Bouchers world, p.8
Boucher's World, page 8
Her knees felt wobbly as she finally remembered to take a breath. She fervently hoped that he wasn’t just the driver. She hoped he was - what was the other expedition member’s name?
Shards. She realized she hadn’t heard what his name was. Well, she was sure going to find out. She started down the path, praying she looked natural - and wasn’t stumbling or drooling, or anything else equally as brainless.
“Jade,” called Maggie, who had gone into the cottage carrying gear and was now standing in the doorway. “Help Alex and Ro finish bringing the equipment in, please.”
It took a moment for Maggie’s voice to penetrate her benumbed brain. Her throat had gone so dry she was sure any words would come out in a horrible croak, but she said, “Okay, Mom.” To her surprise - and relief - her voice sounded perfectly normal. She continued her forward motion but changed directions. Her face felt hot in the cool morning breeze as she walked down the path toward her brother and her friend.
She reached the van just as Alex, dressed in his usual all-over black, slung the straps of a large leather bag over his shoulder and picked up two smaller packs. Ro, hair still auburn-hued and in a ponytail, was dressed today in brown denims tucked into her black walking boots and a bright red tunic top. She picked up two bags, and they both turned to start toward the cottage.
Jade grabbed two bags sitting beside some crates, composed herself, and grinned at them. “Sure is taking you two a long time to unload the van,” she said. “Mom’s getting impatient, so I guess we need to step it up.”
Alex smiled at her. “You’re right. We have kind of been dragging our feet. We stayed up late last night talking when we should have been sleeping, remember?”
The night before was the first time the three of them were able to sit down and relax since learning that, thanks to Sparrow, they were all going on the expedition.
They all had been sent to Healer Chen to get a check-up. Jade, Tally, and Ro made arrangements to be away from their jobs for an indefinite period, while Alex had to go back to the enclave for a final assessment in two of his classes. Ro went to visit her parents before the trip. Jade and Alex’s twin brothers Sebastian and Malcolm, and their sister Genevieve and her husband Thomas, had come to say goodbye.
Then there were esa tests. Jade hadn’t been tested for psychic abilities or potential since she left End School, where the testers had never found her to have any esa at all, or any potential, either. She groused about being uselessly tested again, but Sparrow had insisted. This time, she was tested by an Elvwist.
Jade didn’t know how the rest of them had made out on the tests, but to her surprise, she was told that she would probably soon begin to exhibit any talent she had. The tester seemed to think she had a lot of potential, though it couldn’t determine what abilities might be involved. She considered this, then dismissed it. It did make her remember Healer Chen’s odd look, though, and his asking her about her esa when he checked her after that scan at her mother’s.
“Yes,” agreed Jade, smiling back, “and do you remember that I said we needed to get to bed so we would be rested and fresh this morning? Oh, yeah, now I remember: you had to walk Ro - slowly - back to her Aunt and Uncle’s.” She chuckled at the indignant look Ro shot her.
She had drifted off to sleep after they left but awakened momentarily when she heard Alex return. She’d glanced blurrily at the clock imbedded in her bedroom door and noted he had been gone over two hours - to walk approximately a mile. She chuckled softly to herself, pleased that her brother and her friend liked - well, more than liked - each other. She didn’t think Alex would be seeing his sleep buddy at school anymore, and was sure Ro had given up hers back at the work camp. She had turned over and gone back to sleep.
Ro started to retort, but then her eyes flicked past Jade at someone coming up behind her. Alex’s eyes followed to where Ro was looking, and he broke out in a broad grin, his face lighting up.
“Kendis! I was hoping you were the other person going on this little trip. Come and meet my sister, Jadewyn, and her friend, Rolanda.”
Jade’s heart started thumping so hard she was sure everybody would hear it. She managed to keep a straight face as she turned to greet the newcomer.
Ro tilted her head back, craning to look up at him. Her brow furrowed. “Don’ I know you from somewheres?”
Kendis chuckled. “Three years ago, the northern fields near Village Seven. Nuisance Apprehender Ken at your service. Hello, Ro,” he said in a deep baritone. He clicked his heels together and snapped a sharp salute.
Wow! Nice smile, and… sexy voice! Cute butt, too. Jade clamped her mental shields down as tightly as she could. She definitely didn’t want to be leaking any stray thoughts right then.
Ro broke out in a grin of recognition. “Ken Rost! Gods! But ya grew, no wonder I din’t recognize you! You grew yer hair out, too!”
“And you haven’t grown,” laughed Kendis as he studied her. “At least, not taller,” he amended as he looked her over. He took her hand and gave it a gentle shake.
“A shake? Tha’s all I git?” cried Ro, throwing her arms out. “Bend yo’ lanky self down so’s I kin git a hug!”
Jade and Alex watched smiling as they hugged, each feeling just a teensy tug of jealousy, wondering just how well those two knew each other.
Ro turned to Alex, still holding Kendis’ hands, and said, “You won’t believe this, but this guy warn’t any taller than Jade th’ last time I saw him. And look at ’im now!”
