Free To Hold Infinity by John Meaney Page B

missed an appointment. I don't think there's much we can do.”
    Before Yoshiko could reply, Vin butted in. “There's something else, which is why I asked for a personal interview. I thought your AI might misunderstand.”
    â€œThere's no substitute for people.” A faint smile appeared on the proctor's face. “So what was it?”
    â€œI flew over her son's house.” Vin glanced at Yoshiko. “The security included DarkAngel smartbats.”
    â€œLoaded?”
    â€œStun-toxins, ultrasound, armour-piercing smartvenom. According to the warning broadcast. I didn't hang around to find out for sure.”
    â€œI don't blame you.” The proctor looked at Yoshiko. “Why would your son need such heavy duty protection?”
    â€œI—don't know.”
    The proctor was silent for a moment, then addressed Vin. “We'll look into this. Is Mrs. Sunadomari your guest?”
    â€œYes. Yoshiko, you will come and stay with us, won't you?”
    Yoshiko looked from one to the other.
    â€œYes, please. I need your help.”
    â€œDon't worry.” Vin's natural cheerfulness was returning. “It will turn out all right.”
    â€œYes,” said the proctor. “She's right, madam. We'll look into it, and let you know. In the meantime, try not to worry.”
    Yoshiko, who would have worried less if they had not been so adamant, merely nodded.
    As the display winked out, Vin pulled the privacy module, and the world reappeared.
    Below the balustrade, the children's play area was deserted save for one forgotten toy, a one-armed battered teddy bear staring lifelessly towards the sky.

The whole world tilted. Heat blasted into Yoshiko's face from the white concrete pad, as she stepped down from the courtesy van. She almost stumbled, overcome by the air's sharp tang, the subtly lower gravity—though she had not noticed it indoors—and the insistent alien overlay of her new surroundings.
    I'm the alien here, she realized, squinting against the light from a cloudless lime green sky.
    Vin alighted from the van's cabin. At the rear, the smartcart holding Yoshiko's luggage detached itself, and crawled towards Vin's flyer. There were hundreds of other flyers parked around them, all of them rich-looking, all of them huge by Yoshiko's standards.
    â€œIt's a Gestrax Secundus,” Vin said, as they drew near her bronze delta-winged dart. It was one of the smallest flyers there.
    â€œVery sporty.”
    It was a relief to get back inside an air-conditioned cabin.
    Vin made no control gestures, voiced no commands, but the flyer powered up. The ground dropped away beneath them.
    Lucis City's rich profusion lay off to one side, but rapidly receded. Below, a featureless plain raced by.
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    Vin stiffened. “I'm getting a call.” She looked at Yoshiko. “It's the proctors. I'll put it on holo.”
    An image grew in front of Yoshiko. The proctor they had spoken to before.
    â€œMrs. Sunadomari,” she said. “Captain Rogers, from the Bureau for Offworld Affairs, would like to talk to you.”
    A white-haired red-cheeked man appeared.
    â€œ J'ai quelque questions à vous poser ,” he said without preliminaries.
    â€œ Oui, d'accord .” Yoshiko's reply was automatic. She had hardly spoken Français since emigrating from FedCan, over two decades before.
    â€œ Votre fils a disparu, mais vous ne savez pas pourquoi. Exact? ”
    â€œ Je suppose ,” said Yoshiko. She could feel Vin's interested gaze. “Er—Could we speak Anglic, please? It's been a long while.”
    â€œIf you like. When did you last see him, in person?”
    â€œThree years ago, on Earth. He was back for a holiday.” The only one Tetsuo had taken, in the five standard years he had been here.
    â€œHas he mentioned any problems, in his business dealings?”
    â€œI know nothing about his work.”
    â€œI see.” Captain Rogers’ pale eyes