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Back The Skies of Pern
Chapters (64)
  1. Other titles by Anne McCaffrey Published by Ballantine Books:
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Dedication
  5. Contents
  6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  7. INTRODUCTION
  8. PROLOGUE
  9. At a Gather—6.15.30
  10. Part 1
  11. Turnover at Landing—1.1.31 Present Pass Aivas—Aivas Adjusted Turn 2553
  12. Benden Weyr—1.1.31
  13. Southern Hold—1.1.31
  14. Healer Hall—1.1.31
  15. Back at Landing—1.2.31
  16. Fort Hold—late night—1.1.31
  17. Fort Hold Runner Station—1.2.31
  18. Keroon Printer Hall—1.3.31
  19. Benden Weyr—midday—1.3.31
  20. Monaco Bay Weyr—five days later—1.8.31
  21. Part 2
  22. Ruatha Hold—local time 12:04 in the morning—1.9.31
  23. Telgar Weyr—local time 4:04 in the morning—1.9.31
  24. Benden Weyr—local time 6:04 in the morning—1.9.31
  25. Harper Hall—local time 1:00 in the morning—1.9.31
  26. Landing—local time 10:12 mid-morning—1.9.31
  27. In the Conference Room at Landing—1.9.31
  28. Monaco Weyr—10:22 in the morning—Timing it
  29. In the Conference Room at Landing—local time 1:10–1.9.31
  30. Sunrise Cliff Seahold—timed-back
  31. In the Conference Room—local time 2:12 at Landing—1.9.31
  32. Back at Landing—local time—3:40
  33. Harper Hall—5:00 in the morning, and Southern Hold—2:00 in the morning–1.9.31
  34. Landing—late afternoon—1.9.31
  35. Same time at Keroon Printer Hall—local time 11:15—1.9.31
  36. Later, on an unusually bright evening at Landing, Sunrise Cliff, and Honshu Hold—1.9.31
  37. Part 3
  38. Honshu—1.10.31
  39. Circle Runner Station—1.18.31
  40. Harper Hall
  41. Benden Weyr—
  42. Benini Hold—east Monaco and Honshu—1.20.31
  43. Harper Hall—1.28.31
  44. Honshu Hold—2.1.31
  45. Fort Hold—2.13.31
  46. Printer Hall at Wide Bay—same night
  47. Honshu Hold—2.9.31
  48. Night at Wide Bay—2.9.31
  49. Ruatha Hold—late evening—2.9.31
  50. Core Hold—two days before Council Meeting—2.26.31
  51. Part 4
  52. Honshu Weyrhold—2.26–27.31
  53. Council Meeting at Telgar Hold—3.1.31
  54. Honshu Weyrhold—3.01.31
  55. Interim at Benden and elsewhere
  56. Honshu Weyrhold—time passing slowly
  57. Landing—3.21.31
  58. Honshu Weyrhold—3.21.31
  59. Southern Hold—3.23.31
  60. Honshu Weyrhold—3.27.31
  61. Benden Weyr—3.27.31
  62. Cove Hold—same day, same approximate time
  63. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  64. What’s next on your reading list?

“I’ll convey you to bronze Golanth,” T’lion said, picking her up and carrying her from the room.

“Why, just look at him, bronze rider,” Sagassy remarked, pausing to look back at F’lessan. “He’s much less restless already.”

It was as well Tai had seen F’lessan before Golanth because the sight of the terribly wounded bronze made her weep.

“Now, now, he looks a lot worse than he is,” the Monaco rider said, tightening his arms about her.

He is much better, Tai. He is much better, and Zaranth rose from where she was lying on the sunny terrace beyond Golanth’s supine bulk.

“Oh, Zaranth! How can you say that?” Tai was sobbing. Because it’s true.

“Hey, now, Tai, don’t go to pieces on me,” T’lion said in a rallying tone. “He was badly injured, it’s true. Flesh gouged out of him, bits gnawed off him, but they got the tail mended. That’s what’s in the splint affair. And he’s not in any pain because we don’t let him be.”

That was when Tai noticed all the other people on the terrace and valiantly controlled her sobs.

“Ah, Green Rider Tai,” and through the tear haze in her eyes, Tai recognized Persellan’s familiar face. “I know the extent of Golanth’s injuries seems appalling,” he went on, “but we keep him comfortable.” He gestured to the large gray pots in which numbweed was stored. “Having Zaranth here makes it certain that he is relieved before he can twitch a muscle in pain. She’s been as close to him as a pulse.”

Golanth’s prostrate body made the terrace seem smaller than she knew it was. There was room for people to move around him. Near the main entrance, there were supplies, like numbweed pots and chests of dressings or other medications, chairs where carers could relax, a table for dining, like the ones that had been set out when half of Monaco had been staying here.

Golanth’s body was cushioned from the rock of the terrace by many pads: an awning had been rigged above him—a sail, Tai thought, by the look of it. He seemed smaller somehow, diminished by the absence of his characteristic vitality: like rider, like dragon. She pushed that thought away.

There were marks all over the near side of him, where claws had torn and teeth had snagged. The patch over his left eye was most prominent and the casing around the end of his tail, which was positioned by his body. He lay with his head between his front legs but she could see his nostrils flaring slightly with every breath he took.

He is much better, Tai, Zaranth said with the heartiness of someone who has watched recovery. Much better. Touch him. You will feel the strength in him.

Zaranth had not moved from her position behind Golanth but now she cocked her head at her rider.