“It’s not a very pretty sight, is it?”
Sittas turned and saw Altai at the door, a raincape over her shoulders, her hair glistening wet.
“You are … all rights’
She nodded”The Watchman kept his word. The Terrans avoided firing on usOnly Merdon and his best three squads got into the fighting, and they had to ride piggyback on Komani flyers to reach the Terrans. Merdon could have stayed out of it altogether. The Watchman gave us that opportunity.”
“Well, thank heaven that you are safe, and that more of our people were not involved in the battle. Merdon was not hurt, was he?”
“No, he’s all right.”
“Good.”
Altai stepped over to the window and looked at the steady line of wounded coming into the building.
“It was an awful battle, though. Even if our people didn’t have much to do with it.”
“I know,” the priest said. “Unless we can bring peace to Shinar quickly, this will be only the first of many, many battles, and our people will be fully involved in the next ones.”
“What do you intend to do?” she asked.
Sittas shook his head. “I’m not certain. That’s the terrible part of it. I don’t know what to do next.”
“You’re tired,” Altai said. “We all are. Time to sleep now.”
“But the wounded need help. …”
She took him by the arm and steered him to a couch along the far wall of the room. “The wounded don’t need someone who’s about to fall asleep on them. Sleep now, and you’ll be much better able to help them when you awake.”
The old man sat on the edge of the couch. “You emind me very much of’my sister .. . your mother. She was very domineering, too, despite being much younger than I.”