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The ar nearby like a cold observer She did not like the nearness of the demons, but he said they would not harhters had filled the demons’ senses with a false world which kept thelancing oddly at her nose ring

She wondered how Ferry felt about the way Thomas talked Thoh Ferry were not there

"This old fool doesn’t have any real power," Thomas had said "Oakes thinks he has a corner on the real power and the syon He doesn’t share power He’s set his compared to e’d have encountered at Colony"

"I told hi too soon," Ferry had said

Thonored him, addressed Panille "Ferry’s a liar, but we can use hi valuable about Oakes’ plans"

"But I don’t know anything" The old man’s voice quavered

One of the Naturals Thoanizational probleht eye They had gone away together, Thoether an army, out of somebody else’s rejects"

She had seen so to design: runners, carriers, lifter He had taken a training inventory - equipht-physics technician, welder, unskilled labo

She thought about this as she prepared the medical facilities under the cliff What difference did it anized his force? When they arrived here, they wouldwith the preparations for the delivery, stopped in front of Hali "Why do you look so worried? Is it so like that"

And Waela heard her old inner voice, Honesty,time: The baby will be born soon Soon

Waela stared at Hali

"What has you so worried?"

Hali looked at Waela’s ht us that supply of burst from Colon"

"Colony didn’t need it anymore They’re all dead"

"That’s not wha "

"You’re afraidyou of your years, your life an"

"I don’t think your baby would take from me"

"Then what is it?"

"Waela, what are we doing here?"

"Trying to survive"

"You sound like Thoreat deal of sense so into the shelter, two of the a third who had lost an arainst the stump, bloody sand all around the wound

"Who’s the , flexible fingers

Ferry started to step forward, but Hali motioned him back "Stay with Waela Let me knohen she needs me"

"I’m a doctor, you know" There was hurt in the old voice

"I know Stay with Waela"

Hali led the injured trio to the eency alcove partly sheltered by the black rocks of the cliff She worked quickly, closing up the severed stu it with septalc

"Can’t you save his ar out there?"

The dwarf spat on the floor "Hell and damn folly"

She finished with his companions, looked at the dwarf His comh," he said

"Coht arm was badly burned She spoke to distract hihters?"

"Lewis pushed us out Like garbage You knohat that et away I hope the Runners get in there" He gestured with his good arm at the Redoubt across the plain "Eat every one of those shiptit bastards!"

The dwarf slid off the treatment table as she finished He headed toward the exit

"Where are you going?"

"Back to help where I can" He stood with the fabric flap held back and she stared out the opening at the Redoubt Blue flashes filled the air there She could hear distant shouts and screams

"You’re in no condition t"

"I’h to carry the wounded"

"There are more?"

"Lots of ’e closed behind him

Hali closed her eyes In her ed to a crowd and the crowd became a mob Foul-breath and the salty stink of blood were on the wind The tiny lips of cuts and the great sination A pair of broken knees blurred through her memory - the men on the crosses

"That’s not the way," she encyit back The dwarf already was a sure in the distance She strode after hi?" It was Ferry’s voice calling after her

She did not turn "They need me out there"

"But what about Waela?"

"You’re a doctor" She shouted it without taking her gaze off the s in the distance