This Day All Gods Die Part 4

Now Has.h.i.+ deigned to answer the Chief. "There is no mystery here. If you were adept at the programming of SOD-CMOS chips, and if you held possession of both your id and mine, you would have no difficulty preparing a composite which blended my records with your physical data. In effect, the new id tag would identify you as me."

He wished to show Warden that he could transcend Mandich's personal animosity. More than that, he wished to show that he was equal to Warden's game.

Koina's questions would answer themselves.

Warden planted his palms on the desktop in front of him-a gesture which usually indicated that he was out of patience.

"Director Lebwohl, I'm sure everything you're telling us is true." His voice sounded guttural; angry and tense. "And it's all important. But I don't have time for a seminar. None of us do. I need a connection connection-a real one, not some tenuous, circ.u.mstantial theory based on the fact that Fane hired a man who doesn't like us to help design SOD-CMOS code engines."

Has.h.i.+ nodded to show that he understood. "May I again suggest," he countered, "that you allow the First Executive a.s.sistant to contact you?"

Warden dismissed the idea. "Not yet. You aren't done."

Did it show? Has.h.i.+ liked to believe that his personal IR emissions were difficult for Warden to interpret. The DA director had done studies on himself, seeking to determine how much his own aura revealed. The results had gratified him: he could tell the baldest lies without producing definable ripples along the bandwidths of Warden's sight. It was possible, however, that Warden understood the nature of Has.h.i.+'s excitement in some unquantifiable and intuitive fas.h.i.+on.

"Very well," Has.h.i.+ acceded. "Sadly, I cannot offer you a connection which will not appear both 'circ.u.mstantial' and 'tenuous' in law. Nevertheless the connection I propose has substance. It will hold.

"If we are fortunate"-he permitted himself a small grin-"Cleatus Fane will confirm it for us."

If the First Executive a.s.sistant did so, that would also confirm the importance of Imposs/Alt's id tag and clearance badge.

"In no sense," Has.h.i.+ continued promptly, "has Lane Harbinger had time to complete her study of Nathan Alt's earthly remains. However, certain of her preliminary findings may be relied upon.

"It is unmistakable, for example, that at the time of his demise our Captain Alt was deeply under the influence of hypnogogic substances. His actions in the hall were innocent of volition. He may well have both designed and carried out the procedures by which his id replaced Clay Imposs', but his death was not a suicide. He did not elect his own end."

If Min Donner's accusations during Alt's court-martial were accurate, the man was too much a coward to die for any cause.

Koina sighed softly, nodding to herself as if she were relieved in some way. Idealistic images of the UMCP died hard, especially in Warden's presence. Apparently she had been quite disturbed by the idea that any UMCP officer could be so disenchanted that he would be willing to kill himself in order to harm his former service.

Because he spoke for Warden's benefit-as well as his own-Has.h.i.+ didn't pause to acknowledge her reaction.

"The chemicals by which hypnosis may be induced are familiar to us. Lane will identify them precisely. However, Captain Alt's blood also holds heavy concentrations of a substance which is"-the DA director cleared his throat conspicuously-"less commonly understood.

"That substance is a coenzyme. Inherently inert, it has no utility in itself. However, it combines with some of the human body's natural apoenzymes to form an artificial holoenzyme, one which could not occur naturally. This holoenzyme is active.

"Lane's hypothesis-which I share-is that Captain Alt was dosed with this coenzyme in order to produce a holoenzyme which would serve as a chemical trigger for his explosive device."

Now Has.h.i.+ paused, maliciously allowing Chief Mandich time for some inapt remark. But the man kept silent. Perhaps he had realized that he was out of his depth.

In some indefinable way, Warden seemed to intensify. His outlines sharpened as if the light had changed: the strict shape of his face hinted at dangers and possibilities. He did nothing to interrupt or hurry Has.h.i.+.

"If our hypothesis is accurate," Has.h.i.+ resumed, "several conclusions derive from it. First, no volition was required. It was not necessary that Captain Alt 'set himself off.'" Has.h.i.+ articulated the colloquialism like a sneer. "Second, the absence of some more mechanical timing device suggests that those accountable for this kaze wished to adjust the explosion to suit events. They were unwilling to guess in advance when their kaze might best be set off. Third, the use of a chemical trigger rather than a radio-controlled detonator suggests that the perpetrators felt some fear that they might be caught with the transmitter in their possession.

"Surely it is obvious that the timing of the blast could only have been adjusted to suit events by someone present in the hall." Has.h.i.+ permitted himself to elaborate this point unnecessarily while he explored some of the more obscure strands of inference spun by Lane's investigation. "And it was surely predictable that UMCPED Security would seal the island in order to prevent any conceivable suspects from effecting an escape. Therefore the peril was real that an incriminating transmitter might be discovered."

