digital domain in True America. Men, women, and children worked and played in softly swirling images, flickering across the sunlit water. It was here that the e-reps and e-sens came to see the faces of the people they served, strengthening their resolve to preserve the American dream.
"You're sure the killer won't stop?" said Antarctica.
"There are one hundred e-reps," said Nevada. "The first victim was marked one hundred, and the second was ninety-nine. Ninety-eight is next, then ninety-seven...all the way to zero."
Antarctica frowned. "I can't believe the Developers are letting this happen. Can't they just reprogram the source code to bring back the dead and stop the murders?"
"Maybe not." Nevada stroked the dark stubble on his chin. "Maybe they've lost control of the simulation. Or maybe they're letting it happen."
"But it doesn't seem possible." Antarctica shook her head and gazed into the water. "None of this does."
"Got that right." Nevada stretched out on his side, propping an elbow on the cement. Even with everything that was going on, he felt a sense of peace in this place.
Of all the places in the digital realm, the Reflecting Pool would always be the most special to him. It was here, five years ago, that he'd last seen Idaho before she'd disappeared from his life.
It was here that he'd last made love to her.
"What about Looking Glass's clues?" said Antarctica. "Do they mean anything?"
"I'm sure they do," said Nevada, "but I haven't figured them out yet."
"'When is one one-hundred?'" Antarctica narrowed her silver eyes. "He must have meant the one hundred e-reps of Congress, right?"
"Probably," said Nevada.
"Or he might have meant me ." Antarctica's eyes widened. "I'm the one-hundredth e-rep, from the
one-hundredth state. What if I'm the next victim ?"
"I don't think so," said Nevada. "The killer's following reverse order of importance. Missouri was speaker of the House, number one in terms of power...and the killer counted him last, as number one hundred."
"And Yukon was minority leader." Antarctica sounded relieved. "Second most powerful. So you don't think I'm next, Nevada?"
"No, sweetheart." said Nevada. "I don't think you're on the killer's radar right now."
Just then, without warning, Antarctica shot forward and disappeared under the water.
Heart pounding, Nevada scrambled to the edge of the pool and stared at the spot where she'd gone under. Since the water was murky with projected scenes of True America, he couldn't see below the surface. No trace of Antarctica or whatever had pulled her in was visible.
Then, suddenly, one pale hand broke the surface. Nevada grabbed it and pulled up hard...but whatever had hold of Antarctica wouldn't let go.
Leaning out further, Nevada clamped both hands around Antarctica's wrist and pulled harder than before. The thing in the pool resisted...then finally released its grip. Nevada hauled Antarctica free with one great heave.
The two of them tumbled back on the edge of the pool. Nevada cradled her in his arms as she coughed up water and gasped for breath.
Her silver eyes flickered open and met his gaze. "Guess what?" Her voice was shaking. "I think I'm on the killer's radar after all."
Nevada stroked the platinum blonde hair from her eyes. "Did you get a look at who pulled you in?"
Antarctica shook her head. "All I know is, their touch was beyond ice cold. It was too cold even for me ."
Nevada stared at the surface of the pool. He wondered who had attacked Antarctica, and why.
Maybe the killer's hit list was more random than Nevada had thought, or it followed a more complicated formula. Maybe Antarctica knew something that could lead to a break in the case.
Or maybe, a more ominous motive had fueled the attack.
"We've got to get back," said Nevada. "Back to the House."
Antarctica frowned. "Why?"
"I don't think you were a target," said Nevada. "I think you were a diversion."
*****
Pieces of the great state of Zacatecas were scattered all over the
"You're sure the killer won't stop?" said Antarctica.
"There are one hundred e-reps," said Nevada. "The first victim was marked one hundred, and the second was ninety-nine. Ninety-eight is next, then ninety-seven...all the way to zero."
Antarctica frowned. "I can't believe the Developers are letting this happen. Can't they just reprogram the source code to bring back the dead and stop the murders?"
"Maybe not." Nevada stroked the dark stubble on his chin. "Maybe they've lost control of the simulation. Or maybe they're letting it happen."
"But it doesn't seem possible." Antarctica shook her head and gazed into the water. "None of this does."
"Got that right." Nevada stretched out on his side, propping an elbow on the cement. Even with everything that was going on, he felt a sense of peace in this place.
Of all the places in the digital realm, the Reflecting Pool would always be the most special to him. It was here, five years ago, that he'd last seen Idaho before she'd disappeared from his life.
It was here that he'd last made love to her.
"What about Looking Glass's clues?" said Antarctica. "Do they mean anything?"
"I'm sure they do," said Nevada, "but I haven't figured them out yet."
"'When is one one-hundred?'" Antarctica narrowed her silver eyes. "He must have meant the one hundred e-reps of Congress, right?"
"Probably," said Nevada.
"Or he might have meant me ." Antarctica's eyes widened. "I'm the one-hundredth e-rep, from the
one-hundredth state. What if I'm the next victim ?"
"I don't think so," said Nevada. "The killer's following reverse order of importance. Missouri was speaker of the House, number one in terms of power...and the killer counted him last, as number one hundred."
"And Yukon was minority leader." Antarctica sounded relieved. "Second most powerful. So you don't think I'm next, Nevada?"
"No, sweetheart." said Nevada. "I don't think you're on the killer's radar right now."
Just then, without warning, Antarctica shot forward and disappeared under the water.
Heart pounding, Nevada scrambled to the edge of the pool and stared at the spot where she'd gone under. Since the water was murky with projected scenes of True America, he couldn't see below the surface. No trace of Antarctica or whatever had pulled her in was visible.
Then, suddenly, one pale hand broke the surface. Nevada grabbed it and pulled up hard...but whatever had hold of Antarctica wouldn't let go.
Leaning out further, Nevada clamped both hands around Antarctica's wrist and pulled harder than before. The thing in the pool resisted...then finally released its grip. Nevada hauled Antarctica free with one great heave.
The two of them tumbled back on the edge of the pool. Nevada cradled her in his arms as she coughed up water and gasped for breath.
Her silver eyes flickered open and met his gaze. "Guess what?" Her voice was shaking. "I think I'm on the killer's radar after all."
Nevada stroked the platinum blonde hair from her eyes. "Did you get a look at who pulled you in?"
Antarctica shook her head. "All I know is, their touch was beyond ice cold. It was too cold even for me ."
Nevada stared at the surface of the pool. He wondered who had attacked Antarctica, and why.
Maybe the killer's hit list was more random than Nevada had thought, or it followed a more complicated formula. Maybe Antarctica knew something that could lead to a break in the case.
Or maybe, a more ominous motive had fueled the attack.
"We've got to get back," said Nevada. "Back to the House."
Antarctica frowned. "Why?"
"I don't think you were a target," said Nevada. "I think you were a diversion."
*****
Pieces of the great state of Zacatecas were scattered all over the
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