Part 61 (2/2)
Knowing that five more years of data were in the files. But she had an idea what was in it.
Exactly what was in it.
Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.
Security was still taping. ”Florian,” she said, ”Catlin, we are are going to Security. Right now.” going to Security. Right now.”
Catlin made the sign for Seely.
”They won't stop us. Get your stuff. Come on. We're going to go kill that thing. Hear that, uncle Denys?” Hear that, uncle Denys?”
He didn't answer. Of course not.
She went and washed her face while Florian was getting his small tool kit. While Catlin was getting whatever she thought she might need. Which probably included a length of fine wire.
They walked out into the living room. Uncle Denys was reading at the dining table beyond the arch. Like most evenings. He looked at her.
She said: ”We're going down to Security, in case you missed it.”
”I'll advise them,” uncle Denys said. ”Don't ”Don't break anything, Florian.” Seely was not in the room. Seely should have been. Maybe Seely was monitoring from the office. break anything, Florian.” Seely was not in the room. Seely should have been. Maybe Seely was monitoring from the office.
She stood there and stared at uncle Denys a long, long while. ”Like your maman,” uncle Denys said, ”I've tried to help you.”
”They could kill you.”
”Yes. I know that. You know that. You could do that anytime, if you put your mind to it. We have to take chances like that. Because I'm your friend. Not your uncle. Not really. I've been your friend for as long as you've lived.”
”Which how long?” how long?”
”As long as you've lived. You're Ari. One is is the other. That's what this is about. Neither one of you betrayed the other one. You the other. That's what this is about. Neither one of you betrayed the other one. You are are the one who did all these things-in a very direct sense. Think about it.” the one who did all these things-in a very direct sense. Think about it.”
”You're crazy! Everybody in this House is crazy!”
”No. Go see about Security. I'll tell them. Your accesses have upgraded considerably tonight. You have have real authority in some things. You don't have to live here. You can take your apartment, if you want to. It'll be very large, for a young girl and two azi. But you have the key. If you want to go there, you can. Florian can access the Security system there, and vet it for you. Or you can come back here when you're through. Or you can go over to Amy's. Her mother won't ask any questions.” real authority in some things. You don't have to live here. You can take your apartment, if you want to. It'll be very large, for a young girl and two azi. But you have the key. If you want to go there, you can. Florian can access the Security system there, and vet it for you. Or you can come back here when you're through. Or you can go over to Amy's. Her mother won't ask any questions.”
”Does everybody in Reseune know what I am?”
”Of course. Everybody knew the first Ari. And you began, at least on paper, the day after she died.”
”d.a.m.n you.”
”Same temper, too. But she learned to control it. Learned to use use it, not let it use her. There's a lot of Cyteen history in those data files, too. A lot of Reseune history. A lot of things your education has just-avoided, until now. Once upon a time there was a man who could see the future. He began trying to change his life. But that it, not let it use her. There's a lot of Cyteen history in those data files, too. A lot of Reseune history. A lot of things your education has just-avoided, until now. Once upon a time there was a man who could see the future. He began trying to change his life. But that was was his future. Someday you'll access yours-as far as you want to. Think about it.” his future. Someday you'll access yours-as far as you want to. Think about it.”
”I'm not doing anything you tell me from now on.”
”Ask yourself why five years. Why not six? Why not four? Ask the computer what happened April 13, 2295.”
”You tell me.” tell me.”
”You can look it up. You have the access.”
”I want all my stuff up at my apartment.”
”That's fine. Tell Housekeeping. They can do that first thing in the morning. You'd better pack at least the basics-for the apartment where you're going. Or buy it. Necessaries Necessaries is open round the clock. If you need anything-like advice on how to fill out the paperwork, whatever, -call me. I certainly don't mind helping you.” is open round the clock. If you need anything-like advice on how to fill out the paperwork, whatever, -call me. I certainly don't mind helping you.”
Trust Denys to get to the mundane, the depressing workaday details of anything.
”I'll manage.”
”I know you will, dear. I'm still here. If I can help you I want to. Florian, Catlin, don't let her hurt herself. Please. And take some pajamas.”
”Dammit, uncle Denys, -”
”Dear, somebody somebody has to take care of things. It's usually me. Do you want to go to your apartment, -or do you want to come back and live here for a little while, till you've figured out what it takes to has to take care of things. It's usually me. Do you want to go to your apartment, -or do you want to come back and live here for a little while, till you've figured out what it takes to run run an apartment on your own?” an apartment on your own?”
”No. No, I don't. I'll manage.”
”I'll send Housekeeping for for you. They can't go in up there. But I'll have a package waiting at your door, and send your things on tomorrow. Practical things, Ari. I'll fill out your supply forms for you, and your budget report, you have to have that, or you foul up accounting. I'll give you copies so you know how to set it up in your Base.” you. They can't go in up there. But I'll have a package waiting at your door, and send your things on tomorrow. Practical things, Ari. I'll fill out your supply forms for you, and your budget report, you have to have that, or you foul up accounting. I'll give you copies so you know how to set it up in your Base.”
”Thank you.”
”Thank you, Ari. Thank you for being reasonable about this. This is different from Ari senior, understand. She was fourteen when she moved out of this apartment. But you're overrunning your course too, by a little. Please. Take care of yourself. Can you give me a kiss?”
She stood there, frozen. Out of this apartment. Out of this apartment. She swallowed a lump of nausea. And shook her head. ”Not right now. Not right now, uncle Denys.” She swallowed a lump of nausea. And shook her head. ”Not right now. Not right now, uncle Denys.”
He nodded. ”Sometime, then.”
She clenched her jaw and motioned to Florian and Catlin that they were leaving.
ARCHIVES: RUBIN PROJECT: CLa.s.sIFIED CLa.s.s AA.
DO NOT COPY WITHOUT COMMITTEE FORM 768.
CONTENT: Computer Transcript File #5998 Seq. #1 Denys Nye/Catlin II Emory I/Emory II/Florian II
2418: 4/14: 0048.
AE2: Minder, this is Ari Emory. Florian and Catlin are with me. Print out all entries since I was here last.
Ell: There are two messages.
Welcome to your own home. If you get scared and you want to call me or Security, please don't hesitate. But you're as safe there as here. Trust Florian and Catlin. Take their advice when it comes to your safety.
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