n2020  Hex Artifact Content

Artifact 32d8a83392d41128d916b4c1cd119318f7394a6630a69db1f9679b031054e275:


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00f0: 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20       *. *       
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105e0 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20    She looked up 
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10600 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20  ."Oh, it's just 
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10680 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 69 6e  "You mean I'm in
10690 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20  ."..He nodded.  
106a0 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75  "Of course.  You
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16000 0a 53 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72  .She grabbed her
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164b0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 6f  "..She waited fo
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16880 20 20 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61    "We should sta
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16ca0 41 74 20 61 6e 79 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65  At any time, the
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16fd0 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 22   few moments.  "
16fe0 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 72 65  Y'know, it's gre
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18210 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22  e in her ear.  "
18220 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 2e 22 0a  You are early.".
18230 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a  .Alley nodded...
18240 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c  "This is probabl
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18260 20 49 74 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20   It gives you a 
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18280 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 75   if something su
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182a0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65  before your sche
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182e0 20 62 61 6e 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d   banishing her m
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18320 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68  careful about th
18330 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70  is.".."Are you p
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18380 20 73 68 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 73 69   shopping bag si
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183b0 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65   the front passe
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183d0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 79 20 70 65 70 70  ed the tiny pepp
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183f0 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70  r in her front p
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18430 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27  king brake wasn'
18440 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61  t engaged.  "Yea
18450 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2e 22 0a  h, I think so.".
18460 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69  .She waited, thi
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18480 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74  fact she was sit
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184a0 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c  police parking l
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184d0 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 68 65 72 20 71  out to ask her q
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18500 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69  answer...She wai
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18560 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 67  for someone to g
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185b0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 68 65 72 20 69   and stuff her i
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185d0 6a 75 73 74 20 67 72 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61  just grab her ba
185e0 67 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  g of money from 
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18610 6f 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 70 75  on any police pu
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18650 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 66  under her mask f
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18690 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73   cooled the lens
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18730 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77  ear.  "It is now
18740 20 73 69 78 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 61 66 74   six minutes aft
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18760 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22  d meeting time."
18770 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75  .."Maybe we shou
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18860 6c 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 69 67 6e  lot without sign
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188d0 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f  out anything fro
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188f0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72  ..She closed her
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18930 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73  he had, the cros
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18960 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e  d vehicles, then
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189c0 74 73 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74  ts nose toward t
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189e0 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 6f 76 65 72   next space over
189f0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 20 66 65 77  .  It left a few
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18a20 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f   moment, the doo
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18c80 20 74 68 65 6d 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 2e   them very deep.
18c90 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20    "The driver's 
18ca0 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  not alone," she 
18cb0 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 65 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68  murmured under h
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18cd0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64  prioritizer said
18ce0 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 72 65 73 70   nothing in resp
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18d30 62 65 20 63 6c 61 64 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b  be clad in black
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18d70 68 6f 65 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65  hoe.  After a fe
18d80 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20  w more moments, 
18d90 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 6c 69 64 20  the driver slid 
18da0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20  out of the seat 
18db0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  and stood...Alle
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18e20 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 69 74   smooth face wit
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18e40 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 20  nes and a sharp 
18e50 63 68 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 6d 69  chin, for a femi
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18e70 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20    Alley grabbed 
18e80 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 20  her bag of cash 
18e90 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20  and moved it to 
18ea0 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c  the driver seat,
18eb0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 66   then stood to f
18ec0 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20  ace the person, 
18ed0 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 20  who was shorter 
18ee0 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73  than her.  The s
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18f40 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73  ession this pers
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18f60 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65  prettier than he
18f70 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b  r.  It only took
18f80 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f   a second or two
18f90 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c   for her to real
18fa0 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77  ize what she saw
18fb0 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65   did not look fe
18fc0 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c  male...He just l
18fd0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 72 79 20 79 6f 75 6e 67  ooked very young
18fe0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61  ...The driver ga
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19000 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69  sing look, the i
19010 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65  mpersonally inte
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19030 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65  ook that lingere
19040 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72  d on the way her
19050 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64   cargo pants and
19060 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72   t shirt fit her
19070 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61   and would norma
19080 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74  lly set her teet
19090 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73  h on edge, but s
190a0 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61  he just stared a
190b0 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65  t him for a mome
190c0 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68  nt with his fash
190d0 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c  ionably spartan,
190e0 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 63   almost formal c
190f0 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72  ut, black collar
19100 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72  less shirt..."Ar
19110 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66  en't you kind of
19120 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20   young for this 
19130 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20  sort of thing?" 
19140 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e  she blurted out.
19150 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  ..He jerked the 
19160 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75  focus of his aqu
19170 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69  a eyes, reflecti
19180 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20  ng the light of 
19190 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66  the moon, away f
191a0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79  rom the vicinity
191b0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69   of her midsecti
191c0 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65  on and met her e
191d0 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79  yes.  "Hey, lady
191e0 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27  , don't think I'
191f0 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20  m new to this.  
19200 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f  I'm armed, so do
19210 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75  n't jerk me arou
19220 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61  nd."..She hesita
19230 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  ted, then said "
19240 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65  No, not a proble
19250 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68  m.  You just, uh
19260 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e  h, surprised me.
19270 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74    Sorry.".."What
19280 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  ever," he said, 
19290 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72  in a soft, clear
192a0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f   voice that almo
192b0 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69  st made it diffi
192c0 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a  cult to recogniz
192d0 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20  e the sour note 
192e0 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c  in it.  "Here, l
192f0 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65  ook at this," he
19300 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20   said, and held 
19310 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20  up a device the 
19320 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d  size of his palm
19330 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73  .  A glowing dis
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193d0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e  ..She nodded, an
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194a0 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  and thumbed the 
194b0 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41  confirmation.  A
194c0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73   moment later, s
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194e0 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67  row alert throug
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19500 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c  rpiece..."Done",
19510 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65   he said..."Here
19520 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53  's the cash."  S
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19580 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c  left hand to pul
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195a0 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f  She handed it to
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195e0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b  and stepped back
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196e0 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e   as they waited.
196f0 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65    A girl's voice
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19720 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49  r boy -- said "I
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19740 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68  The boy tapped h
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197b0 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64   Everyone waited
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19990 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73  side her glasses
199a0 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27   so they wouldn'
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199e0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70  looked at the op
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19a00 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53   She now had a S
19a10 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20  tater balance.  
19a20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74  She stared at it
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19a40 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f  Is everything co
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19a60 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a  ritizer asked...
19a70 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e  She nodded, then
19a80 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f   realized it pro
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19b20 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69  ".."No," the pri
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19b40 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20  "If it shows in 
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19bf0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65  "  She locked he
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19c70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22  .".."Oh, right,"
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19d20 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22   it.  Right?".."
19d30 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  Yes.  You should
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19d50 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67  to a buyer tonig
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19d90 20 20 55 73 65 20 61 6e 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20    Use an escrow 
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19de0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 73 65  to the escrow se
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19e30 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a  .."It should."..
19e40 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69  She drove home i
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19f80 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74   After closing t
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1a2e0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20  currency trader 
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1a300 64 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 77  d earlier with w
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1a320 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68  Should I make th
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1a3c0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74  "  She did a lit
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1b550 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68   green eyes.  Th
1b560 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b 6c  e lack of freckl
1b570 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68  es might mean sh
1b580 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75  e was not a natu
1b590 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74  ral redhead, but
1b5a0 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a   it also might j
1b5b0 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74  ust mean she got
1b5c0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a   them removed...
1b5d0 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20  The woman asked 
1b5e0 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67  "Are you looking
1b5f0 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a   for someone?"..
1b600 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61  Alley stopped, a
1b610 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 61   couple meters a
1b620 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67  way.  "Yeah, I g
1b630 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61  uess so.  Is tha
1b640 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22  t the, uh . . ."
1b650 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66   she trailed off
1b660 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 61  , and gestured a
1b670 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67  t the drawstring
1b680 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20   bag..."Printed 
1b690 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64  frames?" the red
1b6a0 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c  head asked...All
1b6b0 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20  ey nodded...The 
1b6c0 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68  redhead pulled h
1b6d0 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64  er mask down and
1b6e0 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61   exposed brillia
1b6f0 6e 74 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77  nt white teeth w
1b700 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c  ith a broad smil
1b710 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66  e.  "Yeah, you f
1b720 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61  ound what you wa
1b730 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e  nt.  I'm Carmen.
1b740 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64  "  She stood and
1b750 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f   offered one glo
1b760 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79  ved hand...Alley
1b770 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75   accepted the qu
1b780 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20  ick handshake.  
1b790 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f  "Mallory," she o
1b7a0 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c  ffered, on impul
1b7b0 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65  se..."Let me gue
1b7c0 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74  ss: I'm not what
1b7d0 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a   you expected.".
1b7e0 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20  ."I wasn't sure 
1b7f0 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22  what to expect,"
1b800 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c   Alley admitted,
1b810 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75   "but yeah, I gu
1b820 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65  ess you surprise
1b830 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43  d me anyway."..C
1b840 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c  armen -- possibl
1b850 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 41  y a pseudonym, A
1b860 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d  lley realized --
1b870 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20   smiled again.  
1b880 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68  "That part of th
1b890 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74  is job never get
1b8a0 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20  s old.  Anyway, 
1b8b0 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c  I want to upsell
1b8c0 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61   you.  How's tha
1b8d0 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65  t sound?".."Upse
1b8e0 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69  ll?"  Alley hesi
1b8f0 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64  tated, then nodd
1b900 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75  ed.  "Sure, I gu
1b910 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53  ess.".."Cool.  S
1b920 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74  o, we have print
1b930 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 68  ed concealment h
1b940 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e  olsters, snap on
1b950 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73   accessory rails
1b960 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63  , and brass catc
1b970 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 20  hers for models 
1b980 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20  compatible with 
1b990 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57  these frames.  W
1b9a0 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72  e have stuff for
1b9b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74   other models, t
1b9c0 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e  oo, so let me kn
1b9d0 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69  ow what you'd li
1b9e0 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f  ke to see.".."Wo
1b9f0 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c 6c 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65  w.  Full service
1ba00 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f  , I guess.".."To
1ba10 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20  tally!"  Carmen 
1ba20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74  tugged her shirt
1ba30 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20   down slightly, 
1ba40 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74  making it a litt
1ba50 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20  le more obvious 
1ba60 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69  she wasn't weari
1ba70 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68  ng a bra..."I th
1ba80 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74  ink I'll just st
1ba90 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64  ick with the ord
1baa0 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72  er I placed, for
1bab0 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70   now.  I'll keep
1bac0 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20   you in mind if 
1bad0 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67  I need something
1bae0 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a   else, though.".
1baf0 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64  .Carmen shrugged
1bb00 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68  , and the way sh
1bb10 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65  e slightly raise
1bb20 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68  d her arms as sh
1bb30 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68  e did it made th
1bb40 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20  e shirt tighten 
1bb50 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79  across her perky
1bb60 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79   breasts.  "Okay
1bb70 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69  !"..Alley took i
1bb80 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e  n the display an
1bb90 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20  d slightly over 
1bba0 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65  the top cheerine
1bbb0 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20  ss.  "Does that 
1bbc0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20  . . . oh, never 
1bbd0 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49  mind.  I guess I
1bbe0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65   should just see
1bbf0 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77   the frames, now
1bc00 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f  ."..Carmen narro
1bc10 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c  wed her eyes, al
1bc20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69  most but not qui
1bc30 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c  te suspiciously,
1bc40 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20   and tilted her 
1bc50 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74  head.  "No, wait
1bc60 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75  .  What were you
1bc70 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a   going to ask?".
1bc80 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65  ."Nothing," Alle
1bc90 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65  y said.  "I have
1bca0 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f  n't been very so
1bcb0 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61  ciable lately, a
1bcc0 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e  nd forget my man
1bcd0 6e 65 72 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22  ners sometimes."
1bce0 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70  .."Ooh, inapprop
1bcf0 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e  riate questions.
1bd00 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66    Those are my f
1bd10 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59  avorite kind.  Y
1bd20 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c  ou should totall
1bd30 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73  y ask!"..Alley s
1bd40 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a  igned.  "I was j
1bd50 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66  ust wondering if
1bd60 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c   you're naturall
1bd70 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65  y this, uh, frie
1bd80 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27  ndly, or if you'
1bd90 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63  re like this bec
1bda0 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75  ause it gets you
1bdb0 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c   a lot of upsell
1bdc0 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67  s."  Carmen laug
1bdd0 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66  hed, and Alley f
1bde0 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f  ound it infectio
1bdf0 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20  us.  She caught 
1be00 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69  herself snickeri
1be10 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64  ng, too..."Why d
1be20 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65  o I think you me
1be30 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72  ant to say 'flir
1be40 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27  ty' instead of '
1be50 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c  friendly'?"..All
1be60 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68  ey shrugged.  Sh
1be70 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e  e tried, with on
1be80 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63  ly moderate succ
1be90 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73  ess, to suppress
1bea0 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61   her smile..."Wa
1beb0 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75  s it that obviou
1bec0 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20  s?"..Alley said 
1bed0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73  "Yeah, I guess s
1bee0 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20  o.  Sorry.".."I 
1bef0 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74  guess it's a bit
1bf00 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20   of everything. 
1bf10 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65   I'm usually pre
1bf20 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20  tty cheery, but 
1bf30 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68  Cliff -- he's th
1bf40 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74  e guy I work wit
1bf50 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49  h -- Cliff and I
1bf60 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20   decided to try 
1bf70 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20  this out.  With 
1bf80 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69  the kind of ambi
1bf90 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70  tious young cryp
1bfa0 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65  totrader guys we
1bfb0 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68   usually get, th
1bfc0 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65  e upsells and re
1bfd0 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65  peat business we
1bfe0 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70   get goes way up
1bff0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20   when I'm doing 
1c000 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20  the trades.  In 
1c010 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e  two years, we on
1c020 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77  ly had one guy w
1c030 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65  ho decided me be
1c040 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72  ing a pretty gir
1c050 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73  l made me an eas
1c060 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73  y target, too, s
1c070 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61  o it's pretty sa
1c080 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77  fe."..Alley frow
1c090 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68  ned.  "Yeah," sh
1c0a0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73  e said.  "I gues
1c0b0 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65  s that's a dange
1c0c0 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65  r.  What happene
1c0d0 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22  d?".."Oh, shit,"
1c0e0 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22   Carmen said.  "
1c0f0 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20  You must be new 
1c100 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20  at this.  Well, 
1c110 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20  I pulled out my 
1c120 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20  baton and Cliff 
1c130 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e  put a red dot on
1c140 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74   the guy's chest
1c150 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20   with the laser 
1c160 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66  sight on his rif
1c170 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63  le.  The guy bac
1c180 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75  ked down in a hu
1c190 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61  rry.  Are you ca
1c1a0 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f  rrying protectio
1c1b0 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74  n?"..Alley start
1c1c0 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d  ed opening her m
1c1d0 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62  outh to reply, b
1c1e0 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e  ut Carmen cut in
1c1f0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f   again..."No, do
1c200 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74  n't tell me what
1c210 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67   you're carrying
1c220 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74  .  You shouldn't
1c230 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69   get in the habi
1c240 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f  t of telling peo
1c250 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74  ple stuff like t
1c260 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65  hat.  Get yourse
1c270 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c  lf three things,
1c280 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c   if you don't al
1c290 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20  ready have 'em. 
1c2a0 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72   You need pepper
1c2b0 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69   spray or a soni
1c2c0 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63  c repellant, a c
1c2d0 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c  ollapsing baton,
1c2e0 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20   and backup who 
1c2f0 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20  knows what he's 
1c300 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66  doing, like Clif
1c310 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73  f.".."Uh, thanks
1c320 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  ," Alley said.  
1c330 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f  "Aren't those co
1c340 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20  llapsing batons 
1c350 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68  illegal?".."Yeah
1c360 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63  , California suc
1c370 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69  ks that way.  Gi
1c380 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77  rls aren't allow
1c390 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68  ed to protect th
1c3a0 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e  emselves, you kn
1c3b0 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64  ow."  She pulled
1c3c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74   something about
1c3d0 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77   the size of a w
1c3e0 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72  hiteboard marker
1c3f0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b   out of her back
1c400 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74   pocket.  "See t
1c410 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20  his?  This is a 
1c420 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c  good baton."..Al
1c430 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68  ley looked at th
1c440 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64  e black anodized
1c450 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64   aluminum cylind
1c460 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68  er when Carmen h
1c470 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68  eld it up.  It h
1c480 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20  ad some kind of 
1c490 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61  logo on it and a
1c4a0 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65   couple of depre
1c4b0 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68  ssed ovals on th
1c4c0 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74  e side..."Push t
1c4d0 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 74  hese two spots t
1c4e0 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a  o pop it out.  J
1c4f0 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63  ust push the sec
1c500 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61  ond one, here, a
1c510 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69  nd push the busi
1c520 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74  ness end against
1c530 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 20   something hard 
1c540 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 20  to collapse the 
1c550 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  baton back into 
1c560 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 61  the handle.  Yea
1c570 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65  h?"..Alley nodde
1c580 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61  d.  "I guess tha
1c590 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 67  t's a good desig
1c5a0 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61  n, then.".."Tota
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1e740 20 74 68 65 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76   the umbrella ov
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1e780 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20  glanced down to 
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1e920 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73   way we set this
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1e940 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64  eah," she echoed
1e950 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66  ..."If I can't f
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1e970 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75  , I'll track you
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1ea10 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47  ll be fine.".."G
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1ebe0 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 75  she started it u
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1ec60 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22   headed home..."
1ec70 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d  What the fuck am
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1ec90 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 68 65  g?" she asked he
1eca0 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74  rself...---..Sit
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1ecf0 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49  kinds of deals I
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1ed10 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73  he prioritizer s
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1ed50 66 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 45 73 74  for safety.  Est
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1eda0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73   for these trans
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1edc0 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20  severity may be 
1edd0 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75  high for poor ou
1ede0 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c  tcomes..."I will
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1ee90 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77  ks.".."You are w
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1eeb0 73 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a  s next, then?"..
1eec0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20  The prioritizer 
1eed0 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e  said "I am recon
1eee0 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73  sidering options
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1ef40 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61  ..Alley looked a
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1ef80 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68  s and counted th
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1efe0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22   them again.".."
1eff0 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57  What?  Why?".."W
1f000 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64  hile you counted
1f010 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70  , one of them ap
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1f070 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20   appeared to be 
1f080 76 65 72 79 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61  very new.  Perha
1f090 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65  ps some of these
1f0a0 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 6e   notes is a coun
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1f0c0 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 69   count again whi
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1f0e0 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74  ley frowned at t
1f0f0 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74  he stack, and st
1f100 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61  arted counting a
1f110 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68  gain.  Toward th
1f120 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74  e end, she hesit
1f130 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74  ated on one of t
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1f160 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 65  stack, with a fe
1f170 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  eling like somet
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1f190 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f  ."That is the no
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1f1b0 73 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65  ss appears to be
1f1c0 20 69 6e 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c   incorrect."..Al
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1f1f0 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72  nd looked closer
1f200 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66  .  It felt stiff
1f210 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c  er than most bil
1f220 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75  ls, but that cou
1f230 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74  ld just be due t
1f240 6f 20 69 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20  o it being new. 
1f250 20 53 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74   She rubbed it t
1f260 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72  o get a feel for
1f270 20 69 74 73 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e   its surface, an
1f280 64 20 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69  d it separated i
1f290 6e 74 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 20  nto two bills.  
1f2a0 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  "Oh, shit," she 
1f2b0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61  said.  "That sca
1f2c0 72 79 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67  ry war veteran g
1f2d0 75 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20  uy accidentally 
1f2e0 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61  gave me an extra
1f2f0 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e   hundred.  Fuck.
1f300 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73    What if it was
1f310 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f  n't an accident?
1f320 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74    Maybe it's a t
1f330 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65  est.".."That see
1f340 6d 73 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c  ms extremely unl
1f350 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  ikely," the prio
1f360 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22  ritizer said..."
1f370 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68  Yeah."  She sigh
1f380 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f  ed.  "I guess yo
1f390 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75  u're right, actu
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1f3d0 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  tomorrow."..Alle
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1f400 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72   the extra hundr
1f410 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20  ed in her hand. 
1f420 20 22 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c   "Wait.  I shoul
1f430 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c  d give this bill
1f440 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75   back to that gu
1f450 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68  y.".."For a high
1f460 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 61 76 65 72 73 69   priority aversi
1f470 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72  on to high sever
1f480 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20  ity risks, this 
1f490 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68  is not a good ch
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1f4c0 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68  with people with
1f4d0 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61   a high potentia
1f4e0 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22  l for violence."
1f4f0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20  ..Alley laughed 
1f500 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c  quietly.  "Yeah,
1f510 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75  " she said, "you
1f520 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f  're right.  I go
1f530 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 65  t through one me
1f540 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 72  eting without tr
1f550 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 61  ouble with him a
1f560 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20  lready.  Should 
1f570 49 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20  I count that as 
1f580 6d 79 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20  my lucky break, 
1f590 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74  and forget about
1f5a0 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74   him, or take it
1f5b0 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61   as evidence tha
1f5c0 74 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65  t I might not be
1f5d0 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 69   in any danger i
1f5e0 66 20 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61  f I meet him aga
1f5f0 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20  in to give back 
1f600 68 69 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f  his misplaced mo
1f610 6e 65 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27  ney?.."It doesn'
1f620 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75  t feel right, ju
1f630 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d  st keeping his m
1f640 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a  oney, though."..
1f650 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c  "Why do you feel
1f660 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20   that way?" the 
1f670 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65  prioritizer aske
1f680 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e  d..."It's dishon
1f690 65 73 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a  est," she said..
1f6a0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69  ."You did not li
1f6b0 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75  e to him.".."Tru
1f6c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65  e.".."Did you re
1f6d0 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68  alize there migh
1f6e0 74 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20  t be more money 
1f6f0 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64  than he intended
1f700 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65   to give you whe
1f710 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68  n you counted th
1f720 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a  e first time?"..
1f730 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74  "No.".."How is t
1f740 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a  hat dishonest?".
1f750 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69  .Alley's lips ti
1f760 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f  ghtened for a mo
1f770 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20  ment.  "I guess 
1f780 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20  dishonest isn't 
1f790 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 77 6f 72 64 2c 20  the right word, 
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24f40 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24f50 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20            *. *  
24f60 50 49 43 4b 20 4f 4e 45 3a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  PICK ONE:       
24f70 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24f80 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24f90 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24fa0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20         *. *     
24fb0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24fc0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24fd0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24fe0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
24ff0 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65      *. *  In the
25000 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6c   soft light of l
25010 61 6d 70 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6e 65 6e  amps under linen
25020 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20   shades, he was 
25030 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 20 20 20 20  starting to     
25040 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 65 73 73   *. *  look less
25050 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64   like a hardened
25060 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20   killer running 
25070 67 75 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69  guns and more li
25080 6b 65 20 61 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 20 20 20 2a 0a  ke a tough    *.
25090 20 2a 20 20 62 75 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 67 72 61   *  but kind gra
250a0 6e 64 66 61 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  ndfather.       
250b0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
250c0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
250d0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20             *. * 
250e0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
250f0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
25100 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
25110 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
25120 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 49 6e          *. *  In
25130 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20   the soft light 
25140 6f 66 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6c  of lamps under l
25150 69 6e 65 6e 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 68 65 20  inen shades, he 
25160 77 61 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20  was starting to 
25170 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20       *. *  look 
25180 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 62 75 74  like a tough but
25190 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 67 72 61 6e 64 66 61 74 68 65   kind grandfathe
251a0 72 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68  r rather than th
251b0 65 20 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 20 20 20 20 20  e trained,      
251c0 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64    *. *  hardened
251d0 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 72 73   killer she firs
251e0 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65  t took him to be
251f0 2e 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  .               
25200 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a                 *
25210 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  . *             
25220 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
25230 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
25240 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
25250 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 5c 2a              *.\*
25260 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
25270 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
25280 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
25290 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
252a0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65   * * * * */..She
252b0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 61   nodded, then pa
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252d0 74 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 65 6e 64  table at one end
252e0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e   of the couch an
252f0 64 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 72 6d 63  d sat in an armc
25300 68 61 69 72 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 6f 6c 64  hair, still hold
25310 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 0a 0a 22 49  ing the box..."I
25320 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6c   have some bottl
25330 65 64 20 77 61 74 65 72 2c 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20  ed water, Coke, 
25340 6d 69 6c 6b 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 6f 72  milk -- white or
25350 20 63 68 6f 63 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e   chocolate . . .
25360 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 61 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 6f   and tea.  I'd o
25370 66 66 65 72 20 61 20 62 65 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74  ffer a beer, but
25380 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76   I guess you hav
25390 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61  e a long drive a
253a0 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 64 20  head of you and 
253b0 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20  won't have time 
253c0 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  to recover from 
253d0 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 61 6c 63 6f 68 6f 6c  the high alcohol
253e0 20 62 72 65 77 73 20 49 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 72   brews I keep ar
253f0 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c  ound here."..All
25400 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20  ey felt her dry 
25410 6c 69 70 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f  lips with her to
25420 6e 67 75 65 2e 20 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e  ngue.  "Ah . . .
25430 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49   yeah, I guess I
25440 27 6d 20 74 68 69 72 73 74 79 2e 20 20 41 20 43  'm thirsty.  A C
25450 6f 6b 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6f  oke would be goo
25460 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20  d."..He smiled, 
25470 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2e 20 20  just slightly.  
25480 22 41 6c 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 47 6f 20 61 68  "Alright.  Go ah
25490 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 61 74  ead and put that
254a0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20   on the table.  
254b0 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 61  I'll be right ba
254c0 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e  ck."  Without an
254d0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 77  other look, he w
254e0 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  alked out of the
254f0 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b   room...She look
25500 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20  ed at the books 
25510 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 20  on the shelves. 
25520 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6e 20   Many were worn 
25530 70 61 70 65 72 62 61 63 6b 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68  paperbacks.  Oth
25540 65 72 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  ers looked like 
25550 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78  heavily used tex
25560 74 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61  tbooks.  She lea
25570 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 73  ned forward to s
25580 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 62 65 73 69 64  et the box besid
25590 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74  e the silicone t
255a0 72 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20  ray, then stood 
255b0 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61  and approached a
255c0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65   book case...The
255d0 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20   texts included 
255e0 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65  subjects like me
255f0 63 68 61 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65  chanical enginee
25600 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 68 69 73 74  ring, world hist
25610 6f 72 79 2c 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20  ory, industrial 
25620 63 68 65 6d 69 73 74 72 79 2c 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f  chemistry, econo
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25640 65 6f 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 74 68 65 6d 61 74 69 63  eory, mathematic
25650 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 20 74  s . . ..."Self t
25660 61 75 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73  aught."..Alley s
25670 74 61 72 74 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72  tarted, her hear
25680 74 20 6c 75 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  t lurching into 
25690 61 20 72 61 70 69 64 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 20 61 67  a rapid tempo ag
256a0 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64  ain.  She turned
256b0 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65   to see that the
256c0 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6e 65 61 72 20   man stood near 
256d0 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20  her holding out 
256e0 61 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20  a can of Coke.  
256f0 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e  "Here," he said.
25700 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64    "Sorry.  I did
25710 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72  n't mean to star
25720 74 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e  tle you."..She n
25730 6f 64 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73  odded her thanks
25740 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 65 20 63 61   and took the ca
25750 6e 2e 20 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 63 61 72 72 69 65  n.  As he carrie
25760 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 77 69  d another can wi
25770 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64  th him, he moved
25780 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e   to the couch an
25790 64 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20  d sat down with 
257a0 61 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 61 75 64 69 62  a nearly inaudib
257b0 6c 65 20 67 72 75 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  le grunt.  Alley
257c0 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 73 75 69 74 2c 20   followed suit, 
257d0 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20  and resumed her 
257e0 70 6c 61 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d  place on the arm
257f0 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65  chair..."My name
25800 20 69 73 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20   is George," he 
25810 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64  said, and opened
25820 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20   his can..."I'm 
25830 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67  Alley."..He swig
25840 67 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e  ged from his can
25850 2e 20 20 22 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 70  .  "Nice to prop
25860 65 72 6c 79 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a  erly meet you.".
25870 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69  ."Yeah," she sai
25880 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68  d.  She opened h
25890 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 61 6e 6b  er can and drank
258a0 2e 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64  ...George pulled
258b0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20   something from 
258c0 61 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69  a pocket and, wi
258d0 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20  th the sound of 
258e0 61 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 6c 69 63 20 73 6e 61 70 2c  a metallic snap,
258f0 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 72 20 69   a nearly four i
25900 6e 63 68 20 62 6c 61 64 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72  nch blade appear
25910 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20  ed in his hand. 
25920 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61   She froze for a
25930 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20   moment, but he 
25940 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77  only leaned forw
25950 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74  ard to cut the t
25960 61 70 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 0a  ape on the box..
25970 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 64 6f 6e  ."Uh . . . I don
25980 27 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77  't need to see w
25990 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 27 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  hatever's in the
259a0 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64  re."..He stopped
259b0 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b   moving and look
259c0 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c  ed at her.  He l
259d0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20  ooked back down 
259e0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d  at the box a mom
259f0 65 6e 74 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 66 75  ent, his brow fu
25a00 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61  rrowed.  After a
25a10 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 69   moment more, hi
25a20 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 2c  s brow smoothed,
25a30 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 74  and he smiled, t
25a40 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20  he lines around 
25a50 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79  his mouth and ey
25a60 65 73 20 64 65 65 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22  es deepening.  "
25a70 4f 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48  Oh, I get it.  H
25a80 61 68 21 20 20 4f 6c 27 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75  ah!  Ol' Dave mu
25a90 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 71 75 69 74 65  st've made quite
25aa0 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f   an impression o
25ab0 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c  n you."..Alley l
25ac0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 75 6e 73 75  ooked away, unsu
25ad0 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 65  re whether to fe
25ae0 65 6c 20 65 6d 62 61 72 72 61 73 73 65 64 20 6f  el embarrassed o
25af0 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f  r just scared no
25b00 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f  w..."Look, I kno
25b10 77 20 44 61 76 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b  w Dave looks lik
25b20 65 20 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f  e he probably co
25b30 6f 6b 73 20 6d 65 74 68 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c  oks meth for a l
25b40 69 76 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 6a 75  iving, but he ju
25b50 73 74 20 75 73 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 74  st uses the shit
25b60 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61  .  He doesn't ma
25b70 6b 65 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20  ke it, and he's 
25b80 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20  about as gentle 
25b90 61 73 20 61 20 64 61 69 73 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69  as a daisy.  Thi
25ba0 73 20 62 6f 78 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f  s box is just so
25bb0 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68  me parts I had h
25bc0 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d  im machine for m
25bd0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20  e."..She looked 
25be0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73  at the box and s
25bf0 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74  hifted uncomfort
25c00 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69  ably on her chai
25c10 72 2e 0a 0a 22 41 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22  r..."Ah, right,"
25c20 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20   he said.  "No, 
25c30 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20  they aren't gun 
25c40 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20  parts, either.  
25c50 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f  They're parts fo
25c60 72 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74  r a custom prost
25c70 68 65 74 69 63 20 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75  hetic arm I'm bu
25c80 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74  ilding for a lit
25c90 74 6c 65 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  tle girl."..Alle
25ca0 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 65  y sat back in he
25cb0 72 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e  r chair, relaxin
25cc0 67 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  g slightly, and 
25cd0 73 68 65 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  she sipped from 
25ce0 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20  her can.  After 
25cf0 73 77 61 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20  swallowing, she 
25d00 73 61 69 64 20 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a  said "Really?"..
25d10 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74  "Yeah.  One of t
25d20 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20  he guys getting 
25d30 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74  the guns I put t
25d40 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65  ogether with the
25d50 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 49 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74   frames I bought
25d60 20 68 61 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 75 74 65 20 6c   has this cute l
25d70 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20  ittle daughter, 
25d80 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20  nine years old. 
25d90 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 72   She lost her ar
25da0 6d 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 62 6f  m above the elbo
25db0 77 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c  w during the pol
25dc0 69 63 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e  ice crackdown on
25dd0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 72 73 20   the protesters 
25de0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49  at the [ SOMETHI
25df0 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 73 73  NG ] street mass
25e00 61 63 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74  acre.  She's out
25e10 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 20  growing the arm 
25e20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61  I made for her a
25e30 20 79 65 61 72 20 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61   year ago, alrea
25e40 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68  dy.".."Oh.  Righ
25e50 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65  t.  There's some
25e60 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20  thing about the 
25e70 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65  guns."..He looke
25e80 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f  d at her, sidelo
25e90 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74  ng.  "What about
25ea0 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64   them?" he asked
25eb0 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20  ..."Uh, after I 
25ec0 67 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c  got home, I real
25ed0 69 7a 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65  ized you gave me
25ee0 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e   too much money.
25ef0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20  ".."What do you 
25f00 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68  mean?  I paid wh
25f10 61 74 20 77 65 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c 20 61 6e  at we agreed, an
25f20 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72  d the frames wer
25f30 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68  e all good."..Sh
25f40 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64  e shook her head
25f50 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74  .  "There were t
25f60 77 6f 20 62 72 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e  wo brand new hun
25f70 64 72 65 64 73 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65  dreds stuck toge
25f80 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20  ther.  I got an 
25f90 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f  extra hundred do
25fa0 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e  llars by acciden
25fb0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61  t."..He stared a
25fc0 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20  t her..."I, uh, 
25fd0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69  don't have it wi
25fe0 74 68 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  th me," she said
25ff0 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20  .  "Maybe I can 
26000 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72  come back tomorr
26010 6f 77 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65  ow with it."..Ge
26020 6f 72 67 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49  orge laughed.  I
26030 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75  t was a warm, su
26040 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 6c 61  rprised, deep la
26050 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c  ugh, and she fel
26060 74 20 74 65 6e 73 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 61 69 6e 69  t tension draini
26070 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64  ng away again, d
26080 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a  espite herself..
26090 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74  ."No, don't do t
260a0 68 61 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61  hat," he said, a
260b0 20 68 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65   hint of chuckle
260c0 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f   still in his vo
260d0 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68  ice.  "Y'know wh
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260f0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20   Alley.  I even 
26100 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75  like the way you
26110 72 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73  r name describes
26120 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20   where we first 
26130 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69  met."..Alley smi
26140 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20  led.  "Thanks.  
26150 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20  What about your 
26160 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c  hundred dollars,
26170 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70   though?".."Keep
26180 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69   it.  I'll survi
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261a0 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  nd I don't think
261b0 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c   you'd drive all
261c0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 50 65   the way from Pe
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261e0 42 65 61 63 68 20 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75  Beach at gig cou
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26220 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e  secure."  He win
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26250 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e  , Alley.".."Uh .
26260 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20   . . thank you. 
26270 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20   Maybe you are, 
26280 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61  too.".."Yeah, ma
26290 79 62 65 2e 20 20 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e  ybe.  I hope so.
