Dorotea:Whenyou"rewearingnothingbutyourLEObat!
Saschahadamentalimageofhisbrotherwithdrawingquietlyoffendinghatinhand.NoonetookonDoroteainacrusadingmood.HeglanceddownatTirla,whowasdeepinthought,staringdownatthefloor,thoughherbodyappearedrelaxed.WhenthecargopoddooropenedastheyreachedthevehicleparkinthequietgroundsoftheEasternCenterforParapsychics,shereactedwithamazementanddisbelief.AstheothermembersofSascha"steampiledout,laughingandchattingoverthesuccessfula.s.signment,Tirlajuststood,herlargeeyeswideandwhitea.s.shestaredaroundher.Saschadidnothurryher.TheoldHennerestate,withitsbigoldbeeches,maples,andoaks,thewidelawnsandtheattractivetwostoryresidentialunits,wasunusualenoughinmodernJerhattanandhadtobearevelationtoaLinearresident.
Tirlalookedappalled.
"Mygrandmotherlivesoverthere,"Saschasaid,pointingtothedwellingthathadoncebeenthegardener"slodge."Theresheis,weedingtheborder."Youarethemostcompleteham,Dorotea.
Weeding?
Trueenough,butIwasn"tgoingtoswathemyselfinblacksubsistenceandbedeckmyselfwithbraceletsandnoseringstomakeherfeelatease.Andtheborderdoesneedweeding.
Whataboutyourarthritis?
Ialwayssufferformyart,m"dear.I"verecruitedPeter,too.Heneedstoclimbdownfromrarefiedatmospheres,andsomethinghomelywillhelp.Also,bemaybeolderthansheis,butbelooksyoung.
He"stoappearwitheats.Refreshmentsarealwaysagoodwaytostartoffaconversation,particularlyforsomeonewithaNearEastbackground."Why,Sascha,whatapleasantsurprise!"Doroteahoistedherselftoherfeetandheldoutherarmstohim.Kissme,youlout.
Evengrandmothersneedarationofpa.s.sionnowandagain!
"Grandmother,thisisTirla...Tunnelle."
Inventiveboy!Doroteacommented.
"Sheneedsaplacetostayforafewdays.Woulditbetoomuchofanimposition?"
DoroteaextractedherselffromSascha"senthusiasticembraceandextendedamuddaubedhandtoTirla.SinceDoroteahadbeenacceptedandacceptablefromthemomentofherbirth,shehadaboutheranaurathatmaderejectionfromanyoneimpossible;Tirladelayedonlyamomentbeforegraspingtheextendedhand.She"s...o...b..neslikeabird"s,Sascha.Howcouldshepossiblydoallshe"sjustdone?
"Tirla,thisisDoroteaHorvath."There"snothingfrailaboutTirla"smind,Dorotea.
"Actually,Iwasjustabouttoquitandhavesomethingtoeatanddrink.Thesun"swarmtoday.Peter,isthejuiceready?"shecalled,andgesturedforhergueststoprecedeherintothelittlehouse.
SaschawasgladthathehadthoughtofDorotea,insteadoftakingTirlatothefarmoredauntingmanorhouseanditsformalityJudgingbythegirl"sstunnedexpression,eventhishomeyroomwasfaroutsideherexperience.
"Iexpectyou"llwanttowashup,andIneedto,"Doroteasaidgently,touchingTirla"sarmandpointingtothelittlehall"Lavatory"sseconddoorontheleft,dear,plentyoftowels.Peter,"shesaida.s.shemadeforthesmallkitchen,"wehavetwomoreguests."
Peter:What"sshelike?
Sascha:Scared.
Peter,wryly:Knowthefeeling!
Dorotea:Mightshield.
Peter,earnestly:I"llbecareful.
Dorotea:Anddon"tshowoff,You"llterrifyher.
Peter:IdidalltheshowingoffI"mgoingtodothismorning.
