TheskyaboveWaterlooBridgewasdevoidofstarsandspittingacidrain.Thepoolsofrainwaterontheasphaltreflectedakaleidoscopicfilmofmysterychemicals.ItmirroredthestateofCaldwell’smind.HetriedtofocushisthoughtsonthedeadhackerGlyph.Itwashardtobelievethatthehackerhadbetrayedhim,forapittancenoless.Whatanabsolutelypointlesswaytodie.
HehadtofindKat,theonlyhumanthatcouldpassasafriend,tosaygoodbye.She’dbecrushedifshefoundoutthathe’dlefttheUnionwithoutlettingherknow.Andhewasn’tgoingtodiewithoutdoingthat.Althoughtheymadecontactveryrarelyrecently,Caldwellhadbeentoobusytryingtomakealiving,astrongunbreakablebondexistedbetweenthem.Itwentbeyondtheboundsoffriendship,familyoramorousrelationships.
TheyhadmetinthebackalleysofWaterlooatatimewhenCaldwellhadnomemoriestospeakofandhewasbesiegedbymigrainesthatweresointensethathefrequentlyblackedoutfromthepain.Kathadfoundhimonerainydayunconsciousontheconcretefloorofoneofthedarkdrippingpedestriantunnels.Abovehisstillbodyacacophonyofvehiclesandthesoundofshoespoundingasphalt.Pedestriansnolongerventuredbelowtothebridge’sundergroundwalkwaysoutofanottotallyirrationalfearfortheirpersonalsafety.
She’dhalfdraggedandhalfcarriedhimtothediscardedphotocopierboxthatformedthebasisofherhome.Halfanhourlaterhehadregainedconsciousnessandthey’dbeeacquainted,awkwardly,amidthehomelesssqualorofcardboardunderneaththisverybridgethatloomeddarkandmysteriousinfrontofhim.KatwasthefirstmemorythatCaldwellformedthatinvolvedanotherhumanbeingandtheyhadforgedbetweenthemaninexplicablebondthatwentbeyondthefactthatshehadrescuedhim.
Afterhisrideinthelimo,henowknewalotmoreabouthowhehadgottothecardboardsprawl.ItwasaroadtodestructionpavedbythemaninthebigblacklimousinewhocalledhimselfFoulerandbytheorganizationherepresented.AnorganizationhehimselfusedtobepartofthatcoldlyspathimoutintothederelictionofWaterloo.Hewouldmakethempay.
Highabove,MaglevsdeceleratedintoWaterloostation,theirliveryflashingbrilliantlybetweenthetrapezoidsteellatticesofWaterlooBridge,vibrationsrumblingthroughtheconcrete.Thestationitselfwasahulkingglassmonolithbacklitbypowerfulspotlightsthatshotpurewhitelightupatthenightsky.Thedrizzlegavethelightsaheraldichue.Acrossthecityscapetheglimmeringlightsofaffluentlivingroomsblinkedinthenight.
“Iwaspartofthesystemonce,”Caldwellmutteredunderhisbreath.“Iwaspartofthesystem.”Heswipedtheraindropsfromhisjacket.Luckilytheknapsackhadawaterproofliningandthesyntheticleatherdidagoodjobofkeepingwaterout.
Caldwelltrudgedthroughoilslickrainpuddlestowardstheendofthebridge.HisheartquickenedwithanticipationofwhathewouldfindinHongKong,thecityofhisbirth.Hewasgoingtheretomorrow.Allthisdidn’tmakemuchsense.Thingswerehappeningtooquickly.Whatdidthatcityholdforhimbesidesremnantsoflostmemories?WouldHongKongrekindlesomepastaffectionfortheplace?
ThememoriestriggeredbyFoulerwerecrystal-clearinhismind,keptinsharpfocusbyanacutedesiretoremember.Caldwell’smindhadbeentransformedfromdrablandscapesofgraytoblackinterlacedwiththebrightneonsoftheFarEast.Hecouldseethemnow,theglowinglightsofacitywhoseshinyilluminatedbuildingswereconstantlyreachingforthesky.Humanityuponhumanitypiledoneatoptheother,separatedonlybyathinlayerofconcreteandsteelandthetrappingsofinteriordecoration.Hetriedtoanticipatethememoriesthatwouldbetriggeredbythelonecardintheenvelopeinhisbackpocket,resistingtheurgetolookatitrightthereandthen.Foulerhadgivenittohimasabonus,agestureofgoodwill.Caldwellwasdeeplysuspiciousofthatlastgesturebuthewasalsocurious.
