Rowan still didn’t know a quarter of the huge place.On the surface it looked just like a college campus—brownstone buildings, gardens, paths going here or there.The real bulk of the place was underground.She’d seen at least two hangers big enough for aircraft, then there was Four East, where Henderson had his command center.She still wasn’t sure exactly what Henderson did, but he seemed to be a leader here, and Justin was his second in command.
Justin had even taken her into the great nerve center of Central Op.Banks of computers and funny things that looked right out of futuristic movies.They had technology here that wouldn’t be available to the general public for at least a decade.
The cafeteria was underground, and Rowan was hungry.She had no choice.Justin hadn’t come back with coffee, and that was unusual.He was usually so punctual.The cafeteria’s fluorescent lights shone on a linoleum floor, and the place looked like every other communal eating place she’d ever seen—a sort of orderly chaos, groups of people clustered at their regular tables.Every “neophyte” had a “mentor,” someone to show them the ropes and steer them around the complex.
“Hey, Ro!”Catherine waved her arm frantically, silver bracelets flashing.She was at their usual table.Beside her, Zeke hunched over his tray, shoveling in a small mountain of grits loaded with cheese.
Rowan made it to the table, tucking wet hair behind her ears.She should have dried it; she was still chilled.“Hey, guys.”
“’Bout time.”That was Catherine’s idea of a pleasant hello.She seemed incapable of politeness, going out of her way to be abrasive.
Yoshi looked up from a thick technical manual.Light glinted off his wire-framed glasses.“Miss Rowan.You look magnificent.”
Rowan had to laugh.Yoshi was calm, and cool, and professional without being dry.He also had a wickedly ironic sense of humor.
“I got you a tray,” Brewster said.“No bacon, right?”
Rowan made a face, laughing.“You know I like bacon.Justin was supposed to bring some coffee, but I guess he got hung up.I start class today.”She eased herself down next to Brewster, glancing at her tray.“How did you know I like grapefruit?”
“I’m bloody well psychic, remember?”He grinned, his white teeth shining and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes comforting.“So you’re taking operative classes?How’d you talk Del into that?”
“Good morning, everyone,” Henderson said, and there was a general scramble.Zeke and Brewster would have made it to their feet to salute, but Henderson waved them back down.
“Hey, General,” Catherine greeted him.“Our star girl’s going to class today.Looks like she’ll be a full op before long, whaddaya say?”
“I say that’s her business and not yours, young lady.Good morning to you, by the way.”Henderson lowered himself into the seat opposite Rowan’s.“Good morning, Rowan.”
“Morning, sir,” she said, taking a sip of orange juice.Brew had loaded her plate with extra bacon, and she was hungry.She set to it with a will.
Someone across the room laughed, the sound sharp and clear above the crowd-noise.Rowan glanced around.Until now, she had always felt uneasy in crowds, a soft press of emotion choking her on every side.Here it was different, a blessed relief.Everyone knew how to keep their emotions from drowning her.Justin called itshieldingand had taught her how to do it, but Rowan couldn’t quite remember how or when the lesson had taken place.
Justin’s arm came over her shoulder, and he set a cup of coffee down on the table.A brief silence wrapped around the group.“Sorry I’m late.”The words sliced the crowd-noise effortlessly.He lowered himself into the seat on Rowan’s other side.
Sitting between Brewster and Justin meant that Rowan was effectively closed in from either side.She normally didn’t like that feeling, but here it was comforting.
Justin settled himself; he gazed steadily at her as the conversation started again.Henderson asked about something called a flux-phase and Yoshi set his book aside.
“I got hung up, called to Central,” Justin said quietly.“I’m sorry, Rowan.”
“It’s okay,” she said around a mouthful of grapefruit.“I knew you’d be along.”
He seemed pleased by that, smiling, and took a drink from his own coffee cup.“Nice to see you’re getting along here.”
“I like it.Everyone seems so… well, nice.”It was still hard to believe they were all people who had freakish abilities like hers, but it was also kind of comforting.“Are you going with me this morning?”
“Of course.Hey, Brewster, did you finish that mock-up?”
“I did,” Brew said.“I wondered when you’d ask.Listen, I’m not sure about the third sequence.It’s too hard to tell.”
“I can guess at it, I think.I just needed the second to figure out what the beginning of the third looked like.Any news from Blake’s team yet?”
“None.It’s beginning to look grim.Soren’s wearing his red bandanna again.”Brew took a long drink of apple juice and grimaced as if it was bitter.
“Any luck with dowsers?”Justin looked quiet and calm, as usual, but Rowan could feel tension vibrating from him.
“Nope, they were operating standard-silent.If we had another 5RV we could probably track them down, but as it is we have to wait until they break cover.”
Rowan wondered if she’d ever been discussed at this table.Had she been a “subject under watch?”
