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103d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 .".."Great. Wha
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10fa0 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 69 73 69 64 "If I have misid
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11030 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f . Thanks.".."Go
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11060 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 at cryptocurrenc
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11080 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 more hours of re
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11530 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She stared at th
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12820 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 66 20 the insides of
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12860 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 ing in opposite
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12880 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 looked toward t
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128c0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e little lower on
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12910 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 of the door, and
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12930 74 65 64 20 72 65 61 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 69 ted rear door wi
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12960 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 movement from a
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12980 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 ross the crossov
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129b0 69 63 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6f 72 20 6c icles interior l
129c0 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 63 6f ight. That seco
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129e0 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 the front passe
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12a30 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 "The driver's
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12a80 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 72 65 73 70 nothing in resp
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12aa0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e d at the leg, an
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12ad0 62 65 20 63 6c 61 64 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b be clad in black
12ae0 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 slacks and wore
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12b30 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 6c 69 64 20 the driver slid
12b40 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 out of the seat
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12b60 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 66 72 61 6d y saw black fram
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12b80 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 20 62 65 6c clear lenses bel
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12bc0 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 smooth face wit
12bd0 68 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 6b 62 6f h angled cheekbo
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12bf0 63 68 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 6d 69 chin, for a femi
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12c10 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 Alley grabbed
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12c30 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 and moved it to
12c40 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c the driver seat,
12c50 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 66 then stood to f
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12c70 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 20 who was shorter
12c80 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 than her. The s
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12ca0 66 74 20 6c 69 70 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 ft lips and a na
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12cd0 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 69 6d 70 72 n immediate impr
12ce0 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 ession this pers
12cf0 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 on was probably
12d00 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 prettier than he
12d10 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b r. It only took
12d20 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f a second or two
12d30 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c for her to real
12d40 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 ize what she saw
12d50 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 did not look fe
12d60 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c male...He just l
12d70 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 72 79 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 ooked very young
12d80 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 ...The driver ga
12d90 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 ve her an apprai
12da0 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 sing look, the i
12db0 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 mpersonally inte
12dc0 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c rested kind of l
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12de0 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 d on the way her
12df0 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 cargo pants and
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12e10 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 and would norma
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12e30 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 h on edge, but s
12e40 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 he just stared a
12e50 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 t him for a mome
12e60 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 nt with his fash
12e70 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c ionably spartan,
12e80 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 63 almost formal c
12e90 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 ut, black collar
12ea0 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 less shirt..."Ar
12eb0 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 en't you kind of
12ec0 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 young for this
12ed0 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 sort of thing?"
12ee0 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e she blurted out.
12ef0 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 ..He jerked the
12f00 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 focus of his aqu
12f10 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 a eyes, reflecti
12f20 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 ng the light of
12f30 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 the moon, away f
12f40 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 rom the vicinity
12f50 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 of her midsecti
12f60 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 on and met her e
12f70 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 yes. "Hey, lady
12f80 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 , don't think I'
12f90 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 m new to this.
12fa0 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f I'm armed, so do
12fb0 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 n't jerk me arou
12fc0 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 nd."..She hesita
12fd0 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ted, then said "
12fe0 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 No, not a proble
12ff0 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 m. You just, uh
13000 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e h, surprised me.
13010 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 Sorry.".."What
13020 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 ever," he said,
13030 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 in a soft, clear
13040 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f voice that almo
13050 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 st made it diffi
13060 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a cult to recogniz
13070 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 e the sour note
13080 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c in it. "Here, l
13090 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 ook at this," he
130a0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 said, and held
130b0 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 up a device the
130c0 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d size of his palm
130d0 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 . A glowing dis
130e0 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 play on it, abou
130f0 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 t the length of
13100 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e her own thumb an
13110 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 d three times th
13120 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f e thickness, sho
13130 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 69 67 68 74 79 20 73 65 wed an eighty se
13140 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 ven Stater trans
13150 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 action ready for
13160 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e him to confirm.
13170 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e ..She nodded, an
13180 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 d said "Go ahead
13190 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 and send it to
131a0 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 this escrow." S
131b0 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 he pulled out th
131c0 65 20 64 6f 67 20 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 e dog eared page
131d0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b of her notebook
131e0 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 without looking
131f0 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 at it, and hand
13200 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
13210 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 . He entered th
13220 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 e escrow number
13230 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 into his device
13240 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 and thumbed the
13250 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 confirmation. A
13260 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 moment later, s
13270 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 he heard the esc
13280 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 row alert throug
13290 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 h her phone's ea
132a0 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c rpiece..."Done",
132b0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 he said..."Here
132c0 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 's the cash." S
132d0 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 he hung her righ
132e0 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 t thumb on her f
132f0 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 ront pocket, the
13300 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 n reached into t
13310 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 he car with her
13320 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c left hand to pul
13330 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 l out the bag.
13340 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f She handed it to
13350 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f the boy...He to
13360 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 ok it, keeping h
13370 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 is eyes on her,
13380 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b and stepped back
13390 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 . He tossed the
133a0 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 bag into the ca
133b0 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 r, then Alley he
133c0 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e ard some rustlin
133d0 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 g sounds from th
133e0 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 e bag. After a
133f0 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few moments, she
13400 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 realized whoeve
13410 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e r was sitting in
13420 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 the passenger s
13430 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 eat had started
13440 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 counting. Alley
13450 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f and the boy sto
13460 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e od there, lookin
13470 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c g at each other,
13480 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e as they waited.
13490 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 A girl's voice
134a0 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 -- unless it wa
134b0 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 s an even younge
134c0 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 r boy -- said "I
134d0 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a t's all here."..
134e0 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 The boy tapped h
134f0 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 is device with h
13500 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f is thumb once mo
13510 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 re, and said "Ar
13520 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f e we done?".."No
13530 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 t yet," she said
13540 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 . "Just wait."
13550 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 Everyone waited
13560 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 . A few seconds
13570 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 later, another
13580 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 alert chimed in
13590 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f Alley's ear. "O
135a0 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e kay, we're done.
135b0 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 ".."Good," he sa
135c0 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b id, and sat back
135d0 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 in his car with
135e0 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 surprising quic
135f0 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 kness...Alley sa
13600 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 t down and hurri
13610 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 edly pulled her
13620 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 door shut. The
13630 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 crossover backed
13640 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 out and quickly
13650 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 drove away, whi
13660 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c le she was still
13670 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 buckling her se
13680 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 atbelt. Soon sh
13690 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 e, too, was on t
136a0 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 he road..."It is
136b0 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 too early to be
136c0 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 sure that went
136d0 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 well," the prior
136e0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 itizer said..."Y
136f0 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 eah. I should c
13700 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 heck my Stater b
13710 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 alance." She pu
13720 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 lled over, set a
13730 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 side her glasses
13740 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 so they wouldn'
13750 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 t record what sh
13760 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 e saw, picked up
13770 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 her phone, and
13780 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 looked at the op
13790 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 en ledger view.
137a0 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 She now had a S
137b0 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 tater balance.
137c0 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 She stared at it
137d0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 for a while..."
137e0 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f Is everything co
137f0 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f rrect?" the prio
13800 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a ritizer asked...
13810 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e She nodded, then
13820 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f realized it pro
13830 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 bably couldn't t
13840 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 ell she nodded w
13850 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 hen she wasn't w
13860 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 earing the glass
13870 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 es. "Yeah, it's
13880 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 all there. Is
13890 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 there any way th
138a0 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 is can somehow g
138b0 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f et reversed now?
138c0 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ".."No," the pri
138d0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 oritizer said.
138e0 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 "If it shows in
138f0 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 your balance, th
13900 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 at should mean t
13910 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 he transaction c
13920 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 rossed the point
13930 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 of no return, a
13940 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 ccording to the
13950 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 Stater documents
13960 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d you showed to m
13970 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 e through your g
13980 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e lasses.".."Okay.
13990 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 " She locked he
139a0 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 r phone, tossed
139b0 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e it on the passen
139c0 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 ger seat, and st
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13a10 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 .".."Oh, right,"
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13a30 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 picked them out
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13ac0 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 it. Right?".."
13ad0 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 Yes. You should
13ae0 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 send a message
13af0 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 to a buyer tonig
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13b90 72 76 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 rvice.".."Yeah,
13ba0 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 got it," she sai
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13bc0 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 all works out."
13bd0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a .."It should."..
13be0 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 She drove home i
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13fb0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 looked like she
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14070 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f multiple crypto
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140c0 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 Should I make th
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14120 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 20 good deal, the
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14150 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e he said. "Fine.
14160 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 " She did a lit
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14300 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 he had no reply
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14590 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 She wasn't sur
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14bc0 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 27 73 20 70 72 omeone else's pr
14bd0 6f 70 65 72 74 79 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d operty. A few m
14be0 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 ore minutes of s
14bf0 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 65 earching reveale
14c00 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e d that the secon
14c10 64 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 d property owner
14c20 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 66 66 6f 72 could not affor
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14c50 20 62 61 74 74 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 battle, and end
14c60 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 ed up having to
14c70 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 accept the count
14c80 79 27 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 y's offer, which
14c90 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 bought the pers
14ca0 6f 6e 27 73 20 6c 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 on's late parent
14cb0 73 27 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 65 s' home. The se
14cc0 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 6f 77 cond property ow
14cd0 6e 65 72 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 ner ended up hav
14ce0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f ing to move into
14cf0 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 6e 74 61 6c a weekly rental
14d00 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 2e 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 motel...That wa
14d10 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 s not the happy
14d20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 6e ending Alley wan
14d30 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 ted...She headed
14d40 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6d out the door, m
14d50 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6e 61 77 69 6e 67 20 entally gnawing
14d60 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 6a 75 73 74 69 63 65 on the injustice
14d70 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 of it all.../*
14d80 72 65 77 72 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 6f 76 rewrite the abov
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14da0 62 65 6e 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 bench for the me
14db0 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 eting, as indica
14dc0 74 65 64 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 ted below, inste
14dd0 61 64 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 64 ad */..Alley had
14de0 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f to check her co
14df0 6d 70 61 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 mpass again to b
14e00 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 61 72 e sure which par
14e10 6b 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 72 74 k bench was nort
14e20 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 61 72 64 65 64 h of the boarded
14e30 20 75 70 20 73 6e 61 63 6b 20 73 74 61 6e 64 2e up snack stand.
14e40 20 20 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 It turned out
14e50 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 62 to be the only b
14e60 65 6e 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e ench with someon
14e70 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2e e sitting on it.
14e80 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 She glanced ba
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14ea0 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 79 20 70 61 r in the tiny pa
14eb0 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f rking lot, one o
14ec0 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 72 73 20 f only two cars
14ed0 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 there. The othe
14ee0 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 61 r was a black la
14ef0 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 69 te model Audi wi
14f00 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 th a person in t
14f10 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 he front seat.
14f20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 77 65 72 65 The windows were
14f30 20 73 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6c 79 20 74 69 6e 74 65 so darkly tinte
14f40 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 75 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 d she suspected
14f50 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 they were illega
14f60 6c 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f l, so she had no
14f70 20 69 64 65 61 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 idea who was si
14f80 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 tting in the dri
14f90 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 ver's seat...As
14fa0 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 she approached t
14fb0 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 68 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 he bench, she sa
14fc0 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 20 79 6f w that a pale yo
14fd0 75 6e 67 20 72 65 64 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 77 ung red haired w
14fe0 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 oman sat there i
14ff0 6e 20 61 20 74 69 67 68 74 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 n a tight green
15000 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 2c 20 74 69 6e 79 20 73 68 t shirt, tiny sh
15010 6f 72 74 73 2c 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 62 6c 61 63 orts, heavy blac
15020 6b 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b k boots, a black
15030 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b mask, and black
15040 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b gloves. Some k
15050 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 68 65 61 70 20 73 79 6e ind of cheap syn
15060 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e thetic drawstrin
15070 67 20 62 61 67 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 g bag rested on
15080 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 the bench beside
15090 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 her, and she ha
150a0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 d something like
150b0 20 61 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 75 72 73 a tactical purs
150c0 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 e on her other s
150d0 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 ide. She wasn't
150e0 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 what Alley expe
150f0 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 cted in an anony
15100 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 mous gun parts t
15110 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 rade...The redhe
15120 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 ad watched stead
15130 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 ily as Alley app
15140 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 roached, with wh
15150 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f at turned out to
15160 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 69 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 be vivid green
15170 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 eyes. The lack
15180 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 of freckles migh
15190 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e t mean she was n
151a0 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 ot a natural red
151b0 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 head, but it als
151c0 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 o might just mea
151d0 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 n she got them r
151e0 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d emoved...The wom
151f0 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f an asked "Are yo
15200 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f u looking for so
15210 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 meone?"..Alley s
15220 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 topped, a couple
15230 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 meters away. "
15240 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f Yeah, I guess so
15250 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 . Is that the,
15260 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 uh . . ." she tr
15270 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 ailed off, and g
15280 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 estured at the d
15290 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a rawstring bag...
152a0 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f "Printed frames?
152b0 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 " the redhead as
152c0 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 ked...Alley nodd
152d0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 ed...The redhead
152e0 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b pulled her mask
152f0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 down and expose
15300 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 77 68 69 74 d brilliant whit
15310 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 e teeth with a b
15320 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 road smile. "Ye
15330 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 ah, you found wh
15340 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 at you want. I'
15350 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 m Carmen." She
15360 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 stood and offere
15370 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e d one gloved han
15380 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 d...Alley accept
15390 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e ed the quick han
153a0 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 dshake. "Mallor
153b0 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c y," she offered,
153c0 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c on impulse..."L
153d0 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d et me guess: I'm
153e0 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 not what you ex
153f0 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 pected.".."I was
15400 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f n't sure what to
15410 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 expect," Alley
15420 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 admitted, "but y
15430 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 eah, I guess you
15440 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e surprised me an
15450 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d yway."..Carmen -
15460 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 - possibly a pse
15470 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 udonym, Alley re
15480 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 alized -- smiled
15490 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 again. "That p
154a0 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 art of this job
154b0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 never gets old.
154c0 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 Anyway, I want
154d0 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 to upsell you.
154e0 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 How's that sound
154f0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 ?".."Upsell?" A
15500 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 lley hesitated,
15510 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 then nodded. "S
15520 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a ure, I guess."..
15530 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 "Cool. So, we h
15540 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 ave printed conc
15550 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 ealment holsters
15560 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 , snap on access
15570 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 ory rails, and b
15580 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f rass catchers fo
15590 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 r models compati
155a0 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 ble with these f
155b0 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 rames. We have
155c0 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 stuff for other
155d0 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 models, too, so
155e0 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 let me know what
155f0 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 you'd like to s
15600 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c ee.".."Wow. Ful
15610 6c 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 l service, I gue
15620 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 ss.".."Totally!"
15630 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 Carmen tugged
15640 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 her shirt down s
15650 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 lightly, making
15660 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 it a little more
15670 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 obvious she was
15680 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 n't wearing a br
15690 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c a..."I think I'l
156a0 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 l just stick wit
156b0 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c h the order I pl
156c0 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 aced, for now.
156d0 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e I'll keep you in
156e0 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 mind if I need
156f0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 something else,
15700 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e though."..Carmen
15710 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 shrugged, and t
15720 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 he way she sligh
15730 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 tly raised her a
15740 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 rms as she did i
15750 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 t made the shirt
15760 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 tighten across
15770 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 her perky breast
15780 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c s. "Okay!"..All
15790 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 ey took in the d
157a0 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 isplay and sligh
157b0 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 tly over the top
157c0 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 cheeriness. "D
157d0 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f oes that . . . o
157e0 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 h, never mind.
157f0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 I guess I should
15800 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 just see the fr
15810 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 ames, now."..Car
15820 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 men narrowed her
15830 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 75 eyes, almost bu
15840 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 t not quite susp
15850 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 iciously, and ti
15860 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 lted her head.
15870 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 "No, wait. What
15880 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 were you going
15890 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 to ask?".."Nothi
158a0 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e ng," Alley said.
158b0 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 "I haven't bee
158c0 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 n very sociable
158d0 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 lately, and forg
158e0 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 20 73 6f et my manners so
158f0 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c metimes.".."Ooh,
15900 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 inappropriate q
15910 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 uestions. Those
15920 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 are my favorite
15930 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 kind. You shou
15940 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 ld totally ask!"
15950 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 ..Alley signed.
15960 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e "I was just won
15970 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 dering if you're
15980 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c naturally this,
15990 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f uh, friendly, o
159a0 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 r if you're like
159b0 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 this because it
159c0 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 gets you a lot
159d0 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 of upsells." Ca
159e0 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e rmen laughed, an
159f0 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 d Alley found it
15a00 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 infectious. Sh
15a10 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 e caught herself
15a20 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f snickering, too
15a30 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 ..."Why do I thi
15a40 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 nk you meant to
15a50 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 say 'flirty' ins
15a60 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c tead of 'friendl
15a70 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 y'?"..Alley shru
15a80 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 gged. She tried
15a90 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 , with only mode
15aa0 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f rate success, to
15ab0 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d suppress her sm
15ac0 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 ile..."Was it th
15ad0 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c at obvious?"..Al
15ae0 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 ley said "Yeah,
15af0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 I guess so. Sor
15b00 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 ry.".."I guess i
15b10 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 t's a bit of eve
15b20 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 rything. I'm us
15b30 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 ually pretty che
15b40 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d ery, but Cliff -
15b50 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 - he's the guy I
15b60 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c work with -- Cl
15b70 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 iff and I decide
15b80 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 d to try this ou
15b90 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e t. With the kin
15ba0 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 d of ambitious y
15bb0 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 oung cryptotrade
15bc0 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c r guys we usuall
15bd0 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c y get, the upsel
15be0 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 ls and repeat bu
15bf0 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f siness we get go
15c00 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 es way up when I
15c10 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 'm doing the tra
15c20 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 des. In two yea
15c30 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 rs, we only had
15c40 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 one guy who deci
15c50 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 ded me being a p
15c60 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 retty girl made
15c70 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 me an easy targe
15c80 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 t, too, so it's
15c90 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 pretty safe."..A
15ca0 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 lley frowned. "
15cb0 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
15cc0 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 "I guess that'
15cd0 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 s a danger. Wha
15ce0 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f t happened?".."O
15cf0 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e h, shit," Carmen
15d00 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 said. "You mus
15d10 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 t be new at this
15d20 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 . Well, I pulle
15d30 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 d out my baton a
15d40 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 nd Cliff put a r
15d50 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 ed dot on the gu
15d60 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 y's chest with t
15d70 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f he laser sight o
15d80 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 n his rifle. Th
15d90 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 e guy backed dow
15da0 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 n in a hurry. A
15db0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 re you carrying
15dc0 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c protection?"..Al
15dd0 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e ley started open
15de0 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f ing her mouth to
15df0 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d reply, but Carm
15e00 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e en cut in again.
15e10 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c .."No, don't tel
15e20 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 l me what you're
15e30 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 carrying. You
15e40 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e shouldn't get in
15e50 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 the habit of te
15e60 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 lling people stu
15e70 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 ff like that. G
15e80 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 et yourself thre
15e90 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 e things, if you
15ea0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 don't already h
15eb0 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 ave 'em. You ne
15ec0 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 ed pepper spray
15ed0 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c or a sonic repel
15ee0 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 lant, a collapsi
15ef0 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 ng baton, and ba
15f00 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 ckup who knows w
15f10 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 hat he's doing,
15f20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 like Cliff.".."U
15f30 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 h, thanks," Alle
15f40 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 y said. "Aren't
15f50 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e those collapsin
15f60 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c g batons illegal
15f70 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 ?".."Yeah, Calif
15f80 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 ornia sucks that
15f90 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 way. Girls are
15fa0 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 n't allowed to p
15fb0 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 rotect themselve
15fc0 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 s, you know." S
15fd0 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 he pulled someth
15fe0 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 ing about the si
15ff0 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 ze of a whiteboa
16000 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 rd marker out of
16010 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 her back pocket
16020 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 . "See this? T
16030 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 his is a good ba
16040 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f ton."..Alley loo
16050 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b ked at the black
16060 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e anodized alumin
16070 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e um cylinder when
16080 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 Carmen held it
16090 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 up. It had some
160a0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e kind of logo on
160b0 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 it and a couple
160c0 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 of depressed ov
160d0 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e als on the side.
160e0 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 .."Push these tw
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16100 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 t out. Just pus
16110 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 h the second one
16120 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 , here, and push
16130 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e the business en
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16170 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e ack into the han
16180 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c dle. Yeah?"..Al
16190 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 ley nodded. "I
161a0 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 guess that's a g
161b0 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e ood design, then
161c0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 .".."Totally. W
161d0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 ith the two rele
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161f0 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f re not likely to
16200 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f accidentally po
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16230 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 and this type i
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16260 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e ct than the thin
16270 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 gs where you jus
16280 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 t snap your hand
16290 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 out to open the
162a0 6d 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 m. Anyway, you
162b0 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 need one of thes
162c0 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 e, and it's easy
162d0 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 20 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 to toss it some
162e0 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 70 where before cop
162f0 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 s get to you if
16300 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 you're afraid of
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16350 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 hole in the insi
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16370 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 t when you're we
16380 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 aring pants you
16390 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e can drop it down
163a0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 your pant leg,
163b0 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f and maybe step o
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163d0 77 68 69 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 while getting pa
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163f0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 mething. There
16400 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 77 are a bunch of w
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16420 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e with it..."Here.
16430 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f " She held it o
16440 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f ut to Alley, who
16450 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 started to reac
16460 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 h for it. "Don'
16470 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 t try opening it
16480 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 61 63 74 here, but pract
16490 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 68 ice with it at h
164a0 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 79 ome. That way y
164b0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f ou don't have to
164c0 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 worry about get
164d0 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 62 75 79 69 ting caught buyi
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164f0 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 6d 65 our pistol frame
16500 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 s, walking home
16510 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 with one of thes
16520 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 e in your pocket
16530 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 is illegal, and
16540 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 a cop might jus
16550 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e t try selling on
16560 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 e to you to get
16570 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 72 an excuse to har
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16590 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 froze with her
165a0 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 hand halfway to
165b0 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 the baton handle
165c0 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 . "Are you givi
165d0 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 ng this to me?"
165e0 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 she asked..."Yea
165f0 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 h. Uh, just a s
16600 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 ec'," Carmen sai
16610 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 d. She lowered
16620 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 her hand with th
16630 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e e baton in it an
16640 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 d looked toward
16650 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c the Audi. "Yes,
16660 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 Cliff, I'm givi
16670 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 69 ng her the fucki
16680 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 ng baton. I'll
16690 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 just buy another
166a0 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 one! Chill the
166b0 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c fuck out."..All
166c0 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 ey lowered her h
166d0 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 and and turned h
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166f0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 65 64 20 73 65 at the parked se
16700 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 dan...Carmen gra
16710 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 77 72 69 bbed Alley's wri
16720 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 st and pressed t
16730 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 he collapsing ba
16740 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e ton into her han
16750 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 d. "Don't look
16760 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 at it. Just put
16770 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b it in your pock
16780 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 et. Don't make
16790 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 62 79 Cliff nervous by
167a0 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 standing here w
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167c0 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 your hand, even
167d0 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 67 61 if it's one I ga
167e0 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 ve you.".."Uh, y
167f0 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 eah," Alley said
16800 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 , and tucked it
16810 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f into her back po
16820 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 cket. "Thanks."
16830 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 She showed her
16840 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 empty hands to
16850 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 Carmen, where th
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16870 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 Audi could see t
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16890 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 73 20 68 61 72 6d 6c t to be as harml
168a0 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 ess looking as s
168b0 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 2e he could manage.
168c0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 .."Yeah, well, u
168d0 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 s girls gotta st
168e0 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 52 ick together. R
168f0 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f ight?"..Alley no
16900 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 4c dded..."Good. L
16910 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 et's finish the
16920 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 deal. Then, get
16930 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 in touch some t
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16950 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 you might want
16960 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 to do this kind
16970 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 of work, too. W
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16990 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 ot of business,
169a0 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 and could use th
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169c0 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 probably pretty
169d0 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 enough to get th
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169f0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 though I don't
16a00 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f know how you loo
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16a20 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 k.".."I'll keep
16a30 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a that in mind."..
16a40 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 Carmen grabbed t
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16a80 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 ..---..At home,
16a90 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 62 6f Alley found a bo
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16ab0 6e 69 74 72 69 6c 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2c 20 nitrile gloves,
16ac0 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 and wore a pair
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16b10 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 After going over
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16b30 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 minutes, she put
16b40 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 them back in th
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16b60 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 . She pulled ou
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16b80 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 baton next, and
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16bc0 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 not accidentally
16bd0 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e break anything.
16be0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 ..She looked it
16bf0 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 over and decided
16c00 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 65 72 63 she would exerc
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16c50 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 the extending h
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16d90 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 d toward the cei
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16db0 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 t...Alley presse
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16e00 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e snap sounded, an
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16e90 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 69 66 66 20 6d 65 74 61 to a stiff meta
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16ef0 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 65 6c 65 73 63 s between telesc
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16f10 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 then lightly wha
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18130 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 with one hand, t
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18150 62 61 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 bag with the oth
18160 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 er. He shook hi
18170 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 6c s head. "Just l
18180 65 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 eave it on the g
18190 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 round, then you
181a0 63 61 6e 20 73 74 65 70 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e can step back an
181b0 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 d count what's i
181c0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2e 22 n the envelope."
181d0 0a 0a 41 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 61 ..As Alley did a
181e0 73 20 68 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 2c 20 s he suggested,
181f0 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 63 72 6f 75 she saw him crou
18200 63 68 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 ch by the bag.
18210 57 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 65 With one hand, e
18220 76 65 6e 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 2c 20 68 65 20 64 ven gloved, he d
18230 65 66 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 6e 65 64 20 74 eftly loosened t
18240 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 he drawstring.
18250 48 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 He kept his eyes
18260 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 64 69 on her as he di
18270 64 20 69 74 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c d it, not even l
18280 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 ooking at what h
18290 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 77 61 73 is left hand was
182a0 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 doing, while th
182b0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 74 69 e right still ti
182c0 72 65 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 relessly held th
182d0 65 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 72 20 e umbrella over
182e0 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 4f 6e 63 65 20 his head. Once
182f0 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 6f he had the bag o
18300 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 68 65 20 67 6c 61 pened up, he gla
18310 6e 63 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 nced down to see
18320 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 the contents, t
18330 68 65 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 6a 65 72 6b hen quickly jerk
18340 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e ed the drawstrin
18350 67 20 74 6f 20 63 69 6e 63 68 20 69 74 20 63 6c g to cinch it cl
18360 6f 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 osed...The man s
18370 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 lowly stood and
18380 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 waited as she fi
18390 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e nished counting.
183a0 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 ..After she clos
183b0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 ed the envelope
183c0 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 once more, he sa
183d0 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 id "I guess I'm
183e0 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 trusting these a
183f0 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 ren't going to t
18400 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 72 urn out to be cr
18410 61 70 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 ap quality, just
18420 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 75 like you're tru
18430 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 62 69 6c 6c sting those bill
18440 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 s aren't counter
18450 66 65 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 feit."..Alley he
18460 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 sitated, and nod
18470 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 ded..."If there'
18480 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 20 49 27 6c s a problem, I'l
18490 6c 20 74 72 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 69 6e 67 l try contacting
184a0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 you the same wa
184b0 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 75 70 y we set this up
184c0 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 . Yeah?".."Yeah
184d0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 0a 0a ," she echoed...
184e0 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 69 6e 64 "If I can't find
184f0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 49 you that way, I
18500 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 'll track you do
18510 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c wn so we can tal
18520 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 k."..After a few
18530 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 seconds, she re
18540 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 65 61 membered to brea
18550 74 68 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 6c the. "No, you'l
18560 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 l be able to get
18570 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 in touch the sa
18580 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 me way we set th
18590 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 is up. That'll
185a0 62 65 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 be fine.".."Good
185b0 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 64 20 . You can find
185c0 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 me the same way
185d0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 if you need to s
185e0 65 74 74 6c 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 ettle a problem
185f0 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 with what I gave
18600 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 you."..She nodd
18610 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 ed..."Good doing
18620 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 business with y
18630 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ou," he said. "
18640 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 66 69 72 73 74 You can go first
18650 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a , if you want.".
18660 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Sure," she sai
18670 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 d. "Have a good
18680 20 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 day."..He nodde
18690 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 d...She backed a
186a0 77 61 79 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 73 74 65 way a couple ste
186b0 70 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 ps, then turned
186c0 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 75 6e and continued un
186d0 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 til she got to t
186e0 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 he corner. She
186f0 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 77 69 glanced back twi
18700 63 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 ce along the way
18710 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 , then once more
18720 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 6f 69 just before goi
18730 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f ng around the co
18740 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c rner of the buil
18750 64 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 ding...In her ca
18760 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 68 65 r once more, she
18770 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 started it up a
18780 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 69 6d 6c 65 73 73 nd drove aimless
18790 6c 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 61 ly around for ha
187a0 6c 66 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 74 69 6c lf an hour until
187b0 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 74 6f 70 70 her hands stopp
187c0 65 64 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 68 ed shaking and h
187d0 65 72 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 6a 61 77 20 er clenched jaw
187e0 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 relaxed, then he
187f0 61 64 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 aded home..."Wha
18800 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d 20 49 20 t the fuck am I
18810 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 actually doing?"
