Hickok stood and stretched. “Who needs time, old man? I’m bored to tears sitting around here all the time. I say we go.”
“Don’t be hasty,” Plato advised him.
Hickok patted the ivory handles on his Pythons. “Hasty is my middle name. Besides, the way you present it, we don’t have that much of a choice, do we? What do you say, pards?”
Geronimo stood. “Fortunately, I don’t have a wife and family or I might decline. But I’m for going, if only to satisfy my curiosity. Blade?”
Blade could almost feel Jenny’s eyes boring into him. He knew she was looking at him, but he refused to return her stare. He mustn’t waver now.
He rose to his feet, pleased that his strength had returned. “I agree with you. We don’t have a choice. The Family’s welfare comes before our own. We’ll go.”
“Good.” Plato smiled at them, nodding his head.
“On one condition,” Blade amended.
“Oh?” Plato’s eyebrows arched.
“That if we do not return, if you should never hear from us again,” Blade said, deliberately continuing to avoid gazing at Jenny, “you will pledge to deny anyone permission to come looking for us, and will restrain anyone who might be so inclined.”
Everyone in the chamber knew whom he had in mind.
“Ahhhh. Agreed.” Plato grinned. “Although it has been my experience that a determined individual and a flash flood have considerable in common. They are both well-nigh irresistible if you are caught in their path.
Blade expected Jenny would strenuously object and was relieved when the- protest failed to materialize.
“I hope you will agree to a condition of my own,” Plato casually mentioned.
Too casually! From long experience. Blade recognized the tone Plato used. Their leader was about to make a suggestion that might not go over too well with some of those present.
“I want you to take Joshua with you,” Plato stated.
“What?” Geronimo asked, surprised.
Hickok laughed.
“Joshua? Are you serious?” Blade demanded incredulously.
“Quite,” was Plato’s simple response.
Hickok laughed again.
“I refuse to take Joshua along with us,” Blade said.
“On what grounds?” Plato inquired.
“Grounds? I’ll give you grounds!” Blade’s voice rose with his growing annoyance.
“Go get ’im,” Hickok chipped n.
Blade ignored him. “I fail to see where Joshua would be of any benefit on this mission.” He stepped up to Plato. “He’s not a fighter, he’s not a hunter, and he’s not trained in any of the sciences…”
“Are you trained in any of the sciences?” Plato interjected.
“No,” Blade confessed, “but I’m a Warrior, and Joshua is not. He’s not a Healer. He isn’t qualified in any area to accompany us on this mission. He would hinder us more than he could conceivably aid us. I’m surprised you would even mention him as an addition for this trip.” Blade thought of one more reason. “You said that this will be dangerous, that we might not return. How could you send Joshua with us? Send a man who has vowed never to take a life? Who wouldn’t defend himself if attacked? We can’t take him.”
Plato sighed and sat down on the nearest cot. “Bear with me a moment.
Much of what you have said is true. Joshua is devoted to the concepts of love and peace. He’s not a scientist, although he is as adept and knowledgeable in technological areas as you are. After all, you had the same teacher. Me. Joshua is not designated an official Family Healer, but you will concede he is talented in the restorative arts, exceeding your ability by far. And he has two strengths, two remarkable aptitudes, qualifying him or this enterprise. First and foremost is his spiritual nature, a definite counterbalance to a Warrior’s inherent and cultivated aggressive attitude. Secondly, he is an Empath. The youngest, to be sure.
Still, his psychic capabilities could be of distinct advantage. Think about it. I can’t compel you to take him, but I strongly advise it. Do you have a specific reason I haven’t addressed?”
“I think old Josh is a bit strange,” Hickok cracked.
“You have room to talk?” Geronimo countered. He nodded at Plato. “I think I understand what you’re saying. You want him to serve as a balance.”
“A balance for what?” Hickok asked.
“For your Warrior natures,” Plato answered. “You are more inclined to shoot first and ask questions later. On this mission, our first determined effort to establish outside contact, we require someone who will reach out in friendship to strangers, someone who will put any fears or suspicions these outsiders might entertain to rest. Joshua is capable in this respect, eminently so.”
“And I’m not?” Blade asked, the implications disturbing him.
“You have achieved a commendable balance,” Plato acknowledged, smiling, “but you must admit you have considerable to learn when it comes to spiritual realities and brotherhood.”
“And Joshua is to be our teacher,” Geronimo concluded.
Plato rubbed his right knee. The joints were bothering him again. “Yes,” he answered Geronimo. The quiet one. In some respects, not initially evident in his laconic nature, Geronimo was more intellectually perceptive than either of his Alpha associates. He glanced at Blade and noted his furrowed brow, his thoughtful expression. Should he tell the youth the entire reason for sending Joshua, a motivation previously discussed and agreed to between the two of them when the idea first occurred to Plato?
Joshua was willing, even eager, to comply with Plato’s wishes. If Blade was to ever assume the mantle of Family leadership, then certain aspects of his personal development must be rigorously attended to. Close association with Joshua could open Blade up to new horizons of spiritual awareness.
“I’m still not completely convinced,” Blade said. “I see part of your reason, but I believe it’s a mistake. Still, if you think it wisest, then Joshua goes with us.”
“That’s what I call standing by your guns,” Hickok quipped.
“Is anyone else going?” Jenny joined their conversation.
Plato shifted to face her. “No.”
“They should take a Healer long,” she suggested. “They might be injured on this trip.”
“As I mentioned before,” Plato patiently stressed, “Joshua will act in that capacity.”
“But Joshua is not certified as an official Healer,” Jenny protested.
“He will suffice on this venture.” Plato began rubbing his left knee.
“Besides, Jenny, would you deprive the Family of one of our four Healers?”
“The Family could make do with three,” Jenny replied.
“Possibly.” Plato paused. What could he possibly say to influence her?
She was profoundly in love with Blade, and she was displaying a very natural reluctance to allowing him to leave the Home without her. Plato remembered his one and only love, his binding to a beautiful, intelligent woman filled with an overflowing joy of life. Nadine. They married, joyously living as mates for eleven years, until that fateful day they left on an exploratory expedition. Plato wanted to familiarize himself with the terrain to the east of the Home. He had discovered a reference in the records to a small lake due east and he wanted to ascertain the veracity of the report. They departed in early morning, and by late afternoon they still had not discovered any trace of the elusive body of water.
By evening they decided to call it quits. Plato advised building a raging fire to deter any hostile animals. Even the horrid mutates avoided fire. He went for timber in a stand of trees fifty yards away. Nadine busied herself preparing their campsite. She was armed and an excellent shot and he had not feared for her safety. He took his time, pausing often to examine interesting flora. Eventually, his arms laden with dry wood, he returned to the camp.