by Ann Pino
“I thought you’d like to know some of the library kids were stolen by Obits. There were witnesses, and they say some of the Obits looked like grownups.”
Cassie had expected them to be shocked or to at least raise their eyebrows. Instead, Galahad muttered a curse and David turned to Mundo with defiance in his eyes. “Word is getting out.”
“Word about what?” Cassie asked.
Galahad managed a grim smile and motioned her into a chair, even though Mundo hadn’t invited her to stay. “We have a Pharm contact.”
“We were all Kevorks together,” David added with a smug air.
Cassie refused to be goaded and waited for Galahad to continue.
“He thinks the Obits are getting desperate. They’re pressuring the Pharms to enter into full-time kidnappings instead of incidental raids.”
“Suburban kids are getting wise to it all,” David explained. “And the smaller gangs aren’t delivering like they used to.”
“The Pharms are holding out for a bigger payoff, though,” Galahad said. “Our guy didn’t know what that payoff was, but given how Zach responded to the growth hormone, we’re thinking it’s got something to do with Telo.”
Cassie pondered this. “I guess if the Pharms knew about growth hormone, they’d round up all the kids and cut open their brains themselves.”
“Maybe.” Mundo leaned back in his chair and frowned. “May seemed to think this was just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. I’m inclined to agree.” He swung his chair forward and reached for a pad and pen. “Think about it. You can’t kill off everyone because where does that leave you? If there’s some grownups somewhere keeping themselves alive with growth hormone, they’re probably scientists, since who else knew about it?” He made some notes. “And while it’s possible they want to stay alive because they’re scared to die, it’s not very likely. The world basically sucks and they’re just putting off the inevitable.”
“Doc says even with repeat dosages, the effect is only temporary,” Cassie said.
“How temporary?”
“He’s not sure. A couple years, maybe?”
Mundo wrote that down. “That might be long enough to find a cure if they have the right equipment and they’re already close.”
Cassie sucked in her breath, seeing how the pieces fit together, but it was Galahad who said, “So you think the Pharms are holding out for the real deal. They want the cure.”
“It fits with the evidence,” David agreed.
Mundo’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the three of them. “If the Pharms get hold of the cure, they win. They want control of the city and once they can cure the Telo, they’ll be able to control us all.”
“So the Obits are scientists?” Cassie asked in confusion.
“I doubt it,” Galahad said. “Our guy said they seemed to be front men.”
“Probably former military,” David added. “Or maybe security of some sort, hired with the promise that if they do their job, they’ll be first in line for the cure.”
“So what do we do?” Cassie wanted to know.
Mundo stood up. “We get as much information as we can and we think. I’ll call a strategy meeting for later, but for now we need a break to let this sink in. Go back to your regular chores, keep your mouths shut, and I’ll send for you if I have any more questions.”
As everyone rose to leave, Mundo added, “Cassie? Do me a favor and find Rochelle. Tell her I want to spend a little time with my kid.”
EXCERPT FROM CASSIE’S JOURNAL:
We think we’ve figured out the mystery. The question now is how to find the surviving scientists, if they exist. We need to find them fast, because once the Pharms have the cure, they’ll hoard it like they do antibiotics and they’ll be able to control everyone.
The most obvious thing is for us to work with the Obits, so Mundo is calling a meeting of the alliance to talk it over. In the meantime, he has asked the twins to shadow them if they can. They weren’t too crazy about the idea at first, but when we told them there might be a cure for the Telo they became a lot more interested. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people as much in love as they are. They’ll do anything to extend their time together.
I guess Jay and I are more fatalistic, or maybe we’re just skeptical that anything will happen in time to save us. There isn’t a cure yet, if children are still being kidnapped, and time is running out.
CHAPTER NINETEEEN
Mundo called an alliance meeting for later that same night. A ballroom was selected for the event, and while the older boys pulled together tables and brought in chairs and a podium, the girls and smaller children decorated, using silk flower arrangements from one of the storage rooms. Sid made sure the lantern batteries were adequately charged, and Cassie and Alaina directed the younger children in placing hotel note pads and pens at each seat around the conference table. Cassie raised her eyebrows when wine glasses were set out, but her stomach didn’t clench with hunger when Sandra brought in trays of snacks. Neither Cassie nor Galahad had been invited to participate in the meeting and they could have snacks in the penthouse later. There was no longer any need to gaze enraptured at the sight of stale Cheetoes or raisins shriveled to the consistency of pebbles.
Cassie and Alaina were putting the finishing touches on the decorations, bickering amicably over how best to make use of the silk ivy, when Rochelle touched Cassie on the elbow. “Doc wants to know if you can mind the clinic. He has to give a speech about Zach’s treatment.”
Cassie thought longingly of the penthouse patio, cool and safe on a warm night like this. It would be heaven to lie with Galahad on one of the chaise lounges, naked under the stars. “You and Sasha can do it. There aren’t any new patients, are there?”
Rochelle scowled. “Mundo wants me in the nursery with the baby so it will look like he’s got a full-time nanny. Doc doesn’t feel right about leaving Sasha in charge of the ward.”
