The unfolding collection.., p.65
The UnFolding Collection One, page 65
Kalet looked confused. “The what.”
“The Personal Needs Space.” Ari explained. When he still looked lost, she added, “You know, where you relieve yourself?”
He blushed. “Oh.”
Henrietta blinked and placed her spectacles on her nose. She knew her eyes now looked huge, and she let them travel over the faces of the children. “Kalet, you will find a brown uniform in a bag tucked behind the last latrine. Change into it and wait in the PN until you hear three raps on the door. Ari and Brie, you will also find brown uniforms in the female PN. Make sure to hide your blue ones so you can change back later. Ari, you scout the hall beyond the PNs. When it is clear, signal Brie, who will knock on the male PN. There is an exit at the end of the hallway. It will take you to the avenue leading to the Sun Spire. You will arrive on the street in the middle of a shift change. Do your best to blend in. Any questions so far.”
“How did you hide the uniforms,” demanded Ari. “And how do you know so much?”
She let her eyes bore into the twin. “Not that type of question, Ari. I can answer those later.”
Brie spoke up. “We take Kalet to the Sun Spire and up to 123 floor, right?”
Henrietta nodded. “Escort him all the way to The Borderlands. His father will be waiting at the street lamp. Return here as fast as possible. You will have one full circle of the chronometer. Anything longer will put all of us in jeopardy.” She looked directly at Ari. “You take the lead. Remember that your actions will dictate the success or failure of this mission. Keep your temper in check and your acute good sense aimed at succeeding.”
Ari’s jaw tightened and then relaxed. She glanced from her sister to Kalet and back. “I won’t let you down, Henrietta. I promise.”
“Thank you, Ari.” She smiled and focused on Brie. “Help Kalet navigate the customs of The City and keep him calm. You must also warn the others of impending danger. Let the Star of Truth guide you. I only interfered with its ability to discern the truth. It will still alert you when you are at risk. Kalet, you do everything Brie tells you to do, and stay relaxed. Any questions about anything I have told you?” She kept her eyes on Ari, who remained quiet. “Good. One more thing…truth is always the best answer to a situation. Today is extraordinary, or I would not be asking you to dissemble.” She nodded at Ari, took off her spectacles, and put them on the bedside table. The bed lowered just before the Med Healer entered.
“Time’s up,” the woman said, indicating the door. “Why don’t you go to the Nouri-Center and find something to eat. I know you must be hungry. You can leave your packs here.” She watched while the packs were stacked in a corner. “Check back in a full chron circle, and we will have the test results.”
Henrietta smiled weakly. “Don’t worry, children. I’ll see you later.”
The Med Healer herded them out door and settled her patient more comfortably. “You just rest, Henri. I’ll check back in a bit.”
Henrietta closed her eyes. She had done what she could do. Now it was up to the twins and Kalet.
Ari had felt the nerves in her stomach flutter as she led the way into the corridor outside Henrietta’s room. Finding the Nouri-Center had taken almost no time at all. A quick ride in the Drop deposited her with Brie and Kalet on the ground floor almost directly opposite it. They had signed in and made their way to the PNs. An investigation of the hallway to the exit door had shown it was clear of people. The only thing holding them back was Kal. She and Brie were outfitted in brown uniforms, and Brie had rapped on the male PN. Where was the boy?
The door opened. Kal, held in the grip of a tall, blue-uniformed guard, stumbled into the hall. “This is a friend of yours?” the man demanded.
Brie smiled shyly, “Yes, sir, he is.”
“ReDart children aren’t allowed in this part of The City. What are you doing here?”
Ari let Brie do the talking. “Sir, our grandmamma, fell sick. She works here, and we have permission to visit.” She pulled out a pass and handed it to the guard.
Holding it close to his face, he studied the compu-generated document. “Ah. Looks good to me. On your way. Stay out of trouble.” He started to leave without returning the pass.
Brie called after him. “Sir, may I have our pass, please?”
The guard turned and glared down at her. “You accusing me of stealin’ your pass, girl?”
