![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kalinara posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
i_read_whatSo last time, we saw plague hit Ruatha. Alessan's holding things together pretty admirably though. For now.
So this time, we rejoin Capiam. He's waking up, and his head is pounding. It's pretty evocative actually:
THE BOOMING REVERBERATED through Capiam’s head until he woke, clutching at his skull defensively. The drumming had even haunted his nightmares before he woke. He could hardly call the vivid scenes that had tortured him dreams, and his awakening was as much a protest against them as against the intrusive rhythms. He lay in his bed, spent with the effort of renewed consciousness. Another drum roll caused him to haul the pillows feebly over his head.
It's probably a bad sign. He gets himself a dose of Fellis juice but he's smart enough to realize that he's sick. And when someone named Desdra comes to see him, he's quick to warn her away. She keeps her distance, but is still able to give him an update.
Mainly people are upset about the quarantine. But Capiam doesn't care much about that. He's got notes to hand off for organization, and soon he's going to have a lot more data about this plague. Fortunately, no one else in the Hall or Hold has contracted it. (Yet.)
Capiam is still thinking. He's expecting some dicks to violate his edicts and try to return from one of the Gathers. Sounds about right. He wants anyone who arrives to be quarantined for four days. (The incubation period seems to be two days.) Unfortunately, they don't yet know how long people stay infectuous. That's a problem. But at least Capiam can take notes on his own progress.
There's an interesting dynamic between Desdra and Capiam. Apparently she's a healer, but not a Master (apparently she speaks her mind and isn't diplomatic or soothing enough), but she and Capiam definitely seem to have something going on. He's relieved that she's in charge of him.
So yeah, Capiam's having fun. We leave him and pop in on Moreta.
-
Moreta is waking up too. Apparently there's trouble in the Weyr. Mostly over Leri, who is too old to fly. There's concern about the plague killing the elderly first. Leri wants to be involved though: to speak with ground crews, monitor who gets ill and spread the word. Leri thinks she can do this without unnecessary physical contact. Moreta agrees: Leri doesn't generally dismount when accepting ground-crew reports anyway.
The passage is actually worded a little strangely. It took me a few paragraphs to realize that the person making the fuss is actually Sh'gall. Moreta is livid that he's interfering with the Queen's wing. Leri's annoyed that Moreta thinks she can't handle a "hysterical bronze rider".
Leri finally, with help from her Holth and Moreta's Orlith, gets the other two to shut up. Then she lays down the law:
“Now!” Leri folded her hands over the cumbersome Record she was trying to keep in her short lap. “A fine time to be quarreling over small points. The Weyr needs undivided leadership now more than ever—we’ve a double threat to overcome. So let me tell you a few things, Sh’gall, that you seem to have overlooked in your very laudable concern for protecting the Weyr from this plague of Capiam’s. As of yesterday’s Gathers there can’t be many of our dragonriders who haven’t been exposed to it. In fact, you’re the most likely carrier since you were actually in the infirmary at Southern Boll as well as at Ista, viewing that poor beast.”
I like Leri. And she's not wrong about Sh'gall. I feel a bit sorry for him, because it's clear that we're not supposed to like him. McCaffrey's been better about nuance in this book, but it's still obvious.
Sh'gall protests that he hadn't been to the infirmary, never touched the cat, and had washed thoroughly. Leri is not very impressed. She points out that while he slept, Moreta and she were busy. And indeed, it seems like Leri is VERY well informed about everything. She asks Moreta about Berchar.
Moreta confirms that Berchar is sick, but S'gor isolated him, and both are staying weyrbound. Sh'gall, of course, freaks out that two people are sick. He checks his own throat and forehead, but Leri reminds him that Capiam said there'd be two to four days before onset of illness. He should be fine to lead. And she'll stay on Holth to minimize contagion while dealing with the ground crews.
