"Ihavenoreasonto."

"IfIgiveyouone?"

Shesnortedscornfully.Justthenthetrainbrakedtoaneasystop,andthelidsofthepodsopenedtorevealagroupofadults,waitingtoliftouttheunconsciouschildren.AslimwomaninaLEOuniformstandingattheedgeoftheplatformspottedSaschaandthrustanarrowplasticcaseathim.

"Here'sareason,Tirla."SaschashowedhertheIDbraceletinthecase.Hetookadvantageofhersurprisetoclaspitaroundherwrist.

Shestaredat.i.t,holdingherarmsawayfromher,tryingtoabsorbthesignificanceofhavingalegalident.i.tyandthentheslowlydawningknowledgethatthebraceletwas...o...b..ndedintheusualResidentialcolors.GreenbandingmeantthatonecouldtravelbetweenLinears,butwhatdidthegoldandblackstripesmean?

"Youarenowlegal,Tirla."

Justthenthefourfreightelevatorsreachedthecargolevel.Ama.s.sofwomenflowedoutontotheplatform,raisingloudlamentationswhentheysawlimpbodiesonmedipads.SaschadrewTirlatoonesideasPublicHealthpersonnelcirculated,establishingtheparentageofthoseTirlahadrescued.

"Whathappenstothem?"Tirlaasked.Thiswasnotwhatshehadhadinmindwhenshesetoutonhermadventure.ParentswouldnotbepleasedthattheirchildrenwereinthehandsofAuthority.Norwouldtheyprofita.s.shehadintended.ShehadanIDbraceletandmorecreditthanshehadeverpossessedinherlifebutwhatgoodwoulditdoherifthetenuouspositionshehadcarvedforherself,herclients,hermeansofsupportingherself,weregone?SuddenlyherfutureseemedasbleakasthatofthechildrenshehadsavedfromYa.s.sim.

Atall,slender,veryhandsomeyoungmaninaLEOuniformplantedhimselfsquarelyinfrontoftheSaschapersonandsaluted."Whatdoyouwishmetotellthewomen,sir?"heasked.

"ThatTirlahere,"Saschasaid,movinghertostandinfrontofhim,hishandslightlyand,shefelt,kindlyonhershoulders,'foundwhereYa.s.simhadhiddentheirchildren.Shewasleadingthembackhome,totheirmothersandfathers,whenwealsosearching,cameuponthem."

Inavoicethatpenetratedthetumultofwailingwomen,theyoungmanrattledofftheannouncementintherequiredlanguagesataskthatmadeTirlarestlessunderSascha'shands.Aseachofthelinguisticgroupsunderstood,theyfelltowhisperingamongthemselves.Whenthetranslatorhadfinished,MirdaKhanandMamaBobchikwadedforward,theirexpressionsgrim.UnderSascha'shands,Tirla'snarrowshoulderstensed,andsurrept.i.tiouslysheshieldedherbrandnewIDbraceletbymovingherarmslightlybehindher.

"Andthechildren?"MirdaKhandemandedinBasic,juttingherchinout.ShestaredpointedlyatTirla.

"Therecordshavebeenchecked,"Saschasaid,hisvoicediplomaticallyapologetic."Theirbirthswereillegal."

WhenMirdaKhanfrowned,SaschasignaledforRanjittotranslate.Thewaveofhystericalweepingwaspunctuatedasmothersofnowofficiallyillegalchildrenthrewthemselvesacrosstheunconsciousbodies,obviouslydeterminedtoresistattemptstoremovethem.Saschaorderedthecrowdcontrolpartnerstoneutralizetheincipienthysterics.Hedampenedhisownreception,buthecouldnotremainimmunetotheintenseemotionalagitationthatbatteredhissenses.Hewasperplexed.Thesesamewomenwouldhavesoldtheirsonsanddaughtersinafewyears.

Boris,hesaid,it'sgoingtobealoteasiertobuythesewomenoffwithsomething.

Howaboutthetruth?Isn'tahostelabetterfatethanthefutureYa.s.simplannedforthem?

