Chapter 23 Chapter 21 Salutation

I clung to Jeb's side, slightly in front of him, trying to get as far away as possible from the two men following us.Jamie is walking almost in the middle, not sure where he should go. I couldn't concentrate the rest of the way Jeb showed us around.My attention wasn't focused on the second vegetable garden he led me through - scorchingly hot from the glowing mirrors and the corn was waist-high - or on the spacious, low-ceilinged cave , which he called the "rec room."It was dark in there, deep in the ground, but he told me they had lights when they wanted to entertain.I didn't understand the meaning of the word "entertainment" or what it meant among the angry survivors, but I didn't ask him to explain.There's more water here, a small fountain that's poisonous and sulfurous, and Jeb says they sometimes use it as another public toilet because the water isn't safe to drink.

My attention was divided between the two people walking behind us and the boy walking beside me. It's amazing how much Ian and the doctor do pay attention to their behavior.No one hit me from behind - although I fancied I had eyes on the back of my head to see if they were going to do it.They just followed quietly, sometimes talking to each other in whispers.Their talk revolved around names and epithets and things of places I don't know, which may or may not be in these caves, and I couldn't understand what they meant. Jamie didn't say anything, but he kept looking at me.I would often peek at him when I wasn't looking at other people.That left me with little time to enjoy the scenery Jeb was showing me, but he didn't seem to notice my distraction.

Some of the tunnels are very long - the distances hidden underground here are unbelievable.They were often pitch black, but Jeb and the others never lingered much, apparently knowing where they were and getting used to walking in the dark.It was harder for me than it was when Jeb and I were alone.In the darkness, any sound sounded like an attack, and even the casual chatter of the doctor and Ian seemed like a cover for some kind of evil. Too suspicious.Melanie commented. If that keeps us alive, so be it. I hope you pay more attention to Uncle Jeb, it's so exciting. Do what you want on your own time.

I can only hear and see what you hear and see, Wanderer.She told me, and then she changed the subject, that Jamie looked fine.Don't you think so?Not too unhappy. He looks alert. After so long a journey in the dank darkness, we came at last to a place of light. "This is the southernmost branch in the plumbing system," Jeb explained as we walked, "not a very convenient branch, but it's got a good light all day, and that's how we made it into the hospital side For reasons, the Doctor is here to do his work." As soon as Jeb announced where we were, my body froze, my joints were frozen and locked.I stopped abruptly, feet nailed to the ground.My eyes widened in terror, and they flicked across Jeb's and the doctor's faces.

So it's all a trick?Waiting for stubborn Jared to disappear and lure me here?I can't believe I've come to this place voluntarily, how stupid I am! Melanie was also stunned.We might as well do what they wish and rush to the execution ground beautifully! They stared at me too, Jeb deadpanned, the doctor looking as surprised as I was—but not quite as terrified. I cringe a little, ready to free myself from the hand that touches my arm, if that hand isn't so familiar. "No," Jamie said, his hand just hesitantly under my elbow, "no, it's okay, really. Right, Uncle Jeb?" Jamie looked at the old man trustingly, "it's all right ,right?"

"Of course it's all right," Jeb's cloudy blue eyes were calm and clear, "just to show you my place, boy, that's all." "What are you talking about?" Ian muttered from behind us, his voice sounding annoyed because he didn't understand. "You think we brought you to the doctor on purpose?" Jamie said to me, without answering Ian, "because we wouldn't do anything like that, we promised Jared." I stared intently at his sincere face, wanting to believe. "Oh!" Ian said when he realized, and then he laughed, "That's not a bad plan, I'm surprised I didn't think of it."

Jamie looked sullenly at the big man, and patted my arm before pulling his hand away. "Don't be afraid," he said. Jeb picks up where he left off: "So this big room has a couple of cots in case someone gets sick or gets hurt. We're very lucky in that regard, the doctors don't have much to do in the emergency room." Jeb grinned at me, "Your race threw away all our medicines when it took over here, and it's hard for us to get what we need." I nodded slightly, absent-mindedly.I'm still at a loss trying to figure out where I am.The room looked innocent enough, as if it was just for therapy, but it made my stomach twitch.

"Do you know anything about alien medicine?" the doctor asked suddenly, his head tilted to one side.Full of anticipation, he gazed into my face curiously. I looked at him speechlessly. "Oh, you can talk to the doctor," Jeb encouraged me. "He's a decent guy in general." I shook my head, I wanted to answer the doctor's question, tell them I knew nothing, but they misunderstood. "She doesn't give away professional secrets," Ian said sourly, "does she, sweetheart?" "Behave yourself, Ian," Jeb growled. "Is it a secret?" Jamie asked, reserved but obviously curious.

