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When she opened her eyes； Erragon's expression showed deep concern。 He was rather a good man； she thought； and not like some who could thoroughly enjoy spreading bad news。
〃Sit down； man； and I'll get us something more to eat。 We'll need to fortify ourselves。〃 She left the room； giving him a few moments alone。
Twenty minutes later； Master Idarolan and Erragon had contrived to red mark the vulnerable portions of coastline along both continents； including some quick estimates of how deep inland the flood would surge。 To Lessa's intense sorrow； they had intricately marked the projected paths of the five different assaults on Monaco。 F'lar had returned with F'nor。 No sooner had the two Benden riders started to eat a hasty luncheon from the food Lessa had found than Lords Ciparis and Toronas arrived。 Close behind them came Haligon； representing Lord Groghe； Jaxom； and Sharra； Lord Ranrel of Tillek with the new MasterFishman Curran； Fortine of Ista； Langrell of Igen； Kashman of Keroon； Janissian from Southern Boll as Lord Sangel was too old to travel anywhere； even a…dragonback； and the other six Weyrleaders。
〃What's this about some sharding wave going to destroy the coast？〃 demanded Fortine。 〃Surely it can't reach from the Ring Sea all the way to my coast？〃
〃e； e；〃 Master Idarolan said； gesturing impatiently to the newers。 〃All of you be seated。〃 He waved at Haligon to distribute chairs from those stacked in one corner。
〃It had better be good；〃 Toronas of Benden said； 〃getting us up and down here so precipitously。〃
〃Oh； it is； I assure you；〃 Lessa said in such a caustic tone that no one else spoke as they hurried to get settled around the table。
〃At least it was already morning for you； Toronas；〃 Jaxom said； seating Sharra； who was blinking to clear her eyes from what little sleep she had had。 〃Not the middle of the night and yet you see Ranrel； Haligon； and Janissian wide awake and with us。〃
Lord Toronas clearly wanted to object to the presence of Janissian； who looked younger than she was； even if she had been sent to represent her grandfather； Lord Sangel。
〃Sit by me； Toronas；〃 Lessa said； smiling encouragingly at Janissian who remained close to Sharra and Jaxom。 The Southern Boll girl posed herself to listen but her eyes were darting to the red…streaked maps and then back to the other members of this emergency meeting。 Ranrel nodded a greeting to her and Kashman stared boldly。
〃If you will begin again； Journeyman Erragon；〃 Lessa said formally； 〃then everyone will have a better understanding of why this meeting is so vital。 Some of us have less time than others and none of us have time to waste。〃
Just as Erragon was about to explain how the multiple waves would inundate the southern coastline； a rumbling boom made him stagger。 Lessa clutched at the arm of her chair as the awesome noise vibrated through the soles of her feet。
〃What was that？〃 she cried。 They could both hear the shouts and screams from the hallway。
〃That；〃 Erragon said on his way to the door； 〃was the ground shock wave from the fireball impact。〃 He glanced at the clock。 〃Right on time！ Excuse me！〃 He hauled open the door。 〃It's all right！ That's the shock wave reaching us！〃 He shouted to those milling in fright in the hall and closed the door behind him； leaving Lessa to contemplate the multiple disasters of the day。
SUNRISE CLIFF SEAHOLD…TIMED BACK
The three dragons arrived at Sunrise Cliff Seahold circumspectly； above the first rank of dunes that marked high tides。 The dunes would no doubt be wiped away； dragged back by the tsunami； F'lessan thought。 The dragons glided along the shore to where the granite escarpment had been broken during an earthquake； tumbling boulders； creating the wide shallow bay and a defile along which a stream now found its way to the sea。 Beyond the stream； the escarpment began to rise again； ending in another height on the eastern arm。 Along the white sand beach； they could see small fishing craft pulled up。 Don't let them talk you into rescuing their boats； T'gellan had said； but maybe they could somehow sling。。。
Not before people； Golanth told him sternly。 People we save today。
It looked like the entire population of the Seahold was out； standing on the dunes； gazing northward。 White sands sloped down to the little waves lapping serenely up the wide beach with a picturesqueness that would shortly be devastated。 They had barely two hours to evacuate。 F'lessan sensed that was not going to be easy。 Who would believe his tale of catastrophe in the making？ Everyone was so intent on the fiery ball inclining now toward its impact。 The air was so crystalline clear！
There were twelve holds leaning up against the orange cliffs where the granite began to rise from the sands。 These seaholders had done well in the fifteen or so Turns since they'd settled here； F'lessan thought。 They wouldn't abandon their prosperity so easily。 Babes were being held up to see the fireball； and a scatter of children； in various states of dress； had followed their parents to behold the wonder！ Near to a hundred people in all； F'lessan estimated quickly。 Some of the older folk would have a hard time scrambling up the switchback way to the safety of the cliff height。
Dolphins！ Golanth said。 Startled； F'lessan switched his gaze to the sea。 Scarcely fifty meters offshore； where the shallows sloped into deeper； bluer water； the curving bodies of eight or ten dolphins dove in and out： but not idly。 He could hear their high…pitched screeing。 He was accustomed enough to their graceful movements to realize that their antics today were frantic。 Three rose； tail…walking； then splashed heavily back into the water； their dorsal fins cutting the waves they made。 Their squeeing was shrill though he couldn't hear what they might be saying。
So they know！ Relief diminished at least that worry from F'lessan's mind。 Natua and her calf； all the Monaco Bay pod； would be somewhere safe。 I can't hear them but it's obvious this pod is trying to warn the seaholders！
If they are； no one's watching them； Golanth said； gliding in to a landing。 We will be more noticeable。
〃Look！〃 One of the youngsters had noticed the dolphins。 〃Da； da； the dolphins！ They're squeaking their warning calls。 But there's no storm！ What's wrong with them？〃 So the boy was the first to see the dragons out of the corner of his eye； heard the grunts as dragon feet made contact and skidded in the soft sand； backwinging adroitly to a halt。
〃They are warning you；〃 F'lessan shouted； hands cupped about his mouth。 〃That fireball in the sky。 It will land in the sea and cause tidal waves。 Worse than the worst storm you ve ever been in。〃
〃We can hear you； dragonrider；〃 said one of the men； turning slightly toward F'lessan without taking his eyes off the fascinating orange ball that was far more of a spectacle than three dragons。
〃They've gone！〃 cried the youngster with keen disappointment。 He whirled at the dragonriders as if their appearance had frightened the dolphins。
F'lessan was intensely relieved that not a single dorsal fin remained visible。 They might be cutting it fine to reach safe dep