BOOK 3: DISCLOSURE / CH. 13:FOREBODINGS
SATURDAY MORNING, 18TH NOVEMBER
Sarah was cleaning the bathroom when her wrist unit rang. John was doing his bit in the kitchen. “Hi Sarah, I hear that you're in need of some economics education.”
“Oh, who said that, Teresa?”
“Tony said you'd arranged for him to buy me a ring at discount price. It's very pretty, thank you, but you must realise it's costing you the difference? You could have sold it at the full price.”
“He proposed, you've accepted? Congratulations! But, no Teresa, I couldn't have sold it to Tony at full price. He'd have never afforded it.”
“So, you admit it! You've subsided him by I don't want to know how much, and the difference is coming out of your pocket. That's not a cheap engagement present!”
“Not at all! The cost of that ring to me was the time it'll take to bend some gold wire into shape, do a bit of soldering and set a stone. No more. I couldn't have sold that ring at full price, or at least, if I'd sold that one then I wouldn't have sold another. We've been very careful about advertising so far, and we want to stay that way, otherwise we're destroying our market. So, urm, lets say customers are a little thin on the ground.”
“Oh. So Tony was right? I'm being cynically used as a walking advert? How do you know I won't use my current I.D. ”
“Well, I don't imagine you'll risk using the ring as your I.D. in every transaction you ever make, but I'd appreciate if you used it where it might be seen as useful.”
“Of course I will Sarah. It'll give me an extra chance to show off my beautiful ring and so talk about my handsome fiancé.”
“So, have you set a date yet?”
“Not yet. I need to find out if Arnold can come. I'd like him to be there, but I'm thinking that maybe it'll be nice weather on Valentine's day.”
Teresa saw Sarah's face turn white on the display, and herd her whisper. “Not that day Teresa, not that day for your happy day, don't wait 'till then. “'
“Pardon? What's wrong Sarah?”
“I don't know. I'm sorry. John!”
“Are you OK?” Teresa asked.
“I'm fine, I'm sorry, Teresa, I don't exactly know what just happened. But... I'm a bit scared.”
“Scared?”
“I think something bad might happen that day, Teresa. I'll talk it over with John and get back to you. OK?”
“OK. Um, you think it's a bad day for my wedding?”
“I'm not sure what I think, Teresa, but when you said Valentine's day I had a terrible feeling of dread. As though just for a moment I knew it would be a bad day for... lots of people. I need to talk to John. Get him to look in my skull, OK?”
“Um, of course. Can I tell Tony?” Teresa asked, knowing she needed to talk to someone.
“Yes. And do pray please. Lots of prayer.”
“Teresa,” it was John's voice. “I don't remember if we've told you, but sometimes Sarah has what I think of as prophetic insights. Occasionally predictions and more often rebukes. They're often things that could be explained away but since we presume they're from God we don't want to. We'll talk this through and get back to you, maybe we can learn more details. But... Sarah's never had one of these turn out to be wrong.”
“Thanks John.”
“I'm sorry, Teresa.” Sarah said, “This isn't about your joyful news, not really. It's just....”
“Don't wait that long. I heard. That's the bit I'm going to talk to Tony about most of all.”
“God bless, and we'll be in touch soon...”
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John and Sarah held hands, prayed and linked their minds.
[Can you show me what happened Sarahwifelove?] she felt his love surrounding her, and the concern for her in his thoughts.
[Yes of course Johnprotectorlove. I'm O.K. John, it was just... a shock.]
They explored her memory. There wasn't very much she didn't know, but Sarah hadn't wanted to share some of it with Teresa. The words Sarah had said had come with an image of devastation in a city. Crumbled buildings and smoking debris. Other images came after, of the attack on the shopping centre which had so changed their lives. [These are from me, my memories, my imagination, aren't they?]
[Yes Sarahlove. The initial one isn't though. Something bad is going to happen. If that image is true, then.... I don't know. It didn't look like the result of a single bomb.] [Not unless it was nuclear.]
[I didn't see an anything looking like ground zero.] John added.
[A long way off? Away from the city?]
[Maybe. Or an earthquake?]
[It seems a bit more likely, but... It's crazy. What sort of earthquake would do that much damage? I couldn't recognise anything about where it was, could you, Johnlove?]
[No, me neither. We don't know where.]
[But, this isn't random fore-knowledge, it was given for a purpose, surely?]
[We have the Gift. If there are survivors, we can find them.] John said.
[Yes. But we would anyway, surely?] Sarah asked [How does the foreknowledge help that?]
[If we still know no more, I suppose we can spread out, so we have a better chance that one of us is close.] John suggested.
[Yes. Maybe. And we can warn the authorities.]
[Which ones?] he countered. [Everywhere?]
