Epilogue

Kandryl's trust in Djaisiuk was not misplaced: Kiacyl was kept safe.  Djaisiuk brought him back to Komislava, and if the Vukasovians ever missed him, they did not think it worth while to inquire of the Komislavians whether they had him.  It is possible that they thought that he would experience a far worse fate there than any that they themselves could concoct, knowing, as the Komislavians must, who and of whom this boy was.

When they reached Komislava, the boys were overjoyed to find their families there to greet them as they disembarked.  The families had been informed by Taician that their sons (or brothers, as the case may be) had been found and were returning home, and each family had made the journey to the IC School to meet them.
Taician did not simply allow the boys vacation time; he mandated it.  Each boy returned to their own home with their families for a minimum of two weeks.  Djaisiuk alone remained at the IC School, because he was in no condition to make that trip.  His family stayed at the school for two days, and Djaisiuk then entrusted Kiacyl to their care.  Kiacyl then began the transition which would reshape his entire life.

Djaisiuk's older brother and sister were both married with families of their own by this time, but their children -- Djaisiuk's young nieces and nephews -- quickly adopted Kiacyl as a new uncle.  His new, adopted parents too were very patient and kind and did all that they could to smooth the difficult path that Kiacyl had ahead of him.  In time, Kiacyl did come to feel himself a member of the family and even called his adopted parents, 'Mother' and 'Father'.

Eventually, Kiacyl did marry, taking to wife a Komislavian girl who did not in the least mind the fact that her husband was a converted Vukasovian.  Kiacyl's adventures seemed to begin anew for him when he entered on this new phase in life: that of marriage and child-rearing, but that is a story for another time.

* * * * * * *

The twelve boys went on only three more missions together before they were disbanded as a group.*  Jaeger remained at the IC School for several years as an instructor and then went back to his father's home and became a hunter, though at a comparatively late age, following in his father's footsteps.  Jade went on one further mission after they were disbanded with a different group whose navigator was away.  He then remained at the IC School as an instructor and researcher for many years after his own marriage.  Leil never returned to the school after this most dramatic mission; he withdrew his enrollment and was replaced by another engineer for the group's final two missions.  Creole continued on missions until the very day before his twentieth birthday.  He also remained as an instructor for several years, then returned at last to his family's farm with (by that time) his wife and five children.  Christopher never joined another team, though he did go on a few more missions before retiring to be a researcher at the school.  Eriane was reassigned to a new group until he turned nineteen, but he then also returned to the community where he had been born to continue to work in a medical capacity; he never truly returned to farm life.  Faquire, Wysire, and Detrin were each assigned to new groups where they served for several years more.  Cycil eventually went on to become an electrician, and Sandy became a doctor, with both of them assigned to the same group where their friendship continued to be close for many years.

Most of Djaisiuk's injuries were sufficiently healed before the group left on their next mission that he was able to function well.  The upper half of his leg did heal eventually, though it was never quite as good as it had been.  His foot and part of his lower leg would not heal, however, and these did have to be replaced with a prosthetic.  In his comparatively sedentary lifestyle, this proved no hindrance to him.  In fact, most who were not closely associated with him or this adventure never knew about it, although anyone could observe that he walked with a slight limp for the rest of his life.  Whether this was actually due to the prosthetic or to incomplete healing of the knee or the rest of the leg, Djaisiuk never cared enough to inquire.  The rest of his injuries healed so well in fact that most would never have been able to tell that he had ever been so injured.

Djaisiuk went with the group on each of their last three missions, then voluntarily went on two more before his twentieth birthday.  He married at age eighteen, only a few months after the group's return from this, their great adventure, and began then on the most difficult and wonderful stage of his life up to that time.  But, as with Kiacyl, the story of Djaisiuk as a husband and father must also wait for another time.


*A group remains together until the oldest member turns twenty.  When a boy reaches that age, he is no longer a student.  A boy may leave the school before reaching twenty, but he may not remain as a student past that age.

THE TWELVE -- Chapter 41 - Counselor Incognito

Kiacyl wandered aimlessly through the halls of the ship.  His mind was consumed with so many thoughts.  It couldn't be possible! he thought.  Kiacyl had known, or thought he had known, why his father was sending him away.  Kandryl must have produced a son worthy of him.  Kiacyl knew that he was a blight on his father's reputation; Kandryl had been ashamed of him, and rightly so.  The other intelligent officers had sons who were like themselves, but Kandryl had only Kiacyl, a boy of scarcely above-average intelligence.

Kiacyl knew well his father's story.  When he was twenty, Kandryl had wished to bear a son, and he had been granted permission to try.  The first baby conceived had had an adverse reaction to the genetic treatments given it to strengthen its mental abilities.  The geneticists had terminated the pregnancy.  Kandryl tried a second time with the same result.  The third time was no different.  Most intelligence workers were permitted no more than three attempts, but Kandryl was no usual worker.  He was both physically strong and mentally superior.  And his own intellect had been natural, that is without genetic manipulation, and so he could be expected to remain valuable longer than most others.  With these qualifications, his request some few years after the third failed attempt for permission to again attempt reproduction was granted.  After a fourth and fifth failed attempt, the geneticists were on the verge of declaring Kandryl incapable of useful reproduction.  In what might almost be considered desperation, Kandryl requested permission to attempt to bear a natural son.  This was almost never done, but Kandryl reasoned that he himself was intelligent enough naturally that he would have a much higher chance of producing a naturally useful heir than would most others.  After a great deal of consideration on the part of Kandryl's superiors, this request too was at last granted.  It was in this way that Kiacyl was conceived.

What Kandryl's reaction to the knowledge that Kiacyl was healthy and strong, but only slightly above average intelligence might have been, Kiacyl did not know.  He knew only that he had been allowed to live and to grow.  He was trained as an intelligent worker and lived as one.  By the time that he was old enough to be viewed as a possible detriment to the other workers around himself, Kandryl too was old enough to be considered very valuable.  It had been suggested that Kiacyl be put away, but Kandryl had countered this suggestion.  He now had the authority to do so.  Kiacyl was not a son of whom his father could be proud, but he was, at least, a son.  Kandryl always kept Kiacyl near to himself, working in whatever facility Kandryl might then be managing.  Even so, there was always a distance -- a sort of tension -- between them.  Kandryl would not speak of Kiacyl as his son, nor was Kiacyl ever to speak to others of who his father was.  This latter part was easy, because, being of lower intelligence, Kiacyl rarely spoke to anyone apart from his work.

Kiacyl knew that his father would wish to have a different son.  It would not be until he was considered very, very valuable that he would ever be given permission to try again.  Shortly before the arrival of the Komislavian boys, Kandryl had attained that position.  Kiacyl had then considered it very likely that his father would try again.  Whether or not he would succeed, none could say.  But if he did, Kiacyl knew that something would have to be done with himself.  He did not think that Kandryl would have him put away in the normal sense, for that would be to admit that the boy whom he had (secretly) called his son for thirteen years was, in truth, useless.  But neither would he wish Kiacyl to continue to live, particularly taking into account the fact that Kiacyl was natural, meaning that he would likely live a long life.

When Kandryl had told Kiacyl that he was to accompany the Komislavian boys as they left Vukosava, Kiacyl had then believed that this was his method of disposing of Kiacyl himself.  Why else would he have sent him away?  Kiacyl had believed all of his life that this time would come, and he admired his father for his ingenuity in devising such a unique method of getting rid of him, but he had yet been hurt.  He couldn't have explained why, and he would never have admitted it to anyone, but it did still hurt him, looking at his father for the final time, knowing that he would never see him again.  He had always known that his father cared nothing for him, and yet somehow this final rejection, as it had seemed to him, was still painful.

But now Djaisiuk was saying that that hadn't been the case at all!  He said that Kandryl had sent Kiacyl away in order to save his life.

Kiacyl had known somewhat of the experiment his father was conducting, and, now that he thought of it, it seemed that the experiment must have failed in some way if the Komislavians had come to fetch the group.  How was that possible?  But, he considered, what did it matter how it was done?  If it was true that the experiment had failed and that it was known outside of Vukosava, then there was very little doubt that Kandryl would be executed.  After all, for such a failure as that -- for bringing shame to the Vukasovian race -- death was unavoidable.  Kiacyl also knew well that if his father was killed, he would himself immediately follow if he wasn't executed first.

If it hadn't been for the expression on his father's face as he had instructed Kiacyl to go with Djaisiuk and to obey him perfectly, Kiacyl felt that he might even now be able to deny it.  But Kandryl had been almost agitated; Kiacyl had been able to see that much.  And that was something that Kiacyl had never before seen in his father.

"You must go with Djaisiuk," Kandryl had said.  "Obey him quickly and without question.  Speak to no one but to him, unless he instructs you to do so, until you are well away from the planet."

Kiacyl's eyes had widened at this, and he had opened his mouth to question, but Kandryl had cut him off.

"Once you are well underway, Djaisiuk will explain," he had continued.  "Remember, you must never tell anyone who your parents are."

Kandryl's last order had confused him slightly.  Kiacyl had never told anyone, and he knew that he never would.  Why would his father even have to tell him that?  Kiacyl understood now.  He was going to Komislava.  He was supposed to accompany these Komislavian boys back to their own planet where he would be integrated into their culture.  Kandryl had not wanted Kiacyl's silence for his own pride; he had wanted it for Kiacyl's own safety.  Kandryl had kidnapped these Komislavian boys, had imprisoned them, had tortured them.  Even if the Komislavians were all as kind as were these twelve, surely at least the families of these boys would be angry and perhaps vengeful on behalf of them.  Kandryl had been seeking to protect his son.  This thought awakened again the pain with which Kiacyl had struggled earlier.  He stopped walking and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself and to think clearly.

Kandryl had sent him away to save his life.  His father had come to Djaisiuk, the one whom he'd so mistreated, and somehow convinced him to take Kiacyl with them when they left.  What agony of humiliation had he had to endure in doing so?  Kiacyl could not imagine nor did he want to do so.  It couldn't be possible!  Could it be that Kandryl really did care for Kiacyl?  No!  Kiacyl did not allow himself to believe it.

