Zonas head, on the lion-footed table, made that bug-zap sound. Shed reduced herself to that, Zona: this little blue neon miniature of her Aztec skull, about the size of a small apple. Because Chia had told her to shut up and put the switchblade away. And that had pissed her off, and maybe hurt her feelings, but Chia hadnt known what else to do. Chia had wanted to hear what the idoru had had to say, and Zonas Im-dangerous act totally got in the way. And that was all it was, just acting out, because people couldnt really hurt each other when they were ported. Not physically, anyway. And that had always been a problem, with Zona. That whole swelling-up thunderhead macho thing. Kelsey and the others would make fun of it, but Zona was fierce enough, verbally, that theyd only do it behind her back. Chia had never known what to make of it; it was like Zonas personality wasnt together, around acting like that.
Now Zona wasnt talking, just making the bug-zap sound every so often, to remind Chia she was still there and still pissed off.
The idoru was talking, though, telling Chia the old Venetian meaning of the word casino, not some giant sort of mall place where people went to gamble and watch shows, but something that sounded more like what Masahiko had said about love hotels. Like people had houses where they lived, but these casinos, these secret little apartments, hidden around town, were where they went to be with other people. But they hadnt been too comfortable there, not to judge by this one, even though the idoru kept adding more and more candles. The idoru said she loved candles.
The idoru had the Music Masters haircut now; it made her look like a girl pretending to be a boy. She seemed to like his greatcoat, too, because she kept turning on her heelhis heelto twirl the hem out. Ive seen so many new places, she said, smiling at Chia, so many different people and things.
So have I, but
He told me it would be this way, but I had no idea, really. Twirl. Having seen all this, Im so much more Does it feel like that for you, when you travel?
The deaths-head emitted a burst of blue light and a sound like a short, sharp fart. Zona! Chia hissed. Then all in a rush, to the idoru, I havent traveled much and so far I dont think I like it, but we just came here to see what you were, because we didnt know, because youre in my software, and maybe in Zonas site, too, and that bothers her because its supposed to be private.
The country with the beautiful sky?
Yeah, Chia said. You arent really supposed to be able to go there unless she asks you.
I didnt know. Im sorry. The idoru looked sad. I thought I could go anywhereexcept where you come from.
Seattle?
The hive of dreams, said the idoru, windows heaped against the sky. I can see the pictures, but there is no path. I know youve come from there, but its there isnt there!
The Walled City? It had to be, because that was where she and Zona were coming from now. Were only ported through. Zonas in Mexico City and Im in this hotel, okay? And we really better go back now, cause I dont know whats happening
The blue skull expanded and went Zonaform, grim and sullen, Finally you say something worthwhile. Why do you speak with this thing? She is nothing, only a more expensive version of this toy of yours shes stolen and taken over. Now that I have seen her, I can only think that Rez is crazy, pathetically deluded
But he isnt crazy, the idoru said. It is what we feeltogether. He has told me that we will not be understood, not at first, and there will be resistance, hostility. But we mean no harm, and he believes that in the end only good can come from our union.
You synthetic bitch, Zona said. You think we dont see what youre doing? You arent real! You arent as real as this imitation of a drowned city! Youre a made-up thing, and you want to suck whats real out of him! Chia saw the thunderhead, the aura, starting to build. This girl crossed the ocean to find you out, and now her life is in danger, and she is too stupid to see that you are the cause!
The idoru looked at Chia. Your life?
Chia had to swallow. Maybe, she said. I dont know. Im scared.
And the idoru was gone, draining from Chias Music Master like a color that had no name. He stood there in the light of twenty candles, his expression unreadable. Im sorry, he said, but what exactly was it we were discussing?
We werent, said Chia, then her goggles were lifted away, taking the Music Master and the room in Venice and Zona with them, and two of the fingers of the hand that held the goggles was ringed with gold, each ring linked to a gold watchs massive bracelet with its own fine length of chain. Pale eyes looked into hers.
Eddie smiled. Chia drew her breath in to scream, and another hand, not Eddies, but large and white, smelling of metallic perfume, covered her mouth and nose. And a hand on her shoulder, pressing down, as Eddie stepped back, letting the goggles fall to the white carpet.
Holding her gaze, Eddie raised one finger to his lips, smiled, and said Shhhh. Then stepped aside, turning away, so that Chia saw Masahiko sitting there on the floor, the black cups over his eyes, his fingers moving in their tip-sets.
Eddie took something black from his pocket and reached Masahiko in two silent, exaggerated steps. He did something to the black thing and bent down with it. She saw it touch Masahikos neck.
Masahikos muscles all seemed to jerk at once, his legs straightening, throwing him sideways, where he lay on the white carpet, twitching, his mouth open. One of the black cups had come off. The other still covered his right eye.
Eddie turned back, looking at her.
Where is it? he said.
35. The Testhed of Futurity
Shannon offered Laney a tall foam cup with half an inch of very hot, very black coffee in it. Beyond him, past the orange barricades, was a long white Land-Rover with integral crash-bars and green-tinted windows. Kuwayama waited there, in a dark gray suit, his rimless glasses glinting in the greenish light from the cable overhead. A black-suited driver stood beside him.
Whats he want? Laney asked Arleigh, tasting Shannons espresso. It left grit on his tongue.
We dont know, said Arleigh, But apparently Rez told him where to find us.
Thats what he said.
Yamazaki appeared at Laneys elbow. His glasses had either been repaired or replaced, but two of the pins holding the sleeve of his green jacket had come undone. Mr. Kuwayama is Rei Toeis creator, in a sense. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Famous Aspect, her corporate entity. He was the initiator of her project. He asks to speak with you.
I thought it was so urgent that I access the combined data for you.
It is, yes, said Yamazaki, but I think you should speak with Kuwayama now, please.
Laney followed him through the black modules and past the barricades, and watched as the two exchanged bows. This is Mr. Colin Laney, Yamazaki said, our special researcher. Then, to Laney: Michio Kuwayama, Chief Executive Officer of Famous Aspect.
No one would have guessed that Kuwayama had so recently been up there in the dark at the Western World, the crowd heaving and screaming around him. How had he gotten out, Laney wondered, and wouldnt the idoru have been lit up like a Christmas tree? Blood had seeped down into Laneys shoe; it was sticky between his toes. How much had the combined weight of all the human nervous tissue on the planet increased since he and Arleigh had left the bubble-gum bar with Blackwell? He felt like hed acquired more himself, all of it uncomfortable. Im sorry, he said. I dont have a card.