Strangers and Lies Read online

Only one though and he didn't try to hand it to her. Instead he looked at her with intense eyes that made her head go tingly and his face blur for a bit. Possibly from working too hard?

  "I was sent in as your new runner ma'am. Reporting in promptly. What are my orders?" He looked so serious that Gwen couldn't help but smile at him. He was cute for a kid, but only about twelve and kind of reminded her of the little body from the dumpster, or whatever they called it here. They didn't look that much alike, but it was enough for her to feel a bit bad about it.

  "Do all you Westmorlands always pound on the door like this early in the morning?" It was kind of what she'd come to expect, but everyone else used mousy little taps most of the time, so it was kind of jarring.

  The boy blushed a bit.

  "Yes ma'am. I guess we all pick it up in training. Should I knock some other way, if I need you to get up?" There was a little too much innocence in the way he said the words, but Gwen shook her head anyway, treating it as if he were serious.

  "Nope. I was just wondering. Um, this is a surprise. It's..." She had to search for the clock and turn on a glow globe to see it. It was five-thirty, which probably wasn't that big of a deal, if you were from what was essentially a military organization like this kid was. "Probably time to get up. So, your name?"

  Hopefully she wasn't already supposed to know that part.

  "Peter, ma'am."

  "OK. Well, since I'm almost positive that I'm not going to undress in front of you, you need to stay out there. I... We'll go running. Did you bring gear with you or is this a day trip?" She didn't know if he was just there for a few hours or what, but he seemed ready for almost anything and showed her his trunk, which was decently large and sat in the hallway already. Hopefully someone had helped him move it, because it looked like a bear that way, being bigger length wise than he could possibly reach.

  "Good, you can take the room across from mine. Exercise clothing first, then... I need to go to the University and see about a tutor I suppose." She grinned, "unless you can teach me how to resist mesmerism? The magically induced kind?"

  The boy seemed to think for a moment but finally spoke, his words focused and very clear.

  "No ma'am. I can resist it, but the way I learned isn't... something you'd want to try. I was told to set up an obstacle course for you later however? Darren Westmorland said to do it, but everyone else agreed, so it might be a real enough thing. We normally try not to let Darren boss us around too much, if we can help it. He's a strange man."

  It was true, so she didn't correct the boy on that part.

  "OK, first we run and do some exercises, then we'll work on that. After breakfast perhaps? Then I need to call and make certain it's alright to visit with Doctor Professor Grainger. I really don't want to impose on him. I also need to see about getting things set up for the Students Service camp. It sounds like there may be some problems with the girls' side of things so far." Other than that she didn't actually have anything to do at all. As it was she made half the stuff up on the fly.

  It was becoming pretty clear that no one really needed her for anything here, after the bombs had stopped exploding like they had. It was a good thing, but she still felt a little useless.

  After all, if she wasn't of value to people all the time, why would they even want her around? She'd have to work on that, she decided.

  Before everyone else realized it too, if they hadn't already.

  Chapter five

  There were no convenient distractions in the early part of the day and she discovered something about her new little friend Peter. He was an asshole. Not in a big way, but when it came to training, even though he couldn't keep up on the run, he didn't slack off at all.

  His obstacle course for training her to levitate and float around wasn't anything huge or advanced seeming, having only two parts. The first was just flying as fast as she could through some trees without stopping, which did require her to dodge an awful lot and was just long enough to force her to push a little bit trying to keep herself up in the air. It wasn't bad, the first three times she went through it, floating in her tan jumpsuit like a leaf. It even felt kind of cool. Right until the little bastard started chasing her with a twelve foot pole hitting her any time she came into reach, laughing as he did it.

  "Stay up! Through the branches!" The little voice piped annoyingly as he ran too.

  Her best speed wasn't enough to lose him, not trying to lay flat in the air and avoid hitting things as the new spring buds on the branches caught at her hair and clothing. It worked to keep from being bashed too often, but it was kind of hard to stay up as high as she was. It just didn't feel as easy, somehow. It wasn't really more work, she knew that, since she could hold it just as long as hovering lower to the ground, but her mind was rebelling against it for some reason. Probably because she was a little afraid of being that high up. It wasn't terror or anything, but there was a sense of being unsteady that she didn't feel closer to the ground.

  Then, almost as if taking a perverse sense of pleasure in the whole thing, Peter set up a single sharpened stake, about six feet high and had her hover over it. That part wasn't hard, except that he kept trying to hit her with his pole and made her stay up for five minutes each of the four times they did it.

  "There! That should do for today. They told me that I should take it easy on you." He smiled about the words for some reason, but Gwen still wasn't certain if this was a trick and they were actually pushing her really hard, or if this was just regular training that some of the little kids got in their spare time. She certainly hadn't seen anyone off floating around yet, so it was either fairly rare, or people just didn't do it in the main. Like it was kind of impolite or something. She'd have to ask.

  First a shower was in order and then she had to make some calls.

  She was just out of the bathroom, her clean dress for the day on, when Winslow found her, knocking on the door of her bedroom.

