The Devil's Eye Part 4

"What about the AI?" "The CSS took it. Part of their investigation." "The CSS took it. Part of their investigation." He paused, lost in thought. He paused, lost in thought. "There was something else odd, too." "There was something else odd, too."

"What's that, Ivan?"

"She bought out the ship. Wanted to travel alone. No other pa.s.sengers."

"Would you guys take her someplace special if she asked?"

"Oh, sure. We'll take you sightseeing anywhere you wanted to go. If n.o.body objects."

"Like if there's n.o.body else on board."

"Yes."

"Okay. So she wanted to go off the usual tour destinations. Where else might she have wanted to go?" "Chase, you got me. There "Chase, you got me. There is is nowhere else. There's nothing out here for hundreds of light-years in all directions." nowhere else. There's nothing out here for hundreds of light-years in all directions." "Do you know where she was coming "Do you know where she was coming from from ?" ?" "No. I can check the logs." "No. I can check the logs."

"Would you do that for me? And get back to me?"

"That kind of information's supposed to be private."

"I'd appreciate it, Ivan."

He called the next morning. "There's no record," "There's no record," he said. "What happened to it?" he said. "What happened to it?"

"Officially, the flight never happened. That tells me the CSS took it."

SIXTEEN.

Barry would have been all right if he hadn't become a physicist. But all that nonsense about ma.s.s and energy got him believing he really knew how the world worked. And he didn't. He never did. And that's what got him killed.- Midnight and Roses Vicki, Ivan said, had signed on for the flight from a hotel in Moreska. Moreska was a small town in the middle of nowhere. It had no spectral claims, no demons, creatures from another age still haunting the roads. But it had once been home to Demery Manor, which, for reasons unknown, had been blown apart during the final year of the Bandahr's rule, just months before his a.s.sa.s.sination. n.o.body knew why the incident had occurred, although everyone a.s.sumed Nicorps was involved. The manor's owner, Edward Demery, was not an enemy of the regime, as far as was known. I didn't think blowing up a house was enough to have interested Vicki Greene. Until I heard that seventeen other homes, throughout the region, had been destroyed the same night.

The Demery Manor site consisted of a few burned timbers and a couple of stone walls jutting out of the earth. The common wisdom held that Edward Demery had incurred the wrath of Aramy Cleev and paid the price. According to the flyers we'd gotten at the hotel in Moreska, "most experts" believed the Bandahr had been personally offended when Demery, during an interview, had described the compa.s.sion and basic decency of Dakar Cleev, Aramy's grandfather, without mentioning Aramy's own matchless compa.s.sion. The dictator had said nothing publicly, of course, and had in fact even praised Demery's perspicacity. But anyone who knew Aramy Cleev understood the failure to note his kindness would not have gone down well. The general destruction had come six days after those unfortunate remarks and had been spread over several hundred kilometers in all directions. Houses, villas, and manors had been leveled. There'd been no survivors anywhere. Nicorps, it was a.s.sumed by many, was closing its books on people who had incurred the Bandahr's displeasure. We were looking at the ruins, on a cold afternoon, while a wet wind blew in off the sea. We had an autoguide with us. "They killed him and his wife," "They killed him and his wife," said the autoguide. "Eighteen houses in one night?" said Alex. "That seems a bit extreme." said the autoguide. "Eighteen houses in one night?" said Alex. "That seems a bit extreme."

"There are always rumors when terrible things happen," the tour guide said. the tour guide said. "If you want my personal opinion, I think Nicorps simply went rogue and decided to kill everybody they didn't like. But who really knows?" "If you want my personal opinion, I think Nicorps simply went rogue and decided to kill everybody they didn't like. But who really knows?"

"What did he do for a living?" I asked. "Demery?"

"He was born into wealth, ma'am. But he thought of himself as a mathematician though he never had any formal training."

"Was he a native of this area?" "Oh, no. No. He wasn't even from this "Oh, no. No. He wasn't even from this world. world. Demery was born on Rimway." Demery was born on Rimway." "Are there any theories about why all these people were killed the same night?" asked Alex. "Other than Nicorps running wild?" "Are there any theories about why all these people were killed the same night?" asked Alex. "Other than Nicorps running wild?"

"What other explanation could there be? I think they'd probably gotten backlogged. Decided to catch up on old work. Did it all the same night. It wouldn't be the first time they'd done something like that."

Alex stared at the ruins. "Did Demery leave an avatar?"

"It was purged. On the day of the explosions."

"By whose authority?"

"n.o.body knows."

"It would," I said, "have had to come from high up." Alex nodded. Of course it would.

