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"Christonacrutch!HowcouldwebesoarrogantastobelievewecouldprotectthemwithanIDbracelet!"Saschademandedexplosively,stalkingaroundwhatfreefloors.p.a.cetherewas."WhyonEarthdidn'twethinktostrandthem?"Hepoundedonefistintotheotherhand.
"We'vewalltowallTalents,"hesaid,gesturingalmostscornfullyatthevariousteamscl.u.s.teredaboutmonitorsorswiftlyfeedingprogramsintothemainframe."Wherecouldtheyhavegotto?Thatmanybodiesaretoohardtohide.Thekidshavetobefed.Theycan'thavebeenwhiskedofftotheir"Saschacouldnotfindtheappropriatenounandgrimaced."Wherever.Borisinitiatedtransportsurveillancewithinminutes.Dammit,thesubwaysandcargorouteshavebeenwiredsincetheincidentinG."
Sascha,easeup,Doroteatoldhim,herwarningaverynarrowquietthought.Rhyssa'sfeelingguiltyenoughasitis...
Sascha:AndyouthinkIfeelnonefornotstrandingTirla,forencouraginghertogototheb.l.o.o.d.ymall?Tothatunmentionableb.l.o.o.d.yconfectioneryparlor?Sascha'sresponsewasloadedwithderision.
She'd'vebeenb.l.o.o.d.ysaferifIhadletBorisuseherforbait!
Dorotea:StopcastigatingyourselfSascha.Tirla'sbeensafelyinandoutofthemallandtheparlorforweeksnow.
Rhyssa,brokenly:Peter'sworkedsobard...Whatcouldhavepossessedhimtotakesucharisk?
Dorotea:Heisjustaboy,forallhispower.Don'tworry,we'llhear.
Theleastwhisper,andwe'llhearthem.Dorotea'smindcastrestlesslyforatraceofTirla's.Afternearlyfiveweeksofproximitywiththegirl,sheshouldbeabletospotherconsciousness.
MAYALLYOURORIFICESBECLOGGEDWITHCAMELDUNG,YOURBELLYETERNALLYFULLOFVOMIT!MAYYOURTONGUEROTANDYOURTEETHFALLOUTANDYOURGUMSSWELLWITHBOILS!MAYYOURLIVERROTANDYOURBLADDERDRYUPANDYOURGLANDSSHRIVELANDPUTREFY!.
"GoodG.o.d!"Doroteawasjoltedtoherfeet."Didyouallhearthat?
Itwasloudenough!"
"Peterdoesn'tknowthatkindoflanguage!"Rhyssasaid,withaslightgrin.
"Tirlawould,"Saschareplied,beamingfromeartoear."Pungent,isn'tshe?d.a.m.n,where'sshegotto?Ican'thearheranymore."
"Well,Ican,andshe'sstillinfineform,"Doroteasaid."Neitherofyouhearhernow?Shecancertainlybroadcastwhenshe'sofamindto."Sheheldupherhand,listening,everymuscletaut.Doroteahere,Tirla.Canyoubearme?Dorotea'smentaltonewastranquilandrea.s.suring.
Tirla:Dorotea?Whereareyou?
Dorotea:Moretothepoint,whereareyou?"Canyouhearhernow,Sascha,Rhyssa?"sheasked.TwobriefheadshakesconfirmedDoroteaastheprimarycontact.Shefeltthelight,firmmentaltouchesofRhyssaandSascha,listeningin.
Tirla,savagely:Youtellme.Ican'tseeathing.Ican'tfeelathing.Icansmell,andthestenchisworsethanthebottomlevelofafactorybilge.Couldn'tyouguystrackme?
No,wecouldn't,Tirla.YourbraceletswerediscardedrightatthemallwhenyouandPeterweretaken.IsPeternearby?SaschahadmotionedCarmenover,butCarmenkeptshakingherheadathercontinuedinabilitytofindTirla.Canyourememberwhathappened?Doroteawenton.
