"Ihavenoreasonto."
"IfIgiveyouone?"
Shesnortedscornfully.Justthenthetrainbrakedtoaneasystop,andthelidsofthepodsopenedtorevealagroupofadults,waitingtoliftouttheunconsciouschildren.AslimwomaninaLEOuniformstandingattheedgeoftheplatformspottedSaschaandthrustanarrowplasticcaseathim.
"Here"sareason,Tirla."SaschashowedhertheIDbraceletinthecase.Hetookadvantageofhersurprisetoclaspitaroundherwrist.
Shestaredat.i.t,holdingherarmsawayfromher,tryingtoabsorbthesignificanceofhavingalegalident.i.tyandthentheslowlydawningknowledgethatthebraceletwas...o...b..ndedintheusualResidentialcolors.GreenbandingmeantthatonecouldtravelbetweenLinears,butwhatdidthegoldandblackstripesmean?
"Youarenowlegal,Tirla."
Justthenthefourfreightelevatorsreachedthecargolevel.Ama.s.sofwomenflowedoutontotheplatform,raisingloudlamentationswhentheysawlimpbodiesonmedipads.SaschadrewTirlatoonesideasPublicHealthpersonnelcirculated,establishingtheparentageofthoseTirlahadrescued.
"Whathappenstothem?"Tirlaasked.Thiswasnotwhatshehadhadinmindwhenshesetoutonhermadventure.ParentswouldnotbepleasedthattheirchildrenwereinthehandsofAuthority.Norwouldtheyprofita.s.shehadintended.ShehadanIDbraceletandmorecreditthanshehadeverpossessedinherlifebutwhatgoodwoulditdoherifthetenuouspositionshehadcarvedforherself,herclients,hermeansofsupportingherself,weregone?SuddenlyherfutureseemedasbleakasthatofthechildrenshehadsavedfromYa.s.sim.
Atall,slender,veryhandsomeyoungmaninaLEOuniformplantedhimselfsquarelyinfrontoftheSaschapersonandsaluted."Whatdoyouwishmetotellthewomen,sir?"heasked.
"ThatTirlahere,"Saschasaid,movinghertostandinfrontofhim,hishandslightlyand,shefelt,kindlyonhershoulders,"foundwhereYa.s.simhadhiddentheirchildren.Shewasleadingthembackhome,totheirmothersandfathers,whenwealsosearching,cameuponthem."
Inavoicethatpenetratedthetumultofwailingwomen,theyoungmanrattledofftheannouncementintherequiredlanguagesataskthatmadeTirlarestlessunderSascha"shands.Aseachofthelinguisticgroupsunderstood,theyfelltowhisperingamongthemselves.Whenthetranslatorhadfinished,MirdaKhanandMamaBobchikwadedforward,theirexpressionsgrim.UnderSascha"shands,Tirla"snarrowshoulderstensed,andsurrept.i.tiouslysheshieldedherbrandnewIDbraceletbymovingherarmslightlybehindher.
"Andthechildren?"MirdaKhandemandedinBasic,juttingherchinout.ShestaredpointedlyatTirla.
"Therecordshavebeenchecked,"Saschasaid,hisvoicediplomaticallyapologetic."Theirbirthswereillegal."
WhenMirdaKhanfrowned,SaschasignaledforRanjittotranslate.Thewaveofhystericalweepingwaspunctuatedasmothersofnowofficiallyillegalchildrenthrewthemselvesacrosstheunconsciousbodies,obviouslydeterminedtoresistattemptstoremovethem.Saschaorderedthecrowdcontrolpartnerstoneutralizetheincipienthysterics.Hedampenedhisownreception,buthecouldnotremainimmunetotheintenseemotionalagitationthatbatteredhissenses.Hewasperplexed.Thesesamewomenwouldhavesoldtheirsonsanddaughtersinafewyears.
Boris,hesaid,it"sgoingtobealoteasiertobuythesewomenoffwithsomething.
Howaboutthetruth?Isn"tahostelabetterfatethanthefutureYa.s.simplannedforthem?
