Couldheknowthatshehademptiedhiscage?
Therewerefivecarsonthedoubleendedtrain.Twolookedlikeemptydumpers.Withoutwaitingtoquestionsuchgreatgoodfortune,TirlahauledMirmalaroutontotheplatform.
"Quickly.Itwon"tstoplong.Wemustallgetin."
Theywere,therefore,allontheplatformwhenthetrainstopped.Sononeofthemescapedthesleepgasthatsuddenlyspewedout,catchingthemallinitsmist.Theyfelllikewiltedflowersontotheplasticcoatedloadingsurface.
"She"ssomekid,"SaschasaidasheandCarmencarefullyplacedtheobjectoftheirintensivesearchonablanketpadandcoveredher.
"Christ,butshe"sabitofnothing."
Carmensmiledslowlyandturnedthesleepingchild"sheadtoonesidetoseewherethelockofhairhadbeenwrenchedout.Herotherhandreachedhalfwaytotouchitb.u.t.thenstopped."She"snothingbutskinandbones,Sascha.We"llhavetoimproveher."
Saschafrownedabit,lookingaroundtoseetherestoftheteamattendingtheotherchildren."Wemaynotwantto,Carmen.BorisandIhaveafeelingaboutthisone."
"SodoI."Carmensmiledathimwithhermostmysterioussmile.
Boris:Didyoucatchher?
Yes,Brotherdear,herandthem.She"dsprungthelotof"em.Shemusthaveknownexactlywheretogo.Saschaspokealoud."I"mwonderinghow."
Whattheh.e.l.lpossessedher?Borissworewithfrustration.HeandSaschahadfollowedCarmen"slead,andwhileTirlawasharanguingthekids,ateamhadbeencautiouslyorganized,awarethatYa.s.simhadinterestsinIndustrialJ.
Howaboutwendoutwheretheywerekept?Saschaasked.
Whatgoodwillthatdonow?He"snotlikelytoreuseaholdingareathat"sbeenbreached.
Hemightifhethoughtthekidshadescapedontheirown.
Canyoumanagethat?Boris"stoneleapedtohopefulness.
Icantry.
Ifyoucould,andriggedit,we"dhaveonemoreboltholefiledonYa.s.sim.Whydidshedoit?
"Let"swakeTirlaup,"SaschasaidtoCarmen,reachingfortheoxygen.
"Ifshecanshowuswhere,wecangetsomegoodoutofthisoperation."
"Wealreadyhave.We"vefoundmorethanwehoped,haven"twe?"
"Yes,andno.Bearwithme,Carmen.There"salotmorethanthisvaluableyounggirlatstake."
Revived,Tirlawentimmediatelyonthedefensive,waryandcontained,herdarkeyesdartingaround,takingintheunconsciousbodiesandnoticingthemedic,whowasdaubingsc.r.a.pesandbruiseswithnuskin.
Carmenofferedarestorativedrink,deliberatelytakingalongswallowofitbeforehandingthecuptoTirla.
Sascha,lightlytryingtogetinsidethegirl"smind,couldsenseonlyherfiercethirst.Withgreatrestraint,shetookaverysmallsip,rollingitaroundinhermouthbeforedrinkingmoredeeply.Herbrightdarkeyeschallengedhim.Hesatdownbesideherinarelaxedposition,hookinghishandsaroundhiskneesandleaningbackagainstthewall.
"Tirla,"hebegan.Hesawherstartofsurprise."Oh,you"rewellknowninG.Andyourbraveryinreleasingthechildrenwillbeappreciated,andnotjustbytheirgrievingfamilies."
"Howcouldyoufindmehere,withthem?"SheglancedinquiringlyfromhimtoCarmenandthensawthelockofherhair,whichCarmenstillworeastalisman.Involuntarilyherhandstartedtothescabbypatchonherhead.Hershoulderssaggedaroundhernarrowchest,butanyemotionalreactionwascarefullyguardedinhermind."I"veheardofpeoplelikeyou.Youfoundmebecauseyouhadmyhair."
"It"snotwitchcraft,Tirla,"Carmensaidgently.Shehandedthestrandbacktothegirl."IhaveaTalentwhichallowsmetofindlostpeopleandthings."
"Iwasn"tlost."
"No,"Saschasaidconversationally,withanapprovinggrin,"butyoufoundwhatwasmissingfromLinearG."
"Hehadn"tpaidforthem."
Carmengasped."Youmean,oncehe"spaidforthem,hecanhavethemagain?"
"Sure.Theparentsliveonsubsistence.Theyneedthemoneyforextrasonlyfloaterscanbuy."
Saschawaswellawarethatthegirl"sseemingcallousnessdistressedCarmen,whohadseenthechildinamuchdifferentlight."Alsoputsyouinwellwithyourclients,whowereratherupsetwithyourabruptdeparturefromthemeeting,"hesaidamiably.
Eyesneverleavinghis,Tirlanoddedonce.
"They"reallillegal,aren"tthey?"
Tirla"sthinshouldersliftedinanindifferentshrug."Sure,soit"snocreditoutofyourstashwhathappenstothem."
