Infestation

Writers: Devin, Chelle
Date Posted: 24th March 2012

Characters: N'vanik, Qorri
Description: The headwoman comes to gripe at the Weyrleader-asking for reinforcements.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 7, day 11 of Turn 6

N'vanik

She was at the end of her rope. The things didn't come out during the
heat of the day, but then as soon as it got dark and she could
actually work in her kitchens, here they came. Her workers were upset
and Qorri was upset as well since it meant less production. She was
also concerned that someone was going to get hurt. Heading into the
Weyrleader's office, she knew her request sounded stupid, but the
problem could only get worse.

"Qorri, what can I do for you?" N'vanik asked as she came in. He was
gathering some hides so he could work on them down by the beach.

"Get a pipe, blow it, and lead the snakes out of my kitchens and storage
caverns," she said quickly.

He lifted an eyebrow. "That's an interesting image."

"I'm serious. They're all over the place. Pretty soon the things are going to
get brave and someone's going to get hurt." She was about ready to send the
weyrbrats after them as a game, except she didn't want to the children injured.

"So are you asking me to come up with a solution, or do you already
have one in mind?"

"Well, what eats tunnelsnakes? Anything? If there's something that does, I want
more of those. If not, I'm at a loss." She knew nothing about animals like that
except that they were poisonous.

"Eat them, I don't know, but felines and canines will kill them. So
will firelizards." If you could stop them from goofing off.

"I can't have felines and canines running wild all over the kitchens. That's
not sanitary. And those flying rats can't be trained to be tracking down snakes
all day, can they?" She didn't know much about them except they were constantly
trying to get into her meat.

"Not all day." He'd be surprised if a firelizard could stay that
focused for a candlemark. "And the animals wouldn't have to be in the
kitchens, just in the areas near it. The tunnelsnakes don't live in
the kitchens, they just go there to eat. What you want is to put the
animals where they're burrowing."

"Felines I can maybe see letting them loose, but the canines?" Qorri frowned,
thinking of the huge animals they used to turn spits and other things. "They're
not...safe for people N'vanik." The animals weren't very socialized, bred to do
their jobs only.

"I don't mean spit canines, I mean the little tunnelsnake hunters."

She'd have to talk to the Master Beastcrafter who handled the breeding
and training
of all of those creatures. Maybe she could borrow some. Shells maybe he had some
wherhandlers that might patrol at night. Those things ate snakes and
they were smarter
than firelizards at least. "I'll try. Wish I had some way of making
them unable to breed."

"The tunnelsnakes? That would be nice. If the beastcrafters don't have
enough, the Weyr will buy more. I'll talk to Janani and maybe we can
ask for a few of them as part of our tithe." Really, this was under
the Weyrwoman's responsibilities, but N'vanik had gotten used to doing
almost everything himself.

"I'm just afraid they'll start heading out of the kitchens, showing up in
the drudges' quarters, the crafters' quarters, and who knows where else.
The things are insidious." Qorri lived in fear of waking up with one in her bed.

"You could ask any cooks or drudges with felines to bring them down to
the kitchens. They could have shifts." That was an amusing thought,
felines with shifts.

Qorri looked at her hands. She really didn't want the creatures around her food
preparation areas. It was unsanitary. However, it would be better than
tunnelsnakes
in said areas, she supposed.

"Are you against felines, too?" N'vanik asked. He was getting the
impression Qorri
didn't like animals.

"It's not that I'm against them. I just don't like anything with hair
or fur around where
we make food. They can carry diseases and it's just unsanitary, but I
admit it would be
better than having poisonous tunnelsnakes around." She hated being in
this position-
sacrificing her cleanliness for safety.

"No one wants fur in their food, but I'll take that over knowing a
tunnelsnake crawled all over it." He pictured it and made a face.

"Mmmm..." She made a noise of agreement as she silently declared war on the
creatures. They would rue the day when they decided to live in her
Weyr. A rather hard glint came into her eyes.

Last updated on the April 2nd 2012

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Infestation