Odum looked up and asked slowly, testing his voice, “I'm Odum?”

“Yes. Yes,” I answered with a happy smile. “You're Odum. You asked to be a Huim. I put you in the tree. Remember?”

Odum examined his arms, touching his new skin, feeling the hair on his head. He spoke carefully, as if confused, trying to absorb the changes. “I'm Huim.”

“That's right,” I said. “You just woke up. You had a fever and your heart stopped.” I quickly added, “But, you're good now.”

I stood and extended a hand. He looked at it but did not move. Instead, Odum looked up into my face. Dark mode was not pitch black, one could still see. I tensed at his pause, thinking his anger had returned.

I said, “Let's get you on your feet.” When he looked about, I said, “This is Hope. Would you like to see Thusa?”

Odum looked back at me, and I felt as though I might have confused him, so I said, “I can take you to the longhouse.”

Then, Odum reached up and took my hand in a strong grip. He was still looking around, getting his bearings as I stepped from the porch. He tested his legs and stared at his feet. I stood before the cabin and watched Odum take his first step. Odum noticed the steps; he took each with great deliberation. Standing beside me, he looked up at dimmed lights. Then, he walked past me. I followed.

“Do you remember?” I asked.

By the time we reached the fountain, I was worried Odum's anger had resurfaced. He stopped by the fountain, turning in a circle.

When he turned back to me and found my face, he said, “Different smell.” He stepped to the fountain, took water in his hand, and drank. He turned back to me and added, “No life.”

I  replied, “You missed a lot.  I'll try to explain.”

We left Hope behind, walking quietly while I considered what to say first. We crossed the path between the old dock and the central tree. I was still hesitant.

I began, “You've been away for a very long time.”

We passed the fence and entered first fourth. Odum walked and looked. It was not new to him, but doubtless, he saw differences I did not.

I said, “While you were away, we reached the seed world.”

Odum said, almost to himself, “Too quiet.”

I said, “The fleet was attacked. We lost so many people getting here.”

“My people?” asked Odum.

I was caught off guard, but I had to say it. “We lost the Kee.”

Odum stopped and turned to search my face. It was an awkward moment that made me feel guilty. I could not escape Odum's glare; it pierced me through. I had essentially told him he was alone. We walked up the empty path to the longhouse. There were no Kee. There were no animals and no central fire. Odum ran his hand along the wall of the longhouse as he came to the door where I left Lamet's cane reverently propped.

Odum took up the cane and held it before him in both hands. After a moment, Odum said, “Now Odum is Lamet, but no Kee to guide. Odum make a poor Lamet. Lamet great; big like Thusa.” Odum replaced the cane and opened the door. As he walked inside, he asked, “How Lamet die?”

I followed Odum into the longhouse and went immediately to the back table. Touching the wick on a candle, I brought up a light, then turned to answer. Odum stood by the replica of Thusa's bed.

I said, “The Roa'h Dow Shirah was destroyed with all Kee onboard.”

I walked forward, candle in hand. Odum's shadow danced on the wall as he hung his head. My friend was more than sad, he was lost. I had been there, but I had no words to comfort my friend.

“Why Odum live?” he asked. “Live for who?” He turned to me and narrowed his eyes. “Should have let Odum die.”

Odum turned and left the longhouse. I blew out the flame and followed. I found Odum on the bench, elbows on knees, and head hung. He was a sad sight as he turned his head slowly from side to side. I sat beside him, as much at a loss as my friend. What could I possibly say?

I told the story. “My brother, LUC, returned from the seed world and attacked the fleet. His black soldiers somehow were everywhere killing my people. Ships were being destroyed. So much confusion! I was to take Zotha as my Queen, but she died in the first attack.” I got no response from Odum. I sighed and continued. “We gathered ourselves and mourned our dead, but it wasn't over.”

Odum asked, “Jeez brother killed Kee?”

I said, “LUC had become a madman.”

His head was still bowed as he asked, “Did you kill him?”

I answered, “I killed his body. His spirit came back.”

Odum asked, “How many left?”

I said, “In the end, just three. They left, but I stayed here with you and Ava.”

“When Ava wake?” asked Odum, turning his head to look at me.

I said, “Half a revolution. Until then, you should prepare your heart and home to receive her.”

Odum shook his head. “Ava not love Odum; love Jeez.”

“Ancient history,” I replied. “Ava will be your woman. You'll have sons and grandsons. Just give it time. Until then, you should stay busy. There's much to do, and I really could use your help.” I sat straight and said, “It took me the longest time to rebuild this long house. I rebuilt Thusa, Hope, and the ranch without any help.”