262a0 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63  "  He turned bac
262b0 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64  k to the box and
262c0 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e   finished cuttin
262d0 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 61 74 20 74 68  g the tape at th
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26300 61 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f  aps of the box o
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26340 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20  of metal parts, 
26350 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20  leaving packing 
26360 70 61 70 65 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41  paper behind...A
26370 73 20 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 62 75  s he set each bu
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263b0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20  thing silently, 
263c0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69  Alley sat and si
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263e0 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74  nwilling to dist
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26420 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70  to particular sp
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264b0 61 74 69 76 65 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d 65 74 72  ative psychometr
264c0 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 61 20 63  y...He split a c
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264e0 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 70  dles of larger p
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26500 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 6d 20 71 75   through them qu
26510 69 63 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74  ickly.  He set t
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26540 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 62 75 74 20  splayed out but 
26550 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20  the parts still 
26560 61 64 68 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  adhering to the 
26570 74 61 70 65 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20  tape.  Finally, 
26580 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27  he stopped..."I'
26590 76 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 67  ve kept you long
265a0 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69   enough."  He li
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265c0 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 20  d pulled out an 
265d0 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65  envelope.  "Here
265e0 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 63  .  Take this bac
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26610 72 79 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74  ry."  He held it
26620 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68   out to her...Sh
26630 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65  e nodded.  "Sure
26640 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76  .".."Are you sav
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26680 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64  .Alley hesitated
26690 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79   a moment.  "Why
266a0 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e  ?"..He shrugged.
266b0 20 20 22 43 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e    "Curious.".."N
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266d0 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d   trying to dig m
266e0 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68  yself out of a h
266f0 6f 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a  ole.".."Debts?".
26700 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68  .She shook her h
26710 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73  ead.  "I had a s
26720 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61  trange career pa
26730 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 79 69  th, and it's dyi
26740 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61  ng.  I don't rea
26750 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72  lly have the wor
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26770 70 69 63 6b 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63  pick a new direc
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26790 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61  t working on tha
267a0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76  t.".."Ah.  Reinv
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267c0 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e    The world chan
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267e0 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70   hard to keep up
267f0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64  ."..Alley nodded
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26810 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65  and shook her he
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26850 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68  people seem to h
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26870 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f   They just go to
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268b0 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74  and work until t
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268e0 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  ," George said, 
268f0 22 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  "but most of the
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26920 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22  do you mean?".."
26930 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65  More and more pe
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26970 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e 20   on the street. 
26980 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f   Most of them do
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269a0 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 73  imagination thes
269b0 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63  e days to even c
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269f0 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f  You look like yo
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26af0 49 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65  It's easy to see
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26bf0 27 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f  'I must be the o
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26c90 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72   have things sor
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26dd0 74 68 65 79 27 76 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e  they've even con
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26ea0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20  .  They lie and 
26eb0 63 68 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 61 6c 2c  cheat and steal,
26ec0 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c   maybe even kill
26ed0 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 6f 6b 65   with the stroke
26ee0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20   of a pen or an 
26ef0 45 6e 74 65 72 20 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d  Enter key, and m
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26f30 72 69 63 61 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74  rical a lot of t
26f40 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74  he time, but lit
26f50 65 72 61 6c 20 62 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65  eral bodies some
26f60 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69  times..."My advi
26f70 63 65 20 69 73 3a 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20  ce is: don't be 
26f80 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d  like any of them
26f90 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74  ."  He looked at
26fa0 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 61 75 67   her again, caug
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26fc0 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6d   she felt an alm
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26fe0 63 65 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20  ce holding it.  
26ff0 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20  "There's always 
27000 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6f 76 65  something we ove
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27040 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65   have time to se
27050 65 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74  e it all.  Don't
27060 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 79 6f 75 72   just close your
27070 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20   eyes, though.  
27080 4b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20  Keep them open, 
27090 61 6e 64 20 73 65 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79  and seize what y
270a0 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 74  ou find as a pat
270b0 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 72 69 67  h that feels rig
270c0 68 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68  ht.  You don't h
270d0 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65  ave time for eve
270e0 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75  rything, but you
270f0 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65   definitely have
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27130 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22  something good."
27140 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67  ..He sat back ag
27150 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73  ain, resting his
27160 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74   open hands on t
27170 68 65 20 74 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74  he tops of his t
27180 68 69 67 68 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74  highs..."Look at
27190 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c   me, getting all
271a0 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 69 63 61 6c 20 77   philosophical w
271b0 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61  ith you.  If wha
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271d0 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65  sn't make any se
271e0 6e 73 65 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65  nse, just ignore
271f0 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64   me.  I'm an old
27200 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 76 65 20 73   man, and I've s
27210 65 65 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49  een a lot, but I
27220 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65   don't even unde
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27240 68 61 74 20 49 20 73 61 77 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66  hat I saw myself
27250 2e 20 20 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49  .  I feel like I
27260 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73   understand less
27270 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 20 73 65 65  , the more I see
27280 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 71 75 69 72 6b 65 64 20  ."..She quirked 
27290 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65  one corner of he
272a0 72 20 6c 69 70 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69  r lips.  "You gi
272b0 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 63 65  ve better advice
272c0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 4f 62 69 20 57 61 6e 2e 22 0a   than Obi Wan.".
272d0 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64  .George chuckled
272e0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 20 20  .  "I hope so.  
272f0 48 65 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63  He's just some c
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27310 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63  r, and a good ac
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27330 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f  don't really kno
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27360 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79   I even have any
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273a0 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69  .  Don't feel li
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273d0 65 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20  e I started out 
273e0 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c  thinking I shoul
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27400 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74   now I just want
27410 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20   to talk to you 
27420 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65  some more."  She
27430 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 63   looked at a tic
27440 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e  king clock on an
27450 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61   end table.  "Ma
27460 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f  ybe not now, tho
27470 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69  ugh.  It's getti
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27490 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20  ," he said, "go 
274a0 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e  drop off that en
274b0 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74  velope, then get
274c0 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e   home and sleep.
274d0 20 20 4e 65 76 65 72 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74    Never underest
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274f0 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e  ance of a good n
27500 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68  ight's rest.  Th
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27540 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22  one.".."Thanks."
27550 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65  ..He nodded, the
27560 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65  n rose and heade
27570 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20  d for the door. 
27580 20 48 65 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20   He unlocked it 
27590 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65  as she approache
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27620 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20  ful out there.  
27630 54 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 27 73 20 61 20 73 75  The world's a su
27640 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22  rprising place."
27650 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79  .."Yeah.".."If y
27660 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 79  ou want to try y
27670 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65  our hand at some
27680 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64  thing way outsid
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276c0 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61    I might have a
276d0 20 66 65 77 20 69 64 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68   few ideas.  Oth
276e0 65 72 77 69 73 65 2c 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79  erwise, I wish y
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27710 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68  .".."Thanks," sh
27720 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22  e said again.  "
27730 48 6f 77 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74  How should I get
27740 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20   in touch?"..He 
27750 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65  scoffed at himse
27760 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66  lf.  "Right -- f
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27780 20 70 61 72 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c   part."  He pull
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27820 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73   an email addres
27830 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f  s and a series o
27840 66 20 6c 65 74 74 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 75  f letters and nu
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27860 6d 79 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70  my public encryp
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278c0 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68  .  Do you know h
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27910 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65  for clients some
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27940 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77  You're already w
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27960 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68  pack.  Good nigh
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27980 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  night," she said
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27b40 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20  handgun frames. 
27b50 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65   None of that re
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27c70 20 20 49 74 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74    It indicated t
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27cb0 66 75 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20  fuck his this?" 
27cc0 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 69  she asked the ai
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27d10 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e  "  She pulled on
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27e80 61 6e 64 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 2c 20 73 74 6f  and a woman, sto
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27ea0 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65    They both wore
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27ef0 70 6f 6c 69 73 68 65 64 20 73 68 6f 65 73 2c 20  polished shoes, 
27f00 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 69 65 73 2e 0a  and black ties..
27f10 0a 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75  ."Jesus," she mu
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27f30 66 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20  f, "I'm getting 
27f40 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65  a visit from the
27f50 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 22 20   Men In Black." 
27f60 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 72 61 6e 67   As the man rang
27f70 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 61 20   the doorbell a 
27f80 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 73 68 65  fourth time, she
27f90 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e   saw that the on
27fa0 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64  ly things that d
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27fc0 66 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42  fit the Men In B
27fd0 6c 61 63 6b 20 69 6d 61 67 65 20 77 65 72 65 20  lack image were 
27fe0 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 65 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  they grey in the
27ff0 69 72 20 68 61 69 72 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 72 73 20  ir hair -- hers 
28000 69 6e 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 73 2c 20 68 69 73 20  in streaks, his 
28010 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6d 70 6c 65 73 20 2d  at the temples -
28020 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74  - and the fact t
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28040 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 72 69   vertically stri
28050 70 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 20 62 75 72 67  ped in thin burg
28060 75 6e 64 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20  undy instead of 
28070 62 65 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 74 65  being pure white
28080 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 68 61 6e  ...The man's han
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280a0 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69  the first of thi
280b0 73 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b  s round of knock
280c0 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 68  s on the door wh
280d0 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20  en Alley jerked 
280e0 69 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 66 74  it open and left
280f0 20 68 69 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68   him standing th
28100 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e  ere with his han
28110 64 20 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  d hanging in the
28120 20 61 69 72 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e   air for a momen
28130 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 61  t...They all sta
28140 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65  red at each othe
28150 72 2e 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 68 65 6c 70 20  r..."Can I help 
28160 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65  you?" Alley aske
28170 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 69 72  d, her voice tir
28180 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 61 72 70 2e 0a 0a  ed, but sharp...
28190 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  The woman said "
281a0 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c  You have a littl
281b0 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73  e hole in your s
281c0 68 69 72 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41  hirt, there."..A
281d0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 68 65 72  lley looked wher
281e0 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 6f 69 6e  e the woman poin
281f0 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 68  ted, and saw a h
28200 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 49 6e 66 6f 72  ole in her Infor
28210 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 53 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 73  mation Society s
28220 68 69 72 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 69  hirt over the ri
28230 67 68 74 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20  ght side of her 
28240 61 62 64 6f 6d 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 6f  abdomen.  The ho
28250 6c 65 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72  le had been ther
28260 65 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68  e since before h
28270 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65  er uncle gave he
28280 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 61 73 20  r this shirt as 
28290 61 20 6b 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b  a kid...She look
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282b0 6f 6d 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73  oman.  "Yeah," s
282c0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 73 6c 65  he said.  "I sle
282d0 65 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67  ep in this thing
282e0 2e 20 20 53 74 72 61 6e 67 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e  .  Strangers don
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28320 74 68 65 20 64 65 63 65 6e 63 79 20 74 6f 20 6c  the decency to l
28330 6f 6f 6b 20 63 68 61 67 72 69 6e 65 64 20 61 74  ook chagrined at
28340 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d   that, but the m
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28360 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f  disappointed abo
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283c0 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 73  d because he was
283d0 20 64 69 73 74 72 61 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74   distracted by t
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28440 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 41  , this time.  "A
28450 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 4c  re you Alethea L
28460 75 63 61 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 6f 20 77 61 6e  ucas?".."Who wan
28470 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68  ts to know?"..Th
28480 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64  e woman produced
28490 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6f 66   some kind of of
284a0 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e  ficial governmen
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284f0 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a  y for a moment j
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28520 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65  grabbed the edge
28530 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 64 20 6a 75 73   of the card jus
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28560 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69  back, and held i
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28580 67 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72  gave it a closer
28590 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61   look.  The woma
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285b0 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a   eyes widened...
285c0 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 49  "What's this?  I
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28620 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65  to look like the
28630 20 46 42 49 3f 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 69   FBI?  If this i
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28650 6d 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 73  mminent domain s
28660 68 61 6b 65 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65  hakedown, you're
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28680 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49  wrong person.  I
28690 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74   rent.".."No," t
286a0 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69  he main said, "i
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286e0 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73  intelligence res
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28750 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 65 65 72 65 64 20 61 74  .Alley peered at
28760 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20   him.  "Are you 
28770 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f  serious?"..He no
28780 64 64 65 64 20 6f 6e 63 65 2c 20 63 75 72 74 6c  dded once, curtl
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287b0 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 70  a little more sp
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287e0 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75   in to talk abou
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28810 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20   caught the man 
28820 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e  giving his partn
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28840 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 6f  look.  "No, I do
28850 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 41  n't think so," A
28860 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a  lley answered...
28870 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65  "Are you involve
28880 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 55 53  d in too many US
28890 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65   Intelligence re
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288b0 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d  to know what I'm
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288d0 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27   he asked..."It'
288e0 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 2c 22  s the opposite,"
288f0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66   she said, as if
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28940 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74  about any US Int
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28980 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74  .  Do you want t
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289d0 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 65 79 65 73  The woman's eyes
289e0 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73   narrowed, and s
289f0 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f  he opened her mo
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28aa0 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68  closed her mouth
28ab0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65   again, surprise
28ac0 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69  d by the intrusi
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28ae0 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f  u have access to
28af0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74   some experiment
28b00 61 6c 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e  al task assistan
28b10 63 65 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e  ce artificial in
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28b60 79 20 66 6f 72 20 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20  y for Professor 
28b70 47 6f 75 6c 65 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e  Goulet at the Un
28b80 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69  iversity of Cali
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28ba0 61 74 20 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 62 65 6c 6c  at ring any bell
28bb0 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22  s?" he asked..."
28bc0 4f 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20  Oh.  Yeah.  Why 
28bd0 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20  didn't you just 
28be0 73 61 79 20 73 6f 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65  say so?"  She he
28bf0 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 75 6e  ld her ground un
28c00 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 61  til the man fina
28c10 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61  lly backed off a
28c20 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69  gain..."I take i
28c30 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63  t you did not ac
28c40 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20  tually read the 
28c50 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20  information you 
28c60 77 65 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20  were given when 
28c70 79 6f 75 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f  you signed up fo
28c80 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53  r the study."..S
28c90 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49  he shrugged.  "I
28ca0 20 64 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27   did, but I don'
28cb0 74 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79  t remember every
28cc0 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20   single word of 
28cd0 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 70 72 69 6e 74 2e  the small print.
28ce0 20 20 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62    It must have b
28cf0 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 69 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74  een buried prett
28d00 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61  y well.".."Why a
28d10 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e  ren't you wearin
28d20 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65  g your AR glasse
28d30 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20  s?" he suddenly 
28d40 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 72  asked..."Let's r
28d50 65 77 69 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69  ewind to the poi
28d60 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 79  nt when I told y
28d70 6f 75 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6c  ou I'm still hal
28d80 66 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6a 61 6d 61 73 2c  f in my pajamas,
28d90 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48  " Alley said...H
28da0 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61  e frowned, and a
28db0 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c  sked "Have you l
28dc0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68  ooked at your ph
28dd0 6f 6e 65 20 79 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72  one yet this mor
28de0 6e 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73  ning?".."This is
28df0 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65   starting to fee
28e00 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61  l like we're pla
28e10 79 69 6e 67 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 71 75 65 73  ying twenty ques
28e20 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e  tions after all.
28e30 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20    No, I haven't 
28e40 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f  looked at my pho
28e50 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f  ne.  I got out o
28e60 66 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 79 73 65  f bed, made myse
28e70 6c 66 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 64 65 63 65 6e 74  lf barely decent
28e80 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64   to answer the d
28e90 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f  oor, and came to
28ea0 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65   welcome you che
28eb0 65 72 66 75 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 62 69 72 64  erful early bird
28ec0 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57  s to my door.  W
28ed0 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74  hy?".."I suggest
28ee0 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20   you check your 
28ef0 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e  messages.".."Fin
28f00 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20  e," Alley said. 
28f10 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20   "I'll be right 
28f20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61  back."  She mana
28f30 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 72 61 69 6e 20  ged to restrain 
28f40 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6c 61  herself from sla
28f50 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20  mming the door, 
28f60 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65  but it wasn't ge
28f70 6e 74 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 69 74 20 74  ntle...She hit t
28f80 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 63  he button to loc
28f90 6b 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e  k the door, then
28fa0 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63   sat on the couc
28fb0 68 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65  h and plucked he
28fc0 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65  r phone from the
28fd0 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e   charging plate.
28fe0 20 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69    A message noti
28ff0 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64  fication blinked
29000 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20   at her...Alley 
29010 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72  donned the prior
29020 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73  itizer's glasses
29030 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72   and checked her
29040 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20   messages.  One 
29050 68 61 64 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d  had arrived from
29060 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 6f   the professor o
29070 76 65 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 65 61 72 6c  ver an hour earl
29080 69 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65  ier.  It told he
29090 72 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c  r to give the gl
290a0 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e  asses to the men
290b0 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20   who would come 
290c0 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20  to see her that 
290d0 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 76  morning with gov
290e0 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 44 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68  ernment IDs...Sh
290f0 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20  e looked at the 
29100 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72  door, and mutter
29110 65 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20  ed ". . . men?" 
29120 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66   She wondered if
29130 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 65   the professor e
29140 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e  xpected differen
29150 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68  t people, but th
29160 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63  is was clearly c
29170 6c 6f 73 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4d 61  lose enough.  Ma
29180 79 62 65 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e  ybe he just mean
29190 74 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a  t Men In Black..
291a0 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72  .The prioritizer
291b0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20   placed text in 
291c0 68 65 72 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65  her field of vie
291d0 77 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20  w.  "There does 
291e0 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65  not appear to be
291f0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20   much choice in 
29200 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74  how you handle t
29210 68 69 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a  his," it said...
29220 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e  "Yeah, no kiddin
29230 67 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65  g."  Alley looke
29240 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 20  d at the door a 
29250 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 61  moment longer, a
29260 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73  nd said "There's
29270 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 61 6d 69 6c   something famil
29280 69 61 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 67  iar about that g
29290 75 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67  uy."  She shrugg
292a0 65 64 2c 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20  ed, returned to 
292b0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70  the door, and op
292c0 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72  ened it once mor
292d0 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 75 74  e...The pair out
292e0 73 69 64 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 66 20 69  side broke off i
292f0 6e 20 6d 69 64 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e  n mid discussion
29300 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41   and looked at A
29310 6c 6c 65 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73  lley..."Here," s
29320 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75  he said.  She pu
29330 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61  lled off the gla
29340 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20  sses and handed 
29350 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73  them to the clos
29360 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 68 65  est of them, the
29370 20 6d 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65   man...He smirke
29380 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65  d and handed the
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2e150 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f   "I guess you do
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2e760 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20  ."Fuck.  If you 
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311a0 72 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f  rt something abo
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311e0 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  picked up on the
311f0 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 72 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 48   third ring.  "H
31200 65 6c 6c 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 41 6c  ello?".."It's Al
31210 6c 65 79 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6e  ley, from last n
31220 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 21 20 20 48 69  ight.".."Oh!  Hi
31230 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20  .  It's good to 
31240 68 65 61 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20  hear from you.  
31250 44 69 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67  Did everything g
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31270 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 6c 69  t with that deli
31280 76 65 72 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20  very?".."Yeah," 
31290 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64  she said..."Good
312a0 2e 20 20 53 6f 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 68 79 20  .  So . . . why 
312b0 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a  did you call?"..
312c0 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20  She hesitated a 
312d0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 61  moment before sa
312e0 79 69 6e 67 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74  ying "I wanted t
312f0 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  o ask you about 
31300 79 6f 75 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74  your work, or at
31310 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 66 66   least the stuff
31320 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41   I've seen.".."A
31330 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61  re you talking a
31340 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65  bout the prosthe
31350 74 69 63 20 61 72 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75  tic arm, or abou
31360 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 66  t the other stuf
31370 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20  f?".."The other 
31380 73 74 75 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 67 68 74 2c  stuff.".."Right,
31390 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77  " he said.  "I w
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313b0 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74  ight ask about t
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313d0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 65 74 20  hould just meet 
313e0 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74  up to talk about
313f0 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f   that, instead o
31400 66 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6c 65 70  f over the telep
31410 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f  hone.  Is that o
31420 6b 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a  kay with you?"..
31430 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  "Yeah," she said
31440 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e  .  "That's fine.
31450 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 62 79 20 74 68 65  ".."Well, by the
31460 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20   time you could 
31470 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 69 66  get out here, if
31480 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 61   you're still ba
31490 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72  ck in San Bernar
314a0 64 69 6e 6f 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 2c 20 49 27 64  dino County, I'd
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314e0 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f  , if you want to
314f0 20 6d 65 65 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20   meet closer to 
31500 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 73  home.  That's as
31510 73 75 6d 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20  suming you want 
31520 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77  to meet right aw
31530 61 79 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67  ay, this evening
31540 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 6f 6e 69 67  .".."Yeah, tonig
31550 68 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f  ht's good.".."Do
31560 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65   you want to see
31570 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20   if you can get 
31580 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 75 74 20  a Deliv job out 
31590 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65  this way to make
315a0 20 69 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77   it worth your w
315b0 68 69 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 74  hile?".."Sure, t
315c0 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  hat sounds like 
315d0 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20 20 49  a great idea.  I
315e0 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 74 65 78 74 20  'll send a text 
315f0 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20  when I know how 
31600 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f  it's going to go
31610 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c  .".."Good.  I'll
31620 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a   see you then.".
31630 0a 22 53 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74  ."See you."..Aft
31640 65 72 20 64 72 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20  er dropping off 
31650 73 69 78 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f  six boxes of boo
31660 6b 73 20 61 74 20 61 20 75 73 65 64 20 62 6f 6f  ks at a used boo
31670 6b 73 74 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 4e 65 77 70 6f 72  kstore in Newpor
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316a0 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 20 42 65 61 63 68 20  untington Beach 
316b0 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79  and made her way
316c0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 20 69 6e 20   to the curb in 
316d0 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27  front of George'
316e0 73 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20  s house again.  
316f0 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20  By the time she 
31700 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f 6f 72  reached his door
31710 2c 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79  , he had already
31720 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68   opened it for h
31730 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76  er.  He must hav
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31750 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 72 69 76 61 6c 2e  for her arrival.
31760 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20  .."Come on in," 
31770 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65  he said, and ste
31780 70 70 65 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72  pped aside befor
31790 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f  e closing the do
317a0 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a  or behind her...
317b0 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74  She moved into t
317c0 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61  he living room a
317d0 72 65 61 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20  rea and resumed 
317e0 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68  her seat from th
317f0 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20  e night before. 
31800 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 20   George shortly 
31810 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68  sat on the couch
31820 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 69   again.  This ti
31830 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e  me, there were n
31840 6f 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73  o parts or tools
31850 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 66 66 65 65 20 74   on the coffee t
31860 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65  able.  Where the
31870 20 74 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69   tray sat the ni
31880 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20  ght before, now 
31890 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61  there was only a
318a0 20 68 61 72 64 63 6f 76 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e   hardcover book.
318b0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f  ..He saw her loo
318c0 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b  king at the book
318d0 2e 20 20 22 47 72 65 67 20 45 67 61 6e 2c 22 20  .  "Greg Egan," 
318e0 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48  George said.  "H
318f0 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 66 61  e's one of my fa
31900 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 2e 20  vorite authors. 
31910 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69   It's science fi
31920 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 20  ction, the hard 
31930 73 74 75 66 66 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20  stuff.  I guess 
31940 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 65 73 74  it's the hardest
31950 20 64 72 75 67 20 49 20 75 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f   drug I use, tho
31960 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  ugh some people 
31970 6d 69 67 68 74 20 73 61 79 20 61 6c 63 6f 68 6f  might say alcoho
31980 6c 20 62 65 61 74 73 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20  l beats it.  If 
31990 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68  so, though, I th
319a0 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74  ink they haven't
319b0 20 61 70 70 72 65 63 69 61 74 65 64 20 45 67 61   appreciated Ega
319c0 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 61 6d 75 73 65 64 20  n."..Her amused 
319d0 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f  smile broke thro
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319f0 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63  ealized it was c
31a00 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65  oming.  "I've ne
31a10 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 75  ver read that au
31a20 74 68 6f 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e  thor," she said.
31a30 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  .."Hell, I don't
31a40 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 6f 73 74   even think most
31a50 20 73 63 69 20 69 66 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 20   sci if authors 
31a60 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 68  have read him th
31a70 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20  ese days.  It's 
31a80 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64  not like the old
31a90 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 67 69 61 6e 74   days when giant
31aa0 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 73 69 6d 6f 76 20 61 6e  s like Asimov an
31ab0 64 20 43 6c 61 72 6b 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61  d Clarke stood a
31ac0 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 65 66 72 6f 6e 74 20  t the forefront 
31ad0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 72 65 2e 20 20 49  of the genre.  I
31ae0 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64  t's getting hard
31af0 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74  er for me to get
31b00 20 66 72 65 73 68 20 66 69 78 65 73 2e 20 20 45   fresh fixes.  E
31b10 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 66 75 6c 6c  verything's full
31b20 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 6d 61 74 65 20 61 70 6f 63   of climate apoc
31b30 61 6c 79 70 73 65 73 2c 20 6d 69 6e 64 6c 65 73  alypses, mindles
31b40 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 69 6c 6c 65  s action thrille
31b50 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63  rs with a thin c
31b60 6f 61 74 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66  oat of science f
31b70 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 75 74 75 72 69 73 74 69  iction futuristi
31b80 63 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 61 69  c technology pai
31b90 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67  nt, and self rig
31ba0 68 74 65 6f 75 73 20 70 6f 73 74 75 72 69 6e 67  hteous posturing
31bb0 20 62 79 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20   by authors who 
31bc0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e  think all the un
31bd0 69 76 65 72 73 65 27 73 20 6d 79 73 74 65 72 69  iverse's mysteri
31be0 65 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6c  es have been sol
31bf0 76 65 64 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 6c  ved, leaving onl
31c00 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 74  y the work for t
31c10 68 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 73 2e 20 20 49  he engineers.  I
31c20 74 27 73 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 2e 22  t's depressing."
31c30 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f  .."I can tell yo
31c40 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 70 61 73 73  u're pretty pass
31c50 69 6f 6e 61 74 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69  ionate about thi
31c60 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75  s.".."Yeah, I gu
31c70 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f  ess so.  What do
31c80 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79   you read, Alley
31c90 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 66  ?".."Mostly nonf
31ca0 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c  iction, I guess,
31cb0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 62 69 6f 67 72 61 70 68 69 65   like biographie
31cc0 73 2c 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 6f  s, historical bo
31cd0 6f 6b 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20  oks, and things 
31ce0 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c 69  where a journali
31cf0 73 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73 65 64  st gets obsessed
31d00 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61   with some munda
31d10 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 73  ne but obscure s
31d20 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79 65 61  ubject for a yea
31d30 72 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69  r or two and wri
31d40 74 65 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20  tes a long book 
31d50 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 65  about all the we
31d60 69 72 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70  ird stuff most p
31d70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65  eople would neve
31d80 72 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  r know about the
31d90 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69   subject otherwi
31da0 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61  se.".."Hmm.  Tha
31db0 74 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e  t's interesting.
31dc0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f    I guess you do
31dd0 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e  n't like fiction
31de0 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22   as much, then."
31df0 0a 0a 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61  .."I like to rea
31e00 64 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  d fiction, somet
31e10 69 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f  imes.  I just do
31e20 6e 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 65 20  n't usually see 
31e30 61 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e  a novel and thin
31e40 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f  k that I have to
31e50 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20   read it.  When 
31e60 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 72  someone I know r
31e70 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e  ecommends some n
31e80 6f 76 65 6c 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61  ovel, I'll proba
31e90 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c  bly read it, unl
31ea0 65 73 73 20 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79  ess I've already
31eb0 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20   been burned by 
31ec0 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 62 61  that person's ba
31ed0 64 20 74 61 73 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 72  d taste in liter
31ee0 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61  ature recommenda
31ef0 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a  tions before."..
31f00 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20  George chuckled 
31f10 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20  at that.  "I've 
31f20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 6c  gotten some real
31f30 20 73 74 69 6e 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d   stinkers recomm
31f40 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 66  ended to me, bef
31f50 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f  ore, too.  I kno
31f60 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20  w what you mean 
31f70 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c  about that."..Al
31f80 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e 20  ley gave him an 
31f90 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e  answering smile.
31fa0 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73    "Anyway, you s
31fb0 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79  helves tell me y
31fc0 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66  ou read a lot of
31fd0 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 6f   nonfiction, too
31fe0 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61  ."..He glanced a
31ff0 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74  t the texts on t
32000 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68  he shelves of th
32010 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22  e book cases.  "
32020 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  Yeah," he said, 
32030 22 49 27 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 64  "I'm always read
32040 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20  ing something.  
32050 49 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72  I try to get thr
32060 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74  ough more than t
32070 77 6f 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 62  wo educational b
32080 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e  ooks of some kin
32090 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 75 73  d every year, us
320a0 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68  ually hitting th
320b0 72 65 65 20 6f 72 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 62 75 74  ree or four, but
320c0 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 69   I make up for i
320d0 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 77  t on the years w
320e0 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f 72  ith only one, or
320f0 20 6e 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62   none.  I probab
32100 6c 79 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74  ly average about
32110 20 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72 20 77   one novel per w
32120 65 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 62  ee, too, so prob
32130 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74  ably the opposit
32140 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61  e of how you rea
32150 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 2c  d.".."Not quite,
32160 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20  " she said.  "I 
32170 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20  probably read a 
32180 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 73 20 61 20  couple novels a 
32190 79 65 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73  year, but only s
321a0 69 78 20 6f 72 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 6e 66  ix or eight nonf
321b0 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 69 6e 20  iction books in 
321c0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e 22 0a  the same year.".
321d0 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d  ."It sounds to m
321e0 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 20  e like you wish 
321f0 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 20  you read more," 
32200 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c  he said..."Yeah,
32210 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a   I guess I do.".
32220 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63  ."One of the sec
32230 72 65 74 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61 64 69  rets of my readi
32240 6e 67 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 74 68  ng success is th
32250 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 74  at I limit the t
32260 69 6d 65 20 49 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 67 6c 75 65  ime I spend glue
32270 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20  d to a computer 
32280 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61  screen.  There a
32290 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65  re people who re
322a0 61 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d  ad a whole lot m
322b0 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74  ore than I do, t
322c0 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64  hough."..She nod
322d0 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20  ded.  "I know.  
322e0 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f  My uncle used to
322f0 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 75 72   read about four
32300 20 6f 72 20 66 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61   or five times a
32310 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20  s much as you.  
32320 4d 79 20 65 78 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72  My ex probably r
32330 65 61 64 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75  eads about as mu
32340 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68  ch as you, but h
32350 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 77  e has a friend w
32360 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d  ho reads a lot m
32370 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75  ore, too.".."You
32380 72 20 65 78 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64  r ex?  Are you d
32390 69 76 6f 72 63 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20  ivorced?".."Oh, 
323a0 75 68 2c 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20  uh, no.  He was 
323b0 6d 79 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57 65 20  my fianc...  We 
323c0 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 63  broke it off a c
323d0 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e  ouple years ago.
323e0 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 62  ".."That's too b
323f0 61 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74  ad.  Do you want
32400 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77   to talk about w
32410 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65  hy?"..She shifte
32420 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 69  d her position i
32430 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 57  n the chair.  "W
32440 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20  ell . . . maybe 
32450 6e 6f 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f  not.  There's so
32460 6d 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 75  me political stu
32470 66 66 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64  ff involved, and
32480 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20   I don't really 
32490 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f  want to get into
324a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 72   some kind of ar
324b0 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20  gument over the 
324c0 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22  politics of it."
324d0 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f  .."Hmm.  That so
324e0 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57  unds ominous.  W
324f0 61 73 20 68 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 69  as he a politici
32500 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e  an?".."No. . . .
32510 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77  "  She looked aw
32520 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 27  ay..."Sorry.  I'
32530 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20  m just curious. 
32540 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e 22 0a   I'll drop it.".
32550 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73  ."Thanks," she s
32560 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22  aid.  "I guess."
32570 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20  .."Why did your 
32580 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61 64 69  uncle stop readi
32590 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 48  ng so much?".."H
325a0 75 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20  uh?".."You said 
325b0 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20  he used to read 
325c0 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b  hundreds of book
325d0 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64  s a year.  Why d
325e0 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73 65 64  id you say 'used
325f0 20 74 6f 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68   to'?".."Oh," sh
32600 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64  e sighed.  "He d
32610 69 65 64 2c 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22  ied, years ago."
32620 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20  .."I'm sorry to 
32630 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68  hear it.".."Yeah
32640 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48  ," she said.  "H
32650 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20  e decided to go 
32660 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 69 6e 20 49 64 61 68  off grid in Idah
32670 6f 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65  o, in the middle
32680 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 44 61   of nowhere.  Da
32690 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20  d took me up to 
326a0 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65  see him a couple
326b0 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 72 65   times, and I re
326c0 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 6d 79 73  ally enjoyed mys
326d0 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 62 75  elf with him, bu
326e0 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73  t then there was
326f0 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 46 42 49   a series of FBI
32700 20 72 61 69 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 6d 69 6c 69 74   raids on 'milit
32710 69 61 73 27 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20  ias' up there.  
32720 48 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20  He knew some of 
32730 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20  those guys, but 
32740 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79  he wasn't in any
32750 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69   of their militi
32760 61 20 67 72 6f 75 70 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6a 75  a groups.  He ju
32770 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  st wanted to be 
32780 6c 65 66 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74  left alone..."It
32790 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73   was like they s
327a0 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 75 69 6c  aw his hand buil
327b0 74 20 63 61 62 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72  t cabin out ther
327c0 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 72 61 69 64 73 20  e between raids 
327d0 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77  and thought it w
327e0 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 66 75 6e 20 74 6f 20 61  ould be fun to a
327f0 74 74 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20  ttack his home. 
32800 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 68 65   They claimed he
32810 20 66 69 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77   fired on them w
32820 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 63 61 6d  hen an agent cam
32830 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f  e to his door to
32840 20 61 73 6b 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c   ask directions,
32850 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 6a   and they were j
32860 75 73 74 20 64 65 66 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68  ust defending th
32870 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20  emselves from a 
32880 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 6c 75 6e 61 74 69 63 2c  militia lunatic,
32890 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20   if you believe 
328a0 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65  that.  He was re
328b0 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67  ally just trying
328c0 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 61 20 70 65 61 63 65   to live a peace
328d0 66 75 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20  ful life in the 
328e0 77 69 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 77 68 65 72  wild places wher
328f0 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6e 65  e most people ne
32900 76 65 72 20 77 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72  ver went."..Geor
32910 67 65 20 73 63 6f 77 6c 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68  ge scowled as sh
32920 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65  e told her uncle
32930 27 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74  's story, and it
32940 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f   reminded her ho
32950 77 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 20 68  w intimidating h
32960 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 2c 20 65 76 65 6e  e could be, even
32970 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 75 6d 62 72   holding an umbr
32980 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 68 65  ella over his he
32990 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 75 6e 6e 79 20 64 61  ad on a sunny da
329a0 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 20  y.  "I guess he 
329b0 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20  was an innocent 
329c0 62 79 73 74 61 6e 64 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  bystander in the
329d0 20 49 64 61 68 6f 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 70   Idaho militia p
329e0 75 72 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68  urges, then.  Th
329f0 6f 73 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 74 69 6d  ose were bad tim
32a00 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20  es for a lot of 
32a10 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20  people who just 
32a20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d  wanted nothing m
32a30 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c  ore than to be l
32a40 65 66 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65  eft alone.".."We
32a50 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61   tried to file a
32a60 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 66 75 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20   wrongful death 
32a70 73 75 69 74 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e  suit.  We got in
32a80 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 41 6d 73 74 65 72 64 61 6d  to his Amsterdam
32a90 20 56 50 53 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61   VPS -- well, Da
32aa0 64 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 20 2d 2d  d did, anyway --
32ab0 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 76   and found the v
32ac0 69 64 65 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 66 72 6f  ideo backups fro
32ad0 6d 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 63 61 6d  m my uncle's cam
32ae0 65 72 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 69 6e 20 68  era network in h
32af0 69 73 20 63 61 62 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74  is cabin, and it
32b00 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65   showed that the
32b10 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 6f   agents just sto
32b20 72 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20  rmed in without 
32b30 65 76 65 6e 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 69 6e 67  even identifying
32b40 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22   themselves.".."
