The icons slid down the datalines, passing by some nodes and through others. Occasionally, they passed images of red neon samurai. These guard figures were fixtures of the Renraku Matrix, the software that provided intrusion countermeasures, or what decker slang knew as ice. The guards were Matrix versions of Renraku’s elite Red Samurai security forces, though the icons looked more like ancient Japanese warriors than the real guards in their neo-feudal body armor. As Sam expected, none of the samurai moved to oppose them. The passcodes embedded in their icons attested to their legitimate presence. Whoever was manipulating the Jiro icon was counting on such protective coloration.