Inaflashhewasgone.
Oncesherecoveredenoughbreathtomovearound,shecrawledtowardsthe poolofwater.Evensquintingshecouldn’tseemuch,excepttheoccasional orangeblurtoindicateatrigger.Sheavoidedthoseasbestshecouldasshe madeherwaytothewater’sedge.
Ittookforever,butshefinallyreachedthewater.Sheleanedovertheedge, squintingevenharder.Inthesurfaceofthewatershesawthefaceofarotund littlegirl,amereelevenyearsold.Betweenhersquintingandthesizeofher cheeks,hereyeswerebarelyvisible.Shetouchedtheawfulbrownbowlcuther motherhadgivenherbackthenbecauseKarihadbeentooembarrassedtotry andfitinastylist’schair.Sheputahandtoastomachthatstuckoutagood fifteencentimeters.Thiswasatthepeakofherobesity,whenshehadweighed overahundredfiftykilos.Motherhadfinallysenthertoaspecialcamptoget theweightdown,thoughithadtakensevenyearstoloseallofherchubbiness.
Butnowitwasback.ShewasMolegirlagain.Exceptshewasstuckonan alienplanet,allalone,withonlythefewsuppliesTaihadlefther.Shewouldbe stuckhereforatleastamonth,ifshecouldholdoutthatlong.
Karicurledupontheedgeofthepoolandsobbed.
Chapter2
Kariscuttledoutfromthebrush,overtothestream.Thoughitdidnogood, shelookedaroundher.Sheclosedherfeebleeyes,tryingtorelyinsteadonher othersenses.Afterweeksoflivinginthejungle,shehadcometoknowthe soundsandsmellsoftheplanetquitewell.AsfarasKaricouldtelltherewere nopredatorsnearby.
Shedunkedhercanteenintothewatertofillit.Shewasgladatthatpoint shecouldn’tseehowdirtythewaterwas.Shedidknowithadtoberesponsible fortheboutsofdiarrheaandoccasionalfever.Atleastbetweenthatanda generallackoffoodshehadlostalotofweight,tothepointwhereshewouldbe skinnybeforemuchlonger,ifshewerestillalive.
Clutchingthecanteentoherchest,Karigallopedbackintothebrush.Her dresshadbeentorntoribbonsduringthefirstweekinthejungle,leavingonlya fewdirtyragsdanglingfromherbody.Notthatitmatteredanymore;therewas nooneheretomakefunofherforhowshelooked.
Shedartedbackintothemouthofthecave.Shehadbeenlivinginthecave forthelastfewweeks.Whilethetemplemighthavebeensafer,therewould havebeennowayforhertoshowuponVal’ssensorsasshelanded.Soafterher foodhadrunout,Karihadcomeupheretowait—andwait.
Withaknifeshekepttallyofthedays,thoughitwashardtoseethose marks.Fromwhatshecouldtell,ithadbeenthirty-fivedays.Valshouldhave beenherebynow.Wherewasshe?HadTaifoundhershipanddestroyedit?
HadheleftValfloatinginspaceasahelplesschild?Buthehadsaidsheonly hadtosurviveamonth.Hewantedhertoseehisgrandvision.Hadhesimply beenlying?
Shetookafewsipsofwaterandthenfellasleepasanotherwaveofnausea tookholdfromthedirtywaterandlackoffood.Shewouldhavelikedtogo backdowntothepoolforitsmuchcleanerwater,butinthisstateittookmuch toolongtogofromthetempleandback.Ithadtakenherafulldaytocrawlpast thetraps,uptothesurface.
Sheassumedthemetallicwhinesheheardasshedozedmustbea hallucination.Itwasprobablysomekindofbirdorpredatorshehadn’t encounteredyet.Kari’smindtoldhersheoughttogetbackdeeperintothecave, butshecouldn’tmakeherbodywork.Shewasmuchtooweakandtiredand sick.Shewouldjustliehereandhopeforthebest.
Sometimelater,Karifeltsomethingtouchhershoulder.Apredator?Or perhapsascavengerthinkingshewasdeadandthusfairgame.Shelashedout
withherrighthand,hopingshecaughtwhateveritwasonthesnout.Thatwould showshewasn’tdead—yet.
Somethinginterceptedherhandinmid-arc,somethingsoftandwarm—like theskinofanotherperson.“Kari?”sheheardValsay.
Kariopenedhereyesandknewshehadtobedreaming.Squattingbeside herwasherfiancée,cladinhercamouflageuniform.Thoughshecouldn’tsee morethantwocentimetersinfrontofherclearly,KariknewVal’sfaceeven fromtheblursinfrontofher:theice-blueeyesthatweresomehowwarm,the blackhairshekeptrigidlyshortlikeaboy’s,andthegalaxyoffrecklesthat alwaysmadeherseemmuchyoungerthanheryears.
