“ForgetwhatIsaid!”Karisnapped.Hersmilereturnedandthenhervoice
tookagentlertone.“They’veprobablygotlotsofinformationaboutthestonein there.Theremightevenbesomethingtotelluswhereit’slocated.”
“Areyousure—?”
“Itwon’thurttotakealook,willit?”Karisaid.Sheboltedupthesteps fasterthanseemedpossibleforherscrawnylegs.Sanatriedtokeepup,butKari hadtoomuchofalead.Kariracedthroughtheentrancetothelibrarywitha maniacallaugh.
Sanafollowedatamorereservedpace.Shesteppedthroughtheentranceto seeshelvesoflittlenooks.Sanastoppedatoneandstuckahandinside.Inthe nookshefoundascroll.Shepulleditoutandunrolledittoseeapagefilled withthestrangesymbolstheancientsused.Sheshovedthescrollbackintoits nook.
“Kari?”shecalledout.Hervoiceechoedthroughthelibrary.Shewalked amongthedustyshelveswithoutseeinganysignofherfriend.Wherecouldshe havegone?Thelibrarywascertainlylarge,butgivenhowsilentitwas,the soundofKari’sfootstepsshouldbeaudible.ButSanacouldonlyhearherown breathing.
“Sana,”avoicewhispered.Itwasn’tthatofKariorJeriorValforthat matter.Itwasamalevoice.Itwasherfather’svoice.
“Father?”
“Cometome,darling,”hewhispered.
“Whereareyou?”
“Followmyvoice.”
Shelookedaroundthelibrary,butstilldidn’tseeanyone.“Kari?”she calledoutagain.“Thisisn’tfunny.”
ShewaitedforareplyorperhapsthesoundofKarigiggling,buttherewas nothing.Herfatheragainwhispered,“Cometome,darling.”
Sanashivered.Thiswasinsane.Herfathercouldn’tbehere.Hehaddied yearsago,beforeJeriandtheStoneofChangehadalteredeverything.Hehad becomeonewiththeswamp,aswampthathadnowdisappeared.Couldthe StoneofChangebringbackthedead?Orperhapstheotherstonecould.
Shehurriedoutofthelibrary.Foramomentshestoodbythestatueand closedhereyes.“Cometome,Sana,”hesaid.Hisvoicesoundedasifitwerein herear,butwhensheopenedhereyes,shewasstillalone.
ShelookedbackatthelibrarywhereKarihaddisappeared.Shehadno ideawhereherfriendhadgone.Shecouldn’tjustleaveKarithere,couldshe?
“Sana,cometome,”Fathersaidagain.
ShethoughtofwhatKarihadsaidwhenJerileftthem.Kariwouldbeas safeinthelibraryasanywhereelse.Inthemeantime,perhapsFather’svoice
wouldleadSanatowhatshesoughtandhelpfreeherpeople.
Chapter17
Asshereachedthetopofthesteps,apartofKari’smindtoldhertoslow down.Sheshouldapproachastrangebuildingwithmorecaution;therecouldbe atrapinside.AndsheandSanaoughttostaytogethertoavoidgettinglost.
TherewasalsothepossibilityValmightbeinthere,whichwouldmakehaving Sanawithhermoreadvantageous.
ButKaricouldn’tholdherselfback.Thiscityhadalreadyshownherso manywondersandsheknewthelibrarywouldholdmanymore.Thislibrary couldtellhersomuchabouttheancientsthatyearsofstudyingruinscouldnot.
Anditwasintact!ThiswouldtrulybethegreatestfindinallofPheranhistory.
Sheboltedthroughtheentryway.Herfoothitarutinthefloorthatsenther sprawling.Asshelayonthecoolfloor,sheheardavoicesay,“Gladyoucould joinus,MissChomar.”
KarirecognizedthevoiceasbelongingtoMrs.Scimer,herhighschool geologyteacher.Kariheardmuffledsnickersasshegottoherfeet.Shequickly notedshestilllookedthesame,butsomehowshe’dendedupbackinhigh schoolonPhera.
Mrs.ScimerglaredatKaribehindherequallythickglasses.“Sinceyou’re alreadyup,whydon’tyoupresentyourreporttotheclass?”
“Myreport?”
“YouroralreportonsedimentaryrockformationinPhalo.”
“Oh.Um—”Shefelttheweightofabackpackandslungitoffherback.
Shebegantoriflethroughitwhiletheclassopenlylaughedather.Hercheeks turnedwarmatthis.Anymomentsheexpectedtofindherselfnakedlikeinone ofthosenightmarespeopletalkedabout.
ShefinallyhadnochoicebuttolookupatMrs.Scimer.“I’msorry.Ican’t findit.”
“Verywellthen.Takeyourseat.We’lldiscussthisafterclass.”
