Nathan discusses next steps with Branko and Solomon Darver:
Pages 100-101 “'Strange' is an understatement, Solomon. Let's just say 'suspicious.' Larry Frost has really exposed himself in the Powell case. He even went so far as to ask for a warrant for the daughter's arrest, and then disappeared into thin air.”
“He didn't disappear into thin air. He was assigned to other tasks.”
“And you don't find that suspicious?”
“Of course, Branko. And that's why I want to move with even greater caution. Lieutenant Frost left the scene too quickly for this to be normal. I've already tried to gather information, but I haven't found much.”
“They took the Powell case away from him, period. And they still haven't handed it over to anyone else.”
“As if, in a way, they wanted to leave it to us.”
“We don't need anyone's permission to deal with the mystery behind Powell's death.”
“That's true, Branko. But before, we had Frost underfoot. Now we're free to move as we please.”
“Frost also dropped the charges against you, and given his character, I don't think he did it on his own initiative.”
“We might be able to see more clearly, but I would move the investigation back to Powell. I thought we might check his data archive.”
“The lab is under seizure. But I can get you the authorization in half a day.”
Pages 102-103 “Yes, but this matter has become very alarming, and if someone really is plotting it all, why show them our movements?”
“What are you thinking, Nathan?”
“Well, with Sigmund's guidance, I could attempt a solo intrusion into Powell's lab.”
“I never heard any of this.”
“Then everything is fine.”
(Sigmund, later) “Everything is a fine mess, Nathan. If Powell's office was in a normal building, then okay. But it's inside a dam.”
“I see it too. A dam with dozens of active security systems.”
“So you want to give up?”
“Did you hear me talk about giving up?”
“It'll just take a little more time, and I need the entire schematics of the dam. You get organized. I'll call you when I'm done.”
Pages 103-107 Nathan infiltrates Powell's office in the dam. His internal monologue: “I'll be there at ten in the evening. I've been resting all afternoon. Then Sigmund calls me, and together, we study the operation. I have a leisurely dinner, sipping coffee and checking the latest data on the objective. In two hours I'll be in action. I feel good. My mind is clear. I know what to do and how to do it. I approach the dam. I have climbed thirty kilometers up a tunnel that discharges the cooling water from the heat exchangers. I emerge into the room of the disposal tanks. The place is monitored by flying drones, but they won't be able to detect me easily, because my suit emits a constant flow of electronic countermeasures. Drones may not detect me with sensors, but they can see me with their electronic eyes. So I always have to move with caution. The dam is huge. Through the HUD, I transmit to the environment the trace of the optimal path that I studied with Sigmund. And I follow it: one eye on the trace, and one on the drones. They are everywhere. It's so silent here that I hear the buzz of their lift engines. Studying these missions is one thing. Completing them… well… that's another matter entirely.”
Max Powell's office contains a salt water tank, presumably the site of his drowning. There's also a sample of a mysterious vine. Nathan copies Powell's data and sneaks out of the facility.
