CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Secrecy Amongst Friends

Sylvie watched her parents pull out of the driveway in their cars and head to work. She waited a little while, until she got the phone calls from them making sure she was all right and they would be home for dinner, then she took off.

She strode towards downtown, dressed in a regular t-shirt and sweater, with her amazingly comfortable buckskin jacket over it, and her rifle in its holster on her back.

People she knew as townsfolk waved and nodded as she passed by, while the visitors clustered around her, begging for a picture with her or trying to say hello.

Sylvie begged off all of them and quickened her pace a little. Having four hooves could come in handy, she admitted to herself. Without actually running, she could move faster than all but the quickest human walk.

With a sigh of relief, she managed to duck down an empty alley and shake her admirers. Checking herself once over to make sure nothing had gone missing or been added to her person, she made her cautious way to the underground parking garage.

There she slipped inside the door that led to the place she could only think of as 'the lair'.

As usual, she found Dr. Merrick already there and waiting for her.

"Good afternoon, my dear!" he positively beamed at her. "Welcome back. You didn't have any trouble, I trust?"

"No doctor." Sylvie allowed. "But I had some questions this time around I hoped you could answer."

"Delighted, my dear! Simply delighted!" Merrick took a seat on his stool with his clipboard in hand.

Sylvie took a deep breath, trying to relax while they waited. It wasn't long before Dr. McMillan entered.

"Hello Doctor Merrick, Sylvie." She greeted tiredly. "I was up late last night, dealing with little Tim Horner. That cold he's got isn't going away and it's starting to degenerate. He's stable now though." She added at seeing their concerned looks.

Sylvie wondered if she should hold off on her questions and let the meeting end as soon as she could so she could get back to her patient.

"Now, Sylvie. You said you had a question for me?" Dr. Merrick asked politely.

Sylvie made her decision in a snap. "Just a quick inquiry doctor." She said. "Taryn brought it to my attention the other day, and I meant to bring it up at the last meeting. Anyway, she commented on our increased abilities on things we've never done before, and wondered how that could be."

"Indeed?" Dr. Merrick asked, looking excited. Dr. McMillan also looked interested. "And what might those be?" he asked.

"Well, my shooting ability, for one thing." Sylvie gestured to the gleaming rifle behind her. "I used to be able to have a one foot grouping on an excellent day. Now I can put every bullet in the same hole, even if it's a ricochet shot or not. A lot of that has to do with my…training." She said uncomfortably, feeling the old scars on her back tingle with the thought. "But even Halls said that I picked it up better than anyone she's ever see. The same goes with Taryn's spear; she can use it better than most people realize, and she picks up on different forms faster and with less trouble. She thinks it might have something to do with centaurs themselves. According to Greek legend, they were extremely good fighters."

"That is certainly true." Dr. Merrick agreed with a nod. "In all accounts, they were strong and able-bodied people who were renowned warriors. However, they also had a tendency to get drunk on even the smell of wine or spirits. You haven't had such episodes, have you?"

"No." Sylvie said uncomfortably. "But that might not mean much; my parents rarely drink and I haven't been anyplace that sold alcohol since I've been…turned."

"Whether you were in such establishments is irrelevant." Dr. Merrick said. "I said even the smell of wine could get them drunk, and at a fair distance too! No, I suspect that you would have had bouts of drunkenness just walking down the street if that were the case. There are bars here, and lots of people enjoying hot toddies and things of that sort with the cool weather.

So, I think we can probably discount the theory that you are exact replicas of those ancient folk. You don't display the negative traits along with the positive. And centaurs wouldn't have had access to guns, so that would tend to eliminate that theory all together."

Dr. McMillan frowned. "I disagree, doctor." She said, to Merrick's obvious surprise.

"Indeed? In what way?" he asked, keenly interested.

"You are correct in the fact that Sylvie and Taryn, and by extension Josh, haven't shown signs of the negatives of centaurs; drunkenness, and an inclination to violence, according to the legends.

However, they do display traits consistent with centaurian people in both ancient and modern literature; high degree of intelligence, quick reflexes, and their fighting ability could still be attributed to their bodies."

She shook her head. "Even you have agreed that her hearing is sharper than any human's, and her vision acuity is twenty-ten, much better than when she was human."

