The broken gold nib in Julian Vance’s fingers flared with cold, violet sparks.
The faceless Actuary lunged toward the register. Its paper-thin hands clawed at the air above the counter, trying to reach through the narrow transaction slot. But the -24V DC electrostatic barrier hummed with fierce intensity, throwing blue discharges of static electricity that scorched the creature’s cuffs.
“Give me that nib!” the Actuary howled. The dry paper across its forehead ripped open in a dozen tiny stress fractures.
“That gold belongs to the Executive Archives! It is contraband under Municipal Ordnance Twelve!”
Julian did not even look at the clawing hands. He held the gold nib steady, feeling the heavy, dense weight of fourteen-karat metal between his thumb and forefinger.
“You should have brought a warrant, Actuary,” Julian said.
He turned toward Register 2. “Lin, clear the carriage on the Underwood.”
Lin Mei was already moving. Her cracked glasses slid down her nose, but she didn’t bother pushing them back up. She swept her right arm across the desk, knocking aside scratch pads, ditto chalk, and empty paperclip boxes.