AnapprehensiveTirlareenteredtheroom,surrept.i.tiouslytrailingfingersalongwoodensurfacesandacrossthesofabacks.Saschanoticedthatshehadwashedhands,arms,neck,face,andthatportionofherchestthatwasvisibleabovetheroundneckofherratherwornclothing.Shehadbrushedherlonghairneatlybackoverhershoulders.SaschathoughtofthecheerlessfunctionalityofsubsistencelivingquartersandgaveTirlaanotherfullmarkfornonchalance.
"Hereweare,"Doroteasaid,arrivingwithalargetrayladenwithallsortsoffingerfoods:savories,smallopenfacedsandwiches,wedgesoffruit,andstripsoffreshvegetables."Peter,don"tdropthegla.s.ses!"Fortunately,Tirla"sbackwastotheboywho,withbothhandsonthehugepitcheroforangejuice,wasallowingfourlargetumblerstofloatalongbesidehim.
"HolditwhileIpour,"Petersaid,handingTirlaagla.s.s,adiversionthatkeptherfromnoticingtheothergla.s.sesslidingtopositionsonthelowtablenearDoroteaandSascha.
Dorotea:Peter!
Peter:Shedidn"tseeit.
Whenallhadbeenservedwithjuice,PeterbouncedintothechairbesideTirlaandtookalongdrinkofthejuice,wipinghismouthandexclaimingwithsatisfactionatthetaste.
"Don"tinhalethejuice,Peter,"Doroteasaida.s.sheofferedTirlathetrayofsnacks.Anuncommonfondnessforgreenpepper,shenotedwhenshesawTirla"seyesbrightenatthesightoftheslices.CloselywatchingDorotea,thegirlhadclosedherfingersaboutthree,thenincreasedherhaultosixwhentherewasnoreaction."Thecheesepuffsarehotandfresh,"Doroteasaid,pushingthemtowardTirla.
"You"dbettergetthemnowbeforeSaschaorPeterhogthemall."
Tirlaletthepepperstripsfallintoherlapandobedientlytookacheesepuff.
Icouldn"tmakemyselfsomecoffee,couldI,Doro?Saschaaskedplaintively.
Drink!Anything.Shewon"tuntilwealldo."Peter,thisisjustwhatIneeded.Imusthavedehydratedinthesun.Sascha,there"reasparagusinthebreadrolls.Iknowyoulikethem!AndPeter,youarenottoeatallthechickensandwiches.Hewould,youknow,"Dorotearattledon,nibblingatacheesepuffwhichshethenputtoonesidetotakeabiteofapatedcracker.Well,we"veallsampledeverythingtoprovethere"snopoisonordrugs.Ah,good!Ob,myword!She"sstarved!
Tirlahadstartedtodrinkandeatwithquicksharpbitesands.n.a.t.c.hedswallows,asifshewastornbetweeneatinganddrinkingandafraidthatthefoodwouldsuddenlydisappear.Allthreetelepathswereawareofasuddenlighteningofhercarefullyguardedthoughtsa.s.shemadeinroadsonthesnacks.Thepastrymeltedinhermouth,releasingtastesthatsatisfiedunknowncravingswithtexturesthatt.i.tillatedhertongue,fromtherea.s.suringcrispwaterytangofthegreenpepperstothebiteofsharpcheeseandsavorymeatfillings.
Foodwouldbeatrigger,Doroteawentonwryly,whenyouconsidershe"sprobablybeenhungryallherlife.Shetookalongdrinkoftheorangejuice."Ihopeyou"vemoreinthekitchen,Peter,becauseittastesmarvelous.b.u.t.then,freshsqueezedorangejuicealwaysdoes,don"tyouthinkso,Tirla?"
Sascha!Boris"stonewasauthoritative.Yourwaif"singoodbands.
Someonejusts.n.a.t.c.hedoneoftheJerhattanschoolkidswestrandedthreeweeksago.
