She"sstillatrifleyoungtowanttobedeckherselfalluringly."

Wannabet?RhyssasaidinatightasidetoDorotea,whogaveheranunfathomableglancewithoutbetrayingamentalexplanation.

"Takehertooneofthegoodmalls.Letherseehowtheotherhalflivestheoneshe"sinhabitingnow,"Doroteawenton."Andthentreathertosomethingtoothrotteningandutterlysatiating.Spoilherabit.Showherthere"smoretolifeonthislevelthanasquareboxandawristID."

"Shemightknowofotherkidswithunusualapt.i.tudes,"Rhyssaadded.

"Shedoesn"tmissmuch."



"That"sforsure,"Sascharepliedheartily."Yourhelijustlanded,Rhyssa.I"lljustseeyoualloff."

"Peter!"Rhyssacalled."DaveandJohnnyareontheirway.Areyouallpacked?"

Doroteasnorted."He"sbeenreadysincebeforeyouthoughtofthe"Shepausedandgrinnedwickedly."distraction."

"I"mcoming,"Petercalled.HeglidedtoTirla"sroom."I"llseeyou,"hetoldher."Keepclockinginthestudytime."

ShehittheHOLDandregardedhiminsurprise."Yougoingsomewhere?"

Petergrinnedmischievously."Rhyssa"sgotajobforme."Hewinked.

"Job?Foryou?"

"Sure.I"mveryuseful,I"llhaveyouknow."

Tirlagavehimalongdisbelievinglook."Doingwhat?"

"MoreofwhatI"mgoodat."

Tirlagavehimalookofprofounddisbelief."Whatcouldyoubegoodat?"

Petermadeaclickingsoundinhismouth,sincehecouldnosnaphisfingers."IjustwishIcouldtellyou,Tirla.But.i.t"saprofessionalsecret."

"Sodon"ttellme.Igotbetterthingstodothanguesssecrets!"

Tirlaturnedbacktothemonitor.

"ButI"llbegoneweeks."

Tirlawriggledherfingersathimoverhershoulder."Havecgoodtime,"shesaid,keepinghereyesonthescreen.TheTeacheronholdhadhermouthopenandhandhalfraiseda.s.shewasmakingaparticularpointinthelesson.Tirlatriedtoresumeherstudying,b.u.t.thetruthofthematter,thoughshecouldnotletontPeter,wasthatshewouldmisshim.Weeks?

Hewasthefirstboyshehadevermetwhohadsomesense.Shknewhewa.s.supposedtobeaverycleverkinetichehadtalkedtheraboutthoughttransferandtelepathy,whichmadeherabinervousbuthehadalsobeengoodabouthelpingherwithsomeoftheharderproblemsTeachersether.AtleastSaschawouldbaround.ShewouldnotlikeSaschatobegoneforweeks.

Shewa.s.surprisedtohaveherlessoninterruptedasecondtimeandbySascha.

"Tirla!Haveyoustirredoutofthisroomtoday?"

"No,"shesaid,tappingouttheanswertotheproblemonthescreen.

"Tirla!Turnthatd.a.m.nedthingoff!We"vegotsomethingbettertodowiththeafternoon."

Sherolledoveronhersidetolookupathim."What?"

"Buyyousomenewshoesandclothes."

Tirlalookeddownatthetoesthatwerevisiblethroughthelatestcracksinherfootwear."Ididtrytofindtheissueslot,butDoroteadoesn"thaveone."

SaschahunkereddownandfirmlypunchedtheOffswitch.

"Hey!"Tirlaregardedhimwithastonishmentthatquicklyturnedtoantagonism.Shereachedfortheswitch,andhecaughtherhand.

"Youcanpickupwhereyouleftoffwhenwegetback.Onyourfeet!"

Saschagaveherhandawarningpull."Wedon"thaveissueslotsattheCenter.GenerallywegetordinarystufffromtheRemoteMall,butasIhaven"tanotionofyourshoesizeorwhatcolorsyoulike,Ithinkthisonce,we"llgointheflesh.Whenwe"redone,we"regoingtohaveatreat."

ThatgotTirla"sinterest.Shebouncedtoherfeet,herblackeyessparkling."Whatkindoftreat?"

"That"llbeentirelyuptoyou,mydear,"hesaid,leadingthewaytothetransportlot."Inourmallsthere"salottochoosefrom,"headdedinaprovocativetone.

WhatevermisgivingsSaschamighthaveentertainedaboutshoppingforachildwereswiftlycompounded.FirstTirlahadtorecoverfromherinitialshockatthesizeofthemallthatSaschahadchosen.Thensheledhimadancethrougheverydepartmentofthetwelvestorycomplex,eyesandheadconstantlyonthemovea.s.shedidaninitialreconnaissance.

Backonthefirstfloor,shemusedatlengthoverthevariousitemsthathadcaughtherattentionthefirsttimeandthenbeganasecondtar.Onthefourthlevel,fortunatelytheonedealingwithshoesandapparelforyoungpeople,thesoleofoneshoedisintegrated"Fromtheheatofthespeedatwhichshewastraveling,"SaschatoldDorotealater.

