***That’s what Config Zero detects…fragments. It’s pulling together fragments and trying to build some kind of narrative. Johnny, don’t forget the capsule***
The containment capsule maintained the INDRA virus. Winger figured the Shadow Man was actually Config Zero. Then, there came a clear opening.
The card players broke for a few minutes. Jamison Winger headed for the bathroom. Roy and Hugh puffed on cigars. Todd grabbed something to drink from the fridge. The Shadow Man remained seated. When the others returned, Jamison Winger wasn’t among them. Johnny had seen to that, following him into the bathroom, pinching off a small subset of his own swarm to keep him there. The remainder of the Johnny Winger swarm returned to the table, taking Jamison Winger’s place. Nobody seemed to notice anything different. And in that interval, while he was away from the table, Johnny Winger had grabbed enough atoms to fashion a new playing card, one with the INDRA capsule embedded in it. That was Doc’s suggestion.
“Deal,” said Roy.
The Shadow Man dealt the cards.
Johnny took his cards, quietly added the new card he had fabbed and studied his hand. Some threes, a four, a Jack and a King. He wasn’t sure what game was being played, but when his turn to show came up, he laid down a Jack, then hesitated just a moment—
Nanotroopers Episode 21: Paryang Monastery Page 22
