A/N: The characters of Sean, Sorka, M'hall and Torene and their dragons, Carenath, Faranth, Brianth and Alaranth, as well as the properties of Benden and Fort Weyrs belong to Anne McCaffrey and have been borrowed without her permission. Buck Cross hadn’t become one of the territory’s youngest marshals by not listening to his instincts—and right now his instincts were screaming that he’d made a big mistake. He knew it hadn’t been smart to leave the rest of the posse behind and try to track the Pucket gang by himself, but the posse had consisted mostly of farmers and businessmen. Eight days on the trail had worn hard on men who, at best, seldom sat a saddle for any time longer than it took them to ride to town once a month. They were tired and had been slowing him down, letting the bank robbers get further ahead with each passing hour. Left to travel at his own speed, Buck had made up much of the lost time to track the gang to a series of canyons that afforded them too many places where they could hide indefinitely. That’s when his instincts had kicked in. He was currently experiencing a tingling sensation between his shoulder blades that his mind was telling him meant he was being watched. Feigning a lack of concern, the lawman moved carefully up the draw until he came to an outcropping of rocks. In a single movement, he pulled his rifle from its scabbard, then slipped from his horse, allowing the animal to continue on. Ducking behind the rocks, Buck waited for whoever or whatever had been trailing him. After almost ten minutes, he was beginning to think his mind had been playing tricks on him, when a noise behind him caused him to whirl, rifle at the ready. He barely completed the turn before he stopped dead. If the sight of a large green dragon hadn’t shocked him into immobility, the sound of the dragon’s voice in his head would have. It is I, Buck Cross! the voice cried. “Sarinth?” Buck asked in surprise. “What are you doing here? Where’s Tari?” “I’m here, Buck,” a human voice said from a spot to the left of the dragon. As she spoke, the girl stepped into view. She hasn’t changed a bit! Buck thought as he stared at the woman. She was dressed just as she had been five years earlier when the time traveler from the future and her flying dragon had appeared in his life only to disappear just as quickly a few weeks later. Five years and she looks just the same! “That’s because it hasn’t been five years for me, Buck,” Tari informed him. Buck started, then remembered that the dragon could read his thoughts and had obviously passed them on to her rider. “What are you doing here?” he asked in amazement. “I told you I’d be back if I could,” Tari answered. “As glad as I am to see you, Tari,” Buck said. “Now isn’t exactly the best time. I’m chasing some bank robbers.” “The Pucket gang, I know,” the girl responded. “That’s why I’m here. They’re waiting for you on the other side of some big boulders about a mile on down this canyon.” “How do you know that?” “Sarinth and I have been here since early morning,” Tari explained. “We’ve been waiting for them—and you.” “But why?” Buck asked, confused. “Why are they waiting or why are we here?” “Why are you here?” Buck answered. “When you left, you said you couldn’t stay because you were afraid you’d change things. Being here to tell me that I’m about to be ambushed will change things, won’t it?” “Yes,” Tari replied. “And no.” “It can’t be both—can it?” Tari crossed the distance between them to take Buck’s hands in her own. “When I was here last, you said you wished you could go to Pern with me,” she reminded him. “Do you still want to go?” “You said I couldn’t!” Buck replied. “You said I was needed here. That until I had children . . . “ His words trailed off as the realization hit him. Stunned, he leaned back against the rock. Now it was Tari’s turn to be confused. “You aren’t sure?” she asked. “I was married,” Buck admitted. “But my wife couldn’t handle the fact that I was a marshal. She left me to go back East almost six months ago.” He looked at Tari with a sadness in his eyes that made her heart ache. “She was pregnant, wasn’t she?” “She must have been,” Tari said reluctantly. She didn’t want to hurt the man any more than he’d obviously already been hurt. “The records show that you were survived by a son.” “A son,” Buck whispered. “I have a son.” Then the rest of Tari’s words sank in. “’Survived by’?” he questioned. “Yes, Buck,” the girl replied bluntly. “According to our records, you die in an ambush today.” Buck was still stunned. Tari had shown him a copy of a newspaper announcing his death. His obituary had indeed read that his wife and their newborn son survived him. A son he would never know. Unless . . . “Now that I know, I can change this,” he stated. “I can avoid the ambush.” “That would change the past, Buck,” Tari told him. “So why did you come back?” he demanded. “If you’re so concerned about your history, why did you come back to tell me?” Tari winced at the bitterness in his voice. She and her brother Thom had discussed his possible reactions at length before she had decided to make the journey back to old Earth a second time. Thom had suggested that he would want to change his destiny and she had known that, if he chose to do so, there would be little she could do to stop him. “I only know one thing for sure, Buck,” she replied quietly. “If you go into that canyon, you will die. I have the power to prevent that.” “At the expense of the future,” he stated. “Yes,” she agreed. “I guess I hoped you cared enough about me that you would just leave Earth and come to Pern with me.” She hesitated briefly before launching into her best argument. “History says you die today. If you leave with me and go forward to my time, your disappearance won’t change anything. Not if you do it today, right now.” “If I go with you right now, I’ll never know my son,” he argued. “You would never have known him anyway,” she replied logically. “If I hadn’t told you, you wouldn’t even be aware he was alive.” “You make it sound so simple,” Buck countered. “No, Buck. I know it’s not simple,” Tari answered. “I never thought it would be. I suppose it didn’t occur to me that you would have changed so much in five years. I thought—“ “You thought I’d spend the rest of my life, pining over what might have been with you?” he interrupted bitterly. “You made it clear five years ago, we couldn’t be together. What did you expect me to do? Become a hermit, living a dream?” Sarinth rumbled at the anger in his voice. “You forget, Buck,” she said, her own anger growing. “I knew you wouldn’t become a ‘hermit’. I knew at some point you would find someone else and have at least one child. I did what I had to do because it was the only thing I could do.” She turned away then and started for Sarinth. Leaping gracefully onto the dragon’s neck, she turned once again to face the man. “You do what you have to do, Buck. I just know I couldn’t let you die without taking the chance.” The green dragon was aloft before the man had a chance to respond. In the wink of an eye, the pair had disappeared. I’m such a fool! Tari berated herself angrily. I should have known— You couldn’t have known, Sarinth interrupted. He has changed a great deal. They hadn’t gone back to Pern immediately. Sarinth needed to rest and so did Tari. They had instead gone to the valley where Buck had taken them for his first daylight flight on a dragon. The dragon watched as her rider paced back and forth on the ledge. You shouldn’t be angry with yourself for trying to save Him, Tari, the dragon said firmly. Tari rubbed her eyes. Timing it was always exhausting, but timing across almost four centuries drained her. You must rest, Sarinth continued. When you have slept, you will be able to make better decisions. “If there’s any decision left to be made,” Tari replied bitterly. Curling up in the hollow made by Sarinth’s body and legs, the girl fell asleep to dreams of Buck being killed over and over. Tari! The dragonrider came awake instantly at her dragon’s call. “What’s wrong?” she asked. He is calling for me, the green replied. He wants us to come back to him. He sounds as if He is sorry. “Where is he?” Where we left him. “Take me to him,” Tari ordered, leaping to her place on the dragon’s neck. They found Buck sitting on the rock where they had left him. He looked up as Sarinth backwinged to land easily in the small clearing. “I thought you’d left already,” he said quietly. “We needed to rest up first,” Tari told him. “How did—do I die?” he asked without preamble. “Another article said you were caught in a landslide,” she said. “Apparently, you were trapped by falling rocks triggered by a shot fired by one of the bank robbers. Members of your posse found your horse, without a rider, and your hat among the rocks.” “They never tried to dig my body out?” Buck asked, marveling at his own detachment. He could have easily been talking about someone else entirely. “No, the boulders where too big for them to move,” Tari explained. “They decided it would be better to just leave you where you died. They did erect a monument nearby.” “Gee, nice to know they cared,” Buck said bitterly. “I’m sorry,” he apologized immediately as she flinched. “Buck, I know this is hard for you,” Tari told him. “Maybe I shouldn’t have even tried to change things.” “Why did you?” he asked suddenly. “It hasn’t been five years for me, Buck,” she said quietly. “It’s only been just over a year on Pern. My feelings for you haven’t changed.” “I sort of guessed that,” Buck replied softly. He moved to take her in his arms. “I didn’t figure you’d come all this way back without a good reason.” He held her tightly for a few minutes, then stepped back to get a better look. “You’re not sick this time?” “No,” she answered smiling. “I got smart this time. Instead of taking one long leap, I did several shorter ones.” “You can do that?” he asked. “Sure, all it took was a visualization of a point in time,” she explained. “I did my homework this time.” “And we’ll go back the same way?” Tari smiled broadly as she realized what he was saying. “Yes,” she answered. “Then I guess we’d better get to it,” he said determinedly. “We need to be gone before the posse gets here.” “And we have a landslide to set up,” Tari agreed. They couldn’t have set things up any better if they had known the exact time. Buck rode into the canyon and was immediately attacked by the gang. He fired a few shots in return, then turned and ran back as Sarinth gave a mighty shove to a pair of boulders that rested high on the canyon wall above. As the boulders rolled down, picking up speed along the way, Buck climbed up to meet Tari and the dragon. He threw his hat onto the rubble as it slid past him. Additional shots from the entrance to the canyon announced the arrival of the posse. As Buck, Tari and Sarinth watched from above, the bank robbers fought a losing battle. Outnumbered and outgunned, the few that remained alive after the melee surrendered. Buck tensed as his deputies found his hat and began to search for him. They watched while the entire posse poked at the rubble and called his name over and over until the darkness stopped them. Finally, the deputies called a halt to the search. To a man, they removed their hats while one man said a few prayers, then, surviving gang members in tow, the posse rode away. “Let’s go,” Buck said finally, standing to wipe the dust from his clothes. Tari handed him the jacket and gloves she’d brought with her, just in case, and they both climbed up to settle on Sarinth’s neck. “Wait,” Buck said as Sarinth prepared to leap skyward. “How far ahead are you going to jump?” “About one-hundred and fifty years,” Tari told him. “Give or take a decade or two?” he said with a wry grin. She smiled in return. “Why?” “I don’t suppose there’s any way . . . “ he started. “Any way to what?” she prompted as he paused. “To see my son?” he said finally. “Just once?” Tari chewed her lower lip as she ran through the possibilities. “There’s one chance,” she offered carefully. “But we’ll have to be very, very careful.” Buck looked at her hopefully. Sighing she looked to Sarinth. Can you do it? I can, the dragon answered. ”Let’s go,” she said to a now smiling Buck. “Where are we?” Buck whispered, instinctively keep his voice down. “Just outside St. Louis, Missouri,” Tari replied in the same quiet tone. “I guess I should ask when are we?” the man asked. Tari grinned in the darkness. “It’s 1888. It’s been twenty-two years.” “Twenty-two years . . . “ Buck mused thoughtfully. “Come on,” Tari urged. “We don’t want to be late.” “Late for what?” “Your son’s graduation,” the girl said over her shoulder as she walked quickly through the dark streets. “His what?” Buck exclaimed. “Shhhh,” Tari hushed, then continued quietly. “His graduation. He’s graduating from St. Louis University tonight. He’s valedictorian of his class.” “Valedictorian?” “He’s first in his class,” she explained as they approached a large brightly lit auditorium. “This way,” she directed, leading him to a flight of steps at one side of the building. There was a door at the top of the steps leading to a catwalk that ran around the top of the auditorium. Staying carefully in the shadows, Buck and Tari worked their way until they were as close to the stage area as they could get. They had just settled into their vantage point