***
Everyoneelsehadalreadygonetothemesshallbythetimeshemadeit backtocamp.Shewasfartootiredtodomorethancollapseonherbunk.She wantednothingmorethantosleepforthenexttwelvehours.Maybebythen she’dwakeupfromthisnightmare.
“Kree,getyourasstothekitchen!”
“What?”
“Lastonebackgetskp.Youknowthedrill.”
Valdidknowthat.Shehadservedkpherentirefirstweekofbasic training.Thenshe’dbuiltherselfupenoughthatshewasnolongerlast.Bythe timeshecompletedbasictraining,shewascominginfirst.
Shetrudgedtothekitchentohelppreparedinner.Acooktossedheran apronthatwentdownpastherfeet.Whenshecaughtherreflectioninapaneof glass,shefroze.Herhairwasshoulderlengthnow;betweenthatandtheapron shelookedasmatronlyaswhenshe’dplayedmommytoKriseeandKarifora yearonPhera.
“Getyourasstopeelingthosepotatoes,”acooksnarled.
“Yes,sir,”Valmumbled.Shewentovertothebushelofpotatoestobegin peelingthem.
Sixhourslatershestumbledbacktoherbunktofinallysleep.Reveille camefartoosoonforherliking.Shebarelyhadhereyesopenasshetrudged intotheshowerswiththeothers.Onceshetookoffhershirt,though,shecame tofullalertness.Herbreastshadswollentwosizesovernight!Unfortunatelythe restofherbodyremainedaspunyasever.Shesquirtedsomeshampoointoher hairandthenbegantoworkitinonlytorealizeherhairwasnowdownpasther shoulders.Withsomeeffortshemanagedtotuckitbeneathhercapwhenit cametimeforcalisthenics.
Eventuallythehaircameundonetowhipherinthefaceasshedidjumping jacks.Thatsparedhertheindignityofwatchingherbreastsshimmyaroundwith eachjump.Whatwashappeningtoher?
***
Valhadjustfinishedanotherroundofkp,hereighthdayofitinarow.
Insteadofstaggeringbacktoherbunk,shewenttothegym.Shestrippedoff heruniformjacketandthenstoodinfrontofafull-lengthmirror.
HerbreastshadballoonedtoD-cupsnowthatpressedtightagainstherolive drabT-shirt.Herhairwasdowntothemiddleofherbackwiththickbangsthat droopedintohereyes.Thishadcausedhertopickupthegirlymannerismof swipingherhairbehindherears,untilitcamelooseagain.Sheretainedthe glassesandpunyphysiquethatstillmarkedherasageeknomatterhowbigher breastswereorlongherhairwas.
Shesatdownonabenchtoworkonpartofthatproblem.Shesetthebarto twentykilos,agoodweighttoloosenhermusclesupbeforeshegotserious.
Aftershelaydownonthebench,shegrabbedholdofthebar.Itdidn’tmove.
Valstrainedandgrunteduntilshefinallyheftedthebaroffthebrackets.
Tohercredit,shemanagedtodoonepumpbeforeshesetitbackonthe rack.Shesatuptochecktheweightsjusttomakesuretheywereproperlyset.
Herlowerliptrembledtoseetheywereattwentykilos.Beforethetearscould
starttocome,Valdialedtheweightdowntotenkilos.Sheresetherselfonthe benchandthenlifted.Shewasabletoliftthebar,butitstillfeltasifshewere tryingtobench-pressMolegirl.
Herliptrembledagain.Valtoldherselfnottocrylikeababyatthis setback.Shejusthadtokeepworkingatit.That’swhathadhappenedbefore.
Shehadsnuckoutofthebarracksatnighttoliftweightsandrunonthe treadmillsuntilherpunymusclesbecametautandwiry.Shehadnever developedlikeaweightlifter,butwiththestrengthshehaddevelopedand knowledgeofhand-to-handcombatshehadaccumulated,shehadbeenableto holdherownagainststrongercombatants.
Justkeepworking,shetoldherself.Sherepeatedthismantraasshe pumpedtheflimsyweights.Todayshemightonlybeabletolifttenkilos,butin afewdaysitwouldbetwentyandthenforty.Eventuallyitwouldbeahundred-fifty;thathadbeenherlimitbefore.
Thedoortothegymslammed.Valdidn’topenhereyesuntilsheheard SergeantTanorsay,“Kree,whatareyoudoinghere?”
“Justgettinginsomeextratraining,”Valsaid,hervoicesoundingahalf-octavehigherthanbefore.
Thesergeantmusthaveseentheweightsonthebar.“Mythree-year-old niececanliftthese.Whydon’tyouputsomeseriousweightsonthere?”
“I’mjustwarmingup.”
