mc.risingsun-第30章

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tion　in　successive　generations；　but　in　a　digital　system　like　this；　there　is　no　difference　at　all。　Each　copy　is　literally　identical　to　the　master。〃
　〃Then　how　can　you　say　the　tapes　are　copies？〃
　〃Theresa　isn't　looking　at　the　picture；〃　Sanders　said。　〃She's　looking　at　the　signal。　Even　though　we　can't　detect　a　copy　from　the　image；　sometimes　we　can　determine　the　image　came　from　another　video　playback；　instead　of　a　camera。〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃How？〃
　Theresa　said；　〃It　has　to　do　with　how　the　signal　is　laid　down　in　the　first　half…second　of　taping。　If　the　recording　video　is　started　before　the　playback　video；　there　is　sometimes　a　slight　fluctuation　in　the　signal　output　as　the　playback　machine　starts　up。　It's　a　mechanical　function：　the　playback　motors　can't　get　up　to　speed　instantaneously。　There　are　electronic　circuits　in　the　playback　machine　to　minimize　the　effect；　but　there's　always　an　interval　of　getting　up　to　speed。〃
　〃And　that's　what　you　detected？〃
　She　nodded。　〃It's　called　a　windup　signature。〃
　Sanders　said；　〃And　that　never　happens　if　the　signal　is　ing　direct　from　a　camera；　because　a　camera　has　no　moving　parts。　A　camera　is　instantaneously　up　to　speed　at　all　times。〃
　I　frowned。　〃So　these　tapes　are　copies。〃
　〃Is　that　bad？〃　Sanders　said。
　〃I　don't　know。　If　they　were　copied；　they　might　also　be　changed；　right？〃
　〃In　theory；　yes；〃　Sanders　said。　〃In　practice；　we'd　have　to　look　carefully。　And　it　would　be　very　hard　to　know　for　certain。　These　tapes　e　from　a　Japanese　pany？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Nakamoto？〃
　I　nodded。　〃Yes。〃
　〃Frankly　I'm　not　surprised　they　gave　you　copies；〃　Sanders　said。　〃The　Japanese　are　extremely　cautious。　They're　not　very　trusting　of　outsiders。　And　Japanese　corporations　in　America　feel　the　way　we　would　feel　doing　business　in　Nigeria：　they　think　they're　surrounded　by　savages。〃
　〃Hey；〃　Theresa　said。
　〃Sorry；〃　Sanders　said；　〃but　you　know　what　I　mean。　The　Japanese　feel　they　have　to　put　up　with　us。　With　our　ineptitude；　our　slowness；　our　stupidity；　our　inpetence。　That　makes　them　self…protective。　So　if　these　tapes　have　any　legal　significance；　the　last　thing　they'd　do　is　turn　the　originals　over　to　a　barbarian　policeman　like　you。　No；　no；　they'd　give　you　a　copy　and　keep　the　original　in　case　they　need　it　for　their　defense。　Fully　confident　that　with　your　inferior　American　video　technology；　you'd　never　be　able　to　detect　that　it　was　a　copy；　anyway。〃
　I　frowned。　〃How　long　would　it　take　to　make　copies？〃
　〃Not　long；〃　Sanders　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃The　way　Theresa　is　scanning　now；　five　minutes　a　tape。　I　imagine　the　Japanese　can　do　it　much　faster。　Say；　two　minutes　a　tape。〃
　〃In　that　case；　they　had　plenty　of　time　to　make　copies　last　night。〃
　As　we　talked；　Theresa　was　continuing　to　shuffle　the　tapes；　looking　at　the　first　portions　of　each。　As　each　image　came　up；　she'd　glance　at　me。　I　would　shake　my　head。　I　was　seeing　all　the　different　security　cameras。　Finally；　the　first　of　the　tapes　from　the　forty…sixth　floor　appeared；　the　familiar　office　image　I　had　seen　before。
　〃That's　one。〃
　〃Okay。　Here　we　go。　Laying　it　onto　VHS。〃　Theresa　started　the　first　copy。　She　ran　the　tape　forward　at　high　speed；　the　images　streaky　and　quick。　On　the　side　monitors；　the　signals　bounced　and　jittered　nervously。
　She　said；　〃Does　this　have　something　to　do　with　the　murder　last　night？〃
　〃Yes。　You　know　about　that？〃
　She　shrugged。　〃I　saw　it　on　the　news。　The　killer　died　in　a　car　crash？〃
　〃That's　right；〃　I　said。
　She　was　turned　away。　The　three…quarter　profile　of　her　face　was　strikingly　beautiful；　the　high　curve　of　her　cheekbone。　I　thought　of　what　a　playboy　Eddie　Sakamura　was　known　to　be。　I　said；　〃Did　you　know　him？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　After　a　moment　she　added；　〃He　was　Japanese。〃