when the graduates marched in. Buck leaned forward a bit, trying to get a better view of the young men in their graduation robes. “They all look the same,” he whispered. “Wait,” Tari whispered back. “He’s going to be giving a speech.” The man’s impatience grew as they waited while several others stood to speak. Finally the announcement they had been waiting for was made as it was announced that David Buck Cross would speak as valedictorian of his class. Tari looked from the boy on the stage to the very tense man beside her. The resemblance was remarkable. She smiled as Buck stared at his son. Then the boy began to speak and Tari decided that if she closed her eyes it wouldn’t be possible to tell father from son. “I never knew my father,” David began. “He was killed just after I was born. But I’ve heard a lot of stories about his life, first as a Kiowa Indian and then as a half-breed in a white man’s world. My mother has told me that none of the stories I heard were exaggerated in any way—and I believe her.” Tari looked at Buck to see that he was completely absorbed in what his son was saying. “His life started out in the worst of all possible ways. A white man raped his Kiowa mother, then left her for dead. Luckily, her Kiowa husband accepted her bastard son as his own. My father was raised as a Kiowa—one of the most fearsome tribes of the plains. While he was treated no differently by his Indian father and half-brother, the other members of his tribe were not so forgiving. When he was barely out of childhood, his mother was killed and he left the tribe to, as he said, discover his other half.” The boy paused here for a moment, as if marshalling his thoughts. “My father made his way to a mission school where he worked hard and graduated, then moved on to join the Pony Express. He faced many dangers both from the Indians who considered him white and the white men who considered him little more than a savage. Yet, when the Pony Express disbanded, my father became a territorial marshal where he again faced the dangers of prejudice along with the dangers of being a lawman in an almost lawless world.” Looking up at his classmates and their families, David continued. “He was killed while tracking a gang of men who had robbed the bank in a town within his jurisdiction. For all that he went through, my father never forgot who and what he was and never let what he was keep him from what he could become. He could have easily fallen into the trap many people, white and colored alike, do. A trap where our differences outweigh our similarities. My father could have easily believed what many people told him about himself and become a worthless no-good bum. Instead he fought the stereotypes that abounded in his time and became a respected member of society.” Buck had taken Tari’s hand in his and was squeezing it tightly. She glanced over again to see tears of pride in the man’s eyes. “I like to think that I have the courage my father had,” David was saying. “I like to think that every one of us has the courage necessary to pull ourselves above any diversity and make the world a better place for our being here. My mother has helped me see that courage isn’t just a name or a heritage. It’s being, every day, someone who can wake up in the morning and say ‘I will do my best today’, then go home at night and say ‘My best was good enough’. I’ve had the best of both worlds, a father who gave me courage and a mother who taught me how use that courage.” He paused again to nod to the woman who sat in the front row of one of the side sections. The woman, Buck’s wife Tari reminded herself, smiled back at her son. Next to her, Buck inhaled sharply as he saw the woman his wife had become. “The one thing my father was most determined about though was to be known for himself not for what he was or who gave him life. He wasn’t the son of a drunk who raped an Indian woman, nor was he the bastard half-breed son of a Kiowa woman. He was a man who did his best, each and every day and was remembered for that. Twenty years from now,” he concluded. “I want to be remembered, not as the son of a half-breed, a courageous Pony Express rider or even the son of a well-respected marshal, but as a man who did his best among men who did their best.” The applause began as he stepped away from the podium and continued until he returned to his seat. Tari and Buck joined the other members of the audience until their hands were sore and red from clapping. They remained on the catwalk until the graduates were given their diplomas. A loud cheer went up from the crowd as the last roll was presented, then the graduates filed out followed by their families. “She told him about me,” Buck whispered. “Sounds to me like it was more than just her telling the stories” Tari responded. “You didn’t think she would?” “I didn’t really know,” the man replied. “I missed so much.” “But you can be proud of what he has accomplished.” “I am,” he told her. “I am.” “How did you know he would be here?” Buck asked. Sarinth had taken the pair to the canyon ledge that, even in 1888, was part of a great wilderness area. Tari had explained to Buck that this canyon and it prominent peak had become her focal point for the jumps they would take until they could make the final leap to Pern. “The government declared that this land was to remain undeveloped,” she told him. “Aside from an occasional hiker, almost no one comes here. We should be safe.” “I told you I did my homework,” Tari said smiling. “And I guess I had a feeling you might want to see him.” “What happens to him?” “He becomes a lawyer—and an aide to the governor of South Dakota. He’s instrumental in what becomes one of the few treaties the government actually honors with the Native Americans in the Black Hills.” “He did it without me.” “He did it because of you.” Tari watched as Buck paced back and forth at the edge of the cliff. The girl and her dragon were all but forgotten as the man struggled with his destiny. “What happens to the others?” he asked suddenly. “Teaspoon, Cody and the others?” “Teaspoon retired after many years of meritorious service as a federal marshal. He remarried one of his ex-wives and they lived in Montana until he died in 1903. After the war, Cody scouted the West for the army and the railroad. Later he started a Wild West show that became a big attraction all over the world.” “So he became famous after all,” Buck mused. “What about Jimmy?” Tari sighed. “Jimmy became his legend.” “’Wild Bill’?” Buck asked in surprise. Jimmy had always hated that label. “The legend followed him around. He was constantly defending himself against men—boys mostly—who wanted to make a name for themselves,” she told him. “He is shot in the back while playing cards in a bar.” “Damn!” Buck muttered softly. “Kid and Lou?” “I wasn’t able to trace them after they went back to Virginia,” the girl replied apologetically. “A lot of records were lost during and just after the war. Not knowing his real name didn’t help.” “I’m sure it didn’t,” Buck laughed. He began to pace again. After watching him for several minutes Tari asked. “What do you want to do now?” “What do you mean?” he asked in reply. “I don’t have much choice do I?” “There are always choices, Buck,” she answered. “We can go back as easily as forward.” “Would I be able to change anything?” “Probably.” “For the better?” he asked. “That’s hard to say,” she answered honestly. At his look, she continued, “There are a lot of theories about time travel. Some say that time is like a series of roads and each decision we make is like a fork in the road. Even if we choose to go right, the left fork is still there and still going where ever it would have gone had we made the decision to go left.” “But there’s no way of knowing?” Buck said as her words sank in. “No, but no matter what your decision, your future will be what you make of it,” Tari said. “There’s no doubt that if you change what happened according to my history, you will evolve into a different future. There really is no proof though that my time will change too.” “Why would you be willing to risk it?” he asked. “For the same reason I came back to save your life,” Tari answered softly. “I don’t want you to die—and I want you to be happy.” He stared at her for several minutes, then offered a hand to help her to her feet. “Let’s go,” he ordered. “Which way?” she asked. “Forward,” he said firmly. “There’s nothing in the past for me.” During their next stopover on Earth, they rested for a day and Tari told Buck about her planet. She explained about Thread, her life as a runner, the planet’s unique inhabitants—and how her last trip in time had created something of a problem. “Other dragonriders tried, but no one was able to time it the way Sarinth and I did,” she told him, a hint of pride in her voice. “Finally Sean decided that Sarinth had a unique ability. Personally, I think it’s because none of the others could give their dragons a properly focused visual.” Buck smiled at her pride. He knew from what she had told him that green dragons were considered less intelligent than the other colors. He agreed with her that a lot of the intelligence was probably a result of the union between rider and beast. “I think the weyrleaders were glad that Sarinth and I are the only ones who have mastered the ability,” Tari confided. “How so?” “Think about it, Buck,” she told him. “If it became known that dragons can go between times, how many people would want us to go back to ‘rescue’ their loved ones before something happened to them. Not to mention, one of the bad things Sarinth and I discovered is that if we go back to a time where we already are, we become ill. We simply can’t be in the same place twice.” “All of this on top of the chance that you might change something crucial to your history?” Buck said. “I don’t think I’d want that responsibility either.” “Anyway, the weyrleaders all got together and decided to prohibit anyone from trying to time it again,” Tari continued. “The golden queens told all of the dragons that they were not to go between times, no matter what their riders might want, without speaking to the queens first.” “And they went along with that?” Buck asked. “No one argues with a queen,” Tari replied. “Then how did you arranged to come back for me?” he asked. “I was able to prove that there was a real reason to bring you forward,” Tari answered. “I convinced M’hall and Sean that there would be no danger if you came forward after your ‘death’.” “What reason?” Buck pressed. “I’ll explain it to you when we get to Pern,” Tari told him evasively. “Right now we need to rest. The next leap will be the last—and the longest.” Pern was everything Tari had described and more, Buck decided as Sarinth circled a clearing, preparing to land. For as far as he could see the terrain was a mixed bag of lush green, sandy deserts, blue oceans, rocky crags and mountains. Not all that different than the Rocky Mountain or Sierra Nevada ranges of his time. He noticed an occasional brown area too. An area completely devoid of any kind of life. That must have been where the Thread had gotten through the dragons, Buck reasoned. Looking down he saw a building that Tari had told him was her family’s runner station. The clearing the green dragon was heading for was already occupied by five humans—as well as two gold and two bronze colored dragons that were even bigger than Sarinth. Carenath, Faranth, Brianth and Alaranth are here, Sarinth informed them. “The weyrleaders are here!” Tari called back over her shoulder. “I thought they might be.” The bronze dragons bugled a challenge that Sarinth answered as she backwinged to land neatly in front of the humans. Buck slid from Sarinth’s neck to join Tari as the five people walked forward to meet them. Tari started to introduce the two older men and the women but noticed that Buck was staring intently at the third man. The girl smiled as she saw the same intense look on her brother’s face. “You must be Thom,” Buck said. “And you are Buck,” Thom replied. “I never would have believed it. Even after Tari told me, I didn’t quite believe that we could look so much alike.” “You could be my twin,” Buck agreed. The older of the other two men cleared his throat to gain their attention. “Sorry, weyrleader,” Thom apologized. “Buck Cross, these are the Fort weyrleaders, Sean, bronze Carenath’s rider and Sorka, gold Faranth’s rider and the Benden weyrleaders, M’hall, bronze Brianth’s rider and Torene, gold Alaranth’s rider,” Tari said making the belated introductions. “Nice to meet you,” Buck responded, shaking hands with each of them. A casual glance would have told him the men were father and son even if Tari hadn’t told him earlier. “And you, young man,” Sean replied. “I’m pleased to see that you are here safely.” “I have to say, the resemblance is remarkable,” his werymate, Sorka, agreed. “We can discuss that later,” Sean decided. “Right now, you two look as if you’re ready to fall asleep on your feet. And young dragonrider, your dragon looks positively gray with hunger!” Tari turned to Sarinth, fear written across her face. Thom stepped forward immediately. “You take Buck and go get some rest,” he ordered. “I’ll take care of your beast.” Sarinth’s humorous rumble told Tari she didn’t mind, so the girl nodded to the weyrleaders, took Buck by the hand and pulled him towards the