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"Well, he did ask me not to talk about souls and salvation, but when I
insisted I'd donated selyn, and Mrs. Carson told him she had, too, he said it
was better to speak freely than to have it pass in whispers."
Mr. Veritt nodded."A wise man."
Owen's eyes fixed on Veritt's tentacles. Zeth, too, was
fascinatedby the old Sime's display. In Fort Freedom, it was impolite to
unsheath tentacles except for work.
"Abel," said Owen shakily, "you're not going to teach from this book the way
Mr. Bron does? I read some of it along the road what it says about
Simes That's where they get all their sick ideas! It's all twisted!"
Mr. Veritt shook his head. "There is great wisdom in this book, Owen along
with much unintentional error. It belongs in our library. I'm pleased to have
a copy again, after all these years. I wish I could thank Mr. Bron."
Zeth knew how precious books were to Mr. Veritt. Everyone who traveled away
from Fort Freedom kept an eye out for volumes to add to the growing
library but how could Mr. Veritt be grateful for one such as Owen described?
Owen took a deep breath, and Zeth thought he would voice the protest.
Instead, he said firmly, "I'll tell him or you can write to him and I'll take
the letter. Next time I go."
So bloodyshen independent!Owen's casual announcement sent chills up Zeth's
spine, dispelling his contentment.
In the months that followed, Zeth experienced that same shock each time Owen
left again for Gen Territory. He was the only boy anywhere near Zeth's age, so
when he was gone there was just nobody to talk to. Life slid down into a
slump; it wasn't worth getting out of bed in the morning.
Zeth's lackluster attitude did not escape notice for long. One day he was
called to his father's office. Rimon was alone. "Sit down, Zeth. We've got to
have a talk."
"Yes, sir," said Zeth, heart racing. He didn't have to hitch himself up onto
the chair seat anymore, and for the first time he noticed his heels touched
the floor.
"Your mother is upset partly because you've been doing only a halfhearted job
with your chores lately."
"I promise I'll do better."
"I rather expect so. But that's not what worries me. Your behavior has been
erratic lately. I want to know why." The note of challenge faded from his
father's manner as he added, "Might ithave something to do with Owen?"
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Zeth gasped. Was he that transparent? "I don't know."
"Look, Zeth, we're all proud of the job you did, helping Owen get back on his
feet. Even if he can't work as a Companion, he's found himself a job only he
could do for us. We couldn't spare a working Companion; we couldn't send a
Sime, or a child. Only someone like Owen can do the courier's
job and Abel and I agree it has to be done if our way of life is to have any
meaning. We owe that to you, in a way."
"Yeah I guess "
"Zeth, you're on the verge of growing up. You may not have realized it, but
you're the heir not only to my position here but perhaps to all of Farris. We
can only hope you'll be full-grown before you have to step into my shoes."
He reached to take both of Zeth's hands into his own. "I don't mean to
frighten you, son, but you've surely heard the talk of the Gen raid on Farris
in response to a huge swarm of Freehand Raiders that's moved into the
Territory."
"Yeah, I heard about it."
"There's no telling where they'll strike next or what the out-Territory Gens
are going to do. If Owen can bring Mountain Chapel to understand the
difference between Freeband Raiders and law-abiding citizens that will be only
your first contribution to the dream we're living here. Sometimes I'm so proud
ofyou, I don't know how to express it!"
"I didn't do it to make you proud of me. I did it to make it up to Owen."
"Yes and you have done so. But that is in the past. Recently, there are
moments when I can't believe what I learn about Zeth Farris could concern any
son of mine. Like yesterday, when you 'helped' feed the chickens at Fort
Freedom, and left the gate open so they spent the rest of the afternoon
chasing birds all over the common! Or last night, when I found Star hadn't
been unsaddled. Or this morning, when ''
"Yes, sir, I know," said Zeth in his quietest voice.
"Zeth, one day lives will depend on you. If you're irresponsible in one
thing, it will undermine your sense of responsibility in others. That's not
the way Farrises behave."
"Yes, sir."
"I understand that you miss Owen. But that must not interfere with your
responsibilities. If you're going to be a channel, Zeth, you've got to learn
to put aside personal desires. Now is a good time to learn that lesson."
"Yes, sir.I'll try."
"Actually, it could turn out to be good that Owen is gone so much of the
time. If he's not here when you go into changeover, it will be a lot easier on
him. Since he's yourfriend, that should matter to you."
Stunned, Zeth said, "I'd never thought of that!"
"Well, think about it. Today ends this nonsense. Saddle Star and take a ride,
think it through. Next time I see you, I don't want three people following you
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with complaints!"
The joy of a whole day free to ride was tarnished by the admonition. Zeth
went to Fort Freedom, but Abel Veritt was busy in a meeting with most of the
other men, making battle plans against the Raiders. All the children were in
school, and everyone else was working.
He found Mrs. Veritt canning tomatoes. She gave him a new hat she'd knitted,
saying, "It's getting chilly already. I'll warrant there'll be an early snow
this year!"
He was on his horse and riding before he remembered he'd meant to apologize
for the chickens.
Zeth took the back trail out of Fort Freedom, up around the hills and over by
the Old Farris Homestead. They still grew mushrooms in the tunnels his parents
had built, but there was nobody there today. Before long he found himself on
the border overlook. The last time he'd been here, Abel Veritt had told him
the adults' secret and Marji had come.
Star grazed happily and Patches chased rabbits while Zeth climbed onto a rock
and stared morosely out into Gen Territory. Somewhere out there Owen was
adventuring, and here Zeth sat, tied to within an hour's ride of home in case
he should go into changeover.Shen!
"Shen!"He said it aloud. He'd been such a silly child to think he was really
that near changeover. He'd probably be Gen after all, and the Companion Owen
could never be. Then how would Owen feel about him? Whether he became Sime or
Gen, he was losing his only friend.
He let himself cry, until he felt Star's nose nudging his wet cheek. Reaching
up, he buried his face in her warmth, apologizing over and over for leaving
her saddled and uncombed. Patches came back from his rabbit chase and added
his licking to Star's attentions. "I'm all right," Zeth assured them. "I won't
forget my responsibilities again. Honest."
A few days later, news reached them that two of the largest bands of Raiders
had joined forces with a band from some other Territory. The three bands had
picked one section of the Territory clean, and were now heading this way.
Furious activity sprouted up last-minute attempts to get in the late crops,
hammers reinforcing the stockade at Fort Freedom, windows being boarded up,
troops practicing battle formation on the green.
Zeth overheard his mother and father coming home late that night. "We'll just
have to stand them off alone," said Rimon Farris grimly.
"I just don't see how they could refuse our request for troops," said his
mother. "We're a county and we pay our taxes it's got to be illegal, what
they're doing to us."
"Probably, but that doesn't change anything. Tomorrow we move valuables and
crucial supplies out to the Old Homestead, and prepare shelter for the
children there. Everyone else is to meet at the Old Fort at the first sign of
Raiders."
So Zeth found himself ignominiously herded with all the little kids into the
tunnels that honeycombed the hill under the house in which he'd been born.
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