Metak Fatigue Part 3

ou're in charge until I get back - which won't be long, 1,ope."

They left the house, blinking in the razor-sharp day- and headed for the patrol car. Roads climbed into the driver's seat. "If I'm not back by ten," he said, "I'll make sure they n you a replacement."

hat's okay. I don't mind waiting. just keep the car- one with you, in case I need you urgently."

oads revved the engine and drove away, watching Barney recede in the rear-vision mirror. She stood alone, waving, silhouetted against the street-haze of the rising sun. He had a brief vision of her, the crowd, and him -the parade of robots - being separated by a wash of Yellow fire from the solar sheets ...

And then he turned the comer.

The headquarters of the Regional Security Department lay in the green centre of the bullseye that was Kennedy Polis, a fifteen-minute drive from Old North Street. Along the way, Roads pa.s.sed cyclists and pedestrians enjoying the first few minutes of the new day, while occasional flashes of light reflecting off Rosette cabs gliding along active tracks highlighted the movement of people on their way to or from work. He encountered only two other vehicles on the road: one RSD patrol car much like his own, and an Emergency Services clean-up squad heading back to the Works Depot. The latter, he a.s.sumed, finished patching yet another blot in the city's landscape; nothing major in itself, yet part of a series of similar band-aid fixes that amounted to a significant, and growing, problem.

The city was, for the most part, built on level ground. As he neared the centre, however, he crested a gradual rise that enabled him to see above the buildings around him and into the distance. Not far away was the innermost and therefore smallest ring of the Rosette, one and a half kilometres across. The city's heart served as a nexus for the radial freeways, and as a convenient location for various administrative buildings such as Mayor's House, the MSA Academy and RSD HQ. A green belt containing Kennedy City University, and a now defunct zoo and arboretum, echoed the shape of A ring, separating the centre from the suburbs.

Ahead and beyond the city lay a low range of ragged hills dotted with communication towers and scrub forests: the former acted as the city's northern line of defence, with spotters mounted on each tower to moni- counter any inward movement from Outside; er had once comprised the city's obligatory sink, but now provided wood and fibre for a r of uses, plus medicinal and industrial compounds from genetically modified tobacco, hemp and plantations. Between the hills and the edge of G ere food and animal crops, tended the same way had been for decades: with maximum efficiency. innovation had been added to the system since the lution, and it still served the city well, complementfood factories elsewhere.

0 the west, visible as a dozen large tank-like shapes ming in the distance, were the two-hundred-metre- air towers that provided a large proportion of nnedy's general-use power and helped clean the ted air and water released as a by-product of indusAl activity. Apart from turbines taking advantage of nearby river's kinetic energy, the city's only other eans of ma.s.s-producing power was also to the west: Kennedy Prototype Fusion Reactor, a low blister ated midway along the arc of air towers. The facility d originally been a research centre designed to test the -,,,,,,asibility of kick-starting a small-scale fusion reaction y employing single bubble sonoluminescence and the vity effect - or, as Roads understood it, using sound to ','@create bubbles in water that collapsed at temperatures "'@4nd pressures greater than those found at the centre of 4he sun. A working model had been built in 2036, with ,,the s.p.a.ce industry very much in mind, and power @@"@production had begun in 2039, 'ust one year before the first outbreaks of the War. By the time the Dissolution had set in, KPFR had been running at full capacity.

Automatic gun emplacements atop the air towers protected the flatlands to the west, just as they did on the communication towers in the hills. To the south, themain defence was the river, wide enough to prove a deterrent to foot soldiers and blocked by locks along its length. On the far side were nothing but ruins; Patriot Bridge had once connected Kennedy proper with a few far-flung suburbs and an airport, but these had been isolated since the beginning of the Dissolution. On the near side were warehouses, docks and reclamation plants - the last performing essential treatment and recycling of water, gla.s.s, plastic, rubber, textiles, wood pulp, soil and paper. Most employed variants on "natural" techniques, using bioreactors and anaerobic digesters - mainly modified fungi or bacteria - to strip soil, water and solid waste of contaminants until they were fit to be re-used. Thirty per cent of the city's population was employed in the reclamation industry, if not in the plants themselves then maintaining the air towers and sewerage works; the rest worked in civil services like RSD, Power Central, the MSA and Emergency Services - or tended the farms.

