Metak Fatigue Part 18

And the voice that called itself Lucifer told him exactly what he had to do.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

7:SS p.m.

Mayor's House lay half a kilometre north of Kennedy City University. At the summit of a low rise, its white marble and plaster facade reflected the light of spotlights much as that of the long-destroyed White House had and was just as well maintained, despite the Dissolution. The building was extensive, four storeys high, and contained most of the official chambers required by the Council. A ring of lawn approximately twenty metres across surrounded it, with a thick wall of trees s.h.i.+elding it from the city. The grounds were in turn protected by a three-metre-high mesh fence with security emplacements every fifty metres. Two wide gates formed the entrance and exit of a gravel driveway leading to the building's ma.s.sive, pillared foyer. Apart from one or two official cars, the drive was normally empty; now, however, it served as a parking lot for the fifteen largest vehicles of the RUSAMC convoy, including the control van.

Roads, watching from the shelter of the trees, noted the clockwork precision of the RUSAMC troops as they patrolled the area. Most wore night-specs and carried automatic weapons; every security pa.s.s, including his own, was checked before admission to the grounds was granted. Through the gloom, he could make out the occasional scampering robot shadowing the patrols and 304.

in s.p.a.ces that the troops could not enter. -Aw.

one hundred men and women had taken over g , plus the local RSD squads beyond the fence: h un dred and fifty or more, he estimated, all to one man.

4 Stedman had left the control caravan shortly 0) 1.- sunset and entered Mayor's House on foot with a 411 contingent of bodyguards and officers. The van, with its humming field-engines inactive, ed on st.u.r.dy, retractable legs onto the gr settl avel llw;. and hadn't moved since. Apart from that, and the r4&, patrolling of troops and robots, the evening qvTbeen uneventful. a Roads glanced at his watch: 8:00 p.m. The crowd of ,1111. ow.*r;u., around Mayor's House had dispersed some ago. He envied their ignorance. What happened in [email protected]@i "Tw next twenty-four hours could decide the fate of Polis, once and for all. He turned at the sound of approaching feet. A ,isioimc in the uniform of an RSD officer ducked IRIM, a branch to join him at his unofficial post. -Sorry I'm late," Barney said, slightly out of breath.

walked back in. No free lifts available." "That's okay. Did you bring it?" She slipped a rucksack from her shoulder. "As requested." "Thanks." He rummaged through the bag and removed her laptop. "The batteries are fully-charged," she said, putting a hand on his arm. "Are you okay? You didn't want to A lk rlier "I couldn't." Roads squatted down and put the computer on his knees. A flickering glow painted patterns on his face as he switched it on.

"Give me a second and I'll fill you in."The P,olNet program booted automatically. Working in the dark, using his amplified sight to see the manual keyboard, he tapped his way into the network's rock directory. "Anything happening out here?" Barney nodded restlessly towards the parked convoy. "Nothing much. Stedman hasn't reappeared, and neither has the Mayor. If I can get into the security program we might be able to find out what they're talking about." Roads shrugged.

"Otherwise I'll have to go in person." "Morrow produced the goods, then?" "I hope so. I mean, I have a pa.s.s - but G.o.d only knows whether it'll get me into the building or not."

Barney crouched down beside him. "You don't trust him?" "Not any more." While he fiddled with the program, Roads briefly outlined what he had found at Katiya's that afternoon: Keith Morrow's face in Cati's catalogue of non-verbal memories.

Barney stared at him. "You mean the Head - ?"

"Why not? He has access to all the city's databases, so stealing the CATI file wouldn't be a problem. He understands the old biotechnology better than I do.

He can also hijack official transmitters to broadcast the code, if he needs to." Roads turned to face her. "I'm beginning to think he's the only person in Kennedy who could be Cati's controller." "So what's the problem, then? Why are you here instead of down at the harbour?" "Because it feels wrong ... somehow.

I don't know why. What's his motive, Barney? What does he stand to gain by keeping the States out of Kennedy?" "Market share?" she suggested. "Perhaps.