Edward Demery had not only lost his life. He had undergone an electronic subtraction as well. And not only the avatar. You went looking for data on him, and there was enough to prove he existed. You could find a birth certificate, you could find brief accounts of his impending wedding, and there was real-estate information. Demery buys office building in New Samarkand. You could find an account of his acquiring controlling interest in Blackmoor Financial, and his contributions to the Aquarius Fund, which was striving to rejuvenate oceans hampered by the absence of a moon. There was an award from the Ballinger Historical Society. But of his personal life, what he thought, what he believed in, what he cared about, that was all gone. Orrin Batavian was a banker who liked to be thought of as an historian. We sought him out because he'd organized a speaking engagement for Vicki and because he'd been a close friend of Demery's. We found him at his home, a large, landscaped property on the edge of town. "Ed and I shared a fascination for ancient history," he told us. "For the early years." Because of that friendship, he said, he'd held his breath for several days after the explosion, wondering whether they'd come after him, too. "You never knew what might irritate Nicorps," he said. "It was the way they operated." We were seated in his office in downtown Moreska. "Somebody got in trouble, everybody he knew got swept up with him. I had my fingers crossed." The walls were filled with framed certificates of outstanding accomplishments by Batavian's bank and pictures of the man himself with various people whose postures suggested they were VIPs. "Why did he get in trouble?" Alex asked. "Do you have any idea?" Batavian shook his head. "I honestly don't know. He didn't like the regime. But n.o.body did." His chair squeaked. "Almost n.o.body. Some people saw no problem with Cleev. You did what you were told and didn't make trouble, then you had nothing to worry about." "But you do think Cleev was behind the attack." "Well, Nicorps was. I doubt it was anything big enough to draw the Bandahr's attention. You have to understand that it was the guys further down the food chain who caused most of the trouble. They had thugs and psychopaths running everything. And the way they looked good to their bosses was to be able to show a body count every month. "Those were bad times. So people didn't make an electronic record of themselves. Ed was an exception. People still don't do it, for that matter. Not the older ones. Call it force of habit, but there's always a sense that the Bandahr might come back. So you don't put anything up. Especially not an avatar who's going to tell the government what you really think." Batavian had an aristocratic demeanor. His family had prospered under the dictatorship, and the word around town was that he'd survived when Demery went down because he had connections. "It might be true," he admitted. "I was never a collaborator, but my father was. And my sister." Alex's eyes narrowed. "Do you have any idea why they would have purged the Demery record?" "They did that routinely. They didn't have to have a reason. You got in trouble, you became invisible. Look, I don't know whether he just said the wrong thing to the wrong person. Or whether there was something they were actually afraid of. Demery didn't like the Bandahriate. But he never did anything more than talk. And he tried to be circ.u.mspect about the people he spoke to. He was like me. We both had a decent life under the sons of b.i.t.c.hes, if you played by the rules and didn't mind keeping your mouth shut. So we played by the rules. Lived with it as best we could. I don't know. Maybe they took him out because somebody just wanted to run up the numbers. Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe he had some old fertilizer in the bas.e.m.e.nt. I just don't know." "All right," said Alex, "let's try a different subject: Vicki Greene." "Ah, yes. I knew that was coming." "She did a program here. With you as moderator." He smiled. "She spoke to the Martian Society. By closed circuit. It was members only. And a few guests." "The Martian Society is-?" "-A group of people who pretend we've been taken over by aliens. Who keep out of sight." "The original aliens, apparently." He laughed. "We have a pretty good time. It's strictly a social operation. n.o.body takes it seriously." "What did she talk about?" "Her books, of course." "That's all? Anything else come up?" "Well, it was a fairly wide-ranging conversation." "Did she mention the explosions?" He stuck his tongue in his cheek while he thought about it. "No," he said finally. "Not that I can recall." "How about Demery?" "No. There was no reason to. But she was was interested in him. She was excited to hear we'd been friends." "Why was she interested in him?" "Because of the interested in him. She was excited to hear we'd been friends." "Why was she interested in him?" "Because of the Lantner Lantner world ULY447." "Which is what?" "Well, it's not really a world. It's an asteroid-a long way out. Light-years, in fact." "And?" "Two ships disappeared out there. During a religious ceremony. Ed was always intrigued by it. Always coming up with explanations." Alex glanced my way. That sounded like another reason for Vicki's interest. "Tell us about it. About the disappearance." "Not much to tell, Alex. We had a corporation, Starloft, that used to sell people asteroids. The inner-system asteroids, of course." "Starloft world ULY447." "Which is what?" "Well, it's not really a world. It's an asteroid-a long way out. Light-years, in fact." "And?" "Two ships disappeared out there. During a religious ceremony. Ed was always intrigued by it. Always coming up with explanations." Alex glanced my way. That sounded like another reason for Vicki's interest. "Tell us about it. About the disappearance." "Not much to tell, Alex. We had a corporation, Starloft, that used to sell people asteroids. The inner-system asteroids, of course." "Starloft sold sold asteroids?" I asked. "Yes." "Why? What can you do with an asteroid?" Batavian put on a beatific smile. "Immortality, young lady. They name it for you. Then they take you and your family and friends out to the thing, charging everybody for the transportation, of course. They hold a ceremony and install a monument with your name on it. People bought them to honor deceased relatives. Some people provided for it in their wills. It was a pretty lucrative business at one time." "But they don't do it anymore?" asteroids?" I asked. "Yes." "Why? What can you do with an asteroid?" Batavian put on a beatific smile. "Immortality, young lady. They name it for you. Then they take you and your family and friends out to the thing, charging everybody for the transportation, of course. They hold a ceremony and install a monument with your name on it. People bought them to honor deceased relatives. Some people provided for it in their wills. It was a pretty lucrative business at one time." "But they don't do it anymore?"

"No. The Bandahr claimed ownership of the asteroids, and Cleev took a cut of the proceeds. The current government probably wouldn't have changed things, but we went through a Save-the-Asteroids period. People didn't think markers should be put on them. Or that the government or anyone else owned owned them. It became a political issue." "So it got stopped?" "The politicians saw a good thing and got on board. They eventually taxed it out of existence." "So what about the them. It became a political issue." "So it got stopped?" "The politicians saw a good thing and got on board. They eventually taxed it out of existence." "So what about the Lantner Lantner mission?" "That was a big deal for Starloft. For a long time, the business was strictly local. Then the Family of G.o.d, a religious group led by Calius Sabel, decided to go deep. Go for the outer asteroids. Out to the Swarm." "The Swarm?" "It's a sea of asteroids. Some of them line up pretty closely with Callistra. They picked the biggest one they could find and decided to build a monument on it. They thought it would provide religious significance." "In what way?" "The Family of G.o.d a.s.sociated Callistra with the eye of the Deity. So the placement of a monument on that asteroid was to a.s.sure the faithful that they walked always in His light. Or some such thing. "Starloft sent a team out and did the installation. It's still there if you want to take a look at it. When it was completed, the Sabels went out in two ships to conduct a ceremony. There were a couple of Starloft executives with them. The two ships were the mission?" "That was a big deal for Starloft. For a long time, the business was strictly local. Then the Family of G.o.d, a religious group led by Calius Sabel, decided to go deep. Go for the outer asteroids. Out to the Swarm." "The Swarm?" "It's a sea of asteroids. Some of them line up pretty closely with Callistra. They picked the biggest one they could find and decided to build a monument on it. They thought it would provide religious significance." "In what way?" "The Family of G.o.d a.s.sociated Callistra with the eye of the Deity. So the placement of a monument on that asteroid was to a.s.sure the faithful that they walked always in His light. Or some such thing. "Starloft sent a team out and did the installation. It's still there if you want to take a look at it. When it was completed, the Sabels went out in two ships to conduct a ceremony. There were a couple of Starloft executives with them. The two ships were the Lantner Lantner , which the Sabels leased, and the , which the Sabels leased, and the Origon Origon , which was provided by Starloft. They got out there okay. They set up imagers, spent two days in prayer and thanksgiving, and on the third day they went down to do the ceremony." "And this was thirty years ago?" I asked. He had to count. "Thirty-six, Chase." "How far is it?" He checked with his AI. , which was provided by Starloft. They got out there okay. They set up imagers, spent two days in prayer and thanksgiving, and on the third day they went down to do the ceremony." "And this was thirty years ago?" I asked. He had to count. "Thirty-six, Chase." "How far is it?" He checked with his AI. "Thirty-three light-years." "Thirty-three light-years." "They'd have been using the old drive," I said. "Just getting there would have taken a week." "Please continue," said Alex. "On the third day, they went down onto the asteroid?" "Yes. There were two landers. They put on pressure suits and got out and a.s.sembled in front of the monument. The ceremony was transmitted back here on HV. I didn't see it live. But I've seen it since. Everybody has. "Anyhow, they did some praying. Then they started making speeches. One of the Sabels was talking when the transmission suddenly stopped. Just blanked out. Dead at the source. It was the last anybody ever heard of any of them." "When the rescue units got out there-?" said Alex. "-They were gone. Ships, landers, people. Everything. Except the monument." I was trying to imagine any sequence of events that would account for it. "It doesn't sound possible," I said. Batavian got up, walked over to the window, and looked out. In the distance, a train moved across the countryside. "There was a search. But they never found anything. Some people blamed the Mutes. There were all kinds of stories. Mostly that other aliens were loose out there somewhere. And there was something else." "What's that?" "The patrol boat that originally went to the scene, the "They'd have been using the old drive," I said. "Just getting there would have taken a week." "Please continue," said Alex. "On the third day, they went down onto the asteroid?" "Yes. There were two landers. They put on pressure suits and got out and a.s.sembled in front of the monument. The ceremony was transmitted back here on HV. I didn't see it live. But I've seen it since. Everybody has. "Anyhow, they did some praying. Then they started making speeches. One of the Sabels was talking when the transmission suddenly stopped. Just blanked out. Dead at the source. It was the last anybody ever heard of any of them." "When the rescue units got out there-?" said Alex. "-They were gone. Ships, landers, people. Everything. Except the monument." I was trying to imagine any sequence of events that would account for it. "It doesn't sound possible," I said. Batavian got up, walked over to the window, and looked out. In the distance, a train moved across the countryside. "There was a search. But they never found anything. Some people blamed the Mutes. There were all kinds of stories. Mostly that other aliens were loose out there somewhere. And there was something else." "What's that?" "The patrol boat that originally went to the scene, the Valiant Valiant , never made it home. It was the first rescue vehicle." "What happened to it?" I asked. "Are you going to tell us , never made it home. It was the first rescue vehicle." "What happened to it?" I asked. "Are you going to tell us it it disappeared, too?" "No. It filed its report, and another Bandahriate vehicle, a specialized one, I think they said at the time, went out to look around. The patrol boat returned to its usual a.s.signment. And a day or so later it exploded." "Sounds like a pattern," said Alex. disappeared, too?" "No. It filed its report, and another Bandahriate vehicle, a specialized one, I think they said at the time, went out to look around. The patrol boat returned to its usual a.s.signment. And a day or so later it exploded." "Sounds like a pattern," said Alex.