Odum sat up, turned, then stood. He looked at the longhouse, then down the path along the smaller buildings. “All this destroyed?” he asked at last.

I stood, surveying my work with a nod. Suddenly, Odum's belly growled, and both of us looked at the hand he placed over his abdomen. I touched his shoulder, shifting us into the fruit trees. I smiled into his wide eyes, and said, “Eat. Help yourself. Eat freely from any tree you like.”

I pulled two peaches and handed one to Odum. He ate in a ravenous manner, crouching. When he looked up, I handed him the second peach and crouched beside him. When he finished the second peach, Odum closed his eyes. His satisfaction was my satisfaction.

Odum opened his eyes and studied the peach seed in his hand. Then, he said, “I am Odum alone. Old Odum had people, family, but no power. Always under foot of someone. Run fast, work hard, bow head. Even under foot of Ava. Biggest of all feet, but Odum kept hope.”

I said, “Now, you're a new Odum, your own man.”

Odum shook his head, and replied, “New Odum still nobody. When Ava come back, Odum be under foot again.”

I said, “Life is what you make it. Look around. All this can be yours. Hope, Thusa, the fields, the fruit trees, the ranch. I can pass all of them to you. I ask only that you do your best. You don't have to work alone, I can help, but you'll be in charge.” I stood and extended my hand, asking, “Do you want to see the ranch? I have cows and horses. Come, take a look.”

Odum took my hand, and we shifted to the ranch. We stood by the fence looking out into the pasture. Despite dark mode being in effect, the cows and horses were easily visible beyond the fence. Odum took a deep breath and nodded. I also took air into my lungs with satisfaction. The smell of livestock is the smell of life.

I turned to Odum and said, “There's a bull in the barn, and calves in the field. If you want goats and pigs, I'll give you goats and pigs. Chickens and turkeys too. There are rabbits running wild, and there are animals caged in fourth fourth. I can put them all in your hand. You can take care of them.”

“Can I name them?” asked Odum.

It seemed I had my friend back. I smiled and answered, “You can name them whatever you like.”

Odum nodded. “Name bull Lamet,” said he.

“That's a good name,” I said. “If you agree, you are officially in charge of all ship works. The ranch is yours. Boss Odum.”

Odum crouched before the fence, one arm across his knees, one hand on the lowest rail. He laid his face forlornly against his shoulder and sighed. I crouched beside him and watched him stare listlessly into the field. It must have been hard for Odum to grasp his new life. I felt sad for him.

“Not good,” said Odum. “When Ava come, she put Odum underfoot again.”

“I can make her your helper,” I said. “She'll be under your foot.”

Odum said softly, sadly, “You took her from me, but you don't know her.”

I was stung. “You're right,” I said. “What I did to you was wrong, and I will forever feel guilt and shame. I will do whatever I can to make it right again.”

Odum said, “Ava bad news. My bad news, not yours.”

“Yours,” I agreed. “I leave the bad news to you. I can't help you there even if I wanted to.”

He raised his head from his shoulder, and put both hands on the fence rail. He said, “Odum find hard-headed she-goat and name it Ava. Go there and yell sometime.”

I laughed, Odum smiled grudgingly. I said, “You're a good man, Odum.”

Odum turned to me with a nod, and said, “Odum man, now. Just like Jeez.”

A dozen rotations came and went. Odum settled into his new life. No longer the cowering Kee, Odum worked hard and spoke boldly. It was easy to see he was his own man. We had a routine of alternating chores that kept us out of each other's busy path. Ranch aside, if I did the fisheries, Odum cut hay. If I gathered fruit, Odum picked mushrooms in Hope.

I could see him feeding the cows as I approached the barn. I waved and went in to begin work on the loft. I wanted storage for hay and already had the foundation in place. All I had left to do was peg boards in place and affix a ladder. As I tied my tool belt on, I looked into the bull's eyes.

Smiling at myself for doing so, I said, “Greetings, Lamet.”

I put on my work gloves and pulled a plank behind me as I went up the ladder. When I had it in place, I put a peg in a hole and tapped it down with the hammer. It was the first board on the left side of the barn; I planned to finish that side before moving right. As I tamped in the second peg, Odum entered the barn with hay for the bull.

Our eyes met, and I said, “I said hello to Lamet.”

Odum answered, “Odum told Lamet to not answer. Just eat, drink; Odum care for cows.”

I came down the ladder for the second plank, and I said, “He's lucky to have you.”

He replied, “Because Odum not take away women.”

