The Devil's Eye Part 5

"Of course." "They get the green green paint, right?" "Nope. Same color. Gold." paint, right?" "Nope. Same color. Gold."

TWENTY-TWO.

"You're bluffing, Carla." "Well, Fallow, it's all you have left, isn't it? Here's your chance to go home early."- Etude in Black By the end of the day, the living room looked resplendent in its new coat of gold paint, as did the cables. We spent the evening and most of the night getting set up. At one point, we heard a skimmer pa.s.s overhead, and our hearts sank. I ran outside and, when I saw it wasn't the government vehicle, I waved like a crazy person. But I don't think they saw me at all. We were up early next morning to begin working on the overhead. I began to think we might actually have a chance to pull it off. But the final preparations were difficult, and I spent a lot of time on the extension ladder, inserting ceiling hooks into the overhead dome, stringing cable, attaching and finally loading the blankets. When I'd finished, I climbed down and put the ladder back in the shed. Then I went back inside, glad to feel the warmth again. Alex walked me right back outside. "We need to get them in the middle of the living room," he said. "That shouldn't be hard." We went back onto the deck and looked inside through an open door. Speaking barely above a whisper, he said, "They'll need a table to do the procedure." "The lineal block?" "Yes." There were two side tables, a coffee table, and a dining table. "We don't want them using the dining table," he said. Absolutely. It was out of the target area. "When we go back in, we'll pile dishes on it. Gla.s.ses. The toaster. Laundry. Hardware. And anything else we can find." "Okay." He looked around the living room. "Let's give them the coffee table." "It's not exactly in the target area." "I know. And you're right." He thought about it. "Okay, we can load that up, too. That leaves one of the side tables." "Isn't it going to be a little obvious if you pull one of them out into the center of the room?" "Get the chess set," he said. He removed a lamp from the side table and pulled the table into the target area. Then he put the chessboard on it and set up the pieces to create a game in progress. We took the two chairs from the dining table and put them on either side. When it was finished, he looked around the room. He didn't say anything, but he looked happy. We went back outside. "Anything else, Alex?" I asked. He studied me and bit his lower lip. "Can you cut your hair a little shorter? To look like Krestoff's?" It would take more than cutting it shorter. Krestoff was sporting a local style that apparently emphasized taking advantage of wind resistance. "Sure," I said. "Do it." He sighed. "Pity we don't have some dye." "So I could go blond?" "Yes."

"I don't think I have the right complexion for it." "In the dark, n.o.body's going to notice." After that, it became just a matter of waiting. That, of course, is when you start worrying. "You know," I said, "maybe they're just going to leave us here. Or maybe they're hoping we'll try to climb down and get ourselves killed." "No," said Alex. "If they'd wanted anything like that, they'd have pushed us off themselves. They would not be happy trying to explain how we turned up dead. Or missing. And for another thing, they don't know whether other people are aware why we came here." He kicked off his shoes and propped his feet on a stool. "The last thing they need is for something to happen to us."

We'd expected Krestoff to return within a day or two. But the days pa.s.sed, and the skies remained empty. We saw a few aircraft, though they were too far or too high after that first time for us to have any realistic chance to signal for help. It presented a problem. We couldn't risk having them arrive, say, in the middle of the night. Or slip in when we were watching the HV and not paying attention. If they took us by surprise, our escape plan would evaporate. So we set up a system. Twelve-hour watches during which one or the other of us was constantly on the lookout. We rearranged the furniture and relaxed as best we could, with one of us always posted by the window or the front door. What do you do with your time when you know somebody's coming to pick apart your brain? For me, it was mostly watching stuff that didn't require my paying attention. Comedies where people fell down a lot and thrillers that were mostly chases. And light reading. Material that didn't require emotional input. I had no emotions left. We took our meals together, and in the early evenings we sat around the living room with the lights about halfway down. Alex was reading Their Finest Hour Their Finest Hour . He had the book on the coffee table and turned each page cautiously. He'd stop occasionally to read me a pa.s.sage. He especially enjoyed doing Churchill's lines for me: . He had the book on the coffee table and turned each page cautiously. He'd stop occasionally to read me a pa.s.sage. He especially enjoyed doing Churchill's lines for me: Never before in the history of human conflict Never before in the history of human conflict ... And, ... And, Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be ... "I wish we had him here," he said. "Which side was he on?" Alex rolled his eyes. "The civilized side." He grew thoughtful. "It's a pity they didn't have avatars. He was too early." On the ninth day, a monster storm hit and left us buried in snow. We opened the door when it was over and had to climb a s...o...b..nk just to get outside. I hoped that maybe Peifer would discover we'd gone missing and would be hot on the trail. But that was a long shot. When I mentioned it to Alex, he asked how Peifer could possibly track us to that lonely outpost. Since it was election season, we got to watch the various candidates going on about how they'd make life better for the world. Everybody made it a point to take a stand against the Mutes. They differed, of course, on the details. Some wanted to bring in the Confederacy. But the Confederacy wasn't all that popular on Salud Afar, where it was seen as a distant power that, given the chance, would happily make off with the world's resources. I got the impression politicians on Salud Afar made it a habit to run against the Confederacy, to paint it as a threat. Other news was generally inconsequential: the unexpected death of a well-known one-time beauty queen, the scandal caused by the discovery that a former world-cla.s.s athlete was a bigamist, a show-business celebrity arrested for obscene behavior. Another entertainment icon was being accused of having thrown his wife down a staircase. He claimed someone had broken into the house and done the deed. There were reports of still another brush with Mute s.h.i.+ps. ... "I wish we had him here," he said. "Which side was he on?" Alex rolled his eyes. "The civilized side." He grew thoughtful. "It's a pity they didn't have avatars. He was too early." On the ninth day, a monster storm hit and left us buried in snow. We opened the door when it was over and had to climb a s...o...b..nk just to get outside. I hoped that maybe Peifer would discover we'd gone missing and would be hot on the trail. But that was a long shot. When I mentioned it to Alex, he asked how Peifer could possibly track us to that lonely outpost. Since it was election season, we got to watch the various candidates going on about how they'd make life better for the world. Everybody made it a point to take a stand against the Mutes. They differed, of course, on the details. Some wanted to bring in the Confederacy. But the Confederacy wasn't all that popular on Salud Afar, where it was seen as a distant power that, given the chance, would happily make off with the world's resources. I got the impression politicians on Salud Afar made it a habit to run against the Confederacy, to paint it as a threat. Other news was generally inconsequential: the unexpected death of a well-known one-time beauty queen, the scandal caused by the discovery that a former world-cla.s.s athlete was a bigamist, a show-business celebrity arrested for obscene behavior. Another entertainment icon was being accused of having thrown his wife down a staircase. He claimed someone had broken into the house and done the deed. There were reports of still another brush with Mute s.h.i.+ps. "No shooting this time," "No shooting this time," said a young, enthusiastic male journalist, said a young, enthusiastic male journalist, "but these incidents are becoming increasingly numerous. It looks as if we'd better prepare for the worst." "but these incidents are becoming increasingly numerous. It looks as if we'd better prepare for the worst."

