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We left not long after that, once Kir had carefully fudged Kregan s memories to blur his and
Jeyle s faces and names. Me, Kir left bright and clear. That I was a paranormal and on the loose
was no secret to Noret. The others, we wanted to protect in case Kregan went back on his word. I
didn t trust him any more.
My hands shook all the way back to Meram s house.
Safely inside, we found a relieved and delighted Meram still awake. Will it be all right, do
you think?
I didn t know, but Jeyle stepped into the breach. Yes, it will, Meram. We ll do what it takes
to protect you, you know that.
Yes, we will, I added, and she actually smiled at me.
Then everyone, let s go to bed, and hope that the dawn brings hope for your kind and our
country.
Jeyle followed us into the bedroom. I was glad of that. I needed a chance to talk to both of
them about what had happened.
Will he renege, Jodi? she asked, eyes hopeful and anxious at the same time. Is he a man
of his word?
Once I would have said so. Now...we have to be prepared to follow through with the threat.
I hope we don t have to.
I nearly pissed myself when you did that thing, Kir said, grinning as he sat down. So did
he. I wasn t expecting that.
I learned from the best, I said, and sent an image of Ganwe to him. He nodded, his mouth
turned down. At least now he ll understand personally what withdrawal is like. He won t be so
casual about injecting someone else again. I surprised myself at how brightly the anger over
Kregan s actions all those month ago still burned in me. More than over anything else that had
happened, actually.
I wish we could make all those people suffer it, Jeyle said. You did well, both of you.
Especially you, Jodi. My mouth hung open in shock at the utterly unexpected praise. I know
that can t have been easy for you.
I, uh...it was easy at the time. Though my hands still shook a little. I don t want to get into
the habit of threatening innocent people. I wished no harm to Nuela, a woman who d been very
kind to me. I couldn t have carried a threat against her personally. Kregan...I wasn t so sure. That
lack of certainty shocked me now.
You gotta do what it takes, Kir said. Sometimes...you gotta be the bad guy. He wasn t
gonna listen. He was trying to wiggle out of it right up until you put that flame near his wife.
Then he caved. If we go through with this, there s gonna be more people we have to strong-arm.
We ll have to work with him to make this happen.
Jeyle nodded. Yes, and once I get this information back to the refuge and people like
Wesejne, we ll know better where our strengths lie. Kir, you need to stay here, watch him.
He shrugged. Figured.
Then I m staying, I said, fixing him with my eyes.
No, not yet, and not soon. As I started to protest, he touched my hand. Wait it s cos we
need you. You and Jeyle, you re gonna have to strong-arm our side. I can t fight them, they don t
listen to me. Kregan? He ll listen. We got his attention, and he s smart he knows he s beat. Our
guys are gonna take longer. And there s Noret. We need Wesejne to work on him. But you two
gotta make it happen. Don t let me down.
Jeyle bent and kissed his cheek. No, darling, we won t. But you won t be on your own
either.
It s okay if I am cos I know I got people on my side. It s great. He gave us a big grin that
didn t seem the least faked, so I had to believe his words. But we need to sleep, and talk some
more before you leave.
Yes, she said. Goodnight then. I ll transmit the list of paranormals to Hermi before I
sleep.
Wait one question, I said. She stopped and looked at me. Timo. Did the list say what he
was? What kind of paranormal?
A telekinetic. Her expression was kind as I sagged a little with relief. We don t need him
for this part of the plan.
Oh good. Thanks. I, uh
I understand, Jodi. Goodnight.
I couldn t meet Kir s eye as Jeyle closed the door. I, uh
Didn t want your best friend caught up in this mess?
Which is cowardly of me, really. I mean, you are, she is, I am. Why is Timo so protected?
Because he s family. I don t have a problem with it, Jodi. And we don t need him. Not yet.
I turned to face him. If this works...we ll be free.
Like they say, there ain t no picking up the tail feathers of the gakil till the boy bird does his
dancing. Took more than twenty years to get to this point. I ll believe we re free when we are.
Nice dream, though.
He grinned. Yeah, ain t it. Let s get some sleep. Big plans need lots of rest. He stood up
and walked to me, took my hand and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. Thanks for tonight.
Meant a hell of a lot to me.
Least I could do, really.
Oh no. The least you could do would ve been a lot, lot less. That was a big thing. I won t
forget it.
Well, no. Perfect memory and all that.
Yeah. He smiled rather sadly. You know your life won t be the same whatever happens.
No more working for him or the government, most likely.
I know. I want...what Timo has.
Wife and kids?
Um...maybe not that. Just....
You, I thought. The realisation struck like a blow to the gut. I didn t want to be Kir s friend, I
wanted...I wanted him to be what Timo had been and could never be again. But how could that
happen? Tonight had changed nothing, and whatever happened with Kregan, it still wouldn t
change.
You okay? Kir frowned, worried.
Yes. I...it was a bit of a shock tonight.
Yeah, it was. He kissed me again, chastely with no hint of wanting more. Let s go to
bed.
I caught his wrist. Wait. Kir.... This would be so much easier if I could let him read my
mind. I...the way you feel about me....
Yeah? He cocked his head, puzzled.
You still do, right? No change?
His eyes slid away guiltily. No. Jodi, I know you
I feel the same too. I mean...about you. Was it so hard to say the damn words? I love
you.
Kir froze. Since when?
Since...I don t know when it started, but I realised it just now
His expression changed, became almost scornful. S nice, Jodi. So what happens when you
decide that I made you think that? When you start asking yourself, why did my feelings
suddenly change?
I...don t know.
Right. He freed his wrist. I can t do it. I can t hear those words come out of your mouth.
Not again.
They won t!
Yeah, sure. We should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow.
He turned away from me, apparently only concerned with fetching his pyjamas.
So what I feel doesn t matter?
Not if you don t trust along with it. It s too soon, Jodi. Maybe it always will be. He turned
and gave me a painful smile. Um...it s nice. That you, uh.... No one s said that. I mean, not like
that exactly. But it ain t enough.
If I can forgive you, why can t you try?
Because I got no defence against you. You ll tear me up, and I ain t strong enough. You
can t help it. You d never believe these feelings were real. I wish you could, he added in a
whisper.
You don t know. You might be wrong.
Yeah. But I probably won t be and.... He bit his lip. Losing you twice is too much.
I d lost him twice already. Will this stop us being friends?
Only if you let it. I, uh.... He shifted on his feet, uncomfortable with my presence. You
want the bathroom first? I shook my head and he bolted, doubtless glad to get away from my
unwanted affections.
Lying in the dark, staring at the ceiling, I knew that I would never be truly free. When he told
me he wanted to settle down with a family, Timo had said he wouldn t ever be happy if he
couldn t have that basic wish, no matter what else went well in his life.
Now I knew what he meant.
Chapter Fourteen
Eighteen months after that night, I stepped off a rollo at Tsikeni, suitcase in hand, ready to
start a new life as a free, exonerated paranormal. At least a dozen paranormals and their families [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