“Yes,ma’am,”Karimumbled.Shefoundanopenseatandsatdown.She clutchedherbackpacktoherchestandhuncheddownasmuchaspossible.It wasfartoolateforhertodisappear,though.
Therestoftheclasswentlikenormal.Studentscameuptomumble throughreportsthey’dtakenmostlyfromtheencyclopedia.Sheprayedshe
wouldwakeupfromthisnightmaresoon.Thenshecouldfindouthowshe’dhit herheadandwithanyluckgettostudyingtheancientlibrary.
Afterthebellrang,KaritrudgeduptoMrs.Scimer’sdesk.Shehungher headtostaredownatherfeet.“I’msorry,Mrs.Scimer.Ishouldhavecome morepreparedtoday.”
“Asimpleapologyisnotgoingtocutitthistime,younglady.Iheardyou wereagoodstudent,butyou’veshownnoprogressinthiscourse.Fromtalking withyourotherteachers,it’sbecomecleartousthatyou’renotreadyforthis levelofacademicsyet.”
“No,Mrs.Scimer,please,I’lltryharder.Ipromise!”
“Thisisn’tjustmydecisionandI’mafraidthere’snothingIcandoforyou inanycase.Now,offyougo.”
Karistaredatherteacherforamoment,butrealizeditwasafutile argument.Sheshuffledtowardsthedoor.Whenshesteppedthroughit,her headbegantospin.Oncemoreshecollapsedtothefloor,thoughthistimeshe hadthewherewithaltolandonherknees.
Whenherheadstoppeditsspinning,shegapedatwhatshesaw.Apink bannerpostedonawallread,“GoCards!”Therewasapictureofanangry-lookingcardinalnexttothewords.Agroupofgirlspassedherby,allofthem dressedinwhiteblouseswithrednecktiesandplaidskirts.Sheglanceddownat herselftoseeshewassimilarlydressed.Herhairhadbecomethickerand wavier,tothepointshehadtopushitbacktoseeherflatchest.
Shewasbackinmiddleschool.Mrs.Scimerhadn’tjustthrownheroutof geologyclass;she’ddemotedKarianentiregrade!Fromthelookofher,she wasonlyabouttwelveyearsoldnow,notevenateenageryet.Mrs.Scimer didn’thavethepowertodothat;onlytheStoneofChangedid.
Thiswasn’tanordinarynightmare;thiswasthestoneatworkagain.She knewwhatthismeant:Valhadfoundtheotherhalfofthestone.Nowshe wouldbeevenmorepowerful.Therewouldbenowaytostopherthistime.
Karigotunsteadilytoherfeet.Fromwhatsherememberedofschool,she knewthebathroomwasdownthehall.Shehurried,pushingasideanothergroup ofgirlsasshewent.Asshenearedthebathroom,sheheardlaughtercoming frominside.Thensheheardafamiliarvoicesay,“Justwaituntilthatdried-up oldcuntgoesouttohercar.Ileftalittlepresentthereforher.”
Morelaughteraccompaniedthis.Itcouldn’tbe,Karithought.Despitethis thought,sherushedintothebathroom.Thereshesawagirlwithshortpinkhair holdingcourtastheysmokedcigarettes.Thegirlblewoutastreamofsmokein Kari’sdirection.“Whatdoyouwant,princess?”
“Krisee?Isthatyou?”
Thegirl’seyesnarrowedatKari.Herblacklipscurledinasneer.“Iknow you?”
“It’sme!It’sKari.”
KriseeshovedKaribackhardenoughthatshestaggeredintoasinkand thentoppledtothefloor.Krisee’sfriendssnickeredlikethekidsinMrs.
Scimer’sclassatthisdisplay.KriseeglareddownatKariwithfuryinhereyes.
“Youtattleonusandyou’redead,princess.Gotit?”
“Yes.”
“Nowgetyourskinnyassoutofhere.”
Kariscrambledtoherfeetandthenbrokeintoarun.Shemanagedtohold inhertearsuntilshereachedanotherbathroom.There,asshesatinastall,she sobbed.Sheknewthiswasastupidreaction.Kriseewasdead.Shehaddied overayearagowhenValcutoffherheadinthemiddleofthenight.Kriseehad neverbeenrealinthefirstplace;she’dbeenoneofTaiLecau’screations,away totrickKariintolovinghim.
Despiteallthat,shestillcried.Itoccurredtoherasshesatonthetoilet howlongithadbeensinceKriseehaddied.Forawholeyearshe’dbeen trappedfirstasMolegirlandthenasalittlegirlonShadawithoutanyonetolove her.ToseeKriseeagain,evenifsheweren’ttherealKrisee,hadbroughtall thosedormantfeelingsupagain.
Asshecontinuedtosobthroughabellforclass,sheheardsomeone whisper,“Kari?Areyouinthere?”
“Goaway,”Karimumbled.
