I stand alone on a gray plain under an iron-colored sky. It isnt so much a
plain as it looks like the streets of Rouge City bereft of every building and
landmark. Nine patches of red luminescence glow in various places on the gray
pavement, sending fading columns of light up to the sky. A cold gray light
bathes the land, not moonlight, not star light, not eve the daylight of a cloudy
day. Bells toll, funeral bells echoing and reechoing.

The plain rotates about me, or do I turn so that it only seems this way.
As I turn back to the spot I first faced, I find I am no longer alone. A tall
figure in black moves toward me from a distance, a slim figure whose hair and
face gleam in the dull light. Is it Joe?

It is the other, it is his nemesis, it is Jay with his cold gray eyes staring
from his face, so like Joes in every other respect.

The wind blows up under his coat, parting the skirts over his loins.

The front of his trousers hang open, uncovering him. But in place of a phallus, a knife blade rears up in its place, erect. waiting...

I try to turn and run, but my feet have rooted to the ground. I open my mouth to
scream and I cannot

* * * * * *
 
At 17.15, that day, Cecie stood in another plain, in the Rim Garden surrounding
the city, looking up into the bare branches of a wind-gnarled tree against the
darkening sky.

Guide well my hand, O Lord, she prayed, reaching into her blouse and taking
out her crucifix, kissing it five times.

She thrust it back inside her blouse and felt for the stock of the EMP under her
skirt strapped to her thigh, encased in simuleather.

She turned to Joe, who stood behind her, to one side. Now its Halloween, she
said.

He glanced up at the tree. It is so because you gazed at those branches against
the sky? he asked, head cocked.

It is for me, she said. Thats an old ritual I used to do as a kid. She
started back toward the city, Joe at her side. I just hope we dont have any
more horrors on our hands.

No tricks, just treats, Joe said, with an impish lilt, offering her his arm.

* * * * * *
 
Hal turned off the small blowtorch and set it on the dresser. He took off his
sunglasses and, after a minute, tested the weld carefully. It held.

He touched the pressure release switch; the dermis plates closed over Jays
chest cavity. Hal waited a few seconds, then pressed the reactivation stud
behind Jays left ear.

Jays eyes rolled up, then down, then to the left, then to the right.

Hey, Jay, whaddya say? Hal said.

Jay sat up, still bare-chested.

Its alive! Hal cried, deliberately trying to sound like a mad scientist in an
old monster movie.

It still lives yet, thanks to your work.

Ive been good to you when others werent, Hal said, gathering up the tools
laid out on the mattress beside Jay and handing the Mecha his shirt. But yah
gotta earn your keep, boy.

In what way this night?

I got one more for you to do, get you out of these old beat-up parts.
Jay slipped his shirt on. Who then?

Hal took a picture out of his own shirt pocket and handed it to Jay. Take a
look. When you do him, be careful: just knock out the neural cube and smash it
good and hard.

But what about the girl who protects him?

Have your way with her. Shes a virgin from what Ive heard.

It shall be a delight to teach her the ways of lust.

Careful though, shes a live one; she gave me the cold shoulder twice.

I shall melt her resolve.

I know you can, Hal said, kneading Jays shoulder.

Jay looked up at Hal, his gaze trailing down the Orga's torso, coming to rest at his groin. "Perhaps, before we head out, you would desire another go at me? ...For old times' sake?"

"It's getting late," Hal said, starting to turn away.

Jay gave him a sweet smile, the brutal smirk at the corner of his mouth betraying that he was not the other like him. "I can make it a quickie. Wha'ddayah say?"

"All right, but next time, you'll be the one licking *me*. Deal?"

"A fair turnabout," Jay said, leaning back on his hands.

Hal slid his hands down under the Mecha's belt, his talons finding exactly what they'd been looking for. Even under his practised fingers, Jay's silicon responded slowly.

"Not working like it should, eh?" Hal noted. "That'll be behind you tonight, once we finish this last job."

"That shall please us both," Jay said.

