A young woman answered him. Her skin, as fair as Jetson’s, was gray with the dusk of the fever. Silent, I moved to the opposite side of her bed. She glanced at me curiously.

My appearance was strange indeed. My long braid stuck out in the room of shorn-haired workers. Had she seen the clothes beneath my cloak, a hobbled aura wrapped over a fine bambi blouse, she’d know I was a student. After Hosea’s contempt, I needed to justify my privileged life. We Keepers were not useless, and we did care.

I addressed the woman. “Hello there. I am a friend,” I declared. “A First Brother, Record Keeper. I have come to heal you.” I held out my hand benevolently. She didn’t take it to her cheek, as Sky had. In fact, she paid me no attention at all. She watched Hosea.

He struggled to apply ointment to her chest as she twisted away.

She seized his wrist. “My baby,” she whispered. “Will it hurt my baby?”

Surprised, I looked down, seeing that her stomach bulged with child beneath her blanket.

Hosea shook off her hold. “It won’t hurt. I promise.” His tone was tense.

He’s tired, I thought. He’s being rough.

With impersonal hands he unlaced the ties of her tunic.

I glanced down at the trembling woman.

She looked up. “Sister?” she said, pleading.

My gloved hand shot out to rest, firmly, on Hosea’s. “Kha, please, let me.”

He glanced at me, then down at his patient’s worried brow. His hands fell to his sides.

“Shh,” I said. I brushed the woman’s brow. “Be easy. Shhh.”

Slowly, she lay back.

I unlaced her tunic. I pulled back the pleats to expose the tops of her breasts.

When I finished, she held out her hand. “Sister,” she said.

I pulled her hand to my cheek.

“This won’t hurt my baby, will it? Do you promise?”

I glanced at Hosea, who nodded. “I promise,” I said. I kissed her palm. “Now rest.”

She closed her eyes.

My eyes met Hosea’s over the mound of her belly. His were no longer hot with rage. Slowly, he nodded his approval.

I dropped my chin. My chest felt thick and good.

He returned to his work. “She’s in an early stage of the fever. She’s not coughing regularly, and she’s young. This is the medicine we’re using for now.” He displayed the tin tub for my inspection.

“The medicine we’re using for now?” I said, curiously.

“I’m still experimenting with the best remedy.”

“What’s in that?”

“Eucalyptus, white camphor, ginger root, and other herbs. It sooths the cough and loosens mucus in the chest.” He dipped his finger in the congealed substance then handed me the tub. “They’ll need a good amount applied every hour. Also apply around the nose, like so.” He smeared the gel around the woman’s nose.