Iwouldthinkso,Saschareplied,butIdonotthinkthey"llseeitinthesamelight.I"lltapourslushfundifyouwon"tanteup.
Anything,Saschathought,toshutupthespinecrawlingululations.Hewasnotusedtohavingtodealonthislevel.
Gettingsoft,Brother?
You"renothereandlistening.Andthere"sTirlatothinkofYou"retakingchargeofher,aren"tyou?Borisasked.
I"drathershewasn"tjeopardizedHerTalentcouldbeveryusefulinmulti-languagegroups.
Thenoisewasfearful,theauraexceedinglyunpleasantforanyTalentswiththeleastmodic.u.mofempathy.TearswerestreamingdownCarmen"sface.
"Howmuch,Tirla?"Saschaasked.
Startled,shetwistedinhishandstoseehis.e.xpression.
"Howmuchwillstoptheirtearsandrelievetheirloss?"hewenton.
"You"dpay?"
Hesawtheleapofastonishmentinhervelvetybrowneyesbeforeacannyveilsettledoverherexpression.Brother,thisone"sgoingtodealforthehairsonourchests.
"Fortheyoungest,youdon"thavetogivemuch."Shenamedafigure.
"Addtenpercentforeachyeartheyhave,andthatshouldbeenough."
"I"dsayfivepercentforeachyear."
"Seven!"sheretorted."Thebiggertheyarethemoreittakestofilltheirbellies."
Hespitinhishandandhelditout.SheclosedthedealandthensteppedfourpacesnearertoMirdaKhan.
Ranjit,monitorthisforme!Saschaordered.
She"sspeakingArabic,Ranjitsaid.She"ssayingthatshehasbeenarguinghardforthegrievingmotherseversincetheywerecaughtinthetunnel.Onlybecausesheha.s.spokenoutsoforcefullyhasawaybeenmadetoeasethesorrowofthemothers.Illegalchildrenhaverights,thebigmansays,andshebelieveshim.TheywillbemuchsaferthanwithYa.s.sim,forwhicheverymothershouldbethankful,knowingperfectlywellthefatewhichawaitedthechildren,despitethegriefitcauses.Forbowelsecanpeoplesurviveonmeresubsistencealone?Apricehasbeenagreed,astheymusthaveseen,andshehasactedingoodfaith.Sascha,RanjitaddedasTirlaturnedtofaceanothersectionofthewomen,thischildisamazing.She"sspeakingUrdunowasgliblya.s.shedidArabic.Oho!
Therewasacommotion,andaplumplittlewoman,herfacecontortedwithconflictingemotionsuntilherbeadyeyeswerehiddeninthefoldsofhercheeks,pushedthrough.Sascharecognizedherfromhercastemarkandthevindictivenessofherroilingthoughts.ShewouldhaveleapeduponTirlaifMirdaKhanandlamaBobchikhadnotintervened.
SaschasprangforwardtoprotectTirla,beratinghimselffornotantic.i.p.atinganattack.
"Unwantedb.i.t.c.h,"thewomanshriekedinBasic."Illegal,you!Thebintisillegal!Sheisillegal!"Shestruggledagainsttherestraininghands."Takeher.YoutakeherifyoutakemyTombi.Youtakeher!"
"OfcourseIamillegal,wastedbarrenwomanwhosehusbandwillbeathermorning,noon,andeveningforrefusingafairpricethatwillfeedhimformanydaystocomeonlambandpapadums."Tirlaleanedwithfervorintothetaskofreturningverbalabuse.
Shehad,Saschanoted,managedtorunherbraceletupunderhersleeve,outofsight.
SascharestrainedTirlabyhershoulders."Sheisillegal,woman.Shecomeswithus.Tellthem,Ranjit!"Whenthemessagehadbeentranslated,headded,"Thedealshespokeofwillbegoodforonlythreemoreminutes."Helookedpointedlyathisdigitalwatch."Thenthereisnomoretotalkabout.Leteachmotherwhoacceptstheofferstandbyherchild."