  "Miss Farris? telestator for you. Doctor Professor Grainger." The voice was slightly muffled by the door, but had that smooth and almost deferential tone that Charles used with her whenever they weren't training together.

  "Coming! Please tell him that I'll be right there?" She had to get shoes on and some make-up, but all the daily practice had increased her speed at these things. She still wasn't a wonder at doing her own hair, but it didn't look like it was being done by a monkey anymore, most days. That or everyone had simply resigned themselves to her lack of skill in that area and stopped mentioning it. Either way worked for her.

  She ran to the room with the telestator in it, to find a serving girl holding the line open for her. It was a woman really, who looked to be about thirty, and wore a uniform that was a light blue skirt and shirt with a plain apron, it was long and the whole thing was a bit more matronly than she looked. The lady smiled at her however and traded places with Gwen easily, not removing her hand from the center sphere of the device until Gwen was touching it. She didn't speak at all but gave a half nod as she backed out of the room. It was a bit sad, but she just didn't know the woman's name. She'd seen her a lot, but had never felt comfortable asking. It was something she needed to get over, being shy with people like that.

  "Hello? This is Gwen Farris. Doctor Professor Grainger?" The line was still opened, but it was just possible that the fellow had a student holding it open for him. She'd left him waiting for a bit after all.

  "Gwen! So good to hear your voice." It was a rather pleased and booming baritone that came back, crisp and friendly sounding. "I was wondering if you might be able to come to the University one day soon? Some of the students have projects ready for you to go over for them. I have to say, over all I'm rather pleased with the results. I don't know when you might be free..." There was a leading quality to it that said that sooner might be better than later.

  It was the kind of thing she was just learning to pick up on, a subtle bit of tone and word choice that let her know that people wanted something from her, but were too p
olite to simply ask. It hadn't been a problem yet, since, for the most part, she simply did what people suggested anyway. What else did she have to do?

  "I can be over in... Call it two hours? Or later, if the students need time to get things around. I was planning to come see you today anyway, or at least call. I need some tutoring, basic magic, that kind of thing. Maybe some history too, since I don't know... honestly I need to go to school, I just don't want to start with the nine year olds that my knowledge base would fit in with here. Do you know anyone that can help me?" She tried to sound like it wasn't vastly embarrassing, but she was really talking about having to go back to kindergarten lessons here, things most people didn't even think about. She didn't want to say that out loud, but there was a clapping sound from the device in front of her that was so perfect it almost gave her an image of the man standing there hitting his leg.

  "I can do that indeed! Would it be alright if I set that up for you? I have some graduate students in mind that might be able to work as a team. You'll need an escort with some of them, of course." He paused and explained that part of things. "A female, to make certain that the fellows don't try to take liberties. They're good lads, but you aren't from here and, well, a few might just take the chance."

  That would almost be interesting in and of itself, but Gwen got the idea. Ladies, at least the proper ones, didn't go around adult men alone. As it was she'd probably have to see to someone to be around just because of Peter. So far he seemed like a sadistic little punk, but not a letch, as far as she could tell. That was probably wrong though, since he was a boy. Didn't they all want to have sex constantly?

  "Right, I'll... find someone. Say, are there any women there that would like a part time job? I can't ask anyone I know to do it, since they're all too busy, saving the world and what not." It was kind of true, so she really couldn't suggest it. She could be part of that, the world saving, if she learned to resist magically induced mesmerism. She mentioned it and then waited, wondering if it was just too strange a thing to ask for instruction in.

  "Ah, that makes good sense. I'll... have to get a specialist for that. Can I see to arranging something? As for a female student, I'll put the word out. Would it be alright to do this after the mid-meal, in the afternoon session? It will give me a bit of time to alert people as to your arrival." He suddenly sounded a bit excited, which almost didn't make sense to her, since it was just work for him, no matter how you measured it. That he loved his job was clear, but nothing they were doing seemed all that fantastic to her.

  It was early in the day still, and while they'd need some travel time to get to the University, which was just called Western, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Thinking about it carefully first, Gwen called James, her personal lorrie driver, to see to that part of things and then wondered how the heck she was supposed to fill the next several hours. Finally she grabbed Peter and Mrs. Vernor, since they didn't seem too busy and took them to the back yard for target practice with the crin. Peter did well, and Mrs. Vernor acted as if the new sights were a miracle.

  "This is... I can actually hit the target! We should let your father see this as well. I wonder if it would be useful for hunting?" She held the crin like she knew how to use one, which was more than a little surprising, since it seemed totally out of place, with her large dress of lace and silk that was nearly too hot for the day.

  After Peter took a turn she turned to Gwen and smiled cheerily.

  "Can I get one of these for my fox hunting set-up? I'll surely raise eyebrows and... well, you understand, something provided by you would make it seem a bit less like we forced you to lie for us, under threat of harm." She looked away, an almost shy thing that didn't fit her personality at all.

  Peter made a small sound that seemed almost like a snort.

  "People can be idiots, ma'am. Everyone with half a brain knows that it was Doctor Debussey that caused all of these problems." It was nearly an offhand thing to say, but Ethyl smiled hugely at the boy.

  "Kind of you to say, Peter. I do have to see to the damage however, or it will grow."

