Cyber Rogues (96 page)

“How did things go with Evelyn?” Lilly asked him.

“She’s fine. Do you remember I told you there was always that attraction there between her and Tom? Well, they got together, and it’s working out okay. In fact, I talked on the phone to Tom yesterday.”

“I’m glad,” Lilly said.

“How about you?”

“No real problems. What happened at Xylog?”

Corrigan shrugged. “Everyone’s fighting like mad dogs there. I just left them to it. They’re welcome. Some things aren’t worth making lawyers millionaires over.”

Lilly nodded. “Somehow I can’t see Tom feeling that way,” she said.

“Oh, he’s going for the throat—every ounce of blood he can squeeze. Then he says he and Evelyn are going off to see all of the real world and enjoy it. After that, who knows? I shouldn’t think we’ll lose touch.”

Lilly turned and took in the scene of the town with the sea and the mountains. “It’s pretty,” she agreed. “So did you get fixed up with the project that the professor of yours from Trinity is running here?”

“It looks like it. And he got a fax this morning from Eric Shipley. They’re both interested, so it looks as if Eric might be moving over with Thelma too.”

Lilly turned back, they looked at each other for a moment, and she moved a step nearer. Corrigan slipped an arm around her shoulders and drew her close for just a second. Then he reached out with his other hand and pulled open one of the doors. “In fact, Brendan’s inside now,” he said. “Come on and start meeting some new friends. They’re all real this time, I promise.”

“You’re sure?” Lilly checked dubiously.

“Oh, definitely. No computer on earth could simulate these people.”

They went through into the hotel. With their unique experience of sharing a world that most people would never know had even existed, they were natural companions for life. That much didn’t need saying. And there was no particular rush to figure out exactly what they intended doing with it. Here, time ran to suit itself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James P. Hogan (1941-2010) was a science fiction writer in the grand tradition, combining informed and accurate speculation from the cutting edge of science and technology with suspenseful story-telling and living, breathing characters.

Born in London, he worked as a digital system engineer and sales executive for several major computer firms before turning to writing full-time. His first novel,
Inherit the Stars,
beginning his celebrated "Giants" series, was greeted by Isaac Asimov with the rave, "Pure science fiction . . . Arthur Clarke, move over!" and his subsequent work quickly consolidated his reputation as a major SF author.

He wrote over thirty novels, nonfiction works and mixed collections, including Echoes of an
Alien Sky
and
Moon Flower
(both Baen). His earlier works include the Giants series (Baen) the New York Times best sellers
The Proteus Operation
and
Endgame Enigma,
and the
Prometheus
Award winners
Voyage from Yesteryear
and T
he Multiplex Man
.