WhenanofficiousfloorwalkermovedinonTirlawiththeobviousintentofremovingthewaiffromtheelegantpremises,Saschainterceptedhim.

"Iwouldn"t,"Saschasaidinalowvoice,pushingouthissleevesothespecialdesignofhiswristIDwasvisible."I"mescortingher.Issheacceptableasapatronnow?"

"Yes,sir,I"msorry,sir,butyoumustadmit..

"That"swhywe"reshopping."

ThemanwalkedquicklyoutofSascha"svicinitywithseveralanxiousbackwardglances.

"Youweren"tgoingtohexhim,wereyou,Sascha?"anamusedvoicebesidehimasked.

HeturnedtoseeCa.s.sCutlergrinningupathim."IfIcould,I"dputahurryoneonTirla,"hesaid."Wewentthroughalltwelvelevelsofthisplacelikeadoseofsalts,andnowshe"ssettlingdownforasecondtour."

Ca.s.slaughedathisdiscomfort."Andtheysentyououtonyourownwithyourprotegee?"Shelaughedagain."That"sunkind."

"It"ssupposedtobemutuallyinstructive."

TirlareappearedandlatchedontoSascha"shand,regardingCa.s.sverynarrowlyfromhersuddenlyinscrutableeyes.

"Irememberyou,"Ca.s.ssaid."YouricochetedoffmeandmypartneratLinearG.AndyoumessedupFlimflam"sscamtoafare-theewell.Mycongratulations!"

"You"reoneofhim,"Tirlaaccused,jerkingherheadtowardSascha.

Ca.s.slaughedagain,athroaty,genuinelaugh.SaschacouldfeelTirla"sfingersrelaxing."Notquite,chip.We"reonthesameside,butrightnowI"ma.s.signedtoLEO,crowdcontrol."

Tirlalookedabouther,slightlycontemptuous."Notmuchofacrowdheretoday."

"I"mnotondutytoday,"Ca.s.sreplied,grinningdownatTirla."Iseeyou"reonadayoff,too.What"veyoufoundthatappealstoyou?"

w.i.l.l.youhelpme,Ca.s.s?Pleasesayyes!Saschapleaded.I"veahideouspresentimentthatthatchildintendstocasetheentiremallagainbeforeshe"lleventrysomethingon.

"Ifyoudon"tmindmesayingit,Tirla,you"llbeabletowalkfurtherwithadecentpairofshoesonyourfeet.There"resomegoodbargainstobehadrightnow.Whatstrikesyourfancy?"

Withasenseofreprieve,SaschafollowedCa.s.sandTirlatotheshoedepartment.Anhourlater,aftertwoharriedhumanclerkshadreplacedthemechanicalfitter,Tirla"ssmall,narrow,andverydaintyfeetendedupinsoftpurpleleatherboots,intheonlypairthatwouldfitherfeet.

Totallyunsuitableforachild,ofcourse,Ca.s.ssaid,b.u.t.theydot.

Andsheadoresthem!SaschasawhowTirla"sfacegloweda.s.shestruttedfrommirrortomirror,regardingherfeet.

"Mr.Roznine,"theheadclerksaidwearilyasthedocketspunoutofthetellermachine,"youryoungcompanionhasamostdelicateandunusualfoottofit.MayIrecommendthisconcern?Theydoveryfinecustomwork."

Saschareadthemaneasilyandcaughttheunspokenmessage:"Sowewon"thavetogothroughthisagain."Buthewasjustasgratefultotakethecard,whichcouldbeinsertedinDorotea"smallmachineforhomeshopping.

HeblessedCa.s.switheverynewpurchase,forthewomanactuallyseemedtoenjoythelooking,thetrying,andtheendlessdiscussionsoffit,style,andcolor.

"Theconceptofhavingunlimitedfundstospendisforeigntothechild,Sascha,"Ca.s.ssaidatonepoint,"butyoumustadmitthatsheknowswhatsuitsher."

Tirlawasmodelingaonepieceoutfitasdifferentfromsubsistenceissueasdiamondsfromrhinestones.Themaincolorwasasoftbluewithpurpleaccentsinseamst.i.tching,pockettrim,andfasteners.OnceTirlafoundthatoutfittohertasteandSascha"sitwasalwaysSaschatowhomsheturnedforapprovalittookthecombinedeffortsofbothSaschaandCa.s.stogethertobuyadditionalclothing.

"WhydoIneedmore?I"veboots,andthismaterial"shardwearing.

It"lldoforweeks.EvenifIhadtocatchfreightsagain,"Tirlaadded,peeringmischievouslyupatSascha.

Hehadtochuckleatherimpudence."It"safetchingoutfit,Tirla,there"snoquestionofit.ButevenTeacherwillgettiredofseeingyouinit."

Tirlagavehimalonghardlook."Teacherdoesn"tseeme."

"No,butDoroteaandIdo,sodoSirikit,Budworth,Don,andPeter,andRhyssa.Youneverseethemwearingthesameclothestwodaysinarow."

"Oh,theyhavelotsofclothes.Doroteahasclosetsfull."Tirladidnotsoundenviousifanythinghertonewa.s.slightlycensorious,asifshefelt.i.twasimproperforpeopletohavesomanythingstowear.

