Collective Mind (32 page)

“Listen,
Isaac, I have a god-daughter, I have a sister. I have to think about them in
the first instance.”

“No
problem. Think. If everything goes smoothly, you won’t be a Veggie for all that
long.”

“And
if it doesn’t?”

“Commissioner,”
Isaac said with a smile, “It seems to me that are you starting to root for us
to succeed!”

Pellegrini
caught himself thinking that that was exactly right. He was worried they
wouldn’t succeed, and he would remain a Veggie forever and this thought was
unbearable.

“Just
imagine, practically all the Happies had relatives, people near and dear to
them, friends. Had. Because someone who becomes a Veggie is an emotional
corpse,” put in Pascal, who didn’t want anyone to become a Veggie, not even his
enemy the commissioner. “The most terrible thing is that someone who has turned
into a Veggie is no longer himself. And you must admit, Pellegrini, that the
only thing a person has is himself. Ultimately. Every person is an immense
world or, to put it less grandly, every person is a radar station. He beams out
waves around himself, those are his actions, ideas, interactions with other
people. And from the way these waves come back to him, from the feedback, a
person evaluates the way he lives. So there are billions of radar stations on
earth, each one radiating and evaluating. Each one living by making sense of
the signals that it receives. Each one of a billion separately, and all doing
it together. Thinking about it can drive you crazy. A Veggie is a radar station
that can’t send out radar beams. I wonder, is it possible to imagine a crueler
act of violence than taking away a person’s own self? Turning him into a
walking device for processing food?”

Pellegrini
listened attentively to Pascal, trying to imagine his own future condition. He
had come to terms with the idea that he was inevitably going to become a Happy,
although still dreaded it.

“I
decided to download for the sake of the woman I loved,” Pascal continued. His
hands were trembling and tears welled in his eyes. “But she left me in less
than three months. And I didn’t even try to stop her. I couldn’t care less! I
really, really care now, but that ship has sailed! She’s been with someone else
for ages! You can’t imagine what it’s like to fall asleep in the arms of the
woman you love, then wake up in the morning and realize that she’s already been
with someone else for a year!”

Pellegrini
lowered his head. He wouldn’t have wished on his worst enemy the fear he was
feeling now. How he hoped that everything would work out for this damned Isaac!

Bikie
picked up a pile of clean sheets of paper off the table and held them out to
Pellegrini.

“You
can write a letter to the top brass in UNICOMA. You’re important for them, you
work in the main department that collaborates with them directly. Write and
tell them they’ve made a mistake and they have to put it right. And write to
the Minister of the Interior too. It might help us if the operation fails.”

“We’ll
leave you for a short while,” Link concluded, taking the helmet off the
commissioner’s head. “I’m sure you need some time on your own.”

They
all went out, leaving Pellegrini alone with his thoughts. It turned out that
there had been a girl in the room as well, and she went out last. All this time
she had been sitting somewhere behind the commissioner. He didn’t see her face,
but one glance was enough to take note of the long, black hair and mind-blowing
figure.

The
first thing he did when he was left alone was he tried to free himself but
didn’t get anywhere. Only his right arm from the shoulder down was free so that
he could pick up a pen and start filling in the documents lying there.

The
entire team gathered by the pool, as far as possible from the house, so that
Pellegrini wouldn’t overhear them accidentally.

“Looks
like he’s ours,” the professor declared with a pensive smile.

“I
hope so,” Isaac agreed.

“Professor,
you really are a genius!” Bikie exclaimed excitedly. “What a fabulous plan! I
swear, being on the same team as you is not only an honor but a fascinating
event in my life. And Isaac, you’re some kind of megastar actor! Really
convincing! I believed it all! It was a pleasure just listening to you.”

“Thank
you, my friend,” said Pascal, hugging Isaac. “You’re like a brother to me. A
genuine one! By taking those risks, you effectively saved my life. I’ve been
born again!” And he added with a smile: “So now you’re like a father to me. A
godfather! Big-time scary!”