Wysire had said that his father had loved him.  Such a statement was an insult worse than any Kiacyl could imagine.  His father was a Vukasovian through and through, and he would never have allowed himself to be sullied by emotional weakness.  'Caring for someone leaves one open to manipulation.'  Kandryl would never have allowed that in himself.  Kiacyl was proud of his father; his father had had no weaknesses.  No, Kiacyl assured himself; his father had not loved him, and he would never allow anyone to say otherwise.

But he had loved his father.

* * * * * * *

Kiacyl didn't know how far he'd walked when he saw one of the two adult doctors coming toward him.  The doctor was looking down at a parchment as he walked, and he didn't notice Kiacyl until he had almost reached him.

"Oh, hello," said the doctor in a surprised tone when he finally looked up.  "It's good to see you out and about at last.  I know that you haven't left Djaisiuk's side in the last few days.  You must be ready for a bit of exercise."  He smiled.

Kiacyl looked at him, but didn't answer.  His brows slowly creased into a frown.

"Oh dear!  Where are my manners?" exclaimed the doctor, quickly tucking his parchment under his left arm and extending his right hand in greeting.  "We really haven't been introduced.  I am Cieru, physician worker of the IC School.  And you are?"

Kiacyl's upper lip curled slightly in disgust, and he made no move to take the proffered hand.

"I am one who is under no obligation to give you any information whatsoever," he said scornfully.

The doctor's eyes widened in surprise.  Before he could answer, however, Kiacyl heard another step approaching from behind him.

"Where are your manners indeed, Cieru!" said a commanding voice.  "Is that any way to speak to a stranger?"

Kiacyl turned and saw the second doctor approach.  This doctor regarded Cieru with a look of extreme displeasure.  Glancing back at the first doctor, Kiacyl saw that he was now looking up at the newcomer, his surprise having doubled.  The second doctor used the brief opportunity while Kiacyl was not looking at him to wink significantly at Cieru.  Cieru frowned in confusion, but said nothing.  When Kiacyl turned back to him, the second doctor wore again an expression of stern rebuke.

"Well, go along with you," he said to Cieru.  "He's made it clear that he doesn't want your company."

Cieru continued to look at him incredulously for a moment, then, with a short glance at Kiacyl and a confused shake of the head, he walked past them and on down the hallway, pulling out his parchment again as he went.  The other doctor then turned to Kiacyl as Cieru disappeared around a bend.

"Please accept my apologies for my kinsman," he said.  "He's not well versed in the proper way to speak to strangers."

His voice and manners seemed cold and unfeeling for a Komislavian, though they would have been considered open and bordering on soft-spoken for a Vukasovian.  Kiacyl looked at him suspiciously.

"Who are you?" he asked scornfully.

"Farion, doctor and professor of medical science of the Komislavian IC School, at your service," answered the doctor, drawing himself up proudly.  Still he did not smile.

"We met once, didn't we?" Kiacyl asked.

"It's possible," the doctor replied.  "I believe that I've seen you with Djaisiuk."

"You didn't act like this then," Kiacyl said in a voice that was almost accusing.

"I wasn't speaking with you then," came the immediate reply.

There was silence for a moment as the two regarded one another.  At last, Farion stepped back and extending a hand out along the hall, as if showing the way ahead.

"If you'd like a tour of this ship, I'd be happy to show you around it," he said, still speaking in what he considered to be a tone of haughty indifference.  "I've nothing else to do at the moment."

Kiacyl still regarded him with mild suspicion, but he stepped forward without a word and allowed himself to be shown around the ship.  He too had nothing else to do at the moment, and he could expect to be on a Komislavian ship for several more days if he was soon sent back to Vukosava.  Knowing his own way around one might prove useful.

This particular ship was not an especially large one, really, which was probably why a crew of four was sufficient to keep it running.  It was certainly not made for a full IC crew.  The main hall formed an ellipse, circling round the engine room.  The doctor pointed out the open doorways and different halls leading to the many different rooms as they passed them.  First came the storage rooms that had been quickly converted to sleeping quarters in order to have enough space for the twelve boys.  A little further on and they passed the hall leading to the emergency medical room and its adjoining waiting room where Kiacyl had slept on the first night.  Next came the engine room where the pilot and navigator worked.  They both glanced up as the two passed, and Farion gave a brief introduction to Kiacyl, but the latter said nothing to them.

Farion explained each room as they passed and made a few comments about the ship in general from time to time.  Kiacyl listened and occasionally asked a question or two which were answered in the same tone of voice as the explanations were given.  Through it all, Farion was careful to avoid asking Kiacyl any questions.  Finally, they came to the food preparation room.

"Would you like something to eat or drink?" asked Farion.  "I'd like a cup of tea myself."

Kiacyl answered the question in the negative.  He didn't feel like eating just now, and he wouldn't have eaten with this Komislavian regardless.  He did sit at the small table, still with an expression of indifference and light suspicion, while Farion moved about the small room, preparing a pot of tea.  Farion watched Kiacyl through this, but Kiacyl stared moodily down at the table.  At last, the doctor joined him at the table.

"Well, now you've seen the ship," he said simply.

Kiacyl didn't look at him.  Farion sipped his tea quietly.

"Will you be staying at the IC School on Komislava?" he asked.

"I won't be staying on Komislava," replied Kiacyl sharply.  "I'll be returning to Vukosava."

"Do you mind if I ask why you are here in first place?"

"I'm here because the one whom you call Djaisiuk kidnapped me," Kiacyl replied.

Farion reacted only by raising his eyebrows.  He then turned back to his tea and nodded understandingly.

"I understand that he is very, shall we say, eccentric," said Farion.

"Eccentric?" demanded Kiacyl.  "Kidnapping is an inter-planetary offense.  You call that eccentric?"

"You're right," nodded Farion.  "I shouldn't call it that.  It is strange, though.  Why would he do such a thing?"

"He thought that I'd want it, so he says," sneered Kiacyl.  "Apparently, he was told that I'd be killed if I stayed on Vukosava."

"Ah, and it wasn't a reliable source from which he obtained this information?"

"It was very reliable!" snapped Kiacyl before realizing the trap into which he'd stepped.

Farion looked at him calmly, and Kiacyl shut his mouth and turned away angrily.

"Then you would have been killed if you'd stayed?"

Kiacyl didn't answer.  Farion waited, then spoke again.

"Your name is Kiacyl, isn't it?" he asked.

Kiacyl glanced up at him, still looking angry, but he said nothing.

"Kiacyl, have you thought about your future?" Farion asked gently.  "The future is as sure as the past.  We don't know what will happen or when, but we know that it will come to pass.  The past is already gone and cannot be changed, but it is the past that builds the future.  The future is not yet firmly set, but it will one day be the past and will not then be open to change either.  If you pull yourself outside of time for a moment and look at the past, the present, and the future all as one single continuous picture, you may see what I mean.  Who you are now and what you do now will shape what will be for you.  Once an action is done, it cannot be undone.  Your future will be what you make it to be.  When it comes and goes and you look back on it as the past, will you then think that killing yourself will have been the best decision?

"Kiacyl, you may have a family of your own in the future.  You may have a wife and children.  Your children may have children, and their children may have children.  Look at yourself in the future: you may be a husband, a father, a grandfather, if you allow that future to come to pass.  Your children will be as sure then as you are now.  If you kill yourself now, don't you see that all of your children will die before they are born?  They are still in you, and if you die, they will die as potentials and imaginations only.  If you do not live, your wife will never have her husband.  Your wife of the future is the widow of the past.  Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will never be born.  Think now, before you decide that you want to die: think of all that will never come to pass.  Think of the family that you will never enjoy, the experiences that you will never experience, and the life that you will not have the opportunity to live."

Farion ceased, and Kiacyl stared at him in open astonishment.  Never, in all the thirteen years that he'd been alive, had he heard such a strange and extraordinary argument.  Step outside of time?  It was true that what Farion had said at first made sense: the future was just as sure as the past, in that it was inevitable that the future would come to pass.  No one could say what the future would be, but anyone could safely say that it would be.  But the rest of the argument was so confusing!  His wife?  His children?  He was only thirteen!  How was he supposed to even imagine his future family, let alone shape his current actions around them?  They didn't even exist!  Or did they?  If he did "step outside of time" and look at the future in the way that he would one day look at it, that is when it had become the past, didn't they already exist then?  And did his grandchildren exist?  And great-grandchildren?

Kiacyl closed his eyes and pressed his hands to his head.  It was too much!  He couldn't comprehend it, and he didn't want to try.  He wouldn't think about it.  He would go on as if he'd never heard this fantastic argument.  He took a deep breath to steady himself.

Go on?  Where?  He realized that he couldn't go on now as if he'd never heard it.  He had heard it.  The future was there, staring him in the face.  He had a family again.  He had a wife somehow.  He even had children, though he didn't understand how, seeing that he had them only in the future, which was somehow as real and sure now as the past.  If he went back to Vukosava and was executed, he would be destroying any and every future open to him.  He would be eliminating, once and for all, any opportunity of . . . of anything that was open to him.  His offspring too; he would be killing them.  His sons and grandsons.  His father's grandsons.

His father's grandsons.  Kiacyl felt a chill pass through him at the thought.  He was the only son of his father, and if he killed himself then he would also be killing the future offspring of his father.

Kiacyl opened his eyes.  Had his father seen this?  Was this why he had sent him away?  His father hadn't wanted his son to die; that much was obvious.  But had he also not wanted his grandsons to die?  Had he been thinking of them?  Of his great-grandsons?  Kandryl was a genius of geniuses.  Why would he not have thought of this?  He was saving not only his son but all of his line.  He was saving the generations that would come after him.  Kiacyl was sure of it now.  He was the only hope for his father's line.  He was now the only one left alive.

No, Kiacyl realized, he couldn't kill himself.  He couldn't return to Vukosava, if there was a chance of life elsewhere.  He would not murder the grandchildren of his father.  Their shadows, if met with in another life, would not be able to say to him, "You did not give me a chance to live!"  He would not intentionally cut off the line of his father.  He would live, for as long as he could; for as long as life was granted to him.

