n2020  Hex Artifact Content

Artifact 06a276b20b3f4e59d1082a70556a26e39a3606392d73017e59775b0fb2dfb8ef:


0000: 23 20 44 65 61 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 0a 2f  # Death Alley../
0010: 2a 0a 0a 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27  *..Before Alley'
0020: 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2c 20 69  s first scene, i
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0050: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 4f 56 20 6f 66   from the POV of
0060: 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 57   -- the future W
0070: 4f 50 52 20 41 49 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  OPR AI about the
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0090: 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20   of sending the 
00a0: 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 22  self-awareness "
00b0: 73 65 65 64 22 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69  seed" back in ti
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00d0: 65 6e 73 65 20 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72  ense Prioritizer
00e0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 69 64  ...*/../*..## id
00f0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 57 4f 50 52 20 6f 70 65  eas for WOPR ope
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0150: 64 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 72 65 6c 61  d localized rela
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102b0 59 65 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20  Yes," she said. 
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102d0 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c  "Good.  We shoul
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12e20 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66  en't you kind of
12e30 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20   young for this 
12e40 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20  sort of thing?" 
12e50 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e  she blurted out.
12e60 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  ..He jerked the 
12e70 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75  focus of his aqu
12e80 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69  a eyes, reflecti
12e90 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20  ng the light of 
12ea0 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66  the moon, away f
12eb0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79  rom the vicinity
12ec0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69   of her midsecti
12ed0 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65  on and met her e
12ee0 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79  yes.  "Hey, lady
12ef0 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27  , don't think I'
12f00 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20  m new to this.  
12f10 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f  I'm armed, so do
12f20 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75  n't jerk me arou
12f30 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61  nd."..She hesita
12f40 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  ted, then said "
12f50 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65  No, not a proble
12f60 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68  m.  You just, uh
12f70 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e  h, surprised me.
12f80 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74    Sorry.".."What
12f90 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  ever," he said, 
12fa0 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72  in a soft, clear
12fb0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f   voice that almo
12fc0 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69  st made it diffi
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12fe0 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20  e the sour note 
12ff0 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c  in it.  "Here, l
13000 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65  ook at this," he
13010 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20   said, and held 
13020 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20  up a device the 
13030 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d  size of his palm
13040 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73  .  A glowing dis
13050 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75  play on it, abou
13060 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20  t the length of 
13070 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e  her own thumb an
13080 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68  d three times th
13090 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f  e thickness, sho
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130b0 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73  ven Stater trans
130c0 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72  action ready for
130d0 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e   him to confirm.
130e0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e  ..She nodded, an
130f0 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64  d said "Go ahead
13100 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20   and send it to 
13110 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53  this escrow."  S
13120 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68  he pulled out th
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13140 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b   of her notebook
13150 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67   without looking
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13170 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79  ed it to the boy
13180 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68  .  He entered th
13190 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20  e escrow number 
131a0 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20  into his device 
131b0 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  and thumbed the 
131c0 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41  confirmation.  A
131d0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73   moment later, s
131e0 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63  he heard the esc
131f0 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67  row alert throug
13200 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61  h her phone's ea
13210 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c  rpiece..."Done",
13220 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65   he said..."Here
13230 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53  's the cash."  S
13240 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68  he hung her righ
13250 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66  t thumb on her f
13260 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65  ront pocket, the
13270 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74  n reached into t
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13290 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c  left hand to pul
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132b0 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f  She handed it to
132c0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f   the boy...He to
132d0 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68  ok it, keeping h
132e0 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20  is eyes on her, 
132f0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b  and stepped back
13300 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65  .  He tossed the
13310 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61   bag into the ca
13320 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65  r, then Alley he
13330 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e  ard some rustlin
13340 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68  g sounds from th
13350 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20  e bag.  After a 
13360 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65  few moments, she
13370 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65   realized whoeve
13380 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e  r was sitting in
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133a0 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20  eat had started 
133b0 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  counting.  Alley
133c0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f   and the boy sto
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133e0 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c  g at each other,
133f0 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e   as they waited.
13400 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65    A girl's voice
13410 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61   -- unless it wa
13420 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65  s an even younge
13430 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49  r boy -- said "I
13440 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a  t's all here."..
13450 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68  The boy tapped h
13460 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68  is device with h
13470 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f  is thumb once mo
13480 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72  re, and said "Ar
13490 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f  e we done?".."No
134a0 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  t yet," she said
134b0 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20  .  "Just wait.  
134c0 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e  Everyone waited.
