CaldwellandKatheadedbacktowardsWaterloostation.Herfrailformmovedbesidehimwithsurprisingagility.ShehadtheSimUnitgoingbutthegoggleswereperchedonherforeheadlikethesunglassesofabeachbumseekingamoment’srelieffromaharshsummersun.Hecouldhearthesoundtracktowhatevermovieshewaswatchingbuzzinginherears.HisknapsackcontainingKenzoYamamoto’sconsoleandthesumtotalofhispersonaleffectswasslungaroundhisleftshoulderandhecarriedoneofKat’sduffelsinhisotherhand.Theskyabovethestationwaspitch-blackwithindustrialpollution.
Theycaughtanalmost-emptyMaglevtotheIsleofDogs.KatandCaldwellsatinthedesertedcarriageintotalsilence.Asilenceunderscoredbythelow-levelhumleakingoutofherheadphones.Hewonderedwhatanyonewhosawthemsittingtherewouldmakeofthem.Thisoddcouplebroughttogetherbyfate,circumstanceandastrangeinexplicablementalconnection.Whatwouldtheymakeoftheirabilitytosaynothingandyeteverythingatthesametime?
“Iamthinkingoflookingformybirthparents,”Katsaidsuddenly.“You’vefoundoutaboutyours,whereyouefrom.Ithinknow,Iwanttoknow.”
CaldwellhadknowntheawfultruthaboutKat’spastforafewmonthsnowbutcouldnotbringhimselftotellher.Theconsequencesweretoounpredictable.Katwasaclone.AclonemanufacturedatUniversityCollegeLondon’sDepartmentofBiochemistryandMolecularBiology.Katwaslabmaterialformedicalresearchstudents.Accordingtoputerrecordsattheuniversity,KatwasclonedfromafledglingHollywoodactresswhowishedtohaveasecondshotatstardomevenafterherdeath.Therehadbeennorecordsofthenameofthedonor.Abitmoredrillingdowninthedatabasehadrevealedthatoneofthelabassistantsfortheprojecthadbeenexpelledfromtheuniversityforremovingsensitivematerialfromuniversitypremises.ThatsensitivematerialwasKat.ShehadlefttheinfantbesidetheHoloDome,wrappedininsulatingmaterial,herlittlefingersclutchingalukewarmbottleofformula.
Shouldhetellhernow,whatheknew?Here,severalhundredmetersundergroundbeingbombardedwithholovertsandsubliminaladvertisingforcloningservices.Shouldhetellhershewasoneofthem?Destinedtobediscriminatedagainstbythemasses?HedecidedtowaituntilhereturnedfromHongKong.Atleast,ifhewasaroundshe’dhavesomebodytosupportherasshedealtwiththeknowledgeofwhoshewas.Whatshewas.Didshesuspectanything?Wasshesubconsciouslysearchingforheridenticalotherintheflickeringimagesofoldmovies?Shedeservedtoknow.
Wasthereavoiddeepinside,aflawthatflaredbrightinhermindleadinghertosuspectthatshewasdifferent?ThiswasonequestionCaldwellknewhecouldnotansweralthoughoccasionallyalookcameoverhereyesthatsuggestedthatshesuspectedsomething.Thatwouldexplainherreluctancetotraceherparentsforsolong.
TheyarrivedattheIsleofDogsstationandrodeanelevatortothesurface.Thestationwasalmostempty.Theyjumpedthebarriersattheexittoacacophonyofalarms.Thesealarmsoftenwentoffduringoff-peakhoursbutthestationwardensmoreoftenthannotignoredthem.Theydespisedtheirfacelesscorporateownersevenmorethanthepassengerswhorefusedtofilltheiroverflowingcoffers.Theyweresometimeshappytoletthelawbreakersprotesttheonlywaytheyknewhow,especiallyatnight.Andtheoffendersrelishedtheprivilegeoflettingthesystemknowwhattheythoughtofit.TheCCTVcamerasthatdottedeverysingleblockoftheUnionweretheperfectplatformforthisnon-conformistkindofdissent.
