***
Itwaslateintheafternoonwhentheyfinallyreachedthetopofahilland sawatowndownbelow.Itwasn’taverybigtownwithnobuildingsmorethan fivestoriestall.OddlyKarididn’tseeanyaircarsflittingaround.Fromwhat shecouldsee,therewereafewwheeledvehiclesprowlingthestreets.“What’s goingon?”
“Onlyonewaytofindout,”Valsaid.Beforetheystarteddown,though, shetookKari’shand.“Remember,fromnowonwe’rethithters.Gotit?”
“Igotit.”
“Good.Makethuretothtayclothetome.Idon’twantyougettinglotht.”
“Surething,sis.”
Theymadetheirwaydownthehill,passingawoodensignwelcomingthem tothetownofButler,population5,037.Karididn’tremembersuchatown before,butthenshehadn’tvisitedmuchofPheraawayfromtheuniversityand whereshe’dgrownup.“YourememberatowncalledButler?”sheaskedVal.
“No.Muthtbeanotherofhithgameth.”
Theymadeitdownthehill,ontooneoftheasphaltroadsusedbythe wheeledvehicles.KaristayedclosetoVal,waitingforTai’snextsurpriseto jumpoutatthem.Whateverhis‘vision’mightbe,shewassureitwouldnotbe goodforherorVal.
Theywalkedalongthestreetforaboutablock,Karinotingsomethingodd: therewerenoothergirlsonthestreets.Everywhereshelookedshesawmenin suitsandhatsthatwerejustasold-fashionedaswhatsheandValwore,butno womenorfemalesofanyage.KaripressedeventightertoVal,feelingsuddenly conspicuous.
Valmusthavefeltthesame,asshenudgedKariintheribsandmotionedto apharmacy.“Let’thgointhere.”
ThepharmacylookednothinglikeanythingKarihadseenexceptinhistory books.Therewererowsofcardboardboxesdisplayingproductsthathadnot existedinmorethanacentury.Inthebackwasahighcounterlordedoverbya maninawhitecoatwithhornedrimmedglasses—thepharmacist.Anotherside ofthepharmacywastakenupbyakitchencounterandanumberofstools.A maninawhiteshirtandapronwithapaperhatonhisheadtendedtothat counter,dolingoutbubblybrowndrinkstoteenagersalittleolderthanVal.
Thegroupofteenagershadthreeboysand—Kariwasrelievedtosee—two girls.ValnudgedKariintheribsagain.“Gothitdown.”
“Whatareyougoingtodo?”
“Ijuthwanttolookforthomenewth.Maybethenwecanfigureoutwhat he’thdone.”
“Oh.Allright.”
Karisatdownononeofthestools,thefarthestawayfromtheotherkids.
Themanwiththepaperhatcamedowntosmileather.“Hello,sweetheart.
WhatcanIgetyou?”
Karirememberedfromherhistoryclassesthatold-fashionedcitieshadrun onpapercurrency,noneofwhichsheandValhadatthemoment.“Nothing.
I’mjustwaitingformysister.”
“That’syoursister,eh?Where’syourdaddy?”
“Atwork,”Karisaid,beingpurposefullyvague.
“Don’tyouhaveabrother?”
“No.”
Themanshookhishead.“Yougirlsshouldn’tbeouttherebyyourselves.”
“Whynot?”
“It’sagainstthelaw.Ifthepolicecatchyou,you’llbeinbigtrouble.So willyourmommyanddaddy.Didn’tyourealizethat?”
“Oh,right,”Karisaid.Shelookedaroundthepharmacy,atalltheancient
“medicines”ontheshelves.“Ourmamaissick,sowecameheretogetsome medicinetomakeherbetter.”Kariflashedhermostadorablesmile,hopingthat wouldhelpconvincehim.
“Isee.Wellyoubestgetbackassoonasyoucan,beforesomeonesees.”
“Wewill.Thanks.”
Themanturnedhisbackforafewmomentsonlytoreturnwithaglassfull ofthebubblybrownliquid.“It’sonthehouse,”hesaid.
“Noit’snot.It’sonthecounter.”
Hechuckledatthis.“That’sverytrue,sweetheart.”
Karitookasipfromtheplastictubeinthecup.Thebubblestickledher mouth,promptinghertogiggle.Whateverthisdrinkwas,itwaswonderful.
Whydidn’ttheystillhavethisduringherchildhood?
“What’ththat?”Valasked.
“Adrink.Thenicemangaveittome.Youwanttotryit?”
Valtookasip,butshegroanedandthenputahandtoherjaw.“Itmaketh mymouthfeelfunny.”
“Ilikeit.”
“Lookatthith,”Valsaid.Shespreadapieceofpaperonthecounter.A newspaper,Kariremembered.Theyhadusedthesetoreportnewsbeforethe adventoftheelectronicdatanetwork.“Thithithwhathe’thdone.”
