"If I have any guilt in the world," Justin said soberly, "it"s on your account. All the things you could do, and you spend far too much time worrying about my family, my future, my problems."

Grants brow, generally azi-like, innocent of frowns, acquired one. "If I were burdened with choices, I"d still choose to be where I am. I"m relatively sure of it, given the requisite information."

"What? If someone told you you"d be linked up with the clone of an egotistical problem case in a lifelong feud with a dead woman, you"d jump at the chance?"

"I"d at least find it an interesting proposal," Grant said. "A source of unique experiences."

"G.o.d."

"Not all pleasant experiences, true, but I"ve found no need to run tape at all, not in this whole year. Which indicates I"m perfectly adjusted." Grant gave a violent twitch of his shoulder. "Mostly."

He had to laugh, in spite of it all. "I wish there were tape that could cure me of worrying about the d.a.m.ned son of a b.i.t.c.h."

"Oh, I know there is for me, but there you are, the disadvantages of being a born-man. Just shut down, go peacefully null"

"You can"t do it so well yourself nowadays, you know."

"Curiosity is a plague. Contagious. I can"t help it. I want to know."

"You"re right it"s contagious. Jordan"s a carrier. G.o.d, I wish he"d use good sense. Justcalm down and let it all flow past him. But no. He"s got to be in the dead center of the flow, going upstream while he"s at it. In some ways I can admire him" Momentarily he"d all but forgotten about the bugs, twice in five minutes, and consciously, wearily amended it: "and in others I know he"s a lunatic."

"There"s nothing wrong with his sanity," Grant said.

"No. There isn"t. Everything"s perfectly reasonable if you realize he wants to manage Reseune and he thinks second prize doesn"t matter. Why he wants to" He tried to make it make sense and simply shrugged. "He doesn"t like to be inconvenienced. And anybody else"s orders are an inconvenience."

Grant laughed softly. "That"s one way to look at it."

"G.o.d, I want to love him. But he doesn"t give a d.a.m.n. That"s the bottom line. I stopped being his project, and he washed his hands of me. Second prize againisn"t good enough for him. Things are perfect or they"re garbage. Thank G.o.d for you, Grant, or I"d beG.o.d knows what I"d be. Not as good as I am, for d.a.m.n certain."

"Nor would I," Grant said with a nod of his head, "be anything worthwhile, in that household. I escaped, along with you, and I have just enough born-man ego to be glad of that fact."

"Nothing wrong with your ego," Justin shot back. "Perfectly well-exercised."

"Oh, now"

A knock at the doorwhich opened. Florian.

Face of an angel and inevitably the bearer of bad news. Grant sat still. Justin nodded a welcome.

"I don"t suppose you dropped by for coffee."

"No, ser, thank you," Florian said. "I came to ask your help."

"My help."

Florian let the door shut, reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a small card, and handed it to him. It had a number hand-written. "This is Dr. Patil"s number."

"I gave it to you. I don"t want it back."

"We understand that. But, purely in an investigative way, we"d like you to call it and simply find out what the reaction is. Are you willing to do that?"

His heart began a thoroughly familiar acceleration of beats. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, Grant set his cup down, as if he was considering entering into the conversation.

"And say what?" he asked, forestalling that, and straightway protested, though he marginally thought he was believed on this point: "I"ve told you I don"t know this woman."

Florian reached in his pocket, drew out a folded piece of paper, and gave it to him.

The printout said: Your father gave you the number, and you a.s.sumed he wanted you to convey his good wishes and Dr. Thieu"s. Possibly you became curious.

You wish to warn Dr. Patil that there is some concern here because of her relationship with your father. You feel that you can be of use in that matter because of your connections with me.

"This comes from Ari," Justin surmised. "Me means Ari."

"You understand that this entire thread of conversation is cla.s.sified." Florian said. "Sera suggests this line of conversation as an a.s.sistance."