TheyheadedupEastIndiaDockRoadinthedirectionofBlackwell.
“IthinkIamgoingtogiveMr.Fouleracall.Idon’tknowexactlywhereGlyphlivedbutitissomewherearoundhere.FoulermentionedsomethingabouthispeoplesearchingGlyph’strailer,”CaldwellsaidtoKatwhentheycameuptoaTeleplexbooth.KatsimplynoddedandcontinuedconcentratingonherSim.
CaldwellpickeduptheheadsetfromitsgrooveandspokethenumbersFoulerhadgivenhimintothemouthpiece.Thelineconnected.Therewasaclickandthenanothersetofrings,differentfromthefirst.Thentherewasanotherclickandascreechingnoise.Theclickingandscreechingcontinuedforabouthalfaminutethensomeonepickedupontheotherend.Caldwellfoundtheprotractedprocessvaguelyfamiliar.Itwasasthoughhehaddonethiscountlesstimesbefore.Heknewexactlywhattodo.Hewaited.
HisconversationwithFoulerwasbriefandtothepoint.KatwasgoingtostayinGlyph’strailerandFoulerwasgoingtotellhimwherethetrailerwas,otherwisethedealwasoff.Foulerprotestedinitiallybutsoonrelented.HeseemedeagertogobacktowhateverhehadbeendoingwhenCaldwellcalled.
“Yousee,thatwasn’tsobad.Heagreedtoletyoustay,”CaldwellsaidtoKatastheywalkedtowardsthebackofThePuzzle.
“He’sprobablygrantingyouyourdyingwish.”
Caldwelltriedtosaysomethingbutthewordsrefusedtoeout.
Glyph’strailerwasapproximatelyfortyfeetlong.Entirelyonehalfofitwaspackedwithputerequipmentandothergizmos,someintact,somewiththeirgutsspillingopenliketheaftermathofamacabrerobotwar.Transistors,motherboards,add-ins,memorymodulesandallmannerofintegratedcircuitswerestrewnalloveralongblackmakeshiftworktop,whichwasfashionedfromusedSamsungminirefrigeratorsstackedtwo-highandthree-wideandcoveredwithablacksilkcloththathadcollectedafinepatinaofdust.ThekitchenlookedlikeGlyphhadn’tdoneanywashingupforweeks.DirtyplateswerepiledupeverywhereandeitherFouler’speopleortheYakuzahadmadethingsworsebyhurlingpotsandpansoutofcupboardsontothevinyl-coveredfloor.
Theyhadlefttheputersintactalthoughmostofthemwereon,suggestingthatsomeonehadquicklyscannedtheharddisksonthechanceoffindingsomethinguseful.Inthebedroomandthelivingareathecontentsofcupboardshadbeenemptiedoutontothefloor,sofaandmattresstornopenandpanelsremoved.
CaldwellandKatspentthenexttwohoursputtingasmuchastheycouldbacktogether.Amazinglynotalothadbeenbrokenandwhereparticleboardorplastichadbeenrippedapart,crackedorbroken,Glyph’sincredibleducttapecollectioncameinveryhandy.Itwas3.00AMinthemorningbeforeKatcollapsedonGlyph’sbedandCaldwellsatinfrontofGlyph’srefrigeratorworktopstaringintospace.
Thehacker’swheelchairhadleftvisiblemarksonthevinylfloorovertheyears.Youcouldalmostretracehisdailyroutinefromthedepthofthemarks.CaldwellcouldpictureGlyphmotoringuptherampsoutside,openingthedoorandingstraighttotheworktoptocheckonhisputers.Themarksinfrontoftheworktopweredeeperthananywhereelse.Thewheelchairhadcutharshgroovesinthevinyl.Glyphhadobviouslyspentmostofhistimeincyberspace.
