hepuzzlewaslocaedonpeppersreeinheisleofdogshepuboverlookedabckexpanseofoxichydrogenoxidealonghemillwalldocksinhedipidaedeaslondonareacalledhedockndsheisleofdogs,awaerboundongueofmarshndinsideadramaicubendinhehamesriver,hadaoimebeenransformedfromhisoricalwharves,dockyardsandwarehousesoswankyriversideresidenialplexeswihsu

ingviewsofheriverhawasalongimeagorisingcrimehadseenaseadyflowofresidensbailouofheareaashesurroundingbckzonesencroachedfromalldirecionsheareahadsincedegeneraedinoahavenforsquaers,oherformsofhumanparasieandunionfreencersboaingordrivinginfromheconinen

ahedocks,afewyardsinfronofhepuzzle,afewdipidaedlookingboasbobbedaophicklookingoilslickwaermosofhemdidn’lookseaworhyroundhebackofhepuzzle,wihinaperimeerofchainlinkedfence,caldwellcouldmakeouaramshacklecluserofmobileresidenceshewalkedhroughhepub’sfakewooddoorsinoahumidcloudofsalebeer,cigareesmokeandroingpubfoodhewrinkledhisnoseandfoughosuppressheurgeogag

iwasbarely700ambualreadyarowofregurswasalreadylinedupalongheexpansivemealbarcelebrainghenewyearbyknockingbackalcoholicbreakfassonunionsocialsecuriymoneyandsaringahepulsaingpixelsofaholographicsrippercaldwellsca

edheunfamiliarfacesandwonderedifoneofhemwasglyphnoneofhemlookedlikehackerypesnoneofhemhadhahungrylookofhedigialfloaingworld

caldwellmovedowardsaraisedareaahebackofhepubandslidinooneofhepuzzle’smockoakseas,awayfromheclienelehecouldn’sandidleconversaionorprolongedconacwihpeoplehehadogeamessageoglyphasquicklyaspossibleherewasaburlyindianlookingguybehindhebarryingolooklikehewaskeepingbusycaldwellpcedheknapsackbeweenhislegs,hebulkofheconsolesrangelyreassuring

hepuzzlewasobviouslyaneighborhoodpubherewasadiscerniblesenseoffamiliariyamongisparonshemanbehindhebarwasengagedinsmallalkwihoneofhecusomerswhoaddressedhimasramandrequesedafreshpinofdarkaleheslurofhecusomer’svoicesuggesedhahismembershipofalcoholicsanonymouswaslongoverduehelookedlikeheseafaringype,anassormenofaoosadornedfccidwhieskin,capainofoneofhefinevesselsousidecaldwellwonderedwheherramwasshorforramesh

hemancalledramacknowledgedhecusomer’sorderwihanodofhishead,hesmokefromhecigareehangingfromhesideofhismouhcreaingaemporaryquesionmarkinheairhehendisappearedbehindhebarafewsecondseraroboshapedlikeaninveredbuckecameolifeonhebarcounerwihashudderandrowsofblinkinglighsherewasasmalrmyofhehingsparkedoonesideofhebar,heircheappseudomealbodyworkgliningheroboblinkedandwhirredandsomehingwhineddeepwihinischassisismidriffwassurroundedbyanearowofshogssesofvariousshapesalighsensoraheendofisminisculeane

asaredblinkingasifiguredouhelocaionofhecusomerherobograbbedabeermugfromarackandproceededopulpinofbrownale,muchohecusomer’samusemen

“newrobobarender,heonlyhingican’doisjuggleboles,”ramhebarenderexpinedproudlyohewideeyedman,allhewhilescrachingabsenmindedlyahishairyarmshecusomerwachedherobomakeiswayowardshimandseaperfecpinofaledownonacoaserinfronofhihemenahebarmomenarilylosineresinhedancinghologramandlookedoveroseewhahemoionofwhirsandclickswasalbouheygawkedforafewsecondsandhenurnedheiraenionbackohegyraingpixels