"Florian, I can"t lie. I"m terrible at lying." Begging off, abjectly, and in front of Grantwas undignified. Embarra.s.sing. But survival, Grant"s safety, everything was suddenly at issue. "I can"t do this."

"You"re a certified Supervisor, ser," Florian said smoothly. "You"re not lying if you make these representations to this woman. You"re temporarily adjusting her reality, just as you might maneuver one of us for good reasons, to reach a point. II, out of her own reality, she chooses to believe certain things about your motives, that"s hardly your fault."

"G.o.d, Florian, it"s not the same situation. You know it"s not."

"I"m sure sera will understand if you refuse. But she urges me to say you could do a great deal for Dr. Patil, should she be innocent of any suspicious actionand for Reseune, since Dr. Patil is scheduled for a very sensitive appointment. On my own judgement, let me inform you of one other matter: Yanni Schwartz, on his return from Novgorod, discussed the resurrrection of the Eversnow project with sera; within the same hour, Jordan left his apartment on his way to dinner at Jamaica, carrying in his pocket the business card of the woman meant to be in charge of the Eversnow project. Jordan gave you that card in full view of surveillance. Does that make sense to you?"

His heart reached max. He looked at Florian and froze inside.

But he had to ask it. Cold and clear. "What"s my father up to? Do you know?"

"We don"t. We do want to know why that peculiar juxtaposition of events."

Florian was leveling with him: Justin had that sense. That was a situation both rea.s.suring for his own future and as precarious for Jordan"s as he could conceive. He didn"t know what he"d been dragged into.

"I"m sure you want to know," he said to Florian, and picked up his coffee and had a sip to steady his nerves, looking, meanwhile, at Ari"s script for a phone call to a woman who might either be, like him, a target, or someone he wished his father had never heard of.

Nanistics, for G.o.d"s sake. Jordan had nothing to do with nanistics. Jordan had had nothing to do with Abolitionists, either, but had once had phone numbers of people who themselves had ties in such dark places, twenty years ago. Jordan"s political contacts had nearly cost him Grant that night. And since that time he had taken nothing at face value, where it regarded Jordan"s correspondents.

Grant sat over at his desk, silent, impa.s.sivehe glanced in Grant"s direction and met Grant"s eyes. Expression touched Grant"s face, a nod, support for whatever he opted to do . . . when Grant would a.s.suredly suffer right along with him if he made the wrong choice or the wrong move.

Grant was an alpha, and there was a limit to how much information anybody could make him unlearn ... if anything untoward should happen to his CIT Supervisor. He couldn"t forget that.

"Maybe you should take a break," he said to Grant.

Grant shook his head slightly. "I don"t think so. You"re going to do it, are you?"

"I don"t want trouble," he said, "but I don"t want trouble from my father, either. d.a.m.n him, Grant. d.a.m.n him." He had another sip of coffee, a larger one. "Florian, I"ll try it. Let me wrap my mind around this note of Ari"s."

"Sera trusts you more than any other CIT in Reseune," Florian said quietly. "Her staff will protect you, ser. Those are our orders. That"s why, of all CITs outside ReseuneSec, you are the only individual we have informed of the connection Director Schwartz has with this set of circ.u.mstances; and you"re the only person we"ve told what connection the Eversnow project has with this woman in Novgorod. We trust you understand how important it is that this goes no further and how closely we are tracking vectors of information. Sera hopes Yanni is conducting his own investigation, that it might involve Jordan, and that this could explain the coincidence of your father"s possession of this card. Her security a.s.sumes no such thing. Be very clear that you hold highly restricted information on several matters. You should deal with it very carefully."

"No question," Justin said. He had compartments in his head, for things that couldn"t get out, mustn"t get out. He"d developed those containments, oh, years ago. Grant had the same ability. He"d meet Yanni; he"d not let on. He didn"t remotely believe ill of Yannibut he wouldn"t let on.

He read and reread the script, fixing the sequence in his headtrying to concentrate past a rising sense of panic. No side thoughts. Deep-think. Internalize the message.

