Stone Blade

by James Cox

  Micah sighed. “Right now I don't like me either. But it worked.” He held up his recorder. “We'll blip this to Ted tonight.”

  “Not yet, though,” said Ferrel, “My friends, we've hit double-jack tonight! I think I've located our mysterious LINC traces.”

  Micah and Kidwell bent over the terminal and Ferrel explained.

  “We are not the only ones logged in late tonight. Don't look at me that way, Micah. I turned invisible as soon as I carved a back door. We're not alone and we're not the only ones burning where we shouldn't be. User qmaas is mucking around the sysaccess area and not doing a very subtle job of it.”

  “Quincy Maas,” supplied Kidwell, “First to the Circle. Is that a sewer I smell under the Dome?”

  “What's he doing,” asked Micah.

  “Accessing sysaccess and LINC. And something else Loglain doesn't have rights to view. Yet”

  “Can you trace it?”

  Ferrel spared Micah a frown. “Give me at least a few seconds, burnit! I'm working!”

  Micah searched the room while Ferrel worked. He found several controversial books - by Unity standards - and a few more un-First-like items.

  “Vera.”

  Kidwell looked up just in time to catch what Micah tossed.

  “Interesting,” she said, examining the pack of drugsticks, “Imported and very expensive. I think I will, thank you.”

  “Rut! Bloody,” swore Ferrel, “Connection terminated before I could trace it. No no, don't worry. Normal transfer completion. I can't say anything else other than that it was an external squirt.”

  “Anything on Tollison?”

  “Closely associated with First Juch. Mediocre appraisals from any supervisor who logged one. Promoted anyway.”

  Kidwell nodded. Juch occupied an uncertain place in the power structure she and Ionoski had developed.

  “One possibility,” speculated Micah, “Tollison has some goods on Juch. It would explain his promotions handily.”

  “Or,” said Kidwell, “he could be Juch's dirty hidden hand. That also covers Morr and fits quite nicely. Tollison is one of several to whom Morr reports regularly.”

  Micah nodded.

  “Anything else of immediate interest Charlie,” asked Micah.

  “Compressing the last of it now,” said Ferrel.

  Ferrel transferred the data to his pocket terminal. They'd blip it to Ionoski as soon as they left.

  ***

  Morning the next day found Micah outside First Juch's modest estate. He'd monitor the First's daily routine. Kidwell would do the same for Tollison. Ferrel, who spent a lot of time cackling over his terminal, planned to spend some quality time at a datamart.

  By noon boredom nibbled Micah's concentration. By the time Juch left for home Micah wanted to bite the man's fancy hover in half. Micah had a hoverbike rented and he trailed the First home inconspicuously. When Juch retired for the evening Micah itched to enter the place.

  ***

  “Nothing,” said Kidwell, “Nothing suspicious, that is. Unless he waits until the small hours he doesn't do a thing outside office hours.”

  “Then we keep digging,” said Micah unnecessarily, “Unless you think Loglain was lying.”

  “He wasn't,” said Ferrel, “Or was. Not relevant. We may not need to dig that hard, my brother.” Ferrel looked innocently away. “I had First-level access today.”

  “What did you do?” Micah knew from Ferrel's manner that he'd accomplished something today. Working it out of him would take some time, though.

  “It seems the government is fond of its privacy. They had quite a few undedicated encryption tunnels.”

  “What did you do, Charlie?”

  “Well, in theory, if you have an undedicated tunnel and you only fork a copy you won't set off any major security.”

  “What. Did. You. Do.” Micah emphasized each word and Kidwell suppressed laughter at him.

  “I modded it into a multiplex echo. Then I killed the original and forged its hash.” Ferrel displayed his satisfaction. “Unless they actually decompile the tunnel they'll never even notice. I also put a few monitors on Juch, Tollison and Morr. They'll dump to my account and auto-compress on delivery. By this time tomorrow we'll own their data!”

  “Can they trace the account?”

  “Not to me.” Ferrel oozed smugness. “The worst they'll do is trace it to the datamart and delete it.”

  “And if they do?”