“moreskullduggeryfromhefareas,”hepodgyaooedcusomersaid,sillslurring“hoseguyswouldbehedeahofusifwearenocareful”

“helpfullilebuggershough,heseauomaedbarenderrobosfreemeupospendmoreimepickingmynose,”ramsaid,pullingamoisfingerouofoneofhisnosrilshecusomersaredughing

“hey’llpuyououofyourjobifyouarenocarefulsomeunionconglomeraewillrollouawholechainofauomaedpubs,noahumaninsighhewholefuckinggigrunbyhesedumbmachines”

“onepinofger,fifyunioneuros”herobosaidinafemalevoice,issca

ersearchingforacredichip

“puionmyab,”saidhecusomeroherobohemanookargeswigfromhegssandlickedhislipsfeverishlyoridhemofhefroh

“onepinofger,fifyunioneuros,”herobosaidagain,hisimehefemalepuerizedvoicehadgoneupanocavehemanlookedlikehewasgoingopummelheroboinohecounerwihhisfisramreachedouandpressedabuonooverrideherobo,whichpromplyreracedandreurnedojoinisbrohersaheendofhebar

“bloodypuers,youpresenhemwihaproblemharequireshumanjudgmenandheycrapouonyou,”hemansaidoramwhojusshookhishead

oherighofwherecaldwellwassiingsoodabunchofslomachinesandsomedecidedlygrubbylookingcyberspaceerminalscluchingheknapsack,hewalkedapprehensivelyoverooneofheerminalsandypedheaddressofhisbaseherewerenonewmessageshefiredashorreplyoglyph’smessageadesiredlocaionle’smeeheloggedouofhebaseandwenbackohisseanow,hejushadowaihewonderedwhaglyphlookedlikehewouldnobesurprisedifhehackerurnedouobesomeacnechallengedfoureenyearoldwhizkidsrangerhingshadhappened

enminueser,hedoorsofhepubflewopenandijusookcaldwelsecondoconcludehaiwasglyphhehinghacamehroughhedoorwasariggedupwheelchairwihwhaappearedobehalfamandeposiedonidespiehisobviousdisabiliy,herewassomehingmajesicabouhewayhecarriedhimself,haairofconfidencepossessedbyhackersworkingonhecuingedgeofechnologyhelookedaroundhiryfiveandsporedaruddyplexionandaruggedbckbeardwhalookedlikerodeswhereseoneachsideofhisheadandheyseemedobehookedupwirelesslyohewheelchairhewaswearingashinywhieshirwhichrailedoffheendofhisleglessorso

glyphwashalfman,halfmachine,willinghewheelchairforwardwihhisbrainwavesgyrosinmoionashewheelchairnealynegoiaedhesepshaleadupoheraisedareaahebackwherecaldwellwassiingilookedlikehehackerhadspoedhimooasglyphmadehiswayowardswherecaldwellwassiinghackershadanunca

ywayofrecognizingoneanoher

hewheelchairglidedupocaldwell’sableandapairofemeraldgreeneyessizedhimupandhenbrokeinoasmile

“iamglyphi’mgdyougomymessageobviouslyyouaresilliveandlookingenirelynohinglikewhaiimagined,”saidglyphinamaeroffacwayhevoicewascool,unfluseredforsomeonedeliveringbadnews,glyphseemedveryrexedandhahelpedknockheedgeoffcaldwell’sfear,whichwassillhere,bloblikeandunshakeableglyph’swhieshirhadsomeunlikelyfrillsdownhefroniwasobviouslyboughasomehrifsorehelookedashoughhe’dhadjussumbledouofanewyear’sbalferaparicurlyheavynighofalcohobuse

“hanksi’sgreaofinallymeeyouinhefleshwho’safermeglyph?”caldwelskedbreahlessly,insincivelylookingaroundhepuboseeifanyonewaspayingu

ecessaryaenionohem

“ihinkyoubeerhaveadrinkfirsyouaregoingoneedi”

