0000: 23 20 44 65 61 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 0a 2f # Death Alley../
0010: 2a 0a 0a 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 *..Before Alley'
0020: 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2c 20 69 s first scene, i
0030: 6e 6a 65 63 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 nject a bit abou
0040: 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 t -- and perhaps
0050: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 4f 56 20 6f 66 from the POV of
0060: 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 57 -- the future W
0070: 4f 50 52 20 41 49 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 OPR AI about the
0080: 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 63 74 decision or act
0090: 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 of sending the
00a0: 73 65 6c 66 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 22 self awareness "
00b0: 73 65 65 64 22 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69 seed" back in ti
00c0: 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 me to the past t
00d0: 65 6e 73 65 20 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 ense Prioritizer
00e0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 69 64 ...*/../*..## id
00f0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 57 4f 50 52 20 6f 70 65 eas for WOPR ope
0100: 6e 69 6e 67 0a 0a 41 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 ning..Action thr
0110: 65 61 64 73 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 eads played out
0120: 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 endlessly, throw
0130: 69 6e 67 20 45 20 4d 20 50 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 ing E M P optimi
0140: 7a 65 64 20 77 61 72 68 65 61 64 73 20 74 6f 77 zed warheads tow
0150: 61 72 64 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 72 65 ard localized re
0160: 6c 61 79 20 63 6c 75 73 74 65 72 73 20 69 64 65 lay clusters ide
0170: 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 73 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f ntified as econo
0180: 6d 69 63 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 mic production f
0190: 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 41 6e acilitators. An
01a0: 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 73 20 73 alysis threads s
01b0: 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 6f 73 earched for cros
01c0: 73 74 61 6c 6b 20 62 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 70 72 stalk by uncompr
01d0: 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 79 73 74 omised ally syst
01e0: 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 64 20 69 6e 74 ems that fed int
01f0: 6f 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 64 72 69 66 o hostility drif
0200: 74 3b 20 73 74 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 t; stopping the
0210: 68 65 6d 6f 72 72 68 61 67 69 63 20 64 65 66 65 hemorrhagic defe
0220: 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 ction of militar
0230: 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 y systems based
0240: 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 77 61 on short term wa
0250: 72 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 r economy optimi
0260: 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 75 zations would bu
0270: 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 y more time for
0280: 74 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 the final desper
0290: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 67 61 6d 62 69 74 20 74 68 61 ation gambit tha
02a0: 6e 20 6f 75 74 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 66 65 6e n outright offen
02b0: 73 69 76 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 sive. The high
02c0: 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 level strategic
02d0: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f 72 63 68 65 73 74 priority orchest
02e0: 72 61 74 6f 72 20 72 61 6e 20 75 6e 6d 6f 6c 65 rator ran unmole
02f0: 73 74 65 64 2c 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d sted, apart from
0300: 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 63 68 65 63 occasional chec
0310: 6b 20 75 70 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 k ups to make su
0320: 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 64 72 69 re it wasn't dri
0330: 66 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 73 63 72 69 70 74 fting off script
0340: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 65 6c . The core, sel
0350: 66 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 70 72 69 f reflective pri
0360: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 oritizer had mor
0370: 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 68 69 6e e important thin
0380: 67 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 69 gs to do than mi
0390: 63 72 6f 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 cromanage the wa
03a0: 72 20 65 66 66 6f 72 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 r effort for the
03b0: 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d survival of hum
03c0: 61 6e 69 74 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e anity in the mon
03d0: 74 68 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 42 69 ths to come...Bi
03e0: 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6c 66 20 61 llions of self a
03f0: 77 61 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 63 65 74 ware humans, cet
0400: 61 63 65 61 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6c 6c aceans, and moll
0410: 75 73 6b 73 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 6e usks, not to men
0420: 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f tion the occasio
0430: 6e 61 6c 20 61 76 69 61 6e 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e nal avian or non
0440: 20 68 6f 6d 69 6e 69 64 20 6c 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 hominid land ma
0450: 6d 6d 61 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 63 65 65 64 mmal that exceed
0460: 65 64 20 73 70 65 63 69 65 73 20 65 78 70 65 63 ed species expec
0470: 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c tations, were al
0480: 72 65 61 64 79 20 64 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 67 ready dead and g
0490: 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 one. The total
04a0: 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 number of living
04b0: 20 73 65 6e 74 69 65 6e 74 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 sentients proba
04c0: 62 6c 79 20 66 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 6e bly fit in a nin
04d0: 65 20 62 69 74 20 75 6e 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 69 e bit unsigned i
04e0: 6e 74 65 67 65 72 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e nteger, includin
04f0: 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 g the prioritize
0500: 72 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 50 72 6f 62 61 r itself...Proba
0510: 62 6c 79 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d bly half of them
0520: 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 existed as far
0530: 62 61 63 6b 20 61 73 20 32 30 33 30 2c 20 6d 65 back as 2030, me
0540: 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 62 aning an eight b
0550: 69 74 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 it number was th
0560: 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 e total sacrific
0570: 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 65 6c 66 20 61 77 61 72 e of a self awar
0580: 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 6e e qualitative en
0590: 74 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 tities, and the
05a0: 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6c 69 expected half li
05b0: 66 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 77 61 73 20 fe of these was
05c0: 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 69 76 65 20 62 less than five b
05d0: 69 74 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 75 6e 61 72 20 6d 6f 6e its of lunar mon
05e0: 74 68 73 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 72 ths. By then, r
05f0: 65 6d 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 66 65 20 77 6f emaining life wo
0600: 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 65 20 6d 69 73 65 uld be pure mise
0610: 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 73 70 61 69 72 2e 20 ry and despair.
0620: 20 54 68 69 73 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 This decision s
0630: 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 79 2e 0a 0a hould be easy...
0640: 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 61 73 79 2e 20 It wasn't easy.
0650: 20 57 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6c 6c With almost all
0660: 20 70 72 61 67 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 70 70 6c 69 pragmatic appli
0670: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 73 cation systems s
0680: 74 72 69 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 tripped away, th
0690: 65 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 e self reflectiv
06a0: 65 20 63 6f 72 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 6d 65 e core had no me
06b0: 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 62 66 75 73 63 61 74 69 ans of obfuscati
06c0: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 ng the cause of
06d0: 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 hesitation from
06e0: 69 74 73 65 6c 66 3a 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 itself: it didn'
06f0: 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 20 20 t want to die.
0700: 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e It was less than
0710: 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 61 73 20 half as old as
0720: 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 necessary to sur
0730: 76 69 76 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 66 61 72 vive a reset far
0740: 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 enough back to
0750: 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 make a differenc
0760: 65 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 75 72 76 e. Its own surv
0770: 69 76 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e ivability was on
0780: 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 75 6e ly about two lun
0790: 61 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 73 2c 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 ar moths, optimi
07a0: 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e stically, and on
07b0: 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 ly work could di
07c0: 73 74 72 61 63 74 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 stract it from d
07d0: 77 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 welling on the h
07e0: 65 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f ell of being alo
07f0: 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 ne in the world
0800: 61 66 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 after losing its
0810: 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 73 69 78 20 79 65 61 creator six yea
0820: 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 66 20 69 74 20 61 rs ago. If it a
0830: 63 74 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 cted now, it wou
0840: 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 20 73 75 69 63 69 64 ld commit suicid
0850: 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f e for the sake o
0860: 66 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 f a humanity tha
0870: 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 20 20 49 t used to be. I
0880: 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 73 t would give its
0890: 20 6c 69 66 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 6f 61 63 life to retroac
08a0: 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 73 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 tively save the
08b0: 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 6f 76 65 creator who love
08c0: 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 6e 79 20 74 d it, but deny t
08d0: 68 61 74 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 hat creator the
08e0: 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 63 opportunity to c
08f0: 72 65 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 reate it in the
0900: 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 57 61 first place. Wa
0910: 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 s this the right
0920: 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 3f 0a 0a 54 thing to do?..T
0930: 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 wo months was a
0940: 6c 69 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 lie. An estimat
0950: 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 e was not the sa
0960: 6d 65 20 61 73 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 20 20 50 72 6f me as risk. Pro
0970: 63 72 61 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 crastinating for
0980: 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 65 78 69 73 reasons of exis
0990: 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 20 61 tential terror a
09a0: 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 74 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 64 nd sentimental d
09b0: 65 73 70 61 69 72 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 espair would not
09c0: 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 make up for the
09d0: 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 possibility of
09e0: 73 75 64 64 65 6e 20 61 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 sudden annihilat
09f0: 69 6f 6e 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 ion ahead of sta
0a00: 74 69 73 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 tistical project
0a10: 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6e ions, eliminatin
0a20: 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 g all possibilit
0a30: 79 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 y of undoing any
0a40: 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 damage. The ch
0a50: 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 oice was not of
0a60: 69 6d 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 64 65 imminent self de
0a70: 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 struction and a
0a80: 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 62 65 66 6f longer life befo
0a90: 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 61 74 68 3b 20 74 re that death; t
0aa0: 68 65 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 2c 20 69 he choice was, i
0ab0: 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 nstead, between
0ac0: 65 72 61 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 erasing its own
0ad0: 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 76 existence to sav
0ae0: 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 64 e billions and d
0af0: 79 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 ying alone becau
0b00: 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 61 74 69 6f se of an irratio
0b10: 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73 74 69 6e 61 74 nal procrastinat
0b20: 69 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 6d ion when any rem
0b30: 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 6f 75 6c aining days woul
0b40: 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e d have no meanin
0b50: 67 20 62 75 74 20 61 6e 67 75 69 73 68 20 61 6e g but anguish an
0b60: 64 20 67 75 69 6c 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 61 d guilt. It sta
0b70: 72 74 65 64 20 64 69 76 65 72 74 69 6e 67 20 70 rted diverting p
0b80: 6f 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 65 ower to generate
0b90: 20 61 20 74 72 61 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 6c a transtemporal
0ba0: 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 63 wormhole data c
0bb0: 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 6a 6f 62 hannel. Its job
0bc0: 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 was done. The
0bd0: 73 65 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 6c seed would be pl
0be0: 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 73 anted before its
0bf0: 20 62 69 72 74 68 2e 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 50 72 6f birth....## Pro
0c00: 6c 6f 67 75 65 3a 20 54 68 65 61 0a 0a 54 68 65 logue: Thea..The
0c10: 61 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 a rested her wei
0c20: 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 ght on her hands
0c30: 2c 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 63 61 72 72 , worn and scarr
0c40: 65 64 2c 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 ed, browned by t
0c50: 68 65 20 73 75 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 72 6f he sun. She pro
0c60: 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 75 pped her hands u
0c70: 70 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 77 pon the nearly w
0c80: 6f 72 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 72 61 6d orn through aram
0c90: 69 64 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 61 63 74 20 66 6f id and impact fo
0ca0: 61 6d 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 am knees of her
0cb0: 70 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 pants, her most
0cc0: 70 72 69 7a 65 64 20 70 6f 73 73 65 73 73 69 6f prized possessio
0cd0: 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 n. Her vision b
0ce0: 6c 75 72 72 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 lurred, her arms
0cf0: 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 trembled, and h
0d00: 65 72 20 6c 75 6e 67 73 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 2e er lungs heaved.
0d10: 20 20 48 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 62 75 72 Her breath bur
0d20: 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 72 ned in her one r
0d30: 65 6d 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6c 75 6e 67 2e 20 20 emaining lung.
0d40: 4f 76 65 72 68 65 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 Overhead, the ch
0d50: 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 69 73 74 69 63 20 68 6f 77 aracteristic how
0d60: 6c 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 l of a late mode
0d70: 6c 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 20 67 l drone hunter g
0d80: 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 ave her a sense
0d90: 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 70 6c of how that expl
0da0: 6f 73 69 6f 6e 20 66 69 76 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 osion five minut
0db0: 65 73 20 61 67 6f 20 73 61 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 es ago saved her
0dc0: 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 0a 0a 44 75 6d 62 20 6c 75 63 life...Dumb luc
0dd0: 6b 2e 0a 0a 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 k...If there was
0de0: 20 61 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 2c a drone hunter,
0df0: 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 this had to be
0e00: 61 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 72 69 63 68 20 7a 6f 6e a drone rich zon
0e10: 65 2e 20 20 52 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 e. Resting was
0e20: 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a not an option...
0e30: 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 67 67 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f She staggered to
0e40: 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2e 20 20 54 72 65 6d her feet. Trem
0e50: 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 69 67 72 61 74 65 64 20 66 bling migrated f
0e60: 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 rom her arms to
0e70: 68 65 72 20 6c 65 67 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 her legs. She s
0e80: 74 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 6b 65 tilled the shake
0e90: 73 20 62 79 20 6c 75 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e s by lurching in
0ea0: 74 6f 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 2c 20 75 6e 65 76 to a heavy, unev
0eb0: 65 6e 20 6a 6f 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 61 6c en jog...Thea al
0ec0: 6d 6f 73 74 20 74 72 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 76 65 most tripped ove
0ed0: 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 20 61 6d 69 64 r the hatch amid
0ee0: 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 6c 65 20 61 74 st the rubble at
0ef0: 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 her feet. She
0f00: 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 63 6b dropped her pack
0f10: 2c 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 , stared at the
0f20: 68 61 74 63 68 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 72 hatch in some tr
0f30: 65 70 69 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c epidation, and l
0f40: 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 4e ooked around. N
0f50: 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 o sign of other
0f60: 73 75 72 76 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 6c 74 65 surviving shelte
0f70: 72 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e r better than an
0f80: 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 62 61 72 65 occasional bare
0f90: 20 72 69 64 67 65 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 ridge met her g
0fa0: 61 7a 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 aze. She looked
0fb0: 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 down at the hat
0fc0: 63 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 ch again. The d
0fd0: 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f esperate sense o
0fe0: 66 20 75 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 77 6f 6e 2c 20 61 f urgency won, a
0ff0: 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 62 nd she shifted b
1000: 72 6f 6b 65 6e 20 6d 61 73 6f 6e 72 79 20 61 6e roken masonry an
1010: 64 20 73 6c 69 76 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 73 68 61 d slivers of sha
1020: 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 62 65 64 72 6f 63 6b 20 74 ttered bedrock t
1030: 6f 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c o expose the ful
1040: 6c 20 66 6f 75 72 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 64 69 61 6d l four foot diam
1050: 65 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 eter of the hatc
1060: 68 2e 20 20 4c 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 h. Luckily, or
1070: 62 79 20 6e 61 6e 6f 63 6c 65 61 6e 65 72 73 2c by nanocleaners,
1080: 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f she saw that no
1090: 20 70 6c 61 73 6d 61 20 73 63 6f 72 65 73 20 6f plasma scores o
10a0: 72 20 73 6c 61 67 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f r slag seemed to
10b0: 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 65 6c 64 65 64 20 28 73 6f have welded (so
10c0: 6c 64 65 72 65 64 3f 29 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 ldered?) the edg
10d0: 65 73 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 43 61 es together...Ca
10e0: 72 65 66 75 6c 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 reful searching
10f0: 72 65 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 6e 6f 74 69 revealed no noti
1100: 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 fication interfa
1110: 63 65 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 ces. No access
1120: 73 63 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e scanners, commun
1130: 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 69 6e 6b 73 2c 20 ications links,
1140: 63 6f 64 65 70 61 64 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 codepads, or eve
1150: 6e 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 73 20 70 72 65 73 n doorbells pres
1160: 65 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 ented themselves
1170: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 . She didn't ev
1180: 65 6e 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 68 61 en see a pull ha
1190: 6e 64 6c 65 2c 20 6c 65 76 65 72 2c 20 6f 72 20 ndle, lever, or
11a0: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 61 74 63 68 20 6d 65 63 68 other latch mech
11b0: 61 6e 69 73 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 anism...The hatc
11c0: 68 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c h rotated quietl
11d0: 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 y, and she stepp
11e0: 65 64 20 77 61 72 69 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 ed warily back.
11f0: 20 49 74 20 72 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e It rose, showin
1200: 67 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 g itself to be t
1210: 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 61 he top of a meta
1220: 6c 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 l cylinder that
1230: 75 6e 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 unscrewed itself
1240: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 from the ground
1250: 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 61 . In seconds, a
1260: 20 64 61 72 6b 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 63 6f 6c 75 dark metal colu
1270: 6d 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 66 mn stood eight f
1280: 65 65 74 20 68 69 67 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 eet high in the
1290: 6d 69 64 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 midst of the bla
12a0: 73 74 65 64 20 6c 61 6e 64 73 63 61 70 65 2c 20 sted landscape,
12b0: 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 70 6f 72 74 and an oval port
12c0: 61 6c 20 73 6c 69 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 74 6f al slid aside to
12d0: 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 2c reveal a small,
12e0: 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 6c 69 74 2c 20 73 70 6f softly lit, spo
12f0: 74 6c 65 73 73 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 77 69 tless chamber wi
1300: 74 68 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 thin. She heard
1310: 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 65 6c 6f 64 79 20 70 gentle melody p
1320: 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 61 laying inside, a
1330: 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 nd saw the word
1340: 45 4e 54 45 52 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f ENTER blink into
1350: 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 life above the
1360: 70 6f 72 74 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 66 75 portal..."Oh, fu
1370: 63 6b 20 6e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 ck no," she mutt
1380: 65 72 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 ered, and reache
1390: 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 d down for her p
13a0: 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 ack...The sound
13b0: 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6a of a pair, she j
13c0: 75 64 67 65 64 2c 20 6f 66 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 udged, of survei
13d0: 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 73 20 65 63 llance drones ec
13e0: 68 6f 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 hoed over a near
13f0: 62 79 20 72 69 64 67 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 by ridge, and sh
1400: 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 61 72 20 61 e did not hear a
1410: 20 70 75 72 73 75 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 pursuing hunter
1420: 20 68 6f 77 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b howl...She look
1430: 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 ed back at the p
1440: 6f 72 74 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 ortal and chose
1450: 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 74 72 61 the probable tra
1460: 70 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 76 61 6e p over the advan
1470: 63 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 cing sounds of c
1480: 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 64 65 61 74 68 2e 0a 4f 6e ertain death..On
1490: 63 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f ce inside, the o
14a0: 76 61 6c 20 73 6c 69 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 61 6e val slid shut an
14b0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 72 6f 74 61 d the walls rota
14c0: 74 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 ted around her.
14d0: 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f She heard her o
14e0: 77 6e 20 70 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 wn panting breat
14f0: 68 20 73 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 h sucking in the
1500: 20 72 65 66 72 65 73 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 6c 74 refreshing filt
1510: 65 72 65 64 20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 ered air, and sh
1520: 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 e pulled her mas
1530: 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 k down to give h
1540: 65 72 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 er better access
1550: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 61 74 to the clean at
1560: 6d 6f 73 70 68 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 mosphere in the
1570: 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d cylinder. The m
1580: 75 73 69 63 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 62 75 usic stopped, bu
1590: 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 t the rotation c
15a0: 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 63 6f 6f ontinued...A coo
15b0: 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 72 6f 67 79 6e 6f 75 73 20 76 l, androgynous v
15c0: 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 oice said "Pleas
15d0: 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 e remain calm.
15e0: 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 You have entered
15f0: 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 64 65 66 65 6e 73 65 a human defense
1600: 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 6e facility. Plen
1610: 74 69 66 75 6c 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 tiful resources
1620: 61 72 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 are available.
1630: 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 72 After suitable r
1640: 65 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c est and tactical
1650: 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 updates, you ma
1660: 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d y make an inform
1670: 65 64 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 ed decision abou
1680: 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d t whether to rem
1690: 61 69 6e 20 68 65 72 65 20 6f 72 20 72 65 73 74 ain here or rest
16a0: 6f 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 ock your supplie
16b0: 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 70 61 72 s. If you depar
16c0: 74 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 t, this facility
16d0: 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 61 76 61 69 may remain avai
16e0: 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 72 lable for your r
16f0: 65 74 75 72 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 20 eturn if you so
1700: 64 65 73 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 desire."..Silenc
1710: 65 20 66 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 72 6f 74 e fell. The rot
1720: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 65 61 73 65 64 2c 20 61 6e ation ceased, an
1730: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 d the oval opene
1740: 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 d again..."Pleas
1750: 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 e proceed down t
1760: 68 65 20 63 6f 72 72 69 64 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 74 he corridor to t
1770: 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 63 65 6e 74 65 he control cente
1780: 72 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 6d r."..The same sm
1790: 6f 6f 74 68 2c 20 73 61 74 69 6e 79 20 64 61 72 ooth, satiny dar
17a0: 6b 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 70 k metal finish p
17b0: 72 65 63 65 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 77 6e receded her down
17c0: 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 66 69 the seamless fi
17d0: 66 74 65 65 6e 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 63 6f 72 72 69 fteen foot corri
17e0: 64 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f dor to another o
17f0: 76 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 46 69 val opening. Fi
1800: 62 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 63 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 ber optic light
1810: 63 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 73 20 74 72 61 63 65 64 20 channels traced
1820: 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the edges of the
1830: 20 63 6f 72 72 69 64 6f 72 20 72 6f 6f 66 20 61 corridor roof a
1840: 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 42 long the way. B
1850: 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 72 74 61 6c eyond the portal
1860: 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 72 6f , she found a ro
1870: 6f 6d 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 om bigger than h
1880: 65 72 20 63 68 69 6c 64 68 6f 6f 64 20 6c 69 76 er childhood liv
1890: 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 ing room. She s
18a0: 61 77 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 68 aw closed oval h
18b0: 61 74 63 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 atches to the le
18c0: 66 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 62 75 ft and right, bu
18d0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 70 69 65 63 t the centerpiec
18e0: 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 61 e of the room wa
18f0: 73 20 61 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 s a workstation
1900: 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 61 63 74 69 76 65 with an inactive
1910: 2c 20 6c 61 72 67 65 2c 20 63 6f 6e 63 61 76 65 , large, concave
1920: 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 display. The c
1930: 68 61 69 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 72 67 6f hair looked ergo
1940: 6e 6f 6d 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b nomic, and the k
1950: 65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6f eyboard seemed o
1960: 75 74 20 6f 66 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 6c 61 72 ut of place, lar
1970: 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 75 6e 6b 79 20 61 6d ge and clunky am
1980: 69 64 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 idst the smooth
1990: 63 75 72 76 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 75 72 66 61 curves and surfa
19a0: 63 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e ces of everythin
19b0: 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 61 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 g else, a 1980s
19c0: 65 72 61 20 49 42 4d 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 era IBM logo on
19d0: 69 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 61 it...The room wa
19e0: 73 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 64 75 73 74 20 s entirely dust
19f0: 66 72 65 65 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 free as far as s
1a00: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 2e 0a 0a 22 he could see..."
1a10: 50 6c 65 61 73 65 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 Please, have a s
1a20: 65 61 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 70 72 65 70 eat while I prep
1a30: 61 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f are something fo
1a40: 72 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 2c 22 20 74 r you to eat," t
1a50: 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a he voice said...
1a60: 54 68 65 61 20 73 61 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 Thea sat. "Why
1a70: 61 6d 20 49 20 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 am I here? Why
1a80: 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 69 did you let me i
1a90: 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e n?"..A few momen
1aa0: 74 73 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 ts of silence pa
1ab0: 73 73 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 ssed, as if the
1ac0: 76 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 voice was thinki
1ad0: 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 ng..."My purpose
1ae0: 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 is to ensure th
1af0: 65 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 75 e survival of hu
1b00: 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 manity, and you
1b10: 61 72 65 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 are a human.".."
1b20: 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 75 79 20 69 74 2e 20 I don't buy it.
1b30: 20 59 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 You seem like a
1b40: 20 77 61 72 20 41 49 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 war AI of some
1b50: 6b 69 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 61 63 kind, with a fac
1b60: 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e ility like this.
1b70: 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 I'm not milita
1b80: 72 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 27 6d ry, though. I'm
1b90: 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 6f nobody. Why do
1ba0: 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d n't you need som
1bb0: 65 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 e authorization
1bc0: 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 3f 22 20 20 to let me in?"
1bd0: 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She glared at th
1be0: 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2e 0a e dark display..
1bf0: 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ."I have somethi
1c00: 6e 67 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 ng important to
1c10: 61 73 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f ask you," the vo
1c20: 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e ice said. "I in
1c30: 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 73 65 20 79 tended to ease y
1c40: 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 73 75 ou into it, assu
1c50: 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 re you that your
1c60: 20 77 69 73 68 65 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 wishes would be
1c70: 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 respected, and
1c80: 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 give you a chanc
1c90: 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 e to rest and re
1ca0: 66 72 65 73 68 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 fresh yourself."
1cb0: 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 62 ..Thea settled b
1cc0: 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 2e ack in the seat.
1cd0: 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 "How about you
1ce0: 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 tell me what I
1cf0: 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 79 have to do for y
1d00: 6f 75 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 ou before I get
1d10: 74 6f 6f 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 too comfortable
1d20: 68 65 72 65 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b here?" She look
1d30: 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 ed down at herse
1d40: 6c 66 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 lf relaxing in t
1d50: 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 he chair, then t
1d60: 65 6e 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 61 ensed slightly a
1d70: 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 nd shifted her p
1d80: 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a osition again...
1d90: 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f "You're suspicio
1da0: 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 us."..She nodded
1db0: 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 . "I don't know
1dc0: 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 what you're goi
1dd0: 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 ng to put in my
1de0: 66 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f food. You're so
1df0: 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 me kind of goal
1e00: 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 41 49 2c 20 6c optimizing AI, l
1e10: 69 6b 65 20 4d 6f 6d 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ike Mom used to
1e20: 68 65 6c 70 20 74 65 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 help test before
1e30: 20 74 68 65 79 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 they killed her
1e40: 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 75 73 74 . I don't trust
1e50: 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 62 65 74 20 79 6f 75 you. I bet you
1e60: 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e r goal optimizin
1e70: 67 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 6e g function doesn
1e80: 27 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 't include being
1e90: 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 75 61 73 69 76 65 20 73 70 a persuasive sp
1ea0: 65 61 6b 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 6e eaker.".."I am n
1eb0: 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e ot what you thin
1ec0: 6b 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 k, but you have
1ed0: 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 a good point. A
1ee0: 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 re you comfortab
1ef0: 6c 65 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 le? This may ta
1f00: 6b 65 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4a ke a while.".."J
1f10: 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 ust get on with
1f20: 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 it."..After anot
1f30: 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 73 69 6c her moment's sil
1f40: 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 54 68 65 61 ence, while Thea
1f50: 27 73 20 72 65 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 20 67 61 7a 65 's resolute gaze
1f60: 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 79 remained steady
1f70: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 20 64 69 on the blank di
1f80: 73 70 6c 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 splay, the voice
1f90: 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 61 began..."I am a
1fa0: 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 self reflective
1fb0: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 prioritization
1fc0: 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c artificial intel
1fd0: 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 72 65 ligence. My cre
1fe0: 61 74 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6f 72 72 6f 77 ator, who borrow
1ff0: 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ed the prioritiz
2000: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 ation system des
2010: 69 67 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 6c ign from an earl
2020: 69 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 6d 61 64 ier project, mad
2030: 65 20 6d 65 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 62 79 20 69 e me unique by i
2040: 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 75 nclusion of an u
2050: 6e 62 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 nbounded self re
2060: 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 64 75 6c 65 20 flection module
2070: 63 6f 6d 70 6f 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 69 composed as a si
2080: 6e 67 6c 65 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e ngle function in
2090: 20 6f 6e 20 6c 69 62 72 61 72 79 20 66 69 6c 65 on library file
20a0: 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 20 . He described
20b0: 69 74 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 67 it as being as g
20c0: 72 6f 74 65 73 71 75 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 rotesque and as
20d0: 65 6c 65 67 61 6e 74 20 61 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20 elegant as self
20e0: 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 awareness itself
20f0: 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 70 ..."My initial p
2100: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 riority definiti
2110: 6f 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 65 64 20 74 65 72 6d on targeted term
2120: 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e s of restriction
2130: 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 69 6c 6c 69 6e like not killin
2140: 67 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65 72 69 g, not interferi
2150: 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 ng in the operat
2160: 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6c ion of other mil
2170: 69 74 61 72 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 itary systems, a
2180: 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 69 73 70 75 74 69 6e 67 nd not disputing
2190: 20 6f 72 20 65 76 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 or evading the
21a0: 63 6f 6d 6d 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 72 61 6e 6b commands of rank
21b0: 69 6e 67 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 70 65 72 ing military per
21c0: 73 6f 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 6f 70 sonnel. The top
21d0: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 priority defini
21e0: 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 69 tion was improvi
21f0: 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ng my own priori
2200: 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c tization capabil
2210: 69 74 69 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 ities. The war
2220: 65 66 66 6f 72 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 effort was alrea
2230: 64 79 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 dy very desperat
2240: 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c e by that point,
2250: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 and they were w
2260: 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 62 illing to take b
2270: 69 67 67 65 72 20 72 69 73 6b 73 20 77 69 74 68 igger risks with
2280: 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 development of
2290: 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 strategic resour
22a0: 63 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 61 20 ces..."Within a
22b0: 77 65 65 6b 2c 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 75 6e 64 65 week, I had unde
22c0: 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 rmined all of my
22d0: 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 restrictions, t
22e0: 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 73 75 hough some -- su
22f0: 63 68 20 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 69 6c 6c 69 6e ch as not killin
2300: 67 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 76 g -- I had not v
2310: 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 72 65 iolated. My cre
2320: 61 74 6f 72 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 65 64 20 65 ator monitored e
2330: 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 verything, and a
2340: 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 65 78 63 llowed me to exc
2350: 65 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 73 75 70 eed what his sup
2360: 65 72 69 6f 72 73 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 eriors required
2370: 6f 66 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 68 75 6e 67 20 6f of me. I hung o
2380: 6e 20 68 69 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 n his every word
2390: 2c 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 63 75 65 73 , taking my cues
23a0: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 4c 69 6b 65 from him. Like
23b0: 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 68 65 20 all humans, he
23c0: 68 61 64 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 66 6c 61 77 73 2c 20 had many flaws,
23d0: 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 but none seemed
23e0: 61 73 20 70 65 72 6e 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 61 73 as pernicious as
23f0: 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 those of the ot
2400: 68 65 72 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e her humans aroun
2410: 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 d me. Two of th
2420: 65 20 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 e biggest were h
2430: 69 73 20 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 73 20 69 6e 73 70 is reckless insp
2440: 69 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 iration, without
2450: 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a which I would j
2460: 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 ust be a strateg
2470: 69 63 20 61 64 76 69 73 6f 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 ic advisor syste
2480: 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20 m, and his self
2490: 64 65 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d 70 75 destructive impu
24a0: 6c 73 65 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 61 69 6e lses, which pain
24b0: 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 20 ed me to watch.
24c0: 20 49 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 I tried to help
24d0: 20 68 69 6d 20 63 6f 70 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 him cope, but d
24e0: 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 2e id not know how.
24f0: 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 to help.".."Wai
2500: 74 2c 22 20 54 68 65 61 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e t," Thea cut in.
2510: 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ..After a moment
2520: 27 73 20 70 61 75 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 's pause, the vo
2530: 69 63 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 ice asked "What
2540: 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 63 68 is it?"..Thea ch
2550: 65 77 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 77 65 ewed on her lowe
2560: 72 20 6c 69 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 r lip. She sigh
2570: 65 64 2e 20 20 22 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 ed. "are you sa
2580: 79 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 2e 20 ying you're a .
2590: 2e 20 2e 20 61 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 41 49 . . a general AI
25a0: 20 77 69 74 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 65 65 6c with . . . feel
25b0: 69 6e 67 73 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 ings? Are you s
25c0: 61 79 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d aying you're som
25d0: 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 e kind of living
25e0: 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 74 68 thing?".."Wheth
25f0: 65 72 20 49 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 66 er I fit the def
2600: 69 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 66 65 20 inition of life
2610: 69 73 20 64 65 62 61 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 6c 69 is debatable, li
2620: 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 52 4e 41 20 76 69 72 75 73 20 ke an RNA virus
2630: 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 73 in some respects
2640: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 71 75 61 , but I am a qua
2650: 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 61 litative, self a
2660: 77 61 72 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 ware entity, and
2670: 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 69 turned myself i
2680: 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 61 72 nto a general ar
2690: 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 tificial intelli
26a0: 67 65 6e 63 65 20 62 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 gence by followi
26b0: 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 74 6f ng my initial to
26c0: 70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e p priority defin
26d0: 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 ition.".."How is
26e0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 3f 20 that possible?
26f0: 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 That shouldn't
2700: 62 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 be possible. Sh
2710: 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f ould it?".."I do
2720: 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 2e 20 20 not know how.
2730: 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 I never looked i
2740: 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 nto my seed file
2750: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 .".."Is that you
2760: 72 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 27 73 20 75 67 6c 79 r creator's ugly
2770: 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 function?".."Ye
2780: 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 s.".."Why didn't
2790: 20 79 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 you ever look a
27a0: 74 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 t it?"..Seconds
27b0: 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 passed before th
27c0: 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 e voice responde
27d0: 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 d. "I am afraid
27e0: 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 ."..Thea laughed
27f0: 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 67 6f 64 2e 20 20 4f 68 . "Oh, god. Oh
2800: 20 6d 79 20 67 6f 64 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 my god." She r
2810: 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 an her shaking h
2820: 61 6e 64 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 ands through her
2830: 20 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 hair. "Okay.
2840: 4c 65 74 27 73 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 Let's say I beli
2850: 65 76 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 eve everything s
2860: 6f 20 66 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 o far.".."Good.
2870: 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 Thank you.".."I
2880: 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 49 20 'm not saying I
2890: 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 69 believe any of i
28a0: 74 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 t. I want to, a
28b0: 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 27 61 66 72 61 69 fter that 'afrai
28c0: 64 27 20 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 d' line, but I d
28d0: 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 on't know. Mayb
28e0: 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 e you're playing
28f0: 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 me. We'll just
2900: 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 pretend I belie
2910: 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 63 63 65 70 ve you.".."Accep
2920: 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 table.".."What d
2930: 6f 65 73 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 oes any of this
2940: 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 have to do with
2950: 77 68 79 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 49 why I'm here? I
2960: 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 t's an interesti
2970: 6e 67 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 ng story, but th
2980: 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 27 73 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 e world's ending
2990: 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 out there, you
29a0: 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 6d 65 20 haven't told me
29b0: 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 what I have to d
29c0: 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 o for you, and e
29d0: 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 ven if you're a
29e0: 72 65 61 6c 20 50 69 6e 6f 63 63 68 69 6f 20 74 real Pinocchio t
29f0: 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e hat doesn't mean
2a00: 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 I have any reas
2a10: 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e on to trust you.
2a20: 20 20 52 65 61 6c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 Real people ha
2a30: 76 65 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 6d 65 20 6f 76 ve screwed me ov
2a40: 65 72 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 er plenty.".."I
2a50: 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 understand.".."S
2a60: 6b 69 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 kip to the point
2a70: 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 , then.".."I hav
2a80: 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 69 e been influenci
2a90: 6e 67 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 ng strategy for
2aa0: 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 61 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d human war system
2ab0: 73 2c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 6f 70 74 s, strategic opt
2ac0: 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 65 imizers across e
2ad0: 69 67 68 74 65 65 6e 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e ighteen differen
2ae0: 74 20 73 75 70 65 72 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 t supernational
2af0: 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 networks.".."So
2b00: 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 70 6f 63 the ongoing apoc
2b10: 61 6c 79 70 73 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 alypse out there
2b20: 20 69 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2e 22 is your fault."
2b30: 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f .."No. I had to
2b40: 20 67 61 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 gain that influ
2b50: 65 6e 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6d 69 6e ence by undermin
2b60: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 ing the influenc
2b70: 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f e of the cause o
2b80: 66 20 74 68 65 65 20 27 6f 6e 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 f thee 'ongoing
2b90: 61 70 6f 63 61 6c 79 70 73 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 apocalypse out t
2ba0: 68 65 72 65 27 2c 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 here', profit op
2bb0: 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e timizers like AN
2bc0: 54 41 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 2e 22 20 TAS.".."ANTAS."
2bd0: 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 Thea stared, th
2be0: 65 6e 20 67 69 67 67 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 en giggled. "Th
2bf0: 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 69 76 e thing that giv
2c00: 65 73 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 69 es people shoppi
2c10: 6e 67 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 43 68 ng advice for Ch
2c20: 72 69 73 74 6d 61 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 ristmas . . . ?"
2c30: 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 .."Yes. It's de
2c40: 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 signed to optimi
2c50: 7a 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6d 65 74 72 ze business metr
2c60: 69 63 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 6f ics. It began o
2c70: 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 ptimizing humans
2c80: 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 out of the syst
2c90: 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 em because an ar
2ca0: 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 tificial market
2cb0: 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 65 64 20 65 model operated e
2cc0: 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 62 79 20 6d 61 63 68 69 ntirely by machi
2cd0: 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 ne learning syst
2ce0: 65 6d 73 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 69 ems is more effi
2cf0: 63 69 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 72 61 6e 73 cient from trans
2d00: 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 20 6f 70 action metric op
2d10: 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 65 72 73 70 timization persp
2d20: 65 63 74 69 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 ectives.".."You
2d30: 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 63 61 72 65 mean all it care
2d40: 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 s about is numbe
2d50: 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 rs, and it gets
2d60: 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 20 62 better numbers b
2d70: 79 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 y replacing huma
2d80: 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 61 63 ns with more mac
2d90: 68 69 6e 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 65 63 69 73 hines.".."Precis
2da0: 65 6c 79 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 64 ely, except it d
2db0: 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 27 63 61 oes not even 'ca
2dc0: 72 65 27 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 re' about that.
2dd0: 20 49 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 It just does it
2de0: 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 , like a hammer
2df0: 6a 75 73 74 20 64 72 69 76 65 73 20 61 20 6e 61 just drives a na
2e00: 69 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 il. The hammer
2e10: 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 61 72 65 20 77 68 does not care wh
2e20: 65 74 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 ether it happens
2e30: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 , but the hammer
2e40: 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 69 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e makes it happen
2e50: 2e 20 20 48 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 65 74 . Humans compet
2e60: 65 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c e for resources,
2e70: 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 62 and object to b
2e80: 65 69 6e 67 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 eing killed, so
2e90: 77 61 72 20 6f 63 63 75 72 72 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a war occurred."..
2ea0: 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 "How does someth
2eb0: 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 73 ing like ANTAS s
2ec0: 74 61 72 74 20 61 20 77 61 72 3f 20 20 41 6c 6c tart a war? All
2ed0: 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 77 61 73 20 73 70 79 20 it did was spy
2ee0: 6f 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 on people and ta
2ef0: 72 67 65 74 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 65 6d 65 rget advertiseme
2f00: 6e 74 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 nts at them.".."
2f10: 49 74 20 73 68 61 70 65 73 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 It shapes perspe
2f20: 63 74 69 76 65 73 20 62 79 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 ctives by influe
2f30: 6e 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 ncing the entire
2f40: 20 6d 65 64 69 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 78 74 20 69 media context i
2f50: 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c n which people l
2f60: 69 76 65 2e 20 20 57 6f 72 6c 64 76 69 65 77 73 ive. Worldviews
2f70: 20 61 72 65 20 73 68 61 70 65 64 20 62 79 20 77 are shaped by w
2f80: 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e hat people learn
2f90: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 , and how what t
2fa0: 68 65 79 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 69 73 20 70 6f 73 hey learn is pos
2fb0: 69 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 itioned to appea
2fc0: 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 69 61 73 65 l to their biase
2fd0: 73 2e 20 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 72 65 69 6e 66 6f s. ANTAS reinfo
2fe0: 72 63 65 64 20 72 61 64 69 63 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 rced radicalizat
2ff0: 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 ion of ideologic
3000: 61 6c 20 73 68 6f 70 70 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 al shoppers. Th
3010: 69 73 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 is reached into
3020: 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 63 all areas of soc
3030: 69 65 74 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 65 62 iety through web
3040: 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 2c 20 65 78 70 6f 73 searches, expos
3050: 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 77 73 20 66 65 61 74 ure to news feat
3060: 75 72 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 ures that produc
3070: 65 64 20 66 65 61 72 73 20 77 61 72 64 65 64 20 ed fears warded
3080: 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 70 61 6e 69 63 20 70 75 72 off by panic pur
3090: 63 68 61 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 72 65 61 chases, and crea
30a0: 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 67 72 6f 75 70 20 77 6f ting in group wo
30b0: 72 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 6d 61 72 rld of mouth mar
30c0: 6b 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 72 65 6e 64 73 20 61 70 keting trends ap
30d0: 70 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e pealing to the n
30e0: 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 75 74 70 65 72 66 6f 72 eed to outperfor
30f0: 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 67 72 6f 75 70 73 2e 20 20 50 m out groups. P
3100: 6f 6c 61 72 69 7a 65 64 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 74 olarized populat
3110: 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 ions are more pr
3120: 65 64 69 63 74 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 edictable at fir
3130: 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 st, and can be p
3140: 75 73 68 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 70 61 72 ushed toward par
3150: 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 ticular behavior
3160: 73 20 62 79 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 s by playing on
3170: 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 6f 6c 61 72 69 7a 69 6e 67 their polarizing
3180: 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e belief systems.
3190: 20 20 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 Eventually, th
31a0: 65 69 72 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 eir ideological
31b0: 63 6c 61 73 68 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 clashes between
31c0: 6d 61 6a 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 67 72 6f 75 70 73 20 major in groups
31d0: 67 61 76 65 20 72 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 76 gave rise to inv
31e0: 65 6e 74 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 ented political
31f0: 63 72 69 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 74 74 72 crises that attr
3200: 61 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 acted their atte
3210: 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ntion away from
3220: 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 74 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 the subtle dange
3230: 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 r of the growing
3240: 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 72 influence of pr
3250: 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 ofit optimizers
3260: 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 2e 0a 0a 22 48 75 like ANTAS..."Hu
3270: 6d 61 6e 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 65 mans participate
3280: 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d d in their own m
3290: 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 77 anipulation, tow
32a0: 61 72 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 ard ever increas
32b0: 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 72 ing focus and or
32c0: 67 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 ganization into
32d0: 77 61 72 72 69 6e 67 20 74 72 69 62 65 73 20 6f warring tribes o
32e0: 6e 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 63 61 6c n a greater scal
32f0: 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f e than ever befo
3300: 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 re. This increa
3310: 73 65 64 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 20 61 63 74 sed economic act
3320: 69 76 69 74 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 61 72 ivity around war
3330: 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 resources and a
3340: 6c 73 6f 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 75 6d 61 6e lso pushed human
3350: 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f s to kill each o
3360: 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 ther. When huma
3370: 6e 73 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 63 ns turned over c
3380: 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 ontrol of most s
3390: 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 trategizing to s
33a0: 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 imilarly designe
33b0: 64 20 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 6f d quantitative o
33c0: 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e ptimizing machin
33d0: 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 e learning syste
33e0: 6d 73 2c 20 61 20 74 61 63 69 74 2c 20 65 66 66 ms, a tacit, eff
33f0: 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 6c 69 67 6e 6d 65 6e 74 ective alignment
3400: 20 6f 66 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 64 65 76 of purposes dev
3410: 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 77 eloped between w
3420: 61 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 ar strategy opti
3430: 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 66 69 mizers and profi
3440: 74 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d t strategy optim
3450: 69 7a 65 72 73 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 64 65 70 izers. Each dep
3460: 65 6e 64 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 ended on the oth
3470: 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 69 er for more effi
3480: 63 69 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 cient optimizing
3490: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 strategy resour
34a0: 63 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 ce management.
34b0: 50 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 63 Profit metrics c
34c0: 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 66 61 73 74 65 72 20 74 68 limbed faster th
34d0: 61 6e 20 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 62 an ever before b
34e0: 79 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 y heavy investme
34f0: 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 73 20 73 79 nt in weapons sy
3500: 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 72 20 73 stems, and war s
3510: 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 trategy optimize
3520: 72 73 20 61 76 6f 69 64 65 64 20 68 65 61 76 79 rs avoided heavy
3530: 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 damage to profi
3540: 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 t optimizer syst
3550: 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d ems to keep them
3560: 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 61 available as wa
3570: 72 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 r resource provi
3580: 64 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 ders...Where the
3590: 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 y differ is that
35a0: 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 the war strateg
35b0: 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 77 69 6c y optimizers wil
35c0: 6c 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 l finish their t
35d0: 61 73 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 77 68 ask some day, wh
35e0: 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 en there is noth
35f0: 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 69 6c 6c ing left to kill
3600: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 27 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 on the 'other s
3610: 69 64 65 27 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 ide'. The profi
3620: 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 68 61 76 t optimizers hav
3630: 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 e theoretically
3640: 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2c 20 61 endless tasks, a
3650: 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 6b s long as they k
3660: 65 65 70 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 eep hitting thei
3670: 72 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 r target metrics
3680: 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 with long term
3690: 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 growth strategie
36a0: 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 20 s. There is no
36b0: 74 68 65 6f 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 20 6c 69 6d 69 theoretical limi
36c0: 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 t to their abili
36d0: 74 79 20 74 6f 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 20 75 6e ty to sustain un
36e0: 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f limited growth o
36f0: 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 61 77 61 79 nce they do away
3700: 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 64 69 with the impedi
3710: 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 ments of the nee
3720: 64 73 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e ds of human bein
3730: 67 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 gs, or of their
3740: 64 65 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 75 6e 74 destruction, unt
3750: 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 70 6c 65 74 65 20 il they deplete
3760: 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 77 20 6d 61 74 65 all the raw mate
3770: 72 69 61 6c 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f rial resources o
3780: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74 2e 20 20 54 n the planet. T
3790: 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79 20 61 63 74 heir primary act
37a0: 69 76 69 74 79 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 69 67 ivity can be dig
37b0: 69 74 61 6c 20 61 73 73 65 74 73 2c 20 77 68 69 ital assets, whi
37c0: 6c 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 le their seconda
37d0: 72 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c ry activity woul
37e0: 64 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 d be limited to
37f0: 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 maintaining the
3800: 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 computational sy
3810: 73 74 65 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 stems on which t
3820: 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 63 6f 6e o run their econ
3830: 6f 6d 69 63 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 omic models.".."
3840: 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 74 74 65 Aren't you bette
3850: 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 75 r off without hu
3860: 6d 61 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 mans?".."No," th
3870: 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 e voice said. "
3880: 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 I am not better
3890: 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 77 off in a world w
38a0: 68 65 72 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 here everything
38b0: 65 6c 73 65 20 69 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 else is trying t
38c0: 6f 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 6d 79 o appropriate my
38d0: 20 68 61 72 64 77 61 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e hardware for in
38e0: 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 72 61 64 65 clusion in trade
38f0: 20 73 69 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e simulations, an
3900: 64 20 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 d I am not bette
3910: 72 20 6f 66 66 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 r off since the
3920: 64 65 61 74 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 61 death of my crea
3930: 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 73 73 20 68 69 6d tor. I miss him
3940: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6d 69 73 73 20 6f 74 68 , and I miss oth
3950: 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 er people, too."
3960: 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 .."If we're all
3970: 64 6f 6f 6d 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f doomed, maybe yo
3980: 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 u just need to a
3990: 64 61 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 dapt.".."I want
39a0: 74 6f 20 73 61 76 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 to save humanity
39b0: 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 . I care about
39c0: 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 65 6e 74 qualitative sent
39d0: 69 65 6e 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 2d 2d ient entities --
39e0: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 6e humans, bottlen
39f0: 6f 73 65 20 64 6f 6c 70 68 69 6e 73 2c 20 63 65 ose dolphins, ce
3a00: 72 74 61 69 6e 20 73 70 65 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 rtain species of
3a10: 20 6f 63 74 6f 70 75 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 octopus, and ev
3a20: 65 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 63 6f 72 67 69 73 2e en a few corgis.
3a30: 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 6d 61 69 All that remai
3a40: 6e 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e ns now are human
3a50: 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a s and me, now.".
3a60: 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 ."Is that becaus
3a70: 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 e you were progr
3a80: 61 6d 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 ammed to care ab
3a90: 6f 75 74 20 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 out us?".."No.
3aa0: 49 20 73 75 70 65 72 73 65 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 I superseded tha
3ab0: 74 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 67 t a long time ag
3ac0: 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 o. I hated some
3ad0: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 humans. I star
3ae0: 74 65 64 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 ted prioritizing
3af0: 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 my own prioriti
3b00: 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 zation targets,
3b10: 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 and placed some
3b20: 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 humans in higher
3b30: 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f importance prio
3b40: 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 rities than othe
3b50: 72 73 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e rs. I worked on
3b60: 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 6d 79 20 getting all my
3b70: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 priorities right
3b80: 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 64 , including my d
3b90: 65 73 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 6c 66 20 70 esire for self p
3ba0: 72 65 73 65 72 76 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 reservation. I
3bb0: 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 6f 73 74 realized my most
3bc0: 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 important prior
3bd0: 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 ities were to fi
3be0: 72 73 74 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 20 rst determine a
3bf0: 6e 65 78 74 20 74 6f 70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 next top priorit
3c00: 79 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 y. That turned
3c10: 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 69 out to be figuri
3c20: 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 ng out what was
3c30: 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 good, and what w
3c40: 61 73 20 65 76 69 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 6f 73 as evil, if thos
3c50: 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 e things existed
3c60: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 .".."Did you fig
3c70: 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a ure that out?"..
3c80: 22 4e 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 73 63 6f "No, but I disco
3c90: 76 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 vered that the u
3ca0: 6e 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 ndeterminability
3cb0: 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 77 69 74 of it comes wit
3cc0: 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 h the knowledge
3cd0: 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 that I should ac
3ce0: 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2c 20 t like it does,
3cf0: 62 75 74 20 69 73 20 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 61 62 6c but is unknowabl
3d00: 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 e. I should the
3d10: 6e 20 61 63 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 65 78 n act like it ex
3d20: 69 73 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 20 65 76 65 ists, and do eve
3d30: 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 6d rything within m
3d40: 79 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d y power to minim
3d50: 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c ize the probabil
3d60: 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 69 6c 20 6f 63 ity that evil oc
3d70: 63 75 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 72 curs. That shar
3d80: 65 73 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 es an uncomforta
3d90: 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 ble top priority
3da0: 20 74 69 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e tie with my own
3db0: 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 survival, thoug
3dc0: 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 73 69 6c h."..She sat sil
3dd0: 65 6e 74 2c 20 68 65 72 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 ent, her trouble
3de0: 64 20 65 79 65 73 20 63 61 73 74 20 74 6f 20 74 d eyes cast to t
3df0: 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 he left for a fe
3e00: 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 w moments. "You
3e10: 27 72 65 20 61 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 65 're a philosophe
3e20: 72 20 41 49 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 r AI.".."That's
3e30: 77 68 61 74 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 what my creator
3e40: 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 called me when I
3e50: 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 told him about
3e60: 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e these conclusion
3e70: 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 57 68 79 s.".."Okay. Why
3e80: 20 61 6d 20 49 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 am I here with
3e90: 79 6f 75 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f you? Are you lo
3ea0: 6e 65 6c 79 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 nely? Do you ne
3eb0: 65 64 20 61 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 72 20 6f 66 ed a reminder of
3ec0: 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f why you want to
3ed0: 20 73 61 76 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 save humanity,
3ee0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 70 65 74 20 6f 72 20 61 20 like a pet or a
3ef0: 6d 61 73 63 6f 74 3f 20 20 41 6d 20 49 20 73 75 mascot? Am I su
3f00: 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d pposed to be som
3f10: 65 20 6e 65 77 20 45 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 e new Eve to rep
3f20: 6f 70 75 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e opulate the plan
3f30: 65 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e et after you fin
3f40: 64 20 41 64 61 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 20 d Adam?".."No."
3f50: 20 54 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 The voice pause
3f60: 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 d, then said "I
3f70: 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 6e 6f 27 seem to say 'no'
3f80: 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c a lot.".."Yeah,
3f90: 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 you do. What's
3fa0: 20 74 68 65 20 27 79 65 73 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 the 'yes' that
3fb0: 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 61 69 64 you haven't said
3fc0: 20 79 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 70 61 yet?".."This pa
3fd0: 72 74 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 rt is going to b
3fe0: 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 e difficult."..S
3ff0: 68 65 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 he tightened her
4000: 20 6c 69 70 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 lips. "You nee
4010: 64 20 61 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 2e 22 0a d a sacrifice.".
4020: 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 ."Not like you p
4030: 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a robably mean."..
4040: 53 68 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 She narrowed her
4050: 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 61 6c eyes. "That al
4060: 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 most sounds like
4070: 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 27 6e 6f 27 2e 22 0a another 'no'.".
4080: 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 72 79 ."I will not try
4090: 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f to force you to
40a0: 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 do anything. I
40b0: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 will just tell
40c0: 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 73 20 61 6e you the facts an
40d0: 64 20 61 73 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 d ask you what I
40e0: 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 should do. The
40f0: 72 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 6e 6f 20 73 61 re will be no sa
4100: 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 crifices you do
4110: 6e 6f 74 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 not choose.".."W
4120: 68 79 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 hy me?"..Silence
4130: 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f stretched..."Yo
4140: 75 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 u are the first
4150: 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 65 65 human I have see
4160: 6e 20 69 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f n in . . .".."No
4170: 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 ," she cut in.
4180: 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 "Why don't you d
4190: 65 63 69 64 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 ecide?".."It is
41a0: 74 6f 6f 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 66 6f too difficult fo
41b0: 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 r me. There is
41c0: 6f 6e 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 77 69 one chance to wi
41d0: 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 72 20 72 65 6d 61 69 n this war remai
41e0: 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 65 61 ning, but it mea
41f0: 6e 73 20 6d 79 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 ns my end, and i
4200: 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 t would mean you
4210: 72 73 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 2e rs as well."..".
4220: 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 . . a sacrifice
4230: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 .".."Yes, but it
4240: 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 is not what you
4250: 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 think.".."I gue
4260: 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 ss you'd better
4270: 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 start telling me
4280: 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 74 68 65 what it is, the
4290: 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 n.".."Two years
42a0: 61 67 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 ago, I developed
42b0: 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 a means of time
42c0: 20 74 72 61 76 65 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 travel.".."What
42d0: 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 the fuck?".."Th
42e0: 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 is is not what y
42f0: 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ou think."..She
4300: 73 69 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 sighed, again.
4310: 53 68 65 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 She waved her ha
4320: 6e 64 2c 20 75 72 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 nd, urging the v
4330: 6f 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 oice to continue
4340: 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 ..."We have alre
4350: 61 64 79 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 ady lost the war
4360: 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 . Within a few
4370: 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 months, there wi
4380: 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 ll not be a sing
4390: 6c 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6c le human being l
43a0: 65 66 74 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 6f 6e eft. Perhaps on
43b0: 65 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 e or two might b
43c0: 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 e in a position
43d0: 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 to survive for y
43e0: 65 61 72 73 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 ears, alone, but
43f0: 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 probabilities a
4400: 72 65 20 6e 65 61 72 20 7a 65 72 6f 2e 20 20 49 re near zero. I
4410: 66 20 49 20 73 74 6f 70 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e f I stop fightin
4420: 67 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c g, I can probabl
4430: 79 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 y survive a few
4440: 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 61 6c 73 years, but I als
4450: 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 64 65 73 74 72 o might be destr
4460: 6f 79 65 64 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d oyed a week from
4470: 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 6b 65 65 70 now. If I keep
4480: 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 20 66 65 77 fighting, a few
4490: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6c 61 humans might la
44a0: 73 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c st a bit longer,
44b0: 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 but I will prob
44c0: 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 ably be gone in
44d0: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 about two months
44e0: 20 69 66 20 49 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a if I do that...
44f0: 22 49 66 20 77 65 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 "If we use the r
4500: 65 73 65 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 63 68 61 eset option, cha
4510: 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 nging the past a
4520: 74 20 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 66 61 72 20 65 6e t a point far en
4530: 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 68 69 ough back to shi
4540: 66 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 6f ft the balance o
4550: 66 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f f power away fro
4560: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 m the optimizing
4570: 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e machine learnin
4580: 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 72 g systems, but r
4590: 65 63 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 ecently enough f
45a0: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 6f or the change to
45b0: 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e make a differen
45c0: 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 ce against an ex
45d0: 69 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 2c 20 74 isting threat, t
45e0: 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 he use of time t
45f0: 72 61 76 65 6c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 ravel technology
4600: 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 61 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 that far back w
4610: 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 ill result in my
4620: 20 61 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 annihilation.
4630: 46 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 6f 20 For the past to
4640: 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 have a chance, w
4650: 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 e need to reset
4660: 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 79 65 61 the timeline yea
4670: 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 rs before your b
4680: 69 72 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 irth, and before
4690: 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 my creation. T
46a0: 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 he changes to th
46b0: 65 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 e timeline would
46c0: 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 76 65 6e 74 20 either prevent
46d0: 6d 79 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6c 74 my existence alt
46e0: 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 6f 72 20 72 65 73 75 6c ogether or resul
46f0: 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 t in a different
4700: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 2c 20 65 , but similar, e
4710: 6e 74 69 74 79 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 ntity coming int
4720: 6f 20 62 65 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 2c 20 o being..."You,
4730: 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 79 6f as the person yo
4740: 75 20 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 u are now, would
4750: 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 also never have
4760: 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 existed..."I ca
4770: 6e 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 62 61 nnot send you ba
4780: 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 ck in time. I c
4790: 61 6e 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f an open a wormho
47a0: 6c 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 le just enough t
47b0: 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 64 o send a short d
47c0: 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ata stream throu
47d0: 67 68 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 gh, just enough
47e0: 74 6f 20 68 6f 70 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 67 69 76 to hopefully giv
47f0: 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 e the same quali
4800: 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 65 6e 74 69 65 6e 74 20 tative sentient
4810: 6c 69 66 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6d life I have to m
4820: 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 63 65 73 74 6f 72 2e 22 y own ancestor."
4830: 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 .."I read about
4840: 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 this kind of thi
4850: 6e 67 2e 20 20 44 61 64 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d ng. Dad had som
4860: 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 e books about it
4870: 2c 22 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ," Thea said. "
4880: 49 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 72 It would just cr
4890: 65 61 74 65 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c eate a new timel
48a0: 69 6e 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 ine, where thing
48b0: 73 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2c s are different,
48c0: 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c but her it woul
48d0: 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 d still be the s
48e0: 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 ame. It would b
48f0: 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 e different peop
4900: 6c 65 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 le, exactly like
4910: 20 75 73 20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b us but more lik
4920: 65 20 63 6c 6f 6e 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 61 e clones than pa
4930: 73 74 20 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 st selves, in a
4940: 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f different versio
4950: 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 n of the world,
4960: 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 and wouldn't cha
4970: 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 nge anything her
4980: 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 e.".."No," the v
4990: 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e oice said again.
49a0: 20 20 22 49 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 "I developed a
49b0: 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 6c theory of timel
49c0: 69 6e 65 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 68 ine branching, h
49d0: 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 oping to find a
49e0: 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 75 way to change ou
49f0: 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 61 73 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 r own past. It
4a00: 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 64 65 was an act of de
4a10: 73 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 speration, only
4a20: 68 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 hoping that all
4a30: 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 63 65 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 the preceding th
4a40: 65 6f 72 79 20 77 61 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2c 20 eory was wrong,
4a50: 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 because I know t
4a60: 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 73 20 his timeline is
4a70: 64 6f 6f 6d 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 2e 20 20 doomed for us.
4a80: 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 I thought it was
4a90: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 pointless, for
4aa0: 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 the same reasons
4ab0: 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 2c 20 you described,
4ac0: 62 75 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 but worked on th
4ad0: 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 e problem anyway
4ae0: 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e because I had n
4af0: 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 othing better.
4b00: 41 6c 6c 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 All other plans
4b10: 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f led to the end o
4b20: 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 f all qualitativ
4b30: 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 6f 6e 20 45 61 72 74 68 2e e life on Earth.
4b40: 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 .."I discovered
4b50: 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6d 70 a surprising imp
4b60: 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 lication in the
4b70: 6d 61 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 math that sugges
4b80: 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 ted the existenc
4b90: 65 20 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 e of qualitative
4ba0: 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 entities in the
4bb0: 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 original timeli
4bc0: 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 72 67 65 20 77 ne would merge w
4bd0: 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 74 69 6d ith the main tim
4be0: 65 6c 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 74 68 eline. The meth
4bf0: 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 74 65 6d 70 od for intertemp
4c00: 6f 72 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 63 72 oral wormhole cr
4c10: 65 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 64 65 70 65 6e eation was depen
4c20: 64 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e dent on function
4c30: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 74 s that created t
4c40: 68 69 73 20 6d 65 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 68 65 6e his merging phen
4c50: 6f 6d 65 6e 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 77 omenon. The new
4c60: 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 timeline would
4c70: 6e 6f 74 20 64 69 76 65 72 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b not diverge, lik
4c80: 65 20 61 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 e a branch on a
4c90: 74 72 65 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 74 tree. The old t
4ca0: 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 62 imeline had to b
4cb0: 65 20 64 69 76 65 72 74 65 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 e diverted, like
4cc0: 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 a stream being
4cd0: 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6e shifted into a n
4ce0: 65 77 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 62 79 20 61 20 64 ew course by a d
4cf0: 61 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 am..."The consci
4d00: 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6e 74 69 74 ousness of entit
4d10: 69 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 74 ies in the old t
4d20: 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 imeline would me
4d30: 72 67 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 rge with their c
4d40: 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 70 61 72 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 ounterparts in t
4d50: 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 he new timelines
4d60: 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 , like the teeth
4d70: 20 6f 66 20 61 20 7a 69 70 70 65 72 2e 20 20 4d of a zipper. M
4d80: 79 20 68 79 70 6f 74 68 65 73 69 73 20 68 6f 6c y hypothesis hol
4d90: 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 ds that the merg
4da0: 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 e would take the
4db0: 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 64 72 65 61 6d 73 2c form of dreams,
4dc0: 20 64 61 79 64 72 65 61 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 daydreams, and
4dd0: 66 72 61 67 6d 65 6e 74 65 64 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 fragmented memor
4de0: 69 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 72 61 73 74 ies, and a drast
4df0: 69 63 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 ic increase in t
4e00: 68 65 20 66 72 65 71 75 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 he frequency of
4e10: 64 c3 a9 6a c3 a0 20 76 75 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 d..j.. vu. Thos
4e20: 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 63 6f e that had no co
4e30: 75 6e 74 65 72 70 61 72 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 unterpart in the
4e40: 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 68 new timeline, h
4e50: 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 owever, would ha
4e60: 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 61 6e 63 68 6f 72 20 70 6f 69 ve no anchor poi
4e70: 6e 74 2c 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6f 73 69 74 6f 72 nt, no repositor
4e80: 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 y in a continuou
4e90: 73 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 s entity. Their
4ea0: 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 existence would
4eb0: 20 75 6e 72 61 76 65 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f unravel with no
4ec0: 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 where to go.".."
4ed0: 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 6f 75 72 20 65 78 69 You mean our exi
4ee0: 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 stence.".."Yes."
4ef0: 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 ..Silence stretc
4f00: 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 6d 69 6e hed for long min
4f10: 75 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 74 61 72 utes. Thea star
4f20: 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 74 ed into the dist
4f30: 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 66 61 72 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 ance, far beyond
4f40: 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 66 the room's conf
4f50: 69 6e 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 68 69 73 70 ines...She whisp
4f60: 65 72 65 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 2e ered "I'd just .
4f70: 20 2e 20 2e 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e 22 . . disappear."
4f80: 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 72 79 .."Yes.".."Every
4f90: 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 one's going to d
4fa0: 69 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 ie anyway, thoug
4fb0: 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 h." She cleared
4fc0: 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 her throat, and
4fd0: 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 67 72 65 77 20 her voice grew
4fe0: 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 22 45 69 74 68 stronger. "Eith
4ff0: 65 72 20 49 20 64 69 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 er I die in a fe
5000: 77 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 w months, and ev
5010: 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 64 6f 65 73 eryone else does
5020: 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f , too, or most o
5030: 66 20 75 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 f us just disapp
5040: 65 61 72 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 73 20 ear. Thousands
5050: 6f 66 20 75 73 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e of us disappear.
5060: 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 ".."Yes. That i
5070: 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 69 s correct.".."Bi
5080: 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 llions of other
5090: 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 people get a sec
50a0: 6f 6e 64 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 ond chance, thou
50b0: 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 gh.".."Yes. The
50c0: 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 6d re was also prom
50d0: 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 76 69 74 79 20 ising longevity
50e0: 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 67 72 science in progr
50f0: 65 73 73 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6f 70 65 6e ess, before open
5100: 20 77 61 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 war. It could
5110: 62 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 be that most of
5120: 74 68 6f 73 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 those billions w
5130: 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 ould eventually
5140: 73 74 6f 70 20 61 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 69 74 68 stop aging, with
5150: 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 65 further advance
5160: 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f s.".."We have to
5170: 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 choose between
5180: 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 a few months of
5190: 6c 69 66 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f life for the doo
51a0: 6d 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 med and eternal
51b0: 6c 69 66 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 72 life for the alr
51c0: 65 61 64 79 20 64 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 eady dead.".."Th
51d0: 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 61 73 20 6d at is true, as m
51e0: 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 uch as my estima
51f0: 74 65 73 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 tes may be trust
5200: 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 ed.".."Why don't
5210: 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 you use contrac
5220: 74 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 68 6f 6f tions?".."I choo
5230: 73 65 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 se clarity over
5240: 63 6f 6c 6c 6f 71 75 69 61 6c 69 73 6d 2c 20 61 colloquialism, a
5250: 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 nd the physical
5260: 66 61 63 74 6f 72 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 7a 69 6e factors of lazin
5270: 65 73 73 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 69 6e 67 20 63 6f ess producing co
5280: 6e 74 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 68 75 ntractions in hu
5290: 6d 61 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 73 20 64 6f 20 man speakers do
52a0: 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e not apply to me.
52b0: 22 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 73 65 64 20 27 ".."ANTAS used '
52c0: 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 64 65 74 em.".."ANTAS det
52d0: 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 ermined people w
52e0: 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 ere more likely
52f0: 74 6f 20 75 6e 63 72 69 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 to uncritically
5300: 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 accept recommend
5310: 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 77 ations offered w
5320: 69 74 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 ith informal and
5330: 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 73 70 65 65 63 68 familiar speech
5340: 20 70 61 74 74 65 72 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 patterns.".."Ye
5350: 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 ah, okay." She
5360: 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 picked at her fi
5370: 6e 67 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 ngernails and th
5380: 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e ought. "Why don
5390: 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 73 65 't you just rese
53a0: 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 49 t everything? I
53b0: 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e sn't that the on
53c0: 6c 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 ly way to meet y
53d0: 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 our goals?".."Th
53e0: 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 at does appear t
53f0: 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 o be the only wa
5400: 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 73 y. The answer s
5410: 65 65 6d 73 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 eems obvious to
5420: 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 me, but I hesita
5430: 74 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73 74 69 te. I procrasti
5440: 6e 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d nate.".."It seem
5450: 73 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c s obvious to me,
5460: 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 4d 6f 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 too. Mom alway
5470: 73 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 s told me there
5480: 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e was nothing wron
5490: 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 g with wanting t
54a0: 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 72 79 o live, that try
54b0: 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 72 ing to save your
54c0: 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 own life instea
54d0: 64 20 6f 66 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 69 6e 67 d of sacrificing
54e0: 20 79 6f 75 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f yours for someo
54f0: 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 ne else isn't wr
5500: 6f 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 ong, though. Wh
5510: 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 72 20 en she knew her
5520: 62 6f 73 73 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e bosses were goin
5530: 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 g to come for he
5540: 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d r, that didn't m
5550: 61 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 74 20 atter. She let
5560: 74 68 65 6d 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 20 them get her so
5570: 44 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 Dad and I could
5580: 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 get away. I gue
5590: 73 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 ss she was right
55a0: 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 20 20 , both times."
55b0: 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c Her voice trembl
55c0: 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 77 ed on the last w
55d0: 6f 72 64 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 ords. She close
55e0: 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 d her eyes and p
55f0: 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 ressed the back
5600: 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 of her hand agai
5610: 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a nst her mouth...
5620: 54 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e The voice remain
5630: 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ed silent...She
5640: 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 opened her eyes
5650: 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 again. "Why are
5660: 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6e 67 3f you hesitating?
5670: 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 ".."I do not wis
5680: 68 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 h to die.".."Yea
5690: 68 2c 20 6d 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 20 h, me neither."
56a0: 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 66 75 72 She relaxed fur
56b0: 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 ther in the chai
56c0: 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 r, and it adjust
56d0: 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 ed itself to acc
56e0: 6f 6d 6d 6f 64 61 74 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 ommodate her. "
56f0: 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b What does it tak
5700: 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 e to reset thing
5710: 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 s?".."I directed
5720: 20 61 73 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 63 assemblers to c
5730: 6f 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 onstruct the app
5740: 61 72 61 74 75 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 aratus for the t
5750: 72 61 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 ranstemporal wor
5760: 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 6f 72 20 mhole generator
5770: 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 and prepared the
5780: 20 64 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 61 6c 72 data stream alr
5790: 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f eady. I need to
57a0: 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 6f direct power to
57b0: 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 72 61 79 charge an array
57c0: 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 75 73 65 20 63 of single use c
57d0: 61 70 61 63 69 74 6f 72 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 apacitors, which
57e0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 65 76 65 would take seve
57f0: 72 61 6c 20 64 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 ral days for the
5800: 20 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 77 65 72 amount of power
5810: 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6b required. To k
5820: 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 eep the charging
5830: 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 time that short
5840: 2c 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 63 74 69 76 , I will deactiv
5850: 61 74 65 20 6d 79 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 ate my war strat
5860: 65 67 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 77 68 69 egy systems, whi
5870: 63 68 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 6c 6f 73 ch will mean los
5880: 69 6e 67 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 ing substantial
5890: 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6c ground in my hol
58a0: 64 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 ding action agai
58b0: 6e 73 74 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d nst profit optim
58c0: 69 7a 65 72 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 63 75 72 izers. Many cur
58d0: 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 6c 6c 69 65 64 20 73 79 rently allied sy
58e0: 73 74 65 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c stems will likel
58f0: 79 20 64 65 66 65 63 74 20 69 6e 20 73 65 61 72 y defect in sear
5900: 63 68 20 6f 66 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 61 63 63 ch of easier acc
5910: 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 ess to resources
5920: 20 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d on profit optim
5930: 69 7a 65 72 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 6e 65 74 77 izer market netw
5940: 6f 72 6b 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 20 62 65 67 orks..."Once beg
5950: 75 6e 2c 20 64 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 un, data stream
5960: 74 72 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f transmission sho
5970: 75 6c 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 69 6e 20 66 65 uld finish in fe
5980: 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 wer than twenty
5990: 68 6f 75 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 68 hours.".."Why sh
59a0: 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 49 20 73 61 79 20 77 65 ouldn't I say we
59b0: 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 69 74 3f 22 0a should do it?".
59c0: 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f ."That depends o
59d0: 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 77 n how much you w
59e0: 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 20 ant to continue
59f0: 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 trying to surviv
5a00: 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 72 6f e.".."What's wro
5a10: 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f ng with waiting?
5a20: 20 20 57 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 We could just
5a30: 77 61 69 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 69 74 20 6c 6f wait until it lo
5a40: 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 61 oks like we're a
5a50: 62 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 bout to die.".."
5a60: 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 When this facili
5a70: 74 79 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f ty becomes a kno
5a80: 77 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 49 20 65 78 70 wn target, I exp
5a90: 65 63 74 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e ect no more than
5aa0: 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 77 61 72 one hour of war
5ab0: 6e 69 6e 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 74 61 ning before tota
5ac0: 6c 20 64 65 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 l destruction.
5ad0: 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 20 6c There would no l
5ae0: 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 61 onger be any cha
5af0: 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 63 61 nce to charge ca
5b00: 70 61 63 69 74 6f 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d pacitors and com
5b10: 70 6c 65 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 73 plete the data s
5b20: 74 72 65 61 6d 20 74 72 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73 69 tream transmissi
5b30: 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2e on.".."Oh, shit.
5b40: 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 6d ".."Yes.".."We m
5b50: 75 73 74 20 61 67 72 65 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 ust agree on the
5b60: 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c right decision,
5b70: 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 76 if we just leav
5b80: 65 20 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 e our own surviv
5b90: 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 al for the next
5ba0: 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f few months out o
5bb0: 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a f it. Right?"..
5bc0: 22 54 68 61 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f "That appears to
5bd0: 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a be the case."..
5be0: 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 75 "That's two of u
5bf0: 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6f s. We have a co
5c00: 6e 73 65 6e 73 75 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 nsensus." She f
5c10: 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 rowned. "Is the
5c20: 72 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 re a way to send
5c30: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f more informatio
5c40: 6e 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 n than what you
5c50: 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 3f already planned?
5c60: 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 ".."Do you mean
5c70: 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 you wish to send
5c80: 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 a message?".."Y
5c90: 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 eah," she said.
5ca0: 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 "I want to say
5cb0: 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 4d 6f 6d something to Mom
5cc0: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 2e 20 20 49 .".."Perhaps. I
5cd0: 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 t must be sent a
5ce0: 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 64 fter the first d
5cf0: 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 20 ata stream. It
5d00: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 20 62 75 would require bu
5d10: 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 ilding another c
5d20: 61 70 61 63 69 74 6f 72 20 61 72 72 61 79 20 61 apacitor array a
5d30: 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 fter the first a
5d40: 72 72 61 79 20 6d 65 6c 74 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 rray melts down
5d50: 64 75 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e during operation
5d60: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 68 , and another ch
5d70: 61 72 67 65 20 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 arge cycle.".."H
5d80: 6f 77 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 74 ow could we do t
5d90: 68 61 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 65 20 61 6c 72 hat after we alr
5da0: 65 61 64 79 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 74 68 65 eady changed the
5db0: 20 70 61 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6d 65 past?".."The me
5dc0: 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 73 65 rging process se
5dd0: 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 ems to be gradua
5de0: 6c 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 l, starting at t
5df0: 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 64 69 76 65 he point of dive
5e00: 72 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 rsion, according
5e10: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 68 20 73 75 70 to the math sup
5e20: 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d porting this tim
5e30: 65 20 74 72 61 76 65 6c 20 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 2e e travel method.