She turned him loose and put her hands on her hips, looking up at him incredulously. “What th’ heck they been feedin’ you at that enclave you went to? You musta grew at least a foot!” Then it dawned on her, “Hey! Tha’s how you and Alex know each other, huh? Ya’ll’re both Sparrows’ students. Fantastic,” she went on, “that’s great! I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout goin’ there when we git back. Maybe--”
Jade saw her friend was about to slide off into one of her serious chatters, so she stuck out her hand and said with a smile, “Hello, Kendis, I’m Jade.”
Kendis reached out to shake her hand, and as their fingers touched, a miniature, jagged bolt of blue shot between them. Startled, she tried to jerk back, but he caught her hand before she could. He stood still, a perplexed look spreading over his face as he looked intently at her hand clasped in his. She stared too, just as puzzled.
“What was that?” wondered Ro.
“Static electricity?” asked Alex, dubiously.
“Um, I guess so,” said Jade, as she - slowly - extricated her hand from Kendis’. “Probably - what else could it be?”
Kendis shrugged. “Nice zapping, though.” He grinned, flashing some exceptionally white teeth. “An excellent display.” He inclined his head. “Hello, Jade, I’m Kendis. I’ve heard a lot about you from your brother.”
Jade felt as if she were falling into his eyes, but she forced herself to focus, and shooting a look at Alex, said, “Well, you can’t believe everything Alex says, you know.” She grinned. “Unless it was all good,” she added.
Alex looked at her innocently. “Let’s get this stuff inside before Mom comes looking for us,” was all he said.
Chapter Eight
The Door
Jade stood in the front room of the cottage and noticed someone had cleared it of dust and washed the murky windows. She went through to the back, followed by Alex, Ro, and Kendis. Except for the missing dust and grime, the room looked much the same as it had the last time she saw it. The cardboard boxes were still in the corner but had been neatly restacked. The tall window full of blankness still dominated the back wall.
Setting their bags and crates down, they stood quietly staring at the window. Ro broke the silence.
Her face showing her disbelief, she said to Jade, “You really went through that?”
Jade nodded. “Uh-huh. Tally went out and came back in okay, so I figured it was safe.”
They stood there for a moment longer. Suddenly, Maggie’s bodiless head appeared in the window.
Jade heard two sharp intakes of breath and a small girlish scream. She turned to look at her companions. She had forgotten to mention that effect of the window. She grinned. “Okay, which one of you shrieked?”
Three sets of eyes rounded with astonishment, blinked at her. Then Ro’s eyes crinkled. She grinned and pointed at Alex, who shook his head, eyes still round, and pointed at Kendis. Kendis ignored them both and stared at the window.
Maggie stepped all the way into the room. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle anyone,” she apologized. “I’m just moving gear outside.” She waited expectantly for a few seconds. “Could I get some help with that?” she finally asked when no one volunteered.
Kendis was the first to spring into action. “Oh, sorry, Leader,” he said, grabbing the strap of a largish bag. He walked to the window and, without hesitation, dipped his head and stepped through.
Jade gave an amused glance at Alex and Ro and followed him with her two bags. Bypassing the steps, he jumped down off the porch and set his bag among the growing pile. He stood looking down across the meandering stream. Jade put her load down and watched him. She knew what was drawing his attention: the door beyond the stream.
Hesitantly, she touched his arm. She didn’t especially want to get zapped again, but it didn’t happen this time. He whipped his head around at her, raising an eyebrow.
“Ah, we need to finish bringing the gear out,” she said, backing up a step. She felt uncharacteristically intimidated. Up close, his eyes were even greener than she’d thought - an almost glowing emerald. She noted they had gold flecks in them. So intense and marvelous, she mused. Her face flushed, and she hoped he wouldn’t notice.
“Right,” he said, eyes sliding past her. He climbed back on the porch, this time using the steps.
Jade imagined she could almost feel a pull from him as he went by and stepped inside.
Alex emerged from the window, bags in hand, followed by Ro and Tally.
With a tilt of his head, Tally sent an acknowledgment.
Out loud, she said, “Er, I didn’t think of this before, but how in the world will Dots get through that window? She’s ‘way too wide to fit.” Dots wasn’t just big; she was huge.
Maggie was coming back through, followed by Morgan and Rachel. They plopped their loads down and turned to watch as Sparrow, upper body bent to avoid banging its head, stepped out. The Elvwist moved away from the window to allow Kendis, who was coming back out behind it, arms laden, to step out onto the porch.
Ro opened her mouth to answer Jade, but Sparrow beat her to it as it dropped the rather large crate it had brought out with it to the side, and pushed it to the edge of the porch. It stepped down to the ground and turned to Jade.
“Dotshea has a special ability,” it sang before Ro could reply, as it opened up the crate and began to lift articles out. “Watch.”
Elvwists tended to use mind-speak almost exclusively among themselves except when they sang, but made an effort to vocalize when with Humans. Sparrow often said to its students that Humans helped keep them from forgetting speech. It actually had a beautiful voice, as did all Elvwists, and even its vocalizations with Humans sounded more like singing than talking. Sparrow’s voice was a low alto, almost tenor. Alex said the sound of it reminded him of a saxophone.
Ro watched in amusement as they all turned to watch Dots come bounding through the window.