“Val!”Karishouted.ShethrewherselfatVal,herfiancéecatchingtherest ofherjustasshehadKari’shand.ShefeltValstrokethehairthatoverthelast thirty-fivedayshadbecomelongerandtangled.“You’rehere.”
“SorryI’mlate.TherewasacometpassingthroughIwantedtoget readingson.Ithoughtthatwouldgiveyousomeextratime—”Valstopped herselfandKaricouldimaginewhy.Finallysheaskedtheinevitablequestion,
“Whathappenedtoyou?Whyareyouso…young?”
“Taididit.Wefoundatempledownthereandablackcrystalcalledthe StoneofChange.WhenItouchedthecrystalitmademefifteen.ThenTai turnedallmeanandhewenttotalktothecrystal.Whenhetouchedit,heturned intothisbrute.Somehowhetookthecrystalandhemademeevensmallerand thenheleftmehere.Didyouseehim?”
“No.Ididn’tseethelabmoduleeither.Whathappenedtoit?”
“Heprobablychangeditwiththestonesohecouldgohome.”Kari’seyes widened,notthatitclearedhervisionany.“Val,wegottagoback.Wegotta stophim.He’sgoingtousethecrystalwhenhegetsback.He’lldosomething awfulwithit.”
“Allright,allright,”Valsaid,asiftalkingtoasmallchild,whichwasn’tfar fromthetruth.“We’llgoback,butfirstweneedtogetyoutotheship.Canyou walk?”
“Yes.Butyou’llhavetoleadme.Ican’tsee.”TearsbubbledupinKari’s eyes.“Hetookawaymylenses.HecalledmeMolegirl,justlikethekidsused todo.”
“It’sallright,Kari.We’llfindawaytogetthatcrystalbackandthenwe’ll changeyouback.”
“OK,”Kariwhimpered.ThensheletValhelpherupsotheycouldgo home.
***
heraheadacheafterafewminutes,butatleastshecouldseeforthosefew minutes.ShewasrelievedtoseethatValhadnotchangedabitoverthelast month,confirmingthatTaihadn’trunintoher.
Theharderpartwasseeingherself.Eventhoughshe’dlostweight,shewas stillchubbywithalittlegirl’sflat,hairlessbody.Noneoftheclothesshe’dleft aboardtheshipwouldfither,theshirtsfittingherlikenightgownsnow.Tai’s clotheswereevenbigger.Butdespitethatshewasmorethanthreetimesasold asKariatthemoment,ValwasonlyaboutfifteencentimeterstallerthanKari.
HergrayworkoutT-shirtfitsnuglybutatleastitfit,whilehersweatpants neededonlytorollupthelegsafewcentimeters.Theresultwasnot fashionable,butbetterthanwearingdirtyrags.
AsbadasseeingherselfinthemirrorandtheclotheswasthewayVal treatedhernow.RightawayValhadinsistedtheysleepinseparatecabins.
Whenitcametimeforbed,ValwouldeventuckKariinasifshewereactuallya littlekid.Beforesheturnedoutthelight,ValwouldbrushhairfromKari’s foreheadtogiveheraplatonickissthere.Itwasalotdifferentthanthejourney totheplanet,whentheyhadspenthourssnugglingwitheachotherinVal’s quarters.
Afteraweekinspace,Karifinallywhined,“JustbecauseIlooklikeakid doesn’tmeanyouhavetotreatmelikeone.”
ValsatontheedgeofthebedandfixedKariwithahardglare.“Whatdo youwantfromme,Kari?Thingscan’tbethewaytheyusedtobe.Notright now.”
“Iknow!”Karilookeddownatherflatchestandbulgingstomach.Things definitelycouldn’tbethesamerightnow.“Ijust...Ijustdon’tlikeyou patronizingme.”Withchildishdefiance,shetossedthecoversback.“Idon’t needyoutotuckmeinandkissmeonthefor
ehead!”
Valshowednoreactiontothistantrum.“Youfeelbetternow?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”Valheavedasighandthennodded.“Fine,fromnowonyoutuck yourselfin.”
“Thanks.”KarileanedovertokissValonthecheek,rightona constellationoffrecklesshealwaysjokedlookedlikeapony.
“I’llseeyouinthemorning.”
“Right,morning.”Karisettledontothebed,rollingovertolookawayfrom Val.Thelightsintheroomwentout.KariheardthedoorshutbehindVal.She prayedtheywouldgethomesoonandfindawaytogettheStoneofChange backsoKaricouldbeagrown-upagain.Shedidn’tknowhowmuchlongershe couldtakethis.
***
AnotherweekandtheycouldfinallyseePheraonthesensors.Rightaway Karicouldtellsomethingwaswrong.Thespacestations,shipyards,andeven thesatelliteshaddisappeared.Lookingatthesensorreadings,Karinoteda completelackofhuman-madedebrisintheatmosphere.
