IttookCaldwellandMeiLinalmosttenminutestoreachtheentrancetotheuniversity.Acoupleofsleekoblongtaxiswerequeuedupatthetaxistand,theirelectricsidling.WangLinhaddisappeared.MeiLinhandedCaldwellarollofNewChinaYuanandacreditchipandjumpedintothefirsttaxi.Theautomaticdoorsswishedshutandthevehicleslidsidewaysintotraffic.Caldwellgotintothesecondtaxi.Thedriver,anoldweather-beatenmanwithshortspikygrayhairandamoleatthebackofhisneckwithasinglestrandofhairgrowingoutofit,turnedroundandgavehimtheonceover.CaldwellhadafeelinghewasgoingtoneedalltheMandarinhecouldmuster.
“Niqunarlia?”thedriverasked,rollinghis“r”slikehisteethweremadeofMalaysianrubber.Hisvoicewasadeepgutturaldrawl.Ifyouranitthroughavoiceanalysisconstruct,you’dfindtracesofsomeobscurenortherndialect.
“Followthosetwo4x4s,”CaldwellurgedinhisbestMandarin.
“Theonesthatjustspedoffseveralminutesago?”
“Exactly.”
“They’vebeengoneforminutes.ManyPLA4x4sinBeijingatthistimeofthedaymyfriend,”theoldmanobservedslyly,lookingatCaldwellintherearviewmirror.”
“FivethousandNewYuanifyoucansproutanextrapairofeyesandcatchupwithvehiclesinquestion.”
“Nowwearetalking,”theolddriversaidwithasalacioustwinkleinhiseyesastheyeasedoutintotraffic.
“Whatever,”Caldwellmuttered,settlingbackintotheleatherseatsofthetaxi.HeflickedthroughtherollofbillsMeiLinhadhandedhimtoseeifhehadenoughmoneytopaythedriver.Hehadmorethanenough.
Thingsweredefinitelyheatingup.AndCaldwellwasnotsurehelikedthegrowingfeelingofimpendingdanger.HewasonthetrailofthePLA,onajourneywhosedestinationhecouldnotpredict.WhatiftherewasanaspecttothisAI,apurposemoresinisterthanappearedtotheunsuspectingeye?WhatwouldFoulermakeofthecurrentturnofevents?Whatifhenevermadeitoutofthisalive?
“Canyougoanyfaster,”Caldwellaskedtheolddriver.Adistinctnoteofimpatiencehadcreptintohisvoice.Hedidnotlikethesoundofit.Asmuchashedidn’twanttoadmitit,hewasscared.
“Ican,butitisimpossiblewiththetrafficandeverythingonautopilotforthenexttwokilometers.Anyway,thetrafficisgoodbecauseitmeanswecancatchupwiththosecars,”thedrivergrowledwithoutturningaround.Theoldmanclearedhisthroat,spatathickglobuleofyellowphlegmoutofthewindowandtookasipoutofatransparentflaskofstrong-lookingtea.Thebackofhisneckwasthetextureofburntleather,wrinklesetchedintothemocha-coloredfabricofhisskinwiththecruelpassageofunrelentingtime.Tautsilverhairsatthebaseofhisroundheadformedthebeginningsofanimpressivecrewcut.
“Justfindthosetwocarsok?”
“Sure.Andstoplookingbackofhead.Makemyskincrawl,”thedriversaidmatter-of-factly,leaningbackinhisseat.Caldwellcouldn’thelpbutlaugh.Thedriverwasabitcrankybuthehadasenseofhumor,avirtuetobeappreciatedattimeslikethis.Thetaxiwasonautopilotguidedalongbyitssensorsandthemarkersontheroad.Therewassomethingsurrealaboutallthecarsmovingalongatthesamespeed.Itwaslikethevarioustechnologies,engines,fuelinjectionsystemsandcarburetorsthatmadesomevehiclessuperiortoothershadbeenstrippedawayleavingonlyuniformity.Thiswasexactlywhatsocietywouldliketoimposeuponitscitizens,Caldwellthought,strippingthemofallsemblanceofindividuality,leavingonlypaleshadowsofthemselvesmatchingintimetoamonbeat.
“PLAcars,alsoautopilot?”heaskedthedriver.
“Ofcourse,inNewChinaeveryoneonautopilot,”thedriversaidwithachuckle.
“Indeed.”
“WhyyoufollowPLAcarsanyway?Havedeathwish?”
