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I kept my voice calm。 “We had no trouble in the South Pole。 Of course； the North was another matter。
It was badly mishandled。 We lost the entire forest。” The sadness of that time echoed behind my words。 A
thousand sentient beings； closing their eyes forever rather than accept us。 They’d curled their leaves from
the suns and starved。
Good for them；Melanie whispered。 There was no venom attached to the thought； only approval as she
saluted the tragedy in my memory。
It was such a waste。I let the agony of the knowledge； the feel of the dying thoughts that had racked us
with our sister forest’s pain； wash through my head。
It was death either way。
The Seeker spoke； and I tried to concentrate on just one conversation。
“Yes。” Her voice was unfortable。 “That was poorly executed。”
“You can never be too careful when it es to doling out power。 Some aren’t as careful as they should
be。”
She didn’t answer； and I heard her move a few steps back。 Everyone knew that the misstep behind the
mass suicide belonged to the Seekers； who； because the See Weeds couldn’tflee； had underestimated
their ability toescape。 They’d proceeded recklessly； beginning the first settlement before we had
adequate numbers in place for a full…scale assimilation。 By the time they realized what the See Weeds
were capable of； were willing to do； it was too late。 The next shipment of hibernating souls was too far
away； and before they’d arrived； the northern forest was lost。
“I’m sorry I can’t help you further。” I said the words firmly； trying to make the dismissal clear。 I was
ready to have my house to myself again。To ourselves； Melanie inserted spitefully。 I sighed。 She was so
full of herself now。 “You really shouldn’t have troubled yourself to e so far。”
“It’s the job；” the Seeker said； shrugging。 “You’re my only assignment。 Until I find the rest of them； I
may as well stick close to you and hope I get lucky。”
CHAPTER 7
Confronted
Yes； Faces Sunward？” I asked； grateful to the raised hand for interrupting my lecture。 I did not feel as
fortable behind the lectern as I usually did。 My biggest strength； my only real credential—for my host
body had had little in the way of a formal education； on the run since her early adolescence—was the
personal experience I usually taught from。 This was the first world’s history I’d presented this semester
for which I had no memories to draw upon。 I was sure my students were suffering the difference。
“I’m sorry to interrupt； but…” The white…haired man paused； struggling to word his question。 “I’m not
sure I understand。 The Fire…Tasters actually…ingest the smoke from burning the Walking Flowers？ Like
food？” He tried to suppress the horror in his tone。 It was not a soul’s place to judge another soul。 But I
was not surprised； given his background on the Planet of the Flowers； at his strong reaction to the fate of
a similar life…form on another world。
It was always amazing to me how some souls buried themselves in the affairs of whichever world they
inhabited and ignored the rest of the universe。 But； to be fair； perhaps Faces Sunward had been in
hibernation when Fire World became notorious。
“Yes； they receive essential nutrients from this smoke。 And therein lies the fundamental dilemma and the
controversy of Fire World—and the reason the planet has not been closed； though there has certainly
been adequate time to populate it fully。 There is also a high relocation percentage。
“When Fire World was discovered； it was at first thought that the dominant species； the Fire…Tasters；
were the only intelligent life…forms present。 The Fire…Tasters did not consider the Walking Flowers to be
their equals—a cultural prejudice—so it was a while； even after the first wave of settling； before the souls
realized they were murdering intelligent creatures。 Since then； Fire World scientists have focused their
efforts on finding a replacement for the dietary needs of the Fire…Tasters。 Spiders are being transported
there to help； but the planets are hundreds of light…years apart。 When this obstacle is overe； as it will
be soon； I’m sure； there is hope that the Walking Flowers might also be assimilated。 In the meantime；
much of the brutality has been removed from the equation。 The； ah； burning…alive portion； of course； and
other aspects as well。”
“How can they…” Faces Sunward trailed off； unable to finish。
Another voice pleted Faces Sunward’s thought。 “It seems like a very cruel ecosystem。 Why was the
planet not abandoned？”
“That has been debated； naturally； Robert。 But we do not abandon planets lightly。 There are many souls
for whom Fire World is home。 They will not be uprooted against their will。” I looked away； back at my
“But it’s barbaric！”
Robert was physically younger than most of the other students—closer to my age； in fact； than any
other。 And truly a child in a more important way。 Earth was his first world—the Mother in this case had
actually been an Earth…dweller； too； before she’d given herself—and he didn’t seem to have as much
perspective as older； better…traveled souls。 I wondered what it would be like to be born into the
overwhelming sensation and emotion of these hosts with no prior experience for balance。 It would be
difficult to find objectivity。 I tried to remember that and be especially patient as I answered him。
“Every world is a unique experience。 Unless one has lived on that world； it’s impossible to truly
understand the —”
“But you never lived on Fire World；” he interrupted me。 “You must have felt the same way。… Unless
you had some other reason for skipping that planet？ You’ve been almost everywhere else。”
“Choosing a planet is a very personal and private decision； Robert； as you may someday experience。”
My tone closed the subject absolutely。
Why not tell them？ Youdothink it’s barbaric—and cruel and wrong。 Which is pretty ironic if you
ask me—not that you ever do。 What’s the problem？ Are you ashamed that you agree with Robert？
Because he’s more human than the others？
Melanie； having found her voice； was being downright unbearable。 How was I supposed to
concentrate on my work with her opinions sounding off in my head all the time？
In the seat behind Robert； a dark shadow moved。
The Seeker； clad in her usual black； leaned forward； intent for the first time on the subject of discussion。
I resisted the urge to scowl at her。 I didn’t want Robert； already looking embarrassed； to mistake the
expression as meant for him。 Melanie grumbled。She wished I wouldn’t resist。 Having the Seeker stalk
our every footstep had been educational for Melanie； she used to think she couldn’t hate anything or
anyone more than she hated me。
“Our time is almost up；” I announced with relief。 “I’m pleased to inform you that we will have a guest
speaker next Tuesday who will be able to make up for my ignorance on this topic。 Flame Tender； a
recent addition to our planet； will be here to give us a more personal account of the settling of Fire
World。 I kno