Twenty-Eight
Contains spoilersOverview
Viki and her siblings visit the Royal Museum, indulging Jirlib’s fascination with the Distorts of Khelm before Viki meets an out-of-phase family with two toddlers. Impostors posing as security then strike. Brent’s ambush kills two attackers, but the remaining kidnappers seize all six children and escape, sharply escalating the stakes.
Summary
Viki, Gokna, Jirlib, and Brent arrive at the Royal Museum and explore the season’s “Crank Science” theme. Jirlib heads straight for the Distorts of Khelm exhibit, where crude reconstructions disappoint him, but a central display of real “distort” rocks rekindles his belief. Viki remains skeptical, noting the absence of any signs of intelligence.
Viki slips into the videomancy hall and encounters Trenchet Suabisme and Alendon, an out-of-phase couple with toddlers, Alequere and Birbop. The families bond quickly, discussing shifting social attitudes and the possibility of more oophase children as the Dark is faced awake. The meeting offers Viki hope for a broader community.
Footsteps announce newcomers: five strangers in plain jackets, led by a crisp senior-seeming cobber who claims General Smith ordered the children back inside security. Their pushy, uncharacteristic behavior betrays them as impostors as they move to separate the adults from the children and draw a weapon.
Brent triggers an ambush from above, toppling a towering rack of video displays that crushes two attackers and scatters sparks and glass. Amid the chaos, the remaining kidnappers roughly seize Viki, Gokna, Jirlib, Brent, and the two toddlers. Despite the casualties, the leader orders a swift withdrawal. The abductors leave their dead behind; Viki cannot see what happens to the Suabismes.
Who Appears
- Viki (Little Victory)
Observes exhibits, befriends an out-of-phase family, and is abducted by impostors posing as security.
- Brent
Sets an ambush by toppling a display rack, killing two attackers, but is captured with the others.
- Gokna
Shares museum visit and plans with Viki; holds a toddler; is seized during the kidnapping.
- Jirlib
Obsessed with the Distorts; disappointed by fakes, fascinated by real samples; silenced and captured.
- Teamleader (impostor security)
Leads the kidnapping, impersonates security, orders withdrawal after losing two operatives.
- Trenchet Suabisme
Out-of-phase mother who meets the children; tries to keep her toddlers safe amid the attack.
- Alendon
Out-of-phase father; initially retreats with children, then panics as impostors move in.
- Alequere
Suabisme toddler who bonds with Viki and is taken by the kidnappers.
- Birbop
Suabisme toddler present during the meeting; abducted with the others.