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the suspected Abominators' hill camp。 Their absence from this line added worry to Tagetarl's very mixed emotions。
〃Why did you wish to damage this Hall？〃 he demanded in a harsh voice； his fury palpable enough to make those captives nearest him recoil uncertainly。 〃WHY？〃 He jammed his fists against his side to rein in the urge to tear the truth out of those who would have destroyed what he had so painstakingly built。 He took one more step。
〃Lies！〃 Hands defensively raised； the man directly in front of him ducked back。 〃We have to destroy the lies！〃
〃What lies？〃 Tagetarl demanded； having expected no answer； certainly not this one。
〃The lies Harpers are printing。 Spreading all over Pern！〃 the man cried； gesturing wildly toward the Hall； to the wall where finished books were shelved。
〃What's this about lies？〃 demanded Captain Venabil； turning to Tagetarl for an answer。
〃I don't print lies！〃 Tagetarl cried； loudly。
〃But you print books。 You use the Abomination's vile methods。 You distribute abominations！〃
Captain Venabil； big fist raised； leaped toward the speaker who cowered away。
〃Ha！ Abomination； huh？ These're Abominators！〃 He turned； eyes flaring with disgust； toward the crowd。 〃Nothing but a pack of cowardly Abominators； sneaking around in the night to destroy what they haven't the wit to appreciate。〃
〃We must stop the lies。 We must keep Pern pure！〃 cried a woman farther down the line of captives。 〃We have to keep Pern free of abominations。〃
〃Of all the daft ideas！〃 Captain Venabil's contempt was echoed vociferously by many of the onlookers。 〃Pern needs all the help it can get right now！〃
〃Where would we've been if Aivas hadn't warned us of the Fireball Flood？〃 a man in the crowd demanded loud enough to be heard； waving his fist at the captives。 〃Captain's got the right idea。 Drown 'em！〃
Shouts of 〃drown 'em〃 quickly became a chant； rising in ominous volume！
〃Back in the net with them！ Take the school back to the sea。〃
〃That'd pollute our harbor！〃
Ruth bugled loud enough to deafen those in the court。 Outside； Lioth answered him and a muttering silence returned to those in the Hall court。
〃You are Abominators？〃 Jaxom said in an oddly controlled voice。 His eyes were on one of the taller captives who stared unseeingly ahead of him。
〃We are！〃 the woman cried defiantly； just as the wineman shouted； 〃We admit nothing！〃
〃I think in this case；〃 Captain Venabil said in a wry tone that carried to the edges of the crowd； 〃I'll believe the female。〃
〃They're all together； ain't they？〃 asked the fist…waver。 〃All pulling the doors down； trying to fire the sheds。〃
〃Yes； firing the sheds。〃 A thin； stoop…shouldered man pushed through the crowd； waving wildly at the sheds and the back of the court。 〃You could've burned my hold； too！ I'm Colmin； Journeyman weaver； and all my winter work's in the loft back there。 I use only traditional patterns and you could have ruined me！ Ruined me！〃
〃We don't like arsonists in Wide Bay neither；〃 a woman shouted； cupping her hands to her mouth to be sure she was heard。 〃It's your say； Harpers！ It's your Hall they attacked。〃
〃Known Abominators require different handling；〃 Pinch cried and turned to face Jaxom and N'ton。 〃Or at least being isolated；〃 he added in a low voice。
〃Well； I'm glad to hear that；〃 Captain Venabil said and then frowned。 〃What d'you mean； Harper Mekelroy？〃
The onlookers hushed to listen for Pinch's answer。
〃In offenses caused by those admitting to be Abominators； the Council remends exile！〃
It took another blast from Ruth and Lioth to still the clamor that was raised at that announcement。
〃You can't exile us；〃 the wineman cried； stepping out of line and trying to seize Pinch。 He was instantly pinned by two of Pinch's assistants who； judging by the roughness with which they held him； had been just waiting for an opportunity。
〃Why not？〃 Jaxom asked。
〃All the islands were drowned。〃
〃Oh；〃 N'ton said in a quiet voice； 〃I think we can find a suitable one。〃
〃We can't be exiled！〃 〃We're saving Pern！〃 〃That's unfair。〃
The captives broke from their sullen stance； dashing frantically about the court； looking for some way to escape or force their way past those blocking the gateway。 The crowd was only too happy to recapture them。 There were calls for rope to tie them； cloth to gag the screamers。
〃So where're all these established procedures of yours； Lord Jaxom？〃 Captain Venabil demanded； heaving from his exertions。
〃A Lord Holder； a Weyrleader； and a MasterCraftsman may enforce any Council decree；〃 Jaxom said。 〃It is in the Charter； if anyone cares to check。 We must do so before sufficient witnesses。〃
〃WE WITNESS。〃 〃WITNESSED！〃 〃WE WERE HERE！〃 〃DROWNING'S EASIER。 QUICKER！〃 〃EXILE 'EM！〃 〃AWAY WITH THEM！〃
Raising his arms； Jaxom faced the crowd。 〃Those of you who do not care to be witnesses to the judgment of this incident may step back without prejudice。〃
Later Tagetarl was to remember that no one stepped away。
〃Then the decree of the Council will be enforced。 Weyrleader N'ton； you may send for assistance；〃 the Lord Holder of Ruatha said formally。
〃D'you just drop 'em off？〃 Captain Venabil asked； his expression severe as if stunned by the sentence of exile。
〃They are not dropped；〃 N'ton said； stressing the last word； his eyes hinting an inner conflict kept under stern control。 〃Sufficient food； supplies…〃 he paused briefly； 〃and water are provided to give them time to bee established。〃
〃But…but…〃
N'ton stared Venabil quiet。 〃I；〃 and he jerked a thumb at his chest； 〃am the only one who will know which island。 And there are still many； many islands in both the Eastern and the Ring seas that can isolate those who can be so destructive。〃
〃Better than they deserve； Weyrleader。 Better than they deserve！〃 Captain Venabil stepped back； giving all three men a respectful bow。 Decisions involving the lives of others were never easy to make。
The crowd had quieted down from its previous high pitch though some low conversations were begun。 Pinch sent two of his men to bring the unconscious man from the cellar； tying his hands behind his back before he was set with the other Abominators； placed in a rough line on the broken Hall doors。
Seeing Rosheen shivering； Tagetarl put an arm around her shoulders and drew her close to him。
〃It is legal； you know；〃 he whispered to her。
〃I know。 I've read the Charter。 I just never thought we'd have to invoke it。〃
〃It's perhaps as well to isolate them；〃 Tagetarl murmured to her。 Angry as he was； and he had been ready to batter the men； he was not a violent man。 〃They could escape from the mines and e back and try again。 I think that I want to know they can't get to us…even if； at a later date； we decide to retrieve them。〃
She clung to him； shaking her head。 He didn't tell her that two important members of the Abominator group Pinch had been watching out for were not in those captured tonight： Scar…face and the awkward…looking holdless woman from Tillek。 That meant that not all those who held Aivas an Abomination had been removed from hall an