"Hmmm. Transponder in the car most likely. Very interesting. Oh, and some sort of devices in the treetops. Based on the kind of reflection when they sway from the breeze, likely solar powered."
"This isn't an ordinary home, is it?" Then he answered his own question. "Well it isn't likely to be given your jobs."
"Ah, Ian, you understand security, at least to some degree, right? Even so, I need to tell you, don't mention anything about what you see or hear or deduce about our home to anyone, not even your 'contacts', OK?
"Yes Mrs. Knight. I wouldn't think of it."
"It's Karla, not Mrs. I'm not married. Never have been."
He got that speculating look on his face again. We definitely had another thinker on our hands.
Figuratively rubbing my hands together here. Given his attachment to Jane, I realized that I could dump him in her lap. She's the tech geek anyway.
<
Got the car parked, we got out, and headed to the door. Found Kimiko and Kumiko waiting for us. Hit myself on the head again. Figuratively this time. Even I could take only so much physical abuse, especially from myself.
Neither girl batted an eye or said a word. They bowed, with perfect simultaneity. Then they stood there without moving.
Ian fixed me with the gimlet eye and a querulous expression. I internally applauded his ability to manage both at the same time.
"These are my other two daughters, Kumiko and Kimiko. Girls, this is Ian. He'll be with us for a while."
They looked at each other and managed to outdo Ian. Their expressions conveyed, "Well that answers that question," "I told you so," and "They never tell us anything" all at the same time. Then they turned and stalked back into the house. Obviously they liked being blind-sided even less than Ian did.
<
"Anyway, Ian, let's get you settled. Come on in. Your room is down the hall on the right."
"My room?" Another sharp glance, which I ignored. With great dignity and aplomb I might add.
I led him down the hall and stopped in front of the door.
"My name on the door?" He walked in and saw the computer setup then went over and booted up the computer then fiddled with it.
Yes, "fiddled". I'm no geek. It might as well be spells and incantations for all I know when I see an expert at a computer.
"OMG! An nVIDIA Maximus workstation?"
He turned around and glared at me. At a 9.5 out of 10.
"All right. What's really going on? There's no way in the world you could have arranged this in 4 hours. It takes days to get this sort of computer ordered and delivered."
I looked at Jane. Jane looked at me. No answers immediately forthcoming that wouldn't get us in even deeper.
Then I looked back at Ian. Suddenly he looked astonished, and awed.
"Oh...my.... The Lady. Did she do this?"
"WHAT? How do you know about her? Explain!"
OK. So I sorta lost it and didn't think first.
"She's the one who was in my dream. The one where I first saw your daughter, Jane. That's why I ran to her after the car wreck. She told me that Jane would protect me. Though, to be honest, she didn't tell me her name, she just showed her face to me."
Then musingly; "So. She wasn't just some sort of wish-fulfillment. She really does exist and you know about her. Interesting."
"Ian honey, just so you know. This isn't 'need to know'. This is WAY beyond that. Nobody, and I mean absolutely NOBODY outside of this household can ever know that she exists."
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Ian snorted in disgust. "Of course not. First of all, nobody would believe me. They'd have me in a psych ward within an hour. Unstable science geek and all that. Shuddering here at the thought.
"Secondly, I get the feeling that I'd REALLY rather not have her angry with me. I'm not entirely sure why, but it's true. You understand?"
Now that I thought about it, I totally agreed. Somehow I knew that she wasn't anyone you'd ever want to even THINK about crossing.
"Oh yeah. All too well. And, by the way girls...you know how I feel about eavesdropping. Come on in and meet your new brother."
Kimiko and Kumiko walked into the room, neither one looking even the slightest bit embarrassed about listening to the conversation.
As the eldest, Kumiko spoke first, "Well, it is apparent that he is not stupid, and he thinks reasonably clearly, though somewhat slowly. I guess that we shall be able to accept him, as long as he refrains from venturing into our room and rummaging through our things."
The next thing I knew there was a crashing sound as Ian's chair flew across the room. I turned, and he was standing with his back against the desk and both hands on it. His expression was another fish-mouth and bulbous-eyed one. I guess people look like that a lot when they're hit on the back of the head with a major surprise.