"Afewchangesareinorder,"Ca.s.ssaid."I"vegotquiteafewmyself,"sheaddedencouraginglywhileTirlamerelystaredback,herhandsplungedintothedeeppocketsandhershouldershunchedunderthesmoothfabric.

"Thisisn"tcomingoutofyourfloaters,Tirla,"Saschabegan,suddenlyrealizingwhatmightbecausingherhesitation."DoroteaandRhyssawantyoutobesuitablydressednowthatyou"reaTalent.

You"renotasubbieanymore,youknow."HepointedtoherwristID.

"Oh."Therewaslookofsurprisedwondermentonthegirl"sfacea.s.sheregardedherbraceletwithdawningcomprehension."Isthatwhythosesalespersonsweresonicetome?"

"Quitelikely,"Ca.s.ssaidinadrytoneofvoice."Everyoneinmallsliketheserecognizesthedistinctivepattern."

Tirlatwirledhersonherfragilewrist."Theydo?"Shesettledthebandoutsidethecuffofhernewclothes."HowmuchcanIbuywithjustthis?"

SaschadisguisedachokeofdismaywithacoughjustasCa.s.scaughthimintheribswithherelbow.

"Let"sfindout,shallwe,chip?"Ca.s.saskedcheerfullyandheldoutherhand.

Tirlatookitreadilyenough,butherotherhandimmediatelysoughtSascha"s,andthenshewasdraggingthemafterhertowardarackofbrilliantlycoloredtrousers.

Shewasnotasprofligatea.s.saschafeared,butsheendedupwith"somethingdifferenttoweareverydayoftheweek."ThenSaschamadegoodhispromiseofatreat,invitingCa.s.stojointhemintheOldFashionedParlorofGastronomicalConfectionsandIrresistibleDesserts.

Tirlamanagedtogetthroughthreeimmense,richconcoctionsthatSaschaprivatelythoughtrevolting.

Ca.s.s:Letherenjoy,Sascha.Icecreamissomethingshe"sonlyheardabout.

Sascha:Whatifshecomeshomesick?Doroteawillskinmealive.

Ca.s.s:Thischildhasanironconst.i.tutionifshe"ssurvivedsubbieslopuntilnow.Andlookathowmuchpleasureshe"shaving.

Sascha,groaning:I"llbesick!

ItwasthenthatTirlarealizedtherewereothergirlsandboysenjoyingtheparlor.Herspoononautomatic,shetookfullnoteoftheotheryoungsters.

Thatblondeoughtnevertowearbrightcolors.She"dlookbetterinpastelshades.Boy,what"shewearingsuchtightpantsfor?He"llsqueeze"emdry.Nowthatredoutfitmightlookgoodonme.MaybeIcangetsomethinglikethatnexttimeSaschawantstospendmoney.

Saschaglancedsurrept.i.tiouslyatCa.s.s,whorolledhereyes.

Sascha:Streamofconsciousnessandloudandclear.Doessherealizeshe"sbroadcasting?

Ca.s.s,busilyspooningupthelastofhertreat:Highlyunlikely.Thatchild"shadtobeonthequiviveallherlife.Frankly,Sascha,Itakeitasahighcomplimentthatshe"srelaxedenoughinourpresencetodosomeunguardedthinking.

Sascha:Goodpoint.

Asnonchalantlyashecould,SaschaobservedTirla,listeningtoherpithyandacuteremarksaboutphysicalappearances,style,clothing,manners,andarangeofothersubjectsthatflowedacrossheralertandfascinatingmind.

ThenCa.s.s,withapparentreluctance,roseandsaidthatshehadtogetbacktotheCenter,a.s.shehadaneveninga.s.signment.Tirlaevenlookeddisappointedthattheirthreesomehadtobreakup.

"Look,chip,anytimeyouwanttohaveagawkroundsomeoftheothermalls"Ca.s.sstarted.

"Thereareotherones?"Tirlaexclaimed,shootinganaccusingglareatSascha.

"Thousands,"Ca.s.stoldherwithanunrepentantgrin."Butyoucan"treallydomorethanoneatatime,oritallgetsjumbledupinyourheadastowhatyousawwhereandwhichprice.Believeme,Iknow!"

Tirlasawthemeritofthatand,tuckingherhandinSascha"s,wascontenttoreturntotheirtransportandtheCenter.

BythetimetheyreachedDorotea"s,theirpurchaseshadarrivedbyexpress.p.a.ckagetubeandwerepiledneatlyabouttheroom.

"Whatacharmingcombination!"DoroteaexclaimedonseeingTirla"sclothes.Didyoubuythemallout,Sascha?

Giveheralittlewhileandsheprobablywill.Ca.s.smadethemistakeofinformingherthereareathousandmorejustlikeGrafton"s,andwemayneverbeabletopayherbills.

Dorotealaughed."I"llexpectafashionshowaftersupper,Tirla."

"Show?Why?Icanputonsomethingneweverydaythisweek.That"llshowyou,"Tirlareplied."What"sforsupper?Itsmellsgood!"

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