Chapter 26
"We weren't able to get it working," Nicolai said glumly that evening as he and Padma entered the kitchen. We hadn't seen the two of them since we had left the weapons room that morning.
"Where's Shelley?" Angie asked, looking up from the book she was reading.
"She said something about visiting her mother and Francesca in Montana," Padma replied. "And she took Bill and the belt with her."
Nicolai glanced at Trina, who was inspecting the chicken pot-au-feu she had been working on for the past few hours, and he gave a start. "I'm sorry!" he exclaimed. "Today was my day to make dinner, wasn't it?"
"Don't worry about it; it's nothing. You were busy," she said airily. "You can take my shift tomorrow."
"Thank you. Don't let me forget!"
"I'll make sure of that, mate," Toby said with a grin. "'Cause if you forget again, it'll be my turn to pitch in, and if I have to make dinner twice in a week, the second time is always boiled beef and cabbage."
That wasn't quite as much of a threat as it sounded like. I've had Toby's boiled beef and cabbage before, and while I wouldn't want to eat it every day, it's not horrible. Well, not too horrible, as long as you add lots of salt and pepper. And ketchup -- tons of ketchup. Eh, maybe it really was a threat after all.
Regardless, Padma, whose religion forbids her from eating beef, made a face. "I will make sure you don't forget," she told Nicolai primly, "if I have to drag you away from the workbench myself."
"Why couldn't you get it working?" Mike asked. "Is something wrong with the belt?"
"No, and that is what is so puzzling," Nicolai said, shaking his head. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's perfect. It should work."
"Perhaps something is wrong with Shelley," Trina commented with a smile. She put the lid back on the cooking pot and announced, "Dinner will be ready in five minutes."
"We have been considering that," Nicolai replied seriously. "It may be that she needs some time to become acclimated to the belt, just as we all needed twenty-four hours before we could use our Prime belts for the first time. She is wearing it now, and we will test again tomorrow."
"What if it still doesn't work?" Toby asked.
Nicolai grimaced. "Then we will have to look for another cause."
"We know it's possible, though," I mused as I got up to wash my hands. I went to the cupboard to get the dishes and started to set the table. "Lily was able to act as Unity, after all. Have you thought of using her to test-drive the belt?"
Angie glanced up at me over the top of her book, frowned, and shook her head slightly. Padma said, "We may try that as a last resort. She is still so unpredictable, though. We would prefer it if our first Unity were someone we knew better."
Everyone else washed up and we sat down to eat. Trina had once told me her pot-au-feu would make a Frenchman weep, and I could believe it. (Assuming, of course, that she meant that as a good thing.) Growing up, I had always felt that a dinner without rice was somehow not complete. Trina's beef pot-au-feu was one of two meals that showed me the error of my ways, the other being Robin South's fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Of course, when Padma came on board, Trina started using chicken instead of beef, which I don't like as well, although it's still pretty good.
We chatted amiably during the meal. Nicolai had recently had a birthday, and Padma had gotten him a book entitled Introduction to Set Theory. That was what he wanted to talk about, and he went on animatedly for quite some time about ultrafilters, transfinite ordinals, weakly inaccessible cardinals, and a host of other mathematical topics that I don't think even Padma understood. Finally, Trina laid her fingers across his mouth and told him, in a nice way, to shut up.
She then started telling us how she had learned French cooking. She had studied art in Paris, it seemed, for a few years before Commander Windham, Shelley's father, had recruited her for the Primes. During that time, she had supported herself by waitressing and occasionally helping in the kitchen at a small bistro. Padma and Angie both appeared enraptured by the story, and I think each of them silently vowed in that moment to follow in Trina's footsteps. (Seriously, why does every girl in the world think that Paris is, like, the most romantic city ever?)
