Page 116 of Blood Stone

Sebastian drew in a breath, anticipating Nial’s cue. Nial looked at him. “Sebastian?”

“The results of a research study completed by a trio of computer analysts at Harvard was published two years ago. It didn’t draw a lot of attention because it was six hundred pages of data analysis and two hundred pages of conclusions. I read it.”

Khurshid glanced at Cyneric.

Cyneric nodded. “The profile said he was a computer hack.”

“The study was based on a simple question. How many organizations collect data on individuals in one week? The analysts took samples around the world, from one hundred and fifty different countries. Simple, as I said, but quite profound, really. The results were startling even for them and they thought they had a fair idea to begin with. One of the more interesting tentative conclusions the study came to was that within ten years, an individual’s complete life would be digitally traceable, from the time they got up in the morning, to the time they went to bed.”

Khurshid grimaced.

“Tenyears,” Cyneric clarified.

“Yes, but the authors qualified that estimate,” Sebastian told him. “They said that if technology went through another evolution similar to the Internet, then that time period could be shortened by fifty percent or more.”

“And such an evolution has happened while we were mid-air over the Atlantic?” Cyneric’s tone was withering.

“It’s about to,” Sebastian replied calmly, although his heart was hurrying along. Stress was straining it. “Every device in the world is about to be linked and be able to talk to each other with BlueTooth 4 technology.”

Khurshid blew out her breath impatiently.

“No, I’ve heard of it,” Cyneric said quietly. “I wasn’t aware of its potential.” He studied Sebastian. “It links everything?”

“A whole house can be automated and run by a cellphone. People can run their entire lives with a wristwatch. The degree to which humans will be plugged in and will be able to keep track of digital information will explode,” Sebastian replied.

“We won’t be able to dodge and hide behind redundancies and errors in the system anymore,” Nial concluded. “No one will.”

The silence in the car was total.

Khurshid looked at Cyneric. He pursed his lips. “They may have a point,” he said reluctantly.

Sebastian breathed more easily.

Khurshid pushed her empty glass at Cyneric, while looking at Nial. “Tell me more,” she ordered. “Tell me everything.”