Free Turning Point by Lisanne Norman Page B

a light rapport. Because of this, he had been aware for some time of her growing anger with the restrictions her father and the community were putting on her life. He also knew she had been working herself up to a pitch where she would leave the valley, and it looked as if that time had arrived.
    This fitted in with his long-term plans. He had been prepared to risk telling her that he was her teacher but only because he needed her help. He knew he could trust her. Her family, however, was another matter. They couldn’t see beyond their own problems with the Valtegans and would only hold him back at this stage of his search. Once they were free of the settlement there would be time enough for her to meet her first Sholan. If only she would wait a little longer.
    It’s too soon, he thought, reaching for her. Wait for a week, a few days even.
    I’ve waited too long already , came the tart rejoinder as he was thrust firmly out of her mind.
    Reeling back on his haunches with the force of her rebuttal, he watched helplessly as she tucked the legs of her trousers into the tops of her boots.
    Getting to her feet, Carrie went over to the door and opened it, peering cautiously into the corridor. It was empty.
    â€œWait here, Kusac,” she whispered, stepping outside and closing the door behind her.
    Kusac sat down again. “If only she would stay another couple of days,” he muttered. He would rather have waited until his leg was completely healed before going in search of his fellow Sholans from the Sirroki. His limp wasn’t painful, but he knew from his forays around the valley that apart from slowing him down, it would make him tire more quickly.
    Carrie returned a couple of minutes later with her brother’s rucksack tucked under her arm. Luckily, she’d seen it squashed into a closet in the hall a couple of days before. Dumping it onto the bed, she unbuckled it and began to check over its contents. It still contained much of the standard issue from one of Jack’s field trips that Richard had been on. There was a stove and some of the small solar cell batteries that fueled it, a pan, eating utensils, a couple of lightweight insulated blankets, a basic medical kit, and some dehydrated packs of food.
    â€œI hope you can hunt for both of us, Kusac,” she said wryly as she shoved everything back into the rucksack and began ramming her clothes and spare boots in on top.
    That done, she pulled a knife out of one of the side pockets and, loosening her belt, threaded the sheath onto it. Fastening the buckle, she settled the knife over her right hip.
    From the wardrobe she brought out her thick winter parka and slipped it on. Taking a last look around the room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything important, she picked up the rucksack and moved over to the door.
    â€œCome on, Kusac,” she said, checking the corridor once again, “we’re leaving.”
    Stopping outside her brother’s room, she gently probed it to see if he had returned, but it still felt empty. Unlike hers, his window looked onto the fields at the back of the house.
    Not quite accustomed to trusting her Talent yet, she opened the door warily, taking a good look round before she stepped inside and went over to the window. Releasing the catch, she pushed it open and leaned out to see if there was anyone at the back of the house. When she was sure there was no one about, she lifted the rucksack up, balancing it on the sill. To the left, just below the window, lay a pile of sacks. That was ideal: it would break the rucksack’s fall, and among sacks of the same color, it was unlikely to be noticed. Heaving it over the edge, she let it dangle at arm’s length before swinging it toward the sacks. She let it go, and with a faint whump it landed right on target.
    Shutting the window, she turned back to Kusac.
    â€œOkay, old fellow,” she said, “it’s our turn.”
    Carrie made her way