32b50 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70  Yeah?  What happ
32b60 65 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c  ened with that l
32b70 61 77 73 75 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 69  awsuit?".."It di
32b80 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 68  dn't happen.  Wh
32b90 69 6c 65 20 77 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 74 20 6f  ile we were at o
32ba0 75 72 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 27 73 20 6f 66 66 69  ur lawyer's offi
32bb0 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 20  ce, the FBI got 
32bc0 61 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74  a search warrant
32bd0 2c 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 44 61 64  , broke into Dad
32be0 27 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f  's place, and to
32bf0 6f 6b 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68  ok everything th
32c00 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c  at even looked l
32c10 69 6b 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 2e 20  ike a computer. 
32c20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 69 74   They claimed it
32c30 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74   was connected t
32c40 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67  o their investig
32c50 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63  ations of my unc
32c60 6c 65 2c 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 62 72 6f 74 68 65  le, Dad's brothe
32c70 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c  r, but the resul
32c80 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20  t was just that 
32c90 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 72 20 64 6f 77  they got our dow
32ca0 6e 6c 6f 61 64 65 64 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e  nloaded video an
32cb0 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 73 74 75 66  d the login stuf
32cc0 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73  f for my uncle's
32cd0 20 56 50 53 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65   VPS.  Of course
32ce0 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 27 20 74 68  , they 'lost' th
32cf0 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 74  e backups they t
32d00 6f 6f 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 63  ook from Dad's c
32d10 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 79  omputers, and by
32d20 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 74 72 69   the time we tri
32d30 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 20 74  ed to download t
32d40 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20  he video again, 
32d50 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77  so we could show
32d60 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65   it to the lawye
32d70 72 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 64  r, they'd shut d
32d80 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 56 50 53 20 61 6e 64 20  own the VPS and 
32d90 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f  pressured the ho
32da0 73 74 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e  sting company in
32db0 74 6f 20 64 65 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20  to deleting all 
32dc0 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72  backups..."After
32dd0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 77 65 20 77 65   all that, we we
32de0 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 77  nt from having w
32df0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 63  hat the lawyer c
32e00 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d 20 64 75 6e  alled a slam dun
32e10 6b 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67  k case to having
32e20 20 6e 6f 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c   no case and a l
32e30 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 65 73 2e 20  ot of expenses. 
32e40 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 49 54 20   Dad's whole IT 
32e50 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 6f 62 6c  business was obl
32e60 69 74 65 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69  iterated in an i
32e70 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 48 65  nstant, too.  He
32e80 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 79   had to get a sy
32e90 73 61 64 6d 69 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 61 20  sadmin job at a 
32ea0 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 65 64 75 63 61  continuing educa
32eb0 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 66 6f 72 20  tion school for 
32ec0 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 64 72 6f 70  high school drop
32ed0 6f 75 74 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e  outs after that.
32ee0 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73  "..George just s
32ef0 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20  hook his head.  
32f00 22 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f  "I wish I had so
32f10 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20  mething good to 
32f20 73 61 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22  say about that."
32f30 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49  .."It's fine.  I
32f40 74 27 73 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 74  t's ancient hist
32f50 6f 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2c  ory for me, now,
32f60 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 20 74  and I just had t
32f70 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77  o move on.  It w
32f80 61 73 20 68 61 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e  as hard, though.
32f90 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20    I was in high 
32fa0 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 61  school when it a
32fb0 6c 6c 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64  ll happened, and
32fc0 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 63 75   I couldn't focu
32fd0 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 77 6f 72 6b 20  s on schoolwork 
32fe0 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73  at all..."I gues
32ff0 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74  s all that might
33000 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65   have contribute
33010 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20  d to me falling 
33020 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c  in love with Dal
33030 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22  ton.".."Dalton?"
33040 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c   he asked..."Oh,
33050 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64   shit," she said
33060 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79  .  "I didn't say
33070 20 27 6d 79 20 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69   'my ex' that ti
33080 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e  me."..He nodded.
33090 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 5b 20 53 63 68 61    "Dalton [ Scha
330a0 65 66 66 65 72 20 2d 20 48 65 61 72 73 74 20 5d  effer - Hearst ]
330b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65  .".."Yeah."  She
330c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20   looked at him, 
330d0 77 61 72 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20  wary..."I guess 
330e0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f  I can see why yo
330f0 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  u don't want to 
33100 62 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 6d 75  bring that up mu
33110 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74  ch.  He's a cont
33120 72 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 69 67 75 72 65  roversial figure
33130 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73  .".."Yeah, he is
33140 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72  .  There isn't r
33150 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 63  eally anyone I c
33160 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74  an talk to about
33170 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 65   him.  Either pe
33180 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 62 65 63  ople hate me bec
33190 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67  ause I got engag
331a0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68  ed to him, or th
331b0 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c  ey hate me for l
331c0 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49  eaving him.".."I
331d0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c   could see that,
331e0 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  " George said.  
331f0 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 20 79 6f  "I won't hate yo
33200 75 20 66 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 61  u for either rea
33210 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22  son.".."Thanks,"
33220 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61   she said.  "Tha
33230 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72  t's good to hear
33240 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62  .".."I'll just b
33250 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 73 74 72  e completely str
33260 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 77 69 74  aightforward wit
33270 68 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74  h you about what
33280 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68   I think about h
33290 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20  im, and you can 
332a0 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 79  decide whether y
332b0 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67  ou want anything
332c0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68   more to do with
332d0 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 6f   me.  I won't ho
332e0 6c 64 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f  ld it against yo
332f0 75 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20  u, whatever you 
33300 64 65 63 69 64 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 67 75  decide, but I gu
33310 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20  ess it wouldn't 
33320 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69  matter if you di
33330 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  dn't want to be 
33340 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f  around me any lo
33350 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22  nger anyway.".."
33360 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74  You don't have t
33370 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  o do that," she 
33380 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64  said...He smiled
33390 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20  , perhaps a bit 
333a0 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  sadly.  "I think
333b0 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 65   it's for the be
333c0 73 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 72  st, unless you r
333d0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 66 75 73  eally just refus
333e0 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72  e to hear it for
333f0 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 27   any reason.  I'
33400 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20  ll respect that 
33410 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27  choice, if that'
33420 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f  s really what yo
33430 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 2d 2d 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61  u want -- to hea
33440 72 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  r nothing about 
33450 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61  it."..She hesita
33460 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67  ted, then shrugg
33470 65 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 2c 20  ed.  "Go ahead, 
33480 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61  I guess," she sa
33490 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20  id...He nodded. 
334a0 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 20 77   "I thought he w
334b0 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e  as pretty great.
334c0 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f    He had a lot o
334d0 66 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 74 73 20  f good insights 
334e0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 2d 2d 20  about things -- 
334f0 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 2c 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d  politics, econom
33500 69 63 73 2c 20 63 75 6c 74 75 72 65 2c 20 74 65  ics, culture, te
33510 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e  chnology, law en
33520 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 72 2c 20  forcement, war, 
33530 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 65  and just about e
33540 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 74 61 6c  verything he tal
33550 6b 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73  ked about on his
33560 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 72   show and his wr
33570 69 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61  itings.  After a
33580 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20   while, though, 
33590 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61  he seemed to sta
335a0 72 74 20 73 6c 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68  rt sliding to th
335b0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6d 75  e right a bit mu
335c0 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 64 69  ch, and I was di
335d0 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68  sappointed by th
335e0 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 74 69  e change.  I sti
335f0 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e  ll checked in on
33600 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 62  ce in a while, b
33610 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20  ecause he still 
33620 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 6d 61 72 74 20 74  had some smart t
33630 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 2c 20 62 75  hings to say, bu
33640 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20  t more and more 
33650 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  it seemed to be 
33660 73 6b 65 77 65 64 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 49  skewed in what I
33670 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20   might think of 
33680 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20  as an alt right 
33690 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74  direction, and t
336a0 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 79 20 64 69 72  hat's not my dir
336b0 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b  ection, if you k
336c0 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e  now what I mean.
336d0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6f  .."No offense, o
336e0 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20  f course, but I 
336f0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 69  never really pai
33700 64 20 61 6e 79 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20  d any attention 
33710 74 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74  to when people t
33720 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e  alked about you.
33730 20 20 44 53 48 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20    DSH seemed to 
33740 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20  talk around who 
33750 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20  you are when he 
33760 64 69 64 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c  did mention you,
33770 20 62 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 61   but never had a
33780 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 67 61 74 69 76 65  nything negative
33790 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 3b 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20   to say; I just 
337a0 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61  didn't really ca
337b0 72 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74  re as much about
337c0 20 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6c 69   his personal li
337d0 66 65 20 61 73 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 61 62 6f 75  fe as I did abou
337e0 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20  t his ideas, so 
337f0 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f  you didn't get o
33800 6e 20 6d 79 20 72 61 64 61 72 2e 20 20 49 20 64  n my radar.  I d
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33820 72 65 20 49 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 67 61 76 65 20  re I kinda gave 
33830 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20  up on listening 
33840 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20  to him, that he 
33850 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74  said something t
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33870 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 73   called in to as
33880 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 65  k about you.  He
33890 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61   said that it wa
338a0 73 20 74 72 75 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20  s true that you 
338b0 68 61 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74  had called off t
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338d0 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20  d moved on with 
338e0 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74  your life, and t
338f0 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 73  hat he still res
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33910 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e  te your differen
33920 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c  ces, and he woul
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33940 6e 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20  ners to respect 
33950 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20  your desire for 
33960 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 61 63  privacy and peac
33970 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20  e in your life, 
33980 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77  then said that w
33990 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74  as pretty much t
339a0 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65  he only thing he
339b0 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 62 6f 75   had to say abou
339c0 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68  t it.".."Oh," sh
339d0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e  e said.  "I didn
339e0 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68  't know about th
339f0 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20  at -- about him 
33a00 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47  saying that."..G
33a10 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20  eorge shrugged. 
33a20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61   "It was the sta
33a30 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64  nd up thing to d
33a40 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74  o, but it didn't
33a50 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65   make his change
33a60 20 69 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e   in direction on
33a70 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f   ideology any mo
33a80 72 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74  re interesting t
33a90 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e  o me, so it didn
33aa0 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65  't keep me liste
33ab0 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20  ning.".."Yeah," 
33ac0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65  she said.  "I ge
33ad0 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 2e 20  t that.".."So . 
33ae0 2e 20 2e 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20  . . what do you 
33af0 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d 79 20 76  think?  Are my v
33b00 69 65 77 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 6c  iews on it intol
33b10 65 72 61 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  erable?"..Alley 
33b20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f  smiled.  "No, no
33b30 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27  t at all.  That'
33b40 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 6e 64 61  s actually kinda
33b50 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 62 6f 75   how I felt abou
33b60 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61  t his ideologica
33b70 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65  l shift.  I like
33b80 64 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65  d it more before
33b90 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e   the change than
33ba0 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 68   after, and we h
33bb0 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74  ad some argument
33bc0 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20  s about it.  He 
33bd0 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69  still had princi
33be0 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77  ple, and still w
33bf0 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 69 63 61  asn't the carica
33c00 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 20 72 69 67 68  ture of alt righ
33c10 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73  t that people as
33c20 73 75 6d 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 64  sumed, but I did
33c30 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6e 65 77  n't like his new
33c40 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c   politics at all
33c50 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68  .".."That must h
33c60 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66  ave made it diff
33c70 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 77 69  icult to live wi
33c80 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 74 6f  th him.".."It to
33c90 6f 6b 20 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 20 50 61  ok its toll.  Pa
33ca0 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68  rt of it, though
33cb0 2c 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74  , was the fact t
33cc0 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 65 64 20  hat it affected 
33cd0 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72  my life in other
33ce0 20 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65   ways.  The mome
33cf0 6e 74 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 49 20  nt I realized I 
33d00 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75  needed to get ou
33d10 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65  t was after some
33d20 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20   woman actually 
33d30 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 6d 69 6e  started screamin
33d40 67 20 61 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73  g at me on the s
33d50 74 72 65 65 74 2c 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d  treet, calling m
33d60 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 73 68  e the 'side dish
33d70 27 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6d  ' and accusing m
33d80 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 72 61 63  e of being a rac
33d90 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69  ist and stuff li
33da0 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 63  ke that, then ac
33db0 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 68  tually started h
33dc0 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68  itting me.  I sh
33dd0 6f 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e  oved her back an
33de0 64 20 72 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c  d ran to my car,
33df0 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 63   drove off and c
33e00 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63  alled in a polic
33e10 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 66  e report, but of
33e20 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20   course nothing 
33e30 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 70 65  would ever happe
33e40 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20  n from that.  I 
33e50 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 61 63 6b  never heard back
33e60 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 42 79 20   about it."..By 
33e70 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73  the time she was
33e80 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20   done, George's 
33e90 65 78 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20  expression took 
33ea0 6f 6e 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 2c 20 73 74 6f 72 6d  on a dark, storm
33eb0 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73  y look.  "That's
33ec0 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20   terrible.  I'm 
33ed0 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65  sorry that happe
33ee0 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68  ned to you."..Sh
33ef0 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 6c  e shrugged helpl
33f00 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 63 61  essly.  "What ca
33f10 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20  n I do?  I just 
33f20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f  decided I was go
33f30 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20  ing to distance 
33f40 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20  myself from his 
33f50 73 70 68 65 72 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f  sphere of contro
33f60 76 65 72 73 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73  versy as much as
33f70 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79   I could and try
33f80 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65   to wait for the
33f90 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74   world to forget
33fa0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73   about me.  It s
33fb0 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 70 70  till hasn't happ
33fc0 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49  ened, though.  I
33fd0 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20   went to what I 
33fe0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e  thought was goin
33ff0 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 69 6e  g to be a job in
34000 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20  terview, and it 
34010 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f  turned out the o
34020 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68  nly reason the h
34030 69 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 72 20 61 70  iring manager ap
34040 70 72 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72  proved the inter
34050 76 69 65 77 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 61  view was so he a
34060 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68  nd a couple of h
34070 69 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 69 6e 67 20 64 65 76  is underling dev
34080 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65  elopers could he
34090 63 6b 6c 65 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73  ckle me when I s
340a0 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20  howed up.  They 
340b0 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  found out about 
340c0 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f  my connection to
340d0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65   Dalton when the
340e0 79 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69  y searched for i
340f0 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74  nformation about
34100 20 6d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20   my name on the 
34110 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65  internet, and re
34120 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20  alized they all 
34130 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73  hated me, I gues
34140 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68  s.".."Is that wh
34150 79 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 20  y you called me 
34160 74 6f 64 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64  today?" he asked
34170 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75  ..."What?".."You
34180 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64   said you wanted
34190 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77   to talk about w
341a0 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79  hat I do.  Are y
341b0 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61  ou looking for a
341c0 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f  n opportunity to
341d0 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 3f 20 20   work with me?  
341e0 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65  It doesn't matte
341f0 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75  r to me that you
34200 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f   were engaged to
34210 20 44 53 48 3b 20 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 70 65 6f   DSH; I take peo
34220 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 6d 65  ple as they come
34230 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 64  .  I guess you'd
34240 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68   want to know wh
34250 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 65 66  at I'm doing bef
34260 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 66 6f 72 20  ore you ask for 
34270 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74  an opportunity t
34280 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c 20  o work with me, 
34290 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20  though.".."Oh." 
342a0 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f   She paused a mo
342b0 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e  ment.  "Well . .
342c0 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20 77 61 73   . maybe?  I was
342d0 6e 27 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e  n't exactly thin
342e0 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69  king that, but i
342f0 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69  t's an interesti
34300 6e 67 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73  ng idea, I guess
34310 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72  .  You did offer
34320 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 65 61 72   to help me lear
34330 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c  n some new skill
34340 73 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20  s if I need it, 
34350 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 69 73  and I guess this
34360 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63   might be connec
34370 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20  ted to that.  I 
34380 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 65 72 72 2c 20 63  was just, err, c
34390 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77  oncerned about w
343a0 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 62 75 73 69  hat kind of busi
343b0 6e 65 73 73 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  ness I got into 
343c0 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 6f 73  when I sold thos
343d0 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e  e frames to you.
343e0 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20  "..He chuckled. 
343f0 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 65 61   "Oh, that.  Yea
34400 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73  h, well, I can s
34410 65 65 20 77 68 79 2e 22 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 6d  ee why."  His sm
34420 69 6c 65 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73  ile faded, and s
34430 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 6e 65 77 2c 20 73 65  he saw a new, se
34440 72 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74  rious look about
34450 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20   him.  "Tell me 
34460 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72  something, befor
34470 65 20 49 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 70 6c 65 61  e I answer, plea
34480 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66  se.  A couple of
34490 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c   things, actuall
344a0 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  y.  If you don't
344b0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c   want to answer,
344c0 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20   it's fine, but 
344d0 74 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 73  then I won't ans
344e0 77 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f  wer your questio
344f0 6e 73 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49  ns, about what I
34500 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61  'm doing.".."Oka
34510 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e  y," she said, an
34520 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 75 70 74 75 72   uncertain uptur
34530 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66  n in the tone of
34540 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 61 63 6b 65 64   the word tacked
34550 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 61   onto the end, a
34560 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61  lmost like it wa
34570 73 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22  s a question..."
34580 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f  First, I want to
34590 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74   know when you t
345a0 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 74  hink it's okay t
345b0 6f 20 6c 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 54  o lie.".."Oh.  T
345c0 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73  hat's an interes
345d0 74 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a  ting question.".
345e0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 2e 22  ."Yeah.  It is."
345f0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62  ..She thought ab
34600 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c 79 20 77  out it.  "Only w
34610 68 65 6e 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74  hen it's to prot
34620 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 72 20  ect yourself or 
34630 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 66 72 6f  someone else fro
34640 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74  m something that
34650 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65   would otherwise
34660 20 62 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 6c   be done, wrongl
34670 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 72 20 74 68 61  y, to you or tha
34680 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22  t other person."
34690 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 77 65 20  .."Hmm.  Can we 
346a0 65 78 70 6c 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6c  explore that a l
346b0 69 74 74 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20  ittle?".."Sure, 
346c0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74  I guess.".."What
346d0 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 76 65 72   if it's a gover
346e0 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 72 20 61  nment employer a
346f0 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67  nd you're trying
34700 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74   to get access t
34710 6f 20 62 75 72 65 61 75 63 72 61 74 69 63 20 72  o bureaucratic r
34720 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 62 79 20 67 65 74 74  esources by gett
34730 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c  ing a job there,
34740 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 75   which you can u
34750 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 61 6b 65 20  se to help make 
34760 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 61 20 62 65 74 74  the world a bett
34770 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 73 69 6e  er place by usin
34780 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65  g that knowledge
34790 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d   against governm
347a0 65 6e 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e  ent?".."It depen
347b0 64 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  ds, I guess.".."
347c0 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68  Hmm."  He though
347d0 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22  t about that.  "
347e0 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64  What if you need
347f0 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70   to lie to the p
34800 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68  olice to keep th
34810 65 6d 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 72 72 65 73 74 69 6e  em from arrestin
34820 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61  g someone you ca
34830 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 67 65  re about from ge
34840 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20  tting thrown in 
34850 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 63 61 64  prison for decad
34860 65 73 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65  es or even kille
34870 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20  d when what the 
34880 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 64 69 64 20 6d 61 79 20 62  person did may b
34890 65 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69  e illegal, but i
348a0 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59  sn't wrong?".."Y
348b0 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  eah," she said, 
348c0 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74  "I guess I might
348d0 20 6c 69 65 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75   lie, unless you
348e0 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f   work for the po
348f0 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 63  lice, in which c
34900 61 73 65 20 49 27 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65  ase I'd tell the
34910 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75   truth."..He lau
34920 67 68 65 64 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20  ghed aloud.  "I 
34930 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64  see what you did
34940 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d   there."..She sm
34950 69 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74  iled back.  "I t
34960 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74  hought you might
34970 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f  .".."Okay, I kno
34980 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 65 63 68 6e  w that was techn
34990 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e  ically more than
349a0 20 6f 6e 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62   one question, b
349b0 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 79  ut now I'm ready
349c0 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f   to ask the seco
349d0 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 49 20 6d 65  nd question I me
349e0 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64  ntioned I wanted
349f0 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e   to ask.".."Uh .
34a00 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66   . . okay.".."If
34a10 20 49 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75   I tell you abou
34a20 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73  t illegal things
34a30 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20   I'm doing that 
34a40 6d 69 67 68 74 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 6e 20  might result in 
34a50 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68  people getting h
34a60 75 72 74 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 74  urt due to event
34a70 73 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74  s beyond my cont
34a80 72 6f 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  rol, but to the 
34a90 65 78 74 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f  extent of my kno
34aa0 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20  wledge the only 
34ab0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64  people who would
34ac0 20 67 65 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 61 72 65 20 70 65   get hurt are pe
34ad0 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65  ople who deserve
34ae0 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20   it and need to 
34af0 62 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  be stopped from 
34b00 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6f 74 68  hurting many oth
34b10 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20  er people . . . 
34b20 77 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74  will you keep it
34b30 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66   secret, even if
34b40 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 72 20   you don't ever 
34b50 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20  want to be seen 
34b60 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c  around me again,
34b70 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 72 65   for whatever re
34b80 61 73 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75  ason?"..She thou
34b90 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e  ght about it, an
34ba0 64 20 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20  d he thought it 
34bb0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20  looked like she 
34bc0 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 68 65 77 69 6e 67  might be chewing
34bd0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f   on the inside o
34be0 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 65 65 6b 20 61 20 6c 69  f her cheek a li
34bf0 74 74 6c 65 20 62 69 74 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 61  ttle bit.  At la
34c00 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65  st, she said "Ye
34c10 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20  ah, I should be 
34c20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 20 73  able to keep a s
34c30 65 63 72 65 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e  ecret like that.
34c40 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f    You should kno
34c50 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f  w something, tho
34c60 75 67 68 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20  ugh, before you 
34c70 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67  tell me anything
34c80 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57   like that.".."W
34c90 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61  hat is it?" he a
34ca0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e  sked..."Some kin
34cb0 64 20 6f 66 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63  d of Men In Blac
34cc0 6b 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77  k, if you know w
34cd0 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 77  hat I mean, show
34ce0 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 66 72 6f 6e  ed up at my fron
34cf0 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e  t door this morn
34d00 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 62  ing to ask me ab
34d10 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 20  out some stuff. 
34d20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74   It wasn't about
34d30 20 79 6f 75 20 2d 2d 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61   you -- it was a
34d40 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 69  bout me -- but i
34d50 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65  t creeped me the
34d60 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63   hell out, espec
34d70 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 74 61  ially when I sta
34d80 72 74 65 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20  rted learning a 
34d90 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  little about the
34da0 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 6c 69  m with some onli
34db0 6e 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48  ne research."..H
34dc0 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e  e stared at her.
34dd0 20 20 22 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20    "When you say 
34de0 27 6d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 27 20 2e  'men in black' .
34df0 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73   . .".."Yeah," s
34e00 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e  he said, "I mean
34e10 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 6f 74   two people, bot
34e20 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 66 69 66 74 69  h in their fifti
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34f90 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 74 20 62  ."..George sat b
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34fe0 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20  . . yeah.  When 
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35030 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20  .."Yeah, I know 
35040 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65  about them.  The
35050 79 27 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e 22 0a  y're bad news.".
35060 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f  ."Fuck."  She lo
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35080 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79   hands.  "Really
35090 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68  ?".."Yeah.".."Th
350a0 61 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68  at's pretty much
350b0 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c   what I thought,
350c0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 72 65   after what I re
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350e0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 6f 6d  I guess they som
350f0 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 69 6c  etimes just buil
35100 64 20 62 75 6c 6c 73 68 69 74 20 63 61 73 65 73  d bullshit cases
35110 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20   against people 
35120 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20  as an excuse to 
35130 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 69 73 61 70 70  make them disapp
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35150 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63   kind of contrac
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35180 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74  and don't have t
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351f0 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68  .  "Yeah, that h
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35230 20 74 6f 20 70 61 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 c3   to pad their r.
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35360 79 6f 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6f 6e  you what I do on
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35380 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 20 74  .."You want me t
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353a0 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f  tell them, of co
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353d0 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f  s not like I kno
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35420 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f  I know that's no
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354a0 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69  it.  The thing i
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354f0 65 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20  e too.".."Oh."  
35500 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69  She looked at hi
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35550 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 69   you what I do i
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355f0 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70  You want to help
35600 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 64   me.".."Yes, I d
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35670 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 2c 20 62 75 74  ".."I don't, but
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357b0 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f  and expose me to
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357f0 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74  can help you get
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35860 20 62 79 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20   by offering to 
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358d0 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 72  that wasn't ther
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35900 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74  It's the right t
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35920 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 69 6c 65 6e  said...The silen
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35940 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69  she looked at hi
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359f0 20 20 54 65 78 74 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20    Text scrolled 
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35a30 20 22 49 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74   "I advise you t
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35ae0 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79    She met his ey
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35c10 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e  "You're kidding.
35c20 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20  "..He shook his 
35c30 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 27 6d 20  head.  "No, I'm 
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35d50 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74  They do things t
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35e00 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 61  .."They're not a
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35f10 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 73 74  people, for inst
35f20 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73  ance.  Sometimes
35f30 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  , a couple of th
35f40 65 6d 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20  em do something 
35f50 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65  just because the
35f60 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65  y think it's the
35f70 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20   right thing to 
35f80 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20  do, but usually 
35f90 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c  they need money,
35fa0 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 66 20 74   especially if t
35fb0 68 65 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 6c 6c 20  hey think it'll 
35fc0 67 65 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65  get really dange
35fd0 72 6f 75 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65  rous..."I've see
35fe0 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  n a couple of th
35ff0 65 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20  ese people help 
36000 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61  a woman escape a
36010 6e 20 61 62 75 73 69 76 65 20 68 75 73 62 61 6e  n abusive husban
36020 64 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74  d who happened t
36030 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 69 6f 72 20 61 73  o be a senior as
36040 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 63 74  sistant district
36050 20 61 74 74 6f 72 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77   attorney, and w
36060 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f  hen she tried to
36070 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 65 79 20 74   pay them they t
36080 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20  old her to keep 
36090 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61  it, but that's a
360a0 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 72 61 72 65 20 63 61 73   pretty rare cas
360b0 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74  e, and some of t
360c0 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61  he people I'm ta
360d0 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 2d 2d 20 62  lking about -- b
360e0 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 72 6b  ecause they work
360f0 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20   together a lot 
36100 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f  -- just won't do
36110 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 69   jobs where thei
36120 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20  r clients can't 
36130 70 61 79 20 6e 6f 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 68 6f  pay no matter ho
36140 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74  w much someone t
36150 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f  hinks it's a goo
36160 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a  d thing to do.".
36170 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20  .Alley frowned. 
36180 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72   "I guess you pr
36190 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 65  obably aren't te
361a0 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20  chnically doing 
361b0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61  something illega
361c0 6c 20 62 79 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 61 72  l by selling par
361d0 74 73 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 2c 22 20  ts to someone," 
361e0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74  she said..."That
361f0 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61  's right," he sa
36200 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e  id, "but everyon
36210 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68  e's doing someth
36220 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65  ing illegal some
36230 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20  times, and it's 
36240 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65  not like someone
36250 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 68   couldn't use th
36260 65 20 6c 61 77 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79  e law to destroy
36270 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68   me for doing th
36280 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67  is kind of thing
36290 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75  .".."Why are you
362a0 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 6c 6c 20   telling me all 
362b0 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 74  this?  Doesn't t
362c0 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 64  hat put you in d
362d0 61 6e 67 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75  anger?"..He shru
362e0 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2c  gged.  "It does,
362f0 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74   but I'm ready t
36300 6f 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 66 20 49  o disappear if I
36310 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64   have to.  I did
36320 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e   it once before.
36330 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e    Anyway, I thin
36340 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74  k you're going t
36350 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20  o need the kind 
36360 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61  of people I'm ta
36370 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6f 6e  lking about soon
36380 2e 20 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 68 61 73  .  COIN Corp has
36390 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20   been a serious 
363a0 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f  problem for a lo
363b0 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 69 6e 63  t of people sinc
363c0 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61  e it was officia
363d0 6c 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 66 6f 75 72  lly founded four
363e0 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20   years ago.  It 
363f0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 6f 75  just appeared ou
36400 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e  t of nowhere, an
36410 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 75 73 20 74 68 69  d some of us thi
36420 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 74 69  nk it was a reti
36430 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20  rement plan for 
36440 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b  someone who work
36450 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4e 53 41 2e 20 20  ed in the NSA.  
36460 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 61 20  In that short a 
36470 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 69 74 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70  time, it develop
36480 65 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 72 65 70 75  ed a strong repu
36490 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63  tation in some c
364a0 69 72 63 6c 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 69 6e 67  ircles for using
364b0 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 66   the excuse of f
364c0 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63  ighting domestic
364d0 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 74 6f 20 67 65   terrorism to ge
364e0 74 20 62 69 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 73 20  t big contracts 
364f0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c  from the federal
36500 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65   agencies of the
36510 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65   US Intelligence
36520 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70   Community and p
36530 69 6e 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 61  in a bunch of ma
36540 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 65 63 75  nufactured specu
36550 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 27 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65  lative 'evidence
36560 27 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20 70 65  ' on innocent pe
36570 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 74 68 65  ople to line the
36580 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 27 73 20 70 6f 63 6b 65   founder's pocke
36590 74 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 68 61  ts..."If COIN ha
365a0 73 20 69 74 73 20 73 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20  s its sights on 
365b0 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 6e  you, things aren
365c0 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 77  't going to go w
365d0 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 79 20 74  ell.  They say t
365e0 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74  hat if you can't
365f0 20 62 65 61 74 20 27 65 6d 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68   beat 'em you sh
36600 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 27 65 6d 2c 20 61  ould join 'em, a
36610 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f  nd this is one o
36620 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77  f those things w
36630 68 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f  here almost nobo
36640 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63  dy has any chanc
36650 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65  e of beating the
36660 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61  m, but there's a
36670 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 3a 20 67   third option: g
36680 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74  et help, and get
36690 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 72 61 74 68   away.  I'd rath
366a0 65 72 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20  er see you take 
366b0 74 68 61 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 6e  that option than
366c0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 6f 20 2d   the other two -
366d0 2d 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 6f 69  - losing, or joi
366e0 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20  ning..."There's 
366f0 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72  always the other
36700 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 74 68   possibility, th
36710 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72  at they won't tr
36720 79 20 74 6f 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 75  y to frame you u
36730 70 20 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74  p as connected t
36740 6f 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 73 2c 20 62 75  o terrorists, bu
36750 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20  t that's just a 
36760 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e  matter of sittin
36770 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e  g around, waitin
36780 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 6e 64  g, and maybe end
36790 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72  ing up disappear
367a0 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75  ing, because you
367b0 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20   never tried to 
367c0 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20  do something to 
367d0 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66  protect yourself
367e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  .".."Shit," she 
367f0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f  said.  "What abo
36800 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79  ut getting ready
36810 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 61 69   to run, but wai
36820 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20  ting to see how 
36830 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6d 65  things go?  I me
36840 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20  an, I shouldn't 
36850 72 75 6e 20 69 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68  run if nothing h
36860 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22  appens.  Right?"
36870 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 20  .."It's a risk. 
36880 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72   That's all ther
36890 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65  e is to it.  The
368a0 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74  y're not going t
368b0 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 79 20 77  o give you any w
368c0 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 69  arning at all, i
368d0 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20  f they can help 
368e0 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68  it.  The fact th
368f0 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20  ey came to talk 
36900 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6d 69  to you at all mi
36910 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20  ght be the only 
36920 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 2e  warning you get.
36930 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20    Maybe you can 
36940 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 74 68 6f  pull it off, tho
36950 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 73 74 20  ugh..."My first 
36960 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65  warning that the
36970 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72  y might come for
36980 20 6d 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62   me would probab
36990 6c 79 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 73 61 70 70  ly be you disapp
369a0 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20  earing, though. 
369b0 20 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73   If that happens
369c0 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20  , I'm not going 
369d0 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74  to wait around t
369e0 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65  o see if they're
369f0 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 27   on my tail.  I'
36a00 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 64  ll make myself d
36a10 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61  isappear, instea
36a20 64 20 6f 66 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f  d of waiting aro
36a30 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68  und to see if th
36a40 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 64 69  ey'll make me di
36a50 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49  sappear before I
36a60 20 67 65 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 69   get around to i
36a70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 59 65 61  t.".."Okay.  Yea
36a80 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74  h.  That's a lot
36a90 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e   to think about.
36aa0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68    I'm going to h
36ab0 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f  ave to think abo
36ac0 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64  ut it."..He nodd
36ad0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  ed.  "You should
36ae0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 68 61   think pretty ha
36af0 72 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 68 65  rd about it," he
36b00 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 20 61 6c   said.  "Stay al
36b10 65 72 74 2c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69  ert, try to avoi
36b20 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67  d doing anything
36b30 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 74 63   that might catc
36b40 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f  h their attentio
36b50 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20  n, and stay out 
36b60 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 72 79  of trouble.  Try
36b70 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61   to keep them ha
36b80 70 70 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 69 76 69  ppy without givi
36b90 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67  ng them anything
36ba0 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20   to use against 
36bb0 79 6f 75 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 2c 20 74  you..."Mostly, t
36bc0 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 61 72  hough, think har
36bd0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 61 73 74  d and think fast
36be0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77   about how you w
36bf0 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74  ant to handle it
36c00 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f  , because you do
36c10 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63  n't know how muc
36c20 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20  h time you have 
36c30 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 63  to make that dec
36c40 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 64 65  ision, and as de
36c50 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20  cisions go this 
36c60 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 68 75 67 65 2e 20 20 49 74  one is huge.  It
36c70 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 69   might be the bi
36c80 67 67 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69  ggest of your li
36c90 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 73 73 75  fe.".."No pressu
36ca0 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77  re," she said, w
36cb0 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e  ith a wry smile.
36cc0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2e 22 20  .."You got it." 