Sometimes, if Roads squinted hard enough from this angle, he could almost pretend that the War hadn't happened, that the intervening four decades had been nothing but a bad dream. Almost, though, and never for long.

To the east, like a long, black scar cutting a chord through the outer limits of the city, was the Wall - an artificial barrier fifteen kilometres long and five metres high. Its triangular backbone bad been built from a black carbon alloy during the early years of the Dissolution, before the materials industry the city had been famous for had been diverted into other areas. Solar powered, electrically live across its entire surface and topped with a formidable array of sophisticated defences, it acted as a definitive barrier against intrusion. With only one break - at the Gate, midway along its so its sole purpose was to keep people out, and it its task well. The Gate had been fully opened ace in the previous twenty years, and then only for SA envoy. In the bad days, the Wall had never Iopened at all, and had been constantly patrolled by @_a thousand MSA guards. This unending vigilance, the Wall's stark, geometric lines, acted as more than physical boundary: it reinforced the truth, that the was isolated by its own choice. hind walls of stone, air, water and fire, Kennedy sprawled like a vast stone starfish, languis.h.i.+ng in paration from the rest of the world. Not even radio Id penetrate the barriers; all transmissions from the -tside were scrupulously ignored, having proved too n in the past to be fakes. Nothing short of actually ing at the Gate and banging on it would result in it 9 opened - which is exactly what bad happened, six ks before ... Sunlight flas.h.i.+ng in mirror-tinted gla.s.s brought Roads k to the present. RSD HQ, like all of the buildings in centre of Kennedy, stood no more than ten storeys and boasted lush roof gardens at its summit. Grey omposite plastic wrap, manufactured from waste @products by modified E. coli bacteria, kept its concrete crumbling under the influence of the elements, and @iriost of its lower-floor windows had been fitted with 'transparent solar panels. The environment within the 6 K'-building was maintained by pa.s.sive measures in conjunction with air-conditioning, just as a large per-centa e of its daytime illumination came from light- .9 "wells rather than electricity. An absence of sharp corners and flat planes made it look half melted from the outside, although its interior was more conventional in design: pooled offices, open and flexible floor plans, and a generous illusion of s.p.a.ce wherever possible.Roads pulled into the welcome darkness of the underground carpark and found a recharge bay for the patrol car. Crinkling his nose at the stench of ozone, e left the vehicle and tapped his PIN number into the elevator keypad. The heat of the day was already building, now that the overnight storm had pa.s.sed, and he rolled his s.h.i.+rt sleeves up to the elbows as be waited for the cab to descend.

PIN number ... He scowled at the keypad, remembering the days when the lock had been keyed by either retinae or band-prints. The old systems had been .replaced two decades ago, their original components either malfunctioning or required. elsewhere.

It sometimes seemed ironic that, after forty years of Dissolution, the greatest threat to the city's viability came not from the outside, but from within. Materials could only be recycled for so long without fresh input; streets and buildings were not built to last forever; metals bad become scarce; complexity was being traded for longevity in a desperate bid to keep the city's computer net-works running. It was only a matter of time before the situation became critical, and Kennedy was forced to do what it had resisted for so long.

The doors to the elevator slid open and he stepped inside. The rear wall of the cab comprised a full-length mirror. He studied his reflection gloomily, trying to coax a semblance of life out of his clothes and hair. Even his moustache looked limp.

A wave of giddiness accompanied his sudden ascent to the top of the building.

