The Devil's Eye

Number 17 Parkway, which was the seat of the executive wing of the government. He was at his desk, a fireplace flickering and crackling in the background. He talked about general matters, about his concern that relations with the Mutes had deteriorated so severely, about a recent scandal involving one of his aides, and about several new programs he was instituting, the primary one being a response to a series of skimmer crashes. 'It's not supposed to happen, and I promise you we will do what's necessary to stop it.'

He spoke for about thirty-five minutes, and I found myself hard-pressed not to like him. I resisted the impulse to conclude he was involved.

The train wasn't going all the way into the capital, so I got off in a mid-sized city and decided I'd complete the journey the next day. I checked into a hotel, showered and changed, and went across the street to the Paranova, which had a small band and good drinks. I'm not usually much of a drinker, but it had been a rugged few days, and I only had to pay for the first one. After that there was always somebody anxious to pick up the tab. I spent a couple of hours in the place, declined an invitation to join a party, met two or three guys who would have made interesting companions for the evening. But I kept thinking I needed a heroic type. Somebody who could break down doors and take out the bong thrower. The band had two people on stringed instruments, a third on a horn, and a female singer. They called themselves The Big Five. And I know, there were only four. Don't ask me to explain it. The music was moody. The sort of stuff they were doing during the last century on Rimway. But it was effective nonetheless, or maybe it was just my state of mind. The songs were about lost lovers, roads not taken, and being away from home. A blond guy with great looks but no sense of humor was at my table going on about something, while I sipped a drink that tasted of lemon and rum, and The Big Five played on. Suddenly I became aware of the lyrics:

... End of the world When you walked away...

Drinking too much usually gives me a false sense of bravado. I always come out of those evenings with the notion I can take on anybody. But I think that had dissipated by the time I got off the train in Marinopolis and caught a taxi out to the Marikoba University campus. The register told me that Professor Mikel Wexler specialized in Bandahriate history and that his office was located on the second floor of the Fletcher Building. But it was locked, and the people up there said he 'did not come in at this time of the week.' I tried his home code and got an AI. 'Professor Wexler's residence. Please leave a message.' I recalled that he was an 'occasional advisor to Administrator Kilgore.' I called the executive branch information board. They were sorry, but they had no way to reach him, nor could they advise me where he was. So I wandered into the faculty room in the Fletcher Building and started a conversation with anyone who came in. Nobody questioned my right to be there, and I decided this was the time to take a chance and mention my affiliation with Alex. 'Marvelous,' they said. 'The man who got the truth about Christopher Sim.' And 'the guy who found Margolia.'

The Polaris story never surfaced, but it didn't need to. As people went out to take care of classes, others came in, asking what I was doing there, could I be persuaded to talk to this or that class, what was Benedict working on now? I was pleasantly surprised to discover that most of them knew me . What was I doing there? Every time the question was asked, I replied that I'd been hoping to locate Mikel Wexler. 'I'm sorry to have missed him.' 'Ah,' said one portly woman dressed entirely in black, 'I might have known Mikel would know Alex Benedict.' 'Do you have any idea where I might find him?' There were two or three others in the room. We were all seated around a table. 'I suppose it would be all right,' she said. She lowered her voice even though it didn't matter. Everyone could hear what she said. 'He's at the Cobblemere Building. He has an office over there. He claims they do historical research for the government, but I think they just screw around. Did you want me to call him?' The others looked disapprovingly at her. One shrugged. 'No,' I said. 'I'd like to surprise him if I can.'

The Cobblemere was a nondescript gray three-story structure set on a tree-lined avenue about two kilometers from the university. Corporate offices lined both sides of the street, along with the National Biolab Foundation. A small metal plate identified it as the COALITION RESEARCH AGENCY. I walked in the front door, strolled through an empty lobby, entered a corridor, and stopped outside an open office door. A desk lamp was on, but nobody was home. A tall, thin kid came out of an adjoining room, carrying a piece of electronic equipment. He stopped when he saw me. 'Can I help you, ma'am?' 'I'd like to see Dr. Wexler, please.' 'I'm sorry. He's not here at the moment. Would you care to leave a message?' 'Sure,' I said. 'Tell him Kolpath is here. He has'-I glanced at the time-'an hour and fifty-seven minutes to get to me, or the gamma-ray story will go to every major media outlet on the planet.' He looked puzzled. 'Do you want me to write it down for you?' 'Ma'am,' he said, 'you seem upset. May I suggest-?' 'I suggest you get that message to him.' I gave him my code. 'Tell him to call.' He stood with his mouth open, not sure what to do. I let the moment drag on and looked at the time again. 'An hour and fifty- six minutes,' I said. 'What's your name?' 'Eiglitz.' 'Mr. Eiglitz, I can assure you that Dr. Wexler will be extremely unhappy if he doesn't get that message promptly.' He managed a rattled smile. 'Yes, of course. I'll see what I can do.' Another grin. 'Why don't you wait here? Let me see what I can do. Please make yourself comfortable.' He left the office, but moments later he was back. 'I'm sorry,' he said, 'but you did say the name is-?' 'Kolpath.' I spelled it for him. 'Of course.' He hurried out. A few minutes later, an older man showed up. Tall, wide shoulders just starting to slump with age. Congenial features. Let's just take it easy attitude. 'Ms. Kolpath,' he said, 'my name is Mark Hollinger. Can I help you?' His tone suggested he was speaking to a child. 'Dr. Wexler is not here.' 'Thanks, Mr. Hollinger. You can see that Wexler gets my message. I think I'm done here.' I turned around and started for the front door. Hollinger stayed with me. 'I'm sorry. But he's really not available today. You're going to have to work through me.' 'Okay,' I said. 'Produce Alex.' 'Alex?' He tried to look puzzled. 'Alex who?'

Hollinger asked me to be patient for a minute and went away. Eiglitz came back and tried to engage me

in conversation. Nice weather. He was sorry there was so much trouble. Could he get anything for me? Finally, a Wexler hologram appeared. 'Chase,' he said, mustering all his considerable charm. 'I'm glad you came by. We've been looking all over for you.'

'I know. Where's Alex?' Wexler glanced over at Eiglitz, who got up, left the room, and pulled the office door shut behind him.

'He's all right. He's been visiting with us.'

'Let me see him.'

'I can't at the moment. But I assure you he's fine. Listen, I understand-'

'This conversation goes no further until I see him. Where is he?'

'Chase, be reasonable. I'm not really in a position-'

'The Callistra story is an hour and a half from going to the world. Show me Alex.'

'Chase- '

I stared back at him.

'We're trying to get to him now. But you have to give us some time. I don't know that I can manage it within the time frame.'

I shrugged. 'Then we don't have anything to talk about, I guess.'

'No, wait. Listen, I'm telling you the truth.'

'Wexler, why would I believe anything you have to say?'

'All right. I know none of this looks good from your perspective. I understand that. But you weren't hurt. And Alex hasn't been hurt. We were afraid you'd do exactly what you're about to do. I had no choice.'

'I guess not. Can't sell off property if people know the world's coming to an end.'

'Look, Chase, I hate doing this over an open circuit-'

'Sorry. It's all we've got.'

'All right. Yes, I'll admit I moved some holdings. So did some others. I mean, who wouldn't? But that's not why we kept it quiet.'

'Okay. I'll bite. Why'd you keep it quiet?'

'Because there are two billion people on this world. And there's no way we can save more than a handful.'

'And not even those if you don't try.'

'We're digging shelters for them.'

'That's why you lied about the Mutes. And probably even put out the rumor about the rift.'

'The rift?'