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sky is rather dark； apart from what Aivas called the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds。〃
〃And these spirals？〃 asked Lessa； peering at the one in front of her。 〃There're so many。〃 She was awed。
〃Are these clusters all stars？〃 F'lar asked Tai； showing her the print he had picked up from the table。
〃Global clusters；〃 she replied。
〃Good work；〃 Erragon said； nodding approval。 〃You've made notes of time and position？〃
〃Of course； though these were random shots because I was actually experimenting with the filters Honshu has； trying to see more detail；〃 Tai replied。
〃And everyone can see these？〃 Mirrim regarded Tai with obvious respect。 〃You star…gaze for a reason？〃
〃That's part of it；〃 Tai said； her dusky skin flushed with both pleasure and embarrassment。
〃Just think what we could see and understand about the cosmos；〃 F'lessan said； his eyes bright with such a visionary gleam that Lessa regarded the bronze rider with admiration； 〃if we had more observatories and people trained to watch。〃
G'dened grunted； unimpressed； flicking his fingers at the beautiful starscapes； and glared at F'lessan。 〃You said those were far； far away。 Isn't it the nearby stuff you're supposed to be watching？〃
〃Oh； we do more of that。〃 F'lessan splayed out another set of prints in front of the Oldtimer。
G'dened recoiled suspiciously。 〃Looks like a bug…eaten tuber。〃 He picked up one； studied it briefly before discarding it contemptuously。 〃More holes than reef rock。〃
〃Ah；〃 and F'lessan waggled a finger at him。 〃Those asteroids are not far enough away。 What looks bug…eaten is where other flying bits have made craters in the surface。 Or where gases that were once in the asteroid blew out。〃 Then F'lessan added； 〃The first one is ten kilometers long and the holey one is fifty。 It's big enough to blow Pern apart。〃
G'dened swallowed； slowly turning his eyes to Erragon who nodded solemn affirmation。
〃That's the whole point of tonight's meeting；〃 Wansor said； 〃to establish a sky watch and train those who will keep their eyes on asteroids like that。〃
〃There're only four scopes in the Catherine Caves；〃 Lessa said； and wondered if they would be enough。
〃Which；〃 and F'lessan jumped to his feet； 〃makes me wonder if perhaps the Ancients hadn't planned to set up a sky watch of their own before Thread changed all their options。〃
〃That has often occurred to me；〃 Wansor said； nodding his round head thoughtfully。 〃And why there is no northern array。 Though； of course； the Ancients had settled on the southern continent so they wouldn't have needed a northern array for many Turns。〃
〃A northern array would have warned us of that storm；〃 G'dened remarked sourly。
〃Will four more scopes be sufficient？〃 K'van asked。
〃It doesn't even take a large scope for night…watching； K'van；〃 Erragon replied reassuringly。 〃Master Jancis has been making binoculars that many；〃 and he turned to Jaxom； who nodded； 〃have been utilizing。〃
〃All watch…riders use them and all of us have done our watches on Weyr Rims；〃 N'ton added； glancing around for confirmation from the other Weyrleaders。 〃I think I can still name all the bright stars。〃
〃Sadly； it's not the bright ones we have to watch； N'ton；〃 Wansor said； 〃but they are important to recognize； to give the positions of the ones we must chart and register。〃
〃It's also a very big sky； F'lessan；〃 K'van remarked。
〃Which is why it is such a very good idea for more dragon…riders to learn how to watch it；〃 F'lessan said； giving K'van； the Southern Weyrleader； a challenge。 〃You've an admirable situation down there on the heights in your new Weyr。〃
〃It's the sort of thing you young riders should do；〃 G'dened said emphatically。 Then he realized what he'd said。 〃You may be sure I'll encourage my riders。〃
〃Before I Impressed Talmanth；〃 Palla said； raising her hand； 〃I studied astronomy。〃
〃Why； so you did；〃 J'fery said； regarding his Weyrmate with surprise。
〃An apprentice I was sorry to lose and would be delighted to encourage；〃 Erragon said； nodding acceptance of her shy offer。
Aware that everyone was looking at her； she ducked her head and stared at her clasped hands。 Lessa noticed that J'fery bent to say something in her ear and she gave him a quick smile； relaxing her hands。
〃That sounds like it will take a lot of time；〃 G'dened said； not sure he approved of such activity。
〃Oh； it will；〃 Erragon had to agree。 〃With your assistance； we will have a splendid register to present the Council。 Already we have Master Idarolan quite willing to move anywhere he can be of assistance； in teaching or watching。 He reminds me that most Fishmen use the stars to navigate and he isn't the only one who's retired。〃
〃Which brings us back to making this sky watch efficient。 What do you mean； Master Wansor； by twenty…four…hour coverage and another telescope？〃 F'lar asked。
〃About time；〃 F'lessan said forcefully。
〃We have Cove Hold； we have Honshu；〃 Erragon replied； 〃we need to site at least one of the Catherine Cave telescopes in the north as soon as possible。〃 Erragon coughed。 〃For a proper twenty…four…hour coverage； we should consider setting up the first observatory on the Western Continent。〃
〃There's nothing there；〃 Lessa exclaimed。
〃There are still stars above it；〃 F'lessan reminded her； then hastily added； 〃We can worry about how to improve the place later。〃
〃An observatory on the Western Continent must be established as soon as possible；〃 Erragon said firmly； prepared to argue that point。
〃To allow us to confirm sightings with as much accuracy as possible； we must have one there； despite its distance from any other major population center；〃 Wansor said； bringing one hand down flat on the table。 The noise startled everyone。 Master Wansor was the mildest of men and his sudden insistence surprised G'dened and G'narish。 〃We must have one there or the sky watch can fail。 Master Idarolan is of the firm opinion that a small settlement is feasible。 He even suggests a sheltered harbor between the two halves of the western Continent and knows where clear water is available。 Even some trees。〃
