Rebel Heart (7 page)

Cameron grimaced. "So you'd have me play nurse maid?"

Jonathan leaned on the glider. "You know that's not my intent. She's brilliant-- perhaps a little incorrigible, but if the two of you put your minds together..."

"Our minds together?" Cameron glanced out the window, his eyes narrowing severely. "So tell me then, how would I accomplish this remarkable feat? The joining of two minds."

Jonathan's languid smile sent chills down Cameron's spine. "I'm sure you'd find it-- not so unpleasant."

A touch of humor in Jonathan's voice gave Cameron pause, but then Jonathan looked back to the City. "She knew better than to break the laws, and I know better than to allow her to reenter without the proper sterilization. Yet I don't have the heart."

"I could have killed her. And if she'd met another man...Lord, I hate to think what might have happened."

"So do I. But I don't know how to stop her."

"Then pray you find a way. If you don't, I'll find her, and despite her protests, I will see she does not bring this house of cards we have so painstakingly built to fall down around our shoulders," he said softly.

"It is of my opinion she should be locked from the lab and forbidden all reference data," Cameron continued. "Her father..."

"Her father is gone," Jonathan reminded Cameron. "Lost the very day he sent the twins away. His first goal was to find a way, to control the diseases. That is why she is so intent on finding a cure herself. That is why I'm afraid for her..."

"As well you should be." He rallied against the thoughts that found their way into his head, fought against renewed desire he had for the beauty with amber hair and soft gray eyes. "I am sorry for the loss of her father, but he lost control of her long before his death. Her banishment is proof enough."

"She's independent now. It would take a strong hand to control her. She has lived by her own rules for so long...in any case it would not be an easy task to make her biddable."

"Her foolishness will be her end one of these days. But it is not my concern." Cameron laughed softly.

Jonathan backed up a step. The glider lifted from the forest floor. "Happy hunting then."

With that last thought, the glider skimmed the ground for a momentum then finding an opening, turned and vanished from sight.

Nessa

Nessa sat on the grass outside the pavilion, legs crossed, hands on her knees, eyes closed, all stimuli shut from her mind. Her dog, a giant Great Dane stretched out beside her. "Ohm, ohm," she hummed relaxed and breathing deeply. She let the wind speak to her.

"Are you ready?"

The question rang shrilly in her mind. No, I'm not ready. Can't you see I'm concentrating?"

"Ohm," she tried to put the noise aside and focus on the words circling and dancing around her on the wings of the air. "Ohm..." The wind spoke to her of war...

War would bring devastation and no new understanding...

"Nessa." Nessa struggled against the intruder to her thoughts. Go away and let my mind float above and look down upon the earth.

"Ohm..."

Hamia rose as if to tell the intruder to leave. She became part of Nessa’s mind as Nessa became part of hers. Hamia looked around for a moment, absorbing the sounds and smells then she ran with the breezes that swayed around her.

Nessa heard fingers snap in front of her face, one, two and three.

"Nessa, you aren't fooling anyone."

Slowly Nessa opened her eyes and stared at Bevan, wishing his timing had been better.

"Bevan Antor, can't you give me a few more minutes?" Nessa unfolded her long legs and rose. She smoothed the baggy white pants she wore and tightened the black belt she sported at her waist. Slowly she crouched and brought her hands up in a defensive position. Still listening for the advice only she heard.

"Of course," Bevan said smiling at her. "But I think it would be wise for you to always be ready." He shifted back and forth on the balls of his feet, clenching and unclenching his fists. His eyes gave him away.

Trust no one.
My father's death taught me that. "You are so conquered." Nessa felt a shiver of excitement rush through her.

The pair circled ever wary. Nessa held back, not wanting to make the first move. This had become a game with them. Bevan possessed less patience than Nessa. He always made the first move unless she sensed a weakness. She understood what drove Bevan; that he aspired to always be first. Yet he could rarely put together a strategy that would defeat her and that frustrated him so that he forgot to think rationally.

Nessa ducked the first punch, whirled and kicked, hitting Bevan in the back. He grunted, twisted and counter attached. Dancing and swaying, watching and waiting the couple fought. Bevan was not as quick as Nessa, but he was stronger. If she didn't protect against hits, she would lose. If she kept up her evasive moves, he would tire and leave her an opening shot.

On they fought, sweat trickled down Nessa's face and between her breasts. She didn't dare relax for even one moment. Letting down her guard would mean instant defeat and with the wrong opponent instant death. The wind swirled and hopped, picking up pieces of debris from the ground.

She saw the slightest opening, danced within inches. Bevan was thrown to the ground. She sprawled over him.

"Good job," he said. “Now let me up.”

"Promise you won't retaliate?"
Trust no one.

A round of applause echoed through the cool evening night. A slight breeze carried the sound across the open meadow.

"Well done, maestros," The sensei approached, a grim expression on his face. His beard was long and white, his eyebrows shaggy. He was dressed in a robe of the same color. "You appear ready for your trial by combat."

They both bowed hands in front of them. Nessa had come to admire and respect this man. "I am," she said as she straightened, her posture and demeanor relaxed, her hands hanging loosely at her sides.

"As am I," Bevan said.

"Then we should go over the rules of combat. Most everyone else is assembled in the teaching room. Come with me." Without waiting for a response, he turned and made his way to a huge mausoleum. He walked slowly yet with a purpose, his walking stick hitting the ground in unison with his right foot as he strode.

