Got away

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 17th July 2006

Characters: Zebrekhan, U'das
Description: Zeb joins U'das in a little fishing
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 13, day 7 of Turn 3

"Do you mind if I join you in a little fishing?" A man around the bronzerider's age stood on the river bank, his own pole in hand and tackle kit around his waist.

"Go ahead, there's plenty of fish to share," U'das grinned. He was always happy to meet another fisherman. "Thank you." Zeb opened up the tackled box and looked over his array of lures. "How are they biting today?"

"I've had better days," U'das replied and glanced at his catch. Just one, but rather goodsized. "What type of lure are you using," Zeb asked curiously. Perhaps the fish weren't interested in his particular type and another would work better.

"The one that look like insect. S'been a favourite for a long time," U'das replied. He looked the water. "Maybe they've gone somewhere else?" he pondered.

"They'll be back," the geologist assured him as he he picked his favorite from his box. It was worth a try anyway. "After all, the river only goes two directions."

"Yeah," U'das chuckled. He removed his shapless, old fishing-hat and wiped sweat from his bald skull. "That looks like a nice, cool summer haircut," his companion smiled as he waded into the water. "I used to do that when I working on the Eastern Islands. Nothing could get more humid than that, I swear," he chuckled.

"This isn't exactly a voluntary haircut. But you're right, it's cool and some women find it extremely sexy," U'das replied with a laughter. "I have to say, I have run into quite a few women in my time who find bald headed men attactive. And you have a nice shaped head for it."

"Thank's, I better had, since early baldness runs in my family," U'das answered. "Oh, I don't know," Zeb chuckled, "I knew a guard who was bald as a stone by the time he was thirty, and he had the most unfortunate pointy head and huge eyes. He looked almost like some odd insect of some kind."

U'das laughed and almost fell into the stream. "You haven't tell me your name, friend. I'm U'das," he said after he calmed down. "Zeb. I'm a geologist just transfered into the Weyr."

"I think I heard about you. Pardon being curious, but what does a geologist do in a weyr? I know almost nothing about your craft," U'das asked. "Well, my main job is teaching all of your candidates, weyrfolk and riders who are in the craft. But geologists can do plenty. After all, we had to help _find_ the Weyrs in the first place," Zeb said as he cast his line into the water down stream from the bronzerider. "We can be commission to go out prospecting for new firestone mines, and give advice on the quality of the stone you are getting. We can give advice on where to drill for freshwater wells. We can find out about the geological history of an area. All kinds of things, really."

"Sounds like it," U'das agreed. "Personally, my relationsship with rock's is rather distant one. As long as they aren't directly under my keel, I don't pay attention to them." "Ah, a seaman then?" the Master crafter smiled. "Yes sirree, salt water's soaked all the way thru to bones," U'das replied. "I spent a fair amount on time on ships myself, traveling here and there. I always thought it be interesting to study underwater geology. There are a few who do study it."

"Hhhmm, you probably need a dolphin partern for it," U'das mused. "I don't know," Zeb shrugged. "I suppose it would certainly help. Maybe they work together in conjunction with the cartographers?"

"Possibly," U'das nodded. "Sounds like an interresting project," he grinned. "Ah, if only I were a younger man," Zeb said with a dramatic sigh. "Then again, I suppose working in the water would be ever easier on the body than on land."

"Well, I don't know. If you dive deep, the pressure is unbelievable. Dragons and dolphins can dive deep but human must stay near surface," U'das said. "You don't always have to dive too deep I should think," Zeb said thoughtfully. "Obviously, man has their limitations. Maybe that's when a dolphin would come in handy. But in more shallow waters..."

"Yeah...Hey, it thing you've got something!" U'das said and pointed his fishing line. "Oh, so I have," the master smiled as he watched the tip of his pole twitch with the movement. He gave it a might jerk and began reeling in his catch. "Well, this one is a fighter!"

"That usually means a big one," U'das grinned. His own line was totally still. "Shards, he's gone behind that scortching log over there..." Depite the geologists best attempts to coax the fish back around, the line suddenly lost all tension and snapped back. With a groan he knew, the fish had gotten away. "Oh well," he said as he reeled in the broken line, "at least we know what they're biting today. And it was my favorite lure too."

"Too bad," U'das said with symphatetic tone. He knew exactly how it felt. "Ah, that's ok, I have another just like it," Zeb grinned as he flipped open his tackle box. "If he liked the taste of that one, perhaps he would like another go."

"I hope so too," U'das chuckled.

Last updated on the July 17th 2006

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