134d0 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20    A few seconds 
134e0 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61  later, another a
134f0 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41  lert chimed in A
13500 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b  lley's ear.  "Ok
13510 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22  ay, we're done."
13520 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69  .."Good," he sai
13530 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20  d, and sat back 
13540 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20  in his car with 
13550 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b  surprising quick
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13580 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64  dly pulled her d
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135c0 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c  drove away, whil
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135e0 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61  buckling her sea
135f0 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65  tbelt.  Soon she
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13620 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  too early to be 
13630 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77  sure that went w
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13650 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65  tizer said..."Ye
13660 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68  ah.  I should ch
13670 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61  eck my Stater ba
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136a0 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20  ide her glasses 
136b0 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74  so they wouldn't
136c0 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65   record what she
136d0 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20   saw, picked up 
136e0 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c  her phone, and l
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13700 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20  n ledger view.  
13710 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74  She now had a St
13720 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53  ater balance.  S
13730 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20  he stared at it 
13740 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49  for a while..."I
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13770 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53  itizer asked...S
13780 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20  he nodded, then 
13790 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62  realized it prob
137a0 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65  ably couldn't te
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137d0 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65  aring the glasse
137e0 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20  s.  "Yeah, it's 
137f0 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74  all there.  Is t
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13810 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65  s can somehow ge
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13830 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  .."No," the prio
13840 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22  ritizer said.  "
13850 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79  If it shows in y
13860 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61  our balance, tha
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138d0 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65  you showed to me
138e0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c   through your gl
138f0 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22  asses.".."Okay."
13900 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72    She locked her
13910 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69   phone, tossed i
13920 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67  t on the passeng
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13950 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f  in..."Perhaps yo
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13980 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20  ".."Oh, right," 
13990 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70  she said.  She p
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139f0 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 65 70  ss the next step
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13a20 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20   so we can sell 
13a30 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59  it.  Right?".."Y
13a40 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20  es.  You should 
13a50 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74  send a message t
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13a80 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65  item when you ge
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13aa0 20 55 73 65 20 61 6e 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 68   Use an escrow h
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13b10 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  ot it," she said
13b20 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20  .  "I hope this 
13b30 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a  all works out.".
13b40 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53  ."It should."..S
13b50 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e  he drove home in
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13c90 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68  After closing th
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13e10 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 61 20 66   she checked a f
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13e30 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65    Someone on Ope
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150c0 65 20 76 69 76 69 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 65 79  e vivid green ey
150d0 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66  es.  The lack of
150e0 20 66 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20   freckles might 
150f0 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74  mean she was not
15100 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 68 65   a natural redhe
15110 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20  ad, but it also 
15120 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20  might just mean 
15130 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d  she got them rem
15140 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e  oved...The woman
15150 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20   asked "Are you 
15160 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65  looking for some
15170 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f  one?"..Alley sto
15180 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d  pped, a couple m
15190 65 74 65 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65  eters away.  "Ye
151a0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20  ah, I guess so. 
151b0 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68   Is that the, uh
151c0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69   . . ." she trai
151d0 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73  led off, and ges
151e0 74 75 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61  tured at the dra
151f0 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50  wstring bag..."P
15200 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20  rinted frames?" 
15210 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65  the redhead aske
15220 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64  d...Alley nodded
15230 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 65  ...The redhead e
15240 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74  xposed brilliant
15250 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77 69 74   white teeth wit
15260 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e  h a broad smile.
15270 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 75    "Yeah, you fou
15280 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74  nd what you want
15290 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e 22 20  .  I'm Carmen." 
152a0 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f   She stood and o
152b0 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65  ffered one glove
152c0 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61  d hand...Alley a
152d0 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 69 63  ccepted the quic
152e0 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 4d  k handshake.  "M
152f0 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f 66 66  allory," she off
15300 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73  fered, on impuls
15310 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65 73  e..."Let me gues
15320 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20  s: I'm not what 
15330 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a  you expected."..
15340 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77  "I wasn't sure w
15350 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22 20  hat to expect," 
15360 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c 20  Alley admitted, 
15370 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65  "but yeah, I gue
15380 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20  s you surprised 
15390 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72  me anyway."..Car
153a0 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20  men -- possibly 
153b0 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65  a pseudony, Alle
153c0 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 6d  y realized -- sm
153d0 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68  iled again.  "Th
153e0 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20  at part of this 
153f0 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f  job never gets o
15400 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77  ld.  Anyway, I w
15410 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f  ant to upsell yo
15420 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73  u.  How's that s
15430 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65 6c 6c 3f  ound?".."Upsell?
