the whole corporate number. It drove me crazy. You have any idea

what it’s like, working for people who aren’t even as smart as you

were when you were ten? Putting up with office politics, corporate

cocktail parties, and all that horse manure? I had an ulcer by the

time I was twenty. I finally said fuck it and quit. And I’ve never

been happier. I do what I want, when I want, and how I want. I

like it on my own. And I’ve got foreign bank accounts the I. R. S

doesn’t know anything about, okay? In other words, I’m not exactly

hurtin‘. Some people like their custom-tailored suits. If that’s your

thing, that’s fine by me. But I’m a beer-and-pretzels kind of guy.

And if I don’t like somebody, I tell ’em to fuck off. You, I don’t know

a lot about yet. Maybe I don’t wanna know. But I

know Kira and Kira is good people. Her word’s good enough for

me. I’ll do this job for you, Mr. Cornwall, because I like a challenge.

But you’re talkin‘ about major risk here. It’s gonna cost you. “

“All right, ” said Modred. “But I’ll want a demonstration of your

capabilities. No offense, but I like to be careful. I wouldn’t expect

something for nothing, needless to say. I’m prepared to pay you.”

“That’s fair, ” said Pirate. “You got anything special in mind?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. And it will involve the hardware we’re

going to use on the General Hyperdynamics job.”

“Yeah? What’ve you got?”

“A Thaumac 10.”

Pirate stared at him for a moment, then started to laugh. “A

Thaumac 10? You’re puttin‘ me on!”

Modred simply stared at him.

Pirate stopped laughing. “My God, you’re serious! That’s a kid’s

toy! You’re gonna try to break into G. H. with that? Man, that’s

like throwing spitballs at a gorilla. You’ll get eaten alive!”

“I thought you liked a challenge, ” Modred said.

“Hey, a challenge is one thing. Stupidity’s another.”

“This is a rather special Thaumac 10, ” said Modred. “I think you

might be surprised.”

“Look, I thought you said you knew what you were getting into.