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160e0 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b .After she blink
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18130 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 he turned off th
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181a0 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 65 61 72 2c 20 61 6e pretty clear, an
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181e0 73 74 72 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 stress...The pri
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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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182f0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6c 61 78 61 74 oment of relaxat
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18340 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 repared?"..Alley
18350 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 looked at the v
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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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18430 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 king brake wasn'
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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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18490 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 ting alone in a
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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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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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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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18770 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 .."Maybe we shou
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18790 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 moment, the roa
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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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189d0 68 65 20 77 65 65 64 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 he weeds, in the
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189f0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 . It left a few
18a00 20 66 65 65 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 feet between th
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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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18b20 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e little lower on
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18b70 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 of the door, and
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18bc0 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 movement from a
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18c90 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 "The driver's
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18ce0 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 72 65 73 70 nothing in resp
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18dc0 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 66 72 61 6d y saw black fram
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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
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18e90 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 and moved it to
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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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18f50 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 on was probably
18f60 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 prettier than he
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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
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18fe0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 ...The driver ga
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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
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19190 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 the moon, away f
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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
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192e0 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c in it. "Here, l
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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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193f0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 and send it to
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19470 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 . He entered th
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19490 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 into his device
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
194d0 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 he heard the esc
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
19530 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 he hung her righ
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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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195f0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 . He tossed the
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196a0 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 counting. Alley
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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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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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19760 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f is thumb once mo
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19790 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 t yet," she said
197a0 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 . "Just wait."
197b0 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 Everyone waited
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197d0 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 later, another
197e0 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 alert chimed in
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19810 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 ".."Good," he sa
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19920 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 sure that went
19930 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 well," the prior
19940 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 itizer said..."Y
19950 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 eah. I should c
19960 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 heck my Stater b
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19990 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 side her glasses
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199d0 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 her phone, and
199e0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 looked at the op
199f0 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 en ledger view.
19a00 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 She now had a S
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19a20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 She stared at it
19a30 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 for a while..."
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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19ae0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 all there. Is
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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,"
19c80 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 she said. She
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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
19d40 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 send a message
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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19da0 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 hold to reserve
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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
19df0 72 76 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 rvice.".."Yeah,
19e00 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 got it," she sai
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19e20 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 all works out."
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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19f50 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 t was supposed t
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1a110 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 few hours befor
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1a130 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 61 pen Marrakesh wa
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1a170 43 5a 20 62 72 61 6e 64 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 67 CZ branded handg
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1a1d0 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 on Open Marrake
1a1e0 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 73 74 20 6d 6f sh would cost mo
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1a200 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 she had, but it
1a210 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 looked like she
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1a2b0 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 noticed she had
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1a2d0 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f multiple crypto
1a2e0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 currency trader
1a2f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 75 73 65 like the boy use
1a300 64 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 d earlier with w
1a310 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 hat was left..."
1a320 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 Should I make th
1a330 69 73 20 64 65 61 6c 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 is deal?" she as
1a340 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 ked the air...Th
1a350 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e e prioritizer an
1a360 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 6c swered. "This l
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1a380 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 20 good deal, the
1a390 62 65 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f best you have fo
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1a3b0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e he said. "Fine.