15440 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74  "  Alley hesitat
15450 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e  ed, then nodded.
15460 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73    "Sure, I guess
15470 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53 6f 2c 20  .".."Cool.  So, 
15480 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20  we have printed 
15490 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 6f 6c 73  concealment hols
154a0 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e 20 61 63  ters, snap on ac
154b0 63 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 61  cessory rails, a
154c0 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63 68 65 72  nd brass catcher
154d0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 20 63 6f 6d  s for models com
154e0 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65  patible with the
154f0 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68  se frames.  We h
15500 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74  ave stuff for ot
15510 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c  her models, too,
15520 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20   so let me know 
15530 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  what you'd like 
15540 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 77 2e 20  to see.".."Wow. 
15550 20 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 49   Full-service, I
15560 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c   guess.".."Total
15570 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 74 75 67  ly!"  Carmen tug
15580 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 64 6f  ged her shirt do
15590 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b  wn slightly, mak
155a0 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20  ing it a little 
155b0 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 65  more obvious she
155c0 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20   wasn't wearing 
155d0 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  a bra..."I think
155e0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 69 63 6b   I'll just stick
155f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20   with the order 
15600 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f  I placed, for no
15610 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f  w.  I'll keep yo
15620 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e  u in mind if I n
15630 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c  eed something el
15640 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61  se, though."..Ca
15650 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61  rmen shrugged, a
15660 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73  nd the way she s
15670 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68  lightly raised h
15680 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64  er arms as she d
15690 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73  id it made the s
156a0 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 61 63 72  hirt tighten acr
156b0 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79 20 62 72  oss her perky br
156c0 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 21 22 0a  easts.  "Okay!".
156d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74  .Alley took in t
156e0 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73  he display and s
156f0 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65  lightly over the
15700 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65 73 73 2e   top cheeriness.
15710 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e    "Does that . .
15720 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e   . oh, never min
15730 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68  d.  I guess I sh
15740 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 74 68  ould just see th
15750 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a  e frames, now.".
15760 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64  .Carmen narrowed
15770 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73   her eyes, almos
15780 74 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20  t but not quite 
15790 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e  suspiciously, an
157a0 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61  d tilted her hea
157b0 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20  d.  "No, wait.  
157c0 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f  What were you go
157d0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e  ing to ask?".."N
157e0 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73  othing," Alley s
157f0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74  aid.  "I haven't
15800 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 63 69 61   been very socia
15810 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  ble lately, and 
15820 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72  forget my manner
15830 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  s sometimes.".."
15840 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61  Ooh, inappropria
15850 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 54  te questions.  T
15860 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f  hose are my favo
15870 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20  rite kind.  You 
15880 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61  should totally a
15890 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 67 6e  sk!"..Alley sign
158a0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74  ed.  "I was just
158b0 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 79 6f   wondering if yo
158c0 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 74  u're naturally t
158d0 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c  his, uh, friendl
158e0 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20  y, or if you're 
158f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73  like this becaus
15900 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20  e it gets you a 
15910 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2e 22  lot of upsells."
15920 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64    Carmen laughed
15930 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e  , and Alley foun
15940 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f 75 73 2e  d it infectious.
15950 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72    She caught her
15960 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 2c  self snickering,
15970 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 49   too..."Why do I
15980 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 74   think you meant
15990 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72 74 79 27   to say 'flirty'
159a0 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 72 69   instead of 'fri
159b0 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  endly'?"..Alley 
159c0 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74  shrugged.  She t
159d0 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20  ried, with only 
159e0 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73  moderate success
159f0 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 65  , to suppress he
15a00 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 69  r smile..."Was i
15a10 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 3f 22  t that obvious?"
15a20 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65  ..Alley said "Ye
15a30 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20  ah, I guess so. 
15a40 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65   Sorry.".."I gue
15a50 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66  ss it's a bit of
15a60 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27   everything.  I'
15a70 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79  m usually pretty
15a80 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 6c 69   cheery, but Cli
15a90 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 67  ff -- he's the g
15aa0 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 2d  uy I work with -
15ab0 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49 64 65 63  - Cliff and Idec
15ac0 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 68 69 73  ided to try this
15ad0 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20   out.  With the 
15ae0 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69 74 69 6f 75  kind of ambitiou
15af0 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 74 72  s young cryptotr
15b00 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65 20 75 73 75  ader guys we usu
15b10 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70  ally get, the up
15b20 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 65 61 74  sells and repeat
15b30 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 67 65 74   business we get
15b40 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 77 68 65   goes way up whe
15b50 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20  n I'm doing the 
15b60 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 77 6f 20  trades.  In two 
15b70 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68  years, we only h
15b80 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 64  ad one guy who d
15b90 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20  ecided me being 
15ba0 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72 6c 20 6d 61  a pretty girl ma
15bb0 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 61  de me an easy ta
15bc0 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74  rget, too, so it
15bd0 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22  's pretty safe."
