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Updated: June 6, 2025
During the night, he'd partially awakened in agony to find Nema chanting and gesturing desperately beside him, and he'd been sure he was on the verge of his second death. He could remember one moment, just before midnight, when she had stopped and seemed to give up hope. Then she'd braced herself and begun some ritual as if she were afraid to try it. Beyond that, he had no memory of pain.
Hanson remembered the man with whom he'd been talking before Nema appeared. He'd have liked to know such a man before death and revivification had ruined him. It wasn't fair that anyone with character enough to be that human even as a zombie should be wiped out without even a moment's consideration. Then he remembered the man's own estimate of his current situation.
With material of infinite strength and an infinite supply of it and with infinite time and patience, it might have been worth considering. Nema came out the next day with more cheering information. Her multi-times great grandfather, Sather Karf, regretted it, but he must have good news to release at once; the populace was starving because the food multipliers couldn't produce reliable supplies.
And as he examined himself, he could find no scars or signs of injuries from the impact of the bulldozer if there had ever really been a bulldozer. He grimaced at his own doubts. "Where am I, anyhow, Nema?" The girl dumped an armload of clothing on his bed and looked at him with controlled exasperation. "Dave Hanson," she told him, "don't you know any other words?
In the corner of the room, Nema looked up for a moment, and there was fear and worry in her eyes before she looked back to her weaving of endless knots. Sather Karf sighed in weariness. "If I knew what was happening to the sky, would I be dredging the muck of Duality for the likes of you, Dave Hanson!"
And at all times, even in unconsciousness, he seemed to be fighting desperately to keep from falling apart painfully within himself. When he was awake, the girl was always beside him. He learned that her name was Nema. Usually there was also the stout figure of Ser Perth.
Hanson opened the door again, in spite of Nema's quick frown, and looked at himself. "Well," he admitted, "I guess it could be worse. In fact, I guess it was worse once I get used to looking like this, I think I'll get to like it. But seeing it was a heck of a thing to take for a sick man." Nema said sharply, "Are you sick?" "Well I guess not." "Then why say you are?
She began snapping her fingers and saying the word eagerly, but nothing happened. Finally she turned back to him. "Show me again." He was sure it wouldn't work twice, and he hesitated, not too willing to have his stock go down with her. Then he gave in. "Abracadabra!" he said, and snapped his fingers. There were results at once. This time an egg appeared in his hand, to the delighted cry of Nema.
He stood up, wearily but with a certain ease and grace that belied his age, looking down at Dave. There was stern command in his words, but a hint of pleading in his expression. "The sky's falling, Dave Hanson. Your task is to put it together again. See that you do not fail us!" He waved dismissal and Ser Perth led Dave and Nema out.
He sighed, wishing desperately that she were with him. She was a lot more proficient than the orderlies. The man in medical robe turned toward him sharply. "Stop that!" he ordered. Before Dave could ask what he was to stop, Nema came rushing into the room. Her face paled as she saw the three men, and she gasped, throwing up her hand in a protective gesture.
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