Digital Fortress

"I was here years ago. Beautiful city. I'd love to stay."

"So you've seen La Giralda?"

Becker nodded. He'd never actually climbed the ancient Moorish tower, but he'd seen it.

"How about the Alcazar?"

Becker nodded again, remembering the night he'd heard Pacode Lucia play guitar in the courtyard-Flamenco under the stars in a fifteenth-century fortress. He wished he'd known Susan back then.

"And of course there's Christopher Columbus." The officer beamed. "He's buried in our cathedral."

Becker looked up. "Really? I thought Columbus was buried in the Dominican Republic."

"Hell no! Who starts these rumors? Columbus's body is here in Spain! I thought you said you went to college."

Becker shrugged. "I must have missed that day."

"The Spanish church is very proud to own his relics."

The Spanish church. Becker knew here was only one church in Spain-the Roman Catholic church. Catholicism was bigger here than in Vatican City.

"We don't, of course, have his entire body," the lieutenant added. "Solo el escroto."

Becker stopped packing and stared at the lieutenant. Solo el escroto? He fought off a grin. "Just his scrotum?"

The officer nodded proudly. "Yes. When the church obtains the remains of a great man, they saint him and spread the relics to different cathedrals so everyone can enjoy their splendor."

"And you got the…" Becker stifled a laugh.

"Oye! It's a pretty important part!" the officer defended. "It's not like we got a rib or a knuckle like those churches in Galicia! You should really stay and see it."

Becker nodded politely. "Maybe I'll drop in on my way out of town."

"Mala suerte." The officer sighed. "Bad luck. The cathedral's closed till sunrise mass."

"Another time then." Becker smiled, hoisting the box. "I should probably get going. My flight's waiting. "He made a final glance around the room.

"You want a ride to the airport?" the officer asked. "I've got a Moto Guzzi out front."

"No thanks. I'll catch a cab." Becker had driven a motorcycle once in college and nearly killed himself on it. He had no intention of getting on one again, regardless of who was driving.

"Whatever you say," the officer said, heading for the door. "I'll get the lights."

Becker tucked the box under his arm. Have I got everything? He took a last look at the body on the table. The figure was stark naked, face up under fluorescent lights, clearly hiding nothing. Becker found his eyes drawn again to the strangely deformed hands. He gazed a minute, focusing more intently.

The officer killed the lights, and the room went dark.

"Hold on," Becker said. "Turn those back on."

The lights flickered back on.

Becker set his box on the floor walked over to the corpse. He leaned down and squinted at the man's left hand.

The officer followed Becker's gaze. "Pretty ugly, huh?"

But the deformity was not what had caught Becker's eye. He'd seen something else. He turned to the officer. "You're sure everything's in this box?"

The officer nodded. "Yeah. That's it."

Becker stood for moment with his hands on his hips. Then he picked up the box, carried it back over to the counter, and dumped it out. Carefully, piece by piece, he shook out the clothing. Then he emptied the shoes and tapped them as if trying to remove a pebble. After going over everything a second time, he stepped back and frowned.

"Problem?" asked the lieutenant.

"Yeah," Becker said. "We're missing something."

Chapter 13

Tokugen Numataka stood in his plush, penthouse office and gazed out at the Tokyo skyline. His employees and competitors knew him a sakuta same-the deadly shark. For three decade she'd outguessed, outbid, and out advertised all the Japanese competition; now he was on the brink of becoming a giant in the world market as well.

He was about to close the biggest deal of his life-a deal that would make his Numatech Corp. the Microsoft of the future. His blood was alive with the cool rush of adrenaline. Business was war-and war was exciting.

Although Tokugen Numataka had been suspicious when the call had come three days ago, he now knew the truth. He was blessed with myouri-good fortune. The gods had chosen him.

***

"I have a copy of the Digital Fortress pass-key," the American accent had said. "Would you like to buy it?"

Numataka had almost laughed aloud. He knew it was a ploy. Numatech Corp. had bid generously for Ensei Tankado's new algorithm, and now one of Numatech's competitors was playing games, trying to find out the amount of the bid.

"You have the pass-key?" Numataka feigned interest.

"I do. My name is North Dakota."

Numataka stifled a laugh. Everyone knew about North Dakota. Tankado had told the press about his secret partner. It had been a wise move on Tankado's part to have a partner; even in Japan, business practices had become dishonorable. Ensei Tankado was not safe. But one false move by an overeager firm, and the pass-key would be published; every software firm on the market would suffer.