Farion had sat silently, watching Kiacyl work though all of this in his mind.  His face had grown softer as he watched, so that when Kiacyl looked up at last, he saw a normal Komislavian with a friendly, compassionate face looking down at him.  Kiacyl frowned at first, suspicious again, but the frown did not stay long.  He lowered his eyes and sighed softly, his face looking perfectly resigned.

"Would you take me back to Djaisiuk's room?" he asked calmly, standing up from the table.  "I need to speak with him."

THE END

THE TWELVE -- Chapter 40 - Communications

Eriane returned with the other boys in time to hear the end of Jaeger's explanation to Wysire of what Djaisiuk had been doing with the call device.  There was a certain code, common among Komislavian hunters, that was communicated through tapping.  Jaeger had known this code ever since he learned to read.  It was apparent that Djaisiuk knew it too, though Jaeger had never known this before now.  When Djaisiuk had called Eriane when Kiacyl attacked Wysire, he had been tapping the word: "Jaeger."  Jaeger had responded and followed Eriane quickly to the room.  Later, in the room, Djaisiuk had again used the call device to tap a message.  These were what Jaeger had then spoken to Kiacyl.

When the other boys entered, Jaeger and Wysire moved back to make more space.  Once everyone was in the room, they were very crowded, but no one seemed to mind.  Jade, Creole, Christopher, and Detrin were on Djaisiuk's left side; Jaeger, Wysire, Leil, Eriane, and Faquire were on his right; and Cycil and Sandy stood at the foot of the bed.  Eriane had warned them all to avoid touching the bed, so they sat or stood around the walls, being careful not to get too close to Djaisiuk.  Djaisiuk had meantime begun entering data again, though he did look vaguely around at the boys as he did so.  Wysire was ready to translate for him, but Djaisiuk did not stop, nor did he offer the parchment to him.

"Thank you for allowing us to invade your time of recovery, Djaisiuk," said Jade with a smile, once they were all fitted into the room.  "We've all been wanting to come and see you.  It really is so good to see you now, on your way to recovery, at least."

"Can you tell us now why they did this to you, and why they wanted to torture all of us too?" asked Sandy.

"We're on our way back home," said Jaeger, turning to Sandy.  "Rules that may have been relaxed while we were captives ought to be back in place now.  He doesn't have to tell us anything, and we're not to ask."

"But I'm not asking why he did something," protested Sandy.  "I'm asked why they did something to him."

"Kandryl said that they were doing it because of something that Djaisiuk had done," Eriane explained to Sandy.  "Asking him why they did this is the same as asking him what he did."

"Sandy's really just asking you to confirm or to deny our suspicions, Djaisiuk, although, as Jaeger said, you're certainly under no obligation to do so," said Creole.  "We discussed it at length yesterday.  The diplomat who came to fetch us and the one doctor who checked each of us were able to tell us a little, but they didn't say how they knew where to find us.  I spoke a little with the mechanic, but he didn't know anything about it.  He said that he had been working on a ship and suddenly received instructions to come immediately to this ship.  They left barely ten minutes after he arrived.  He wasn't even given time to pack anything."

"I talked with the pilot too," nodded Jaeger.  "He said that four days ago, word came down from Taician that he wanted our fastest transport ship prepped and ready to fly within an hour.  He wanted an experienced crew ready, though only a pilot, navigator, mechanic, and electrician were absolutely necessary.   Oh, and also two doctors.  The ship was to have additional supplies and sleeping quarters for a full IC crew, and all sorts of medical supplies were to be brought 'just in case,' he'd said."

"Yes, the doctor told me the same thing," said Christopher.  "He said that he'd been in the middle of teaching a class when he received the call that said he had thirty minutes to pack for a ten day trip.  He had no idea of what was happening until they were already underway."

"The diplomat seemed to know the most," said Jade.  "Apparently most of the others got their information from him after they'd left.  He said that Taician had summoned him personally and explained that we had been found on Vukosava and that he was sending him to go and fetch us.  The diplomat said that by that time everyone had known that we had disappeared without a trace, and no one had any idea of where we were.  He said that Taician told him that they had just discovered exactly where we were, but that he didn't have time then to explain how.  He said that we were on Vukosava and that he had already sent coordinates down to the ship bay.  He said that the ship had to go as quickly as possible and send no heralding message until they were just outside of Vukasovian space.  At that time, he was just to say that he was here to fetch us, to give them our names and ages, and to say exactly where we were being held.  He was also to say that we had proof of this on our planet.  (That was so that they couldn't just blow up the ship and claim ignorance, I'd imagine.)  So they came with all haste, obeyed Taician's orders to the letter, and received word back that we'd be handed over immediately, which we were."

"Taician had given the diplomat a list of our names and descriptions," said Eriane, "but he had had no idea what state we'd be in physically.  That was why he wanted the extra doctor."

"So the question seems to be, how did Taician obtain this information?" asked Jaeger, looking at Djaisiuk now with a smile.  "The only solution that we could reach was that you had somehow sent it, though how you could do that without detection is beyond even my imagination."

"The idea that you sent the message does seem to make the most sense," said Jade.  "The only problem with that theory is that either Kandryl knew or he didn't know that you'd done it.  He said that you'd done something and that he wanted to find out what it was, but if it was a message that you'd sent and he knew that much, surely he could have guessed the reason and the content.  And if he didn't know you'd sent a message, what did he think that you had done?  Or why did he think that you'd done anything?"

"Of course you don't have to answer any of this," said Creole quickly.  "I think that we're all just wondering aloud.  We're not really questioning you."

"And as long as we're not questioning," said Faquire, sounding somewhat sarcastic, "I hope that not one will mind if I don't ask why we have a Vukasovian aboard the ship with us."

For a moment, no one spoke.  Most of the others looked uncomfortable with Faquire's tone of voice.

"I think that we'd all like to know why he's here," said Jade, "but that explanation may have to wait until we get back to Komislava."

"Of course," agreed Faquire, still sarcastically.  "After all no one questions Djaisiuk."

"Faquire, you're sounding a little harsh," frowned Jaeger.

"Do you think that the Vukasovians are idiots?" demanded Faquire.  "Creole told them on the day that we landed that we don't question Djaisiuk.  If they wanted to place a plant among us, of course Djaisiuk would be the one to use."

"The couldn't make Djaisiuk do something that he didn't want to do!" exclaimed Leil, looking appalled at Faquire's insinuations.  "And Djaisiuk wouldn't do anything without good reason."

"Djaisiuk isn't well," retorted Faquire.  "I think that we can all see that the Vukasovians did a lot to him.  Why isn't it possible that they did something to his mind too?  They used a mind altering drug on me; why not on Djaisiuk?  How can we know that he brought that Vukasovian with us of his own free will?  How do we even know that he's still the same person inside?"

"Faquire--" began Jade, but Faquire interrupted.

"Look, am I the only one who is bothered by this?" asked Faquire, looking around at all of them.  "Given the fact that Djaisiuk was away from all of us for so long -- you all said that you only saw him twice in the nearly twenty days that we were there -- how can we be sure that they haven't altered his mind?  That Vukasovian was with him every minute of every day; the only news that you even had of Djaisiuk -- so you've said -- came through him.  Even when I was with the two of them, Djaisiuk never spoke to me or even looked at me.  He couldn't have acted more as if he was being controlled by them if he had tried!  Am I the only one who's not comfortable trusting him unquestioningly, seeing that he actually brought one of our enemies with us?"

The other boys all looked at him silently, some glancing at one another too.  Finally, Jaeger took a deep breath and spoke.

"Yes, Faquire," he said softly.  "I think that you are."

"You said that they did something to your mind," said Leil, frowning at Faquire now.  "How do we know that you aren't being this way to Djaisiuk because of that?"

Faquire glared at Leil for a moment but didn't speak.

"Faquire," began Wysire gently.  "We know that it must--"

"Don't patronize me!" snapped Faquire.  Glancing around at the others, he said, "If you all believe in him, then so be it.  I won't say anything more."

The others looked at each other again, the two youngest looking mostly at Wysire.  Wysire looked only at Faquire, but then lowered his own eyes without speaking.  Eriane stepped forward.

"This stress isn't good for Djaisiuk," he said.  "He needs peace right now.  If we want to continue this conversation in any shape or form, I suggest that we move it to another room."

Djaisiuk had closed his eyes some time earlier, though he had continued to enter data into the parchment.  When Eriane finished speaking, however, he opened his eyes and turned his head slightly to face him.

"No," he rasped painfully.

Everyone turned to look at him in surprise.  Eriane looked a little uncomfortable.

"Djaisiuk, please," he said.  "You need your rest."

Djaisiuk said nothing at first.  He looked Eriane in the eye and continued typing.  A moment or two passed in silence.  Djaisiuk then stopped, disconnected the right-hand extension, lifted the parchment, and handed it to Jaeger who stood near his right hand.  Jaeger looked a little surprised.  He glanced down at the words entered and read a little.

"Would you like me to read this aloud?" he asked hesitantly, looking up at Djaisiuk again.

Djaisiuk nodded once, closing his eyes again.  All of the boys looked at Jaeger expectantly, so Jaeger cleared his throat and began.

"It begins, 'I must apologize for taking this means of communicating with all of you.  To speak aloud all that I would like to say would be more than painful to me; it would be detrimental.  Eriane would doubtless disallow it regardless.'"

Eriane chuckled.  "He's correct there," he murmured.

"'Even so,'" continued Jaeger, "'I wish to offer some explanation regarding certain actions of mine.  By way of explanation, I must note that Kandryl never trusted me, simply because of my great intellect, the fact of which was made available to him through my IC School data chip.  If I had been perfectly compliant, he would have trusted me less.  Hence, I maintained my normal silence, after a brief conversation on the first night.  He desired absolute submission from me, but this I could not and would not give.  From the start, he attempted to break my will, and this was why I was eventually subjected to the small device which so upset Eriane that day, early in our capture.  It was for this reason (among others) that I could not seek your presence earlier than when I did so: if Kandryl had thought that I cared for any of you, he would doubtless have used one or more of you against me, probably in ways that would have been severely uncomfortable if not damaging to yourselves."

"You could have used me!" exclaimed Creole.  "If there had been a way to lighten your own load by shifting it onto me, you would have been welcome to do so!"

