All the Weyrs of Pern Read Free Page B

objects required to supply additional stations.”
    “Your beaded panels, Piemur,” Jancis said, clutching at his sleeve with one hand and pointing excitedly with the other.
    “You’re right,” Piemur said. “What are they, Aivas? We seem to have boxes and boxes of them, all different sorts.”
    “Those are computer cards.” To the listeners, it sounded as if Aivas’s measured tone betrayed a discreet excitement. “Were there also any of these objects?” And boxes were displayed with screens that were smaller replicas of the screen facing them, along with rectangles resembling what Aivas had identified as a touch panel.
    “Yes,” Master Robinton said with surprise. “I couldn’t think what they might be when I saw them, swathed in that thick film.”
    “If there are sufficient parts in good working order, then there need be no contention for access to this facility. These were the remainder of the ordinary processors. All other voice-activated units were packaged for shipment to the north and, it seems, lost, but these elementary models will admirably suit the current need. With sufficient power, up to twelve stations can be accommodated without affecting response time.”
    Once again the audience lapsed into numb silence.
    “Do I understand you correctly?” Fandarel began, after clearing his throat. “You can
divide
yourself into twelve segments?”
    “That is correct.”
    “How can you do that?” Fandarel demanded, spreading his arms wide in disbelief.
    “Surely, Mastersmith, you do not limit yourself to one hearth, or anvil or forge, one hammer, one fire?”
    “Of course not, but I have many men . . .”
    “This facility is not a single hearth or fire or hammer, but many, and each can work as diligently as the others.”
    “This I find very hard to understand,” Fandarel admitted, scratching his balding pate and shaking his head.
    “Before you is a machine, Mastersmith, which can be segmented, and each discrete part can function as a separate tool.”
    “I don’t begin to understand how you can do that, Aivas, but if you can, it would certainly solve the problems of priorities,” Master Robinton said, grinning from ear to ear. Oh, the questions of past paradoxes that could now be answered by this marvelous creature! He took a large pull of his wine.
    “To create these separate tools,” Aivas went on, “will, in itself, provide the first of many lessons that must be understood before you will be ready to attack your primary objective, the annihilation of Thread.”
    “By all means, let us begin then,” F’lar said, rubbing his hands together, infused with the first stirrings of real hope he had felt during the last few grueling Turns of the current Pass.
    “There isn’t enough space in here for a dozen of us all talking with a dozen of you, Aivas,” Lord Larad of Telgar said reasonably.
    “There are other rooms in this building that can be utilized. Indeed, it would be wise to have separate offices, and perhaps one larger room where many could observe and learn. It is best to begin at the beginning,” Aivas said, and suddenly sheets began to roll out of a slot to one side of the main screen. “These are the items that will be needed in the morning, the tools that will be required to construct the additional stations, and a diagram of how to redesign this building to accommodate them.”
    Being nearest, Piemur caught the sheets as they were spewed out. Jancis came to his aid.
    “More material will soon be needed for the printer,” Aivas went on. “Rolls should be stored in the Catherine Caves with the other supplies. Paper would be an acceptable substitute.”
    “Paper?” Larad exclaimed. “Wood-pulp paper?”
    “If nothing else is available, that will do.”
    “It would seem, Asgenar,” F’lar said with a chuckle, “that the skills of Master Bendarek were not developed a Turn too soon.”
    “You have lost the skill of extruding plastic from silicates?” Aivas asked.