Part 60 (2/2)
She didn't say a thing. She just let him go on.
”I worry, Ari. I really hope I've done all right with you.”
Trying to scare her. Trying to talk like something was going to change. Another maman-event. d.a.m.n him anyway.
I hope you hope you do do Disappear, uncle Denys. Disappear, uncle Denys.
That wasn't quite the truth, but it was a real low move uncle Denys was doing and she wasn't about to show how mad it made her.
”We get along all right,” she said.
”I'm very fond of you.”
G.o.d. He's really pus.h.i.+ng it.
”Ari? Are you mad?”
”I sure am.”
”I'm sorry, sweet. I really am. Someday I can tell you why we do these things. Not now.”
Oh, that's a hook, isn't it?
”You know Amy's mother invited you and Florian and Catlin to come over this evening.”
”I didn't know that. No.”
”Well, she did. Why don't you?”
”Because I feel lousy. And Amy didn't say anything about it.”
”It's a surprise.”
The h.e.l.l.
”I think you've been studying too hard. I think an evening out would do you a world of good.”
”I don't want to go anywhere! I feel lousy! I want to go to bed!”
”I really think you should go to Amy's.”
”I'm not going to Amy's!”
Uncle Denys didn't look happy at all, and began getting up. ”I'll call Dr. Ivanov. I think maybe he did did give you something that's bothering you. Maybe he can send you something.” give you something that's bothering you. Maybe he can send you something.”
”The h.e.l.l he can! I don't want any more shots, I don't want any more blood tests, I don't want any more cameras in my bedroom, I don't want any more people messing with me!”
”All right, all right. No medicine. Nothing. I'll talk to Petros.” He frowned. ”I'm really upset about this, Ari.”
”I don't care.” She got up from the table. She was wobbly from anger. It was out of control. She was. She hated the feeling, hated hated whatever they did to her. whatever they did to her.
”I mean I'm worried,” uncle Denys said. ”Ari, -you're using the computer tonight, aren't you?”
”What has that got to do with anything?”
”Just-when you do-remember I love you.”
That hit her. Uncle Denys saying I I love you? love you? It was a Trap, for sure. It was a Trap, for sure.
It hurt, because it was about the lowest try yet.
”Sure,” she said shortly. ”I'm going to my room, uncle Denys.”
”Hormones,” he said, as shortly. ”It's hormones. Adolescence is a b.i.t.c.h. I'll be glad when you're through this. I really will.”
She walked out, and shut the door between her hallway and the living room.
Florian and Catlin stepped put their door the instant she did.
Saying What's the matter? What's the matter? with their faces. with their faces.
”I'm fine,” she said. ”Uncle Denys and I had a discussion about the taping. You're going to take the unit out first thing tomorrow.”
”Good,” Florian said in a vague, stunned way.
”I'm going to my room,” she said. ”I'm all right. Don't worry about me.
Everything's fine.”
She walked past them.
She closed the door of her room.
She looked at the computer on the desk.
Exactly, she figured, what he wanted her to do. She should frustrate h.e.l.l out of him. Make him worry. Not touch the thing for days.
Not smart. The best thing was find out out what he was wanting. Then deal with it. what he was wanting. Then deal with it.
”Base One,” she said. ”Is there a message?”
”No message,” Base One said through the Minder.
That was not what she expected. was not what she expected.
”Base One, what is is in the system?” in the system?”
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