Free Last Wild Boy by Hugh MacDonald Page B

baby?”
    â€œPositive…absolutely positive. All of the signs were in her body,” said Blanchefleur. “And the baby?” Alice asked. There. She’d done it. She’d asked the question she’d wanted to ask. She hoped she hadn’t given too much away. She put on her best poker face and waited for Blanchefleur to answer.
    â€œThe child was never found. It may have survived the fall somehow, or it may be somewhere inside the city, left behind by its distraught mother. Minn disappeared from work months ago and must have gone underground somewhere in the city. Maybe the baby is still there. Either way, the danger to the city is very real, and will remain so until we’ve found the child.”
    â€œOh, Mother!” Alice said, trying to sound nonchalant. “It is only an infant, for heaven’s sake. How much trouble could it possibly cause?”
    Blanchefleur’s voice turned cold as granite. “Babies grow up. An infant male will become an adult male. Just one outsider could potentially return the world to turmoil and suffering. At the very least, this incident could give the federation the reason they need to involve themselves in our city politics. We can’t let that happen. You, of all people, must learn this fact. If you don’t, you may live to regret it.”
    Mother and daughter stared intensely at one another.
    â€œThere is something important I have to tell you,” Alice finally said. She watched as one of the housemaids walked into the kitchen and starting clearing the breakfast dishes. “In private.”
    Blanchefleur turned and led her daughter to her office, then closed the door behind them. The two women sat down on a small sofa under the office window.
    â€œWell?” said Blanchefleur. “What do you have to tell me that’s so important?”
    Nora braced herself for her mother’s reaction and the cross-examination to come. “Nora’s gone.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘Nora’s gone’?” Blanchefleur asked, concern washing over her face. “Nora’s gone where?”
    â€œWhen I went to sleep last night she was there in the summer house and when I got up this morning she was gone.” Alice knew she couldn’t tell her mother the whole truth, but she had to at least account for Nora’s disappearance. There was no way that her mother wouldn’t notice that.
    â€œDid you look for her on the grounds?” Blanchefleur asked.
    â€œI looked everywhere,” Alice said, breaking down into tears. “I went all around the grounds. I even called the transporter office, but they hadn’t registered any pick ups anywhere near the house last night.”
    â€œThere has to be more to this than you’re telling me,” Blanchefleur said, putting her arm around her daughter. “Sometimes you don’t treat Nora as respectfully as you should. Did you have a disagreement?”
    â€œNot really a disagreement,” Alice sniffed, “just a stupid little tiff. I was rude to her yesterday, treating her like a servant.”
    â€œI’ve spoken to you about that before, Alice,” Blanchefleur said sternly. “Nora isn’t a servant anymore. You have chosen to take her on as your companion, and we have welcomed her into our home as part of our family. You will have to learn to treat her with more respect when we find her.”
    â€œ If we find her,” Alice sobbed almost hysterically. “I don’t know what to do.”
    â€œWe’ll find her,” Blanchefleur said, stroking her daughter’s long blonde hair. “Don’t worry. I’ll put out a search order at once.” She looked straight into Alice’s eyes. “Is there any more to this than you’re telling me?”
    â€œNo, Mom,” Alice lied.
    â€œForgive me for asking,” said Blanchefleur. “But we’re in the middle of a major crisis, and now all of