"I doubt it," she replied. "I'll bet they're close to their destination." Her hands manipulated controls.

"How far ahead of us are they?" He walked forward to peer over her shoulder at the screen. He could have stood to her left, but he was suddenly conscious of the warmth of her, the perfume of her hair. He was very careful not to touch her.

She performed some quick calculations, using the tracker's predictor. "Day or so. We don't want to run up their tail. There's nothing up in this part of the country. Odd place to stop, but then this whole business is odd, from what you've told me. Why bring your mother up here?"

He had no answer for her.

They dropped until the skimmer was rising and falling in concert with the treetops. So intent were they on the actions of the dot performing on the tracking screen that neither of them noticed that not only had the rain stopped but the cloud cover had cracked. Overhead, one of the wings of Moth, the interrupted ring which encircled the planet, shimmered golden against the ceiling of night.

"What makes you so sure they're stopping here instead of just slowing down for a while?" he asked Lauren.

"Because a skimmer operates on a stored charge, just like a mudder. Remember, they had to come from here down to Patra. Our own charge is running low, and we're not on the return leg of a round trip. I don't know what model they're flying, but I saw how big it was. It can't possibly retain enough energy to take them much farther than we've gone the past several days. They at least have to be stopping somewhere to recharge, which is good."

"Why is that?" Flinx asked.

"Because we're going to have to recharge, also." She pointed to a readout. "We've used more than half our own power. If we can't recharge somewhere around here, we're going to have some hiking to do on our way out."

Flinx regarded her with new respect, if that was possible; his opinion of her had already reached dizzying heights. "Why didn't you tell me when we reached the turnaround point?"

She shrugged slightly. "Why? We've gone to a lot of trouble to come as far as we have. You might have argued with me about turning back."

"No," Flinx said quietly, "I wouldn't have done that."

"I didn't think so. You're almost as determined to see this through as I am, and at least as crazy."

She stared up at him, and he stared back. Nothing more needed to be said.

"I vote no no."

Nya.s.sa-lee was firm in her disagreement. She sat on one side of the table and gazed expectantly at her colleagues. Brora was thoughtfully inspecting the fingernails of his left hand, while Haithness toyed with her eyelashes.

"Really," the tall black woman murmured to her compatriot, "to show such reluctance at this stage is most discouraging, Nya.s.sa-lee." Her fingers left her eyes. "We may never have the chance to manipulate another subject as promising as this Twelve. Time and events conspire against us. You know that as well as I."

"I know." The shorter woman leaned forward in the chair and gazed, between her legs at the floor. Cracks showed between the panels; the building had been a.s.sembled in haste. "I'm just not convinced it's worth the risk."

"What risk?" Haithness demanded to know. "We've still seen nothing like a demonstration of threatening power. Quite the contrary, I'd say. Certainly the subject had the opportunity to display any such abilities. It's evident he does not possess them, or he would doubtless have employed them against us. Instead, what did we see? Knife." She made it sound disgusting as well as primitive.

"She's right, you know." Brora rarely spoke, preferring to let the two senior scientists do most of the arguing. He stepped in only when he was completely confident of his opinion.

"We don't want another repeat of the girl," Nya.s.sa-lee said. "The society couldn't stand another failure like that."

"Which is precisely why we must pursue this last opportunity to its conclusion," Haithness persisted.

"We don't know that it represents our last opportunity."

"Oh, come on, Nya.s.sa-lee." Haithness pushed back her chair and stood; she began pacing nervously back and forth. Behind her, lights shone cold green and blue from the consoles hastily a.s.sembled. "Even if there are are other subjects of equal potential out there, we've no guarantee that any of us will be around much longer to follow up on them." other subjects of equal potential out there, we've no guarantee that any of us will be around much longer to follow up on them."

"I can't argue with that," Nya.s.sa-lee admitted. "Nor can I argue this Number Twelve's statistical promise. It's just those statistics which frighten me."

"Frighten you?' Haithness stopped pacing and looked over at her companion of many hard years. The tall woman was surprised. She had seen Nya.s.sa-lee wield a gun with the cold-blooded efficiency of, a qwarm. Fear seemed foreign to her. "But why? He's done nothing to justify such fear."

"Oh, no?" Nya.s.sa-lee ticked off her points on the fingers of one hand. "One, his statistical potential is alarming. Two, he's sixteen, on the verge of full maturity. Three, he could cross into that at any any time." time."

"The girl," Brora pointed out, "was considerably younger."

"Agreed," said Nya.s.sa-lee, "but her abilities were precocious. Her advantage was surprise. This Number Twelve is developing slowly but with greater potential. He may be the kind who responds to pressure by reaching deeper into himself."

"Maybe," Brora said thoughtfully, "but we have no proof of it, nor does his profile predict anything of the sort."

