Nita told him a little about how the manual works and what she'd be doing with it, but it's still been interesting to watch her off and on as he deals with other things around the house. If he didn't know better, he'd think she was a really intensely enthusiastic reader.
When she looks up and starts to focus on the world around her again, Josiah asks,
"About as well as could be expected." She puts her manual aside and stretches. "Nnf. I talked to the Planetary wizard -- she wants me to confirm your immunity before we take any other steps."
And has -- after the first time she saw someone infected, in the process of turning, she had nightmares for weeks where she was turned and yet still conscious.
She nods to the empty half of the couch. "Wanna hear the whole explanation now? It may take a while."
"So every entity in the Universe has something called a kernel. It's sort of like the operating system for the entity -- like DNA, only more . . . programmable. Planets have them, people have them, probably zombies have them, but I wouldn't want to explore a zombie's interior landscape. With the right training and given the right reasons, a wizard can locate and manipulate an entity's kernel. With me so far?"
"So what we're considering, if you're up for it, is looking at your kernel. Seeing what's in your programming that makes you immune. Strictly exploratory."
"On your end, not a lot. You can think of it a little like surgery -- you'll be asleep, ideally sedated, while I go in and work. On my end . . ."
She leans back. "I'll be going into -- what amounts to your personal universe. Your mental landscape. And once I'm in, I'll be looking for your kernel, which will have some kind of physical manifestation." She waves a hand, a little helplessly. "This is all kind of metaphorical? But kind of not, also."
When she looks up and starts to focus on the world around her again, Josiah asks,
"How'd it go?"
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"Again?"
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"Oh, thank god," he says, then looks a little sheepish. "Being immune still doesn't mean it's a walk in the park, you know?"
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And has -- after the first time she saw someone infected, in the process of turning, she had nightmares for weeks where she was turned and yet still conscious.
She nods to the empty half of the couch. "Wanna hear the whole explanation now? It may take a while."
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It'll be a while yet before lunch is ready, and it's not as if he has any pressing engagements after.
(Except for the ex-stairs, but that can wait. Seriously.)
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A deep breath.
"So every entity in the Universe has something called a kernel. It's sort of like the operating system for the entity -- like DNA, only more . . . programmable. Planets have them, people have them, probably zombies have them, but I wouldn't want to explore a zombie's interior landscape. With the right training and given the right reasons, a wizard can locate and manipulate an entity's kernel. With me so far?"
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"I think so, yeah."
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He turns it over in his mind a little, thinking of the healing wizardry from yesterday, of the book that communicates with people.
Nita, he realizes, is the first person he's met in some time whom he genuinely trusts.
He nods once, saying more decisively,
"Okay."
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She sounds a little surprised that he's so ready, but pleased.
"It carries a little bit of risk -- more for the wizard than for you, though."
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"Yeah, so does going to sleep these days."
Risk is something he can deal with.
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She looks at him closely. "Do you really want to try this?"
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He's pretty sure he's still going to say yes anyway, but she's right. Best to go in prepared.
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She leans back. "I'll be going into -- what amounts to your personal universe. Your mental landscape. And once I'm in, I'll be looking for your kernel, which will have some kind of physical manifestation." She waves a hand, a little helplessly. "This is all kind of metaphorical? But kind of not, also."
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