Chapter 42

           Theaddresswas,ironicallyenough,downinLicktown.Ilefttheautocabtwoblocksnorthandwalkedtherestoftheway,unabletoquiteshakeaneeriefeelingofsynthesis,asifthemachineryofthecosmosweresuddenlypokingthroughthefabricofrealityformetosee.

           TheapartmentIwaslookingforformedpartofaU-shapedblockwithacrackedandweed-grownconcretelandingareainthecentre.Amongstthearrayofsad-lookinggroundandflightvehicles,Ispottedthemicro-copterimmediately.Someonehadgivenitapurpleandred-trimpaintjobrecently,andthoughitstilllistedwearilytoonesideonitspodstherewereshinyclustersofexpensive-lookingsensorequipmentfittedtothenoseandtail.Inoddedtomyselfandwentupaflightofexternalstepstothesecondflooroftheblock.

           Thedoortonumberseventeenwasopenedbyaneleven-year-oldboywhostaredatmewithblankhostility.

           "Yeah?"

           "I’dliketospeaktoSherylBostock."

           "Yeah,wellsheain’there."

           Isighedandrubbedatthescarundermyeye."Ithinkthat’sprobablynottrue.Hercopter’sintheyard,you’reherson,Daryl,andshecameoffnightshiftaboutthreehoursago.Willyoutellherthere’ssomeonetoseeherabouttheBancroftsleeve."

           "YoutheSia?"

           "No,Ijustwanttotalk.Ifshecanhelpme,theremightbesomemoneyinitforher.