Part 61 (1/2)

The screen lit. She went over to it. There was only one item waiting for her.

The regular weekly update. Second week of April, 2290.

She sat down in front of the screen. Her hands were shaking. She clenched them, terrified, not sure why. But something was in it. Something Denys wanted was in that week, that year.

Second week of April.

Second week of April. Five years ago.

She had been at school. In the sandbox. She had started home.

”Selection one.”

It came up. It started scrolling at the usual pace.

Olga Emory.

Deceased, April 13, 2290.

Ari senior had been at school. When her uncle Gregory had come to get her and break the news.

”Dammit!” she screamed, and got up and grabbed the first thing she found and threw it. Pens scattered clear across the bed and the holder hit the wall. She grabbed a jar and threw it at the mirror, and both shattered and fell. she screamed, and got up and grabbed the first thing she found and threw it. Pens scattered clear across the bed and the holder hit the wall. She grabbed a jar and threw it at the mirror, and both shattered and fell.

As Catlin and Florian came running in.

She sat down on her bed. And grabbed up Poo-thing and hugged him, stroked his shabby fur, and felt like she was going to throw up.

”Sera?” Florian said.

And he and Catlin came and knelt down by the side of the bed where she was sitting, both of them, even though she had been breaking things and they must think she was crazy. It was terribly scary for them; it was scary for her to have them come that close when she was already cornered. She knew how dangerous they were. And there was nothing she could trust.

”Sera?” Catlin said, and got up by her, just straightened up, solid muscle, and flowed onto the bed and touched her shoulder. ”Sera, is there an Enemy?”

She could have taken Catlin with her elbow. She thought about it. She knew Catlin did. Florian put his hand on hers, on the edge of the bed. ”Sera, are you hurt? Has something happened?”

She reached up with her other hand and touched Catlin's, on her shoulder. Florian edged up onto the bed on her other side, and she got her breath and got her arm behind Catlin and her hand locked onto Florian's and just sat there a moment. Poo-thing fell. She let him.

”They sent maman away,” she said, ”because Ari's mother died.”

”What, sera?” Florian asked. ”What do you mean? When did she die?”

”The same day. When Ari was the same age. Her uncle came to get her. Just like uncle Denys came for me.” Tears ran out of her eyes and splashed onto her lap, but she wasn't crying, not feeling it, anyway; the tears just fell. ”I'm a replicate. Not just genetic. I'm like you. I'm exact.” exact.”

”That's not so bad,” Catlin said.

”They sent my maman away, they sent her on a long trip through jump, it made her sick and she died, died, Catlin, she Catlin, she died, died, because they wanted her to!” because they wanted her to!”

Catlin tapped her shoulder, hard, leaned up to her ear and whispered: ”Monitors.”

She felt the shock of that reminder in her bones and caught her breath, trying to think.

The scrolling stopped on the screen in front of them.

”Ari, check Base One,” the Minder said. the Minder said.

She made a second gasp after air. Like she was drowning. She held onto Florian and Catlin.

”Ari, check Base One.”

Uncle Denys had known what would come up.

Uncle Denys hadn't wanted her to go on-line tonight. Go to Amy's, he had said.

Then told told her to check the computer. her to check the computer.

”Ari, check Base One.”

”Base One, dammit!” She disentangled herself from Florian and Catlin and thought it was Unusual that uncle Denys and Seely hadn't tried to get in to see about her when the mirror broke. And then she thought that it wasn't Unusual at all.

Not with the room monitored.

She sat down at the terminal, in front of the monitor.

Ari, it said. it said. This is Ari senior. By now you've gotten the update. By now you know some things you may not have figured out before. Are you upset? This is Ari senior. By now you've gotten the update. By now you know some things you may not have figured out before. Are you upset?

”Of course not.” She felt Florian beside her. She grabbed his arm and held it, hard. ”Go on, Ari.”

Your access is upgraded. You are no longer on time-lag. Data is available through April 13, 2295.

She grabbed Catlin's shoulder, on the other side of her.

”Go on, Ari.”

That's when I was 12. Updates will still be weekly.

Good night, Ari.

She clenched down until her fingers hurt; and then she realized what she was doing and let up. ”Log-off,” she said. And sat there shaking.

Catlin patted her shoulder and gave her the handsigns they had made up for Tomorrow, Outside.

Florian signed: Tonight. Take-out Monitor.

She shook her head, and signed: Stay.

And took them each by a hand.