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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1a430 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f were not even co
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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
1c5b0 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 lly. With the t
1c5c0 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 wo release point
1c5d0 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 s, you're not li
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1c5f0 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 ally pop it out
1c600 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 when you don't w
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1c620 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 6f type is more so
1c630 6c 69 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 lid and easier t
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1c650 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 he things where
1c660 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 6f you just snap yo
1c670 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 6f ur hand out to o
1c680 70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 pen them. Anywa
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1c6a0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 of these, and it
1c6b0 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 20 's easy to toss
1c6c0 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 66 it somewhere bef
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1c6e0 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 66 you if you're af
1c6f0 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 raid of getting
1c700 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 6f caught with a co
1c710 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c 20 ncealed weapon,
1c720 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 20 or if you cut a
1c730 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 little hole in t
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1c810 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 ."Here." She he
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1c970 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 69 ..Alley froze wi
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1c9d0 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 6a ..."Yeah. Uh, j
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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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1eec0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
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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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1eff0 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 What? Why?".."W
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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
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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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1f220 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 ls, but that cou
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1f250 20 53 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 She rubbed it t
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1f270 20 69 74 73 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e its surface, an
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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
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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
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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
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1f3a0 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 ally.".."I have
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1f420 20 22 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c "Wait. I shoul
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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
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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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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
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1f5b0 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 as evidence tha
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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
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1f6c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 e.".."Did you re
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1f6e0 74 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 t be more money
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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
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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,
1f7a0 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 but I'm taking a
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1f810 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 being the differ
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1f870 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 all.".."Do you
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1f890 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 that considerat
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1f8b0 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 ".."No, I guess
1f8c0 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 not," she said.
1f8d0 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 "It's not like
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1f900 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e , or even preten
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1f980 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 68 65 20 64 69 ing to me, he di
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1f9a0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 out of me a lit
1f9b0 74 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c tle.".."We shoul
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1f9e0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 , then. I have
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1fa10 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 if you are ready
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1fa30 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
1fa40 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
1fa50 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
1fa60 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
1fa70 5c 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 \. *
1fa80 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
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1fab0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 *.
1fac0 2a 20 20 49 64 65 61 73 3a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 * Ideas:
1fad0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
1fae0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
1faf0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
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25690 61 20 72 61 70 69 64 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 20 61 67 a rapid tempo ag
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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
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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
260e0 61 74 3f 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c at? I like you,
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
26190 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 ve without it, a
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
261d0 72 72 69 73 20 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 rris to Hunting
261e0 42 65 61 63 68 20 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 Beach at gig cou
261f0 72 69 65 72 20 72 61 74 65 73 20 69 66 20 79 6f rier rates if yo
26200 75 72 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 ur finances were
26210 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 feeling really
26220 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e secure." He win
26230 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f ked at her. "Yo
26240 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 u're good people
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
262e0 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c e edges, then fl
262f0 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 66 6c ipped the top fl
26300 61 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f aps of the box o
26310 75 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c ut. He carefull
26320 79 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 61 70 65 64 20 74 y lifted taped t
26330 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 ogether bundles
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
26380 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 ndle on the sili
26390 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c cone tray, and l
263a0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 ooked over every
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
263d0 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 75 pped her Coke, u
263e0 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 nwilling to dist
263f0 75 72 62 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 48 urb his work. H
26400 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 is hands seemed
26410 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c 79 20 64 72 61 77 6e 20 precisely drawn
26420 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 to particular sp
26430 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 ots on various p
26440 61 72 74 73 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 6d 75 73 63 arts, as if musc
26450 6c 65 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 79 20 67 75 69 64 65 64 le memory guided
26460 20 68 69 6d 20 64 65 66 74 6c 79 20 77 68 65 72 him deftly wher
26470 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f e they needed to
26480 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d go in a perform
26490 61 6e 63 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 ance something a
264a0 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 64 69 74 lmost like medit
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
264d0 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e ouple of the bun
264e0 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 70 dles of larger p
264f0 61 72 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 arts, and looked
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
26520 68 65 6d 20 61 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 hem aside, the b
26530 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 undles slightly
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
265b0 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 79 20 61 6e fted the tray an
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
265f0 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 k to Dave, for t
26600 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 he second delive
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
26650 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ing up for somet
26660 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 hing, or going b
26670 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a ack to school?".
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
266c0 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d ot exactly. I'm
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
26760 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 k experience to
26770 70 69 63 6b 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 pick a new direc
26780 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 tion, so I'm jus
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
267b0 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e enting yourself.