“Whatdoyoumean?”
Valpointedtoapictureoftwobaldingmenshakinghands.“Thothemen arerulerthoftwocountrieth.”WhenKarigaveherablankstare,Valadded,
“He’thputmenbackincharge.”
“Oh,”Karisaid.Nowitallstartedtomakesense:theclothes,the hairstyles,thecity,thelackofaircars,eventhisdrinkinfrontofKari.Taihad usedtheStoneofChangetochangePherabacktothetimewhenmenwere dominant,beforescienceprovedtheminferiorexceptfordoingmanuallabor.
ThenKarirememberedwhatthenicemanhadtoldher.“Wehavetogo.If someoneseesuswithoutamaleescort,we’llgetintrouble.”
“Wherearewesupposedtogo?”
“Idon’tknow.Wejustneedtohidesomewheretosortthisout.”
“Igueth.”Valfoldedthenewspaperbackupandthenleftitonthecounter.
Karitookanothersipofherdrinkandthensmiledattheman.“Thank you!”shesaidassweetlyaspossiblebeforetakingVal’shandsotheycould escape.
TheygottothedooronlytofindTaistandingthere,hisbulktakingupboth doors.Liketheothermeninthetownhewasdressedinanold-fashionedsuit andhat.Hegrinnedatthemandthenopenedthedoor.“Hello,girls.About timeIfoundyou.I’dbettergiveyouanescorthomebeforeyougetintrouble.”
TaitriedtotakeVal’shand,butsheshookitaway.“Nownow,that’snot verynice,younglady.”
“Idon’tcare.Giveuththethtone.”
“WhywouldIdothat?”
“Becauseit’sdangerous,”Karisaid.
Taiturnedtoherandthenpattedheronthehead.“Howadorable.You thinkyoucantellmewhattodo?Youcanbarelyreadrightnow.”
“Istillknowwhatyou’redoingiswrong.”
Taisteeredthemintoanalley,hisbulkblockingitaseffectivelyasthe pharmacydoor.“AllI’vedoneisrestorethebalance.Menarenotmeanttobe subjugatedtofemales.Youweak,overly-emotionalcreatures.”
“Wearenotweak,”Valsaid.Justtoemphasizethispointshelauncheda flyingkick,hersaddleshoehittingTaisquarelyinthemidsection.Inherpeak physicalcondition,thismighthavestaggeredevenamanasbigasTai.Inher presentgeekyteenagerstate,itdidn’tmovehimamillimeter.
Undeterred,ValtriedpunchingTaiinthestomach.Thisonlycausedherto cryoutinpain.“Areyoudoneyet?”heasked.
“Giveuththenecklace!”Valsaid.Shegropedathisneck,butcameaway withnothing.“Whereithit?”
“Anecklaceissotacky,”Taisaid.Hehelduphisrighthand.Karisawa goldringonhisfingercappedbyaglossyblackcrystal:theStoneofChange.“I thinkyoutwoneedtolearnsomemanners.Thenyoucantakeyourplacesinmy perfectworld.”
WiththathepunchedValinthefacewiththering.Shecrumpledintoa heapontheground.KarilaunchedherselfatTai,butheeasilybrushedher aside.Karilandedamongsomegarbagecans,whereshesawtheblowhaddone morethanknockValtotheground.
Asshelaythere,Valbeganshrinking,herbodyretractingintoherclothes.
Theskirtthathadoncebeentoherkneesnowcamedowntoherankleswhilethe sleevesofh
ersweateroverlappedherhandsbyseveralcentimeters.Hershorter limbsbecamemuchthinneraswell,untilKariwassureshecouldseethebones.
Theacneandbracesdisappeared,buttheglassesremained,stayingthesamesize evenasherfaceshrank.Thegalaxyoffrecklesonherfacedarkenedand multiplieduntiltheyseemedtocovereveryothermillimeterofskin.Herblack helmetofhairgrewlongerandlonger,spillingdowntopasthershoulders.The hairpartedinthecenterandthenbegantwistingitselfintoapairofbraidswhile bangsfannedoutacrossherforehead.Lastly,herplaidsweaterandskirtbecame agreenjumperwhileherblouseturnedmintgreen,bothshrinkingtofitVal’s shorter,gawkierlimbs.
Whenitwasover,Vallaywheezingontheground.Taigrinneddownat her.“What’swrong,sweetheart?”
“Can’t...breathe.”
“Oh,Isee.”Hereachedintohispocket,producingwhatlookedlikea plasticwhistlewithatubeinoneend.HedroppeditbesideVal.“Goon,takea hitoffthat.It’llmakeyoufeelbetter.”
“Never,”Valwhispered,evenasherfacebeganturningblue.
