Free The Octagonal Raven by L. E. Modesitt Page A

required, not without leaving a track.”
    “You’re right, and there wasn’t any track,” Gerrat confirmed.
    “And somehow…can’t see the NeoLudds embracing all that they decry to use specialized nanites.”
    “Fanatics have been known to do stranger things,” he pointed out. “They might find the irony delightful.”
    “I’m sure they would. But they probably wouldn’t know a bacterium from a nanite.”
    “Not that there’s much difference.”
    I ignored Gerrat’s quip. “What do you know about the Dynae?”
    Gerrat smiled and gestured idly toward the fist-sized black case on the corner of the mistingly transparent armaglass table that served as his desk. “I’d already thought about that. Everything that can be put in data form is there.”
    “What about the information that can’t?”
    “There isn’t much. Not even from our sources. They’re either more successfully secretive than we are, or they have no secrets.” He shrugged. “I doubt that you’re their preferred target. If anyone is.”
    “It seems unlikely someone would go to the trouble of tailoring nanites for a prank or a blind target.”
    “No…they wouldn’t. But…what if you weren’t the target? You know, I had Kharl check you most carefully.”
    “Meaning you are? Or the more important members of the family?”
    “Kharl says that they were self-replicating. That’s why you were scanned before you came in today and why I had Kharl check you over thoroughly.”
    “You think they wanted me to convey all those odd nanites to you?”
    He frowned. “I wouldn’t have done it that way, but I can’t see any other rationale. You’re not important enough to spend that much effort on killing.”
    “I do so appreciate your judgments, Gerrat.”
    He smiled. “Surely, you’re not going to object to my objective analysis. You’re a good methodizer. According to some people, you’re one of the best, if not one of the top five. You’re also a watched edartist, and one with a growing following. But you don’t control or influence anything directly. You haven’t upset any women—or men—and everyone likes you personally. Because of that, you can and do go everywhere. Kharl’s of the opinion, and I tend to agree, that someone miscalculated. This mysterious woman overdosed you.”
    “Why didn’t they just go for you? Or Father?”
    “How?”
    Gerrat had a point—in a way. Getting through UniComm’s security and his and Father’s personal systems would have been difficult—but not impossible. I could have, and I wasn’t an expert in it.
    “Plus,” he added, “if we were attacked directly, the CAs would have to show an interest. If you had died from an anaphylactic reaction…there would have been sorrow…a little mystery perhaps…and it would all have been forgotten by now. You have neither spouse nor partner, nor position in UniComm.” He grinned ironically. “You can imagine the CA reaction. ‘So sorry your brother died, Director Alwyn. He showed real promise as an edartist.’”
    With that, he had a better point. Much better, unfortunately. “And you can’t think of anyone else who might want me dead?”
    “Neither Father nor I can, and that worries us both.”
    I nodded slowly as I stood. There wasn’t much point in staying. I reached forward and took the small black case. “You’ll let me know?”
    “Just as you will.”
    I was afraid of that, but I smiled. “As soon as I find something…if I do.”
    “Daryn…do be careful.”
    “I will. I don’t want to be a rate-hit on your instant AllNews show.” I could certainly assure Gerrat of that.
    He actually looked worried as I left, and some of it was real. What worried me most was that he hadn’t even questioned that what had happened to me had been an attack of some sort, and that meant more was happening than met anyone’s eyes, and that neither Gerrat nor Father knew much more than they had already said.

Chapter 13
    Fledgling: Yunvil, 421