“No,Iamajournalistworkingonastory,”Caldwelllied.Hehadnomisgivingsaboutlyingtotheolddriver.Tellingthetruthwouldthrusttheconversationindirectionshedidn’twantittogo.
“Havedeathwish.AllforeignjournalistsinNewChinahavedeathwish,”thedriverconcluded,offeringCaldwellwhatheprobablyconsideredwouldbehislastRedPagodacigarette.
“Nothankyou.Sowhatareourchancesofgettingclosertothatvehicle?”
“Justgetreadytopaymeterplusfivethousand,deathwish.”
“OK.Butenoughwiththedeathwishtalk.OK?”
“Whateveryousay.Thegirl.Chinese.Sheiswho?”thedriverasked,revealingasetoffadedjadeteethCaldwellhadn’tnoticedearlier.
“Journalisttoo.”
“Can’tfoololdman,deathwish,”thedriversaid.
“Whydoyousaythat?”
“Iseemanyeyesofwomenduringmylife.Iseesuffering,desire,happiness,hunger,hopeanddesperationintheireyes.IknowwhatIsee.”Theoldmantappedhisskullwithanindexfingercappedbyatalon-liketaperedfingernailthecolorofburntash.
“Andwhatisthat?”
“Iseeanticipation.”
“Anticipationofwhat?”
“Ofwhatyouarecapableorincapableofgiving.”
Thedisplayonthetaxi’sdashindicatedthattheywerenowofftheautopilotgridandsureenoughtherewasaslightshudderasthesystemswitchedover.Theoldmangrabbedthesteeringwheel,allbonyfingersandwhiteknuckles.Heexpertlythreadedhiswaythroughthetraffic,exploitinggapsthatwerenolongerbeingmaintainedbytheautopilotsystem.Hewasamantransformed,intentonmakingtheextramoneyatcost.Itwasamazingwhattheprospectofsomecashcoulddoformotivation.
CaldwellthoughtaboutwhatthedriverhadsaidaboutMeiLin.Wasitthatobvious?Wassheeagerlyanticipatingsomething?Andifso,what?Shehaddoneaprettygoodjobofmaskingherfeelings,iftheystillexisted.Caldwellhadn’tforgottenthewayshehadabruptlysidesteppedhisprofessionofloveforheratdinner.Itwasverylikelytoomuchforher.Shewasprobablyinthesuitenow,attheZhongguancunContinentalHotel,hastilypacking.Thenrushingouttocheckoutandmeethimattheairport.
Atthatpointherememberedthathedidn’thavehermobilenumber.Hedecidedtocallthehotelassoonashearrivedattheairporttofindoutwhethershehadalreadycheckedoutandwhethershe’dlefthernumber.Whatifshefailedtomeethimattheairport?HewouldhavenochoicebuttoboardaplaneforShanghai,hotontheheelsofthePLA.Caldwellmayhavedevelopedarenewedappetiteforthegame,butthethoughtoftheunknownentitythatwasShanghaistillleftafunnytasteinhismouth.
Forthefirsttime,CaldwellbegantoharbordoubtsaboutwhetherhewouldbeabletogiveFoulerwhathewantedandgethispastback.Hestartedsinkingintoanabyssofdespairandself-doubt.Hefeltafraidandwasbeginningtowonderwhethergettinghismemoriesbackwasallthatimportant.Hell,hehaddoneOKwithoutthem,hisrecentsuicideattemptnotwithstanding.NowthatheknewthatKenzoYamamotohadbeenbehindhisinabilitytomakealivinghacking,hecouldsettherecordstraightandgobacktowhatheusedtodobefore.WithGlyphdead,TheHUBprobablyneededhimmorethanever.Thesightofoneofthegreen4X4’sabouttencarsaheadputpaidtothatideaandhisadrenalinstartedpumpinglikeitwastheendoftheworld.
***
Youdon’tstrollintothecavernousarrivalsterminalatNewChinaCapitalAirport.Itsucksyouinlikeagiantmagnetandbombardsyouwithadvertisementsinterlacedwitharrivalanddepartureannouncements.Onecouldbeforgivenforthinkingthattheadvertisingjinglesweremoreimportantthantheflightannouncements.Hologramsdressedintheliveryoftheinternationalairlinesmovedamongthecrowds,beameddownfromprojectorshighintheroofofthebuilding.Theairlineswerethereinforce,inbothanalogueanddigitalform,allclamoringforapieceoftheaction.CaldwellkepthiseyestrainedonthePLApartyridingtheglasselevatorstothedepartureterminal.Hewasonaforty-fivedegreeglidetothesame,themechanismoftheancientescalatorshudderingundertheweightofhumanity.Thegrayserverslookedharmlessontheirtrolleys,yetitwaspossiblethattheywereasdangerousasanyterroristweapon.