Of course, then everyone else had to start reminiscing about their most exotic or romantic experiences. Before I knew it, I found myself telling everyone about going to an Ohio State football game with my dad and brothers, complete with Skull Session, tailgating, and getting my picture taken with this pretty cool dude who called himself Buckeye Santa. I mean, I didn't think it was all that exotic, but Toby and Mike were shaking their heads in disbelief the entire time.
Mike had started telling us about the months he had spent shearing sheep in Australia when I heard Wizzit make that throat-clearing sound he sometimes does when he's about to break into a conversation. "Master Trevor," he said, and for some reason he had adopted the voice of some snobby-sounding English butler, "I am pleased to inform you that Miss Lee, having recently completed a strenuous workout in her private gymnasium, has dined and performed her evening toilette and is now approaching her bedchamber. I believe that, following her customary transformation therein, she would be at home to receive a certain gentleman caller, to wit, yourself."
I could see Padma's eyes crossing as she tried to follow Wizzit's convoluted syntax, but I'm pretty sure everyone else knew what he meant. Trina smirked at me and said, "So, you finally have a date with Li Lin-fa, do you?"
I could feel my face turning red. "She, uh, she told Angie she wanted to see me again."
Toby grinned at me. "Trevor, you sly dog. Give her a kiss for me, would you?"
"And for me," Nicolai put in.
Padma glared at both of them. "We don't even know why she asked to see him. She could simply want to complain about her living conditions, for all we know."
"Do you really believe that?" Trina asked her, her blue eyes twinkling. Padma scowled, but didn't reply.
And, of course, my baby sister, who loves and adores me, said helpfully, "I'll tell you what: Wizzit, if you put the audio and video up on the screen, I'll volunteer to translate everything they say. That way we'll know for sure what she wants." And then she batted her eyes at me and gave me the brightest, sunniest smile you've ever seen. Sheesh, sisters!
Mike was fighting a losing battle to keep a straight face. "I think that perhaps out of a sense of common courtesy, we might allow the two of them a bit of privacy," he managed to say. "Just remember, Trevor, lights out is at eleven."
"Thanks, Mike. I'll remember."
When the teleportation haze faded from my vision, I was standing just outside Li Lin-fa's cage door. She looked good; over the past few days, she had recovered admirably from Enclave's neglect of her. A delighted smile lit up her whole face as she caught sight of me. "Hello, Trevor," she said. "It is good to see you again!"
"And you, Li Lin-fa. May I come in?"
"Yes, certainly."
I suppose Wizzit could have just teleported me straight in the cage with her, but I liked the idea of having to ask her permission to enter. It maintained the idea that it was her personal territory and that if I were inside it, it was by her invitation. She retrieved the key and handed it to me through the bars. I unlocked the door, went in, and locked it behind me again.
She gave me an enthusiastic embrace as I returned the key to her. "I know it has been only a few days, but I have missed you dreadfully," she said.
"And I you, pretty one."
The smile on her face faded slightly, and she turned away from me. "I . . . I wish you would not call me that."
My heart sank. Oh, great! I thought. I've been here less than two minutes, and already I've made her mad. Aloud, I said, "I am sorry I have offended you. I will never call you that again. Please forgive me."
"I am not offended," she assured me. "Far from it. But your
sister gave me a mirror the other day, and I was able to look at myself for the first time since I was taken from my home." Her hand went up, and her fingertips brushed against her mouth and cheeks. "I was merely pretty then; now I see that my face has somehow been transformed into that of a goddess. It is unnaturally beautiful. I have not decided how I feel about that."
"I have always liked your face," I offered. "It suits your kind and gentle nature."
She turned her head slightly and gave me a pleased, sidelong smile. "Flatterer!"
I held up my hands in a show of innocence. "I speak only the truth."
She turned and looked at me full-on. "Lily Lee wears this same face," she informed me, her voice playful. "Does she have a kind and gentle nature?"
