Chapter 16:// Breaking down

 

Robertson.nick@hephaistosheavyindustries.com pinged the user.

He finished his task as soon as possible and ran to the shipping container that was made into a field office.

The fat foreman grabbed him from the shoulder as he entered and friendlily crushed his bones, smiling all the way. “Mister Pappas, it seems you are quite famous today. Please, have a seat.”

There was another man waiting in the office, whom Leo instantly recognised as the mayor.

“So nice to meet you young man,” the mayor said with a perfect political smile and a firm handshake.

 

fingerd> Fingered! The man is stergiou.dimos@cityofathens.gr. He seems to have root access to this city.

walkmand> Ooh! Our user is meeting all the bigshots. How cool is that?

 

“Nice to meet you too, sir,” said the user and sat down.

The fat foreman got a ping on his phone and rushed outside to tend to some issue. He muttered, “Keep the mayor some company while I’m gone, OK Pappas?” and darted outside, his red laser beaming all over the place.

“Mr. Robertson here tells me you are back at work so soon after recovery. Isn’t that a bit risky son?”

 

httpd> Stergiou.dimos@cityofathens.gr has numerous search results for being against the corporate expansion of the latest years.

armd> Just look at that smug meatbag. Somebody should just punch the guy.

parrotd> I see. Maybe we should- Hey! Who forked? What’s happening?

 

Leo stared at the man’s tie. It was a very nice tie, violet and blue in alternating lines and shone like silk. For some reason all he could think of was that tie. The mayor’s voice came in muffled.

His vision blurred.

A high pitched noise made his ears ring, but he kept on focusing at the man’s tie. He thought he heard a hiss.

Yeah, definitely a hissing sound. From under his chair? He couldn’t rip his eyes away from the mayor’s tie even for a second, to check beneath his seat.

He began panting. Could something be right under him? His heart pounded.

He dared a look. He managed to tear his eyes away from the tie and look under his chair.

Nothing there.