Free Queen of Angels by Greg Bear Page A

the ears wrapped an arm around her neck and applied pressure to her throat until she stopped kicking. Willow wrapped tack cord around her legs. She shot at us, he said gasping for breath. She fapping shot at us. Thats automatic therapy mandatory, Mary said to the woman. The womans eyes looked up at her out of a mess of blood and tangled hair. For a moment Mary caught a satisfying glimpse of disorientation and terror. She relaxed her grip. My hand, the woman said thickly, moaning. My nose. Small price, Mary said, turning away. You fapping bitch! Willow shouted. Now, now, Mary said, some of her status calm returning. No way to talk to a citizen. Sorry, Willow said. Sampson reported the takedown to the CEC and first team leader. They tried to lift the woman but she struggled again. Willow pulled out more tack cord and pinned her arms to her body. In their ears CEC said, All three levels searched. One out the roof, takedown by team three. Eight suspects secured and three victims. Calling in therapists and mcdi. Were crossing this bridge, Mary said to the woman, who squirmed violently against the tack cords. Do you want to make us all fall off? The woman became still. Were just doing your job, damn you, she said, split lip swelling. Oh. Mary nodded emphatic gratitude. My apologies. Willow lifted the womans feet and Mary her shoulders. They carried her over the narrow bridge and dropped her beside Sampson. Sampson smiled broadly ironically at Mary. You lysing lobe sod, Mary told him in a tone of pure syrup. He lifted his arm and showed her a torn sleeve. Blood trickled down his wrist and dripped from his finger. just a flesh wound, maam, he said. Flechette darts were designed to change shape and burrow if given a purchase of more than a centimeter. Sampson was very lucky. Could have taken your arm off, Willow said admiringly. Mary pulled back, looked Sampson over critically, then held out her arms and hugged him. Glad youre still with us, Robert, she said into his ear. Fine job, Mary, he responded. Hey, Willow said. How about me? Show me your blood, Mary told him. He looked abashed and then she hugged him as well. Lets get Robert looked at Should be worth at least a day off, Sampson said. He shook his arm flinging more blood from his fingertips and dutched it at the elbow. Christ. Its beginning to hurt.
    Mary stood before the recorders taking down officer testimony on the jiltz. A pd legal advisor and metro certified public witness stood behind the officer in charge of the vid. Did you incur or cause any injuries in this action? the pd advisor asked her. No injuries to myself. I slightly injured an unidentified female suspect when she attempted to flee and used a weapon. Nature of that weapon? the advisor asked. Flechette pistol. The evidence processor, a young assistant sergeant, removed the pistol in its protective translucent bag from a tray atop a pd arbeiter and dangled it in the scanning lines of the testimony vids secondary recorder. Already officers and tedmi cians were preparing to fasten ceiling tracks throughout the house and mount assayers and sniffers. The suspects were being kept in another room pending onsite arraignment; therapists had not yet arrived to remove the clamps from three victims. All pd was authorized to do was shut down the active elements of the helkrowns. Mary had not yet seen the room where the victims were kept. She was restless to do so although she feared it would give her nightmares. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted three metro therapists entering through the wide front door. They crossed the marble tile floor to the stairs leading to the second level, two men and a woman in pale gray midsuits. She knew two of them; they had given first therapy treatment to Joseph Khamsang Phung during her last Selector jiltz, her only prior witnessing of an active damp. Were you with another officer at the time? the advisor continued. Yes. LAPD junior Lieutenant Terence Willow. Did he help you inflict