[Maybe. If they'd take such a general warning seriously. I must admit if it wasn't from you, I probably wouldn't in their place.]
[Let's call the others over. It's bigger than just us. We don't want to spark international panic, just on the basis of one strange thought I've had, do we?] Sarah asked.
[I agree, we'll call the others. Teresa too?]
[Yes. Let's get her to come. Tony too. We promised them more details, after all.]
[OK. Would you like to, or me?]
[I'll do it. My vision, or premonition.]
[I'll make some tea then. You'll need it.]
[Once the adrenaline wears off, you mean? Yes, I probably will.]
As they unlinked their minds a thought came to her. “And then I want to revisit the question of babies, John.”
“Pardon?”
“Call it a survival instinct. If there's a risk of losing you, then I want your baby.”
[And if I lose you, and our child, my love? {pain} Like I lost Sally?]
[Oh, John, I'm sorry! I was selfish. I didn't think.] Concern for her husband made her scan him quickly. The thought had gone through him like a knife, almost ripping open the old scars in his mind and tipping him to insanity. [No John, it won't happen. Let's make our babies after then, not before. You mind almost broke there, John. I don't want do that to you, ever. I'm sorry. Seek peace, my love. Seek peace and heal. I'll make you some tea.]
John knew her words were true. He'd felt that flood of pain which had threatened his sanity, and as he sought peace he offered God his pain and his tears, his thankfulness for Sarah, and for the love they shared.
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“Hi, Teresa. We'd like to invite you both over to talk through what I saw and what to do about it. Hopefully the others will be able to come too.”
“The others? You mean Kate and Karen? I presume George can't travel.”
“Pete and Arwood too, maybe Bob if he's free. George and maybe Eliza too, if we can arrange it.”
“Wow, that's some crowd. All at your flat?”
“It won't work will it? Especially not with the security concerns.”
“Safest place I know of is the institute.”
“I'd hoped it could be somewhere else, but it has to be, doesn't it, for everyone to be able to come?”
“Can the others all make it anyway?”
“No idea, I'm calling you first. Is Tony with you by the way?”
“Yes. And apart from quite a lot of wedding planning, I don't think we've anything else on today, so yes, we'll come.”
“What, you're not planning to do any hugging and kissing?”
Teresa laughed “that comes under wedding planning!”
“Good.”
“So, when do we come?”
“I'd love to say as soon as possible, but. I'll just talk to the others. Call you back soon.”
[Friends! Can we all meet, sometime today?] Sarah called mentally.
[What, face to face?] Eliza asked [I'm stuck in a safe-house.]
[Whatever's wrong, Sarah?] Kate asked.
[I had... I don't know what to call it... a vision, a prophetic image, when talking to Teresa this morning. Scary and big.]
[We're free.] Kate said, silently scrapping their plans for looking at new carpets for their living room.
[I'm happy to postpone my essay.] Karen chipped in. [It's not urgent.]
[If it's here, then I can provide some jam and stuff if someone can bring extra bread.] George offered.
[I think I'll be fasting.] Sarah said [But yes, George, that'd be good.]
[Would you like to come, Eliza?] Kate asked.
[Of course!] she answered.
[Then I'll be ringing soon to ask if we can schedule a counselling session for today, as something's come up, and I don't know if I'll be able to do our normal time. That last bit's not a lie, as I never know for certain if I can make our normal time.]
[I expect we might all need counselling as part of this, Eliza, so it's not even dishonest.] Sarah added grimly.
[That's why you want it face to face?] Kate asked.
[Yes.]
[Shall we say one hour at the institute, then?]
[Yes. It's a bit sterile, but it'll have to do.] Sarah agreed. [Oh, I'll be asking Arwood to come too.]
[How about George's flat?] Karen asked [It'll be a bit over crowded, but it's more of a home than a meeting room.]
[Could we use the owners' lounge, Kate?] Sarah asked. [It's a good place for a serious discussion, but comfortable, and big enough that we don't need to sit in each others laps unless we want to. I.. I also think it might be good to be able to see out of the windows, too.]
[Yes, that's fine by me.]
[I'm wondering about inviting Bob too, any thoughts?]
[You know his heart isn't that great, Sarah.] Eliza cautioned. [If you're going to tell us the world's going to end then maybe keep him out of it.]
[I don't think the world's ending, but yes, point taken. He doesn't need the stress.] Sarah agreed. [See you in an hour, I'll tell Teresa and then ruin Arwood's day.]
[See you!]
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Putting the tea-cup beside John, Sarah thought to him. [Tea's ready when you are my love.]
“Thank you, Sarah. God's good. I'm not falling apart now. Is it all arranged?”
“One hour, in the owners lounge, but I need to tell that to Teresa and one of us needs to ruin Arwood's Saturday.”