　Another　moment　of　awkwardness　descended　on　our　little　group。　There　was　something　that　both　Theresa　and　Sanders　seemed　to　know　that　I　did　not。　But　I　didn't　know　how　to　ask。　So　I　watched　the　video。
　Once　again；　I　saw　the　sunlight　moving　across　the　floor。　Then　the　room　lights　came　up　as　the　office　personnel　thinned。　Now　the　floor　was　empty。　And　then；　at　high　speed；　Cheryl　Austin　appeared；　followed　by　the　man。　They　kissed　passionately。
　〃Ah　ha；〃　Sanders　said。　〃Is　this　it？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　He　frowned　as　he　watched　the　action　progress。　〃You　mean　the　murder　is　recorded？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃On　multiple　cameras。〃
　〃You're　kidding。〃
　Sanders　fell　silent；　watching　events　proceed。　With　the　streaky　high…speed　image；　it　was　difficult　to　see　more　than　the　basic　events。　The　two　people　moving　to　the　conference　room。　The　sudden　struggle。　Forcing　her　back　on　the　table。　Stepping　away　suddenly。　Leaving　the　room　in　haste。
　Nobody　spoke。　We　all　watched　the　tape。
　I　glanced　at　Theresa。　Her　face　was　blank。　The　image　was　reflected　in　her　glasses。
　Eddie　passed　the　mirror；　and　went　into　the　dark　passageway。　The　tape　ran　on　for　a　few　more　seconds；　and　then　the　cassette　popped　out。
　〃That's　one。　You　say　there　are　multiple　cameras？　How　many　all　together？〃
　〃Five；　I　think；〃　I　said。
　She　marked　the　first　cassette　with　a　stick…on　label。　She　started　the　second　tape　in　the　machine；　and　began　another　high…speed　duplication。
　I　said；　〃These　copies　are　exact？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。〃
　〃So　they're　legal？〃
　Sanders　frowned。　〃Legal　in　what　sense？〃
　〃Well；　as　evidence；　in　a　court　of　law…　〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　Sanders　said。　〃These　tapes　would　never　be　admissible　in　a　court　of　law。〃
　〃But　if　they're　exact　copies…　〃
　〃It's　nothing　to　do　with　that。　All　forms　of　photographic　evidence　including　video；　are　no　longer　admissible　in　court。〃
　〃I　haven't　heard　that；〃　I　said。
　〃It　hasn't　happened　yet；〃　Sanders　said。　〃The　case　law　isn't　entirely　clear。　But　it's　ing。　All　photographs　are　suspect　these　days。　Because　now；　with　digital　systems；　they　can　be　changed　perfectly。　Perfectly。　And　that's　something　new。　Remember　years　ago；　how　the　Russians　would　remove　politicians　from　photographs　of　their　May　Day　line　ups？　It　was　always　a　crude　cut…and…paste　job　…　and　you　could　always　see　that　something　had　been　done。　There　was　a　funny　space　between　the　shoulders　of　the　remaining　people。　Or　a　discoloration　on　the　back　wall。　Or　you　could　see　the　brush…strokes　of　the　retoucher　who　tried　to　smooth　over　the　damage。　But　anyway；　you　could　see　it　…　fairly　easily。　You　could　see　the　picture　had　been　altered。　The　whole　business　was　laughable。〃
　〃I　remember；〃　I　said。
　〃Photographs　always　had　integrity　precisely　because　they　were　impossible　to　change。　So　we　considered　photographs　to　represent　reality。　But　for　several　years　now；　puters　have　allowed　us　to　make　seamless　alterations　of　photographic　images。　A　few　years　back　the　National　Geographic　moved　the　Great　Pyramid　of　Egypt　on　a　cover　photo。　The　editors　didn't　like　where　the　pyramid　was；　and　they　thought　it　would　pose　better　if　it　was　moved。　So　they　just　altered　the　photograph　and　moved　it。　Nobody　could　tell。　But　if　you　go　back　to　Egypt　with　a　camera　and　try　to　duplicate　that　picture；　you'll　find　you　can't。　Because　there　is　no　place　in　the　real　world　where　the　pyramids　line　up　that　way。　The　photograph　no　longer　represents　reality。　But　you　can't　tell。　Minor　example。〃
　〃And　someone　could　do　the　same　thing　to　this　tape？〃
　〃In　theory；　any　video　can　be　changed。〃
　On　the　monitor；　I　watched　the　murder　occurring　a　second　time。　This　camera　was　from　the　far　end　of　the　room。　It　didn't　show　the　actual　murder　very　well；　but　afterward；　Sakamura　was　clearly　visible　as　he　walked　toward　the　camera。
