Shaniah went to the stock car and led Demeter down the ramp. He was saddled and ready to go. It was best this way. She was an Archaic who needed to return to her people. Hollister was a human being who needed to get on with his life and though she should not have these feelings for him, she did. It would be a clean break.
She mounted Demeter and was startled to find Chee standing on the other side of her horse, the ever-present Dog at his side.
“You’re leaving,” he said.
“Yes. It’s best this way,” she said.
He studied her a moment. “I agree,” he said.
“You don’t like me,” Shaniah said.
“No. Not really,” Chee answered.
“Why?”
“You think you love the major and he loves you. He does. But it cannot be,” he said.
“And so you hate me because he fell in love with me?” she asked.
“No. I hate you because you are an Archaic. And we are enemies, like the lion and the lamb,” he said.
“We leave humans alone,” she said. “We have for centuries.”
“For now. But it will not always be that way,” he said.
“Then hate me. If as you say, that is how it must be,” she said.
He nodded.
“Will you tell him I said good-bye?” she asked.
“I will not,” Chee answered.
“Why not?”
“It will only make it harder for him,” he said.
“I do not understand you, witch-man,” she said.
He shrugged.
She reined Demeter around and started on her journey home. Before she reached the warehouse door, she heard Chee call out to her and she stopped, wheeling Demeter around to face him.
“Did you tell him?” Chee said.
“Tell him what?” Shaniah asked, her voice cracking. He couldn’t know. It was far too soon. How could he tell? She was more convinced than ever he was a witch.
“To leave without telling him you are carrying his child is cowardly. He has a right to know,” Chee said.
“He can’t know… I’m not… it isn’t possible,” she stammered.
“But nevertheless it has happened. And you must tell him. It is only right,” Chee said.
She spurred Demeter close to Chee.
“You will not tell him. If you do, so help me, I will kill you, witch-man,” she said.
“First, I will not tell him because it is not my place. That responsibility belongs to you. Second, you may try to kill me at your convenience,” Chee said.
She looked at him for a long time. Then she turned Demeter toward the warehouse exit. He called out to her.
“Shaniah,” he said. “I will be watching.”
She rode away, his warning echoing in the empty warehouse.