  “We'll lose the information. I have a standard low-access account but I put in a rogue connection slirp. I can access it from any terminal on the net. So can you two once I get you the keys.” Ferrel buffed his nails on his shirt. “I even put in a log inverter. My outside connections will look internally initiated. Unless they decompile that they'll never catch it.”

  “Polar,” said Micah, appreciating the parts he understood, “So we work crowds tomorrow.” He didn't say that with excitement!

  “Six-sigma,” said Kidwell, “Good timing, too!”

  Micah tried not to let his smile sour too badly.

  ***

  True to Micah's supposition the three of them spent the next day immersed in the various crowds about the city. The one at the Dome far outnumbered the rest but the spaceport's wasn't far behind. The Unity News Agency and, amazingly, the Unity Stock Exchange also had respectable and active crowds.

  Using every bit of training Stanley, Colwraith and Dr. Manbrill pounded into him Micah evaluated his crowds. He tracked every rumor, transient and sustained, and gauged their speed of travel and rate of change. Mid-afternoon he met with Kidwell and they swapped notes. She had approximately three times what Micah did.

  “Good news,” said Kidwell, “These flows won't change much. If you think about it check for factionalization too. It'll be handy to know when and where the splits happen. Oh, try to take some decent notes, too. This isn't a lot to work with.”

  Micah returned her smile with twice the artificial sweetness. How well she knew his weakness in this area!

  “Think of it as combat, luv,” she said, still smiling, “Low-down, dirty, bloody, nothing-barred brawling. That should help.”

  Micah grimace-grinned and went back to his observation. Within his major flows he devoted his attention to the fine details Kidwell suggested. He did find several major factions, each with no few minor divisions of their own. There was a lot of overlap between factions and divisions and in that overlap rumors changed the most.

  Experimentally Micah mentioned to several people that First Maas might address the crowd the next morning. By the time he reached the opposite end of that particular flow the folks buzzed with the known fact that the Circle of Firsts would be announcing action against the wretched League the very next day.

  ***

  Welcome news awaited them the next morning. Ferrel's terminal flashed with a blip from Ionoski.

  “They've agreed to League council for the trial,” said Ferrel, “That's a significant concession. Ramsey's agreed to pull back our forces within the next two days.”

  Micah began mentally constructing complex node-branch graphs.

  “We'll need some good rumors,” said Kidwell. She lit one of Loglain's 'sticks and began doodling.

  Ferrel downloaded his datamart account, decompressed it and made a surprised sound.

  “This is meaningful,” said Ferrel, “Juch messaged Tollison that Orris is being more stubborn than he should.”

  “How so,” asked Micah, “Isn't there a lot of that bouncing around?”

  “Yes. But not a lot suggesting that pressure be increased.”

  Micah summoned what information he had on Third Orris.

  “Not exactly an ally,” said Micah, “but as close as in some ways. Stubborn and strong-willed but honest. Worked his way up from Page, Eleventh to the Badge into his current position. Rose in spite of all the enemies he made. Lots of those, most of whom he exposed for corruption or such like. It says here he deposed three others outright; anywhere from Eig
hth to Fourth in rank. 'Various violations of Writ and law.'”

  “Sounds like a first-stoner to me,” said Ferrel, “I'm running queries. Five credits says they have a meet soon. Shall I blip Ted?”

  “Not yet,” said Micah, “And I agree. Officially it looks like he's covering his own by ripping everyone else's.”

  Micah began working Orris into his calculations. After a while Ferrel's terminal beeped again and he smiled.

  “I have something on our connection last night,” said Ferrel, “Tollison messaged Juch about a link between Maas, Brellin and a datamart. I'm working up the follow-up query now.”

  Kidwell announced her idea by setting her pad down carefully and laying her stylus straight across the top of it.

  “Gentlemen, we shall spread four rumors tomorrow. First: The league is preparing military action against the entire Unity of Triumph. We start that one early. Second: The Unity succeeded and the traitors will be executed. Third: Negotiations are going well and the matter will soon be settled. Save that one for after lunch when people are full. Final rumor: The League agreed to withdraw provided the terrorists are returned. Sub-rumors: the legation is to be closed; the League is getting an orbital station and outer-system post; the Ambassador will be executed in place of the prisoners; the traitors have vowed to die to bring about League conquest.” Kidwell spread a map carefully-drawn and overlaid with flow-lines. “Here is where we seed them.”

