Repairman Jack [08]-Crisscross by F. Paul Wilson Page A

Wall of Worlds. They act as roadblocks on the path to maximal human potential and should be treated as enemies of humanity.
    Negative Null (NN) —A WA subset; as a rule, nulls are to be pitied, but there are some nulls who, out of spite, envy, or resentment, try to undo the Church's work.
    In Season (IS) —A WA, DD, or NN who poses such a threat to the Church that they must be brought down by any means necessary—lawsuits, character assassination, wiretapping, physical and mental harassment, the works.

    Jack shook his head in amazement. "These folks are crazier than I ever dreamed."
    "Just don't confuse crazy with stupid. Look how they've covered their asses with the Null category. If someone spends a small fortune going through a whole bunch of rungs on the FL and still isn't finding any new powers, he must be a Null. But no way he gets his money back."
    "I think I'll designate myself LFP now, just to save them the trouble."
    Grant's laugh broke up into a phlegmy cough.
    He glanced at the two sheets again. This would save him hours and hours of reading.
    "Can I have a copy?"
    Controlling her cough she waved at him. "Take it. I've got it filed on my computer."
    "One more thing," Jack said. "You mentioned you might have a better source. Mind telling me who that might be? Once inside, maybe I can—"
    "Forget it. That's my exclusive. And believe me, it just might overturn the Dementedist rock and shine a—you'll pardon the expression— light on all the slimy things beneath."
    Jack watched her. What—or rather, who —was she hiding?
    "You told me The Light isn't afraid of anyone. How about you? These Dormentalists scare you?"
    "Shit, yes. But that doesn't mean they're going to stop me. Installment two hits the stands next Wednesday."
    Jack smiled and nodded. "Good for you."
    This Jamie Grant was one tough broad. He liked her.

4

    Jack left The Light and turned east, heading for Lexington Avenue. He put in a call to Ernie as he walked.
    "It's me," he said when Ernie answered. "My shipment ready for pickup?"
    "Not yet, sir. I have confirmation that it's in transit, if you know what I'm sayin', but it ain't here yet. I expect it tomorrow."
    "What's the holdup?"
    "Well, sir, this item was pretty freakin' hard to find and took longer to track down than I originally thought. Plus it's real delicate, so the packin' has to be perfect, if you know what I'm sayin'."
    Jack knew what he was saying. "Let's hope it's worth the wait."
    "Oh, it is, sir. Some of my best work." Ernie's voice took on a gleeful tone. "You might even say it's a, whatchacallit, work of art. Yeah. A work of art, if you know what I'm sayin'. Should be ready first thing in the morning."
    Jack kept walking toward Lexington. From what Jamie Grant had told him, he wouldn't need a full set of ID when he signed up. Might as well get the intake process out of the way so he could set up his first Reveille Session for tomorrow.
    He remembered Grant's vaguely malicious grin when she'd mentioned the Reveille Session. What was he getting into?

5

    When Jack arrived at the Manhattan Dormentalist temple, he had to admit it was pretty impressive: twenty-plus stories of red brick and white corner blocks, with setbacks at the tenth and twentieth floors. And spotless. Looked like it had been scrubbed with a toothbrush. No New York City building had a right to be so clean.
    According to Grant's article, the Dormentalist Church owned and occupied the whole thing.
    As he approached the arched entrance he saw a group of half a dozen people, four men and two women, exiting onto the sidewalk. All wore steel gray double-breasted jackets buttoned all the way up to their high military collars. Two of the jackets sported braided fronts.
    Jack occasionally had seen similar uniforms on the subway and around the city, but hadn't connected them with Dormentalism. As the group approached he considered asking them whether they were going for the Sergeant Pepper or the Michael Jackson look, but