I shook my head again, and they all stared at me in bewilderment.The doctor shook his head too, slowly and confused. I took a deep breath and said softly, "I'm not a therapist and I don't know how they—drugs—work, except that they've been tried and tested and they work—they treat the root cause, not just the symptoms. , human medicines are of course abandoned.” All four of them were staring at each other with blank expressions.First they were surprised when I didn't answer, and they're still surprised when I answer, these impossible-to-please humans. "Your species didn't make much of a difference to what we left behind," Jeb mused after a moment, "just drugs and stuff, spaceships instead of planets. Other than that , on the surface life seems to go on as usual."

"We're here to experience, not change," I whisper, "but health takes precedence over that philosophy." I suddenly slammed my mouth shut and I had to be more careful.Humans hardly want to hear the philosophy of the soul, and who knows what might offend them?Or what would stimulate their fragile patience? Jeb nodded, still thoughtful, and urged us on.When he continued to lead the tour of the hospital here, he was not as enthusiastic as before, and he did not give a very devoted introduction.We turned a corner and walked down the dark corridor when he fell suddenly silent.It's been a long, quiet ride, and I've thought about what I've said, looking for anything that might offend me.If that's the case, Jeb is too weird for me, too unpredictable.The others were mean and suspicious, and at least they had a reason, but with Jeb, how would I know what he was thinking?