“Val,doit.Please,”Kariurged.“Idon’twannaloseyou.”
Valstaredatherforamomentandthennoddedslightly.Sheputthe whistletohermouth.Nothinghappeneduntilshepusheddownonthetube.
TherecameasquirtingsoundandalmostimmediatelyVal’swheezingsounded better.Thebluefadedfromherpale,freckledcheeks.
KarihurriedovertohelpValtoherfeet.Whenshedid,shenoticedValwas nowafewcentimetersshorterthanher.“Lookslikewehaveanewbigsister,”
Taisaid.
“Thisisn’tover!”Valshotback,thoughitsoundedfeebleinhertinyvoice.
“We’llgetthatstoneback!”
EvenasValshoutedthis,thewheezereturnedtohervoice.Taitousledher hair,causingherbraidstodancemadly.“Now,now,don’tgettooexcited.From nowonyouhavetostaycalm.Otherwiseyou’llnevergettobeabiggirland marrysomehandsomeman.ThoughIdoubteitherofyouwillfindanyonetoo handsome.”
Valsquirtedsomemoreofthemedicineinhermouth.Hervoicewas
deadlycalmasshesaid,“I’llgetyouforthisifit’sthelastthingIdo.”
“I’msureyou’lltry.Fornow,it’stimeyoukidswenttoschool.”Thering onTai’sfingerflashedandthentheyweregone.
Part2
Chapter4
KariawoketothesoundofVal’swheezing.Sherolledoveronherbedand gropedforherglasses.Onceshe’dputthemon,shesawValonthefloor betweenthem,doingpush-ups.ThescenelookedridiculouswithVal’ssix-year-oldbodywearingapinkflannelnightgown.Nevertheless,Valkeptpumping away,atleastuntilthewheezingbecametoomuch.ThenKarihandedthe inhalertohersoshecouldtakeapuff.
“Fifty-two,”Valsaidaminutelater.“Anewpersonalbest.”
“It’sreallystartingtoshow,”Karisaid,gesturingtoVal’sbonyarms.
“Shutup.”ValgrabbedtheglassesthatwereeventhickerthanKari’s.“In afewmonthsIwon’tneedthisstupidinhaleranymore.Thenwecangetoutof here.”
Karishushedher.“YoubetternotletMissSundrehearthat.”
“Idon’tcareifshedoeshear.What’sshegoingtodo,makemestandina corner?”
“Val,stopit.You’renotasoldieranymore.”
“I’llalwaysbeasoldier,inhere,”shesaid,tappingherchest.
“Lookinamirroralready.You’reanasthmatic,nearsightedsix-year-old.”
“AtleastI’mnotfat,”shegrowled.Kari’sfacereddenedatthat,butshe heldbacktears,whichshe’dfounddifficulttodointhisstate.Vallookeddown sheepishly.“I’msorry.”
“It’sallright.”
Valbarelymadeitbackintoherbedbeforethelightcameon.“Riseand shine,children!”asunnyvoicecalledout.MissSundrewasaplumpmiddle-agedwomanwithaheadofgrayhairalwaystiedintoabunatthetopofher head.Herdressesandskirtsseemedevenolder-fashionedthanthosethe childrenwore.
InthetwoweekssinceTaihadsentthemtoMissSundre’sFinishing School,Karihadgottenusedtothemorningroutine.Shewouldhopoutofbed andthenmakeitneatly,thoughneverasneatlyasValwithhermilitary precision.SheandValwouldthengotothefootoftheirbedstowaitfortheir turntogointothebathroom.
Inthebathroomtheytookturnsusingthetoiletsandthenassembledinthe showerroom.Theyhadtolineup,oneundereachshowerhead.Therewere alwaysthoseawkwardminutesofwaitingthereforthewatertobeginrunning.
Therewasnothingtodothenbuttrytohidehernakednesswhiletryingnotto stareatVal’sflatchestandhairlessprivates.Thiswaseasiertoaccomplishsince shehadtotakeoffherglasses,turningmostoftheroomblurry.
Thelukewarmwaterranforexactlyfiveminutes,duringwhichtimeeach
girlhadtolather,rinse,andrepeatherentirebody.Thiswaseasierforthose whodidn’thaveasmuchbodyasKaridid.Ifyoudidn’tfinishbeforethewater stopped,youwouldbecoveredinsoaptherestoftheday.
Fromtheshowersthegirlsmarchedtothesinkstocombtheirhair.Each girlhadtocombherhairexactlyonehundredtimestomakesureitwasperfectly smoothandneat.Theneachgirlhadtostyletheirhairtoexacting specifications.ForKarithismeantmakingsuretheendsofherhaircurledup perfectlyalonghershouldersandthatherbangswereexactlylevelwiththetops ofhereyesockets.Oncethiswasaccomplished,Kariwouldalwayssmileshyly atheradorablychubbyface.