When the doors opened again, he entered the floor that housed the senior administrative bloc, a region he preferred not to visit too often. His own office was on the fifth floor; not too far from the rowdiness of street level, but not too close to it, either. He had no aspiration to rise any higher, prefer-

52.

ulet efficiency and anonymity to conspicuous rgaret Chappel's private secretary spotted him the he stepped out of the cab. cer Roads 11D, Michael. Where's the coffee?" hael handed Roads a cup. "If you'd like to go Sir, they're waiting for you." ads was tempted to ask who, exactly, they were, ilet It pa.s.s. Instead, he followed obediently to the office. I argaret Chappel was tall, thin and on the far side of an age she preferred to show rather than hide makeup. Roads had known her ever since he had d RSD, and had both followed and supported her to the top. Their close friends.h.i.+p was well known, he refused to confirm whether he had coined her fficial nickname -'the Mantis'- in order to enhance r already terrifying reputation on the lower floors. t a glimpse of a scowl, accentuated by narrow kbones and grey hair wom habitually in a pony-tail, ,@@,Aad been known to silence the most vehement protests. When he stepped into her office, she stood, smiled nd gestured at a seat. Two other men occupied the room. One - a wide-faced red-head with freckled, pate -skin - was Roger Wiggs, head of the specialist homicide leam a.s.signed to hunt the a.s.sa.s.sin; he looked about as 'fresh as Roads, despite being in more formal uniform. "The other was an unknown, dressed in a black, casual suit that matched his hair and briefcase.

His features were narrow, but not disproportioned; even seated it @was clear he was the tallest person in the room. Had Roads been asked to guess an age, he would have started at thirty and worked his way up - but not too far.Margaret Chappel performed the brief introductions. "Phil, this is Antoni DeKurzak. He's acting as a special liaison between us and the Reunited Statf s Military Corps, on behalf of the MSA and the Mayoralty. "

DeKurzak stood and shook hands with Roads. "My job is to keep the Rea.s.similation as smooth as possible," the liaison officer said, his voice mild and una.s.suming. "We don't want any mishaps along the way, do we?"

"Naturally not." Roads collapsed into a chair and felt his bones creak. He wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. His reaction to meeting the MSA officer consisted of annoyance, mixed with surprise that his superiors hadn't sent someone more senior. "You'll have to excuse the blood and sweat, folks. One of our little 'mishaps' kept me busy all morning."

Wiggs raised an eyebrow. "That makes two of us." "Oh? Who this time?" "Jessica Yhoman of the Mayor's office." Keen to pursue the distraction from his own misery, Roads encouraged the conversation. "How does this one fit in? She sounds pretty unremarkable." "Outwardly, yes. Privately, no. She is - was - Senior Councillor Norris' personal adviser. He might back down at the last minute, without her." "Really?" Norris was a mainstay of the Rea.s.similationist movement, not renowned for retreating from difficult situations. "It's a little late to change his mind, I would've thought." "Maybe." Wiggs glanced at DeKurzak. "It's never too late in politics." "If you say so." Roads took a sip of bitter coffee and pulled a face. "Agh. So she fits. The killer is sticking to his demographic.

When did it happen?" "One-thirty this morning. Yhoman's de facto came home not long after and discovered the body. Her neck U.

like the others; a swift, smooth, and very -'roke e man's job." Roads heard a note of awe in th one professional admiring the work of another, he gh he had worked with Wiggs long sed. Althoui to call him a friend, he stilt found his fellow r's fascination with homicide unnerving. appel pointedly cleared her throat. "Phil, I was Antoni about the lead you're pursuing, the latest k-in. It's not one of ours, is it?" OThat's right," Roads said, turning to face her. "One 7my contacts tipped me off that a cowboy outfit had n done over shortly after two this morning. We're itig over the scene at the moment, looking for any- 'ing new. If we find anything, we'll let you know."

s? " asked DeKurzak. How do you rate your chance @,@,Roads thought of the man he had chased from Old orth Street, and decided not to mention it. This wasn't the time to air hunches. "Not good, I'll admit, judging rom e. But we're doing our best."

previous experienc: "Do you believe that will be sufficient? It has been ,@_J,over a month, after all, and still these matters have not been dealt with."

