helimousinewassaeofhear,apowerridepaidforbyoneofheunion’scounlessmegacorpsorgovernmenbureaucraciesplushleaherseasranforabouhalfofisconsiderablelenghherewereoherseasadjacenandoherearofhevehiclehelighingwasbluehalogenfromanornaefchandelierinhecar’sroof,puncuaedbyheglowofadozenpuerandelevisionscreensandfilereddaylighfromousidebelowhescreensarowofconsolesofvariousshapesandsizescaldwellwasfamiliarwihnoneofhemheylookedlikecusomjapaneseandchinesedecks

whahehelldidhesepeoplewanwihhim?hroughhehugeinedwindowsofheelecrichesawhegraydockndssreesglidingbysilenlycaldwellfelhisfingerscluchheknapsack,holdingheconsoleighlyohisensebodysinceihadarrivedinhepos,hiswholelifehadbeenurnedupsidedownfirs,herewaskenzoyamamoo’savaarhahadvanishedinohinair,henhemessagefromglyph,whowasnowverymuchdeadnexherewasheappearanceofhewojapaneseandnowhesewounionheaviesinheirexpensivepariscusandhedeckedoulimofulloffancypuerequipmenallhiswihinhespaceofhours

hewomenwhohadsavedhislife,ifyoucouldpuilikeha,saarighanglesohimheirbroadheavilymuscledbackswereinclinedagainshedriver’sparmenheydidn’looklikehealkingkindsoidlebanerwasouofhequesionheireyeswerefocusedonhedarkunliparahefarbackofhelimoashoughheyexpecedsomehingoeleapingouofhereaanymomencaldwellcouldnomakeouadriverinhefronofhelimo

oneofhemuscleboundmenwascaucasianwihfmingredhairandablondebeardheoherlookedlikehiswin,excephewasbckheybohlookedlikeheyspenadisproporionaeamounofheirimepumpingpuerizedironherewassomehingsubliminallyabsurdabouhewayheyseemedlikeheywereabouobursouofheirbckmacroporesuishewomenlookedlikeprivaesecorbodyguardsforhirebuherewasanairabouhemhasuggesedsomehingalogehermoresiniserheysahereinscruable,hidingbehindheirwraparoundmirrorshades

“somrcaldwell,aren’yougoingohankmeforsavingyourlife?”

avoicelikeisownerhadhadironfilingsforbreakfascamefloainghroughfromhebackofhelimocaldwellwassurehaiwasenhancedbysomekindofvocalimpnherewasadecidedlynonhumanedgeoiiwasavoicehasenshiversdownhisspineinsanly,amaelsromofimagesfshedbeforehiseyesfierydragons,papermoneyburningonapyre,sleekpalegirlswihdarksloeeyeslikeavaarsinanancienmassivelymulipyeronlinegamehespeededupcranialslideshowsubsidedjusasquicklyasihadappearedini’swakeaspliingheadachecaldwellgroundhiseehandaempedoignorehepain

hevoicesoundedlikeicamefromamanwhocouldsinglehandedlymakeorbreaklifeimecareerswihasnapofhisfingersye,iheldasrangefamiliariycaldwellpeeredinhedirecionofhevoicebucouldseenohinghecouldimaginehowhiskindofhearicscouldralesomeoneinhisposiionandcaldwellwasalileraledraledhawhoeverhiswasknewhisname

aclick,asasidelighwasswichedon,revealingahinhighlysrungmaninabckpinsripedciysuiandaanfedoracaldwellfiguredhewashighlysrungbecausepalegreenveinsprorudedfromhishandsandwrissandpulsaedlikeminiaurefirehosesinhesubduedlighingofhelimousine,alongcleanshavenslopingjawlineandopaquegrayrepilianeyessaredahimhemanlookedvaguelyfamiliar,hehumanfleshrepresenaionofsomecyberspaceimagewhoeverhewas,iseemedhaimeorechnologyhadbeenkindohimorwasihekindnessofmedicine?hecouldhavebeenfifyoreighyyearsoldbuhemanlookedlikehewouldfighheeffecsofageingallhewayogravehehadhadrawnlookofsomeonewhohadundergoneonecosmeicsurgeryoperaionoomanyhelookedfake

