“In back, by the door to the lounge.” He topped up the glasses and brought them over.
Brian sipped at the creamy head of the jet black liquid.
“This is delicious,” Shelly said.
“Nutritious as well. And enough of it will get you drunk. I bet it cures colds too. I’m going to make that call now.”
He took another sip and went to find the phone. Inserted the card and dialed the Swiss number. As soon as he got past the first four digits there was a high-pitched interrupt and a computer-generated voice spoke.
“You have dialed Switzerland from Ireland. The exchange you have entered does not exist. This message will be repeated in German and French…”
Brian crumpled up the slip of paper, threw it into the ashtray next to the phone, went back to the table and drained his pint and signaled for another one.
“You look glum,” Shelly said.
“I should be. It doesn’t work. The number was not a phone number. Sven-2 found the sequence buried in one of the stolen AI programs and seemed to think that it was. It wasn’t. The chances are it was just a line of code that I wrote myself for the original AI. Let’s forget the whole thing.”
“Cheer up. You’re a free man in a free world and that should mean something.”
“It does — but not much at the present moment. Must be the cold getting me down. Let’s finish these and get back to the hotel. I think some sleep is in order now. With the pills and the pints I should be able to sleep around the clock.”
40
December 21, 2024
It was after seven that evening before Brian woke up, blinking into the darkness of the room.
“I detect the motion of your eyelids,” Sven said. “Do you wish me to turn the lights on.”
“Do that.”
Ten minutes later he came out of the elevator and headed for the dining room. Shelly was sitting at a table by the far wall and she waved him over.
“I hope you don’t mind but I started without you. The salmon is absolutely delicious. You ought to try it.”
“You talked me into it — particularly since I just realized that I am starving. Airline muck and cheese sandwiches leave a lot to be desired.”
“You look a lot better.”
“Feel a lot better. The pills and sleep did the trick.”
“Your solicitor telephoned. I had told the front desk that you were sleeping so they put the call through to me. He was quite happy about everything — including the fact that you are going to have to pay a fine of fifty pounds.”
“Why?”
“He wasn’t quite sure. He said that he thinks it is just a slap on the wrist to sort you out — and wind up the case. He has already paid so you are a free man. He is also looking into a passport for you and thinks he can pull enough strings to get one by tomorrow. Said to phone him in the morning. I wasn’t too impressed by that. Takes ten minutes in the States.”
“Ahh, my fair colleen, but you are.not in the distant country where all the computers work and the trains leave on time. Let me tell you — one day for a new passport in Ireland is lightning.”
“I suppose we can use the rest. And maybe you can lick that cold. Have you thought about what you plan to do next?”
“There is little I can do without a passport. Then we start tracking down the mysterious Dr. Bociort. Right now I intend to get tucked into some dinner, with maybe a Guinness or two to tamp it down. Since we are going to be here at least another day, maybe we ought to think about some sight-seeing in the morning.”
“In the rain?”
“This is Ireland. If you won’t go out in the rain you are just never going to go out.”
“Let me think about it. You have your dinner and I’ll see you later I have to make a phone call.”
Brian raised his eyebrows in silence and she laughed.
“Not to the States or to anyone that can be traced. Before I left L.A. I called a cousin in Israel. The only qualm I had about helping you was being out of touch with my family. My father is due to be operated on soon. My cousin will be calling my mother and she has strict instructions not to tell her that I might be phoning Israel. I’m sorry, Brian, it’s the best I could think of…”
“Don’t let it worry you. I’m feeling a lot safer and more relaxed now that we are here. Make your call.”
Brian was just finishing his coffee, along with his second brandy, when Shelly rejoined him.
“That appears to be a lethal but interesting combination,” she said, looking around for the waiter. “Mind if I join you?”
“Be hurt if you didn’t.”
“You look better.”
“I feel better. Food, sleep, pills — and freedom. In fact I can’t remember when I ever felt this good before.”
“That’s the best news ever!” She smiled, reached out and squeezed his hand. Then drew away when the waiter brought the tray to the table.
The touch unlocked a warmth in Brian that was totally new and he smiled broadly. Free for the moment, away from responsibilities and worries. The rain lashing down outside, but it was warm and secure inside. An encapsulated moment of peace and happiness.
“To you, Shelly,” he said when the waiter had gone and they raised their glasses. “For what you have done to help me.”
“It’s little enough, Brian. I would rather drink to you — and freedom.”
His smile reflected hers as they touched glasses, drank.
“I could really get used to this kind of thing,” he said. “How did the call go?”
“It didn’t. Even the operator couldn’t get through. Said to try later.”
“I can’t understand that — telephone calls go through every time.”
She laughed. “Apparently not in Ireland.”
“Are you sure you have the right number?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Better check directory inquiries before you call again.”
“Good idea. Let’s finish these and I’ll do it right now, from the phone booth in the lobby.”
The booth was occupied and after a moment Shelly shook her head.
“No point in waiting, we’ll go to my room.”
It was easier to climb the stairs than wait for the ancient elevator. Shelly unlocked the door, opened it and turned on the lights.
“Bigger than mine,” Brian said, “more like a suite.”
“Maybe the manager is partial to women. Do you want a drop of duty-free while I put the call through?”
“Yes, please — some of that buffalo vodka you bought on the Aeroflot flight to kill the pain.”
She punched up international inquiries and spoke her cousin’s name and address, but had to repeat the name twice slowly before the voice recognition program was satisfied. She wrote the number down, then laughed.
“You were right about phone calls always going through — I apologize to Ireland. I got one digit wrong when I copied it down.”
“I’ll drink to that. To technology.”
He emptied his glass, filled it again, sipped in a warm haze as she made the call. He was probably getting drunk — but the hell with it. This was for pleasure, not escape, a very big difference. The call went through and he half listened to Shelly’s voice. She sounded relieved so the news was good. There was some more chat about the family, then she hung up.
“Sounded okay from where I sit.”
“It was. No problems at all and the prognosis is fine. So good in fact they are scheduling the operation.”
“Good news indeed.” He struggled to his feet with an effort. “I better be going. It’s been a great evening.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” she said. “Good night, Brian.”
It was natural to kiss him on the cheek, a simple kiss of parting.
Then it wasn’t that simple. She found him returning her kiss with a sudden warmth that she responded to. Neither of them had expected this — neither could say no.
It was closeness, an easy pleasure, a natural joining. It was emotion, sensation for Brian, something to be done without thinking, without logic. A flicker of memory, Kim, stirred at the edge of his attention but he rejected the thought. Not Kim, not that. This was different, better, very different.