Chapter Seventeen
--Evan--
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" he asked irritably into the phone.
"There's no need to enunciate, Evan," he heard her reply. "It's literal; we've put all our resources into this. The entire co-op is working--"
He couldn't help but interrupt. "Right. Right. A few dozen kids.... With all our 'resources', we can only spare to send two people down here?"
"Yes," she replied shortly. "All the technophiles are working on that data you sent over the phone through last night, and the rest are either in the field setting things up, or are coordinating with those in the field."
As he felt her, he suddenly realized himself. He sighed before responding. "You're right. I'm sorry, Amelia. There's so much going wrong, and although I know that everyone is working together on this, it remains difficult. Maybe I just need someone to talk to."
She laughed lightly in response. "Evan, you've never needed anyone to talk to. We both know that you only called because you were pissed off at the world and need a talking wall, for which I was obliged to provide."
He almost laughed at this. Instead, he said, "So the two you're sending down.... who is it, exactly?"
"One's fresh out of high school, and is taking a year off. He's completed basic training for field work, and he's pretty good, although I guess you'll see next week," Amelia told him. "The other is Roger's younger brother, Jake. I don't suppose you've met him; he's a great guy."
She was silent for a second. After a moment, she told him, "Mistakes are mistakes.... you did well. No one's been in that kind of situation before, but you responded well, and no one was hurt. Things will turn out...."
"....All right?" he finished questioningly. "They always seem to. But this isn't routine initiation anymore, you know that. People and events have fallen into place inappropriately, I would almost say there was design in it. But...."
"Destiny is dead?" she completed. Evan winced. "You could say that," he replied.
"Well," Amelia said, "I know you'll be busy tracking down those kids. Keep in touch."
He smiled faintly, although she couldn't see it from the other end of the phone."Yeah, of course," he said. "I'll talk to you later."
"Bye," she said, and he set the hotel phone back on the hook with a light click. He gazed at the phone wearily for a moment, then sighed heavily.
Evan Alterman stood up and off the bed, and slipped on his spring jacket before heading out the door of the hotel room; he had work to do.
--Evan--
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" he asked irritably into the phone.
"There's no need to enunciate, Evan," he heard her reply. "It's literal; we've put all our resources into this. The entire co-op is working--"
He couldn't help but interrupt. "Right. Right. A few dozen kids.... With all our 'resources', we can only spare to send two people down here?"
"Yes," she replied shortly. "All the technophiles are working on that data you sent over the phone through last night, and the rest are either in the field setting things up, or are coordinating with those in the field."
As he felt her, he suddenly realized himself. He sighed before responding. "You're right. I'm sorry, Amelia. There's so much going wrong, and although I know that everyone is working together on this, it remains difficult. Maybe I just need someone to talk to."
She laughed lightly in response. "Evan, you've never needed anyone to talk to. We both know that you only called because you were pissed off at the world and need a talking wall, for which I was obliged to provide."
He almost laughed at this. Instead, he said, "So the two you're sending down.... who is it, exactly?"
"One's fresh out of high school, and is taking a year off. He's completed basic training for field work, and he's pretty good, although I guess you'll see next week," Amelia told him. "The other is Roger's younger brother, Jake. I don't suppose you've met him; he's a great guy."
She was silent for a second. After a moment, she told him, "Mistakes are mistakes.... you did well. No one's been in that kind of situation before, but you responded well, and no one was hurt. Things will turn out...."
"....All right?" he finished questioningly. "They always seem to. But this isn't routine initiation anymore, you know that. People and events have fallen into place inappropriately, I would almost say there was design in it. But...."
"Destiny is dead?" she completed. Evan winced. "You could say that," he replied.
"Well," Amelia said, "I know you'll be busy tracking down those kids. Keep in touch."
He smiled faintly, although she couldn't see it from the other end of the phone."Yeah, of course," he said. "I'll talk to you later."
"Bye," she said, and he set the hotel phone back on the hook with a light click. He gazed at the phone wearily for a moment, then sighed heavily.
Evan Alterman stood up and off the bed, and slipped on his spring jacket before heading out the door of the hotel room; he had work to do.