“No, sir.” Brie’s large, dark eyes rested on his face with such innocence Ari thought she would start to giggle.
He snorted and threw the pass on the floor. “Don’t let me catch you around here again.”
Pivoting, he marched to the Nouri-Center and let the door slap shut as though emphasizing his order and his power.
Ari hugged her twin. “Whew, Brie. You did great. Where’d you get the pass?”
She shrugged. “Henri seems to have thought of everything. It was in the pocket of my uniform.” Putting an arm around Kal, she asked, “Are you okay?”
“H-he s-s-scared me.” The boy’s face was white as one of her mother’s new canvases.
“Me, too, Kal.” Ari edged him down the hall. “We’d better go before he comes back.” She peered around the corner. “It’s clear,” she whispered.
They darted to the exit, slipped out the door onto the walkway, and joined the marching workers in brown. Being the only young people on the street made them stick out and made Ari more nervous than she cared to admit. An alleyway, midway down the next block, provided a good escape route. She took Kalet’s hand and dodged down it with Brie at their heels. A darkened entryway gave them a place to regroup. “We’re only three blocks from the Sun Spire,” she whispered. “Stay close to me, and do what I do.” Kal and Brie nodded. She slipped by them. At the end of the alley, she stepped into the stream of marchers. Kal marched beside her. Brie followed next to a short, rotund man with dulled eyes and a blank face. Two more blocks and Ari pulled Kal along another alley. Brie’s low-pitched warning brought them to a halt.
“Where?” Ari demanded as they huddled in a recessed doorway.
“PPP at the drawbridge to the Sun Spire,” her twin murmured, rubbing the star on the back of her neck. “We need a distraction.”
“What do you want me to do? March out there and yell fire?” Ari knew she sounded annoyed, but she couldn’t help it. Why did Henrietta put me in charge, anyway?
Brie pointed across the alley. “I don’t think anything that dramatic is called for. Look.”
A small, gray form detached itself from shadows. Amethyst eyes glowed in the filtered sunlight of late afternoon. A long, feline tail twitched back and forth as Majeska padded toward them.
Kalet knelt and held out a hand. “I know Majeska. She helps children find their way into Myrrh.” A smile softened his fear. Even his body had lost some of its tension when he stood up, holding the smoky gray cat in his arms.
Ari scratched her ears. “Jeska, don’t you know cats aren’t allowed in Idronatti?” She laughed. “You’ll be a great distraction.”
The object of their attention wiggled and jumped to the ground. For a moment, she stared up at them. Then, she darted down the alley to the end closest to the Sun Spire.
“Come on,” whispered Brie. “We won’t have very much time once she’s spotted.”
Jogging lightly down the alley, they hugged the wall on the shadowed side and stopped just short of the walkway. A woman’s scream pierced the regimented peace of the street. A man’s shout and the scurrying sound of feet told them it was time to go. Ari dodged this way and that through the chaos. She was grateful to see that the PPP patrollers had left their post at the small bridge. Across the garden, the Sun Spire glowed. The Drop Car on its exterior wall sat at ground level. Gathering her resolve and her courage, she shot across the bridge. The slap of running feet, informed her that her sister and friend had managed to keep up.
Ari reached the touch panel and hit ‘open’ on the keypad. The doors slid apart. Kal and Brie dashed in ahead of her, followed by a flash of gray. A shout propelled Ari into the car. Another shout accompanied the car as it shot upward. Punching the three designated buttons for The Borderlands Gateway, she peered down at the crowd below. All heads were tipped back and all eyes followed the car up the outside of the ruby-colored façade. Majeska meowed. Kal shrunk in a corner, shaking. Ari exhaled. “We made it.”
The car jerked to a stop. Doors flew open. The long, white corridor appeared to be empty. Brie grabbed Kal by the hand. “Go, Ari! The car is—”
The Drop began to quiver, the air around it hummed. Ari pushed Brie and Kal ahead of her, punched a number on the keypad, and dodged through the closing doors. Sprinting to catch up with Brie, she grabbed Kal’s other hand, and together they jumped into the swirling mist that covered the end of the corridor.
