Digital Fortress Chapter 12

David Becker had been to funerals and seen dead bodies before, just t here was something particularly unnerving approximately this one. It was non an immaculately groomed corpse resting in a silk-lined c bump offin. This torso had been stripped naked and dumped unceremoniously on an aluminum table. The eyeball had non yet found their vacant, lifeless gaze. Instead they were twisted upward toward the crownwork in an eerie freeze-frame of terror and regret.?Donde estan sus efectos? Becker asked in fluent Castillian Spanish. Where be his belongings?Alli, replied the yellow-toothed surrogate. He pointed to a counter of clothing and other private items.?Es todo? Is that all?Si.Becker asked for a cardboard box. The lieutenant hurried off to find one.It was Saturday evening, and the Seville morgue was technically close. The young lieutenant had let Becker in under direct orders from the head of the Seville Guardia-it seemed the visiting American had powerful friends.Becker eyed the pile of garments. at that place 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 pass nothing. Read nothing. Just bring it all stomach. Everything. Dont miss anything.Becker surveyed the pile and frowned. What could the NSA by chance requisite with this junk?The lieutenant returned with a small box, and Becker began putting the clothes inside.The officeholder poked at the cadavers leg. ?Quienes? Who is he?No idea.Looks Chinese.Japanese, Becker thought.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 watchful out there tomorrow.Thanks, Becker said. But Im headed home.The officeholder looked shocked. You just got hereI know, but the guy paying my airfare is waiting for these items.The lieutenant looked offended in the way only a Spani ard can be offended. You mean youre not departure to experience Seville?I was here years ago. Beautiful city. Id bed 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 Columbus. The officer beamed. Hes bury 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 lost(p) 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. universality was bigger here than in Vatican City.We dont, of course, have his ent ire body, the lieutenant added. only 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 revel 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 metacarpophalangeal joint like those churches in Galicia You should really stay and see it.Becker nodded politely. Maybe Ill hurtle 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 fail 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 inclose the box under his arm. Have I got everything? He took a get going look at the body on the table. The figure was stark naked, look up under fluorescent lights, clearly hiding nothing. Becker found his eyes drawn again to the strangely deformed hands. He gazed a minute, focal point more intently.The officer killed the lights, and the room went dark.Hold on, Becker said. Turn those back on.The lights flickered back on.Becker set his box on the floor walked everyplace to the corpse. He leaned shine 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 si gnificance with his hands on his hips. Then he picked up the 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 trying to remove a pebble. After going over everything a second time, he stepped back and frowned.Problem? asked the lieutenant.Yeah, Becker said. Were scatty something.