Caldwellblinkedinthesubduedlightofthelimo.They’dstoppedsomewherefamiliar.Herecognizedthebuildingsbuthisbrainwastoobefuddledbywhathehadjustseentofigureitout.Hismigrainewasbackwithavengeancebuthisadrenalinwasdoingarespectablejobofkeepingitatbay.Hecouldn’tbelievewhathehadjustseen.Hehadastrongdesiretoseemore.Heneededtofindoutwhodidthistohim.
“Whatyoujustsawarehighlightsofyourpreviouslife.Notafull-blownrecallbutsnippetsofeventsandimagesthathavemadeanimpressioninyourmind.Clichés,ifyoulike.”
“Whodidthistome?”Caldwellasked,bilerisinginhimlikemercuryinathermometer.
“Youdidthistoyourself.Youdisobeyedorders.”
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”
“Look,Iamgoingtocuttothechase.Wearerunningoutoftime.IworkforanorganizationcalledHYDRA.ThinkofusasanoffshootofUnionSecurityAgency,theoutfitthatabsorbedallthesecretagenciesoftheUnionmembercountries.Wegetasmallpartoftheagency’sbudgeteventhoughveryfewpeopleknowweexist.ThinkofusastheguyswhodotheUnionSecurityAgency’sdirtydigitallaundry,theorganizationtowhichtheyoutsourcecertainactivitiesthatarenotworththeirwhileorthataretoosensitivepoliticallyforthemtogetinvolvedindirectly.I’vealreadytoldyoumorethanI’vetoldanynon-agencypersonandI’vespentallmywakinglifeworkingfortheagencyandmaintainingthatsacredvowofsilence.SomeyearsagoIhiredyoutoworkforHYDRAinourElectronicCounterIntelligenceDepartment.Youwereouryoungestrecruitever.Youwereseventeen.Wehiredyoubecausedespiteyourageyouwereoneofthemostnotorioushackersintheworld.Youhadaknack,anaturalgiftifyoulike,forbreakingintoputersystems.”
“Meahacker?Unbelievable,”Caldwellexclaimedinmockdisbelief.Everythingwasstartingtoclickintoplacenow.Theaffinityforputersandhacking.HackingwassimplyanunconsciouscontinuationofthecloakanddaggermodusoperandithathehadbeenaccustomedtoinhispreviouslifewiththisHYDRAorganization.Andtherewashisinexplicableabilitytofindwhathewantedincyberspace,whichhadfeltpurelyinstinctivebutwasobviouslymuchmorethanthat.Itwasallstartingtomakesomekindofsensenow.
“HoweIhavenorecollectionofallthesethingsyouaretellingme?”Caldwellasked.Foulerlookedpainedwhenherepliedbutitcouldhavebeenjustforshow.
“Foryourownsafetytheagencydecidedtoblockpartsofyourmemory.Youwerethreateningtoouttheagency.Youhadbeeunstable.Theotheroptionwasdeathsoyoucanconsideryourselflucky.”
“WhatdidIdotodeservethelesserofthetwoevils?”Caldwelldemandedwithbittersarcasm.
“Youweretheagenciesgoldenboy,ouryoungestandprobablymostbrillianthacker.Wedidtherightthinginthecircumstances.”
“SowhatdoesthisHYDRAdoexactly?”
“WeareanoffshootoftheUnion’sfirstumbrellasecurityagency.OurfocusthoughispurelyonthreatsfacedbytheUnionincyberspace.Ourremitisinformationwarfareifyouwishtousetheoriginalterminology.WestartedoutasaunitofMI6inwhatusedtobetheUnitedKingdom,wherewedevelopedareputationasoneofthebestcyberwarfareunitsintheworld.WhenEuropemergedintotheUnion,wewerethebestoutofadozenanti-cyberterrorismunitsandsowewereallowedtoabsorbtherest.Thatmadeusthelargestelectronicwarfareunitintheworld.HYDRAwassomethingthatnaturallycameoutofthat,anoffshoot,theagency’sbastardchild.”
“Sparemethehistory.Whatdoyoudo?”
“Weseekoutanddestroyforeignsystemsusedforelectroniccrimes,electronicspyingandelectronicwarfare.Weinfiltratethemandthenwedestroythemfromtheinside.AnysystemthatposesathreattotheUnionisnotsafe.”
“AndIwashiredtodowhat?”
“YouwerethelinchpininourmostproactivesubdivisioncalledS&DorSearchandDestroy.”
