Meanwhile, Rimon used up some of his extra selyn in Fort Freedom's fields. They could no longer pay him, but he had a debt to work off, and when that was done, he helped out whenever he could. At foaling time, Kadi went back to work for Del; that spring her tax was paid entirely with money she earned herself.
Rimon and Del braved the threat of a late snow to get to the first market of the year, selling horses and mushrooms and the few items Fort Freedom had salvaged. Prices were down; no one had much money after last year except the government, which collected taxes no matter what. They sold a herd of horses to the border guard at a nice profit, and at the same time, filed the first petition to have their section of the Territory declared a county.
Spring planting went well, the crops soon sending up bright shoots in neat rows. There was renewed hope of healing the rift in Fort Freedom. Dan Whelan organized all those dissenters who'd returned, and offered to help Sara Fenell and the other two families still living along the creek with plowing and planting. When the help was accepted, they didn't push further—but Abel was laying plans, Rimon knew, to try again to bring them home when he could say he himself didn't kill anymore.
With that hope, Abel was glowing with good spirits. Hank bent Rimon's rules practically backwards, "living" with Rimon only in the sense that he slept there most nights. As Abel and Hank were deliberately getting into phase, though, Abel did send the boy home when he was in need. Uel Whelan often turned up on those days, and the two boys would go off together, much to the distress of Zeth, who always wanted to tag along.
One morning when Hank had been out with Rimon for two days, the boy was growing restless. "Come on, Rimon —if you won't let me try transfer this month, take my field down so I can go over to Fort Freedom."
"Next month, Hank, and that's why it's important that I not take your field down until this evening. That's when Abel has scheduled his kill."
"But it wouldn't hurt for me to be ahead of him."
"No, but he doesn't want you to see him today—especially not this evening. You can understand that."
"Yeah, I guess so. Maybe Uel can come out today."
But Uel didn't show up, and Abel did, just at midmorning. "Rimon, Uel Whelan's gone into changeover, and he's having a bad time of it. Jord says he thinks the problem may be a dual system, like yours."
"I'm coming," Rimon said at once. "Kadi!"
"I'll get the horses," said Hank, and was off before anyone thought to stop him. He had saddled three horses by the time Rimon and Kadi were ready, and Rimon decided not to protest. Hank was Uel's best friend, and his presence these days was almost as soothing as Kadi's.
When they reached the Whelan home, Rimon soon discovered that the problem was not physical complications at all, but Uel's lack of cooperation. He was in the final stages, tentacles well developed in their sheaths, but he lay still, pale and grim, turning his face away from Jord.
"Zlin him, Rimon," Jord said when they entered. "It's completely evident now—two selyn systems."
Rimon zlinned the boy, looking around at his parents, Jord, and Willa—what had they been saying to him to put him in this state? Rimon sat down on the edge of the bed and said, "Congratulations, Uel. It's almost over now."
"I won't kill! I'll die first!"
Jord said, "Uel, you want to save lives. Then listen to us. You can learn to heal the way Rimon and I do. That's the gift God has given you—to heal the sick and injured."
"What kind of God wants me to save some people by killing others?"
"Uel!" Abel said sharply, his need sapping his patience.
Rimon said, "He's not responsible for what he's saying, Abel. lord's right about the dual system. Zlin his selyn consumption. If we can't get him to cooperate in breakout, he might succeed in killing himself."
"Let me try," said Hank. When he approached the bed, Uel turned toward him, drawn by Hank's field. "Come on, Uel—you know the exercises. Remember how silly I looked when I first tried them?" He held out his hands, clenching his fists, snapping his fingers open. "I can do them now, though. See?"
"You never required them," Uel muttered resentfully.
"Sure I did—I require them right now, and I've got to teach them to my kids, haven't I? Come on, Uel, do it with me. You can do it."
Rimon watched Hank concentrate, felt him actually trying to project the muscular contractions to Uel, who by this time was fighting involuntary spasms. Unconsciously, the other Simes in the room were imitating Hank's actions. Kadi had been teaching Hank her techniques; obviously, he was an apt pupil.
"Good!" said Hank when Uel moved his hands. "Again now."
But then the fluid swelled the membranes at Uel's wrists, the tentacles threatening to break through at any moment. Rimon turned to Jord. "Where's the Gen?"
"I'll get her," Jord replied.
"No—oh—oh!" With an agonized howl, Uel convulsed and the tentacles tore free. Rimon wrapped an arm around Hank's waist, intending to snatch him out of Uel's reach, but Uel twisted away to face the wall, curled up with his arms hidden, just the way Rimon himself had rejected all attempts to make him kill after Zeth. But Uel was in First Need. He should be unable to do anything but attack the nearest source of selyn.
Kadi said, "Rimon, can I help him the way I used to help you?"
"I'll do it," said Hank.
"You don't know what to do," said Kadi.
"I'll give him transfer. Why should he have to kill, when I'm here?"
Rimon felt the shock surge through Abel, exacerbated by his need. Yet in moments the older man had gained control of himself. "Rimon—can he do it? If Uel should never have to kill…"
"It's First Need, Abel. And Hank has never given transfer at all." Give Abel a way out.
Hank protested, "If I can't save my best friend's life, what good am I?" He pulled the smaller boy over onto his back.
Rimon started to reach out for Hank again, but Abel put a hand on his shoulder. "Let him try. Think of it, Rimon —the first of our Sime children never to kill at all—with your abilities—with Jord's."
Uel remained curled into a tight ball. "Won't kill," he murmured as Hank tried to pry his fingers from their painful clamping over his own arms. His tentacles were tightly retracted, even the laterals.
"Use your field," said Kadi. "You can't fight Sime strength with Gen muscle."
Hank concentrated, willing Uel to relax, coaxing softly, "Hey—come on—just let me help—come on now…"
Painfully, Uel focused his eyes. "Hank? Hank—I can't– do anything for my parents now. You—take care of them —please."
At that, Mrs. Whelan began to cry against her husband's shoulder. Rimon realized that if there was any chance of this transfer working, he had to get them out of the room —and Abel, too.
Hank was close to tears. "Don't be dumb, Uel," he said gruffly. "You'll take care of them yourself."
Uel gave a grim smile. "Don't put on any act with me, Hank. I'm dying."
"You wouldn't let me quit—you wouldn't hear me talking about going across the border. Well, now you're quitting, only I'm not going to listen. I'm going to give you transfer."
Uel's resistance began to crumble. "I can't kill you!"
"You're not going to because I'm not going to let you."
At that moment, Jord came in with the Gen for Uel. The fields in the room shifted painfully at that reminder, and Rimon said, "Jord, clear the room. Kadi, stay here. Everybody else out."