Missing Elements (The Lament Book 3) by P.S. Power Page B

know, and that few
others did, for some reason. Probably because the man went by his last name at
work.
    She nodded though, needing the
supplies, if that was real. It wasn't like she was being paid for her work at
the wedding. That was all just part of the deal to make the special shipment
work. Of course if she really managed to pocket forty percent of whatever
the Energy Councilor shipped... That would be something.
    "The man who runs the
basement?" It wasn't clear how much she was supposed to mention about
things, after all. Brown didn't so much as blink, and Clarice smiled, but Donal
actually chuckled out loud.
    "Ah! You're a smart one
then, aren't you girl? I feel bad about that now, calling you a boy, earlier. I
guess I'll have to make that up to you. Later, however, given that I see more
work opening up ahead. Well, some jobs are never done." There was a step then
a pause and a happy grin from the old man. "Ah! I know, maybe you could
come along to dinner in a week or so? I'm sure Riley would love to meet a clever
young lady like yourself." He glanced at Bard Clarice, as if asking
permission, but Pran answered for herself.
    Like she had a right to, or
something.
    "That sounds fun. Tell you
what, I'll go and beg Twyla for that invitation for you and Riley, and deliver
that to him tomorrow. I think I have some ideas he might like anyway. Or not. I
can play for the people in his office or something?" Because, Bard .
It made sense, didn't it?
    For some reason the man laughed,
but didn't comment on what she'd said, clearly thinking it was a joke. Probably
thinking that she wouldn't be able to do it. If it had been more serious than
that, he would have warned her. Maybe. They'd only met twice now, and that
didn't mean too much in this place, she bet.
    After that they walked for a bit,
but halfway down the street Brown pointed at a pathway.
    "Through here. It isn't far.
Thank you both for walking me home, but I would have managed." Then he
stepped off the path, missing the stones and nearly tripped.
    It was perfect , since Clarice
had to hold him up. It wasn't dark yet, but a nice twilight, and while she
could see her way, the man with them was clearly moving more than a bit on
faith and hope. Trying not to look weak.
    That was always a good plan.
    She giggled, and spoke a bit louder
than needed.
    "All right, I admit it, I
made the whole thing up so that I could find where your room was, in case I
want to come for a visit? You did say you were single, didn't you?"
    The man rolled his eyes, but
found the path and started walking, pretending that there was no problem with
his vision.
    He also didn't answer, which was
a bit strange, but not too much so. She was being heavy handed. Besides, maybe
he wanted to be the one to make the first move? It was also possible that he
didn't think she was cute enough, being that people called her boy all the time
lately, and meant it.
    Except for Lyse from Pumpkin
Hollow, and the floor boy in the stairwell.
    She hadn't forgotten about that
thought, though she didn't have much to go on at the moment. The floor boy
could have just noticed that she had breasts, if small ones and the right hip
structure. Lyse... Now that she thought about it, that one was funny, wasn't
it? The woman, clearly slow, had seen what no one else in her small village
could. That Pran wasn't a boy, but a girl.
    Come to think of it, so had Zeke.
    She couldn't remember if Will
Butcher had too, because he'd been pretty banged up when they met, but Zeke had clearly gotten that she was a female, even though she'd been wearing heavy
clothing and pants, instead of a dress or skirt, when they'd met. It was like
the people from her own world, the outer, real one, just saw certain things and
made assumptions, but the old people, the downloads, didn't.
    Not that she knew that. Or that
anyone except Will and Zeke were downloads. Doctor Millis, of course, but he'd
seen her with longer hair first. Not long , but enough that she'd