Richards & Klein by Guy Haley

Author:Guy Haley
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780857669308
Publisher: Watkins Media
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Respite

“Did you miss me?” said Richards, out over the Grid.

“Did I what?” said Otto. He was in the heavy lifter’s sickbay, wired up to banks of medical machines. They didn’t seem to be helping. He was as weak as a baby and his head ached worse than every Sunday morning hangover he’d ever had.

“Didn’t you hear? I got blown up big man, by an atomic bomb!”

“Yeah, well, I was nearly murdered by a robot pretending to be a VIPA agent. Our weeks have been equally lousy,” said Otto, and wished Richards would leave him be.

“But I nearly died,” protested Richards. “Properly. That’s traumatic, we’re not supposed to die.”

“Get used to the idea,” said Otto. “I’ve had to live with it since I was born.”

“I still reckon nuclear bomb trumps deadly robot in the peril stakes,” said Richards, somewhat sulkily.

“Perhaps,” conceded Otto. “But all forms of death are equally deadly.

“k52’s gone rogue,” said Richards. “He’s murdered a bunch of people, a few AIs. Qifang, Karlsson, Karlsson’s followers and their machines. Sneaky bastard used Qifang’s own plan against him, co-opting Karlsson’s tech to send out that heiress.”

“I never liked k52,” said Otto. He shut his eyes. “There’s something else. I think Kaplinski’s involved. Someone tried to kill me in Colorado. They used Ky-tech tactics.”

“Are you sure it was him?” said Richards, who knew all about Kaplinksi.

“Ja, genau,” said Otto, tiredly slipping into German. “I caught flicker of a connection with him.”

“This case gets better all the time,” said Richards.

They spoke of all that had transpired since they had parted. With no need to hide, they were connected to the Grid as normal. Otto still found the constant bombardment of information irritating, but these were modern times, and that was the way they were lived. After a while Valdaire joined them, and they ported over to Richards’ virtual office.

The office was as it always was, but outside the scene was empty, the rest of it lost to the bomb. Richards had amused himself by remodelling the undifferentiated whiteness into advertising hoardings, placing upon them an idealised picture of 1930s Chicago with ‘Coming Soon!’ inscribed below.

Otto enjoyed the illusion of being healthy. He settled into his chair as Richards introduced himself to Valdaire. She was fascinated by Richards’ avatar, while Richards took it upon himself to flirt with her.

“Chures tells me we’ll be at the Reality House in a few hours,” said Otto a little while later, savouring both the lack of pain and the whisky in his glass. Richards poured himself something violently purple. It smelled like root beer, Otto raised an eyebrow at that.

“What?” challenged Richards, wounded innocence sending his eyebrows up his face. “I like it. It’s just pop.”

“Chures has been spoken to,” said Otto. “The Uncle Sams have pointed out the validity of my AllPass. He has become almost friendly.”

“You did save his life,” said Veronique.

“I do not think he is the kind of man who cares much for debts of honour,” said Otto. “But he does follow orders, and he has been ordered to keep us informed.

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