Helookedathiswatch,anagingCasiowithaweakholographicdisplaythathadfadedwithtime.Itwasalmost10.00PM.ThecorporatedroneshadlongretiredtotheirprefabunitstowinddowntheirNewYear’scelebrationsbeforeanotherstabatconglomerateserfdom.Waterloowaslikeaghosttownafter9.00PM,exceptfortheoddlateworkertrundlingtowardsthestationtocatchthelateexpressesthatshuntedpeoplearoundthevastexpanseoftheUnion.Theplacewasjusttoodangerous,borderingasitdidthedarkcriminalzonesofSouthEastLondon.
Atthefarendofthebridge,hundredsoflightsflickeredasbridgedwellerswarmedgnarledhandsatfastfadingmakeshiftfires.Caldwellclimbeddownamaintenanceladderbythesideofthebridge.Itwasonehehadusedcountlesstimesbefore.HerememberedclimbingupanddownthisbridgewithKat,theThamesundulatingdarklybelowthem.They’dbeheadingtotheswankyhotelsofTheStrandonwhattheycalledtheirdinnerrunorreturningfromone.Onluckynightsthey’dbringbackhunksofsmokedNorwegiansalmonstillinthefoilsbutpasttheirsellbydates.Theyhadgrowntonotcareabouttheirhomelesslifestyles.Whenyouwerelivingonthestreets,salmontastedgoodevenwhenitwasalittleoff.Eatthepinkstuffnotthegrayrank-smellingstrips.Onbadnightsthey’dstarveorfeedonbitsofleftoverfastfoodincrushedStyrofoamboxes.NowhewasofftotheFarEast,aplaceheneverimaginedhe’dbeabletoeveraffordvisiting.
Caldwelldescendedintoaseaofcardboard,packingpalletsandStyrofoam.Thesewerethebuildingmaterialsofchoiceforbridgedwellers.Cardboardinthesummer,Styrofoaminthewinter,thelatterreinforcedwithplasticfiberpalletsandoldSalvationArmyblankets.Plasticfiberwasgoodforanyweather.
ThesprawlofcardboardandStyrofoamthatexpandedbeforehiseyeswasatoncefamiliarandalien.Itseemedliketheinhabitantsweregoingupintheworld.Dwellingsweregettingbiggerandmoreaesthetic.Someevenhadmultiplewingsthatyouaccessedthroughmakeshiftplastictunnelsmadeoutoffusedchemicalbarrelsappropriatedfromthebacklotsofindustrialandpharmaceuticalconcerns.InthedistanceCaldwellheardtheblareofatleasttwoorthreeradios,onetunedtosomeforeignchannel.
Despitethelargermakeshiftdwellings,squalorandfilthhadreturnedwithavengeanceandtherewasadistinctsmellofstalevomitintheair.CaldwellstartedtowonderwhetherKathadmovedon.Sincehe’dtradedhispatchunderneaththebridgeforthefacelesscubiclecitiesoftheUnionhehadonlycontactedKatwhenhewasmovingontoanotherdestination.Shedidn’tliketostayintouchallthetime,preferringtotouchbaseonlyatwhatsheconsiderednodalpointsintheirlives.
ShehadspentonedaywithhimattheAngelCapsuleHotel,thetwoofthemsqueezedintothetightnicheofhisclaustrophobiccapsulesurfingcyberspacethroughtheconsolemonitorembeddedintheplasticceiling.She’dremarkedonhowrelativelycleaneverythingwasbeforeshebecamehomesickforthespaceandfreedomofthebridge.Shehadspentallherlifetherehavingbeendumpedinoneofthetunnelsasababy.AyoungteenagecouplesleepingroughhadadoptedherastheirownuntilonenighttheyhadbothdiedofanoverdosefromdodgybargainbasementamphetaminesappropriatedfromtheomnipresentdrugpushersfromVladivostok.Sincethen,theinhabitantshadtakenturnstakingcareofheruntilshebecameateenagerandwasabletofendforherself.
