Volunteer (Selected Book 3)

by Robin Roseau

  Violet and Posey both accepted theirs, then Audra asked, "Are you going to make me a baby elephant again?"

  "No. I am going to give you a gentle thunderstorm to lull you right to sleep, and then only the most gentle dreams."

  Azalea accepted hers, and I think the only reason she was a holdout was because Bluebell had warned us she was in control of them. I tried entering command mode on mine, but it completely ignored me, so I didn't push it.

  "Squirt," I said. "You'll sleep better."

  "I want to be a baby elephant."

  "I can't do that here," Bluebell said. "That is very advanced and requires the computers at the Testing Center. I can only do the capabilities built in. Tonight, that means a thunderstorm."

  "All right. But may I be a baby elephant again sometime?"

  "Yes, Audra. You may." Bluebell handed over a visor, and Audra slipped it on.

  "Carmen?"

  Mom stared at them, then finally nodded. I wasn't sure why she held out, but Bluebell helped her put it on, and then she added her own. "Posey, when we go upstairs, please see to the box."

  "Yes, Mom."

  "Do any of you require middle of the night trips?"

  We all shook our heads.

  "Then I will program these to help us all sleep until morning, unless there is an emergency. We have fifteen minutes to get into bed and snuggle up, then it is light's out."

  "Good night!" I said with a grin.

  The four of us were barely snuggled when the thunderstorm began, and I was asleep a minute or two later.

  * * * *

  In the morning, everyone looked happy and alert, and Mom seemed to be more with it. She smiled and offered kisses for Audra and me. A lot of hugs were exchanged with Mom looking on. We had breakfast, and then we assembled in the main room.

  Bluebell had told us she would arrange absolutely everything, and she wasn't kidding. She had hats, gloves, ski pants, ski jackets, and goggles for all of us. I was a little surprised to see the Catseye hid their tentacles.

  "I thought you didn't have to hide."

  "We are not evolved for this weather," Azalea explained. "It is exceedingly uncomfortable to us to encase our tentacles in sleeves, and so we would rather wrap them around our bodies."

  "Oh. Will it be all right?"

  She smiled. "It will be fine, and you will survive a few hours of no touching."

  I grinned. "If I have to."

  Bluebell got us moving. There was a car waiting, and it took us to the main chalet. There we met our ski instructors. They were human but they were clearly comfortable with the aliens. They asked us about our past experience and our general athletic prowess. Bluebell sidled to one of them and spoke quietly, and I thought she was explaining about Audra.

  "We will have lessons every morning," said the one named Skip. "At least for anyone who wants them. Just let us know. I believe Ms. Beamer is able to notify us."

  "I am."

  "If you really pick up on it," he continued, "Then you might want to ski for a day or two, then come back for your next lesson. But if you need a lesson every morning, you would be in ample company."

  Then they got us fitted for our equipment, which was done very efficiently, and soon enough we were standing outside in the sun. The instructors had to offer a little help getting all our gear out.

  And I promptly fell.

  I decided to laugh about it. Violet tried to help me stand up and then we were both on the ground, giggling. So we learned how to stand up.

  "It's actually easier on the hill," said Sara. "You just get your skis pointed across the hill but below you, and depending on how steep it is, you can stand right up."

  They taught us how to get the skis on and off, and they taught us how to walk in them. Eventually we moved to the lift, and we rode to the top of the bunny hill.

  Bunny hill. It was a kilometer long, but a very gentle kilometer. We learned to ski slowly back and forth. I got the hang of it fairly easily, at least on the easy hill. Posey did almost as well. Violet, Bluebell, and Azalea were a little behind her.

  Then, taking up the rear of the learning train, Mom and Audra together.

  I was really worried about Audra. I wanted her to have a good time. But each time she fell she collected herself, worked slowly, and stood back up for another go.

  The instructors told those of us who thought we had it that we could ski on our own, but stay on the bunny hill for now. I didn't want to leave Audra, and Mom wasn't doing any better. But Bluebell skied over to me. "You can ski with Posey and Violet."

  "No," I said. "Audra might need me."