“Oh, we might not ruin it. He was gong to be decorating, wasn't he?”
“Well, you call him, then. Get Hannah to come too if you can.”
“OK.” he rang the familiar number, and got Hannah. “Hi, Hannah. How's the decorating?”
“Ha! Disagreeing is more like it. We can't agree on colours so we're still at the shop's computer, seeing what the room would be like with practically their whole inventory. We're down to the last twenty-five, but can't decide.”
“I don't want to sound heartless, but I'm really glad you're not up to your eyes in paint sprayers and things. Urm, as a side note, what did it mean, at Mama's funeral that we're in the clan, now?”
“That if you need us we're there for you, John. Even if it means dropping paint brushes. Is it that serious?”
“It's serious, but not ultra-urgent. Sarah's had another prophetic moment. We're meeting in an hour with the ethics crowd and a few others to tailk it over, and we'd really like you both there if humanly possible.”
“We'll be there John. Your place?”
“Urm, no. May works Saturdays at a department store, doesn't she? Which one?”
Hannah named the shop.
“Bingo.” John said. “We'll meet you at the back entrance, if that's OK. Can you get there without rushing?”
“That's fine, John, where do you think we're getting the paint? May working here gets us a discount.”
“That's great. See you at eleven-thirty.”
“God be with you, John.”
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Kate called Eliza, and after talking a bit, Eliza put her through to Bella, the witness protection officer. “Yes, that's right, Bella, I'd like you to bring Eliza to the institute, at eleven fifteen. I know it's not much notice, but she's happy to come. She'll be well protected there, I assure you.”
“Well, OK, and It'll be the normal one hour counselling session?” Bella asked.
“No. I'm not quite sure how long it'll be. It might take much longer than an hour. Can I just give you notice when we're almost finished?”
“We don't work like that, Maam. I need to make sure the witness is safe at all times. I need more details, especially if there are unexpected changes to the schedule, and this is way off the scale of what I can allow.”
“OK, I understand. I'm afraid that, in the circumstances, I can't disclose the details with you, so I'll have to talk to someone with higher clearance.”
“I can connect you to my supervisor if you wish, Maam.”
“I'm sorry, I'll need to go higher than them. I know who to call, but to be polite, it might be nice to alert your supervisor.”
“I'm only doing my job, Maam.” Bella said, wondering if she shouldn't be so by the book.
“Of course you are. But I can't tell you more details of why Eliza should come. I'm in no way seeking to cause trouble for you, Bella.”
“Thank you for that reassurance Maam.”
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Kate checked if Maria was awake. Praise God, she was.
“Hi, Maria, I need someone with influence and prior knowledge. I hope I'm not interrupting anything. “Not much, Kate, how can I help?”
“We're having a crisis meeting, and we'd like Eliza to be with us in person. Since that's not exactly on her schedule the witness protection officer is rightly suspicious and wants to know more.”
“If you go using phrases like 'crisis meeting', then I want to know more too, Kate.”
“Well, I didn't tell her that, I think she probably deserves a commendation for not letting me slip anything past her. I don't know the full story, Sarah received a prophetic warning — directly, that is — and we're going to discuss what to do about it. It obviously scared her, and she's not said much yet except that she doesn't think it's the end of the world, but it's bad.”
“I don't quite see why Eliza needs to be there, Kate. Is there something no one's told me about my niece?”
“Oh. I guess so. Sorry, I thought you knew. Very trustworthy person, your niece, just like Karen, we have that on the highest authority.”
“OK. Well. Yes, I can see the advantage of a face to face meeting. And it's going to be where, the institute? And who else?”
“Sarah asked for the owner's lounge. It'll be all of us there, plus Sarah and John's pastor, Arwood, plus Teresa our legal person and Tony her almost fiancé who are also involved somehow.”
“Well, that's quite a crowd to smuggle in, but you know that. And you'll inform me of everything?”
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“Yes, of course, through Karen?”
“Yes... Or actually, could Pris be involved? There's lift access to the owners lounge isn't there? She's in a wheelchair and going crazy with boredom in the hospital, but she might have some good ideas, and she knows about most of you anyway.”
“If you can get her day-release from hospital, fine. The meeting is due to start at 11.30 this morning.”
“She'll be there. She and Eliza can go in one vehicle, that way they can get to know each other on the way. If you don't think that's going to cause Eliza anguish, about what Roland did to Pris.”
“I think she'll be OK. I'll forewarn her.”
“Good thinking. And I'll forewarn Pris. I'd better send some messages. Bye!”
“Bye”
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Kate rang the contact number she had for Eliza. Bella picked it up, as usual.
