Part 8 (1/2)

ground, then she ran into the barn. He was too large and

heavy for her to carry, and dragging him, while possible,

would only aggravate his wound. The grav-lift she used to

transport calves from the field was her only other option.

No, you could signal a healer, a cold, inner voice that sounded remarkably like Hunetku's said as Natala

rolled the unconscious male onto the lift's pallet. That would be the proper manner of dealing with a visitor.

Yet all she wanted was a little more time with him, so

that she could tend his wound and ask him more about the

pair who had attacked him. Indeed, they had been so busy

talking about the herd that she had practically forgotten

about the intruders.

”Lights on,” she said as she brought him inside, and

the envirocontrol panel illuminated the dark interior of

the barn.

This was the third time in a cycle her sensor pylons

had been triggered, but the only time she had ever caught

up with the intruders, thanks to the stockman. If the

able to identify and track them.

That is not the only reason.

She brought him inside to her room and hoisted him up

and over onto her sleeping platform before retrieving her

med kit and a pair of shears. Rarely did she get this

close to a man when he could not look at her, so it was a

pleasant novelty. Particularly as he was not averting his

eyes or chattering polite nonsense to cover his discomfort.

Thank the Mother you are but a lowly cattle worker,