267c0 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e The world chan
267d0 67 65 73 20 73 6f 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 ges so fast it's
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
26800 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 , then stopped,
26810 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 and shook her he
26820 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f ad again. "I do
26830 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 n't know," she s
26840 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 ays. "A lot of
26850 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 people seem to h
26860 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 ave no problem.
26870 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f They just go to
26880 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 school, get a p
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268a0 70 70 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 pply for a job,
268b0 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 and work until t
268c0 68 65 79 20 72 65 74 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 hey retire.".."I
268d0 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 t seems that way
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
26900 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 m don't really d
26910 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 o that.".."What
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
26940 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 74 69 ople aren't reti
26950 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 65 74 20 6c 61 69 ring, or get lai
26960 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 d off and end up
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
26990 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 n't have enough
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
269c0 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c onceive of compl
269d0 65 74 65 6c 79 20 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e etely reinventin
269e0 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 61 74 68 73 2e 20 20 g their paths.
269f0 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f You look like yo
26a00 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 u do, but maybe
26a10 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 you're looking i
26a20 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 n the wrong dire
26a30 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e ction." He lean
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26a60 68 69 73 20 66 6f 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 his forearms on
26a70 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 his thighs, and
26a80 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 wrong his hands
26a90 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f like he meant to
26aa0 20 6d 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 63 72 61 6d 70 73 20 massage cramps
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26ac0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 looked toward a
26ad0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 65 bookshelf as he
26ae0 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 spoke again. "
26af0 49 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 It's easy to see
26b00 20 77 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 what other peop
26b10 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 le are doing and
26b20 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 think that they
26b30 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 have it togethe
26b40 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 r, that they hav
26b50 65 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 e a path and sec
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26b70 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c ess. Most peopl
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26b90 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 her about how we
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26bb0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 , and almost eve
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26bd0 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 64 6f 77 6e them, deep down
26be0 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 inside, thinks
26bf0 27 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 'I must be the o
26c00 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 63 nly person who c
26c10 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69 67 75 an't really figu
26c20 72 65 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 re it out.' The
26c30 79 27 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 y're all up to t
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26c50 20 64 65 62 74 2c 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 debt, living pa
26c60 79 63 68 65 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 ycheck to payche
26c70 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 ck..."There are
26c80 61 20 66 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f a few people who
26c90 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 have things sor
26ca0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 ted out pretty w
26cb0 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f ell, prudent peo
26cc0 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 ple who played i
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26ce0 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 62 75 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b he time but took
26cf0 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 advantage of op
26d00 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e portunities when
26d10 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 they came, and
26d20 77 65 72 65 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 were lucky enoug
26d30 68 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 74 h to get ahead t
26d40 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f hat way. Many o
26d50 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 f them don't eve
26d60 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 n realize they'r
26d70 65 20 69 6e 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 e insecure and c
26d80 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 onfused all the
26d90 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 time, because th
26da0 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 ey got so good a
26db0 74 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c t lying to peopl
26dc0 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 e about it that
26dd0 74 68 65 79 27 76 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e they've even con
26de0 76 69 6e 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 vinced themselve
26df0 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6f s..."There are o
26e00 74 68 65 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 thers who really
26e10 20 64 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 79 do believe they
26e20 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 have everything
26e30 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 61 6e figured out, an
26e40 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 79 27 d in a way they'
26e50 72 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 re even right ab
26e60 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f out that, but no
26e70 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e t in a way anyon
26e80 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 e should have th
26e90 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 ings figured out
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
26f00 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f ake it to the to
26f10 70 20 6f 76 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 p over mounds of
26f20 20 62 6f 64 69 65 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f bodies, metapho
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
26fb0 68 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 ht her gaze, and
26fc0 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6d she felt an alm
26fd0 6f 73 74 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 ost physical for
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
27010 72 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 rlook, because t
27020 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f here's always to
27030 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 6f o much to see to
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
27100 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 time for someth
27110 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f ing, and you sho
27120 75 6c 64 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 uld spend it on
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
271c0 74 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 t I'm saying doe
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
27230 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 rstand most of w
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
27300 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 haracter on pape
27310 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63 r, and a good ac
27320 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 tor. Anyway, I
27330 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f don't really kno
27340 77 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 w you, so I don'
27350 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 t really know if
27360 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 I even have any