In her room at the hospital, Henrietta nibbled a protein cracker and sipped juice through a straw. She had been given a clean bill of health. Bed rest for a turning or two was recommended. The Healer wanted her to stay at the Holistic Center for another chron circle. She hoped it would be enough time for the twins to return safely. She had already removed the memory of Kalet from those who had seen him. One problem remained…how to take his pack to the incinerator chute down the hall. She had many talents, but telekinesis was not among them.
Reaching for her spectacles, she slid off her bed, adjusted the bows of her specs over her ears, and wrapped her overly large robe around her. The Med slippers she stepped into where at least two sizes too big for her feet. She couldn’t help giggling at her reflection in the closet mirror.
Scooting her feet along the well-waxed floor, she grabbed Kal’s pack, shuffled to the door, and opened it a crack. The hall appeared to be empty. Dinner had been cleared away. Meds had been dispensed. The hall should be quiet for a time. Almost tripping over the big slippers, she tiptoed into the dimly lit hall. A shuffled trot brought her to the incinerator. The door refused to open. A glance up and down the hall assured her that she was still safe. She put down the pack and placed her palms against the door. Without a sound, it opened. Muttering about the inefficiencies of Idronatti’s technology, she dropped the pack into the gaping mouth. A thud echoed down the hall as the door closed. Shifting her expression to one of innocent confusion, she toddled back toward her room.
A quiet moan made her pause. Where… Another groan made her pivot slowly. Nothing moved in the corridor. Her big slippers flip-flopped against the floor as she scurried in the direction of the soft sound. She paused by a door to listen. A smothered cry of pain told her she had found the right room. Pushing the heavy door partway open, she sidestepped inside and crossed to the bed.
A boy about the age of the twins was curled around himself like a fetus in the womb. His pale face showed the stress of a long journey with pain. Tear-damp, blue eyes opened and met her gaze. “Who?” The question, a whisper, left him breathless.
Henrietta put a finger to her lips and leaned toward him. “I’m Henrietta. I can help with the pain if you will let me.”
The blue eyes widened. The tiniest of smiles lit the pallid face, then vanished into a spasm of pain. A sharp inhale accompanied a gasped, “Please help.”
Making a quick check to assure herself that the hallway remained quiet, she returned to the young patient. “Can you roll onto your back?”
Tensing every muscle and keeping his jaw clamped shut, the boy complied. The rapid rise and fall of his chest indicated the amount of strain this simple act had placed on his body.
Henrietta waited until his breathing had normalized. “Blink your eyes if I may touch you.”
The blue eyes blinked. As spasm of pain wracked the body and sent a tear dribbling down the boy’s cheek.
Placing her hands gently on his chest, Henrietta centered herself and allowed her healing talents to do their works. “Just breathe normally,” she murmured. “Try to concentrate on something you love and let me worry about your pain.”
The energy that beat against her palms told her much. The boy’s disease was unknown on the planet of Thera. It could not be cured by Holistic Healers. All they could do was ease his discomfort and that for only a short time. Calling upon her training as a KcernFensian healer, she drew his pain into her own body and commanded it to dissipate. Next, she worked to eliminate what she could of the disease. She could not remove all of it. But she could prevent it from spreading, and she could lessen its impact. Scurrying feet in the hall, warned her of the approach a Med Healer. “Not a word about me,” she whispered, and darted into the PN attached to his room and eased the door almost shut.
The low light from the hall illuminated the room. “I don’t understand it,” the Healer told the Holistic Physician that accompanied her. “His vitals on the monitor were off the charts. I was about to come and give him more meds when they stabilized. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
They approached the bed. The physician leaned forward. “How are you feeling?”
The boy stretched and smiled. “Better,” he said. “I feel so much better.” He yawned. “I think I might even be able to sleep.”
The physician flipped open his body scope and scanned the boy’s fragile body from his bald head to his toes. “I see nothing that concerns me. Tuck him in, and let him sleep.”
When they had departed, Henrietta slipped back to the boy’s bedside. “Take care of yourself, young man. You have important things to accomplish.”