Iwouldthinkso,Saschareplied,butIdonotthinkthey'llseeitinthesamelight.I'lltapourslushfundifyouwon'tanteup.

Anything,Saschathought,toshutupthespinecrawlingululations.Hewasnotusedtohavingtodealonthislevel.

Gettingsoft,Brother?

You'renothereandlistening.Andthere'sTirlatothinkofYou'retakingchargeofher,aren'tyou?Borisasked.

I'drathershewasn'tjeopardizedHerTalentcouldbeveryusefulinmulti-languagegroups.

Thenoisewasfearful,theauraexceedinglyunpleasantforanyTalentswiththeleastmodic.u.mofempathy.TearswerestreamingdownCarmen'sface.

"Howmuch,Tirla?"Saschaasked.

Startled,shetwistedinhishandstoseehis.e.xpression.

"Howmuchwillstoptheirtearsandrelievetheirloss?"hewenton.

"You'dpay?"

Hesawtheleapofastonishmentinhervelvetybrowneyesbeforeacannyveilsettledoverherexpression.Brother,thisone'sgoingtodealforthehairsonourchests.

"Fortheyoungest,youdon'thavetogivemuch."Shenamedafigure.

"Addtenpercentforeachyeartheyhave,andthatshouldbeenough."

"I'dsayfivepercentforeachyear."

"Seven!"sheretorted."Thebiggertheyarethemoreittakestofilltheirbellies."

Hespitinhishandandhelditout.SheclosedthedealandthensteppedfourpacesnearertoMirdaKhan.

Ranjit,monitorthisforme!Saschaordered.

She'sspeakingArabic,Ranjitsaid.She'ssayingthatshehasbeenarguinghardforthegrievingmotherseversincetheywerecaughtinthetunnel.Onlybecausesheha.s.spokenoutsoforcefullyhasawaybeenmadetoeasethesorrowofthemothers.Illegalchildrenhaverights,thebigmansays,andshebelieveshim.TheywillbemuchsaferthanwithYa.s.sim,forwhicheverymothershouldbethankful,knowingperfectlywellthefatewhichawaitedthechildren,despitethegriefitcauses.Forbowelsecanpeoplesurviveonmeresubsistencealone?Apricehasbeenagreed,astheymusthaveseen,andshehasactedingoodfaith.Sascha,RanjitaddedasTirlaturnedtofaceanothersectionofthewomen,thischildisamazing.She'sspeakingUrdunowasgliblya.s.shedidArabic.Oho!

Therewasacommotion,andaplumplittlewoman,herfacecontortedwithconflictingemotionsuntilherbeadyeyeswerehiddeninthefoldsofhercheeks,pushedthrough.Sascharecognizedherfromhercastemarkandthevindictivenessofherroilingthoughts.ShewouldhaveleapeduponTirlaifMirdaKhanandlamaBobchikhadnotintervened.

SaschasprangforwardtoprotectTirla,beratinghimselffornotantic.i.p.atinganattack.

"Unwantedb.i.t.c.h,"thewomanshriekedinBasic."Illegal,you!Thebintisillegal!Sheisillegal!"Shestruggledagainsttherestraininghands."Takeher.YoutakeherifyoutakemyTombi.Youtakeher!"

"OfcourseIamillegal,wastedbarrenwomanwhosehusbandwillbeathermorning,noon,andeveningforrefusingafairpricethatwillfeedhimformanydaystocomeonlambandpapadums."Tirlaleanedwithfervorintothetaskofreturningverbalabuse.

Shehad,Saschanoted,managedtorunherbraceletupunderhersleeve,outofsight.

SascharestrainedTirlabyhershoulders."Sheisillegal,woman.Shecomeswithus.Tellthem,Ranjit!"Whenthemessagehadbeentranslated,headded,"Thedealshespokeofwillbegoodforonlythreemoreminutes."Helookedpointedlyathisdigitalwatch."Thenthereisnomoretotalkabout.Leteachmotherwhoacceptstheofferstandbyherchild."

