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after breakfast instead of the farm or to the exercise room. Already bored by the whole thing,
Ganwe lay on his bunk whistling tunelessly and picking his teeth. I did some of the light
callisthenics I d started doing since I d been freed of the punishing cycle of naksen withdrawals,
trying to get a little fitter and put on some muscle mass perhaps rather pointless but to abandon
such a lifelong habit meant giving up.
The guards collected us at ten to join a group of twenty prisoners being taken to the visitors
room. Twice our number of sky-blue-robed men and women met us there, all tidy and clean and
holy, heads covered, protective symbols around their necks and gloved hands to prevent our skin
contaminating them. They wouldn t have admitted that was the reason, but my mother had made
me cynical. A guard read our names off a list, and as each one was called, two of the Brethren
always a man and a woman came up and guided the person away to one of the tables for a
private chat. No one had asked me at any point if I even wanted to see these bloody people. Only
curiosity stopped me telling the guard that I didn t.
The guard called my name, and my two minders approached, smiling politely. I scraped up
what was left of my manners to do the same. The plain, middle-aged woman had kind, rather
tired eyes. The man
Huh. What was left of my libido poked its head up and decided there might be an upside to
this nonsense after all. While I stared at him, the woman greeted me.
Brother Jodimai, the blessing of his Mercy on you. Please come with us.
She put her hand on my arm, and I let them lead me over to the table. The modest robes with
the long cape disguised the outline of their bodies pretty well, so I couldn t tell what the guy was
like. The outfits only left their faces exposed, but that was enough, at least in his case. He had the
most extraordinary dark, long-lashed eyes, and strong, narrow features that I found curiously
appealing. Of course, I couldn t do more than look, but he was the most normal and attractive
person I d seen in months. For some reason they had amazingly ugly guards in prison, and the
prisoners...well, the conditions and the shaven heads made everyone look old and grey and worn
out.
I suddenly hated these people for flaunting their health and freedom in my face like this. As I
sat down, I looked the woman in the eye.
Anyone tell you I m a deev?
I expected some slight disapproval, had hoped for open-mouthed shock, but she only smiled.
Marra loves all his children, brother Jodimai.
I did a double-take. Really? I narrowed my eyes at her. Are you sure you re a
Marranite?
Shut up, Jodi.
I jumped as a voice sounded in my head. I looked around to see who or what was doing it.
Knock it off! Do you want the guards to see you? Look at me. Yeah, me.
I turned and found Big Eyes staring at me with an intent expression.
Name s Kirvo, not Big Eyes . I m a deev too, just so you know. And a paranormal. We re
here to get you out of this place.
I froze, utterly shocked as the woman Jeyle, Kirvo supplied babbled harmlessly about
Marranism and how it was their duty to see all his creations were well cared for. Kirvo was still
watching me.
How? I asked.
Wait. We have to go through with this for a few minutes. Try to look as if you re listening to
her.
Who are you people?
We re not the government. It s easier to show you than tell you.
My heart thumped so hard I thought I d be sick. Was it possible? Was this one of Noret s
tricks?
No, it s not. I can t really prove that to you, but we don t work for him. He can t be trusted,
Jodi.
How do you know my pet name?
He smiled, revealing amazingly white and pretty teeth. Telepath, huh. It s going to be fine,
trust me.
I...do I have a choice?
He frowned. Uh, sure you do. If you really want to go back in there and spend the rest of
your life sucking cocks, be my guest. Otherwise, we re the only way you re getting out of here
unless you want to play Noret s game. You already said you didn t.
Stop reading my thoughts!
A little hard not to, pal. We went to a lot of trouble to get in here to find you, so make up
your fucking mind. Stay or go.
Jeyle was still talking was she a paranormal too or was Kirvo controlling her? Was he
controlling me?
Go, I finally said. But you better not be tricking me.
I m on your side, kid. Lay off the dirty looks.
Which only made me glare at him. He smiled serenely back.
Kid ?
Hey, I m older than you.
How the shitting hell do you know so much about me? And why are you rescuing me and not
any of the other paranormals?
His expression turned serious. You re the only major talent in this prison, and we can t
rescue everyone. Wish we could, but there s no way....
Jeyle glanced at him with sympathy, and I realised she d been listening to the conversation
the entire time. I heard her voice in my head. We can t help them all, unfortunately. If you want,
you can help us help the others. Your powers could be very useful.
So you want to use me like Noret?
Kirvo winced. No. We want to stop you being used by Noret. Look sharp, it s time.
What are you going to do?
Jeyle put her hands to her lips. Let him concentrate, she whispered, then her expression
became rather distant. Was she a telepath too?
I ought to have been more shocked, but so many extraordinary and horrible things had
happened to me this year that I had become numb. If Kirvo and Jeyle weren t insane, and they
really could get me out of here, then great. I refused to think about being free until it actually
happened.
Kirvo arched an eyebrow at me as I had that thought, then went back to whatever he was
doing.
The room fell silent quite suddenly shockingly so, because the noise of sixty or more
people, even talking at low volume, had been considerable. Now the only sound was the clicking
of the timekeeper on the wall.
Okay, move. Kirvo stood, grabbing my arm. Jeyle took my other one.
The guards!
All sorted. Move, Jodi!
All the guards in the room were looking at their feet. Everyone else stared at their hands or
the table in front of them. The security skimmers in the corners were turned away. No one would
see us leave, but how could we get past the rest of the security?
The same way, it seemed. We walked quickly down halls and into elevators and up stairs,
and at every point, people stopped and looked away, and skimmers jerked to point at ceilings and
floors.
You can t possibly get away with this, I muttered as they dragged me along.
We already are, Jeyle said confidently, eyes bright and excited. Keep moving!
It took a very long time, and I expected to be stopped at any moment. Surely Kirvo s powers
weren t so great that he could control hundreds of people throughout this enormous underground
complex? But we continued up and up, without a single person challenging us. It was the furthest
I d walked in months, and my wasted physique wasn t up to it. Damned if I would let that stop
me.
Finally, when I was trembling from fear and exhaustion, we reached the last checkpoint,
standing before a pair of massive metal doors. As a smaller hatch near the bottom swung open,
my knees gave out under me, the tension and exertion too much to bear any longer. Kirvo
grabbed me around the waist.
Hold on, you ll be fine. Jeyle s got us.
We began to rise off the floor and then floated through the personnel hatch. By that point, I
had no more amazement left in me. If either of them had become invisible, I d have thought, Oh,
interesting.
More shocks as I found myself plunged into paralysing cold, wrapped in freezing fog, and
standing on icy ground. It was deep winter, and I only wore thin overalls. The deadly cold sucked
all the breath from my body, and I began to shiver so hard I couldn t even talk worse than being
back in withdrawal. Kirvo s arms around me didn t do a damn thing to help.
Quick, Kir, your cloak, Jeyle ordered.
In seconds, I found myself wrapped in Kirvo s outer cloak, and then his arms again. It did
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