“This is their home territory, Em. They’re interfering too much here to avoid being noticed by Forsyth city government, half asleep as it is. To avoid trouble, they took over the city about a year and a half ago.”
Emma stared at him, aghast.
“They’ve completely taken over the best section of town. They did it quietly, but still Mary thought it safest for them to control key mutes in city hall, in the police department, in?”
“Mutes!”
He looked annoyed, probably with himself. “It’s a convenient term. People without telepathic voices. Ordinary people.”
“I know what it means, Doro. I knew the first time I heard Mary use it. It means nigger!”
“Em?”
“I tell you, you’re out of control, Doro. You’re not one of them. You’re not a telepath. And if you don’t think they look down on us nontelepaths, us niggers, the whole rest of humanity, you’re not paying attention.”
“They don’t look down on me.”
“They don’t look up to you, either. They used to. They used to respect you. Dammit, they used to love you, the originals. The ‘First Family.’ ” Her tone ridiculed the name that the original seven actives had adopted.
“Obviously this has been bothering you for a long time,” said Doro. “Why haven’t you said anything about it before?”
“It wasn’t necessary.”
He frowned.
“You knew.” Her tone became accusing. “I haven’t told you a single thing that you haven’t been aware of for at least as long as I have.”
He moved uncomfortably. “Sometimes I wonder if you aren’t a little telepathic yourself.”
“I don’t have to be. I know you. And I knew you’d reach a point when no matter how fascinated you were with what Mary was doing, no matter how much you loved the girl, she’d have to go. I just wish you’d made up your mind sooner.”
“Back when she brought her first latents through, I decided to give her two years. I’d like to give her a good many more if she’ll cooperate.”
“She won’t. How willing would you be to give up all that power?”
“I’m not asking her to give up anything but this recruitment drive of hers. She’s got a good many of my best latents now. I don’t dare let her go on as she has been.”
“You want the section to grow now by births only?”
“By births, and through the five hundred or so children they’ve collected. Children who’ll eventually go through transition. Have you seen the private school they’ve taken over for the children?”
“No. I keep away from the section as much as I can. I assume Mary knows how I feel about her already. I don’t want to keep reminding her until she decides to change my mind for me.”
Doro started to say something, then stopped.
“What is it?” asked Emma.
For a moment, she thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then, “I mentioned you to her once. I said I didn’t want you bothered by any of her people. She gave me a strange look and said she’d already taken care of that. She said, ‘Don’t worry about her. Bitchy old woman that she is, she’s wearing my brand. If anybody even tries to read her, the first thing they’ll see is that she’s my private property.’ ”
“Her what!”
“She means you’re under her protection, Em. It might not sound like much, but, with it, none of the others are going to touch you. And, apparently, she isn’t interested in controlling you herself.”
Emma shuddered. “How generous of her! She must feel awfully secure in her power. You trained her too well. She’s too much like you.”
“Yes,” said Doro. “I know.”
She looked at him sharply. “Did I hear pride in your voice?”
Doro smiled faintly. “She’s shown me a lot, Em. She’s shown me something I’ve been trying to find out for most of my life.”
“All I can see that she’s shown you is what you’d be like as a young woman. I recall warning you about underestimating young women.”
“Not what I’d be like as a woman. I already know that. I’ve been a woman I-don’tknow-how-many times. No. What I’d be like as a complete entity. What I’d be like if I hadn’t died that first time?died before I was fully formed.”
“Before you were …” Emma frowned. “I don’t understand. How do you know you weren’t fully formed when you died?”
“I know. I’ve seen enough almost-Doros, enough near successes to know. I should be telepathic, like Mary. If I were, I would have created a pattern and fed off live hosts
instead of killing. As it is, the only time I can feel mind-to-mind contact with another person is when I kill. She and I kill in very much the same way.”
“That’s it?” said Emma. “That’s all you’ve been reaching for, for so long?someone who kills in the same way you do?”
“All?” There was bitterness in his voice. “Does it seem such a small thing, Em, for me to want to know what I
