pzb.drawingblood-第31章

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y；　half　hoping　Zach　would　not　hear　him。　〃Is　this　part　of　what's　supposed　to　happen？〃
　　〃Fuck　supposed　to；〃　said　Zach。　〃You　make　it　up　as　you　go　along。〃
　　
　　Holding　each　other　like　a　pair　of　twins　in　the　womb；　they　were　able　to　sleep。
　　Sometime　just　before　dawn；　a　slow　shimmering　began　in　the　air　near　the　ceiling　just　above　the　bed。　It　deepened　into　a　vaguely　circular　whirlpool　pattern　something　like　the　waves　of　heat　that　swim　above　asphalt　in　the　heart　of　a　Southern　summer。　Then　tiny　white　fragments　of　paper　began　to　fall；　appearing　in　the　air　and　seesawing　slowly　down。　Soon　a　funnel…shaped　cloud　of　them　was　swirling　like　a　freak　snowstorm　in　the　hot；　still　room。
　　Trevor　and　Zach　slept　on；　not　knowing；　not　caring。　The　bits　of　paper　collected　on　the　floor；　the　bed；　the　boys'　sweaty　sleeping　bodies。
　　Dawn　found　them　still　locked　tightly　together；　Trevor's　face　buried　in　the　hollow　of　Zach's　shoulder　and　his　arms　clamped　across　Zach's　chest；　Zach's　hands　clutching　Trevor's　so　tightly　that　Trevor　would　later　find　the　indentations　of　Zach's　nails　in　his　palms。
　　Awake；　they　had　been　afraid　to　touch　each　other　at　all。
　　Asleep；　they　looked　as　if　they　would　be　terrified　to　ever　let　go。
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　Twelve
　　
　　As　luck　would　have　it；　Eddy　had　a　hacker　in　her　apartment　when　the　Secret　Service　kicked　the　door　down。
　　His　name　was　Stefan；　better　known　on　Zach's　beloved　pirate　boards　as　〃Phoetus；〃　and　he　was　one　of　the　few　local　puter　outlaws　who　knew　Zach's　real　name　and　where　he　lived。　Even　if　Zach　hadn't　wanted　him　to　have　this　information；　Phoetus　could　easily　have　chivied　it　out　of　the　vast　grid　of　data　kept　under　electronic　lock　and　key　by　the　phone　pany。　Zach　said　he　was　very　good。
　　He　ran　with　a　local　gang　of　hackers　who　called　themselves　〃The　0rder　0f　Dag0n。〃　（Hackers；　Zach　had　explained　to　her；　often　employed　a　unique　spelling　system　in　which　f's　were　replaced　with　ph's；　plural　s's　with　z's；　and　ordinary　o's　with　zeroes。）　It　amused　Eddy　to　picture　Lovecraft's　blasphemous　fish…frogs　of　nameless　design　flopping；　hopping；　croaking；　bleating；　and　surging　inhumanly　through　the　spectral　moonlight　all　the　way　from　Innsmouth　to　New　Orleans　and　the　surrounding　swamps；　where　they　had　presumably　set　themselves　up　with　the　latest　technology　and　started　tapping　phone　lines　and　cracking　databanks。
　　He　came　knocking　at　her　door　early　Tuesday　morning；　sometime　around　eleven。　Eddy　had　spent　all　day　Sunday　and　most　of　Monday　trundling　her　stuff　from　her　old　apartment　over　to　Madison　Street　in　a　little　red　wagon　she　usually　used　for　shopping　and　laundry。　It　didn't　dawn　on　her　until　she　was　making　the　second…to…last　trip　that　she　could　have　hired　a　moving　van。　Having　thousands　of　dollars　in　the　bank　was　difficult　to　get　used　to。　She　kept　expecting　someone　to　stop　her　on　the　street　and　tell　her　there　had　been　a　mistake。
　　Which　of　course　there　had　been…but　with　luck；　They　wouldn't　find　out　about　it。
　　By　Monday　night　she　was　sore　and　exhausted。　She　had　collapsed　on　Zach's　bed；　thinking　she　would　just　rest　for　a　few　minutes；　then　get　up　and　go　to　the　corner　liquor　store　for　a　flask　of　rotgut。　She　could　drink　if　she　wanted　to；　she　didn't　have　to　get　up　and　drag　herself　to　the　Pink　Diamond　tomorrow　afternoon；　she　could　call　that　hairy　failed　rock　star　Loup　and　tell　him　to　blow。
　　Of　course；　she　would　do　no　such　thing。　She　would　inform　him　politely　that　she　was　taking　some　time　off；　and　she　hoped　it　wasn't　too　inconvenient；　and　he　could　call　her　if　he　needed　a　dancer　to　fill　in　sometime。　Then；　if　he　called；　she　would　have　to　search　madly　for　excuses　not　to。