building he had seen from the air. “I can’t wait for you to meet my parents,” she told him happily. The weyrleaders watched as the pair move across the clearing. “I wish I knew how we were going to explain him to the holders,” M’hall murmured. Tari’s parents were as stunned at the resemblance between Buck and their son as Thom had been earlier. Her mother immediately rushed about to prepare them some food. “Please don’t go to any trouble, Mother,” Tari said. “It’s no trouble at all!” Tania said. “If I were to see you from a distance,” Toussaint told them, once the pair were settled and eating, “I think I might mistake you for my own son.” “It’s strange to treat you as a youngster,” her mother added. “Considering you are over three hundred years my senior.” Buck smiled wryly. “I guess that’s one more thing I’m going to have to get used to.” “There’s no reason for anyone else to know,” Tari said quietly. “Physically, you aren’t any older than you were on Earth.” “I’ll bet when the historians get a chance, they’ll want to know everything you can tell them,” Thom offered from the doorway. “Sarinth has fed and is sleeping in the meadow.” “Thanks,” Tari said wearily. She had leaned against Buck and could barely keep her eyes open. “Off to bed, both of you!” her mother ordered. “I’ve made up your room, Tari. Buck, I was assuming you would sleep there as well, but if you prefer another—“ “Tari’s room will be fine,” Buck interrupted. “I wouldn’t want to put you out any more than I already have.” “Nonsense, young man!” the woman argued. “You’re no problem at all.” “She reminds me of Emma,” Buck said sleepily as Tari led him through the halls to her room. “I thought the same thing of Emma when I first met her,” Tari agreed. “You go ahead and clean up first,” she told him. “I have to speak with my mother for a minute.” “All right,” Buck replied. She heard him exclaim as he saw the bath and then heard the splashing of water. Smiling she retraced her steps to the family living area. “You haven’t told him yet, have you, Tari.” Her mother’s statement wasn’t a question. “No,” Tari responded. “He had enough to deal with.” Sitting down, she quickly related the story of her trip to Earth. “He didn’t know he had a child?” Tania asked in amazement. “No, his wife left before the baby was born,” Tari told her. “I didn’t want that loss to affect his decision to come with me. He had to make that decision unencumbered.” “When do you intend to tell him?” her father asked. “As soon as we get some sleep,” Tari replied. “Make it soon, daughter,” her mother ordered. “He has missed out on too much already.” “That’s what he said,” Tari murmured. Returning to her room, she found Buck curled up on the bed, sound asleep, a smile on his face. Smiling herself, Tari washed quickly, then curled up next to him. As she fell asleep, she felt his arms wrap around her, pulling her close. It took Buck a few minutes to remember where he was when he woke the next day. He was alone on the bed, but the spot where Tari had been was still warm so she hadn’t been gone long. The man from Earth lay, silently contemplating everything that had happened to him in the past twenty-four hours that were really three hundred and fifty years. There was so much to be absorbed, yet he didn’t think he’d have a lot of time for that—not with everything he knew he would be experiencing in the near future. What little he’d seen of Pern so far wasn’t all that different from Earth—if you ignored the lights that seemed to work without flame and the bath off this bedroom that had a tub deep enough to swim in. He was sure he’d be finding more differences as he went along, but for now, he didn’t think he’d have a lot of problems coping. Tari had told him about the technology that remained active. He wasn’t sure about these computer things, but he didn’t figure he’d be working with them all that much so it didn’t matter. All in all, he figured he’d be able to handle anything that was thrown at him. If nothing else, he could always just find himself a plot of land somewhere and become a farmer. There was still plenty of land to be explored and tamed and, if what Tari had told him about Threadfall stopping soon was true, then he was the one to explore and tame. Still he found himself wondering about the age limits for dragonriders. Riding Sarinth was like nothing he’d ever experienced. The sight of the bronzes and the golden queens in the clearing the day before had been awe-inspiring. “Guess I’ll be joining the ranks of the dragonrider wannabes,” he murmured. “That’s not necessarily true.” He’d been so absorbed in his thoughts he hadn’t heard Tania come into the room. Thanking whatever had prompted him to sleep in his pants, he jumped up to help her with the tray of food she was carrying. “I thought they had age limits on who could Impress,” he said sheepishly. “They have age limits,” the woman told him. “But the dragon’s choice knows no such limits. Believe me, you aren’t the only over-aged person on Pern who wouldn’t give everything they had to have a Searching dragon choose them.” “How often do they Search?” Buck asked curiously. “Eat,” Tania ordered, then pulled up a second chair and sat across from him. “In the beginning they didn’t Search at all. They just presented young people who lived in the weyrs and very nearby holds.” “But that changed?” “All it took was two hatchings where a dragonette couldn’t find its mate,” the woman explained. “What happened?” “The dragonette went between.” “I didn’t realize they could do that right away,” Buck said, remembering what Tari had told him about her days and weeks being taught how to manage the draconian abilities. “No one did,” Tania said sadly. “After the second time, the weyrs have made certain that they had the widest possible selection for the dragonettes to choose from. As the hatching date nears, they send dragons to all the holds and even the stations like ours to Search for likely candidates. The blue and green dragons seem to be able to pick those who will be chosen.” “Is that how Tari was found?” “Yes,” her mother replied proudly. “It’s quite an honor for a family to have a child chosen to be presented—and even more of an honor to have one selected.” “What happens to those who don’t Impress?” “They are allowed to choose whether they will stay for another chance, or go home,” Tania said. “They are given more than one chance to impress—but after a certain age, the weyrs usually decide they aren’t going to impress.” “And then?” Buck asked. “They can stay at the weyr or return to their homes. Most stay.” Buck could understand that. There had to be a certain sense of failure in not being chosen time after time. He probably wouldn’t want to go home to either—not if it meant being known as “the one who couldn’t Impress a dragon.” It wasn’t until he had eaten almost half of the food Tari’s mother had brought him that he realized he didn’t know where her daughter was. “She had an errand she needed to attend to this morning,” Tania replied. “I told her I’d keep you entertained until she gets back.” “I was hoping I could just do some exploring,” Buck told her. “Thread is falling today,” the woman replied with a shudder. “If you’re willing, we could put you to work on the ground crews afterwards. We always seem to be short-handed.” “Sure,” Buck agreed, not really sure what he was agreeing to. “You’ll have to explain it to me.” “There’s nothing to it,” Thom said from the doorway. “You just point the wand in the direction you want to flame and pull the trigger.” “But we seldom have to do even that much anymore,” Tania added. “Thread doesn’t fall so heavily now. It’s rare that even a strand or two get past the dragons.” “Do you watch the dragons?” Buck asked. Tania shuddered again. “Oh my, no!” “I’ve seen them once or twice,” Thom said, moving to the table. He reached for a piece of red fruit as he spoke. “I was caught in a relay shelter once with a shutter that wouldn’t close completely. If the Thread is falling straight down, there’s no real danger.” “As thick as these walls are,” Buck offered, “you wouldn’t think there would be a danger unless the wind was blowing horizontally.” Tania was staring at the two men, her eyes wide in disbelief. “If you two are going to be totally foolish and try to watch, you will not do it in my home! You can go to the barn with the animals and be ready with the flame-thrower! “Come on, Buck,” Thom said smiling. “I’ll show you how to use a flame-thrower after you help me get the herd beasts in from the meadow.” “Will Tari be flying today?” Buck asked as he pushed a particularly reluctant animal into the barn. They weren’t, he had decided, all that different from the cattle of his day although the physical resemblance ended with the four legs and horns. “The weyrleaders told her she was to stay behind,” Thom replied. “But I doubt they’ll be able to keep her from getting at least some flight time in. Even if it’s only delivering firestone.” “Firestone?” “This is firestone,” Thom said showing him a lump of coal like substance. “The dragons chew it and then when they belch, it catches fire. That’s how they flame the Thread.” “There’s a lot to learn here,” Buck said ruefully. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get it all figured out.” “Sure you will,” Thom comforted. “You just have to keep trying. Besides, there are only six more years of Threadfall this pass. Then things will get back to what the elders call ‘normal’.” “You don’t remember a time without Thread?” Buck asked curiously. “No,” the runner replied. “Thread has been falling for almost fifty turns. But when it stops, we’ll have almost two hundred years before we have to worry again.” He looked out the still open window. “There it comes,” he called, pointing. Buck looked out to see a gray cloud moving slowly across the horizon. Here and there he saw flashes of what he thought was lightning. Curiously there was no noise, no thunder. As the cloud drew nearer he realized the lightning was in reality the dragons’ flaming. He could see the individual dragons flying in a V formation but there were too many green dragons to make out if any of them were Tari. Four hours passed with Buck and Thom totally engrossed in the battle that took place over their heads. Finally the cloud passed over them completely and soon the “All clear” was sounded. The two men moved out immediately to their assigned sector. Thom showed Buck what to look for in the way of Thread burrows but they found none. When the weyrleaders landed to check on the ground crews, the word came back that only one burrow had been found in the entire section and it had been destroyed. Toussaint called for Buck and Thom to join him, M’hall and Torene. The weyrleader nodded in appreciation as he saw the flame-thrower in Buck’s hands. “I see they didn’t let you sit this one out,” he laughed. “I think I volunteered,” Buck replied, grinning widely. “Tari is back at the weyr,” Torene said in a husky voice. Buck noticed that she too carried a flame-thrower. “She’s asked that we bring you back with us.” “I had thought he would spend some time here with us—at least until he gets acclimated to Pern,” Toussaint protested. “They’ll be back soon,” M’hall told them. “I think Tari wants to show Buck her home—and a few other things.” The two runners looked at Buck nodding as if they understood what he didn’t. “I’ll get your jacket,” Thom said starting for the house. Tania met him halfway carrying the jacket and gloves. “Thanks,” Buck told them all as he shrugged into the heavy jacket. “For everything.” “You’re welcome here any time, Buck,” Tania said. Thom and Toussaint nodded in agreement. Riding the great bronze dragon was very different than riding the more agile Sarinth, Buck decided as Brianth landed easily in the center of what looked like a hollowed out mountain top. The bigger dragon was much more powerful, that much was certain, but the speed the green dragon had shown him was much more exciting. “Thank you, Brianth,” he called as he slid a much longer distance to the ground. You are welcome, friend of Sarinth, came the response. If Buck noticed the look M’hall gave him, he ignored it as he saw Tari at the top of a short flight of stairs. He turned to thank the weyrleader but the dragon was already in the air. Ducking to avoid the dust that the mighty wings had stirred up, Buck ran easily up the steps to where Tari waited. “So you have seen Thread,” she asked. “I think your mother’s decided I’m insane,” Buck answered with a laugh. “No more than Thom,” Tari countered. “He should know better.” “Did you fly?” Buck asked. “Thom said M’hall and Torene had told you to stay behind.” “I did as I was told,” Tari said indignantly. “For once.” “So this is the weyr,” Buck said looking around. “Welcome to Benden Weyr,” the girl said formally. Taking him by the hand, she added, “Come on, I have someone I’d like you to meet.” Tari led Buck into the building and along a maze of corridors until they came to a series of small rooms. At one end of the hall stood a large desk covered with panels of blinking lights. A lone man stood with a group of women all dressed in green. As the pair approached, the group became silent, the women looking at the man expectantly. “Buck, this is Roger,” Tari introduced. “Roger is one of our healers.” “Healer?” Buck intoned. “Are you sick?” “No, it’s not