don't recruit from the jails until your own killers have failed."
32 stared at him for a moment. “We've sent eight men in. We would have been just as happy to bring her out as to terminate her—but new orders have just come down, and that is no longer an option."
"What happened to your eight operatives?"
"Seven are dead."
"And the eighth?"
32 shrugged. “He's still there."
"But you've lost faith in him?"
"No. From everything I've heard about him, he's as good as they come."
"Then why are you giving up on him?"
"Because our policy has changed. As I said, the order came down yesterday that she is to be terminated. The man who is on the scene had orders to try to bring her out alive."
"He's already there. Why not just tell him that there's been a change in orders?"
"He's operating covertly in enemy territory,” answered 32. “We don't want to jeopardize his position by attempting to make contact with him.” He grimaced ruefully. “Furthermore, he's from the Inner Frontier and has no interest in or loyalty to the Democracy. He's basically a subcontractor whose sole loyalty is to his employer, and it is possible that his employer has reasons of his own for wanting to bring the Oracle out alive, reasons about which we know nothing."
"Then why not just blow his cover, if you think he might screw up the works?"
"If he can actually make contact with her where seven of my finest operatives have failed, I want to know how he managed it. Besides,” continued 32, “there is no such thing as a cover when you are operating against someone who can see the future. There is no question in my mind that she knows he's there."
"I don't understand,” said the Injun, frowning and running his hand through his unkempt black hair. “If she knows he's there, why hasn't she taken him out? And why are you concerned about contacting him?"
"She can see what will happen, but we don't think she can see what's happening now,” answered 32. “In other words, she knows that he plans to abduct her at some point in the future, but she doesn't know where he is at this very minute."
"You're sure of that?” asked the Injun dubiously. “Maybe an hour ago she knew where he'd be right now."
32 sighed deeply. “We're not sure of anything. We know what her capabilities were when she was six years old, and from this our people have been able to extrapolate what they may have become..."
"Then you don't actually know a damned thing, do you?” said the Injun.
"No, we don't,” admitted 32. “That's why I don't want to expose this man. Thus far it has been impossible to get any of my people close to her; perhaps if he distracts her, if her attention is divided between the two of you, if he seems the more immediate threat, you might have a chance."
"You want a suggestion?"
"I'd be grateful for any suggestions you might care to make,” said 32.
"Sue for peace,” said the Injun. “Based on what you told me, there's no way you're going to kill this woman. All you can do is make her mad at you."
"Then you are refusing my offer?"
"Who said anything about refusing your offer?” demanded the Injun.
"But—"
"I'd much rather die with a weapon in my hand than locked in a cell.” He paused and stared sharply at 32. “Am I going to have a hand when you're all through with this surgery?"
"Certainly,” answered 32. “I told you: you will look exactly as you do now."
"I know what you told me,” said the Injun. “What you didn't tell me is what you're going to do."
"We are going to turn you into a walking holograph transmitter,” said 32. “Your left eye will be removed and replaced with a prosthetic one. It will appear identical to the one we take from you, and it will be tied into your optic nerve center so that you will be able to see through it—but it will also transmit a three-dimensional image of everything you see to me. Also, a microscopic transmitter and receiver will be embedded inside your ear. Everything you hear will
32 stared at him for a moment. “We've sent eight men in. We would have been just as happy to bring her out as to terminate her—but new orders have just come down, and that is no longer an option."
"What happened to your eight operatives?"
"Seven are dead."
"And the eighth?"
32 shrugged. “He's still there."
"But you've lost faith in him?"
"No. From everything I've heard about him, he's as good as they come."
"Then why are you giving up on him?"
"Because our policy has changed. As I said, the order came down yesterday that she is to be terminated. The man who is on the scene had orders to try to bring her out alive."
"He's already there. Why not just tell him that there's been a change in orders?"
"He's operating covertly in enemy territory,” answered 32. “We don't want to jeopardize his position by attempting to make contact with him.” He grimaced ruefully. “Furthermore, he's from the Inner Frontier and has no interest in or loyalty to the Democracy. He's basically a subcontractor whose sole loyalty is to his employer, and it is possible that his employer has reasons of his own for wanting to bring the Oracle out alive, reasons about which we know nothing."
"Then why not just blow his cover, if you think he might screw up the works?"
"If he can actually make contact with her where seven of my finest operatives have failed, I want to know how he managed it. Besides,” continued 32, “there is no such thing as a cover when you are operating against someone who can see the future. There is no question in my mind that she knows he's there."
"I don't understand,” said the Injun, frowning and running his hand through his unkempt black hair. “If she knows he's there, why hasn't she taken him out? And why are you concerned about contacting him?"
"She can see what will happen, but we don't think she can see what's happening now,” answered 32. “In other words, she knows that he plans to abduct her at some point in the future, but she doesn't know where he is at this very minute."
"You're sure of that?” asked the Injun dubiously. “Maybe an hour ago she knew where he'd be right now."
32 sighed deeply. “We're not sure of anything. We know what her capabilities were when she was six years old, and from this our people have been able to extrapolate what they may have become..."
"Then you don't actually know a damned thing, do you?” said the Injun.
"No, we don't,” admitted 32. “That's why I don't want to expose this man. Thus far it has been impossible to get any of my people close to her; perhaps if he distracts her, if her attention is divided between the two of you, if he seems the more immediate threat, you might have a chance."
"You want a suggestion?"
"I'd be grateful for any suggestions you might care to make,” said 32.
"Sue for peace,” said the Injun. “Based on what you told me, there's no way you're going to kill this woman. All you can do is make her mad at you."
"Then you are refusing my offer?"
"Who said anything about refusing your offer?” demanded the Injun.
"But—"
"I'd much rather die with a weapon in my hand than locked in a cell.” He paused and stared sharply at 32. “Am I going to have a hand when you're all through with this surgery?"
"Certainly,” answered 32. “I told you: you will look exactly as you do now."
"I know what you told me,” said the Injun. “What you didn't tell me is what you're going to do."
"We are going to turn you into a walking holograph transmitter,” said 32. “Your left eye will be removed and replaced with a prosthetic one. It will appear identical to the one we take from you, and it will be tied into your optic nerve center so that you will be able to see through it—but it will also transmit a three-dimensional image of everything you see to me. Also, a microscopic transmitter and receiver will be embedded inside your ear. Everything you hear will
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