That evening, we picked up an interview with an economist who claimed that something unusual was happening. "A lot of the major corporations," "A lot of the major corporations," he said, he said, "especially the places heavily invested in real estate, are divesting themselves. Downsizing in an extraordinary way." "especially the places heavily invested in real estate, are divesting themselves. Downsizing in an extraordinary way."

I looked at Alex. "That's what you were saying, except it sounds a bit bigger than you thought." "Why?" "Why?" asked the interviewer. asked the interviewer. "Don't know," "Don't know," the economist said. the economist said. "It could be coincidental, but I doubt it. I suspect a downturn is coming." "But the economy's strong, isn't it, Cary?" "It was a few weeks ago, Karm. But it's become pretty wobbly suddenly." "Why?" "I have no idea. The long-term trends are all up. The only thing I can think of, and I want to emphasize this is only a wild guess-" "Go ahead, Cary. Let's have it." "It may be that war is coming. War with the Mutes." "But wouldn't that be a spur to production? Wars historically are good for business." "It could be coincidental, but I doubt it. I suspect a downturn is coming." "But the economy's strong, isn't it, Cary?" "It was a few weeks ago, Karm. But it's become pretty wobbly suddenly." "Why?" "I have no idea. The long-term trends are all up. The only thing I can think of, and I want to emphasize this is only a wild guess-" "Go ahead, Cary. Let's have it." "It may be that war is coming. War with the Mutes." "But wouldn't that be a spur to production? Wars historically are good for business." Cary nodded. Cary nodded. "That's right, Karm. If you win them." "That's right, Karm. If you win them."

I must have been getting morose. Alex told me to cheer up, hang in, that we'd be all right. "We'll get out of here," he said. "And we'll get Belle Belle and go out to the and go out to the Lantner Lantner world and find out what's going on." In the evenings, sometimes, I wrapped up in a blanket, turned off the outside lights, and went out on the deck to look at the sky. At the haze that was the rim of the Milky Way. Or in the opposite direction at Callistra. On the evening that we heard the economist, Alex joined me. We stood for a while, standing in the darkness. "They should be here soon," he said. world and find out what's going on." In the evenings, sometimes, I wrapped up in a blanket, turned off the outside lights, and went out on the deck to look at the sky. At the haze that was the rim of the Milky Way. Or in the opposite direction at Callistra. On the evening that we heard the economist, Alex joined me. We stood for a while, standing in the darkness. "They should be here soon," he said.

TWENTY-THREE.

Watch your head.- Dying to Know You The day after we'd watched the interview with the economist, they came. Alex was spread out on the sofa, reading a political history of the Korant Domain. He'd just finished commenting on what he would give to obtain something, anything anything , from that era. A Brokasian vase from the courtroom where they'd tried the whole family. What would , from that era. A Brokasian vase from the courtroom where they'd tried the whole family. What would that that be worth? It was evening. We both heard the approaching skimmer long before we saw it. (It was my turn on watch.) We did a quick inspection of our setup to make sure everything was ready. Then we saw the lights overhead, and the vehicle began to descend. "Showtime," said Alex. A cable, painted gold, ran down the matching gold wall opposite the front door until it reached the floor behind the sofa. There it pa.s.sed through a ceiling hook that we'd hammered into the floor. It then ran up the arm of the sofa and was secured so that anyone sitting on the sofa could reach it and release it. The arrangement was not particularly noticeable to visitors coming in the front door. We waited for the skimmer to set down. As it did, Alex sat up, released the end of the cable from the sofa arm, and tugged on it once or twice to make sure it wasn't stuck anywhere. He held it out of sight, be worth? It was evening. We both heard the approaching skimmer long before we saw it. (It was my turn on watch.) We did a quick inspection of our setup to make sure everything was ready. Then we saw the lights overhead, and the vehicle began to descend. "Showtime," said Alex. A cable, painted gold, ran down the matching gold wall opposite the front door until it reached the floor behind the sofa. There it pa.s.sed through a ceiling hook that we'd hammered into the floor. It then ran up the arm of the sofa and was secured so that anyone sitting on the sofa could reach it and release it. The arrangement was not particularly noticeable to visitors coming in the front door. We waited for the skimmer to set down. As it did, Alex sat up, released the end of the cable from the sofa arm, and tugged on it once or twice to make sure it wasn't stuck anywhere. He held it out of sight, gripped in his right hand, which dangled casually over the sofa arm. I'd put a smooth gray rock on a side table about eight strides from the door. The table had an artificial plant on it. I'd made no effort to hide the rock. It was right out there where anyone could see it, like an innocent decoration. The engines shut off, and we heard the hatch open. Then voices. I took station by the window. "Three of them," I said. "Which ones?" "Krestoff and the bong thrower. Corel. And somebody else. Little, dumpy guy." "You don't mean the pilot?" "No. The pilot's still in the aircraft." "Okay. The dumpy guy will be the tech." "They've closed the hatch." We'd been pretty sure that would happen. The pilot had closed it when he'd delivered us. It was too cold out there to sit with it open. "Here they come." "Okay. We ready?" "Yes, sir. Krestoff will be first in the door. Bong is bringing up the rear." "Okay. The tech shouldn't be dangerous." "Let's hope." "Whoever can get to him first-" The voices had gotten louder. "Here they come." I waited by the door. Krestoff asked Kellie to open up. She waited a few seconds and tried again. I went over and opened the door for them. "We didn't trust Kellie," I said. Krestoff stood in the entrance, amused. But she had her scrambler in her hand. "She wasn't spying on you. n.o.body's that interested. But it doesn't matter." She indicated I should back off a few steps, and came inside. She looked over at Alex, sitting lazily on the sofa. She was wrapped in a heavy jacket. A thick woolen hat was pulled down over her ears. I allowed myself to look scared. It didn't take much acting. "h.e.l.lo," Alex said. "We were beginning to think you'd forgotten us." She signaled the others to come in. The dumpy little guy carried a black box. He had a straggly beard, just beginning to gray. Bong came in behind him, hauling a larger black box. He set it down on a chair and closed the door. He'd never looked bigger. Didn't even bother showing us a weapon. "We want to run an exam," Krestoff said. "Make sure you're okay. After we've done that, you'll be released." "Look," Alex said. "We know what this is about. Don't try to hide it from us." "What what what is about?" "You're going to do a lineal block. On each of us." She hesitated. "Okay. I don't suppose there's any point hiding the truth. But you won't be harmed." "You're going to lock away what? Everything having to do with Vicki Greene?" Another pause. "Yes." "Before you do that, answer a question for me." "If I can?" "Who are you working for?" "The CSS." "I hope you're a rogue unit. That the entire organization hasn't been corrupted." She turned to the dumpy guy. "Doctor, do him first." "It's Wexler, isn't it?" That stopped her in her tracks. "No," she said finally. But her eyes delivered a different message. "And that's enough nonsense." She walked over to the table with the chess set and swept the pieces onto the floor. "Use this." I doubted the guy was a doctor. He did not look especially bright. Bong picked up the larger box, brought it over to the table, and set it down. is about?" "You're going to do a lineal block. On each of us." She hesitated. "Okay. I don't suppose there's any point hiding the truth. But you won't be harmed." "You're going to lock away what? Everything having to do with Vicki Greene?" Another pause. "Yes." "Before you do that, answer a question for me." "If I can?" "Who are you working for?" "The CSS." "I hope you're a rogue unit. That the entire organization hasn't been corrupted." She turned to the dumpy guy. "Doctor, do him first." "It's Wexler, isn't it?" That stopped her in her tracks. "No," she said finally. But her eyes delivered a different message. "And that's enough nonsense." She walked over to the table with the chess set and swept the pieces onto the floor. "Use this." I doubted the guy was a doctor. He did not look especially bright. Bong picked up the larger box, brought it over to the table, and set it down.