Then,toshutuptherenewalofBilala"scaterwauling,Saschashotastrongsilencingcommandcompulsiononthehystericalwoman.Shefellbackinthearmsofthewomenwhoheldher,hermouthworkingsoundlessly.Anawedhushfellovertheplatform.
Thebusinesswasquicklyconcludedthen,andTirlawatchedsolemnlyascrispfloaterschangedhands.Shehadneverseensomuchmoneyincirculationatonetimeandinfrontofeveryone.Itwasbetterso.
Noonecouldclaimafterwardthatonehadreceivedmorethananother.
Someofthewomenlingered,displayingrealdistressastheirchildrenwereloadedbackintothefrontfourcars.SaschapropelledTirlatowardsthelastcar,whichthesearchgroupwasboarding.
Tirlaheldupherbraceletedarm."Youkeepthebargaininfactbutnotinspirit?"shedemandedasthedronecoverslidshut.Shetuggedatthecovetedwristband.
"Thebargainiskeptinfactandinspirit,Tirla,butyoucan"tgobacktoG,notwithBilalayourenemy."
"Huh!Thatone!"Tirlasnortedderisively."Shewouldn"tfindmeifIdidn"twantherto.I"mnotafraidofthatstupidwoman."
"Frankly,Iwouldbe,wereIyou,"Saschasaid."She"llcertainlymakesureYa.s.simknowswhatpartyouhadinclearingouthishide."
Thatcausedhertoreflect,althoughSaschastillcouldnotnudgehiswaypasthershields.
"Thenwhatwasthepointofmakingitseemasifthey"descaped?"shedemandedwithsomeexasperation.
"Thatseemedasensiblesafeguardatthetime.Upuntilyou"dwantedtobesuchagoodneighbor.C"mon..."Saschaheldouthishand."IthinkIcanfindyouasafesquatforafewdayswithafriendofmine."Dorotea?hecalled.Canyouspareamomentforthiswaif?
Tirlalookedathishandasifitwerecoveredinacid."Atthehostel?Withthem?"
"You"relegal,remember?"herea.s.suredherwithalittlesmile.
"Technically,you"refreetomoveanywhereyouwanttonow.You"vegotawadoffloaters,but"Heraisedhishandinacautionarygesture.
"youknowaswellasIdothatanunattachedkidinaLinearrightnowisinjeopardy.Ya.s.simhasgottofindreplacements,andMirdaKhanandMamaBobchikwouldn"tbetheretodefendyou."
"Defendme?"Tirlawasbothindignantandastonished.
"Oh,theydid,intheirownways.Andifaladronedidn"tsnapyouup,thePublicHealthwould,asyou"reunderageandshouldbeinschool."
Wow!heexclaimedtoDoroteaashesensedTirla"ssuddenreaction.
Thatopenedupanexcitedcrack.
Dorotea:Keepworkingitthen!
"Frankly,Iwouldbewary,wereIyou,"Saschasaid.
TirlafingeredherpreciousID."School?IcouldaccessTeacher?"
"You"vetherighttoalltheeducationyoucanstuffintoyourheadthatis,onceyouovercomethelittleproblemofbeinganunattachedminor.
C"mon,getintothepod.It"sreadytogo,andIwantyououtofthishostileenvironment."
TirlacastalookoverhershoulderattheknotofwomenaroundBilalaandsaid"Stupidc.u.n.t"underherbreath,butshedidnotresistSascha"sguidinghand.
"Onceyou"vecaughtupwiththegradelevel,youcouldevengotoaregularschool."
"Me?Inaschool?"Tirlawa.s.skepticalaswellascontemptuous.
"Isuspectyou"vegotalotmoretalentthanyourealize,Tirla."
Dorotea,acidly:Youwereneveronetounderstateacause.
Tirlahunkereddownbesidehim,balancinghertorsobetweenspreadknees,handsdanglinglimplybetweenherlegs,herb.u.t.tagainstthepaddedendofthecargopod.Shec.o.c.kedherheadupathim,haulingthestrandsofdarkhairoffherface,herdarkeyessparklingwith,itseemedtoSascha,aprivateamus.e.m.e.ntthat,forallhistelepathicskill,hecouldnotpenetrate.