CaldwellspentthenightmullingovereverythingthathadhappenedandrunningthroughscenariosofwhatmighthappeninHongKong.Thegoodnewswasthathewasstillalive.Henowknewsomethingabouthispast.InafewhourshewasheadedforHongKong,apparentlyhisbirthplace.Thebadnewswasthatthiswasobviouslyafool’smissionwithonlyanarrowchanceofmakingitalive.Ifitwasn’ttheYakuzawhogottohim,it’dprobablybetheChinese,theintrusiondetectionAIsorevenFouler’sHYDRAoutfit.HeneededtobeattheairportinjustafewhoursandFoulerhadwarnedthatitwasgoingtobeatoughdayandtheoperationwouldexactaheavytollonhisbody.Itwasapriceworthpayingatanycost.
CaldwellcontemplatedcatchingafewhourssleepandleavingFouler’spartinggift,thecardwiththesingleChinesecharacter,intheenvelopeinhispockettillhewasinHongKong.Butgiventheobstacleshefacedonhisfool’smissionwhynotarmhimselfwitheverythinghecouldbeforehand,hereasoned.Theremightbesomethingintherethatwouldhelphimoutwhenheleastexpected.Hedecidedsleepcouldwaitandhe’drathergetasmuchofhismemoryofHongKongashecouldbeforethetrip.HelookedoveratKat,whowasstillcurleduponthebedwithherSimunitblaringinherears.Thegirlwastotallynon-stop.
HeslippedFouler’senvelopeoutofhispocketandslowlypulledoutthecardwithhisthumbandindexfinger.Thistimeheknewwhattoexpect.ThiswouldbeFouler’slast-ditchattempttogetCaldwelltotrusthim.HewassurethatFoulernevereverdidanythingwithoutanulteriormotive.CaldwelllookedatthecardandtheinteriorofGlyph’strailerdissolvedawaytorevealfragmentsofhismemories.
***
Caldwellisoutsidethegatesofaschool.Thesign,inbothChinesecharactersandEnglish,announcesthatthisistheHongKongInternationalSchool.FlashesoftheXiancarcrashthatkilledhisparentsarecorrodedintohismind.HecanaccessthismemoryofamemorybecausethestoryoftheirdeathhasalreadybeenrecountedbyFouler.ThatparticulardarkpartmenthasalreadybeenunlockedmakingitavailabletothelargermemoryblockcurrentlybeingunleashedbythatsingleredChinesecharacter.Animageoffleshandmetalmadeoneinasinglemomentofchaoscrosseshismind.Itisanimagefadedwiththeravagesoftime.
Anewspaper.ThearticleintheBeijingPost.Caldwellreadingdisbelievingly.Histeenageeyesareswollenwithunshedtears.ThecouplecouldonlybeidentifiedthroughDNAanalysis.Therehadn’tbeenmuchlefttobury.Therewasnosuspicionoffoulplay.Andonandonthearticlegoesinthatcoldobjectivewaythatnewspapersusetocoverdeath.Hecouldnotrememberwhetherhehadattendedthefuneralservice.Hefeltnorelatedresidualguilt.
Memoryrewind.SummerholidaysskateboardingdownthehutongsofwhathefiguredwasBeijing.Hangingoutwiththediplobrats,drinkingbeerinthebarsthatdottedtheSanlitundiplomaticquarter.Lotsoftimeonputers.LinesofcodeflyingbylikeNovemberrain.
Caldwellstaringintentlyataputerscreen,whileaman,wholookslikethemaninthepicture,hisfather,works.Thegobbledygookthemanistypingonthescreengoesrightoverhisheadbuthestillstaresatitlikeitisthekeytoanotherworld.Herecallsanundergroundstudyfullofputerandmunicationequipment,thesecretweaponsofGCHQ,theBritishmunicationsandelectroniceavesdroppingagencythatFoulersayshisfatherworkedfor.
Forward.Heisinacyberspacechatroom.HisnicknameisrAZor.Heisateenager,yetheisaregularofdozensofhackerdensandchatroomsandontheA-listsofmostinformationwarfareagenciesandcorporateITdepartments.Heknowsthisbecausenowasthoughbymagicheremembers.Heisinfamous.Herecallsgainingaccesstohundredofputernetworks,breachingtheirsecuritywithease.Heremembershispeerstalkingtohim,withreverence.Heiswayabovethenorm.Hebestridesthebinaryworldofcodelikeacolossus.Heissupernova.
rAZor:Fizz,howisitgoingdude?Longtimenosee.Whathaveyoubeenupto?
