The Healer's Garden Read online

  Pushing open the door to the breeder's clinic, Gabriella watched Jahara recoil from the overwhelming stench of urine and sweat. The pungent odor hung in the waiting room like a fog. Unlike the rest of the hospital, this wing was depressingly dark. No holograms brightened the drab walls of olive green. No plants sat cheerily filling the shadowed corners. The luminous ceiling was the only source of light in the dim room and even that barely penetrated the murky gloom. Gabriella insisted it remain that way. The naked men slumped in the metal chairs lining the walls and running down the center of the room deserved nothing more. They were repugnant creatures.

  "Dr. Bresilee, such a surprise.” Standing quickly, the receptionist sitting at the dented metal desk across the room bumped his knee in his haste to greet them. “It is truly an honor to have you here in the well-check.” He limped toward them, his insignificant penis swinging with the motion.

  Jahara's throat worked to swallow what Gabriella hoped was disgust. The man standing before them had no testicles. Perhaps the healer had never seen a eunuch. Gabriella hoped that was the case.

  Her smile was genuine when she turned back to Jahara. “Collin, this is Dr. Hriznek. She is new to the Garden of Serenity. She will be conducting the well-checks on the breeders today. I have given Sahannah the day off. Please be sure Dr. Hriznek has everything she requires."

  "I am pleased to meet you, Collin.” Jahara reached out her hand. “Please call me Jahara."

  Collin's brows pinched, his confused gaze darted from Jahara's hand, to Gabriella, then quickly about the room. The gesture clearly confused him. Bowing again, he kept his hands clasped tightly at his navel, his bony knuckles white with nerves. “Dr. Hriznek, cherished of humans, gifted breeder of offspring, I shall be honored to provide for you today. Please call on me with any request."

  "That will do.” Gabriella dismissed him with a bored wave of her hand. “I will show her how to do the first breeder, be sure to keep the cubicles full. I know the schedule is busy today."

  "As you request, most honorable Dr. Bresilee. The first men are already in their places.” He shuffled back behind the desk.

  Gabriella choked down her revulsion. She only needed to get through one physical, surely she could do that. Her first years at the Garden flashed back to her in snippets of satisfying memories. Men were such weak and stupid creatures. She held on to that thought as she led Jahara through an archway opening into a sterile room lined with stretchers separated by thin white curtains that had aged to a sickly yellow.

  "Here we are.” Gabriella didn't try to disguise the revulsion in her voice. She had nothing to hide from this woman. “Be sure to wear gloves, boxes of them are in all the cubicles.” Gabriella pulled plastic sheathing over her hands. “Well-checks require very little healing power. The gloves are designed to protect you from these ... anim ... I mean breeders.” Gabriella coughed. The pungent smell of the men made her gag. “The gloves are thin and once you become accustomed to them, they will be no hindrance."

  Jahara's cheerful expression disintegrated. Perhaps the healer loathed men as well. That thought brightened Gabriella's dour mood. Oh, this would be the perfect place for the woman who had been sent by her Dame, to spy on them. Gabriella knew from the beginning, Jahara wasn't here to bear offspring. She wasn't a fool. Well fine, if the government wanted to see firsthand how she ran things, Gabriella wouldn't make it easy on Jahara.

  She'd simply keep the healer with the male breeders where she would do the least amount of damage. It was her ability to spot minor nuisances before they became problems that had gotten Gabriella to the position she now held. And Jahara certainly had the potential of becoming a major pain in the ass.

  "Now then, start at their heads, making sure they have nothing in their hair, check the clarity of their eyes, then their mouths,” the man opened his mouth for Gabriella without being asked, “check the color of their gums and the health of their teeth,” the man stuck his tongue out, “be sure their tongues are clear of any disease,” she waved her thumb over the pink muscle. “Work your way down the throat, over the chest, checking the lungs, and all the vital organs.” Gabriella's hand fluttered an inch over the man's skin. No light glowed from her palms. This man didn't deserve more than a moment of her time.