“hankyoucanigeoffnow?”hewoidenikiheaviessaredahimlikehe’djussuggesedadimwiedalernaiveoeinsein’sheoryofreiviyheylookedlikeheywanedogeinimaecaldwell’smindwasasempyasabnksheeofpaperhingsdidn’makesenseeveryhingseemedobespiralingouofconrolbackinhecapsule,lyingdownonhefuon,readyoimbibeheconensofhesv’smyseriousvialofnanopoison,hehadfeloallyinconrolofhisowndesinynow,hiscar,hesepeople,hejapanese,glyph’sdeah,meanhahewasoallyouofconrol,apawninadangerousgamewhoseruleshedidnoknowandhadnowayofknowingye,somehowhefelhaheoccupanofhisbigcar,hissurgicallyreconsrucedsui,lookedlikeheheldhekeyosomeofhequesions,issueshawenbackfurherhanheday’sevens

quesionsofideniywhoami?hissui,whoreferredohimbyhesurnameonhisidchip,anamehehadneverusedanywhereinhesysem,noevenincyberspaceunlessofcourse,heguywasreadinghechipinhispockewihsomeporablesca

ercaldwellhadafeelinghewouldn’besiinginhiscarunlesshisma

eededhimandwhenpowerfulme

eededyou,youendedosayalive,aleasforawhile

hedryughagainharemindedcaldwellofaprogramhe’dseenonoldarchivesofhenowdefuncnaionalgeographiciwashesoundofacobramovinghroughdriedleaveshecobra,haparicurlygregariousspeciesofpoisonoussnake,hehadlearnhadsincegohewayofhepopurnaurecha

elexinc

“ifindiveryhardobelievehayouarenoinheleasbiineresedinhowiknowyournamecadcaldwell”hisnamepronouncedlikeiwasalessoninelocuion

“whydon’youellmeandjusdropmeoffsomewhere?we’llcalliquis”

“wouldn’behefirsime,cadmynameisbrucefouleriamhemanwhoinvenedyourcareeriamhekeyoyourfuure,ifyoucareabouiaalliamhereogiveyouanoherleaseonlifeyouburnedouwayooearlyyoursarburnedbrighforooshorawhileyouckedlongeviy”allhisingouinrapidfiresaccao,occasionalinflecionsofcockneypeekingoufromhemonoonoushumofheprivilegedaccencaldwell’sinsincshadbeenrighhesuiknewmoreabouhimhanhehimselfdidmuchmoreunless,ofcoursehewasbluffingbusomehingoldhimsomeonelikefoulerdidn’bluffhedidn’haveo

“longeviyisreivemrfouleraslongasiamsillbreahing,ifigurei’vegoashoai”

“sillhesmarass,eh?”fouleraskedwihfeignedbemusemen

caldwellsaidnohinghewashinkingabouwheherhismanreallyknewanyhingabouhispashiswashefirspersonwhohadevermenionediouofhebluelikehisandcallipsychologyorparialrecallbuhewasbegi

ingofindhisfoulercharacer’sfacevaguelyfamiliarandherewashemouningfeelinghahewasnogoingolikewhahismanhadoellhim

“whydon’youellmewhyhosemenwereryingokillyou?”foulerconinued

“youseemohaveallheanswersshouldn’youbeellingme?whadoyouwanwihme?”

“ok,le’scuohechaseyou,mrcaldwell,usedobeoneofusnevermindwhoweareforhemomenwe’llgeohainajiffybuhecruxofhemaerishasomewherewihinhesysem,we’vedecidedhaweneedoavailourselvesofyourskillsonceagainonasriclyfreencebasisofcoursebewarnedhoughhaoncewewansomeoneback,wegehembacknoquesionsaskedinyourcase,i’llmakeanexcepionandinreurnforyourserviceswe’llgiveyousomehingbackhayou’vebeensearchingforaverylongimehinkofyourselfasheprodigalsoningbackohefold”

hewoagenskepheirmirroredeyesrainedoncaldwelndproducedhedeepheavysoundshaservedhemasugher

helimousinecuhroughlighlondonrafficheavyrainpummeledherooflikeiwasryingorewrieheenireworksofshakespeareinmorsecodeinamaerofminuescaldwellhadeoheconclusionhahelimousinewasinfacdriverlessherewasacerainprecisionohedrivinghasuggesedheabsenceofahumanhandinheprocesshecouldseeheraindroplesmakingspshpaernsonheskylighaboveherewassomehingmahemaicabouhewayhedroplesdispersedhemselvesoverheransparensurfacecaldwellhadlonglosrackofwhereheywerenondescripbuildingsandderelicindusrialfaciliieswhizzedbysilenlyfshesoflighningsrobedhroughheineriorofhelimoinermienly,makinggarishsnapshosofhewoheavieswhowerenowpyingsomekindofvideogameononeofhelimo’sconsoles

