Ugh.Islippedinjunk.Ugh!I"vereachedonewall.Faugh!It"sslimyandgritty.Toosmoothandcoldformetal.Ah,anopening.Awindow.Plasticcoated.Ican"tevenscratchasliveroffLook,I"mgoingtotrysomething,Tirlawenton.Theyalwaysforgetaboutceilings.There"saircominginherefromsomeplace.Shewa.s.silentforalongwhile,thoughDoroteawasawareofstrenuousphysicalactivity.Iamnothurtingyou.Justusingyouasastepladder.AndIwon"tletyougo,crybaby.You"renousetome.Quityourgrizzling.Anotherperiodofsilencefollowed,andDoroteareportedmorephysicaleffort,punctuatedbyinadvertentgruntsofpain.
Tirla:Well,Iwasright.Thereisaceilinghatch.AndIcansee,alittle.Well,whaddyaknow?I"minashuntingyardTherearerowsandrowsoftraincars,oldones.Can"thavebeenmovedinyears.
Andsomeplacedowntomyrightthere"slight.Sortofaroundanedge,likeofawindoworadoor.AnyideawhereIcouldbe?
FromthemomentTirlamentionedashuntingyard,thedescriptionwasforwardedtoeveryoneconcerned.
Tirla:I"mgoingalongthetopsofcarstowardthelight,thegirlreported.Ican"thearanyone,andnoonewouldbestupidenoughtowalkaroundthisplacewithoutalight.
Tellushowmanycarshavechildren,Tirla,Doroteaurged.
Tirla:Peter!Peter!Answerme!Peter!It"sTirla!Answerme!
Wow!Inearlyfellofftheedgeofthecar.Slipperysurface,moist.
Wholeplaceisdamp!
"Tryforyardsbytheriver,bythesea.AlongtheSound,"Saschasaid,prowlingupanddownthebankofmonitors,checkingpatterns.
Tirla!Petercriedexultantly.HisvoiceechoedfromTirla"smindtoDoroteaandliftedtheanxietiesofeveryTalentintheroom.RhyssasankintoachairthatDavepulledoverforher.Thenhehandedherastimulantdrink,gesturinghertotossitdownquickly.
Tirla:Sohere"swheretheystashedyou,huh?Now,I"lljustdropinbesideyou.There!Thetape"llstingcomingoffoh,Iforgot.
Sorry.
Peter:Iwon"tfeelitanywaydoyourworst.Justdon"ttakealltheskinoffmywrists!Isn"tthereanylightinthisplace?
Tirla:Iguessnot.Thereyou"refree.OnlythetancameoffHere!
Don"tgofaint.Lieback.Stayeasy.GetyourbreathNowlook,you"dbetterrestsomemore.DoroteacouldhearthenervousconcerninTirla"svoice,amattershedidnotimparttoRhyssa.I"mgoingtolookaroundthisplace,Peter,Tirlawenton.Yougetyourkineticsworkingagain,"causethere"snowayIcanhaulyouupbymyselfPeter:I"llbeokay,Tirla.I"llbeokay.Justjustcomeback.
Tirla:Oho!Aircar!Bigb.u.g.g.e.r.Expensive!Nolights!Therewasalongmomentofsilence.Thatwastooclose.
"Askherifshesawanumber,adescription,anything!"SaschapromptedDorotea.
Tirla:I"dsaythat.i.t"sametallicbluejetter,twelveseater,nolights.ButIgotaglimpseathree,adash,andRlGIthink.CouldhavebeenaB,b.u.t.theIandtheGwereclearenough.
WhenDorotearepeatedwhatTirlahadsaid,Saschaexplodedtohisfeet.
"RIG!Wecouldn"tbesolucky!"Heslappedhisrightpalmagainsthisforehead."Budworth,getthroughtoAuerandBerthaandseeiftheyhaveanyticklesaboutFlimflam."
"Flimflam?"RhyssaandDoroteasaidtogether,bothreachingintoSascha"smindforconfirmation,buthewasinvolvedinatightconversationwithBorisandwouldnotletthemin.
"Borisisdoingasearchontheregistration,"Saschasaidaloud,holdinguponehand,his.e.xpressionintentandeager."Dorotea,tellTirlashe"sastar!"
