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Ian was watching Jared—he didn’t see our silent exchange。
“Jeb；” Jared protested。 “There’s only one decision here。 You know that。”
“Is there； kid？ Seems to me there’s a whole barrel of ’em。”
“That’s Melanie’s body！”
“And Wanda’s； too。”
Jared choked on his response and had to start over。 “You can’t leave Mel trapped in there—it’s like
murder； Jeb。”
Wanda； Jared？ And the rest of us； if you take her away？”
“You don’t care about the rest of anybody！ You just want to keep Wanda at Melanie’s
expense—nothing else matters to you。”
“And you want to have Melanie at Wanda’s expense—nothing else matters toyou！ So； with those things
being equal； it es down to what’s best for everyone else。”
“No！ It es down to what Melanie wants！ That’s her body！”
They were both crouched halfway between sitting and standing now； their fists clenched and their faces
twisted with rage。
“Cool it； boys！ Cool it right now；” Jeb ordered。 “This is a tribunal； and we’re going to stay calm and
keep our heads。 We’ve got to think about every side。”
“Jeb —” Jared began。
“Shut up。” Jeb chewed on his lip for a while。 “Okay； here’s how I see it。 Wanda’s right —”
Ian lurched to his feet。
“Hold it！ Sit yourself back down。 Let me finish。”
Jeb waited until Ian； the tendons standing out in his taut neck； stiffly returned to a seated position。
“Wanda is right；” Jeb said。 “Mel needs her body back。But； ” he added quickly when Ian tensed again；
“but I don’t agree with the rest； Wanda。 I think we need you pretty bad； kid。 We got Seekers out there
lookin’ for us； and you can talk right to ’em。 The rest of us can’t do that。 You save lives。 I got to think
about the welfare of my household。”
Jared spoke through his teeth。 “So we get her another body。 Obviously。”
Doc’s crumpled face lifted。 Jeb’s white caterpillar eyebrows touched his hairline。 Ian’s eyes widened
and his lips pursed。 He stared at me； considering。…
“No！No！ ” I shook my head frantically。
“Why not； Wanda？” Jeb asked。 “Don’t sound like a half…bad idea to me。”
I swallowed and took a deep breath so my voice wouldn’t turn hysterical。 “Jeb。 Listen to me carefully；
Jeb。 I amtired of being a parasite。 Can you understand that？ Do you think I want to go into another body
and have this start all over again？ Do I have to feel guilty forever for taking someone’s life away from
them？ Do I have to have someone else hate me？ I’m barely a soul anymore—I love you brutish humans
too much。 It’s wrong for me to be here； and Ihate feeling that。”
I took another breath and spoke through the tears that were falling now。 “And what if things change？
What if you put me in some…one else； steal another life； and it goes wrong？ What if that body pulls me
after some other love； back to the souls？ What if you can’t trust me anymore？ What if I betray you next
arms around me。 He dried my tears against his chest。
“It’s okay； honey。 You don’t have to be anyone else。 Nothing’s going to change。”
“Hold on； Wanda；” Jeb said； his shrewd eyes suddenly sharper。 “How does going to one of those other
planets help you？ You’ll still be a parasite； kid。”
Ian flinched around me at the harsh word。
And I flinched also； because Jeb was too insightful； as always。
They waited for my answer； all but Doc； who knew what the real answer was。 The one I wouldn’t give。
I tried to say only true things。 “It’s different on other planets； Jeb。 There isn’t any resistance。 And the
hosts themselves are different。 They aren’t as individualized as humans； their emotions are so much
milder。 It doesn’t feel like stealing a life。 Not like it feels here。 No one will hate me。 And I’d be too far
away to hurt you。 You’d be safer…”
The last part sounded too much like the lie it was； so I let my voice trail off。
Jeb stared at me through narrowed eyes； and I looked away。
I tried not to look at Doc； but I couldn’t help one brief glance； to make sure he understood。 His eyes
locked on mine； clearly miserable； and I knew that he did。
As I quickly lowered my gaze； I caught Jared staring at Doc。 Had he seen the silent munication？
Jeb sighed。 “This is… a pickle。” His face turned into a grimace as he concentrated on the dilemma。
“Jeb —” Ian and Jared said together。 They both stopped and scowled at each other。
This was all just a waste of time； and I had only hours。 Just a few more hours； I knew that for certain
now。
“Jeb；” I said softly； my voice barely audible over the spring’s gushing murmur； and everyone turned to
me。 “You don’t have to decide right now。 Doc needs to check on Jodi； and I’d like to see her； too。 Plus；
I haven’t eaten all day。 Why don’t you sleep on it？ We can talk again tomorrow。 We’ve got plenty of
time to think about this。”
Lies。 Could they tell？
I was very careful not to look at Doc now； even when I spoke to him。
“I’ll be along to help with Jodi after I eat； Doc。 See you later。”
“Okay；” Doc said warily。
Why couldn’t he keep his tone casual？ He was a human—he should have been a good liar。
“Hungry？” Ian murmured； and I nodded。 I let him help me up。 He latched on to my hand； and I knew he
would be keeping a tight hold on me now。 That didn’t worry me。 He slept deeply； like Jamie。
As we walked from the dark room； I could feel eyes on my back； but I wasn’t sure whose。
Just a few more things to do。 Three； to be precise。 Three last deeds to be pleted。
First； I ate。
It wouldn’t be nice to leave Mel with her body unfortable from hunger。 Besides； the food was better
since I’d been raiding。 Something to look forward to rather than endure。
I made Ian get the food and bring it to me while I hid in the field where half…grown sprouts of wheat
replaced the corn。 I told Ian the truth so that he would help me： I was avoiding Jamie。 I didn’t want Jamie
frightened by this decision。 It would be harder for him than for Jared or Ian—they each took one side。
Jamie loved us both； he would be more evenly torn。
Ian did not argue with me。 We ate in silence； his arm tight around my waist。
Second； I went to see Sunny and Jodi。
I expected to see three glowing cryotanks on top of Doc’s desk； and I was surprised that there were still
just the two Healers； set in the center。 Doc and Kyle hovered over the cot where Jodi lay inert。 I walked
quickly to them； about to demand to know where Sunny was； but when I got closer； I saw that Kyle had
an occupied cryotank cradled in one arm。
“You’ll want to be gentle with that；” I murmured。
Doc was touching Jodi’s wrist； counting to himself。 His lips pressed into a thin line when he heard my
voice； and he had to begin over again。
“Yeah； Doc told me that；” Kyle said； his gaze never leaving Jodi’s face。 A dark； matched set of bruises
was forming under his eyes。 Was his nose broken again？ “I’m being careful。 I just… didn’t want to leave
her alone over there。 She was so sad and so… sweet。”
“I’m sure she’d appreciate it； if she knew。”