Wei Loon Jingsheng
Every muscle quivering, Loon knelt by Chi Unesugi. She couldn't touch her friend, afraid she was
dead. She wouldn't leave her either, sorrowing over her loss. Nothing reached into her mind. No
words formed there. No intent, no duty, no revenge, just loss. A fresh, but familiar loss, set
aside, but never forgotten, doubled now with the death of this, what-could-have-been her Second
Mother.
Suddenly, the world broke in. Hands tugged her away. A voice urged, "C'mon, girl, outta da way.
Let da cart do its business."
The hands helped but still Loon stumbled. Fear of falling shot through her, restarted her. A
zhee-tel stood next to her, supporting her while he watched something else. Loon followed his
gaze.
A med-tek cart hunkered next to Chi Unesugi. It calmly offered a face-hugger. A zhee-tel hovering
there snatched the bulbous device and plopped it on Chi Unesugi's face where it squirmed into
position. It launched its probes and an instant later, flung up its red flag. Digits whirled
there, then stabilized.
Chi Unesugi lived!
Loon hurried to her side. The cart suggested a chest-hugger. Loon elbowed the clumsy zhee-tel
away and eased the wide, flat device under Chi Unesugi. It morphed silently, wrapping itself
around the small torso, then exposed a docking plate. Loon glanced up at the cart; it offered a
surgical kit. Calmly, hope smoothing every move, Loon parked it on the plate and pressed its
start-button. It whirred, but didn't move. Soon, though, its foilscreen showed success messages.
Loon heaved a sigh, relief stirring her to other things, like duty. She glanced around. Zhee-tely
milled, staring at her, talking quietly among themselves. Then she noticed an alley in their
bunching. On the stretch of flagstone lay Ngu Yenhuu Vanvietrat, a triage flag attached to his
right shoulder. Its whiteness sent a stark message.
Guilt bit at Loon. Suddenly, the attack loomed in her mind, the memory vivid and terrible. A
near-naked man had attacked Chi Unesugi bare-handed, then tossed her aside. Loon had collapsed by
Chi Unesugi and seen nothing else. The man must have gone on to attack — and kill — Yenhuu.
Yenhuu who mentored his apprentices with humor and discipline. Yenhuu who took to the
paths-turned-mean with devotion and compassion. Yenhuu who promised to get Loon through her
training as quickly and safely as possible.
How could that happen? No one could breech dreamstick radius ... could they?
Loon had felt so safe, protected by Yenhuu's dreamstick, despite going in harm's way on
Ganj Dareh's paths. Now, though — She pushed the doubt away and climbed to her feet.
Duty chided her inaction. Obligation to Chi Unesugi — and Yenhuu — called to her. Whatever she
could do to apprehend this chui she would do, within the scope of her authority and training, of
course. Justice arrived on the back of diligence and teamwork.
Interviews, then, the one thing she'd learned how to do so far. Chi Unesugi would be all right.
An ambulance would be dropping out of the sky soon, called by the med-tek cart.
Loon set about finding out what had happened.
