Part 103 (1/2)
”You sound as though you hold their skills in high regard, Doc- tor” Rickfield continued to make snide remarks whenever possi- ble
”Yessir, I do Many of theuided They are a new breed of bored criminal”
”You mentioned earlier Doctor, that there were over 5000 known viruses How fast is the epide?”
Senator Nancy Deere asked while hout
”For all intents and purposes Senator, they spread unchecked
There is a certain amount of awareness of the problem, but it is only superficial The current viral defenses include signature identification, cyclic redundancy checks and intercept verifica- tion, but the new viruses can combat those as a matter of rule
If the current rate of viral infection continues, it will be a safe bet that nearly every computer in the country will be in- fected ten times over within three years”
Dr Arnold Sternhtful questions froh to ask a few Rickfield continued with his visceral coallery and spectators
Scott could only i Rickfield would receive in the press, but being Friday, the effects will be lessened
Besides, it seeive a damn
Rickfield dismissed and perfunctorily thanked Dr Sternman He prepared for the next speaker, but Senator Deere leaned over and asked him for a five minute conclave He was openly reluctant, but as she raised her voice, he conceded In a private office off to the side, Nancy Deere ca out there, Senator?” She de, not a lynching”
Rickfield slouched in a plush leather chair and appeared uncon- cerned ”I am indeed sorry,” he said with the pronounced drawl of a Southern country gentle Senatoress finds cross exahborhood gossip session, it ht be easier”
”Now one daht at Rickfield ”That was not cross-examination; it was harassment and I for one am embarrassed for you And two, do not, I repeat, do not, ever patronize irls” She could not have knocked Rickfield over any harder with a sledgehammer
”You bitch!” Rickfield rose to confront her standing nine inches taller ”You stupid bitch You have no idea what's at stake
None It's bigger than you At this rate I can assure you, you will never have an ear in Washi+ngton Never You will be deaf, dumb and blind in this town I have been on this Hill for thirty years and paid ed June Cleaver undermine a lifetime of work just because she sround ”I don't knohat you're up to Senator, but I do know that you're sand bagging these hear- ings I've raised four kids and half a neighborhood, plus my husband talked in his sleep I learned a lot about politicians, and I know sand bagging when I see it Now, if you got stuck with these hearings and think they're a crock, that's fine I hear it happens to everyone But, I see them as important and I don't want you to interfere”
”You are in no position to ask for anything”
”I'umption, she asked herself Then it occurred to her;t fixed<d> ”I will take issue with you, take you on publicly, if necessary I was Presi- dent of the PTA for 8 years I a with bitches of every size and shape You're just a bastard”
Chapter 21
Friday, January 8 Washi+ngton, DC
As the hour is late, I a,” Senator Merrill Rickfield said congenially fro rooe, but he ably disguised the anger by replacing it with overcompensated manners
”However,” he continued, ”I understand that we scheduled someone to speak to us who has to catch a plane back to California?”
Rickfield quickly glanced about the formal dais to espy someone who could help hirossed in conversation and had to be prodded to respond ”Ken,” Rick- field whispered while covering the microphone with his hand He leaned over and behind his seat ”Is that right, this True Blue guy flew in for the day and he's out tonight?”
Ken nodded ”Yes, it was the only e could get him”
”What y
”He's one of the software industry's leading spokes it sound like he was in on a private joke