touch each other here. I'm not sure what it means.'
'It means friendship,' he replied; it was not the time to suggest that it might mean more. 'But right now, if we don't study that map as we're supposed to, we'll have a great deal to apologize for!'
The plan was for the group of Readers and Adepts to spend the day studying the map, and in the evening share suggestions for distributing their Readers so that every Adept could hear, or at least see one.
But that was not possible. Eight Readers could not be stretched almost the length of the empire. They could use watchers, but flashing lights were too likely to be spotted. Moreover, it took precious time for a watcher to read a signal and pass it on-time they would not have while trying to control immense forces of nature.
A frustrated assembly gathered around Lenardo's table that evening, after a meal at which even the Adepts had eaten little. 'In some areas' Rolf pointed out, 'the fault line runs almost under the main road through the empire. Those of us with lesser powers have to be
'We must have people right along the road,' said Aradia. 'And here, where the land is flat for long stretches, where do we place watchers?'
'At least the troop movements will obscure the fact that so many strangers are wandering along the roads,' said Master Clement.
'But half the minor Adepts are women,' said Melissa. 'We can't disguise them as soldiers.'
'What about dressing all the women as Readers?' Torio suggested.
'No,' said Melissa, 'not in white-they'd be sure to be caught out by other Readers. But ordinary clothes and
'What?' asked Lenardo and Master Clement together.
'You Master Readers-you pay no attention to your old friends who were failed,' she replied, 'but they're all over the empire, working as Readers in minor capacities.'
'But child,' said Master Clement, 'why would they help us? That would be betraying their own people.'
'I have a close friend,' said Melissa. 'Alethia won't betray me, even if she refuses to help. Let me try.'
'Where is she?' asked Torio.
'Gaeta. I have never gone so far out of body-'
'Torio,' said Lenardo, 'can you guide Melissa safely, or shall I?'
'I've Read Gaeta with you,' Torio replied, 'and Melissa knows it well. And it's on the coast-I can always follow the shore back to familiar territory.'
'Then go ahead, while we consider alternatives. Even if we find enough Readers to act as relays, only a few of us can Read the stresses within the ground. How can we place those few to cover the most territory?'
Torio went to his room, Melissa to hers. In moments they were out of body, «floating» above Lenardo's city. When Melissa began to drift southwest Torio asked, //Don't you know how to get quickly to somewhere you know well?//
//No-I've only recently become comfortable out of body at all. It's incredible that you are so much more skilled than I am, when you haven't had as much training.//
//But I have-Lenardo hasn't let me forget my lessons, and I have had to put my skills to use in life, not classroom exercises. Concentrate on Gaeta as you know it-some familiar spot. Imagine yourself there. Visualize it-//
An image grew in Melissa's mind of a pier jutting out into the sea, waves lapping on the rocks beneath. And then they were 'there.'
'on' the pier. //Alethia's house is just up the hill,// Melissa told Torio.
Torio «followed» Melissa past several people who did not know they were there, to a neat walled cottage where a little boy played in the garden. Inside, an infant slept in a cradle while a young woman put away the supper things and prepared the crib for her older child. She worked slowly, misery in her every move.
//Alethia-what's wrong?//
//Melissa? It can't be! They said you were dead, and now they've taken Rodrigo-//
//I'm not dead, and please don't project so strongly.
We must have privacy. I wish you could leave your body.//
//You know I could never learn that.//
//You may, someday. But who took Rodrigo?//
//The army.// Alethia sat dejectedly in a wooden chair. //They've taken all the Readers they didn't before- many of the healers from the hospital, too. I'm so frightened-you were reported dead, Melissa.//
//Were Masters Amicus and Corus listed as dead, too?//
//Yes.//
//Well, they're alive. Magister Jason died in the shipwreck-//
//Shipwreck? What shipwreck?// Alethia was hopelessly confused.
//Alethia,// said Melissa, //hasn't any of the truth come down the Path of the Dark Moon?//
//I don't know what's true. There is some insane story that the army was trapped in quicksand, and hundreds of helpless men slaughtered by the savages.//
//The quicksand is true; the slaughter is not.// Melissa quickly sketched what had really happened.
//The Emperor claims there was a great battle,// said Alethia. //We were very narrowly defeated, and killed many of the savages. Now we are building an even bigger army to strike before the enemy can recoup their losses. The Council of Masters report the same thing. The only mention of quicksand came down the Path of the Dark Moon. But Melissa-have you escaped from the savages? Do you need help?//
//I am with friends. We need your help, Alethia.//
//We?//
//Magister Torio of the Adigia Academy is here with me now, or I would not dare travel so far out of body.//
//Magister-? There was a Torio killed trying to leave the empire, and brought back to life by savage sorcery. Melissa-// They could feel Alethia's dread.
//No, I am not a ghost,// Melissa told her friend.
//Neither is Torio. The savages cannot raise the dead, but they have healing powers we never dreamed of. Alethia, I've never lied to you-and while what comes down the Path of the Dark Moon may be exaggerated or embellished, it is basically true. Isn't it?//
Reluctantly, Alethia agreed.
//If there had been the great battle the government claims, what would be happening to Gaeta now?//
Alethia considered. //The hospital!// she realized. //Some of the wounded would be brought here-the ones they could not cure in the other hospitals. Magister Phoebe and some other Readers returned-but they brought no injured soldiers. How could there have been such a battle?//
//There wasn't,// Melissa assured her. Then, while Alethia was willing to listen, she asked, //Will Rodrigo be in Tiberium when the Emperor reviews the troops?//
//Yes-he is training with a unit in Cassino now, but they will march to Tiberium next week.//
Reading Melissa working delicately on her friend, Torio did not interfere. Everything hinged on Alethia's trust.
Melissa began, //There is no way to tell you this gently… but unless you help us, Rodrigo could die in Tiberium, before he ever sees a battle.//
//No!//
//Alethia, don't shut me out! We can prevent it!//
//If the savages attack Tiberium, what can / do?//
//Not the savages,// said Melissa. //An earthquake. The very day the troops gather in Tiberium, the city will be destroyed.//
//Why haven't you gone to the Council of Masters?//
//They have declared me dead, although they know better. Alethia, you are our only hope-you and others on the Path of the Dark Moon.//
Alethia got up and walked to the cradle, picked up her baby, then went to the door and looked out at the little