“AndIknewtoomuch?”
“Youobjectedtosomeofourtargets,sayingthatweweresettingtheireconomicdevelopmentbackfiftyyears.Wehadproofthattheirsystemswereharboringroguevirusesandelectronicbombsandthattheycouldbeusedbyourenemiestomountattacksagainstoursystems.ThosesystemsposedmultiplethreatstothesecurityoftheUnion.Yousaidthatifwebroughtdowntheirsystemsyouwouldleavetheorganizationandletallofcyberspaceknowwhatwedidforaliving.”
“Buteveryoneknowsthattheseorganizationsexistandwhattheydoisnosecretsowhatwasthebigdeal?”
“Thepublicmakingeducatedguessesaboutthesethingsisonething.Conspiracytheoriesareexactlythat–fodderformindlessrantsincyberspace.Ourownagentsspillingdetailedinformationonouroperationsisquiteanother.Wecouldn’tletthathappen.”
“Andformytroublesyouerasedmymemory.”
“Noterased.Blocked.Locked.Theagencythoughtyouhadbeeunstable.Youtookthedeathofyourparentstoobadly.”
“Youmeantheyaredead?”Caldwellasked.Healreadyknewtheanswertothatquestion,hisposingofitwasjustaknee-jerkreaction,anautomaticresponsetotheconfirmationofhisworstfears.Foralongtimenowhe’dthoughttheyweredead.Thatwastheonlyexplanationhecouldmusterfortheirabsencefromhislife.Anditallowedhimtogetonwithhisidiosyncraticexistence.
“I’mafraidso.TheydiedinacarcrashinthecityofXian.Computerfailure.Thecarwentoffamountainroadintoaravineandburstintoflames.YouhadjustturnedsixteenatthetimeandwereatschoolinHongKong.”
Caldwellwassurprisedatthefactthathehadn’tshedanytearsuponhearingtheconfirmationofhisworstfears.Hehadgrievedenoughinhisnightmares.Hefeltlikeahugeweighthadbeenliftedoffhisshoulders.Hethoughtaboutalltheyearsspentsearchingformeaning,trawlingthroughthevastexpansesofgovernmentarchivesandgenealogydatabasesincyberspace.Herecalledtheheart-rendingoccasionswhenhe’dstumbleduponcouplessurnamedCaldwell,eithertofindouttheydidn’thaveasonortheycouldn’tpossiblehavebeenhisparents.Untiltoday,hehadn’tevenbeensurethatCaldwellwashisrealsurname.
Caldwellhadsearchedrelentlesslyforasingleneedleinamillioninterconnectedhaystacks.Hehaddispatchedhundredsofsoftwarerobotsonthousandsofruns,acrossmillionsofsites,parsedbillionsoflinesoftext.Andhestillhadn’tgottenanyclosertolocatinghisparents.Itwasasifalltraceofthemhadevaporated.JustlikehehadtriedtodisappearfromtheUnion’sfar-reachingradar.HisonlyconnectiontothemonolithicsystemwashisIDchipwithatwo-yearalmostnon-existentelectronictrail.Theironywasthathehadhadseveralsuccessfulrunssniffingthefootprintsothersleftincyberspace.
“SotellmeFouler,isCadCaldwellmyrealname?”
“Absolutely.Theagencywantedtoleaveyouwithoutidentification.TheyremovedyoursubdermalIDimplants.ImadesureyougotyourbasicIDchipthoughsothatyoucouldmakeafreshstartontheoutside.”
“AnIDchipwithmostofthedataerased?Ihaditchecked.Therearedataghosts.”
“Well,itwouldhavedefeatedtheobjectifyouknewyourplaceofbirth,UIRStaxnumberandsoon.Youwouldhavejustgonethereandattemptedtotraceyourparentsoryourlifeandonethingwouldhaveleadtoanother.Butyourbirthdateiscorrect.Infact,itistodayifIamnotmistaken.”
“SowherewasIbornthen?IguessfromthoseflashbacksthatitwasintheFarEastsomewhere.”
“Yes,inwhatwasthenHongKong.HongKongisnowpartofthehugeswathofAsiatheycallNewChina.Iguesstheyacceleratedthe‘onecountry,twosystems’policyoverthere.Anyway,itturnedouttobeaboonfortheSAR.TheeconomywentfromflattoactuallychuggingalongwiththerestofNewChina.”
“ThatexplainswhyIcouldn’tfindmyparents.Iwaslookinginthewrongplaceallthetime.Didyouknowmyparents?”Caldwellasked.
