narrative. And many of them were powerful.”
Tuyet returned to her chair, sitting sideways to face him. “I think I get where you’re going with this—I’m just not sure it would do any good.”
“I don’t know either, but I think it’s worth a try. Facts and statistics don’t matter. The people on the other side, the Brice Jennings of the world, are more than willing to substitute their own version of facts for the truth. All we have to counter that is our stories. The truth of our lives. What we go through every day, being separated from the people we love because of the ordinance. Couples falling apart because of losing a child to the Magic Laws. The reasons behind the anger that leads people to set fires and throw rocks at cops. If we can tell our stories, find a way to get the story of New Corinth out, maybe it’ll make a difference.”
“I’ll see if I can figure something out.” It sounded good in theory, but it also ran up against the wall of her cynicism. The last time she’d opened up that wall was to help a witch escape with his Normal lover—Brice Jennings’s wife. Jennings reacted by pushing for the ordinance that locked up FreakTown.
“Could you also help her get interviews? With people inside the zone?”
She wanted to say no but something stopped her. “Set up a meeting and I’ll talk to her. Can you get me copies of some of the stuff she’s already filmed?”
Jason smiled as he withdrew a thumbnail-sized glass storage drive from his shirt pocket. “Here’s some of her best work.”
Tuyet took the drive. “I can’t guarantee anyone in FreakTown will agree to be interviewed. That’s a huge risk.”
“She’s quite proficient at hiding the identities of the people she interviews.”
“It’s the blowback to all of FreakTown that worries me.”
“I know. Talk to Vadim. See what he thinks.”
She nodded. “Let’s go over how to work the phone I brought you.”
They went through the information quickly, Tuyet working on autopilot. Jason was tilting at windmills with his idea of getting footage from New Corinth out to the wider world in a way that would make a difference. She should have told him no, gently but firmly shut him down. So why didn’t she?
Maybe because she’d tilted at a similar windmill for years, trying to convince Hayes to think for himself instead of following orders.
Maybe because part of her wanted to take one last run at it.
Chapter Nine
2060
Tuyet stared at the spelled bracelet. “I’m not comfortable with this.” Not that she wanted to admit why.
Gibson cocked an eyebrow. “Since when does that matter? The job requires a couple. You and Channing are it.”
“Why not Halif? We work well together.” She knew the answer but thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask anyway.
“We don’t send two Magic Born out on a mission like this. You know that.” Annoyance bristled in the warrant officer’s voice. “Am I going to have a problem with you, Caron?”
“No.” It was Channing who was the problem, but he knew better than to let that side of himself show around Gibson. Tuyet lifted the bracelet from its box. Made of braided black leather and polished stones and quartz pieces, it sat cold in her palm, humming with untapped energy.
“Good. Briefing’s in ten minutes.” Gibson left the lounge right as Channing entered.
Tuyet shoved the bracelet in her pocket and swallowed her disgust.
“So it’s you and me on this one.” Channing sat in the middle of the sofa, far too close for Tuyet’s comfort. “Mr. and Mrs. Jones. That should be interesting.”
She studied him for a long moment. He was classically handsome with dark hair and a friendly smile. Got along with everyone for the most part, did his job fairly well. Nothing special jumped out about him, but nothing bad did either. It was the eyes that gave him away. She’d known other men with eyes like his, a cold flat darkness that sent the wrong kind of shiver up her spine. She made a
Tuyet returned to her chair, sitting sideways to face him. “I think I get where you’re going with this—I’m just not sure it would do any good.”
“I don’t know either, but I think it’s worth a try. Facts and statistics don’t matter. The people on the other side, the Brice Jennings of the world, are more than willing to substitute their own version of facts for the truth. All we have to counter that is our stories. The truth of our lives. What we go through every day, being separated from the people we love because of the ordinance. Couples falling apart because of losing a child to the Magic Laws. The reasons behind the anger that leads people to set fires and throw rocks at cops. If we can tell our stories, find a way to get the story of New Corinth out, maybe it’ll make a difference.”
“I’ll see if I can figure something out.” It sounded good in theory, but it also ran up against the wall of her cynicism. The last time she’d opened up that wall was to help a witch escape with his Normal lover—Brice Jennings’s wife. Jennings reacted by pushing for the ordinance that locked up FreakTown.
“Could you also help her get interviews? With people inside the zone?”
She wanted to say no but something stopped her. “Set up a meeting and I’ll talk to her. Can you get me copies of some of the stuff she’s already filmed?”
Jason smiled as he withdrew a thumbnail-sized glass storage drive from his shirt pocket. “Here’s some of her best work.”
Tuyet took the drive. “I can’t guarantee anyone in FreakTown will agree to be interviewed. That’s a huge risk.”
“She’s quite proficient at hiding the identities of the people she interviews.”
“It’s the blowback to all of FreakTown that worries me.”
“I know. Talk to Vadim. See what he thinks.”
She nodded. “Let’s go over how to work the phone I brought you.”
They went through the information quickly, Tuyet working on autopilot. Jason was tilting at windmills with his idea of getting footage from New Corinth out to the wider world in a way that would make a difference. She should have told him no, gently but firmly shut him down. So why didn’t she?
Maybe because she’d tilted at a similar windmill for years, trying to convince Hayes to think for himself instead of following orders.
Maybe because part of her wanted to take one last run at it.
Chapter Nine
2060
Tuyet stared at the spelled bracelet. “I’m not comfortable with this.” Not that she wanted to admit why.
Gibson cocked an eyebrow. “Since when does that matter? The job requires a couple. You and Channing are it.”
“Why not Halif? We work well together.” She knew the answer but thought it wouldn’t hurt to ask anyway.
“We don’t send two Magic Born out on a mission like this. You know that.” Annoyance bristled in the warrant officer’s voice. “Am I going to have a problem with you, Caron?”
“No.” It was Channing who was the problem, but he knew better than to let that side of himself show around Gibson. Tuyet lifted the bracelet from its box. Made of braided black leather and polished stones and quartz pieces, it sat cold in her palm, humming with untapped energy.
“Good. Briefing’s in ten minutes.” Gibson left the lounge right as Channing entered.
Tuyet shoved the bracelet in her pocket and swallowed her disgust.
“So it’s you and me on this one.” Channing sat in the middle of the sofa, far too close for Tuyet’s comfort. “Mr. and Mrs. Jones. That should be interesting.”
She studied him for a long moment. He was classically handsome with dark hair and a friendly smile. Got along with everyone for the most part, did his job fairly well. Nothing special jumped out about him, but nothing bad did either. It was the eyes that gave him away. She’d known other men with eyes like his, a cold flat darkness that sent the wrong kind of shiver up her spine. She made a
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