me,” Tari said. She had become so serious that Buck was becoming worried. Ignoring Buck’s questioning look, Tari led him to a small cubicle next to the big desk. Inside was a single bed covered by what looked like a glass shield. Walking to stand beside the bed, Buck looked inside to see a small, obviously sick baby. This time Tari met his questioning gaze straight on. “Buck,” she said quietly, “I’d like you to meet your son. His name is Steven.” “My son?” Buck exclaimed. The baby stirred restlessly at the sound of his voice. “My son?” he repeated more quietly. Tari nodded. “I was pregnant when I left Earth the first time,” she explained. “But that was almost five years ago!” Buck countered. “Earth time,” Tari reminded him. “It’s been just over a year here on Pern. Steven is just four months old.” Buck stared at the baby his disbelief gradually fading. “What’s wrong with him?” he asked. “He has extrahepatic biliary atresia,” the doctor answered. “I don’t know what that means,” Buck said. “What’s extra—extrahepatic whatever?” “It’s a disease of the liver,” Tari simplified for him. “He’s dying.” “Dying?” Stunned didn’t begin to describe how Buck was feeling. He had adjusted to the idea of losing David, especially after seeing how he turned out. Now, after being given a second chance, he was going to lose yet another son? He couldn’t believe that fate would play such a cruel trick on him. “Under normal circumstances is the disease is quite curable, especially in someone so young,” the doctor was saying. “Why is he dying then?” Buck demanded. “What makes it not ‘normal circumstances’?” Turning to Tari he asked. “Is it because of the time travel?” “We don’t know, Buck,” Tari replied. “It’s a possibility that my timing it during that particular point in my pregnancy might have had an affect but there is no way to prove or disprove it. Sometimes the disease just happens. I’ll try to explain it all to you but would you like to hold him first?” For just the briefest of seconds, Buck considered saying no. What would be the point of getting close to the child only to have to suffer the heartbreak of losing a second son? He quickly pushed that thought from his mind. Reaching into the crib, he gently lifted the baby. For one so young, Steven seemed to be very aware that this was a stranger holding him. Still he didn’t cry, but simply stared at Buck with huge brown eyes. The most obvious sign that the baby was sick was his color. He was unusually yellow. Buck remembered a man in the town where he’d been marshal who’d been a heavy drinker. The doc said his liver finally gave out. He remembered that the old man had turned yellow before he died. “He loves to be rocked,” Tari said, pointing to a rocking chair next to the bed. Buck moved carefully to the chair and sat down. As he began to rock, Steven smiled at him and snuggled closer to his chest. After a few minutes, the baby’s eyes closed and he fell asleep. “What is extra . . . hepatic whatever?” Buck asked quietly. He gently stroked the baby’s face as he continued to rock back and forth. “Extrahepatic Biliary Atresia is a rare gastrointestinal disorder characterized by the absence of the normal opening of the bile duct into the liver,” Roger explained. “This results in the obstruction of the bile duct from outside the liver, and bile that is produced in the liver is not able reach the small intestine.” Buck looked up at the man, shaking his head in total confusion. “Roger, why don’t you let me explain it to Buck,” Tari suggested. “I can do it without sounding like a text book.” “If you need me just call,” Roger agreed. Tari waited until the doctor left the room, then turned back to watch Buck rock their son. Tears formed in her eyes at the man’s tenderness. She knew then she had made the right decision in going back for him. “The liver creates a fluid called bile,” she explained. “Bile is used in the intestines to digest food. Steven’s liver didn’t develop properly. The tube that leads from the liver to the intestine is blocked and the bile has no way to get out.” “So it’s building up in his body and that’s what makes his skin yellow,” Buck concluded. “Exactly,” Tari confirmed. “What can be done?” “The most common treatment is surgery to just connect the intestine directly to the liver,” Tari continued. “Is that what Roger meant by ‘normal circumstances’?” Buck asked. “Yes.” “So what makes these not normal?” “Sometimes, the liver itself is affected too quickly and too severely,” Tari said quietly. “Sometimes the surgery wouldn’t help.” “And that’s what’s happened to Steven,” Buck said, understanding dawning. The baby in his arms stirred briefly, then settled against his chest again. “Yes,” Tari responded softly. “You said that surgery was the most common treatment,” Buck said. “There are other options?” “Only one,” the girl replied. “Which is?” “A liver transplant.” “Is that why you brought me here?” Buck asked angrily. After Tari had made her pronouncement, he had put the baby back in the crib and left the room. They had moved to an empty office where Tari had explained what a transplant was and how it could be done using just a piece of an adult liver. The fact that the liver was the only human organ that could regenerate meant that both the baby and the donor would ultimately have a whole functioning liver after just a very short time. “Part of it,” Tari answered honestly. “But not the only reason. I wanted you to know your son. I wanted to be with you again. I wanted us to be a family.” “But Steven’s life was the most important thing,” the man stated firmly. “What do you want me to say, Buck?” Tari responded, her own anger growing. “The doctors have checked ever person on Pern for a possible donor. Every human on this planet volunteered for the surgery, even those who had no idea who Steven was. But no one, no one was a compatible donor.” “And I am?” Buck asked. To his surprise, the woman responded, “We don’t know.” He stared at her in disbelief. “You don’t know?” “Buck, Steven is different from everyone on this planet,” Tari attempted to explain. “The doctors think it’s because people have changed in the past three-hundred and fifty years. In your time the medical community knew nothing about genetics—the things that make us what we are—but somehow the combination of your genes and mine have created Steven, a very unique individual.” “I don’t know anything about any of that,” Buck countered. “I know,” Tari said. “I didn’t either—until Steven was born and until he was diagnosed.” Tears were falling freely from her eyes as she watched Buck standing stiffly near the door. “The choice is yours, Buck,” she said finally. “I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do. You’re free to go if that’s what you want.” She left him alone then and Buck began to pace back and forth in the small room. Too much was happening and too fast. He didn’t understand enough of what was happening. The only thing he truly understood was that the baby, his son, was dying. Leaving the room, he returned to where Steven lay sleeping in his crib. He reached in to gently stroke the baby’s arm. A tiny hand reached up to grab his finger and held on tightly. Buck stood that way for almost an hour, just watching the baby sleep. Finally, his decision made, he left the room and walked determinedly to the desk where Tari and Roger stood. “What do I have to do?” The tests to determine if Buck was a compatible donor weren’t all that difficult, he decided. It was the waiting that was the toughest part. The DNA tests—whatever that was—took almost a week to complete. He had been offered a room near the hospital corridor and had accepted. Still unsure of his feelings where Tari was concerned, he didn’t think he could share her quarters or her bed. Buck felt a sense of betrayal where the dragonrider was concerned. Discovering her motives for coming after him and preventing his death weren’t totally brought about by her feelings for him was a bit of a blow. That was something he’d have to deal with—but later, he decided. Right now, his son’s survival was the most important thing. While he waited, Buck took time to learn about the life in the weyr. Everyone seemed to know who he was and treated him with more respect than he would have anticipated. At one point, he’d been out wandering around the corridors when he discovered he was very lost. He had turned and tried to retrace his route but the halls were too similar. Finally he had happened upon a young boy who was hauling large bundles of linens. “You’re Steven’s father, aren’t you?” the boy asked shyly after agreeing to show him the way back to the great hall. “How did you know that?” Buck asked in surprise. “We all know about Steven,” the boy exclaimed proudly. “I was tested to see if I could give him some of my liver.” Buck started. Tari had told him that the people on Pern had all been checked but he hadn’t thought that had included children. “I wish I could have done it,” the boy was saying. “Why?” Buck asked. “Everyone says he’s something really special,” the boy explained. “The healers say he has something in his genes that might help them cure some of the things that make people sick.” “So that’s why they want to save him so much,” Buck said, becoming angry all over again. “Oh, no sir!” the boy cried. “They would have done what they done even if he didn’t. Every baby born on Pern is special.” They had been walking for quite some time, and finally reached a corridor that Buck recognized. “My birth mother told me that when the thread first started to fall, a lot of people died,” the boy tried to explain. “Then, a while later, a lot more people died of a sickness. Every life on Pern is important, sir. We don’t like to see anyone die, especially if the healers can fix them.” Buck handed him back the bundle he’d been carrying and walked back to his room. He had a lot to think about. Tari found him at breakfast the next morning. “The tests are done,” she told him. “And?” he asked anxiously. “You’re a match!” she said, unable to keep the excitement from her voice. “So now we do the surgery.” “Yes,” Tari agreed. “Roger wants to meet with you. He’ll want to schedule the surgery as quickly as possible.” Buck nodded. They had discussed the next step at length. Leaving his breakfast untouched, he followed Tari to where the healer waited. “Did it work?” Buck mumbled groggily. He had been unconscious during the surgery and was just coming out from under the anesthesia. “We don’t know yet,” Tari said softly. “Roger says the liver seems to be functioning. It’ll be a couple of days before we know for sure.” “Too bad we can’t go forward in time,” he murmured, then fell asleep as the numbweed and fellis juice took effect. Numbweed was a wonderful thing, Buck decided a few days later. He had experienced no pain after the surgery and had, in fact, wanted to get up the first day to check on Steven. The nurses had threatened to physically restrain him until Tari had explained that the baby was in isolation and even she hadn’t been able to be with him. Finally the day came when they allowed him up and about. He was a lot stiffer than he thought he would be, but with Tari on one side and a nurse on the other, he walked carefully down the short corridor to the baby’s room. “He looks better,” Buck offered hopefully. “He’s doing very well,” the nurse agreed. Once the man was settled in the rocking chair, she left the family alone. “He looks like he’s getting some color back,” Buck said, reaching into the crib. Steven stirred, opening his eyes at Buck’s touch. His eyes focused on his father’s face and to his parents’ surprise he smiled and cooed. “I think he knows me!” the man said excitedly. “I think he does too,” Tari agreed. She watched for a few minutes before broaching the subject she had been dreading. “Buck, about what I did—“ “There’s nothing to talk about, Tari,” Buck interrupted. “I was wrong in thinking that Steven was your only reason for coming back for me. It would have been enough of a reason for me anyway so don’t worry about it.” “What changed your mind?” Tari asked curiously. “I’ve had a lot of time to think—and a couple of visitors,” Buck confessed. “I guess I’d already started making up my mind, but your mother and Sarinth reminded me of a few things.” “My mother?” Tari exclaimed. “And Sarinth?” “Your mother paid me a visit this morning,” he told her. “She reminded me that you could have easily told me about Steven back on Earth. You could have made me feel guilty enough that I had to come forward with you.” “I would never do that!” Tari argued. “The decision had to be yours.” “I know that—now,” Buck replied. “And like I said, it doesn’t matter. I guess it was just humbling to know that I wasn’t the only reason, that’s all.” “You said Sarinth visited you?” Tari asked. “Well, not physically,” Buck said laughing. The image of the green dragon filling his small room was amusing to say the least. “She just talked to me the way she does.” “What did she say?” I told him you loved him. Both humans heard the voice at the same time. You do and it’s silly to deny it. And he loves you! Buck rose stiffly from the rocking chair. “I guess we can’t hide much from her, can we?” he asked, taking Tari in his arms. No, you can’t! As soon as he was able, Buck moved back to Tari’s weyr. Thread fell occasionally and, when Tari flew, Buck stayed in the