The room was quiet, but Dodger knew he wasn’t alone in the darkened library. His knowledge wasn’t anything mystic; spells, conjurings, and astral voyages weren’t his kind of magic. It wasn’t that he heard them, or smelled them, or, as yet, saw any evidence of them, either. His awareness might have been due to some combination of his physical senses operating below his consciousness. He didn’t need to know how it worked; the fact that it worked was enough. Still, there was no sense of danger. He had been on enough shadowruns to know that feeling. At least for the moment, whoever watched wasn’t planning to attack.
“I told you he’d be decking.”
The deep voice throbbed with vindication. Dodger knew it too well. Estios had never liked him and never would. The black-haired elf had squared off against Dodger from the first time they had met. Like their hair colors, their personalities were opposites. There was no attraction between them save a mutual call to hostility.
With slow deliberation, Dodger prolonged his disconnection from the Matrix, tapping in a few more commands before logging off. He took the connector from the datajack on his left temple and held it with just enough pressure that the reel wound it smoothly and the plug nestled safely into its niche. Sliding the compartment cover closed, he turned his chair around.
Estios glowered at him, as expected. Professor Sean Laverty stood by the elf’s side. That was also expected; the officious Estios’s words only made sense if he had the professor’s attention. Chatterjee stood on the other side of the professor. The Asian elf’s presence was not expected, but not surprising either; he was a frequent resident of the mansion. Hanging back near the door was the real surprise, Teresa O’Connor. Dear, sweet Teresa. If he had known she was at the mansion, he would never have come.
The professor waited until Dodger wrenched his eyes away from Teresa before speaking. “Dodger, you know the rules.”
Indeed he did, but when had that stopped him from doing what needed to be done? Sliding the corners and skipping over the bounds were what made life worth living. True as that was, there were some matters best dealt with carefully. “The cyberdeck’s running a sidecar copy now, Professor. I didn’t break any of your rules.”
“You ran the Matrix without authorization,” Estios accused.
“A decker always runs without authorization. ’Tis what decking is all about.”
Estios’s eyes narrowed. “Cut the snow. You’ve spent enough time here to know that no one connects to the Matrix from the mansion without clearing it first.”
“And if anyone, even you, Estios, can find anything compromising in the copy of the run, I shall submit to any discipline that the professor deems proper.”
“We don’t need to see your concocted evidence, alley runner. You’re not welcome here any longer. Leave now.”
Estios stepped forward, apparently ready to enforce his demand, but Laverty restrained him with a touch on his arm. “Dodger may stay as long as he wishes.”
Estios turned his head sharply and looked down into Laverty’s eyes. “That’s unwise.”
“Technically, Dodger is abusing your hospitality, Professor,” Chatterjee said. “It sets a terrible precedent.”
“He should be expelled and banned,” Estios said.
“Dodger is free to come and go as he pleases, Mr. Estios,” Laverty said.
Chatterjee inclined his head in acceptance of the professor’s decision, but Estios just scowled and stepped back to his place at Laverty’s side. Laverty gave the taller elf a rueful shake of his head.
“Come, come, Mr. Estios. I feel confident that Dodger would never betray this house. He is difficult on occasion and less than mannerly at most times, but his heart is great. I am sure that there is a good and sufficient reason for his actions.”
“Verily,” Dodger agreed. “’Tis most assured that I meant no disrespect for you and your hospitality, Professor. Circumstances conspired to force me to this end.”
“Don’t they always?” Laverty said, then chuckled. “Circumstances seem to conspire against you regularly.”
Dodger shrugged. “Time is an unreal concept in the forest. I stayed too long and found myself in need of a safe place to conduct my business. Lacking access to any other place where my flesh would be safe while I roamed the Matrix, I came here.”
“You could have decked from your precious forest,” Estios said. “You’ve done that often enough.”