But that's still not enough."

then," said Barney. "Maybe he's afraid the I catch up with him. He is outlaw tech, after he thinks they're getting close, he might try like this in self-defence." end up making things worse for himself?" [email protected] shook his head. " It doesn't seem likely - too ,-rim-Ur, by far. More likely he'd try to infiltrate their AM - or anyone, for 7 ow*- and distort the evidence. He i% matter - would need a more pressing reason to keep States out of the city." foi;@ laptop chirped, and both looked down at it. A V16; icon encrusted with spikes had appeared on the [email protected] We've reached House security." Roads 'r at the keyboard again, using PolNet overrides to sT*T*@ the required pa.s.sword. Once he had entered the he browsed through menus and subprograms, for one in particular. Although Mayor's House 7-7, the tight security net RSD had installed in the at the university, it did have a closed-circuit network linked to the central security 430,0ijiw. Within moments, Roads had gained access to Ithe data and had routed it through the screen and his He and Barney settled back to watch, neither immune o the importance of what they were seeing.

The historic first meeting between General Stedman and the Mayor of Kennedy had begun in one of the building's largest conference halls, normally used only for special sittings of the Council. While not open to the general public, the room was filled with people representing both factions: senior officers from the Reunited States on one side, city dignitaries on the other.

MSA bodyguards - ubiquitous since the a.s.sa.s.sinations had begun - hovered around every entrance. Scanningthe crowd, Roads recognised Margaret Chappel and the head of the MSA, Adam Xenophou. Not far away was Antoni DeKurzak, watching proceedings from the end of a row, his tall frame allowing him a clear view over the heads in front of him. Martin O'Dell sat at the front of the hall, the superior position earned by his work in the city thus far. Stedman and Packard, with their respective deputies.- sat together at a large oak table facing the small crowd. The General was dressed in full uniform, his white hair neatly combed back over his proud forehead , and his attention focused firmly forward. The Mayor wore a formal suit and gown of office, and had just started his speech.

Roads turned up the volume on the computer for Barney's benefit while he eavesdropped via his implants: through the trials of the Dissolution," Mayor Packard was saying, "Kennedy Polis has stood alone, not immune to the tragedy that befell the rest of the country but strong enough to keep it at bay. After four decades of social engineering - including legislated birth control, strict rationing and recycling, and adherence to the Humanity Laws - the democratic principle has remained firm in our minds. Indeed, in the microcosm that is Kennedy Polis, we have preserved intact a fragment of what has been lost, guarding it jealously for this generation and for future generations to come. "Yet we are not too proud to admit that the time has arrived for us to open our doors, to bring to an end the egalitarian way of life that has protected us these long years. The growth of the Reunited States of America has been both remarkable and admirable, and fuelled by desires similar to our own. In joining together we will become partners in a new endeavour: not merely to rebuild what went before, but to create a new society that has learnt from the errors of the past, one that is 308.

stronger for the tribulations its creators have Chuckled softly as the speech continued. "He's on a bit thick, isn't he?" sTrs his job." Roads indicated the screen. "And mpw seem to like iC they would, wouldn't they? The MSA loves 'i and circ.u.mstance, so I guess Stedman's gang too." Barney shrugged, her smile fading. "Some he says makes sense, though. We bave been onto the past. That's why it's so hard to believe X Mis MISTs!s finally here. After all the waiting all the talk, we don't have any choice but to let go." Ni necessarily." Roads studied her image in infrawhile the scene in the meeting hall continued in a

4.

P MD11.1- on the screen. "As Roger Wiggs said the other 'It's never too late in politics.'" "Meaning?" "Meaning that nothing's certain. Stedman's offer has 1,441 tabled, but Packard can still reject it, or Stedman *K renege on it.

Until the deal is up and running, I Forsk- place any bets." "You mean Cati, don't you? If he kills Stedman "Not just Cati." Roads sighed. "The more I see and the more I think about it, the more positive I am that the States are responsible for the Mole. They want something from Kennedy that they're not telling us about."

Barney stared at him for a long moment. "The Moles a spy) Is that what you're getting at?" "I don't know. Maybe that's what he is, maybe not. But I can't ignore the wolf element any longer." Roads ticked facts off with his fingers.

"The timber wolf first appeared around the same time Stedman's envoy arrived; then it turned up on the university lawns the night of Blindeye; and you yourself thought that theMole was some kind of werewolf. Add that to the fact that timber wolves are common up north - to the point where the States have a picture of one on their coat of arms - and you'll see where I'm headed."

Barney looked uncertain. "It's a bit tenuous, Phil." "I know, but it's there.