Instead
of praise, Michelle rewarded Isaac for his acting with a long kiss.

“Bikie,
Isaac, guys, working with you is a pleasure too,” the professor said with a
smile. “The most important thing in any partnership is the buzz you get from
succeeding together. You have someone to chew things over with and have a drink
to celebrate.”

The
professor’s plan, which they have now carried out, was as simple as all ideas
of a genius: after listening to Isaac when he got back from Pellegrini, he
immediately sent Pascal home, supplied with a little packet of a sleeping drug.
Pascal had to call the commissioner and tell him about the threat in a
frightened voice. Naturally, the overconfident Pellegrini, like some
super-hero, would prefer to arrest Isaac in person, without assistance from
anyone else, and he would immediately go dashing to Pascal’s home. In order not
to frighten Isaac off, he would probably dump his car a couple of kilometers
away and run for a short distance. Which meant that he would be thirsty. Even
if he wasn’t thirsty straight away, Pascal would offer him water or coffee.
That was the first part of the plan, and it went like clockwork.

The
commissioner fell into the trap just as Link had predicted. While he was
sleeping, they brought him to the Wolanski’s villa, where they had emptied one
room of everything that might give the commissioner a hint of where he was.
They curtained off the window. After that, they had to get him to believe in
the downloading. They had a downloading helmet, but they had nowhere to
download his OE to. According to the plan, they had to win him over to their
side. A man with a police badge, and one who held such an influential position,
could really help the team a lot. Whether they had managed it or not should
become clear in the next couple of hours.

“What
do we do next?” asked Pascal. “What’s going to convince you he’s ours?”

“We
gave him a contract and paper to write letters to UNICOMA and the Ministry of
the Interior. When he crumples them all up and tosses them away, that would
mean that he realized that it’s pointless writing to the top. That would be the
right moment to sow the seed of hope!”

Half
an hour later Michelle walked into the room where Pellegrini was sitting.

“Commissioner,
do you need any help?”

“No,
thank you,” Pellegrini replied sadly. “I’ve already finished half of it.”

“Would
you like me to sit with you, so you won’t be so lonely?”

“Yes,
please. Do sit for a while, of course.”

“
My name is Michelle. Michelle Blanche.”

“And
I’m Luca. The fact that you tell me your full name only confirms that I’ll be
downloaded.

“Don’t
you worry. They’re already flying to America next week. I’m sure they’ll pull
it off. They’re so clever.”

“Yes,
I’d like to believe that. Although right now that probably sounds strange,
coming from me.”

“It’s
not strange at all. I understand everything. Now you know what it means to be a
Happy, I understand you perfectly.”

“Listen,
Michelle. I wouldn’t want to tell them…” Pellegrini paused. “The professor and
Isaac, that is… but they need to go sooner.”

What
do you mean? What for?”

“I
wrote a request to the prosecutor for Isaac not to be allowed to leave the
country. It will be processed on Monday, and he won’t be able to fly anywhere.
And bearing in mind that I’ve disappeared, I think he’ll be arrested. They need
to fly sooner.”

“Whoa!
What a good thing you told us! I’ll warn them immediately. You don’t mind?’

“No,
I don’t. Tell them,” said Pellegrini. Although his whole being cringed, he did
not have a feeling that he became a traitor.

Michelle
walked out to tell everyone the important news. Bikie immediately started
checking the options for a flight to America that weekend.

“But
what about me? Have you come up with anything?” Link asked.

“Not
so far, professor, sorry. But there’s still time,” Isaac replied.

“What’s
the problem with the professor?” Michelle asked.

“He’s
wanted by Interpol. We don’t know how to fool the checks at the American
border. Three months ago they installed new devices that identify everyone from
their DNA. We don’t know how to get round that. Link will be spotted
immediately.”

“That’s
strange,” Michelle replied. “I was in America a month ago, and my DNA wasn’t
checked at all.”