Inthedepartureterminal,thefourPLAofficerscheckedinattheFirstClasscounterofShanghaiEasternAirlines.Oneofthemenwasbarkingmandstoacoweringattendant,whilegesticulatingattheservers.Ayoungmaninredoverallsappearedfrombehindthecounterwithahandfulofpackingmaterials.Heplacedalargered“HandleWithCare”stickerandtriangle-shapedgreenstickerswithaskullandcrossbonesmotifontheservers.ThePLAsoldiershelpedhimapplyfoamprotectorstothefourcornersoftheserversandducttapetotheirvariouspartments.Theyliftedtheserversontotheconveyorbeltandthemachinesdisappearedintotheinnardsofthebaggagesystem.
OnequestionkeptrepeatingitselfinCaldwell’smind.Whyweretheytakingamercialflight,whenamilitaryaircraftwouldhavemademuchmoresense?GiventheinvolvementofthePLA,onewouldexpectsucharrangementstobeeasilymade.MaybeProfessorYao’sdeathandLiJin’sdisappearancehadforcedthePLAtoactmuchquickerthansucharrangementsallowed.Yet,therewasanotherpossibility.Whateverwasgoingon,itwasnotofficiallysanctionedbythePLA.ThemoreCaldwellthoughtaboutthatpossibility,themoreitmadeperfectsense.
ThequeueofEconomypassengerscheckingintothesameflightwasgrowing.Wouldtherebeanyfreeseatsontheflight?CaldwellwalkedtowardsabankofphonesandcalledthehotelinZhongguancun,thankfulthathestillhadthehotel’splimentarycardinoneofhispockets.
“ZhongguancunContinentalHotel,howcanIhelpyou?”afemalevoiceinquiredinflawlessEnglish,pletewithAmericanaccent.
“MissHsu,Room2208,please.”
“Pleaseholdononeminute.”Mando-popassaultedCaldwell’searassheswitchedhimthroughthePBXsystemtothetelephoneinthesuite.
“MeiLinhadobviouslynotcheckedoutyet.Ifshehad,thegirlatreceptionwouldhavesaidso.Whatwaskeepingher?HeguessedthatthetaxiridefromTsinghuatothehotelwouldhavebeenquickerthanhistriptotheairport.Thehotelhadfasteraccesstothesuper-fastringroadsthatleadtotheairport.Thephonekeptringingandthensomeonepickedup.
“MeiLin?”
“Hangonaminutesir.”
“Sure.”
“Iamafraidtheguesthasalreadycheckedoutandisonherwaytotheairport.Thisishousekeeping.”
“OK.Thanks.DidsheleaveanumberforaMr.Caldwell?”
“Nosir,shedidnot.”
Caldwellhungup.WithoutMeiLin’smobilenumberhowwouldtheygetintouch?HehadtogetonthatplaneotherwisetheywouldneverknowwhatbecameoftheAI.Hadsheditchedhim?Whyhadshegivenhimhercreditchip?Outofsympathy?Caldwellturnedroundandlookedtowardsthecheck-incounter.ThePLAsoldiershaddisappeared.Caldwellsquintedatthegiantdeparturedisplaysuperimposedontheroofoftheterminal.TherewasaShanghaiEasternAirlinesflightSA-809departinginforty-fiveminutes.Theflighthadnotstartedboarding.TherewereotherShanghaiflightsbyotherairlinesbutonlytheoneShanghaiEasternAirlinesflightinthenexttwohours.CaldwellwalkeduptotheFirstClasscheck-indeskandhandedtheattendantthecreditchipMeiLinhadgivenhimandhispassportchip.
“Thisischeck-inforFlightSA-809,right?
“Correct,”thegirlreplied,scanninghisfaceforanysignoflunacy.ForallsheknewCaldwellcouldbeaterrorist.Shewasabouttosaysomething,probablyunpleasant,butheinterruptedquickly.
“I’dliketopurchasetwoticketsforthisflight,please.”
“Twotickets?”sheaskedincredulously,hershrewdeyesdartingbehindhimtomakesurethatsomediminutivepersonshehadn’tseenwasn’thidingthere.
“Correct,”Caldwellsaid,mimickinghervoice.Hersmallishfeaturesbrokeintoatorturedsmile.
