Karl never had to answer those questions. The device in the gun dealer’s hands made a ding sound.
“Alright,” Marv said. “You’re all clear. Hand me the Sig there and I’ll get you assigned to it.”
Karl handed the weapon over and Marv pointed the scanner device at the grip.
“So, since this transaction of ours isn’t strictly legal, to put it lightly, I’m not going to put myself at risk and upload your gun’s assignment onto the national registry. That means that if you’re caught with it, you’re going to jail—they won’t even think twice. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” Karl said.
“Then she’s all yours,” Marv said, placing the gun into its case and handing the whole bundle over. “I hope you put her to good use.”
“I hope I won’t have to,” Karl replied.
“That’s a smart attitude.”
Marv climbed into the cabin of his truck and started the vehicle up. With only a few seconds delay, the gun dealer reversed out onto the road, and then pulled forward and out of sight.
Karl remained standing with his purchase for a minute before he started the long walk out of town.
I’m confused, Karl thought. Why didn’t the scanner show him that I’m wanted? How did we just get away with that?
“How do you think?” Maynard said. “That was me, of course.”
You made the scan fail?
“No, not quite,” Maynard said. “When he was about to retrieve your data, I just waited for the right moment, reached out, and gave him someone else.”
Who?
“I don’t know. I’m just thankful it was a man and Marv there didn’t think you were a Tiffany.”
What if something happens and Marv has to report whom he sold the gun to? Karl thought, a pang of guilt on his heart.
“That’s not our problem anymore,” Maynard replied. “Come on, let’s get to Fort Leddy.”
Fort Leddy
Wind whipped past the windows as Karl sped along the highway.
His knuckles were turning pale as he clutched onto the steering wheel of the rental car. It was a modest sedan, perhaps not as luxurious as he’d have liked, but it didn’t attract attention. At this point, the worst thing that could happen to their plan was being caught early.
Maynard had used his identity-masking trick again to get them the car. The trick worked for credit use, background checks, even false identification. Since the fugitive had burned through all the money he had on his person, and even some Thompson lent him, he needed a new way to pay for things. Karl couldn’t help but feel guilty to those whose credentials he’d used, but he couldn’t worry about that now. He had answers to get.
When they were at the store arranging for the car, Karl had been anxious. He hated every moment out in public, as if the stares of other people burned his flesh like sunlight on a vampire. He had started to sweat and fidget a bit, which Maynard pointed out would only add to their suspicious nature.
The I.I. had then explained the digital disguise he was using on Karl.
Digital disguise? Karl had asked.
“That’s right,” Maynard said. “Anyone with a cerebral computer will see you as someone you are not.”
What do you mean?
“It’s randomized, so it’s different for each person. Whenever someone with an implant looks at you, they’ll see an old Asian woman. Or maybe a male teenager. I couldn’t guess. But the most important thing is that they will not see Karl Terrace. Even your own mother wouldn’t recognize you.”
And it does it with my voice as well?
“Naturally.”
That had eased a significant portion of Karl’s anxiety. He’d relaxed a little and let Maynard do his trick in order to rent the car.
Now that he was driving down a long stretch of empty highway, Karl wondered if he’d ever be able to just be Karl Terrace in public again. Maynard heard the thought and didn’t comment on it.
The drive had already taken them seven hours, but they were getting close. Karl knew they wouldn’t arrive in Fort Leddy before the sun sank below the horizon, but he was glad to have the cover of night. The highway, which had broken off from any populated areas several miles back, was devoid of any other drivers. When the daylight left, Karl would have to risk driving without headlights in order to conceal his approach.
Neither of them were sure what they’d find in Fort Leddy. The only lead they had to go on was the shipping receipt Thompson had sent them. For all they knew, Fort Leddy had burned down years ago and the address was a false lead. But they had to pursue that lead to whatever end, Karl realized. It was that, or surrender to the conspiracy that used him as its scapegoat.
Half an hour later, the sun finished setting. Twenty minutes after that, Karl put the car into park.
“Why are we stopping?” Maynard asked.
We can’t go all the way into town, Karl replied. If Stewart or his compatriots have made the town their headquarters, the last thing we’d want to do is announce our presence with a running motor and a trail of dust.
“So we’re just going to walk from here? How far out are we, even?”
Just a mile or two. Don’t worry—you won’t have to do any of the walking.
“I still don’t like it,” Maynard said.
I’m not asking you to.
Karl grabbed the knapsack from the passenger seat and exited the sedan. He gave the vehicle one last look before he locked it up and left it sitting in a roadside ditch.
“Don’t forget where we parked.”
It didn’t take long before Karl was panting and growing tired of his hike into town. Maynard had given him an unusual amount of peace, but he enjoyed the silence too much to ask any questions.
Cactus and yucca plants pricked at the hems of his
