Perfect Worlds Omnibus
Page 18
Itwasafterbreakfastthatthingsdifferedwildlyfrombasictraining.
Insteadofcalisthenics,theyweretakentotheirclassrooms.ThereSheriwas expectedtolearnhowtosew.
Inthetwoweekssinceherarrival,theothergirlshadsewnprettydresses, blouses,andslackswhileSherihadmanagedtodarnonesock.Whensheheld
thisupforMissSundre,Sherilookeddownatherfeetsoshewouldn’thaveto seetheteacher’sreaction.
Asexpected,theoldwomancluckedhertongue.“Thiswon’tdoatall, younglady.Thisstitchwouldn’tholdupforevenanewborn.”Foremphasis, MissSundrestabbedafingerthroughtheendofthesock.
“I’msorry,MissSundre.MaybeI’mjustnotcutouttobeaseamstress.”
Theoldwomanshookherhead.“Ifyoueverwanttobeaproperwife,you mustlearntosew.”
“WhatifIdon’twanttobeawife?”
Theroomfellsilent.Theothergirlsturnedtostareather.Sherihad wantedtosaythatforweeks,thoughshehadn’tthoughtitwouldbethat controversialathought.MissSundrecluckedhertongueagain.“Such impudence.Comealong,you’regoingtoseetheheadmaster.”
“Theheadmaster?ButIdidn’tmean—”Beforeshecouldgettherestout, MissSundrehadseizedSheri’sarmandbeguntodragherfromtheroom.Afew snickersaccompaniedSherionherwayout.
OnthewaydownthehallSheri’sfaceturnedvolcanichot.Shehadnever failedanythingsobadlybeforeinherentirelife.Fromherfirstdayofschool, shehadalwaysbeenthebest.Shehadalwaysbeenatthetopofherclass.But thiswasn’tevenanythingimportant,juststupidsewing.Itwasn’tfair!
MissSundreopenedthedoortotheheadmaster’soffice.Thenameonthe frostedglassandonthegoldplaqueonhisdeskwasTaiLecau.Itdidn’tcome asasurprisetoSheritoseethemanwho’dbroughthertotheschoolbehindthe desk.“Ohdear,whatseemstobetheproblem?”Mr.Lecausaid.“Haslittle Sherihurtherself?”
“No,sir.”MissSundrewentontoexplainwhathadhappenedinthe classroom.Duringthis,Sheristareddownatherfeetlikethescoldedchildshe was.
“Isee,”Mr.Lecausaid.“WouldyouletSheriandIhaveamomentto talk?”
MissSundrenoddedandthenhurriedoutoftheroom.Mr.Lecaumotioned toaplasticchairinfrontofhisdesk.“Haveaseat,sweetheart.”
“Yes,sir,”shemumbledandthensatdown.Shecontinuedtolookdownat herfeet.
Mr.Lecaucamearoundthedesktoputahandonhershoulder.“Now, Sheri,whywouldyousaysuchathingtoMissSundre?Youknowsewingis importantforawomantobeagoodwifetoherhusband.”
“ButIdon’twanttobeawife.”
“Nownow,don’tbesilly.Alllittlegirlswanttogetmarried.”
“I’mnotalittlegirl.MynameisLieutenantSheriKodanofthePhera SpaceCorps.Myserialnumberis—”
“Mymy,suchimagination.”HetippedSheri’schinupsoshecouldlook himintheeye.“Mydeargirl,thereisnoSpaceCorpsandeveniftherewere, you’remuchtooyoungtobeinit.Why,you’reonlysixyearsold.”
“Six—?”TherewasaglintoflightagainfromMr.Lecau’sring.A momentlater,Sheri’sbodybegantoshrink,herfeetrisingfartherawayfromthe floor.Thehemofherjumperwentdownallthewaytothesolesofhershoes whilethesleevesofherblousewerelooseaboutherupperarms.