He glanced at Florian, then picked up the phone and input the number, with the script laid out in front of him.

G.o.d, he hoped the woman wasn"t in at the moment. He"d just leave a message. He"d saycoherently A recording answered. "This is Dr. Sandi Patil"s residence. Input your code." "This is Dr. Sandi Patil"s residence. Input your code." He cast a troubled glance at Florian, but then the message continued. He cast a troubled glance at Florian, but then the message continued. "Or record your message and state your business." "Or record your message and state your business."

It beeped. He was in the clear. She wasn"t in. Thank G.o.d. He could get her to call him back, and ask what he wanted, which created a far easier information flow. He could envision that. He knew how he"d handle it.

"This is Justin Warrick, Jordan Warrick"s son. I" Someone picked up mid-word. "Patil here." "Patil here."

It disconcerted him. He scrambled for a recovery. "Justin Warrick, Dr. Patil. My father is Jordan Warrick, in Reseune. He gave me your number, suggested I call youhe"s busy going through the lab certifications right now" Lie. Complete lie. "But he gave me your business card, and I a.s.sume he wanted me to call you and pay my respects." He saw Florian nod approval of the tack he was taking. "I"m sure he"d want to convey his own."

"I"d heard Jordan Warrick was back." Dead silence then. He was supposed to say something inventive. Fast. Dead silence then. He was supposed to say something inventive. Fast. Possibly you became curious, Possibly you became curious, the script said. the script said.

"I"m sure he"d want to express the same from Dr. Thieu, out at Planys," he said; and decided against the curiosity gambit. "I understand you"re a friend of his."

"Former student. Colleague."

"So I understand." The script said: You wish to warn Dr. Patil that there is some concern here because of her relationship with your father. You wish to warn Dr. Patil that there is some concern here because of her relationship with your father. And his effort wasn"t going well. There was chill, clipped response from Patilinterspersed with equally chill silence. "Look. Let me level with you. My father"s a bit of a hothead. I"m sure you know that. He"s picked a fight with Reseune Admin. Admin"s cut off his contacts for the next couple of weeks. You understand? I had this number, last thing he gave me before he picked a fight that"s got me worried. I don"t know what your relationship was with him, or is, but I know your reputation is impeccable, and I know he"s p.r.o.ne to pick fights that sometimes have fallout." And his effort wasn"t going well. There was chill, clipped response from Patilinterspersed with equally chill silence. "Look. Let me level with you. My father"s a bit of a hothead. I"m sure you know that. He"s picked a fight with Reseune Admin. Admin"s cut off his contacts for the next couple of weeks. You understand? I had this number, last thing he gave me before he picked a fight that"s got me worried. I don"t know what your relationship was with him, or is, but I know your reputation is impeccable, and I know he"s p.r.o.ne to pick fights that sometimes have fallout."

"If you"d come to the point, ser."

"I thought I should call, and apologize if my father"s caused you any inconvenience. I hope he hasn"t."

"I don"t know your father. I know of him, in common with most people who remember the last administration. I"m aware he was at Planys. Dr. Thieu mentioned him as an acquaintance, that"s all. Thank you for your concern, but it"s misplaced."

"I"m afraid you don"t understand."

"I understand that I"m a very busy woman with no possible connection to your father"s problems. I don"t know how he came by my card or why he gave it to you, but"

She was going to hang up. He grabbed for the strongest word he could think of. "Murder, sera. Murder of Ariane Emory." And improvised. "He didn"t do it. they sent him to Planys for something he didn"t do. I know that for a fact. He wants the matter reopened, which isn"tisn"t exactly what Reseune would like to see, for various reasons. So I"m pretty sure they"ll be asking Dr. Thieu, probably you"

"Look. I have absolutely no knowledge of your father or his case."

"I"m sure Dr. Thieu has put you current with it, at least."

"Not a thing."