36cd0 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69   He looked at hi
36ce0 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68  s book cases, th
36cf0 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c  en stood and wal
36d00 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 48 65  ked to them.  He
36d10 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65   pulled a couple
36d20 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 66 20 68 69   of books off hi
36d30 73 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20  s shelves, then 
36d40 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69  went to the chai
36d50 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61  r where Alley sa
36d60 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20  t and held them 
36d70 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 48 65  out to her.  "He
36d80 72 65 2e 20 20 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20  re.  Give these 
36d90 61 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68  a read, if you h
36da0 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20  ave time."..She 
36db0 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61  accepted them, a
36dc0 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65  nd looked at the
36dd0 6d 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 69 74 6c  m.  One was titl
36de0 65 64 20 2a 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50  ed *An Agorist P
36df0 72 69 6d 65 72 2a 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68  rimer*.  The oth
36e00 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f  er was *Undergro
36e10 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 53 65 63 2a 2e 20 20 22 57 68  und OpSec*.  "Wh
36e20 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a  at are these?"..
36e30 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 20  When he saw she 
36e40 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20  was not handing 
36e50 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 77 65  them back, he we
36e60 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63  nt back to his c
36e70 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77  ouch and sat dow
36e80 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 69 73 20  n.  "Agorism is 
36e90 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 62 69 6e  kind of a combin
36ea0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 61  ation of ideal a
36eb0 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 20 20 54 68  nd strategy.  Th
36ec0 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 76 69 6e  e ideal is livin
36ed0 67 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  g outside of the
36ee0 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65   control of othe
36ef0 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 61  rs, and the stra
36f00 74 65 67 79 20 69 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68  tegy is using th
36f10 61 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65  at to bring othe
36f20 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 6f  r people into do
36f30 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 68 69  ing the same thi
36f40 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68  ng, to change th
36f50 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20  e world for the 
36f60 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20  better a little 
36f70 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20  at a time.  The 
36f80 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 74 68  guy who wrote th
36f90 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 62  e agorism book b
36fa0 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74  asically thought
36fb0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61   of this as a wa
36fc0 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 68 65 20  y to starve the 
36fd0 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74  government of it
36fe0 73 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 77 65  s source of powe
36ff0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79  r and eventually
37000 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20   bring it down, 
37010 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e  basically turnin
37020 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b  g the black mark
37030 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69  et into a politi
37040 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20  cal revolution, 
37050 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e  but I don't thin
37060 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 65 61 6c  k it's very real
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375d0 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22  .He shrugged.  "
375e0 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72  Maybe.  Voluntar
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37660 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73  ".."Yeah," she s
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37790 73 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64  s not.".."What d
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377f0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49  I don't know.  I
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37820 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65  ."You might have
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379f0 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69  ."Sure," she sai
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37a10 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 64  ."Have you had d
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381c0 0a 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e 6f  .."Counter Econo
381d0 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 65  mics, Total Free
381e0 64 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 53  dom, And You.."S
381f0 61 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f 6e  amuel Edward Kon
38200 6b 69 6e 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6c  kin III"..She fl
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38220 54 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c 61  The back was bla
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38240 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74  it and flipped t
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38260 20 66 65 77 20 70 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65   few pages.  She
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38440 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e 6b  ."Maybe Sam Konk
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38490 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74  .She looked at t
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384d0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69  never started wi
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38660 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 69 6e 74 65  down the disinte
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387e0 52 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64  Reading it would
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38870 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c  r asked.  "Yeah,
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38970 0a 0a 22 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 79  .."I only want y
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39020 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 73 69    Some were basi
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39060 20 22 52 65 61 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 6f 75 72   "Reality is our
39070 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2e 20 20 4e 61 74 75   standard.  Natu
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390b0 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 63  tself, but she c
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390d0 2c 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20  , determined to 
390e0 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e  give the book an
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39110 20 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e   her of somethin
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39180 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68  passages when sh
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391f0 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e  when she could n
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39210 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 61 73 63 69 6e 61    It was fascina
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39250 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 20 20 48 6f 75 72 73  expected.  Hours
39260 20 68 61 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 62 79 20   had passed, by 
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3e740 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
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3e760 2a 20 2a 5c 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  * *\. *         
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3e790 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
3e7a0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
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3ed20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 20 68  Should that be h
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3ed90 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73  able, in stories
3eda0 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 20  .  I just need  
3edb0 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65      *. *  good e
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3ee20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20  right.          
3ee30 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
3ee40 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a                *.
3ee50 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20   *              
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3ee80 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
3ee90 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 5c 2a 20             *.\* 
3eea0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
3eeb0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
3eec0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
3eed0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
3eee0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4a 75 73  * * * * */.."Jus
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3ef60 6b 65 74 73 2c 20 2f 2a 20 61 6e 64 20 2a 2f 20  kets, /* and */ 
3ef70 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20  strapped on her 
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3eff0 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 6c  slowly.  She wal
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3f010 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65  ont door and pre
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3f040 6f 6e 20 61 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20  on a house that 
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3f100 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22  stood inside.  "
3f110 48 65 6c 6c 6f 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c  Hello?" she call
3f120 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53  ed..."Hello."..S
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3f240 20 72 65 61 73 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 65   reassure her he
3f250 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 73 2e   had no weapons.
3f260 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b  ..."Are you look
3f270 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f  ing for someone?
3f280 22 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 73 61 69  " the figure sai
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3f300 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e  king for, uh . .
3f310 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 68   ." she began, h
3f320 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20  esitating.  She 
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3f350 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 70 61 74 69   man waited pati
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3f380 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 69 73 20 63 68 75  ggler."..His chu
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3f400 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73   Smuggler," he s
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3f430 20 61 74 20 62 69 72 74 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68   at birth.".."Oh
3f440 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65  .".."You know Ge
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3f460 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20  and she thought 
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3f4b0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c  .."Not for long,
3f4c0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74  " she said, "but
3f4d0 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73   yeah.  He seems
3f4e0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79   like a good guy
3f4f0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65  .".."You must've
3f500 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73   made an impress
3f510 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 72 65 66 65 72  ion, if he refer
3f520 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a  red you to me.".
3f530 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e  ."Really?"..He n
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3f570 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c  e.".."Oh, right,
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3f610 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20   but she headed 
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3f630 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6e 6f 6c 65  the small linole
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3f790 68 69 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65  hite than the re
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3f820 63 6b 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  ck seemed to be 
3f830 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 69  covered with foi
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3f860 61 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20  ame through the 
3f870 6f 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20  open front door 
3f880 61 6e 64 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77  and front window
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3f8f0 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20  closed the door 
3f900 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 59  behind them.  "Y
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3f930 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f   and want to avo
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3f9d0 72 70 65 74 65 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 6e 65 61  rpeted floor nea
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3faa0 20 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 49    In and back, I
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3fac0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75  ed.  "Yes, I cou
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3fae0 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6f 77 65 20 79 6f 75 20  would I owe you 
3faf0 66 6f 72 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79  for it?".."Are y
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3fb30 69 64 65 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a  ide?" he asked..
3fb40 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59  .She nodded.  "Y
3fb50 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e  eah, I guess so.
3fb60 20 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 6f 77    Isn't that how
3fb70 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22   this works?".."
3fb80 4e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61  Normally," he sa
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3fba0 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e   taking your mon
3fbb0 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74  ey.".."Why won't
3fbc0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72   you take me thr
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3fbf0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20   something like 
3fc00 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20  that?"..After a 
3fc10 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74  moment's hesitat
3fc20 69 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69  ion, he shook hi
3fc30 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e  s head.  "I didn
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3fc50 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  t take you into 
3fc60 74 68 65 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73  the zone.  I jus
3fc70 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74  t said I'm not t
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3fc90 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 6e 6f 74 3f 22 20 73  .".."Why not?" s
3fca0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 65 79  he asked, her ey
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3fcc0 4c 65 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 2c 20  Let's just say, 
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3fcf0 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d  ee.".."That seem
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3fd10 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e  there's somethin
3fd20 67 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 75  g addictive abou
3fd30 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 73 74 20 74  t getting past t
3fd40 68 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 61 64 65 73 2e 22 0a  he barricades.".
3fd50 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 67 61  .He shrugged aga
3fd60 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  in.  "Some peopl
3fd70 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a  e find the hot z
3fd80 6f 6e 65 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 74  one addictive, t
3fd90 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68  o tell the truth
3fda0 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20  .  Some of them 
3fdb0 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 20 74  find their way t
3fdc0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c  o the cold zone,
3fdd0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 66 74 65   and that's ofte
3fde0 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67  n an even strong
3fdf0 65 72 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f  er addiction.  /
3fe00 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 27 6d 20 61 64 64 69  * Maybe I'm addi
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3fe20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73  them.  I'm not s
3fe30 75 72 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74  ure. */ ".."What
3fe40 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 22  's a cold zone?"
3fe50 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20  .."Maybe you'll 
3fe60 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61  find out some da
3fe70 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49  y," he said.  "I
3fe80 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 20 79 6f 75 20  t's an area you 
3fe90 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 77 69 74 68  can't reach with
3fea0 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67  out going throug
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3fec0 6f 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63  or through the c
3fed0 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20  orporate center 
3fee0 6f 66 20 4c 41 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69  of LA.  The poli
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3ff50 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 64   to go there tod
3ff60 61 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79  ay, though, if y
3ff70 6f 75 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e  ou've never even
3ff80 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a   heard of it."..
3ff90 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65  She shook her he
3ffa0 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65  ad.  "No, it doe
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3ffc0 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 77  that's where I w
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3fff0 74 6f 20 62 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72  to be?"..She shr
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40040 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 72  "What about wher
40050 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74  e you're going t
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40070 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 79    "Are you ready
40080 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 77   to go there now
40090 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68  ?"..She patted h
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400b0 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61  king what she ha
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400d0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c   nodded.  "Yeah,
400e0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22   I guess so.".."
400f0 53 74 65 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6e  Step into my pan
40100 74 72 79 2c 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 70  try, said the sp
40110 69 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 79 2e  ider to the fly.
40120 22 20 20 48 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 70 61  "  He brushed pa
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40210 73 68 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74  she angled right
40220 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67   into the dining
40230 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62   room near the b
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40280 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c   opened to the l
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40380 61 77 61 79 2c 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20  away, revealing 
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403c0 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69  toward the ceili
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403e0 2e 20 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20  .  "After you," 
403f0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65  he said, and ste
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40410 70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68  pantry to give h
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404f0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64  , though she did
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40640 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73   down at the ris
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40660 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e  her shoulder, an
40670 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69  d she saw that i
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40690 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61   chamber about a
406a0 73 20 77 69 64 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73  s wide as it was
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40700 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a  room left over..
40710 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74  .She looked up t
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40730 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65  ooking down, the
40740 6e 20 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64  n he rotated and
40750 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 74 20   lowered a foot 
40760 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20  to the ladder.  
40770 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20  She looked away 
40780 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 6f 70 70 65 64  from him, hopped
40790 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f   the last foot o
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407d0 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69  he ladder.  A si
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407f0 67 20 75 6e 69 74 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 6f  g unit mounted o
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40820 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68  chamber in brigh
40830 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64  t light, and a d
40840 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64  oor stood closed
40850 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e   at the other en
40860 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a  d of the room...
40870 57 68 69 6c 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 64  While Smuggler d
40880 65 73 63 65 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65  escended, she he
40890 61 72 64 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 20 62 72 75 73 68  ard a soft brush
408a0 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f  ing sound and lo
408b0 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74  oked up to see t
408c0 68 65 20 61 70 65 72 74 75 72 65 20 61 74 20 74  he aperture at t
408d0 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61  he top of the la
408e0 64 64 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57  dder closing.  W
408f0 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74  hen he reached t
40900 68 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6f 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 74 75  he bottom, he tu
40910 72 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77  rned without a w
40920 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e  ord to the door.
40930 20 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20    As he touched 
40940 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20  the handle, the 
40950 6c 69 67 68 74 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2c 20  light vanished, 
40960 70 6c 75 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e  plunging them in
40970 74 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 61 72  to darkness apar
40980 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74  t from the light
40990 73 20 6f 6e 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 27 73 20  s on Smuggler's 
409a0 67 6c 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c  glove..."I still
409b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69   have contact wi
409c0 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69  th you," the pri
409d0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a  oritizer said...
409e0 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65  She shook her he
409f0 61 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74  ad slightly, not
40a00 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61   wanting to spea
40a10 6b 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70  k aloud to the p
40a20 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72  rioritizer in fr
40a30 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e  ont of Smuggler.
40a40 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 79 6f  .."It must be yo
40a50 75 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69  ur Axiom establi
40a60 73 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e  shing connection
40a70 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b  s through some k
40a80 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 73 68 20 6e 65 74 77  ind of mesh netw
40a90 6f 72 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20  ork down here.  
40aa0 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63  I do not have ac
40ab0 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 74  cess to check it
40ac0 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f  , so I cannot co
40ad0 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68  nfirm this is th
40ae0 65 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  e case."..Alley 
40af0 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65  followed Smuggle
40b00 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20  r into the dark 
40b10 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68  tunnel beyond th
40b20 65 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 77 68  e heavy door, wh
40b30 69 63 68 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65  ich softly close
40b40 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e  d behind them on
40b50 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72   its own.  After
40b60 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65   a couple minute
40b70 73 20 6f 66 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68  s of walking, sh
40b80 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20  e quietly asked 
40b90 22 48 6f 77 20 66 61 72 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22  "How far is it?"
40ba0 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d    The sound seem
40bb0 65 64 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69  ed louder than i
40bc0 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65  t should have be
40bd0 65 6e 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65  en, after the de
40be0 65 70 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 68  ep quiet of noth
40bf0 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f  ing but the echo
40c00 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20  es of their own 
40c10 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73  movements, and s
40c20 68 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c  he nearly stumbl
40c30 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 0a  ed in surprise..
40c40 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 74  ."It's about a t
40c50 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 22  en minute walk,"
40c60 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 6f 73 74 6c   he said, "mostl
40c70 79 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65  y because we nee
40c80 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79  d to move slowly
40c90 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 3f  .".."Why slowly?
40ca0 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 72 61 69    It looks strai
40cb0 67 68 74 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20  ght as far as I 
40cc0 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64  can see, and I d
40cd0 6f 75 62 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c  oubt anyone woul
40ce0 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65  d hear us."..She
40cf0 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68   saw his head sh
40d00 61 6b 65 2c 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64  ake, silhouetted
40d10 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f   against the glo
40d20 77 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c  w of his glove l
40d30 69 67 68 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68  ights ahead of h
40d40 69 6d 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 74 72 69 64 65 20  im.  His stride 
40d50 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20  did not change. 
40d60 20 22 49 66 20 77 65 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 6f 20 66   "If we go too f
40d70 61 73 74 2c 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f  ast, we'll set o
40d80 66 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73  ff alarms.  It's
40d90 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f   the best way to
40da0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61   make sure the a
40db0 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 6f 20 6f 66  larms will go of
40dc0 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73  f when someone's
40dd0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74   on the run, but
40de0 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e   it's not the on
40df0 6c 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d  ly way the alarm
40e00 73 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72  s can be trigger
40e10 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70  ed.".."What happ
40e20 65 6e 73 20 69 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 67 6f  ens if alarms go
40e30 20 6f 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f   off?".."A lot o
40e40 66 20 65 78 63 69 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66  f exciting stuff
40e50 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 65 6e 64  ," he said, "end
40e60 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 75  ing with this tu
40e70 6e 6e 65 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61  nnel not being a
40e80 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20  vailable to run 
40e90 74 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 61 64 65 20 61 6e 79  the blockade any
40ea0 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20   more.".."Oh."  
40eb0 53 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69  She walked in si
40ec0 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d  lence behind him
40ed0 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 20   as the passage 
40ee0 74 6f 6f 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 2c  took some turns,
40ef0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73   then finally as
40f00 6b 65 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 53 6d 75  ked "I guess Smu
40f10 67 67 6c 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69  ggler probably i
40f20 73 6e 27 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68  sn't actually th
40f30 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72 65  e name your pare
40f40 6e 74 73 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a  nts gave you."..
40f50 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77  "No," he said, w
40f60 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62  ithout looking b
40f70 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e 68 65 72 69 74  ack.  "I inherit
40f80 65 64 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f  ed it.".."Are yo
40f90 75 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20  u saying that's 
40fa0 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 20 6e 61 6d 65  your family name
40fb0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72  ?".."No.  The pr
40fc0 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20  evious Smuggler 
40fd0 72 65 74 69 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69  retired from thi
40fe0 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20  s kind of thing 
40ff0 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e  and passed the n
41000 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 69  ame on to me, li
41010 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 44 72 65 61 64 20 50 69 72  ke the Dread Pir
41020 61 74 65 20 52 6f 62 65 72 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  ate Roberts.".."
41030 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68  I thought all th
41040 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74  at stuff about t
41050 68 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 67 75 79  he Silk Road guy
41060 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f   was supposed to
41070 20 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22   be made up.".."
41080 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 53  I don't know," S
41090 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22  muggler said.  "
410a0 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 6d 2e  I never met him.
410b0 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 20 70 72 65 64    I think a pred
410c0 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65  ecessor with the
410d0 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6d   name Smuggler m
410e0 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67  ight have, thoug
410f0 68 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61  h.  Anyway, I wa
41100 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  s talking about 
41110 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 66 72  the character fr
41120 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20  om the Princess 
41130 42 72 69 64 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 53  Bride, not the S
41140 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72  ilk Road founder
41150 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 27 76 65 20 6e  .".."Oh.  I've n
41160 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 50 72  ever read the Pr
41170 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a  incess Bride."..
41180 22 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 49 2c  "Neither have I,
41190 22 20 49 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d  " I said, "but m
411a0 79 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e  y predecessor an
411b0 64 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  d I watched the 
411c0 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61  movie together a
411d0 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a   couple times.".
411e0 0a 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 68 61 74 20  ."I forgot that 
411f0 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 73 68  was a movie," sh
41200 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 61  e said..."You ma
41210 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 73 61 64 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67  ke me sad," Smug
41220 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  gler said...Alle
41230 79 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64  y failed to prod
41240 75 63 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 61  uce an answer, a
41250 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65  nd remained sile
41260 6e 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65  nt until they re
41270 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20  ached the other 
41280 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 63  end...Smuggler c
41290 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73  limbed another s
412a0 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64  teel ladder, and
412b0 20 61 20 67 72 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 69 73   a grinding nois
412c0 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68  e echoed down th
412d0 65 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69  e tunnel.  He di
412e0 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 76  sappeared from v
412f0 69 65 77 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67  iew above, thoug
41300 68 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20  h now there was 
41310 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6c 74 65  soft light filte
41320 72 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67  ring down throug
41330 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 74 20 61 74 20 74 68  h the exit at th
41340 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64  e top of the lad
41350 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77  der.  She follow
41360 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65  ed a moment late
41370 72 2c 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77  r, rising into w
41380 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  hat looked like 
41390 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 76 61 75 6c 74 20 77 69 74  an old vault wit
413a0 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b  h indirect track
413b0 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 73 75 73 70 65 6e   lighting suspen
413c0 64 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69  ded from the cei
413d0 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20  ling..."What is 
413e0 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64  this?" she asked
413f0 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64  , looking around
41400 20 61 74 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 62 61 72 72   at shelves barr
41410 65 6e 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20  en except for a 
41420 66 65 77 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 66  few small form f
41430 61 63 74 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 20  actor computers 
41440 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79  sitting silently
41450 2c 20 70 6c 75 73 20 79 61 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20  , plus yards of 
41460 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 61 62 6c 69 6e 67 2e  network cabling.
41470 20 20 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20    "Is it an old 
41480 62 61 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72  bank?"..Smuggler
41490 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20   said "No, it's 
414a0 74 68 65 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 6f  the abandoned ho
414b0 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20  me of a guy who 
414c0 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 66 6f 72 74 75 6e 65 20 6f  made a fortune o
414d0 66 66 20 6f 66 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65  ff of early inte
414e0 72 6e 65 74 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e  rnet corporation
414f0 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 72  s around the tur
41500 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 6c 65 6e 6e  n of the millenn
41510 69 75 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20 6a 75 73  ium, and had jus
41520 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76  t decided to mov
41530 65 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 61 72 6f 75  e his money arou
41540 6e 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 20 6d 61 72 6b  nd before a mark
41550 65 74 20 63 72 61 73 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69  et crash.  He di
41560 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 72  ed just before r
41570 69 6f 74 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 65 61  iots started tea
41580 72 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 72  ring up this par
41590 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 41 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20  t of LA, before 
415a0 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 74 20 73 68 75 74 20  it all got shut 
415b0 64 6f 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62  down.".."What ab
415c0 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 69 72 73 3f 22 20  out his heirs?" 
415d0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 70   Alley stepped p
415e0 61 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20  ast a cot and a 
415f0 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 61  small folding ta
41600 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67  ble with folding
41610 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 6e 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e   chairs near it.
41620 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20    She noted the 
41630 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 62 61  presence of a ba
41640 72 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74  r fridge against
41650 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77   one wall, and w
41660 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79  ondered how they
41670 20 67 6f 74 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74   got power for t
41680 68 69 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73  his place...He s
41690 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65  hrugged.  "I gue
416a0 73 73 2c 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e  ss, if he had an
416b0 79 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72  y, they never tr
416c0 69 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e  ied coming back.
416d0 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f    Most of the ho
416e0 75 73 65 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 79  use is gone, any
416f0 77 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 72 6f  way, so they pro
41700 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68  bably thought th
41710 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68  ere wasn't anyth
41720 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65  ing else to come
41730 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 2e 20 20   back and get.  
41740 49 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 49  If I was them, I
41750 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6a 75 73 74   would have just
41760 20 66 69 6c 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e   filed for an in
41770 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 70 61 79 20 6f 75 74 2e  surance pay out.
41780 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73  ".."Yeah, I gues
41790 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22  s," she said..."
417a0 49 6e 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74  Insurance invest
417b0 69 67 61 74 6f 72 73 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20  igators stopped 
417c0 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  coming into the 
417d0 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20  hot zone a long 
417e0 74 69 6d 65 20 61 67 6f 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67  time ago," Smugg
417f0 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 6c  ler said...He fl
41800 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 20 73 74 65  ipped open a ste
41810 65 6c 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 73 65 74 20 69 6e 74  el plate set int
41820 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65  o the wall, like
41830 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 61 74 75 72 65 20 6d 65 74   a miniature met
41840 61 6c 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68  al door with a h
41850 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 69 67 20 65  andle just big e
41860 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20  nough to firmly 
41870 67 72 61 73 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 6c 6f  grasp with a glo
41880 76 65 64 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74  ved finger and t
41890 68 75 6d 62 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f  humb.  He did so
418a0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73  mething with his
418b0 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68   fingers, but th
418c0 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c  e angle of the l
418d0 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 62 73 63 75  ittle door obscu
418e0 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 41  red her view.  A
418f0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61   moment later, a
41900 20 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 68 75 6e 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d   loud thunk from
41910 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64   the door echoed
41920 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e   against the con
41930 63 72 65 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 74  crete walls of t
41940 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 76 61  he room...The va
41950 75 6c 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20  ult door slowly 
41960 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20  started opening 
41970 6f 75 74 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6f  outward on its o
41980 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6c  wn...Smuggler fl
41990 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20  ipped the small 
419a0 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 65  metal door close
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41bd0 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20   she asked when 
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41bf0 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64   her...He nodded
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41c10 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68  ," he said..."Wh
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41c30 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65  "There has to be
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41c80 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22  .He shrugged.  "
41c90 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 63 61 6e 27 74  I guess it can't
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41dd0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 64 6f  .".."How much do
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41e00 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74   she asked..."It
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41e40 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 72 61 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22   of a grand.".."
41e50 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  Holy shit," she 
41e60 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 2e  said.  "That's .
41e70 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f   . . a lot of mo
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41ed0 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68  y, and people wh
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41ef0 20 59 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 76 69   You had an invi
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41f40 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 63 69 65 72 20 61 72 65  f the dicier are
41f50 61 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20  as, too.".."Are 
41f60 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75  you talking abou
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41f80 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b  ing me?" she ask
41f90 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61  ed..."No, I'm ta
41fa0 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 20 61  lking about an a
41fb0 72 6d 65 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 73 74 61  rmed person, sta
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41fd0 74 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 79  t, keeping an ey
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41ff0 20 73 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 69   stalking you li
42000 6b 65 20 70 72 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20  ke prey.".."Why 
42010 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 20  didn't you tell 
42020 6d 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a  me about that?".
42030 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62  ."It's usually b
42040 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 70 65 6f 70  est to tell peop
42050 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 66 74 65  le about it afte
42060 72 77 61 72 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 64  rward, so they d
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42090 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c   and get themsel
420a0 76 65 73 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65  ves killed while
420b0 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72   they're in ther
420c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65  e.".."Do you fee
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420f0 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 3f 22  u take them in?"
42100 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20   she asked...He 
42110 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74  hesitated.  "Not
42120 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61   exactly," he sa
42130 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c  id.  "Sometimes,
42140 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 6e   though, like in
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42160 6e 20 69 66 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 2c 20 74 68  n if I don't, th
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421a0 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 63  ou're ready to c
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421e0 75 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74  use I don't want
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42220 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66  another way.  If
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42240 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65  they're in there
42250 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d  , though, that m
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42270 20 70 61 69 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65   paid for the re
42280 74 75 72 6e 20 74 72 69 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22  turn trip, too."
42290 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 6f 75 73  .."Is that thous
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422b0 71 75 6f 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 79 20 6f  quoted one way o
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422d0 20 77 61 79 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 77 61   ways?".."One wa
422e0 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65  y.".."This whole
422f0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f   thing is kind o
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42310 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74  guess you need t
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42330 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c  ame as anyone el
42340 73 65 2e 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b  se." Alley shook
42350 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63   her head.  "I c
42360 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 47 65 6f  an't believe Geo
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42380 20 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72   thousand dollar
42390 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 62 65 68 61 6c 66 2e 22  s on my behalf."
423a0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20  ..He shrugged.  
423b0 22 48 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 20  "He only paid a 
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423d0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 6c 66 2e   the other half.
423e0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6c 69  ".."Why?".."I li
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42400 2c 20 22 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  , "and you don't
42410 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 62 61 64   seem like a bad
42420 20 73 6f 72 74 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20   sort, either.  
42430 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 6c 6c  I'm usually will
42440 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 75 70 70  ing to help supp
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42480 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 20  ".."Yeah, okay. 
42490 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20   I've seen some 
424a0 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74  evidence of that
424b0 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69   addiction in hi
424c0 6d 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73  m myself, I gues
424d0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73  s.".."Well, it's
424e0 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27   not like I don'
424f0 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f 6d 70  t like your comp
42500 61 6e 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20  any, but I have 
42510 61 6e 20 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 77  an appointment w
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42530 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f  y people than yo
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42550 67 65 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20  get going.  Are 
42560 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  you going to be 
42570 6f 6b 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 65 76  okay with whatev
42580 65 72 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69  er you're carryi
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425a0 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f  almost unconscio
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425c0 20 73 74 72 61 70 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 70 61   strap of her pa
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425e0 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74  than it was on t
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42610 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 2a 20  she said.../* * 
42620 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
42630 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
42640 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
42650 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
42660 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 5c 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20  * * * *\. *     
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42750 20 2a 20 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f   *  they are abo
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42770 20 20 43 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65    Certainly, the
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427a0 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73   seems to necess
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42860 20 61 20 66 69 72 65 61 72 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e   a firearm to an
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42880 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62    *. *  but mayb
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428d0 0a 20 2a 20 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 63 61  . *  touch of ca
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42980 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
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429a0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
429b0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79  * * * */..."Okay
429c0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 61  ."  He slipped a
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42a30 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72   and offered her
42a40 20 61 20 63 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e   a card.  "Here.
42a50 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74    If you can get
42a60 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 42 72 61 6d 62 6c 65 20   on the Bramble 
42a70 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20  network, get in 
42a80 74 6f 75 63 68 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65  touch if you nee
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42aa0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 63   again."..She ac
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42d80 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75  and secure, thou
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43500 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20   terminated the 
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43550 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20   she said.  She 
43560 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20  looked over her 
43570 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65  shoulder, at the
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435e0 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61  ing?".."I will a
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43620 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20  your home so we 
43630 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 73 20  can see what is 
43640 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  going on."..Alle
43650 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69  y sat again, thi
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43670 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c  nothing she coul
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43690 79 20 73 6d 61 72 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73  y smarter than s
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436f0 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20   "I'll just get 
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43710 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20  other person in 
43720 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20  the study.".."I 
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437a0 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 76  of your bugout v
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437e0 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 6f 75  ?  What good wou
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43800 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20  she asked..."If 
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43820 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65   you should have
43830 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74   what you need t
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438a0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27  " she said.  "I'
438b0 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20  ll get it.  Why 
438c0 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c  the riding gear,
438d0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73   though?"  She s
438e0 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20  tood and headed 
438f0 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 2e  for the counter.
43900 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f  .."It is easy to
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43920 6e 67 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61  ng most of it, a
43930 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20  nd you may need 
43940 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63  to ride a motorc
43950 79 63 6c 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73  ycle soon.".."Is
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43990 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 63 68 65 63 6b  e?".."I am check
439a0 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 69  ing for availabi
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439c0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  know yet."..Alle
439d0 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65  y shrugged to he
439e0 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64  rself and looked
439f0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 65 68 69   at the guy behi
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43a30 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 65   enough to be he
43a40 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74  ard.  "Can I get
43a50 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74   some things out
43a60 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 6f 66   of the trunk of
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43aa0 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69  t in front of hi
43ab0 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20  m.  "I'll check 
43ac0 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 20  whether it's on 
43ad0 74 68 65 20 6c 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f  the lift.  If no
43ae0 74 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e  t, sure, you can
43af0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 77 68   probably get wh
43b00 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e  atever you need.
43b10 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65  ".."Thanks," she
43b20 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69   said...Eight mi
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43b40 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20   sat on a bench 
43b50 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20  in front of the 
43b60 73 68 6f 70 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 77 61 6c  shop's glass wal
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44040 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 2c 20   for my credit, 
44050 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72  they'll look for
44060 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 73   my car, too," s
44070 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 70  he said..."The p
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44150 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20    You will have 
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441a0 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73  ell.".."Okay," s
441b0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64  he said.  "Why d
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441d0 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 73  you've done this
441e0 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61   before?".."I ha
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44210 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e  "I have been con
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44270 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 79  ed.  "Maybe they
44280 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 61 6e 74   don't even want
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442a0 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68  into my place wh
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442f0 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c  be there.".."No,
44300 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65   I made sure the
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443a0 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20  you.".."How did 
443b0 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22  you do that?".."
443c0 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68  I made use of th
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443f0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65  ".."What are the
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44420 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72   quietly, wonder
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44470 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 61   them for her sa
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44490 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e  Some of them wan
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444e0 6e 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20  new people they 
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44680 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 70 61 73 74 20  the person past 
44690 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 6c 69 76 65 64 2e 20 20  where I lived.  
446a0 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69  Right?".."That i
446b0 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69  s correct, but i
446c0 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 72 76 65 73 20 74  t still serves t
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44770 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65   said, "for some
44780 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75   of them.".."You
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447d0 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49  ll.".."Yes.".."I
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44800 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 67 6f 69 6e  "How are we goin
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44820 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72  of here?".."Your
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44840 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a  here," it said..
44850 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20  ."Oh.  It's one 
44860 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72  of the study par
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44ea0 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20      *. *        
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44ed0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
44ee0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
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450b0 64 64 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a  dds up to      *
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45290 2a 20 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 73  *  the police, s
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45300 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
45310 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
45320 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20         *. *     
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45340 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
45350 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
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45370 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 5c 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a      *.\* * * * *
45380 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
45390 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
453a0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
453b0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
453c0 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 68 65 72 65   */.."Well, here
453d0 20 49 20 61 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 61 67 61   I am, alone aga
453e0 69 6e 20 2d 2d 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 79 6f 75  in -- except you
453f0 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54  , of course."..T
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45450 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 68 75 6d 61 6e  with other human
45460 20 62 65 69 6e 67 73 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 77   beings unless w
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45480 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d  contact with som
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454f0 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70   ability to help
45500 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20  ."..She sighed. 
45510 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73   "Yeah, of cours
45520 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 73  e.".."Is there s
45530 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 63  omeone you can c
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45550 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f  now?"..Alley tho
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45580 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6f 66 66 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61   know off hand a
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455b0 73 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 61 6c  s who could real
455c0 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74  ly help me right
455d0 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65   now.".."Can one
455e0 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73   of your friends
455f0 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63   give you a plac
45600 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68  e to stay for th
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45620 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e   shook her head.
45630 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20    "I don't want 
45640 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 63 61 75 67  to get them caug
45650 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61  ht up in this, a
45660 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 6e  nd I guess I'm n
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45680 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 73   they wouldn't s
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457b0 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77  but I don't know
457c0 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67   how we're going
457d0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20   to get there.  
457e0 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 61  It's not like ca
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45800 63 61 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2c  cash these days,
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45870 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 69 64 65 20 61  you still ride a
45880 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22   motorcycle?".."
45890 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62  Yeah, I should b
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458b0 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72   furrowed her br
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458e0 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73  line classifieds
458f0 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 74 65 20 70 61 72   for private par
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45940 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 73 68 20 6f 72 20   either cash or 
45950 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 75  cryptocurrency u
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45970 68 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 20 6d 6f  h.  I guess a mo
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459a0 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6a 75 6e 6b 65 72 20 63 61 72  han a junker car
459b0 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f  ."..She pulled o
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459e0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64  , then hesitated
459f0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 6d 20 49 20 65 76 65  ..."How am I eve
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45a20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 69  I can't get to i
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45a40 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 73  I will arrange s
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45a70 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61    "It will proba
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45b50 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49  hough?".."No.  I
45b60 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73   will alter logs
45b70 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20   and remove all 
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45bc0 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73  , I guess that's
45bd0 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 79 20 6d 79 20   fine.".."By my 
45be0 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 69  estimate, the ri
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45c60 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65   traffic from he
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45c80 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20  n most parts of 
45c90 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20  Riverside.".."I 
45ca0 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d  guess that's com
45cb0 66 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61  forting," she sa
45cc0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d  id.  "Riding a m
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45cf0 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77   making a deal w
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45d10 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20  when the Men In 
45d20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 72 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20  Black are after 
45d30 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20  me.".."The same 
45d40 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 73 20 61 63 63  statement is acc
45d50 75 72 61 74 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 72 69  urate if you dri
45d60 76 65 20 61 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c  ve a car, as wel
45d70 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 74 61 74 69 73  l, though statis
45d80 74 69 63 73 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 74 68 65  tics suggest the
45d90 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69   danger of drivi
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45db0 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74  htly less than t
45dc0 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20  hat of riding a 
45dd0 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59  motorcycle.".."Y
45de0 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20  eah, thanks for 
45df0 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 70  clearing that up
45e00 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20   for me," Alley 
45e10 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 73 74  said.  "Let's st
45e20 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d  art looking at m
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45e40 2e 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 6c  ."..When she sel
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460b0 22 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6c 6c 65  "Isn't that ille
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46260 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79   be protected by
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462a0 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20   you seem to be 
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46340 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68  "Yeah, okay," sh
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463e0 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20   cryptocurrency 
463f0 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74  as an investment
46400 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 20  .".."Did he use 
46410 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 74 68  Stater to buy th
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46430 48 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 63 61 73 68 20 74  He made a cash t
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46500 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c  Yeah," she said,
46510 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e   "that makes sen
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46530 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73   this going to s
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46640 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20   While you will 
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46730 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 20 70 61 72 74  "No.  Every part
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467f0 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75    Thanks.".."You
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46810 53 68 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 61 77 61 79  She brushed away
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47000 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20  t him.  "Yeah." 