Hal undid the front of Jay's trousers and lowered his face into the Mecha's lap. With his lips and tongue attempting what his hands had failed, Hal couldn't see the smug smile of self-satisfaction that quirked Jay's mouth

* * * * * *
 
Cecie and Joe reached the Langiers' without incident. They didn't pass any male
lover-Mechas on the way down, anywhere. The few Mechas abroad were female, and
even they had a hard time finding customers. One almost solicited Joe until he
got up close to her, then she stepped back, a blankly baffled look on her
cheaply pretty face. Thankfully, she wasnt Jane.

Cecie kept glancing back, her hands on the stocks of her weapons, ears open for
any suspicious noises.

They nipped into a drug store on the Lower Deck to buy the can of wax Frank
needed.

Phila let them into the apartment when they finally got there.

What took you so long? Phila asked.

Were we that long? Cecie asked.

It took us no longer than usual to come down here, Joe said.

It probably just seemed longer since were all as nervous as long-tailed cats
in a room full of rocking chairs, Kip said.

Did you get the wax? Bernie said, peering out of the bathroom.
Cecie held up the can. I sure did.

While Cecie heated up the wax in a pan of water on the kitchen stove, Bernie
helped Frank with his hair, using Joe as a model.

How are we doing? Cecie asked, coming into the bathroom with the wax still in
the pan of water.

I guess its close enough, Bernie said.

Yeah, itll be dark out there, theres bound to be hairline differences no one
except a Mecha would see, said Cecie, putting the pan on the bathroom counter.

Get it? Hairline differences? Frank said. Joe smiled, catching the pun.

Cecie worked fast, spreading the wax on Franks face and smoothing it over the
backs of his hands before it cooled.

Ugh, this stuff is stiff. No wonder you Mechas have a generally blank
expression on your face, Frank said, eying Joe.

Okay, Cecie said, taking the pan of cooling water with her as she stepped out
of the bathroom. Time for you fellows to switch clothes. She shut the door
behind her.

She could hear the sounds of zippers, of cloth rustling and the clink of a belt
buckle coming undone.

Hey! Frank cried. Hey, Cecie.

What? Cecie asked.

Y didnt tell me he doesnt wear shorts, Frank said.

Such a garment would be cumbersome to say the least for someone of my class,
Joe replied, indignant.

A moment or two later, the bathroom door opened. A tall, dark young man emerged
clad in a gray fleece shirt-jacket over a thermal undershirt and black
corduroys, followed by an almost identical young man in gleaming black.

Oh my! Phila cried. Which one is Joe?

the two young men glanced at each other.

I am, they chorused, their voices and accents almost identical.

This is weird, said Bernie.

One of you has the wrong accent, Kip said.

Are you referring to me? said the young man in black, with a hint of an
English accent.

The young man in gray pressed his fingers to his throat, as if checking his
pulse. That doesnt sound anything even remotely close to my accent, he said
in a flat American accent.

This is funny, Cecie said, grinning.

Are you all set? Kip asked.

Cecie felt in her pockets. Stunnercheck. She pushed open the split of her
skirt. EMPcheck. Cellphone she didnt feel it. Nuts, I must have left it
home. Too late to get it now.

Theres phones out there any way, Kip said.

What are you going to do if someone hits on you? Bernie asked Frank.

Easy, Frank said. Just tell em I got a previous engagement.

But occasionally there are especially persistent women, Joe warned. These
must be dealt with delicately but firmly.

What am I getting myself into? Frank said, only half-humorously.

The lights blinked.

Whoa, what was that? Cecie asked, looking up.

The lights went out, leaving them in blackness except for the faint glow from
the jack o lanterns in the window.

Oh, boy, whats this? Frank said. No, make that What has happened?

I was about to say, regarding your first statement, that does not sound like
me, Joe added.

Is it just us? Kip asked, going to the window. No, the whole street is out.

Maybe its just local, like when the lights went out on Main Plaza last night,
Bernie said.

Could be, Kip said, going for the cupboard.

Ouch! Phila squealed.

Are you okay? Kip asked, bumping about on his way to the cupboard in the
kitchen.

Yes, someones standing on my foot and I think its Joe.

