Arrogant b.i.t.c.h ....

Hearing the clack of wooden-soled footwear on the steps to the verandah, Cadillac peered through the shutters and saw the quartet of lanterns wobble away down the path.

'Well, there she goes." He threw an arm across Roz's shoulder and gave her a congratulatory hug. 'I've always been impressed by what you can do, but you're getting better all the time, y'know that?"

Roz turned to face him and slipped her hands around his waist. 'It couldn't have happened without you. And I like it. It gives me a real buzz. But I'd sleep a lot easier if I knew how it works and why." She laughed. 'Did you hear that? Just goes to show that underneath the paintwork, there's still someone called Doctor Rozalynn Brickman."

'Do you miss all that?"

'No. I always knew deep down that my life was going to take another turning - studying medicine was one of the steps along the way." She smiled. 'Maybe Talisman gave me these gifts and sent me out here to save your life."

'You already have."

She nestled her face against his then said: 'Min-Orota's men are still outside. Don't you think we ought to put our masks back on, in case one of them comes in?

'Can't you handle that?"

'I could but the effort of concentration required to grab someone's mind really drains you after a while. I'd just like to be able to relax." She picked up their face masks and offered Cadillac his.

'I hate wearing these things. I like to be able to see what you're thinking."

'Does not knowing what I'm thinking worry you?" Roz planted a light kiss on his mouth. 'Relax. I don't have real power, like Clearwater.

I can't make people do things the way she can, or move chunks of the landscape around.

I can only manipulate people's perception of reality - a lot depends on what I can find inside their heads. Or mine .... ' 'I wouldn't call that a limitation."

'No. Perhaps it's a restriction I've imposed upon myself. My cla.s.ses at school were slanted towards the practical aspects of medicine. The first time I heard people mention psychology and the subconscious mind was after I'd pa.s.sed my intermed exams and went on to take my doctorate at Inner State U! I suppose if I started to dig really deep, there's no limit to what I might come up with."

'Does the prospect frighten you?"

'Yes." Roz smiled. 'I'd much rather have your amazing ability to absorb an alien culture and master their language practically overnight."

It was Cadillac's turn to laugh. 'It takes little longer than that."

'Maybe. The point is, you know what's going on, and I don't - at least not until you get a chance to tell me. It makes me feel so helpless.

And what's more, I'm sick of you doing all the talking!" He kissed the tip of her nose. 'Don't underestimate yourself. You've scared the h.e.l.l out of these guys. They wouldn't dare make a move against us. As for Mishiko, I thought we laid on a really great blend of fact and fiction.

It's clear she went for it. The question is- will she still feel the same way tomorrow?"

'Oh, yes. That's the one thing you can be sure about."

'Good. We've got everything she needs to finish the job. That leaves just two more hurdles to clear getting her into place, and getting away."

'Yes." Roz turned towards the window with a sigh.

Cadillac watched her peer vacantly through the shutters.

'What's the matter?"

She kept her back towards him and ran a forefinger slowly back and forth along one of the wooden slats. 'I just ... find this all a bit upsetting. The fact that so many people are going to die. Is that why she insisted on taking her children with her?"

'Yes. Try not to think about it. The Iron Masters know how to handle things like this. When they purge their top guys, the whole family usually gets taken out. That's the down-side of belonging to the n.o.bility. It's something they're taught to accept from the moment they're old enough to understand."

'But we are the ones who are killing them!" cried Roz.

Her eyes were still riveted on her moving finger which was now pressed down so hard, it had begun to turn white.

'Only indirectly. And if she arranges it, they probably won't feel a thing." Cadillac could tell from the set of her shoulders that she was close to tears. 'Listen. I know it's a tough thing to have to cope with, but it's better for these j.a.ps to be killing each other than to have them cutting down the Plainfolk."

He took hold of her shoulders and turned her around.

'You sound just like Steve." Roz wiped her eyes, drew the back of her hand across her snuffiy nose, then poked him in the ribs. 'And what's more, you look ridiculous in that wig 'I can always take it off - if you're willing to cover me."

'No, don't-' It was too late. Cadillac was already lifting it carefully off his head. He put it on one of the shaped wooden blocks that had come as part of their wardrobe and shook his own hair free.

'Have you heard from him lately?"

'Steve? No. Not a peep. But something tells me I will."

'Yeah. And knowing him, it'll probably be bad news."

Roz sensed the hint of jealousy in his voice. 'It doesn't have to be."

'That's how it's always been, hasn't it? The only time he gets in touch is when he's in a jam. I can only think of one reason why you haven't heard from him in months - and that's because he's worked himself an easy ticket.

It's like I said. He's sold out."

'That's not fair, it's not true, and that's the one thing I hate about you! He saved Clearwater's life and he'll do whatever has to be done to keep her from being harmed until they can both escape! And that's not made any easier by the fact that she's having a baby. Why won't you trust him?!" 'Because I have no cause to!" Cadillac circled Roz angrily. 'If he comes back into our lives, he's going to come between us!" 'I won't let him,' said Roz, firmly.

Cadillac halted in front of her. 'But the prospect scares you, doesn't it? Because he still has a hold on you."

'Not in the way you think. He's worried by this power that's been given to me. He knows I'm no longer the little sister who was raised in his shadow and was content to remain there. But our minds are still linked. Even though he hasn't made contact, part of him still lives in here."

Roz touched the sides of her forehead. 'That's what scares me.

Knowing that if something bad happened to him, it could happen to me too. I want everything to go right - for all of us." She ran her hands along his shoulders and linked them behind his neck. 'Especially now .... ' 'It will." Cadillac put his arms around her waist and closed the gap between them. 'But whether Steve is with us or not, you and I are going to win through. You've got to believe that."

'I do - but you know how it is. The more you have, the more you have to lose." She shrugged. 'I - I... just feel that he and I have been too lucky for too long."

'Your run of luck has just started,' said Cadillac. He sealed her lips with a kiss. It wasn't long before they sank onto the straw matting and began exploring some now familiar territory.

'Do you really think this is a good idea?" whispered Roz.

'Can you think of a better one?"