Free Upgrade by Richard Parry Page B

ground.   “The demon was here, and then it wasn’t.   It’s gone.”
    The man’s hood nodded.   “Then we will wait.”
    Laia felt Zacharies relax at her side.   There would be no holding the divan above the hot desert floor for the return journey.   Not yet, anyway.   She looked at the whip.   If only there was some distraction out here.   Their Master was at his worst when he was bored.

CHAPTER NINE

    The room’s windows were tinted a dark grey, the adaptive glass darkened for privacy.   Mason could feel the stretch of the lattice under his skin, pulling at him.   Maybe later .   The table sat between them, the black glass filled with images and icons.   Information.
    Evidence .
    Mason looked at the three of them, sitting across the table from him.   The table was a barrier of sorts, a gold Apsel falcon etched into each corner, wings stretched and proud.   He sighed, looking at his hands splayed on the surface.   “It’s going to be like that, is it?”
    “Mr. Floyd.   I’m not sure—”   It was the fat black man, sweat showing at his temple.   He cut himself off as Mason’s eyes flicked to him, and then to the empty chair.
    The woman spoke up.   She sat in the middle, the fat black man to her right, the guy so thin he was gaunt to her left.   Mason didn’t care what their names were, but she was the only one that looked like an actual doctor, white lab coat slung over some civilian threads.   “We responded to your request as quickly as we could.”   The gaunt man nodded in agreement, fiddling with the cuffs of his jacket.
    Mason sighed again, then pointed to the empty chair.   “One of you is missing.”
    “Yes, but—”
    Mason held up a hand, then pointed at the gaunt man.   “Military Applications?”
    The man nodded.   “That’s right, Mr. Floyd—”
    “Shut it.”   Mason pointed at the woman.   “Medical?”
    She nodded, but didn’t say anything.   Good .   His hand pointed at the fat black man.   “Let me get this straight.   Porn?”
    The fat black man swallowed.   He’d already sweated through the armpits of his shirt, the dark red fabric stained black.   “Entertainment.   Synthetic Entertainment.   It’s not—”
    “Right, right.   Porn.”   Mason nodded to the empty chair.   “Where is Haraway?”
    The gaunt man spoke up.   “I was supposed to have a coffee with her this morning.   She never showed.”
    “She heads up Atomic Energy.”
    The gaunt man nodded.   “That’s right.   What—”
    Mason continued over the top of the other man.   “I’m curious.   What does the head of Atomics want with the head of Military?”
    His Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed, the gaunt man paused for a moment.   “I…   She never said.   The doctor—”
    “She’s not a doctor.   Says right here.”   Information on the four heads of R&D was laid out under the cool glass of the table.   Mason tapped the glass, Haraway’s photo under his finger.   Cut like a cute librarian.   Mason looked back at the gaunt man.   “Is this some sort of job description inflation?   Suddenly you’re a doctor, get a raise?”
    “No.   The thing is—”
    “Yeah?”
    “She’s brilliant.”
    “Are you fucking with me?”   Mason looked the other man in the eye.   “Right here, right now.   Are you trying to be…   Are you trying to be funny?”
    “I—”
    “Do I look like I’m laughing?”
    “It’s…   What?”
    “I asked if I look like I’m laughing.”   Mason leaned forward, his voice going soft.   “Look me in the eye and tell me that I’m laughing.   I dare you.”
    The gaunt man tried to huddle back in his chair.   “I don’t understand—”
    “No.”
    “No?”
    “No.   You don’t understand.   Shut it, fatty.”   Mason held up his hand as the fat black man opened his mouth to speak.   The man’s mouth closed with a snap.   “Of course she’s brilliant.”
    The gaunt man swallowed.   “I’m…