"And how would he have done that?" asked Jaeger, looking amused.  "I agree with you, and I say that he would have been welcome to use me as well, but if he had suddenly expressed a wish to see us unharmed, then I would think that the Vukasovians would have been suspicious."

Creole reluctantly conceded the point, and Jaeger continued.

"'Another reason,'" Jaeger read, "'was that every spare moment was required for the timely completion of my plan of escape, begun before we first left the ship.  In the beginning, I did not know exactly how much time we would have; I did not know how long Creole, Christopher, and Faquire would be kept alive.  In my position on Vukosava, I was able to determine that our presence there was the second phase of a grand experiment.  Kandryl wished to strengthen his own people at the expense of ours: specifically, he would capture groups from the IC school and absorb them into Vukasovian culture, thus weakening our race while fortifying his own.'"

Sandy gasped, and the others looked at Jaeger in horror.

"You mean that he was going to capture more groups?" asked Sandy.

Then how do we know that they won't just try again with another group, if that's what they meant to do all along?" asked Cycil.

"Given that it failed this time, I doubt that they'll take that risk," answered Jade.

"'Any who refused to serve them would be kept for experimental purposes,'" continued Jaeger, "'but their lives would not be considered especially valuable.  Every moment spent on Vukosava was a continued danger to the ultimate health -- both mental as well as physical -- of Creole, Christopher, and Faquire.'"

"I hope that you didn't practically kill yourself just to save the three of us from a little damage," said Christopher, looking at Djaisiuk.

"If you say that you did," said Creole, "then you shall severely upset my equanimity."

Djaisiuk still lay with his eyes closed.  He didn't move or speak when they addressed him, so Jaeger again continued.

"The plan itself was simple, though the execution thereof was not.  The experiment would have been universally condemned, were it made known, hence knowledge and proof of its existence in the hands of an outside source were all that would be required to ensure its end.  Through somewhat complicated means, I was able to send a message to our people nearly three weeks after our capture.  The message contained the information; the message itself -- sent in my own personal code and with my signature -- was the proof.  This would be sufficient for our people to then be able to come and retrieve us.  The true difficulty lay in being able to send the message without detection, either before, during, or after.  The explanation of how it was done would take far more time and energy than I am willing to invest for such a purpose at this time.'"

"Yes, indeed!" smiled Eriane.  "Had I known how much mental energy you were putting into this message alone, I might have tried to prevent it.  As much as I'd like my own curiosity appeased, it isn't worth delaying your recovery."

"'It was the day that the message was to be sent that I came to see all of you,'" continued Jaeger, "'and I realize now that that was a mistake.  I had hoped that Kandryl would never discover what I had done, but, two days after, I found that he had done so, though only in part.  I know not how much he knew nor how much he guessed.  He knew at least that I had performed some significant action without orders, but he could not have known what.  He questioned me, but I refused to explain my actions.  To tell him what I'd done and to give him warning would only have given him time to kill us all and to destroy all evidence of our ever having been there before our people could arrive."

"I see now why you wouldn't tell him, even when he wanted to torture all of us," said Jade.  "It would have meant instant death for all of us."

"But what if he had found out anyway?!" cried Sandy.  "What then?"

"That kind of speculation is pointless, Sandy," said Creole gently.  "He didn't find out, so there's no reason to dwell on what-if's."

"Besides which, it's pretty obvious that Djaisiuk did a very good job of covering his tracks," said Wysire.  "I'm sure that if Kandryl could have found out in some way other than torturing Djaisiuk for the information, he would have done so."

"'I never wanted any of you to be involved,'" continued Jaeger.  "'I believe now that by my going to you, I awakened the possibility, at least, in Kandryl's mind of an emotional tie between myself and all of you.  This was why he attempted to draw the information from me by torturing you.  Had I maintained my distance from you, perhaps you would have been spared.'"

Oh, stop!" exclaimed Creole.  "If he continues like this, just skip that part, Jaeger."  Turning to Djaisiuk (whose eyes were still shut), he continued, "We're all a group, aren't we?  If one suffers, all of us do.  There was no reason why you should have borne all of this alone.  You were doing it for us as well as yourself; it was right that we should have helped, if we could."

"I agree with Creole, Djaisiuk, at least for my part," said Jaeger.  "I appreciate your compassion, but for those of us who are able to bear it, I'm sure that we would have willingly shared in your torment, especially considering that it was all because of what you did for us."

Djaisiuk still did not respond, so Jaeger turned back to the parchment.

"He says that he's sorry about it all, Creole," said Jaeger with a smile.  "May I read that part, or shall I skip ahead?"

"I'd rather not hear it," said Creole.  "Does anyone object?"

Most of the others shook their heads, some smiling.

"Kandryl never got past Jade, anyway," smiled Detrin.  "You two and Creole are the only ones who were really hurt."

Wysire glanced at Eriane when Detrin said this, but Eriane returned the look with a short shake of the head.  Neither spoke.

"Let's see," said Jaeger, looking down at the parchment again and reading forward.  "I'll summarize it: he says that he feels bad asking this, given what he put us through, but that he has a request to make of all of us."

"Granted!" exclaimed Creole.  "I don't care what it is; for my part, I say 'yes'."

"'This request could be made on my authority,'" said Jaeger, reading aloud again, '"but I will not do so; I will defend it first.  Understand that Vukasovian law is brutal: Kandryl committed a great crime against his own people, not in kidnapping all of us, but rather in being caught.  His actions caused embarrassment to his planet's political government, and for this there can be no forgiveness.  His punishment will be death.  Indeed, he is probably dead already.  Had I not interfered, he would not have died alone.  This leads now to my request, and it is tied to Kandryl as well, for it is the request that he came to make of me just before we left.'"

"What!?" exclaimed Faquire.  "He'd ask us to accede to a request made by Kandryl?  I don't think that anyone could doubt that he'd been mentally altered after that!"

"Faquire!" exclaimed Wysire.  "You haven't even heard what it is."

"I don't have to hear it," snorted Faquire.  "If Kandryl made it, then I say 'denied' as quickly as Creole said 'granted'!"

"I think that you'll want to hear it first," said Jaeger quietly, his eyes widening as he read.  "'In my research for sending the message, I had discovered -- quite by accident -- that Kandryl had a son who was of little or no value to the Vukasovians; he was kept alive for his father's sake.  Now that Kandryl was to be executed, the Vukasovians would have killed the son as well.  Kandryl came to me to ask me to--"

"Not Kiacyl!" exclaimed Cycil, interrupting Jaeger.  "You're not going to say that Kiacyl is Kandryl's son, are you?!"

"'To save the life of his son, Kiacyl,'" continued Jaeger.  "'He knew that--'"

"Wait, wait!" exclaimed Eriane, holding up his hands.  "Slow down.  Kandryl was Kiacyl's father?"

"Yes, hold a moment, Jaeger, please," agreed Jade.  "I think that we'll all need a moment to digest this."

"So that's why he's here," murmured Christopher.

"I don't need time to digest it," said Faquire in a low voice, speaking through clenched teeth.  "And if the request is what I now guess it to be, then I say 'denied' all the more emphatically!"

The other boys looked at Faquire in surprise.  Wysire opened his mouth, but then closed it again without speaking.  After waiting a short moment, Jaeger turned back to the parchment and continued.

"'He' -- that's still Kandryl -- 'knew that sending Kiacyl away from Vukosava would be the only way to keep him alive, and he knew that we would be the only ones who could do that.  I agreed to take him and to keep him safe.  This is where I must make a difficult request of all of you: I ask that you assist me regarding him.  Kiacyl is frightened and confused, and this in a Vukasovian tends quickly toward anger; his father is dead, and he is now forever cut off from his own people.  He is coming to live among a race which he has been taught to hate.  His acclimation will be very, very difficult.  At this time, mental damage will be far easier to effect than physical, and it will likewise take far longer to heal.  I ask that you treat him with kindness, though not with condescension; gentleness, but not compassion.  He will likely react with vehemence toward everyone and everything for some time.  I ask that any anger that you bear toward Kandryl, toward the Vukasovians, or even toward Kiacyl himself be overlooked for my sake.  If ever you trusted me, if ever you had reason to follow me, I ask you to do so now.'"

Jaeger slowly lowered the parchment.

"That's all," said he quietly.

For a long moment there was complete silence in the room.

"Wow," breathed Detrin, shaking his head.

"It's a lot to absorb," agreed Wysire quietly.

"Well, I realize now that I oughtn't to have spoken so hastily earlier," said Creole with half a smile.  "Even so, who could refuse a request like that?  I still say, 'granted,' and I'll do all that I can to help."

"I say the same, Djaisiuk," said Jaeger, looking at Djaisiuk.  "You didn't even have to appeal to your own trustworthiness; for my part, his position alone is worthy of our pity."

Eriane shook his head, frowning in confusion.  "I just can't believe it," he said.  "I mean, I do believe it, but I just can't wrap my mind around it.  Why would Kandryl send him with us?  He hated us, or so I thought."

"He wanted to save Kiacyl's life," said Jade.  "Djaisiuk said so.  Or rather, he said that Kandryl said so."

"This explains a lot to me," nodded Jaeger.  "I could tell that it was something very important about which he'd come to talk with Djaisiuk, there, just before we left, but I couldn't imagine what it was.  This makes sense."

"It doesn't make any sense to me," said Eriane.  "Why would he think that Kiacyl would even be safe with us?  Didn't he suppose that we might kill him out of anger, knowing that he was his son?"

"We'd never do that!" exclaimed Sandy and Cycil together, both looking horrified.

"I know that we'd never do it," Eriane quickly assured them.  "I'm very glad that Djaisiuk agreed to help him, and that he was able to succeed; I think that it's wonderful that he's able to come back with us rather than die at the hands of his own people.  I'm just saying that it seems like Kandryl, being a Vukasovian and thinking like one, wouldn't know that."

"Oh, he understood Komislavians a lot better than you'd think," said Wysire.  "I think that he knew how we'd respond.  And he knew that most of us had already started making friends with Kiacyl.  We wouldn't be able to hurt him, and he knew that."

"And we wouldn't want to!" insisted Sandy.