"Talent?"sherepeated.
"Yes,"hesaid."Talent."Hesettleddownbesideherjustasthetrainbegantoeaseforward.
"I"mnothinglikeyou,"Tirlasaidwarily,swayingalittle.
"No,you"renot.Icannottalktoeveryoneintheirownlanguageasgliblyasyoudo."
Tirlathoughtforamomentandthenshrugged."That"snothardtodo."
"Notforyou.Ranjit,who"squitealinguist,wasmakingheavyweatherofthetranslationsjustnow."
Tirlashruggedagain,dismissively.
"Inafewyears,youcouldearnabigwagejusttranslating."Hecouldfeelherattention."EnoughtoliveatthetopofanyLinearandneverhavetoworryabouttheYa.s.simsofthisworld."
"WorkingforLEO?"Shewasplainlyunwilling.
"Forsomeonewithyourgiftoflanguages,therearefarbetteropportunitiesthanLEO.Youdoneedsomeschooling."
"Igotschooling."Hertonewasbothrebelliousandindignant.AtSascha"sprompting,sheadded,"Iusedmybrother"sIDaslongasIhadit.Igotschooling."Dorotea,wouldyoucheckthatout?Thebrother"snameandIDareontheIncidentreport.
Icaughtaglimpseagain,Sascha,Doroteasaid.I"mgoingtoneedpersonalcontactwithhertogetpastthatshield.IgatheryouplantobringhertomyplaceandI"mtoplaysweetfrailharmlessgrandmama?Boy,thishasbeenaday!Inforapenny,inforapound.
Didyougetanyofthehigh-levelinterview?
Caughtmostofit!Saschasentanimageofhimcheeringlikeamadsoccersupporter.
Whenalltheexcitementdiesdown,Sascha,wearegoingthroughthetestingprocedureswiththeproverbialfinetoothcomb.
JustthenSaschafeltthejarasthefourforwardcarsweredetachedtogoontothewesternhostelthatwouldaccommodatetheillegalchildren.HecaughtthelookofapprehensiononTirla"sfaceandherquickglanceathim.
I"lltakehertomyspareroomifyou"drather,hetoldDorotea.
Nonsense.ImaybatetypecastingbutI"mfarmoresuitable.Thoughyou"redoingratherwell,Doroteaallowedsomewhatgrudgingly.
Saschasmiledandresettledhimself."It"llbesmootherfromnowon,"hesaidtoTirla."We"rebeingshuntedtothecommutertrack."
"Whereareyoutakingme?"
"Tomygrandmother."
I"mnotsureIcaretoberelatedtoaglibphilandererlikeyou,SaschaRoznine.Nomorals.
"Ifshe"llhaveyouforafewdaysuntilIcanfindtherightResidentialschoolforyou,"heamended."ThatwouldsolvetheproblemofnosyPublicHealthofficialsandkeepyououtofYa.s.sim"snotice."
Thementionofschoolbrieflyopenedhershieldandhesawafearfulstartlementahungerandawithdrawalbeforeitlowered.Hewentoncasually."But,asIsaid,you"vealegalID,floatersenoughformonths,andyoucansuityourself."
Theircarhadbeenshuntedseveraltimes,andtheprogressbecamesmootherandfaster.Tirlanoticedit,andshealsonoticedhowtheotherpeopleinthecarwererelaxing,smilingandchattingcomfortablywithoneanother.
Residentialschool,mya.s.s!Boris"sdisgustedtoneechoedinSascha"smind.IcanjustseeFairmontorHolyoketakinginthatsubbie.
Tolerance,Bro,tolerance.She"scleanandhealthy,andthattightmindmightconcealagenius.
Boris:orscams!
Dorotea,steelinhertone:Youjustletushandleoneofourown.
SincewhenamIdisowned?Borisasked.