"Does the application hurt? It does not. With technology so advanced and local anesthesia so effective, you will 'feel only the pressure of the biochip inserter. By the time any discomfort would have passed, the anesthetic will still be working.
"Bless you, my friends, in the name of our risen lord and master, His Excellency the Potentate, Nicolae Carpathia."
Rayford returned to his bed drowsier but still unable to sleep. He spent an hour noodling assignments for the Force and finally concluded that Albie and Buck ought to go to Greece. He needed to stay for the sake of morale, and Buck needed to be able to expose the close-mindedness of the Carpathia regime.
With that settled, Rayford drifted off, planning to get Buck yet another new ID from Zeke in the morning and assign David a little more way-paving from his perch in New Babylon.
David informed the head of Food Services that Supreme Commander Hickman had need of the largest live pig available for Carpathia's Israel visit. Then he stopped in his office to check his computer before his appointment with Hannah. He found an urgent E-mail from Ming Toy.
"I did not know whom else to write to," she said. "I was distraught to hear of your loss and can only pray God's strength for you. I cannot imagine your pain.
"Mr. Hassid, have you seen my family since I left there? Last I heard, they had not seen you. I am most troubled. They have been awarded free accommodations until Chang has been processed for employment, and my father is thrilled beyond words. Mother is silent as usual, but I have heard directly from Chang, and he is desperate. He says the last thing he wants is to work for the GC, yet my father insists. Having his son serve Carpathia is the highest honor he can imagine.
"Chang has heard that all employees will receive the mark within a few weeks, but there is a rumor that new employees hired during this time may be the first to have it applied. Have you heard that? Could it be true? It makes sense in its own way. Why hire someone without knowing up front that they are loyal? And it saves their losing work time later just to stand in line for their marks.
"Father is insistent that Chang initiate his paperwork through Personnel immediately and is eager to see him among the very first to take the mark, especially if Father can witness this himself. Chang is ready to admit to my father that he is a believer in Jesus and, yes, could accurately be called a Judah-ite, but he is afraid of two things. One, that Father would report him, and two, that he would demand to know the truth about me. Trust me, Mr. Hassid; I know my father. He would sell us both out to prove his loyalty to Carpathia and the GC.
"I am urging my brother not to admit anything to Father, and yet I do not know how long he can avoid being tested to the ultimate. The only way to keep from officially applying for work there is to run away or tell my father the truth. Can you help in any way? I am sorry to trouble you with this during such a terrible time for you.
"Rest assured that I am praying for you. And while I assume you know this, Leah reports that your compatriots in the safe house are also upholding you daily.
"With utmost respect and honor, your sister in Christ, Ming Toy."
David called Personnel. "Can you give me the status on a Chang Wong?"
"Yes, sir. Impressive resume. Mentioned publicly, at least among the brass, by Carpathia. A no-brainer. He's going to work here as soon as we can get him processed. Only question is where. I suppose you want him; everybody else does."
"Can't say for sure. Just wondering."
"Your area makes the most sense. You wouldn't turn him down, would you?"
"Too early to tell, but I'm not a follower. Just because everybody wants him doesn't mean I should be desperate to snag him."
"True enough. But he'd be an asset."
"What's next?"
"Don't know. We expected him yesterday. It's in his court. He completes the paperwork, makes his app official, and we make an offer."
"And if he accepts?"
"He's in."
"He's not graduated high school."
"We have tutors. He could teach high school."
"When would he start?"
"A few days. Delay would be because of the new freeze. You saw that, right?"
"No."
"Should have it in your E-mail."
David didn't want to appear too eager. "I'll find it. Thanks."
"You want this kid if we can get him?"
David had to think fast. If he got him and then David and the others disappeared, the kid could be found out as an enemy of the state. But if their disappearance looked like an accident, there would be no suspicion of them or anyone they associated with. On the other hand, if taking the mark was prerequisite to hiring, the issue was moot. The kid would refuse, the father would turn him in, end of story. David would not be under suspicion for wanting him or spending time with him.
"Would I be able to do a preliminary with him?"
"Interview? Hmm. Not protocol, but I don't see the harm."
"Where's he staying?"
"Four-oh-five-four."
That close to Hannah. Wonder if she knows? "Thanks."
David hurried to the hospital. Hannah greeted him professionally and asked the typical questions about bleeding, discomfort, and pain. Then she asked him to follow her to a private room for removal of the stitches.
"You look OK but distracted," she said, dousing his head with disinfectant and soaking the bandage.
"Can't imagine why," he groused.
"Sarcasm? Remember, I'm on your side."
"Did you know the Wongs are staying on your floor?"
"Who are the Wongs?"
David smacked himself in the forehead.
"Terrific," she said. "So much for sterility. Close your eyes." He obeyed and she doused him again. "So, who are the Wongs?"
He told her the story.
"What're you going to do?" she said.
"Bug their room."
"You can do that?"
"I can do anything."
"I'm gathering that. But how?"
"I'd tell you, but then-"
"Yeah, I know, you'd have to kill me." She looked embarrassed to have said that with his having just lost his fiancee. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"My fault," he said. "I started it."
She lightly tugged at the bandage, making his eyes water. "Bear with me," she said, squirting more liquid.
"That stuff supposed to make it easier?"
"We tell ourselves that," she said. "Fortunately, you had a good surgeon. Oh, yeah, it was me. I cut enough hair that all we're dealing with is scalp and wound and stitches. Imagine if there was hair too."
"I don't want to think about it."
"Think about something else and I'll hurry."
"You can't just yank it?"
"Not with stitches. Those have to come out the right way. If I pull one out with the bandage, you're on the ceiling. Now try to get your mind on something else."
"Like what?"
She stopped and put her wrists on her hips, careful to keep her gloved hands from touching anything. "David, I hardly know you. How would I know what you have to think about?"
He shrugged.
"Think about freedom," she said. "About being away from here forever."
"You call that freedom? It's just another form of prison."
"I've been wondering about that," she said. "It has to be less tension, don't you think?"
"Different kind, I guess. Ow!"
"Sorry. Be brave. Tell me more."
"Well, we won't have to worry about who's watching and listening and whether my secure E-mail and phone connections have been compromised. We won't have to worry that we've already been found out and they're just letting us hang ourselves and expose others before they arrest us."
"That's what I was thinking," she said.
"But we'll never be free again. We'll be fugitives."
"So you've already ash-canned my idea."
"No, why? I assigned it to Mac and Abdullah."
"Because if it works, no one's even looking for us. We get new IDs, change our looks, and start over."