Gone

shrugged.
    “I thought so. And Caine?”
    When Jack didn’t answer, Astrid let the question hang there. Jack swallowed and tried to look away, but it wasn’t easy.
    “Caine,” Astrid repeated. “There’s something wrong with him, isn’t there?”
    Computer Jack’s resistance crumbled, but not his caution. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “He can do things,” Jack said. “He can—”
    “Jack. There you are.”
    Jack and Astrid both jumped. It was Diana Ladris. She nodded cordially at Astrid. “I hope your little brother is all right. The way you rushed out of there, I thought maybe he was sick.”
    “No. No, he’s fine.”
    “He’s lucky to have you,” Diana said. As she said it, she took Astrid’s hand in hers, like she was determined to shake hands. But Jack knew better.
    Astrid pulled her hand away.
    Diana had a nice smile, but she didn’t use it now. Jack wondered if Diana had been able to finish with Astrid. Probably not; it usually took her longer to read a person’s power level.
    The mood of confrontation was broken by the sound of a diesel engine. It was a kid who looked like he might be Mexican, driving a backhoe down the street.
    “Who is that?” Diana asked.
    “Edilio,” Astrid said.
    “What’s he doing?”
    The boy on the backhoe began to dig a trench, right in the grass of the plaza, close to the sidewalk where the little girl’s body lay under its blanket, avoided by all.
    “What’s he doing?” Diana repeated.
    “I think he’s burying the dead,” Astrid said softly.
    Diana frowned. “Caine didn’t tell him to do that.”
    “What does it matter?” Astrid asked. “It needed to be done. In fact, I think I’ll go and see if I can help. You know, if you think that would be okay with Caine.”
    Diana didn’t smile. She didn’t snarl, either, and Jack had seen her do that on more than one occasion. “You seem like a nice girl, Astrid,” Diana said. “I’ll bet you’re one of those brainy, Lisa Simpson types, all full of great ideas and worried about saving the planet or whatever. But things have changed. This isn’t your old life anymore. It’s like…you know what it’s like? It’s like you used to live in a really nice neighborhood, and now you live in a really tough neighborhood. You don’t look tough, Astrid.”
    “What caused it? The FAYZ. Do you know?” Astrid demanded, refusing to be intimidated.
    Diana laughed. “Aliens. God. A sudden shift in the space-time continuum. I heard someone call you Astrid the Genius, so you’ve probably thought of explanations I can’t even guess at. It doesn’t matter. It’s happened. Here we are.”
    “What does Caine want?” Astrid asked.
    Jack could not believe Astrid hadn’t withered in the face of Diana’s confidence. Most people did. Most people couldn’t stand up to her. If they did, they were sorry.
    Jack thought he saw a flicker of appreciation spark Diana’s dark eyes.
    “What does Caine want? He wants what he wants. And he’ll get it,” Diana said. “Now, run off to the funeral over there. Stay out of my way. And take care of your little brother. Jack?”
    The sound of his own name snapped Jack out of his trance. “Yes.”
    “Come.”
    Jack fell into step behind Diana, ashamed of his instant, doglike obedience.
    They marched up the steps of the town hall. Caine, to the surprise of no one who knew him, had taken over the mayor’s office. He was behind a massive mahogany desk, rocking slowly from side to side in a too-big maroon leather chair.
    “Where did you go?” Caine asked.
    “I went to get Jack.”
    Caine’s eyes flickered. “And where was Computer Jack?”
    Diana said, “Nowhere. He was just wandering, lost.”
    She was covering for him, Jack realized with a shock.
    “I ran into that girl,” Diana said. “The blond with the strange brother.”
    “Yes?”
    “They call her Astrid the Genius. I think she’s involved with that kid, the fire kid.”
    “His name is Sam,” Caine reminded her.
    “I think Astrid’s someone we need to keep an eye on.”
    “Did you read her?” Caine asked.
    “I got a partial read, so I’m not sure.”
    Caine spread his hands in exasperation. “Why am I begging for information here? Just tell me.”
    “She’s on about two bars.”
    “Any idea what her powers may be? Lighter? Speeder? Chameleon? Not another Dekka, I hope. She was difficult. And hopefully not a Reader like you, Diana.”
    Diana shook her head. “No idea. I’m not even