nned to the wall was another sketch depicting the shipboard concert on the fantail of the Hauph…woa； capturing a gentle interlude amid the storm of crisis。
〃Thank you for ing；〃 said an elderly； sallow…faced woman seated by the Stranger's bedside； looking surprisingly like a g'Kek； in coloration； her startling blue eyes； and also the way a wheelchair framed her blanket…shrouded form。 〃We have been making progress； but there are some things I wanted to try only after you arrived。〃
Sara still wondered why Ariana Foo； of all people； had taken an interest in the wounded man。 With Lester Cambel and most other sages away； she was the highest ranking human savant left this side of Biblos。 One might expect her to have more urgent things on her mind right now； than focusing her keen intellect on the problem of the Stranger's origins。
The g'Kek doctor rolled forward； his voice mellow； with a cultured accent。
〃First； Sara； please tell us…have you recalled anything further about our patient's aspect； the day you pulled him from the swamp all burned and torn？〃
She shook her head silently。
〃His clothing； none was recovered？〃
〃There were a few scraps； mostly charred。 We threw them out while treating his burns。〃
〃Did those scraps go to dross barrels？〃 he asked eagerly。 〃Those very barrels aboard the Hauph…woa right now？〃
〃There were no ornaments or buttons； if that's what you're looking for。 The scraps went to recycling； which in the case of old cloth means going straight to my father's pulping machine。 Would they have helped？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 answered the old woman； clearly disappointed。 〃We try to consider all possibilities。〃
The Stranger's hands lay folded on his lap； and his eyes darted back and forth； focusing on faces as if he were fascinated not by words but the sounds themselves。
〃Can〃…she swallowed…〃can you do anything for him？〃
〃That depends；〃 the doctor replied。 〃All burns and contusions are healing well。 But our finest unguents are useless against structural damage。 Our enigmatic guest has lost part of his left temporal lobe； as though it had been torn out by some horrid predator。 I am sure you know this area is where you humans process speech。〃
〃Is there any chance…〃
〃Of recovering what he has lost？〃 A g'Kek shrug； twining two eyestalks； had never became fashionable among the other races。 〃If he were very young or female； there might be some transfer of speech facility to the right lobe。 A few stroke victims do this。 But the feat is rare for adult males； whose brain structures are more rigid； alas。〃
The light in the dark Stranger's eyes was deceptive。 He smiled amiably； as if they were discussing the weather。 His reliable cheerfulness tore at Sara's heart。
〃Nothing can be done？〃
〃Out in the Galaxy； perhaps。〃
It was an old expression； almost habitual； whenever one hit the limits of the crude arts available on the Slope。
〃But we can do no more。 Not in this place。〃
There was something in the doctor's tone。 All four eyes stared inward…as if a human being were studying his fingernails； waiting for someone else to say the unspoken。 Sara looked to Ariana Foo； whose face was posed。
Too posed。 Sara leaped on the doctor's hanging implication。
〃You can't be serious。〃
The sage briefly closed her eyes。 When they reopened； there was a daring glitter。
〃Word es down that our invaders are plying mass opinion； winning converts with drugs； potions； and miracle cures。 Already； unsanctioned caravans of the sick and lame have set out from Tarek and other sites； hobbling up the hard trails in desperate search of remedies。 I admit； the thought even crossed my mind。〃 She lifted her stick…thin arms from her fragile body。 〃Many may die on the trek； but what matters such risk against the lure of hope？〃
Sara paused。 〃Do you think the outsiders can help him？〃
Ariana shrugged in the hoonish manner； with a puff of air in her cheeks。 〃Who can say？ Frankly； I doubt even Galactics could repair such damage。 But they may have palliatives to improve his lot。 Anyway； all bets are off if my suspicion is true。〃
〃What suspicion？〃
〃That our Stranger is no poor savage at all。〃
Sara stared； then blinked。 〃Ifni；〃 she breathed。
〃Indeed。〃 Ariana Foo nodded。 〃Shall we see if our guest truly was delivered to us by our goddess of luck and change？〃
Sara could barely manage a nod。 While the old woman rummaged in her valise； Sara pondered。 This must be why everyone was in awe of her； when she was chief human sage before Cambel。 They say genius is a knack for seeing the obvious。 Now I know it's true。