It stung each time he brought it up, but I did not respond, hoping a time would come when he no longer felt the need to remind me. I put on my gloves and hauled the rough wood to the top of the ladder. Odum entered Lamet's stall with a shovel and bucket. I paused with a peg at the ready and turned.

“When I finish this side, I'll be gone,” said I. “I'll do the other half another time.”

Odum said, “Will do fish.”

I replied as I tamped in the peg, “In that case, I'll get the mushrooms. I'll leave some on the longhouse bench, then I'll be back to groom the mare. Will you use the net or the traps?” I asked.

Odum came from the stall, set the bucket and shovel aside, and locked the stall gate. He answered, “Use pole. Stay sometime. Earn each fish. Take melons to eat.”

I came down the ladder for another board. I said, “Remember, I'm here to help.”

Odum said, “Own man, now. You say. Odum be big man like Jeez. You go up. I give wood.”

I went up and received wood from Odum. With his help, we finished the left side of the loft in no time. I returned and removed the tool belt. “Thanks,” I said.

Odum looked steadfastly into my eyes and said, “Odum do other side and Jeez hand up wood.”

“Deal,” I said.

We worked without idle chatter. We finished the right half of the loft, then put together a ladder and affixed it to the top. It was early, but we worked up a sweat. We stood at the bottom of a well-done job and looked into one another's flushed faces. We did not smile, we did not speak, but I saw in Odum's eyes a quiet pride in his new strength. He was definitely his own man. Odum rubbed his hands on his soiled trousers, then took up the bucket and left. I laid aside my belt and left the barn with a smile on my face.

I left mushrooms on the longhouse bench, along with fruit and clean work clothing. From there, I went to groom Apple, my mare. Then, on the following rotation, I was reminded of the wild animals in their enclosures. I had forgotten about my little project; the GM had not.

“The jabs are overdue,” said the GM. “All med stems remain in storage for use.”

I sighed. “Thanks,” I said. “I'll take care of it.”

When I arrived at the longhouse, Odum was pulling at his change of clothing. I skipped the greeting and jumped right to my request. “Before you go to the ranch,” I said, “I need your help with the wild game.”

I touched Odum and shifted us to fourth fourth without waiting for his reply. He gave me one of those looks and asked, “What do I do?”

I shifted behind each animal and touched them with my stasis pen. Then, Odum entered the enclosure and jabbed them with the med stems. We moved methodically from one enclosure to the next, until, at last, we stood before the Markhor enclosure. We had worked for about a turn, and the labor had brought on a sweat.

I said to Odum, “Here are the goats. Pick one and name her.”

Odum replied with a straight face, “They all Ava. Not ready to shout.”

We finished and walked to the falls for a swim. In half a turn we were refreshed, and Odum's hard attitude had lightened a bit. We put our clothes over wet skin, and Odum asked to see Ava. When we reached the tree, Odum stood silent for a long moment. He crouched before the rib and looked up.

“Part Ava in is small,” said Odum. “Why not in own tree?”

I answered, “We had repurposed most of the trees. We didn't have many left. This type of tree was used to calibrate the DNA between species. The section Ava is in is called a rib. Her body is in a fetal position.”

“What will she look like?” asked Odum.

“Something like you,” I replied. “Tall, brown. Don't worry. I'm sure she'll be quite lovely.”

“Odum take from tree,” said Odum.

“I put her in,” said I. “It's my responsibility to see that she comes out alright. I had a lot of trouble with your rousing. I need to make sure she's alive and healthy.”

“Then, Jeez not look at her,” said Odum. “Ava come out beautiful naked.”

“Odum,” I said. “I have to look to check her vitals. Once I know I've done the job right, I'll turn her over to you, alive and healthy. If you're concerned about it, bring something to cover her with. I'll open the rib, you can pull out her body onto the grass, and cover her while I look away. I'll make a quick check, and if there is no problem, I'll leave her in your care.”

Odum grunted, and stood, giving me that Odum look again. “Odum can not trust Jeez.”

He angered me, but what could I do? I said, “I want to leave the past in the past. Yes. I made a mistake. I was wrong. I can't undo the past, but I can make a promise for the future. Ava will be your woman. I swear it. I will be a friend only.”

Odum rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. When he looked back, I could see a difference in his expression. Encouraged, I went on to say, “You and Ava can live in Thusa. Just do the ranch and the fruit. I'll do the garden and the mushrooms. Care for my animals, let no harm come to them, and my promise will stand. When my angels return, they will live in and care for Hope. I'll put them in charge of the wild animals.” I ended with a hopeful smile. “You're welcome to come and yell at the goats anytime.”