“Yes.Theywerebothinthebusiness.That’swhyyouingtoworkforHYDRAwassostraightforward,aneasyselltothesuperiors.YourfatherwashalfEnglish,onhisfather’sside,andhalfEgyptian.YourpaternalgrandfatherwasColonelCaldwellwhomarriedadistantmemberoftheEgyptianroyalfamily.YourfatherbuiltlanguageprocessingsoftwareforGCHQbasedonalgorithmsdevelopedinChina.HisdayjoborcoverwasasavisitingprofessorininformationsystemsatXianUniversity.YourmotherwasfluentinChinese,beinghalfChineseherself.Herfather,yourmaternalgrandfather,wasJapanese,awriterandSinophilewhospentmostofhisadultlifeinNewChina.Yourmotherseemedtohavefollowedinhisfootsteps.ShewrotebooksaboutNewChinaandworkedparttimeasaresearchanalystfortheUnionSecurityAgency.Ithinktheoldwordtheyusedtouseforthemistheywerespies.Justasyouwereawell-paidelectronicspybeforeyoucockedthingsup.Theircoverwasneverblown.Youontheotherhandthreatenedtoblowyourowncoverandtheorganization.Igotalotofflackforbeingabadjudgeofcharacter.”
“Whydidyougetflack?”
“InhindsightIshouldhaveseeniting.Youwereonlyseventeen;yourparentshadjustdiedlessthanayearpreviously.Youhadbarelystartedrecoveringfromthatandwethrewyourightinatthedeepend.Becauseofyourageandthespecialnatureofwhatyouweredoing,webypassedalotofthetrainingandpsychologicalprofiling,exceptforabitofselfdefense,ammunitionstrainingandsoon.YoualreadyhadablackbeltinkarateandknewwushufromayoungageinHongKong.ItookabetonyouandIwaswrong.”
“NowyouaretellingmethatIcanusegunsandknowmartialarts?”Caldwellaskedwithgenuinedisbelief.
“Betterbelieveit.Yourfathermadesureofit.Hewasparanoidtothepointofschizophrenia.Butobviouslyafterwelockedupyourmemoryyoucouldnotaccessanyofthosecapabilities.Wecangivethosebacktoyoubutitwilltakealongtimetogettothelevelyouwerebefore,especiallyinlightofthefactthatyouwereonlyateenagerbackthen.”
“AndwhatdoIneedtodotogetmymemoryback?Allofit.”
“Completeamission,”Foulersaidmatter-of-factly.Caldwelllookedathimsuspiciously.
“Whatmission?”
“Relatedtowhatyouarecarryinginthatbagyouarewhite-knucklingaswespeak.WeknowwhythoseYakuzawantyoukilled.We’vebeentrackingKenzoYamamotoforalongtime.WeweresurprisedwhenhestartedworkingwithyouandotherhackersintheUnion.Mostofthemaredead.Youwerelucky.Theotherrecipientofaconsole,AmericanprofessoratMIT,isdeadtoo.”
“Really?”
“Goaheadandfakeignoranceallyouwant.Weknoweverythingyouneedtoknow.WeknowwhyYamamotosentyoutheconsoleandwealsoknowthatyoudon’tknowthat.”
WhatFoulerwassayingwassoscarythatittookCaldwellawhiletodigestitall.Foulerheldthekeytoyetanotherpertinentquestion.WhyhadKenzoYamamotosenthimtheputerconsole?
“Youseemtoknowahellofalot.”
“That’sourjob.Inthisbusiness,whatyoudon’tknowcanhurtyou.Wealsoknowthatyoudon’treallyknowwhatitisyouarecarrying.Thatisnoordinaryputer.TheYakuzawantitback.It’soneofonlytwoinexistence.Ouranalystsbelievetheyopenthedoortosomethingmuchbigger.”
“Sowhereistheotheronerightnow?”Caldwellasked,asmuchtotestthebreadthofHYDRA’sknowledgeastoreassurehimselfthatifthisonewastosomehowgomissing,therewasanotherouttheresomewhere.
“Wedon’tknow.Weonlyneedonerightnow.Wewantyoutouseittodowhatitwasintendedtodo.Findthisnetwork.Findoutwhatitisfor.Finditslocationsowecaninfiltrateit.WhywouldYamamotosendyou,anordinaryhacker,suchanexpensivecustomconsole?AndwhywouldhesendanothertoanAmericanartificialintelligenceprofessoratMIT.Kenzowasontosomethingbigandhewaswillingtomakeasubstantialinvestmenttogetit.BothheandtheAmericanprofessoraredead.YouaretheonlyonealivewhohaseincontactwiththisconsoleoutsideofJapan.Ifyoudon’thelpusfindandinfiltratethenetworkthatKenzowasafter,youcan’tblamemeifHYDRAcannothelpyou.”