He glanced at Koina and Mandich as if he were asking them to fault his logic. Then he returned his attention to Warden.

"Thus the method becomes plain. Captain Alt is hypnotized involuntarily. He is conditioned to respond to a specified signal-a particular word, a particular gesture. He is given-let us suppose until Lane's exploration is complete-a false tooth filled with a ma.s.sive dose of the triggering coenzyme, a tooth which will break open when it is bitten. He is supplied, still involuntarily, with Clay Imposs' credentials. Then he is sent into the hall to await his signal-and his own death.

"The most obvious benefit of this method is that it leaves no evidence. The knowledge of the pre-conditioned signal-and of the man or woman culpable for it-dies with the kaze. No transmitter-or indeed timer-can be found.

"Coincidentally, it perhaps rids the perpetrators of a man who might well have become an embarra.s.sment to them." A man who knew-and who therefore might reveal-how the code engines in question could be misused.

"The obvious conclusion," Has.h.i.+ stated with satisfaction, "is that whoever gave the signal must have been within Captain Alt's clear field of view."

Not simply present in the hall: present in plain sight from Nathan Alt's position.

Wondrous energy sh.e.l.ls, layers of uncertainty, mapped the center of the atom; the core of truth.

Neither Director Hannish nor Chief Mandich spoke. Perhaps they sensed the presence of implications they were unable to define. Or perhaps they failed to grasp why Has.h.i.+ considered these details to be so significant.

Warden's reaction was of another kind altogether.

Studying his DA director, he said quietly, "All right. Let's see where this goes." With a precise stab of his forefinger, he keyed his intercom.

"Director Dios?" a communications tech answered.

"I'll talk to Cleatus Fane now," Warden announced. His tone carried the force of a commandment.

Koina settled herself back in her chair with a visible effort. Chief Mandich took another step forward as if he were ready for combat. Perhaps intuitively they both comprehended Has.h.i.+'s explanations better than he realized.

"Right away, Director." The intercom emitted thin hissings and clicks as microwave relays shuttled, establis.h.i.+ng a downlink. A moment later the tech said, "Director Dios, I have First Executive a.s.sistant Cleatus Fane by secure channel from Suka Bator."

An alert on Warden's desk flashed until the tech left the line. Then the light turned green to indicate that the channel had been sealed against eavesdropping.

"Mr. Fane," Warden began bluntly. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I've been busy."

"I understand completely, Director Dios." A faint spatter of static marred Fane's avuncular tones-solar flare activity, perhaps. "Your duties have become especially complex recently. I wouldn't bother you at a time like this, but I think I have something to contribute to your investigation." He chuckled fulsomely. "That sonofab.i.t.c.h came close to killing me. I shudder to think what could have happened if Director Lebwohl hadn't spotted him. I'm very eager to make a contribution."

Especially complex recently, Has.h.i.+ thought. Doubtless Fane intended a reference to Trumpet; Trumpet; a reminder that Holt Fasner had given Warden orders. False bonhomie concealed pressure. The FEA meant Warden to understand that he could not afford to ignore anyone who spoke for the Dragon. a reminder that Holt Fasner had given Warden orders. False bonhomie concealed pressure. The FEA meant Warden to understand that he could not afford to ignore anyone who spoke for the Dragon.

Warden was unmoved, however. "I don't want to seem rude, Mr. Fane," he answered, "but time is tight. What contribution did you have in mind?"

"Then I'll be brief. The sooner you finish your investigation, the sooner I can leave this hopeless rock."

Not for the first time, Cleatus Fane's manner made Has.h.i.+ think of a Santa Claus with fangs.

"By now, Director," Fane began, "I'm sure you've identified that kaze. I recognized him myself. If I'd noticed him earlier, we wouldn't have had to rely on Director Lebwohl to save us. I knew he might be dangerous. At the very least," he explained, "I knew he shouldn't be there. That would have made him look dangerous, even if I had nothing else to go on. But I didn't think to look at him closely until Director Lebwohl accosted him.

"His name is Nathan Alt. The The Nathan Alt-the one who used to work for you. He was court-martialed for 'dereliction' when he was in command of Nathan Alt-the one who used to work for you. He was court-martialed for 'dereliction' when he was in command of Vehemence. Vehemence. You know that. And you've had time to access his records, so you also know he's been working for us since then. I mean for the UMC. Specifically he was our Security Liaison for Anodyne Systems." You know that. And you've had time to access his records, so you also know he's been working for us since then. I mean for the UMC. Specifically he was our Security Liaison for Anodyne Systems."

Behind his smeared lenses and his impenetrable smile, Has.h.i.+ resisted an impulse to hold his breath. Despite his confidence in the web of inferences he'd woven for Warden's benefit, he was acutely aware that he needed Cleatus Fane's confirmation. Without it he might be left looking uncomfortably like a man who grasped at straws in order to redeem his tarnished credibility.