Then,toshutuptherenewalofBilala'scaterwauling,Saschashotastrongsilencingcommandcompulsiononthehystericalwoman.Shefellbackinthearmsofthewomenwhoheldher,hermouthworkingsoundlessly.Anawedhushfellovertheplatform.

Thebusinesswasquicklyconcludedthen,andTirlawatchedsolemnlyascrispfloaterschangedhands.Shehadneverseensomuchmoneyincirculationatonetimeandinfrontofeveryone.Itwasbetterso.

Noonecouldclaimafterwardthatonehadreceivedmorethananother.

Someofthewomenlingered,displayingrealdistressastheirchildrenwereloadedbackintothefrontfourcars.SaschapropelledTirlatowardsthelastcar,whichthesearchgroupwasboarding.

Tirlaheldupherbraceletedarm."Youkeepthebargaininfactbutnotinspirit?"shedemandedasthedronecoverslidshut.Shetuggedatthecovetedwristband.

"Thebargainiskeptinfactandinspirit,Tirla,butyoucan'tgobacktoG,notwithBilalayourenemy."

"Huh!Thatone!"Tirlasnortedderisively."Shewouldn'tfindmeifIdidn'twantherto.I'mnotafraidofthatstupidwoman."

"Frankly,Iwouldbe,wereIyou,"Saschasaid."She'llcertainlymakesureYa.s.simknowswhatpartyouhadinclearingouthishide."

Thatcausedhertoreflect,althoughSaschastillcouldnotnudgehiswaypasthershields.

"Thenwhatwasthepointofmakingitseemasifthey'descaped?"shedemandedwithsomeexasperation.

"Thatseemedasensiblesafeguardatthetime.Upuntilyou'dwantedtobesuchagoodneighbor.C'mon..."Saschaheldouthishand."IthinkIcanfindyouasafesquatforafewdayswithafriendofmine."Dorotea?hecalled.Canyouspareamomentforthiswaif?

Tirlalookedathishandasifitwerecoveredinacid."Atthehostel?Withthem?"

"You'relegal,remember?"herea.s.suredherwithalittlesmile.

"Technically,you'refreetomoveanywhereyouwanttonow.You'vegotawadoffloaters,but"Heraisedhishandinacautionarygesture.

"youknowaswellasIdothatanunattachedkidinaLinearrightnowisinjeopardy.Ya.s.simhasgottofindreplacements,andMirdaKhanandMamaBobchikwouldn'tbetheretodefendyou."

"Defendme?"Tirlawasbothindignantandastonished.

"Oh,theydid,intheirownways.Andifaladronedidn'tsnapyouup,thePublicHealthwould,asyou'reunderageandshouldbeinschool."

Wow!heexclaimedtoDoroteaashesensedTirla'ssuddenreaction.

Thatopenedupanexcitedcrack.

Dorotea:Keepworkingitthen!

"Frankly,Iwouldbewary,wereIyou,"Saschasaid.

TirlafingeredherpreciousID."School?IcouldaccessTeacher?"

"You'vetherighttoalltheeducationyoucanstuffintoyourheadthatis,onceyouovercomethelittleproblemofbeinganunattachedminor.

C'mon,getintothepod.It'sreadytogo,andIwantyououtofthishostileenvironment."

TirlacastalookoverhershoulderattheknotofwomenaroundBilalaandsaid"Stupidc.u.n.t"underherbreath,butshedidnotresistSascha'sguidinghand.

"Onceyou'vecaughtupwiththegradelevel,youcouldevengotoaregularschool."

"Me?Inaschool?"Tirlawa.s.skepticalaswellascontemptuous.

"Isuspectyou'vegotalotmoretalentthanyourealize,Tirla."

Dorotea,acidly:Youwereneveronetounderstateacause.

Tirlahunkereddownbesidehim,balancinghertorsobetweenspreadknees,handsdanglinglimplybetweenherlegs,herb.u.t.tagainstthepaddedendofthecargopod.Shec.o.c.kedherheadupathim,haulingthestrandsofdarkhairoffherface,herdarkeyessparklingwith,itseemedtoSascha,aprivateamus.e.m.e.ntthat,forallhistelepathicskill,hecouldnotpenetrate.

