"ThenIwon"tbeabletogoshoppingagain?"
Saschawasnotimpervioustoherbrokenvoiceandhersadexpression.
"Shopallyouwant.Lookineveryd.a.m.nedmallonManhattan,LongIsland,andtheJerseySh.o.r.e.Justdon"tbuyanything.Windowshoptoyourheart"scontent."
"Neverbuyanythingagain?"
Ladada,dadadadah!Doroteasang,mimickinganostalgicviolinair.
Allright,Sascharetorted.Andhowwouldyoucurbakidwho"sneverhadmuchinherlifeandsuddenlycanhaveanythingshewants?
Moreorlessasyou"redoing,Doroteaadmitted.Justdon"twaveratthesightoftearsinherbigblackeyes!
SaschacaughtanundertoneinDorotea"svoicethatpuzzledhim.ButheignoreditandreturnedhisfullattentiontoTirla."No,chip,notnever.Justnotsomuchsoconstantly,thingsyoudon"treallyneedrightnow,becauseyou"vegotenoughofpracticallyeverything,asfarasIcansee."
Shesanktotheedgeofherbarelyvisiblebed."But.i.t"snotfuntowindowshopunlessyou"vegotsomeonewithyou.Where"sCa.s.s?Shelovestoshop."
"Ca.s.sisoutona.s.signment."
Tirlac.o.c.kedherheadupathim,nolongeradisappointedandconfusedtwelveyearold."Morekidsmissing?"
"Notyet,"hesaidmendaciously."Wewanttokeepitthatway."
"IssheinaLinear?"Excitementbrightenedherexpression.
Saschanodded.
Dorotea:Fortheloveoflittleapples,don"ttellherwhere,orshe"lltrackCa.s.sdown.
"Whydon"tyouletmeworkundercoverwithher?Icouldbeherkidand""No!"
Tirlarockedbackonthebedatthevehemenceofhisresponse.Shelookedhurtandconfusedagainandevenyoungerthanherchronologicalage.
"Sorry,chip."Sascharuffledhersleekandshininghairinanefforttocompensateforhistactlessness."Giveyourselfalittlebreak.Wedidn"tcatchYa.s.sim,andifhespotsyou,he"dhaveyouwastedsofast,noneofuscouldhelpyou."
Tirlanoticeablypaled.
Dorotea:Well,she"sstillafraidofYa.s.sim!
TirlaseemedsoafraidthatSaschagatheredherupinhisarmsandrockedher."Ya.s.simcan"tgetyouhereintheCenter,Tirla.You"resafehere.IwanttokeepyousafesoyoucangrowupandusethatrareTalentyouhave...toearnenoughmoneytopayforallyou"vebeenbuying."Hetriedtomakeajokeofit.Hefeltherstiffeninhisarms."No,notyourfloaters!"Andhehadtolaugh.Thelittlewitch.Herh.o.a.rdwasprecioustoher,nevertobebroached."Justthinkhowlittleyou"dhaveleftifyouhadspentyourstash.Thinkofthatthenexttimeyouwanttobuysomething.Pretendyou"respendingyourmoney."
"Iwouldn"tspendmymoney,"shemumbledagainsthischest.
Withtheslenderlittlebodycurledtrustfullyinhislap,Saschapermittedhimselfjustafewmomentstocaressherhairandsavorthefeelofherinhisarms.WhyTirla?Ofallthewomenintheworld,howcouldthislittlewaif,streetwiseandprecocious,havebecomesoentangledinhisemotionsandheart?Shecouldnotpossiblyunderstandhowmuchshemeanttohim.Shewasfartooyoungforthataspectofmaturingtohavetouchedher.Andyet...sherespondedtohima.s.shedidtonooneelse.Withafinallittlehug,heputherfromhimasgentlyashecould.Oneday,eightornineyearsinthefuture...
Doroteahadnocommenttomake.Tohissurprise,Tirlaobedientlybegantofoldupherpossessions,neatlyandcarefully.Saschawatchedforafewmoremomentsandthenwenttoarrangefortrunks.
PeterandRhyssareturnedinquiettriumphthedaythatCa.s.sCutlerreportedtoBoristhatthreeNeestersandtwoHispanicsinLinearEweresuspiciouslymoreaffluentthantheyhadanyrighttobe.BorisdecidedthathewouldnotdarkenthehappyreturnwithsuchnewsanddidnoteveninformSaschaoftheevent.
