Page 19 of Preacher Man

Life returned to a normal, even dull pattern. For the next two weeks, Zeer tended his flock and tended his garden. Both were growing daily. He added a hospital rotation to his morning stroll. This continued until all of the miners were released. He went to see the last one, a Ssarrian male. “Zango, thee are up?”

  “Yezz, Fazzer, my leg is healed, I go home now. It is too dry and too warm here.”

  Zeer laughed a little, “Aye, me son, that it is.”

  “Fazzer… I have been blessed by your visits and your prayers. Zzank you.”

  “I have been blessed by your prayers as well.”

  Early the eighth morning, as usual, without a word of warning, Royal Planners arrived by Imperial Glider. The Chief, a Triandese female, walked briskly to the main gate. She presented her Imperial signet to the elephantine private, "We are here to see the Commandant!"