“Alas, I had no transmitter. I had not expected to be gone so long, and so neglected to make such preparations. When I found that time had passed more swiftly than expected, I found myself in an awkward situation. Were it not for my obligations to my fellow runners, I would never have imposed so.”
“What do you know of obligations, alley runner?”
“I know that a person is obligated to follow his conscience rather than the letter of orders imposed from above. Surely, even a grand soldier such as yourself can grasp such a basic concept?”
“Enough. There have been enough disturbances of the peace in this house. I do not need you two tearing at each other,” Laverty said. “Dodger, this run wouldn’t be one of Samuel Verner’s, would it?”
Seeing no harm in admitting it, Dodger said, “In truth, it is.”
Laverty was thoughtful for a moment. The other elves waited silently; they knew better than to interrupt the professor’s thoughts. At last, he said, “You have shown a remarkable loyalty toward that man.”
“Any loyalty is remarkable for an alley runner.”
“I said enough, Mr. Estios.” There was no harshness in Laverty’s voice, but Estios looked stung just the same. Laverty’s attention remained on Dodger. “Another data run? Verner is still searching for his sister?”
“Always that,” Dodger replied. The professor’s renewed interest in Sam made him a little uncomfortable. “This run was simply business. Even a knight errant needs operating capital.”
“Another theft,” Estios scoffed.
“’Twas no theft.”
“Call it what you want,” Estios continued, ignoring Laverty’s sharp look. “You can’t alter its nature.”
Dodger’s initial annoyance at Estios’s suggestion of larceny eased as he saw the professor’s reaction. Estios lost points by being the first to break the imposed truce. Unable to resist, Dodger said, “Some people never change.”
A slight motion near the door caught his attention, and he immediately regretted his words. In the exchange with Estios, he had forgotten that Teresa was there. She had been so quiet. Thinking he had no way to fool the professor, but that he might cover his chagrin from the others, he launched into an explanation of what had happened.
“Our run was supposed to be a simple extraction. A friendly one, at that. The subject had supposedly concluded a contract with new employers, but had failed to secure release from his current corporation. Mr. Johnson assured us the subject was not in a sensitive position, so it should have been a clean in-and-out. Someone hosed. The pickup apparently had no idea what was going on. He did not even seem aware that Sam and the others were there for him.”
“A deliberate ruse to trap Verner,” Chatterjee suggested.
Dodger wondered just how much Chatterjee knew. The dark-skinned elf had not been present when Sam had been at the mansion last summer, and normally, he would not have been briefed on old business. Perhaps he only drew the obvious conclusion. “If ’twere a trap, ’twere a poor one. There seemed no reasonable chance of closure.”
“A Renraku reprisal, then?”
Chatterjee’s mention of the corporation from which Sam had fled banished any remaining thoughts of innocence. Chatterjee’s knowledge was a sign that the professor still retained an interest in Sam. “An unlikely circumstance.”
Laverty nodded. “A conclusion based on your research into Mr. Johnson’s real identity.”
Dodger tried his best offended look. “A client expects to maintain his confidentiality. ’Tis most unhealthy to inquire into such matters.”
“Dodger?” Laverty smiled, and Dodger knew his ruse had never had a chance.
“Andrew Glover of Amalgamated Technologies and Telecommunications. Mister Glover is a vice president, on the fast track with a bullet. His firm has a pedigree that’s about as pure European as they come. ’Tis not the slightest hint of Renraku influence. Of course,” Dodger added with a sly grin, “there does seem to be a connection to Saeder-Krupp.”
Laverty raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
Estios did the reacting. “Saeder-Krupp! They’re Lofwyr’s puppets. If the beast is making moves in Seattle—”
Laverty’s voice was stiff as he clipped Estios into silence. “Mr. Estios, you are being most disruptive today. The dragon’s plans are not of importance in this matter. Simple stock ownership is insufficient evidence of his involvement. Although ATT is owned by Saeder-Krupp, the corporation remains essentially independent, and I think it unlikely Lofwyr even knows of this operation. Dodger, you did say that your Mr. Johnson was Glover?”