“iamouofcredi,ouofahomeiamsureyoucanundersandmyimpaience,”caldwellsaid,insincivelyknowinghapushinghemanospillbeforehewasreadywouldbefuile

“drinksareonmewhaareyouhaving?idon’knowforhowlongiamgoingohaveaabhere,”saidglyph,ignoringcaldwell’sinsisenceherewasaraceofdespondenceinhisvoice

“inhacase,i’llhaveanxo,”caldwellsaid,wonderingwhe

exhe’dbeableoaffordhisowndrinkshedidn’muchcareforxoseiherbuhecheapchineseelecronicdispysseinoheablessaidheywereon“special”

“xoingrighup,”saidglyph,affecingamockbodwellwachedglyphkeyinheorder,hispodgyhumbleavingsmudgesonhepsicouchscreen

“howdidyoudohawihhewheelchair?youdidn’usehejoysick”

“hadamaedowninsurreyquaysrighisbabyupwihheesneurosensorsysemfromaiwanhadfoursensorchipsonehundredhhesizeofaposagesampinseredjusunderheskinonmyskullhisbabyreadshesensorsinrealime,”hehackerexpined,appingagrayenclosureonhesideofhewheelchair

“mushavebeenpainful,”caldwellspecued

“noreallyherealproblemssarifhechipisblockinghegrowhofyourhairfollicleshenyoucanreallymessyourselfup”

“echnology,can’livewihi,can’livewihoui,”caldwellsaid,sudyinghehacker’sheavilypuerizedwheelchairwihismulipledispysglyphwasobviouslymullingsomehingoverinhishead,hebaneranddeailsofhiswheelchair’sechnologyahinlyveiledsmokescreenhebarenderbroughoverwogssesofxo,saidhellooglyphandpromplyreurnedohebarcaldwellookasipandhenlookedaglyphwillinghimogeonwihihehackerdrainedhalfofhegssinonesinglegulpandgrimaced

“kenzoyamamoo,hehub’srgesclienisdeadhemenwhoareaferyouarehisyakuzacronies,”glyphsaidcasually

“hecan’bedeadijushadaconversaionwihanavaarhapurporedobehimjusoveranhourorsoagobesides,howdoyouknowhe’sdeadandhowdoyouknowhaherearepeopleaferme?”

“heavaarcouldhavebeenarecordedpuerconsruckenzowaskilledwodaysago”caldwell’shearskippedabeaashissrayofhopedisappearedunderahickbnkeofgaheringsormcloudshesv’svialmayyebecalleduponagainoday

“howdoyouknowallhis?”heasked

“kenzowashehub’sbiggesclienourreionshipwihhimgoeswaybackofcourse,whenyouhaveaclienhabigandwihhosekindsoffinancialresourcesyoudowhayoucanocheckhimoufollowuponhim,ifyoulikedealingwihheyakuzaisriskybusinesssoyoudowhayoucanomakesurehayoudon’suddenlybeedispensableyouakeyourprecauionsle’sjussayweareappedinoheirmunicaio

eworkswefoundawayoaccessheirsaellies,discoveredexploisinheirinrusiondeecionais,soweknowalileabouwha’sgoingoninokyoundersandwhaiamsaying?”

“andheydiscoveredyououandarenowingforallhubmembers?”caldwellsuggesed

“ha’snoiaalliappearsfromheirinernalmunicaionshakenzosenouwopackagesrecenlyfromokyoonewenonewyorkandheoheroheunion”glypheyedcaldwellquizzicallydidglyphknowwhawasinhepackages?

