Damien Cleary found himself standing next to a lighthouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Mountains rose behind him from the rocky coast. Below him, waves crashed on boulders. He spotted Lewis Pape on a sandy beach a hundred feet below and to his right. He hiked down to the shore.

“What are you doing down here?”

Pape looked up at him. “Looking for crabs. I thought we weren’t going to meet face to face for a while, even in VR.”

“This place is secure. It became necessary.”

Pape’s eyes scanned the sand. “You want a progress report on the insertions?”

“That’s not what I’m here for, but we can start with that.”

“I’m almost done with placements in Richmond. I’ll start on Annapolis next week. DC after that. What’s your progress on the activator?”

“It’s ready,” Cleary replied. “Just waiting on you.” He watched Pape pick a crab off the sand. “Don’t those things pinch?”

Pape smiled. “Not if you pull their claws off.”

Cleary shook his head. “You are inhumane, Lewis.”

“It’s VR.”

“It’s the principle.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Cleary was indignant. “I take no pleasure in causing pain. But when there’s a greater purpose…well, collateral damage happens.”

Pape tossed the crab aside. “Justify all you want—as long as you can sleep at night. I’m just here to follow orders. You said you have another assignment for me.”

The tap I awaited came the next morning at my campus office. I answered it and found myself sitting in the VR office of Dr. Theodore Brandt of the Massachusetts Center for Mental Health. We exchanged pleasantries.

“I have checked into your inquiry, Dr. Daniels. We had no association with Dr. Raymond Caldwell, although it would have been our privilege. He was a man of extraordinary abilities. Did you know him personally?”

“No, I didn’t. I just know his granddaughter.”

He rose from his chair as if to end the conversation. “I’m sure she misses him very much. I’m sorry we couldn’t—”

“But how is it that Inland Tribes received a message from him sent from this location?”

He smiled. “It must be an error on their end, Dr. Daniels. A place like…where are they located?”

“Cameroon.”

“A place like Cameroon—you know how unreliable the Grid can be in such countries. I checked with our systems people. I assure you, no message was sent from our location to Inland Tribes.”

“Abby, I’m back.” I closed the front door behind me and draped my sports coat over the stairway banister. “Abby!” I walked into the kitchen. It was empty. I turned and walked into the living room. “Abby?”