But where is here?
You are only a few miles from a place called Westbrook. Listen to me, Lorraine. I’m going to tell you where to go, and when you get there you are to wait until Steven comes. He is a boy with black skin, ten years old. He does not have powers as strong as ours, but when he is near, your minds will touch. Together you will complete the journey successfully.
Slowly Lorraine stood up. She now noticed that someone was watching her from a nearby beach house. She began to walk quickly, and then she began to run.
Where, Marty? Where am I going?
Start walking . . . away from the sun. The very first thing you’re going to do is get yourself something to eat.
A few miles from the beach, Lorraine found a small cluster of stores. She entered a deli and bought an egg sandwich for breakfast, along with a container of milk. After she finished this, she located a telephone. Marty instructed her how to call a taxi, and in a little while one pulled up to the curb in front of the deli. Lorraine expected the driver to ask what she was doing all by herself, but he didn’t. In fact, he had such a strange look in his eyes as he drove that she wondered if Marty had put some kind of spell on him.
I didn’t, Marty answered. He’s just had one too many tokes this morning.
Marty!
Don’t worry. He’s sober enough to drive. He’ll get you to Westbrook in one piece, and he won’t ask questions.
It all happened as Marty promised. Lorraine paid the man, then turned away from the cab to find herself facing a charming tree-lined street of exclusive boutiques. The shops were just beginning to open, and early-morning browsers walked along the sidewalks. Lorraine walked up to a window filled with animals, stuffed, wooden, glass, and more. She could almost imagine Sandy working in a place like this.
This is a pretty place, this town.
You won’t be able to stay for very long. Steven is on his way. He’ll be arriving at the nearest train station in a few minutes, and then it will be only a short time until he finds you. Listen, Lorraine. Do you hear him? He’s very near.
Lorraine moved on to the next store, staring at a beautiful flowered sundress as she tried to hear another voice in her mind. At first it did not come. But then, oh so faintly, she heard him.
Steven? Is your name Steven?
Hello, Lorraine. Don’t be afraid. I’m going to help you.
I’m waiting for you, Steven. I’m tired of being alone.
I’ll be there soon.
His voice faded away, as if the effort of mind contact was too great for him. Marty had said they were not exactly alike. What had he meant? Why were her powers so much stronger than an older boy’s?
What do I do now?
Just wait. There are windows to look at, and benches to sit on. You can find a place that sells frozen yogurt if you get hungry.
Okay. But people are looking at me in a funny way.
It was true. Heads were turning surreptitiously. Lorraine realized she must be a sight with her windblown hair and the wrinkled clothes she’d worn for nearly two days. She had to do something about that, to make herself less conspicuous.
Marty, there’s a children’s clothing store across the street I’m going there.
Marty did not answer.
Steven?
Her mind was silent. She felt a cold chill, wondering what was happening to the boys, especially to Marty. But she knew she had something to do. She held her head up, ignored the whispers around her, and crossed the street. There was a beautiful white church on the corner, the perfect place to take out some of her money. It was peaceful and quiet inside, but Lorraine didn’t give herself time to meditate. She took out two hundred dollars and relocked the valise. Then she left the church, crossed the street again, and found the shop.
Yesterday she wouldn’t have expected the salesclerk to cater to her without question. But after what she’d done to the man at the motel, she believed she could do anything. She’d never had the chance to try mental suggestion on anyone, but that didn’t mean she never did it in her life. Maybe, in the time she had forgotten about, before Bettina found her, she had used this power frequently.
She stopped at the entrance of the store. A woman turned to her from a display of baby dresses. She was dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, tiny moon globes dangling from her ears. The woman frowned, opening her mouth to speak. Quickly Lorraine tried out the powers Marty had insisted she possessed.
To her delight, and a little to her amazement, the woman’s frown turned into a smile.
“Well, hello!” she greeted her. “What can I do for you today?”
“I need some new clothes,” Lorraine said, unable to believe how easy it was to keep a lock on someone’s mind. If only she’d known this a few days ago!