Deus:Yeahman.What’sup?
Fizz:Notalot.WasarrestedbytheHelsinkiPigsman.Hadallmygearconfiscated.Hadtodo600hoursmunityservice.Bannedfromthespace.
rAZor:Bummerman.Nottoogood.Howdidyougetcaught?
Deus:Motherfuckers.Ifeelyouman.
Fizz:YeahDudes.Thingis,haven’tafreakincluey’know.
rAZor:Liketheyjustbustedinnoreason?
Fizz:Prettymuchlikeyousay.HP,thepigs,saysthatsomeforeignoutfitaskedformetobearrestedandwarned.Saidtheyknowwhatweareuptoandarrestswillbemadeinothercountries.
Deus:Shitman.ThinktheyaretalkingBS?
Fizz:Dunnoman.Theybustedme,that’sforsure.
rAZor:Theyprobablygotsometrackersystemfollowingyourelectronicfootprints.Anyideawhichsystemitwas?
Fizz:Yeahit’sasystemIgotfromthisphreakerfromEnglandIknow.SaidtheyhadthiscoolAIthatknowsshitandcanbeaccessedonaconsoleoroverthephone.It’slike,Igottoseethis,right?SoIamtherethatsameday,scanningitsportsandbombardingitwithpasswordsandnothinggives.SoIlikespendawholefuckinweekdoingnothingelsebutstillnojoy.IaskthisBritishphreakphriendofminehowhegotinbuthesayshecan’tremember.Sayshejustwokeuponemorningandhissoftwarewasloggedinasroot,rightintheAI’smandline.HesaidtherewereliketwothousandlinesoftextwheretheAIwastalkingtoitself,reasoningwithitself,beratingitselfbecausetherewasnoanswerfromthisphreak’sputer.
rAZor:Whoacool.Igottaseethis.
Deus:Dunnoman.That’sprobablywhatgotFizzbusted.
rAZor:Theywon’tbustme.Fizz,what’stheIP6onthis.
Fizz:It’sarevolvingallocationsystem.Butit’singoutoftheUnion,some.govnetwork.
Deus:Soyouhaveafinitetable.
rAZor:That’sgoodenoughforme.ComingDeus?
Deus:Nah,myfatherwillbeusingtheputerin5minutesgottogetoff.Minewasbustedbythatviruswormthingylastmonth.Can’twaittobeabletoaffordanewone.
Fizz:Becarefulman.
rAZor:Noworries.I’lllogthisAI’sramblingsandpostithereforyourenjoymenthehehe.
Deus:OK.
Fizz:Laters!
rAZor:Laters!
There’sastrikingbutintense-lookingChinesegirlstaringatCaldwell.Shinyblackeyesfocused,unblinking.Epicanthicfoldslendafelinebeautytoherangulardimpledface.Shehasskinthecoloroffreshtofu.
Hehashiddensoftwareagentsontheuniversityputersystem.HisagentsareTrojan.Theyconcealotheragentsandthemselves.Hisagentsaremastersofdigitaldisguise,electroniccover-up,pixelclean-up.Hisagents’routinesprecedeeverythinghedoesontheterminal,clearingpathways,rewritinglogsorlockingthem,bombardingthesystemwithheuristicpasswordsniffers,re-writingroutertablestohidetheoriginoftheiractions.
Hefiresupaboutfiveoftheseagentsandheadsoutintothecrypticworldofroutertables.EverythingisclearallthewaytotheUS.InNewYork,hehitchesarideontelcotrafficheadedouttotheUnionandjumpsoffontointra-universitytraffic.Thismemory,unliketheothers,ismorecoherent.CaldwellthinksFouler,andthepeoplewhorepackagedhismemoryintheselittleclosets,lockedthemandthrewawaythekey,havemadeitdeliberatelyso.Theintentistogivehimastrongsenseofhisowninvincibility.Thesememoriescouldbeplantedbutheisconvincedotherwise.Helikeswhathesees.Hewillsittobetrue.