Roads felt the hackles on the back of his neck rise. What exactly are you suggesting.

DeKurzak held up both hands placatingly. "I'm not questioning your capability, Officer Roads - or yours, Officer Wiggs. These are difficult cases that standard operating procedure has thus far failed to -bring to light, and no-one is necessarily to blame. I am merely expressing the concerns of those above me that your methods R, might be at fault." DeKurzak looked from Wiggs to Roads to emphasise the point. "Perhaps SOP is no longer equal to the task." "That's easy for you to say," Roads snapped. "Got any suggestions.

.rc"Phil." Chappel cast him a cautionary glance. "Let's look at what we have before we go any further." "About the Mole?" Roads took a deep breath, tried to dispel the exhaustion that was making him so irritable. DeKurzak was talking sense, as much as Roads didn't want to hear it. "Almost nothing. He doesn't leave genetic fingerprints or identifying marks of any kind. He follows no fixed m.o., except that he works at night. He only sets off alarms when he wants to. And the one description we have is anomalous." "He looks like you, in other words," said DeKurzak.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Chappel turned to the other officer. "What about you, Roger?" "The killer operates at night, also." The burly redhead s.h.i.+fted in his seat. "We do have a sample of genetic material, but it doesn't match any in city records. We have no physical description, nor any other clues to his ident.i.ty. Only his motive seems certain: to frighten the Council into backing down from the Rea.s.similation." "Yes." DeKurzak steepled his fingers and pressed them to his lips. "I've read the reports, and they're not terribly encouraging." He shrugged. "One uncatchable criminal I could believe, perhaps, but two ... ?"

Chappel intervened before Roads could take offence. "We are treating each series of crimes separately partly out of practicality, partly because of the timing. Although the murderer and the a.s.sa.s.sin could be one and the same person, he'd have to be fast on his feet as well as practically invisible. Last night demonstrates that quite well. It therefore doesn't seem likely that one person working alone is behind both series of crimes." "But it isn't impossible," said the liaison officer. "That's the point I want to stress.

We're not in a position to rule out anything."

56.

ough this a s shook his head. "We ve been thr You didn't interrupt our work to ;@,-s before to the poin0"

profiles. why don't you get rzak nodded. "Fair enough. My superiors are ined to present as united and positive a face as for the Rea.s.similation. General Stedman will be nedy in three days, and they want the cases closed n. To put it bluntly, that doesn t look likely - does I'm still confident," said Roads. "We are pursuing a r of possibilities ""Operation Blindeye being one of [email protected] ,"Yes.

you, Roger?" We'll see what forensics find at the Yhoman site ore we make any plans."

seeA will rea.s.sure my superiors that everything at can be done is being done.

In the meantime, I have become actively involved in en given the authority to ions. Please bear in mind that, in less than ,,,,,both investigat week, Kennedy may no longer be an independent ea.s.similation goes ahead as planned, it's ate. If the R ely that either or both cases will be handed to the Reunited States Military Corps prior to then for further investigation."

"What?" Wiggs' face flushed with anger. "You can't "They can," said Chappel, grim-faced. "The RSD charter allows the MSA to take any of our cases at any time if ordered to do so by the Mayor. The MSA can do whatever it likes with them from there. And after Rea.s.similation, who knows what will happen to local law enforcement?" "We need results fast, to prove that we can compe- tently handle our own affairs." DeKurzak did his best to"Phil." Chappel cast him a cautionary glance. "Let's look at what we have before we go any further." "About the Mole?" Roads took a deep breath, tried to dispel the exhaustion that was making him so irritable. DeKurzak was talking sense, as much as Roads didn't want to hear it. "Almost nothing. He doesn't leave genetic fingerprints or identifying marks of any kind. He follows no fixed m.o., except that he works at night. He only sets off alarms when he wants to. And the one description we have is anomalous." "He looks like you, in other words," said DeKurzak.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Chappel turned to the other officer. "What about you, Roger?" "The killer operates at night, also." The burly redhead s.h.i.+fted in his seat. "We do have a sample of genetic material, but it doesn't match any in city records. We have no physical description, nor any other clues to his ident.i.ty. Only his motive seems certain: to frighten the Council into backing down from the Rea.s.similation." "Yes." DeKurzak steepled his fingers and pressed them to his lips. "I've read the reports, and they're not terribly encouraging." He shrugged. "One uncatchable criminal I could believe, perhaps, but two ... ?"

