UNDERGROUND

‘I’m trying to work out what really big target would clinch it for us.’

‘Yeah, OK, whatever,’ Electron replied, distancing himself again.

But Electron was thinking, Phoenix, you are a fool. Didn’t he see the warning signs? Pad’s warning, all the busts in the US, reports that the Americans were hunting down the Brits. As a result of these news reports of which Phoenix was so proud, bosses across the world would be calling their computer managers into their offices and breathing down their necks about their own computer security.

The brazen hackers had deeply offended the computer security industry, spurring it into action. In the process, some in the industry had also seen an opportunity to raise its own public profile. The security experts had talked to the law enforcement agencies, who were now clearly sharing informa- tion across national borders and closing in fast. The conspirators in the global electronic village were at the point of maximum overreach.

‘We could hack Spaf again,’ Phoenix volunteered.

‘The general public couldn’t give a fuck about Eugene Spafford,’ Electron said, trying to dampen Phoenix’s bizarre enthusiasm. He was all for thumbing one’s nose at authority, but this was not the way to do it.

‘It’d be so funny in court, though. The lawyer would call Spaf and say, “So, Mr Spafford, is it true that you are a world-renowned computer security expert?” When he said, “Yes” I’d jump up and go, “I object, your honour, this guy doesn’t know jackshit, ’cause I hacked his machine and it was a breeze!”’

‘Mmm.’

‘Hey, if we don’t get busted in the next two weeks, it will be a miracle,’ Phoenix continued happily.

‘I hope not.’

‘This is a lot of fun!’ Phoenix shouted sarcastically. ‘We’re gonna get busted! We’re gonna get busted!’