27370 20 69 64 65 61 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 idea what you'r
27380 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 e going through
27390 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 or what you need
273a0 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 . Don't feel li
273b0 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 ke you have to h
273c0 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 umor me.".."Mayb
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
273f0 64 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 d humor you, but
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
27480 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 ng late.".."Yeah
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
274e0 69 6d 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 imate the import
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
27510 61 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f at's one piece o
27520 66 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 f advice I know
27530 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 is good, for any
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
275a0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 d and opened the
275b0 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 door, then step
275c0 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 61 68 65 61 ped outside ahea
275d0 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f d of her and loo
275e0 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 ked around. He
275f0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 turned to her as
27600 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 69 she followed hi
27610 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 m out. "Be care
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
27690 65 20 6f 66 20 27 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 e of 'normal' as
276a0 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c a new path in l
276b0 69 66 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 2e ife, look me up.
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
276f0 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 ou the best at w
27700 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 hatever you find
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
27770 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 orgot about that
27780 20 70 61 72 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c part." He pull
27790 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 ed out his walle
277a0 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f t, and slipped o
277b0 75 74 20 61 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 63 61 ut a business ca
277c0 72 64 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 rd, no longer cr
277d0 69 73 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 isp and new. "H
277e0 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 ere you go."..Sh
277f0 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 e took it, and s
27800 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 aw that it conta
27810 69 6e 65 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 ined nothing but
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
27850 6d 62 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 mbers..."That's
27860 6d 79 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 my public encryp
27870 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 tion key," he sa
27880 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e id. "If you don
27890 27 74 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 't encrypt the m
278a0 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 essage, it goes
278b0 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 6d straight to spam
278c0 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 . Do you know h
278d0 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 ow to use encryp
278e0 74 65 64 20 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 ted email like t
278f0 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 hat?".."I use pu
27900 62 6b 65 79 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 bkey encryption
27910 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 for clients some
27920 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 times," she said
27930 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 20 20 ..."Good girl.
27940 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 You're already w
27950 61 79 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ay ahead of the
27960 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 pack. Good nigh
27970 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 t, now.".."Good
27980 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 night," she said
27990 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 with a smile, a
279a0 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 nd headed to her
279b0 20 63 61 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 car...She glanc
279c0 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 ed back a couple
279d0 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 times, and saw
279e0 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 77 61 74 63 him keeping watc
279f0 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 h. He only step
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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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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,
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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
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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
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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
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27ff0 69 72 20 68 61 69 72 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 72 73 20 ir hair -- hers
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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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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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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
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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
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28240 61 62 64 6f 6d 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 6f abdomen. The ho
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28260 65 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 e since before h
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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
282a0 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 ed back at the w
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
282f0 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 74 't usually get t
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28390 70 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 ping to be more
283a0 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e intimidating, an
283b0 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 68 65 20 66 61 69 6c 65 d maybe he faile
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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284c0 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 73 fication card as
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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
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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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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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285e0 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 e kind of contra
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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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28670 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 talking to the
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
286b0 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 t's nothing like
286c0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 74 72 that. We're tr
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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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28700 6e 64 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 nd we're here be
28710 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 cause some conce
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28740 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a participation.".
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
28790 79 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e y..."You're goin
287a0 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 g to have to be
287b0 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 70 a little more sp
287c0 65 63 69 66 69 63 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ecific," she sai
287d0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 20 77 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 d..."May we come
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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28800 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 an asked...Alley
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
288a0 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 search projects
288b0 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d to know what I'm
288c0 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 talking about?"