"Of course we wouldn't want to," said Jaeger.  "We're only speculating on what Kandryl might have thought."

"But, as Creole said earlier, Jaeger, such speculation is useless," said Faquire sharply.  "That's all in the past.  We now have all of us here, safely on our way back to Komislava, but with a Vukasovian among us!  And now we find that he's the son of one of the most cruel, heartless, and vicious humans in the universe at that!"

"I've met at least one worse," muttered Eriane quietly.

"Faquire, didn't you hear Djaisiuk's request?" asked Jaeger.

"I heard it.  And if he thinks that I'm going to be kind to a Vukasovian, I say that he's lost too much blood to think straight!"

"That's enough," said Eriane firmly, stepping forward again from where he'd been leaning against the wall.  "Djaisiuk has had more than enough excitement for one day.  If you're going to be criticizing him like this, Faquire, then we all need to leave.  He needs his rest."

When Eriane spoke thus of him, Djaisiuk opened his eyes, looking up at the ceiling.  He took a breath and seemed about to speak, but then merely exhaled softly, saying nothing.  Jaeger stepped forward also.

"I say granted most willingly, Djaisiuk," he said.  "I'll help in any way that I can."

"As will I," said Christopher.  "I don't know him, but now I'm excited to learn more about him."

"My skills are always at your service," smiled Wysire, "regardless of a person's race."

The other boys too -- all except Faquire -- agreed to help Djaisiuk in any way that they could regarding Kiacyl.  Some were more hesitant than others, but all agreed that they were glad that Djaisiuk had been able to save him.  Creole went so far as to apologize for how he'd treated Kiacyl on Vukosava and said that he hoped that Kiacyl wouldn't hold it against him.

At last, they all left the room, Eriane alone remaining behind to run a quick scan.  Djaisiuk closed his eyes again, and the scan was quickly completed.  Eriane then suggested that Djaisiuk try to get some sleep.  He then left the room himself, turning out the light as he went.  Once they were all gone, Djaisiuk followed the doctor's orders willingly and did proceed to promptly fall asleep.

THE TWELVE -- Chapter 39 - A Difficult Revelation

When Djaisiuk awoke, he could feel that he was back in familiar surroundings even before he opened his eyes.  The soft bed beneath him as well as the coverlet over him were distinctly Komislavian in feel.  The clothes he was now wearing had the familiar feel of Komislavian-made cloth.  Even the air smelt like home.  He opened his eyes and looked up at the creamy off-white ceiling of a small room on a Komislavian ship.

"Well, it's about time," came a sharp, Vukasovian voice from beside him.  "I've only been waiting here for three days."

For the briefest moment, Djaisiuk considered closing his eyes again in the hopes that the voice might leave with his sight.  He thought better of this however and merely took a careful breath and turned his head to the left.  There sat Kiacyl, watching him with a dark expression.  Djaisiuk blinked but said nothing.

"Your friend Eriane said that I was to call him when you woke," said Kiacyl.  "But I have a question I want answered first."

Djaisiuk did close his eyes then.  He turned his head again and took another careful breath.  He wanted to breathe deeply, but his lungs still hurt him.  It was difficult, lying here, scarcely able to move and unable to breathe as he would like.  He knew that he could call Eriane himself; a little exploration with his right hand showed that a call device had been placed there, doubtless for this purpose.  He knew though that it would be best to at least attempt to pacify Kiacyl first.

"I know that you don't like to talk," continued Kiacyl, "but I have only one question: what do you intend to do with me?"

Djaisiuk didn't move or open his eyes.  Only one question, yes, but what a question!  The answer was not going to be easy.  Djaisiuk himself had not yet had time or energy to work out the intricacies of the answer.  And he doubted very much whether Kiacyl would be satisfied with an abbreviated or incomplete answer.

"You will--" Djaisiuk began, but he broke off with a cough and a gasp, both stifled as well as he was able.  He always felt pain when speaking, even on the best days, but today was well beyond the normal discomfiture; it was torture anew.  Some of Drayl's words from when they had inflicted these injuries on his lungs came back to his mind.  Drayl had mocked Djaisiuk, saying that he would not speak when ordered to do so, and now they would make it so that he was practically incapable of doing so.  If he wished to speak, it would be very difficult, but Drayl had assured him that he would soon accept even this pain, rather than continue with what they would do to him.  Djaisiuk had little doubt that Eriane had done some work on his lungs, particularly if they had truly been on the ship for three days now, but speech was still a torture.  He knew that he might be able to speak a sentence or two before the pain overcame him entirely, but that would be insufficient.

"Well?" asked Kiacyl.

Well, there was no longer any choice.  Djaisiuk pressed the call device.  He wished that he could answer Kiacyl's question, but he couldn't, or at least not without help.

Just as Kiacyl was emitting a frustrated sigh, apparently about to speak again, the door opened, and Eriane entered.

"Hello, Djaisiuk," smiled Eriane, coming forward.  "It's good to see you awake finally.  How are you feeling?"

Djaisiuk opened his mouth, but no words came.

"Oh!  No, don't try to speak, Djaisiuk," exclaimed Eriane quickly.  "I'm sorry; I suppose that I shouldn't have asked you that.  I wasn't thinking.  You mustn't try to speak for a while yet.  Here; I brought this for you."  He opened a drawer of the small bureau in the room and withdrew a parchment with a right-hand extension.  This he laid on the bed, placing the extension in Djaisiuk's right hand.  "There," he said.  "Now, can you use this without being able to see it?"

Djaisiuk moved his fingers over the extension.  "Yes," he typed.

Eriane smiled.  "Wonderful.  Now, we've done a lot of work on you, and you'll probably be feeling it all over.  I'm afraid that you're not going to be able to move around much for quite a while.  In fact, the longer you can lie still, the better.  I know that it can't be very enjoyable, but it's best for now.  But tell me, are you feeling alright?  That is, do you think that you'll be alright without more medication for a time?"

Djaisiuk didn't reply.  He lay still, looking up at the ceiling.

"Perhaps I should rephrase that," smiled Eriane.  "Are you feeling any particularly acute pain anywhere that you'd like me to try to relieve?"

Djaisiuk's fingers again moved.  "My chest," he typed.

Eriane grimaced.  "If you mean the exterior burns, then I can do something for that, though the last medication that we gave you really should still be working there.  If you mean your lungs, then that's a little more difficult.  I know that they must be causing you a fair bit of pain, especially considering the constant use that they're getting as you breathe, but I'm afraid that the only way I can help you there is with an anesthetic that will put you to sleep again.  If you're alright with that, I'll be happy to do it, but if you'd rather be awake for a bit yet, then I'm afraid that there's nothing I can do for that pain."

He looked at Djaisiuk expectantly and waited.

"No," typed Djaisiuk after a moment.  "I prefer to remain conscious."

Eriane again smiled.  "I'm so glad that you are doing so well.  I know that it must not feel like it, but you really are recovering nicely so far.  Is there anything else that I can do?"

Djaisiuk considered.  "I may need Wysire," he typed.  "If I call you, would you send him?"

"Of course," replied Eriane with some surprise.  "I can call him now, if you want."

"No.  Only if I call you again."

"Alright.  Will you want me also?"

"No.  Thank you."

Eriane nodded, still looking a little surprised.  "I . . . suppose I'll leave you then," he said.  He hesitated.  "Just let me know if you need anything."

Djaisiuk typed nothing, so Eriane simply nodded once to Kiacyl and left.  Kiacyl had said nothing while Eriane was there, and he continued to sit silently, glowering at the wall, after the other was gone.  Djaisiuk took advantage of Kiacyl's silence to begin typing again.  When Kiacyl turned to him, Djaisiuk was prepared.

"Well?" asked Kiacyl sharply.  "Are you going to answer me?"

Without a word, Djaisiuk disconnected the extension, lifted the parchment, and handed it to Kiacyl.  The latter accepted it with a frown and looked at it.

"I cannot speak aloud to answer you," he read silently, "but I am willing to type what I can to--"

"What is this?" demanded Kiacyl, looking up again.  "Do you expect me to speak to a data-entry device?"  He threw the parchment against the wall angrily.  Leaning forward over Djaisiuk and resting his hands on the bed, he continued, "I'm not some imbecile or laborer who takes instructions that way.  I want an answer, and I want it from you, not from a machine!"

Djaisiuk cringed as Kiacyl's left wrist brushed again his own left arm.  Noticing this, Kiacyl lifted his hand.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said sarcastically.  "Does that hurt?"

Kiacyl laid his hand across Djaisiuk's and pressed down.  Djaisiuk's face contorted somewhat with the pain, but he did not gasp.  Instead, he grasped the call device, pressing the button firmly and not letting go.

"I asked you a question, Komislavian," snapped Kiacyl, still pressing his hand against Djaisiuk's, "and I'm waiting for an answer."

The door opened, and Kiacyl started back from the bed as Wysire entered.  The latter seemed not to notice Kiacyl's expression, and Kiacyl was quick to hide it.  Wysire simply stepped forward to the bed.

"Hello, Djaisiuk," he said.  "Eriane said that you wanted to see me."

Djaisiuk lifted the parchment extension, then pointed to the wall where Kiacyl had thrown the parchment.  Wysire quickly understood, and he fetched the device and reconnected it.  Djaisiuk then began typing again.

"I wish to speak with Kiacyl," he typed, "but he is not willing to read what I type, and I cannot speak.  Will you speak to him what I tell you to say?"

Wysire, reading the words, looked at Djaisiuk with some surprise.  "Yes," he said.  "Yes, of course, if that's what you want."

Djaisiuk seemed to relax somewhat then.  He closed his eyes again and continued to type. 

"Tell him: the answer you seek is difficult and lengthy.  I can attempt to give it here, but it may not be complete.  If you want a complete answer, you will need to wait until we've reached Komislava."

Wysire looked up at Kiacyl and repeated what Djaisiuk had typed.  Kiacyl sneered.

"I suppose I should have expected that," he said.  He shrugged.  "I don't know why I'm surprised."

"Djaisiuk says that it's difficult for him to plan now," said Wysire, glancing from the parchment to Kiacyl and back.  "He says that he doesn't want to make a rash decision in his condition."