Tirla,surprised:Wasthatenoughforyou?Oops.There"sanotheronecomingin,fromanotherdirection.Alsorunningdark.I"llseeifIcangetabetterreading.
Tirla,Dorotearepliedhastily,don"triskdiscovery.AndRhyssasaysshe"dratherhaveyoustaywithPeter.
Tirla,blithely:Peter"sokay.Workingonit.I"mgoingtofndoutwhotheotherdarkflieris!
Tirla!Doroteawasmomentarilystunnedbytheindependence.Tirla!
SheturnedtoRhyssa,handsoutstretchedinappeal."Thelittlewitchhascutmeoff!Oh,justwaittillIgetmyhandsonthatchild!Theimpudenceofher."
Rhyssawasalsoirritated.Peter,stopher!
Peteronhisdignity:Idon"tneedaminder,Rhyssa.Ireallydon"t.
Justenoughtimetocatchmybreath."Sides,noonecouldstopTirla.
"Ratheradmirableofthechild,Ithink,"Saschareplied.ForapalpablemomentheandRhyssalockedwills.Thenhecontinuedinagentlertone."Idorealize,Rhyssa,thatPeter"sinhibitedbythega.s.singhetook.IfTirlacanmanageanIDonthesecondcar,too,we"llmaybecatchmorethanjustthewelldeservingReveredPonsitProsit."
"HasBorisconfirmedtheownerofthatjetcar?"Rhyssaasked,onlymarginallyappeased.
"RegisteredtoPonsitProsit,a.k.a.Flimflam,"Saschasaidwithagrin."CompletewithvanityplateVRPP/2403/RIGataRiversideaddressthatismorepalatialthanreverential.Borisissendingoutsurveillanceandstandbyteams.I"dliketheCentertomusterTalentasofrightnow!"SaschawaitedlongenoughforRhyssa"sa.s.sentandthenpointedafingeratBudworthtopunchtheAlertb.u.t.ton."Wecanmoveoncewe"vegotadefinitefix."
"NeitherAuerorBerthahaveanythingforus,"Sirikittoldthem.
"That"sodd,"Rhyssasaidwithafrown."Thereshouldbesomething!"
"Ifindaprecogsilencerea.s.suring,"Sascharemarked,bucklingonhisutilitybeltandcheckinghistrankgun."Flimflamisatleastnotgoingtotriggerpanicintheimmediatefuture,sowehaveaverygoodchanceofcatchinghiminflagrantedelicto.Dorotea,isTirlaavailableagain?"
Doroteashookherhead,herlipspursedinanaggrievedmoue.
"Wretchedlittlesnipofathing!"shesaidwithacertainamountofreluctantadmirationinhertone.
"Got.i.t!"Carmencriedsuddenly,jumpingoutofherchair,rushingtothemapterminal,andpunchingcoordinatesthatbroughtuptheSouthSh.o.r.earea."Tirla"scomethroughagain.Theresimplycan"tbetwosuchsimilarsituations.She"sheadingtowardanoldrailwayswitchhouse.Icanjustmakeitout.There"sacrackoflightcomingthroughawindowthatopensontoaplatform.Thereseemtobehundredsofcarsofoldrollingstockrustingthere.Hereweare!"Shepointedtothemarkedareaonthemap."Here"retracks.Acresofthem.Andobsoleterailcarswaitingtoberecycled."Theothersallconvergedtolookattheareamagnifiedonthescreen.
"Itcouldn"tbebetter,couldit,"Doroteasaidslowly,"asaplacetohideterrifiedkids!"Tirla!Answerme!Weknowwhereyouarenow.
WhenTirladidnotreply,SaschagaveRhyssaalonglookandthen,DaveLehardtattheirheels,thetelepathslefttheControlRoom,joggingtothestairsthatwouldtakethemtotheaircarsandteamswaitingonthelandingroof.
Chapter16.
Tirla"snightvisionhadadjustedtothegloompartmistandpartlightlessnessdespitetheangryredorangeglowofJerhattanthatlittherimofthehorizononallsides.TheupperlevelsofdistantLinears,majesticinthenight,punctuatedthehaloofthecitywiththeirlongsilhouettes.Fromtopstories,withaerialsandstacks,aircraftwarningsignalsblinkedtheirlightpatterns.Shemovedforwardcarefullyalongthecurvedtopsoftherailcars.Ifsheslipped,therewouldbenothingforhertocatchonto.Thesurfacewasgrittywithdirtandslipperyinthemoistair.Sheheadedtowardthatthinbandoflightandthedarkbulkofthebuildingthatframedit.
