The Hundredfold Problem by John Grant

Author:John Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd

MCTAVISH LOOKED HEIDEGGER OVER. Paler than ever, but he looked as if he'd be OK. Everybody looked dire in this badly lit cellar. She put her hands on his shoulders and drew him to her, hugging him tightly like a mother with a lost and rediscovered child. Which, she reflected wryly, was more or less exactly the situation.

We need to spend more time working with our young friend, said Sackville coolly. Someone's been messing around inside his head, and they've left some kind of wetware systems virus in there. We don't know what it is, but we'll have to get it out.

'Is this true, Heidegger?' McTavish pushed him away from her slightly and looked him in the eyes. She saw his youthful doubt and confusion. 'It's true, lovey, isn't it?' He nodded.

'Hey, it's not your fault, you know! Could happen to any of us.' She chucked him under the chin, then, on impulse, leaned forward to plant a kiss on his forehead.

He flushed instantly. She pretended not to notice.

Adolescence was supposed to be even worse for boys. Embarrassed, she turned rapidly to Sackville and Harbinger, waiting politely on the far side of the room. Waiting for the Toadstones to get through with their emotional displays, she thought, then reprimanded herself for the sourness. The two Skysouls were checking through a coil of what looked like braided monofilamentary cord.

'How long will it take you to flush this . . . this thing out?' she asked, hearing her voice sounding harsh.

Who knows? said Harbinger. She produced one of those histrionic Skysoul shrugs. It could be over in minutes, it could take us days - until the two of us get stuck in and find out what kind of a virus is in there, we've got no way of telling.

'How long do you think before Fingers or Dennis gets a trace on us?'

No need to worry about Fingers - or Hamfist, for that matter - for a while, Harbinger reassured her. That stunt of Fingers's in the studio seems to have really set the two of them off. They're busy performing miracles at each other all over the Donut right now. Unless one or other gets himself killed, it could be weeks before either of them has the time to spare to think about you. Dennis is something else, though . . .

The thought trailed off. Another of those shrugs, this time from both Skysouls in unison, as if they'd been practising.

'Could be he's quite near, huh?' said McTavish gloomily.

Could be. But that's not to say he actually is. It might be that ...

'It's not a risk I'd be happy taking.' McTavish's voice was firm and conclusive. 'We're just going to have to hope that the thing inside Heidegger doesn't get triggered until we're well clear of the city.'

Moving with professional economy, she gathered up the Multigob and the pack of equipment the two Skysouls had brought along with Heidegger from the Belle et Bete. She swung the pack up onto her shoulders easily.

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