“Hello Bella, troublesome me again. A slight change of plan, Eliza will apparently come with a colleague of yours, who'll be reporting on our secret meting to her boss.”
“So, I'm going to be replaced?” Bella asked, still thinking she'd maybe made a mistake.
“Probably not, I don't think she is going to do much protecting from her wheel-chair, but I don't know where either of you are, so can't guess who meets who where. Can I talk to Eliza?”
“Urm, sure!” Confused, Bella handed over the phone.
“Hi, you're going to be coming straight up, no long walk, but the real news, just so it's not too much of a shock, is that you're coming with Pris. You're not to blame for her condition. You know that.”
“But Dad is. Urm.. thanks for the warning.”
“How's Bella? She sounds like she thinks shes in trouble.”
“She does.”
“Then tell her I told Maria she deserves a commendation for well aimed suspicion. Bye!”
“Bye Kate!” Eliza put down the phone. “Bella, do you know of someone urm... influential... called Maria?”
“Yes” Bella answered carefully.
“Kate told me to tell you that she told Maria you need a commendation for well aimed suspicion.”
“Someone with higher clearance, she says! What are you involved in Eliza? Do you know who Maria is?”
“I know her in two roles... I think you're talking about a third.'”
“Oh. You know her? Not just know of her?”
“Well, maybe know her is putting it too strongly, but she debriefed me, and we've talked about other things since. She's nice. But I don't know what her role is in Security. I think that's probably best.”
“Yes. I expect so. I don't know exactly, either, for that matter. But... don't tell any enemies of the state know you know her.”
“I won't.” or, she added to herself, tell you our relationship. “I'll just get ready for my meeting.”
“OK.”
Bella's wrist unit bleeped. She read her new instructions. A vehicle was on route to take her and client to a certain hospital. There, they'd meet agents who would entrust a wounded agent (in wheelchair) to her care. Other vehicles would accompany them as perimeter security. They were to go to a shopping centre where her clients would ascend, with her, in a particular staff elevator. Once they arrived, she would return to the ground in the lift and provide perimeter security under guise of shopping. Purchases would be hers, non-returnable funds had been transferred to her account for this purpose. Her eyes almost popped out. She'd just been given two week's salary to spend in a few hours or keep as she liked.
She called her supervisor. “Do I read this correctly? I'm supposed to go shopping and provide perimeter security at the same time? How?”
He laughed “Well, you don't need to bother looking at the prices much, Bella.”
“This is just a little crazy, isn't it?”
“Not really. If you see anything suspicious, then you're on the spot. But no one planning anything is going to worry about someone on a spending spree. They'll think that you can't be on official business if you're buying yourself pretty dresses and stuff.”
“So I try things on and everything?”
“Of course. Just keep your stunner handy, and remember you might need to give chase, so don't take too much off.”
“You're enjoying this aren't you? How many of you chipped in to the seriously embarrass Bella fund?”
“Who me? I didn't write those orders, Bella. All came from way up on high, along with an official commendation for appropriate suspicion.”
“Oh. Sorry for the recent suspicion.”
“That's OK. It's a neat idea... we could make up orders that send someone to a pub to get drunk.. I know just the person. Shame it'd get me fired if I tried it.”
“Rightly so. But to summarise, I've been given a big pile of money to see if I can hear anyone plotting dastardly deeds in the changing room?”
“Or the dress aisle, the cookware department or anywhere else. Yes. Oh, there was a personal note with it too, if you queried your orders. Doesn't make much sense to me.”
“Oh?”
“It says 'Ask E' I guess that's your client, 'about soldiers in the ballroom. M.' Who's M?”
“I think I know, sir. I'll need to ask E.”
“Fair enough. And then you'll tell me, all about it, right?”
“I think I'd need advice from someone with high clearance on that, sir.”
He laughed “Just testing. You'll go a long way Bella, with a careful attitude like that.”
“Thank you sir.” Bella, bemused rather than confused, closed the connection.
“What do you need to ask me?” Eliza asked.
“I have a message from someone with an initial of M, saying to ask you about soldiers in the ballroom, to explain why I've got the equivalent of two week's pay to splurge in the shop during your meeting, on the off chance that I happen to be in the right place to prevent of an attack on your meeting.”
“Wow. Generous! Told you she was nice.”
“So what's this about the ballroom?”
“When I being rescued, I was told by one of the soldiers about how the ambassador's wife had told them that she could use the embassy ballroom to get married in. And that the wedding food was going to be supplied by the embassy too. Cheapest and yet grandest wedding she'd ever dreamed of. I guess the intended moral of the story is that the service looks after its own.”
“Oh. That's urm, reassuring.”
“I think you're new at this, aren't you?”
“Yes. I keep wondering if I'm going to make a horrible mistake. You know, something that'd ruin my career or get someone hurt.”
