Intermission 2 Page 14

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“Hold on, what are you—”

“Just stay still for a second.”

“There. Now your chest wound won’t open up again while you sleep. And your stump looks a lot healthier, too.”

“…Yeah, it does. Thank you, Lohk.”

“Let me know if you start experiencing phantom pain. I can brew a tea that will help.”

“…And keep an eye on Ricki.”

“She says you helped her escape jail. If the only thing between her and freedom was a locked door, she would never have needed you. So I can imagine what sort of help a big, strong human like you had to give her.”

“And what sort of things you did to “earn” this food, showing up covered in blood with a hole in your chest.”

“I’m not a fool.”

“She won’t tell me about these things, because she knows I don’t approve. But if she trusts you to help her… you do that, Kamau.”

“You protect my little girl with your life.”

“Do this, and you will always be welcome at my fire.”

“Human or not.”