How could I have been so blind！
Ariana took up several of the sheets recently copied on Engril's machine。 〃I thought of asking a Sensitive to sit in； but if I am right； we'll want this kept quiet。 So we'll make do by watching how he reacts。 Note that he is probably the only person in Tarek Town who has not seen these yet。 Everybody pay close attention； please。〃
She rolled closer to the patient； who watched attentively as Ariana laid a single sheet on the coverlet。
His smile gradually thinned as he picked up the drawing； touching the fine expert lines。 Mountains framed a bowllike vale littered with shattered trees…nest lining for a thick javelin； adorned with jutting spines； whose contours Sara had first seen hurtling above her shaken home。 Fingertips traced the sloping curves； trembling。 The smile was gone； replaced by a look of agonized perplexity。 Sara sensed that he was trying to remember something。 Clearly there was familiarity here； and more； much more。
The Stranger looked up at Ariana Foo； eyes filled with pain and questions he could not pose。
〃What can this prove？〃 Sara asked； writhing inside。
〃He finds the image of the ship troubling；〃 Ariana answered。
〃As it would any thoughtful member of the Six；〃 Sara pointed out。
The older woman nodded。 〃I had expected a happier response。〃
〃You think he's one of them； don't you？〃 Sara asked。 〃You think he crashed into the swamp east of Dolo； aboard some kind of flying machine。 He's a Galactic。 A criminal。〃
〃It seemed the simplest hypothesis； given the coincidence in timing…a total stranger； burned amid a humid swamp； appearing with injuries unlike anything our doctors have seen。 Let's try another one。〃
The next sketch showed the same little valley； but with the starship replaced by what the sages called a 〃research station；〃 assigned the task of analyzing Jijoan life。 The Stranger peered at the black cube； intrigued and perhaps a little frightened。
Finally； Ariana presented a drawing showing two figures with strong； confident faces。 A pair who had e a hundred thousand light…years to plunder。
This time a sharp gasp escaped him。 The Stranger stared at the human forms； touching the symbol…patches on their one…piece exploration suits。 It did not require fey sensitivity to read despair in his eyes。 With an incoherent cry； he crumpled the sketch and flung it across the room； then covered his eyes with an arm。
〃Interesting。 Very interesting；〃 Ariana murmured。
〃I fail to understand；〃 the doctor sighed。 〃Does this mean he is from off…Jijo or not？〃
〃It is too soon to tell； I fear。〃 She shook her head。 〃But let's say it turns out he is from the Five Galaxies？ If the forayers are seeking a mislaid confederate； and we have him in hand to offer in trade； it might work to our advantage。〃
〃Now just a darn…〃 Sara began； but the older human only continued； thinking aloud。
〃Alas； his reaction isn't one I'd call eager to be reunited with lost rades。 Do you think he might be an escaped foe？ That somehow he survived imprisonment； even attempted murder； just a day or so before the foray ship came down to land？ If so； how ironic his particular injury； which prevents him from telling so much！ I wonder if they did it to him。。。 the way barbaric kings of old Earth used to rip out an enemy's tongue。 How horrible； if true！〃
The range of possibilities rattled off by the sage left Sara momentarily stunned。 There was a long stretch of silence； until the doctor spoke once more。
〃Your speculations intrigue and terrify me； old friend。 Yet now I must ask that you not agitate my patient further。〃
But Ariana Foo only shook her head in somber pondering。 〃I had thought to send him up to the Glade right away。 Let Vubben and the others decide for themselves what to do next。〃
〃Indeed？ I could never allow you to move one so seriously…〃
〃Of course an opportunity to offer him Galactic…level treatment of his injuries would make a fine synergy； bining pragmatism with kindness。〃
The g'Kek medic's oral flap opened and shut soundlessly； as he worked to find a way past Ariana's logic。 Finally； his stalks contracted unhappily。
The retired sage sighed。 〃Alas； the point seems moot。 From what we've seen； I doubt very much that our guest here will be willing to go。〃
Sara was about to tell the old woman where she could go； with her intent to meddle in a man's life。 But just then the subject of their deliberations lowered his arm。 He looked at Ariana and Sara。 Then he picked up one of the sketches。
〃G…guh。。。 ？〃 He swallowed；