There has to be a connection." "Maybe not the one you think, though. Why would one of Stedman's spies be protecting you, for starters? And why would he continue stealing data when -"

Roads grunted. "I thought of that, too. Rationally, it looks ridiculous, yet intuitively it doesn't. As much as I like - and, to a certain extent, trust - Martin O'Dell, I can't shake the feeling that he knows something about this.

Something he's not telling me." "Or isn't allowed to tell you." "Probably."

Roads sighed again, then rose to stretch his legs. "And the worst of it is, there's nothing I can do about it. Martin has the case, now. If he is involved, he'll find a way to cover it up." 'Then the best thing to do is to forget about it, don't you think?" "Hardly. The Mole is a killer, too. I can't stand by and let someone get away with murder." ,,So what do we do?" Barney asked. "We keep going. We're halfway there, you know. Before, we didn't know what Cati was. Now we do, and all we have to do is find out who's controlling him. The Mole is the other way around: there's a chance we know who sent him into the city. Find out who he is and why he's here, and we'll be home free."

"Put that way, it almost sounds easy." "Right."

They stood in silence, Barney watching the scene inside Mayor's House, Roads, with his hands in his pockets, staring at the convoy. From behind them came buzz of hand-held radios and the steady RSD o fficers patrolling the fence. Barney said, "there's not much I can do out I'm going inside where it's comfortable. You?" Nt. I'll stay here for a while.

The view's just as And besides, I don't want to run into anyone I DeKurzak, for instance." @M. im don't do anything stupid. I'm here if you need you have to do is call and I'll come after you."

but I think you'll be more use on the inside. MTN, through the security system for loopholes; if I something, I'll let you know. And if my pa.s.s is a when I do try to get in, at least we'll be able to talk [email protected] He lowered his eyes to meet hers. "Still, I appreciate the offer ... And your patience. It's not for me, having to rely on someone else like this." "Pffft." She gestured dismissively. "I'd do the same Zo anyone in your shoes." "That's not what I meant." "I know." Her eyes twinkled in the darkness. "When pay-back time, I'll let you know." "You do that." He returned her fleeting kiss and used 41V implants to follow her as she walked away., 'arney ducked under the trees and across the lawn, 'heading for the main entrance of Mayor's House. She fiated leaving Roads behind, but there was very little he could do inside that he couldn't do where he was. His unlimited access to the security system guaranteed that.

Although that in itself was worrying: if he could get in so easily, why not someone else? i::ati's controller, for instance - especially if he was Keith Morrow ...

When she reached the main door, an RSD officer stopped her. She showed him her pa.s.s, and he waved her through.The plush reception area had been refitted with metal detectors and another security checkpoint. There she handed in her service revolver and, after verifying her pa.s.s through a phase correlator, pinned an ID badge to her uniform. Several stone-faced RUSAMC soldiers watched the procedure closely from nearby; only one responded when she smiled at them. "Have I missed much?"

she asked, exploiting the opportunity to talk with the newcomers. "The meeting started half an hour ago," the soldier said with an accent similar to O'Dell's. "Do you know the way?"

She waved aside the implied offer. "That's okay. I'm not here for the speeches. Moonlighting on the security side of things instead."

The soldier nodded, then looked away. "Roger Wiggs is already here," said the RSD officer behind the security checkpoint. "He asked me to send you straight up." "Good. Thanks, Jim." Barney headed for the lifts. The doors hissed open, and she stepped inside. Rising with a jerk, the carriage took her to the second floor, where she disembarked. Another RSD officer - looking out of place among the almost obscenely luxurious fittings of Mayor's House - checked her pa.s.s a third time, comparing it with the ID badge. "All quiet?" she asked.

"Dull, if you want the honest truth." "Let's hope it stays that way." Barney glanced along the corridor. "The command centre is in the northern wing?" "The Reagan Suite, fourth on the left." "Thanks." Barney's feet made no sound at all on the thick carpet as she went on her way. Indeed, apart from the soft whisper of air-conditioning, the entire building .117.