"Talent?"sherepeated.

"Yes,"hesaid."Talent."Hesettleddownbesideherjustasthetrainbegantoeaseforward.

"I'mnothinglikeyou,"Tirlasaidwarily,swayingalittle.

"No,you'renot.Icannottalktoeveryoneintheirownlanguageasgliblyasyoudo."

Tirlathoughtforamomentandthenshrugged."That'snothardtodo."

"Notforyou.Ranjit,who'squitealinguist,wasmakingheavyweatherofthetranslationsjustnow."

Tirlashruggedagain,dismissively.

"Inafewyears,youcouldearnabigwagejusttranslating."Hecouldfeelherattention."EnoughtoliveatthetopofanyLinearandneverhavetoworryabouttheYa.s.simsofthisworld."

"WorkingforLEO?"Shewasplainlyunwilling.

"Forsomeonewithyourgiftoflanguages,therearefarbetteropportunitiesthanLEO.Youdoneedsomeschooling."

"Igotschooling."Hertonewasbothrebelliousandindignant.AtSascha'sprompting,sheadded,"Iusedmybrother'sIDaslongasIhadit.Igotschooling."Dorotea,wouldyoucheckthatout?Thebrother'snameandIDareontheIncidentreport.

Icaughtaglimpseagain,Sascha,Doroteasaid.I'mgoingtoneedpersonalcontactwithhertogetpastthatshield.IgatheryouplantobringhertomyplaceandI'mtoplaysweetfrailharmlessgrandmama?Boy,thishasbeenaday!Inforapenny,inforapound.

Didyougetanyofthehigh-levelinterview?

Caughtmostofit!Saschasentanimageofhimcheeringlikeamadsoccersupporter.

Whenalltheexcitementdiesdown,Sascha,wearegoingthroughthetestingprocedureswiththeproverbialfinetoothcomb.

JustthenSaschafeltthejarasthefourforwardcarsweredetachedtogoontothewesternhostelthatwouldaccommodatetheillegalchildren.HecaughtthelookofapprehensiononTirla'sfaceandherquickglanceathim.

I'lltakehertomyspareroomifyou'drather,hetoldDorotea.

Nonsense.ImaybatetypecastingbutI'mfarmoresuitable.Thoughyou'redoingratherwell,Doroteaallowedsomewhatgrudgingly.

Saschasmiledandresettledhimself."It'llbesmootherfromnowon,"hesaidtoTirla."We'rebeingshuntedtothecommutertrack."

"Whereareyoutakingme?"

"Tomygrandmother."

I'mnotsureIcaretoberelatedtoaglibphilandererlikeyou,SaschaRoznine.Nomorals.

"Ifshe'llhaveyouforafewdaysuntilIcanfindtherightResidentialschoolforyou,"heamended."ThatwouldsolvetheproblemofnosyPublicHealthofficialsandkeepyououtofYa.s.sim'snotice."

Thementionofschoolbrieflyopenedhershieldandhesawafearfulstartlementahungerandawithdrawalbeforeitlowered.Hewentoncasually."But,asIsaid,you'vealegalID,floatersenoughformonths,andyoucansuityourself."

Theircarhadbeenshuntedseveraltimes,andtheprogressbecamesmootherandfaster.Tirlanoticedit,andshealsonoticedhowtheotherpeopleinthecarwererelaxing,smilingandchattingcomfortablywithoneanother.

Residentialschool,mya.s.s!Boris'sdisgustedtoneechoedinSascha'smind.IcanjustseeFairmontorHolyoketakinginthatsubbie.

Tolerance,Bro,tolerance.She'scleanandhealthy,andthattightmindmightconcealagenius.

Boris:orscams!

Dorotea,steelinhertone:Youjustletushandleoneofourown.

SincewhenamIdisowned?Borisasked.