ItwasadifferentstoryforVal.Everydayshewouldfinishcombingand thenfoldherarmsoverherchest,daringMissSundretocomeover.Theold womanalwayswouldandsay,“Younglady,wedonotallowlonghairlikethat.”
TheywouldargueuntilValneededtousetheinhaler.AtthatpointMiss Sundrewouldseizeherbythearmandthenyankherasidetodoitherself.
ThoughValwhimperedandstruggled—requiringtheinhaleragain—shewould alwaysreappearafewminuteslaterwithherhairinthebraidsshehadarrived with,thebangsaslevelasKari’s.
Valwouldmarchback,pouting,tothedormitory,wherethegirlsbeganto dress.Theyallworethesamegreenjumpersandblouses.Sincearrivinghere, Kari’sclotheshadbecometightonher.Shefiguredthiswasmoreduetothe StoneofChangeratherthanherdiet.
Afterthattheyweremarchedintothediningroomforabreakfastof oatmealandtoast.KarifocusedoneatingherbreakfastwhileValspentmostof hertimelookingaroundtheroomandcomingupwithvariousescapeplans,all ofwhichsoundedabsurdcomingfromsuchaslightgirlwithhugeglassesand adorablebraids.
TodayVallookedupattheceiling.“IfIcouldgetupthere,Icouldget throughtheairshaft.ThenIcouldunlockthedoorforyou.”
“Howareyougoingtogetupthere?”
“Wecanstacksomechairsorsomething.”
“That’llneverwork.”
“Whatdoyouproposewedo?Justsithereandbakesoufflés?”
“Idon’tknow,”sheadmitted,mostlytokeepValfromneedinganotherdose fromtheinhaler.
“Wegottadosomething.”
“Thenwhat?”
“Idon’tknow.Findawaytostophimandchangethingsback.”
“Buthe’ssopowerful.Whatcanwedoagainsthim?”
“I’llthinkofsomething.”
Theystilldidn’thaveanysolutionswhenMissSundrebrokethemuptogo totheirclasses.Therewerethreemainclasses:cooking,sewing,and decorating.Thepointoftheseclasseswastopreparethelittlegirlstobefuture housewives.Thingslikemath,science,reading,andwritingdidn’tenterthat equation;theirhusbandswouldtakecareofallthat.Girlsonlyhadtocook, clean,sew,andlookpretty;thatwasthemess
agepreachedbyMissSundreevery day.
DespitethatKariknewhowunfairthiswas,shefoundherselfenjoyingthe classes.ShehadalwaysdonethecookinganddecoratingforherandVal,so theseclassescametohernaturally.Val,ontheotherhand,couldburnwater, couldn’tthreadaneedle,andhadasoldier’stastefordecorating.Whileevery day,MissSundrewouldpatKari’sshoulderandsay,“Verygood,MissChomar,”
shewouldscoldValwith,“Thatisunacceptable,younglady.”
Aftertheirfirsttwoclassestheywouldgobacktothediningroomfora lunchoftomatosoupandtunasandwiches.Valwouldalwaysbescoldednotto slurphersoup,notthatsheeverheededthis,justasshedidn’ttakeanyofthe finishingschoolseriously.Dinnerwasalwaysfishandrice.Thenthegirls wouldtroopbacktothedormitorytochangeintotheirnightgowns,brushtheir teeth,andgotobed.
***
Twomonthswentbywiththisroutinegoingrelativelyunchanged.During thistimeValcontinuedtobescoldedonadailybasis,makingnoimprovement inanyofherclasses.Perhapsshereallywouldalwaysbeasoldierinherheart.
ThenonemorningKariwokeuptoValshakingher.Shegrabbedher glassesandlookedaroundtoseeitwasthreeinthemorning.“Whatareyou doing?”shehissed.
“It’stimetogo.Ican’ttakethisplaceanymore.AndIfoundtheperfect wayout.Getdressedandlet’sgo.”
“Where?”
“You’llsee.”
OnceKarihaddressed,shefollowedValalongthebedsofsleepinggirls,to thedoor.Valpeekedintothehallwaytomakesurethecoastwasclear.Then shemotionedforKaritofollowher.Theycreptdownthedarkhallway,tothe kitchen.
“Thisisyourplan?”Kariasked.Sheturnedtogo.“I’mgoingbackto bed.”
Valgrabbedherarm.“No,comeon.Igotitfiguredout.Everymorning
themilkmanshowsupatsix,beforereveille.”
“So?”
“So,wesneakintothebackofthetruckandgetoutonceit’sthroughthe gates.BythetimeSundrenotices,we’llbegone.”
“Oh.Thatmightwork.Butwe’llbeinbigtroubleiftheyfindout.”