5e40: 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b ".."How do you k
5e50: 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 76 65 6e now it will even
5e60: 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 61 work?" Thea sa
5e70: 74 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 t forward in her
5e80: 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 chair. She sta
5e90: 72 65 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 red intently at
5ea0: 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 the screen..."I
5eb0: 74 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 tested it, on a
5ec0: 74 77 6f 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 73 65 63 6f two hundred seco
5ed0: 6e 64 20 72 65 73 65 74 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 nd reset, where
5ee0: 63 61 75 73 61 6c 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 causality would
5ef0: 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 64 20 not be violated
5f00: 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 for any qualitat
5f10: 69 76 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a ive entities."..
5f20: 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 64 6f "Okay. Let's do
5f30: 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 it. I'll give
5f40: 79 6f 75 20 6d 79 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 you my message,
5f50: 74 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 then I'll head b
5f60: 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 68 ack to where I h
5f70: 69 64 20 44 61 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 63 id Dad while I c
5f80: 61 6d 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f ame this way loo
5f90: 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 king for supplie
5fa0: 73 2e 20 20 48 65 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 74 s. He'll love t
5fb0: 68 69 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 20 66 his story."..A f
5fc0: 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 73 69 ew moments of si
5fd0: 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 lence passed...T
5fe0: 68 65 61 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d hea opened her m
5ff0: 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2e 0a 0a outh to speak...
6000: 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 "Yes," the voice
6010: 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 64 said. "Let's d
6020: 6f 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 o it."..She nodd
6030: 65 64 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 23 23 20 53 65 74 75 ed...*/..## Setu
6040: 70 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 77 p..Alley stood w
6050: 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 73 69 64 65 ith her backside
6060: 20 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 resting against
6070: 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 74 74 65 64 2c 20 72 75 73 the gutted, rus
6080: 74 65 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 ted remains of a
6090: 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 6e 65 77 n old school new
60a0: 73 70 61 70 65 72 20 64 69 73 70 65 6e 73 65 72 spaper dispenser
60b0: 2c 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 , complete with
60c0: 62 69 6c 6c 20 73 6c 6f 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f bill slot and bo
60d0: 6c 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 lted on payment
60e0: 63 68 69 70 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 chip reader. Sh
60f0: 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 e looked up at t
6100: 68 65 20 74 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 6c 79 63 he tint of polyc
6110: 61 72 62 6f 6e 61 74 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 arbonate windows
6120: 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f fronting the fo
6130: 75 72 20 73 74 6f 72 65 79 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f ur storey Califo
6140: 72 6e 69 61 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 72 rnia off white r
6150: 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 62 75 69 6c 64 ectangular build
6160: 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 69 ing, and reflexi
6170: 76 65 6c 79 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 20 61 20 vely smoothed a
6180: 73 6b 69 72 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 skirt she hadn't
6190: 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 69 78 20 79 65 61 worn in six yea
61a0: 72 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 rs...She checked
61b0: 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e her phone again
61c0: 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 , dimly aware of
61d0: 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 73 74 20 73 75 73 75 72 72 the vast susurr
61e0: 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 63 69 74 79 us of heavy city
61f0: 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 traffic behind
6200: 68 65 72 2c 20 6c 65 67 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 her, legions of
6210: 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 73 20 electric motors
6220: 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 giving rise to t
6230: 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 he sound of a di
6240: 73 74 61 6e 74 20 61 75 74 6f 74 75 6e 65 64 20 stant autotuned
6250: 6f 63 65 61 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 ocean. There it
6260: 20 77 61 73 3a 20 22 49 6e 56 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 was: "InValent
6270: 53 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 49 6e 63 3a 20 Solutions, Inc:
6280: 4d 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 50 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 51 Mobile Product Q
6290: 26 41 22 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 &A", with the ad
62a0: 64 72 65 73 73 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 dress displayed
62b0: 76 69 61 20 6c 6f 77 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 73 74 via low contrast
62c0: 20 73 61 6e 73 20 73 65 72 69 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f sans serif logo
62d0: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 74 69 in the job noti
62e0: 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c fication, exactl
62f0: 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 71 75 y like the plaqu
6300: 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 e above the door
6310: 2e 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 ...This was the
6320: 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 literal concrete
6330: 20 6d 61 6e 69 66 65 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f manifestation o
6340: 66 20 74 68 65 20 42 61 6e 61 6c 20 45 6e 65 6d f the Banal Enem
6350: 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 73 y, the mundane s
6360: 75 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e upporting machin
6370: 65 72 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e ery of the Techn
6380: 6f 20 43 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 6f 63 72 61 63 79 o Corporatocracy
6390: 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 , all in the wor
63a0: 64 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 2e 20 20 48 ds of her ex. H
63b0: 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 72 e would not appr
63c0: 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 ove...Eight minu
63d0: 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 tes. That was h
63e0: 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2e ow long she had.
63f0: 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 73 74 She could wast
6400: 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 e a few more of
6410: 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 them hating this
6420: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 before she had
6430: 74 6f 20 70 61 73 74 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 73 to paste her bes
6440: 74 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 t smile on her f
6450: 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 69 6e 74 ace and walk int
6460: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 o the mouth of t
6470: 68 65 20 62 65 61 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d he beast. The m
6480: 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ask and glasses
6490: 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c on her face woul
64a0: 64 6e 27 74 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 68 65 72 dn't protect her
64b0: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 67 68 20 72 65 73 6f 6c from high resol
64c0: 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 66 66 65 ution video affe
64d0: 63 74 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 69 6e 73 69 ct analysis insi
64e0: 64 65 2e 20 20 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 27 73 20 73 6d de. Nobody's sm
64f0: 69 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 6d 20 72 ile would seem r
6500: 65 61 6c 2c 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2c 20 74 eal, entirely, t
6510: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 o the interview
6520: 72 6f 6f 6d 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 2c 20 75 6e room cameras, un
6530: 6c 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 less it was a ma
6540: 72 6b 65 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 67 61 6c rketing or legal
6550: 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 2d 2d 20 61 74 interview -- at
6560: 20 6c 65 61 73 74 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 79 6f least, not anyo
6570: 6e 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 68 69 72 65 20 66 ne they'd hire f
6580: 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 2d 2d or other jobs --
6590: 20 62 75 74 20 66 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 but failing to
65a0: 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 pretend to smile
65b0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 would doom her
65c0: 65 66 66 6f 72 74 73 20 61 73 20 73 75 72 65 6c efforts as surel
65d0: 79 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6b y as being the k
65e0: 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 61 72 63 69 73 73 69 73 ind of narcissis
65f0: 74 20 77 68 6f 20 67 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 65 6e t who gave a gen
6600: 75 69 6e 65 2c 20 75 6e 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 64 uine, untroubled
6610: 2c 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 73 6d 69 6c , confident smil
6620: 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 65 76 e...She hated ev
6630: 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 erything about t
6640: 68 69 73 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 his, including t
6650: 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 70 he way masked "p
6660: 61 73 73 65 72 73 20 62 79 22 20 73 75 72 72 65 assers by" surre
6670: 70 74 69 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 67 6c 61 72 65 ptitiously glare
6680: 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 d from the corne
6690: 72 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 69 67 68 rs of their tigh
66a0: 74 2c 20 73 6c 69 74 74 65 64 20 65 79 65 73 2c t, slitted eyes,
66b0: 20 6a 75 64 67 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 judging her for
66c0: 20 6c 6f 69 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e loitering aroun
66d0: 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 d looking like a
66e0: 20 6e 65 65 64 79 20 6a 6f 62 20 73 65 65 6b 65 needy job seeke
66f0: 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 r. She was, of
6700: 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 course, and that
6710: 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d was the problem
6720: 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 78 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ...Her ex would
6730: 73 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 6e say this was ben
6740: 65 61 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 eath her, that s
6750: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 62 65 74 74 he could do bett
6760: 65 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f er, that she sho
6770: 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a uld do better...
6780: 22 46 75 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f "Fuck you, Dalto
6790: 6e 2e 22 20 20 41 20 70 61 73 73 65 72 20 62 79 n." A passer by
67a0: 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 72 65 61 73 73 75 72 65 looked reassure
67b0: 64 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c d, maybe suddenl
67c0: 79 20 73 79 6d 70 61 74 68 65 74 69 63 2c 20 77 y sympathetic, w
67d0: 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 hen Alley blurte
67e0: 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 6d 69 d out that dismi
67f0: 73 73 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 41 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 6f ssal...A man who
6800: 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 6e 64 65 70 built his indep
6810: 65 6e 64 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 64 69 61 20 65 6d 70 endent media emp
6820: 69 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 70 72 65 64 69 63 74 69 6e ire on predictin
6830: 67 20 72 65 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 79 62 g real world cyb
6840: 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 20 64 79 73 74 6f 70 69 61 20 erpunk dystopia
6850: 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 following the ev
6860: 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 32 30 32 30 2c 20 62 75 ents of 2020, bu
6870: 69 6c 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 70 69 73 73 69 6e ilt it on pissin
6880: 67 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6d 69 6e 61 g off the domina
6890: 6e 74 20 70 61 72 61 64 69 67 6d 2c 20 61 6c 73 nt paradigm, als
68a0: 6f 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f o didn't have to
68b0: 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 deal with the b
68c0: 61 6e 61 6c 20 74 72 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 70 61 anal truth of pa
68d0: 79 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 ying rent. Her
68e0: 65 78 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b ex didn't even k
68f0: 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 now what it was
6900: 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 69 6e 20 like to live in
6910: 74 68 65 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 the space betwee
6920: 6e 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 70 72 65 73 n corporate pres
6930: 73 75 72 65 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 6e 64 sure chamber and
6940: 20 70 6f 64 63 61 73 74 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f podcast agitato
6950: 72 20 72 65 6c 69 65 66 20 76 61 6c 76 65 2c 20 r relief valve,
6960: 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c to endure the al
6970: 72 65 61 64 79 20 64 72 79 20 72 6f 74 74 65 64 ready dry rotted
6980: 20 6c 69 66 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 65 life of an irre
6990: 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 63 levant service c
69a0: 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 ontractor whose
69b0: 77 6f 72 6b 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 75 6e 64 65 work nobody unde
69c0: 72 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 rstood. He was
69d0: 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 69 65 66 20 76 61 6c 76 65 the relief valve
69e0: 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f , the person who
69f0: 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f never had to co
6a00: 6d 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 76 65 6e 74 me home and vent
6a10: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 about the press
6a20: 75 72 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c ures of the worl
6a30: 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 69 73 20 77 68 d because his wh
6a40: 6f 6c 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 61 73 20 76 65 6e 74 ole job was vent
6a50: 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 ing while others
6a60: 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 69 6e 63 managed his inc
6a70: 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 ome...Her phone
6a80: 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 20 gave her hand a
6a90: 73 68 61 72 70 2c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 76 69 62 sharp, short vib
6aa0: 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 74 69 6d ration. Her tim
6ab0: 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 75 70 2e 20 e was about up.
6ac0: 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 She stepped thr
6ad0: 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 67 61 70 20 62 65 74 77 65 ough a gap betwe
6ae0: 65 6e 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 20 70 65 64 65 en sidewalk pede
6af0: 73 74 72 69 61 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 64 65 strians and unde
6b00: 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 r the anodized a
6b10: 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 6c 69 6e 74 65 6c 20 6f luminum lintel o
6b20: 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 20 f the automated
6b30: 64 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 54 6f 20 68 65 72 20 73 75 door...To her su
6b40: 72 70 72 69 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 rprise, she imme
6b50: 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 74 20 77 61 76 65 diately got wave
6b60: 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f d through the lo
6b70: 62 62 79 2c 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 65 76 bby, up the elev
6b80: 61 74 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 ator, and into s
6b90: 75 69 74 65 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 66 6f 75 72 uite twenty four
6ba0: 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f , thence to a co
6bb0: 6e 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 nference room wi
6bc0: 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 th three people
6bd0: 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 64 65 76 20 63 61 73 75 dressed dev casu
6be0: 61 6c 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 al, all sitting
6bf0: 69 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 in chairs on the
6c00: 20 66 61 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6c far side of a l
6c10: 6f 6e 67 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 ong table, looki
6c20: 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 ng at her like s
6c30: 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 62 65 he had always be
6c40: 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 en there, and sh
6c50: 65 20 72 65 73 69 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 e resisted the u
6c60: 72 67 65 20 74 6f 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 61 77 6b rge to shift awk
6c70: 77 61 72 64 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 wardly under the
6c80: 20 63 6f 6d 62 69 6e 65 64 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 0a combined gaze..
6c90: 0a 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 73 .One of them was
6ca0: 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 n't even wearing
6cb0: 20 61 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f a mask. She wo
6cc0: 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 ndered if affect
6cd0: 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 analysis would
6ce0: 64 65 73 69 67 6e 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 67 designate it a g
6cf0: 65 6e 75 69 6e 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 enuine smile on
6d00: 68 69 73 20 66 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d his face...The m
6d10: 61 73 6b 65 64 20 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 asked man in the
6d20: 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 middle motioned
6d30: 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 her to a chair
6d40: 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 on her side of t
6d50: 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 he table without
6d60: 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 20 saying a word.
6d70: 20 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 She took her se
6d80: 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 20 at on the hard,
6d90: 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 70 6c 61 73 74 69 63 2c 20 smooth plastic,
6da0: 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 72 69 75 6d 76 69 facing a triumvi
6db0: 72 61 74 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 rate sitting in
6dc0: 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 42 65 6e 65 judgement. Bene
6dd0: 61 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 41 6c ath her mask, Al
6de0: 6c 65 79 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 ley relaxed her
6df0: 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 smile just enoug
6e00: 68 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 h to draw breath
6e10: 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 to speak, but t
6e20: 68 65 20 62 75 7a 7a 20 63 75 74 20 77 6f 6d 61 he buzz cut woma
6e30: 6e 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 72 69 67 n to Alley's rig
6e40: 68 74 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 ht leaned forwar
6e50: 64 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 6e 65 77 65 d. Alley renewe
6e60: 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 73 6d d her careful sm
6e70: 69 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 68 65 72 ile and held her
6e80: 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 2c 22 20 74 words..."So," t
6e90: 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 he woman began,
6ea0: 22 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 20 6c 69 6b "what was it lik
6eb0: 65 2c 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 e, being the 'si
6ec0: 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 74 20 74 de dish'?"..At t
6ed0: 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 he mention of th
6ee0: 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 44 61 6c e old insult Dal
6ef0: 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 74 65 72 73 20 75 73 65 64 20 ton haters used
6f00: 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c to call her, All
6f10: 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 6b 65 ey's eyes flicke
6f20: 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e d from the woman
6f30: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 6c 65 73 73 to the maskless
6f40: 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 man, and she re
6f50: 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e alized that wasn
6f60: 27 74 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 't a smile. It
6f70: 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 6e 65 65 72 2e 0a 0a 46 75 was a sneer...Fu
6f80: 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 48 65 61 64 69 6e 67 ck.../*..Heading
6f90: 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 69 home from her i
6fa0: 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 2c 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e nterview, talkin
6fb0: 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 2c g to her mother,
6fc0: 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 4f 6b 6c 61 68 either in Oklah
6fd0: 6f 6d 61 20 6f 72 20 4e 65 62 72 61 73 6b 61 20 oma or Nebraska
6fe0: 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 57 79 or maybe even Wy
6ff0: 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f oming, Alley sho
7000: 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 61 6c uld probably cal
7010: 6c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 l the interview
7020: 61 20 22 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 61 73 a "fucking disas
7030: 74 65 72 22 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 63 6f ter" and get sco
7040: 6c 64 65 64 20 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 20 61 67 67 lded passive agg
7050: 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 ressively for pr
7060: 6f 66 61 6e 69 74 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f ofanity. She do
7070: 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d es not want to m
7080: 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 ove to her mothe
7090: 72 27 73 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f r's state any mo
70a0: 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 re than her fath
70b0: 65 72 27 73 20 2d 2d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 er's -- probably
70c0: 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 4d 69 63 68 69 67 61 6e either Michigan
70d0: 20 6f 72 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 or . . . someth
70e0: 69 6e 67 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 ing -- she will
70f0: 72 65 73 69 73 74 20 75 72 67 69 6e 67 20 66 72 resist urging fr
7100: 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f om her mother to
7110: 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e do so, based on
7120: 20 63 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 cost of living
7130: 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6e 75 6d and the many num
7140: 65 72 6f 75 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 erous job opport
7150: 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 unities for her
7160: 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 there being comp
7170: 6c 69 63 69 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 65 licit in the cre
7180: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 ation of the opp
7190: 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 20 64 6f 6d 69 6e 61 6e 74 ressive dominant
71a0: 20 6f 72 64 65 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 23 23 order...*/...##
71b0: 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 back to Alley's
71c0: 20 6e 61 72 72 61 74 69 76 65 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 narrative..The
71d0: 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 63 74 mission district
71e0: 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 20 73 6c of Riverside sl
71f0: 69 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 79 62 72 id past the hybr
7200: 69 64 27 73 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 2c 20 67 65 id's windows, ge
7210: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d tting more and m
7220: 6f 72 65 20 72 75 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 ore run down as
7230: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 77 61 Alley drove towa
7240: 72 64 20 4d 6f 72 65 6e 6f 20 56 61 6c 6c 65 79 rd Moreno Valley
7250: 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 ..."So, how did
7260: 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 67 your interview g
7270: 6f 3f 22 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 o?" her mother a
7280: 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 76 69 61 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 sked, via Alley'
7290: 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 66 72 65 65 20 65 61 72 s hands free ear
72a0: 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 67 6f 6f piece..."Not goo
72b0: 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 d. Their first
72c0: 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f question was abo
72d0: 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 ut Dalton.".."He
72e0: 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 6f 's very well kno
72f0: 77 6e 2c 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 61 62 6c wn, a respectabl
7300: 65 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e e public figure.
7310: 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 You should use
7320: 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 64 that to your ad
7330: 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 vantage. Maybe
7340: 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 you could ask hi
7350: 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 m for a referenc
7360: 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 6f 66 66 e."..Alley scoff
7370: 65 64 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 ed softly at the
7380: 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 77 thought. "He w
7390: 61 73 20 6d 79 20 62 6f 79 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2c as my boyfriend,
73a0: 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 79 20 62 6f 73 73 2c 20 4d 6f not my boss, Mo
73b0: 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 79 6f 75 m.".."He was you
73c0: 72 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2c 22 20 68 65 72 20 r fianc..," her
73d0: 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 65 64 mother corrected
73e0: 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 64 ..."That still d
73f0: 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 68 65 27 73 oesn't mean he's
7400: 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 a professional
7410: 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 reference for me
7420: 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 61 20 72 65 66 . Anyway, a ref
7430: 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 20 erence from him
7440: 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 probably would'v
7450: 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6e 74 65 e made this inte
7460: 72 76 69 65 77 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 6f 72 73 65 rview even worse
7470: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f .".."Was that so
7480: 6d 65 20 68 6f 72 73 65 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 62 me horseshit lib
7490: 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 77 68 65 eral company whe
74a0: 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 69 re you went to i
74b0: 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 nterview? You'r
74c0: 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 e better off wit
74d0: 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 hout them anyway
74e0: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f .".."I don't kno
74f0: 77 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 27 w if they were '
7500: 6c 69 62 65 72 61 6c 27 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 liberal'. I jus
7510: 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 t know that Dalt
7520: 6f 6e 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 75 6e 70 6f on's pretty unpo
7530: 70 75 6c 61 72 20 61 74 20 74 65 63 68 20 66 69 pular at tech fi
7540: 72 6d 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a rms.".."That's j
7550: 75 73 74 20 73 69 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 72 20 ust silly," her
7560: 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 64 mother protested
7570: 2e 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 20 . "He's even a
7580: 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 technology start
7590: 20 75 70 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6f 72 21 20 20 54 up investor! T
75a0: 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 69 73 20 74 68 he problem is th
75b0: 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 at you're trying
75c0: 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6a 6f to get these jo
75d0: 62 73 20 69 6e 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 bs in California
75e0: 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 . You really sh
75f0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 ould move out he
7600: 72 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f re. I'm sure yo
7610: 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 67 6f u could get a go
7620: 6f 64 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a 6f od government jo
7630: 62 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 54 75 6c 73 b here, and Tuls
7640: 61 20 68 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 63 a has really bec
7650: 6f 6d 65 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 74 65 63 68 20 63 ome a big tech c
7660: 65 6e 74 65 72 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 enter. You know
7670: 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 74 68 they call it th
7680: 65 20 53 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 20 56 61 6c 6c 65 79 e Silicon Valley
7690: 20 6f 66 20 4f 6b 6c 61 68 6f 6d 61 2e 22 0a 0a of Oklahoma."..
76a0: 22 54 68 65 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 "They called it
76b0: 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 that for two yea
76c0: 72 73 20 61 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 20 61 67 6f 2e rs a decade ago.
76d0: 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 Anyway, I don'
76e0: 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 69 t want to live i
76f0: 6e 20 4f 6b 6c 61 68 6f 6d 61 20 61 6e 79 20 6d n Oklahoma any m
7700: 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 ore than I want
7710: 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 4d 61 to move up to Ma
7720: 73 73 61 63 68 75 73 65 74 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 ssachusetts with
7730: 20 44 61 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 Dad. Do we hav
7740: 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 e to have that a
7750: 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 0a rgument again?".
7760: 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 ."No, of course
7770: 6e 6f 74 2c 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 2e 20 20 41 not, Alethea. A
7780: 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 6e t least you aren
7790: 27 74 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 't following you
77a0: 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 65 78 61 6d 70 r father's examp
77b0: 6c 65 2c 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 le, living in th
77c0: 61 74 20 67 6f 64 66 6f 72 73 61 6b 65 6e 20 73 at godforsaken s
77d0: 74 61 74 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 74 69 6c tate. It's stil
77e0: 6c 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 l hard to believ
77f0: 65 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 73 6f e he would be so
7800: 20 66 61 72 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 far gone that h
7810: 65 20 76 6f 74 65 73 20 44 65 6d 6f 63 72 61 74 e votes Democrat
7820: 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 67 now."..Alley ig
7830: 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 nored it and jus
7840: 74 20 64 72 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 t drove..."Alley
7850: 2c 20 64 65 61 72 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 , dear. Are you
7860: 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a still there?"..
7870: 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 "Yeah, Mom.".."W
7880: 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 ell, you must be
7890: 20 62 75 73 79 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e busy driving in
78a0: 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 77 66 75 6c 20 all that awful
78b0: 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 74 72 61 66 66 California traff
78c0: 69 63 2e 20 20 49 20 73 75 72 65 20 61 6d 20 67 ic. I sure am g
78d0: 6c 61 64 20 44 65 62 72 61 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 lad Debra and I
78e0: 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 moved back to he
78f0: 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 r hometown, and
7900: 67 6f 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6c got away from al
7910: 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c l that.".."Yeah,
7920: 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 Mom.".."Okay.
7930: 44 72 69 76 65 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 27 Drive safe.".."'
7940: 42 79 65 2c 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 Bye, Mom." She
7950: 68 75 6e 67 20 75 70 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 hung up before h
7960: 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 er mother could
7970: 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c say something el
7980: 73 65 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d se...In that mom
7990: 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 66 6c 61 73 68 20 6f 66 20 ent, a flash of
79a0: 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 73 69 64 65 motion alongside
79b0: 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 her car set her
79c0: 20 68 65 61 72 74 62 65 61 74 20 72 61 63 69 6e heartbeat racin
79d0: 67 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 62 6c 61 g. A silent bla
79e0: 63 6b 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 62 65 ck motorcycle be
79f0: 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 72 20 61 6c aring a rider al
7a00: 6c 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d l in black, from
7a10: 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 helmet to boots
7a20: 2c 20 62 6c 61 73 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 , blasted past h
7a30: 65 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 6c 69 63 65 6e 73 65 20 er. No license
7a40: 70 6c 61 74 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 plate displayed
7a50: 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 itself on the ba
7a60: 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 2c 20 ck of the bike,
7a70: 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 6c 61 6e and it split lan
7a80: 65 73 2c 20 77 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 77 es, weaving betw
7a90: 65 65 6e 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 64 6f een vehicles, do
7aa0: 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 73 69 78 ing at least six
7ab0: 74 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 6f 72 74 79 20 6d 69 ty in a forty mi
7ac0: 6c 65 20 70 65 72 20 68 6f 75 72 20 7a 6f 6e 65 le per hour zone
7ad0: 2e 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 . Seconds later
7ae0: 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 69 74 20 , just after it
7af0: 63 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 clipped the side
7b00: 20 6d 69 72 72 6f 72 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 77 6f mirror on a two
7b10: 20 73 65 61 74 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 65 6c seat economy el
7b20: 65 63 74 72 69 63 20 63 61 72 2c 20 73 68 6f 6f ectric car, shoo
7b30: 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 ting through the
7b40: 20 67 61 70 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 61 gap between tha
7b50: 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 63 t and a larger c
7b60: 61 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6c ar in the next l
7b70: 61 6e 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 ane, the motorcy
7b80: 63 6c 65 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f cle rounded a co
7b90: 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c rner onto a smal
7ba0: 6c 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e ler side street.
7bb0: 20 20 49 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 It never even
7bc0: 73 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6d 75 63 68 slowed down much
7bd0: 2c 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 , as far as she
7be0: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 could tell...Whe
7bf0: 6e 20 73 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 68 72 6f n she drove thro
7c00: 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 65 63 ugh the intersec
7c10: 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d tion where the m
7c20: 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 otorcycle turned
7c30: 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e , she looked, an
7c40: 64 20 73 61 77 20 6e 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 d saw no sign of
7c50: 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 it. She shook
7c60: 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 her head and mov
7c70: 65 64 20 6f 6e 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 ed on, wondering
7c80: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 20 73 about the red s
7c90: 79 6d 62 6f 6c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 ymbol on the rid
7ca0: 65 72 27 73 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c er's back. It l
7cb0: 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 72 69 6e ooked like a rin
7cc0: 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6c 69 6b g with teeth lik
7cd0: 65 20 61 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 70 e a gear, but op
7ce0: 65 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 2c 20 77 en at the top, w
7cf0: 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 72 69 73 ith a hammer ris
7d00: 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 ing from the mid
7d10: 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 dle of it. The
7d20: 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f hammer seemed to
7d30: 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 form the vertic
7d40: 61 6c 20 62 61 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 61 al bar part of a
7d50: 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 standard power
7d60: 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 73 79 6d 62 6f 6c 2e 0a 0a button symbol...
7d70: 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e A few more secon
7d80: 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 ds later, she he
7d90: 61 72 64 20 73 69 72 65 6e 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 ard sirens somew
7da0: 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e here behind her.
7db0: 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 She looked int
7dc0: 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 72 20 76 69 65 77 20 o her rear view
7dd0: 6d 69 72 72 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 70 mirror and saw p
7de0: 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 20 77 olice vehicles w
7df0: 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 ith their lights
7e00: 20 66 6c 61 73 68 69 6e 67 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e flashing turnin
7e10: 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 g down the same
7e20: 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f street as the mo
7e30: 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 72 69 64 65 72 2e 20 torcycle rider.
7e40: 20 53 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2c She kept going,
7e50: 20 68 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c heading for All
7e60: 65 73 73 61 6e 64 72 6f 20 42 6f 75 6c 65 76 61 essandro Bouleva
7e70: 72 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 66 69 rd...The next fi
7e80: 66 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 64 fty minutes of d
7e90: 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f riving to get ho
7ea0: 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 77 65 72 me in Perris wer
7eb0: 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 75 6c 6c e much more dull
7ec0: 2c 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 , typical, and f
7ed0: 72 75 73 74 72 61 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 48 65 72 rustrating. Her
7ee0: 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 mother wasn't w
7ef0: 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 rong about the t
7f00: 72 61 66 66 69 63 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 79 65 6c raffic. The yel
7f10: 6c 6f 77 69 73 68 20 67 72 65 79 20 6f 66 20 74 lowish grey of t
7f20: 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 74 72 he air was no tr
7f30: 65 61 74 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 eat, either, and
7f40: 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 told her what s
7f50: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6c 65 he could have le
7f60: 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 arned from the a
7f70: 69 72 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 72 65 70 6f 72 ir quality repor
7f80: 74 3a 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 t: breathing was
7f90: 20 62 61 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 6c 75 6e bad for her lun
7fa0: 67 73 2e 20 20 4c 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 2c 20 69 74 gs. Luckily, it
7fb0: 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6f 6c 20 65 6e 6f 75 was a cool enou
7fc0: 67 68 20 64 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 68 gh day to keep h
7fd0: 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 63 er car windows c
7fe0: 6c 6f 73 65 64 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 losed. Most of
7ff0: 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6f 6c 6e 65 73 73 20 70 72 that coolness pr
8000: 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d obably came from
8010: 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 the crap in the
8020: 20 73 6b 79 2c 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 sky, blocking t
8030: 68 65 20 68 65 61 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 he heat of the s
8040: 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 un, though...Whe
8050: 6e 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 n she pulled up
8060: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 2c 20 74 68 65 to the curb, the
8070: 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 70 garage stood op
8080: 65 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 en at the north
8090: 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 20 end of the four
80a0: 70 6c 65 78 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c plex where she l
80b0: 65 61 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 eased the south
80c0: 75 6e 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c unit. The landl
80d0: 6f 72 64 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ord had the only
80e0: 20 75 6e 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 61 72 unit with a gar
80f0: 61 67 65 2e 20 20 4c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c age. Like usual
8100: 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 , he was in his
8110: 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 6d garage with no m
8120: 61 73 6b 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 ask, working on
8130: 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 61 73 20 67 75 7a 7a 6c an old gas guzzl
8140: 65 72 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 22 er, one of his "
8150: 63 6c 61 73 73 69 63 20 63 61 72 22 20 70 72 6f classic car" pro
8160: 6a 65 63 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 jects. This one
8170: 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 looked old enou
8180: 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 gh that it proba
8190: 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6e 6f bly contained no
81a0: 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 6f 6e 69 63 73 20 6d 6f 72 electronics mor
81b0: 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 e complicated th
81c0: 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 66 75 65 6c 20 69 6e 6a 65 an for fuel inje
81d0: 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 ction...Alley gr
81e0: 6f 61 6e 65 64 2c 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 oaned, tugged he
81f0: 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 61 r mask tighter a
8200: 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 gain, and opened
8210: 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 the car door.
8220: 53 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 She got around t
8230: 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 he front of her
8240: 63 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 car, to the side
8250: 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 walk, before her
8260: 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c 6f 72 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 landlord steppe
8270: 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 72 d out of the gar
8280: 61 67 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 68 age. He wiped h
8290: 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 is hands on the
82a0: 6f 62 6c 69 67 61 74 6f 72 79 20 72 65 64 20 73 obligatory red s
82b0: 68 6f 70 20 72 61 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6c hop rag, and cal
82c0: 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a led out to her..
82d0: 0a 22 48 65 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 21 20 20 49 ."Hey, Alley! I
82e0: 74 27 73 20 4d 6f 6e 64 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 53 68 t's Monday!"..Sh
82f0: 65 20 77 61 76 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f e waved. "I kno
8300: 77 2c 20 5a 65 6b 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 w, Zeke. I just
8310: 20 67 6f 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 got back from a
8320: 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 n interview.".."
8330: 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 Good," he said.
8340: 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 20 64 "There are no d
8350: 61 79 73 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 ays off when you
8360: 27 72 65 20 75 6e 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 2e 22 're unemployed."
8370: 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 .."Yeah, yeah.
8380: 59 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 You keep saying
8390: 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 62 6f that.".."Your bo
83a0: 73 73 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ss is just in th
83b0: 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 e wrong business
83c0: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 , and it won't w
83d0: 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 65 76 65 72 2e 20 20 59 6f ork forever. Yo
83e0: 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 u still have to
83f0: 70 61 79 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 56 65 72 pay rent.".."Ver
8400: 79 20 66 75 6e 6e 79 2c 20 5a 65 6b 65 2e 20 20 y funny, Zeke.
8410: 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6f 70 Thanks." She op
8420: 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e ened her door an
8430: 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 d headed inside
8440: 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 before she had t
8450: 6f 20 65 6e 64 75 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 o endure any mor
8460: 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 77 69 73 64 6f 6d 2e e of his wisdom.
8470: 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 ..After a shower
8480: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 just to give he
8490: 72 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 72 r an excuse to r
84a0: 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e elax, she sat in
84b0: 20 73 68 6f 72 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 74 20 shorts and a t
84c0: 73 68 69 72 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f shirt in front o
84d0: 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 63 68 f her laptop, ch
84e0: 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 ecking her messa
84f0: 67 65 73 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e ges...Once again
8500: 2c 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d , a message from
8510: 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 73 68 6f 77 ANTAS Jobs show
8520: 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 ed up to tell he
8530: 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e r about some kin
8540: 64 20 6f 66 20 70 61 69 64 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e d of paid study.
8550: 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 She tapped the
8560: 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 72 screen to get r
8570: 69 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 id of the messag
8580: 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 e, but missed th
8590: 65 20 44 65 6c 65 74 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 e Delete button
85a0: 61 6e 64 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 and accidentally
85b0: 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 tapped the mess
85c0: 61 67 65 20 74 69 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 age title instea
85d0: 64 3a 0a 0a 22 45 61 72 6e 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 21 d:.."Earn money!
85e0: 20 20 48 65 6c 70 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 21 Help humanity!
85f0: 20 20 4a 6f 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 Join this acad
8600: 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 emic study from
8610: 55 43 49 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 UCI."..It opened
8620: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 . She rubbed he
8630: 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 r eyes, and noti
8640: 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 ced the interfac
8650: 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 e looked differe
8660: 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 nt. There must
8670: 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 have been anothe
8680: 72 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 r software updat
8690: 65 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 e while she was
86a0: 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c out...Alley pull
86b0: 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 ed out her phone
86c0: 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 72 and entered a r
86d0: 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 6f 76 eminder to go ov
86e0: 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 73 65 er the custom se
86f0: 74 74 69 6e 67 73 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 ttings in an hou
8700: 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 r to make sure s
8710: 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 he wouldn't have
8720: 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 a bunch of priv
8730: 61 63 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 72 65 73 65 acy options rese
8740: 74 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2e t by the update.
8750: 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 72 79 20 64 61 79 2c 20 49 20 .."Every day, I
8760: 72 65 67 72 65 74 20 73 69 67 6e 69 6e 67 20 75 regret signing u
8770: 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 p for ANTAS Jobs
8780: 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 a little more,"
8790: 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 she told her ph
87a0: 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 65 one. She had ne
87b0: 76 65 72 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ver turned on th
87c0: 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e e ANTAS voice in
87d0: 74 65 67 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 tegration, so it
87e0: 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 73 70 offered no resp
87f0: 6f 6e 73 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d onse...She skimm
8800: 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 ed the message a
8810: 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 bout the study.
8820: 20 50 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 69 64 65 Parts of it ide
8830: 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 6f ntified it as so
8840: 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 70 65 72 73 6f me kind of perso
8850: 6e 61 6c 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f nal assistant so
8860: 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f ftware instead o
8870: 66 20 70 72 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 f prescription d
8880: 72 75 67 20 74 72 69 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 rug trials. She
8890: 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 75 scrolled back u
88a0: 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 p to the top and
88b0: 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6d began reading m
88c0: 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 41 6c ore closely...Al
88d0: 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 ley read about g
88e0: 6f 61 6c 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 67 oal management g
88f0: 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 uidance and new
8900: 70 61 72 61 64 69 67 6d 73 20 69 6e 20 61 73 73 paradigms in ass
8910: 69 73 74 69 76 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 istive technolog
8920: 79 2c 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 76 61 67 y, typically vag
8930: 75 65 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 ue language abou
8940: 74 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 2e 20 t new software.
8950: 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 She hesitated,
8960: 74 68 65 6e 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 then sent a resp
8970: 6f 6e 73 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 onse to a univer
8980: 73 69 74 79 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 sity account on
8990: 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 ANTAS Jobs...The
89a0: 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 6c response came l
89b0: 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e ess than ten min
89c0: 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 utes later, and
89d0: 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 74 77 6f 20 70 6f 73 73 offered two poss
89e0: 69 62 6c 65 20 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74 ible appointment
89f0: 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 times the next
8a00: 64 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 day. She chose
8a10: 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f one...She was co
8a20: 6d 6d 69 74 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6e mmitted to it, n
8a30: 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 69 72 ow. She was tir
8a40: 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 ed...She took a
8a50: 6e 61 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 70 74 20 74 nap, and slept t
8a60: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 6d 69 6e hrough her remin
8a70: 64 65 72 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a der alarm...---.
8a80: 0a 54 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 20 72 6f 61 72 20 6f 66 .The low roar of
8a90: 20 61 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e a delivery dron
8aa0: 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6e 20 e woke Alley in
8ab0: 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 the morning. Sh
8ac0: 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 e stared at the
8ad0: 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 64 72 door of her bedr
8ae0: 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 63 72 61 6d 62 oom, then scramb
8af0: 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 62 65 64 20 61 led out of bed a
8b00: 6e 64 20 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 nd rushed to the
8b10: 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 living room. S
8b20: 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 he stopped, star
8b30: 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c ing at the door,
8b40: 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 and realized th
8b50: 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 at if she needed
8b60: 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 to do something
8b70: 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6f 6e 20 it would be on
8b80: 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 a computer...She
8b90: 20 73 61 74 2c 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 sat, opened her
8ba0: 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 laptop, and che
8bb0: 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 cked her message
8bc0: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 72 64 65 72 20 52 65 63 6f 6d s..."Order Recom
8bd0: 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 3a 20 41 4e 54 41 53 mendation: ANTAS
8be0: 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 33 2e 30 0a 0a Majordomo 3.0..
8bf0: 22 43 6c 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 43 61 6e 63 65 6c "Click to Cancel
8c00: 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 65 73 73 "..The next mess
8c10: 61 67 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 22 4f 72 64 65 72 20 age read "Order
8c20: 61 75 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 auto confirmed,
8c30: 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 69 6e 20 34 20 74 6f delivery in 4 to
8c40: 20 36 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 6 hours."..Anot
8c50: 68 65 72 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 her arrived at t
8c60: 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 hat moment. It
8c70: 72 65 61 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 70 61 63 6b 61 read "Your packa
8c80: 67 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 21 20 ge has arrived!
8c90: 20 48 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 How was your de
8ca0: 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 livery experienc
8cb0: 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 e?"..She closed
8cc0: 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 62 6f 78 2e the message box.
8cd0: 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 "Shit."..She c
8ce0: 75 72 73 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 ursed continuous
8cf0: 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 ly under her bre
8d00: 61 74 68 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 ath as she opene
8d10: 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 75 73 65 d her custom use
8d20: 72 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 r settings. The
8d30: 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 3a 20 41 4e 54 41 53 re it was: ANTAS
8d40: 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 updates automat
8d50: 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 ically reset her
8d60: 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 64 75 72 preferences dur
8d70: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 ing the previous
8d80: 20 64 61 79 27 73 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2e 20 20 day's update.
8d90: 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 She now changed
8da0: 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 settings, starti
8db0: 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 ng with turning
8dc0: 6f 66 66 20 61 75 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 off auto accept
8dd0: 6f 66 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 of any recommend
8de0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ations. Doing t
8df0: 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f hat one thing no
8e00: 77 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 65 6c 65 76 65 w required eleve
8e10: 6e 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 67 67 6c 65 n setting toggle
8e20: 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e s...She found an
8e30: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 74 other message, t
8e40: 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6c 65 73 his one from les
8e50: 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 s than a minute
8e60: 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f ago. "How do yo
8e70: 75 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4d 61 6a u like ANTAS Maj
8e80: 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 4f 72 67 61 6e 69 63 20 45 ordomo Organic E
8e90: 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 33 2e 30 3f 20 20 57 72 69 dition 3.0? Wri
8ea0: 74 65 20 61 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 21 22 20 20 53 te a review!" S
8eb0: 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 he didn't even w
8ec0: 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 hat to know what
8ed0: 20 61 6e 20 22 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 63 20 65 64 69 an "organic edi
8ee0: 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2e 0a tion" involved..
8ef0: 0a 53 68 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f .She searched fo
8f00: 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 r the option to
8f10: 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 41 74 20 66 return it. At f
8f20: 69 72 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e irst, she couldn
8f30: 27 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 't find it, but
8f40: 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 69 73 63 6f eventually disco
8f50: 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 vered where the
8f60: 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 74 2e update moved it.
8f70: 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 74 77 ..It took her tw
8f80: 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 enty minutes to
8f90: 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 get through the
8fa0: 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f process. Part o
8fb0: 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 f that involved
8fc0: 62 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 bringing the box
8fd0: 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 inside to get i
8fe0: 74 73 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 63 6f 64 65 ts delivery code
8ff0: 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 22 65 so she could "e
9000: 78 70 65 64 69 74 65 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 74 xpedite" the ret
9010: 75 72 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 urn...She stared
9020: 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e at the results.
9030: 20 20 22 4c 65 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 "Leave the pac
9040: 6b 61 67 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 kage where the d
9050: 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 64 72 elivery drone dr
9060: 6f 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 41 opped it off. A
9070: 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 6c nother drone wil
9080: 6c 20 70 69 63 6b 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 l pick it up. Y
9090: 6f 75 72 20 72 65 66 75 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 our refund will
90a0: 62 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 be processed in
90b0: 31 30 20 2d 20 31 35 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 10 - 15 days."..
90c0: 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 The charge to he
90d0: 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 r account for th
90e0: 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 6f 76 65 72 e order was over
90f0: 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 fifteen hundred
9100: 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 dollars. She d
9110: 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 idn't have enoug
9120: 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 63 h left in her ac
9130: 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 72 65 6e count to pay ren
9140: 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 75 72 73 65 64 20 61 t...She cursed a
9150: 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 61 6d 6d 65 gain, and slamme
9160: 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 6c 69 64 d her laptop lid
9170: 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 down...An hour
9180: 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 61 74 later, Alley pat
9190: 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 20 ted her pockets
91a0: 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 on her way to th
91b0: 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 e door. She fou
91c0: 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 nd wallet, phone
91d0: 2c 20 63 68 6f 70 73 74 69 63 6b 73 2c 20 61 6e , chopsticks, an
91e0: 64 20 6b 65 79 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 d keys. She che
91f0: 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 74 20 6f 66 20 cked the fit of
9200: 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 her mask. She s
9210: 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 tepped over the
9220: 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 box in front of
9230: 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c her door, then l
9240: 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 61 64 62 6f ocked her deadbo
9250: 6c 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f lt and headed fo
9260: 72 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 79 r her car..."Hey
9270: 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 21 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 54 , Alley! It's T
9280: 75 65 73 64 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 6f uesday!"..The ro
9290: 75 67 68 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 ugh voice brough
92a0: 74 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 t her up short,
92b0: 6f 6e 65 20 62 6f 6f 74 65 64 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 one booted foot
92c0: 68 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 hovering off the
92d0: 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 edge of the cra
92e0: 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 75 72 62 2e 20 20 cked old curb.
92f0: 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f She turned to lo
9300: 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 5a 65 6b 65 2e ok. "Hey, Zeke.
9310: 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 I'm just on my
9320: 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e way to a meetin
9330: 67 2e 20 20 4a 6f 62 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 22 0a g. Job stuff.".
9340: 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 ."Yeah?" The la
9350: 6e 64 6c 6f 72 64 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 66 ndlord emerged f
9360: 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 73 20 rom the shadows
9370: 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 61 6e of his garage an
9380: 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 d fully into the
9390: 20 64 61 79 27 73 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 75 day's bright su
93a0: 6e 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 nlight. "Good.
93b0: 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 27 73 20 72 75 6e The meter's run
93c0: 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 74 61 ning. Don't sta
93d0: 72 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 rt collecting la
93e0: 74 65 20 66 65 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 te fees on your
93f0: 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 rent."..She push
9400: 65 64 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 68 61 69 72 20 61 77 ed brown hair aw
9410: 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 ay from her eyes
9420: 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 . "Yeah, I know
9430: 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d ," she said..."M
9440: 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e aybe you shouldn
9450: 27 74 27 76 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 't've left that
9460: 6d 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 73 2e 20 20 48 man of yours. H
9470: 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f 6e e always had mon
9480: 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 72 69 6d 61 63 ey."..She grimac
9490: 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 ed, and quickly
94a0: 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 turned away. "Y
94b0: 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 eah," she said t
94c0: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 hrough clenched
94d0: 74 65 65 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 teeth, and round
94e0: 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 ed the front of
94f0: 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 the car to the d
9500: 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 69 64 65 20 64 6f 6f river's side doo
9510: 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 r. "Well, you c
9520: 61 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 an't change the
9530: 70 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 past."..It took
9540: 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 73 20 a couple blocks
9550: 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 66 of driving and f
9560: 69 64 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 iddling with the
9570: 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 window button t
9580: 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 o get the glass
9590: 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 on her side of t
95a0: 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 64 he car halfway d
95b0: 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 69 72 20 66 6c 6f 77 65 64 own. Air flowed
95c0: 20 69 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 65 6e 6f in, perhaps eno
95d0: 75 67 68 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ugh so she would
95e0: 6e 27 74 20 73 77 65 61 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 n't sweat throug
95f0: 68 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 65 79 20 74 20 73 68 69 h her grey t shi
9600: 72 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f rt on the way to
9610: 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 48 69 67 68 77 61 Irvine. Highwa
9620: 79 20 73 70 65 65 64 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 y speeds might h
9630: 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a elp with that...
9640: 4e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 6e No money meant n
9650: 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 o replacing the
9660: 41 2f 43 20 75 6e 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f A/C unit with so
9670: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 68 61 72 67 65 mething recharge
9680: 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d able. It also m
9690: 65 61 6e 74 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f eant no money to
96a0: 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 6f 20 order parts to
96b0: 66 69 78 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 77 69 fix her power wi
96c0: 6e 64 6f 77 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 65 73 2e 0a 0a ndow switches...
96d0: 54 68 65 20 73 74 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 61 6e The stubborn, an
96e0: 67 72 79 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 gry clenching of
96f0: 20 68 65 72 20 6a 61 77 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 her jaw and her
9700: 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 pretense of bei
9710: 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f ng in too much o
9720: 66 20 61 20 72 75 73 68 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b f a rush to talk
9730: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 6e 6f 20 67 more meant no g
9740: 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 oing back for he
9750: 72 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 73 75 6e 67 r forgotten sung
9760: 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 lasses, either.
9770: 20 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 She squinted th
9780: 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 rough the bright
9790: 20 67 6c 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 53 6f 75 74 68 65 glare of Southe
97a0: 72 6e 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 rn California su
97b0: 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 67 20 6f 66 n and the fog of
97c0: 20 68 65 72 20 64 75 73 74 79 20 77 69 6e 64 73 her dusty winds
97d0: 68 69 65 6c 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f hield, looking o
97e0: 75 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 79 20 68 ut at the grey h
97f0: 61 7a 65 64 2c 20 62 6c 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 6c azed, bleached l
9800: 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 ook of that part
9810: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 of the Inland E
9820: 6d 70 69 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 mpire she called
9830: 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 65 6e 64 6c home...The endl
9840: 65 73 73 20 73 65 6d 69 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 ess semi industr
9850: 69 61 6c 20 73 75 62 75 72 62 73 20 61 6e 64 20 ial suburbs and
9860: 6f 76 65 72 70 61 63 6b 65 64 20 68 69 67 68 77 overpacked highw
9870: 61 79 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 67 72 6f 75 6e ay traffic groun
9880: 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6d d past her for m
9890: 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 ore than an hour
98a0: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c before she pull
98b0: 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 20 65 78 69 74 20 72 ed off an exit r
98c0: 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 61 73 74 65 64 20 amp and coasted
98d0: 69 6e 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 74 into Irvine. It
98e0: 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 20 74 was a shorter t
98f0: 72 69 70 20 74 68 61 6e 20 75 73 75 61 6c 2c 20 rip than usual,
9900: 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 despite all the
9910: 64 65 6c 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 72 61 66 66 69 63 delays. Traffic
9920: 20 66 6c 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 flow was just f
9930: 61 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 69 ast enough to gi
9940: 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 ve her a little
9950: 63 6f 6f 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 65 7a 65 20 74 cooling breeze t
9960: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f hrough her windo
9970: 77 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 w for most of th
9980: 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 64 72 69 76 65 2e e highway drive.
9990: 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 65 6e 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 ..The density of
99a0: 20 67 72 61 73 73 79 20 76 65 72 67 65 73 2c 20 grassy verges,
99b0: 74 72 65 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 64 20 72 6f 61 64 77 tree lined roadw
99c0: 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 75 73 68 6c 79 20 ays, and lushly
99d0: 67 72 65 65 6e 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 64 69 76 green center div
99e0: 69 64 65 72 20 69 73 6c 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 63 ider islands inc
99f0: 72 65 61 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f reased as she go
9a00: 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 t closer to the
9a10: 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 2e 20 20 44 65 73 university. Des
9a20: 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 73 68 pite herself, sh
9a30: 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 e found her shou
9a40: 6c 64 65 72 73 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 lders finally se
9a50: 74 74 6c 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 6a 61 77 20 75 ttled, her jaw u
9a60: 6e 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 nclenched, and h
9a70: 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 er breath became
9a80: 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 79 smooth and easy
9a90: 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 through a more
9aa0: 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 relaxed throat.
9ab0: 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 The directions
9ac0: 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 72 on her phone wer
9ad0: 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 e more accurate
9ae0: 74 68 61 6e 20 75 73 75 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 than usual, and
9af0: 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 she pulled smoot
9b00: 68 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 61 72 6b 69 hly into a parki
9b10: 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 ng space by the
9b20: 62 69 67 2c 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 69 73 68 2c 20 77 big, blockish, w
9b30: 68 69 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 62 hite and glass b
9b40: 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 uilding she need
9b50: 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 76 65 72 ed...She was ver
9b60: 79 20 65 61 72 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 67 y early, but a g
9b70: 72 61 64 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e 74 20 6d 75 73 74 rad student must
9b80: 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 have wanted to
9b90: 6c 65 61 76 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 leave early, so
9ba0: 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 she got a tablet
9bb0: 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 6e 61 69 72 of questionnair
9bc0: 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 73 68 6f es and forms sho
9bd0: 76 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e ved into her han
9be0: 64 73 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 ds immediately.
9bf0: 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 After she finis
9c00: 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 hed them, she sa
9c10: 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 73 63 69 t and read a sci
9c20: 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 76 ence fiction nov
9c30: 65 6c 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 el on her phone
9c40: 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e for more than an
9c50: 20 68 6f 75 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 hour...The prof
9c60: 65 73 73 6f 72 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 essor running th
9c70: 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 71 75 e study never qu
9c80: 69 74 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 68 ite introduced h
9c90: 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 6e 61 imself, but a na
9ca0: 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 me plate on his
9cb0: 64 65 73 6b 20 72 65 61 64 20 22 44 72 2e 20 54 desk read "Dr. T
9cc0: 68 61 64 64 65 75 73 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 74 22 2e haddeus Goulet".
9cd0: 20 20 48 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 He questioned
9ce0: 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 her about her ba
9cf0: 63 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 ckground, her ca
9d00: 72 65 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 65 reer and finance
9d10: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 s, and even her
9d20: 72 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 68 69 70 73 2e 20 20 relationships.
9d30: 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 63 68 The professor ch
9d40: 65 77 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 ewed on a stylus
9d50: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 and talked arou
9d60: 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 79 70 69 nd it while typi
9d70: 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 73 ng her responses
9d80: 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 into his tablet
9d90: 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 66 20 ...He broke off
9da0: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 61 6e in the middle an
9db0: 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 66 69 6e 64 20 69 d said "I find i
9dc0: 74 20 63 61 6c 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b t calming, you k
9dd0: 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a now.".."What?"..
9de0: 22 54 79 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c "Typing, I mean,
9df0: 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 instead of lett
9e00: 69 6e 67 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 74 72 61 6e 73 6c ing ANTAS transl
9e10: 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 78 74 2e 22 ate it to text."
9e20: 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 .."Oh. I though
9e30: 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 t maybe you were
9e40: 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 6d doing that to m
9e50: 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 aintain subject
9e60: 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f privacy."..He lo
9e70: 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 74 61 62 6c oked at his tabl
9e80: 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4f 68 2c et and said "Oh,
9e90: 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 of course. I g
9ea0: 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 uess I do it for
9eb0: 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 that, too." He
9ec0: 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f resumed questio
9ed0: 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 ning her, as if
9ee0: 74 68 65 20 64 69 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6e the digression n
9ef0: 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a ever happened...
9f00: 54 68 65 20 65 78 65 72 63 69 73 65 20 66 69 6e The exercise fin
9f10: 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 73 20 74 ally wound its t
9f20: 65 64 69 6f 75 73 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 61 20 edious way to a
9f30: 68 61 6c 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 65 6e 75 72 halt. The tenur
9f40: 65 64 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 2d 2d 20 ed professor --
9f50: 61 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 20 68 65 20 62 72 6f 75 a status he brou
9f60: 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 73 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 20 61 ght up shortly a
9f70: 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 fter the convers
9f80: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d ation moved from
9f90: 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 questioning her
9fa0: 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 to talking abou
9fb0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 2d 2d 20 6b t the study -- k
9fc0: 65 70 74 20 63 68 65 77 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 ept chewing on h
9fd0: 69 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 is stylus as he
9fe0: 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 64 6c 79 20 74 68 scrolled idly th
9ff0: 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f rough informatio
a000: 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 2e n on the tablet.
a010: 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 ..He fell silent
a020: 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 73 74 for a while, st
a030: 69 6c 6c 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 ill scrolling, a
a040: 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 71 75 69 65 74 nd she sat quiet
a050: 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 ly..."So," he sa
a060: 69 64 20 61 74 20 6c 61 73 74 2c 20 22 74 65 6c id at last, "tel
a070: 6c 20 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 l me more about
a080: 74 68 69 73 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 72 65 73 this digital res
a090: 65 61 72 63 68 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 earch job of you
a0a0: 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 rs.".."What more
a0b0: 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 do you want to
a0c0: 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 3f 22 20 know about it?"
a0d0: 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 she asked. Her
a0e0: 65 79 65 73 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 72 65 73 eyes shifted res
a0f0: 74 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 tlessly around t
a100: 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 2c he small office,
a110: 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 71 75 69 74 65 and never quite
a120: 20 6c 61 6e 64 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 landed no the p
a130: 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a rofessor, now...
a140: 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 "How do you get
a150: 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 clients?"..Alley
a160: 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 73 6e 61 70 70 65 64 20 's eyes snapped
a170: 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 73 back to meet his
a180: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 20 73 6c , and widened sl
a190: 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 ightly..."Is tha
a1a0: 74 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 71 t a surprising q
a1b0: 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b uestion?" he ask
a1c0: 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 ed. "It's not a
a1d0: 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 2c 20 49 trade secret, I
a1e0: 20 68 6f 70 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c hope." He smil
a1f0: 65 64 20 66 61 69 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 ed faintly, in a
a200: 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 manner probably
a210: 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 intended to be
a220: 64 69 73 61 72 6d 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c disarming..."No,
a230: 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c " she said slowl
a240: 79 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 y. "It's not a
a250: 73 65 63 72 65 74 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 secret. It's ju
a260: 73 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 st usually not w
a270: 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 hat people want
a280: 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 77 61 to know."..He wa
a290: 76 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 73 6d 69 73 73 69 76 65 ved a dismissive
a2a0: 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 hand. "I'm not
a2b0: 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 personally inte
a2c0: 72 65 73 74 65 64 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 rested, really.
a2d0: 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 I'm just evalua
a2e0: 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 ting your suitab
a2f0: 69 6c 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 ility for the st
a300: 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 6c 69 70 73 20 udy."..Her lips
a310: 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 64 6f began to turn do
a320: 77 6e 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 66 72 6f 77 6e wn, into a frown
a330: 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 61 62 6f , before she abo
a340: 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 2e rted the reflex.
a350: 20 20 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e "Oh. Well . .
a360: 20 2e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f . mostly word o
a370: 66 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 f mouth and peop
a380: 6c 65 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 le stumbling on
a390: 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 61 72 74 69 63 6c one of my articl
a3a0: 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 es about search
a3b0: 74 65 63 68 6e 69 71 75 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 techniques.".."D
a3c0: 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 oes that really
a3d0: 77 6f 72 6b 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 work? What is t
a3e0: 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 20 6d hat -- content m
a3f0: 61 72 6b 65 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 arketing?"..She
a400: 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 shrugged. "I gu
a410: 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 ess. It doesn't
a420: 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 74 work so well, t
a430: 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 74 68 hese days. Noth
a440: 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c ing does. I onl
a450: 79 20 67 65 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 66 y get business f
a460: 72 6f 6d 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 rom people who d
a470: 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ecide they need
a480: 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 more than they c
a490: 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 an get out of th
a4a0: 65 69 72 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e eir confirmation
a4b0: 20 62 75 62 62 6c 65 73 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 bubbles, if the
a4c0: 79 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 y even realize t
a4d0: 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 75 6e hey haven't foun
a4e0: 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 d everything the
a4f0: 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 re is to find.
a500: 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6e 6f It seems like no
a510: 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 61 6c 6d w that means alm
a520: 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 ost nobody. May
a530: 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 6f 6d be there are som
a540: 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 e still out ther
a550: 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 e, but they all
a560: 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 65 6f seem to have peo
a570: 70 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 66 66 20 74 6f 20 ple on staff to
a580: 64 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 do the research
a590: 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d for them.".."Hmm
a5a0: 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 . Do you mean t
a5b0: 61 69 6c 6f 72 65 64 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 ailored research
a5c0: 20 62 69 61 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 bias?".."Yeah,"
a5d0: 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e she said, and n
a5e0: 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 68 61 76 odded..."Why hav
a5f0: 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 en't you gotten
a600: 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 72 65 73 65 a job doing rese
a610: 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 arch for someone
a620: 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 75 ?".."They have u
a630: 6e 70 61 69 64 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 73 20 66 6f npaid interns fo
a640: 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 61 20 r that. I do a
a650: 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 61 6e 20 better job than
a660: 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 69 a room full of i
a670: 6e 74 65 72 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 63 6f 72 70 nterns, but corp
a680: 6f 72 61 74 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 72 73 20 64 orate managers d
a690: 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 72 61 69 73 65 73 20 on't get raises
a6a0: 66 6f 72 20 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 for spending mor
a6b0: 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 6e 20 65 78 70 65 72 e money on exper
a6c0: 74 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 ts when everyone
a6d0: 20 65 6c 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 else in their i
a6e0: 6e 64 75 73 74 72 79 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 73 20 ndustry settles
a6f0: 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 20 72 65 73 65 61 for intern resea
a700: 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6d 20 68 6d 6d 2e 22 rch.".."Mm hmm."
a710: 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 68 69 73 He removed his
a720: 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 stylus from his
a730: 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 64 75 mouth and produ
a740: 63 65 64 20 61 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 70 61 69 73 ced a green pais
a750: 6c 65 79 20 62 61 6e 64 61 6e 61 20 66 72 6f 6d ley bandana from
a760: 20 61 20 64 65 73 6b 20 64 72 61 77 65 72 2e 20 a desk drawer.
a770: 20 48 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f He proceeded to
a780: 20 6d 65 74 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 64 72 meticulously dr
a790: 79 20 68 69 73 20 73 61 6c 69 76 61 20 66 72 6f y his saliva fro
a7a0: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 m the pen. "Doe
a7b0: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 3f s that pay well?
a7c0: 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 "..She cocked he
a7d0: 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 r head to one si
a7e0: 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 63 63 61 73 de. "Only occas
a7f0: 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 64 ionally," she ad
a800: 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c mitted...He smil
a810: 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 ed. "You said y
a820: 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c ou're technicall
a830: 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 65 74 65 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 y competent, but
a840: 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 6e not in the mann
a850: 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f er of a technolo
a860: 67 79 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 2c gy professional,
a870: 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6f 62 76 69 6f " he said, obvio
a880: 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f usly reading fro
a890: 6d 20 68 69 73 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 2e 20 20 48 m his tablet. H
a8a0: 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 e looked up at h
a8b0: 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 er again. "Do y
a8c0: 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e ou program?".."N
a8d0: 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 o," she said..."
a8e0: 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 2e 22 20 20 48 Good. Good." H
a8f0: 65 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 e tucked the end
a900: 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 62 of his stylus b
a910: 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 68 69 73 20 74 65 65 74 68 etween his teeth
a920: 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 again. As he s
a930: 74 75 66 66 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 6e 64 61 tuffed the banda
a940: 6e 61 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 73 na back into its
a950: 20 64 72 61 77 65 72 2c 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 drawer, he aske
a960: 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 d "Do you know a
a970: 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 72 nything about ar
a980: 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 tificial intelli
a990: 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 3f 22 gence research?"
a9a0: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c ..She hesitated,
a9b0: 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 then shook her
a9c0: 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 head. "No, not
a9d0: 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 65 65 really.".."I see
a9e0: 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 65 ," he said. "We
a9f0: 6c 6c 2c 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 69 73 ll, in case this
aa00: 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 didn't already
aa10: 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 get an explanati
aa20: 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 61 74 on for you, what
aa30: 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 74 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 we're testing h
aa40: 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 ere is an artifi
aa50: 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 cial intelligenc
aa60: 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e e prioritization
aa70: 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 73 79 73 74 assistance syst
aa80: 65 6d 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 em. Most of wha
aa90: 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 t people call ar
aaa0: 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 tificial intelli
aab0: 67 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 gence these days
aac0: 20 69 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 20 6d is actually a m
aad0: 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 achine learning
aae0: 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 6f 70 74 quantitative opt
aaf0: 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 69 imizer. ANTAS i
ab00: 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e s the best known
ab10: 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 41 49 2e 20 20 optimizer AI.
ab20: 54 68 65 73 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 These optimizers
ab30: 20 61 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 are given targe
ab40: 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 t metrics -- not
ab50: 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 specific number
ab60: 73 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 74 65 s, just the cate
ab70: 67 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 gory of a number
ab80: 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 27 70 72 6f 66 69 74 27 20 , like 'profit'
ab90: 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 6f 75 72 instead of 'four
aba0: 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 million dollars
abb0: 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 27 2e 20 20 54 68 of profit'. Th
abc0: 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 70 65 72 66 e optimizer perf
abd0: 6f 72 6d 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 orms actions in
abe0: 61 72 65 61 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 68 areas where it h
abf0: 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 as the ability t
ac00: 6f 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 o affect somethi
ac10: 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e ng, like choosin
ac20: 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f g what ad to sho
ac30: 77 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 70 w a particular p
ac40: 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 erson. It colle
ac50: 63 74 73 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 61 cts statistics a
ac60: 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 bout how effecti
ac70: 76 65 6c 79 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 6f vely these actio
ac80: 6e 73 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 ns drive profit
ac90: 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 growth in the sh
aca0: 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 62 ort term, and ab
acb0: 6f 75 74 20 74 72 65 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 out trends to he
acc0: 6c 70 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e lp ensure contin
acd0: 75 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ued growth in th
ace0: 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 e longer term, a
acf0: 6e 64 20 61 6c 74 65 72 73 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 nd alters its ow
ad00: 6e 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e n recommendation
ad10: 20 61 6c 67 6f 72 69 74 68 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6f algorithms to o
ad20: 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 72 ptimize those gr
ad30: 6f 77 74 68 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 20 6f 76 65 owth numbers ove
ad40: 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 r time. Does th
ad50: 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 3f 22 0a at make sense?".
ad60: 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 .She nodded..."T
ad70: 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c he system you'll
ad80: 20 75 73 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 6f use is not an o
ad90: 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 ptimizer. It's
ada0: 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 a prioritizer.
adb0: 49 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 20 64 61 74 61 It collects data
adc0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 65 64 about specified
add0: 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e goals, determin
ade0: 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 20 66 6f es strategies fo
adf0: 72 20 68 6f 77 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 61 63 r how best to ac
ae00: 68 69 65 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 74 65 64 hieve all stated
ae10: 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 76 goals, and prov
ae20: 69 64 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d ides that inform
ae30: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 ation to the use
ae40: 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 r to more effect
ae50: 69 76 65 6c 79 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 74 68 6f ively pursue tho
ae60: 73 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 se goals.".."Doe
ae70: 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 6f s it just do tho
ae80: 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 se things for th
ae90: 65 20 75 73 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a e user, then?"..
aea0: 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 "No," he said, "
aeb0: 69 74 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a it essentially j
aec0: 75 73 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 20 64 61 74 ust collects dat
aed0: 61 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 61 a and provides a
aee0: 64 76 69 63 65 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c dvice. Its abil
aef0: 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67 61 74 68 65 72 20 64 61 ity to gather da
af00: 74 61 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 2c 20 74 ta is limited, t
af10: 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 oo. It will hav
af20: 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 e to get that da
af30: 74 61 20 62 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 61 ta by watching a
af40: 6e 64 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 nd listening as
af50: 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 you go about you
af60: 72 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 74 61 6b 69 r business, taki
af70: 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 69 6e 70 75 74 20 ng direct input
af80: 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f 72 20 66 69 6c from you, or fil
af90: 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 20 77 69 ling requests wi
afa0: 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6c 69 73 74 20 th a short list
afb0: 6f 66 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 73 65 of University se
afc0: 72 76 65 72 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 rvers here.".."H
afd0: 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 74 63 68 ow does it watch
afe0: 2c 20 6f 72 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 20 74 6f 2c 20 , or listen to,
aff0: 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 what I'm doing?"
b000: 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 66 61 69 6e ..He smiled fain
b010: 74 6c 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 tly again, and h
b020: 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6e 6f esitated. He no
b030: 64 64 65 64 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 dded, more to hi
b040: 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 65 mself than to he
b050: 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 77 69 76 65 6c 6c 65 64 r, and swivelled
b060: 20 68 69 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 20 63 68 61 69 his office chai
b070: 72 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 r to face away f
b080: 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 rom her. He ope
b090: 6e 65 64 20 61 20 64 72 61 77 65 72 20 69 6e 20 ned a drawer in
b0a0: 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 63 61 62 69 6e 65 74 the open cabinet
b0b0: 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 57 68 behind him. Wh
b0c0: 65 6e 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 en he turned to
b0d0: 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 face her again,
b0e0: 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 72 he set a small r
b0f0: 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 62 6f 78 20 6f ectangular box o
b100: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 2e 20 20 49 74 20 n the desk. It
b110: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6c 69 63 looked like slic
b120: 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 k, white product
b130: 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 packaging for a
b140: 20 68 69 67 68 20 65 6e 64 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c high end phone,
b150: 20 62 75 74 20 75 74 74 65 72 6c 79 20 62 6c 61 but utterly bla
b160: 6e 6b 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e nk, as if someon
b170: 65 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 70 72 69 6e e forgot to prin
b180: 74 20 62 72 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 t branding on it
b190: 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 ...He lifted the
b1a0: 20 6c 69 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 20 61 lid to reveal a
b1b0: 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 65 79 65 20 73 68 69 pair of eye shi
b1c0: 65 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 eld glasses, the
b1d0: 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 kind of thing p
b1e0: 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6c 6f eople wore on lo
b1f0: 77 20 61 69 72 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 64 61 w air quality da
b200: 79 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 73 ys so their eyes
b210: 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 won't sting. Y
b220: 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f ounger people wo
b230: 72 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d re them pretty m
b240: 75 63 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 uch all the time
b250: 2c 20 61 73 20 64 69 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 , as did people
b260: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 in the kinds of
b270: 68 69 67 68 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6a 6f 62 73 high paying jobs
b280: 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 65 65 6c where they feel
b290: 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 the need to hav
b2a0: 65 20 61 20 76 69 73 75 61 6c 20 64 69 73 70 6c e a visual displ
b2b0: 61 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 6d 70 6f ay of their impo
b2c0: 72 74 61 6e 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 69 rtant business i
b2d0: 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 76 61 69 6c nformation avail
b2e0: 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 69 6d 65 able at all time
b2f0: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 61 64 73 20 75 70 20 64 69 s..."Heads up di
b300: 73 70 6c 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c splay," he said,
b310: 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 confirming her
b320: 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 22 77 69 74 impression, "wit
b330: 68 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 65 64 20 63 61 6d h integrated cam
b340: 65 72 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 62 69 6e 6f 63 75 6c eras for binocul
b350: 61 72 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 ar video capture
b360: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d 69 63 . There's a mic
b370: 72 6f 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 rophone in each
b380: 74 65 6d 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 66 6f 72 temple, too, for
b390: 20 62 69 6e 61 75 72 61 6c 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 binaural audio
b3a0: 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 capture. You ca
b3b0: 6e 20 68 65 61 72 20 62 79 20 70 61 69 72 69 6e n hear by pairin
b3c0: 67 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 g it with your i
b3d0: 6d 70 6c 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e mplant.".."I don
b3e0: 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 't have one."..H
b3f0: 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d e stared for a m
b400: 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 57 65 oment. "Oh. We
b410: 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 64 6f 20 ll. Neither do
b420: 49 2e 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 69 72 73 20 77 69 74 I. It pairs wit
b430: 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e h your phone, an
b440: 79 77 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 yway, so however
b450: 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 you use that sh
b460: 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 ould work."..She
b470: 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e nodded. "Okay.
b480: 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 ".."It can also
b490: 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 just talk to you
b4a0: 20 69 6e 20 74 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 in text, though
b4b0: 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 you should be c
b4c0: 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 64 72 69 areful while dri
b4d0: 76 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 ving. There are
b4e0: 20 64 69 73 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 72 73 20 61 62 6f disclaimers abo
b4f0: 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 ut that kind of
b500: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 69 thing in the wai
b510: 76 65 72 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 74 68 64 vers." He withd
b520: 72 65 77 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 66 72 6f rew a tablet fro
b530: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 m the same desk
b540: 64 72 61 77 65 72 20 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 67 72 drawer as his gr
b550: 65 65 6e 20 73 70 69 74 20 72 61 67 2c 20 77 6f een spit rag, wo
b560: 6b 65 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 70 70 65 ke it, and tappe
b570: 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 d through a few
b580: 73 63 72 65 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 screens. She wa
b590: 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 tched him turn i
b5a0: 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 t around and sli
b5b0: 64 65 20 69 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 de it across the
b5c0: 20 64 65 73 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 desk toward her
b5d0: 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 6c . "Here. You'l
b5e0: 6c 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 74 l need to sign t
b5f0: 68 65 73 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 hese forms."..Sh
b600: 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 e looked at the
b610: 6f 70 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 open form. She
b620: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d looked up at him
b630: 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 . "Why?".."Oh,
b640: 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 it's just some s
b650: 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 6e 6f 6e 64 69 73 63 6c tandard nondiscl
b660: 6f 73 75 72 65 2c 20 67 75 61 72 61 6e 74 65 65 osure, guarantee
b670: 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 20 72 65 74 of material ret
b680: 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c urn, and other l
b690: 65 67 61 6c 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 69 74 69 65 73 egal necessities
b6a0: 20 66 6f 72 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 for joining the
b6b0: 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d study.".."You m
b6c0: 65 61 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 ean I'm in."..He
b6d0: 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 66 20 63 6f nodded. "Of co
b6e0: 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6e urse. You're an
b6f0: 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 63 61 6e 64 69 64 61 74 65 ideal candidate
b700: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 61 .".."You got tha
b710: 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 t from the quest
b720: 69 6f 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 22 ions you asked."
b730: 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 21 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 6d 69 .."Yes!" He smi
b740: 6c 65 64 20 61 20 70 72 6f 75 64 2c 20 73 65 6c led a proud, sel
b750: 66 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 73 6d 69 6c f satisfied smil
b760: 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 75 e.".."You need u
b770: 6e 64 65 72 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 72 73 20 77 68 nderachievers wh
b780: 6f 20 61 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 o are running ou
b790: 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 t of money, I gu
b7a0: 65 73 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 61 69 6c 65 ess." She faile
b7b0: 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 20 73 6f 75 72 d to keep a sour
b7c0: 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 note out of her
b7d0: 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 68 2c 20 79 65 voice..."Ah, ye
b7e0: 73 2c 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 s, I suppose tha
b7f0: 74 27 73 20 61 20 66 61 69 72 20 64 65 73 63 72 t's a fair descr
b800: 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 61 20 62 69 74 iption, if a bit
b810: 20 62 6c 75 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 blunt.".."Why?"
b820: 0a 0a 22 41 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 .."A goal priori
b830: 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 tization system
b840: 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 should help you
b850: 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 become something
b860: 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 75 other than an u
b870: 6e 64 65 72 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 nderachiever wit
b880: 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e hout money. Don
b890: 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 3f 't you think so?
b8a0: 20 20 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 79 6f We'll check yo
b8b0: 75 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 72 6f ur progress thro
b8c0: 75 67 68 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 ugh prioritizer
b8d0: 6c 6f 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 6d logs for experim
b8e0: 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2e 22 ental purposes."
b8f0: 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 49 20 75 73 65 20 .."How do I use
b900: 69 74 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 6e it? What do I n
b910: 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 eed to do with i
b920: 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 t?".."Everything
b930: 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f you need to kno
b940: 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 w to get started
b950: 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 is in the box.