"Then how do you square that," she responded, "with the fact that he has by himself-"

"He's not by himself," Brora interrupted her. "That woman from the lodge was helping him out on the lake."

"Was helping him. She didn't help him get to that point. He followed us all the way to that lake on his own, without any kind of external a.s.sistance. To me that indicates the accelerated development of a Talent we'd better beware of." helping him. She didn't help him get to that point. He followed us all the way to that lake on his own, without any kind of external a.s.sistance. To me that indicates the accelerated development of a Talent we'd better beware of."

"All the more reason," Haithness said angrily, slapping the table with one palm, "why we must push ahead with our plan!"

"I don't know," Nya.s.sa-lee murmured, unconvinced.

"Do you not agree," Haithness countered, forcing herself to restrain her temper, "that if the operation is a success we stand a good chance of accomplishing our goal as regards outside manipulation of the subject?"

"Possibly," Nya.s.sa-lee conceded.

"Why just 'possibly'? Do you doubt the emotional bond?"

"That's not what concerns me. Suppose, just suppose, that because his potential is still undeveloped, he has no conscious control of it?"

"What are you saying?" Brora asked.

She leaned intently over the table. "With the girl Mahnahmi we knew where we stood, once she'd revealed herself. Unfortunately, that knowledge came as a surprise to us, and too late to counteract. We've no idea where we stand vis-a-vis this subject's Talents. Suppose that, despite the emotional bond, pressure and fear conspire to release his potential regardless of his surface feelings? Statistically, the subject is a walking bomb that may not be capable or mature enough to control itself. That's That's what worries me, Haithness. The emotional bond may be sufficient to control his conscious self. The unpredictable part of him may react violently in spite of it." what worries me, Haithness. The emotional bond may be sufficient to control his conscious self. The unpredictable part of him may react violently in spite of it."

"We cannot abandon our hopes and work on so slim a supposition, one that we have no solid facts to support," Haithness insisted. "Besides, the subject is sixteen. If anything, he should have much more control over himself than the girl did."

"I know, I know," Nya.s.sa-lee muttered unhappily. "Everything you say is true, Haithness, yet I can't help worrying. In any case, I'm outvoted."

"That you are," the tall woman said after a questioning glance at Brora. "And if Cruachan were here with us, you know he'd vote to proceed too."

"I suppose." Nya.s.sa-lee smiled thinly. "I worry too much. Brora, are you sure you can handle the implant?"

He nodded. "I haven't done one in some time, but the old skills remain. It requires patience more than anything else. You remember. As to possible unpredictable results, failure, well"-he smiled-"we're all condemned already. One more little outrage perpetrated against society's archaic laws can't harm us one way or the other if we fail here."

Off in a nearby corner, Mother Mastiff sat in a chair, hands clasped in her lap, and listened. She was not bound. There was no reason to tie her, and she knew why as well as her captors. There was nowhere to run. She was in excellent condition for a woman her age, but she had had a good view of the modest complex of deceptive stone and wood structures as the skimmer had landed. Thousands of square kilometers of damp, hostile forest lay between the place she had been brought to and the familiar confines of Drallar. She was no more likely to steal a vehicle than she was to turn twenty again.

She wondered what poor Flinx was going through. That had been him, out on the boat on the lake far to the south. How he had managed to trace her so far she had no idea. At first, her concern had been for herself. Now that she had had ample opportunity to listen to the demonic trio arguing in front of her-for demonic she was certain they were-she found herself as concerned for the fate of her adopted son as for her own. If she was lost, well, she had had a long and eventful life. Better perhaps that her brave Flinx lose track of her than stumble into these monsters again.

One of the trio, the short, toad-faced man, had spoken of "adjusting" her and of "implants." That was enough to convince her to prepare for something worse than death. Many of their words made no sense to her. She still had no idea who the people were, much less where they had come from or the reasons for their actions. They never spoke to her, ignoring her questions as well as her curses.

Actually, they did not treat her as a human being at all, but rather as a delicate piece of furniture. Their current conversation was the most peculiar yet, for one of them was expressing fear of her boy. She could not imagine why. True, Flinx had tamed a dangerous animal, that horrid little flying creature, but that was hardly a feat to inspire fear in such people. They knew he occasionally had the ability to sense what others were feeling. Yet far from fearing such erratic and minor talents, these people discussed them as if they were matters of great importance.

None of which explained why they'd kidnapped her. If their real interest lay with her boy, then why hadn't they kidnapped him? The whole affair was too complicated a puzzle for her to figure out. Mother Mastiff was not a stupid woman, and her deficiency in formal education did not blunt her sharp, inquiring mind; still she could not fathom what was happening to her, or why.

She let her attention drift from the argument raging across the table nearby to study the room to which she had been brought. Most of the illumination came from the impressive array of electronics lining the walls. Everything she could see hinted of portability and hurried installation. She had no idea as to the purpose of the instrumentation, but she had been around enough to know that such devices were expensive. That, and the actions of the people who had abducted her, hinted at an organization well stocked with money as well as malign intentions.

