?Could he have killed you??
?Yes, with enough ammunition and enough persistence. Or perhaps he could have made me kill him.?
He bent to pick Akin up. ?You?ve made yourself too valuable to take risks like that. I know guys who wouldn?t have hesitated.? He shook himself again, shaking Akin. ?God, what?s this stuff you?ve smeared me with? Goddamn slimy shit!?
Akin did not answer.
?What is it?? Gabe insisted. ?It stinks.?
?Cooked flesh.?
Gabe shuddered and said nothing.
8
Tate waited at the edge of the forest amid a cluster of other people. Mateo and Pilar Leal were there. How would Tino take seeing them again? How would they take seeing him with Nikanj? Would he stay with his mates and his children or go with his parents? people? It was not likely that Nikanj could let him go or that he could survive long without Nikanj. Mars might even make Tino?s choice of the Oankali more acceptable to Tino. He would no longer be helping Humanity breed itself out of existence. But he would not be helping it shape its new world either.
Yori was there, standing with Kolina Wilton and Stancio Roybal. Sober now, Stancio looked tired and ill. There were people Akin did not recognize?new people. There was Abira?an arm reaching out of a hammock, lifting him in.
?Where?s Macy?? Gabe asked as he put Akin down.
?He hasn?t come,? Kolina answered. ?We hoped he was helping you with Akin.?
?He went out when he heard Neci and her friend setting the fire,? Akin said. ?I lost track of him after that.?
?Was he hurt?? Kolina demanded.
?I don?t know. I?m sorry.?
She thought about this for a moment. ?We have to wait for him!?
?We?ll wait,? Tate said. ?He knows where to meet us.?
They moved deeper into the forest as the light from the fire grew brighter.
?My home is burning,? Abira said as everyone watched. ?I didn?t think I would have to watch my home burn again.?
?Just be glad you aren?t in it,? one of the strangers said. Akin knew at once that this man disliked Abira. Humans would carry their dislikes with them to be shut up together on Mars.
The fire burned through the night, but Macy did not come. A few other people arrived. Yori had asked most of them to come. It was she who kept others from shooting them as they were spotted. If they shot anyone, they would have to leave quickly before the sound drew enemies.
?I have to go back,? Kolina said finally.
No one said anything. Perhaps they had been waiting for this.
?They could be holding him,? Tate said finally. ?They could be waiting for you.?
?No. Not with the fire. They wouldn?t think about me.?
?There are those who would. The kind who would hold you and sell you if they thought they could get away with it.?
?I?ll go,? Stancio said. ?Probably no one?s even noticed that I?ve left town. I?ll find him.?
?I can?t leave without him,? she said.
?But we have to leave soon,? Gabe said. ?Gil Senn nearly killed Akin back there in the field. If he gets another chance, he might pull the trigger. I know there are others who wouldn?t hesitate, and they?ll be out hunting as soon as it?s light.?
?Someone give me a gun,? Stancio said.
One of the strangers handed him one.
?I want one, too,? Kolina said. She was staring at the fire, and when Yori thrust a rifle at her, she took it without turning her head. ?Keep Akin safe,? she said.
Yori hugged her. ?Keep yourself safe. Bring Macy to us. You can find the way.?
?North to the big river, then east along the river. I know.?
No one said anything to Stancio, so Akin called him over. Gabe had propped Akin against a tree, and now Stancio squatted before him, clearly not bothered by his appearance.
?Would you let me check you?? Akin asked. ?You don?t look well, and for this you may need to be
very healthy.?
Stancio shrugged. ?I don?t have anything you can cure.?
?Let me have a look. It won?t hurt.?
Stancio stood up. ?Is this Mars thing real??
?It?s real. Another chance for Humanity.?
