1n1REzE

Peter Watts 211 Blindsight
started." He sucked smoke. "Or perhaps not. Perhaps you're
talking to someone closer, hmm That it Is the Fourth Wave
telling you what to do"
"There is no Fourth Wave. Not that anyone's told me, anyway."
"Probably not. They'd never risk their lives out here, would
they Too dangerous even to hang back and watch from a
distance. That's why they built us."
"We're all self-made. Nobody forced you to get the rewire."
"No, nobody forced me to get the rewire. I could have just let
them cut out my brain and pack it into Heaven, couldn't I That's
the choice we have. We can be utterly useless, or we can try and
compete against the vampires and the constructs and the AIs. And
perhaps you could tell me how to do that without turning into a—
an utter freak."
So much in the voice. Nothing at all on the face. I said nothing.
"See what I mean No comprehension." He managed a tight
smile. "So I'll answer your questions. I'll delay my own work and
hold your hand because Sarasti's told us to. I guess that superior
vampire mind sees some legitimate reason to indulge your constant
ankle-nipping, and it's in charge so I'll play along. But I'm not
nearly that smart, so you'll forgive me if it all seems a bit naff."
"I'm just—"
"You're just doing your job. I know. But I don't like being
played, Keeton. And that's what your job is."
Even back on Earth, Robert Cunningham had barely disguised
his opinion of the ship's commissar. It had been obvious even to
the topologically blind.
I'd always had a hard time imagining the man. It wasn't just his
expressionless face. Sometimes, not even the subtler things behind
would show up in his topology. Perhaps he repressed them
deliberately, resenting the presence of this mole among the crew.
It would hardly have been the first time I'd encountered such a
reaction. Everyone resented me to some extent. Oh, they liked me
well enough, or thought they did. They tolerated my intrusions,
*