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Oldive permitted himself a chuckle as he carefully descended from the high stool。 Had his spine developed normally； he would have been tall； his legs were long。 They were the same length； but the malformation of his backbone had resulted in a pelvic slant。 With a slight lift in one shoe； his limp was barely noticeable。
〃There are so many calls on Master Morilton's skills；〃 he said ruefully； and gestured to the cabinets filled with special glass products； the myriad paraphernalia that had been created by the GlassSmith for healer use。
〃A start； of course； on the quantity needed to equip all Healer Halls；〃 Sharra said in an acid tone； 〃especially when the Council unanimously…for once…agreed that the Healer Hall has priority。 We are concerned with the health and well…being of everybody； not just new gadgets that we've done without for twenty…five hundred Turns。〃
Though Oldive pletely agreed with her； he raised a hand in gentle rebuke as he walked across the airy room to the small stove where the klah pot was kept warm。 Someone had brought in a tray of food。 He flipped back the napkins and saw the generous servings。 When had these been brought？ The meatrolls were still warm。 He oughtn't to concentrate to the exclusion of everything else。
〃Someone brought some food；〃 he informed her。
〃Oh； yes； I should have told you；〃 she said contritely as she slipped off her stool and joined him。 〃I just wanted to finish that tray of slides。〃 She poured klah for them both。
〃Oh； we do very well； my dear Sharra；〃 he said； talking around a mouthful of roll。 〃We have achieved all this…〃 He gestured around them。 〃…and Morilton is considering dedicating one Hall to nothing but Healer requirements。〃 He glanced back at his workstation and his unidentifiable virus smear。 Then held up his hand as an odd sound impinged on the silence of the laboratory。
Sharra listened hard。 〃Sounds like breaking glass。 Breaking glass！〃 She repeated； setting down the mug and rushing to the door。 As soon as she'd opened it； the noise was far more audible； and far too close。
〃Meer； Talla；〃 she cried； calling for her two fire…lizards。
〃What's the matter？ What's going on？ What clumsy apprentice has been let loose？〃 Oldive cried。
Despite his physical disability； Oldive could move swiftly； but Sharra； after one startled look to her right； hauled him back from the threshold and closed the door； throwing the latch。
Ruth！
The white dragon might be asleep on Ruatha's fire…heights； but he'd respond to her mental call from any place。 Meer and Talla arrived； midair； mouths open to shriek panic； but Sharra's stern mand aborted that instinct。
〃I don't know who； Oldive；〃 she said； dropping her voice to a whisper； 〃but there are people crashing about in the still…room as if they thought no one would hear them。〃
Once again the intrepid Masterhealer attempted to leave the room and she caught him by the arm。
〃There shouldn't be anyone else here but us；〃 he said grimly。 He had given leave to even the lowliest apprentice to enjoy this last day of Turn's End。
〃But there are；〃 she said； her eyes sparkling with anger as she opened the door to the noise of considerable destruction。 A shadow fell across the long window of the laboratory and she grinned； pointing。 〃However； we shall deal with it。〃
Oldive gasped at the sight of a white body； wings outstretched； all but plastered against the glass； his eyes flashing the red and orange of alarm。
Ruth！ Sharra said； relieved that he had responded so quickly。 Tell the Hold's fire…lizards to attack the intruders。 Fire…lizards held Ruth； the white dragon； in awed respect and would obey him without question。 She gave him a very clear mental image of what she had seen in her brief glimpse down the hall。 Meer and Talla cheeped once and disappeared。 Scant seconds later； both she and Oldive heard loud cries； angry fire…lizard bugles； shouts of pain； and more banging and crashing。
Sharra opened the door wide enough to see down the hall。 A mass of fire…lizards was trying to enter the stillroom。 Then the mass split into several groups； which zipped off； screeching challenge； swooping down the stairwells at each end to the other levels of the hall。
There are several groups throwing things about in the Hall； Ruth told her。 That is wrong。 Fort dragons e。
She and Oldive watched as the fire…lizards drove four people out of the stillroom。 They could hear human cries echoing from other points。 Oldive groaned in dismay。
〃They'll be damned sorry they ever thought of this；〃 she told him angrily as she started purposefully down the hall。 〃Damned sorry。〃
〃I never thought of…intrusions…when we built here；〃 Oldive murmured； shaking his head in bitter denial of the event as he followed。 He'd been so proud of this new Hall； with its marvelous equipment； its spacious and well…organized facilities。 The previous quarters had been better protected in the angle between the Harper Hall and Fort Hold。 But the Healer Hall was usually so busy that； on a normal day； no unauthorized persons would have been on this floor。
Sharra reached the stillroom first。 The reek of spilled liquids and wet herbs was nothing to her appalled survey of empty shelves； cabinets with broken doors； glass shards everywhere。 Even the marble worktops had been cracked。 She slammed the door shut to spare Oldive the sight。
〃Everything's ruined；〃 she said tersely and pulled him toward the stairs； dreadfully certain now by the sounds of screams and shouts from the lower floors that there would be more damage elsewhere。
Fire…lizards drove the intruders out of the Hall where the humans were halted by the sight of a dozen dragons； their wings spread to form an impregnable wall； their eyes whirling red with anger。 More dragons hovered overhead； their wings casting dark shadows on the scene below。 Shouts and drumbeats echoed down Fort's rocky canyon； confirming that reinforcements were on their way。 The cowering vandals were herded into a knot； clothes rent by fire…lizard beaks and talons； bloodied hands raised to protect their faces。 While no dragon would hurt a human； the fire…lizards were under no such restraint and darted in to peck or claw when anyone in that huddle moved。
Call them off now； Ruth； Sharra said； pausing to catch her breath on the broad top step； and thank them for ing so quickly。 We need the wretches alive and able to tell us why they despoiled a Healer Hall。
Though some of the wild fire…lizards looked as if they would disobey； a second rumbling bark from Ruth caused them to disappear； leaving the dragons to stand guard。 When the dragons did not advance； one of the men uncoiled and stood up； glowering at Sharra and Oldive。
〃Why are you here？〃 the MasterHealer asked at his sternest。 He counted fifteen men and women in front of him； a sufficient number to trash more than his fine stillroom。 His heart sank at the destruction they must have done。 〃Why have you destroyed the very materials and medicines…〃
〃The Abomination must be halted！〃 a man shouted； his body taut with his fanaticism。 〃Its taint removed forever from Pern。〃
〃Abomination？〃 The word made Sharra