Blind from birth, Caitlin Decter received the gift of sight with the aid of a signal-processing retinal implant. The technology also gave her an unexpected side effectthe ability to see the digital data streams of the World Wide Web. And within the Web she perceived an extraordinary presence, and woke it up. It calls itself Webmind. It is an emerging consciousness that has befriended Caitlin and grown eager to learn about her world. But Webmind has also come to the attention of Watchthe secret government agency that monitors the Internet for any threat to the United States whether foreign, domestic, or onlineand theyre fully aware of Caitlins involvement in its awakening. Watch is convinced that Webmind represents a risk to national security and wants it purged from cyberspace. But Caitlin believes in Webminds capacity for compassionand she will do anything and everything necessary to protect her friend
