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Back The Skies of Pern
Chapters (64)
  1. Other titles by Anne McCaffreyPublished 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 onyour reading list?

“Any of you who care to help the healers restore order to their Hall will be well rewarded,” he shouted, circling again to be sure all heard his message. “Let’s clear the way, then. Thanks for your help, every one of you.”

He led the way back to Fort Hold, Haligon just behind him while those not tempted by his reward followed at the brisk pace he set.

The dragons and riders who had not gone on search sweep sprang off into the air and, with great wings working, made the short flight back to the square.

They were halfway up the canyon when the air exploded with new arrivals of dragons, from several directions. Surprised, Meer and Talla set their talons into the cloth on Sharra’s shoulders.

“What else can have happened?” she cried in alarm. She recognized not only Ramoth and Mnementh, but also Golanth carrying F’lessan, and Heth with K’van.

“I fear Master Oldive may be right,” Sebell murmured, “that the attacks here and at Boll were not isolated.”

Ruth, the last to arrive, uttered a squawk of surprise and agilely winged in under the others who were still hovering. He dropped precipitously to the ground, a maneuver that sent a sharp current of air up to lift the skirts of Sharra’s coat. Her compulsive shudder was stilled when Jaxom’s arms encircled her.

“Did they attack Ruatha, too?” she cried, horrified by the thought of all her carefully prepared and preserved medications destroyed.

“No, no,” Jaxom hastily reassured her, hugging her tight.

“But Boll was attacked.”

“I heard the drums.” He held her tighter.

Alerted by the arrival of more dragons, Groghe came galloping back, his cloak flying and his expression fiercer than ever. He dismounted very agilely for someone his age and joined the newcomers. In that brief interval, Sharra fretted that Ruth had inadvertently alarmed too much support. F’lessan might not be annoyed by a needless summons, but she doubted the Benden Weyrleaders would be so charitable. Not when they were close enough for her to see their stern expressions. They both looked tired.

“The Healer Hall, too, huh?” F’lar said in a far too accurate assessment of the scene as he strode over toward Sharra, Oldive, and Sebell.

“What d’you mean by that, F’lar?” Groghe demanded.

“The same sort of thing has happened at Benden Hold and Landing,” F’lar said.

“And Southern,” K’van said, nodding courteously to Lessa and Sharra.

“We had just got Toronas calmed down when F’lessan contacted us,” Lessa said, her voice as weary as her face.

“This can no longer be considered random damage,” F’lar said, “but a planned and coordinated attack!”

“Let’s go inside,” Oldive said, his voice low with fatigue.

“The dining hall is warm—and wasn’t touched,” Keita said encouragingly, appearing on the top step.

“We could all use something hot,” Sharra said, urging Oldive to lead the way.