CaldwelltransgressestheVPN’selegantlyandsurfsthesecureconnectionallthewaytotheUnion’scentralInternettrafficexchange.Hewakesuphissnifferbot,whichgoesthroughamassivelistofhandshakingroutinesuntiloneofthemgivesthenecessarysecrethandshake.Boom.Hescoresbig.Someinternalgovernmentdomainsystem.Hecan’taccessitfromoutside.Soheslipsintooneofthegovernment’sextranetsanddeducesausernamewithenhancedprivileges.Admin.Somepeopleneverlearn.Thepasswordbotgoestowork.
Helooksupandsmilesatthegirl,whoislookingathimasthoughsheknowswhatheisupto.He’sseenherbeforearoundtheschoolbuthisinterestinher,atthistime,isminimal.Hehasbetterfishtofry.Heisonaroll.Boom.Passwordcracked.iLoveU2@c.Soundslikealovesicksystemadministratororajiltedsysop.Typesitin.Boom.Screengoesblankexceptforapromptlikethis:
:>
:>Hello.
:>HiCad.
:>Whatdidyoucallme?
:>Cad.CadCaldwelltobeexact.Wouldyoulikemetotracebackyourfamilytree?
:>Shit.
:>Exactly.We’vebeenwaitingforyou.Youaresobustedmyfriend.
:>Ohyeah?Iamoutofhere.Nowayyoucanbustmethatfast,wiseguy.
:>We’llseeaboutitCadCaldwellofHongKongInternationalSchool.Bytheway,yourgradesareslippingbigtime.What’syourexcuse?
:>
:>Yeahwhat?MummyandDaddydieincarcrash?DoesthatgiveyoutheexcusetolivewithyourhandsperpetuallydownyourY-fronts.
:>Youshutthehellup.IswearIamgoingtoshutyoudown.
:>You’regoodCad,butnotthatgood.
:>We’llseeaboutthat.
:>
:>[Userconnectionterminated.]
Thegirlisgone.Caldwell’sheartisbeatingsofasthereckonsit’sgoingtoburstrightoutofhischest.Helooksaround.Nothingbutdozensofstudentsgoingabouttheirbusiness.Thebulletliftsshootupthelibrarywalldroppingstudentsoffatthevariousfloorsandpickingthemup.Herecallsthathehadoncehackedtheputersystemthatmanagedtheliftsandincreasedthespeedofoneofthembyabouttwentypercent.Heandhisfriendshadlaughedoutloudasaseaofgreenfaceshademergedshakenfromthelift.Oneanemic-lookinggirlhadhurledalloverthewhitemarblefloor.
ThatAI,orwhateveritwas,wasjustbluffing.Buthowthehelldiditknowhisname?Maybeitwasoneofhisbuddiesjustplayingtricksonhim.Andthatjiveaboutschoolgrades.Itwasn’tfarout.Notthatschoolputersystemsweredifficulttocrack.Itwastheintentthatscaredhim.Itwasthefirsttimeanythinglikethathadhappenedtohimandheisvisiblyshakenbyit.
Helogsoutoftheshell,sendshisbotstosleepandbacksoutintothelibrary’sgraphicalBookCatalogueuserinterface.Whenhestandsuptoleave,hislegswobble.Hepicksuphisrucksackandmakeshiswayoutthefrontofthelibrary.
Thememorydumpcutstothefrontoftheschool.Heiswalkingouttheschoolgateswithhismindinturmoil.Whatishegoingtodowithhislife?Heissixteen,anorphan.
There’sabigblackcaratthegate.Ithasnolicenseplatesandthewindowsaresodarkhecanseehisreflectionintheblackglass.Ashewalkspast,wonderingwhotheownerofthevehiclecouldbe,agangster,popstar,dodgyfinancier,theblackwindowsrolldownsmoothlyandafierysettingsunreflectsfromapairofmirroredshades.Asmoothslopingjawmoves.Thinpalelipspartandclickbacktogether.Somekindofsupersonicaircraftthundersbyoverhead.Theworldtakesonaslow-motionquality.Hehearshisname,spokenbythelipsbelowthemirrorshades.It’sadryvoiceanditremindshimofautumnanddriedleaves.