Cassie understood but wasn’t happy about it. Why should she change her plans just because Sasha was unreliable and Mundo wanted to create a certain impression?
She followed Rochelle to the clinic where she found Doc in the treatment room, bent over a piece of paper and scribbling furiously. “I understand you need backup.”
Doc looked up with a harried expression. “Are you a good writer, by any chance? They only told me half an hour ago I’m supposed to give a speech about the effect of growth hormone on Telo and I don’t know what to say.”
“Ask Alaina. She’s the one with the history and English background. I bet she can write.”
Doc bent back over his paper. “That’ll take too long. By the time I get done explaining it to her, the delegates will be here.”
“Write it like that—as if you were explaining it to an ordinary person.”
Mumbling unintelligibly, he wrote a few words, then crossed them out.
“How long do you need me to cover the clinic? Do you have to stay for the whole conference or are you going to give your speech and leave?”
“God, I hope Mundo doesn’t make me stay there half the night with Empress Elissa and those wackos. Did you know she gets upset if she isn’t addressed as ‘Your Excellency’?”
Cassie cringed. “So you’re going to give your speech and come right back and relieve me?”
“If they don’t ask a lot of questions.” He gave her a sly grin. “You and your boyfriend have plans?”
Cassie felt herself blush, but willed herself not to look away. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. She was lucky to have found love after the horror of the past year. “I just don’t want to be stuck here all night.”
“Well, neither do I. But yeah, I intend to come back as soon as I can. Hopefully the whole thing will break up early so we can quit acting like we’re running some sort of major medical center and go to bed.”
Cassie was about to add to that remark, but Doc cut her short with a gesture. “Can you help me out with this?”
She looked at
the scribbles on his note pad. “You’re rambling.”
“I know.”
“How about you just write an outline, like for a school essay or something. Use that and wing the rest of it.”
Sasha poked her head in the door. “Amy Gurrola and Mallory McCarver are here from St. Catherine’s. They heard about Zach and want to see him before the conference begins.”
Doc threw down his pen in frustration. “This isn’t the goddamn circus. Tell them—”
“It’s okay,” Cassie said. “I’ll go handle ward tours. You just write that speech. And make it a good one.”
* * *
Cassie yawned over the goat book. She had begun reading with a sense of excitement and purpose only to find that most of the information about livestock care was inapplicable to their situation. There was no safe place to let the goat wander except perhaps in the hotel parking garage, under guard. There wasn’t much chance they would have an opportunity to breed their goat, although the idea of a herd of goats for milk and meat would have captured her imagination under better circumstances. And the fine distinctions between orchard grass, timothy hay and alfalfa? This goat would be lucky to get enough grass and weeds from the nearby parks.
With so little practical information, Cassie let her mind drift. She wished Galahad’s request to help mind the clinic had been granted. Instead he had been assigned to hang out with the guards from the other groups and make sure there were no double agents among them. She wished, too, that Julilla hadn’t moved back into her own room, or that Zach wasn’t angry at having been made their Telo guinea pig. With no one to talk to but dull little Sasha and nothing to read but the goat book full of unworkable advice, she grew sleepy. Would Doc ever come to relieve her or would he be stuck all night with the crazy delegates from the alliance?
The door opened and she snapped her head up but it was only David. “Is Doc still speaking?” she asked.
“He was when I left. He got a late start. Roy from the City Hall group got into it with Elissa over seating arrangements. While that was going on, the St. Catherine’s girls tried to form some kind of agreement with the St. Xavier’s reps on how they would vote on any issues that came up, and by the time Mundo got everyone called to order, they were behind schedule.”
“Great.” Cassie set the book aside. “They’ll be there all night. Once they start drinking, we’ll be lucky if they don’t tear each other apart. Who needs Pharms and Obits when we’ve got each other?”
David agreed. “They gave me a headache. Got any aspirin?”
Cassie led David into the treatment room and rummaged in a cabinet. “How bad is it? If it’s really bad, I can give you some aspirin we got from the Pharms, but if it’s just a mild headache, the willow tincture will work just as well and we make it ourselves for free.”
“I’ll try the willow.” David accepted the dropper and dosed himself. Then he handed back the bottle and sprawled in a chair, gazing up at Cassie with a predatory expression she had never seen before. “So you’re stuck here all alone.”
Cassie put the bottle away, wishing he would quit looking at her like that. “Not really. I’ve got Sasha and a whole ward full of patients in the next room.”
“But no one in here.”
She locked the cabinet, affecting a manner of brisk efficiency. “You’re all set. I need to get back to work now.”
“No you don’t.” He waved her to him. “There’s something else I need.” He grabbed her wrist and tried to put her hand on his crotch.
Cassie struggled as his fingers dug into her flesh. “Let me go! I’ll tell Galahad.”
“Go ahead and tell.” He forced her hand along the bulge in his pants. “You don’t really think he gives a damn, do you? We shared girls when we were with the Kevorks. You’re no more special than any of the others were.”
Cassie tried to slap him, but David grabbed her, and she kicked his shins and stomped on his feet until he released her. She lunged for a heavy flashlight on the table, and brandished it like a club. “Get out of here!”