Tirla'sdisgustwasobvious.Ican'trememberanything.PeterandIfinishedthenewspectaculartheyjustaddedtothemenu.HepaidforithimselfSaiditwashistreatthistime'causehe'djusthadavacation.WelefttheParlorandwerewalkingtowardthesubwaywhensomethingcoveredmyface,andIdon'trememberathingmore.Awfulstuff.Sweetickysmell.HowcomeIcantalktoyouallofasudden?
Sometimesit'sacaseofneedto,Tirla,Doroteasaid,puttingasmileofapprovalintohermentaltone.
Youneededmeto?Tirlaasked.OrIneededyoutobearme?Peter?
Peter,answerme!DoroteacaughttheconflictingemotionsinTirla'squestion,butsuchcompet.i.tivenesswasnotabadsign.
YouandPeterwerenottheonlytwotakentoday.Ca.s.sandSuzreportedthatanumbermusthavebeentakenfromE,aswell.Averywellorganizedaffair.That'swhyanythingyoucantelluswillhelp,Tirla.Anything,nomatterbowtrivial.
Peter'snotansweringmeinhere.Maybebe'sjustnotawakeyet.Mystomach'ssour.Ishouldn't'vebadthatspectacular.Peter?
Peeeeter!
Doroteaspokegently.Don'tpanic,Tirla.Peterwillwakeupsoonenoughifbewasga.s.sedthesametimeasyouwere.We'reveryrelievedtohearfromyou,believeme.
Tirla,mildlysurprised:Idobelieveyou.Youcan'tlieinyourmind,canyou?
Nottome,youcan't,Doroteareplied,gesturingimperiouslyforRhyssaandSaschatostoptryingtoinsinuatequestionsintoherhead.
Tirla'svoicewasclearbut,afterthefirstburstofpsychicoutrage,neithera.s.strongnorasloud.Shecouldnotrisklosingthelink.
Now,tellmewhatyoucanaboutyoursurroundings.
Theystink!
We'vealreadyestablishedthat.Whatof?Besides,Ia.s.sume,theunpleasantbodilydischargesoffrightenedchildren.Whatcanyouhear?
Tirla,disgusted:Alotofcrying.
Eventhattellsmesomething,Tirla.Canyouisolatetheindividualcryingenoughtoestimatehowmanychildrenarearoundyou?
DoroteacouldsenseTirla'sconcentrationanddidnotinterrupt.
Tirla:Ithinkthere'salotofkids.There'ssurealotofcryingandmoaning,andsomeone'shiccuping.Allaroundme,allsides,above,butnonebelow.Why'dtheyblindfoldusandtieusdownlikethis?Mostofthesekidswouldn'teventrytoescape.
Dorotea:Ya.s.simlostalltheGchildren,didn'tbe?Ithinkthat,unfortunately,thatcausedhimtochangehistactics.He'snowemployingadisorientationtechnique,sensorydeprivation,toreducethechildrentocompliancewhentheyarereleased.You'renotafraid,areyou?
Tirla,candidly:Idon'tlikeit,butI'mnotscared.I'mmadHertonestrengthened.Imissedmymathcla.s.s.
Doroteabrokeintorelievedlaughter.AnangryTirlawouldbefarmoreusefulthanafrightenedone.Saschamanagedarelievedchuckle,andthetensioninRhyssa'sstanceeased.
Dorotea:Staymad,Tirla.Angercanbeavaluablea.s.set.NowwhatIwantyoutodoistryandcalmthechildren.Getthemtotellyoutheirnamesand,ifpossible,wheretheycamefrom.EandRwerenottheonlyLinearsbit.Weestimatethatupwardofahundredchildrenweretaken.
IncludingPeterandme?
Ahundredandtwo.Look,Tirla,we'regoingtohavetorelyheavilyonyoutohelpusfindyou,Peter,andtheothers.DoroteagaveRhyssaaraisedeyebrowathersmotheredprotest."Candidly,thatchildis...o...b..tterabletotakecareofherself."
