TheyfinishedwithasquealtoimitateJericoming.Asthetwinslaughed, Jericouldn’ttakeitanymore.Shehadenduredayearofhumiliationinthis stupidclub,alwaysthepunchingbagforjokes,thefreakwhocouldn’tfitin whileSheriandTerigoteverything.Theygottobeprettyandadoredandrich.
“Shutup!”sheshouted.SheflungherselfacrossthecountertoseizeSheri byapigtail.Shedraggedthegirlbehindthebarandcrouchedoverher.Sheri wastoosurprisedbythistoreactbeforeJeristartedtopunchherintheface.Her meatyfistsdidn’thavealotofstrengthbehindthem,buttherewasenoughto makeSheri’snosebleed.Shewouldprobablyhaveashineronhereyetoo.
AsJeripummeledSheri,sheheardTericryoutinpain.Apparentlythey weresocloselylinkednowthattheyfeltthesamepain.Teriscreamedatthe sametimeasSheriasJeripoundedherheadagainstthefloor.
Inherrage,Jeribarelynoticedthewayherheadswum.Ithardlyregistered thatherT-shirtwasbecominglargeronherandthatSheriseemedtoswell beneathher.Herblowsbecamelesspowerfulasherfistsshrunk.Theyfinally becameenvelopedbythefabricofhershirt.ThatemboldenedSherienoughto pushJerioff.Shelandedhardonthefloor,whereshecriedashershirtshrunk intoaroughbrowndress.
Stronghandsyankedherintotheair.Inthemirrorshesawshewasa chubbytoddlernow.Shestillhadtheglassesandfreckles,butnowherhairhad beensplitintostubbybrownpigtails.“No!”shewailed.“Itwasn’tmyfawt!
Theymademe!”
“Thatdoesn’tmatter,younglady.Wecan’thaveanymoreofthese disturbances.Brunowilltakeyououtside.Thepeoplefromtheorphanageare waiting.”
“Ophanage?No!Pwease,don’t!”
“Getheroutofhere.”MissKilgoreturnedtoSheri.“Asforyoutwo,get backtowork.You’reupagainintwentyminutes.”
Asshewascarriedoutthedoor,Jeri’sonlysatisfactionwastoseethatSheri andTerihadbeendemotedbacktotheircheerleadercostumes.Itwouldtake themacoupleofweekstoearnbacktheirspots.
Inthemeantime,BrunocarriedJeriouttoawaitingvan.Shelandedhard onthemetaldeckofthevan’scargocompartment.Ameshpanelslidopenso JericouldseeNannyJenefromheroldschool.“There’llbenomore lollygaggingforyou,younglady.We’regoingtoputyoutowork.”
Jericurleduponthedeckandbegantocry.Shewouldnevergettomeet Valtonight.Inafewdays,shewouldprobablybedead.
Chapter19
EverythingJerihadheardabouttheorphanagewastrue.Assoonasshe wasdraggedintotheoldbrickbuilding,shewashauledintoahugeroomfilled withmachines.Otherlittlegirlsworkedatthesemachines,dressedinthesame raggedbrowndressesasher.Mostofthemwerefarpalerandthinner;they resembledskeletonsmorethanlivinggirls.Shewatchedinhorrorasonegirl collapsedfromexhaustion.Thegirlwasunshackledfromthemachineandthen cartedoff.
NannyJenepointedtothemachine.“Lookslikethat’syournewstation.”
“MissJene,pwease—”
NannyJeneslappedheracrosstheface.TearssparkledinJeri’seyes.“No moreofthat.Youdoyourworkandthenyoucantalk.”
Oneoftheguardsattachedtheshacklethathadsorecentlybeenvacated aroundJeri’srightankle.Hehadtomakeitbiggertofitherchubbierleg.
Beforelongsheimagineditwouldbeabletofitwellenough.Theguardswatted thebackofherhead.“Nowgettowork.”
