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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