hospital room with the baby. He would have liked to have watched the dragons flying again but the people of the weyr refused to allow him to open the shutters. After each Fall, Tari returned to their rooms so tired that she could do little more than bathe and fall into the bed. More than once, Buck returned to the room to find her asleep in the tub. “I guess I’m feeling kind of useless right now,” he admitted to Roger after the man had noticed his restlessness. “You could ask to be made part of the ground crew,” the healer suggested. “They always need people to man the flamethrowers.” “I just might—“ Buck’s words were cut off sharply as a scream filled his head. “TARI!” he cried as he started for the door. A part of his mind registered that Steven had started to cry at almost the same moment. Buck reached the door to the weyr just as Sarinth landed in the courtyard. The dragon keened in pain as the medics helped an unconscious Tari from her back. Buck pushed his way through the people who had gathered around the dragon and her rider. “Stay back,” one of the medics ordered, but the man ignored him completely to kneel by the woman. Thread had caught her across one shoulder and had burned through her jacket and into her arm. One of the medics was applying numbweed to the wound even as the second was cutting the remaining jacket material away. “Someone take care of her dragon!” Marana the weyr’s headwoman ordered. The green dragon’s tail was thrashing about wildly, preventing any of the people from getting close to her. Buck could see a wound on the bone of her right wing but no one could get close enough to apply the pain relief. Sarinth, he called instinctively. She’ll be all right! I was between, the dragon moaned. The wind caused the Thread to fall differently. Tari was hurt because I came out into a clump. Buck got to his feet and moved to the dragon’s side. “It’s not your fault, Sarinth!” he comforted. “Tari is going to be all right.” The big green’s eyes were whirling yellow and white from the pain and fear for her rider. “Sarinth!” Buck roared reinforcing a mental call and finally getting the dragon’s attention. “You need to let them help you! Tari is going to be all right!” Sarinth looked directly at him for the first time. He kept her attention until the healers were able to cover her wound with numbweed. As the pain lessened, the dragon became more coherent though no less agitated. Her head swung from side to side as she tried to see what was happening with her rider. “She’s going to be all right, Sarinth,” Buck repeated over and over. He forced himself to believe what he was saying knowing the dragon would be able to read his thoughts if he didn’t. The medics quickly put Tari on a stretcher to carry her to the hospital. Buck was torn between going with them and staying with the injured dragon. He was saved making a decision by the weyrwoman, Torene. “Go with Tari, Buck,” the woman ordered. “We will take care of Sarinth.” He hadn’t even been aware that the great golden queen had landed beside the smaller green but could “hear” Sarinth talking to her and Alaranth responding. Knowing the dragon would be tended to, he took the steps three at a time to follow the stretcher. Buck sat with Tari until she came too later that evening. The healers were in and out of the room during that time, always assuring him that the dragonrider would recover and wouldn’t lose the use of her arm. “The dragon got between before the Thread could do too much damage,” Roger told him. Remembering the ugly looking wound, Buck wondered just what “too much damage” would have been. He passed the information on to Sarinth who was still being controlled by Alaranth. He could feel the dragon relax believing his words to be true. When Tari finally came around, Buck was barely able to hold her down. “Sarinth!” she called frantically. “She’s all right, Tari,” Buck said quickly. “She’s been scored,” he added using the term he’d heard Roger use earlier, “but she’s going to be just fine. Just like you are.” “I can’t hear her!” Tari cried. She struggled again to get out of the bed. “Where is she?” “Torene has Alaranth controlling her,” Buck insisted. “She refused to let anyone help her because she was worried about you.” “Refused until this young man told her to behave,” Torene said from the doorway. “She is fine, Tari, but if you want her to stay that way, you must control yourself and get well.” Tari looked from Buck to the weyrwoman. She relaxed back into the pillows as she realized they weren’t lying to her. “You helped her?” she asked Buck. “I did what I could,” he replied lightly. “She wasn’t listening to anyone else.” At Buck’s insistence, Steven was moved into Tari’s room. That way, he declared, he could keep an eye on both of them. Within days, he was changing Tari’s bandages as easily as he changed the baby’s diapers. There had been several other scorings so the nurses appreciated his efforts. On the third day, Buck carried Tari to where Sarinth lay resting. Once she saw for herself that the dragon was healing nicely the rider was able to relax completely. The dragon reacted much the same way. Alaranth was able to release her control. From that point on the two were able to communicate normally, they both seemed to heal a lot faster. Before long, Tari was able to go back to the weyr and, to their joy, Steven was able to accompany them. Sarinth was ready to fly long before Tari was able. As difficult as it was for her, the dragon had to wait in the weyr during Thread fall. “I wish I knew enough to fly with her,” Buck lamented, watching the green’s tail thrash about in irritation. “You don’t, so don’t even think about it,” Tari responded. “It’s not as easy as it looks.” “It doesn’t look that easy,” Buck admitted. “Still, is there any reason why I can’t fly with her to get her some exercise? Laying around like this can’t be good for her.” Tari chewed her lower lip as she considered the possibility. “I don’t see why not,” she said finally. “If Sarinth doesn’t mind, I don’t. You shouldn’t try to go between though.” “I won’t,” Buck promised with a grin. “I don’t know any place well enough to visualize it for her.” We’re being watched, Sarinth told him after just a few minutes of flying. “Who? Where?” Buck asked looking around. The weyrleaders and many other riders. They are surprised. Buck could feel the dragon’s confusion as clearly as if it were his own. “Why?” he asked. “Because you’re flying again so soon?” Because you fly with me. “Tari doesn’t mind,” Buck countered. ”Why is it a problem?” It is no problem, Buck Cross, a powerful male voice answered. “Then why is everyone surprised?” Buck asked, recognizing the new voice as Brianth. You are not a dragonrider. You are not Sarinth’s rider, the bronze answered simply. “If I’m doing something wrong—“ Not wrong, Buck Cross, a lighter, female voice offered. Just unusual. Have no fear. Sometimes our riders simply do not understand us. “Not just your riders,” Buck added, remembering Roger’s reaction to his outburst when Tari was hurt and the reaction of just about everyone in the weyr when he had calmed Sarinth. Three draconic chuckles joined his own at the memory of Marana’s face when Sarinth had obeyed his command. Fly well, Buck Cross, Alaranth told him. Buck and the green dragon had been flying for almost two hours when he sensed Sarinth was beginning to tire. “Maybe we should head back,” he suggested. Yes, the dragon agreed, turning easily in the direction of the weyr. As they approached the mountain, a bronze dragon appeared in front of them. Brianth bugled a throaty challenge and move closer to his mate. The second bronze was apparently given permission to land but only at a distance from the weyrleaders. “That’s strange,” Buck muttered. Alaranth is near to rising, Sarinth explained. Brianth will not allow another to mate with her. Buck considered the information, then asked. ”What about you, Sarinth? When will you mate again?” It’s not my time, the dragon replied. “Do you know when it will be?” Buck pressed. Not for some time yet, Sarinth said. Tari still nurses the little one. “Sarinth says Alaranth will be mating soon,” Buck said as he and Tari lay together that evening. “She has been getting a bit testier,” Tari agreed. “How wonderful that the first mating flight you see will be a queen.” “She also says that she won’t be rising again while you’re nursing Steven,” the man continued. “That’s usually the way it works,” Tari commented absently. Understanding dawned finally. Tari raised up on her good arm to look the man in the eye. “You’re worried because you think I’ll have to mate with another man,” she stated. “Isn’t that the way it works?” Buck asked. “The riders do as their dragons do?” “Normally, yes,” Tari replied. “But there are other ways to handle it.” “How?” the man asked curiously. “Very simply, we find someone to take my place with the men,” the woman explained. “You make that sound so easy,” Buck said, unable to hide a bit of sarcasm. “You’d be surprised at just how easy it will be,” Tari said. “There are a lot of women here in the weyr who will jump at the chance to mate with a dragonrider whose dragon is flying.” “What about you?” Buck asked cautiously. “Won’t you need someone?” “I was kind of hoping I’d have you,” Tari said, smiling as she snuggled close to him again. “Besides,” she added as she felt him relax, “we have plenty of time.” “Don’t bet on that!” Buck said, grinning mischievously. Alaranth bleeds her kill! Sarinth’s call woke them early the next morning. Grabbing what bits of clothing they could find easily, Buck and Tari rushed to the ledge of their weyr to watch the giant queen attack and kill a second and then a third herdbeast. “Torene has to control her,” Tari offered as commentary. “If she eats too much she won’t be able to fly as well.” “Where is Torene?” Buck asked curiously. He scanned the ledge of the queen’s weyr, but no humans could be seen. “There is a special room used for this time,” Tari explained. “She and the men are there.” For the first time Buck noticed the seven bronze dragons who sat on the ledges surrounding the feeding queen. “Brianth is the biggest,” he offered. “Size doesn’t always win out,” Tari commented absently. “Look! There she goes!” The queen leaped skyward with an ear-piercing shriek. Even though the bronzes had been watching intently, only one was able to anticipate the queen’s move. By the time the other bronzes were airborne, Alaranth and Brianth were already miles away. Buck watched until the dragons were merely spots on the horizon, then turned back to find Tari smiling at him. “It’s going to be a good flight,” she said confidently. “How can you tell?” he asked taking her hand and leading her back to their bed. “I can just feel it,” The woman replied dreamily. “Can’t you?” Smiling, Buck realized he could. The next few weeks, as Alaranth prepared to lay her clutch of eggs, were both exciting and annoying to everyone in the weyr. The closer she got to her time, the more irritable the queen—and her rider—became. The one joyful note was that Brianth had been the one to fly her, so M’hall remained weyrleader. No one was terribly surprised at the outcome though. Even Buck recognized that the bond between the riders extended to their dragons as well. Finally the day came when Alaranth lay her eggs. The process took several days at the end of which twenty-eight eggs lay on the hot sands of the hatching grounds. “There’s a queen egg in the clutch!” Tari told Buck excitedly. “No one expected that this late in the Pass.” “Why not?” Buck asked curiously. “When the Pass first started, the queens were mating a lot more frequently and there were queen eggs in just about every clutch,” Tari explained. “It was as if the dragons knew we would need them and more of them were born. But as this Pass comes to an end, there have been fewer clutches and almost no queens.” “Because they aren’t needed anymore,” Buck concluded. “Exactly,” Tari said. “I told you this was going to be a good flight!” “And you were right.” “You’ve got yourself a very healthy little boy there,” Roger informed Buck after Steven’s checkup. “Very healthy.” “You seem surprised at that,” Buck commented, struggling to get the shirt over his son’s head. “It’s not unusual for there to be side affects to the surgery,” the healer reminded him. “But he seems to be suffering no after affects at all. He’s put on weight and, if I didn’t know about his illness, I wouldn’t even have guessed he was so close to death not five months ago.” “He’ll be riding dragons before we know it,” Buck bragged with a smile. He decided to forget about the shoes. The baby seldom kept them on for long and it just wasn’t worth the effort. “That wouldn’t surprise me at all,” Roger agreed, a hint of jealousy in his voice. “Too bad he won’t be old enough before this Pass is over,” Buck added. “Although I can’t really say I’m upset about that. I’d rather he never have to face the kind of danger his mother has.” “I’m sure the dragonriders will be kept busy even during the Interval,” Roger assured him. “It will be nice though, to have time to work on parts of my craft that don’t involve scores and burns.” “I wish I had something to fall back on like that,” the other man said. “There’s not a lot of call for marshals on Pern.” “Have you talked to the librarians?” Roger suggested. “I’m