Free Control (Shift) by Kim Curran Page B

Ethnics play well with my demographics.” He wiped his hand on his trousers. “So about this power, this… sifting?” he said, as Aubrey and I stood looking at him open-mouthed. That’s probably why I was so anxious earlier. He was a slippery git. But weren’t all politicians?
    “Shifting,” Aubrey corrected him.
    “Shifting, right. From what I’ve been told, you can undo any decision?”
    “Pretty much,” Aubrey said, her jaw tight.
    “I have to say, I’m a little annoyed that no one told me about this before.” He waggled a finger at Sir Richard. “But no matter. I know about you now. You kids should come in quite handy.”
    “We try and just keep them out of sight and out of trouble, Prime Minister. Controlled and regulated,” Sir Richard said, sounding uncertain. “It’s what ARES was set up to do.”
    “Yes, I’m sure that’s right. And you’re doing a fine job of it, I’m sure.” Miller slapped Sir Richard on the arm. “Old Oxford boy, like myself.”
    Sir Richard forced a smile.
    Old ? Miller couldn’t be much older than forty.
    “So, only children have this ability?” Miller said, looking back down at Jake.
    “Yes!” Sir Richard said, a little too quickly. Clearly Miller had not been briefed on Project Ganymede.
    “Shame. Shame. Can you imagine it?” he said, looking wistful. “Changing any decision. I mean, the women alone…”
    I saw Aubrey’s fists tighten. If he wasn’t the Prime Minister, I was pretty sure Miller would have found himself on the receiving end of a Jones special. “We try and use it for more important stuff, sir,” she said.
    “Oh, yes, quite right too. Quite right. It’s just…”
    Before he had a chance to finish, a second limo pulled up next to the first.
    The doors opened and four kids who didn’t look older than ten or eleven piled out. They wore green suits with high collars and small peaked caps with a red symbol on the brim that I couldn’t quite make out. They had the glazed expression of a Shifter weighing up their options. They were scanning the area, taking everything in. After a moment, in which the Prime Minister rocked back and forth on his feet, and Sir Richard clenched and unclenched his fists, the children stepped aside and a small, elderly man, dressed in a simple blue suit with a high collar, slowly eased himself out of the car. Two men dressed in simple black suits, both of whom had suspicious bulges under their left arms, then stepped out of the front. The President of China wasn’t taking any chances.
    Miller stepped forward and introduced Sir Richard. President Tsing nodded slightly then stretched out his hand. Sir Richard took it and the two men shook. Although I noticed it wasn’t Sir Richard’s usual knuckle-crushing affair.
    President Tsing then turned and walked towards us. He stopped in front of Aubrey and me, and bowed slightly. Not sure what to do, I bowed in return. The rest of the kids followed my example.
    “I am interested to see what your ARES Guards are capable of,” Tsing said, turning back to the PM. “I had thought that only China had children with this special power.”
    “Ha! No, of course not. Yes, these kids from ARES play a crucial role in protecting our fair nation. As I am sure do your Banjo Gongy , ” the PM said. I winced hearing his terrible pronunciation.
    “ Banjai Gonsi , ” the President said. “It means Little Guards. And these little guards have saved my life more times than I care to remember.” He smiled down at the boy next to him, who clasped his right fist in his left hand and bowed. The President rested a hand on his shoulder and the boy righted himself.
    “And I feel quite the same about these kids. Isn’t that right?” Miller reached out a hand and patted my shoulder. “Anyway, shall we?” He pointed towards the doors to the Pyramid. “After you.”
    Tsing nodded and wandered towards the glass doors, his hands clasped behind his back, walking slowly and taking everything