Allie's War Episodes 1-4(71)

“And if it isn’t too obvious?”
He continued to look at me. I couldn’t see any part of him through the tinted visor. He shrugged.
“So why can’t you use the Barrier?” I said.
“Because it is easy to watch multiple places in shifts from the Barrier,” he said. “There are not enough seers to go everywhere in person...not even for the Rooks...and it is wholly unnecessary. They will watch from the Barrier, circulate our pictures to humans...and wait for me to resurface. They know I cannot stay out of the Barrier forever.”
“Why not?”
“Because eventually I have to sleep,” he said.
I fell silent, watching cars inch forward. A little boy in a minivan gripped his hands into fists as he stared at me and Revik, turning them towards himself rhythmically, lips puckered as he made Vroom, Vroom noises.
“So how do you know they won’t be waiting for us here?” I said.
Revik sighed, staring up at the sky. “I don’t,” he said. “But there are advantages to Canada that made it worth the risk. I am registered through their branch of Seer Containment, what you call SCARB. I will come up green in a regular scan, at least until they revoke my status. Ullysa assured me they had not.”
“So what about me? They must have facial recognition software, right?” My panic rose. “And my implant—”#p#分页标题#e#
“Has been altered. We told you this, Allie.” Revik sighed. “We have people on the inside, too. The electronic security doesn’t worry me. It is easy to tamper with...and they told me which lines to use for the crossing. By the time they found us that way, it would already be too late.”
Stumped, I tried to incorporate this information into my more nameless fear. Before I could think of another question, it was our turn. Revik pulled the bike up to the booth.
A man wearing a black uniform stepped out from behind the glass.
He held out a hand.
“Passports.”
Revik reached into his inner jacket pocket, handing them over wordlessly. The guard motioned towards Revik’s face, and Revik unstrapped the helmet, tugging it off his head. I sat back, reaching up shakily to do the same. I kept my expression flat as I pulled mine off, aware at once of my sweat-damp hair as the Canadian-Washington wind blew at the back of my neck. I hoped my nerves didn’t show, but knew from my previous inability to hold any kind of poker face that they probably did.
The guard sniffled in the cold, wiping his nose with one gloved hand. He looked at me. I got a whisper of familiarity as his eyes lingered on my face. He stared at Revik, scrutinizing him more closely. He was probably checking our implants through his headset as he stared, but his expression didn’t waver.
“What is your purpose in Canada?” he said.
“Tourist.” The word was out of Revik’s mouth before I’d heard the question.
“Any food with you? Fruits or vegetables?”
“No.”
“Weapons?”
“No weapons. Only clothes.”
“Why no headsets?” He pointed at Revik’s ear. “No phones?”
Revik smiled, glancing at me. “We wanted to go without. Vacation. Is that a problem?”
The guard frowned again. He stepped closer, looking at both photos, then back at mine. I felt more than saw Revik’s fingers stray to his boot. The man’s eyes were dark blue, kind, a little sad. I didn’t want Revik to hurt him.
“We’re visiting my friend,” I blurted out. “My best friend from school. She married a mountie, can you believe it? He’s got a horse and everything...one of those hats! I couldn’t make the wedding, but the pictures were hilarious, so...” My face warmed. “Well, not to you, I guess.” I laughed, blushing deeper. “Well, I promised we’d visit, but my boss is a dick...you know how it is. I didn’t want him to be able to track us to see if I’m really sick, so I talked Roy here into leaving our ‘sets, and...hey, I hope that wasn’t rude, that thing I said about mounties? They’re just so cute in those red jackets. I didn’t mean anything, honestly...”
The guard’s eyes flickered in surprise.
Revik stiffened, his hand now on my thigh. His fingers gripped me tighter, wanting me to be silent, but I kept my smile on the guard, seeing his blue eyes soften.
“No, ma’am...no offense taken.”
“Do you ever ride a horse?” I asked ludicrously.
“When the mood takes me, sure.” His smile relaxed, his eyes on mine, and now warm with a different kind of interest. He gave Revik a regretful look. “Well, be careful then.” He tipped his hat. “You tell your friend congratulations for me.”