sure they would love to have your input into some of the old records.” “I’m not sure about those computer things,” Buck protested. “Thread will be back before I’ll be able to figure them out.” “I seriously doubt that,” the healer laughed. “You seem to pick things up pretty quickly.” “I’m getting really good at picking toys up off the floor,” Buck agreed as his son threw a stuffed dragon over his head, then giggled happily as his father retrieved it. Once Tari began to fly again, Buck joined the ground crews searching for Thread burrows after each Fall. To everyone’s surprise, he took Steven with him, carrying the baby in a backpack he’d fashioned from leather straps and pieces of cloth. At first many people were appalled and afraid for the baby’s safety but Buck soon proved his son was in no danger. Before long the site of the chuckling baby peeking over his father’s shoulder became commonplace for all but the occasional visitor to the weyr. Soon the master leather crafter came to Buck for instructions on how to make more of the carriers. Returning to the weyr after ground crew duty one evening, Buck was surprised to find a middle-aged woman waiting for him. “Can I help you?” he asked stepping past the woman to swing Steven from his shoulders. “I’m Alvina,” the woman replied. “I’m here for the baby.” “You’re what?” Buck exclaimed. “I’m to be his foster mother,” Alvina explained. “Tari made the arrangements months ago.” “He has a mother,” Buck argued. “Of course he does,” the woman agreed. “But it’s weyr custom that children of dragonriders are fostered as soon as they are no longer nursing.” The sound of Sarinth trundling to her sleeping area interrupted their conversation. A few minutes later Tari entered their quarters. “Alvina, how nice to see you,” she exclaimed. “She says she’s here for Steven,” Buck interjected. “Something about being his foster mother.” “That’s right,” Tari replied. “He’s weaned now so it’s time for him to be fostered.” “What are you talking about?” Buck demanded. “Perhaps I should come back another time,” Alvina suggested. “That’s probably a good idea,” Tari agreed, walking with her to the steps. She returned a few minutes later to find Buck sitting on the bed, his arms around Steven protectively. “He doesn’t need a foster mother,” Buck protested. “Buck,” Tari sighed. After four hours of fighting Thread, the last thing she wanted was to fight with Buck. “There are valid reasons for fostering dragonriders’ children.” “Name one!” the man demanded stubbornly. “Fostering gives the child a stable family in the event that something happens to his or her parents,” she offered. “He has a stable family now,” Buck countered. “I’m not a dragonrider.” “He’d have the opportunity to be around other children his own age, instead of being stuck up here away from everyone but you, me and Sarinth,” Tari suggested. “Alvina has two of her own and is fostering two others.” “I take him to the children’s play area every day,” Buck reminded her. “He has plenty of chances to play with kids his own age.” “We would have more time alone,” the woman pitched, knowing she was grasping at straws. “We have plenty of time to ourselves,” the man argued. “If you have a problem with him being in the same room with us, I’ve been asking around. The master stonemason says he can break out the wall between this room and a storage room next door. He would be in his own room and we’d have our privacy.” Tari sighed again. Right now she wanted nothing more than a good long soak and a nap. “It’s just the way things are done in the weyr,” she said finally. “Besides, I thought Native Americans believed in fostering.” “That’s another piece of garbage the white man tried to pass off,” Buck corrected. “The Kiowa never fostered, even though a Kiowa child always knew that any adult would feed them or take care of their needs.” “This isn’t that much different,” Tari told him. “It is different,” Buck protested. “Kiowa children lived with their parents. Their parents were the primary care givers.” “Buck, I really don’t want to argue about this.” “Then don’t!” Buck said firmly. “We’re different—Steven is different. I’m not a dragonrider and I’m here for him. If you don’t want him here, then I’ll find another place for us to stay—but I am his father and he will stay with me.” Tari stared at him. The look on his fact told her he was completely serious. “Tari,” Buck continued, his tone softening. “I said Kiowa children knew they could go to any adult. My Kiowa father was a good man. He treated me well and I’m sure, in his own way, he cared about me. But I always knew there was something missing in his feelings for me.” He held up his hand to prevent her protests. “Please just hear me out,” he asked. “I’m sure Alvina and her family will give Steven all the love and security they can. And I know that we will be there for him and with him as much as we can, but it’s not enough. I don’t want him growing up, like I did, wondering if things would have been different if he was with his real father and his real mother.” Rising, he put the now sleeping baby in his crib. Turning back to Tari, he finished his speech. “If this were a normal situation, if I were a dragonrider, if I had grown up in this culture, I’d probably feel different about the fostering. But it’s not normal. I’m not a dragonrider. If the worst happens and something happens to you, he’ll still have me. Is it so wrong for me to want to be with my son and have him with us?” Tari bit her lower lip to keep from crying. His plea was so genuine that she knew she would do as he asked. Truth be told, she hadn’t wanted to foster Steven either. Had it been just her with Steven, it would have been different. Alone, she wouldn’t have been able to provide the kind of life her son deserved. Buck was right, she decided. The situation was not normal. “I’ll tell Alvina we won’t be needing her,” she whispered. “Ma Ma. Come on Steven, say Mama,” Buck prompted. The baby looked at him for a moment, screwed up his face and said, “Dadadadadadada.” “You little dickens,” Buck said with a laugh. “You’re doing that on purpose.” “I have a feeling he’ll be saying more than mama very quickly,” a deep voice suggested. Buck looked up to see Sean, the Fort weyrleader, watching from a distance. “Do you mind if I join you?” the man asked. “Of course not,” Buck replied. “Steven is looking well,” Sean commented. “He’s doing just fine,” Buck agreed. “Roger says, if he hadn’t done the surgery, he wouldn’t have known Steven was ever sick.” “I understand you’ve been stirring things up around here, young man,” the older man said, reaching out to hand Steven a toy. “I’m not going to say I’m sorry for doing what I believe is right,” Buck said firmly. “I would never expect you to,” Sean replied. “In fact I think it’s good to stir things up a bit occasionally.” Buck looked at the man, wondering what exactly had prompted him to start the conversation. “I’ve been talking to M’hall and the other weyrleaders,” Sean told him as if reading his mind. “We’ve been discussing what the dragonriders will do when this pass ends.” “I’m not sure what, if anything, I can do to help you with that,” Buck said, absently reaching out to take a table knife from Steven’s hand. “No, Steven, that’s not a toy,” he said firmly. Sean hid a laugh. “I don’t really expect you to have any ideas for the rest of us,” he said. “But I’m curious as to what you intend to do.” “Me?” Buck questioned, turning his attention back to the other man. “I guess I haven’t given it a lot of thought. There isn’t a lot of call for what I did on Earth here.” “Which was?” “I was a territorial marshal,” Buck answered. “I doubt there is much call for lawmen here on Pern.” “We don’t have a lot of crime here,” Sean agreed. “I have to admit though,” Buck commented, “I’d like to see more of Pern. I guess a lot depends on what Tari wants to do.” “You’re planning on staying together then?” the weyrleader asked. “I don’t know why we wouldn’t. Is there some reason we can’t?” “No, no, of course not,” Sean said quickly. “In fact I was hoping you would. It sets a good example for others to see a dragonrider bonding with—“ “A member of a ground crew?” Buck supplied when the older man hesitated. “I wouldn’t have put it that way, but yes,” Sean replied. “How are you going to handle things when Sarinth rises to mate?” “Tari has it all worked out,” Buck told him. “Good, good,” the weyrleader responded. “Well, I should be going. It was nice chatting with you. And you too, young Steven,” he added as he stood. Nodding, he turned and left the hall. “Wonder what that was all about,” Buck muttered to himself, then turned his attention back to his son. “Come on, Steven, say Ma Ma.” Buck told Tari about his talk with Sean that evening over dinner. The weyrleader’s choice of topics left her as confused as Buck had been. “I know he and the other weyrleaders have been trying to come up with ways for the dragons to be useful once this Pass ends,” she offered. “But I don’t know why that would prompt him to talk to you.” “Do you really think it will be that much of a problem?” Buck asked. “I mean, there’s got to be a lot of things for you to do.” “Actually, not as much as you might think,” Tari said. “Since their inception, the dragons have existed for one reason—to fight Thread. Pern’s entire culture has been built around that. Sean is trying to find something to keep us useful but not change things so much that, when Thread returns, the dragons going back to what they were bred for will cause a major disruption.” “Understood,” Buck replied, nodding. “There’s always exploring,” he suggested. “Pern’s a mighty big planet.” “Maybe that’s why Sean was talking to you,” Tari mused. “With only a few exceptions, the people of Pern have become pretty hold-bound in the past fifty turns. We’re going to need adventuresome people to lead the way.” “And there’s just so much that can be done from the air,” Buck agreed. “But that still doesn’t explain his concern about Sarinth’s mating flights.” “Oh, that!” Tari laughed. “I think he’s just worried that our relationship will cause her to fly less often for fear of upsetting us.” “She would do that?” Buck asked in surprise. “It’s been known to happen,” Tari explained. “Since only the bronzes fly the queens and only one of them actually mates and there are more male than female dragons, the greens are needed to keep the others from getting randy.” Seeing his amused expression, she added, “You’d have to experience it first hand but believe me, a frustrated brown can disrupt an entire weyr.” Only a few days later Buck was able to view that disruption up close and personal. He had taken Steven to the great hall to play with some of the other youngsters when a fight broke out between a pair of brown dragonriders. The roars from the courtyard told everyone their dragons were about to do battle as well. Without thinking, Buck reacted. Handing Steven to a nearby woman, he stepped between the two combatants. “STOP IT!” he roared both verbally and mentally. The younger of the two brown riders was already into a roundhouse swing that, had it connected, would quite probably have broken Buck’s jaw—and the rider’s hand. Fortunately for both men, Buck’s reflexes were as good as they had ever been. He effortlessly blocked the blow with his left arm and in a single, easy motion, put the other man on the floor with a punch of his own. “Stay put!” he ordered, then turned to the second rider and said, “Don’t move!” At the same time he mentally shouted at the two dragons, Settle down you two—NOW! Silence reigned almost immediately. Turning his attention back to the dragonriders, Buck spoke quietly through clenched teeth. “What’s the matter with you two? What kind of example are you setting for these kids? Not to mention getting your dragons involved!” “His dragon is in need of flying,” Someone offered from the crowd. “And that makes it all right to act like thugs?” Buck countered. “You’re supposed to be the ones in control!” “You’re not a dragonrider,” the man on the ground retorted. “You wouldn’t understand.” “I don’t have to be a dragonrider to know what it means to be a male in need of a female,” Buck told him angrily. “If being a dragonrider means losing control every time the dragon gets lusty and acting like a fool, then I’m glad I’m not one of you!” Ignoring the gasps of the onlookers and the shocked look on the rider’s face, Buck turned back to the woman holding Steven. Thanking her, he took his son and strode from the hall. “He is one of us,” Torene murmured, watching the man stalk away. “He just doesn’t know it yet,” M’hall agreed. Any worry that what he had done to the brown riders would affect how he was treated within the weyr, was put to rest for Buck the next morning. Tari and Sarinth had left for an early morning Threadfall so he and Steven were eating breakfast alone. “May I come in?” a voice called. “Sure,” Buck replied, handing Steven another piece of red fruit. He looked up to see the younger of the two brown riders, D’niel, standing meekly by the entrance. “Come on in.” “I don’t mean to disturb . . .” “You’re not,” Buck assured him. “What can I do for you?” “I’d just like to apologize for yesterday,” D’niel said quietly. “It’s just that this is my first time with . . .” Buck hid his smile at the boy’s obvious embarrassment. He wasn’t so old