Relyonme?How?I'mblindandstrappedinlikecargo!Hey,youlot!
Shutup!Quityourgrizzling,stupidNeesters.TirlathendroppedintolanguagesthatDoroteacouldnotunderstand.Theyprefercryingfortheirmommies!Mommieswhosold'em!Tirlasaid,suddenlydroppingintoBasicagain.SomehalfdozenarefromE,sevenarefromW,andtwofromC.Howtheybleat!Noneof'em'sPeter.
Dorotea:Askthemtheirnames.
Tirlacouldgivetennamesoftheestimatedfifteenchildreninwithher.ThesewereinstantlyforwardedtoBoris.
"WherecanPeterbe?"Rhyssamurmuredsoftly.AtsomepointwhileshehadbeenconcentratingonDorotea'sconversations,DaveLehardthadjoinedtheanxiousgroupintheControlRoom.Helinkedhisfingersinhers,andthephysicalcontactwasalmostmorerea.s.suringthantheauraofencouragementthatemanatedfromallthetelepathsabouther.
"Askheragainaboutthevarioussmells,"SaschapromptedDorotea.
"Theremaybesomethingthat'llgiveusacluetowhere."
Well,there'sasortofmetalstink,TirlarepliedwhenDorotearelayedthequestion.Andthere'samoldymildewingrottenstinkthat'sstronger.There'sanothersmellIcan'tidentify.Oily.I'mstuffedintosomethingfeelslikeplasticfoam.Evenmyfingersareseparatedintoslots.I'mboundatthewrists,ankles,waist,andacrossmychest.Ifitwa.s.shorter,I'dbechoking.Oh,cutthecaterwauling!
Noone'shurtingyou!Sheroaredoutrepet.i.tionsinotherdialects,continuingtobroadcastmentallya.s.sheshoutedattheotherchildren.
"Herpredicamentisbeginningtogettoher,"Doroteasaidgrimly.
Tirla,I'mwithyou.Evenifyoucan'thearthem,Rhyssa,Sascha,Boris,Sirikit,Budworth,Davewe'reallhere.We'llgetyououtofthere,Ipromise.
Tirla:Soon,please.IfIhavetolistentoallthiscryingandmoaningmuchlonger,I'lls.p.a.ceout.Whataboutthatwomanwhoworemyhair?Whydon'tyouaskherwhereIam?
Carmenisrighthereandremindsyouthatsheneedslighttofndyou!
Remember?That'swhyshecouldn'tlocateyouintheLinearyouwereinthedark.
Tirla,wryly:I'malotmoreinthedarknowthanIwasthen.Whatiftheydon'tturnanylightson?Forthefirsttime,hervoicewastingedmorewithfearthanwithoutrage.
Dorotea:Itmaybenoconsolationtoyourightnow,Tirla,b.u.t.they'11wantyoutobeingoodcondition.They'llalsohavetofeedyouandkeepyouclean.
Tirla:Yeah?When?Nextweeksometime?
Youweretakenatapproximatelythree.It'stenthirtynow.Youcan'tbeleftwithoutfoodandwatermuchlonger.
Tirla:You'reright.That'snotmuchconsolation.Dorotea,don'tstoptalkingtome,w.i.l.l.you?Idon'tcarewhatyousay.Justdon'tstoptalking.
I'mtotallyatyourcommand,Tirla.Doroteaprojectedanimageofaflourishandacurtsy.Shewasrewardedbyalittlechuckle.Shallwestartwiththemathlessonyoumissed?
Tirla,surprised:Inmybead?
Dorotea:Writeitontheboardinmymind.I'llrememberforyou.
"Andalsoincreasehertelepathicfacility,"Rhyssasaidwithagenuinesmile."Youareincorrigible,Dorotea."
"AlsoverygoodatwhatIdo,"theoldwomanrepliedsmugly.
Rhyssa?Rhyssa?