Chappel intervened before Roads could take offence. "We are treating each series of crimes separately partly out of practicality, partly because of the timing. Although the murderer and the a.s.sa.s.sin could be one and the same person, he'd have to be fast on his feet as well as practically invisible.

Last night demonstrates that quite well. It therefore doesn't seem likely tha'

t one person working alone is behind both series of crimes." "But it isn't impossible," said the liaison officer. "That's the point I want to stress.

We're not in a position to rule out anything."

w shook his head. "We've been through this a times before. You didn't interrupt our work to profiles. Why don't you get to the point)"

are .11ATOV711. nodded. "Fair enough. My superiors are to present as united and positive a face as neral Stedman will be w. for the Rea.s.similation. Ge in three days, and they want the cases closed To put it bluntly, that doesn't look likely - does W, m still confident,"

said Roads. "We are pursuing a of possibilities "Operation Blindeye being one of them?" Yes. fy "Arid oul Roger?" "We'll see what forensics find at the Yhoman site "'Atoc. we make any plans." see. I will rea.s.sure my superiors that everything can be done is being done. In the meantime, I have 4,44- given the authority to become actively involved in M I investigations.

Please bear in mind that, in less than week, Kennedy may no longer be an independent If the Rea.s.similation goes ahead as planned, it's that either or both cases will be handed to the Reunited States Military Corps prior to then for further investigation."

"What?" Wiggs' face flushed with anger. "You can't -" I "They can," said Chappel, grim-faced. "The RSD charter allows the MSA to take any of our cases at any time if ordered to do so by the Mayor. The MSA can do whatever it likes with them from there. And after Rea.s.similation, who knows what will happen to local law enforcement?" "We need results fast, to prove that we can compe- tently handle our own affairs." DeKurzak did his best to 57look sympathetic; Roads wondered how sincere the effort was. "If combining our resources will help, then I think it makes sense to try. To that end, an officer specialising in law enforcement from General Stedman's staff, Captain Martin O'Dell, will be arriving in Kennedy later this morning to provide his own viewpoint. As an outsider he may be able to see something that we're missing." "Great. That's just great," said Roads, draining the last of the coffee. "We need another army about as much as we need blindfolds and our hands tied."

Chappel stared him down. "They're only trying to help. " .Famous last words."

As much as the city needed to open its doors, he rued the fact that it had been a military nation like the Reunited States that had made the first move.

From what little information he had gathered about the RUSA, it seemed to be run entirely by its Military Corps. He had never heard mention of a President, or a similar non-military t.i.tle. No wonder the MSA and General Stedman seemed to be getting along so well. Tarred from the same brush.

Roads glanced at Wiggs, who looked as pained as he felt. "I'm sorry to be blunt," he said, "but is that all you wanted to see us about?" "I think so, for now," said Chappel.

DeKurzak agreed. "I understand your reluctance, gentlemen, but I'm sure we can work it out. If you have any questions later, don't hesitate to contact me.

Margaret has my number." "Good." Roads stood. "Then, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

Wiggs also rose, slicking his hair out of his eyes. "I want reports by eighteen-hundred." Chappel rose to let them out. "And, Phil, we need to finalise Blindeye before then."

