“Given you know what’s going on in my head, I take it I’m not the first.”

“You were the one who shared blood with Flute. I told you it came with consequences.”

Dek chuckled wearily to himself as Raya used a thermometer to take his temperature. Asked, “How’s the leg?”

“Hugely better,” he told her. “What’s the prognosis?”

“On the leg, or the quetzal TriNA that’s working its way through your body?”

“Leg first.”

“Okay, Dek. You’re not going to lose it. Part of that is probably the quetzal genetic material doing its thing. It changes the organelles in your muscle cells so that they process lactic acid more efficiently and contract with greater volume. There might also be some gene that recognizes gotcha poison and processes an enzyme that oxidizes or denatures it. I’ve taken samples. If life ever slows down enough, I’ll even get around to studying them sometime in the next two or three decades.”

Talina was giving him an eerie stare, as if she was looking right inside him. Seeing . . . what?

“How soon am I out of here?” Dek asked. “The idea of leaving that airplane out at the claim is eating a hole in my gut.”

Talina cocked an eyebrow. “Not that I’m particularly looking out for your welfare, but that’s too important a piece of equipment to leave at Donovan’s mercy. Step and Bateman took an aircar out to your claim this morning. Bateman is rated. He can fly it back.” A baiting pause. “Don’t know what they’re going to ask in return for the favor, but you being a Taglioni, you can bet, it will be big.”

“Yeah, probably will.” Dek answered her mocking smile with his own. Step wouldn’t be the problem. Step liked to play poker, and Dek was really good at poker. Bateman, however, didn’t have any vices that Dek could really use against him. That might take more thought.

“Meanwhile,” Raya told him, “you’re to stay off that leg. At least for a week. You got a place to lay low? If not”—she gestured around—“welcome to home sweet home.”

Dek took in the drab walls, gave the missing light panel in the ceiling a scathing glance. No pus-sucking way. He said, “Shig’s got that study out in his garden. I’ve stayed there before. Even Shig’s futon might be an improvement over this torture rack of a bed.”

“Figuring you’ll have Shig bringing your meals? Let him fetch and carry for you day in and day out? Allow yourself to become a burden?” Talina made a tsking sound with her lips. “Raya and I know you better than that. You’ll be up and hobbling around after a day, figuring that you don’t want to put him out. And, after all, you’re a tough Taglioni.”