Thevoicedidn’tletthisdeterit.Throughhertear-blurredvision,Karisaw apinkheadslidebeneaththestall.TherestofKriseesoonfollowed.Shetook Karigentlyintoherarmsasthey’ddonesomanytimesbeforeonPhera.“Hey, comeon,kid,don’tbelikethat.I’msorrytoberoughonyou,butyouknowwe can’tletanyoneknowaboutus.”
KarisniffledandthenlookedupatKrisee.“Us?”
“No.I…I’mjustalittleconfused.”
“Maybethiswilljogyourmemory.”KriseeleanedforwardtokissKari hardonthemouth.AtfirstKariresisted,butwhensheclosedhereyesitreally didfeelliketheKriseeshe’dknownwhentheyhadbothworkedatTai’sstrip club.ShefoundherselfkissingKriseeback.
Whentheyfinallyhadtopart,Kriseesmiledather.“Allbetternow?”
“Alittle.”Nowthatthemomentofpassionwasover,Karileanedaway fromKrisee.Shelookeddownatthefloor.“Areyouashamedofme?”
Kriseeconsideredthisforamomentandthensighed.“Look,Igota
reputationtoprotect.Andsodoyou.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
“Comeon,whatwouldyourmomsayifshefoundoutyouweredatinga girllikeme?”
ItwasKari’sturntoponderadifficultquestion.Backwhenshehadbeen twelvebefore,Karihadstillbeenfatwithterribleeyes.Theonlygirlwho’d evershowntheslightestinterestinherwasValandsincethey’dbeenfriends sincekindergarten,Momhadnoreasontobeupset.Butnow,withKarilikethis andKriseethewayshewas?“IguessIseeyourpoint.”
Thebellrangagaintosignaltheyweretardy.Karigatheredupher backpack.“I’dbettergettoclass.”
“Ohcomeon,whocaresaboutclass?”Kriseeleanedclosetowhisperinto Kari’sear,“Howaboutwegounderthebleachersandkeepthisgoing?”
Karismiledatthis.Shewouldneverhaveconsideredskippingclassthe lasttimeshewasthisage,butnowshedidn’tseeanyreasonwhynot.She wasn’treallytwelveanditwasn’tlikeValwouldeverlethergraduate.Shetook Krisee’shandandfollowedheroutofthebathroom.
***
Karihadn’tgonetoclassallweek.Shegotonthebuseverymorningand tookthebushomeeveryafternoon,butbetweenthosetimessheandKrisee spentmosteveryminutetogether.Theyhadstartedunderthebleachers,but soonenoughtheysnuckoffcampustohangoutaroundtown.Kriseehad developedkeensensestokeepthemfromrunningintoanyauthorities.
ThisweekhadbeenmorewonderfulthananythingKarihadexperiencedin morethanayear.Shehadforgottenwhatitfeltliketobelovedlikethis,tofeel sopassionateforanothergirl.Itdidn’tmattertoKarithatKriseewasjustan illusionmanufacturedbytheStoneofChange;havinglostoneKriseealready, shewasjusthappytofeelthewayshedidagain.
TheysatinanalleybehindadrugstorewithbottlesofbeerKarihad shoplifted.Theyhadtheschemedowntoascienceafteraweek.Kriseewould alwaysgointothestorefirst.Withherpinkhair,nosering,andtattoos,theclerk andanysecuritywouldimmediatelyfocusonher.Whiletheydid,Kariwould creepintotakewhatevertheywanted.Nooneeversuspectedaplain,shygirl likeKariwouldbeashoplifter.
Astheydrank,KaricuddleduptoKrisee.Sheletoutacontentedsigh;she hadmissedthesesimple,quietmoments.KriseestrokedKari’slonghairand said,“Weshouldreallygetthatcutshorter.Maybedyeitblack—”
“Notblack,”Karisaid,thinkingofValwithhershort,blackhair.
“Howaboutpurple?Thenwecangetyouacoupleofringsandacutelittle
tatonyourshoulder.”
“Aprancingunicornwithyournameonit?”Kariasked.Shehadworn suchatattoobackinTai’sstripclub;Kriseehadwornanidenticalonewith Kari’sname.
“Thatwouldbecute.”
“Andyoucangetonewithmynameonit.Ifyouaren’ttooashamed.”
Kriseerolledhereyes.“Don’tstartthatagain.”
“Idon’tknowwhyyouhavetobesoafraid.Weloveeachother,don’twe?
Whatdoesitmatterwhatanyoneelsethinks?”
Kriseegulpeddowntherestofherbeer.Shetossedthebottleagainstthe walltoshatter.Karistudiedherfaceforamomentandthenpulledback.“You don’tloveme.That’sit,isn’tit?”
“Ididn’tsaythat—”
“Ishouldhaveknown!You’rejustusingme!”
