Soothsayer by Mike Resnick Page A

“But if he's from off-planet, he'll have a ship—and between you and me, I don't know why anyone would choose to live on this ugly little dirtball if he could afford to live somewhere else."
    "And if he owns a diamond mine, he can afford to live somewhere else,” concluded Penelope, inordinately proud of herself for following the Mouse's train of thought to its logical conclusion.
    "Right,” said the Mouse. She sighed. “Well, there's no sense wasting any more time. Let's go."
    She pulled back onto the road and headed off across the Devil's Anvil.
    After about 65 kilometers the road vanished, and the Mouse immediately slowed down.
    "You can keep going fast,” said Penelope. “The ground is hard here."
    "I know,” said the Mouse. “But if I don't slow down, we're going to leave a cloud of dust and sand, and that will make us easier to spot if anyone's following us.” She turned to the girl. “Are they?"
    Penelope shrugged. “I don't know."
    "Well, since we don't know that they aren't, we'll do it the safe way."
    "But it's hot."
    "The air conditioner can only do so much,” answered the Mouse. “The ground temperature must be close to 60 degrees Celsius. Just try not to think about it."
    Penelope was silent for a moment. Then she turned to the Mouse. “The more I try not to think about it, the more I do,” she complained.
    "Then take a nap."
    "But I just woke up."
    "Then let's talk,” said the Mouse. “Maybe that will take your mind off the heat."
    "All right,” agreed Penelope.
    "Tell me about this man called 32."
    Penelope shook her head. “I don't want to talk about people who were mean to me,” she said adamantly.
    "Suits me,” said the Mouse. “Who hasn't been mean to you?"
    "You and Merlin."
    "There must have been someone else in your whole life."
    The little girl was silent for a moment, lost in thought. “Maybe my mother,” she said.
    "Only maybe?"
    "She let them take me away."
    "She may not have had a choice."
    " You had a choice,” Penelope pointed out. “You didn't have to save me, but you did."
    "You're not saved yet,” said the Mouse. “First we've got to get off this world, and then connect with Merlin again."
    "And then what?"
    The Mouse shrugged. “I don't know."
    "You won't make me go back?"
    "No, I won't make you go back,” said the Mouse. “I already told you that."
    "Lots of people tell me things.” Penelope paused. “Most of them lied."
    "You're too young to be that cynical."
    "What does that mean?” asked Penelope.
    The Mouse sighed. “It means too many people have lied to you."
    "We're talking about me again,” complained Penelope. “I thought we were going to talk about you."
    "I have a better idea,” said the Mouse. “Let's talk about us."
    "Us?"
    "You and me."
    "What about us?” asked the girl.
    "Well, we're a team now."
    "We are?” said Penelope, her face brightening.
    The Mouse nodded. “We're together, aren't we?"
    "Yes."
    "And the same men who want you are after me, right?"
    "Right."
    "And if we get away, you're going to work with Merlin and me, aren't you?"
    "I guess so."
    "That makes us a team."
    Penelope considered the statement for a moment, then smiled. “I like being a team with you."
    "I like it too,” said the Mouse. “And the first rule of being on a team is that you never keep secrets from your teammates."
    "I don't know any secrets."
    " Everyone knows some secrets."
    "Not me."
    "Even you,” said the Mouse. “For example, you never told me where Jennifer came from."
    Penelope looked at the battered doll, which was propped up next to her.
    "My mother gave her to me."
    "Where?"
    "In the living room, I think."
    "I mean, on what world?"
    Penelope shrugged. “I don't remember."
    "How did she die?"
    "Jennifer's not dead. She's right here with us."
    "I meant your mother."
    "I don't know if she's dead,” answered the girl.
    "But you think she is."
    Penelope nodded.
    "Why?"
    "Because she would have saved me if she was alive."
    "Not if she didn't