Free Soulwalker by Erica Lawson Page B

aware, such research is not available to the common citizen.”
    “I have a friend or two in high places,” Tarris said.
    “But you said you weren’t from the Council.”
    “And I’m not. Why is it so important that I’m not from the Council?”
    “I usually don’t discuss my work with anybody. I’m sorry but I can’t help you.”
    “Please! Please, wait. Can we meet? Just once?”
    “Why should I?”
    “Because…” How much should she reveal to a perfect stranger? Normally she would reveal nothing, even to close acquaintances, but her life was dependent on this conversation. “Because I’m in need of your treatment.”
    “And you are a mediprac, are you?” The voice was openly hostile. Tarris could see that this woman jealously guarded her privacy nearly as much as she did.
    “No, but I’ve seen enough of them to know I need one.” She bit back an acerbic remark. She couldn’t afford to alienate the one person who might be able to do something for her.
    “And you think I’m the one who will help you, do you?”
    “I would have thought you would leap at the opportunity to try out your theories on a live donor.” Tarris was getting seriously pissed off at the woman.
    “I will when I’m ready, not because you’re in a hurry to be healed.” Annoyance laced the words.
    “Why are you being so hostile?” All thought of supplication to get what she wanted was washed away by the negative words coming from the blank screen.
    “I don’t like people sticking their noses into my business. I’m a private person, and I like to keep it that way. Goodbye.”
    Stunned, Tarris stared at the screen. She had a mind to report the mediprac to her governing body for such rudeness and refusal to help. Didn’t these practitioners have some sort of obligation to help other people?
    The screen on her wall erupted with the news of the botched assignment.
    “… here is a statement by the Prime concerning the rebel attack on the home of the Opposition Leader.”
    The announcement made Tarris sit up. She ignored her computer for the news. The familiar face of the Roden Sholter filled the large screen.
    “Citizens. Last night the home of Opposition Leader Regis was brutally attacked by the cowardly forces of the resistance. While Administrator Regis and his family escaped unharmed, a number of his staff were murdered while defending his property.” The old man paused. He turned his head from side to side as if he were addressing a rally. “This has forced the Council to enforce a curfew from sundown to sunup. Protectors will be stationed around the metropolis for the safety of the citizens.”
    Tarris’s mouth fell open. It was all a setup. They were deliberately sent on a mission that was bound to fail from the very beginning. It was an excuse to establish martial law. She felt betrayed. She had given them everything, and they used her. “Protectors… pah!” It was a fancy word for soldiers.
    The Prime continued his political rhetoric, but she paid it no heed. She had heard enough. Her belief in the government had been severely shaken, and it left her empty. No one had ever used her like that before. She wasn’t naïve or stupid. After all, she had to put up with jerks like Corman for most of her life, but to actively use her loyalty and expertise to undermine the very fabric of society… that was unforgivable.
    The wheelchair was too slow for what she wanted to do, so she exchanged it for her body frame. Once it had settled in place, she left to walk the streets. Her anger pushed her on to look for something, someone to ease the turmoil within her. Without conscious purpose, her rambling delivered her to an address that she had only just discovered. She looked up at the low-rise building and knew the person she wanted to see was inside. After all she had just spoken to her. Maybe if she saw the woman face-to-face it would help. If not, then she would just slug the woman in the jaw to ease her