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He looked at the cradle. He couldn't see his son, but he could zlin the completely normal childish nager. It's real.

"Where's Jon?" Kadi asked.

From where he was sitting in Kadi's rocking chair, staring into the fire, Abel told her what had happened. Jord stood by the window, staring out into the night, defeated.

"Rimon tried to go after him," said Mrs. Veritt. "But he simply could not. I'm sure God will take care of Jon. He's a good boy."

"No," said Willa unexpectedly. "It was all Jon's fault. Jon is a bad boy." She went over to Jord and put a hand on his wrist. "Jord is good. Jon is bad. Jon was afraid."

Mrs. Veritt took the abandoned soup bowls from the table and brought them to Kadi and Rimon. Rimon watched Willa, amazed. She had never asserted herself like this before.

Jord said, "Jon was afraid of exactly what happened– that the pain in this room would cause one of us to turn on him. It makes sense to be afraid of what's bound to hurt you."

"I don't know a lot yet," said Willa, "but I know it wasn't Kadi's pain that made you turn on Jon. Jon made you do it. It was his own fault."

Abel Veritt came up behind Jord and put his arm around his shoulders. "Son, if it were the pain and lack of control on your part, Willa couldn't have brought you out of it."

"What exactly did she do?" asked Rimon.

"What she's doing right now," said Jord. "I could let her do that forever. It's addictive, you know."

"I know," said Rimon, reaching over to squeeze Kadi's hand. As he did, he saw the burn marks his tentacles had left on her arms—and the pattern of her ringers etched in purplish bruises on his.

"Rimon, somebody has to go after Jon," said Kadi.

"Maybe Del will show up by morning, and I'll send him."

At that moment, Kadi noticed the marks on their arms. She put down her spoon and stared. Then she traced the marks on Rimon's arm with a delicate finger. "Did I do that?"

"And they say Gens aren't as strong as Simes," said Rimon, basking in the soothing delight of her touch.

"Oh, Rimon, I'm sorry!"

"Don't be," he said with a wry chuckle. "It was a,cooperative effort." He looked back to Abel and Jord. "If Kadi and Willa can learn to control themselves around Simes, why couldn't Jon?"

"I'm going to learn."

The door to the hillside tu

"We thought you'd run for the border," said Abel.

After his initial relief that the boy was safe, Rimon said, "Jon, we'll gladly give you a proper Fort Freedom sendoff —anytime you want. But don't ever try to run for it alone!"

Jon shook his head. "I have no place to go over there. Everybody I care about is here. I want to stay if you'll let me. I promise I'll earn my keep."

"You always have," said Rimon, although he felt uneasy. Well, they'd make sure not to place the boy in such a situation again until he could handle himself.

"Jord," said Jon, "can you forgive me?"

"I forgive you," said Jord. "I've a lot to learn, too– especially how not to react to a Gen's fear. Like Rimon. He didn't react to your fear today."

Rimon chuckled despite the way it made his chest hurt. "To tell the truth, I never felt it. All I knew was Kadi. Now, let's put that behind us. Jon, you're starved. Go eat."

Mrs. Veritt made a place for Jon at the table and supplied him with soup and bread. The baby began to cry. Jon jumped up, wide-eyed. "He's alive!" ,

"Of course," Willa said, plucking the baby out of the cradle as if Jon would contaminate it. "We knew what to do."

"A lot you had to do with it!" Jon snapped. "You're just too dumb to be scared!"

"Jon!" said Abel. "That's enough! Willa saved your life today."

"Huh?"

"She stopped me," said Jord. "Your life—my soul. We owe a great deal to Willa."

Shamefaced, Jon sat back down at the table as the baby began to scream in earnest.

"Oh, please, give him to me," said Kadi.

With Mrs. Veritt's help, Kadi was soon nursing her child, looking down at him in delight. "We have to give him a name."

"It should be an appropriate name, Kadi," suggested Abel. "We witnessed a miracle here today, when Rimon gave of his own life-force to his wife and his son. God showed Rimon the way;»the child should have a name that indicates God's inspiration."

Rimon thought back to the moment when he'd lost Kadi to death. The flashing picture in his mind of a green forest– his First Need. "The inspiration—came from my first kill," said Rimon. "Abel, you remember? I told you about my cousin. He was Sime—and I killed him when I drew selyn from him, forced his system to work backwards. Today, I remembered that—and I made my own system work backwards—and Kadi's, to accept selyn."

"That must be what caused that incredible pain," said Veritt. "But how did you do it?"

"I don't know. But I know our son's name—for the person whose death made me aware of what I could do today. Because he died—my wife and my son live."

"Zeth," said Kadi. "He didn't die in vain, Rimon. I've always told you that."

"Zeth Farris," said Abel. "A truly appropriate name. May God bless the child who bears it, and guide all of us privileged to see this miracle to do His will." He bowed his head. "God, You have given us a miracle this day. We pray for Your guidance to speed the day when we shall all be as this young couple you have sent to be an inspiration to us. May it be Thy will to bring that day soon, Lord—oh, please, let it be soon!"

PART III

Chapter Eighteen

INFORMED CONSENT

One warm, late-summer day, Rimon and Del rode triumphantly home from Ardo Pass, where the largest horse auction of the year was held. They had sold every horse, at prices among the highest at the auction. Their wagon was loaded with the rope Del had wanted, kegs of nails—some on consignment for Fort Freedom—a saddle for Owen, and three huge bales of wire for Del's fences. The wire was an incredible extravagance, but his stock had to be protected.

After five days, Rimon was eager to be home. Del was just as eager to see his family—Carlana and the children were staying with Kadi at the homestead, and as they rounded the bend in the trail, Rimon could zlin the whole group on top of the hill above their home. Carlana must have pointed them out, for as they came in sight Owen and Jana were jumping up and down and waving, and came ru

"We're having a picnic!" Jana a

"Come on up the hill!" Owen added excitedly.

Kadi, Carlana, Willa, and Jon were waiting atop the hill —Kadi holding seven-week-old Zeth. Rimon kissed her, and took the baby, who gurgled up at him happily.

Del was passing out presents to his family, Carlana exclaiming, "Del, you'll spoil the children—oh! but that's so expensive!" as he presented her with a sheer scarf in soft blue and yellow.

"You deserve the best, Ana," he told her. "And if I can keep on this way, you're going to have it!"

Rimon said, "Already some people knew Del's name from last winter. By next year's auction, everyone will be breeding on Erick stock!"

What Rimon had for Kadi was a small bag of coins. He had agreed to help Del for a percentage instead of a fee– and his confidence in his friend had paid off.

Kadi counted the money. "Oh, Rimon! Now we can pay our taxes, and still—"

"Buy a stove!" he said. "We're going into town tomorrow to order one, and glass for the windows! No more cold, dark rooms for you, Kadi."