Out Of Character
Strakel was accustomed to basically following Theram around. They were both Farmers, and Strakel wanted to work in the greenhouses the way Theram did. He was a little excited about being scheduled immediately after Theram for the interview with the Headwoman. He had no idea that Theram didn't know what the interview was about -- he'd been too busy thinking about his own interview to notice that his mentor was baffled by his summons. When the Journeyman called for some assistance holding a wall frame so he could go to his meeting, Strakel was more than happy to take over. "Good luck!" he called after the departing figure.
He continued helping with the greenhouse. They fastened the last wall frame up and started on the roof. This was the part Strakel really enjoyed: when they were ready to put the roof frame on, two pairs of dragons would come and help lift it up into place. The roof was very heavy, although not as heavy as it would be once they put the glass on. The entire frame of the greenhouse was built on wood. That wouldn't normally have been a problem, except with Thread now, they couldn't allow the wood to be exposed, or it would get consumed and bring the entire structure crashing down. Instead, on the outside edge of the lumber, metal U-channels were bolted to the wood with felt linings on the inside; the glass would be slid into place. The only exception was at the very top: the U-channels were fastened on hinges that allowed the uppermost row of glass to be raised, venting the greenhouse if it got too hot. Additional crosspieces were bolted on top of the U-channels, crossing over the glass, which allowed for a metal wire fence to be stretched and secured over the glass to keep falling objects -- including Thread -- from breaking the glass. It took all four dragons to lift the metal-lined roof frame up, and a dozen people to line it up and get the primary support bolts set.
Unfortunately for Strakel, they had just reached that point when it was time for him to leave. Just a little reluctantly, he yielded his position to the Journeyman and made his own hike up to the Great Hall and the Headwoman's office. He hesitated at the doorway, watching the four dragons swoop down off their ledges and glide across the Weyrbowl to the greenhouses. With that image foremost in his mind, he stepped into the relative gloom of the Lower Caverns and started along the right wall toward the Headwoman's office. He hadn't seen Theram come back out, but the two of them usually got their breakfast at 9am -- it was slim pickings by then because official breakfast ended at 8am, but it meant they could spread their books out and study while they ate without being disturbed.
Before he got very far, he heard someone call his name and he turned to see who it was. It was the Headwoman, beckoning him back toward the Great Hall. "This way, Strakel. My office is occupied. Have you eaten?" The Apprentice shook his head. "Go ahead and grab a tray and some food, then come over to the dais."
Strakel did as he was told, carrying the tray up to the table on the dais. He took a seat and started nibbling on one of the meat pasties. He eagerly answered Lery's questions.
"Well, that takes care of that. Timiny'll be here shortly to evaluation your reading, writing, and arithmetic. I'm putting you with Theram and Skeldar in bunkroom 7. You'll be able to move in after dinnertime tonight, they're still wrapping up the work on your quarters." Strakel was glad to hear he would be housed with his mentor. "You'll also be in chores group C, reporting to Nadra at 5am. You'll be doing mostly the same things you've been doing for her, so you probably won't have too many changes to deal with."
He continued helping with the greenhouse. They fastened the last wall frame up and started on the roof. This was the part Strakel really enjoyed: when they were ready to put the roof frame on, two pairs of dragons would come and help lift it up into place. The roof was very heavy, although not as heavy as it would be once they put the glass on. The entire frame of the greenhouse was built on wood. That wouldn't normally have been a problem, except with Thread now, they couldn't allow the wood to be exposed, or it would get consumed and bring the entire structure crashing down. Instead, on the outside edge of the lumber, metal U-channels were bolted to the wood with felt linings on the inside; the glass would be slid into place. The only exception was at the very top: the U-channels were fastened on hinges that allowed the uppermost row of glass to be raised, venting the greenhouse if it got too hot. Additional crosspieces were bolted on top of the U-channels, crossing over the glass, which allowed for a metal wire fence to be stretched and secured over the glass to keep falling objects -- including Thread -- from breaking the glass. It took all four dragons to lift the metal-lined roof frame up, and a dozen people to line it up and get the primary support bolts set.
Unfortunately for Strakel, they had just reached that point when it was time for him to leave. Just a little reluctantly, he yielded his position to the Journeyman and made his own hike up to the Great Hall and the Headwoman's office. He hesitated at the doorway, watching the four dragons swoop down off their ledges and glide across the Weyrbowl to the greenhouses. With that image foremost in his mind, he stepped into the relative gloom of the Lower Caverns and started along the right wall toward the Headwoman's office. He hadn't seen Theram come back out, but the two of them usually got their breakfast at 9am -- it was slim pickings by then because official breakfast ended at 8am, but it meant they could spread their books out and study while they ate without being disturbed.
Before he got very far, he heard someone call his name and he turned to see who it was. It was the Headwoman, beckoning him back toward the Great Hall. "This way, Strakel. My office is occupied. Have you eaten?" The Apprentice shook his head. "Go ahead and grab a tray and some food, then come over to the dais."
Strakel did as he was told, carrying the tray up to the table on the dais. He took a seat and started nibbling on one of the meat pasties. He eagerly answered Lery's questions.
"Well, that takes care of that. Timiny'll be here shortly to evaluation your reading, writing, and arithmetic. I'm putting you with Theram and Skeldar in bunkroom 7. You'll be able to move in after dinnertime tonight, they're still wrapping up the work on your quarters." Strakel was glad to hear he would be housed with his mentor. "You'll also be in chores group C, reporting to Nadra at 5am. You'll be doing mostly the same things you've been doing for her, so you probably won't have too many changes to deal with."
