The Tomorrow File Read Online Free PDF Page B

plastic case was held together with plastitape.
    “Earphones,” I ordered.
    I used an earplug set. Paul did, too, but in addition he clamped on a theta helmet: small steel plates, held about three inches from his temples. They sent a weak electric current, about 7 cps, through his hippocampus. Paul was studying biofeedback but had not yet mastered the skill of going into theta at will.
    He inserted Angela Berri’s tape cartridge and pushed the On button. He looked at me. I nodded. He pushed Start.
    ‘ ‘This morning, at approximately 1045 EST, the corpus of an em was discovered lying in a bed in an apartment on West Seventy-fourth Street in Manhattan. The em was identified as Frederick Halber. That’s H-a-l-b-e-r. The corpus was discovered by the guardian of the building in company with a uniformed officer of the New York Peace Department. The guardian had been alerted by flasher from Halber’s employer. Halber had failed to show up for service that morning and wasn’t answering his flasher. The employer is Pub-Op, Inc. You know that outfit, Nick.
    “The New York Medical Examiner made a preliminary diagnosis of coronary thrombosis. The corpus was taken to the New York City Resting Home. His ‘next of kin’ listed in Halber’s service file at Pub-Op, Inc. was a cover name for his control. That was how I was notified.
    “The real name of the stopped em was Frank Lawson Harris. He was in PS, on my Section’s Headquarters Staff, assigned to undercover service, reporting only to me, through his control. The Director of Bliss and the Assistant Deputy Director of the Security Division are not aware of this activity. They are not, repeat, not to be informed.
    “Nick, I want you to find out what you can about how Harris stopped. I do not believe it was a coronary thrombosis. I believe he was assassinated. Claim the corpus from the NYC Resting Home and perform a complete autopsy, ( including tissue and organ analysis. Preferably, do it personally. If not, concoct a believable cover story for whoever does it. Lieutenant Oliver of the New York Peace Department will cooperate on releasing the corpus and allowing you access to Harris’ apartment.
    “I will be back tomorrow. I hope you will have answers by then.
    I know I can rely on your loyalty and discretion. Destroy this.” The voice stopped. Paul turned off the machine. We removed our earphones. We looked at .each other.
    “What do you make of that?” I asked finally.
    He ticked points off on his fingertips:
    “One: Angela Berri is involved in a covert and possibly illegal activity of X kind for Y reasons.
    “Two: Her immediate ruler, DIROB, is unaware of this activity, as is the Department’s Security Chief. Why? Either her activity is illegal or they are personally involved in an illegal activity which she has uncovered or suspects.
    “Three: Her covert activity is organized and of some duration, since she has a system of controls for her agents and has enlisted the assistance of at least one officer of the New York Peace Department. And since she suspects Harris was assassinated, her activity is serious and not just ordinary politicking.
    “Four: Halber’s—or rather, Harris’ employment at Pub-Op, Inc., is probably of some significance since we depend on them a great deal in our estimation of the Satisfaction Rate.
    “Five: If Harris was in service with the Department of Bliss, his file is available to us, and we have an IMP on him.”
    He paused a moment, then: “How was that, Nick?”
    I held up a finger. “Six: You and I are now involved, whether we like it or not.”
    “We can refuse to do anything.”
    “And risk Angela’s vengeance? I know the ef. Good-bye careers.”
    “What do you suggest, Nick?”
    “Do what she orders,” I decided. “I interpret this tape as an order from our ruler, not a request. And you so interpret it. Agree?”
    “Agree.”
    “Do not destroy the tape. It is our only hope in case this whole thing blows up. I’ll