A Crying Shame (196 page)

Her words were spoken in a halting fashion, as if the language was unfamiliar to her.

Jon asked,
Why were you sick at the mansion, vomiting at the sight of the dead Link Linda shot?”

Mike shook his head.
Shock. Mother had told me of the upcoming attacks. But I refused to believe her. It was just too much for me to take. It pushed Joe to the edge of sanity and beyond. Get it over with, mercenary,” he urged.

My boat is not large enough for all of you and . . . your babies. I'll have to return, make several trips.” He spoke to the women.

We're not going,” the older human female said.
And I speak for all the others.”

The other women nodded their heads.

I see,” Jon said.
So you want me to kill you with the Links, eh?”

Yes.”

And the babies?”

If you must.”

I don't know that I can do that,” Jon said.
And I think you were counting on that. Look ... won't you reconsider and return with us?” He indicated Karl.

Return to what?” the black woman said.
I'm thirty-two. I've been here since I was fourteen. I've produced five normal, healthy, human children. They are all living normal lives on the outside. One is about to enter LSU. This is my home—our home. Can you imagine the reception we would receive if we returned to your world? Freaks in a sideshow—pitied, scorned, whispered about, laughed at. Who would accept us after this? And oh, the embarrassment it would cause our normal children living on the outside. And we all have normal kids living out in your world. No . . . this . . . your guns, that's the only way for us.”