“I’llneedtheotherpassenger’sIDorpassport,sir.SoIknowwhotoissuetheotherticketto,”shesaid.Shesoundedvaguelypleasedwithherself.Sheprobablydidn’tgettorebuffanattempttocheckinveryoften.
“CanIjustpayfortheticketsandleavetheotheronewithyou.Icanleaveyouhername.Myfriendwillbecheckinginshortlywithherpassport.”ThenitoccurredtoCaldwellthatMeiLinmaynotwanttotravelunderherownname.
“Thatisahighlyunusualrequestsirbutwemightbeabletomakeanexception.Willtheotherpassengerbetheownerofthiscreditchip,sir?”Theattendantwasshrewd.
“Yes,shewill.”
“Veryconvenientsir.Ifyouweren’tbuyingtwotickets,sir,itwouldhavebeenmostunusualtouseanotherparty’screditchip,sir.TheNewChinagovernmentlooksmostunkindlyuponcreditchipfraudsir.”Shesmiled.Herfacewasatautmaskofmake-upstretchedtoitslimit.Atanymoment,Caldwellthought,crackswouldstarttoappearonherface.Giantfissureswouldemergerevealingthepale,unhealthyskinhiddenbeneaththelayersofwhitener.Theattendantslidthechipthroughareader.
“Oh,youpanionhasalreadypurchasedticketsinyourname?”
“Really?”
“Yes,aMs.ZhuMeiLin.She’sinthedeparturelounge.”TheattendanthandedCaldwellhischipsandaprintercametolifeissuingtheticket.Caldwellwonderedwhatwasgoingon.
“Here’syourticketandyourboardingpassMr.Johnson.Thedepartureloungeisupstairstotheright.”
“Thankyou.”Mr.Johnson?Ms.Zhu?
“Haveasafeflightsir,”theattendantsaidpleasantly.Therewasamischievousglintinhereyes.
Caldwellturnedround,feelinghershrewdlittleeyesburningholesinthebackofhisheadashemadehiswaytowardsthedeparturelounge.
***
Afatbaldingmiddle-agedmanhawkedintoagarbagebinneartheentranceasCaldwellenteredthedeparturelounge.Aglobuleofgreenblood-speckledphlegmadheredtothesideofthebinandcrawledslowlydownitsshinyaluminumsurface.CaldwellgrimacedandscannedthedepartureloungeforanysignofMeiLin.Andthenhesawher.ShewasseatingseveralrowsawayfromthefourPLAofficerswithaworriedlookonherface.Shelookedup,sawhimandwalkedovercarryingtheirluggage.Caldwellnoticedthatbothbagshaddiplomatictagsonthem.Theywouldnotbesearchedatcustoms.OnceagainMeiLinwasprovingbeyondashadowofadoubtthatsheknewhowthegamewasplayed.
“ThankGodyoumadeit.”
“Yes,IwasabitworriedwhenIfoundoutIdidn’thaveyourcellnumber.”
“Metoo.”
“Diplomatictags?Don’ttellmeHYDRAcanpullthatoff.”
“Sure,didn’twanttotakechanceswiththeGlocks.Mozicouldhavebeenjusttryingtoimpressmewithallthattalkabouttakingthegunsthroughcustoms.”
“Hesurewas.IthinkhehadthehotsforyoubutIamnottoosureaboutMs.Zhu.”MeiLinlaughedandthenturnedserious.
“Somethingveryinteresting.Ioverheardthoseguyschatting.ThisallseemstobelinkedtosomeonecalledMajor-generalWang.Oneoftheguysmadeaphonecallandtoldsomeonetheywereattheairportandwouldarriveatthehospitalinafewhours.”
“Hospital?”
“Yeah.Strange.”
“Couldwebewrong?CouldthisbesomemedicalputerandnottheAI?”
“That’swhatIthought.ThethingisthattheyweretalkingamongthemselvesaboutanAI.”
“Really?Soweareontherighttrack.”
“Itwouldseemso.Toomuchofacoincidence.Theflightleavesinlessthantwentyminutessowebettergo.”
“Sure.”
Theywalkedtothedeparturegateandboardedtheplane.AfewminuteslaterthefourPLAofficersenteredthefirstclasspartmentandtooktheirseatsseveralrowsinfront.MeiLinlookedatCaldwellandsmiled.
“YouthinkingwhatIamthinking?”sheasked.
“Yup,Ihopeyoubroughtsomeofyoureavesdroppingtoys.”
“Neverleavehomewithoutthem,”MeiLinsaidmischievously.
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