"And killing me quickly would be rash?"

Wysire blinked in surprise, and Djaisiuk opened his eyes.  After a short, uncomfortable moment, Djaisiuk typed again.

"Why do you think you are here?" asked Wysire, translating again.

"He knows why I'm here," snapped Kiacyl, indicating Djaisiuk with a nod of the head.  "Ask him."

"He does know why you're here, but he says that apparently you don't."

Kiacyl frowned.  "Why does he think that I'm here?"

Wysire was not fully able to hide his own surprise, though he obviously tried, as he translated:  "You're coming with us to Komislava to live there."

Kiacyl looked at him incredulously.  "No, I'm not," he retorted.  "That's ridiculous!"

"Do you expect us to kill you?"

Kiacyl closed his mouth.  Still looking upset but speaking more calmly now, he said, "I don't expect you to keep me alive."

"He sent you with us to save your life."

Kiacyl didn't answer.  He continued to look at Wysire darkly.

"He didn't want you to die with him."

Kiacyl blinked, surprise growing in his expression.  "What did you say?" he asked hoarsely.

Wysire looked at Djaisiuk, but the latter typed no more, so Wysire simply repeated the last sentence typed.  "He didn't want you to die with him."

Kiacyl seemed to struggle to keep his expression calm.  "You're lying," he said.  "I don't believe you."

Wysire looked from Kiacyl to Djaisiuk again, waiting.  At last, Djaisiuk's fingers began to move.

"Why else would he have sent you with us?"

"He sent me with Djaisiuk."

"He knew that Djaisiuk was the only one who could save your life."

"You're lying!"  Kiacyl's fists clenched and unclenched as he glared at Wysire.

"Kiacyl, he loved you," translated Wysire gently.

At that, Kiacyl's restraint gave way.  He leaped around the bed with an expression of fury, and Wysire started back, throwing up his own hands to defend himself as Kiacyl struck out at him.  Djaisiuk had dropped the extension and grasped the call device, and his finger beat out a quick rhythm on it.

"Kiacyl, wait!" exclaimed Wysire.  "Please, I don't even know what you two are talking about."

Kiacyl didn't seem to hear.  He attacked Wysire with ferocity, striking with all his might.  Fortunately for Wysire, the door opened suddenly, and Eriane and Jaeger both entered.  Jaeger leapt forward and caught hold of Kiacyl, holding him back from Wysire, while Eriane quickly moved to make sure that Wysire was alright.

"What's going on here?" asked Jaeger.  "Pull yourself together."

"Wysire, are you alright?" asked Eriane.

"If you ever say that again, I'll kill you!" screamed Kiacyl, still looking only at Wysire.

Jaeger and Eriane both looked at Kiacyl and Wysire in surprise, but Wysire only returned their gazes with a look of confusion.

"Kiacyl, I'm only translating," said Wysire gently.  "I don't know what you are talking about."

"I don't care!"

Djaisiuk's fingers beat another pattern on the call device, and Eriane's caller beeped in sequence, as Kiacyl struggled to free himself from Jaeger's grasp.

"He's dead," said Jaeger suddenly.  "Kiacyl, he's dead."

Kiacyl froze.  Jaeger still held him, but he no longer struggled.

"What?" he asked quietly.

"Djaisiuk says he's dead," repeated Jaeger.

Eriane and Wysire now looked at Jaeger questioningly, but Jaeger didn't look at them.  Kiacyl slowly straightened himself, pulling his arms from Jaeger's grasp.  Jaeger let him go without a fight.  Kiacyl then walked calmly to the medical bed and looked down at Djaisiuk.  Djaisiuk turned his face to look Kiacyl in the eye.

"I want to go back to Vukosava," said Kiacyl.

Djaisiuk reached for the parchment, but Kiacyl snatched it away and threw it against the wall.  Eriane started forward, but then paused as neither Djaisiuk nor Kiacyl looked up.  Djaisiuk again grasped the call device, pressing the button again and again as Eriane's caller continued to sound.  Eriane again looked at Djaisiuk in confusion, but then Jaeger spoke.

"They'll kill you too," he said.

"I don't care," said Kiacyl between clenched teeth.  "I won't go with you."

Djaisiuk continued to look up at him, but he did not now move.

"Kidnapping is an interplanetary offense," sneered Kiacyl, still speaking to Djaisiuk.  "And if you don't take me back to Vukosava, I'll let it be known that you kidnapped me."

Djaisiuk still did not react.  Kiacyl looked down at him for a moment longer, then turned and walked out of the room.

"Djaisiuk, would you like for me to go after him?" asked Wysire.

Djaisiuk pointed to where the parchment had been thrown, and Jaeger quickly fetched it and gave it to him.  Djaisiuk then typed again.

"I want to speak with all of our group," he typed.  "Would you call them?"

Wysire read it in surprise, then handed the parchment to Eriane.

"Doctor?" he asked.

"Djaisiuk, you don't need this much excitement," said Eriane after reading the parchment.  "Please, you need your rest.  Can't this wait?"

Djaisiuk seemed to consider for a moment.  "I would prefer to speak with them now," he typed.

Eriane still looked hesitant, but he nodded.  "Alright," he said.  "If you're sure that that's what you want.  I'll call them."

THE TWELVE -- Chapter 38 - Meals

Walking out of the medical room, Eriane almost started when he saw Kiacyl sitting on a long cushioned bench, still waiting.  The latter turned to look at him as Eriane entered the room, but he said nothing.

"Oh, Kiacyl!" Eriane exclaimed.  "Have you been sitting here all this time?  I'm so sorry!  I'd completely forgotten about you.  You must be famished.  I'm just going to get something to eat.  Would you like to come?"

Without waiting for a proper answer, Eriane turned and walked out of this next room and into the long hall of the ship.  Had he not been so completely absorbed in his own thoughts, he might have noticed that Kiacyl did not follow him.  Kiacyl had started to follow him but had paused at the entrance to the hallway out of the room.  He looked back towards the medical room wherein lay Djaisiuk and hesitated.  He had stood thus for a moment in apparent uncertainty, but Eriane had continued down the hall unconcerned.  Finally, Kiacyl had sighed, turned back into the room, and seated himself again in the same place where he had been sitting for the last several hours.

Eriane, as has been mentioned, was entirely absorbed in his own thoughts and continued down the hall, looking neither left nor right, and probably seeing nothing at all.  When he reached the small sitting room wherein most of the other boys were located, they all jumped up to greet him.  Faquire alone walked quickly past him and into the next room.

"Eriane, how is he?" asked Sandy quickly.  "Is he going to be alright?"

"How are you, rather?" asked Jade.  "You look ready to collapse."

Eriane gave a short laugh.  "I'm a little tired, yes," he said.  "But I'll be alright.  And Djaisiuk will too, Sandy."

"Were you able to fix him up then?" asked Cycil.

Eriane did not answer at first, but then said simply, "We'll see."

"Yes, we'll see in time," called Faquire, leaning out of the next room, "but for now you come in here and eat something.  You should know better than to go for so long without food, especially after all of the stress that you've been under lately.  If it was anything less urgent that you'd been doing, I'd have come and drug you away by force."

Eriane smiled and followed Faquire into the eating room of the ship where the latter was busily putting together a small meal for him.

"I've prepared something that should help to restore all of the energy that you've been expending in working too hard as well as to help begin cleaning all of that Vukasovian poison out of your system," said Faquire, grimacing at the end of the statement.  "I expect us both to be very busy for the next few days, until everyone has fully recovered physically."

"Not all of the food was bad," called Jaeger teasingly.  "Some of it was actually very tasty."

"As if that had anything to do with its health value," Faquire snapped back.  "Don't try to talk to me about food.  I hope that I never have to eat anything from another planet again, and I'm shocked that you have anything good to say about . . . about that food!"

"Faquire, he's only teasing," said Jade.

"You might just as well tease about eating dirt!" Faquire said forcefully.  "There's nothing funny about Vukasovian food."

"You're not angry with me, are you Faquire?" asked Jaeger in a friendly manner, standing now at the door and looking into the room.

"No, of course not," said Faquire, his voice a bit less sharp now.  "I'm disgusted, and I think that I might be sick, but I'm not angry with you."  Now it was his turn to smile.

Jaeger returned the smile and turned again to leave the room.  He returned to the chair on which he had been lounging, sitting at such an angle as to be able to see Eriane through the open door connecting the two rooms.  Eriane had taken little note of the conversation beyond the beginning and sat now, slowly eating his meal, staring off into space all the while.

"Eriane, have you any idea why Djaisiuk brought along Kiacyl?" called Jade.  "We were discussing it earlier, and it doesn't seem to make--"

"Oh, Kiacyl!" exclaimed Eriane, jumping to his feet.  "I forgot about him.  Again!  Where is he?"

"He went back with you and Djaisiuk," said Jaeger, rising quickly to his feet also.  "Do you mean to say that you don't know where he is?"

"No, no, I think that I know where he is," Eriane answered quickly.  "That is to say, I know where he was.  He was waiting in the next room to the medical room for all of the time that we were working on Djaisiuk.  I'd forgotten about him until I came out to get something to eat.  Oh, and I was supposed to find the other doctor, Cieru.  I'd forgotten about that too!"

"The other doctor's busy now," said Faquire.  "He's doing something with Christopher, but I imagine he'll be done soon."

"I was supposed to send him back to help Farion with Djaisiuk as soon as he was finished.  Would you tell him, if you see him when he comes out?" asked Eriane.

Faquire nodded in the affirmative, and Jaeger stepped forward.

"What about Kiacyl?" he asked.  "Where is he, and what is he doing?"

"He's probably just sitting there, waiting," answered Eriane.  "He sat there quietly all through the time that we were working, and he was still there when I came out.  I told him that he could come with me to get something to eat, as I imagined that he must be very hungry by now, but apparently he didn't follow.  I should go and see if he's alright."

Faquire and Jaeger interjected at the same time.

"No you don't!" exclaimed Faquire.  "You sit right there and finish your meal.  Someone else will go and check on him."

"I'll go, Eriane," offered Jaeger.  "I wouldn't mind a chance to talk with him anyway."  He started to turn away, then turned back and looked at Faquire.  "Do you think that I ought to bring a meal with me in case he doesn't want to come out here?  As Eriane said, he's probably very hungry by now."