DoroteaandTirlabothexclaimedoverhowwellPeterlooked,tannedandhealthyandmovingwithmoreconfidence,whileRhyssalistened,anoddlysoftsmileonherface.DaveLehardthadremainedbehindinFloridatofinalizehisPRcampaign,settingthestageforColonelJohnnyGreenetoa.s.sumetheroleofSkeleteam.
Inhisturn,PetertookfullnoticeofTirla"sneweleganceandwasamazedthatshehadshoppedthemallsherself.
"Well,Saschatookmethefirsttime,"sheadmitted.
Dorotea,privatelytoRhyssa:Andsaid"OpenSesame,"andinaweekTirla"sroomwasasfullasabazaar.
Sascha:Iheardthat.Knockitoff!
Rhyssa:Didshepickthatoutherself?
Dorotea:Shepickedouteverythingherselfandalotofthingsatwelve-yearoldgirlhasnoneedofyet.
Rhyssa:She"sgotgoodtasteinwhatshe"swearingnow.
Dorotea:Goodtasteallround.Justatriflesophisticated.
AwarethatSaschawa.s.seething,Doroteachangedthesubject.
PeterandTirlaslippedoutoftheroom.
"Howcomeyou"reallowedtogotothemallallthetime?"PeteraskedTirla,enviousofherfreedom.Hewasneverallowedtogoanywhereonhisown.
Tirlashrugged."Oh,theytriedtotellmehowdangerousitwas."Shegiggled."AsifIdidn"tknowhowtotakecareofmyselfinanyoldLinear.Particularlyonea.s.straightastheoneshereinJerhattan."
"Andyougowheneveryouwant?"
"Nearlyeveryday."Shec.o.c.kedherheadathim."YoueverbeentotheOldFashionedParlorofGastronomicalDelights?"
"Me?"Peterthumpedhishandagainsthischest,thengrimaced.Hestilldidn"thavethesmallmusclecontrolneededtousejustathumborafinger.Hewasfeelingaggrievedonseveralcounts."Oh,IheardabouttheParlor."Hepretendedindifference,b.u.t.thenhisposefaltered."Isitreallythatgood?"
"Good?"Tirla"senthusiasmbubbledoutofher."It"sspectacular.
Youwouldn"tbelievetheconcoctionstheyserve."Themost,""shequotedfromthemenu,""scrumptious,delectablemonstrositiesofconfectionsyou"lleverexperience.""SensingPeter"slonging,Tirladeliberatelyencouragedit."Anykindofflavoroficecream,3allhomemade,everytoppingknowntoman..."
"Andyoujustgo?".
"Sure.Whynot?It"sonlyfourstopsawayonthesubway."Shejerkedherthumbatthemurmurofadultvoicescomingfromthed.livingroom.
"Who"dmissusforhalfanhour,anyway?"Whenshesawthehesitationonhisface,sheaddedalmostchallengingly,"They"rebusy.We"dbebackbeforethey"dknowwe"dgone!"
ThatdecidedPeter,thoughheknewperfectlywellthathisphysicalcirc.u.mstanceswerefardifferentfromTirla"s.Nevertheless,shewasyoungerthanhewas,andifshewasallowed,hewas,too.
Theyleftthehousebythesidedoor,TirlaskippingbesidePeterindelightathiscompany.Itwasgoingtobesuchfunshowinghimjusthowwellsheknewherwayaround.
petercouldsensehowpleasedTirlawastobeabletotakehimsomeplacefamiliartoherbutnewtohim.SohejustsmiledastheytooktheirseatsonthesubwayfromtheCenterplatform.OtherTalentsonthesamecargrinnedatthetwo,sendingtelepathicgreetingsandcongratulationstoPeter,whohadlearnedtoa.s.sumeamodestdemeanorinpublic,evenamongotherTalents.
Tirlawasdescribingingreatdetailherfavoritegastronomicaldelighttheonewithfourkindsoficecream,fourkindsoftoppings,fourkindsofnuts,andcherries,coconut,andmulticoloredsprinkles.
"Mymothertookmetoaplacelikethat,"Petersaid,"oh,alongtimeagonow.Formytenthbirthday.Mysistergoesalot;Mothersaysthat"swhysheha.s.spotssooften."
"Spots?"
"Pimples.Zits.Facialeruptions."
"Oh,"Tirlarepliedinatonethatexpressedunenlightenment.Peterimagedapimpledfaceather."Oh!Thatsort."Surrept.i.tiouslysheranherhandoverherface.