“What the…! How in the world? I didn’t know she could do that!” sputtered Jade, mouth dropping open.
“Shards!” said Alex in amazement.
Kendis just stared.
Dots plunked her little self down on the porch and grinned up at them. She looked extremely pleased to have surprised everyone.
“Taa daaa,” she sang in her beautiful contralto. She was minus her ribbons - and smaller than Tally.
“Dots! I didn’t know you could size-shift,” said Jade. “That’s fantastic!”
Ro nodded, grinning. “She started doin’ that while she was still jus’ a pup. She’s gotten much better with her control in th’ last coupla years. Real handy when she needs ta git ina particularly tight spot.”
Jade looked wistfully at Dots as everyone else moved off with Sparrow.
“I don’t have any talents, although this last psychic tester seemed to think I have potential. It didn’t know what kind, though.” She reflected. “Maybe I should just start trying to do different ones. Can you be taught an ability? I mean, if you have potential?”
Dots puzzled it over, then shook her head doubtfully. “I don’ know. I tried ta teach Ro once, but she never got th’ hang of it. Nobody else ever asked.” She looked speculatively at Jade. “Didja wanna try?”
“Sure,” said Jade. “Later, when we have some time. I think we need to get to the door first.”
She looked around. Kendis had brought out and opened two crates the same sizes as the one Sparrow had placed on the ground. The Elvwist began removing paraphernalia, saying it was a large hover-cart for carrying all their gear. Working fast, its fingers whirring, it started assembling the vehicle. Everybody watched for a minute, then left it to its task and went back in to finish bringing out the rest of their things. By the time they got it all and let the drivers know they could go, and Maggie had a last talk with the guards that the council had ordered stationed at the cottage, a half-hour had gone by.
They went back out and watched Sparrow finish putting the cart together. It clicked the last piece into place and closed a small switch on the simple control panel. The cart silently rose about two feet and waited to be loaded.
“This cart will operate by mind control,” it said. “I have programmed it so it will respond to either of us. It will hold all our equipment, and it can adjust parts of itself to become shelves, or columns, which can be used as tables or benches. It is an evolved vehicle and can make other adjustments to itself over time. It can hold all of us at once, but, in that case, it would not be able to move very fast.”
It smiled ruefully. “Unfortunately, I was unable to secure a riding vehicle that could either fit through the window, or be quickly assembled, and would suit all our needs in time for this trip.”
Maggie shrugged. “No one thought we would be riding in luxury anyway, Sparrow. Besides, I need the exercise.” She chuckled. “I’ve been sitting far too much lately and definitely could stand to tone up in certain areas. Walking should do it nicely.”
They started loading their gear onto the cart. Maggie climbed aboard and arranged it neatly in the center.
They crossed the stream in single file. By then, Dots had resumed a larger size, though not quite as big as she usually was - she reduced her height and made herself less wide, saying she didn’t want to be too large for a tent. Jade, Alex, and Kendis watched in fascination as she changed. Ro brought her ribbons to re-tie her hair once they got across the stream.
The usually large Dog would have kept her diminutive proportions, but it was much easier to keep up with the group at near her regular size. Besides, she wouldn’t enjoy the stream as much if she remained small and she loved water. She had no intention of using the moss-covered stones on which everyone else was carefully stepping across. Instead, she jumped right in and waded across, splashing all the way.
They all made it over to the other side without anyone getting seriously wet. Sparrow, Maggie, Rachel, and Morgan, headed off toward the door. Sparrow left the cart for Tally to operate. Anybody, except Jade, could run it, but Tally could do it best.
Everyone else turned and waited, watching Dots cavorting in the stream, smiling at her delight. Tally shook his head. He did not understand how anyone could actually like that stuff.
Some things about Dogs - and Cats - hadn’t changed since the Change.
Dots emerged and moved off a ways from everyone, then gave herself a vigorous shake, spraying water everywhere. She felt great. Ro tied her bangs back up, and they took off after the rest of the group.
They came to a halt a few feet from the door and stood there in silence. Sparrow abruptly strode over and began running its hands over the surface. Jade started forward, but Maggie laid a hand on her arm, shaking her head.
Jade nodded and hopped up to sit on the edge of the cart. She caught a motion out the corner of her eye as Tally jumped up to settle himself beside her. They watched Sparrow and waited.
Sparrow slowly ran its seven fingered hands all around the edges of the door, pausing every once in a while as if listening. As its fingers came down the left side, at a point directly across from the indentation, they were startled to hear a dull throb as if a heart had pulsed once. Sparrow stopped and stood looking at the area where the sound came from. It quickly ran its hand across to the indentation and pushed. Nothing happened.
Jade realized she had been holding her breath and let it out. She heard several disappointed sighs. She looked at Maggie.
Suddenly, Sparrow, who was still staring at the door, snapped its head around and sang urgently, “Jadewyn, Tally, and Dotshea, come here now!”
They hustled over to the door and grouped themselves beside Sparrow. It reached down and scooped up Tally.
“Quickly,” it said, “move your feet across the door, here.” It held Tally near where they’d heard the sound.
Tally moved his front paws over the space, and another throb sounded.
