Chapter 21

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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