"You are correct, doctor." Dr. Merrick nodded. "It's almost as if someone took the very finest traits of this species and distilled them. For what purpose, however, I remain at a loss."

Sylvie shrugged, not knowing what to say. McMillan and Merrick pursed their lips thoughtfully as they stared at her, their minds a million miles away, or as if they were looking at a particularly difficult puzzle they wanted to solve.

Their intense scrutiny began to get uncomfortable, so Sylvie cleared her throat.

"I just wanted to bring it to your attention." She said. "Taryn's pretty sharp, and when she notices something it's best to pay attention."

"Yes. I'd really like to meet her someday." Merrick nodded. At Sylvie's sudden glare, McMillan shook her head wearily and muttered, "stubborn" while Merrick held up his aged hands in surrender.

"I said I'd like to meet her." He said. "Not study her."

Sylvie settled down, saying nothing.

The rest of the meeting went normally, with Sylvie doing several stretches to prove her flexibility. When she finished, she was hot and sweaty, which didn't improve her temper one bit.

"Now, there's just one more test I'd like to do." Merrick said. "But perhaps that will happen much later. You commented on your shooting ability, I'd like to see the truth of your words. Perhaps we can arrange a time at the range when we can be in the crowd to observe such details."

Sylvie looked at him, surprised that he hadn't already gone.

"Sure, I guess." She said at last. "I mean, I doubt that anyone would notice you in the crowds of strangers there."

"Splendid! Splendid. Your abilities have reached my ears from Mr. Wolfe. I will be delighted to witness such a spectacle in person." Merrick said, very pleased.

Sylvie walked out on her own while Dr. Merrick and Dr. McMillan conferred for a while. At the gate she glanced idly at the monitor on her way by and froze, all trace of weariness forgotten.

Taryn strode angrily about outside, glaring up at the parking garage, studying it and the boarded up building next to it where workmen appeared to be setting up equipment to tear down the boards and possibly the building itself.

What is Taryn doing? Sylvie thought in anguish. Sweat popped on her brow as she tried to calm her sudden fear of discovery.

How had Taryn followed her without her noticing? Sylvie pondered and realized she hadn't been as careful in clearing her back trail as she should have been.

Sylvie knew she had no choice but to wait it out.

Unfortunately, a few minutes later, Dr. McMillan walked up behind her, looking curiously over her rear to see what was causing the holdup.

"Oh dear." She said upon seeing Taryn in the monitor.

"Yeah." Sylvie said nervously, her eyes glued to the little screen.

"Do you want me to get rid of her dear?" Sylvie barely heard her ask.

Hope blazed for a brief instant, then died.

"No, doctor. Taryn will want to know what you are doing here." She said dejectedly.

"Oh, that's no problem. Besides, I really need to go check on little Timmy."

And before Sylvie could stop her, Dr. McMillan squeezed past her and out the door. She strode out to her car and drove out of the parking garage, appearing on the monitor in a couple of minutes and stopping next to Taryn.

Taryn appeared to be demanding answers, from the way she gestulated. Dr. McMillan spoke back, pointing at the building and workers, to which Taryn looked back in surprise.

After a few minutes, Dr. McMillan pulled away and Taryn started slowly up the street, glancing back at the busy construction area occasionally until she'd rounded the corner and was gone.

Sylvie breathed a sigh of relief, wondering what on earth McMillan had used to get rid of her.

As if summoned by her very thought, her phone rang. It was Dr. McMillan.

"I sent her off, Sylvie." McMillan said seriously.

"How did you…" Sylvie began.

"Oh, it was easy. I just said that I was looking over the new building for the town hospital. Anyway, got to run, have a nice day Sylvie!"

Smiling, Sylvie left the secret entrance and slipped out of the parking garage. Turning down the opposite way from where Taryn had gone, Sylvie thought briefly of where she wanted to go, before settling on home again. Home, and the last thing in the world she wanted to do; figuring out what to tell Taryn when she inevitably questioned her about her doings this afternoon.

#

Taryn watched Sylvie disappear down the street. She felt conflicting emotions as she waited; a little guilt and a lot of anger, plus some form of hurt. She couldn't describe it perfectly, but it was there, in her gut churning away just the same.

