The Wings Of Pegasus Part 45

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."Ijustwis.h.i.+couldtellyou,Tirla.But.i.t'saprofessionalsecret."

"Sodon'ttellme.Igotbetterthingstodothanguesssecrets!"

Tirlaturnedbacktothemonitor.

"ButI'llbegoneweeks."

Tirlawriggledherfingersathimoverhershoulder."Havecgoodtime,"shesaid,keepinghereyesonthescreen.TheTeacheronholdhadhermouthopenandhandhalfraiseda.s.shewasmakingaparticularpointinthelesson.Tirlatriedtoresumeherstudying,b.u.t.thetruthofthematter,thoughshecouldnotletontPeter,wasthatshewouldmiss.h.i.+m.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,pus.h.i.+ngouthissleevesothespecialdesignofhiswristIDwasvisible."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.stojointhemintheOldFas.h.i.+onedParlorofGastronomicalConfectionsandIrresistibleDesserts.

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'llexpectafas.h.i.+onshowaftersupper,Tirla."

"Show?Why?Icanputonsomethingneweverydaythisweek.That'llshowyou,"Tirlareplied."What'sforsupper?Itsmellsgood!"