"All right. The work's the thing. I can't do it, Jason can. You're a parapsych. If you can switch me off--go right ahead!" * * * * * I stared at Regis, passing a hand across my forehead. "What happened?" I demanded, and in even swifter apprehension, "Where's Kyla? She was hurt--" "Kyla's all right," Regis said, but I got up quickly to make sure. Kyla was outside, lying quite comfortably on a roll of blankets. She was propped on her elbow drinking something hot, and there was a good smell of hot food in the air. I stared at Regis and demanded, "I didn't conk out, did I, from a little scratch like this?" I looked carelessly at my gashed hand. "Wait--" Regis held me back, "don't go out just yet. Do you remember what happened, Doctor Allison?" I stared in growing horror, my worst fear confirmed. Regis said quietly, "You--changed. Probably from the shock of seeing--" he stopped in mid-sentence, and I said, "The last thing I remember is seeing that Kyla was bleeding, when we got her clothes off. But--good Gods, a little blood wouldn't scare _me_, and Jay Allison's a surgeon, would it bring him roaring up like that?" "I couldn't say." Regis looked as if he knew more than he was telling. "I don't believe that Dr. Allison--he's not much like you--was very concerned with Kyla. Are you?" "Damn right I am. I want to make sure she's all right--" I stopped abruptly. "Regis--did they all see it?" "Only Kendricks and I," Regis said, "and we will not speak of it." I said, "Thanks," and felt his reassuring hand-clasp. Damn it, demigod or prince, I _liked_ Regis. I went out and accepted some food from the kettle and sat down between Kyla and Kendricks to eat. I was shaken, weak with reaction. Furthermore, I realized that we couldn't stay here. It was too vulnerable to attack. So, in our present condition, were we. If we could push on hard enough to get near Dammerung pass tonight, then tomorrow we could cross it early, before the sun warmed the snow and we had snowslides and slush to deal with. Beyond Dammerung, I knew the tribesmen and could speak their language. I mentioned this, and Kendricks looked doubtfully at Kyla. "Can she climb?" "Can she stay here?" I countered. But I went and sat beside her anyhow. "How badly are you hurt? Do you think you can travel?" She said fiercely, "Of course I can climb! I tell you, I'm no weak girl, I'm a free Amazon!" She flung off the blanket somebody had tucked around her legs. Her lips looked a little pinched, but the long stride was steady as she walked to the fire and demanded more soup.