"But my suitcase—all my things are in the other car," Esta protested.
"We'll get you more," Colene said. "It's not like you had a lot to lose."
"Duck down," Slick said, donning some kind of mask. Colene and Esta were in back, Provos in front. Provos did not seem to be hiding. What was going on?
They pulled out as a police car pulled in. Colene caught just a peep of it through the window before she buried her head.
The car traveled slowly, as if the driver were completely unconcerned about anything in the neighborhood. The two in front removed their masks; Slick seemed to have such things with him as standard equipment. The car turned onto a faster highway and accelerated. Then Slick spoke. "No? Damn!"
Colene and Esta lifted their heads. Slick now looked like an old man with a broad mustache, and Provos looked like another. Provos was pointing back the way they had come.
"You better believe her," Colene said. "She remembers the future, and I think you have no future in that direction." "But I was headed for the Oklahoma City airport," he said as he slowed and signaled a turn. "That's where our plane leaves. I was going to get you and Provos a taxi back to anywhere you wanted to go."
"So they've got the airport staked out," Colene said. "So you'll have to drive instead. It's better than getting caught." Slick nodded. "She's been right so far. She put me on to the approach of the police, and to the one car that would not be missed for a day. She may not speak our language, but she's one savvy old woman." He lifted his right hand, and Provos lifted her left hand at the same time and touched his ringers. What got Colene was the fact that neither of them looked, but the contact was perfect.
They drove back through town, then southwest toward Colene's home. This was the opposite direction the police would expect. But they would be watching Slick's house too.
"You'd better just drop Provos and me off near my house and go on through town without stopping. We don't know how fast they'll spread the net, once they catch on that you're not at the airport. Sorry you wasted your money on those tickets."
"The money's nothing, I just want to get my niece clear of this country to where she'll never hurt again. Start a new life, maybe, for us both."
Esta smiled. She wanted it too. She probably realized that her uncle was not on the right side of the law, but she believed in him, and so did Colene, in this respect.
A light started flashing behind them. It was another police car.
Provos turned to Slick, making a signal of not-to-worry. But he, conditioned by years of his business, was already cutting over to the right. He swung out of the lane, around the line of cars ahead, and drove with two wheels in dirt until he squealed onto a small road intersecting at right angles. The rear end of the car slewed, giving Colene a scare before stabilizing. This wasn't her idea of fun driving.
The police car spun onto the road behind them. Slick accelerated, but it was clear that this car lacked the power of the other.
Colene saw Provos concentrating, trying to remember what happened next. She knew that Provos' memories were changing; Slick should have pulled over for the police car, and there would have been no trouble. Maybe it was just a bad taillight. Otherwise Provos would have been concerned. Now Provos was concerned, and needed to sort out her new memories to see whether they were acceptable.
They were not. Provos pointed to the right, indicating that they should turn onto the next crossroad. But Slick didn't see her. "Turn!" Colene cried, but by then they were past the spot, and Provos was looking confused again.
Suddenly there were two police cars ahead, turning sideways across the road to form a roadblock. "They radioed ahead," Colene said. "They're going to catch us. Because we acted suspiciously when it was a routine check."
Provos got her memories straight again. She jogged Slick's elbow. This time he caught her signal. She pointed to a trail leading off to the left, winding around behind several farm houses.
Slick whipped the car onto the trail. A cloud of dust flew up. In a moment a police car appeared behind, stirring up its own dust. Worse and worse; this looked like a dead end, so that they would be trapped. Why had Provos brought them here?
Provos pointed to a dilapidated barn. She held up her flat hand in a stop gesture.
"God, I hope you know what you're doing, woman," Slick muttered. He drew up to the barn and stopped.
Provos gestured them out of the car. She herself was the first out. She ran back the way they had come, through the cloud of dust, waving Slick back.
The police car came up—and Provos stumbled directly in front of it. The brakes screeched as it slid to a stop, barely missing her. She fell half over the hood, wailing.
There was only one man in the car. He got out and caught Provos as she started to fall. He didn't see Slick circle the car and come at him from behind.
Then Slick put one hand on the cop's head. He took a handful of hair and hauled back. The other hand held the open razor. It was barely touching the man's exposed throat. "Now, take it easy," Slick murmured in the man's ear. "You better believe I'll use this thing if I have to."
Provos straightened up and walked to the police car. Colene and Esta followed. Then the two men, walking in lock-step, came too. The wicked razor remained poised. "You are going to drive," Slick told the officer. "I have your gun. I will use it on you if you make a peep. You will radio that you lost the car and are searching. You will acknowledge radio contact without signaling that anything's wrong. Do this, and you will get out of this with your life and health and car. Fail, and I will do what I have to do. All I want is transportation. Got it?"
The man nodded, slowly. A bead of sweat was trailing down the side of his face. He did know who Slick was, and what his business was.
Provos directed Colene to the front seat this time. The others got in back, and the cop took the wheel. Slick did have the gun; he lifted it as he withdrew the razor. It was aimed at the policeman, through the seat back.
The man made the report Slick had specified. He did not give any alarm. Colene knew that Provos would have remembered it if he had.
