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"We must labor hard to maintain seeming naturalness," he remarked, walking down the path. "These
parks are restricted to responsible adults because irresponsible folk have no proper appreciation for
them, and may litter or damage them. It might be taken as an analogy of society: only those who have
achieved a mature viewpoint are capable of appreciating what it offers without abusing it."
"You make it so sensible!" Vita said, thrilling again. She had had little interest in parks before, and none
in maintenance, but she was an instant convert.
"I should; I am one of those charged with the enforcement of society's standards."
"Yeah, my pimp would just spit on this path."
"Oh, perhaps he would not descend to such depravity." She glanced sidelong at him, trying to fathom
whether this was humor. He saw that, and allowed his straight face to quirk. Then she felt free to laugh.
She was learning social nuance, too, in a hurry. Jolie was amazed at the potency of this association.
Roque had treated Vita with courtesy, and she had responded in a manner Jolie hoped was not
embarrassing him too much.
"Oh, look at that!" she exclaimed farther along, stooping to peer at a delicate flower. "It looks just like a-
"
"Lady slipper," Roque supplied. "Indeed, that is its name. It is one of many ornamental plants cultivated
here and in other roof parks."
"Gee, I wish I could be here forever!" she exclaimed.
"I understand the feeling. When I am amidst a hard day at court and I feel my temper fraying, the image
that pacifies me is this one, especially the pond ahead."
"There's a pond?" Vita literally skipped ahead, casting off five years in her delight.
I walked such paths with Norton, Orlene thought wistfully. Her own nostalgia and emotion were riding
along with Vita's joy.
And I with Parry, Jolie agreed, similarly charmed.
The pond was lovely. It had mossy banks and clear water, and ducks glided on its surface. The males
had heads with iridescent green. They turned and swam toward the visitors.
Roque touched another tree trunk. A panel opened to reveal a chamber containing slices of bread. He
took out two, handing one to Vita. "You tear it into bits, like this, and toss it to the ducks. Only one slice
per person, per visit, so that the birds do not become obstreperous." He nipped a piece to the leading
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duck.
A mother duck with four little ones appeared. "Oooo!" Vita cried, tossing her fragments to them. The
ducks took them eagerly, but headed back into the water the moment they were gone. They knew better
than anyone that it was no use importuning a visitor for seconds.
"They don't really like us, just our bread," Vita said, disappointed.
"This is another truism of life. I, as a judge, find few who like me personally, but many who cater to me
because of my position. You, in your past life, found many who cared nothing for your personality, only
for the passing use of your body."
"Gee-you mean a judge is like a whore?"
"I would not have expressed it quite that way, but perhaps that is the essence."
"And both are like ducks!" she concluded. "No, wait, that's backwards. The ducks are the others, the
ones who just want something, and you gotta be smart and catch on to them and not be flattered, no
matter who you are."
"Agreed." And with that simple indication of approval of her rationale, he sent her floating again.
They walked on. "There is something I have been meaning to mention," Roque said.
"Me too!"
No! Jolie thought, alarmed by the girl's swell of excitement and love.
"Oh? You have a concern. Vita?"
But the girl, heeding Jolie's threat to take over, demurred. Vita now respected Jolie's judgment and
would give her the body on demand, rather than risk in some way offending the Judge. "You first,
Roque." She liked the privilege of calling him by his first name.
"There has been a grace period, but now it is necessary to arrange for your resumption of schooling," he
said. "By law you must remain in school until you are sixteen, and it would be better if you continued
until you are qualified for adult responsibilities. Your time as an outlaw is past."
"Gee, was I an outlaw?" she asked, intrigued.
"You certainly were. Had you been arrested in the course of your business, I would have had to fine you
and remand you to the juvenile authorities."
"My pimp would have lied about my age and gotten me off."
"True. But I shall not misrepresent your age, or allow you to be mistreated while you are in my charge.
You must undertake schooling."
"I can't go home for that!"
"Not yet. But there is an adequate local school in this building."
"You mean I'd have to quit going to court, and go sit in dumb classes all day instead?"
"I am afraid so."
That prospect did not appeal to Jolie or Orlene any more than it did to Vita. This was a temporary
situation for them, which was extending because of the difficulty about getting Vita back home, and
they did not want to suffer through material with which they were long since familiar.
"Say-maybe Jolie could tutor me!" Vita suggested. "She's lived forever and knows a lot, and so does
Orlene."
"Tutoring-by a pair of ghosts? That had not occurred to me!"
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"And they could do it all the time! You could test me, or something, to be sure I knew the stuff! And I'm
learning a lot in court, really I am! Maybe if you got them registered as tutors-"
"This is irregular, but you may have a point. Are they amenable?"
Yes! Jolie and Orlene thought together.
"They say yes. Should I put them on?"
"No, I will accept your word."
"But my word's no good! I lie all the time, to get what I want. You can't trust me!"
"Are you lying now?"
"No! I wouldn't lie to you, Roque!"
"Then perhaps your word to me is good. You are developing a new standard, in keeping with your
present situation."
She was taken aback. "Yeah, I guess maybe so."
"I shall see what can be done."
"Gee, thanks, Roque! I love you!" As she spoke, Vita threw her arms around him, hauled herself in and
up, and planted a kiss on his startled face.
No! Jolie thought, way too late. She had been caught off guard.
But Vita, aware that she had transgressed, retreated, leaving Jolie in charge by default.
She quickly disengaged. "Jolie here," she said. "I must apologize for allowing-"
"Jolie, we must talk," he said, frowning. He led the way to a park bench and sat.
She joined him. "I can assure you that this will not happen again."
"What is the girl's emotional state?"
"Roque, she's young, and she has not had experience with a truly decent man before. You have treated
her neither as a juvenile nor as a black prostitute, but as a legitimate person in her own right. She is [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]