  Gwen shrugged, trying to work out how to get what was needed.

  "I can do it. Should I get one for Robert too? Admiral Welk? No... I'm going to just go and work for him soon I think, if anyone can help me talk him into it. I'll have to see if I can drag my tutors along. That should make Gloria happy, she loves having civilian passengers on her boat. It will make her happy and giddy with excitement." Airships were often called boats by their crews. Mainly just to be confusing, Gwen figured. It worked well enough, once you got the idea, but before that it could be a bit confusing.

  That lead to a discussion about what classes and training she'd need. What Ethyl thought that was seemed a lot different than what Bethany had mentioned. About a hundred and eighty degrees so, in fact.

  "Oh, my! Well, magical studies are interesting, I suppose, but also accounting and home making. You should learn to cook. History is a good topic, as well as sewing. It's far more handy that it sounds like at first. Manners and polite social instruction, too." She blanched a little and went wide eyed after she said it, then scrambled to explain herself. "I don't mean that your manners are lacking! It's simply what the classes are called."

  Gwen nodded, wondering if she could get away without all of those things, knowing that, if she were going to be honest with herself, she knew she couldn't. It wasn't that she went around being rude to people on purpose. Except that, of course, she did sometimes. She'd been doing a little better lately at keeping her mouth shut, but now and again she had an almost irresistible urge to scream obscenities at people here.

  It was always entertaining to watch their reactions, if nothing else. They didn't know a T.V. from an automobile here, but they knew she was being rude when she asked someone to kindly stuff a turkey up their ass, or to fuck themselves with a sword. It was nearly amazing how they'd blush and stammer over words like that, when used by a woman of her "station". The common people had been a little better that way than the ones she was around for the most part, but it was still a bit funny to see.

  "Good idea. Well, I was just setting up the basic magical stuff and maybe history today, that and seeing if I can hire a girl from the University to follow me around for a bit. You know, so that I won't seem un-chaperoned? That way if I start to mess up too much she can body check me or maybe work in a little covert elbow action." She demonstrated the move for clarity's sake, smiling as she did.

  "A ladies assistant? What a marvelous idea! We can clear a space for her here, if you wish. Do be careful not to get one too progressive however dear, with Katherine's old reputation... Well, it wouldn't serve." It seemed a little pointed in tone, but the words barely meant anything as far as Gwen could tell.

  Peter, helpfully, explained the whole thing to her, "that means you need to get a girl that wears a dress and doesn't smoke or have sex with other women."

  At first she expected Ethyl to chastise the boy for saying such things, but she just made a disapproving face, and then flipped her palms up.

  "A bit more direct than I would have been on the topic, but it really is what I mean. I know I should be rather blunt on the topic with you, Gwen, but the fact is it's still rather... painful for me. I shouldn't tell you how to live your life, but..." There was a brief look at the house, as if she expected something to happen, which it didn't.

  Peter nodded and then fired his six shots, all into exactly the same place on the most distant target, then set to recharging the crystal. It wouldn't take him very long, since he was trained for it pretty well, and strong.

  Gwen thought about the words for a few seconds and then smiled, trying not to make waves.

  "I'll see who I can get. It may not be anyone. If that's the case... Well, I guess I need to take up needle point or something." Maybe learn to play a musical instrument? She'd always wanted to, but had never bothered to learn before, since no one would have ever heard her do it.

  After handing the charged
weapon off to Mrs. Vernor, Peter spoke, watching the target closely as the center was removed from it by the lady in lace and deep purple silk. Also one with a clear hatred for targets suddenly. It was very smoothly done too.

  The miniature Westmorland shrugged, a move that caught her attention, since people didn't do that here. Except her, of course.

  "Well, we have things to work on, if you have the time. You need to do at least two sessions a day on levitation and should put time in your armor too. Heather is supposed to be around later today to talk to you, I think, so that will take up a while after the evening meal. It's not a lot, but I was told to work you pretty hard, if you'd put up with it. Darren mentioned it, but Beth agreed, so..." The boy whistled softly and pointed at the remains of the target, which was about fifty meters away. It had a nice hole punched through the center, about the size of his fist. "That, is superb shooting. Even with these new dot-aimers that's impressive." He actually sounded like he meant it, which got Ethyl to preen a little, handing the uncharged weapon back to the boy, who got to work on it without asking if he should. He was the man here, so of course he did the grunt work.

  It got a smile from Gwen, but she didn't mention anything. It was just the way they did things.

  They all ate together, which was nice, and took another hour, since there was no need to rush at all. Mrs. Vernor had some work to do after that, which worked well enough, since James showed up just as Gwen and Peter walked out to the circular drive, hardly having to wait even for a few minutes as the white lorrie, with its strange motivator on the front and carriage like looks, drove up. It was a bit like a true horseless carriage of course, the design being more similar to that than a car was, by far. It worked, but it meant the whole thing was fairly slow, since it wasn't as protected from the elements for the driver. At least it was a nice day, with no rain or overage of clouds. The blue was cheery, but slightly odd looking, as if there was just a hint of smog in the air. That was a thing they didn't have here though.