　　Sometimes　the　leftover　shreds　of　her　upbringing　could　be　a　real　bitch。　In　Korean　etiquette　there　was　no　such　thing　as　a　flat　no。　You　left　all　possibilities　open；　no　matter　how　ambiguous。　You　never　caused　the　other　person　to　lose　face。　Not　even　if　he　was　a　sexist；　coke…snorting　asshole。
　　She　took　one　last　look　at　the　twenty…five　wagonloads　of　her　stuff　strewn　around　the　room　along　with　everything　Zach　had　left。　It　was　a　mess。　Eddy　decided　to　rest　her　eyes　for　a　few　minutes。
　　When　she　opened　them　again　sunlight　was　streaming　through　the　open　window；　a　green　lizard　was　poised　on　the　ceiling　spearing　her　with　its　jeweled　gaze；　and　someone　was　knocking　lightly　but　rapidly　at　the　door。
　　She　opened　it　and　Phoetus　slipped　through　the　crack。　He　was　perhaps　seventeen；　very　thin；　tall；　and　loosejointed。　Something　about　his　posture　and　gait　reminded　Eddy　of　those　posters　of　Evolving　Man。　Phoetus　was　somewhere　around　the　midpoint；　where　the　head　and　muscle　structure　were　more　human　than　ape；　but　the　arms　still　dangled　a　bit　too　low。　His　curly　brown　hair　looked　as　if　it　might　lighten　two　or　three　shades　if　he　washed　it；　and　his　eyes　were　nearly　hidden　behind　lenses　as　thick　and　swirly　as　the　bottoms　of　Coke　bottles。
　　He　looked　blankly　at　her。　〃You're　not　Zach。〃
　　〃No；　Stefan。　I'm　Eddy；　remember？　We　met　at　the　Cafe　du　Monde　once。〃　She　had　been　having　coffee　and　beignets　while　Zach　nibbled　the　Thai　bird　peppers　he'd　just　bought　in　the　Market　and　chased　them　with　a　cold　glass　of　milk。　They　had　a　table　by　the　railing；　and　Zach　hailed　the　nervous；　pasty…skinned　boy　as　he　skulked　by；　dodging　street　performers；　avoiding　the　eyes　of　tourists。
　　When　introduced；　the　guy　stared　at　Eddy　as　if　petrified　by　the　sight　of　her；　leaned　over　the　railing　to　mumble　something　to　Zach…it　sounded　like　〃the　eunuchs'　holes　are　wide　open〃…and　sidled　quickly　away　toward　the　river。
　　〃Who　was　that？〃　Eddy　inquired。
　　〃That　was　one　of　the　most　brilliant　phone…systems　guys　on　the　planet。　He's　also　the　sysop　of　a　pirate　board　called　'The　Lurking　Fear'　and　a　member　of　the　0rder　0f　Dag0n。　He's　way　underground。　Sociable　type；　isn't　he？〃
　　As　usual　when　Zach　talked　about　his　hacker　buddies；　Eddy　understood　about　half　of　it；　but　she　always　looked　at　her　telephone　a　bit　more　warily　afterward。　Who　knew　what　unspeakable　presences　waited　within　those　wires　like　swollen　silver　spiders　clinging　to　a　fiber…optic　web？
　　Stefan　stood　by　the　door　wringing　his　hands　and　staring　at　her　in　sweaty　panic。　Eddy　realized　with　something　like　awe　that　he　might　never　have　been　alone　in　a　room　with　a　girl　before。　The　thought　was　oddly　touching。　She　would　have　to　remember　not　to　make　any　sudden　moves；　otherwise　she　might　frighten　him　clean　away。
　　〃Zach's　not　here；〃　she　told　him。　〃He　doesn't　actually　live　in　New　Orleans　anymore。〃
　　〃I　heard　he　might　have　gotten　busted。〃
　　〃Who　said　so？〃
　　〃I　hear　things。〃
　　That　much　she　didn't　doubt。　〃He　wasn't　busted。　He　got　away。　But　he's　okay…I　got　a　message　from　him。〃
　　The　hacker　looked　aghast。　〃He　didn't　call　you　here！〃
　　〃No。　He　put　a　message　in　the　paper；　in　secret　code。〃　She　showed　him　the　folded　page　of　yesterday's　Times…Picayune。　Goddess　in　a　bowl　of　gumbo；　indeed。　〃See；　I　think　this　means　he's　in　North　Carolina；　maybe　heading　for　New　York　next。〃
　　He　scowled　at　the　paper。　〃Secret　code？　This　is　kid　stuff！〃
　　〃I　suppose　shutting　down　the　911　system　is　mature；〃　Eddy　said　coolly。　Zach　had　told　her　how　Phoetus　bragged　on　the　boards　that　he　could　overload　every　emergency　telephone　circuit　in　the　city　if　he　wanted　to。
　　Not　seeming　to　register　the　insult…or　perhaps　not　considering　it　an　insult…Stefan　edged　past　her　into　the　room。　〃Where's　the　phone？〃
