Infiltrator t2-1

by S. M. Stirling

  Hey, he thought, maybe they really were looking for me. With a few taps he downloaded the information they’d sent and printed it out. Nah! Either I’m getting paranoid or my ego is swollen. They probably have a program set up to

  answer applications. This was Cyberdyne after all— If-A-Computer-Can’t-Do-It-It-Can’t-Be-Done, Inc.

  So. Things were really moving now. He’d better remember to bring a couple of boxes to work tomorrow, just in case he needed to clean out his desk. For now he’d better turn in and try to get some sleep.

  He shut down the computer and tried to shut down his mind. Bed, he thought.

  Let tomorrow take care of itself.

  CHAPTER TEN

  PARAGUAY, KRIEGER ESTANCIA: THE

  PRESENT

  John lunged forward, his face grim with concentration, Quid and smooth and very fast. Sarah brought her arm up to block him, and knew as she did it that it was a fractional second too late. His fist made contact with her nose. Her eyes instantly filled with tears and she leapt backward while John froze.

  “Mom! Are you all right?” His eyes were big with concern. “I should have pulled that,” he said. His hands reached out for her and then fell back uncertainly.

  Sarah blinked the tears away; there was a little blood on her hand when she took it away from her nose, but not much. This was the first time he’d ever gotten through her defense when she was concentrating. Which is why he wasn’t worried about pulling his punches.

  “I’ve slowed down,” she said, grinning. “No one to spar with when you’re at school. Old age and evil living are catching up with me.”

  She rubbed her forearm inelegantly under her nose. The bleeding had stopped.

  “Back to work,” she said.

  John hesitated, then he moved forward. “Mom,” he said tentatively, “Sensei says…” He reached out and slightly changed the position of her knee, then lightly touched her shoulders.

  Sarah widened her eyes. “Oh, much better!” she said, feeling more balanced instantly. Easier to stay centered like this. I tend to go forward too much anyway. The men she’d learned from were good, but they had adapted their styles to their own physiques, which tended to the gorilloid.

  John grinned. “Sensei Wei is probably the best teacher in Paraguay,” he said.

  “You’re too modest,” a man’s voice said. “Chuck Wei is one of the best teachers in the hemisphere.”

  Both Sarah and John jumped and spun in shock, to find themselves confronting Dieter von Rossbach. He stood beside the corral, one large hand resting on a quebracho fence post.

  “How did you get there?” Sarah asked, almost to herself.

  “I left my horse up behind the barn,” Dieter said, moving forward casually.

  What he didn’t tell them was that he’d been watching them through high-power

  binoculars from the top of the low hill that rose between their properties. Then he’d circled around so that he could approach them unseen. Old habits died hard.

  “We didn’t hear you come,” John said, not too pleased to be caught off guard. He glanced at his mother.

  “Well, hi,” she said, putting her hands on her hips and offering a noncommittal smile. Think ordinary, innocent housewife and mother, she warned herself, stifling the urge to ask him what brought him to the neighborhood, and a slight feeling of embarrassment about the sweaty green fatigue pants with muscle shirt she was wearing.

  “You remember I told you we were neighbors,” Dieter said, coming forward. “I was riding nearby and thought I’d come over and say hello.”

  Sarah and John looked at each other, then at von Rossbach.

  “Hello,” John said.

  “Uh, would you like some terere?” Sarah asked.

  “You must want to get rid of me fast,” Dieter said with a smile.

  Sarah laughed at that, a genuine, spontaneous laugh prompted by the surprise of his being absolutely right.

  “It is an acquired taste,” she agreed.

  “We’ve got Coke,” John said. It might as well be something I like to drink as long as you’re staying, he thought. “You know my sensei?” he asked.

  “He teaches at the Academia Mendoza, yes?” Dieter asked.

  John nodded.

  “I’ve studied with him now and then. He’s an excellent teacher, an amazing man.” He looked John over. “I’ve been hoping to find someone to spar with, John. Perhaps you and I could work together?”

