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.I am what I told you – a researcher, and a fairly wellknown one.That you can verify.”“I’ve put my life in your hands, you know.I don’t feel very secure.”“That may change.In any case, let me examine the anthropology book, then I will call you backagain at your lunch break.In the meantime, I will send you information on this Atasco.It willsave you some time searching.And, Ms.Sulaweyo.?” She made even Renie’s own name soundlike something Gallic.“Yes?”“Next time, perhaps we should call each other Martine and Irene, yes?”“Renie, not Irene.But yes, I suppose we should.”“ A bientot, then.” Just when Renie thought the woman had rung off, as silently as the first time,her voice came again.“One more thing.I will give you some other information for free, althoughit will not make you happy, I am afraid.The Durban Outskirt Medical Facility, where yourbrother stays, has gone to full Bukavu 4 quarantine this morning.I think there will be no morevisitors allowed.” She paused again.“I am very sorry.”Renie stared at the empty screen, mouth open.By the time she began to ask questions, the linewas dead.!Xabbu found her in her office during the first break.“Look at this,” she snarled, gesturing at the screen of her pad.“.all questions on our answer line, or contact the Durban Department of Public Health.Wehope this will be a temporary measure.Daily updates will be posted.”the tired doctor wassaying for about the dozenth time.“It’s on a goddamn loop.They’re not even answering their phones.”“I do not understand.” !Xabbu stared at the screen, then at Renie.“What is this?”Tired already at 9:45 in the morning, and yet jittery with furious tension, she told him about theexpanded hospital quarantine.Halfway through, she realized he didn’t know about MartineDesroubins yet, so she started the explanation over.“And do you think this woman is trustworthy?” he asked when she had finished.“I don’t know.I think so.I hope so.I’m beginning to run out of ideas, not to mention strength.You can be here when she calls at lunch and tell me what you think.”He nodded slowly.“And the information she gave you so far?”Renie had already muted the hospital-loop; now she broke the connection completely andbrought up the Atasco files.“See for yourself.This Bolivar Atasco is an anthropologist and anarchaeologist.Very famous.Rich as hell, too, from a wealthy family.He more or less retired afew years back, but he writes an occasional scientific article.He seems to have houses in aboutfive different countries, but South Africa isn’t one of them.I don’t see what any of it has to dowith Stephen.”“Perhaps it does not.Perhaps it is something in the book itself, some idea, that Doctor VanBleeck meant you to see.”“Maybe.Martine’s looking at it, too.She might come up with something.”“What about that other thing – the thing you discovered before the doctor died?”Renie shook her head wearily.It was hard to think of anything besides Stephen, now evenfarther from her, sealed in that hospital like a fly locked in amber.“What thing are you talkingabout?”“TreeHouse, you said.All the references to this Singh, this Blue Dog Anchorite man, pointed toTreeHouse.But you never told me what TreeHouse is.”“If you had spent more time gossiping with other students instead of studying so much, you’dhave heard all about it.” Renie closed the Atasco files.She had the beginnings of a bad headacheand couldn’t stand looking at the compact text any longer.“It’s an urban legend in the VR world.Almost a myth.But it’s real.”!Xabbu’s smile was slightly pained.“Are all myths false, then?”She winced inwardly.“I didn’t mean to imply anything.Sorry.It’s been a bad day already, andit’s just started.Besides, I’m not good on religion, !Xabbu.”“You did not offend me, and I did not mean to cause you more upset.” He patted her hand, atouch as light as the brush of a bird’s wing.“But often I think that people believe things whichcan be measured are true things, and things which cannot be measured are untrue things.What Iread of science makes it even more sad, for that is what people point to as a ‘truth,’ yet scienceitself seems to say that all we can hope to find are patterns in things
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