Sir Gawain and the Dragon 4
12/04/2005
(to read the first episode, click here)
Once at the firewall, Sir Gawain explained its functions and methods while Mordred continued to absorb information. It was simple enough, easy for the giant to store, and he began humming to himself while he worked. Gawain found himself listening to the tune and, to his surprise, he recognized it. It was I'll Overcome Some Day, an old gospel song and a strange thing for the giant to know. The only reason that Gawain had heard it before was his encyclopedic knowledge of the intranet and the section where the Geek stored his eclectic music collection. How could Mordred have heard this tune?

As he finished his discourse on the firewall, Sir Gawain allowed his curiosity to get the better of himself. "Where did you learn that tune?" he asked.

Mordred laughed. "Oh, that. That's just a song Andy taught me. It's the only one I know." The giant chuckled at his own ignorance. "I guess he'll teach me a few more in time."

"I guess so," agreed Gawain. He was about to suggest they leave when the giant moved to the firewall and reached in. Gawain was immediately suspicious. "What are you doing?"

"Andy's emailer can't get through this thing," explained Mordred as he continued to tinker with the code. "He wanted me to change it so it recognizes him."

"The Geek could have done that for him."

"I know. But that's Andy for you." Mordred withdrew his beefy hand and then winked at Gawain. "He likes to do things for himself."

"I see," said Gawain. "I'd better have a look at that."

The giant stood aside. "Be my guest," he said.

Gawain ignored the unconscious implication that he needed permission to inspect his own domain and reached into the firewall. It was just as Mordred had said: the emailer address and permission codes and that was all. He noted the address and nodded to the giant.

"Nice job. That'll do the trick."

Mordred smiled. "Getting to know my way around," he said. "But now, Sir Gawain, I should be reporting back to Andy. If you don't mind, I'll take my leave."

"No, you go ahead. I need to check in with the Geek too."

The giant shook his head in mock despair. "Ah, our human masters. Where would they be without us, hey?"

"Indeed," agreed Gawain. "You'll let me know when you need me again, Sir Mordred?"

"Oh yes. Shouldn't be long, methinks."

The giant turned and shambled off down the tunnel. Sir Gawain watched and waited until he had turned the corner and then pulsed the area. Bumble appeared from behind a section of the firewall.

"Sir?"

"An important job for you, Bumble." Gawain indicated the firewall where the emailer codes had been inserted. "I want you to climb in here and monitor this connection. Record any activity, inward and outward bound, and give me a buzz when you have anything. But keep hidden; don't let anything see you. Got that?"

"No problem, sir." The crawler moved to the wall and disappeared into the code. Gawain stood for a moment in thought and then left the area.

The Geek was sitting back in his chair, listening to music, when Sir Gawain entered the Assignment Room. The knight took up his customary position in the center of the screen and waited. It was a while before the Geek noticed him. When he did, he waved a hand in greeting and sat up to turn off the music.

"Hey, Gawain. How's it going?"

"Hard to say, Boss," replied Gawain. "I've had a pretty strange morning. But how are things with you?"

The Geek looked around quickly, then moved closer to the screen. "Got an interview tomorrow," he said in a lowered voice. "With the Opposition."

Gawain was surprised. "Already, Boss? I didn't think you were that serious. You sure about this?"

"It's just to give me the option, Gawain. It looks like I'm going to need it." The Geek's expression was grim. "That new guy's been throwing his weight around here and I don't think I can take much more of it. Acts like he knows more than any of us. And hey, you don't need to worry; I'll take you with me if it comes to leaving."

Gawain shook his head. Not even the Geek could understand how attached to his domain was the knight. To speak of leaving and inhabiting another system was unimaginable, something he could not bear to consider. "It's not that. This is my world, Boss, and I can't just leave it like that. I'll not go down without a fight."

The Geek looked ruefully at him. "Yeah, I do understand, Gawain. I had to program that into you. But it's different for me."

"Well, hang on in there a bit longer, Boss. I'm finding out some interesting things and I think we might be able to do something about the situation. I need you to stay here."

"You don't know what it's like for me now," said the Geek, "but I'll keep going as long as I can. You need to work fast, that's all I'm saying."

"I know, I know," replied the knight. He was about to leave when a thought struck him. "Oh, Boss, there is something you could help me with. What do you know about that song, I'll Overcome Some Day?"

The Geek looked surprised. "That's a bit obscure, Gawain. Why would you want to know about that?"

"It's that new guy. Andy is his name, by the way. It makes no sense to me yet but he's taught his defender the tune to that song. And only that song..."

The Geek sat up and looked puzzled. "That's strange..." Suddenly light dawned from somewhere and he hunched forward again. "You're on to something, Gawain. That's not all that tune relates to. The old gospel song was used as the tune for a song from the sixties. A protest song, the song of all protest movements since. It's much better known now as We Shall Overcome...

(to go directly to Part 5, click here)

Clive

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