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ediately began to ascend； F'lessan caught sight of Tai astride Zaranth's back。
Golanth； tell Zaranth to take her coordinates from you； F'lessan said； not even bothering to close his flying jacket or jam his helmet on his head。 Maybe the seconds between would cool him down from the heat that he hadn't even noticed in the Interface office。 He concentrated on timing it and Golanth took them between。
IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AT LANDING…1。9。31
Once again Landing had bee a mand center； Lessa thought。 Though she could wish it otherwise； she would be happier； as well as more useful； here than at Benden Weyr。 It had been Ruth's query to her through Ramoth that made her wonder if perhaps that bright spark in the sky； still hanging overhead at Benden； was dangerous。 Tiroth had already brought Wansor； Lytol； and D'ram to Landing。 Maybe the Benden Weyrleaders should join them； if only to see what the old Star Master had to say about this intruder。 Stinar was quite willing to turn on the screen in the conference room so that Lytol and D'ram could describe what was happening to Wansor。 He could still distinguish light from dark but no details。 Despite his blindness； he had cultivated an uncanny ability to locate other people in the same room with him； sometimes calling them by name when they came near。
His round face with its opaque eyes had lit up with an extraordinary smile when Lessa and F'lar entered。 〃Lessa！〃
〃How did you know？〃 Lessa asked； swiftly moving to take both his hands in hers。 She had half a mind to give him a kiss for his unqualified wele。
〃My dear Lessa； wherever you go there is a vibrancy that is unmistakable。 And then；〃 he chuckled； 〃you wear a fragrance that is unique。〃 He held out his right hand toward F'lar and returned the strong grip。
Craggy…faced Lytol and D'ram； whose weathered skin was nearly the color of his bronze's hide； had risen at their entry and now Lytol was holding a chair for her； one facing the screen with its view of what the Yoko was seeing。
〃Is all this serious？〃 Lessa asked； taking the seat and noting a bewildering amount of information scrolling down one side of the monitor。 The fireball that had seemed almost directly overhead was now ing straight at them； even from Yoko's altitude above the surface。
〃It could be。〃 Wansor said。 〃Erragon is watching with Stinar…and； of course； we now have you here。〃 He smiled。 〃Do go on； Lytol。 Any new information on that error ellipse？〃
〃Some of this will be very technical； Lessa；〃 Lytol said courteously； reseating himself before he leaned close to Wansor to describe the scene and recite the numbers that were flowing down the side of the monitor。
Beside her； F'lar gave it his attention； though he； too； she noticed； scowled subtly； the plicated astronomical data was beyond him。 Someone brought in a tray of klah and meatrolls and； eyeing the screen warily； departed as quickly as possible。 There was a degree of fear in the girl's manner that troubled Lessa。 She was accustomed to listening to her instincts。 As she served D'ram a cup of klah； she bent close to his ear。
〃What would happen if that fireball came down anywhere？〃
Clearly that possibility had occurred to the old bronze rider。
〃It could be a miss；〃 he whispered softly。
〃A near one？〃 Lessa said； hazarding her opinion。
〃We can hope so；〃 he replied； shifting his position in his chair。 〃Yoko hasn't displayed any information about its size； but it's clearly a large object。〃
〃Flaming；〃 she said sardonically。 〃So it will make a large hole and shake the surface。〃
D'ram gave her a startled glance。 〃We don't know that it will impact； Lady Lessa。〃
〃Let's think of the worst that could happen and then we can be pleasantly surprised。〃
〃Fortunately there's a lot of sea for it to cross；〃 he murmured。
〃Then it's best if it falls into water and does no harm。〃
His eyes widened。 〃It will cause harm！ If it falls； there will be tidal waves of tremendous force； flooding all low coastal areas and surging inland。 You remember the high waves caused by the last eruption of Piemur's volcano？〃
〃Indeed； but the hurricane of two Turns ago caused a great deal more havoc。〃
D'ram thinned his lips。 〃This would cause more widespread damage； believe me。 That is；〃 he amended hastily； 〃if the worst should happen。〃 He paused； frowning and twisting his lower lip between two fingers。 Looking her full in the eyes； he added。 〃But if we know about it； we could prepare； evacuate。〃
〃We…meaning dragonriders？〃
He nodded quickly。 〃People could be lifted to higher ground before the wall of waves reaches them。〃
Maps hung on the conference room walls behind them。 She skewed herself around and saw the big map that Aivas had called a Mercator projection。 〃Faulty；〃 she remembered him saying； 〃in that the polar areas are larger than their actual size but it gives you a coherent grasp of the disposition of land and sea masses。〃 She wished with all her being that somehow Aivas's deep quiet voice would issue from the speakers； informing them how to deal with this crisis。 But Aivas was gone！ Whatever problem this fireball presented was theirs and D'ram had suggested a way in which they could…in an emergency…reduce the potential damage。 Master Idarolan had once told her about seeing a huge wall of water drowning an island； a tsunami； he called it。
〃If it's coastline we need to protect； we will need Master Idarolan's experience and knowledge；〃 she murmured to D'ram。 〃He still has his charts of deep harbors and shallow moorings。〃
〃What are you two whispering about； Lessa？〃 F'lar asked as quiet…spoken as they。
〃If that thing；〃…she gestured to the fireball and it suddenly looked a lot less amusing…〃falls on us； we need to be prepared。〃
〃But。。。〃 F'lar began。
〃Besides；〃 she went on； intensifying her glance at him and giving an indolent shrug； 〃even if it misses； this is a phenomenon that would fascinate Idarolan。 He'll see it better from here than from his deck at Nerat's Ankle。〃
〃You say；〃 and Wansor's light voice turned excited； 〃that the probability reads fifty…eight percent？〃
〃Go； F'lar。 And give Idarolan enough time；〃 she said； stressing the word； 〃to bring all the records he might need。〃
〃I'll be…〃 F'lar grinned at her； 〃right back。〃
Lessa glanced over at the wall clock： 11：35！
〃Is he going to…〃 D'ram began； stopping in surprise。 〃But you don't encourage…〃
〃No； I don't； but； as I said； if we prepare for the worst； we can be pleasantly…rather than unpleasantly…surprised。 Something about that…〃 She regarded the fireball。 〃When a dragon's eyes are that color； she's at her most dangerous。〃
D'ram looked at the screen。 〃Yes； you're right。〃
Seven elapsed minutes later； when the clock registered 11：42； F'lar and Idarolan swung into the conference room。 Both of them were laden with bags of chart rolls and looked as if they had been running。 Idarolan's eyes swept those gathered； then were held by the monitor as he swung his burden to the tabletop。
〃I see that I am in time；〃…his roughened seaman's voice caressed the word…〃to be of use。〃
〃Oh； yes； Idarolan； yes； I'm glad you're