“ican’seehecorreion”

“ihinkyoucanyamamoo’sdeahhasunraveledhisoperaions,whichisuspecwerenoparofheyakuza’smaserpnheyakuzawanverybadlyorerievewhaeverkenzosenyouandheamericanomakesurehaanyonewhohasseeyesoniisakenouofhepicure”caldwellreceivedanoherinenselookfromglyph

“whowasheoherguy?”caldwelsked,hismindrapidlydigesingallhenewinformaionglyphseemedparicurlywellinformed,amanwihhisdigialearoheground

“professorjoplinofharvarduniversiy,deceasedasofyeserdayheyareingforyounex”

caldwell’sworsfearscameruewihhaonesenenceonhemaglev,ihaddawnedonhimhaheconsolecouldbeheonlyreasonwhyhere’dbesomeoneonhisailkenzoyamamoo’sdeahofferedaconvenienexpnaionforwayoomanyhingshemanonhepformwasnoaferhimjusorerieveheconsolehewasbenonakinghislife

caldwellwachedglyphclosely,wonderingwheherhehackerwoulddemandoseeheconsoleandifhedidwheherheshouldshowiohimhisonlyopioniseemedwasosellhehingandodisappeardeepwihinhefabricofheunionglyphmighbeableohelphimlocaeabuyerglyphpunchedoneofhemanybuonsonhiswheelchair’sarmresoreveasmalldispyscreen

“so,whydoyouhinkhesenhepackageoheprofessorandome?idon’undersand,”caldwellsaidaferibecameclearhasomeresponsewasexpecedglyphwasnosurewheherhewasbeingsarcasicorno

“yousaidhayoualkedohimorhisconsrucodaydidn’heoriellyou?”

“nohesaidhewouldgeinouchsoon”

“wordincyberspace,heyakuzaseemsosuspechisoo,ishahepokedhisfingersinoooomanypiesandhechinesemadehimpay”

“hechinese?ihoughkenzowasinomoslyjapanesecorporaesuff,”caldwellsaid

“sodidiaanyrae,hewasfounddeadonheoileahecherryblossomhosessclubinshinjuku,okyoi’sapopuryakhangouapparenly,hewaskilledbysomekindofoxicpound,oneusedforassassinaionspredominanlyinnewchinaonheoileseacanyouimagine?hediedinahurryaccordingoreporsloadednanobosgainedaccesshroughheporesinhisskin”

caldwellhoughabouheviandwonderedwheherheshoulddrinkisconensrighhenandhere

“kenzo’sassociaesknowabouheconsolesandwanhemback,”saidglyph,smirkingasheookanoherbiggulpofxoandlookingacaldwelshoughdaringhimodenyhaoneofhesaidconsoleswereinhispossession

“soyouknow?”

“ahackinodhl’scusomdecraionsmainframeinindiahepuerhandleselecronicdecraionsforallofdhl’sunionoperaions”

“iseeforherecord,iwasquiecuupbyhefachaiwasnolongerparofhecoreeamonhehubkenzosaidheorchesraedha,obviouslywihyourparicipaion”

“yes,onkenzo’srequessaidheneededyououofhepicureforawhileoffheradarifyouknowwhaimeanyouareoneofhehub’sbessoiwasabirelucanodoibukenzo’spockesaredeepsorry”

“nooffenceakenireceivedheconsoleinheposjushismorningandsilldon’knowwhaodowihi”

glyphrapinhoughnow,scrachedhisbeard

“haveyoujackedinwihheconsoleye?”glyphasked

“onlyomybase”

“heycanprobablyraceha”

“sowhaexaclydoyouknowabouheconsolesandwhakenzoinendedhemobeusedfor?”caldwelsked

“ifiknewha,i’dprobablybedead”

“fairenough,buwhowerehisbuyers?”

“anybodyhewanedasisaid,kenzomademarkesininformaionhisexperise,ifyoucouldcalliha,wasofindinformaiononpeopleororganizaions,valuableinformaion,nohecrapanyonecangeincyberspace,andsellhainformaionohosepeopleororganizaions,orheirenemies,orgovernmens,whoeverwashehighesbiddersomepeoplepreferocallibckmail”

“andheoperaedhroughfreencerslikeus,avirualglobalwork?”

