Page 30 of Polar Destiny
Yes youare.
Perfect. I've gone crazy in my last few moments. Or maybe I'm already dead and this is a sideeffect?
Don't bestupid.
Okay. Not dead then. My cheek is prodded again. Ouch. Pain means alive. Now I've got two pieces of evidence that say I'm not dead yet. Could the Grim Reaper please hurry up? I really don't want to prolongthis.
A growl close to my ear, must be a bear. Go away. I never want to see one of youagain.
You don't likebears?
The voice in my head has turned snippy. Very much unlike my own. Mmmhm... an angel, maybe? Preparing me for theafterlife?
Growup.
Excuse me?! I'm an adult. Don't belittleme.
Grown-ups don't just lie down to die. They fight. They deal with theirproblems.
There are some problems that can't be dealt with, I sighinternally.
True. But this one you can dealwith.
What do you know? You're just a weird figment of myimagination.
False. I am theproblem.
Well, if you're the problem, could you piss off and leave my head, prettyplease?
I can't. Not yet. But Bertrand is getting impatient. If you don't open your eyes, he's going to bite you to see if you're still alive. I wouldn't recommend that. I can feel yourpain.
The bear nudging my cheek was Bertrand? That would make sense. And thank goodness it wasn't one of the others. I didn't want them there for mydeath.
Could you please stop with the dying talk? It's gettingboring.
It's my right to think what I want. Now shut up. I refuse to gocrazy.
Go crazy? You alreadyare.
The growling has turned louder. I better do something about it. I blink open one eye, fighting against the tiredness that keeps me in itsgrip.
Goodgirl.
A panda is looking straight at me, his dark eyes reflecting the bright snow around us. Then he does something unexpected: he lies down next to me, pressing tight against my body. He's trying to warm me, I think. I wish I could move so I could tell him to goaway.
He says that help is on theway.
Brain, could you shut up, please? And how would you know thatanyway?
I'm not your brain, silly. Now please stay alive until they come. I don't want to lose my host as soon as I've foundone.
Host? So you're aparasite?
Not quite.She sounded upset.I thought you were clever. How long is it going to take you to figure itout?
I'm tired, I sighed mentally. Leave me alone. I don't need a crazy brain tumour talking tome.
Pull yourself together, you silly human. Other people would be proud to have me on board. I'm one of the best, the strongest. You should bow to me, not call me a ...parasite.