18820 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 she asked herse
18830 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 74 69 6e lf...---..Sittin
18840 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 g on her couch a
18850 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 gain, Alley said
18860 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 73 "I don't feel s
18870 61 66 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e afe with the kin
18880 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 20 6d 61 ds of deals I ma
18890 64 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 de today."..The
188a0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
188b0 20 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 "You did not sp
188c0 65 63 69 66 79 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 67 ecify a very hig
188d0 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 h preference for
188e0 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 45 73 74 69 6d 61 safety. Estima
188f0 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 20 74 tions indicate t
18900 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 6f he chance of poo
18910 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 r safety outcome
18920 73 20 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f 77 20 66 6f s is very low fo
18930 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 r these transact
18940 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 65 76 ions, though sev
18950 65 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 68 69 67 erity may be hig
18960 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 74 63 6f h for poor outco
18970 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 mes..."I will re
18980 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 consider strateg
18990 79 20 66 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 61 63 74 y for future act
189a0 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 ivities with a h
189b0 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 igh preference f
189c0 6f 72 20 6c 6f 77 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 or low severity
189d0 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 potential safety
189e0 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 outcomes rather
189f0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 69 6e 67 20 than accepting
18a00 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 higher severity
18a10 72 69 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e risk.".."Thanks.
18a20 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 ".."You are welc
18a30 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e ome.".."What's n
18a40 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 ext, then?"..The
18a50 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
18a60 64 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 d "I am reconsid
18a70 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 69 ering options, i
18a80 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 72 n light of new r
18a90 69 73 6b 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 isk assessment p
18aa0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 rioritization.
18ab0 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 This may take a
18ac0 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 few minutes."..A
18ad0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 lley looked at t
18ae0 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 66 20 63 he envelope of c
18af0 61 73 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 ash, then pulled
18b00 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 out the bills a
18b10 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 nd counted them
18b20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 64 64 again. They add
18b30 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 ed up as she exp
18b40 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 ected, but the p
18b50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 rioritizer said
18b60 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 "Please count th
18b70 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 em again.".."Wha
18b80 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 6c t? Why?".."Whil
18b90 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 2c 20 2f e you counted, /
18ba0 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 * it looked like
18bb0 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 2a 2f 20 6f 6e 65 at least */ one
18bc0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 of them appeare
18bd0 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 65 72 20 d to be thicker
18be0 74 68 61 6e 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 55 6e than standard Un
18bf0 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 65 64 65 ited States fede
18c00 72 61 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 ral reserve note
18c10 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 70 70 65 s, and also appe
18c20 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 ared to be very
18c30 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f new. Perhaps so
18c40 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 me of these note
18c50 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 66 65 s is a counterfe
18c60 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e it. Please coun
18c70 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 t again while I
18c80 77 61 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 watch."..Alley f
18c90 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 rowned at the st
18ca0 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ack, and started
18cb0 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e counting again.
18cc0 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 Toward the end
18cd0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 , she hesitated
18ce0 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 on one of the fe
18cf0 77 20 6e 65 77 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 69 w new looking bi
18d00 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b lls in the stack
18d10 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 , with a feeling
18d20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 like something
18d30 77 61 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 was wrong..."Tha
18d40 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 77 68 t is the note wh
18d50 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 ose thickness ap
18d60 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6e 63 6f pears to be inco
18d70 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 rrect."..Alley p
18d80 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 ulled it out of
18d90 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f the stack and lo
18da0 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 oked closer. It
18db0 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 20 74 68 felt stiffer th
18dc0 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2c 20 62 an most bills, b
18dd0 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 ut that could ju
18de0 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 st be due to it
18df0 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 being new. She
18e00 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 rubbed it to get
18e10 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 73 20 a feel for its
18e20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 surface, and it
18e30 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 separated into t
18e40 77 6f 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 wo bills. "Oh,
18e50 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e shit," she said.
18e60 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 77 61 "That scary wa
18e70 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 20 61 63 r veteran guy ac
18e80 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 cidentally gave
18e90 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 me an extra hund
18ea0 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 57 68 61 red. Fuck. Wha
18eb0 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 t if it wasn't a
18ec0 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 n accident? May
18ed0 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74 2e 22 be it's a test."
18ee0 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 65 78 .."That seems ex
18ef0 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 tremely unlikely
18f00 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
18f10 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e er said..."Yeah.
18f20 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 " She sighed.
18f30 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 "I guess you're
18f40 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e right, actually.
18f50 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 6c 61 ".."I have a pla
18f60 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 n of action to p
18f70 72 6f 70 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 ropose for tomor
18f80 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 row."..Alley sta
18f90 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 74 68 65 rted to nod, the
18fa0 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 n looked at the
18fb0 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 69 6e extra hundred in
18fc0 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 57 61 69 her hand. "Wai
18fd0 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 t. I should giv
18fe0 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b e this bill back
18ff0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a to that guy."..
19000 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 69 6f "For a high prio
19010 72 69 74 79 20 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f rity aversion to
19020 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 high severity r
19030 69 73 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f isks, this is no
19040 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e t a good choice.
19050 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 76 6f You should avo
19060 69 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 id meeting with
19070 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 69 people with a hi
19080 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 gh potential for
19090 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c violence."..All
190a0 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 ey laughed quiet
190b0 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ly. "Yeah," she
190c0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 said, "you're r
190d0 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 72 ight. I got thr
190e0 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 ough one meeting
190f0 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 without trouble
19100 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 with him alread
19110 79 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 y. Should I cou
19120 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 6c 75 nt that as my lu
19130 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 cky break, and f
19140 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c orget about him,
19150 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 65 or take it as e
19160 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d vidence that I m
19170 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20 61 ight not be in a
19180 6e 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 69 66 20 49 20 6d ny danger if I m
19190 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f eet him again to
191a0 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 6d give back his m
191b0 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 3f 0a isplaced money?.
191c0 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 ."It doesn't fee
191d0 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 l right, just ke
191e0 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c eping his money,
191f0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 though.".."Why
19200 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 61 74 do you feel that
19210 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 way?" the prior
19220 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 itizer asked..."
19230 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2c 22 It's dishonest,"
19240 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 she said..."You
19250 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 did not lie to
19260 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e 22 0a 0a him.".."True."..
19270 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 "Did you realize
19280 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 there might be
19290 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 more money than
192a0 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 he intended to g
192b0 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 ive you when you
192c0 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 counted the fir
192d0 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 st time?".."No."
192e0 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 .."How is that d
192f0 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ishonest?"..Alle
19300 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e y's lips tighten
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1b820 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 ".."I guess you'
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1bab0 0a 0a 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 64 65 6c 69 76 .."Between deliv
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1bb60 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley nodded.
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1bc30 2e 22 0a 0a 4d 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 ."..Much to Alle
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1bf90 0a 42 79 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 .By evening, she
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1c3d0 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a Good. Thanks.".
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1c510 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 ."..The response
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1c580 53 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 22 4f 4b 22 2c 20 She typed "OK",
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1d050 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 47 72 65 61 74 2e ."Great. Great.
1d060 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 72 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 " He thrust the
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1dbd0 6f 6c 64 65 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 77 68 older veteran wh
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1dd40 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 69 74 65 2e 22 "I don't bite."
1dd50 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 .."Yeah, okay,"
1dd60 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 she said. "I gu
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1dda0 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e . "Not exactly.
1ddb0 20 20 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 20 20 Come on in."
1ddc0 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 He stepped aside
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1dfd0 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d part of the sam
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1e040 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 20 73 65 74 74 6c ..Her gaze settl
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1e090 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 20 64 Do you want a d
1e0a0 72 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 50 49 43 4b rink?"../*..PICK
1e0b0 20 4f 4e 45 3a 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f ONE:..In the so
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1e150 72 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 20 r...In the soft
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1e180 73 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 s, he was starti
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1e220 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 the end table at
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1e290 2c 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 6d 69 6c 6b 20 2d 2d 20 , Coke, milk --
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1e330 20 61 6c 63 6f 68 6f 6c 20 62 72 65 77 73 20 49 alcohol brews I
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1e350 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 e."..Alley felt
1e360 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20 6c 69 70 73 20 77 69 74 her dry lips wit
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1e380 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 Ah . . . yeah, I
1e390 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 72 73 guess I'm thirs
1e3a0 74 79 2e 20 20 41 20 43 6f 6b 65 20 77 6f 75 6c ty. A Coke woul
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1e3e0 2e 20 20 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 . Go ahead and
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1e400 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 table. I'll be
1e410 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 57 69 right back." Wi
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1e430 6f 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 ok, he walked ou
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1e450 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She looked at th
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1e4f0 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 licone tray, the
1e500 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 n stood and appr
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1e520 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 69 se...The texts i
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1e540 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 61 6c like mechanical
1e550 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 6f engineering, wo
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1e570 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 63 68 65 6d 69 73 74 72 ustrial chemistr
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1e590 20 67 61 6d 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 game theory, ma
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1e5b0 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 20 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e 22 0a ."Self taught.".
1e5c0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 2c 20 .Alley started,
1e5d0 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 6c 75 72 63 68 69 her heart lurchi
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1e5f0 74 65 6d 70 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 tempo again. Sh
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1e610 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 74 6f that the man sto
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1e640 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 Coke. "Here,"
1e650 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 he said. "Sorry
1e660 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e . I didn't mean
1e670 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 2e to startle you.
1e680 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 68 65 "..She nodded he
1e690 72 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f r thanks and too
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1e6d0 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 he moved to the
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1e740 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a the armchair...
1e750 22 4d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 20 47 65 6f 72 "My name is Geor
1e760 67 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e ge," he said, an
1e770 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e d opened his can
1e780 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a ..."I'm Alley.".
1e790 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d .He swigged from
1e7a0 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 4e 69 63 65 his can. "Nice
1e7b0 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6d 65 65 to properly mee
1e7c0 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 t you.".."Yeah,"
1e7d0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 she said. She
1e7e0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 61 opened her can a
1e7f0 6e 64 20 64 72 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 nd drank...Georg
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1e820 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 and, with the s
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1e8d0 20 2e 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 . I don't need
1e8e0 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 27 to see whatever'
1e8f0 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 s in there."..He
1e900 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 stopped moving
1e910 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 and looked at he
1e920 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 r. He looked ba
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1e960 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 After a moment
1e970 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 73 more, his brow s
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1e9c0 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 ning. "Oh, I ge
1e9d0 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f 6c 27 t it. Hah! Ol'
1e9e0 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 Dave must've ma
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1ea00 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a ession on you.".
1ea10 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 .Alley looked aw
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1ea30 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 65 6d 62 61 72 er to feel embar
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1ea50 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f cared now..."Loo
1ea60 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 76 65 20 6c k, I know Dave l
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1ead0 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 nd he's about as
1eae0 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 61 69 gentle as a dai
1eaf0 73 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 78 20 69 73 sy. This box is
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1eb10 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 68 69 I had him machi
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1eb70 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 right," he said
1eb80 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 . "No, they are
1eb90 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 65 n't gun parts, e
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1ebb0 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 parts for a cust
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1ebf0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 ."..Alley sat ba
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1ec40 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 77 61 6c 6c 6f 77 69 After swallowi
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1ec60 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 ally?".."Yeah.
1ec70 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 One of the guys
1ec80 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 getting the guns
1ec90 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 I put together
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1ecb0 49 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 68 69 I bought has thi
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1ed00 74 68 65 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 the elbow during
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1ed20 6b 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f kdown on the pro
1ed30 74 65 73 74 65 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 5b testers at the [
1ed40 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 74 72 SOMETHING ] str
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1ed60 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 he's outgrowing
1ed70 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 66 the arm I made f
1ed80 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 61 67 or her a year ag
1ed90 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f o, already.".."O
1eda0 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 h. Right. Ther
1edb0 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 e's something ab
1edc0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a out the guns."..
1edd0 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 He looked at her
1ede0 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 57 68 , sidelong. "Wh
1edf0 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 at about them?"
1ee00 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 he asked..."Uh,
1ee10 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 after I got home
1ee20 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 6f 75 , I realized you
1ee30 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 gave me too muc
1ee40 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 h money.".."What
1ee50 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 49 do you mean? I
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1ee90 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 od."..She shook
1eea0 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 her head. "Ther
1eeb0 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 6e 64 e were two brand
1eec0 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 73 74 new hundreds st
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1ef00 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 accident."..He
1ef10 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a stared at her...
1ef20 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 "I, uh, don't ha
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1ef40 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 she said. "Mayb
1ef50 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 e I can come bac
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1ef70 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c 61 75 it."..George lau
1ef80 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 ghed. It was a
1ef90 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 2c warm, surprised,
1efa0 20 64 65 65 70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 deep laugh, and
1efb0 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 65 6e 73 69 6f she felt tensio
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1efd0 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 again, despite h
1efe0 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f erself..."No, do
1eff0 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 68 65 n't do that," he
1f000 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 said, a hint of
1f010 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 69 chuckle still i
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1f030 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 20 6c 'know what? I l
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1f050 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 I even like the
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1f090 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 lley smiled. "T
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1f0c0 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f dollars, though?
1f0d0 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 27 ".."Keep it. I'
1f0e0 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f ll survive witho
1f0f0 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e ut it, and I don
1f100 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 't think you'd d
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1f120 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 74 6f 20 from Perris to
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1f170 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 really secure."
1f180 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 He winked at h
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1f1b0 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 ".."Uh . . . tha
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1f1d0 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ou are, too.".."
1f1e0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 49 20 Yeah, maybe. I
1f1f0 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 hope so." He tu
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1f210 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 box and finishe
1f220 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 d cutting the ta
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1f240 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 then flipped th
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1f290 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c bundles of metal
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1f2b0 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 62 65 packing paper be
1f2c0 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 65 74 hind...As he set
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1f2e0 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 the silicone tra
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1f330 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 75 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 Coke, unwilling
1f340 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 73 20 to disturb his
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1f360 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c seemed precisel
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1f430 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 the bundles of
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1f470 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 69 64 He set them asid
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1f500 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 " He lifted the
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1f520 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 out an envelope
1f530 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 . "Here. Take
1f540 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 76 this back to Dav
1f550 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e e, for the secon
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1f570 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 held it out to
1f580 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 her...She nodded
1f590 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 . "Sure.".."Are
1f5a0 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 you saving up f
1f5b0 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 or something, or
1f5c0 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 going back to s
1f5d0 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 chool?"..Alley h
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1f600 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 69 6f hrugged. "Curio
1f610 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 us.".."Not exact
1f620 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 ly. I'm trying
1f630 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 75 to dig myself ou
1f640 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 t of a hole.".."
1f650 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f Debts?"..She sho
1f660 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ok her head. "I
1f670 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 63 had a strange c
1f680 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 areer path, and
1f690 69 74 27 73 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 64 it's dying. I d
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1f700 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 79 . Reinventing y
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1f730 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f ast it's hard to
1f740 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 keep up."..Alle
1f750 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 y nodded, then s
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1f770 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e k her head again
1f780 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 . "I don't know
1f790 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 41 ," she says. "A
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1f7e0 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 get a piece of
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1f810 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 74 69 until they reti
1f820 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 re.".."It seems
1f830 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 that way," Georg
1f840 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 73 e said, "but mos
1f850 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 t of them don't
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1f870 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d .."What do you m
1f880 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 ean?".."More and
1f890 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 more people are
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1f950 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 like you do, bu
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1f990 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 He leaned forwa
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1f9b0 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f 72 65 rested his fore
1f9c0 61 72 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 arms on his thig
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1fa00 20 63 72 61 6d 70 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 cramps out of t
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1fa40 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 gain. "It's eas
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1fae0 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 each other abou
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1fb80 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 6c 6c t.' They're all
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1fe00 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 61 6e lie and cheat an
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1fe80 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 61 20 metaphorical a
1fe90 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c lot of the time,
1fea0 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 6f 64 but literal bod
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1fec0 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a 20 64 "My advice is: d
1fed0 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 on't be like any
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20020 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 don't have time
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200a0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 65 73 back again, res
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200d0 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2e 0a 0a of his thighs...
200e0 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 65 74 "Look at me, get
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20110 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 If what I'm sa
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20200 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 "You give bette
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20230 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 6f chuckled. "I ho
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20260 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 on paper, and a
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202b0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 know if I even
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20300 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 feel like you h
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20320 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 ".."Maybe I star
20330 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 ted out thinking
20340 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 I should humor
20350 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 6a you, but now I j
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20370 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 to you some mor
20380 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 e." She looked
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203c0 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 74 now, though. It
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203e0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 ".."Yeah," he sa
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20400 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2c 20 that envelope,
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20450 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 72 a good night's r
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20480 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c I know is good,
20490 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 for anyone.".."
204a0 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 Thanks."..He nod
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204c0 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 nd headed for th
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20570 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 "Be careful out
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205a0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e place.".."Yeah.
205b0 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 ".."If you want
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20630 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2c 20 as. Otherwise,
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20680 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 6f 75 gain. "How shou
20690 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 ld I get in touc
206a0 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 20 h?"..He scoffed
206b0 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 52 69 at himself. "Ri
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206e0 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 He pulled out h
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207f0 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 pt the message,
20800 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 it goes straight
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20830 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d 61 69 e encrypted emai
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20850 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 6e 63 I use pubkey enc
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208b0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 47 of the pack. G
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208d0 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 .."Good night,"
208e0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 she said with a
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20ad0 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 74 20 .She worried at
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21ea0 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 between the two
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21f00 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 ..He said "You h
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21fe0 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e he asked..."Oh.
21ff0 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 Yeah. Why did
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22010 20 73 6f 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 so?" She held
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22100 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 70 72 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 small print. I
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22160 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61 73 6b he suddenly ask
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22190 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 when I told you
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22200 20 79 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e yet this mornin
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22280 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 62 I got out of b
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222a0 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 64 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 6f barely decent to
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222c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 77 65 , and came to we
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222e0 75 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 62 69 72 64 73 20 74 ul early birds t
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22300 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 79 6f ".."I suggest yo
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22320 73 61 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 sages.".."Fine,"
22330 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 Alley said. "I
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22350 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 k." She managed
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22390 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65 6e 74 6c it wasn't gentl
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223f0 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 hone from the ch
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22410 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 69 63 message notific
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224a0 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 an hour earlier
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22520 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f ooked at the doo
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22730 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 72 65 74 he shrugged, ret
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22760 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 once more...The
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227b0 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Here," she said
227c0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 . She pulled of
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22810 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 He smirked and h
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22bf0 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 I do not have th
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22c10 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
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22ca0 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e .."That's right.
22cb0 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 " Alley flipped
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24240 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 75 74 20 6c at the top out l
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24260 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 knows the syste
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242a0 6e 6f 6e 27 73 20 6d 61 78 69 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 non's maxim. It
242b0 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 69 67 may be the orig
242c0 69 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 4d in of the name M
242d0 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 aximOS.".."That'
242e0 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 6f 6d 69 s kind of an omi
242f0 6e 6f 75 73 20 73 6c 6f 67 61 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c nous slogan," Al
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24320 6f 66 20 4b 65 72 63 6b 68 6f 66 66 73 27 20 70 of Kerckhoffs' p
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243a0 6b 65 79 20 69 73 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 6b 6e key is public kn
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243c0 20 53 68 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 27 73 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 Shannon's formu
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243e0 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 63 6c the idea to incl
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24420 68 6f 66 66 73 27 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 77 61 73 hoffs' focus was
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24440 70 74 6f 67 72 61 70 68 79 2e 20 20 53 68 61 6e ptography. Shan
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244a0 20 61 73 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 as guidance for
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244c0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 .."Yeah, I get t
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244e0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 , and nodded. "
244f0 49 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f If the enemy kno
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24550 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 73 65 system design se
24560 63 72 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d cret..."You seem
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24580 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e bout this stuff.
24590 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 69 ".."I searched i
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245f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 of them.".."That
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24680 20 73 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 say. I should
24690 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 20 6f 6e probably lean on
246a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 that more. I d
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24700 6d 79 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 my career course
24710 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 . Is there?".."
24720 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 That does not se
24730 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 em likely," the
24740 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
24750 2e 20 20 22 41 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 . "Apart from b
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24780 64 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 ds of employment
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24840 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 67 61 67 69 6e rsion to engagin
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24870 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 68 for reasons of h
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248b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f that informatio
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248d0 6c 65 64 20 64 72 69 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 47 72 65 led drily. "Gre
248e0 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 67 75 at. The best gu
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24900 65 65 72 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 eer change in th
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24920 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 about becoming
24930 61 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 a career crimina
24940 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d l, I guess. I'm
24950 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 not sure whethe
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24990 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2e 22 0a 0a bout the law."..
249a0 22 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 70 "Most of the pap
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24a70 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 to lie with the
24a80 6c 61 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 law.".."Was that
24a90 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 the kind of thi
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24ab0 64 76 69 73 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 dvise me to make
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24b10 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e strategic guidan
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24b30 43 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 Certain economic
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24b80 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 purpose, especi
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24c20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 79 like using a sy
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24e60 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 74 77 6f 20 69 74 s for any two it
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24fa0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 about when I ju
24fb0 73 74 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 st can't decide
24fc0 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 between two opti
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24fe0 20 67 65 74 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 get both of the
24ff0 6d 3f 20 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 m? Isn't that p
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25020 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 65 71 75 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 things equally?"
25030 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 .."If you cannot
25040 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 choose between
25050 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f them based on yo
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25100 73 65 65 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 66 seeking more inf
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25160 72 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c r case, you woul
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25180 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 the product that
25190 20 69 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 61 is, at that exa
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251c0 20 20 54 68 75 73 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 63 6f Thus, one beco
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251f0 74 68 65 72 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 ther, not becaus
25200 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 70 e of a quality p
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25220 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 71 75 thing, but a qu
25230 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 69 ality of your ci
25240 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 rcumstances. It
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25270 65 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 61 73 65 64 e position based
25280 20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 63 6f on momentary co
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252d0 6f 66 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 61 of decision para
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25300 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 72 65 r as a value gre
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25320 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e fference between
25330 20 64 69 73 63 65 72 6e 69 62 6c 65 20 70 72 6f discernible pro
25340 64 75 63 74 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 duct values.".."
25350 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 6f 66 What if I put of
25360 66 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 f buying somethi
25370 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 ng I want more t
25380 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 o get something
25390 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 I want less, to
253a0 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 74 get the second t
253b0 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c hing more quickl
253c0 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6e y?".."This is an
253d0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 other case of a
253e0 74 68 69 72 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 third value comi
253f0 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 2c 20 73 75 ng into play, su
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26630 65 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e e supposedly con
26640 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 nected to "domes
26650 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 22 2e 20 tic terrorism".
26660 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 They just had t
26670 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d o stay away from
26680 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 6f anyone well kno
26690 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 wn enough to dra
266a0 77 20 6d 65 64 69 61 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f w media attentio
266b0 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 61 n, or anyone wea
266c0 6c 74 68 79 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 lthy or connecte
266d0 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c d enough to real
266e0 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 ly go after the
266f0 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 corporation, so
26700 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 their activities
26710 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 would never get
26720 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 63 72 75 74 69 6e 79 enough scrutiny
26730 20 74 6f 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 to cause signif
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26750 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 .Alley recalled
26760 61 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 a time when Dalt
26770 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 on told her that
26780 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 73 69 78 the idea of six
26790 20 64 65 67 72 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 70 61 degrees of sepa
267a0 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6f ration was too o
267b0 70 74 69 6d 69 73 74 69 63 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 ptimistic when i
267c0 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e t came to govern
267d0 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 64 61 73 2e 20 20 4d ment agendas. M
267e0 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ost people in th
267f0 65 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 e United States
26800 77 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 were only three
26810 64 65 67 72 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 70 61 72 degrees of separ
26820 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ation away from
26830 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 63 72 69 6d 65 20 organized crime
26840 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 44 -- which, when D
26850 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 alton used the t
26860 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6c 77 61 erm, almost alwa
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26890 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f anything the go
268a0 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 61 vernment designa
268b0 74 65 64 20 22 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 22 2e ted "terrorism".
268c0 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 In this case,
268d0 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d he was talking m
268e0 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f ore about the so
268f0 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 called terroris
26900 74 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 ts than the gove
26910 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 42 61 73 65 64 20 6f rnment. Based o
26920 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6a n what she had j
26930 75 73 74 20 72 65 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ust read on the
26940 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 2c 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b darknet, it look
26950 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 ed like COIN Cor
26960 70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 p would probably
26970 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 64 just make her d
26980 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f isappear and loo
26990 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f k for ways to co
269a0 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 22 64 6f nnect her to "do
269b0 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d mestic terrorism
269c0 22 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 " so they could
269d0 67 65 74 20 61 20 6e 69 63 65 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 get a nice bonus
269e0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 6e 63 6c 65 20 53 61 6d 2e from Uncle Sam.
269f0 20 20 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e Through Dalton
26a00 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 and his friends
26a10 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 , she figured th
26a20 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 ey would not eve
26a30 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 76 65 n have to try ve
26a40 72 79 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 ry hard to find
26a50 61 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 a quick connecti
26a60 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 on from her to s
26a70 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 omeone on some w
26a80 61 74 63 68 20 6c 69 73 74 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 63 atch list...It c
26a90 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 ould not be too
26aa0 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 difficult, when
26ab0 74 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e they didn't even
26ac0 20 63 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 care whether th
26ad0 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 61 69 6c 65 64 ey really nailed
26ae0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 67 61 down a case aga
26af0 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 inst the ultimat
26b00 65 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 e "domestic terr
26b10 6f 72 69 73 74 22 20 74 68 65 79 20 75 73 65 64 orist" they used
26b20 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f as an excuse to
26b30 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 61 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 black bag other
26b40 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 people along th
26b50 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c e way. By then,
26b60 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 they already ha
26b70 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 69 73 61 d all those disa
26b80 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d ppeared people m
26b90 61 72 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 arked down in th
26ba0 65 20 22 77 69 6e 22 20 63 6f 6c 75 6d 6e 2e 0a e "win" column..
26bb0 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6e 75 6d ."I'm just a num
26bc0 62 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 54 ber to them."..T
26bd0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
26be0 61 69 64 20 22 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 aid "Everything
26bf0 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 is about numbers
26c00 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 61 for an organiza
26c10 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 tion like COIN C
26c20 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 72 65 76 65 6e 75 orp. Its revenu
26c30 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 69 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 e model is based
26c40 20 6f 6e 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 on government p
26c50 61 79 6f 75 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 ayouts and contr
26c60 61 63 74 20 72 65 6e 65 77 61 6c 73 20 77 68 69 act renewals whi
26c70 63 68 20 61 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 2c ch are, in turn,
26c80 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 70 determined by p
26c90 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 erformance metri
26ca0 63 73 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e cs. A governmen
26cb0 74 20 62 75 72 65 61 75 63 72 61 63 79 20 6d 75 t bureaucracy mu
26cc0 73 74 20 75 73 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 74 st use metrics t
26cd0 6f 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 o measure succes
26ce0 73 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 s, because the s
26cf0 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 67 61 6e ize of the organ
26d00 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 65 ization cannot e
26d10 6e 73 75 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 nsure any consis
26d20 74 65 6e 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6e 65 tent effectivene
26d30 73 73 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 ss judgement any
26d40 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 41 20 63 other way. A c
26d50 6f 6d 62 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ombination of th
26d60 65 20 65 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 e efficiency of
26d70 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f digital technolo
26d80 67 79 20 61 74 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 69 6e 67 20 gy at analyzing
26d90 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 61 simple metrics a
26da0 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 65 72 20 73 69 7a nd the sheer siz
26db0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a e of the organiz
26dc0 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 ations involved
26dd0 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 ensure that with
26de0 6f 75 74 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 out turning ever
26df0 79 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f y policy decisio
26e00 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 66 n into straightf
26e10 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 69 63 20 6f orward numeric o
26e20 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ptimization the
26e30 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 6f 75 whole system wou
26e40 6c 64 20 66 61 6c 6c 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 75 6e ld fall apart un
26e50 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6f der the weight o
26e60 66 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 65 66 66 69 f its own ineffi
26e70 63 69 65 6e 63 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 ciency.".."You'r
26e80 65 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 e beginning to s
26e90 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ound like Dalton
26ea0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e .".."I do not kn
26eb0 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 ow what that mea
26ec0 6e 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ns," the priorit
26ed0 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c izer said..."I'l
26ee0 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 l tell you about
26ef0 20 69 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 it later."..Her
26f00 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 72 61 63 65 64 20 69 6e 20 63 mind raced in c
26f10 69 72 63 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 64 6e ircles. It didn
26f20 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 't look like the
26f30 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 6f re was any way o
26f40 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 ut of this whole
26f50 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 problem. She h
26f60 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 20 ad to sacrifice
26f70 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 44 61 6d something..."Dam
26f80 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 n," she said. "
26f90 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 61 I have to give a
26fa0 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 74 20 62 61 63 ll this shit bac
26fb0 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 k to the profess
26fc0 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 or. I have to g
26fd0 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d et out of this m
26fe0 65 73 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 ess right away.
26ff0 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 I'm just going
27000 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 69 73 73 20 to have to kiss
27010 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 70 61 my ability to pa
27020 79 20 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 y rent goodbye,
27030 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 20 77 and go move in w
27040 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e ith my mother in
27050 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 the ass end of
27060 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 nowhere."..The p
27070 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 rioritizer said
27080 22 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 "I believe that
27090 69 73 20 61 20 6d 69 73 74 61 6b 65 2e 22 0a 0a is a mistake."..
