bench pitted with pinprick holes. An old-fashioned all-in-one sat closed up on the table. Looking out through the other door, Rose watched as a loose branch drifted past, snagging on a tree, while Marcos powered up the box and tilted up its view screen.
'Where did you take the others?' she asked. The driftwood tugged loose from its trap and spun away down the river.
He mulled over the controls, not looking up at her, although a hand remained cupped over the scatter gun's readouts. 'They will be safe.' He spoke to the box in his own language. Lights winked on the console. 'Here. You may enter a number. Use the keypad.'
She had a priority imavision code, of course, that identified her immediately to her father's secretary since her father never ever took incoming calls personally.
A whir. A beep.
'One moment, Miss Rose. Putting you through.'
The secretary did not turn on his own imavision. Although the screen remained blank, Marcos stepped away and turned sideways to give her privacy and to keep an eye out the door. But even so he started when that famous golden voice spoke across the net in a tone richly affectionate and so precisely intimate, using the pet name for her that no other dared speak.
'Mouse?'
'D-d-daddy.'
'I didn't expect you to call.' He hadn't turned on the imavision. Maybe he was getting dressed or entertaining visitors. Maybe today he just didn't want to see the blemish on her face. 'It's been so long since we talked. I've missed your voice so much, here at home. All your little quiet noises in the background. It seems so empty here without you puttering around.
How are you? Are you having fun up there in the eternal sunshine?'
'N-n-no, Daddy. I'm just-' She faltered, glancing toward Marcos, who still stared out the door at the sluggish river.
'You should be in-' A pause. A voice murmured in the background. 'San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Some kind of a museum there, I see. Olmec civilization. Pride of the collection is a large stone head! What will you children think of next!'
'D-daddy.' She wiped away a tear with the back of her hand.
'Are you crying, little mouse?'
'Daddy, I'm in trouble.'
A pause.
A silence.
'Rosie, you have a contraceptive implant-'
'No, Daddy. No. I'm in trouble. Please come get me.'
'Come get you?'
The screen flashed, a nova of light that spread, swirled with color, coalesced, and formed into an image of his face. The most famous face in the universe, so people said.
He looked put out.
'Come get you?' he repeated, as though she just told him he had turned purple. 'I have three interviews today to support the opening of Judge Not. The ratings aren't as strong as they need to be. After this a meeting with the Fodera-Euler Consortium to sign the contract for the Alpha Trek 3-D.'
He glanced back over his shoulder, speaking to a person not within the imavision's range. 'What's the time frame?'
'Ten days,' said his secretary, off screen.
'And the Consortium wants to begin recording-?'
'Fourteen days.'
He turned his brilliant smile on her. He had the most glorious blue eyes, warming as he stared intently at her through the ima-vision, as though he were really right by her side, comforting her infant sobs on a stormy night. He didn't even flinch, seeing her blemished face in such a close-up. 'Listen, Rosie. You hang in there for ten more days and I'll come get you. We'll make the most of it, father and daughter reunited, that kind of thing. Let Joseph know when your first landfall comes once the ten days are up. I'll be there to meet you. No need to mention you called now and arranged it in advance. Pretend you're surprised to see me.'
'But, Daddy-'
'Are you in danger of being killed?'
Marcos had not shifted position, nor his grip on the scatter gun. 'No. I don't think so, but-'
'Rosie. Mouse.' His tone softened, lowered. 'You know I will never let you down. But as long as your life or health isn't in danger, it can't be done for ten days. I made an arrangement with Surbrent-Xia that you would stick with the Sunseekers for three months. You weren't to know, but I trust you can see how important it is that I fulfill my contracts. You know how tight money is these days-'
'You 'made an arrangement' with Surbrent-Xia! I thought I ran away!'
'You did. You did. Fortunately, you picked the right place to run away to.'
'But I want to come home, Daddy. Now. I need to. You don't understand-'
'It can't be done. If I break the contract, we get nothing. Just ten more days.'
She hated that tone. 'But, Daddy, the-the-' What was Marcos going to do? Shoot her with a nonlethal weapon while her father could see and hear? 'I am in danger. An awful thing happened. We landed at San Lorenzo and then we were attacked by corporate raiders who wanted the solar array. And then we were caught in the cross fire when another group who had their technology stolen stole it back. I thought they were bandits, first, but it's all some kind of corporate espionage that goes back for years and years, like they're always stealing things, bits or patents from each other and stealing them back and selling them out-system-'
'Joseph! Joseph!' He turned away from her, showing his profile. Always aware of the camera's eye, he never lifted his chin because it distorted the angle of his nose. 'Did you get that down? We need more information! This could be a gold mine if we get it into development first. I see it as a serial. A family saga about ruthless technology pirates!' His beautiful face loomed again, grinning at her. 'What a good girl, Rosie! I knew I could count on you! Is there someone there I can talk to, who would be interested in a contract? Who has inside information?'
'A contract!' She recoiled from the table, sure she hadn't heard him right.
Marcos was already pushing past her. 'What kind of contract? Is there money? Is there publicity? We'll need leverage…' He leaned down in front of the view screen, introduced himself, and began bargaining.
'Daddy!'
'Love you, Rosie! Now, M. Marcos. First we'll need an all-hours contact number-'
'Daddy!'
Marcos ignored her, and her father had forgotten her. Amazingly, Marcos didn't even object, or seem to notice, as Rose left the hut and trudged down the dirt street back to the church, her only companions half a dozen chickens and two mangy dogs who circled warily, darting in to sniff at her heels until she kicked one. Yelping, they raced away.
The church remained empty, abandoned, six chairs overturned and one drying bloodstain, nothing serious.
Only bruised.
Seсora Maria had departed from the little back chamber, but she had left Doctor Baby Jesus sitting upright on the shelf, plump arms spread in a welcoming gesture as Rose halted in front of him.
'I speak English,' said Rose, her voice choked. Tears spilled, but she fought against them. 'I need help.'
A whirr. A squeal.
'Please wait while I connect you.'
A different voice, this time. A woman. 'Please state your location and need. I am M. Maldonado, medical technician. I am here to help you.'
A pause.
'Are you there?' The voice deepened with concern.
She found her voice, lost beneath the streaming tears. 'I just need your help. Can you connect me to my brother? His name is Anton Mikhailov. He's an advocate at-uh-' She traced down through her sim-screen. 'This is his