fouler,hemyserymanwihheslopingjaw,wassiinginhebackrapinhough,ashoughhewasmakinguphismindwheheroellcaldwellsomehing,ornocaldwellwassillreelingandryingnooleishowhehadbeenoneofhem,whoeverheywere,andheywerehekindofoufihacouldafforddriverlesslimousinesandcouldusegovernmenapprovedsoundgunsfromhelookofhebankofconsolesblinkingsporadicallyinhedarkinerior,hiswasanoufihahadaisdisposanincredibleamounofpuingpowerifheycouldhavehishugearrayofexpensiveequipmeninfouler’slimo,imaginewhaheyhadawhereverheykepoffices,ifheyhadofficesaallbigunionconcernsalwayshadofficesiwasheirwayofsampingauhoriyonanincreasinglyfluidmarkewihahugeandrapidlyexplodingpopuionoffreencerskepincheckonlywihheadvancesofidenificaionandlocaionechnologies

caldwellhadalwayssuspecedhahe’dpreviouslyhadalifehahecurrenlyrememberednohingabouwihhishunchconfirmed,hishearquickenedinanicipaionofwhafoulerwasabouoellhimhissuffwasooimporanoinerrupsohesapaienlygeingacquainedwihhei

ardsofhecar,waiingforfoulerospillhebeansheshinghewanedwasforfoulerochangehismind

hebankofconsolesblinkedrandomly,linesofpuercodescrollingdownindifferenmoniorsanddisappearinginoheehercaldwell’sfingersichedogeacquainedwihheiroperaingsysemsvaspinsofdaaexpandedbeforehiseyesandhefelheadrenalinrushofjackinginosomenewerrioryincyberspacefoulercoughed,moreogecaldwell’saenionhanforanybiologicalreasonhewoheaviessoppedsabbingaheconsolesandsaredaheirmaserforamomenhenheyconinuedpyingagain

foulerseemedohavemadeuphismindabousomehinghepulledasackofcardsfromhisinsidejackepockeandshuffledhroughhemlikeacroupieraahirdraecasinocaldwellwonderedwhahehellwasgoingonhewogoonspudownheirconrolsandedgedforwardinanicipaioncaldwellappedlislesslyonhepseudoleaherskinofhisknapsack

“iwanyouoakealookahis,”foulersaidalengh

“doihaveo?”caldwellreoredwihjusherighamounofsarcasmogeonheman’snerveshewanedofindouabouhepasnoindulgeheguyinsomeocculfeishhemanwhocalledhimselffoulernarrowedhiseyesinodangerousslisandscruncheduphissmoohpsicface

“youdon’haveanyideadoyou,whaiamofferingyou?”hehissedbeweenclenchedeeh

“allrighhen,”caldwellsaidandgrabbedoneofhecardsfromhishinwellmanicuredfingersfoulerbnchedwihragebusaidnohing

caldwelllookedahecardiwasaphoographofacoupleinheirforieshemanlookedlikehewasofmiddleeasernorprobablyevenialianoriginyeherewassomehingdisinclycaucasianabouhisfeaureshazeleyeslookedoufromrimmedgssesonasquarefacehewasgoodlookinginhadarkski

edinwayhewomanhough,abrue,hadfeisyorienaleyeshaburnedwihpassionherewassomehingwildsmolderingbehindhoseeyes,somehingdisurbingbuahesameimefamiliarcaldwellhadneverseenhiscoupleinhislifebusomehinginhewoman’seyessirredsomehingwihinhimherewasobviouslyareasonwhyfoulerwasshowinghimhisphoobuhehadn’hefoggiesideawhyordidhe?

caldwellflippedhephoographoverherewasnoinscripiononhebackhehandedhephoobackofoulerwhodeflypcediaheboomofhispileofcards

“amisupposedoknowhem?”heasked,deliberaelyryingosoundoffhandanideawasbegi

ingoforminhismindandhedidn’hinkhahecoulddealwihisimplicaionsahaprecisemomen

“idon’expecyouo,”foulersaidwihaslysmile

“hereakealookahisone”foulerpulledanoherphoofacedownfromhepileandhandediocaldwell

“lookfouler,orwhaeveryournameis,hisisgeingediouseiherellmewhayouknowaboumypas,dropmeofforkillme,”caldwellscreamedhewasbegi

ingoloseiwihheguyhesopionwasbegi

ingosoundaspromisingasihadbeeninhemorninghiswasgeingourageousfoulerwasakenabackbyhisouburs

