“How many of these buggers do we have to kill to get paid?” Karnstadt asked.

“If you kill every individual I find for you, you will have completed your contract.” The voice emanated from the box in a way that made David want to cross himself, despite being a long-lapsed Catholic. It was as if a human being were standing right there next to him. Gave him the creeps.

“Yeah? What if the sucker bugs out between when you find him and when you actually get us there?” Garth Karnstadt had run enough cons himself to have a keen sense of when a con might be coming at him.

The AID sounded reluctant as it agreed, “You are only obligated if I get you within range of your eyes, where you can see the specified individual.”

“Not good enough. All these little greenies look alike to me. You have to have some way of pointing the specific guy out to us and keeping him pointed out when he tries to get lost in the crowd.”

“In all probability, an Indowy will not attempt to flee,” the AID lied smoothly.

“You didn’t promise to point him out. If you don’t keep him positively identified until we’ve got our hands on him, the deal’s off.”

Wheeler restrained himself from breaking into the conversation. Yeah, he wanted the prize, but not enough to take his hand off the game. He wouldn’t have thought of bargaining with the thing to tighten the agreement up. Maybe the other guy wasn’t a complete twit after all.

The AID’s tone was positively frosty as, after a noticeable pause, it agreed. “Acceptable.”

“I’ve never seen one, but I’ve heard of these things. If you can make them change terms for you, the changes are tight. Official. Just like a supervisor or fucking el — Darhel putting it down with his own voice.” Karnstadt nodded at the box.