The director and Dr. Thomas exchanged a glance, then Dale nodded in agreement. His computerized voice sang out into the silence. “The heart of Ra-Ame.”
I knew that name. Some sort of urban legend among field teams, like Santa Claus and the tooth fairy. I waited for someone else to speak up. To say something that would make this whole thing make more sense. “Dr. Thomas, could I speak with you in private?”
“Absolutely.” He rose, and we exited. “How may I help you, young lady?”
“I’m out of my league here. Why aren’t you speaking up? They’re talking about Ra-Ame like she’s real.”
He didn’t answer. He just turned and walked down the hall, waving for me to follow. We rode the elevator in silence, then passed a set of double locking doors and entered a pristine white lab.
The refrigerated lab was at least thirty degrees colder, making goose bumps stand up on my arms. “Shouldn’t we be in the meeting?”
“Let them wait. I consider myself a man of science.” He pointed to a plexiglass window. Inside, an armless corpse with gray skin stumbled in circles. “So we study. We consider. We analyze. Do you believe the co-orgs exist?”
“Of course. There’s one right there.”
“And the Re-Animus affecting it?”
I paused. Was this some sort of test? “I believe there’s a force at work. Probably viral, possibly some form of collective organism. Not an evil spirit or demon.”
“Do you have trouble believing that Julius Caesar existed?”
I grasped his line of reasoning. “Of course not. And I agree it’s possible that a woman named Ra-Ame existed. Ra-Ame, the hideous monster, Ra-Ame, the source of all Re-Animus, those sound more like fairy tales to me.”
“And to me.” He led me to another table, where an electron scan of co-org tissue showed the changes wrought by the ReAnimus. “But like the co-orgs, there may be rational explanations for the legend of Ra-Ame. Ones the others might not recognize. Belief is easy for them.”
Of course it was. “I don’t believe in anything.”
He smiled, showing crooked yellow teeth. “That’s why I like you. Let’s go inject some sanity into their discussion, shall we?” I followed him through the building to the conference room, where voices shouted. Dr. Thomas stepped to one side. “After you, Ms. Roberts.” He threw the door open. Brynner stood inches from Director Bismuth, each of them beet red. He gestured with his hands, coming so close to pushing her I wondered if I should call security. “This isn’t any of your business.” He looked around at the others, carefully avoiding me. “Any of you.”
“I say recovering and securing this heart is what is most important, and therefore, it is what you will do, unless you’d like to pursue a change of career.” Director Bismuth’s voice boomed out, leaving no room for debate.
I slipped over and grabbed my purse from the chair, doing my best to stay out of their argument. Drama was one thing my life had more than enough of. They could fight it out on their own. I almost made it to the door.
“Ms. Roberts, I can’t help but note your personnel file has a request for working extra hours.” The director’s steel tone said she might know why I wanted them.
Did we really need to have this discussion now? “Yes.” Director Bismuth walked around the table, leaving Brynner standing alone. Once she wedged herself between the door and me, she continued. “Tell me, have you ever considered field operations? The pay is several times what you make now.” Brynner and I laughed at the same time, then I scowled at him. “I don’t kill things. If I find a spider in my apartment, I throw it outside instead of squashing it.”
She nodded. “Field operations are more than pulling triggers or slinging blades. Come with me. Let me explain a few things about Heinrich Carson.” She turned to leave, and I followed her.
Brynner leaped over the table, moving that mountain of a body like a gazelle, and wincing as he landed. “Hey. You can’t do that. You can’t just go discussing my family with a stranger.” Brynner’s voice shook. Anger? Or Fear?
Director Bismuth nodded slightly. “Well, if you would like to attempt a briefing, be my guest. Make certain Ms. Roberts has the information she needs, and I won’t feel the need to amend your tale.”
While I couldn’t tell for the life of me what they meant, I’d read enough people to know the answer was coming if only I