"Oh,no,"Carmensaid,pained."They"realive.Theyhaverights!"
TirlagaveheraquicklookbeforeresumingherscrutinyofSascha.
"Illegalsdon"thaverights."
"Onlytheirbirthsareillegal,Tirla,"Saschasaid."They"realive.
Theyhavetherighttoshelter,food,clothing,training,andusefuloccupation.Theydonothavetherighttoreproducethemselves."
Saschawasabouttoexplainthelegalanomalyinsimpletermswhenherealiedthatsheunderstoodperfectly.Shewasmaturefarinexcessofherchronologicalage,andwellconditionedtotherealitiesofResidentiallife.ShewasnotaromanticlikeCarmen."b.u.t.theydonotdeservetheoccupationsYa.s.simhadinmindforthem."Saschacaughtthatinstantspurtoffear,followedbythehardeningoftheyoungeyesandtheflickofhatred."Youdon"tlikeYa.s.simeither."
Againoneofherindifferentshrugs.
"Wouldyoubyanychancehelpusdisablehim?"
Shehadbeenwarybefore,butnowsheappearedtoSaschatocoilinonherself."You"renotLEO.WhydoyouwanttoqueerYa.s.sim?"
"No,I"mnotLEOmyself,butwehaveaconnection.EspeciallyagainstsomeonelikeYa.s.sim."
Tirlagaveasnort."SomeonelikeYa.s.simbuyshimselfoffeverytimeLEOcollarshim.Hehaspowerfulfriends.LEOcannevermakeitstick."
"YouwishthatLEOcould?"
Shehesitatedbriefly,thengavehimacandidlook."TherewillalwaysbemenlikeYa.s.sim,butIcoulddowithouthimverymuch,thankyou."
Saschawouldhavegivenagreatdealthentohavebeenabletoreadhermind,todelvethatreply.Tirlawasfardeeperthanthey"dhadanyreasontosuspect.Shesatthereinfrontofhim,crosslegged,completelycomposed,alertandbargainingjustasifshecouldgetupandleavethesceneatanymoment.
"IwanttogetridofYa.s.sim,too,Tirla.w.i.l.l.youhelpme?"
Aglimmerofasmiletouchedhereyesandmouth."What"sinitforme?"
Carmeninhaledinsurprise.Saschasentthefindersoothingthoughts,urginghertolethimhandlethesituationhisway.Heflickedhisfingers,fanningoutcrispnewfloaternotes.
"Howdidyoumanagethat?"Hereyeswidenedinsurpriseandindignation.
Saschadidnotoftenemployhiskineticability,b.u.t.thistrickwasalwayseffective."Youhelpmenowandwemustbequickabout.i.tbeforeYa.s.simdiscovershisbirdshaveflownandtheseareyours."Sheeyedthenotes.Casuallyshescratchedaboutherribs.Saschakepthisgrintohimself,knowingthatshewascheckingonthetiednoteshiddenthere.Sheconsideredhisofferwithallthesolemnityofacomputera.n.a.lyst.
"There"sthelittlematterofyourlegality,Tirla,"headdedgently.
Borisnudgedhimmentally.C"mon,Brother,wedonthavetimeforamiablelipap.
Onthecontrary,wehaveallthetimeweneed,Brother.Thisisastrongpersonalityandadeepone.I"mnotrushingher.
etonwithitthen.
Tirlagavehimawideeyedbrightsmile."Iamtheonlychildofmymother."
"Butnotherlegallyregisteredissue."
"Howwouldyouknow?"
Saschatouchedherhair."Thattoldus.But.i.tisasmallmatterthatcanbequicklyremedied."
Sheregardedhimfromnarrowedeyes."Asmallmatter?"Thetwistofherlipswascynical."YoumustbeinrealgoodwithLEO."Sheconsidered,obliquelywatchingCarmen"s.e.xpression."AndIgettokeepthefloaters,aswell?"Hertonewasingenuous.
Saschasuppressedagrin.Legalitywouldbethemostvaluablerewardhecouldoffer,andstillherfingersitchedtorelievehimofthemoney.Notthathehadofferedalargesum,b.u.t.theamountwouldkeepherinextrasforseveralmonths.
"Ifwegetamoveonnow!"hesaid,drawingouthisacceptance.
Shespatinherrightpalmandhelditouttohim.Withoutasecondthought,heacceptedthedealinarchaicritual.Hergripwasunusuallystrongforthedelicacyofherbones.PhysicalcontactwiththeconsciousandvibrantpersonalitystartledSaschawithanoddjoltasenseofprecognitionthatwasgonetoofastforhimtopinitdown.
Boriscaughttheedgeofit.Whatdidshedotoyou,Sascha?
I"mnotsure,Brother,b.u.t.thisonewehandlevery,verycarefully.IwantaspecialIDforTirlawhenwegetback.Hearme?
Tohearis...o...b..y!Borismightsoundfacetious,butSaschawasrelievedbyhiscompliance.Keepthebargain,butIwantthiswildoneundercontrol.