Fane's disembodied voice continued smoothly. "But that's not the reason I've been calling you. Aside from the fact," he added piously, "that we all have standing orders to give you our fullest cooperation whenever it's needed." We We no doubt referred to Holt Fasner's primary subordinates. "There's something you may not know about him." no doubt referred to Holt Fasner's primary subordinates. "There's something you may not know about him."

"What's that, Mr. Fane?" Warden put in noncommittally.

Fane paused for emphasis, then announced, "We fired him six weeks ago. Threw him out."

Koina shook her head at this information. Chief Mandich clenched his fists.

Only a conscious act of will prevented Has.h.i.+ from laughing aloud.

Warden's shoulders tightened. He scowled at the intercom as if he were trying to read Cleatus Fane's aura through the blank mask of the microwave downlink.

"Why?" he demanded.

Fane answered promptly. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you that we wouldn't have anybody working for us-certainly not in a position as sensitive as Security Liaison for Anodyne Systems-if he wasn't cleared by the most rigorous scrutiny." An irritating fuzz of static distorted his sincerity. "And we scrutinize everyone incessantly. Over and over again.

"Our latest-shall I call them observations?-of Nathan Alt showed that over the past several months he's been in frequent contact with the native Earthers."

The First Executive a.s.sistant raised his voice to convey indignation. "I don't need to remind you, Director Dios, that they're terrorists. The worst kind of sc.u.m. In the name of preserving humankind's 'genetic purity,' they oppose any dealings with the Amnion, even responsible trade. They oppose diplomatic relations. They oppose us us because we do lawful, authorized business with forbidden s.p.a.ce. And they don't hesitate to use violence of all kinds to support their policies. because we do lawful, authorized business with forbidden s.p.a.ce. And they don't hesitate to use violence of all kinds to support their policies.

"Of course course we fired Nathan Alt. Once we knew he was in contact with the native Earthers, we couldn't trust him." we fired Nathan Alt. Once we knew he was in contact with the native Earthers, we couldn't trust him."

Warden ignored Fane's outrage. "And that's how you knew Alt was dangerous as soon as you recognized him?" he asked.

"Director Dios," Cleatus Fane retorted strongly, "I think the native Earthers are behind all these recent attacks. I think Nathan Alt gave them the means to supply kazes with legitimate id, and they've been using it to try to undermine both the UMC and the UMCP.

"Fortunately they can't succeed," he added at once. "The fact that the GCES soundly rejected Captain Vertigus' misguided Bill of Severance demonstrates that. But the danger is still real. And it must be stopped."

Through the static he projected the righteous indignation of a man who had come close to a death he didn't deserve.

Warden grimaced at the intercom. After a moment he drawled mordantly, "An interesting theory, Mr. Fane. I want to be sure I understand it. The first attack-the one on Captain Vertigus-what was that supposed to accomplish? The native Earthers have always called him a hero."

The FEA laughed humorlessly. "But he hasn't done anything heroic for decades. decades. He's too old and ineffectual to do them any good. They wanted to make him a martyr. His opposition to Holt Fasner and the UMC is common knowledge. They want people to think he was attacked to silence his opposition." He's too old and ineffectual to do them any good. They wanted to make him a martyr. His opposition to Holt Fasner and the UMC is common knowledge. They want people to think he was attacked to silence his opposition."

Warden snorted softly; too softly to register on the intercom pickup. "You can't apply the same argument to G.o.dsen Frik."

"Of course not." Static or stress made Fane's bonhomie sound brittle. "As a spokesman for the special relations.h.i.+p between the UMC and the UMCP, he's a natural enemy of the native Earthers. They wanted to use the confusion caused by Captain Vertigus' martyrdom to strike at one of their most public targets."

For a moment Warden appeared to give this statement consideration. Then he asked, "And the attack today?"

"An attempt to scare the Council," Fane p.r.o.nounced firmly. "Fear breeds stupidity-and stupidity breeds native Earthers."

Has.h.i.+ considered this an interesting piece of conceptual legerdemain. From his perspective, stupidity bred rejection of Captain Vertigus' Bill of Severance.

Warden may have felt the same-Koina plainly did-but he didn't comment.

"I'll look into it," he told the Dragon's henchman. "But I have to say, Mr. Fane, it makes me wonder why you hired Alt in the first place. You had reason to think he might not be particularly reliable."

Cleatus Fane snorted. "Because he couldn't meet Director Donner's standards for 'conduct becoming an officer'? There aren't many men or women on the planet who can be that pure all the time. His court-martial didn't render him unfit for productive work. Or honorable work, for that matter," Fane added.