I am not standing on your foot, Joe said, his voice coming from a spot quite
distant from the direction of Philas voice.

How could he know that? Its pitch black in here except for the jack o
lanterns, Phila asked.

I can see as well in the dark as you can see in the light, Joe replied, in
answer.

Is he exaggerating? Phila asked Cecie in a lower voice.

No, hes telling the truth: all later generation Mechas can, Cecie replied.

Kip found another candle, stuck it into the neck of a soda bottle he found on
the kitchen counter and lit the candle with his lighter.

Great, Joes got night vision, Frank groaned. I suppose the keeping my eyes
open all the time bit will help get more light inside.

Voices yammered outside then fell silent. A loud scream cut the ensuing night
silence. They all looked toward the front door; Cecie gripped Joes arm.
Frank went for the door and listened for a few seconds. He opened it carefully
and peered out with just one eye.

Something rolled into the room.

Cecie nearly yelped. The severed head of an older model lover Mecha lay at their
feet. Someone moving off into the distance whistled Mountain King.

Frank closed the door. Hal and Jay, Frank murmured.

You shouldnt go out there, Phila warned.

Phila, Cecie said. We gotta do this.

Cecie opened the door wide. Frank and Joe followed her out into the darkness.

The entire street lay black and lightless. A few people had come out of their
apartments trying to find out what was going on.

Slumped against the wall of the Langiers house lay the headless carcass of a
very plastic-looking old style male lover-Mecha.

Good riddance, said one of the neighbors, eying it.

Cecie looked down at it, recognizing the Mecha theyd called Big Jim, the one
that had hit on her a few times outside the laundromat, until she found out how
chicken was.

Did anyone see anybody near this Mecha? Cecie asked the thin crowd gathered on
the sidewalk.

It was too darkNot with the lights gone outThey ran away too fast to
tell.

We havent a moment to lose, Joe said, in a fairly good impersonation of
Franks voice.

They headed along the street till they came to a nook among the pilings where
they could talk undisturbed.

This changes everything, Frank said. Hal and Jay cant be too far from here.

What causes you to deduce that? Some time has passed in which they could have
covered much distance, Joe pointed out.

As far as I can tell, Jay wouldnt kill anyone unless Hal had rubberstamped the
order, Frank said.

But why did they slay this Mecha? Most of the victims were Gen 4s and 5s,
Cecie said.

Thats a good question, unless Jay really is a sadist, or his fraternizing with
Hal has really unhinged his warped mind, Frank said. My guess is that Hals
staying upstairs and hes hiding Jay down here.

So what do we do now? Cecie asked.

I doubt Hal and Jay travel together, so lets lure Hal to an open spot upstairs
by giving him a phony message from Jay on his pager, Frank said.

Good idea.

The three of them crept along the street, heading for the escalator hub. Joe and
Frank went ahead of Cecie, Joe because he could see in the dark, and Frank as a
cover. All along the way, not a light showed in the windows except for candles
and battery lamps in some windows.

They found the escalator hub and climbed the stopped escalators. Cecie kept one
hand on her stunner, the other on Franks coattails, keeping up the illusion.

A thought cross her mind: You could be harmed.

She set it aside. They had to do this, they had to slip Hal the convincer: Call
off the jackal, McGeever; give yourself up.

They emerged onto Main Plaza. The entire square was black, the buildings black
shadows against the night sky. A full moon shone down, silvering the structures
around them and glinting, faintly iridescent, off the dead neon. Thin
yellowish-gray clouds scudded across the sky, too wispy to obscure the moon or
the stars.

They walked up Broad Way to Harlot Square. Joe took the lead now, with Frank and
Cecie behind him, Cecie acting as a rear guard, both hands on her weapons.

She scanned the shadows, watching for any intruders. She saw a few couples
hurrying past, but nothing to cause alarm.

They reached the phone kiosk. Frank checked to make sure the phone was working.

This lines alive. He dialed and waited a moment. Jay. Harlot Square. Now.
He hung up.