  "You can stop and check on her during each pass," Bluebell said. "Go on."

  I'd been watching Audra as she struggled, and it hurt to watch. I turned to Bluebell. "I don't now how to help her."

  "I know, Skye. This is something she has to do on her own. Skye, these are the best beginner instructors available. Sara has helped people with amputations learn to ski. Your sister won't represent a real challenge. I'll stay with them."

  "You have a way of reaching Violet and Posey, don't you. Phone calls."

  "Yes, and if we need you, I'll let them know."

  I turned back to watch Audra struggle back to her feet again. I nearly began crying, so I skied over to her, arriving just as she was settled.

  "How are you doing, Squirt?"

  "Not very good," she said. "But I'm not giving up. I can do this." She looked at me, and I could read the determination.

  "Do you want me to stick around?"

  She shook her head. "Sara said she'll stay with me, no matter how much work I need. Skye, I'm 15, and I won't break. I don't need my big sister to babysit me."

  "But-"

  "But your girlfriend is waiting, and I'll feel like shit if everyone is stuck watching me struggle. I'll get this, Skye. I will. I'm not quitting. Okay?"

  "If you need a pep talk-"

  "I won't. But if I do, I know how to ask you for one. Just check on me now and then, okay?"

  "Okay, Squirt."

  I turned away and pushed off, and then Violet, Posey, and I were carefully skiing back and forth across the hill.

  * * * *

  It broke my heart, but Audra struggled all that day, and she was utterly exhausted that night. I was little sore, but I could tell she hurt. But she begged to trade dresses for dinner, and she was cheerful over the meal.

  There was a hot tub, big enough for all of us, and so we gathered there after dinner instead of playing cards. I could tell everyone appreciated the heat, and we all sank down, several of us sighing.

  "Bluebell," Audra said. "Thank you."

  "For the hot tub?"

  "For letting me do this."

  "You are welcome, Audra."

  I leaned to Violet. "Can one of you offer her a massage?" She then spoke rapid Catseye to Bluebell, too fast for me to follow, and Bluebell nodded.

  Eventually we climbed out of the tub, dried, and put on our pajamas. Bluebell made the rounds, passing out visors, but she said, "The thunderstorm starts in a half hour."

  As soon as she was gone, Violet and Posey turned to Audra. "So, little sister," said Violet. Audra smiled at that. "You know what I'd find really soothing?"

  "What?"

  "If you let me give you a massage."

  "You don't have to make it sound like I'm doing a favor," she said. "Yes, please."

  We climbed onto the bed, Audra on her stomach, and both of them went to work on her. I knew she slept before the thunderstorm started.

  * * * *

  That was our pattern for the first three days. Most of us got better. Mom never made it off the easiest hills, but I thought she had a good time. Audra struggled, coming home exhausted each time, but she was grinning. "I made it down five times in a row without falling. I was slow, but I did it!"

  Most of us graduated to the middle difficulty runs, but we kept checking on Audra.

  And on the fifth day, we found Audra and Sara waiting for us f
or the lift that led to my favorite of the middle runs. Audra was grinning. I looked at Sara, and she nodded.

  I almost started crying right then and there.

  She fell three times, but she got up, and at the bottom of the run, she was beaming and beaming. "Again. Please, Sara."

  "Of course," said Sara.

  That night in the hot tub, Audra could hardly be contained. "I made it down without falling! And I didn't feel like an old granny, either." She bubbled and bubbled.

  And Mom watched all this, and then she stood up and moved across the hot tub directly to Bluebell. Without a word, she sunk down and then moved in for a hug, laying her head on Bluebell's shoulder.

  Bluebell wrapped her in arms and tentacles, and we all pretended not to hear my mother cry.

  We stayed there for ten days. Near the end, Mom begged off, saying she wouldn't mind relaxing, and muttering about a few too many bruises. I felt bad about that, but Bluebell told me it was fine.

  I wouldn't say I got good. I didn't make it to the really hard runs. But I could handle the intermediate runs, and so could Violet, Posey, and Bluebell.

  And Audra.

  She skied slower than we would have, but we all skied with her anyway.