“Youlookwarmenoughtome.”TanortookthebarfromValwithone hand.Thenshedialedtheweightuptofiftykilos.“Goonandliftit.I’llspot you.”
Valtookadeepbreath.Sheheftedthebar—ortriedto.Itraiseda millimeterbeforeitsankbackdown.Valtriedagain,strainingwithwhatlittle mightshehad.Itdidn’tevengetthemillimeterthistime.
Tanorshookherhead.Shesatdownattheendofthebench.Valsatupto sitnexttoher.Shedidn’ttrytostopthetearsthistime.“Whyareyoudoingthis toyourself,Kree?It’sobviousyouaren’tcutoutforit.”
“Iamtoo!MaybeI’mnotstrong,butinsideI’mstillasoldier.”
Tanornodded.“Youdohavespirit,I’llgiveyouthat.Butbattlesaren’t wonbyspirit.They’rewonbystrength.”
“Arenot,”Valwhinedlikealittlegirl.“Battlesarewonbywhat’sinyour headandwhat’sinyourheart.”
“Ifyoureallythinkthat,yououghttogointointelligence.”
“I’mnotaspy.I’masoldier.You’llsee.”
“Listen,princess,you’vemadeagoodeffort.I’veseengirlswhohaven’t lastedhalfaslong.Whydon’tyoujustgiveitupalready?Gohomeandenroll
inuniversity.I’msureakidlikeyou’sgotbrainsenoughtobesomething.”
“I’mnotageek!I’masoldier!”Shehatedherselfforbeginningtosob.
SergeantTanorpulledherinforahug,strokingherlonghairtocomforther.
“Youhavetostopdoingthistoyourself,princess.You’regoingtoget hurt.”
“ThisisallIeverwantedtobe!”Valwhinedintothesergeant’schest.
“Sometimesthat’snotenough,kid.”
Valsniffledandthenwipedathereyes.Shepulledawayfromthesergeant tolaydownonthebenchagain.Sheputeverythingshehadintoliftingthebar; itrosefivemillimetersthistime.“I’mgoingtodoit.You’llsee,”Valgrowled.
“You’llallsee.I’mgoingtobethegreatestsoldierever!”
“It’syourfuneral,princess,”Tanorsaid.ShepattedValonthekneeand thenleftthegym.FortherestofthenightValstruggledwiththebarwithout gettingithigherthanacentimeter.
***
Bythelastdayofbasictraining,Val’shairwasdowntoherwaist;shehad togetuptwohoursbeforereveilleinordertocleanandbraiditsoitwouldn’t flopalloverwhilesheran.She’dtriedtocutitoff,butthenextdayithad grownbacklongerthanever.
Thatwasonlythetipoftheiceberg.Herbreastshadballooneduntilthey wereapairofglobesstucktoherchest.Despiteherbestefforts,shestillhadn’t gainedanymuscletone,butherbodynowhadawomanlyhourglassshape.Her freckleshaddisappearedwhiletheglassesremainedforthetimebeing.
Shetrottedaftertherestofthetraineesouttotheobstaclecourse.This woulddeterminewhethertheypassedbasictrainingornot.Valhungbackto watchtheothersattackthecourse.Asshewatchedthemshebitdownonher lowerliptoholdbacktears;thosewerecomingfarmorefrequentlynow.
Despitehereffortstodisappear,shecouldn’tescapeSergeantTanor’s notice.Thesergeantgatheredtherestofthetraineesaroundandthensaid,“And nowlittleprincessKreeisgoingtoshowushowit’sdone.Aren’tyou, princess?’
“Yes,ma’am,”Valsqueaked.Hervoicehadgoneupacoupleofoctaves overthelastfewweeks.Shewentuptothestartinglineandthenbracedherself forthesergeanttosignalher.
“Go!”
&
nbsp; Valtookoffrunning.Therewasaraggedseriesoftrucktiresshehadtorun through.Shecaughthertinyfeetinthemacoupleoftimes,butmanagednotto fall.Oncesheemergedfromthese,shehadtogetdownonherbellytocrawlin themudunderneathapatchofbarbedwire.Herlongbraidcaughtonthewire
midwaythrough,yankingherheadback.ShesquealedinpainwhileTanorand theothersshriekedwithlaughter.Valnarrowedhereyesandthenyankedher hairoutofthewire.
Withreneweddeterminationsheattackedthecourse.Shejumpedthe hurdleswithoutstumblingonce.Shewadedthroughwateruptoherenormous breastswithoutpausing.Sheclimbeduptotheziplineandthenzoomeddownto theground.