Thedealstruck,TirlarosewithlithegracetoherfeetandtiltedherheadbacktolookappraisinglyupatSascha."SohowdowedisableYa.s.sim?"
"Canyouleadmetowherehekeptthechildren?"Whenshenodded,hewenton."Wewanttofixitsothathewillthinkthechildrenescapedbythemselves."
Tirlasnortedcontemptuously."Ihadtofrightenthemtomakethemleaveatall.SuchthingsIhadtotellthem.Thoughitwasallverytrue."
"HowwouldYa.s.simknowthattheywerealldocile?Itneedonlylookasiftheyhadbrokenout.Thatoneoftheguardshadbeencarelesslockingthemin."
Sheconsideredthat."Yes,thatcouldhavehappened.Theyhadonlyjustbroughtfood."Shegavehimashrewdlyappraisingglance."Youwillhavetocrawl."Thatseemedtoamuseher.
"Upthistunnel?"
Shenodded,thenlookedoverhershoulder,forthefirsttimebetrayingsomeapprehension."Whathappenstothem?"
"Theycansleeponuntilwegetback,"hereplied."We"vegottomovenow."
Sheledhimintothetunnel,andhedidhavetocrawl,wonderinghowshehadmanagedherinitialtripuntilhesawthesmallcircleoflightthatguidedhersteps.Shehadthecourtesynottogofasterthanhecouldfollow,andhehadtimetoreflect:shemightnothaveanounceoftelempathy,orwasperhapstoowarytoletdowntheshieldthathadprotectedhersolonginheryounglife,b.u.t.therewasnoquestionthatshepossessedconsiderableTalent.
Shehaltedattheendofthetunnelandturnedtohim."Youwouldn"tfitdownthehatchIused,butifyouknowhowtoopenthatinspectiondoor,that"saneasierwaytogettowhereheheldthekids."
Saschatookthescramblerfromhisbeltanddecodedthedoor.Heopeneditcautiously,awareofthehissingintakeofherbreath,andlistenedonanotherlevelthanTirla,whowaskneelingatthelowerhalfoftheopening.Thelevelandcomplexityofnoiseinthemainindustrialcomplexwasappropriateforanautomatedfactory.Hesensednothinghuman,but.i.twasTirlawhofirstslidthroughthedoor.Heopeneditenoughforhislargerframeandcloseditcarefullybehindthem.
Thoughtheindustrials.p.a.cewaslitonlybyoccasionalgreenlightsofoperationalmachinery,Tirlamovedconfidentlyforward.Saschawouldhavepa.s.sedrightbythefalsewall,butshewentunerringlytothedoubledrumandpinpointedthelockmechanismwithherpencillight.
Sheglancedquestioninglyathim.
"Electronic,Ihope?"hemurmured,andshenodded.
Hescrambledthecircuit,andthedoorswungbacktorevealthedesertedroom,theoverturnedbunkbed,andthetablewiththeemptyfoodpackages.Shepulledthedoorshutbehindthem,shootinghimadisapprovinglookforhiscarelessentry.
"Howdidyougetthemout?"heasked.
Shepointedtothedarkersquareofthegrilleintheceiling.
"Goodwork."Herightedthebunkbedandpusheditbackintoitsformerposition,managingtostickaminusculedeviceonthewallbehindit.Thenhelookedabouttheplace.Itstankofmanythings,notalltangible."Ithinkyou"dbettermastermindthisescape,Tirla.Makeitlooklikeakidhaddoneit."
Tirla"supperlipcurledinderision."Noneofthemwouldhave!"
"Pointtaken,butforYa.s.sim"sbenefit.i.tshouldseemso."
Withhereyeshalfveiled,Tirlaconsideredtheproblem.Saschawaitedpatiently,wishinghecouldhavebeeninherhead,notingherthoughtprocesses.
"Okay,"shesaidfinally,leadingacrosstheroomtothecornerwherepiecesofclothinghadbeendiscarded.Deliberatelyshetorestripsfromseveralgarments,herhandscleverinfindingthebreakinahemorseamthatwouldrip."There"llbeafight...
"Shehauledmattresspadsofftwoofthelowerbunks,andthesoiledblanketsofftheupperones.Shewentbacktothecornerand,usingashirt,gatheredupsomeofthecontainersandtheremainingfoodbeforesheknockedoverthemakeshifttable."Now,weopenthedoorjustenoughtoletkidsout,andstartleavingtrails.Comeout,I"lljustclosethedooroverabit.Now,youdropstuffhalfwaytothatwall.
Thencirclearound.I"mgoingthisway.I"llmeetyouatthemaintenancedoor."
Hedida.s.shedirected,andtheymetagaininthechucking,clankingdarkoftheautomatedmanufactory.
"Lockit?"Saschaheldthedoorajar.
"Yes."
"Buthoww.i.l.l.ya.s.simknowhowtheygotout?"
"They"renotthere,arethey?Thecagedoorisopen."Saschasawhershrugandfelt,ratherthansaw,hermalicioussmile."WhyshouldImakeiteasyforhim?"