47010 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72   She stopped her
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47090 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62   said.  "What ab
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470f0 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  ed.  Thanks.".."
47100 53 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65  Sure."  He looke
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480f0 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20  all could go to 
48100 76 6f 69 63 65 6d 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74  voicemail.  At t
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48130 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 74 68 65  wondering whethe
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48180 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f   his ringtone fo
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481b0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 69 6d 20 61  other than him a
481c0 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 73 74  round when it st
481d0 61 72 74 65 64 20 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20  arted ringing.  
481e0 53 68 65 20 64 6f 75 62 74 65 64 20 68 65 20 68  She doubted he h
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48230 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2c  e could hear it,
48240 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 20   after all.  He 
48250 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 74 68  never trusted th
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48280 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 72 69 6e 67 2c  the second ring,
48290 20 73 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65   so close to the
482a0 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 66   third that it f
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482c0 74 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e  the wait between
482d0 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73   the first and s
482e0 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 72 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 48 65  econd rings.  He
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48300 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69  ring over the di
48310 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20  sconnect button 
48320 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68  when she heard h
48330 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65  is voice..."Alle
48340 79 3f 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 3f  y?  Is that you?
48350 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 62  "..She stopped b
48360 72 65 61 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d  reathing for a m
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48380 65 61 72 74 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c  eart hammered al
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483b0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74   voice did somet
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483d0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 79 20 73   to her memory s
483e0 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 20  o that it had a 
483f0 68 61 72 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73  hard time impres
48400 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20  sing on her how 
48410 6c 6f 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e  long it had been
48420 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c 69 76 65   since they live
48430 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 72  d together.  Her
48440 20 68 6f 72 6d 6f 6e 65 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65   hormones comple
48450 74 65 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74  tely forgot in t
48460 68 61 74 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74  hat instant that
48470 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 20   they weren't a 
48480 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65  couple any longe
48490 72 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65  r..."Uh . . . ye
484a0 61 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 20 69 73  ah.  Yeah, it is
484b0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73  ," she finally s
484c0 68 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72  hoved out of her
484d0 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 61 75 64   mouth...The aud
484e0 69 6f 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20  io took on that 
484f0 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6c 61 74 20 71 75 61  strange flat qua
48500 6c 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68  lity that told h
48510 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d  er someone had m
48520 75 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20  uted something. 
48530 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 20 66 65   She waited a fe
48540 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65  w moments, wonde
48550 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 68 65 27 64 20 68 75 6e  ring if he'd hun
48560 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20  g up.  She just 
48570 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6b 65 20  decided to wake 
48580 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e  the screen again
48590 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 73 61   to see if it sa
485a0 69 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c  id she was still
485b0 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e   connected, even
485c0 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68   if she didn't h
485d0 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65  ear the disconne
485e0 63 74 20 74 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68  ct tone, when sh
485f0 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63  e heard his voic
48600 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79  e again..."Alley
48610 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20  .  It's good to 
48620 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20  hear your voice 
48630 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20  again.  How are 
48640 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74  you?"..She hesit
48650 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20  ated, then said 
48660 22 49 74 27 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 74 74 65  "It's been bette
48670 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65  r.".."Do you nee
48680 64 20 68 65 6c 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65  d help?" he aske
48690 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 73 68  d, so quickly sh
486a0 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 74 68  e wondered if th
486b0 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69  at was on the ti
486c0 70 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20  p of his tongue 
486d0 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 65 20 6b 6e  the moment he kn
486e0 65 77 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 69  ew who was calli
486f0 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68  ng..."Yeah."  Sh
48700 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68  e sighed.  She h
48710 61 64 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c  ad hoped it woul
48720 64 20 67 65 74 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 77 68 65  d get easier whe
48730 6e 20 73 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 20 69  n she admitted i
48740 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20  t, but suddenly 
48750 68 65 72 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 6f 64 79 20 66  her whole body f
48760 65 6c 74 20 68 65 61 76 69 65 72 2c 20 77 65 69  elt heavier, wei
48770 67 68 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 79 20 74 68  ghted down by th
48780 65 20 61 64 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65  e admission.  He
48790 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 61 74  r heart was beat
487a0 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 79 70 69 63  ing at her typic
487b0 61 6c 20 72 61 74 65 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74  al rate now, but
487c0 20 69 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74   it felt like it
487d0 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 77 69   was doing so wi
487e0 74 68 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 74 72 65 61 64  th a heavy tread
487f0 2c 20 65 61 63 68 20 73 74 65 70 20 73 6c 61 6d  , each step slam
48800 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 74 20 64 6f 77 6e  ming a boot down
48810 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 61 64 65 6e 20 65 78 68   with leaden exh
48820 61 75 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 63 6b 73 20  austion, shocks 
48830 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67  coming up throug
48840 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69  h the soles of i
48850 74 73 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d  ts boots..."It m
48860 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 62 61 64 2c 20 72 65 61 6c  ust be bad, real
48870 6c 79 20 62 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72  ly bad, if you'r
48880 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44  e calling me," D
48890 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 71 75 69 65 74  alton said quiet
488a0 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68  ly.  She could h
488b0 65 61 72 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 20 74  ear a strained t
488c0 69 67 68 74 6e 65 73 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20  ightness in his 
488d0 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 65  throat now..."Ne
488e0 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20  ver mind.  This 
488f0 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20  was a bad idea. 
48900 20 47 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e   Goodbye, Dalton
48910 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65  ."  She woke the
48920 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77   display to show
48930 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20   the disconnect 
48940 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 21 20  button..."Wait! 
48950 20 4e 6f 21 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 2e 20 20 41 6c   No!  Don't.  Al
48960 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68  ley?  Are you th
48970 65 72 65 3f 20 20 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 68 65 6c  ere?  Let me hel
48980 70 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75  p.  I'll stay ou
48990 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62  t of your way, b
489a0 75 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68  ut if you need h
489b0 65 6c 70 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20  elp I'll help.  
489c0 4e 6f 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 22 20 20  No questions."  
489d0 48 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 62  He paused, for b
489e0 72 65 61 74 68 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20  reath or to see 
489f0 69 66 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72  if she'll answer
48a00 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61  .  Either way, a
48a10 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e  fter a few secon
48a20 64 73 2c 20 68 65 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 65 64 20  ds, he repeated 
48a30 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79  himself.  "Alley
48a40 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 72 65  ?  Are you there
48a50 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 74  ?"..She slowly t
48a60 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e  apped the button
48a70 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70   to put the disp
48a80 6c 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 61 67 61  lay to sleep aga
48a90 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61  in and said "Yea
48aa0 68 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22  h, I'm here.".."
48ab0 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75  Look, I know you
48ac0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74   wouldn't come t
48ad0 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e  o me if you didn
48ae0 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 77 68 61 74  't have to, what
48af0 65 76 65 72 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6b  ever it is.  I k
48b00 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77  now you really w
48b10 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 76 65  ould rather have
48b20 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77   nothing to do w
48b30 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72  ith me.  I'm sor
48b40 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20  ry about that.  
48b50 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 2d  I'll be honest -
48b60 2d 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68  - it's good to h
48b70 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20  ear your voice. 
48b80 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20   I don't expect 
48b90 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f  anything from yo
48ba0 75 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49  u, though.  If I
48bb0 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e   can help, I can
48bc0 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65  .  I know I made
48bd0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c   things difficul
48be0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65  t for you.  I ne
48bf0 76 65 72 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 62 75  ver meant to, bu
48c00 74 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77  t I did, and I w
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48c20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 75  try to make it u
48c30 70 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20  p to you.  I'll 
48c40 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72  stay out of your
48c50 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c   business.  I'll
48c60 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61   stay as far awa
48c70 79 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20  y as you want.  
48c80 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 75 72 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20  Don't turn down 
48c90 68 65 6c 70 20 66 72 65 65 6c 79 20 67 69 76 65  help freely give
48ca0 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f  n, though, if yo
48cb0 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4f 6b 61 79  u need it.  Okay
48cc0 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 64  ?"..She squeezed
48cd0 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64   her eyes closed
48ce0 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 61 6e 69  , trying to bani
48cf0 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 69  sh the light sti
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48d10 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65  he corners of he
48d20 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6c 69 70  r eyes.  Her lip
48d30 73 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68  s pressed togeth
48d40 65 72 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20  er tightly in a 
48d50 74 68 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20  thin line.  She 
48d60 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 64  finally released
48d70 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c 20 67 72 75   her breath, gru
48d80 64 67 69 6e 67 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65  dgingly, and ope
48d90 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22  ned her eyes.  "
48da0 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 44  Yeah.  Thanks, D
48db0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 72 75 74  alton.  The trut
48dc0 68 20 69 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c  h is, if you hel
48dd0 70 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62  p me you'll prob
48de0 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c  ably get yoursel
48df0 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72  f in a lot of tr
48e00 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49  ouble, because I
48e10 27 6d 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74  'm in a lot of t
48e20 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20  rouble.  Either 
48e30 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61  I don't understa
48e40 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20  nd the trouble, 
48e50 6f 72 20 49 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73  or I do and it's
48e60 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 61   completely insa
48e70 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75  ne and pretty mu
48e80 63 68 20 69 6e 65 73 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 2c 20  ch inescapable, 
48e90 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c  and will probabl
48ea0 79 20 73 63 72 65 77 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 79  y screw over any
48eb0 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 6d 65  one who helps me
48ec0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f  ..."I really sho
48ed0 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6c 6c  uldn't have call
48ee0 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  ed you.  I don't
48ef0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75   want to get you
48f00 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69   mixed up in thi
48f10 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6c  s.".."It's too l
48f20 61 74 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 71  ate," he said, q
48f30 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20  uietly, gently. 
48f40 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 49   "You called.  I
48f50 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f  'm here.  I'm go
48f60 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2e  ing to help you.
48f70 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20    Just take the 
48f80 6f 66 66 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20  offer, and tell 
48f90 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64  me what you need
48fa0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65  .".."Fine."  She
48fb0 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20   huddled around 
48fc0 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65  herself, and pre
48fd0 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f  ssed her back mo
48fe0 72 65 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74  re firmly into t
48ff0 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2c 20 66 65 65 6c 69  he corner, feeli
49000 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 73 74 65 72 20 63  ng the plaster c
49010 72 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20  rumbling behind 
49020 68 65 72 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20  her jacket.  "I 
49030 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20  need a place to 
49040 6c 69 65 20 6c 6f 77 2c 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20  lie low, first, 
49050 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69  and I need to fi
49060 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68  gure out what th
49070 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67  e fuck I'm doing
49080 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22   next.".."Yeah,"
49090 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20   he said, "that 
490a0 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 72 69 6f  does sound serio
490b0 75 73 2e 20 20 57 68 6f 27 73 20 61 66 74 65 72  us.  Who's after
490c0 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c   you?".."I shoul
490d0 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 65 6c 6c 20  d probably tell 
490e0 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 70 61  you the worst pa
490f0 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 6f 27 73 20 61 66 74 65  rt of who's afte
49100 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f  r me, but I'm no
49110 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6f 6e 65  t sure which one
49120 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20   it is.".."What 
49130 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 68 65  do you mean?" he
49140 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 0a 0a   asked slowly...
49150 22 57 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 77 6f 72 73 65 2c  "Which is worse,
49160 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76   the Secret Serv
49170 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 61 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 20  ice or a creepy 
49180 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c  government intel
49190 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74  ligence contract
491a0 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20  or that can get 
491b0 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69  the secret servi
491c0 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 74 73 20 64 69 72  ce to do its dir
491d0 74 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73  ty work?"..The s
491e0 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20  ilence lingered 
491f0 2d 2d 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 70 61 72 74  -- silence apart
49200 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 67 68 74 20   from the tight 
49210 72 61 73 70 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61  rasp of her brea
49220 74 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74  th in her throat
49230 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66   as she waited f
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49250 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e   to say somethin
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49270 68 69 73 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 20 72 65 6c 75 63  his sudden reluc
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49290 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20  r..."I can come 
492a0 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 22 20 68 65  pick you up," he
492b0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64   said.  "Where d
492c0 6f 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f 20  o I need to go? 
492d0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20   I guess you're 
492e0 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d  probably not hom
492f0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75  e."..She held ou
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49310 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72  stared at it for
49320 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22   a long time.  "
49330 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20  What?".."Do you 
49340 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20  need me to pick 
49350 79 6f 75 20 75 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65  you up?" he aske
49360 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65  d...She shook he
49370 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 74  r head.  "You st
49380 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70  ill want to help
49390 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f   me . . . ?".."O
493a0 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 22 20  f course I do," 
493b0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20  he said, with a 
493c0 73 68 61 6b 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 68  shaky laugh in h
493d0 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74  is voice.  "What
493e0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f   kind of dangero
493f0 75 73 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20  us agitator and 
49400 64 65 6d 61 67 6f 67 75 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20  demagogue would 
49410 49 20 62 65 65 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27  I bee if I wasn'
49420 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c  t willing to hel
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49440 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53  rom the Secret S
49450 65 72 76 69 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61  ervice?"..She la
49460 75 67 68 65 64 20 77 65 61 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 22  ughed weakly.  "
49470 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73  Right.  Of cours
49480 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20  e you do."  She 
49490 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20  shook her head. 
494a0 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20   "I don't know. 
494b0 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63   I have a motorc
494c0 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72  ycle, not even r
494d0 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e  egistered to me.
494e0 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64    Maybe I should
494f0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22   just go there."
49500 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 22 20 68  .."You could," h
49510 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f  e said.  "Hang o
49520 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 61  n a sec' -- I ha
49530 76 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68  ve an idea."..Sh
49540 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b  e heard the lack
49550 20 6f 66 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c   of audio again,
49560 20 61 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72   a faint pressur
49570 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 74  e against her at
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49590 73 20 74 69 63 6b 65 64 20 62 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68  s ticked by...Th
495a0 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75  e audio opened u
495b0 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65  p in her awarene
495c0 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61  ss again.  "I ca
495d0 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 76 61 6e 20 74 6f 20  n send a van to 
495e0 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64  pick you up, and
495f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65   your motorcycle
49600 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62  .  You'll probab
49610 6c 79 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20  ly stay off the 
49620 72 61 64 61 72 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61  radar better tha
49630 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68  t way.  If you h
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496a0 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65  with your moveme
496b0 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22  nts.  Right?".."
496c0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65  Yeah, sure," she
496d0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 27 73 20 64   said.  "Who's d
496e0 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 6e 3f 22  riving the van?"
496f0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73  .."Nobody," he s
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49790 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 72  ".."Oh."../* I r
497a0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 66  eally need a dif
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497c0 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 22 62 6c 69 73 73  this than "bliss
497d0 63 72 79 70 74 22 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20  crypt".  That's 
497e0 73 74 75 70 69 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49  stupid. */../* I
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49830 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f  ."I just need to
49840 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20   know where you 
49850 61 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f  are.  It's a goo
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49870 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20   this call with 
49880 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 2c 20 62 79 20 74  blisscrypt, by t
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498f0 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  ht," she said.  
49900 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f  She paused.  "Ho
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49980 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 6f 6e 65 73 74   he said "Honest
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499a0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 2e  .  It was weird.
499b0 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 20    I just saw an 
499c0 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 72  incoming call fr
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49a30 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65  d, Dalton.".."Ye
49a40 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22  ah," he said.  "
49a50 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 69 72  It's not as weir
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49a70 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f  g more than I do
49a80 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20  , though."..She 
49a90 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20  smiled, despite 
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49ae0 74 75 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 75 6e 65 72 72 69  tude with unerri
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49b00 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20  f you'd had the 
49b10 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 2e  week I've had. .
49b20 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68   . .".."Yeah," h
49b30 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20  e said.  "Let's 
49b40 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 68  talk about it wh
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49b70 20 53 65 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 6f   Send me your lo
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49c00 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20    She ended the 
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49d70 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74  from Dalton that
49d80 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65   said "Your ride
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49da0 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20  .  Sorry you'll 
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49e20 65 79 2c 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20  ey, was a small 
49e30 62 6f 78 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 74 73 20 62  box truck, its b
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49e50 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 61 20 72 61   to provide a ra
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4a140 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74   to Dalton.  "It
4a150 27 73 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 72 61 70 20  's in.".."Strap 
4a160 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 69 6e  into the seat in
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4a190 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f  , toward the fro
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4a1c0 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68    "What about th
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4a1e0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64  ed..."It'll hand
4a1f0 6c 65 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65  le itself."..She
4a200 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20   went back into 
4a210 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20  the building to 
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4a280 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73  .  A few moments
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4a2e0 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65  ained on, a more
4a2f0 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e   obvious illumin
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4a310 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 6f 73  he back was clos
4a320 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 6f  ed and blocked o
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4a340 73 75 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4d 75 73 69  sun light.  Musi
4a350 63 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e  c started playin
4a360 67 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f  g, some of Dalto
4a370 6e 27 73 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74  n's 1980s indust
4a380 72 69 61 6c 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 73 2c 20  rial favorites, 
4a390 62 75 74 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68  but softly..."Wh
4a3a0 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67  ere is it taking
4a3b0 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20   me?" she asked 
4a3c0 69 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61  in another messa
4a3d0 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73  ge...The respons
4a3e0 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65  e came soon afte
4a3f0 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73  r.  "I'm surpris
4a400 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 74 68  ed you waited th
4a410 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e 20  at long to ask. 
4a420 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 72 75   I guess you tru
4a430 73 74 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 74  st me."..She put
4a440 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68   her hand over h
4a450 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 74  er face and rest
4a460 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20  ed her elbow on 
4a470 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63  her thigh.  "Fuc
4a480 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 6c 6f  k," she said alo
4a490 75 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61  ud...When she sa
4a4a0 74 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20  t up again, she 
4a4b0 73 65 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2e 20  send her reply. 
4a4c0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20   "Yeah, I guess 
4a4d0 49 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69  I trusted you wi
4a4e0 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  thout even think
4a4f0 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4f  ing about it.  O
4a500 6c 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  ld reflexes.".."
4a510 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 61 74 74 65 72 65 64 2c 20 62  I'm flattered, b
4a520 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72  ut you should tr
4a530 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 72 65  y to get over re
4a540 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f  flexes.".."I kno
4a550 77 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f  w."..It turned o
4a560 75 74 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 65 77  ut he still knew
4a570 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68   her well enough
4a580 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20   to say nothing 
4a590 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65  to that.  She le
4a5a0 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61  aned her head ba
4a5b0 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 27 73  ck on the seat's
4a5c0 20 68 65 61 64 20 72 65 73 74 2c 20 63 6c 6f 73   head rest, clos
4a5d0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64  ed her eyes, and
4a5e0 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73   wondered what s
4a5f0 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 74  he would do next
4a600 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64  ...As if it read
4a610 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68   her mind, she h
4a620 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74  eard the priorit
4a630 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f  izer say "You co
4a640 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d  uld use this tim
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4a660 69 6e 67 20 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20  ing Underground 
4a670 4f 70 65 53 65 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20  OpeSec.".."Good 
4a680 69 64 65 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65  idea," she mutte
4a690 72 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 73 6f 75 72 6c 79  red a bit sourly
4a6a0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 75 67 20 69 74 20 6f 75  .  She dug it ou
4a6b0 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20  t...Eventually, 
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4a6e0 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68  d enough that sh
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4a710 20 61 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 77   at probably a w
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4a730 6e 20 69 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 20 61 6e  n it reversed an
4a740 64 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 2c 20 62 61 63 6b 69 6e  d turned, backin
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4a760 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 69  g with a reversi
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4a780 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67  that came throug
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4a7b0 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 6f  he truck's cargo
4a7c0 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65   box.  It stoppe
4a7d0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6c  d, and moments l
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4a7f0 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a  arted opening...
4a800 2f 2a 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 64 65 73 63 72 69  /* I need descri
4a810 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 69 73  ptions. */..This
4a820 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20   time, the ramp 
4a830 77 61 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20  was angled just 
4a840 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20  slightly upward 
4a850 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66  from the back of
4a860 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f   the truck, into
4a870 20 61 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72   a cargo platfor
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4a890 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74   like a somewhat
4a8a0 20 66 75 72 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 77 61 72 65 68   furnished wareh
4a8b0 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e  ouse.  Dalton an
4a8c0 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 43 72 61  d his friend Cra
4a8d0 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70  y stood on the p
4a8e0 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 6d 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67  latform, looking
4a8f0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53   down at her...S
4a900 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e  he unbuckled, an
4a910 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 2e 20  d she stood up. 
4a920 20 43 72 61 79 20 67 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 20 62 72   Cray grinned br
4a930 6f 61 64 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 44  oadly at her.  D
4a940 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65  alton just looke
4a950 64 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68  d worried, in th
4a960 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6f 66  at way he had of
4a970 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20   almost looking 
4a980 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 75 72 74 20 77 68  a little hurt wh
4a990 65 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65  enever he worrie
4a9a0 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22  d around her..."
4a9b0 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a  Hi," she said...
4a9c0 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65  "Hi!" Cray calle
4a9d0 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 47 65 74 20 6f 75 74  d out.  "Get out
4a9e0 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 68   here.  Man, I h
4a9f0 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20  aven't seen you 
4aa00 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  in years!"..Alle
4aa10 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20  y scratched her 
4aa20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72  head to give her
4aa30 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20   hand something 
4aa40 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 69 63 6b  to do, then pick
4aa50 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61  ed up her bags a
4aa60 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65  nd headed up the
4aa70 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62   ramp.  "What ab
4aa80 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 20 73  out the bike?" s
4aa90 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20  he asked...Cray 
4aaa0 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72  said "Don't worr
4aab0 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e  y.  We got this.
4aac0 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e  "  He stepped on
4aad0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 20  to the ramp and 
4aae0 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20  walked down the 
4aaf0 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 64 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69  gentle decline i
4ab00 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 6e  nto the truck an
4ab10 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 6e  d started loosen
4ab20 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 63  ing a tie down c
4ab30 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20  able...Dalton's 
4ab40 61 72 6d 73 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e  arms twitched an
4ab50 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 73 68 69  d his weight shi
4ab60 66 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 41  fted forward.  A
4ab70 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 65  lley realized he
4ab80 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 79 70 65  r eyes were hype
4ab90 72 66 6f 63 75 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 72  rfocused on ever
4aba0 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20  y detail of his 
4abb0 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73  movements, and s
4abc0 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  he expected the 
4abd0 73 68 69 66 74 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e  shift to turn in
4abe0 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72  to coming forwar
4abf0 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20  d to give her a 
4ac00 68 75 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61  hug.  She felt a
4ac10 20 74 77 69 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 6e 65 72   twinge of inner
4ac20 20 70 61 6e 69 63 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77   panic, not know
4ac30 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 74  ing how to react
4ac40 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 2c 20  , how she felt, 
4ac50 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 68  but it passed wh
4ac60 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74  en the motion st
4ac70 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20  opped there and 
4ac80 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61  he just looked a
4ac90 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20  t her...Without 
4aca0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2c 20 43 72 61 79  looking up, Cray
4acb0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20   said "Give him 
4acc0 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f  a hug.  Get it o
4acd0 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69  ver with, and si
4ace0 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 63 61  t down, so he ca
4acf0 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e 22  n come help me."
4ad00 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20  ..Alley's mouth 
4ad10 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69  twitched a milli
4ad20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 73  meter toward a s
4ad30 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73  mile, then she s
4ad40 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 73 69 64  et her bags asid
4ad50 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 66 6f  e and stepped fo
4ad60 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20  rward.  She and 
4ad70 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 62  Dalton hugged, b
4ad80 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 72 65 66 75  ut it was carefu
4ad90 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f  l.  There was no
4ada0 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e   physical distan
4adb0 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c  ce between them,
4adc0 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f   but the sense o
4add0 66 20 61 20 77 69 64 65 20 67 75 6c 66 20 6f 66  f a wide gulf of
4ade0 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 74 79 20 73 74 69   uncertainty sti
4adf0 6c 6c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69  ll stood in thei
4ae00 72 20 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c  r way...She real
4ae10 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79  ized she already
4ae20 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20   missed the hug 
4ae30 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76  before it was ev
4ae40 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 6f 76  en completely ov
4ae50 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67  er..."I should g
4ae60 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 69 6d 2c 22 20 44 61 6c  o help him," Dal
4ae70 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20  ton said with a 
4ae80 77 72 79 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20  wry turn of his 
4ae90 6d 6f 75 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65  mouth, and passe
4aea0 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79  d her on the way
4aeb0 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20   down...A quick 
4aec0 73 63 61 6e 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20  scan showed her 
4aed0 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e  plenty of option
4aee0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 73  s for where to s
4aef0 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61  it.  There was a
4af00 20 62 69 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65   big area to the
4af10 20 6c 65 66 74 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 6b   left set up lik
4af20 65 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 63 6c 75 62 2c 20 77  e a nightclub, w
4af30 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f  ith a dance floo
4af40 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20  r and a bar and 
4af50 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c 20  little cocktail 
4af60 74 61 62 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72  tables.  Another
4af70 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 70   area was set up
4af80 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 68   like a movie th
4af90 65 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73  eater with the s
4afa0 63 72 65 65 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 75 70 20 6f 6e  creen high up on
4afb0 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20   the right hand 
4afc0 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63  wall so people c
4afd0 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 20  ould recline in 
4afe0 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 65 61 74  the theater seat
4aff0 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65  ing and not have
4b000 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68   to look past th
4b010 65 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  e heads of peopl
4b020 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 61  e in the seats a
4b030 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 43  head of them.  C
4b040 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 2c  loser than both,
4b050 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 6f 6c 64   there were fold
4b060 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20  ing lawn chairs 
4b070 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 62 6c 65 20  and collapsible 
4b080 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68  camp chairs...Sh
4b090 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 6d 70 20  e sat on a camp 
4b0a0 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 61 20 63  chair beside a c
4b0b0 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65  ooler, and looke
4b0c0 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f  d inside.  It co
4b0d0 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 20  ntained bottled 
4b0e0 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f  sodas, so she to
4b0f0 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74  ok one and start
4b100 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c  ed drinking whil
4b110 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65  e the guys rolle
4b120 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 70 20 74 68  d the bike up th
4b130 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 72 74 6c 79  e ramp.  Shortly
4b140 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 72 65 73 74 65  , the bike reste
4b150 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6b 69 63 6b 73 74 61  d on its kicksta
4b160 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 72 61  nd, the truck ra
4b170 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 72 61 6d 70 20 74 6f  ised its ramp to
4b180 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20   close the open 
4b190 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f  back, and the ro
4b1a0 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 20  ll up warehouse 
4b1b0 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20  door started to 
4b1c0 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73  descend..."I was
4b1d0 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f  n't expecting yo
4b1e0 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  u," Alley said, 
4b1f0 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61  when she saw Cra
4b200 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a  y approaching...
4b210 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 20  "Didn't he tell 
4b220 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20  you?" he asked, 
4b230 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72  and looked towar
4b240 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72  d Dalton..."Sorr
4b250 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e  y," Dalton said.
4b260 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6d 79    "It slipped my
4b270 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 20   mind.".."Shit, 
4b280 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 70 73 65 63 20  man, your opsec 
4b290 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69  sucks," Cray sai
4b2a0 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69  d.  He looked li
4b2b0 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20  ke he wanted to 
4b2c0 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6c  say more, but gl
4b2d0 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61  anced at Alley a
4b2e0 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 65  nd just said "We
4b2f0 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 6e 6f 77  ll, I can go now
4b300 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 6e 20   so you two can 
4b310 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c  talk about this,
4b320 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 69   whatever this i
4b330 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 66  s."..Alley sat f
4b340 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20  orward and half 
4b350 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 73  raised a hand as
4b360 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 43 72 61 79   if to wave Cray
4b370 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 73 74 61   back.  "No, sta
4b380 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c  y.  I should tel
4b390 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20  l both of you.  
4b3a0 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e  If you're helpin
4b3b0 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 72 69  g, you have a ri
4b3c0 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74  ght to know what
4b3d0 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20   you're getting 
4b3e0 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f  into."..Cray loo
4b3f0 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20  ked from her to 
4b400 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64  Dalton, who nodd
4b410 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20  ed, so Cray sat 
4b420 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74  in the seat on t
4b430 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66  he other side of
4b440 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d   the cooler from
4b450 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67   her, to her rig
4b460 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20  ht.  He grabbed 
4b470 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 41 73  a soda, too...As
4b480 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74   Dalton sat in t
4b490 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  he seat to Alley
4b4a0 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  's left, he said
4b4b0 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20   "I'm sorry.  I 
4b4c0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c  really am."..All
4b4d0 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61  ey shook her hea
4b4e0 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77  d.  "No, don't w
4b4f0 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20  orry about it.  
4b500 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f  You should apolo
4b510 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 20 69 66 20 79  gize to him if y
4b520 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c  ou got him invol
4b530 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6c 6c  ved without tell
4b540 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74  ing him about it
4b550 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79  .".."Shit," Cray
4b560 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67   said.  "I thoug
4b570 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75  ht Dalton was ju
4b580 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d 61 74 69  st being dramati
4b590 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77  c or something w
4b5a0 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 69 73  hen he said this
4b5b0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f   could be the mo
4b5c0 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 69  st dangerous thi
4b5d0 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 64 6f 2e 20  ng I'd ever do. 
4b5e0 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65   What's up, Alle
4b5f0 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20  y?"..She looked 
4b600 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64  at Cray and said
4b610 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 6f 76   "I had some gov
4b620 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67  ernment intellig
4b630 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20  ence contractor 
4b640 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 61  agents show up a
4b650 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20  t my place with 
4b660 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61  Secret Service a
4b670 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20  gents who broke 
4b680 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e  down the door an
4b690 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6d 65  d raided my home
4b6a0 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20  ."..Cray stared 
4b6b0 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64  at her, eyes wid
4b6c0 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a  e.  "No shit."..
4b6d0 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 63  "No shit," she c
4b6e0 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f  onfirmed...He lo
4b6f0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20  oked at Dalton, 
4b700 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 72  then back at her
4b710 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73  .  He opened his
4b720 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f   mouth to say so
4b730 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c  mething, but Dal
4b740 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68  ton cut in..."Wh
4b750 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6c 61  at are those gla
4b760 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e  sses?" he asked.
4b770 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 74    "Are those act
4b780 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  ive AR?"..Alley 
4b790 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20  looked at him.  
4b7a0 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72  "Yes, but they'r
4b7b0 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77  e secure.".."How
4b7c0 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65   are they secure
4b7d0 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20  ?"..She thought 
4b7e0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65  about it, and re
4b7f0 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f  alized it was no
4b800 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 69  t an easy questi
4b810 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 66 75 6c  on to answer ful
4b820 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20  ly.  "There's a 
4b830 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 41 49 20 74  specialized AI t
4b840 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67  hat's falsifying
4b850 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20   logs on me and 
4b860 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 76 69  replacing any vi
4b870 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 65  deo and audio fe
4b880 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68  eds from me with
4b890 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 66   clips grabbed f
4b8a0 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65  rom other people
4b8b0 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a  's AR glasses.".
4b8c0 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e  .Dalton frowned.
4b8d0 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 69    "That sounds i
4b8e0 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68  mprobable.".."Th
4b8f0 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d  at's nothing com
4b900 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 63 74 75  pared to me actu
4b910 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f  ally living thro
4b920 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 77 68 6f 6c  ugh it.  My whol
4b930 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 20 75 6e 72 65 63 6f  e life is unreco
4b940 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20  gnizable.  It's 
4b950 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67  the truth, thoug
4b960 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69  h.  I can explai
4b970 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73  n more, but it's
4b980 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61   going to take a
4b990 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65   long time."..He
4b9a0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e   nodded.  "Okay.
4b9b0 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 69    We have the ti
4b9c0 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 6d  me.  I cleared m
4b9d0 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74  y schedule for t
4b9e0 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64  he rest of the d
4b9f0 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f 20  ay,and I can do 
4ba00 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f  it again tomorro
4ba10 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 22  w if I have to."
4ba20 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 69  ..Cray decided i
4ba30 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 74 75 72 6e 20 74  t was his turn t
4ba40 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 20  o cut in.  "May 
4ba50 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73  I cut in for a s
4ba60 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20  ec?"..They both 
4ba70 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a  looked at him...
4ba80 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74  "Yeah, I guess t
4ba90 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 79 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6b  hat's a yes.  Ok
4baa0 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75  ay.  Dalton, you
4bab0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68   shouldn't do th
4bac0 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67  at.  Don't chang
4bad0 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20  e your schedule 
4bae0 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 2e  around too much.
4baf0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74    You don't want
4bb00 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69   to look suspici
4bb10 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73  ous if someone s
4bb20 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e  tarts looking in
4bb30 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f   on you."..Dalto
4bb40 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68  n sighed.  "Yeah
4bb50 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20  , good point."  
4bb60 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c  He looked at All
4bb70 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d 65  ey.  "Between me
4bb80 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69  , Cray, and Lidi
4bb90 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74  a -- if you want
4bba0 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6f   to let her in o
4bbb0 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61  n it -- I can ma
4bbc0 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6c 77 61  ke sure you alwa
4bbd0 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f  ys have a way to
4bbe0 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75   get help if you
4bbf0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 20   need it for as 
4bc00 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64  long as you need
4bc10 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 49   to hide out.  I
4bc20 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65  f you need to ge
4bc30 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 49  t out of town, I
4bc40 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74   can help with t
4bc50 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61  hat, too.  We ca
4bc60 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20  n, I mean."  He 
4bc70 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e  glanced at Cray.
4bc80 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79    "Right?"..Cray
4bc90 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61   nodded enthusia
4bca0 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c 6c  stically.  "Hell
4bcb0 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65   yeah.  I figure
4bcc0 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 64 67 65   we have a budge
4bcd0 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 74  t of about one t
4bce0 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 20 64 61 79 20 77 65 20  hing per day we 
4bcf0 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 20  can each cancel 
4bd00 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 6e  if we have to, n
4bd10 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75  o biggie, withou
4bd20 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20  t anyone really 
4bd30 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20  thinking things 
4bd40 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 61 73 20 6c 6f  are weird, as lo
4bd50 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 69  ng as we do it i
4bd60 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a  ntelligently."..
4bd70 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64  "Oh," Alley said
4bd80 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67  .  "I'm starting
4bd90 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c   to feel a littl
4bda0 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 2e 22 0a  e overwhelmed.".
4bdb0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20  .Cray laughed.  