"They said it was an engine problem." "Any survivors?" "None." For several moments, no one spoke. Then he continued: "Ed loved mysteries. So naturally the Lantner Lantner incident caught his attention. I don't know how many times I heard him tell people how he'd watched the night it happened." He sighed. Shook his head. "Shortly after that, the government issued a warning about the area, that they thought Mutes might have established a base in the region. Everybody was told to stay clear." "So n.o.body went out there after that?" "n.o.body went out there anyhow. Except on that one occasion." We sat. We could hear a couple of people arguing outside. incident caught his attention. I don't know how many times I heard him tell people how he'd watched the night it happened." He sighed. Shook his head. "Shortly after that, the government issued a warning about the area, that they thought Mutes might have established a base in the region. Everybody was told to stay clear." "So n.o.body went out there after that?" "n.o.body went out there anyhow. Except on that one occasion." We sat. We could hear a couple of people arguing outside.

While I watched her, I was thinking how much more difficult it is to be entertaining when you don't have the audience physically in front of you, when they're spread out across an electronic hookup and you can't feed off their reactions. Or even get a read on them. I've done a few appearances with Alex, and I want them sitting out there where I can see them to get my adrenaline flowing. But it didn't seem to bother her. Batavian had been the emcee. He introduced her from the same room we were sitting in. She came in and sat down in the chair that Alex was using and said she was glad to be there, and what a privilege it was, and so on. Most people do that and you know they're kidding. But she meant it. And it was easy to see right from the start that she was enjoying herself. Batavian got out of the way, and Vicki took the helm. She told the audience how much she loved what she did, that the old stories about writers working out of attics while they slugged down whiskey, that their lives were solitary and dreary, that it was hard, painstaking work, was all a lie. "We say that stuff to discourage other people from getting into the business. To keep the compet.i.tion down. There's nothing as exhilarating as writing a good line or watching a plot come together." "We say that stuff to discourage other people from getting into the business. To keep the compet.i.tion down. There's nothing as exhilarating as writing a good line or watching a plot come together." Images of her listeners appeared. The audience was composed of young and old, equal numbers of both s.e.xes, people with money and people who were managing. The one characteristic they all shared was enthusiasm. When she'd finished, they applauded for a full minute. Not bad for an audience scattered around the globe. They went to questions. We listened while they asked why she'd decided to write horror, what she did in her spare time, and whether there'd be a sequel to this or that book. When it was done, we sat quietly listening to the wind play against the side of the building. Batavian was still staring at the spot where Vicki's image had been. "She was interested in Aramy Cleev, Alex," he said. "Did you know that? It's true. She was annoyed because Cleev's avatar is restricted." Alex leaned forward. "Really?" That was a surprise. The guy was, after all, a major historical figure. "Yes. You have to have special authorization to talk to it." Alex's eyes, which had been distant, came into sharp focus. "I think," said Batavian, "they just don't trust Cleev. Not even dead. And they don't entirely trust the general population. A lot of people here would love to go back to the Bandahr years." Images of her listeners appeared. The audience was composed of young and old, equal numbers of both s.e.xes, people with money and people who were managing. The one characteristic they all shared was enthusiasm. When she'd finished, they applauded for a full minute. Not bad for an audience scattered around the globe. They went to questions. We listened while they asked why she'd decided to write horror, what she did in her spare time, and whether there'd be a sequel to this or that book. When it was done, we sat quietly listening to the wind play against the side of the building. Batavian was still staring at the spot where Vicki's image had been. "She was interested in Aramy Cleev, Alex," he said. "Did you know that? It's true. She was annoyed because Cleev's avatar is restricted." Alex leaned forward. "Really?" That was a surprise. The guy was, after all, a major historical figure. "Yes. You have to have special authorization to talk to it." Alex's eyes, which had been distant, came into sharp focus. "I think," said Batavian, "they just don't trust Cleev. Not even dead. And they don't entirely trust the general population. A lot of people here would love to go back to the Bandahr years."

SEVENTEEN.