The tour came to an abrupt halt as we re-entered the vast cavern, where fresh carrot shoots from the vegetable garden wove a green carpet on the dark ground. "The visit is over," Jeb said gruffly, looking at Ian and the doctor, "Go and do something useful." Ian rolled his eyes at the doctor, but they both became kind enough to walk towards the biggest exit—the one that led to the kitchen, I remembered.Jamie hesitated, following them without moving. "You come with me," Jeb told him, a little less abruptly this time, "I got you a job." "Oh," Jamie said, and I could tell he was happy to be picked. Jamie was beside me again as we walked towards the sleeping area in the cave.We chose the third aisle from the left and I was amazed that Jamie seemed to know exactly where we were going.Jeb trailed a little behind us, but Jamie stopped when we reached the green screen covering the seventh room.He pushed aside the screen for me, but he himself stood in the aisle. "Can you hide for a while?" Jeb asked me. I nodded, grateful to be hiding for a while again.I ducked into the entrance and stood a few feet inside, not sure what to let myself do.Melanie remembered there were books here, but I reminded her I wasn't going to touch anything. "I've got something to do, kid," Jeb said to Jamie. "Food doesn't grow by itself, you know, you take care of it, okay?" "Of course." Jamie smiled brightly, his thin chest swelling as he took a deep breath. My eyes widened in disbelief as Jeb put the rifle in Jamie's eagerly outstretched hand. "Are you crazy?" I yelled.I was so loud, I couldn't believe my ears at first, it felt like I was going to whisper forever. Jeb and Jamie looked up at me, stunned, and in a few moments I was walking with them down the aisle. I almost touched the hard metal barrel and almost took it out of the boy's hands.What prevents me from doing this is not that I realize that any such action is sure to kill me, and that I am more vulnerable than human beings in this respect.Even to save the boy, I couldn't let myself touch the weapon. Instead I turned to Jeb. "What are you thinking? Give a child a weapon? He's going to kill himself." "Jamie has been through enough to call him a man, I think, who knows how to handle a gun himself." Hearing Jeb's praise, Jamie straightened his shoulders, and he hugged the gun even tighter. I was dumbfounded by Jeb's stupid idea: "What if they came to me and found him with me? Do you think what would happen? This is no joke! They'd hurt him to get their way .” Jeb remained calm, with a gentle face, "I don't think there will be any trouble today, I bet on it." "Well, I won't!" I yelled again, my voice bouncing off the tunnel walls—someone's bound to hear it, but I don't care, it's better if they come while Jeb's here, "if You're so sure, then leave me here by myself and let what's going to happen, but don't put Jamie in danger!" "Is it the kid you're worried about, or are you just afraid he's going to point the gun at you?" Jeb asked, almost wearily. I blinked, furious, I never thought about it that way.I glanced blankly at Jamie, saw his surprised eyes, and realized that the idea surprised him, too. It took me a while to regroup my thoughts about arguing for myself, and the moment I did, Jeb's expression had changed.His eyes are focused and his mouth is pursed—as if he's about to put the last piece in a puzzle. "Give the gun to Ian or any of them, I don't care," I said, my voice slow and steady, "just keep the kid out of it." Jeb suddenly broke into a big smile, and strangely, his expression reminded me of a cat rushing towards me. "It's my house, boy, and I'm going to do what I want, and I've always done it." Jeb turned and walked deliberately down the aisle, whistling as he walked, and I watched him leave with my mouth open.As he disappeared, I turned to Jamie, who was looking at me annoyed. "I'm not a child," he whispered in a lower voice than usual, his little mouth protruding angrily, "now, you should, you should go to your room." The order was less severe, but I had nothing else to do, and I lost the argument by a wide margin. I sat down with my back against the wall on the side that formed the opening—the side where I could hide behind the half-hidden screen and still watch Jamie.I put my arms around my legs and started doing what I knew I would never be able to stop as long as this crazy situation continued: Watch out. I also narrowed my eyes vigilantly and put my ears up, paying attention to any approaching sounds to prevent any accidents.No matter what Jeb says, I'll be wary of anyone who challenges Jamie's guards.Before they question me, I will voluntarily turn myself in. Yes.Melanie agreed succinctly. Jamie stood in the hallway for several minutes, gun clutched tightly in his hand, unsure of how to perform his duties.After that he started pacing up and down in front of the screen, which seemed silly to him after a few steps, though, and sat down on the ground at the open end of the screen, the gun between his arched legs Between them, the chin is held in both hands.After a long time, he sighed, the guard's mission was not as exciting as he expected. I wasn't bored watching him. After about an hour or two, he started looking at me again, darting his eyes from time to time.His mouth opened a few times, and then he started mulling over what to say, whatever he wanted to say. I rested my chin on my knees, waiting for the outcome of his mental struggle, and my patience was rewarded. "The planet you came from before you were implanted in Melanie," he said at last, "what was it like there? Like here?" I was amazed by the way he thought. "No," I said.It's just Jamie here, and it's more appropriate to speak in a normal tone than to whisper, "No, it's very different there." "Can you tell me what it's like?" he asked, tilting his head to one side as he used to do when he was genuinely interested in the stories Melanie told before bed. So I told him. I told him everything about the eyegrass, a planet soaked in water.I told him about two suns, elliptical orbits, gray waters, roots that never move, breathtaking images made of a thousand eyes, millions of silent voices that everyone can hear endless in between talk. He listened with wide-eyed eyes, smiling broadly. "Is that just the only alien planet?" I said silently, trying to figure out what I'd missed, and he asked, "Eyegrass"—he smiled at the pun—"is the only Aliens?" I also laughed out loud: "Almost not, I am not the only alien in this world." "tell me." I told him about bats in the singing world—what it's like to live in a dark world full of music, what it's like to fly.I told him about the planet of mist—what it was like to be covered in thick white fur, what it was like to keep warm with four hearts, how to keep a safe distance from four-legged beasts. I started to tell him about the Flower Planet, telling him about the colors and lights there, but he interrupted me with a new question. "What are those little green things with triangular