The invitation arrived not by mail or email but through a series of encrypted, nested messages that Leo Mbeki, now leading a network of cyber-activists, ultimately unraveled and passed along to Reuben. An invitation, it was, but one couched in expectation. A small, informal collection of global health leaders wanted to get together. The location: a secure, neutral venue in Geneva. The subject: the "Riverside Phenomenon."
Anna was vigorously resisted. "It's a trap, Reuben. Collins might be at the back of it. Or they'll glance at you once, decide you're a madman or a pretender, and have you committed. Your work is here."
But the System, for once, was clear. A golden, priority hierarchy glimmered in his mind's eye: **PARADIGM-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT: MANDATORY. RISK: HIGH. STRATEGIC VALUE: MAXIMUM