Rhyssagaspedwithincredulity,strickenbythefaintnessofPeter'scall.Davewrappedanarmabouthershoulders,supportinghera.s.sheheldupherhandtostopallnoiseintheroomastheweakvoicereachedhermind.Yes,Peter.I'vebeenlisteningforyou.
Peter:Ican'tseeanything.Theyga.s.sedme.I'mgoingtobesick.
Rhyssakepthermentaltonecalmandfirma.s.sheclungtoDave'shands.
Easy,Peter.Rememberourdrills.Reducethenausea.
It'sneverbeenthishardbefore,Rhyssa.Therewasanedgeofdespairinhisvoice.Rhyssaknewsowellhowhehatedanesthetics.Hehadreactionstomostofthecommonones.Itwasgoingtotaketimewhichshedidnotthinktheyhadforhimtoshakeofftheresidualdisorientationandnauseainordertobringhiskinesisintouse.
Rhyssa:Focusyourmind,Peter,justasyouusedtodointhehospital.
Focusyourthoughts;ignoretheextraneous.
Peter:There'reotherkidsinherewithme.Someof'emareprettyscared.Rhyssa:CalloutforTirla.She'ssomewheremaybeverynearby.
Dorotea,urgently:Tirla,Peter'sawake.Callhisname.
Neitherheardtheother.
"Christ!FineteamofTalentswearewhenourkidsarevulnerable!"
Sascharemarkedcaustically.
Tirla,echoingSascha'sfrustration:Whydoesn'tPeterjustglideoutofthiscontraption,Dorotea?Tirlaasked,unconsciouslyechoingSascha'sfrustration.He'sthekinetic!WhenDoroteaexplainedPeter'sproblemwiththeanesthesia,Tirlagaveabarkoflaughter.Soit'suptomeagain,Iguess.Don'tforgettheanswerstomyequations,w.i.l.l.you,Dorotea?
Dorotea:Tirla,whatareyouplanningtodo?
Tirla:Getoutofthiscoffin.
Dorotea:How?
Tirla:Theymadeonemistakewhentheystrappedmeinhere.Theystrappedmyfingersdown,notupwhereIcouldn'treachanything.Ishouldbeabletodigoutenoughplastictofreemyhands.
DoroteafelttheeffortinTirla'smind,effortandfringesofpain.
"Couldshedothat?"sheaskedSascha.
"AccordingtotheBro,thekidsretrievedinManhattanhadbeenwrappedinfoamedplasticcoc.o.o.ns.Shemightbeabletoscratchat.i.twithherfingers."
YouhavemadecontactwithTirlaandPeter?Boris'svoicewas.e.xcited.
Contact,Bro,butnotrelease.Bothkidsarecoc.o.o.ned.AndPeter'shavingabadreactiontowhatevergastheyused.Saschamadeanotherface,mimickingtheaggravationhisbrotherwasmentallyexpressing.
He'llneedalittletimebeforeherecoverscompletely.
Boris:Istheretime?I'vegotthecitymanager,andallherdeputiesonmybackforaction.Someoftheotherkidswerelegal,too.
RhyssawasconcentratingonstrengtheningherlinkwithPeter,helpinghimtodissipatetheresidueoftheanesthetic.Herfacemirroredhisdesperationandsenseoffailure,andsheleanedheavilyagainstDave.
There!ThetriumphinTirla'svoicewasevidenttoDorotea,andsheheldupherhand,repeatingthegirl'swordsfortheothers.
Camelguttedtripe!Miserabledungeaters!Descendantsofsnakeoffal.
Scuzfarts!Maggots!
Goodheavens!Howpungent.Tirla,howhaveyouhurtyourself?
Doroteademanded,sensingpain.
Tirla:Neveryoumind.I'moutofthiscoc.o.o.n.Therearenineteenotherkidsstuckin'emhere,someof'emstillknockedout.Peter'snotoneof'em.TellCarmennottofractureherskullfindingme.
Thisplaceisblackasthebottomofanelevatorpit.
