In the room at this hotel. She said she broke up with her boyfriend, and its his, the nano-thing
The what?
She says its some kind of nano-assembler thing.
Zona Rosas features snapped into focus as her heavy eyebrows shot up. Nanotechnology?
This is in your bag? Masahiko asked.
Wrapped in plastic.
One moment. He vanished.
Who is that? Zona asked.
Masahiko. Mitsukos brother. He lives here.
Where did he go?
Back to the hotel were porting from,
This shit you are in, it is crazy, Zona said.
Please, Zona, help me! I dont think Ill ever get home!
Masahiko reappeared, the thing in his hand minus the duty-free bag. I scanned it, he said. Immediate identification as Rodel-van Erp primary biomolecular programming module C-slash-7A. This is a lab prototype. We are unable to determine its exact legal status, but the production model, C-slash-9E, is Class 1 nanotechnology, proscribed under international law. Japanese law, conviction of illegal possession of Class 1 device carries automatic life sentence.
Life? Chia said.
Same for thermonuclear device, he said, apologetically, poison gas, biological weapon He held up the scanned object for Zonas inspection.
Zona looked at it. Fuck your mother, she said, her tone one of somber respect.
31. The Way Things Work
See how things work, Laney? What goes around, comes around? You can run, but you cant hide? Know those expressions, Laney? How some things get to be clichs because they touch on certain truths, Laney? Talk to me, Laney.
Laney lowered himself into one of the miniature armchairs, hugging his ribs.
You look like shit, Laney. Where have you been?
The Western World, he said. He didnt like watching himself do those things on the screen, but he found he couldnt look away. He knew that wasnt him, there. Theyd mapped his face onto someone else. But it was his face. He remembered hearing something someone had said about mirrors, a long time ago, that they were somehow unnatural and dangerous.
So youre trying your hand at the Orient now?
She hadnt understood, he thought, which meant she didnt know where hed been, earlier. Which meant they hadnt been watching him here. Thats that guy, he said, that Hillman. From the day I met you. My job interview. He was a porno extra.
Dont you think hes being awfully rough with her?
Who is she, Kathy?
Think back. If you can remember Clinton Hillman, Laney
Laney shook his head.
Think actor, Laney. Think Alison Shires
His daughter, Laney said, no doubt at all.
I definitely think thats too rough. That borders on rape, Laney. Assault. I think we could make a case for assault.
Why would she do that? How could you get her to do that? Turning from the screen to Kathy. I mean, unless it really is rape.
Lets hear the soundtrack, Laney. See what youre saying, there. Cast some light on motive.
Dont, he said. I dont want to hear it.
Youre talking about her father the whole time, Laney. I mean, obsession is one thing, but just droning on about him that way, right through a white-knuckle skull-fuck
He almost fell, coming up out of the chair. He couldnt find the manual controls. Wires back there. He pulled out the first three he found. Third did it.
Put it on the Lo/Rez tab, Laney? Rock and roll lifestyle? Arent you supposed to throw them out the window, though?
Whats it about, Kathy? You want to just tell me now?
She smiled at him. Exactly the smile he remembered from his job interview. May I call you Colin?
Kathy: fuck you.
She laughed. We may have come full circle, Laney.
Hows that?
Think of this as a job interview.
Ive got a job.
Were offering you another, Laney. You can moonlight.
Laney made it back to the chair. Lowered himself in as slowly as possible. The pain made him gasp.
Whats wrong?
Ribs. Hurt. He found a way to settle back that seemed to help.
Were you in a fight? Is that blood?
I went to a club.
This is Tokyo, Laney. They dont have fights in clubs.
That was really her, the daughter?
It certainly is. And shell be more than happy to talk about it on Slitscan, Laney. Seduced into sadistic sex games by a stalker obsessed with her famous, her loving dad. Who has come around, by the way. Who is one of ours now.
Why? Why would she do that? Because he told her to?
Because, Kathy said, looking at him as though she were concerned that he might have sustained brain damage as well, shes an aspiring actress in her own right, Laney. She looked at him hopefully, as though he might suddenly start to process. The big break.
Thatis going to be her big break?
A break, Kathy Torrance said, is a break. And you know something? Im trying, Im trying really hard, to give youone instead. Right now. And it wouldnt be the first, would it?
The phone began to ring. Youd better take this, she said, passing him the white slab of cedar.
Yes?
The fan-activity data-base. It was Yamazaki. You must access it now.
Where are you?
In hotel garage. With van.
Look, Im in kind of rough shape, here. Can it wait?
Wait? Yamazaki sounded horrified.
Laney looked at Kathy Torrance. She was wearing something black and not quite short enough to show her tattoo. Her hair was shorter now. Ill be down when I can. Keep it open for me. He hung up before Yamazaki could reply.
What was that about?
Shiatsu.
Youre lying.
What do you want, Kathy? Whats the deal?
Him, I want him. I want a way in. I want to know what hes doing. I want to know what he thinks hes doing, trying to screw a piece of Japanese software.
Marry, Laney said.
Her smile vanished. You dont correct me, Laney.
You want me to spy on him.
Research.
Balls.
You wish.
If I got anything you could use, youd want me to set him up.
The smile returned. Lets not get ahead of ourselves.
And I get?
A life. A life in which you havent been branded an obsessive stalker who preyed on the attractive daughter of the object of your obsession. A life in which it isnt public knowledge that a series of disastrous pharmaceutical trials permanently and hideously rewired you. Fair enough?
What about her? The daughter. She do all that with the Hillman guy for nothing?
Your call, Laney. Work for us, get me what I need, shes shit out of luck.
That easy? Shed go along with that? After what she had to do?
If she wants even the remotest hope of having a career eventuallyyes.
Laney looked at her. That isnt me. Its a morph. If I could prove it was a morph, I could sue you.
Really? You could afford that, could you? It takes years. And even then, you might not win. Weve got a lot of money and talent to throw at problems like that, Laney. We do it all the time. The door chimed. Thatll be mine, she said. She got up, went to the door, touched the security screen. Laney glimpsed part of a mans face. She opened the door. It was Rice Daniels, minus his trademark sunglasses. Rice is with us now, Laney, she said. Hes been a terrific help with your backgrounder.
Out of Control didnt work out? Laney asked Daniels.
Daniels showed Laney a lot of very white teeth. Im sure we could work together, Laney. I hope you dont have any issues around what happened.
Issues, Laney said.
Kathy walked back, handed Laney a blank white card with a pencilled number. Call me. Before nine tomorrow. Leave a message. Yes or no.
Youre giving me a choice?
Its more fun that way. I want you to thinkabout it. She reached down and flicked the collar of Laneys shirt. Stitch-count, she said. Turned and walked out, Daniels pulling the door shut behind them.