Part One Lyish did not think at all about Lee, or about Ben - none of them he had known; but the young man's untimely death had reminded him the sorrow he had felt when his friend and colleague Ron was killed at the explosion in their biochemical lab, where they both worked; Ron, some fifteen years older than him, was Lyish's guide and mentor at the laboratory, when the young medical student had come to work there in preparation for his medical studies. Lyish sighed. He had to think as well about Mira, on whom that murder had had such a bad effect. It was the first day he had allowed himself to leave Mira after her miscarriage and come to the office - he was thinking of getting home early, though. He had become deeply involved with Mira, not only as a family member but also with the effect Lee's way of life and death had had on her.
Lyish sighed again. In his office at the Medic Center, he snatched some lunch and a breather between patients; he divided his time between being a physician and researching in genetics, insisting on doing both though his colleagues pointed out that he would never reach the top working in two different directions. Lyish had shrugged off their opinions, continuing to do what he loved best, which was these two lines of activity.
The thought of Mira reminded him the circumstances of her joining the Wild family, which at the time upset him too much. Lilit, the oldest member of the Family, was living it to be a High Councilor. Lyish was quite excited toward that appointment.
"I can't think of a better High Councilor than you, Parent Lilit!" he cried, when she brought home the news. At that time, she had long been a Local Councilor for Rules and Customs; before that she had been a lecturer on the same subject, and others, at the Academic Complex, having filled most functions in the Local Council - the great number of the years of her life had allowed her to specialized in many fields, but mostly she tended to deal with people. The transfer to the High Council was completely natural, though it was rather late in the day because of her tendency to help individuals; that transfer combined leaving her Family, and Lyish supposed Lilit was not over enthusiastic about that.
"I don't really understand your need to leave your Family in order to become High Councilor. Why can't you stay with us?" he asked, bitter against his nature. The matter of Rules and Customs did not actually interested him, and he was quite upset, in spite of his enthusiastic support of the appointment.
