The Host (The Host, #1)

by Stephenie Meyer

“Jared,” I answered. As quickly as if it had come from me, the thought that was not mine followed the name through my lips. “Jared is safe.”

“Tell me something, Wanderer. Do you pity them?”

“In your other lives, you can’t have felt anything so vivid. Wouldn’t you pity anyone who had this taken from them?”

I’m going to see the Healer. I don’t trust her. I want to talk to him before I make my decision.

The decision to kill me? Yes, that one.

Her thought sighed faintly in my head: You never know how much time you’ll have.

At least I died trying. And I won. I never gave them away. I never hurt them. I did my best to find them. I tried to keep my promise. . . . I die for them.

“Then what am I dying for?” I wondered,

Well, I think that maybe . . . you’re dying to be human.

After all the planets and all the hosts you’ve left behind, you’ve finally found the place and the body you’d die for. I think you’ve found your home, Wanderer.

It seems like there are some things that can’t die.

“Uncle Jeb,” we croaked in surprise. “You found us.”

“It’s an unkind thing you are doing, Jebediah.” “Life is unkind, Magnolia.”

“It’s not human. Don’t forget that.”

“Same way the magicians do it — with mirrors,

I haven’t shot anybody in a real long time, and I sort of miss the thrill of it.”

Why did we ever think he was crazy? Mel wondered. He sees everything. He’s a genius. He’s both.

“Strange world, isn’t it?” It was a few seconds before I could answer. “The strangest,” I finally agreed.

We’re a package deal, Wanda. As if I needed reminding. . .

“What’s that about?” Jared murmured behind me. “She’s the best painkiller I’ve been able to find,” Doc said wearily.

If I was going into the black river, so was he.

Anyone who tries to hurt Wanda again will not get a tribunal, they will get a burial.”

“Life for a life,” he called over his shoulder.

“Guess what? Jared was saying at lunch that he didn’t think it was fair for you to have to move out of the room you were used to. He said we weren’t being good hosts. He said you should move back in with me! Isn’t that great? I asked him if I could tell you right away, and he said that was a good idea. He said you would be in here.” “I’ll bet he did,” Ian murmured. “So what do you think, Wanda? We get to be roomies again!” “But Jamie, where will Jared stay?” “Wait — let me guess,” Ian interrupted. “I bet he said the room was big enough for three. Am I right?” “Yeah. How did you know?” “Lucky guess.”

“You want something, Ian?” “Sure, kid. I want you to tell Jared he’s shameless.” “Huh?”

“I know we had the bodies covered before —”

“The wrong bodies, Jared.

“Your kind don’t spare our babies.” “We don’t torture them, though. We never intentionally cause anyone pain.” “You do worse than that. You erase them.” “You do both.”

“All’s fair in war,” I murmured, trying to smile. He grinned weakly back. “And love. You forgot that part.”

“Hon, we can’t just walk in there and ask.”

“You can’t. But I can.”

Ian groaned. “If she goes, I’m going, too,” he said in a bleak tone. “Someone has to protect her from herself.” “And I’ll be there to protect the rest of us from her,” Kyle said with a chuckle. Then he grunted and said, “Ow.” I was too tired to lift my head to see who had hit Kyle now. “And I’ll be there to bring you all back alive,” Jared murmured.

You fight dirty. You bet I do.

Sounds like a large group.

Yes. But yours or mine? Ours or theirs, she corrected.

“Eight full lives,” I whispered against his jaw, my voice breaking. “Eight full lives and I never found anyone I would stay on a planet for, anyone I would follow when they left. I never found a partner. Why now? Why you? You’re not of my species. How can you be my partner?”

“I, the soul called Wanderer, love you, human Ian. And that will never change, no matter what I might become.” I worded it carefully, so that there would be no lie in my voice. “If I were a Dolphin or a Bear or a Flower, it wouldn’t matter. I would always love you, always remember you. You will be my only partner.”

“You are the noblest, purest creature I’ve ever met. The universe will be a darker place without you,”

Thank you, Wanda. My sister. I will never forget you. Be happy, Mel. Enjoy it all. Appreciate it for me. I will, she promised. Bye, we thought together.

“I held you in my hand, Wanderer. And you were so beautiful.”

“I will stay,” I agreed. And my tenth life began.

The rains would end, and when they did, Ian and I would be together, partners in the truest sense. This was a promise and an obligation I had never had in all my lives. Thinking of it made me feel joyful and anxious and shy and desperately impatient all at the same time — made me feel human.

“It’s a strange world,” I murmured, more to myself than to the other native soul. “The strangest,” he agreed.