Hemovedbrisklythroughthedankdrippingcorridors,pastcountlessfrost-deformedtoespeepingoutofcardboardflaps.Garishlypaintedfingernailslaylimponthedampconcretefloorsastheownerlayatoseinalcohol-ordrug-inducedsleep.Hemovedpastovergrownhairmatteddownwithmisfortune.TearswelledupinhiseyesashethoughtaboutthemonthsspentherewithKatandalltheothers,manyofwhomitseemedhadmovedonanddisappearedintothefarreachesofTheUnion.
AsCaldwellmadehiswaythroughtheputridgloomofcardboardhovels,partofhimhopedshehaddonebetterforherselfandtheconflictedotherhopedshewasstillheresohecouldseeheronceagain.HetookarightpastaStyrofoamdwellingbrownwithageanddirt.Itsownerhadcarveditintotheshapeofanigloo.AbottleofcheapChinesericewinelayattheigloo’sentrance.Ahairyhandfloppedlimplynexttoit.Loudirregularsnoressuggestedthattheownerwasasleep.
Caldwell’sheartquickenedasheroundedthecornertothesectionunderthebridgethatheandKathadcalledhome.ThesteelceilingaboverumbledwiththesoundofmoreMagLevsapproachingthestation.Thispartofthehomelesssprawlwasmuchbrighter.Someonehadriggedacableanda100wattbulbofftheelectriccablesthatfedpowertotheMagLevtracksabove.TheMagLevCorporationwouldnotmissthesiphonedelectricity.
Therewerejusttwodwellingsinthissection.OnewasonthespotwhereCaldwellusedtolive.TheotherwasKat’s.Thesmellofoldpukewasnolongerdiscernible.Ithadbeenreplacedwithsomekindofincense.Katandhernewagestuff.Caldwellsmiledknowinglytohimself.Hecouldfeelherpresence.
CaldwellliftedtheflapofKat’scardboardabodeandpeepedinside.Theinteriorwasdottedwithroundamberglobulesofajelly-likesubstancethatemittedafaintlight.Thefoldingfutonthey’dbothfoundatthebackofIKEAwasstillthere.OnonesidewasanevenlargerSimFilmcollectionthanshehadbefore.Hermovieswerestackedceiling-hightooneside.Abrokenconsole,itsinnardstornopen,layonthefloor.ItlookedlikeKat,aself-confessedLuddite,wastryingtobuildaputer.
Ahalf-emptybottleofcheapsakesatnexttoachippedJapaneseteacup.HerSimUnitwastetheredtotheworngoggles,whichflashedburstsoflightontothefloor.Caldwellpickedupthegogglesandputthemon.Someoldmoviestarringsomebodyhe’dneverheardof.Kat’sSimFilmunitswitchedonandunattendedmeantonlyonething.Hecrawledbackoutthroughthecardboardflap.
Caldwellwalkedtothefarendofthetunnelandtookaleftturn.ThissectionoftheshelterwasalotbrighterasitreceivedlightfromgapsintheconcretewherethenewpedestrianwalkwaysmetthegiantHoloDomeVRCinema.Whenthepedestriantunnelswereannexedbythehomelessseveraldecadesearlier,theauthoritieshadsimplysidesteppedtheproblembybuildingnewbrightly-litcoveredwalkwaysrightabovethem.Theyhadhiredsomepsychologisttoensurethatthewalkwayshadfewfeaturesthatwouldmakethemattractivetothehomeless.Thesee-throughstripsonthefloorweredesignedtotransformtheoccupiedcardboardjunglebelowintosomekindofhumanzoo.
ThegiganticholographiccinemawassituatedsmackbanginthemiddleofcardboardcitybutthefinepeoplewhocouldaffordthefullscenarioholographicmoviesandtheVRimmersionaccessedtheHoloDomethroughthenewglasswalkwaysfromWaterlooStationorfromnearbycorporatebuildings.Ontheirwaythere,theygottosee,throughthestrips,howthelessfortunatehalflived,andtheygottowalkalloverthehomeless.
Caldwellscannedtheedgeofthedomeandsawasmallfigurehuddledatthetop.Heleanedhisearagainstthecurvedsteelofthedome’sexterior.Caldwellheardthesoundofghostsspeakinginmuffledvoicesandmusicthatsoundedlikeitwasingfrombeneathhisskin.
Hewalkedroundtothebackofthedometothemaintenanceshaftandstartedtoclimb.Hegottothetopandwalkedprecariouslyroundtheedgeofthedometillhewasnexttothelittlewaif-likefigurepeeringthroughthegapsbetweentheshinymetalslatsthatmadeupthedome’sroof.Aflickerofrecognitionflashedthroughhereyes,reflectedagainsttheslatsbutshedidn’tturnherhead.Shesimplygrabbedhisarmandkeptlookingthroughtheslats.Caldwellpeeredintothedome.
