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altogether。 I could feel the adrenaline—adrenaline called into being by her fear—shoot through my limbs
as I contemplated switching to a more pliant body。
It would be nice to be alone again。 To have my mind to myself。 This world was very pleasant in so many
novel ways； and it would be wonderful to be able to appreciate it without the distractions of an angry；
displaced nonentity who should have had better sense than to linger unwanted this way。
Melanie squirmed； figuratively； in the recesses of my head as I tried to consider it rationally。 Maybe I
should give up。…
The words themselves made me flinch。 I； Wanderer； give up？ Quit？ Admit failure and try again with a
weak； spineless host who wouldn’t give me any trouble？
I shook my head。 I could barely stand to think of it。
And… this wasmy body。 I was used to the feel of it。 I liked the way the muscles moved over the bones；
the bend of the joints and the pull of the tendons。 I knew the reflection in the mirror。 The sun…browned
skin； the high； sharp bones of my face； the short silk cap of mahogany hair； the muddy green brown hazel
of my eyes—this was me。
I wanted myself。 I wouldn’t let what was mine be destroyed。
CHAPTER 6
The light was finally fading outside the windows。 The day； hot for March； had lingered on and on； as if
reluctant to end and set me free。
I sniffled and twisted the wet handkerchief into another knot。 “Kathy； you must have other obligations。
Curt will be wondering where you are。”
“He’ll understand。”
“I can’t stay here forever。 And we’re no closer to an answer than before。”
“Quick fixes aren’t my specialty。 You are decided against a new host —”
“Yes。”
“So dealing with this will probably take some time。”
I clenched my teeth in frustration。
“And it will go faster and more smoothly if you have some help。”
“I’ll be better with making my appointments； I promise。”
“That’s not exactly what I mean； though I hope you will。”
“You mean help… other than you？” I cringed at the thought of having to relive today’s misery with a
stranger。 “I’m sure you’re just as qualified as any forter—more so。”
“I didn’t mean another forter。” She shifted her weight in the chair and stretched stiffly。 “How many
friends do you have； Wanderer？”
“You mean people at work？ I see a few other teachers almost every day。 There are several students I
speak to in the halls。…”
“Outside of the school？”
I stared at her blankly。
“Human hosts need interaction。 You’re not used to solitude； dear。 You shared an entire planet’s
thoughts —”
“We didn’t go out much。” My attempt at humor fell flat。
She smiled slightly and went on。 “You’re struggling so hard with your problem that it’s all you can
concentrate on。 Maybe one answer is to not concentrate quite so hard。 You said Melanie grows bored
during your working hours… that she is more dormant。 Perhaps if you developed some peer
relationships； those would bore her also。”
I pursed my lips thoughtfully。 Melanie； sluggish from the long day of attempted fort； did seem rather
Kathy nodded。 “Get involved with life rather than with her。”
“That makes sense。”
“And then there are the physical drives these bodies have。 I’ve never seen or heard of their equal。 One
of the most difficult things we of the first wave had to conquer was the mating instinct。 Believe me； the
humans noticed when you didn’t。” She grinned and rolled her eyes at some memory。 When I didn’t react
as she’d expected； she sighed and crossed her arms impatiently。 “Oh； e now； Wanderer。 You must
have noticed。”
“Well； of course；” I mumbled。 Melanie stirred restlessly。 “Obviously。 I’ve told you about the dreams。…”
“No； I didn’t mean just memories。 Haven’t you e across anyone that your body has responded to in
the present—on strictly a chemical level？”
I thought her question through carefully。 “I don’t think so。 Not so I’ve noticed。”
“Trust me；” Kathy said dryly。 “You’d notice。” She shook her head。 “Perhaps you should open your eyes
and look around for that specifically。 It might do you a lot of good。”
My body recoiled from the thought。 I registered Melanie’s disgust； mirrored by my own。
Kathy read my expression。 “Don’t let her control how you interact with your kind； Wanderer。 Don’t let
her control you。”
My nostrils flared。 I waited a moment to answer； reining in the anger that I’d never quite gotten used to。
“She does not control me。”
Kathy raised an eyebrow。
The anger tightened my throat。 “You did not look too far afield for your current partner。 Was that choice
controlled？”
She ignored my anger and considered the question thoughtfully。
“Perhaps；” she finally said。 “It’s hard to know。 But you’ve made your point。” She picked at a string in
the hem of her shirt； and then； as if realizing that she was avoiding my gaze； folded her hands resolutely
and squared her shoulders。 “Who knows how much es from any given host on any given planet？ As
I said before； I think time is probably your answer。 Whether she grows apathetic and silent gradually；
allowing you to make another choice besides this Jared； or… well； the Seekers are very good。 They’re
already looking for him； and maybe you’ll remember something that helps。”
I didn’t move as her meaning sank in。 She didn’t seem to notice that I was frozen in place。
“Perhaps they’ll find Melanie’s love； and then you can be together。 If his feelings are as fervent as hers；
the new soul will probably be amenable。”
“No！” I wasn’t sure who had shouted。 Itcould have been me。 I was full of horror； too。
“Wanderer？”
But I turned and ran for the door； fighting the words that could not e out of my mouth。 Words that
could not be my words。 Words that made no sense unless they were hers； but theyfelt like mine。 They
couldn’t be mine。 They couldn’t be spoken。
That’s killing him！ That’s making him cease to be！ I don’t want someone else。 I wantJared；not a
stranger in his body！ The body means nothing without hi