Part 13 (2/2)
Thankfully, Aivas is explaining more and more.” Then he sighed, his expression thoughtful. He shook off whatever reflection troubled him and spoke more briskly. ”And you'll be able to communicate with the dolphins? If any come in response.
”My brother a.s.sures me that they a.s.sured him that all dolphins have maintained their traditions. And we know that there are dolphins in these waters. So we shall ring the peal and see what happens.
”I do so hope they come,' Oldive said, sighing heavily. ”If they can, as Weyr Healer Persellan said, pinpoint irregularities in a human body with this sonar ability of theirs, I might just be able to treat three puzzling cases that have worried me excessively.”
Menolly lowered her voice so it would not carry to the journeymen riding behind them. ”You're having trouble convincing your Craft of the ”surgical” treatments the old records recommend.”
”Indeed!” Oldive's comment was heartfelt. ”The caesarean to release a womb-held baby is permitted, and the one to remove the pend.i.c.ks, but neither are the lengthy repairs and deep delving that Aivas reports were last measures even then. But we don't have the medicines that the Ancients did that would dissolve or shrink other conditions to which occasionally people are subject.”
They had reached the pier and were welcomed by the Master Fishman who delegated men to take the runnerbeasts from their riders. Menolly noticed that all five vessels of the Fort fis.h.i.+ng fleet were in port. She grimaced. She hadn't antic.i.p.ated an audience but they had had to inform Samvel of their intentions for the day's excursion.
Master ldarolan had, of course, informed him of dolphin intelligence. Sebell, also spreading such news, had met with considerable skepticism, especially from those inland who had never seen dolphins escorting s.h.i.+ps. -A long cold ride, you will need at least a cup of klah before you ring any bells,' Curran said jovially, gesturing them to enter his hold, situated on the height above the sea. There was another smaller cot built on the T-bar of the pier itself for the harbormaster.
Menolly, always conscious of being away from her children, would have preferred not to dally but courtesy required the grateful acceptance of hospitality. And hot klah would be welcome. She was somewhat stiff after the long ride, having had little occasion to exercise of late. She almost resented the ease with which Sebell, who was constantly riding both runners and dragons, dismounted.
More than klah was offered which was very nice of Curran and his wife, Robina, and actually very welcome: small fish rolls that were delectably spiced, the cold roe of fish spread on tiny bread rounds, the hot spiced klah and a cup of a chowder that was also highly seasoned. But then Robina was from a southern Fishhold and liked such blood-warming preparations. The journeymen, as hungry as any ever born, tucked into the food with a good will. Even Master Oldive made a good meal.
Finally, they were able to go to the long pier, with a throng of interested fishers and cotholders. Menolly should have known that this would become an occasion, especially after a long and sequestering winter. Everyone took what excuses for diversion they could find. This would certainly be a more interesting one. No sooner had she stepped out of the hold than Beauty, Diver and Rocky launched themselves from the roof, Beauty settling to her shoulder while Diver and Rocky swanned about in the air above. Other fire-lizards joined them, uttering glad cries, though Menolly knew they could hardly appreciate the reason for the day's activities.
The dolphins' bell had been given a new housing, the wood preservative still rank enough to catch you in the back of the throat despite the light breeze. The bell itself had been s.h.i.+ned to a high polish.
”We added a new clapper,' Curran said proudly. ”Made Master Fandarel hold up some other work to get it done in time.”
”I could wish to know how you did that, Master Curran, Oldive said with a wry smile.
”How long has the bell been without a clapper then?” Sebell asked in his quiet way of extracting information.
”Oh,' and Curran threw up arms thick from years of hauling nets and sails, ”it had none when I became Master here.”
”Did your master not notice?” Sebell asked, his eyes twinkling.
”I suppose he did but he must have taken it on in that condition.” Curran looked a trifle embarra.s.sed.
”The Monaco Bell had no clapper either,' Sebell said to pacify the man but Menolly noticed her mate did not mention that the Monaco Bell had been at the bottom of the sea for centuries.
