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glance at his eastern…facing window told him that it was nearly morning。
〃It's me！〃 a whisper announced。
〃The correct grammar is 'It is I；' or 'It's I；' 〃 Tagetarl told Pinch wearily。 〃How did you get in？ The gate's locked。〃
There had been no more Abominator attacks after the spate at Turn's End； but that didn't mean there weren't more being planned。 Tagetarl had never figured out just how discards from the medical texts he'd printed a Turn ago had gotten into their hands。 To be on the safe side； the Printer Hall now shredded all imperfect sheets。
〃True； and it's a fine strong gate；〃 Pinch said； ing forward into the pool of light from the desk lamp。
He was not tall and his angular face； blurred now with dirt and fatigue； had no distinguishing features。 His present apparel was Keroon hill folk； and smelled it。 His ability to blend into his surroundings； to imitate the accents and manners of speech in any quarter of Pern； north and south； along with his keen ears and sharp eyes； made him the ideal observer。 His very active； cynical mind allowed him to interpret what he heard。 Pinch cocked his foot around a stool and pulled it to him； sitting down as if he hadn't a care in the world。 An engaging smile showed very even teeth； and there was a clever twinkle in his brown eyes。
〃I didn't use the gate。 Didn't really expect you to be up at this hour so I came in…〃
〃Across the roof again？ One day you'll fall through the weaver's roof。〃
〃Oh； it's safe enough。 Rosheen's Ola came to investigate； by the bye； but when she saw it was me…〃
〃It was I；〃 Tagetarl mercilessly corrected。
〃…and Bista； she went back to bed。〃 Pinch clicked his tongue。 〃Say hello to the MasterPrinter； Bista。〃 The little gold creature； who looked like an extra scarf around the harper's neck； cocked her head and blinked her green gemstone eyes at the Printer。 〃So why are you up？〃
Tagetarl jerked his thumb at the proofs he'd been correcting。 〃If you ever encounter someone in your travels who can spell and who recognizes proper sentence structure and syntax； I've a job for him； her； preferably them。〃
Pinch gave a sharp nod。 〃I'll keep my eyes open。〃
〃I know you will。 So what brings you over my roof at this time of night？〃
〃It's nearly day；〃 Pinch corrected kindly。 〃I've been checking a few things； snooping about isolated holds and trader sites； sitting in Runner stations。 Keroon has all sorts of hill folk； you know； the kind that don't want their kids Harper…taught or Healed。 Then there're the ones who aren't really hill folk。 Who get too many visitors and have had very interesting indoor occupations。〃
He reached into his jacket and removed a square of much…folded paper。 Carefully he opened it to reveal small sketches： full face and profile。
〃Mind you； I wasn't exactly an invited visitor； but I found me a spot to watch and make a few notes。 I can flesh these out better with some decent paper and a carbon point。〃 He looked inquiringly at Tagetarl。 〃Paper； Master？ Pencils？ Aivas's latest improvement on ink？〃
〃Hill folk？〃
〃No； people living in the hills。 Paper？ Pencil？〃 He hooked the stool closer to the desk。
Immediately； Tagetarl gathered up the pages he was working on； swiftly rearranging them into a neat stack out of Pinch's way。 From a drawer； he pulled fresh paper； as well as a collection of different drawing tools。 〃Sit！ Sit！ D'you need klah； food； wine？〃
Pinch grabbed a sharp carbon stick with one hand as he turned the sheaf of paper to his right…he was left…handed…and began sketching。 〃Thanks； yes； yes； and yes。 And something for Bista。 We came straight here without a stop； using Runner traces。 They let me； you know。 Give me tips。 Good folk； Runners。 Get me some food and drink； man； just don't stand there gawking。〃
When Tagetarl returned； lugging a heavy tray along with a bowl of fresh meat for Bista； Pinch continued speaking as if the Printer hadn't left the room。
〃Told the Runners not to worry about mechanical things。 Wouldn't want one of those things squawking about my person； I can tell you。 It'd make folks notice me； and I don't need to be noticed。 Anyway； I'll always trust legs over spare parts。〃 He gave Tagetarl a sideways grin； full of malice。 〃Have a traditional outlook on life； you know。〃 And when the Masterprinter snorted at such a remark from such a source； he added； 〃Well； I do。 It's why I risk life and limb on Harper business。〃
Bista finished her meal and curled up on a shelf。 By then； Pinch had pleted one sketch and tossed it to the side； making the first line of the next sketch even before Tagetarl could pick up the first one。
Tagetarl examined the drawing。 It was economically drawn； but it vividly depicted a big man； his right shoulder cocked up； a high forehead； black brows； a zigzag scar from his right temple and down the side of his nose to a gouge on his cheek； a thick； wide…bridged nose； gaunt cheeks； a thin mouth； a narrow chin； and a scrawny throat with a pronounced larynx。 The left hand； which he was holding up as if to warm at a fire； was missing the first joint of the index finger。 His clothes…the usual heavy leather tunic and trousers…were worn and patched。 Thongs just under his knee in typical hill…style tied leggings； and his boots were long and thin； the leather cracked from wading through too many streams or bogs。
Using his right hand； Pinch pushed some bread and cheese into his mouth and washed that down with a long swallow of beer； while the left kept drawing。 A real gift； Tagetarl thought； especially for someone involved in discreet surveillance。 But then Master Robinton； the late MasterHarper； had had the ability to mand the talents of many unusual men and women。 Before the Present Pass and the awakening of Aivas； when dragonriders had been denigrated and even the Harper Hall in jeopardy； Master Robinton had made use of rare talents…harpers； men and women； who knew their way about most of the settled holds and halls； large and small。 Tagetarl had met Nip； the first roving harper who had nonspecific assignments and rarely sang。 What Nip's real name was； no one remembered now。 Nip had trained Tuck； another nonconformist； and had taken Sebell along for some projects as Sebell； in turn； had made use of Piemur's unusually quick mind and abilities。 Now Pinch had been added to the roster； along with two others Tagetarl knew about but was not sure that he had met。
Tagetarl concentrated on mitting the first face to memory。 Rather pugnacious all totaled； the Printer thought： the sort that would worry a crack in a cliff until it became a cave。
The next one Pinch finished was of a man who looked vaguely familiar。 Younger than the first man； he was taller and well…fleshed； with a darker but not weathered skin and short fair hair。 A pinched mouth suggested selfishness and obstinacy； and the eyes had a sly cast to them。 His expression was both amused and supercilious。
A woman was the third： her stance…her left hand holding her right elbow…was awkward； her eyes wide and avid as if listening to instructions that she would strive to carry out。 She； too； was clad as a hill woman； but the clothes did not fit either her