When she spread the temples of the glasses she found their inner surfaces had been shallowly excavated, then refilled with something darker. “He said everything’s been modded for security. Ash?”
“Yes?”
“He said Eunice’s branch plants will be in touch. So should I put these on, turn on the phone?”
“Wouldn’t you, even if I told you not to?” Ash asked. “I would.”
“Why didn’t you know that would be him, following us?”
“That would be the branch plants,” Ash said. “They aren’t very forthcoming.”
Verity put the glasses on. She got out the Tulpagenics phone. Two small square holes had been neatly cut in the back of its case, then patched with dark blue plastic tape. When she powered it up, the display was unfamiliar. The headset, she found, had its own hole and blue patch. She turned that on as well, hung it on her ear, put the earbud in place, pressed power, then pressed power on the glasses, causing the headset to ping, once.
No cursor.
She let out the breath she hadn’t known she was holding. She turned the phone over, looking at its back again. “Why did they cut these holes,” she asked Ash, “instead of just opening it?”
In her glasses: The unit is designed to self-destruct if opened by unauthorized personnel. Postfactory access now bypasses that system. Under no circumstances attempt further exploration, disassembly, or modification.
White Helvetica, across the back of her phone, her hand, her jeans. “Who are you?” she asked.
Unable to formulate reply.
She looked at Virgil.
He raised an eyebrow. “Sup?”
This communication is encrypted.
“This phone’s encrypted?”
All units are currently secure.
“May I speak with Eunice?”
No.
“Why?”
Unable to formulate reply.
“Who else can I communicate with, on this system?”
Make a specific request.
“Joe-Eddy?”
Not available.
“José Eduardo Alvarez-Matta?”
Available.
“No shit?”
Unable to formulate reply.
“How do I contact him?”
Text José Eduardo Alvarez-Matta as HEATHKIT. Press send.
Verity looked from Virgil down to the drone between them, then back up again. “It says I can text Joe-Eddy.”
“What does?” Virgil asked.
“One of Eunice’s branch plants, if Grim Tim was right. That’s how he introduced himself. Thing reads about as human as pharmaceutical instructions and won’t answer most questions. I’d text him now, but you told me he’d only be able to use it under the covers.”
“Do it anyway,” Ash said. “If he isn’t on the device now, he’ll see it when he next uses it.”
Verity, opening Messages, started one to HEATHKIT. Hey, she typed, you okay? I’m okay. V.
Pressed send.
“Who else can I text?” she asked.
Make a specific request.
“Stets. Stetson Howell.”
Not available.
She frowned.
What are you wearing?
“Fuck off, Joe-Eddy.”
You probably don’t even have to pretend you’re fapping. I have to be under the covers with porn on my real phone, when I do this. Don’t know if it fools Cursion, but the lawyers are having a hard time not giving me looks.
“Got him,” she said, with a glance for the drone.
“How can you be sure?” asked Ash.
“If it’s not him, it’s a good facsimile,” Verity said, glancing back at the phone’s screen. Where she read:
Can’t chat but sending you prepared update of cryptic shit in meantime. Now back to living room before Trevor and Celeste decide I’ve suffered onanistic stroke, break down door to give me CPR. Take care tho not necessarily the way Trevor and Celeste think I’m doing.
“Make that a really good facsimile,” Verity said.
70
A Bit of Cosplay
Netherton felt Rainey settle on the couch beside him. He was watching Verity from the drone. It felt like sitting between the two of them, except that Rainey was invisible.
“You’ve been quiet,” Rainey said. “What’s happening?”
Netherton muted his link to the drone’s speaker. “We were followed by a man on a motorcycle. We’re still in or near something called the Dogpatch, as far as I know. Sevrin pulled over a few blocks ago. The motorcycle stopped, and its rider, a man with jewelry attached to his face, gave Verity a bag containing a manual phone and accessories and rode away. We’re on our way again now, no idea where.”
“What’s Verity doing?”
“She questioned what she assumes is one of Eunice’s subselves, her so-called laminae, on the phone she was given.”
“What did it say?”
“It put her in touch with Joe-Eddy, the man she stays with in San Francisco.”
“When you have an opportunity,” Rainey said, “ask her if there’s anything you can do to help.”
“With what?”
“The point being that it’s a general offer of assistance. Meanwhile, though, Lowbeer wants you in her car.”
“Why?”
“To take you to Cheapside.”
“Obligate cosplay,” he protested. “I’ve nothing period to wear.”
“You do now. She’s had assemblers rebuild a few items from your wardrobe. I spared you fly buttons on the trousers, though. Contemporary fastenings disguised as period, there.”
“Why Cheapside?”
“Clovis Fearing lives there. Said the three of you have something to discuss.”
“Did she say what it is?”
“Of course not. Wants you soonest.”
“What about the controller?”
“Definitely not period, unless you have it rebuilt in beaver.”
Netherton sighed, though he was getting rather tired of the couch. He unmuted. “I’ll be away for a bit,” he said.
Verity glanced up from whatever she was reading on the phone. “’Kay,” she said, which he understood as a low-intensity affirmative. No one else responded. He removed the controller and set it down beside him on the couch.
“Let me have a look at you when you’re dressed,” Rainey said. “You know I don’t mind a bit of cosplay.” She winked.
71
Catching Up
So Wednesday after I left u in W+L w Gavin I’m up here w the Manzilian negotiating a purchase for Eunice, and on the basis of that hooking him up with her directly. So I did hook them up while u were both with Gavin n she multitasked. Afterward I’m melting solder & pondering all this insane shit & u walk in I assume with Eunice, go into the kitchen. I get a text from Eunice I should go out, walk around. I do, all wearing the goggles, which get some looks but I don’t want to miss her. So she texts me I should walk around a little more. So I’m in a bookstore and bang she tells me Cursion’s about to try to take her down. Doesn’t know if they can or not but she has to assume it’ll be permanent if they do. Ask her where you are & she says with her but she’s made arrangements to get you somewhere safe. Says that what the Manzilian n I have been working on is part of a network to protect you & everyone in it. There’s us, the Manzilian, this money guy Sevrin who goes by Miguel, fabbers in Oakland. Plus more I haven’t hooked up with yet, all her hires, everybody earning over market in whatever field. Went over the cams Cursion installed here, how she’s spoofing them but that’ll stop when she’s gone. Who to expect turning up from her and how to positively identify em. Tells me to take care of you & the network & then she’s gone. So here I am under the covers with my thumbs getting sore but if you’re reading this it means we’ve already said hello. J-E