Free Outcasts by Vonda N. McIntyre Page A

moment. “I saw you
go inside the fence without any guards. And after that, the Lizard — “
    “What was he trying to make you do?”
    “Have a child and give it to him.”
    Miria sat back on her heels. “To Lizard ? Gods.”
She shook her head in disbelief, in sympathy for Kylis, for anyone,
particularly a child who would come under the Lizard’s control. The
yellow lantern glow glinted from the dark and lighter brown strands of Miria’s
hair. Kylis suddenly saw the two distinct colors for the first time. The
lighter brown was not sun-streaked — it grew that way naturally.
    “You’re a tetra, aren’t you?”
    Miria looked up, and Kylis knew she would not lie. “Yes.
Anyway,” she said sadly, “I used to be.”
    “They let you go?”
    “No!” She ran her hand across her hair and spoke
more calmly. “No. I was never like Gryf. I never understood what he
wanted, at least until a few days ago. Until you and I talked...” She
drew in a long breath. “Three years ago I was in an accident. I was
foolish. I took chances I had no right to take, and I nearly drowned. I died
for several minutes. No oxygen could get to my brain.” She looked away,
fiddling with the control on the lantern. “I can remember who I used to
be, but I’m not her anymore. I cannot do the work I was meant for. I feel
so stupid... I was afraid you’d done that to yourself. I was afraid you’d
damaged your brain.”
    “I’m all right, Miria.” Kylis pushed
herself up on her elbow, suspicion and anger forgotten for a moment. “They
sent you here because you had an accident? I think that’s awful.”
    “They could have — they should have, for what I
did. But I’m here to watch Gryf.”
    “To protect him? And you let them put him in the box?”
    “You know enough about Gryf to know...” Miria’s
voice faltered. “I was not here only to be sure he lived. I wanted to
force him to go back to his team. I wanted him to make up for my failure.”
    “Why should he be responsible?”
    “Because we’re the same.”
    “Miria, I don’t understand.”
    “He had the same place I did, on a different team. For
important projects we make two groups and keep them separate, so they will
confirm each other’s research or develop alternate lines. Gryf is my
trans-brother. That is what we call tetras with the same parents in opposite
couples.” She rubbed her tawny forearm. “He was never meant to be a
trans, of course, but it made no difference for the work. I crippled my team
— I felt I had to keep Gryf from crippling his. I felt responsible.”
    “What’s going to happen now?”
    “Now...” Miria grasped Kylis’ hands. “I’m
not a tetra anymore, Kylis. I have no vote. But I have a say, and I will do my
best to persuade them to set him free.”
    “Miria, if you can — “
    “I may do no better than keep them from sending him
back here.”
    “Why did you change your mind?”
    “Because of what you told me. I thought about it all
the time Gryf was in deprivation. What I was doing to him to force him to share
my loyalties — I almost killed him! I allowed the Lizard to torture him.
You knew better than I what that could mean.”
    “But he’s all right — you said he’s
all right.”
    “He is,” Miria said quickly. “He will be.
He overcame the drugs and put himself in a deep trance. I haven’t lied.
But I had nothing to do with freeing him before he died. I understand now what
happened. After two days I realized Gryf must be let go, but the Lizard would
not come out and he would not reply to my messages. He hoped to break you to
his will and Gryf to mine. When he could not — finally he was afraid to
keep Gryf in there any longer.” Her voice was strained. “I’ve
caused you so much pain. I hope some day you will all be together, and happy,
and will be able to forgive me.”
    “Miria, I wish — “
    The roar of a plane drowned out her words. Kylis glanced up,
startled. In all the time she had been at Screwtop,