“Then it is only you,” she said slowly.

“Then it is only me. Which is good news indeed.”

She gave him a look of silent protest, but he only smiled. “Do not despair yet,” he said. “I am a strong man, and a determined one. I will live if I possibly can.”

“I’ll ask Nolan,” she said suddenly. “He may have a new formula. He may realize he left something out of his old drugs. He’ll come up with a fresh cure for you.”

“You have great faith in this unconventional blueskin.”

“I think he is the most amazing man I have ever met,” she said honestly. “I think he is—so pure of heart that he makes other, ordinary men seem wicked by comparison. I think he is so generous that my own thoughts shame me by their selfishness. He is so kind that he makes me search my soul to find new ways to be compassionate to others. And brave. Not one man in ten thousand would do what he has done.”

“You must wish your father could have met him,” Chay said.

“You have met him,” she said. “That is almost as good.”

*   *   *

The guard practically had to drag her from Chay’s presence. The guldman had broken down several times into an uncontrollable asthmatic wheeze, and the last time, Kit had flung herself across the room to kneel at his feet, begging him to stop coughing. He had waved to the attendant, who pulled her none too gently to her feet, but she couldn’t stop pleading with Chay to take a drink, breathe deeply, feel better, be all right. When the bout had passed, he lay back weakly in his chair for a moment. His face was so pale that the gold sheen of his skin seemed to lay across his features in a layer so distinct that she could peel it back to reveal the blood and muscle underneath. His hair was dark with sweat, and the breath shuddered into his lungs. He did not look strong enough to stand.

“Chay—” she said desperately.

He opened his eyes, looked at her, and summoned a smile. “If this should be the last time you see me,” he said, “remember me any way but this.”

“Chay, don’t say such things!” she cried.

He heaved himself to his feet, wavered, but seemed to gather strength. “But I do not think it will be the last time,” he said more cheerfully. “If I allow you to hug me, will you promise to release me?”

“I promise,” she whispered, and he signalled to the guard to free her. But it was a lie, because she couldn’t let go, and Chay had to detach himself with some force.