As soon as Sylvie's tail had vanished around a corner, Taryn walked into the parking garage. She gripped her spear fairly tightly as she went in, her headband keeping her long bangs out of the way, the fringe of her buckskin dress ruffling a little in the breeze. She didn't know why she wore her stage costume, other than it was super comfortable.

Her hooves rang loudly in the empty space, which didn't improve the sense of foreboding she got. Her spear at the ready, she made her way slowly up the ramp, studying the walls for any sign of strangeness.

To her disappointment, the garage refused to give up its secrets; after a full hour of searching, she'd found nothing.

Maybe it's just a parking garage after all, like Dr. McMillan said it was, she thought dejectedly.

As she made her way to the entrance, she started when she saw an older man hurrying to his car, twirling his keys in his hands.

"Excuse me!" she said loudly, springing forward with a clatter.

The man looked back, a flicker of surprise on his face, before waiting patiently for her to get closer.

"Yes, what can I do for you Miss Taryn?" he asked.

"How did you know my name?" she asked suspiciously, clutching her spear a little tighter. If he knew what was going on, she was going to beat the answers out of him!

"It really isn't that extraordinary, is it?" he asked her. "After all, to my knowledge there are only three known centaurs in the world! One of which is a male, so we can rule him out entirely. That just leaves two left, and you are easily recognizable from your news stories." He said kindly. "But now I would like to know how I can help you?"

"What I would like to know," Taryn said slowly. "Is who you are?"

"Ah, of course. I haven't introduced myself, have I? Well, I am Doctor Merrick…"

"Doctor! What are you doing here?" Taryn asked, her suspicions starting to focus on a horrible fear.

"Nothing sinister, I assure you!" he said, correctly reading her face. "No, I am here at the invitation of your delightful Doctor McMillan. She is a colleague of mine, and when she heard I wanted to move away from the hectic life of the city, she asked me to join her small-town practice out here. I was delighted, you know. This town is small enough that I won't have to worry about hectic schedules or red tape, and interesting enough that I won't fossilize out here."

"What do you mean, interesting?" Taryn asked suspiciously.

"Why, you and your dear friends, of course!" the old man said cheerfully. "Doctor McMillan admitted to me the other day that she's seen nothing like you in all her time as a medical specialist. I have to admit, I do love a mystery! Someday, I hope to figure out exactly what happened to you and help you return to being human again."

Taryn stared at him, trying to decide if he was just crazy or plain strange. Or it might be an act, a voice whispered; he might be playacting for Bengal or Wolfe.

"I don't think you can return us." She said slowly. "Thanks to the magic of the costume."

"What do you mean, Miss Taryn?" the old man asked, eyes bright as he looked at her.

"Well, I'm certain that process used to change us had no natural or machine-assisted way of turning us." Taryn explained without realizing it. "There just aren't any systems that I'm aware of that could perform even a tenth of what was required to turn us. I took very careful measurements when we were first changed back, and realized that our weights were consistent with that of a small horse. But those numbers changed the longer we were centaurs as our bodies grew out of miniature status and to the full-fledged mustang sizes we are now. Our strength was far greater than it should have been to. I realized we had the upper body strength of strong male weightlifters, even though neither of us had done strength training to that degree in our lives."

Taryn shook her head. "Also, we had easy control of our bodies, though it didn't seem easy at the time! I realize now that our human minds were fighting the possibility of us having four legs, still trying to deem it unnatural. Our own subconscious was fighting us as we tried to learn to walk, whereas if we didn't think about it, we could move so naturally and normally it was as if we'd had these bodies all our lives."

She realized she was spilling all her knowledge to a complete stranger and instantly clammed up, looking hard at the doctor, who had unfocused and seemed to be staring at something.

"Very interesting." He muttered to himself, very absently. "I wonder what method had been…but no, no. Can't go getting involved…but I wonder." He said, coming back to sharp focus and looking at Taryn. "If you still have you original notes. It might prove very useful."

"For what?" Taryn asked, her suspicions hardening to a cold certainty.

"Oh, dear. Well, I thought I mentioned that I like interesting puzzles, and yours is certainly one of the most unique ones I've encountered! But I can't solve a puzzle without facts, and if you're unwilling to give them to me," he said sadly, "then that puzzle will have to remain unsolved."

