From: atmpas@vax.oxford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: alt.cyberpunk.chatsubo
Subject: The Inverse Square Law : Eight, I think
Date: 28 Aug 92 17:01:10 GMT
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620


			The Inverse Square Law : Eight
			==============================

	He wormed his head up into the helmet section of the moulder and 
flipped the switch that sent the air tube down into his mouth.  The sea of 
tissue surrounding his head was still quiet, damping down everything outside
in favour of a calm happiness.

	Maria's pitching agony of grief and terror was dulled down to a faint
trembling of the hands.  The scream that disturbed the night beyond the
camomile and the sage remained.  The clang of the catches on the other side of 
the moulder forced him to ignore it.

	The screen light up.  He gripped the mouse with his left hand and 
started selecting the options.  Response speed and coupling to maximum.  Back
coupling at half.  Set for verbal English with text check to verbal Polish.
Start connection.

	Maria's pain stabbed into his eyes.  He blocked it out, and felt a 
queasy ache starting in the back of his head.  The screaming rose a notch
and then fell back again.  He decided to get started.  Settling himself back
into the pain, Mark chose his first image.

	'Maria Jaruzelska.'  He clicked to translate and send.

	For a moment, he felt better.  He felt strong, but terribly fragile.  
And proud.  

	He knew what he had to do.  To break a conditioning defence, you
have to shatter the ego.  Shatter it carefully and precisely, like cutting a 
diamond.  He sent himself, or part of himself, spiralling down into his
memories back to a nine year old boy who had just learned to cycle.  The boy was
proud of himself with the wind rushing in his face, and held high above the
ground, beyond the reach of fear.  

	'Maria Jaruzelska.'

	He sent the memory out into flicker of confidence, catching and lifting
it. Then the memory flew on and the front tyre slipped.  The world span around
a sickening moment and hurled itself down to a rough edge of concrete.

	He felt water on his face, and wondered who was crying, and for whom.

			************************

	There was one last question to be asked.  It was a simple one.  The last
question always is simple.  The howling in his head was scarcely bearable.

	'Did Maria tell ... James the truth?'

	There was fear, and a trembling, and a relaxation.  And then nothing
more.

	The howling was a gale in the herb garden, a storm of whipping stems and
shredded leaves.  Mark clicked for 'out'.

			************************

	'Well Mark?  What's the paydirt?'

	Malone seemed to be spitting the words out.  The howling in his head
subsided into a steady, gentle babble.  Let me out.  Stop this.  Let me out.
I want to die.  Why do they do this?

	On the outside, Mark just smiled.  The babbling was so easy to block.

	'You were right, Mr. Malone.  She was lying to us.  She was never a 
beautician.'

	Let me out?  Why do you do this?  Talk to me.  Let me do it.  Please.
Pretty please.  With bells on?

	'I knew it!  Did you find out who her controller was?'

	Mark just smiled and walked over towards Malone.  The man was so 
transparent, with his elation evaporating into nerves.  Mark remembered
Maria and sent waves of helplessness over to Malone.

	Let me do it.  Let me out.  I want to get out.  It hurts in here.
Hey, isn't this fun?  I guess we've gone mad.  If we've gone mad, will you
let me out?  Hey, great!   This will be fun!

	'You don't understand, Mr. Malone.  She was too proud not to call
herself a beautician, but she was just a hairdresser.'

	Malone backed away and let his hand slide down towards his pockets.
He seemed to be muttering something under his breath.  He was scared, and 
confused.  'Left?  Right?  Which pocket Mark?'

	Mark could feel Dr. Taylor creeping up behind him.  He kept walking 
towards Malone.

	'She went cabbage on me.  What do you think of that?  Are we having
fun yet?  I wonder if you'll go cabbage?  I'm ready.  I don't think you're
quick enough to beat me.'

	He knew the doctor couldn't reach him.  He was close enough to Malone
now.  He felt as happy as a sandboy.  Suddenly, he felt hopeful.  Why was
Malone feeling hopeful?

	'Byebye.  Nasty Malone go 'way now.'

	There was a flurry of white, and everything went black.

			************************

	Malone let himself relax.  Another psychic had gone crazy, but he was
still there, and he'd got the information.  J. Malone always got his 
information.

	'Elegantly done, Adam.  I knew I could rely on you.'

	'Thank you, Mr. Malone.'

	'Doctor, I think you'd better check Mark for concussion and give him
some blockers, don't you?'

	He went over to check on the girl.  The EEG was almost flat.  He sent 
Adam out to get a security team for the disposal.

	Dr. Taylor finished with Mark and turned to him.  He decided to enjoy 
it and spoke before she did.

	'A construct, I suppose, Doctor.  I presume he'll recover?'

	'No thanks to you if he does.  I hope you're proud of yourself.  A
dead innocent and a freaked empath in twenty-four hours must almost be a record
for you.'

	'I'll do you a favour and not put that in my report, Doctor.  We must 
think of your career.  In the meantime, shouldn't you be winding down the
moulder?'

	He smiled to himself.  Dr. Taylor's career meant everything to her -
it was all over her psychoprofile.  Winning felt so good.

	'Wind down your own moulder you bastard.  I don't want any favours 
from you.  You can be sure it'll all be in _my_ report.  In the meantime,
I have to be getting a plane booked.  It's a long way from here to Paradise.'

			************************

	Well, that's your lot.  Of course, some of you will probably see this
before part one, but that isn't my fault.  I'm none too happy with the ending,
but I didn't want it to be the obvious mutual annihilation, which would be too
neat for the genre.

	Anyone feel up to using these people?  (who are only sort of mine)

	(in case anyone's wondering, Adam's speed is down to good old fashioned
cyberware, not psychic powers)

		- Paul Sherliker