Sime Gen: To Kiss or to Kill by Jean Lorrah

Author:Jean Lorrah [Lorrah, Jean]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story
ISBN: 9781592220427
Publisher: Meisha Merlin Pub
Published: 2005-01-30T17:01:57+00:00

Page 10

"Zhag will be fine once he has transfer," Thea told Tony. "He's off-schedule by almost two days--his injuries aren't enough to account for that much loss."

Tony told her about Zhag's convulsions and voiding.

"You shenned him?"

"No--he did it to himself. I take full responsibility, though. Now that I've seen a kill, I'll know better than to react if it happens again."

"Shen!" she swore. "How many Gens were killed? How many others saw and were traumatized?"

"I only saw one kill, and I was the only other Gen there."

Thea frowned, her eyes unfocused as she zlinned Tony's reaction when he remembered. "You were frightened."

"It was the first time I actually saw a Sime kill a Gen."

"How did Zhag react? To your fear?" Thea asked.

"He...started to attack me," Tony carefully recalled. "Before I got control of myself, he shenned out."

"You're sure? You didn't shen him?"

"No." He searched his memory, knowing details were important. "I wasn't exactly afraid when I saw the kill. Not for myself. It was--a chill up the spine because what I'd only heard about was really happening."

"It doesn't matter," said Thea, "especially with a field like yours.

Simple startlement can provoke killmode."

Tony nodded, looking down at the bruises on his arms. "I know now

.

But in the market I didn't understand--I certainly wasn't afraid of Zhag

--I

never have been."

"You have no reason to be--today Zhag proved our worst fears: he'll suicide-abort before he'll kill."

"Suicide? Is that why he was voiding selyn? Thea...what did I do to him?" Tony asked.

The channel put a hand over his. "You provoked him--but if he were in good health, he could have handled it. Now, though, his systems are so fragile that aborting sent them into chaos." She gently squeezed his hand. "What I

zlinned in that wagon is that you are the only reason he survived."

"Yeah, but I'm also the reason he's so sick. I didn't know I shouldn't move him."

"You didn't know? Where are you from?"

"Heartland Territory."

"How in the world did you get to Norlea? The Tecton is doing out-Territory Companion training in the Sime Centers."

"I'm not a Companion," Tony repeated. "I know, I know--every channel that zlins me wants me to move into a Householding, but I came here looking for Zhag's music."

Thea looked into his eyes. "Would you be willing to be Zhag's

Companion?"

"What would I have to do?" he asked suspiciously.

"Give him transfer. Otherwise, not much more than you're already doing. Less, actually, as he will get well with the right transfer mate."

"Get well? You mean he doesn't have to die of disjunction?" Tony asked eagerly.

"That's right."

"Yes!" Tony said at once. "I mean, we can work together? I don't have to live in a Page 11

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