”But it has one now and can be put to its original use again. Will you do the honors, Menolly?”
”Delighted,' she said and seized the rope by the end. ”I think, Curran, the purpose of the Dolphins' Bell is for them to be able to ring it, too, to summon men to hear their reports. ”I didn't know that,' Curran said, surprised. ”But what would I do if they should ring it?”
Menolly smiled rea.s.suringly at him. ”Ask why they rang it, of course. This is to let them know the Bell's back in service.” She gave the pull a hefty yank, and then settled into the ”report' sequence that Alemi had taught her. She sincerely hoped it would be effective or Curran would think he had wasted time, effort and badgered the Master Smith for no purpose.
So, pretending that the sequence was longer than it actually was, she pealed off the ”report' a second time. ”Alemi's had very good fis.h.i.+ng since he's listened to the dolphin reports.
He's also been able to avoid some of those appalling squalls the southern waters sp.a.w.n.
”Look!” cried one of the fishmen who had followed them to the pier. On her shoulder, Beauty let out a piercing cry. Rocky and Diver swooped off to investigate.
Distance viewers appeared from pockets to aid the naked eyes.
”Fins!” cried Curran's first mate. ”Half a dozen . . . no, more than that. Coming from all directions. Heading here!'
Curran reached for the distance view from his mate and peered out to sea. Beauty spread her wings, tangling them in Menolly's winter cap so that Menolly had to grab it before it fell into the sea.
”Easy there, now, Beauty. You've seen dolphins before.
Beauty chittered something but obediently folded her wings and blinked bright blue eyes.
”Quite a display they're making,' Curran remarked and politely pa.s.sed the viewer to Menolly. She grinned and gestured for him to give it to Sebell who had not yet had a chance to see a dolphin pod arriving in answer to the age-old summons.
How had the creatures remembered for such a long time!
Maybe there were dolphin equivalents to harpers? The pod leaders?
Sebell sucked in his breath as he watched. ”They are moving at an incredible rate and doing all those leaps and ah one just somersaulted midair.”
”I'd say they were delighted to hear the bell rung again, Menolly said with a nostalgic little smile and a catch in her chest. To be ignored, to have one's abilities neglected must have been hard and yet the dolphins had continued to do what they could to aid humans all these long centuries. She must write a special song for them. A very special song of loyalty and joy.
The squeeing was soon audible to the watchers on the dock.
”How can they speak?” Curran asked.
”They do,' Menolly said, ”if you listen.” She glanced up at Sebell, standing straight and tall beside her and grinned impishly. ”Despite all we harpers did, the language s.h.i.+fted but the dolphins are adapting to the new words.”
Sebell gave her a jaundiced stare for that familiar tease and she chuckled at harper discomfiture over the ”purity of speech' which the Craft had tried so hard to preserve.
”But I thought ”Curran began and then stopped, clearing his throat.
The vanguard were now closing the gap and the watchers were unable to count the number of dolphin bodies in their leaping and plunging.
”Where's the boat, do we need to be close to them?” Menolly asked and Curran pointed to a ladder at the side and, peering over the edge, Menolly saw the long boat bobbing at its painter.
Curran led the way and carefully guided her feet to the rungs and safely into the tossing boat. It was one of the off-sh.o.r.e fishers and accommodated a fair number of folk: an orderly descent was made by those whom Curran had apparently ticked off as audience to this momentous occasion.
They were barely settled when the first dolphin raised its head above the waters.
”Bellill ring. Oo-ee come! Bellill not ring long long.” The creature squeeed, and was joined by other importunate heads, all of them jostling for a view of those in the boat.
”Your name? I'm Nolly,' she said, leaning over the side of the boat and extending a hand to scratch a bottlenose chin.
Almost ecstatically the dolphin allowed the caress, the jaw dropped into the water in its excess of delight.
”Inka! Inka! Pod-leader. Inka!'
”By the first Egg,' Curran cried and there was excited muttering from the other fishmen.
”Here is Curran,' Menolly said. ”Fish Master.
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