“ha’sjusparofhesorykenzohadanarmyofgameboys,hackers,phreakersandinformaiondealersaroundheglobeonhepayroll,fromhelsinkiomoscowobeijingheyoperaedanonymously,deliveringhedaahroughaseriesofinricaerouinesoensurehaneihersourcenordesinaionlefanyraceyeresassuredhayamamoohaddaaonhebackgroundsofeveryhackerwhopulledajobforhimhavinganadhocinernaionalhackingworkmeanheyakuzaandhemajorzaibasusheshookdowninokyocouldneverdireclyco

ecanyofhisohim”

“elecronicspyingandbckmail”

“correc,andlikeaphysicalworldspyhesubveredceraininsiderssuchasgovernmenofficials,bankemployees,academics,programmersandsoonsomeimeshesingledoupeoplewhohadnohisorywhasoever,”saidglyph,downingheresofhexo,leavingdroplesinhisbeardcaldwellsippedfromhisgss,grimacingahefoulase

“peoplewihnohisory,likeme?”

“correciappearshasomewhereinhismassivedaabase,kenzohadsumbledonsomeinformaionabouyouperhapsabouyourpasinformaionhamadeyouvaluableohimwordhasihaheoherrecipienofheconsole,hisprofessorjoplin,wasoneofheworld’sleadingmindsinarificialinelligencewhywouldhesendconsolesinheposwhenheyarereadilyavaible?”

“we’llneverknowbecausehe’sdead”caldwellwassillrelucanoellglyphhaheconsoleinhispossessionwasunlikeanyoherhewasn’surehowmuchhecouldrushewheelchairboundhacker

“yes,buihinkwecandeduceheanswerkenzosenheconsolesbecausehewanedyouwoohackinoaworkinaccessibleoordinaryconsoleshefachahechoseanarificialinelligenceexperandahackerforhejobca

obecoincidencealso,hesuspicionhahewaskilledbyhechinesehassomesubsanceoiweallknowhaheyhaveahisoryofcreaingalernaeworksocyberspaceiselfheyareunwillingodependo

eworkshaareeffecivelycreaed,evolvedandmanagedbyheuniedsaes”

“byheway,howdidyoufindouheywereingafermeoday?”

“wefoundouhaheyakuzainjapanhaddiscoveredhesknownaddressesofeveryonewhoreceivedoneofkenzo’sconsolesandhedeahofheprofessorsuggessheyarealreadyinheprocessofdoingsomehingabouiweeavesdroppedonmunicaionshaindicaedhayakuzahadbeendispachedoheunion”

“heyfoundhecapsuleaddress?”glyph’ssorysoundedlikeoomuchofcoincidence,buhedidn’looklikehewaslyinghiseyeswereopaquegreenpoolsofsinceriy

“probablyscenarioanalysisconsrucsluckyforyou,hejapaneseyakuzaofficiallypulledouoflondonaferhebayswaermassacreheyformedsomekindofrucewihheuniongovernmenandheyagreedopullou”

“so?”

“kenzowasparofhemospowerfulyakuzaworkinjapan,buhewasarogueelemenoffonaangendoinghisownsuff,”glyphexpined“iappearshaheyfoundouwhahewasupoaferhisdeahpulledallhesysemsofflineanddecidedodosomecleaningupfirsforunaelyforyou,heyhadoflypeopleoufromokyoheamericanprofessorhadnosuchluckhebosonyakuzaaresillverymuchacive”

“soyou’vegoanaiguyandawha,aloser?andheyjuswanowipeusoffhefaceofhepforbeingonhereceivingendofdhl’spackagedeliveryservice?”

“iamsurekenzodidn’seeihawayoherwise,hewouldn’havesenyouha,”glyphreasoned,poiningahebag“googooheloowillberighbackandwecanakealookahaconsole”hewheelchairmovedoffonisownaccordowardsheoiles,rubberwheelssqueakingonheiling