Free Vitals by Greg Bear

agent, built a lot like Dave, I thought, her pant suit a size too small and stretched tight. She watched suspiciously from beneath a knit cap perched jauntily forward on neat cornrows, and asked a lot of questions.
    She would not miss a trick, I judged.
    Nadia did most of the talking. She had more color today, but her manner was cold and efficient, as if her emotions were running on a very low charge.
    I was trying to figure out how to get my prizes off the Sea Messenger. The ship was likely to be impounded for days, and I had no idea what would happen to them over so much time. I just wanted to haul the containers off the Sea Messenger and get them over to the lab I was renting on southeast Lake Union. I was eager to get my critters stabilized in the proper inoculants, supplied with fresh seawater, and under reliable pressure.
    Maybe it was a personal disconnect, like an emotional circuit breaker blowing, maybe it was shock. All I needed on this Earth, right now, was to document and describe the Vendobionts, if that's what they were. Perform a few tests. Count their little fingers and toes.
    It was not that I didn't care about the rest. I just did not have a clue how I could help Nadia feel better, or do anything for Jason. I certainly did not feel responsible for what had happened, however strange the circumstances.
    Maybe it was the Sea Messenger that was hexed.
    I peered into my cabin. The plump agent in the too-tight suit stood there with two men in plain clothes--and I do mean plain, black suits and London Fogs.
    My clothes, books, and computer were spread out on the bed, being violated.
    "Hello," I said.
    The young agent had removed her cap and her cornrows were indeed perfect. She had the most intense and unreadable eyes, and the skin of her round face was an unblemished work of art.
    "We're through with these," she said, and indicated the clothes on the bed. "But we'd like to keep these." She swung her hand--her whole upper body, as well--to indicate my computer and three textbooks.
    "The books are available on Amazon dot com," I said. "The computer contains private information. Unless you have a specific warrant, I'd like to take it with me. I'm not under suspicion, am I?" I gathered up my few clothes and pointedly thrust them back into the travel bag, flopping over and pressing down sleeves and legs.
    "We need to establish relationships and circumstances," she said.
    "Am I a suspect?"
    "No," she admitted.
    "Do you have a warrant that lets you ..." I looked for the right legal words, then gave up. "Fumble through private documents?"
    "No," she said, eyes lidded with sublime nonchalance.
    "I'll keep it neat and tidy, and I'm sure you'll let me know if things change," I said, shaking a little at my presumption, and at hers. I tossed the computer and the books into the bag and zipped it shut.
    I passed Nadia in the corridor as I rolled the bag on its wheels to the gangway. She was smoking a cigarette and looked dead on her feet.
    She glanced my way, then sharply looked aside and stubbed out her cigarette in a little can.
    I had not seen her smoke before.
    "I won't say it was a pleasure," she said.
    I stopped and regarded her sadly, still buzzing from my anger in the cabin. I switched the bag handle to my right hand. "I feel like a goddamned Jonah," I said, and realized my eyes were watering. "Christ, what did I do?"
    "Nothing," Nadia said.
    "I have no idea why Dave went crazy in the sub, or why Mauritz wanted to kill me. I really don't."
    She kept her face pointed toward the shadows and bleak gray concrete planes of the dock. I flashed on all the women who had ever stubbornly tried to put me aside or pigeonhole me, or blame me, with or without cause.
    "This is nuts," I said, and tugged my ridiculous little bag toward the gangway.
    "Betty Shun wants to talk with you," Nadia said, biting off the information like an insult. You're being called to the principal's office.
    I looked back, eyes wide. She was lighting up