"Yes," sighed Faquire.  "I suppose that even the Vukasovians need to eat.  I'll fix something and bring it in to you if you're not back soon."

Jaeger left, and Eriane looked up at Faquire reproachfully as the latter moved about preparing another meal.

"Faquire, you really shouldn't speak about him like that," said Eriane.  "He's a human being, just like you or me."

"He's a Vukasovian," Faquire replied coldly.  "And I've little reason to have any sympathy for one of them for a while."

"Faquire, you don't even know him!"

"And I don't want to either!  Why is he even here?  What reason can he possibly have for coming back with us to Komislava?  Does he not hate our race in the same way that the rest of his people do?"

"No, I don't think that he does," replied Eriane gently.  "I think that he considers us to be below himself, but I don't think that he hates us.  Haven't the other boys told you about him?"

Faquire shook his head, looking still half-angry as he continued to work and not looking at Eriane as he spoke.  "No, I didn't want to hear about it," he said.  "They started to talk about him, and I left to come in here to fix the evening meal.  It seems that I'm the only one who's never spoken with him, though we certainly spent enough time in each other's company in Djaisiuk's workroom!"

"He came to see you twice before that, but it was while you were unconscious from that strange drug," said Eriane.

Faquire shuddered visibly at the reminder.  "I'd really rather forget that incident entirely, if I can," he said.  Turning to face Eriane, he continued, "With memories like that, how can you possibly expect me to hold any feelings for him or his people but contempt and disgust?"

Eriane didn't answer immediately.  "That's probably a question better suited for Wysire," he said.  "But I will say this, at least: he's not his people, though he is one of them.  You can't hold him responsible for their actions."

Faquire shook his head again and turned back to his work.  "I still don't understand why he's even here," he said.  "But, so long as he is, I'll see to it that he's fed properly.  He'll go home healthier than he came, if I have anything to do with it.  I'll not have them say that there's anything wrong with our food."

"Or it's preparers?" asked Eriane with a smile, but Faquire only frowned at this remark.

"I'm not seeking my own glory," he said sharply.  "I'm trying to stand up for our people and means."

Eriane looked at him with a concerned expression.  "Faquire, you really need to talk to Wysire," he said softly.

"I know that!" snapped Faquire.  He stopped for a moment and closed his eyes, leaning forward on the counter at which he was working.  He then raised his head and took a deep breath.  "I'm sorry, Eriane," he said at last.  "I know that I still hold a lot of anger toward those people and that it's spilling out into everything else that I say.  I know that I need to work through it, but it'll take a lot of time to do that.  I'm trying hard to just keep functioning as normal for now."

Faquire finished preparing the meal in silence, then lifted the covered dish to carry it out of the room.  "Once we're home, things will be easier," he said.

"Yes," agreed Eriane quietly.  "They will."

* * * * * * *

Jaeger had gone to the "medical waiting room," as it was affectionately called by the non-medical members of the crew, and had found Kiacyl still sitting in the same place in which he had been left.  Kiacyl glanced up at Jaeger as he entered, but did not move otherwise.

"Hello," said Jaeger, leaning against the doorway.

Kiacyl didn't reply, but instead lowered his eyes again to stare wearily at the floor.  Jaeger cocked his head to one side.

"Don't tell me that Djaisiuk is starting to wear off on you," he said with half a smile.

Kiacyl looked up again with a distinctively Vukasovian sneer of derision, a look that had never crossed Djaisiuk's face.  Having thus expressed his opinion of Jaeger's comment, Kiacyl again looked down, still without having said anything.

"Is there some reason that you're staying in here?" continued Jaeger unperturbed.  "You're more than welcome to join all of us out there in the main room.  We're just relaxing at the moment, and I'm sure that you must be hungry."

Kiacyl seemed to consider for a moment, then glanced towards the door of the medical room wherein the older doctor was still working on Djaisiuk.

"Oh, he's under an anesthetic," said Jaeger.  "He won't be waking up for quite a while yet.  Are you waiting for him?"

Kiacyl turned away, still not looking at Jaeger.

"Is there some reason why you suddenly won't talk to me?" asked Jaeger.

Kiacyl looked up at him again for a moment, and a look of minor frustration crossed his face.  This was quickly hidden, however, and he lowered his eyes again.

Jaeger stepped into the room and sat down beside Kiacyl.  The latter didn't look at him.

"You're tired, aren't you?" asked Jaeger softly.

Kiacyl nodded.

"And hungry?"

Half a nod and a slight shrug were the only answer.

"And bored?"

Kiacyl turned his head to look at Jaeger, annoyance showing plainly in his features.

"Jaeger, what is your point in all of this?" he asked in a voice that was as plainly annoyed as was his expression.

"I just want you talk to me," answered Jaeger.

"Why?" asked Kiacyl, still obviously irritated.

Jaeger shrugged.  "I don't know, really," he said.  "But it seems like there's something wrong.  I know that when I have a problem, it often helps to talk about it with someone."

"And you're offering to be that 'someone'?" asked Kiacyl in a voice that dripped with sarcasm.

"If you want me to be," Jaeger nodded.

"I don't," Kiacyl answered immediately.  "I don't need you."

Jaeger held his gaze for a moment.  "Do you need Djaisiuk?" he asked.

Kiacyl hesitated, then pursed his lips and looked down again.  He didn't answer.

"Does this have anything to do with why Kandryl came to talk to Djaisiuk just after our people arrived?" asked Jaeger.

Kiacyl shrugged.  "It might," he said.  "What did he say?"

"They didn't want me to hear," answered Jaeger.  "I could tell that it was something that meant a lot to Kandryl by his urgency and the tones of his voice, but I really didn't catch the words.  He did offer to kill me though, so that they could speak alone."

Kiacyl smiled briefly at the thought, but the smile was one of Vukasovian pleasure, that is to say, the enjoyment that comes of observing sufferings in others.  Jaeger stiffened slightly.

"That amuses you?" he asked.

Kiacyl turned again to look at him.  "Yes," he said with a touch of defiance in his voice and manner.  "Yes, it does.  I'm not a Komislavian; I find different things amusing than you do."

Jaeger nodded.  "Why are you here, Kiacyl?" he asked abruptly.

Kiacyl looked at him carefully for a moment, then turned again to look at the opposite wall, holding his head high this time in obvious defiance rather than dropping it down in apparent weariness.  Before Jaeger could speak again, a footstep was heard in the hall, followed almost immediately by Faquire's entrance.  His eyes met Kiacyl's, and for a very brief moment Jaeger saw a look of mutual contempt and disgust pass between them.  Then Faquire stepped forward and handed the covered meal dish to Jaeger.  This done, he turned and left the room without a word.

"Well, here's the solution to one of your problems," said Jaeger, offering the meal dish to Kiacyl.  "Faquire has fixed you a meal."

Kiacyl looked at him incredulously.  "And you'd expect me to eat something that he prepared?" he asked.  "I think that he'd like to poison me."

Jaeger chuckled.  "I wouldn't be surprised if he would like to do so, but I'd bet my own life on the fact that he would never actually do it.  If you like, I'll eat some of each of the foods that he's given you just to prove it, although he wouldn't like that at all.  He generally provides just the right portions, and he wouldn't like me messing that up."

Kiacyl still eyed the dish suspiciously.

"Come on, you're hungry, aren't you?" asked Jaeger.  "It's perfectly safe, I assure you.  You're with Komislavians now!"

At last, Kiacyl shrugged and turned away.  "You can leave it when you leave, if you want," he said indifferently.

Jaeger looked at him curiously.  "Are you saying that you don't want it now, or that you want me to leave?"

"Both."

Jaeger was quiet for a moment. 

"Kiacyl why don't you come out and join us?" he asked.  "The others would enjoy talking with you, and you can meet the other three of our group now."

"I've met them.  They don't like me.  And the feeling is mutual."

"You really just want me to leave you alone?"

"Yes," replied Kiacyl without hesitation.

Jaeger was quiet again for a moment, then he stood to his feet and walked to the door.

"If you decide that you would like to come and sit with us, we'll be near the end of this hall for a little while yet," said Jaeger, turning back for a moment.  "You're still welcome.  You'll hear the voices, if you come before we all go to bed."  And with that, he turned and left the room.

* * * * * * *

When Eriane entered the room a short while later with Cieru, he found Kiacyl stretched out on the bench, fast asleep, with an empty meal tray on the floor beside him.  The other doctor started to question Eriane about Kiacyl, but Eriane quietly suggested that they not wake him.  Once inside the emergency medical room, the two helped Farion to finish the work on Djaisiuk's arm.  Cieru then said that he would begin work on Djaisiuk's lungs.  He suggested, then insisted, that Farion go and get some food and that Eriane go and get some sleep.  His work had been much lighter, he said, and he had eaten, so he would able to work for a while longer.  Farion might come back after he'd eaten, but Eriane ought to go to bed now.  Eriane and Farion each agreed, one more hesitantly than the other, and together they left the medical room.

Kiacyl was still sleeping quietly, so Eriane silently took the empty meal dish, and he and the other doctor went out, closing the door behind them so as not to wake him.

"Will it be safe to leave him there?" asked Farion.  "If he wakes in the night, what would prevent him from harming your friend?"

"He wouldn't," said Eriane, shaking his head.  "But you could always seal the door to the medical room when you and Cieru finish, if you wanted, just to make sure."

"You're very trusting," said Farion.  "He's a Vukasovian, isn't he?"

"Yes, but I do still trust him," replied Eriane.  "I wouldn't trust him in everything, but I do believe that he wouldn't hurt Djaisiuk."

Farion seemed satisfied with this.

"Alright then," he said.  "I trust your judgement in this matter; you know him, and I don't."

Eriane smiled.  "Well, I'm off to bed," he said.  "I suppose that I'll see you in the morning."

Farion laughed softly.  "I imagine that you'll be up long before me," he said.  "As I said, we're on different time schedules.  But yes, I'll see you sometime tomorrow.  Goodnight."