“Well, personally speaking, I think you're doing OK. You've got a commendation, a bonus, and I'm still in one piece.”
“How did you know I've got the commendation?”
“I guessed. I don't think a reprimand would come with two weeks pay worth of shopping spree. What are you going to buy? Or are you going to save it?”
“I've got a little kitchen in my part of Mum's house, and have been thinking of getting a new cooker for months. I don't know if that's what I should get. I mean, there are more people on the clothes floors.”
“Well, do both. Look at cookers, and then go and find a nice dress while you think about which one. That way you get to see who's loitering in stairwells too.”
“I guess I could. Wow.”
“I think our meeting will be at least an hour. Probably more like two or three.”
“What's all this about a staff elevator? Is there a conference room, or something?”
“I've really no idea, I've heard the name, that's all. The institute owns it, or mostly.”
“That is where Bob McDaniel reports from, isn't it. Isn't it spooky, going where people can read your thoughts?”
“No. That's not spooky. They're nice people there, who value your privacy. It's almost like a family. Spooky is thinking that your mind has been read by an international terrorist who threatened to rape you, and is now trying to get out of jail based on a technicality.”
“Oh, you'd heard about that?”
“Yes.”
“It won't happen.”
“I hope it won't. But it's a bit scary, even so.”
“But you'd trust the mind-readers at the institute?”
“Oh yes. With my life. They've already saved it once, well, some of the fifty have, I should say. Very trustworthy people regarding secrets. And that's not just my assessment, it's God's”
“I don't believe in God.”
“I think that's the saddest thing anyone's told me in a long time.”
“Eh? Why is that sad?” Bella asked, confused once more.
“You seem like a nice person with their head mostly screwed on, but you're so wrong there, I guess it's no wonder you're full of worries.”
“But it's all nonsense! I mean, take Odin and all the Norse gods, for instance. I don't know how anyone could believe in any of that pack of misfits.”
“No. Nor do I.”
“And the Greek gods are just one personality disorder after another.”
“Agreed.”
“So, how can you believe in some made up misfit personality disorder just based on a story from before they knew the earth was round?”
“Wow. You have been listening to the wrong people, haven't you. You're not an anarchist are you?”
“What? No, of course not!”
“But pseudo-theocracy, oligarchy pretending to be democracy and military dictatorship are all terrible ways of ruling a country, so surely you should reject all forms of government. By the logic you apply to God, anyway.”
“Urm, I think I get your point. You mean I need to examine them all before I dismiss them?”
“Not really. I mean that just because almost all religions are rubbish it doesn't mean they all are. Personally I don't recommend you check out all of them.”
“Just yours?”
“Well, I'm convinced of its truth claims, but I haven't met many people who still offer the blood of their victims to Thor or Odin or whoever, I'm happy to say.”
“So I should choose a religion based on popularity?”
“No, Bella. On truth. I've not noticed that truth is particularly popular, but really, I can't recommend anything else.”
“Ooh. Didn't someone famous say 'my truth is better than your truth'?”
“I don't know. I do know someone who once said I am the way the truth and the life.”
“I've heard of him, I think.” Bella acknowledged “Executed for saying be nice to each other.”
“Not quite.” Eliza corrected, “more like executed for upsetting the religio-political system where the priests were the wealthiest people and the group of people who were well known for being religious really liked to be known as religious, no matter if they actually were or not. Among other things he told them that God wanted them to trust him rather than paying so much attention to their public approval ratings.”
“That's an interesting take on it. So, you wholeheartedly follow his teaching and think that'll earn you bonus points with God?”
“Well, I try to follow, but as for the bonus points, they're not as important to me as the relationship.”
Bella's wrist unit chimed, she checked it. “We're going to have to stop talking and start moving, Eliza, our transport is here.”
Eliza had a thought [Karen, do I remember you saying that Pris is a Christian?]
[Yes. Why?]
[Tell you soon.]
“Well, maybe we can get another opinion from your colleague, Pris”
“What, the person we're meeting? Do you know her?”
“Of her. My Dad put her in hospital.”
“Why?” Bella was confused. She knew Eliza's father was awaiting trial, but no more details than that.
“I think he said it was for the greater good, or something. He's probably going to be in a secure psychiatric unit if they don't execute him for his crimes.”
“Oh. I hadn't made the link. Urm, so am I going to be escorting you or keeping you apart while she tries for some payback?”
“I think the former, Bella, but we'll have to see.”
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The transport brought them to the hospital, and a number of security officers, recognisable as always, pushed a wheelchair to their vehicle.
“Hi, you must be Pris. I don't know if Dad is sorry, but I am.”
“Hi Eliza. I'm mending, thanks.”
