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I was always with others when I crossed his path； and I wondered if that was the only reason he did
nothing more than glower at me and unconsciously curl his thick fingers into claws。 This brought back all
the panic from my first weeks here； and I might have succumbed to it—begun hiding again； avoiding the
mon areas—but something more important than Kyle’s murderous glares came to my attention that
second night。
The kitchen filled up again—I’m not sure how much was interest in my stories and how much was
interest in the chocolate bars Jeb handed out。 I declined mine； explaining to a disgruntled Jamie that I
couldn’t talk and chew at the same time； I suspected that he would save one for me； obstinate as ever。
Ian was back in his usual hot seat by the fire； and Andy was there—eyes wary—beside Paige。 None of
the other raiders； including Jared； of course； was in attendance。 Doc was not there； and I wondered if he
was still drunk or perhaps hung…over。 And again； Walter was absent。
Geoffrey； Trudy’s husband； questioned me for the first time tonight。 I was pleased； though I tried not to
show it； that he seemed to have joined the ranks of the humans who tolerated me。 But I couldn’t answer
spoke； and I didn’t recognize the voice。
“Yes； that’s true；” I agreed evenly。
“So you don’t know what they use to cure diseases； then？” Geoffrey pressed。 “What’s in their
medications？”
I shook my head。 “I’m sorry； I don’t。 It wasn’t something I was interested in； back when I had access to
the information。 I’m afraid I took it for granted。 Good health is simply a given on every planet I’ve lived
on。”
Geoffrey’s red cheeks flushed brighter than usual。 He looked down； an angry set to his mouth。 What had
I said to offend him？
Heath； sitting beside Geoffrey； patted his arm。 There was a pregnant silence in the room。
“Uh—about the Vultures…” Ian said—the words were forced； a deliberate subject change。 “I don’t
know if I missed this part sometime； but I don’t remember you ever explaining about them being
‘unkind’… ？”
It wasn’t something Ihad explained； but I was pretty sure he wasn’t really that interested—this was just
the first question he’d been able to think of。
My informal class ended earlier than usual。 The questions were slow； and most of them supplied by
Jamie and Ian。 Geoffrey’s questions had left everyone else preoccupied。
“Well； we’ve got an early one tomorrow； tearing down the stalks…” Jeb mused after yet another
awkward silence； making the words a dismissal。 People rose to their feet and stretched； talking in low
voices that weren’t casual enough。
“What did I say？” I whispered to Ian。
“Nothing。 They’ve got mortality on their minds。” He sighed。
My human brain made one of those leaps in understanding that they called intuition。
“Where’s Walter？” I demanded； still whispering。
Ian sighed again。 “He’s in the south wing。 He’s… not doing well。”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me？”
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”
I shook my head impatiently at that consideration。 “What’s wrong with him？”
Jamie was there beside me now； he took my hand。
“Some of Walter’s bones snapped； they’re so brittle；” he said in a hushed voice。 “Doc’s sure it’s
cancer—final stages； he says。”
“Walt must have been keeping quiet about the pain for a long while now；” Ian added somberly。
I winced。 “And there’s nothing to be done？ Nothing at all？”
Ian shook his head； keeping his brilliant eyes on mine。 “Not for us。 Even if we weren’t stuck here； there
would be no help for him now。 We never cured that one。”
I bit my lip against the suggestion I wanted to make。 Of course there was nothing to do for Walter。 Any
of these humans would rather die slowly and in pain than trade their mind for their body’s cure。 I could
understand that… now。
“He’s been asking for you；” Ian continued。 “Well； he says your name sometimes； it’s hard to tell what he
means—Doc’s keeping him drunk to help with the pain。”
“Doc feels real bad about using so much of the alcohol himself；” Jamie added。 “Bad timing； all around。”
“Can I see him？” I asked。 “Or will that make the others unhappy？”
Ian frowned and snorted。 “Wouldn’t that be just like some people； to get worked up over this？” He
shook his head。 “Who cares； though； right？ If it’s Walt’s final wish…”
“Right；” I agreed。 The wordfinal had my eyes burning。 “If seeing me is what Walter wants； then I guess
it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks； or if they get mad。”
“Don’t worry about that—I’m not going to let anybody harass you。” Ian’s white lips pressed into a thin
line。
I felt anxious； like I wanted to look at a clock。 Time had ceased to mean much to me； but suddenly I felt
the weight of a deadline。 “Is it too late to go tonight？ Will we disturb him？”
“He’s not sleeping regular hours。 We can go see。”
I started walking at once； dragging Jamie because he still gripped my hand。 The sense of passing time； of
endings and finality； propelled me forward。 Ian caught up quickly； though； with his long stride。
In the moonlit garden cavern； we passed others who for the most part paid us no mind。 I was too often
in the pany of Jamie and Ian to cause any curiosity； though we weren’t headed for the usual tunnels。
The one exception was Kyle。 He froze midstride when he saw his brother beside me。 His eyes flashed
down to see Jamie’s hand in mine； and then his lips twisted into a snarl。
When we were in the blackness of the long tunnel south； I tried to free that hand。 Ian gripped it tighter。
“I wish you wouldn’t make him angrier；” I muttered。
“Kyle is wrong。 Being wrong is sort of a habit with him。 He’ll take longer than anyone else to get over it；
but that doesn’t mean we should make allowances for him。”
“He frightens me；” I admitted in a whisper。 “I don’t want him to have more reasons to hate me。”
Ian and Jamie squeezed my hands at the same time。 They spoke simultaneously。
“Don’t be afraid；” Jamie said。
“Jeb’s made his opinion very clear；” Ian said。
“What do you mean？” I asked Ian。
“If Kyle can’t accept Jeb’s rules； then he’s no longer wele here。”
“But that’s wrong。 Kyle belongs here。”
Ian grunted。 “He’s staying… so he’ll just have to learn to deal。”
We didn’t talk again through the long walk。 I was feeling guilty—it seemed to be a permanent emotional
state here。 Guilt and fear and heartbreak。 Why had I e？
Because you do belong here； oddly enough；Melanie whispered。 She was very aware of the warmth of
Ian’s and Jamie’s hands； wrapped around and twined with mine。Where else have you ever had this？
Nowhere；I confessed； feeling only more depressed。But it doesn’t make me belong。 Not the way you
do。
We’re a package deal； Wanda。
As if I needed reminding。…
I was a little surprised to hear her so clearly。 She’d been quiet the last two days； waiting； anxious； hoping
to see Jared again。 Of course； I’d been similarly occupied