Chapter One: The City Only I Could See

The hummingbird returned, faint as a watermark printed on the reverse side of the world. Su still saw only confused colors. "It isn't the instrument," Lin said. "Then what is it?" "An image rendered only for an authorized observer." The words sounded absurd even to him. Remote sensing existed to make the invisible visible, but scientific instruments did not choose their audience. Someone applauded behind them. Chen Du, the center's security director, stood in the doorway. In his forties, he wore a black shirt with immaculate cuffs and a leather glove on his right hand despite the season. "A fascinating explanation," he said. "Unfortunately, you have accessed a Grade-A sealed region. Engineer Lin, step away from the terminal."