The Devil's Eye

SEVEN

The Mainline Distribution Services not only saw that Vicki Greene's work was made available, but they also handled the public relations. Its head-quarters operated out of a gleaming structure that soared into a steeple, located in a park complex that it shared with IQ, Inc., which sold, serviced, reprogramed, and replaced AIs. (And claimed to be run by AIs.) Cirilla Kopaleski occupied a suite near the top. We were ushered in by an impeccably dressed young man who smiled too much. Kopaleski was seated on a long, lush sofa, looking through a folder. She glanced up as we entered, raised a hand inviting us to be patient, turned another page, made a face, and closed the folder. "Sorry," she said. "It seems as if we can never get things right the first time around." She was a tall, stately woman with gray hair, a trim body, and the presence of a queen. She put the folder down with a resigned sigh. "Come in," she said. "Please make yourselves comfortable. You're here about Vicki Greene?" She shook her head sadly. "Can I get you something to drink?" "Sure," Alex said. I decided to try something called a carolla . She pushed a tab and relayed the request. "So tell me what happened," she said. Alex gave what had now become our standard answer: "That's what we're trying to find out." "We're going to miss her," she said. "And not only because it will hit us in the pocketbook, but she was genuinely likable. I can't understand it. She had everything to live for. Whatever could have possessed her?" "Ms. Kopaleski, it might help if you tell us what you can about her visit. When did she first contact you?" "I knew in advance she was coming." "You mean to Salud Afar?" "Yes." She was wearing an emerald-colored blouse and white slacks. "She let me know before she left Rimway." "Had you met her before?" "No." She shook her head sadly. "We connected right away. She went to dinner with us, with me and my husband. She was a good woman. Not often you meet someone that talented who hasn't let it go to her head." The drinks arrived. We were in a place where everything was unfamiliar. I had no idea what was in the glass, so I took it cautiously. It was okay, but I decided I wouldn't have any more. Kopaleski picked up her glass, sipped from it, studied it in the daylight that fell through a set of blinds. "It's a disaster." Alex bowed slightly. "For everyone concerned," he said. "May I ask what services Mainline provides for its writers?" "We handle distribution and publicity, arrange their appearances, and so on. And, if they wish, arrange quarters." "Did you do that for Vicki?" "Yes. I set her up at the Schuyler Inn." "That's here in Marinopolis?" "Yes." "How long did she stay? In town?" "I can check. But I think she was here only two or three days." She consulted a display and nodded. "Three days." She gave us the dates, which, since they were expressed in the local calendar, meant nothing to me. But apparently Alex had done his homework. "That would have been immediately after her arrival from Rimway," he said. "That's correct. I'd set everything up in advance." "Did you see her the first night?"

"The second." "How did she look?" "How do you mean?" "Did she seem upset? Depressed? Bothered by anything?" She shook her head. "She seemed perfectly fine to me. I don't know if you've ever met her, but she's very energetic. Laughs all the time. She certainly seemed to be looking forward to her stay." "Did she tell you why she'd come?" "She said she'd never been to Salud Afar, and she wanted to do some touring." "That's it? Nothing more?" "That's all I can recall. Why? Do you think what she did to herself is connected with her visit here?" "I don't know, Ms. Kopaleski. Did you have any contact with her after she'd left?" "I got a posting from her several days later. She said she was enjoying herself and wished I were there." She smiled. "You know the routine. But that was all." "Do you still have the posting?" "Yes, I'm sure we do." "Might it be possible for us to take a look? "Of course," she said. "Mr. Benedict-" " Alex is good." "Alex, I know who you are. Your reputation has preceded you even out here. Marvelous work with that Margolia business last year." "Thank you." "I'm glad you're looking into this. It's just a terrible loss. Where will we ever find another like her?"

She gave instructions to her AI, and Vicki Greene appeared in the center of the room. She looked the way Molly Black had looked in those jungle adventures we'd all grown up with: intense eyes, sharp features, a scrambler strapped to her hip, and a devil-be-damned attitude. She wore khaki shorts with enormous cargo pockets and a gray pullover top. She had a billed sun cap, with an "M" mounted prominently on it. A red scarf was slung casually around her neck, and sunglasses shaded her eyes. "Hello, Cirilla," she said. "Greetings from Boldinai Point, Home of the Undead. I got here yesterday and went to see Barryman's Tomb last night. I'm sorry to report that local myth to the contrary, everything was quiet. Here's a look at it." She vanished and was replaced by a stone block. A grave marker. But a big one. Someone had inscribed on its side the legend LIE STILL. The imager moved back to give us a wider view. The block lay in the middle of a cemetery. "This is it. The locals insist this is all that keeps him in his grave. Anyhow, having a great time. See you when I get back."

She gave us a wide, self-satisfied smile. The world in her lap. "But you never heard from her again?" "No. Of course, there was really no business reason for her to contact me. And I assumed she was otherwise occupied." "What's Barryman's Tomb?" I asked. Kopaleski was delighted to tell us the story: "Forrest Barryman lived four centuries ago. He died in an experiment gone wrong, Chase. A treatment that was supposed to make him a supercop or something. But according to local tradition, he wouldn't stay dead. Eventually they put that rock over his grave to keep him in it." I looked at Alex. Alex smiled. "Okay." She maintained a neutral expression. "Don't be too sure. Boldinai Point is a strange place. Over the years, there've been other odd claims." "Like what?" I asked. "They have a beach that seems to encourage suicide. People with no reason to kill themselves go down there and walk into the water. It happened again just last year. The locals stay away from it. And then

there's a patch of forest-" "Hold on," said Alex. "Let's stay with Vicki. She said she'd see you when she got back. But she left without getting in touch." "That's correct. Next I heard she was back on Rimway." We sat looking at one another. "You didn't make any effort to contact her after the message from Boldinai Point? Do I have that right?" "Yes, that's correct. Alex, she's an important client. I didn't want to seem intrusive." "Of course. Did you try to get in touch with her after she'd left?" "No. I had no reason to. I knew if she needed me, she'd contact me." Alex got up. "Thanks, Cirilla. We appreciate your time." "I hope I've been some help." "Where's Boldinai Point?" She had the AI show us. "If there's anything else I can do, please don't hesitate to contact me." She gave us her private code. "By the way," she added, "if you find out what this is all about, I'd appreciate it if you let me know."

I set up our trip to Boldinai Point. That evening, while Alex buried himself in a book, I went back to the ocean. When I was a kid, the big thrill in my life came every summer when we took the train to Seaside. We built sand castles and played in the surf with a beach ball. But I especially loved going out in the evening and seeing the ocean at night. I can still remember standing on a place they called Gorgon's Pier and looking at the stars. So that night, in that very distant place, I did it again. It was a way to feel at home, I suppose. But the sky above that ocean was different. There was only a single star. Callistra. I wondered what might have happened had a sentient race developed on that world. How they would have perceived that single bright light peering down at them? It was a beautiful star, its azure glow amplified by the dark night surrounding it. The eye of a compassionate deity, perhaps. I wondered whether Vicki Greene had stood out there, perhaps in the same place. What would she have thought? She with her vampires and demons, under so striking a sky?