“Surelywithallyoureavesdroppingcapabilitiesyoumusthavesomeclues.”
“Unfortunatelynot.HewasverycrypticinhismunicationswithbothyouandProfessorJoplin.Ofcoursewecapturedthose.Asfarasweknow,youaretheonlytwowhoweresentconsoles.Joplin’sdaughterismissing.Theirhousewassearched.WhentheFBIgotthere,theydiscoveredthatsomeonehadgonethroughitwithafinetoothb.Ouranalystsbelieve,fromtheextentofthedamagetheycausedtothehouse,whoeverwasinthehousedidnotfindwhattheywearelookingfor.Thisledthescenarioanalysistoonlyoneconclusion.Joplin’sdaughterhastheconsole.Wearetrackingherdownaswespeak.AsIamsurearetheYakuza.Theyarekeentogettothebottomofthis.It’samatteroffaceforthem,damagecontrol.TheFBIalsoranananalysisonDNAsamplescollectedinthehouse.ThefreshestsamplesindicatedtheintruderswereofJapaneseextraction.Thatconfirmedsomeofourotherfearsandspurredustotakethiscasemuchmoreseriously.”
“Whatfears?”
Foulerleantbackintheleatherseatandpursedhisthincolorlesslips.Caldwellcouldseehimshiftbetweenhisthoughtsandthesensationscreatedbytheprobeoftheshiatsumassagerwithintheleatheroftheseats.Caldwell’swereactivatedaswellandhebelievedFoulerhadremotelyactivatedthemassagerinabidtogethimtorelax.
“OK,”hesaidatlength.“WebelievetheconsoleisagatewaytosomesecretChinesenetwork,somethingthatusesprotocolstotallydifferentfromworldstandards.Thisinitselfisnottheproblemasmanyjurisdictionshavetheirownsecurenetworksbasedonproprietaryprotocols.Thismakesthemimpossibletohackbyallbutthemosteconomicallyandtechnicallygiftedhackingoutfits.OuranalysissuggeststhatsomehowYamamotogotwindofthis,throughsomeofhiscontactsintheChineseunderworld,andhiscalculatingmindquicklyfiguredthathecouldsellthisinformationtothehighestbidder.ThemostlikelycustomersarethegovernmentoftheUnitedStates,theUnionorsomemegacorpbentoncontrollingthosegovernments.Wethinkinformationonsuchasystem,wereittoexist,couldbeworthbillionsofEuros.”
“SoheprobablysecretlyboughttheblueprintstocustomconsolesusedtoaccessthisChinesesystem,hadtwomadeandsentonetothisprofessorandonetome?Whywouldhedothat?”
“Webelievethathisguystriedpreviouslytobreakthenetworkbutdidnotsucceed.OverthelastyeartherehavebeenseveralstoriesabouthackersfounddeadinTokyoundermysteriouscircumstances.ThosedeathsareprobablyrelateddirectlytoattemptstocrackintotheChinesesystem.Hedecidedtotryhishandabroadwithexpertsinthefield.HischoosingDr.Joplin,aworldrenownedexpertinArtificialIntelligentisinstructive.ThisChinesenetworkisprobablyprotectedbyaringofproactivesecurityAIs.DetectionbytheAIsresultsindeathasourhackerfriendsinTokyofoundout.Eventually,theytraceditalltoYamamotoandwipedhimout.YamamotoprobablyfiguredthatthesecurityandcounterattackAIsonthenetworkmightnotbeaseffectiveastrackingintrudersoutsideofAsia.TheChinesemaynotyetknowabouttheconsoles.Thatwouldexplainwhytherehasbeennoactivityinthatregardbutit’sjustamatteroftime.Thenyouhaveanotherproblemtodealwith.”
“AndyouwantmetofindthenetworksoHYDRAcandestroyit?Whyme?”
“NewChinaisapolitically-sensitivearearightnow.It’sapowerfulcountry.TheUnioncannotriskanypoliticaldisagreementswithNewChina.Yourjobistolocatethenetworkandinfiltrateit.SetupTrojans,backdoors,whateveryouliketocallit.We’llgoinandtakealook.Ifitisagainstourinterestswe’llshutitdown.”