Mr.Lecauheldupamirrorsoshecouldseethatherhairhadgottenlonger, toalmosthershoulders,buttheheadbandremainedinplace.Herfrecklesand glasseswerestillthereaswell,thelatterlookingevenbiggeronherfacenow.
Shewasstillageek,justasmalleronenow.Sheriputahandtohercheekand thenturnedtoMr.Lecau.“It’syou!You’redoingthis.Buthow?”
“Don’tworryyourprettylittleheadaboutit,sweetheart.Butunderstandif Ihavetoseeyouinhereagain,yourpunishmentmaybemoresevere.”
Sherigulpedatthisassheimaginedherselfababyagain,helplesstodo anythingbutbawl.“I’lldobetter,sir.Ipromise.”
Betteryet,shewouldfindawayoutofhere.
***
Shedidn’tgobacktosewingclass.AftersheemergedfromMr.Lecau’s office,Sheriwastakenbacktothebarracks,whereshespenttherestofhernight inbed,withoutanydinner.Thenextmorningafterbreakfastshewasshipped offtothecookingclass.
Itbecameapparentthemomenthercakemixbecameabowlofyellowsoup thatshewouldn’tfareanybetterherethaninsewing.Thatmadeitallthemore importantshefindawayoutofherebeforeMr.Lecaudidanythingelsetoher.
Butwherewouldshego?Ifhereallyhadthekindofpowerthatcouldchange thewholeplanetandtheirshipindeepspace,wherecouldshegothatwouldbe safe?Shedidn’thaveanyideaanddecidedtoworryaboutonestepatatime.
Whenhersunken,gooeycakecameoutoftheoven,MissLundyclucked hertongueasMissSundrehadsomanytimes.“Younglady,thatisnot acceptable.”
“I’msorry.”
“Thewaytoaman’sheartisthroughhisstomach.Ifyoucan’tcook,you’ll neverfindahusband.”
“Yes,ma’am,”shemumbled,thoughshewantedmorethananythingto screamthatshedidn’tcareifsheeverfoundahusband.Shedidn’twantto spendtherestofherlifetendingtosomedirty,smellybrutelikeTery.Butthat’s
whatwouldhappenunlessshefoundawaytostopMr.Lecau.
Inthemeantimeshehadtotrytodobetterinherclasses.Shewouldhave tobecomeatleastanadequatecookorelseshe’dfailagain.Thethoughtof failingtwosubjectsfilledherwithdread.Study,shethought.Study,plan,and thenexecute.Thatwasthewaythey’dtaughtherinbasictraining.
Fortherestofthedayshewatchedtheothergirls,especiallythebestcooks intheclass.Shenotedwhattheydidandhoweffortlesslytheydidit.
Tomorrowshewouldhavetodoitjustaseffortlesslyorelseshewouldfailfor certain.Iwon’tletthathappen,shethoughtandclenchedherscrawnylittlefists.
***
Shehadfailed.Sheknewthisevenbeforeherblackenedchickensetoffthe smokedetectorsintheroom.Forthelastweekshehadstudiedtheothergirls andtriedtomimicthem.Stillshecouldn’tmanagetocookanythinglikethey did.Everythingshedidturnedintoadisaster.
MissLundyhurriedover,herfacelikeanangrystormcloud.“Whathave youdone,youlittlefool?”
“I’msorry,”Sherimumbledagain,asshehadallweek.“Idon’tknowwhat happened.”
“Whathappenedisyouruinedaperfectlygoodmeal—again.Idon’tknow whytheyletsuchadunderheadinmyclass.”Thiswasaccompaniedbysnickers fromtherestoftheclass.
Sheribegantocry.Shewasalaughingstock.A failure.Shethoughtback againtoherbasictraining.Therehadbeenagirltherewhomusthavebeenfifty kilosoverweight.Shehadn’tbeenabletomarchtwentymetersbeforeshetired.
TherestofSheri’sunitlaughedatthegirl,whileSherihadonlysmugly congratulatedherselfonnotbeingsuchanobviousfailure.