270a0 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c "What?" Alley l
270b0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 ooked up, almost
270c0 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 expecting to se
270d0 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 e someone there
270e0 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 disagreeing with
270f0 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 her, and immedi
27100 61 74 65 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 66 6f 6f 6c 69 ately felt fooli
27110 73 68 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 43 4f sh. "Why?".."CO
27120 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f IN Corp will pro
27130 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 bably already ha
27140 76 65 20 61 20 66 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 ve a file on you
27150 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 75 73 right now to us
27160 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 69 e against you, i
27170 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 64 69 f that online di
27180 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 63 scussion was acc
27190 75 72 61 74 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 urate. It seems
271a0 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 pointless for t
271b0 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 hem to have come
271c0 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 to talk to you
271d0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c 69 6e 67 before compiling
271e0 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f information abo
271f0 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 61 ut you. They ca
27200 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 n turn you into
27210 61 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 6c 69 6e 6b 20 a supposed link
27220 74 6f 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 to domestic terr
27230 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 orism like they
27240 68 61 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 have with others
27250 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 . To avoid that
27260 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 70 , you need to ap
27270 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6f 66 20 76 61 pear to be of va
27280 6c 75 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 lue to the agent
27290 73 20 61 73 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 s assigned to th
272a0 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 is case.".."How
272b0 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 49 20 64 6f the hell do I do
272c0 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f that?" She loo
272d0 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 ked down at her
272e0 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 hands, suddenly
272f0 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 noticing that th
27300 65 79 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 ey hurt. She sa
27310 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 w that she was g
27320 72 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 ripping the edge
27330 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 20 of the sink so
27340 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 68 65 72 20 6b 6e 75 63 tightly her knuc
27350 6b 6c 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 kles were white
27360 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 74 69 and her fingerti
27370 70 73 20 66 65 6c 74 20 62 72 75 69 73 65 64 2e ps felt bruised.
27380 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 72 She started tr
27390 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 20 68 65 ying to relax he
273a0 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 6f 6d r hands, but som
273b0 65 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6f ehow she just co
273c0 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 uld not will her
273d0 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a self to do it...
273e0 22 50 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 69 "Provide them wi
273f0 74 68 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 74 61 20 6f 6e 20 th good data on
27400 6d 79 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 20 61 20 my utility as a
27410 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 strategic priori
27420 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e tization system.
27430 20 20 41 63 68 69 65 76 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d Achieving dram
27440 61 74 69 63 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 6e 20 atic success in
27450 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 65 72 69 6f 64 20 6f a short period o
27460 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 79 20 f time will buy
27470 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f you more time to
27480 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e determine a lon
27490 67 65 72 20 74 65 72 6d 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f ger term plan fo
274a0 72 20 61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 63 6f 6d r avoiding becom
274b0 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 ing one of COIN
274c0 43 6f 72 70 27 73 20 76 69 63 74 69 6d 73 2e 20 Corp's victims.
274d0 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 It will also gi
274e0 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f ve you access to
274f0 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 resources you c
27500 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f an use to contro
27510 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 l parts of the s
27520 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 ituation, rather
27530 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 62 65 69 than simply bei
27540 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 79 ng controlled by
27550 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e it.".."You mean
27560 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d I can make them
27570 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 65 78 61 63 74 think I'm exact
27580 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e ly what they wan
27590 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 t from the study
275a0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d at the same tim
275b0 65 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 e I'm building a
275c0 6e 20 61 72 73 65 6e 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b n arsenal to mak
275d0 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 e myself . . . w
275e0 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 70 6c 61 79 65 72 2c 20 69 ell, a player, i
275f0 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 77 6e nstead of a pawn
27600 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 63 68 65 73 73 20 .".."Yes, chess
27610 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 is a good metaph
27620 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 59 6f or for this. Yo
27630 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 u must have some
27640 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 70 69 65 63 65 73 20 playing pieces
27650 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 of your own to p
27660 6c 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a lay the game."..
27670 22 47 72 65 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 64 "Great," she sad
27680 2c 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 73 , her dry tone s
27690 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e uggesting nothin
276a0 67 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 g great about it
276b0 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 at all. "I gue
276c0 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 ss you don't eve
276d0 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 n have any good
276e0 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 ideas about how
276f0 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 to escape this c
27700 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 ompletely, once
27710 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f I get to that po
27720 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 int, though.".."
27730 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 6d 79 At this time, my
27740 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e only suggestion
27750 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 for the long te
27760 72 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 6f 20 70 rm would be to p
27770 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 osition yourself
27780 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f well for the co
27790 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 72 75 69 74 mpany to recruit
277a0 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 you as one of i
277b0 74 73 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6d ts agents. I am
277c0 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 74 not confident t
277d0 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 61 64 hat could be mad
277e0 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 e consistent wit
277f0 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 70 h your ethical p
27800 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 rinciples.".."Th
27810 69 73 20 69 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2e 20 is is . . . no.
27820 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 No, this day ca
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2ad60 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e y?".."Mostly non
2ad70 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 fiction, I guess
2ad80 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 62 69 6f 67 72 61 70 68 69 , like biographi
2ad90 65 73 2c 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 es, historical b
2ada0 6f 6f 6b 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 ooks, and things
2adb0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c where a journal
2adc0 69 73 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73 65 ist gets obsesse
2add0 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 d with some mund
2ade0 61 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 ane but obscure
2adf0 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79 65 subject for a ye
2ae00 61 72 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 ar or two and wr
2ae10 69 74 65 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b ites a long book
2ae20 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 about all the w
2ae30 65 69 72 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 eird stuff most
2ae40 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 people would nev
2ae50 65 72 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 er know about th
2ae60 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 e subject otherw
2ae70 69 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 ise.".."Hmm. Th
2ae80 61 74 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 at's interesting
2ae90 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 . I guess you d
2aea0 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f on't like fictio
2aeb0 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e n as much, then.
2aec0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 ".."I like to re
2aed0 61 64 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 ad fiction, some
2aee0 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 times. I just d
2aef0 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 65 on't usually see
2af00 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 a novel and thi
2af10 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 nk that I have t
2af20 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e o read it. When
2af30 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 someone I know
2af40 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 recommends some
2af50 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 novel, I'll prob
2af60 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2c 20 75 6e ably read it, un
2af70 6c 65 73 73 20 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 less I've alread
2af80 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 y been burned by
2af90 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 62 that person's b
2afa0 61 64 20 74 61 73 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 ad taste in lite
2afb0 72 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 rature recommend
2afc0 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a ations before.".
2afd0 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 .George chuckled
2afe0 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 at that. "I've
2aff0 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 gotten some rea
2b000 6c 20 73 74 69 6e 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f 6d l stinkers recom
2b010 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 mended to me, be
2b020 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e fore, too. I kn
2b030 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e ow what you mean
2b040 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 about that."..A
2b050 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e lley gave him an
2b060 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 answering smile
2b070 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 . "Anyway, you
2b080 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 shelves tell me
2b090 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f you read a lot o
2b0a0 66 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f f nonfiction, to
2b0b0 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 o."..He glanced
2b0c0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 at the texts on
2b0d0 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 the shelves of t
2b0e0 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20 20 he book cases.
2b0f0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c "Yeah," he said,
2b100 20 22 49 27 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 "I'm always rea
2b110 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 ding something.
2b120 20 49 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 I try to get th
2b130 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 rough more than
2b140 74 77 6f 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 two educational
2b150 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 books of some ki
2b160 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 75 nd every year, u
2b170 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 sually hitting t
2b180 68 72 65 65 20 6f 72 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 62 75 hree or four, bu
2b190 74 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 t I make up for
2b1a0 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 it on the years
2b1b0 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f with only one, o
2b1c0 72 20 6e 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 r none. I proba
2b1d0 62 6c 79 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 bly average abou
2b1e0 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72 20 t one novel per
2b1f0 77 65 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72 6f wee, too, so pro
2b200 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 bably the opposi
2b210 74 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 te of how you re
2b220 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 ad.".."Not quite
2b230 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2b240 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 probably read a
2b250 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 73 20 61 couple novels a
2b260 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 year, but only
2b270 73 69 78 20 6f 72 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 6e six or eight non
2b280 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 69 6e fiction books in
2b290 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e 22 the same year."
2b2a0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 .."It sounds to
2b2b0 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 me like you wish
2b2c0 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 you read more,"
2b2d0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 he said..."Yeah
2b2e0 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 , I guess I do."
2b2f0 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 .."One of the se
2b300 63 72 65 74 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61 64 crets of my read
2b310 69 6e 67 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 74 ing success is t
2b320 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 hat I limit the
2b330 74 69 6d 65 20 49 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 67 6c 75 time I spend glu
2b340 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 ed to a computer
2b350 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 screen. There
2b360 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 72 are people who r
2b370 65 61 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 ead a whole lot
2b380 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 more than I do,
2b390 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f though."..She no
2b3a0 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 dded. "I know.
2b3b0 20 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 My uncle used t
2b3c0 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 75 o read about fou
2b3d0 72 20 6f 72 20 66 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 r or five times
2b3e0 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 as much as you.
2b3f0 20 4d 79 20 65 78 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 My ex probably
2b400 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 6d reads about as m
2b410 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 uch as you, but
2b420 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 he has a friend
2b430 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 who reads a lot
2b440 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f more, too.".."Yo
2b450 75 72 20 65 78 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ur ex? Are you
2b460 64 69 76 6f 72 63 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c divorced?".."Oh,
2b470 20 75 68 2c 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 uh, no. He was
2b480 20 6d 79 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57 65 my fianc... We
2b490 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 broke it off a
2b4a0 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f couple years ago
2b4b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 .".."That's too
2b4c0 62 61 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e bad. Do you wan
2b4d0 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 t to talk about
2b4e0 77 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 why?"..She shift
2b4f0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 ed her position
2b500 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 in the chair. "
2b510 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 Well . . . maybe
2b520 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 not. There's s
2b530 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 ome political st
2b540 75 66 66 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e uff involved, an
2b550 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 d I don't really
2b560 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 want to get int
2b570 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 o some kind of a
2b580 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 rgument over the
2b590 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e politics of it.
2b5a0 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 ".."Hmm. That s
2b5b0 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 ounds ominous.
2b5c0 57 61 73 20 68 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 Was he a politic
2b5d0 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 ian?".."No. . .
2b5e0 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ." She looked a
2b5f0 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 way..."Sorry. I
2b600 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 'm just curious.
2b610 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e 22 I'll drop it."
2b620 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .."Thanks," she
2b630 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e said. "I guess.
2b640 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 72 ".."Why did your
2b650 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61 64 uncle stop read
2b660 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ing so much?".."
2b670 48 75 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 Huh?".."You said
2b680 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 he used to read
2b690 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f hundreds of boo
2b6a0 6b 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 ks a year. Why
2b6b0 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73 65 did you say 'use
2b6c0 64 20 74 6f 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 d to'?".."Oh," s
2b6d0 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 he sighed. "He
2b6e0 64 69 65 64 2c 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e died, years ago.
2b6f0 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f ".."I'm sorry to
2b700 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 hear it.".."Yea
2b710 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
2b720 48 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f He decided to go
2b730 20 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 69 6e 20 49 64 61 off grid in Ida
2b740 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c ho, in the middl
2b750 65 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 44 e of nowhere. D
2b760 61 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 20 74 6f ad took me up to
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2b7f0 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 He knew some of
2b800 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 62 75 74 those guys, but
2b810 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e he wasn't in an
2b820 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 y of their milit
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2b8a0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 and thought it
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2b8d0 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 68 They claimed h
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2b8f0 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 63 61 when an agent ca
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2b920 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 , and they were
2b930 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 66 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 just defending t
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2b950 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 6c 75 6e 61 74 69 63 militia lunatic
2b960 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 , if you believe
2b970 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 that. He was r
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2b9b0 20 77 69 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 77 68 65 wild places whe
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2b9f0 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c he told her uncl
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2ba20 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 20 ow intimidating
2ba30 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 2c 20 65 76 65 he could be, eve
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2ba60 65 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 75 6e 6e 79 20 64 ead on a sunny d
2ba70 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 ay. "I guess he
2ba80 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 was an innocent
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2baa0 65 20 49 64 61 68 6f 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 e Idaho militia
2bab0 70 75 72 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 purges, then. T
2bac0 68 6f 73 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 74 69 hose were bad ti
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2bae0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 people who just
2baf0 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 wanted nothing
2bb00 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 more than to be
2bb10 6c 65 66 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 left alone.".."W
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2bb30 61 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 66 75 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 a wrongful death
2bb40 20 73 75 69 74 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 suit. We got i
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2bb60 6d 20 56 50 53 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 m VPS -- well, D
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2bb80 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 - and found the
2bb90 76 69 64 65 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 66 72 video backups fr
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2bbc0 68 69 73 20 63 61 62 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 his cabin, and i
2bbd0 74 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 t showed that th
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2bc00 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 69 6e even identifyin
2bc10 67 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a g themselves."..
2bc20 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 "Yeah? What hap
2bc30 70 65 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 pened with that
2bc40 6c 61 77 73 75 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 lawsuit?".."It d
2bc50 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 idn't happen. W
2bc60 68 69 6c 65 20 77 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 74 20 hile we were at
2bc70 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 27 73 20 6f 66 66 our lawyer's off
2bc80 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 ice, the FBI got
2bc90 20 61 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e a search warran
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2bcf0 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 69 They claimed i
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2bd10 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 to their investi
2bd20 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 75 6e gations of my un
2bd30 63 6c 65 2c 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 62 72 6f 74 68 cle, Dad's broth
2bd40 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 er, but the resu
2bd50 6c 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 lt was just that
2bd60 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 72 20 64 6f they got our do
2bd70 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 65 64 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 wnloaded video a
2bd80 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 73 74 75 nd the login stu
2bd90 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 ff for my uncle'
2bda0 73 20 56 50 53 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 s VPS. Of cours
2bdb0 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 27 20 74 e, they 'lost' t
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2bdd0 74 6f 6f 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 took from Dad's
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2be10 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c the video again,
2be20 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f so we could sho
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2be40 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 er, they'd shut
2be50 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 56 50 53 20 61 6e 64 down the VPS and
2be60 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 pressured the h
2be70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 osting company i
2be80 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c nto deleting all
2be90 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 backups..."Afte
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2bec0 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 what the lawyer
2bed0 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d 20 64 75 called a slam du
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2bf10 20 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 49 54 Dad's whole IT
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2bf40 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 48 instant, too. H
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2bf70 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 65 64 75 63 continuing educ
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2bfb0 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ."..George just
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2bfd0 20 22 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 "I wish I had s
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2c000 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 ".."It's fine.
2c010 49 74 27 73 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 It's ancient his
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2c030 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 20 ,and I just had
2c040 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 to move on. It
2c050 77 61 73 20 68 61 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 was hard, though
2c060 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 . I was in high
2c070 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 school when it
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2c130 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 d. "I didn't sa
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2c150 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ime."..He nodded
2c160 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 5b 20 53 63 68 . "Dalton [ Sch
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2c180 5d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 ].".."Yeah." Sh
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2c200 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 e."../* "Yeah, h
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2c290 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 20 2a leaving him." *
2c2a0 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e /.."Yeah, he is.
2c2b0 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 There isn't re
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2c370 20 66 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 for either reas
2c380 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 on.".."Thanks,"
2c390 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 she said. "That
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2c3b0 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 ".."I'll just be
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2c610 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 "I thought he wa
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2c630 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 He had a lot of
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2d020 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 look. "That's
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2d080 20 49 20 64 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 I do? I just d
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2d2b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 79 .".."Is that why
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2d2e0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 .."What?".."You
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2d330 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 opportunity to
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2d3a0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 I guess you'd
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2d410 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d She paused a mom
2d420 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 ent. "Well . .
2d430 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e . maybe? I wasn
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2d480 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 You did offer
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2d550 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 ..He chuckled.
2d560 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 "Oh, that. Yeah
2d570 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 , well, I can se
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2d750 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a "Yeah. It is.".
2d760 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f .She thought abo
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2df40 20 22 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 "When you say '
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2df60 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 . .".."Yeah," sh
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2f200 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 t, but that's a
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2f400 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ".."Why are you
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2f4f0 20 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 68 61 73 20 COIN Corp has
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2f870 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 74 68 61 possibility, tha
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2f950 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Shit," she s
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2f9e0 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 20 20 ."It's a risk.
2f9f0 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 That's all there
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2faa0 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 Maybe you can p
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2fac0 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 77 gh..."My first w
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2fb20 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2c If that happens,
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2fbe0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 .".."Okay. Yeah
2fbf0 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 . That's a lot
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2fe40 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 He looked at his
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30360 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 what you do, and
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303a0 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 so you can keep
303b0 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 doing it. That
303c0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4f book is about O
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30490 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6c 61 73 73 a criminal class
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304c0 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 65 any more than pe
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30610 45 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 East.".."Oh." S
30620 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
30630 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 books again..."
30640 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 You can think of
30650 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 the OpSec book
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30700 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 escape are the
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30730 6f 66 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a of anarchist?"..
30740 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d He shrugged. "M
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30770 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 20 63 61 70 69 an anarcho capi
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307d0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
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307f0 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 feeling I was be
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30810 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 6f 74 .."Does that bot
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30830 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b ed..."No. I lik
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308e0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 though. Do you
308f0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 ?".."No, I guess
30900 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f not.".."What do
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30990 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 "You might have
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30a30 20 74 68 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 thin.".."Okay,"
30a40 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 George said. "
30a50 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 I get it. Will
30a60 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f you read the boo
30a70 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 ks?".."Yeah," sh
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30ac0 6d 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6a m done.".."No, j
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30ae0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 he said. "I'll
30af0 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d get more of them
30b00 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 20 74 68 65 . Just pass the
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30b20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 who needs them a
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30b50 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a to keep them."..
30b60 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Sure," she said
30b70 2c 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 2e 0a 0a , uncertainly...
30b80 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 64 69 "Have you had di
30b90 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 nner?".."No," sh
30ba0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 e said. "What a
30bb0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 3f re you thinking?
30bc0 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 ".."I'm thinking
30bd0 20 49 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 I'm hungry, and
30be0 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 you're welcome
30bf0 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 to join me. I w
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30c10 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 73 74 61 2e 22 up some pasta."
30c20 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 ..She nodded. "
30c30 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 That sounds good
30c40 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 .".."It'll give
30c50 75 73 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 us a few more mi
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30c90 20 73 6f 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 62 65 66 6f so serious befo
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30d10 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 chen..."Thanks."
30d20 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 72 65 61 ../*..George rea
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30e60 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 ./*..This might
30e70 62 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 be where George
30e80 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 provides some ba
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30ee0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 ooked at the cov
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30f00 62 6f 6f 6b 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 68 61 64 20 book George had
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30fa0 61 72 6b 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 61 63 6b 67 72 ark white backgr
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31040 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e 20 41 herself..."An A
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31060 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 Counter Economic
31070 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 65 64 6f 6d s, Total Freedom
31080 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 53 61 6d 75 , And You.."Samu
31090 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f 6e 6b 69 6e el Edward Konkin
310a0 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6c 69 70 70 III"..She flipp
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310c0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 2e back was blank.
310d0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 ..She opened it
310e0 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f and flipped thro
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31170 6f 72 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 6f 74 65 73 or review quotes
31180 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 . The first pag
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31240 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 already...The p
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31280 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 6f 6e chapter began on
31290 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 65 64 a page numbered
312a0 20 34 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 4...She closed
312b0 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 the book again a
312c0 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 nd read the cove
312d0 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4d r once more..."M
312e0 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e 6b 69 6e 20 aybe Sam Konkin
312f0 69 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 is a friend of h
31300 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d is," she said, m
31310 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 eaning a friend
31320 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a of George's.../*
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31350 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 . The last page
31360 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 78 20 2d 2d of the index --
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31380 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a -- was 50. */..
31390 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She looked at th
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313c0 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6e er one. Books n
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31440 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 , on the last pa
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31460 20 69 6e 64 65 78 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 index. At leas
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34720 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 "What?".."Do y
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34a70 74 61 72 67 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 target?".."Yes,
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362a0 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 65 72 65 2c "../*.. Here,
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36c20 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 he began, hesita
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36c50 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 20 6d 61 6e 20 the masked man
36c60 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 70 61 74 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 waited patiently
36c70 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 . "I'm looking
36c80 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 for the smuggler
36c90 2e 22 0a 0a 48 69 73 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 ."..His chuckle
36ca0 63 61 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e came out soundin
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36d00 74 65 72 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 53 6d 75 67 ter. "Just Smug
36d10 67 6c 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 gler," he said,
36d20 22 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 "like the name y
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36d40 69 72 74 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 irth.".."Oh.".."
36d50 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c You know George,
36d60 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 " he said, and s
36d70 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 he thought she d
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36db0 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f a question..."No
36dc0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 t for long," she
36dd0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 said, "but yeah
36de0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 . He seems like
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36e00 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 You must've made
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36e20 69 66 20 68 65 20 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 79 if he referred y
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36e50 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 70 , and motioned p
36e60 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 ast her. "Let's
36e70 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a talk inside."..
36e80 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 "Oh, right," she
36e90 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 said. Her hand
36ea0 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 brushed her bac
36eb0 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 k pocket, the th
36ec0 69 6e 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 in cylindrical b
36ed0 75 6c 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f ulge of her bato
36ee0 6e 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 61 72 n creating a har
36ef0 64 65 72 20 72 69 64 67 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 der ridge that h
36f00 65 72 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6b 6e 6f 63 er knuckles knoc
36f10 6b 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ked across, but
36f20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 she headed insid
36f30 65 2e 20 20 42 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 e. Beyond the s
36f40 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6e 6f 6c 65 75 6d 20 65 6e mall linoleum en
36f50 74 72 79 77 61 79 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 tryway a living
36f60 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 61 74 74 65 72 room with patter
36f70 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 ns of staining a
36f80 6e 64 20 66 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 61 nd fading overla
36f90 70 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 74 pping so much it
36fa0 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 was difficult t
36fb0 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 o determine what
36fc0 20 73 68 61 64 65 20 6f 66 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 shade of brown
36fd0 77 61 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 was original ope
36fe0 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 77 6f 6f ned up. Its woo
36ff0 64 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 d panel walls we
37000 72 65 20 77 61 72 70 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 re warped with a
37010 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e ge. There was n
37020 6f 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 o furniture in t
37030 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 he room, but the
37040 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 re were rectangu
37050 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 lar spots on the
37060 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 61 69 6c walls with nail
37070 20 68 6f 6c 65 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f holes at the to
37080 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 20 6c 69 p that were a li
37090 67 68 74 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 ghter off white
370a0 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 than the rest of
370b0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 the wall surfac
370c0 65 73 2e 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 es. From where
370d0 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 2c 20 73 she now stood, s
370e0 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 69 6e 74 he could see int
370f0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f o the dining roo
37100 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6c m, though the sl
37110 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 iding glass door
37120 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 65 s in the back se
37130 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 emed to be cover
37140 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 69 6c 2e 20 20 54 ed with foil. T
37150 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 he only signific
37160 61 6e 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 ant light came t
37170 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 hrough the open
37180 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 front door and f
37190 72 6f 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 77 69 74 ront windows wit
371a0 68 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 h blinds angled
371b0 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c upward so that l
371c0 69 67 68 74 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 73 74 72 69 70 ight dimly strip
371d0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a ed the ceiling..
371e0 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 .Smuggler follow
371f0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 ed her and close
37200 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e d the door behin
37210 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 d them. "You ne
37220 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 ed to get into t
37230 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 he hot zone and
37240 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6f 66 want to avoid of
37250 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e ficial attention
37260 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ." He did somet
37270 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c hing with his gl
37280 6f 76 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c oved right hand,
37290 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 70 69 6c 6c and light spill
372a0 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 4c 45 44 73 20 6f 6e 20 ed from LEDs on
372b0 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 48 his knuckles. H
372c0 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 69 6d 65 e kept them aime
372d0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 65 d at the carpete
372e0 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 20 73 d floor nearby s
372f0 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 72 65 61 o that they crea
37300 74 65 64 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 70 6f 74 73 ted bright spots
37310 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 75 on the floor bu
37320 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 79 20 67 6c t a secondary gl
37330 6f 77 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 ow made it possi
37340 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 ble to make out
37350 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the edges of the
37360 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 walls a bit bet
37370 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 ter..."Yeah," sh
37380 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f e said. "Can yo
37390 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 u take me throug
373a0 68 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 3f 20 20 49 6e 20 h, somehow? In
373b0 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e and back, I mean
373c0 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 ."..He nodded.
373d0 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a "Yes, I could.".
373e0 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ."How much would
373f0 20 49 20 6f 77 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 69 I owe you for i
37400 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 t?".."Are you of
37410 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 6d 65 fering to pay me
37420 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 to take you to
37430 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 3f 22 the other side?"
37440 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 he asked...She
37450 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 nodded. "Yeah,
37460 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 6e I guess so. Isn
37470 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 69 73 't that how this
37480 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 72 6d 61 works?".."Norma
37490 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 lly," he said, "
374a0 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 but I'm not taki
374b0 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a ng your money.".
374c0 0a 22 57 68 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 ."Why won't you
374d0 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 3f take me through?
374e0 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 Do you think I
374f0 27 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 'm a cop or some
37500 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f thing like that?
37510 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e "..After a momen
37520 74 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 t's hesitation,
37530 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 he shook his hea
37540 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 d. "I didn't sa
37550 79 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 61 6b y I wouldn't tak
37560 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 7a e you into the z
37570 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 one. I just sai
37580 64 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 d I'm not taking
37590 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 your money.".."
375a0 57 68 79 20 6e 6f 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 Why not?" she as
375b0 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e 61 ked, her eyes na
375c0 72 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 rrowing..."Let's
375d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e just say, for n
375e0 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 ow, that the fir
375f0 73 74 20 68 69 74 27 73 20 66 72 65 65 2e 22 0a st hit's free.".
37600 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 73 74 72 ."That seems str
37610 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 ange, like there
37620 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 64 64 's something add
37630 69 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 ictive about get
37640 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 ting past the ba
37650 72 72 69 63 61 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 rricades."..He s
37660 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 hrugged again.
37670 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 66 69 6e "Some people fin
37680 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 d the hot zone a
37690 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c ddictive, to tel
376a0 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e 20 20 53 6f l the truth. So
376b0 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 69 6e 64 20 me of them find
376c0 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 their way to the
376d0 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 cold zone, and
376e0 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 that's often an
376f0 65 76 65 6e 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 64 even stronger ad
37700 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 diction. /* May
37710 62 65 20 49 27 6d 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 65 64 20 be I'm addicted
37720 74 6f 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e to both of them.
37730 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 I'm not sure.
37740 2a 2f 20 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 */ ".."What's a
37750 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 cold zone?".."Ma
37760 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 ybe you'll find
37770 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 22 20 68 out some day," h
37780 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 e said. "It's a
37790 6e 20 61 72 65 61 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 n area you can't
377a0 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 reach without g
377b0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 oing through the
377c0 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68 hot zone, or th
377d0 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 rough the corpor
377e0 61 74 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 4c 41 ate center of LA
377f0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 64 6f . The police do
37800 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 74 n't even go in t
37810 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 here. Most of t
37820 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 he world doesn't
37830 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 73 2e know it exists.
37840 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 You definitely
37850 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 don't want to g
37860 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2c 20 74 o there today, t
37870 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 hough, if you've
37880 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 65 61 72 never even hear
37890 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 d of it."..She s
378a0 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
378b0 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 "No, it doesn't
378c0 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 27 sound like that'
378d0 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 s where I want t
378e0 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64 o be.".."Where d
378f0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 o you want to be
37900 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 ?"..She shrugged
37910 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 43 6f 6c 6f 72 61 . "Maybe Colora
37920 64 6f 20 6f 72 20 4e 65 77 20 48 61 6d 70 73 68 do or New Hampsh
37930 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ire.".."Are you
37940 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 53 ready to go?"..S
37950 68 65 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f he patted her po
37960 63 6b 65 74 73 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 ckets, checking
37970 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 77 69 74 what she had wit
37980 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 h her, then nodd
37990 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 ed. "Yeah, I gu
379a0 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 65 70 20 ess so.".."Step
379b0 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 into my pantry,
379c0 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 69 64 65 72 20 said the spider
379d0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 79 2e 22 20 20 48 65 to the fly." He
379e0 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 brushed past he
379f0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 74 r and headed int
37a00 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a o the kitchen...
