attack at the
Monaco’s COMA? I’m the fifth hostage that Elvis took, but they didn’t write
anything about me. The police took me for an accomplice at first, but when they
figured out what I was, they let me go. The moment had passed, the journalists
had lost interest, so I was left in the shade I learned something from that
story, literally and metaphorically. First, I’ll never set foot in that place
again, secondly I decided to do everything I could to stop the Agency, and
thirdly, I ended up with the memory of the branch’s central computer, and there
was some intriguing stuff in it. Your rating, for instance and not just yours,
but hundreds of people’s: brief CVs and all sorts of information that basically
make it possible to find others who think like me. COMA is powerful, but don’t
forget that the technology was invented by one man. Who, by the way, has not
become a Veggie.”
“Now
I get it. I must say you intrigued me when you mentioned my rating. That really
got me interested.”
“And
I’ve come to you for specific help.”
“What
kind?”
“I
need money. I have no resources to implement my plan. I’ve left my job and the
bank is about to foreclose on my apartment. From the list of people that came
my way, you’re not the only one with money, but you’re one of those who have
criticized the system openly. Some of the rich people have already moved to
somewhere else, some don’t look trustworthy, some have already gone bust. Some
are religious or too law-abiding. Basically, there aren’t all that many options
but there are some. You and I are the same age, that’s already a plus. Apart
from the money, knowledge is important. You’re a chemist and who knows, we might
have to blow something up or dissolve something. I don’t have a clue how the
technology works. It’s the closest kept secret in the world. But Link is the
one who does.”
“Mmm,
this is very sudden. And you only want money?” Peter’s voice sounded a bit disappointed.
“And has anybody else agreed to help you?”
“Yes,
but we’d better consider that I’m alone.”
“Well
then, all right. That’s even better.”
“And
I’ll give you back the money when I sell my invention.”
Peter
leaned back pensively in his chair.
“I’m
no supporter of the system, but I’d never thought seriously about wrecking it.
I have to think about it.”
After
that Isaac and Peter made some small talk about various things for just a bit
longer. For the last fifteen minutes they simply drank coffee. Peter tried to
be hospitable. Isaac was beginning to like the way his life had turned more and
more. Only a week ago he had to make do with the tipsy customers of the
Stars’N’Bars, and his flights of fantasy were limited to how to find money for
Vicky. But now he had an interesting, boorishly brutal partner in Bikie, and he
found talking to Peter really exciting and – most important of all – he now had
a big goal.
Both
Isaac and Peter regarded this conversation as important. Each of them hedged
his bets so that later, if anything happened, he could tell the police that the
idea of destruction had only been mentioned as a light-hearted fantasy from the
same category as “let’s fly to the moon” or “let’s move Mont Blanc”. A trifling
conversation, not even the slightest intention of really doing anything
As
the sun started to set, the two young men exchanged phone numbers, wished each
other good luck and Isaac left.
As
they parted, they agreed that in any case Peter would keep quiet about the
visit. And if he decided to reject the offer, he would simply call and say he
wasn’t going to invest in Isaac’s invention.
Chapter eight
Peter
called on the third day in the afternoon and asked to come for dinner that
evening. He said he had good news.
Even
though the meeting with Peter left a good impression and the candidate inspired
trust, Isaac was still a bit nervous. On the way there he kept glancing around
all
Monaco’s COMA? I’m the fifth hostage that Elvis took, but they didn’t write
anything about me. The police took me for an accomplice at first, but when they
figured out what I was, they let me go. The moment had passed, the journalists
had lost interest, so I was left in the shade I learned something from that
story, literally and metaphorically. First, I’ll never set foot in that place
again, secondly I decided to do everything I could to stop the Agency, and
thirdly, I ended up with the memory of the branch’s central computer, and there
was some intriguing stuff in it. Your rating, for instance and not just yours,
but hundreds of people’s: brief CVs and all sorts of information that basically
make it possible to find others who think like me. COMA is powerful, but don’t
forget that the technology was invented by one man. Who, by the way, has not
become a Veggie.”
“Now
I get it. I must say you intrigued me when you mentioned my rating. That really
got me interested.”
“And
I’ve come to you for specific help.”
“What
kind?”
“I
need money. I have no resources to implement my plan. I’ve left my job and the
bank is about to foreclose on my apartment. From the list of people that came
my way, you’re not the only one with money, but you’re one of those who have
criticized the system openly. Some of the rich people have already moved to
somewhere else, some don’t look trustworthy, some have already gone bust. Some
are religious or too law-abiding. Basically, there aren’t all that many options
but there are some. You and I are the same age, that’s already a plus. Apart
from the money, knowledge is important. You’re a chemist and who knows, we might
have to blow something up or dissolve something. I don’t have a clue how the
technology works. It’s the closest kept secret in the world. But Link is the
one who does.”
“Mmm,
this is very sudden. And you only want money?” Peter’s voice sounded a bit disappointed.
“And has anybody else agreed to help you?”
“Yes,
but we’d better consider that I’m alone.”
“Well
then, all right. That’s even better.”
“And
I’ll give you back the money when I sell my invention.”
Peter
leaned back pensively in his chair.
“I’m
no supporter of the system, but I’d never thought seriously about wrecking it.
I have to think about it.”
After
that Isaac and Peter made some small talk about various things for just a bit
longer. For the last fifteen minutes they simply drank coffee. Peter tried to
be hospitable. Isaac was beginning to like the way his life had turned more and
more. Only a week ago he had to make do with the tipsy customers of the
Stars’N’Bars, and his flights of fantasy were limited to how to find money for
Vicky. But now he had an interesting, boorishly brutal partner in Bikie, and he
found talking to Peter really exciting and – most important of all – he now had
a big goal.
Both
Isaac and Peter regarded this conversation as important. Each of them hedged
his bets so that later, if anything happened, he could tell the police that the
idea of destruction had only been mentioned as a light-hearted fantasy from the
same category as “let’s fly to the moon” or “let’s move Mont Blanc”. A trifling
conversation, not even the slightest intention of really doing anything
As
the sun started to set, the two young men exchanged phone numbers, wished each
other good luck and Isaac left.
As
they parted, they agreed that in any case Peter would keep quiet about the
visit. And if he decided to reject the offer, he would simply call and say he
wasn’t going to invest in Isaac’s invention.
Chapter eight
Peter
called on the third day in the afternoon and asked to come for dinner that
evening. He said he had good news.
Even
though the meeting with Peter left a good impression and the candidate inspired
trust, Isaac was still a bit nervous. On the way there he kept glancing around
all
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