Butthatwashernow.Shewasthatfatgirlintheunitnow,theonethe othersmocked.Shewastheonetheyheldupasthemeasuringsticktosay,“At leastI’mnotasbadasher.”Shewasacautionarytale.
Sheriran.Shegotaboutahundredmetersdownthehallbeforeahand grabbedherfrombehindandswungherintotheair.Throughhertearsshe recognizedtheblackbeardandblackeyesofTaiLecau.Therewasaflashof whiteashegrinnedather.“What’sthematter,sweetheart?Areyousick?”
“No.I’mafailure,”shemuttered.
Mr.Lecausetherdownonthefloor.Heledherintothemesshall,where theycouldshareabench.Hedrapedhisarmoverhershoulder.“Nowwhydo yousaythat?”
“BecauseIcan’tdoanythingright.Ican’t
sewandIcan’tcook.”
“Isee.WouldyouliketoknowwhatIthinktheproblemis?”
“What?”
Hetappedherchest.“Theproblemisyoustilldon’twanttobeawife.
Youdon’twanttobeaproperwoman.Youstillwanttobeaspaceexplorer.
Don’tyou?”
“No.”
“It’snotnicetolie,younglady.”
“Whycan’tIbeaspaceexplorer?It’sallIeverwantedtobe.”
“Youhavetounderstandthatworldisgonenow.It’stimeforyoutolearn yourplace.It’stimeforallyougirlstolearnyourplace.Thisistheageof men now.Doyouunderstand?”
Sherinodded.Shedidunderstand,butshewouldn’tacceptit.Ifhehad changedthings,thenhecouldunchangethemtoo.Orsomeonecoulddoitfor him.Ifonlysheunderstoodhowhe’ddoneit.Thenshecouldstophim.
“Theresheis!Ioughttogivethatlittlebrataproperthrashing,”Miss Lundysnarled.
Mr.LecausqueezedSheri’sshoulder.“It’sallright,MissLundy.Sheriwill behaveherselffromnowon.Won’tyou?”
“Yes.”
“Good.Now,Ithinkyoushouldgobacktoyourbunktocontemplatewhat you’vedone.Butfirst,apologizetoMissLundy.”
“I’msorry,MissLundy,”shemumbled.
“Sayitlikeyoumeanit.”
“I’msorryIwasbad,”Sherisaidwithmoreconviction.
“That’sallright,dear.Yougettoyourbedandturnin.”MissLundyshook afingeratSheri.“Nodinnerforyoutonight,younglady.”
“Yes,ma’am.”
AsSheriwasabouttogetoffthebench,shenoticedaglintoflightagain fromtheringonMr.Lecau’sfinger.Amomentlater,Sheri’sbodystartedto shrinkagain.Herfeetcompactedinsideherjumperwhilehersleeveshung downpastherelbows.Herhairturnedlongerandlonger,untilitnearlyreached herwaist.Thenittwisteditselfintoalongponytailtiedoffwithapieceof purpleribbon.Thetaildrapedoverhershoulder,theendofitticklingher midsection.
Sherihadtotoddlebacktothebarracksinheroverlylargeuniform.She crawledupintobedandpulledthecoversoverherwhileshecried.Shewas littlernow,probablyfiveyearsoldagain.Shedidn’thavemuchlongeruntilshe wasababyagain.ButatleastnowsheknewhowMr.Lecauwasdoingit.It wastheringonhisfinger.Ifonlyshecouldgetitawayfromhim.Butthatwas impossible.Hewouldhavetobeasleepandshedoubtedhesleptanywhere
aroundhere;heprobablyhadabigfancyhousesomewhere.Shecouldn’thope toknockhimouteither,notlikethis.Shehadtogetawayandfindhelp.There hadtobesomeoneelsewhocouldhelp,someonewhowasstillagrown-upand rememberedhowthingshadbeen.
Shecontinuedtothinkaboutthisasshefellasleep.