“Where
did you fly?” Isaac asked.

“From
Nice to Miami, for a photo shoot.”

 “What
kind of flight’s that I’ve never heard of planes flying from Nice to Miami?”

“It’s
not a scheduled flight. Was a private jet.”

“Hell
and damnation!” exclaimed Bikie, exchanging glances with Isaac.

“Could
you tell us about that flight in more detail, please?” Isaac said.

“Sure,”
Michelle readily agreed, with a pleasant feeling that she was fitting into the
team: first, they sent her to the commissioner, and now she could give them
useful information. “Well, I’m not a poor girl,” she said with a slightly
guilty air. “Sometimes I travel on private flights. There’s a separate terminal
in Nice that private jets fly from. They fly anywhere at all, I landed in Miami
at the main international airport. But I didn’t cross the border where the
passengers on schedule flights do, there is a separate terminal for that.
Without crowds or lines. They have nice rooms there, VIP halls. And the service
is very different, everyone’s very polite and considerate. They know that the
person who has arrived isn’t just anyone. Then you give them your passport and
a few minutes later they bring it back, already stamped by the customs and the
border control. At the exit, of course, they check you against the photo in the
passport, but they don’t take any DNA.”

“Enough
said,” Isaac commented, giving Michelle a peck on the cheek. “Professor, it
looks like the problem can be solved. I think that so far the new system is
only in the major terminals, and they haven’t got around to the private flights
yet. Now, where do you get these private jets?”

“There
are lots of different brokerage companies. And by the way, since they fly all
around the world, they’re not limited by time zones. They work right round the
clock. You could call right this minute.”

“It
can’t be true,” Bikie exclaimed in delight. “I’m going to fly to America on a
private jet!”

“Michelle,
honey, you’re just a marvel! Could you give me the phone number of one of these
brokers? Now, since that commissioner’s opened up to you so much, you ‘d better
go back to him, will you?.”

Michelle
went back to the commissioner. He hadn’t made much progress with filling out
his application.

“Thanks
for the warning, the problem has been solved. They’ll fly out tomorrow or on
Sunday.”

“And
Link?”

“Link
too. It’s a pity you’re on the other side, commissioner. But don’t worry. We’ll
manage.”

“It’s
hard not to worry. Isaac is a wanted man from Monday in any case. They’ll soon
figure out where he flew to. I’ll be missed after a couple of days. It won’t be
easy for him to avoid being noticed in New York. He’s taking a great risk. If I
had a chance to cancel my request, it would simplify everything,” said the
commissioner, testing the water.

“And
is that possible?”

“It
is until Monday.”

“But
for that we have to let you go?’

“Yes.
Can I trust you, Michelle?”

“That
depends on what you have in mind, commissioner.”

“You’re
Isaac’s girlfriend, right? Or Bikie’s? Maybe you could have a word with them?

“Be
more specific, commissioner. I’m not a stupid girl.”

 “I’d
like to come to an agreement with them. I’ve done some thinking in here,
weighed everything up. I’m willing to cooperate, to help.”

“To
help us?” Michelle asked, trying to show genuine amazement.

“Yes,
you. If the professor isn’t lying, if he has returned Pascal’s energy
correctly, then I understand his desire to stop everything. And I understand
that going to the police is too risky. I’m not trying to trick you. If there
was a lie detector here, you could easily make sure of that. I’m being sincere.
Could you act as an intermediary in negotiations about this?”

“You
know, I believe you. Realizing what is really going on, any decent person would
join our side. But why would you need an intermediary? Just talk to them
directly!”

“That’s
what you think?”

“I’m
certain of it.”

***

Five
minutes later everyone gathered once again in the room where the bound
commissioner was sitting.

“Isaac,
professor, I want to help you. For that, you have to let me go.”

“Why
would you help us, Pellegrini?” Bikie asked. “Are we supposed to trust you
immediately and let you go? What if you are lying?”