  ***

  Micah approached an undistinguished man browsing a newsmod.

  “Pardon me, brother. I've heard troubling news.”

  Once he had the man's attention Micah asked, cautiously, about the supposed League military buildup outside the system and about the strike that would follow. He spoke concern for his family and the Unity. The man had no news either way - the newsmod didn't say - but he spoke a vague reassurance. Micah left somewhat comforted but three others within earshot walked hastily away.

  That set the tone for Micah's morning. He roamed the crowds outside the Exchange and one of the lesser news agencies. He changed faces several times and popped into a few refectories for a drink and a sub-rumor. By the time noon approached Micah began hearing trickles and vestiges of Kidwell's sub-rumors. The Exchange itself wavered, uncertain of Unity's future. With a cautious improvisation Micah asked about the rarity of certain military commodities and their impact on the market itself.

  By late afternoon Micah had heard most of Kidwell's rumors and numerous modifications, mutations and idle speculations based on them. Plus others!

  When news of the League withdrawal broke Micah felt the tension drain from the crowd. The third rumor spread like flash-fires and the fourth and variations generated spontaneously in several factions. With a solid feeling of satisfaction Micah headed to the rendezvous point.

  “The relaxation level is extraordinary,” said Kidwell, “We'd best be alert tonight. Whatever Tollison and Juch are up to they'll likely be up to it now.”

  “I'll take Juch,” said Micah, “Charlie, you take Tollison. Vera, Orris. Monitor where he goes if you can.”

  Kidwell wanted to protest but didn't. Her rumors grew to age and spawned children. She could do little now other than fine tuning and that they'd do as necessary.

  ***

  Micah eyed Ferrel and ground his teeth. Ferrel slouched across the street from him and neither of them stood close enough to Juch and Tollison to overhear them. They stood outside the Dome with no seeming care in the world. After a moment Juch flagged a public hover heading toward his neighborhood. Micah was ready to board it but Tollison's actions stopped him. Instead of walking toward his own home Tollison went to the Dome's vehicle pool. Before long he drove out in a nondescript hovervan with its rear windows opaqued.

  As Tollison's van pulled onto the street Ferrel joined the crowd now crossing. As he passed the van he stumbled and caught himself against it. He bowed an apology to those he jostled and followed it with one to Tollison.

  Micah applauded Ferrel's quick action but cursed his audacity. Ferrel planted a tracker, no doubt of that, and he'd use it, no doubt of that either. Still, the risk! Micah boarded Juch's bus just as it left. Ferrel already had his hoverbike lofted.

  For the seventh time since his arrival outside Juch's house Micah considered blipping Ferrel. For the seventh time he talked himself out of it. Though not easily, blips could be traced given sufficient numbers. He also didn't want to distract Ferrel at a potentially inopportune moment.

  Movement down the street caught Micah's attention. A familiar nondescript van hovered along and turned into Juch's estate. Not long afterward a hovercycle whooshed by. Micah blipped Ferrel as he passed and soon he sat alongside Micah.

  “Doublejack plus bonus,” said Ferrel, “The van went straight to a house of joy in lowtown. Several severe types I don't know congregated there. I have holos. Signor Orris showed up not long afterward with one of his aides. They went into the building for a conference, Vera and I did not attend, then Tollison came out with three professional ladies.”

  “Clever,” said Micah, “Don't go to your sin, bring it to you. Convenient if you have a First to cover your assets. I just wonder...” Micah let the thought trail off.

  “Likely more than we could document in a year,” said Ferrel, “If even half of what Vera suspects is true. Absolute power, after all.”

  Micah grunted. He and Ferrel heard the van starting.

  “Shall I follow?”

  “Go,” said Micah, “I doubt he'll do anything other than drop the ladies but I can't be sure. I'll meet you back at the house. I want to watch Juch a bit longer.” He checked his chrono. “In fact, blip me when Tollison drops the van and meet me at Loglain's. I want to check for surveillance there.”

  ***

  Micah and Ferrel found Kidwell waiting when they returned. She sat totally still with no doodles or equipment at hand. Tension and anger radiated from her and she looked at Micah with eyes devoid of all her normal warmth.