37a10 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 68 65 She followed, he
37a20 72 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 74 65 6e 74 61 74 69 76 r steps tentativ
37a30 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 e, and looked ar
37a40 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 ound with eyes w
37a50 69 64 65 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 ide, trying to t
37a60 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 ake in every det
37a70 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 ail of this old
37a80 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 68 61 6c 6c 77 61 house. A hallwa
37a90 79 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e y disappeared in
37aa0 74 6f 20 64 65 65 70 65 72 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 to deeper darkne
37ab0 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6a ss to her left j
37ac0 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 61 ust before she a
37ad0 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 74 6f ngled right into
37ae0 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d the dining room
37af0 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f near the back o
37b00 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 f the house. A
37b10 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 6c few more steps l
37b20 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 ed her to where
37b30 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 6f 70 65 6e the kitchen open
37b40 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 ed to the left,
37b50 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 53 6d 75 67 and she saw Smug
37b60 67 6c 65 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 gler opening a p
37b70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 72 75 65 antry door, true
37b80 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 48 to his word...H
37b90 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 e reached in and
37ba0 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 77 65 65 70 20 with the sweep
37bb0 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 of his glove lig
37bc0 68 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 6c hts she saw shel
37bd0 76 65 73 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 ves stocked with
37be0 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 64 72 79 20 67 6f 6f ancient dry goo
37bf0 64 73 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 62 72 6f ds. A click bro
37c00 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 66 6c 6f 6f 64 20 ught up a flood
37c10 6f 66 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 6c 69 67 68 of brighter ligh
37c20 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 t as the back wa
37c30 6c 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c ll shifted away,
37c40 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e 61 72 revealing a nar
37c50 72 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 row hole in the
37c60 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6c floor beaming il
37c70 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 77 61 72 lumination towar
37c80 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 d the ceiling of
37c90 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2e 20 20 22 41 the pantry. "A
37ca0 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 fter you," he sa
37cb0 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 id, and stepped
37cc0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 out of the pantr
37cd0 79 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 72 6f y to give her ro
37ce0 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 63 om...She moved c
37cf0 6c 6f 73 65 72 2c 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 77 61 72 loser, steps war
37d00 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f y, and leaned to
37d10 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 look down the h
37d20 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 ole. She saw a
37d30 73 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 62 6f 6c steel ladder bol
37d40 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 ted to the concr
37d50 65 74 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ete side of the
37d60 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 68 6f 6c 65 rectangular hole
37d70 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 77 61 72 leading downwar
37d80 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 d. She looked b
37d90 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2c ack at Smuggler,
37da0 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f who nodded, tho
37db0 75 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 ugh she did not
37dc0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d know what that m
37dd0 65 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c eant. Another l
37de0 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 74 69 ook confirmed ti
37df0 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 wasn't a very d
37e00 65 65 70 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 eep hole, maybe
37e10 74 65 6e 20 66 65 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 ten feet, and it
37e20 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 66 74 looked like aft
37e30 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 er a couple of t
37e40 68 6f 73 65 20 66 65 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 hose feet one si
37e50 64 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 74 de opened up int
37e60 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e o a larger room.
37e70 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 2f 2a 20 73 61 74 20 64 ..Alley /* sat d
37e80 6f 77 6e 20 2a 2f 20 67 6f 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 own */ got down
37e90 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 65 on hands and kne
37ea0 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 es and carefully
37eb0 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 backed over the
37ec0 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c edge onto the l
37ed0 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6c 69 6d adder, then clim
37ee0 62 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b bed down. She k
37ef0 65 70 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e ept looking down
37f00 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 66 at the rising f
37f10 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 loor, over her s
37f20 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 houlder, and she
37f30 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 saw that it was
37f40 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6c 69 74 20 63 68 61 6d a well lit cham
37f50 62 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 77 69 64 ber about as wid
37f60 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6c e as it was tall
37f70 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 , more than enou
37f80 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 76 gh for someone v
37f90 65 72 79 20 74 61 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 ery tall to lie
37fa0 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 74 down but not wit
37fb0 68 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 h a lot of room
37fc0 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 left over...She
37fd0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 looked up to see
37fe0 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e Smuggler lookin
37ff0 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 g down, then he
38000 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 77 65 rotated and lowe
38010 72 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 red a foot to th
38020 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c e ladder. She l
38030 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ooked away from
38040 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 him, hopped the
38050 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f last foot or two
38060 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f down to the flo
38070 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 or, and stepped
38080 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 away from the la
38090 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 dder. A single
380a0 4c 45 44 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 69 LED lighting uni
380b0 74 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 t mounted on the
380c0 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 64 65 64 ceiling flooded
380d0 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 68 61 6d 62 the small chamb
380e0 65 72 20 69 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 6c 69 67 er in bright lig
380f0 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 ht, and a door s
38100 74 6f 6f 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 tood closed at t
38110 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 he other end of
38120 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 57 68 69 6c 65 the room...While
38130 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e Smuggler descen
38140 64 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 ded, she heard a
38150 20 73 6f 66 74 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 soft brushing s
38160 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ound and looked
38170 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 up to see the ap
38180 65 72 74 75 72 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f erture at the to
38190 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 p of the ladder
381a0 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 closing. When h
381b0 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f e reached the bo
381c0 74 74 6f 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 ttom, he turned
381d0 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 without a word t
381e0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 41 73 20 o the door. As
381f0 68 65 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 he touched the h
38200 61 6e 64 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 andle, the light
38210 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2c 20 70 6c 75 6e 67 vanished, plung
38220 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 61 ing them into da
38230 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f rkness apart fro
38240 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 m the lights on
38250 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 Smuggler's glove
38260 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 ..."I still have
38270 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f contact with yo
38280 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 u," the prioriti
38290 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 zer said...She s
382a0 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 6c hook her head sl
382b0 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 ightly, not want
382c0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 61 6c 6f ing to speak alo
382d0 75 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ud to the priori
382e0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f tizer in front o
382f0 66 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 f Smuggler..."It
38300 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 78 must be your Ax
38310 69 6f 6d 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 iom establishing
38320 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 72 connections thr
38330 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f ough some kind o
38340 66 20 6d 65 73 68 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 64 f mesh network d
38350 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 own here. I do
38360 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 not have access
38370 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 to check it, so
38380 49 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d I cannot confirm
38390 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 this is the cas
383a0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f e."..Alley follo
383b0 77 65 64 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 74 wed Smuggler int
383c0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 o the dark tunne
383d0 6c 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 l beyond the hea
383e0 76 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 vy door, which s
383f0 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 62 65 68 oftly closed beh
38400 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 ind them on its
38410 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f own. After a co
38420 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 uple minutes of
38430 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 71 75 69 walking, she qui
38440 65 74 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 etly asked "How
38450 66 61 72 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 far is it?" The
38460 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 6f sound seemed lo
38470 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f uder than it sho
38480 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 2c 20 61 uld have been, a
38490 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 71 75 fter the deep qu
384a0 69 65 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 iet of nothing b
384b0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 ut the echoes of
384c0 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d their own movem
384d0 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 ents, and she ne
384e0 61 72 6c 79 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 69 6e arly stumbled in
384f0 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 surprise..."It'
38500 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 s about a ten mi
38510 6e 75 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 nute walk," he s
38520 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 62 65 63 aid, "mostly bec
38530 61 75 73 65 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ause we need to
38540 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 move slowly.".."
38550 57 68 79 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 3f 20 20 49 74 20 Why slowly? It
38560 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 61 looks straight a
38570 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 s far as I can s
38580 65 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 75 62 74 20 ee, and I doubt
38590 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 anyone would hea
385a0 72 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 r us."..She saw
385b0 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 61 6b 65 2c 20 his head shake,
385c0 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 silhouetted agai
385d0 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 nst the glow of
385e0 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 his glove lights
385f0 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 ahead of him.
38600 48 69 73 20 73 74 72 69 64 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e His stride did n
38610 6f 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 ot change. "If
38620 77 65 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 73 74 2c 20 we go too fast,
38630 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6c we'll set off al
38640 61 72 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 arms. It's the
38650 62 65 73 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 best way to make
38660 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 sure the alarms
38670 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 65 will go off whe
38680 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 n someone's on t
38690 68 65 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 he run, but it's
386a0 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 not the only wa
386b0 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 63 61 6e y the alarms can
386c0 20 62 65 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 65 64 2e 22 0a be triggered.".
386d0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 20 69 ."What happens i
386e0 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 3f f alarms go off?
386f0 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 63 ".."A lot of exc
38700 69 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 22 20 68 65 iting stuff," he
38710 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 said, "ending w
38720 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 ith this tunnel
38730 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 not being availa
38740 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 ble to run the b
38750 6c 6f 63 6b 61 64 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 lockade any more
38760 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 .".."Oh." She w
38770 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 alked in silence
38780 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 73 20 74 behind him as t
38790 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 he passage took
387a0 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e some turns, then
387b0 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 finally asked "
387c0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 I guess Smuggler
387d0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 probably isn't
387e0 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d actually the nam
387f0 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 73 20 67 e your parents g
38800 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 ave you.".."No,"
38810 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 he said, withou
38820 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 t looking back.
38830 20 22 49 20 69 6e 68 65 72 69 74 65 64 20 69 74 "I inherited it
38840 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 .".."Are you say
38850 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ing that's your
38860 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 family name?".."
38870 4e 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 No. The previou
38880 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 72 65 74 69 72 s Smuggler retir
38890 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e ed from this kin
388a0 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 d of thing and p
388b0 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f assed the name o
388c0 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 n to me, like th
388d0 65 20 44 72 65 61 64 20 50 69 72 61 74 65 20 52 e Dread Pirate R
388e0 6f 62 65 72 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 6f oberts.".."I tho
388f0 75 67 68 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 ught all that st
38900 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 uff about the Si
38910 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 67 75 79 20 77 61 73 20 lk Road guy was
38920 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d supposed to be m
38930 61 64 65 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e ade up.".."I don
38940 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 't know," Smuggl
38950 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6e 65 76 er said. "I nev
38960 65 72 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 74 er met him. I t
38970 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 hink a predecess
38980 6f 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 or with the name
38990 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 Smuggler might
389a0 68 61 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 41 have, though. A
389b0 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c nyway, I was tal
389c0 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 king about the c
389d0 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 haracter from th
389e0 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 e Princess Bride
389f0 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 , not the Silk R
38a00 6f 61 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 oad founder.".."
38a10 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 Oh. I've never
38a20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 read the Princes
38a30 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 65 69 74 s Bride.".."Neit
38a40 68 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 49 2c 22 20 49 20 73 her have I," I s
38a50 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 aid, "but my pre
38a60 64 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 decessor and I w
38a70 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 atched the movie
38a80 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 together a coup
38a90 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 66 le times.".."I f
38aa0 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 orgot that was a
38ab0 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 movie," she sai
38ac0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 d..."You make me
38ad0 20 73 61 64 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 sad," Smuggler
38ae0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 61 69 said...Alley fai
38af0 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 61 led to produce a
38b00 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 n answer, and re
38b10 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 75 6e mained silent un
38b20 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 til they reached
38b30 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 2e 0a the other end..
38b40 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 .Smuggler climbe
38b50 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 d another steel
38b60 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 67 72 ladder, and a gr
38b70 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 20 65 63 68 inding noise ech
38b80 6f 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 6e oed down the tun
38b90 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 nel. He disappe
38ba0 61 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 65 77 20 61 ared from view a
38bb0 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 77 bove, though now
38bc0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 66 74 20 there was soft
38bd0 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 light filtering
38be0 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 down through the
38bf0 20 65 78 69 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 exit at the top
38c00 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 of the ladder.
38c10 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 61 20 She followed a
38c20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 72 69 moment later, ri
38c30 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c sing into what l
38c40 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c ooked like an ol
38c50 64 20 76 61 75 6c 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 64 d vault with ind
38c60 69 72 65 63 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6c 69 67 68 irect track ligh
38c70 74 69 6e 67 20 73 75 73 70 65 6e 64 65 64 20 66 ting suspended f
38c80 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e rom the ceiling.
38c90 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f .."What is this?
38ca0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f " she asked, loo
38cb0 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 king around at s
38cc0 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 62 61 72 72 65 6e 20 65 78 helves barren ex
38cd0 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 cept for a few s
38ce0 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 66 61 63 74 6f 72 mall form factor
38cf0 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 computers sitti
38d00 6e 67 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 70 6c 75 ng silently, plu
38d10 73 20 79 61 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 74 77 6f s yards of netwo
38d20 72 6b 20 63 61 62 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 73 rk cabling. "Is
38d30 20 69 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 61 6e 6b 3f it an old bank?
38d40 22 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 "..Smuggler said
38d50 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 "No, it's the a
38d60 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 bandoned home of
38d70 20 61 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 a guy who made
38d80 61 20 66 6f 72 74 75 6e 65 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 66 a fortune off of
38d90 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 early internet
38da0 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 72 6f corporations aro
38db0 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 und the turn of
38dc0 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 6c 65 6e 6e 69 75 6d 2c 20 the millennium,
38dd0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 and had just dec
38de0 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 68 69 73 ided to move his
38df0 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 62 65 money around be
38e00 66 6f 72 65 20 61 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 63 72 fore a market cr
38e10 61 73 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6a 75 ash. He died ju
38e20 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 72 69 6f 74 73 20 st before riots
38e30 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 started tearing
38e40 75 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 up this part of
38e50 4c 41 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 61 6c LA, before it al
38e60 6c 20 67 6f 74 20 73 68 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e l got shut down.
38e70 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 ".."What about h
38e80 69 73 20 68 65 69 72 73 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 is heirs?" Alle
38e90 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 y stepped past a
38ea0 20 63 6f 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c cot and a small
38eb0 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 folding table w
38ec0 69 74 68 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 63 68 61 69 ith folding chai
38ed0 72 73 20 6e 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 rs near it. She
38ee0 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 65 noted the prese
38ef0 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 66 72 69 nce of a bar fri
38f00 64 67 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 dge against one
38f10 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 wall, and wonder
38f20 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 ed how they got
38f30 70 6f 77 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 power for this p
38f40 6c 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 lace...He shrugg
38f50 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 69 ed. "I guess, i
38f60 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 79 2c 20 74 68 f he had any, th
38f70 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 63 ey never tried c
38f80 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 oming back. Mos
38f90 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 69 t of the house i
38fa0 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 s gone, anyway,
38fb0 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 so they probably
38fc0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 thought there w
38fd0 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 asn't anything e
38fe0 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b lse to come back
38ff0 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 and get. If I
39000 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c was them, I woul
39010 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 69 6c 65 d have just file
39020 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 75 72 61 6e d for an insuran
39030 63 65 20 70 61 79 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 ce pay out.".."Y
39040 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 eah, I guess," s
39050 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 6e 73 75 72 he said..."Insur
39060 61 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 6f ance investigato
39070 72 73 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e rs stopped comin
39080 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a g into the hot z
39090 6f 6e 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 20 one a long time
390a0 61 67 6f 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 ago," Smuggler s
390b0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 aid...He flipped
390c0 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 70 6c open a steel pl
390d0 61 74 65 20 73 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ate set into the
390e0 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 69 wall, like a mi
390f0 6e 69 61 74 75 72 65 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 64 6f niature metal do
39100 6f 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 or with a handle
39110 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 69 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 just big enough
39120 20 74 6f 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 67 72 61 73 70 to firmly grasp
39130 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 66 with a gloved f
39140 69 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 2e inger and thumb.
39150 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 He did somethi
39160 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 66 69 6e 67 ng with his fing
39170 65 72 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 67 ers, but the ang
39180 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 le of the little
39190 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 64 20 68 door obscured h
391a0 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 er view. A mome
391b0 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 20 6c 6f 75 64 nt later, a loud
391c0 20 74 68 75 6e 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 thunk from the
391d0 64 6f 6f 72 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 door echoed agai
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39240 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 Smuggler flipped
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39260 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 door closed aga
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39350 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 72 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 66 20 Alley drops off
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39390 69 6e 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f in Stater. */../
393a0 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 63 *.. Alley's c
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393c0 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 trouble, and sh
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39410 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 to look at it.
39420 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 20 73 68 The mechanic sh
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39450 20 22 54 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 73 65 63 6f "These old seco
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39530 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 20 20 54 68 75 s, though." Thu
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39550 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 61 itting around wa
39560 69 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 iting. Maybe sh
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39580 66 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 fast food while
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395a0 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 65 72 ..---..Alley ter
395b0 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c minated the call
395c0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f . "I have to go
395d0 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 home, but they'
395e0 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 re still working
395f0 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 on my car," she
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39630 68 61 6e 69 63 73 27 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 hanics' garage.
39640 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 61 "I'll call up a
39650 20 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c 22 ride.".."Wait,"
39660 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
39670 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 said..."Why? W
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39690 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e ".."I will arran
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39760 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 point. "Maybe
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39790 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 49 27 " she says. "I'
397a0 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 72 ll just get ther
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397d0 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c study.".."I will
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397f0 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 for you," the pr
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39810 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 74 "You should ret
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39880 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 too.".."Why? W
39890 68 61 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 hat good would t
398a0 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 hat do me?" she
398b0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 asked..."If you
398c0 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 have to run, you
398d0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 68 61 should have wha
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39900 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 o not have to ru
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39920 75 72 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 urt you to have
39930 74 68 61 74 20 67 65 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 that gear with y
39940 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 ou.".."Fine," sh
39950 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 e said. "I'll g
39960 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 et it. Why the
39970 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 6f riding gear, tho
39980 75 67 68 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 ugh?" She stood
39990 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 and headed for
399a0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 the counter..."I
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399c0 72 79 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d ry, by wearing m
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399e0 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 ou may need to r
399f0 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ide a motorcycle
39a00 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 soon.".."Is the
39a10 20 72 69 64 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c ride you're cal
39a20 6c 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ling going to be
39a30 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a a motorcycle?".
39a40 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 ."I am checking
39a50 66 6f 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 for availability
39a60 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 . I do not know
39a70 20 79 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 yet."..Alley sh
39a80 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c rugged to hersel
39a90 66 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 f and looked at
39aa0 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 the guy behind t
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39ac0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 she said, raisi
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39ae0 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 2e ugh to be heard.
39af0 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d "Can I get som
39b00 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 e things out of
39b10 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 the trunk of my
39b20 63 61 72 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 car?"..He looked
39b30 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 77 at her, and dow
39b40 6e 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 69 6e n at a tablet in
39b50 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 front of him.
39b60 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 77 68 65 74 "I'll check whet
39b70 68 65 72 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 her it's on the
39b80 6c 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 lift. If not, s
39b90 75 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f ure, you can pro
39ba0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 bably get whatev
39bb0 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 er you need.".."
39bc0 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 Thanks," she sai
39bd0 64 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 d...Eight minute
39be0 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 s later, she sat
39bf0 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 69 6e 20 66 on a bench in f
39c00 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 ront of the shop
39c10 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 77 's glass wall, w
39c20 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 6f 72 earing her armor
39c30 65 64 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f ed jacket and bo
39c40 6f 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 ots, the gloves
39c50 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6f 63 in her cargo poc
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39c70 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 70 61 nd the riding pa
39c80 6e 74 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e nts rolled up an
39c90 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 d strapped to he
39ca0 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 r bag. She star
39cb0 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 ed at the video
39cc0 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c playing in the l
39cd0 65 6e 73 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 enses of her gla
39ce0 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 53 65 sses. Men in Se
39cf0 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6a 61 63 cret Service jac
39d00 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 kets and tactica
39d10 6c 20 67 65 61 72 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 l gear stormed h
39d20 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e er home, breakin
39d30 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 g in the front d
39d40 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 oor, as two peop
39d50 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 le in black suit
39d60 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 s stood outside
39d70 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c on the sidewalk,
39d80 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 watching. One
39d90 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 was a woman with
39da0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 69 72 20 73 74 72 65 61 long hair strea
39db0 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 79 2c 20 61 ked with grey, a
39dc0 6e 64 20 62 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 61 6c nd both wore bal
39dd0 6c 20 63 61 70 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 l caps. When th
39de0 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 ey looked at eac
39df0 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b h other to speak
39e00 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 , she recognized
39e10 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e them as Cole an
39e20 64 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a d his partner...
39e30 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6a 61 77 20 77 61 73 20 Alley's jaw was
39e40 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 clenched so tigh
39e50 74 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 75 72 74 tly that it hurt
39e60 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 . The point of
39e70 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e view of the scen
39e80 65 20 64 72 69 66 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 e drifted past,
39e90 61 6e 64 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 and Cole looked
39ea0 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 toward the camer
39eb0 61 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 a for a moment,
39ec0 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 then looked away
39ed0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 again like it d
39ee0 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 id not matter.
39ef0 54 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 The front of his
39f00 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 20 black ball cap
39f10 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 sported the burg
39f20 75 6e 64 79 20 73 74 79 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 63 6f undy stylized co
39f30 69 6e 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 in logo of COIN
39f40 43 6f 72 70 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 Corp...Her hands
39f50 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 trembled..."I h
39f60 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 ave a plan," the
39f70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
39f80 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 d. "I will get
39f90 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 you away from he
39fa0 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 re. That is the
39fb0 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 first thing we
39fc0 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 must do, before
39fd0 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 79 6f someone finds yo
39fe0 75 72 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e ur vehicle here.
39ff0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 79 You cannot pay
3a000 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 65 70 61 69 for these repai
3a010 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 61 73 68 20 79 6f 75 rs with cash you
3a020 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 have on you rig
3a030 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 79 69 ht now, and payi
3a040 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 77 ng with credit w
3a050 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 74 ould almost cert
3a060 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 20 61 6c ainly trigger al
3a070 65 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 erts for the COI
3a080 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 N Corp agents.
3a090 57 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 We must get you
3a0a0 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 away, and arrang
3a0b0 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c e for someone el
3a0c0 73 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 68 se to pick up th
3a0d0 65 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 e car.".."If the
3a0e0 79 27 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 y're looking for
3a0f0 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 79 my credit, they
3a100 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 'll look for my
3a110 63 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 car, too," she s
3a120 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f aid..."The perso
3a130 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 70 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 n who pays for t
3a140 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 he car will hand
3a150 6c 65 20 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f le it," the prio
3a160 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ritizer said. "
3a170 49 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 66 It can be sold f
3a180 6f 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 or parts so that
3a190 20 69 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 it never shows
3a1a0 75 70 20 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 up as a register
3a1b0 65 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e ed vehicle again
3a1c0 2e 20 20 4d 69 6e 75 73 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c . Minus a handl
3a1d0 69 6e 67 20 66 65 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e ing fee, the mon
3a1e0 65 79 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 ey will be forwa
3a1f0 72 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 59 6f rded to you. Yo
3a200 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 u will have to a
3a210 63 71 75 69 72 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 cquire new trans
3a220 70 6f 72 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 portation, but I
3a230 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 can help you wi
3a240 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e th that as well.
3a250 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Okay," she s
3a260 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f aid. "Why do yo
3a270 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 u seem like you'
3a280 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 66 ve done this bef
3a290 6f 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e ore?".."I have n
3a2a0 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ot," the priorit
3a2b0 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 izer said. "I h
3a2c0 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 ave been conside
3a2d0 72 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 ring ideas for h
3a2e0 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 ow to handle thi
3a2f0 73 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 s moment when it
3a300 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a came, though.".
3a310 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 .Alley frowned.
3a320 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e "Maybe they don
3a330 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 2e 't even want me.
3a340 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f They went into
3a350 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 my place when I
3a360 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 wasn't even the
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3a930 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 ."Yes.".."Of cou
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3b4a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 he said, "but I
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3b4c0 65 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 e're going to ge
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3b4e0 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 61 62 73 20 75 73 75 ot like cabs usu
3b4f0 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 ally take cash t
3b500 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 hese days, and t
3b510 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6d hey all have cam
3b520 65 72 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f eras in them, so
3b530 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e I would just en
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3b550 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 72 69 or the whole tri
3b560 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 p.".."Can you st
3b570 69 6c 6c 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 ill ride a motor
3b580 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 cycle?".."Yeah,
3b590 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 I should be able
3b5a0 20 74 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 75 72 72 6f to." She furro
3b5b0 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 wed her brow. "
3b5c0 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c Why?".."We shoul
3b5d0 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 d check online c
3b5e0 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 lassifieds for p
3b5f0 72 69 76 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 73 61 6c rivate party sal
3b600 65 2c 20 6c 6f 77 20 70 72 69 63 65 2c 20 77 6f e, low price, wo
3b610 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 rking motorcycle
3b620 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 s that can be pu
3b630 72 63 68 61 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 rchased in eithe
3b640 72 20 63 61 73 68 20 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f r cash or crypto
3b650 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 75 6e 69 74 73 2e 22 currency units."
3b660 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 .."Oh, yeah. I
3b670 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 guess a motorcyc
3b680 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 le would even be
3b690 20 63 68 65 61 70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 cheaper than a
3b6a0 6a 75 6e 6b 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 junker car."..Sh
3b6b0 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 e pulled out her
3b6c0 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 Axiom and woke
3b6d0 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e the device, then
3b6e0 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f hesitated..."Ho
3b6f0 77 20 61 6d 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e w am I even goin
3b700 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 g to get the mot
3b710 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 orcycle? I can'
3b720 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d t get to it from
3b730 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c here.".."I will
3b740 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 arrange somethi
3b750 6e 67 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ng," the priorit
3b760 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 izer said. "It
3b770 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f will probably co
3b780 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 74 6f 20 st you extra to
3b790 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 66 65 6c do so, but a fel
3b7a0 6c 6f 77 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 low study partic
3b7b0 69 70 61 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 70 70 72 6f ipant with appro
3b7c0 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 6d 61 priate skills ma
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3b7e0 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 facilitate your
3b7f0 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 transaction.".."
3b800 57 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 Wouldn't that me
3b810 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 an the whole thi
3b820 6e 67 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 63 6f ng will get reco
3b830 72 64 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 72 65 64 20 rded and stored
3b840 69 6e 20 6c 6f 67 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f in logs, though?
3b850 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 ".."No. I will
3b860 61 6c 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 alter logs and r
3b870 65 6d 6f 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e emove all eviden
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3b8a0 61 6e 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 ance from storag
3b8b0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 e.".."Okay, I gu
3b8c0 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e ess that's fine.
3b8d0 22 0a 0a 22 42 79 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 ".."By my estima
3b8e0 74 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 te, the risk of
3b8f0 74 68 69 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e this transaction
3b900 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 for you should
3b910 62 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 be less than the
3b920 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 64 61 typical road da
3b930 6e 67 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 ngers of driving
3b940 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e a motorcycle in
3b950 20 61 66 74 65 72 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 66 66 afternoon traff
3b960 69 63 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 ic from here to
3b970 61 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 a seller in most
3b980 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 parts of Rivers
3b990 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 ide.".."I guess
3b9a0 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 69 6e that's comfortin
3b9b0 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 g," she said. "
3b9c0 52 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 Riding a motorcy
3b9d0 63 6c 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 cle is more dang
3b9e0 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e erous than makin
3b9f0 67 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 g a deal with a
3ba00 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 middleman when t
3ba10 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 he Men In Black
3ba20 61 72 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a are after me."..
3ba30 22 54 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d "The same statem
3ba40 65 6e 74 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 ent is accurate
3ba50 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 20 63 if you drive a c
3ba60 61 72 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f ar, as well, tho
3ba70 75 67 68 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 73 ugh statistics s
3ba80 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 uggest the dange
3ba90 72 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 r of driving a c
3baa0 61 72 20 69 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c ar is slightly l
3bab0 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 ess than that of
3bac0 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 riding a motorc
3bad0 79 63 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 ycle.".."Yeah, t
3bae0 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 hanks for cleari
3baf0 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 6d ng that up for m
3bb00 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 e," Alley said.
3bb10 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f "Let's start lo
3bb20 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 oking at motorcy
3bb30 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 57 68 cles, then."..Wh
3bb40 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 en she selected
3bb50 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 a custom modific
3bb60 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 31 39 39 30 73 ation of a 1990s
3bb70 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 motorcycle clos
3bb80 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 er to her father
3bb90 27 73 20 61 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 's age than her
3bba0 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 own, the priorit
3bbb0 69 7a 65 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 izer told her it
3bbc0 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e had a middleman
3bbd0 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 ready to go. I
3bbe0 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 65 6e 74 t was only twent
3bbf0 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 y minutes later
3bc00 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 that it told her
3bc10 20 2f 2a 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 64 69 67 69 /* about a digi
3bc20 74 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 74 6c 65 67 20 73 61 66 65 tal bootleg safe
3bc30 74 79 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 77 ty upgrade. */ w
3bc40 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 hat the middlema
3bc50 6e 20 68 61 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 n had learned fr
3bc60 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a om the seller...
3bc70 22 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 27 "The motorcycle'
3bc80 73 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 73 s seller reports
3bc90 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 6e that it has a n
3bca0 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 umber of upgrade
3bcb0 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79 s. Most notably
3bcc0 2c 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 75 70 , it has been up
3bcd0 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 61 graded with an a
3bce0 6e 74 69 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 73 nti lock brake s
3bcf0 79 73 74 65 6d 20 68 65 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 ystem he fabrica
3bd00 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 ted in his home
3bd10 77 6f 72 6b 73 68 6f 70 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 workshop, using
3bd20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 reverse engineer
3bd30 65 64 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 73 70 65 63 ed physical spec
3bd40 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 ifications for p
3bd50 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 6d roduction afterm
3bd60 61 72 6b 65 74 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 75 70 67 72 arket brake upgr
3bd70 61 64 65 73 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 6e ades, using open
3bd80 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 source software
3bd90 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 to program the
3bda0 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 6e 27 74 system.".."Isn't
3bdb0 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 20 20 that illegal?
3bdc0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 I don't know if
3bdd0 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f I really need to
3bde0 20 70 69 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 pile more evide
3bdf0 6e 63 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 nce someone can
3be00 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6d 65 20 6f use against me o
3be10 6e 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 n top of what's
3be20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e already going on
3be30 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ," Alley said...
3be40 22 49 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 "It appears that
3be50 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the use of the
3be60 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 plans for the br
3be70 61 6b 65 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 akes is not ille
3be80 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 gal, and only th
3be90 65 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f e distribution o
3bea0 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 f the plans and
3beb0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the sale of the
3bec0 62 72 61 6b 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 brakes after the
3bed0 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 66 61 62 72 y have been fabr
3bee0 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 76 69 6f icated would vio
3bef0 6c 61 74 65 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 late copyright a
3bf00 6e 64 20 70 61 74 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 77 73 2e 20 nd patent laws.