On second thought, Cecie said, reaching for the phone. She dialed a familiar
number. Florence McGill. Harlot Square.

A metallic trill sounded from Franks chest. He looked at Cecie. Joe glanced at
him.

Frank held up the medallion pager which hung at his chest, showing the message
scrolling across the display. Good thinking, Cecie, in case someone mistakes me
for a certain someone.

Joe and Cecie ducked into a doorway nearby. Frank paced the square, mimicking by
turns Joes cocky strut and Jays deliberate strides. Cecie touched Joes arm
gently, just enough that he turned to glance at her, but not enough to arouse
him. She hadnt been able to give it much thought, but she realized how odd it
was that these two, Joe and Jay, should be of the same line. She knew from
Vautrin that Joe was the prototype of this particular model, which meant that
Jay came from later in the run. If that was the case, that made Jay the wayward
younger brother of the Mecha concealed beside her.

But why was Jay so terrible while Joe was not? Probably that dangerous chip that
Flyte had had removed from Joe before it blew. Jay must have suffered some kind
of binary switch of some overrides in his system. She knew Joe was incapable of
hurting a womanunless she was a customer asking for the rough stuffbut shed
seen Joe defend her against Hal. But that had been acting defense of another.

If Jay was the same Mecha responsible for the rampages in Nova Francisco and
Omaha, perhaps his behavior resulted from some sort of slipped override.

But how did Hal get in cahoots with Jay in the first place?

Perhaps shed get the answer when Frank confronted Hal.

Hey, Joe, whaddya know? asked a female voice. Y wanna help me find my way
home in the dark? a short woman had approached Frank.

Would that I could assist you, Milady, but a customer has called for me by name
to meet her at this very spot, Frank replied in a voice so like Joes that
Cecie glanced at her companion.

Aw, no fair, the woman sneered and stalked away.

As soon as the woman had passed out of earshot, Frank let out a sigh of relief.
Joe smiled mischievously.

The wind rose, sending cascades of dry leaves scuttling across the square. She
heard no other movement except the patter of Franks feet as he paced the
street.

The hum of Joes components seemed to have grown more noticeable. Cecie glanced
around.

She looked over her right shoulder into Jays face.

She gasped frozen to the spot. A slow, cold grin twisted Jays face. He raised
one hand. With a click, his wrist unsealed and he drew from the hollow of his
limb what looked like a switchblade. He pressed a button on the handle and a
blade nearly as long as Cecies hand sprung out.

It looks as if I got lucky tonight, Jay said.

Joe! Cecie! Run! Frank screamed.

Joe grabbed Cecie by the shoulders at the same instant as he dragged her out of
the doorway. They were halfway across the square before Cecies heels hit the
ground.

Frank got behind them, between them and Jay.

Joe led her down a side street, into an alleyway. Footsteps clattered past the
end of the alleyway, Franks heavier clatter and Jays almost soundless strides.
She waited till they had passed, then she ran after them.

Cecie, where are you going? Joe called, hurrying after her.

You think Im going to let that murderer kill Frank? she cried. She unsheathed
the EMP, holding it with both hands, trying to keep it steady.

Torso shot, she reminded herself, taking aim.

Just as she pulled the trigger, Frank dove down a side street, Jay close on his
heels. The bolt hit a lamppost, causing it to explode.

She cursed under her breath and ran after Jay.

* * * * * *
 
Hals pager purred against his chest as he walked the streets of the Lower Deck.
He took it out and squinted at it, turning his penlight on its face to read it.

Jay. Harlot Square. Now.

How the f--- did that Mecha get up there so fast? Hal muttered. He headed for
the escalator hub.

He was almost there when he heard someone clear their throat behind him. Great,
Burnstead, he thought. He turned around, expecting to be interrogated again.
A man slightly taller and heavier than Burnstead stood there, clad in an
overcoat with a velvet collar, the coat open over his chest and pushed back
slightly.

Mr. McGeever? Im Terrill Loris. I work for Mr. Flyte of Sapphire Enterprises.
Weve had some discrepancies in the fees youve paid us for services rendered

Listen, Ive got a huge story Ive got my hands full trying to follow right
now. Ill pay you up as soon as Im free.