"Well,"Saschasaid,risinganddustingcrumbsoffhisfingers."I"llleaveyoutoit,Tirla.You"resafeenoughhereforafewdays,andPetercanshowyouhowtologontoTeacher.Right?"
Ashestrodeacrossthelawntothemainhouse,Doroteatoldhim,Shepausedinhereatingwhenyouleft,butIfearthesnacktrayandtheorangejuicepitcherareoffargreatermomentthanyou,honey.
Saschawasnotcertain,inhisprivatemind,ifhelikedtakingsecondplacetoabatchofcanapes,evenwithapreadolescent.
Chapter13.
Youbeenherelong?"TirlaaskedPeterthenextmorningastheyatebreakfastinthepleasantand,toTirla,amazingkitchenroom.Doroteawaspreparingeggsfresheggsinapanatthestove,using,ofallthings,anakedflame.Tirladidnotwishtodistractherfromthedangerousprocedure,soshespokeinalowvoice.
"Hmm,"Petersaid.amiably,takingneatspoonfulsoftheripemelon.
"EversinceIgotoutofthehospital."
Tirlawatchedtoseehowhedealtwiththefoodshewouldhavesliceditthinandeatendowntotherind."Whywereyouinthehospital?"sheasked.HospitalswerefearsomeplacestoTirla,whohadalwaysmadeapracticeofavoidingmedics,aswellasquacks.Shealsohadawarydistrustofsickpeople,neverhavingbeenillorinjuredherself.
Petergaveadiffidentshrugofoneshoulder."Awallcollapsedalloverme."
"Youmusthavebeenhurtbad."InTirla"s.e.xperiencepeopledidnotsurvivewallscomingdownonthem.
"Couldn"twalkformonths.Couldn"tevenfeedmyself."Hiseyestookonanunfocusedcast.
"Andtheyletyoulive?"Tirlawa.s.stunnedatsuchgoodfortune.
Peterregardedherwithsomesurprise."Ofcourse,thoughforawhilethere,Ireallydidn"twanttolive."
Tirlaabsorbedthatremarkablestatementa.s.shebenttothetaskofeatingmelon.Itwasreallygoodnotgoneofflikemostofthoseshescrounged.SheflickedcarefulglancesatDoroteatomakesurethefirewasundercontrol.Whydidn"tthewoma.n.u.sethehottershehadrightthereinthewall?OneofthefirstthingsonelearnedintheLinearswasnottomesswithnakedflames.FirewasasurewaytobringdownthewrathoftheLEOs.
"Whydidyou?"Tirlaasked,realizingthatPeterwaswaitingforhertocomment."Live,Imean."
"Rhyssataughtmehowtomoveagain."
"Youdomovesortofoddly,"shesaid,havingnoticedthepeculiarglidingmotionheused.Hedidnot,infact,seemtotakerealsteps,thoughhislegsmoved.
Petersnickered,hismouthfullofmelon.Heswallowedandgrinnedbroadly."That"sbecauseI"mnotreallywalking.Iimpelmyselfkinetically."Hiseyesglintedwithmischiefathermystification."Imakemybodymove.Itcan"t."
Tirlastoppedeating,staringathimuntilsherecalledthateveninLinearsalengthystarewasimpolite."Yourbodydoesn"tmove?Butyou"reeating.You"reusingyourarmandyourhandjustlikeme."Sheheldherownhandup.
"I"mprettygoodat.i.t,aren"tI?"PeterwasdelightedwithhiseffectonTirla."I"vedonesomeotherstuff,too,moving"Hebrokeoff,withaslightlyruefulgrin."Ihearyou"reprettygoodatyourTalent,too.Thatwaslarkygettingthekidsawayfromthepervert."
Tirlaslowlyshookherhead,dismissingherachievement."Nothinglikewhatyoudo.Idon"thavemuchTalentatall."
Petersnortedwithgoodnaturedcontempt."That"swhatyouthink.It"snotwhatRhyssasaid.I"mgoodatwhatIdo.Butyou"reveryverygoodatwhatyoudo.Don"tknockit."