  "Skip the genitals.” The words fell out of her mouth without inflection. “Check the legs, then the health of his feet.” The man stood.

  "Last check the genitalia for any disease.” Her hand waved over his groin. Men are such ugly things, body parts hanging about in plain sight. Not soft and supple like a woman, their sexuality hidden from view for one to explore and discover. The thought sent a quick pulse of adrenaline through her. “If all looks well, send him out and move on. It's really quite simple."

  Gabriella shucked off the gloves, dropping them in the waste near the steel basin by the door. She knew her face didn't disguise the loathing welling up from her as she vigorously scrubbed the chemical wash over her skin.

  The man bowed as he left. Another walked in to take his place on the end of the exam table. Neither spoke.

  "There is nothing to it,” Gabriella said. “They all do this once a month. You'll find they know the routine. If you find anything unusual, send them through the red door immediately for quarantine.” She pointed to the far end of the room.

  "Nothing heroic here, Jahara. This is just the first step. Any man in the breeding stock found with disease must be culled immediately. There is another team of healers in the other wing who will do the curing. Don't take your time to heal even the most minor ailments.” The lies tumbled out of her mouth without a hint of deception. “Your job is simply to make sure they are fit to copulate."

  Her fingers went to her nose. “I think you will find this much less demanding than the clinic, don't you agree?” Gabriella's feet couldn't carry her away from the well-check fast enough for her taste.

  * * * *

  What had she just witnessed? Merenith spent more time working with sick animals than Gabriella had given to the breeder. She had never seen such a blatant display of condemnation. The medical director hadn't even tried to hide her loathing.

  Jahara walked to the end of the line of cubicles. Reaching for the gloves, she paused. She couldn't feel sickness if her palms were covered. Even the thinnest sheathing would hinder her healing abilities. Gabriella's insistence about the gloves had stemmed from her repulsion, not cleanliness. These men deserved Jahara's full abilities. No gloves for her.

  "Good morning, my name is Jahara,” she said to the Ennessy breeder sitting rigid on the cot, his bulky hands covering his genitals, his eyes cast down at the floor. She bent to look at his face, her voice gentle when she spoke. “What's your name?"

  He averted his eyes from her inquisitive stare, his white skin flushing. “Honorable woman, cherished of all humans, gifted woman and breeder of offspring, I am here for a well-check. If it would please you to conduct the exam, I will make room for another breeder."

  Was it fear she heard or shame? Neither was good. And either emotion made her angry. These men acted as if they didn't deserve her time or healing energy.

  "No, it would not please me to conduct an exam...” She stormed back to the archway and stood between the reception area and the cubicles. “Listen up, breeders.” Everyone, including Collin, stared at their shuffling feet. “Look at me, damn it!” Stamping her foot, Jahara's voice bounced about in the tiny space.

  She stood with her hands on her hips until all their attention had shifted from the floor to her. “Let's get one thing straight here. This is my well-check today. You will show me respect. You will do this by addressing me by name, which is Jahara. You will look me in the eye...” She paused when Collin stood.

  "Honorable Dr. Hriznek, it is not customary..."

  She put her hand in the air to stop him. “Dr. Bresilee explained what is customary, Collin. There are no cameras. No one is watching us here.” Jahara motioned with her arm. “As I was saying, I expect you to look me
in the eye. You will answer the questions I ask of you. Call me Jahara, for goodness sake. And if you don't want my breakfast to make an appearance on this floor someone will open that door and get something to move the air in here. There isn't one of you who are unclean. They must spray that awful smell during the night.” A chuckle rippled through the room. “Collin, please get me something stronger than tea from the dining common. I'm going to need all the energy I can muster for you stubborn men.” Another nervous flutter of laughter bounced off the walls.

  "Yes, honorable, Dr..."

  She glared at him.

  "Jahara."

  The men continued to be stiff and formal, unwilling to tell her of their ailments. But she took her time with the well-checks, finding and repairing a hernia, an ulcer and a minor burn that barely took any of her healing powers. She refused to send such trivial ailments to another. What would they think of her if she didn't heal even these insignificant problems? The breeders’ angst both frustrated and confused her.