"Dr. Patil," You feel that you can be of use in that matter because of your connections with me. You feel that you can be of use in that matter because of your connections with me. "Forgive me, but he gave me this card with your number right before he put himself at odds with Admin, and I"m sorry if I"ve been forward in calling you, but I felt I owed you a warning." "Forgive me, but he gave me this card with your number right before he put himself at odds with Admin, and I"m sorry if I"ve been forward in calling you, but I felt I owed you a warning."

"And I tell you I don"t know him."

Time to back off. "I understand." As if, finally, he could take a hint. "I apologize for the inconvenience. I feel I need to bring this matter up with Admin, to be on the level with themI know young Emory. I know her quite well. Her influence isn"t to discountshould you find yourself crosswise of any investigation. She"s mentioned your name. She doesn"t want you inconvenienced."

"Where are you calling from?" Sharp tone. Very sharp tone. Sharp tone. Very sharp tone.

"From Reseune. From my office. Which is also my personal number."

A small silence. Then, more quietly: "I appreciate the advis.e.m.e.nt. My respects to your connections. Good day, ser." "I appreciate the advis.e.m.e.nt. My respects to your connections. Good day, ser."

Contact abruptly broken. He drew a long, shaky breath, and looked at Grant, and looked at Florian.

"Well-handled, ser," Florian said. "Very well handled."

"I don"t know. Maybe I shouldn"t have mentioned Ari"s name."

"Sera authorized it in her note," Florian said. "The call is recorded, as I"m sure you know. It will go no further than sera"s security."

"I appreciate that," he said, feeling his stomach upset. He didn"t know who he"d just betrayed. He was sure, at least, it wasn"t Ari. That part made himand Grantpersonally safe, as long as he was in Ari"s wing. Outside was another matter.

"Sera"s thanks," Florian said, and held out his hand. For a moment Justin had no notion what he wanted. Then he realized the paper with Ari"s instructions was on the desk, and he gave it back. Florian folded it and tucked it away.

"The card, ser."

He"d forgotten that. He handed that over, glad not to have it in his possession. Florian pocketed that, too, bowed, with a "Good day, ser, Grant."

And left.

d.a.m.n, Justin thought as the door shut. And said it. "d.a.m.n, Grant. What did I just do?"

"a.s.suredly what pleases Ari," Grant said softly. "Which is probably a good idea."

"I"m sure it is," he said, which was a lie: he wasn"t sure of anything in the universe at the moment. "I think I just upset Dr. Patil."

"I don"t think we"re responsible for Dr. Patil," Grant said. "We don"t know who she is. or what your father wanted."

"Or what Yanni wants," he said. "d.a.m.n it, Grant, Yanni, of all people. He can"t be moving on his own. I can"t imagine him doing that."

"In a wide universe," Grant said, "it"s extraordinary that this woman"s card arrived on that very evening."

"It"s extraordinary," he agreed, staring off into memory, that evening, the foyer at Jamaica, that card going into his pocket. Florian, in the dark, by the pond. Grant walking back to hand it over, because he"d known then that his father had handed him trouble, and challenged him to do something besides coexist with Admin.

Now he"d done something, and not on Jordan"s side. Not against him, necessarily, but not on Jordan"s side. His father had challenged him. And he"d picked a side. Committed himself, with a phone call.

Committed himself, when he"d given Grant that card to turn over to Florian that night. He was sure of that. He was one step further into the quagmire, and now a second one.

And Florian emphasizedsera"s security, not ReseuneSec. Why that distinction, he wondered? Was there actually a distinction? Or was there about to be? A schism, in the relations between Ari and the current directorship of Reseune?

"We"re Ari"s," he said to Grant, still staring into memory, that night, the cold wind. Bright light, and Ari, perched in that chair in his office. And he had to consider where that office was. In it, neck deep, they were living, now working, in her wing, doing work on, and for, her security. "I suppose we"re Ari"s. If there was ever any doubt of it in my father"s mind, he"s forced meand we are."

Chapter vi.

May 3, 2424 1121 H.