I hesitated. I knew this was a trap, that I could easily say the wrong thing here. Li Lin-fa's tone was light, but she was watching me closely, waiting for my answer. There are traps, though, and then there are traps. Just how much trouble would I be in if I put my foot in my mouth here? Based on how much I knew of Li Lin-fa, I guessed not much. I decided that simple honesty would be the best.
"In truth, Li Lin-fa," I said, "I do not know Lily well enough to say what her true nature is. Our encounters have almost always been adversarial, and there has not been much time for conversation."
"And yet you are attracted to her." It was a statement, not a question. When I didn't say anything right away, she went on, "Your sister told me. Do not worry; I am not jealous of my sister-self. I am simply curious. How can you be attracted to her if you do not know what she is truly like? Is it possible that you are simply fascinated by her goddess-face and her goddess-body? And if so, then is that the only reason you are interested in me as well?"
She was teasing me, I could tell. She was trying to frown, to make herself look serious, but the smile in her eyes gave her away. I guessed that she wanted me to trip all over myself with awkward denials and protestations of affection, and I had a feeling that, no matter how badly I defended myself, she would not press her advantage. Any mistakes would be instantly forgiven; any errors would be smoothed over. It was a lover's game, and I couldn't lose.
Still, I wanted to give her a better answer than just "Yeah, babe, I'm hot for you." I looked down at the floor, trying to decide what to say, and once again, honesty won out.
"Of course your body and your face attract me," I told her earnestly. "To deny that would be pointless. I am only a man, after all. But that is not the only reason I am attracted to Lily, nor to you. Lily has always seemed to me to be a . . ." I tried to remember whether there was a Cantonese idiom equivalent to "damsel in distress". If there was one, I couldn't come up with it at the moment, so I went on awkwardly, ". . . a woman who needs to be rescued, who needs my help. My friends tell me that I am always attracted to such women." I shrugged helplessly. "As for you, all I can say is that I fell in love with you before I ever met you."
Her eyes widened; I had intrigued her. "How could that be so?" she asked coyly.
"The first time I fought Lily," I explained, "I placed a small microphone on her clothing before she escaped us. It was quickly found and destroyed, but before that happened, I heard her being placed into a cage. A short time later, I heard the sound of a woman sobbing as if her life were over. It broke my heart to hear her weeping so, and I vowed that I would someday find that woman, dry her tears, and free her from her tormentors, whoever they might be. That woman, Li Lin-fa, was you."
She searched my eyes, and then her face began to crumple. She turned away again, and I heard her begin crying softly. Concerned, I stepped closer, laying my hands on her shoulders. "Li Lin-fa, are you --?"
"It is not fair!" she said softly.
"What is not fair?"
"You always get the better of me!" She turned to face me, and I could see the tears glistening in her eyes. "I was not really angry with you, Trevor," she said, half-crying, half-laughing. "I was simply playing a game, a harmless little game. And in response, you have made me fall in love with you all over again."
It was as if someone had set off fireworks in my heart. I drew her closer and kissed her with as much tenderness as I could muster. She responded eagerly, pressing herself hard up against me. Together, the two of us sank down onto her cot. I soon lost myself in the taste of her lips against mine, the soft caress of her hands on my body, the scent of her hair, and the feel of her in my arms.
"Trevor?" she whispered as I began kissing my way down her neck and bare shoulder. "Trevor, please, we cannot do this!"
I reluctantly ceased what I was doing, wondering what I had done wrong now. "If you want to stop, we will stop," I said, turning my head to look into her dark brown eyes.
"I . . ." she began. Then she gave what sounded like a flustered laugh and went on, "I do not want to stop, but we must. I am sorry; please do not be angry."
I sighed and pulled away from her. "I am not angry," I assured her. Frustrated, yes; angry, no. She slid her arm back into the Enclave jumpsuit she wore and pulled the zipper up. Somehow, it had become undone nearly down to her waist. Trying to figure out what was wrong, I said solicitously, "Your other self was exercising to the point of exhaustion this afternoon. You must be very tired. I will leave."
