'I did not mean—-' he said desperately, but found her door slammed and bolted in his face. In confusion he returned to the doctor, imploring.
'What do I have to do?' he said in frustration. 'Can't she see that there could never be anyone else for me? Why can't she understand?'
'Give her time, my friend,' said McIntyre. 'She'll come around. If you want my observations, you're in her deep, and that frightens her. Just have a little patience, and if a man of science may say it, a little faith. What's meant to be, will always be in the end.' These words seemed wise, yet Kalus could find no comfort in them.
'But my stomach crawls without her. My heart is in my throat, and I cannot sleep. If I lose her there will be nothing. Nothing at all.'
'You haven't lost her, son.' With this he looked ruefully toward Kataya. 'And if I'm any judge, you won't. Just be steady, with open arms, and she'll come back to you in time.'
But as McIntyre continued to study the younger man, he saw that his expression remained deeply troubled, so much so that he was truly touched, as Kalus had been at the simple confusion of Ishmael.
'If it helps, I'll tell her what you meant just now. Kataya and I understood. She's just too close, and can't see it.'
'Would you really do that?'
'Of course.'
'Thank you,' said Kalus, though his fear was not abated. 'I have to go somewhere and think.'