Thedooropensandhefindshimselfinthebackseatofthecarwiththewell-dressedgentlemanwhoseeyesaremaskedbytheexpensiveRayBanmirrorshades.Handshavepulledhiminbuttheyaresogentlehedoesn’tfeelthem.Theshadeseofftorevealsteelgrayeyes.Thereisaflickerinthelensesoftheman’sshadesthatsuggestssomekindofputingactivityintheglasses.Thejawmovesagain,thistimeupwardsandthelipsthinevenmoreintoanapproximationofasmile.Thedriversitsmotionlessinthefrontseat.AllCaldwellcanseeofhimisamattofblackhairandthebaseofhisdrivingcap.Hewassittingverystill.
“MynameisBruceFouler.Fornowlet’sjustsayIamintheserviceoftheUniongovernment,”raspstheman.
“Ibetitslipservice,mostlytoitsrear.”Caldwellreplies.InGlyph’strailer,Caldwellchuckledtohimself.Heusedtobefunny.ItwasinhisDNA.
ThereissomethingdarklymagneticaboutFouler,likeapedophileholdingoutinvisiblecandy.Thereissomethingmysteriousabouttheman’sface.It’safacethatseemstounderstandthefallibilitiesofhumanity.Thereisadigitalqualitytohim,theneatefficientwayhisfeaturesareputtogether,thevoicethatsoundslikeithasbeenrunthroughsomeputersequencer.AndthehugeblackBentley.
“Cheekyaren’twe?IamlookingforastudentherecalledCadCaldwell.Iwonderifyouknowhim.”
SomethinginFouler’seyestellsCaldwellthatthemanknowswhoheistalkingtoandisdaringhimtospinayarn.Herejectshisinitialinstincttotellalie.
“Thatwouldbewithme.Whatdoyouwantwithme?Iamnotintooldguys?”Caldwellsays.HehasalreadymadetheconnectionbetweentheUnionAIandthismanbuthedoesn’tknowhow.
“Sorrytohearaboutyourparents,Cad,”Fouleroffers.Caldwelldetectsafaintmoisteningoftheman’seyes.Orwasitthefadingsunlightreflectedinthecar?
“It’scool.Sowhatdoyouwant?”
“OK,Iamnotgoingtobeataroundthebush.We’vebeenwatchingyouformanyyears,Cad.Youractivitiesontheputers.”
Alookofalarmesoverhisface.LikeFizz,hewasbusted.
“Don’tworryson.Ifweweregoingtoarrestyou,wewouldhavedoneitalongtimeago.You’vebreachedthesecuritysystemsofsomeimportantinstitutionsyouknow.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,andsomeofthosehavebeenembarrassingforus,giventhefactthatyourfatheralsoservedtheUniongovernment.”
“HewasonlyaprofessoratXianUniversity,”Caldwellcountered.
“Thatmaybethecasebuthewasanimportantprofessor.CanItrustyou,Cad?ThereissomethingIthinkyoushouldknowbutIneedtobeguaranteedabsolutetrustworthiness.”
“IswearonMadonna,”hesaid,imagesofthedeadpopsingerflashingpast.
“That’sgoodenough.HaveyouheardofGCHQ?”
“Yes,satelliteeavesdropping,telemunicationsmonitoringetc.Iamintimatelyfamiliarwiththeirputernetworks.”Hegrinscheekily.
“Wellyourfatherwasoneoftheleadingdesignersoftheirsystems.YouheardofBlueRay?Yourfatherdesignedit.”
“IcrackedBlueRayandwasabletolistentomyheadmistresstalkingtoherboyfriendonthephone.I’vehadanervoustwitcheversince.”
“Well,likefather,likeson.Onebuildsthem,theothercracksthem.”
“Yeah,yeah.Sowhat’sallthisgottodowithme?I’mjustahigh-schoolstudent.”
