Stones: Theory (Stones #4) by Jacob Whaler Page B

speak them. There’s nothing they can do. I’m in complete control. I’ve been doing it with the Shinto priest for the last several months.” Ryzaard blows a line of smoke off to the side. “But there are limitations. As powerful as the Stones are, it only works for certain weak-minded individuals. Yet there are billions of people in the world. The question is: how do we control them all?”
    “You’re going to need incredibly sophisticated technology.”
    “We already have it, but it’s still in the experimental stage.”
    “You’re talking about the implant you tried on Little John?” Jerek shakes his head. “That turned out to be a total disaster.”
    “Not a
total
disaster.” Ryzaard leans back. “It did work to a certain degree, enough to allow me to take over his Stone. But the implant procedure was too cumbersome. We need to tweak it so that it’s much quicker, simpler, more reliable.”
    Jerek takes a long inhale, holds it and lets the air escape slowly out his nostrils. “Mass production of implants for mind control on an enormous scale. Instantaneous connection on contact with skin. No invasive surgery. It involves novel issues of neurology, brain structure, mental states, mass psychology. I’m a physicist, not a psychiatrist.” Jerek’s eyes wander up to the ceiling. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”
    “As I said, we already have the basic technology.” Ryzaard’s fingers move across the bluescreen on Jerek’s desk. A holo of the green jewel shaped like a miniature Stone floats in front of them. “With the right people, we should be able to open this up, reverse engineer and improve on the design.”
    “I’ll need help. Brain specialists, especially any with neuro-implant experience. But even with the best minds on our team, it may be beyond our current level of technology.” Jerek leans in close to the holo, running his fingers across its surface, gazing at the prototype. “Who knows what we’ll find when we open this up. If we even can. Where did you get this? The design looks so . . .”
    “Alien?”
    “Yes,” Jerek says. “That’s the word.”
    Ryzaard stands. “You’re right. It is alien. Not of this world. But I’d rather not go back to the source for improvements. They tend to be very demanding, very
needy
, and I’m not sure I would be willing to pay their price. See what you can do with this prototype. We’re going to need about
twenty billion
of them shortly.”



CHAPTER 13
    M att moves through the trees toward the expressway carrying a bulging backpack. “Looks like as good a place as any to catch a ride.” Jessica and Yarah follow him. Both of them have small backpacks hanging from their shoulders.
    “Tell me again why we’re going to New York.” Jessica catches up, a little out of breath. “Seems like the last place in the world we would want to be right now.”
    “I know,” Matt says. “But I think the dream last night was the answer I’ve been looking for.”
    “How so?” Jessica squints up at him in the morning light. “What you saw was two different versions of the same event. One where the Woman just stood there and got killed, and another where she fought back and killed the enemy. I guess the real question is, which one really happened?”
    “I have a
theory
about it. A theory about life.”
    “What sort of theory?”
    “Simple:
it doesn’t matter what happens to us in this life.
I know that sounds crazy. It goes against everything we’re taught in our culture. But I think that’s what the Woman was trying to tell me.” Matt looks behind and takes Yarah’s hand so he is walking between her and Jessica. “Think about it. Either way, the Woman didn’t run away. She faced evil. Went out to meet it. You might win, or you might lose. The result doesn’t really matter. What matters is what you
do
. Not what is
done
to you. Maybe that’s the answer.”
    Jessica looks skeptical. “Maybe. Sounds a little scary. How can you be sure