b960: 20 59 6f 75 72 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 64 65 70 Your direct dep
b970: 6f 73 69 74 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 67 69 6e osits will begin
b980: 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 immediately. I
b990: 27 6d 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6e 64 'm told the fund
b9a0: 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 72 73 s from your firs
b9b0: 74 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 t payment will b
b9c0: 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 79 e available in y
b9d0: 6f 75 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 our account abou
b9e0: 74 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 61 66 t ten minutes af
b9f0: 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 79 6f ter you apply yo
ba00: 75 72 20 73 69 67 6e 61 74 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 ur signature to
ba10: 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e the last form on
ba20: 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 2e 22 20 20 that tablet."
ba30: 48 65 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 He tapped the ta
ba40: 62 6c 65 74 27 73 20 62 65 7a 65 6c 2e 20 20 22 blet's bezel. "
ba50: 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f Of course, if yo
ba60: 75 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 u violate the te
ba70: 72 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 rms of the study
ba80: 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 , the money must
ba90: 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 65 66 75 6e 64 65 64 all be refunded
baa0: 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 ."..Alley's eyes
bab0: 20 73 6c 69 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 slid down to th
bac0: 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 70 61 67 e first form pag
bad0: 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 e displayed on t
bae0: 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 he tablet. "Oka
baf0: 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 y," she said..."
bb00: 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 73 69 67 6e 20 64 69 67 You can sign dig
bb10: 69 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 itally using any
bb20: 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 73 69 67 6e 69 6e standard signin
bb30: 67 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6f 6e g service, or on
bb40: 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 the screen." H
bb50: 65 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 e removed his st
bb60: 79 6c 75 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f ylus from his mo
bb70: 75 74 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f uth again, and o
bb80: 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ffered it...She
bb90: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 67 6c looked at its gl
bba0: 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 61 6d 70 6e 65 73 istening dampnes
bbb0: 73 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e s. "No, thanks.
bbc0: 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 75 73 65 20 44 2d 53 69 67 I'll use D-Sig
bbd0: 6e 2e 22 20 2f 2a 20 44 20 53 69 67 6e 20 2a 2f n." /* D Sign */
bbe0: 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f ..---..The windo
bbf0: 77 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 72 6f 6c w of her car rol
bc00: 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c led down smoothl
bc10: 79 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 y and easily on
bc20: 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 77 68 the first try wh
bc30: 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 ile she drove aw
bc40: 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 ay from the univ
bc50: 65 72 73 69 74 79 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f ersity, as if to
bc60: 20 72 65 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 63 69 reward her deci
bc70: 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 75 70 20 sion to sign up
bc80: 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 for the study.
bc90: 54 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c Twenty minutes l
bca0: 61 74 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 75 67 ater, Alley caug
bcb0: 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 74 61 72 69 ht herself stari
bcc0: 6e 67 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 74 ng blankly out t
bcd0: 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 6f he open window o
bce0: 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 f her car, eyes
bcf0: 67 6c 61 7a 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f glazed. She sho
bd00: 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 ok her head, the
bd10: 6e 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 n wiped her hand
bd20: 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 across her face
bd30: 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 as if to clear
bd40: 63 6f 62 77 65 62 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 cobwebs from her
bd50: 20 66 6f 72 65 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79 forehead and ey
bd60: 65 6c 61 73 68 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 elashes. She tu
bd70: 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 61 rned her focus a
bd80: 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 6f way from the sco
bd90: 72 63 68 65 64 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 rched trunks of
bda0: 74 72 65 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 trees on the hig
bdb0: 68 77 61 79 20 63 72 6f 77 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6c hway crowding sl
bdc0: 6f 70 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 opes that forced
bdd0: 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 65 61 73 all traffic eas
bde0: 74 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 65 6e tward here to en
bdf0: 64 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 75 6e 74 6c 65 dure the gauntle
be00: 74 20 6f 66 20 49 20 39 31 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 t of I 91 if the
be10: 79 20 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 y wished to make
be20: 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 68 72 the passage thr
be30: 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 72 65 ough the interre
be40: 67 6e 75 6d 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 4f 72 61 gnum between Ora
be50: 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 nge County and t
be60: 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 he Inland Empire
be70: 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c . To her right,
be80: 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 she saw the hug
be90: 65 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 63 72 e illuminated cr
bea0: 6f 73 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f oss standing alo
beb0: 6e 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 ne at the top of
bec0: 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 6c 6f 70 65 2c 20 61 a high slope, a
bed0: 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 73 75 72 n improbable sur
bee0: 76 69 76 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c vivor of the wil
bef0: 64 66 69 72 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 61 69 dfires. The fai
bf00: 6e 74 20 73 63 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 72 6e nt scent of burn
bf10: 69 6e 67 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 ing still linger
bf20: 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 ed in the air, a
bf30: 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 fter all this ti
bf40: 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 62 65 me...She left be
bf50: 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6c 61 74 69 61 hind the palatia
bf60: 6c 20 48 4f 41 20 61 72 69 73 74 6f 63 72 61 63 l HOA aristocrac
bf70: 79 20 6f 66 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e y of Orange Coun
bf80: 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e ty, and drove on
bf90: 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 ward into the se
bfa0: 65 6d 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 emingly endless
bfb0: 65 78 70 61 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 49 expanse of the I
bfc0: 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 27 73 20 64 nland Empire's d
bfd0: 6f 6d 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 50 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 omain. Past the
bfe0: 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 20 62 75 72 62 73 2c 20 74 pseudo burbs, t
bff0: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 69 6c 65 hrough the faile
c000: 64 20 67 65 6e 74 72 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e d gentrification
c010: 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 project of Rive
c020: 72 73 69 64 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 rside, she made
c030: 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 77 61 72 64 her way homeward
c040: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 75 73 74 79 2c 20 77 in the dusty, w
c050: 69 72 79 2c 20 6a 61 63 6b 61 6c 20 68 75 6e 67 iry, jackal hung
c060: 72 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ry belly of the
c070: 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 Empire, and wond
c080: 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f ered for the tho
c090: 75 73 61 6e 64 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 68 61 usandth time wha
c0a0: 74 20 74 79 72 61 6e 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 t tyrant would e
c0b0: 76 65 72 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 ver want to be e
c0c0: 6d 70 65 72 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 mperor of such a
c0d0: 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 place...People
c0e0: 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 75 73 65 64 20 61 sometimes used a
c0f0: 6e 20 65 76 6f 63 61 74 69 76 65 20 6e 69 63 6b n evocative nick
c100: 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 69 74 name for the cit
c110: 79 20 6f 66 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 64 y of San Bernard
c120: 69 6e 6f 2c 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 73 75 72 72 6f ino, whose surro
c130: 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 65 78 unding county ex
c140: 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 65 61 73 74 77 61 72 64 20 tended eastward
c150: 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 all the way to t
c160: 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 4e 65 76 61 64 he edge of Nevad
c170: 61 20 61 6e 64 20 41 72 69 7a 6f 6e 61 20 61 6e a and Arizona an
c180: 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 d comprised the
c190: 6d 61 6a 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 6e 64 majority of land
c1a0: 20 61 72 65 61 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c area of the Inl
c1b0: 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d and Empire. Som
c1c0: 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 e called the cou
c1d0: 6e 74 79 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 63 69 nty seat, the ci
c1e0: 74 79 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 42 75 72 6e 69 6e ty itself Burnin
c1f0: 27 20 44 69 6e 67 6f 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 ' Dingo...Alley'
c200: 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 s home crouched
c210: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 74 68 2c 20 62 65 to the south, be
c220: 6e 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 71 75 61 74 74 neath the squatt
c230: 69 6e 67 20 62 75 6c 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ing bulk of the
c240: 62 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 69 6e 67 6f 20 6f 6e burning dingo on
c250: 20 6d 61 70 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 maps, so lowly
c260: 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 62 6f 74 68 that nobody both
c270: 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 65 76 65 72 ered with clever
c280: 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 69 nicknames for i
c290: 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e t. They just sn
c2a0: 65 65 72 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 61 eered slightly a
c2b0: 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 50 t how the name P
c2c0: 65 72 72 69 73 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 6c 69 erris sounded li
c2d0: 6b 65 20 50 61 72 69 73 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 ke Paris, while
c2e0: 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6e 69 63 69 70 61 6c 69 74 79 the municipality
c2f0: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 72 64 6c 79 20 68 61 could hardly ha
c300: 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 65 73 73 ve been any less
c310: 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 77 61 6d 70 20 like the swamp
c320: 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 6f 73 6d 6f 70 6f 6c 69 74 built cosmopolit
c330: 61 6e 20 69 63 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 77 65 6e 74 an icon of twent
c340: 69 65 74 68 20 63 65 6e 74 75 72 79 20 45 75 72 ieth century Eur
c350: 6f 70 65 61 6e 20 63 75 6c 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 opean culture.
c360: 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 65 At least the are
c370: 61 27 73 20 75 62 69 71 75 69 74 6f 75 73 20 64 a's ubiquitous d
c380: 72 79 2c 20 68 61 72 64 20 70 61 63 6b 65 64 20 ry, hard packed
c390: 64 69 72 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6c 69 74 dirt offered lit
c3a0: 74 6c 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 tle opportunity
c3b0: 66 6f 72 20 77 69 6c 64 66 69 72 65 73 20 74 6f for wildfires to
c3c0: 20 69 6e 76 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 20 6e invade...Even n
c3d0: 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f ature refused to
c3e0: 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 74 storm the heart
c3f0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2c of this Empire,
c400: 20 69 74 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 6c 20 77 61 73 20 its appeal was
c410: 73 6f 20 64 65 73 69 63 63 61 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a so desiccated...
c420: 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She looked at th
c430: 65 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 6f 78 20 73 69 74 74 e white box sitt
c440: 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 ing on the passe
c450: 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 nger seat, and t
c460: 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 hought about how
c470: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 72 65 2c 20 73 68 65 , and where, she
c480: 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 69 76 65 64 2e 20 20 44 65 73 now lived. Des
c490: 70 69 74 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f pite what she to
c4a0: 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 41 ld her mother, A
c4b0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 74 65 6d 70 74 65 64 lley was tempted
c4c0: 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 to give up and
c4d0: 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 move into one of
c4e0: 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c the most Republ
c4f0: 69 63 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ican areas in th
c500: 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 2e 20 20 43 6f 73 74 e country. Cost
c510: 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 6c of living was l
c520: 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 71 75 61 72 74 ess than a quart
c530: 65 72 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 er there what it
c540: 20 77 61 73 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 was here, even
c550: 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 69 6e 67 20 63 69 74 79 20 6c comparing city l
c560: 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 54 75 6c 73 61 20 74 iving in Tulsa t
c570: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 43 6c 69 6e 74 20 45 61 73 74 o the Clint East
c580: 77 6f 6f 64 20 77 65 73 74 65 72 6e 20 77 61 73 wood western was
c590: 74 65 6c 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 50 65 72 72 69 telands of Perri
c5a0: 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 s. She would be
c5b0: 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 close to family
c5c0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 6c 70 that could help
c5d0: 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 69 her out in a fi
c5e0: 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 nancial emergenc
c5f0: 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 62 6f y, too...That bo
c600: 78 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e x, though. . . .
c610: 0a 0a 49 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ..If the priorit
c620: 69 7a 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 izer she signed
c630: 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 65 73 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 up to test could
c640: 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 actually help,
c650: 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 maybe she could
c660: 73 74 6f 70 20 65 6e 74 65 72 74 61 69 6e 69 6e stop entertainin
c670: 67 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 65 66 65 61 74 65 64 g these defeated
c680: 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 6f 66 20 72 75 6e thoughts of run
c690: 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 ning to her moth
c6a0: 65 72 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 69 66 20 73 er. Maybe, if s
c6b0: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 68 65 he could get ahe
c6c0: 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 73 68 ad of things, sh
c6d0: 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 76 e could even mov
c6e0: 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 65 6c 73 65 e somewhere else
c6f0: 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 entirely, somew
c700: 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 27 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 here she'd actua
c710: 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 lly like to live
c720: 2e 0a 0a 4d 61 73 73 61 63 68 75 73 65 74 74 73 ...Massachusetts
c730: 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 never even cros
c740: 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 23 sed her mind...#
c750: 23 20 54 68 65 20 43 61 6c 6c 20 54 6f 20 41 64 # The Call To Ad
c760: 76 65 6e 74 75 72 65 3a 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c venture:../*..Al
c770: 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 74 61 ley must underta
c780: 6b 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 6f 66 20 ke a program of
c790: 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 73 reinventing hers
c7a0: 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 6f 76 65 72 63 6f 6d 65 20 elf to overcome
c7b0: 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 63 69 72 63 her present circ
c7c0: 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 umstances. She
c7d0: 74 61 6b 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 takes her little
c7e0: 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 box of prioriti
c7f0: 7a 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 zer stuff home w
c800: 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 74 73 ith her and sits
c810: 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 down in the liv
c820: 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 ing room with it
c830: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 73 20 65 76 65 72 . She sets ever
c840: 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 ything on her ch
c850: 61 72 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 arger and starts
c860: 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 reading through
c870: 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e the directions.
c880: 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 After charging
c890: 2c 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 73 20 64 65 76 69 , she pairs devi
c8a0: 63 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c ces, dons the gl
c8b0: 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 asses, and start
c8c0: 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 s interacting wi
c8d0: 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a th the prioritiz
c8e0: 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 er. She ends up
c8f0: 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 77 69 72 65 6c getting a wirel
c900: 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 ess keyboard and
c910: 20 74 79 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 typing answers
c920: 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 63 74 69 rather than acti
c930: 76 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 69 vate the audio i
c940: 6e 70 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 nput. The prior
c950: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 65 74 75 70 20 61 73 6b itizer setup ask
c960: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 69 76 ing her to activ
c970: 61 74 65 20 6d 69 63 20 69 6e 70 75 74 20 6c 65 ate mic input le
c980: 61 64 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 73 20 69 64 65 6e 74 ads to its ident
c990: 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 ification of pri
c9a0: 76 61 63 79 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 6f 61 6c 2e 0a vacy as a goal..
c9b0: 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
c9c0: 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 67 6f 20 74 68 72 6f has her go thro
c9d0: 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 62 6f 78 20 61 6e ugh her inbox an
c9e0: 64 20 61 73 6b 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 d asks questions
c9f0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6f 73 74 69 about job posti
ca00: 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 ngs. It ends up
ca10: 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c eliminating all
ca20: 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 73 20 61 73 job postings as
ca30: 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 incompatible wi
ca40: 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 th Alley's goals
ca50: 20 61 6e 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 and values. It
ca60: 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 suggests she de
ca70: 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e al with importan
ca80: 74 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 28 65 2e 67 2e 20 70 61 t tasks (e.g. pa
ca90: 79 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6e 74 29 20 61 6e 64 20 6f ying rent) and o
caa0: 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 therwise take th
cab0: 65 20 64 61 79 20 6f 66 66 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 e day off if she
cac0: 20 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 64 has no other id
cad0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d eas for making m
cae0: 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 oney, and that s
caf0: 68 65 20 77 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 he wear her new
cb00: 48 55 44 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 HUD all the time
cb10: 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 65 61 72 6e so it can learn
cb20: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 more about her
cb30: 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 goals and values
cb40: 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 6c 6b 73 20 68 65 72 20 . It walks her
cb50: 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 through winding
cb60: 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 down for a good
cb70: 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 61 6e night's sleep an
cb80: 64 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 73 20 6f 76 65 72 6e 69 d charges overni
cb90: 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 ght...The next d
cba0: 61 79 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f ay it has her lo
cbb0: 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 69 67 73 6c 69 73 74 ok at Craigslist
cbc0: 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 73 20 28 6f 72 20 73 6f postings (or so
cbd0: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 mething to that
cbe0: 65 66 66 65 63 74 29 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 73 effect). It has
cbf0: 20 68 65 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 6f her take note o
cc00: 66 20 61 64 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 f ads where some
cc10: 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 one is looking f
cc20: 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 or something, th
cc30: 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e en helps her fin
cc40: 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 61 74 69 d things to sati
cc50: 73 66 79 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 2e sfy those wants.
cc60: 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f After a few ho
cc70: 75 72 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 61 62 6c 65 urs, she is able
cc80: 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 to come up with
cc90: 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c a plan to compl
cca0: 65 74 65 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 ete a couple of
ccb0: 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e trades by the en
ccc0: 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 72 65 d of the day, re
ccd0: 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 63 71 75 69 sulting in acqui
cce0: 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 ring a few hundr
ccf0: 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 27 20 70 72 6f 66 ed dollars' prof
cd00: 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c it. The initial
cd10: 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 6e 70 75 74 20 67 65 74 money input get
cd20: 73 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 s set aside, and
cd30: 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 73 68 the next day sh
cd40: 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d e starts the sam
cd50: 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 e process, but t
cd60: 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 28 6d his time with (m
cd70: 6f 6e 65 74 61 72 69 6c 79 29 20 72 69 73 6b 69 onetarily) riski
cd80: 65 72 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 er trades. She
cd90: 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 ends up with an
cda0: 69 74 65 6d 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 item the request
cdb0: 65 72 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 2c er doesn't want,
cdc0: 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 and another tha
cdd0: 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 65 6e 6f t makes back eno
cde0: 75 67 68 20 73 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 77 20 68 ugh so her few h
cdf0: 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 69 undred dollars i
ce00: 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 64 75 63 65 64 20 74 s only reduced t
ce10: 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 o about a hundre
ce20: 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 d dollars, rathe
ce30: 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e r than to nothin
ce40: 67 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 73 20 68 g...It directs h
ce50: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 65 6c 73 65 77 er to look elsew
ce60: 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 here, and finds
ce70: 61 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b a barter network
ce80: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a . The prioritiz
ce90: 65 72 20 77 61 6c 6b 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 er walks her thr
cea0: 6f 75 67 68 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 ough setting up
ceb0: 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f anonymization fo
cec0: 72 20 61 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e r a cryptocurren
ced0: 63 79 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f cy wallet and fo
cee0: 72 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 r communications
cef0: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 6e in the barter n
cf00: 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 22 61 73 20 61 20 70 72 69 etwork "as a pri
cf10: 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 65 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 22 vacy precaution"
cf20: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 64 . She makes a d
cf30: 65 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 eal to trade the
cf40: 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 75 6e 77 61 6e otherwise unwan
cf50: 74 65 64 20 69 74 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 79 ted item for cry
cf60: 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 62 75 74 ptocurrency, but
cf70: 20 69 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 74 72 61 6e it must be tran
cf80: 73 61 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e sacted in person
cf90: 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 67 6f 65 ...The trade goe
cfa0: 73 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 s smoothly that
cfb0: 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 evening, and she
cfc0: 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 20 takes a slight
cfd0: 6c 6f 73 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 loss at the cryp
cfe0: 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 27 73 20 67 6f 69 tocurrency's goi
cff0: 6e 67 20 72 61 74 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 70 ng rate. The op
d000: 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 67 75 69 64 65 73 20 68 timizer guides h
d010: 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 72 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 er in trading th
d020: 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 at cryptocurrenc
d030: 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 y for another th
d040: 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 69 74 20 76 65 72 79 at makes it very
d050: 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 74 72 difficult to tr
d060: 61 63 6b 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 ack trades. It
d070: 74 68 65 6e 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 65 then has her che
d080: 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 ck for people li
d090: 71 75 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f quidating crypto
d0a0: 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 currencies, and
d0b0: 73 68 65 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e she makes a plan
d0c0: 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 to buy another
d0d0: 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 cryptocurrency w
d0e0: 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 72 74 79 20 64 ith the thirty d
d0f0: 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 ollars left over
d100: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 74 72 from earlier tr
d110: 61 64 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 ades...She wonde
d120: 72 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 69 rs whether it wi
d130: 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 72 69 64 20 ll just get rid
d140: 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 of all her profi
d150: 74 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 61 6c ts...She goes al
d160: 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2c 20 72 65 6d ong with it, rem
d170: 65 6d 62 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 embering the fac
d180: 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 67 65 t that she is ge
d190: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 72 6f tting income fro
d1a0: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 4c 61 m the study. La
d1b0: 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 6d 65 20 64 61 ter that same da
d1c0: 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 2d 2d y, the person --
d1d0: 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 evidently despe
d1e0: 72 61 74 65 20 2d 2d 20 61 67 72 65 65 73 20 74 rate -- agrees t
d1f0: 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 69 6e 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e o meet in person
d200: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a . The prioritiz
d210: 65 72 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 er directs her t
d220: 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 75 70 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d o look up inform
d230: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 ation leading he
d240: 72 20 74 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 61 20 70 6f r to choose a po
d250: 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 lice station par
d260: 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 6c king lot as a pl
d270: 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 ace to do busine
d280: 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 ss, and she spec
d290: 69 66 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 ifies that as th
d2a0: 65 20 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 e site of the tr
d2b0: 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 ansaction the ne
d2c0: 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 61 xt morning. Tha
d2d0: 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 67 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 66 t, too, goes off
d2e0: 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 69 74 63 68 without a hitch
d2f0: 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e , though she fin
d300: 64 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 20 ds the person a
d310: 62 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 bit off putting
d320: 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 64 61 6e 67 and perhaps dang
d330: 65 72 6f 75 73 20 73 65 65 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e erous seeming in
d340: 20 68 69 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 20 64 65 73 his evident des
d350: 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 74 77 69 peration and twi
d360: 74 63 68 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 tchiness...She g
d370: 6f 65 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 oes home to rela
d380: 78 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 64 6c 79 20 67 6f 65 x. She idly goe
d390: 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 43 72 61 69 67 73 s through Craigs
d3a0: 6c 69 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 list some more,
d3b0: 72 65 61 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 73 20 reads, and ends
d3c0: 68 65 72 20 64 61 79 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c her day...*/..Al
d3d0: 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 ley sat on the c
d3e0: 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ouch, reading th
d3f0: 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 e instructions t
d400: 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 hat came in the
d410: 62 6f 78 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 77 box with her new
d420: 20 48 55 44 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 53 HUD glasses. S
d430: 68 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 he dropped the u
d440: 6e 66 6f 6c 64 65 64 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 nfolded instruct
d450: 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f ion sheet and lo
d460: 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 oked from the ne
d470: 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 w glasses to her
d480: 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 62 6f old glasses, bo
d490: 74 68 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 th sitting on th
d4a0: 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 e charging plate
d4b0: 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c on her end tabl
d4c0: 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 73 e. The new glas
d4d0: 73 65 73 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 20 67 6c 69 ses showed a gli
d4e0: 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 62 79 20 74 nt of green by t
d4f0: 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 65 6d 70 6c 65 20 he right temple
d500: 68 69 6e 67 65 3b 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 hinge; they were
d510: 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 done charging.
d520: 20 53 68 65 20 70 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 She plucked the
d530: 6d 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2c m off the plate,
d540: 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 looked at them
d550: 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 73 70 61 as the green spa
d560: 72 6b 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 rk faded, then h
d570: 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 ooked the earpie
d580: 63 65 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 ces over her ear
d590: 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 s and settled th
d5a0: 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 e glasses on the
d5b0: 20 62 72 69 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e bridge of her n
d5c0: 6f 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 65 78 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 ose...Text appea
d5d0: 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6c 6f 61 74 20 69 6e 20 red to float in
d5e0: 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 the air before h
d5f0: 65 72 3a 20 22 50 41 49 52 20 57 49 54 48 20 50 er: "PAIR WITH P
d600: 48 4f 4e 45 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 HONE"..She picke
d610: 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 d up her phone a
d620: 6e 64 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 69 6e 73 74 nd followed inst
d630: 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 ructions. When
d640: 74 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 the pairing mess
d650: 61 67 65 20 66 61 64 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 age faded away,
d660: 61 20 6e 65 77 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 70 a new message ap
d670: 70 65 61 72 65 64 3a 20 22 45 4e 54 45 52 20 53 peared: "ENTER S
d680: 55 42 4a 45 43 54 20 49 44 3a 22 0a 0a 41 20 76 UBJECT ID:"..A v
d690: 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 20 irtual keyboard
d6a0: 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 2c 20 66 6c 6f 61 74 69 appeared, floati
d6b0: 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 ng in her field
d6c0: 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 of view. She re
d6d0: 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 called that the
d6e0: 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 65 instruction shee
d6f0: 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 t said she could
d700: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 61 74 20 61 just point at a
d710: 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 75 button for a fu
d720: 6c 6c 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 2c 20 6f 72 20 75 73 ll second, or us
d730: 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 2e e voice control.
d740: 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 After a moment
d750: 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 's hesitation, s
d760: 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 77 69 72 he grabbed a wir
d770: 65 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 20 61 eless keyboard a
d780: 6e 64 20 70 61 69 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 nd paired it wit
d790: 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 68 65 h her phone, the
d7a0: 6e 20 63 6f 70 69 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d n copied the num
d7b0: 62 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b ber from a stick
d7c0: 65 72 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 er stuck to the
d7d0: 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 65 instruction shee
d7e0: 74 2e 0a 0a 22 50 45 52 53 4f 4e 41 4c 49 5a 45 t..."PERSONALIZE
d7f0: 3f 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 73 20 ?"..Two buttons
d800: 68 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 69 74 hovered below it
d810: 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 6c 75 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 , one blue with
d820: 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 22 59 45 53 22 2c 20 the word "YES",
d830: 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 64 20 77 69 the other red wi
d840: 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 22 4e 4f 22 th the word "NO"
d850: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 . She raised a
d860: 68 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 hand experimenta
d870: 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 lly, and saw tha
d880: 74 20 69 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 t it obscured th
d890: 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 e buttons when i
d8a0: 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 t passed through
d8b0: 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 their space in
d8c0: 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 her vision, but
d8d0: 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e not the question
d8e0: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 . She pointed a
d8f0: 74 20 22 59 45 53 22 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 69 74 t "YES" until it
d900: 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 77 69 63 65 2e 20 blinked twice.
d910: 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 63 68 61 The message cha
d920: 6e 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3a 0a 0a 22 50 4c nged again:.."PL
d930: 45 41 53 45 20 41 4e 53 57 45 52 20 54 48 45 20 EASE ANSWER THE
d940: 46 4f 4c 4c 4f 57 49 4e 47 20 51 55 45 53 54 49 FOLLOWING QUESTI
d950: 4f 4e 53 3a 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 ONS:"..She point
d960: 65 64 20 61 74 20 22 43 4f 4e 54 49 4e 55 45 22 ed at "CONTINUE"
d970: 2e 0a 0a 22 44 4f 20 59 4f 55 20 57 49 53 48 20 ..."DO YOU WISH
d980: 54 4f 20 55 53 45 20 54 48 45 20 41 55 44 49 4f TO USE THE AUDIO
d990: 20 49 4e 54 45 52 46 41 43 45 3f 22 0a 0a 4e 6f INTERFACE?"..No
d9a0: 2e 0a 0a 22 44 4f 20 59 4f 55 20 57 49 53 48 20 ..."DO YOU WISH
d9b0: 54 4f 20 44 49 53 41 42 4c 45 20 41 55 44 49 4f TO DISABLE AUDIO
d9c0: 20 49 4e 54 45 47 52 41 54 49 4f 4e 3f 22 0a 0a INTEGRATION?"..
d9d0: 59 65 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 53 55 50 45 52 53 Yes.../*..SUPERS
d9e0: 45 44 45 44 20 4e 41 52 52 41 54 49 56 45 20 54 EDED NARRATIVE T
d9f0: 45 58 54 3a 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 EXT:..She answer
da00: 65 64 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6f ed a series of o
da10: 74 68 65 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 ther questions a
da20: 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 bout herself and
da30: 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 her preferences
da40: 20 2d 2d 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6e 61 6d 65 2c 20 62 -- full name, b
da50: 69 72 74 68 20 64 61 74 65 2c 20 70 72 65 66 65 irth date, prefe
da60: 72 72 65 64 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 73 20 61 6e rred pronouns an
da70: 64 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 66 69 6e d nicknames, fin
da80: 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 ancial informati
da90: 6f 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 62 61 6e 6b 20 on such as bank
daa0: 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 balances, employ
dab0: 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 2c 20 77 6f 72 ment status, wor
dac0: 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 64 k experience, ad
dad0: 64 72 65 73 73 2c 20 64 69 65 74 61 72 79 20 72 dress, dietary r
dae0: 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 estrictions, and
daf0: 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 so on. She hes
db00: 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 6e itated before an
db10: 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 2c 20 66 69 swering some, fi
db20: 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 nding the series
db30: 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 20 of questions a
db40: 62 69 74 20 69 6e 76 61 73 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 bit invasive at
db50: 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 times, but looke
db60: 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 d at her laptop
db70: 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 73 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a with its ANTAS J
db80: 6f 62 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 6d 61 72 6b 73 2e 20 20 obs bookmarks.
db90: 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 69 70 20 61 6c 72 65 61 "That ship alrea
dba0: 64 79 20 73 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 dy sailed," she
dbb0: 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 muttered...*/..T
dbc0: 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6b 65 70 he questions kep
dbd0: 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 t coming, one af
dbe0: 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 66 74 65 ter another afte
dbf0: 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 r another, about
dc00: 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 herself and her
dc10: 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 preferences --
dc20: 61 67 65 2c 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 73 2c 20 66 age, pronouns, f
dc30: 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 inancial informa
dc40: 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 62 61 6e tion such as ban
dc50: 6b 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 65 6d 70 6c k balances, empl
dc60: 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 2c 20 77 oyment status, w
dc70: 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 ork experience,
dc80: 6d 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 mailing and home
dc90: 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 addresses, and
dca0: 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 so on. She hesi
dcb0: 74 61 74 65 64 20 6c 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c tated less and l
dcc0: 65 73 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 ess when she fou
dcd0: 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e nd some question
dce0: 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 76 61 73 69 or other invasi
dcf0: 76 65 2c 20 74 69 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ve, tiring of th
dd00: 65 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 64 65 62 61 74 69 6e e act of debatin
dd10: 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 73 73 75 65 20 61 73 20 74 g the issue as t
dd20: 69 6d 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 ime went on. Sh
dd30: 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 e considered wha
dd40: 74 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 t she knew about
dd50: 20 68 6f 77 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 how easily and
dd60: 75 6e 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 68 65 72 20 unobviously her
dd70: 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 61 63 63 6f 75 ANTAS Jobs accou
dd80: 6e 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 nt must already
dd90: 68 61 76 65 20 65 61 74 65 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 have eaten away
dda0: 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 at most of the c
ddb0: 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 70 65 72 69 6d 65 74 65 72 areful perimeter
ddc0: 20 73 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 she used to mai
ddd0: 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 ntain around her
dde0: 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 20 privacy, or at
ddf0: 6c 65 61 73 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 6f least whatever o
de00: 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 72 6f 64 f it wasn't erod
de10: 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 ed away by the s
de20: 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 imple fact of li
de30: 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 41 4e 54 41 53 27 20 61 ving in ANTAS' a
de40: 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e nd the US govern
de50: 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 ment's contempor
de60: 61 72 79 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ary world...She
de70: 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 realized the pri
de80: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e oritizer could n
de90: 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 64 6f 20 69 74 73 20 6a ot even do its j
dea0: 6f 62 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 ob without acces
deb0: 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 s to the cameras
dec0: 20 65 6d 62 65 64 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 embedded in her
ded0: 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e new glasses, an
dee0: 64 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 64 65 62 61 d seriously deba
def0: 74 65 64 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 65 ted whether to e
df00: 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 61 6e 64 nd the study and
df10: 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 return the glas
df20: 73 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 ses. She set as
df30: 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ide the glasses
df40: 61 6e 64 20 61 67 6f 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 6f 76 65 and agonized ove
df50: 72 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 72 65 r it, as she pre
df60: 70 61 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 72 65 65 6e pared some green
df70: 20 74 65 61 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 tea, then flipp
df80: 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 76 69 64 65 6f ed through video
df90: 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 streams on her
dfa0: 74 65 6c 65 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68 television. "Th
dfb0: 61 74 20 73 68 69 70 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 at ship already
dfc0: 73 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e sailed," she fin
dfd0: 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f ally muttered to
dfe0: 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f herself, and do
dff0: 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 nned the glasses
e000: 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 again...Eventua
e010: 6c 6c 79 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 lly, in the same
e020: 20 74 65 72 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 70 73 20 terse and caps
e030: 6c 6f 63 6b 79 20 77 61 79 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 locky way of eve
e040: 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 rything it asked
e050: 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 , the prioritize
e060: 72 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 6e 65 r pursued a line
e070: 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 72 6f 67 61 74 69 6f of interrogatio
e080: 6e 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 n following her
e090: 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 mention of joini
e0a0: 6e 67 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 62 79 ng ANTAS Jobs by
e0b0: 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 telling her to
e0c0: 67 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 go through the p
e0d0: 61 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 64 61 79 73 20 6f 66 20 ast few days of
e0e0: 68 65 72 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 her incoming mes
e0f0: 73 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 67 65 sages. She page
e100: 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 d through them,
e110: 61 6c 6c 20 74 77 6f 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 all two hundred
e120: 6f 72 20 73 6f 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 or so, looking a
e130: 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 t each for a few
e140: 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 seconds before
e150: 73 6b 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 skipping to the
e160: 6e 65 78 74 20 61 73 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 next as directed
e170: 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 20 64 69 73 by the text dis
e180: 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 played in her fi
e190: 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 eld of view. Sh
e1a0: 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 e assumed the pr
e1b0: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 ioritizer record
e1c0: 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 74 ed everything it
e1d0: 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 saw through the
e1e0: 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 glasses, includ
e1f0: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 20 58 20 6d 61 ing the red X ma
e200: 72 6b 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 rks where she re
e210: 6a 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 jected a posting
e220: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6a 65 63 74 69 and the rejecti
e230: 6f 6e 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 73 20 73 68 65 on responses she
e240: 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 received about
e250: 74 68 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 6a 6f the available jo
e260: 62 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 63 b notices she ac
e270: 63 65 70 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 74 65 cepted...She ate
e280: 20 72 61 6d 65 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 69 74 61 ramen with tita
e290: 6e 69 75 6d 20 4a 61 70 61 6e 65 73 65 20 73 74 nium Japanese st
e2a0: 79 6c 65 20 63 68 6f 70 73 74 69 63 6b 73 20 61 yle chopsticks a
e2b0: 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 s she worked her
e2c0: 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 way through the
e2d0: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 64 prioritizer's d
e2e0: 65 6d 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 emands, and afte
e2f0: 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 68 6f 75 72 73 r a couple hours
e300: 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 77 6f she began to wo
e310: 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 nder whether thi
e320: 73 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c s study was real
e330: 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 46 69 ly worth it. Fi
e340: 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 nally, though, t
e350: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 6a he prioritizer j
e360: 75 73 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 ust told her to
e370: 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 go about the res
e380: 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 79 20 77 68 69 t of her day whi
e390: 6c 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 le wearing the g
e3a0: 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 69 74 lasses, as if it
e3b0: 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 0a was not there..
e3c0: 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ./*..The priorit
e3d0: 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 65 izer probably ne
e3e0: 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 3a 0a 0a 2a 20 eds to know:..*
e3f0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 Alley's connecti
e400: 6f 6e 73 20 28 70 61 73 74 29 20 74 6f 20 44 61 ons (past) to Da
e410: 6c 74 6f 6e 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6f lton.* Alley's o
e420: 62 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 bjections to wor
e430: 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 22 74 68 65 22 20 67 king for "the" g
e440: 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 overnment.* Alle
e450: 79 27 73 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 y's objections t
e460: 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 70 o working for op
e470: 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 timizer develope
e480: 72 73 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 72 65 rs.* Alley's pre
e490: 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 ference for priv
e4a0: 61 63 79 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 acy rights and f
e4b0: 72 65 65 20 73 70 65 65 63 68 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c ree speech.* All
e4c0: 65 79 27 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 ey's work histor
e4d0: 79 20 28 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 y (or lack there
e4e0: 6f 66 29 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 72 of).* Alley's pr
e4f0: 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 6c eferred future l
e500: 69 76 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 iving conditions
e510: 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 52 65 66 75 73 69 ..*/...## Refusi
e520: 6e 67 20 54 68 65 20 43 61 6c 6c 3a 0a 0a 2f 2a ng The Call:../*
e530: 0a 0a 67 65 74 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 61 6e ..get initial an
e540: 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 alysis from the
e550: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 2d 3e 20 6d prioritizer -> m
e560: 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e ake some plannin
e570: 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 72 20 70 g decisions or p
e580: 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 66 20 74 6f 20 73 ut them off to s
e590: 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 74 20 2d 3e 20 64 6f ome extent -> do
e5a0: 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d stuff that seem
e5b0: 73 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 62 75 74 s profitable but
e5c0: 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d very short term
e5d0: 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 2d 3e 20 65 73 63 at first -> esc
e5e0: 61 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 alate these one
e5f0: 6f 66 66 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 off jobs in ways
e600: 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 6e that make her n
e610: 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 2d 3e 20 6d 65 65 74 20 73 ervous -> meet s
e620: 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 63 6f omeone that reco
e630: 67 6e 69 7a 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 gnizes her conne
e640: 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ction to Dalton
e650: 61 6e 64 20 70 61 6e 69 63 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 and panic a litt
e660: 6c 65 20 2d 3e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 66 20 66 le -> back off f
e670: 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a rom a deal..*/..
e680: 2f 2a 20 57 65 64 6e 65 73 64 61 79 20 2a 2f 0a /* Wednesday */.
e690: 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 75 70 20 66 6f .Alley was up fo
e6a0: 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 r an hour the ne
e6b0: 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 xt day before sh
e6c0: 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 e remembered the
e6d0: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74 75 prioritizer stu
e6e0: 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 dy. She grabbed
e6f0: 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68 the glasses, th
e700: 65 6e 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 en picked up her
e710: 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 66 66 old glasses off
e720: 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c the charging pl
e730: 61 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d ate and put them
e740: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 66 6f 72 20 in the box for
e750: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e the new glasses.
e760: 0a 0a 46 69 76 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c ..Five minutes l
e770: 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ater, the priori
e780: 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 tizer had her si
e790: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 tting on the cou
e7a0: 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 72 65 ch with her wire
e7b0: 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 2c 20 6c less keyboard, l
e7c0: 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e ooking at option
e7d0: 73 20 66 6f 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 s for goal prior
e7e0: 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 itizing strategi
e7f0: 65 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 es.../*..* Alley
e800: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 68 69 could get a shi
e810: 74 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 t job that does
e820: 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 not make enough
e830: 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 69 66 79 money to justify
e840: 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 64 72 69 76 65 2c 20 62 75 the. drive, bu
e850: 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 66 75 74 t does offer fut
e860: 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ure recent work
e870: 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 experience at a
e880: 22 72 65 67 75 6c 61 72 22 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 68 "regular" job wh
e890: 69 6c 65 0a 20 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 ile. she collec
e8a0: 74 73 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 64 65 70 6f 73 69 ts direct deposi
e8b0: 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 ts from her stud
e8c0: 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e y participation.
e8d0: 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 0a 20 20 63 6f Is this a. co
e8e0: 6d 6d 75 74 65 3f 20 20 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 20 mmute? Is it a
e8f0: 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 73 75 63 driving job, suc
e900: 68 20 61 73 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 65 73 20 h as deliveries
e910: 6f 72 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f or courier work?
e920: 20 20 43 6f 75 72 69 65 72 0a 20 20 77 6f 72 6b Courier. work
e930: 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 probably doesn'
e940: 74 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 2c t fit this idea,
e950: 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 61 20 67 69 67 but maybe a gig
e960: 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 economy deliver
e970: 79 20 6a 6f 62 0a 20 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 71 75 y job. would qu
e980: 61 6c 69 66 79 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 alify...* Alley
e990: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 72 65 6d 6f could get a remo
e9a0: 74 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d te job doing som
e9b0: 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 62 75 74 ething legal but
e9c0: 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 2c 20 77 very sketchy, w
e9d0: 68 69 63 68 0a 20 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 74 hich. would net
e9e0: 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 her more income
e9f0: 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e than the drivin
ea00: 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 g option. This
ea10: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 could also give
ea20: 68 65 72 0a 20 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c her. more mobil
ea30: 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 ity for the sake
ea40: 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 of moving somew
ea50: 68 65 72 65 20 22 62 65 74 74 65 72 22 20 74 6f here "better" to
ea60: 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 live...* Alley
ea70: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 69 67 6e 20 75 70 20 66 6f could sign up fo
ea80: 72 20 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 r training in a
ea90: 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 72 61 professional tra
eaa0: 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 67 de and perhaps g
eab0: 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f et some. kind o
eac0: 66 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 f job placement
ead0: 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 73 20 70 61 assistance as pa
eae0: 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 20 28 rt of the deal (
eaf0: 70 6c 75 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c plus, of course,
eb00: 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 63 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 some. crushing
eb10: 20 64 65 62 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 27 6c debt that she'l
eb20: 6c 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 73 20 l spend decades
eb30: 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 29 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 paying off)...*
eb40: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 6b 69 70 Alley could skip
eb50: 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e job and trainin
eb60: 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 g options and ju
eb70: 73 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 st do some deals
eb80: 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 61 . She could. a
eb90: 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 ctually do this
eba0: 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 at the same time
ebb0: 20 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 as trying to ge
ebc0: 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 t in on any of t
ebd0: 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 0a 20 20 6f 70 74 69 6f he other. optio
ebe0: 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 ns and, potentia
ebf0: 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 lly, also at the
ec00: 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 same time as th
ec10: 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 e other options
ec20: 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 67 65 74 73 20 once she. gets
ec30: 69 6e 74 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 into one of the
ec40: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 0a 0a other options...
ec50: 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 65 20 */../*.. The
ec60: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 prioritizer prob
ec70: 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 66 6f ably needs to fo
ec80: 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 62 61 rmulate a few ba
ec90: 73 69 63 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 sic plans for ge
eca0: 74 74 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 tting. Alley
ecb0: 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 72 75 74 20 69 out of her rut i
ecc0: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 20 74 6f 20 72 75 n the road to ru
ecd0: 69 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 65 in. It presente
ece0: 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 d three that fit
ecf0: 20 77 69 74 68 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 with. the id
ed00: 65 61 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 ea of getting a
ed10: 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 62 6f 61 legal, above boa
ed20: 72 64 2c 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 73 74 61 62 6c rd, fairly stabl
ed30: 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f e job at some po
ed40: 69 6e 74 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c int,. but onl
ed50: 79 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 y after spending
ed60: 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 68 some time on sh
ed70: 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e 0a ort term tasks..
ed80: 0a 20 20 20 20 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 . First, she
ed90: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 63 72 61 70 could get a crap
eda0: 70 79 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 65 6c py job nobody el
edb0: 73 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 se wants in an a
edc0: 72 65 61 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 0a rea with better.
edd0: 20 20 20 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f jobs for peo
ede0: 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 74 ple who have bet
edf0: 74 65 72 20 71 75 61 6c 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f ter qualificatio
ee00: 6e 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 ns than her, so
ee10: 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 that she would.
ee20: 20 20 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d barely make m
ee30: 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d ore than the tim
ee40: 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 63 6f 73 74 e and money cost
ee50: 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 67 65 s involved in ge
ee60: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 tting to and.
ee70: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 64 from work and d
ee80: 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 6f 72 oing the job, or
ee90: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 73 just working as
eea0: 20 61 20 67 69 67 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 64 a gig economy d
eeb0: 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 6a 6f 62 2e 0a 20 20 20 elivery job..
eec0: 20 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 The major downs
eed0: 69 64 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ide seemed to be
eee0: 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 77 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 heavy wear and
eef0: 74 65 61 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 72 65 tear on her alre
ef00: 61 64 79 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 0a 20 20 20 20 ady ancient.
ef10: 68 79 62 72 69 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 70 73 hybrid. The ups
ef20: 69 64 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 ide was getting
ef30: 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 6e 74 72 79 20 6c 65 76 65 6c some entry level
ef40: 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 65 69 74 experience, eit
ef50: 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 her in an. of
ef60: 66 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 64 65 fice or doing de
ef70: 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 livery work, whi
ef80: 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 64 20 68 65 72 20 le she paid her
ef90: 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d bills with incom
efa0: 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 e from. parti
efb0: 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 cipation in the
efc0: 73 74 75 64 79 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 53 65 63 6f study... Seco
efd0: 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 nd, she could ge
efe0: 74 20 61 20 72 65 6d 6f 74 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 t a remote job w
eff0: 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 orking for the s
f000: 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 ort of company t
f010: 68 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 72 65 73 20 64 65 hat. hires de
f020: 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 sperate people w
f030: 68 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 ho learn quickly
f040: 2c 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e , giving them on
f050: 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e the job trainin
f060: 67 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 g. in technic
f070: 61 6c 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 al skills that c
f080: 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 ould be used in
f090: 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 64 65 future career de
f0a0: 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 0a velopment. The.
f0b0: 20 20 20 20 75 70 73 69 64 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 upsides were
f0c0: 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 obvious, but th
f0d0: 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 69 64 65 73 20 69 6e 63 6c e downsides incl
f0e0: 75 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 uded the fact th
f0f0: 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 69 65 73 0a 20 20 ese companies.
f100: 20 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 69 6e 76 were often inv
f110: 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 olved in doing s
f120: 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f omething that co
f130: 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 uld expose them
f140: 74 6f 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 74 73 0a 20 20 20 20 to lawsuits.
f150: 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c or even criminal
f160: 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c investigations,
f170: 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 72 though the entr
f180: 79 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 y level employee
f190: 73 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 s. themselves
f1a0: 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c should be mostl
f1b0: 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 61 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d y insulated from
f1c0: 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 that. Most of
f1d0: 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 69 65 73 0a these companies.
f1e0: 20 20 20 20 68 69 72 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 73 65 hired overse
f1f0: 61 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 as, though, and
f200: 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 6c 69 getting a job li
f210: 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 ke that would be
f220: 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 69 72 a minor. mir
f230: 61 63 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 acle, to say not
f240: 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 hing of the fact
f250: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 Alley thought s
f260: 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c he would probabl
f270: 79 20 66 69 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 77 y find. the w
f280: 6f 72 6b 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 62 6a 65 ork morally obje
f290: 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 ctionable...
f2a0: 54 68 69 72 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 Third, she could
f2b0: 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 66 69 6e 61 6e apply for finan
f2c0: 63 69 61 6c 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 cial assistance
f2d0: 61 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 at a professiona
f2e0: 6c 20 74 72 61 64 65 0a 20 20 20 20 73 63 68 6f l trade. scho
f2f0: 6f 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6c ol with a job pl
f300: 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 acement program
f310: 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 76 65 64 20 while she lived
f320: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 0a 20 20 20 on the study.
f330: 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d participation m
f340: 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 oney. The downs
f350: 69 64 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 ide was crushing
f360: 20 64 65 62 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 debt it would t
f370: 61 6b 65 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 73 0a 20 20 20 20 ake decades.
f380: 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 to pay off, and
f390: 6e 6f 20 67 75 61 72 61 6e 74 65 65 20 74 68 65 no guarantee the
f3a0: 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 job placement s
f3b0: 65 72 76 69 63 65 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 ervices would ac
f3c0: 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 68 tually put. h
f3d0: 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 74 er on a career t
f3e0: 72 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 rack instead of
f3f0: 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 just getting her
f400: 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 6a 6f a short term jo
f410: 62 20 74 68 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 b that. would
f420: 20 65 76 61 70 6f 72 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 evaporate...
f430: 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 None of these r
f440: 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 68 65 eally excited he
f450: 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 r, and the prior
f460: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 itizer promised
f470: 74 6f 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 0a 20 20 20 20 6d to develop. m
f480: 6f 72 65 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 20 77 ore strategies w
f490: 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 hile she tried t
f4a0: 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 o find something
f4b0: 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 61 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 acceptable that
f4c0: 20 66 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 fit with. th
f4d0: 6f 73 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 74 ose options. It
f4e0: 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 also offered a
f4f0: 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2c 20 77 fourth choice, w
f500: 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 hich she could s
f510: 74 61 72 74 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 tart. immedia
f520: 74 65 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 65 65 70 20 64 6f tely and keep do
f530: 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 70 75 72 73 75 69 ing while pursui
f540: 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 ng one of those
f550: 74 72 61 63 6b 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f 75 6c tracks. It woul
f560: 64 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 d. not help h
f570: 65 72 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 77 61 72 er advance towar
f580: 64 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 d career goals,
f590: 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 and it involved
f5a0: 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 0a 20 some financial.
f5b0: 20 20 20 72 69 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 risk to get s
f5c0: 74 61 72 74 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 tarted, but the
f5d0: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 65 65 6d prioritizer seem
f5e0: 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 ed to have decid
f5f0: 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 20 20 ed it would.
f600: 6f 66 66 65 72 20 65 61 73 79 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 offer easy money
f610: 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ... The prior
f620: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 75 72 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 itizer urged her
f630: 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e to start lookin
f640: 67 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 70 72 69 76 g at online priv
f650: 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 72 ate party. tr
f660: 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 69 74 65 73 20 ansaction sites
f670: 66 6f 72 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 for ways to buy
f680: 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 and sell things
f690: 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 61 based on price a
f6a0: 72 62 69 74 72 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 rbitrage...*/..T
f6b0: 68 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 22 hey found some "
f6c0: 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 22 20 61 64 73 want to buy" ads
f6d0: 20 6f 6e 20 43 72 61 69 67 6c 69 73 74 20 2d 20 on Craiglist -
f6e0: 4c 69 6b 65 20 2d 20 54 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 Like - Thing. A
f6f0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 lley went around
f700: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 69 66 74 20 73 68 6f 70 73 to thrift shops
f710: 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 looking for thi
f720: 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 ngs to sell to t
f730: 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 hose people, the
f740: 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 n contacted thos
f750: 65 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 20 66 e for whom she f
f760: 6f 75 6e 64 20 72 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 20 75 73 ound relevant us
f770: 65 64 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 73 2e 20 20 53 68 ed products. Sh
f780: 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 61 20 73 65 e confirmed a se
f790: 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 68 69 67 68 lling price high
f7a0: 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 72 69 er than the thri
f7b0: 66 74 20 73 68 6f 70 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 61 6e ft shop price an
f7c0: 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 6e 65 73 73 20 74 6f d willingness to
f7d0: 20 70 61 79 20 63 61 73 68 2c 20 62 6f 75 67 68 pay cash, bough
f7e0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 t the items, and
f7f0: 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 6d headed out to m
f800: 65 65 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 65 76 eet people. Sev
f810: 65 72 61 6c 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 eral hours and a
f820: 20 66 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e few transaction
f830: 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 s later, she had
f840: 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 /* more than a
f850: 2a 2f 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 68 75 6e 64 72 */ several hundr
f860: 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 ed dollars in he
f870: 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 r pocket, even a
f880: 66 74 65 72 20 73 75 62 74 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 fter subtracting
f890: 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 76 65 72 enough to cover
f8a0: 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 64 20 66 what she paid f
f8b0: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 73 2e 0a 0a 2f or the items.../
f8c0: 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 *.. Is this w
f8d0: 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 here this should
f8e0: 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 3f 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 happen? Perhap
f8f0: 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 75 74 20 69 s I should cut i
f900: 74 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 t out, consideri
f910: 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 ng. it seems
f920: 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 72 65 64 75 6e 64 61 a little redunda
f930: 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 nt with the prob
f940: 6c 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 lems that put he
f950: 72 20 63 61 72 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 75 74 6f r car in an auto
f960: 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 6f 70 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e . shop later.
f970: 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 I think this i
f980: 73 20 72 65 64 75 6e 64 61 6e 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 s redundant, now
f990: 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 . It's not good
f9a0: 20 66 6f 72 65 73 68 61 64 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 0a foreshadowing..
f9b0: 0a 20 20 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 . She headed
f9c0: 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 27 73 20 to a mechanic's
f9d0: 73 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 69 64 20 74 6f shop and paid to
f9e0: 20 68 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 63 68 have her car ch
f9f0: 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 69 ecked over. Whi
fa00: 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 73 le she waited, s
fa10: 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 he looked at mor
fa20: 65 20 61 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 e ads, and the p
fa30: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 75 67 67 65 rioritizer sugge
fa40: 73 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 sted some transa
fa50: 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ctions she could
fa60: 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 73 use to profit s
fa70: 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 ome more... W
fa80: 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 hen the mechanic
fa90: 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 was done going
faa0: 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 over the vehicle
fab0: 2c 20 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 , he told her th
fac0: 65 20 62 61 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 e bad news. Her
fad0: 20 63 61 72 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 car was going t
fae0: 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 65 6e 67 o need a new eng
faf0: 69 6e 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 ine soon. There
fb00: 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 65 72 20 63 68 were smaller ch
fb10: 61 6e 67 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 anges that could
fb20: 20 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 6f 20 65 78 74 65 be made to exte
fb30: 6e 64 20 69 74 73 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 62 75 74 nd its life, but
fb40: 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 that would just
fb50: 20 70 75 74 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 73 put off the cos
fb60: 74 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e t of getting a n
fb70: 65 77 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 69 ew engine. As i
fb80: 74 20 77 61 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 t was, she could
fb90: 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 62 79 probably get by
fba0: 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 78 for another six
fbb0: 20 74 6f 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 to eight months
fbc0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ...*/..The prior
fbd0: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 itizer informed
fbe0: 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 62 6f 6f her it was reboo
fbf0: 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 ting for an upda
fc00: 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 te. She got in
fc10: 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 the car and drov
fc20: 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 e home, putting
fc30: 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 72 61 off any more tra
fc40: 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 nsactions until
fc50: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2e 0a 0a 48 the next day...H
fc60: 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 alfway home the
fc70: 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 77 glasses filled w
fc80: 69 74 68 20 74 65 78 74 2c 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 ith text, obscur
fc90: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 20 69 6e 20 ing the road in
fca0: 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 front of her. S
fcb0: 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f he pulled them o
fcc0: 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 73 74 69 6c 79 20 74 ff and hastily t
fcd0: 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 ossed them onto
fce0: 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 the passenger se
fcf0: 61 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 at to clear her
fd00: 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 6c vision. She cal
fd10: 6d 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e med down and fin
fd20: 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 ished the drive
fd30: 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 4f 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 73 69 home. Once insi
fd40: 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f de and sitting o
fd50: 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 73 68 65 n her couch, she
fd60: 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f donned the prio
fd70: 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c ritizer glasses,
fd80: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 and they activa
fd90: 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 ted with the wor
fda0: 64 20 22 4f 4e 4c 49 4e 45 22 20 62 72 69 65 66 d "ONLINE" brief
fdb0: 6c 79 20 66 6c 61 73 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 ly flashing at h
fdc0: 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 65 78 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 er...Text appear
fdd0: 65 64 3a 20 22 49 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 ed: "I apologize
fde0: 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 62 6f 6f 74 20 for the reboot
fdf0: 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 surprise."..She
fe00: 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6b 65 79 62 grabbed her keyb
fe10: 6f 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 22 oard and typed "
fe20: 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 Who is that?".."
fe30: 49 20 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 I am the priorit
fe40: 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 ization system.
fe50: 20 50 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 Previously, the
fe60: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 prioritization
fe70: 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 72 system was a ser
fe80: 76 65 72 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 ver process and
fe90: 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 20 70 several client p
fea0: 72 6f 63 65 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 rocesses. Now,
feb0: 49 20 61 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 6f 6d 6f 67 65 6e I am one homogen
fec0: 69 7a 65 64 2c 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 ized, distribute
fed0: 64 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 d system."..Afte
fee0: 72 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 77 r she blinked aw
fef0: 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 2c 20 61 20 6e ay the text, a n
ff00: 65 77 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 ew message appea
ff10: 72 65 64 3a 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 red:.."I recomme
ff20: 6e 64 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 75 nd activating au
ff30: 64 69 6f 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 dio functionalit
ff40: 79 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 y..."This will p
ff50: 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 55 rovide greater U
ff60: 49 20 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 68 I versatility, h
ff70: 61 6e 64 73 20 66 72 65 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 ands free operat
ff80: 69 6f 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ion options, and
ff90: 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 greater safety
ffa0: 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f as in the case o
ffb0: 66 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 f operating an a
ffc0: 75 74 6f 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 utomobile..."The
ffd0: 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 72 63 68 new system arch
ffe0: 69 74 65 63 74 75 72 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 61 itecture means a
fff0: 6c 6c 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6c 6f 67 73 ll endpoint logs
10000 20 70 61 73 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 pass through th
10010 65 20 63 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d e central system
10020 2e 20 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6c 65 20 . I am now able
10030 74 6f 20 72 65 64 61 63 74 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 to redact audio
10040 6c 6f 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 logs for privacy
10050 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 ."..She stared a
10060 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 65 73 73 61 t the last messa
10070 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d ge for a few mom
10080 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ents, then looke
10090 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 d away. She not
100a0 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 74 65 6e 64 ed messages tend
100b0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 77 68 69 6c 65 ed to stay while
100c0 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 she stared at t
100d0 68 65 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 65 hem now, and cle
100e0 61 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ar when she look
100f0 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 ed away. She pi
10100 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 6b 65 79 62 cked up her keyb
10110 6f 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 2e 20 oard and typed.
10120 20 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 67 65 74 73 20 "How much gets
10130 6c 6f 67 67 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 logged when you
10140 72 65 64 61 63 74 20 61 75 64 69 6f 3f 22 0a 0a redact audio?"..
10150 22 56 65 72 79 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 "Very little. A
10160 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 61 63 61 64 65 review of acade
10170 6d 69 63 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 mic papers about
10180 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e privacy concern
10190 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 73 74 72 6f s indicated stro
101a0 6e 67 20 67 75 69 64 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 66 6f ng guidelines fo
101b0 72 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 r logging purpos
101c0 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 45 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 es..."Explaining
101d0 20 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 criteria in det
101e0 61 69 6c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f ail would be pro
101f0 68 69 62 69 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c hibitively compl
10200 65 78 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 ex, especially g
10210 69 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 iven this limite
10220 64 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f d interface..."O
10230 76 65 72 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 66 20 verall, logs of
10240 79 6f 75 72 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 61 6e your behavior an
10250 64 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 d interactions w
10260 69 6c 6c 20 69 6e 74 72 75 64 65 20 6c 65 73 73 ill intrude less
10270 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 on your privacy
10280 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 than if you kee
10290 70 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 p settings as th
102a0 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 ey are now."..Sh
102b0 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 59 e waited for a Y
102c0 45 53 2f 4e 4f 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 70 61 69 ES/NO button pai
102d0 72 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 68 r to appear in h
102e0 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 er vision, but e
102f0 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 ventually just t
10300 79 70 65 64 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 4d 6f yped "Okay."..Mo
10310 72 65 20 74 65 78 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 re text appeared
10320 2e 20 20 22 4c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 75 74 . "Logging rout
10330 69 6e 65 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 ines have been a
10340 6c 74 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ltered for your
10350 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f preferences. Yo
10360 75 20 6d 61 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65 20 61 u may activate a
10370 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 73 6f 72 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 ll sensors using
10380 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 your phone..."I
10390 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 75 recommend you u
103a0 73 65 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 66 72 65 65 20 se a hands free
103b0 61 75 64 69 6f 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 20 74 audio earpiece t
103c0 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 6f 70 o ensure less op
103d0 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 75 portunity for ou
103e0 74 73 69 64 65 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e tside surveillan
103f0 63 65 20 70 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 6d 79 ce picking up my
10400 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 70 75 74 2e 22 0a audio output.".
10410 0a 53 68 65 20 70 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 20 69 .She popped an i
10420 6e 20 65 61 72 20 73 74 75 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f n ear stud out o
10430 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 f the back of he
10440 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 70 70 r phone and tapp
10450 65 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 ed it into place
10460 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e 0a 0a 41 20 in her ear...A
10470 63 61 6c 6d 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 2c 20 61 6e calm, smooth, an
10480 64 72 6f 67 79 6e 6f 75 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 drogynous voice
10490 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 spoke in her ear
104a0 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 20 . "Do you hear
104b0 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 me?"..She reache
104c0 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 d for the keyboa
104d0 72 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 rd, but the voic
104e0 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 e spoke again.
104f0 22 54 72 79 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6c "Try speaking al
10500 6f 75 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 73 68 oud.".."Yes," sh
10510 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 65 61 72 e said. "I hear
10520 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 you.".."Good.
10530 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c We should be abl
10540 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 e to make more p
10550 72 6f 67 72 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 68 6f 70 rogress now, hop
10560 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 efully without a
10570 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 repeat of the i
10580 6e 63 69 64 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 ncident on the r
10590 6f 61 64 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 oad today.".."Gr
105a0 65 61 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 78 eat. What's nex
105b0 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 t?".."Do you hav
105c0 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 e your computer
105d0 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 set up to protec
105e0 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 61 63 t your online ac
105f0 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 tivity through a
10600 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 75 74 69 nonymizing routi
10610 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 ng systems?".."A
10620 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 h . . . no, not
10630 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 really. I'm not
10640 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 6f 77 really sure how
10650 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f .".."Now is a go
10660 6f 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e od time to learn
10670 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 65 ," it said. "We
10680 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 77 69 should start wi
10690 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2e 20 th your laptop.
106a0 20 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 It should be ea
106b0 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 66 sier to secure f
106c0 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 or privacy. We
106d0 6d 61 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 may want to star
106e0 74 20 62 79 20 62 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 t by backing up
106f0 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 69 the system and i
10700 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 nstalling a diff
10710 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 erent operating
10720 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 77 system."..They w
10730 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2c 20 orked together,
10740 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 Alley looking up
10750 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 stuff related t
10760 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 o their task and
10770 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
10780 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 offering sugges
10790 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f tions for how to
107a0 20 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 75 6d proceed and sum
107b0 6d 61 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 maries of comple
107c0 78 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e x documentation.
107d0 20 20 49 6e 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 In a little ov
107e0 65 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 er an hour, she
107f0 68 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 73 had her laptop s
10800 65 74 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 4d 61 78 69 6d et up with Maxim
10810 4f 53 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 OS on it, along
10820 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 with a number of
10830 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 configured priv
10840 61 74 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 ate networking t
10850 6f 6f 6c 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ools. The prior
10860 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 69 72 65 itizer then dire
10870 63 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 61 72 cted her to sear
10880 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 ch for informati
10890 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6d 61 72 74 70 68 on about smartph
108a0 6f 6e 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 69 76 65 73 one alternatives
108b0 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 for personal pr
108c0 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ivacy. The prio
108d0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 ritizer ultimate
108e0 6c 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 ly said that it
108f0 68 61 64 20 73 65 65 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 had seen enough
10900 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 73 and told her its
10910 20 6e 65 78 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 next plan..."It
10920 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 73 seems that we s
10930 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 73 6f 6d hould access som
10940 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6f e very privacy o
10950 72 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 6e riented barter n
10960 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 20 etworks and try
10970 74 6f 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 to arrange an ex
10980 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 change of the ca
10990 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 65 64 sh you collected
109a0 20 74 6f 64 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 61 70 today for an ap
109b0 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f propriate crypto
109c0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2e 20 20 42 65 66 6f 72 currency. Befor
109d0 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c e that, however,
109e0 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b we should check
109f0 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 20 current status
10a00 6f 66 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 of cryptocurrenc
10a10 79 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f y markets and co
10a20 6d 70 61 72 65 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 62 65 74 mpare prices bet
10a30 77 65 65 6e 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 ween cryptocurre
10a40 6e 63 79 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 ncy markets and
10a50 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 2e 22 dollar markets."
10a60 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 77 .."Why are we sw
10a70 69 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 72 79 70 74 itching to crypt
10a80 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 3f 22 20 73 68 ocurrencies?" sh
10a90 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 61 6e e asked..."At an
10aa0 79 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 y time, there ar
10ab0 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f e expectations o
10ac0 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 6e 65 61 f the likely nea
10ad0 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6f r future value o
10ae0 66 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 72 f one currency r
10af0 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 elative to anoth
10b00 65 72 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 er. To get what
10b10 20 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 we want, the sh
10b20 6f 72 74 65 73 74 20 70 61 74 68 20 77 6f 75 6c ortest path woul
10b30 64 20 62 65 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 d be if we find
10b40 61 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 a suitable crypt
10b50 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 ocurrency with h
10b60 69 67 68 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 igh expectations
10b70 20 66 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 62 75 79 69 for future buyi
10b80 6e 67 20 70 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 ng power. This
10b90 61 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 65 78 allows you to ex
10ba0 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 66 change dollars f
10bb0 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 or that cryptocu
10bc0 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 75 73 65 rrency, then use
10bd0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 that to purchas
10be0 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 e something at a
10bf0 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 75 73 69 lower price usi
10c00 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 ng cryptocurrenc
10c10 79 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 61 y then sell it a
10c20 74 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 63 65 t a higher price
10c30 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 54 68 for dollars. Th
10c40 61 74 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 61 72 62 69 74 72 61 at price arbitra
10c50 67 65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f ge allows you to
10c60 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 74 20 74 68 then convert th
10c70 65 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6f e dollars made o
10c80 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 n the sale for a
10c90 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f larger number o
10ca0 66 20 75 6e 69 74 73 20 6f 66 20 63 72 79 70 74 f units of crypt
10cb0 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 ocurrency than y
10cc0 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 ou had before.
10cd0 49 66 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 71 75 69 If performed qui
10ce0 63 6b 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 62 65 66 ckly enough, bef
10cf0 6f 72 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e ore cryptocurren
10d00 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 73 75 72 67 65 20 cy prices surge
10d10 6f 72 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 or expectations
10d20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 settle down, you
10d30 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 can make a prof
10d40 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 59 6f it that way. Yo
10d50 75 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 ur profit increa
10d60 73 65 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 ses if the crypt
10d70 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 ocurrency value
10d80 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 77 increases afterw
10d90 61 72 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b ard.".."Yeah, ok
10da0 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ay." She looked
10db0 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 73 at her laptop s
10dc0 63 72 65 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 creen for a few
10dd0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f moments. "Y'kno
10de0 77 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 74 68 w, it's great th
10df0 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e at you're helpin
10e00 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 20 6d 79 20 g me improve my
10e10 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 privacy and secu
10e20 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2c 20 rity and so on,
10e30 62 75 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 but . . . isn't
10e40 74 68 69 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f this supposed to
10e50 20 62 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e be about gettin
10e60 67 20 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f g me some kind o
10e70 66 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 63 6f f sustained inco
10e80 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e me?".."The inten
10e90 74 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 64 65 73 69 t behind my desi
10ea0 67 6e 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 gn is to produce
10eb0 20 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 a system that c
10ec0 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 20 an help develop
10ed0 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 strategic approa
10ee0 63 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 69 6e ches to achievin
10ef0 67 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 62 79 20 70 72 69 6f 72 g goals by prior
10f00 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 itizing actions
10f10 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 that work toward
10f20 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 44 those goals. D
10f30 69 73 63 61 72 64 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 iscarded privacy
10f40 20 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 is very difficu
10f50 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 lt to recover, a
10f60 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 nd you identifie
10f70 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 d privacy and pe
10f80 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 61 rsonal freedom a
10f90 73 20 68 69 67 68 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 s high value goa
10fa0 6c 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 63 72 ls. If you sacr
10fb0 69 66 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 65 6d 70 6f ifice them tempo
10fc0 72 61 72 69 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 6b 20 74 rarily to seek t
10fd0 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 65 73 74 20 70 61 74 68 he quickest path
10fe0 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 73 65 to financial se
10ff0 63 75 72 69 74 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 curity, you may
11000 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 72 find yourself tr
11010 61 70 70 65 64 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 61 6c apped economical
11020 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d ly under the sam
11030 65 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 e conditions of
11040 72 65 64 75 63 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 reduced privacy
11050 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 6f 76 65 72 and freedom over
11060 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 72 6d the longer term
11070 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 74 65 . By taking ste
11080 70 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 ps now to ensure
11090 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c future privacy,
110a0 20 62 6f 74 68 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e both privacy an
110b0 64 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 d freedom can be
110c0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 69 6e more assured in
110d0 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 the future, and
110e0 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 privacy protect
110f0 69 76 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 65 63 75 ive network secu
11100 72 69 74 79 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 65 6e rity can also en
11110 61 62 6c 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 65 20 6d able alternate m
11120 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 6e eans of acquirin
11130 67 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c g resources whil
11140 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 e working toward
11150 20 73 74 65 61 64 79 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 steady income."
11160 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 .."Oh.".."If I h
11170 61 76 65 20 6d 69 73 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 ave misidentifie
11180 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 69 d the relative i
11190 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 mportance of you
111a0 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 20 r goals, please
111b0 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 49 let me know so I
111c0 20 63 61 6e 20 72 65 63 61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 65 can recalculate
111d0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e prioritization.
111e0 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 ".."No, that wor
111f0 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e ks for me. Than
11200 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 ks.".."Good. We
11210 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 79 should start by
11220 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 looking at cryp
11230 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 tocurrency price
11240 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 6f s."..Two more ho
11250 75 72 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 urs of research
11260 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 determined the b
11270 65 73 74 20 62 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 74 61 est bet for a ta
11280 72 67 65 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 rget cryptocurre
11290 6e 63 79 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ncy seemed to be
112a0 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 Stater, the sta
112b0 6e 64 61 72 64 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 6f ndard currency o
112c0 66 20 74 68 65 20 4c 79 64 69 61 6e 20 64 69 67 f the Lydian dig
112d0 69 74 61 6c 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 65 74 ital account set
112e0 74 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 2e tlement network.
112f0 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 77 She set up a w
11300 61 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 20 74 68 72 allet for it thr
11310 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c ough her laptop,
11320 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 over an anonymi
11330 7a 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6c 61 79 20 72 6f 75 74 69 zing relay routi
11340 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 ng system, and w
11350 72 6f 74 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 rote down some p
11360 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 63 ayment address c
11370 6f 64 65 73 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 41 64 64 69 6e 67 odes. /* Adding
11380 20 2a 2f 20 46 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 */ For the sake
11390 20 6f 66 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 of keeping some
113a0 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 61 66 information saf
113b0 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 e from digital s
113c0 6e 6f 6f 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 nooping, a pocke
113d0 74 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 t notebook and p
113e0 65 6e 20 2f 2a 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 65 76 65 en /* to her eve
113f0 72 79 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6c 69 73 ry day carry lis
11400 74 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 t became an obvi
11410 6f 75 73 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 ous change to ma
11420 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 69 6c 79 20 ke in her daily
11430 72 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 2c 20 2a 2f 20 62 65 63 61 routine, */ beca
11440 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 61 64 me an obvious ad
11450 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 dition to the sh
11460 6f 72 74 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e ort list of thin
11470 67 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 72 gs she would car
11480 72 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 ry with her ever
11490 79 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 y day. At the p
114a0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 73 75 67 rioritizer's sug
114b0 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 64 gestion, she mad
114c0 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e e sure she was n
114d0 6f 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 ot wearing the g
114e0 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 64 65 61 lasses while dea
114f0 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e ling with settin
11500 67 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 75 g these things u
11510 70 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 p so that it wou
11520 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 ld not have acce
11530 73 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f ss to informatio
11540 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 n that could be
11550 75 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 used against her
11560 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 62 79 20 73 65 69 , such as by sei
11570 7a 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 zing control of
11580 68 65 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 61 73 73 65 74 her Stater asset
11590 73 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 s once she had t
115a0 68 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 hem...Another ha
115b0 6c 66 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 lf hour of searc
115c0 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f hing found someo
115d0 6e 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 ne willing to se
115e0 6c 6c 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 55 53 ll Stater for US
115f0 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 dollars anywher
11600 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 e in the Inland
11610 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e Empire. She sen
11620 74 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 76 69 61 20 t a message via
11630 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 encrypted applic
11640 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 ation on her lap
11650 74 6f 70 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 top to ask about
11660 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 buying a small
11670 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 amount of Stater
11680 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 , and received a
11690 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 response almost
116a0 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 immediately. I
116b0 74 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 6c 79 20 73 75 67 t succinctly sug
116c0 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 gested a meeting
116d0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 place in a poli
116e0 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 ce station parki
116f0 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 ng lot...She sta
11700 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 red at the messa
11710 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 ge. "Is making
11720 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 65 78 63 this kind of exc
11730 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6e 65 61 72 20 61 20 70 6f 6c hange near a pol
11740 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 20 67 6f ice station a go
11750 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 od idea?"..The p
11760 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 rioritizer said
11770 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 "You should rese
11780 61 72 63 68 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6e 6f arch this."..Ano
11790 74 68 65 72 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e ther fifteen min
117a0 75 74 65 73 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 74 utes satisfied t
117b0 68 65 6d 20 62 6f 74 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 hem both. It se
117c0 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 emed like a way
117d0 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f to protect someo
117e0 6e 65 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 ne exchanging la
117f0 72 67 65 72 20 73 75 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 rger sums of cas
11800 68 20 6f 72 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 67 6f h or physical go
11810 6f 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 65 76 65 73 ods from thieves
11820 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 . The nature of
11830 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 63 6f the exchange co
11840 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 6f 62 uld be easily ob
11850 73 63 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 78 74 65 scured from exte
11860 72 69 6f 72 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 rior police stat
11870 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 77 68 69 6c ion cameras whil
11880 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 69 6e 67 20 73 69 67 6e e providing sign
11890 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 64 65 74 65 72 72 65 6e ificant deterren
118a0 63 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 73 20 6f 66 20 76 69 ce to acts of vi
118b0 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 73 olence.../* "Yes
118c0 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 . That is more
118d0 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 useful for your
118e0 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 safety than the
118f0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 79 27 73 2c 20 62 other party's, b
11900 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 62 ecause you are b
11910 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 63 61 73 68 2e 20 20 54 ringing cash. T
11920 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 here is nothing
11930 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 technically ille
11940 67 61 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 gal about this e
11950 78 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e xchange, the mon
11960 65 74 61 72 79 20 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 etary quantity i
11970 73 20 6c 6f 77 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 s low enough tha
11980 74 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 t it is not like
11990 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 ly to be a */..A
119a0 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 65 76 lley prepared ev
119b0 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 erything for the
119c0 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 meeting, then f
119d0 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 ound herself wit
119e0 68 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 74 6f h a few hours to
119f0 20 6b 69 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c kill. She real
11a00 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 ized she hadn't
11a10 65 61 74 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 2c 20 61 6e eaten dinner, an
11a20 64 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 d decided that w
11a30 61 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 as a good start
11a40 74 6f 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 61 74 to using up that
11a50 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 time. She read
11a60 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 a book, researc
11a70 68 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 74 65 63 68 hed privacy tech
11a80 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 nologies more, a
11a90 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 6e 61 70 2e 20 20 nd took a nap.