  "Collin, why are the men unwilling to tell me of their ailments?” she asked when the eunuch finally returned with a second hot drink. She had cleared the exam room of breeders for a much needed break.

  "They fear you will send them through the door,” he said.

  "Won't healers on the other side cure what I can not?"

  He tilted his head like a curious puppy. “Is that what Bresilee told you?” Collin's face pinched. “Jahara, I can only speak from my own experience. The men sent through that door never return. Everyone believes if they say they are sick, they too will be sent away. So no one complains.” Sadness rippled over his face. “Only once did I see a man go in there. Never have I seen him again. For four years I have been in the well-check. Since that time, I have warned all the men not to complain.” He puffed out a breath. “Not that anyone in the past has cared about their wellbeing. Even those you healed today I reported as healthy with no abnormalities."

  "All humans have problems with their bodies."

  Arching a brow, Collin smiled at her.

  She threw her hand in the air. “But breeders aren't human."

  "But closer than eunuchs."

  "Collin, I..."

  He lifted his long fingers. “Jahara, in all my years all the healers combined have not shown me the respect you have offered to this clinic in one morning.” He bowed. “You are truly gifted among women. I look forward to serving your needs."

  * * * *

  The rest of the morning passed in a flurry of naked men. Jahara stood at the sink, flexing her tired fingers in the chemical wash. Collin's revelation had stunned her. She could not fathom the amount of ridicule these men had been raised with. But contemplating their plight was so much better than fretting about the events of the previous night. She had lost consciousness after her first mating.

  Fortunately, she'd been left to her own embarrassment this morning. Her bed had been conspicuously empty when she woke. She was grateful Ishawny had thought to save her from making up some flimsy excuse for her behavior. She couldn't seem to reconcile her sexual attraction for the blond couple last night with the sense of betrayal weighing heavy on her heart. She fisted her hands and pressed them to the small of her back, arching her stressed muscles.

  Ishawny had been masterful with her technique. The mating had happened with Jahara's blessing. She'd practically begged Brenimyn to enter her. The feeling of his body filling hers had been nice. Oh, who in Hades was she kidding? It had been a mind blowing experience. She leaned against the wall, filling her lungs with the memory of how it had felt to be joined with him. Her body tingled even now at the thought of Brenimyn.

  Stupid. She was mooning over her first copulation as if she didn't have Merenith's love waiting for her outside these walls. That worry clogged in her throat. She just couldn't go there right now. This whole thing was not her choice. Some food, more well-checks, and then a quiet night at home, that's what she needed to focus on. Jahara walked through the archway into the empty waiting room.

  "Collin, would you...” The words stuck in Jahara's throat. It wasn't Collin sitting behind the desk waiting to serve her the mid-day meal. It was Brenimyn's dimpled grin and piercing eyes that greeted her as she rounded the corner.

  "Collin is taking the afternoon off. If it would please you, I've brought you some food.” Brenimyn didn't remove his muscular legs from the corner of the desk spread with the makings of a picnic.

  "You shouldn't be here."

  "Why is that, Jahara? Do you not enjoy my company?” He crossed his arms over his bare chest, tendons and muscles flexing with the movement. “I thought what happened between us last evening was quite satisfactory for everyone involved. Maybe you'd like to spend your noon break doing something more pleasurable?” He lifted a hand and the heat of his touch tingled down her cheek. Perhaps it was simply the embarrassment over what he intimated.

  "No, I ... and you.” Jahara rubbed at her face, not knowing what kind of trick he was playing on her.

  He laughed. “You have nothing to fear from me, woman. Please sit. I have brought you food. We can discuss other recreational activities later.” A hand pushed her shoulder and her feet wobbled as she stumbled forward. She was losing her mind. “Why have you come?"

  "Can't a breeder offer services to a woman? After all, that is the purpose of the Garden of Serenity."

