“Hear me out,” said Topping testily. He outlined the terms of the offer. So as to block any possible disclosure of sensitive information, consultants had to install ExaExa’s custom ShareCrop wikiware onto their scalp-orphids with full personal access permissions. The consultants’ wikiware would feed them business-related data, and of course the wikiware would monitor the consultants’ business-related thoughts and filter their instant messages. No physical office presence was required, and the pay would be just this side of bodacious.

“Bullshit,” said Sonic. “Bullshit bullshit bullshit.”

Jayjay looked at the two women.

“Would there be any work at all for Jayjay and me?” said Kittie, forcing a wry smile. Like Jayjay, she was disappointed not to be a main attraction. “Maybe we should take the contracts and use our money to open a Losers Club, Jayjay. But I don’t know that Thuy would—”

“It’s out of the question,” said Thuy. “Azaroth warned me about you, Topping. You actually think I’d let you put spying wikiware bosses in my head? My creativity would go out the window. I’d have nothing to live for.”

“So no, then,” said Kittie, playing the leader. “Offer unanimously refused.”

“Aha,” said Topping, his eyes lighting up. “Aha, aha, aha.” He feinted at Sonic at the far left end of the couch, then whirled to bodily scoop up Thuy and carry her to the grilled wall. The hum behind the grating rose in pitch. A stiff breeze began drawing across the room.

Thuy wailed, trying to twist away. The others ran to her aid. Kittie was the first one to reach Topping; fruitlessly she tore at his arms. He seemed on the point of hurling Thuy against the grill—why?

Thuy moaned in fear; Jayjay saw red. He dove for Topping’s waist, knocking the big man to the floor. As he fell, Topping managed to shove Thuy forward. Her head disintegrated into tiny cubes which were broken into yet-smaller blocks by the inner grills, her particles whirling into the dark hole’s maw. Oddly enough, there was no blood. Thuy’s head was gone. Topping tried to inch Thuy further into the grill, but now he had Sonic straddling his back.

Kittie had gone hysterical; she filled the room with harsh, rhythmic screams. Not knowing what else to do, Jayjay tugged at Thuy’s legs. He half expected to see a hideous severed neck atop her shoulders but, lo, as Thuy’s body pulled free, her head grew back, reassembling itself layer by layer, her component particles swarming out of the grill.

“Gun!” screamed Sonic. “His gun!” Topping had risen to a crouch, even though Sonic still clung to his back. Topping was pulling his pistol from his shoulder holster. Jayjay flung himself at the man, heavily knocking Topping and Sonic against the grill.