  Sarah looked the big man over. Like she’d let him spar with her son. “I’ve been hoping to find a sparring partner, too,” she said. “When John goes to school all I have is my shadow.”

  “Perhaps,” Dieter said judiciously.

  They’d been meandering toward the house, Sarah gestured to the chairs on the portal. “Sit,” she invited. “I’ll be right back.”

  John noticed how von Rossbach watched his mother walk away with something more than strictly coplike interest.

  Von Rossbach was suddenly aware of the silence that had fallen and snapped his head back toward John, who favored him with a toothily artificial smile. “So…

  how long have you been studying with Chuck?” Dieter asked.

  “Just this year,” John answered. “Usually you have to be a junior before you can qualify for his class, but since I’d already had some lessons they let me try out. I consider myself lucky to have been accepted.”

  “You’re lucky to have Chuck for your sensei, but I think, judging from what I saw, that you earned your place in his class. You and your mother looked very competent.”

  “We’ve taken lessons together off and on for years,” John said.

  “Really?” Dieter said. “When I first met your mother she said you two had all but fled to Villa Hayes.”

  John put his feet up on the low table between them and folded his hands on his stomach. “So?” he asked.

  Dieter spread his hands and said with a little laugh, “So, I would think a woman so well able to defend herself wouldn’t be that likely to panic.”

  John looked at him, frowning slightly.

  “I mean it seems strange that she didn’t take a stand when this man threatened you,” von Rossbach explained. “Or she could have called the police.” He shook his head. “Surely there were other options than simply heading south?”

  John grinned. “Go to the police?” he said in disbelief. “Do you know what it’s like in Ciudad del Este? It’s a really wild and woolly town. Some woman comes in and says a man is following her, there’s not much they could do even if they wanted to. And they wouldn’t want to, by the way.

  “Besides, she was a new-made widow with an eleven-year old kid to watch out for. So she was feeling a little fragile. Maybe if she was built like you and six feet tall—”

  “Six-two,” Dieter interjected.

  John looked at him from under his brows.

  “Anyway, I think she made the right move,” he said. “We didn’t have any particular reason to stick around there. No family or anything. And the way things were going…” He paused. “It just wasn’t worth the trouble.” He gestured at the small estancia. “It’s great here, and the business is doing well.” He regarded Dieter through slitted eyes. “My mom says you have to pick your battles. She says winning isn’t always worth the cost of fighting.”

  Von Rossbach nodded thoughtfully and they sat in silence for a moment, listening to the birds in the few trees that shaded the house.

  “Here we go,” Sarah said, backing out of the house with a loaded tray and accompanied by the sound of clinking ice cubes.

  “Ooo, cookies!” John said enthusiastically, reaching for one as soon as the tray came within reach. “My mother bakes very good cookies, Senor von Rossbach,”

  he said almost accusingly.

  “Call me Dieter,” von Rossbach invited, and grabbed a cookie.

  “Did you let your horse into the corral, where it could get some water?” Sarah asked him.

  Dieter looked surprised. “U
h, no. I guess I didn’t think I’d be staying.”

  Sarah looked at John, who grabbed another cookie and said, “I’m on it.” He was

  down the steps of the portal and on his way before Dieter could react. Turning, John added, “I’ll take off his saddle, too.”

  “Am I staying that long?” von Rossbach asked.

  Sarah smiled. “Long enough that your horse will probably appreciate having the saddle taken off. I think they prefer to be naked.” She leaned back in her chair and stretched out her legs. “Besides, it’s probably sweaty under the blanket. It’s not good to leave ‘em like that.”

  “No,” he said, shifting uneasily. “I suppose not. Suddenly I feel very neglectful.”

  “Not at all,” she said. “I guess you weren’t expecting us to be so hospitable.” And going by your social status, you might be used to having people do it for you.

  She wondered how long it would take him to get to the real reason for his visit.

  “Now I feel rude!” He grinned ruefully.

  Sarah laughed. “Why are you so sensitive? Have you got a guilty conscience or something.”

