Calibration

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 18th December 2020
Series: The Lighthouse Keeper

Characters: Alina, Onook
Description: Alina has a request from a Starsmith
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 10
Notes: Mentioned: M'gan, J'ackt

Alina

"Rider? Can I have a moment of your time?"

Alina stopped at the doorway, turning to see one of the Weyr's Starsmiths hurrying toward her. She'd just finished delivering the latest round of reports to M'gan, who would send them on to the Starsmiths for analysis. "Yes?"

"You're currently collecting the weather reports for the far southern edge of the territory, am I correct? J'pil's old route?" the Starsmith asked. She was an older woman with close-cropped grey hair and bright blue eyes. She wore a practical set of overalls with a short sleeved pink tunic that flattered her dark skin. "Greenrider Alina?"

"That's me," Alina said. "Is there a problem, Starsmith?"

"Well... perhaps. Can you take a message to the Eastmark Lighthouse for me?" she asked. When Alina nodded, she smiled. "Thank you. Can you please tell Rehaan that something seems to be off with his instruments? He needs to do a calibration check. You can tell him that Journeywoman Onook asked."

"Of course, Journeywoman," Alina said. "Should I tell him to fix any of his instruments in particular?"

"All of them, but especially the barometer and the anemometer," the Journeywoman said. "His readings are off compared to the rest of the coast and it's throwing my calculations off."

That perked Alina's interest. "You're the one who does the math to predict the weather, then?" she asked.

Onook chuckled. "Not me alone. The calculations are very complex and it takes a team of us to do it in time for the next day's Threadfall, although with just the barometric readings and a bit of knowledge we can guess in a pinch."

Onook seemed kind, Alina decided. It made her brave. "I... if you have time, sometime, Journeywoman... I'd love to see how you do it. Calculate the weather."

The Starsmith's eyebrows shot up. "You've a head for numbers?"

Alina shrugged, suddenly shy. "A bit... I mean, the Harpers always said so when they came through our cothold, and the Weyrlingmaster said that I was better than most he taught. But I don't have any other training, if that's what you're asking. I'm just curious."

"Come by sometime and I'll show you the basics," Onook said after a moment. "It was a pleasure to meet you, greenrider."

"And you, Journeywoman," Alina said. She watched as Onook headed back the way she'd come down the corridor, then turned and resumed her walk back to her weyr. She wondered what J'ackt would say when she told him that she wanted to learn to calculate the weather as well as deliver weather reports, and if she'd be any good at it. The idea of being able to forecast the weather using math instead of just looking at the clouds in the morning was fascinating. Numbers were a fascinating thing.

Last updated on the January 13th 2021

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Calibration