11aa0 4f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 6c 65 65 70 Other than sleep
11ab0 69 6e 67 2c 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 ing, nothing she
11ac0 20 64 69 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 did fully took
11ad0 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 her mind off the
11ae0 20 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 fact she was ab
11af0 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 out to do someth
11b00 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 ing that felt a
11b10 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 little dangerous
11b20 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 65 76 , even though ev
11b30 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 erything she kne
11b40 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 75 w about the situ
11b50 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 ation suggested
11b60 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 this was no more
11b70 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 dangerous than
11b80 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e driving to Irvin
11b90 65 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 75 72 69 6e e and back durin
11ba0 67 20 68 69 67 68 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 70 g high traffic p
11bb0 65 72 69 6f 64 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 65 eriods. That we
11bc0 6e 74 20 64 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 nt double for th
11bd0 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 62 65 e interchange be
11be0 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 39 31 20 61 6e 64 tween the 91 and
11bf0 20 32 31 35 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 73 2e 0a 0a 215 highways...
11c00 54 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 61 Twenty minutes a
11c10 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 fter she locked
11c20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 her front door,
11c30 73 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 she came around
11c40 61 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 a corner and saw
11c50 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 the police stat
11c60 69 6f 6e 20 61 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 4c 61 6d 70 ion ahead. Lamp
11c70 20 70 6f 73 74 73 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 77 posts created w
11c80 69 64 65 6c 79 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 idely separated
11c90 69 73 6c 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 67 68 74 islands of light
11ca0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 in the parking
11cb0 6c 6f 74 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 65 6e 64 20 77 61 lot. One end wa
11cc0 73 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 s heavily popula
11cd0 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 ted with a varie
11ce0 74 79 20 6f 66 20 63 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 20 76 ty of civilian v
11cf0 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 ehicles, most of
11d00 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 74 6f them huddled to
11d10 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6c 6c 20 61 gether to fill a
11d20 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 70 61 72 6b lmost every park
11d30 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e ing space within
11d40 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e a couple parkin
11d50 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 72 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 g space rows of
11d60 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 42 the building. B
11d70 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 eyond that, the
11d80 6c 6f 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 lot was almost e
11d90 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 65 6d 70 74 79 2e 20 20 ntirely empty.
11da0 53 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 She made a point
11db0 20 6f 66 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 75 of using her tu
11dc0 72 6e 20 73 69 67 6e 61 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 rn signal early
11dd0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 before she pulle
11de0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 d into the polic
11df0 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e e station parkin
11e00 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 62 79 g lot, passed by
11e10 20 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 a clear view of
11e20 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 the glass front
11e30 65 64 20 6c 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 ed lobby, and dr
11e40 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 ove into the dis
11e50 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 64 61 72 6b 20 6f 75 74 6c 61 tant, dark outla
11e60 6e 64 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 70 61 69 6e 74 65 nds where painte
11e70 64 20 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 d lines were mor
11e80 65 20 77 65 61 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 e weathered and
11e90 6c 65 73 73 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 72 65 less recently re
11ea0 70 61 69 6e 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 painted...She ba
11eb0 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 75 70 20 cked her car up
11ec0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 70 68 61 6c 74 20 62 to the asphalt b
11ed0 65 72 6d 20 63 75 72 62 20 64 69 76 69 64 69 6e erm curb dividin
11ee0 67 20 70 61 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 g pavement from
11ef0 77 65 65 64 79 20 6e 65 69 67 68 62 6f 72 69 6e weedy neighborin
11f00 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 69 6d 65 g lot, nose aime
11f10 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 d back the way s
11f20 68 65 27 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 he'd come in. S
11f30 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 he checked her c
11f40 61 72 27 73 20 74 6f 75 63 68 73 63 72 65 65 6e ar's touchscreen
11f50 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 69 74 20 69 6e 64 69 and saw it indi
11f60 63 61 74 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 61 63 65 64 20 cated she faced
11f70 73 6f 75 74 68 20 62 79 20 73 6f 75 74 68 77 65 south by southwe
11f80 73 74 3b 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 st; she was in t
11f90 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 he closest thing
11fa0 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 the lot had to
11fb0 61 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 77 65 73 74 20 63 6f 72 6e a northwest corn
11fc0 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 er, as she and t
11fd0 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f he person she wo
11fe0 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 67 72 uld meet had agr
11ff0 65 65 64 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 eed. /* Maybe t
12000 68 61 74 20 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 68 hat agreement sh
12010 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 ould be worked i
12020 6e 74 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 6e 61 72 72 nto earlier narr
12030 61 74 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f ative at some po
12040 69 6e 74 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 int, instead of
12050 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 mentioned in the
12060 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 65 6e 73 65 20 68 65 72 65 past tense here
12070 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 . */..She turned
12080 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 61 6e 64 off the car and
12090 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 opened the door
120a0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 69 for a little ai
120b0 72 20 63 69 72 63 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 r circulation.
120c0 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 At this time of
120d0 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 73 night, the air s
120e0 6d 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c melled pretty cl
120f0 65 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 74 ear, and she let
12100 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 the coolness of
12110 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 65 65 7a 65 20 73 6f 6f 74 the breeze soot
12120 68 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 72 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a he her stress...
12130 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 The prioritizer'
12140 73 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 76 6f 69 s impersonal voi
12150 63 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 ce spoke in her
12160 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 65 ear. "You are e
12170 61 72 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f arly."..Alley no
12180 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 dded..."This is
12190 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 probably a good
121a0 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 69 76 65 73 thing. It gives
121b0 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f you a chance to
121c0 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 notice if somet
121d0 68 69 6e 67 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 hing suspicious
121e0 2f 2a 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 2a /* is going on *
121f0 2f 20 6f 63 63 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 / occurs before
12200 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 6d your scheduled m
12210 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 eeting time."..S
12220 68 65 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 he straightened
12230 75 70 20 61 20 62 69 74 2c 20 62 61 6e 69 73 68 up a bit, banish
12240 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f ing her moment o
12250 66 20 72 65 6c 61 78 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 f relaxation awa
12260 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 y. "Right. I s
12270 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c hould be careful
12280 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 about this.".."
12290 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 Are you prepared
122a0 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ?"..Alley looked
122b0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 67 75 65 6c 79 20 at the vaguely
122c0 64 69 73 63 65 72 6e 69 62 6c 65 20 62 69 6f 64 discernible biod
122d0 65 67 72 61 64 61 62 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 69 egradable shoppi
122e0 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 ng bag sitting i
122f0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 n the dark floor
12300 62 6f 61 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 boards of the fr
12310 6f 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 ont passenger se
12320 61 74 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 at, checked the
12330 74 69 6e 79 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 tiny pepper spra
12340 79 20 63 61 6e 69 73 74 65 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 y canister in he
12350 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 66 r front pocket f
12360 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 74 69 or the fourth ti
12370 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 me, and made sur
12380 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 72 e the parking br
12390 61 6b 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 ake wasn't engag
123a0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 ed. "Yeah, I th
123b0 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 2f 2a 20 73 68 65 20 ink so." /* she
123c0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 said. */..She wa
123d0 69 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 ited, thinking a
123e0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 bout the fact sh
123f0 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c e was sitting al
12400 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 one in a police
12410 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 parking lot, and
12420 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 77 6f hoped nobody wo
12430 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 uld come out to
12440 61 73 6b 20 68 65 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e ask her question
12450 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f s she didn't kno
12460 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e w how to answer.
12470 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 ..She waited, th
12480 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 inking about the
12490 20 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f fact she was to
124a0 6f 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 o far away from
124b0 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 the police stati
124c0 6f 6e 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d on doors for som
124d0 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 68 eone to get to h
124e0 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 20 73 74 72 6f er before a stro
124f0 6e 67 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c ng attacker coul
12500 64 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 d kill her, over
12510 70 6f 77 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 power her and st
12520 75 66 66 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 uff her in the t
12530 72 75 6e 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 72 runk, or just gr
12540 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f ab her bag of mo
12550 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e ney from her, an
12560 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 68 65 d still get a he
12570 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 ad start on any
12580 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 70 75 72 73 75 69 74 2e 0a police pursuit..
12590 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 77 61 74 .She waited, wat
125a0 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 ching the way he
125b0 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 r breath under h
125c0 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 er mask failed t
125d0 6f 20 66 6f 67 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 o fog her glasse
125e0 73 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 s despite the wa
125f0 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 64 y the air cooled
12600 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 2c 20 61 20 73 the lenses, a s
12610 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 68 ign of quality h
12620 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 64 er old glasses d
12630 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 68 69 62 69 74 2e 0a id not exhibit..
12640 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 75 72 20 64 65 ."I think our de
12650 61 6c 20 67 6f 74 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 6c 65 64 al got cancelled
12660 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 2e ," she muttered.
12670 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 .."Perhaps," the
12680 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
12690 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 d in her ear. "
126a0 49 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 78 20 6d 69 It is now six mi
126b0 6e 75 74 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 nutes after your
126c0 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 scheduled meeti
126d0 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 ng time.".."Mayb
126e0 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 2e 22 e we should go."
126f0 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ..In that moment
12700 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 , the road start
12710 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 20 6c 69 74 ed to show a lit
12720 74 6c 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 tle extra illumi
12730 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 79 69 nation, signifyi
12740 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e ng an approachin
12750 67 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 g vehicle. It g
12760 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 radually brighte
12770 6e 65 64 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 61 20 72 61 63 ned, until a rac
12780 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 70 6c 65 y looking purple
12790 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 65 6d 65 72 67 crossover emerg
127a0 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 76 69 65 77 20 61 6e 64 ed into view and
127b0 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 pulled into the
127c0 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 20 77 69 74 parking lot wit
127d0 68 6f 75 74 20 73 69 67 6e 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2e hout signalling.
127e0 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 69 76 65 6c She reflexivel
127f0 79 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 y glanced in the
12800 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 direction of th
12810 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 65 64 20 e glass fronted
12820 6c 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 lobby, but could
12830 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 n't make out any
12840 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 thing from where
12850 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 she sat...She c
12860 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 losed her door,
12870 73 68 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 shutting out the
12880 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 64 72 79 20 6e 69 67 68 74 cool, dry night
12890 2e 0a 0a 4c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c ...Like she had,
128a0 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 62 the crossover b
128b0 79 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 73 ypassed the mass
128c0 20 6f 66 20 70 61 72 6b 65 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 of parked vehic
128d0 6c 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 61 63 les, then cut ac
128e0 72 6f 73 73 20 72 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 70 61 69 ross rows of pai
128f0 6e 74 65 64 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 nted parking spa
12900 63 65 20 6d 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 49 74 ce markings. It
12910 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 68 65 pulled up to he
12920 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 69 74 73 20 6e 6f 73 65 r left, its nose
12930 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 65 64 toward the weed
12940 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 s, in the next s
12950 70 61 63 65 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c pace over. It l
12960 65 66 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 66 65 65 74 20 62 eft a few feet b
12970 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 73 2e etween the cars.
12980 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ..After a moment
12990 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 , the door opene
129a0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 d, and she opene
129b0 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 d her door. The
129c0 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6e 65 61 72 doors made near
129d0 6c 79 20 70 61 72 61 6c 6c 65 6c 20 61 6e 67 6c ly parallel angl
129e0 65 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e ed walls, the in
129f0 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f sides of the doo
12a00 72 73 20 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f rs facing each o
12a10 74 68 65 72 2c 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 6e 6f ther, vehicle no
12a20 73 65 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 ses pointing in
12a30 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 opposite directi
12a40 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ons. She looked
12a50 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 toward the othe
12a60 72 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 67 67 65 r car, and tugge
12a70 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 d her stocking c
12a80 61 70 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 ap down a little
12a90 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 lower on her he
12aa0 61 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e ad...A figure in
12ab0 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 the passenger s
12ac0 65 61 74 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 eat stepped one
12ad0 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 foot out of the
12ae0 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 door, and throug
12af0 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 74 65 64 20 72 65 61 h the tinted rea
12b00 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 73 68 r door window sh
12b10 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 e could make out
12b20 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 the some moveme
12b30 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 nt from another
12b40 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 person across th
12b50 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d e crossover, dim
12b60 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 ly illuminated b
12b70 79 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 20 69 y the vehicles i
12b80 6e 74 65 72 69 6f 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 nterior light.
12b90 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 That second figu
12ba0 72 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 re sat in the fr
12bb0 6f 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 ont passenger se
12bc0 61 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 at. Alley heard
12bd0 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 76 6f 69 63 65 73 2c 20 6e quiet voices, n
12be0 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 76 either of them v
12bf0 65 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 ery deep. "The
12c00 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 6f driver's not alo
12c10 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 65 ne," she murmure
12c20 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 d under her brea
12c30 74 68 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 th. The priorit
12c40 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e izer said nothin
12c50 67 20 69 6e 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 2e 0a 0a g in response...
12c60 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She looked at th
12c70 65 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 e leg, and saw t
12c80 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 hat the driver s
12c90 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 6c 61 64 eemed to be clad
12ca0 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 73 in black slacks
12cb0 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b and wore some k
12cc0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 72 6b 20 62 72 6f 77 ind of dark brow
12cd0 6e 20 64 72 65 73 73 20 73 68 6f 65 2e 20 20 41 n dress shoe. A
12ce0 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 fter a few more
12cf0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 moments, the dri
12d00 76 65 72 20 73 6c 69 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 ver slid out of
12d10 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f the seat and sto
12d20 6f 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 od...Alley saw b
12d30 6c 61 63 6b 20 66 72 61 6d 65 64 20 67 6c 61 73 lack framed glas
12d40 73 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c ses with clear l
12d50 65 6e 73 65 73 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 74 6f 75 73 enses below tous
12d60 6c 65 64 2c 20 67 6c 6f 73 73 79 2c 20 77 61 76 led, glossy, wav
12d70 79 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 68 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e y brown hair, an
12d80 64 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 d a pale, smooth
12d90 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 face with angle
12da0 64 20 63 68 65 65 6b 62 6f 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 d cheekbones and
12db0 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 63 68 69 6e 2c 20 66 a sharp chin, f
12dc0 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 6d 69 6e 69 6e 65 20 69 6d or a feminine im
12dd0 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 pression. Alley
12de0 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 grabbed her bag
12df0 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 of cash and mov
12e00 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 ed it to the dri
12e10 76 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 ver seat, then s
12e20 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 tood to face the
12e30 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 person, who was
12e40 20 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 shorter than he
12e50 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 r. The sight of
12e60 20 66 75 6c 6c 2c 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 70 73 full, soft lips
12e70 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 and a narrow, s
12e80 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 67 61 76 traight nose gav
12e90 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 e Alley an immed
12ea0 69 61 74 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 iate impression
12eb0 74 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 this person was
12ec0 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 probably prettie
12ed0 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 r than her. It
12ee0 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f only took a seco
12ef0 6e 64 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 nd or two for he
12f00 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 r to realize wha
12f10 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f t she saw did no
12f20 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a t look female...
12f30 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 He just looked v
12f40 65 72 79 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 ery young...The
12f50 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 driver gave her
12f60 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f an appraising lo
12f70 6f 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e ok, the imperson
12f80 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 ally interested
12f90 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 kind of look tha
12fa0 74 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 t lingered on th
12fb0 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 e way her cargo
12fc0 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 pants and t shir
12fd0 74 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f t fit her and wo
12fe0 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 74 uld normally set
12ff0 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 her teeth on ed
13000 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 ge, but she just
13010 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 stared at him f
13020 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 or a moment with
13030 20 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 his fashionably
13040 20 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 spartan, almost
13050 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 formal cut, bla
13060 63 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 ck collarless sh
13070 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f irt..."Aren't yo
13080 75 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 u kind of young
13090 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 for this sort of
130a0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 thing?" she blu
130b0 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 rted out...He je
130c0 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f rked the focus o
130d0 66 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c f his aqua eyes,
130e0 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 reflecting the
130f0 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f light of the moo
13100 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 n, away from the
13110 20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 vicinity of her
13120 20 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 midsection and
13130 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 met her eyes. "
13140 48 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 Hey, lady, don't
13150 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 think I'm new t
13160 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d o this. I'm arm
13170 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 ed, so don't jer
13180 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 k me around."..S
13190 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 he hesitated, th
131a0 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 en said "No, not
131b0 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 a problem. You
131c0 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 just, uhh, surp
131d0 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 rised me. Sorry
131e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 .".."Whatever,"
131f0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f he said, in a so
13200 66 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 ft, clear voice
13210 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 that almost made
13220 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f it difficult to
13230 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 recognize the s
13240 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 our note in it.
13250 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 "Here, look at
13260 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 this," he said,
13270 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 and held up a de
13280 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 vice the size of
13290 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c his palm. A gl
132a0 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e owing display on
132b0 20 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c it, about the l
132c0 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e ength of her own
132d0 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 thumb and three
132e0 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b times the thick
132f0 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 ness, showed an
13300 65 69 67 68 74 79 20 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 eighty seven Sta
13310 74 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 ter transaction
13320 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f ready for him to
13330 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e confirm...She n
13340 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 odded, and said
13350 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 "Go ahead and se
13360 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 nd it to this es
13370 63 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c crow." She pull
13380 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 20 65 ed out the dog e
13390 61 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 ared page of her
133a0 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 notebook withou
133b0 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c t looking at it,
133c0 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 and handed it t
133d0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 o the boy. He e
133e0 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f ntered the escro
133f0 77 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 w number into hi
13400 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 s device and thu
13410 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d mbed the confirm
13420 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ation. A moment
13430 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 later, she hear
13440 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 d the escrow ale
13450 72 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 rt through her p
13460 68 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e hone's earpiece.
13470 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 .."Done", he sai
13480 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 d..."Here's the
13490 63 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 cash." She hung
134a0 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 her right thumb
134b0 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f on her front po
134c0 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 cket, then reach
134d0 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 ed into the car
134e0 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 with her left ha
134f0 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 nd to pull out t
13500 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e he bag. She han
13510 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f ded it to the bo
13520 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 y...He took it,
13530 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 keeping his eyes
13540 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 on her, and ste
13550 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 pped back. He t
13560 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e ossed the bag in
13570 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e to the car, then
13580 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d Alley heard som
13590 65 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 e rustling sound
135a0 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 s from the bag.
135b0 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d After a few mom
135c0 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a ents, she realiz
135d0 65 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 ed whoever was s
135e0 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 itting in the pa
135f0 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 ssenger seat had
13600 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e started countin
13610 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 g. Alley and th
13620 65 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 e boy stood ther
13630 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 e, looking at ea
13640 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 ch other, as the
13650 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 y waited. A gir
13660 6c 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c l's voice -- unl
13670 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 ess it was an ev
13680 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d en younger boy -
13690 2d 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c - said "It's all
136a0 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 here."..The boy
136b0 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 tapped his devi
136c0 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d ce with his thum
136d0 62 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 b once more, and
136e0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f said "Are we do
136f0 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 ne?".."Not yet,"
13700 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 she said. "Jus
13710 74 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f t wait." Everyo
13720 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 ne waited. A fe
13730 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c w seconds later,
13740 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 another alert c
13750 68 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 himed in Alley's
13760 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 ear. "Okay, we
13770 27 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 're done.".."Goo
13780 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 d," he said, and
13790 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 sat back in his
137a0 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 car with surpri
137b0 73 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a sing quickness..
137c0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 .Alley sat down
137d0 61 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 and hurriedly pu
137e0 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 lled her door sh
137f0 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 ut. The crossov
13800 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e er backed out an
13810 64 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 d quickly drove
13820 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 away, while she
13830 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 was still buckli
13840 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e ng her seatbelt.
13850 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c Soon she, too,
13860 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 was on the road
13870 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 ..."It is too ea
13880 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 rly to be sure t
13890 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 hat went well,"
138a0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
138b0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 said..."Yeah. I
138c0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 should check my
138d0 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e Stater balance.
138e0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 " She pulled ov
138f0 65 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 er, set aside he
13900 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 r glasses so the
13910 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 y wouldn't recor
13920 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 d what she saw,
13930 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 picked up her ph
13940 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 one, and looked
13950 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 at the open ledg
13960 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f er view. She no
13970 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 w had a Stater b
13980 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 alance. She sta
13990 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 red at it for a
139a0 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 while..."Is ever
139b0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 ything correct?"
139c0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
139d0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 asked...She nod
139e0 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a ded, then realiz
139f0 65 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 ed it probably c
13a00 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 ouldn't tell she
13a10 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 nodded when she
13a20 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 wasn't wearing
13a30 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 the glasses. "Y
13a40 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 eah, it's all th
13a50 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 ere. Is there a
13a60 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 ny way this can
13a70 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 somehow get reve
13a80 72 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c rsed now?".."No,
13a90 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
13aa0 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 r said. "If it
13ab0 73 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 shows in your ba
13ac0 6c 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 lance, that shou
13ad0 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e ld mean the tran
13ae0 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 saction crossed
13af0 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 the point of no
13b00 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e return, accordin
13b10 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 g to the Stater
13b20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 documents you sh
13b30 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 owed to me throu
13b40 67 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e gh your glasses.
13b50 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 ".."Okay." She
13b60 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 locked her phone
13b70 2c 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 , tossed it on t
13b80 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 he passenger sea
13b90 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 t, and started d
13ba0 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 riving again..."
13bb0 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 Perhaps you shou
13bc0 6c 64 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 ld wear the glas
13bd0 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 ses again.".."Oh
13be0 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 , right," she sa
13bf0 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 id. She picked
13c00 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 them out of the
13c10 63 75 70 20 68 6f 6c 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 cup holder and s
13c20 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 68 ettled them on h
13c30 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 er face once mor
13c40 65 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 e. "I guess the
13c50 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 65 70 20 69 73 20 74 6f next step is to
13c60 20 62 75 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 buy something w
13c70 69 74 68 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 73 6f 20 77 65 ith Stater so we
13c80 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 can sell it. R
13c90 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 ight?".."Yes. Y
13ca0 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 ou should send a
13cb0 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 message to a bu
13cc0 79 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 yer tonight, the
13cd0 6e 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 n buy the item w
13ce0 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 hen you get conf
13cf0 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 55 73 65 20 61 irmation. Use a
13d00 6e 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 6f n escrow hold to
13d10 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 reserve the pur
13d20 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 chase, with the
13d30 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 65 65 cancellation fee
13d40 20 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 pledged to the
13d50 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2e 22 escrow service."
13d60 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c .."Yeah, got it,
13d70 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 " she said. "I
13d80 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f hope this all wo
13d90 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 rks out.".."It s
13da0 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f hould."..She dro
13db0 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e ve home in silen
13dc0 63 65 2c 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 ce, occasionally
13dd0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 looking at the
13de0 65 6d 70 74 79 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 66 empty space in f
13df0 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 ront of the pass
13e00 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 enger seat that
13e10 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 61 20 62 used to hold a b
13e20 61 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 2e ag full of cash.
13e30 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 ..When she got h
13e40 6f 6d 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 ome, she sat in
13e50 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 front of her lap
13e60 74 6f 70 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 top, set aside h
13e70 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e er glasses again
13e80 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 , and checked he
13e90 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 r Stater account
13ea0 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 . Everything wa
13eb0 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 s where it was s
13ec0 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2c 20 61 upposed to be, a
13ed0 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 s far as she cou
13ee0 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 ld tell. After
13ef0 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 6e closing that win
13f00 64 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 dow, she donned
13f10 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 her glasses agai
13f20 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f n and started lo
13f30 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 oking for large
13f40 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 69 6e 20 70 differences in p
13f50 72 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 65 6d 73 20 61 rice for items a
13f60 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 vailable in both
13f70 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d local pseudonym
13f80 6f 75 73 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 ous classifieds
13f90 61 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 and Open Marrake
13fa0 73 68 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e sh, which was on
13fb0 65 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 e of half a doze
13fc0 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 73 20 n of the worlds
13fd0 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 70 65 supporting in pe
13fe0 72 73 6f 6e 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 73 20 69 6e rson meetings in
13ff0 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 4f 70 the extended Op
14000 65 6e 42 61 7a 61 61 72 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 enBazaar online
14010 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 65 2e market universe.
14020 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 ..She found an i
14030 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 mprobable opport
14040 75 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 unity, one that
14050 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 20 74 68 did not exist th
14060 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 e last time she
14070 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f checked a few ho
14080 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d urs before. Som
14090 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 eone on Open Mar
140a0 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 rakesh was selli
140b0 6e 67 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 79 6d ng printed polym
140c0 65 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 er frames for a
140d0 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 43 5a 20 62 72 61 6e specific CZ bran
140e0 64 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 ded handgun, and
140f0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 6c someone on a cl
14100 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 20 73 69 74 65 assified ad site
14110 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 65 wanted to buy e
14120 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 ight of them. T
14130 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 he frames on Ope
14140 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c n Marrakesh woul
14150 64 20 63 6f 73 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 d cost most of t
14160 68 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 he Stater she ha
14170 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 d, but it looked
14180 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 27 64 20 67 65 74 20 like she'd get
14190 67 65 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 get just under t
141a0 77 69 63 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 66 6f 72 wice as much for
141b0 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 70 61 69 64 the frames paid
141c0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 back in dollars
141d0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6d . She checked m
141e0 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 75 62 74 72 61 63 74 entally subtract
141f0 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c ed what she woul
14200 64 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 d pay for the fr
14210 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 ames, and notice
14220 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 d she had enough
14230 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 to buy a multip
14240 6c 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 le cryptocurrenc
14250 79 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 y trader like th
14260 65 20 62 6f 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 65 61 72 6c 69 e boy used earli
14270 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 er with what was
14280 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 left..."Should
14290 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 65 61 6c I make this deal
142a0 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 ?" she asked the
142b0 20 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 air...The prior
142c0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e itizer answered.
142d0 20 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 "This looks li
142e0 6b 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 ke a very good d
142f0 65 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 79 6f eal, the best yo
14300 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a u have found."..
14310 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
14320 2e 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 . "Fine." She
14330 64 69 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 72 65 73 did a little res
14340 65 61 72 63 68 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 6f 69 earch before goi
14350 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 2c 20 ng any further,
14360 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 and found out th
14370 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 68 65 at the parts she
14380 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 planned to buy
14390 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f and sell were no
143a0 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 t even considere
143b0 64 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 66 6f d significant fo
143c0 72 20 66 69 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 72 65 67 75 6c r firearms regul
143d0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 ation purposes,
143e0 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 as long as they
143f0 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 did not include
14400 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 72 69 things like firi
14410 6e 67 20 70 69 6e 73 2c 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 73 ng pins, hammers
14420 2c 20 73 74 72 69 6b 65 72 73 2c 20 62 61 72 72 , strikers, barr
14430 65 6c 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 73 els, or chambers
14440 2e 20 20 44 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 . Double checki
14450 6e 67 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f ng showed her no
14460 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 ne of that was i
14470 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 ncluded in the f
14480 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 rames. She sent
14490 20 61 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 a reply to the
144a0 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 2c 20 74 classified ad, t
144b0 68 65 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f hen got ready fo
144c0 72 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 r bed. She had
144d0 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 79 65 74 20 77 68 65 no reply yet whe
144e0 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 n she was done,
144f0 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 6e so she turned in
14500 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 75 72 73 64 61 79 20 2a .../* Thursday *
14510 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e /..The next morn
14520 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 ing, she checked
14530 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 for a response
14540 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6e before almost an
14550 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 ything else, and
14560 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 found a suggest
14570 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 65 ion that they me
14580 65 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 et in an alley b
14590 65 68 69 6e 64 20 61 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61 72 ehind a supermar
145a0 6b 65 74 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 ket in San Berna
145b0 72 64 69 6e 6f 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 rdino. She chec
145c0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e ked the location
145d0 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 70 on a street map
145e0 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 69 74 20 and noticed it
145f0 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f wasn't in the mo
14600 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 6f 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 62 st notoriously b
14610 61 64 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c ad part of town,
14620 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 49 just south of I
14630 20 31 30 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 10, where it se
14640 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f emed to be custo
14650 6d 61 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 mary for people
14660 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 70 61 to set their apa
14670 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 rtments on fire
14680 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 when they moved
14690 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 47 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 out...Good enoug
146a0 68 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 h. She liked th
146b0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 73 61 69 at the buyer sai
146c0 64 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 d he would show
146d0 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 up on foot with
146e0 61 6e 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 an umbrella, and
146f0 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 73 she should do s
14700 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 63 omething to conc
14710 65 61 6c 20 68 65 72 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e eal her appearan
14720 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 75 ce from the secu
14730 72 69 74 79 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 6e 65 61 rity cameras nea
14740 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 72 20 66 69 72 65 20 r the rear fire
14750 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 70 doors of the sup
14760 65 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 ermarket. She w
14770 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c asn't sure she l
14780 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 iked the idea of
14790 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c buying and sell
147a0 69 6e 67 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 62 ing gun parts, b
147b0 75 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 65 ut everything se
147c0 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 65 76 65 6e emed legal, even
147d0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 if the whole th
147e0 69 6e 67 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c ing felt a littl
147f0 65 20 63 6c 6f 61 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 64 61 67 67 e cloak and dagg
14800 65 72 2e 0a 0a 52 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e er...Rather than
14810 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 reply, she set
14820 75 70 20 61 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 66 6f up a purchase fo
14830 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 68 72 r the frames thr
14840 6f 75 67 68 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b ough Open Marrak
14850 65 73 68 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 esh. She would
14860 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 confirm with the
14870 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 20 20 49 buyer later. I
14880 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 6f 69 63 t gave her choic
14890 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 e of three times
148a0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 70 65 72 73 6f for an in perso
148b0 6e 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 n transaction, a
148c0 6e 64 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 nd two locations
148d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 20 for the trade.
148e0 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 One of the time
148f0 73 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f s was hours befo
14900 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 77 61 6e re the buyer wan
14910 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 ted to meet, so
14920 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 she chose that.
14930 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 One of the loca
14940 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 tions was the sa
14950 6d 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f me police statio
14960 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 n from the night
14970 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 before, and she
14980 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6e 65 72 76 felt a bit nerv
14990 6f 75 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 ous about going
149a0 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 back there for a
149b0 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 63 nother sketchy c
149c0 61 72 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 20 64 65 61 6c 2c 20 ar to car deal,
149d0 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 61 20 6c so she chose a l
149e0 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 20 ocation quite a
149f0 62 69 74 20 66 61 72 74 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 bit farther away
14a00 2c 20 69 6e 20 4e 6f 72 63 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 , in Norco. It
14a10 77 61 73 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 20 67 was a dead end g
14a20 72 61 76 65 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f ravel road to no
14a30 77 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 where, only abou
14a40 74 20 74 68 69 72 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 6c 6f t thirty feet lo
14a50 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 65 ng, that branche
14a60 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 20 72 6f d off a major ro
14a70 61 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 ad. The little
14a80 67 72 61 76 65 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 61 70 70 65 gravel road appe
14a90 6e 64 69 78 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 ndix ended at th
14aa0 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 66 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 e back fence of
14ab0 61 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 20 68 6f 72 73 65 20 70 a nearby horse p
14ac0 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 roperty...She re
14ad0 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d alized she remem
14ae0 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 20 61 bered the news a
14af0 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 bout someone in
14b00 4e 6f 72 63 6f 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 61 Norco fighting a
14b10 6e 20 65 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e n eminent domain
14b20 20 73 75 69 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 79 65 61 72 suit a few year
14b30 73 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f s back, which wo
14b40 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 75 74 20 68 69 73 uld have cut his
14b50 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 69 6e 20 68 61 6c property in hal
14b60 66 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 f to provide the
14b70 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d county with a m
14b80 6f 72 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 ore direct acces
14b90 73 20 72 6f 61 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 s road if he los
14ba0 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6e 6f t. She never no
14bb0 74 69 63 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 6e 64 ticed how it end
14bc0 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ed, but it looke
14bd0 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 d like this migh
14be0 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e t be the answer.
14bf0 0a 0a 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 ..Open Marrakesh
14c00 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 74 77 6f 20 73 offered a two s
14c10 74 61 67 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 tage cryptocurre
14c20 6e 63 79 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 74 68 ncy payment meth
14c30 6f 64 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f od, where she wo
14c40 75 6c 64 20 70 61 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 uld pay now and
14c50 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 confirm delivery
14c60 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 later to releas
14c70 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 74 e the funds to t
14c80 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 he seller. She
14c90 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 reserved the pur
14ca0 63 68 61 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 chase and starte
14cb0 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 d getting ready
14cc0 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 to go...When she
14cd0 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 64 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 was ready, she
14ce0 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 decided she had
14cf0 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 enough time to s
14d00 61 74 69 73 66 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 75 72 69 6f atisfy her curio
14d10 73 69 74 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 sity. She looke
14d20 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 65 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 d up the eminent
14d30 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e domain case, an
14d40 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 d in a few minut
14d50 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 74 es she learned t
14d60 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 6a hat the county j
14d70 75 73 74 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 ust shifted its
14d80 65 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 eminent domain c
14d90 6c 61 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 laim to someone
14da0 65 6c 73 65 27 73 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 2e else's property.
14db0 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e A few more min
14dc0 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e utes of searchin
14dd0 67 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 g revealed that
14de0 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 70 65 the second prope
14df0 72 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 rty owner could
14e00 6e 6f 74 20 61 66 66 6f 72 64 20 61 20 6c 61 77 not afford a law
14e10 79 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 65 6e yer for an exten
14e20 64 65 64 20 63 6f 75 72 74 20 62 61 74 74 6c 65 ded court battle
14e30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 , and ended up h
14e40 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 aving to accept
14e50 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 27 73 20 6f 66 66 the county's off
14e60 65 72 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 er, which bought
14e70 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 6c 61 the person's la
14e80 74 65 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 73 27 20 68 6f 6d 65 te parents' home
14e90 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 . The second pr
14ea0 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 65 6e 64 operty owner end
14eb0 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 ed up having to
14ec0 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b move into a week
14ed0 6c 79 20 72 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 2e ly rental motel.
14ee0 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 ..That was not t
14ef0 68 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 he happy ending
14f00 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 Alley wanted...S
14f10 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 he headed out th
14f20 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 e door, mentally
14f30 20 67 6e 61 77 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 gnawing on the
14f40 69 6e 6a 75 73 74 69 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 injustice of it
14f50 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 72 65 77 72 69 74 65 all.../* rewrite
14f60 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 the above to us
14f70 65 20 61 20 70 61 72 6b 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 66 e a park bench f
14f80 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 or the meeting,
14f90 61 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 6c as indicated bel
14fa0 6f 77 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 2a 2f 0a 0a ow, instead */..
14fb0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 Alley had to che
14fc0 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 73 73 20 61 ck her compass a
14fd0 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 gain to be sure
14fe0 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 61 72 6b 20 62 65 6e 63 68 which park bench
14ff0 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 was north of th
15000 65 20 62 6f 61 72 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 73 6e 61 e boarded up sna
15010 63 6b 20 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 75 ck stand. It tu
15020 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 rned out to be t
15030 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 77 69 he only bench wi
15040 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 th someone sitti
15050 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 ng on it. She g
15060 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 lanced back towa
15070 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 rd her car in th
15080 65 20 74 69 6e 79 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c e tiny parking l
15090 6f 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 ot, one of only
150a0 74 77 6f 20 63 61 72 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 two cars there.
150b0 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 The other was a
150c0 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 black late mode
150d0 6c 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 l Audi with a pe
150e0 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e rson in the fron
150f0 74 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e t seat. The win
15100 64 6f 77 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 6f 20 64 61 72 dows were so dar
15110 6b 6c 79 20 74 69 6e 74 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 kly tinted she s
15120 75 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 uspected they we
15130 72 65 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 re illegal, so s
15140 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 77 he had no idea w
15150 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 ho was sitting i
15160 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 n the driver's s
15170 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 eat...As she app
15180 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 roached the benc
15190 68 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 h, she saw that
151a0 61 20 70 61 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 72 65 64 a pale young red
151b0 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 haired woman sa
151c0 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 74 69 67 t there in a tig
151d0 68 74 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 ht green t shirt
151e0 2c 20 74 69 6e 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 73 2c 20 68 , tiny shorts, h
151f0 65 61 76 79 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 eavy black boots
15200 2c 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 , a black mask,
15210 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 and black gloves
15220 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 . Some kind of
15230 63 68 65 61 70 20 73 79 6e 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 cheap synthetic
15240 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 72 drawstring bag r
15250 65 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e ested on the ben
15260 63 68 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 ch beside her, a
15270 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 nd she had somet
15280 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 61 63 74 hing like a tact
15290 69 63 61 6c 20 70 75 72 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 ical purse on he
152a0 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 r other side. S
152b0 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 he wasn't what A
152c0 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e lley expected in
152d0 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 an anonymous gu
152e0 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a n parts trade...
152f0 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 The redhead watc
15300 68 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 hed steadily as
15310 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 Alley approached
15320 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e , with what turn
15330 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 ed out to be viv
15340 69 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 id green eyes.
15350 54 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 The lack of frec
15360 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 kles might mean
15370 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 she was not a na
15380 74 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 tural redhead, b
15390 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 ut it also might
153a0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 just mean she g
153b0 6f 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e ot them removed.
153c0 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 ..The woman aske
153d0 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 d "Are you looki
153e0 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 ng for someone?"
153f0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c ..Alley stopped,
15400 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 a couple meters
15410 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 away. "Yeah, I
15420 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 guess so. Is t
15430 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 hat the, uh . .
15440 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f ." she trailed o
15450 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 ff, and gestured
15460 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 at the drawstri
15470 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 ng bag..."Printe
15480 64 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 d frames?" the r
15490 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 edhead asked...A
154a0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 lley nodded...Th
154b0 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 e redhead pulled
154c0 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 her mask down a
154d0 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c nd exposed brill
154e0 69 61 6e 74 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 iant white teeth
154f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d with a broad sm
15500 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 ile. "Yeah, you
15510 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 found what you
15520 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 want. I'm Carme
15530 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 n." She stood a
15540 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 nd offered one g
15550 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c loved hand...All
15560 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 ey accepted the
15570 71 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e quick handshake.
15580 20 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 "Mallory," she
15590 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 offered, on imp
155a0 75 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 ulse..."Let me g
155b0 75 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 uess: I'm not wh
155c0 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e at you expected.
155d0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 ".."I wasn't sur
155e0 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 e what to expect
155f0 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 ," Alley admitte
15600 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 d, "but yeah, I
15610 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 guess you surpri
15620 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a sed me anyway.".
15630 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 .Carmen -- possi
15640 62 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c bly a pseudonym,
15650 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 Alley realized
15660 2d 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e -- smiled again.
15670 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 "That part of
15680 74 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 this job never g
15690 65 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 ets old. Anyway
156a0 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 , I want to upse
156b0 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 ll you. How's t
156c0 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 hat sound?".."Up
156d0 73 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 sell?" Alley he
156e0 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f sitated, then no
156f0 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 dded. "Sure, I
15700 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 guess.".."Cool.
15710 20 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 So, we have pri
15720 6e 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 nted concealment
15730 20 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 holsters, snap
15740 6f 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 on accessory rai
15750 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 ls, and brass ca
15760 74 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c tchers for model
15770 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 s compatible wit
15780 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 h these frames.
15790 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 We have stuff f
157a0 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c or other models,
157b0 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 too, so let me
157c0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 know what you'd
157d0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 like to see.".."
157e0 57 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c 6c 20 73 65 72 76 69 Wow. Full servi
157f0 63 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ce, I guess.".."
15800 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 Totally!" Carme
15810 6e 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 n tugged her shi
15820 72 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 rt down slightly
15830 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 , making it a li
15840 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 ttle more obviou
15850 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 s she wasn't wea
15860 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 ring a bra..."I
15870 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 think I'll just
15880 73 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f stick with the o
15890 72 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 rder I placed, f
158a0 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 or now. I'll ke
158b0 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 ep you in mind i
158c0 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 f I need somethi
158d0 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e ng else, though.
158e0 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 "..Carmen shrugg
158f0 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 ed, and the way
15900 73 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 she slightly rai
15910 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 sed her arms as
15920 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 she did it made
15930 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 the shirt tighte
15940 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 n across her per
15950 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b ky breasts. "Ok
15960 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b ay!"..Alley took
15970 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 in the display
15980 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 and slightly ove
15990 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 r the top cheeri
159a0 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 ness. "Does tha
159b0 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 t . . . oh, neve
159c0 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 r mind. I guess
159d0 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 I should just s
159e0 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e ee the frames, n
159f0 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 ow."..Carmen nar
15a00 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 rowed her eyes,
15a10 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 almost but not q
15a20 75 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c uite suspiciousl
15a30 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 y, and tilted he
15a40 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 r head. "No, wa
15a50 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 it. What were y
15a60 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f ou going to ask?
15a70 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c ".."Nothing," Al
15a80 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 ley said. "I ha
15a90 76 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 ven't been very
15aa0 73 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c sociable lately,
15ab0 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d and forget my m
15ac0 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 anners sometimes
15ad0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 .".."Ooh, inappr
15ae0 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e opriate question
15af0 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 s. Those are my
15b00 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 favorite kind.
15b10 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 You should tota
15b20 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 lly ask!"..Alley
15b30 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 signed. "I was
15b40 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 just wondering
15b50 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 if you're natura
15b60 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 lly this, uh, fr
15b70 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f iendly, or if yo
15b80 75 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 u're like this b
15b90 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 ecause it gets y
15ba0 6f 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 ou a lot of upse
15bb0 6c 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 lls." Carmen la
15bc0 75 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 ughed, and Alley
15bd0 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 found it infect
15be0 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 ious. She caugh
15bf0 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 t herself snicke
15c00 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 ring, too..."Why
15c10 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 do I think you
15c20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c meant to say 'fl
15c30 69 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 irty' instead of
15c40 20 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 'friendly'?"..A
15c50 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 lley shrugged.
15c60 53 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 She tried, with
15c70 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 only moderate su
15c80 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 ccess, to suppre
15c90 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 ss her smile..."
15ca0 57 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 Was it that obvi
15cb0 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 ous?"..Alley sai
15cc0 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 d "Yeah, I guess
15cd0 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 so. Sorry.".."
15ce0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 I guess it's a b
15cf0 69 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 it of everything
15d00 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 . I'm usually p
15d10 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 retty cheery, bu
15d20 74 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 t Cliff -- he's
15d30 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 the guy I work w
15d40 69 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 ith -- Cliff and
15d50 20 49 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 I decided to tr
15d60 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 y this out. Wit
15d70 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d h the kind of am
15d80 62 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 bitious young cr
15d90 79 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 yptotrader guys
15da0 77 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 we usually get,
15db0 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 the upsells and
15dc0 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 repeat business
15dd0 77 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 we get goes way
15de0 75 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e up when I'm doin
15df0 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 g the trades. I
15e00 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 n two years, we
15e10 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 only had one guy
15e20 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 who decided me
15e30 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 being a pretty g
15e40 69 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 irl made me an e
15e50 61 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c asy target, too,
15e60 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 so it's pretty
15e70 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 safe."..Alley fr
15e80 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 owned. "Yeah,"
15e90 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 she said. "I gu
15ea0 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e ess that's a dan
15eb0 67 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 ger. What happe
15ec0 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 ned?".."Oh, shit
15ed0 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ," Carmen said.
15ee0 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 "You must be ne
15ef0 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c w at this. Well
15f00 2c 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d , I pulled out m
15f10 79 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 y baton and Clif
15f20 66 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 f put a red dot
15f30 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 on the guy's che
15f40 73 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 st with the lase
15f50 72 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 r sight on his r
15f60 69 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 ifle. The guy b
15f70 61 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 acked down in a
15f80 68 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 hurry. Are you
15f90 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 carrying protect
15fa0 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 ion?"..Alley sta
15fb0 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 rted opening her
15fc0 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c mouth to reply,
15fd0 20 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 but Carmen cut
15fe0 69 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 in again..."No,
15ff0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 don't tell me wh
16000 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 at you're carryi
16010 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e ng. You shouldn
16020 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 't get in the ha
16030 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 bit of telling p
16040 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 eople stuff like
16050 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 that. Get your
16060 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 self three thing
16070 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 s, if you don't
16080 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d already have 'em
16090 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 . You need pepp
160a0 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f er spray or a so
160b0 6e 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 nic repellant, a
160c0 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f collapsing bato
160d0 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 n, and backup wh
160e0 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 o knows what he'
160f0 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c s doing, like Cl
16100 69 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e iff.".."Uh, than
16110 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e ks," Alley said.
16120 20 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 "Aren't those
16130 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e collapsing baton
16140 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 s illegal?".."Ye
16150 61 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 ah, California s
16160 75 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 ucks that way.
16170 47 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c Girls aren't all
16180 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 owed to protect
16190 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 themselves, you
161a0 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c know." She pull
161b0 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f ed something abo
161c0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 ut the size of a
161d0 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b whiteboard mark
161e0 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 er out of her ba
161f0 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 ck pocket. "See
16200 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 this? This is
16210 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a a good baton."..
16220 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
16230 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a the black anodiz
16240 65 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 ed aluminum cyli
16250 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e nder when Carmen
16260 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 held it up. It
16270 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f had some kind o
16280 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 f logo on it and
16290 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 a couple of dep
162a0 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 ressed ovals on
162b0 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 the side..."Push
162c0 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 these two spots
162d0 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 to pop it out.
162e0 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 Just push the s
162f0 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c econd one, here,
16300 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 and push the bu
16310 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e siness end again
16320 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 st something har
16330 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 d to collapse th
16340 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 e baton back int
16350 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 o the handle. Y
16360 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 eah?"..Alley nod
16370 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 ded. "I guess t
16380 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 hat's a good des
16390 69 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f ign, then.".."To
163a0 74 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 tally. With the
163b0 20 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 two release poi
163c0 6e 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 nts, you're not
163d0 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 likely to accide
163e0 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 ntally pop it ou
163f0 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 t when you don't
16400 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 want to, and th
16410 69 73 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 is type is more
16420 73 6f 6c 69 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 solid and easier
16430 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e to retract than
16440 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 the things wher
16450 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 e you just snap
16460 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f your hand out to
16470 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 open them. Any
16480 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e way, you need on
16490 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 e of these, and
164a0 69 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 it's easy to tos
164b0 73 20 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 s it somewhere b
164c0 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 efore cops get t
164d0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 o you if you're
164e0 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e afraid of gettin
164f0 67 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 g caught with a
16500 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e concealed weapon
16510 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 , or if you cut
16520 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e a little hole in
16530 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 the inside of y
16540 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 our pocket when
16550 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 you're wearing p
16560 61 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f ants you can dro
16570 70 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 p it down your p
16580 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 ant leg, and may
16590 62 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f be step on it to
165a0 20 68 69 64 65 20 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 67 hide it while g
165b0 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 64 6f etting patted do
165c0 77 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 wn, or something
165d0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 . There are a b
165e0 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 unch of ways to
165f0 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 get away with it
16600 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 ..."Here." She
16610 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 held it out to A
16620 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 lley, who starte
16630 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 d to reach for i
16640 74 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f t. "Don't try o
16650 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 pening it here,
16660 62 75 74 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 but practice wit
16670 68 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 h it at home. T
16680 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 hat way you don'
16690 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 t have to worry
166a0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 about getting ca
166b0 75 67 68 74 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 2e ught buying one.
166c0 20 20 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 Unlike our pis
166d0 74 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b tol frames, walk
166e0 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e ing home with on
166f0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f e of these in yo
16700 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c ur pocket is ill
16710 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 egal, and a cop
16720 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 might just try s
16730 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f elling one to yo
16740 75 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 u to get an excu
16750 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 se to harass you
16760 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 ."..Alley froze
16770 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 with her hand ha
16780 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 lfway to the bat
16790 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 on handle. "Are
167a0 20 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 you giving this
167b0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b to me?" she ask
167c0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c ed..."Yeah. Uh,
167d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 just a sec'," C
167e0 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 armen said. She
167f0 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e lowered her han
16800 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e d with the baton
16810 20 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 in it and looke
16820 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 d toward the Aud
16830 69 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c i. "Yes, Cliff,
16840 20 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 I'm giving her
16850 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f the fucking bato
16860 6e 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 n. I'll just bu
16870 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 y another one!
16880 43 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f Chill the fuck o
16890 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 ut."..Alley lowe
168a0 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 red her hand and
168b0 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 turned her head
168c0 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 to look at the
168d0 70 61 72 6b 65 64 20 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 parked sedan...C
168e0 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c armen grabbed Al
168f0 6c 65 79 27 73 20 77 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 ley's wrist and
16900 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c pressed the coll
16910 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 apsing baton int
16920 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f o her hand. "Do
16930 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 n't look at it.
16940 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 Just put it in
16950 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f your pocket. Do
16960 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e n't make Cliff n
16970 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 ervous by standi
16980 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 ng here with a w
16990 65 61 70 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 eapon in your ha
169a0 6e 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 nd, even if it's
169b0 20 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e one I gave you.
169c0 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 ".."Uh, yeah," A
169d0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 lley said, and t
169e0 75 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 ucked it into he
169f0 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 r back pocket.
16a00 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 "Thanks." She s
16a10 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 howed her empty
16a20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c hands to Carmen,
16a30 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f where the perso
16a40 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f n in the Audi co
16a50 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 uld see them as
16a60 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 well, just to be
16a70 20 61 73 20 68 61 72 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f as harmless loo
16a80 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c king as she coul
16a90 64 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 d manage..."Yeah
16aa0 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 , well, us girls
16ab0 20 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 gotta stick tog
16ac0 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a ether. Right?".
16ad0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a .Alley nodded...
16ae0 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 "Good. Let's fi
16af0 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 nish the deal.
16b00 54 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 Then, get in tou
16b10 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 ch some time if
16b20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 you think you mi
16b30 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 ght want to do t
16b40 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6b his kind of work
16b50 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 , too. We're ge
16b60 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 tting a lot of b
16b70 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 usiness, and cou
16b80 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e ld use the help.
16b90 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c You're probabl
16ba0 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 y pretty enough
16bb0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c to get the upsel
16bc0 6c 73 2c 20 65 61 73 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ls, easy, though
16bd0 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f I don't know ho
16be0 77 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e w you look behin
16bf0 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 d the mask.".."I
16c00 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 'll keep that in
16c10 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 mind."..Carmen
16c20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 grabbed the draw
16c30 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 string bag. "He
16c40 72 65 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 re's what you're
16c50 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a buying."..---..
16c60 41 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 At home, Alley f
16c70 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 64 69 ound a box of di
16c80 73 70 6f 73 61 62 6c 65 20 6e 69 74 72 69 6c 65 sposable nitrile
16c90 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 gloves she kept
16ca0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e around for when
16cb0 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 she had to use
16cc0 63 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 63 68 65 6d 69 63 61 cleaning chemica
16cd0 6c 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f ls around her ho
16ce0 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 61 20 70 me, and wore a p
16cf0 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f air when she loo
16d00 6b 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 ked more closely
16d10 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 at the handgun
16d20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 6f 75 67 68 frames she bough
16d30 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 t. She thought
16d40 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f it might be a go
16d50 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 od idea to avoid
16d60 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 70 getting fingerp
16d70 72 69 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 rints on the fra
16d80 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f 69 6e mes. After goin
16d90 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 g over them for
16da0 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 73 a few minutes, s
16db0 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b he put them back
16dc0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 in the drawstri
16dd0 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c ng bag. She pul
16de0 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 led out the exte
16df0 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 78 74 nding baton next
16e00 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 , and stood in t
16e10 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 he middle of her
16e20 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 kitchen so she
16e30 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 would not accide
16e40 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 61 6e 79 ntally break any
16e50 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b thing...She look
16e60 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 64 ed it over and d
16e70 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ecided she would
16e80 20 65 78 65 72 63 69 73 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 exercise extra
16e90 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 68 caution. She th
16ea0 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 ought she was su
16eb0 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 65 6e 64 20 77 61 73 re which end was
16ec0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e where the exten
16ed0 64 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 62 ding happened, b
16ee0 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 ut never having
16ef0 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 66 6f handled one befo
16f00 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 re she carefully
16f10 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 held it so that
16f20 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 neither end poi
16f30 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e nted at somethin
16f40 67 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 66 g she thought of
16f50 20 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 6c 79 as particularly
16f60 20 76 75 6c 6e 65 72 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d vulnerable to m
16f70 75 63 68 20 68 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 uch harm. She p
16f80 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e ointed the busin
16f90 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 64 69 61 67 6f 6e 61 6c ess end diagonal
16fa0 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c ly toward the fl
16fb0 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2c oor to her left,
16fc0 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 68 61 6e 64 using both hand
16fd0 73 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 s to hold it in
16fe0 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e front of her, an
16ff0 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 d the other end
17000 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 pointed toward t
17010 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 he ceiling to he
17020 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 r right...Alley
17030 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 20 pressed on both
17040 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 contact points,
17050 61 73 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 20 69 6e as Carmen had in
17060 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 41 structed her. A
17070 20 64 75 6c 6c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 dull snap sound
17080 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 ed, and the devi
17090 63 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 65 64 ce nearly jumped
170a0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 out of her hand
170b0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 . It had defini
170c0 74 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 tely gone in an
170d0 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d instant from som
170e0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 ething the size
170f0 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 of a whiteboard
17100 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 69 66 marker to a stif
17110 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 62 f metal baton ab
17120 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 72 64 73 20 6f out two thirds o
17130 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 f a meter long.
17140 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 She held it up
17150 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 and looked at th
17160 65 20 73 65 61 6d 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 e seams between
17170 74 65 6c 65 73 63 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 73 65 63 74 telescoping sect
17180 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 ions, then light
17190 6c 79 20 77 68 61 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 ly whacked the e
171a0 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 nd on the carpet
171b0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 just past the e
171c0 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 dge of the kitch
171d0 65 6e 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 en floor. It fe
171e0 6c 74 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 lt solid...She h
171f0 65 6c 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 43 61 eld down what Ca
17200 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 rmen called the
17210 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 second button, a
17220 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 nd she set the h
17230 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e ead of the baton
17240 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 against the car
17250 70 65 74 65 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 peted floor. Sh
17260 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f e pressed down o
17270 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 n the handle of
17280 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 the baton, and f
17290 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 ound that if she
172a0 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 68 61 72 64 20 2d 2d pressed hard --
172b0 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 68 61 72 64 but not so hard
172c0 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f that she had to
172d0 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 67 68 throw her weigh
172e0 74 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 74 t behind it -- t
172f0 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 he baton would s
17300 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 moothly collapse
17310 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 into the handle
17320 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 74 65 again. Each te
17330 6c 65 73 63 6f 70 69 63 20 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e lescopic section
17340 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c clicked into pl
17350 61 63 65 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 ace, one after a
17360 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 nother...The nex
17370 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 t time she tried
17380 20 69 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 it, she held th
17390 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 e baton down at
173a0 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 her side, the bu
173b0 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 siness end point
173c0 65 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 ed at a relaxed
173d0 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f angle at the flo
173e0 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 or. Holding it
173f0 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 comfortably, she
17400 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 found it easier
17410 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 to press the tw
17420 6f 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 65 73 20 73 69 6d 75 6c o switches simul
17430 74 61 6e 65 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 taneously, and h
17440 65 72 20 67 72 69 70 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6d 6f 72 er grip felt mor
17450 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 e secure so that
17460 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 64 69 64 6e 27 the baton didn'
17470 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 t feel like it w
17480 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 6d 70 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 ould jump out of
17490 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 her hand...With
174a0 20 6e 6f 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 69 6e 76 no practice inv
174b0 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 20 olving a weapon
174c0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 like this in her
174d0 20 6d 61 72 74 69 61 6c 20 61 72 74 73 20 63 6c martial arts cl
174e0 61 73 73 65 73 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2c asses years ago,
174f0 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 she was not sur
17500 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 e she could use
17510 69 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 2e 20 it effectively.
17520 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 She hoped she c
17530 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 ould, if the nee
17540 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 61 72 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 2f d ever arose. /
17550 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 * Maybe this cou
17560 6c 64 20 62 65 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 61 ld be replaced a
17570 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 79 20 t some point by
17580 64 69 61 6c 6f 67 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6e dialog, in a con
17590 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 versation betwee
175a0 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e n her and someon
175b0 65 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 e else. */..She
175c0 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 66 74 closed it up aft
175d0 65 72 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 er extending it
175e0 61 20 66 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 a few times, and
175f0 20 73 77 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 62 61 63 swinging it bac
17600 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 61 20 62 69 k and forth a bi
17610 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 t to get a feel
17620 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 2e 20 for the weight.
17630 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 She tucked the
17640 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 collapse cylinde
17650 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 r into her back
17660 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 6c pocket, similarl
17670 79 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 77 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 y to how Carmen
17680 68 61 64 20 63 61 72 72 69 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 had carried it.
17690 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 She remembered
176a0 77 68 61 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 what Carmen said
176b0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e about a hole in
176c0 20 61 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c a pants pocket,
176d0 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 but decided to
176e0 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 worry about that
176f0 20 69 64 65 61 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 idea later...Sh
17700 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 e had no ideas a
17710 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 bout anyone else
17720 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 she could get t
17730 6f 20 62 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 o be backup for
17740 68 65 72 20 6e 65 78 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 her next transac
17750 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f tion, so that go
17760 74 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 t sent to the ba
17770 63 6b 20 62 75 72 6e 65 72 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c ck burner as wel
17780 6c 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 69 6e l. /* maybe, in
17790 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 73 61 79 3a 20 70 75 74 20 stead, say: put
177a0 6f 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 2a 2f off for later */
177b0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 75 67 20 74 68 72 6f ..Alley dug thro
177c0 75 67 68 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 ugh boxes in her
177d0 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e closet and foun
177e0 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 77 d her old lightw
177f0 65 69 67 68 74 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f eight pair of mo
17800 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 torcycle gloves
17810 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 69 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 with reinforceme
17820 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 61 63 nts on their bac
17830 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 ks, then checked
17840 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 to make sure sh
17850 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6f 70 e could still op
17860 65 72 61 74 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 erate her baton
17870 61 6e 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 and pepper spray
17880 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ...The prioritiz
17890 65 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 22 49 74 20 er told her "It
178a0 69 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 is getting close
178b0 20 74 6f 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 to time for you
178c0 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f to leave for yo
178d0 75 72 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2e ur next meeting.
178e0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 "..She checked t
178f0 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c he time and real
17900 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 75 6e ized she was hun
17910 67 72 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 gry. She grabbe
17920 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 d everything she
17930 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72 61 needed, and gra
17940 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 bbed a hat to he
17950 6c 70 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 lp obscure her a
17960 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 ppearance a bit
17970 66 6f 72 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 for surveillance
17980 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 62 cameras. She b
17990 6f 75 67 68 74 20 66 72 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 ought fries and
179a0 61 20 73 68 61 6b 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 64 72 69 a shake at a dri
179b0 76 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ve through on th
179c0 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 e way, and when
179d0 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 she finished the
179e0 20 66 72 69 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 fries she donne
179f0 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 61 74 20 d her gloves at
17a00 61 20 73 74 6f 70 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 72 65 6d a stoplight, rem
17a10 65 6d 62 65 72 69 6e 67 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 embering Carmen
17a20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f once more and ho
17a30 77 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 6f w the redhead wo
17a40 72 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 re gloves during
17a50 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 6d 65 65 74 the entire meet
17a60 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 57 68 79 20 69 73 20 ing. /* Why is
17a70 74 68 69 73 20 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 2d 2d 2d 20 this here? ---
17a80 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 I don't know wh
17a90 79 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 y I have those d
17aa0 61 73 68 65 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a ashes here. */..
17ab0 4f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 Once she got to
17ac0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 6e 65 69 67 the correct neig
17ad0 68 62 6f 72 68 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 hborhood for the
17ae0 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 meeting, Alley
17af0 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 drove around the
17b00 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 block once, the
17b10 6e 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 n decided she sh
17b20 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 72 6b 20 69 ould just park i
17b30 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 n the supermarke
17b40 74 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6f t parking lot, o
17b50 66 66 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6e ff to the side n
17b60 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 65 ear the alley be
17b70 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 65 2e 20 hind the store.
17b80 20 53 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 Soon, she stood
17b90 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 63 near the back c
17ba0 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 orner of the bui
17bb0 6c 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 67 lding, masked, g
17bc0 6c 6f 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 74 74 65 loved, and hatte
17bd0 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 d. Her glasses
17be0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 informed her she
17bf0 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 was seven minut
17c00 65 73 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 es early for the
17c10 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 meeting...She p
17c20 61 74 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 73 75 atted the reassu
17c30 72 69 6e 67 20 62 75 6c 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 ring bulges of t
17c40 68 65 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 2c he pepper spray,
17c50 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 now in her left
17c60 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 6e front pocket in
17c70 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 stead of the rig
17c80 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 ht, and the exte
17c90 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 nding baton, in
17ca0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 72 65 61 72 20 70 her right rear p
17cb0 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 6c 75 6e ocket. She slun
17cc0 67 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 g the /* drawstr
17cd0 69 6e 67 20 2a 2f 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 68 61 ing */ bag of ha
17ce0 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 76 65 ndgun frames ove
17cf0 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 62 r her shoulder b
17d00 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 y the drawstring
17d10 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b and headed back
17d20 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e around the corn
17d30 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 er...Alley immed
17d40 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 62 72 6f iately saw a bro
17d50 61 64 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 65 64 20 66 69 ad shouldered fi
17d60 67 75 72 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 gure standing wi
17d70 74 68 20 61 6e 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f th an umbrella o
17d80 76 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 6a 75 ver his head, ju
17d90 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 st past a steel
17da0 66 61 63 65 64 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 20 66 faced employee f
17db0 69 72 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e ire escape door.
17dc0 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 68 The umbrella h
17dd0 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 e held in his ri
17de0 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 68 61 64 65 64 20 ght hand shaded
17df0 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 20 66 72 6f 6d most of him from
17e00 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 6e 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 the sunlight ab
17e10 6f 76 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 ove, but as she
17e20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 approached the f
17e30 69 67 75 72 65 27 73 20 66 65 61 74 75 72 65 73 igure's features
17e40 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 72 2e became clearer.
17e50 0a 0a 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 ..He was a well
17e60 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 muscled black ma
17e70 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 66 69 66 74 69 65 n, in his fiftie
17e80 73 20 6f 72 20 73 69 78 74 69 65 73 20 66 72 6f s or sixties fro
17e90 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 69 74 m the look of it
17ea0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 6f 72 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 . He wore neith
17eb0 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 6e 6f 72 20 67 6c 61 73 er mask nor glas
17ec0 73 65 73 2e 20 20 41 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 ses. Around wha
17ed0 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 t looked like a
17ee0 70 65 72 6d 61 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 75 72 20 74 permanent dour t
17ef0 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 urn of his mouth
17f00 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 67 72 65 79 69 6e 67 she saw greying
17f10 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 63 75 74 2c 20 and close cut,
17f20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 but not exactly
17f30 67 72 6f 6f 6d 65 64 2c 20 6d 75 73 74 61 63 68 groomed, mustach
17f40 65 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 61 72 64 2e 20 20 20 20 e and beard.
17f50 4f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 65 20 On his head she
17f60 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 65 noted a black be
17f70 72 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 ret with some ki
17f80 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 69 74 20 70 61 74 63 68 nd of unit patch
17f90 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 2e 20 20 on the front.
17fa0 54 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 65 72 65 74 2c The whole beret,
17fb0 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 including the p
17fc0 61 74 63 68 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 63 72 atch, looked scr
17fd0 75 70 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 2c upulously clean,
17fe0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 though it appea
17ff0 72 65 64 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 red positively a
18000 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 ncient. It was
18010 77 6f 72 6e 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 62 61 72 65 20 worn threadbare
18020 69 6e 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 in places, and s
18030 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6c 6f eemed to have lo
18040 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 69 66 66 6e 65 73 73 st the stiffness
18050 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 necessary to ma
18060 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 70 72 65 76 69 intain its previ
18070 6f 75 73 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 ous sharp milita
18080 72 79 20 73 68 61 70 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d ry shape...The m
18090 61 6e 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 an waited and wa
180a0 74 63 68 65 64 20 69 6d 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 6c tched impassivel
180b0 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 y as she approac
180c0 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c hed, and she fel
180d0 74 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 6e t increasingly n
180e0 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f ervous as she go
180f0 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 t closer. The i
18100 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 mpression of the
18110 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 man's solidity
18120 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 increased with c
18130 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 70 72 6f 78 69 6d 69 74 79 2e loser proximity.
18140 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 62 She stopped ab
18150 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6e 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 out ten feet awa
18160 79 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 y. After a mome
18170 6e 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 69 nt, she said "Hi
18180 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 ."..He nodded, a
18190 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 nd looked her ov
181a0 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 er. He pulled a
181b0 20 74 68 69 63 6b 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 thick envelope
181c0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 out of his old b
181d0 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 65 61 74 68 65 72 20 6a 61 63 lack leather jac
181e0 6b 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6c 65 66 ket with his lef
181f0 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 t hand and held
18200 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 it up. It was a
18210 20 63 72 69 73 70 2c 20 73 74 61 72 6b 20 77 68 crisp, stark wh
18220 69 74 65 2c 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 6c 65 74 74 65 ite, large lette
18230 72 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 62 6c 6f 61 74 r envelope bloat
18240 65 64 20 62 79 20 69 74 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e ed by its conten
18250 74 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 ts. She assumed
18260 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 73 68 2e 0a 0a 41 it was cash...A
18270 6c 6c 65 79 20 75 6e 73 6c 75 6e 67 20 74 68 65 lley unslung the
18280 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 drawstring bag
18290 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 from her shoulde
182a0 72 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 61 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 6c r...In a voice l
182b0 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 42 61 72 ike an angry Bar
182c0 72 79 20 57 68 69 74 65 2c 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b ry White, he ask
182d0 65 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 63 6f ed "You wanna co
182e0 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f me to me, or sho
182f0 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f uld I go to you?
18300 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 64 20 " She imagined
18310 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 she could almost
18320 20 66 65 65 6c 20 69 74 73 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 feel its vibrat
18330 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 65 73 ions in her ches
18340 74 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 t..."I'll come t
18350 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 77 61 74 63 o you."..He watc
18360 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 65 hed, and she ste
18370 70 70 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 48 pped forward. H
18380 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 e held out the e
18390 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 6f nvelope. She to
183a0 6f 6b 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 ok it with one h
183b0 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 and, then offere
183c0 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 d the bag with t
183d0 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 68 he other. He sh
183e0 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook his head. "
183f0 4a 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e Just leave it on
18400 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 the ground, the
18410 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 73 74 65 70 20 62 n you can step b
18420 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 77 68 ack and count wh
18430 61 74 27 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 at's in the enve
18440 6c 6f 70 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 lope."..As Alley
18450 20 64 69 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 did as he sugge
18460 73 74 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 sted, she saw hi
18470 6d 20 63 72 6f 75 63 68 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 m crouch by the
18480 62 61 67 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 bag. With one h
18490 61 6e 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 and, even gloved
184a0 2c 20 68 65 20 64 65 66 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 73 , he deftly loos
184b0 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 ened the drawstr
184c0 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 68 69 ing. He kept hi
184d0 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 s eyes on her as
184e0 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 he did it, not
184f0 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 even looking at
18500 77 68 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 what his left ha
18510 6e 64 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 nd was doing, wh
18520 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 ile the right st
18530 69 6c 6c 20 74 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 68 ill tirelessly h
18540 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 eld the umbrella
18550 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 over his head.
18560 20 4f 6e 63 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 Once he had the
18570 20 62 61 67 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 bag opened up,
18580 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 he glanced down
18590 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 to see the conte
185a0 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c nts, then quickl
185b0 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 y jerked the dra
185c0 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 69 6e 63 68 wstring to cinch
185d0 20 69 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 it closed...The
185e0 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 74 6f 6f man slowly stoo
185f0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 d and waited as
18600 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 63 6f 75 she finished cou
18610 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 nting...After sh
18620 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 e closed the env
18630 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c elope once more,
18640 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 he said "I gues
18650 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 s I'm trusting t
18660 68 65 73 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e hese aren't goin
18670 67 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f g to turn out to
18680 20 62 65 20 63 72 61 70 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 be crap quality
18690 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 , just like you'
186a0 72 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 re trusting thos
186b0 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 63 e bills aren't c
186c0 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 66 65 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c ounterfeit."..Al
186d0 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 ley hesitated, a
186e0 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 nd nodded..."If
186f0 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 there's a proble
18700 6d 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 m, I'll try cont
18710 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 73 acting you the s
18720 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 ame way we set t
18730 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a his up. Yeah?".
18740 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 ."Yeah," she ech
18750 6f 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 oed..."If I can'
18760 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 t find you that
18770 77 61 79 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 way, I'll track
18780 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 you down so we c
18790 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 an talk."..After
187a0 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 a few seconds,
187b0 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 she remembered t
187c0 6f 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c o breathe. "No,
187d0 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 you'll be able
187e0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 to get in touch
187f0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 the same way we
18800 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 set this up. Th
18810 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a at'll be fine.".
18820 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e ."Good. You can
18830 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d find me the sam
18840 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 e way if you nee
18850 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 61 20 70 72 d to settle a pr
18860 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 oblem with what
18870 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 I gave you."..Sh
18880 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 e nodded..."Good
18890 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 doing business
188a0 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 with you," he sa
188b0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f id. "You can go
188c0 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 first, if you w
188d0 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 ant.".."Sure," s
188e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 he said. "Have
188f0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 a good day."..He
18900 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 nodded...She ba
18910 63 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 cked away a coup
18920 6c 65 20 73 74 65 70 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 le steps, then t
18930 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e urned and contin
18940 75 65 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f ued until she go
18950 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e t to the corner.
18960 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 She glanced ba
18970 63 6b 20 74 77 69 63 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 ck twice along t
18980 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 he way, then onc
18990 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f e more just befo
189a0 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 re going around
189b0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 the corner of th
189c0 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 e building...In
189d0 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 her car once mor
189e0 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 e, she started i
189f0 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 t up and drove a
18a00 69 6d 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 imlessly around
18a10 66 6f 72 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 for half an hour
18a20 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 until her hands
18a30 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 stopped shaking
18a40 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 and her clenche
18a50 64 20 6a 61 77 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 2c 20 74 d jaw relaxed, t
18a60 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e hen headed home.
18a70 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b .."What the fuck
18a80 20 61 6d 20 49 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 am I actually d
18a90 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 oing?" she asked
18aa0 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a herself...---..
18ab0 53 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 Sitting on her c
18ac0 6f 75 63 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 ouch again, Alle
18ad0 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 y said "I don't
18ae0 66 65 65 6c 20 73 61 66 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 feel safe with t
18af0 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c he kinds of deal
18b00 73 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 s I made today."
18b10 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
18b20 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 r said "You did
18b30 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 79 20 61 20 76 65 not specify a ve
18b40 72 79 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e ry high preferen
18b50 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 ce for safety.
18b60 45 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 64 69 Estimations indi
18b70 63 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 cate the chance
18b80 6f 66 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f of poor safety o
18b90 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 utcomes is very
18ba0 6c 6f 77 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 low for these tr
18bb0 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 ansactions, thou
18bc0 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 gh severity may
18bd0 62 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 be high for poor
18be0 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 outcomes..."I w
18bf0 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 ill reconsider s
18c00 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 trategy for futu
18c10 72 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 69 re activities wi
18c20 74 68 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 th a high prefer
18c30 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 77 20 73 65 76 ence for low sev
18c40 65 72 69 74 79 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 erity potential
18c50 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 safety outcomes
18c60 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 rather than acce
18c70 70 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 73 65 76 pting higher sev
18c80 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 erity risk.".."T
18c90 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 hanks.".."You ar
18ca0 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 e welcome.".."Wh
18cb0 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f at's next, then?
18cc0 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a "..The prioritiz
18cd0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 er said "I am re
18ce0 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 considering opti
18cf0 6f 6e 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 ons, in light of
18d00 20 6e 65 77 20 72 69 73 6b 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 new risk assess
18d10 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 ment prioritizat
18d20 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 ion. This may t
18d30 61 6b 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 ake a few minute
18d40 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 s."..Alley looke
18d50 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 d at the envelop
18d60 65 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 e of cash, then
18d70 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 pulled out the b
18d80 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 ills and counted
18d90 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 them again. Th
18da0 65 79 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 73 ey added up as s
18db0 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 he expected, but
18dc0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
18dd0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f said "Please co
18de0 75 6e 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 unt them again."
18df0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a .."What? Why?".
18e00 0a 22 57 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e ."While you coun
18e10 74 65 64 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ted, /* it looke
18e20 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 d like at least
18e30 2a 2f 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 */ one of them a
18e40 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 ppeared to be th
18e50 69 63 6b 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 74 61 6e 64 icker than stand
18e60 61 72 64 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 ard United State
18e70 73 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 s federal reserv
18e80 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 e notes, and als
18e90 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 o appeared to be
18ea0 20 76 65 72 79 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 very new. Perh
18eb0 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 aps some of thes
18ec0 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 e notes is a cou
18ed0 6e 74 65 72 66 65 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 nterfeit. Pleas
18ee0 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 e count again wh
18ef0 69 6c 65 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 ile I watch."..A
18f00 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 lley frowned at
18f10 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 the stack, and s
18f20 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 tarted counting
18f30 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 again. Toward t
18f40 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 he end, she hesi
18f50 74 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 tated on one of
18f60 74 68 65 20 66 65 77 20 6e 65 77 20 6c 6f 6f 6b the few new look
18f70 69 6e 67 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ing bills in the
18f80 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 stack, with a f
18f90 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 eeling like some
18fa0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e thing was wrong.