“AndyouthinkIcandoallthiswithKenzo’sconsole?”
“Affirmative.”
“AsfarasIcansee,theconsoleisjustajazzedupversionofanyofthemoreexpensivecustomdecksouttherewithsomeadditionalVRcapabilities.”
“Itismuchmorethanthat,believeme.Theseconsoleswerebuiltbyamastercraftsmanwhois,conveniently,inamainacloselyguardedhospitalinTokyo.Youseethebuilderofthesemachinesisoneoftheleadingnanotechnologyprocessordesignersintheworld.MuchtoYamamoto’schagrin,theoldmanwentandhadastrokejustafterpletingthesecondone.Everything,pointstothissystemusingreprogrammablelogicarraysandheuristicsoftwarethatisreconfiguredontheflytoemulateanynetwork.OnlyChinahasbeenabletosuccessfullybuildonewithlongevitysofarandthatisrumor.Mostprototypeselsewherereprogramthemselvesintodeadlocksoonerorlaterwithconvoluteddesignsthattheengineerscannolongerfigureout.”
“OK,buttheAIsonthisnetworkcan’tbeallthatgreat.Sowhyme?Whynotsendyourbiggestandbrightestoutthere?”
“TheChinesehavetheirnetworkslockedupprettytight.TheyhaveinstalledsomeofthebestsecurityAIsoutthere.Trustmewe’vehadasniffatsomeoftheirmostclandestinesystems,anonymouslyofcourse,andit’snotpretty.Thissuggeststhatthissystemissomethingthatgivesthemahugepetitiveadvantageglobally.Notthattheyneedit.TheplicationisthatthissystemisalmostcertainlygoingtobecodedentirelyinChinese.HavingsomebodywhospeaksChineseandusedtobeoneofthebesthackersintheworldisabigadvantage.Someonewhohasaninstinctualfeelforpromisingsystems.Besides,youalreadyhaveareputationasahacker.Ifthingsgobaditwouldseemasthoughyouwereworkingonyourown.HYDRAandtheUnionwon’tbeimplicated.”CaldwellignoredtheconnotationsofFouler’slastsentence.
“Whyareyoulookingatmelikethat?Idon’tspeakChinese.Ican’tevencurseinthelanguageandthat’ssayingsomething.”
“Youdoandyoucan.BelievemeIwasatthereceivingendofitmanyyearsago.Youspoke,readandwroteMandarinandCantonesefluentlywhenyouwereatHongKongInternationalSchool.NottomentiontheprivatetutorsinHongKongandyourAyi’sAnhuidialect.Wecanisolateandreopenthosememoriesveryeasily.It’sallinoursystem.”
“Nowayyouaregoingtomesswithmyhead.You’vedoneenoughofthatalready.Ijustwantmymemoryback.”
“WehavetotagyouforthetriptoHongKonganyway.Whileweareinthere,whynotreopensomeofwhat’sinthereanyway?”
“HongKong?AndifIfindthissystemIgeteverythingback.”
“Yes,andmaybeevenajobwithHYDRAifyouwantit.Ithinkifyoudothis,youwouldhavemorethanprovenyourself.Wemightbewillingtoforgiveandforget.”
“AndifIfail.”
“We’llgiveyouspecificpartsofyourmemorybackontheflighttoHongKong.IfyoufailandreturntotheUnionwithoutthesupportsystemtoputyourpastincontext,aproperjob,afullidentity,yourmemorieswillsimplydriveyouinsane.You’llendupmorefuckedupthanyouarenow.Besides,partialmemoryrecallisnotanexactscienceandoverthelongterm,withouttotalrecall,whoknowswhatwillhappen.”
“I’lltakemychances.”
“Uptoyou.”
“HowdoIknowyouarenotjustbullshittingaboutbeingabletorestoremymemory?”
“I’llgiveyoubackjustenoughtoputthisconversationwe’vehadincontext,thenweneedtogetbacktobusiness.WearesendingyououttoHongKongtomorrow”
Foulersiftedthroughhisdeckofcardsagain.Caldwellbracedhimselffortheingmaelstrom.
