The Fold: A Novel by Peter Clines Page B

bit.”
    Reggie snorted. “You see that Amex card?”
    Next to the cot was the briefcase Reggie had given him. The smartphone and computer tablet had been in it, along with some other odds and ends. The ants assembled a complete inventory of the contents. “Yeah.”
    “It’s a prepaid card,” he said. “You’ve got fifteen thousand dollars on it for the next three months. If you want to drop a couple hundred at Target for a few bookshelves and a microwave, knock yourself out. Just save your receipts.”
    “How long do I get to keep the card?”
    “Until you annoy me too much, and I cut you off,” Reggie said. “If you need more on it, let me know.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Perks of the job. Speaking of which, anything yet?”
    “Only been here a few hours. I’m still getting a feel for it. They know you’ve got worries about them, and they have perfectly rational explanations for your worry.”
    “Anything odd about the tech?”
    “I still don’t know enough about what they’re doing.” Mike set the tablet down, propping it up against the pillow. “Let me ask you something.”
    “Sure.”
    “You said you first saw them do this almost three years ago, yeah?”
    “Just about.”
    “They did it again for me today.”
    “Did you do it?”
    Mike shook his head. “Olaf Johansson. I watched from the control booth.”
    “What’d you think?”
    “You’re right. It’s damned amazing.”
    “Told you.”
    “So why does it need more testing? They’ve had it working for a year and a half. You saw it months ago. Today’s run was number 168 with a human subject. There’ve been no side effects or dangerous technical glitches. I’d say it works.”
    “And they say it needs more testing.”
    “But why? I mean, I gather there’s still the time limit issue, but so what?”
    On the tablet screen, Reggie shook his head. “I’ve asked Arthur a dozen times since they first showed it to me. He insists it’s not ready to be revealed yet.”
    Mike could feel the ants itching to get at it in his mind. “And you’re willing to release it now?”
    “Yes. It takes care of the whole funding issue.”
    “And they know this?”
    “They’re not stupid. I would’ve done it the day after they first showedme, if Arthur hadn’t been so insistent about the testing.” Reggie had never been the type to waste time beating around the bush. He’d been slapped for it more than a few times in college.
    “Huh,” said Mike.
    “Wow,” Reggie said. “I am so glad I’m paying top dollar for your insight into this little puzzle.”
    “I’m holding off diving in as long as I can,” said Mike.
    Reggie’s face shifted. “I know. I appreciate you doing this for me.”
    “You’d better.”
    “I do. You still want to do it?”
    “Yep.”
    “If you haven’t looked at anything yet, you could still back out. I could have you back in Maine in time to watch the sunrise.”
    Mike picked up the tablet. “I’m going to do it.”
    “Good. Now stop complaining.”
    “Yes sir, mister boss man, sir.”
    Reggie shook his head. “You know it’s three times as offensive when you speak to a black man that way, right?”
    “That was my goal. If it’s okay with you, I’m going to lay back on my piece of furniture, singular, watch a movie, and go to sleep.”
    “Jet lagged?”
    “Yeah.”
    “It’s worse when you come back. You stay up until two in the morning.”
    “I do that anyway.”
    “So you’ll be staying up until five.”
    “I’ll call you in a couple days, let you know how it’s going.”
    “Okay.” Reggie paused. “I’m glad you’re out there. Really. Thank you.”
    “Yeah, you’re thanking me now. Wait until you see my bill.”
    “What bill? I just gave you a new tablet.”
    “Oh, that reminds me…” Mike swept his fingers across the screen and ended the session. He tossed the tablet onto the end of the bed, then had second thoughts and shoved it in a drawer. Reggie probably had a way to turn it on