"Please," said Alex. His voice quivered. "I'll give you all I have." All I have All I have was the operative phrase. I started a four count. The tech set his own box down, and opened it. He signaled Alex to come over and sit down at the table. Alex started to get to his feet, keeping the cable out of sight. I'd gotten to three. I checked the exact position of the rock on the table with the plant. The tech was about to say something to Bong as I reached four. Alex let go of the cable. The far end was outside the house, looped over a branch of the tree that jutted from the cliff edge. It was attached to a heavier rock than the one I had available. was the operative phrase. I started a four count. The tech set his own box down, and opened it. He signaled Alex to come over and sit down at the table. Alex started to get to his feet, keeping the cable out of sight. I'd gotten to three. I checked the exact position of the rock on the table with the plant. The tech was about to say something to Bong as I reached four. Alex let go of the cable. The far end was outside the house, looped over a branch of the tree that jutted from the cliff edge. It was attached to a heavier rock than the one I had available. That That rock, of course, plunged downward, yanking the cable with it. Inside, the cable jumped up the wall with a sudden slithering sound, raced across the overhead through the series of ceiling hooks and the corners of two blankets, which were held together by nails. Their corners released, the blankets opened and dropped their loads on our startled visitors. Rocks and firewood, loose earth, paint cans, wrenches, dishware, gla.s.ses, lamps, and a gla.s.s bottle we'd found in one of the bathrooms rained down on them. I stepped in while the stuff was still falling and nailed Bong on the jaw with my rock. I'd planned to get him between the eyes, but he'd gone into reflex protective mode, and I had to settle for whatever target presented itself. He went down like a small rhino. Seconds later, Alex had the scrambler from a startled Krestoff. I went digging in Bong's pockets, found another weapon, a blaster, and aimed it at the tech. He threw up his hands and squealed. "Don't shoot. Please. I didn't mean any harm to anyone." "Okay," I said. "Don't-" "I'm only here because they called me." He was bleeding from a cut on his forehead. "I'm not part of this." I took a quick look out the window. "He's still in the vehicle." Krestoff was getting to her feet. Alex leveled the weapon at her. She flicked on her comm link. "Don't," he said. "Not a sound." She hesitated. The link was on a bracelet. She gazed at it. "Take it off," he said. "Don't say a word. Just toss it over here." She removed the bracelet and dropped it at her feet. "Back away from it," I said. She did, while Bong started to growl and began struggling to his feet. He turned a look of pure hatred in my direction. I picked up the rock and hit the bracelet with it. Krestoff looked up at the overhead, where the two blankets dangled. She began to laugh. "Not bad," she said. "I wouldn't have thought you two had it in you." "Just don't make any sudden moves," he said. "Corel." Bong reacted to his name. "Let me have your link." He shook his head. No. Alex sighed. He aimed Krestoff's scrambler at him and pulled the trigger. Bong started to cry out, but the scream ended in a whimper, and he collapsed. Krestoff's eyes came up to meet Alex's. "I'll kill you," she said quietly. The link was clipped to his collar. Alex removed it, inspected it, dropped it on the floor, and stepped on it. I used a piece of cable to secure Krestoff's hands. Alex got the technician. I checked Bong. He was breathing. "He'll be out for a while," I said. The pilot was sitting out there reading. "Don't hurt him," said Krestoff. We gagged her and the tech. Krestoff's eyes found me. She would have loved to get me alone in an alley. rock, of course, plunged downward, yanking the cable with it. Inside, the cable jumped up the wall with a sudden slithering sound, raced across the overhead through the series of ceiling hooks and the corners of two blankets, which were held together by nails. Their corners released, the blankets opened and dropped their loads on our startled visitors. Rocks and firewood, loose earth, paint cans, wrenches, dishware, gla.s.ses, lamps, and a gla.s.s bottle we'd found in one of the bathrooms rained down on them. I stepped in while the stuff was still falling and nailed Bong on the jaw with my rock. I'd planned to get him between the eyes, but he'd gone into reflex protective mode, and I had to settle for whatever target presented itself. He went down like a small rhino. Seconds later, Alex had the scrambler from a startled Krestoff. I went digging in Bong's pockets, found another weapon, a blaster, and aimed it at the tech. He threw up his hands and squealed. "Don't shoot. Please. I didn't mean any harm to anyone." "Okay," I said. "Don't-" "I'm only here because they called me." He was bleeding from a cut on his forehead. "I'm not part of this." I took a quick look out the window. "He's still in the vehicle." Krestoff was getting to her feet. Alex leveled the weapon at her. She flicked on her comm link. "Don't," he said. "Not a sound." She hesitated. The link was on a bracelet. She gazed at it. "Take it off," he said. "Don't say a word. Just toss it over here." She removed the bracelet and dropped it at her feet. "Back away from it," I said. She did, while Bong started to growl and began struggling to his feet. He turned a look of pure hatred in my direction. I picked up the rock and hit the bracelet with it. Krestoff looked up at the overhead, where the two blankets dangled. She began to laugh. "Not bad," she said. "I wouldn't have thought you two had it in you." "Just don't make any sudden moves," he said. "Corel." Bong reacted to his name. "Let me have your link." He shook his head. No. Alex sighed. He aimed Krestoff's scrambler at him and pulled the trigger. Bong started to cry out, but the scream ended in a whimper, and he collapsed. Krestoff's eyes came up to meet Alex's. "I'll kill you," she said quietly. The link was clipped to his collar. Alex removed it, inspected it, dropped it on the floor, and stepped on it. I used a piece of cable to secure Krestoff's hands. Alex got the technician. I checked Bong. He was breathing. "He'll be out for a while," I said. The pilot was sitting out there reading. "Don't hurt him," said Krestoff. We gagged her and the tech. Krestoff's eyes found me. She would have loved to get me alone in an alley.