“Just before we left, Bella here was telling me that all Gods are alike and none are worth following. I told her I thought that was a sad error of logic.”
“I'd say so. Bella, have we met? I'm Pris. I'd shake your hand but my fingers are still new.” Pris waved her arm, which was fully bandaged, and ended in thick padding.
“Urm, hi Pris. I think I've seen you at headquarters.”
“And you really think all gods are the same?”
“Maybe not. Eliza's pointed out a few errors in my logic.”
“That's good. We don't need to send you to get your head examined then.” she said that bit laughing, to take the sting out of it.
“Do you two know what I told God this morning?” Pris asked, not entirely rhetorically, given the company — Maria had pointedly told her that Eliza had quite a lot in common with Karen and she'd got the point.
“No, go on.” Eliza prompted.
“That if he didn't get me out of the hospital soon, then, urm, I wasn't going to be a very happy person. Ten minutes later, I got told to put on my best dress because not only was I going to get out of that place, but I've got real work to do! This is so much fun! Shame about the topic. How much does Bella know?”
“That we're going to a meeting, no more, except she's got to go on a shopping spree, so she can provide some low profile perimeter security.”
“Ooh, have fun! Don't expect to get that assignment very often.”
“You've heard of it before?”
“Oh yes. I've even heard of attacks prevented because of it.”
“That's a relief. I'm glad I'm not unique.” Bella sighed.
“Oh, I expect God only made one of you, so you're special to him whatever you think.” Pris said.
Bella looked at the slightly older woman, confused once more. Pris was clearly happy, chatting, in a carefree way to her and her attacker's daughter, as though they were old friends. All the while heavily bandaged and by Bella's book she would have been fully entitled to have been bitter and twisted about what had happened.
“Are you sure you two have never met?”
“No, never. I'd be in deep trouble if we had.” Pris answered.
“Oh? Can you tell me why?” Eliza asked.
“Because Maria doesn't like not knowing things.”
“Ah, yes, that makes sense.” Eliza agreed.
“Not to me, it doesn't.” Bella offered.
“When he was under arrest, dad had been muttering about being blackmailed, but Maria had no idea how anyone could blackmail him.”
“But.. Oh, she didn't know about you, you mean?”
“Yes.” Eliza confirmed.
“But if I'd met Eliza it would have to have been from before any of this happened. In which case I should have told Maria.”
“So he was already on the radar?”
“And how!” Pris exclaimed “A politician who's in prison for abuse of power, with entirely credible accusations of worse floating around, but the witnesses all happen to have fatal accidents? Who then gets granted release earlier than should have been possible?”
“So, why wasn't anyone checking up on his communications?” Bella asked. “Surely they should have noticed he had a daughter.”
“Oh they did. Maria told me that apparently they thought the little detail of my existence was common knowledge and never bothered mentioning it on his records. Since he was keeping me ignorant about his criminal activities, everything he told me was of no interest to Security at all.”
“OK, that makes sense. But I'm still confused. Really confused. How is it that you, Pris, and you, Eliza, are so much on the same wavelength that I can hardly tell who started this conversation, and not only that but you're geting on so well! Plus, I haven't heard a word of bitterness about what happened to you, Pris, when I know how much regrowth therapy hurts, really hurts. You don't speak like you're blissed out on pain meds.”
“Well, I'm on something to take the bite out of it. But yes, it hurts. It's hurt so long that it's sort of normal, but you wouldn't have seen me like this when my nose was growing back. Yikes, that burnt.”
“And the rest?”
“Well, you see we were warned that we'd be meeting, and the Christian ladies who warned us knew that we are both Christians. So they passed on that information to us, so that's why Eliza had prior knowledge to dump you in it, by way of introduction. Which, along with her apology, no that's not the right word, her expression of regret for her father's crimes made me certain we'll be friends. Did I get that right Eliza?”
“Well, it wasn't Kate who told me about your coming to faith, but... someone younger.”
“I should have known. Sorry Bella, you don't need to know who we both know.”
“That's OK. I'm used to it. Everyone knows too much already without learning any more than they need to.”
“Well put!” Eliza said wholeheartedly. “Bella, just so you know... that's the attitude of the mind-readers at the institute. Yes, it can be helpful, their gift got Pris and me out of trouble, but they really don't want to know your innermost secrets.”
“That's where our conversation started isn't it?”
“Yes. And I think it's stopping there for a bit, too. I think we're almost there.”
“It would really ruin my day if we got shot at and the meeting got cancelled.” Pris announced. “Anyone see any snipers?”
