Moreta - Dragonlady of Pern p-8

by Anne McCaffrey

  «Now what do we do?» she asked, holding up the closed glass jar of his blood.

  «That top firmly screwed on?» And when she demonstrated that it was: «Then wrap the cord tightly around the neck and knot it firmly. Good. Hand it here.»

  «What do you think you're going to do now?» Her face was stern and her gaze stubborn. For a woman who had often preached detachment, she was suddenly very intense.

  «Gallardy says that centrifugal force, that is, whirling the jar around, will separate the components of the blood and produce the useful serum.»

  «Very well.» Desdra stood back from the bed, made sure she had sufficient clear space to accomplish the operation, and began to swing the jar around her head.

  Capiam, observing her exertions, was glad she had volunteered. He doubted that he could have managed it. «We could rig something similar with the spit canines, couldn't we? Have to prod the beasts to maintain speed. One needs a constant speed. Or perhaps a smaller arrangement, with a handle so one could control the rotational velocity?»

  «Why? Do we … need … to do this. . often?»

  «If my theory is correct, we'll need rather a lot of serum. You did leave word that K'lon is to be shown here as soon as he arrives?»

  «I did. How … much … longer?»

  Capiam could not have her desist too soon, yet Master Gallardy had said «in a very short time» or, and Capiam looked more closely at his own handwriting, had he erred in transcribing? A concerned healer with thirty Turns of Craft life behind him, he silently cursed the diffidence of the spring-struck young apprentice he had been. «That ought to suffice, Desdra. Thank you!»

  Breathless, Desdra slowed the swing of the jar and caught it, placing it on the table. Capiam hunched forward on the bed while Desdra examined the various layers with astonishment.

  «That,» Desdra pointed dubiously to the straw-colored fluid in the top level, «is your cure?»

  «Not a cure, exactly. An immunization.» Capiam enunciated the word carefully.

  «One has to drink it?» Desdra's voice was neutral with distaste.

  «No, though I daresay it wouldn't taste any worse than some of the concoctions you've insisted I swallow. No, this must be injected into the vein.» She gave him a long thoughtful look. «So that's why you needed the syringes.» She gave her head a little shake. «We don't have enough of them. And I think you better see Master Fortine."'

  «Don't you trust me?» Capiam was hurt by her response.

  «Completely. That's why I suggest you go to Master Fortine. With your serum. He has been too frequent a visitor at our cautious Lord Holder's internment camp. He's coming down with the plague.»

  CHAPTER X

  Fort Weyr and Ruatha Hold, Present Pass, 3.16.43

  When Moreta woke, she felt Orlith's joyful presence in her mind.

  «You are better. The worst is over!»

  «I'm better?» Moreta was annoyed by the quaver in her voice, too much a remnant of the terrible lassitude that had enervated her the day before.

  «You are much better. Today you will get stronger every minute.»

  «How much of that is wishful thinking, my love?» Even as Moreta spoke in her usual affectionate way, she realized that Orlith would know. During Moreta's illness, the queen had been as close in her mind as if the dragon had changed mental residence. Orlith had shared every moment of Moreta's discomfort, as if, by sharing, the dragon could diminish the effects of the plague on her rider. They, who had been partners in so much, had achieved a new peak of awareness, the one in the other. Orlith had dampened the pain of the fierce headache, she had eased the stress of fever and depressed the hard, racking cough. All she could do was comfort Moreta during the fourth day of physical and mental exhaustion. But by then the dragon queen had every right to rejoice.

  «Holth says there is other good news! Master Capiam has a serum which prevents the plague.»

  «Prevents it? Can he cure it?» Moreta had not been so detached in the course of her illness that she had not known that others in Port had sickened, or that dragons and riders had died in other Weyrs. She was aware as well that two Fort Weyr wings had risen the day before to meet the Fall on Igen's behalf. That Berchar and Tellani's new babe had died. She knew as well that the epidemic had extended its insidious grip on the continent. It was time and enough for the healers to have found some specific means to control it. The plague has a name. It is an ancient disease.

  «What name do they give it then?»