"It's true, Lia. People walk out of their homes and are never heard from again." "Why, Dr. Stratford? What happens to them?" "Bad spirits get them. It happens every day. It's why you must never wander off into the woods alone."- Dying to Know You I spent the next morning strolling around town while Alex stayed in the hotel looking through old newscasts and reading about ULY447 and the Lantner Lantner incident. The weather was cold in Moreska, so I treated myself to a new sweater and a matching cap. I put them on and went back out to where the manor had been and stood on the cliff's edge thinking the kind of thoughts you do when the wind is blowing hard at your back and it's a hundred meters straight down to some water and a lot of rocks. When I got back to the hotel in midafternoon, Alex was waiting for me. "I've been looking at the other houses that were blown up that night," he said. "Did you find a connection to Demery?" "Nothing on the net. But I made some calls. One of the houses belonged to William Kelton. The mayor of Mancuso, which is just down the road a few klicks. His wife and daughter died in the blast. And a visitor. Apparently the daughter's fianc . "The wife might be of interest." "Why?" "She was retired. Taught at Travis University for a while. Wrote popular science articles for a number of publications. Did some sort of extradimensional research at Quantum Labs, which is a pretty good haul from where she lived." "She had a link with Demery?" "Yes. Her name was Jennifer. She and Demery were at one time members of the Archimedes Club." "For people interested in math?" "Very good, Chase. They used to compete in problem-solving exercises. Among themselves, and with other groups. A couple of the members I talked to said that Demery and Jennifer were close friends." "Okay. So where does that lead us?" "Let's try to find out. Kelton wasn't home when the explosion happened. But Jennifer was." "What happened to the husband? Kelton?" "He was on a hunting trip. From which he never returned. Disappeared in the woods. No one ever found the body." "Was he hunting alone?" "No. There were five or six of them. The others said he wandered off from the campsite and didn't come back." "Either of them have an avatar?" "Jennifer did. But it's gone now. Incidentally, of the people who lived in the eighteen homes destroyed that night, eleven or twelve had avatars, including some kids. They were all removed. n.o.body seems to know who took them down. "Family members who weren't home when their houses were hit either dropped out of sight, or turned up dead. Including some children." "Incredible," I said. "I didn't realize Nicorps was so ruthless." He'd drawn the curtains across the windows, blocking off all but a slash of sunlight. I put my new cap back on. "So, Alex, do we pay a visit to City Hall?" incident. The weather was cold in Moreska, so I treated myself to a new sweater and a matching cap. I put them on and went back out to where the manor had been and stood on the cliff's edge thinking the kind of thoughts you do when the wind is blowing hard at your back and it's a hundred meters straight down to some water and a lot of rocks. When I got back to the hotel in midafternoon, Alex was waiting for me. "I've been looking at the other houses that were blown up that night," he said. "Did you find a connection to Demery?" "Nothing on the net. But I made some calls. One of the houses belonged to William Kelton. The mayor of Mancuso, which is just down the road a few klicks. His wife and daughter died in the blast. And a visitor. Apparently the daughter's fianc . "The wife might be of interest." "Why?" "She was retired. Taught at Travis University for a while. Wrote popular science articles for a number of publications. Did some sort of extradimensional research at Quantum Labs, which is a pretty good haul from where she lived." "She had a link with Demery?" "Yes. Her name was Jennifer. She and Demery were at one time members of the Archimedes Club." "For people interested in math?" "Very good, Chase. They used to compete in problem-solving exercises. Among themselves, and with other groups. A couple of the members I talked to said that Demery and Jennifer were close friends." "Okay. So where does that lead us?" "Let's try to find out. Kelton wasn't home when the explosion happened. But Jennifer was." "What happened to the husband? Kelton?" "He was on a hunting trip. From which he never returned. Disappeared in the woods. No one ever found the body." "Was he hunting alone?" "No. There were five or six of them. The others said he wandered off from the campsite and didn't come back." "Either of them have an avatar?" "Jennifer did. But it's gone now. Incidentally, of the people who lived in the eighteen homes destroyed that night, eleven or twelve had avatars, including some kids. They were all removed. n.o.body seems to know who took them down. "Family members who weren't home when their houses were hit either dropped out of sight, or turned up dead. Including some children." "Incredible," I said. "I didn't realize Nicorps was so ruthless." He'd drawn the curtains across the windows, blocking off all but a slash of sunlight. I put my new cap back on. "So, Alex, do we pay a visit to City Hall?"

Only a few remembered Mayor Kelton. It had been, after all, thirty-three years since he'd disappeared during that ill-fated hunting trip. There were two or three around town who'd been staff people at that time. They couldn't find a kind word to say for him. The mayor had been affable and easygoing in public, and a tyrant behind the scenes. He had a short temper, grabbed the credit for everything, never talked to his people except to criticize. "I hated working for him," one of the former staffers told us. "But I wanted a political career, and he was the only set of coattails in the area." Another admitted to having experienced a sense of relief when he'd disappeared. "I felt guilty about it," she said. "But I can't say I was sorry he was gone." Never heard from again. It was the hallmark of people who'd gotten in trouble with the authorities. They went for a walk and didn't come home. In fact, though, blowing up houses was not an aberration. We combed through twenty-seven years of Aramy Cleev rule and found that the tactic was used on a regular basis. In several of the other instances, it seemed clear that the houses had been taken out to ensure that potentially embarra.s.sing information hadn't gone public. Occasionally, the method had been employed simply to send a message. One older woman, who had served as a consultant, still seemed frightened when discussing the event. "My generation," she said, "will never feel completely comfortable talking politics. You just can't be sure he won't come back." "Kelton?" "Aramy Cleev. Some of the family is still around, and there are a lot of people who'd like to see them return to power." She lowered her voice. "There's talk they have a clone stashed away somewhere. Waiting." She looked past me into that long-gone world. "Why do you think it happened?" Alex asked her. "What possible reason could Nicorps have had?" "I don't know, Mr. Benedict." We were in a modest restaurant across the street from City Hall. It was the middle of the afternoon, so there weren't many customers. In fact, other than us, only two. "In those days there didn't necessarily have to be a reason. People just went away." "Did the mayor ever seem fearful? Did he ever talk about the possibility that something like this might happen?" "Not that I knew about, no." She stirred her tea and looked pained. Frightened. "It strikes me," I said, "that going into politics in that kind of system was dangerous." Across the street a skimmer was landing on the City Hall pad. She watched it set down, and a young couple climbed out. "Probably going to get a marriage license," she said. Then: "No. It wasn't really dangerous. There was a lot of corruption. But as long as you played along, didn't make any noise, you were fine. I didn't have any power, so Nicorps didn't even notice I was there." "Did Cleev himself run for office?" "Oh, sure. Every five years. Like clockwork. The Cleevs always pretended we were a republic. They held elections. And they always won big. Like ninety-nine percent of the vote. But n.o.body ever said anything about it." She grew thoughtful. "Except Katy Doyle." "What happened to her?" "She was running for mayor. This was before Bill's time. Anyhow, she lost. Almost unanimously. A short time later, she issued a statement about how she'd been wrong about Cleev, and what a great leader he was. Then she left town. We never knew what happened to her. I'm pretty sure she was trying to get clear, but I don't know whether she succeeded." The young couple bounced up the walkway and into the building. I remember thinking they didn't look old enough to be getting married. "One more question," said Alex. "Okay." "It'll seem like a strange one." "That's all right." "His wife. Did you know her?" "Oh, yes. We all knew Jennifer." "Did either of them, Jennifer or Bill, ever talk about far-out stuff? Like aliens? Or the Lantner Lantner asteroid? Anything at all like that?" "I'm not sure what the asteroid? Anything at all like that?" "I'm not sure what the Lantner Lantner asteroid is. But, no. The mayor spent his time hunting, playing cards, and socializing. Other than politics, that was all he cared about. And Jenny? I didn't really know her that well, but she seemed to have both feet on the ground." asteroid is. But, no. The mayor spent his time hunting, playing cards, and socializing. Other than politics, that was all he cared about. And Jenny? I didn't really know her that well, but she seemed to have both feet on the ground."