Shehadsafelytraversedfivecars,twomorewithchildrenmoaningandweepinginsidethem,whenshefeltapressureinhermindthatsherecognizedasDoroteatryingtocontacther.
Go"way.I"vegottoconcentrate.
Shecursedsoftlya.s.sheslitheredforapanickymomentbetweencars,thenwaiteduntilherhearthadstoppedthudding,andshewasfairlysurethatherscramblinghadnotbeenheard.Hersharpearshadcaughtthesoundofmutedvoicesfromthebuilding.Thelineofcarscontinuedpastalongplatform,andshedebatedslippingdownandgettingcloseenoughtothebuildingtooverheartheconversations.
Butconversationswereuselesstender;theregistrationnumberofanaircarwasundeniableproof.Shecrawledforwardonherbelly,consciousofeverynoiseshemade,thedrynessofhermouth,andtheincreasinglypainfulstiffnessofherfingers.
Therewasasuddenbreakinthemurkandthere,parkedbesidethelessdistinctbluejetter,wasanexpensivesportsjetcar,itshullacrispwhite,itstailIDequallyvisible.Thetwocarswerebalancedontheonejunctionofrailthatwasfreeofrollingstock.
Tirla:Peter,Igotthesecondone.ThenumberisCD08MAL,clearasday.Andtheothercarisrightbeyondit.Peter?
Peter:Iheardyou,Tirla.Itoldthem.Youcomebackhere.They"remadatyouforclosingDoroteaout.You"regoingtohavetoapologizetoher.Petersoundedfierce.
Apologize?Why?Tirlawa.s.sosurprisedthatsheslipped,bangingdownontherailcar.Nowyou"vedoneit!Sheflattenedherselfonthefarsideofthecaraslightfloodedoutofthebuilding,illuminatingtheplatformandtheslightlybulgingsideofthecaronwhichshelay.
"ItellyouIheardsomething!"saidthemansilhouettedinthedoorway.Hepeeredaroundthedoorframe,andTirlahadagoodviewofthescenebehindhim:twomen,oneofwhomidlyswungashortstick,clippingitagainsthisbootwithanairofindolentdiffidence.
"Shutthedoor,youcretin!"Thedoorabruptlyclosedandthenopenedinamuchthinnercrack."...agoodlookaround.Up,over,under,in.Messuponcemore,maggotyoucanbeeagle-spread,too."
Thedoorclosedasecondtime,butnotbeforeTirlarecognizedtheangryvoice.Hergutsfroze.Sheheardtheladronemoving,hisshoescrunchingthegritontheplatform.Sheheardhimhaulbackoneofthewarpedcarriagedoors,theplasticcreakingashelookedinthecarriage.Hemovedondowntheplatform,cursingsoftlyunderhisbreathashedroppeddowntoflashhislightbeneaththecar.Tirlacouldtakenochances.Quicklyshemovedatacrouchandjumpedtothenextcar.Shewasjustintimetheredpinpointofafilteredhandlightshonebrieflywhereshehadjustbeen.Sheheldherbreath,hopingagainsthopethatthesearcherwouldnotnoticeheroutlineonthedustytop.
Ashecautiouslyopenedthedoorofthebuilding,shewatched.Thestickswingerwasnearestthedoorshegotanothergoodlookathishaughtyface,withitsbeakednoseandthinpluckedbrows.Andshesawatablepiledwithcreditswhichtwoothermenwerecountingfloaters,bythesizeofthem.Oneofthecounterslookedvaguelyfamiliar,butherattentionwascaughtbythefaceoftheothermanasheturnedhishead;hehadacruelface,andahungryone.Hewasidlytappinghisblackbootwiththestick;shecaughtthegleamofgoldaroundthehandle.Onlythendidthesignificanceofthepileoffloatersdawnonher.
Tirla:Dorotea!Thepayoff"sbeingmade!Floaters.MorethanI"veeverseeninmylife!
