I roll my eyes. “She’s not a giant. She’s actually way shorter than me. And she’s not really inside the TV,” I say.
FJ throws me a disbelieving look, like he’s sure I’m messing with him. “But she is neither story nor video game. She does talk and see us.”
“I know. That’s because of something called video chat. She’s able to relay her image from her own computer onto mine.”
“But she is on your TV. Your computer is over there.” FJ points at my desk.
“Yes, that’s right,” I answer, coming to stand in front of him so Iggle no longer has a full on view of his junk. “This is a new technology we’re messing around with for the next game. Basically, a way of letting gamers challenge other gamers out of the blue by popping onto their television screen.”
“I think it’s going to be a sales and marketing success, not to mention a productivity massacre,” Iggle says proudly. “No one who plays our games will ever be able to get any real work done again.”
As she explains this, her head strains in all directions around me, trying to get another peep of FJ. “But now I’m thinking this whole video thing might have some other benefits we didn’t think about, Tee.”
She winks at Olafr who’s sitting on the foot of the bed, openly staring back at the “giantess” inside the screen.
I grit my teeth. “And I’m thinking we should add a block out timer, so certain people can’t pop up on other people’s game screens while they’re in the middle of stuff. How long have you been up there, Peeping Tom?”#p#分页标题#e#
“Since a little before you were getting spit-roasted in the ‘middle of stuff,’” Iggle answers, making air quotes.
“I have been attending well to your English lessons, but I do not understand these words at all,” I hear Olafr say over the threeway.
“Neither do I, Brother,” answers FJ.
“You told me to call you this morning,” Iggle says, totally unapologetic. She taps her watch. “And I’ve got meetings all day, starting in, like, ten minutes. So here I am. Do you still want to talk to me or what?”
My eyes narrow, noticing something different about Iggle. Not just that she’s actually wearing a watch, an accessory I didn’t even know she owned, but also her eyes. Clear and totally focused.
“When’s the last time you smoked?” I ask her
Iggle laughs. “When are you coming back to work?” she answers. “Because I know that will be the next time when I do smoke.”
And that brings a somber pall over the conversation
“I don’t know. Actually that’s why I wanted to talk to you. We’re expecting a very important delivery this morning from the pack factory in Uthbert. And then we’re going to have to take a trip. A long trip. I need to know you’ll be okay with running She-Wolf by yourself while I’m gone.”
“Varra…” FJ says inside my head.
At the same time, Iggle frowns and says, “Yeah, sure. Anything for you, Tee, you know that. But where are you going? Is this like one of those weird technology-free trips I keep hearing about?” She cuts her eyes towards her bedroom door and grumbles, “Because my mom keeps suggesting I take one.”
“Varra…” FJ says again, his voice sounding way grave. Poor guy. I know he and Olafr must be super confused.
“Something like that,” I answer, deciding to focus on Iggle’s questions for now, since those are way easier to answer. “But longer. I’m talking months, not weeks.”
“Okay…” Iggle says, though her face is still scrunched up with confusion.
And FJ says, “Varra, truly must we talk before you do this. Before you give your market to another.”
His voice is so urgent, I break off from Iggle and turn around, wondering why it’s so important for him to talk to me now.
And then I go completely still. They are both standing behind me now. And although they aren’t twins, they both wear the same look on their faces. One of despair.
For the umpteenth time during this long month, my heart clenches with dread.
“What?” I whisper out loud. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
46
“No! No! No! Don’t leave me!” their mate cries. She strains against her brother, who holds her back so he and Olafr may go downstairs to complete the spell. “I thought I was yours! Yours always. We made a vow! No, please, don’t! No, don’t—”
His mate’s plaintive cries wake FJ from his sleep as sure as a bucket of cold water thrown upon his naked skin. And he sits up on the ship’s pallet, as if yanked forward by a great hand.