"It's all right dear," he said, seeing her frown. "You are understandably anxious about becoming a lab experiment and being locked away in a secret research facility. Your doctor said as much." He added. "I can tell you I have no desire whatsoever to see that happen. Perhaps we will meet again when I move in. Until then, Miss Grogan, I will wish you a good day."

He nodded amiably to her and started to get into his car.

Taryn chewed her bottom lip, wondering if she'd misjudged him. In a desperate gamble she suddenly asked, "What does Sylvie want with you?"

She saw him jerk in surprise as he looked at her, his look fading to one of mild curiosity.

"The other centaur?" he asked. "I can't say she wished anything to do with me." He told her. "Like I said, you don't want anyone with medical experience to help, to the point of near phobia, or so I am told. I don't know why you would have such a fear?" he paused, looking expectantly at her.

Taryn found herself thrown again; perhaps he didn't know Sylvie, she thought. Or perhaps he did know and had successfully managed to play her instead. Or perhaps…

Or perhaps I'm starting to see conspiracy theories wherever I go, she thought sarcastically.

With that thought, she sighed and slumped.

"I'm really sorry doctor." She said quietly. "I really am. My friends and I had made a pact, not to be slaves to anyone again, after Nightshade."

"I heard parts of the story in the news." Dr. Merrick said gravely, peering through his glasses at her. He seemed about to say more, but remained silent.

Taryn churned; it was the only word she could think of to describe herself in that moment. It was an uncomfortable feeling; shame and guilt for thinking this nice man had anything to do with evil corporations and white labs, half-certain that she had made a mistake but not positive she hadn't, and a lingering sense of betrayal at Sylvie.

"Doctor, what's really going on here?" Taryn asked plaintively. "I mean, Sylvie's my best friend in the whole world, and I don't want to see her get hurt. But she's keeping secrets from me, and I think you're in on it but might not be and…and…" she stopped, and slumped, feeling mournful and very, very tired.

Dr. Merrick was silent a while, Taryn feeling his eyes studying her very closely. She didn't even have the strength to care anymore; she'd made a fool of herself enough for one day, she thought. It was time to go home.

"Taryn." His voice jolted her out of her thoughts.

"Taryn, listen to me." Dr. Merrick said firmly. "Do you trust your friend not to do anything that would hurt you?" he asked.

"Well, yeah." Taryn said slowly. "We're tight, you know? Best friends and companions."

"Then ask her." Merrick suggested. "Instead of trying to find out what's going on, ask her straight out and tell her that no matter what, you will support her. Remind her she's your friend, and that you're hers. See what happens." He urged.

Taryn shook her head. "Doc, Sylvie's very stubborn." She told him. "If she got it into her head that she would be doing something dangerous, she'd do it alone in a heartbeat, just to keep everyone safe. That's just what she does."

"She sounds like a very good person." Merrick said softly.

"She is." Taryn said with a smile.

"Then go and be her friend." The old man smiled. "I'm sure it will all work out in the end for you."

He opened his door again, starting to slide into the car. "You'll be fine, Miss Grogan." He called as he started up the car and backed up around her. "Good luck to you!" and he waved once as he pulled out of the garage and into the sunshine.

#

Left alone, Taryn walked out of the garage and made her way in the bright sunshine to Sylvie's house. Inside she could hear the sound of vacuuming and assumed Sylvie was doing chores.

For the space of a thought she waited there, at the entrance to the driveway, blocked by their enormous semi-trailer, until she shook her head and started home.

I don't need to talk about it to her today, she decided. There will be plenty of time later, when I've figured out what I want to say.

She slowly made it home and tried to find herself a comfortably spot on her mattress to lay down on, but rest eluded her.

"Fine!" she huffed, giving up. She needed some exercise anyway.

Dressing in her buckskin, she grabbed her spear from where it stood in the hall. The spear head gleamed eagerly as the sun struck the tip, stoking fiery passion in her heart. Moving much faster than she had all afternoon, she hurried to the high school where she saw a couple people on the track team jogging while the rest of the field remained clear of people. Glancing at her watch, she knew that everyone else would be in classes, even the football team, and she'd have a few minutes before next period rang.

Walking onto the field, she nodded once to the joggers and started a light walk to warm up. Passing her first lap she sped to a trot, and then a full gallop. Down the track she thundered! Her hooves struck deep into the track, giving phenomenal traction as she easily outpaced the runners who had started to push themselves harder to keep pace.

