“Have you got something else fixed for the holiday weekend?”
“Oh, I like the idea. But there’s a lot going on right now that I can’t really go into. I don’t know if it’s going to be possible to get away.”
“You will let us know, though? You’ve got the number, right?”
“You bet. . . . And thanks.”
“Great. Well, I seem to be hogging the phone here. I’m going to sign off and let Janna say a few more words. You take care. So we’ll hear from you soon, Kev?”
“Right. Bye for now.”
“See you, Taki. . . .”
Then Janna was back. “Hello, is this still Kevin?”
“Wait a second. I’ll kick him. . . . Taki. . . . Taki, your girlfriend is back. Aren’t you gonna talk to her?”
“What? . . . Oh, hi again, Janna. This is Taki. Sorry, I got a bit carried away by something.”
“Do you think you might be able to make it Saturday?”
“Saturday?”
“The hike.”
“What hike?”
“The hike that Avril just—”
Kevin interrupted. “It’s okay, I’ll tell him about it. Don’t worry. He’s having one of his withdrawals. You know, Orientals—retreating into the inner world. Meditation, contemplation, all that stuff.”
“Are you serious?”
“No.”
“Gee, then maybe it’s not a good time. You sound like you could be pretty busy.”
“Well, now you come to mention it, actually there is that, you could say so, yes. . . .”
“Okay, we’ll leave you to it. But you will let us know before the weekend, yes?”
“You’ve got it.”
“So long then, Kev. We’ll see you around, anyhow. And goodbye, Taki.”
“See you, Janna,” Taki managed from the background. The voice gave way to a steady, echoing tone, which ceased as Kevin reset the phone.
“Is it hot or cold there?” Kevin asked, turning back. “What color is the sky? Which planet are you on, Taki?”
Taki stared back at him for several seconds, his mouth making silent chewing motions. Then he said, “So, this guy Garsten hasn’t been very helpful and left documents lying around for anyone to use as evidence. I think that’s really inconsiderate of him. But you know, Kev, I bet there is one place they’ll be—if they exist. And it wouldn’t mean having to sit around waiting for someone else to give you what you want. You go there yourself and get it.”
“Where’s that?”
“Inside the computer in his office. He’s bound to have one.”
For a moment, Kevin started to sit up and look interested. Then he slumped down again, as if having expected better. “Oh, great. So what do we do, dress up as meter readers so we can sneak a look, like in some stupid movie? . . . And I’m sure he leaves it on a dial-in line overnight, with the files organized to be accessible just so as people like us can hack into it. Come on, Taki, get real. Even if you’re right, what good does it do us?”
Taki got up from the barber’s chair and walked over to lift one of the mecs down from the shelf above the bench. It was one of the older “telebot” designs, like Ironside—heavy-powered, sturdy, about the size of a quart can. Its name was Sir Real. Taki set it down on the console, facing the screen and keyboard like an organist confronting the controls of a gigantic Wurlitzer.
“What are you doing?” Kevin asked, straightening up again on the stool and looking baffled.
Taki moved the mec closer to the keys, estimating the range of its arm with his eye. “Can you move into the coupler and tune in?” he said to Kevin, still distantly. “I want to try something. I’ve just thought of another way of getting at what’s inside somebody’s computer.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Eric exited from on-line and stared at the desk-side screen in his office, now showing the general options menu. Another four points down. So the rumor about Geddes & West had been right on the mark. If this started a general run, it could get serious. No, it was a bit late to be thinking things like that—this was already serious.