　　She　pointed　to　Zach's　desk；　which　was　still　piled　high　with　books　and　papers　but　looked　rather　forlorn　without　the　puter　and　boxes　of　floppy　disks。　Zach　had　left　his　printer　behind；　though；　Eddy　guessed　she　would　drag　it　out　and　hock　it　sometime　soon。
　　Stefan　took　the　receiver　from　the　hook　and　pried　off　the　plastic　earpiece　before　Eddy　could　protest。　He　removed　a　small　black　box　from　his　pocket　and　clipped　some　wires　running　from　it　to　something　inside　the　phone；　then　peered　owlishly　at　the　box。　〃Well；　nobody　else　has　a　tap　on　this　line；　but　the　government　might。　They　can　tap　straight　from　the　phone　pany　if　they've　got　a　warrant。　Assume　it's　bugged。〃
　　〃What　did　you　do　to　it？〃
　　He　held　up　the　black　box。　〃This　is　called　a　multitester。　It　reads　your　standard　off…hook　voltage。　If　ifs　too　low；　there's　probably　another　device　sucking　volts　off　your　line。〃
　　〃Oh。〃
　　Stefan　had　bee　briefly　animated。　Now　he　seemed　to　sink　back　into　his　sniffling；　nervous　fugue。　〃Look；　I've　got　people　after　me　too。　Why；　if　They　knew　I　was　here…〃
　　Eddy　had　closed　the　door　as　Stefan　entered　but　had　not　yet　bothered　to　lock　it。　There　was　an　iron　security　gate　at　the　street　entrance　that　led　up　to　the　apartment；　and　while　French　Quarter　residents　were　generally　careful　about　locking　all　their　doors；　the　gate　offered　some　semblance　of　privacy；　some　illusion　of　safety。
　　This　illusion　was　shattered　as　the　door　flew　open　and　banged　against　the　wall；　making　a　dent　in　the　soft　plaster。　All　the　policemen　in　the　world　seemed　to　e　pouring　into　her　tiny　apartment。　Eddy　had　no　idea　how　many　there　actually　were。　All　she　saw　was　the　guns；　great　oily　insectile　things　unholstered　and　dripping　death；　pointed　straight　at　her。
　　Eddy　crouched　and　wrapped　her　arms　around　her　head　and　screamed　〃NO！　NO！〃　She　couldn't　help　it。　She　had　always　had　an　instinctive　terror　of　guns；　perhaps　in　another　life　she　had　been　a　revolutionary　sentenced　to　the　firing　squad　or　a　gangster　cut　down　in　a　street　battle。
　　Behind　her；　she　heard　one　of　the　most　brilliant　phone　systems　guys　on　the　planet　burst　into　tears。
　　
　　The　raid　team　totaled　fifteen　men：　Secret　Service　agents；　BellSouth　phone…security　experts；　and　curious　New　Orleans　cops　along　for　the　ride。　Most　of　them　faltered　at　the　sight　of　the　two　cowering　kids。　Several　guns　went　back　into　their　holsters。
　　The　German　machine　pistol　carried　by　Agent　Absalom　Cover　wasn't　one　of　them。　He　kept　it　trained　on　the　suspects　and　watched　them　writhe。　Either　of　these　two　could　be　Zachary　Bosch；　or　the　person　hiding　behind　that　name。
　　Agent　Cover　had　wanted　Bosch　for　a　long　time。　Other　hackers　goaded　him　unmercifully；　threatened　his　credit　and　disrupted　his　phone　service；　left　taunting　messages　in　his　E…mail；　had　done　all　but　beard　him　in　his　New　Orleans　field　office。　But　Bosch　was　smarter　than　ten　such　crooks；　and　far　more　dangerous。　He　didn't　brag　much。　He　didn't　leave　cute　little　clues　in　his　wake。　He　just　breezed　through　systems　nobody　should　be　able　to　get　into；　stealing　information　and　wreaking　havoc；　and　he　covered　his　tracks　like　an　Indian。
　　Finally　a　fifteen…year…old　software　pirate　under　interrogation　had　given　them　the　keys　they　needed　to　trace　him。　Scratch　a　hacker　and　find　a　rat；　ask　him　the　right　questions；　marvel　a　little　at　his　amazing　technical　feats；　and　turn　him　into　an　eager　rat。　Some　of　these　kids　were　terrifyingly　smart；　but　they　were　still　kids。　And　Agent　Cover　believed　all　kids　were　basically　amoral。
　　He　got　his　warrant　and　moved　in　fast。　Bosch　couldn't　have　had　time　to　slip　between　his　fingers。
　　Still；　once　the　first　flush　of　adrenaline　began　to　wear　off；　he　found　himself　looking　doubtfully　at　the　two　bawling　kids。　He　hadn't　expected　Bosch　to　fold　so　easily。　Most　of　these　teenage　whiz　kids　turned　to　jelly　when　they　saw　a　few　guns　and　badges；　but　then　most　of　them　had　only　broken　into　a　system　or　two　and　browsed