Heart Hunters

FOURTEEN

Rudy's face was engulfed in ghostly blue light. The shifting figures on the screen broke and rippled the light, making it dance like flames. His mechanical eyes whirred and spun, dilated and constricted.

"Fourth unit pull back and regroup." Measurements and warnings filtered through the Feed as they absorbed everything at once and nothing at all. His hands worked the game console on their own accord, with no help from his consciousness. "Third unit move in from the trees. Enemy formation reshaped onto target points. Draw back. Archers fire."

The door groaned behind him. Stale yellow light sliced into the darkness, pushing the two halves of shadow to either side of him.

"Archers hold. Fourth unit move in. What news?" Rudy's left eye rolled to the back of his head.

IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMED: MARTIRIO BAEZ

CLASSIFICATION: NON-INFECTED

ABNORMALITIES DETECTED

The skinny man leaned against the doorway, rubbing his eyes tiredly. His lank gray hair was stiffened in age, and his face had the crags of a mountainside. "Still at that game, are you? Don't you crazy kids ever sleep these days?"

HEART RATE: 180.517 bpm

PERSPIRATION INCREASE OF 32%

PREORBITAL SWELLING: MILD

DIAGNOSIS: SLEEP LOSS OF 20-36 HOURS

DIAGNOSIS: EYE STRAIN

DIAGNOSIS: STRESS

MOOD READING: APPREHENSION

WARNING: DEXTER PENETRATION VISION CHARGE AT 28%

Rudy's left hand took over the console while his right hand groped for the soda can. "I'm just blowing off some steam. Tell me what you're here for."

"If it please you." Baez dipped his head. "Don Manolo has returned."

The screen blackened. His fingers lay limp on the game controller. Rudy raised his face to the ceiling. His eye swiveled back into position. "Alive?"

"I'm afraid so."

"That's unfortunate. Did the guards overcome his cons?"

"No, Señor. He gained the upper hand immediately."

"Damn him." A snarl escaped between Rudy's bared teeth. "What was it? What did the bastard do this time?"

"He brought three others with him. All have their faces hidden. He claims that one is the other Carrier, but he won't tell us which one."

"Could that claim be upheld?"

"Private Alita's guard dog responded affirmatively. One of the three is definitely tainted with the Infection."

Rudy groaned to his feet, lifting the soda can to his lips. "Where are they now?"

"Waiting for you in the North Transept."

Rudy prowled to the door, soda can in hand. He clapped Baez's shoulder on the way out. "Take the rest of the day off. Go home to your family."

"Ay. Thank you."

The peeling soles of his hi-tops slapped the pale stone as he strode into the old church. His shadow split into four as he passed beneath the candlelit chandelier, whose sharp black metal coiled and corroded and hung suspended by a heavy chain. His mechanical eyes whirred, restless.

pH: 5.6108

15.7713˚C

INFRARED THERMAL SCAN AT 59%