Thelastchallengewasthewall.Itwasaconcretewallfourmeterstall.A singleropehungoverthewallforhertoscale.Withascreamshethrewherself atthewall.Shebegantoclimbup—
Shegotathirdofthewayupbeforeherfeeblemusclesgaveout.She tumbledbacktotheground,whereshelandedonherback,herbraidsplayedout aboveherhead.Shewantedtogetbacktoherfeettotryagain,butherbody wastoosore.
“No,”shemumbled,tearsstinginghereyes.Shehadfailed.Shewould neverbeasoldiernow.
Asshesobbed,Tanorcametostandoverher.Thesergeantgrinned sadistically.“YouarethepoorestexcuseforasoldierIeverseen,”thesergeant said.“Butdon’tworry,thecolonelhasajobforyou.”
***
WhenValsatup,shewasnolongeronthetraininggrounds.Shefound herselfinanoffice,atadesk.Insteadofherfatigues,sheworeatightpink sweaterthatdisplayedmostofherenormousbreasts.Awhiteskirtbarely coveredherprivateswhilebrownleatherbootswentuptoherknees.Her fingernailswerepaintedpinktomatchthesweater.Shehadatleastlostthe glassesnow,herlastvestigeofgeekiness.Inhermouthtocompletetheillusion wasawadofgum.
Shewasabimbosecretary.Thatmuchwasobvious.Itbecamemore obviouswhensheheardamanshout,“MissKree,getinhere.”
“Yes,sir,”shesqueaked.Whenshegotup,sherealizedherhairwasallthe waydowntoherthighsnowwhileatthesametimeithadbecomethickerand wavier.Shecouldfeelitswayingbehindherasshewalkedintotheadjoining office.
ShegaspedslightlytoseeTaiLecaubehindthedesk.Heworecamouflage fatiguesnowandhisnameplacardidentifiedhimasColonelLecau.Shebacked upastep,hopingtoslipaway.Helookedupandgrinnedather.“Comein,Miss Kree.”
“Yes,sir,”shemumbled.
Hemotionedhertoaseat.Whileshesatdown,hegotup.Whenheclosed
thedoor,shegulped.Shehadabadfeelingwherethiswasgoing.Shehad heardKariandJeritalkaboutwhathadhappenedintheofficesofTaiCorp.
Itwasn’tasurprisewhenheputahandonhershoulderandbeganto massageit.“ThegeneralissendingmeonaninspectiontourtoFornya.I’m goingtoneedyoutocomealongtosupportme.”
“Yes,sir.”Shealreadyknewwhatkindof“support”shewouldbe providinghim.
Heleanedclosertoherandburiedhisfaceinherhair.Shecouldhearhim sniffit.“Isthatanewshampoo?”
“Yes.”
“It’slovely.Ican’twaittogetyouawayfromhere.Youcanspreadallthis lovelyhairoutandwecanuseitasablanket.”
“Allright.”
Hetiltedhisheadtokissheronthecheek.“Idon’tknowhowIevergotso luckyastolandtheprettiestsecretaryinthearmedforces.”
“Thankyou.”
“Wedon’thaveanymeetingsforawhile,dowe?”
“Idon’tthinkso.”
“Good.Thenwe’llhaveplentyoftime.”
Shewasabouttoaskwhathemeantwhenheswepteverythingoffhis desk.Heseizedherbythearmsandthenroughlythrewherontopofthedesk.
Shesquirmedinhisgrasp,butshewasfartooweaknowtoresist.“Helpme!”
shescreamed.
Heplantedonehandoverhermouth.“Now,sweetheart,wedon’tneedany ofthat.Thiswillbefun.You’llsee.”
Whileheusedhisotherhandtopulldownherpanties,shelookedaround herforaweapon.Hereyesseizeduponaletteropenerthathadlandedonthe colonel’schair.Shereachedoutforit,butitwastoofaraway.
Shegaspedinpainasheenteredherhard.Atthesametime,shegrabbed onearmofthechairtobringitcloser.Whileheflailedawayinsideher,she broughttheletteropenerincrementallycloser.
“I’mnobody’sbimbo!”shescreamedathimwhileshestabbedhiminthe chest.Shekeptstabbinguntilhefinallydisappeared,asdidtherestofthe office.Valfoundherselfstandinginahugebuildingmadeofwhitestone.She clutchedabrass-tippedspearinonehand.Thatmusthavebeenwhatshe’d imaginedwastheletteropener.
Ithadallbeenanillusion.Ithadtobetheotherstone,tryingtokeepher fromfindingit.Ithadhopedtotrapherinthatnightmareuntilshelosther mind.IthadunderestimatedherjustasTaiLecauhad.Herbodyshimmeredfor amomentandthenshefoundherselfbackincamouflagefatigues,onlythistime theuniformfitproperly.Theglassesweregonetoo.
Shewasherselfagain.Shetightenedhergriponthespearandgrinned.
