Crossways by Jacey Bedford

what was going on.
    Maybe it was better not to form relationships with any of the psi-techs, though it wouldn’t do any harm to get on the right side of the cute guard, Wes. He’d already helped her to get one message out to “Mother,” though she hadn’t had an answer yet.
    Time to go and see if he was on duty today.
    She slowed down to let the others get ahead as they neared the entrance to Port 22. There was one guard on the gate, and she could see Wes inside the gatehouse.
    He stepped out just as she got there.
    â€œHey, Kitty.” He really did have a nice smile; she had little difficulty returning it.
    â€œWes.”
    â€œGoing somewhere? I get off duty on the hour.”
    She checked station time on her handpad. Fifteen minutes. “I could wait. I was just going to explore.”
    â€œLet me take you on a guided tour. I thought you lot weren’t supposed to go anywhere on your own.”
    â€œI won’t be on my own.” She winked at him.
    â€œI suppose not.”
    Five minutes later Captain Syke arrived with six fresh guards and Wes’ shift ended.
    â€œSorry you had to wait.” Wes lifted off his helmet and scrubbed at his scalp one-handed. “Damn thing just makes you want to have a good scratch once it comes off.”
    â€œGood to be off duty, huh?”
    â€œSure is.”
    â€œI’m not spoiling any plans, am I?”
    â€œNot a bit of it. I was going to Ag One, but I can go later. There’s a community farm there. I volunteer.”
    â€œOn a farm?”
    â€œCommunity farm. They keep domestic animals, chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, a horse, a couple of ponies, and cows in milk. It’s for the kids. Crossways kids only ever get to see animals like that on vids. It does them good to see what they feel like and smell like, even though most of their protein comes from a vat. There’s nothing bigger than a cat allowed outside of the farming area, and that’s only to keep the rat population down.”
    â€œAnd you volunteer?”
    â€œSure. I show the kids how to milk the cow and I lead them around on the ponies. Not just me, of course. There’s a rota.”
    â€œWell, you are a surprise, Mr. Orton. I’d love to see your farm sometime.”
    He held out his hand and Kitty took it.

Chapter Five
QUARANTINE
    â€œH OW ARE YOU FEELING, MR. JUSSARO?” Crowder leaned over the recovery bed. “Dr. Zuma tells me the implantation was a complete success. Ready to join the living again?”
    Jussaro blinked, then smiled.
    â€œBefore we activate your implant fully, there are conditions, but you knew there would be, didn’t you?”
    â€œI guessed as much.” The smile faded, replaced by wariness.
    â€œYou’ll be leaving as soon as you’ve recovered. I want you to go and find your friend, Carlinni. That’s no great hardship, is it? We’ll even give you passage and a cover story.”
    â€œI won’t kill for you.” Jussaro’s mouth was set into a hard line, but there was worry behind his eyes.
    â€œOf course not. I wouldn’t ask you to.”
    â€œInformation, then, is it?” Jussaro looked relieved.
    That was the trick. Make them think the worst and then when you asked for something smaller it didn’t seem so bad.
    â€œInformation.” Crowder nodded. “I’m not a mind reader, but I’m guessing right about now you’re wondering what’s to stop you from skipping out on your obligations. Am I right?”
    Jussaro didn’t answer.
    â€œOf course you are. So you need to know about the modification to your implant.”
    This was almost too easy. Jussaro’s reactions were too predictable. He began to wonder whether the man was as naïve as he seemed. Maybe he was feeding Crowder the reactions he thought were expected of him. It didn’t matter. Crowder had him sewn up.
    â€œModification?”
    Was that a hint of fear in