Loris smiled thinly. Are you aware of the fact that youre under suspicion in
connected with the recent Mecha murders.

Yeah, Im aware of it. Why, you gonna sic the dogs on me if I dont pay up?
Ive had similar stunts pulled on me by pimps.

Loris folded his arms behind his back, which pulled the front of his jacket
tight across the front of his shoulders, exposing a square lump on his left,
which looked oddly like a pacemaker.

 Mr. McGeever, Im not a pimp, and we are not in the habit of threatening our
customers.

Well then, whats the point in bringing up my troubles with the law? Hal
fingered the stock of the gun in his pocket, pressing a switch.

Im only trying to clear up this problem in a timely manner.

Oh, before I get thrown in the slammer where I wont be able to pay you back,
that what you were thinking?

No, that wasnt on our minds at all.

Hal drew out the gun. Then think again!

He intended to blow off Loris with it. A bolt of blue energy cracked from the
muzzle to Loriss shoulder.

The larger man staggered back, clutching at his chest, beginning to wheeze.

McGeever, youll be paying with more than cash now, Loris grunted.

Hal quick-walked away. Jay would be looking for him and he didnt want to hang
around for Burnstead to find.

* * * * * *
 
Cecie darted a glance down each side street and alley mouth they passed, looking
for any sign of Frank or Jay. Dont let me be too late, she prayed. Joe followed
her, rescanning each passageway, carefully instructed to let her know shed
overlooked something.

Nothing yet. She strained her ears, filtering the wind, listening for footsteps
besides their own.

She heard a shout from behind. Joe ran up alongside her and grabbed her arm.

There is no time to be lost: dont look back.

What? She looked back.

Jay followed them, not more than three paces away.

They dove down an alleyway into pitch-blackness. Where was Frank? She prayed he
was unharmed.

Joe nudged her down a narrow side passage between the buildings, just wide
enough for them to run abreast. She glanced back.

Jay followed their very footsteps, dragging the blade of his knife along the
walls, trailing orange sparks in the blackness. He was sharpening the knife on
the concrete. As he dashed out of the alleyway, the moonlight flashed off a
silver spot on his neck, probably new damage. Had Frank done this? Had it bought
him a chance to escape?

She couldnt open fire on Jay; they had to get out into the open, where she
could see.

The darkness of the side passage did not let up, no light at the end of the
tunnel.

She nearly ran full tilt into a brick wall at the end, but Joe yanked her aside
and drew her close to a sidewall. He pushed her against a metal ladder. She got
the hint: she thrust the gun into her pocket and climbed as fast as she could.
She got to the rooftop and swung over the ledge.

Joe catapulted over the ledge and dragged her across the rooftop just as Jays
head appeared over the head of the ladder. He clenched the knife in his teeth.
 
* * * * * *

Hal reached Harlot Square and scanned the shadows, looking for Jay. You find
something else to smash up on the way over? You caused me any more unnecessary
trouble? Bad Mecha! No repairs!

A tall, graceful figure approached him with long strides swinging to a rhythm
all his own. Mmmm, better than Jay

Hey, Joe, whaddya know? Hall purred. The other ignored him.

He snuck up behind the Mecha and yanked him around, shoving his back up against
a wall.

Is this the ear Im supposed to whisper into? Hal asked.

Im sorry Hal, Im afraid I cant do that, the Mecha replied in a silken
voice.

What the ----?

Before Hal could say the obscenity on his lips, the Mecha struck him a
roundhouse punch on the chin.

Hal sighed and crumpled to the ground.

* * * * * *
 
Besides, Im not Joe, Frank said, stepping over Hals prostrate form, and ran
to the phones.

He dialed 911 and waited, nursing the bruises Jay had given him. No cuts, thank
God; he had enough scars from other escapades.

* * * * * *
 
Joe and Cecie ran from one rooftop to the next, jumping over the narrow
airshafts, running up the slope of one peaked roof and sliding down the other
side. Cecie could just hear Jays footsteps dogging theirs.