Slightlyembarra.s.sedbythesincerityofPeter"stone,Tirlachangedthesubject,eagertopumphimonpuzzlingtopics."YousaidRhyssahelpedyou?IsshethedarkhairedonewhowasherelastnightafterSaschaleft?"
Peternoddedhishead."She"sthedirectorhere."
"NotSascha?"
Petershookhishead,grinning."Sascha"sthedeputychief.HetakesoverwhenRhyssa"sinvolvedwithsomeone.Likeme!I"mherspecialproject"Hebrokeoff,blinkinghiseyesrapidly,andflashedaquick,almostapologeticglanceatDoroteabeforehegrinned."Rhyssahaslotsofspecialduties,beingthedirector.I"mnottheonlyone."
Tirlanoticedthathischeeksflamedbriefly.Whatcouldembarra.s.saboylikePeter?ThenDoroteawaspa.s.singplateswithfreshlycookedeggsandbaconandurgingTirlatosamplethehottoast.Tirlaateuntilshewa.s.stuffed.ShethankedDoroteaprofuselyfortheeffortofhandcooking.
"Ienjoyit,"Doroteareplied,smilinggently."Especiallyforappreciativeappet.i.tes.Peter,whydon"tyoutakeTirlatothestudyandlogherin?You"vegottogothroughsomea.s.sessmentsfirst,honey,butonceyourstandard"sbeendecided,you"llbeexpectedtobepresentforallthecla.s.sesyou"rea.s.signed."
Tirlanoddedbriefly,farmoreinterestedinthewayPetergotdownfromhischairindeedhedidglideasheconductedhertothestudy,andthecuriousfluidityofhismovementsfascinatedher.
"Andyouaren"treallywalking?"sheasked.
"Nope,it"sallkinetic.Myspinalcordgotseveredwhenthewallfellonme.Medicalsciencecan"tsplicethatyetbutkineticsciencegivesmemovement.Better"nbeingstuckinasupportchair,"hea.s.suredherblithely."Here"syourterminal,andhere"reyourearplugs.I"vegottodomyhourswithTeacher,too.Can"tslipoutofthatwithkinesis!"Hemadeafacea.s.sheslidintothechairheindicated.
Whenshehadslippedtheplugsintoherears,hetypedasequencewithanoddfingermovement,andsuddenlytheblankscreencleared.
"TirlaTunnelle,mayI,asyourpersonalTeacher,welcomeyoutothisEducationalProgram."ThescreenshowedtheSchoolRoomandapleasantfacedwomanseatedatthedesk.TirlaknewthattheTeacherwasaconstruct,devisedtoreproducetheoldteacherpupilconfrontation,butshehadalwayslikedthelookofTeacher;someoneapersoncouldtrust,whowouldnotlaughatquestionsorhonestmistakes,whowastheretohelponelearn."SaschaRozninetoldusthatyouhavehadsomecreditsunderthenameofKail,LinearGresident,Flat8732a.Today,ifyouwillbearwithme,Tirla,wewilljustseehowmuchofthoseearlylessonsyouremember.Now,shallwebegin?Ifyouneedtoberefreshedaboutthefunctionkeys,pleasetypeHforhelp.Or,ifyou"rereadytobegin,strikeRETURN,andwe"llbeginthea.s.sessment."
WithconflictingemotionsaweatrealizingalonghelddreamandfearthatthemiraclemightbewithdrawnforsomecapriciousreasonTirlatouchedRETURN.
Ithink,"Doroteabegan,drummingherfingersrapidlyonthekitchentable,"Tirlaisgoingintoaneducationoverkillphase.Shewon"tleavetheterminal,thoughPeterhasbeena.s.slylydeviousasyou,Sascha,ingettingheroutside.Ialsothinkshefindsthegroundsdauntinginsteadofpleasant.Shestickstothepathsandwon"tusetheplaygroundfacilities.Butallthisstudyandnoplayisnotanimprovement."