"Please, do not go." She was shaking her head. "It is not that. It is Lily. My sister-self would be most unhappy if she knew you were here with me. I am keeping her unaware of what I am doing, but if I were to lose myself in a moment of passion . . ."
"I think I understand." We were sitting beside each other on her cot now. I put my arm around her. "I had heard that you and Lily talk to each other now."
She laid her head against my shoulder. "Talking is not the best word. We are aware of each other. We have been since that first day with you and Gold. I can sense her thoughts and feelings when she lets me, and she can sense mine in turn. We can share our memories, and we can learn from each other." She straightened and turned to face me directly. "Listen to this." She cleared her throat delicately, then said, "Hi, Trevor. I'm Li Lin-fa. I'm pleased to meet you."
I blinked and shook my head in surprise. When she had begun speaking, I'd had a moment of vertigo. The words sounded like gibberish, but I understood them nevertheless. Then I realized what I was hearing. "You can speak English?" I said, incredulous.
"Uh huh. Now I can." That was what had confused me. I had been expecting her to speak to me in Cantonese, but what had come out of her mouth had been pure, unaccented American English. In fact, she had sounded just like Lily.
"That is, I'm learning," she added. Her face was lit up from within; she seemed as proud of herself as any child doing her first recitation. Then she shook her head. "Wait, that's not right. I don't mean that I'm learning to speak English. Lily speaks English, and I'm learning to use that ability. That's why I sound like her."
I stared at her. "That's amazing! Have you told any of my friends?"
"No. I wanted you to be the first to know." Then she squeezed her eyes shut and massaged her temples. "It is difficult to do," she went on, reverting to Cantonese, "and it makes my head hurt."
"Still, this is wonderful news." It also explained a few things I had been noticing, like how she was now able to pronounce my name and Lily's without stumbling over them. There was something else that had struck me, though, something that had been just below the level of my awareness until now. "Li Lin-fa," I asked her, "how did you know that Prime Violet was my sister?"
She seemed surprised by my question. "I do not know," she said. "I have never seen her without the violet clouds surrounding her. Let me think." She stared off into the middle distance for a few seconds, then said, "Lily knows that she is your sister. She also knows what she looks like; I can see an image of her standing beside you in Lily's memories. The two of you are dressed similarly in loose white pants and jackets. But she does not know your sist
er's name." Li Lin-fa looked at me in slight confusion. "Does that make sense?"
"It does," I said thoughtfully. Li Lin-fa had described the one time that Lily had seen Angie as a civilian, back when JB Swift had captured the two of us as we were walking home from Tae Kwon Do practice one evening. Lily must have noted at the time how Angie moved, the way she held herself, and later matched that against Prime Violet. "It means that Lily is far more clever than I thought she was."
"She is indeed clever," Li Lin-fa agreed. "Her mind is a strange thing, like a powerful machine, but all sharp corners and knife-edges, covered by the barest hint of a human face. She is bound by so many compulsions -- things she must do and things she must not do -- that it is sometimes difficult to understand her thinking." She looked up at me. "And she is desperately afraid of you."
"Afraid of me?" I repeated. "I do not understand that. I have always been kind and gentle to her."
"It does not matter," she said, shrugging. "For reasons I do not understand, she feels compelled to obey your every whim. At the same time, she yearns to be free from her compulsions. She rebels against them." Li Lin-fa looked thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps she learned that from me; I do not know. I do know that the conflict has begun causing her great distress, and she places the blame for that distress on you. That is why she fears you so."
I looked down at her. "I can tell you have thought deeply about this."
"I see what anyone could see if they could watch her mind at work." She tucked her hand under my arm. "Be careful around her, Trevor. She would be a dangerous opponent."
I leaned over and kissed her on the temple. "Thank you for your warning," I said seriously. "I will be careful."
Attack Doll 5: The End of Lily Lee Page 27