Ms She found it hard to believe that the most F-Tol event in the city's history was taking place dozen metres from her. was it? The initial meeting, she knew, was little than a publicity stunt, a symbolic gesture. No Al A-1, the real negotiations would take place later, 7v It doors closed even to this evening's elite audience. i" Cati didn't act first ... .4114s' She reached the entrance to the Reagan Suite, certain her ID badge was clearly visible to the ''[email protected] 211114& overhead and waited impatiently for someone to 014- in. After ten seconds, the doors opened, filling the 'to) with the welcome sounds of people hard at 0+ modems chattering, computer terminals whirring, All ilk* darting back and forth across bowed heads. A'r Mrsr., it all droned the steady tones of General Stedman. gi; Mayor's speech had obviously finished while she in transit. Barney stepped into the Reagan Suite and the doors M 'Ir M, automatically behind her. The room held fifteen 14 - including David Goss, who had followed his on Blindeye with the a.s.signment at Mayor's House and at least twice that many terminals. A wallof moni- [email protected] along one side gave her a choice of views of the IVIVI&v hall. She stopped at one at random to watch the General in action, and reaffirmed her first impressions of the-man: a born leader, long used to com- mand. What the General's manner of public speaking lacked in style, it more than made up for in sheer implacability. Even Barney, after just a few minutes, felt herself being tugged along by his relentless, steady drawl.

Looking around to break the spell, she caught sight of Roger Wiggs in one corner. The red-headed officer sat on the edge of a desk, watching the proceedings below with ill-disguised boredom.She hesitated before greeting him. A thought had suddenly struck her: DeKurzak had accused Roads of using his position to interfere in the search for the Mole. Clearly that was not the case, but the idea was sound. Couldn't Wiggs, by the same reasoning, be Cati's controller? He had been in a perfect position to deflect any investigation that might uncover Cati's existence and his role in the murders.

Barely had she thought the idea than she dismissed it. Wiggs hadn't the computer skills to raid archived files in the RSD datapool. He had enough trouble browsing through bulletin boards. Besides, he'd professed ambivalence regarding the Rea.s.similation on enough occasions to convince her that he wasn't obsessively against it.

As though sensing her thoughts, he glanced up. She waved, and he motioned for her to come closer. "Hi, Roger," she said, joining him at the desk. "Barney.

I've been waiting for you to turn up." "Well, sorry I'm late." Barney noted his solemn expression and wondered at its cause. "And sorry, too, about the case. Phil told me what really happened in the meeting this morning. " "That's what I want to talk to you about." Wiggs, eyes narrowed slightly. "Did he tell you about his theory? About what the killer might be?" "More the other way around, actually," she said. I told him last night, after we ran a search through the city datapools." "Good." Wiggs leaned forward. "Then please tell me you kept a record of everything you found." "Of course we did." Barney studied his face; it was pale, even for him. "Why? It should be in the datapools where we found it." "I wish it was." One of the security staff brushed past by them. Wiggs took Barney's arm, led her to a corner.

314.

,case is DeKurzak's baby, now. He's had us going :profiles of senior council members and high- ng officers - like Phil - for the last few days, g for evidence of this f.u.c.king Old Guard of his." indicated with a simple gesture what he thought t idea. "I'm not supposed to be working on my initiative, but Phil's theory - your theory, whoever's me curious. It could be checked, and it seemed a e not to at least go that far. So I did everything Phil ested we do. I hunted for the old CATI records, to track down the control frequency, even called up nd in archives to take another look, to make sure I 't do anything wrong."

Wiggs lowered his voice. "I n't. The information isn't there - and, for all I can 1, never was at all." "But Wiggs held up a hand to silence her protest. "I kn Owl know. I'm not sure what I'm hoping you'll tell me - at Phil made the whole thing up, or that someone's moved the evidence. Either way, I don't like it. And I an't just let it go, Barney. This might be the only 1$ensible lead we've had for weeks. To let it slip through @our fingers now "I understand." Barney turned away to avoid Wiggs' searching gaze. The datawas gone; therefore someone had erased it from the RSD datapool. It seemed obvious to her that Cati's controller was trying to cover his tracks - although to anyone else the absence of evidence wasn't evidence at all. It was simply incriminating. "Give me a second, Roger," she said, "and I'll find that frequency for you. Is there a free terminal I can use?"

Wiggs inquired with Goss. The big officer found Barney a vacant station in one corner. With one hand on the keyboard and the other at her ear, she subvocalised Roads' full name."h.e.l.lo, Phil? Are you there?" "Yes," came Roads' voice over the cyberlink.