  «I can't remember,» Orlith said apologetically. Moreta sighed. Naming was a dragon failing. Yet Orlith remembered quite a few, Moreta thought fondly.

  «Holth asks are you hungry yet?»

  «My greetings to our good Holth and our gracious Leri, and I think I am hungry,» Moreta said with some surprise. For four days any thought of food had caused nausea. Thirst she had suffered, as well as the hard throat-searing cough, and a weakness so deep she feared at moments that she would never shake it. That was when Oriith had been closest to her mind. Had there been space enough, the queen would have forced her swollen body into Moreta's quarters to be physically near.

  «How's Sh'gall?» Moreta inquired. She had been feverishly ill by morning when Kadith had mournfully roused Orlith and Holth with the news of his rider's collapse. «He is weak. He doesn't feel at all well.»

  Moreta grinned. Orlith's tone was tinged with scorn as if the queen felt her own rider had been more valiant.

  «Do remember, Orlith, that Sh'gall has never been ill. This must come as a terrible shock to his self-esteem.» Oriith said nothing.

  «What news from Ruatha Hold? You'd better tell me,» Moreta added when she felt Orlith's resistance.

  «Leri comes.» Relief marked Orlith's manner. «She knows.»

  «Leri comes here?» Moreta tried to sit up, but gasped at the dizziness the sudden movement occasioned. She lay where she had flopped as she listened to the approach of shuffling steps and the tap of Leri's cane. «Leri, you shouldn't.»

  «Why not?» Leri projected her voice from the larger weyr. «Good morning, Orlith. I'm one of the brave. I've lived my life so I'm not afraid of this 'viral influence,' as the Healers have styled it.» Leri pushed back the bright door curtain, peering brightly at the younger woman. «Ah, there, you have color in your face today.» A covered pot and the thong of a flask swung from her left hand. Two more containers had been stuck in her belt to allow her to use her right hand for her stick. As Leri entered the room, Moreta noticed that the old woman's gait seemed more fluid. She deposited her oddments on the chest that was now drawn to Moreta's bedside and then allowed herself to drop onto the space by Moreta's feet. «There now!» she said with great satisfaction, tucking her gnarled stick beside her. «Yes, you should do very well.»

  «Something smells good,» Moreta said, inhaling the aroma from the pot.

  «A special porridge I concocted. Made them bring me supplies and a brazier so I could nurse you myself. Nesso's finally down with it and out of my hair for a bit. Gorta's taken charge, rather well, I might add, in case you're interested.» Leri looked slyly at Moreta as she spooned porridge in two bowls. «I'll join you since it's my breakfast time as well, and this stuff is as good for me as it is for you. By the way, I made Orlith eat this morning before she wasted away to nothing but the eggshells. She had four fat bucks and a wherry. She was very hungry! Now, don't look dismayed. You've scarcely been able to do for yourself, let alone her. She didn't feel neglected. She minds me very well, Orlith does, since she knows me so well. After all, Holth laid her! So she did as we told her and she's feeling better. She had to eat, Moreta. Her next stop is the Hatching Ground, and we had to wait till you recovered for that. Won't be long now.»

  Moreta did some swift adding. «She's early. She shouldn't clutch for another five or six days.»

  «There has been some stress. Don't fuss. Eat. The sooner you've got your strength back, the better all round.»

  «I'm much stronger today. Yesterday …» Moreta smiled rue
fully. «How have you managed?»

  «Very easily.» Leri was serenely smug. «As I said, I had them bring me a brazier and supplies. I made your potions myself, I'll have you know! With Orlith listening to every breath you made and relaying the information to Holth, I'll wager you couldn't have been better cared for if Master Capiam had been at your bedside.»

  «Orlith says he's discovered a cure?»

  «A vaccine, he calls it. But I'll not have him after your blood.»

  «Why should he be?» Moreta was startled and Orlith gave a bellow at Leri's protectiveness.

