A Diamond in My Pocket by Lorena Angell Read Free Book Online Page B

understand. Why doesn’t the Runner just run away from the Immortal-Death-Dudes
or Hunters?”
    “The captives are guarded and
killed if they try to escape. Quite often they are threatened that their loved
ones will be harmed, so they stay put to save their families. You would also obey
if you thought one wrong move would threaten your parents’ lives. The DBTs also
kidnap people from the other clans using whatever emotional control they can
find to keep them from fleeing.”
    I nodded with a tight knot in my
throat.
    “We employ other people of powers
as do the other clans, not kidnap them and force them to do our biding. We
respect their abilities and compensate them for their help.”
    “Clara, what exactly do you do?”
    Her confused expression told me she
didn’t understand the question.
    “Collectively, I mean, normal
people get up and go to work, or to school or other things. They revolve around
schedules and events. But what do people of powers do?”
    Mrs. Winter sat all the way back
into her chair and rested her head on the plush headrest. She took a deep
breath and exhaled. “They live life as they know it, the same as anyone else. You’ve
just described what normal life is to you, but what do the members of the
Aboriginal tribes of Australia do from day to day? How about the African tribal
communities, what do they do? Consider the people in Thailand or China or
Norway, what do they do every day? Are you following me, Calli? This is a matter
of perspective, what’s normal for you isn’t normal for others.”
    “Oh.” Wow , I’d never thought
about it like that before. In fact, I’d never really looked outside my own
realm of life. It’s so easy to get caught up in my own life and, as Mrs. Winter
so eloquently pointed out, my life is only normal for me . I decided to
be more aware of other human beings and their daily struggles. The discussion
brought a different question to my mind. “What do you think the percentage is
of normal humans to people of powers worldwide?”
    “At present, around one million
people with superhuman abilities.”
    “That’s a lot!”
    “No, not quite. One in every seven
thousand people will exhibit powers. I believe seven thousand is around the
population of your hometown. You might be the only person in your whole town
with powers. The world is a large place with a dwindling fertility rate. I
suspect the number of new people of powers will eventually drop to dismal
numbers.”
    “Clara, you said you are a Runner. Do
you ever go on assignments?”
    “Yes, I am, and no, I do not run
assignments. There is always new blood coming into the clan; younger blood. So,
at some point you make the personal choice of stepping away from the elite and
entering the rest. I chose to help at the compound. I’m an instructor/operator
along with several other adults. Most retired clan members leave and enter
mainstream life, keeping their ability a secret.” Her voice didn’t hold any
enthusiasm.
    “What does your husband do?” I
asked.
    “I’m not married.”
    “You’re not? Your name is Mrs.
Winter—” Realization hit me, she must be a widow. Oh splendid! Open mouth,
insert foot.
    “I was married, but he discovered
my ability and left. I keep the name because we never officially divorced. So,
I guess I am technically married.”
    I picked up on her bitterness right
away. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my place to ask.”
    “No, it’s alright. I guess my advice
to you would be if you decide to get married find someone with abilities to
avoid heartache later. It’s hard enough to stay married without the extra
challenge of powers.”
    “I bet. Well, I’m not the kind of
girl who goes looking for guys and they certainly don’t come clamoring for me,”
I scoffed at myself with a chuckle.
    “I don’t believe you. You are a
beautiful girl, Calli. You’ll be fighting off the boys with a paddle, but I
will say, promiscuous behavior at the compound is not allowed.”
    “I