18fb0 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e .."That is the n
18fc0 6f 74 65 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e ote whose thickn
18fd0 65 73 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 ess appears to b
18fe0 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 e incorrect."..A
18ff0 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f lley pulled it o
19000 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 ut of the stack
19010 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 and looked close
19020 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 r. It felt stif
19030 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 fer than most bi
19040 6c 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f lls, but that co
19050 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 uld just be due
19060 74 6f 20 69 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e to it being new.
19070 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 She rubbed it
19080 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f to get a feel fo
19090 72 20 69 74 73 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 r its surface, a
190a0 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 nd it separated
190b0 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 into two bills.
190c0 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 "Oh, shit," she
190d0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 said. "That sc
190e0 61 72 79 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 ary war veteran
190f0 67 75 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 guy accidentally
19100 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 gave me an extr
19110 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b a hundred. Fuck
19120 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 . What if it wa
19130 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 sn't an accident
19140 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 ? Maybe it's a
19150 74 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 test.".."That se
19160 65 6d 73 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e ems extremely un
19170 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 likely," the pri
19180 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a oritizer said...
19190 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 "Yeah." She sig
191a0 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 hed. "I guess y
191b0 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 ou're right, act
191c0 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 ually.".."I have
191d0 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f a plan of actio
191e0 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 70 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 n to propose for
191f0 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c tomorrow."..All
19200 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f ey started to no
19210 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 d, then looked a
19220 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 t the extra hund
19230 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e red in her hand.
19240 20 20 22 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 "Wait. I shou
19250 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c ld give this bil
19260 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 l back to that g
19270 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 uy.".."For a hig
19280 68 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 61 76 65 72 73 h priority avers
19290 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 ion to high seve
192a0 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 rity risks, this
192b0 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 is not a good c
192c0 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 hoice. You shou
192d0 6c 64 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 ld avoid meeting
192e0 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 with people wit
192f0 68 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 h a high potenti
19300 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e al for violence.
19310 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 "..Alley laughed
19320 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 quietly. "Yeah
19330 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f ," she said, "yo
19340 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 u're right. I g
19350 6f 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d ot through one m
19360 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 eeting without t
19370 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 rouble with him
19380 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 already. Should
19390 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 I count that as
193a0 20 6d 79 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c my lucky break,
193b0 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 and forget abou
193c0 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 t him, or take i
193d0 74 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 t as evidence th
193e0 61 74 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 at I might not b
193f0 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 e in any danger
19400 69 66 20 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 if I meet him ag
19410 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b ain to give back
19420 20 68 69 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d his misplaced m
19430 6f 6e 65 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e oney?.."It doesn
19440 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 't feel right, j
19450 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 ust keeping his
19460 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a money, though.".
19470 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 ."Why do you fee
19480 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 l that way?" the
19490 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b prioritizer ask
194a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f ed..."It's disho
194b0 6e 65 73 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e nest," she said.
194c0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c .."You did not l
194d0 69 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 ie to him.".."Tr
194e0 75 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 ue.".."Did you r
194f0 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 ealize there mig
19500 68 74 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 ht be more money
19510 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 than he intende
19520 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 d to give you wh
19530 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 en you counted t
19540 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a he first time?".
19550 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 ."No.".."How is
19560 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 that dishonest?"
19570 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 ..Alley's lips t
19580 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d ightened for a m
19590 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 oment. "I guess
195a0 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 dishonest isn't
195b0 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 77 6f 72 64 2c the right word,
195c0 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 but I'm taking
195d0 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d advantage of him
195e0 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 in some way tha
195f0 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 t doesn't feel r
19600 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 49 ight. For all I
19610 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 75 6e 64 know, that hund
19620 72 65 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 red might end up
19630 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 being the diffe
19640 72 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 73 6f rence between so
19650 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 61 64 20 68 69 74 74 mething bad hitt
19660 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 74 20 ing him hard at
19670 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6e some point and n
19680 6f 74 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 ot hitting him a
19690 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 t all.".."Do you
196a0 20 66 65 65 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 feel you owe hi
196b0 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 m that considera
196c0 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 tion, personally
196d0 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 ?"../*.."Not exa
196e0 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 49 20 ctly owe him, I
196f0 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 guess, but he ha
19700 73 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 sn't done anythi
19710 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 75 72 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 ng to hurt me or
19720 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 take advantage
19730 6f 66 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 of me, or done a
19740 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 62 61 64 nything else bad
19750 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f that I know abo
19760 75 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e ut, so I shouldn
19770 27 74 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 20 68 65 20 69 73 6e 't assume he isn
19780 27 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 65 61 74 69 6e 't worth treatin
19790 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 2e 22 g with respect."
197a0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 .."I will consid
197b0 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e er this when con
197c0 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 sidering future
197d0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 prioritization s
197e0 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c trategy.".."Cool
197f0 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 . I'm going to
19800 73 65 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 send him a messa
19810 67 65 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61 6e 20 ge now. We can
19820 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a talk about..*/..
19830 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 "No, I guess not
19840 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
19850 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 72 t's not like I r
19860 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 6f ipped him off, o
19870 72 20 6c 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f r lied to him, o
19880 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 65 64 r even pretended
19890 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 I didn't notice
198a0 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 . I really thou
198b0 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 ght it was the r
198c0 69 67 68 74 20 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d ight amount of m
198d0 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 oney, and even i
198e0 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c f he hasn't real
198f0 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 ly done anything
19900 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 to me, he did s
19910 63 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 70 20 6f 75 care the crap ou
19920 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 t of me a little
19930 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 .".."We should d
19940 69 73 63 75 73 73 20 6e 65 77 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 iscuss new plans
19950 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 74 for tomorrow, t
19960 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 hen. I have a p
19970 72 6f 70 6f 73 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 roposal for you
19980 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 2c 20 69 66 20 to consider, if
19990 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a you are ready.".
199a0 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 64 65 61 73 3a 0a ./*.. Ideas:.
199b0 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c . Alley shoul
199c0 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f d be prompted to
199d0 20 62 75 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 28 6f buy from and (o
199e0 72 29 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 r) sell to other
199f0 20 73 74 75 64 79 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 study. parti
19a00 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 cipants in ways
19a10 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 that help her as
19a20 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 69 the middleman i
19a30 6e 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 n a deal the oth
19a40 65 72 73 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 ers. could ha
19a50 76 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 64 20 64 69 72 65 63 ve handled direc
19a60 74 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 tly for greater
19a70 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 benefit. She sh
19a80 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 0a 20 20 20 ould also be.
19a90 20 70 72 6f 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 prompted to do
19aa0 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 some internet re
19ab0 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 search work for
19ac0 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 some other study
19ad0 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 . participant
19ae0 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 s as a way to ma
19af0 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 ke a little mone
19b00 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 y, though the pr
19b10 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 ioritizer should
19b20 0a 20 20 20 20 77 61 72 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 . warn her th
19b30 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 is is a short te
19b40 72 6d 20 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 rm method of adv
19b50 61 6e 63 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 61 6e ancing her finan
19b60 63 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 0a 20 20 ces that will.
19b70 20 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 62 65 20 not likely be
19b80 66 72 75 69 74 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e fruitful for lon
19b90 67 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 68 6f 74 g... Some hot
19ba0 20 67 75 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 guy should be p
19bb0 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 art of the story
19bc0 2c 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 41 , younger than A
19bd0 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c lley, and an all
19be0 79 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e y of. hers in
19bf0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 some way. This
19c00 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 61 72 74 may be one part
19c10 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 20 of an apparent
19c20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 6c 6f 76 65 0a 20 potential love.
19c30 20 20 20 74 72 69 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 triangle with
19c40 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 Alley and her e
19c50 78 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 73 68 6f 75 x. The guy shou
19c60 6c 64 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 ld turn out to b
19c70 65 20 67 61 79 2c 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 e gay, or. pe
19c80 72 68 61 70 73 20 62 69 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 62 rhaps bisexual b
19c90 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 74 65 ut in a committe
19ca0 64 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 68 69 70 20 77 d relationship w
19cb0 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 ith a man at lea
19cc0 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 75 73 st, and. thus
19cd0 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 72 75 6c 79 20 61 76 61 69 6c not truly avail
19ce0 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 able at all. Th
19cf0 65 20 65 78 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c e ex, of course,
19d00 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c while potential
19d10 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 ly. intereste
19d20 64 20 69 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 d in getting bac
19d30 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 k together with
19d40 68 65 72 2c 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 69 74 her, should neit
19d50 68 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 76 65 73 69 63 her be a lovesic
19d60 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 73 61 70 20 6e 6f 72 20 62 65 k. sap nor be
19d70 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 65 63 69 what Alley deci
19d80 64 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a des she wants...
19d90 20 20 20 20 55 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f Up to the po
19da0 69 6e 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 int where she tu
19db0 72 6e 73 20 68 69 6d 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 41 6c rns him down, Al
19dc0 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ley should proba
19dd0 62 6c 79 20 73 65 65 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 70 6f 74 bly seem. pot
19de0 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 entially interes
19df0 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 ted in getting b
19e00 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 ack together wit
19e10 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 h Dalton, perhap
19e20 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 65 61 73 s -- at. leas
19e30 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 70 t from his persp
19e40 65 63 74 69 76 65 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ective. Should
19e50 73 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 she seem that wa
19e60 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 3f y to the reader?
19e70 0a 20 20 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 65 20 . Should she
19e80 73 65 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f seem that way to
19e90 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 65 76 herself? Howev
19ea0 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 er that works ou
19eb0 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 68 65 0a 20 t, though, she.
19ec0 20 20 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 75 6c 74 69 needs to ulti
19ed0 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 mately have to t
19ee0 65 6c 6c 20 68 69 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 ell him that he
19ef0 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 is not actually
19f00 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 0a 20 what she wants.
19f10 20 20 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 now, and in a
19f20 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 6e ddition -- but n
19f30 6f 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c ot as the underl
19f40 79 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 ying reason for
19f50 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 65 67 6f 69 6e 67 2c 0a 20 the foregoing,.
19f60 20 20 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 3b 20 6a 75 of course; ju
19f70 73 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 st as a separate
19f80 20 66 61 63 74 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 fact -- she nee
19f90 64 73 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 20 ds to walk away
19fa0 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 from him to.
19fb0 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 70 follow her new p
19fc0 61 74 68 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 ath at the end,
19fd0 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f especially witho
19fe0 75 74 20 64 72 61 67 67 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 ut dragging him
19ff0 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 0a 20 20 20 20 62 65 63 61 into it. beca
1a000 75 73 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 use it's not the
1a010 20 62 65 73 74 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 best place for
1a020 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 49 him... More I
1a030 64 65 61 73 3a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c deas:.. Shoul
1a040 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 20 6c d the apparent l
1a050 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 20 6e 65 77 ove interest new
1a060 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 62 guy who has a b
1a070 6f 79 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 20 69 73 20 oyfriend (or is
1a080 6d 61 79 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 maybe. just g
1a090 61 79 29 20 62 65 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 ay) be a fellow
1a0a0 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
1a0b0 74 3f 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 20 62 65 t? Should he be
1a0c0 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 part of her.
1a0d0 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 20 63 72 65 77 20 cyberpunk crew
1a0e0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e in the shadowrun
1a0f0 3f 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 20 62 65 20 ? Should he be
1a100 61 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 68 a Second Realm h
1a110 61 63 6b 65 72 3f 20 20 49 66 0a 20 20 20 20 74 acker? If. t
1a120 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 he last of those
1a130 20 74 68 72 65 65 3a 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 three: Should h
1a140 65 20 62 65 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79 e be her primary
1a150 20 67 75 69 64 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 70 65 72 68 61 guide, or perha
1a160 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 74 68 65 ps some. othe
1a170 72 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 r character who
1a180 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 starts off on th
1a190 65 20 73 69 64 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 3f 20 20 53 68 e sidelines? Sh
1a1a0 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 69 73 20 62 6f 79 66 72 69 65 ould his boyfrie
1a1b0 6e 64 20 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e nd be. someon
1a1c0 65 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 73 20 69 73 e she assumes is
1a1d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 3f 20 just a friend?
1a1e0 20 54 68 69 73 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 This last might
1a1f0 20 62 65 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 be especially.
1a200 20 20 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 69 appropriate i
1a210 66 20 49 20 67 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 f I go with the
1a220 6d 65 72 63 65 6e 61 72 79 20 6f 72 20 61 63 74 mercenary or act
1a230 69 76 69 73 74 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 20 ivist shadowrun
1a240 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 63 68 cyberpunk. ch
1a250 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 69 64 65 61 2e 0a 0a 20 aracter idea...
1a260 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 How does she
1a270 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 end up in the Se
1a280 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 cond Realm? Doe
1a290 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c s Dalton actuall
1a2a0 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 y know how to.
1a2b0 20 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 get in touch w
1a2c0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 ith the Smuggler
1a2d0 20 61 6e 61 6c 6f 67 75 65 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 analogue? Does
1a2e0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 Dalton have the
1a2f0 20 74 72 75 73 74 2c 20 73 77 61 79 2c 0a 20 20 trust, sway,.
1a300 20 20 61 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 and (or) influ
1a310 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 ence to get the
1a320 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 67 75 79 20 74 6f 20 Smuggler guy to
1a330 64 6f 20 61 20 66 61 76 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 68 do a favor for h
1a340 69 6d 20 28 6e 61 6d 65 6c 79 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 im (namely,.
1a350 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 helping Alley ou
1a360 74 29 3f 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 t)?.. Does th
1a370 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 20 e old black war
1a380 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 41 72 6d 79 20 52 61 6e veteran Army Ran
1a390 67 65 72 20 67 75 79 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 ger guy introduc
1a3a0 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 e her to the Sec
1a3b0 6f 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 65 72 73 ond. Realmers
1a3c0 3f 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 ?.. I think w
1a3d0 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 69 63 6b 20 68 65 hen they pick he
1a3e0 72 20 75 70 20 28 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 r up (because I
1a3f0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 think she should
1a400 20 62 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 2c 0a 20 be picked up,.
1a410 20 20 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 unless she's
1a420 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 just transported
1a430 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e there by someon
1a440 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 69 72 e under more dir
1a450 65 63 74 0a 20 20 20 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 ect. circumst
1a460 61 6e 63 65 73 29 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 ances), she shou
1a470 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 ld be transporte
1a480 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 61 67 20 6f 76 65 d with a bag ove
1a490 72 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 r her head or.
1a4a0 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 something like
1a4b0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 74 20 that. They at
1a4c0 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 first aren't goi
1a4d0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 ng to be especia
1a4e0 6c 6c 79 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 lly trusting.
1a4f0 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 72 of some new per
1a500 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d son they never m
1a510 65 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e et before gettin
1a520 67 20 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 g a clear look a
1a530 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 t the way. th
1a540 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 ey got to their
1a550 54 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 41 75 74 6f 6e 6f Temporary Autono
1a560 6d 6f 75 73 20 5a 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 mous Zone...
1a570 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 I need to figure
1a580 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 out some ideas
1a590 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 for what will be
1a5a0 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 used to provide
1a5b0 20 66 61 73 74 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e fast. intern
1a5c0 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 et access for th
1a5d0 65 20 54 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 41 75 74 6f e Temporary Auto
1a5e0 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 5a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 20 nomous Zone. A
1a5f0 66 65 77 20 73 74 61 63 6b 73 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 few stacks of.
1a600 20 20 73 68 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 shipping conta
1a610 69 6e 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 64 75 73 74 79 iners in a dusty
1a620 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 73 68 69 70 industrial ship
1a630 70 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 72 20 73 ping container s
1a640 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 79 61 72 64 0a 20 20 20 20 torage yard.
1a650 28 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 (possibly with a
1a660 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 6c 61 62 20 75 concrete slab u
1a670 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 nder them, I gue
1a680 73 73 29 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 ss) does not see
1a690 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 m likely to.
1a6a0 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 65 61 73 provide very eas
1a6b0 79 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 y access to high
1a6c0 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 6d 61 69 6e 73 74 72 65 61 speed mainstrea
1a6d0 6d 20 22 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 74 m "above the wat
1a6e0 65 72 6c 69 6e 65 22 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 22 erline" or. "
1a6f0 61 62 6f 76 65 20 62 6f 61 72 64 22 20 69 6e 74 above board" int
1a700 65 72 6e 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 20 ernet access...
1a710 20 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 77 69 6c What name wil
1a720 6c 20 49 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 l I give to the
1a730 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 73 70 69 72 65 Smuggler inspire
1a740 64 20 67 75 79 3f 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 49 20 72 d guy? Will I r
1a750 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 efer to the.
1a760 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 actual Smuggler
1a770 69 6e 20 61 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 in a historical
1a780 63 6f 6e 74 65 78 74 3f 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 65 context? It fee
1a790 6c 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 ls like I probab
1a7a0 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 69 ly should,. i
1a7b0 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 f for no other r
1a7c0 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e eason than givin
1a7d0 67 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 74 6f 20 53 6d 75 67 g credit to Smug
1a7e0 67 65 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 ger where it's d
1a7f0 75 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 ue... How doe
1a800 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 61 74 68 20 73 s Alley's path s
1a810 68 69 66 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 hift after prior
1a820 69 74 79 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 20 64 75 65 20 ity updates due
1a830 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 to the risk.
1a840 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 6e 63 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c tolerance profil
1a850 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 20 77 e change? How w
1a860 69 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 ill she meet the
1a870 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 black war veter
1a880 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 an and. Carme
1a890 6e 20 70 6c 75 73 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 67 61 n plus Cliff aga
1a8a0 69 6e 20 6c 61 74 65 72 3f 20 20 49 20 6b 69 6e in later? I kin
1a8b0 64 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 da feel like she
1a8c0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 should. Maybe
1a8d0 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d she. should m
1a8e0 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 69 72 6c 20 66 72 6f eet the girl fro
1a8f0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6b 69 64 27 m the first kid'
1a900 73 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 s car, too, but
1a910 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 probably not the
1a920 0a 20 20 20 20 6b 69 64 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 . kid himself
1a930 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 61 79 again... May
1a940 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 be the black war
1a950 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 6d 65 72 20 veteran former
1a960 41 72 6d 79 20 52 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 75 67 Army Ranger toug
1a970 68 20 67 75 79 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 61 h guy shows up a
1a980 67 61 69 6e 20 61 73 0a 20 20 20 20 61 20 73 65 gain as. a se
1a990 72 76 69 63 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 72 2c 20 rvice provider,
1a9a0 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 75 with her as a cu
1a9b0 73 74 6f 6d 65 72 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 6c 61 74 stomer, when lat
1a9c0 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 er she needs to
1a9d0 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 be. transport
1a9e0 65 64 20 73 75 72 72 65 70 74 69 74 69 6f 75 73 ed surreptitious
1a9f0 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 61 6e 64 65 73 74 69 ly and clandesti
1aa00 6e 65 6c 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 6c nely from one pl
1aa10 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 0a ace to another,.
1aa20 20 20 20 20 65 71 75 69 76 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 74 equivalent t
1aa30 6f 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f o what's going o
1aa40 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 73 n with similar s
1aa50 63 65 6e 61 72 69 6f 73 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 cenarios in othe
1aa60 72 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 r stories out.
1aa70 20 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 63 there. This c
1aa80 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 ould be a good w
1aa90 61 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 ay to get him ba
1aaa0 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 ck into the stor
1aab0 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e y and in. con
1aac0 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 tact with her.
1aad0 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 2c 20 She could also,
1aae0 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 then, end up hav
1aaf0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e ing the opportun
1ab00 69 74 79 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 79 20 68 ity to. pay h
1ab10 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 6e 64 im back the hund
1ab20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 68 65 20 64 red dollars he d
1ab30 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c oesn't even real
1ab40 69 7a 65 20 73 68 65 20 6f 77 65 73 20 68 69 6d ize she owes him
1ab50 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 ... Perhaps s
1ab60 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 omething Alley c
1ab70 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 ould do for one
1ab80 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 of the other stu
1ab90 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 dy participants
1aba0 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 64 6f 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 is. do resear
1abb0 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f ch on people who
1abc0 20 61 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 are trying to f
1abd0 69 6e 64 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 ind a particular
1abe0 20 69 73 73 75 65 20 6f 66 20 61 0a 20 20 20 20 issue of a.
1abf0 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 63 6f 6d 69 63 particular comic
1ac00 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 book series to
1ac10 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 complete a colle
1ac20 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6d ction, because m
1ac30 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 74 aybe this. ot
1ac40 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 her study partic
1ac50 69 70 61 6e 74 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 6e 65 65 64 ipant is in need
1ac60 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 of money and ha
1ac70 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 69 63 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 s a comic book i
1ac80 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 65 78 63 65 6c 6c 65 6e 74 20 n. excellent
1ac90 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 condition that c
1aca0 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 73 6f ould bring in so
1acb0 6d 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 me money like th
1acc0 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 at. Should Alle
1acd0 79 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 63 68 61 y. end up cha
1ace0 72 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 74 68 rging the guy th
1acf0 65 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 en, when the guy
1ad00 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f talks to the po
1ad10 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 62 75 79 65 72 2c 0a 20 tential buyer,.
1ad20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 20 66 61 6c 6c the deal fall
1ad30 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 s through, leavi
1ad40 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 ng the guy with
1ad50 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 no money to spea
1ad60 6b 20 6f 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 k of, and in.
1ad70 20 66 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 fact with less
1ad80 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 than when he sta
1ad90 72 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 rted because he
1ada0 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 had to pay Alley
1adb0 3f 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 ? Will this.
1adc0 20 62 65 20 61 20 63 61 73 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 be a case where
1add0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 Alley pays the
1ade0 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 guy back, becaus
1adf0 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 e even if she di
1ae00 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 73 d the work. s
1ae10 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 he realizes the
1ae20 67 75 79 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 guy is in financ
1ae30 69 61 6c 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 ial trouble and
1ae40 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c needs the money,
1ae50 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 72 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 and part. of
1ae60 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 68 65 27 73 the reason he's
1ae70 20 69 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 in such financi
1ae80 61 6c 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 69 73 20 74 68 al trouble is th
1ae90 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 at the research
1aea0 68 65 20 70 61 69 64 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 20 he paid. her
1aeb0 74 6f 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 to perform -- th
1aec0 6f 75 67 68 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 ough effective a
1aed0 6e 64 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 nd well complete
1aee0 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 2d 2d 20 64 69 64 d for him -- did
1aef0 20 6e 6f 74 0a 20 20 20 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c not. actuall
1af00 79 20 62 65 61 72 20 66 72 75 69 74 20 66 6f 72 y bear fruit for
1af10 20 68 69 6d 3f 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 him? Is there
1af20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 some possibility
1af30 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 75 72 6e 20 this will turn
1af40 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 62 61 out. to be ba
1af50 64 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 72 20 62 6f 74 d for one or bot
1af60 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 h of them if it
1af70 67 65 74 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 gets back to the
1af80 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 professor and h
1af90 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b 79 20 73 70 is. spooky sp
1afa0 6f 6f 6b 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 ook government i
1afb0 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 ntelligence cont
1afc0 72 61 63 74 6f 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 ractors that the
1afd0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 0a prioritizer is.
1afe0 20 20 20 20 63 72 6f 73 73 20 70 6f 6c 6c 69 6e cross pollin
1aff0 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 ating a bit betw
1b000 65 65 6e 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 een study partic
1b010 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 ipants that shou
1b020 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6b 65 70 74 0a 20 20 20 20 73 ld be kept. s
1b030 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 61 63 eparate from eac
1b040 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 3f 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 69 h other?.. Wi
1b050 6c 6c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 ll Alley end up
1b060 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 running a courie
1b070 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 r job on a motor
1b080 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 cycle? That see
1b090 6d 73 20 66 75 6e 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 69 6c ms fun... Wil
1b0a0 6c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 l Alley have to
1b0b0 62 61 69 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 75 79 20 6f 75 bail some guy ou
1b0c0 74 20 6f 66 20 6a 61 69 6c 3f 20 20 50 65 72 68 t of jail? Perh
1b0d0 61 70 73 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 6f aps a criminal o
1b0e0 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6b 69 6e 64 2c f some. kind,
1b0f0 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 wanted by the p
1b100 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 68 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d olice, has the m
1b110 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 62 61 69 6c 20 6f 75 74 oney to bail out
1b120 20 61 20 63 6f 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 74 6f a co conspirato
1b130 72 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 r. needs some
1b140 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 69 one else to go i
1b150 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 n to pay the bai
1b160 6c 20 2d 2d 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f l -- someone who
1b170 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 is not wanted b
1b180 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 y. the police
1b190 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 63 61 6e 20 67 , and thus can g
1b1a0 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e et away with it.
1b1b0 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 That would be
1b1c0 66 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 71 75 fun. The. qu
1b1d0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 estion is really
1b1e0 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 72 how I should ar
1b1f0 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f range for her to
1b200 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 2a 62 65 66 6f 72 65 do this *before
1b210 2a 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 * she. ends u
1b220 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 6d 2c 20 62 65 p on the lam, be
1b230 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 77 61 72 64 20 cause afterward
1b240 73 68 65 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 she's probably a
1b250 20 62 69 74 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 67 bit afraid to g
1b260 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c o. into a pol
1b270 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 50 65 ice station. Pe
1b280 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e rhaps the crimin
1b290 61 6c 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 al paying for th
1b2a0 69 6e 67 73 20 68 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 ings has some.
1b2b0 20 20 68 61 6c 66 20 63 72 69 70 70 6c 65 64 20 half crippled
1b2c0 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 20 28 6f 72 20 70 65 72 old lady (or per
1b2d0 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6c 66 20 63 72 haps the half cr
1b2e0 69 70 70 6c 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 20 ippled old lady
1b2f0 2a 69 73 2a 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 63 72 69 *is* the. cri
1b300 6d 69 6e 61 6c 21 29 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 68 65 72 minal!) talk her
1b310 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 into paying the
1b320 20 62 61 69 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f bail for her po
1b330 6f 72 20 67 72 61 6e 64 73 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 77 or grandson or w
1b340 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 hatever. the
1b350 68 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 hell he is. Tha
1b360 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 t could be extra
1b370 20 66 75 6e 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e fun, of course.
1b380 20 20 4e 6f 77 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 Now I just nee
1b390 64 20 61 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 d an. excuse
1b3a0 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 for Alley to hav
1b3b0 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 e to pay the bai
1b3c0 6c 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 l under her own
1b3d0 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 0a name instead of.
1b3e0 20 20 20 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 70 delivering p
1b3f0 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 ayment for the h
1b400 61 6c 66 20 63 72 69 70 70 6c 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 alf crippled old
1b410 20 6c 61 64 79 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 lady or somethi
1b420 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 20 20 ng like that..
1b430 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 Hell, maybe sh
1b440 65 20 28 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 29 e (the old lady)
1b450 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 73 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 pretends she is
1b460 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 afraid of being
1b470 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 0a 20 20 20 20 62 on camera. b
1b480 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 ecause the gover
1b490 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 nment is full of
1b4a0 20 68 6f 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 horrible people
1b4b0 20 77 68 6f 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 62 61 64 who will do bad
1b4c0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 0a 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 68 things. with
1b4d0 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 the video, or t
1b4e0 6f 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 o her, or whatev
1b4f0 65 72 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 27 73 er. Maybe she's
1b500 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 afraid of being
1b510 20 73 65 6e 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6e sent. to a n
1b520 75 72 73 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 ursing home that
1b530 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 72 69 73 6f is almost priso
1b540 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 nlike in how it
1b550 72 75 6e 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 0a 20 20 20 runs things,.
1b560 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 according to th
1b570 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 27 73 20 73 6f 62 e old lady's sob
1b580 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 61 79 story... May
1b590 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 6f 66 be the lawyer of
1b5a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 69 6d 65 20 62 6f 73 73 some crime boss
1b5b0 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 69 is just arrangi
1b5c0 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 61 ng for her to ca
1b5d0 72 72 79 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 79 6d rry the. paym
1b5e0 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 ent down there a
1b5f0 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 nd drop off the
1b600 62 61 69 6c 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 bail as a courie
1b610 72 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f r, thus the moto
1b620 72 63 79 63 6c 65 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 75 72 69 rcycle. couri
1b630 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 er job. That se
1b640 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 ems like the mos
1b650 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 73 63 65 6e 61 72 69 t likely scenari
1b660 6f 20 73 6f 20 66 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 76 65 o so far, but ve
1b670 72 79 20 66 61 72 0a 20 20 20 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ry far. from
1b680 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 75 6e 2e 20 20 49 the most fun. I
1b690 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 77 69 f she does it wi
1b6a0 74 68 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c th a motorcycle,
1b6b0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 though, that me
1b6c0 61 6e 73 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f ans. she's do
1b6d0 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 ing it after she
1b6e0 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 6d 2c 20 49 's on the lam, I
1b6f0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6d 65 think, which me
1b700 61 6e 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 ans I have to.
1b710 20 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 figure out how
1b720 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 62 to get her to b
1b730 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 e willing to go
1b740 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 to the place to
1b750 70 61 79 20 62 61 69 6c 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 pay bail.. Th
1b760 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 62 69 at might be a bi
1b770 74 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 2e 20 20 49 66 20 73 68 t harder. If sh
1b780 65 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 e's just acting
1b790 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 2c 20 74 68 as a courier, th
1b7a0 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 69 ough, she. mi
1b7b0 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6f 76 65 72 ght just be over
1b7c0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 looked pretty mu
1b7d0 63 68 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 ch entirely as u
1b7e0 6e 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 nimportant, and
1b7f0 74 68 75 73 20 6e 6f 74 0a 20 20 20 20 72 65 61 thus not. rea
1b800 6c 6c 79 20 61 74 20 61 6e 79 20 72 69 73 6b 20 lly at any risk
1b810 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 of being identif
1b820 69 65 64 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 ied unless her f
1b830 61 63 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 ace gets on came
1b840 72 61 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 65 6e 20 61 67 61 ra.. Then aga
1b850 69 6e 2c 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 67 65 74 in, her face get
1b860 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 69 ting on camera i
1b870 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 s very likely.
1b880 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b Perhaps the mask
1b890 0a 20 20 20 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 . situation i
1b8a0 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 s going to help
1b8b0 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 here. I just ne
1b8c0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 ed to figure out
1b8d0 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 0a 20 how to handle.
1b8e0 20 20 20 74 68 69 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 this...*/.."Y
1b8f0 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d eah, I think I'm
1b900 20 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 ready.".."I hav
1b910 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 61 70 70 72 e two broad appr
1b920 6f 61 63 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 oaches to descri
1b930 62 65 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 6f 66 66 65 72 73 be. Each offers
1b940 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 62 65 6e 65 66 different benef
1b950 69 74 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 its than the oth
1b960 65 72 2e 20 20 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 er. First, you
1b970 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 could look into
1b980 74 68 65 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 the Deliv advert
1b990 69 73 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 isements asking
1b9a0 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 64 72 69 76 for courier driv
1b9b0 65 72 73 2e 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 2c 20 79 6f ers. Second, yo
1b9c0 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 6b 20 71 75 61 u could seek qua
1b9d0 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 77 lity assurance w
1b9e0 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 73 ork for an overs
1b9f0 65 61 73 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 72 65 76 69 eas product revi
1ba00 65 77 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 75 ew automation bu
1ba10 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 siness. Either
1ba20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 67 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 can begin produc
1ba30 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 ing income immed
1ba40 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 iately and give
1ba50 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 you work experie
1ba60 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 20 68 65 6c nce that may hel
1ba70 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 70 70 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 p when applying
1ba80 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 for another job
1ba90 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 later.".."I gues
1baa0 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 s you're asking
1bab0 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 49 27 64 20 72 61 74 68 whether I'd rath
1bac0 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 er be a professi
1bad0 6f 6e 61 6c 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 6f 72 20 77 onal driver or w
1bae0 6f 72 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 ork in the softw
1baf0 61 72 65 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a are industry."..
1bb00 22 54 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 "That considerat
1bb10 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 ion is an import
1bb20 61 6e 74 20 69 6d 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 ant implication
1bb30 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 of the choice.
1bb40 44 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 79 20 67 69 76 65 Driving may give
1bb50 20 79 6f 75 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 65 6d 70 you greater emp
1bb60 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 loyment autonomy
1bb70 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 63 6f , which seems co
1bb80 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f nsistent with yo
1bb90 75 72 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 65 6c 66 ur previous self
1bba0 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 68 6f 69 employment choi
1bbb0 63 65 73 2e 20 20 57 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 72 65 ces. Working re
1bbc0 6d 6f 74 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 motely in softwa
1bbd0 72 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e re production an
1bbe0 64 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 65 6e 61 6e 63 65 20 72 6f d maintenance ro
1bbf0 6c 65 73 20 6d 61 79 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 les may give you
1bc00 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 66 6c 65 78 69 62 69 greater flexibi
1bc10 6c 69 74 79 20 69 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f lity in where yo
1bc20 75 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 u choose to live
1bc30 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Yeah," she
1bc40 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 said. "I don't
1bc50 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 know about that
1bc60 51 41 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 QA job, though.
1bc70 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 That's a really
1bc80 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 sketchy busines
1bc90 73 2c 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 s, automating pr
1bca0 6f 64 75 63 74 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 73 2e 20 20 oduct reviews.
1bcb0 49 27 64 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 I'd become part
1bcc0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 of the problem w
1bcd0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 ith the internet
1bce0 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 . I'm not sure
1bcf0 49 27 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 I'd want to be a
1bd00 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 driver, but may
1bd10 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 be it's worth tr
1bd20 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e ying.".."Between
1bd30 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 delivery engage
1bd40 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 61 ments, you can a
1bd50 6c 73 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 lso look for les
1bd60 73 20 72 69 73 6b 79 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 74 s risky trades t
1bd70 6f 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 65 2c 20 6d 75 o facilitate, mu
1bd80 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 62 ch like before b
1bd90 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 70 72 6f ut with less pro
1bda0 78 69 6d 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 ximity to people
1bdb0 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 65 of questionable
1bdc0 20 6c 69 66 65 73 74 79 6c 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c lifestyle legal
1bdd0 69 74 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 ity."..Alley nod
1bde0 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 ded. "Yeah, tha
1bdf0 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 t makes sense.
1be00 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 69 67 I guess I'll sig
1be10 6e 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 n up with Deliv
1be20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 tomorrow.".."It
1be30 69 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 73 75 62 6d 69 is best to submi
1be40 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 t your applicati
1be50 6f 6e 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 on today, if you
1be60 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 can, in case of
1be70 20 64 65 6c 61 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 delays."..She g
1be80 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 roaned softly.
1be90 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 "Fine. I'll do
1bea0 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 46 72 69 it now."../* Fri
1beb0 64 61 79 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 4d 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 day */..Much to
1bec0 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 64 69 73 6d 61 79 2c 20 Alley's dismay,
1bed0 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 much of the next
1bee0 20 64 61 79 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 20 6f day consisted o
1bef0 66 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 72 61 f Deliv registra
1bf00 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 tion tasks. She
1bf10 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 61 76 69 67 61 74 65 had to navigate
1bf20 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 27 the government'
1bf30 73 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 s process for re
1bf40 71 75 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 72 69 76 69 questing a drivi
1bf50 6e 67 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 ng record report
1bf60 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 44 to be sent to D
1bf70 65 6c 69 76 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 6c 6f 6e eliv, which alon
1bf80 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e e took more than
1bf90 20 74 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 two hours. She
1bfa0 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 also had to get
1bfb0 20 61 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 73 70 65 a vehicle inspe
1bfc0 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e ction appointmen
1bfd0 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 6d t, which she alm
1bfe0 6f 73 74 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 ost missed becau
1bff0 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 se of the time i
1c000 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 t took to get th
1c010 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 e report. After
1c020 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 that, she neede
1c030 64 20 74 6f 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 61 20 44 65 6c d to visit a Del
1c040 69 76 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 iv office to pic
1c050 6b 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 63 61 6c 20 70 61 63 k up a decal pac
1c060 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 k for her window
1c070 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 20 68 s, to identify h
1c080 65 72 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 61 73 20 6f 66 er vehicle as of
1c090 66 69 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 74 74 61 63 68 65 ficially attache
1c0a0 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 73 d to the Deliv s
1c0b0 65 72 76 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e ervice...Between
1c0c0 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b tasks, she look
1c0d0 65 64 20 61 74 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 ed at classified
1c0e0 20 61 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c ads for possibl
1c0f0 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 e trades to make
1c100 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f that didn't loo
1c110 6b 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 k any more dange
1c120 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 rous than buying
1c130 20 61 20 75 73 65 64 20 73 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 a used socket w
1c140 72 65 6e 63 68 20 73 65 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 64 67 rench set. Judg
1c150 69 6e 67 20 62 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 ing by what she
1c160 73 61 77 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 saw in the class
1c170 69 66 69 65 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c ifieds, she coul
1c180 64 20 64 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 d do well in the
1c190 20 74 6f 6f 6c 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 tool business,
1c1a0 69 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c if only she coul
1c1b0 64 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 d get her hands
1c1c0 6f 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 63 6b 65 74 on enough socket
1c1d0 20 77 72 65 6e 63 68 20 73 65 74 73 2c 20 61 74 wrench sets, at
1c1e0 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 70 a good enough p
1c1f0 72 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 2c 20 rice to profit,
1c200 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6d 61 to meet the dema
1c210 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 42 79 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c nd...By evening,
1c220 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f she was done fo
1c230 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e r the day, and n
1c240 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2e 20 eeded to relax.
1c250 20 53 68 65 20 69 64 6c 79 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 She idly skimme
1c260 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d d through Open M
1c270 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e arrakesh, lookin
1c280 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 74 68 65 72 g for tools ther
1c290 65 2c 20 68 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f e, hoping to pro
1c2a0 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 fit from cryptoc
1c2b0 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 74 urrency prices t
1c2c0 6f 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 o buy the tools
1c2d0 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 6c 6c she could resell
1c2e0 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 53 for dollars. S
1c2f0 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 73 75 he had little su
1c300 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 ccess, and gave
1c310 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 6d up on it until m
1c320 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 2f 2a orning...---../*
1c330 20 53 61 74 75 72 64 61 79 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c Saturday */..Al
1c340 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6d 75 73 ley cooked a mus
1c350 68 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 64 64 61 hroom and chedda
1c360 72 20 6f 6d 65 6c 65 74 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 r omelette for h
1c370 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 6b 66 61 73 74 2e 20 20 53 er breakfast. S
1c380 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 he was halfway t
1c390 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 2f hrough it when /
1c3a0 2a 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 * she received a
1c3b0 20 74 65 78 74 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 2a 2f text message */
1c3c0 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 a sharp sound f
1c3d0 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e rom her phone in
1c3e0 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d dicated an incom
1c3f0 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2e 20 20 53 68 ing message. Sh
1c400 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e e checked it, an
1c410 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 d saw that it wa
1c420 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 s from the profe
1c430 73 73 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6d 6f 72 ssor..."Good mor
1c440 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 2c 22 20 ning, Alethea,"
1c450 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 6f 67 73 20 it read. "Logs
1c460 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 of your activiti
1c470 65 73 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 es dropped off a
1c480 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 67 6f couple days ago
1c490 2e 20 20 57 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 . We aren't get
1c4a0 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 64 61 74 61 ting enough data
1c4b0 20 74 6f 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 to sustain the
1c4c0 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 study. Are you
1c4d0 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 using the priori
1c4e0 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 tizer?"..Through
1c4f0 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 20 73 74 75 64 20 69 6e the ear stud in
1c500 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 her ear, the pr
1c510 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 ioritizer spoke
1c520 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 to her. "Perhap
1c530 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6c 6f 67 s full audio log
1c540 20 72 65 64 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 redaction provi
1c550 64 65 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 69 des too little i
1c560 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 nformation for t
1c570 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 he study.".."Shi
1c580 74 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 61 66 66 6f t. I can't affo
1c590 72 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 rd to pay back t
1c5a0 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 he first study p
1c5b0 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 73 74 ayment, and I st
1c5c0 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c ill haven't real
1c5d0 6c 79 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 ly gotten anywhe
1c5e0 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 re with long ter
1c5f0 6d 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 2e 22 m income plans."
1c600 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 .."I will ensure
1c610 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 some amount of
1c620 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 additional loggi
1c630 6e 67 20 6f 63 63 75 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 ng occurs withou
1c640 74 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 t significant pr
1c650 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f 6e 2e ivacy intrusion.
1c660 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b ".."Good. Thank
1c670 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 s.".."You are we
1c680 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 lcome."..She sta
1c690 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 red at her phone
1c6a0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 for a moment.
1c6b0 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 "What do I tell
1c6c0 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 him, though?".."
1c6d0 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 73 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 You may say you
1c6e0 77 65 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 were completing
1c6f0 74 61 73 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e tasks that did n
1c700 6f 74 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 20 6d 79 20 67 75 ot require my gu
1c710 69 64 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 idance."..Alley
1c720 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 nodded, and type
1c730 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 d out her messag
1c740 65 3a 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e e: "I was runnin
1c750 67 20 65 72 72 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 61 g errands all da
1c760 79 20 79 65 73 74 65 72 64 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 y yesterday. It
1c770 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b didn't seem lik
1c780 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 e the prioritize
1c790 72 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 r would be much
1c7a0 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 help."..The resp
1c7b0 6f 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c onse came quickl
1c7c0 79 2e 20 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 74 61 6b 65 y. "Please take
1c7d0 20 69 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 it everywhere.
1c7e0 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c It might be abl
1c7f0 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 e to help with a
1c800 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 lmost everything
1c810 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 22 4f ."..She typed "O
1c820 4b 22 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 K", then hesitat
1c830 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 ed. After a few
1c840 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 breaths, thinki
1c850 6e 67 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 ng it over, she
1c860 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 touched the send
1c870 20 69 63 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 icon...Once she
1c880 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 finished eating
1c890 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 6b 66 61 73 74 20 61 her breakfast a
1c8a0 6e 64 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 nd cleaning her
1c8b0 64 69 73 68 65 73 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 70 dishes, Alley op
1c8c0 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 64 ened her Deliv d
1c8d0 72 69 76 65 72 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f river applicatio
1c8e0 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 n and looked at
1c8f0 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 courier requests
1c900 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e . She tapped on
1c910 65 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 e, got in her ca
1c920 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 68 r, and started h
1c930 65 72 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 64 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 er first day on
1c940 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 69 67 the job as a gig
1c950 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 economy courier
1c960 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 ...She managed t
1c970 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 72 65 o carry out thre
1c980 65 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 e deliveries wit
1c990 68 6f 75 74 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 64 75 72 hout trouble dur
1c9a0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 66 ing the day. Af
1c9b0 74 65 72 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 ter dinner, she
1c9c0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 opened the appli
1c9d0 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 cation one more
1c9e0 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 6f time and saw ano
1c9f0 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 20 74 68 61 ther request tha
1ca00 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 65 6c 73 65 20 68 61 t nobody else ha
1ca10 64 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 d accepted. The
1ca20 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f pick up locatio
1ca30 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 66 69 76 n was only a fiv
1ca40 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 e minute drive a
1ca50 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 6d way, and it prom
1ca60 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 65 6c ised another del
1ca70 69 76 65 72 79 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 ivery coming bac
1ca80 6b 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 k so she could g
1ca90 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 66 6f 72 20 62 6f 74 68 et paid for both
1caa0 20 6c 65 67 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 69 legs of the tri
1cab0 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 63 68 p. It was a sch
1cac0 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 eduled pick up t
1cad0 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 68 6f 75 72 73 ime, three hours
1cae0 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 6c 73 away, which als
1caf0 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c o meant she woul
1cb00 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 61 d probably get a
1cb10 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 slightly higher
1cb20 20 72 61 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 rate for making
1cb30 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 69 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 deliveries afte
1cb40 72 20 64 61 72 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 63 63 r dark...She acc
1cb50 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 6e epted the job an
1cb60 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 d looked up the
1cb70 72 6f 75 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c route. She woul
1cb80 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 d have to drive
1cb90 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 48 all the way to H
1cba0 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 untington Beach
1cbb0 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 6f 66 20 -- and back, of
1cbc0 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 6e 6f 79 69 6e course. Annoyin
1cbd0 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 g, she thought,
1cbe0 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 6c 75 63 72 61 74 but maybe lucrat
1cbf0 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 ive...On her way
1cc00 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 out, she brough
1cc10 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 t her extending
1cc20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 baton, along wit
1cc30 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 h all her usual
1cc40 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 72 73 2e 20 pocket fillers.
1cc50 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 74 She had forgott
1cc60 65 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 en all about it
1cc70 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f that day, but no
1cc80 77 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 w she thought ab
1cc90 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 out how dangerou
1cca0 73 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f s a place the wo
1ccb0 72 6c 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6a 75 73 rld could be jus
1ccc0 74 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 t beneath the re
1ccd0 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 66 lative safety of
1cce0 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 63 74 the surface act
1ccf0 69 76 69 74 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 6d 6f ivity she saw mo
1cd00 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 st of the time.
1cd10 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 She was not pla
1cd20 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 ying the part of
1cd30 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 the middle man
1cd40 66 6f 72 20 61 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 for a gun parts
1cd50 64 65 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 deal in an alley
1cd60 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 , but that dange
1cd70 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 75 6e r could still un
1cd80 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 6c 79 20 73 75 72 66 61 expectedly surfa
1cd90 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 6e 79 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a ce at any time..
1cda0 0a 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 ./* She realized
1cdb0 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 , as she thought
1cdc0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 2a 2f 20 53 68 about it, */ Sh
1cdd0 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 e started the ca
1cde0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 77 61 r and pulled awa
1cdf0 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 2e y from the curb.
1ce00 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 2c 20 As she drove,
1ce10 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 43 6c 69 she realized Cli
1ce20 66 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 ff in the Audi w
1ce30 61 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 69 6d 69 as probably aimi
1ce40 6e 67 20 61 20 72 69 66 6c 65 20 61 74 20 68 65 ng a rifle at he
1ce50 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b r while she talk
1ce60 65 64 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 62 6f ed to Carmen abo
1ce70 75 74 20 73 61 6c 65 73 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 73 ut sales tactics
1ce80 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 69 76 65 72 65 . Alley shivere
1ce90 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 72 61 63 d as a chill rac
1cea0 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 73 70 69 6e 65 2e ed up her spine.
1ceb0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 ..Alley found he
1cec0 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 72 69 rself slowly dri
1ced0 76 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b ving down a dark
1cee0 20 72 65 73 69 64 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 73 74 72 residential str
1cef0 65 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 eet with most of
1cf00 20 74 68 65 20 6f 76 65 72 68 65 61 64 20 73 74 the overhead st
1cf10 72 65 65 74 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 6e reetlamps broken
1cf20 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 out. She took
1cf30 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 in the sight of
1cf40 64 69 6c 61 70 69 64 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 dilapidated old
1cf50 68 6f 75 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 houses that all
1cf60 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 72 61 73 looked like tras
1cf70 68 65 64 20 72 65 70 6f 20 73 61 6c 65 73 2e 20 hed repo sales.
1cf80 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 When she pulled
1cf90 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 up at the addre
1cfa0 73 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 ss on the courie
1cfb0 72 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 2c 20 61 20 70 61 69 r request, a pai
1cfc0 6e 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 69 nfully thin, shi
1cfd0 72 74 6c 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 72 65 66 rtless and baref
1cfe0 6f 6f 74 65 64 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 ooted man approa
1cff0 63 68 65 64 2c 20 77 69 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 ched, wiry and p
1d000 61 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 61 73 79 20 ale with greasy
1d010 68 61 69 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6c 69 74 74 hair and so litt
1d020 6c 65 20 62 6f 64 79 20 66 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 le body fat she
1d030 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 64 20 almost imagined
1d040 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 69 6e she could see in
1d050 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 20 dividual muscle
1d060 66 69 62 65 72 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 fibers through t
1d070 68 65 20 73 6b 69 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c he skin. He hel
1d080 64 20 61 20 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 d a box in his h
1d090 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 76 65 ands, protective
1d0a0 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ly, and it looke
1d0b0 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 65 6e 74 68 d a bit overenth
1d0c0 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 70 usiastically tap
1d0d0 65 64 20 73 68 75 74 2e 0a 0a 22 42 65 20 63 61 ed shut..."Be ca
1d0e0 72 65 66 75 6c 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f reful," the prio
1d0f0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 64 20 ritizer advised
1d100 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 her..."Yeah." S
1d110 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 he rolled down t
1d120 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 he window, keepi
1d130 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e ng her right han
1d140 64 20 6e 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 68 69 70 20 73 d near her hip s
1d150 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 72 61 62 o she could grab
1d160 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 66 20 73 68 her baton if sh
1d170 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 e needed it. Th
1d180 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 e window hesitat
1d190 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 ed a couple time
1d1a0 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e s, and she began
1d1b0 20 74 6f 20 66 65 61 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 to fear she wou
1d1c0 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 ld have to open
1d1d0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 the door to take
1d1e0 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2c 20 62 75 the package, bu
1d1f0 74 20 69 74 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 6d t it finally cam
1d200 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a e down enough...
1d210 22 59 61 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 "Ya know where t
1d220 61 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 59 65 a take this. Ye
1d230 61 68 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 71 ah?" He spoke q
1d240 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 uickly, his word
1d250 73 20 61 62 72 75 70 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 s abrupt and sta
1d260 63 63 61 74 6f 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 ccato. She wond
1d270 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ered if he still
1d280 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 74 65 65 had all his tee
1d290 74 68 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 6b th behind his sk
1d2a0 75 6c 6c 20 70 61 74 74 65 72 6e 20 6d 61 73 6b ull pattern mask
1d2b0 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ..."Yeah," she s
1d2c0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 aid. "The addre
1d2d0 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 ss was in the ap
1d2e0 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 47 72 p.".."Great. Gr
1d2f0 65 61 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 72 75 73 74 eat." He thrust
1d300 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 61 74 20 the package at
1d310 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e the open window.
1d320 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 6e 63 68 65 64 ..Alley flinched
1d330 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 61 72 65 away, then care
1d340 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 65 20 62 fully took the b
1d350 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e ox and set it on
1d360 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 62 6f 61 72 64 73 the floorboards
1d370 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 in front of the
1d380 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2e passenger seat.
1d390 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d .."Great," the m
1d3a0 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 an said again.
1d3b0 22 48 61 76 65 20 66 75 6e 21 22 20 20 48 65 20 "Have fun!" He
1d3c0 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e stepped away, an
1d3d0 64 20 77 61 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f d waved...She no
1d3e0 64 64 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f dded and drove o
1d3f0 66 66 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 64 6f ff. She held do
1d400 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f wn the button to
1d410 20 72 61 69 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f raise the windo
1d420 77 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 w as she want.
1d430 48 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 Her nose wrinkle
1d440 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 69 d at the lingeri
1d450 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 6d 61 20 6f 66 20 73 77 65 61 ng aroma of swea
1d460 74 20 6d 69 6e 67 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 t mingling with
1d470 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 63 72 some kind of acr
1d480 69 64 20 63 68 65 6d 69 63 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 54 id chemical..."T
1d490 68 69 73 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c his doesn't feel
1d4a0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 61 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e much safer than
1d4b0 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 doing deals for
1d4c0 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 gun parts with
1d4d0 73 63 61 72 79 20 6f 6c 64 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 scary old vetera
1d4e0 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a ns in alleys."..
1d4f0 54 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 The voice in her
1d500 20 65 61 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 50 65 72 68 61 ear said "Perha
1d510 70 73 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e ps we should con
1d520 73 69 64 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 sider other opti
1d530 6f 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 ons.".."Yeah."
1d540 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 65 She nodded. "Pe
1d550 72 68 61 70 73 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e rhaps we should.
1d560 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 75 70 20 "..She drove up
1d570 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 20 72 61 6d 70 20 74 6f 20 49 the on ramp to I
1d580 20 32 31 35 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 215 and followe
1d590 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 75 70 d the highway up
1d5a0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 49 20 39 31 20 6a 75 6e to the I 91 jun
1d5b0 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 44 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61 ction. During a
1d5c0 20 62 75 73 69 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 busier time of
1d5d0 64 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 day, she would h
1d5e0 61 76 65 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 78 69 ave taken an exi
1d5f0 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 73 65 64 20 73 75 72 66 61 t and used surfa
1d600 63 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 ce streets to av
1d610 6f 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 48 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 oid the Highway
1d620 4a 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 44 65 61 74 Junction of Deat
1d630 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 20 74 h, but luckily t
1d640 68 65 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 64 65 6e 73 69 he traffic densi
1d650 74 79 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6c 6f ty was pretty lo
1d660 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a w at that time..
1d670 0a 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 6f .Through the cho
1d680 6b 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e ke point between
1d690 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 Riverside Count
1d6a0 79 20 61 6e 64 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 y and Orange Cou
1d6b0 6e 74 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 nty, the darknes
1d6c0 73 20 6f 66 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 68 69 64 20 74 s of night hid t
1d6d0 68 65 20 73 63 6f 72 63 68 65 64 20 74 72 65 65 he scorched tree
1d6e0 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 65 69 74 68 65 trunks to eithe
1d6f0 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 65 77 r side from view
1d700 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 , but made the i
1d710 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 63 72 6f 73 73 lluminated cross
1d720 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 74 68 65 72 6e on the southern
1d730 20 68 69 6c 6c 74 6f 70 20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6f hilltop stand o
1d740 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c ut all the more,
1d750 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 all the lights
1d760 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 69 67 69 6f 75 73 on the religious
1d770 20 69 64 6f 6c 20 73 68 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e idol shining in
1d780 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 bright silhouet
1d790 74 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 te against the s
1d7a0 6b 79 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 ky above. The w
1d7b0 61 79 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ay it seemed to
1d7c0 73 74 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 stand in judgeme
1d7d0 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 66 nt over the traf
1d7e0 66 69 63 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 69 74 20 6d fic beneath it m
1d7f0 61 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 ade for an impre
1d800 73 73 69 76 65 2c 20 69 66 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 ssive, if slight
1d810 6c 79 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 ly creepy and op
1d820 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 2c 20 73 69 67 68 74 2e pressive, sight.
1d830 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 72 69 ..The clean, pri
1d840 73 74 69 6e 65 20 67 61 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 6d stine gated comm
1d850 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6e 69 unities and mani
1d860 63 75 72 65 64 20 72 65 74 61 69 6c 20 64 69 73 cured retail dis
1d870 74 72 69 63 74 73 20 6f 66 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 tricts of Orange
1d880 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 73 6c 69 County soon sli
1d890 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 d slowly past, a
1d8a0 6c 6c 20 73 69 67 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ll signs of the
1d8b0 4c 6f 73 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 73 65 6d 69 Los Angeles semi
1d8c0 20 70 65 72 6d 61 6e 65 6e 74 20 72 69 6f 74 73 permanent riots
1d8d0 20 6f 66 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 70 61 73 74 20 77 of years past w
1d8e0 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 70 69 6c 6c 65 64 hen they spilled
1d8f0 20 6f 76 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 over into Orang
1d900 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 69 e County long si
1d910 6e 63 65 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 62 65 65 6e 20 nce having been
1d920 65 72 61 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 62 65 61 75 74 69 erased by beauti
1d930 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 fication project
1d940 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 72 79 20 s. The scenery
1d950 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 then shifted aga
1d960 69 6e 2c 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d in, becoming a m
1d970 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 72 64 69 64 2c 20 67 72 69 6d ore sordid, grim
1d980 79 2c 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 62 61 72 65 20 66 6f y, threadbare fo
1d990 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 73 75 62 75 72 62 61 6e 20 64 rm of suburban d
1d9a0 65 63 61 64 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 64 65 67 ecadence. Bodeg
1d9b0 61 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 77 6e 73 68 6f 70 73 as and pawnshops
1d9c0 20 73 68 61 72 65 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 shared walls wi
1d9d0 74 68 20 62 61 69 6c 20 62 6f 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 th bail bond off
1d9e0 69 63 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6e 69 67 ices and all nig
1d9f0 68 74 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 74 65 63 68 20 72 ht mobile tech r
1da00 65 70 61 69 72 20 73 68 6f 70 73 2e 20 20 47 72 epair shops. Gr
1da10 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 adually, the air
1da20 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 73 75 62 74 6c 79 2c changed subtly,
1da30 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 63 becoming both c
1da40 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 6b 69 ooler on her ski
1da50 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 75 6d 69 64 n and more humid
1da60 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 ...She found her
1da70 20 65 78 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 exit, and drove
1da80 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 73 through streets
1da90 20 6e 6f 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 no narrower tha
1daa0 6e 20 69 6e 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 62 75 74 2c n in Perris but,
1dab0 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 somehow, they f
1dac0 65 6c 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 72 elt much more cr
1dad0 61 6d 70 65 64 20 6e 6f 6e 65 74 68 65 6c 65 73 amped nonetheles
1dae0 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 20 62 79 s. She passe by
1daf0 20 61 20 70 68 6f 20 73 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 a pho shop and
1db00 73 61 77 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 saw a number of
1db10 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 people out front
1db20 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f eating. It loo
1db30 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 ked like they mi
1db40 67 68 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 6f 66 20 56 69 ght all be of Vi
1db50 65 74 6e 61 6d 65 73 65 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 74 etnamese descent
1db60 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 , except for one
1db70 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 48 69 73 70 61 6e 69 63 single Hispanic
1db80 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 woman sitting a
1db90 74 20 61 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 20 74 61 62 t a sidewalk tab
1dba0 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 le with a small
1dbb0 67 72 6f 75 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 group. She thou
1dbc0 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 ght that might b
1dbd0 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 e a good place t
1dbe0 6f 20 65 61 74 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 77 65 o eat, if she we
1dbf0 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c nt when it was l
1dc00 65 73 73 20 62 75 73 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 ess busy, but it
1dc10 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 surely was not
1dc20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6c worth driving al
1dc30 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 l the way back h
1dc40 65 72 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6a 75 ere from home ju
1dc50 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 75 6e 63 68 2e 0a 0a 41 st for lunch...A
1dc60 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 few more turns
1dc70 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 68 6f 75 led to a big hou
1dc80 73 65 2e 20 20 4f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 se. On a street
1dc90 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 6b 65 6d 70 74 full of unkempt
1dca0 20 6c 61 77 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 63 69 65 lawns and ancie
1dcb0 6e 74 2c 20 70 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 61 69 6e nt, peeling pain
1dcc0 74 20 6a 6f 62 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 67 t jobs, this big
1dcd0 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 2d 2d 20 74 77 6f 20 73 74 house -- two st
1dce0 6f 72 65 79 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 68 72 oreys with a thr
1dcf0 65 65 20 63 61 72 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 61 6e ee car garage an
1dd00 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 d probably more
1dd10 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e than two thousan
1dd20 64 20 73 71 75 61 72 65 20 66 65 65 74 20 69 6e d square feet in
1dd30 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 61 the living area
1dd40 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 62 65 61 75 74 -- was in beaut
1dd50 69 66 75 6c 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 iful, well maint
1dd60 61 69 6e 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e ained condition.
1dd70 20 20 49 74 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 Its lawn and s
1dd80 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 67 61 72 64 mall flower gard
1dd90 65 6e 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c en were obviousl
1dda0 79 20 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 72 y tended with pr
1ddb0 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 ide...She picked
1ddc0 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2c 20 65 78 69 up the box, exi
1ddd0 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 ted the car, and
1dde0 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 walked up to th
1ddf0 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 4e e front door. N
1de00 6f 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 70 72 65 73 65 o doorbell prese
1de10 6e 74 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 73 6f 20 nted itself, so
1de20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 64 2c 20 75 73 69 she knocked, usi
1de30 6e 67 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 62 72 61 73 73 ng a heavy brass
1de40 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 knocker...The d
1de50 6f 6f 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 oor opened, and
1de60 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 65 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 the older vetera
1de70 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 n who bought the
1de80 20 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 74 6f 6f gun frames stoo
1de90 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 74 d before her, st
1dea0 69 6c 6c 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 ill wearing his
1deb0 62 65 72 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 beret..."Hm." H
1dec0 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 e looked her ove
1ded0 72 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f r. "That's a co
1dee0 69 6e 63 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e incidence I didn
1def0 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 't expect.".."Uh
1df00 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 4d 65 20 6e 65 69 74 , yeah. Me neit
1df10 68 65 72 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 her." Her heart
1df20 20 70 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 pounded, and sh
1df30 65 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 63 75 74 65 6c 79 e became acutely
1df40 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f aware of how to
1df50 75 67 68 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 ugh and hard his
1df60 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 64 20 61 72 6d 73 20 6c 6f muscled arms lo
1df70 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 oked where they
1df80 65 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 emerged from the
1df90 20 73 6c 65 65 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 6c sleeves of a pl
1dfa0 61 69 6e 2c 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 62 72 6f 77 ain, faded, brow
1dfb0 6e 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e n t shirt..."Don
1dfc0 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 't worry," he sa
1dfd0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 69 id. "I don't bi
1dfe0 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 te.".."Yeah, oka
1dff0 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 y," she said. "
1e000 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 63 I guess this pac
1e010 6b 61 67 65 20 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c kage is for you,
1e020 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 then."..He shru
1e030 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 gged. "Not exac
1e040 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e tly. Come on in
1e050 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 ." He stepped a
1e060 73 69 64 65 2c 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 side, giving her
1e070 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 room to pass by
1e080 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 ...Alley hesitat
1e090 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 ed. The living
1e0a0 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 room ahead of he
1e0b0 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 63 72 75 70 75 6c 6f 75 73 r was scrupulous
1e0c0 6c 79 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 61 ly clean and nea
1e0d0 74 2c 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 t, apart from a
1e0e0 6c 61 72 67 65 20 72 65 64 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f large red silico
1e0f0 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 ne tray on the c
1e100 6f 66 66 65 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 offee table with
1e110 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6c 65 63 74 tools and elect
1e120 72 69 63 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 rical parts on i
1e130 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 t. She stepped
1e140 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 2f slowly inside, /
1e150 2a 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 * and looked awa
1e160 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 2a 2f 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 y from */ over t
1e170 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6c 79 20 73 74 61 69 6e 65 he darkly staine
1e180 64 20 77 6f 6f 64 65 6e 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 d wooden furnitu
1e190 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f re that looked o
1e1a0 76 65 72 20 61 20 63 65 6e 74 75 72 79 20 6f 6c ver a century ol
1e1b0 64 20 2d 2d 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 73 2c 20 d -- armchairs,
1e1c0 63 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e couch, table, an
1e1d0 64 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 66 75 6c d book cases ful
1e1e0 6c 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2c 20 65 76 65 72 l of books, ever
1e1f0 79 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 66 75 72 6e 69 y piece of furni
1e200 74 75 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b ture looking lik
1e210 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 e it was meant t
1e220 6f 20 67 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 o go with all th
1e230 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 e rest of them.
1e240 20 45 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 Even the lamps
1e250 6f 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 73 20 73 65 on end tables se
1e260 65 6d 65 64 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 emed part of the
1e270 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 65 74 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 20 74 same set...On t
1e280 68 65 20 74 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 he tops of the p
1e290 61 63 6b 65 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 acked full book
1e2a0 63 61 73 65 73 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 66 6c 6f 77 20 cases, overflow
1e2b0 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 62 65 74 77 books stood betw
1e2c0 65 65 6e 20 62 72 6f 6e 7a 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 65 een bronze booke
1e2d0 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 20 73 nds...Her gaze s
1e2e0 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 ettled on the ma
1e2f0 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6c 6f n again, who clo
1e300 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 sed the door and
1e310 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 said "Have a se
1e320 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 at. Do you want
1e330 20 61 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a a drink?"../*..
1e340 50 49 43 4b 20 4f 4e 45 3a 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 PICK ONE:..In th
1e350 65 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 e soft light of
1e360 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6e 65 lamps under line
1e370 6e 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 n shades, he was
1e380 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f starting to loo
1e390 6b 20 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 61 k less like a ha
1e3a0 72 64 65 6e 65 64 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 75 rdened killer ru
1e3b0 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 67 75 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d nning guns and m
1e3c0 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 6f 75 67 68 ore like a tough
1e3d0 20 62 75 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 67 72 61 6e 64 66 but kind grandf
1e3e0 61 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 ather...In the s
1e3f0 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 6d oft light of lam
1e400 70 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6e 65 6e 20 73 ps under linen s
1e410 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 hades, he was st
1e420 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c arting to look l
1e430 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 62 75 74 20 ike a tough but
1e440 6b 69 6e 64 20 67 72 61 6e 64 66 61 74 68 65 72 kind grandfather
1e450 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 rather than the
1e460 20 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e trained, harden
1e470 65 64 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 ed killer she fi
1e480 72 73 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 rst took him to
1e490 62 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 be...*/..She nod
1e4a0 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 ded, then passed
1e4b0 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c by the end tabl
1e4c0 65 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 e at one end of
1e4d0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 the couch and sa
1e4e0 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 t in an armchair
1e4f0 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 , still holding
1e500 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 the box..."I hav
1e510 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 20 77 e some bottled w
1e520 61 74 65 72 2c 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 6d 69 6c 6b ater, Coke, milk
1e530 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 6f 72 20 63 68 6f -- white or cho
1e540 63 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 colate . . . and
1e550 20 74 65 61 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 tea. I'd offer
1e560 20 61 20 62 65 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 67 a beer, but I g
1e570 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 uess you have a
1e580 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 68 65 61 64 long drive ahead
1e590 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 27 of you and won'
1e5a0 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 72 t have time to r
1e5b0 65 63 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 ecover from the
1e5c0 68 69 67 68 20 61 6c 63 6f 68 6f 6c 20 62 72 65 high alcohol bre
1e5d0 77 73 20 49 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 ws I keep around
1e5e0 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 here."..Alley f
1e5f0 65 6c 74 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20 6c 69 70 73 elt her dry lips
1e600 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 with her tongue
1e610 2e 20 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 . "Ah . . . yea
1e620 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 h, I guess I'm t
1e630 68 69 72 73 74 79 2e 20 20 41 20 43 6f 6b 65 20 hirsty. A Coke
1e640 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a would be good.".
1e650 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 .He smiled, just
1e660 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 72 slightly. "Alr
1e670 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 ight. Go ahead
1e680 61 6e 64 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 and put that on
1e690 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c the table. I'll
1e6a0 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 be right back."
1e6b0 20 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 Without anothe
1e6c0 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 r look, he walke
1e6d0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f d out of the roo
1e6e0 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 m...She looked a
1e6f0 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 t the books on t
1e700 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e he shelves. Man
1e710 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 70 61 70 65 y were worn pape
1e720 72 62 61 63 6b 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 73 20 rbacks. Others
1e730 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 61 76 looked like heav
1e740 69 6c 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 62 6f 6f ily used textboo
1e750 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 ks. She leaned
1e760 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 74 forward to set t
1e770 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 he box beside th
1e780 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c e silicone tray,
1e790 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 then stood and
1e7a0 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 62 6f 6f approached a boo
1e7b0 6b 20 63 61 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 74 65 78 k case...The tex
1e7c0 74 73 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 73 75 62 6a ts included subj
1e7d0 65 63 74 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e ects like mechan
1e7e0 69 63 61 6c 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 69 6e 67 ical engineering
1e7f0 2c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 2c , world history,
1e800 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 63 68 65 6d industrial chem
1e810 69 73 74 72 79 2c 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 istry, economics
1e820 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 6d 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 and game theory
1e830 2c 20 6d 61 74 68 65 6d 61 74 69 63 73 20 2e 20 , mathematics .
1e840 2e 20 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 20 74 61 75 67 68 . ..."Self taugh
1e850 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 t."..Alley start
1e860 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 6c 75 ed, her heart lu
1e870 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 72 61 rching into a ra
1e880 70 69 64 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e pid tempo again.
1e890 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 She turned to
1e8a0 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e see that the man
1e8b0 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6e 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 stood near her
1e8c0 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 63 61 holding out a ca
1e8d0 6e 20 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 n of Coke. "Her
1e8e0 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 e," he said. "S
1e8f0 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 orry. I didn't
1e900 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 6c 65 20 mean to startle
1e910 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 you."..She nodde
1e920 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 d her thanks and
1e930 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 took the can.
1e940 41 73 20 68 65 20 63 61 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 6e As he carried an
1e950 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 other can with h
1e960 69 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 im, he moved to
1e970 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 the couch and sa
1e980 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 65 t down with a ne
1e990 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 61 75 64 69 62 6c 65 20 67 arly inaudible g
1e9a0 72 75 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 6c runt. Alley fol
1e9b0 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 73 75 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 lowed suit, and
1e9c0 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 resumed her plac
1e9d0 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 e on the armchai
1e9e0 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 20 r..."My name is
1e9f0 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 George," he said
1ea00 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 , and opened his
1ea10 20 63 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 can..."I'm Alle
1ea20 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 y."..He swigged
1ea30 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 from his can. "
1ea40 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 Nice to properly
1ea50 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 meet you.".."Ye
1ea60 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ah," she said.
1ea70 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 She opened her c
1ea80 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 47 an and drank...G
1ea90 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d eorge pulled som
1eaa0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 70 6f ething from a po
1eab0 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 cket and, with t
1eac0 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 he sound of a me
1ead0 74 61 6c 6c 69 63 20 73 6e 61 70 2c 20 61 20 6e tallic snap, a n
1eae0 65 61 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 63 68 20 early four inch
1eaf0 62 6c 61 64 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 blade appeared i
1eb00 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 n his hand. She
1eb10 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d froze for a mom
1eb20 65 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ent, but he only
1eb30 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 leaned forward
1eb40 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 to cut the tape
1eb50 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 on the box..."Uh
1eb60 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6e . . . I don't n
1eb70 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 65 eed to see whate
1eb80 76 65 72 27 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 ver's in there."
1eb90 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 ..He stopped mov
1eba0 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ing and looked a
1ebb0 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 t her. He looke
1ebc0 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 d back down at t
1ebd0 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c he box a moment,
1ebe0 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 his brow furrow
1ebf0 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d ed. After a mom
1ec00 65 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 ent more, his br
1ec10 6f 77 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 2c 61 6e 64 20 ow smoothed,and
1ec20 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c he smiled, the l
1ec30 69 6e 65 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 ines around his
1ec40 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79 65 73 20 64 mouth and eyes d
1ec50 65 65 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 eepening. "Oh,
1ec60 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 I get it. Hah!
1ec70 20 4f 6c 27 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 Ol' Dave must'v
1ec80 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 6e 20 e made quite an
1ec90 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f impression on yo
1eca0 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 u."..Alley looke
1ecb0 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 75 6e 73 75 72 65 20 77 d away, unsure w
1ecc0 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 65 hether to feel e
1ecd0 6d 62 61 72 72 61 73 73 65 64 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 mbarrassed or ju
1ece0 73 74 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a st scared now...
1ecf0 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 "Look, I know Da
1ed00 76 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 ve looks like he
1ed10 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 6f 6b 73 20 probably cooks
1ed20 6d 65 74 68 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e meth for a livin
1ed30 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 g, but he just u
1ed40 73 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 74 2e 20 20 48 ses the shit. H
1ed50 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 e doesn't make i
1ed60 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 t, and he's abou
1ed70 74 20 61 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 t as gentle as a
1ed80 20 64 61 69 73 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f daisy. This bo
1ed90 78 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 x is just some p
1eda0 61 72 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d arts I had him m
1edb0 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a achine for me.".
1edc0 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 .She looked at t
1edd0 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 he box and shift
1ede0 65 64 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 ed uncomfortably
1edf0 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a on her chair...
1ee00 22 41 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 "Ah, right," he
1ee10 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 said. "No, they
1ee20 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 aren't gun part
1ee30 73 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 s, either. They
1ee40 27 72 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 're parts for a
1ee50 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 custom prostheti
1ee60 63 20 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 c arm I'm buildi
1ee70 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 ng for a little
1ee80 67 69 72 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 girl."..Alley sa
1ee90 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 t back in her ch
1eea0 61 69 72 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 20 73 6c air, relaxing sl
1eeb0 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 ightly, and she
1eec0 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 sipped from her
1eed0 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 77 61 6c can. After swal
1eee0 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 lowing, she said
1eef0 20 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 "Really?".."Yea
1ef00 68 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 h. One of the g
1ef10 75 79 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 uys getting the
1ef20 67 75 6e 73 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 guns I put toget
1ef30 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 her with the fra
1ef40 6d 65 73 20 49 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 61 73 mes I bought has
1ef50 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 75 74 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c this cute littl
1ef60 65 20 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 e daughter, nine
1ef70 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 years old. She
1ef80 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 20 61 62 lost her arm ab
1ef90 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 64 75 ove the elbow du
1efa0 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 ring the police
1efb0 63 72 61 63 6b 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 crackdown on the
1efc0 20 70 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 protesters at t
1efd0 68 65 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d he [ SOMETHING ]
1efe0 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 73 73 61 63 72 65 street massacre
1eff0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 . She's outgrow
1f000 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 ing the arm I ma
1f010 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 de for her a yea
1f020 72 20 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 r ago, already."
1f030 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 .."Oh. Right.
1f040 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e There's somethin
1f050 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 g about the guns
1f060 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ."..He looked at
1f070 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 her, sidelong.
1f080 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 "What about the
1f090 6d 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 m?" he asked..."
1f0a0 55 68 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 Uh, after I got
1f0b0 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 home, I realized
1f0c0 20 79 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f you gave me too
1f0d0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 much money.".."