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
28900 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 69 64 6e she really didn
28910 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 't think he unde
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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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28960 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 6d ch projects in m
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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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289a0 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 u're here, or sh
289b0 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 70 6c 61 79 20 61 20 67 ould we play a g
289c0 75 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 67 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a uessing game?"..
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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28a30 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 41 6c n leaned into Al
28a40 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 ley's personal s
28a50 70 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 pace. He blocke
28a60 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 d half of the vi
28a70 65 77 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 ew between the t
28a80 77 6f 20 77 6f 6d 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 wo women, and th
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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
28ad0 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f on...He said "Yo
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
28b20 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e telligence techn
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28b40 72 70 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 rpose of partici
28b50 70 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 74 75 64 pating in a stud
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
28b90 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 fornia. Does th
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
29390 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 m to his partner
293a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 , and the woman
293b0 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 62 pulled a small b
293c0 6c 61 63 6b 20 64 69 73 63 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 lack disc out of
293d0 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 54 68 her pocket. Th
293e0 65 20 74 69 70 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 75 e tip of her thu
293f0 6d 62 20 77 68 69 74 65 6e 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 mb whitened slig
29400 68 74 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 70 72 65 73 73 htly under press
29410 75 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ure for a moment
29420 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 64 as she squeezed
29430 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 the device, and
29440 20 61 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 a light began t
29450 6f 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 65 o blink on its e
29460 64 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 dge. The chargi
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29480 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 ht on the glasse
29490 73 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 69 6d s blinked in tim
294a0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 e with it. The
294b0 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 woman held the d
294c0 69 73 63 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 isc near the gla
294d0 73 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c sses for several
294e0 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 seconds, then t
294f0 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 he light stopped
29500 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 blinking and sh
29510 65 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 e replaced the d
29520 69 73 63 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 isc in her pocke
29530 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 t..."Thank you f
29540 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f 20 6f 70 65 72 61 or your co opera
29550 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e tion," the woman
29560 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 75 72 20 said in a sour
29570 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 voice. She hand
29580 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 62 ed the glasses b
29590 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 ack...Alley acce
295a0 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 pted the glasses
295b0 2c 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e , donned them on
295c0 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b ce more, and ask
295d0 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ed "Do you need
295e0 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 22 0a anything else?".
295f0 0a 22 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 ."We'll come bac
29600 6b 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 k if we need any
29610 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 22 20 74 68 65 thing else," the
29620 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e man said, makin
29630 67 20 69 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 g it sound like
29640 61 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 a threat...Alley
29650 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 ignored that.
29660 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 "Do you want to
29670 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 tell me what the
29680 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c hell this is al
29690 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 l about?".."No,"
296a0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a the man said...
296b0 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 79 "Have a good day
296c0 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 ." Alley spoke
296d0 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 2c without feeling,
296e0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 and she closed
296f0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 6d the door on them
29700 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 again...Alley s
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29720 20 20 22 46 75 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Fuck," she sa
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29740 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c ose people, real
29750 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 ly?".."I do not
29760 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d have that inform
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29780 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ritizer said. "
29790 59 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 Your internet re
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297c0 61 72 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 arn more about t
297d0 68 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d hem, but it seem
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297f0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 72 68 65 74 6f estion was rheto
29800 72 69 63 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 rical.".."That's
29810 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 right." Alley
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29830 6f 70 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 op open and star
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29850 53 68 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 She soon found h
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298a0 6c 61 6e 64 20 53 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 63 6f land Security co
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298c0 20 61 62 73 6f 72 62 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 absorbed more t
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29980 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 69 6d 70 on the first imp
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299c0 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 75 Black...It was u
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29a10 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 It seemed to be
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29b50 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d She checked to m
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29b90 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 properly on her
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29c80 65 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f en. "What do yo
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29ca0 20 64 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 3f 22 0a 0a do to start?"..
