25
The first thing Scout noticed was that Shi Jian had two arms. She was still dressed in black, tunic over leggings complete with billowing cape and soft shoes, all except for the sleeve over her right arm. That was a deep red, like drying blood.
Scout thought at first that she must be a holographic projection. She had seen projections she hadn’t realized weren’t real people until someone tried to touch them.
Then she saw the perspiration just starting to gleam on the woman’s forehead and knew that she had to be here, under the sun in that not remotely climate-appropriate outfit.
Only, how?
“Shi Jian,” Mai said with a welcoming smile. “We were just finishing up here.”
“We haven’t even started,” Malcolm said, but she ignored him.
Joelle looked at Scout and then at Daisy. Something i