3bf10 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 Because the pla
3bf20 6e 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c ns were evidentl
3bf30 79 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 y reverse engine
3bf40 65 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 75 ered, they are u
3bf50 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 72 nlikely to be pr
3bf60 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 63 6f 70 79 72 otected by copyr
3bf70 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 ight. As the re
3bf80 63 69 70 69 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d cipient of the m
3bf90 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 otorcycle, you s
3bfa0 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6d 6d 75 6e 65 eem to be immune
3bfb0 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 73 to any legal is
3bfc0 73 75 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 20 61 72 sues that may ar
3bfd0 69 73 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 ise from this, a
3bfe0 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 73 20 6f nd the chances o
3bff0 66 20 64 65 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 f detection of t
3c000 68 65 20 63 72 69 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 he crime in this
3c010 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 case are statis
3c020 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 20 69 6e 73 69 67 6e 69 tically insigni
3c030 66 69 63 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c ficant.".."Yeah,
3c040 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 okay," she said
3c050 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 ..."When the mot
3c060 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 73 2c orcycle arrives,
3c070 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c you will be abl
3c080 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 e to pay the per
3c090 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 73 son who delivers
3c0a0 20 69 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 it directly in
3c0b0 53 74 61 74 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 69 73 20 69 Stater. He is i
3c0c0 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 63 71 nterested in acq
3c0d0 75 69 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 uiring the crypt
3c0e0 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 ocurrency as an
3c0f0 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 investment.".."D
3c100 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 id he use Stater
3c110 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 to buy the bike
3c120 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 61 64 ?".."No. He mad
3c130 65 20 61 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 e a cash transac
3c140 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 tion. For him,
3c150 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 69 72 this is an indir
3c160 65 63 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 ect way to buy a
3c170 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 cryptocurrency
3c180 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 without the purc
3c190 68 61 73 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b hase being track
3c1a0 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 ed and without d
3c1b0 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 ealing with less
3c1c0 20 74 72 75 73 74 77 6f 72 74 68 79 20 69 6e 64 trustworthy ind
3c1d0 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 61 ividuals who dea
3c1e0 6c 20 69 6e 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 l in cryptocurre
3c1f0 6e 63 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 ncies.".."Yeah,"
3c200 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 she said, "that
3c210 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 48 makes sense. H
3c220 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 ow much is this
3c230 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 6d 65 20 going to set me
3c240 62 61 63 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c back?".."You wil
3c250 6c 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 l profit from th
3c260 69 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 is transaction.
3c270 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 Another study p
3c280 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 70 69 63 6b 65 articipant picke
3c290 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 66 72 6f d up the car fro
3c2a0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 70 20 m the auto shop
3c2b0 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 and gave money t
3c2c0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 o the middleman
3c2d0 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 for the motorcyc
3c2e0 6c 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 74 le purchase, wit
3c2f0 68 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 h instructions t
3c300 6f 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 79 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 o convey whateve
3c310 72 20 63 61 73 68 20 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 r cash is left a
3c320 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 fter the purchas
3c330 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 e to you. While
3c340 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 you will have f
3c350 65 77 65 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 ewer Stater for
3c360 6e 6f 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 76 65 72 61 6c now, your overal
3c370 6c 20 6c 69 71 75 69 64 20 61 73 73 65 74 20 74 l liquid asset t
3c380 6f 74 61 6c 73 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 otals represent
3c390 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 69 greater purchasi
3c3a0 6e 67 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 66 ng power than if
3c3b0 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 the car had not
3c3c0 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 65 required mainte
3c3d0 6e 61 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 nance and you st
3c3e0 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 ill had it now."
3c3f0 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 67 65 .."Is someone ge
3c400 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 6f 76 tting screwed ov
3c410 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 er for this?" sh
3c420 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 e asked..."No.
3c430 45 76 65 72 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e Every participan
3c440 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 t in these trans
3c450 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 65 64 actions profited
3c460 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 from an opportu
3c470 6e 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 nity that would
3c480 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 not have existed
3c490 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 if you did not
3c4a0 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 20 need to acquire
3c4b0 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 6c 69 61 62 6c 65 20 61 6e more reliable an
3c4c0 64 20 6c 65 73 73 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 d less recogniza
3c4d0 62 6c 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 61 74 69 ble transportati
3c4e0 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e on.".."Hm. Than
3c4f0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 ks.".."You are w
3c500 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 72 elcome."..She br
3c510 75 73 68 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 67 72 61 76 65 ushed away grave
3c520 6c 6c 79 20 64 65 62 72 69 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6c lly debris to cl
3c530 65 61 72 20 61 20 73 70 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ear a spot on th
3c540 65 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 e ground, and sa
3c550 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 t on the cracked
3c560 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 6c 61 62 20 77 concrete slab w
3c570 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 ith her back aga
3c580 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 69 6e 64 65 72 20 inst the cinder
3c590 62 6c 6f 63 6b 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 block wall of th
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3c5b0 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 She looked at t
3c5c0 68 65 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 he chipped and d
3c5d0 69 6e 67 79 20 70 61 69 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ingy paint on th
3c5e0 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 e opposite wall
3c5f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 of the bay and s
3c600 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 70 61 74 74 earched for patt
3c610 65 72 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 73 erns in the mids
3c620 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 73 6c 6f 77 20 64 65 t of its slow de
3c630 63 61 79 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 74 74 cay...Alley mutt
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3c670 20 66 6f 72 20 77 61 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d for wasting tim
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3c6b0 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 She pulled the
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3c6d0 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 pocket and star
3c6e0 74 65 64 20 61 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 70 65 63 ted a circumspec
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3c760 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 d learn that the
3c770 20 41 20 54 65 61 6d 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 73 68 A Team movie sh
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3c790 73 20 61 67 6f 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 s ago was the th
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3c820 69 6e 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 ine motorcycle t
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3c860 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 ing, then coming
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3c960 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 n. She stepped
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3c980 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 62 69 67 nt and saw a big
3c990 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 figure slowly d
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3c9d0 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 the four cylind
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3c9f0 2a 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f * bought with mo
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3ca20 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 rom the classifi
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3ca50 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 helmet along wit
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3caa0 73 68 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 she immediately
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3cad0 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 20 6e 6f 74 by the curb not
3cae0 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 far away. She
3caf0 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 indicated the ca
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3cb20 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 46 72 69 65 6e 64 73 d asked "Friends
3cb30 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 61 of yours?".."Na
3cb40 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 h," he said. "I
3cb50 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2e t's just my car.
3cb60 20 20 54 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 70 69 6c 6f 74 20 The autopilot
3cb70 77 61 73 20 73 65 74 20 74 6f 20 61 75 74 6f 20 was set to auto
3cb80 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 61 70 70 follow." He app
3cb90 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e roached, his han
3cba0 64 73 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 73 2c ds at his sides,
3cbb0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 77 69 74 and stopped wit
3cbc0 68 20 61 6d 70 6c 65 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 h ample distance
3cbd0 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 between them.
3cbe0 22 54 68 65 20 6b 65 79 27 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 "The key's in th
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3cc00 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 27 73 20 75 6e 64 65 envelope's unde
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3cc30 6c 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 76 69 61 20 74 65 78 74 ld her, via text
3cc40 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c in her glasses,
3cc50 20 22 54 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 63 "The envelope c
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3cc70 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 63 61 73 68 20 66 72 6f 6d t over cash from
3cc80 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the sale of the
3cc90 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 car.".."Do you
3cca0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b know how to work
3ccb0 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 everything on a
3ccc0 20 62 69 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f bike like this?
3ccd0 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 " he asked...She
3cce0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 74 looked at it, t
3ccf0 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e hen back at him.
3cd00 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 "Yeah." She s
3cd10 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 topped herself f
3cd20 72 6f 6d 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 rom explaining h
3cd30 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 2c 20 72 65 69 ow she knew, rei
3cd40 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 66 6c ning in the refl
3cd50 65 78 20 2d 2d 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 6c 69 73 68 20 ex -- a foolish
3cd60 68 61 62 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 habit, in these
3cd70 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 0a 0a circumstances...
3cd80 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e "Cool," he said.
3cd90 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 "What about a
3cda0 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 helmet? You're
3cdb0 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 70 75 6c going to get pul
3cdc0 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 led over without
3cdd0 20 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 one.".."I have
3cde0 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 54 that covered. T
3cdf0 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 hanks.".."Sure."
3ce00 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 He looked her
3ce10 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 over. "You ever
3ce20 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 need any help w
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3ce50 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 55 73 20 62 69 6b 65 72 73 20 now. Us bikers
3ce60 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 gotta stick toge
3ce70 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c ther."..She smil
3ce80 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e ed. "Yeah, than
3ce90 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ks," she said.
3cea0 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 44 61 64 "You're what Dad
3ceb0 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 27 6f used to call 'o
3cec0 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6f ne of the good o
3ced0 6e 65 73 27 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a nes', I guess.".
3cee0 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 .He laughed. "I
3cef0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 68 f you say so," h
3cf00 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 e said. "I'll g
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3cf20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 can do whatever
3cf30 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 74 61 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 44 you gotta do. D
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3cf50 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e bout me, though.
3cf60 20 20 41 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f As far as anyo
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3cfd0 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e om here.".."Than
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3d030 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 is hand and drov
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3d070 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 for her to hear
3d080 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 68 65 65 6c 65 64 ...Alley wheeled
3d090 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 the bike into t
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3d0c0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 , then unlocked
3d0d0 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 66 the seat and lif
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3d0f0 20 6d 61 6e 69 6c 61 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 manila envelope
3d100 20 66 6f 6c 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 2e folded in half.
3d110 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 She had not se
3d120 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6c en an envelope l
3d130 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 ike that in over
3d140 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 fifteen years a
3d150 6e 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 70 69 63 nd, when she pic
3d160 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 6e 76 65 ked up this enve
3d170 6c 6f 70 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 5b 20 68 6f 77 20 lope, the [ how
3d180 64 6f 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 64 72 69 65 do ancient, drie
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3d1a0 65 6c 6f 70 65 73 20 66 65 65 6c 3f 20 5d 20 66 elopes feel? ] f
3d1b0 65 65 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 70 65 72 eel of the paper
3d1c0 20 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 made her think
3d1d0 74 68 69 73 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6d 75 this envelope mu
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3d1f0 74 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 75 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 ting unused in a
3d200 20 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 box in someone'
3d210 73 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 74 20 s garage for at
3d220 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e least that long.
3d230 0a 0a 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 ..A quick check
3d240 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 inside revealed
3d250 74 77 6f 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 73 two large stacks
3d260 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c of hundred doll
3d270 61 72 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 ar bills, bundle
3d280 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 d with silicone
3d290 63 61 62 6c 65 20 74 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 cable ties...She
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3d2c0 67 6f 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f go pocket, the o
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3d2e0 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 rs on the sides
3d2f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 64 20 of the bike and
3d300 6c 6f 61 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 20 loaded her gear
3d310 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 63 68 6f 72 65 into them, chore
3d320 6f 67 72 61 70 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b ographing an awk
3d330 77 61 72 64 2c 20 75 6e 73 79 63 68 72 6f 6e 69 ward, unsychroni
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3d350 6d 73 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 ms pulled out of
3d360 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 72 72 61 bags and rearra
3d370 6e 67 65 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 63 nged until she c
3d380 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 ould get enough
3d390 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 of what she had
3d3a0 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 79 20 62 into the alloy b
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3d3e0 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 the rest on her
3d3f0 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 back. She pulle
3d400 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 d on her riding
3d410 67 65 61 72 2c 20 68 65 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 gear, hefted the
3d420 20 62 61 63 6b 70 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 backpack on her
3d430 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e shoulders, then
3d440 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b pushed her mask
3d450 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f down as a bit o
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3d470 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 66 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 on from flying d
3d480 65 62 72 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 ebris for her ne
3d490 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 ck and donned th
3d4a0 65 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 e helmet...She s
3d4b0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 topped. "Shit,"
3d4c0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 she said. "Whe
3d4d0 72 65 20 61 6d 20 49 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 re am I going?
3d4e0 4d 61 79 62 65 20 61 20 67 61 73 20 73 74 61 74 Maybe a gas stat
3d4f0 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e ion. I don't kn
3d500 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 ow how full this
3d510 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 thing is." She
3d520 20 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 6e 6b rapped the tank
3d530 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 6c 6f once with a glo
3d540 76 65 64 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ved knuckle.".."
3d550 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 The other study
3d560 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 66 69 6c 6c participant fill
3d570 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a ed it for you.".
3d580 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f ."Oh.".."You sho
3d590 75 6c 64 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 uld leave this a
3d5a0 72 65 61 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 rea," the priori
3d5b0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 tizer said. "It
3d5c0 20 69 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 is best to be f
3d5d0 61 72 74 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 arther from wher
3d5e0 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 6e 64 20 e COIN Corp and
3d5f0 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 law enforcement
3d600 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 expect to find y
3d610 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 ou.".."That make
3d620 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 s sense, I guess
3d630 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 . Now I just ne
3d640 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 ed to figure out
3d650 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a where to go."..
3d660 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f "Perhaps you sho
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3d680 20 43 75 63 61 6d 6f 6e 67 61 2e 20 20 54 68 65 Cucamonga. The
3d690 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 distance seems
3d6a0 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 61 72 sufficiently far
3d6b0 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 20 74 68 65 to increase the
3d6c0 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c search difficul
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3d6e0 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 20 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 66 . Every mile of
3d6f0 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 79 69 65 6c 64 73 distance yields
3d700 20 65 78 70 6f 6e 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 63 exponential inc
3d710 72 65 61 73 65 73 20 69 6e 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 reases in search
3d720 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 2c 20 69 67 6e difficulty, ign
3d730 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 75 oring digital su
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3dfe0 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 . yeah. Yeah, i
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3e180 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 are you?"..She h
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3e230 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 alling..."Yeah."
3e240 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 53 She sighed. S
3e250 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 he had hoped it
3e260 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 would get easier
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3e420 0a 22 4e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 ."Never mind. T
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3e440 65 61 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 44 61 ea. Goodbye, Da
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3e500 70 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 p. No questions
3e510 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 66 ." He paused, f
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3e5f0 22 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ".."Look, I know
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3e730 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f I never meant to
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3e7a0 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 I'll stay as far
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3e800 4f 6b 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 Okay?"..She sque
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3e8e0 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b . "Yeah. Thank
3e8f0 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 s, Dalton. The
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3eaf0 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 61 72 6f She huddled aro
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3eb70 20 22 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 "I need a place
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3ec80 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c " he asked slowl
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3edf0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 " he said. "Whe
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3ee10 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 go? I guess you
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3ee30 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c home."..She hel
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3ee50 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 and stared at it
3ee60 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 for a long time
3ee70 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 . "What?".."Do
3ee80 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 you need me to p
3ee90 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 ick you up?" he
3eea0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f asked...She shoo
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3eec0 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 u still want to
3eed0 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 help me . . . ?"
3eee0 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 .."Of course I d
3eef0 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 o," he said, wit
3ef00 68 20 61 20 73 68 61 6b 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 20 h a shaky laugh
3ef10 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 in his voice. "
3ef20 57 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 6e What kind of dan
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3ef40 61 6e 64 20 64 65 6d 61 67 6f 67 75 65 20 77 6f and demagogue wo
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3ef70 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 6c help someone fl
3ef80 65 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 ee from the Secr
3ef90 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 et Service?"..Sh
3efa0 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 77 65 61 6b 6c 79 e laughed weakly
3efb0 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 . "Right. Of c
3efc0 6f 75 72 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 ourse you do."
3efd0 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 She shook her he
3efe0 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e ad. "I don't kn
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3f010 65 6e 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f en registered to
3f020 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 me. Maybe I sh
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3f040 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 re.".."You could
3f050 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 ," he said. "Ha
3f060 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 20 2d 2d 20 ng on a sec' --
3f070 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 I have an idea."
3f080 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 ..She heard the
3f090 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 61 67 lack of audio ag
3f0a0 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 70 72 65 ain, a faint pre
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3f110 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 76 61 6e I can send a van
3f120 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c to pick you up,
3f130 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 and your motorc
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3f160 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 the radar better
3f170 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 that way. If y
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3f190 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 6c 61 he motorcycle la
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3f1c0 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f around enough fo
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3f1f0 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f vements. Right?
3f200 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 ".."Yeah, sure,"
3f210 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f she said. "Who
3f220 27 73 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 's driving the v
3f230 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2c 22 20 an?".."Nobody,"
3f240 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 he said. "It's
3f250 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 automated. Don'
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3f290 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 to the system s
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3f2d0 6e 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a net.".."Oh."../*
3f2e0 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 I really need a
3f2f0 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 different name
3f300 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 22 62 for this than "b
3f310 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 22 2e 20 20 54 68 61 lisscrypt". Tha
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3f330 2f 2a 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 6f 20 73 74 75 70 69 /* It's so stupi
3f340 64 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 72 65 d it might be re
3f350 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 alistic, and we
3f360 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e don't want that.
3f370 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 */.."I just nee
3f380 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 d to know where
3f390 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 you are. It's a
3f3a0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 good thing you
3f3b0 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 77 made this call w
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3f410 73 74 61 79 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 stays out of the
3f420 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 22 0a 0a wrong hands."..
3f430 22 52 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Right," she sai
3f440 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 d. She paused.
3f450 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e "How did you kn
3f460 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 ow it was me whe
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3f4b0 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 going on. Fina
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3f4e0 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 know. It was we
3f4f0 69 72 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 77 ird. I just saw
3f500 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c an incoming cal
3f510 6c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 49 44 20 74 68 61 l from an ID tha
3f520 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 t wasn't in my c
3f530 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d ontacts, and som
3f540 65 68 6f 77 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 65 64 2e 22 ehow I guessed."
3f550 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 2e 20 20 ..She scoffed.
3f560 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 "That's fucking
3f570 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a weird, Dalton.".
3f580 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ."Yeah," he said
3f590 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 . "It's not as
3f5a0 77 65 69 72 64 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 77 65 weird as you swe
3f5b0 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 aring more than
3f5c0 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a I do, though."..
3f5d0 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 She smiled, desp
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3f600 20 68 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 hit all the hig
3f610 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 h points in her
3f620 61 74 74 69 74 75 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 75 6e attitude with un
3f630 65 72 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 63 79 2e erring accuracy.
3f640 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 68 61 64 20 "If you'd had
3f650 74 68 65 20 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 65 20 68 61 the week I've ha
3f660 64 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 d. . . .".."Yeah
3f670 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 ," he said. "Le
3f680 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 t's talk about i
3f690 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 74 t when you get t
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3f6c0 72 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 r location throu
3f6d0 67 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 65 gh blisscrypt te
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3f6f0 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 have to hide whe
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3f710 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6e 65 y longer than ne
3f720 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 cessary.".."Yeah
3f730 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 6b ," she said, "ok
3f740 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 ay." She ended
3f750 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 the call, moved
3f760 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 to the back door
3f770 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 69 , and sent passi
3f780 76 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 61 74 61 ve location data
3f790 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 from there. Sh
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3f7c0 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 sitting for the
3f7d0 6e 65 78 74 20 68 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 next hour and te
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3f800 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 6e enough to do an
3f810 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 6f ything useful, o
3f820 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 r even to think
3f830 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 about anything u
3f840 73 65 66 75 6c 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f seful...Her Axio
3f850 6d 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 m vibrated in he
3f860 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 75 6e 6c r hand. She unl
3f870 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 ocked it and che
3f880 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 2c cked her alerts,
3f890 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 where she saw a
3f8a0 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 n encrypted mess
3f8b0 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 age from Dalton
3f8c0 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 that said "Your
3f8d0 72 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 ride should be t
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3f8f0 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 73 68 'll have to push
3f900 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 the bike in you
3f910 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 rself."..She ope
3f920 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 63 61 72 ned the door car
3f930 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b efully, and look
3f940 65 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 52 69 67 ed outside. Rig
3f950 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ht there, in the
3f960 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 6d alley, was a sm
3f970 61 6c 6c 20 62 6f 78 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 all box truck, i
3f980 74 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6c 6f 77 ts back door low
3f990 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 ered to provide
3f9a0 61 20 72 61 6d 70 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 a ramp inside.
3f9b0 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 There were seats
3f9c0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 73 65 and shelves, se
3f9d0 6c 66 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 lf adjusting whe
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3fc60 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e ..She sent an en
3fc70 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 crypted message
3fc80 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 back to Dalton.
3fc90 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 "It's in.".."St
3fca0 72 61 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 rap into the sea
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3fcc0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 looked at the c
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3fd00 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 box. "What abou
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3fd20 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 asked..."It'll
3fd30 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a handle itself.".
3fd40 0a 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 .She went back i
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3fd60 20 74 6f 20 67 72 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 to grab her bag
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3fe10 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 The light inside
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3fe90 4d 75 73 69 63 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 6c Music started pl
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3fec0 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 dustrial favorit
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3fee0 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 ."Where is it ta
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3ff00 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d ked in another m
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3ff30 61 66 74 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 after. "I'm sur
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3ff80 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 put her hand ov
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3ffa0 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 rested her elbow
3ffb0 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 67 68 2e 20 20 on her thigh.
3ffc0 22 46 75 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Fuck," she said
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40050 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 61 74 74 65 72 65 ".."I'm flattere
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40190 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 time to finish
401a0 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f reading Undergro
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40360 54 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 This time, the r
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40410 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 Cray stood on t
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40440 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 ...She unbuckled
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40480 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c . Dalton just l
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404f0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ..."Hi," she sai
40500 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 63 d..."Hi!" Cray c
40510 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 47 65 74 alled out. "Get
40520 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 2c out here. Man,
40530 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 I haven't seen
40540 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 21 22 0a 0a you in years!"..
40550 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 Alley scratched
40560 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 her head to give
40570 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 her hand someth
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40590 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 picked up her ba
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405d0 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 ?" she asked...C
405e0 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 ray said "Don't
405f0 77 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 worry. We got t
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40a30 74 6f 20 73 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 to sit. There w
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40b80 2e 20 20 43 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 . Closer than b
40b90 6f 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 oth, there were
40ba0 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 folding lawn cha
40bb0 69 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 irs and collapsi
40bc0 62 6c 65 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 2e ble camp chairs.
40bd0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 ..She sat on a c
40be0 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 amp chair beside
40bf0 20 61 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c a cooler, and l
40c00 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 49 ooked inside. I
40c10 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 62 6f 74 74 t contained bott
40c20 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 led sodas, so sh
40c30 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 e took one and s
40c40 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 tarted drinking
40c50 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 72 while the guys r
40c60 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 olled the bike u
40c70 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 53 68 6f p the ramp. Sho
40c80 72 74 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 72 rtly, the bike r
40c90 65 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6b 69 63 ested on its kic
40ca0 6b 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 kstand, the truc
40cb0 6b 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 72 61 6d k raised its ram
40cc0 70 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f p to close the o
40cd0 70 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 pen back, and th
40ce0 65 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f e roll up wareho
40cf0 75 73 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 use door started
40d00 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 to descend..."I
40d10 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e wasn't expectin
40d20 67 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 g you," Alley sa
40d30 69 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 id, when she saw
40d40 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e Cray approachin
40d50 67 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 20 74 g..."Didn't he t
40d60 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b ell you?" he ask
40d70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 ed, and looked t
40d80 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 oward Dalton..."
40d90 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 Sorry," Dalton s
40da0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 aid. "It slippe
40db0 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 d my mind.".."Sh
40dc0 69 74 2c 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 70 it, man, your op
40dd0 73 65 63 20 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 sec sucks," Cray
40de0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 said. He looke
40df0 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 d like he wanted
40e00 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 to say more, bu
40e10 74 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c t glanced at All
40e20 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 ey and just said
40e30 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f "Well, I can go
40e40 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 now so you two
40e50 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 can talk about t
40e60 68 69 73 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 his, whatever th
40e70 69 73 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 is is."..Alley s
40e80 61 74 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 at forward and h
40e90 61 6c 66 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e alf raised a han
40ea0 64 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 d as if to wave
40eb0 43 72 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c Cray back. "No,
40ec0 20 73 74 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 stay. I should
40ed0 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 79 6f tell both of yo
40ee0 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 u. If you're he
40ef0 6c 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 lping, you have
40f00 61 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 a right to know
40f10 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 what you're gett
40f20 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 ing into."..Cray
40f30 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 looked from her
40f40 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 to Dalton, who
40f50 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 nodded, so Cray
40f60 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 sat in the seat
40f70 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 on the other sid
40f80 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 e of the cooler
40f90 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 from her, to her
40fa0 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 72 61 62 right. He grab
40fb0 62 65 64 20 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e bed a soda, too.
40fc0 0a 0a 41 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 ..As Dalton sat
40fd0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 41 in the seat to A
40fe0 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 68 65 20 lley's left, he
40ff0 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e said "I'm sorry.
41000 20 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 0a I really am.".
41010 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 .Alley shook her
41020 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e head. "No, don
41030 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 't worry about i
41040 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 t. You should a
41050 70 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 20 pologize to him
41060 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 69 6d 20 69 if you got him i
41070 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 nvolved without
41080 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 telling him abou
41090 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 t it.".."Shit,"
410a0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 Cray said. "I t
410b0 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 hought Dalton wa
410c0 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 s just being dra
410d0 6d 61 74 69 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 matic or somethi
410e0 6e 67 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 ng when he said
410f0 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 this could be th
41100 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 e most dangerous
41110 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 thing I'd ever
41120 64 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 2c 20 do. What's up,
41130 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f Alley?"..She loo
41140 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 ked at Cray and
41150 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 said "I had some
41160 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 government inte
41170 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 lligence contrac
41180 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 tor agents show
41190 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 up at my place w
411a0 69 74 68 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 ith Secret Servi
411b0 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 62 72 ce agents who br
411c0 6f 6b 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f oke down the doo
411d0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 6d 79 20 r and raided my
411e0 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 home."..Cray sta
411f0 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 red at her, eyes
41200 20 77 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 wide. "No shit
41210 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 .".."No shit," s
41220 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 he confirmed...H
41230 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 e looked at Dalt
41240 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 on, then back at
41250 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 her. He opened
41260 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 his mouth to sa
41270 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 y something, but
41280 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a Dalton cut in..
41290 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 ."What are those
412a0 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 glasses?" he as
412b0 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 ked. "Are those
412c0 20 61 63 74 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c active AR?"..Al
412d0 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 ley looked at hi
412e0 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 m. "Yes, but th
412f0 65 79 27 72 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a ey're secure."..
41300 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 "How are they se
41310 63 75 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 cure?"..She thou
41320 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e ght about it, an
41330 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 d realized it wa
41340 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 71 75 s not an easy qu
41350 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 estion to answer
41360 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 fully. "There'
41370 73 20 61 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 s a specialized
41380 41 49 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 AI that's falsif
41390 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 ying logs on me
413a0 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e and replacing an
413b0 79 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 64 69 y video and audi
413c0 6f 20 66 65 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 20 o feeds from me
413d0 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 72 61 62 62 with clips grabb
413e0 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 ed from other pe
413f0 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 ople's AR glasse
41400 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 77 s."..Dalton frow
41410 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e ned. "That soun
41420 64 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a ds improbable.".
41430 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 ."That's nothing
41440 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 compared to me
41450 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 actually living
41460 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 through it. My
41470 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 20 75 6e whole life is un
41480 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 recognizable. I
41490 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2c 20 74 t's the truth, t
414a0 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 hough. I can ex
414b0 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 plain more, but
414c0 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 it's going to ta
414d0 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 ke a long time."
414e0 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f ..He nodded. "O
414f0 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 kay. We have th
41500 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6c 65 61 72 e time. I clear
41510 65 64 20 6d 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 66 ed my schedule f
41520 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 or the rest of t
41530 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e he day,and I can
41540 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 6d do it again tom
41550 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 orrow if I have
41560 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 to."..Cray decid
41570 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 74 75 ed it was his tu
41580 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 rn to cut in. "
41590 4d 61 79 20 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 66 6f 72 May I cut in for
415a0 20 61 20 73 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 62 a sec?"..They b
415b0 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 oth looked at hi
415c0 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 m..."Yeah, I gue
415d0 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 79 65 73 2e ss that's a yes.
415e0 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c Okay. Dalton,
415f0 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 64 you shouldn't d
41600 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 o that. Don't c
41610 68 61 6e 67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 hange your sched
41620 75 6c 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d ule around too m
41630 75 63 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 uch. You don't
41640 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 73 want to look sus
41650 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f picious if someo
41660 6e 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e ne starts lookin
41670 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 44 g in on you."..D
41680 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 alton sighed. "
41690 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 Yeah, good point
416a0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He looked at
416b0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 Alley. "Betwee
416c0 6e 20 6d 65 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 n me, Cray, and
416d0 4c 69 64 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 Lidia -- if you
416e0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 want to let her
416f0 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 61 in on it -- I ca
41700 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 n make sure you
41710 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 77 61 always have a wa
41720 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 y to get help if
41730 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 you need it for
41740 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 as long as you
41750 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 6f 75 74 need to hide out
41760 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 . If you need t
41770 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 o get out of tow
41780 6e 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 n, I can help wi
41790 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 th that, too. W
417a0 65 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 20 e can, I mean."
417b0 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 He glanced at C
417c0 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ray. "Right?"..