Themoviewasbeingrenderedinbrilliantholographicdetailfromprojectorsinsidetheroofdownontothestagebelow.Eventhebuildingsandcarsinthestreetscenelookedreal.SomeofthecrowdworeVRgogglesandwerepartofthecast,insidethemovie.Theothersjustwatched.Theysatlikethisforawhile.Katlookedwell.Hermousyblondehairblewwetagainsthisfaceinthedrizzle.Shewasshiveringslightly.Caldwelltookoffhisjacketandwrappeditaroundhershoulders.Herbonyfingersclutchedhisarmevenmoretightly,eyestransfixedbytheflickeringimagesoftheHoloDome.
***
Katcrawledonallfoursintohermakeshifthome,wrigglinglikearecentlyunearthedwormfranticallysearchingforthefamiliardepthsofitsburrow.Caldwellfollowedcloselybehind.Uptillnow,shehadn’tsaidaword.Caldwellknewitwasherwayofmunicatingthefactshe’dmissedhimandhefoundinhersilenceastrangefort.Shepouredtwocupsofsakeandofferedhimone.
“It’sbeenawhile,”shesaid,finally.
“Yeah.You’relookingwell.”
“Soareyou,”shesaidawkwardly,raisinghershoulderandjerkingherheadbackinthatsignaturegestureofhers.Caldwellhadneverunderstoodwhatitmeantbuthefiguredthatitapproximatedsomethingclosetoexcitement.HervoicehadthatstrangesurrealqualitythatCaldwellhadneverheardanywhereelse,puter-generatedorotherwise.HerfacewasstreakedwithgunkfromtheroofoftheHoloDome.Herhairhadgrownabittoolongandneededawash.Inhereyeswerereflectedmemoriesofathousandmovies.
“Thingsmustbegoingwell,”Caldwellsaid,noddinginthedirectionofthesake.
“Ohthat?Newhigh-endJapaneseeateryonTheStrand.Threwawholebunchofstuffoutback.”
“TheJapanesearereturningwithavengeance,”Caldwellsaid,thinkingofthedigitallyrenderedmaskofKenzoYamamoto’sface.
“Sureseemsthatway.Lot’sofgoodflicksingfromoutofthere.”
Kattookmoviesmoreseriouslythanreallife.Itwasheronlypassion,heroneescapefromthedrudgeryofreality.
“LookKat,IamleavingtheUnionforawhile.IamgoingtoHongKongforajob.”
“HongKong?Can’tevenbegintoimaginewhatthat’slike.InHongKongyoucanbuyamurderforfivebucks.”ThetheatricalwayinwhichsheutteredthelastsentencetoldCaldwellthatshewasquotingfromamovieassheinvariablydidwhentheoccasionpresenteditself.
“Huh?”
“It’sfromthemovieStingray.”
“Ah!”He’dneverseenStingray.
“IfthiswasHongKong,you’dalreadybedead,”Katcontinued.
“Iknowthatone.LethalWeapon.Thefourthone,straightfromthedepthsofsequelhell.”
“Yeah.”Hereyessparkledwhenshetalkedaboutherfavoritesubject.
“SohowdidyoumanagetolandthistriptoHongKong?”
CaldwelltoldhereverythingfromreceivingthemessagefromGlyphtoFouler’sappearance.Hetoldherabouthisexcitementatfindingouthehadapastandabouthismotherandhowbeautifulshelookedinthephoto.Heconvenientlyleftouttalkingabouthiscloseencounterwithsuicide.Hereyestrackedhisfacetakingineverythinghewassayingandregisteringitwiththefelicityofthelensofadirector’scamera.Shedidn’tsomuchlistentothestoryaspictureit.HetoldheraboutFoulerandhisoffer.Atthatpointhereyesnarrowedliketheapertureofanancientmechanicalcamera.
“Canyoutrusthim?”sheasked.Shehadthatuncannyabilitytogettothecruxofanissuequickly.
“Idon’tknow.Trustcankillyouorsetyoufree,”Caldwellquoted.
“ThePretender.Anddon’tthinkthatwillputmeoffthesubject.”
“IthinkI’llbeOK.”
