Thirteen Days

Writers: Jane
Date Posted: 14th June 2007

Characters: Rahona, R'harne
Description: R'harne visits the riverboat Sungazer to bring his sister her promised means of communication.
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 4, day 23 of Turn 4
Notes: Mentioned: Lineal

"It really works," R'harne said, grinning as his sister spun around and
squealed more like a six Turn old than a woman in her forties. He was
enveloped in a hug so enthusiastic that he almost dropped the bag he was
carrying. "Hey, easy there."

"It's so good to see you." Reluctantly Rahona let her brother go.
"What are you doing here? And _what_ works?"

"I promised I would check up - What's the joke?"

Rahona slipped her arm through his free one and turned him out of the
doorway of the storage room where she had been working. "Come down by
the paddlewheel."

While they were tied up at the waypoint the wheel wasn't doing its usual
job of providing privacy with its sound but the former lower caverns
worker had already recognised that people respected the area
overlooking the paddlewheel as somewhere that privacy always existed.
In such a small community she imagined it was necessary to have such
unspoken understandings.

"Here," Rahona pulled around two low-slung reed armchairs so that they
faced each other. "Have a seat."

The brownrider settled himself in the chair, surprised at how
comfortable it was. "Huh. Not as flimsy as it looks. Now, what's so
funny about me being here?"

"About you checking up – about me worrying. Honestly! This place is
_better_ than the Weyr."

R'harne searched his sister's face for any sign that she was being less
than honest but she looked as guileless as ever. "Better? I never got
smothered by hugs at the Weyr."

"I might be a little bit homesick for familiar faces." She grinned,
thinking of Lihona's homesickness, already long eased by her new friends
and having her father at her beck and call. "What did you mean that 'it
really works'?"

"Oh, that schedule Lineal gave me. It said that thirteen days after I
left you here you would be back – and here you are. Very impressive."

"Thirteen days." Rahona shook her head in disbelief. Had it really
only been that long since they had become part of the Sungazer's crew?

"A good thirteen days?" he suggested, seeing her smile.

"It's been wonderful. Not perfect – that would be ridiculous – but the
children are settled and Lineal's happy. I get to see him every day ...
And I'm learning to quilt."

"Quilt?"

"Make quilts. That's what the women do here."

The brownrider was reminded of what he was supposed to be checking. "As
well as what else? What work do they have you doing?"

"I think I'm being trained to be the Captain's wife," Rahona said,
leaning forward to whisper conspiratorially. "Something like a Holder's
wife and assistant headwoman. I think I have a lot further to go in my
learning than Lineal has in his."

"And how are the women treated? How do they treat you?"

"Oh R'harne! I can't believe how worried I was! Do you know -" again
she lowered her voice, "- that Lihona could learn to operate the
engines, or be a pilot? Any job on the Sungazer is open to her?"

He had to admit that that sounded positive. "Actually, I can't imagine
her working hard enough to learn any sort of responsible job."

"No, that's true. But if she wanted to, she could. Even I could, but
I'm a bit stuck in my ways."

"Except with the quilting, which you're learning."

"Yes. And a million other things about provisioning a riverboat and
looking after the passengers. Thirteen days. I can't believe it's only
been that."

She looked happy, he thought. Amused, slightly scatter-brained. Almost
excited but he wasn't sure if that was about his visit or about her new
life. It could also be having her seacrafter weyrmate around every
night, too. That alone must be a huge change for all of the family.

"Perhaps you won't need this then?" he said, lifting the small lined bag
he had set down beside the chair.

"What – Oh! The firelizard egg! I would love it." She had always
wanted one but opportunity and time to raise one had never coincided.
"But it's not necessary. I'm sure of that now. So if you want to keep
it yourself ..."

He looked at her wistful expression and laughed. "Here. Don't be
ridiculous. I have Guieth and Teykara. When would I have time for a pet?"

Rahona took the bag and hugged it close. "Oh, thank you. But –"

"But? I found the biggest egg I could so you'll either get the biggest,
dumbest green firelizard on Pern or a nice brown or bonze."

Of _course_ her brother would have bartered or bought the biggest egg he
could find, increasing her chances of getting a trainable firelizard.
She resisted the temptation to cry and instead finished her sentence.
"But I don't think you should talk about Guieth and Teykara and having a
pet all in the same breath like that."

R'harne smiled, glad that she had accepted the egg. "You might be
right." His vivid green eyes were alight with amusement. "Guieth's far
too important for that."

Last updated on the July 19th 2007

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Thirteen Days