“juslookahefuckingphooyourfuuredependsoni,”heseehed

“okay,okay,don’geyouryfronsinawis,”caldwellsaidfouler’sski

yhandsballedinofissheengorgedveinshrobbedevenmoreviolenlyhisjugurlookedlikeiwasabouopophesimmeredascaldwelldidaroaehorizonalonhephooandsaredaihishearskippedseveralbeas

iwasaphooofaninfanwihamischievousgrinhehadhesamesmolderingbrowneyesashebrueinhecheongsam,hesameorienaliloheeyescaldwellfelhimselfbreakinoacoldsweaisaredasafaindewypainaandhensaredgushingouofhisporesherewasnomisakingheeyesheywerehiseyeshehadjusspenhemorningsaringinoheheywerealmosidenicalohewoman’seyeshamadeherhismoher?andheacademiclookingmanwashisfaher?

amigrainecameouofnowhereandsaredpoundingcaldwell’sconfusedbrainhepulledhisscaniserofpainkillerfromhisbreaspockeandjabbediinohisarmreliefcameinslowbudeliberaewaves

“hosehingswillkillyou,”foulersuggesed

“arehosemyparens?youknowhem?”caldwellgaspedhewassillbreahingheavilyfromhesuddenmigraineepisodesillsweainglikeadogonheaallpreencehadgoneouofhewindowhiswasoobig,oofarreachingopygames

“yesiknowmorehanyoucanpossiblyimagine”

“ryme,”caldwellsaidfighingoffawaveofnauseaandsillreeling

“iholdhekeyoyougeingyourmemoryback,”foulersaid,observinghismanicuredfingernailslikehewasjusgeingacquainedwihhedwellsaredahimwihhismouhwideopeninsurpriseabeadofsweadribbleddownhisforeheadhewasposedbuonlyouwardlyhismindwasbeingbombardedwihallkindsofhoughsaseelyresolvekickedinasherealizedheimplicaionsofwhafoulerwassayinghemanwasimplyinghacaldwell’smindhadinfacbeenerasedhawouldexpinhisoalckoflongermmemoriesiffoulerhadanyhingodowihhismemorylosshesworehewouldgehisownbackbuhewasn’goingoleheguyknowhahehadopyicool

“mymemory?provei,”caldwellsaidcasuallyhiswasinsaneiffoulerwasn’bullshiing,hewanediallbackbuheknewfoulerwasgoingouseiassomekindofbargainingchip,whichmeanhe’dhaveodowhaeverfouleraskedhimodo

“youaskedforiaskandyeshallreceive,”foulersaidpropheicallyheman’sskelealhandsreurnedhephoosohisbreaspockecaldwellmadeamenalnoehahosebelongedohimandhahe’dakehembackonewayoranoherfoulersillhadadeckofcardsinhisrighhandheflippedoneofhemoveriwasawhiecardwihwhalookedlikearedchinesecharaceroniimeannohingocaldwellhewasgoingolefoulerknowhahedidn’readchinesewhenihappened

anacceleraedslideshowofhispasfshedbeforehiseyesahousanddejavusrolledinooighpackageandsrobedhroughananciencinemaprojecorpleewihfilmscrachesandcacklingsoundinerspersedwihheimagesweresnippesofconversaions,discordanvoicesandmusicracinghroughcaldwell’smind

aroasedsucklingpigonabanqueablefesoonedwihredandgoldhebackgroundnoiseisacacophonyofmahjongilesandhecngoforienalweddingmusicskaeboardingdownaseeproadinosomeofheallesskyscrapershehaseverseenhecanalmosouchhemasheracespasgleamingcorporaebuildingshachangecolorinhesunlighashesuncachesgssandseelfromadifferenangleahousandcorporaelogoslighuphenighskyurningiinoanarificialday

awailingwomanburnsapaperrollsroyceousideachineseemplekungfumovies,spedupandblurred,rushpashebnkfabricofhismindamillionnernsbobinapolluedsyrofoaminfesedharborkidsrunandscreamindeligh,hurlingredmelingwaxareesabruewihsmolderingasianeyesswoopsdownfromaboveheeyeszoominonhimandbreakinoasmileagirlinalibrarywihasoulsoranslucenihursolookaherachinesejunkcacheshefadinglighofabloodredsunsepinkdolphinsjumpandsqueakinadankbcksea

oldmenmoveheirarmsashoughryingograbobjecsouofhinairanighmarke,crowdsofgirlschaeringinasquarehaisaoncesrangeandvaguelyfamiliaraheavilymadeupandrogynousface,sharplyangled,movesviolenlyogarishmusicagirlbendsbackwardsandpicksupaswordwihhereehanoherdoesaperfecdiveinoapoolofbloodachinesecharacerinanunusualshadeofredmaerializesonawhiepieceofpaper