“Thank you, Henrietta. I don’t know who you are, but I owe you my life. Without your help, I would not have made it.”
She wiped a tear from his cheek. “You might have, but the journey would not have been pleasant. Oh dear, I’m about to be missed.” She shuffled to the door, turned back, and gave him a quixotic smile. “It is important that you go to Myrrh…and soon.”
Looking totally befuddled, she tottered into the hall and flip-flopped her way toward her room. A healer rushed out her door and almost tripped over her. As she stepped sideways to avoid a collision, the woman said, sternly, “Henrietta, I have been looking everywhere for you. What are you doing out here? Are you alright? Come along. Let’s get you back to bed.”
The monologue left no room for a reply. Henrietta shuffled beside her, docile, compliant, and grateful to have helped the boy whom she knew had a calling, one he did not know about…yet.
Ari, Kal, and Brie landed on the outskirts of The Borderlands within a breath of jumping into the mist. A tall, angular man paced beside a single lamppost where Majeska sat, licking her paw with her small, pink tongue.
“Telka!” The man gathered his son in his arms.
“Papa! Oh, Papa! I was so scared.” Telka squirmed around to see the twins. “They saved me.”
The tall man offered his hand. “I’m Jaak. I don’t know how to thank you for returning Telka to me.”
Ari clasped his hand. “We were glad to help.” She looked at Telka, whose features had morphed back to the boy she had first seen in the trash receptacle. “What I want to know is…”
Brie finished the sentence. “How did you end up in Idronatti?”
“A question I would like answered, as well,” said Jaak, looking with interest at his son.
The boy blushed. “I know we are not supposed to play around this street lamp, but…” He looked at the ground and then back at his father. “We were playing Dare. Geo dared me to run around the street lamp. The next thing I knew I was in the middle of Idronatti with PPP patrolmen chasing me.”
His father ruffled his hair and pulled him close. “I’m just glad you are safe. Your mama has been worried sick. You are going to have to explain to her.” A smile lit his eyes. “I imagine that will be punishment enough for this exploit.”
Telka groaned and nodded.
Ari couldn’t help liking the man. He was honest, and he loved his son. I wonder if my father would love me? She pushed the thought away. “We have to go, or we’ll be in big trouble.”
Brie smiled at Telka. “Take care of yourself, and stay away from that street lamp.”
“Will you two be alright.” Jaak looked like he might not let them go.
Ari clasped Brie’s hand. “If we had to return through the Sun Spire, we wouldn’t have a chance, but the return destination point from The Borderlands is a small park not far from the Healing Center. We’ll be fine. We have to go.”
Not giving him time to argue, she ran with Brie around the street lamp, in a chronometer-directed circle. Air tugged at her kerchief. The trees in the park in Idronatti loomed over her. Beside her Brie, gasped. “That leap always takes me by surprise.” She tucked a curl behind her ear. “We’d better hurry. Our time is almost up.”
The dim light of early evening obscured their race to the Holistic Healing Center. Dashing from one shadowed splotch to the next, they arrived at the Nouri-Center exit in record time. The long hallway, empty of people, did not look tempting, but the choice wasn’t theirs to make. Ari pulled open the door, and they walked sedately to the female PN. Changing quickly to their blue uniforms, they tucked the brown ones away where they had found them. A final look around the PN and they stepped back into the hall and walked through the Nouri-Center. Ari glanced at the chronometer above the counter. One time chron circle had passed.
A rough hand yanked her around. The tall guard who had accosted them earlier glared down at her. “Don’t I know you?” he growled.
Strong fingers dug into her shoulder. A deep-seated anger that she preferred not to exacerbate further, boiled behind the man’s small dark eyes. “I don’t believe I have met you, sir.” She kept her voice subservient and her expression neutral.
Brie stepped to her side. “Is there a problem?”
The guard released Ari and peered down at her sister. “You were in brown uniforms. I saw you near the PNs.”
He grabbed both girls by the arm and drug them back the way they had come. Rapping sharply on the door to the female PN, he announced, “Clear the space.”