The car started on down the trail, and then onto a better road. Provos pointed. "Turn left," Slick said. The man turned left.
Provos shook her head no. The man's hand reached for the radio. "Don't touch it!" Slick snapped before the motion was fairly started.
They came to the highway where all this had started. Provos pointed right. "Turn right," Slick said.
At speed, they relaxed, because Provos had relaxed. She did know what she was doing. Occasionally she would signal them to slow, and Slick gave the order and the driver slowed. What mischief they avoided in this manner the others would never know, and that was just as well.
Then Provos signaled a stop. They stopped. She indicated by gestures that Slick should tie the cop's hands behind him. Slick used the man's own handcuffs for that. Then, following her directions, he looped cord through the handcuffs and tied the man to a telephone pole, a short distance from the police car. Then they walked away. True to their word, they had left the man alive and in health and with his car. But without his gun. Seeing that, the man elected not to cry out to any of the passing vehicles.
Provos waved to a pickup truck coming down the highway. It stopped. Provos glanced at Colene.
Colene took the initiative. She flashed her most winsome smile at the driver. "We lost our car, and need to get into town. Can we ride in the back?"
The driver was a youth not a lot older than Colene herself. He hesitated, staring down at her from the cab. Colene realized that he was trying to get a glimpse down inside her blouse. She leaned forward and drew her head back just enough so that he could get that glimpse. "Yeah, sure," he said, probably not even aware that the eyeful had not been an accident. In certain circumstances, men were easy to manage.
The others climbed onto the back, but Colene joined the driver in front. "Gee, this is real nice of you," she said brightly. Indeed, she felt positive; she enjoyed provi
ng every so often that her stuff worked. "We were really in a bind." She snuggled close.
It was no trouble at all to reach her house. "We'll get off here," she said. "It's been great!" She kissed the youth on the cheek, then scooted out. By the time he realized that he didn't even know her name, it would be too late.
They watched the truck depart. "Okay," Colene said. "They don't know about me yet, so my house isn't watched. My folks won't be home for another hour. So you can come in and phone for a taxi, Slick, and get far away. Provos and I will disappear."
Then things started happening. They heard sirens approaching, and knew that the police had gotten the word. "Get out of here!" Colene cried to Slick. "They won't know where you are if Provos and I distract them long enough."
But Provos quickly caught hold of Slick's arm and urged him toward the house. Colene was astonished. "But you can't mean—" Yet suddenly it was falling into place. Provos had been helping so actively; surely this was what she had foreseen. There was now little chance for Slick and Esta to make a clean break; the pursuit was getting too close. No chance except the Virtual Mode. "This is awesome," she finished.
A police car appeared. They ran around the house, into the back yard. And Colene paused, appalled. Dogwood Bumshed was gone.
Suddenly it came together: her father's understanding when she told him about the Virtual Mode and the anchor in the shed. He had believed her—and had acted to prevent her from using it. By having the entire shed removed.
The back door of the house opened. Both her parents came out. They hadn't even gone to work! They had set this up, and lain in wait for her return. They meant to keep her here, whatever way they could.
It was frightening, yet also touching. The members of her family did care for her; they wanted her with them. Yet they proposed to do it by force. It wasn't enough that they knew she was well and halfway happy; they wanted her here. So they had betrayed her.
But Provos was forging right on toward the spot, seeming not to have noticed that it was gone. Policemen were appearing ah1 around the property; they must have been waiting in ambush. They would not only trap Colene and Provos, they could catch Slick and Esta: disaster for them both. What did it matter on which side of the yard they were actually caught? They were all doomed.
Colene felt tears of frustration and dawning rage coming. She had worked so hard, and come so close, only to be balked right in sight of the anchor. Slick had faithfully performed his end of the bargain, and now he would be locked away in prison, or worse. And Esta would be returned to her stepfather for her daily torture and rape.
"Damn it!" she swore. "It's not fair, it's not right! It's not supposed to be this way!"
"Come on, honey," her father called. "We only want what's best for you. That man's a killer, and the girl's a runaway, and the woman is crazy. But you don't have to be. Give up this delusion. We love you."
What could she say? Deep down she did love her folks, but she hated them too, for all the wasted years, and for getting straightened out only in her absence, and for finally betraying her like this. She could never trust them again. She would die in their captivity. By her own hand. She couldn't live without Darius and Seqiro. And what would happen to them when Colene didn't return with the rad numbering information?
Now the neighbors were coming, attracted by the commotion. Men, women, and children, staring curiously. None were hostile, but their presence helped seal this little party's doom. There would be no way to break through them all and escape.
Provos reached the spot of bare ground. She clasped Esta by the hand and stepped forward. She disappeared.
The approaching police stared. Colene's parents stared. Colene stared.
Then it registered: Bumshed was gone, but the anchor wasn't. Only Colene herself could free the anchor. They could escape!
But the police were catching on that something strange was afoot. They charged across toward Slick. Provos reappeared, grasped him by the hand, and hauled him with her across the region. They disappeared.