that he didn’t remember his first experience with . . . “It’s all right,” he said, drawing his attention back to the boy. “Not really,” the boy replied. “I need to learn more control. P’ter tells me it gets easier each time but I’m not so sure.” “How old are you?” Buck asked curiously. He had to hide his surprise when the boy replied, “I just turned fourteen, Sir,” having guessed him to be closer to his own age. He was a lot bigger than most fourteen year olds Buck had known. “You’re not weyrbred?” “No, Sir, my father is a sea holder,” D’niel answered. “Well, D’niel, P’ter is right,” Buck assured him. “It will get a little easier as you get older.” “I really hope so, Sir,” the boy said soberly. “I’d hate to think I’ll be like this every time.” Buck smiled. “You probably will be, but you’ll be better at controlling yourself.” D’niel grinned in response. He hesitated briefly, then asked, “Did you really mean what you said about not wanting to be a dragonrider?” Buck pondered the question for a bit, then answered honestly. “At the time I was angry and I think the fact that being a dragonrider was being used as an excuse made me even angrier. If I were given a chance to become a dragonrider, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.” “Everyone is really surprised that the dragons listened to you,” D’niel told him candidly. “P’ter says, if you stand to Impress, you’d probably get a bronze. He thinks you’d make a good weyrleader.” “That’s not going to happen,” Buck replied. “Why not?” the rider asked. “I’m too old for one thing,” Buck reminded him. “And green riders don’t become weyrleaders for another.” D’niel looked at him in surprise. He opened his mouth to say something but his dragon interrupted. “I have to go,” he said hastily. “They need me to bring firestone.” Later in the day, Buck left Steven with the other children and set off to see about getting some new clothes. The things he’d brought from Earth, Tari had told him, were becoming ragged. “Just ask Marana,” she ordered. “I’m sure they’ll have plenty of things that fit you. And tell her you need gather clothes as well.” She had run off before explaining what “gather clothes” were, so Buck asked Marana once he found her. “That’s right!” the older woman exclaimed. “You didn’t get here until after the last gather. It’s when the people in all the nearby holds come to the weyr for a celebration. We have stalls set up so merchants can sell their wares and there are games and dancing and singing and more food than anyone thinks can possibly be eaten but always does.” Marana agreed with Tari about his clothes and reprimanded him soundly for not having come to her sooner. He stood meekly as she pulled pants, shirts and underwear from shelves, piling them in his arms until he could barely hold them all. “You’ll need a new pair of boots too,” the woman decided. “I’ll send the journeyman tanner up to your quarters to see that you’re properly fit.” As an afterthought she grabbed a riding jacket from a rack and tossed it on top of his already overloaded pile. “Now you can give the one you’ve been using back to Tari’s brother.” Waving off his thanks, she ordered him not to wait so long the next time. “If there is anything that doesn’t fit, just bring it back,” she added. “I’m usually a pretty good judge of size though.” Buck made it less than half way down the corridor before he started to lose his grip on the large stack. It didn’t help that he had managed to bump into the only other person in the corridor at the same time. “Let me help you,” a decidedly feminine voice said. ”Thanks, I can use it,” he replied. “I guess that’ll teach me not to wait so long to ask next time.” “Marana tends to overdo if she thinks you need things,” the girl agreed with a soft laugh. “It’s quite a hike back to my quarters, maybe we should just leave some of this here and I can come back for it,” Buck suggested. “I don’t mind helping,” the girl offered. “I have nothing else to do right now.” “If you’re sure? It’ll save me a trip.” “You can just put those on that chair,” Buck told the girl. “I’m sorry, I don’t know your name.” “It’s Nancie,” the girl replied. “Thanks so much, Nancie,” he said. “I’m Buck.” “I know,” Nancie replied. Buck had been putting clothes in various alcoves but the sound of her voice made him turn to look at her. The girl was sitting on the bed smiling coyly at him. “You have such nice quarters,” she told him. “Thanks,” Buck said. “They serve us very well.” He tried to put emphasis on the “us” but Nancie didn’t seem to notice. “Did anyone tell you that it’s a common practice on Pern for a man to have several women? In fact, in the early years, it was required that a man father children with many women. It was in the charter.” “So I’ve been told.” He wasn’t sure if he should be honored, amused or embarrassed. Unfortunately the latter seemed to rear its ugly head in the form of a blush. “You blush so prettily,” Nancie sighed. “So I’ve been told,” he repeated. “I’ve been watching you since you came here,” she told him, playing with the tie on her blouse. “Nancie—“ he started. “Oh, don’t worry, I know you and Tari are bonded,” she interrupted. She rose sensuously to her feet and moved to stand in front of him. “But bonding contracts are never for more than a few years. Just long enough to support the children until they are of schooling age.” Buck couldn’t help but notice that the girl had a much fuller figure than Tari—she made sure of it. “But just because you have a child together doesn’t mean you can’t be interested in someone else,” Nancie purred. “You really shouldn’t restrict yourself to one woman when there are so many around who would be more than willing to accommodate you.” “Someone like you?” Buck asked. “Why not?” the girl cooed. “I’m here,” she said, teasing at his nose and chin with the tie. “You’re here,” she added, reaching up to unbutton the first button of his shirt. “The baby is being well taken care of.” The second button gave under her ministrations. “Tari is going to be away for several more hours.” Her fingers were reaching for the third button but he backed away. “What’s wrong, Buck?” Nancie asked petulantly. “Tari doesn’t even have to know. I won’t make any demands on you. I have other children, I won’t have a problem taking care of yours.” “Nancie,” he started again. “You’re a lovely young woman. And I’m sure there are a lot of men—dragonriders—who would be happy to have a relationship with you.” “If I wanted a dragonrider,” the girl countered, “I’d have one. I’ve had many of them at one time or another. I don’t want another dragonrider, I want you.” Buck stared at her in disbelief. He knew the women of Pern were more promiscuous than those of Earth—and this wasn’t the first time he’d had a woman proposition him—but he simply wasn’t interested in this girl. She had moved close enough to start playing with the buttons on his shirt again. Reaching out he took her by the wrists and pulled her hands away from his chest. “Nancie, I’m sure you are very . . . skillful, but I’m not interested in having an affair with anyone,” he said as firmly as possible. “It’s nothing to do with you—it’s just the way I am.” Nancie stared at him much as he had stared at her. It was obvious to him that she had seldom experienced a refusal. “You don’t know what you’re missing,” she told him boldly. “I think I just might,” he replied. “But it’s the choice I’m making.” He turned away to continue putting his clothes in the various drawers. When he turned back, she was gone. Shaking his head in wonder, he put the last pair of pants in the chest, then went to retrieve Steven from the hall. Buck realized he’d made a very big mistake the minute he mentioned Nancie’s name to Tari. He didn’t even have to tell her what the other woman had attempted to do. Tari’s reaction left little doubt that Nancie’s reputation was well known. “I can’t believe she came to our quarters!” Tari ranted. “Actually, I invited her,” Buck said quietly. “She helped me carry the clothes—“ “You invited her?” Tari interrupted. “What else did you do?” “Absolutely nothing,” Buck said firmly. Tari looked at him through narrowed eyes. Buck was beginning to feel uncomfortable even though he knew he had done nothing wrong. It took him a couple of minutes to realize what he was feeling wasn’t coming from him. Looking past the still angry woman, he noticed that Sarinth was becoming very agitated—and very, very green. “Tari!” he said sharply, taking her by the arms and turning her towards where her dragon lay. “Look at Sarinth!” Tari struggled against his control for a brief moment before what he was telling her sank in. “Oh no!” she cried. “We’re not ready!” Buck was already moving towards Steven’s crib. He grabbed the baby and raced to the great hall, calling for Alvina. “Sarinth,” he said simply, handing the baby to the woman. Turning he found Marana coming his way. “Go to Tari!” the older woman ordered. “I’ll take care of everything else.” Buck didn’t waste any time. Taking the steps three at a time, he was back in their quarters just as Sarinth swooped down to the feeding ground. While there wasn’t the same urgency to keep the green from feeding, Tari still forced Sarinth to only bleed her kills. Buck understood the logic—a dragon heavy from feeding could make critical mistakes—but part of his mind was angry that Tari was preventing her from eating all she wanted. The male dragons were gathering to watch just as they had for the golden Alaranth, but this time there were colors other than bronze ranging themselves around the feeding grounds. Buck could feel the building tension as a blue dared to brush past a brown in his need to get nearer to the female. Sarinth raised a bloodied muzzle to shriek defiantly at the males—and Buck felt their surge of anger. How dare this female taunt them! The green let out a second cry even as she leaped skyward. The males were caught by surprise—a surprise Buck shared—but they recovered quickly to give chase. In the weyr, Buck struggled with his emotions. One part of his mind was urging him to fly faster—to escape, while a second part wanted to grab the female and take her right then and there. Yet a third part—the part that was still Buck Cross—was realizing to his horror that he was somehow linked to both Sarinth and at least one of the males who chased her. He fought stubbornly to break the links but lost the battle as a brown executed a tricky maneuver and managed to catch Sarinth before she could avoid him. As the dragons’ lust grew, Buck’s resolve gave way. Sweeping Tari up in his arms, he carried her to the bed. Caught up in a tidal wave of emotion unlike any he’d ever experienced, he surrendered to the needs of the beast that possessed him. Caught up as she was in Sarinth’s passion, Tari responded to him more completely than he’d ever dreamed possible. The sun was well over the horizon when Buck woke the next morning. Tari lay curled in a ball beside him amid the jumble of sheets and thrown off blankets. Her soft snoring was reassuring as the fragments of memories from their dragon-induced frenzy coalesced in the man’s tired brain. Carefully, so as not to wake the sleeping woman, Buck freed himself from a particularly troublesome blanket and got out of bed. Searching until he found his hastily discarded pants, he pulled them on, then padded barefoot to stand on the ledge outside Sarinth’s lair. The green dragon hadn’t returned, though Buck could feel her presence in his mind. He could sense that the dragon and her latest mate were sunning themselves at a nearby lake. Pushing that link to the back of his mind, the man stood in the warm sunlight. From his vantage point, he could see drudges and other folks going about their business as if nothing unusual had happened. To them, nothing unusual had happened, Buck realized. For the seasoned dragonriders among them, having a dragon take over your mind and body was an ordinary occurrence. For those not linked to the great beasts—well, they had probably felt nothing. He was, he reckoned, the only one for whom last night’s events were all that out of the ordinary. And he was probably the only one who didn’t like what had happened—at all. Buck knew something was different about him. He’d heard the whispers from the dragonriders and the other weyrfolk. He’d seen the looks on their faces after the incidents with Sarinth and the two brown dragons. Once again he was different, he thought with a sigh. He had hoped that he would be able to blend into life on Pern without too much fanfare once the hoopla over his arrival had passed. Still, he wasn’t all that unusual he hoped. At least there were others who knew what he had felt last night, even if it the fact that it was happening to someone not bonded with a dragon was different. “Are you all right?” He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t heard Tari join him on the ledge. Turning, he smiled as he noted she was wearing one of his shirts. “Just not sure what to think about last night,” he told her honestly. “It surprised me too,” Tari said, moving to slip her arms around his waist and laying her head on his chest. “It did?” he asked in surprise. “Well, it wasn’t exactly supposed to happen that way,” she admitted. “I didn’t think you’d be so involved with Sarinth.” “It wasn’t Sarinth,” he confessed. “At least it wasn’t just