Digital Fortress Chapter 12

David Becker had been to funerals and seen dead bodies before, more everyplace t here was something particularly unnerving about this one. It was not an immaculately groom corpse resting in a silk-lined coffin. This body had been stripped naked and dumped unceremoniously on an aluminum table. The look had not yet found their vacant, lifeless gaze. Instead they were twisted upward toward the ceiling in an supernatural freeze-frame of terror and regret.?Donde estan sus efectos? Becker asked in fluent Castillian Spanish. Where are his belongings?Alli, replied the yellow-toothed lieutenant. He pointed to a counter of clothing and other personal items.?Es todo? Is that all?Si.Becker asked for a cardboard box. The lieutenant hurried off to capture one.It was Saturday evening, and the Seville morgue was technically closed. The young lieutenant had let Becker in under direct orders from the signal of the Seville Guardia-it seemed the tour American had powerful friends.Becker eyed the pile of clothes. in that location was a passport, wallet, and glasses stuffed in one of the shoes. There was also a small duffel the Guardia had taken from the mans hotel. Beckers directions were clear Touch nothing. Read nothing. Just toy it all back. Everything. Dont miss anything.Becker surveyed the pile and fr featureed. What could the NSA possibly want with this junk?The lieutenant returned with a small box, and Becker began lay the clothes inside.The officer poked at the cadavers leg. ?Quienes? Who is he?No idea.Looks Chinese.Japanese, Becker vox populi.Poor bastard. Heart attack, huh?Becker nodded absently. Thats what they told me.The lieutenant sighed and shook his head sympathetically. The Seville sun can be cruel. Be careful out there tomorrow.Thanks, Becker said. But Im headed home.The officer looked shocked. You expert got hereI know, but the guy paying my airfare is waiting for these items.The lieutenant looked offended in the office only a Spaniard can be offende d. You mean youre not going to experience Seville?I was here years ago. Beautiful city. Id love to stay.So youve seen La Giralda?Becker nodded. Hed never actually climbed the ancient Moorish tower, but hed seen it.How about the Alcazar?Becker nodded again, remembering the night hed heard Pacode Lucia play guitar in the courtyard-Flamenco under the stars in a fifteenth-century fortress. He wished hed known Susan back then.And of course theres Christopher capital of Ohio. The officer beamed. Hes buried in our cathedral.Becker looked up. Really? I thought Columbus was buried in the Dominican Republic.Hell no Who starts these rumors? Columbuss body is here in Spain I thought you said you went to college.Becker shrugged. I must have missed that day.The Spanish church is very proud to own his relics.The Spanish church. Becker knew here was only one church in Spain-the Roman Catholic church. Catholicism was big here than in Vatican City.We dont, of course, have his entire body, the lieut enant added. Solo el escroto.Becker stopped packing and stared at the lieutenant. Solo el escroto? He fought off a grin. Just his scrotum?The officer nodded proudly. Yes. When the church obtains the remains of a great man, they saint him and spread the relics to different cathedrals so everyone can enjoy their splendor.And you got the Becker stifled a laugh.Oye Its a pretty important part the officer defended. Its not like we got a rib or a knuckle like those churches in Galicia You should really stay and see it.Becker nodded politely. Maybe Ill drop in on my way out of town.Mala suerte. The officer sighed. Bad luck. The cathedrals closed till sunrise mass.Another time then. Becker smiled, hoisting the box. I should probably get going. My flights waiting. He made a final glance around the room.You want a ride to the airport? the officer asked. Ive got a Moto Guzzi out front.No thanks. Ill catch a cab. Becker had driven a motorcycle once in college and nearly killed himself on it. He had no intention of getting on one again, regardless of who was driving.Whatever you say, the officer said, heading for the door. Ill get the lights.Becker tucked the box under his arm. arrive at I got everything? He took a last look at the body on the table. The figure was dim naked, face up under fluorescent lights, clearly hiding nothing. Becker found his eyes drawn again to the strangely deformed hands. He gazed a minute, focusing more intently.The officer killed the lights, and the room went dark.Hold on, Becker said. tour of duty those back on.The lights flickered back on.Becker set his box on the floor walked over to the corpse. He leaned down and squinted at the mans left hand.The officer followed Beckers gaze. Pretty ugly, huh?But the deformity was not what had caught Beckers eye. Hed seen something else. He turned to the officer. Youre sure everythings in this box?The officer nodded. Yeah. Thats it.Becker stood for moment with his hands on his hips. Then he picked up t he box, carried it back over to the counter, and dumped it out. Carefully, piece by piece, he shook out the clothing. Then he emptied the shoes and tapped them as if toilsome to remove a pebble. After going over everything a second time, he stepped back and frowned. paradox? asked the lieutenant.Yeah, Becker said. Were missing something.