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great weakness； an Achilles’ heel。 No archenemies out there in space who could e to your aid； no
viruses that will wipe us out and leave you standing。 Sorry。”
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；
though。 I told you it gets boring in here。 People might want your stories more than you think。”
I knew Jeb would not leave it alone。 Was Jeb capable of conceding defeat？ I doubted it。
At mealtimes I usually sat with Jeb and Jamie； if he was not in school or busy elsewhere。 Ian always sat
near； though not really with us。 I could not fully accept the idea of his self…appointed role as my
bodyguard。 It seemed too good to be true and thus； by human philosophy； clearly false。
A few days after I’d refused Jeb’s request to teach the humans “for their own good；” Doc came to sit by
me during the evening meal。
Sharon remained where she was； in the corner farthest from my usual place。 She was alone today；
without her mother。 She didn’t turn to watch Doc walking toward me。 Her vivid hair was wound into a
high bun； so I could see that her neck was stiff； and her shoulders were hunched； tense and unhappy。 It
made me want to leave at once； before Doc could say whatever he meant to say to me； so that I could
not be considered in collusion with him。
But Jamie was with me； and he took my hand when he saw the familiar panicked look e into my
eyes。 He was developing an uncanny ability to sense when I was turning skittish。 I sighed and stayed
where I was。 It should probably have bothered me more that I was such a slave to this child’s wishes。
“How are things？” Doc asked in a casual voice； sliding onto the counter next to me。
Ian； a few feet down from us； turned his body so it looked like he was part of the group。
I shrugged。
“We boiled soup today；” Jamie announced。 “My eyes are still stinging。”
Doc held up a pair of bright red hands。 “Soap。”
Jamie laughed。 “You win。”
Doc gave a mocking bow from the waist； then turned to me。 “Wanda； I had a question for you。…” He
let the words trail off。
I raised my eyebrows。
“Well； I was wondering。… Of all the different planets you’re familiar with； which species is physically the
closest to humankind？”
I blinked。 “Why？”
“Just good old…fashioned biological curiosity。 I guess I’ve been thinking about your Healers。… Where
do they get the knowledge to cure； rather than just treat symptoms； as you said？” Doc was speaking
louder than necessary； his mild voice carrying farther than usual。 Several people looked up—Trudy and
Geoffrey； Lily； Walter…
I wrapped my arms tightly around myself； trying to take up less space。 “Those are two different
Doc smiled and gestured with one hand for me to proceed。
Jamie squeezed my hand。
I sighed。 “The Bears on the Mists Planet； probably。”
“With the claw beasts？” Jamie whispered。
I nodded。
“How are they similar？” Doc prodded。
I rolled my eyes； feeling Jeb’s direction in this； but continued。 “They’re close to mammals in many ways。
Fur； warm…blooded。 Their blood isn’t exactly the same as yours； but it does essentially the same job。
They have similar emotions； the same need for societal interaction and creative outlets —”
“Creative？” Doc leaned forward； fascinated—or feigning fascination。 “How so？”
I looked at Jamie。 “You know。 Why don’t you tell Doc？”
“I might get it wrong。”
“You won’t。”
He looked at Doc； who nodded。
“Well； see； they have these awesome hands。” Jamie was enthusiastic almost immediately。 “Sort of
double…jointed—they can curl both ways。” He flexed his own fingers； as if trying to bend them
backward。 “One side is soft； like my palm； but the other side is like razors！ They cut the ice—ice
sculpting。 They make cities that are all crystal castles that never melt！ It’s beautiful； isn’t it； Wanda？” He
turned to me for backup。
I nodded。 “They see a different range of colors—the ice is full of rainbows。 Their cities are a point of
pride for them。 They’re always trying to make them more beautiful。 I knew of one Bear who we called…
well； something like Glitter Weaver； but it sounds better in that language； because of the way the ice
seemed to know what he wanted and shaped itself into his dreams。 I met him once and saw his creations。
That’s one of my most beautiful memories。”
“They dream？” Ian asked quietly。
I smiled wryly。 “Not as vividly as humans。”
“How do your Healers get their knowledge about the physiology of a new species？ They came to this
planet prepared。 I watched it start—watched the terminal patients walk out of the hospital whole。…” A
frown etched a V…shaped crease into Doc’s narrow forehead。 He hated the invaders； like everyone； but
unlike the others； he also envied them。
I didn’t want to answer。 Everyone was listening to us by this point； and this was no pretty fairytale about
ice…sculpting Bears。 This was the story of their defeat。
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。
“They… they take samples；” I muttered。
Ian grinned in understanding。 “Alien abductions。”
I ignored him。
Doc pursed his lips。 “Makes sense。”
The silence in the room reminded me of my first time here。
“Where did your kind begin？” Doc asked。 “Do you remember？ I mean； as a species； do you know how
you evolved？”
“The Origin；” I answered； nodding。 “We still live there。 It’s where I was… born。”
“That’s kind of special；” Jamie added。 “It’s rare to meet someone from the Origin； isn’t it？ Most souls
try to stay there； right； Wanda？” He didn’t wait for my response。 I was beginning to regret answering his
questions so thoroughly each night。 “So when someone moves on； it makes them almost… like a
celebrity？ Or like a member of a royal family。”
I could feel my cheeks getting warm。
“It’s a cool place；” Jamie went on。 “Lots of clouds； with a bunch of different…colored layers。 It’s the only
planet where the souls can live outside of a host for very long。 The hosts on the Origin planet are really