Peterlaughed."Youmaynevergetspots,Tirla,"Petersaidencouragingly."Theykeepusonahealthydietanyhow.Notsubbiefood."
"WhatwasFloridalike?"Tirlaasked.
PeterhadlearnedalotfromwatchingDaveLehardtanswerdifficultquestionstactfully.Sohetoldherabouttheflatlandandthepalmtrees,thesand,thegoodfood,thepool,andthesunbeds,andsheseemedquitecontentathisimplicationthatheandRhyssahadbeentakingaholiday.
Shea.s.sumedleadershipa.s.soonastheyreachedtherightstationandeagerlystartedrunningupthestepsaheadofhimbeforesherememberedhisdisability.Whenshestopped,hewasrightbesideher.
"Yourvacationdidyoualotofgood,didn"t.i.t?"shesaid,andplowedonupward."Seethere"stheParlor,justinsidethemallentrance,"sheadded,pointing.
Neitheryoungsternoticedthattheirprogresswasbeingcloselyobservedbytwomen,justdescendingfromanelegantprivatehopperparkedonthemall"shelipad.Theshortermantookasmallblackinstrumentfromhispocketandpointeditatthem.
"Howexceedinglycareless.Neitherofthemhasbeenstranded!Iwantthemtaken!Especiallythatodiouslittleboy!Iwantnoslipup,noexcuses.Youwon"thavetoomuchtroublewiththeboy,buthiscompanionmustn"tbeallowedtospreada.n.a.larm.Doitasfastasyoucana.s.sembleacrew.HaveImademyselfplain?"
"Yes,sir."
Peterwasabletoshoutjustonce,hiscrymoreindignanttha.n.a.larmed.
ThenanominoussilencedescendeddespiteRhyssa"sattemptstoreestablishcommunications.Shewastednomoretimeonthesilencebutbroadcastonthewidestbandpossible.
ALERT,ALLTALENTS,ALLLEOPERSONNEL!PeterReidingermayhavebeenabducted.PresumablyinvicinityofOldFashionedParlor.Tirlawaswithhim.
TIRLA!Sascha"sblastwasnearlyasloudashers.
Complying!cameBoris"scalmingba.s.stone.Allunitsintheareaaretocommencesearchprocedures.Faxphotosofthechildrenarebeingdispatchedtoallvehicles.I"mproceedingimmediatelytoquestionanypossiblewitnesses.ThisisaTopPriority.
ThisisaGandHPriority!SaschaaddedwithbittervehemenceSirikit,whatdoesBudworthhaveonthestrandscanner?Therewasalongandstunnedpause.Ob,myG.o.d.IneverstrandedTirla.
Rhyssa?
Peterneither,wasRhyssa"shorrifiedreply.Howcouldwehavebeensostupid?
Youweren"t,Doroteasaidinabracingtone.TheirIDbraceletscanbetracedfarmoreaccuratelythanastrandedkid.
TheexchangeshadtakenbaresecondswhileRhyssa,Sascha,andDoroteaspedtowardtheControlRoom,wherethemonitoringequipmentwould,theyhoped,beabletogivethemsomeindicationofwherethechildrenwere.
Budworthwasinfrontoftheappropriatescreen,hisfacetwistedbyangeranddistress."Braceletswerecutoff.Scannerhas"eminasewerdraininthemallhelilot."
"Oh,myG.o.d!"Sascha"s.e.xclamationcameoutinasob,thenheshookhimself.Carmen,getinhere.Bertha,Auer,youcome,too.Dorotea,anychancethatyoucanreachTirla?
Ifyoucan"t,I"mnotlikelyto.Therewasaqualityofineffablesorrowinherresponse.She"skeyedtoyoulikenooneelse.
"There"snothing,nothingthereatall,"Rhyssamurmured,hervoicebreaking."I"vealwaysbeenabletohearPeter"smind."
"Notifhe"sbeenanesthetized,mydear,"Doroteasaid."That"stheonlytimehecouldn"thearoranswer."ThenshespoketoSirikitonaverytightband.PhoneDaveLehardtandtellhimtogethereasfastasbecan.
Sirikit,herowneyesbleak,discreetlycomplied.
"C"mon,Bro,c"mon!Howlongdoesittakeyoursquadstogetmoving!"
Saschademanded,pacinganxiously.
TheTalentshadtowaitanotherfiveagonizingminutesbeforeBoriscontactedthem.