“Didwegothroughanykindoftemporalanomaly?”Kariasked,hating howsuchquestionssoundedinhertinyvoice.
“Nothingthatshoweduponthesensors.”
“Thenhedidit.Thismustbethe‘vision’hementioned.”
“Whatexactlydidhedo?”
“Idon’tknow.Iguesswe’llfindoutonceweland.”
“Yeah,right.Whereshouldwestartlooking?”
“Well—”BeforeKaricouldsayanything,allthelightsinthecockpit flickeredout.Afewbulbscamebackon,buttheyweremuchdimmerthan before.Still,theygaveKarienoughlighttoseethecontrolsshehadbeenusing haddisappeared.Inplaceofthemonitorsandbuttonswereaseriesoftiny gauges,levers,andknobs.“Whatthehellisthis?”
Val’ssidehadundergoneanevengreaterchange,thesteeringcontrols replacedbyanungainlywheel,likethekindoldnavalvesselshadused.“More ofhishandiwork?”
“Iguessso,”Karisaid.“Canwestillland?”
“Idon’tknow.I’mnotevensurewhatallthisstuffis.”
Karilookedaroundthegaugesinfrontofher.Shedidn’thaveanyidea whattheymeant,buttheneedleswereallinthered.“Thatcan’tbegood,”she mumbledamomentbeforethelightsflickeredagain.Theshipbegan acceleratingastheplanet’sgravitycaughtit.
“We’regoingdown!Findsomethingtoholdonto.”
Karifumbledaroundaseatthathadturnedtouncomfortablemetaland canvasinsearchofaseatbelt.Asshedid,thecabinbegantoturnwarmer.
SweattrickledintoKari’seyesastheshipplummetedthroughtheatmosphere.
Gravitypinnedhertoherseat,makingtheslightestmovementdifficult.She managedtoturnherheadenoughtoseeValclingingtotheold-fashionedwheel.
Astheoldsailorshaddone,she’dlashedherselftothewheelwithherbelt.
Karihadtowaituntiltheyfinallybrokethroughtheatmospherebeforeshe couldsimilarlytieherselfdown.Shedoubtedthebeltwouldreallyholdina crash.Still,itwasbetterthannothing.“Weneedtogetthenoseup!”Val shoutedoverthenoise.“Arethereanytrimcontrolsoverthere?”
“Um—”Karilookedaroundheragain,studyingtheold-fashioned controls.Shefinallybeganpullingalltheleversandturningalltheknobs.She
notedonegaugedoaone-eighty.Thatmustbetheonethatmeasuredthe positionoftheship.“Ithinkwe’relevelingout!”
“Great,becauseIthinkwe’reabout—”
AcrashinterruptedVal.Kariwasthrownforwardinherseatbutsomehow thebeltheldherinplace.Neverthelessshescreamedastheshipcontinuedto skidalongwhatshehopedwasground.Iftheyendedupintheoceantheywere doomedforsure.Besideher,Valdidn’tscream,butherlowerlipwasbleeding fromherbitingintoit.
Theshipcontinuedtoskidforaboutaminute.Thentheentirevessel creakedasitrolledoverontoitsside,KariandValnowrestingonthebottom.
Atlasteverythingwentsilentontheship.Kariletoutasighofrelief.Herface beganturningredassherealizedshe’dwetherselfduringthecrash.Atleastshe hopeditwasurineandnotblood.
Herchubbyhandsfumbledwiththebelttofreeherself.Shecrawledoutof herseat,overtoVal.“Val?Areyouallright?”
Val’seyesopened.Shenodded.“I’mfine,kid.Canyouhelpgetme loose?”
“I’lltry.”Val’sbeltwasabithardertoundo,butKari’spudgyhandsfinally managedit.Foramomenttheylayonthefloor,huggingeachother.“Wemade it.”
“We’dbettergetoutofhere,”Valsaid.“He’llknowwe’rehereandIdon’t wanttoseewhatelsehe’sgotuphissleeve.”
Theyfoundoutwhatelseoncetheysteppedthroughthehatch.Valledthe way,butthemomentshesteppedintotheair,aboltoflightpassedthroughher.
Kariwatchedinhorrorasherfiancee’sbodyshrankadozencentimetersas Kari’shadwhenshetouchedtheStoneofChange.Val’shairlengthenedintoa shaggycut,atressofhairfloppingacrossherforehead.Herbreastshadnever beenlarge,butnowtheyshranktomerenubs.Finallyhergreencamouflage uniformtopbecameagreenplaidsweater,herT-shirtunderneathchangingtoa tanblouse.Meanwhileherpantsbecameagreenplaidskirtthatwenttoabout herknees.Herblackcombatbootschangedintoblack-and-whitesaddleshoes, anklesockspeekingovertheedge.