Quantum Labs had gone out of business years before, but there were still a couple of people on the faculty at Travis who remembered Jennifer. "She was okay," one of them told us. "She was quiet. Reserved. I don't think she ever felt comfortable in a cla.s.sroom. But she had a pretty good reputation as a physicist." He looked hard at us, wondering whether to say more. Then, what the h.e.l.l, he plowed ahead: "Bill didn't like her much. He was always running around. Cheated on her. Not that it matters now, I guess. But you never saw them together. Except at weddings or funerals." He looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry. Speaking ill of the dead and all that. But you asked." "Any idea what happened that night? At their house?" "You mean the explosion?" "Yes." "We always a.s.sumed her husband had gotten in over his head somewhere, and Nicorps simply took him out." He shrugged. "Unfortunately for Jenny, she got caught in the blast. Although when Nicorps got involved, everybody everybody got caught in the blast." "Did you ever hear any kind of explanation? What he might have done to get in trouble?" "No. Nothing. Alex, the mayor took care of number one. It always surprised me, what happened, because I would have thought he'd have been the last to run afoul of the security people. But he must have offended got caught in the blast." "Did you ever hear any kind of explanation? What he might have done to get in trouble?" "No. Nothing. Alex, the mayor took care of number one. It always surprised me, what happened, because I would have thought he'd have been the last to run afoul of the security people. But he must have offended somebody somebody ." We were in his office, which he shared with two other instructors. One, a young woman, picked that moment to come in. We did a round of introductions, then she excused herself, glad to meet you, sorry to run off. She picked up a set of notes and was gone. Alex was leaning against a windowsill. "Did either of them have any connection to Edward Demery?" he asked. "Aha. I should have guessed that was coming. And the answer is no. None that I know of." "Not Jennifer either?" "They knew each other. Beyond that, I'm not aware of anything." "Did she have any connection with the ." We were in his office, which he shared with two other instructors. One, a young woman, picked that moment to come in. We did a round of introductions, then she excused herself, glad to meet you, sorry to run off. She picked up a set of notes and was gone. Alex was leaning against a windowsill. "Did either of them have any connection to Edward Demery?" he asked. "Aha. I should have guessed that was coming. And the answer is no. None that I know of." "Not Jennifer either?" "They knew each other. Beyond that, I'm not aware of anything." "Did she have any connection with the Lantner Lantner ?" He had to think about it. "The ship that disappeared, right? No. What does that have to do with anything?" "Probably nothing." "Yes. I just don't know of a reason. Both houses were hit the same night. Nicorps probably just had its a.s.sa.s.sination squads out. Take care of everybody at once. You know they weren't the only people hit? There were fifteen or sixteen other places they got. All around the region." "We know." He shook his head. "It was probably more economical to blow them all up at the same time." ?" He had to think about it. "The ship that disappeared, right? No. What does that have to do with anything?" "Probably nothing." "Yes. I just don't know of a reason. Both houses were hit the same night. Nicorps probably just had its a.s.sa.s.sination squads out. Take care of everybody at once. You know they weren't the only people hit? There were fifteen or sixteen other places they got. All around the region." "We know." He shook his head. "It was probably more economical to blow them all up at the same time."

The young man who'd died that night visiting the Keltons was Jaris Cole. All these years later, his mother still carried the pain in her eyes. "You don't get past something like that," she told me. "It's the one thing in my life that I'd change if I could. And the only thing that really mattered." She was an ordinary-looking woman, quiet, introverted, with a resigned smile. Her husband had died a few years after the incident, and there'd been no other children. "At the time," she said, "Jaris was about to marry Marinda. The mayor's daughter. She was a pretty little thing. Would have made a perfect-" She stopped, bit her lip, and waved it away. "The date was set." We were seated in an overlook, protected from the weather, watching the forest absorb a light rain. Alex had stayed away, a.s.suming she'd be more open with me. "You'd have liked her, Chase." "I'm sure I would." "Not at all like her mother." "You didn't like Jennifer?" "Jennifer was all right, I suppose. Not the kind of woman you could get close to, though. But as the wedding date approached, we got to working together, planning things. It was a good time." "I'm sure it was." "We actually became friends." The wind blew some rain in on us, but she didn't seem to mind. "One day we met in the Sunlight Diner, over near the park. You could see it from here if the trees didn't get in the way. We wanted to talk about the details of the ceremony. There'd been a problem about that. The Keltons weren't very religious. The mayor pretended to be, because people wouldn't have voted for him if they knew what he really thought. But Jennifer was the decision-maker in the family, and she was dead set against a religious ceremony. I'd asked Jaris about that, and he said it was okay, they'd get somebody to bless the marriage later. "Tank wasn't happy with it. My husband. But we decided we'd just let it go. We didn't want to create a problem. So I was going to tell her we'd thought about it and agreed it was okay to go with a civil ceremony. I saved it for last. We finished eating and came here, right where we're sitting now. And I had just raised the subject, when she held up both hands asking me not to go any further. Her face crinkled up like she was about to start crying. She had to take a minute to get her voice under control. Then she said don't worry about it, she really didn't give a d.a.m.n, do the religious ceremony if we wanted. It would be okay." "Did she say why she'd changed her mind?" "No. Just that it didn't matter." "You didn't ask ask her why?" "Chase, I quit while I was ahead." Her brow furrowed. There was something else, and I waited for her to tell me. Finally, it came: "What she really said, as best I can remember, was: 'G.o.ddam Calient .' Then, 'Elda, it just doesn't matter anymore.'" " her why?" "Chase, I quit while I was ahead." Her brow furrowed. There was something else, and I waited for her to tell me. Finally, it came: "What she really said, as best I can remember, was: 'G.o.ddam Calient .' Then, 'Elda, it just doesn't matter anymore.'" " Calient Calient . What's that?" "It's an island." "Where?" "I don't know. On the other side of the world somewhere." "Elda," I said, "I can imagine how difficult this must be for you." "No. That's all right." She managed a smile. "It helps to talk about it." "Just one more question: You've told this story to other people?" "Yes." "To Vicki Greene?" "Yes," she said. "I did. Do you know Vicki Greene?" . What's that?" "It's an island." "Where?" "I don't know. On the other side of the world somewhere." "Elda," I said, "I can imagine how difficult this must be for you." "No. That's all right." She managed a smile. "It helps to talk about it." "Just one more question: You've told this story to other people?" "Yes." "To Vicki Greene?" "Yes," she said. "I did. Do you know Vicki Greene?"

