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Chapter 22 starts off with Jeb and Wanda having a one sided conversation about the procedure of inserting Souls into humans (one-sided, meaning Jeb speaks and Wanderer listens). When Wanderer doesn’t reply, he changes the subject and tells Wanda how people believe that she’s a spy… “Everyone here thinks you hunted us out to turn us over the Seeker“. Jeb thinks otherwise and his conclusion is that it must have been her determination to find Jared and Jamie, since she was practically dead when he found her. He then goes on to muse out loud about the souls he has encountered and observed and how he believes they have feelings, just like humans. Jeb wonders what it is like when you become a host and that some people probably wouldn’t go down without a fight. His theories are spot-on. Why did we ever think he was crazy? Mel wonders. He sees everything. He’s a genius.”
After plenty more questions from Jeb about the different species, Jamie shows up with a meal for Wanderer. More questions are asked and when Jeb makes a comment about how good Wanderer is at storytelling, she replies that before coming to the caves, she was a history teacher at the university in San Diego. This greatly excites Jeb, who immediately suggests that she should teach the humans history. Wanderer tells him that she taught the Souls’ history, not the humans, but Jeb is quick to point out that now that humans know they are not alone in the universe, the Souls’ history may be more relevant than she thinks. Wanderer explains that the only reason she was asked to be a teacher was because of “the story that goes along with her name.” This is a perfect transition into Jeb’s next question of how she got her name.
In short, Wanderer explains that most souls only try out one or two planets before they settle into the one they like best. Two is the average and Wanderer has been on nine planets so far (which is all the planets that have been invaded save four). When Jamie asks why Wanderer has never stayed anywhere, she replies that she’s never found a place she liked enough to stay.
After this story, Jeb declares it time for Wanderer to sleep. Doc arrives at the scene and Wanderer is hesitant, but Jeb assures her that she has no reason to fear him. As Jeb and Jamie go off to bed, Doc lays out his mat and falls asleep. With Doc snoring, Wanderer decides to sleep as well, but then she hears a shuffling sound inside the room with her.
