Page 140 of King’s Ransom

No-one was watching me.

I scanned the light poles and awnings across the street, searching for any kind of security camera aimed in my direction.

The Unperson had known that Monty had left last night and that I hadn’t, which meant he was watching the entrance, somehow.

He’d also probably watched Monty Woods for some time before he’d chosen him to participate on December 21st.

I couldn’t imagine he’d been standing out in the cold by himself.

A camera was more likely.

And, I mean, who would notice it if a small battery-operated CCTV camera had been mounted on a pole or awning across from the entrance to 60 Hudson Street?

The New Yorkers continued to hustle past me, oblivious.

I exhaled.

I was safe.

The heliport—official name: the Downtown Skyport—was located at the southern tip of Manhattan, ten minutes away on foot.

I started walking—

When I saw it.

Rolling along behind a man in a suit, bouncing on its four little rubber wheels.

A robot delivery cart.

Coming toward me, fifteen yards away.

‘Look out!’ I yelled as I pulled the man in the suit behind one of the columns of 60 Hudson Street’s entrance and turned my head away from the blast.

But no blast came.

The robot ambled by, to make its delivery somewhere.

‘Yo, what the actual fuck, asshole?’ The executive shoved me away. ‘You crazy or somethin’?’

He stalked off, brushing his suit and shaking his head.

I took a deep breath.

Regathered myself.

This was all clearly getting to me.

I headed for the heliport.

NEW YORK TO NEW JERSEY

Downtown Skyport

29 December, 1000 hours

The Downtown Skyport is basically just a dock that juts out from the bottom of Manhattan Island into the bay.

The waters of New York Harbor splashed hard against its piers, blown by the stiff December wind.