***
Afterbreakfastthenextmorning,Sheriwasmadetostaybehindtohelp cleanup.Asthesmallestchildintheschoolnow,shewasdeemedunfitforbig girlthingslikesewingandcooking.Sountilshegotolder,shewouldhelpto tidyuptheschool.“Aproperwifemaintainsaclean,tidyhome,”MissGing toldherasshesweptthemesshall.
“Yes,ma’am,”Sherimuttered.
Shehadtoadmitcleaningwassomethingshecouldexcelat.Soldierswere taughttobecleanandtidyjustlikeaproperwife.Othershadtakenthatlightly, butnotSheri.Shehadalwayskeptherquartersneatwitheverythingorganized foreasyaccess.
Theonlydrawbacknowwashersmallstature.Ittookherfourhoursto cleanupthemesshallafterbreakfastonaccountofhowlittleshewasandhow easilyshetired.Asthefirstclassescameinforlunch,MissGingdirectedSheri totakethetrashout.Shericouldn’tliftthebags,soshehadtodragthembehind her,towardsthepilebehindthebuilding.
Assheapproached,shesawamaningraycoverallstossthebagsalready leftbehindthebuildingintothebackofatruck.Atlastaplanofescapecameto her.Noonewouldcheckthegarbagetrucktoothoroughly.Allshehadtodo wasclimbinthebackandhideamongstthebags.Itwassoeasyshewondered whyshe’dneverthoughtofitbefore.
Shecouldn’tdoitrightaway.Theywouldprobablywatchherthefirstfew daystomakesureshewasanobedientlittlegirl.Afteraweekorso,whentheir guardwasdown,thenshecouldtry.Shefinisheddraggingthebagsovertothe garbageman,whosmileddownather.“Well,lookatthisthen,”hesaid.
“How’datinygirllikeyoucarrythembagsallthewayhere?”
“GuessI’mstrongerthanIlook,”shesaid.
“I’llsayyouare,sweetheart,”hesaid.Shetriednottocringeashepatted herhairwithagrimyhand.Thenhetossedthebagsintothetruckandtookoff.
Shewatchedthetruckfadeaway.Asshesuspected,theguardsdidn’tbotherto looktoohard.
Sheskippedbacktothemesshalltocontinueherwork.
***
Aweeklater,shehadeverythingready.Shehadgatheredupafewsupplies
intoakerchief,enoughfoodandextraclothestolastherafewdaysontheroad.
Thisshetossedintoabagofgarbageafterbreakfast.Shemarkedthebagwitha sparehairribbonsoshewouldknowwhichoneitwaslater.
Shewentaboutsweepingandmoppingthefloorslikeusual.Aslunch began,MissGingaskedhertotakethetrashout.Sheritriednottolooktoo excitedasshedidthis.Shecarriedthebagsouttotheheap,wherethegarbage manwashardatworktoputtheminthetruck.
“Backagain,eh?”
“Yes.”
“Well,letmehelpyouwiththose.”Hetookthebagsfromherandthen gaveheranotherpatonthehead.Shestoodbytowatchhimwork.Oncehe threwthelastbagsintothetruck,hewavedtoher.Shewavedback.Thenshe begantoskipawayfromhismirrors.
Onceshedeterminedshewouldn’tbeseenbythegarbageman,shehurried overtothebackofthetruck.Shescamperedupthetailgateandthenthrew herselfontothepileoftrashbags.Thesmellwasenoughtobringtearstoher eyes,butatthemomentshedidn’tcare.Soonshewouldbefree!
Bythetimethetruckhadlumberedtothegate,shehadbuiltalittlenestfor herselfamongstthebags.Fromtheresheheardtheguardtalktothegarbage manforaminute.Sheworriedasthetrucklingered,butfromthesoundofit, theywereonlytalkingaboutsports.Men,shegrumbledtoherself.
Finallythetrucksetoutthroughthegates.Sheribreathedasighofrelief.
She’ddoneit!