That night, I relayed everything to Alex. Then, while I got a sandwich out of the kitchen, he consulted the AI. When I sat down with him again a few minutes later he wanted to know whether Elda had specified that Calient Calient meant the island. "She said she really didn't know meant the island. "She said she really didn't know what what Jennifer was referring to. That she Jennifer was referring to. That she a.s.sumed a.s.sumed she meant the island. But she doesn't think she asked." "It's a tourist spot," said Alex. "One of the Golden Isles." "You checked?" "It gets tens of thousands of visitors every year." "Okay." "There are a lot of other she meant the island. But she doesn't think she asked." "It's a tourist spot," said Alex. "One of the Golden Isles." "You checked?" "It gets tens of thousands of visitors every year." "Okay." "There are a lot of other Calient s Calient s around. There is a substantial number of people with that name living within a thousand kilometers of Mancuso. There's a physicist, a mathematician, two dentists, lots of persons of leisure, retired people, screwups, you name it." He shrugged. "We could hunt forever and not come up with the correct reference. "There was also, thirty years ago, a touring musical with the name. And a Calient hotel chain, and a novel t.i.tled around. There is a substantial number of people with that name living within a thousand kilometers of Mancuso. There's a physicist, a mathematician, two dentists, lots of persons of leisure, retired people, screwups, you name it." He shrugged. "We could hunt forever and not come up with the correct reference. "There was also, thirty years ago, a touring musical with the name. And a Calient hotel chain, and a novel t.i.tled Mission to Calient Mission to Calient ." "Did you read it?" "Are you serious?" "Sure." "It's about a survey group to a planet that, as far as I can tell, is purely fictional. The mission, however, disappears, and a team is sent to find out what happened." "And-? "I didn't get any further. If you can find the time, you might take a look at it tonight. But I don't think it's going to help us. Despite the missing mission." "Okay." ." "Did you read it?" "Are you serious?" "Sure." "It's about a survey group to a planet that, as far as I can tell, is purely fictional. The mission, however, disappears, and a team is sent to find out what happened." "And-? "I didn't get any further. If you can find the time, you might take a look at it tonight. But I don't think it's going to help us. Despite the missing mission." "Okay."

"There's an aircraft design called the Calient . The thing isn't manufactured anymore. But it was at the time the houses were blown up." "There's more?" "There's a Calient Calient that makes the run between Salud Afar and Rimway. It's named for a crewman who fought off a bunch of lunatics who tried to take over a ship. They were going to crash it into Marinopolis in an effort to kill Cleev. That was forty years ago." "You think that might be it?" "Hard to see how." He checked his notebook. "And in geographical sites, aside from the island group, there was also at one time, before the rise of the Bandahrs, a Calient state. There is currently a Calient mountain range and a Calient River. All on another continent, by the way. Calient s helped lead governments and revolutions, two made literary reputations for themselves, one wrote a symphony, sixteen (that I've been able to find) founded or led major corporations, several became well-known entertainers, one accidentally burned down a house with six people in it, three became judges with prominent reputations. One was a serial killer. Another gave his life to rescue a stranger during a flood. "There was another starship with the name, by the way, but it goes way back. It was a second-millennium warship. There was also a Calient mission. That was a long time ago, too. More than seven centuries. It was sent out by the"-he checked the notebook-"Beila Ti civilization. That's the one the Cleevs overthrew." He shook his head. "Did you know there's another star out in the general direction of Callistra?" "I didn't know. Does it matter?" "It's Seepah. A cla.s.s-G dwarf. It's a long way from here. Over a thousand light-years. When Callistra's directly overhead, Seepah would be about halfway down the western sky." "I've never noticed it." "It isn't visible to the naked eye." "And that's where the Calient mission went?" "Yes." "And they found what-?" "Not much. Eight worlds, one in an early bio state. Single-celled stuff only. They left a series of hyperlight monitors in orbit. One or two at each world." "Okay. Why do we care?" "After about a half century, one shut down." "A half century? You'd expect that." "Right. Thirty or so years later, two more shut down." "Really?" "Simultaneously." "That doesn't seem likely. Unless-Maybe there was a solar flare." Alex shrugged. "Don't know." "What did they find out when they went back to take a look?" "They didn't." "They didn't go back?" "No." "Why not?" "By the time it happened, Beila Ti didn't exist anymore. It had been taken over by the Bandahr. The Cleevs apparently weren't very interested in astronomy." "Well," I said, "I can't see how it connects with anything." "A simultaneous shutdown seems odd." "I'll grant that. Is this place anywhere close to 447, the asteroid with the monument?" "No. It's a couple of thousand light-years away." "Okay. I think we should dismiss it and stick to the problem at hand." "It that makes the run between Salud Afar and Rimway. It's named for a crewman who fought off a bunch of lunatics who tried to take over a ship. They were going to crash it into Marinopolis in an effort to kill Cleev. That was forty years ago." "You think that might be it?" "Hard to see how." He checked his notebook. "And in geographical sites, aside from the island group, there was also at one time, before the rise of the Bandahrs, a Calient state. There is currently a Calient mountain range and a Calient River. All on another continent, by the way. Calient s helped lead governments and revolutions, two made literary reputations for themselves, one wrote a symphony, sixteen (that I've been able to find) founded or led major corporations, several became well-known entertainers, one accidentally burned down a house with six people in it, three became judges with prominent reputations. One was a serial killer. Another gave his life to rescue a stranger during a flood. "There was another starship with the name, by the way, but it goes way back. It was a second-millennium warship. There was also a Calient mission. That was a long time ago, too. More than seven centuries. It was sent out by the"-he checked the notebook-"Beila Ti civilization. That's the one the Cleevs overthrew." He shook his head. "Did you know there's another star out in the general direction of Callistra?" "I didn't know. Does it matter?" "It's Seepah. A cla.s.s-G dwarf. It's a long way from here. Over a thousand light-years. When Callistra's directly overhead, Seepah would be about halfway down the western sky." "I've never noticed it." "It isn't visible to the naked eye." "And that's where the Calient mission went?" "Yes." "And they found what-?" "Not much. Eight worlds, one in an early bio state. Single-celled stuff only. They left a series of hyperlight monitors in orbit. One or two at each world." "Okay. Why do we care?" "After about a half century, one shut down." "A half century? You'd expect that." "Right. Thirty or so years later, two more shut down." "Really?" "Simultaneously." "That doesn't seem likely. Unless-Maybe there was a solar flare." Alex shrugged. "Don't know." "What did they find out when they went back to take a look?" "They didn't." "They didn't go back?" "No." "Why not?" "By the time it happened, Beila Ti didn't exist anymore. It had been taken over by the Bandahr. The Cleevs apparently weren't very interested in astronomy." "Well," I said, "I can't see how it connects with anything." "A simultaneous shutdown seems odd." "I'll grant that. Is this place anywhere close to 447, the asteroid with the monument?" "No. It's a couple of thousand light-years away." "Okay. I think we should dismiss it and stick to the problem at hand." "It is is suggestive, Chase." "Of what?" suggestive, Chase." "Of what?"

