13

Later that evening finds you and Katariki sitting in front of a laptop in a hotel room in Rabat. You've already spoken with Salt's assistant, who has assured you that Salt will call you in the next few minutes.

"How did he know about the flask?" you ask Katariki, as you wait. "It can't be through observing me. Maybe he knows that you're still alive. Or maybe he's been watching Masfiwi."

"Salem Masfiwi and I are both difficult people to keep track of," says Katariki, moving out of the line of sight of the laptop's webcam.

As he does so, an icon appears on the laptop screen signalling an incoming video call. You click on it, and Aaron Salt appears. "Good to see you, Roman Halama." You notice that he's holding the antique flask.

"Likewise, Aaron. You've been busy."

"You're talking about this old thing?" he says, holding up the flask. "Yeah, I guess you might have a few questions around that. I'm not really going to answer any of those right now, okay? I'd say it's 'cause I'm too busy, but the truth is that I just like to maintain this aura of mystery and enigma around me, so I try not to explain things too much."

You smile. "How much for it?"

"Now, I think I can guess what you want to use it for," says Aaron. "And that's noble and all, but I'm morally against exploiting a commercial advantage. So, I'm going to offer you several options. You only have to choose one."

"Go on."

"Okay, the first, and least fun, is that you hand over all patents, rights, and contracts for one of your Enhancements to Psion. You give all development to us, and we profit from it from now on. And one of the high-level, big earners, too, not one of the pissy little low-tech jobs. Second option: you hand your head of research, Claudette Byron, over to Psion. Effective immediately. I can have all the necessary contracts drawn up within the hour. The third, and most fun, option: I contact the press to slander you in some way—I accuse you of something very embarrassing, and very possibly sexual in nature. And when the press comes calling, you admit it. Embarrass yourself in public. Do that, and the flask is yours." He grins.