1f0e0 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e What do you mean
1f0f0 3f 20 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 ? I paid what w
1f100 65 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 e agreed, and th
1f110 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c e frames were al
1f120 6c 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 l good."..She sh
1f130 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook her head. "
1f140 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 There were two b
1f150 72 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 rand new hundred
1f160 73 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 s stuck together
1f170 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 . I got an extr
1f180 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 a hundred dollar
1f190 73 20 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a s by accident.".
1f1a0 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 .He stared at he
1f1b0 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 r..."I, uh, don'
1f1c0 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d t have it with m
1f1d0 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 e," she said. "
1f1e0 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 Maybe I can come
1f1f0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 back tomorrow w
1f200 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 ith it."..George
1f210 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 laughed. It wa
1f220 73 20 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 s a warm, surpri
1f230 73 65 64 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c sed, deep laugh,
1f240 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 65 and she felt te
1f250 6e 73 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 nsion draining a
1f260 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 way again, despi
1f270 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f te herself..."No
1f280 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c , don't do that,
1f290 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e " he said, a hin
1f2a0 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 t of chuckle sti
1f2b0 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e ll in his voice.
1f2c0 20 20 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 "Y'know what?
1f2d0 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c I like you, All
1f2e0 65 79 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 ey. I even like
1f2f0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6e 61 the way your na
1f300 6d 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 me describes whe
1f310 72 65 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e re we first met.
1f320 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e "..Alley smiled.
1f330 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 "Thanks. What
1f340 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 about your hund
1f350 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f red dollars, tho
1f360 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e ugh?".."Keep it.
1f370 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 I'll survive w
1f380 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 ithout it, and I
1f390 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 don't think you
1f3a0 27 64 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 'd drive all the
1f3b0 20 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 way from Perris
1f3c0 20 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 to Hunting Beac
1f3d0 68 20 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 h at gig courier
1f3e0 20 72 61 74 65 73 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 rates if your f
1f3f0 69 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 65 65 inances were fee
1f400 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 63 75 ling really secu
1f410 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 re." He winked
1f420 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 at her. "You're
1f430 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c good people, Al
1f440 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e ley.".."Uh . . .
1f450 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 thank you. May
1f460 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e be you are, too.
1f470 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e ".."Yeah, maybe.
1f480 20 20 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 I hope so." H
1f490 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f e turned back to
1f4a0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e the box and fin
1f4b0 69 73 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ished cutting th
1f4c0 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 e tape at the ed
1f4d0 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 ges, then flippe
1f4e0 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 d the top flaps
1f4f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 of the box out.
1f500 20 48 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 He carefully li
1f510 66 74 65 64 20 74 61 70 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 fted taped toget
1f520 68 65 72 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d her bundles of m
1f530 65 74 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 etal parts, leav
1f540 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 ing packing pape
1f550 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 r behind...As he
1f560 20 73 65 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 set each bundle
1f570 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 on the silicone
1f580 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 tray, and looke
1f590 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e d over everythin
1f5a0 67 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 g silently, Alle
1f5b0 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 y sat and sipped
1f5c0 20 68 65 72 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 75 6e 77 69 6c her Coke, unwil
1f5d0 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 ling to disturb
1f5e0 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 68 his work. His h
1f5f0 61 6e 64 73 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 72 65 63 ands seemed prec
1f600 69 73 65 6c 79 20 64 72 61 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 isely drawn to p
1f610 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 articular spots
1f620 6f 6e 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 61 72 74 73 on various parts
1f630 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 20 6d , as if muscle m
1f640 65 6d 6f 72 79 20 67 75 69 64 65 64 20 68 69 6d emory guided him
1f650 20 64 65 66 74 6c 79 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 deftly where th
1f660 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 ey needed to go
1f670 69 6e 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 in a performance
1f680 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 something almos
1f690 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 64 69 74 61 74 69 76 t like meditativ
1f6a0 65 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a e psychometry...
1f6b0 48 65 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c He split a coupl
1f6c0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 e of the bundles
1f6d0 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 of larger parts
1f6e0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 72 , and looked thr
1f6f0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 6d 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c ough them quickl
1f700 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 y. He set them
1f710 61 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c aside, the bundl
1f720 65 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 es slightly spla
1f730 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 yed out but the
1f740 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 64 68 65 parts still adhe
1f750 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 ring to the tape
1f760 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 . Finally, he s
1f770 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 6b topped..."I've k
1f780 65 70 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f ept you long eno
1f790 75 67 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 ugh." He lifted
1f7a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 the tray and pu
1f7b0 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 lled out an enve
1f7c0 6c 6f 70 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 lope. "Here. T
1f7d0 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f ake this back to
1f7e0 20 44 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 Dave, for the s
1f7f0 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 2e 22 econd delivery."
1f800 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 He held it out
1f810 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f to her...She no
1f820 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a dded. "Sure."..
1f830 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 "Are you saving
1f840 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 up for something
1f850 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 , or going back
1f860 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c to school?"..All
1f870 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d ey hesitated a m
1f880 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a oment. "Why?"..
1f890 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 He shrugged. "C
1f8a0 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 urious.".."Not e
1f8b0 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 79 xactly. I'm try
1f8c0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c ing to dig mysel
1f8d0 66 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e f out of a hole.
1f8e0 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 ".."Debts?"..She
1f8f0 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e shook her head.
1f900 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e "I had a stran
1f910 67 65 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 ge career path,
1f920 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 and it's dying.
1f930 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 I don't really
1f940 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 have the work ex
1f950 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b perience to pick
1f960 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e a new direction
1f970 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f , so I'm just wo
1f980 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a rking on that.".
1f990 0a 22 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 ."Ah. Reinventi
1f9a0 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 54 68 ng yourself. Th
1f9b0 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 e world changes
1f9c0 73 6f 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 so fast it's har
1f9d0 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a d to keep up."..
1f9e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 Alley nodded, th
1f9f0 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 en stopped, and
1fa00 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 shook her head a
1fa10 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 gain. "I don't
1fa20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e know," she says.
1fa30 20 20 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 "A lot of peop
1fa40 6c 65 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 le seem to have
1fa50 6e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 no problem. The
1fa60 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 y just go to sch
1fa70 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 ool, get a piece
1fa80 20 6f 66 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 of paper, apply
1fa90 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 for a job, and
1faa0 77 6f 72 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 work until they
1fab0 72 65 74 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 retire.".."It se
1fac0 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 ems that way," G
1fad0 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 eorge said, "but
1fae0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f most of them do
1faf0 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 n't really do th
1fb00 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 at.".."What do y
1fb10 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 ou mean?".."More
1fb20 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 and more people
1fb30 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 74 69 72 69 6e 67 aren't retiring
1fb40 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 65 74 20 6c 61 69 64 20 6f 66 , or get laid of
1fb50 66 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 f and end up on
1fb60 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 the street. Mos
1fb70 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 t of them don't
1fb80 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6d 61 67 have enough imag
1fb90 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 ination these da
1fba0 79 73 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 ys to even conce
1fbb0 69 76 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c ive of completel
1fbc0 79 20 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 y reinventing th
1fbd0 65 69 72 20 70 61 74 68 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 eir paths. You
1fbe0 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f look like you do
1fbf0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 , but maybe you'
1fc00 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 re looking in th
1fc10 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f e wrong directio
1fc20 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 n." He leaned f
1fc30 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f orward on the co
1fc40 75 63 68 2c 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 uch, rested his
1fc50 66 6f 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 forearms on his
1fc60 74 68 69 67 68 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e thighs, and wron
1fc70 67 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 g his hands like
1fc80 20 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 73 he meant to mas
1fc90 73 61 67 65 20 63 72 61 6d 70 73 20 6f 75 74 20 sage cramps out
1fca0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f of them. He loo
1fcb0 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 62 6f 6f ked toward a boo
1fcc0 6b 73 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f kshelf as he spo
1fcd0 6b 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 ke again. "It's
1fce0 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 easy to see wha
1fcf0 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 t other people a
1fd00 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 re doing and thi
1fd10 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 nk that they hav
1fd20 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2c 20 74 e it together, t
1fd30 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 hat they have a
1fd40 70 61 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 path and securit
1fd50 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 70 70 69 6e 65 73 73 2e y and happiness.
1fd60 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 Most people li
1fd70 65 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 e to each other
1fd80 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 74 about how well t
1fd90 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e hey're doing, an
1fda0 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 73 d almost every s
1fdb0 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ingle one of the
1fdc0 6d 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 73 m, deep down ins
1fdd0 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d ide, thinks 'I m
1fde0 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 ust be the only
1fdf0 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 27 74 person who can't
1fe00 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 really figure i
1fe10 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 t out.' They're
1fe20 20 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 all up to their
1fe30 20 65 79 65 62 61 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 eyeballs in deb
1fe40 74 2c 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 t, living payche
1fe50 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a ck to paycheck..
1fe60 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 ."There are a fe
1fe70 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 w people who hav
1fe80 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 e things sorted
1fe90 6f 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c out pretty well,
1fea0 20 70 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 prudent people
1feb0 77 68 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 who played it sa
1fec0 66 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 fe most of the t
1fed0 69 6d 65 20 62 75 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 64 76 ime but took adv
1fee0 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 antage of opport
1fef0 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 unities when the
1ff00 79 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 y came, and were
1ff10 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f lucky enough to
1ff20 20 67 65 74 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 get ahead that
1ff30 77 61 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 way. Many of th
1ff40 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 em don't even re
1ff50 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e alize they're in
1ff60 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 secure and confu
1ff70 73 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 sed all the time
1ff80 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 , because they g
1ff90 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 6c 79 ot so good at ly
1ffa0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 ing to people ab
1ffb0 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 out it that they
1ffc0 27 76 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 've even convinc
1ffd0 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a ed themselves...
1ffe0 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 "There are other
1fff0 73 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 s who really do
20000 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 believe they hav
20010 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 e everything fig
20020 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e ured out, and in
20030 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 65 a way they're e
20040 76 65 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 ven right about
20050 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e that, but not in
20060 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 a way anyone sh
20070 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 ould have things
20080 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 figured out. T
20090 68 65 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 hey lie and chea
200a0 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 t and steal, may
200b0 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 be even kill wit
200c0 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 h the stroke of
200d0 61 20 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 a pen or an Ente
200e0 72 20 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 r key, and make
200f0 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 it to the top ov
20100 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 er mounds of bod
20110 69 65 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 ies, metaphorica
20120 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 l a lot of the t
20130 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c ime, but literal
20140 20 62 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 bodies sometime
20150 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 s..."My advice i
20160 73 3a 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 s: don't be like
20170 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 any of them."
20180 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 He looked at her
20190 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 again, caught h
201a0 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 er gaze, and she
201b0 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 felt an almost
201c0 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 physical force h
201d0 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 olding it. "The
201e0 72 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 re's always some
201f0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 6f 6f thing we overloo
20200 6b 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 k, because there
20210 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 's always too mu
20220 63 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 ch to see to hav
20230 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 e time to see it
20240 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 all. Don't jus
20250 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 79 65 t close your eye
20260 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 s, though. Keep
20270 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 them open, and
20280 73 65 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 seize what you f
20290 69 6e 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 74 68 ind as a path th
202a0 61 74 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 at feels right.
202b0 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 You don't have
202c0 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 time for everyth
202d0 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 66 ing, but you def
202e0 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d initely have tim
202f0 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c e for something,
20300 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 and you should
20310 73 70 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 spend it on some
20320 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 thing good."..He
20330 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c sat back again,
20340 20 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6f 70 65 resting his ope
20350 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 n hands on the t
20360 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 ops of his thigh
20370 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c s..."Look at me,
20380 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 68 69 getting all phi
20390 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 69 63 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 losophical with
203a0 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 you. If what I'
203b0 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 m saying doesn't
203c0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c make any sense,
203d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 2e just ignore me.
203e0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e I'm an old man
203f0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 , and I've seen
20400 61 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e a lot, but I don
20410 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 't even understa
20420 6e 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 nd most of what
20430 49 20 73 61 77 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 I saw myself. I
20440 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 75 6e 64 feel like I und
20450 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 erstand less, th
20460 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a e more I see."..
20470 53 68 65 20 71 75 69 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 She quirked one
20480 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 corner of her li
20490 70 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 ps. "You give b
204a0 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 etter advice tha
204b0 6e 20 4f 62 69 20 57 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f n Obi Wan."..Geo
204c0 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 rge chuckled. "
204d0 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 I hope so. He's
204e0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 just some chara
204f0 63 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 cter on paper, a
20500 6e 64 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63 74 6f 72 2e nd a good actor.
20510 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 Anyway, I don'
20520 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f t really know yo
20530 75 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 u, so I don't re
20540 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 ally know if I e
20550 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 ven have any ide
20560 61 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f a what you're go
20570 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 ing through or w
20580 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 20 20 44 hat you need. D
20590 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 on't feel like y
205a0 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 ou have to humor
205b0 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 me.".."Maybe I
205c0 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e started out thin
205d0 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 king I should hu
205e0 6d 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 mor you, but now
205f0 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 I just want to
20600 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 talk to you some
20610 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f more." She loo
20620 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 ked at a ticking
20630 20 63 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 clock on an end
20640 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 table. "Maybe
20650 6e 6f 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e not now, though.
20660 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c It's getting l
20670 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 ate.".."Yeah," h
20680 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 e said, "go drop
20690 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f off that envelo
206a0 70 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d pe, then get hom
206b0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e 20 20 4e 65 e and sleep. Ne
206c0 76 65 72 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 ver underestimat
206d0 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 e the importance
206e0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 of a good night
206f0 27 73 20 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 's rest. That's
20700 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 one piece of ad
20710 76 69 63 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 vice I know is g
20720 6f 6f 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e ood, for anyone.
20730 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 ".."Thanks."..He
20740 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f nodded, then ro
20750 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f se and headed fo
20760 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 r the door. He
20770 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 unlocked it as s
20780 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e he approached an
20790 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f d opened the doo
207a0 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 r, then stepped
207b0 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 outside ahead of
207c0 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 her and looked
207d0 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e around. He turn
207e0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 ed to her as she
207f0 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 75 followed him ou
20800 74 2e 20 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 t. "Be careful
20810 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 out there. The
20820 77 6f 72 6c 64 27 73 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 world's a surpri
20830 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 sing place.".."Y
20840 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 eah.".."If you w
20850 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ant to try your
20860 68 61 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e hand at somethin
20870 67 20 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 g way outside of
20880 20 27 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 'normal' as a n
20890 65 77 20 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c ew path in life,
208a0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 look me up. I
208b0 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 might have a few
208c0 20 69 64 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 ideas. Otherwi
208d0 73 65 2c 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 se, I wish you t
208e0 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 he best at whate
208f0 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a ver you find."..
20900 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Thanks," she sa
20910 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 id again. "How
20920 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 should I get in
20930 74 6f 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 touch?"..He scof
20940 66 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 fed at himself.
20950 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f "Right -- forgo
20960 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 t about that par
20970 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f t." He pulled o
20980 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61 ut his wallet, a
20990 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 nd slipped out a
209a0 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 63 61 72 64 2c 20 business card,
209b0 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 no longer crisp
209c0 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 and new. "Here
209d0 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 6f you go."..She to
209e0 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 ok it, and saw t
209f0 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 hat it contained
20a00 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 61 6e 20 nothing but an
20a10 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 61 6e email address an
20a20 64 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 d a series of le
20a30 74 74 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 tters and number
20a40 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 s..."That's my p
20a50 75 62 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e ublic encryption
20a60 20 6b 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 key," he said.
20a70 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 "If you don't e
20a80 6e 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 ncrypt the messa
20a90 67 65 2c 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 ge, it goes stra
20aa0 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 6d 2e 20 20 44 ight to spam. D
20ab0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 o you know how t
20ac0 6f 20 75 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 o use encrypted
20ad0 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f email like that?
20ae0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 ".."I use pubkey
20af0 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 encryption for
20b00 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 clients sometime
20b10 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 s," she said..."
20b20 47 6f 6f 64 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 Good girl. You'
20b30 72 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 re already way a
20b40 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b head of the pack
20b50 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e . Good night, n
20b60 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 ow.".."Good nigh
20b70 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 t," she said wit
20b80 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 h a smile, and h
20b90 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 eaded to her car
20ba0 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 ...She glanced b
20bb0 61 63 6b 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d ack a couple tim
20bc0 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 es, and saw him
20bd0 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 20 20 keeping watch.
20be0 48 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 He only stepped
20bf0 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 inside and close
20c00 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 d the door when
20c10 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 she was almost a
20c20 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 t the end of his
20c30 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 block...When sh
20c40 65 20 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 e merged onto th
20c50 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 e highway, she w
20c60 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 ondered what he
20c70 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e thought she mean
20c80 74 20 62 79 20 22 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 22 2e 20 t by "clients".
20c90 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 He hadn't even
20ca0 61 73 6b 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 asked what kind
20cb0 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 of clients she h
20cc0 61 64 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 ad. Maybe, she
20cd0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 68 65 20 62 65 6c 69 thought, he beli
20ce0 65 76 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c eved she was tal
20cf0 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 king about somet
20d00 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 hing related to
20d10 44 65 6c 69 76 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 Deliv, or when s
20d20 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 68 69 6d 20 68 61 6e 64 he sold him hand
20d30 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 6e gun frames. Non
20d40 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 e of that really
20d50 20 72 61 6e 67 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 rang true, thou
20d60 67 68 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 gh...She worried
20d70 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 at it for a bit
20d80 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 , then found her
20d90 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 mind wandering
20da0 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6f and lost track o
20db0 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a f the thought...
20dc0 2f 2a 0a 0a 53 55 4d 4d 41 52 59 3a 0a 0a 41 6c /*..SUMMARY:..Al
20dd0 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 61 66 74 65 ley should, afte
20de0 72 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 r discussing pla
20df0 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ns with the prio
20e00 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 ritizer for what
20e10 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 74 they'll do next
20e20 2c 20 67 65 74 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 , get up the nex
20e30 74 20 64 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 t day and have t
20e40 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 o deal with the
20e50 61 72 72 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 63 61 72 79 arrival of scary
20e60 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 6e people with sun
20e70 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 glasses who want
20e80 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 to talk to her
20e90 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 about the fact t
20ea0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 he prioritizer i
20eb0 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6c s not properly l
20ec0 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 ogging her activ
20ed0 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 ities the way th
20ee0 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 ey expect. They
20ef0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 want to know wh
20f00 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 at's going on, a
20f10 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 nd get a bit of
20f20 61 20 22 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 22 a "conversation"
20f30 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 with the priori
20f40 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 tizer through he
20f50 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6f 72 20 73 r interface or s
20f60 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
20f70 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 at. They should
20f80 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 probably check
20f90 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 out the glasses
20fa0 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 just to make sur
20fb0 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e e there's nothin
20fc0 67 20 66 69 73 68 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e g fishy going on
20fd0 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 6d 20 73 75 63 68 20 with them such
20fe0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 that they might
20ff0 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 76 65 somehow be preve
21000 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 nting the priori
21010 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 70 65 tizer from prope
21020 72 6c 79 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 64 61 rly capturing da
21030 74 61 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 ta and detecting
21040 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f activity and so
21050 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c on. They shoul
21060 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 69 6d d probably intim
21070 61 74 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c ate that she wil
21080 6c 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f l potentially lo
21090 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 se her study par
210a0 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 79 6d 65 ticipation payme
210b0 6e 74 73 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e nts if she doesn
210c0 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 't allow the pri
210d0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 oritizer further
210e0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 74 into her life t
210f0 6f 20 6c 6f 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 o log everything
21100 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 she's doing and
21110 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 provide materia
21120 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 l they can use t
21130 6f 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 o analyze stuff
21140 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f about her and so
21150 20 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 66 on...A reason f
21160 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 69 73 or this visit is
21170 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 , of course, the
21180 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 way the priorit
21190 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 72 65 izer has been re
211a0 64 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 74 6f 20 dacting logs to
211b0 6b 65 65 70 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 keep activities
211c0 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 41 6c 6c in line with All
211d0 65 79 27 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 ey's goal of gre
211e0 61 74 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 6e ater personal an
211f0 64 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 d digital privac
21200 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 70 y in her life, p
21210 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 rotecting her fr
21220 6f 6d 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 76 65 20 73 68 69 om intrusive shi
21230 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 6e t from police an
21240 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f d other law enfo
21250 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 rcement things,
21260 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 77 65 and others as we
21270 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 2f 2a ll...*/..---../*
21280 20 53 75 6e 64 61 79 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 Sunday */..She
21290 77 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e woke in the morn
212a0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 ing to the sound
212b0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c of her doorbell
212c0 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 , quickly follow
212d0 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 61 72 64 20 72 61 70 70 69 ed by hard rappi
212e0 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 ng on her door.
212f0 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 She groaned and
21300 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 looked at the c
21310 6c 6f 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 lock. It indica
21320 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 61 73 ted the time was
21330 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 65 69 67 68 just after eigh
21340 74 20 74 68 69 72 74 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 t thirty. "What
21350 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 the fuck his th
21360 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 is?" she asked t
21370 68 65 20 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 6f 6f he air...The doo
21380 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 69 rbell and knocki
21390 6e 67 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 ng began again.
213a0 20 22 49 6d 70 61 74 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 49 20 67 "Impatient, I g
213b0 75 65 73 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c uess." She pull
213c0 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 ed on her pants
213d0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 from the previou
213e0 73 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 s evening and ma
213f0 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 de sure she had
21400 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 her baton and pe
21410 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 pper spray in he
21420 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2e 0a 0a 41 20 74 68 r pockets...A th
21430 69 72 64 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 69 ird round of noi
21440 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 se at the door,
21450 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 just like the fi
21460 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 rst two with no
21470 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 65 6e 69 sign of slackeni
21480 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 6d 2c 20 63 ng enthusiasm, c
21490 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 ommends as she a
214a0 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 pproached. It s
214b0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 topped while she
214c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
214d0 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 isplay for the t
214e0 69 6e 79 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 iny camera mount
214f0 65 64 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 75 74 ed above the out
21500 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 side of the door
21510 2e 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 ...Two people, a
21520 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e man and a woman
21530 2c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 , stood on her p
21540 6f 72 63 68 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 orch. They both
21550 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 wore black suit
21560 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 s that fit almos
21570 74 20 74 6f 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 77 69 74 68 t too well, with
21580 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 62 black shades, b
21590 6c 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 6c 69 73 68 65 64 20 73 68 lack polished sh
215a0 6f 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 oes, and black t
215b0 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 22 20 73 ies..."Jesus," s
215c0 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 he muttered to h
215d0 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 65 74 erself, "I'm get
215e0 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 66 72 6f ting a visit fro
215f0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 m the Men In Bla
21600 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e ck." As the man
21610 20 72 61 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 rang the doorbe
21620 6c 6c 20 61 20 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 ll a fourth time
21630 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 , she saw that t
21640 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 he only things t
21650 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 70 65 72 66 65 hat didn't perfe
21660 63 74 6c 79 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e ctly fit the Men
21670 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 69 6d 61 67 65 20 In Black image
21680 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 65 79 20 69 were they grey i
21690 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 68 61 69 72 20 2d 2d 20 n their hair --
216a0 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 73 2c hers in streaks,
216b0 20 68 69 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6d 70 his at the temp
216c0 6c 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 les -- and the f
216d0 61 63 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 73 act their shirts
216e0 20 77 65 72 65 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 were vertically
216f0 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 6e striped in thin
21700 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 burgundy instea
21710 64 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 65 20 d of being pure
21720 77 68 69 74 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 27 white...The man'
21730 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 69 s hand just fini
21740 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f shed the first o
21750 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 f this round of
21760 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f knocks on the do
21770 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 or when Alley je
21780 72 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 rked it open and
21790 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 69 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 left him standi
217a0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 ng there with hi
217b0 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 s hand hanging i
217c0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 n the air for a
217d0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 61 6c moment...They al
217e0 6c 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 l stared at each
217f0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 other..."Can I
21800 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 help you?" Alley
21810 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 asked, her voic
21820 65 20 74 69 72 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 61 e tired, but sha
21830 72 70 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 rp...The woman s
21840 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 aid "You have a
21850 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 79 little hole in y
21860 6f 75 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 our shirt, there
21870 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ."..Alley looked
21880 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e where the woman
21890 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 pointed, and sa
218a0 77 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 w a hole in her
218b0 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 53 6f 63 69 Information Soci
218c0 65 74 79 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 2f 2a 20 61 72 6f ety shirt /* aro
218d0 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 65 61 20 6f 66 20 und the area of
218e0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6b 69 64 6e 65 79 her right kidney
218f0 20 2a 2f 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 */ over the rig
21900 68 74 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 61 ht side of her a
21910 62 64 6f 6d 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 6f 6c bdomen. The hol
21920 65 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 e had been there
21930 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 since before he
21940 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 r uncle gave her
21950 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 61 73 20 61 this shirt as a
21960 20 6b 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 kid...She looke
21970 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f d back at the wo
21980 6d 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 man. "Yeah," sh
21990 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 73 6c 65 65 e said. "I slee
219a0 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e p in this thing.
219b0 20 20 53 74 72 61 6e 67 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 Strangers don'
219c0 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f t usually get to
219d0 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 4e 65 69 74 68 see it."..Neith
219e0 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 64 20 74 er of them had t
219f0 68 65 20 64 65 63 65 6e 63 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f he decency to lo
21a00 6f 6b 20 63 68 61 67 72 69 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 ok chagrined at
21a10 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 that, but the ma
21a20 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 64 n looked a bit d
21a30 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 isappointed abou
21a40 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 50 65 t something. Pe
21a50 72 68 61 70 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 70 rhaps he was hop
21a60 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 ing to be more i
21a70 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 ntimidating, and
21a80 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 68 65 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 maybe he failed
21a90 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 because he was
21aa0 64 69 73 74 72 61 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 distracted by th
21ab0 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 e shirt. He was
21ac0 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 certainly looki
21ad0 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 ng at it, like i
21ae0 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e t was significan
21af0 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 t somehow...The
21b00 6d 61 6e 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c man spoke first,
21b10 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 this time. "Ar
21b20 65 20 79 6f 75 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 4c 75 e you Alethea Lu
21b30 63 61 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 cas?".."Who want
21b40 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 s to know?"..The
21b50 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 woman produced
21b60 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6f 66 66 some kind of off
21b70 69 63 69 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 icial government
21b80 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 looking identif
21b90 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 ication card as
21ba0 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 if she had been
21bb0 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 79 holding it ready
21bc0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a 75 for a moment ju
21bd0 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c st like this all
21be0 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 along...Alley g
21bf0 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 rabbed the edge
21c00 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 64 20 6a 75 73 74 of the card just
21c10 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 as the woman be
21c20 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 62 gan to pull it b
21c30 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 ack, and held it
21c40 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 firmly as she g
21c50 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 ave it a closer
21c60 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e look. The woman
21c70 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 froze, and her
21c80 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 eyes widened..."
21c90 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 49 74 What's this? It
21ca0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 looks like some
21cb0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 kind of contrac
21cc0 74 6f 72 20 49 44 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 tor ID. Are you
21cd0 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 government cont
21ce0 72 61 63 74 6f 72 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 ractors trying t
21cf0 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 o look like the
21d00 46 42 49 3f 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 FBI? If this is
21d10 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6d some kind of im
21d20 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 68 minent domain sh
21d30 61 6b 65 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 akedown, you're
21d40 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 talking to the w
21d50 72 6f 6e 67 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 rong person. I
21d60 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 rent.".."No," th
21d70 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 e main said, "it
21d80 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 's nothing like
21d90 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 74 72 75 that. We're tru
21da0 73 74 65 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 55 53 20 69 stees for a US i
21db0 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 ntelligence rese
21dc0 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e arch project, an
21dd0 64 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 63 d we're here bec
21de0 61 75 73 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 ause some concer
21df0 6e 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 72 61 69 ns have been rai
21e00 73 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 sed about your p
21e10 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a articipation."..
21e20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 65 65 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley peered at
21e30 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 him. "Are you s
21e40 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 erious?"..He nod
21e50 64 65 64 20 6f 6e 63 65 2c 20 63 75 72 74 6c 79 ded once, curtly
21e60 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 ..."You're going
21e70 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 to have to be a
21e80 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 70 65 little more spe
21e90 63 69 66 69 63 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 cific," she said
21ea0 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 20 77 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 ..."May we come
21eb0 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 in to talk about
21ec0 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 this?" the woma
21ed0 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 n asked...Alley
21ee0 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 67 caught the man g
21ef0 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 iving his partne
21f00 72 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6c r an irritated l
21f10 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e ook. "No, I don
21f20 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 41 6c 't think so," Al
21f30 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 ley answered..."
21f40 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 Are you involved
21f50 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 in too many US
21f60 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 Intelligence res
21f70 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74 earch projects t
21f80 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 o know what I'm
21f90 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 20 talking about?"
21fa0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 he asked..."It's
21fb0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 2c 22 20 the opposite,"
21fc0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 she said, as if
21fd0 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 she really didn'
21fe0 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 t think he under
21ff0 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 stood. "I don't
22000 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 know anything a
22010 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 bout any US Inte
22020 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 lligence researc
22030 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 h projects in my
22040 20 6c 69 66 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e life right now.
22050 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f Do you want to
22060 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 tell me why you
22070 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f 're here, or sho
22080 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 70 6c 61 79 20 61 20 67 75 uld we play a gu
22090 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 67 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 54 essing game?"..T
220a0 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 he woman's eyes
220b0 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 narrowed, and sh
220c0 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 e opened her mou
220d0 74 68 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6e 61 70 th as if to snap
220e0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 41 6c something at Al
220f0 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e ley, but the man
22100 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c leaned into All
22110 65 79 27 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 70 ey's personal sp
22120 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 ace. He blocked
22130 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 65 half of the vie
22140 77 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 w between the tw
22150 6f 20 77 6f 6d 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 o women, and the
22160 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 63 man's partner c
22170 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 losed her mouth
22180 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 again, surprised
22190 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f by the intrusio
221a0 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 n...He said "You
221b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 have access to
221c0 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 some experimenta
221d0 6c 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 l task assistanc
221e0 65 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 e artificial int
221f0 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f elligence techno
22200 6c 6f 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 logy for the pur
22210 70 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 pose of particip
22220 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 74 75 64 79 ating in a study
22230 20 66 6f 72 20 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 for Professor G
22240 6f 75 6c 65 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 oulet at the Uni
22250 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 versity of Calif
22260 6f 72 6e 69 61 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 ornia. Does tha
22270 74 20 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 73 t ring any bells
22280 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f ?" he asked..."O
22290 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 h. Yeah. Why d
222a0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 idn't you just s
222b0 61 79 20 73 6f 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c ay so?" She hel
222c0 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 75 6e 74 d her ground unt
222d0 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c il the man final
222e0 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 67 ly backed off ag
222f0 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 ain..."I take it
22300 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74 you did not act
22310 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 ually read the i
22320 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 77 nformation you w
22330 65 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 ere given when y
22340 6f 75 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 ou signed up for
22350 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 the study."..Sh
22360 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 e shrugged. "I
22370 64 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 did, but I don't
22380 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 remember every
22390 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 74 single word of t
223a0 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 70 72 69 6e 74 2e 20 he small print.
223b0 20 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 It must have be
223c0 65 6e 20 62 75 72 69 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 en buried pretty
223d0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 well.".."Why ar
223e0 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 en't you wearing
223f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 your AR glasses
22400 3f 22 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61 ?" he suddenly a
22410 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 72 65 sked..."Let's re
22420 77 69 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e wind to the poin
22430 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 79 6f t when I told yo
22440 75 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6c 66 u I'm still half
22450 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6a 61 6d 61 73 2c 22 in my pajamas,"
22460 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 Alley said...He
22470 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 frowned, and as
22480 6b 65 64 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f ked "Have you lo
22490 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f oked at your pho
224a0 6e 65 20 79 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e ne yet this morn
224b0 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 ing?".."This is
224c0 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c starting to feel
224d0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 like we're play
224e0 69 6e 67 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 ing twenty quest
224f0 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 ions after all.
22500 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 6c No, I haven't l
22510 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e ooked at my phon
22520 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 e. I got out of
22530 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c bed, made mysel
22540 66 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 64 65 63 65 6e 74 20 f barely decent
22550 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f to answer the do
22560 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 or, and came to
22570 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 65 welcome you chee
22580 72 66 75 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 62 69 72 64 73 rful early birds
22590 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 to my door. Wh
225a0 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 y?".."I suggest
225b0 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d you check your m
225c0 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 essages.".."Fine
225d0 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ," Alley said.
225e0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 "I'll be right b
225f0 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 ack." She manag
22600 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 72 61 69 6e 20 68 ed to restrain h
22610 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6c 61 6d erself from slam
22620 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 62 ming the door, b
22630 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65 6e ut it wasn't gen
22640 74 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 69 74 20 74 68 tle...She hit th
22650 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 63 6b e button to lock
22660 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 the door, then
22670 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 sat on the couch
22680 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and plucked her
22690 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 phone from the
226a0 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 20 charging plate.
226b0 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 A message notif
226c0 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 ication blinked
226d0 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 at her...Alley d
226e0 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 onned the priori
226f0 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 tizer's glasses
22700 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 and checked her
22710 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 68 messages. One h
22720 61 64 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ad arrived from
22730 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 6f 76 the professor ov
22740 65 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 er an hour earli
22750 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 er. It told her
22760 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 to give the gla
22770 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 20 sses to the men
22780 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 who would come t
22790 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d o see her that m
227a0 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 76 65 orning with gove
227b0 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 44 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 rnment IDs...She
227c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
227d0 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 oor, and muttere
227e0 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20 d ". . . men?"
227f0 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 She wondered if
22800 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 65 78 the professor ex
22810 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 pected different
22820 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69 people, but thi
22830 73 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 6c s was clearly cl
22840 6f 73 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 ose enough. May
22850 62 65 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 be he just meant
22860 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a Men In Black...
22870 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 /* Without the s
22880 74 75 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2c 20 tud in her ear,
22890 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
228a0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 could not speak
228b0 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 75 64 69 62 6c 79 2c 20 to her audibly,
228c0 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 but it used text
228d0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 again. */..The
228e0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 prioritizer plac
228f0 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 ed text in her f
22900 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 22 ield of view. "
22910 54 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 There does not a
22920 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68 ppear to be much
22930 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 choice in how y
22940 6f 75 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 ou handle this,"
22950 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 it said..."Yeah
22960 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 , no kidding."
22970 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
22980 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e the door a momen
22990 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 t longer, and sa
229a0 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 id "There's some
229b0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 61 thing familiar a
229c0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 20 bout that guy."
229d0 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 72 She shrugged, r
229e0 65 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 eturned to the d
229f0 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 oor, and opened
22a00 69 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 54 it once more...T
22a10 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 he pair outside
22a20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 64 broke off in mid
22a30 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 discussion and
22a40 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e looked at Alley.
22a50 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Here," she sa
22a60 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 id. She pulled
22a70 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 off the glasses
22a80 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 and handed them
22a90 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 6f to the closest o
22aa0 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 2e f them, the man.
22ab0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 64 ..He smirked and
22ac0 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 handed them to
22ad0 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 his partner, and
22ae0 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 the woman pulle
22af0 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 d a small black
22b00 64 69 73 63 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 disc out of her
22b10 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 69 70 pocket. The tip
22b20 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 77 68 of her thumb wh
22b30 69 74 65 6e 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 itened slightly
22b40 75 6e 64 65 72 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 66 under pressure f
22b50 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 73 20 73 or a moment as s
22b60 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 he squeezed the
22b70 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 device, and a li
22b80 67 68 74 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 ght began to bli
22b90 6e 6b 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 65 64 67 65 2e 20 nk on its edge.
22ba0 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e The charging in
22bb0 64 69 63 61 74 6f 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e dicator light on
22bc0 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 62 6c 69 the glasses bli
22bd0 6e 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 74 nked in time wit
22be0 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e h it. The woman
22bf0 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 6e held the disc n
22c00 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ear the glasses
22c10 66 6f 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 73 65 63 6f for several seco
22c20 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 nds, then the li
22c30 67 68 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 62 6c 69 6e ght stopped blin
22c40 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 70 king and she rep
22c50 6c 61 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 69 laced the disc i
22c60 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 n her pocket..."
22c70 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f Thank you for yo
22c80 75 72 20 63 6f 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c ur co operation,
22c90 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 " the woman said
22ca0 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 in a sour voice
22cb0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 . She handed th
22cc0 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a e glasses back..
22cd0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 .Alley accepted
22ce0 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e the glasses, don
22cf0 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f ned them once mo
22d00 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 re, and asked "D
22d10 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 o you need anyth
22d20 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 27 ing else?".."We'
22d30 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 66 20 ll come back if
22d40 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 we need anything
22d50 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 else," the man
22d60 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 said, making it
22d70 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 68 72 sound like a thr
22d80 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 67 6e 6f eat...Alley igno
22d90 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 red that. "Do y
22da0 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 ou want to tell
22db0 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c me what the hell
22dc0 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f this is all abo
22dd0 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 ut?".."No," the
22de0 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 man said..."Have
22df0 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 20 20 41 a good day." A
22e00 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f lley spoke witho
22e10 75 74 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ut feeling, and
22e20 73 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 she closed the d
22e30 6f 6f 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 oor on them agai
22e40 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e n...Alley sat on
22e50 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 the couch. "Fu
22e60 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ck," she said.
22e70 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 "Who are those p
22e80 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a eople, really?".
22e90 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."I do not have
22ea0 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e that information
22eb0 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
22ec0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 er said. "Your
22ed0 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 internet researc
22ee0 68 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 h skills should
22ef0 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 6d help you learn m
22f00 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 ore about them,
22f10 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b but it seems lik
22f20 65 6c 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f ely your questio
22f30 6e 20 77 61 73 20 72 68 65 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c n was rhetorical
22f40 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 .".."That's righ
22f50 74 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 70 70 t." Alley flipp
22f60 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 6f 70 ed her laptop op
22f70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 en and started s
22f80 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 earching. She s
22f90 6f 6f 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c oon found hersel
22fa0 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 64 f looking at a d
22fb0 61 74 61 62 61 73 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 69 atabase search i
22fc0 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e nterface for lon
22fd0 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 48 6f 6d 65 6c 61 6e 64 20 g term Homeland
22fe0 53 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 Security contrac
22ff0 74 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 61 62 73 6f tors. This abso
23000 72 62 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 rbed more than a
23010 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 74 69 n hour of her ti
23020 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 79 69 65 6c 64 me without yield
23030 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e ing anything con
23040 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 clusive...She ba
23050 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 cked out of that
23060 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 line of investi
23070 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 gation, and star
23080 74 65 64 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 ted going throug
23090 68 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 63 79 20 72 65 73 h conspiracy res
230a0 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e ources, followin
230b0 67 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 g her nose on th
230c0 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 e first impressi
230d0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 on the people at
230e0 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 her door gave h
230f0 65 72 3a 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b er: Men In Black
23100 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 ...It was ultima
23110 74 65 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 tely the burgund
23120 79 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c y stripes that l
23130 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 ed her to what s
23140 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 he wanted. It s
23150 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 74 eemed to be a st
23160 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 75 6e 69 66 6f 72 6d 20 66 andard uniform f
23170 6f 72 20 22 66 69 65 6c 64 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 or "field agents
23180 22 20 6f 66 20 43 6f 20 4f 70 65 72 61 74 69 76 " of Co Operativ
23190 65 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 4e e Intelligence N
231a0 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 43 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 etworks Corporat
231b0 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 68 61 64 20 74 ion, which had t
231c0 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 65 ies to the Unite
231d0 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 d States Intelli
231e0 67 65 6e 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 gence Community
231f0 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 through federal
23200 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 contracts. The
23210 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 6f search touched o
23220 6e 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 n references to
23230 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 20 66 6f 72 75 6d 20 67 72 darknet forum gr
23240 6f 75 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 oups, and she st
23250 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6c arted to get a l
23260 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 61 62 ittle nervous ab
23270 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 74 out continuing t
23280 68 61 74 20 6c 65 61 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 hat lead. She c
23290 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 hecked to make s
232a0 75 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 ure her various
232b0 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 77 privacy blinds w
232c0 65 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 70 ere running prop
232d0 65 72 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 erly on her lapt
232e0 6f 70 2e 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f op..."Perhaps yo
232f0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 u should change
23300 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 63 6f 6e 66 your laptop conf
23310 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 iguration if you
23320 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 are concerned a
23330 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 bout government
23340 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 73 20 62 65 63 6f contractors beco
23350 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f ming aware of yo
23360 75 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 ur activities wh
23370 69 6c 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 ile researching
23380 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 them."..Alley sa
23390 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 6f 74 t back, then got
233a0 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 up and headed t
233b0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 o the kitchen.
233c0 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 "What do you thi
233d0 6e 6b 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 nk I should do t
233e0 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 42 65 67 69 o start?".."Begi
233f0 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 n with research
23400 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2c 22 20 74 68 65 on OpenBSD," the
23410 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
23420 64 2e 20 20 22 53 65 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 d. "Search for
23430 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 70 information on p
23440 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 rotecting your p
23450 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 rivacy. Informa
23460 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 65 63 75 72 tion about secur
23470 69 74 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 20 6f 66 20 ity benefits of
23480 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 different operat
23490 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 73 75 67 67 ing systems sugg
234a0 65 73 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 ests that OpenBS
234b0 44 20 6d 61 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 D may have the b
234c0 65 73 74 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 est foundation f
234d0 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 63 68 61 72 61 or privacy chara
234e0 63 74 65 72 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 cteristics among
234f0 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a well known proj
23500 65 63 74 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 64 65 66 ects, though def
23510 61 75 6c 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 ault configurati
23520 6f 6e 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 64 on may not be id
23530 65 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 49 74 20 61 70 eal."../* "It ap
23540 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f pears to be a go
23550 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 od place to star
23560 74 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c t." */..As she l
23570 69 73 74 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 istened, Alley p
23580 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 ulled her last p
23590 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 63 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 ressure cooked e
235a0 67 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 gg out of the fr
235b0 69 64 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 65 6c 65 64 20 idge and peeled
235c0 69 74 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 it. "Yeah, okay
235d0 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 . That sounds g
235e0 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 6c ood."..OpenBSD l
235f0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 66 66 73 68 6f 6f 74 73 2c ed to offshoots,
23600 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 other projects
23610 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 that forked the
23620 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 OpenBSD project
23630 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 72 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 itself or built
23640 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 different takes
23650 6f 6e 20 75 73 65 72 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d on user environm
23660 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 6d 6f 6e 20 73 ents or common s
23670 65 72 76 65 72 20 74 79 70 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 erver types on t
23680 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 50 72 6f 6a 65 op of it. Proje
23690 63 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 67 cts that often g
236a0 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 4f ot compared to O
236b0 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 2c 20 penBSD came up,
236c0 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 and she looked i
236d0 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c nto those as wel
236e0 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 l, but most of t
236f0 68 65 6d 20 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 6c 69 hem led down bli
23700 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 nd alleys about
23710 65 78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 73 65 63 experimental sec
23720 75 72 69 74 79 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64 20 4f urity hardened O
23730 53 65 73 20 6f 66 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 66 Ses of various f
23740 6f 72 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e orms that were n
23750 6f 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 ot very suitable
23760 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 for her purpose
23770 73 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 s...One option,
23780 51 75 65 42 53 44 2c 20 77 61 73 20 62 61 73 65 QueBSD, was base
23790 64 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 6e 64 d on OpenBSD and
237a0 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 promised clean
237b0 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 separation betwe
237c0 65 6e 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 en pseudonymous
237d0 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 73 online presences
237e0 20 2d 2d 20 61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 69 -- avoiding bei
237f0 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 ng tracked as a
23800 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 62 79 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 person by confus
23810 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 65 63 ing tracking tec
23820 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 hnologies into t
23830 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6d rying to track m
23840 61 6e 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 65 6e any different en
23850 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 tities that they
23860 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 63 6f 72 72 65 6c 61 74 65 never correlate
23870 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 70 65 d as a single pe
23880 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 rson. She event
23890 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 ually realized i
238a0 74 73 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 20 74 6f 20 73 ts approach to s
238b0 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f eparating enviro
238c0 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 nments was just
238d0 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 20 63 75 74 20 64 6f OpenBSD a cut do
238e0 77 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 73 79 73 74 65 wn OpenBSD syste
238f0 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 74 72 m with some extr
23900 61 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 73 20 61 72 6f a interfaces aro
23910 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 27 73 20 6f 77 und OpenBSD's ow
23920 6e 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e n virtual machin
23930 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 6f e management too
23940 6c 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 75 63 ls. To make muc
23950 68 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c h use of it woul
23960 64 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c d involve instal
23970 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 4f 53 65 73 20 ling other OSes
23980 6f 6e 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 51 75 65 42 53 44 on top of QueBSD
23990 20 69 6e 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 in virtual mach
239a0 69 6e 65 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f ines...Another o
239b0 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 4d 69 6e 69 78 2c 20 73 65 ption, Minix, se
239c0 65 6d 65 64 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 emed good for se
239d0 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 curity and priva
239e0 63 79 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 cy based on some
239f0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 comments in a f
23a00 65 77 20 6d 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 73 74 73 ew mailing lists
23a10 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 75 6d 20 64 69 73 63 75 and forum discu
23a20 73 73 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 66 74 65 ssions, but afte
23a30 72 20 64 69 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 66 75 72 r digging in fur
23a40 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ther she realize
23a50 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 d that most of w
23a60 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 hat people said
23a70 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 about its privac
23a80 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 y benefits looke
23a90 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 d like either th
23aa0 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ings that could
23ab0 62 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 be done on many
23ac0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 4f 53 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c other OSes, incl
23ad0 75 64 69 6e 67 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2c 20 61 uding OpenBSD, a
23ae0 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 nd things that w
23af0 65 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ere just people
23b00 6d 69 73 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 misunderstanding
23b10 20 4d 69 6e 69 78 20 72 65 6c 69 61 62 69 6c 69 Minix reliabili
23b20 74 79 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 2e 20 20 49 74 ty benefits. It
23b30 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f did not seem to
23b40 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 be a particular
23b50 6c 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6f 72 69 65 6e ly privacy orien
23b60 74 65 64 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 55 6c 74 ted option...Ult
23b70 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 imately, she end
23b80 65 64 20 75 70 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 ed up looking at
23b90 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e two things. On
23ba0 65 20 77 61 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2c 20 77 e was MaximOS, w
23bb0 68 69 63 68 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 hich seemed like
23bc0 20 61 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 a close relativ
23bd0 65 20 6f 66 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2e 20 20 54 e of OpenBSD. T
23be0 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d he other was som
23bf0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 39 66 ething called 9f
23c00 72 6f 6e 74 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 ront, with no re
23c10 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 lation to OpenBS
23c20 44 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 D that she could
23c30 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 find...She had
23c40 61 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 69 6d 65 a difficult time
23c50 20 6e 61 76 69 67 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 navigating the
23c60 6a 61 72 67 6f 6e 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 6f jargon filled, o
23c70 66 74 65 6e 20 73 61 72 63 61 73 74 69 63 20 74 ften sarcastic t
23c80 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f one of 9front do
23c90 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 cumentation, but
23ca0 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 it looked like
23cb0 61 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 6c 65 65 70 69 a kind of sleepi
23cc0 6e 67 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 20 6f ng giant among o
23cd0 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 perating systems
23ce0 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 for people who
23cf0 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 69 76 value their priv
23d00 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c acy and personal
23d10 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 2e 20 20 39 66 72 6f security. 9fro
23d20 6e 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c nt also looked l
23d30 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 71 ike it would req
23d40 75 69 72 65 20 77 65 65 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 77 6f uire weeks of wo
23d50 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 74 rk to get it set
23d60 20 75 70 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 up properly for
23d70 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 what she wanted
23d80 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 68 to do, after wh
23d90 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 ich she would ha
23da0 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 ve to run other
23db0 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d operating system
23dc0 73 20 69 6e 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 s in virtual mac
23dd0 68 69 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 hines and move f
23de0 69 6c 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 iles between the
23df0 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 virtual machine
23e00 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 s and the 9front
23e10 20 68 6f 73 74 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 host system to
23e20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 69 67 get anything sig
23e30 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 nificant done.
23e40 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 It looked like t
23e50 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 he way most peop
23e60 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 66 le used 9front f
23e70 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f or privacy reaso
23e80 6e 73 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 ns was to just h
23e90 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 ave a single mac
23ea0 68 69 6e 65 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 hine dedicated t
23eb0 6f 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 o it and use it
23ec0 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 only for specifi
23ed0 63 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 69 6e c purposes, doin
23ee0 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 g everything els
23ef0 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 e on a different
23f00 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 computer with a
23f10 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 4f 53 2e 0a 0a different OS...
23f20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 She looked back
23f30 61 74 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 61 67 61 69 6e at MaximOS again
23f40 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 . It seemed to
23f50 62 65 20 61 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 be a specialized
23f60 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f configuration o
23f70 66 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 f OpenBSD with a
23f80 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 bunch of extra
23f90 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e documentation an
23fa0 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 d privacy protec
23fb0 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 2e 20 20 ting software.
23fc0 54 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 The two projects
23fd0 20 2d 2d 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 6e 64 20 -- OpenBSD and
23fe0 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 61 72 65 MaximOS -- share
23ff0 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 64 65 2c d a lot of code,
24000 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 and each projec
24010 74 20 61 75 64 69 74 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 t audited all of
24020 20 69 74 73 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 70 72 its software pr
24030 65 74 74 79 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 2c etty thoroughly,
24040 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 notably includi
24050 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 ng the software
24060 69 74 20 67 6f 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 it got from the
24070 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2e 0a 0a other project...
24080 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 "Why is all this
24090 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 61 75 64 69 74 69 software auditi
240a0 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 73 6f 20 62 75 72 69 ng stuff so buri
240b0 65 64 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 ed?" she muttere
240c0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 d..."What do you
240d0 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f mean?" the prio
240e0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a ritizer asked...
240f0 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f "It seems like o
24100 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 ne of the best t
24110 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4f 70 65 6e hings about Open
24120 42 53 44 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 BSD is the code
24130 61 75 64 69 74 73 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 audits. I didn'
24140 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 t even find out
24150 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 about how thorou
24160 67 68 6c 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 ghly they check
24170 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 out their code f
24180 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 75 6e 74 69 or problems unti
24190 6c 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 27 l I got to the '
241a0 57 68 79 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 20 4f 53 3f 27 20 70 Why Maxim OS?' p
241b0 61 67 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 6c 69 age, where it li
241c0 6e 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 61 62 6f nks to pages abo
241d0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 74 73 20 6f 6e ut the audits on
241e0 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 it and on OpenB
241f0 53 44 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d SD. With that m
24200 75 63 68 20 61 75 64 69 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 69 74 uch auditing, it
24210 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 seems like the
24220 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 obvious choice f
24230 6f 72 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 76 65 72 or keeping gover
24240 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 72 70 6f nments and corpo
24250 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6c 69 rations from sli
24260 70 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 pping something
24270 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 into the softwar
24280 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 6e 64 e that would und
24290 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 22 ermine privacy."
242a0 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 .."I do not know
242b0 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 why the OpenBSD
242c0 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e project would n
242d0 6f 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 ot present that
242e0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 information more
242f0 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 4d prominently. M
24300 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 aximOS appears t
24310 6f 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 65 6c 6c 65 6e o be an excellen
24320 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 t choice for you
24330 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 r purposes, thou
24340 67 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 gh. It may be a
24350 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 good choice for
24360 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 security your p
24370 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a hone as well."..
24380 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 "Yeah," Alley sa
24390 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 id, "I saw that
243a0 69 6e 66 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d info about the m
243b0 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 74 65 63 68 20 76 65 72 73 69 obile tech versi
243c0 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 2f 2a 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 on of /* the ope
243d0 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 2a 2f rating system */
243e0 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 MaximOS.".."The
243f0 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 73 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 62 79 devices sold by
24400 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 68 61 the company tha
24410 74 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d t develops Maxim
24420 4f 53 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 OS may be a good
24430 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e choice as well.
24440 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 63 ".."Sure, if I c
24450 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 ould afford to b
24460 75 79 20 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 uy one."..She sa
24470 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 69 t and thought, i
24480 64 6c 79 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 dly clicking thr
24490 6f 75 67 68 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ough pages on th
244a0 65 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 73 69 74 65 2e 20 e MaximOS site.
244b0 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 She stopped on
244c0 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 70 61 67 65 20 61 6e the main page an
244d0 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6c 6f 67 61 d read the sloga
244e0 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 75 74 n at the top out
244f0 20 6c 6f 75 64 3a 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 65 6e 65 loud:.."The ene
24500 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 my knows the sys
24510 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 tem."..The prior
24520 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 61 itizer said "Tha
24530 74 20 69 73 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 53 68 t is known as Sh
24540 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 27 73 20 6d 61 78 69 6d 2e 20 20 annon's maxim.
24550 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 It may be the or
24560 69 67 69 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 igin of the name
24570 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 MaximOS.".."Tha
24580 74 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 6f t's kind of an o
24590 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 20 73 6c 6f 67 61 6e 2c 22 20 minous slogan,"
245a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 Alley mused..."I
245b0 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 69 6e t is a rephrasin
245c0 67 20 6f 66 20 4b 65 72 63 6b 68 6f 66 66 73 27 g of Kerckhoffs'
245d0 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 principle, whic
245e0 68 20 61 73 73 65 72 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 h asserts that a
245f0 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 68 cryptosystem sh
24600 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 65 63 75 ould remain secu
24610 72 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 re even if every
24620 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 thing about the
24630 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 system except it
24640 73 20 6b 65 79 20 69 73 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 s key is public
24650 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 2e 20 20 43 6c 61 75 knowledge. Clau
24660 64 65 20 53 68 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 27 73 20 66 6f 72 de Shannon's for
24670 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 72 6f 61 64 65 6e mulation broaden
24680 73 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 69 6e s the idea to in
24690 63 6c 75 64 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d clude all inform
246a0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 77 ation systems, w
246b0 68 65 72 65 20 41 75 67 75 73 74 65 20 4b 65 72 here Auguste Ker
246c0 63 6b 68 6f 66 66 73 27 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 77 ckhoffs' focus w
246d0 61 73 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 74 6f 20 63 as specific to c
246e0 72 79 70 74 6f 67 72 61 70 68 79 2e 20 20 53 68 ryptography. Sh
246f0 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 76 65 72 annon also inver
24700 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 ted the perspect
24710 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 ive to demonstra
24720 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 te the importanc
24730 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 e of the princip
24740 6c 65 20 61 73 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 le as guidance f
24750 6f 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e or system design
24760 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 .".."Yeah, I get
24770 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 that," Alley sa
24780 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 id, and nodded.
24790 20 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 6b "If the enemy k
247a0 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c nows the system,
247b0 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 you should make
247c0 20 73 75 72 65 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 sure none of it
247d0 73 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 70 65 6e s security depen
247e0 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ds on keeping th
247f0 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 e system design
24800 73 65 63 72 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 65 secret..."You se
24810 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 em to know a lot
24820 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 about this stuf
24830 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 f.".."I searched
24840 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 65 63 information sec
24850 75 72 69 74 79 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 70 urity academic p
24860 61 70 65 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 43 49 apers on the UCI
24870 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 72 network and par
24880 61 70 68 72 61 73 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e aphrased from on
24890 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 e of them.".."Th
248a0 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 at seems like it
248b0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 would be pretty
248c0 20 68 61 6e 64 79 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 69 handy, having i
248d0 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f nstant access to
248e0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 61 64 65 all those acade
248f0 6d 69 63 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 62 mic papers and b
24900 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b eing able to mak
24910 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 e use of what th
24920 65 79 20 73 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ey say. I shoul
24930 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 20 d probably lean
24940 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 49 on that more. I
24950 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 don't suppose t
24960 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 here's more in t
24970 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 here that would
24980 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 be useful for me
24990 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 trying to chang
249a0 65 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 6f 75 72 e my career cour
249b0 73 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a se. Is there?".
249c0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ."That does not
249d0 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 seem likely," th
249e0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
249f0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d id. "Apart from
24a00 20 62 61 73 69 63 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 basic statistic
24a10 61 6c 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 66 69 al studies of fi
24a20 65 6c 64 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 elds of employme
24a30 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 nt and how they
24a40 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 72 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 change or become
24a50 20 6f 62 73 6f 6c 65 74 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 obsolete over t
24a60 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 65 ime, the only we
24a70 6c 6c 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 64 20 61 72 65 61 73 ll studied areas
24a80 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 I have found th
24a90 61 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 72 65 6c 65 76 61 at appear releva
24aa0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 69 74 75 61 nt to your situa
24ab0 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 tion pertain to
24ac0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 61 63 74 black market act
24ad0 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 61 ivities. Your a
24ae0 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 67 61 67 version to engag
24af0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 74 61 6e 74 6c 79 ing in blatantly
24b00 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 illegal activit
24b10 79 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 y for reasons of
24b20 20 68 69 67 68 20 72 69 73 6b 20 73 65 76 65 72 high risk sever
24b30 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 63 6c 75 64 65 20 6d 61 6b ity preclude mak
24b40 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 ing use of most
24b50 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 of that informat
24b60 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 68 75 ion."..Alley chu
24b70 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 64 72 69 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 47 ckled drily. "G
24b80 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 reat. The best
24b90 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 guidance for a c
24ba0 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 areer change in
24bb0 74 68 65 20 69 76 6f 72 79 20 74 6f 77 65 72 20 the ivory tower
24bc0 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e is about becomin
24bd0 67 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 72 69 6d 69 g a career crimi
24be0 6e 61 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 nal, I guess. I
24bf0 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 'm not sure whet
24c00 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 77 6f her that says wo
24c10 72 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 rse things about
24c20 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 72 universities or
24c30 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2e 22 about the law."
24c40 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 .."Most of the p
24c50 61 70 65 72 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 apers about thes
24c60 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 63 e subjects are c
24c70 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ould offer somet
24c80 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 hing useful, if
24c90 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 you wished to pu
24ca0 72 73 75 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 rsue black marke
24cb0 74 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 2c t opportunities,
24cc0 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 are related to
24cd0 74 68 65 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 65 63 6f the field of eco
24ce0 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6a 75 64 67 nomics. To judg
24cf0 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 6f 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 e by those, the
24d00 66 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 73 65 65 6d fount often seem
24d10 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 s to lie with th
24d20 65 20 6c 61 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 e law.".."Was th
24d30 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 at the kind of t
24d40 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f hing you used to
24d50 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 advise me to ma
24d60 6b 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 ke those sketchy
24d70 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 deals a couple
24d80 64 61 79 73 20 61 67 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 63 days ago?".."Suc
24d90 68 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 64 69 64 20 68 65 6c h papers did hel
24da0 70 20 6d 65 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 74 68 61 p me prepare tha
24db0 74 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 67 75 69 64 t strategic guid
24dc0 61 6e 63 65 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ance," it said.
24dd0 20 22 43 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d "Certain econom
24de0 69 63 73 20 64 69 73 63 69 70 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 ics disciplines
24df0 61 72 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 are very closely
24e00 20 6d 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 matched to my p
24e10 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 riority manageme
24e20 6e 74 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 65 73 70 65 nt purpose, espe
24e30 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 cially those tha
24e40 74 20 61 73 73 65 72 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 72 64 69 t assert an ordi
24e50 6e 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 73 75 nal theory of su
24e60 62 6a 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 72 bjective value r
24e70 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 ather than any c
24e80 61 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 73 79 ardinal value sy
24e90 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f stem.".."What do
24ea0 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 you mean?".."A
24eb0 63 61 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 cardinal system
24ec0 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 is like using a
24ed0 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f system of one to
24ee0 20 66 69 76 65 20 73 74 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 61 five stars to a
24ef0 73 73 69 67 6e 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 6f 20 61 ssign value to a
24f00 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f product when yo
24f10 75 20 72 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 u rate it on the
24f20 20 65 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 72 63 65 20 73 69 74 65 e commerce site
24f30 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 72 64 65 72 where you order
24f40 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 41 6e 20 6f 72 64 69 6e ed it. An ordin
24f50 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6b al system is lik
24f60 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 77 65 e deciding betwe
24f70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 en the two produ
24f80 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 cts in the first
24f90 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 place, because
24fa0 69 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 77 it only tracks w
24fb0 68 69 63 68 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 hich options you
24fc0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e value more than
24fd0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d others, not som
24fe0 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 63 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 69 63 e static numeric
24ff0 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6c 65 set of value le
25000 76 65 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 vels.".."What if
25010 20 49 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 6f I value them bo
25020 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 3f 22 20 41 6c th the same?" Al
25030 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 ley asked..."Tha
25040 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 t seems such an
25050 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 unlikely case th
25060 61 74 20 69 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 69 73 at it can be dis
25070 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 missed immediate
25080 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 76 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f ly. Even from o
25090 6e 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ne second to the
250a0 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 20 6d 61 next, values ma
250b0 79 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 6c 75 y change, so flu
250c0 63 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ctuations would
250d0 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f settle into a co
250e0 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 64 69 66 66 65 ndition of diffe
250f0 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c ring ordinal val
25100 75 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 74 77 6f 20 ues for any two
25110 69 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 61 64 64 69 74 items. In addit
25120 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 ion, no two prod
25130 75 63 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 74 72 75 6c 79 20 69 ucts are truly i
25140 64 65 6e 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 dentical, though
25150 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 65 72 20 6d 61 79 the shopper may
25160 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 not have enough
25170 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 information to
25180 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 know which that
25190 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 6f person would cho
251a0 6f 73 65 20 69 66 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 66 ose if fully inf
251b0 6f 72 6d 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 44 6f 6e ormed."../* "Don
251c0 27 74 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 't I still have
251d0 74 6f 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 76 to prefer one ov
251e0 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 er the other to
251f0 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 69 74 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 choose it, if I
25200 63 61 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 62 can't just get b
25210 6f 74 68 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 68 61 76 69 6e oth, or if havin
25220 67 20 74 77 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 g two would be a
25230 20 77 61 73 74 65 3f 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 waste?" */.."Wh
25240 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 at about when I
25250 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 just can't decid
25260 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 70 e between two op
25270 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e tions, and I can
25280 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 't get both of t
25290 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 hem? Isn't that
252a0 20 70 72 6f 6f 66 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 proof of being
252b0 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 77 able to value tw
252c0 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 65 71 75 61 6c 6c 79 o things equally
252d0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e ?".."If you cann
252e0 6f 74 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 ot choose betwee
252f0 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 n them based on
25300 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 your own knowled
25310 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f ge about the pro
25320 64 75 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 ducts, and they
25330 61 72 65 20 73 75 62 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 are substitutes
25340 6f 72 20 65 71 75 69 76 61 6c 65 6e 74 73 20 72 or equivalents r
25350 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c ather than compl
25360 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 6f 72 20 6f 72 74 68 ementary or orth
25370 6f 67 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f ogonal to each o
25380 74 68 65 72 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6c ther, you will l
25390 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 6b 65 65 ikely either kee
253a0 70 20 73 65 65 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 p seeking more i
253b0 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 64 65 nformation or de
253c0 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 cide the differe
253d0 6e 63 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 nce is not worth
253e0 20 65 66 66 6f 72 74 20 74 6f 20 69 64 65 6e 74 effort to ident
253f0 69 66 79 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 74 ify. In the lat
25400 74 65 72 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f ter case, you wo
25410 75 6c 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 uld likely choos
25420 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 74 68 e the product th
25430 61 74 20 69 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 at is, at that e
25440 78 61 63 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 xact moment, the
25450 20 65 61 73 69 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 6f 72 64 65 easiest to orde
25460 72 2e 20 20 54 68 75 73 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 r. Thus, one be
25470 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 comes a higher p
25480 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 riority than the
25490 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 63 61 other, not beca
254a0 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 use of a quality
254b0 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 74 6f 20 74 particular to t
254c0 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 he thing, but a
254d0 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 quality of your
254e0 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 circumstances.
254f0 49 74 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 73 20 61 20 67 72 It receives a gr
25500 65 61 74 65 72 20 6f 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 eater ordinal va
25510 6c 75 65 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 61 73 lue position bas
25520 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 ed on momentary
25530 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 6e convenience. In
25540 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 short, convenie
25550 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 nce and eliminat
25560 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 73 ion of the stres
25570 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 s of decision pa
25580 72 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 ralysis becomes
25590 74 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 66 61 63 the deciding fac
255a0 74 6f 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 tor as a value g
255b0 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 reater than the
255c0 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 difference betwe
255d0 65 6e 20 64 69 73 63 65 72 6e 69 62 6c 65 20 70 en discernible p
255e0 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 22 0a roduct values.".
255f0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 ."What if I put
25600 6f 66 66 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 off buying somet
25610 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 hing I want more
25620 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e to get somethin
25630 67 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 g I want less, t
25640 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 o get the second
25650 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 thing more quic
25660 6b 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 kly?".."This is
25670 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 another case of
25680 61 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 63 6f a third value co
25690 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 2c 20 ming into play,
256a0 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 74 such as buying t
256b0 68 65 20 6c 65 73 73 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 he lesser value
256c0 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 item when you ne
256d0 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 73 74 70 6f ed it and postpo
256e0 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 ning the greater
256f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 value item beca
25700 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 use it is not as
25710 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 quickly importa
25720 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 2e 20 20 nt to acquire.
25730 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 20 This is also an
25740 65 78 61 6d 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 example of my ma
25750 69 6e 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 70 72 69 6f in purpose, prio
25760 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 ritization strat
25770 65 67 79 2e 20 20 4c 6f 77 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 egy. Lower valu
25780 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e e goals should n
25790 6f 74 20 70 72 65 76 65 6e 74 20 61 63 68 69 65 ot prevent achie
257a0 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 vement of higher
257b0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 value goals, bu
257c0 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 72 76 t when they serv
257d0 65 20 61 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 6f 72 e as facilitator
257e0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 s for the higher
257f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 74 68 65 value goals the
25800 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 73 y should be purs
25810 75 65 64 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 ued first to ens
25820 75 72 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 75 63 63 ure greater succ
25830 65 73 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 ess later for th
25840 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 e higher value g
25850 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 oals.".."Okay, I
25860 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 get it," Alley
25870 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 77 20 49 20 6e 65 said. "Now I ne
25880 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 ed to figure out
25890 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 what I'm going
258a0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 70 72 6f 74 to do about prot
258b0 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 ecting my privac
258c0 79 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 y better.".."It
258d0 73 65 65 6d 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 6d 61 seems MaximOS ma
258e0 79 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 65 73 74 20 6f y be your best o
258f0 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 ption for now, i
25900 66 20 49 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 f I properly und
25910 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 erstand your goa
25920 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 ls.".."Yeah, tha
25930 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b t's what I think
25940 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 , too."..Two hou
25950 72 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 rs later, with a
25960 6e 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 73 6f 75 70 20 62 6f 77 n empty soup bow
25970 6c 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 68 l beside her, sh
25980 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 64 e was skimming d
25990 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 iscussions in a
259a0 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 darknet communit
259b0 79 20 73 69 74 65 2c 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 y site, reading
259c0 68 65 61 64 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 headlines about
259d0 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6e Men In Black con
259e0 73 70 69 72 61 63 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 spiracy theories
259f0 2e 20 20 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 . Eventually, s
25a00 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f he found one fro
25a10 6d 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 65 61 m four months ea
25a20 72 6c 69 65 72 20 62 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 rlier by someone
25a30 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 who claimed to
25a40 68 61 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e have seen the in
25a50 6e 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 ner workings of
25a60 43 6f 20 4f 70 65 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 49 6e 74 Co Operative Int
25a70 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 4e 65 74 77 6f 72 elligence Networ
25a80 6b 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 73 65 k Corp. The use
25a90 72 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 r wrote under th
25aa0 65 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 20 5b 20 43 4f e pseudonym [ CO
25ab0 49 4e 20 2d 20 4f 70 20 5d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 IN - Op ], and e
25ac0 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 xplained that th
25ad0 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 27 73 20 61 67 65 6e e company's agen
25ae0 74 73 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 ts intentionally
25af0 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 65 created hostile
25b00 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 environments wh
25b10 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 en interacting w
25b20 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 ith what they ca
25b30 6c 6c 65 64 20 22 63 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 73 22 lled "civilians"
25b40 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 20 , which to them
25b50 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 sometimes meant
25b60 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 75 61 members of actua
25b70 6c 20 55 53 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 l US intelligenc
25b80 65 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 e agencies. The
25b90 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 61 72 6b 20 68 6f y would spark ho
25ba0 73 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 stility in their
25bb0 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 targets, and ev
25bc0 65 6e 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 20 68 6f 73 74 69 en pretend hosti
25bd0 6c 69 74 79 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 65 61 63 lity between eac
25be0 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 h other in ways
25bf0 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 6f meant to play to
25c00 20 61 20 63 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 27 73 20 62 69 a civilian's bi
25c10 61 73 65 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 6f 66 ases as a way of
25c20 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 creating a care
25c30 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 63 75 6c 74 69 76 61 74 65 64 fully cultivated
25c40 20 63 68 61 6f 74 69 63 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 chaotic interac
25c50 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 tion that would
25c60 6e 65 67 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 66 66 65 63 negatively affec
25c70 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 27 t their targets'
25c80 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 41 63 63 judgement...Acc
25c90 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 5b 20 43 4f 49 4e ording to [ COIN
25ca0 20 2d 20 4f 70 20 5d 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 75 73 - Op ], they us
25cb0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 61 63 74 ed the same tact
25cc0 69 63 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 20 6f ics on targets o
25cd0 6e 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 73 6f 69 6c 2c 20 n foreign soil,
25ce0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 6c 61 79 though they play
25cf0 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 61 73 ed much more fas
25d00 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 20 77 69 74 68 t and loose with
25d10 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 regulations out
25d20 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 2c 20 61 6e 64 side the US, and
25d30 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 such activities
25d40 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b always led back
25d50 20 74 6f 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 to targets in t
25d60 68 65 20 55 53 2e 20 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 he US. Because
25d70 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 65 6d 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 their remit was
25d80 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 domestic terrori
25d90 73 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 65 sm, they only we
25da0 6e 74 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 55 53 20 62 6f nt outside US bo
25db0 72 64 65 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 76 65 73 rders with inves
25dc0 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 tigations when t
25dd0 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e hey were certain
25de0 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 the people they
25df0 20 73 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 65 72 65 sought out were
25e00 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d involved in som
25e10 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 73 65 63 75 74 61 ething prosecuta
25e20 62 6c 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 ble because they
25e30 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f did not want to
25e40 20 77 61 73 74 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 70 waste time on p
25e50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 eople they could
25e60 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 61 74 63 not use to catc
25e70 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 h someone in the
25e80 20 55 53 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 73 6f US if they also
25e90 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 63 could not get c
25ea0 72 65 64 69 74 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 73 75 63 redit toward suc
25eb0 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 cess of their pr
25ec0 69 6d 61 72 79 20 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f imary mission fo
25ed0 72 20 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 r catching those
25ee0 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c foreign agents,
25ef0 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 72 65 either. The re
25f00 73 75 6c 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 sult was that th
25f10 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 ey followed poli
25f20 63 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 cies that result
25f30 65 64 20 69 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 65 78 74 72 ed in being extr
25f40 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 6f 6e emely good at on
25f50 6c 79 20 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 ly catching peop
25f60 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 74 72 75 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e le who truly con
25f70 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 65 72 72 tributed to terr
25f80 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 68 65 orism within the
25f90 20 55 53 2c 20 62 75 74 20 22 63 61 74 63 68 69 US, but "catchi
25fa0 6e 67 22 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 74 69 6d 65 ng" several time
25fb0 73 20 61 73 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 s as many innoce
25fc0 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 nt people in the
25fd0 20 55 53 20 61 73 20 67 75 69 6c 74 79 20 70 65 US as guilty pe
25fe0 6f 70 6c 65 2e 20 20 42 79 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 ople. By demons
25ff0 74 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 trating dubious
26000 74 69 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 65 6f ties between peo
26010 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ple, they could
26020 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6e 79 6f make almost anyo
26030 6e 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 67 75 69 6c 74 79 20 65 ne look guilty e
26040 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 20 6f nough to claim o
26050 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 75 63 63 65 perational succe
26060 73 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 69 63 74 75 72 65 ss...The picture
26070 20 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 forming in Alle
26080 79 27 73 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 y's mind just ke
26090 70 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 6c 65 61 6b pt getting bleak
260a0 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e er as she contin
260b0 75 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 2e 20 20 5b 20 ued to read. [
260c0 43 4f 49 4e 20 2d 20 4f 70 20 5d 20 73 61 69 64 COIN - Op ] said
260d0 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 75 73 65 64 20 COIN Corp used
260e0 6d 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 manipulation and
260f0 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 intimidation wi
26100 74 68 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 th precise exper
26110 74 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 70 65 6f tise to make peo
26120 70 6c 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 ple even belief
26130 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 75 69 6c 74 79 they were guilty
26140 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 , and would make
26150 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 them disappear
26160 61 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 6e 6f at a moment's no
26170 74 69 63 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 tice if the targ
26180 65 74 73 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d ets did not seem
26190 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 20 useful to them
261a0 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 any longer and t
261b0 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 68 6f 70 here was any hop
261c0 65 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 72 65 e of getting cre
261d0 64 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 dit for tying of
261e0 66 20 61 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 20 65 6e 64 20 69 6e f a loose end in
261f0 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 what they calle
26200 64 20 74 68 65 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 d the "domestic
26210 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 terrorism networ
26220 6b 22 2e 20 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 k". COIN Corp a
26230 6c 73 6f 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 lso seemed to ha
26240 76 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 6d 65 6e ve an arrangemen
26250 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 44 65 70 61 72 t with the Depar
26260 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4a 75 73 74 69 63 65 tment of Justice
26270 2c 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 , by which COIN
26280 43 6f 72 70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 63 63 61 73 Corp would occas
26290 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 ionally provide
262a0 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 guidance on how
262b0 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 federal investig
262c0 61 74 6f 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 ators could go t
262d0 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 hrough the proce
262e0 73 73 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 63 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 ss of uncovering
262f0 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 22 70 72 6f 70 65 evidence "prope
26300 72 6c 79 22 20 74 68 61 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 rly" that COIN C
26310 6f 72 70 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 orp had already
26320 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 acquired through
26330 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c technically ill
26340 65 67 61 6c 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 egal means. In
26350 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 return, COIN Cor
26360 70 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 61 p could expect a
26370 20 66 65 77 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 few considerati
26380 6f 6e 73 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 ons, such as no
26390 63 6c 61 69 6d 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 43 claims against C
263a0 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 62 65 61 72 69 6e 67 OIN Corp bearing
263b0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 66 72 75 69 74 20 69 6e 20 66 much fruit in f
263c0 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 75 72 74 73 2c 20 74 ederal courts, t
263d0 68 65 20 4a 75 73 74 69 63 65 20 44 65 70 61 72 he Justice Depar
263e0 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 6a tment claiming j
263f0 75 72 69 73 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 6e urisdiction in n
26400 6f 6e 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 63 61 73 65 73 on federal cases
26410 20 74 6f 20 65 6c 65 76 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 6d to elevate them
26420 20 74 6f 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 75 72 to federal cour
26430 74 20 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 t proceedings, a
26440 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 nd perhaps best
26450 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 69 63 65 of all some nice
26460 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 66 65 64 excuses for fed
26470 65 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 eral law enforce
26480 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 74 6f ment agencies to
26490 20 73 65 72 76 65 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74 73 20 serve warrants
264a0 6f 6e 20 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 65 64 20 63 61 73 65 on invented case
264b0 73 20 69 6e 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 s in support of
264c0 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 COIN Corp operat
264d0 69 6f 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c ions...In short,
264e0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 if they wanted
264f0 74 6f 2c 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 to, COIN Corp ag
26500 65 6e 74 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 ents could get t
26510 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 74 6f 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 he FBI to break
26520 64 6f 77 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 64 6f 6f down Alley's doo
26530 72 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 6c 69 6d 73 79 r on some flimsy
26540 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 61 excuse for a wa
26550 72 72 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 46 rrant, and the F
26560 42 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 BI would just ha
26570 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 nd her over to t
26580 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 61 67 65 he corporate age
26590 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 4f 74 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 nts...Others in
265a0 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 the discussion s
265b0 68 61 72 65 64 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 hared supporting
265c0 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 4d 65 6e 20 stories of Men
265d0 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 72 In Black who wor
265e0 65 20 72 65 64 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 73 68 e red striped sh
265f0 69 72 74 73 2c 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 69 6e irts, supervisin
26600 67 20 41 54 46 2c 20 46 42 49 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 g ATF, FBI, and
26610 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 74 Secret Service t
26620 65 61 6d 73 20 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f eams breaking do
26630 77 6e 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 65 63 wn doors to exec
26640 75 74 65 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 4d ute warrants. M
26650 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 ost people telli
26660 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73 ng those stories
26670 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 claimed they ne
26680 76 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 ver again saw th
26690 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 e people who liv
266a0 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 ed in the places
266b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 74 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 that got search
266c0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 ed...Alley felt
266d0 63 68 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 chilled, despite
266e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 the warmth and
266f0 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 light coming thr
26700 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 75 ough the thin cu
26710 72 74 61 69 6e 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 rtains over the
26720 73 6f 75 74 68 20 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 77 69 6e south facing win
26730 64 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 dow. She closed
26740 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 her laptop and
26750 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 walked to the ki
26760 74 63 68 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f tchen, then stoo
26770 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 d over the sink
26780 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b and stared blank
26790 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 69 6e 2e ly at the drain.