They had made it to the Virtual Mode! But Colene hadn't—and she was too far from the anchor to make it. The police had already crossed that region, and were converging on her. She alone would be trapped here.
Her father strode forward and grasped her arm. "Come on, honey, we'll take care of you. We'll get you straightened out at an institution—"
Colene had an inspiration. Her hand plunged into her purse. She yanked out the roll of hundred-dollar bills. She brought it to her mouth and used her teeth to rip off the band. Then she hurled it into the air.
The roll came apart. Bills started peeling off. They fluttered through the air, drifting to the ground around her.
"Money!" a child cried, diving for a bill.
The policemen stared. "Those are hundred-dollar bills!"
Then there was a melee. Amazed, Colene's father let go of her arm. Everyone wanted the money.
Colene cranked up her legs and ran at top speed for the anchor. One of the few alert policemen made a grab for her, but she banged past him and got through. She dived for the anchor—
And everyone disappeared. She landed on green turf, alone. She was through! But still nervous, though she knew she couldn't be followed. She scrambled back to her feet and walked on.
Suddenly the others were there: Provos and Slick and Esta. "Thank God!" Colene cried, and tried to hug all three at once.
Then she took stock. "What a pass this is! You folk probably didn't even believe in the Virtual Mode, and now you're on it. And I don't know how we're going to get you off it, because they'll be watching the anchor."
Esta fidgeted. Colene looked at her, realizing that she was shy about expressing herself. Thus encouraged, the girl spoke. "Do we have to get off it? This seems nice."
"Well, this is almost just like the reality you've always lived in," Colene explained. "The house and yard are the same, and most of the city will be the same. But there's never been a shed here, so you know there's no Colene here, and probably no Slick or Esta. It's not your reality; you never existed here."
"Then we could go out and establish our identities," Slick said. "I will have no criminal record, and Esta will have no abusive stepfather. We can make it with a clean slate."
"Why, I guess you could," Colene said, surprised. "You won't need to go to Mexico or anything! But won't you have trouble getting your ID papers and stuff?"
"No, I know how to fake ID's." He looked at Esta. "But getting her back into school without records will be harder. We'll probably have to move to another state."
Colene shook her head, disturbed. "I didn't see this coming, but I guess I should have, because now I see that Provos remembered this all along and knew exactly what to do. She brought you both through the anchor. Now that it's happened, I don't feel easy about just dumping you in a strange world and leaving you. Anything could happen, and it'd be my fault."
Provos had been working with material from her pack. Now she approached Slick and proceeded to tie a length of cloth around his left arm, binding it securely to her right arm. Slick, surprised, did not resist.
"I think I have just been answered," Colene said. "When Provos spends any time in a reality, she remembers what will happen there. It seems you are coming with us."
Provos tossed a cloth to Colene. Colene approached Esta. "You see, you folk can't cross realities unless one of us holds on to you. If we let go by accident, you could get stranded, and we might have trouble finding you. So we have to tie you to us, so we can't let go." As she spoke, she bound her own left arm to Esta's right, so that each was clasping the other's forearm and locked in place.
"Gee," Esta said, intrigued. "You told Professor Felix that there was magic. Will we see dragons?"
"We may," Colene said grimly. "This isn't any game, Esta. There's danger on the Virtual Mode. We are traveling a route we know, but anything can happen when we cross boundaries. Let's get moving."
They walked in step, retracing the route she and Pr
ovos had used. Thus commenced what would be a journey of several days. It was uncomfortable, but necessary. Provos led the way this time, though her memory could be at best spotty across the realities, and her path deviated somewhat from the one they had taken.
Colene was alarmed, but then she realized what the woman was doing: she was heading directly for Oria. Because they had been away for too much time already, and God only knew what was happening to Darius and Seqiro and Nona. Colene tried not to think about what effect that beautiful woman might be having on that man and that horse. Right now she had to concentrate on getting through the realities safely, and getting around that sea that bordered the anchor at Oria, because they couldn't cross it. Maybe Provos had enough memory of the future to figure that out too. She hoped.
On the way, Colene talked with Esta, getting to know her better. She confided that she had mixed feelings about leaving her folks of the Earth reality. They weren't evil, just wrong for her. So she knew Earth was no place for her to stay, but still she felt guilty about leaving.
"You're so smart and pretty," Esta responded. "But you feel the same as I do."
"I guess I do," Colene agreed. "But you know, where we're going, there are other things. If Provos knows what she's doing, you'll wind up in a reality where you are as smart and pretty as you want to be."
"But I'll always be ugly inside," Esta argued. "Just as long as I can remember where I came from."
Then another revelation dawned. "Provos is taking you to her reality!" she exclaimed. "Those folk remember only the future, not the past! If you get to be like them, nothing in your past will count. And nothing in Slick's past. It will be an absolutely clean slate."
"And I'll always be ugly here," Esta said, tapping her chest.
"No, I don't think so," Colene said. "Because it's a different culture. They don't judge by the same things. And anyway, we'll be stopping first at Oria, where there's magic. Nona will be able to heal your scars, and then later you'll develop and be a woman, and you won't even remember how you are now."