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t the same time； be careful not to break off her largest offspring at the end of the reproductive line； lest she retaliate with some of the stink…spray to defend her offspring。
〃No； no！ Wait。〃
〃They're heading right for her。 I don't know about Zaranth but Golanth hates 'em crawling on him。 If he wakes； he'll squash them。〃 F'lessan did not add that Golanth was showing more and more of a proprietary interest in the green's well…being； one of the subtler reasons why he was glad Tai preferred to work away from projects with other dragonriders。 He wasn't ready for others to notice the growing relationship between Golanth and Zaranth。
〃Watch；〃 she said； her eyes sparkling green as she rose from her knees。
F'lessan dropped to the ground； narrowing his eyes in the bright sun to check the angle of the trundlebug approach。
Tai held up her hand； grinning。 〃Just a moment！〃
〃They're heading right for her nose。 Doesn't she sense them？ Golanth usually does。〃
〃Wait！〃 Putting up her hand to stay his attack； Tai grinned widely； her look almost mischievous。
The trundlebug parade marched relentlessly in its unswerving path； oblivious to what was in its way。 Zaranth's nose twitched but she didn't open so much as a slit of one eye。 The parade was abruptly at right angles to its original path； heading back into the scrubland。
〃There！〃 Tai beamed at her dragon。
〃She blew them away？〃 F'lessan exclaimed。
〃No。 She didn't。 They can only get so close to her and they go off in another direction； any direction so long as it is away from her。〃
She reclaimed her spade from him and began to dig another hole。 〃There're two spades； you know。〃
〃Yes； yes； of course； my dear green；〃 he said； making a play of diligence； going for the second one。 Anything to keep her from noticing the brilliant green of the sleeping Zaranth； lounging so gracefully in the sun by the sleeping bronze。 How long would Golanth continue to fake sleep？ F'lessan wondered。
〃Tai； a question；〃 he began； digging busily。 〃I was watching and Zaranth didn't move。 She only twitched her nose。 How could she make a trundlebug detour doing that？〃
Tai dabbed at a drop of sweat rolling down her nose and； picking up the next to last plant； removed the wrapping and dropped it in place。
〃I don't know。 But； if they get close to her； they are suddenly perpendicular to the original line of progress。 You know trundlebugs： they never deviate from their chosen path。〃
〃Amazing！〃 He blotted the sweat from his face； then unwrapped the last plant； placed it firmly in the ground； and tamped dirt around it。 〃That's that。 We're supposed to water them now； aren't we？〃
Probably the first thing Benini had done after the flooding receded was to sink a new well and provide a long watering trough from which they could easily fill buckets for that last garden chore。
〃Didn't Benini say they'd rigged a shower over by the beasthold？〃 he asked； when they had finished。
〃Yes； with a big enough cistern above to wash all of them；〃 she said； looking eagerly around to point to the freshly painted enclosure。 〃Or so his spouse said。 We'll get clean much quicker showering than having to wash in a bucket；〃 she added； dropping hers on the shadowed side of the well。
〃Leave enough warm water for me；〃 he said； waving her to go first。 〃I'll return the tools。〃 He gathered them up and started for the shed； calling after her。 〃I plan to hunt Golanth this afternoon at Honshu。 How's Zaranth's appetite？〃 Well； he thought privately； 〃appetite〃 was one word for it。
Tai cast a look over her shoulder at her sleeping dragon。 〃She isn't the least bit off…color。〃
F'lessan blinked and then； with an engaging grin that Mirrim would have identified as 〃devious；〃 added； 〃We could hunt felines。 Saw some a little closer than they should be to the Honshu herds。 Get us some good pelts。〃
Since the Flood； most green riders had been giving all their customary courier services free of charge。 But there'd be a Gather in Telgar in two sevendays； when the Council met； and that was time enough to cure hides for sale and give her book…money。
〃Fine by me！〃 Tai called back。 He caught just a glimpse of her back and long tanned legs as she entered the shower enclosure。
He gathered their riding gear and packs and walked slowly up to the shower； giving her time for a good wash and rinse。
〃Hey； leave me some；〃 he said； speaking above the sound of vigorous splashings。 He slipped off his muddy sandals。 Well； cleaning them could wait till he got back to Honshu； but he smacked them against the side of the wall to remove as much mud as he could。
〃You'll find it warm enough；〃 she assured him。 〃Can you hand me my towel？〃
He opened her pack and dragged it； and her fresh clothes； out。
〃Where is it？〃 she asked。
He saw her bare arm extending from the shower wall and accurately lobbed the towel to her searching fingers。 There were shiny new hooks screwed to the wall and he hung her fresh clothes on one； his own on another。 Riders were not as bothered by nudity as holders or crafthall folk so he stripped down； glad to be out of the sweaty； dirty shorts。 As she emerged； toweling her body dry； she gave him a fleeting glimpse。 He stepped courteously past her； into the shower； and looked around for sweetsand。
When he had had a good scrub； especially his feet； he rinsed off well and； vigorously drying himself； sauntered across the changing area to his clean clothes。 Dressed in her leathers； with her jacket still open； she leaned against the wall； in what shade there was； looking out at the scene of their morning's hard work； feeling pleased。
Summoning their dragons； they took off before heat brought fresh sweat。
As they came out of between above Honshu； F'lessan first noted that there were no dragons lounging on the summit or the main terrace。
Will you hunt today； Golanth？
I will hunt well today； Golanth replied； watching Zaranth as she glided past him to land on Honshu's main terrace。
Startled by the odd note in his dragon's tone； for a moment F'lessan worried that he hadn't been as sensitive to Golanth's needs as he should be。 When was the last time he'd hunted Golanth？
I will hunt very well today！
The bronze was ing in slowly…almost stealthily…to land so that Zaranth was directly in front of them； her rider stripping the safety harness； which was never used when dragons went after a meal。 F'lessan could not miss Zaranth's condition。 She was gleaming with more than health。 Why hadn't Tai noticed that the green was ing into heat？ He tried to think which dragons had been at Honshu early this morning。 Most had gone well before dawn； as they had； to begin whatever work was slated for that day in the reconstruction of Monaco's Weyr building。 In a traditional Weyr； with dragons basking on their ledges； her readiness would have been noticed long before the green herself might be aware of her form。 Honshu had been guesting dragons since the Flood。 True； both riders and dragons arrived tired： riders eating quickly and seeking their beds； dragons finding a spot on sun…warmed terraces and rousing only when their riders call