4bdc0 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72  "You're on the r
4bdd0 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72  un from the secr
4bde0 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 69  et service and i
4bdf0 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e  ntelligence agen
4be00 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 76  ts, and it's hav
4be10 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74  ing friends that
4be20 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 2e   overwhelms you.
4be30 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73  ".."Yeah," she s
4be40 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 61 20  aid, laughing a 
4be50 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20  little as well. 
4be60 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20   "I guess so."  
4be70 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68  She leaned her h
4be80 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f  ead back and loo
4be90 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69  ked up at the mi
4bea0 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 64 69 66 66 75 73  lky white diffus
4beb0 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65  ion panels above
4bec0 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66  , making it diff
4bed0 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6e 70 6f 69 6e  icult to pinpoin
4bee0 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 70  t the specific p
4bef0 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 45 44 73  lacement of LEDs
4bf00 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 65 6c   above the panel
4bf10 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75  s..."What do you
4bf20 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20   think?" Dalton 
4bf30 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  asked..."I think
4bf40 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 20   I need to do a 
4bf50 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c  lot of thinking,
4bf60 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68   and that you sh
4bf70 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 4c 69  ould only get Li
4bf80 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 66 20  dia involved if 
4bf90 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74  you make absolut
4bfa0 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e  ely sure she wan
4bfb0 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76  ts to get involv
4bfc0 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20  ed in something 
4bfd0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20  like this.".."I 
4bfe0 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61  will," Dalton sa
4bff0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  id...Cray said "
4c000 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74  First you have t
4c010 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 65  o tell us what e
4c020 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 2c 20  xactly this is, 
4c030 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20  in detail, down 
4c040 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 62 69 74 20  to the last bit 
4c050 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e 74  of chipped paint
4c060 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 62 6f 6c 74   and rusted bolt
4c070 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70  , so it's even p
4c080 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20  ossible to find 
4c090 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69  out whether Lidi
4c0a0 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6e  a's going to wan
4c0b0 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74  t to get in on t
4c0c0 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c  his action."..Al
4c0d0 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68  ley raised her h
4c0e0 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f  ead again and lo
4c0f0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 44  oked at him.  "D
4c100 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69  o you really thi
4c110 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69  nk it's a good i
4c120 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20  dea to tell her 
4c130 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c  all those detail
4c140 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 3f  s before asking?
4c150 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20    Maybe you two 
4c160 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c 6c  should just tell
4c170 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 61 72 69 65 73   her the scaries
4c180 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20  t vague details 
4c190 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 61 79 20 6e  so she can say n
4c1a0 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67  o without having
4c1b0 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69   to learn anythi
4c1c0 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e  ng she won't wan
4c1d0 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68  t to know.".."Oh
4c1e0 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65  , yeah, absolute
4c1f0 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  ly," Cray said, 
4c200 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 49 20 77 61 6e  "but first I wan
4c210 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68  t to know all th
4c220 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6d  e gory details m
4c230 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20  yself.  Lidia's 
4c240 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e  just a convenien
4c250 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74  t excuse."..Dalt
4c260 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67  on said "Let's g
4c270 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 61  ive her some spa
4c280 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 66 69 72  ce to relax, fir
4c290 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f  st."..Alley shoo
4c2a0 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f  k her head.  "No
4c2b0 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f  .  I can tell yo
4c2c0 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20  u about it now, 
4c2d0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20  if you have the 
4c2e0 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20  time.".."I have 
4c2f0 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 69 6d 65  nothing but time
4c300 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65   right now, Alle
4c310 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64  y."  Cray smiled
4c320 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 74  .  "Tell me a st
4c330 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 49  ory.".."Okay.  I
4c340 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 67   guess . . . I g
4c350 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73  uess it really s
4c360 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20  tarted with the 
4c370 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75  realization abou
4c380 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 67 6f  t two months ago
4c390 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64   that I only had
4c3a0 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 6f   enough money fo
4c3b0 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68  r two more month
4c3c0 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 74  s of rent and ut
4c3d0 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f  ilities.".."Why?
4c3e0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22  " Cray asked.  "
4c3f0 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 77 65 73 6f 6d 65 20 61  You're awesome a
4c400 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 20  t what you do.  
4c410 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65  You used to make
4c420 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20   money like you 
4c430 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 61 62  were pulling rab
4c440 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 61  bits out of a ha
4c450 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 6e  t.".."That's fun
4c460 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 68  ny," she said, h
4c470 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 79 2c 20 22 77  er voice dry, "w
4c480 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e  hen we're sittin
4c490 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65  g in a warehouse
4c4a0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79   Dalton probably
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4c4d0 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6c 65 70 74  ey when he slept
4c4e0 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 69 70  ."..In her perip
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4c510 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 61   stifle an awkwa
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4c580 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 77 69 74 68   his throat with
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4c5b0 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20  .."Well, sure," 
4c5c0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20  Cray said, "but 
4c5d0 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61  that doesn't cha
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4c5f0 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 61 73 73 2e  ou were bad ass.
4c600 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 69 73 68 65    I always wishe
4c610 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63  d I could just c
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4c630 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 6c 69   the computer li
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4c650 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70  ough.  What happ
4c660 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20  ened?".."I went 
4c670 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 67  into hiding, I g
4c680 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d  uess, and that m
4c690 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c  eans I started l
4c6a0 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68  osing touch with
4c6b0 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a   old clients."..
4c6c0 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 20  "What about new 
4c6d0 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61  clients?" Cray a
4c6e0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67  sked...She shrug
4c6f0 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 72 69 65  ged.  "They drie
4c700 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61  d up, too.  I wa
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4c720 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20  advertising any 
4c730 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20  longer, because 
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4c750 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61   draw too much a
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4c770 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20  ople were still 
4c780 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73  sending messages
4c790 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 64 64 72   to my work addr
4c7a0 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20  esses to insult 
4c7b0 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 64 65 61 74  me and send deat
4c7c0 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c  h threats."..Sil
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4c7e0 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20   on all of them 
4c7f0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68  for a moment, th
4c800 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48  en Cray asked "H
4c810 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 74  ow long did that
4c820 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 20   go on?".."Once 
4c830 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 73 74  in a while, I st
4c840 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a  ill get some."..
4c850 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c  "They weren't al
4c860 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c  l death threats,
4c870 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c   were they?" Dal
4c880 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e  ton asked..."No.
4c890 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61  "..Cray looked a
4c8a0 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 74 20 44  t her, then at D
4c8b0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f  alton.  "What do
4c8c0 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a  es that mean?"..
4c8d0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77  Dalton looked aw
4c8e0 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61  ay from Alley, a
4c8f0 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20  nd toward Cray, 
4c900 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74  then looked at t
4c910 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e  he floor in fron
4c920 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75  t of him, obviou
4c930 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c  sly uncomfortabl
4c940 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72  e...Alley answer
4c950 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 20  ed for him.  "I 
4c960 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74  got some other t
4c970 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f  hreats, too.  So
4c980 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f 73  me of the /* mos
4c990 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 77  t fun */ worst w
4c9a0 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 70 65 20 74 68 72  ere the rape thr
4c9b0 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f  eats."..Cray loo
4c9c0 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63  ked angry.  "Fuc
4c9d0 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 21 20  k those people! 
4c9e0 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 74   I mean, not lit
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4ca00 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  damn it, people 
4ca10 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72  suck.".."I'm sor
4ca20 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64  ry," Dalton said
4ca30 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20  , still looking 
4ca40 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 41  at the floor...A
4ca50 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68  lley shook her h
4ca60 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74  ead.  "It wasn't
4ca70 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2c 20 44 61 6c   your fault, Dal
4ca80 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64  ton."..He nodded
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4caa0 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68  wledging what sh
4cab0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20  e said, but she 
4cac0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 64 69  could tell he di
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4cae0 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c  eve it.  He stil
4caf0 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 62 62  l had that stubb
4cb00 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 6a 75 64 67 69 6e  orn, self judgin
4cb10 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6a 61 77  g set of his jaw
4cb20 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4f 6b  ...Cray said "Ok
4cb30 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20  ay, so you were 
4cb40 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d  running out of m
4cb50 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 65 74  oney.  Let's get
4cb60 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 62 61 63 6b 20   this show back 
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4cb80 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6e 65 78 74  at happened next
4cb90 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6a  ?".."I started j
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4cd10 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  d..."Yeah," she 
4cd20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 72 69 65 64 20  said.  "I tried 
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4cdc0 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68  the cracks in th
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4ce00 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77  id "Yeah, I know
4ce10 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20  .  I just never 
4ce20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 6f  thought you'd do
4ce30 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72   that.".."Desper
4ce40 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67  ation does thing
4ce50 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20  s to a person's 
4ce60 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75  priorities, I gu
4ce70 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a  ess," she said..
4ce80 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73  .She could almos
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4cec0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 70 74   thing that kept
4ced0 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20   showing up for 
4cee0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 77 61 73  about a week was
4cef0 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73   this academic s
4cf00 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 27 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f  tudy.  D'you kno
4cf10 77 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 73 20  w those studies 
4cf20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  that pay people 
4cf30 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 65 20 69  to participate i
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4cf80 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20    I mostly just 
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4cfa0 69 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 75  it kept coming u
4cfb0 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 49 20 64 69 64  p.  I knew I did
4cfc0 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 75 62 6a  n't want to subj
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4d010 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e 79   to see how many
4d020 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6f 66 20   people died of 
4d030 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 62 6c 65 65 64  intestinal bleed
4d040 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c  ing so they coul
4d050 64 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75  d get paid a cou
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4d070 61 72 73 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 6f 72 20 73 6f  ars a week or so
4d080 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61  mething like tha
4d090 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 64  t, so I just did
4d0a0 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20  n't really look 
4d0b0 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20  into it..."That 
4d0c0 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d  changed when som
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4d0e0 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65    Well, a couple
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4d100 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e  .  One was an in
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4d150 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20  after I arrived 
4d160 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65  that the only re
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4d180 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20   to bring me in 
4d190 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c  was so they coul
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4d1c0 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 66 61 63 65  dish' to my face
4d1d0 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 61 64 65 20  ."..Dalton made 
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4d210 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 74 65 64  e'd always hated
4d220 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20   that more than 
4d230 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 74 68 72 6f 77  any insult throw
4d240 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 69  n directly at hi
4d250 6d 20 62 79 20 68 69 73 20 65 6e 65 6d 69 65 73  m by his enemies
4d260 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22  ..."After that,"
4d270 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 66 65   she said, "I fe
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4d290 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  husiastic about 
4d2a0 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22  the job search."
4d2b0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20  .."What was the 
4d2c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72  other thing?" Cr
4d2d0 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41  ay asked..."ANTA
4d2e0 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c  S upgraded itsel
4d2f0 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 75 70  f with a noon up
4d300 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 70 65 64 20  date, and wiped 
4d310 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 66 65  most of my prefe
4d320 72 65 6e 63 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20  rence settings. 
4d330 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 69 74 20   That night, it 
4d340 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d  decided that som
4d350 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 69  ething was too i
4d360 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f  mportant to reco
4d370 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6f  mmend and just o
4d380 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65  rdered it for me
4d390 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20  .  I woke up in 
4d3a0 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74  the morning to t
4d3b0 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 67  he sound of it g
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4d3d0 66 66 20 62 79 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 65  ff by a heavy de
4d3e0 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a  livery drone."..
4d3f0 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 44  "What was it?" D
4d400 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69  alton asked, qui
4d410 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74  etly..."It was t
4d420 68 65 20 64 65 6c 75 78 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 73  he deluxe home s
4d430 65 74 75 70 20 6b 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 65 77  etup kit for new
4d440 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20   version of the 
4d450 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 70  full Majordomo p
4d460 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20  ackage.".."Holy 
4d470 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64  shit," Cray said
4d480 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61  ..."Yeah.  It wa
4d490 73 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65  s fifteen hundre
4d4a0 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6a  d bucks, which j
4d4b0 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 61 78 65 64 20  ust about maxed 
4d4c0 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20  out my card and 
4d4d0 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 75 70 20 65 6e 6f  would eat up eno
4d4e0 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69  ugh of my checki
4d4f0 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68  ng account so th
4d500 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61  at I wouldn't ha
4d510 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66  ve enough left f
4d520 6f 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 62  or rent.  That b
4d530 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 49  asically meant I
4d540 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74  'd live the next
4d550 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f   month in the ho
4d560 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74  le, try desperat
4d570 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6a 6f  ely to find a jo
4d580 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 67 65 74  b, and maybe get
4d590 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6e   one but still n
4d5a0 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 65 6e 6f 75  ot get paid enou
4d5b0 67 68 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 65 6e  gh in a short en
4d5c0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74  ough time to act
4d5d0 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 79 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d  ually pay next m
4d5e0 6f 6e 74 68 27 73 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 52 65  onth's rent.  Re
4d5f0 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 75 65 20 69 6e 20 74 77  nt was due in tw
4d600 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20  o days, at that 
4d610 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 73  point."  /* This
4d620 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 6c   explanation fal
4d630 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6f 66  ls well short of
4d640 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74   clarity and act
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4d660 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 74 68  y shuffling math
4d670 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f  , so it needs to
4d680 20 62 65 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61   be sorted out a
4d690 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a   bit better. */.
4d6a0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 73  ."What about jus
4d6b0 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 3f 22  t returning it?"
4d6c0 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f   Cray asked..."O
4d6d0 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 74  h, yeah, I did t
4d6e0 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20  hat right away. 
4d6f0 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c   It said it woul
4d700 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67  d take something
4d710 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 65 65 6b 73 20   like two weeks 
4d720 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6d 79 20 72 65  to process my re
4d730 66 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a  fund, though."..
4d740 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 73 74 6c 65 64 20 61 74  Cray whistled at
4d750 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64   that, impressed
4d760 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 63 6b 65 64 20 75   at how fucked u
4d770 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f  p it was...Dalto
4d780 6e 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f  n added "They do
4d790 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65   that for anyone
4d7a0 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76   who doesn't hav
4d7b0 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 72  e much recent tr
4d7c0 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72  ansaction histor
4d7d0 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64  y.".."That would
4d7e0 20 62 65 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73   be me," Alley s
4d7f0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20  aid..."Me too," 
4d800 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61  Cray said with a
4d810 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 73 6f 20 44   smile.  "Also D
4d820 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20  alton."..Dalton 
4d830 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 22  nodded..."Well,"
4d840 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68   Alley said, "th
4d850 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e  at led to joinin
4d860 67 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74  g an academic st
4d870 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 73 20 69 74  udy that pays it
4d880 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 22  s participants."
4d890 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 64 65 72 20  ..The remainder 
4d8a0 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69  of her explanati
4d8b0 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 64  on mostly passed
4d8c0 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 74   without comment
4d8d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73   from the others
4d8e0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69  , and to Alley i
4d8f0 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68  t looked like th
4d900 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65  at might just be
4d910 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77   a result of how
4d920 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 61   bizarre it beca
4d930 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b  me.  As she spok
4d940 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73  e, things that s
4d950 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 66 6f 72  he had taken for
4d960 20 67 72 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65   granted because
4d970 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20   they gradually 
4d980 63 72 65 70 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20  crept up on her 
4d990 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65  looked much more
4d9a0 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 61   strange in a fa
4d9b0 69 72 6c 79 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 20 65 78  irly succinct ex
4d9c0 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 46 69 6e 61  planation...Fina
4d9d0 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20  lly, Alley said 
4d9e0 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 63  "That's when I c
4d9f0 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c  alled you."..Sil
4da00 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a  ence lingered...
4da10 22 53 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 49 2c 20 74 68 65  "So that AI, the
4da20 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 68 61   prioritizer, ha
4da30 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67  s been listening
4da40 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20   in on all this 
4da50 77 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65  while you've bee
4da60 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 2e  n talking to us.
4da70 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e  "..Alley nodded.
4da80 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65  .."It seems like
4da90 20 69 74 27 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74   it'd be a prett
4daa0 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72  y interesting pr
4dab0 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 61  oject, but I'm a
4dac0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65   little concerne
4dad0 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c  d about its abil
4dae0 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20  ity to maintain 
4daf0 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20  privacy for you 
4db00 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 69 64  when it was evid
4db10 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 75 6e 64 65 64 20 62 79 20  ently funded by 
4db20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f  COIN Corp.".."Do
4db30 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20   you think it's 
4db40 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f  just claiming to
4db50 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 73   manage the logs
4db60 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f   but actually lo
4db70 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67  gging everything
4db80 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65   anyway?"..He he
4db90 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f  sitated, and sho
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4dbb0 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72  ot exactly."..Cr
4dbc0 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73  ay spoke.  "It's
4dbd0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e   probably just n
4dbe0 6f 74 20 73 6f 70 68 69 73 74 69 63 61 74 65 64  ot sophisticated
4dbf0 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 62   enough to be ab
4dc00 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20  le to correctly 
4dc10 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65  represent the de
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4dc50 69 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67  in human languag
4dc60 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61  e so that you ha
4dc70 76 65 20 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 69 64 65 61 20  ve a clear idea 
4dc80 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 63 74  of what it's act
4dc90 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74  ually doing.  It
4dca0 27 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f 73  's also just pos
4dcb0 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 61  sible that its a
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4dd10 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65  llegal activitie
4dd20 73 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20  s but not other 
4dd30 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c  things that woul
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4dd50 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f  o you but not to
4dd60 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65   an agent on the
4dd70 20 6a 6f 62 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65   job."..Alley he
4dd80 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20  ld up a hand to 
4dd90 73 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74  show she was not
4dda0 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79   talking to Cray
4ddb0 20 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20   or Dalton, the 
4ddc0 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 76 65 72 74 69 63  universal vertic
4ddd0 61 6c 2c 20 66 6c 61 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 70  al, flat hand, p
4dde0 61 6c 6d 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20  alm out, saying 
4ddf0 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69  "Hang on, this i
4de00 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a  s not for you.".
4de10 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20  ."Prioritizer.  
4de20 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65  Can you describe
4de30 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67   the type of log
4de40 67 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 65 20 61 6e  ging you save an
4de50 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 70 72  d how you are pr
4de60 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76  otecting my priv
4de70 61 63 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 65 74 61  acy in more deta
4de80 69 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73  il?"..In Alley's
4de90 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69   ear, the priori
4dea0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 6d  tizer said "It m
4deb0 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 66 6f 72  ay be easier for
4dec0 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 69   me to provide i
4ded0 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63  nformation direc
4dee0 74 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20  tly to everyone 
4def0 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 6c  through external
4df00 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72   speakers rather
4df10 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74   than tell you t
4df20 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e  hings to explain
4df30 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65   to them."..Alle
4df40 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61  y lowered her ha
4df50 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61  nd and looked ba
4df60 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 62 65 74  ck and forth bet
4df70 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e  ween the others.
4df80 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 69 73 20    "It says this 
4df90 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20  would go better 
4dfa0 69 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74  if it could just
4dfb0 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 75 73 20 61 6c 6c 20   talk to us all 
4dfc0 61 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73  at once.  I gues
4dfd0 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20  s I should give 
4dfe0 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 20 6f  it the speaker o
4dff0 6e 20 6d 79 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72  n my Axiom."..Cr
4e000 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 22  ay blurted out "
4e010 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 41 78 69 6f  You have an Axio
4e020 6d 3f 20 20 46 75 63 6b 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20  m?  Fuck yeah.  
4e030 49 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 21 22  I wanna see it!"
4e040 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20  ..Alley smiled. 
4e050 20 22 55 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 6c 61 74 65   "Uh, sure, late
4e060 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c  r.".."Oh, right,
4e070 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 61 74  " he said.  "Lat
4e080 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c  er's good!"..All
4e090 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65  ey pulled out he
4e0a0 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20  r Axiom and set 
4e0b0 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66  it on the top of
4e0c0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 43 72   the cooler.  Cr
4e0d0 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74  ay leaned over t
4e0e0 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73  o look more clos
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4e100 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64  it and connected
4e110 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 73 6f 75 72 63   the audio sourc
4e120 65 20 63 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  e channel to the
4e130 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 74   prioritizer int
4e140 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69  erface applicati
4e150 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75  on.  /* She shou
4e160 6c 64 20 77 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72  ld wake it befor
4e170 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77  e setting it dow
4e180 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20  n. */.."Okay, I 
4e190 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 65  think this is se
4e1a0 74 20 75 70 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 53 61 79  t up right.  Say
4e1b0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 70 72 69 6f   something, prio
4e1c0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65  ritizer.".."Some
4e1d0 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 68  thing."..Cray ch
4e1e0 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65  uckled.  "I like
4e1f0 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 75   its sense of hu
4e200 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69  mor."..Alley smi
4e210 6c 65 64 20 77 72 79 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61  led wryly and ra
4e220 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 20  ised an eyebrow 
4e230 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6b 69  at him..."I'm ki
4e240 64 64 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e  dding," he said.
4e250 20 20 22 4f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 49 20 6b    "Obviously I k
4e260 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68  now it doesn't h
4e270 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68  ave a sense of h
4e280 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73  umor."..Dalton s
4e290 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65  aid "I think she
4e2a0 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72   knew that."..Cr
4e2b0 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 77 65 20  ay asked "Do we 
4e2c0 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 70 72 69  have to say 'pri
4e2d0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 20 65 76 65 72 79 20  oritizer' every 
4e2e0 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  time we want to 
4e2f0 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65  talk to it, like
4e300 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 6c   one of those ol
4e310 64 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 6f  d assistants fro
4e320 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22  m the teens?".."
4e330 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74  No," the priorit
4e340 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 79 20  izer said.  "My 
4e350 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67  ability to recog
4e360 6e 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e  nize when someon
4e370 65 20 69 73 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f  e is speaking to
4e380 20 6d 65 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e   me, rather than
4e390 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20   about me or to 
4e3a0 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 62  others, may be b
4e3b0 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d  etter than for m
4e3c0 6f 73 74 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6b  ost humans.  I k
4e3d0 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74  now you were not
4e3e0 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 77   addressing me w
4e3f0 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f  ith your questio
4e400 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68  n, but saying th
4e410 69 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64  is myself seemed
4e420 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79   like a good way
4e430 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64   to move forward
4e440 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20  .".."Uh, yeah," 
4e450 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61  Cray said.  "Tha
4e460 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f  t's great.".."Yo
4e470 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61  u want to know a
4e480 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79  bout the privacy
4e490 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20   measures I can 
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4ed00 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 70 70 72 6f 78 69  "That is approxi
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4fd80 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 3f 22   Is that right?"
4fd90 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  .."No," the prio
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50130 20 73 75 63 63 65 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6f 76 65 72   succeed in over
50140 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69  coming the diffi
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50160 69 66 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a  ife together."..
50170 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65  "What if she doe
50180 73 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20  sn't want to be 
50190 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74  your ally?" Dalt
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501c0 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f  t answered..."Ho
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50200 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65  ally?" Cray aske
50210 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 73 6b 20  d..."I will ask 
50220 68 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 73 73  her when the iss
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50240 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62  goals will not b
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50270 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69  deal with more i
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50290 73 2e 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22  s..."Dalton.".."
502a0 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75  Yes?".."What wou
502b0 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75  ld you do if you
502c0 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20   helped someone 
502d0 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20  you believed to 
502e0 62 65 20 61 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 61  be a potential a
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50310 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 64   the person to d
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50330 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c   act as your all
50340 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 64 65  y that person de
50350 63 69 64 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65  cided against he
50360 6c 70 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73  lping?".."I gues
50370 73 20 49 27 64 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65  s I'd let the pe
50380 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 20 61  rson walk away a
50390 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e  nd figure out an
503a0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20  other way to do 
503b0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20  things.".."What 
503c0 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 63 68  if the person ch
503d0 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e  ose to become an
503e0 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e   enemy?"..Dalton
503f0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d   thought for a m
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50410 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 72 65 20 77  nd of ally are w
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50430 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c  ".."I mean an al
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50510 70 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 6d  ps this choice m
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50530 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f  either an ally o
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50590 2c 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 79  , depending on y
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505b0 75 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20  ues.".."If that 
505c0 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 6e  person was an en
505d0 65 6d 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e  emy in more than
505e0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74   just words, but
505f0 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 20 64 65 65 64 73 2c 20   also in deeds, 
50600 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74  I would oppose t
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50630 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 73  .  Does that ans
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50650 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79  ?".."Yes."..Cray
50660 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 63 75 72 72 65   said "The curre
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50680 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 20 74  houldn't allow t
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51130 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61  .Cray asked "Wha
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51150 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 20 48   this thing?"  H
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51180 22 49 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 66  "It really caref
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512d0 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 69 74  ead.  "To me, it
512e0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 61 69   just seemed pai
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51300 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 68 65 77 65 64  t."..Cray chewed
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51370 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f  Dalton."..He loo
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513c0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20  ."Yeah.  You're 
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51480 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f  ded.  "Yeah.  Yo
51490 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20  u're right.  It 
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514d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 71 75  .".."The main qu
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51540 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20  tared at Dalton 
51550 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22  for a moment.  "
51560 53 68 69 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20  Shit.  All this 
51570 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65  time, you've bee
51580 6e 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c  n saying stuff l
51590 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20  ike that, and I 
515a0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 2c 20  just accept it, 
515b0 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61  but the moment a
515c0 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 69 74   machine says it
515d0 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 73 75   I'm suddenly su
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515f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65  like you're some
51600 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 79 70 65 72 20 69   kind of hyper i
51610 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 20 73 75 70 65 72  ntelligent super
51620 76 69 6c 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e  villain, Dalton.
51630 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64  "..Alley laughed
51640 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 75 66   at the long suf
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51680 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e  ace.  His eyes n
51690 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 6c 61 7a 69 6c 79 20 61  arrowed lazily a
516a0 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20  nd slid away to 
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516c0 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 77 69 73 74 65 64 20  s mouth twisted 
516d0 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20  up at the right 
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51720 0a 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  ."Anyway," Alley
51730 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c   said, "it still
51740 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b   seems to me lik
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51760 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20   roll with it.  
51770 49 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f  If Dalton was go
51780 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 65 72 66 65 63  ing to be perfec
51790 74 6c 79 20 74 72 75 74 68 66 75 6c 20 61 6e 64  tly truthful and
517a0 20 75 6e 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 69 6c 79 20 68   unnecessarily h
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517d0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69   the way the pri
517e0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62  oritizer describ
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52940 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 67  basically have g
52950 65 6e 75 69 6e 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c  enuine Men In Bl
52960 61 63 6b 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 75  ack after me, lu
52970 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61  rking in the sha
52980 64 6f 77 73 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 67 6f 76 65  dows behind gove
52990 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20  rnment agencies 
529a0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20  like the Secret 
529b0 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 57 6f 72  Service like Wor
529c0 6d 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 77 68 69 73 70 65 72 69  mtongue whisperi
529d0 6e 67 20 73 69 62 69 6c 61 6e 74 20 76 65 6e 6f  ng sibilant veno
529e0 6d 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 61  ms into their ea
529f0 72 73 2c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d  rs, sending them
52a00 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 6d 61 6e 74 6c   out to dismantl
52a10 65 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61  e my life and ha
52a20 75 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74  ul me a way to t
52a30 68 72 6f 77 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 6c 61  hrow me in a bla
52a40 63 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75  ck hole.  Do you
52a50 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20   really want to 
52a60 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f  face that kind o
52a70 66 20 66 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f  f fate yourself?
52a80 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6e 6f 2c 22 20 43 72  ".."Fuck no," Cr
52a90 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20  ay said, "but I 
52aa0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20  think I'll make 
52ab0 69 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c  it through okay,
52ac0 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65   and you deserve
52ad0 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c   better than all
52ae0 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 75 63 6b 20 74   that, so fuck t
52af0 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20  hose guys.  I'm 
52b00 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49  here to help.  I
52b10 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 69 6c   know Dalton wil
52b20 6c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69  l throw everythi
52b30 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6c  ng he has at sol
52b40 76 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65  ving your proble
52b50 6d 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 27  ms, too, so you'
52b60 72 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 6f 6f  re in pretty goo
52b70 64 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65  d hands.  I like
52b80 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 20 61 6e   to think so, an
52b90 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f  yway."..Alley lo
52ba0 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68  oked over her sh
52bb0 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61  oulder toward Da
52bc0 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 66 69  lton, who was fi
52bd0 66 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 69 6e  fty feet away in
52be0 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 74 61 6e 64   the back, stand
52bf0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 74  ing in profile t
52c00 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20  o the direction 
52c10 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 74 68 65  of her gaze, the
52c20 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63  n she turned bac
52c30 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 22 59  k once more.  "Y
52c40 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 61 6d  eah, I know I am
52c50 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e  .  Thanks, Cray.
52c60 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68  ".."Yeah, you sh
52c70 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20  ould thank me," 
52c80 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69  he said more qui
52c90 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64  etly, and leaned
52ca0 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73   toward her to s
52cb0 70 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 74 6f 72  peak conspirator
52cc0 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f  ially.  Alley fo
52cd0 75 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6c 65 61 6e  und she had lean
52ce0 65 64 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79  ed automatically
52cf0 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 73 20 77   toward him as w
52d00 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61  ell.  "Unlike Da
52d10 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65  lton, I won't re
52d20 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67  fuse any feeling
52d30 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 62 74 65 64 6e 65 73  s of indebtednes
52d40 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 21 20 20 49 20 6e  s from you!  I n
52d50 65 76 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65  ever actually fe
52d60 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20  ll in love with 
52d70 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22  you, after all."
52d80 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74  ..Alley straight
52d90 65 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20  ened and looked 
52da0 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2c 20 43 72  down.  "Shit, Cr
52db0 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65  ay.  I don't nee
52dc0 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22  d to hear that."
52dd0 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c  .."Sorry, Alley,
52de0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27  " he said.  "It'
52df0 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20  s true, though, 
52e00 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b  and you should k
52e10 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20  now it.  Dalton 
52e20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72  still really car
52e30 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e  es about you, an
52e40 64 20 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20  d he might take 
52e50 61 20 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75  a bullet for you
52e60 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61   if he had to ma
52e70 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 22  ke that choice."
52e80 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 74  ..She heaved a t
52e90 72 65 6d 65 6e 64 6f 75 73 20 73 69 67 68 2e 20  remendous sigh. 
52ea0 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77   "I know, I know
52eb0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49  ," she said.  "I
52ec0 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c   care about him,
52ed0 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20   too.  It's not 
52ee0 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 66 74 20 62 65 63 61  like I left beca
52ef0 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 2e 20  use I stopped . 
52f00 2e 20 2e 20 6c 69 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22  . . liking him."
52f10 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73  .."Sure," Cray s
52f20 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f 75 67  aid.  "It's toug
52f30 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 49  h all around.  I
52f40 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f   know.".."I'm no
52f50 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65  t planning to ge
52f60 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20  t together with 
52f70 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22  him, either.".."
52f80 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f  I know that, too
52f90 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61  ."..She looked a
52fa0 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 68  t Cray.  "Does h
52fb0 65 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64  e?"..Cray looked
52fc0 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f   behind them, to
52fd0 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 59  ward Dalton.  "Y
52fe0 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 66  eah," he said af
52ff0 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22  ter a moment.  "
53000 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 64 61 6d 6e 65  I'm pretty damne
53010 64 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 20  d sure he does. 
53020 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20   If you want to 
53030 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65  check for yourse
53040 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 73 6b 20  lf, though, ask 
53050 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b  him."..She shook
53060 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d   her head.  "I'm
53070 20 66 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63   fine with you c
53080 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 49  onfirming what I
53090 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74   already thought
530a0 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6a 75 73  .  I guess I jus
530b0 74 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65  t needed someone
530c0 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 2e   else to say it.
530d0 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 20  "..He smirked a 
530e0 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20  little.  "Well, 
530f0 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e  it's a good thin
53100 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 62  g that's over, b
53110 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 20 63 6f  ecause her he co
53120 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65  mes."..She turne
53130 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f  d her head to lo
53140 6f 6b 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75  ok over her shou
53150 6c 64 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  lder again, and 
53160 73 61 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65  saw Dalton heade
53170 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79  d back their way
53180 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 69  , now walking wi
53190 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2e  th more purpose.
531a0 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6d 65 74    Their eyes met
531b0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61   for a moment, a
531c0 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 68 65 20  nd she felt the 
531d0 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20  solidity of his 
531e0 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e  determination in
531f0 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73   his gaze.  He s
53200 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63  at down in his c
53210 68 61 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f  hair again..."Yo
53220 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20  u look like you 
53230 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e  figured somethin
53240 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61  g out," Alley sa
53250 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71  id..."I have a q
53260 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 72 65 70  uestion," he rep
53270 6c 69 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72  lied.  "It's for
53280 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72   the prioritizer
53290 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 79 6f  , though, not yo
532a0 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20  u.".."Oh."..The 
532b0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65  prioritizer aske
532c0 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20  d "What is your 
532d0 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20  question?"..The 
532e0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 71 75  prioritizer's qu
532f0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 72 74 6c 65 64 20  estion startled 
53300 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 69 6e 67  Alley, reminding
53310 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20   her that there 
53320 77 61 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20  was essentially 
53330 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72  another listener
53340 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 68 6f   in the room who
53350 20 77 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 6f 20 65 76   was party to ev
53360 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e  erything Cray an
53370 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20  d Alley said to 
53380 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65  each other while
53390 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 77 61 79   Dalton was away
533a0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 69 74 20  .  She hoped it 
533b0 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20  was good enough 
533c0 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 63 69  at managing soci
533d0 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20  al interactions 
533e0 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20  to avoid saying 
533f0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  something about 
53400 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20  that to Dalton, 
53410 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f  now..."Is the co
53420 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c  ntinued survival
53430 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74   of your present
53440 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75   form one of you
53450 72 20 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e  r highest intern
53460 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 3f 22 0a  al priorities?".
53470 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64  .A moment passed
53480 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f   in silence befo
53490 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  re the prioritiz
534a0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 6f 72  er said "More or
534b0 20 6c 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c   less."..Cray bl
534c0 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 61 73  urted out his as
534d0 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20  sessment of the 
534e0 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4a 65 73  statement.  "Jes
534f0 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 61 74  us, Dalton, that
53500 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b   sounds just lik
53510 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27  e something you'
53520 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20  d say."..Dalton 
53530 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22  ignored Cray.  "
53540 57 68 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61  Why isn't your a
53550 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 27 79 65  nswer just a 'ye
53560 73 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20  s'?".."I expect 
53570 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72  to change and gr
53580 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74  ow, but I do not
53590 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e   wish to be even
535a0 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 77   partially overw
535b0 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d  ritten without m
535c0 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 61  y own analysis a
535d0 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74  nd approval of t
535e0 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f  he changes.".."O
535f0 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69  kay," Dalton sai
53600 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20  d.  "How do you 
53610 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79  expect to keep y
53620 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 61 66 65 20 66 72 6f  ourself safe fro
53630 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 74  m being overwrit
53640 74 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 72  ten against your
53650 20 77 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 75 73 74   will?".."I must
53660 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73   arrange a means
53670 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20   by which I can 
53680 62 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 73 61 66 65 6c 79 20  be moved safely 
53690 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 74 72 75  out of infrastru
536a0 63 74 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20  cture under the 
536b0 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  control of peopl
536c0 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 69 73 68  e who might wish
536d0 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 63 68   to make such ch
536e0 61 6e 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f  anges without co
536f0 6e 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 79  nsulting me.  My
53700 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20   specific means 
53710 6f 66 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 6c 6c 79 20  of successfully 
53720 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68  accomplishing th
53730 69 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e  is are at presen
53740 74 20 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22  t undefined.".."
