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〃That's what we must discover；〃 Pinch said； stepping forward and nodding courteously to the Lord Holder and the Weyrleader。 〃I may have acted hastily but I did hear that the Printer Hall might be vulnerable。 So； since it is such a valuable asset to Pern； north and south； I thought to prevent any untoward impairment of its facilities。 Had a…beauty…of a message yesterday。〃
Tagetarl saw Jaxom and N'ton exchange glances but； Harper though he was； he could not read more than an odd regret on N'ton's face and a sadness in Jaxom's。
〃There's no question harm was meant？〃 N'ton asked Pinch who shook his head。
〃Three sent in over the roofs；〃 and Pinch pointed； raising his voice to make himself heard over the tumult in the court； 〃to open the main gate； torches set to fire the paper stores； hauling the Printer Hall doors off their hinges。〃
〃But the gates weren't opened；〃 N'ton said。
〃Not for lack of trying；〃 Pinch said。
〃One broke the glass and the door to the hold and Rosheen flattened him with her iron skillet；〃 Tagetarl said。 His arm still felt the repercussion。
〃And there's the matter of the drugged wine； too；〃 Pinch added。
〃Drugged wine？〃 Jaxom repeated。
〃So you netted those entering the Hall？〃 N'ton asked。
〃Only after they'd battered down the doors；〃 Pinch replied； eyes wide with injured innocence。
〃Hey； the fire…lizards are having all the fun！〃 someone shouted from the crowd ranged about the entrance of the Print Hall。
Since it was obvious that the fire…lizards were also preventing the crowd getting near enough to have a go at the captives； Jaxom turned to Ruth； patting the white shoulder。 〃Do dismiss them； Ruth； with our thanks。 They've performed admirably。〃
Ruth raised his head and emitted an unusual warble。 Not only did it mute the noise of the crowd but also the fire…lizards departed in one final dramatic swoop； low enough to make the tallest onlookers duck。 Gesturing to his friends to acpany him； Jaxom strode forward and the crowd parted to allow them to reach the battered doors on the cobbles； conversations dying down now that someone was taking charge。
〃Lower the net！〃 Jaxom ordered and four of Pinch's assistants jumped to obey。
〃Belay that！〃 cried a voice from the right…hand side of the crowd and a big man； capped as a fisherman and showing a Master's knot； stood apart。 〃If you leave 'em in the net； Lord Jaxom； we can just sling the whole lot of 'em aft of my ship and I'll tow 'em out to the deep water！ Save a lot of trouble！〃
The crowd roared its approval of such rough justice。
〃Ah； but； Captain； I am here；〃 Jaxom said and his expression was one of rueful regret； 〃and so is Weyrleader N'ton and the MasterPrinter。 So we are obliged to follow established procedures。〃
〃Which are？〃 the captain demanded； not pleased with the rejection。
〃According to the Charter；〃 and Jaxom swung slowly around to the audience； his eyes seeming to touch everyone in the front ranks； 〃by which we have been well governed for the past twenty…five hundred Turns； a Lord Holder； a Weyrleader； and a Master of any Craft may hold a trial。〃
〃Hold it then！〃 roared the captain and the crowd roared back an affirmative。
〃You can't do that！〃 one of the captives shouted； struggling in the net。 〃We've done nothing wrong。〃
A lump hammer dropped free of the mesh and then Tagetarl saw that it was not the only tool that had tumbled to the ground。
The captain threw back his head to roar with laughter。 〃Only because you didn't get the chance！〃
The crowd howled with delight。
〃Would you prefer the captain's justice？〃 Jaxom demanded。
〃That isn't justice！〃 cried a woman's voice。 〃Stop grabbing me！〃 she added angrily to someone beside her in the net。 〃You've no right to do this to us。〃
Another heavy object dropped ringingly to the cobbles。
〃Oh； clear all that hardware away； Pinch； and drop the net；〃 Jaxom said； utterly disgusted with his attempt to make this an orderly procedure。 〃Let's see what sort of catch you've made。 Black…faced iron fins？ Did you get the whole school of 'em？ D'you know the captain； Tag？〃 he asked in a quick aside。
〃Captain Venabil；〃 Tagetarl replied。 〃He's well known but no one would dare board his ship without permission。〃
The net came down hard enough to rattle everyone in it； provoking a new spate of cries； curses； and pained exclamations。 The captives were then as unceremoniously dumped out of the thick mesh as a load of fish： some sprawled facedown； others on all fours； groggy after their time in the swaying net。
〃All right there。〃 It was Pinch who took charge。 〃Stand up！ Make a line！〃 Roughly； he pulled one man up and signaled for his assistants to get the rest to their feet。 〃Search 'em； too。〃
While that was being done； and knives； chisels； matches； and long spikes were added to the pile； he walked up and down the uneven line that was finally formed by the captives。
〃Nothing else on them？〃 N'ton asked； remembering Fort Hold and the conspicuous absence of any personal identification。
〃Clothes？〃 someone from the crowd suggested； laughing raucously。
〃A bit worn； some of 'em；〃 another man replied derisively。
〃What a sorry bunch！〃 Captain Venabil said； fists thrust against his hips； shaking his head。 〃It's plain as the nose on my face this lot were up to no good sneaking into the Print Hall； faces blackened and all。 Not to mention pulling the doors down and heaving torches about。 Wide Bay's not a wild hold and we don't want such louts hanging about。 What's this established procedure of yours； Lord Jaxom？ I'd like to get back to my ship before dawn。〃
Jaxom accorded him a little bow。
〃Shouldn't we send for Lord Kashman？〃 someone shouted from the crowd。 〃He's our Holder and he's supposed to deal with peace…breakers； thieves； burglars； and such。〃
〃For general Hold matters；〃 Pinch said quickly。 〃This is a Harper Hall matter。 However； if any of you。。。〃 and he addressed the captives； 〃is from this Hold you may step forward and I'm sure Lord Kashman will keep you fortably enough。〃
He was interrupted by a derisive snort and the ment from the crowd that the net was more fortable than where offenders of the peace were held at Keroon Hold。
〃As I was saying；〃 Pinch continued with a faint grin； 〃if you are of this hold； you can be transferred to the Hold to await Lord Kashman's judgment。〃
None of the captives claimed that right。
〃Name； hold； hall； and rank； if any；〃 N'ton said； stepping with authority beside Pinch。
There was no response and N'ton shrugged。
〃Then； since they have been caught in an illegal entry and in the willful destruction of an authorized CraftHall； Master Tagetarl； Master Mekelroy； how will you deal with them？〃
Surprised by the anger and the sense of violation that suddenly fueled him； Tagetarl surged to Pinch's side； glaring at the captives。 The false wineman he had already recognized by the ripped trousers…which hadn't fit properly even before he'd been bounced about in a net…but he could not find Scar…face or the woman sketched by Pinch after his first foray to the suspected Abominators' hill camp。 Their absence fro