  That night, we collected in front of the fireplace. Everyone was relaxed and happy. I leaned against Violet, well wrapped, and Audra had her head in Posey's lap, her feet in Violet's. Even Mom had a couple of tentacles touching her, although she wasn't backless, and it was far more casual.

  "Carmen," Bluebell said. "I wish to change our plans slightly."

  "What do you mean?"

  "We were going to drop you off at home before heading to Boston. I wish you to come to Boston with us for a few more days."

  "Why?"

  "I would like to Test your youngest daughter."

  "What?" Mom said. "She's only fifteen!"

  "I know."

  "She's too young. No."

  "Carmen."

  "I said No."

  "It would be unofficially," Bluebell said.

  "No!"

  "Carmen, listen."

  "She is too young. When she is older, if she wishes to pursue a relationship similar to the one my elder daughter has pursued, she may. But I will not risk her passing your Test and being taken at 15 years of age. She is too young."

  "I do not want to Test her for that," Bluebell said.

  "No."

  "Mom," said Audra quietly. "I want to."

  "No!"

  "Carmen, no one will see the results but me," Bluebell said.

  "No."

  "Carmen, listen. Just listen. We need to know one thing."

  "What?"

  "How closely she will follow her older sister's path."

  Mom paused. "You'll Test more than that."

  "True, but I already know those results, and so do you."

  "You can't have her! Not that way. Bluebell, you can't let her go into that arena. You can't!"

  "Which is why I want to Test her privately," Bluebell said. "Like Skye was."

  "What?"

  "Mom, Jasmine Brighteyes tested me privately. Bluebell, did you check my records?"

  "I did. It said you haven't been tested, and when I tried to arrange it, I got a call from Jasmine Brighteyes telling me in no uncertain terms what would happen to me if I pursued it."

  "Privately?" Mom asked.

  "Privately," I said.

  "Do you know the results?"

  "I was borderline," I said.

  Mom looked back to Bluebell. "You tried to Test Skye."

  "I can override the decision on anyone Tested by my facility," Bluebell said. "I wasn't going to have her selected."

  Mom studied Bluebell carefully, then me. She frowned, then turned back to Bluebell.

  "I think Jasmine should do it," I said quietly. "If you go around her, Bluebell, she's going to get angry."

  "Bluebell, if you Test me," said Audra, "and I, um, pass, what can happen?"

  "Nothing," Bluebell said. "Unless you want it to."

  "That's not fair."

  "You're fifteen," Bluebell said. "Would selecting you at fifteen be right?"

  "It's never right to select any of us," Mom said.

  "Yes, but I don't have the authority to change that," Bluebell said. "Every Catseye agrees with you."

  "Then why do you help?"

  "Because if we didn't, someone else would, and that person won't care what happens to the women."

  Mom didn't respond to that.

  "Carmen, I want her Tested. I would prefer to do it where I can control it. But if we ask Jasmine, she'll intercede. She'll agree with me, but she'll do it down there. If you don't let me do it in Boston now, then I believe Audra will be called for Testing the day she turns 16. Now, do you want me controlling it, or Jasmine Brighteyes?"

  Mom drew still. I switched to Catseye. "Jasmine is going to be angry, Bluebell."

  "Let me worry about Jasmine Brighteyes," Bluebell told me.

  "No."

  Bluebell turned full on to me. "Excuse me?"

  "She's Mom's boss. She has a co-claim on me. She's your boss. You aren't considering the politics. You can't go around her. And it's not fair to ask me to keep secrets from her, not when I know she'll be angry. Please don't put me in the middle."

  "You kept secrets from me."

  "You didn't have a claim on me at the time the secrets were born. I didn't even meet you for another nine months."

  She studied me carefully, and no one said a word until Audra asked, "What are they saying?"

  No one answered her. Instead, Bluetell said, "Posey, go get Skye's visor."

  That made me nervous. I knew they could put it on me, and I had a pretty good idea what she could do after that. Bluebell regarded me calmly, and I tried to control my own breathing. Posey was gone about a minute. When she returned, she handed the visor to Bluebell. Bluebell held it towards me, and I took it slowly.