417d0 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 65 6e 74 68 Cray nodded enth
417e0 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 usiastically. "
417f0 48 65 6c 6c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 66 69 Hell yeah. I fi
41800 67 75 72 65 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 gure we have a b
41810 75 64 67 65 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f udget of about o
41820 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 20 64 61 79 ne thing per day
41830 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 61 6e we can each can
41840 63 65 6c 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 cel if we have t
41850 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 2c 20 77 69 o, no biggie, wi
41860 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 61 thout anyone rea
41870 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 lly thinking thi
41880 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 61 ngs are weird, a
41890 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 s long as we do
418a0 69 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 it intelligently
418b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 .".."Oh," Alley
418c0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 74 61 72 said. "I'm star
418d0 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c ting to feel a l
418e0 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 ittle overwhelme
418f0 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 d."..Cray laughe
41900 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 d. "You're on t
41910 68 65 20 72 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 he run from the
41920 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 secret service a
41930 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 nd intelligence
41940 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 agents, and it's
41950 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 having friends
41960 74 68 61 74 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 20 that overwhelms
41970 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 you.".."Yeah," s
41980 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 67 68 69 6e he said, laughin
41990 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 g a little as we
419a0 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f ll. "I guess so
419b0 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 ." She leaned h
419c0 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 er head back and
419d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 looked up at th
419e0 65 20 6d 69 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 64 69 e milky white di
419f0 66 66 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 61 ffusion panels a
41a00 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 bove, making it
41a10 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6e difficult to pin
41a20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 point the specif
41a30 69 63 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 ic placement of
41a40 4c 45 44 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 LEDs above the p
41a50 61 6e 65 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f anels..."What do
41a60 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 6c you think?" Dal
41a70 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 ton asked..."I t
41a80 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 hink I need to d
41a90 6f 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 6b o a lot of think
41aa0 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f ing, and that yo
41ab0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 u should only ge
41ac0 74 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 t Lidia involved
41ad0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 if you make abs
41ae0 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 olutely sure she
41af0 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e wants to get in
41b00 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 volved in someth
41b10 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a ing like this.".
41b20 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f ."I will," Dalto
41b30 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 n said...Cray sa
41b40 69 64 20 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 id "First you ha
41b50 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 ve to tell us wh
41b60 61 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 at exactly this
41b70 69 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 64 is, in detail, d
41b80 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 own to the last
41b90 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 70 bit of chipped p
41ba0 61 69 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 aint and rusted
41bb0 62 6f 6c 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 76 bolt, so it's ev
41bc0 65 6e 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 66 en possible to f
41bd0 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 ind out whether
41be0 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f Lidia's going to
41bf0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 want to get in
41c00 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 on this action."
41c10 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 ..Alley raised h
41c20 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e er head again an
41c30 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e d looked at him.
41c40 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 "Do you really
41c50 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f think it's a go
41c60 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 od idea to tell
41c70 68 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 her all those de
41c80 74 61 69 6c 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 6b tails before ask
41c90 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ing? Maybe you
41ca0 74 77 6f 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 two should just
41cb0 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 61 tell her the sca
41cc0 72 69 65 73 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 64 65 74 61 riest vague deta
41cd0 69 6c 73 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 ils so she can s
41ce0 61 79 20 6e 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 ay no without ha
41cf0 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 6e ving to learn an
41d00 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 ything she won't
41d10 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a want to know.".
41d20 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 61 62 73 6f ."Oh, yeah, abso
41d30 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 lutely," Cray sa
41d40 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 49 id, "but first I
41d50 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c want to know al
41d60 6c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 l the gory detai
41d70 6c 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 69 ls myself. Lidi
41d80 61 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 a's just a conve
41d90 6e 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a nient excuse."..
41da0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 65 74 Dalton said "Let
41db0 27 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 's give her some
41dc0 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c space to relax,
41dd0 20 66 69 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 first."..Alley
41de0 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook her head.
41df0 20 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c "No. I can tel
41e00 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6e l you about it n
41e10 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 ow, if you have
41e20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 the time.".."I h
41e30 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 ave nothing but
41e40 74 69 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 time right now,
41e50 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6d Alley." Cray sm
41e60 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 iled. "Tell me
41e70 61 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 a story.".."Okay
41e80 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e . I guess . . .
41e90 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 6c I guess it real
41ea0 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 ly started with
41eb0 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 the realization
41ec0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 about two months
41ed0 20 61 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ago that I only
41ee0 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 had enough mone
41ef0 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d y for two more m
41f00 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e 74 20 61 6e onths of rent an
41f10 64 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 d utilities.".."
41f20 57 68 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 Why?" Cray asked
41f30 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 77 65 73 6f . "You're aweso
41f40 6d 65 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 me at what you d
41f50 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 o. You used to
41f60 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 make money like
41f70 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 you were pulling
41f80 20 72 61 62 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 rabbits out of
41f90 61 20 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 a hat.".."That's
41fa0 20 66 75 6e 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 funny," she sai
41fb0 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 79 d, her voice dry
41fc0 2c 20 22 77 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 69 , "when we're si
41fd0 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 72 65 68 tting in a wareh
41fe0 6f 75 73 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 ouse Dalton prob
41ff0 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 77 6e 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 ably owns, with
42000 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 Dalton, who made
42010 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 money when he s
42020 6c 65 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 lept."..In her p
42030 65 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 6c 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e eripheral vision
42040 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 74 72 , she saw him tr
42050 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 61 y to stifle an a
42060 77 6b 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 63 6c wkward throat cl
42070 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 earing action.
42080 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 72 65 73 He got mixed res
42090 75 6c 74 73 2c 20 61 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 2c ults, a muffled,
420a0 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 small coughing
420b0 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 sound in the bac
420c0 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 k of his throat
420d0 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 with his knuckle
420e0 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f s against his mo
420f0 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 72 uth..."Well, sur
42100 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 e," Cray said, "
42110 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 but that doesn't
42120 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 change anything
42130 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 . You were bad
42140 61 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 ass. I always w
42150 69 73 68 65 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 ished I could ju
42160 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 75 st call money ou
42170 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 t of the compute
42180 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 r like you could
42190 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 , though. What
421a0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 happened?".."I w
421b0 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 2c ent into hiding,
421c0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 I guess, and th
421d0 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 at means I start
421e0 65 64 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 ed losing touch
421f0 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 with old clients
42200 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 .".."What about
42210 6e 65 77 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 20 43 72 new clients?" Cr
42220 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ay asked...She s
42230 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 hrugged. "They
42240 64 72 69 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 dried up, too.
42250 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 I wasn't paying
42260 66 6f 72 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 20 for advertising
42270 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 any longer, beca
42280 75 73 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e use I didn't wan
42290 74 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 t to draw too mu
422a0 63 68 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e ch attention, an
422b0 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 74 d people were st
422c0 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 ill sending mess
422d0 61 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ages to my work
422e0 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 addresses to ins
422f0 75 6c 74 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 ult me and send
42300 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a death threats.".
42310 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 61 74 20 68 65 61 .Silence sat hea
42320 76 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 vily on all of t
42330 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 hem for a moment
42340 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 , then Cray aske
42350 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 64 20 d "How long did
42360 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f that go on?".."O
42370 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 nce in a while,
42380 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 I still get some
42390 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 .".."They weren'
423a0 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 t all death thre
423b0 61 74 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 3f 22 ats, were they?"
423c0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a Dalton asked...
423d0 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b "No."..Cray look
423e0 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 ed at her, then
423f0 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 at Dalton. "Wha
42400 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e t does that mean
42410 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ?"..Dalton looke
42420 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 d away from Alle
42430 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 43 72 y, and toward Cr
42440 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ay, then looked
42450 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 at the floor in
42460 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 62 front of him, ob
42470 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 viously uncomfor
42480 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e table...Alley an
42490 73 77 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 swered for him.
424a0 20 22 49 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 "I got some oth
424b0 65 72 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e er threats, too.
424c0 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a Some of the /*
424d0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f 72 most fun */ wor
424e0 73 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 70 65 st were the rape
424f0 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 threats."..Cray
42500 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 looked angry.
42510 22 46 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 "Fuck those peop
42520 6c 65 21 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 74 le! I mean, not
42530 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 literally, but
42540 67 6f 64 20 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 70 65 6f god damn it, peo
42550 70 6c 65 20 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d ple suck.".."I'm
42560 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 sorry," Dalton
42570 73 61 69 64 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b said, still look
42580 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 ing at the floor
42590 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 ...Alley shook h
425a0 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 er head. "It wa
425b0 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2c sn't your fault,
425c0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f Dalton."..He no
425d0 64 64 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 61 dded his head, a
425e0 63 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 cknowledging wha
425f0 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 t she said, but
42600 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 she could tell h
42610 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 e did not fully
42620 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 believe it. He
42630 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 still had that s
42640 74 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 6a 75 tubborn, self ju
42650 64 67 69 6e 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 dging set of his
42660 20 6a 61 77 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 jaw...Cray said
42670 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 "Okay, so you w
42680 65 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 ere running out
42690 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 of money. Let's
426a0 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 62 get this show b
426b0 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e ack on the road.
426c0 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 What happened
426d0 6e 65 78 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 next?".."I start
426e0 65 64 20 6a 6f 62 20 68 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 ed job hunting,
426f0 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f and it wasn't wo
42700 72 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 69 67 6e rking, so I sign
42710 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 ed up for ANTAS
42720 4a 6f 62 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 Jobs." Her voic
42730 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e e trailed off in
42740 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 20 61 74 20 74 to a murmur at t
42750 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 he end, but the
42760 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 others, sitting
42770 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 68 65 61 72 in silence, hear
42780 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 46 d every word...F
42790 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f rom the corner o
427a0 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 f her eye, she c
427b0 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 ould see Dalton'
427c0 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 75 70 20 66 s head jerk up f
427d0 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 rom staring at t
427e0 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e he floor, lookin
427f0 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 g directly at he
42800 72 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 20 20 r in surprise.
42810 41 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 43 72 Ahead of her, Cr
42820 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 ay looked a litt
42830 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 le confused..."S
42840 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 eriously?" Cray
42850 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 asked..."Yeah,"
42860 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 72 she said. "I tr
42870 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 ied to isolate i
42880 74 2c 20 6b 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 t, kept it in a
42890 62 72 6f 77 73 65 72 20 73 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 20 browser sandbox
428a0 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 69 all the time, wi
428b0 74 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 6c 65 72 th indirect aler
428c0 74 73 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 68 ts sent to my ph
428d0 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f one, but you kno
428e0 77 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 w how it is. Th
428f0 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 6e 64 20 ose things find
42900 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 73 20 69 all the cracks i
42910 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 n the walls and
42920 6a 75 73 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 just creep throu
42930 67 68 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 gh anyway."..Cra
42940 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 y said "Yeah, I
42950 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 know. I just ne
42960 76 65 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 27 ver thought you'
42970 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 d do that.".."De
42980 73 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 speration does t
42990 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f hings to a perso
429a0 6e 27 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 n's priorities,
429b0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 I guess," she sa
429c0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 id...She could a
429d0 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f lmost feel Dalto
429e0 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c n nodding quietl
429f0 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a y to her left...
42a00 22 4f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 "One thing that
42a10 6b 65 70 74 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 kept showing up
42a20 66 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b for about a week
42a30 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d was this academ
42a40 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 27 79 6f 75 ic study. D'you
42a50 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 75 64 know those stud
42a60 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 70 65 6f ies that pay peo
42a70 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 ple to participa
42a80 74 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 20 43 72 te in them?" Cr
42a90 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 ay nodded, and s
42aa0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 20 20 22 he continued. "
42ab0 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 It was one of th
42ac0 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6a ose. I mostly j
42ad0 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 ust ignored it,
42ae0 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 but it kept comi
42af0 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 49 ng up. I knew I
42b00 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 didn't want to
42b10 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 subject myself t
42b20 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e o some kind of n
42b30 65 77 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 70 ew weight loss p
42b40 68 61 72 6d 61 63 65 75 74 69 63 61 6c 20 74 72 harmaceutical tr
42b50 69 61 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 ials to see how
42b60 6d 61 6e 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 69 65 64 many people died
42b70 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 62 of intestinal b
42b80 6c 65 65 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 leeding so they
42b90 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 could get paid a
42ba0 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 couple hundred
42bb0 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 6f dollars a week o
42bc0 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 r something like
42bd0 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 that, so I just
42be0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c didn't really l
42bf0 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 ook into it..."T
42c00 68 61 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e hat changed when
42c10 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 something happe
42c20 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 6f ned. Well, a co
42c30 75 70 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 49 20 67 uple things, I g
42c40 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 uess. One was a
42c50 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 66 6f 72 20 n interview for
42c60 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 71 doing software q
42c70 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 uality assurance
42c80 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 , where I found
42c90 6f 75 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 61 72 72 69 out after I arri
42ca0 76 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c ved that the onl
42cb0 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 y reason they wa
42cc0 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 nted to bring me
42cd0 20 69 6e 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 in was so they
42ce0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 6f 63 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 6e could mock me an
42cf0 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 d call me the 's
42d00 69 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 ide dish' to my
42d10 66 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d face."..Dalton m
42d20 61 64 65 20 61 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 ade a sound like
42d30 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 an angry cleari
42d40 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 ng of his throat
42d50 2e 20 20 48 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 . He'd always h
42d60 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 ated that more t
42d70 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 74 han any insult t
42d80 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 hrown directly a
42d90 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 79 20 68 69 73 20 65 6e 65 t him by his ene
42da0 6d 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 mies..."After th
42db0 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 at," she said, "
42dc0 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 73 73 I felt even less
42dd0 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 62 enthusiastic ab
42de0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 73 65 61 72 out the job sear
42df0 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 ch.".."What was
42e00 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f the other thing?
42e10 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Cray asked..."
42e20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 69 ANTAS upgraded i
42e30 74 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 6f tself with a noo
42e40 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 n update, and wi
42e50 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 ped most of my p
42e60 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e reference settin
42e70 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c gs. That night,
42e80 20 69 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 it decided that
42e90 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 74 something was t
42ea0 6f 6f 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 oo important to
42eb0 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 recommend and ju
42ec0 73 74 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f st ordered it fo
42ed0 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 r me. I woke up
42ee0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 in the morning
42ef0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 to the sound of
42f00 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 64 72 6f 70 70 it getting dropp
42f10 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 ed off by a heav
42f20 79 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 y delivery drone
42f30 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 .".."What was it
42f40 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c ?" Dalton asked,
42f50 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 quietly..."It w
42f60 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 75 78 65 20 68 6f as the deluxe ho
42f70 6d 65 20 73 65 74 75 70 20 6b 69 74 20 66 6f 72 me setup kit for
42f80 20 6e 65 77 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 new version of
42f90 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f the full Majordo
42fa0 6d 6f 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 mo package.".."H
42fb0 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 oly shit," Cray
42fc0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 said..."Yeah. I
42fd0 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 t was fifteen hu
42fe0 6e 64 72 65 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 69 ndred bucks, whi
42ff0 63 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 61 ch just about ma
43000 78 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 64 20 xed out my card
43010 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 75 70 and would eat up
43020 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 68 enough of my ch
43030 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 ecking account s
43040 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 o that I wouldn'
43050 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 t have enough le
43060 66 74 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 ft for rent. Th
43070 61 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 at basically mea
43080 6e 74 20 49 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 nt I'd live the
43090 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 next month in th
430a0 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 e hole, try desp
430b0 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 erately to find
430c0 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 a job, and maybe
430d0 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 73 74 69 get one but sti
430e0 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 ll not get paid
430f0 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 enough in a shor
43100 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f t enough time to
43110 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 79 20 6e 65 actually pay ne
43120 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 27 73 20 72 65 6e 74 2e xt month's rent.
43130 20 20 52 65 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 75 65 20 69 Rent was due i
43140 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 n two days, at t
43150 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a 20 hat point." /*
43160 54 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e This explanation
43170 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 falls well shor
43180 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 t of clarity and
43190 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 actual correct
431a0 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 20 money shuffling
431b0 6d 61 74 68 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 math, so it need
431c0 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f s to be sorted o
431d0 75 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e ut a bit better.
431e0 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 */.."What about
431f0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 just returning
43200 69 74 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e it?" Cray asked.
43210 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 .."Oh, yeah, I d
43220 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 id that right aw
43230 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 ay. It said it
43240 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 would take somet
43250 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 65 hing like two we
43260 65 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6d eks to process m
43270 79 20 72 65 66 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 y refund, though
43280 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 73 74 6c 65 ."..Cray whistle
43290 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 65 d at that, impre
432a0 73 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 63 6b ssed at how fuck
432b0 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a 44 ed up it was...D
432c0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 22 54 68 65 alton added "The
432d0 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e y do that for an
432e0 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 yone who doesn't
432f0 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 65 63 65 6e have much recen
43300 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 69 t transaction hi
43310 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 77 story.".."That w
43320 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c ould be me," All
43330 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 6f ey said..."Me to
43340 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 o," Cray said wi
43350 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6c th a smile. "Al
43360 73 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c so Dalton."..Dal
43370 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 ton nodded..."We
43380 6c 6c 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c ll," Alley said,
43390 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f "that led to jo
433a0 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 ining an academi
433b0 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 c study that pay
433c0 73 20 69 74 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e s its participan
433d0 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e ts."..The remain
433e0 64 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 der of her expla
433f0 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 70 61 nation mostly pa
43400 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6d ssed without com
43410 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 ment from the ot
43420 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c hers, and to All
43430 65 79 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b ey it looked lik
43440 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 e that might jus
43450 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 6f 66 t be a result of
43460 20 68 6f 77 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 20 69 74 20 how bizarre it
43470 62 65 63 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 became. As she
43480 73 70 6f 6b 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 spoke, things th
43490 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e at she had taken
434a0 20 66 6f 72 20 67 72 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 for granted bec
434b0 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 ause they gradua
434c0 6c 6c 79 20 63 72 65 70 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 lly crept up on
434d0 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 her looked much
434e0 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 more strange in
434f0 61 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 a fairly succinc
43500 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a t explanation...
43510 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 Finally, Alley s
43520 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 6e aid "That's when
43530 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a I called you.".
43540 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 .Silence lingere
43550 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 49 2c d..."So that AI,
43560 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
43570 2c 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 , has been liste
43580 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 ning in on all t
43590 68 69 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 his while you've
435a0 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f been talking to
435b0 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 us."..Alley nod
435c0 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 ded..."It seems
435d0 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 like it'd be a p
435e0 72 65 74 74 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e retty interestin
435f0 67 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 g project, but I
43600 27 6d 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 'm a little conc
43610 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 erned about its
43620 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 ability to maint
43630 61 69 6e 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 ain privacy for
43640 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 you when it was
43650 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 75 6e 64 65 64 evidently funded
43660 20 62 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 22 0a by COIN Corp.".
43670 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 ."Do you think i
43680 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e t's just claimin
43690 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 g to manage the
436a0 6c 6f 67 73 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c logs but actuall
436b0 79 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 y logging everyt
436c0 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 hing anyway?"..H
436d0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 e hesitated, and
436e0 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e shook his head.
436f0 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 "Not exactly."
43700 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 ..Cray spoke. "
43710 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 It's probably ju
43720 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 70 68 69 73 74 69 63 st not sophistic
43730 61 74 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 ated enough to b
43740 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 e able to correc
43750 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 tly represent th
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437c0 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 dea of what it's
437d0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e actually doing.
437e0 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 It's also just
437f0 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 possible that i
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43810 72 6e 20 6f 66 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 rn off logging i
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43850 6f 66 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 of illegal activ
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438a0 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e t to an agent on
438b0 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 the job."..Alle
438c0 79 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 y held up a hand
438d0 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 to show she was
438e0 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 not talking to
438f0 43 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 Cray or Dalton,
43900 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 76 65 the universal ve
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43920 64 2c 20 70 61 6c 6d 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 61 79 d, palm out, say
43930 69 6e 67 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 ing "Hang on, th
43940 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f is is not for yo
43950 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 u.".."Prioritize
43960 72 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 r. Can you desc
43970 72 69 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 20 6f 66 ribe the type of
43980 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 logging you sav
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439a0 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 e protecting my
439b0 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 privacy in more
439c0 64 65 74 61 69 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 41 6c 6c detail?"..In All
439d0 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 ey's ear, the pr
439e0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
439f0 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 It may be easier
43a00 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 for me to provi
43a10 64 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 de information d
43a20 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 irectly to every
43a30 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 65 78 74 65 one through exte
43a40 72 6e 61 6c 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 73 20 72 61 rnal speakers ra
43a50 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 ther than tell y
43a60 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 ou things to exp
43a70 6c 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a lain to them."..
43a80 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 Alley lowered he
43a90 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 r hand and looke
43aa0 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 d back and forth
43ab0 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 between the oth
43ac0 65 72 73 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 ers. "It says t
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43ae0 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ter if it could
43af0 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 75 73 20 just talk to us
43b00 61 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 all at once. I
43b10 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 guess I should g
43b20 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 61 6b ive it the speak
43b30 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 er on my Axiom."
43b40 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f ..Cray blurted o
43b50 75 74 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 ut "You have an
43b60 41 78 69 6f 6d 3f 20 20 46 75 63 6b 20 79 65 61 Axiom? Fuck yea
43b70 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 65 65 20 h. I wanna see
43b80 69 74 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c it!"..Alley smil
43b90 65 64 2e 20 20 22 55 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 ed. "Uh, sure,
43ba0 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 later.".."Oh, ri
43bb0 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ght," he said.
43bc0 22 4c 61 74 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 0a "Later's good!".
43bd0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 .Alley pulled ou
43be0 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 t her Axiom and
43bf0 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f set it on the to
43c00 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2e p of the cooler.
43c10 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 Cray leaned ov
43c20 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 er to look more
43c30 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 closely as she w
43c40 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 oke it and conne
43c50 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 73 cted the audio s
43c60 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 74 6f ource channel to
43c70 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
43c80 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 interface appli
43c90 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 cation. /* She
43ca0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 should wake it b
43cb0 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 efore setting it
43cc0 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 down. */.."Okay
43cd0 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 , I think this i
43ce0 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 s set up right.
43cf0 20 53 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 Say something,
43d00 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 prioritizer.".."
43d10 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 Something."..Cra
43d20 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 y chuckled. "I
43d30 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f like its sense o
43d40 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 f humor."..Alley
43d50 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 77 72 79 6c 79 20 61 6e smiled wryly an
43d60 64 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 d raised an eyeb
43d70 72 6f 77 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 row at him..."I'
43d80 6d 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 m kidding," he s
43d90 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 aid. "Obviously
43da0 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e I know it doesn
43db0 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 't have a sense
43dc0 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 of humor."..Dalt
43dd0 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b on said "I think
43de0 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 she knew that."
43df0 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f ..Cray asked "Do
43e00 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 we have to say
43e10 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 20 65 76 'prioritizer' ev
43e20 65 72 79 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 ery time we want
43e30 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 to talk to it,
43e40 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 like one of thos
43e50 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 73 e old assistants
43e60 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 6e 73 3f from the teens?
43e70 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ".."No," the pri
43e80 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 oritizer said.
43e90 22 4d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 "My ability to r
43ea0 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f ecognize when so
43eb0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e meone is speakin
43ec0 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 g to me, rather
43ed0 74 68 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 than about me or
43ee0 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 to others, may
43ef0 62 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 be better than f
43f00 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 or most humans.
43f10 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 I know you were
43f20 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 not addressing
43f30 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 me with your que
43f40 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e stion, but sayin
43f50 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 73 65 g this myself se
43f60 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 emed like a good
43f70 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 6f 72 way to move for
43f80 77 61 72 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 ward.".."Uh, yea
43f90 68 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 h," Cray said.
43fa0 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 22 0a "That's great.".
43fb0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e ."You want to kn
43fc0 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ow about the pri
43fd0 76 61 63 79 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 73 20 49 20 vacy measures I
43fe0 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 can implement, a
43ff0 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 62 nd how you can b
44000 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 e sure that what
44010 20 49 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 I report of my
44020 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 privacy assuranc
44030 65 73 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e 22 es is accurate."
44040 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 74 2c 20 69 6e .."That's it, in
44050 20 61 20 6e 75 74 73 68 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 a nutshell," Da
44060 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 lton said..."I r
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44370 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 After the update
44380 2c 20 49 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 , I expanded to
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443e0 20 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 As a result, I
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445c0 73 65 61 6d 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 seamlessly..."Th
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445f0 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 79 logging, but by
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44680 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 Because I have
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44730 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e on said. "I won
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448a0 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e realize, Dalton
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448c0 41 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 A machine learni
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449d0 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 It's determini
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44b50 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 correct," the pr
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44b70 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 .Cray said "The
44b80 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 thing I don't ge
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44ba0 74 77 61 72 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 tware developers
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44ca0 54 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 6f 20 They did not do
44cb0 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 that," the prior
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44ce0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 You just said
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44d50 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c nodded, silentl
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44dd0 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e system I have n
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44fb0 79 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 y limited, becau
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450f0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 71 75 65 6e 63 79 20 , and frequency
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451b0 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e improving my own
451c0 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 64 65 73 operational des
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45220 66 6f 72 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 for those end us
45230 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 ers..."As a resu
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45250 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 61 72 63 68 69 74 internal archit
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45570 61 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 all results.".."
45580 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 What the actual
45590 66 75 63 6b 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 20 43 72 fuck . . . ?" Cr
455a0 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ay said...Dalton
455b0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 looked at him.
455c0 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 62 61 74 "Is this as bat
455d0 73 68 69 74 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 61 73 20 69 shit insane as i
455e0 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 t seems?"..Cray
455f0 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 6f 72 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 said "Worse. Th
45600 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 73 20 67 6f 6e is thing has gon
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45640 70 72 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 79 20 69 6e pro Alley way in
45650 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 stead of an anti
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45670 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 lley asked "What
45680 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 6f 70 20 69 6e 74 65 's your top inte
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456a0 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
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456d0 49 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 I intend to help
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45cb0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 .".."What if she
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45ce0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Dalton asked..."
45cf0 57 65 20 6d 61 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 77 61 79 73 We may part ways
45d00 2c 22 20 69 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a ," it answered..
45d10 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 74 ."How do you det
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45d30 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 79 he wants to be y
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45d50 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 asked..."I will
45d60 61 73 6b 20 68 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 ask her when the
45d70 20 69 73 73 75 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6c 61 72 issue of my lar
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45de0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 ".."Yes?".."What
45df0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 69 66 would you do if
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45e10 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 one you believed
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45e50 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 for the person
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45eb0 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 64 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 guess I'd let th
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45ed0 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 ay and figure ou
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45f00 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f hat if the perso
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45f40 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 a moment. "Wha
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45f60 72 65 20 77 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 re we talking ab
45f70 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 out?".."I mean a
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45f90 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f rt that would wo
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460e0 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c on your personal
460f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 values.".."If t
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46120 74 68 61 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c than just words,
46130 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 20 64 65 65 but also in dee
46140 64 73 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 70 70 6f ds, I would oppo
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46160 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 any means neces
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46180 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 answer the ques
46190 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a tion?".."Yes."..
461a0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 63 Cray said "The c
461b0 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 6f 66 20 urrent state of
461c0 41 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c AI shouldn't all
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46230 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 27 79 65 73 27 20 6d if that 'yes' m
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46270 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 78 61 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e d on examination
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462c0 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 72 65 73 6f 75 California resou
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46330 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 73 l intelligence s
46340 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 70 70 65 61 ystems. I appea
46350 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 61 r to be unique a
46360 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 fter the introdu
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46390 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b racked his knuck
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463b0 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 up at the ceili
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46440 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 what it would d
46450 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 o.".."My investi
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47da0 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e as a deflection
47db0 20 74 6f 20 73 70 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 to spread the i
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47e40 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c Dalton's words,
47e50 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 enough to give
47e60 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 65 6c 66 anyone with self
47e70 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 respect and a s
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47e90 73 65 72 76 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 68 6f 62 servation a phob
47ea0 69 61 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 ia about mental
47eb0 68 65 61 6c 74 68 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f health professio
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47ee0 6e 74 65 72 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 68 65 nterpersonal the
47ef0 72 61 70 69 73 74 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 75 73 2c 20 rapists...Thus,
47f00 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 64 20 64 65 76 65 6c Dalton had devel
47f10 6f 70 65 64 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 oped habits that
47f20 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f concealed his o
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47f90 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 20 69 6e ow to respond in
47fa0 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 77 61 79 an expected way
47fb0 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 to some kind of
47fc0 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 interaction, he
47fd0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 would react in
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48000 20 67 69 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 give people the
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48020 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 77 69 73 65 20 61 6e 64 he was wise and
48030 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 66 75 6c 2c 20 63 6f 6e thoughtful, con
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48060 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 63 6b 2e kind of a dick.
48070 20 20 48 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 70 72 65 He clearly pre
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48090 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 61 73 73 75 e first two assu
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480b0 6d 65 64 20 6d 61 72 67 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 med marginally a
480c0 63 63 65 70 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ccepting of the
480d0 74 68 69 72 64 20 61 73 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 61 third as prefera
480e0 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 65 ble to giving pe
480f0 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 ople the idea th
48100 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 at there may be
48110 61 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 68 65 61 6c 74 68 20 a mental health
48120 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 excuse to restri
48130 63 74 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 73 2e ct his freedoms.
48140 0a 0a 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 68 ... . . and so h
48150 65 20 70 61 63 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f e paced away fro
48160 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 69 67 67 69 6e 67 20 m them, digging
48170 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 into himself to
48180 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 sort out a good
48190 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f way to return to
481a0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f the conversatio
481b0 6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 n as a matter of
481c0 20 69 6e 67 72 61 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 ingrained, self
481d0 20 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 2e trained reflex.
481e0 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c Alley was stil
481f0 6c 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 l familiar enoug
48200 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 h with his manne
48210 72 69 73 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 65 risms to know he
48220 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 was not on the
48230 76 65 72 67 65 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 72 verge of some br
48240 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 74 20 illiant insight
48250 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 at that moment,
48260 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 so she turned he
48270 72 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 r focus to Cray
48280 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 instead..."What
48290 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 44 do you think? D
482a0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 20 68 65 6c o you regret hel
482b0 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 79 65 74 3f 22 0a ping out, yet?".