Sarinth. I could feel them all.” Tari stepped back, surprise registering on her face. “What do you mean?” “I could feel Sarinth fighting you about letting her eat,” Buck explained. “But I could feel the males too. I could feel their anger when she challenged them—and I could feel their anger with each other as they fought to be the one to take her.” Tari’s surprise was growing as he spoke. “Buck, I expected you to be affected by what Sarinth was feeling,” she told him. “The rest, though, that’s not normal.” “Tell me about it,” Buck replied sarcastically. “Yesterday when D’niel was telling me how it was for him, I told him it wouldn’t always be so bad. As he got older, he would have more control. I don’t know what to think now.” “I don’t know what to say, Buck,” Tari said quietly. “It isn’t supposed to be that way.” “It’s not supposed to be but it is!” Buck declared. “And I don’t like it.” Their discussion was getting them nowhere. While Tari could understand where Buck was coming from, her own experience was limited to a single dragon. She really didn’t know how to help him. Finally she suggested that he talk to Sean or Sorka. “They were the first to impress a dragonette and were the first dragonriders,” she explained. “Maybe they know of a way to block the dragons—at least those who aren’t linked to you.” “Do you really think that’s possible?” Buck asked. Tari could hear the hope in his voice. “We won’t know until we ask. When I spoke with Torene the other day, she said she had heard of ways, but—“ “You’ve already talked to Torene about this?” Buck interrupted. “Not about this specifically,” Tari explained. “I didn’t know it was going to happen any more than you did.” “So why were you talking to Torene?” Buck pressed. Tari paused, trying to decide how to phrase the answer to his question. “Now that you’ve seen what happens when both partners are under the control of a dragon,” she said with a sigh, “can you imagine what it would be like if only one were linked?” “You were afraid you might hurt me?” Buck asked incredulously. Then, remembering the strength both of them had possessed and the total lack of inhibition they had experienced while under the control of the dragons, he reasoned it would have been entirely possible. The Fort weyrleaders came to Benden the next rest day. Alaranth’s eggs were very close to hatching so the entire weyr was preparing for the celebration. The candidates for Impression had been flown in from all over Pern. The weyr was bustling with young people and their families, some fearful, but all anxious to see what would happen. Tari relayed a message through Sarinth to Carenath asking for a few minutes of the weyrleaders time at their convenience. She and Buck were quite surprised by the arrival of the older couple just minutes later. After an exchange of pleasantries where Tari served klah and fresh fruit, the quartet settled into comfortable chairs and Buck explained his problem. He blushed as he told the older man and woman how he had been literally possessed by the brown dragon that had mated with Sarinth but quickly realized that the pair understood his dilemma and were not half as embarrassed as he was. Sean expressed surprised when Buck explained what he had felt but Sorka had simply nodded. “I was curious if that would happen,” she murmured. “You were curious?” Buck asked. “Only because I have been in similar circumstances, young man,” the older woman said. “You hear all of the dragons, don’t you?” “If you mean they talk to me, yes,” Buck answered. “Why?” “You do?” Tari and Sean asked as one. “Sure,” Buck said, surprised that they would ask. “Don’t you?” Tari looked at the two weyrleaders. “I knew he hears Sarinth but it never occurred to me to ask if he could hear the others.” “What’s wrong?” Buck demanded. “You are only the second person who has had that distinctive ability, Buck,” Sorka finally explained. “And the first who was not bonded with a dragon.” “And you’re the other,” Buck stated, putting the pieces together. “Yes,” the woman answered simply. “I have been able to hear them since the moment I Impressed Faranth.” “How do you manage?” the man asked. “The dragons help,” she told him. “At first, it was very noisy—up here,” she said pointing to her head. “But as the dragons matured, they learned to direct their thoughts at their own riders and it became easier. I was also lucky enough to have a good teacher to help me learn to block what I didn’t want to hear.” “It’s not that I don’t like hearing them when they speak to me,” Buck said. “But what happens if I get involved in a mating flight with dragons other than Sarinth?” “I think your situation this time is rather unique, Buck,” Sorka assured him. “The majority of the males who flew with Sarinth were quite young. The more mature males should not cause you a problem.” “That’s true, Buck” Tari reminded him. “When Alaranth rose, you weren’t unduly affected. No more so than the rest of us.” “But there are over thirty young males here in Benden and another ten immature males who will be mating soon,” Sean offered. “Not to mention the males that will be hatching any time now.” “What you’re telling me is, if I don’t find a way to block them, I’m going to have to leave the weyr,” Buck concluded. Turning to Sorka, he asked, “Will you teach me what you know?” “I can try . . . “ the woman started then paused as Sarinth began to hum. “What’s happening?” Buck asked as the trio of dragonriders began to smile. “The eggs,” Tari explained. “They’re hatching!” Carenath and Faranth were hovering impatiently just in front of the ledge to the weyr. Sean and Sorka jumped easily onto their necks and were flown directly to the hatching ground. Sarinth waited until Tari picked Steven from his crib, then flew the trio to the central courtyard. Leaving her riders standing at the entrance to the hatching ground, the green flew to join the other dragons that were ranging themselves on the walls of the weyr. The humming had increased in intensity until Buck could feel it in his bones. The stands were filling rapidly but Tari led them to a spot where they would have a good view of the eggs as they hatched. As they settled into their seats, Buck watched the parents and other guests walking across the sands. Most were doing a quick, mincing step as the heat penetrated their too thin shoes. Tari leaned close to whisper, “We call that the ‘hatching dance’.” Buck laughed aloud. “Guess style wins out over sensibility even on Pern,” he commented. The chatter of the watchers stopped abruptly as the candidates were led in from their barracks. Buck did a quick count to find that there were several extra young people. Their white, flowing tunics made it difficult to determine which were boys and which were girls. “There are more kids than eggs,” he murmured quietly in Tari’s ear. “M’hall and Torene always make sure there are enough,” she whispered back. “Better to have a disappointed human than a hatchling that doesn’t impress.” Remembering what Tari’s mother had told him just after he arrived, Buck could understand the precaution. “Do they know which color is in an egg?” he asked as the candidates formed a circle around the clutch. “Not really, other than the gold,” Tari told him. “Mostly the bigger eggs are the bronzes and browns but there have been exceptions. That’s why the candidates make a circle.” “Have they ever had a male dragon impress a girl? Or the other way round?” “No,” she replied. “But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.” He stopped talking then as the first of the eggs began to rock frantically. No human spoke although the humming of the dragons rose to an even higher pitch. Finally there was a mighty cracking sound and a bronze dragonette slipped to the sand. An approving murmur ran through the gathered crowd and the dragons began to croon encouragingly as the young beast swung his head about, searching for that one person with whom he would bond. “It’s considered a good omen when a bronze hatches first,” Tari whispered. Buck nodded but didn’t take his eyes off the little bronze. The creature was crying piteously, still searching for his partner. The feeling of helpless fear was so strong that the man began to shake. Tari felt the movement and turned to find his eyes glassy and his skin unnaturally pale. “Buck?” Her question seemed to have no effect. “Buck!” she pressed. Suddenly he relaxed completely, smiling broadly. Still concerned Tari took his hand to find his pulse racing. The fearful crying of the newly hatched bronze was replaced with a cry of delight as he finally found the candidate he was searching for. The young man wore an expression almost identical to Buck’s as he moved forward to greet his newfound friend. The watchers barely had time to register the Impression before three more eggs hatched almost simultaneously. In the space of what seemed like minutes, all but two of the remaining eggs dispatched their occupants. The newest dragonettes had no trouble finding their partners—something for which Tari was grateful. She couldn’t help but be worried about Buck. It was obvious from his expression and the way he held his body that the young dragons were projecting their fears—and joys—to the man. She was considering trying to get him to leave when the biggest of the eggs—containing a golden queen dragon—gave a forceful rock and cracked from one end to the other. The miniature queen stepped daintily from the shards and made a beeline for a tall red-haired girl. The girl knelt to help the dragonette fold her wet wings back, the looked up joyously to announce, “Her name is Vanetinth.” Applause started in the crowd, complimented by the trills of the watching dragons. It wasn’t until the girl had led the hatchling from the grounds that the watchers noticed the last egg. It was smaller than the others but not the smallest from the clutch. Its mottled shell had a bluish tint to it but those watching knew that was no indication of the color of its occupant. Hairline cracks could be seen from all sides as the dragonette struggled to get out of its prison. The remaining candidates gathered in a circle around the egg, each staring with intense concentration—as if the power of their minds could assist in the hatching. The rocking increased in direct proportion to the increase in the pitch of the encouraging croons from the waiting dragons. After what must have seemed an eternity to the waiting humans, the egg shattered and a blue dragonette fell out to land on its back. Two of the larger candidates had the presence of mind to step forward and help the little beast turn over. They stepped back then to stand with the others, waiting for the blue to make his choice. The circle of boys moved from one side of the grounds to the others as the little dragon staggered about crying fearfully. “Why doesn’t he pick?” one of the people in the crowd asked in a hushed voice. “The right person must not be there,” another voice contributed. “Where’s he going?” a third younger voice asked. “It looks like he’s heading this way!” There was a quality to the words that was as if the speaker was hoping the dragon would choose from the crowd of onlookers. Tari was no longer watching the scene on the grounds. With the little dragon’s first cry, she had turned to Buck to find the man rigid with pain. With each successive cry, he winced as if he’d been struck. “Take him,” she ordered, handing Steven to the nearest woman. Taking Buck by the hand, she pulled gently, then with more forcefulness. She may as well have been trying to move the mountain for all the good it did her. The man sat, entranced and immoveable, staring at the hatchling. Sarinth, help me! she pleaded. I cannot reach him, the green dragon responded almost immediately. The young one has him. Tari stiffened as the meaning of her dragon’s words hit home. She was only vaguely aware that the people lower in the stands were moving to get out of the way of the keening dragonette who was valiantly trying to climb the stone steps. “Get up Buck!” she ordered harshly. “Get up and go to him!” Buck shook himself as she pulled him to his feet. “I can’t,” he protested. “It’s not right.” “They decide what’s right and what isn’t!” Tari argued. “GO!” Buck stumbled forward. The little blue’s talons, still soft from the hatching, slipped as he tried to pull his heavy body up a second step. Dragon and man cried out in the same instant as the hatchling’s chin connected with the stone. Rushing down the steps, the man lifted the dragon’s head from the stone, cradling it as gently as he would his son’s. He stroked the creature’s eyeridge as he had often seen Tari do with Sarinth, all the while speaking softly. Even as the dragonette’s cries ceased, the other dragons bugled their approval. Tari pushed her way through the crowd that was gathering around Buck and the little blue. When she reached his side, she knelt beside him, handing him a cloth to wipe the blood from his mouth where he’d bitten his lip. She smiled as she watched the man use the cloth to wipe his dragon’s chin even before tending to his own wound. “What’s his name?” she asked softly. The look on Buck’s face was one of pure joy. Tari realized that, for the first time in his life, the man was feeling total and unconditional acceptance. Tears filled her eyes as he replied, “He says his name is Quinth.” Email Cathy HOME