ThekidssatbythemselvesTirla"swellknownhere,andsheintroducedherfriend,Peter,toherusualwaitress.Shesawthemleavetheplace.ShecaughtaglimpseofthementeringasmallhopperwiththeTalentCenteremblem.Therewerefourmen,butshedidn"tseetheirfaces.Shedidn"tseeanythinG.o.dd,exceptthattheboywalkedfunnyandthenseemedtobea.s.sistedbyoneofthemen.Andno,shedidn"tnoticetheregistration.I"veanAPBonsmallhopperswithTalentemblemsinJerhattan,but.i.t"dbehelpfulifyourscannershavepickeduptheirbracelets.
Sascha:TheID"swerecutoff.Leftintheseweroutsidethemall.
Boris:Thatwouldbethefirstthing.So,canyoupicksomethingupyetonthestrandscanners?
Rhyssa,heavily:NeitherPeternorTirlawa.s.stranded.
Boris,exploding:Inthenameofallthat"sholy,whynot?ThetwomostimportantyoungTalents?Youhaveeveryonerunningaboutlikelunatics,strandingdumbsubbiekidsandpamperedhivechildren,andyoudon"tstrandPeterandTirla?Thesilencefollowinghisouthurstwasmoreeloquentthananythinghecouldhaveadded.
Rhyssabegantoweep,andDoroteatriedtocomforther,tactilelyandtelepathically.
Allright,then,Boriswentoninacalmertone.Wehavetoa.s.sumetheabductorsarefollowingtheirlatestprocedures.That"stheonlythingthatwouldaccountfortotaltelepathicsilence.Thekidswerega.s.sedThey"regoingtobestashedsomeplaceandinthoseneatlittlecoc.o.o.ns.
Sorry,Rhyssa,butI"mtooangrytobediplomatic.Sascha,haveyoucalledCarmenin?Myfindersareallonthecase.Somehow,we"llfnd"em.Thosekidsaresmart.Oncetheywakeup,they"llbeabletohelpusfndthem.
SuzandCa.s.sfurtherdampenedthespiritsoftheTalentsbyreportingthatinexcessofthirtychildrenineachResidentialhadbeensold,orjusttaken.Ranjit,workingcovertlyinResidentialW,alsoconfirmedevidenceofmoreactivityinthemallmarketsthancouldbediscreetlyignored.SuchscopeandaudacitywasmorethanLEOortheCenterhadantic.i.p.ated.AllhadhappenedsosmoothlyandsimultaneouslythatboththeCenterandLEOhadbeencaughtunawares.
"MysympathiesgoouttoRhyssaandtheotherTalents.It"sincrediblethattwovaluableyoungpeoplelikethatcouldalsobevulnerabletothisdespicablegroup,"thecitymanagertoldBoris,whopa.s.sedhermessageontoSaschaandRhyssa."Thishastoppriority,andalltheresourcesofthecityareatyourdisposal.Noeffortwillbespared.
IsthereanythingI,personally,cando?Offerareward?Tradeimmunityforinformation?"
"Getyourdepartmentheadsthinking,"BoristoldCityManagerTeresaAiello,"wheresuchasignificantnumberofchildrencouldbedetained.
I"vegoteveryavailablepersonontransportsurveillance.Theycan"thavebeenmovedoutoftheJerhattanarea,notinagrouporsingly.
Iputaholdonallrailfreightandeverycontainerisbeingexamined.Anycargoofasuspicioussizeisbeingopened.They"vegottobesomewherenearbyforawhile."
"Everyoneonthisstaffwillstartexaminingpossibilitiesunusedwarehouses,oldbuildings,undergroundstores,"Teresaa.s.suredBorisgrimly.
BorisRozninedidnothavequiteallhispeopleontransportdutyhehadagoodthirdpickingupasmanyladronesandsa.s.sinsashisteamsfoundinmallorfactoryareas.LEOmightjustluckoutanddislodgeacluefromanapprehensivesubbie.
"Peterisalive,isn"the?"Budworthasked,tooconcernedtobetactful.
"He"salive.It"snotadeadsilence,"Rhyssasaid,wincingatherchoiceofadjective,hervoicelowwithtension."Buthe"snotconscious."
"Nothingyet,Carmen?"Saschaaskedthefinder,whosehandswerestrokingthelockofTirla"shair.Shecouldnotmeethiseyesa.s.sheshookherheadslowly.