The hatch was shut. I wondered if it was locked. If we went out through the back door, sneaked up on him, and ran into a lock, it would probably blow the entire operation. Best was to give him the opportunity to open it. We put on their jackets. Alex and I could both have fit in Bong's. I also removed Krestoff's boots and pulled them on. They weren't a bad fit. Bong's boots, on the other hand, would have swallowed Alex, so he stayed with his own shoes. Krestoff smirked behind her gag. She didn't think we were going to make it. Her partner mostly made growling noises. We had a brief debate over who was going to go say h.e.l.lo to the pilot. Alex, of course, thought it was his responsibility as the guy in the operation. But I had a better chance of getting away with impersonating Krestoff than he did playing Bong. The last thing we wanted was for the pilot to see who was knocking at the door of the skimmer and take off. I picked up the smaller black box that they'd brought. It might provide a distraction. Any distraction would be good. I closed it, gave Alex a moment to exit by the back, then I opened the door and stepped out into the night. It was good to be in a real jacket. The house was illuminated behind me, but there was no easy help for that. The skimmer's lights were out, save for a convenience lamp at the hatch and the faint glow of the pilot's reading light.

I walked toward the skimmer. He saw me and looked my way. I raised one hand to say h.e.l.lo, but otherwise I kept walking, gazing down at the black box as if something had gone wrong with it. The less time he had to think about things, the better. The hatch opened as I reached it. I put the box inside, on the deck, and took out the gun. His eyes went wide when he saw it. "You're not Maria," he said. "Just sit," I said. "What's the AI's name?" "Doc. Hey, you're not going to use that on me?" "My name's Chase. Tell Doc to add me to the log." He hesitated, and I pointed the weapon at his head. "Do it." "Doc," he said, "this is Chase. Take direction from her."

"Yes, Karfa. h.e.l.lo, Chase."

"h.e.l.lo, Doc." I turned back to the pilot. "Okay, Karfa, please get out of the vehicle. Step down slowly. Give me your link. Don't make any unexpected moves." "Okay." He released his harness and got up. As he did I backed off a couple of paces. Alex came up from behind. He was carrying something wrapped in plastene. Karfa was a young guy. Not much more than a kid. Not the same pilot who'd brought us out there. He s.h.i.+vered in the cold, and he looked stunned. He couldn't keep his eyes off the scrambler. "What did you do with Maria and Shelby?" "Shelby's the tech?" "No. The agent. Shelby Corel." Shelby? Shelby? Bong's given name was Bong's given name was Shelby Shelby ? "Go find out for yourself," I said. "You can get in the back door. We left it open." I signaled for him to get started. He climbed down and headed for the rear of the house. "Be careful," I told him. "Don't go walking around back there." Alex got into the aircraft. I followed him and closed the hatch. As we lifted off, I saw Karfa disappear through the rear doorway. ? "Go find out for yourself," I said. "You can get in the back door. We left it open." I signaled for him to get started. He climbed down and headed for the rear of the house. "Be careful," I told him. "Don't go walking around back there." Alex got into the aircraft. I followed him and closed the hatch. As we lifted off, I saw Karfa disappear through the rear doorway.

"Congratulations," said Alex. "Thanks." I was feeling pretty good. "Doc, take us to the nearest s.p.a.ceport." "Very good, Chase," "Very good, Chase," said the AI. said the AI. "Rendel is about an hour away." "Rendel is about an hour away." Alex nodded. "Yes," he said. "Good. We should be able to get clear before anybody notices Krestoff's missing." "What do you have?" I said, looking at the package. "This? It's the Churchill." Alex nodded. "Yes," he said. "Good. We should be able to get clear before anybody notices Krestoff's missing." "What do you have?" I said, looking at the package. "This? It's the Churchill."

"I should have realized." "Absolutely correct," said Alex. "You should."

Fortunately, Miranda was in the sky that night. Over Rimway it would have been scarcely visible. But in the wide-open s.p.a.ces above Salud Afar, the planet glittered and sparkled. When we settled on course for Rendel I couldn't help noticing that Miranda could have performed the function of a guide. It lay almost dead ahead. In the cabin, I have to admit we were gloating. Well, actually, I I did most of the gloating. I'd laid out Krestoff's muscle with one swing, and Alex was talking with Samuels. Yes, they told us, they'd have the did most of the gloating. I'd laid out Krestoff's muscle with one swing, and Alex was talking with Samuels. Yes, they told us, they'd have the Belle-Marie Belle-Marie ready to go when we got there. So we sat and talked and felt good about ourselves. "First thing we're going to do," said Alex, "is go out to the asteroid." "Why?" I said. "You'll see." I hated it when he got like that. "It's really Wexler, isn't it?" I said. "Sure. You saw the way she reacted." I was sitting with my head resting on the back of the seat, thinking how glad I'd be to get on board the ready to go when we got there. So we sat and talked and felt good about ourselves. "First thing we're going to do," said Alex, "is go out to the asteroid." "Why?" I said. "You'll see." I hated it when he got like that. "It's really Wexler, isn't it?" I said. "Sure. You saw the way she reacted." I was sitting with my head resting on the back of the seat, thinking how glad I'd be to get on board the Belle-Marie Belle-Marie , where I'd be safely out of the reach of the CSS and of Mikel Wexler, hero of the Revolution. While I was sitting wrapped up in my happy thoughts, I noticed that Miranda had vanished from the sky. That didn't alarm me, because it probably meant only that there were some clouds ahead. One of the complications that ensues from a starless sky is that you can never tell whether it's a clear night or not. Unless they were accompanied by lightning, storms after dark had a tendency to sneak up on you. It had been about a half hour since we'd left the plateau. Below us there were only occasional lights, a cl.u.s.ter of streetlamps, now and then a ground vehicle. I don't know why I twisted around in my seat, but I did. And I saw Miranda. Behind us. We were headed back the way we'd come. I caught Alex's eye, let him know something was wrong, and put my finger to my lips. I wasn't familiar with the vehicle we were riding, but these things all have an AI shutoff. , where I'd be safely out of the reach of the CSS and of Mikel Wexler, hero of the Revolution. While I was sitting wrapped up in my happy thoughts, I noticed that Miranda had vanished from the sky. That didn't alarm me, because it probably meant only that there were some clouds ahead. One of the complications that ensues from a starless sky is that you can never tell whether it's a clear night or not. Unless they were accompanied by lightning, storms after dark had a tendency to sneak up on you. It had been about a half hour since we'd left the plateau. Below us there were only occasional lights, a cl.u.s.ter of streetlamps, now and then a ground vehicle. I don't know why I twisted around in my seat, but I did. And I saw Miranda. Behind us. We were headed back the way we'd come. I caught Alex's eye, let him know something was wrong, and put my finger to my lips. I wasn't familiar with the vehicle we were riding, but these things all have an AI shutoff. "It's to your left," "It's to your left," said Doc. said Doc. "Open the green panel." "Open the green panel." That shook me. But he was right. I opened it and there was the disconnect. "How'd you know?" That shook me. But he was right. I opened it and there was the disconnect. "How'd you know?" "It's all in the body language, Chase. How did "It's all in the body language, Chase. How did you you know?" know?" "Miranda." "Miranda."

"Oh. Well, there was nothing I could do about that."

I touched the toggle. "I'm going to shut you down, Doc."

"It won't work."