Leri is very good at laying down the law. She also points out, maliciously, that it wouldn't matter much if she contracted the plague, since she's elderly and the most expendable. This upsets everyone. Even Sh'gall's Kadith. Moreta even rushes to embrace her.
This line is interesting:
“I’ll get Kadith settled,” he said, leaving as if pursued. “And you settle yourself,” Leri said to Moreta. “I’m worth no one’s tears. Besides, it is true. I am expendable. I think Holth would like to rest and she can’t until I do, you know.”
I mentioned before that Pern's dragons seem to have pretty short lifespans if you think about it. Do they affect their humans' lifespans too?
Anyway, Leri reassures Moreta and dismisses her. There's some cute communication between Moreta and Orlith, which amounts to "Leri and Holth are awesome" and I can't argue with that. I wish Lessa got to have a female mentor.
So Moreta ends up going down to the Lower Cavern. There are three other queen riders (Lidora, Haura, and Kamiana) present, as well as other dragon riders. They chat a little about the drums and the epidemic. Moreta fills them in on what she knows.
Apparently one of the green riders, T'nure, is feeling a bit rebellious about the quarantine, but Moreta lays down the law: Fort Weyr will obey. The queens reinforce her. There are some personel arrangements to make. Since Berchar's unavailable, two folks named Declan and Maylone will be responsible for the injured. Nesso and "her team" will help, as will S'peren and Haura.
There is concern for the ground crews though. If the plague spreads, they may not have them to help fight Thread. Moreta puts off the concern. They're focusing on today.
Nesso has a word with Moreta privately, pointing out that the drum messages are now being sent by Fortine rather than Capiam. She gets a great line here:
“Not Capiam?”
Nesso shook her head slowly from side to side. “Not since the first one this noon.”
“Has anyone else noticed that?”
Nesso sniffed in offended dignity. “I know my duty, too, Weyrwoman.”
Sh'gall may be useless, but Nesso's actually pretty awesome in her own way.
--
Back to Capiam, who's still not doing well. He's been using aconite to help keep his heartbeat regular, but the headache is still terrible. And the drum messages are making things worse. He's hardly able to think.
The chapter ends here.
So this time, we rejoin Capiam. He's waking up, and his head is pounding. It's pretty evocative actually:
THE BOOMING REVERBERATED through Capiam’s head until he woke, clutching at his skull defensively. The drumming had even haunted his nightmares before he woke. He could hardly call the vivid scenes that had tortured him dreams, and his awakening was as much a protest against them as against the intrusive rhythms. He lay in his bed, spent with the effort of renewed consciousness. Another drum roll caused him to haul the pillows feebly over his head.
It's probably a bad sign. He gets himself a dose of Fellis juice but he's smart enough to realize that he's sick. And when someone named Desdra comes to see him, he's quick to warn her away. She keeps her distance, but is still able to give him an update.
Mainly people are upset about the quarantine. But Capiam doesn't care much about that. He's got notes to hand off for organization, and soon he's going to have a lot more data about this plague. Fortunately, no one else in the Hall or Hold has contracted it. (Yet.)
Capiam is still thinking. He's expecting some dicks to violate his edicts and try to return from one of the Gathers. Sounds about right. He wants anyone who arrives to be quarantined for four days. (The incubation period seems to be two days.) Unfortunately, they don't yet know how long people stay infectuous. That's a problem. But at least Capiam can take notes on his own progress.
There's an interesting dynamic between Desdra and Capiam. Apparently she's a healer, but not a Master (apparently she speaks her mind and isn't diplomatic or soothing enough), but she and Capiam definitely seem to have something going on. He's relieved that she's in charge of him.
So yeah, Capiam's having fun. We leave him and pop in on Moreta.
-
Moreta is waking up too. Apparently there's trouble in the Weyr. Mostly over Leri, who is too old to fly. There's concern about the plague killing the elderly first. Leri wants to be involved though: to speak with ground crews, monitor who gets ill and spread the word. Leri thinks she can do this without unnecessary physical contact. Moreta agrees: Leri doesn't generally dismount when accepting ground-crew reports anyway.
