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h； this side isn't as bad。 Golanth knows that you are here。 You will touch Golanth and tell him that you have seen F'lessan。 He will believe you！
When T'lion duly returned； he supported Tai while she placed her hands on the bronze's side； carefully avoiding the grooves in Golanth's right shoulder that might； had they been a little higher； a little deeper； have ended the bronze dragon's life。 And F'lessan's； too。
She blinked back more tears。 This time death had not robbed her again of those she loved。 She wasn't certain just how Golanth had escaped： the feline had been leaping in exactly the right arc/trajectory to land on Golanth's spine； teeth bared； talons extended。 But somehow it had missed and she was profoundly grateful。
She spread her fingers on uninjured parts of Golanth's sun…warmed hide。 She found a place where she could lean her forehead on his rib cage。 She felt a rumble from Golanth and then a thought。
You have e。
F'lessan is weaker than you are； Golanth； so they will not bring him to you。 But I have held his hand； I have spoken with him。 Now I will tell him that I have touched you。 And you will both start feeling better and healing as fast as possible。 Do you hear me？
I hear you。 The body beneath her hands heaved slightly and she felt him sigh。 I hear F'lessan。 He wants to know if you are ing back。
Now that I have seen you and Zaranth； I'll be right back。
〃This may have been too much for you； Tai；〃 T'lion said； picking her up。 〃I swear you feel lighter。〃
〃That's as well for you then；〃 she said。
〃I'm stronger than I look； you know；〃 he replied firmly as he carried her back into the weyrhold and down the hall。
〃I must go back to F'lessan。〃
〃Oh； I'm taking you there as fast as I can。 And you must drink what Sagassy has concocted for you。 Maybe even get F'lessan to sip some。〃
Which Tai did； after she had assured him of Golanth's condition。 Most of the time he slept； his fingers twined in hers in a grip which alternately made her weep or feel intense pride that； of all the humans he knew； it was she whom he wanted by him。
INTERIM AT BENDEN AND ELSEWHERE
Despite F'lar's assurance to the Council； despite Ramoth's assurances to Lessa； not all the dragons were able to imitate Zaranth and the dragons who came to her assistance in Honshu that terrible morning。 Although Ramoth had told Lessa that she had understood how Zaranth had managed telekinesis； anger； fear； and outrage had had a lot to do with the process。 Cool thought； or gradually； more ardent wishes； were not as successful。 And nowhere near as safe。
First； the path between the original position and the destination of an object being moved by a dragon's mind had to be clear of any impediment。 The distance did not seem to be an obstacle； for inanimate objects。 Even for smaller living creatures； like wherries or herdbeasts。 But there could be nothing in the way。 While stones didn't suffer from being moved telekinetically； they might be broken if they collided with anything； so might what they collided with。 The speed was another problem。 The transfer was instantaneous…which could； and did； affect what was kinetically moved。
〃A case of all or nothing；〃 F'lar said after the first few hours of imperfect results with Mnementh。
〃Control；〃 Lessa suggested cryptically； having had no better performance from her queen。
With the felines； there hadn't been a problem of safe transit or landing。 Pieces had done very well。 Ramoth disapproved of challenging more felines for practice or in groups large enough to provide the stimulus that Zaranth had had： sheer terror at seeing her weyrmate and the two riders attacked。
The dragons could send things straight up in the open air…and out of sight。 To move an object telekinetically in a horizontal direction had taken a lot of control and required Mnementh and Ramoth working together； one slowing the other down。 Ramoth and Mnementh practiced daily； slowly lifting small rocks vertically from the ground and putting them back down without crushing them into dust or pebbles。 They could probably have thrown one all the way to the Yokohama； also not the desired destination； but one that was causing considerable speculation by Lessa and F'lar。 That had been a significant forward step。
When queried by Ramoth； Zaranth remended that dragons experience trundlebugs。 If there were many riders who found that a bizarre way to awaken telekinetic ability； it proved to be the one that worked…on trundlebugs。 Ramoth and Mnementh earnestly suggested that the experiment be carried out in pairs； female and male dragons； and preferably a good distance from any holdings and close to a stream； lake； or ocean。
Then； when Ramoth and Mnementh worked together； one controlling the other； kinesis became more practical； less hazardous to what was being moved without physical contact。
What purpose； other than repelling…and destroying…felines or disciplining trundlebugs was not immediately apparent to many； though the ability provoked deep thought and theorizing in many quarters。 Meanwhile； the dragons and their riders continued to practice this counter…balancing of kinetic energy。
Master Esselin…who now plained bitterly about all the tasks set him…was supposed to see what records were available on early dragon training： going between and using firestone。 Nothing legible remained from the old Record Aivas had transcribed and those who owned fire…lizards insisted that the dragons had learned from these smaller cousins。
No one had ever observed fire…lizards telekinetically moving something； unless the speed with which fire…lizards could gobble food from a plate could be considered a form of telekinesis。
Many other matters were being set in place； the most important of which was siting the Western Continent observatory。 This so…called continent was two landmasses； a wide inlet almost pletely separating them except for a straggle of boulders making a bridge at the northern end。 Erragon had the plans Aivas had printed out for Cove Hold and； apart from a different telescope mount （he remended the fork type）； these would suffice： especially when those who had worked on Cove Hold volunteered their services to erect the new one。 Lord Ranrel was as good as his promise and three ships were loaded with material and volunteers to sail； with Master Idarolan in nominal charge of the expedition； to the southernmost cape of the larger landmass。 A pod of dolphins assigned by the dolphins' venerable leader； the Tillek herself； were to acpany the small fleet to a harbor she could remend。
Green and blue dragons were to precede the ships； setting up a base camp。
The same general plans； with variations to the terrain； were to be implemented at Ice Lake and in Telgar。 The most pressing need was training apprentices to serve the new facilities or to add to the Crafthalls that produced spyglasses that used to be called 〃far…seers；〃 binoculars； and small telescopes。
Master Tagetarl's Print Hall was busy； first with printing the requirements of craftsmen and …women； lists of materials to be supplied…especially lists of people willing to be transported to such a distant location to help in building an observatory on the Western Continent。
That was a simpler task than the demand for printed instructions on how to build smaller non…metal telescopes： thick wherhide would suffice so long as the interior was painted black and sealed against dust。 Manuals must be written by the Star Hall； charts and diagrams of what objects were known to be in unthreatening orbits； instructions on how to sight； recognize； and make proper notations on possible discoveries。 The GlassCraftHalls could supply mirrors for reflective scopes from 100…mm to 400…mm。 Larger ones； of course； required time to shape and build。
When Thread； inevitably； fell near Honshu； the healers made sure the two injured dragons were so deeply sedated that they were unaware…except at some very primal level…that the ancient enemy was being met。 Zaranth was recovering well but Golanth's injuries still concerned every Weyrhealer and Beastmaster。
HONSHU WEYRHOLD…TIME PASSING SLOWLY
〃There's considera