****
"Anyway, she's got this project going, Gallant. Long term thing. Genetic selection. No real meddling. Just pick the best. You know; long life, strong bones, good teeth. With current life expec running about eighty in healthy enviros, she figures two cen by proj culm. Bout one cen from now."
"Despite the verbal shorthand, I got all that. And you signed up for it."
"Shh, don't tell Mom and Dad."
"Tell us what, Alice? Oh, the project. Well, it makes me a bit nervous, but your father says it sounds reasonable."
"You know, Mom, I bet they find a gene for mind reading when they run mine. Where's Ben?"
"Brenda called to say she'd be late. Study group."
"I don't believe it. Mom, she's out with that guy again. Yeah, you think so too. Dad?"
"Trying just as hard as I am to trust her."
"Well I'm not a parent. I don't have to. I'm going looking. He gives me the crawlies. And he's the best of that crowd he runs with. Uh, oh. Mom, what'd I do? Why's he staring--"
"Shh! He's listening."
"Alice, get your vehicle. I'm coming with you. Let's go. Julie, we'll find her. Move, Alice!"
The place Alice thought Brenda had gone, with the boy she didn't like, was just a few blocks away. When she stopped the car, the stench of evil was so strong, Gallant couldn't feel the direction it was coming from.
"Where?"
"That house."
"Stay here."
"No way, Gallant. I don't have the gas to sit and run it and I'd freeze."
"All right, but stay behind me and be prepared to duck. Alice, if I find what I think I will, don't watch. That's an order, not a request."
"One of those dark brother things."
"I don't give orders for other reasons."
"Understood."
Now he knew why he was in Fairbanks, why Athena had sent him. She'd sent him eight times before. There were three left. One of them was Hensk, but not this one. He went through the door. It would probably have been locked anyway. The stench of evil sickened him. Somewhere in here was his Godchild.
Alice watched him go through about ten people, then ducked and turned away. He was right. She didn't want to watch. She knew when it was over, but she didn't turn around. She could feel he didn't want her to.
"Alice, get her home. I'll be there soon. She's asleep. She won't remember anything after she left school. Tell her she hit her head."
"How will you get there?"
"I'll run. It's cold. Go on. You can carry her."
"I know that. She weighs less than I do. Thanks, Gallant."
"Thank Athena. She sent me. Now go. I've got to get these boys out. When I destroy the ship, it'll take the house with it. Go!"
He carried them out quickly. He could already hear sirens. Someone had called the authorities. The two blankets he'd found would be enough. They wouldn't freeze. He slipped the medunit back in his pocket and checked every room to make sure he hadn't missed anyone. That's when he found the kittens. He knew Mama was dead. He tucked the three tiny things in his shirt, put in the destruct code he'd programmed nearly nine thousand years before and ran for the door.
He ran through the night, holding the kittens in his shirt with one hand to keep them from being bounced. He was delighted to see the lights of Julie's house. It was cold. The run hadn't been long enough to really warm him. He ran in the kitchen door. He didn't realize someone had been following him.
"Get me warm milk and an eyedropper or something. They're starving."
"I know better. Five min, Gallant."
"All right, Jim. Julie, your entire family speaks shorthand."
"Do? Yeah. Guess. Comes of closeness."
"It's more than that. Alice may be right. They may find something very interesting in her genes. How is she?"
"Which one?"
"I know how Brenda is. Alice."
"Fine. Waiting by Brenda to give her your story. How bad was she?"
"Julie, she's fine now."
"In other words, you'd rather not tell me and I ought to have sense enough not to push it. All right. She's fine now. Her godfather fixed her."
"Yes. I'm hoping to get a hug from her mother for it. Shh. Julie, it's over. All the kittens are safe at home."
"How many left, Gallant?"
"Two."
"Yes, but it doesn't end there does it? You could still be killed by one of the ones you killed in your future. I mean... "
"Yes, but I have it on good authority I won't be."
"Athena again."
"She's waiting for me. Four times. As four different people. You know, Alice's project... I'm not sure."
"Bad?"
"No, not really important in the long run, but no problem."
"Don't tell her that. She has designs on an MD and a slot on it. Loves genetics. Intensely curious about yours."
"Tell her I have an extra pair of chromosomes. And no one else on my home planet does."
"Oh, Gallant!"
"I've known a long time. I'm as different from them as I am from you. And I like you better. They're boring!"
"Here. Hit up Bill Aikens. Vet. Caught him as he was pulling in the drive. He said twenty cc's every two til they're stuffed. Form mixes with warm water."
"Thank you, Jim. All right, little one. Let's get you stuffed. Yes, hungry. Poor baby."
Julie went to find Alice and discovered Brenda was awake. She laid a finger to her lips, smiled and led them to the kitchen. They stood quietly in the doorway and watched Gallant feed the three tiny kittens. He held the tiny life so gently in his big, beautiful, hands. And his smile was so soft.