“Elder Josiah sends your evening meal,” she said, her voice striking an oddly flat, monotonic cadence, as though formatting each spoken word required deliberate mental effort. “He reminds you that tomorrow is the assembly, and all inhabitants are expected to attend.“
Thomas thanked her, taking the tray. The woman’s gaze shifted directly to Samuel. In her eyes, he detected a sharp, clear awareness—an active intelligence operating behind a challenging physical framework. She understood her environment perfectly.
“You are the physician,” she stated, looking at Samuel. “Thomas speaks of you frequently. He says you are a healer from the eastern cities.“
Samuel nodded slowly, choosing his words with care. “I am a medical practitioner, yes.“
“Can your medicine correct what we have become?” she asked, her voice dropping slightly. The intense hope in her expression was profound. “Can you repair the structural damage?“
