Ultima opened her eyes at the voicesand looked around, trying to gather her wits.
“Is it true?” asked afamiliar voice.
She stared at him for several momentswithout comprehension and then she met Tau’s gaze. “Yes. I’m theirwoman.”
The men debated among themselves forseveral moments and finally nodded, summoning the strangers. “Comethen. She needs a doctor or she’ll not survive.”
Relief flooded Tau, such a powerfulrelease of tension it almost made him dizzy. “Yes. I have done allI could. I closed her wounds, but I have no knowledge of themedicine she needs.”
* * * *
They were greeted with hostility asthey were led into the camp by the warriors that had found them. Awoman rose almost immediately, though, and rushed toward them.“What’s happened to her?”
“Battle,” Xi respondedsuccinctly.
“She waswounded—badly—when we found her. I stopped the bleeding with laser,but now she is fevered.”
The woman nodded. “Bring her into thetent and let me examine her.”
Tau followed with her and Xi and Quantrailed him. The woman gestured toward a filthy bed and Tau felthis belly turn over. “There is nothing clean?”
The woman’s lips thinned. “It’scleaner than it looks. We have … very few supplies for anythinganymore. In any case, that’s the best we have to offer. I’m Dr.Emily Hart, by the way.”
Tau jerked a look at her, scanned her,and instantly recognized her as sibling. “You are … hersister?”
She seemed to relax—almost as if shehad been testing him. “Yes. I’m her sister.”
Tau moved to the bed and verycarefully settled her on the surface.
His arms felt lighter without herweight—empty. It was not as pleasant a relief as he had expected—toput her down at all, to turn her care over to another.
Emily studied his face and thenglanced at Xi and Quan. “She’ll be ok with me. I’ll take the bestcare of her. The three of you can wait outside … or go to the foodtent and help yourself to … what we have to offer.”
Tau was reluctant to leave. “Tell her… if she wakes that I am not far,” he said finally.
The doctor nodded and he left, stillfeeling … lost. Strange.
“What has happened?” Xidemanded in a low voice in their tongue.
Tau stared at him. “I have not … fullyprocessed.”
“What do you thinkhappened?” Quan persisted.
Tau frowned, thinking it over. “Ithought I had accessed the data that the traitor had beencollecting on them. Then … I saw her and I realized ….” He stoppedand shook his head. “I am not the same since she touchedme.”
Xi and Quan exchanged a long look. “Wehave brought her to her people. She will be safe here and they willknow what, if anything, can be done to preserve the life. We shouldproceed with the mission. We should leave now.”
“No,” Tau said. “We willnot.”
“The mission is paramount.She will be safe when the traitor is taken.”
“Sheisthe mission,” Tausaid.
Xi and Quan gaped at him in stunneddisbelief.
“You have beencompromised,” Xi said coolly.
“Reprogrammed.”
