Lisaykos, Healing Shrine of Mugash, sometime after Part 1, installment 114 and the sixth day of the 6th rotation of growing season

I heard yelling and cheering. Looking at Emily and Wolkayrs, they had heard the same thing.

"Wolkayrs, could you?" I asked. He nodded and left my study for the south wing stairs. After a while, he returned smiling.

"Yes?" I inquired.

He didn't stop smiling, "some of the patients in long-term care on the third floor are holding walker races."

"Walker races?" A well-run healing shrine is a quiet shrine. Things were not quiet if the sound could reach my ears on the next floor up.

"If we hurry, we might be able to catch the final, which is Kayseo versus Usoy," he grinned.

"I take it that the walkers are a success then," Emily remarked to Wolkayrs.

"You should take a look for yourself, Great One," he prompted.

"Being a sole Coyn in a crowd of Cosm doesn't sound like a good idea to me," Emily grumped.

"I can carry you," Wolkayrs offered.

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"Deal!" Emily put her reading aside, "let's go."

As the two of them disappeared out the door, I got up to follow. By the time I got to the third floor landing, the press of spectators made it difficult to get into the hallway. People lined the walls from the stair to the doors leading to the walkway around the atrium. Kayseo on her leg stumps was slightly ahead of Usoy with one good leg and one splinted leg. Everyone watching, including the healers on duty, was cheering and shouting encouragements.

I stood back in the entrance to the stairs and watched the end of the race, with Kayseo beating Usoy by a very slim margin. Keyseo's eyes were bright and a beaming smile had taken over her face. Usoy was laughing.

I stepped into the hallway, "Healer Kibbilpos." Kibbilpos was in charge of this hallway until the sixth bell today.

There was a gasp and silence fell as everyone made a bowing obeisance to me.

That youngster Kibbilpos rushed through the crowd of healers and patients, "Great One."

I glanced at Kayseo looking at me with all her joy and enthusiasm snuffed out.

"Kibbilpos, this is a healing shrine, not a street festival for the hard of hearing," I looked down my formidable nose at the young healer. "I could hear the mayhem in my study. Next time, close the doors to the stairs and atrium."

"Yes, Great One."

"Well," I scanned the crowd with a deliberate look of disapproval, "good enough." I went back up the stairs. Wolkayrs and Emily were only a few moments behind me.

"That was unexpected," I remarked as Emily settled back down at her usual spot on the south wall lounge.

Emily grinned up at me, "just wait for when they start racing on crutches."

I groaned and shook my head and Emily laughed.