Willow said. No apologies necessary, Mary said. But being stylish leaves me with only eight lives. Stylish. On the sly spin. Willow thought about that, nodded seriously. When do we put on our helmets? Last pico, in final position. We havent had a Selector jiltz pd down in three years, Sampson said. Lets hope Origund still thinks were brothers under the skin. They all lifted their heads in unison as the jiltz leaders voice spoke through earphones. They were to set up a listening post and wait for other sections to complete the surround on the dominiums two lower levels. Court ordered nano watchers and listeners had been sent into the dominiums sewage and structure; microscopic, extremely efficient and detectable only by the most extraordinary means. We might even get a picture on this one, Sampson said. Heads up videopbiles, Willow said. All three received instructions to move into the next position. They crowded into the arbeiter elevator, stooping to fit. Sampson issued a pd code for control and the elevator took them without protest to their assigned level. Located on the combs outermost neighborhood the dominium seemed to hover within a sculpted cellular hollow almost thirty meters wide. The dominiums first level opened onto a shaded greengrowth walkway tinkling waterfalls real birds in ornate brass cages sleeping on perches. The second level was isolated one glass wall pointing through a gap between comb mirrors at a dizzying view of north Los Angeles. The third level connected by a slender unrailed bridge to a private roof atrium designed for access by arbeiter service. Next to the unrailed bridge on the third level surrounding the dominium, an arbeiter maintenance alcove offered a hiding place. After unfolding their helmets and slipping them on, they set their slates to scrambled listener frequencies, disguised as machine chatter to evade detection. These folks must be tro platinum, Willow said wistfully as they hunkered in the alcove. Mary found a dean ledge and sat folding her long legs into a lotus. Willow watched her with frank admiration; curiosity for the new. Corp legal and political jobs, Sampson said. Rewards to the puzzle pieces. Among the pd, puzzle piece was pejorative slang for anybody who took advantage of legal lacunae. How can they torture execs or anybody else when they hide in the nooks themselves? Willow asked. You should read Wolfe Ruller, Mary said. If youre really interested in Selector philosophy. 1 suppose I should be. Something about Social antibodies filling the molecular spaces that might otherwise be used by antisocial offenders, Sampson said. Why, Robert, Mary chided. Sampson was sharp but not known for his lit learning. Sampson grinned boyishly. Anything to impress you, M Choy. Im impressed. Ill look up Ruller, Willow said earnestly. Hes in the pd library? Hes probably in your issue copy right now, Mary said, tapping Willows slate where it hung on his belt. Standard reference for our advanced age. Feed coming in, Sampson said. They listened intently. Within the dominium they heard footsteps and muffled conversation. Since they were not controlling the listeners they could not tune to any given room. The voices gradually cleared. Two men talking. Something made a sharp whickering noise: staccato breathing of a victim under a clamp. Mary felt her skin tingle: apprehension, a deeper horror than she had felt looking at the victims of Goldsmith. Have you ever seen a clamp? Willow asked. I mean, besides the limited one were shown in training Sampson held his finger to his lips. The voices tuned in with crystal clarity. Watch this one, an older sounding man said. Dont let the wipers set their gain too high. Ramp the dream down at the end of five minutes. In a smooth place, said the other, voice high pitched but not necessarily female. Mary glanced at the slate screen; it was on. Vid, she said. They simultaneously pulled up their slates and watched the broadcast picture. Far from perfect; nano
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