Anne McCaffrey - The Dolphins of Pern (Dragonriders of Pern)

The Dolphins of Pern

by Anne McCaffrey

Acknowledgements

Again I wish to acknowledge the help of Dr Jack Cohen in keeping me on the straight and not so narrow path of Newtonian physics and common Terran biology, plus inventing whatever Pernese biology has been required.

I Would also like to thank Rick Hobson of the Whale Conservation Institute in Lincoln, Mass., for his review of the material dealing With dolphins and delphinic behaviour.

It Was through Rick Hobson that my daughter and I met and swam with Aphrodite and her son, AJ, at the Dolphin Research Center at Grassy Key, Florida. It was an experience that I shall treasure, as I will the visit we made, to sit on the float and watch Dart, Little Bit, and other dolphins playing in Sunset waters and talking to us.

Those who have had the privilege of Swimming at Dolphin Research Center will recognize many of the names I have used.

Well, why not? I met and valued their acknowledgement of me, a human.

They meet many of us, and forget. But I do not forget them!

Oceanography Information by P. Burr Loomis Ocean Current Maps by

Marilyn Aim

DOLL FIN PEOPLE

Adrea, rider of Queen Beljeth at Southern Weyr

Aleki, Alemis son

Alemi, Master Fish man

Ademon, Master Farmer

Anskono, Readis baby brother

Aramina, Readis mother, the girl who Could hear dragons

Aranya, Readis sister

Armald, Ii holder at Paradise River

Asgenar, Lord Holder of Lemos

Bargen, Lord Holder of High Reaches

Bendarek, Master Woodsman (paper maker)

Begamon, Lord Holder of Nerat

Benelek, Master of Computer Hall, a son of Groghe

Boskoney, Harper at Paradise River

Camo, halfwit kitchen boy at Harper Hall, son of Robinton and Silvina Corman, Lord Holder of

Keroon Curran, Fort Sea Holder

Deckter, Lord Holder of Nerat, succeeding Lord Meron deceased

Denol, former South Boll Holder, renegade usurper of lerne Island

Dram, former Istan Weyrleader, retired to Cove Hold, bronze Tiroth

Durras, Weyrwoman at Eastern Weyr

Edwinrus, sculptor

Fandarel, Master Smith at Telgar Flar, Mnemenths rider, Benden Weyrleader

Flessan, Golanths rider

Fabry, Journeyman Healer

Fair Winds, two master schooner

Gdened, Weyrleader at Ista (succeeding his father, Dram)

Gnarish, Weyrleader at Igen

Groghe, Lord Holder at Fort

Hamian, Master Smith at Southern, Torics brother, plastics maker

Hmar, bronze Janeruths rider, Weyrlingmaster, Eastern Weyr

Horon, younger son of Lord Groghe of Fort

Hosbon, settler at Southern Weyr

Jancis, Master Smith, Fandarels granddaughter

Jarrol, Jaxom/Sharras eldest son

Jaxom, Ruatha Lord Holder, rider of white Ruth

Jayge, Holder, Paradise River

Kdin, brown Buleths rider (Tlions nasty older brother)

Kami, Alemis daughter

Kern, a younger son at Crom Hold

Kitrin, Alemis wife

Kvan, rider of Heat Ii, Southern Weyrleader

Larad, Lord Holder of Telgar

Laudey, Lord Holder of Igen

Lemsia, Menollys daughter

Lessa, Ramoths rider, Benden Weyrwoman

Lesselam, apprentice harper soon to walk the tables

Lur, landsman at Paradise River, fire-lizard holder

Lytol, former Lord Holder of Ruatha, retired to Cove Hold

Msur, brown rider, Eastern Weyr

Menolly, Master Harper

Mirrim, green Paths rider, Tgellans mate

Mislue, patient

Nazer, uncle

Nessel, Lord Holder of Crom

Nicat, Master Miner

Nika, Alemis daughter

Nton, Weyrleader at Fort Weyr

Oldive, Master Healer, based at Fort Harper Hall

Olos, Menollys second son

Oly, older crewman

Oterel, Lord Holder of Tillek Pardure, Parrens son, Readis classmate

Parren, Journeyman weaver at Paradise River

Petiron, deceased, harper at Half Circle Sea Hold, Menollys mentor, Robintons father