I tried it, pulled it into the position marked DISCONNECT AI.

"Chase, this is what is known as a special situation."

"You're taking us back?" asked Alex.

"Of course. I suggest you sit back and allow this special situation to run its course. It will be best for everyone."

TWENTY-FOUR.

The notion that earth and sea are solid is an illusion. It is a trick played upon us by our monkey brains. In reality it's not like that at all. This sofa here, for example, is mostly empty s.p.a.ce. Ninety-nine percent empty s.p.a.ce. So I say to you now and forever, we are fortunate that we do not know the real world. Were we to confront the world as it actually is, we would have nowhere to sit.- Nightwalk "We've got the guns," I said. Alex was looking out the window, trying to see what the ground looked like. "No. We don't know that we have them all. Anyhow, once we land on the plateau, we'll be stuck there again." "What do you suggest?" "Can we disable it?" "I've already tried." "I mean the skimmer." "You want me to crash it?" "I'm open to a better idea." There was storage s.p.a.ce behind the backseat. I opened it, but it was empty. "Have to use the scrambler," I said. "That is not a good idea," "That is not a good idea," said Doc. "Then turn control over to me." said Doc. "Then turn control over to me."

"I'm not able to do that."

I took out the weapon, went digging through the c.o.c.kpit until I found the hardware that housed Doc. I checked to be sure the scrambler was on paralysis mode, aimed it at the hardware, and pulled the trigger. "Doc?"

"I'm still here."

"I'm not surprised." I found a lightning icon that provided a setting to shut off the aircraft's power. "What do you think?" I asked. Alex looked down at the ground. "Leave it on." "Unless you want to go back, or jump, it's all we have." "We'd lose antigrav, too, right?" "We've got wings. We might be able to glide in." He thought about it for a long minute. "Doc," I said, "can you take us lower?"

"Negative, Chase. My instructions will not allow me to do that."

"I a.s.sume these instructions take effect if you are hijacked?"

"That is correct."

"You can't pretend otherwise, I guess?"

"No. I would do it if I could."

"Okay," said Alex. "Kill the power." "Doc," I said, "if I shut down the power, will I still be able to control the flaps and rudder?"

"I can arrange that."

"Do it. Let me know when it's done."

"It's done, Chase."

"Okay." I pushed a finger against the pad below the lightning icon. "Doc, are you sure you can't help us?"

"Chase, I would if I could."

"Okay."

"I'd really prefer you not do this."

"Me, too."

"Before you act, be aware that we are in rugged country. Chances of survival are not good even if you don't die in the crash."

"I know, Doc. Thanks." I pressed. The lights in the cabin flicked off. Doc's lamps went out. The engine died. And I had my weight back. We began slicing down.

Antigrav generators are usually equipped with an auxiliary power source. I tried to restart it. Unfortunately, somebody hadn't maintained it. I got a few burps out of it, enough to slow our descent. Then it died again. The real problem wasn't even the lack of power so much as the fact I couldn't see the ground. Couldn't see anything. We could have been about to touch down, or about to fly into a mountain. We could have been in somebody's bas.e.m.e.nt. I wrestled with the yoke, fought the wind, started doing profanities, looked for lights somewhere. Anywhere Anywhere . Where was Callistra now that I needed her? The problem with antigrav vehicles is that they don't carry enough wing and tail to allow you to glide properly if the engines fail. I had wings, but they weren't very good at keeping us aloft. "Chase-" said Alex. "Doing the best I can." "I see lights." "Where?" "Over to the left." They were not moving. Houses, probably. I started to turn. Started breathing again. They were important because they let me know more or less where the ground was. We swung to port in a long, slow curve. My angle on the lights was changing, of course. They were rising as we went down. Then they vanished. Alex grunted. "What happened?" "Mountain." I pushed the yoke right and held my breath until they reappeared. Coming fast. I wanted to bank toward them, to keep them in sight, but I was afraid of the mountain. Had no idea where the d.a.m.ned thing was. So I kept straight on. They pa.s.sed off the port side, and I was headed back into the night. "I'd guess we'll be down in about two minutes," I said. "Okay." It was a long, quiet run, with only the sound of the wind against the wings. Then we blasted into something. I was thrown hard against my harness. There was a rush of fresh air. Then darkness took me. . Where was Callistra now that I needed her? The problem with antigrav vehicles is that they don't carry enough wing and tail to allow you to glide properly if the engines fail. I had wings, but they weren't very good at keeping us aloft. "Chase-" said Alex. "Doing the best I can." "I see lights." "Where?" "Over to the left." They were not moving. Houses, probably. I started to turn. Started breathing again. They were important because they let me know more or less where the ground was. We swung to port in a long, slow curve. My angle on the lights was changing, of course. They were rising as we went down. Then they vanished. Alex grunted. "What happened?" "Mountain." I pushed the yoke right and held my breath until they reappeared. Coming fast. I wanted to bank toward them, to keep them in sight, but I was afraid of the mountain. Had no idea where the d.a.m.ned thing was. So I kept straight on. They pa.s.sed off the port side, and I was headed back into the night. "I'd guess we'll be down in about two minutes," I said. "Okay." It was a long, quiet run, with only the sound of the wind against the wings. Then we blasted into something. I was thrown hard against my harness. There was a rush of fresh air. Then darkness took me.

When I came out of it, I was hanging upside down. "You okay, Chase?" Alex's voice startled me. I'd felt alone. "Chase?" "I'm here," I said. "You?" "I'm here, too. Nice landing." "That's right." I'd forgotten. "We're down." I heard him struggling to release his harness. "Are you all right, Alex?" Lights were approaching. A truck, kicking up a cloud of snow, was visible through a wall of trees. "I think so." "Okay. Stay put for a minute. Help's on the way." The front of the aircraft was gone. A cold wind was blowing snow and debris in on top of us. Alex released himself and climbed down as the truck stopped. I heard a door slam. And voices. The truck lights revealed broad, flat ground beyond the trees. "Not bad," said Alex. "Looks as if you hit the only patch of forest in the neighborhood." I was hurting in a few places, but nothing seemed to be broken, so I released my harness and lowered myself to the ground. Our rescuers were bundled up in jackets. There were two of them, and they both wore hats pulled down over their ears. A man and a woman. The man called out: "You people okay in there?" I guess I was staggering around. Alex was on the ground. They got me out to the truck. Then they went back in for Alex. It took a while. When they finally came out they were holding him up. "He's all right,"

said the woman. "But we wanted to be sure before we moved him."

