madge’s face had lit up with enthusiasm, totally transforming her from the dull, dispirited creature who had entered the room into the bright girl who had founded the Chalet School so many years ago.

 

#256:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:30 pm

Brilliant to have such a nice large post Pat and great to see Madge getting motivated and enthusiastic

 

#257:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:46 pm

Excellent - what a wonderful suggestion for Madge! Thanks Pat! Laughing

 

#258:  Author: Sophoife, Location: down under Down Under PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 6:51 pm

What a truly terrific idea for Madge! Although I bet it's six of one and half a dozen of the other for Hilda - she'd probably love to do what she's just suggested Madge do! Reminds me of something I wrote once, "Once upon a time, in a Weyr far, far away..." Wink

 

#259:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:29 pm

Sophoife wrote:
What a truly terrific idea for Madge! Although I bet it's six of one and half a dozen of the other for Hilda - she'd probably love to do what she's just suggested Madge do! Reminds me of something I wrote once, "Once upon a time, in a Weyr far, far away..." Wink
Well they did both teach the same subject - that's probably why Hilda could think of something.

 

#260:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:58 pm

Yay!!!! wonderful to have more of this! I'm so glad Hilda has found a purpose for Madge!

 

#261:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 9:54 pm

So glad there is somehting for Madge to do...and glad to see Hilda hasn't lost her touch! Laughing

 

#262:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:31 pm

Thanks for the lovely long post, Pat.

 

#263:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 2:25 pm

Thank you Pat. Nice to see Madge getting back to her old self.

 

#264:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 4:51 pm

Great idea for Madge! Thanks, Pat. (How will Jem will react to her gallivanting around the planet, though? Cool )

 

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