Dutton shook his head frantically. "I don't know—really, I don't—"
She stared into him for a few moments. Her hair was wet; it hadn't rained all day. "I don't—I don't know you…" she murmured, almost to herself. Slowly her fists unclenched. Dutton sagged back against the fence.
She stepped back, giving him room to move.
It was what he'd been waiting for. One hand swept briefly beneath his jacket.The taser jabbed her in the ribcage, just below a strange metallic disk sewn into her uniform. It should have dropped her in an instant.
Within that instant:
She blinked—
Her right knee came up, hard. Naturally he wore a cup. It hurt like hell anyway—
Her right hand slipped forward, against her upraised calf. Something sprang into it—
The crazy woman stepped back, arm extended. Two centimeters from his face, an ebony wand with a tiny spike at its tip stared at Dutton like a one-toothed mamba.
Over the pain in his crotch, sudden wet warmth.
She smiled a small, terrifying smile. "Use a microwave, little man?"
"Wh—what—?"
"Kitchen appliances? Sensorium? Keep your house warm in winter?"
He bobbed his head. "Yes. Yes, of course I—"
"Huh." The mamba wiggled over his left eye. "Then I was wrong. I know you after all."
"No," he stammered. "We've never—"
"I know you," she repeated. "And you owe me."
Her thumb moved against something on the wand's handgrip. Dutton heard a small click.
"Please…" he prayed.
And amazingly, something answered him.
Hongcouver was still a disaster zone, of course; the police had more pressing concerns than an unlikely apparition reported by some panicky dickwad. Still, the server took Dutton's report when he called it in. The server wasn't human, but it was smart enough to ask follow-up questions—like, had he noticed anything, anything at all, that might have caused his assailant to suddenly break off the assault?
No.
Could he think of any reason why she would be suddenly start babbling about dad like that? Did the reference to monsters make any sense, in context?
Maybe she was just crazy, Dutton replied, although as the server noted he was not qualified to make medical diagnoses.
Had he seen where she had gone, exactly?
Just downhill. Into the wreckage, toward the water.
And he sure as shit hadn't been going to follow her down there.
Stockpile
Vancity CU/N'AmPac Transaction Server
Personal Accounts, Broadway ATM-45, 50/10/05/0551
Transaction Begins:
Welcome to VanCity. Are you a member?
"I couldn't link, before. Using my watch."
Remote access curfew is in effect until 10:00am. At present this terminal can only process on-site transactions. We apologise for any inconvenience. Are you a member?
"Lenie Clarke."
Welcome, Ms. Clarke. Please remove your corneal overlays.
"What?"
We cannot open your account without eyeprint confirmation. Please remove your corneal overlays.
Thank you. Scanning.
Complete. Thank you, Ms. Clarke. You may proceed.
"What's my total balance?"
$Q42,329.15
"I want to download it all."
Has Vancity's service been satisfactory?
"It's been fine."
We can see your wristwatch, and a subcutaneous money-chip in your left thigh. How would you like the funds distributed?
"Forty thousand sub-q, the rest to the watch. Automatic transfer of all funds sub-q if I'm attacked."
That condition can't be evaluated. Your watch is not equipped with a biotelemetry plug-in.
"Automatic transfer on voice-linked password, then."
What password?
"Sh—shadow…"
Please repeat the password.
Please repeat the password.
Please—
"I said, shadow."
Done. Would you like another transaction?
(inaudible)
Vancity thanks you for your business.
Transaction ends
Sears Medbooth 199/Granville Island/Hongcouver
Transaction record, vocal, 50/10/05/0923
(Test results filed separately.)
Session begins:
Welcome to Sears Medical Services. Please open your account.
Thank you. Do you wish to limit your charges?
"No."
What can we do for you today?
"My right shoulder. Sprained or broken or something. And a blood scan. Paths especially."
Please provide blood sample.
Thank you. Please provide your medical history or your WestHem ID#.
"Forget it."
Access to your medical records will help us provide better service. All information will be kept strictly confidential except in the event of a public health or marketing priority, and in such cases we may be legally required to sequence-ID your sample anyway.
"I'll take my chances. No thanks."
Your shoulder has been recently dislocated, but is presently reseated. You will continue to experience pain and stiffness for approximately two months without treatment. You will experience reduced mobility for at least a year without treatment. Would you like treatment for the pain?
"Yeah."
We're sorry, but recent heavy user demand has depleted our stock of painkillers. Anabolic accelerants can reduce the healing period to three to five days. Shall I administer anabolic accelerants?
"Sure."
We're sorry, but recent heavy user demand has depleted our stock of accelerants. Your blood shows minor deficiencies in calcium and trace-sulfur. You have elevated levels of the hormones serotonin, oxytocin, and cortisol; elevated platelet and antibody counts consistent with moderate physical injury within the past three weeks. None of these findings should cause you serious concern, although the mineral deficiencies may reflect poor dietary habits. Would you like dietary mineral supplements?
"You actually have any?"
Sears medbooths are regularly maintained and resupplied to ensure that you have reliable access to the best in quality medical care. Would you like dietary supplements?
"No."
Cellular metabolites are high. Your blood lactate is low. Blood gases and amine count—
"What about diseases?"
All pathogen counts are within documented safe ranges.
"You sure?"
The standard blood panel tests for over eight hundred known pathogens and parasites. More extensive analysis is available for a small additional charge, but the analysis would take up to six hours. Would you like—
"No, I—but that can't be it, I mean—is that it?"
Is there some specific symptom that concerns you?
"Aren't there some kinds of infections that cause hallucinations?"
Can you describe these hallucinations?
"Visions only. No sound or smell or anything. I've been having them for a few weeks now, on and off. Once every few days, maybe. They go away by themselves, after a minute or two."
And can you describe what you see in these visions?
"Who cares? It's just bad biochemistry, right? Can't you do a brain scan or something?"
The NMR helmet in this booth is presently out of service, and there are no detectable psychoactives in your blood. However, different conditions can give rise to different types of hallucinations, so I may still be able to offer a diagnosis. Can you describe what you see in your visions?