Free Merkiaari Wars: 03 - Operation Oracle by Mark E. Cooper Page A

“The elders have an interest in anything their people find interesting. The Blind Hunter is a hot topic among Shan. Heroes are admired and people want to know everything about them. Tei want to control her—anything she says or does could have significance to those who wish to emulate her. Warriors admire her. They would follow her into battle if it were still possible. They think of her as one of them despite being scientist caste. Then there is her family, clan, and caste to think of. I’m not surprised she hides in her garden.”
    “She should be Tei,” Varya said. “All know that she is strong in the Harmonies. If not for her poor sight, she would have been invited when she became an adult and chose her caste. Many of my people disapprove of how Tei treated her in the past.”
    Gina pursed her lips in thought. Would Tei’Shima have an easier time of it than plain old Shima? Probably, if only in the way people treated her. As Tei, she could simply tell them all to bugger off and leave her alone. Everyone would comply... well, Shan would at least, Gina mused. She didn’t think the General would though. He had outside pressures pushing him to use Shima in his plans for the Alliance. Gina wondered what Shima would say if told of those plans. She frowned as ideas started forming. Shima was scientist caste before she was anything else. Inquisitive didn’t begin to describe her. Offering Shima a chance to learn something new was akin to offering a starving man a gourmet meal.
    “The General said you’ve visited with Shima.”
    James nodded. “She’s living in her father’s house with Chailen and Sharn. She’s not doing well. You remember what she used to be like, fierce and ready for anything?”
    Gina nodded.
    “She’s like a different person now. Very quiet, no energy. Spends her time mostly sitting in her garden. I’m no psychiatrist, but if she were Human I’d have her on suicide watch.”
    Varya didn’t agree with James, but neither did he disagree. He didn’t look happy.
    “Shit, that bad?” Gina whispered. “You really think she would do it?”
    “I think so. She’s Shan not Human, so I could be reading her all wrong, but I don’t think so. If not for Chailen and Sharn, I think she might have found a way to end things already. Walked into the wilds maybe. Shan used to do that, you know? When they considered themselves a burden upon the clan, they would leave and challenge some wild animal to a last hunt and die fighting.”
    “It is different now,” Varya said. “Our healers gained much knowledge from science and research during the years following the first alien war, and many diseases were eradicated. We are healthier and more robust even when aged, but James is not wrong about Shima. She believes that she is a burden upon her sib and her mate. My people have a duty to family and clan to be of use. In days past the old or infirm would remove themselves to help the clan prosper. But as I say, it is different now.”
    “We’ve got to fix her,” Gina said with determination. “We can’t lose her after all she did for us and her people. I know she hates it, but she really is a hero to them. They’d be devastated if she killed herself.”
    James nodded and Varya agreed, but Varya had reservations. “We cannot dishonour her. It must be her choice.”
    “Force wouldn’t work on her,” Gina agreed. “We have to snap her out of her funk. Make it her duty to help us, rather than the other way around.”
    Varya’s tail rose and he gestured a Shan’s version of a shrug. “That would be good, but it will be hard making her believe that a blind scientist can be of use, to us or to anyone.”
    Gina nodded glumly. “I’ll think of something, or you two will. We can’t lose her like this.”
    “Agreed,” James said. “And screw the politics. This is about loyalty to a friend.” He turned to Varya. “It is a matter of honour.”
    Varya’s ears pricked. “Yes... it really is a matter