“Andrew.”
Laverty nodded to himself. “Though I doubt your friend is enmeshed in some dragon’s schemes again, I think he will have need of his budding magical talents.”
Dodger understood the implied question. He even had some idea of the offer being made. “He still won’t come to see you.”
“I understand. His rigorous logical training and scientific orientation made a very convincing argument that his mind would be oriented to the hermetic tradition. Your report of his vision of the Dog totem was most startling. I had not conceived of that possibility. It was a most embarrassing oversight. He probably holds me in little respect, since I misdiagnosed his calling.”
Ah, thought Dodger, if you only knew. “’Tis not the reason. Despite surviving dragonfire, Sam barely believes in his magical powers. ’Tis unlikely he would fault you for thinking him a mage when he himself will not accept that he has a shamanic calling. He clings desperately to his scientific view of the world.”
“Then he has abandoned investigations into his magic?”
“Quite the contrary. He struggles to learn. It’s driving Lady Tsung crazy.”
Laverty actually looked surprised. “Ms. Tsung is attempting to teach him?”
“Attempting is the right word. Were Sam not so stubborn, he’d see that he and Lady Tsung have incompatible magical orientations.”
“Given what you’ve said, his lack of vision now seems unsurprising. Try to bring him back.”
“He won’t come. He wants to find his sister first.”
“Such loyalty is admirable. And very valuable. But do what you can to bring him here.”
With that, Laverty turned and left the library. Estios and Chatterjee followed. Teresa remained standing at the door, making no move to leave. Estios aborted his own exit, and they exchanged a few words, speaking too softly for Dodger to hear.
After a few moments, Estios straightened and glared back at Dodger. The deck returned a bland smile, which only infuriated the elf even more. He said one last thing to Teresa before striding angrily through the doorway.
Dodger was left alone with Teresa. He waited and she made the first move, walking softly across the carpet to the desk where his cyberdeck lay. Dodger stood as she approached.
She reached a hand past him and took the chip the machine had extruded. She weighed it in her hand and said, “You seem very fond of this Samuel Verner.”
“I have told him I will help him find his sister.”
“You’ve set yourself another task?”
“A noble quest. We have learned she was sent to Yomi Island. ’Tis a foul place where the Japanese send those unfortunate enough to be inflicted with metahuman genes. We would liberate her from such vile durance.”
“Once you would have gone charging in.”
“Yomi is not the sort of place where one could do that easily. There must be preparations. We will go when we are ready. First, we must gain information and credit because transportation, equipment, and muscle are not cheap. While we gather what we need, we hone our skills with shadowruns. Were Sam less fastidious about the runs, we would be further along.”
She made a tentative motion, almost reaching out to touch him. “You would have made a wonderful paladin.”
The old pain seared. Dodger turned his shoulder to her; he did not want her to see the emotions her words had wakened. “I am no paladin. I never will be. I refuse to be twisted to serve any person’s will.”
“Yet you serve this norm,” she said softly.
“I do not serve him. I help him.” Dodger turned to look at her, but her face was shadowed under her hair. His hands hung uselessly at his side. “There is all the difference in the world between those two words.”
“You always did worry about words.” Teresa toyed with the chip. She would not look him in the face. “Why are you helping him?”
“We are friends.”
She tilted her head slightly. He could see her pensive expression now, achingly beautiful in its somber composure. Her serious mien shifted into a wistful smile. “We were friends once.”
Dodger swallowed hard, “I thought so.”
At last she met his gaze. Her eyes were pure emerald and as bottomless as he remembered. He had lost himself in those eyes long ago. He found himself ready to do so again.
“But you left,” she said.
“I had to.”
“Have you come back?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I see.” She pocketed the chip and stepped around him. Pausing at the door, she said, “Come talk to me when you are sure.”
She was gone.
The darkness and ancient books his only witnesses, he softly vowed, “I will.”