“Itmightbeatrick.”
“Thosebastardsholdthekeytomymemory,tomypast.ThisistheonlywayIcangetthatback.”
Shelookedathimandtheymadethatinexplicablementalconnectionthattiedthemtogether.Shelookedawayquicklyandbegantoyingwiththeguttedputeronthefloor.
“FoundthisdownonFleetStreet,discardedbyoneofthedefunctbroadsheets.Therewerehundredsofputersdowntherebutmostofthegoodstuffwasgone.Ithinkthisonecanbemadetowork.”Katwaschangingthesubjectinherclumsyawkwardway.
“Yeah,”Caldwellsaid.“Ifyoustartworkinginreverseandassembleratherthandismantleit.”
Shelaughedrevealinganeatrowofsmallwhiteteeth.Herheadarchedbackandherthroatreverberatedwithsound.Smallveinsinherneckpulsatedwithlife.
“Manisdestructivebynature.ImsurethatyouwillunderstandthatIamgoingthroughadestructivephase.”
“Wasthatanotherquote?”
“Yeah.FromLookWho’sTalking.”
“Cool!”
“DoyouknowwhyIgotit?”sheasked.
“Noidea.Iknowyouhateputers.”
“Iwantedtokeepintouchwithyou.Tomunicateinandunderstandyourworld.”
“Really?That’ssosweet.It’snotnearlyasmuchfunasitseems,”Caldwellsaid,leaningforwardandgivingheraquickhug.
“Also,oneoftheguysheregavemeahackedpasswordtothebiggestonlinemoviearchiveintheworld.Alltheflicksevermade,includingallthesilentstuff.”
“Iknewtherehadtobeanotherreason.”
“Iamhopingthispieceofjunk,whenit’supandrunningwillletmeaccessit.Doyouthinkyoucouldmakeitworkforme?”
“It’lltakeforever.”
“Really?”
“Yes,butIhaveabetteridea.It’sabouttimeyouleftthisplace,Kat.Whydon’tIaskFoulertoletyoumoveintoGlyph’smobilehomeuntilIgetback?Heprobablyhasalltheputeryou’lleverneed.”
“WouldlovetoCadbuttherearetwoproblems.Ican’taffordhisrentandtheguyswhokilledhimmightgobacktohisplacenosingaround.”
“Iamguessingtheyalreadyhave.AsfortherentI’llgetmynewbenefactortotakecareofit.”
“Andthey’llagreejustlikethat?”
“Definitely.Ihavesomethingtheyneedandit’saninsignificantexpenseforthem.”
“Well,Idowanttogetoutofhere.I’mnotgoingtopretendIaminlovewiththisplace,althoughtheHoloDomeisawfullyconvenient,’sheobservedthoughtfully.Caldwellwentinforthekillbeforeshecouldchangehermind.
“Butyou’llhaveaccesstoallthemoviesintheworldfromthatsiteyoumentionedandIonceheardGlyphmentiononlinethathehasanamazingHoloFliksystem.”
Thatdidthetrick.Kat’seyeslitupwithanticipationandheknewshewassold.
“Deal,”shesaidsimplyandstartedlookingaroundherspace.“IguessIjustneedsomeclothesandmySims.EverythingelseIcanleavehere.Whoknows,ifyourjobdoesn’tgoaswellasyouexpect,Imightbeingback.Youmightbeingback.”
“True.WeshouldgotonightasIwouldliketolookaroundGlyph’splacebeforeIgototheairporttomorrow,”Caldwellsaid.Hedidn’tplanoningbacktothiseclecticjungleofcardboard,nomatterhownostalgichefelt.ThefactthatFoulerhadgivenhimhislastchancetoanswerlife-changingquestionsandashotatingoutofdarknesswasnotlostonhim.Neitherwasthefactthathestillowedtheagencymannofavors.KatstartedmethodologicallypackingherSimsintoapalegreenduffelbag,whileCaldwellwatchedher.Tenminuteslater,shewasallreadytogo.
“Anyoneyouneedtosaygoodbyeto?”
“Notreally.Anybodythatmattersislonggone.”
“Ihatetointerruptthismomentofburgeoningintimacy,butletsgetthehelloutofhere,”Caldwellsaid,quotingalinefromDeepBlueSea.Hewasnomoviebuffbutonceinawhilehescoredbig.Kat’sneatfeaturesbrokeintoanappreciativesmile.
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