Persehar, Master Artist with Harper Hall

Persellan, Eastern Weyrs healer

Piemur, journeyman/Master Harper

Pierjan, Jancis/Piemurs son

Ramala, Torics wife

Rampesi, Master Fishman

Readis, our hero and first Dolphineer

Rmart, Weyrleader at Telgar Weyr

Robina, Currans wife

Robinton, Master Harper of Pern

Robse, Menollys oldest child

Samvel, Master Teacher at Landing

Sangel, Lord Holder of South Boll

Sehell, Master Harper of Pern, Menollys mate

Sharra, Jaxoms wife

Shawan, Sharra/Jaxoms second child

Swacky, courtesy uncle, old soldier

Tagetarl, Master Printer for Harper Hall

Talmor, Journeyman Harper assigned to aid Ben den Weyrleaders in land distribution

Thor, Weyrleader at High Reaches Weyr, once Weyrleader at Southern

Tgellan, bronze Monarths rider, Weyrleader, Eastern Weyr

Tlion, bronze Gadareths rider

Tomol, apprentice harper, soon to walk the tables

Temma, aunt Texur, Currans first mate

Thella, self-styled Lady, Holdless, enemy of Jayge and Aramina

Tikini, Tlions younger brother, favourite sibling

Toric, Lord Holder of Southern, brother to Sharra and Ha in ian

Toronas, Lord Holder of Ben den, successor to Lord Raid

Vline, dragonrider

Wansor, near-sighted Master of Smith Craft Hall, specializing in glass products

Warbret, Lord Holder of Ista

Worlain, Journeyman healer

AT EASTERN WEYR

Gar Tom Dik Boojie, who gets sewn up

Natua Tana Ala

DOLPHINS

FIRE-LIZARDS AT MONACO

Alta Dar Bitty, Kitrins

Tork, Alemis

Zair, Master Robintons

AT PARADISE RIVER HOLD

BEAST Kib, healed slash on lower jaw

Delky, Readis runner

Afo, smallest Mel Jim, most acrobatic

Mul, blotchy

Temp, fattest

Biz Rom Angie, calf daughter of Mell Cori, calf daughter of Fessi Vina, calf of

Afo Teres

AT FORT HOLD

Inka, pod leader

Flip Bit, healer, scarred jaw

Ayjay Dart Nat

AT SEA CAVES

KAHRAIN Cal, pod leader

Tursi Loki Sandi,

Tini, Rena, Leta, Josi The Tillek (aka Theresa)

AT COVE HOLD

Ron Alta (another one)

Fessi

PROLOGUE

102 Years After Landing

Kibbe gave the bell rope one last pull. He and Corey had been taking turns all morning but now the sun was descending over the high ground and still no-one answered them. Usually someone came out of Mans place on the dock: even if only one of the boat people. But the boats rocked at anchor under the high wharf and it was obvious that no-one had gone out in them, even to bring in fish, for some time.

Corey clicked at him in disgust. The others of their pod had long gone fishing on their own, too bored to see if there might just be humans to feed them when there were plenty small fish to be gleaned at this time of year from the rich northern waters.

She blew her hunger at him, so annoyed with the lack of human attention that she refused to speak.

There has been illness. Ben told us that, Kibbe reminded her.

He was not well, Corey replied, reluctantly employing Speech to impart the concept. Humans can die.

They do. It is true. For Kibbe was one of the oldest in their pod and had had two dolphineers as partners. He still fondly remembered Amy, his first one. She had been as much fish as he, even if she had to wear the long-feet and had no fins.