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Pinch widened his eyes； moved one pile of papers to hitch his hip up onto the desk。 〃For now！ How about those sketches I sent you？ Any of that trio known？〃
〃Woman's from Tillek； rather a sour contentious sort； apprenticed to local healer hall but released prior to her third term as unsuitable to the Craft。 Petitioned Lord Ranrel to be given her father's hold in preference to the younger brother who had been named by their father； evidently with a specific instruction that she was not to be considered。 She and the brother had a huge dispute and she left。 Hasn't been seen since Tillek's autumn Gather last Turn。〃
〃So she's holdless？〃
Sebell shrugged； searching briefly in the wide drawer under his desk and finding the three sketches。 〃One of the Traders through here…a Lilcamp…recognized this fellow。〃 He tapped the one with the missing index finger。 〃Travels a lot。 Does his share when asked； can put his hand to a lot of jobs； has a habit of asking questions。 Funny sort of voice； too。〃 He paused。 〃Young Sev mentioned the questions were…how do I put it…provocative。〃
〃Provocative？ And he asked Traders？〃 Pinch was mildly surprised by such gall。
〃They see a lot of people and are smart enough to know what's going on where and how folks are reacting。 Better than Runners who can't stay long anywhere。〃
〃They're helping though；〃 Pinch said。 〃Chesmic up at Circle Hold says he's had strangers in； sending messages； and others leaving them at a Runner Halt； a half mark left to pay carriage。〃
Sebell raised his eyebrows。 〃Overpaying？ Bribing？〃
〃Not when Chesmic tells me。〃
〃Does he know you're Harper？〃
〃Doesn't ask。〃 Pinch's eyes danced with amusement。 〃By the bye；〃 he added； his grin turning malicious； 〃did you know that the window glass that broke during the shock wave was all made by Master Norist？ None of Master Morilton's shattered！ Another point for our new technology。〃 Then he cocked his head。 〃Do we know； officially or unofficially； if the…ah…exiles survived the Flood？〃
Sebell pursed his lips and regarded his panion。 〃Has there been a question about that？〃
〃Not in so many words but it might be handy to know。〃
〃And you're curious？〃
〃Part of it。〃 Pinch's shrug was nonmittal。
〃As I understand it； one of the natural attributes of a proper exile is that no one； searching in a ship for dissidents； would find a beach to land on。 Many of such islands are sheer…faced cliffs。 The relevant ones were drenched but not drowned。 What's the other part of it？〃
〃A snippet of conversation I overheard…misinformation； actually…that I'd like to honestly…〃 He put his hand over his heart。 〃…genuinely； sincerely； trustworthily repudiate。 As I was saying； I suspect our plotters； and perhaps the ingenious scum who assembled the pamphlets； that so distressed Master Crivellan； lurk in the foothills of Keroon where dwell many with insufficient teachering to argue； and no interest in what happens to the rest of the planet。 Did you identify that third chap？〃
〃He looks slightly familiar but I can't place him。〃
〃Nor can I。 He resembles half a dozen men I know； same age； same height； same general features； but he seems to have no morals or ethics。 He does have some responsibilities that he has to attend to from time to time or a person he makes reports to。 He may be a younger Holder son； not likely to succeed； he holds his nose a lot。 You've seen the type； though he adapts to his surroundings better than Third and Fifth do。〃
〃Third and Fifth？〃
Pinch made a face。 〃They go by the numbers。 The one woman's referred to as Fourth。 I think the original second is dead。 I got the distinct impression that they're glad he is since he objected to some of their plans。 Third's the big one； Fourth the female。 Seven in all or at least seven who e to the hill retreat from time to time。 I'd suspected Sixth was from Tillek； with that flat nasal twang。 Third's traveled…as we know…and Fourth's been in so many places I can't tell where she came from。 Definitely Third is in it for money and sport。 I think Third is genuinely concerned about too much technology。 Fourth uses Tradition as a reason to exist。 Her thinking's skewed。 She wants to lead and she hasn't got the personality for it。 She's too concerned about doing things the old way； the right way； the way she was taught that ought to be the way everyone does it。〃 Pinch paused。 〃Too hidebound to know the color of her pelt。〃
〃Are they planning something？〃 Sebell asked。
〃They act like it； all this leaving of messages at Runner Halts so the sender can't be identified。〃
〃How do they collect messages； then？〃
〃I suspect one of their docile hill folk do。 I asked at Wide Bay…Stationmaster Arminet knows me…and he remarked； casual like； that a lot of hill folk were getting messages。〃
Sebell rubbed his chin thoughtfully。 〃They must know that now most healer halls lock away their stores…and use Master Morilton's glass。〃 He gave Pinch a telling look。 〃The Glass Halls have shifted healer hall work to more secure places； the SmithCraftHalls have started using digital lock systems。。。〃
〃And Aivas scores another posthumous victory over vandalism；〃 Pinch said with customary impertinence； raising his hand in triumphant gesture。 〃Never know what we'll need next because of them。〃
〃Benelek's delighted。 The units are easy to build and attach to alarms。 I've sent some handy apprentices down for a few weeks' training with him。〃
〃You're not worried about them breaking in here； are you？〃 Pinch was genuinely alarmed。
Sebell laughed； lightening his generally serious manner。 〃Not with the Fort Hold watch dragon！〃
〃Who didn't hear the vandals in the Healer Hall。。。〃
〃Because they entered quietly and wearing healer green。 Then there're all the fire…lizards that live here…not just Menolly's。〃 Sebell pointed a finger at the roving Harper。 〃You hear anything of their plans； even a whisper。。。〃
〃My hearing's excellent and Bista's is better。〃
〃Send word。〃 Sebell frowned a little； thinking。 〃Odd； isn't it； that those who dislike the advantages Aivas gave us should force us to use his technology to thwart them！〃
〃Ironic； too。〃 Pinch rose from his perch on the desk corner。 〃I've read enough in Aivas's historical files to feel that Pern will never be in danger of being over…technical。 Takes too long to develop the skills needed； except in special instances like the digital locks； and we certainly don't have the production systems the Ancients had。 As a population； we have been conditioned to this slower； more methodical rhythm of living and only a very small portion will ever feel the urge to aspire to Aivasian heights。〃
〃A Pinch of philosophy； too； huh？〃 Sebell said； grinning。 〃I wonder would such reassurance suffice to content the dissenters。〃
〃We all have a choice；〃 Pinch said and rubbed his hands together with an air of anticipation。 〃What petitions d'you want me to go over？ I'm here overnight at least。〃
Just as Sebell was deciding which pile； the latch of the Master's office door was being pulled down。 Both men heard a child's delighted laughter and then the door was pushed inward。
〃Da； I learnt