started bouncing. "Oh boy! Really?"

"Don't beat around the bush," said Merlin.

"Well, you see..." said Wyrdrune, "what we really had in mind

was a special upgrade that would allow you to do a certain kind of

job."

"What kind of job?" asked Archimedes.

"Well... sort of an illegal job." said Wyrdrune. He cleared his

throat again. "We need you to raid a data bank for us. A very

special data bank. The upgrade would enable you to do it and we

think we can get someone to show you how, but it could be very

dangerous."

"But I'd get to keep the upgrade?"

"Oh, yes, you'd get to keep the upgrade. But do you understand

what we're asking you to do? We're asking you to be a burglar. To

commit computer crime."

"But I would get to keep the upgrade? What kind of upgrade?"

"State-of-the-art taumaturgically etched and animated chips,"

said Wyrdrune, "with increased storage and processing capability.

The best money can buy."

"Oh boy!"

"Archimedes," Merlin said, "Did you hear the part about how this

could be very dangerous to you?"

"Could I get Magic Warrior?"

"What's Magic Warrior?" asked Wyrdrune, frowning.

Merlin sighed. "It's a computerized role-playing game. Something

involving wizards, warriors, and mazelike dungeons. He's been

pestering me about it for months."

"You could have any game you like," said Modred, "But I'm not

sure you understand the situation. You'd be going up against

sophisticated safeguard programs, far more challenging than any

game of mazes."

"Really? Even better than Magic Warrior?"

"Much better. And far more dangerous."