Her sides ached and her lungs burned at each breath. She tried to rechannel some
of Joes less limited energy into herself, if that was possible, to give her an
extra boost.

She focused on the ledge of the next airshaft as they sped toward it, not
looking to the sides, not looking back: perfect tunnel vision. She ignored the
panting gasps from her lungs and forced herself to run.

Theres an airshaft, Joe warned.

They leapt across it. For a sickening second, Cecie felt her stomach drop into
her shoes. But they both landed on the other side, hitting the asphalt running.

They almost kept running over the edge of another ledge. Joe pulled her back in
time to keep her from falling into the abyss.

They couldnt see a ladder down nearby.

Something grabbed Joe from behind and flung him back, toward the middle of the
roof.

Cecie looked up into a pair of blank gray eyes.

* * * * *
 
So, I threw a garbage can in his face, which distracted him. He lost sight of
me and went after Joe and Cecie, Frank concluded.

So where did you last see them? Burnstead asked Frank as they sat out of the
wind in a police amphibicopter.

Over near the intersection of 18th Street and Magdalen Row, Frank said,
holding an ice pack to a bruise on his forehead, where Jay had hit him with the
pommel of his knife.

You should consider yourself somewhat lucky, Sweitz: you could have gotten
killed, Burnstead replied.

Hed have gotten a nasty surprise if hed cut me, Frank said. Did you find
Hal?

Not yet, he wasnt near where you said youd punched him out. Were guessing he
came to and crept away, said one of the guards.

Were looking for him anyway: we found Raymond Flytes accountant Merrill Loris
near the elevator in cardiac arrest: he says McGeever knocked out his pacemaker
with an EMP. We air-lifted him to Camden a few minutes ago, Burnstead said.

I didnt think Hal could do that.

Thats what we want to know more about, Burnstead said. Then with a glint in
his eye, And Id like to know why youre wearing our friend Joes jacket?

Cecie and I got this hare-brained scheme to confuse Hal and get him to give
himself up. And so that Cecies boyfriend wouldnt get mistaken for his evil
twin, he and I switched clothes.

You ought to be on the force, young man, Burnstead said. Youd be good at
undercover.

Ive seen the police in action so often I guess I picked up some of the tricks
of the profession, Frank said with a nonchalant shrug.

* * * * * *
 
Hello, Cecie, Jay said in a deadly purr.

Let me go, she grunted.

Why? Ive only just touched you. he pressed his lower torso against hers,
pinning it to the wall of the bulkhead. His knees were against hers, so she
couldnt kick him or stomp his foot.

Why not? Youve got the fluids of ten Mechas on your hands.

He looked into her eyes. She saw nothing behind them, no intelligence, no
emotional emulation, nothing.

Do you think I enjoyed killing my own species? I did it only at the prompting
of my boss.

Halloran McGeever.

Yes. You know of him?

Better than I care to.

True. His company is not for everyone. But if you knew him better, you would
find him an unusually agreeable fellow, even charming in his own fashion.

Ill admit hes clever, but hes wasted his cleverness.

Jay chuckled, a dry, humorless ripple. I disagree: he has used it well in this,
as he called it, publicity stunt. And he helped me as well: we salvaged from the
bodies of my victims the parts I required since my components had suffered much
damage.

The chip that went bad.

The Babylon bug they called it. Youre well-versed in these matters.

Of course.

Yes, yes, your liaison with the other of my line. You have something for us
J-04679s, dont you?

Only for Joe.

But not for me? Something hard and cold pressed against her garments.

She spat in his face as a reply.

Not so icy as we pretend, he murmured. And smart as well. Youre more than a
pretty face. He pinned her face back with his, forehead to forehead. He turned
his head slightly and ran his tongue over her cheek. Sweet, the seat of a
virgin. To bad youll have to die this way. You know far too much about me
already.

He sawed the point of the blade through her clothes, into her ribs, just denting
the skin. At the same time, he writhed his pelvis against hers; her flesh
responded, but her insidesphysical and immaterialcringed.

