Descending Road - I WARNED YOU by Dana W. Paxson

I WARNED YOU

1561 4D

The cart hummed away in the rain. Marra returned to the kitchen to clean the table. Deen would be arriving any moment.

Why the oil? Aoriver said. She doesn’t need anything. I did good work, even wiped away the memory the way you want me to.

“It’s family oil.”

What’s family oil?

“The family ministers to the shock together; it helps them all to brew the tea, measure the doses, give and take them, that way they can share in the healing. There’s a lot you don’t understand, even with all your knowledge. You’re not human.”

A blessing for me.

“Hah.”

Deen came in, looking unhappy. “Marra, just two repair calls? That’s all we’re getting for saving a life? Why didn’t you take something more on the order of his wife’s herbal crop this year — she grows the best crosswort and plantain, like big bushes.”

“I know. But she gives it away.”

“Yes. Just like you do with this.” Deen gestured at the table.

“It’s the only real way, you know that. Out here, gifts come home.” Marra shook her head as Deen bustled out.

This will be the last until we feed again. I’m down to my reserves.

“Let Oortonel do the work for a while, then. I have no intention of going hunting down at Chain Link for drunks, at least not for the next year. I’m a respectable woman. Besides, we just fed you.”

Andros are always around. They taste a lot better than the scum you’ve been finding.

“We are not touching them. The poor things. They’ve go trouble enough without being someone’s meat. We heal them every chance we get.”

But they’ve got no sentattar, no essence, no—

“I don’t care. We went through all this last year when you wouldn’t help us fix up that andro amputee from the mines. She was in such pain.”

And so inviting. It was all I could do to keep from taking over and—

“You did that once to me, and you’d better not try it again. Just talk to Oortonel and get her to—“

Oortonel is already hibernating. She says Deen is working her far too hard.

“Well, go hibernate with her for a while. We can work without you, as long as these characters can keep from grinding themselves into little pieces all the time.”

I warned you.

Story List	SURPRISE ME	Author Page
USER SURVEY	PUZZLE ME	MAKE ELM MARK

HOVER Lucida Bright BARE	HOVER Lucida Bright FULL	HOVER Palatino Linotype BARE
HOVER Palatino Linotype FULL	HOVER Times New Roman BARE	HOVER Times New Roman FULL
PAD Arial BARE	PAD Arial FULL	PAD Lucida Bright BARE
PAD Lucida Bright FULL	PAD Times New Roman BARE	PAD Times New Roman FULL


	I WARNED YOU 1561 4D The cart hummed away in the rain. Marra returned to the kitchen to clean the table. Deen would be arriving any moment. Why the oil? Aoriver said. She doesn’t need anything. I did good work, even wiped away the memory the way you want me to. “It’s family oil.” What’s family oil? “The family ministers to the shock together; it helps them all to brew the tea, measure the doses, give and take them, that way they can share in the healing. There’s a lot you don’t understand, even with all your knowledge. You’re not human.” A blessing for me. “Hah.” Deen came in, looking unhappy. “Marra, just two repair calls? That’s all we’re getting for saving a life? Why didn’t you take something more on the order of his wife’s herbal crop this year — she grows the best crosswort and plantain, like big bushes.” “I know. But she gives it away.” “Yes. Just like you do with this.” Deen gestured at the table. “It’s the only real way, you know that. Out here, gifts come home.” Marra shook her head as Deen bustled out. This will be the last until we feed again. I’m down to my reserves. “Let Oortonel do the work for a while, then. I have no intention of going hunting down at Chain Link for drunks, at least not for the next year. I’m a respectable woman. Besides, we just fed you.” Andros are always around. They taste a lot better than the scum you’ve been finding. “We are not touching them. The poor things. They’ve go trouble enough without being someone’s meat. We heal them every chance we get.” But they’ve got no sentattar, no essence, no— “I don’t care. We went through all this last year when you wouldn’t help us fix up that andro amputee from the mines. She was in such pain.” And so inviting. It was all I could do to keep from taking over and— “You did that once to me, and you’d better not try it again. Just talk to Oortonel and get her to—“ Oortonel is already hibernating. She says Deen is working her far too hard. “Well, go hibernate with her for a while. We can work without you, as long as these characters can keep from grinding themselves into little pieces all the time.” I warned you.