'll call you." As she closed the door behind them, caught a glimpse of DeKurzak, still seated in his opposite Chappel. The liaison officer nodded ell, apparently unfazed by the cool reception his ouncement had received. What a load of s.h.i.+t," Wiggs said when the door was ly shut. "This whole thing stinks." "'We need to get together soon, to swap notes." "Agreed. I'd mail them to you, but you know what A% like _-,77. Roads nodded. Wiggs' lack of computer skills was An attempt to mail Roads the notes on the sin could easily misfire, and result in sensitive RSD Its landing in the lap of a bulletin board. Safer, and re productive, to talk in person. [email protected]'_At the elevator well, Wiggs leaned up against a wall d closed his eyes. "To be honest, Phil, this case is iving me crazy. I'll be glad to see the end of it, if it es to that." "At least you've got a geneprint." Roads forced a ..Z'imile "All you have to do is test everybody and find the that matches."

"Yeah, right. Except the city'll be full of outsiders. ople ike this O'Dell, I or whoever he is, marching in to ooth the way'. Give them a month and we'll be Overcrowded again."

Roads feigned horror. "Don't tell me you're anti- ""i""Rea.s.similation, Roger."

"No it's not that. It's just . . ." Wiggs sighed and ran h his hand through his hair. "I was a child during the food is h ,,,@,riots, Phil. My parents weren't well off, and we were almost kicked out of the city. I remember what it was like - a little too well, sometimes." "It wasn't pleasant, that's for sure." The elevator doors pinged open and they filed inside. "But I don't 59think it'll be like that this time. Outside's not so bad any more.

"it couldn't be." Wiggs glanced at his reflection in the mirror, grimaced.

"Can't help but worry, though."

As the cage plummeted toward the carpark, Roads' phone buzzed for attention.

"Phil, it's Margaret." "Christ, we haven't even left the building yet-."

"Good. DeKurzak's on his way down. He wants to visit the scene on Old North Street." "Great," Roads groaned. "Lucky you,"

whispered Wiggs, with a smirk. "It was my idea," continued Chappel. "I like the MSA about as much as you do, but we all have to live with it. And him. By letting him see the way we operate - and can cooperate - we decrease the chances of those above him taking the cases from us." Chappel paused, obviously waiting for a response. "Anyway, I said you'd give him a lift." "Fine." Roads sighed. "It's not as if we've had much success on our own, I suppose." "Exactly. When he's finished, lend him one of the cars so he can join homicide at the Yhoman place."

Wiggs' face fell. "With pleasure." "Good." Chappel's tone softened slightly.

"Stay in touch." "I will."

CHAPTER FOUR.

.30 a.m.

ds would have preferred to drive the whole way to North Street in silence, but DeKurzak clearly had er ideas. @'You're not from here, are you, Roads) Not nally, anyway." "What makes you say that?"

4,Your accent mainly. English? South African? I can't utte place it." k-11 My parents were Australian." Roads couldn't help at the observation; few distinct accents ut be impressed ie-mained in Kennedy, and only a handful of people of , DeKurzak's age could distinguish one from another. "Ah " DeKurzak nodded. "Expats?" "No, on holiday when the War broke out. We were lucky to be staying near Kennedy at the time." "Very lucky indeed. What happened to them?" "Killed in food riots when I was a kid. I'd rather not talk about it."

DeKurzak smiled. "Of course. You don't have to." Roads guided the car onto the south-bound arterial 'freeway. The road surface was rough after so many years without regular maintenance, but he preferred it to the Rosette routes when heading in that direction. As they drove, the ruins of Patriot Bridge dominated theforward skyline. Time was slowly pulling it down, piece by piece; Roads could see the odd gap-toothed hole where the road itself had fallen away, or been blown away by explosives. The old maglev track had been dismantled entirely.

He'd always thought the bridge had been hard done by, and privately hoped that the Rea.s.similation would result in its reconstruction - although he doubted it.