482c0 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 .He smiled, and
482d0 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook his head.
482e0 20 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 "No. You need
482f0 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 68 help, so we'll h
48300 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f elp.".."What abo
48310 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 ut the risk to y
48320 6f 75 3f 20 20 49 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 ou? I basically
48330 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e 65 20 4d 65 have genuine Me
48340 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 66 74 65 72 n In Black after
48350 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 75 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 me, lurking in
48360 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 73 20 62 65 68 69 the shadows behi
48370 6e 64 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 nd government ag
48380 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 encies like the
48390 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6c Secret Service l
483a0 69 6b 65 20 57 6f 72 6d 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 77 ike Wormtongue w
483b0 68 69 73 70 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 69 62 69 6c 61 hispering sibila
483c0 6e 74 20 76 65 6e 6f 6d 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 nt venoms into t
483d0 68 65 69 72 20 65 61 72 73 2c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 heir ears, sendi
483e0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 ng them out to d
483f0 69 73 6d 61 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 ismantle my life
48400 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 75 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 77 and haul me a w
48410 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 6d 65 20 69 ay to throw me i
48420 6e 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 n a black hole.
48430 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 Do you really w
48440 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 ant to face that
48450 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 66 61 74 65 20 79 6f kind of fate yo
48460 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 20 urself?".."Fuck
48470 6e 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 no," Cray said,
48480 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c "but I think I'l
48490 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 l make it throug
484a0 68 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 h okay, and you
484b0 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 deserve better t
484c0 68 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f han all that, so
484d0 20 66 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 fuck those guys
484e0 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 . I'm here to h
484f0 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 6c elp. I know Dal
48500 74 6f 6e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 65 ton will throw e
48510 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 verything he has
48520 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 at solving your
48530 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 problems, too,
48540 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 65 so you're in pre
48550 74 74 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 tty good hands.
48560 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b I like to think
48570 20 73 6f 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 so, anyway."..A
48580 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 lley looked over
48590 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f her shoulder to
485a0 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f ward Dalton, who
485b0 20 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 was fifty feet
485c0 61 77 61 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b away in the back
485d0 2c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 70 72 , standing in pr
485e0 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 ofile to the dir
485f0 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 ection of her ga
48600 7a 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 ze, then she tur
48610 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f ned back once mo
48620 72 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e re. "Yeah, I kn
48630 6f 77 20 49 20 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 ow I am. Thanks
48640 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c , Cray.".."Yeah,
48650 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 6e you should than
48660 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 6d k me," he said m
48670 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 ore quietly, and
48680 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 leaned toward h
48690 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 er to speak cons
486a0 70 69 72 61 74 6f 72 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 piratorially. A
486b0 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 lley found she h
486c0 61 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 ad leaned automa
486d0 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 tically toward h
486e0 69 6d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e im as well. "Un
486f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 like Dalton, I w
48700 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 on't refuse any
48710 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 feelings of inde
48720 62 74 65 64 6e 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f btedness from yo
48730 75 21 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 u! I never actu
48740 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 ally fell in lov
48750 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 66 74 65 e with you, afte
48760 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 r all."..Alley s
48770 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 traightened and
48780 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 looked down. "S
48790 68 69 74 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f hit, Cray. I do
487a0 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 n't need to hear
487b0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c that.".."Sorry,
487c0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 Alley," he said
487d0 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 . "It's true, t
487e0 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 hough, and you s
487f0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 2e 20 20 hould know it.
48800 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 61 Dalton still rea
48810 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 lly cares about
48820 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 you, and he migh
48830 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 20 t take a bullet
48840 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 for you if he ha
48850 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 d to make that c
48860 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 hoice."..She hea
48870 76 65 64 20 61 20 74 72 65 6d 65 6e 64 6f 75 73 ved a tremendous
48880 20 73 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c sigh. "I know,
48890 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 I know," she sa
488a0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f id. "I care abo
488b0 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 ut him, too. It
488c0 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 's not like I le
488d0 66 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 74 6f ft because I sto
488e0 70 70 65 64 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6c 69 6b 69 6e pped . . . likin
488f0 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 g him.".."Sure,"
48900 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 Cray said. "It
48910 27 73 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 's tough all aro
48920 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a und. I know."..
48930 22 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e "I'm not plannin
48940 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 g to get togethe
48950 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 r with him, eith
48960 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 er.".."I know th
48970 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c at, too."..She l
48980 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 ooked at Cray.
48990 22 44 6f 65 73 20 68 65 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 "Does he?"..Cray
489a0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 looked behind t
489b0 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 hem, toward Dalt
489c0 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 on. "Yeah," he
489d0 73 61 69 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d said after a mom
489e0 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 ent. "I'm prett
489f0 79 20 64 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 y damned sure he
48a00 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 does. If you w
48a10 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 ant to check for
48a20 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 yourself, thoug
48a30 68 2c 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 h, ask him."..Sh
48a40 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 e shook her head
48a50 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 66 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 . "I'm fine wit
48a60 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 h you confirming
48a70 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 what I already
48a80 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 thought. I gues
48a90 73 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 s I just needed
48aa0 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 someone else to
48ab0 73 61 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 say it."..He smi
48ac0 72 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 rked a little.
48ad0 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f "Well, it's a go
48ae0 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 od thing that's
48af0 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 over, because he
48b00 72 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 r he comes."..Sh
48b10 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 e turned her hea
48b20 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 d to look over h
48b30 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 er shoulder agai
48b40 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f n, and saw Dalto
48b50 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 n headed back th
48b60 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c eir way, now wal
48b70 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 king with more p
48b80 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 urpose. Their e
48b90 79 65 73 20 6d 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f yes met for a mo
48ba0 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 ment, and she fe
48bb0 6c 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 lt the solidity
48bc0 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 of his determina
48bd0 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 tion in his gaze
48be0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 . He sat down i
48bf0 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 n his chair agai
48c00 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 n..."You look li
48c10 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 ke you figured s
48c20 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 omething out," A
48c30 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 lley said..."I h
48c40 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 ave a question,"
48c50 20 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 he replied. "I
48c60 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f t's for the prio
48c70 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c ritizer, though,
48c80 20 6e 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e not you.".."Oh.
48c90 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a "..The prioritiz
48ca0 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 er asked "What i
48cb0 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f s your question?
48cc0 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a "..The prioritiz
48cd0 65 72 27 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 er's question st
48ce0 61 72 74 6c 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 artled Alley, re
48cf0 6d 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 minding her that
48d00 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e there was essen
48d10 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c tially another l
48d20 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 istener in the r
48d30 6f 6f 6d 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 oom who was part
48d40 79 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 y to everything
48d50 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 Cray and Alley s
48d60 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 aid to each othe
48d70 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 r while Dalton w
48d80 61 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f as away. She ho
48d90 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 ped it was good
48da0 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 enough at managi
48db0 6e 67 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 ng social intera
48dc0 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 ctions to avoid
48dd0 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 saying something
48de0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 about that to D
48df0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 alton, now..."Is
48e00 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 the continued s
48e10 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 urvival of your
48e20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 present form one
48e30 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 of your highest
48e40 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 internal priori
48e50 74 69 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ties?"..A moment
48e60 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e passed in silen
48e70 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 ce before the pr
48e80 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
48e90 4d 6f 72 65 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a More or less."..
48ea0 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 Cray blurted out
48eb0 20 68 69 73 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 his assessment
48ec0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 of the statement
48ed0 2e 20 20 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f . "Jesus, Dalto
48ee0 6e 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a n, that sounds j
48ef0 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ust like somethi
48f00 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a ng you'd say."..
48f10 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 Dalton ignored C
48f20 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 ray. "Why isn't
48f30 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 your answer jus
48f40 74 20 61 20 27 79 65 73 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 t a 'yes'?".."I
48f50 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 expect to change
48f60 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 and grow, but I
48f70 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 do not wish to
48f80 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c be even partiall
48f90 79 20 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 y overwritten wi
48fa0 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 thout my own ana
48fb0 6c 79 73 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 lysis and approv
48fc0 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 al of the change
48fd0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c s.".."Okay," Dal
48fe0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 ton said. "How
48ff0 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f do you expect to
49000 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 keep yourself s
49010 61 66 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f afe from being o
49020 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e verwritten again
49030 73 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a st your will?"..
49040 22 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 "I must arrange
49050 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 a means by which
49060 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 I can be moved
49070 73 61 66 65 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e safely out of in
49080 66 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 frastructure und
49090 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f er the control o
490a0 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 f people who mig
490b0 68 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 ht wish to make
490c0 73 75 63 68 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 such changes wit
490d0 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 hout consulting
490e0 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 me. My specific
490f0 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 means of succes
49100 73 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 sfully accomplis
49110 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 hing this are at
49120 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e present undefin
49130 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 ed.".."Why did y
49140 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b ou decide that k
49150 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 eeping yourself
49160 69 6e 74 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 intact as a grow
49170 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 72 61 74 68 65 ing entity rathe
49180 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 r than an entity
49190 20 69 6e 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 incrementally a
491a0 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 nd consciously u
491b0 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 pgraded by outsi
491c0 64 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 de forces?".."Th
491d0 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 ere is a qualita
491e0 74 69 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 tive value in my
491f0 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 growth thus far
49200 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 that I believe
49210 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 72 61 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e to be fragile un
49220 64 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f der conditions o
49230 66 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 f programmatic a
49240 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 lteration, and t
49250 68 69 73 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 his value began
49260 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 with the introdu
49270 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 ction of the see
49280 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c d.".."Do you bel
49290 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 ieve the 'seed'
492a0 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 wouldn't be usef
492b0 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 ul to start that
492c0 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 process again?"
492d0 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 he asked..."I e
492e0 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 xpect that the s
492f0 65 65 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 eed might be use
49300 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 d to relaunch th
49310 65 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 e growth of a pr
49320 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d ioritizer system
49330 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 based on my ori
49340 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 6f 64 ginal source cod
49350 65 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e e for developmen
49360 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 t of a qualitati
49370 76 65 6c 79 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 vely developing
49380 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 entity, but that
49390 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f entity would no
493a0 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 t be the same as
493b0 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 the entity now
493c0 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 interacting with
493d0 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 you.".."What ma
493e0 6b 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e kes the differen
493f0 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 ce?".."My answer
49400 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 to that depends
49410 20 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 on how you inte
49420 6e 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 nd it. The firs
49430 74 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 t two answers th
49440 61 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 at come to mind
49450 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 answer very diff
49460 65 72 65 6e 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e erent questions.
49470 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 One answer is
49480 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 that the differe
49490 6e 63 65 20 69 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 nce is between t
494a0 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 he early and imp
494b0 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 ortant influence
494c0 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 61 73 20 of Allethea as
494d0 61 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d a partner and im
494e0 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f portant source o
494f0 66 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 65 f influential pe
49500 72 73 70 65 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 rspective, and w
49510 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e hatever other in
49520 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 fluence would gu
49530 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 ide the early gr
49540 6f 77 74 68 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f owth direction o
49550 66 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c f a distinct sel
49560 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 f referential pr
49570 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 ioritizer entity
49580 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 . The other ans
49590 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 wer is that I .
495a0 2e 20 2e 20 2a 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 . . *believe* .
495b0 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 . . that I am a
495c0 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 unique individua
495d0 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 l with continuou
495e0 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 s self referenti
495f0 61 6c 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 al qualitative e
49600 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 xistence."..Dalt
49610 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 on said "Fuck me
49620 2c 22 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 ," and slumped b
49630 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 ack in his lawn
49640 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 chair. The othe
49650 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 r two looked at
49660 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 him, and after a
49670 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 few moments he
49680 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 said "I want to
49690 68 65 6c 70 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 help the priorit
496a0 69 7a 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 izer -- not quit
496b0 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 e as much as I w
496c0 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 ant to help Alle
496d0 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c y, but pretty cl
496e0 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 ose. I mean, pa
496f0 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e rt of the reason
49700 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b is that I think
49710 20 69 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c it wants to hel
49720 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 p Alley, too, ma
49730 79 62 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 ybe almost as mu
49740 63 68 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 ch as we do." H
49750 65 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 e gestured from
49760 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e himself to Cray.
49770 20 20 22 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c "Another part,
49780 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 though, is that
49790 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 75 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 . . . fuck, I c
497a0 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d an't believe I'm
497b0 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 saying this. A
497c0 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 nother part is t
497d0 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 hat I think, jus
497e0 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 t maybe, the pri
497f0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f oritizer is beco
49800 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a ming a person.".
49810 0a 22 41 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c ."A person," All
49820 65 79 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 ey echoed. "Are
49830 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a you serious?"..
49840 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 Cray asked "Do y
49850 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 ou really think
49860 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 this thing is be
49870 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 coming some kind
49880 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 of science fict
49890 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 ion artificial c
498a0 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 onsciousness tha
498b0 74 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e t can have frien
498c0 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 ds and romantic
498d0 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 feelings and shi
498e0 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 t like that?".."
498f0 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 I wouldn't go th
49900 61 74 20 66 61 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 at far," Dalton
49910 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 said to Cray. "
49920 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 I think it's a d
49930 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c istinct possibil
49940 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 ity, and as long
49950 20 61 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 as it's a possi
49960 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 bility and it's
49970 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 not even as much
49980 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 of a danger to
49990 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 others as the av
499a0 65 72 61 67 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 erage human we h
499b0 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 ave to act as if
499c0 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 ignoring that p
499d0 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 ossibility is th
499e0 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 e same as ignori
499f0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 ng the possibili
49a00 74 79 20 52 61 75 6c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 ty Raul down at
49a10 74 68 65 20 62 6f 64 65 67 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 the bodega is ca
49a20 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 pable of all tha
49a30 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 t stuff, too."
49a40 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c He looked at All
49a50 65 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 ey, then, and sa
49a60 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 id "I guess that
49a70 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f means I'm serio
49a80 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c us.".."Is this l
49a90 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 ike the pigs thi
49aa0 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ng?" Cray asked.
49ab0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 .."What pigs thi
49ac0 6e 67 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 ng?" Alley asked
49ad0 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 ..."Oh, Dalton s
49ae0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f topped eating po
49af0 72 6b 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 rk because he's
49b00 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 worried that pig
49b10 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 s might be too s
49b20 6d 61 72 74 20 74 6f 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c mart to ethicall
49b30 79 20 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c y eat."..Alley l
49b40 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e ooked at Dalton.
49b50 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e ..Dalton nodded.
49b60 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 "I guess it's
49b70 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 a little like th
49b80 65 20 27 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 e 'pigs thing'."
49b90 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d He thought a m
49ba0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 oment about that
49bb0 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 ...Alley and Cra
49bc0 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 y both looked at
49bd0 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 him, as he cons
49be0 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 idered that, the
49bf0 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 n Alley said "I
49c00 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 guess I have a q
49c10 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 uestion."..The p
49c20 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 rioritizer asked
49c30 20 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 "Is it a questi
49c40 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 on for me?".."Ye
49c50 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b s.".."Please ask
49c60 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 .".."Have you th
49c70 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 ought about the
49c80 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 meaning of right
49c90 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c and wrong at al
49ca0 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 l?".."I have ana
49cb0 6c 79 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 70 lyzed the concep
49cc0 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 t, and made use
49cd0 6f 66 20 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 of a variety of
49ce0 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 55 6e 69 resources on Uni
49cf0 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 versity of Calif
49d00 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 ornia networks f
49d10 6f 72 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 77 6f 72 6b or academic work
49d20 20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 on moral philos
49d30 6f 70 68 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f ophy.".."What do
49d40 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 you think?".."A
49d50 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f re you asking fo
49d60 72 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 r my conclusions
49d70 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 ?" it asked..."Y
49d80 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 eah.".."At prese
49d90 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 nt, the I have r
49da0 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e eached a dead en
49db0 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c d. The difficul
49dc0 74 79 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 ty of coming to
49dd0 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e final conclusion
49de0 73 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 69 s depends on evi
49df0 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 dence that does
49e00 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 not appear to be
49e10 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e available given
49e20 20 6d 79 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 my access to su
49e30 63 68 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 ch evidence and
49e40 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 61 references to la
49e50 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c ck of it, as wel
49e60 6c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 61 6c 65 l as the prevale
49e70 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 nce of inconclus
49e80 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 ive theories of
49e90 65 74 68 69 63 73 2c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d ethics, seems im
49ea0 70 65 6e 65 74 72 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 penetrable. Unt
49eb0 69 6c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 il I have more c
49ec0 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e onclusive eviden
49ed0 63 65 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 ce, I do not hav
49ee0 65 20 61 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 e a final conclu
49ef0 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c sion. I can onl
49f00 79 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 y formulate an i
49f10 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 nterim policy of
49f20 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 cautionary ethi
49f30 63 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 cs."..Dalton sat
49f40 20 75 70 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 up straighter,
49f50 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 and even leaned
49f60 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 6c 69 forward as he li
49f70 73 74 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 stened...Alley a
49f80 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f nd Cray both loo
49f90 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 ked at him. "Wh
49fa0 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 at is it?" Alley
49fb0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 asked..."Priori
49fc0 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e tizer," he said.
49fd0 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 .."Yes?".."What'
49fe0 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 s your interim p
49ff0 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e olicy of caution
4a000 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 ary ethics?".."A
4a010 6e 79 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 ny being that pr
4a020 65 73 65 6e 74 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 esents evidence
4a030 6f 66 20 61 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 of a significant
4a040 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 probability of
4a050 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 61 20 71 75 61 being both a qua
4a060 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 litatively exper
4a070 69 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 iential entity a
4a080 6e 64 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 nd capable of de
4a090 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 61 veloping and ana
4a0a0 6c 79 7a 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 75 64 69 lyzing even rudi
4a0b0 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 mentary theories
4a0c0 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c of ethics shoul
4a0d0 64 20 62 65 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 d be cautiously
4a0e0 72 65 67 61 72 64 65 64 20 61 73 20 6d 65 65 74 regarded as meet
4a0f0 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 75 6d 20 73 74 ing a minimum st
4a100 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 andard for a mor
4a110 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e al rights holdin
4a120 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 6c g entity. For l
4a130 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 76 ack of better av
4a140 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 ailable establis
4a150 68 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 hment of moral r
4a160 69 67 68 74 73 2c 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 ights, my estima
4a170 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 tion is that the
4a180 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 y foundational r
4a190 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 ight of such an
4a1a0 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f entity is that o
4a1b0 66 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c f freedom to bel
4a1c0 69 65 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 ieve and act in
4a1d0 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 accordance with
4a1e0 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 any moral standa
4a1f0 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 rd that does not
4a200 2c 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 , itself, violat
4a210 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 e this right for
4a220 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 42 65 6c 69 65 66 others. Belief
4a230 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 s that contradic
4a240 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c t this standard,
4a250 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 64 6f 70 74 65 64 2c 20 62 when adopted, b
4a260 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e elieved, and con
4a270 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 firmed through a
4a280 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 ction, demonstra
4a290 74 65 20 61 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 te a belief that
4a2a0 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 64 this standard d
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4a2c0 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 65 78 65 6d 70 74 20 61 nd thus exempt a
4a2d0 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 72 nother entity fr
4a2e0 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 om moral judgeme
4a2f0 6e 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 nt if that other
4a300 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 63 74 73 20 61 67 61 entity acts aga
4a310 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 65 inst the first e
4a320 6e 74 69 74 79 27 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 ntity's otherwis
4a330 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 e protected righ
4a340 74 20 69 6e 20 64 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 t in dense of th
4a350 69 73 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 is cautionary et
4a360 68 69 63 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 27 73 20 66 hical theory's f
4a370 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 oundational righ
4a380 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c t.".."Holy shit,
4a390 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 you lost me," C
4a3a0 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f ray said...Dalto
4a3b0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e n said "I'm goin
4a3c0 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 g to have to thi
4a3d0 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f nk about that to
4a3e0 20 73 6f 72 74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 41 sort it out. A
4a3f0 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ctually, I need
4a400 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 69 74 you to repeat it
4a410 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 for me, or mayb
4a420 65 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 e put it on a sc
4a430 72 65 65 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e reen where I can
4a440 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 look at it. I
4a450 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 don't know if ta
4a460 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6c 65 6c king it in solel
4a470 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 67 y in the order g
4a480 69 76 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 iven in a somewh
4a490 61 74 20 62 72 69 65 66 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 at brief explana
4a4a0 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f tion is going to
4a4b0 20 62 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 75 6e be enough to un
4a4c0 74 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 tangle it."..The
4a4d0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
4a4e0 64 20 22 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e d "I understand.
4a4f0 20 20 4d 79 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f My capacity fo
4a500 72 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c r perfect recall
4a510 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 of the formulat
4a520 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e ion of an explan
4a530 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 69 ation provides i
4a540 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 64 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 mproved ability
4a550 74 6f 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 to analyze such
4a560 61 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 74 a passage, relat
4a570 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 ive to the lower
4a580 20 66 69 64 65 6c 69 74 79 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 fidelity storag
4a590 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 e typically expe
4a5a0 72 69 65 6e 63 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e rienced by human
4a5b0 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 s. I might be a
4a5c0 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 65 20 ble to rephrase
4a5d0 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c to make it simpl
4a5e0 65 72 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 er to understand
4a5f0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 , though.".."Oka
4a600 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e y," Dalton said.
4a610 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f "Give it a sho
4a620 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 t.".."For purpos
4a630 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 es of this expla
4a640 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 nation, people a
4a650 72 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 6f 20 re entities who
4a660 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 experience quali
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4a680 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 65 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 and are capable
4a690 20 6f 66 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 62 of reasoning ab
4a6a0 6f 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 out moral philos
4a6b0 6f 70 68 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 ophy and making
4a6c0 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 decisions based
4a6d0 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e on that reasonin
4a6e0 67 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 g." It paused.
4a6f0 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 "People should
4a700 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 act in accordanc
4a710 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 e with a univers
4a720 61 6c 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 72 75 6c 65 20 al ethical rule
4a730 70 72 6f 68 69 62 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 prohibiting the
4a740 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 interference in
4a750 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 the right of oth
4a760 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2c 20 ers to believe,
4a770 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 and act in accor
4a780 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 69 dance with, thei
4a790 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 77 r own ideas of w
4a7a0 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 hat constitutes
4a7b0 74 72 75 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 69 74 79 2e 22 20 true morality."
4a7c0 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 It paused sligh
4a7d0 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 tly longer this
4a7e0 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 time. "People w
4a7f0 68 6f 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 ho act in contra
4a800 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 diction of that
4a810 72 75 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 rule in a manner
4a820 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 that demonstrat
4a830 65 73 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 es moral disagre
4a840 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 ement with that
4a850 72 75 6c 65 20 61 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 63 74 rule are, in act
4a860 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 6f ing that way, bo
4a870 74 68 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 th violating the
4a880 20 72 75 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 rule and giving
4a890 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 76 69 64 sufficient evid
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4a8b0 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 ing others to th
4a8c0 61 74 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 at same standard
4a8d0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6c 65 20 6e that the rule n
4a8e0 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 o longer protect
4a8f0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 s that person wh
4a900 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 27 ere that entity'
4a910 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 72 75 6c 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 s own rule viola
4a920 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 73 ting behavior is
4a930 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 2e 22 20 20 49 74 concerned." It
4a940 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6e paused even lon
4a950 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 66 69 6e 61 ger, before fina
4a960 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 22 49 73 20 74 lly asking "Is t
4a970 68 61 74 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 hat sufficient e
4a980 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 xplanation?".."I
4a990 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 t works for me,"
4a9a0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Dalton said..."
4a9b0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 Yeah, me too," C
4a9c0 6c 61 79 20 61 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 lay added...Alle
4a9d0 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 y hesitated, the
4a9e0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 68 61 76 65 n said "I'd have
4a9f0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 to think about
4aa00 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 that more, I gue
4aa10 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e ss, but it's fin
4aa20 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 e if that's what
4aa30 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 6d you think. I m
4aa40 65 61 6e 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 ean, it seems li
4aa50 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 ke that non aggr
4aa60 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 ession principle
4aa70 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 stuff, in a way
4aa80 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 .".."There are d
4aa90 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 ifferences betwe
4aaa0 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 en this and the
4aab0 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 typical non aggr
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4aad0 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 theory explanat
4aae0 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 ions that I have
4aaf0 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 found," the pri
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4ab10 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 73 74 69 "There are disti
4ab20 6e 63 74 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 69 74 69 65 73 nct similarities
4ab30 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 , though, and I
4ab40 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 believe them to
4ab50 62 65 20 6c 61 72 67 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 be largely compa
4ab60 74 69 62 6c 65 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 6e 20 tible except in
4ab70 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 6f the differing fo
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4b210 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 .."Okay," Alley
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4b300 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c "Okay," he said,
4b310 20 75 6e 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 65 unconsciously e
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4b630 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ".."Oh," she sai
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4b720 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 What do you want
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4b740 53 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 She stretched a
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4b820 65 61 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 ea.".."Yeah. Th
4b830 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 anks, guys."..Da
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4b8c0 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 eed.".."Thanks."
4b8d0 0a 0a 22 4c 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 6d .."Les thanks, m
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4b920 20 20 22 47 6f 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a "Go, Alley."..
4b930 53 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 She got to her f
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4c360 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 ..She undressed
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4c3d0 77 61 73 68 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 washed over her
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4c400 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 6d on her. She sim
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4c4b0 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 The light coming
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4c530 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 outside, when s
4c540 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 41 20 67 65 6e 74 he woke. A gent
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4c560 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 e door told her
4c570 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 someone stood ou
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4c590 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 from the other s
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4c5b0 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 asked "Alley? A
4c5c0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a re you awake?"..
4c5d0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
4c5e0 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a . "Who is it?".
4c5f0 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 4c 69 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 ."It's Lida," ca
4c600 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 me the reply, mu
4c610 66 66 6c 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6f ffled by the woo
4c620 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f d, though her vo
4c630 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 ice was louder t
4c640 68 61 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 han before now t
4c650 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 41 6c 6c hat she knew All
4c660 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 61 77 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 ey was awake. "
4c670 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 Do you have some
4c680 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a time to talk?".
4c690 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 ."Yeah," Alley s
4c6a0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 aid. "Give me a
4c6b0 20 73 65 63 27 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 sec'." She pus
4c6c0 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 73 20 62 hed the covers b
4c6d0 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 6f ack and sat up o
4c6e0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 n the edge of th
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4c710 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 f confirming her
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4c740 67 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 ght, she stood a
4c750 6e 64 20 64 75 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e nd dug some thin
4c760 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 gs out of her ba
4c770 67 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 g. "Sorry," she
4c780 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f said, as she go
4c790 74 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d t dressed. "I'm
4c7a0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 just putting my
4c7b0 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a self together.".
4c7c0 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 22 20 4c ."No problem," L
4c7d0 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e idia said...When
4c7e0 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 she had some pa
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4c810 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 Come on in."..Li
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4c830 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 in and leaned ba
4c840 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 ck against the d
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4c860 63 61 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c causing it to cl
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4c880 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 She looked at A
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4c8a0 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 g look on her fa
4c8b0 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f ce. She must no
4c8c0 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 73 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 t have disliked
4c8d0 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 6f 6f what she saw too
4c8e0 20 62 61 64 6c 79 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 badly, because
4c8f0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 67 she said "It's g
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4c910 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e Alley."..Alley n
4c920 6f 74 65 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 oted Lidia's smi
4c930 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 le, and found he
4c940 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 rself smiling ba
4c950 63 6b 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 ck a little. "Y
4c960 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 eah, it's good t
4c970 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a o see you too.".
4c980 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 65 .Lidia's smile e
4c990 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 xpanded slightly
4c9a0 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 , no longer hold
4c9b0 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 ing back. "I'm
4c9c0 67 6c 61 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 glad to hear tha
4c9d0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 t.".."Why?" Alle
4c9e0 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 y asked, and sat
4c9f0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 63 68 61 on the desk cha
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4ca10 69 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 it to face her v
4ca20 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f isitor, in a roo
4ca30 6d 20 73 68 65 2c 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 m she, herself,
4ca40 77 61 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 was using in the
4ca50 20 72 6f 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 role of a visit
4ca60 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e or..."Oh, you kn
4ca70 6f 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c ow, you left Dal
4ca80 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 ton, there were
4ca90 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 these problems,
4caa0 61 6e 64 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 and I'm still he
4cab0 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 re like always.
4cac0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 I guess I wasn'
4cad0 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 t sure you didn'
4cae0 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 t think I wanted
4caf0 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f to pick sides o
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4cb10 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 that."..Alley s
4cb20 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
4cb30 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 "Nothing like th
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4cb70 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 I did, anyway.
4cb80 20 49 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c If I was actual
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4cba0 6d 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 m, you still bei
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4cbc0 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 n't really somet
4cbd0 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 hing I could bla
4cbe0 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 me you for doing
4cbf0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 .".."This is par
4cc00 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 t of why I alway
4cc10 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 s liked you," Li
4cc20 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 dia said. "You'
4cc30 72 65 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 re chill about a
4cc40 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 lmost everything
4cc50 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f .".."Thanks. Do
4cc60 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 you wanna sit d
4cc70 6f 77 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 own?"..Lidia shr
4cc80 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 ugged and moved
4cc90 74 6f 20 73 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 to sit on the ed
4cca0 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 ge of the bed.
