Page 49 of Any More Questions for the Corpse?

“Yeah, yeah, I’m all good,” Yu said, planting their feet in the sodden earth. “Just getting my bearings.”

“You do seem a bit wobbly. You sure you’re alright?”

“Don’t worry about me. It just takes a second,” Yu said. Why does he seem to care so much? Yu thought. They’d only known each other a few days and now here he was making a fuss. The cynic in Yu caught themselves judging Mal, wondering what his game was, but the mildly blank expression on his face didn’t seem to be hiding anything. He didn’t seem to care; he did care. It was nice, in a weird way. Having people in your life with no ulterior motives. Having people in your life, period. “Thank you, though.”

“You know you don’t actually have to do this?” Mal said, lowering his voice so that the others didn’t hear.

“I know,” Yu said. “Why are you being so nice?”

“Do I need a reason?” Mal said.

“Yes, I’d like one,” Yu found themselves saying.

“Well,” Mal said, “because you’re risking your life for a plan we hodgepodged together in the car. And because if it was me I’d be shitting my pants.”

“Ohh, that makes sense I guess,” Yu said. The pair shared a small chuckle, and then Mal said:

“It’s weird isn’t it, letting people in …”

“Who says I’ve let you in?” Yu said, a small smirk creeping onto their face.

“You’re still here. for one,” Mal said. “A sane person would have run away by now.”

“Maybe it’s all research …”

“Then you’re an incredibly committed scientist, if that’s the case,” Mal said. “Maybe you could research some more cases with us after this one’s done.”

“Maybe, if it’s an interesting enough case.”

“I sound nothing like that …” Walters said, walking past.

“I haven’t changed my voice yet,” Yu said. “I need you to repeat something a few times so I can get in sync.”

After several minutes of various tongue-twisters and voice exercises—throughout which Mal and the others watched with suppressed glee—Yu sounded less like Yu and exactly like Walters.

“How’s that?” Yu said, looking to Walters.

“Is that really what I sound like?” Walters looked to the others, who replied with only nods and vaguely assuring shrugs. “I’m going to do another once-over of the gear.”

“I’m going to do another once-over of the gear,” Yu repeated.

“Spot on,” Mal said, once Walters was mostly out of earshot.

Hearing another person’s voice come out their mouth was something that Yu would never get used to. The words clashed with their internal monologue. Thinking in one voice and speaking with another felt like the start of madness and caused a strange discomfort that seemed to get worse the more they changed themselves. They knew the discomfort would be temporary, but it never got any easier.

Yu and Mal joined the others as they formed a small huddle under the branches of a nearby tree.

“What’s the ETA on Elaine and Taran?” Des said.

“I’ve texted them our coordinates,” Hala said. “They should be here momentarily.”

“And you’ve got the anti-jump cuff for Taran?”

“Yeah, I’m thinking I give that to Elaine and she can put it on him. Probably better that way.”

It had been Yu’s suggestion to bring them along. Warping sickness was affected by distance, so keeping Taran close should mitigate the worst of it if Kosh summoned him again. Also, if Mazino got out, having a hideously powerful wizard close by would be more than useful. They just had to hope he was feeling up to it.

“Good call,” Des said, looking around at their gear. “You got the dampening jar, Mal?”