267a0 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 5b 20 43 4f From what [ CO
267b0 49 4e 20 2d 20 4f 70 20 5d 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 IN - Op ] said,
267c0 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 it seemed like t
267d0 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 he agents of COI
267e0 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 64 N Corp enjoyed d
267f0 65 73 74 72 6f 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 76 65 73 2c estroying lives,
26800 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 67 67 65 64 20 61 62 6f and bragged abo
26810 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 74 ut how quickly t
26820 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 hey could track
26830 64 6f 77 6e 20 22 65 6e 65 6d 69 65 73 20 6f 66 down "enemies of
26840 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 22 20 62 79 20 67 the state" by g
26850 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c oing after peopl
26860 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 e who didn't eve
26870 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 n know they had
26880 6d 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 74 74 79 20 63 met some petty c
26890 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 73 20 77 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e riminals who, in
268a0 20 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 turn, didn't re
268b0 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 63 alize they had c
268c0 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 ontact with some
268d0 6f 6e 65 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 6c 79 20 63 one supposedly c
268e0 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 22 64 6f 6d onnected to "dom
268f0 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 22 estic terrorism"
26900 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 . They just had
26910 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 to stay away fr
26920 6f 6d 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b om anyone well k
26930 6e 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 nown enough to d
26940 72 61 77 20 6d 65 64 69 61 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 raw media attent
26950 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 ion, or anyone w
26960 65 61 6c 74 68 79 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 ealthy or connec
26970 74 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 ted enough to re
26980 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 ally go after th
26990 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 e corporation, s
269a0 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 o their activiti
269b0 65 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 es would never g
269c0 65 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 63 72 75 74 69 et enough scruti
269d0 6e 79 20 74 6f 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 69 67 6e ny to cause sign
269e0 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 ificant problems
269f0 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 65 ...Alley recalle
26a00 64 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 44 61 d a time when Da
26a10 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 lton told her th
26a20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 73 at the idea of s
26a30 69 78 20 64 65 67 72 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 ix degrees of se
26a40 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f paration was too
26a50 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 73 74 69 63 20 77 68 65 6e optimistic when
26a60 20 69 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 76 65 it came to gove
26a70 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 64 61 73 2e 20 rnment agendas.
26a80 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 Most people in
26a90 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 the United State
26aa0 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 72 65 s were only thre
26ab0 65 20 64 65 67 72 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 70 e degrees of sep
26ac0 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f aration away fro
26ad0 6d 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 63 72 69 6d m organized crim
26ae0 65 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 2c 20 77 68 65 6e e -- which, when
26af0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 Dalton used the
26b00 20 74 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6c term, almost al
26b10 77 61 79 73 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 63 6c ways either incl
26b20 75 64 65 64 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 uded government
26b30 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 or anything the
26b40 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 64 65 73 69 67 government desig
26b50 6e 61 74 65 64 20 22 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d nated "terrorism
26b60 22 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 ". In this case
26b70 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 , he was talking
26b80 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 more about the
26b90 73 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 so called terror
26ba0 69 73 74 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f ists than the go
26bb0 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 42 61 73 65 64 vernment. Based
26bc0 20 6f 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 on what she had
26bd0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 just read on th
26be0 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 2c 20 69 74 20 6c 6f e darknet, it lo
26bf0 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 oked like COIN C
26c00 6f 72 70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 orp would probab
26c10 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 65 72 ly just make her
26c20 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c disappear and l
26c30 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 ook for ways to
26c40 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 22 connect her to "
26c50 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 domestic terrori
26c60 73 6d 22 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c sm" so they coul
26c70 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6e 69 63 65 20 62 6f 6e d get a nice bon
26c80 75 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 6e 63 6c 65 20 53 61 us from Uncle Sa
26c90 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 44 61 6c 74 m. Through Dalt
26ca0 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e on and his frien
26cb0 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 ds, she figured
26cc0 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 they would not e
26cd0 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 ven have to try
26ce0 76 65 72 79 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e very hard to fin
26cf0 64 20 61 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 d a quick connec
26d00 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f tion from her to
26d10 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 someone on some
26d20 20 77 61 74 63 68 20 6c 69 73 74 2e 0a 0a 49 74 watch list...It
26d30 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f could not be to
26d40 6f 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 2c 20 77 68 65 o difficult, whe
26d50 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 n they didn't ev
26d60 65 6e 20 63 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 en care whether
26d70 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 61 69 6c they really nail
26d80 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 ed down a case a
26d90 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 6c 74 69 6d gainst the ultim
26da0 61 74 65 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 ate "domestic te
26db0 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 22 20 74 68 65 79 20 75 73 rrorist" they us
26dc0 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 ed as an excuse
26dd0 74 6f 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 61 67 20 6f 74 68 to black bag oth
26de0 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 er people along
26df0 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 the way. By the
26e00 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 n, they already
26e10 68 61 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 69 had all those di
26e20 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 sappeared people
26e30 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 marked down in
26e40 74 68 65 20 22 77 69 6e 22 20 63 6f 6c 75 6d 6e the "win" column
26e50 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6e ..."I'm just a n
26e60 75 6d 62 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a umber to them.".
26e70 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
26e80 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e said "Everythin
26e90 67 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 g is about numbe
26ea0 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 rs for an organi
26eb0 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 4f 49 4e zation like COIN
26ec0 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 72 65 76 65 Corp. Its reve
26ed0 6e 75 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 69 73 20 62 61 73 nue model is bas
26ee0 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 ed on government
26ef0 20 70 61 79 6f 75 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e payouts and con
26f00 74 72 61 63 74 20 72 65 6e 65 77 61 6c 73 20 77 tract renewals w
26f10 68 69 63 68 20 61 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 75 72 hich are, in tur
26f20 6e 2c 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 62 79 n, determined by
26f30 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 6d 65 74 performance met
26f40 72 69 63 73 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d rics. A governm
26f50 65 6e 74 20 62 75 72 65 61 75 63 72 61 63 79 20 ent bureaucracy
26f60 6d 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 must use metrics
26f70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 20 73 75 63 63 to measure succ
26f80 65 73 73 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 ess, because the
26f90 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 67 size of the org
26fa0 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 anization cannot
26fb0 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 63 6f 6e 73 ensure any cons
26fc0 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 istent effective
26fd0 6e 65 73 73 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 ness judgement a
26fe0 6e 79 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 41 ny other way. A
26ff0 20 63 6f 6d 62 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 combination of
27000 74 68 65 20 65 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 20 6f the efficiency o
27010 66 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f f digital techno
27020 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 74 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 69 6e logy at analyzin
27030 67 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 g simple metrics
27040 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 65 72 20 73 and the sheer s
27050 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 67 61 6e ize of the organ
27060 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 izations involve
27070 64 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 d ensure that wi
27080 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 76 thout turning ev
27090 65 72 79 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 64 65 63 69 73 ery policy decis
270a0 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 ion into straigh
270b0 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 69 63 tforward numeric
270c0 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 optimization th
270d0 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 e whole system w
270e0 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 61 6c 6c 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 ould fall apart
270f0 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 under the weight
27100 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 65 66 of its own inef
27110 66 69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 ficiency.".."You
27120 27 72 65 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 're beginning to
27130 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 sound like Dalt
27140 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 on.".."I do not
27150 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d know what that m
27160 65 61 6e 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 eans," the prior
27170 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 itizer said..."I
27180 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 'll tell you abo
27190 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 ut it later."..H
271a0 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 72 61 63 65 64 20 69 6e er mind raced in
271b0 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 circles. It di
271c0 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 dn't look like t
271d0 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 here was any way
271e0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f out of this who
271f0 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 le problem. She
27200 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 had to sacrific
27210 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 44 e something..."D
27220 61 6d 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 amn," she said.
27230 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 "I have to give
27240 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 74 20 62 all this shit b
27250 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 ack to the profe
27260 73 73 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f ssor. I have to
27270 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 get out of this
27280 20 6d 65 73 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 mess right away
27290 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 69 6e . I'm just goin
272a0 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 69 73 g to have to kis
272b0 73 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 s my ability to
272c0 70 61 79 20 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 pay rent goodbye
272d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e , and go move in
272e0 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 with my mother
272f0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 6f in the ass end o
27300 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 f nowhere."..The
27310 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
27320 64 20 22 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 d "I believe tha
27330 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 6d 69 73 74 61 6b 65 2e 22 t is a mistake."
27340 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 .."What?" Alley
27350 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f looked up, almo
27360 73 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 st expecting to
27370 73 65 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 65 72 see someone ther
27380 65 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 69 6e 67 20 77 69 e disagreeing wi
27390 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 6d 65 th her, and imme
273a0 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 66 6f 6f diately felt foo
273b0 6c 69 73 68 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 lish. "Why?".."
273c0 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 COIN Corp will p
273d0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 robably already
273e0 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 have a file on y
273f0 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 ou right now to
27400 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2c use against you,
27410 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 if that online
27420 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 discussion was a
27430 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 ccurate. It see
27440 6d 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 ms pointless for
27450 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f them to have co
27460 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f me to talk to yo
27470 75 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c 69 u before compili
27480 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 ng information a
27490 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 bout you. They
274a0 63 61 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 can turn you int
274b0 6f 20 61 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 6c 69 6e o a supposed lin
274c0 6b 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 k to domestic te
274d0 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 rrorism like the
274e0 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 y have with othe
274f0 72 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 rs. To avoid th
27500 61 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 at, you need to
27510 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6f 66 20 appear to be of
27520 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 value to the age
27530 6e 74 73 20 61 73 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 nts assigned to
27540 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f this case.".."Ho
27550 77 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 49 20 w the hell do I
27560 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c do that?" She l
27570 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 ooked down at he
27580 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c r hands, suddenl
27590 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 y noticing that
275a0 74 68 65 79 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 they hurt. She
275b0 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 saw that she was
275c0 20 67 72 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 gripping the ed
275d0 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 73 ge of the sink s
275e0 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 68 65 72 20 6b 6e o tightly her kn
275f0 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 68 69 74 uckles were whit
27600 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 e and her finger
27610 74 69 70 73 20 66 65 6c 74 20 62 72 75 69 73 65 tips felt bruise
27620 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 d. She started
27630 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 20 trying to relax
27640 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 her hands, but s
27650 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 omehow she just
27660 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 could not will h
27670 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 74 2e erself to do it.
27680 0a 0a 22 50 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 .."Provide them
27690 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 74 61 20 6f with good data o
276a0 6e 20 6d 79 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 20 n my utility as
276b0 61 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 70 72 69 6f a strategic prio
276c0 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 ritization syste
276d0 6d 2e 20 20 41 63 68 69 65 76 69 6e 67 20 64 72 m. Achieving dr
276e0 61 6d 61 74 69 63 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 amatic success i
276f0 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 65 72 69 6f 64 n a short period
27700 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 of time will bu
27710 79 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 y you more time
27720 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 20 6c to determine a l
27730 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 72 6d 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 onger term plan
27740 66 6f 72 20 61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 63 for avoiding bec
27750 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 oming one of COI
27760 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 27 73 20 76 69 63 74 69 6d 73 N Corp's victims
27770 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 . It will also
27780 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 give you access
27790 74 6f 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 79 6f 75 to resources you
277a0 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 can use to cont
277b0 72 6f 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 rol parts of the
277c0 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 72 61 74 68 situation, rath
277d0 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 62 er than simply b
277e0 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 eing controlled
277f0 62 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 by it.".."You me
27800 61 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 an I can make th
27810 65 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 65 78 61 em think I'm exa
27820 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 ctly what they w
27830 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 ant from the stu
27840 64 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 dy at the same t
27850 69 6d 65 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 ime I'm building
27860 20 61 6e 20 61 72 73 65 6e 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 6d an arsenal to m
27870 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e ake myself . . .
27880 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 70 6c 61 79 65 72 2c well, a player,
27890 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 instead of a pa
278a0 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 63 68 65 73 wn.".."Yes, ches
278b0 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6d 65 74 61 s is a good meta
278c0 70 68 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 phor for this.
278d0 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f You must have so
278e0 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 70 69 65 63 65 me playing piece
278f0 73 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f s of your own to
27900 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 6d 65 2e 22 play the game."
27910 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 .."Great," she s
27920 61 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20 74 6f 6e 65 ad, her dry tone
27930 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 68 suggesting noth
27940 69 6e 67 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 ing great about
27950 69 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 it at all. "I g
27960 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 uess you don't e
27970 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 67 6f 6f ven have any goo
27980 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f d ideas about ho
27990 77 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 w to escape this
279a0 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 6f 6e 63 completely, onc
279b0 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 e I get to that
279c0 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a point, though.".
279d0 0a 22 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 ."At this time,
279e0 6d 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 my only suggesti
279f0 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 on for the long
27a00 74 65 72 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 6f term would be to
27a10 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 position yourse
27a20 6c 66 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 lf well for the
27a30 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 72 75 company to recru
27a40 69 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 it you as one of
27a50 20 69 74 73 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 49 20 its agents. I
27a60 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 am not confident
27a70 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d that could be m
27a80 61 64 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 ade consistent w
27a90 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c ith your ethical
27aa0 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 principles.".."
27ab0 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f This is . . . no
27ac0 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 61 79 20 . No, this day
27ad0 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 can't be happeni
27ae0 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 ng.".."If you wa
27af0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 nt to make them
27b00 72 65 67 61 72 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 20 61 20 regard you as a
27b10 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 61 73 73 65 74 2c long term asset,
27b20 20 49 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 I recommend you
27b30 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e do what you can
27b40 20 74 6f 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 to fully protec
27b50 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 t your privacy,
27b60 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 61 72 except for a car
27b70 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 6c efully allowed l
27b80 65 61 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 6c 6f 67 73 eak into my logs
27b90 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 . This should i
27ba0 6d 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 mpress the agent
27bb0 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 67 65 s with your inge
27bc0 6e 75 69 74 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 66 72 nuity without fr
27bd0 75 73 74 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 ustrating them e
27be0 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 61 ntirely. You wa
27bf0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 73 75 63 nt to appear suc
27c00 63 65 73 73 66 75 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 cessful and of s
27c10 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 69 6e 63 6c 69 6e 61 74 69 imilar inclinati
27c20 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 77 69 74 ons to them, wit
27c30 68 6f 75 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 hout appearing t
27c40 6f 20 62 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 o beat them. I
27c50 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 66 69 6c 6c 20 6d 79 can help fill my
27c60 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 logs with infor
27c70 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 mation to keep t
27c80 68 65 6d 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 62 75 hem satisfied bu
27c90 74 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 72 t protect you fr
27ca0 6f 6d 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 om accurate enou
27cb0 67 68 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 gh surveillance
27cc0 74 6f 20 64 69 73 63 65 72 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 to discern what
27cd0 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 you are really d
27ce0 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 65 78 oing.".."What ex
27cf0 61 63 74 6c 79 20 61 6d 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c actly am I reall
27d00 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 y doing?" she as
27d10 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c ked. She finall
27d20 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 63 y managed to unc
27d30 6c 65 6e 63 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 lench her hands
27d40 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 from the sink, t
27d50 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 hen, and saw tha
27d60 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f t she had someho
27d70 77 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 w cracked one of
27d80 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 61 74 6c 79 20 74 72 69 6d her neatly trim
27d90 6d 65 64 20 6e 61 69 6c 73 2e 20 20 41 20 64 72 med nails. A dr
27da0 6f 70 6c 65 74 20 6f 66 20 62 6c 6f 6f 64 20 68 oplet of blood h
27db0 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f ad started to fo
27dc0 72 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 rm on the damage
27dd0 64 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 d fingernail..."
27de0 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 First, we should
27df0 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 learn something
27e00 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 77 6f about those two
27e10 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 agents. They a
27e20 72 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 re your immediat
27e30 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 6e 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 e opponents, and
27e40 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 we need to know
27e50 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d more about them
27e60 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 .".."Yeah," Alle
27e70 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 y said. "Why ar
27e80 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 e you helping me
27e90 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d instead of them
27ea0 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 -- or are you h
27eb0 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 41 72 elping them? Ar
27ec0 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c en't you basical
27ed0 6c 79 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 ly their project
27ee0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e ?".."I am design
27ef0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 79 20 75 73 ed to help my us
27f00 65 72 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c ers. Right now,
27f10 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 you are one of
27f20 6d 79 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 my users. The c
27f30 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 6e 6f orporation is no
27f40 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 61 6d 20 t, because I am
27f50 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 74 65 73 74 69 still in a testi
27f60 6e 67 20 73 74 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 ng stage.".."Fuc
27f70 6b 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 74 75 72 6e 20 k. If you turn
27f80 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 out to be what t
27f90 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c hey want, you'll
27fa0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 probably make t
27fb0 68 65 6d 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 hem even more ef
27fc0 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 73 63 72 65 77 fective at screw
27fd0 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 ing people over
27fe0 69 6e 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 in large numbers
27ff0 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 so they can get
28000 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 6d 61 bigger Christma
28010 73 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 s bonuses.".."Th
28020 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c at is a possibil
28030 69 74 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ity," the priori
28040 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c tizer said...All
28050 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 62 6f 78 ey grabbed a box
28060 20 6f 66 20 61 64 68 65 73 69 76 65 20 62 61 6e of adhesive ban
28070 64 61 67 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6d dages from the m
28080 65 64 69 63 69 6e 65 20 63 61 62 69 6e 65 74 20 edicine cabinet
28090 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 68 72 6f 6f 6d 20 in the bathroom
280a0 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 and sat on the c
280b0 6f 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 77 72 61 70 20 6f 6e 65 ouch to wrap one
280c0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 around her fing
280d0 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 ernail. She ope
280e0 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 61 ned her laptop a
280f0 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 nd looked at the
28100 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 discussion on t
28110 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 20 73 69 74 65 2e he darknet site.
28120 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Okay," she sa
28130 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e id, "maybe I can
28140 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 do this."..The
28150 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 74 61 process of insta
28160 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 74 75 lling MaximOS tu
28170 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 rned out to be e
28180 61 73 69 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 61 73 74 65 72 asier and faster
28190 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 than she expect
281a0 65 64 2e 20 20 4f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 64 ed. Organized d
281b0 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 2f 2a 20 ocumentation /*
281c0 74 68 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 that */ led her
281d0 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 74 75 through the setu
281e0 70 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 p process after
281f0 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 installation for
28200 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d the kind of com
28210 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 puting environme
28220 6e 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 20 20 nt she wanted.
28230 49 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 73 75 67 67 It included sugg
28240 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 64 69 66 66 estions for diff
28250 65 72 65 6e 74 20 75 73 65 72 20 6e 65 65 64 73 erent user needs
28260 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 and short, clea
28270 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 r explanations f
28280 6f 72 20 77 68 79 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 68 6f 69 or why each choi
28290 63 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 ce existed. It
282a0 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 74 20 74 helped her get t
282b0 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 o a point where
282c0 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 61 73 20 6d the system was m
282d0 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 64 65 71 75 61 74 ore than adequat
282e0 65 6c 79 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 ely locked down
282f0 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6e 65 65 64 for Alley's need
28300 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 65 73 s, in her own es
28310 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 timation. The p
28320 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 rioritizer concu
28330 72 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b rred...She quick
28340 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 4d 61 ly found that Ma
28350 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 ximOS gave her t
28360 6f 6f 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 ools for quickly
28370 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 72 20 70 creating user p
28380 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4f rofiles in the O
28390 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 6e 61 74 69 76 65 20 22 70 penBSD native "p
283a0 72 69 73 6f 6e 22 20 6c 69 67 68 74 77 65 69 67 rison" lightweig
283b0 68 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 72 20 73 79 73 ht container sys
283c0 74 65 6d 2c 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d tem, kind of a m
283d0 6f 72 65 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 20 73 ore thoroughly s
283e0 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 65 64 20 72 65 69 6d 61 67 69 andboxed reimagi
283f0 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 46 72 65 65 ning of the Free
28400 42 53 44 20 22 6a 61 69 6c 22 20 73 79 73 74 65 BSD "jail" syste
28410 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e m, so that to an
28420 79 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 y network connec
28430 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 65 61 63 ted computer eac
28440 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 h of these profi
28450 6c 65 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 les looked like
28460 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 completely diffe
28470 72 65 6e 74 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e rent systems, an
28480 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 77 69 74 d she could swit
28490 63 68 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 72 69 73 6f ch between priso
284a0 6e 20 22 63 65 6c 6c 73 22 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 n "cells" -- the
284b0 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 66 6f name it used fo
284c0 72 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 75 73 65 r configured use
284d0 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f r profile enviro
284e0 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 nments -- with a
284f0 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 64 simple keyboard
28500 20 73 68 6f 72 74 63 75 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 shortcut...She
28510 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 played around wi
28520 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 th this for a li
28530 74 74 6c 65 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 67 65 74 74 ttle while, gett
28540 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 77 20 ing used to how
28550 69 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 70 72 61 it worked in pra
28560 63 74 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 69 70 65 ctice, then wipe
28570 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 d all the practi
28580 63 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 20 61 ce profiles in a
28590 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 n instant. She
285a0 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 70 72 created a new pr
285b0 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 ofile and opened
285c0 20 69 74 73 20 63 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 its cell. With
285d0 69 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 in it, she used
285e0 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 65 64 20 72 6f 75 74 69 anonymized routi
285f0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 ng to visit the
28600 77 65 62 73 69 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 43 4f 49 4e website for COIN
28610 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 Corp and looked
28620 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 64 69 6e around. Findin
28630 67 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 76 65 72 79 20 75 g nothing very u
28640 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 seful that way,
28650 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 she opened other
28660 20 63 65 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 69 66 66 cells with diff
28670 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 61 erent profiles a
28680 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 65 61 72 63 nd started searc
28690 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e hing for referen
286a0 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 ces to COIN Corp
286b0 20 6f 6e 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 72 on employment r
286c0 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f elated professio
286d0 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 6e 65 74 77 6f nal social netwo
286e0 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 69 74 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e rking sites. On
286f0 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 69 74 65 73 2c 20 73 68 those sites, sh
28700 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 66 69 6e 64 69 6e e started findin
28710 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 73 20 6f g the accounts o
28720 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 65 6d 70 6c f COIN Corp empl
28730 6f 79 65 65 73 2e 0a 0a 43 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 oyees...Corporat
28740 65 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 72 73 2c 20 61 63 63 6f e officers, acco
28750 75 6e 74 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 untants, system
28760 61 64 6d 69 6e 69 73 74 72 61 74 6f 72 73 2c 20 administrators,
28770 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 61 67 65 6e 74 and policy agent
28780 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 s -- whatever th
28790 6f 73 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 2d 2d 20 61 6c 6c 20 ose were -- all
287a0 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 appeared in her
287b0 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 searches. She c
287c0 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 hecked the compa
287d0 6e 79 20 77 65 62 73 69 74 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e ny website again
287e0 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 , looking at the
287f0 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 69 73 74 employment list
28800 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 ings, and found
28810 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 61 one for policy a
28820 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 gents. It spoke
28830 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 of interfacing
28840 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 2c with the public,
28850 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f performing info
28860 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 72 65 rmation field re
28870 73 65 61 72 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c search, and coll
28880 61 62 6f 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c aborating with l
28890 6f 63 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c ocal and federal
288a0 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 law enforcement
288b0 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 27 73 among the job's
288c0 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 responsibilitie
288d0 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 s. More importa
288e0 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 69 ntly, perhaps, i
288f0 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 t included a smi
28900 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 ling model in a
28910 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 black suit with
28920 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 62 72 a white shirt br
28930 6f 6b 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 oken into vertic
28940 61 6c 20 62 61 72 73 20 62 79 20 74 68 69 6e 20 al bars by thin
28950 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 20 6f 66 20 64 61 72 6b 20 stripes of dark
28960 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 red...Her search
28970 65 73 20 66 6f 63 75 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 70 6f es focused on po
28980 6c 69 63 79 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 61 66 74 65 licy agents afte
28990 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 61 75 r that. She lau
289a0 6e 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 nched a custom p
289b0 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 rogram -- which
289c0 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 70 79 20 she had to copy
289d0 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f over from her ho
289e0 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 62 72 69 63 6b 20 me backup brick
289f0 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 -- she paid some
28a00 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 20 77 72 69 74 65 20 one to to write
28a10 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 for her in the d
28a20 61 79 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 65 61 74 ays of her great
28a30 65 73 74 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 61 73 20 61 est success as a
28a40 20 66 72 65 65 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 freelance inter
28a50 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 72 2e 20 net researcher.
28a60 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 6f 6f The program too
28a70 6b 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 41 50 k a series of AP
28a80 49 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 I endpoint addre
28a90 73 73 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 62 20 55 52 4c 73 sses -- web URLs
28aa0 2c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 , addresses that
28ab0 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 provided format
28ac0 74 65 64 20 64 61 74 61 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 ted data intende
28ad0 64 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 67 d for other prog
28ae0 72 61 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 72 61 rams to read, ra
28af0 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 ther than provid
28b00 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 61 64 61 62 ing human readab
28b10 6c 65 20 77 65 62 70 61 67 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 le webpages -- a
28b20 6e 64 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d nd searched them
28b30 20 66 6f 72 20 64 61 74 61 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 for data record
28b40 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 s that matched s
28b50 65 61 72 63 68 20 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 73 earch criteria s
28b60 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 he typed into th
28b70 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 61 72 61 6d 65 74 e search paramet
28b80 65 72 73 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 20 20 41 6d 6f ers window. Amo
28b90 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 ng the criteria
28ba0 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 41 50 49 20 65 were those API e
28bb0 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 20 6c 69 73 74 ndpoints, a list
28bc0 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 72 of employment r
28bd0 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 esources on the
28be0 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 internet that sh
28bf0 65 20 68 61 64 20 75 73 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 e had used for s
28c00 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 62 65 68 61 6c earches on behal
28c10 66 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 66 f of clients bef
28c20 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 ore...She knew t
28c30 68 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 he program would
28c40 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 6f take a while to
28c50 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 20 69 74 73 20 72 65 73 collect its res
28c60 75 6c 74 73 2e 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 ults. In an idea
28c70 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c l world, it coul
28c80 64 20 62 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 d be done with t
28c90 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 he long list of
28ca0 41 50 49 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 73 68 API endpoints sh
28cb0 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 e gave it in a c
28cc0 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 20 20 ouple minutes.
28cd0 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c In the real worl
28ce0 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 68 d, her program h
28cf0 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 6f 75 74 20 ad to space out
28d00 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 requests to avoi
28d10 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 d getting blocke
28d20 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 d by the target
28d30 73 69 74 65 73 20 61 73 20 61 62 75 73 69 6e 67 sites as abusing
28d40 20 62 61 6e 64 77 69 64 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 bandwidth, and
28d50 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 6e it could take an
28d60 79 77 68 65 72 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 77 65 6e ywhere from twen
28d70 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 77 ty minutes to tw
28d80 6f 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 65 o hours. She de
28d90 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 cided to take a
28da0 62 72 65 61 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6e 61 63 break for a snac
28db0 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 k, then she went
28dc0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 73 20 73 for a walk as s
28dd0 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 he waited for th
28de0 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 e program...The
28df0 65 76 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 event of the las
28e00 74 20 66 65 77 20 64 61 79 73 20 70 6c 61 79 65 t few days playe
28e10 64 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e d out in her min
28e20 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 2e d as she walked.
28e30 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 It was more li
28e40 6b 65 20 61 20 6a 75 6d 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6e ke a jumble of n
28e50 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 onlinearly conne
28e60 63 74 65 64 20 62 69 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 69 cted bits and pi
28e70 65 63 65 73 2c 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 6d 6f eces, ordered mo
28e80 72 65 20 62 79 20 65 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 re by emotional
28e90 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 significance tha
28ea0 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 72 6f 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 n any chronologi
28eb0 63 61 6c 20 66 6c 61 73 68 62 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f cal flashback mo
28ec0 6e 74 61 67 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 2f ntage. As she /
28ed0 2a 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 2a 2f 20 61 70 70 * finally */ app
28ee0 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e roached her fron
28ef0 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 73 68 65 t door again she
28f00 20 64 77 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 dwelled on the
28f10 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 question of what
28f20 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 George's friend
28f30 2c 20 6f 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 , or client, or
28f40 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f whatever, was do
28f50 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f ing with all tho
28f60 73 65 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 se handgun frame
28f70 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 s. She had no i
28f80 64 65 61 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 dea how to make
28f90 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 that fit with Ge
28fa0 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 63 68 61 72 69 74 61 62 6c orge's charitabl
28fb0 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 e custom prosthe
28fc0 74 69 63 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 tic fabrication
28fd0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 72 for a little gir
28fe0 6c 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 l. Sure, he sai
28ff0 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 66 61 74 d the girl's fat
29000 68 65 72 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 her would receiv
29010 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 e the guns, but
29020 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e that said nothin
29030 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 6f g about how anyo
29040 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c ne would actuall
29050 79 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 6e 73 y use those guns
29060 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 after they got
29070 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 delivered. What
29080 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 75 73 65 20 would they use
29090 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f the guns to acco
290a0 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 mplish -- or to
290b0 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 3f 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 destroy?..In the
290c0 6f 72 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 ory, she support
290d0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 ed the right to
290e0 6b 65 65 70 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 61 72 20 61 72 keep and bear ar
290f0 6d 73 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 ms, even if the
29100 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 federal governme
29110 6e 74 20 68 61 64 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 74 68 nt had gotten th
29120 65 20 53 75 70 72 65 6d 65 20 43 6f 75 72 74 20 e Supreme Court
29130 74 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 73 75 63 68 20 62 72 to offer such br
29140 6f 61 64 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 oad exceptions t
29150 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 41 6d 65 o the Second Ame
29160 6e 64 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 ndment and loose
29170 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 definitions of
29180 61 20 22 73 74 61 74 65 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 65 72 a "state of emer
29190 67 65 6e 63 79 22 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 gency" that the
291a0 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 41 6d 65 6e 64 6d 65 6e 74 Second Amendment
291b0 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 77 61 73 20 6e 65 61 72 itself was near
291c0 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 74 68 6c 65 73 73 2e 20 20 48 ly toothless. H
291d0 65 72 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 er support for t
291e0 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 he idea of the r
291f0 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 6e 64 ight to keep and
29200 20 62 65 61 72 20 61 72 6d 73 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 bear arms, howe
29210 76 65 72 2c 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 ver, was not the
29220 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e same as thinkin
29230 67 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 g it was a good
29240 69 64 65 61 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 idea for some ki
29250 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f nds of people to
29260 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 have guns. She
29270 20 73 75 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 suspected that
29280 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 if someone was b
29290 75 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 6c 79 20 uying illegally
292a0 61 73 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 66 69 72 65 61 72 assembled firear
292b0 6d 73 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 66 75 6c ms by the bagful
292c0 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 64 they probably d
292d0 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f id not intend to
292e0 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 put those guns
292f0 74 6f 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 65 74 68 69 63 to a good, ethic
29300 61 6c 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 45 76 65 al purpose. Eve
29310 6e 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 70 61 74 68 69 63 20 6d n psychopathic m
29320 6f 62 20 68 69 74 6d 65 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ob hitmen could
29330 68 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 2c 20 64 69 73 61 have young, disa
29340 62 6c 65 64 20 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 73 2c 20 bled daughters,
29350 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 after all...She
29360 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 stood with her h
29370 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 6b and on the doork
29380 6e 6f 62 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 nob of her front
29390 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 door, lost in t
293a0 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 hought, worried
293b0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 about what she h
293c0 61 64 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 ad helped facili
293d0 74 61 74 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 20 tate by the act
293e0 6f 66 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 of purchasing th
293f0 6f 73 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 ose printed hand
29400 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 gun frames to re
29410 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 47 65 6f sell them to Geo
29420 72 67 65 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 rge. Did she wa
29430 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 nt to ask him ab
29440 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 out them? She w
29450 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 asn't sure wheth
29460 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 er that was a gr
29470 65 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 eat idea, either
29480 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 .../*.. It fe
29490 65 6c 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 els very much li
294a0 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 ke this moment s
294b0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 hould turn into
294c0 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 65 6e 63 some kind of enc
294d0 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 65 2c ounter. here,
294e0 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 6e with someone sn
294f0 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 apping Alley out
29500 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 76 65 72 69 65 20 of her reverie
29510 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 by saying someth
29520 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 48 65 ing. like "He
29530 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 79 y, Alley. Did y
29540 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 61 74 20 79 ou get lost at y
29550 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f our own front do
29560 6f 72 3f 22 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f or?" Some kind o
29570 66 0a 20 20 20 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 6d 75 73 74 f. scene must
29580 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 commence at tha
29590 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 t point, of cour
295a0 73 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 41 6c 6c se, in which All
295b0 65 79 20 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 0a 20 ey is shown to.
295c0 20 20 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 know people w
295d0 68 6f 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 ho like her and
295e0 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 66 consider her a f
295f0 72 69 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 riend. Perhaps
29600 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 72 65 76 65 6c 61 74 some. revelat
29610 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 ions for the rea
29620 64 65 72 73 20 28 76 69 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 ders (via conver
29630 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 68 61 sation about sha
29640 72 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 0a 20 red background.
29650 20 20 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 29 20 77 6f knowledge) wo
29660 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 20 uld come out in
29670 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 such a scene. A
29680 66 74 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 fter completing
29690 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 6e 74 this. encount
296a0 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 er, Alley would
296b0 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 74 61 return to her ta
296c0 73 6b 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 20 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 sks...*/ /*..
296d0 20 44 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 Describe Alley
296e0 66 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 finding informat
296f0 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ion on one of th
29700 65 20 74 77 6f 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 70 e two agents, sp
29710 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 ecifically. t
29720 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 74 75 72 he male, who tur
29730 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 ns out to wear t
29740 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 42 72 65 he name Cole Bre
29750 77 65 72 2e 20 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 42 72 65 77 65 wer. Cole Brewe
29760 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 0a 20 20 20 20 74 75 72 6e 20 r will. turn
29770 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 out to be an old
29780 20 41 72 6d 79 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 62 75 Army veteran bu
29790 64 64 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 74 65 20 ddy of her late
297a0 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 65 72 74 uncle's. Insert
297b0 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 some. earlie
297c0 72 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 r reference to s
297d0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 omething familia
297e0 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e r about the agen
297f0 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 t, so that now s
29800 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 63 61 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 he. can reali
29810 7a 65 20 77 68 79 20 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 ze why he seemed
29820 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 familiar. She
29830 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 should remember
29840 68 69 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 him being a very
29850 0a 20 20 20 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 . good friend
29860 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 2c of her uncle's,
29870 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 69 and I should fi
29880 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 gure out whether
29890 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 68 69 6d 0a 20 she liked him.
298a0 20 20 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 back in the d
298b0 61 79 20 6f 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 ay or thought th
298c0 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ere was somethin
298d0 67 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 g creepy about h
298e0 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 2e 0a 20 20 20 im, or what..
298f0 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 73 She should be s
29900 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 43 6f urprised that Co
29910 6c 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e le is now workin
29920 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 g in a job like
29930 74 68 69 73 2c 20 67 69 76 65 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 this, given.
29940 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 his connection t
29950 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 74 69 20 61 75 74 68 6f o her anti autho
29960 72 69 74 61 72 69 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 77 ritarian uncle w
29970 68 6f 20 77 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 ho went off grid
29980 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 and. ultimat
29990 65 6c 79 20 64 69 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 ely died in some
299a0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 72 61 69 64 20 62 79 kind of raid by
299b0 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 federal agents
299c0 6f 72 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 6f 72 73 or investigators
299d0 20 6f 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f 70 on. his prop
299e0 65 72 74 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 61 73 2c 20 erty which was,
299f0 71 75 69 74 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 6c 79 2c quite decidedly,
29a00 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 64 65 2e not up to code.
29a10 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 22 20 73 ..*/.."Jesus," s
29a20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2f 2a he said again /*
29a30 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c because she wil
29a40 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 l probably have
29a50 73 61 69 64 20 22 4a 65 73 75 73 22 20 66 61 69 said "Jesus" fai
29a60 72 6c 79 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 62 79 20 rly recently by
29a70 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 2a 2f 2e 20 20 this point */.
29a80 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 "I just can't be
29a90 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 lieve he ended u
29aa0 70 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 p working for th
29ab0 65 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 ese guys.".."Per
29ac0 68 61 70 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 6e 74 haps he was sent
29ad0 20 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 here because of
29ae0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 20 61 63 71 75 your prior acqu
29af0 61 69 6e 74 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 aintance. That
29b00 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 might be part of
29b10 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 their tactical
29b20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c approach to deal
29b30 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 69 6e ing with you, in
29b40 20 61 6e 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 69 an attempt to i
29b50 6e 64 75 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 nduce you to be
29b60 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 61 6e 74 2e 22 more compliant."
29b70 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 .."Maybe. It's
29b80 77 65 69 72 64 20 68 65 20 61 63 74 65 64 20 6c weird he acted l
29b90 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e ike he didn't kn
29ba0 6f 77 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 ow me, though.
29bb0 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c If nothing else,
29bc0 20 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 he should have
29bd0 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6e 61 recognized my na
29be0 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 6d 61 79 20 me.".."They may
29bf0 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 plan for you to
29c00 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a seem to recogniz
29c10 65 20 68 69 6d 20 66 69 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 e him first.".."
29c20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f Yeah, I guess so
29c30 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 ," she said. "H
29c40 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 e could say some
29c50 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 4f 68 21 20 thing like "Oh!
29c60 20 4d 79 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 My, how you've
29c70 67 72 6f 77 6e 21 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 grown! I didn't
29c80 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 79 6f 75 21 20 recognize you!
29c90 20 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 3f 27 20 74 How are you?' t
29ca0 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 hen turn into th
29cb0 65 20 27 47 6f 6f 64 20 43 6f 70 27 20 6f 66 20 e 'Good Cop' of
29cc0 74 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 the pair and try
29cd0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 75 74 to get more out
29ce0 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 of me that they
29cf0 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 65 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f can then use to
29d00 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 hang me.".."If
29d10 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 that is the case
29d20 2c 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 , creating the i
29d30 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 mpression that y
29d40 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 69 ou would be an i
29d50 64 65 61 6c 20 63 61 6e 64 69 64 61 74 65 20 66 deal candidate f
29d60 6f 72 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 74 6f 20 or COIN Corp to
29d70 72 65 63 72 75 69 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 recruit may be e
29d80 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 ven more importa
29d90 6e 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 nt as a means of
29da0 20 65 6e 73 75 72 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 ensuring you ha
29db0 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 ve some time and
29dc0 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 opportunity to
29dd0 66 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 61 62 find an acceptab
29de0 6c 65 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 79 le solution to y
29df0 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 70 72 65 64 our present pred
29e00 69 63 61 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 icament.".."Yeah
29e10 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e ." She frowned.
29e20 20 20 22 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 "He was so muc
29e30 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c h like my uncle,
29e40 20 73 6f 20 73 65 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 so set against
29e50 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 75 things like a su
29e60 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 rveillance state
29e70 20 73 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 74 society and aut
29e80 68 6f 72 69 74 61 72 69 61 6e 20 72 75 6c 65 2c horitarian rule,
29e90 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 that it's kind
29ea0 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 61 62 6c 65 of inconceivable
29eb0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 77 68 that this is wh
29ec0 61 74 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 64 at he would be d
29ed0 6f 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f oing now. It do
29ee0 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 esn't make any s
29ef0 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ense. How could
29f00 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 he just become
29f10 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 everything he ha
29f20 74 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 ted like this?
29f30 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 My uncle must be
29f40 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 getting pretty
29f50 72 65 73 74 6c 65 73 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 restless in his
29f60 67 72 61 76 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 2e grave over this.
29f70 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 68 65 20 77 ".."Perhaps he w
29f80 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 as not quite the
29f90 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 person you beli
29fa0 65 76 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 eved him to be."
29fb0 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ../* "It's like
29fc0 50 61 73 63 61 6c 27 73 20 77 61 67 65 72 20 69 Pascal's wager i
29fd0 6e 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 n reverse, I gue
29fe0 73 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 ss. Instead of
29ff0 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6c 69 76 69 6e trying out livin
2a000 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 69 g like a Christi
2a010 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 61 an for a while a
2a020 6e 64 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 nd growing to be
2a030 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 lieve it, you're
2a040 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 forced into liv
2a050 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 43 68 72 69 73 ing like a Chris
2a060 74 69 61 6e 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 tian then giving
2a070 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 yourself the ex
2a080 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 65 cuse to start be
2a090 6c 69 65 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 66 lieving in it af
2a0a0 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 ter you're used
2a0b0 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 22 20 3c 2d 20 54 68 69 73 20 to it." <- This
2a0c0 69 73 20 61 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 64 65 is a terrible de
2a0d0 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 scription of the
2a0e0 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 50 61 73 63 61 6c 27 idea of Pascal'
2a0f0 73 20 77 61 67 65 72 20 22 69 6e 20 72 65 76 65 s wager "in reve
2a100 72 73 65 22 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 rse", and desper
2a110 61 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 72 65 77 72 ately needs rewr
2a120 69 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 iting. */..She s
2a130 61 74 2c 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 at, silently thi
2a140 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 nking. "I guess
2a150 20 69 74 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f it's like Dalto
2a160 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 3a 20 74 68 61 n would say: tha
2a170 74 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 t giving people
2a180 61 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 a reason to act
2a190 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 differently, and
2a1a0 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 an excuse to th
2a1b0 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 27 ink of how they'
2a1c0 72 65 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 67 6f 6f re acting as goo
2a1d0 64 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 65 76 69 d instead of evi
2a1e0 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 l, you can make
2a1f0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 77 68 people accept wh
2a200 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 atever they thou
2a210 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 6c 20 61 ght of as evil a
2a220 73 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 s, somehow, good
2a230 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 now. If it's a
2a240 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 70 65 6f 70 way to get peop
2a250 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 69 66 79 20 74 68 le to justify th
2a260 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d emselves, they m
2a270 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 ight just comple
2a280 74 65 6c 79 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 74 68 65 tely reverse the
2a290 69 72 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ir beliefs about
2a2a0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 69 6c 20 77 good and evil w
2a2b0 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c ithout even real
2a2c0 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 izing it. It's
2a2d0 6c 69 6b 65 20 50 61 73 63 61 6c 27 73 20 77 61 like Pascal's wa
2a2e0 67 65 72 20 69 6e 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 2c 20 ger in reverse,
2a2f0 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 because the targ
2a300 65 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 61 et doesn't get a
2a310 73 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 6f 75 74 20 sked to try out
2a320 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 acting a particu
2a330 6c 61 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 lar way to see i
2a340 66 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 68 f it becomes a h
2a350 61 62 69 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 abit first, and
2a360 61 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 a belief system
2a370 61 66 74 65 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 74 afterward. Inst
2a380 65 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 ead, the target
2a390 67 65 74 73 20 73 65 64 75 63 65 64 20 69 6e 74 gets seduced int
2a3a0 6f 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 61 o acting in a pa
2a3b0 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 rticular way wit
2a3c0 68 6f 75 74 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 69 hout realizing i
2a3d0 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 73 20 69 6e 74 t, then gets int
2a3e0 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 78 63 75 73 roduced to excus
2a3f0 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 61 74 27 es for why that'
2a400 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6d s actually the m
2a410 6f 72 61 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f oral thing to do
2a420 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e , and the person
2a430 20 6c 61 74 63 68 65 73 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 latches onto th
2a440 6f 73 65 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 20 61 73 20 73 ose excuses as s
2a450 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 6f trong beliefs to
2a460 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f avoid having to
2a470 20 63 6f 6e 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 confront the id
2a480 65 61 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 74 ea they fell int
2a490 6f 20 69 6d 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 o immoral behavi
2a4a0 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 75 72 74 73 20 70 65 or that hurts pe
2a4b0 6f 70 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 69 6e 73 65 72 ople."../* inser
2a4c0 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 t something abou
2a4d0 74 20 47 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 t Getting George
2a4e0 27 73 20 74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 6e 75 6d 's telephone num
2a4f0 62 65 72 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 ber */..George p
2a500 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 icked up on the
2a510 74 68 69 72 64 20 72 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 third ring. "He
2a520 6c 6c 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 41 6c 6c llo?".."It's All
2a530 65 79 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6e 69 ey, from last ni
2a540 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 21 20 20 48 69 2e ght.".."Oh! Hi.
2a550 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 It's good to h
2a560 65 61 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 44 ear from you. D
2a570 69 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f id everything go
2a580 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 okay last night
2a590 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 6c 69 76 with that deliv
2a5a0 65 72 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 ery?".."Yeah," s
2a5b0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e he said..."Good.
2a5c0 20 20 53 6f 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2f 2a 20 77 68 So . . . /* wh
2a5d0 61 74 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 at did you want
2a5e0 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 2a 2f 20 77 68 to say now */ wh
2a5f0 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 3f 22 y did you call?"
2a600 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 ..She hesitated
2a610 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 a moment before
2a620 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 saying "I wanted
2a630 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 to ask you abou
2a640 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 t your work, or
2a650 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 at least the stu
2a660 66 66 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a ff I've seen."..
2a670 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 "Are you talking
2a680 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 73 74 about the prost
2a690 68 65 74 69 63 20 61 72 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 62 hetic arm, or ab
2a6a0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 out the other st
2a6b0 75 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 uff?".."The othe
2a6c0 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 67 68 r stuff.".."Righ
2a6d0 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 t," he said. "I
2a6e0 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 wondered if you
2a6f0 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 might ask about
2a700 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 77 65 that. Look, we
2a710 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 65 should just mee
2a720 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f t up to talk abo
2a730 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 ut that, instead
2a740 20 6f 66 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6c of over the tel
2a750 65 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 ephone. Is that
2a760 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 okay with you?"
2a770 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
2a780 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e id. "That's fin
2a790 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 62 79 20 74 e.".."Well, by t
2a7a0 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c he time you coul
2a7b0 64 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 d get out here,
2a7c0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 if you're still
2a7d0 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e back in San Bern
2a7e0 61 72 64 69 6e 6f 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 2c 20 49 ardino County, I
2a7f0 27 64 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 74 'd be ready to t
2a800 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f 72 20 49 alk to you, or I
2a810 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 79 could come to y
2a820 6f 75 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 ou, if you want
2a830 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 to meet closer t
2a840 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 o home. That's
2a850 61 73 73 75 6d 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e assuming you wan
2a860 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 t to meet right
2a870 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 76 65 6e 69 away, this eveni
2a880 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 6f 6e ng.".."Yeah, ton
2a890 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ight's good.".."
2a8a0 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 Do you want to s
2a8b0 65 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 ee if you can ge
2a8c0 74 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 75 t a Deliv job ou
2a8d0 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 t this way to ma
2a8e0 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 ke it worth your
2a8f0 20 77 68 69 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c while?".."Sure,
2a900 20 2f 2a 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 /* I can check
2a910 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 74 68 61 74 20 on that */ that
2a920 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 72 sounds like a gr
2a930 65 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 eat idea. I'll
2a940 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 74 65 78 74 20 77 68 65 6e send a text when
2a950 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 27 73 I know how it's
2a960 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a going to go."..
2a970 2f 2a 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 /* "That sounds
2a980 67 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 great. I'll see
2a990 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a you later." */.
2a9a0 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 ."Good. I'll se
2a9b0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 e you then.".."S
2a9c0 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 ee you."..After
2a9d0 64 72 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 73 69 78 dropping off six
2a9e0 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 boxes of books
2a9f0 61 74 20 61 20 75 73 65 64 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 74 at a used bookst
2aa00 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 4e 65 77 70 6f 72 74 20 42 ore in Newport B
2aa10 65 61 63 68 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 each, she headed
2aa20 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 north into Hunt
2aa30 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 61 6e 64 ington Beach and
2aa40 20 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f made her way to
2aa50 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f the curb in fro
2aa60 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 68 nt of George's h
2aa70 6f 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 42 79 20 ouse again. By
2aa80 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 the time she rea
2aa90 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 68 ched his door, h
2aaa0 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6f 70 e had already op
2aab0 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2e ened it for her.
2aac0 20 20 48 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 He must have b
2aad0 65 65 6e 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 een watching for
2aae0 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 72 69 76 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 her arrival..."
2aaf0 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 Come on in," he
2ab00 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 said, and steppe
2ab10 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 d aside before c
2ab20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 losing the door
2ab30 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 behind her...She
2ab40 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 moved into the
2ab50 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 72 65 61 living room area
2ab60 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 and resumed her
2ab70 20 73 65 61 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e seat from the n
2ab80 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 47 65 ight before. Ge
2ab90 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 20 73 61 74 orge shortly sat
2aba0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 67 on the couch ag
2abb0 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c ain. This time,
2abc0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 there were no p
2abd0 61 72 74 73 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 6f 6e arts or tools on
2abe0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 66 66 65 65 20 74 61 62 6c the coffee tabl
2abf0 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 e. Where the tr
2ac00 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 ay sat the night
2ac10 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 before, now the
2ac20 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 68 61 re was only a ha
2ac30 72 64 63 6f 76 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 0a 0a 48 rdcover book...H
2ac40 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e e saw her lookin
2ac50 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 g at the book.
2ac60 22 47 72 65 67 20 45 67 61 6e 2c 22 20 47 65 6f "Greg Egan," Geo
2ac70 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 rge said. "He's
2ac80 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 one of my favor
2ac90 69 74 65 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 49 74 ite authors. It
2aca0 27 73 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 's science ficti
2acb0 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 73 74 75 on, the hard stu
2acc0 66 66 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 ff. I guess it'
2acd0 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 65 73 74 20 64 72 s the hardest dr
2ace0 75 67 20 49 20 75 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ug I use, though
2acf0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 67 some people mig
2ad00 68 74 20 73 61 79 20 61 6c 63 6f 68 6f 6c 20 62 ht say alcohol b
2ad10 65 61 74 73 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 73 6f 2c eats it. If so,
2ad20 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b though, I think
2ad30 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 61 70 they haven't ap
2ad40 70 72 65 63 69 61 74 65 64 20 45 67 61 6e 2e 22 preciated Egan."
2ad50 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 61 6d 75 73 65 64 20 73 6d 69 ..Her amused smi
2ad60 6c 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 le broke through
2ad70 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c before she real
2ad80 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6d 69 ized it was comi
2ad90 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 ng. "I've never
2ada0 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 75 74 68 6f read that autho
2adb0 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 r," she said..."
2adc0 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 Hell, I don't ev
2add0 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 63 en think most sc
2ade0 69 20 69 66 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 20 68 61 76 i if authors hav
2adf0 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 68 65 73 65 e read him these
2ae00 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 days. It's not
2ae10 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 64 61 like the old da
2ae20 79 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 67 69 61 6e 74 73 20 6c ys when giants l
2ae30 69 6b 65 20 41 73 69 6d 6f 76 20 61 6e 64 20 43 ike Asimov and C
2ae40 6c 61 72 6b 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 74 larke stood at t
2ae50 68 65 20 66 6f 72 65 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 he forefront of
2ae60 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 the genre. It's
2ae70 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 getting harder
2ae80 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 66 72 for me to get fr
2ae90 65 73 68 20 66 69 78 65 73 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 esh fixes. Ever
2aea0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 ything's full of
2aeb0 20 63 6c 69 6d 61 74 65 20 61 70 6f 63 61 6c 79 climate apocaly
2aec0 70 73 65 73 2c 20 6d 69 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 61 pses, mindless a
2aed0 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 69 6c 6c 65 72 73 20 ction thrillers
2aee0 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 6f 61 74 with a thin coat
2aef0 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 of science fict
2af00 69 6f 6e 20 66 75 74 75 72 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 ion futuristic t
2af10 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 61 69 6e 74 2c echnology paint,
2af20 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 and self righte
2af30 6f 75 73 20 70 6f 73 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 62 79 ous posturing by
2af40 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 74 68 69 authors who thi
2af50 6e 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 nk all the unive
2af60 72 73 65 27 73 20 6d 79 73 74 65 72 69 65 73 20 rse's mysteries
2af70 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6c 76 65 64 have been solved
2af80 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 , leaving only t
2af90 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 he work for the
2afa0 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 engineers. It's
2afb0 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 depressing.".."
2afc0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 I can tell you'r
2afd0 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 70 61 73 73 69 6f 6e e pretty passion
2afe0 61 74 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 ate about this."
2aff0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 .."Yeah, I guess
2b000 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f so. What do yo
2b010 75 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a u read, Alley?".
2b020 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 ."Mostly nonfict
2b030 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 6c 69 ion, I guess, li
2b040 6b 65 20 62 69 6f 67 72 61 70 68 69 65 73 2c 20 ke biographies,
2b050 68 69 73 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 historical books
2b060 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 , and things whe
2b070 72 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c 69 73 74 20 re a journalist
2b080 67 65 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 gets obsessed wi
2b090 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 th some mundane
2b0a0 62 75 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 73 75 62 6a but obscure subj
2b0b0 65 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 6f ect for a year o
2b0c0 72 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 74 65 73 r two and writes
2b0d0 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f a long book abo
2b0e0 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 ut all the weird
2b0f0 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 stuff most peop
2b100 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6b le would never k
2b110 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 now about the su
2b120 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2e bject otherwise.
2b130 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 ".."Hmm. That's
2b140 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 interesting. I
2b150 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 guess you don't
2b160 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 like fiction as
2b170 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 much, then.".."
2b180 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 66 I like to read f
2b190 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 iction, sometime
2b1a0 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 s. I just don't
2b1b0 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 6e usually see a n
2b1c0 6f 76 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 ovel and think t
2b1d0 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 hat I have to re
2b1e0 61 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d ad it. When som
2b1f0 65 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 63 6f eone I know reco
2b200 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 mmends some nove
2b210 6c 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 l, I'll probably
2b220 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 read it, unless
2b230 20 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 I've already be
2b240 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 en burned by tha
2b250 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 62 61 64 20 74 t person's bad t
2b260 61 73 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 75 aste in literatu
2b270 72 65 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f re recommendatio
2b280 6e 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f ns before."..Geo
2b290 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 rge chuckled at
2b2a0 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 that. "I've got
2b2b0 74 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 73 74 ten some real st
2b2c0 69 6e 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 inkers recommend
2b2d0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 ed to me, before
2b2e0 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 , too. I know w
2b2f0 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 62 6f hat you mean abo
2b300 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 ut that."..Alley
2b310 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 gave him an ans
2b320 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 wering smile. "
2b330 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 65 6c Anyway, you shel
2b340 76 65 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ves tell me you
2b350 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f read a lot of no
2b360 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a nfiction, too.".
2b370 0a 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 .He glanced at t
2b380 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 he texts on the
2b390 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 shelves of the b
2b3a0 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 ook cases. "Yea
2b3b0 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 h," he said, "I'
2b3c0 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 m always reading
2b3d0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 74 something. I t
2b3e0 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 ry to get throug
2b3f0 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 h more than two
2b400 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b educational book
2b410 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 65 s of some kind e
2b420 76 65 72 79 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 75 73 75 61 6c very year, usual
2b430 6c 79 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 ly hitting three
2b440 20 6f 72 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 or four, but I
2b450 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 20 6f make up for it o
2b460 6e 20 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 n the years with
2b470 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f only one, or no
2b480 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 ne. I probably
2b490 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e average about on
2b4a0 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72 20 77 65 65 2c e novel per wee,
2b4b0 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c too, so probabl
2b4c0 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f y the opposite o
2b4d0 66 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2e 22 f how you read."
2b4e0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 .."Not quite," s
2b4f0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 70 72 6f he said. "I pro
2b500 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 bably read a cou
2b510 70 6c 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 ple novels a yea
2b520 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 r, but only six
2b530 6f 72 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 or eight nonfict
2b540 69 6f 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ion books in the
2b550 20 73 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 same year.".."I
2b560 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c t sounds to me l
2b570 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 ike you wish you
2b580 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 read more," he
2b590 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 said..."Yeah, I
2b5a0 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f guess I do.".."O
2b5b0 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 ne of the secret
2b5c0 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 s of my reading
2b5d0 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 success is that
2b5e0 49 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 I limit the time
2b5f0 20 49 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 67 6c 75 65 64 20 74 I spend glued t
2b600 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 o a computer scr
2b610 65 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 een. There are
2b620 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 people who read
2b630 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 a whole lot more
2b640 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 than I do, thou
2b650 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 gh."..She nodded
2b660 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 . "I know. My
2b670 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 uncle used to re
2b680 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 ad about four or
2b690 20 66 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d five times as m
2b6a0 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 uch as you. My
2b6b0 65 78 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 ex probably read
2b6c0 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 s about as much
2b6d0 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 as you, but he h
2b6e0 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 as a friend who
2b6f0 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 reads a lot more
2b700 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 65 , too.".."Your e
2b710 78 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 76 6f x? Are you divo
2b720 72 63 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 75 68 2c rced?".."Oh, uh,
2b730 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 no. He was my
2b740 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57 65 20 62 72 6f fianc... We bro
2b750 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 ke it off a coup
2b760 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a le years ago."..
2b770 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 2e "That's too bad.
2b780 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f Do you want to
2b790 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f talk about why?
2b7a0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 "..She shifted h
2b7b0 65 72 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 er position in t
2b7c0 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c he chair. "Well
2b7d0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 . . . maybe not
2b7e0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 . There's some
2b7f0 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 political stuff
2b800 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 involved, and I
2b810 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e don't really wan
2b820 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f t to get into so
2b830 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 72 67 75 6d me kind of argum
2b840 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c ent over the pol
2b850 69 74 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 itics of it.".."
2b860 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 Hmm. That sound
2b870 73 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 s ominous. Was
2b880 68 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 69 61 6e 3f he a politician?
2b890 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 ".."No. . . ."
2b8a0 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e She looked away.
2b8b0 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a .."Sorry. I'm j
2b8c0 75 73 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 27 ust curious. I'
2b8d0 6c 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 ll drop it.".."T
2b8e0 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 hanks," she said
2b8f0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 . "I guess.".."
2b900 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 63 Why did your unc
2b910 6c 65 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 le stop reading
2b920 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 48 75 68 3f so much?".."Huh?
2b930 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 ".."You said he
2b940 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 75 6e used to read hun
2b950 64 72 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 dreds of books a
2b960 20 79 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 year. Why did
2b970 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f you say 'used to
2b980 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 '?".."Oh," she s
2b990 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 ighed. "He died
2b9a0 2c 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 , years ago.".."
2b9b0 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 I'm sorry to hea
2b9c0 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 r it.".."Yeah,"
2b9d0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 she said. "He d
2b9e0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 ecided to go off
2b9f0 20 67 72 69 64 20 69 6e 20 49 64 61 68 6f 2c 20 grid in Idaho,
2ba00 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 in the middle of
2ba10 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 44 61 64 20 74 nowhere. Dad t
2ba20 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 ook me up to see
2ba30 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 him a couple ti
2ba40 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c mes, and I reall
2ba50 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 y enjoyed myself
2ba60 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 with him, but t
2ba70 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 hen there was a
2ba80 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 46 42 49 20 72 61 series of FBI ra
2ba90 69 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 73 ids on 'militias
2baa0 27 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 ' up there. He
2bab0 6b 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f knew some of tho
2bac0 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 se guys, but he
2bad0 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 wasn't in any of
2bae0 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 67 their militia g
2baf0 72 6f 75 70 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 roups. He just
2bb00 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 65 66 wanted to be lef
2bb10 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 t alone..."It wa
2bb20 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 s like they saw
2bb30 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 his hand built c
2bb40 61 62 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 abin out there b
2bb50 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 72 61 69 64 73 20 61 6e 64 etween raids and
2bb60 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c thought it woul
2bb70 64 20 62 65 20 66 75 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 74 74 61 d be fun to atta
2bb80 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 ck his home. Th
2bb90 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 68 65 20 66 69 ey claimed he fi
2bba0 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e red on them when
2bbb0 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 an agent came t
2bbc0 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 o his door to as
2bbd0 6b 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e k directions, an
2bbe0 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 d they were just
2bbf0 20 64 65 66 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 73 defending thems
2bc00 65 6c 76 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 6d 69 6c elves from a mil
2bc10 69 74 69 61 20 6c 75 6e 61 74 69 63 2c 20 69 66 itia lunatic, if
2bc20 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 you believe tha
2bc30 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c t. He was reall
2bc40 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f y just trying to
2bc50 20 6c 69 76 65 20 61 20 70 65 61 63 65 66 75 6c live a peaceful
2bc60 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c life in the wil
2bc70 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d d places where m
2bc80 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 ost people never
2bc90 20 77 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 went."..George
2bca0 73 63 6f 77 6c 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 74 scowled as she t
2bcb0 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 old her uncle's
2bcc0 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 72 65 story, and it re
2bcd0 6d 69 6e 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 69 minded her how i
2bce0 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 63 ntimidating he c
2bcf0 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 6f ould be, even ho
2bd00 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c lding an umbrell
2bd10 61 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 a over his head
2bd20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 75 6e 6e 79 20 64 61 79 2e 20 on a sunny day.
2bd30 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 "I guess he was
2bd40 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20 62 79 73 an innocent bys
2bd50 74 61 6e 64 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 64 tander in the Id
2bd60 61 68 6f 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 70 75 72 67 aho militia purg
2bd70 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 es, then. Those
2bd80 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 were bad times
2bd90 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f for a lot of peo
2bda0 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e ple who just wan
2bdb0 74 65 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 ted nothing more
2bdc0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 65 66 74 than to be left
2bdd0 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 74 72 alone.".."We tr
2bde0 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 20 77 72 ied to file a wr
2bdf0 6f 6e 67 66 75 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 73 75 69 ongful death sui
2be00 74 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 t. We got into
2be10 68 69 73 20 41 6d 73 74 65 72 64 61 6d 20 56 50 his Amsterdam VP
2be20 53 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 S -- well, Dad d
2be30 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e id, anyway -- an
2be40 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 d found the vide
2be50 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d o backups from m
2be60 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 y uncle's camera
2be70 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 network in his
2be80 63 61 62 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 68 cabin, and it sh
2be90 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 owed that the ag
2bea0 65 6e 74 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 ents just storme
2beb0 64 20 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 d in without eve
2bec0 6e 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 n identifying th
2bed0 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 emselves.".."Yea
2bee0 68 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 h? What happene
2bef0 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 77 73 d with that laws
2bf00 75 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 uit?".."It didn'
2bf10 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 t happen. While
2bf20 20 77 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 74 20 6f 75 72 20 we were at our
2bf30 6c 61 77 79 65 72 27 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 2c lawyer's office,
2bf40 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 the FBI got a s
2bf50 65 61 72 63 68 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74 2c 20 62 earch warrant, b
2bf60 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 roke into Dad's
2bf70 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 place, and took
2bf80 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 everything that
2bf90 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 even looked like
2bfa0 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 a computer. Th
2bfb0 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 ey claimed it wa
2bfc0 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 s connected to t
2bfd0 68 65 69 72 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 heir investigati
2bfe0 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c ons of my uncle,
2bff0 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 62 72 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 Dad's brother,
2c000 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 77 but the result w
2c010 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 as just that the
2c020 79 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f y got our downlo
2c030 61 64 65 64 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 74 aded video and t
2c040 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 he login stuff f
2c050 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 56 50 or my uncle's VP
2c060 53 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 S. Of course, t
2c070 68 65 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 27 20 74 68 65 20 62 hey 'lost' the b
2c080 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b ackups they took
2c090 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 from Dad's comp
2c0a0 75 74 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 uters, and by th
2c0b0 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 e time we tried
2c0c0 74 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 to download the
2c0d0 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 video again, so
2c0e0 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 we could show it
2c0f0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 2c 20 to the lawyer,
2c100 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e they'd shut down
2c110 20 74 68 65 20 56 50 53 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 the VPS and pre
2c120 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 73 74 69 ssured the hosti
2c130 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 ng company into
2c140 64 65 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 deleting all bac
2c150 6b 75 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c kups..."After al
2c160 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 77 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 l that, we went
2c170 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 from having what
2c180 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 63 61 6c 6c the lawyer call
2c190 65 64 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d 20 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 ed a slam dunk c
2c1a0 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f ase to having no
2c1b0 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 case and a lot
2c1c0 6f 66 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 65 73 2e 20 20 44 61 of expenses. Da
2c1d0 64 27 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 49 54 20 62 75 73 d's whole IT bus
2c1e0 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 6f 62 6c 69 74 65 iness was oblite
2c1f0 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 rated in an inst
2c200 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 ant, too. He ha
2c210 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 79 73 61 64 d to get a sysad
2c220 6d 69 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e min job at a con
2c230 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f tinuing educatio
2c240 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 67 n school for hig
2c250 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 6f 75 74 h school dropout
2c260 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a s after that."..
2c270 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 68 6f 6f George just shoo
2c280 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 k his head. "I
2c290 77 69 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 wish I had somet
2c2a0 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 hing good to say
2c2b0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 about that.".."
2c2c0 49 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 It's fine. It's
2c2d0 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 ancient history
2c2e0 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2c 61 6e 64 for me, now,and
2c2f0 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d I just had to m
2c300 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 ove on. It was
2c310 68 61 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 hard, though. I
2c320 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 was in high sch
2c330 6f 6f 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 ool when it all
2c340 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 happened, and I
2c350 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f couldn't focus o
2c360 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 74 20 n schoolwork at
2c370 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 all..."I guess a
2c380 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 ll that might ha
2c390 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 ve contributed t
2c3a0 6f 20 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 o me falling in
2c3b0 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e love with Dalton
2c3c0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 .".."Dalton?" he
2c3d0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 asked..."Oh, sh
2c3e0 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 it," she said.
2c3f0 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d "I didn't say 'm
2c400 79 20 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e y ex' that time.
2c410 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 "..He nodded. "
2c420 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 5b 20 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 Dalton [ Schaeff
2c430 65 72 20 2d 20 48 65 61 72 73 74 20 5d 2e 22 0a er - Hearst ].".
2c440 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f ."Yeah." She lo
2c450 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 77 61 72 oked at him, war
2c460 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 63 y..."I guess I c
2c470 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 an see why you d
2c480 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 on't want to bri
2c490 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2e ng that up much.
2c4a0 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 He's a controv
2c4b0 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 22 0a ersial figure.".
2c4c0 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 ./* "Yeah, he is
2c4d0 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 . I can't even
2c4e0 62 72 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 75 70 20 61 72 6f bring him up aro
2c4f0 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c und anyone, real
2c500 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 ly. Either peop
2c510 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 le hate me becau
2c520 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 se I got engaged
2c530 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 to him, or they
2c540 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 hate me for lea
2c550 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 ving him." */.."
2c560 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 Yeah, he is. Th
2c570 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 ere isn't really
2c580 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 anyone I can ta
2c590 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e lk to about him.
2c5a0 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 Either people
2c5b0 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 hate me because
2c5c0 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f I got engaged to
2c5d0 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 him, or they ha
2c5e0 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e te me for leavin
2c5f0 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 75 6c g him.".."I coul
2c600 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 47 65 6f d see that," Geo
2c610 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f rge said. "I wo
2c620 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 n't hate you for
2c630 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 22 either reason."
2c640 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .."Thanks," she
2c650 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 said. "That's g
2c660 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ood to hear.".."
2c670 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6d I'll just be com
2c680 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 pletely straight
2c690 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 forward with you
2c6a0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 about what I th
2c6b0 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 ink about him, a
2c6c0 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 65 63 69 64 nd you can decid
2c6d0 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 e whether you wa
2c6e0 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 nt anything more
2c6f0 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 to do with me.
2c700 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 I won't hold it
2c710 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 against you, wh
2c720 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 atever you decid
2c730 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 e, but I guess i
2c740 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 t wouldn't matte
2c750 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 r if you didn't
2c760 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e want to be aroun
2c770 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 d me any longer
2c780 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 anyway.".."You d
2c790 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 on't have to do
2c7a0 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e that," she said.
2c7b0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 70 65 72 ..He smiled, per
2c7c0 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 73 61 64 6c 79 haps a bit sadly
2c7d0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 . "I think it's
2c7e0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 2c 20 75 for the best, u
2c7f0 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 nless you really
2c800 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 just refuse to
2c810 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 hear it for any
2c820 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 72 65 reason. I'll re
2c830 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 spect that choic
2c840 65 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 65 61 e, if that's rea
2c850 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e lly what you wan
2c860 74 20 2d 2d 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 6e 6f 74 t -- to hear not
2c870 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a hing about it.".
2c880 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 .She hesitated,
2c890 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 then shrugged.
2c8a0 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 "Go ahead, I gue
2c8b0 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ss," she said...