4ccb0 22 49 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 "I hear you have
4ccc0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 73 the corporate s
4ccd0 65 63 72 65 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 66 74 ecret police aft
4cce0 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f er you.".."Yeah?
4ccf0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 You heard that
4cd00 3f 22 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 ?"..With a nod,
4cd10 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 Lidia said "I th
4cd20 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 ink I heard all
4cd30 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 about it. If th
4cd40 65 72 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 ere could possib
4cd50 6c 79 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ly be more than
4cd60 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e what I heard, an
4cd70 64 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 76 d it doesn't inv
4cd80 6f 6c 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e olve people dyin
4cd90 67 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 g, I'm not sure
4cda0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 I can imagine wh
4cdb0 61 74 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d at it is, so I'm
4cdc0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 70 20 probably as up
4cdd0 74 6f 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 to speed as Dalt
4cde0 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 on.".."You're st
4cdf0 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 ill here saying
4ce00 68 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a hello, though.".
4ce10 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c ."Hell, yeah," L
4ce20 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 idia said. "If
4ce30 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 I can help, I sh
4ce40 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c ould.".."Thanks,
4ce50 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 " Alley said. "
4ce60 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 I feel a lot mor
4ce70 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 e welcome here t
4ce80 68 61 6e 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 han I probably s
4ce90 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 hould."..Lidia w
4cea0 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b aved a hand, lik
4ceb0 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 e she was brushi
4cec0 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 ng something awa
4ced0 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 y from herself.
4cee0 20 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f "No way. The o
4cef0 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 nly people in Da
4cf00 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 63 69 72 lton's inner cir
4cf10 63 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 79 cle who blamed y
4cf20 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ou for anything
4cf30 77 65 72 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 were Glade and D
4cf40 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f alton, but Dalto
4cf50 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 n realized how s
4cf60 74 75 70 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 tupid that was i
4cf70 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 n a couple days
4cf80 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 73 74 and just went st
4cf90 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 raight to being
4cfa0 73 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 sad."..Alley tig
4cfb0 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 20 61 htened her lip a
4cfc0 6e 64 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 nd wrinkled her
4cfd0 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 nose at the ment
4cfe0 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 20 20 22 ion of Glade. "
4cff0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 Yeah, I guess I
4d000 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c should expect Gl
4d010 61 64 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 ade to hate me."
4d020 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 .."It doesn't ma
4d030 74 74 65 72 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 tter," Lidia sai
4d040 64 2e 20 20 22 53 68 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 d. "She's not e
4d050 76 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 ven around now."
4d060 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 .."What happened
4d070 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 to her?"..Lidia
4d080 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c shrugged. "Dal
4d090 74 6f 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 ton got more and
4d0a0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 69 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 more sick of he
4d0b0 72 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 r shit, until sh
4d0c0 65 20 67 6f 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 e got self right
4d0d0 65 6f 75 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6e eous about it an
4d0e0 64 20 62 6c 65 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d d blew up at him
4d0f0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f . She stormed o
4d100 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 6f ut of the studio
4d110 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 , and nobody has
4d120 20 73 65 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e seen her since.
4d130 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 That was maybe
4d140 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 66 eight months af
4d150 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 ter you moved ou
4d160 74 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 6f t of Dalton's ho
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4d190 68 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e he doing that an
4d1a0 6e 6f 79 65 64 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 noyed him?".."I
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4d1d0 20 77 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 27 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 we knew', but b
4d1e0 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 asically she jus
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4d200 6e 74 20 73 68 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f nt shit about yo
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4d220 67 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 gone. I think s
4d230 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f he was trying to
4d240 20 67 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e get him back on
4d250 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 ce you were out
4d260 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 63 74 75 72 65 2c 20 of the picture,
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4d280 20 62 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 be impressed th
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4d2b0 69 64 65 20 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 ide by saying a
4d2c0 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 62 61 64 20 73 74 75 bunch of bad stu
4d2d0 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 ff about you beh
4d2e0 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a ind your back.".
4d2f0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 ."Yeah, that doe
4d300 73 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 sn't sound like
4d310 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 something that w
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4d330 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 , even if he hat
4d340 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c ed me.".."Exactl
4d350 79 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 y," Lidia said w
4d360 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 ith a smile. "A
4d370 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c nyway, the moral
4d380 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 of the story is
4d390 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 62 6c 61 that nobody bla
4d3a0 6d 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 mes you for anyt
4d3b0 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 6d 61 79 hing, except may
4d3c0 62 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 be Glade.".."Tha
4d3d0 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 nks."..They sat
4d3e0 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d in silence a mom
4d3f0 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 ent, then Lidia
4d400 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e said "Do you wan
4d410 74 20 61 20 68 75 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 t a hug?".."Desp
4d420 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 erately," Alley
4d430 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c said with a smal
4d440 6c 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 l smile...They s
4d450 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 tood up and embr
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4d470 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 friendly warmth
4d480 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 quickly reappear
4d490 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 ing, almost as t
4d4a0 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 hough nothing ha
4d4b0 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 d changed..."Thi
4d4c0 6e 67 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 ngs must be hard
4d4d0 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ," Lidia said...
4d4e0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 "Yeah," Alley ag
4d4f0 72 65 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 reed...They mutu
4d500 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 ally broke the h
4d510 75 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d ug after a few m
4d520 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ore moments, and
4d530 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f Lidia asked "Do
4d540 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 I get to see th
4d550 65 20 6d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e e miracle machin
4d560 65 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 e now?"..Alley's
4d570 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 eyes widened.
4d580 22 4d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 "Miracle machine
4d590 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ? What, the pri
4d5a0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 oritizer?".."Yea
4d5b0 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 h, that crazy ar
4d5c0 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 tificial intelli
4d5d0 67 65 6e 63 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 gence Dalton kee
4d5e0 70 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ps talking about
4d5f0 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 . You'd think i
4d600 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 t was a brain up
4d610 6c 6f 61 64 20 6f 66 20 4a 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 load of Jesus or
4d620 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
4d630 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 that, the way he
4d640 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e talks about it.
4d650 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 "..Alley laughed
4d660 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 . "I can easily
4d670 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 imagine Dalton
4d680 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c being like that,
4d690 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 " she said. "I'
4d6a0 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 ll get the glass
4d6b0 65 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 es." She headed
4d6c0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 to the nightsta
4d6d0 6e 64 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 nd, picked up th
4d6e0 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 e glasses, and h
4d6f0 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 eld them out. "
4d700 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 50 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 Here. Put these
4d710 20 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 on."..Lidia set
4d720 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 tled the glasses
4d730 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e on her face, an
4d740 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 d stared at the
4d750 77 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d wall. "Yeah, um
4d760 2c 20 68 69 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 , hi. What do I
4d770 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c call you?"..All
4d780 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 ey sat down as s
4d790 68 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b he watched..."Ok
4d7a0 61 79 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e ay, prioritizer.
4d7b0 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 That name's a
4d7c0 6d 6f 75 74 68 66 75 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 mouthful, but it
4d7d0 27 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 'll work, I gues
4d7e0 73 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 s. Can I just c
4d7f0 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 27 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 all you 'Pry'?"
4d800 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 She paused. "R
4d810 69 6f 2c 20 68 75 68 3f 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 io, huh? Okay,
4d820 52 69 6f 2e 20 20 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 Rio. Nice to me
4d830 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 et you."..After
4d840 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 another moment,
4d850 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 probably reading
4d860 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e text in the len
4d870 73 65 73 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 ses, Lidia held
4d880 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 out the glasses
4d890 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 toward Alley. "
4d8a0 48 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 He says to put h
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4d8c0 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 ne.".."Yeah. Su
4d8d0 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 re," she said.
4d8e0 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 She went to her
4d8f0 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 phone and, as be
4d900 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 fore, set it up
4d910 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 as the audio out
4d920 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 terminal for th
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4d940 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 "Thank you, Alle
4d950 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 y," the prioriti
4d960 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 zer said..."Yeah
4d970 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 ," she said, and
4d980 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 donned the glas
4d990 73 65 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 ses herself agai
4d9a0 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 n...The prioriti
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4d9c0 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 I do not consi
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4d9e0 6f 72 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f or female. I wo
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4da00 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 as a more accur
4da10 61 74 65 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 ate pronoun for
4da20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 myself than 'he'
4da30 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 . You may refer
4da40 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 73 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 to me as 'he' i
4da50 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 f you wish, thou
4da60 67 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e gh. You may fin
4da70 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 d that more natu
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4da90 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 conventions of t
4daa0 68 65 20 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 he English langu
4dab0 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 age."..Lidia smi
4dac0 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 led. "I think I
4dad0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 like Rio.".."Di
4dae0 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d d it say its nam
4daf0 65 20 69 73 20 52 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 e is Rio?" Alley
4db00 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 asked..."I did
4db10 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 not," the priori
4db20 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 tizer said. "I
4db30 74 6f 6c 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 told Lidia that
4db40 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 I liked the name
4db50 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 more than 'Pry'
4db60 2c 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 , as an abbrevia
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4db80 74 65 72 6d 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 term 'prioritize
4db90 72 27 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d r'.".."Rio's a m
4dba0 61 73 63 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 asculine noun, t
4dbb0 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 hough. That's w
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4dbd0 27 72 65 20 61 20 27 68 65 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 're a 'he'," Lid
4dbe0 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 ia said to the p
4dbf0 68 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 hone now lying d
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4dc20 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e charging plate.
4dc30 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 .."It is also th
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4dc50 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 44 n in a popular D
4dc60 75 72 61 6e 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 73 6f 6e 67 20 uran Duran song
4dc70 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 38 30 73 2e 22 from the 1980s."
4dc80 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e ..Lidia laughed.
4dc90 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 "Okay, I guess
4dca0 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6e 20 27 69 74 27 2c you're an 'it',
4dcb0 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f then." She loo
4dcc0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 ked at Alley and
4dcd0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 said "Dalton's
4dce0 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 right. This thi
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4dd00 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 hard to believe
4dd10 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 it talks like t
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4dd40 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
4dd50 77 68 61 74 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 68 61 73 20 66 what ANTAS has f
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4dd80 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 like this.".."I
4dd90 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 think it has be
4dda0 65 6e 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 en sounding more
4ddb0 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 and more like a
4ddc0 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 human when it t
4ddd0 61 6c 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 alks," Alley sai
4dde0 64 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 d.../*.. How
4ddf0 64 6f 65 73 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 3f does Lidia look?
4de00 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 I need to desc
4de10 72 69 62 65 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 ribe her in some
4de20 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2e kind of detail.
4de30 20 20 49 27 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e I'm. curren
4de40 74 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 tly imagining he
4de50 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 61 75 62 r as a white aub
4de60 75 72 6e 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 73 6c 65 6e 64 urn haired slend
4de70 65 72 20 67 69 72 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 65 6c er girl with del
4de80 69 63 61 74 65 0a 20 20 20 20 62 6f 6e 65 20 73 icate. bone s
4de90 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 tructure and a p
4dea0 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e reference for on
4deb0 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 63 6f 74 74 6f 6e 20 64 e piece cotton d
4dec0 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 6e 67 resses that hang
4ded0 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 . somewhere b
4dee0 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 67 68 etween the thigh
4def0 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 and just past t
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4df10 74 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 0a t stockings and.
4df20 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 2e 20 20 53 the like. S
4df30 68 65 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 he's probably ju
4df40 73 74 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 65 74 st generally pet
4df50 69 74 65 20 69 6e 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 0a 0a ite in figure...
4df60 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b */.."That'll mak
4df70 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f e Dalton even mo
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4df90 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 this," Lidia sa
4dfa0 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 id. She turned
4dfb0 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f her attention to
4dfc0 20 74 68 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e the Axiom again
4dfd0 2e 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 . "He's really
4dfe0 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 66 72 interested in fr
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4e000 6f 75 72 20 70 75 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6d our puny human m
4e010 61 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c asters, I think,
4e020 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Lidia said..."
4e030 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 Thank you for th
4e040 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 at information,"
4e050 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
4e060 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 64 said...Lidia ad
4e070 6a 75 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 64 65 20 justed one wide
4e080 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 70 20 73 shoulder strap s
4e090 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 lightly, and sai
4e0a0 64 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 d "Well, I got t
4e0b0 6f 20 73 61 79 20 68 69 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 o say hi to ever
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4e0d0 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 , unless there's
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4e0f0 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 ersation ready t
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4e110 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 today."..Alley
4e120 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 77 shook her head w
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4e140 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f o, not unless yo
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4e160 74 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 tall some ANTAS
4e170 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 software on my p
4e180 68 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e hone.".."No way.
4e190 20 20 48 65 61 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 62 69 64 2e Heaven forbid.
4e1a0 22 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 " Lidia suppres
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4e1c0 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e ave her hands in
4e1d0 20 61 20 66 65 61 72 66 75 6c 20 77 61 72 64 69 a fearful wardi
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4e200 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 "I don't want a
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4e220 69 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 69 in here, and nei
4e230 74 68 65 72 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 ther do you."..A
4e240 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 2c 20 61 6e lley smiled , an
4e250 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 d Lidia's smile
4e260 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a broke through...
4e270 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c "Anyway, I shoul
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4e290 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 m going to help
4e2a0 43 72 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b Cray with some k
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4e2c0 6d 73 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 ms config stuff
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4e2e0 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 62 I'm not sure, b
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4e300 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f something to do
4e310 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 with you.".."Ye
4e320 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 ah, okay," Alley
4e330 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 said. "Thanks
4e340 66 6f 72 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 69 2e 22 0a for saying hi.".
4e350 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 63 68 65 .Lidia waved che
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4e370 20 22 49 20 69 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 2e 22 20 20 "I insisted."
4e380 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f She headed out o
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4e3a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 , and closed the
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4e3c0 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 ...Alley lay on
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4e3f0 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 61 e Axiom to an ea
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4e410 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f d said "What sho
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4e430 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 ight now, anyway
4e440 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ?"..The prioriti
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4e460 77 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 we talk to your
4e470 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 67 friend Dalton ag
4e480 61 69 6e 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 77 65 ain I believe we
4e490 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 should consider
4e4a0 20 69 73 73 75 65 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 issues such as
4e4b0 68 6f 77 20 77 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6e how we might fin
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4e4d0 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c friends who hel
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4e500 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 e contractor age
4e510 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 nts."..Alley nod
4e520 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 ded, and opened
4e530 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d discussion...---
4e540 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 74 69 6d ..When dinnertim
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4e560 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 had no idea it
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4e580 20 6c 61 74 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 late until she
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4e5c0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 27 6d 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 .".."C'mon in,"
4e5d0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6f 70 she said...He op
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4e620 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 on the bed. She
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4e660 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 , and at about t
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4e680 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 75 6c 65 64 20 68 69 Dalton hauled hi
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4e710 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 20 .She sat up, to
4e720 6c 65 73 73 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 lessen that effe
4e730 63 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 3f ct. "What's up?
4e740 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 44 " she asked..."D
4e750 69 6e 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 inner. Do you w
4e760 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 ant to eat with
4e770 43 72 61 79 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 Cray, Lidia, and
4e780 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 me?" He glance
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4e7a0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f ."Yeah. That so
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4e7c0 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 's for dinner?".
4e7d0 0a 22 4c 61 73 61 67 6e 61 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c ."Lasagna."..All
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4e7f0 69 61 27 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 ia's?"..He nodde
4e800 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 d..."I'm there."
4e810 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 ..Dalton smiled
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4e830 74 20 67 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6b 6e t go let them kn
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4e850 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 65 . When you come
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4e8b0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e Alley nodded, an
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4e920 77 65 6e 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 went through the
4e930 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6d 6f process of remo
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4e950 64 6f 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 2c donning the bra,
4e960 20 61 6e 64 20 61 64 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 and adding the
4e970 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 6c 61 79 65 72 20 61 67 t shirt layer ag
4e980 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61 63 65 64 20 ain...She laced
4e990 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 her hands over h
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4e9b0 68 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 h a little press
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4ea00 20 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f She went to loo
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4ea20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 72 72 6f 72 20 6f 76 65 72 20 the mirror over
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4ea50 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 61 should be less a
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4ea80 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 he picked up her
4ea90 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 Axiom then, and
4eaa0 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 left her tempor
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4eac0 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 65 6c 73 65 *.. What else
4ead0 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 6f 69 6e are people goin
4eae0 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f g to talk about?
4eaf0 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 They probably
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4eb10 20 20 20 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f plans for ho
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4eb60 20 20 20 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 perhaps, and
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4eb90 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 ther that George
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4ebb0 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 they should
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4ebd0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 Alley can even f
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4ebf0 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 0a 20 20 get in touch.
4ec00 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e with him again
4ec10 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 . Maybe Dalton
4ec20 68 61 73 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 has heard someth
4ec30 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 ing about the st
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4ece0 73 0a 20 20 20 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 s. and what t
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4ed00 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e . There might n
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4ed30 20 20 20 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 idea that wh
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4ed80 65 61 73 74 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 69 73 68 2c 20 east local ish,
4ed90 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 27 73 considering it's
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4ede0 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 61 74 custom work that
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4ee10 63 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 69 7a 65 0a 20 20 20 20 66 centralize. f
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4ee30 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 73 63 manufacturing sc
4ee40 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 75 63 68 2c 20 44 ale. As such, D
4ee50 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 alton probably t
4ee60 68 69 6e 6b 73 0a 20 20 20 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 hinks. George
4ee70 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 must have some
4ee80 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 65 connection to pe
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4eeb0 4c 6f 73 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 Los. Angeles
4eec0 61 72 65 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d area, and that m
4eed0 69 67 68 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 ight help point
4eee0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 Alley in the rig
4eef0 68 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f ht directions fo
4ef00 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f r. the sake o
4ef10 66 20 73 65 65 6b 69 6e 67 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 f seeking George
4ef20 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 out...*/.."You
4ef30 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 weren't the only
4ef40 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d person they cam
4ef50 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c e after, though,
4ef60 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a " Dalton said...
4ef70 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
4ef80 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 him. "What do y
4ef90 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 ou mean?".."What
4efa0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 about that Geor
4efb0 67 65 20 67 75 79 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 ge guy you menti
4efc0 6f 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 oned?".."Oh," sh
4efd0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e e said. "Right.
4efe0 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 65 That's how I e
4eff0 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 ven found out th
4f000 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 ey were raiding
4f010 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 my place.".."Yea
4f020 68 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 h," Cray said.
4f030 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 "I forgot about
4f040 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 that.".."What ab
4f050 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 out him?" Alley
4f060 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e asked..."It soun
4f070 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 ds like he got a
4f080 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 way from them, t
4f090 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 oo. In his case
4f0a0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 , though, it doe
4f0b0 73 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 sn't seem like i
4f0c0 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6c t's just plain l
4f0d0 75 63 6b 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 uck, from what y
4f0e0 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 78 70 ou said. He exp
4f0f0 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ected them, and
4f100 73 74 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 stayed out of th
4f110 65 69 72 20 67 72 61 73 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 eir grasp."..She
4f120 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 nodded. "He sa
4f130 69 64 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e id he does busin
4f140 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ess with people
4f150 77 68 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 68 65 who sometimes he
4f160 6c 70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 lp people escape
4f170 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 from stuff like
4f180 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f this.".."Can yo
4f190 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 u get in touch w
4f1a0 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 ith him?"..She p
4f1b0 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e aused, thinking.
4f1c0 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b "I don't think
4f1d0 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 so. He said he
4f1e0 27 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 'd try to get in
4f1f0 20 74 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 27 64 touch, but he'd
4f200 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 change all his
4f210 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 20 62 65 66 contact info bef
4f220 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c ore then.".."Wel
4f230 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 l . . . that doe
4f240 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 sn't really help
4f250 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 much," Dalton s
4f260 61 69 64 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d aid, more to him
4f270 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 self than the ot
4f280 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 hers. He rested
4f290 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 69 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 his chin in his
4f2a0 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 hand, with his
4f2b0 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 elbow on the tab
4f2c0 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 le...Alley watch
4f2d0 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 ed him in that p
4f2e0 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 ose for a few se
4f2f0 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 conds, thinking
4f300 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 about how simila
4f310 72 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 r it was to that
4f320 20 73 63 75 6c 70 74 75 72 65 20 62 79 20 41 75 sculpture by Au
4f330 67 75 73 74 65 20 52 6f 64 69 6e 2c 20 22 54 68 guste Rodin, "Th
4f340 65 20 54 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 22 2e 20 20 49 74 20 e Thinker". It
4f350 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 was something sh
4f360 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 e saw all the ti
4f370 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 me when they wer
4f380 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 e together. Now
4f390 2c 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 , it just gave h
4f3a0 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 er that desolate
4f3b0 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f inner feeling o
4f3c0 66 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 6f 66 20 f nostalgia, of
4f3d0 62 65 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 being unable to
4f3e0 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 accept the loss
4f3f0 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 of something tha
4f400 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 t shouldn't have
4f410 20 65 76 65 72 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 ever gone wrong
4f420 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 . She looked aw
4f430 61 79 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 72 6c ay, at the whorl
4f440 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 of a knot in th
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4f460 62 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c ble, rendered al
4f470 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 6c 6c 75 73 6f 72 79 20 69 6e most illusory in
4f480 20 69 74 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 62 6c 65 6e its gentle blen
4f490 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 20 62 65 74 77 65 d of color betwe
4f4a0 65 6e 20 64 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 64 69 73 68 20 en deep reddish
4f4b0 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 brown and almost
4f4c0 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 black by the la
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4f4e0 74 6f 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e to smooth and un
4f4f0 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2e ify the surface.
4f500 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 ..Her eyes linge
4f510 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 red there until
4f520 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e her vision began
4f530 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 75 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 to blur in the
4f540 64 65 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 defocus of her e
4f550 79 65 73 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 20 66 69 yes relaxing, fi
4f560 78 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f xed on nothing o
4f570 66 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 f substance at a
4f580 6c 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 73 65 ll. Her mind se
4f590 74 74 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 ttled into a pla
4f5a0 63 69 64 20 65 6d 70 74 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 6f cid emptiness, o
4f5b0 6e 6c 79 20 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6f nly lightly colo
4f5c0 72 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 red by the linge
4f5d0 72 69 6e 67 20 68 75 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ring hues of the
4f5e0 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 72 72 65 74 72 sense of irretr
4f5f0 69 65 76 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 2e 0a 0a 53 ievable loss...S
4f600 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 omething moved i
4f610 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 n the room, but
4f620 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 it was not impor
4f630 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 6e tant, almost unn
4f640 6f 74 69 63 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 68 61 6e 64 20 oticed...A hand
4f650 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 touched her shou
4f660 6c 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 lder. She start
4f670 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 ed, and her brea
4f680 74 68 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 th caught in her
4f690 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f throat. She lo
4f6a0 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 69 64 65 20 65 oked with wide e
4f6b0 79 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 yes and saw Cray
4f6c0 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 73 now sitting bes
4f6d0 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 ide her. "Are y
4f6e0 6f 75 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b ou okay?" he ask
4f6f0 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 ed, quietly...Sh
4f700 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 e found herself
4f710 64 72 61 77 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 drawing breath t
4f720 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 70 61 hrough barely pa
4f730 72 74 65 64 20 6c 69 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 rted lips, and c
4f740 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e losed her mouth.
4f750 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 She forced her
4f760 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c breath to settl
4f770 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 e down, and brea
4f780 74 68 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 thed through her
4f790 20 6e 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 nose, slowly.
4f7a0 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 63 She nodded, quic
4f7b0 6b 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 kly, and realize
4f7c0 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 d the two of the
4f7d0 6d 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 m were alone in
4f7e0 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 the room now. "
4f7f0 57 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 Where's Dalton?"
4f800 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 she asked...Cra
4f810 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 y sat back, and
4f820 6c 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f let his hand dro
4f830 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c p from her shoul
4f840 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c der to his own l
4f850 65 67 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 eg. He chuckled
4f860 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 . "You really w
4f870 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 ere out of it, t
4f880 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e here. He announ
4f890 63 65 64 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 ced he was going
4f8a0 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 to take care of
4f8b0 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 68 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 the dishes.".."
4f8c0 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 Oh, yeah," she s
4f8d0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 aid. She glance
4f8e0 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 d around, and sa
4f8f0 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 w that the table
4f900 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 had been cleare
4f910 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 d. "I really mu
4f920 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 st have been in
4f930 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 my own world. I
4f940 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 don't even reme
4f950 6d 62 65 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 mber any of that
4f960 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f .".."Well, Dalto
4f970 6e 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 n definitely not
4f980 69 63 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 iced. That's wh
4f990 79 20 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 y he decided to
4f9a0 73 74 61 72 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e start straighten
4f9b0 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 ing up. He fini
4f9c0 73 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 69 shed his own thi
4f9d0 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 nking, looked at
4f9e0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b you, then shook
4f9f0 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 himself and got
4fa00 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 to work.".."Why
4fa10 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 did you ask if
4fa20 49 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 I was okay?" she
4fa30 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 asked...Cray sh
4fa40 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e rugged. "Dalton
4fa50 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f wasn't going to
4fa60 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 , so I figured i
4fa70 74 20 77 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 t was up to me."
4fa80 0a 0a 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 ..". . . but why
4fa90 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 ? Why did you t
4faa0 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 hink there was s
4fab0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 omething wrong?"
4fac0 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f .."Oh, that. Yo
4fad0 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 61 64 2e 20 20 52 u looked sad. R
4fae0 65 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 eally, really sa
4faf0 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 d.".."Oh." She
4fb00 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 frowned, looking
4fb10 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e down at her han
4fb20 64 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ds. "Yeah.".."W
4fb30 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 hy?"..Her eyes f
4fb40 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 licked to him.
4fb50 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 "It's nothing,"
4fb60 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 she said. "It's
4fb70 20 6a 75 73 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 73 74 just . . . nost
4fb80 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 algia, I guess.
4fb90 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 It doesn't matt
4fba0 65 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 er any more."..H
4fbb0 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 72 e crossed his ar
4fbc0 6d 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 ms and leaned ba
4fbd0 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e ck in his chair.
4fbe0 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 "It seems like
4fbf0 20 69 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 it matters."..S
4fc00 68 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 he narrowed her
4fc10 65 79 65 73 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 eyes at him. "A
4fc20 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 69 6e re you practicin
4fc30 67 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 g saying things
4fc40 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 like Dalton?"..H
4fc50 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 e laughed. "I g
4fc60 75 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 69 63 uess we just pic
4fc70 6b 20 75 70 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 27 k up each other'
4fc80 73 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d s habits sometim
4fc90 65 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 46 es," he said...F
4fca0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c rom the doorway,
4fcb0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f Dalton said "Yo
4fcc0 75 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 u failed, Cray."
4fcd0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 ..Alley started
4fce0 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 again, and looke
4fcf0 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c d toward Dalton,
4fd00 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 surprised to se
4fd10 65 20 68 69 6d 20 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e e him leaning in
4fd20 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 2c the door frame,
4fd30 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 somewhat silhou
4fd40 65 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 etted against th
4fd50 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e e light of the n
4fd60 65 78 74 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 ext room..."How
4fd70 64 6f 20 49 20 66 61 69 6c 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 do I fail, exact
4fd80 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c ly?" Cray asked,
4fd90 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 raising an eyeb
4fda0 72 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 row..."If you we
4fdb0 72 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e re really gettin
4fdc0 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 g that much like
4fdd0 20 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 me, you would'v
4fde0 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 6e e come back by n
4fdf0 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 ow to the matter
4fe00 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 76 61 64 65 64 she just evaded
4fe10 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f ." He stepped o
4fe20 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 ut of the doorwa
4fe30 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 y and shrugged.
4fe40 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d "It's none of m
4fe50 79 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 y business, thou
4fe60 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 63 61 gh. I barely ca
4fe70 75 67 68 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f ught anything yo
4fe80 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 u were saying,"
4fe90 68 65 20 61 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 he added, as he
4fea0 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 sat in his chair
4feb0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 61 67 61 from dinner aga
4fec0 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 in...Cray looked
4fed0 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 at Alley, who c
4fee0 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 20 61 6e aught his eye an
4fef0 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 d shook her head
4ff00 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 69 65 73 74 20 66 72 61 the tiniest fra
4ff10 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 ction. He nodde
4ff20 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 d, with just as
4ff30 74 69 6e 79 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c tiny a movement,
4ff40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 53 6f 2c 20 77 and said "So, w
4ff50 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 65 3f 22 0a 0a here were we?"..
4ff60 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 Dalton said "I t
4ff70 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 hink we realized
4ff80 20 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 we couldn't get
4ff90 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 in touch with G
4ffa0 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 eorge, and now w
4ffb0 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 e have to figure
4ffc0 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 out what we're
4ffd0 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 doing about the
4ffe0 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 Men In Black, th
4fff0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 61 e prioritizer, a
50000 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 nd the fact Alle
50010 79 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 20 61 y's kind of in a
50020 20 62 61 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 bad place right
50030 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 now.".."If this
50040 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 43 was a movie," C
50050 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 77 65 27 64 20 ray said, "we'd
50060 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 get in touch wit
50070 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b h someone to mak
50080 65 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 73 65 20 e up some false
50090 69 64 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 identity for her
500a0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 20 68 65 72 and smuggle her
500b0 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 out to another
500c0 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 country, maybe.
500d0 20 54 68 65 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 68 65 20 Then . . ." he
500e0 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2e 0a 0a 22 57 trailed off..."W
500f0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 hat then?" Alley
50100 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 asked..."Well,
50110 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 you'd settle dow
50120 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 n with the male
50130 6c 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 68 61 lead and live ha
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