Sooner Dead (Gamma World) - Mel Odom [31]
Hella forced herself to relax. In all of her travels with Stampede, she’d never encountered an espee. She was familiar with psi talents, those that could be controlled and those that were wild. But the thought of someone able to invade her mind was horrifying.
Even worse than the tentacle-things? Though Colleen wasn’t smiling, Hella felt that in the woman’s thoughts.
Yeah. Even worse.
I’m sorry. Truly I am. But I had to be certain that we could communicate this way. It doesn’t always work.
Hella took a deep breath and realized a headache was dawning at the base of her skull.
I’m sorry about the pain. It’s not any easier for me.
That wasn’t a consolation but Hella nodded.
As you may have guessed, Dr. Pardot has insisted on “medicating” me. He says it’s to keep me from losing control the way I did the other night, but really it’s to keep me docile and helpless.
Hella stopped in front of an aisle containing footwear. Some of the shoes and boots were manufactured things turned up by scavengers, but much of it was handmade. Only some ancient goods had stood the test of time, and not all of that was good out in the rough country.
What do you want from me? Hella found it hard to think one conversation while having another.
I don’t know yet. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but whatever it is will be soon.
The next ripple?
Yes. I believe that’s the one we’re looking for.
Are you looking for it too? Or is it just Pardot?
Colleen hesitated. This ripple needs to be found, Hella. I need what it will bring into our world. So does Alice. My daughter needs it most.
For a moment primal pain and a feeling of impending loss ricocheted through Hella’s mind. She almost lost herself in the enormity of it. She was suddenly struck blind and dumb. She didn’t know Colleen had released her until she found herself with her hands braced against the shoe display. Her stomach rolled and she thought she was going to be sick.
“Are you okay?” One of the guards stepped forward and reached out.
Hella brushed his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
Animal girl. His voice rang in her head, not her ears. Hella hoped that whatever espee powers Colleen had didn’t turn on some latent ability inside her that she wouldn’t be able to control. That happened sometimes. Genetic malfunctions lay in wait inside a lot of people, and eventually most of them got triggered at one time or another. The moon had an effect on several species.
“Hella.” Colleen leaned toward her but made no move to touch her.
Hella flinched and drew back. “I’m all right.” Her head pounded but the blindness receded.
“I’m sorry.”
The guards closed in on Colleen. “We’re going to take Dr. Trammell back out to the camp.”
Colleen tried to pull back from them but didn’t have the strength. They gathered her easily and headed toward the door. One of them called in a report to Riley.
Guilt kicked holes in Hella’s stomach as she watched them walk the woman out of the building.
“Hey, I know you don’t like the room, but it’s not a cage.”
Hella tossed her saddlebags onto one of the beds and gazed around at the four walls. The room was a lot larger than their tent, and she knew she should have felt thankful Stampede had chosen to spend the money to get it. At least the headache had passed.
She ran her fingers through her hair and thought about the bath. That was the one good thing about staying in for the night. She could soak, scrub her hair with clean shampoo, and get totally dry before getting back into clothes. Not only that, but the clothes would be clean of trail dust and insects that lived on them because Stampede was also paying to have them laundered.
“I’m not going to leave Daisy out there. As soon as I’ve showered and cleaned up, I’m going to take care of her.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Stampede dropped his gear on the floor with