The Wings Of Pegasus Part 40

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.simbuys.h.i.+mselfoffeverytimeLEOcollars.h.i.+m.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.simdiscovers.h.i.+sbirdshaveflownandtheseareyours."Sheeyedthenotes.Casuallyshescratchedaboutherribs.Saschakepthisgrintohimself,knowingthatshewascheckingonthetiednotes.h.i.+ddenthere.Sheconsideredhisofferwithallthesolemnityofacomputera.n.a.lyst.

"There'sthelittlematterofyourlegality,Tirla,"headdedgently.

Borisnudgedhimmentally.C'mon,Brother,wedonthavetimeforamiablelipap.

Onthecontrary,wehaveallthetimeweneed,Brother.Thisisastrongpersonalityandadeepone.I'mnotrus.h.i.+ngher.

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,orwasperhapstoowarytoletdownthes.h.i.+eldthathadprotectedhersolonginheryounglife,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,wis.h.i.+nghecouldhavebeeninherhead,notingherthoughtprocesses.

"Okay,"shesaidfinally,leadingacrosstheroomtothecornerwherepiecesofclothinghadbeendiscarded.Deliberatelyshetorestripsfromseveralgarments,herhandscleverinfindingthebreakinahemorseamthatwouldrip."There'llbeafight...

"Shehauledmattresspadsofftwoofthelowerbunks,andthesoiledblanketsofftheupperones.Shewentbacktothecornerand,usingas.h.i.+rt,gatheredupsomeofthecontainersandtheremainingfoodbeforesheknockedoverthemakes.h.i.+fttable."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?"