Karihoppedtoherfeet.Shesnatchedherbackpackupandthentookoff runningdownthealley.Kriseecaughtherbythebackpack,yankingherback intothealley.SheflungKariupagainstthewallhardenoughtomakeKari whimper.“Damnit,whydoyouhavetoactthatway?JustwhenI’mstartingto thinkyou’recool,yougoandgetallweepyonme.”
“Doyoucareaboutmeatalloristhisalljustagame?”
“Stoptryingtoguiltme!”
Karilookeddownatherfeet.Sheshouldhaveknownthiswastoogoodto betrue.ShehadknownKriseewasonlyamirage,butshehadhopedKrisee mightatleastfeelthewayshedid.“Ishouldgetbacktoschool,”shemumbled.
“Fine,goaheadandgobacktoschool.Uptightlittlebitch.”
KriseestoodbacksoKaricouldslinkaway.Shetrudgedbacktoschool, tearsblindinghermostoftheway.ThiswasprobablywhatValwanted,tomake hermiserablebyhavinglovesotantalizinglyclose.“It’snotfair,”shegrumbled.
Sheknewshewasintroublethemomentshewalkedthroughthesidedoor tofindasecurityguardwaitingforher.“There’sourlittletruant,”theguard said.“Getyourasstotheprincipal’soffice.”
“Yes,ma’am.”Karishuffledthroughthehallway,totheprincipal’soffice.
Theprincipalwasalreadywaitingforher.ShemotionedforKaritotakeaseat.
“I’msorryIskippedclass.”
“FromwhatI’veheard,thisishardlythefirstincident,”theprincipalsaid.
“Fromyourrecords,you’vebeenmarkedabsentforeveryclassthisweek.”
“I—”
“Wealreadycalledyourmother,sothere’snouseinlying.”Theprincipal shookherhead.“Yourmarksarefarfromexceptional.They’renoteven
average.I’mafraidyouaren’ttakingyoureducationseriously.”
“I’msorry.I’lltryharder.”
“It’stoolateforthat.YourmotherandIhaveagreedyousimplyaren’t readyforthismuchresponsibilityyet.Youclearlyneedalittlelessstressful environment.”
“No!”Karishottoherfeet.Sheknewwhatwasabouttohappen.“You can’tsendme—”
Itwastoolate.Herheadspunandshefellontooneknee.Shewasn’t su
rprisedwhensheheardawoman’svoicesay,“Younglady,whatisthe meaningofthis?Getoffthatfloorthisinstant.”
KarirecognizedtheshrillvoiceofMissSundre,herteacherbackinTai’s boardingschoolthathadbeendesignedtoteachthelittlegirlsofPheratheskills theywouldneedtobecomehousewiveswhentheygrewup.Valhadengineered theirescape,whichhadworkeduntilTaiapprehendedthem.
ItcameasnosurprisetoKariwhensheopenedhereyestoseesheworea darkgreenjumperwithamintgreenblouse;thiswastheuniformallthegirlsof Tai’sschoolwore.Shealsowasn’tsurprisedtoseethekitchenstationsinthe roomandgirlsworkingdiligentlyatthosestations.
Karigotunsteadilytoherfeet.“I’msorry,MissSundre,”shesaid,her voicehigherinpitchnowthatshewasevenyounger.Sheputahandtoa stomachthatmercifullywasstillflat.“CanIgotothebathroom?”
“Isuppose.Butifyou’renotbackinfiveminutesyou’regoingtogotobed withoutdinner.Isthatclear?”
“Yes,ma’am.”
Kariknewwheretofindthebathroomintheboardingschool.Sheplodded overtothemirrorandgasped.Shelookedverydifferentthanthelasttimeshe hadbeenhere.Herhairhadturnedacopperredthatwasboundintoloose pigtails,curlytressesfanningoutfrombesideherhead.Thefrecklesonhernose hadmultipliedtocoverherentirefacenow.Shehadalreadyrealizedshewas skinny,farskinnierthanwhenshe’dbeenherelast.Fromherheightcompared tothesink,shesupposedshewassevenoreightyearsold.
Asshebegantowashhernewfaceforlackofsomethingbettertodo,she heardsomeonesniffleinoneofthestalls.Shestoppedthesinkandthenwent overtothestall.Therewerenodoors,buttorespecttheoccupant’sprivacy, Karileanedagainstanadjoiningstall.Thesnifflingcontinued.“Hello?Are youallrightinthere?”
“Goaway!”alittlegirl’svoiceshouted.
Kariignoredthistopeekintothestall.Shegaspedagain.Thevoiceshe hadheardsoundedlikeasmallerversionofKrisee’s,butthegirlinthestall
lookedalmostlikehertwinwithcopperhair,freckles,andaskinnyframe.The maindifferenceswerethisgirl’shairwasboundinaponytailatthetopofher headandshedidn’twearglasses.“Krisee?”