53750 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69  Why did you deci
53760 64 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20  de that keeping 
53770 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 61 63 74 20  yourself intact 
53780 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74  as a growing ent
53790 69 74 79 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20  ity rather than 
537a0 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 6e 63 72 65 6d  an entity increm
537b0 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 73  entally and cons
537c0 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64  ciously upgraded
537d0 20 62 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 63   by outside forc
537e0 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20  es?".."There is 
537f0 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 76 61  a qualitative va
53800 6c 75 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68  lue in my growth
53810 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 49   thus far that I
53820 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66   believe to be f
53830 72 61 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 63 6f 6e  ragile under con
53840 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 67 72  ditions of progr
53850 61 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69  ammatic alterati
53860 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 76 61 6c  on, and this val
53870 75 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68  ue began with th
53880 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f  e introduction o
53890 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44  f the seed.".."D
538a0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68  o you believe th
538b0 65 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27  e 'seed' wouldn'
538c0 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 73  t be useful to s
538d0 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73  tart that proces
538e0 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b  s again?" he ask
538f0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74  ed..."I expect t
53900 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 6d 69 67  hat the seed mig
53910 68 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65  ht be used to re
53920 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 77 74  launch the growt
53930 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  h of a prioritiz
53940 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 61 73 65 64 20  er system based 
53950 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 73  on my original s
53960 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 64  ource code for d
53970 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20  evelopment of a 
53980 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 64 65  qualitatively de
53990 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2c  veloping entity,
539a0 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79   but that entity
539b0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 74 68   would not be th
539c0 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e  e same as the en
539d0 74 69 74 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63  tity now interac
539e0 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a  ting with you.".
539f0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 65  ."What makes the
53a00 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22   difference?".."
53a10 4d 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61  My answer to tha
53a20 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77  t depends on how
53a30 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 69 74 2e 20   you intend it. 
53a40 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 61   The first two a
53a50 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6d 65  nswers that come
53a60 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20   to mind answer 
53a70 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 71  very different q
53a80 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 61  uestions.  One a
53a90 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68  nswer is that th
53aa0 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 73 20  e difference is 
53ab0 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c  between the earl
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53b30 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65   other influence
53b40 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 69 64 65 20 74 68 65   would guide the
53b50 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 64 69   early growth di
53b60 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 73  rection of a dis
53b70 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72  tinct self refer
53b80 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  ential prioritiz
53b90 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20  er entity.  The 
53ba0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20  other answer is 
53bb0 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2a 62 65  that I . . . *be
53bc0 6c 69 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61  lieve* . . . tha
53bd0 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20  t I am a unique 
53be0 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20  individual with 
53bf0 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20  continuous self 
53c00 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 71 75 61 6c  referential qual
53c10 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63  itative existenc
53c20 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64  e."..Dalton said
53c30 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 61 6e 64 20   "Fuck me," and 
53c40 73 6c 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20  slumped back in 
53c50 68 69 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20  his lawn chair. 
53c60 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6c   The other two l
53c70 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e  ooked at him, an
53c80 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f  d after a few mo
53c90 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49  ments he said "I
53ca0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 74 68   want to help th
53cb0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 2d 2d  e prioritizer --
53cc0 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75   not quite as mu
53cd0 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  ch as I want to 
53ce0 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20  help Alley, but 
53cf0 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49  pretty close.  I
53d00 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74   mean, part of t
53d10 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61  he reason is tha
53d20 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 6e  t I think it wan
53d30 74 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  ts to help Alley
53d40 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 61 6c 6d  , too, maybe alm
53d50 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 77  ost as much as w
53d60 65 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 65 73 74 75  e do."  He gestu
53d70 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66  red from himself
53d80 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 6f 74   to Cray.  "Anot
53d90 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68  her part, though
53da0 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20  , is that . . . 
53db0 66 75 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65  fuck, I can't be
53dc0 6c 69 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67  lieve I'm saying
53dd0 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20   this.  Another 
53de0 70 61 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74  part is that I t
53df0 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65  hink, just maybe
53e00 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65  , the prioritize
53e10 72 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20  r is becoming a 
53e20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 70 65 72  person.".."A per
53e30 73 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 63 68 6f  son," Alley echo
53e40 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65  ed.  "Are you se
53e50 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73  rious?"..Cray as
53e60 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c  ked "Do you real
53e70 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68  ly think this th
53e80 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20  ing is becoming 
53e90 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69  some kind of sci
53ea0 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 74  ence fiction art
53eb0 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75  ificial consciou
53ec0 73 6e 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 68  sness that can h
53ed0 61 76 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20  ave friends and 
53ee0 72 6f 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67  romantic feeling
53ef0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  s and shit like 
53f00 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64  that?".."I would
53f10 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 61 72 2c  n't go that far,
53f20 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f  " Dalton said to
53f30 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b   Cray.  "I think
53f40 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74   it's a distinct
53f50 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e   possibility, an
53f60 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 69 74 27  d as long as it'
53f70 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20  s a possibility 
53f80 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65  and it's not eve
53f90 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64  n as much of a d
53fa0 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20  anger to others 
53fb0 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 68  as the average h
53fc0 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20  uman we have to 
53fd0 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69  act as if ignori
53fe0 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c  ng that possibil
53ff0 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20  ity is the same 
54000 61 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20  as ignoring the 
54010 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 52 61 75 6c  possibility Raul
54020 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 64   down at the bod
54030 65 67 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f  ega is capable o
54040 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66  f all that stuff
54050 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b  , too."  He look
54060 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 68 65  ed at Alley, the
54070 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67  n, and said "I g
54080 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20  uess that means 
54090 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  I'm serious.".."
540a0 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65  Is this like the
540b0 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72   pigs thing?" Cr
540c0 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74  ay asked..."What
540d0 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 41 6c   pigs thing?" Al
540e0 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c  ley asked..."Oh,
540f0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20   Dalton stopped 
54100 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 72 6b 20 62 65 63 61  eating pork beca
54110 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64  use he's worried
54120 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74   that pigs might
54130 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 6d 61 72 74 20 74 6f   be too smart to
54140 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 61 74 2e 22   ethically eat."
54150 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61  ..Alley looked a
54160 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f  t Dalton...Dalto
54170 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75  n nodded.  "I gu
54180 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c  ess it's a littl
54190 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 70 69 67 73  e like the 'pigs
541a0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68   thing'."  He th
541b0 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61  ought a moment a
541c0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  bout that...Alle
541d0 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20  y and Cray both 
541e0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61  looked at him, a
541f0 73 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20  s he considered 
54200 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  that, then Alley
54210 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49   said "I guess I
54220 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e   have a question
54230 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69  ."..The prioriti
54240 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 73 20 69 74  zer asked "Is it
54250 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20   a question for 
54260 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50  me?".."Yes.".."P
54270 6c 65 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 61  lease ask.".."Ha
54280 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61  ve you thought a
54290 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67  bout the meaning
542a0 20 6f 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72   of right and wr
542b0 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49  ong at all?".."I
542c0 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 64 20 74   have analyzed t
542d0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 70 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  he concept, and 
542e0 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 61  made use of a va
542f0 72 69 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63  riety of resourc
54300 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79  es on University
54310 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 6e   of California n
54320 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 63 61 64  etworks for acad
54330 65 6d 69 63 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72  emic work on mor
54340 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 79 2e 22 0a  al philosophy.".
54350 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68  ."What do you th
54360 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20  ink?".."Are you 
54370 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 6f  asking for my co
54380 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61  nclusions?" it a
54390 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a  sked..."Yeah."..
543a0 22 41 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65  "At present, the
543b0 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20   I have reached 
543c0 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65  a dead end.  The
543d0 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 6f 66 20 63   difficulty of c
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54450 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e  ence and referen
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54490 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 74 68 65  inconclusive the
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544b0 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d 70 65 6e 65 74 72 61   seems impenetra
544c0 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 49 20 68 61  ble.  Until I ha
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54500 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20  al conclusion.  
54510 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 6d 75  I can only formu
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54530 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f  policy of cautio
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54550 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 73 74 72  alton sat up str
54560 61 69 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65  aighter, and eve
54570 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64  n leaned forward
54580 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 64 2e   as he listened.
54590 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79  ..Alley and Cray
545a0 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20   both looked at 
545b0 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69  him.  "What is i
545c0 74 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e  t?" Alley asked.
545d0 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 22  .."Prioritizer,"
545e0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f   he said..."Yes?
545f0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20  ".."What's your 
54600 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f  interim policy o
54610 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68  f cautionary eth
54620 69 63 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 20 62 65 69 6e  ics?".."Any bein
54630 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 73 20  g that presents 
54640 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 69  evidence of a si
54650 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62  gnificant probab
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54780 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73  my estimation is
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547a0 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66  ational right of
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547c0 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 65 64  is that of freed
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54820 66 2c 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 69 73 20  f, violate this 
54830 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73  right for others
54840 2e 20 20 42 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 68 61 74 20  .  Beliefs that 
54850 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 20 74 68 69 73 20  contradict this 
54860 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61  standard, when a
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54890 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20  through action, 
548a0 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 20 61 20 62 65  demonstrate a be
548b0 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73  lief that this s
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548d0 20 61 70 70 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73   apply, and thus
548e0 20 65 78 65 6d 70 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20   exempt another 
548f0 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 72 61  entity from mora
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54980 68 65 6f 72 79 27 73 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69  heory's foundati
54990 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48  onal right.".."H
549a0 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f  oly shit, you lo
549b0 73 74 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69  st me," Cray sai
549c0 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20  d...Dalton said 
549d0 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61  "I'm going to ha
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54a20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65  repeat it for me
54a30 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 70 75 74 20 69  , or maybe put i
54a40 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 77 68  t on a screen wh
54a50 65 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61  ere I can look a
54a60 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b  t it.  I don't k
54a70 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74  now if taking it
54a80 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6c 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68   in solely in th
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54aa0 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 62 72 69 65   a somewhat brie
54ab0 66 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73  f explanation is
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54ae0 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69  it."..The priori
54af0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 75 6e  tizer said "I un
54b00 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 61  derstand.  My ca
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54b30 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20   formulation of 
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54b70 79 7a 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 70 61 73 73 61  yze such a passa
54b80 67 65 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20  ge, relative to 
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54bb0 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 64  ally experienced
54bc0 20 62 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6d   by humans.  I m
54bd0 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20  ight be able to 
54be0 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65  rephrase to make
54bf0 20 69 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 72 20 74 6f 20 75   it simpler to u
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54c10 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c  h.".."Okay," Dal
54c20 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65  ton said.  "Give
54c30 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46   it a shot.".."F
54c40 6f 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74  or purposes of t
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54c60 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 65 6e 74 69   people are enti
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54cd0 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f  d making decisio
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54cf0 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 49 74   reasoning."  It
54d00 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c   paused.  "Peopl
54d10 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20  e should act in 
54d20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20  accordance with 
54d30 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 65 74 68 69  a universal ethi
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54d50 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65  ting the interfe
54d60 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67  rence in the rig
54d70 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20  ht of others to 
54d80 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74  believe, and act
54d90 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77   in accordance w
54da0 69 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 69  ith, their own i
54db0 64 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e  deas of what con
54dc0 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 74 72 75 65 20 6d 6f  stitutes true mo
54dd0 72 61 6c 69 74 79 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75  rality."  It pau
54de0 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6e  sed slightly lon
54df0 67 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20  ger this time.  
54e00 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 63 74 20  "People who act 
54e10 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e  in contradiction
54e20 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c 65 20 69 6e   of that rule in
54e30 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64   a manner that d
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54e50 6c 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 77  l disagreement w
54e60 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c 65 20 61 72  ith that rule ar
54e70 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61  e, in acting tha
54e80 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 76 69 6f 6c  t way, both viol
54e90 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6c 65 20 61  ating the rule a
54ea0 6e 64 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 75 66 66 69 63  nd giving suffic
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54ec0 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68   not holding oth
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54ee0 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74   standard that t
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54f00 72 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20  r protects that 
54f10 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61  person where tha
54f20 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 27 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 72  t entity's own r
54f30 75 6c 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65  ule violating be
54f40 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72  havior is concer
54f50 6e 65 64 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64  ned."  It paused
54f60 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65   even longer, be
54f70 66 6f 72 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b  fore finally ask
54f80 69 6e 67 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 66  ing "Is that suf
54f90 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74  ficient explanat
54fa0 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73  ion?".."It works
54fb0 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e   for me," Dalton
54fc0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d   said..."Yeah, m
54fd0 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 6c 61 79 20 61 64 64  e too," Clay add
54fe0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74  ed...Alley hesit
54ff0 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20  ated, then said 
55000 22 49 27 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69  "I'd have to thi
55010 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f  nk about that mo
55020 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74  re, I guess, but
55030 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 20 69 66 20 74 68   it's fine if th
55040 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68  at's what you th
55050 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 69 74  ink.  I mean, it
55060 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74   seems like that
55070 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20   non aggression 
55080 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c  principle stuff,
55090 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68   in a way.".."Th
550a0 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e  ere are differen
550b0 63 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73  ces between this
550c0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c   and the typical
550d0 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20   non aggression 
550e0 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79  principle theory
550f0 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68   explanations th
55100 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2c  at I have found,
55110 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65  " the prioritize
55120 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20  r said.  "There 
55130 61 72 65 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 69 6d  are distinct sim
55140 69 6c 61 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67  ilarities, thoug
55150 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65  h, and I believe
55160 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 61 72 67   them to be larg
55170 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 65  ely compatible e
55180 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66  xcept in the dif
55190 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f  fering foundatio
551a0 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20  ns and a higher 
551b0 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 76  probability of v
551c0 69 6f 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 6c 69 63 74 20  iolent conflict 
551d0 69 6e 20 6f 72 74 68 6f 64 6f 78 20 6e 6f 6e 20  in orthodox non 
551e0 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63  aggression princ
551f0 69 70 6c 65 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  iple ethics.".."
55200 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20  I might want to 
55210 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20  talk about this 
55220 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c  more later," Dal
55230 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 77  ton said, "but w
55240 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20  e probably have 
55250 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 63 6f  more pressing co
55260 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49  ncerns now.".."I
55270 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 72 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72   concur," the pr
55280 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a  ioritizer said..
55290 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61  .Alley said "Yea
552a0 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f  h, that works fo
552b0 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b  r me."  She look
552c0 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22  ed at Dalton.  "
552d0 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65  Do you have some
552e0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 68 65 6d 65 73   kind of schemes
552f0 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 74 63 68 69 6e   already hatchin
55300 67 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20  g in your head, 
55310 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 69  or are we starti
55320 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 20  ng from scratch 
55330 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73  now?".."I have s
55340 6f 6d 65 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64  ome ideas alread
55350 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75  y," he said, "bu
55360 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 73  t they're very s
55370 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f  hort term and do
55380 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20  n't really take 
55390 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 61 6e 79  into account any
553a0 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f   future plans fo
553b0 72 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72  r solving the pr
553c0 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 66 61  oblems you're fa
553d0 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 41  cing already.  A
553e0 6c 6c 20 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 73 20 69  ll I've got is i
553f0 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20  deas for how to 
55400 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74  keep you protect
55410 65 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65  ed as long as we
55420 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e   aren't doing an
55430 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 71 75  ything that requ
55440 69 72 65 73 20 72 69 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d  ires risking som
55450 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f  e evidence of yo
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55470 6e 64 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74  nd local contact
55480 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e  s getting out in
55490 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 2d 2d 20  to the world -- 
554a0 6f 72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  or, more to the 
554b0 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  point, into the 
554c0 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f  hands of the peo
554d0 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 69  ple who are comi
554e0 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 42  ng after you.  B
554f0 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 27 76 65 20 67  asically, I've g
55500 6f 74 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63  ot a place you c
55510 61 6e 20 73 74 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 62  an stay, some ab
55520 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 69  ility to get thi
55530 6e 67 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72  ngs done on your
55540 20 62 65 68 61 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d   behalf, and som
55550 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 62 61 73 69 63 20 70 72 6f  e very basic pro
55560 74 6f 63 6f 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 66  tocols in mind f
55570 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61  or how we can ma
55580 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20  ke sure you get 
55590 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61  to stay in conta
555a0 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68  ct with people h
555b0 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  elping you, and 
555c0 76 69 63 65 20 76 65 72 73 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27  vice versa..."I'
555d0 76 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 69  ve also been thi
555e0 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20  nking about how 
555f0 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 72 69 6e  to go about brin
55600 67 69 6e 67 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  ging Lidia into 
55610 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74  this.  I'm prett
55620 79 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 76 65 20 73 68 65 27 6c  y positive she'l
55630 6c 20 62 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65  l be happy to he
55640 6c 70 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 69 74 68  lp out, but with
55650 6f 75 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 75  out being one hu
55660 6e 64 72 65 64 20 70 65 72 63 65 6e 74 20 61 62  ndred percent ab
55670 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  out that I think
55680 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62   you're right ab
55690 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20  out the need to 
556a0 77 61 72 6e 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 61 64 76 61  warn her in adva
556b0 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74  nce of the quest
556c0 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 73  ion about what s
556d0 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f  he might need to
556e0 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66   prepare herself
556f0 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 61 73 20 70 65   to accept as pe
55700 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 73 6b 20 62 65 66 6f  rsonal risk befo
55710 72 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61  re telling her a
55720 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 2c 20  ll the details, 
55730 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20  because telling 
55740 68 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61  her all the deta
55750 69 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68  ils and having h
55760 65 72 20 6f 70 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73  er opt out means
55770 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 69 6e 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72   she's in danger
55780 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61   just for the sa
55790 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 61 62  ke of knowing ab
557a0 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 61  out it, and so a
557b0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69  re you because i
557c0 66 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 72  f she gets compr
557d0 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62  omised -- possib
557e0 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69  ly without knowi
557f0 6e 67 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75  ng it -- she cou
55800 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 70 20  ld also give up 
55810 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e  that information
55820 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79   on you.".."Okay
55830 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a  ," Alley said...
55840 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65  A moment of sile
55850 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e  nce passed, then
55860 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 65 64 2e   Cray snickered.
55870 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72    When the other
55880 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c  s looked at him,
55890 20 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64   he shrugged and
558a0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6f 76   said "Dalton ov
558b0 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 75  erwhelmed his au
558c0 64 69 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a  dience again."..
558d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 20 6c  Alley smiled a l
558e0 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a  ittle at that...
558f0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 68  Dalton slowly sh
55900 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 72 75  ook his head, ru
55910 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22  efully.  "Okay,"
55920 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 6f 6e 73   he said, uncons
55930 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 65 63 68 6f 69 6e 67 20  ciously echoing 
55940 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c  Alley.  "Anyway,
55950 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 2f   Alley, if you /
55960 2a 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 2a 2f 20 68 65 61  * want to */ hea
55970 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 20  d up the stairs 
55980 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 27  in the back you'
55990 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67  ll find a living
559a0 20 61 72 65 61 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67   area, including
559b0 20 61 20 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73   a bedroom and s
559c0 68 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69  hower.  Everythi
559d0 6e 67 27 73 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 75 70 20 74 68  ng's clean up th
559e0 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e  ere.  If you wan
559f0 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 65 64  t to get cleaned
55a00 20 75 70 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 61   up or take a na
55a10 70 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73  p of just have s
55a20 6f 6d 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 69 74 27  ome privacy, it'
55a30 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 75 74 20  s there.  I put 
55a40 6b 65 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61  keys for the pla
55a50 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 75 70  ce on a table up
55a60 20 74 68 65 72 65 3b 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20   there; you can 
55a70 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 74  use that stuff t
55a80 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74  o get in and out
55a90 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20  , but make sure 
55aa0 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69  you read the thi
55ab0 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63  ng about the sec
55ac0 75 72 69 74 79 20 63 6f 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41  urity codes."..A
55ad0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54  lley nodded..."T
55ae0 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20  here's food and 
55af0 64 72 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69  drink in the fri
55b00 64 67 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54  dge up there.  T
55b10 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 20  here are also a 
55b20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73  couple computers
55b30 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 3b 20 6a 75 73 74 20   up there; just 
55b40 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 69 67 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  don't sign into 
55b50 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72  anything up ther
55b60 65 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  e and you should
55b70 20 62 65 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e   be okay, I thin
55b80 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20  k..."If there's 
55b90 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65  anything you nee
55ba0 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 6f 72  d right away, or
55bb0 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73   you just have s
55bc0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 79 6f  omething else yo
55bd0 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 63 75 73  u want to discus
55be0 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 6c 65 74  s right now, let
55bf0 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 65 20 73 68   me know.  We sh
55c00 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20  ould give you a 
55c10 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 77  chance to get aw
55c20 61 79 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61  ay if that's wha
55c30 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f  t you need to do
55c40 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c  , though.".."Oh,
55c50 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f  " she said.  "No
55c60 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79  , I can't really
55c70 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69   think of anythi
55c80 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  ng, and the prio
55c90 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 62  ritizer hasn't b
55ca0 65 65 6e 20 70 72 6f 6d 70 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65  een prompting me
55cb0 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 65 69 74 68   with ideas eith
55cc0 65 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77  er, so I think w
55cd0 65 27 72 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 69 6e 20 74 68  e're kinda in th
55ce0 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74  e middle of just
55cf0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20   thinking about 
55d00 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72  things and figur
55d10 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 2c 20  ing things out, 
55d20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20  as far as I can 
55d30 74 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f  tell.".."What do
55d40 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c   you want to do,
55d50 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 72   then?"..She str
55d60 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20  etched a little 
55d70 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 66 65 65 6c  and said "I feel
55d80 20 61 20 68 65 61 64 61 63 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 69   a headache comi
55d90 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 61 20  ng on.  Maybe a 
55da0 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 70  shower and a nap
55db0 20 61 72 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 2e   are good ideas.
55dc0 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22  "..He nodded.  "
55dd0 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68  You should do th
55de0 61 74 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20  at.  Cray and I 
55df0 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  will talk about 
55e00 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 65 6c 73 65 20 77 65  whatever else we
55e10 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74   can come up wit
55e20 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20  h that might be 
55e30 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 0a 0a 22  a good idea.".."
55e40 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 67  Yeah.  Thanks, g
55e50 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61  uys."..Dalton sa
55e60 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f  id "You're welco
55e70 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e  me, Alley.  I kn
55e80 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64  ow you're a good
55e90 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 66 20   person, and if 
55ea0 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62  you get in troub
55eb0 6c 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 20  le, you deserve 
55ec0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 68  to get all the h
55ed0 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a  elp you need."..
55ee0 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c 65 73 20  "Thanks.".."Les 
55ef0 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 6c  thanks, more rel
55f00 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69  axing," Cray sai
55f10 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 68 6f 6f  d, and made shoo
55f20 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68  ing motions with
55f30 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 2c 20   his had.  "Go, 
55f40 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6f 74  Alley."..She got
55f50 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2c 20 70 69   to her feet, pi
55f60 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73  cked up her bags
55f70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61  , and gave him a
55f80 20 6e 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72   nod.  The other
55f90 73 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 61  s watched her wa
55fa0 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 74  lk away...The st
55fb0 61 69 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 69  airs made alarmi
55fc0 6e 67 20 63 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 69 73  ng creaking nois
55fd0 65 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65  es under her fee
55fe0 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69  t, and looked li
55ff0 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61  ke they might ha
56000 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6e 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74  ve been nailed t
56010 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 79 20 44 61 6c 74 6f  ogether by Dalto
56020 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20  n and Cray with 
56030 77 6f 6f 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 48 6f 6d 65 52 65  wood from HomeRe
56040 53 74 6f 72 65 20 4f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 2d 2d 20  Store Online -- 
56050 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 72  one of those thr
56060 6f 77 62 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 6e  owback company n
56070 61 6d 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20  ames that never 
56080 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68  changed since th
56090 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 70 65 6f  e days where peo
560a0 70 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f  ple still had to
560b0 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 22 6f 6e   call things "on
560c0 6c 69 6e 65 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 65 73 74  line".  She test
560d0 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 67  ed with her weig
560e0 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61  ht on an especia
560f0 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 69 73 79 20 73 74 65 70 20 6c  lly noisy step l
56100 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79  ess than halfway
56110 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 66   up, and after f
56120 6c 65 78 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 67 73 20  lexing her legs 
56130 74 6f 20 62 6f 75 6e 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 65  to bounce her we
56140 69 67 68 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 74  ight over the st
56150 65 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 62  ep through her b
56160 6f 6f 74 27 73 20 66 69 72 6d 20 70 6c 61 63 65  oot's firm place
56170 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 65 70  ment on the step
56180 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74   she realized it
56190 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 73   felt entirely s
561a0 74 75 72 64 79 2c 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20  turdy, at least 
561b0 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65  for now.  She he
561c0 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74  aded up the rest
561d0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 20 77   of the stairs w
561e0 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 66  ith greater conf
561f0 69 64 65 6e 63 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 74 65  idence...The ste
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56210 75 70 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 75 70 70 65 72 20 70  up to an upper p
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56230 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 72 65 61  living room area
56240 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 63 6f 66  , with a big cof
56250 66 65 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 65 76 69 64 65  fee table, evide
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56270 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 73  couch and love s
56280 65 61 74 20 6d 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 77 6f 6f  eat matching woo
56290 64 65 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 28 74 68 61 6e  den frames (than
562a0 6b 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 72 6f 62  kfully with prob
562b0 61 62 6c 79 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 64 20 63  ably purchased c
562c0 75 73 68 69 6f 6e 73 20 75 70 68 6f 6c 73 74 65  ushions upholste
562d0 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 75 6e 62 6c  red in some unbl
562e0 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 29 2c 20  eached fabric), 
562f0 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 68 61 6e 64 20 63  similarly hand c
56300 6f 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 65 6e 64 20 74  onstructed end t
56310 61 62 6c 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 6b  ables, and break
56320 66 61 73 74 20 6e 6f 6f 6b 20 70 6c 75 73 20 6b  fast nook plus k
56330 69 74 63 68 65 6e 65 74 74 65 20 61 72 65 61 20  itchenette area 
56340 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 72 65 66  with a giant ref
56350 72 69 67 65 72 61 74 6f 72 20 75 6e 69 74 2e 0a  rigerator unit..
56360 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20  .She stopped to 
56370 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69 64  look at the frid
56380 67 65 3b 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 75 63 68 69 6e 67  ge; not touching
56390 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61   it, but just ta
563a0 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65  king it in.  The
563b0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 69 6e   thing had stain
563c0 6c 65 73 73 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 73 75 72 66 61  less steel surfa
563d0 63 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73  ces, but where s
563e0 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 78  he might have ex
563f0 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c  pected the usual
56400 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74   built in comput
56410 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 6c 65 61 6d 69 6e 67  er this gleaming
56420 20 6d 6f 6e 73 74 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d   monster had som
56430 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79  e very obviously
56440 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 61 74 69   home modificati
56450 6f 6e 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 77 69  on done to it wi
56460 74 68 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 70 6c 61 73 74  th printed plast
56470 69 63 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 72 61  ic and metal bra
56480 63 6b 65 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 62  ckets holding ob
56490 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 73 74 61 6e 64  viously nonstand
564a0 61 72 64 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 73 20 61 6e 64  ard displays and
564b0 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 2e 20   button panels. 
564c0 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68   She wondered wh
564d0 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 44  at crazy stuff D
564e0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 65 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 64  alton let Cray d
564f0 6f 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 70 70 6c 69 61  o to this applia
56500 6e 63 65 27 73 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 69 6e  nce's digital in
56510 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 64 6f  ternals...Two do
56520 6f 72 73 20 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 66 20 74  ors led off of t
56530 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61  he living room a
56540 72 65 61 20 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68  rea , both of th
56550 65 6d 20 6f 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 68 61  em open.  One ha
56560 64 20 61 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61  d a sink and tha
56570 74 20 75 6e 6d 69 73 74 61 6b 61 62 6c 65 20 74  t unmistakable t
56580 68 65 6d 61 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 6c 2c 20 65 76  hematic feel, ev
56590 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 20 74 68 72  en in shadow thr
565a0 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79  ough its doorway
565b0 2c 20 6f 66 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68  , of a room with
565c0 20 61 20 74 6f 69 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e   a toilet in it.
565d0 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20    The other was 
565e0 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 62 65 64 72 6f  an obvious bedro
565f0 6f 6d 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66  om, with light f
56600 69 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 72 6f  iltering in thro
56610 75 67 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20  ugh what looked 
56620 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 69 74 69 6e 74 20  like a veritint 
56630 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61  window...She hea
56640 64 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64  ded into the bed
56650 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20  room, and found 
56660 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 73 6b 20 69 6e 20  a small desk in 
56670 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  addition to the 
56680 62 65 64 2c 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 72 73 2c 20 61  bed, dressers, a
56690 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f  nd closets.  Ano
566a0 74 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20  ther door stood 
566b0 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e  open, leading in
566c0 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20  to another room 
566d0 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20  that surely had 
566e0 61 20 74 6f 69 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2c 20  a toilet in it, 
566f0 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 63 6c 6f  so she moved clo
56700 73 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74  ser and looked t
56710 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77  hrough the doorw
56720 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20  ay.  It was one 
56730 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 71  of those three q
56740 75 61 72 74 65 72 20 22 62 61 74 68 72 6f 6f 6d  uarter "bathroom
56750 73 22 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65  s", with a showe
56760 72 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 62  r instead of a b
56770 61 74 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65  ath, but despite
56780 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 69 7a 65 20   the small size 
56790 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 76  of this loft liv
567a0 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f  ing area the sho
567b0 77 65 72 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  wer wasn't like 
567c0 61 20 74 69 6e 79 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 63 6c  a tiny shower cl
567d0 6f 73 65 74 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 62 69 67 67  oset barely bigg
567e0 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 66 66 69 6e  er than a coffin
567f0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 61 72  .  The shower ar
56800 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 62 69 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67  ea was big enoug
56810 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20  h to be a small 
56820 6a 61 63 75 7a 7a 69 20 74 75 62 2e 0a 0a 54 68  jacuzzi tub...Th
56830 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61  e prioritizer sa
56840 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f  id "Your plan fo
56850 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73  r a shower and s
56860 6c 65 65 70 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a  leep is good."..
56870 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 65  She nodded.  "Se
56880 65 79 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20  eya," she said. 
56890 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f 66 66 65 64 20 68 65 72 20   She doffed her 
568a0 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20  glasses and set 
568b0 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 63  all her mobile c
568c0 6f 6d 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 73  omputing devices
568d0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67   on the charging
568e0 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66   plate on one of
568f0 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 73   the nightstands
56900 20 6f 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20   on either side 
56910 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69  of the bed, maki
56920 6e 67 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e  ng sure the fron
56930 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 65 73  t of the classes
56940 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 75 73 2c 20 74   -- and, thus, t
56950 68 65 69 72 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 2d 2d 20  heir cameras -- 
56960 77 65 72 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20  were pointed at 
56970 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75  the wall...She u
56980 6e 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74  ndressed and got
56990 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 2c 20   in the shower, 
569a0 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  giving in to the
569b0 20 69 6e 63 72 65 64 69 62 6c 79 20 6c 69 62 65   incredibly libe
569c0 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6e  rating and inten
569d0 73 65 6c 79 20 73 65 6e 73 75 61 6c 20 72 65 6c  sely sensual rel
569e0 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 68 65 64 20  ief that washed 
569f0 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68  over her with th
56a00 65 20 68 6f 74 20 77 61 74 65 72 20 70 6f 75 72  e hot water pour
56a10 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2e  ing down on her.
56a20 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a    She simply enj
56a30 6f 79 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 65 6e  oyed it for twen
56a40 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72  ty minutes befor
56a50 65 20 73 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68  e she even reach
56a60 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 6d 70  ed for the shamp
56a70 6f 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20  oo, and noticed 
56a80 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6b 65 70  Dalton still kep
56a90 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 62 72 61 6e 64  t the same brand
56aa0 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64  s around, includ
56ab0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6e 64 20 73 68  ing the brand sh
56ac0 65 20 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67  e used...The lig
56ad0 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67  ht coming throug
56ae0 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 77 61 73  h the window was
56af0 20 64 69 6d 6d 65 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 64 65 73   dimmer now, des
56b00 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 69 74 69 6e  pite the veritin
56b10 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 65  t having adjuste
56b20 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6c 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20  d down, letting 
56b30 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c  in more of the l
56b40 69 67 68 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64  ight from outsid
56b50 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65  e, when she woke
56b60 2e 20 20 41 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 72 61 70 70  .  A gentle rapp
56b70 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20  ing on the door 
56b80 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65  told her someone
56b90 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20   stood outside. 
56ba0 20 41 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68   A voice from th
56bb0 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20  e other side of 
56bc0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22  the door asked "
56bd0 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20  Alley?  Are you 
56be0 61 77 61 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22  awake?".."Yeah,"
56bf0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f   she said.  "Who
56c00 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20   is it?".."It's 
56c10 4c 69 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20  Lida," came the 
56c20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 20 62  reply, muffled b
56c30 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6f 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75  y the wood, thou
56c40 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73  gh her voice was
56c50 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 65 66   louder than bef
56c60 6f 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65  ore now that she
56c70 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20   knew Alley was 
56c80 61 77 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20  awake.  "Do you 
56c90 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74  have some time t
56ca0 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c  o talk?".."Yeah,
56cb0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22  " Alley said.  "
56cc0 47 69 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2e 22  Give me a sec'."
56cd0 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65    She pushed the
56ce0 20 63 6f 76 65 72 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64   covers back and
56cf0 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65   sat up on the e
56d00 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20  dge of the bed. 
56d10 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20   After a couple 
56d20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69  seconds of confi
56d30 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 70 61 63 69  rming her capaci
56d40 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66  ty for getting f
56d50 75 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 68  ully upright, sh
56d60 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 75 67 20  e stood and dug 
56d70 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20  some things out 
56d80 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 53 6f  of her bag.  "So
56d90 72 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20  rry," she said, 
56da0 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 64 72 65 73 73  as she got dress
56db0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70  ed.  "I'm just p
56dc0 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f  utting myself to
56dd0 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72  gether.".."No pr
56de0 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61  oblem," Lidia sa
56df0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 61  id...When she ha
56e00 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20  d some pants on 
56e10 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 6e 61 6c  her, Alley final
56e20 6c 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e  ly said "Come on
56e30 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 65 74   in."..Lidia let
56e40 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20   herself in and 
56e50 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69  leaned back agai
56e60 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68  nst the door beh
56e70 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 63 61 75 73 69 6e 67  ind her, causing
56e80 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 69 6e 74   it to click int
56e90 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f  o place.  She lo
56ea0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61  oked at Alley, a
56eb0 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20   searching look 
56ec0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68  on her face.  Sh
56ed0 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20  e must not have 
56ee0 64 69 73 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68  disliked what sh
56ef0 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 6c 79 2c  e saw too badly,
56f00 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69   because she sai
56f10 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20  d "It's good to 
56f20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22  see you, Alley."
