Virginia Hamilton Read Online Free

Duster’s thoughts.
    She was eager to see grown-ups. All at once she thought about her folks and felt the pain of longing.
    No, I won’t go home yet. Not now.
    Justice wore a hooded robe, socks and sandals. The boys were dressed similarly in hooded tunics and comfortable trousers. Absently she touched her arms and feet, the clothing. They felt just as real in Dustland as they did at home in the present. She sighed, forcing her mind away from what was and was not possible here in the future.
    They’re no bigger than eleven-year-olds! Thomas traced, about the packen.
    You’d be that little, too, if you had to starve all your life, Dorian traced back.
    Well, you saw ’em bring down those animals. Mostly small beasties, Thomas traced, but still food. And they ate it raw!
    But how often do you think they find so much food? Justice traced. Not every day, I bet. Maybe only once a month.
    Nobody can live eating just once a month, Levi traced.
    They might learn to, Justice answered. They lived without water, with only the liquid from animals they killed, before we made the water pool for them.
    Are they all really eleven-year-olds? Dorian interrupted.
    They’re fifteen, Justice traced. I read that from Duster’s mind . They’re all approximately the same age.
    They’d have to be the same age, wouldn’t they? Levi traced. He was staring at the packen with a mixture of disbelief and revulsion.
    Huh? Thomas was the last to see. There was quiet in which they waited for him; they had already seen. A long moment, then Thomas seemed to gather himself in.
    It can’t be! he traced. I don’t believe it!
    Well, believe it, it’s true, Justice traced. The packen youngens are duplicates of either Duster, Siv or Glass.
    They were exact replicas. Thomas could see that when he looked beyond the dust and dirt covering them. There were four Dusters, four Sivs and four Glasses seated in the group. Counting the Duster, Siv and Glass who were standing, there were five of each kind, one of each kind of duplicate in every trip.
    I don’t believe it, Thomas traced again, like a whisper.
    We’d better show ourselves, Justice traced back.
    Wait, he traced. What are they? Somebody knows how to make people just alike here?
    I don’t think so. Not here in Dustland, she traced.
    Then there is an outside!
    We knew there had to be, else why would the Slaker beings try to find an end to Dustland? Levi traced.
    When I saw them Slakers with their wings and three legs, I said this place had to be a zoo!
    And I said it was a prison, Justice traced.
    Thomas nodded. I think you’re right. But who put the Slakers and Duster and them here? What have they done?
    We’ll have to find that out, she traced. Come, we’d better get on with it.
    Gradually the four became visible. They were at first separate columns of shade. The columns took on form, shape and color. With coloration came depth and dimension. They became solid, real.
    A shudder rippled over the packen. Youngens uttered tones of alarm. Sharp and quick were the soundings. What had been three circles of leaders, leggens and smooth-keeps was now a tight clump of frightened children. They huddled close, touching hands for comfort.
    At the sight of the four with power, Glass faltered, stumbling into Duster’s back. Siv nearly jumped out of his skin. Unashamedly they held Duster’s hands tightly.
    Glass toned to Duster in a thin, little voice: “Who be them things?”
    She had broken Duster’s command for quiet. He forgave her this time, so overwhelming was the moment. He toned excitedly, “Glass, be waiting for leader to settle it.”
    “But who be them shadow things, Leader?” she toned.
    “They be tight with us, Glass, I be sure of it,” he toned.
    Justice smiled at them. “Be tight with you, O Duster,” she sang out in her best voice, startling the packen and Duster and his trip.
    Justice’s voice had always been musical. With a little effort, she had come close enough to the right toning