DeKurzak seemed to be reading his thoughts. Roads felt the liaison officer's keen eyes studying him. "How exactly do you feel about the Rea.s.similation, Officer Roads?" "Honestly?" "Of course." "Well, I can't see.what all the fuss is about." "What do you mean? This is the first contact we've had with anyone outside Kennedy -"

"No, what I mean is: it has to happen eventually,' doesn't it? There's no point arguing about it, or putting it off any longer." "That's the best way to think about it." DeKurzak nodded, waving one hand at the view before them.

"Kennedy is like a tide-pool that has been isolated for so long it's forgotten about the sea. But the tide's going to come back in whether we want it to or not. The only question we have to ask ourselves is whether we let it in gracefully, or go down with a fight."

Roads looked at his pa.s.senger out of the comer of his eye. DeKurzak seemed to have missed the point entirely; Kennedy had to Rea.s.similate because it would die if it didn't, not because the RUSA wanted it to.

He cleared his throat, choosing tact rather than debate. "I would have thought the answer was obvious. If we send them away now, they'll only come back later, when they're even stronger."

rue. A lot of people feel otherwise, though ne in particular?"

e killer? Yes, he - or she, of course - is an case. But that wasn't really who I was talking t. I meant the Old Guard, the people who lived h both the War and the Dissolution. These people seen terrifying things, and we can only sympathise their reluctance to place themselves at risk again by ening the city. But where do we draw the line? e are already enough of them in the Mayoralty to truct a move that the rest of us regard as being vitable, even if it does make us all nervous." V'Roads shrugged. "So? Politics and people have ays been like that when it comes to change. King I'ute wasn't the only one,"

That's true." DeKurzak stared away from the river, t glints of the city. "Would you count t e distan h urself among the Old Guard, Roads?" Roads almost laughed. Either DeKurzak was extra- inarily clumsy at asking leading questions, or numely had no idea how his inquiries sometimes Unded. "I'm old enough," he said, "but, to be honest, really don't give a s.h.i.+t. I just try to do my job. If you ',"@;,think I'm conspiring to wreck the Rea.s.similation, then you re barking up the wrong tree." "I didn't say that." DeKurzak chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip. "What about Wiggs.

"Too young. Haven't you checked his records?" "Birth dates can be faked." W Roads glanced across at DeKurzak. The liaison officer's face was closed, serious. The urge to laugh abruptly vanished. "You're crazy." "It's worth checking. And, what's more, if you stop to took at things objectively, it makes sense. The best way for the a.s.sa.s.sin to remain at large - and the thief forthat matter, a.s.suming they aren't one and the same person - is to ensure that the authorities don't want to catch him. Or to actually be the authorities."

.So you think I'm the Mole?" "No. Your alibis check out. But the resemblance is uncanny, all the same."

Roads gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands and tried to keep his anger at bay. Again he wondered if DeKurzak was deliberately trying to provoke him, or simply didn't realise what he was saying, what open nerve he had unwittingly probed. "How old are you, DeKurzak?" , The liaison officer blinked. "Thirty-six. Is -this relevant?" "It might be.

Anyone under fifty won't remember the War - "Obviously, but and if you don't remember the War, how can you possibly understand what it was like? How can you speak for this 'Old Guard' of yours if you haven't been through what they have? Think about it for a moment. Doesn't it seem more likely that those who have seen the Dissolution first-hand would actually want the Rea.s.similation, rather than resist it?"

DeKurzak had his mouth open, wanting to break in, but Roads ploughed on: "The ones who remember what it was like to watch hungry people die rather than let them in and starve the city, who were forced to kill the beggars that screamed at the Wall for months, who had friends and relatives thrown out of Kennedy for fighting when there wasn't enough to go around ... These people aren't your Old Guard. These people won't kill to keep Kennedy closed. They've seen enough death already. "The ones you're looking for are younger. They've lived here all their lives, and regard Kennedy as theirs.

4on't want it invaded by upstarts from the . if anybody's going to fight to keep Kennedy they'll be the ones - not people like me - - - "