The Sopaths by Piers Anthony

given them the reality.
    Bunty’s mouth was thin as they left the office. “I want to try the schools directly.”
    Abner shrugged. She had her way of doing things, and he liked her initiative, even if at times it seemed futile.
    They went to the grade school Jasper had attended. Classes were changing and the hall was thronged with children.
    Dreda clung to Abner’s leg, whimpering. He picked her up. “What’s the matter, honey?”
    “Sopaths,” she whispered in his ear.
    He froze. “Sopaths here?”
    “Two.” She shrank again. “Three.”
    Bunty, overhearing, took Clark’s hand. “True?”
    “Yes,” the boy said.
    “You can tell just by looking?”
    Both children nodded. It seemed they had become super-sensitized, and were able to see what the adults did not.
    “Let’s get out of here,” Bunty said grimly.
    Abner agreed. If sopaths were in the regular classes, there would be real mischief soon enough, and it was better to be well clear of it.
    “How do you know?” Bunty asked the children as they emerged from the building.
    “I can feel their souls,” Dreda said. “Same as my folks had, and my brother didn’t. Same as you do.”
    Bunty looked at Clark. “You too?”
    “Yes. Souls are sort of soft and nice. Kids who don’t have them are bare.”
    Bunty glanced at Abner. “It must be something a child can tune in to, like learning language. Especially when there’s a bad experience with a sopath.”
    “Yes,” Dreda said. “Daddy has a really strong nice soul. It makes me want to be close.”
    Abner was startled. He had a strong soul?
    “There is a masculine magnetism about you, Abner,” Bunty said. “I felt it from the outset. It must be the reason for women’s attraction to you.”
    Abner didn’t comment. But it would indeed explain a lot.
    “What can we do?” Abner asked when they were back in the car. “Children are required to be schooled.”
    “But those sopaths are like bombs waiting to destroy their classes.”
    “I know. But what alternative do we have?” Then he answered his own question. “Homeschooling.”
    “But I would have to do it,” Bunty protested. “You have to keep your job.”
    “True. You can handle it.”
    “But I told you I’m not smart. I was a grade C student throughout, sometimes by courtesy. I could never be a teacher.”
    “Sure you can,” Clark said confidently. “Teachers don’t have to be smart, just tough.” He had been in first grade, so knew the score.
    “He’s right,” Abner said. “You just need to be able to handle children, which you obviously can, and the school routine, which you can keep simple. You’ll have books for guidance and information.”
    “But I’m not qualified. It takes years to get a college degree and a teaching certificate, and I never went beyond high school.”
    “Homeschooling has different standards,” Abner said. “I believe parents are automatically qualified. I’ll bet the authorities will be only too glad to let us do it, because they don’t want to be bothered with sopath survivor children anyway, as we have discovered.”
    “Do it mommy,” Dreda pleaded. “Please.”
    Bunty worked it out. “I’m not a teacher, but I can learn. I can get books from the library to start.”
    Abner took her hand, quietly supporting her. She squeezed his fingers appreciatively. They had come to another key decision.
    In the afternoon they went to Sylvia’s house, where a regular Pariah meeting was scheduled. “I believe I have found placements for the children,” Sylvia said as they entered.
    The children clung close to Abner and Bunty. “No,” Abner said.
    “We’re a family,” Bunty added. “We are staying together.”
    “They’ll homeschool us,” Clark said proudly.
    Sylvia considered, evidently not entirely surprised. “You’re making a family unit.”
    “We are,” Abner said. “We like each other.”
    “I must confirm,” Sylvia said, nodding. “A necessary formality.” She faced Abner.