“AsIsaid,we’vebeenwatchingyouformanyyears.Youwouldhavebeenincarceratedmanyyearsagoifitwasn’tforwhomyourfatherwasandtheimportantworkhewasdoinginNewChina.Theironyofthesituationwasnotlostonus.Maybeonedayyou’dgrowuptobeasgoodatbreakingintosecureputersasyourfatherwasatbuildingthem.Ithinkyou’veprovedusright.Althoughyouarenotasinvincibleasyouthink.”
“Whosays?”
“Everwonderwhyyouwerenevercaughtinhundredsofhackingsessions?”
“BecauseIamsodamngood?”
“Wrong.Sometimesyouleftelectronictrailsthatwouldhavelandedyouinjailbutwecoveredupyourassbecauseevenwiththosefuck-upsyourrecordwasveryimpressive.Moreimpressivethanevenourbestethicalhackers.”
“Trails?Likewhat?”
“LikeNASA.Theyhadadistributedintelligentloggingsystemthatyoudidnotsee.Ithadpleterecordsofyouractivities,thetimeandwhatterminalyouused.WeemployedCCTVfootagefromourfriendsattheHongKongMassTransitRailwayCorporationtoplaceyouatthatinteractivekioskatthattime.Weweresurprisedattheaudacityoftheintrusion,fromapublicplace.”
“Ha,ha,ha.”
“Youmaylaugh,Cad,buttheseareseriousbreachesthatwouldhavegotyouinenoughtroubletolastyouthroughretirement.
“Sorry.Iguess.”
“Thebottomlineisthis.Inlightofyoursituation,thefactthatyouareobviouslynotinterestedinschool,theorganizationisofferingtotakeyouonboard.”
“Whatorganization?”
“You’llknowwhenthetimeisright.AsIsaid,IamintheserviceoftheUnionauthorities.Let’sjustsayyou’llbeabletohackintosomeoftheworld’smostadvancedputersystemsusingbleedingedgetechnologies.You’llalsohelpusbuildbetterdefensesagainstoutsideintrudersandyou’llgetpaidapetitivesalary.Ontopofthatwe’llgiveyouaUnionpassportchip,allowingyoutocontinueresidinginUnionifyousowish.
“Wow,youarepullingmylegright?Jerkingmeoff?”
“Deadserious.DoIlooklikethekindofguywhogetsoffonpracticaljokes?”
“Youdon’tlooklikethekindofguywhogetsoffonanything,”Caldwellretorts.
Foulerletstheaffrontslidebutsomethinginhisfacetellshimthatthemanhasfileditawayforfuturereference.
“Enoughofthewisecracks.So,whatdoyousay?Wecantalktoyourprincipaltodayandyou’llneverhavetoreturntoschoolagain.Instead,you’llgettrainedintheUnionandtraveltheworlddoingwhatyouloveandgettingpaidforit.”
“Soundstoogoodtobetrue.”
“It’saonceinalifetimeoffer,son.”
“I’lltakeitthen.”
“Good.Weleaboard.”Themanofferslongthinfingers.
“Er,thanks.”
“We’llletyouknowthedetailsoncewe’vefinalizedeverythingwithyourprincipal.”
“Icantrustyou,right?”
“Ofcourse,swearonMadonna.”ThemancalledFoulersmiles,unnaturallyeventeethclenchedtightlytogether.
“Howwillyoufindme?”
“Areyoukidding?”
“Ohyeah,youareomnipotentorwasitimpotent?”
“Doyouneeddroppinganywhere?Home?”
“No,I’lltakeawalk.”Theputer-cooledinterioroftheBentleywassuddenlystifling.
“OK.Yourcall.Andnomoreunofficialhacking.”
“Isthatanofficialrequest?”
Foulerletsthatonegotoo.
ThedoorsoftheBentleyopenautomaticallyandCaldwellstepsoutonthecurb.Thedriverstillhasnotmoved.TheChinesegirlfromthelibraryisstandingagainsttheschoolperimeterwalllookingathim.Outintheeveningair,sheisevenmorebeautiful.Hewalksstraightpasther.Hehastoomuchonhismindtofocushisattentiononher,asmuchashewantsto.Shecatchesupwithhim,herbooksheldclosetoherchest.Thereisafaintsmelloflavenderandtheheadymuskofteenageskin.