heads and big black eyes? The ones that crashed in Roswell, are those your people?" "No, not us." "Is it all fake?" "I don't know—maybe, maybe not. The universe is big, and there's a lot of life out there." "So how did you get here—if you're not the little green thing, who are you? You've got to have a body to move or something, right?" "Yes," I agreed, amazed at his grasp of the facts at hand, which I shouldn't have been--I know how clever he is, his mind is like a hungry sponge, "initially we used Our spider body, to get things started." "spider?" I told him about spiders - a fascinating species.Very intelligent, the most incredible mind we have ever encountered, each spider has three brains, three brains distributed in three arthropods.We have yet to discover a problem they cannot solve for us, and they are so dispassionately analytical that they rarely encounter a problem that their curiosity cannot solve.Of all our hosts, the spiders welcomed our occupation the most, barely noticing the difference in our presence, and when they did, seemed grateful for our implantation.Several souls who had walked on the surface of Spider Planet before implantation told us that it was cold and gray - no wonder the spiders could only see black and white and had a limited sense of temperature.Spiders are short-lived, but the larvae know everything about their planet from the moment they are born, so no knowledge is lost. I spent a brief life cycle with this species and then had no desire to return.The clarity of my mind is amazing, the ease with which I can answer any question with little effort, and the parade and dance of numbers cannot replace the feelings and colors that I can barely comprehend while in that body.I don't know how any soul could ever be content there, but that planet has been self-sufficient for thousands of years in Earth's chronology, and there's still room for settlement there, only because the spiders reproduce so quickly - they have many Lots and lots of eggs. I started telling Jamie about how the attack started here, that the spiders are our best engines - they make our spaceships that can move swiftly across the planet without being noticed.Spiders' bodies are almost as useful as their brains: each articulated limb has four legs—hence their nickname on this planet—and a twelve-fingered hand on each leg.These six-jointed fingers are as slender and strong as steel wire, and are capable of the most delicate programming.The spiders were about the size of a cow, but were short and thin, and they had no trouble getting implanted for the first time.They're stronger than humans, smarter than humans, and they're prepared, and humans don't. When I saw the crystal tears on Jamie's cheeks, I stopped mid-sentence. He was staring straight ahead, seeing nothing, his lips drawn into a line, and big salty tears trickled slowly down the cheek closest to me. Stupid, Melanie blames me, don't you think what your story means to him? Didn't you think of reminding me sooner? She didn't answer, no doubt as absorbed in the storytelling as I was. "Jamie," I called softly, my voice hoarse, and seeing his tears set off a strange feeling in my throat, "Jamie, I'm sorry, I didn't expect that." Jamie shook his head: "It's okay, I asked, I want to know how it happened." His voice was hoarse, trying to hide the pain. The desire to lean forward and wipe away those tears was almost an instinct.I tried to ignore it at first, I'm not Melanie, but the tear hung there motionless, as if it would never fall.Jamie's eyes were fixed on the empty wall, his lips trembling. He was not far from me and I reached out and ran my fingers over his cheek as the tears faded on his skin and disappeared.Instinctively again, I put my hand on his warm cheek and cup his face. For a moment, he pretended to ignore me. Then he rolled toward me, closed his eyes, and stretched out his arms.He curled up next to me with his cheek against the hollow of my shoulder, where he began to sob once he felt better. These were not the tears of a child, and that made them all the more meaningful—making his cry in front of me all the more sacred, all the more painful, the grief of a man at his family's funeral. I put my arms around him, not feeling as easy as I used to, and I cried too. "I'm sorry." I said it over and over again, expressing my apology for everything in those few words.For we found this place, for we chose it, for I was the one who took his sister, for me to bring her here, for hurting him again, for making him cry today with my casual story. I didn't let go of my arm as his pain eased, I didn't rush to let him go, as if my body wanted it from the beginning, but I didn't understand until I knew what could satisfy that desire.The mystical bond between mother and child - so strong on this planet - is no longer a mystery to me.There is no bond stronger than the one that requires your life to die.I knew this fact before, what I don't understand is why.Now I know why a mother would give her life for her child, and this knowledge will forever affect the way I see the universe. "I think I taught you not to, kid." We were so scared that we separated immediately, Jamie wobbled to his feet, and I moved closer to the ground, almost retreating into the corner of the wall. Jeb leaned over and picked up the gun we'd left on the ground. "You can't take a gun lightly like that, Jamie." His tone was very gentle—it softened the harshness of the criticism, and he reached out and ran a hand through Jamie's tousled hair. Jamie bowed his head under Jeb's arms, flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he whispered, turning as if to run away.However, he stopped after taking a step and turned to look at me. "I don't know your name," he said. "They call me the Wanderer," I said softly. "Wanderer?" I nod. He nodded too, and hurried away, the nape of his neck still red. After he was gone, Jeb leaned against the rock and slid slowly to the ground, where Jamie had been sitting.Like Jamie, he keeps his gun between his legs. "You have a funny name there," he told me.He seemed to be in the mood for small talk again. "Maybe later you'll tell me how you got your name like that, I bet it'd be an interesting story. That's a bit of a mouthful though, don't you think so, Wanderer?" I stare at him. "Mind if I simply call you Xiaoman? It's easier to say." This time he waited for an answer, and finally, I shrugged.I don't mind if he calls me "kid" or some strange human nickname, I believe it's kind. "Well then, Man." He smiled, pleased with his invention, "it's nice to know what to call you, makes me feel like we're old friends." He grinned again, one of those big smiles that elongate his whole face.I couldn't help grinning at him too, but it was a wry smile, not a happy one.He should have been my enemy, he might have gone mad, so he became my friend.It's not that he won't kill me - if things go that way - it's that he doesn't want to.With humans, what more could you ask of a friend?