Eliza took the thought seriously; after all, they were in a convoy of bullet-proof vehicles. There was a chance, however slim, that someone would try for a shot just for that fact. There were occasionally gang initiations that took that form. She thought of people secretly preparing to shoot and focussed on this area. A red dot, on top of one building her side and another on the other side. She looked out of her window. There was a man there, she saw him duck. “Pris, Bella, I've just seen someone duck. He was on top of that building. Did your briefings say anything about marksmen?”
“Vehicle maintain speed, do not stop!” Bella commanded. “No. Just that other agents would accompany us and provide perimeter security.” Bella said. “Which building?”
“That medium height one.”
“I'll call it in.” Bella said, then tapped on her wrist unit. “Bella here, almost arrived. One person spotted on left hand roof top, laying low, ineffectively. Ooh, look, another head right side, same height building, so they can wave at each other. Two people. Please confirm or deny they're ours.”
There was a pause. “Denied. Armed?”
“Yes, both armed.” Eliza confirmed. Thus gaining a surprised look from Bella.
“Line of fire to destination?” headquarters asked.
“Uncertain, marginal.” Bella replied.
“Deviation plan gamma.” instructed headquarters.
“Vehicle, deviation plan gamma.” Bella instructed the navigation system. Plan gamma would cause them to turn off the planned route as soon as possible and then approach from another direction.
“Airstrike en-route, agents dispatched.” reported headquarters. “Have a nice trip, and keep your eyes peeled.”
“Airstrike?” Elisa asked Pris.
“Rocket drone with a sleep gas projector. Goes up, spots them and then swoops past and gasses them. They've got about ten seconds before they're seen by the drone, unless they're under cover, and then another five before they get all sleepy. Certain about them being armed?”
“Yes. Absolutely”
“Interesting decision you had to make.” Pris commentated.
“The secret's not worth lives, Pris. And I think Bella can keep secrets.”
“You? You're one of them?” Bella stuttered.
“I know, odd isn't it? I certainly didn't expect God to give me the Gift. I grew up trying to work out how to not use the Power, then get landed with this.”
“When did it happen?” Pris asked.
“Funny thing is, I got it, used one aspect of it to escape my captors, and it was only when I went to the institute that they realised I must have it.”
“How do you use something when you're not aware of it?” Bella asked.
“If you think in a language I don't know, Bella, then, when I just had the Power, it would let me hear your thoughts but I wouldn't understand them. But with the Gift, I understand any thoughts I hear. In case you're wondering, Bella, I've not heard anything from you. Thank you for wearing gloves.”
Bella's mind was working quickly, now. “Pris, you knew?”
“Yes. “' she answered simply.
“And this meeting?”
“Is going to happen with or without us being present, but I'd like to be there.” Eliza said.
“But it's of a group of you gifted? That's why the high security presence?”
“I'm of the opinion the security is because there are three of us attending who are in witness protection. That's a bit unusual. Groups of gifted meet quite often.”
“At the institute?”
“Bella!” Pris rebuked the junior agent, “Do you have a need to know?”
“Let's let Eliza decide.” And she took off a glove and held out her bare hand.
[I've worn gloves a long time Eliza.] Bella thought.
[So why is the institute so 'spooky'?]
[Just because you're used to talking, it doesn't mean radio is normal. Let alone x-ray vision. And as for blabbing about it! Wow, that was brave, foolhardy or both.]
[I think I understand.]
[And you could just decide to know where snipers were and then you did?]
[Yes, sort of.]
[But you've never used it to find thought-hearers?]
[No! Why would I?]
[Curiosity?]
[I've a friend who used it to check if someone was a thought-stealer. But the evidence was already pointing that way. We need a good motive.]
[And there are no more snipers in the city?]
[No idea.]
[But you could?]
[Yes.]
[But you don't?]
[I suppose today could be 'bad day to be a sniper day.' Why not?] Eliza said.
[Pardon?]
[That's what we call it when we grass up different types of criminals. We've said we'd try to avoid repeating or there being a pattern that would help the criminals to switch their methods to something worse. I'll have a chat to the others.]
[When you meet this morning?] asked Bella.
[You're fishing again. We don't need to meet to chat, Bella.]
[You're right, I'm fishing.]
[Why?]
[Strange, scary dream I once had, years ago.]
[Oh?]
[Me in a room, people around me, talking in my head, without touching, and asking if they could look at a dream about Valentine's day.]
[Odd dream.] Eliza commented [Why scary?]
[Because it was impossible, and prophetic dreams are so, I don't know, primitive tribal superstition! And then the institute tells the world the big secret, and the bigger secret about people like you. That's scary and spooky. So, do I have a need to know? Is that dream real?]
[I'm... not sure. You really refuse to believe that God might exist? If there is an omniscient, caring creator then they're not that unreasonable.]
Bella dropped hands and said quietly “Not sure.”
Pris had watched them in silence, drawing her own conclusions. “Bella, you could have told us! You've got a useful talent there.”