“It
doesn’t look like he’s lying,” Link put in. “I can tell from his gestures and
expressions.”

“I’m
definitely not lying,” Pellegrini replied. “Then why would I have warned you
that you are wanted?”

“In
order not to become a Happy forever.”

“Of
course, I don’t want to be a Happy, especially after what you’ve told me. But
there are other reasons. If I don’t recall my request, you’ll have almost no
chance in America.”

“But
if we let you go, then you’re not risking anything.”

“You
can let me go after you’ve flown out and landed. You will be on the wanted list
if I’ve lied to you, but if I have not, you have a chance. You don’t lose
anything.”

“You’ve
seen all the others. They’re taking risks.”

“I
give you my word as an officer. Who was the first person you pulled out, Isaac?
Your friend Pascal. I have a lot of old colleagues among the Happies now. Do
you think I don’t give a damn for them? I joined the police to fight crime. I
worked in the Drug Control Department and have never sworn an oath of loyalty
to UNICOMA, I did swear it to the people, to my friends and to myself.”

“You
sound convincing. But I’ve learned from personal experience that you know how
to say what’s needed to convince a person or put him at ease.”

“Yes,
Isaac, I’m a professional. That’s true. And believe me, I’m willing to do more.
Not just cancel the request, but also, help you to carry out your plan.”

“Commissioner,
think about how to reduce our risks. You know your own weak spots best.”

“Very
well. I’ll think about it. But you think about it too.”

“Agreed.
I’d like to trust you. But it’s not easy, after all, I am putting my friends at
risk.”

They
all went out to the pool to consult, leaving the commissioner with Michelle.
They really wanted to believe him. And after all, it wasn’t clear what to do with
him if they didn’t. They couldn’t kill him, could they? And they had nowhere to
download him to. If they left him tied up here, of course, he would be missed
and sooner or later he would be found. His notes probably included the facts
about where Isaac worked, he had asked that at the first interview. And who
would stay behind to give the commissioner food and drink?

What
they needed badly was some proof that the commissioner was ready to switch over
to their side.

“The
commissioner and I have an idea!” said Michelle, coming back to the pool.

“Both
of you? Are you already in the league?” Isaac laughed.

“No.
But I trust him and I’m concerned about you.”

“And
I’m concerned about you, hon. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”

“Don’t
worry about me. I’ve got good lawyers, and I haven’t done anything wrong. I
didn’t kidnap the commissioner, I didn’t participate in anything. Yes, I was
there. But whoever said I agreed with what you were doing? My lawyer will
definitely get me off. What could I do about it? I’m just a frail, beautiful
girl.” Michelle wound her arms playfully around Isaac’s neck again and kissed
him.

“OK,
let’s go and listen to this idea of you two.”

“My
computer is in my hotel room,” Pellegrini began. “It is locked but I will give
you the password. But the computer has to be brought here anyway. The key to my
room is in my back pants pocket. The Marriott Hotel, Room 414.”

Isaac
nodded to Bikie, who reached into the commissioner’s back pocket and pulled out
a plastic key card with the word Marriott on it.

“Please
bring the computer, Bikie.”

“OK,
boss,” said Bikie, saluting Isaac playfully.

“Then
what, commissioner?”

“Next
comes the second level of protection: my iris. We’ll scan it in with the web
camera to gain entry into the operational database. Then the third level is my
fingerprint. That has to be scanned in too. Then we’ll enter the 24-digit
password for the database, and you’ll gain access to it. That’s the highest
level of security! It’s only accessible to department heads, and not to all of
them, as well as the Minister of Defense and his deputies and the Minister of
the Interior. Only files with individual access are a higher level. If anyone
finds out that I gave away the codes, I’m done for life. There can be no reason
that would justify me revealing this information. With my password, you can
even look up undercover agents. You’ll be able to cancel the request about
Isaac and even alter all the interview reports. I’ll show you how.