Page 184 - Labelle Gramercy, Detective

Slow Burn

cloth shirt and tan slacks made him look quite collegiate, but I had to
ask, “Are you a student or not?”
Quentin frowned and walked over to his keyboard. “I am a
perennial student of cybernetics, officer. But you want to know if I
am registered at the university. The answer is no. I cannot afford
even the nominal registration fees of a public institution. But I do
avail myself of the facilities, wherever possible. You see, I am
working on a new computer game, one which requires some tricky
programming techniques. I can pick the brains of the computer
scientists over there; they never ask if I am enrolled. I guess I just
look the part.”
Labelle was giving the room the once-over while I had him
engaged in conversation, so I continued. “Listen. We’ve just
interviewed your siblings, and they’re all running some scam or other.
I hope this new game of yours isn’t another version of
‘Quintessence’.”
He looked injured. Maybe I shouldn’t have come on so strong, but
I was just using Labelle’s technique, trying to rile somebody into
making a mistake.
“Not at all. I’m working with a reputable software distributor,
KnoWare. You’ve heard of them? No matter. I’m putting the
finishing touches on ‘Crazy Quilt’ level 1, version 1.0. Levels 2
through 5 will be for advanced players. You want to try it?”
He pushed a couple of buttons and a bright pulsating pattern
emerged on the screen, geometric forms in varying shades seeming to
rise and fall within the monitor box like fragments of a flag flapping
in the breeze. Why not have a go at it? Labelle wasn’t the only one
who could put a computer through its paces! Anyway, it would
establish the truth of his assertion about going straight. I sat down,
grasped the mouse in my right hand, and tried to thread together
patches that appeared to fit. I got the first few easily enough, but then
I realized that my initial choices determined to a large extent my
remaining options. It was tricky and totally absorbing. Quentin had
even programmed in some weird electronic music that repeated the
rhythm of the screen image. I called for a ‘seam ripper’ and lost 150
points. Damn!

183