"Gresh, Lois - Termination Node" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gresh Lois)

Rodriguez continued. "I must warn you, Steve, that I have only half an hour, then 1 catch a plane to that conference up north. So, please, not too technical Ч just straight talk."
Steve adjusted his tie, "Yes, of course."
They just continued without her. She had to say something.
16 THE TERMINATION NODE
"It's a delight to see you, Mr. Rodriguez."
Rodriguez shot a baffled glance at Steve. It was the look people always exchanged when Judy was around. As if saying, What an idiot.
From Rodriguez: "So. What exactly is wrong with DVD's security system? I didn't understand the technical jargon in Miss Carmody's report."
He was talking as if she weren't there . . , because she always said the wrong things. Or maybe because they didn't expect friendly banter from her, just cold facts. Judy Carmody, the robotic girlthing.
"Judy's tired," Steve said. "She was up all night on an emergency call with one of my clients. And she's been working around the clock on DVD problems for the past week."
"Well, let's hear it then," Rodriguez said.
Time for TerMight. No more Judy, Just TerMight: technical mistress of the Web. The one who ruled. The one who was confident, knew the tech, talked the lingo.
TerMight,
"Judy,"
She stared at the recliner. A nice brown fake velvet. Soothing, soft, molasses.
TerMight spoke.
"DVD's Internet security has at least one hundred and two holes. The service pack was never installed to protect your system from intrusion. Nor the required patches for the operating system, even though the OS patches are from your Internet browser's competition."
She glanced up. Rodriguez was blinking at her. He was baffled. Wasn't a technical guy like Jose. No matter how simply she put it, it wasn't going to be simple enough for Rodriguez.
Give it to him in a way he'd understand.
She shut her eyes. "That is, Mr, Rodriguez, there are over a hundred ways a hacker can break into your corporate files. Once past the firewalls, this person could download all your sales records for the past year. Or copy the purchase agreements you have with manufacturers in the video field, complete with discount schedules and delivery dates.
Or hijack all the passwords to your electronic bank accounts, then withdraw any or all of your corporate funds. One hacker, with a grudge against Widescreen DVD, could bring your company to its knees."
There. Done. She sagged against the windowsill.
Rodriguez nodded. "So we plug the leaks. I understand. I just need a time frame. How long will it take to fix the problems?"
Steve spoke before she had a chance. "Judy will supply a full report on the necessary solutions within the week. Ten days at most."
Rodriguez smiled. "Excellent. Now. How long will it take my guys to patch this thing up?"
"It makes more sense for Judy to program the fixes," Steve said.
"At her fees? Seven hundred an hour?"
It was amazing that anyone paid her fees. If it had been left to Judy, she'd be offering services to Rodriguez for two hundred bucks an hour, way below industry standards. But she knew enough to let Steve field the question. After all, he paid her contract fees of five hundred an hour, then pocketed the extra two hundred himself. He understood people and business. She understood only technology.
And Steve was one sharp smoothie, "Judy's the best. Nobody else comes close when it comes to Internet security. Face it, Hector, you need her. Your guys couldn't even find the problems."
"True enough." A pause. Rodriguez was considering whether he could bargain Steve's price down. Judy had witnessed this scene a hundred times. She felt ridiculous being called the best, being dickered over like a farm animal at auction. But Rodriguez gave Steve the response Judy always heard. "Done. In less than ten days, Judy fixes my security leaks. DVD is safe from hackers. It's fast; it's effective."
Great. Judy had only ten days to fix one hundred and two security holes in DVD's Internet systems.
"Judy walks on water. She's a miracle worker," Steve said. More like a girl who worked around the clock nonstop. She wasn't the best. She just worked like a dog.
"I have to run. Good meeting. Thanks, Steve." Rodriguez shook hands with Steve, nodded politely to Judy. Then he was gone.
Steve ran his hands through his hair, clasped them on his desk. "I hate justifying your fees like that. If you worked for me full-time, in-house, on my staffЧ"
"No way."
"Чyou wouldn't have to work under such pressure, Judy. My guys don't work half as hard as you do."
"Come on, you know how I feel about this."
"Be reasonable. Your fees are bleeding me dry. Besides, your name would add prestige to this place."
She didn't answer.
"Judy, you're not listening." Steve circled his desk, came too close, smelled faintly of soap and cologne.
She was keenly aware that she hadn't showered for two days. She backed away and edged toward the door.
"I go it alone," she said, "always have."
"You've been working alone too long, Judy." He almost sounded sympathetic Чlike Rodriguez had almost sounded charming. She wanted to believe that Steve was being real. But she knew better.
Nobody was real.
So why would she ever want to put up with them, day after day, face-to-face? She was an independent contractor. A loner. It was better that way. No company politics. No company rules. No small talk and drivel from personnel dragons.
Sure, Judy didn't actually have any close friends, Not off-line, at least. No boyfriend either. But that was the price she paid for independence.
She didn't like thinking about it.
Steve's computer beeped. He moved back behind the desk, said, "Private," then picked up the phone receiver on his deskmate and started warbling to some customer. The phone icon on his screen shivered blue streaks as the computer transmitted Steve's words and received the customer's replies.
Judy was dismissed.
She left. Quickly.
Outside, the air was sweet with the scent from flowering shrubs that lined the parking lot. Hummingbirds jammed their long beaks