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!"