As the searchers turned the corner, the alarm sounded in their headphones. A mechanical voice added, “901 3rd Avenue, door 2.”

“Reinforcements to 3rd Avenue,” Hugh radioed.

“To make sure Bates doesn’t move, let’s watch the street,” said Carmen.

“And each other,” said Hugh. “My pleasure.” Carmen thought that remark seemed overly familiar. Hastily he added, “Making sure you’re safe.”

901 door 2 turned out to be a corner entrance on the intersection with James Street. Hugh went up James across from the building. Now each of them could see one side; but they couldn’t see each other.

After a minute, Carmen radioed, “Hey, rebel. You there?”

*

Magnet soles activated, Reckall stood on a hull plate. He was scanning the 1984’s debris with a directional finder for the beacon of its electronics core. He needed the ansible—an instantaneous long-range communicator that was actually a tiny jump-gate. Threeworld’s ansible wasn’t secure enough for Schachturke.

Something big cast a shadow on the plate.