The passage is actually worded a little strangely. It took me a few paragraphs to realize that the person making the fuss is actually Sh'gall. Moreta is livid that he's interfering with the Queen's wing. Leri's annoyed that Moreta thinks she can't handle a "hysterical bronze rider".
Leri finally, with help from her Holth and Moreta's Orlith, gets the other two to shut up. Then she lays down the law:
“Now!” Leri folded her hands over the cumbersome Record she was trying to keep in her short lap. “A fine time to be quarreling over small points. The Weyr needs undivided leadership now more than ever—we’ve a double threat to overcome. So let me tell you a few things, Sh’gall, that you seem to have overlooked in your very laudable concern for protecting the Weyr from this plague of Capiam’s. As of yesterday’s Gathers there can’t be many of our dragonriders who haven’t been exposed to it. In fact, you’re the most likely carrier since you were actually in the infirmary at Southern Boll as well as at Ista, viewing that poor beast.”
I like Leri. And she's not wrong about Sh'gall. I feel a bit sorry for him, because it's clear that we're not supposed to like him. McCaffrey's been better about nuance in this book, but it's still obvious.
Sh'gall protests that he hadn't been to the infirmary, never touched the cat, and had washed thoroughly. Leri is not very impressed. She points out that while he slept, Moreta and she were busy. And indeed, it seems like Leri is VERY well informed about everything. She asks Moreta about Berchar.
Moreta confirms that Berchar is sick, but S'gor isolated him, and both are staying weyrbound. Sh'gall, of course, freaks out that two people are sick. He checks his own throat and forehead, but Leri reminds him that Capiam said there'd be two to four days before onset of illness. He should be fine to lead. And she'll stay on Holth to minimize contagion while dealing with the ground crews.
Leri is very good at laying down the law. She also points out, maliciously, that it wouldn't matter much if she contracted the plague, since she's elderly and the most expendable. This upsets everyone. Even Sh'gall's Kadith. Moreta even rushes to embrace her.
This line is interesting:
“I’ll get Kadith settled,” he said, leaving as if pursued. “And you settle yourself,” Leri said to Moreta. “I’m worth no one’s tears. Besides, it is true. I am expendable. I think Holth would like to rest and she can’t until I do, you know.”
I mentioned before that Pern's dragons seem to have pretty short lifespans if you think about it. Do they affect their humans' lifespans too?
Anyway, Leri reassures Moreta and dismisses her. There's some cute communication between Moreta and Orlith, which amounts to "Leri and Holth are awesome" and I can't argue with that. I wish Lessa got to have a female mentor.
So Moreta ends up going down to the Lower Cavern. There are three other queen riders (Lidora, Haura, and Kamiana) present, as well as other dragon riders. They chat a little about the drums and the epidemic. Moreta fills them in on what she knows.
Apparently one of the green riders, T'nure, is feeling a bit rebellious about the quarantine, but Moreta lays down the law: Fort Weyr will obey. The queens reinforce her. There are some personel arrangements to make. Since Berchar's unavailable, two folks named Declan and Maylone will be responsible for the injured. Nesso and "her team" will help, as will S'peren and Haura.
There is concern for the ground crews though. If the plague spreads, they may not have them to help fight Thread. Moreta puts off the concern. They're focusing on today.
Nesso has a word with Moreta privately, pointing out that the drum messages are now being sent by Fortine rather than Capiam. She gets a great line here:
“Not Capiam?”
Nesso shook her head slowly from side to side. “Not since the first one this noon.”
“Has anyone else noticed that?”
Nesso sniffed in offended dignity. “I know my duty, too, Weyrwoman.”
Sh'gall may be useless, but Nesso's actually pretty awesome in her own way.
--
Back to Capiam, who's still not doing well. He's been using aconite to help keep his heartbeat regular, but the headache is still terrible. And the drum messages are making things worse. He's hardly able to think.
The chapter ends here.