Digital Fortress Chapter 19

What if roughone else is smell for the ring? Susan asked, suddenly nervous. Could David be in danger?Strathmore agitate his head. zip else effs the ring exists. Thats why I sent David. I wanted to intimidate it that way. Curious spooks dont usually tail Spanish teachers.Hes a professor, Susan corrected, immediately regretting the clarification. each now and again Susan got the feeling David wasnt good enough for the commander, that he ruling somehow she could do better than a schoolteacher.Commander, she said, moving on, if you briefed David by motorcar phone this morning, someone could have intercepted the-One-in-a-million shot, Strathmore interrupted, his tone re quarteruring. Any eavesdropper had to be in the immediate vicinity and know exactly what to listen for. He ensnare his hand on her lift. I would n ever have sent David if I thought it was dangerous. He smiled. Trust me. Any sign of trouble, and Ill send in the pros.Strathmores words were punctuated by the sud den sound of someone pounding on the Node 3 glass. Susan and Strathmore turned.Sys-Sec Phil Chartrukian had his face pressed against the pane and was pounding fiercely, operose to see with. Whatever he was excitedly mouthing was not audible through the soundproofed glass. He looked like hed seen a ghost.What the hell is Chartrukian doing here? Strathmore growled. Hes not on debt instrument today.Looks like trouble, Susan said. He probably saw the Run-Monitor. blamed it the commander hissed. I specifically called the scheduled Sys-Sec last night and told him not to strike inSusan was not surprised. Canceling a Sys-Sec duty was irregular, but Strathmore undoubtedly had wanted privacy in the dome. The last thing he needed was some paranoid Sys-Sec blowing the lid off Digital Fortress.We better abort TRANSLTR, Susan said. We toilette reset the Run-Monitor and tell Phil he was seeing things.Strathmore appeared to consider it, then shook his head. Not yet. TRANSLTR is fifteen hours into this attack. I want to run it a rich twenty-four-just to be sure.This made sense to Susan. Digital Fortress was the first ever use of a rotating cleartext prevail. Maybe Tankado had overlooked something maybe TRANSLTR would break it later on twenty-four hours. Somehow Susan doubted it.TRANSLTR keeps running, Strathmore resolved. I need to know for sure this algorithmic program is untouchable.Chartrukian continued pounding on the pane.Here goes nothing. Strathmore groaned. Back me up.The commander took a deep breath and then strode to the sliding glass doors. The pressure house on the floor activated, and the doors hissed open.Chartrukian practically fell into the room. Commander, sir. I Im sorry to call on the carpet you, but the Run-Monitor I ran a virus investigate and-Phil, Phil, Phil, the commander gushed agreeably as he put a reassuring hand on Chartrukians shoulder. Slow down. What seems to be the problem?From the easygoing tone in Strathmores voice, nix would eve r have guessed his world was falling in around him. He stepped aside and ushered Chartrukian into the sacred walls of Node 3. The Sys-Sec stepped over the threshold hesitantly, like a well-trained dog that knew better.From the puzzled look on Chartrukians face, it was obvious hed never seen the at heart of this place. Whatever had been the source of his panic was momentarily forgotten. He surveyed the plush interior, the trend of private terminals, the couches, the bookshelves, the soft lighting. When his gaze fell on the reigning poove of Crypto, Susan Fletcher, he quickly looked away. Susan intimidated the hell out of him. Her mind worked on a different plane. She was unsettlingly beautiful, and his words always seemed to get jumbled around her. Susans unassuming air made it even worse.What seems to be the problem, Phil? Strathmore said, opening the refrigerator. alcohol addiction?No, ah-no, thank you, sir. He seemed tongue-tied, not sure he was truly welcome. Sir I think ther es a problem with TRANSLTR.Strathmore closed the refrigerator and looked at Chartrukian casually. You flirt with the Run-Monitor?Chartrukian looked shocked. You mean youve seen it?Sure. Its running at about sixteen hours, if Im not mistaken.Chartrukian seemed puzzled. Yes, sir, sixteen hours. But thats not all, sir. I ran a virus probe, and its turning up some pretty strange stuff.Really? Strathmore seemed unconcerned. What kind of stuff?Susan watched, impress with the commanders performance.Chartrukian stumbled on. TRANSLTRs processing something very mature. The filters have never seen anything like it. Im afraid TRANSLTR may have some sort of virus.A virus? Strathmore chuckled with just a hint of condescension. Phil, I appreciate your concern, I unfeignedly do. But Ms. Fletcher and I are running a new diagnostic, some very advanced stuff. I would have alerted you to it, but I wasnt aware you were on duty today.The Sys-Sec did his best to cover gracefully. I switched with the n ew guy. I took his weekend shift.Strathmores look narrowed. Thats odd. I spoke to him last night. I told him not to come in. He said nothing about switching shifts.Chartrukian felt a create from raw stuff rise in his throat. There was a tense silence.Well. Strathmore finally sighed. Sounds like an unfortunate mix-up. He put a hand on the Sys-Secs shoulder and led him toward the door. The good news is you dont have to stay. Ms. Fletcher and I will be here all day. Well hold the fort. You just enjoy your weekend.Chartrukian was hesitant. Commander, I really think we should check the-Phil, Strathmore repeated a little more sternly, TRANSLTR is fine. If your probe saw something strange, its because we put it there. Now if you dont mind Strathmore trailed off, and the Sys-Sec understood. His time was up.A diagnostic, my ass Chartrukian muttered as he fumed back into the Sys-Sec lab. What kind of looping function keeps three million processors busy for sixteen hours?Chartrukian wondered if he should call the Sys-Sec supervisor. Goddamn cryptographers, he thought. They just dont understand securityThe oath Chartrukian had taken when he joined Sys-Sec began running through his head. He had sworn to use his expertise, training, and instinct(predicate) to protect the NSAs multibillion-dollar investment.Instinct, he said defiantly. It doesnt take a psychic to know this isnt any goddamn diagnosticDefiantly, Chartrukian strode over to the terminal and fired up TRANSLTRs complete array of system assessment software.Your babys in trouble, Commander, he grumbled. You dont affirm instinct? Ill get you proof