Free Freedom TM by Daniel Suarez Page A

them wound up being sold into slavery. The Spanish then used the pueblo as a base to conquer the rest of the region.”
    Sebeck didn’t know what to say.
    “That was two centuries before the British colonies in the East declared their independence. We’ve been here a long time.”
    “And now you’re a darknet faction leader. Are you some sort of militant?”
    She laughed. “You mean, a violent fringe group? No, Sergeant. We’re builders.” A look came over her, and she tapped again at invisible objects on a hidden layer of D-Space. “In fact, you’ll see some of our work on the way.” She was about to say something, but then apparently thought better of it.
    “What?”
    “If you’re wondering whether I bear a grudge against the Spanish—or the U.S. government for that matter—I don’t. Nursing anger against people long dead is a waste of one’s life. Today if someone wrongs us, we do what anyone else does: we send our lawyers after them.” Riley fixed her gaze on Sebeck. “The Laguna value education highly. It is our rod and staff, as my father used to say.”
    “How did a woman your age get involved in the darknet?”
    “A woman
my age
?” She laughed. “Don’t sugarcoat it, Sergeant.”
    “I’m just wondering how you—”
    “Sobol’s online fantasy game—
The Gate
.”
    He just looked at her.
    “Okay, what’s a fifty-two-year-old woman doing playing online games? I found them interesting. The idea of putting on a body like clothing—there was something about it that seemed intriguing. That we might surpass our physical differences and deal with one another as human beings. With no preconceived notions about gender or race.”
    “And that’s where the Daemon found you.”
    “I did the finding, but it wasn’t the Daemon I found. It was the darknet. The encrypted wireless network Sobol created. Only later did I discover how much blood Sobol shed establishing this network. And yet, I can’t help but wonder, just as evil sometimes arises from good intentions, if good can’t sometimes grow from evil. It’s a distasteful notion, but human history makes me wonder.”
    Sebeck gritted his teeth. “I may be on this quest, but that doesn’t mean I agree with Sobol. I accepted it because I had no choice, and I was concerned that unless I did so, he would enslave humanity. Matthew Sobol killed
friends of mine
. Police and federal officers— people with families.”
    She held up a hand. “I’m not defending Sobol, Sergeant. I’m saying that Sobol was
willing
to be our villain to force necessary change. So that we didn’t have to.”
    “Megalomaniacs always justify their actions by saying how
necessary
it is.”
    She gave him a sideways look. After a moment she said, “Do you feel any guilt for what your ancestors did to the Indians?”
    Sebeck was taken aback.
    “You know, for the genocide that was perpetrated against Native American people by the U.S. government and the settlers?”
    “That’s not the same as what Sobol did.”
    “Why?”
    “Because the theft of tribal lands occurred a hundred and fifty years ago. Things were different then.”
    “Statute of limitations, then?” She concentrated on the road then turned an eye back on him. “I’m just making a point. You probably don’t feel guilt because you’re not the one who did it. You bear native people no ill will, and aren’t prejudiced against them.”
    “Yes, exactly.”
    “But then, we’re not getting the land back either, are we?” A slight smile creased her face.
    Sebeck folded his arms. “It could never be sorted out even if we tried. That was a different time, Riley.”
    “We’re not all that different from our ancestors, Sergeant. And even though the land Matthew Sobol grabbed was virtual real estate—computer networks—I don’t think anyone’s going to get that back either.”
    Sebeck sat in silence for a few moments, watching the road. “He can force me to go on this quest, but I’ll never accept