"What's the problem?" "Cati's controller is definitely onto us." "What makes you say that?"

Barney outlined what Wiggs had told her, and added: "If he knew about the data we lifted, then he must have had access to Margaret Chappel's files. That's where the investigation stopped." "Exactly." Roads was silent, thinking. Then: "You said 'he'. It could be a 'she', you know." "Are you talking about Margaret herself? I thought she was on your side." "She is, but ... No, that makes even less sense." "I agree. No use being paranoid." Barney tapped at the keyboard, recalling her thoughts about Wiggs. "Anyway, the file on Cati should still be in my laptop. Can you send it to me?" "Easy. Where are you?"

She fiddled with the terminal's operating system.

"CNTRL141mbsec.rsd.kp.namcp." "Okay. I'll transfer it straight away," Roads said. "While I've got you: I just finished a sweep of the monitoring program."

"And? " "There are a couple of dead zones: one on the first floor, another in the bas.e.m.e.nt. The system hasn't raised an alarm in either case because cameras cover exits from each area, but still ... They should be checked, at least."

"I'll do it myself when I've finished here." "Good. I'll give you the whereabouts while I send you the file." "Thanks, Phil." Barney jotted down the exact locations of the unmonitored areas and tucked the sc.r.a.p 114 into a pocket. Moments later, the screen in of her came to life.

leaned over her shoulder. "You've got it?" ViT4 lot." Barney stood, motioned him into the seat.

a hard copy, if I were you. Can't be too careful here, it seems."

Noticing her eagerness to move on, he "You're not sticking around?" it. l5ve got something to do. But I'll come back to see how you got on. 55 NoW -*'. If you see Phil, say hi and tell him I'll do my them, the doors to the command centre swung f. a d a handful of people entered. Two plainTT-1 RSD officers came first, followed by Martin I and Antoni DeKurzak. Barney glanced at the belatedly reallsing the meeting had finished. Vi;T14u.% me, Roger." She headed across the room, the piece of paper in her pocket. If something going to happen tonight - and she, like Roads, W dare doubt that it would - then they were running -I- of time. Stedman was loose inside the building, no t44 watched by dozens of people in the conference The risk of attack had just risen significantly, and needed to check the dead zones before it was too late. DeKurzak caught her eye as she hurried for the door.

617irVir;i Daniels," he said. Barney forced a smile, but didn't stop to chat.

After 0-1-- the liaison officer had done to Roads, she'd be just happy never to see him again. DeKurzak raised an arm to stop her. "Leaving so "There's work to do, sit," she said tersely. "I need to Wmq: dead zones on the first floor and bas.e.m.e.nt.""Alone?" DeKurzak raised his eyebrows in concern. "This is highly irregular - especially given your close relations.h.i.+p with Philip Roads. Let me a.s.sign someone to accompany you. Officer Dobran - ?"

"That's okay." O'Dell's placid drawl intruded between them. "I'll keep an eye on her. The exercise will do me good, after sitting down for so long."

DeKurzak glanced between them, almost suspiciously, then nodded. "Very well.

You will, of course, report any irregularities to Officer Goss or myself -"

"We will." O'Dell saluted dryly. "Come on, Barney. Let's go."

When they reached the corridor outside the suite, Barney let go of the breath she had been holding. "Thanks, Martin." "Any time." He motioned for her to lead the way. "I'd avoid him for the rest of the night, too, if you can. He's a little uptight about security, for obvious reasons."

She looked at him. "You agree with Phil, then? That something might happen?"

"Of course. We're not stupid. This is the killer's last chance to make a real impression on the Rea.s.similation process, and it's our job to make sure he doesn't." Martin grinned lazily. "Which he won't. Although ... Are there really dead zones in here, or was that just an excuse to take a look around?"

"They're real." "Someone's been sloppy, then." O'Dell shook his head, then added: "No offence meant to David Goss in the RSD command centre, of course.

Which shall we look at first?" "The first floor, if you like. But you don't have to, you know."

I know. My excuse was real, too. All this talking gets to me. It's good to be doing something, for a change."