Their names were s.h.i.+ala and Orman Inkama. Orman was the operational director for the otherwise-automated energy-distribution site whose lights had shown us where the ground was. They took us back to their quarters, which were located in a flat gray building perched beside a field of collectors. They applied medications to cuts and bruises and told us how lucky we were. Orman wanted to take us to Barikaida, where there was a medical facility. But it was a long ride, and since neither of us was seriously damaged, we settled for showers and robes. We had no clothes, of course. We explained how we were sightseeing in the area, and Orman said he'd drive back to the scene of the crash to try to recover our bags. But there'd been no easy way to bring our gear from the plateau. "We didn't have anything with us," Alex explained. "But if you could take us into Barikaida tomorrow, that would help." So we slept in the robes, me in the guest room, Alex on the sofa. In the morning, everything I owned hurt. s.h.i.+ala cooked a big breakfast, commenting on how few visitors they got in that part of the country. Then they gave us some clothes. Orman's were a bit big for Alex, but I fit reasonably well into a blouse and slacks. s.h.i.+ala's shoes were too big, though, and Krestoff's boots were a mess. Nevertheless I had to stay with them. Orman took us out to the pad, and we all climbed into his skimmer. There was a party atmosphere running by then. Orman explained how many times he'd had rough landings himself. "Though nothing like what you folks did last night." s.h.i.+ala laughed and insisted it was true, that Orman was the worst pilot in the world. He didn't trust AIs, though the truth was he just loved to fly himself. "By the way," he said, "we reported the crash for you." Uh-oh. "Thanks," said Alex. "They said they'll be out this afternoon to take a look and do the paperwork."

We lifted into the air while Alex and I pretended that nothing had changed. We laughed and joked, and I wondered how long it would take the authorities to figure out who had been in the crash. We crossed a river with a waterfall. The Turbulence. The land was broken at that point into a vast cleft, and the river fell almost a kilometer into lower country. "It is," said Orman, "the highest known waterfall. Anywhere." Well, Alex and I both knew of a few bigger ones, but we kept our peace. They were surprised that tourists, as we claimed to be, knew nothing of the Turbulence. (The name applied both to the river and to the waterfall.) "Well," I said, "we were just drifting through. We're from Rimway." And that seemed to settle it. They both said "Oh," as if Rimway tourists came through all the time and they routinely knew nothing about the place they were visiting.

They dropped us off at a clothing store. We all went inside, and Alex reminded me to switch over to the corporate account we'd opened when we first came to Salud Afar. "That was farsighted," I told him. "We didn't know what we were getting into," he said. He had a hard time not looking pleased with himself. But we developed a quick problem: We couldn't get clear of our benefactors. s.h.i.+ala wanted to follow me around and help me shop. "We shouldn't take too long," she said, "if we're going to get back before Wash comes." "Wash is the guy doing the investigation of the crash?" "Yes, Sara," she said. (We'd given them false names.) "He's very good." Alex, left alone by Orman, found out that trains left regularly. "Another due out in two hours," he whispered to me when he was able to get me alone. Meanwhile, I'd gotten some clothes and two pairs of shoes.

"Lose her," said Alex. "How?" "Go to the washroom or something." "That won't work. Take my word for it." "What do you suggest?" s.h.i.+ala was standing a counter away, looking at hats. "Tell them the truth." "I don't think that's a good idea." "Alex, if we take off, they'll think we're in trouble and call the police. They'll have us before we can get to the train station." So we took them to lunch. While we ate, we told them what had happened. We didn't tell them everything. Just that we had uncovered some corruption in high places. We told them about the plateau and why we had crashed. We told them we needed for them to say nothing until we got clear. Would they be willing to trust us? And do that for us? They listened. Surprisingly, s.h.i.+ala was the more resistant. "They're wanted by the law," she told Orman. "We could get into a lot of trouble." "All you have to do," said Alex, "is explain that you didn't know. That we came into town, and we separated to do some shopping, and you didn't see us again." "I just don't know," s.h.i.+ala said. Orman took a long look at both of us. "Sure we'll help," he said. "You folks get as far away from here as you can. s.h.i.+ala and I will stay in town for the rest of the day. Make it harder for them to find us."

We took time to go to Korvik's CommCenter, where we bought new links and opened accounts under bogus names. Then we said good-bye to s.h.i.+ala and Orman and caught a train headed north. Away from Rendel. By then, Krestoff and her people would have been rescued, and there was a good chance that Wexler would expect us to try to make the flight to the Lantner Lantner world. That would mean they'd be looking for us at the s.p.a.ceports. And they'd probably have people alerted at Samuels as well. So we took a week and disappeared. We settled in at a northern seaside resort, played the gaming tables, hung out on the beaches, and generally had a good time. If there was a search on for us, we saw no sign of it. Eventually, Alex called Peifer. world. That would mean they'd be looking for us at the s.p.a.ceports. And they'd probably have people alerted at Samuels as well. So we took a week and disappeared. We settled in at a northern seaside resort, played the gaming tables, hung out on the beaches, and generally had a good time. If there was a search on for us, we saw no sign of it. Eventually, Alex called Peifer. "Where the h.e.l.l you guys been?" "Where the h.e.l.l you guys been?" Peifer demanded. Peifer demanded. "I've been trying to reach you." "I've been trying to reach you."

"Why? What's going on, Rob?"

"I have somebody I want you to meet."

"Okay. Best not to mention any names at the moment." The new links should have been safe, but you never knew.

"I understand. Sounds as if you've been making some progress."

"You remember where you met us?"

"Of course."

"There's a business with the same name."

"You're kidding."

"Check the listings." He needed a minute or two. "Okay. I see it." "Okay. I see it." "Meet me inside the front door at noon tomorrow." "Meet me inside the front door at noon tomorrow."

"Okay."

"And Rob?"

"Yes."

"We're in a little trouble." " " You? You? How the h.e.l.l is How the h.e.l.l is that that possible? But okay. I never got this call. Have no idea where you are." possible? But okay. I never got this call. Have no idea where you are." "Thanks." "Thanks." "In fact I "In fact I don't don't know where you are." know where you are."

