Chapter 11
George entered a "Y"
Pa.s.sWORD:
George entered AGORA. The letters did not echo to the screen.
He hoped he had typed then correctly. Apparently he did, for the screen then prompted him for his RESPONSE.
He copied the 8 characters from the PRG into the computer. There was a pause and then the screen filled.
SIR GEORGE,
WELCOME TO ALEX. IT IS SO GOOD TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN.
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS YOU WILL BE GIVEN NAMES AND NUMBERS TO CALL. THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS TO BE MADE TO EACH PERSON YOU CALL. THERE IS TO BE NO DEVIATION WHAT- SOEVER. I REPEAT, NO DEVIATION WHATSOEVER. IF THERE IS, YOUR SERVICES WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED. WE HOPE THAT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY.
EACH MORNING YOU ARE TO DIAL ALEX AND REQUEST THE FILE CALLED SG.DAT. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ACCESS OR DOWNLOAD ANY OTHER FILES, OR YOU WILL BE TERMINATED AT ONCE.
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN EACH FILE, EXACTLY. KEEP AN EXACT LOG OF THE EVENTS AS THEY TRANSPIRE ON EACH CALL.
>
George pushed the s.p.a.ce bar. The screen was again filled.
ALEX REQUIRES PRECISE INFORMATION. WHATEVER YOU ARE TOLD BY THE PEOPLE YOU CALL MUST BE RELAYED, TO THE LETTER.
AT THE END OF EACH DAY, YOU ARE TO UPLOAD YOUR FILE, CALLED SG.TOD. YOUR COMPUTER WILL AUTOMATICALLY PUT A DATE AND TIME STAMP ON IT.
THEN, USING NORTON UTILITY, ERASE THE SG.DAT FILE FROM THAT DAY.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO REACH ANYONE ON THE LISTS, JUST INDICATE THAT IN YOUR DAILY REPORTS. DO NOT, REPEAT, DO NOT TRY TO CALL THE SAME PERSON THE NEXT DAY. IS THAT CLEAR?
The screen was awaiting a response. George typed in "Y".
GOOD. THIS IS QUITE SIMPLE, IS IT NOT?
Y
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE THE JOB?
Y
WHAT KIND OF PRINTER DO YOU HAVE?
None
ARE YOU SURE?
Y
WILL YOU BUY ONE?
N
GOOD. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN MONEY?
Finally, thought Sir
Y
AN ACCOUNT HAS BEEN OPENED IN YOUR NAME AT THE BANK OF AMERICA, REDMOND BRANCH 3 BLOCKS FROM YOU. THERE IS $25,000 IN IT. EACH MONTH OF SUCCESSFUL WORK FOR ALEX WILL BE REWARDED WITH ANOTHER PAYMENT. U.S. TAXES ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. IS THAT A PROBLEM?
N
WILL YOU DISCUSS YOUR JOB OR ITS NATURE WITH ANYONE? ANYONE AT ALL?
N
EVEN UNDER FORCE?
Force, what the h.e.l.l does that mean? I guess the answer is No, thought George.
N
I HOPE SO, FOR YOUR SAKE. GOOD LUCK SIR GEORGE. YOU START MONDAY.
>>>>>
Sir George was a little confused, maybe a lot confused. He was the proud owner of a remote control job, a cushy one as far as he could tell, but the tone of the conversation he just had with the computer was worrisome. Was he being threatened? What was the difference between 'Services Terminated' and 'Terminated' anyway.
Maybe he shouldn't ask. Keep his mouth shut and do a good job.
Hey, he thought, dismissing the possible unpleasant consequences of failure. This is San Francisco, and I have a three days off in a new city. Might as well find my way around the town to- night. According to the guide books I should start at Pier 39.
Chapter 3
Tuesday, September 8, New York City
But they told me they wouldn't tell! They promised." Hugh Sidneys pleaded into his side of the phone. "How did you find out?" At first, Scott thought the cartoon voice was a joke perpetrated by one of his friends, or more probably, his ex-wife. Even she, though, coudn't possibly think crank a phone call was a twisted form of art. No, it had to be real.
"I'm sorry Mr. Sidneys. We can't give out our sources. That's confidential. But are you saying that you confirm the story?
That it is true?"
"Yes, no. Well," the pleading slid into near sobbing. "If this gets out, I'm ruined. Ruined. Everything, my family...how could you have found out? They promised!" The noise from the busy metro room at the New York City Times made it difficult to hear Sidneys.
"Can I quote you, sir? Are you confirming the story?" Scott pressed on for that last requisite piece of every journalistic puzzle confirmation of a story that stood to wreck havoc in portions of the financial community. And Was.h.i.+ngton. It was a story with meat, but Scott Mason needed the confirmation to complete it.
"I don't know...if I tell what I know now, then maybe...that would mean I was being helpful...maybe I should get a lawyer..." The call from Scott Mason to First State Savings and Loan on Madison Avenue had been devastating. Hugh Sidneys was just doing what he was told to do. Following orders.
"Maybe, Hugh. Maybe." Scott softened toward Sidneys, thinking the first name approach might work. "But, is it true, Hugh? Is the story true?"