He changed the subject: "Actually there are are other Calient s. A number of schools have the name, some parks, at least one zoo, and two social clubs. There was even, at the time the monitors shut down, a comedian." "Have you tried asking the AI to sort through it?" "We need Jacob," he said. "This one's okay, but he has a hard time if I can't give him exact parameters. But the answer is other Calient s. A number of schools have the name, some parks, at least one zoo, and two social clubs. There was even, at the time the monitors shut down, a comedian." "Have you tried asking the AI to sort through it?" "We need Jacob," he said. "This one's okay, but he has a hard time if I can't give him exact parameters. But the answer is yes yes . n.o.body, and nothing, as far as the AI can see, has a direct connection with any of the Keltons, with Edward Demery, or with the prospective groom. Well, that's not entirely true. One of them was a service technician who worked on the power at the groom's home three years before he met Jennifer's daughter." We sat looking at each other. "Maybe it's time for us to go home," I said. "We've made a reasonable effort." Those brown eyes brightened. "I'm surprised that you'd give up so easily, Chase." "So easily? We've come a zillion light-years. We've traveled all over the world. Talked to half the people on the planet. Lost a skimmer. d.a.m.n near got eaten. And I know you don't believe me, but I ran into a ghost. I say we take the hint." We had the HV on, sound down. A journalist was seated at a desk marked GLOBAL NEWS. He looked excited. Alex increased the volume. . n.o.body, and nothing, as far as the AI can see, has a direct connection with any of the Keltons, with Edward Demery, or with the prospective groom. Well, that's not entirely true. One of them was a service technician who worked on the power at the groom's home three years before he met Jennifer's daughter." We sat looking at each other. "Maybe it's time for us to go home," I said. "We've made a reasonable effort." Those brown eyes brightened. "I'm surprised that you'd give up so easily, Chase." "So easily? We've come a zillion light-years. We've traveled all over the world. Talked to half the people on the planet. Lost a skimmer. d.a.m.n near got eaten. And I know you don't believe me, but I ran into a ghost. I say we take the hint." We had the HV on, sound down. A journalist was seated at a desk marked GLOBAL NEWS. He looked excited. Alex increased the volume.

"- Another incursion. Apparently, a Mute warship and a pair of Coalition destroyers traded shots out near Naramitsu. Preliminary reports indicate the Mute was driven off. No casualties reported. Global News will keep you updated as this story comes in."

"Alex, what's really going on?" "I wish I knew," he said. "So what's next?" "Mikel Wexler owns an extensive estate." "Really?" "And he's acc.u.mulated over the last few years a substantial interest in two major corporations." "So why do we care?" "Maybe we don't. But the estate is up for sale." "Okay." "And he's recently sold off his other holdings." "That's strange. Is he expecting an economic downturn?" "I don't know. You may be right. Maybe we do do deserve some time off. A few days of vacation." "Don't tell me. We're talking about the Golden Isles." deserve some time off. A few days of vacation." "Don't tell me. We're talking about the Golden Isles."

EIGHTEEN.

Ultimately everything is math. The number of protons in a given element, the gravitational force that binds Rimway to the sun, the number of heartbeats you get. Learn to count, my boy. Therein lies wisdom.- Wish You Were Here Calient was the princ.i.p.al island in a group of four in the middle of the Balin Sea. These were the Golden Isles. All had beautiful beaches, and the nightclubs and restaurants were spread equitably among the four. None of the islands measured as much as seven kilometers at its widest. They would have been an ideal location for Vicki. Two of the islands had occult connections. On Khyber Island, something spoke in the winds. And Calient claimed a ghostly yacht.

The weather was warm when we arrived. Alex went to work with the house AI while I sat out by the pool. Topless again. I told myself a little exhibitionism was good for the soul, but I don't think I could ever get used to it. The yacht legend had it that two lovers, one on Calient and the other on Khyber (though sometimes he was from Sanikaw) had been kept apart by feuding families. It was the cla.s.sic situation. The boy eventually made off with the family's yacht, determined to collect his lover and head for a more rational place. But a storm blew up during the crossing. The family discovered he was missing, and the boat as well. They called him, pleaded with him to return. The boy refused, and the storm overwhelmed him. Wreckage washed ash.o.r.e a day or two later. The lover was never found. According to the story, on dark nights, when neither Callistra nor the galactic rim is visible, the yacht can be seen, still trying to get across the narrow strip of water to Khyber Island. People on Khyber claim the girl's spirit roams the beaches at such times, waiting for him. It's an intriguing tale, and I don't think I've ever been to a remote place that doesn't have one like it. It was the sort of story that would have enchanted Vicki. That said, we found no indication she'd ever visited the Golden Isles. There was no mention of her in the news archives. n.o.body remembered her. One of the bookstores had a mystery club, and the coordinator was shocked to learn that Vicki Greene might have been in the Isles and she hadn't been aware of it. Alex came out after a while. I picked up the notebook I'd brought out and laid it on my chest. Casually, of course. He sat down in the beach chair beside me and pretended nothing unusual was going on. I let it go for a while. Then: "Any luck?" "Maybe." He glanced at the notebook. "Enjoying yourself?" "As a matter of fact, yes." "Good," he said. "I think we wasted our time coming out here." "I like islands." "That's the right spirit."

I met a couple of the local guys, one of whom was maybe the funniest character I've ever seen. I remember regretting that he lived so far away. When he asked about my accent-"You're not from around here, are you?"-we both had a good laugh. "Not exactly," I said. His name was Charjek. A strange name. He called himself Charger Charger , and it fit. We had a good time. Next day we hit the beach. That night we went to dinner and a show. He asked whether I'd be staying on Calient and looked genuinely unhappy when I told him we'd be going home shortly. We traded contact information, a.s.sured each other we'd get together again, and even sent each other occasional messages later. I never saw him again, though, after those few days. I can't recapture it now, but n.o.body has ever made me laugh so much. , and it fit. We had a good time. Next day we hit the beach. That night we went to dinner and a show. He asked whether I'd be staying on Calient and looked genuinely unhappy when I told him we'd be going home shortly. We traded contact information, a.s.sured each other we'd get together again, and even sent each other occasional messages later. I never saw him again, though, after those few days. I can't recapture it now, but n.o.body has ever made me laugh so much.