DonUsenik,whohadjoinedtheinformalmeetingasmedicaladvisor,shookhishead,mildlyamusedbyDorotea"sfervor."Accordingtothemedicalreports,she"sinexcellentshape.Amazinglysowhenyouconsidertheconditionsunderwhichshe"slived."
"Well,Ithinkit"swrongforachildheragetotryandabsorbtwoyears"educationinfourdays,"Doroteamaintained.
"Anyimprovementinreceptivity?"Rhyssaasked.
"WhatdoesPetersay?"Doroteacounteredwithsomeheat.
Rhyssalaughed."Peterthinksshecouldifshewould.Whenshe"sinvolvedinherstudying,hecanhearanongoingmentalcommentary.
Shehasamazingretentivepowers,visualaswellasauditory.She"sansweredhimtelepathicallyonceortwicewhenshedidn"trealizeit."
Wehavegottomakeherawareofherpotential,"Saschasaid,frustrated.
Rhyssaleanedacrossthetable."Itwilltaketime,Sascha.There"snoneedtoforcescopetoherTalent."
"Boriswouldlikeahundredmorelikeher,"Saschasaid,frowning.
"But.i.thoughtyouandBorishadfoundtheJerhattanchild,"Rhyssasaid,havingfollowedhisthought.Shedidnotlikewhatsheread:thatBoriswantedTirlatoworkundercoverwithCa.s.s.
"Oh,wefoundandrescuedherallrightenough,"Sascharepliedwithnosenseofachievement,"andtwoothers,b.u.t.therewerenoleadswhateverofanyuse.Onlyaminorladronewh.o.r.eportsbyphoneanotherofthoseconvenientlyillegalconnects.Soadeadend.Thegirlscouldtellusnothing;theyhadbeenga.s.sed,blindfolded,stuckinsomesortofsmoothplasticcoc.o.o.n.Theirtraumawentprettydeep."
"Thepsychologicalscarringoftheirincarcerationisgoingtobedifficulttoneutralize,"Donremarked,frowning."Anewwrinkleinrenderingtheabducteddociletactiledisorientation.Villainoustrick."Heshookhishead."YouandPeterareofftoday,aren"tyou?
SothatleavesDoroteaandmetocomeupwithsomebrilliantideasonsharpeninguptheTests,huh?"
"Andme,"Saschasaid,comingoutofhisgloom."Iamafterall,directoroftrainingforthisCenter.ThetroublewithauniquelikeTirlaisthatshedoesn"trealizeshe"sgotTalentinthefirstplace.
Andinthesecond,howcanyoutestchildrenthataren"tsupposedtoexist?"
"WhattraininghaveyouplannedforTirlathen?"Rhyssasaid.
Saschashrugged."Training?She"sanaturalatwhatshedoesgettingintothecommunicationcenterofanyone"sbrainandadaptingtowhateverlanguagethey"reusing."Hespreadhishandswide."Howcanweimproveonthat?Andshecan"texplainanymorethanPetercanexplainhowhedoeswhathedoes."
"I"ddoitmyself,butIhatecrowdsandIcan"twalkfar,"Doroteasaidsuddenly,"butSascha,whydon"tyoustartbyhaulingherawayfromTeacherforanafternoon?Thoseissueshoesareuseless,andwhileshemightfeelhappyinsubsistenceissue,Iwouldliketoseeherdressedinsomethingnicer.Severalsomethingnicers."
"Me?7"SaschaglancedfirstatDoroteaandthenatRhyssaandpretendednottoseeDon"samusedexpression.
"You!"Doroteapointedasternfingerathim."Shetrustsyou."
"ButI"veneverboughtclothesforakid."
"Noneedtopanic,"Dorotearepliedunfeelingly."I"msureTirlaknowswhatshe"dbecomfortablewearing,andthat"sallyouneedtogoby.