Insistence of Vision by David Brin Read Free Book Online

natural, though with a tidy ribbon, she flew amid a formation of friends, in a calmer, less frenetic game.
    Annie’s own specs must have alerted her to the parental presence, because she split off from her pals, doing a lazy dolphin glide just inside the closest part of the barrier, back-stroking, giving Carmody a wave, a smile. It filled his heart so swiftly, in such a heady rush, that he actually swayed.
    Then a bell sounded. Recess ended. Juvenile implants tapered down, damped by teacher control, forcing them to land. He stood there, intending to watch till Annie filed back inside the school... only then Carmody’s phone rang. A curt, businesslike summons, impending at the left edge of his percept.
    The boss. Crap. And just when I was remembering how good life is. Well, let’s get this over with. I was a company hotshot till last year, so there ought to be a decent severance.
    Mr. Patel’s image wasn’t aivatar but true-view, beamed from his office. Carmody grimaced, knowing that his own glowering expression would be conveyed to the manager, and not caring much. Resigned, he felt determined to face what was coming, with dignity.
    Look, I know this wasn’t a great day... he was about to start. But Patel spoke first.
    “Bob, I wish you had stayed, but I understand your reasons. Look, I know things haven’t been great, lately... I didn’t pay close enough attention to personnel dynamics and I thought you were exaggerating your concerns about Kevin. But his stunt today proves you were downplaying, instead –”
    Carmody interrupted.
    “Then you know it was his doing –?”
    Patel shrugged. “Sure. Oh, he used a new grilf trick that’s hot on the streets, right now. But come on! Like we don’t have people out there, hovering over the new? Arrogant putz, his worst sin was having such a low opinion of our skills!”
    “Huh... then my work...”
    “I’ve got the report. It needs several polishes before I take it upstairs, but I think your trend analyses are unassailable. You just underestimated market obstinacy. It needs a phase factor of at least two weeks to take into account how everyone holds on to their biases and assumptions for dear life. But we can pounce on the transport upswing in ten days. Good work! You’ll have my notes for those polishes by the time you get home.”
    Carmody reversed his own assumptions. Instead of asking about his severance package, he decided to switch tracks.
    “Not tonight. It’s been a rough week and I’m decompressing. Taking the family out for a sunset picnic and a fly-stroll. Tomorrow can wait.”
    If Mr. Patel wanted to demur, he quashed it quickly.
    “Well, okay. Tomorrow then. Only fly carefully, will you? I just replayed your jump today... everybody has. They’re calling you Mister Almost-Splat!”
    Carmody couldn’t stave off a wry smile. That sort of nickname could do a fellow good, in his line of work. Nobody would call his bluff for a while.
    “Tomorrow then,” he replied, before signing off.
    He glanced again at PS43, now quiet under its almost-invisible protective dome. It was still another hour and a half till school would let out. Annie was in a carpool, anyway, so no need to wait around. In that case – maybe he could make it home in time to surprise Gaia. That is, if anything ever surprised his wife.
    Carmody looked westward across the expanse of roof and pondered. The nearest public catapult was a block away... and Mr. Almost-Splat was feeling pretty daring, right about now.
    “Son, are you sure you want to...” asked the gel-stabilized head of his father. Then the old man’s gelvatar wisely shut up, letting Carmody concentrate as he sped along the rooftop toward the farthest edge.
    We’ll have our revenge, he thought while his legs pumped hard, picking up speed. The best kind of revenge, for having to watch our kids surpass us in every way. The satisfaction of watching their children surpass them!
    Heck, I’ll bet Annie’s son or daughter will