Jeriturnedtothemachine.Noonehadshownherhowtouseit,butitwas simpleenough.Anunfinishedblousecametoherstation,shepushedthered buttontostitchthesides,andthensentitdowntheline.Thetrickypartwasthat everyonewasmuchfasterthanher.Ifshebackedthingsupforevenasecond,a guardwouldswatherontheheadagain.
Therewasnoclockinthefactory.Therewerenowindowseither.Jerihad nowaytoknowhowlongsheworkedatthemachine.Shetriedtocountthe numberofblousesthatwentthroughherstation,butshesoonlosttrack,thanks totheguardhittingher.
Aftersomehours,herstomachbegantorumble.Sweatdrippedintoher eyes.Whenshestoppedtowipeitfromhereyes,shewaspokedintheback withabaton.“Getbacktowork.”
Whatmusthavebeenhourslater,thedrynessofherthroatbecamethemain problem.Theonlyliquidshecouldmanagewasherownsweat,thesaltinessof whichonlymadeherthirstier.Notcaringifshewashitagain,shefinallyturned totheguard.“CanIpweasehavesomewater?”
“Youwantwater?Fine.”Theguardsnappedhisfingers.Afteraminute, anotherguardappearedwithabucket.“Givethelittlebitchsomewater.”
Hedumpedtheentirebucketoverherhead.Whiletheguardslaughed,Jeri squatteddowninavainattempttocupsomeofthewaterintoherhands.When thatdidn’twork,shetwistedthefabricofherdresstosiphonalittlemoisture
intoherhand.Thisshemanagedtolickupbeforetheguardhitheragain.
“Moveit,tubby.”
Sheturnedbacktothemachinetowork.
***
Thousandsofblouseslater,Jeri’seyelidsbegantogrowheavy.Her stomachstillrumbled,herthroatwasparchedagain,andherheadfrequently spun.Therelentlesspace,thelackoffoodandwater,andthefrequentbeatings hadtakentheirtoll.Shecouldn’tworkanymore.
Ithadtobeaftermidnightbynow.Valwouldhavetohavefinisheditwith Tai.Ormaybeshewasdead.Ifso,Jeriwouldsoonjoinher.Shesimplydidnot havethestrengthleftinherfatlittlebodytocontinue.
Sheslappedattheredbuttononelasttimeasshepitchedforward.She landedinaheaponthefloor.Hereyesclosedoftheirownaccord.Shecould barelyfeelthesticksoftheguardsastheybeather.Sincethatdidn’tseemtoget herattention,theykickedherintheside.
Noneoftheothergirlsmadeevenasound.Noonecalledforhelp.Ifthey did,whowouldcome?Therewasnohelpforthem.Theywerealldoomed.
Jerihadtoadmirethosegirlswhohadmanagedtosurviveforsolong;she couldn’tevenlastadayofthisgruelingwork.
Sheheardthejangleofakeychainandthentheweightdisappearedfrom aroundherankle.Inherexhaustion,shesighedwithrelief.Maybetheywould takehertotheinfirmaryorbarrackssoshecouldgetsomerest.
Thatwasn’twhattheyhadinmindatall.Oneofthemthrewherhard againstthemachine.Shefinallyopenedhereyesasshelayinabatteredheapon thefloor.“Pwease,”shemumbled.“Nomore.”
“Getbacktowork,tubby,orwe’llbreakeveryboneinyourbody.”
Shestruggledtoherfeet.Sheturnedbacktothemachine.Ablousewaited forher.Herhandreachedforthebutton.Shegotwithinmillimetersofitbefore shecollapsedagain.“Ican’t!”shewhined.Astheguardsstartedtopummel her,shethoughtofVal.I’msorry,shethought.
Thepainwasunbearable,butJerididn’thavethestrengthlefttoeven scream.Herentirebodywaslikeaballofwetcloth,toolimpandheavyto move.Shewantedtopassout,yetshedidn’t.Instead,sheremainedconscious enoughtofeelthepaincontinue.