.,,agree - although I'm more than half-hoping we'll ing our time swatched through his implants as Barney and I left the command centre.

jealousy played no part frown that creased his forehead; rather, he was rned that O'Dell's involvement in whatever was on might compromise his reactions to any critical ion. ill, he told himself, Barney knew what she was g. If he couldn't trust her, then who could he trust? urning back to the laptop, he resumed working on program he had installed in the security system of or's House. Unlike the earlier image processing rithm Barney had used to locate the 'glitch' in the ndeye recordings, this was designed to keep track of e single image. No matter where General Stedman nt within the building, the program would keep tabs him.

That way, if anyt ing went wrong while Roads s distracted, he would be able to view the scene mediately rather than hunt through all the different meras to find the optimum angle. F1, At that moment, the General was sharing a toast in ,,Mayor Packard's ample study with a handful of city ':leading lights - Margaret Chappel one of them, nodding politely in response to conversation.

Roads watched for a while, but soon became bored. The General wasn't a heavy drinker, it seemed; the snifter in his hand remained entirely untouched until he eventually put it down on a nearby table.

Roads activated the tracking program and, feeling superfluous, stood. There was very little he could do but wait. Unless Barney and O'Dell found something in the dead zones, the rest of the night lay in the hands of Cati's controller.

319Yet crouching in the shadows like a thief was beginning to wear at his patience. His shoulder and ribs still ached, and the numerous bruises across his body were beginning to nag. Leaving the laptop hidden in a split tree trunk, he went for a quick walk around the grounds to stretch his limbs.

Apart from light reflecting from the front of Mayor's House, the lawn and surrounding tree-line were almost entirely unlit. The clouds had thickened with sunset, obscuring the stars. The rising moon was barely visible. Behind the building, where the Councillors and other permanent staff had their offices and quarters, the night was particularly black.

With his feet scuffing over age-torn tarmac, he jogged across the open s.p.a.ce to the regular carpark.

Before he reached cover, two RSD officers stepped out of the gloom. Clad in black uniforms and nightspecs, they looked inhuman, robotic. "Pa.s.s, sir," said one, holding out her hand. The other held an automatic weapon at the ready.

Roads produced the forged card and handed it over. The officer - instructed to inspect ID regardless of who was holding it - studied the pa.s.s closely then returned it to him. Twice, now, Morrow's handiwork had survived official scrutiny; if the Head did intend to betray him, then it would clearly take a more subtle form than having him arrested by RSD. "Thank you, sir." The guards waved him on, and stepped back into the shadows to rea.s.sume their position.

"Wait." Roads walked with them. "How have things been out here?"

The second officer answered. "Quiet." "No unusual disturbances? Noises from overhead, that sort of thing?"

sir." The officer swung the rifle onto his A rl(Q. "Notso much as a bird."

'Uood." Roads exhaled heavily through his nose: not for that. "Don't feel relief, far too premature 11, Me about reporting anything unusual." "Of course not, sir." (aid. they decided that he himself fell into that Roads turned and headed off into the Keeping closely to the shadows, he circled the rest of 4N(;@ way around the building without mishap, coming no han twenty metres to the RUSAMC envoy. A A"A 47:14, t X robot pa.s.sed him briefly, swivelling its 74 eyes upward to look at him, but hurried away *lit without a sound.

Obviously his image didn't a threat as far as the Reunited States Military si-1 was concerned. That was something, he to where he had started, he unfolded the Returning i from its hiding place and a.s.sumed his former MU. The brief journey had confirmed that security reasonably tight, and that his pa.s.s still seemed to be Ire. It hadn't, however, helped shake the apprehension .,,steadily building in his gut, the feeling that something was going to happen at any moment.

If General Stedman shared that feeling - and Martin O'Dell bad indicated that the RUSAMC also suspected ,that the killer would try to strike sometime soon - then

7.

he displayed none of it in public. For all the concern on ? his face, he might have been attending a friendly drink at a local club.

Did they have such clubs in the States? Roads wondered whether he would ever be given the chance to find out. Even if Rea.s.similation went ahead, his own fate remained far from certain.Shortly before ten-fifteen, Roads glanced away as the General excused himself to go to the toilet. An instant later, a small alarm chimed on the laptop and the picture suddenly froze. Roads examined the screen. The picture had split down the middle into two halves, both filled with grey noise. Tapping at the keyboard failed to rectify the problem; the screen remained obstinately frozen. The program had crashed in mid-frame.