"I'm not even sure," Nya.s.sa-lee was saying, "that the subject realizes how he's managed to follow us this far."

"There is likely nothing mysterious about it," Haithness argued. "Remember that he is a product of an intensely compet.i.tive, if primitive, environment. Urban youths grow up fast when left to their own resources. He may not have enjoyed much in the way of a formal education, but he's been schooled in the real world-something we've had to master ourselves these past years. And he may have had some ordinary, quite natural luck."

"These past years," Brora was mumbling sadly. "Years that should have been spent prying into the great mysteries of the universe instead of learning how to make contacts with and use of the criminal underworld."

"I feel as wasted as you do, Brora," the tall woman said soothingly, "but vindication lies at hand."

"If you're both determined to proceed, then I vote that we begin immediately." Nya.s.sa-lee sighed.

"Immediately with what?" a crotchety voice demanded. For some reason, the question caused the trio to respond, whereas previous attempts to draw their attention had failed miserably.

Nya.s.sa-lee left the table and approached Mother Mastiff. She tried to adopt a kindly, understanding expression, but was only partly successful. "We're scientists embarked on a project of great importance to all mankind. I'm sorry we've been forced to inconvenience you, but this is all necessary. I wish you were of a more educated turn of mind and could understand our point of view. It would make things easier for you."

"Inconvenienced!" Mother Mastiff snorted. "Ye pluck me out of my house and haul me halfway across the planet. That's inconvenience? I call it something else." Her bl.u.s.ter faded as she asked, "What is it you want with my boy Flinx?"

"Your adopted adopted boy," Nya.s.sa-lee said. While the small Oriental spoke, Mother Mastiff noted that the other two were studying her the way a collector might watch a bug on a park bench. That made her even madder, and the anger helped to put a damper on her fear. "I wouldn't make things any easier for you people if ye promised me half the wealth of Terra." boy," Nya.s.sa-lee said. While the small Oriental spoke, Mother Mastiff noted that the other two were studying her the way a collector might watch a bug on a park bench. That made her even madder, and the anger helped to put a damper on her fear. "I wouldn't make things any easier for you people if ye promised me half the wealth of Terra."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, but it's only what we have come to expect," Nya.s.sa-lee said, turning icy once again. "Have you heard of the Meliorare Society?"

Mother Mastiff shook her head, too angry to cry, which is what she really wanted to do. Names, words they threw at her, all meaningless.

"We're part of an experiment," the Oriental explained, "an experiment which began on Terra many years ago. We are not only scientists, we are activists. We believe that the true task of science is not only to study that which exists but to forge onward and bring into existence that which does not exist but eventually will. We determined not to stand still, nor to let nature do so, either."

Mother Mastiff shook her head. "I don't understand."

"Think," Nya.s.sa-lee urged her, warming to her subject, "what is there in Commonwealth society today that could most stand improvement? The government?" A bitter, derogatory laugh sounded behind her, from Haithness. "Not the government, then. What about the ships that carry us from star to star? No? Language, then, an improvement on Terranglo or symbospeech? What about music or architecture?"

Mother Mastiff simply stared at the woman ranting before her. She was quite certain now, quite certain. These three were all as insane as a brain-damaged Yax'm.

"No, none of those things!" Nya.s.sa-lee snapped. It was terrible to see such complete a.s.surance in one so diminutive. "It's us. We." She tapped her sternum. "Humankind. And the means for our improvement lie within." Her hand went to her head. "In here, in abilities and areas of our mind still not properly developed.

"We and the other members of the Society decided many years ago that something could and should be done about that. We formed a cover organization to fool superst.i.tious regulators. In secret, we were able to select certain human ova, certain sperm, and work carefully with them. Our planning was minute, our preparations extensive. Through microsurgical techniques, we were able to alter the genetic code of our humans-to-be prior to womb implantation. The result was to be, will will be, a better version of mankind." be, a better version of mankind."

Mother Mastiff gaped at her. Nya.s.sa-lee sighed and turned to her companions. "As I feared, all this is beyond her meager comprehension."

"Perfectly understandable," Brora said. "What I don't understand is why you trouble to try?"

"It would be easier," Nya.s.sa-lee said.

"Easier for her, or for you?" Haithness wondered. The smaller woman did not reply. "It won't matter after the operation, anyway." At these words, the fine hair on the back of Mother Mastiff's neck began to rise.

"It might," Nya.s.sa-lee insisted. She looked back down at Mother Mastiff, staring hard into those old eyes. "Don't you understand yet, old woman? Your boy, your adopted son: he was one of our subjects."

"No," Mother Mastiff whispered, though even as she mouthed the word, she knew the woman's words must be true. "What-what happened to your experiment?"