“So,whowerethosemen?”sheasks,asthoughshe’sknownhimforever.
“Acquaintances.Whatareyoudoingheresolate?”
“Waitingforyou?”
“Waitingforme?Why?”
“Idon’tknow.Itjustfeltlikethethingtodo.”
“Wellthanks,IthinkIamoldenoughtowalkhomebymyself,”hejokes,smilingsothatshewouldn’tgetoffended.Whydoesthegirlbotherhimsomuch?
“Iknowthat.It’sjustthatIgotafeelinginthelibrarythatImightnotseeyouagainforalongtime.”
“Well,that’strue.Iwon’tbeingbacktoschooleveragain.”Whywashetellingherthis?
Asharpintakeofbreath.
“Whynot?”
“I’mgoingtoworkfortheUniongovernment.”
“That’swhatthosemeninthecarwereabout?”
“Somethinglikethat.”Heissurprisedathowquicklyhefeelsateasewiththisgirl,whoseeyebrowsarenowfurrowedwithconcern.HedetectsaslightMandarinaccentinherEnglishandplacesherfamilyasrecentimmigrantsfromthemainland.
“Somyintuitionwasright.”
“Iguessso.IamCadCaldwellbytheway.”
“Iknowwhoyouare.Don’tthinkthereisasinglegirlintheschooldoesn’tknowthat.Themixed-bloodnerdwholovesputersmorethanhelikesgirls.Theytalkaboutyouinthegirlschangingroomsallthetime.”Shegiggles.
“Really?”heasksincredulously.
“Andyouknowwhat?Yournameisscribbledonthewallsinthegirls’toilets.”
“Yeah?NothingbadIhope.”
“Notreally?JustsomegirlwishingshewasakeyboardsoyourgentlehandsmaytypeuponherQWERTYkeys.”Anothergiggle.Thisonebringsasmiletohisface.
“What’syourname?”
“MeiLin.”
“Nicename.”
“Yeah.CadCaldwell.IguessIcouldlearntolivewithyours.”Shegigglesagain.Theywalkinsilence.
“Icatchmybushere,”shesays.
“Really?Soquickly?DoyouhaveaUID,soIcancontactyouonline?”
“YesIdobutIonlyuseitatschool.Granddaddoesnotletmeuseaputerathome.It’s5200603,”sheinformshim.Hemitsittomemory.
“SoI’llmessageyouatschoolthen.”
“OK.”
Hersmileisworthathousandwords.Suddenlyahugeweightpullsathisinsides,fromhischestdowntohisstomach.Hewatchesherandrealizesthatshefeelsthesamething,whateveritwasthathewasfeeling.Intheshortfewminutesthattheyhavebeeacquaintedwitheachother,somethingremarkablyspecialhastakenplace,liketheyweredestinedtomeetonthisday,atthisexacttimeandplace.
Heleansoverandkissesher.Sheexpectsit.She’sreadhismind.Itisthefirsttimehehaskissedagirlandit’slikehejustdiscoveredthemysteriesoftheuniverse.Andthefeelofherlips,thetasteofhermouthwillstaywithhimforever.Andasheholdsher,hefeelstherhythmofherheartpulsatingagainsthischestandthegentleriseandfallofheradolescentbreasts.Theybreakawayandsheopenshereyes.Caldwellseesintheirblackdepthssomethingasoldastimeitself.
“Wow,I’msorryaboutthat.”
“Noneedtobesorry.Itwasmeanttobe,”shesaysasthoughshepossessesallthewisdomintheworld.
“It’sjustthatIamleavingHongKongandIshouldn’thavedonethat.”
“Itdoesn’tmatter.Whatmattersisthatwewerebothtruetoourfeelings.Wewillmeetagain.Ah,hereesmybus.”
Anumber8buspullsuptothedesertedbusstopandthegirlcalledMeiLinboardsitholdingontohishandforthelongestpossibletime.
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