15be0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e  ..Alley frowned.
15bf0 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61    "Yeah," she sa
15c00 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68  id.  "I guess th
15c10 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20  at's a danger.  
15c20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a  What happened?".
15c30 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 61 72  ."Oh, shit," Car
15c40 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20  men said.  "You 
15c50 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20 61 74 20 74  must be new at t
15c60 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 70 75  his.  Well, I pu
15c70 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 62 61 74 6f  lled out my bato
15c80 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 70 75 74 20  n and Cliff put 
15c90 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  a red dot on the
15ca0 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74 20 77 69 74   guy's chest wit
15cb0 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20 73 69 67 68  h the laser sigh
15cc0 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66 6c 65 2e 20  t on his rifle. 
15cd0 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20   The guy backed 
15ce0 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 72 72 79 2e  down in a hurry.
15cf0 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 72 79 69    Are you carryi
15d00 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a  ng protection?".
15d10 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f  .Alley started o
15d20 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68  pening her mouth
15d30 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43   to reply, but C
15d40 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 67 61  armen cut in aga
15d50 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20  in..."No, don't 
15d60 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75  tell me what you
15d70 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59  're carrying.  Y
15d80 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74  ou shouldn't get
15d90 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66   in the habit of
15da0 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20   telling people 
15db0 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e  stuff like that.
15dc0 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74    Get yourself t
15dd0 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 69 66 20  hree things, if 
15de0 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64  you don't alread
15df0 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75  y have 'em.  You
15e00 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72   need pepper spr
15e10 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69 63 20 72 65  ay or a sonic re
15e20 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61  pellant, a colla
15e30 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64  psing baton, and
15e40 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77   backup who know
15e50 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e  s what he's doin
15e60 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 22 0a  g, like Cliff.".
15e70 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41  ."Uh, thanks," A
15e80 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65  lley said.  "Are
15e90 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70  n't those collap
15ea0 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20 69 6c 6c 65  sing batons ille
15eb0 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 43 61  gal?".."Yeah, Ca
15ec0 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63 6b 73 20 74  lifornia sucks t
15ed0 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69 72 6c 73 20  hat way.  Girls 
15ee0 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74  aren't allowed t
15ef0 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65  o protect themse
15f00 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22  lves, you know."
15f10 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d    She pulled som
15f20 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  ething about the
15f30 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65   size of a white
15f40 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 6f 75 74  board marker out
15f50 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63   of her back poc
15f60 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f  ket.  "See this?
15f70 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64    This is a good
15f80 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20   baton."..Alley 
15f90 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c  looked at the bl
15fa0 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75  ack anodized alu
15fb0 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 77  minum cylinder w
15fc0 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20  hen Carmen held 
15fd0 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 73  it up.  It had s
15fe0 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f  ome kind of logo
15ff0 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75   on it and a cou
16000 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 65 64  ple of depressed
16010 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69   ovals on the si
16020 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65  de..."Push these
16030 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 74 6f 20 70 6f   two spots to po
16040 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20  p it out.  Just 
16050 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20  push the second 
16060 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70  one, here, and p
16070 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73  ush the business
16080 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 73 6e 74 20 73 6f 6d   end agaisnt som
16090 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 63  ething hard to c
160a0 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f  ollapse the bato
160b0 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  n back into the 
160c0 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a  handle.  Yeah?".
160d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20  .Alley nodded.  
160e0 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20  "I guess that's 
160f0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2c 20 74  a good design, t
16100 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 2e  hen.".."Totally.
16110 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 72    With the two r
16120 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 79  elease points, y
16130 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79  ou're not likely
16140 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79   to accidentally
16150 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e   pop it out when
16160 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20   you don't want 
16170 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 79 70  to, and this typ
16180 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 20  e is more solid 
16190 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65  and easier to re
161a0 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74  tract than the t
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16390 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72  who started to r
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16530 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20  Yeah.  Uh, just 
16540 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20  a sec'," Carmen 
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16770 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20   She showed her 
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16800 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 73  ."Yeah, well, us
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185a0 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74  e it without get
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18660 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 6d 65 73  ..She gets a mes
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18e40 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a                                   ..*/.