Kirlian Quest by Piers Anthony Page A

for a local month."
    "It has been a pleasure." Swees faded out.
    Herald turned to Whirl and Psyche. "You have necessarily witnessed my treatment of another client. I request that you not discuss this matter with others. I must allow Hweeh to rest now, but there will be another session."
    "It is fascinating!" Psyche said. "Both the mystery and your mode of treatment. You do not merely lay on hands, you study your case like any doctor. You are such a competent, entity. I hardly feel worthy of your attention."
    "There may be a parallel between the two cases," the Sador remarked.
    "Oh, do you think the Weew is possessed too?" Psyche asked brightly. "Should he be burned at the stake?"
    "Your irony is painful to me, Lady, as you intend," Whirl said gravely. "Nevertheless, I reply: Possession might most readily account for his condition."
    "He is not possessed," Herald said. "He has suffered conceptual shock, and I am now satisfied that his case warrants my attention. The two cases are parallel, in the mystery surrounding them and in the belief by others that a serious threat exists whose focus is in these entities."
    "I wrong you, Earl," Psyche said contritely. "I apologize and beg forgiveness. There is a parallel."
    "Forgiven, gracious Lady," Whirl said. "We are in an unkind situation."
    Perceiving that apology by the Lady, Herald felt a brief tingle of emotion. He tried to analyze it, but it faded. The subject of possible execution had treated the Enemy Witness with momentary courtesy; it was a nicety of manner, of no other significance. "Shall we return to the Duke?" he inquired.
    Â 
    * * *
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    In the evening Herald was shown to Psyche's suite, along with Whirl.
    "I have taken the liberty of installing an extra bed, and of curtaining off my daughter's bed," the Duke said grimly. "The Witness, who is nonhuman, may station himself by the door, in this way being assured that no one enters or departs alone, without himself causing impropriety. He may observe my daughter as he wishes, to verify that no 'Possession' occurs. Are these arrangements satisfactory?"
    "Quite," Whirl said.
    "You may take turns using the sanitary facilities," the Duke continued. "They have been modified to accommodate the Sador as well as the Solarian form. The servants will appear promptly on, and only on, signal."
    "I have no complaint," Herald said.
    Kade marched out, his suppressed ire manifest in his gait.
    "I'm glad you're here," Psyche confided. "It gets so lonely. At least Mother used to talk to me—when she was my mother."
    Herald found the press-line on his tunic and tore it open. Psyche made a little shriek and averted her gaze. "Oh, I forget about the clothing convention among Solarians," Herald said. "Apology. Most Cluster sapients, including my own species, do not employ decorative habiliment."
    "Solarians do change apparel for sleep," Whirl explained. "But they normally do this in privacy. The sanitary chamber may be used."
    "Thank you," Herald said. "I regret my ignorance of night custom. Normally I do not remain so long in a single host, and I neglected to survey the host-mind for such details. May I use the chamber now?"
    "Please do," Psyche said, concealing herself behind her curtain, though she remained fully clothed.
    Herald was determined to handle the matter on his own this time, instead of drawing on the resources of his host. He had to rehearse all his prior experience in humanoid functions to figure out how to avail himself of the sanitary facilities, but in due course he succeeded, and he emerged clean, in pajamas and with new confidence. Hereafter he would be more competent.
    Psyche then went demurely into the chamber, and Herald paused to question the Sador. "Most species improve with exertion. Is this true of Solarians?"
    "It is true," the Witness said. "When human creatures make ready for combat, they perform exercises, and soon their muscle tone improves and they become able to achieve greater feats."
    "What feats are