Rook

“Fascinating.”
    “And a digital camera,” added Myfanwy. “Van Syoc would have been capable of transmitting pretty much anything he wanted.”
    “So why the computer?” asked Eckhart.
    “Huh?” said Myfanwy intelligently.
    “There was a laptop in his room,” Eckhart reminded her. “Hooked up to the Internet. Why bother if you’ve got a mobile phone that goes wherever you go?”
    “There could be any number of reasons. Maybe it’s a dedicated line,” suggested Gubbins. “Or it’s a one-time-use thing.”
    “We didn’t find anything particularly revealing,” said Myfanwy. “The lads in the computer department are crawling all over his laptop, but as far as they can determine, he was just e-mailing his family.” She took a breath and went back to her summary. “That appears to have been the only modification to his skeleton. Now, as to his musculature, that’s quite a different story. You probably noticed that he’s had some work done.”
    “Well, the massive inflation of his head and shoulders kind of gave it away,” said Gubbins.
    “My guess is that was designed to shield his eyes and nose,” she said. “And to boost his strength so he could punch through walls. Always useful.”
    “This is all very interesting, but we are all well aware of the Grafters’ capabilities,” said Gestalt icily. His fingers were drumming frantically on the table.
    “Yes, Rook Gestalt, but the details are important because they represent a drastic shift in the Grafters’ methods,” Myfanwy replied just as icily. “Traditionally, they have gone for complicated alterations. Van Syoc is sadly lacking in any number of potential augmentations. There are no weapons concealed in his frame. No truly impressive modifications. The last time a Grafter set foot on British soil, it was the size of a draft horse and looked like its mother was some sort of sea urchin. They have never been known for their subtlety, and the restraint they’ve shown with this man’s modifications is rather disturbing.”
    “I agree,” said Eckhart. “Although, Rook Thomas, I put it to youthat they may simply be trying a different tack. It makes much more sense to send discreet spies to scout out the land.”
    “Do you think there are more of them out there, then?” Gubbins asked. “Other Belgians with bulging heads who will be taking snapshots with their eyes, and mailing them back to Brussels through their vertebrae?”
    “I don’t know,” Myfanwy replied. “Van Syoc was immediately marked at the airport by our people in Customs. It seems unlikely that any other spies could have slipped through.”
    “I have trouble believing that they will really try and invade us,” Eckhart continued. “Last time they had the resources of an entire country behind them, and all they tried to take was one island. Now they have nothing, and we’re worried that they’re trying to take over the entire country? It makes no sense!” Eckhart stopped short when Gubbins cracked his knuckles. Then his wrists. Then his elbows. Then his shoulders.
    “Sorry,” Gubbins said, under their collective gaze.
    “We are making too many assumptions,” said Myfanwy. “We don’t know anything for certain.” She risked a glance at Gestalt. Teddy had slumped back in his chair but was looking a little calmer. “Heretic, have you and Joshua heard of any recent developments that might be linked to this?” They shook their heads. “Nothing? No unusual deaths or disappearances?”
    “None that are any more unusual than usual,” said Gubbins wryly. “If we’d had even the slightest inkling about the Grafters, we would have informed the entire Court.”
    “Then what?” Myfanwy asked in frustration. “I’ll accept the possibility that there’s a secret supernatural group that wields power in the affairs of men without revealing its work. I have to, because we’re in one. But there are limits to how big a secret can be successfully concealed. Just think how large and strong they would need to be to conquer us. Joshua, do you think there could be an army preparing to invade? A force that could subdue this entire country?” Eckhart was playing with a coin. As Myfanwy watched, he flipped it over hisknuckles and the metal melted and trickled between his fingers. He opened his hand to reveal a solid coin.
    “No,” Eckhart said finally. “We would know. There is no army. There can’t be.”
    “Then it’s something else,” said Gubbins.