“Who should I tell? I don't remember getting a memo saying 'Thought hearers please contact so and so for potential reassignment.' I've not had much experience, but from what I've seen so far I like witness protection. Mostly civilised with some excitement from time time to time. I also don't want to hear guys thinking about my cleavage for a living, thank you. That gets old quickly.”
“It's gross, isn't it?” Eliza agreed.
“Not necessarily for reassignment.” corrected Pris, “But it could be very useful, in the right circumstances.”
“It's not like I can use it to cry for help, Pris.” Bella pointed out.
“No, but if Eliza or someone equally gifted checked up on you, and you needed to talk, then you could. If they know you can hear them.”
“OK, I accept it is possibly useful, but socially its normally a handicap.”
“Well, of course that's another reason ... If enough of you admit you have the Power then maybe every so-often you could have get-togethers. You know... meet like-minded people, see if you happen to get on with any.”
“Urm.. maybe. Are you suggesting there might be official funding for such dating opportunities?”
“Don't know. Want me to put it to Maria? She might even approve it as long as she gets invited to the weddings.”
“Pris! That is a joke, isn't it?” Eliza asked.
“Yes.” Pris admitted “Partly, but surely you can think of a reason to meet?”
“Maybe. Bella, can you hide?”
“Pardon? You don't mean hide and seek, I presume.”
“I mean hide your intentions, turn off your receiver, be safe from mental attack?”
“Mental attack? How?”
“OK, Pris, I think there's a motive here for meeting everyone with the Power, at least once. Bella, you're at risk. Bad guys with the power, like my attacker's henchman, say, can fill your mind with horrors, and if you can't hide your thoughts you're in trouble. We don't have time for me to teach you now, sorry.”
“Hopefully I'm not going to meet any for the next few hours.”
“I hope not. OK if I check up on you every so often?”
“How invasive are you talking? My every thought?”
“No! Just like touching, or if you like, then I can just check your emotional state, like looking at your face. That's all I'd do without permission or real concern for your safety.”
“But touching is two-way.”
“Yes. So, I'd tell you when I'm listening in, and you're free to tell me to leave you in privacy. And I will. OK?”
“Err, OK. Now, please, can you check for more snipers, in case those two were just the vanguard?”
“Of course.”
Eliza concentrated on people getting ready to shoot non-criminals and looked at the skin of the city. “No one preparing to shoot non-criminals in the city.” she reported.
“Nice touch there.” Pris said.
“Why didn't you just say innocent people?”
“Because we're all guilty of something, Bella. Much easier not to use thoughts without an absolute sense.”
“But a sniper waiting to shoot a rival drug baron wouldn't have registered.”
“No. But there could be police operations in progress where the officers are preparing to shoot if the criminals are armed, so I didn't want to see them. I made that mistake last time.”
“I see. Tricky.” Pris acknowledged.
“Languages are messy and vague things.” Eliza said.
“And we don't need to wait in the vehicle any more.” Bella pointed out. They'd arrived. She reported in “Bella here, elevator, here we come.”
“Acknowledged. Spot any more snipers?”
“Negative.”
“Good. Those two won't be rejoining their gangs for a while. Finger prints all over the stolen guns they had.”
Bella thumbed open the door and gently pulled Pris's chair out.
“I guess it's my I.D. that'll we need to use.” Eliza said. “But Bella, you're security, I'll be the muscle and push Pris's chair. OK?”
“Thanks.” Pris said “But if you being the muscle makes me the brains, we might be in trouble.”
“Well, rather the brains than a sack of potatoes. Your dress wouldn't look nearly so nice on a potato sack.” quipped Eliza.
“Urm, thank you, I think.”
They reached the elevator and Eliza let it scan her I.D. The door opened at once.
“No lift buttons?” Bella observed, once they'd entered.
“This elevator has voice control. Your destination is pre-programmed as Owners' Lounge.” responded the loudspeaker. “Acknowledged. No override.” Elisa said.
“I heard rumours about there being an ultra secret owners' lounge, when I worked here as a kid.” murmured Bella.
“Now you know. It's real. The institute is the majority shareholder still. Hold on a bit.”
[Kate, Bella used to work at the store, can she have a look around for a bit or is everyone there already?]
[You're the last I'm afraid. Maybe at the end?]
[Sounds good. Thanks.]
“Bella, you've got an invitation to look round after the meeting. Interested?”
“Of course! Is it really dripping with gold and diamonds?” Bella asked.
“I seriously doubt it. I heard the owner almost went broke, that's why he sold shares in the shop.”
“Oh well, there goes that rumor.”
“Well, here we are” Pris remarked. “Have a nice shopping spree!”
“I'll try!” Bella said.