I glanced back over my shoulder and the girls wore identical, very, very sad expressions. One of those "here's someone else who thinks that we're freaks" expressions.
That was when Ian burst out with, "WOAH!! HOW COOL IS THAT!"
He ran over to the girls and knelt down and took each of them by a hand. Dang, I hadn't realized how tall he was. Even on his knees he was almost as tall as the girls, and he was only 13.
"That is so freaking cool! Can both of you do it? Can you teach me?"
"I don't recall giving ya permission ta touch me." Good old imperious Kimiko at her most haughty.
Surprisingly Ian stood, backed up, and bowed to the girls. "My apologies for my rash behavior. I was very surprised and excited. Will you please forgive me."
She sniffed, then relented. "Very well, apology accepted."
Then she started bouncing. Here we go again. "You're really tall aren't you? How'd your hair get that color. Did someone scare you really, really bad? Where'd ya get such dark brown eyes? They're almost black. I've never seen someone with black eyes before. Can ya really use all three of those computers at the same time? Are ya super-smart or something?"
Each bounce was a bit higher than the previous one. By the time she'd finished her questions, her head was only about 6 inches from the ceiling.
"I apologize for the rude behavior of my sister. She is a barbarian. Let me offer you a belated welcome to our, now yours as well, home. I am Kumiko. My jackrabbit sister is Kimiko. We are from Japan. We have been rescued from circumstances that are, probably, at least in some way similar to your own. We will explore that as time allows and the situation dictates.
"In answer to your query, no, we cannot teach you to do this. We cannot speak in any other way. As of this moment, you are one of only four people of whom we have knowledge who can hear us. I advise you to keep it to yourself, but, as Okaa-san has already discussed this with you, I shall not mention it again."
She bowed to him. He bowed to her. Then she spoke privately to me.
"Well, at least this one has manners. I suppose that he will be acceptable as our new Onii-san."
Then she smiled her devilish smile. (I wish she'd loosen up a bit and do that more often. She's adorable when she smiles like that.)
"Besides, this one is rather cute. I rather like the tall, exotic type. And I am partial to those with bright, blue eyes like his."
Obviously she'd allowed him to hear that too, as he blushed fiercely.
"I expect that I shall see you all at dinner."
Then she bowed again, turned, caught Kimiko at the bottom of a bounce, and tripped her. Then she pulled Kimi to her feet and dragged her out of the room.
"Well, ah.... Do you think she was serious about me?"
"Don't worry Ian. She was probably teasing you. After all, you don't see many 13 years old boys your height or with your coloring."
"I am NOT 13 years old. I'm 14. My birthday was last week."
Oh geez, testosterone poisoning was already setting in. Not to worry, I could handle him. I've dealt with it all my life.
What did I do? I ignored him. It usually works once they've made sure that they have the last word.
"There are clothes in the closet and underthings in the drawers. There's a bath attached to your room, through that door there, so get yourself cleaned up, and then let's eat. It's been a busy day and I missed lunch."
Jane laughed. "Ian, never, ever get near her when she's missed a meal. She might take a bite out of your arm."
I mock swung at her. She grabbed my hand, pulled me off balance, and picked me up and tucked me under her arm like I was a long newspaper.
"See you later Ian. We can talk this evening."
Then she carried me out of the room before I could get my senses organized and kick her butt in front of him.
Jane put me down and whispered in my ear. "Sorry Mama, he was starting to look a bit wild-eyed. I thought that a bit of a laugh might tide him over until we can get some food in him."
She pulled at her chin and said, "I wonder why Kumi-chan said his eyes were blue. They're obviously dark brown, like Kimi said. I've never seen eyes that close to black either. Hmmmm."
"Not to worry Jane. You know she was teasing him. Probably just part of the joke."
Janes eyes went suspiciously blank for a moment.
"Oh, right, that's probably it. Well, why don't we get cleaned up too. I wasn't kidding Ian, much, about your taking a bite out of people when you're hungry."
She danced back out of range of my punch and trotted down the hall to the big bathroom. I followed, with what decorum I could gather. In truth I was very hungry.