Part 22 (1/2)

person when he's not. He specializes in that sort of deception.”

”How can a machine be deceptive'” Annie asked.

Dekka stood up, clearly irritated by her parry. ”I see there's no point in talking to you about this.”

”What precisely was it you wanted to discuss'” Annie inquired.

Dekka paused. ”I wanted to make you see the light, to help me capture James. But I see that was futile.”

”Absolutely.”

”Tell me something, Dekka,” Kay said. She had mostly been quiet up until now, observing Dekka

closely. ”Why aren't you holding a gun to our heads, the way you did yesterday'” ”It's not easy to hold two hostages at once,” Dekka said coolly. ”And even if I managed it, James won't be fooled by that gambit again. He is more careful than your friend here, and despite what you imagine he isn't troubled by messy emotions such as friends.h.i.+p and loyalty. He won't open the door unless he knows no one but yourself is on the other side of it, even to save your lives. I would have to shoot the door open. And that would cause a level of scrutiny I can't afford. It would be much easier if I could convince one of you to simply bring him down here.”

”That won't happen,” Annie said shortly.

”No, I suppose not.” Dekka turned as if to leave, then paused and turned back. ”Tell me, where is your

child'”

”Upstairs,” Kay said shortly.

Dekka raised her black brows. ”You left your baby in the care of a humanoid'”

”James is very good with Clark,” Annie said defensively.

”Yes, of course he is. It is what he was designed to do, after all. It's simply that I wouldn't expect a

twenty-first century person to--” Dekka paused. ”Did you say Clark'”

”My baby's name is Clark,” Kay said. ”Clark Sterling.”

A look of alarm began to settle onto Dekka's features. ”Clark Sterling,” she repeated. ”Clark Nicholas

Sterling'”

Kay and Annie exchanged startled glances. ”How the h.e.l.l did you know that'” Kay snapped.

”Oh, no.” Dekka sat down heavily in the chair. ”Oh, no. It's too late, then. It's already too late. I've failed.”

”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about'” Annie demanded.

Dekka regarded her through bleak eyes. ”You poor little fool. I suppose you don't possess the wit to realize that James didn't come here merely to hide, or to copulate with you. He has an agenda, one that I'm sure he hasn't shared with you. He wants to distort the future.”

”Sounds to me like the future needs to be changed,” Kay said.

”Hmm. Perhaps you may think so. But what you may not like is James' methods.”

”What do you mean'” Annie demanded.

Dekka lifted her shoulders in a despondent shrug. She looked utterly beaten. ”What do you think would

be the best way to alter the future'”

Annie hesitated. ”To change someone's destiny, I guess. To make them alter some decision they made.”

”Terribly complicated, making someone change his mind about his beliefs,” Dekka said. ”There is an

easier way.”

”You mean he plans on killing someone,” Annie said tersely.

”Of course.” Dekka shook her head slowly. Her expression was grim. ”He's killed enough people in the

past months. One more won't give him pause.”

”You can't mean he plans on killing me,” Annie said, baffled. ”He wouldn't. Anyway, I'm not

important.”

”No, probably not. But James used you to get to someone else.”

Kay stood up slowly. The blood drained from her face, leaving her pale. ”You're talking about Clark,