Shenappedwhilethetruckcontinuedtorumbleon,presumablytowardsthe dump.Asthetruckbegantoslow,shewokeup.Shefoundthebagshe’d markedandthenreachedinsideforhersupplies.Soonitwouldbetimetomake herescape.
Shepeeredoutthroughtheslatsofthetruck’ssidetoseewhereshewas.
Allshecouldseewasaredbrickbuildingprobablytwentymetersaway.She heardchildren’svoicesastheyplayedgames.Wherewasshe?
Thetruckcametoastop.Sheripushedasideafewbagsfromhernestso shecouldmakehergetaway.Shehadreachedthetopofthetailgatewhenhands seizedher.Shesquealedoutofsurprise.Shesquealedevenlouderwhenshe wasspunaroundtolookintothefaceofTaiLecau.
“Thereyouare,”hesaidwithasmile.“Rightontime.”
“Ontimeforwhat?”
“Foryourfirstdayof preschool,ofcourse.”
Theringonhisfingerwinkedather.Againshefoundherselfshrinking.
Thistimethegreenjumperrolledupintoashortskirtwhileherblouseshrunk
intoawhitesailor’stop.Herponytailunraveled,longhairspillingdownto nearlyherankles.Herglassesfinallyshrunkaswell,thoughnotbymuch.
Lastly,hersackofescapesuppliesbecameababydollwithbrownbraidsina mint-coloreddress.
“Wemmego!”Sherihowled.
“Don’tbesilly.You’vegottogotop
reschoolifyoueverwanttogoto schoollikeabiggirl.”
“Iambiggirw!”
Butsheknewthiswasn’ttrue,notanymore.Shewasatoddlernow,just fouryearsoldatmost.ShetriedinvaintosquirmoutofMr.Lecau’sgrasp,but shecouldn’t.Shewastoolittleandtooweak.
Hecarriedherinsidetoaschoolsimilartoherpreviousone.Heopenedthe doortoa“classroom”thatwasverydifferent,though.Thiswaslitteredwith toys,thoughall“proper”girltoys:dolls,dollhouses,stuffedtoys,andthelike.
Agroupoftoddlersdressedinuniformslikeherslookedupatthem.
Oneofthetoddlers,agirlwithblackhairnearlyaslongashers,ran forward.“Shewi!”thegirlshouted.“Youhere!”
Mr.LecausetSherionthefloorsothisstrangercouldhugher.Sheri pushedthegirlaway.Thegirl’sfacereddenedandtearsbubbledupinhereyes.
Mr.Lecaucluckedhistongue.“Now,sweetie,isthatanywaytosayhelloto yoursister?”
“Sister?”
“Ofcourse.Thisisyoursister,Teri.Don’tyouremember?”
Nowthatshelookedcloser,shesawinthelittlegirl’sfaceTery’sfeatures.
Hewasalittlegirlnow,justlikeher.Andworseyet,Teriseemedto likeit.She seizedSheri’shandandsaid,“Comeon,wet’spway!”
SherilookedbacktoTaiLecauandsawthesmuggrinonhisface.
BetweenherfutileescapeattemptandwhathadhappenedtoTery,sherealized therewasnohopeforthem.Theworldtheyknewwasdoomed.
Chapter7
Terykepthiseyesclosed.Itwasabouttheonlywayinthisdamnedroom hecouldn’tseehishorriblereflection.Anytimeheopenedhiseyes,hehadto seewhathe’dbecome:thekindofskinnybookwormwhomhewouldhave beatenintosubmissionbackintheday.SoweakthateventhatlittlebratSheri hadbeenabletobeathimwithhardlyanyeffort.Whatkindofmanwashe now?
Iftherewasanysilverlining,itwasthatthebrathadbeentakenawayand notbroughtback.Hedidn’thaveanywaytotelltime,butitmusthavebeen daysago.Goodriddancetothatboot-lickingknow-it-all.Hesniffledandwiped athisnoseagainwiththebackofhissleeve.Damntheseallergies!Andwhat wastheretobeallergictoinhereexceptthatbloatedmoronacrosstheroom?