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I wasn’t able to concentrate much on the rest of Jeb’s tour。 My attention was not focused on the second
set of gardens he led me through—one with corn growing waist…high in the blistering heat of the brilliant
mirrors—or the wide but low…ceilinged cavern he called the “rec room。” That one was pitch…black and
deep underground； but he told me they brought in lights when they wanted to play。 The wordplay didn’t
make sense to me； not here in this group of tense； angry survivors； but I didn’t ask him to explain。 There
was more water here； a tiny； noxiously sulfurous spring that Jeb said they sometimes used as a second
latrine because it was no good for drinking。
My attention was divided between the men walking behind us and the boy at my side。
Ian and the doctor did mind their manners surprisingly well。 No one attacked me from behind—though I
thought my eyes might get lodged in the back of my head from trying to see if they were about to。 They
just followed quietly； sometimes talking to each other in low voices。 Their ments revolved around
names I didn’t know and nicknames for places and things that might or might not have been inside these
caves。 I couldn’t understand any of it。
Jamie said nothing； but he looked at me a lot。 When I wasn’t trying to keep an eye on the others； I was
often peeking at him； too。 This left little time to admire the things Jeb showed me； but he didn’t seem to
notice my preoccupations。
Some of the tunnels were very long—the distances hidden beneath the ground here were mind…boggling。
Often they were pitch…black； but Jeb and the others never so much as paused； clearly familiar with their
whereabouts and long since accustomed to traveling in darkness。 It was harder for me than it was when
Jeb and I were alone。 In the dark； every noise sounded like an attack。 Even the doctor’s and Ian’s casual
chatter seemed like a cover for some nefarious move。
Paranoid；Melanie mented。
If that’s what it takes to keep us alive； so be it。
I wish you would pay more attention to Uncle Jeb。 This is fascinating。
Do what you want with your time。
I can only hear and see what you hear and see； Wanderer；she told me。 Then she changed the
subject。Jamie looks okay； don’t you think？ Not too unhappy。
He looks… wary。
We were just ing into some light after the longest trek so far in the humid blackness。
“This here is the southernmost spur of the tube system；” Jeb explained as we walked。 “Not super
convenient； but it gets good light all day long。 That’s why we made it the hospital wing。 This is where Doc
The moment Jeb announced where we were； my body froze and my joints locked； I skidded to a halt；
my feet planted against the rock floor。 My eyes； wide with terror； flickered between Jeb’s face and the
face of the doctor。
Had this all been a ruse； then？ Wait for stubborn Jared to be out of the picture and then lure me back
here？ I couldn’t believe I’d walked to this place under my own power。 How stupid I was！
Melanie was just as aghast。We might as well have gift…wrapped ourselves for them！
They stared back at me； Jeb expressionless； the doctor looking as surprised as I felt—though not as
horrified。
I would have flinched； ripped myself away from the touch of a hand on my arm； if the hand had not been
so familiar。
“No；” Jamie said； his hand hesitantly resting just below my elbow。 “No； it’s okay。 Really。 Right； Uncle
Jeb？” Jamie looked trustingly at the old man。 “It’s okay； right？”
“Sure it is。” Jeb’s faded blue eyes were calm and clear。 “Just showing you my place； kid； that’s all。”
“What are you talking about？” Ian grumbled from behind us； sounding annoyed that he didn’t
understand。
“Did you think we brought you here on purpose； for Doc？” Jamie said to me instead of answering Ian。
“Because we wouldn’t do that。 We promised Jared。”
I stared at his earnest face； trying to believe。
“Oh！” Ian said as he understood； and then he laughed。 “That wasn’t a bad plan。 I’m surprised I didn’t
think of it。”
Jamie scowled at the big man and patted my arm before removing his hand。 “Don’t be scared；” he said。
Jeb took up where he’d left off。 “So this big room here is fitted up with a few cots in case anyone gets
sick or hurt。 We’ve been pretty lucky on that count。 Doc doesn’t have much to work with in an
emergency。” Jeb grinned at me。 “Your folks threw out allour medicines when they took over things。 Hard
to get our hands on what we need。”
I nodded slightly； the movement was absentminded。 I was still reeling； trying to get my bearings。 This
room looked innocent enough； as if it were only used for healing； but it made my stomach twist and
contract。
“What do you know about alien medicine？” the doctor asked suddenly； his head cocked to the side。 He
watched my face with expectant curiosity。
I stared at him wordlessly。
“Oh； you can talk to Doc；” Jeb encouraged me。 “He’s a pretty decent guy； all things considered。”
“She’s not giving away any trade secrets；” Ian said sourly。 “Are you； sweetheart？”
“Manners； Ian；” Jeb barked。
“Is it a secret？” Jamie asked； guarded but clearly curious。
I shook my head again。 They all stared at me in confusion。 Doc shook his head； too； slowly； baffled。
I took a deep breath； then whispered； “I’m not a Healer。 I don’t know how they—the
medications—work。 Only that theydo work— they heal； rather than merely treating symptoms。 No trial
and error。 Of course the human medicines were discarded。”
All four of them stared with blank expressions。 First they were surprised when I didn’t answer； and now
they were surprised when I did。 Humans were impossible to please。
“Your kind didn’t change too much of what we left behind；” Jeb said thoughtfully after a moment。 “Just
the medical stuff； and the spaceships instead of planes。 Other than that； life seems to go on just the same
as ever… on the surface。”
“We e to experience； not to change；” I whispered。 “Health takes priority over that philosophy；
though。”
I shut my mouth with an audible snap。 I had to be more careful。 The humans hardly wanted a lecture on
soul philosophy。 Who knew what would anger them？ Or what would snap their fragile patience？
Jeb nodded； still thoughtful； and then ushered us onward。 He wasn’t as enthusiastic as he continued my
tour through the few connecting caves here in the medical wing； not as involved in the presentation。 When
we turned around and headed back into the black corridor； he lapsed into silence。 It was a long； quiet
walk。 I thought through what I’d said； looking for something that might have offended。 Jeb was too
strange for me to guess if that was the case。 The other humans； hostile and suspicious as they were； at
least made sense。 How could I hope to make sense of Jeb？
The tour ended abruptly when we reentered the huge garden cavern where the carrot sprouts made a
bright green carpet across the dark floor。
“Show’s over；” Jeb said gruffly； looking at Ian and the doctor。 “Go do something useful。