World's End

Page 135

"Liar!" She stalks back and forth, her robe flapping open so that I glimpse a flash of breast or thigh as she moves. "You couldn't wait to get your hands on me. You wanted me--everyone wants me, because I have power.

They'd do anything to have me. But they're all afraid of me except you." Her hands touch her breasts; I look away. "You weren't afraid ... I thought you were different.

But you're not the man who came here--"

"What do you want from me?" I shout furiously.

"You infected me! You wanted a crazy man, and that's what you've got! Tell me what the bloody hell you--"

I break off.

Her eyes are glazing . . . she has gone into Transfer.

"Song?" I stare at her. For a moment I can't even remember what question I've asked. And who have I

called to answer it--

"Help . . . me," she whispers. "I want . . . help me.

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Order me."

The Lake roars into my mind, her voice echoes inside

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JOAND. VINGE

me, until I can barely speak. "Order--you to do--what?

Who are you? Where are you?"

"Lost . . ." she moans. (Lost lost lost.) "Save me. . . ."

"Damn it--" I dig my fists into my eyes until I see stars. I know this is important, desperately important.

But the Lake is all around me. "The Lake? Are you a prisoner of the Lake?"

"No . . . Lake. Here."

"Where? What--" I try to think. "What are you?"

"Lake. Lake." (Lake lake lake . . .)

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