  «He takes the blood of people who have recovered and makes a serum to prevent it in others. Says it's an ancient remedy. Can't say I like the notion at all!» Leri's short upright figure shuddered. «He practically attacked K'lon when he reported for conveying.» Leri gave a chuckle and smiled with bland satisfaction. «K'lon was doing too much flitting between on Healer Hall errands. I've appointed weyrlings to the duty. Didn't like to but … they've followed orders well. Oh, there's been so much happening I hardly know where to begin!»

  Beneath Leri's glib manner, Moreta could discern worry and fatigue, but the older Weyrwoman seemed to be thriving on the crisis.

  «Have there been more … Weyr deaths?» Moreta asked, bracing herself for the answer.

  «No!» Leri gave a defiant nod of her head and another pleased smile. «There shouldn't have been any! People weren't using the wits they were born with. You know how greens and blues panic? Well, they did just that when their riders got so sick and weak, instead of supporting them. In fact, there might be something to Jallora's theory that the one caused the other …» Leri stared off for a moment in deep thought. «Jallora's the journeywoman healer sent with two apprentices from the Healer Hall. So we keep in touch with the sick riders. You were very ill, you know. Exhausted, I think, after the Gather, no sleep, all the excitement, then Fall and that repair on Dilenth. He's fine, but Orlith is so strong and her need of you so great that you hadn't a chance of dying! You and Orlith as a healing team were the inspiration.» Leri fixed Moreta with a mock stern gaze, «so we just told the other Weyrwomen to have their queen dragons keep watch on the sick and not let the riders die. It isn't as if the Weyrs had the crowding that's causing so much concern in the Holds and Halls. It's ridiculous for dragonriders to die of this vicious viral influence.»

  «How many are ill, if the Weyrs must consolidate to fly Fall?»

  Leri grimaced. «Steel yourself! Nearly two thirds of every Weyr except High Reaches is out of action. Between the plague and injuries, we can only just manage to send our two wings to cover Fall.»

  «But you said Master Capiam had a cure?»

  «A preventive. And not enough of this vaccine yet.» Leri spoke with an angry regret. «So the Weyrwomen decided that the High Reaches' riders must be vaccinated,» she stumbled over the unfamiliar term, «since we must all look to S'ligar and Falga. As more of the serum is prepared, other Weyrs will be vaccinated. Right now Capiam has the drums burning to find more people who have recovered from this viral influence. First dragonriders,» Leri ticked off each name on a finger, «then Healers, then Lord Holders and other Craftsmasters, except for Tirone, which, I think no matter how Tolocamp objects, is sensible.»

  «Tolocamp hasn't been ill?»

  «Tolocamp won't leave his apartment.»

  «You know a great deal about what's happening for a woman who stays in her own weyr most of the time!»

  Leri chuckled. «K'lon reports to me! Whenever, that is, Capiam hasn't his exclusive services. Fortunately blues have good appetites and, although Capiam maintains that dragons, wherries, and watchwhers can't contract the plague, dragons had best eat from stock isolated in their own weyrs. So K'lon brings Rogeth home to eat. Daily.»

  «Dragons don't eat daily.»

  «Blue dragons who must flit between twice hourly do.» Leri gave Moreta a stern glance. «I had a note from Capiam, could barely read his script, lauding K'lon's dedication.»

  «A'murry?»

  «Recovering. Very close thing but Holth was in constant touch with Granth once I realized how vital dragon support could be. L'bol lost both his sons and he grieves constantly. M'tani's impossible, but then he has fought Thread longer than most and sees this incident as a personal affront. If it weren't for K'dren and S'ligar, I think we'd have had trouble with F'gal. He's lost heart, too.»

  «Leri, there's something you're not telling me.»

  «Yes, dear girl.» Leri patted Moreta's arm gently before she filled a glass from one of her flasks. «Take a sip of this,» she said peremptorily, handing it to her.

  Obediently Moreta did, and she was about to ask what on earth Leri had concocted, when she felt Orlith's presence in her mind, like a buffer.

  «Your family's hold …» Leri's voice thickened and she avoided Moreta's gaze, staring instead at the bright central design of the door curtain. «was very hard hit.»

  Leri's voice habitually broke but that time it was pronounced, and Moreta peered at the older woman's averted face. Tears were running unheeded down the round cheek nearest her.