Afterwhatseemedlikeaneternity,sheheardtwohigh-pitchedscreams.It tookheramomenttorealizetheyhadn’tcomefromher.Therewasthehollow soundofbatonshittingtheconcretefloor.Thebeatingfinallystopped,though thepainremained.
SomeoneliftedJerifromthefloor.Hereyesflickeredopenforamoment
toseeafamiliarfacesmilingather.Withacracked,bloodysmileofherown, shefinallyslippedintodarkness.
***
Sheawoketosomethingcoldandwetpressedtoherforehead.Shelifted anarmtofeelawashcloth.Shetossedthisawayandthenopenedhereyes.
Therewasn’tmuchtoseeexceptawhitishblur.Withherhand,sheflailed aroundtofindherglasses.
Itwasobviousfromthewhitewalls,curtains,andsheets
thatshewasinthe hospital.Whatwaslessclearwashowshe’dgottenhere.Shetriedtothink backtothoselastmoments,whenshehadbeensprawledonthefloorofthe orphanage.Theguardshadbeenbeatinghersavagely.Thensheheardscreams andbatonshittingthefloor.Someonepickedherup.Jerihadonlyseenher rescuer’sfaceforamoment,butsheknewitalltoowell.
Valhadsavedher.ShehadcomeforJeri.Howshe’dknownwhereJeri was,shehadnoidea.Valmusthavetakenhertothehospital.Butsomething wasnotquiteright.
Ittookheraddledbrainamomenttorealizeshewasnolongerachubby toddler.Herleanbodytookupmostofthebednow.Fromtheslightbreaststhat pressedagainstthesheet,shemustbeateenageragain,orperhapsagrown-up.
Shefeltthebackofherheadtofeelhairthatfloweddownherback.Withsome effortshemanagedtoflipatressoverhershoulder;thebrownhairwentdown pastherwaist.
Whathadhappenedtoher?WhyhadTaimadeherintothis?Maybehe wouldwanthertobeadancerattheclubnow.Orperhapssomethingeven worse.
No,thatwasn’tright.Sherememberedthosefinalsecondsinthe orphanage.Valhadsavedher,butshehadn’tbeenthefatwomanwhohadleft herapartmentinthemorning.Norhaditbeenthedowdyhomemakerwhohad firstwalkedintothebar.
RightoncuethedooropenedandValsteppedinside.Justlikeinthe factoryshewasashort,slenderadultdressedinagreenmilitaryuniform.Her hairremainedalmostasshortasbeforetogiveheratomboyishlook.Andyet therestofherfaceremainedthesame,especiallytheloveinhericeblueeyes.
“Thankgoodness,you’refinallyawake.Howareyoufeeling?”
“Better,”Jerirasped.Valhelpfullytookacupofwaterfrombesidethebed andhelditupforJeritodrinkfrom.Aftershedownedtheentirecup,Jeri whispered,“Thanks.”
ValstrokedJeri’slonghair.“Areyoustillinpain?Icangetanurse—”
“I’mfine.Whathappened?”
“Ididit.He’sgonenow.WeneverhavetoworryaboutTaiagain.”
“Thenhow...howdidIenduplikethis?”
Valreachedintotheblouseofheruniformtorevealasilvernecklace,atthe endofwhichdangledablackcrystal.“ThisistheStoneofChange,thething thatcausedallthistrouble.Butit’snotgoingtohurtusanymore.”
“You...youuseditonme?”
“Ihadto.Unlessyouwantedtostayfiveyearsoldwithmassiveinternal injuries.”
“No,Isupposenot.”
AmirrorappearedinVal’shand.ShehelditupforJeritoseehernew face.Shelookedlikeagrownupversionofthegeekytwelveyearoldshehad beenattheclubwiththelonghair,thickbangs,oversizedglasses,anddustingof freckles.Onlynowthehairwasbrownandshe’dlostthebraces.
