She laughed. "If anyone has the kind of wisdom to catch the Cashlings’ attention, you’re the one. Still, you’ve got a big job ahead — trying to undo the Shaddill’s legacy." Her face grew sober. "You realize the Cashlings are all brain-damaged, right? Whatever the Shaddill did to them, the effects could be irreversible. The Shaddill had more than four thousand years to turn the Cashlings into self-absorbed ninnies… and it might not be something you can fix."

"If I cannot fix the Cashlings, I can still use them to fix my own people. That is a start."

I moved forward so I could see a bit more of the stick-ship; it would be traveling with us to Melaquin, bringing its Blood Honey fountain. No one could tell whether the honey would actually succeed in reviving the millions of Tired persons who lay dormant on my home planet — perhaps the honey had only worked on me because the Pollisand gave me special treatments four years ago. However, I had great hopes. I would lead my Cashling disciples down to the surface of Melaquin with bottles full of Blood Honey, and together we would seek out the cities, towns, and villages hidden all over the globe.

A dab of purple on each person’s face might bring my world back to life.

Festina’s thoughts must have turned in the same direction as mine, for when I glanced her way, she was staring at my cheek. "You’re sure Blood Honey is a cure?" she asked softly.

"Dr. Havel has examined me. He says my brain is now undertaking a natural process of pruning: divesting itself of childish linkages to make me a full-fledged Adult. I am not so happy at losing what I have always been. I was an excellent person, Festina, even if you thought me juvenile but the doctor believes this pruning is what I require to overcome mental stagnation. The same process may stir the rest of my people from their stupors." "And all you have to do," Festina murmured, "is blemish your entire species."

"It is not a blemish," I interrupted her. "It is a medicinal beauty mark."

"And you feel all right?" she asked. "You don’t feel… I don’t know. It’s possible the purple guck is bad for you. Slowly possessing your brain or something."

"My brain is just fine," I told her. "I have not had a single incident of Tiredness since the Pollisand did this to me. In addition, I have become more worldly-wise since my transformation. For example, you will notice I am not making a scene about you leaving me again; I am now such a one as can handle cruel emotional abandonment."

Festina looked at me with a thoughtful look in her eye. "You’re now such a one as can joke about cruel emotional abandonment." She smiled. "I think, Oar, you’re going to become a very interesting woman."

I do not know which one of us started the hug; but I wanted it very much and it happened, so that is all that matters. This time I did not feel sheepish and self-conscious about embracing my dearest friend.

Not even a little bit.