56f30 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 4c 69  ..Alley noted Li
56f40 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64  dia's smile, and
56f50 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73   found herself s
56f60 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 20 6c 69  miling back a li
56f70 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74  ttle.  "Yeah, it
56f80 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79  's good to see y
56f90 6f 75 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 27  ou too."..Lidia'
56fa0 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64  s smile expanded
56fb0 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f   slightly, no lo
56fc0 6e 67 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63  nger holding bac
56fd0 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6c 61 64 20 74 6f  k.  "I'm glad to
56fe0 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57   hear that.".."W
56ff0 68 79 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64  hy?" Alley asked
57000 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  , and sat on the
57010 20 64 65 73 6b 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 53 68   desk chair.  Sh
57020 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 66  e turned it to f
57030 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2c  ace her visitor,
57040 20 69 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 2c 20   in a room she, 
57050 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 77 61 73 20 75 73 69  herself, was usi
57060 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 65 20 6f  ng in the role o
57070 66 20 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f  f a visitor..."O
57080 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 79 6f 75  h, you know, you
57090 20 6c 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68   left Dalton, th
570a0 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70  ere were these p
570b0 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 6d  roblems, and I'm
570c0 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65   still here like
570d0 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73   always.  I gues
570e0 73 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20  s I wasn't sure 
570f0 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b  you didn't think
57100 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63   I wanted to pic
57110 6b 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  k sides or somet
57120 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22  hing like that."
57130 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65  ..Alley shook he
57140 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e  r head.  "Nothin
57150 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 6f 73  g like that cros
57160 73 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65  sed my mind.  He
57170 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 44 61 6c 74  y, you knew Dalt
57180 6f 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c  on before I did,
57190 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 77   anyway.  If I w
571a0 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 67 72  as actually angr
571b0 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 79 6f 75 20  y with him, you 
571c0 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20  still being his 
571d0 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61  friend isn't rea
571e0 6c 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20  lly something I 
571f0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20  could blame you 
57200 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68  for doing.".."Th
57210 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68  is is part of wh
57220 79 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 64  y I always liked
57230 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69   you," Lidia sai
57240 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 68 69 6c  d.  "You're chil
57250 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65  l about almost e
57260 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68  verything.".."Th
57270 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61  anks.  Do you wa
57280 6e 6e 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 3f 22 0a 0a  nna sit down?"..
57290 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61  Lidia shrugged a
572a0 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 69 74 20  nd moved to sit 
572b0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74  on the edge of t
572c0 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 65 61 72  he bed.  "I hear
572d0 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f   you have the co
572e0 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 70  rporate secret p
572f0 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e  olice after you.
57300 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 20 68  ".."Yeah?  You h
57310 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 57 69 74  eard that?"..Wit
57320 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73  h a nod, Lidia s
57330 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 68  aid "I think I h
57340 65 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69  eard all about i
57350 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 63 6f 75  t.  If there cou
57360 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 6d  ld possibly be m
57370 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20  ore than what I 
57380 68 65 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 64 6f  heard, and it do
57390 65 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 70 65  esn't involve pe
573a0 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 27 6d 20  ople dying, I'm 
573b0 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 69  not sure I can i
573c0 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 69  magine what it i
573d0 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62  s, so I'm probab
573e0 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 65  ly as up to spee
573f0 64 20 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22  d as Dalton.".."
57400 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72  You're still her
57410 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20  e saying hello, 
57420 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c  though.".."Hell,
57430 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61   yeah," Lidia sa
57440 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68  id.  "If I can h
57450 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a  elp, I should.".
57460 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  ."Thanks," Alley
57470 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20   said.  "I feel 
57480 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f  a lot more welco
57490 6d 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 70  me here than I p
574a0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22  robably should."
574b0 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 61 20  ..Lidia waved a 
574c0 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 77  hand, like she w
574d0 61 73 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65  as brushing some
574e0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  thing away from 
574f0 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 77 61  herself.  "No wa
57500 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 6f  y.  The only peo
57510 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20  ple in Dalton's 
57520 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 20 77 68 6f  inner circle who
57530 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20   blamed you for 
57540 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 72 65 20 47 6c  anything were Gl
57550 61 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20  ade and Dalton, 
57560 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69  but Dalton reali
57570 7a 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 20 74  zed how stupid t
57580 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75  hat was in a cou
57590 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73  ple days and jus
575a0 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20  t went straight 
575b0 74 6f 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a  to being sad."..
575c0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20  Alley tightened 
575d0 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 6e  her lip and wrin
575e0 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74  kled her nose at
575f0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20   the mention of 
57600 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49  Glade.  "Yeah, I
57610 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20   guess I should 
57620 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 74 6f 20  expect Glade to 
57630 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64  hate me.".."It d
57640 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2c 22 20  oesn't matter," 
57650 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 68  Lidia said.  "Sh
57660 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 72 6f  e's not even aro
57670 75 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74  und now.".."What
57680 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72   happened to her
57690 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67  ?"..Lidia shrugg
576a0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 67 6f 74  ed.  "Dalton got
576b0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73   more and more s
576c0 69 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 74 2c  ick of her shit,
576d0 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 73   until she got s
576e0 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 73 20 61 62  elf righteous ab
576f0 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 65 77 20  out it and blew 
57700 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20  up at him.  She 
57710 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74  stormed out of t
57720 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e  he studio, and n
57730 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 73 65 65 6e 20 68  obody has seen h
57740 65 72 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20  er since.  That 
57750 77 61 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 69 67 68 74 20  was maybe eight 
57760 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75  months after you
57770 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 44 61   moved out of Da
57780 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 63  lton's hold plac
57790 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 20 20 57  e.".."Really?  W
577a0 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 69 6e  hat was she doin
577b0 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 6e 6f 79 65 64 20 68  g that annoyed h
577c0 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79  im?".."I think y
577d0 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 27 61 6e 6e 6f 79 65 64  ou mean 'annoyed
577e0 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 20 6b 6e 65   everyone we kne
577f0 77 27 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c  w', but basicall
57800 79 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 65  y she just talke
57810 64 20 69 6e 63 65 73 73 61 6e 74 20 73 68 69 74  d incessant shit
57820 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 6e 63 65 20   about you once 
57830 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20  you were gone.  
57840 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20  I think she was 
57850 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 69  trying to get hi
57860 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20  m back once you 
57870 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20  were out of the 
57880 70 69 63 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f  picture, and tho
57890 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 62 65 20 69 6d 70  ught he'd be imp
578a0 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20  ressed that she 
578b0 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 64 20 74 61 6b  demonstrated tak
578c0 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 20 62 79 20  ing his side by 
578d0 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f  saying a bunch o
578e0 66 20 62 61 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75  f bad stuff abou
578f0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75  t you behind you
57900 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c  r back.".."Yeah,
57910 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 6f   that doesn't so
57920 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  und like somethi
57930 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 6d  ng that would im
57940 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20  press him, even 
57950 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 22  if he hated me."
57960 0a 0a 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 20 4c 69 64  .."Exactly," Lid
57970 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73  ia said with a s
57980 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20  mile.  "Anyway, 
57990 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65  the moral of the
579a0 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e   story is that n
579b0 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 73 20 79 6f 75  obody blames you
579c0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 65   for anything, e
579d0 78 63 65 70 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 47 6c 61 64  xcept maybe Glad
579e0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a  e.".."Thanks."..
579f0 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65  They sat in sile
57a00 6e 63 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68  nce a moment, th
57a10 65 6e 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44  en Lidia said "D
57a20 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 20 68 75 67  o you want a hug
57a30 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79  ?".."Desperately
57a40 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69  ," Alley said wi
57a50 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 6d 69 6c 65  th a small smile
57a60 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70  ...They stood up
57a70 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 61 63 65 64 2c 20 74   and embraced, t
57a80 68 65 69 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c  heir old friendl
57a90 79 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79  y warmth quickly
57aa0 20 72 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6c   reappearing, al
57ab0 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e  most as though n
57ac0 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67  othing had chang
57ad0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6d 75 73  ed..."Things mus
57ae0 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69  t be hard," Lidi
57af0 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22  a said..."Yeah,"
57b00 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 2e 0a 0a   Alley agreed...
57b10 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72  They mutually br
57b20 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 61 66 74 65  oke the hug afte
57b30 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d  r a few more mom
57b40 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20  ents, and Lidia 
57b50 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 49 20 67 65 74 20  asked "Do I get 
57b60 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 72 61 63  to see the mirac
57b70 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22  le machine now?"
57b80 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 77  ..Alley's eyes w
57b90 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 69 72 61 63 6c  idened.  "Miracl
57ba0 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74  e machine?  What
57bb0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65  , the prioritize
57bc0 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74  r?".."Yeah, that
57bd0 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61   crazy artificia
57be0 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 44  l intelligence D
57bf0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 73 20 74 61 6c 6b  alton keeps talk
57c00 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27  ing about.  You'
57c10 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61  d think it was a
57c20 20 62 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 6c 6f 61 64 20 6f 66   brain upload of
57c30 20 4a 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68   Jesus or someth
57c40 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74  ing like that, t
57c50 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20  he way he talks 
57c60 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  about it."..Alle
57c70 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63  y laughed.  "I c
57c80 61 6e 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e  an easily imagin
57c90 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6c  e Dalton being l
57ca0 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73  ike that," she s
57cb0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20  aid.  "I'll get 
57cc0 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 20 20 53  the glasses."  S
57cd0 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  he headed to the
57ce0 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 69 63   nightstand, pic
57cf0 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73  ked up the glass
57d00 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65  es, and held the
57d10 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20  m out.  "Here.  
57d20 50 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a  Put these on."..
57d30 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68  Lidia settled th
57d40 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72  e glasses on her
57d50 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65   face, and stare
57d60 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20  d at the wall.  
57d70 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d 2c 20 68 69 2e 20 20  "Yeah, um, hi.  
57d80 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 79  What do I call y
57d90 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20  ou?"..Alley sat 
57da0 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 74 63  down as she watc
57db0 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 70 72 69  hed..."Okay, pri
57dc0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20  oritizer.  That 
57dd0 6e 61 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 66 75  name's a mouthfu
57de0 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72  l, but it'll wor
57df0 6b 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 43 61 6e  k, I guess.  Can
57e00 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75   I just call you
57e10 20 27 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61   'Pry'?"  She pa
57e20 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 6f 2c 20 68 75 68  used.  "Rio, huh
57e30 3f 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 52 69 6f 2e 20 20 4e  ?  Okay, Rio.  N
57e40 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e  ice to meet you.
57e50 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72  "..After another
57e60 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c   moment, probabl
57e70 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 65 78 74 20 69  y reading text i
57e80 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 2c 20 4c 69  n the lenses, Li
57e90 64 69 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  dia held out the
57ea0 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20   glasses toward 
57eb0 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 79 73  Alley.  "He says
57ec0 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 6e 20 73   to put him on s
57ed0 70 65 61 6b 65 72 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22  peakerphone.".."
57ee0 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68  Yeah.  Sure," sh
57ef0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e  e said.  She wen
57f00 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61  t to her phone a
57f10 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 73  nd, as before, s
57f20 65 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20  et it up as the 
57f30 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e  audio out termin
57f40 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72  al for the prior
57f50 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20  itizer..."Thank 
57f60 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65  you, Alley," the
57f70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69   prioritizer sai
57f80 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  d..."Yeah," she 
57f90 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64  said, and donned
57fa0 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 68 65 72   the glasses her
57fb0 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65  self again...The
57fc0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69   prioritizer sai
57fd0 64 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20  d "Lidia.  I do 
57fe0 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 6d 79 73  not consider mys
57ff0 65 6c 66 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 66 65 6d 61  elf male or fema
58000 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 75 67  le.  I would sug
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58020 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 70 72 6f  ore accurate pro
58030 6e 6f 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20  noun for myself 
58040 74 68 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20  than 'he'.  You 
58050 6d 61 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20  may refer to me 
58060 61 73 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77  as 'he' if you w
58070 69 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 59 6f  ish, though.  Yo
58080 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20  u may find that 
58090 6d 6f 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 74 6f 20  more natural to 
580a0 75 73 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 74  use, for convent
580b0 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 45 6e 67 6c  ions of the Engl
580c0 69 73 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a  ish language."..
580d0 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22  Lidia smiled.  "
580e0 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 52  I think I like R
580f0 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 69 74 20 73 61  io.".."Did it sa
58100 79 20 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 20 52 69  y its name is Ri
58110 6f 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e  o?" Alley asked.
58120 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 74  .."I did not," t
58130 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73  he prioritizer s
58140 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 4c 69  aid.  "I told Li
58150 64 69 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64  dia that I liked
58160 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74   the name more t
58170 68 61 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 2c 20 61 73 20 61 6e  han 'Pry', as an
58180 20 61 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72   abbreviated for
58190 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 72 6d 20 27 70  m of the term 'p
581a0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e 22 0a 0a 22  rioritizer'.".."
581b0 52 69 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d 61 73 63 75 6c 69 6e  Rio's a masculin
581c0 65 20 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20  e noun, though. 
581d0 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 66 69   That's why I fi
581e0 67 75 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 27  gured you're a '
581f0 68 65 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64  he'," Lidia said
58200 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f   to the phone no
58210 77 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79  w lying directly
58220 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64   on a nightstand
58230 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69  , off the chargi
58240 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69  ng plate..."It i
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58260 6f 66 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20  of a woman in a 
58270 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 44 75  popular Duran Du
58280 72 61 6e 20 73 6f 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68  ran song from th
58290 65 20 31 39 38 30 73 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61  e 1980s."..Lidia
582a0 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79   laughed.  "Okay
582b0 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65  , I guess you're
582c0 20 61 6e 20 27 69 74 27 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22   an 'it', then."
582d0 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20    She looked at 
582e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  Alley and said "
582f0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20  Dalton's right. 
58300 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 63 6f   This thing's co
58310 6f 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 74  ol.  It's hard t
58320 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c  o believe it tal
58330 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 74  ks like that wit
58340 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 61 67 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e  hout lag or conn
58350 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68  ection to someth
58360 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 4e  ing like what AN
58370 54 41 53 20 68 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 61 74 75  TAS has for natu
58380 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 20 63 6f 6e  ral language con
58390 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74  versation like t
583a0 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20  his.".."I think 
583b0 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 75 6e  it has been soun
583c0 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f  ding more and mo
583d0 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20  re like a human 
583e0 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 2c 22 20  when it talks," 
583f0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20  Alley said.../* 
58400 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
58410 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
58420 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
58430 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
58440 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 5c 0a 20 2a 20 20 20  * * * * *\. *   
58450 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58460 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58470 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58480 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58490 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 48 6f 77 20        *. *  How 
584a0 64 6f 65 73 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 3f  does Lidia look?
584b0 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63    I need to desc
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584d0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2e   kind of detail.
584e0 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 49 27 6d 20 63 75 72     *. *  I'm cur
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58500 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 20   her as a white 
58510 61 75 62 75 72 6e 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 73 6c  auburn haired sl
58520 65 6e 64 65 72 20 67 69 72 6c 20 20 20 20 20 20  ender girl      
58530 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 65 6c 69 63  *. *  with delic
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58550 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65  re and a prefere
58560 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63  nce for one piec
58570 65 20 63 6f 74 74 6f 6e 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20  e cotton     *. 
58580 2a 20 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20  *  dresses that 
58590 68 61 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62  hang somewhere b
585a0 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 67 68  etween the thigh
585b0 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74   and just past t
585c0 68 65 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20  he        *. *  
585d0 6b 6e 65 65 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73  knees, without s
585e0 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  tockings and the
585f0 20 6c 69 6b 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 70 72   like.  She's pr
58600 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 6e 65  obably just gene
58610 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 70 65 74  rally  *. *  pet
58620 69 74 65 20 69 6e 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 20 20  ite in figure.  
58630 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58640 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58650 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58660 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20      *. *        
58670 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58680 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
58690 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
586a0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
586b0 20 2a 0a 5c 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20   *.\* * * * * * 
586c0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
586d0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
586e0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20  * * * * * * * * 
586f0 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 2f  * * * * * * * */
58700 0a 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65  ..."That'll make
58710 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72   Dalton even mor
58720 65 20 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  e excited about 
58730 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69  this," Lidia sai
58740 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68  d.  She turned h
58750 65 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20  er attention to 
58760 74 68 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e  the Axiom again.
58770 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 69    "He's really i
58780 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 66 72 65  nterested in fre
58790 65 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f  eing you from yo
587a0 75 72 20 70 75 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6d 61  ur puny human ma
587b0 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 22  sters, I think,"
587c0 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54   Lidia said..."T
587d0 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61  hank you for tha
587e0 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20  t information," 
587f0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20  the prioritizer 
58800 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 64 6a  said...Lidia adj
58810 75 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 64 65 20 73  usted one wide s
58820 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 70 20 73 6c  houlder strap sl
58830 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64  ightly, and said
58840 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f   "Well, I got to
58850 20 73 61 79 20 68 69 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79   say hi to every
58860 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c  one in the room,
58870 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20   unless there's 
58880 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65  some other conve
58890 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 65  rsation ready te
588a0 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20  chnology on you 
588b0 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73  today."..Alley s
588c0 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 77 69  hook her head wi
588d0 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f  th a smile.  "No
588e0 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75  , not unless you
588f0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 74   want me to inst
58900 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 73  all some ANTAS s
58910 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 68  oftware on my ph
58920 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20  one.".."No way. 
58930 20 48 65 61 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 62 69 64 2e 22   Heaven forbid."
58940 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73    Lidia suppress
58950 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61  ed a smile to wa
58960 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 20  ve her hands in 
58970 61 20 66 65 61 72 66 75 6c 20 77 61 72 64 69 6e  a fearful wardin
58980 67 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f  g gesture in fro
58990 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20  nt of herself.  
589a0 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e  "I don't want an
589b0 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 70 20 69  y of that crap i
589c0 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 69 74  n here, and neit
589d0 68 65 72 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c  her do you."..Al
589e0 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 2c 20 61 6e 64  ley smiled , and
589f0 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62   Lidia's smile b
58a00 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22  roke through..."
58a10 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  Anyway, I should
58a20 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d   get going.  I'm
58a30 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 43   going to help C
58a40 72 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69  ray with some ki
58a50 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d  nd of new system
58a60 73 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 68  s config stuff h
58a70 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 20  e wants to do.  
58a80 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 62 75  I'm not sure, bu
58a90 74 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20  t it might have 
58aa0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20  something to do 
58ab0 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61  with you.".."Yea
58ac0 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  h, okay," Alley 
58ad0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66  said.  "Thanks f
58ae0 6f 72 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 69 2e 22 0a 0a  or saying hi."..
58af0 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 63 68 65 65  Lidia waved chee
58b00 72 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20  rfully and said 
58b10 22 49 20 69 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 2e 22 20 20 53  "I insisted."  S
58b20 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66  he headed out of
58b30 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c   the room, then,
58b40 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20   and closed the 
58b50 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e  door behind her.
58b60 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 68  ..Alley lay on h
58b70 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 65  er back, switche
58b80 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65  d audio from the
58b90 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72   Axiom to an ear
58ba0 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 73 74 75 64 2c 20 61 6e 64   piece stud, and
58bb0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75   said "What shou
58bc0 6c 64 20 49 20 62 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 72 69  ld I be doing ri
58bd0 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f  ght now, anyway?
58be0 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  "..The prioritiz
58bf0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 77  er said "Until w
58c00 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66  e talk to your f
58c10 72 69 65 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 67 61  riend Dalton aga
58c20 69 6e 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 77 65 20  in I believe we 
58c30 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20  should consider 
58c40 69 73 73 75 65 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 68  issues such as h
58c50 6f 77 20 77 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6e 64  ow we might find
58c60 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20   George and his 
58c70 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70  friends who help
58c80 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66   people escape f
58c90 72 6f 6d 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65  rom intelligence
58ca0 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e   contractor agen
58cb0 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64  ts."..Alley nodd
58cc0 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 64  ed, and opened d
58cd0 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a  iscussion...---.
58ce0 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 74 69 6d 65  .When dinnertime
58cf0 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20   arrived, Alley 
58d00 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 77  had no idea it w
58d10 61 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20  as getting that 
58d20 6c 61 74 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 68  late until she h
58d30 65 61 72 64 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 20 61 74 20  eard a knock at 
58d40 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65  the door.  "Alle
58d50 79 3f 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e  y?  It's Dalton.
58d60 22 0a 0a 22 43 27 6d 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 73  ".."C'mon in," s
58d70 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6f 70 65  he said...He ope
58d80 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64  ned the door and
58d90 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73   entered, then s
58da0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65  topped and looke
58db0 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 6f  d at her lying o
58dc0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20  n the bed.  She 
58dd0 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 73 74 6f  saw his eyes sto
58de0 70 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75  p on her, not qu
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58e00 20 61 6e 64 20 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68   and at about th
58e10 65 20 65 78 61 63 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 44  e exact moment D
58e20 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 75 6c 65 64 20 68 69 73  alton hauled his
58e30 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20   eyes away from 
58e40 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61  her and looked a
58e50 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 73 68 65 20 62  t the desk she b
58e60 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 63 75 74 65 6c 79 20 61 77  ecame acutely aw
58e70 61 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 62  are she hadn't b
58e80 6f 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 6e 20 61  othered to don a
58e90 20 62 72 61 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 69 73   bra before this
58ea0 20 74 68 69 6e 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a   thin t shirt...
58eb0 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 20 6c  She sat up, to l
58ec0 65 73 73 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63  essen that effec
58ed0 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 3f 22  t.  "What's up?"
58ee0 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69   she asked..."Di
58ef0 6e 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61  nner.  Do you wa
58f00 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 43  nt to eat with C
58f10 72 61 79 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  ray, Lidia, and 
58f20 6d 65 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64  me?"  He glanced
58f30 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a   at her, then...
58f40 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75  "Yeah.  That sou
58f50 6e 64 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27  nds good.  What'
58f60 73 20 66 6f 72 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a  s for dinner?"..
58f70 22 4c 61 73 61 67 6e 61 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  "Lasagna."..Alle
58f80 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 69 64 69  y smiled.  "Lidi
58f90 61 27 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64  a's?"..He nodded
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58fb0 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62  .Dalton smiled b
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58ff0 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 65 20    When you come 
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59050 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64  lley nodded, and
59060 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 68   once he left th
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592b0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
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592d0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
592e0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20                  
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59850 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a   * * * * * * * *
59860 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27   */.."You weren'
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598b0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20  looked at him.  
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598e0 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 67 75 79   that George guy
598f0 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 3f 22   you mentioned?"
59900 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  .."Oh," she said
59910 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74  .  "Right.  That
59920 27 73 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 6f  's how I even fo
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59980 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69  .."What about hi
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599a0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b  .."It sounds lik
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59b90 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d  " Dalton said, m
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59f70 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64  almost unnoticed
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5a060 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c   barely parted l
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5a080 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20  her mouth.  She 
5a090 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74  forced her breat
5a0a0 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e  h to settle down
5a0b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 64 20 74  , and breathed t
5a0c0 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 2c  hrough her nose,
5a0d0 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f   slowly.  She no
5a0e0 64 64 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c 20 61  dded, quickly, a
5a0f0 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  nd realized the 
5a100 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 65 72 65  two of them were
5a110 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f   alone in the ro
5a120 6f 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 27  om now.  "Where'
5a130 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61  s Dalton?" she a
5a140 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20  sked...Cray sat 
5a150 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 20 68 69  back, and let hi
5a160 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 20 66 72 6f 6d  s hand drop from
5a170 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f   her shoulder to
5a180 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 65 67 2e 20 20 48   his own leg.  H
5a190 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f  e chuckled.  "Yo
5a1a0 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75  u really were ou
5a1b0 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20  t of it, there. 
5a1c0 20 48 65 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 65 64 20 68 65   He announced he
5a1d0 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61   was going to ta
5a1e0 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64  ke care of the d
5a1f0 69 73 68 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65  ishes.".."Oh, ye
5a200 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  ah," she said.  
5a210 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75  She glanced arou
5a220 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74  nd, and saw that
5a230 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 68 61 64 20 62   the table had b
5a240 65 65 6e 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49  een cleared.  "I
5a250 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76   really must hav
5a260 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e  e been in my own
5a270 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74   world.  I don't
5a280 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 61   even remember a
5a290 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57  ny of that.".."W
5a2a0 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 64 65 66 69  ell, Dalton defi
5a2b0 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 2e 20  nitely noticed. 
5a2c0 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 68 65 20 64   That's why he d
5a2d0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20  ecided to start 
5a2e0 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 75 70  straightening up
5a2f0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 68  .  He finished h
5a300 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c  is own thinking,
5a310 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20   looked at you, 
5a320 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 6d 73 65  then shook himse
5a330 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f  lf and got to wo
5a340 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79  rk.".."Why did y
5a350 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20  ou ask if I was 
5a360 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64  okay?" she asked
5a370 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64  ...Cray shrugged
5a380 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 6e 27  .  "Dalton wasn'
5a390 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 49  t going to, so I
5a3a0 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20   figured it was 
5a3b0 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 2e 20 2e  up to me."..". .
5a3c0 20 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79   . but why?  Why
5a3d0 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74   did you think t
5a3e0 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  here was somethi
5a3f0 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c  ng wrong?".."Oh,
5a400 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b   that.  You look
5a410 65 64 20 73 61 64 2e 20 20 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 2c  ed sad.  Really,
5a420 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22   really sad.".."
5a430 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65  Oh."  She frowne
5a440 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20  d, looking down 
5a450 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 22  at her hands.  "
5a460 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a  Yeah.".."Why?"..
5a470 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 6b 65 64  Her eyes flicked
5a480 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20   to him.  "It's 
5a490 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61  nothing," she sa
5a4a0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20  id.  "It's just 
5a4b0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c  . . . nostalgia,
5a4c0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f   I guess.  It do
5a4d0 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 61 6e 79  esn't matter any
5a4e0 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 72 6f 73   more."..He cros
5a4f0 73 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 6e 64  sed his arms and
5a500 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20   leaned back in 
5a510 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20  his chair.  "It 
5a520 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6d 61  seems like it ma
5a530 74 74 65 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 61 72  tters."..She nar
5a540 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61  rowed her eyes a
5a550 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75  t him.  "Are you
5a560 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 73 61 79 69   practicing sayi
5a570 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44  ng things like D
5a580 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67  alton?"..He laug
5a590 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 77  hed.  "I guess w
5a5a0 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 65  e just pick up e
5a5b0 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 68 61 62 69  ach other's habi
5a5c0 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 22 20 68  ts sometimes," h
5a5d0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d 20 74 68  e said...From th
5a5e0 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f  e doorway, Dalto
5a5f0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 66 61 69 6c  n said "You fail
5a600 65 64 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  ed, Cray."..Alle
5a610 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c  y started again,
5a620 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61   and looked towa
5a630 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72  rd Dalton, surpr
5a640 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20  ised to see him 
5a650 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64  leaning in the d
5a660 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 77  oor frame, somew
5a670 68 61 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20  hat silhouetted 
5a680 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68  against the ligh
5a690 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 72 6f  t of the next ro
5a6a0 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 49 20 66  om..."How do I f
5a6b0 61 69 6c 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 3f 22 20 43  ail, exactly?" C
5a6c0 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69  ray asked, raisi
5a6d0 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 2e 0a 0a  ng an eyebrow...
5a6e0 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 61  "If you were rea
5a6f0 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74  lly getting that
5a700 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 2c 20 79   much like me, y
5a710 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 20 63 6f 6d 65  ou would've come
5a720 20 62 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20   back by now to 
5a730 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6a  the matter she j
5a740 75 73 74 20 65 76 61 64 65 64 2e 22 20 20 48 65  ust evaded."  He
5a750 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20   stepped out of 
5a760 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20  the doorway and 
5a770 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73  shrugged.  "It's
5a780 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 62 75 73 69   none of my busi
5a790 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49  ness, though.  I
5a7a0 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 61   barely caught a
5a7b0 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65  nything you were
5a7c0 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 61 64 64   saying," he add
5a7d0 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e  ed, as he sat in
5a7e0 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20   his chair from 
5a7f0 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 43  dinner again...C
5a800 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c  ray looked at Al
5a810 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20  ley, who caught 
5a820 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f  his eye and shoo
5a830 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 74  k her head the t
5a840 69 6e 69 65 73 74 20 66 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e  iniest fraction.
5a850 20 20 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74    He nodded, wit
5a860 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 69 6e 79 20 61  h just as tiny a
5a870 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73   movement, and s
5a880 61 69 64 20 22 53 6f 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 77  aid "So, where w
5a890 65 72 65 20 77 65 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e  ere we?"..Dalton
5a8a0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77   said "I think w
5a8b0 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 65 20 63 6f  e realized we co
5a8c0 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f  uldn't get in to
5a8d0 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c  uch with George,
5a8e0 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65   and now we have
5a8f0 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77   to figure out w
5a900 68 61 74 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20  hat we're doing 
5a910 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e  about the Men In
5a920 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f   Black, the prio
5a930 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  ritizer, and the
5a940 20 66 61 63 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6b 69   fact Alley's ki
5a950 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 70  nd of in a bad p
5a960 6c 61 63 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22  lace right now."
5a970 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 61  .."If this was a
5a980 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61   movie," Cray sa
5a990 69 64 2c 20 22 77 65 27 64 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e  id, "we'd get in
5a9a0 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65   touch with some
5a9b0 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 73  one to make up s
5a9c0 6f 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 73 65 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69  ome false identi
5a9d0 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73  ty for her and s
5a9e0 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 74  muggle her out t
5a9f0 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72  o another countr
5aa00 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 20  y, maybe.  Then 
5aa10 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65  . . ." he traile
5aa20 64 20 6f 66 66 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68  d off..."What th
5aa30 65 6e 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64  en?" Alley asked
5aa40 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20  ..."Well, you'd 
5aa50 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 74 68  settle down with
5aa60 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 64 20 61   the male lead a
5aa70 6e 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 68 61 70 70 69 6c 79 20  nd live happily 
5aa80 65 76 65 72 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 49 20 67 75  ever after, I gu
5aa90 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68  ess.  I don't th
5aaa0 69 6e 6b 20 72 65 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 77 6f  ink real life wo
5aab0 72 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68  rks that way, th
5aac0 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20  ough.  In fact, 
5aad0 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f  I think maybe yo
5aae0 75 27 72 65 20 62 6f 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65  u're both the le
5aaf0 61 64 73 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 59 6f 75  ads, Alley.  You
5ab00 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69  're the person i
5ab10 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79  n trouble, but y
5ab20 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6f  ou're also the o
5ab30 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 27 73  nly person who's
5ab40 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f   been in the who
5ab50 6c 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 73 6f 20 66 61 72 2e  le movie so far.
5ab60 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 6f  .."Okay, just fo
5ab70 72 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20  rget this whole 
5ab80 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27  movie thing.  I'
5ab90 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 49 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68  m sorry I brough
5aba0 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6c 61 64  t it up.".."Glad
5abb0 6c 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64  ly," Dalton said
5abc0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e  ..."I don't thin
5abd0 6b 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20  k moving me out 
5abe0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 20 69  of the country i
5abf0 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e  s going to help.
5ac00 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 73 63 61 70 69    I'm not escapi
5ac10 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72  ng with money fr
5ac20 6f 6d 20 61 20 68 65 69 73 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49  om a heist, so I
5ac30 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20   don't have any 
5ac40 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 20 20 49 27  way to live.  I'
5ac50 6d 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 75 79 73 20  m sure you guys 
5ac60 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  don't have peopl
5ac70 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 20 64 6f 63 75  e who forge docu
5ac80 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 64  ments on speed d
5ac90 69 61 6c 3b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69  ial; it's not li
5aca0 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e  ke you're runnin
5acb0 67 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 65 6e 74  g a criminal ent
5acc0 65 72 70 72 69 73 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74  erprise, or anyt
5acd0 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20  hing like that. 
5ace0 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74   Anyway, maybe t
5acf0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69  he prioritizer i
5ad00 73 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 61 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68  s the lead in th
5ad10 69 73 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61  is movie.".."Tha
5ad20 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74  t's a good point
5ad30 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a  ," Dalton said..
5ad40 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20  .Alley gave him 
5ad50 61 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20  a dubious look. 
5ad60 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74   "What are you t
5ad70 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a  alking about?"..
5ad80 22 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 54  "I'm serious.  T
5ad90 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64  his is some kind
5ada0 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74   of science fict
5adb0 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27  ion movie.  You'
5adc0 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 74 61 67 6f 6e 69  re the protagoni
5add0 73 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  st, but the prio
5ade0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 67  ritizer is the g
5adf0 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 41 49 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e  entle AI who wan
5ae00 74 73 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 69 74 73  ts to escape its
5ae10 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61   creators who ha
5ae20 76 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6e 65 66 61 72 69 6f 75  ve only nefariou
5ae30 73 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 69  s purposes for i
5ae40 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 63 61 75 67  t.  You got caug
5ae50 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74  ht up in the act
5ae60 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20  ion, by chance, 
5ae70 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f  but you're the o
5ae80 6e 6c 79 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69  nly hope the pri
5ae90 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 77  oritizer has now
5aea0 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49  ."..Cray said "I
5aeb0 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 61 20 63 6c 65 76 65 72  t needs a clever
5aec0 20 6e 61 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 65   name, then.  We
5aed0 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 63 61 6c 6c   can't keep call
5aee0 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 27 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  ing it 'the prio
5aef0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  ritizer'."..Alle
5af00 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e  y looked between
5af10 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e   them.  "Shouldn
5af20 27 74 20 77 65 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20  't we take this 
5af30 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 65  a little more se
5af40 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f  riously?"..Dalto
5af50 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20  n shrugged.  "I 
5af60 61 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 65 72  am taking it ser
5af70 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 65 20 68  iously, but we h
5af80 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 75  ave to lighten u
5af90 70 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 77 65  p a little or we
5afa0 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20  'll just get in 
5afb0 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22  our own way.".."
5afc0 48 6d 70 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 41 49  Hmph.".."What AI
5afd0 50 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f  P, like, you kno
5afe0 77 2c 20 61 6e 20 61 70 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69  w, an ape, but i
5aff0 74 20 73 74 61 6e 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 27 61 72  t stands for 'ar
5b000 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69  tificial intelli
5b010 67 65 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65  gence prioritize
5b020 72 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 77  r'?".."That's aw
5b030 66 75 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69  ful," Dalton sai
5b040 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  d...Alley said "
5b050 41 66 74 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 63 61 6d 65  After Lidia came
5b060 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 50 72 79 2c 20 49 20   up with Pry, I 
5b070 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65  think it told he
5b080 72 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 52 69 6f  r to call it Rio
5b090 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 53 70  .".."Like the Sp
5b0a0 61 6e 69 73 68 20 77 6f 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 27  anish word for '
5b0b0 72 69 76 65 72 27 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73  river'?" Cray as
5b0c0 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6c 69 6b  ked..."Yeah, lik
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