[ You’ve got about thirty more seconds, Jack.]
[ Bring the camera in closer.]
His father let out a particularly loud snore. His mother shifted, then reached out to nudge her partner. He grunted and rolled over. Jack imagined processors deep in his mind, simulating touch. She sighed and settled back, but then stiffened.
[She’s waking up. Time’s up, we should go.]
[ No, stay. I want to see her.]
‘Hello?’ she said, pushing herself up one arm. ‘Is there someone there?’
[Shit! She’s probing.]
She turned to face the camera.
[ Issie warned me they could do this. I’m going to cut the link.]
[ No.]
[ It’s not safe!]
She leant forward, bringing her face into the thin line of light from the slightly parted curtains. Jack gasped. It was the first time he’d seen her for seven years. She seemed so alive, so present.
[ What’s that?] she whispered. [A puppet?] and then, in the smallest, softest voice imaginable, [ Jack?]
[She’s on to us!]
[ You’re not breaking the link, Fist.]
[Any second now, InSec’ll see us, Pantheon’ll see us. Fuck’s sake, Jack, you fucking idiot!]
But Jack didn’t hear.
[Mum?]
[ Is that really you?]
Jack’s father stirred.
[ It’s me, Mum,] said Jack, not knowing whether or not she could hear him, for a moment forgetting that she wasn’t still alive, and that he wasn’t standing directly before her.
[ They told me you were— If that is you, oh, Jack.]
There was an electric crack and the screen vanished. Jack imagined a dronefly falling to the ground in a distant room, his father waking to a weeping wife. Then, anger shook him.
[ Fist, I told you not to cut me off.]
‘He didn’t,’ said Grey, appearing on the staircase. ‘I did.’ Metal rang beneath his feet as he climbed the last few steps. ‘You were cutting it rather too fine. A few more seconds and that would have been it for you both.’
‘You’ve been watching us all this time?’
‘I had a flag set in case you went onweave. I thought you might benefit from a little constructive criticism. As it turned out, I was right. It’s good to feel that I can still be useful, even if my wings have been clipped.’ He waved up towards the Spine. ‘I do hate seeing my icon like that.’
Jack was torn between anger and grief. He didn’t trust himself to speak. Fist stepped into the awkward silence. ‘I had everything well under control,’ he said firmly.
‘I’m sure you did,’ replied Grey, his silkily polite coldness implying exactly the opposite.
‘Fuck you,’ Fist shot back. ‘And while you’re here, don’t you go playing around in my fucking head again.’
‘Oh, don’t worry. There’s no more need for that. Now you’ve realised you’re both equally threatened by the same enemy, all I’d need to do is ask politely for your help. And that wouldn’t be a problem at all, would it?’ Fist made a noise that sounded like spitting. ‘But let’s not waste our time with petty arguments. Jack – I wanted to congratulate you on your progress.’
Jack was now sufficiently in control of himself to reply. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked, taking a step back as Grey reached the balcony.
‘Really, there’s no need to be afraid, Jack.’
‘I’m not afraid. I don’t trust you. That’s very different.’
‘My boy. If I wanted to harm you, I’d have let your chat with your dear departed mother run on until the whole world realised that your little puppet’s active. Where would that have left you? In a Turing cage for a couple of months, just like on Callisto, then dead, with Fist in the hands of our enemies. I have no interest in that happening.’
‘Say what you’ve got to say, then piss off.’
‘You’re doing so well, Jack. I’m particularly impressed by your decision to work with Harry. I’m sure he’ll be very helpful to you.’
‘How do you know about that?’
‘It’s surprising how much I can gather from those who are still faithful to me. I was very impressed by your little adventures with Akhmatov, too.’
‘You watched all that?’
‘Keeping an eye, keeping an eye. That bird may be blind, but I most certainly am not.’
‘Not looking through Yamata’s eyes?’
‘Good grief, no.’ Grey looked genuinely shocked. ‘The very idea!’
‘You didn’t think to protect me?’
‘I didn’t need to. I knew you’d be kept safe. And besides, I have no interest at all in showing my hand. I’d hate to have anyone see that I’m a little more independent than I should be.’
‘Playing politics with my life. Nothing new there. And with Fist, too. Do you know why they want him?’
‘I wouldn’t know. Perhaps they want to use his weave-hacking skills to help smuggle drugs, perhaps they want to attack the Totality and restart the war. That’s for you to find out. To be honest, I’m more concerned by your loyalty issues. I’m no longer your lead patron, am I? I see that East has taken that role. She’s really been very generous. I don’t think she’s installed this much of herself in anyone for a couple of generations. She’s fallen for you hard, Jack.’
‘I won’t be using what she’s given me.’
‘If you say so. Perhaps there’ll be no need for it.’
‘I won’t, Grey.’
‘I’m sure also you won’t be taking up the offer from that mind you rescued. Your view of the Totality is too naïve, Jack. It might have been wrong to go to war with them, but that doesn’t mean they can be trusted. Steer clear of him.’
‘We’ll see.’
‘I’m serious.’
‘I’m sure you are.’
A moment of silence. A breeze danced around them. Strands of hair lifted from Grey’s head, then fell back again. Jack noted the real-time environmental interaction, and despite himself was impressed by Grey’s attention to detail.
‘Do you have anything else to say, Grey?’
‘I’ve been keeping Mr Stabs updated on your adventures. He’s always keen to hear about them, which I take as a good sign. I think he’s coming round to the idea of seeing you both, Fist in particular.’
‘I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t want to,’ said Fist. ‘I don’t think you’ve been talking to him at all.’
‘Believe that if you wish,’ replied Grey. ‘And now, I must be going. I’ve shared almost all I needed to with you. I’m sorry you’re not in a receptive mood.’
‘Too right we’re not,’ Fist spat back.
‘Telling the truth; an underrated virtue, these days. And I must warn you that he’s missed a couple of your more obscure weaveports. They’ll let anyone who pings them know you’re onweave. I saw them instantly, but then I have been tracking you very closely indeed. You’ve got maybe three or four more minutes before InSec checks them. Close them now.’
‘Fist?’
The little man had already vanished.
‘You’ll thank me for that, one day,’ Grey told Jack.
‘I’ll thank you for nothing.’
A sad smile spread across Grey’s face. ‘Perhaps,’ he said, then a final, ‘Goodbye, my boy,’ before disappearing. Imagined air rushed into the space that his virtual body had occupied.
Fist reappeared.
‘So?’ said Jack.
‘Don’t forget you’re the one that nearly got us spotted just now!’
‘Was he right?’
‘There were a couple of open weaveports. But nobody would have noticed them! And I’d have caught them with my next check anyway.’
‘For fuck’s sake, Fist. You told me we were fully protected.’
‘We were completely safe, that suitfucker’s just being paranoid.’
‘I want you to run a full firewall and security check, NOW. Keep us completely offweave until you’ve done it.’
‘Shit, Jack. Why can’t you just trust me?’
‘We can’t risk anyone finding out you’re uncaged. And I don’t want Grey – or anyone else – watching us.’