He got to his feet with the lazy moves of a cat, his features twisted in an ugly smirk. “I wasn’t going to hurt you. I just thought you’d like to have a little fun with a guy who knows how to treat a girl.”
“And you think you’re that guy?”
“At least we know who killed my last girlfriend.”
Cassie sucked in her breath at the mention of Leila. “I don’t know what that has to do with anything.”
“Really?” He took a step toward her. “The noble Sir Galahad didn’t tell you what happened to Trina? Better watch out or the same thing might happen to you.”
Ice was forming in the pit of her stomach, but Cassie tried not to let her hands shake or her voice tremble. “Quit talking crazy. If there’s something you think I need to know, tell me.”
“Better ask him yourself, darling. That way you can’t say I made it up.”
“I’m not your darling.”
“But you will be,” he said with a slow, appraising smile. “Once you know the truth, you’ll come looking for me. I’ll be keeping the bed warm for you.”
For a moment Cassie thought he might try to grab her again and she tightened her grip on the flashlight, but to her relief David walked away with an air of exaggerated unconcern. Although she knew she should run to the ward for safety in case he came back with something worse than nasty words and groping in mind, she couldn’t face anyone yet. She set the flashlight on the table, startled to find she was weak in the knees and breathing hard.
What was David talking about? Of course she knew Galahad had girlfriends before her. She wasn’t surprised he had one with the Kevorks, but if she was dead, so what? There were lots of ways to die.
Cassie sank into a chair, hugging herself. There had already been so many unpleasant surprises about Galahad. She wasn’t up for one more. Why couldn’t everything be like it was in the penthouse, all clean and civilized? Up there, everything was right with the world, while down here—
Sasha poked her head in the door. “Cassie?”
“Unless Doc is back, go away.”
“But you have to come. Topper, the one with the rash, is sick.” Seeing that Cassie was unmoved, she added. “He’s throwing up blood.”
* * *
Cassie felt horrible about bailing on Doc, but by the time he escaped the meeting, she was dirty and smelly from caring for Topper, and worse, she was a nervous wreck. She ran the stairs to the room she shared with Galahad and was relieved he wasn’t back yet from his spying duties. She gave herself a sponge bath and washed her hair with the last of her no-rinse camp shampoo. Then she changed into fresh clothes and lay on the bed, willing herself to relax.
No luck. The sound of David’s hateful words burned in her memory, repeating every time she closed her eyes. Lying in bed was useless.
She jumped out of bed and searched the room for something to do, but she had tidied up that morning and there was nothing that needed doing. She moved a few objects at random, but that didn’t help. Where was Galahad? Maybe she should go downstairs and confront him. But no, she might have to make nice with the delegates’ guards and other hangers-on and she wasn’t up for that, especially not the Thespians, who might try to soliloquize for her or worse, pantomime like the kid who wandered into the ward earlier in the evening, pretending to offer entertainment but really just curious to see Zach.
She would have to wait here, but the walls of the room were too close, the corners too dark with only her one electric lantern for light. She paced the narrow space from window to closet and back, sometimes pausing to sit on the bed, only to jump up as if the mattress was on fire and begin pacing again.
After what seemed like hours, she heard the door open and spun around, her heart setting up such a pounding it was a miracle she didn’t faint. Galahad came toward her, smiling in that fond and reassuring way he had, as if she made his day complete just by existing. For a moment, Cassie envisioned herself returning his
smile, dismissing David’s words as the lies of a hurt and jealous boy. She would go with Galahad to the penthouse and they would make love on the patio in the early light of dawn, then dawdle over some exotic snack from the kitchen pantry while spinning dreams of the world they wished they still lived in.
Galahad stopped in the middle of the room and his expression turned to one of concern. “Is everything okay?”
Cassie hesitated. Once she said the words, she wouldn’t be able to take them back. She would have no choice but to follow wherever they might lead.
He put a hand on her arm.
Cassie jumped away. “David came to the clinic tonight. Why didn’t you tell me about Trina?”
Galahad’s features closed down and his eyes grew wary. “What did David think I should’ve told you?”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Cassie shook her head. “He said you’d deny it. So is it true?”
“That I had a girlfriend with the Kevorks? Yes. Are you satisfied now? She didn’t mean anything to me like you do.”
“Of course you’re going to say that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Easy to say since she’s dead.”
“So he told you that, too.”
Cassie lifted her chin. “How did it happen?”
“I don’t know.”
Cassie turned away in disgust. “Liar. All that talk about truth, nobility and civilization, and you can’t even answer a simple question.”
“But I don’t know! I was drinking and taking pills, and the last thing I remember was the argument, or didn’t he tell you that part? There was the fight with David and Trina in the pub, and I think some other people got involved, but it’s all fuzzy, and then there were several hours where I don’t know what happened. The next thing I knew was when I woke up.”
“Just like that?” Cassie held her breath.
Galahad sat on the edge of the bed. “Yes. We were in an office building, but I don’t know how we got there. I tried to do something for her, but she had already been dead awhile.”