[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

hallway died. Darkness closed in and absolute silence.
"What's going on, you idiots?" cried Pickfair. "Switch to the
emergency power system."
Then he made a pained grunting sound and something metallic hit the
floor.
Light blossomed next to him.
"Dad!" said Dan, laughing.
Jake, grinning over at him, set the newly lit electric lantern beside
the crouched figure of Pickfair. "You okay? Both of you?"
"We're fine--but what are you doing in that Brazil Wars uniform?" Dan
went hurrying over to him. "We were watching you on the screen and you
were dressed differently."
"Get up, Roddy," suggested Jake.
The studio head remained crouched, rubbing at his wrist. "You used a
decoy."
"Yep, that was an android performer named Jacko Fuller--made up to look
like me," admitted Jake. "Gomez rented him. It's the first time he's
worked in over a year."
"But you used China's electro key to get into the facility. And we've
been monitoring your progress ever since."
"I figured you would, which is why I sent in Jacko."
"Then how did you get--"
"Your security system isn't all that tricky. After I'd studied the
plans for this place, I worked out a way to get in."
"And you're the one who turned off all the power?"
Jake nodded. "Get up and we'll get going--I have a lot of people to
turn over to the law."
Very slowly, Pickfair rose to his feet.
Backing, Jake picked up the lazgun he'd knocked from the young man's
hand.
Pickfair smiled faintly. "Go ahead and use that," he invited. "If you
don't know already, your son can tell you. I'm the one who
masterminded everything that's happened to you."
Jake hefted the gun on his palm. "A day or so ago I was burning up
with this," he said quietly. "Hell, even an hour ago I was thinking
about killing you once I found you." He stuck the gun into his belt.
"But now?"
Jake shook his head. "Now I don't feel a damn thing."
A week later it rained all across Greater LA. A chill heavy rain that
went on and on.
Jake, alone, was walking along the midday beach near his home. His
shoulders were hunched, his hands were thrust deep in his trouser
pockets.
From the opposite direction a pretty young actress came running
enthusiastically along the rainswept sand. "You're getting soaked,"
she commented as she jogged by him.
He didn't respond and kept walking.
A half a mile or so later, he halted and stood looking out at the
choppy grey ocean.
"I'm touched," said someone behind him.
Jake turned. "Hi, Sid."
"Even a coldhearted, hardboiled old operative such as me couldn't help
but be moved by how forlorn you're looking,
"I'm not after pity."
"Oh, so?"
"Did you want anything specific?"
"You haven't returned the chief's calls at all. You haven't returned
mine for two days."
"I feel like being pretty much to myself." "Dan's with you, isn't he?"
"Sure, but he understands."
"He has to pretend to, the poor kid's stuck with you for a
padre," said Gomez. "The Cosmos Agency has a new case for us. It's
an odd one and it apparently doesn't involve Tek at all. Why don't you
come into the of ice with me this afternoon?"
He asked his friend, "You think I'm overdoing the mourning?" "By about
two or three days at least."
"Okay, I'll change and we'll go see what Bascom has to offer."
"Eventually," said his partner as they started back along the beach,
"you can get over most things."
"Most things," said Jake. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

zanotowane.pl

doc.pisz.pl

pdf.pisz.pl

qus.htw.pl