“Whathappenedtome?”Valasked,runningahandovertheplaidsweater.
“TheStoneofChange.Itmadeyouateenager,”Karisaid.
“What’swiththedopeygetup?”
“Idon’tknow,butyoulookcute.”
Valstampedoneofhersaddleshoes.“I’masoldier!I’mnotsupposedto lookcute.”Karistartedtoclimboutoftheship,butValstoppedher.“Ifyou comeouthere,hemightdothesametoyoutoo.”
“Hecandothatanyway,”Karisaid.Clearlyifhecouldmaketheir spacecraftchangeinorbitandcauseeverythinginspacearoundtheplanetto vanishthenitwouldn’tmatterifshestayedinsideornot.
AssoonasKaristeppedthrough,thesameboltoflightranthroughher.
Againshefoundherselfbecomingsmaller,Valgrowinglargerbeforeher.As herbodycompacted,hergutpushedeverfartheroutward,untilshewas comparativelyfatterthanshehadbeenateleven.Hercheeksswelledwhileher lensesturnedintoapairofblackcat’seye-shapedglasses.Curtainsofbrown hairdrapeddowntohershoulders,wheretheendsflippedupwhileathickwall ofbangsswallowedherforehead.Val’sT-shirtshrunkuntilitbarelycovered halfofhertummy,thefabricturningamintgreen.Theseamsofthesweatpants burstopen,thefabricrefashioningitselfintoaskirt.Theskirtpulleditselfuntil itreachedherarmpits.Thenitagainrefashioneditselfintoadarkgreenjumper thatwenttoaboveherknees.LikeValsheworesaddleshoeswithanklesocks, thetopsofthesockscrownedwithmintgreenlace.
Kariturnedtotheship,staringatherreflectionforamoment.Asshortand fatasshewas,shecouldn’tbemorethansevenyearsold,justalittlekid.She touchedherhair;Mommyhadnevercutherhairlikethat.Norhadsheever wornclothesorglasseslikethese.
ValkneltdownandthenputanarmaroundKari.Inthereflectionthey lookedlikesisters.“Youlookreallycutetoo,”shesaidandthentouchedKari’s littleupturnednose.
“Thanks.”
Theywerestilladmiringtheirnewreflectionswhentheshipvanished.Kari lookedaround,butsawonlygreenhills.Theonlyroadaroundthemwasadirt trailprobablycarvedbyfarmvehicles.“Whatdowedonow?”Kariasked.
“Iguessweseewheretheroadleads,”Valsaid.
Chapter3
Afterafewhoursoftrudgingalongtheroad,Karicouldn’thelpwhining,
“Howmuchfarther?”
“Idon’tknow,”Valsnapped.“Forallweknowthesehillscouldgoaround thewhole
planet.Wemightbetheonlytwopeopleleft.”
Kariploppeddownontothegrassandcrossedherarms.“Thisisstupid.”
“Kari,getup.Wehavealongwaytogo.”
“Youdon’tevenknowwherewe’regoing.”
“Wellwhereveritis,wewon’tgettherebysittingontheroad.”
“Whoputyouincharge?”
“I’mtheoldest.Thatputsmeincharge.”
“Doesnot.”
ValgrabbedKari’srightarm,jerkingherbacktoherfeet.Karicriedoutin pain,butshecouldn’tfreeherselffromVal’shold.ThoughValnolongerhad theironmusclesshe’dhadasasoldier,shewasplentystrongenoughagainsta fatseven-year-old.“Getmoving.”
“Nofair,”Kariwhined,butsheresumedwalking.
AnotherfewhourswentbybeforeKarisaid,“I’msorryI’vebeenabrat.”
“It’sallright.Thishastobehardforyou.”
“It’shardforyoutoo.”
“ButI’mnotaslittleasyou.”
“Yet.”Kariletthiswordhangintheair.AtanymomentTaicouldusethe StoneofChangeagaintomakeValsevenorevenyounger.
Rightoncue,Valstumbled,asurgeoflightrunningthroughher.Shegot onlyafewcentimetersshorter,buthershaggyhairbecameaneatblackhelmet splitinthemiddlebyagreenheadband.Angryredzitsflaredonhercheeks.
Karicouldn’thelpfeelingamomentofgratificationtoseeawhitepairofcat’s eyeglassesappearonVal’sface.Sheputahandtoherjawandgroaned, revealingmetalbracesonherteeth.
“Thatbathtard,”shegrumbled.“Hemademeageek.”
Kariwaitedforsomethingtohappentoher,butapparentlyTaithoughtshe wasalreadylittleandgeekyenough.“Howoldareyounow?”
Valranahandoverhercheeksandthentouchedherhair.“Thirteen,I think.”
“You’restillcute...forageek.”
“Thankth,”Valsaidandflashedametallicsmile.Thentheykeptgoing.