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doctor, she knew she should not. That age did not change feelings. But his age changed her feelings, even as a similar lapse had changed Tee’s feelings for her. What she and Zebara had shared, of danger and passion, no longer existed. With that awareness, her feelings about Tee changed from resignation to real understanding. How it must have hurt him, too, to have to admit that he had changed. And now Zebara.

He sat beside her, and reached for her hands. What must it be like for him, seeing her still young, feeling her strength, to know his own was running out, water from a cracked jug?

“The evidence you would believe, about our people’s history,” he began, “is far too great to take in quickly. You will either trust me, or not, when I say that it is there, incontrovertible. Those who sent the first colonists knew of the Long Winters that come at intervals: knew, and did not tell the colonists. We do not know all their reasons. Perhaps they thought that two years would be enough time to establish adequate food stores to survive. Perhaps those who made the decision didn’t believe how bad it would be. I like to think they intended no worse than inconvenience. But what is known is that when our colony called for help, no help came.”