A multi-part serial of unknown length, breadth, or depth.
To be crude, it was the money that got her out of her home.
Hassan Wu looked down at the hand-delivered letter once again, then at the Hermes Universal Deliveryman, a short fellow that looked to be in his late twenties, dressed in green and brown with an animation patch running on his breast pocket. He waited expectantly as she reader through the letter again.
"Dear Dr. Wu," it began, "I represent an agglomoration of interests that would greatly appreciate both your presence and your unique services on a project that must, unfortunately, be kept unknown to you. A token of our esteem has been deposited in your public account already. If you would agree to meet with us, a meeting that is some distance away from your home, our appreciation would be further manifested concretely. Yet if after this meeting you wish to part ways with us, please be assured that it would be an amicable parting if regrettable on our parts. Please take as much time as you like in deciding, but indicate your acceptance of our admittedly unorthodox proposition with the HUD representative Jimmy Hawkins. To demonstrate that our hopefully future negotiations will not have a single taint of coercion, we have instructed Mr. Hawkins to engage the Baley Security Services on your behalf. Thank you." And it was signed, John Raven, Modern State Planning Commission.
"Mr. Hawkins?" she said.
"Yes, Doctor?" answered Jimmy Hawkins, perking up as she looked him in the eye.
"Please come in and wait a few moments as I . . . please wait." Hassan moved aside from the threshold as Hawkins came in and smiled at her. She guided him to the couch, the white silk upholstery giving slightly under his weight. "Would you like something to drink as you wait?"
"No, Doctor, thank you." Hawkins smiled once again, nodding in polite appreciation as he began to twiddle his thumbs. "Take all the time you want."
"Very well." Hassan left her guest, almost unconsciously actuating her personal security system to its setting for a guest of unknown hostility. Survelliance was kept on a passive level, merely watching to see if his kinesthetics indicated any heightened adrenaline, adrenaline that would come before a robbery or assassination attempt. Hassan looked back at her guest, the first one that she'd had in weeks, and regretted what having to kill him would do to the upholstery. She first contacted her public banker and checked to see if any deposits had been made. There had been, and after hearing just how much it was, she couldn't help but be flattered at how much esteem they held for her, or at least for her skills. She thanked her banker then moved onto finding out what she could about the Modern State Planning Commission and John Raven. Modern State, as it was known, began as an architectural and engineering firm, designing everything from houses to space habitats. In the process of designing these places to live, whatever the scale, they slowly incorporated ideological research and advocacy, or a think tank in the old argot, to their business. She wasn't an expert in sociology, so she wasn't sure what exactly their aims and beliefs were. Looking over some of their literature, she was surprised to find that they had designed the new odeon on the Island.
As for John Raven, less was known. He was the head of the Modern State, though the literature didn't list whether he was an architect or not. There were no pictures of him, which was not exactly surprising. What was shocking, even disturbing, was that there were no rumors or gossip at all about him. Fen culture was not known for its taciturnity. That there was nothing about him beyond what the official records and literature said about him spoke of his subtle power.
She sat, turning off her computer screen, and thought. There were a great many reasons why she shouldn't go, the potential danger, the lengths that John Raven and his associates were willing to go to get her to wherever it was they wanted her to go, the influence of John Raven himself. There was also the fact that she truly didn't want to leave her home. The new tourist season was beginning soon, with all its pageantry and excitement, and she didn't want to miss it. She also didn't want to miss any of the comforts of home.
Yet, in the end, it was the money that got her out of her home.
To be crude, it was the money that got her out of her home.
Hassan Wu looked down at the hand-delivered letter once again, then at the Hermes Universal Deliveryman, a short fellow that looked to be in his late twenties, dressed in green and brown with an animation patch running on his breast pocket. He waited expectantly as she reader through the letter again.
"Dear Dr. Wu," it began, "I represent an agglomoration of interests that would greatly appreciate both your presence and your unique services on a project that must, unfortunately, be kept unknown to you. A token of our esteem has been deposited in your public account already. If you would agree to meet with us, a meeting that is some distance away from your home, our appreciation would be further manifested concretely. Yet if after this meeting you wish to part ways with us, please be assured that it would be an amicable parting if regrettable on our parts. Please take as much time as you like in deciding, but indicate your acceptance of our admittedly unorthodox proposition with the HUD representative Jimmy Hawkins. To demonstrate that our hopefully future negotiations will not have a single taint of coercion, we have instructed Mr. Hawkins to engage the Baley Security Services on your behalf. Thank you." And it was signed, John Raven, Modern State Planning Commission.
"Mr. Hawkins?" she said.
"Yes, Doctor?" answered Jimmy Hawkins, perking up as she looked him in the eye.
"Please come in and wait a few moments as I . . . please wait." Hassan moved aside from the threshold as Hawkins came in and smiled at her. She guided him to the couch, the white silk upholstery giving slightly under his weight. "Would you like something to drink as you wait?"
"No, Doctor, thank you." Hawkins smiled once again, nodding in polite appreciation as he began to twiddle his thumbs. "Take all the time you want."
"Very well." Hassan left her guest, almost unconsciously actuating her personal security system to its setting for a guest of unknown hostility. Survelliance was kept on a passive level, merely watching to see if his kinesthetics indicated any heightened adrenaline, adrenaline that would come before a robbery or assassination attempt. Hassan looked back at her guest, the first one that she'd had in weeks, and regretted what having to kill him would do to the upholstery. She first contacted her public banker and checked to see if any deposits had been made. There had been, and after hearing just how much it was, she couldn't help but be flattered at how much esteem they held for her, or at least for her skills. She thanked her banker then moved onto finding out what she could about the Modern State Planning Commission and John Raven. Modern State, as it was known, began as an architectural and engineering firm, designing everything from houses to space habitats. In the process of designing these places to live, whatever the scale, they slowly incorporated ideological research and advocacy, or a think tank in the old argot, to their business. She wasn't an expert in sociology, so she wasn't sure what exactly their aims and beliefs were. Looking over some of their literature, she was surprised to find that they had designed the new odeon on the Island.
As for John Raven, less was known. He was the head of the Modern State, though the literature didn't list whether he was an architect or not. There were no pictures of him, which was not exactly surprising. What was shocking, even disturbing, was that there were no rumors or gossip at all about him. Fen culture was not known for its taciturnity. That there was nothing about him beyond what the official records and literature said about him spoke of his subtle power.
She sat, turning off her computer screen, and thought. There were a great many reasons why she shouldn't go, the potential danger, the lengths that John Raven and his associates were willing to go to get her to wherever it was they wanted her to go, the influence of John Raven himself. There was also the fact that she truly didn't want to leave her home. The new tourist season was beginning soon, with all its pageantry and excitement, and she didn't want to miss it. She also didn't want to miss any of the comforts of home.
Yet, in the end, it was the money that got her out of her home.