Two days later I said good-bye to Charger and we returned to Moreska. We arrived on a cold, rainy morning, got off the plane, and started over to Sunlight Travel to pick up a shuttle we'd booked. Instead we picked up something else. A man and a woman were waiting for us. They showed us credentials identifying them as agents of the Coalition Security Service. CSS. "We have a skimmer topside," the woman said without inflection. Her name was Krestoff. "We'd appreciate it if you'd come with us." She was attractive, in a cold, hard way. Blond hair, brown eyes, all business. Alex stood his ground. "Why?" Her partner was big and might have been a professional bong thrower. He smiled down at Alex. Krestoff shook her head. "You've an appointment." "With whom? You mind telling us what this is about?" "I don't know the details, Mr. Benedict. We are here simply to provide escort. Now, I'll need your comm links." Alex's notebook was clipped to a pocket. "And that, too, please."

"Are we under arrest?" "Not yet," she said.

NINETEEN.

The ideal death, the death to be hoped for, is one that comes swiftly, out of the night, that takes you while you're enjoying the strawberries, and sweeps you away before you've had time even to know that the lights have gone out.- Midnight and Roses "Either of you have a weapon?" asked Krestoff. It was in my bag. She led us out onto the airfield. A white skimmer was waiting, with Coalition markings on its hull. Our bags appeared. They opened them, did a quick search, confiscated my scrambler, and gave me a receipt for it. Then they directed us to get on board. They climbed in behind us. The pilot was in a separate compartment behind a closed door. Bong pulled the hatch shut, and Krestoff told the pilot to go. He said something about overtime, and we lifted off in the twilight and turned south. "Where are we going?" Alex asked. "To a location where you'll be quite safe, Mr. Benedict." "I'm safe here." "You've no reason to be worried," she said. That of course is exactly the kind of remark that scares the h.e.l.l out of me.

"Where are we going?" asked Alex again. "Special place," said Krestoff. "You'll like it." "Is it a detention center?" I asked. "I'd think of it more as a vacation spot." Her tone was dismissive. We traveled over a wide stretch of ocean and then inland. Alex looked at me and shook his head. Sorry I got you into this. Sorry I got you into this.

It got dark quickly. After a while there was nothing to see except moving lights in the sky and on the ground, and occasional cl.u.s.ters of illuminated buildings. After about an hour we pa.s.sed over a city. "What's it about?" I asked him, not bothering to keep my voice down. "Later," he said. After a while, the occasional lights revealed that we were into a mountain range. We were gaining alt.i.tude, and snow showed up on the ground. The wind picked up, and the skimmer bucked and swayed. "Almost there," said the pilot.

The descent was, well, exciting. We got tossed around pretty good, and the pilot said that he thought we should give it up and come back later. "Land the G.o.ddam thing," said Krestoff. "Look, Maria, don't give me trouble." "Can you take us down?" "Yes. If you insist." "Then please do it."

I looked at Alex. Alex cleared his throat and took a deep breath. In the hands of idiots. Krestoff caught his reaction. "Don't worry, Mr. Benedict. Squeej will manage." Squeej? Squeej? What kind of name was that for a pilot? But I thought it prudent not to provide another distraction. The wind blew us all over the sky. But we kept going down. By then it was dark, black, stygian the way no other place above ground ever is. Our navigation lamps threw beams all around us, but the only thing I could make out was snow. Closer to the mountain peaks, O Lord. I hoped Squeej knew what he was doing, and I wished he might have been more inclined to stand up to Maria. Bong said nothing. What kind of name was that for a pilot? But I thought it prudent not to provide another distraction. The wind blew us all over the sky. But we kept going down. By then it was dark, black, stygian the way no other place above ground ever is. Our navigation lamps threw beams all around us, but the only thing I could make out was snow. Closer to the mountain peaks, O Lord. I hoped Squeej knew what he was doing, and I wished he might have been more inclined to stand up to Maria. Bong said nothing.

Whatever comes will come.

Then, with no warning, we banged down. "On the ground," said Squeej, as if it might have been possible not to notice.

Krestoff and Bong dragged heavy jackets out of stowage and pulled them on. "How about us?" said Alex. "You won't need them." That sounded ominous. The pilot came back into the cabin, opened the hatch, and the wind grabbed it and almost yanked it out of his hand. Cold air invaded the cabin. "Okay, you two," said Krestoff. "Let's move."

You betcha.

They herded us outside into minus-zero temperatures and a snow cover. I was chattering already. And I thought: They were going to kill us, after all. Just leave us to the storm. Bong opened the cargo compartment and took out our bags. Krestoff turned on a flashlight, pointed it at the luggage, and looked at Alex. "Get them," she said. We did. Then we waited while she got her bearings. She flashed the light around until it hit the corner of a building. "This way." I thought briefly about trying to jump them. There'd never be a better chance. But Bong stayed off to one side, and Krestoff, with the lamp in one hand and the scrambler in the other, kept behind us. The door in the skimmer closed, and the pilot, who was no dummy, stayed inside. Ahead, lights appeared in the storm. A postlight. And windows. It was a two-story house. With a deck. We climbed the steps, and Krestoff waved me off to one side. "Mr. Benedict, stand in front, please. This will be your home for the immediate future, so it needs to get to know you." "I'm cold," I said. "Can't we do this later?" She ignored me. "Let's get it done, please." Alex gave the sensors a look, then stepped aside, and I took his place. When I'd finished, the front door opened. We hurried in and dropped our bags on a carpeted floor. I'm not sure what I expected. But there was n.o.body home. The temperatures were just a notch higher than outside. Krestoff looked around. Given some heat, it might have been a comfortable little place. The furniture was by no means lush, but it looked okay: a sofa, three chairs, and some tables, one with a chess set. Dark drapes, frozen at the moment, but they'd thaw. A fireplace with a stack of logs. Pictures of mountain views and seascapes on the walls. Bookshelves with four or five books, and some plastic flowers in a vase. A staircase rose to the second floor. "It'll warm up in a little while," said Krestoff. I started over to get a fire going, but she waved me away. "When we're out of here, there'll be plenty of time to do that. You've a working AI. Her name is Kellie." She checked the time. Apparently late for an appointment. "Say h.e.l.lo, Kellie." A female voice responded: "I am at your service, Alexander." "I am at your service, Alexander." "You've enough supplies to last two weeks. Someone will be back before then to refurbish things. You have a refrigerator, and there's a storage compartment in back. "There's also a utility shed on the west side of the building. "You can't communicate with anyone except us. If you want to talk to us, tell Kellie to put you through. If you try to manipulate the AI, or break into the comm system, it will shut down. Self-destruct, actually. "You've enough supplies to last two weeks. Someone will be back before then to refurbish things. You have a refrigerator, and there's a storage compartment in back. "There's also a utility shed on the west side of the building. "You can't communicate with anyone except us. If you want to talk to us, tell Kellie to put you through. If you try to manipulate the AI, or break into the comm system, it will shut down. Self-destruct, actually.

And maybe take you with it. I'm not sure about that detail. So it's probably best to stay away from it." Another smile. "Do we have any jackets here?"