"We met him in the s.p.a.ceport terminal," I said. "Right." Alex was enjoying himself. "What business incorporates 'terminal' in its name?" "They sell women's lingerie. It's called Terminal Attraction." "Ah. You did your homework." "I always do my homework, love." Next morning we took the train back to Marinopolis, and at a quarter to twelve we were posted in the Caribu Restaurant across the walkway from the lingerie store. The store advertised itself as THE HAPPY PLACE. At noon sharp Peifer showed up. He was in a white jacket with a broad-brimmed matching hat. We waited until he entered the store. No one else seemed to be watching, so I crossed the walkway and went in behind him. He was standing checking out the latest in casual underwear. There were a couple of customers. Both women. Neither looked like CSS. Of course, they weren't supposed to. "Chase," he said. "It's good to see you." It was an atmospheric place. Soft blue lights, diaphanous blue curtains twisting in a nonexistent breeze. Misty music. "And yourself, Rob. You want to follow me?" He looked around at the slips and panties. "I thought we were going to meet here." A clerk appeared on the scene and glanced from one of us to the other. "May I help you?" Peifer pointed toward a sheer nightie. "You'd look great in that, Chase." "Thanks," I told the clerk. "We'll pa.s.s for the moment." Neither of the customers showed any interest in us, and I saw no one outside. We left, but to be safe we circled the block. Still n.o.body. "You guys must really be scared," said Peifer. "Call it cautious." We went into the Caribu. He broke into a big smile when he saw Alex. They sat down together while I stayed near the window. They talked for a few minutes. When I was satisfied n.o.body was out there, I joined them. "I want you to meet Ecco Saberna," said Peifer. "He thinks he knows what got to Vicki Greene." "And what was that?" "I'll let him tell you. Why are you on the run?" "The CSS thinks we we figured out what happened to Greene." Alex had suggested we not reveal Wexler's complicity until we had more information. Until we could prove it. "The CSS? They're the good guys." "It's news to me." Peifer leaned across the table and lowered his voice. "So figured out what happened to Greene." Alex had suggested we not reveal Wexler's complicity until we had more information. Until we could prove it. "The CSS? They're the good guys." "It's news to me." Peifer leaned across the table and lowered his voice. "So did did you?" "Figure it out? "Yes. What's going on? Why's the CSS involved?" We ordered. When the AI asked what I wanted, I asked for a beef sandwich. "And a boltslinger." "What's a boltslinger?" asked Alex. "Don't know," I said. I'd seen it on the menu. Peifer a.s.sured me I'd like it. Peifer was about average size, and he needed to get a workout program going. His beard was unkempt. Maybe it was that beards weren't fas.h.i.+onable back home. In any case, he came off like a guy who was pretending to be an intellectual. That characteristic gave him an air of vulnerability, though, and made him easier to trust. "Rob," Alex said, "we still don't know what's happening. "Give me a few days, and I think I'll be able to tell you." "Why would the CSS think you know?" "We were looking into the Edward Demery business." He looked surprised. "That's a coincidence." you?" "Figure it out? "Yes. What's going on? Why's the CSS involved?" We ordered. When the AI asked what I wanted, I asked for a beef sandwich. "And a boltslinger." "What's a boltslinger?" asked Alex. "Don't know," I said. I'd seen it on the menu. Peifer a.s.sured me I'd like it. Peifer was about average size, and he needed to get a workout program going. His beard was unkempt. Maybe it was that beards weren't fas.h.i.+onable back home. In any case, he came off like a guy who was pretending to be an intellectual. That characteristic gave him an air of vulnerability, though, and made him easier to trust. "Rob," Alex said, "we still don't know what's happening. "Give me a few days, and I think I'll be able to tell you." "Why would the CSS think you know?" "We were looking into the Edward Demery business." He looked surprised. "That's a coincidence."

"In what way?" "You're going to be interested in what Ecco has to say."

Peifer knew a hotel in Sikora, a town about forty kilometers west of Marinopolis. It was a cheap place with low visibility. For a small additional remuneration, the owner would neglect to enter guest information online for CSS, as hotels on Salud Afar routinely did. (Some absolutist tendencies from the Bandahriate remained in place.) He gave us directions, and an hour later we checked into the Starlight Suites. That evening, Peifer showed up with Ecco Saberna. He was another bearded guy, built low to the ground. Hard dark eyes like marbles. "The truth of the matter, Alex," Saberna said in a tone that suggested dark times were coming, "is that there's a rift out there. It's located somewhere near the Lantner Lantner asteroid." "A rift?" "A break in the time-s.p.a.ce continuum." Alex frowned. I looked at Peifer. Was this guy crazy? "If I'm correct, and I think I am, it's moving at a substantial velocity. In this direction." He took a deep breath. "We're lucky it's as far away as it is." "A distortion?" Alex asked. He was having trouble grasping the concept. It was my turn: "They're supposed to be theoretically possible. But n.o.body's ever seen one." "Of course n.o.body's ever seen one, child," Saberna said. "If you get close enough to make the observation, you'll have a great deal of trouble talking about it later." He seemed to think that was funny, and he chuckled. It was an abrasive sound. Peifer had been standing quietly with his arms folded. "I know it sounds wild," he said, "but Ecco's a prizewinning physicist. He knows what he's talking about. And it would explain a lot." Alex took a moment to appraise Saberna. "You think," he said, "that the two s.h.i.+ps that went out to the asteroid." "A rift?" "A break in the time-s.p.a.ce continuum." Alex frowned. I looked at Peifer. Was this guy crazy? "If I'm correct, and I think I am, it's moving at a substantial velocity. In this direction." He took a deep breath. "We're lucky it's as far away as it is." "A distortion?" Alex asked. He was having trouble grasping the concept. It was my turn: "They're supposed to be theoretically possible. But n.o.body's ever seen one." "Of course n.o.body's ever seen one, child," Saberna said. "If you get close enough to make the observation, you'll have a great deal of trouble talking about it later." He seemed to think that was funny, and he chuckled. It was an abrasive sound. Peifer had been standing quietly with his arms folded. "I know it sounds wild," he said, "but Ecco's a prizewinning physicist. He knows what he's talking about. And it would explain a lot." Alex took a moment to appraise Saberna. "You think," he said, "that the two s.h.i.+ps that went out to the Lantner Lantner rock got swept up by this thing?" "Yes. That's exactly what I think happened." "And the people who were outside on the surface of the asteroid?" "They would have been caught as well. In the gravity field created by the pa.s.sing rift." "So they'd have been dragged off?" "Yes." "Why wasn't the asteroid also sucked in?" He shrugged. The answer was obvious. "It was too ma.s.sive. And the effect was only momentary." rock got swept up by this thing?" "Yes. That's exactly what I think happened." "And the people who were outside on the surface of the asteroid?" "They would have been caught as well. In the gravity field created by the pa.s.sing rift." "So they'd have been dragged off?" "Yes." "Why wasn't the asteroid also sucked in?" He shrugged. The answer was obvious. "It was too ma.s.sive. And the effect was only momentary."

We were chewing on pastries that Peifer had brought with him. Alex took a bite out of a cinnamon roll. "What makes you think it's a rift?" he asked. "We're in a highly problematic field, Alex. There's no hard data. But let me show you what we do do have." He proceeded to do so. In detail. He put up a display that tracked how a deformity in the continuum might occur, resulting from too much stress, how it might even be caused by the new star drive, the one that had been developed by the Dellacondans during their war with the Mutes and was just now coming into wide use. He apparently had no conception of Alex's role in those events. I understood none of it, and I was pretty sure Alex had gotten lost, too. "So where is it now?" he asked. "This deformity?" "There's no way to know without going out to find it. But the government won't do that. They don't want to admit it's out there. I know. I've talked to them. But it have." He proceeded to do so. In detail. He put up a display that tracked how a deformity in the continuum might occur, resulting from too much stress, how it might even be caused by the new star drive, the one that had been developed by the Dellacondans during their war with the Mutes and was just now coming into wide use. He apparently had no conception of Alex's role in those events. I understood none of it, and I was pretty sure Alex had gotten lost, too. "So where is it now?" he asked. "This deformity?" "There's no way to know without going out to find it. But the government won't do that. They don't want to admit it's out there. I know. I've talked to them. But it is is there, Alex. And I'd be willing to bet it's coming this way. That's why they're keeping it quiet. They want to avoid panic. They keep talking about Mutes to distract people." "How fast would it be traveling?" "Best guess for a fracture of this nature: about ten percent of cee." "Then it would be here in about-" He scribbled some numbers on a pad. Made a face. Saberna grinned. It wasn't easy to be in the presence of ordinary people. "Three hundred years." "That doesn't sound like crisis proportions." there, Alex. And I'd be willing to bet it's coming this way. That's why they're keeping it quiet. They want to avoid panic. They keep talking about Mutes to distract people." "How fast would it be traveling?" "Best guess for a fracture of this nature: about ten percent of cee." "Then it would be here in about-" He scribbled some numbers on a pad. Made a face. Saberna grinned. It wasn't easy to be in the presence of ordinary people. "Three hundred years." "That doesn't sound like crisis proportions."

