"It would be my pleasure," said Prasad Vajhur.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

--Drew Fleming, Investigative Reporter

Prasad ignored Roon, and a moment later, Kendi's shackles thudded to the floor. Vidya, the female guard, knelt next to Martina and released her shackles as well.

"I apologize for the slaps," Vidya murmured. "There was no other way."

"Evan?" she said. "What's going on?"

"You silly goose." His throat was thick and hoa.r.s.e. "You were supposed to wait and let us rescue you."

And then, for the first time in fifteen years, he hugged his sister. Kendi's cheek brushed hers beneath the wimple. The Silent jolt rocked him to his heels, but he didn't let go.

"You're Silent," she whispered. "All life. I'd always wondered."

"I told you I'd find you," he said. Warm tears ran down his face. "I told you I would."

"I remember." She pulled back. "What about Mom? She was sold with you. Is she here, too?"

Kendi shook his head. "We were separated. I don't know where she is. I'm sorry."

"How about Keith? He was in that place with me."

"Taken care of." Kendi got up and swiped at the salt water with one sleeve. "We'll talk soon, once I get the rest done. Don't worry."

"I muted the sound for you," Prasad said. His eyes were a little shiny. "I did not think you would want Roon's shouting to disturb you."

"Thanks." Kendi faced Roon on the vid-screen and tapped the mute control.

"Shut up!" Kendi snapped. "I've won, and in a minute I'm going to tell you how to salvage your sorry a.s.s, but not if you keep yelping like a dingo with its tail in a twist."

Roon glared at him. "What do you mean?" "What do you mean?"

"First of all, I need to tell you that the rest of the station doesn't even know about this little fiasco. Yet. We used Mallory's access to sever all communication with the station proper, including the distress calls sent out by these pods. Right now 'Ms. Mallory' is contacting SA Station to tell them about the accidental explosion of a derelict ship. No rush to investigate. By the time they figure out what happened, we'll be long gone."

"We had to provide something for you to waste your missiles on. We'll be picked up by the real Emporium ship in few moments, along with the rest of the pods. The Silent you kidnapped will stay with us, and your non-Silent employees will be set adrift in the escape pods for you to pick up. Everybody wins."

"I said, shut up," Kendi snarled. "I'm getting to your worthless hide. Is Isaac Todd there with you?"

"Have you ever scanned his genes?"

"Pity. You had a treasure all along and didn't know it. Don't let him get away--I went through a lot of trouble to ensure you could have him. Think of him as the gift that could save your career."

"Isaac Todd isn't Silent himself," Kendi said, "but he always fathers Silent children."

All the blood drained from Todd's face as Roon gave him a speculative look. Kendi broke the connection without another word.

At that moment, the pod shuddered. Kendi glanced out the porthole and saw the Emporium's ship--the real one. A gravity beam was gathering the scattered escape pods and bringing them into a wide hold like a mother duck gathering ducklings under her wings. Then the Poltergeist Poltergeist, swift and trim, swooped into view.

"We're fine here," Kendi replied. "And I've got someone for you to meet."

The moment Kendi stepped out of the escape pod and into the cargo bay, a pair of strong arms engulfed him. All the air rushed out of his lungs.

"Oxygen! Oxygen!" Kendi protested with a laugh. "All life, I love you, too."

Ben released him. "Okay, where is she? Val said she has your brother on the Emporium ship, but your sister--"

"Right here." Kendi reached into the pod and helped Martina down. Vidya and Prasad followed, still in their Security uniforms. Kendi turned to his sister and said words he had been rehearsing in his head for months.

"Martina," he said, "this is Ben Rymar. We're partnered. Ben, this is my sister Martina."

Martina extended a hand and Ben shook it. Both of them gasped.

"Sorry," Kendi said. "I forgot--you're both Silent."

"It's a day for surprises," Martina laughed. "Yesterday I was the prisoner of a weird cult. Today I learn my older brother is a Child of Irfan, he's still Silent even after the Despair, and he's partnered with a Silent . . . man."

"When Kendi is involved," Ben said, "you learn to expect surprises."

"Kendi?" Martina asked, puzzled.

Kendi put one arm around Martina and the other around Ben, then held on tight in case he floated straight up to the ceiling. "There are a lot of long stories to tell, sis. Got a few hours?"

"I have a lifetime," Martina said. "And it's finally my my lifetime." lifetime."

