He expected a facile rationalization as her interest was shunted aside. Instead, she continued speculatively, I am most curious-break what promise, Titus?
Oh, nothing much. He redoubled his effort to Influence her, assuming she was a Resistive, a human difficult to Influence. A puzzled look flitted across her face. For no apparent reason she glanced over her shoulder.
Titus, look over there. That reporter-the one in the red hat-is photographing us! She waved sunnily, posing beside Titus, then she dragged him toward the press box, and in that instant, he knew.
She was a susceptible. Shed already been Influenced heavily, but not marked to warn off others of his blood. She was being used-certainly without her knowledge. He could hardly control the disgust that twisted his lips at this abuse. All thought of his own safety was wiped from his mind as he focused all his strength to free her of that control.
She smiled and chattered brightly, grabbing Tituss hand and towing him toward the reporter-who now slipped under the rope barricade, pointing his video unit at them.
As he came closer, Titus felt the unmistakable throb of Influence and knew the reporter was controlling Mirelle. Older, more powerful than Titus, he was mockingly declaring himself an enemy, a member of the Tourist faction who didnt consider themselves of Earth at all.
Titus focused on one of the W. S. guards, an older man with a ruddy complexion and beefy jowls, and attracted his attention. The man took out his phonelink.
Sensing the use of Influence on the guard, the Tourist grinned knowingly at Titus and played his role to the hilt, calling out. Doctors, do you think it friendly to hail an alien civilization from a false location?
All of earth had been debating that ever since the Project Hail compromise had been announced-to send an instrument package out of the solar system to a remote point from which it would signal the aliens and wait for a reply in order to establish contact without revealing Earths location.
Dont answer him, Mirelle, commanded Titus, with Influence. Look at the press pass in his hat band. You dont want to be quoted in that .
It almost worked. The Tourist chuckled and said, his words so veiled in Influence that to nearby humans they were inaudible, Titus, you and all of Connies Residents cant stop us. So you may as well save yourself the ordeal of starving on the moon.
It wasnt the words so much as the friendly tone that got to Titus. The man believed Titus couldnt stop the Tourists agent from sending their SOS out with the humans message, an SOS that would reveal Earths location and ask for rescue. To underscore Tituss helplessness, the Tourist reporter wrenched control of Mirelle from Titus and she replied to the reporters
bag and jacket, and sauntered through the arch, concentrating on the retina scan technician. He presented his fingers to the plate on the counter while he probed for a contact-and met a blank wall. An immune? The bogeyman to all Tituss kind was a human immune to the Influence.
As he was passed to the retina scan technician, he remembered the reporter and knew, Not immune, Influenced!
Ed, come look at this, called the man on the flight bag scanner. Looks like contraband. Drugs.
The retina technician glanced at the scanner plate. Would you mind opening the bag for us, Doctor?
No, of course not, replied Titus as he edged along the counter to see the plate and fumbled at his keys. I have the key here. Both men were Influenced, but the reading was genuine-drugs. So thats what the Tourist meant! While he held my attention, they switched bags! And they had someone reprogram the computer so my card doesnt force the scanner to show coffee. An image of Gold left guarding the bags while Mirelle pulled Titus away flashed through his mind. There had been uniformed transport officers moving through the crowd carrying things. Idiot! Amateur!
Titus probed for the Influencer who had a grip on these men. It wasnt the reporter. He was too far away. Then his eyes flew to the last technician in line, the woman who handed back boarding cards and flight bags. Another Tourist! Shed been standing right there all the time, and hed never even seen her. She was there to keep him from Influencing the technicians to let him through.
With a furious strength born of outrage, Titus struck-and found himself in a pitched battle for control of the two humans hovering over the bag scanner. To any onlooker it must seem as if everyone were considering a minor problem. Titus threw his whole strength into the battle. The Tourist was obviously more experienced at jousting for control of humans, but Titus held and pushed, closing his eyes, ignoring the sweat of fear that coated him, ignoring the constant pain from the light, ignoring the terror of True Hunger that gripped him. But he had never done this before. He had never developed strength and skill for it.
Tituss grip weakened. The Tourists lips twisted in a smug grin. Mirelles melodious voice cut across everything. Titus? Shall I wait for you? Suddenly, Titus found a new strength. You wont use them to destroy their own kind!