"All the children were provided with attention, affection, education, and certain special training. The majority of the subjects displayed nothing unusual in the way of ability or talent. They were quite normal in every way. We proceeded with great care and caution, you see.

"A few of the subjects developed abnormally. That is in the nature of science, unfortunately. We must accept the good together with the bad. However, in light of our imminent success, those failures were quite justified." She sounded as if she were trying to rea.s.sure herself as much as Mother Mastiff.

"A few of the children, a very small number, gave indications of developing those abilities which we believe to lie dormant in every human brain. We don't pretend to understand everything about such Talents. We are in the position of mechanics who have a good idea how to repair an imperfect machine without really knowing what the repaired machine is capable of. This naturally resulted in some surprises.

"An ignorant Commonwealth society did not feel as we did about the importance of our activities. As a result, we have undergone many years of persecution. Yet we have persisted. As you can see, all of us who are original members of the Society are nearly as advanced in years as yourself.

"The government has been relentless in its efforts to wipe us out. Over the years, it has whittled away at our number until we have been reduced to a dedicated few. Yet we need but a single success, one incontrovertible proof of the worthiness of our work, to free ourselves from the lies and innuendo with which we have been saddled.

"It was a cruel and uncaring government which caused the dispersal of the children many years ago and which brought us to our current state of scientific exile. Slowly, patiently, we have worked to try and relocate those children, in particular any whose profiles showed real promise. Your Flinx is one of those singled out by statistics as a potential Talent."

"But there's nothing abnormal about him," Mother Mastiff protested. "He's a perfectly average, healthy young man. Quieter than most, perhaps, but that's all. Is that worth all this trouble? Oh, I'll admit he can do some parlor tricks from time to time. But I know a hundred street magicians who can do the same. Why don't you go pick on them?"

Nya.s.sa-lee smiled that humorless, cold smile. "You're lying to us, old woman. We know that he is capable of more than mere tricks and that something far more important than sleight of hand is involved."

"Well, then," she continued, trying a different tack, "why kidnap me? Why pull me away from my home like this? I'm an old woman, just as ye say. I can't stand in your way or do ye any harm. If 'tis Flinx you're so concerned with, why did ye not abduct him him? I surely could not have prevented ye from doing so."

"Because he may be dangerous."

Yes, they are quite mad, this lot, Mother Mastiff mused. Her boy, Flinx, dangerous? Nonsense! He was a sensitive boy, true; he could sometimes know what others were feeling, but only rarely, and hardly at all when he most wished to do so. And maybe he could push the emotions of others a tiny bit. But dangerous? The danger was to him, from these offworld fools and madmen.

"Also," the little Oriental continued, "we have to proceed very carefully because we cannot risk further harm to the Society. Our numbers have already been drastically reduced, partly by our too-hasty attempt to regain control of one subject child a number of years ago. We cannot risk making the same mistake with this Number Twelve. Most of our colleagues have been killed, imprisoned, or selectively mindwiped."

Mother Mastiff's sense of concern doubled at that almost indifferent admission. She didn't understand all the woman's chatter about genetic alterations and improving mankind, but she understood mindwiping, all right. A criminal had to be found guilty of some especially heinous crime to be condemned to that treatment, which took away forever a section of his memories, of his life, of his very self, and left him to wander for the rest of his days tormented by a dark, empty gap in his mind.

"You leave him alone!" she shouted, surprised at the violence of her reaction. Had she become so attached to the boy? Most of the time she regarded him as a nuisance inflicted on her by an unkind fate-didn't she?

"Don't you hurt him!" She was on her feet and pounding with both fists on the shoulders of the woman called Nya.s.sa-lee.

Though white-haired and no youngster, Nya.s.sa-lee was a good deal younger and stronger than Mother Mastiff. She took the older woman's wrists and gently pushed her back down into the chair.

"Now, we're not going to hurt him. Didn't I just explain his importance to us? Would we want to damage someone like that? Of course not. It's clear how fond you've become of your charge. In our own way, we're equally fond of him."

What soulless people these are, Mother Mastiff thought as she slumped helplessly in her chair. What dead, distant shadows of human beings.

"I promise you that we will not try to force the boy to do anything against his will, nor will we harm him in any way."

"What do ye mean to do with him, then?"

"We need to guide his future maturation," the woman explained, "to ensure that whatever abilities he possesses are developed to their utmost. It's highly unlikely he can do this without proper instruction and training, which is why his abilities have not manifested themselves fully so far. Experience, however, has shown us that when the children reach p.u.b.erty, they are no longer willing to accept such training and manipulation. We therefore have to guide him without his being aware of it."

"How can ye do this without his knowing what is being done to him?"

"By manipulating him through a third party whose suggestions and directions he will accept freely," the woman said. "That is where you become important."