〃Really？〃 Lessa asked。
〃Really；〃 Wansor said； nodding earnestly in her direction。 〃If we number dragonriders among the sky…watchers； establishing an observatory…even at such a distant point…will cause no great problem。 They can be home daytimes； you see。 It's only the night they need to watch。〃
His cheerful qualification caused several to grin； Palla and Mirrim turned chuckles into coughs。
〃Then that's one observatory settled；〃 he went on。
〃But where will there be others？〃 K'van asked； still smiling as he leaned forward； a keen expression on his suntanned face。
Jaxom cleared his throat。 〃There's an excellent spot for an observatory at Ruatha Hold。 Near the Ice Lake； accessible enough。 I am quite willing to cede it…and the tithes of any holds in the immediate area…to establish a wholly independent Star Hall。〃
Wansor beamed in his direction while others exchanged glances at such generous sponsorship。
〃With all due respect； Lord Jaxom；〃 J'fery said deferentially； 〃since Palla has some training already and there is also a possible site not far from our Weyr。。。〃
〃Managing a Weyr takes all my time；〃 Cosira said； pointedly looking away from Palla。
Lessa made a disparaging sound and dismissed that inference。 〃Palla's younger than either of us； Cosira。 Since she's been Erragon's apprentice； I don't think any of us would object if she delegates part of her Weyr duties to the other queen riders。〃
〃That's as may be；〃 F'lar said； giving both Lessa and Cosira quelling stares。
〃Yes； yes；〃 Master Wansor said。 〃Thank you； Lord Jaxom； Weyrleader J'fery； Lady Palla。 You will have to refresh and augment your original training。 While I may not be able to see anymore； my memory is excellent。 Master Samvel at the Landing school has a whole class of young people to whom I already teach basic astronomy。 I suspect；〃 and his opaque eyes appeared to twinkle； 〃that there may be many older people； aunties and uncles； retired from physically demanding work； like Master Idarolan； who would be delighted to have responsible work to do； even if it is at night。 Frankly； I only need a few hours' sleep；〃 he added with an ingenuous smile。
〃It would be no problem for me and Tiroth；〃 D'ram said； 〃to bring students to Master Wansor。 It will take considerable time； especially with the workload that is currently carried by our best people； to build an observatory； so we must make strong representations to the Council to start as soon as possible。 In the meantime； the production of binoculars from the SmithCraftHall has been increased…〃
〃By over half again as many；〃 Wansor interrupted with one hand upraised in apology； 〃since the Fireball。〃
〃Has been increased considerably；〃 D'ram went on gently。 〃Master Jancis and Piemur assure us of a supply and Master Morilton has professed himself and his Hall willing to experiment with reflecting mirrors for small telescopes。〃
〃And； when the dangerous objects are discovered； will dragons be required to push them out of the sky？〃 G'dened demanded sarcastically。
Lessa noticed that F'lessan exchanged a quick look with Tai。 F'lessan also had a gleam in his eye that had always preceded some mad start of his as a boy。
〃One never knows； G'dened；〃 Jaxom said； 〃considering what strange things dragons have done in the past eleven Turns。 I repeat； I'm quite willing to site and provide for an observatory in the Ruathan hills。〃
〃I'll undertake to set another at Telgar。 Master Fandarel will certainly approve of an efficient watch on the sky；〃 and J'fery grinned； 〃and Lord Larad is more open to such projects than other Holders。〃
〃It would be wise；〃 Jaxom said； stressing the last word； 〃to include as many holders and crafters in this sky watch as possible。〃
〃I thought it was to be a dragonrider responsibility；〃 G'dened said。
Really； thought Lessa with a disgust she did not express； G'dened must step down。 He was so hidebound。
〃We will need everyone who's willing！ Why； we'll need to train two or more Halls full of people；〃 and Wansor held out both arms in an expansive gesture。 〃As Weyrleader K'van remarked； it's a big sky。 And we must discover as many objects as possible。 Most will prove harmless when their orbits are charted； like our Turnover Ghost etary trails。 Many may e close but proceed on their ways。〃
〃That's all very well； Master Wansor；〃 G'dened said； still unconvinced； 〃but that doesn't answer the important question： what could we do if another et or meteor or whatever is close enough to impact Pern again？〃
The silence in the hall was so plete that the ining waves could be heard rippling up the beach； and the occasional splash of dolphins playing one of their evening games。
〃We'll think of something；〃 F'lar said into that silence。
〃What's the matter with all of you。。。〃 F'lessan cried； jumping to his feet。
Lessa could almost hear the words he had been about to utter： old dragonriders。
He recovered quickly； almost stumbling over the next words。 〃We've only started exploring the masses of information Aivas left us and somewhere in all that information there will be a way of dealing with them。 When Thread first starting falling； our ancestors made do with what they had； and developed what they needed to survive…the dragons。 They found ways to adapt that have sheltered and expanded a population that； had they been less resourceful and optimistic； would have perished without a trace in that first Pass。 All due respects to you； Erragon； but Aivas had a habit of hiding information so we have to work to find it。 Let us make the best of what we have…those telescopes and the brains we were born with。〃
Lessa regarded her son with considerable； if pessimistic； respect。 And yet； what he said might well be true。 Aivas had talked about weapons of mass destruction and she earnestly hoped that nowhere in those records were such particulars。 But if there was hope。。。
〃We had to learn a great many things to blow the Red Star off course。 We still don't know the half of what there is in Aivas's records；〃 F'lessan went on