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obinton e to his senses and turned off the Abomination？ Or had the Abomination killed Master Robinton？ He felt eager to discover the truth。
Once he got down Crom's river…perhaps Keogh Hold would be far enough…he could make plans and see just how badly the Abomination had interfered with Pern's traditions and way of life。
Gathers began in springtime； when the roads dried of winter snow and mud； and he could simply blend into the crowds； and perhaps find more answers。 He was hearing more and more these days； even the shrill song of avians。 Once he caught up on current news； he would be able to plan his next moves。
Surely not everyone on Pern would want tradition degraded or would believe the lies that the Abomination had spouted。 He called to mind those whom he knew had been seriously disturbed by the so…called improvements promulgated by Aivas。 By now； eleven Turns since the Abomination had terminated； some right…minded； thinking folk would realize that the Red Star had not changed course simply because three old engines had blown up in a crack on its surface！ Especially when Thread continued to fall on the planet…as indeed it should； to be sure that all Pern was united against the menace of its return； century after century。
AT A GATHER…6。15。30
〃I don't know why it had to mess up time；〃 said the first man； morosely fingering a pattern in the spilled gravy in front of him。
〃You're messing up the table；〃 the second man said； pointing。
〃He had no call to mess up our time；〃 the first man insisted； rather more vehemently。
〃Who？〃 Second was confused。 〃He？ It？〃
〃Aivas； that's who or it。〃
〃Whaddya mean？〃
〃Well； he did； didn't he？ Back in '38…which should be only 2524。〃 The holder scowled； his thick black brows ing together across the wide bridge of his thick nose。 〃Made us add some fourteen Turns allasudden。〃
〃He was regulating time；〃 Second corrected； surprised at his panion's vehemence。 The holder had seemed a pleasant enough panion； knowledgeable about music and knowing all the words to even the latest songs the harpers were playing。 With his third wineskin； his temper had deteriorated。 And possibly his wits； if time or how folk numbered Turns was bothering him。
〃Made me older'n' I was。〃
〃Didn't make you smarter；〃 Second said with a rude snort。 〃 'Sides； Masterharper himself said it was all right on account there were dis… ah； disk…〃 He paused and used a belch as an excuse while he recalled the exact phrasing。 〃…there'd been inaccurate timekeeping because of Thread falling only forty Turns once instead of fifty； like it usually did； and people forgetting to account for the disk…〃
〃Discrepancies；〃 the third man put in； regarding them superciliously。
Second gave a snap of his fingers and beamed at Third for finding the word he couldn't recall。
〃The problem is not what it did；〃 First went on。 〃It's what it's continuing to do。 To all of us。〃 He made a flourish that included everyone at the Gather； all laughing and singing； oblivious to the dangers in this continuation。
〃Continuing to do？〃 A woman who had been standing nearby slipped into a seat several places down the long Gather table； on the opposite side from First and Second。
〃Pushing things on us whether we want 'improvements' or not；〃 First said slowly； eyeing her in what illumination dimly reached their side table。 He saw a thin woman； with an unattractive face； a pinched mouth； a recessive lower jaw； and huge eyes that glowed with an inner anger or resentment。
〃Like the lights？〃 Second asked； gesturing toward the nearest one。 〃Very useful。 Much more convenient than messing with glowbaskets。〃
〃Glowbaskets are traditional；〃 the woman said； and her petulant tone carried into the shadows beyond the table。 〃Glows were put here for us to cultivate and protect。〃
〃Glows are natural； and have lighted our holds and halls for centuries；〃 said a deep； censorious voice。 Startled； the woman gasped and put her hand protectively to her throat。
Certainly First and Second； who had thought they were having a private discussion； were annoyed by the intrusion until the big man stepped out of the shadows。 As he slowly walked to the table； the others watched his deliberate advance； noting the size of him。 He sat down by Third； bringing the number seated there to five。 He wore a strangely shaped leathern cap that hid most of his forehead but did not cover the scar on the side of his nose and cheek。 He was also missing the top joint of the first finger on his left hand。 Something about his scarred face and his purposeful manner pelled the others to silence。
〃Pern has lost much lately and gained little。〃 His unmaimed hand lifted to point to the light。 〃And all because a voice…〃 He paused contemptuously。 〃…said to do so。〃
〃Got rid of the Red Star；〃 Second said； shifting uneasily。
Fifth turned his head toward Second； regarding him so unblinkingly that his scorn was nearly palpable。
〃Thread still falls；〃 Fifth said in that deep； disturbing voice that seemed to use no inflection。
〃Well； yes； but that was explained；〃 Second said。
〃Perhaps to your satisfaction； but not to mine。〃
Two men seated at a table opposite the group looked over with interest； and gestured at First to let them join in。 First nodded his head at the two； and Sixth and Seventh hastily climbed into vacant spaces among the others。
〃The voice is gone；〃 First said； when the two newers were settled and he was guaranteed the group's full attention once again。 〃Terminated itself。〃
〃As it should have been terminated before it was allowed to pollute and corrupt the minds of so many；〃 Fifth went on。
〃And it has left so much behind；〃 the woman said in a despairing tone； 〃so much that can be misused。〃
〃You mean the equipment and new methods for manufacturing all kinds of things； like the electricity that brightens dark places？〃 Third could not resist teasing such somber and humorless people。
〃There was no good reason for that。。。 thing to turn itself off like that； just when it was beginning to be useful；〃 First said resentfully。
〃But it left plans！〃 And Fourth sounded as if that was suspicious。
〃Too many plans；〃 Fifth agreed； deepening his voice to a lugubrious and ominous level。
〃What？〃 Third prompted him。 Fourth's eyes rounded with fear and anxiety。
〃Surgery！〃 In that expressive deep voice the three syllables were dramatically drawn out as if he spoke of something immoral。
〃Surgery？〃 Sixth frowned。 〃What's that？〃
〃Ways of mucking inside a body；〃 First replied； lowering his own voice to match Fifth's。
Sixth shuddered。 〃Mind you； sometimes we gotta cut a foal out of its dam or it strangles。〃 When the others regarded him suspiciously； he added； 〃Only a very well…bred foal we can't afford to lose。 And I saw the healer once remove a pendix。 Woman would've died； he said。 She didn't feel a thing。〃
〃 'She didn't feel a thing；' 〃 Fifth repeated； investing that statement with sinister import。
〃The healer could have done anything else he liked；〃 Fourth said in a shocked whisper。
Second dismissed that with a grunt。 〃Didn't do her any harm and