  "Put it on," she said in Catseye.

  I paused only a moment then lifted it into place, but I was filled with a certain amount of dread. It activated, and then it reset.

  "It crashed," I said.

  "Take it off and put it back on," Bluebell ordered. So, puzzled, I did. It activated, and this time, the startup menu appeared. "Do you know how to initiate a request for a video call with Jasmine?"

  "Yes, but I'm only supposed to do it for emergencies. I can ask her to contact me."

  "Initiate the video call. That is a direct order from Administrator Beamer."

  "Oh god." But I went through the menu and initiated the call. It took only seconds before Jasmine's face appeared.

  "Skye," she said. "What's wrong?"

  "Administrator Beamer ordered me to make this call," I said. "She knows I'm not supposed to do this except in an emergency."

  "It's fine, Skye. What's going on?"

  "Skye," said Bluebell. "Ask her to be patient for ten seconds."

  "Just a moment, Jasmine. I'm sorry."

  Then Bluebell took over my visor. I don't know how. She went through the menus faster than I could follow, but then Jasmine's image was overlaid on the image in front of me, as if I were looking in a window and Jasmine being reflected off the glass from a position behind me.

  Bluebell then said in Catseye, "Administrator, I apologize for this unusual call."

  "Oh, my," said Jasmine. "Were you naughty, Skye?"

  "Yes. I stood up to her."

  Jasmine snorted. "Oh. She won't be able to hear me this way. Tell her I'm listening."

  "She says she's listening."

  "I wish to have Skye's younger sister Tested. I wish to do it quietly where I control it. Skye was uncomfortable with going behind your back and even more comfortable being asked to keep secrets from you."

  "Ah," said Jasmine, speaking English. "What did your mother say, Skye?"

  "No. Frequently and loudly, but then she stopped talking. I think Bluebell is convincing her," I said in Catseye. "Was my accent too thic
k?"

  "I understood," she said. "Why now? She's too young."

  I forwarded that to Bluebell to answer. Jasmine listened, and then asked, "Why Boston?"

  "Because I am far more accustomed to Testing than you are, and I can look into subtleties."

  Jasmine nodded. "Well, she's right about that. Tell her this. I'll listen and make sure you get it right. We can't Test Audra at fifteen. It will raise too many suspicions. Someone will notice, and I'm not ready to deal with that. And I can keep it a lot quieter if we do it here. Tell her to devise a program and to come with you at your spring break. Audra turns sixteen by then, and she can help me with your Testing, too. Can you say all that?"

  "You might have to help," I said. "Administrator Beamer, Jasmine agrees with much of what you said." I paused. I managed to get the rest out, although Jasmine had to help me a few times.

  Bluebell considered. "Agreed. I get to do both of them?"

  "Tell her we'll do them together, and I will contact her with my needs." I relayed that. Then Jasmine said, "Now, I have a question for you to ponder, and I would love to see you ask Bluebell while I'm watching. Why do you think she did it this way? Why didn't she contact me directly? Skye, do you really think she's so stupid to go behind my back?"

  My jaw dropped.

  "Bluebell," I asked quietly. "Were you testing my loyalty?"

  "Yes."

  "Did I fail?"

  "No."

  "Tell her I'll contact her." Then she clicked off.

  I did the shutdown process on the visor. "She'll contact you," I said in English. "I don't feel very good. May I go to bed?"

  I didn't wait for an answer but headed for my room.

  * * * *

  Bluebell scratched at the door and stepped in about ten minutes later. She closed the door. I was lying on my side, staring at the wall. She moved in behind me and sat on the bed. I didn't say a word.

  "May I touch?" she asked. I didn't say anything, and so after a pause, her tentacles slipped under the cover and found some bare skin. She avoided my face. I didn't shrug her off. "Skye, I wasn't testing you because I doubt your loyalty."

  "It sure feels like it," I muttered.

  "Someone, at some point, is going to ask one or the other of us if we're sure we can trust you. Things like this make it easier to say 'yes' without any sort of doubt creeping in."