  «There'd been no drum message in two days. The harper at Keroon heights made the trip downriver …» Leri's fingers tightened on Moreta's arm. «There was no one alive.»

  «No one?» Moreta was stunned. Her father's hold had supported nearly three hundred people, and another ten families had cots nearby on the river bluffs.

  «Drink that down!»

  Numbly Moreta complied. «No one alive? Not even someone out with the bloodstock?»

  Leri shook her head slowly. «Not even the bloodstock!» Her admission was almost a whisper. Moreta could barely grasp the staggering tragedy. Obscurely, it was the deaths of the bloodstock that she regretted the most. Twenty Turns ago she had acquiesced to her family's wish that she respond to Search. She regretted their deaths, certainly, for she had been fond of her mother, and several of her brothers and sisters, and one paternal uncle; she had enormous respect for her father. The runnerbeasts, all the bloodstock that had been so carefully bred for the eight generations her family had the runnerhold, that loss cut more deeply.

  Orlith crooned gently, and her dragon's compassion was subtly reinforced by a second pressure. Moreta felt the terrible weight of her grief being eased by an anodyne of love and affection, of total understanding for the complexities of her sorrow, of a commitment to share and ease the multiple pressures of bereavement.

  Tears streamed down Moreta's cheeks until she felt drained but curiously detached from her body and mind, floating in an unusual sensation of remoteness. Leri had put something very powerful in that wine of hers, she thought with an odd clarity. Then she noticed that Leri was watching her intently, her eyes incredibly sad and tired, every line of her many Turns etched in her round small face.

  «No stock at all?» Moreta asked finally.

  «Would young runners have been wintering on the plains? The harper couldn't check. Didn't know where and there hasn't been time to send a sweeprider.»

  «No, no. Of course there wouldn't be time …» Moreta could quite see that impossibility with the present demands on available riders but she accepted the hopeful suggestion. «Yearlings and gravid runners would be in the winter pasture. Somebody of the Hold will have been tending them and survive.»

  The comforting presences in her mind wrapped her with love and reassurances. «We are here!»

  «Is Holth with you, Orlith?» Moreta asked.

  «Of course,» was the reply from two, now distinct to her, sources.

  «Oh! How kind!» Moreta's mind drifted, oddly divorced from her body, until she became aware of Leri's anxious expression. «I'm all right. As Holth will tell you. Did you know she speaks to me?»

  «Yes, she's got rather used to checking in on you,» Leri said with a kind and serene smile.

  «What did you put in that wine? I feel … disembodied.»

  «That was rather the effect I hoped to achieve. Fellis juice, numbweed, and one of the eupho
rics. Just to cushion the shock.»

  «Are there more?» From the wavering of Leri's smile, Moreta knew that there were. «You might as well give me the whole round tale now while I'm so remote. My family's hold … cannot have been unique.» Leri shook her head. «Ruatha Hold?» That would follow the line of catastrophe, Moreta thought.

  «They have been badly hit …»

  «Alessan?» She asked about him first because his would be the worst loss there, before he'd even had time to enjoy being a Lord Holder.

  «No, he's recovering, but the decimation among the Gather guests, his brothers, almost all the racers.»

  «Dag?»

  «I don't have many names. Igen Weyr and Hold have been shockingly depleted. Lord Fitatric, his Lady, half their children …»

  «By the Egg, isn't there any place spared?»

  «Yes, in fact, Bitra, Lemos, Nerat, Benden, and Tillek have had relatively few cases, and those were isolated promptly to avoid contagion. Those Holds have been magnificent in sending people to the stricken.»

  «Why?» Moreta clenched her fists, hunching herself together in a sudden convulsion that was more mental than physical. «Why? When we're so near the end of the Pass? It's not fair so close to an Interval. Did you know,» Moreta's voice was hard and intense, «that my family started out after the end of the last Pass? My bloodline started then? And now, just before the next Interval, it's wiped out!»

  «That isn't known for certain, if what you say of wintering stock applies. Do consider that possibility. That probability.» The dragons reinforced Leri's optimism.