He stopped of a sudden. But Im easy in more ways than one. Lets make a deal,
shall we? If I rid you of the weight of your maidenhead, Ill let you go
unharmed on the condition that you forget all that you have seen and reveal none
of it to the police men.

And if I refuse?

The blade pierced her skin.

* * * * * *
 
The candle in the largest jack o lantern in the Langiers window had burned
down to a pool of wax, smoldering, the flame tiny.

The light faded in the pumpkin lanterns eyes.

It went out.

* * * * * *
 
Cecie steeled herself. She would not cry out: that would gratify Jay.

They cant help you now, he whispered, his lips almost touching hers. The
blade at her ribs cut in deeper. Needles of pain shot through her flesh from the
wound opening in her side. What shall it be? The blade or me? Death or the
little death?

Neither, she grunted through clenched teeth.

Then I shall decide: both.

He reached down to undo his fly with on hand, while the other dug the knife into
her flesh. He shifted position slightly as he did so. Over Jays shoulder she
glimpsed Joe creeping up behind him.

Jay suddenly fell over backwards. The knife tore from her body, ripping the
flesh. She ground her teeth against the pain.

Jay lunged at Joe, who leapt aside lightly. He dashed at Joe again, but the
other eluded him.

So you wish to dance with me? Jay asked sardonically.

Not with the likes of you, Joe said. And certainly not with my own kind.

Joe edged back toward the roof ledge as he said this. Jay rushed at him, but Joe
hit the deck and rolled out of the way.

Jay toppled over the ledge. He free fell, a groan of defeat escaping his voice
box.

Cecie pulled herself to the edge of the roof and drew the EMP. She aimed at Jay
before he hit the ground, and fired.

The bolt struck Jay in the torso. Every conductor in his body lit up like neon
tubing.

With a shattering metallic crash he hit the pavement and lay still.

Cecie sank back on her heels, the EMP fell from her numb hands.

Joe came to her side and knelt there. His hand went to the wound.

Dont touch it, dont touch, she begged.

I shall not, he said, spreading his palm over it. He spread his hand slightly.

The lights along his fingers glowed on her flesh.

Her wound gaped, a gash as long as her hand, along her ribs, showing the bared
bones. The blood flowed slowly from it, a good sign.

Mr. Flytes residence is not far from here; he has a doctor Mecha in his
service, Joe said.

Take me there, Cecie managed.

Joe lifted her in his arms and slung her over his shoulder. He carried her to
the further edge of the roof and leaped across the airshaft. He quickly found,
down the back of the building, a metal ladder down to the ground, and inched
down it to the street.

He hit the ground running, smoothly, without the least bit of jouncing to
disturb his precious load, carrying Cecie through the shadows.
Sirens sounded overhead. Spotlights from above shone down on the darkened
streets, but none near their path. Joe had shifted her from his shoulder to his
arms, her head against his shoulder.

Life flows out of my body, Cecie managed to say in a voice so steady it
scared her. Pain flows out with my blood.

Do not think such things: you shall be safe in but a moment, Joe said. We
have only a few steps to travel.

They reached the foot of one of the towers near the edge of the city. Everything
went a darker shade of black before her eyes as Joe carried her under the awning
covering the entrance.

Concluded in the next chapter
 
Literary Easter Eggs:

Long-tailed catsa colorful analogy borrowed from the excellent World War II
movie The Scarlet and the Black

Im sorry, HalI had to get a Kubrick cross-reference in here: I based this
on HAL the computers line in 2001: A Space Odyssey: Im sorry, Dave, Im
afraid I cant do that.

Hello, Cecie.Yes, I intended to evoke Hannibal Lecters famous Hello,
Clarice in Silence of the Lambs (Jays voice was intended to be evocative of
Anthony Hopkinss voice as well.)

Jays groanborrowed from a spooky sound effects tape in my collection.

Life flows out of my bodyThis is a quote from Blood Rocks D.O.A., which I
heard on the radio around Halloween; its one of the goriest songs Ive ever
heard, and it was made back in 1972! And the older generation likes the pick on
the younger set for having gory songs