  He almost choked on his drink. “No,” he said. “Nothing like that. Why should I?”

  She raised one brow. “I don’t know,” she said. “You just seem really nervous for somebody paying a neighborly visit. Is there something on your mind?”

  “Uhhh, yes,” he said, brushing the cookie crumbs off of his hands. “I was wondering if you would do me the honor of having dinner with me. There’s a concert in Asuncian this Saturday and I was hoping you’d accompany me.”

  Sarah’s mouth opened and she blinked. The honor of having dinner with you? she thought. Boy, there’s a poser. Do I want to have dinner with the incredible looks-like-a-Terminator man? Get into a car alone with him and go as far as Asuncidn?

  Yuh, that sounds smart. So how was she going to answer?

  She caught movement in the distance as John came back around the barn.

  We need to know about this guy, she decided. Her usually reliable sources were still strangely mute. Von Rossbach might be nothing to worry about, as his public record suggested, but he didn’t feel like a nothing to her and she hadn’t made it this far by ignoring her instincts. To her he felt like trouble. And she’d be armed, of course. So he won’t be a problem if he is human. Damn. Looks like I’m going on a date.

  “What a gallant way of putting it,” she said at last, smiling.

  “Does that mean you accept?” he asked.

  She shook her head in disbelief, then catching his expression, she hastily said,

  “Yes! Yes, I’d love to go. It’s just”—she shrugged—“no one has asked me out in such a long time. You took me completely by surprise.”

  “I’ll pick you up at five, then,” he said. “I hope that’s not too early, but the concert starts at eight and I thought you might like to have dinner first. And with the drive taking an hour…”

  She nodded, smiling as he explained. I wonder what this is all about? she thought. Maybe he was going to pick her brains. Maybe he was just a lonely guy looking for feminine companionship. Maybe peacocks can sing grand opera.

  Time would tell.

  And, hopefully, so would her contacts. She was surprised that she hadn’t heard back yet and feared that when they did get back to her the news would be bad.

  John clumped up onto the portal and flopped down into his chair.

  “Ah,” he said, reaching for another cookie.

  “I see you’ve made another conquest,” his mother said, plucking at a green stain on his sleeve.

  He grunted his assent around a mouthful.

  “My son is to horses what catnip is to cats,” Sarah said. “They just can’t get enough of him.”

  “Animals know whom to trust.” Dieter looked at John, then glanced around. “I’m surprised you don’t have a dog. Especially being alone here so much, with your son at school. I’d think you’d want a watchdog.”

  Sarah and John exchanged a glance. The Terminator look-alike was talking about dogs, and animals knowing whom to trust. Sarah turned and smiled at von Rossbach.

  “You’re trying to unload that disreputable little mutt that followed you home the day we met, aren’t you?” she said. “It’s not gonna happen; sorry.”

  “But he’s such a nice little dog,” Dieter cajoled.

  “But it’s you he adores,” she reminded him. “It would break his heart if you left him here. He’d probably just follow you home anyway.”

  “Well, I’ve got another one that could use a good home,” von Rossbach began.

  “No, thank you, Dieter,” John said seriously. “We don’t want a dog.”

  “But it would be company for your mother when you’re away.”

  “You’re gettin’ kinda pushy here, Dieter,” John warned.

  “Hey,” Sarah said mildly, tipping her head forward and looking at him meaningfully.

  John subsided, taking a sip of his Coke. This is too weird, he thought. The Coke stayed in his throat for an uncomfortable moment before he could swallow, then hit his stomach like acid. A dog, for God’s sake!

  “We had to leave the family dog behind when we moved here from the States,”

  Sarah explained. “No way could we get him through all those countries we were going to drive through.” She spread her hands helplessly. “We’ve just never had another.”

  Dieter was silent for a moment, chewing thoughtfully on one of Sarah’s cookies.

  “Then it’s time you had one,” he said firmly. “I’ve got just the one. I’ll bring him with me on Saturday.” He stood up, smiling. “I’ll see you then.” And with a jaunty wave he was gone.