THE TWELVE -- Chapter 37 - Healing Hands

Once on board the ship, Eriane and Djaisiuk were met by the two Komislavian doctors who had come.  These led them quickly through a few short halls to an emergency medical room and then, with the help of the ship's mechanic, very carefully transferred Djaisiuk from the invalid's chair onto the medical bed.  Eriane administered a local anesthetic (Djaisiuk did not now object), and they removed the two braces from Djaisiuk's arm and leg.  These and the chair were then sent out of the ship by the mechanic.

The two doctors very briefly introduced themselves to Eriane as Farion and Cieru, medical instructors of the IC School.  They then held a very brief conference between the three of them to decide how to proceed.

"One of us ought to examine the other members of your crew," said Farion to Eriane, "unless you've done that recently and can be sure that none of them need immediate medical attention."

"No, I haven't and can't," answered Eriane sadly, shaking his head.  "I believe that most of them are well at the moment, but I can't be sure.  Three of them though were being held as prisoners, not as workers, and I would very much like for them to be examined as soon as may be, especially Faquire, our nutritionist.  For myself, I would prefer to stay and to help with Djaisiuk.  His leg needs immediate attention if we want to have any hope of saving it."

"I'll examine the other students," said Cieru.  "There's no room for pride in our profession, Farion; you're the better one to treat this one's injuries."

"Very well then," said Farion.  "We'll begin here, and you can join us as soon as you've finished, if the others need no immediate treatment."

Cieru took a scanner and a portable medical bag, similar to the one that Eriane generally used on their own ship, and left the room to go and examine the other boys.  Farion picked up a second scanner and began a detailed scan of Djaisiuk's leg, preparatory to beginning the surgery.  Eriane worked at one of the side counters, preparing a full anesthetic.

"How horrific!" exclaimed Farion as he continued the scan.  "What did they do to you?"

Djaisiuk only closed his eyes at this and did not respond.

"I don't know what they did, but I can't imagine that he'd care to relive it in the telling," said Eriane, shaking his head and not looking up from his work.

"How could they do so much damage without breaking the skin?  This is inconceivable."

"Inconceivably horrific," muttered Eriane.  "I prefer not to think about it."  Finishing his work, he turned and continued, "Djaisiuk, I'd like administer this anesthetic now, if you don't mind.  We'll have to do so before we begin to work, you know."

Djaisiuk opened his eyes but made no reply, so Eriane stepped forward.  He then noticed Kiacyl still standing at one side of the small room, leaning against one of the counters and watching the proceedings silently.

"You don't need to stay, Kiacyl," said Eriane.  "I'm sure that you can go and join the other boys if you'd like."

Kiacyl did not answer, but looked to Djaisiuk.  Djaisiuk turned his head to look at him, then shook his head slightly.  Kiacyl looked back at Eriane and shrugged, not moving to leave the room.  Eriane swallowed uncomfortably.

"Djaisiuk, this is going to be a rather intensive surgery," said Eriane.  "I'm afraid that he may become sick if he has to stay and watch this.  It's not going to be pleasant."

Kiacyl a short exhalation that might have been amusement or contempt.  "I've seen worse," he said.

Eriane blinked at him in confusion, then shuddered with disgust as he suddenly understood Kiacyl's meaning.  He shook his head.

"I really didn't want to hear that just now," he said quietly.  "Djaisiuk, may he at least step into the next room and wait there?  This is probably going to take a long time, and there's nowhere in here where he can sit."

Djaisiuk turned his head again to look up at the ceiling and seemed to consider for a moment.  He then nodded silently.  Eriane looked to Kiacyl, and the latter shrugged indifferently and left the room.  Djaisiuk then closed his eyes again, and Eriane administered the anesthetic.  The almost immediate relaxing of the muscles indicated that it had been successful, and Eriane turned to help Farion to begin the surgery.

"They couldn't have done more damage if they'd dropped an engine on his leg," said Farion.  "I can't imagine how they were able to perform this much damage and yet leave the leg attached and the skin practically unbroken!"  He shook his head.  "I don't know that we'll be able to repair it."

"Well, we're going to at least try!" exclaimed Eriane, looking at him with a shocked expression.

Farion returned the look.  "Of course we will," he answered in a tone of surprise.  "I'm a doctor; did you suppose that I would suggest that we not?"

Eriane lowered his eyes for a moment.  "I'm sorry," he said, returning to his own preparations.  "I'm afraid that I've been around the Vukasovians for too long.  They wouldn't have even tried to save his leg, if he had been a Vukasovian.  The medic who helped me to prepare him to be moved to the ship went so far as to suggest that we amputate both his arm and leg then and there so as to save time and work."

"How unfeeling!" exclaimed Farion with a look of horror.  "Even if the possibility is remote, we will still try."

"Yes," nodded Eriane.  "I would say that 'unfeeling' describes their race very well."

"If I may ask -- though you needn't answer, for it's none of my business --" said Farion as he continued to work, "why did you all bring one of them with you?"

"You mean Kiacyl?" asked Eriane.

"If that's his name, yes.  The one whom you sent out of the room just now?"

"Yes, that's Kiacyl.  And I really don't know why he's here.  Djaisiuk brought him, and we're not supposed question his actions, much as we'd like to do so sometimes."

"But you know this Vukasovian?"

"Yes.  He worked with Djaisiuk while we were there, and he spent a lot of time with the rest of us."

"I wouldn't have thought that any Vukasovian would allow himself to be taken by Komislavians willingly.  But he seemed to have no objection."

Eriane shrugged.  "I don't know," he said.  "Djaisiuk will doubtless give Taician his reasons, and Taician may or may not tell the rest of us.  Kiacyl too might tell us, if he wants to do so.  I do wonder, but I can't even begin to guess, so I don't try."

As they continued to work, the discussion continued also, though there were often long breaks throughout.  Both were concentrating fully on the task at hand, yet they seemed almost to function as one, so well did they complement one another in their work.

"The damage here is incredible," said Farion, after they'd been working for a short time.  "This is going to take a rather long time."

Eriane nodded.  "Several hours at least," he murmured.

"Are you sure that you feel up to this?" asked Farion.  "You've been through a lot yourself, I'd imagine.  If you really want to do something, you could always trade places with Cieru; that work would be less difficult.  I don't want you to wear yourself out."

"No, I'm alright," replied Eriane, smiling gratefully at the suggestion, though he had no intention of accepting.  "Thank you though.  I want to do this.  I've had to trust all of my companions' care to our enemies for so long that I would so much prefer to be doing it myself at last.  I do trust you, but I'll feel much easier working on him along with you."

Farion smiled and nodded.  "I understand," he said.  "I was a doctor for the group of the Chearu for nearly eight years.  I hated to trust the members even to their own families when they went on vacation.  I did eventually get over it though."

"Did it get easier when the group was disbanded?"

"No," he laughed.  "No, it actually got harder.  I was always wanting to check up on all of them.  They humored me for a while, but our counselor finally told me that I needed to be able to let go.  He was older than I, so he was retired too.  Our pilot was much younger and had become a member of another group.  He was the hardest to let go.  He's so fool-hardy!  I was always having to treat him for some injury or other."

Eriane smiled.  "We have one like that too," he said.  "He's a mechanic though, not a pilot, but he's older than I am, so he'll probably retire before I do."

Again there was silence for a time as they worked.

"The bone may not heal straight," said Farion at last.  "We'd have to apply an outer holding to it if we wanted to be perfectly sure that it would heal properly, but then the muscle here would be less likely to heal at all."

Eriane nodded.  "Yes, I'm afraid we're going to have to do it somewhat 'old-fashioned' and just pray for the best.  Djaisiuk is not an active person, so having him keep the leg perfectly straight and fairly still for a few weeks shouldn't be very difficult.  If he was any other member, we might have some trouble.  Except with Detrin, of course."

"Detrin?" asked Farion distractedly.

"Oh, he's our electrician," replied Eriane.  "He's very reserved and incredibly mature for his age.  He's very patient too."

"Mm," replied the other, and there was quiet again.

"I wish that there was something more that we could do about his knee," said Eriane after they'd been working for well over three hours.  "Even if the rest of the leg heals, if this doesn't heal properly, it'll cause incredible difficulties."

"That's true," said Farion, "but I'm a bit more worried about the ankle."  He shook his head.  "I really have far less hope for saving his foot than for the rest of the leg."

Eriane nodded.  "I wouldn't say it if he were awake, but I agree with you."  He sighed.  "We can but try."

"Yes," agreed Farion quietly.  "We can do no less."

* * * * * * *

After a full five hours of steady work, they had finished all that they could do on Djaisiuk's leg, and both young doctors breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"Oh," sighed the older doctor, stretching his arms.  "That was a task like none I've ever performed."

"I think that we did well," said Eriane contentedly.  "I've a lot more hope now than I had a few hours ago."

Farion smiled and nodded.  "Yes, indeed," he said.  "But now you really ought to go and take a rest.  You should at least get something to eat; when was the last meal that you had?"

"Oh, I'd forgotten about that," Eriane replied, lifting a hand and rubbing his forehead.  "No, I've not eaten since breakfast today, and it must be nearly bedtime now."  He sighed again.  "Yes, I suppose that I should go."

"Just send Cieru in here to help me, if you see him and if he's nearly finished," said Farion.  "Really, even if he isn't, it'd probably be better for you to take over for him and let him come and help me.  I'm going to get started on the arm now."

"Don't you want a break yourself?" asked Eriane.  "His arm is nowhere near being in as much danger as was his leg.  It won't hurt it to wait for a few minutes while you have something to eat."

Farion nodded but made no move to leave.  "I know," he said, "but I'll stay.  I am on a slightly different time schedule than all of you, you know, though it's only off by a few hours.  I had my midday meal just before we arrived at Vukosava, and I'll be alright for at least a few more hours yet.  It shouldn't take nearly that long to repair the damage to his arm.  I'll take at least a short break after that."

"Alright," said Eriane.  He went to the door, then turned back to Farion for a moment.  "I'll send in Cieru if he has finished.  And thank you so very much.  I really do mean it."

Farion smiled and shrugged.  "I'm just doing my job, really," he said.

Eriane smiled too and walked out of the room, silently thanking God for returning them to their own loving and caring people at last.