Vidya and Prasad went off to change clothes. The three Weavers trooped down to the galley, where Harenn was laying out a hastily-a.s.sembled meal of chicken salad and fruit. Bedj-ka was at the table, sipping a gla.s.s of juice.

"So you made it back from the Emporium ship," Kendi said as they sat down. "Where are Gretchen and Lucia?"

"On the bridge," Harenn said. "We have entered slip, and the Emporium is behind us. We will arrive at Bellerophon in two days, exactly in time to return the Poltergeist Poltergeist to the Council. Valeta expects that you will aid her in arranging several performances there to help pay for the time she has lost." to the Council. Valeta expects that you will aid her in arranging several performances there to help pay for the time she has lost."

"Gladly," Kendi said, and introduced Martina to her and Bedj-ka. "Once we're a safe distance from SA Station, though, I'll want to stop for a bit so we can transfer Utang over here."

Martina's expression clouded. "I have to warn you--it might not be pleasant. Keith--he prefers that to Utang these days--was buying into Roon's whole Dream cult thing."

"Dream cult?" Kendi asked.

Martina gave a short description of "Dreamer Roon" and his methods of indoctrination. Kendi's mouth fell open and his blood boiled. Ben and Harenn seemed to feel the same way. The food lay on the table, untouched.

"What's a cult?" Bedj-ka wanted to know.

"I will explain later," Harenn said in a flat voice.

"At any rate," Martina finished, "you've shattered the cult for Keith--and a lot of the others. They may not take it kindly."

Kendi's face fell and Ben took his hand under the table. "We'll get into the Dream," Ben said, "and tell the Council we'll need therapists who can deal with this kind of thing. We'll get Keith through it, Kendi, don't worry. You don't have to do everything yourself, you know."

But Kendi couldn't help worrying.

"That's the second time he's called you that," Martina said. "Is that your name now? Kendi? The trickster lizard?"

"I chose it after I became a Child," Kendi told her. "Like I said, it's long story and I'll tell you and Ut--Keith at the same time." a.s.suming he'll talk to me. a.s.suming he'll talk to me.

"I have to ask you something else," Martina said. "About that man Isaac Todd."

"Bedj-ka," Harenn said, "go up to our quarters. You may play on the sims."

Bedj-ka gave his mother a look, then slid out of his chair and left without arguing.

"Ask away," Kendi said.

"You told Roon he always fathers Silent children," Martina said. "And you arranged for Roon to take Todd prisoner. I don't know what he did--"

"He sold children into slavery," Harenn interjected.

"--but the babies he fathers will be enslaved by Silent Acquisitions. They're innocent, but they'll suffer for what their father did. Is that what you intended?"

Kendi smiled. "Harenn?"

"Isaac Todd will father no more children," Harenn said. "He thought I was injecting him with gelpox to make him a test subject for the plan, but he received another injection entirely."

"What did you give him?" Martina asked.

"A form of the mumps virus genegineered for slave owners who want to castrate their slaves." Harenn gave a rare smile. "It is not contagious, but by tomorrow morning, Isaac's t.e.s.t.i.c.l.es will have swollen to the size of oranges. There is no cure. The disease causes erectile dysfunction and permanent sterility."

"Poetic justice, I'd say," Kendi put in. "Roon's going to be furious."

"And fired," Ben said. "That was mean, raising his hopes like that and then destroying them."

"Yeah," Kendi said happily. "And I'm sure Silent Acquisitions will be pretty mean to Isaac, too. He's failed them twice now, and he blabbed about the Collection."

Kendi tensed again. "We'll meet him in the entry bay."

Kendi felt Ben squeeze his hand and he tried to squeeze back, but he had no strength. Martina stood next to them. She had removed the ridiculous wimple and gloves, but still wore the green robe. It was all the clothing she had. Harenn and Lucia waited a short distance away. Kendi had almost asked the two of them to leave, but then he had realized he drew comfort from their presence, from Harenn's strength of will and from Lucia's calm serenity. So he said nothing.

The entry bay airlock cycled with a rushing sound and slowly slid open. Keith looked exactly like the holo Kendi had seen back on Drim, though he was wearing a yellow robe and was a centimeter or two shorter than Kendi. The latter surprised him. He always remembered Keith as the taller one.

"Evan?" he said. "My G.o.d, I'd know you anywhere." Keith ran forward and clasped Kendi in his third hard hug of the day. The Silent jolt snapped through him. Martina joined her brothers. Keith gasped as she touched him--another jolt.

"You aren't angry?" Kendi said after they parted.