Dorotea,hervoicehardedged:Tirla,don"tyoueverdarecutmeoutagain.Tirlawasmomentarilydismayed.Wasn"tshedoingwhattheyneededdone?Howcouldsuchasweetoldladycomeonsotoughandhard?
Tirla:Well,ifyoucrazyTalentsdon"tmoveyoura.s.ses,you"regoingtomesseverythingupandI"llhavenothingmoretodowithyou.
Peter!HelpPeternow!Doroteadidnotsoundapologetic,butshedidsoundanxious.
TirlaknewverywellthatPeternottomentionalltheotherkidsneededhelp.Asquicklya.s.shecould,shemovedbackalongthelineofcars.
Ifthepayoffhadbeenmade,someofthekidsmightbeshiftedsoon.
ShehadtogetPeteroutandfreeasmanyoftheothersa.s.shecould.
Iftheyallscatteredandhid,itwouldtakeallnighttorecapturethemifshecouldstopthemfromcryinglongenoughtohelpthemselves.
Tirlaslippedandthistimecouldnotrecoverherbalance,slidingdownthedirtencrustedsideofthecarandlandingpainfullyonstonesandcindersthatbruisedandcutherfeet.Cursingherclumsinessandhopingthatshehadgottenfarenoughawaysothatthenoiseofherfallhadnotbeenheard,shemadeherwayalongtheground,cursingtheb.a.s.t.a.r.dswhohadremovedthebeautifulpurplebootsthatshehadboughtonherfirsttriptothemall.
Cryinghadbeenreducedtowhimperinginthefirsttwocars.Tirlawinced.HowmuchtimedidshehavetogetPeteroutifthepayoffhadbeenmade?CouldhemakeuseofthatspecialTalentofhisnow?
Yes,Ican,Petersaid,appearingoutofthedarknessbetweentwocars.
Hetouchedherhand.AndIknowexactlyhow.C"mon.Heledheralongthetrackuntilshenearlystumbledoverabighandleattachedtoonesideofthetrack.We"regoingtodoaswitcheroo.Helaughedsoftlyoutloud.Muchfasterthanlettingallthosekidsloose.
There"sahundredofthem.
Theyheardam.u.f.fledthrummingandsawthewhitenessoftheaircarliftingslowlyfrombehindthebuilding.
C"mon,Peterurged.I"vegottogettothattransformerboxormyideawon"twork!Ineedthegestaltforthis.Youknowhowtouncouplecars?
SuddenlytheprocesswasdrivenintoTirla"smindandshestaggeredabit,stunnedbythevividintrusion.Thengobackanduncouplethelastcarwithkidsinit.Staythereandwarnmeifanyone"scoming.
"Youmeanlike,upstairs?"Tirlaaskedinahoa.r.s.ewhisper,pointingtothesky.
No,them!Peterpointedatthebuilding.
"Whenarewegettingsomehelp?"Tirlademandedinanacidwhisper,refusingtotalkinhermindwhenshewasnosetonosewithPeter."Myfeethurt!"
"Soon,"Peterhissedandthengaveherashovetohelpheronherway.
"Trywalkingmyway!"
Shecouldn"tbutwishedshecould.Herfeethurtandherhandsached.
Shedidnotquiteunderstandhowhecouldpossiblydowhatshethoughthewasgoingtodo.Railcarsthathadnotmovedinyearsweregoingtomakethemostawfulracket.Peterwa.s.stupid!Shehurried,hopingthatthesoundoftheaircarmightcoversomeofthenoisetherailcarsweresuretomake.
Sheidentifiedthelastcarfromthemoaninginsideitandstruggledwithcouplingsencrustedwithcakedoilanddirt.Peter,it"sSuddenlythestiffcouplingreleaseditselfandshewasknockedoffbalance,staggeringbackintotheendofthecar.Well,thanks!Awailarosefromwithin.Shutyourfaces,youstupidgits,sheordered,forgettingthattheotherchildrencouldnothearher.I"mdoingmybesttosaveyourinnardsandyourvirtue.Shebangedherfistonceagainstthesideofthecarandfeltthepainworthitwhenthewarningachievedaninstantdropinthemewling.Thatdidmuchtosootheheraggravations.
Nervouslysheglanceduptoseetheaircar"sslowupwardprogress.