Spying the javelins sitting out on the field, she realized she had a golden opportunity here, and she abruptly swerved off the track, to the surprise of the pair of gasping boys that paused to see what she was doing, holding their sides.

Running to the circle where the javelin hurler was supposed to stand, Taryn saw no one else in front of her. She focused on an imaginary target on the grass, over a hundred yards away. With a savage roar, she threw the spear as hard as she could. Like at the range, it sparkled in the sunlight as it soared high and then fell to earth, striking dead center of her imaginary target.

Not feeling challenged yet, she raced to her spear and yanked it right out of the ground, sod and dirt flying from the silver head, seemingly untarnished for its time in the ground.

Moving in an ever-tightening loop, she spun through dozens of defense forms, the spear and haft buzzing sharply in the crisp air. Changing tack, she used her spear to de-limb a small tree and bounce them into the air only to cut them cleanly in half.

As she worked, her mind emptied of her fears, her suspicions, her heartache. Instead, it became like her spear; cold, focused, and razor sharp.

She realized that Sylvie had to be seeing Dr. Merrick and Dr. McMillian; it was too much of a coincidence that they were at the same garage on the same day and leaving at near the same time. The reason was simple now; Sylvie had struck a deal.

Taryn examined the thought coolly now, like a scientist that studies an interesting specimen. Sylvie making the deal was obvious, but why? What had changed that made her decide that such a course was necessary?

Perhaps something had changed; she might have been pressured into it. Taryn nodded, that would do it. Sylvie would do it if she thought she could protect someone else. Could she be trying to protect her? Possibly, but she would have said something to give her warning. The fact that she hadn't said loads about the situation.

So it wasn't about their friendship, but perhaps her family was being threatened? She wasn't sure, she didn't have any data that way, and no way to get it without alerting Sylvie to the fact that her subterfuge had failed. But would that be such a bad thing?

Dr. Merrick might have a point, if I don't trust her, then I don't deserve to be called her friend. But if I don't try and protect her from herself, then how can I call myself her friend? Sylvie won't tell me anything, she's determined to see this thing through on her own. That means I HAVE to dig around myself to see what is going on.

Taryn suddenly realized a huge crowd had gathered around as she had drifted, the spear in her hand moving automatically through forms as quick as winking.

She looked at the field clock, hovering over the score board and saw that she'd been there for over an hour. The students had come for track class or possibly football.

The spear stopped its spinning dance and she clutched it casually, breathing normally. Just to be on the safe side, she did a cool-down lap before leaving.

As she walked Mary Solomon, her gym teacher, fell into step next to her on the left while Michael Forester, the track and field coach, did the same on the right.

"That was an impressive display, Taryn!" Ms. Solomon enthused, her green eyes shining brightly. "Sylvie taught you a lot!"

"It wasn't Sylvie." Mr. Forester grunted. "She could never do that sort of stuff. She preferred swimming and running to baton class."

Taryn shrugged non-committedly, not wanting to talk about it, but the teacher and coach seemed determined to pry her secrets out of her. Then…

"Why don't you come help me teach a class, Taryn?" asked Mr. Forester.

Taryn stopped, surprised.

"Me?" she asked, hearing the shock in her voice, matching the numb feeling that swirled through her. "You want me to teach?"

"Yes!" Ms. Solomon nodded, her hair bun dancing in excitement. "You'll be great, especially in self-defense classes!"

Taryn shrugged. "Actually, I was looking to take some classes." She admitted.

"Take classes?" they asked in surprise.

"Yes." Taryn admitted. "My lessons were…short and focused on flashy maneuvers and throwing." She said as she came to the end of the lap. "So those I know, but defensive styles…I do not know enough of to teach. I'm sorry."

"Well, perhaps you can show what you know." Ms. Solomon suggested. "And I can see about talking to my cousin about getting you enrolled in his dojo."

"Your cousin owns a dojo?" Taryn asked, wondering if the day would keep getting weirder.

"Yes, he's out in Oakville right now, so it's a fair drive. But I think he'd be willing to take you on." She nodded.

Taryn thought about it…then nodded. If she could pick up some more lessons, then it could be worth the inconvenience of teaching a bunch of people. She hoped.