  Sarah watched him walk away with her mouth open. John watched him through

  narrowed eyes, chewing, then he looked at his mother.

  “Pushy, ain’t he?” he said.

  Sarah nodded slowly. “Shall we continue sparring?”

  “Nah, let’s just sit for a bit.” John put his feet onto the table clumsily, upsetting the tray.

  “John!” Sarah exclaimed, jumping to her feet and knocking over Dieter’s chair.

  “Oh, what’s that?” She pointed to a small silvery object stuck to the bottom of the seat. She looked up at John, tightening her lips.

  “Looks like some kind of battery,” John said. He plucked it off. “What should I do with it?” He raised his brows at her. The thing was obviously a microphone.

  “Throw it out, I guess,” Sarah said, picking up spilled cookies and glasses. She pointed off in the direction of the barn and beyond. “We don’t have anything it would fit.”

  She lifted the tray and stood, then looked up at him and nodded. He gave her a wink.

  “Hey,” he said. “Why don’t you give me those broken cookies. I’ll take ‘em down to Linda.”

  “Good idea,” Sarah said. “She’ll like that.”

  She paused in the doorway; the tray in her hands, and watched John head for the corral. When he got there he’d throw the microphone von Rossbach had planted

  as far as he could from the house. Microphones, yet! she thought. I have got to get some info on this guy. Stat!

  She was just putting the last glass in the dish drainer when John walked slowly into the kitchen and leaned against the door frame.

  “What?” she asked, sounding a little cross.

  He stared at her until she turned to look at him.

  “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we have been getting complacent. And lazy.”

  Sarah turned around thoughtfully and leaned against the sink, her arms crossed.

  “Because he snuck up on us?”

  “Mom! He was right on top of us! Unless he slithered all the way up the driveway I don’t understand how we could have missed him. I mean, it’s not like he’s short and skinny and disappears when he turns sideways. He’s a very noticeable guy! He could walk through walls and leave a Terminator-shaped hole!” />
  Sarah nodded. “I know.”

  “I mean, I could see one of us missing him. But both of us!” John waved his hand between them. “Both of us overlooked him. And then he plants a bug on us! Not to mention that he’s been living a mile from this place for over a month and we didn’t even notice!” He took a few steps away from her, then turned.

  “Mom, we’re not safe.”

  “I know,” she said softly.

  “What are we going to do?”

  Sarah looked at him: he wouldn’t be asking her that question much longer. It wanned her heart that he was still doing so.

  “We’re going to do better than we did today,” she said, pushing herself away from the sink and crossing the room. “For starters I’m going to send out some more e-mails, rattle a few cages if I can. I’m finding this silence rather ominous.”

  “I find that microphone a little ominous,” John muttered.

  “Maybe we would be better with a dog,” Sarah said.

  “Mom, any dog Dieter von Rossbach brings us is probably going to be trained not to notice when he’s around. So, as a watchdog, it wouldn’t be worth much. I mean, what if Skynet made itself a cyberdog, or something? Besides, you know how I feel about us having a dog.”

  She did; they’d had to leave Max, his German shepherd, behind at his foster parents’ house and had no idea what had become of him. But they thought they knew. He would have been sent to the pound, and if unclaimed within thirty days, he would have been put down. John had refused to have a dog since then.

  If you can’t be sure of taking care of it, he’d often said, you shouldn’t have one.

  It had been hard, at first, to give in to him on the dog issue. She’d had a dog at her side since before John was born. At first it was because they could sniff out Terminators and she’d desperately needed the assurance of an early-warning

  system. Then, as she spent more and more time around dangerous and often evil people, her dogs became her protectors until she learned how to take care of herself… and even after, when she needed someone absolutely trustworthy to watch her back.

  Dogs— the only love money really can buy, she thought.

  The only thing that had kept her marginally sane in Pescadero State Hospital was the knowledge that Max was with her son, watching over him. It grieved her to just leave him behind like that, even knowing they’d had no choice. But John had taken the loss of Max even more deeply.