按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
quiet for a moment。
I used the empty time to evaluate my situation。 Much was obvious。
I was in a Healing facility； recovering from an unusually traumatic insertion。 I was sure the body that
hosted me had been fully healed before it was given to me。 A damaged host would have been disposed
of。
I considered the conflicting opinions of the Healer and the Seeker。 According to the information I had
been given before making the choice to e here； the Healer had the right of it。 Hostilities with the few
remaining pockets of humans were all but over。 The planet called Earth was as peaceful and serene as it
looked from space； invitingly green and blue； wreathed in its harmless white vapors。 As was the way of
the soul； harmony was universal now。
The verbal dissension between the Healer and the Seeker was out of character。 Strangely aggressive for
our kind。 It made me wonder。 Could they be true； the whispered rumors that had undulated like waves
through the thoughts of the… of the…
I was distracted； trying to find the name for my last host species。 We’d had a name； I knew that。 But； no
longer connected to that host； I could not remember the word。 We’d used much simpler language than
this； a silent language of thought that connected us all into one great mind。 A necessary convenience when
one was rooted forever into the wet black soil。
I could describe that species in my new human language。 We lived on the floor of the great ocean that
covered the entire surface of our world—a world that had a name； too； but that was also gone。 We each
had a hundred arms and on each arm a thousand eyes； so that； with our thoughts connected； not one
sight in the vast waters went unseen。 There was no need for sound； so there was no way to hear it。 We
tasted the waters； and； with our sight； that told us all we needed to know。 We tasted the suns； so many
leagues above the water； and turned their taste into the food we needed。
I could describe us； but I could not name us。 I sighed for the lost knowledge； and then returned my
ponderings to what I’d overheard。
Souls did not； as a rule； speak anything but the truth。 Seekers； of course； had the requirements of their
Calling； but between souls there was never reason for a lie。 With my last species’ language of thought； it
would have been impossible to lie； even had we wanted to。 However； anchored as we were； we told
ourselves stories to alleviate the boredom。 Storytelling was the most honored of all talents； for it benefited
everyone。
Sometimes； fact mixed with fiction so thoroughly that； though no lies were told； it was hard to remember
what was strictly true。
But there were whispers of this： of human hosts so strong that the souls were forced to abandon them。
Hosts whose minds could not be pletely suppressed。 Souls who took on the personality of the body；
rather than the other way around。 Stories。 Wild rumors。 Madness。
But that seemed almost to be the Healer’s accusation。…
I dismissed the thought。 The more likely meaning of his censure was the distaste most of us felt for the
Seeker’s Calling。 Who would choose a life of conflict and pursuit？ Who would be attracted to the chore
of tracking down unwilling hosts and capturing them？ Who would have the stomach to face the violence
of this particular species； the hostile humans who killed so easily； so thoughtlessly？ Here； on this planet；
the Seekers had bee practically a… militia—my new brain supplied the term for the unfamiliar
concept。 Most believed that only the least civilized souls； the least evolved； the lesser among us； would
be drawn to the path of Seeker。
Still； on Earth the Seekers had gained new status。 Never before had an occupation gone so awry。 Never
before had it turned into a fierce and bloody battle。 Never before had the lives of so many souls been
sacrificed。 The Seekers stood as a mighty shield； and the souls of this world were thrice…over indebted to
them： for the safety they had carved out of the mayhem； for the risk of the final death that they faced
willingly every day； and for the new bodies they continued to provide。
Now that the danger was virtually past； it appeared the gratitude was fading。 And； for this Seeker at
least； the change was not a pleasant one。
It was easy to imagine what her questions for me would be。 Though the Healer was trying to buy me
time to adjust to my new body； I knew I would do my best to help the Seeker。 Good citizenship was
quintessential to every soul。
So I took a deep breath to prepare myself。 The monitor registered the movement。 I knew I was stalling
a bit。 I hated to admit it； but I was afraid。 To get the information the Seeker needed； I would have to
explore the violent memories that had made me scream in horror。 More than that； I was afraid of the
voice I’d heard so loudly in my head。 But she was silent now； as was right。 She was just a memory； too。
I should not have been afraid。 After all； I was called Wanderer now。 And I’d earned the name。
With another deep breath； I delved into the memories that frightened me； faced them head…on with my
teeth locked together。
I could skip past the end—it didn’t overwhelm me now。 In fast…forward； I ran through the dark again；
wincing； trying not to feel。 It was over quickly。
Once I was through that barrier； it wasn’t hard to float through less…alarming things and places； skimming
for the information I wanted。 I saw how she’d e to this cold city； driving by night in a stolen car
chosen for its nondescript appearance。 She’d walked through the streets of Chicago in darkness；
shivering beneath her coat。
The words came slower and slower； and at first I did not understand why。 Was this forgotten？ Lost in
the trauma of an almost death？ Was I still sluggish from unconsciousness？ I struggled to think clearly。
This sensation was unfamiliar。 Was my body still sedated？ I felt alert enough； but my mind labored
unsuccessfully for the answers I wanted。
I tried another avenue of searching； hoping for clearer responses。 What was her goal？ She would find…
Sharon—I fished out the name—and they would…
I hit a wall。
It was a blank； a nothing。 I tried to circle around it； but I couldn’t find the edges of the void。 It was as if
the information I sought had been erased。
As if this brain had been damaged。
Anger flashed through me； hot and wild。 I gasped in surprise at the unexpected reaction。 I’d heard of the
emotional instability of these human bodies； but this was beyond my ability to anticipate。 In eight full lives；
I’d never had an emotion touch me with such force。
I felt the blood pulse through my neck； pounding behind my ears。 My hands tightened into fists。
The machines beside me reported the acceleration of my heartbeats。 There was a reaction in the room：
the sharp tap of the Seeker’s shoes approached me； mingled with a quieter shuffle that must have been
the Healer。
“Wele to Earth； Wanderer；” the female voice said。
CHAPTER 3
Resisted
She won’t recognize the new name；” the Healer murmured。
A new sensation distracted me。 S