"There are rules?" Nessa asked. She had thought this trial by combat had no parameters. That it was winner take all and those who lost would live to fight a second time. Her heart raced with anticipation of the night to come and what it had in store for her. If she passed this test, she would be allowed to work with her beloved computers for the next two years, honing her skills to perfection and learning. That was all she wanted. Hamia was in the woods now, running. Nessa wished she could run along side her, feel the wind in her face.

Bevan gave a snort behind her. "Of course there are rules. Rules to follow when someone is watching, and rules to be ignored when it is only you and your prey," he seemed to quicken his pace. He was closer to her now.

She heard his footsteps behind her. She had made plans for the confrontation with him. Excluding mistakes, they were the two best at this game of intrigue and warfare strategy. She didn't plan on making any oversights. The outcome with reward was all too important to her.

"Perhaps we can work together," he said as he finally caught up to Nessa and they walked side-by-side. "Think we can bring Hamia along to help? When she stands on her back feet she pretty much towers over every one.

"Perhaps that is not a good idea, Bevan. Either part. I'm pretty sure they don't allow dogs on the paths. It would be too dangerous for beast and man." Nessa didn't want a partner. She wanted to win. "But let's hear the rules. If two can win then I would consider you an excellent partner."

Nessa breathed in the scent of wildflowers, tested the smell and taste of the wind. On the trails by the falls there would be very little wind. A breeze, if she was lucky. The trails were difficult to run on, the stairs slippery but she had practiced the course many times. She knew it backwards and forwards, knew all of the hiding places. Many of the participants had not even been on the course. But she knew Bevan had been diligent in his practice too. He would be a formidable opponent. The objective was to reach the north falls first.

Sensei waited at the doors, his arms folded in front of him, standing as still as stone. She didn’t know how he attained that level of patience. Then he nodded as each student walked past, his pale blue eyes probing and searching. It seemed to Nessa he silently questioned everyone.

Twenty gathered in the room, sitting cross-legged on the floor, watching and waiting. Sensei walked slowly to the front of the room. He motioned to four men. They stood, two on each side of him. All of the chatter slowed to a stop. An eerie silence followed that sent the hairs on the back of her neck to stiffen.

Pomegranate juice and sandwiches were passed to each student. Nessa slowly sipped her drink then bit into her sandwich. She wasn't hungry, her stomach in turmoil now that the battle drew near.

He cleared his throat. "No one is to have a weapon of any kind. After you have dressed in the appropriate attire, you will be searched. Only one person can win this event, yet you may work in pairs until the final battle. You must stay on the path. It is too dangerous to climb the hills. Nor will you be allowed to enter the water. If you are caught, you will be immediately disqualified and sent home. If you have questions, now is the time to ask." He paused, his gaze wandering from student to student.

Sent home, Nessa thought of Tower City and how much she would love to go home. She'd left the city in disgrace. She did not wish to return the same way. Her fists as well as her entire body grew rigid with determination.

Bevan nudged her arm several times to catch her attention. "You sure you do not want to work together? I see others pairing up. It might give us an advantage. We both know our strengths and weaknesses. We compliment each other."

Sensei looked and stopped speaking, clearing his throat again. "My apologies, I did not mean to speak while my audience is talking." His eyes narrowed, his sarcasm hit home, and she knew he disapproved.

A hush fell throughout the room.

"Now, if you do have a partner, remember only one of you can win. The last battle will be yours. You must be ready to defeat the person who has helped you reach your goals or go down in defeat."

"The winner receives schooling of his choice. Are there other rewards?" a student asked.

"Perhaps. It depends on the course of the night. There will be cameras. If it appears two people are equals, then of course there will be two winners. But, there can only be one participant to cross the finish line. Your job is to stop everyone else from crossing or--cross first."

"Does that mean the fastest runner will automatically win?"

"Perhaps."

He's being overly obtuse and vague. If the fastest runner would win, it would be me. But he knows that. This is not a cross country event. Obstacles might keep the fastest and smartest from the win.

"We will stagger your starting times," he went on. "And the fastest will be the last out of the gate."

“Of course,” Nessa whispered, "we won't even start together."

"That is good. I can clear the path for us. I'm stronger than anyone here."

"And your fighting skills are also the best."

"Except for you. You are quicker, but I have more strength."

"You have thirty minutes to meet at the top of the south falls. So go to your rooms, dress accordingly, plan your strategy and don't be late. If you are late, you will not be allowed to participate."

He turned and left the chattering room to the students.

"I will meet you at the south falls in fifteen minutes. We can plan then. Wear something tight and dark," Nessa said to Bevan.

"Right on," Bevan said with thumbs up as they left for their rooms.

Nessa stepped quickly along the path, still testing the weather, the wind and watching the sun set in the west. A few clouds floated above the tall Douglas fir trees, otherwise the sky was clear. The trails could be hazardous at night but there didn't seem to by any storms brewing. If it started raining, the mud and the rocks could be the downfall of those who were not sure-footed.

She pulled out her black leggings and tight tunic, quickly slipping them on. Then she darkened her face with black paint. At the moment the moon was full--a Comanche moon she'd heard it called from her long ago history lessons. The light from the full moon blanketed the earth with light to see by but if a person cloaked herself in darkness that person would move in the shadows.

She slipped from her room and stealthily made her way to the start area. Finding Bevan she grabbed his arm to tug him away from the arriving students.