Runningdarklikethat,thepilothadtobecarefulnottogettangledinthewiresthatfestoonedtheareaaroundthebuilding.IfPetercouldjustgetmoving...Hewas!Sheheardthesqueal,rattle,andclankingaswheelslonglockedonrailsreluctantlybegantoturn.Sheswunguptositonthetongueofthecoupling,watchingthebuildingforanysignthatsomeonewithinhadheardthemetallicprotest.b.u.t.thebuildingwastwohundredmetersorsoaway,andtheaircarwaswhooshingandthrumming.
Shepeeredattheskyline,yearningtoseesomesubtlemovementthathintedoftheapproachofhelp.ThoseTalentsweresoslow.Howsoonwas"soon"?Hercarmovedalltoojerkilywithrattlingsandclankings,but.i.twasmakingprogressalongthetrack.Thedarkbuildingwiththetelltalebandoflightwa.s.slowlyreceding.Shefeltthecarclackacrossthejunction,veeringright,andexperiencedpartialrelief.Ifthatladronelookedoutsideandsawhalfthetrammissing...
ShesawthewhiteblurofPeter"sfaceasthecarinchedpastthetransformerbox;therewasnodisguiseinthedarknightfortheaudiblehumemanatingfromit.WhatwasPeterdoing?
Shejumpeddownfromthecoupling,wincingashercutfeethitthestony,cinderyground.Thecarscontinuedtomoveobliquelyawayfromdanger,downanemptytrack._"Youcan"tleavejustemptytrack.
They"llknow..."Tirlaputanurgenthandonhisarmandthencouldnotreleaseit.Shecouldfeelhimshakingfromtheefforthehadalreadymade,shakingandmoreandshewasaffectedbyhisshakingandwhateverelseitwasthatracedthroughhim.
"I"mtrying,"hesaidtensely."Agestalt"shardwithallthatanesthesiastillslowingmedown.Helpme!"
"Gestalt?"Tirlastutteredovertheunfamiliarword,andthenPeterputtheexplanationinhermind.Beforeshecouldaskhowshecouldpossiblyhelpwiththat,shewas.Herbodyseemedalivewiththecurrentracingthroughher,likethetimeshehadcaughtajoltfromanexposedwire.Onlythiswasnotaspainfulasthatshockhadbeen.
But.i.twas...whatwasit?
Themetallicprotestwa.s.startlinglyloudonthestillair.Thewhitejethadmovedbeyondvisibilityintotheswirlingmist.Tirlafeltbothstrongerandweaker,clutchingatPeterwithbothhands,wantingtohelphimmakethegestaltandneedinghissupport.Suddenlyshewasawareofmovementbehindherascaraftercarbegantoslidepastthemontothetrackclicketyclick,clicketyclickfartooloudly.
Suddenly,witharesoundingclank,thenewcarsbouncedagainstthoseneartheplatform,andTirla"sheartclenchedwhensheheardtheshoutsofalarmasmenpiledouttoinvestigate.
"Tellme!Didyouletallthoseotherkidsloose?"Flimflamasked,hisnoseinchesfromTirla"sface.Shewishedhewouldbendjustalittleclosersoshecouldbitehim.Buthewouldprobablypoisonher,thegreasy,coa.r.s.e,evilscuz.
Unfortunately,beforeTirlacouldhelpPetertohide,twoofthefasterladroneshadcaughtthem.TheyhadbeenroughlyhauledbacktothebuildingandintothepresenceofaseethingFlimflam,soenragedthatflecksoffoamhadgatheredatthecornersofhismouth.Screamingwithexasperation,TirlahadbeenshovedinfrontoftheragingmanasPetercollapsedonthefloor,groaning.
"Wedidn"tseenoothers,"oneoftheladronessaidanxiously."Therewasn"tasignofthem,northosecoc.o.o.nsinthecarsneither."
"Tellmewherethechildrenare!"FlimflamrepeatedinoneofthemorecommonNeesterdialects,squeezinghardonherswollenfingers."Didyouletthemloose?"
Despiteherself,Tirlaletoutahowlofpain,tryingtopullherhandoutofhisgrasp.Ithurtsomuchthatshecouldnoteventhinkofasuitablemaledictiontoflingathim.Helethergobutscoopedastickoffthetableandbegantoslas.h.i.tacrossherback.
"Hey,boss,themerch!Don"tmarkthemerch!"