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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?

“They may not,” Lessa agreed with a wickedly innocent smile, “but they keep records of acceptance and delivery, don’t they? In case anyone wishes to trace the progress of … important messages.” Clearly Batim hadn’t considered that at all: She could see his impudence wane. “Traders would remember where they sold enough green cloth to outfit fifteen people.” He hadn’t considered that either. “I hate to keep thinking that so much evil emanates from Bitra,” she added artlessly and was not the only one who caught the glitter in the prisoner’s eye. “Though I rather suspect,” she said on the end of sigh, “that Nerat’s partly responsible this time.” He gave an involuntary twitch before she added with a patient smile, “and Keroon.” No one missed his nervous swallow. “They’re so hidebound in Keroon!” She sat back, smiling with satisfaction. “Really, Sebell, you must increase your efforts there to show the hill folk how to improve the quality of their lives.”

Sebell held up one hand in a rueful gesture. “We would if we could. Hill folk are the most hidebound of all.”

Inadvertently Batim’s face mirrored the Harper’s opinion.

“That narrows it down, doesn’t it?” the Lord Holder said, rubbing his hands together in satisfaction. “Take him away, Haligon.”

“I have rights! Chartered rights! You’re all so big about that blinding Charter of yours,” Batim cried hoarsely as Haligon called the guard in. The prisoner made a frantic surge toward the table but was thwarted by the quick-footed Haligon. Struggling, Batim reached straining fingers toward the glasses. “Water. I’ve had no water all day.”

“Actually,” Lessa said in a cold voice, “the Charter does not cite water in the list of rights.”

“But it has to!”

Haligon and the guard hauled him out of the room and they heard him demanding water as the door closed. Lessa gave a shudder of distaste. Master Crivellan continued to stare fixedly at the Benden Weyrleader.

“Crivellan,” N’ton said, touching the Healer’s arm, “F’lar only threatened the man, no more. You know that dragons won’t hurt a human.”

“The threat is usually sufficient,” F’lar remarked, resuming his seat, “but the culprit has to believe the threat will be carried out. Batim would have ignored any physical coercion—apart from a one-way trip a-dragonback. So we put him off balance.” He grinned at Lessa. “And elicited some interesting reactions.”

“Oh!” was the Healer’s relieved response. “My pardon for doubting your methods.”

“Considering what harm the man did your Craft, you are remarkably forbearing,” Lessa said, dropping her pose of indolence.

“I am dedicated to saving life, Weyrwoman,” Crivellan replied with great dignity, “not taking it.”