ValtookJeri’shandandsqueezedit.“Ifyouwant,Icanmakeyoutheway youwerebeforeeverythinghappened.”
Jericonsideredthis.Sherememberedherblondhairandwomanlyfigure.
Thathairhadbeenturninggrayandthewomanlyfigurebecomingthicker,but shehadstillbeenabeautifulwoman.Shehadn’tbeen plainlikeshewasnow.
ThensherememberedwhatValhadsaidinthedinertheirfirstnightas geekypreteens.ShehadsaidhowshallowandstuckupJerihadbeenthefirst timetheymet.ThatwaswhathaddrivenValawayfromher.AsmuchasJeri mighthavewantedtodisputethat,sherememberedhowshe’dusedtoobsess overherselfinthemirror,howshe’dmournedeverywrinkle,grayhair,andextra poundasatragedy.
Shewasn’tthatwomananymore.TheStoneofChangehadchanged somethinginsideofher.Thevanityshe’dalwaysclungtohadshattered.It wasn’tbecauseTaihadmadeherplainorfatorugly;itwasbecauseshehad falleninlovewithpeoplewhohadappreciatedherformorethanlooks.First therewasBene;hemighthavebeenafantasy,butatthetimehe’dfeltreal enough.ThenValhadreturnedtoherandnomatterhowterribleJerihad looked,Valhadcontinuedtoloveher,continuedtobebyherside.
Jerismiledintothemirror.“No,Ilikeit.”
“Ihopedyouwould.”ValleanedforwardtokissJerionthelips.Itwas justadrypeck,muchtooshortforJeri’sliking.“Gobacktosleep.When you’remorerested,weneedtotalk.”
“Aboutwhat?”
“Thefuture,ofcourse.”
JeriponderedwhatthismeantevenafterVallefttheroom,untilshefell asleep.
***
ItwasadaylaterwhenValreturnedtoseeher.Thenursehadjusttaken Jeri’semptybreakfasttrayawaywhenValslippedintotheroom.Shesatdown onthechairbesidethebedandthentookJeri’shand.“Howareyoufeeling?”
“Muchbetter.Thanks.”
“Good.Assoonasyou’rereadytogetoutofhere,wecangeteverything started.”
“Getwhatstarted?”
“Well,firstIhavetorebuildthisplace,backtothewayitwasbeforehe showedup.Nomore malesincharge.”Shespattheword‘males’asacurse.
“Nomoreorphanagefactoriesorbrainwashingschoolsorstripclubs.Well, maybewecankeeptheclubs.Evengirlsneedagoodtimenowandthen.”
“Isupposeso,”Jerimumbled.
“Don’tworry,thosewon’tbeliketheoneweworkedin.Therewon’tbe teenagedbartendersorblackmarks.”
“That’sgood.”JerireachedoutforVal’shand.“Whenyou’refinished withthat,maybewecanhavealittlevacation.Getreacquainted.”
“Ihaveavacationspotinmind.It’salittleoutoftheway.”
“Where?”
“Areyougoingtoputitback?”
“Don’tbestupid.Ican’tleavethatmuchpowersittingthereforsomeone elsetofindanduseagainstusagain.”AhardlooksettledonVal’sface,thelook ofaveteransoldierwhohaddonehershareofunpleasanttasks.“Iaimtofind whocreatedthethingandthenI’mgoingtomakesuretheycan’thurtus anymore.”
Jeri’shandslippedawayfromVal’s.“Areyougoingtokillthem?”
“Notunlesstheymakeme.Butweclearlyneedtoknowmoreaboutthis stoneandwhereitcamefrom.AndtodothatI’mgoingtoneedashipwitha goodcrew.”
Jeri’scheeksturnedwarmatthis.Itwasn’texactlytheromanticgetaway shehadinmind,butitsolvedtheproblemofhowtheirrelationshipcould continuewithTaigone.“I’llbehappytogowithyou.”