"But the truth is"-microwave noise complicated his candor-"his court-martial was one of the reasons we hired him. He never hid the fact that he resented the UMCP. From our point of view, that made him uniquely valuable. We wanted a man who was highly motivated to find fault with anything you people touched-especially with the security procedures designed for organizations like Anodyne Systems and the GCES. If he couldn't find c.h.i.n.ks in your armor-so to speak-no one could. And if he could find them, we could fix them."

The First Executive a.s.sistant might as well have said, Don't try to challenge me, Director Dios. You're wasting your time.

Chief Mandich's features held a resentful scowl, but he didn't speak.

Warden shrugged noncommittally. "As I say," he replied, "time is tight, Mr. Fane. Director Lebwohl is already investigating some of the possibilities you've mentioned." Cleatus Fane would know soon-if he didn't already-that Has.h.i.+ had invoked Red Priority security locks for some of Holt Fasner's Home Office computers, as well as for all of Anodyne Systems'. "Just one more question, if you don't mind.

"Did Alt take any of his work with him?"

"Director," Fane answered heavily, "n.o.body carries that kind of work around in his head. It's too minute and complex. His last project ran to something like eight million lines of source-code. Most of us would burn out our brains just trying to remember the design protocols.

"And we made d.a.m.n sure he didn't carry it any other way. I can tell you that for a fact."

On this point Has.h.i.+ felt certain that the FEA's facts were accurate. Captain Alt's secrets-whatever they might have been-had never left the Dragon's...o...b..tal headquarters.

"Very well, Mr. Fane," Warden returned. "I'll contact Holt Fasner directly when I have anything to report."

He raised his hand and aimed one strong finger to silence the intercom.

On impulse Has.h.i.+ left his seat so abruptly that Warden's hand stopped. In a rush Has.h.i.+ reached the front of the desk and leaned over the intercom.

"Mr. Fane?" he said quickly, almost breathlessly. "Forgive the intrusion. This is Director Lebwohl. I am with Director Dios. Overhearing your discussion, I have a question of my own, if you will permit me to put it to you."

Fane hesitated momentarily, then said, "Go ahead, Director Lebwohl. Anything you want to know."

Grinning past his gla.s.ses at Warden, Has.h.i.+ responded promptly, "You say that you fired Nathan Alt six weeks ago because he was in contact with the native Earthers. And you made sure-I believe you made 'd.a.m.n' sure-that none of his work left with him. Did you inst.i.tute any other precautions to ensure the security of Anodyne Systems?"

If the First Executive a.s.sistant was willing to go this far, surely he would go further.

"Of course." Fane's tone hinted at relief. He was prepared for this question. "We made a mistake hiring Alt. We weren't going to compound it by being naive. In essence, we threw out everything he did while he was Security Liaison. I mean, we kept his ideas. Some of them were brilliant. But we erased every application he designed. We erased every application he might have touched. Then we wrote our own to replace his. And we wrote patches to alter the code engines in every SOD-CMOS chip Anodyne Systems manufactured during his tenure.

"Even if he was smuggling data and code to the native Earthers for months before we caught him," Fane concluded, "it's all useless to them now."

Nodding to no one in particular, Has.h.i.+ resumed his seat. He didn't trouble himself to thank Cleatus Fane.

Frowning at his DA director, Warden pursued, "In other words, Mr. Fane, you're sure the security breach which put legitimate id in the hands of three recent kazes didn't come from Nathan Alt? Directly or indirectly?"

"That's right," Fane replied as if his credibility were intact. "You have a traitor on your hands. That's obvious. But he isn't here." here."

No doubt Fane meant in Holt Fasner's employ, either in his Home Office or in the UMC.

"Thank you, Mr. Fane," Warden said sharply. "That's all."

With a decisive stab of his finger, he toggled his intercom to end the First Executive a.s.sistant's call.

Then he faced Has.h.i.+. His hands clenched each other on the desktop as if-literally as well as metaphorically-he needed to keep a grip on himself. His single eye caught the light like the wink of a cutting laser. Hope or fury beat visibly in the veins at his temples.

"All right, Director Lebwohl," he said harshly. "We've heard what Cleatus Fane has to say. What does it prove?"

Koina and Chief Mandich studied Has.h.i.+ with their separate forms of incomprehension. Confusion appeared to aggravate the Chief's resentment. Perhaps he was irritated because he thought that Has.h.i.+'s insistence on speaking to Fane wasted time. But Koina's bafflement was of a different kind. Has.h.i.+ saw her as a woman whose primary a.s.sumptions prevented her from understanding what she heard.

"Ah, 'prove,'" he answered Warden. "Nothing, I fear. We remain in the realm of the tenuous and circ.u.mstantial"-Werner Heisenberg's rich domain-"despite the First Executive a.s.sistant's generous confirmation. Nevertheless I believe that my conclusions are substantial. They will hold."

Warden didn't hesitate. "What are are your conclusions?" your conclusions?"