Chapter20
Father’svoiceledSanatothebaseofahill.Ontopofthehillwasa buildingaslargeasthreeorfourmudhutsstucktogether.Liketheothersitwas madeofwhitestonewithpillarsinthefront,butitsroofwasdomed.She suspectedthiswasquiteanachievementforthoseancientpeople,thoughKari wouldknowmoreaboutthatthanher.
ShehadnotseenanysignofKari,Jeri,orVal.Theyallseemedtohave disappeared.Theymightstillbeinotherpartsofthecity.Itwasjustaswellin anycase,astheywouldneverbelieveshecouldhearherdeadfather’svoice callingtoher.
Stonestepsledupthehilltothebuilding.Sana’sjuvenilebodybecame windedaquarterofthewayup.Shestoppedtobrushmoistureawayfromher faceandresthertiredmuscles.Asshesatonastep,shelookedoutoverthe city.Itwassoimpossiblylarge,likesomethingoutofoneoftheancientstories.
Wasthiswherethesmooth-skinshadfledafterherpeoplehaddriventhemfrom thesurface?Shehadalwaysimaginedthesmooth-skinslivingincramped burrowslikegopherswhenperhapstheyhadbeenlivinginluxurywhileher peoplewallowedinmud.
Sheshookherheadatthisthought.She’dbeenasmooth-skinfortoolong now,tothepointwhereshebegantoresentherownpeople.Shetriedto rememberthegirlshe’dbeen,whohadenjoyednothingmoreonasummerday thantolieinthefetidswampwaterandmud.Itwashardtoimaginenowinher humanclothes,withhersmoothskin,clawlessfeet,andthecoarseblackfurthat drapedoveroneshoulder.
“Sana,youmusthurry,mydarling.You’reveryclosenow.”
“Yes,Father,”shemumbled.Shegottoherfeetandthenbegantoclimb thestepsagain.Bythetimeshereachedthetop,shecouldhardlybreathe.She restedagainstapillartorecoverandusedthebottomhalfofhershirttomopat herface.
“I’mhere,Father,”shesaidbetweengasps.“Whereareyou?”
“Inside,mydarling.Comeinside.”
Shestaggeredthroughtheentranceofthebuilding.Shegaspedatwhatshe saw.Therewerestonebenchesarrayedinrowswithanaislebetweenthem.On thebenchesweredozensofhumans,allofthemdressedinwhiterobes.She didn’tseeKari,Jeri,orValamongthem.Therewasnoonesheknewinthe room.
“Father?”shecalledout.
“Cometothealtar,mydarling,”hesaid.“Itistimetoreceiveyour destiny.”
Herfatherappearedatthefrontoftheroom,behindast
onealtarthathad thesameroughshapeofthedormantvolcanoitself.Herfatherlookedtheway sheremembered,buthewasdressednowinablackrobesimilartowhatthe humanswore.Hemotionedforhertocomeforward.
Asshedid,herbodychangedagain.Herclotheswerereplacedbyawhite robeliketheotherhumanwomenintheroomwore.Shegrewtaller,intoan adultfemalewithlargerbreastsandwiderhips.Thebraidoverhershoulder disappeared;whenshetouchedherheadshefoundherhairtiedintoamoundat thetopofherhead.Herglasseshaddisappeared;didthatmeanshewasno longera‘geek’asKarihadsaid?
Sheignoredthisthought,havingmoretoworryabout.Liltingmusicbegan toplayfromsomewhereasSanawalkeddowntheaisle.Sheglideduptothe altar,whereherfatherwaited.“Father,whatisthemeaningofthis?”sheasked.
“Mydarling,Ihaveoftendreamedofthedayyouwouldbemarried.Inmy lastthoughts,IworriedIwouldneverseethathappenforyouoryoursisters.It ismygreatjoythatIgettowitnessyourweddingafterall.”
“Wedding?Whatareyoutalkingabout?WhoamImarrying?”
“Thisceremonyisnottowedyoutoanyoneperson.Youaretobewedded totheGreatStone.Yourliveswillbecomeforeverenjoined.”
“TheGreatStone?IsthatwhatKariandtheothersspokeof?”
“Indeeditisthestonetheyhavesought,butonlyyouhaveprovenworthy.”
“Me?Whyme?”
Thetopofthealtarchangedtoasceneofanotherroom.Sanaputahandto hermouthasshewatchedayounghumanfemalestabamalehumanrepeatedly withatinyknife.Sanadidn’trecognizetheyoungwomanwithblackhairtoher kneesandbreastsbiggerthanSana’shead.ButthenFatherexplained,“Thisis thetestfortheoneyouknowas‘Val.’Asyoucansee,she’sdemonstrated herselftobeabloodthirstymaniac,likethosewhosplittheGreatStone.”