29cb0 22 42 65 67 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 65 "Begin with rese
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29ce0 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 65 61 72 63 68 r said. "Search
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29d00 20 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 on protecting y
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2afe0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 ah, I get that,"
2aff0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 Alley said, and
2b000 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 74 68 nodded. "If th
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2b080 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 6b .."You seem to k
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2b0a0 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 this stuff.".."I
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2b1d0 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 suppose there's
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2b400 54 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 The best guidanc
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2b5a0 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 .."Was that the
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2b710 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 ."What do you me
2b720 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 63 61 72 64 69 6e 61 an?".."A cardina
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2b880 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 76 61 6c 75 ."What if I valu
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2ba30 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 .."What about wh
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2bd30 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 63 6f 6e . In short, con
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2bf50 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 prioritization
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2db00 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
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2dc90 54 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 20 79 6f They can turn yo
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2dd40 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 .."How the hell
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2dd60 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 She looked down
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2df50 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 27 73 20 76 69 f COIN Corp's vi
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2df70 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 63 also give you ac
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2df90 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f s you can use to
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2dfc0 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 6d rather than sim
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2e020 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 hey want from th
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2e040 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 ame time I'm bui
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2e060 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 to make myself
2e070 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 70 6c . . . well, a pl
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2e090 20 61 20 70 61 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c a pawn.".."Yes,
2e0a0 20 63 68 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 chess is a good
2e0b0 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 metaphor for th
2e0c0 69 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 is. You must ha
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2e100 61 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2c 22 20 ame.".."Great,"
2e110 73 68 65 20 73 61 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 she sad, her dry
2e120 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6e 67 tone suggesting
2e130 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 61 nothing great a
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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
2e160 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e n't even have an
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2e190 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 this completely
2e1a0 2c 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 , once I get to
2e1b0 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 that point, thou
2e1c0 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 gh.".."At this t
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2e250 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 . I am not conf
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2e270 20 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 be made consist
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2e2a0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 2e 20 2e .".."This is . .
2e2b0 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 . no. No, this
2e2c0 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 day can't be ha
2e2d0 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 ppening.".."If y
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2e2f0 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 67 61 72 64 20 79 6f 75 20 them regard you
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31290 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 she said..."Good
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31430 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
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31450 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 ".."Well, by the
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31540 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 .".."Yeah, tonig
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31610 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c .".."Good. I'll
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31630 0a 22 53 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 ."See you."..Aft
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316f0 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 By the time she
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31760 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 .."Come on in,"
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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
319e0 75 67 68 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 ugh before she r
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
33810 6f 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 65 66 6f o remember, befo
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
33860 6f 20 61 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 77 68 6f o a listener who
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
338c0 68 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e he engagement an
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
33900 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 70 69 pected you despi
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
33930 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6c 69 73 74 65 d like his liste
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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34850 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 63 61 64 prison for decad
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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
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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
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34a70 73 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 s beyond my cont
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34a90 65 78 74 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f extent of my kno
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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
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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
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34dd0 20 20 22 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 "When you say
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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
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34f80 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 73 on their shirts
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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35040 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 about them. The
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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
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350b0 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c what I thought,
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351e0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6c 65 6d 6e 6c 79 nodded solemnly
351f0 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 . "Yeah, that h
35200 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f appens. You kno
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35250 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 probably going
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352c0 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 20 61 74 20 61 up with me at a
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35350 64 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 ds..."I'll tell
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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353f0 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 72 74 hold up to tort
35400 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 ure."..He shook
35410 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 his head. "No,
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35450 20 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 61 or at least tha
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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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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
35610 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 o."..She thought
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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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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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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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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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35ee0 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 h other, but not
35ef0 20 62 61 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 bad people who'
35f00 72 65 20 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 re hurting good
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
37070 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 istic to expect
37080 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 65 that to work the
37090 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 2e 20 20 way he hoped.
370a0 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 I think it has t
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375d0 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 .He shrugged. "
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