"Jacqueline Lichtenberg - SimeGen 02 - Channel's Destiny" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lichtenberg Jacqueline)

Zeth's father said, "Del, I'll do all I can for Owen, but I can't save his arm. If he lives, it could be for only a few weeks or months.
If he goes into changeoverтАФ"
"Then he's got to be Gen!" said Erick.
"Del," Abel Veritt said, "we will all pray for that, but with both parents SimeтАФ"
"He has to be Gen," Erick insisted. "Rimon, save him!"
Zeth's father gripped Erick's shoulder, years of intense friendship in the gesture. Then his mother said, "It's damp and chilly out
here. Let's get Owen into the house."
By this time, Zeth could walk. He hung back, feeling terrible guilt. It was his fault Owen was hurtтАФhe had taunted him into
coming to the New Homestead, and then Owen had gotten into the fight to save Zeth. I'm the one they meant to hurt.
But he couldn't say it to anyoneтАФhis father and mother had to concentrate on healing Owen, and the other three people Zeth
could confide in were Owen, Del Erick, and Abel Veritt. He arrived home deeply troubled. Patches came running to
him, whimpering. Zeth saw that someone had wrapped abandage around the dog's ribs. "What happened to Patches?"
he cried. ,
"He's all right." It was Ann Steers, the Gen who was Hank Steers's wife. "Patches and Biggie helped drive off the attackers.
Patches got some whip cuts, but poor Biggie has a broken leg."
Zeth's dog and Hank's were littermates, and Hank had helped Zeth train Patches. Now Biggie hobbled after Ann, one leg
splinted. Anni bore bruises on her face and arms, but she was carefully controlled.
Upstairs, Uel Whelan and Hank Steers, who always worked with the youngest channel, were just coming out of Zeth's
room. Uel said to Del Erick, "I've just checked on Jana. It's not serious, Del. She'll heal as good as new."
"Thanks, Uel," said Del. "I'll stop in to see her."
"She'll sleep till morning. You can see her then." He paused to zlin Owen as he was carried into the big bedroom
Zeth's parents shared, "Rimon, can I help? Spell you?"
"Maybe later," Farris replied. "I'm in need. That may give me the sensitivity to heal Owen. How's everyone here?"
"Fine. No one was hurt as badly as the kids, except . . . they killed Ten Layton."
"I must comfort her parents," Abel Veritt said at once. But he paused, looking around. "Where is Jord?" Veritt's son
was the third channel in Fort Freedom, although he wasn't as capable as either Uel Whelan or Rimon Farris. Zeth didn't
understand Jord's problems, but knew they had increased after his wife died. He couldn't seem to find another
Companion.
"Jord took the Laytons home," said Hank Steers. "Let him pray with them. It will help him, tooтАФand you should
rest, Abel."
Something unspoken hung in the air between the old Sime and the young Gen. Zeth knew there were things he
could not comprehend because he was still a child. Today, however, he glanced at Uel Whelan and saw a peculiar
mixture of compassion and revulsion on the young channel's face. He knew it was difficult for a channel to give up
transfer from his Companion, even for one month. Hank gave transfer to Mr. Veritt every few months; Zeth had heard
his father say it was good that Hank and Uel didn't have so strong a dependency. Still, there was something more in
Uel's expression he could not fathom. If only I could zlin!
His parents were installing Owen in their bed. Trying to be inconspicuous, Zeth hovered just inside the door until
his mother came over to him and said, "Zeth, go downstairs and eat supper."
"But OwenтАФ"
"He's alive, Zeth," said his father. He studied Zeth, his black eyes, deep-set with strain, almost unreadable. His
mouth set in lines of grim determination as he added, "You're old enough to understand. Owen isn't going to bleed to
death, but his body could just give up and die of shock. I can try to save himтАФbut I mustn't be disturbed. Kadi, go
with Zeth."
"But, RimonтАФyou're in need."
"That's all that let me stop the bleeding. Kadi, I had to have you for that, but now ... let me try something. With no Gen in the
room, I think I can get Owen's fields to respond."
"ButтАФ"
"Let me try, Kadi!"
At the ragged edge in his voice, she backed off. She tucked the blanket around Owen's still form, then took Zeth's hand and left
the room, closing the door behind them.