  “I know who they were,” she said evenly, “The ones who met Tollison and Orris. The first was Evan Ludurz, Fourth to the Badge, Order of Righteous Belief, Hand of Inquiry. The second was Chadrick Norril, Second to the Shroud, Brethren of the Walkers in Light, Hand of Truth.”

  “Vera...”

  “There's more. After they all left I went inside.” A mild tremor shook her. “Don't say it, Micah. I know my business! They're very well-known there. All of them. Ludurz doesn't mind leaving bruises or scars. Norril likes breaking people. Orris... Orris...” Kidwell visibly summoned herself. “There's one girl. Jilli. She's sick and she doesn't come down. She doesn't even leave her room. She was one of the best girls there until she got sick. Shari, that's the girl I talked to, said she saw Jilli not long ago. It's painful for her to move but she doesn't ever complain. Shari said she's still one of the sweetest girls she knows.”

  Kidwell began trembling.

  “Jilli is now the exclusive property of Orris and his lackeys. Micah, she's sick and in constant pain and she's their protection.”

  Kidwell closed her eyes and a tear trickled down her face. Micah motioned Ferrel out of the room.

  “Micah, what kind of sick bastard would want... Would want...”

  Kidwell couldn't finish. Micah saw the young girl under the tarp. Her and others.

  “Steady, Vera,” said Micah gently, “Steady, hon.” A gentle touch on her arm. “We're here to stop that. Don't forget, we're here to stop that!”

  Micah put his arm around her and she grabbed him tightly. She held hard and buried her face in his shoulder, finally releasing the emotion she'd kept inside. But she wept softly and silently.

  After a time Kidwell loosened her hold. Her eyes, still filled with horror, found comfort with Micah. Ferrel entered with a small cough.

  “Is it clear now?”

  Kidwell coughed a bleak chuckle. “Yeah, Charlie. I'm cryo.”

  Ferrel looked at Micah. “Civilian casualties?”

  Micah nodded.


  After a time Kidwell drifted to sleep. Micah put her gently in her bed and covered her. Then he joined Ferrel. Neither of them had any illusions about sleeping that night.

  With Ferrel's help Micah worked out a new power structure. It differed little from the original, but significantly where it did. The filled in several blank spots and charted some new flows.

  “Good morning.” Kidwell spoke softly but with some of her usual energy. “I don't guess you two slept.”

  “Plans to make,” said Micah, “Feel up to it?”

  Kidwell nodded and reviewed their work.

  “We have quite a few levers now,” said Ferrel, “The question is which one to pull.”

  “Orris,” said Kidwell instantly, “He deserves it, Micah! I want to take him down hard! As rough as you were with Loglain, I want you ten times that with him. Make him squirm! Make him grovel! Make him sorry is parents met!”

  “Steady, Vera,” said Ferrel, “Don't lose focus, hon.”

  She gave Ferrel a rebellious look. Micah understood it. Her talent and skills stemmed from and granted her a great sense of empathy and sensitivity. Kidwell understood people so well because of her ability to become them. Micah stopped her before she could reply.

  “He's right, Vera. I know, we know how rough this is.” Micah paused. “Remind me some day when this is long over. I'll tell you about civilian casualties. That still gives me nightmares.” He gave her a gentle look. “Take it as a given, hon, Charlie and I know.”

  Kidwell examined Micah hard and found the truth to his words.

  “Keep focus,” said Micah, “I guarantee we'll take these vermin down. But Charlie and I can't do it alone and we need you sharp.”

  ***

  Velvert, alone in his office, allowed himself a brief smile. He moved the pieces on a mental board. The so-elusive League spies still escaped him but he saw their hand in the pattern before him. Let the others scoff. He saw what they did not: a delicate web woven of implication and consequence. The League prisoners, while pivotal in other's schemes, figured only peripherally in Velvert's.

  Rumors reached his ears. Rumors and facts; the former correlated to the latter with the delicacy that only one with Velvert's information could hope to accomplish. The spies stole a march on him but that would soon repair itself. Several Brethren high in the order now contemplated their misdeeds under Velvert's penances. Norril might have considered intervening but not for long. Though not himself a bad player Norril lacked Velvert's information and his finesse.