　I　said；　〃The　image　could　be　changed　how？〃
　Sanders　laughed。　〃These　days；　you　can　make　any　damn　change　you　want。〃
　〃Could　you　change　the　identity　of　the　murderer？〃
　〃Technically；　yes；〃　Sanders　said。　〃Mapping　a　face　onto　a　plex　moving　object　is　now　possible。　Technically　possible。　But　as　a　practical　matter；　it'd　be　a　bitch　to　do。〃
　I　said　nothing。　But　it　was　just　as　well。　Sakamura　was　our　leading　suspect　and　he　was　dead；　the　chief　wanted　the　case　finished。　So　did　I。
　〃Of　course；〃　Sanders　said；　〃the　Japanese　have　all　sorts　of　fancy　video　algorithms　for　surface　mapping　and　three…dimensional　transformations。　They　can　do　things　that　we　can't　begin　to　imagine。〃　He　drummed　his　fingers　on　the　table　again。　〃What　is　the　timetable　of　these　tapes？　What's　their　history？〃
　I　said；　〃The　murder　happened　at　eight…thirty　last　night；　as　shown　on　the　clock。　We　were　told　the　tapes　were　removed　from　the　security　office　around　eight　forty…five　p。m。　We　asked　for　them；　and　there　was　some　back…and…forth　with　the　Japanese。〃
　〃As　always。　And　when　did　you　finally　take　possession？〃
　〃They　were　delivered　to　division　headquarters　around　one…thirty　a。m。〃
　〃Okay；〃　Sanders　said。　〃That　means　they　had　the　tapes　from　eight　forty…five　to　one…thirty。〃
　〃Right。　A　little　less　than　five　hours。〃
　Sanders　frowned。　〃Five　tapes；　with　five　different　camera　angles；　to　change　in　five　hours？〃　Sanders　shook　his　head。　〃No　way。　It　just　can't　be　done；　Lieutenant。〃
　〃Yeah；〃　Theresa　said。　〃It's　impossible。　Even　for　them。　It's　just　too　many　pixels　to　change。〃
　I　said；　〃You're　sure　about　that。〃
　〃Well；〃　Theresa　said；　〃the　only　way　it　could　be　done　that　fast　is　with　an　automated　program；　and　even　the　most　sophisticated　programs　need　you　to　polish　the　details　by　hand。　Things　like　bad　blur　can　give　it　all　away。〃
　〃Bad　blur？〃　I　said。　I　found　I　liked　asking　her　questions。　I　liked　looking　at　her　face。
　〃Bad　motion　blur；〃　Sanders　said。　〃Video　runs　at　thirty　frames　a　second。　You　can　think　of　each　frame　of　video　as　a　picture　that's　shot　at　a　shutter　speed　of　one…thirtieth　of　a　second。　Which　is　very　slow　…　much　slower　than　pocket　cameras。　If　you　film　a　runner　at　a　thirtieth　of　a　second；　the　legs　are　just　streaks。　Blurs。
　〃That's　called　motion　blur。　And　if　you　alter　it　by　a　mechanical　process；　it　starts　to　look　wrong。　The　image　appears　too　sharp；　too　crisp。　Edges　look　odd。　It's　back　to　the　Russians：　you　can　see　it's　been　changed。　For　realistic　motion；　you　need　the　right　amount　of　blur。〃
　〃I　see。〃
　Theresa　said；　〃And　there's　the　color　shift。〃
　〃Right；〃　Sanders　said。　〃Inside　the　blur　itself；　there　is　a　color　shift。　For　example；　look　there　on　the　monitor。　The　man　is　wearing　a　blue　suit；　and　his　coat　is　swinging　out　as　he　spins　the　girl　around　the　room。　Now。　If　you　take　a　frame　of　that　action；　and　blow　it　up　to　its　pixels；　you　will　find　that　the　coat　is　navy；　but　the　blur　is　progressive　shades　of　lighter　blue；　until　at　the　edge　it　seems　almost　transparent　…　you　can't　tell　from　a　single　frame　exactly　where　the　coat　ends　and　the　background　begins。〃
　I　could　vaguely　imagine　it。　〃Okay　。　。　。〃
　〃If　the　edge　colors　don't　blend　smoothly；　you　will　notice　it　immediately。　It　can　take　hours　to　clean　up　a　few　seconds　of　tape；　as　in　a　mercial。　But　if　you　don't　do　it；　you　will　see　it　like　that。〃　He　snapped　his　fingers。
　〃So　even　though　they　duplicated　the　tapes；　they　couldn't　have　altered　them？〃
　〃Not　in　five　hours；〃　Sanders　said。　〃They　just　didn't　have　time。〃
　〃Then　we　are　seeing　what　actually　happened。〃
　〃No　doubt　about　it；〃　Sanders　said。　〃But　we'll　poke　around　with　this　image；　anyway；　after　you　go。　Theresa　wants　to　fiddle　with　it；　I　know　she　does。　So　do　I。　Check　in　with　us　later　today。　We'll　tell　you　if　there's　anything　funny。　But　basically；　it　can't　be　done。　And　it　wasn't　done　here。〃
　
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