***
Computercode.Millionsoflinesofputercodeetchedinpixelsscrolleddownablackterminalscreen.TheimagewascrystalclearandburnedintenselyinCaldwell’smind.Hefeltasharptwingeboltthroughhishead.Heclosedhiseyesandopenedthemagain,tryingdesperatelytogetridofthepain.Heattemptedtorecallwhathadpreviouslybeenblankmemories.Thedarkrecessesofhismindfilledupwithluminescentcolorandanimagescaledacrosshisretinalikeatiledbackground.Herecalledahugegrayfacelessbuildingandleaningoutofanautomatedcartohavehiseyesscanned.Herememberedvividlyaputerizedvoicesaying:
“Morning,Mr.Caldwell.”
Fast-forward.Hugebanksofputersystemsfilledanentireroom.Wiresstackedroundthebacklikesnakeswrithinginaviperpit.Hundredsofconsoles,servers,parallelprocessingserverbladesblinkedandpurredfromtheirmetalracks.Caldwellwassittinginthemiddleofalltheseputers,theconductorguidingthisorchestraofbitsandbytes.Hecaughthisreflectioninoneofthescreens.Hewasmuchyoungerthen.Pimples.
Awell-dressedmiddle-agedwomancameinandberatedhiminasternvoice.ShemutteredsomethingaboutitallbeingforthegoodofTheUnion.Caldwellcouldn’thelpbutnoticethatvaricoseveinsburnedfluorescentinheryellowingcalves.HowdidIgettoWaterlooBridge?
Hewasbackintheputerroomuploadingbogusdatatoaheavilyencryptedsectorofcyberspace.Helookedangry.Intheblacknessofoneofthemonitorscreensinfrontofhim,hecaughtthereflectionoftwomenapproachinghimfrombehind.ItwasthetwoheaviesinFouler’slimo.Theylookedexactlythesameastheydidnow.Theydraggedhimdowncountlessnondescriptcorridors,thesoundofhisscreamsbouncingemptilyoffthewhitebrickwalls.CaldwelldraggedhisfeetandwrithedlikeawildbushhogcaughtinaforesttrapbutthementightenedtheirgripspullinghimintothedepthsofHYDRA,thepartsofthebuildingtowhichhedidn’thaveclearance.
Hewasdraggedthroughawhitedoorwiththeword“Out”writteninitinblackpaint.Hewonderedwhethersomewherealongthesemyriadcorridorstherewasan“In”.Thelightintheroomwassowhiteitburnedhiseyes.Hewasstrappedintoawhiteleatherchair.Everythingintherewassowhite.Thefloor,thewallsandtheceilingwereablindingwhitethatreflectednothing.Hewasshackledwithleatherstraps.Aprettyyounggirlinwhiteuniform,wearingplimsolls,framelessglassesperchedmatron-likeonapertnose,leanedintowardshim.Hecouldsmellherperfume.Itwasanacridfragrancethatremindedhimofhospitaldisinfectant.Asyringecameupinawidearc,spittingminutejetsoftransparentliquidinthestillair.
***
CaldwellagreedtoFouler’sFaustianbargain.TheHYDRAmaninformedhimthatallthenecessaryprocedurestogivehimtheblocksofmemoryheneededwouldbetakencareofontheflighttoHongKongthefollowingday.HealsotoldCaldwellthattheywouldtaghimtoaGPSsystemsohewouldn’tdoarunner.Heagreedtoitall,hispulsiontoregainhismemoryovershadowinganydoubtshewasharboring.Itwasn’tlikehehadachoice.
CaldwellaskedFoulertodrophimoffnearWaterlooBridgesohecouldsaygoodbyetoKat.
“Ibetyouknowabouthertoo?”Caldwellaskedwithsomebitterness.
“Sure.Wehadyouwatchedafteryouwerereinsertedintothesystem.Wecanputyouupinahoteltonightifyouwish.Getyourselfcleanedup,getsomegoodfoodinyou,”Fouleroffered.
TheagencymanseemedtobehavingsecondthoughtsaboutlettingCaldwelloutofhissightbutthenhefiguredthatCaldwell’sdesiretoregainhismemorywouldgetthebetterofanyideatomakearunforitorsearchforthisChinesesystembyhimself.Theagencymanwasright.Besides,FoulerhadtherunoftheCCTVgridandwhoknewwhatelse.Hecouldtrackhimdownatanytime.
“Nothanks,”Caldwelldeclined.
TheblacklimousinecruisedtoastandstilljustoutsideWaterloostation.ItwasalmostasthoughFoulerknewtheywouldbedroppinghimoffhere.They’dbeencruisinginthevicinity.CaldwellsteppedoutintoablackpuddleandLondonrain.ThedampairtastedoftheRiverThames,industrialpollutionanddeath.
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