"We think they're worried about the economics," said Peifer. "It would scare the h.e.l.l out of people. The economy would collapse. It might be hard to hold society together if you have to take a short-range view." "Short-range?" I said. "Three centuries?" "They're probably right," said Alex. "It wouldn't be the short-range view. It would be that there's no future." I thought about Wexler selling his property. Cas.h.i.+ng out while he could. "What would happen," Alex asked, "if it arrived in this area? How big is the d.a.m.ned thing?" "That's anybody's guess." "Why do you think it's coming here?" Saberna crossed his arms. "I think the government went out and looked. And they didn't like what they found. Vicki Greene found out about it somehow, and they had to keep her quiet. Why else would they have done the lineal block?" Alex was rubbing his eyebrows, staring down at the floor. "How would they even have known where to look?" Saberna was having trouble keeping the exasperation out of his voice. "It would be a very easy threat to check. You would only have to be concerned if it were coming in this direction, is that not right? Yes. They could have found out its theoretical velocity. And they knew it was out near the Lantner Lantner world thirty-three years ago. After that it would simply have been a matter of doing the math." Alex shook his head. "That can't be right," he said. "Why not?" "If you're correct, what's the point of building the shelters?" Saberna held out his hands, palms up. Wasn't it obvious? "It's a distraction. They know rumors about the distortion have gotten out. They're trying to sell the Mute story." I hadn't heard any of the rumors. "The mainline media stay away from them," said Peifer. "But we've been hearing them for the last two months. I think this is exactly what's happening. Global has been reporting that some people near the top of the government have been divesting themselves of holdings and converting their wealth into Confederate currencies. The sort of thing you might do if a major catastrophe was on the way. But on the other hand, economists are talking about a downturn, and they say divestment routinely happens at such times." "You think it gives credence to Ecco's ideas?" "I don't know. Maybe it just means stormy weather ahead, and they're putting their holdings in the vault. But h.e.l.l, if the end of the world is coming, then yes, I'd expect the people who know about it to be trying to get clear. And take their money with them." His eyes grew hard. "And they'd have every incentive to keep it quiet." world thirty-three years ago. After that it would simply have been a matter of doing the math." Alex shook his head. "That can't be right," he said. "Why not?" "If you're correct, what's the point of building the shelters?" Saberna held out his hands, palms up. Wasn't it obvious? "It's a distraction. They know rumors about the distortion have gotten out. They're trying to sell the Mute story." I hadn't heard any of the rumors. "The mainline media stay away from them," said Peifer. "But we've been hearing them for the last two months. I think this is exactly what's happening. Global has been reporting that some people near the top of the government have been divesting themselves of holdings and converting their wealth into Confederate currencies. The sort of thing you might do if a major catastrophe was on the way. But on the other hand, economists are talking about a downturn, and they say divestment routinely happens at such times." "You think it gives credence to Ecco's ideas?" "I don't know. Maybe it just means stormy weather ahead, and they're putting their holdings in the vault. But h.e.l.l, if the end of the world is coming, then yes, I'd expect the people who know about it to be trying to get clear. And take their money with them." His eyes grew hard. "And they'd have every incentive to keep it quiet."

Despite their name, the Starlight Suites had no suite. The proprietor seemed to think that a suite was a room with an elegant name. So we had separate quarters. I retired to mine, got ready for bed, killed the lights, and took a minute to look down at the street. We were on the top floor, the fourth. There were shops across the way, a legal office, a landing pad. I half expected to see someone watching us. But it was quiet. Maybe we were safe. Nevertheless, I didn't unpack my bag, other than to hang up the new clothes I'd bought. This was my first experience being on the run, and I can't say I cared for it much. I was still pumping too much adrenaline, I guess, to sleep well. I watched the HV for a while. Finally, toward dawn, I drifted off. We went to breakfast at a place called Bandy's, where we both grumbled about inedible food and avoided talking about interspatial rifts. "We'll keep the hotel room here," Alex said. "But I think it's time to head for the asteroid." I thought so, too. But on the way back to the Starlight Suites we saw a guy coming out of the building. He paused on the front steps, gazed across the street, and walked away. There was something of Agents Krestoff and Bong in the way he carried himself. I steered Alex into a turn. "Stay away from the building," I said. "I think so, too." "Give me your key." He produced it. "What are you going to do?" "Make sure we don't get picked up again. You go back to Bandy's and have some coffee. I'll come get you when I'm sure it's safe." The Starlight Suites lacked a rooftop parking area, but there was a connecting walkway with the Weidner Building, which housed several business offices. I left Alex and walked into the Weidner Building. Rode the elevator up to the fourth floor and climbed a set of stairs to the roof. The door was locked. But my room key opened it. I let myself out onto the roof, and crossed to the Suites in the connector. It was cold. I hurried down to ground level, keeping to the staircases. I took a good look around the lobby before I showed myself. When I was satisfied no one was there except the bot at the desk, I walked over to her. "h.e.l.lo, Dale," she said pleasantly, using the alias we'd given the hotel. "What can I do for you?" "Has anyone been asking for us? Either me or Henry?" The bot nodded. "Um, yes. A police officer was in here a few minutes ago. He showed us pictures of you and the gentleman." "What did you tell him?" "That I'd never seen you. But I don't think he believed me." I gave her some money for the owner. "Thanks, Ha.s.s."

I went back up to the rooms, grabbed my bags and Alex's, and dragged them up onto the roof, across the walkway, and down through the Weidner Building. I hauled the two bags out onto the sidewalk, flagged down a land cab, went to the restaurant, and picked up Alex. Twenty minutes later we were at the train station.

TWENTY-FIVE.

"It is not true, Mirra, that anyone who walks through that door simply vanishes. Walks out of the world and is never heard from again. It's true of some. I, however, would be perfectly safe. In fact, virtually anyone you brought in from the street would be perfectly safe." "Who then, Professor?" "Only those you love, Mirra. Only they are threatened."- Midnight and Roses We rode the train into Marinopolis. On the way, Alex asked me to make a shuttle reservation. For one. Uno Uno . "How come?" I said. We were seated in a compartment, just back from the dining car with sandwiches. He looked out at a large patch of farmland. "Chase, we both know they'll probably be waiting for us at either the terminal or at Samuels. Probably both places." "I know." "We can't afford to have them take both of us." "So what are you suggesting?" . "How come?" I said. We were seated in a compartment, jus