“IknewIcouldcountonyou.”ValtousledJeri’shair.“I’llseeyoulater, kid.”
BeforeValcouldleave,Jeriasked,“Howexactlydidyougetthestonefrom Tai?”
“Icuthisfuckingheadoff.”
ThewayValsaidthiswithoutatraceofemotionpromptedJeritoshiver.
Epilogue
Fromherhospitalbed,theworldchangedaroundJeri.Ithappenedatnight, sotherewaslittletosee.Themostnoticeabledifferenceweretheconstellations oflightsthatwinkedoninthedarkness.Thesecamefromthemassivenew skyscrapers,flyways,andportsthatappearedinaninstant.
InJeri’sroomtherewasn’tmuchofadifference,exceptaholoviewer appearedontheoppositewallfromherbed.Shegropedaroundtofindthe remotecontrol.Theviewercametolifewithaprettyfemalenewscaster.As expected,noonenoticedanything.OnemomentPherahadbeenalow-tech, male-dominatedworldandthenextitwasflungcenturiesaheadandreturnedto afemale-governedsociety.
Jeriletoutasighofrelief.Valhaddoneit.Shehadreturnedeverythingto asithadbeenbeforeTaihadunleashedhismadness.Jerileanedbackagainst herpillowsandsmiled.Theyhaddoneit;theyhadbeatenhim.
Well,not they.Valhaddoneitallbyherself.Jerihaddonenothing.She hadbeenintheorphanagewhenTaihaddied,toolittleandweaktoevensave herself,letalonetheworld.Asmuchasshewantedtofee
lasenseofvictoryfor havingsurvived,shehadcontributedlittletothat.ValhadkilledTai.Valhad takentheStoneofChangefromhim.ValhadrescuedJerifromtheorphanage.
ValhadchangedPherabacktotheworldtheyhadknown.
Jerisighedtoherself.Allalongshehadbeenuseless.ShehadletTaibreak hertwice,firstwhenBenediedandlaterwhenshe’dbeggedhimtochangeher fromamidget.SheprobablywouldhavebrokenathirdtimeifValhadn’tcome along.
AmoresoberingthoughtwasthatValnowheldallofTai’spower.Sofar shehadonlyuseditforgood,butwhatifshebecameascruelandvindictiveas him?IfJeriarguedwithher,wouldsheendupinapreschooloranorphanageor caperingaroundasamidget?
No,Vallovedher.Shewouldneverdothat.NotaslongasJerididnothing tomakeherfalloutoflove.Withthatthought,shefeltaheavyweightonher chestthatmadeitdifficulttobreathe.Sheclosedhereyesandtookafewdeep breaths.Valwasn’tlikeTai.Shemighthavekilledhimwithoutanysenseof remorse,butafterallhe’ddonetoherandeveryoneelse,couldJeriblameher forthat?
Assheflippedchannels,JeridecideditwouldbebestifshestayedonVal’s goodsidefortheimmediatefuture.
***
Thenextday,Jeriwasreleasedfromthehospital.Afemaledoctorcamein andpronouncedJerihadcompletelyrecoveredfromaboughtofexhaustion.
“You’rehealthyasamare,LieutenantPoldar.”
Jerithoughttocorrectthedoctoraboutherrank,butdecidedagainstit.The nursesetablueSpaceCorpsuniformonthebedforJeritodressin.Assheput iton,Jerinoticedthelieutenant’sinsignia.Itmustbeamistake,shethought.
Valhadn’treallyknownherasaSpaceCorpsofficer,soshewouldn’thave reallyknownwhatrankJeriwas,wouldshe?
Ablackskycarwaitedbytheentrance.Jerishiveredalittleasshe rememberedthelimousineBenehaddiedinandlaterthelimousineTaihad drivenhertotheofficein.Afemalechauffeuropenedthebackdoorandthere Valwaited,stillinhergreenuniform.Sheheldoutabundleofyellowflowers forJeri.