  The warmth of a hand caressed her breast, but she ignored the memory of his touch. “We have been through this. You belong to Kylie. I will contact Ishawny and schedule another session in a day or two. I'm sure her partner is quite skilled as well. My copulation schedule is none of your concern."

  "The problem is, Ishawny's services are no longer available.” He cleared his throat. “But more importantly, I wish to become your breeder."

  "But I don't want you! I choose different mates. It does not matter who sires my offspring."

  Brenimyn rose with great care. His eyes locked on hers. “I don't believe that, Jahara. There is something between us.” He stepped toward her.

  Fingers trailed down her arm.

  "You felt it when you touched me at the demonstration.” He swung the chair standing between them out of his path. “I saw the awareness in your eyes..."

  Hands threaded in her hair.

  "You wanted me last night almost as much as I wanted you.” He stood an arm's length away, but the air around her pulsed.

  Lips pressed tenderly to hers.

  "You feel me now even though I am not near."

  "What in the name of Hades is going on, Brenimyn? None of this is making sense.” She pulled her eyes from his and backed up, the back of her hand instinctively swiping at her mouth. “I am neither a stupid woman nor a schoolgirl who needs to be coddled."

  "You're acting like both right at the moment.” He returned to the desk and leaned his hip on the edge, swinging his foot.

  She began pacing, trying to work through the confusion jangling her nerves.

  "Think, Jahara. How could this be? How can I touch you, but never move?"

  Knuckles skimmed her cheek. “Stop it!” She rubbed the sensation away. “It's something they put in the water that makes women hallucinate and helps make the copulating bearable until conception has occurred. There has got to be a logical explanation for what I'm experiencing."

  He crossed his arms over his chest. Humor twinkled in his eyes. “Are you finished speculating? Because I can tell you the facts if you're interested or I can just wait here while you try to attempt to put together a puzzle with missing pieces.” He lifted a shoulder. “Either way I'm good."

  His arrogance was exasperating. This was not the timid man who had been presented to the women the other day. Hadn't she sensed his strength and dignity even as he stood docilely by the bed?

  "Okay, funny man, you think you're so smart. Let's hear your explanation. You don't know all the facts either. You aren't in my head.” She pounded a finger on her temple “You have no idea what things are happening to me."

/>   "Oh, Jahara, that's where you're wrong. I'm the one doing those things to you."

  "Wait, what? I don't understand."

  "Jahara..."

  Comprehension blossomed. “You're telepathic? But that can't be ... you're...” She turned to him, the words fading between them.

  "I know. I'm a man. You can say it.” Brenimyn folded in on himself, his spirit crushed by the words. “We're stupid animals, good for breeding and manual labor. I know. Don't you think I've heard it all? How could I possibly have any gifts reserved only for females?” Filling his lungs, he pushed away from the desk. It was his turn to pace. “Well, you know what, Jahara? I have an answer to that question, but trust me you're not ready to hear it.” Brenimyn stalked around the room like a caged animal, raking his fingers through his hair.

  "I can tell you this much ... my Dame is an angel walking this realm. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving me here twenty-seven years ago. She kidnapped me from the Garden, brought me home, loving and schooling me with my birth-sisters. She challenged me and pushed me to find my gift and develop it. We lived in such a remote part of the territory that everyone in my village simply accepted it. There were no other men. I didn't know I was different until three years ago when some government official traveling through found me. They forced me to come here to join their breeding stock. My Dame told me never to let anyone know I have the gift. Until recently, I shared my secret with no one."

  "Brenimyn, I'm sorry.” She apologized for all the women who believed he was nothing, for being hidden away from the world and for being forced to perform sexual acts with females who considered him nothing more than a means to increase the female population. But she couldn't speak those words. Reaching out to him, she put her hand on his arm and tipped his chin so he would look at her. “I didn't know. We're raised to believe...” She hesitated. “It doesn't matter what I thought before.” Jahara couldn't possibly assimilate all the information he'd thrown at her. None of it seemed possible and at the same time—it was completely logical. “You've opened my eyes today, Brenimyn."