World-Mart by Leigh Lane Page B

you know?”
    The young woman moved to a bin of clean sheets, picking up as much of the unfolded pile as she could hold.  “Get in.”
    Virginia got into the bin, and the young associate dropped the pile of sheets over her.  “Sit tight.”  The young woman dug into her pockets, pulling out syringes, test tubes, and a few other objects she had stolen from the medical offices, and stuffed them under the pile.  She finished loading the washing machine, and then deftly rolled Virginia and her laboratory supplies out of the closet.
    She rolled the heavy bin to a service elevator and quietly accompanied the load down to the basement.  She rolled the bin to the folding piles at the end of the corridor and lugged the laundry off Virginia.
    “Thank you so much!” Virginia said, climbing out of the bin.
    “It was the least I could do,” the deviant said.  She extended her hand.  “I’m Anne .”
    “Virginia.”
    They shook.
    “Do you have anywhere to go?” Anne asked, checking to make sure that no one else was in the vicinity.
    “I plan on going home.”
    “Do you think that’s wise?”  Anne collected the laboratory supplies, wrapped them in a pajama top she snagged from a laundry pile, and then stashed them behind a trash bin.
    Virginia shrugged.  “Where else would I go?”
    Anne found a piece of scratch paper and a pen, and wrote down shuttle and walking directions to a remote location.  She handed it to Virginia with a smile.  “Ask for Ray.”  She shoved Virginia behind a pile of laundry and tried to look busy as a s anitation manager crossed the far corridor, and then disappeared around another corner.
    Virginia took the piece of paper.  “How do I get out of here?”
    After a moment of thought, Anne quickly wriggled out of her uniform and tossed it to the Virginia.  She kicked off her shoes.  “I’m not sure it’ ll be a perfect fit, but it’s all I’ve got.”  She began to dig through a utility drawer until she came across a roll of duct tape.
    Virginia squeezed herself into Anne’s uniform and forced her feet into the tiny shoes.
    Anne tossed Virginia the duct tape and her shuttle pass, then crossed her wrists behind her back.  “I can’t look like a willing participant in this.”
    Virginia bound Anne’s wrists behind her back, and then wrapped up her ankles.
    Anne dropped onto a pile of clean pajama tops.  “The parking garage is down the hall to your left, and then up one floor.  Now, tape up my mouth and get out of here.”
    “Tape your mouth?”
    Anne gave a frustrated huff.  “You want to make it look authentic, right?”
    “Are you sure someone will find you?”
    “Positive.”  Anne glanced down to the end of the hall, looking nervous.  “Will you stop wasting time?” she asked impatient ly .
    Virginia reluctantly slapped a piece of tape over Anne’s mouth.  “Thanks again.”  She hurried down the long hallway, pocketing Anne’s shuttle directions as she took the stairwell up to the garage.  She found a direct s huttle l ine to Housing.
    She took a long, deep breath as the shuttle rolled away from the platform.  She wondered if any of the others who had escaped were also able to get away, hoping she wasn’t the only one.  She wondered how many more people would find themselves in her situation before Medical-Corp was able to come up with a working antidote, if that was even possible.
    Virginia couldn’t reach Housing quickly enough, and she gazed through the window at the heavy rain as the shuttle lurched along its track.  It was dark and grey out, and heavy clouds blocked out the early evening sky.
    She knocked on her front door, nervous but excited.  She assumed George and the kids would be home, given the time, and her heart sank when she knocked several times and no one came to the door.
    “Hello?”  Virginia knocked again.  “It’s me!”
    The door cracked open across the way, and Judith peeked out.  Virginia turned, and Judith quickly