From: kmrc@ellis.uchicago.edu (Melanie A. Miller)
Subject: The Biz End of Things
Date: 12 Feb 92 19:09:34 GMT
Lines: 53


	Red spun the ashtray across the scarred table, watching it
slow, stop right before tumbling off the edge.  She grinned
slightly, narrowing her eyes against the smoke.
	It was turning out to be a weird night.  The latest report
was delayed--frigging squeeze plays in the crumbling highstack
cubicle she was pleased to call her office was screwing up
everything.  "Times like this, it isn't worth being a cowboy," she
muttered.
	The man across the table laughed once.  "You, a cowboy," he
said, accent guttural and Slavic.  "That is, how you say,
stretching it a bit."
	The grin faded, turning cold.  "I don't hustle industrial
data," she said, leaning back in a casual move that said he wasn't
anything to fear.  "I'm an infotainment jock.  I run the same
risks that these guys do," and she shrugged towards the rest of
the Chat, where a series of wannabe joeboys did a complicated dance
around the tables.  "Ice doesn't care if you're lifting data from a
zaibatsu or Sense/Net.  It'll still fry your ass."
	"A point."  The man nodded.  "Then I will tell my people
that I can expect your data this week?  After all, a real cowboy
delivers his information on time."
	Red shrugged.  "I'll get it in.  I wanna get paid, don't
I?"
	"Another point.  In the meantime, I will have Mr. Gideon
stall for us.  It seems that there has been a call for a replay of
an earlier report, the serial from Chicago."
	"NAMSR."
	"Correct.  The accidential AI seems to have found an
audience."  He took a sip of the draft beer in front of him, making
a face.  "Warm."
	"Should've drank it faster."
	Now the face was for her.  "A person in your position
should learn how to keep her mouth shut.  If it wasn't for the
recent interest in AIs, you wouldn't have this slack time."
	She spread her hands carefully, indicating retreat.  The
eyes were still cold, however.  "I'll make sure to thank Dex, next
time I'm in his sector."
	"Do that.  Because it will take more than a monkeytrick to
get you off next time.  We are a patient people, but even our
patience has its limits."  Slav gutturals gave the threat a new
level of intimidation.  "In the meantime, we will redistribute your
NAMSR report.  Unfortunately, we cannot send it through the usual
channels--a rights matter."
	She nodded thoughtfully.  Even on the shadow edge of
society, there were rules to be followed, claims to be honored.
Surjancev/GmbH had obtained "Deus Ex" through another company, the
original thief, and had to play by their rules.
	"But we will get it out.  Of course, the cost of individual
transmission will come out of your retainer."
	Red winced.  She was counting on that credit to get her out
of her latest hole.  "Yeah, right," she said, trying for a measure
of cool.  "That's biz."