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"Worse than that." She shook her head. "Odin Thor has his hands full with what
amounts to two provinces of old
Westron. Outside of that ..." she shrugged. "Any place else, no one really
farms... most of the crafters were killed with the gentry..." The silence and
the darkness stretched out between us.
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Terwhit... terwhit... terwhit
... I smiled at the cheerfulness of the call. The bird was definitely right.
"So we do what we can." She was smiling also, though more faintly. "I suppose.
What other choice is there?" Her quiet voice was firm. The sound brought back
another memory. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"How did you know?"
"I'm not sure. But I did."
Her tone told me not to pursue that question. I didn't. "You kept visiting me
when I couldn't even think, when nobody thought I would live?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because."
I grinned. "That's not good enough, Doctor."
"Because you gave me back part of myself." That wasn't all, but it was enough.
"You need some sleep." I took a step toward her, then stopped.
"I know."
"So... why don't you go get some? And have pleasant dreams?"
She stood up, looking ghost-like in the light-colored tunic and trousers. "I
will."
"Thank you ..." I wanted to say more, but couldn't say what... or why.
Besides, she was probably a good century older than me. So I didn't.
"Good night, Sammis."
Click, click, click...
Her boots sounded lonely as she walked out, and I stood there for a long time.
When I looked out the window, before climbing into the hospital bed, Mithrada
had dropped below the horizon.
XXXVI.
Nerlis and Dr. Dyrell officially discharged me two days after Mellorie and I
"became friends." They also required all
divers to come in for checkups every ten-day.
Gerioc, Amenda, and Arlean were all on the verge of starvation. So were
several others I didn't know. One of the newest divers, a recruit ConFed named
Jerlyk, was barely above the minimums. That led to a divers' nutrition chart,
which ended up posted in the dining area.
In the meantime, between my efforts in the hospital and my efforts while on
"light duty," I had finished all the background material on diving. At the end
of the next ten-day, I was cleared to dive again.
"I have a loose end or two to follow," I told Wryan, after squeezing in to see
her before Odin Thor arrived. He was already pacing down the hallway toward
the main lab. "What I find out could be helpful."
"Such as?"
"Even though we can't break out on Query, except in real time, I could see
backtime at least several days when I
scouted the ConFed fort. I'd like to see what the limits are."
"Take it easy. We'll call it extended reconnaissance research for now." She
smiled, almost sadly. "Good luck."
"Good luck to you. Odin Thor's almost here." I ducked out just as me
Colonel-General arrived. I avoided saluting him and was around the comer
before he reacted.
"Trooper!"
I ignored the call, smiling, since I was out of sight. It was bad enough that
circumstances required I do Odin Thor's dirty work without making him into a
tin god. Besides, I had more important things to do.
After stopping by the snack table another innovation of Wryan's at the dining
area and picking up cheese, hard biscuits, and fruit, I headed back to my
room by foot.
I had also gone back into conditioning, running and doing exercises. I didn't
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like them, but diving was clearly a strenuous business, and I was going to be
in top condition. That was why Jerlyk and I met on the grassy square behind
the quarters before every breakfast. After a few days, Gerloc and Amenda
joined us, though neither could match us.
Grabbing some snack foods, I headed back to my room, which was fine with me.
The next few subjective hours would be tough enough without any distractions.
Once inside, I eased the window wide open, trying to coax a breeze inside. For
early fall, the weather was warm, almost hot. Entering the undertime too warm
would make the entire dive uncomfortable.
After I opened the window and laid out my mid-morning snack, I sat before the
desk and forced myself to eat all the elements of the semi-meal slowly,
following it with a watered-down and tastier version of Sustain.
Then I stood up and walked around, trying to figure out what route I would
take, but merely thinking about it didn't offer much insight. Where and when I
wanted to view was clear, although why was another question I didn't really
want to address. Still... I had promised myself that I would try, and a
promise was a promise, even to me.
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