MASTER LIST OF FACILITIES AVAILABLE WITHIN THE GRISEL STELLAR SYSTEM: DATA FILE CORRESPONDING TO THIS LABEL DOES NOT EXIST. “I know my way around most computer systems, but I’ve been getting nowhere with this one. Everything I want to find out about seems to have vanished.”
Josh thought of the ruined storage unit, sitting at the bottom of the bodger pond. Winnie had assured him, along with Rick and Hag, that the computer problems had nothing to do with what they had done. But why assume that she was right? Brewster certainly wouldn’t.
Perhaps the fight and the broken unit that resulted were the source of the computer difficulties. But if so, Josh wasn’t going to be the one owning up to it.
He nodded, vaguely agreeing with Amethyst, and backed away. She had ruined his idea that he could learn anything from the computer files about balloon-tree seeds, ruperts, or anything else on the planet. He saw no reason to stay and possibly be questioned by Sig and Amethyst.
It was dusk outside, and the day’s experiences had made him supersensitive. When a hand gripped his arm as he left the building, he shied away instinctively.
“Shh! It’s only me.”
Josh could breathe again. Topaz. She was standing close and spoke in a whisper.
“What do you want?” Josh did not use the same low voice, and she at once put her hand across his mouth.
“Shh. I have to talk to you—but not here. Don’t say anything. Just come with me.”
Josh followed her around the building. He wondered what was next on the agenda. The day had been full of surprises, but regardless of Sapphire’s suspicions about him and her sister, Josh couldn’t see this as an evening invitation for a hot date.
Near the back wall of the building, Topaz halted and turned. She moved closer, until her face was only a few inches from his. Off to their right, Grisel was dipping toward the horizon like a great, glowing ember.
“I’m sorry I was rotten to you earlier.” Topaz’s cheeks were ruddy, and her expression earnest in the half-light. “But what you suggested was really impossible.”
“It was?” Josh wondered what she was talking about.
“Yes. Impossible for Ruby, I mean. She’s too little, and Saph would never agree. But it’s not impossible for me. I like Dawn a lot, and I think I get through to her better than anyone. I feel sure that she likes me, too. I’d take really good care of her.”
“But what about Sapphire?” Josh had finally caught on to what the conversation was about. “And what about Brewster? You must have as many duties as I do. What will he do if you and Dawn up and vanish?”
“Who cares what he’ll do? What can he do, worse than what he does all the time? Especially if we come back with a smart rupert. He’ll have to admit that you were right. It was your idea, you know, not mine.”
“So if anyone goes, it ought to be me.” But something inside Josh hesitated at the thought.
“No. I’d be better—and it’s not because you’re incompetent, or anything like that.”
“Then why?”
“Because you’re male. I’d be able to help Dawn with female stuff, and you wouldn’t. Do you want to hear the details of what I mean?”
“No.” On that point at least, Josh was sure.
“So you agree?” Topaz leaned closer. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and her face was a pale blur with no features distinguishable. “If you do agree, I’ll start to make plans. It won’t work the way you suggested, though. I can’t just wander off with Dawn, and then if we don’t find anything, come back and do the same thing over again the next day. Brewster would never allow it to happen twice. This has to be a one-shot deal. All right?”
“Go slower. I guess I am dumb, even though you say I’m not. You’re right about it being a one-time opportunity, but I still don’t understand why. Why do you want to do this? It can’t be just to find a rupert.”
“You’re not dumb. You’re supersmart to realize there must be something more in it for me. If you promise not to tell anyone else—ever—I’ll explain what it is.”
“I’ll never tell.” Josh felt oddly flattered. “No matter who asks me.”
“Good. Now tell me, I’m one of four sisters. Which one am I?”
“You’re Topaz.” That was enough of an answer for Josh, but obviously not for her, because she stood waiting. He tried again. “You’re the second oldest.”
“Right.” But it still wasn’t the correct answer, because Topaz made an annoyed noise that Josh had heard a thousand times from his mother.
“And—you’re the most attractive,” he said at last.
Topaz snorted louder this time. “Get lost, Josh Kerrigan. I’m not fishing for half-baked compliments. You had it right before. I’m the second oldest, number-two child. That’s all you or anyone else can think of to say about me. Saph is the oldest, she’s the boss and acts like she’s our mother. Amy is the brain, she remembers everything she reads on the first go while the rest of us struggle. Ruby is the baby. We all look out for her and try to give her whatever she wants. But I’m not anything, I’m just child number two. That’s why I want to do this. I want to be someone special and different.”
It was no reason at all, and that’s why Josh couldn’t argue with it. He nodded, realized that Topaz probably could not see the movement, and said, “All right. I agree. And I do trust you with Dawn. I always have.”
“Thanks, Josh. I appreciate that.”
“And I meant what I said about you being the most attractive.”
“Now you’re trying a come-on.” Arms reached out in the darkness, located Josh, and hugged him. “That’s all right, I like it anyway. You couldn’t have said anything to make me happier.”
It was always nice to feel that you were someone special, Josh had to agree with that. It was also all right to be hugged.
There was only one problem. Josh, strolling back around the building with Topaz on his arm, under the alien sky of Solferino, was sure that he had done nothing to deserve either.
Chapter Fifteen
Next morning Josh awoke filled with excitement. The feeling faded as the morning went on, for during that day and the three following it became clear that planning was one thing, but carrying something out was quite a different matter.
The problem was Brewster. He was loud, and bullying, and sometimes strangely ignorant or disorganized; but he was the boss. He kept everyone running from early in the morning to late at night. Even Ruby was not excused, which shot down Josh’s idea that she might be able to come and go as she pleased. Winnie Carlson was the subject of special wrath and scorn. Something on Solferino did not agree with her, and she appeared each day yawning, pale, and blotchy, with dark bags under her eyes. Brewster assumed that she was his personal slave, and ordered her around accordingly; Winnie never uttered one word of protest.
Josh was able to talk to Topaz for only a few minutes a day, and rarely alone. Their plan had to be unsuspected not only by Brewster, but also by everyone else—especially Sapphire. Josh had to be content with a quick nod from Topaz, or her terse, “Getting stuff together. Making a food cache beyond the fence. Pass me anything you can snitch—I can’t take too much, and I don’t think we dare try to live off the land.” He had no idea what Topaz said to Dawn, but his cousin’s smile was as Sphinx-like and mysterious as ever.
The compound and buildings began to feel like home. Everyone learned how to use the cleaning facilities, the kitchen, and what was left of the computer systems. After four days it even felt natural to wake to a dawn of reds and orange, or stroll from building to building across a purple sward.