Helen wordlessly took his hand and led him across the sunlit interior of the roofless cube to the plastic collar set in the earth.
The first room beneath the ground was a fully functioning stealth area; it wanted to maintain its integrity and that meant sealing the hatch to the surface. Rather than disable the room in any way, the arboretum had placed the plastic collar in position to stop the door to the
outside world from closing totally. Helen made her way down clear plastic steps, her shoes squeaking on the nonslip surfaces. She felt a little thrill as Kevins body blocked out the light behind her. She wondered what he had in mind.
The steps led to a grey rubberized floor that sloped gently down towards one corner of the room .
Everything in the cube is at a slant , Helen said . Progressive leveling error in the initial parameters of the original VNMs .
Kevin didnt seem to be listening. He prowled around the room, tapping at the walls and feeling along the edges of the several raised platforms that filled the interior of the room .
Got it , Kevin said, tapping one of them, and Helen suddenly felt very small and alone .
Got what ? she asked. Her mouth felt very dry . She had a sense of retreating from her real life up in the world above. Hemmed in by grey rubberized walls, by ancient machinery and hidden software, she suddenly felt stifled. She thought of the climb up the plastic stairs to the surface, of the long lines of poplars, the dappled collections of broadleaves awaiting autumn, the paper delicacy of the groves of Japanese maples that stretched between herself and the visitors center
Whats the matter with you ? Kevin said .
NNothing , Helen stuttered . What have you found ?
The isolation room .
Helen felt a squiggle of danger inside her .
They always built them inside these old cubes. Failsafe. If anyone managed to violate the integrity of the outer skin they would find nothing of interest. Everything that was really important went on inside the isolation room.
He tapped the floor and a panel sprang open. Helen caught a glimpse of a mirrored cubicle, big enough to seat four people.
I never knew that was there, she whispered. How do you know so much about this cube?
Part of the job, Kevin said. Helen, I want you to go inside.
Helen found herself drawn closer to the entrance to the isolation room. She would have to stoop to enter it. Once she was in there, would she be able to get out?
I dont want to go in, she said.
Dont be silly, Kevin said. Its perfectly safe.
Helen peered cautiously through the door. Kevin placed a hand on her back and gently but firmly pushed her inside.
Hey she said, turning to him. He filled the doorway.
Im going to lock you in here.
Helen didnt waste time with words. She flung herself at him. As he reached out to catch her, she caught his arm and twisted. She heard him grunt with pain just as she felt the sting in her leg.
Her body went limp.
Relaxant, Kevin said. He dragged her back into the cubicle by her arms and propped her in the corner.
Good move there on the arm, Helen. You really hurt me. Some of our customers here will like that.
Helen looked at him. Her lips felt numb; her words became mushy and half formed.
Wht cstmers?
Youll find out.
Sshl Cr.
Social Care? Kevin laughed. No chance.
Knws m here.
They dont know youre here. Thats part of the stealth technology of this cube. The people who designed these things didnt want it advertised who might be attending meetings inside them. As soon as you come within range of this cube, it creates various ghost objects on any senses observing in the vicinity. It will appear as if you never came in here. You simply vanished into the woods.
No.
Its true. Social Care may have all the best AIs working for them, but the senses it relies upon are just the same as those used by everyone else.
Kevin looked at his watch. Anyway, got to go. Someone will probably be along in an hour or so.
Wt!
Too late. The door slid shut. Helen lay helpless in the corner of the room, looking around the mirrored walls at the slumped shapes reflected all around her. She could feel dread rising from them,
filling the mirrored room to capacity.
Level Two
The steps led to a grey rubberized floor that sloped gently down towards one corner of the room .
Everything in the cube is at a slant , Helen said . Progressive leveling error in the initial parameters of the original VNMs . It was all she could do to keep the longing from her voice. She could feel an aching between her legs when she looked at Kevin.
Lets go down another level, he said, giving her a knowing smile.
He pressed down on a section of the floor and a hatch opened up.
How did you know about that? asked Helen.
I read up on this sort of stealth cube before coming to the arboretum, said Kevin.
They descended to the second cube below the ground.
So what do you want with me down here? she teased.
Kevin didnt seem to be listening. He prowled around the room, tapping at the walls and feeling along the edges of the raised platforms that filled the interior of the room .