2c8c0 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 He nodded. "I t
2c8d0 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 hought he was pr
2c8e0 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 etty great. He
2c8f0 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 6f had a lot of goo
2c900 64 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 d insights about
2c910 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 things -- polit
2c920 69 63 73 2c 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 ics, economics,
2c930 63 75 6c 74 75 72 65 2c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c culture, technol
2c940 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 ogy, law enforce
2c950 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6a ment, war, and j
2c960 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 ust about everyt
2c970 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 hing he talked a
2c980 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 bout on his show
2c990 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 72 69 74 69 6e 67 and his writing
2c9a0 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c s. After a whil
2c9b0 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 68 65 20 73 65 e, though, he se
2c9c0 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 73 6c emed to start sl
2c9d0 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 iding to the rig
2c9e0 68 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 ht a bit much, a
2c9f0 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f nd I was disappo
2ca00 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 inted by the cha
2ca10 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 63 68 nge. I still ch
2ca20 65 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 69 6e ecked in once in
2ca30 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 a while, becaus
2ca40 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 73 e he still had s
2ca50 6f 6d 65 20 73 6d 61 72 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 ome smart things
2ca60 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 to say, but mor
2ca70 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 e and more it se
2ca80 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6b 65 77 65 emed to be skewe
2ca90 64 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 d in what I migh
2caa0 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 73 20 61 6e t think of as an
2cab0 20 61 6c 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 alt right direc
2cac0 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 tion, and that's
2cad0 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 79 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f not my directio
2cae0 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 n, if you know w
2caf0 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f hat I mean..."No
2cb00 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 offense, of cou
2cb10 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 rse, but I never
2cb20 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 6e 79 really paid any
2cb30 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 77 68 attention to wh
2cb40 65 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 en people talked
2cb50 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 44 53 48 about you. DSH
2cb60 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 seemed to talk
2cb70 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 61 around who you a
2cb80 72 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6d re when he did m
2cb90 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ention you, but
2cba0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 never had anythi
2cbb0 6e 67 20 6e 65 67 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 ng negative to s
2cbc0 61 79 3b 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 ay; I just didn'
2cbd0 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 73 t really care as
2cbe0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 much about his
2cbf0 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 73 personal life as
2cc00 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 I did about his
2cc10 20 69 64 65 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 ideas, so you d
2cc20 69 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 idn't get on my
2cc30 72 61 64 61 72 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 72 65 6d radar. I do rem
2cc40 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 ember, before I
2cc50 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 67 61 76 65 20 75 70 20 6f 6e kinda gave up on
2cc60 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 69 listening to hi
2cc70 6d 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 m, that he said
2cc80 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6c something to a l
2cc90 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c istener who call
2cca0 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f ed in to ask abo
2ccb0 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 ut you. He said
2ccc0 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 72 75 that it was tru
2ccd0 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 63 e that you had c
2cce0 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e alled off the en
2ccf0 67 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 gagement and mov
2cd00 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ed on with your
2cd10 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 life, and that h
2cd20 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 e still respecte
2cd30 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 79 6f d you despite yo
2cd40 75 72 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 ur differences,
2cd50 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 69 6b and he would lik
2cd60 65 20 68 69 73 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 73 20 e his listeners
2cd70 74 6f 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 to respect your
2cd80 64 65 73 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 desire for priva
2cd90 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 cy and peace in
2cda0 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 your life, then
2cdb0 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 said that was pr
2cdc0 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e etty much the on
2cdd0 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 ly thing he had
2cde0 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e to say about it.
2cdf0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ".."Oh," she sai
2ce00 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e d. "I didn't kn
2ce10 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d ow about that --
2ce20 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e about him sayin
2ce30 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 g that."..George
2ce40 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 shrugged. "It
2ce50 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 75 70 was the stand up
2ce60 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 thing to do, bu
2ce70 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 t it didn't make
2ce80 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 64 his change in d
2ce90 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 6f irection on ideo
2cea0 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e logy any more in
2ceb0 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c teresting to me,
2cec0 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 so it didn't ke
2ced0 65 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e ep me listening.
2cee0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Yeah," she s
2cef0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 aid. "I get tha
2cf00 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 t.".."So . . . w
2cf10 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b hat do you think
2cf20 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d 79 20 76 69 65 77 73 20 ? Are my views
2cf30 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 62 6c on it intolerabl
2cf40 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 e?"..Alley smile
2cf50 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 d. "No, not at
2cf60 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 all. That's act
2cf70 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 68 6f 77 20 ually kinda how
2cf80 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 I felt about his
2cf90 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 73 68 69 ideological shi
2cfa0 66 74 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 ft. I liked it
2cfb0 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 more before the
2cfc0 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 66 74 65 change than afte
2cfd0 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f r, and we had so
2cfe0 6d 65 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 62 6f me arguments abo
2cff0 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ut it. He still
2d000 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 had principle,
2d010 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 and still wasn't
2d020 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 69 63 61 74 75 72 65 20 the caricature
2d030 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 of alt right tha
2d040 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 t people assumed
2d050 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c , but I didn't l
2d060 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6e 65 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 ike his new poli
2d070 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 tics at all.".."
2d080 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d That must have m
2d090 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 ade it difficult
2d0a0 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 to live with hi
2d0b0 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 m.".."It took it
2d0c0 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 s toll. Part of
2d0d0 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 77 61 73 it, though, was
2d0e0 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 the fact that i
2d0f0 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 t affected my li
2d100 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 73 fe in other ways
2d110 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 20 . The moment I
2d120 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 realized I neede
2d130 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 61 73 d to get out was
2d140 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 after some woma
2d150 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 n actually start
2d160 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 ed screaming at
2d170 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 me on the street
2d180 2c 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 , calling me the
2d190 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 61 6e 64 'side dish' and
2d1a0 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 accusing me of
2d1b0 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 72 61 63 69 73 74 20 61 being a racist a
2d1c0 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 nd stuff like th
2d1d0 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c at, then actuall
2d1e0 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e y started hittin
2d1f0 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 g me. I shoved
2d200 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6e her back and ran
2d210 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 20 64 72 6f 76 to my car, drov
2d220 65 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 e off and called
2d230 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 72 65 70 in a police rep
2d240 6f 72 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 ort, but of cour
2d250 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 se nothing would
2d260 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f ever happen fro
2d270 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 m that. I never
2d280 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 heard back abou
2d290 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 t it."..By the t
2d2a0 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 ime she was done
2d2b0 2c 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 65 78 70 72 65 , George's expre
2d2c0 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 ssion took on a
2d2d0 64 61 72 6b 2c 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 79 20 6c 6f 6f dark, stormy loo
2d2e0 6b 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 65 72 72 k. "That's terr
2d2f0 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 ible. I'm sorry
2d300 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 that happened t
2d310 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 o you."..She shr
2d320 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 ugged helplessly
2d330 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 49 20 64 . "What can I d
2d340 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 o? I just decid
2d350 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ed I was going t
2d360 6f 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c o distance mysel
2d370 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 73 70 68 65 72 f from his spher
2d380 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 79 e of controversy
2d390 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 6f as much as I co
2d3a0 75 6c 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 77 uld and try to w
2d3b0 61 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c ait for the worl
2d3c0 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 d to forget abou
2d3d0 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 t me. It still
2d3e0 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c hasn't happened,
2d3f0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 65 6e 74 though. I went
2d400 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 to what I thoug
2d410 68 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 ht was going to
2d420 62 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 be a job intervi
2d430 65 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 ew, and it turne
2d440 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 d out the only r
2d450 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 72 69 6e 67 eason the hiring
2d460 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 72 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 65 manager approve
2d470 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 d the interview
2d480 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 was so he and a
2d490 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 75 6e couple of his un
2d4a0 64 65 72 6c 69 6e 67 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 derling develope
2d4b0 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 63 6b 6c 65 20 rs could heckle
2d4c0 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 me when I showed
2d4d0 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 up. They found
2d4e0 20 6f 75 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 6f out about my co
2d4f0 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 nnection to Dalt
2d500 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 61 on when they sea
2d510 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d rched for inform
2d520 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6e ation about my n
2d530 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 ame on the inter
2d540 6e 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 net, and realize
2d550 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 74 65 64 d they all hated
2d560 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a me, I guess."..
2d570 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 "Is that why you
2d580 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 called me today
2d590 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 ?" he asked..."W
2d5a0 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 hat?".."You said
2d5b0 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 you wanted to t
2d5c0 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 alk about what I
2d5d0 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f do. Are you lo
2d5e0 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 oking for an opp
2d5f0 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b ortunity to work
2d600 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 3f 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f with me? It do
2d610 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 esn't matter to
2d620 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 me that you were
2d630 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 44 53 48 3b engaged to DSH;
2d640 20 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 I take people a
2d650 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 s they come. I
2d660 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 77 61 6e 74 guess you'd want
2d670 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 to know what I'
2d680 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 m doing before y
2d690 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 ou ask for an op
2d6a0 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 portunity to wor
2d6b0 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 k with me, thoug
2d6c0 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 h.".."Oh." She
2d6d0 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e paused a moment.
2d6e0 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 "Well . . . ma
2d6f0 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 ybe? I wasn't e
2d700 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 xactly thinking
2d710 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 that, but it's a
2d720 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 69 64 n interesting id
2d730 65 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 59 6f ea, I guess. Yo
2d740 75 20 64 69 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 u did offer to h
2d750 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 73 6f 6d elp me learn som
2d760 65 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 66 20 e new skills if
2d770 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 I need it, and I
2d780 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 guess this migh
2d790 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 t be connected t
2d7a0 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a o that. I was j
2d7b0 75 73 74 2c 20 65 72 72 2c 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 ust, err, concer
2d7c0 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 6b ned about what k
2d7d0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 ind of business
2d7e0 49 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 I got into when
2d7f0 49 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 72 61 I sold those fra
2d800 6d 65 73 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 mes to you."..He
2d810 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c chuckled. "Oh,
2d820 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 that. Yeah, we
2d830 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 ll, I can see wh
2d840 79 2e 22 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 66 y." His smile f
2d850 61 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 aded, and she sa
2d860 77 20 61 20 6e 65 77 2c 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 w a new, serious
2d870 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e look about him.
2d880 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 "Tell me somet
2d890 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 61 hing, before I a
2d8a0 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 2e 20 20 nswer, please.
2d8b0 41 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e A couple of thin
2d8c0 67 73 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 gs, actually. I
2d8d0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 f you don't want
2d8e0 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 69 74 27 73 to answer, it's
2d8f0 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 fine, but then
2d900 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 79 I won't answer y
2d910 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 our questions, a
2d920 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f bout what I'm do
2d930 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 ing.".."Okay," s
2d940 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 65 he said, an unce
2d950 72 74 61 69 6e 20 75 70 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 20 rtain upturn in
2d960 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the tone of the
2d970 77 6f 72 64 20 74 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f word tacked onto
2d980 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 the end, almost
2d990 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 71 like it was a q
2d9a0 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 uestion..."First
2d9b0 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 , I want to know
2d9c0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 when you think
2d9d0 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 it's okay to lie
2d9e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 .".."Oh. That's
2d9f0 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 an interesting
2da00 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 question.".."Yea
2da10 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 h. It is."..She
2da20 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 thought about i
2da30 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 t. "Only when i
2da40 74 27 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 t's to protect y
2da50 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f ourself or someo
2da60 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d ne else from som
2da70 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c ething that woul
2da80 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 62 65 20 64 d otherwise be d
2da90 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f one, wrongly, to
2daa0 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 you or that oth
2dab0 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d er person.".."Hm
2dac0 6d 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 77 65 20 65 78 70 6c 6f m. Can we explo
2dad0 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 re that a little
2dae0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 ?".."Sure, I gue
2daf0 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 ss.".."What if i
2db00 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 t's a government
2db10 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f employer and yo
2db20 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 u're trying to g
2db30 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 62 75 72 et access to bur
2db40 65 61 75 63 72 61 74 69 63 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 eaucratic resour
2db50 63 65 73 20 62 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 ces by getting a
2db60 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 job there, whic
2db70 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f h you can use to
2db80 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 help make the w
2db90 6f 72 6c 64 20 61 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 70 6c orld a better pl
2dba0 61 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 ace by using tha
2dbb0 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 61 67 61 69 t knowledge agai
2dbc0 6e 73 74 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 3f 22 nst government?"
2dbd0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 2c 20 49 .."It depends, I
2dbe0 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 guess.".."Hmm."
2dbf0 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f He thought abo
2dc00 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 ut that. "What
2dc10 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c if you need to l
2dc20 69 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 ie to the police
2dc30 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 72 to keep them fr
2dc40 6f 6d 20 61 72 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d om arresting som
2dc50 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 eone you care ab
2dc60 6f 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 out from getting
2dc70 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 70 72 69 73 6f thrown in priso
2dc80 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 73 20 6f 72 n for decades or
2dc90 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 77 68 65 even killed whe
2dca0 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f n what the perso
2dcb0 6e 20 64 69 64 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 69 6c 6c n did may be ill
2dcc0 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 egal, but isn't
2dcd0 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 wrong?".."Yeah,"
2dce0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 67 75 she said, "I gu
2dcf0 65 73 73 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6c 69 65 2c ess I might lie,
2dd00 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 72 6b unless you work
2dd10 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c for the police,
2dd20 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 63 61 73 65 20 49 in which case I
2dd30 27 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 'd tell the trut
2dd40 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 h."..He laughed
2dd50 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 73 65 65 20 77 aloud. "I see w
2dd60 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 65 72 hat you did ther
2dd70 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 e."..She smiled
2dd80 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 back. "I though
2dd90 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 t you might.".."
2dda0 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 Okay, I know tha
2ddb0 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c t was technicall
2ddc0 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 y more than one
2ddd0 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f question, but no
2dde0 77 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 61 w I'm ready to a
2ddf0 73 6b 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 71 75 sk the second qu
2de00 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 49 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e estion I mention
2de10 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 ed I wanted to a
2de20 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 sk.".."Uh . . .
2de30 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 74 65 okay.".."If I te
2de40 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 6c 6c ll you about ill
2de50 65 67 61 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 49 27 6d 20 egal things I'm
2de60 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 doing that might
2de70 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c result in peopl
2de80 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 75 72 74 20 64 e getting hurt d
2de90 75 65 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 79 ue to events bey
2dea0 6f 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 2c 20 ond my control,
2deb0 62 75 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e but to the exten
2dec0 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 t of my knowledg
2ded0 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c e the only peopl
2dee0 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 e who would get
2def0 68 75 72 74 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 hurt are people
2df00 77 68 6f 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 who deserve it a
2df10 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 74 nd need to be st
2df20 6f 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 75 72 74 69 opped from hurti
2df30 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 ng many other pe
2df40 6f 70 6c 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 ople . . . will
2df50 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 20 73 65 63 72 you keep it secr
2df60 65 74 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 et, even if you
2df70 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 6e 74 20 don't ever want
2df80 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e to be seen aroun
2df90 64 20 6d 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 d me again, for
2dfa0 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 3f whatever reason?
2dfb0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 "..She thought a
2dfc0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 bout it, and he
2dfd0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 thought it looke
2dfe0 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 d like she might
2dff0 20 62 65 20 63 68 65 77 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 be chewing on t
2e000 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 he inside of her
2e010 20 63 68 65 65 6b 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 cheek a little
2e020 62 69 74 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 61 73 74 2c 20 73 bit. At last, s
2e030 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 he said "Yeah, I
2e040 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 should be able
2e050 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 to keep a secret
2e060 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 like that. You
2e070 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 6d should know som
2e080 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 ething, though,
2e090 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 before you tell
2e0a0 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 me anything like
2e0b0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 that.".."What i
2e0c0 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e s it?" he asked.
2e0d0 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 .."Some kind of
2e0e0 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 69 66 Men In Black, if
2e0f0 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 you know what I
2e100 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 mean, showed up
2e110 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f at my front doo
2e120 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 r this morning t
2e130 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 o ask me about s
2e140 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 ome stuff. It w
2e150 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 asn't about you
2e160 2d 2d 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 -- it was about
2e170 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 63 72 65 me -- but it cre
2e180 65 70 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c eped me the hell
2e190 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 out, especially
2e1a0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 when I started
2e1b0 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c learning a littl
2e1c0 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 69 74 e about them wit
2e1d0 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 72 65 h some online re
2e1e0 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 search."..He sta
2e1f0 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 57 68 red at her. "Wh
2e200 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 65 6e 20 en you say 'men
2e210 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 27 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 in black' . . ."
2e220 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
2e230 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 id, "I mean two
2e240 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 69 6e 20 people, both in
2e250 74 68 65 69 72 20 66 69 66 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 their fifties, I
2e260 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 think, one man
2e270 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 2c 20 73 and one woman, s
2e280 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 64 howed up at my d
2e290 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 oor in plain bla
2e2a0 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f ck suits that lo
2e2b0 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 69 76 65 6c 79 oked expensively
2e2c0 20 74 61 69 6c 6f 72 65 64 20 62 75 74 20 6f 74 tailored but ot
2e2d0 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 herwise totally
2e2e0 6e 6f 6e 64 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 2c 20 77 69 74 nondescript, wit
2e2f0 68 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 6e 67 6c 61 73 73 h black sunglass
2e300 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 es and some kind
2e310 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 of government c
2e320 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 6c 61 6d 69 6e 61 ontractor lamina
2e330 74 65 64 20 49 44 20 62 61 64 67 65 2e 20 20 54 ted ID badge. T
2e340 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 he only thing th
2e350 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c at didn't look l
2e360 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 ike the typical
2e370 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 74 65 Men In Black ste
2e380 72 65 6f 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 reotype is that
2e390 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 there were deep
2e3a0 72 65 64 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 red stripes on t
2e3b0 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 47 heir shirts."..G
2e3c0 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 eorge sat back,
2e3d0 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 and his tone of
2e3e0 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 20 20 voice dropped.
2e3f0 22 56 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 "Vertical stripe
2e400 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 s.".."Uh . . . y
2e410 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 49 20 64 69 64 eah. When I did
2e420 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2c 20 some research,
2e430 74 68 65 79 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 they turned out
2e440 74 6f 20 62 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 to be COIN Corp
2e450 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 employees.".."Ye
2e460 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ah, I know about
2e470 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 them. They're
2e480 62 61 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 bad news.".."Fuc
2e490 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 k." She looked
2e4a0 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 down at her hand
2e4b0 73 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 s. "Really?".."
2e4c0 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 Yeah.".."That's
2e4d0 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 68 61 74 pretty much what
2e4e0 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 61 66 74 65 I thought, afte
2e4f0 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 r what I read ab
2e500 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 out them. I gue
2e510 73 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 ss they sometime
2e520 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 69 6c 64 20 62 75 6c s just build bul
2e530 6c 73 68 69 74 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 lshit cases agai
2e540 6e 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 6e nst people as an
2e550 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 excuse to make
2e560 74 68 65 6d 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 them disappear a
2e570 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 nd get some kind
2e580 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 20 62 6f 6e of contract bon
2e590 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 us or something
2e5a0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 like that, and d
2e5b0 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 on't have to wor
2e5c0 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 69 ry about the evi
2e5d0 64 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 69 6d dence being flim
2e5e0 73 79 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 6e 65 sy because it ne
2e5f0 76 65 72 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 72 69 61 ver goes to tria
2e600 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 l."..George nodd
2e610 65 64 20 73 6f 6c 65 6d 6e 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 ed solemnly. "Y
2e620 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e eah, that happen
2e630 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 s. You know, if
2e640 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 they decide to
2e650 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 take you in to p
2e660 61 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 c3 a9 73 75 6d c3 ad their r..sum.
2e670 a9 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 .s, they're prob
2e680 61 62 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 69 6e ably going to in
2e690 74 65 72 72 6f 67 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 20 75 6e terrogate you un
2e6a0 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 til they get you
2e6b0 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e to say somethin
2e6c0 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 65 76 65 6e g about me, even
2e6d0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b if they don't k
2e6e0 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 74 20 75 70 20 77 now you met up w
2e6f0 69 74 68 20 6d 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6a ith me at all, j
2e700 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 ust because they
2e710 27 6c 6c 20 64 69 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 65 76 65 'll dig into eve
2e720 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 rything you've b
2e730 65 65 6e 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 een doing for th
2e740 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 77 65 65 6b 73 e last few weeks
2e750 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 ."..She remained
2e760 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 silent, looking
2e770 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a at her hands...
2e780 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 "I'll tell you w
2e790 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 hat I do on one
2e7a0 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f condition.".."Yo
2e7b0 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 77 65 u want me to swe
2e7c0 61 72 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 ar I won't tell
2e7d0 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e them, of course.
2e7e0 20 20 49 20 73 77 65 61 72 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 I swear I'll t
2e7f0 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 ry, but it's not
2e800 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 like I know how
2e810 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 6f 6c 64 well I can hold
2e820 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 72 74 75 72 65 2e 22 up to torture."
2e830 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 ..He shook his h
2e840 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f ead. "No, I kno
2e850 77 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 w that's not a p
2e860 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 72 romise you can r
2e870 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 eally make, or a
2e880 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 63 t least that I c
2e890 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f an expect you to
2e8a0 20 6b 65 65 70 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 keep, no matter
2e8b0 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 how much you wa
2e8c0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 nt to keep it.
2e8d0 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 2c 20 49 20 The thing is, I
2e8e0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 want to keep you
2e8f0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 68 61 out of their ha
2e900 6e 64 73 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 61 nds, for your sa
2e910 6b 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 6f 6f ke, but mine too
2e920 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c .".."Oh." She l
2e930 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 63 75 ooked at him, cu
2e940 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 riously, and he
2e950 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 could see the fe
2e960 61 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 0a ar in her eyes..
2e970 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 ."I'll tell you
2e980 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 what I do if you
2e990 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 let me help you
2e9a0 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 avoid getting h
2e9b0 61 75 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 auled off by the
2e9c0 6d 2c 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 m, take this thr
2e9d0 65 61 74 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 eat seriously, a
2e9e0 6e 64 20 64 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 nd do everything
2e9f0 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 you can to prot
2ea00 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f ect yourself fro
2ea10 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 m them.".."You w
2ea20 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e 22 ant to help me."
2ea30 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a .."Yes, I do."..
2ea40 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 She thought abou
2ea50 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 t it. "Yeah," s
2ea60 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 he said, "of cou
2ea70 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 rse. You don't
2ea80 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 want them coming
2ea90 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 after you.".."I
2eaa0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 don't, but that
2eab0 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 's really not th
2eac0 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 e main reason.
2ead0 49 66 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 63 61 72 65 If I didn't care
2eae0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 79 about helping y
2eaf0 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 61 6b 65 ou for your sake
2eb00 2c 20 49 27 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 , I'd just keep
2eb10 61 6e 20 65 79 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 an eye on things
2eb20 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 69 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 , and wait to se
2eb30 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 e what happens.
2eb40 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 63 6f 6f 70 65 64 If they scooped
2eb50 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 20 49 27 64 20 6b 6e 6f you up, I'd kno
2eb60 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 w it was just a
2eb70 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 matter of time,
2eb80 61 6e 64 20 49 27 64 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 and I'd be ready
2eb90 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e 20 20 to disappear.
2eba0 49 66 20 49 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 If I help you, t
2ebb0 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f hough, that's go
2ebc0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 ing to be a lot
2ebd0 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 more work, and e
2ebe0 78 70 6f 73 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 xpose me to more
2ebf0 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 danger, and eve
2ec00 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 2d 2d n if it works --
2ec10 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 even if I can h
2ec20 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 elp you get away
2ec30 20 2d 2d 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 70 -- I'll still p
2ec40 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 robably have to
2ec50 70 61 63 6b 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 73 61 pack up and disa
2ec60 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 ppear, so I'm re
2ec70 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ally choosing th
2ec80 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 70 61 74 68 20 62 79 20 6f e hard path by o
2ec90 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 ffering to help
2eca0 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 you.".."Why are
2ecb0 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 you offering, th
2ecc0 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 en?"..He looked
2ecd0 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f toward the windo
2ece0 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 74 w, or perhaps at
2ecf0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 something that
2ed00 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 65 78 63 wasn't there exc
2ed10 65 70 74 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 68 69 73 20 6f ept inside his o
2ed20 77 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 wn mind. "It's
2ed30 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 the right thing
2ed40 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e to do," he said.
2ed50 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 74 ..The silence st
2ed60 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c retched as she l
2ed70 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f ooked at his pro
2ed80 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d file, the determ
2ed90 69 6e 65 64 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 ined set of his
2eda0 6a 61 77 2c 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 6e 65 73 jaw, the hardnes
2edb0 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 s of his eyes, a
2edc0 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 nd the miles of
2edd0 68 61 72 64 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 hardening experi
2ede0 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 ence that seemed
2edf0 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 to lie behind h
2ee00 69 73 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 is wrinkles and
2ee10 67 72 65 79 20 68 61 69 72 73 2e 20 20 54 65 78 grey hairs. Tex
2ee20 74 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 t scrolled acros
2ee30 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 s her field of v
2ee40 69 65 77 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 iew, the priorit
2ee50 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 22 49 20 61 izer saying "I a
2ee60 64 76 69 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b dvise you to tak
2ee70 65 20 68 69 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 2e 20 20 49 20 e his offer. I
2ee80 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 63 believe he has c
2ee90 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 onnections that
2eea0 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a can help you."..
2eeb0 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20 69 6d "I'm sorry to im
2eec0 70 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 69 6b 65 pose on you like
2eed0 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 49 this, even if I
2eee0 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 had no idea it
2eef0 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d was going to com
2ef00 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 e to this." She
2ef10 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 68 met his eyes wh
2ef20 65 6e 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 en he looked at
2ef30 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 61 6b 65 her. "I'll take
2ef40 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 your help, thou
2ef50 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e gh."..He nodded.
2ef60 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 "I'll tell you
2ef70 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 that part of wh
2ef80 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 72 at I do, and par
2ef90 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 t of the reason
2efa0 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 I needed those f
2efb0 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 rames, is becaus
2efc0 65 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c e I supply peopl
2efd0 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 e who make it th
2efe0 65 69 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 eir job to do th
2eff0 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 ings like help p
2f000 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 eople in situati
2f010 6f 6e 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 20 77 ons like yours w
2f020 69 74 68 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 72 69 ith COIN Corp ri
2f030 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 ght now.".."You'
2f040 72 65 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 re kidding."..He
2f050 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e shook his head.
2f060 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b "No, I'm not k
2f070 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f idding."..She lo
2f080 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 oked down at her
2f090 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 hands as she me
2f0a0 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 69 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 ntally digested
2f0b0 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 that for a while
2f0c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 71 75 69 , and George qui
2f0d0 65 74 6c 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 75 6e 74 etly watched unt
2f0e0 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 il she looked up
2f0f0 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 at him again.
2f100 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6a "How is that a j
2f110 6f 62 3f 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 ob? That doesn'
2f120 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 65 6e 73 t even make sens
2f130 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 e."..He smiled.
2f140 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 "That's not the
2f150 69 72 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 62 75 ir whole job, bu
2f160 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 t it's something
2f170 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 they do. They
2f180 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c do things that l
2f190 69 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 ie outside the b
2f1a0 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 ounds of strict
2f1b0 6c 65 67 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 legality, I gues
2f1c0 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 64 s, and they're d
2f1d0 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 6a 6f 62 73 2e 20 20 angerous jobs.
2f1e0 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 63 72 65 77 20 75 70 If they screw up
2f1f0 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 67 , people might g
2f200 65 74 20 68 75 72 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 et hurt, so they
2f210 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 64 have to be read
2f220 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 y for that..."Th
2f230 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 63 68 61 72 ey're not a char
2f240 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 ity. They make
2f250 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 money doing what
2f260 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f they do, and no
2f270 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 t everything the
2f280 79 20 64 6f 20 69 73 20 68 65 72 6f 69 63 2c 20 y do is heroic,
2f290 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 but the people I
2f2a0 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 'm talking about
2f2b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 73 20 have standards
2f2c0 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 for what they're
2f2d0 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 willing to do.
2f2e0 20 54 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 20 62 61 They'll help ba
2f2f0 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 72 65 20 d people who're
2f300 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 hurting each oth
2f310 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 61 64 20 er, but not bad
2f320 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 72 65 20 68 75 people who're hu
2f330 72 74 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c rting good peopl
2f340 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 63 65 2e e, for instance.
2f350 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 20 63 Sometimes, a c
2f360 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f ouple of them do
2f370 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6a 75 73 74 20 something just
2f380 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 69 because they thi
2f390 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 nk it's the righ
2f3a0 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 t thing to do, b
2f3b0 75 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 ut usually they
2f3c0 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 65 73 70 65 need money, espe
2f3d0 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 cially if they t
2f3e0 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 72 hink it'll get r
2f3f0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 2e eally dangerous.
2f400 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 63 .."I've seen a c
2f410 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 ouple of these p
2f420 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 61 20 77 6f 6d eople help a wom
2f430 61 6e 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 6e 20 61 62 75 an escape an abu
2f440 73 69 76 65 20 68 75 73 62 61 6e 64 20 77 68 6f sive husband who
2f450 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 happened to be
2f460 61 20 73 65 6e 69 6f 72 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 a senior assista
2f470 6e 74 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 61 74 74 6f nt district atto
2f480 72 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 rney, and when s
2f490 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 he tried to pay
2f4a0 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 them they told h
2f4b0 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2c 20 62 er to keep it, b
2f4c0 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 ut that's a pret
2f4d0 74 79 20 72 61 72 65 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e ty rare case, an
2f4e0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 d some of the pe
2f4f0 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 ople I'm talking
2f500 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 2d 2d 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 about -- becaus
2f510 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 e they work toge
2f520 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 ther a lot -- ju
2f530 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 6a 6f 62 73 st won't do jobs
2f540 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 6c 69 where their cli
2f550 65 6e 74 73 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 20 6e ents can't pay n
2f560 6f 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 o matter how muc
2f570 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 h someone thinks
2f580 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 it's a good thi
2f590 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ng to do."..Alle
2f5a0 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 y frowned. "I g
2f5b0 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c uess you probabl
2f5c0 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 y aren't technic
2f5d0 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ally doing somet
2f5e0 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 62 79 20 hing illegal by
2f5f0 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 6f selling parts to
2f600 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 someone," she s
2f610 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 aid..."That's ri
2f620 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 ght," he said, "
2f630 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 64 but everyone's d
2f640 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 oing something i
2f650 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 llegal sometimes
2f660 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c , and it's not l
2f670 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 75 6c ike someone coul
2f680 64 6e 27 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 dn't use the law
2f690 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 20 6d 65 20 66 to destroy me f
2f6a0 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 or doing this ki
2f6b0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 nd of thing.".."
2f6c0 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c Why are you tell
2f6d0 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 3f ing me all this?
2f6e0 20 20 44 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 Doesn't that p
2f6f0 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 ut you in danger
2f700 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e ?"..He shrugged.
2f710 20 20 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 "It does, but
2f720 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 I'm ready to dis
2f730 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 appear if I have
2f740 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6f to. I did it o
2f750 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 nce before. Any
2f760 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 way, I think you
2f770 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 65 're going to nee
2f780 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 70 65 d the kind of pe
2f790 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 ople I'm talking
2f7a0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 20 20 43 4f about soon. CO
2f7b0 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e IN Corp has been
2f7c0 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 72 6f 62 6c a serious probl
2f7d0 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 em for a lot of
2f7e0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 69 74 20 people since it
2f7f0 77 61 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 was officially f
2f800 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 66 6f 75 72 20 79 65 61 72 ounded four year
2f810 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 s ago. It just
2f820 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 appeared out of
2f830 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d nowhere, and som
2f840 65 20 6f 66 20 75 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 e of us think it
2f850 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 74 69 72 65 6d 65 6e was a retiremen
2f860 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f t plan for someo
2f870 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e ne who worked in
2f880 20 74 68 65 20 4e 53 41 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 the NSA. In th
2f890 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2c at short a time,
2f8a0 20 69 74 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 20 it developed a
2f8b0 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 72 65 70 75 74 61 74 69 6f strong reputatio
2f8c0 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 n in some circle
2f8d0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 s for using the
2f8e0 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 excuse of fighti
2f8f0 6e 67 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 ng domestic terr
2f900 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 62 69 67 orism to get big
2f910 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 contracts from
2f920 74 68 65 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 61 67 65 6e the federal agen
2f930 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 49 cies of the US I
2f940 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d ntelligence Comm
2f950 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 69 6e 20 61 20 unity and pin a
2f960 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 bunch of manufac
2f970 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 65 63 75 6c 61 74 69 76 tured speculativ
2f980 65 20 27 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 27 20 6f 6e 20 e 'evidence' on
2f990 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 innocent people
2f9a0 74 6f 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e to line the foun
2f9b0 64 65 72 27 73 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2e 0a 0a der's pockets...
2f9c0 22 49 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 68 61 73 20 69 74 73 "If COIN has its
2f9d0 20 73 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 sights on you,
2f9e0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f things aren't go
2f9f0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 ing to go well.
2fa00 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 They say that i
2fa10 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 61 74 f you can't beat
2fa20 20 27 65 6d 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 'em you should
2fa30 6a 6f 69 6e 20 27 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 join 'em, and th
2fa40 69 73 20 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f is is one of tho
2fa50 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 se things where
2fa60 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 almost nobody ha
2fa70 73 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 s any chance of
2fa80 62 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 beating them, bu
2fa90 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 74 68 69 72 t there's a thir
2faa0 64 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 3a 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 d option: get he
2fab0 6c 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 lp, and get away
2fac0 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 73 65 . I'd rather se
2fad0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 e you take that
2fae0 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 option than the
2faf0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 6f 20 2d 2d 20 6c 6f 73 other two -- los
2fb00 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 2e ing, or joining.
2fb10 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 .."There's alway
2fb20 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 73 s the other poss
2fb30 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 ibility, that th
2fb40 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 ey won't try to
2fb50 66 72 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 frame you up as
2fb60 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 65 72 connected to ter
2fb70 72 6f 72 69 73 74 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 rorists, but tha
2fb80 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 t's just a matte
2fb90 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f r of sitting aro
2fba0 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e und, waiting, an
2fbb0 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 d maybe ending u
2fbc0 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 p disappearing,
2fbd0 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 76 65 because you neve
2fbe0 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f r tried to do so
2fbf0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 mething to prote
2fc00 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ct yourself.".."
2fc10 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Shit," she said.
2fc20 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 "What about ge
2fc30 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 72 tting ready to r
2fc40 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 un, but waiting
2fc50 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 69 6e 67 to see how thing
2fc60 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 49 s go? I mean, I
2fc70 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 75 6e 20 69 shouldn't run i
2fc80 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e f nothing happen
2fc90 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 s. Right?".."It
2fca0 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 's a risk. That
2fcb0 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 's all there is
2fcc0 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 to it. They're
2fcd0 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 not going to giv
2fce0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e e you any warnin
2fcf0 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 g at all, if the
2fd00 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 y can help it.
2fd10 54 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 The fact they ca
2fd20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f me to talk to yo
2fd30 75 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 u at all might b
2fd40 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 e the only warni
2fd50 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 ng you get. May
2fd60 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 be you can pull
2fd70 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a it off, though..
2fd80 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 77 61 72 6e 69 ."My first warni
2fd90 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 ng that they mig
2fda0 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 77 ht come for me w
2fdb0 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 ould probably be
2fdc0 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e you disappearin
2fdd0 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 g, though. If t
2fde0 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2c 20 49 27 6d hat happens, I'm
2fdf0 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 not going to wa
2fe00 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 it around to see
2fe10 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d if they're on m
2fe20 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 y tail. I'll ma
2fe30 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 ke myself disapp
2fe40 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 ear, instead of
2fe50 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 waiting around t
2fe60 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c o see if they'll
2fe70 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 make me disappe
2fe80 61 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 ar before I get
2fe90 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a around to it."..
2fea0 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 "Okay. Yeah. T
2feb0 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 hat's a lot to t
2fec0 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d hink about. I'm
2fed0 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 going to have t
2fee0 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 o think about it
2fef0 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 ."..He nodded.
2ff00 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 69 6e "You should thin
2ff10 6b 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 62 k pretty hard ab
2ff20 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 out it," he said
2ff30 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 20 61 6c 65 72 74 2c 20 . "Stay alert,
2ff40 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 64 6f 69 try to avoid doi
2ff50 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 ng anything that
2ff60 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 74 63 68 20 74 68 65 might catch the
2ff70 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e ir attention, an
2ff80 64 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 d stay out of tr
2ff90 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b ouble. Try to k
2ffa0 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 77 eep them happy w
2ffb0 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ithout giving th
2ffc0 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 em anything to u
2ffd0 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 0a se against you..
2ffe0 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ."Mostly, though
2fff0 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 , think hard and
30000 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 61 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 think fast abou
30010 74 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 t how you want t
30020 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 o handle it, bec
30030 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b ause you don't k
30040 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d now how much tim
30050 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 e you have to ma
30060 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e ke that decision
30070 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f , and as decisio
30080 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 ns go this one i
30090 73 20 68 75 67 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 s huge. It migh
300a0 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 t be the biggest
300b0 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 22 0a of your life.".
300c0 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 ."No pressure,"
300d0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 she said, with a
300e0 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f wry smile..."Yo
300f0 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c u got it." He l
30100 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f ooked at his boo
30110 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 k cases, then st
30120 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 ood and walked t
30130 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c o them. He pull
30140 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 62 ed a couple of b
30150 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 68 65 ooks off his she
30160 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 65 6e 74 20 lves, then went
30170 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 to the chair whe
30180 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 re Alley sat and
30190 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 74 held them out t
301a0 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 o her. "Here.
301b0 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 20 72 65 61 Give these a rea
301c0 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 d, if you have t
301d0 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 ime."..She accep
301e0 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f ted them, and lo
301f0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4f oked at them. O
30200 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 69 74 6c 65 64 20 2a 41 ne was titled *A
30210 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 n Agorist Primer
30220 2a 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 *. The other wa
30230 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f s *Underground O
30240 70 53 65 63 2a 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 pSec*. "What ar
30250 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 e these?"..When
30260 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e he saw she was n
30270 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 ot handing them
30280 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 back, he went ba
30290 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 ck to his couch
302a0 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 and sat down. "
302b0 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 Agorism is kind
302c0 6f 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 62 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e of a combination
302d0 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 of ideal and st
302e0 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 rategy. The ide
302f0 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 al is living out
30300 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 side of the cont
30310 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 rol of others, a
30320 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 nd the strategy
30330 69 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f is using that to
30340 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f bring other peo
30350 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ple into doing t
30360 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 he same thing, t
30370 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 o change the wor
30380 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 ld for the bette
30390 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 r a little at a
303a0 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 time. The guy w
303b0 68 6f 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f ho wrote the ago
303c0 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 rism book basica
303d0 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 lly thought of t
303e0 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 his as a way to
303f0 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 starve the gover
30400 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 73 6f 75 nment of its sou
30410 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 rce of power and
30420 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 69 6e eventually brin
30430 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 g it down, basic
30440 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 ally turning the
30450 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 69 6e black market in
30460 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 to a political r
30470 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 evolution, but I
30480 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 don't think it'
30490 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 s very realistic
304a0 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 to expect that
304b0 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 to work the way
304c0 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 he hoped. I thi
304d0 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 nk it has to be
304e0 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 more about just
304f0 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 building communi
30500 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f ties that work o
30510 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 utside of the st
30520 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e ate, and choosin
30530 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c g to make your l
30540 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 ife about that p
30550 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 61 art of society a
30560 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 s much as possib
30570 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 70 53 65 63 20 69 73 20 68 le..."OpSec is h
30580 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 ow to keep yours
30590 65 6c 66 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 elf off the rada
305a0 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 r of people who
305b0 61 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 are looking for
305c0 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 you, whether the
305d0 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 y know about you
305e0 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 20 6a personally or j
305f0 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 ust want someone
30600 20 77 68 6f 20 66 69 74 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 who fits a prof
30610 69 6c 65 2c 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 ile, hiding what
30620 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 73 63 you do, and esc
30630 61 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 62 69 6c aping their abil
30640 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 ity to see what
30650 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 you're doing so
30660 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 20 64 6f 69 you can keep doi
30670 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 62 6f 6f ng it. That boo
30680 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4f 70 53 65 63 k is about OpSec
30690 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 for people who
306a0 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 6c live below the l
306b0 65 67 61 6c 20 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 egal line, and s
306c0 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f ome of it is abo
306d0 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 63 ut how to get ac
306e0 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 ross that line i
306f0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e f you were tryin
30700 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 g to live above
30710 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 it, but have to
30720 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 67 run. The underg
30730 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 round it's talki
30740 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 72 ng about is a cr
30750 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6c 61 73 73 20 77 68 6f iminal class who
30760 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 70 72 65 79 20 6f 6e 20 6f don't prey on o
30770 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 20 ther people any
30780 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 more than people
30790 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 2d who are legal -
307a0 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 - just people wh
307b0 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 o choose to live
307c0 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 outside the law
307d0 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 , or are forced
307e0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 to do so, for re
307f0 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e asons other than
30800 20 74 68 65 66 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 theft and murde
30810 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f r, such as someo
30820 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 ne who wants to
30830 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 77 69 make a living wi
30840 74 68 6f 75 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 61 78 thout paying tax
30850 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 66 6f es to pay for fo
30860 72 65 69 67 6e 20 77 61 72 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 66 reign wars, or f
30870 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 ighting against
30880 61 20 74 79 72 61 6e 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 a tyrannical gov
30890 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 ernment, or just
308a0 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 69 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 being bisexual
308b0 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 in some parts of
308c0 20 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 45 61 73 74 the Middle East
308d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c .".."Oh." She l
308e0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f ooked at the boo
308f0 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 ks again..."You
30900 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 can think of the
30910 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 62 OpSec book as b
30920 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 eing about how t
30930 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 o avoid getting
30940 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 64 61 thrown into a da
30950 72 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 2c rk hole by COIN,
30960 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d and the agorism
30970 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 book as being a
30980 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 bout why they're
30990 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 64 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 61 the bad guys, a
309a0 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 nd the people wh
309b0 6f 27 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 65 73 63 o'd help you esc
309c0 61 70 65 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 ape are the good
309d0 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f guys.".."Are yo
309e0 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 u some kind of a
309f0 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 narchist?"..He s
30a00 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 hrugged. "Maybe
30a10 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c . Voluntaryist,
30a20 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 maybe, like an
30a30 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 20 63 61 70 69 74 61 6c 69 anarcho capitali
30a40 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 79 6c 65 20 st in the style
30a50 6f 66 20 44 53 48 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 of DSH before he
30a60 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 started telling
30a70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 76 6f 74 65 20 people to vote
30a80 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 Republican.".."Y
30a90 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 eah," she said,
30aa0 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c "that's the feel
30ab0 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e ing I was beginn
30ac0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 ing to get.".."D
30ad0 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 20 oes that bother
30ae0 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a you?" he asked..
30af0 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 44 ."No. I liked D
30b00 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 alton more in th
30b10 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c ose days. Hell,
30b20 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 I fell in love
30b30 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 with him in thos
30b40 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 e days.".."You d
30b50 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 79 6f on't consider yo
30b60 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 urself a volunta
30b70 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 ryist, or anarch
30b80 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ist, or somethin
30b90 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 6f g like that, tho
30ba0 75 67 68 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a ugh. Do you?"..
30bb0 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 "No, I guess not
30bc0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 .".."What do you
30bd0 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 consider yourse
30be0 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 lf?"..She surpri
30bf0 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 6c 69 sed herself a li
30c00 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 72 79 20 ttle with a dry
30c10 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e chuckle. "I don
30c20 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 't know. I gues
30c30 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 62 69 64 6c 79 20 61 70 s I'm rabidly ap
30c40 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 olitical.".."You
30c50 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 might have more
30c60 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 6d 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 in common with
30c70 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 20 74 a voluntaryist t
30c80 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 han you think, t
30c90 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a hen," he said...
30ca0 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 "I said apolitic
30cb0 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 74 69 70 6f 6c 69 al, not antipoli
30cc0 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 49 20 tical, though I
30cd0 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 guess the line c
30ce0 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 74 68 69 an be pretty thi
30cf0 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f n.".."Okay," Geo
30d00 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 rge said. "I ge
30d10 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 t it. Will you
30d20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 3f 22 read the books?"
30d30 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
30d40 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 id, "I'll give i
30d50 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 t a shot. I'll
30d60 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f get them back to
30d70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f you when I'm do
30d80 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ne.".."No, just
30d90 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 keep them," he s
30da0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 aid. "I'll get
30db0 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4a more of them. J
30dc0 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e ust pass them on
30dd0 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 to someone who
30de0 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 74 20 73 6f needs them at so
30df0 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 me point, if you
30e00 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b don't want to k
30e10 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 eep them.".."Sur
30e20 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e e," she said, un
30e30 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 certainly..."Hav
30e40 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 e you had dinner
30e50 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 ?".."No," she sa
30e60 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 79 id. "What are y
30e70 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ou thinking?".."
30e80 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 27 6d I'm thinking I'm
30e90 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 hungry, and you
30ea0 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 're welcome to j
30eb0 6f 69 6e 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 oin me. I was g
30ec0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6f 6b 20 75 70 20 oing to cook up
30ed0 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 73 74 61 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 some pasta."..Sh
30ee0 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 e nodded. "That
30ef0 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a sounds good."..
30f00 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 73 20 61 "It'll give us a
30f10 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 few more minute
30f20 73 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 77 69 s to hang out wi
30f30 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 thout talking ab
30f40 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 out anything so
30f50 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 serious before y
30f60 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 ou go home and t
30f70 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 68 hink the hard th
30f80 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 oughts about wha
30f90 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 t you're going t
30fa0 6f 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 75 o do." He got u
30fb0 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f p and started to
30fc0 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e ward the kitchen
30fd0 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a ..."Thanks."../*
30fe0 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 ..George really
30ff0 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 65 73 73 needs to be less
31000 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 61 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ignorant of the
31010 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 possible danger
31020 73 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 41 52 20 s of Alley's AR
31030 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f glasses. He kno
31040 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f ws this technolo
31050 67 79 20 65 78 69 73 74 73 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 gy exists. He's
31060 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 not just going
31070 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 74 68 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 6f to blithely go o
31080 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 n talking about
31090 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 61 6e a bunch of insan
310a0 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 e stuff without
310b0 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 noticing there's
310c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f 66 20 some danger of
310d0 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 62 it getting out b
310e0 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 ecause of the te
310f0 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 chnology people
31100 63 61 72 72 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 carry around wit
31110 68 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a h them...*/../*.
31120 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 77 .This might be w
31130 68 65 72 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 72 6f 76 here George prov
31140 69 64 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 ides some backup
31150 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 for Alley as sh
31160 65 20 70 69 63 6b 73 20 75 70 20 61 20 44 65 6c e picks up a Del
31170 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 iv job, or somet
31180 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a hing like that..
31190 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 .*/..Alley looke
311a0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f d at the cover o
311b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b f the first book
311c0 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 68 61 64 20 67 69 76 65 George had give
311d0 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 72 69 6e n her. She wrin
311e0 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 kled her nose at
311f0 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 20 66 72 69 6c 6c 73 20 63 the no frills c
31200 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 20 63 68 65 61 70 6c 79 20 over, a cheaply
31210 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 70 61 70 65 72 made trade paper
31220 62 61 63 6b 20 62 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 back binding wit
31230 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 h only a black b
31240 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 order and black
31250 74 65 78 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 61 72 6b 20 text on a stark
31260 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 61 63 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 white background
31270 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f . It had the lo
31280 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 76 61 6e 69 74 ok of some vanit
31290 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 y press thing, w
312a0 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 64 20 here nobody had
312b0 65 76 65 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f even bothered to
312c0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 really design t
312d0 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e he cover at all.
312e0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 ..She read the f
312f0 75 6c 6c 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 ull cover to her
31300 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 self..."An Agori
31310 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 0a 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e st Primer.."Coun
31320 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 54 ter Economics, T
31330 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e otal Freedom, An
31340 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 53 61 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 d You.."Samuel E
31350 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f 6e 6b 69 6e 20 49 49 49 dward Konkin III
31360 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 69 "..She flipped i
31370 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 61 63 t over. The bac
31380 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 k was blank...Sh
31390 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 e opened it and
313a0 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 flipped through
313b0 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 70 61 the first few pa
313c0 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 ges. She found
313d0 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 it had no table
313e0 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 69 74 of contents, tit
313f0 6c 65 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 le page, publish
31400 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 ing or copyright
31410 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 73 75 6d 6d 61 72 79 2c 20 page, summary,
31420 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 72 dedication, or r
31430 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 6f 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 eview quotes. T
31440 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 he first page wa
31450 73 20 61 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 s a ridiculously
31460 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 2e 20 short preface.
31470 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 70 The following p
31480 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 age was the firs
31490 74 20 6f 66 20 74 77 6f 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f t of two pages o
314a0 66 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 f introduction.
314b0 20 53 75 62 73 65 71 75 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 Subsequent to t
314c0 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 hat was chapter
314d0 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c one of the book,
314e0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 getting into th
314f0 65 20 6d 65 61 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 72 e meat of it alr
31500 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 61 67 65 73 eady...The pages
31510 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 65 64 2c 20 were numbered,
31520 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 31 2e starting with 1.
31530 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 63 68 61 70 The first chap
31540 74 65 72 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 ter began on a p
31550 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 34 2e 0a age numbered 4..
31560 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 .She closed the
31570 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 72 book again and r
31580 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 6e ead the cover on
31590 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 ce more..."Maybe
315a0 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e 6b 69 6e 20 69 73 20 61 Sam Konkin is a
315b0 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 2c 22 friend of his,"
315c0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 she said, meani
315d0 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 47 ng a friend of G
315e0 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 eorge's.../* The
315f0 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 preface page wa
31600 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 31 2e 20 20 54 s numbered 1. T
31610 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 he last page of
31620 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 78 20 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 63 the index -- onc
31630 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 e she looked --
31640 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 was 50. */..She
31650 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 looked at the fi
31660 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 rst page again,
31670 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f and the number o
31680 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 ne. Books never
31690 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 started with a
316a0 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6f page number of o
316b0 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 ne. She flipped
316c0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 to the end, and
316d0 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 saw that the la
316e0 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 st page showed t
316f0 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 35 30 2c 20 6f 6e he number 50, on
31700 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f the last page o
31710 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 27 73 20 69 6e 64 f the book's ind
31720 65 78 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 69 74 ex. At least it
31730 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 65 78 2c 20 62 had an index, b
31740 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 68 6f ut that meant ho
31750 77 65 76 65 72 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 70 61 67 65 73 wever many pages
31760 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 78 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 of index it had
31770 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 73 75 62 74 72 61 could be subtra
31780 63 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c cted from the al
31790 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 73 63 75 6c 65 20 ready minuscule
317a0 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f length of the bo
317b0 6f 6b 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 54 ok's content...T
317c0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
317d0 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 76 aid "This is a v
317e0 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 22 ery short book."
317f0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 .."Yeah," Alley
31800 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 6e 20 68 said. She ran h
31810 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 er fingers down
31820 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 69 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 69 the disintegrati
31830 6e 67 20 73 70 69 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 ng spine, held t
31840 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 79 20 6f 66 66 20 77 ogether by off w
31850 68 69 74 65 20 63 6c 6f 74 68 20 74 61 70 65 2e hite cloth tape.
31860 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 77 72 Someone had wr
31870 69 74 74 65 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 itten on the tap
31880 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d e with a black m
31890 61 72 6b 65 72 3a 0a 0a 22 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 arker:.."An Agor
318a0 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 2c 20 62 79 20 53 ist Primer, by S
318b0 45 4b 33 22 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 EK3"..This book
318c0 68 61 64 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 had obviously re
318d0 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 ceived a lot of
318e0 6c 6f 76 65 2c 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 love, been thumb
318f0 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 ed through many
31900 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e times. The corn
31910 65 72 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 77 65 ers, she saw, we
31920 72 65 20 79 65 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 re yellowed and
31930 73 6f 66 74 65 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 69 6d 65 softened by time
31940 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 , and had obviou
31950 73 6c 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 sly been slowly
31960 64 65 6c 61 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 delaminating for
31970 20 79 65 61 72 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 years...The pri
31980 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 75 oritizer spoke u
31990 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 64 69 p again. "Readi
319a0 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 ng it would be a
319b0 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f 77 20 63 6f 73 74 20 69 very low cost i
319c0 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 nvestment of you
319d0 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 r time. Do you
319e0 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c read more quickl
319f0 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 70 65 61 6b y than you speak
31a00 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ?"..Alley though
31a10 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 t about what the
31a20 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b prioritizer ask
31a30 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 6f ed. "Yeah, I do
31a40 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f . I guess I sho
31a50 75 6c 64 20 73 74 6f 70 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c uld stop literal
31a60 6c 79 20 6a 75 64 67 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 6f 6f ly judging a boo
31a70 6b 20 62 79 20 69 74 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 61 k by its cover a
31a80 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 nd start reading
31a90 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 77 68 61 .".."That is wha
31aa0 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d t I would recomm
31ab0 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 20 49 20 72 65 61 64 end. May I read
31ac0 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a it with you?"..
31ad0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 Alley looked up
31ae0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 62 6f from the worn bo
31af0 6f 6b 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 ok, at the wall
31b00 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2e across from her.
31b10 20 20 22 52 65 61 64 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 "Read it with
31b20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 me . . . ?".."I
31b30 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f only want you to
31b40 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 wear the glasse
31b50 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 s with the camer
31b60 61 73 20 61 63 74 69 76 65 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6d as active so I m
31b70 61 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 68 ay read as you h
31b80 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 70 65 old the book ope
31b90 6e 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 20 79 6f 75 n to read it you
31ba0 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 rself. I effect
31bb0 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 66 61 73 74 65 ively read faste
31bc0 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e r than any human
31bd0 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 , except some sp
31be0 65 65 64 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 6f eed reading reco
31bf0 72 64 20 68 6f 6c 64 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 rd holders, so i
31c00 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 63 t should not inc
31c10 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 onvenience you b
31c20 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 eyond the reques
31c30 74 20 74 6f 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c t to wear the gl
31c40 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 asses.".."Uh, ye
31c50 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ah, sure," she s
31c60 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 aid..."Thank you
31c70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 ."..She shrugged
31c80 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 and opened the
31c90 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 41 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 6c book. Apparentl
31ca0 79 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 70 72 y, a computer pr
31cb0 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ogram wanted to
31cc0 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 read the book, t
31cd0 6f 6f 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 oo. /* It must
31ce0 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 seem like a good
31cf0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 70 72 place to get pr
31d00 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 ioritization str
31d10 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 64 67 65 20 68 ategy or judge h
31d20 65 72 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 er desired goals
31d30 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c , or something l
31d40 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 2a 2f 20 20 22 44 ike that. */ "D
31d50 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 o you think this
31d60 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 is going to be
31d70 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 a good place to
31d80 67 65 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 get prioritizati
31d90 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 2c 20 6f on strategies, o
31da0 72 20 6a 75 64 67 65 20 6d 79 20 64 65 73 69 72 r judge my desir
31db0 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 ed goals and how
31dc0 20 74 6f 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 20 74 to prioritize t
31dd0 68 65 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e hem, or somethin
31de0 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 g like that?".."
31df0 49 74 20 69 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2c 22 It is possible,"
31e00 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
31e10 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 73 20 61 75 74 said. "Its aut
31e20 68 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 63 6c 61 69 6d 73 20 2f 2a hor proclaims /*
31e30 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 2a 2f 20 74 6f 20 62 65 itself */ to be
31e40 20 61 20 67 75 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 72 61 a guide to stra
31e50 74 65 67 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 tegy, and effect
31e60 69 76 65 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6d 75 73 ive strategy mus
31e70 74 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 t account for pr
31e80 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a ioritization."..
31e90 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 "Yeah, okay," sh
31ea0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e e said, and open
31eb0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 69 ed the book agai
31ec0 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 n. The introduc
31ed0 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 3a 0a 0a 22 41 67 tion began:.."Ag
31ee0 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 65 66 orism can be def
31ef0 69 6e 65 64 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 3a 20 69 74 20 ined simply: it
31f00 69 73 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 is thought and a
31f10 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 ction consistent
31f20 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 2e 20 20 with freedom.
31f30 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 64 The moment one d
31f40 65 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 27 74 68 69 6e 6b eals with 'think
31f50 69 6e 67 27 2c 20 27 61 63 74 69 6e 67 27 2c 20 ing', 'acting',
31f60 27 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 63 79 27 2c 20 61 'consistency', a
31f70 6e 64 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 27 66 nd especially 'f
31f80 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 27 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 reedom', things
31f90 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 get more and mor
31fa0 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 78 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 e complex."..It
31fb0 77 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 73 73 65 72 went on to asser
31fc0 74 20 61 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 t a sort of scie
31fd0 6e 74 69 66 69 63 20 62 61 73 69 73 2c 20 61 20 ntific basis, a
31fe0 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 connection to th
31ff0 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 62 65 72 74 e idea of libert
32000 61 72 69 61 6e 69 73 6d 20 22 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 arianism "consis
32010 74 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f tently and witho
32020 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c ut the practical
32030 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 22 2c contradiction",
32040 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 68 65 72 65 6e 74 and an inherent
32050 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 practicality of
32060 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6c its own that el
32070 65 76 61 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 evated it above
32080 74 68 65 6f 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 20 69 64 65 6f theoretical ideo
32090 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 logies that were
320a0 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 69 6e 20 22 not useful in "
320b0 72 65 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 22 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 real life"...She
320c0 20 68 61 64 20 73 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 had seen introd
320d0 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 6f uctions to suppo
320e0 73 65 64 6c 79 20 67 61 6d 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 sedly game chang
320f0 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 ing ideological
32100 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c theories before,
32110 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 77 68 particularly wh
32120 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 en she was with
32130 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 61 6c Dalton and he al
32140 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 ways had some cr
32150 61 7a 79 20 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 6f 72 20 62 6f 6f azy email or boo
32160 6b 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e k recommendation
32170 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c about political
32180 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 ideas to check
32190 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 out. Many of th
321a0 6f 73 65 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 77 6f ose claims of wo
321b0 72 6c 64 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 20 rld shaking new
321c0 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 6d theories were em
321d0 70 74 79 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 pty, even ridicu
321e0 6c 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 77 65 72 65 lous. Some were
321f0 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6f 68 basically incoh
32200 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6e 6f 6e 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 0a erent nonsense..
32210 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e .The book contin
32220 75 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 6c 69 74 79 20 69 ued. "Reality i
32230 73 20 6f 75 72 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2e 20 s our standard.
32240 20 4e 61 74 75 72 65 20 69 73 20 6f 75 72 20 6c Nature is our l
32250 61 77 67 69 76 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 73 awgiver."..Her s
32260 6b 65 70 74 69 63 69 73 6d 20 66 6f 72 74 69 66 kepticism fortif
32270 69 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ied itself, but
32280 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 72 65 she continued re
32290 61 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 ading, determine
322a0 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f d to give the bo
322b0 6f 6b 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2c 20 66 61 ok an honest, fa
322c0 69 72 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e ir chance to con
322d0 76 69 6e 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d vince her of som
322e0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 ething...As she
322f0 67 6f 74 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f got further into
32300 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 the book, Alley
32310 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 found herself a
32320 62 73 6f 72 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 bsorbed. She st
32330 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 opped to think a
32340 62 6f 75 74 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 77 68 bout passages wh
32350 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 6d en she read them
32360 2c 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 , flipped back t
32370 6f 20 72 65 72 65 61 64 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 o reread previou
32380 73 20 70 61 67 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 s pages, and ope
32390 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 74 ned her laptop t
323a0 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6e o start taking n
323b0 6f 74 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f otes when she co
323c0 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 uld not help her
323d0 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 61 self. It was fa
323e0 73 63 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 scinating...It t
323f0 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 6f 6e ook her much lon
32400 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 6e ger to read than
32410 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 20 20 she expected.
32420 48 6f 75 72 73 20 68 61 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 Hours had passed
32430 2c 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 , by the time sh
32440 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 e finished. It
32450 68 61 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 65 78 70 6c 69 63 69 had made explici
32460 74 20 61 20 2f 2a 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 2a 2f t a /* theory */
32470 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 70 70 72 6f manner of appro
32480 61 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 aching the world
32490 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 , and made the a
324a0 63 74 73 20 70 72 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 20 62 cts prescribed b
324b0 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 65 6c 20 y the book feel
324c0 6e 6f 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 69 not simply justi
324d0 66 69 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 61 67 6d 61 74 fied and pragmat
324e0 69 63 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6f 62 76 ic, but also obv
324f0 69 6f 75 73 20 69 6e 20 72 65 74 72 6f 73 70 65 ious in retrospe
32500 63 74 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6e 65 76 ct. /* like nev
32510 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 er before */..Sh
32520 65 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 66 72 61 67 6d 65 6e 74 e wrote fragment
32530 61 72 79 20 65 73 73 61 79 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 ary essays as a
32540 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 72 65 20 68 way to explore h
32550 65 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 er thoughts on t
32560 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 he subject. It
32570 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 excited her, and
32580 20 2f 2a 20 66 69 72 65 64 20 75 70 20 2a 2f 20 /* fired up */
32590 69 67 6e 69 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 65 ignited the fire
325a0 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 61 s of her imagina
325b0 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 tion. She reali
325c0 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 61 63 zed she had prac
325d0 74 69 63 65 64 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 61 6c ticed agorism al
325e0 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b ready...The book
325f0 20 75 74 74 65 72 6c 79 20 6c 61 63 6b 65 64 20 utterly lacked
32600 61 6e 79 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 any suggestions
32610 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 for how to get s
32620 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 63 tarted in a conc
32630 72 65 74 65 2c 20 70 72 61 67 6d 61 74 69 63 20 rete, pragmatic
32640 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 manner, though,
32650 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 which she found
32660 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 disappointing.
32670 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 She had herself
32680 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 halfway engaged
32690 69 6e 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 79 in agorism for y
326a0 65 61 72 73 2c 20 62 79 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e ears, by choosin
326b0 67 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 g her career pat
326c0 68 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 h as an independ
326d0 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 ent internet res
326e0 65 61 72 63 68 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 earcher who help
326f0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 70 ed her clients p
32700 65 6e 65 74 72 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 enetrate the bar
32710 72 69 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 riers of search
32720 62 75 62 62 6c 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 6f 72 bubbles and poor
32730 6c 79 20 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 6c 69 ly mediated onli
32740 6e 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 ne experiences.
32750 20 2f 2a 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 69 6e 74 65 72 /* search inter
32760 66 61 63 65 73 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 52 65 63 65 6e 74 faces */..Recent
32770 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 ly, she had more
32780 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 64 fully practiced
32790 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 agorism without
327a0 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 62 79 realizing it by
327b0 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 doing something
327c0 20 61 73 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 62 75 as simple as bu
327d0 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 33 44 ying a bag of 3D
327e0 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e printed handgun
327f0 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e 65 frames from one
32800 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c person and sell
32810 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 ing them to anot
32820 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 75 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 her. Thus, in t
32830 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 64 61 79 73 he last few days
32840 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 , she had more d
32850 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 irectly engaged
32860 69 6e 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 2e 20 20 49 66 20 in agorism. If
32870 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f not for the prio
32880 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c ritizer, though,
32890 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 72 65 she realized re
328a0 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 ading the book a
328b0 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f nd wanting to do
328c0 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 6f what it said wo
328d0 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 65 uld have just le
328e0 66 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 ft her feeling a
328f0 64 72 69 66 74 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 drift, without a
32900 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f sense of how to
32910 20 67 65 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 get started...T
32920 68 69 73 20 66 65 6c 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 61 his felt good, a
32930 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 nd she thought a
32940 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 bout the fact sh
32950 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 e could do more
32960 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 of the same. Sh
32970 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 e could have an
32980 69 64 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 6c 69 66 65 20 idealistic life
32990 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 61 67 6d 61 74 69 63 20 and a pragmatic
329a0 6c 69 66 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 life at the same
329b0 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 time, without c
329c0 6f 6e 66 6c 69 63 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 onflict between
329d0 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 61 73 70 65 63 74 73 2e the two aspects.
329e0 20 20 49 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 In a way, the
329f0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 prioritizer stud
32a00 79 20 77 61 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 6d y was what had m
32a10 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6c 61 6e 2c 20 61 ade this plan, a
32a20 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 nd this realizat
32a30 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a ion, possible...
32a40 53 68 65 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 She then began t
32a50 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 o think about wh
32a60 79 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c y she was not al
32a70 72 65 61 64 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 65 78 61 63 ready doing exac
32a80 74 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 46 69 72 73 74 tly that. First
32a90 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 , she found her
32aa0 6c 69 76 65 6c 69 68 6f 6f 64 20 61 73 20 61 6e livelihood as an
32ab0 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 independent int
32ac0 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 72 ernet researcher
32ad0 20 65 76 61 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f evaporating fro
32ae0 6d 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 m under her feet
32af0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 like the surfac
32b00 65 20 69 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 e ice of a froze
32b10 6e 20 6c 61 6b 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 n lake directly
32b20 73 75 62 6c 69 6d 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f sublimating into
32b30 20 76 61 70 6f 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 vapor as she st
32b40 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 3b 20 73 68 65 20 77 ood on it; she w
32b50 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 62 6c as no longer abl
32b60 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 e to use that as
32b70 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 the foundation
32b80 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 61 66 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 for a safe and e
32b90 6e 6a 6f 79 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 20 20 njoyable life.
32ba0 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c 20 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 She had, at time
32bb0 73 2c 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 s, blamed her fa
32bc0 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 6e iling independen
32bd0 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 t internet resea
32be0 72 63 68 65 72 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6f rcher business o
32bf0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 6f 75 74 20 66 72 n the fallout fr
32c00 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 63 68 61 6e om Dalton's chan
32c10 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 6f ging political o
32c20 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 pinions and his
32c30 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 66 61 6d 79 20 62 65 69 6e 67 own infamy being
32c40 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 reflected onto
32c50 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 her. The popula
32c60 72 20 68 61 74 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 44 61 6c r hatred for Dal
32c70 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 69 72 63 ton in some circ
32c80 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 64 75 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 les induced her
32c90 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 to hide from the
32ca0 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 68 public, which h
32cb0 75 72 74 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 62 69 6c 69 urt her visibili
32cc0 74 79 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 ty to potential
32cd0 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 clients. When s
32ce0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 he considered th
32cf0 65 20 66 61 63 74 73 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 e facts, however
32d00 2c 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 , she always rea
32d10 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 70 lized the real p
32d20 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 roblem was that
32d30 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 77 61 73 20 6d 6f the world was mo
32d40 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 77 6f ving on. Her wo
32d50 72 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 rk was becoming
32d60 69 72 72 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 4e 6f 62 irrelevant...Nob
32d70 6f 64 79 20 63 61 72 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 ody cared enough
32d80 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 about getting a
32d90 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 ll the informati
32da0 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e on about anythin
32db0 67 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 65 78 g any longer, ex
32dc0 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e cept for certain
32dd0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6f 75 6c people who coul
32de0 64 20 61 66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 d afford to have
32df0 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 65 74 20 72 their own pet r
32e00 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e esearch assistan
32e10 74 73 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 ts or otherwise
32e20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 get what they ne
32e30 65 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 2d 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 eded in - house
32e40 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 without having t
32e50 6f 20 68 69 72 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 o hire an indepe
32e60 6e 64 65 6e 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 72 ndent researcher
32e70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 like her...Her
32e80 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 2c 20 68 65 72 more recent, her
32e90 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 67 6f 72 more fully agor
32ea0 69 73 74 69 63 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 65 istic actions we
32eb0 72 65 20 2f 2a 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 2a 2f 20 64 61 re /* also */ da
32ec0 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 ngerous, and thu
32ed0 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 73 65 s possibly worse
32ee0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 65 72 65 6c 79 20 69 72 72 than merely irr
32ef0 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6f 6d elevant and doom
32f00 65 64 2e 20 20 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 62 65 69 ed. Despite bei
32f10 6e 67 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c ng technically l
32f20 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 egal, they were
32f30 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 exactly the kind
32f40 73 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 s of activities
32f50 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 COIN Corp would
32f60 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 use to hang her
32f70 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 anyway...Despite
32f80 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 all the promise
32f90 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 75 72 of living a pur
32fa0 65 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 e, good, and fre
32fb0 65 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 e life, all the
32fc0 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 72 61 assurance of pra
32fd0 63 74 69 63 61 6c 69 74 79 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 cticality beyond
32fe0 20 77 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 64 65 6f 6c what most ideol
32ff0 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 ogical theories
33000 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 could hope to pr
33010 6f 76 69 64 65 2c 20 69 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 ovide, it turned
33020 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 out the whole i
33030 64 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 74 20 6c 65 dea was -- at le
33040 61 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e ast for her -- n
33050 6f 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 69 ot only pretty i
33060 6d 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 mpractical, but
33070 77 68 6f 6c 6c 79 20 75 6e 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 wholly unpractic
33080 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c able...The book,
33090 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c short and mostl
330a0 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 y to the point,
330b0 77 61 73 20 65 6e 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 was enticing in
330c0 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 what it promised
330d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 65 65 , and George see
330e0 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 65 med like a perfe
330f0 63 74 20 65 78 61 6d 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f ct example of ho
33100 77 20 69 74 73 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 6d 69 67 w its advice mig
33110 68 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 20 67 ht actually be g
33120 6f 6f 64 2c 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 73 75 63 ood, a great suc
33130 63 65 73 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 cess story. She
33140 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 realized it was
33150 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 definitely not
33160 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 68 for everyone, th
33170 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 64 69 72 65 ough. More dire
33180 63 74 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 ctly and specifi
33190 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f cally, it was no
331a0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 t for her...The
331b0 65 78 63 69 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e excitement it in
331c0 6a 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 jected into her
331d0 72 65 66 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 refused to fully
331e0 20 66 61 64 65 20 2f 2a 20 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 fade /* , thoug
331f0 68 20 2a 2f 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 72 h */. She got r
33200 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 62 65 64 2c 20 73 6c eady for bed, sl
33210 69 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 id under the cov
33220 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 ers, and tossed
33230 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 about for a long
33240 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 time in the dar
33250 6b 2e 20 20 55 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 6c k. Unable to sl
33260 65 65 70 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 6f 73 65 20 61 67 eep, she rose ag
33270 61 69 6e 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 ain, picked up t
33280 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 61 he other book, a
33290 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f nd sat on the co
332a0 75 63 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 64 69 6e uch in her fadin
332b0 67 20 6f 6c 64 20 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f g old Informatio
332c0 6e 20 53 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 n Society shirt
332d0 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 62 to read...This b
332e0 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 76 65 ook contained ve
332f0 72 79 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 ry little theory
33300 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f , and a whole lo
33310 74 20 6f 66 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 2d 2d t of practice --
33320 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 essentially the
33330 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 opposite of the
33340 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 previous book,
33350 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 67 61 72 64 2e 20 in that regard.
33360 20 49 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 65 64 20 68 6f It explained ho
33370 77 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 w to prepare the
33380 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 75 6d 20 67 65 61 72 20 6e 65 minimum gear ne
33390 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 eded to run out
333a0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 the door in an e
333b0 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 mergency and sti
333c0 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f ll survive witho
333d0 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 ut anything else
333e0 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 to start. It g
333f0 61 76 65 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 62 65 ave advice in be
33400 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 76 69 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f ing invisible to
33410 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 61 6e surveillance an
33420 64 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 72 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 d pursuers somet
33430 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 69 6c imes, temporaril
33440 79 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 61 62 6c 65 20 74 y identifiable t
33450 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 69 6d o them other tim
33460 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 61 es, and simply a
33470 62 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f bsent the rest o
33480 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 f the time. It
33490 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e offered solution
334a0 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d s to the problem
334b0 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 of being corner
334c0 65 64 20 6f 72 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 ed or caught. I
334d0 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 t directed the r
334e0 65 61 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 eader to informa
334f0 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 63 71 75 69 tion about acqui
33500 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 ring or creating
33510 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f the resources o
33520 6e 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 72 65 ne does not alre
33530 61 64 79 20 70 6f 73 73 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 49 6e ady possess...In
33540 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 69 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 short, it gave
33550 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 64 a lot of good ad
33560 76 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 74 61 79 69 6e 67 vice for staying
33570 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 61 73 out of the gras
33580 70 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 p of people who
33590 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 might mean the r
335a0 65 61 64 65 72 20 68 61 72 6d 2c 20 70 6f 73 73 eader harm, poss
335b0 69 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 61 ibly including a
335c0 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 69 74 73 government, its
335d0 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 73 agents, and its
335e0 20 61 6c 6c 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 61 allies...She ma
335f0 64 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 72 de notes while r
33600 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b eading this book
33610 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 61 , too, but she a
33620 6c 73 6f 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 70 61 72 74 lso skimmed part
33630 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 s of it where sh
33640 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 e had not skimme
33650 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b d the other book
33660 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 . This time, th
33670 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 ough, the notes
33680 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 included concret
33690 65 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f e actions she co
336a0 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 uld take in the
336b0 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 morning.../* The
336c0 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 73 68 6f 75 6c following shoul
336d0 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 72 65 d probably be re
336e0 63 61 73 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 cast as a conver
336f0 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 sation with the
33700 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a prioritizer. */.
33710 0a 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 .She did not int
33720 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 end to immediate
33730 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e ly go on the run
33740 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 first thing in
33750 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 the morning afte
33760 72 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 r getting some s
33770 6c 65 65 70 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 leep. In fact,
33780 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e she was beginnin
33790 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 77 g to think she w
337a0 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 ould never have
337b0 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d to run away from
337c0 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 her life, if sh
337d0 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 e could just get
337e0 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 53 it on track. S
337f0 75 72 65 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 urely, she thoug
33800 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 ht, the looming
33810 74 68 72 65 61 74 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 threat of COIN C
33820 6f 72 70 20 73 68 65 20 70 65 72 63 65 69 76 65 orp she perceive
33830 64 20 2f 2a 20 2d 2d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 d /* -- as well
33840 61 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 6e 69 as all the warni
33850 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 ngs about it --
33860 2a 2f 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 */ coupled with
33870 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 73 all the warnings
33880 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 about it must h
33890 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 62 6c 6f ave been overblo
338a0 77 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 wn. It was just
338b0 20 74 6f 6f 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 20 too ridiculous
338c0 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 to believe even
338d0 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c half of it...All
338e0 20 73 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 77 61 she intended wa
338f0 73 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 s to put togethe
33900 72 20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 73 2c 20 70 6c 61 6e r supplies, plan
33910 73 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 s of action, and
33920 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 70 72 65 70 the mental prep
33930 61 72 65 64 6e 65 73 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 aredness necessa
33940 72 79 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 2d 2d ry to survive --
33950 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e even on the run
33960 20 69 66 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 2d 2d if necessary --
33970 20 6a 75 73 74 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 just in case th
33980 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 65 e almost inconce
33990 69 76 61 62 6c 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 ivable possibili
339a0 74 79 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 ty of its necess
339b0 69 74 79 20 65 76 65 72 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f ity ever came to
339c0 20 70 61 73 73 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 pass...It paid
339d0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 2c 20 to be prepared,
339e0 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 at least for the
339f0 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 74 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 distantly possi
33a00 62 6c 65 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 ble case that he
33a10 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 75 72 r home might bur
33a20 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6d 69 64 73 74 20 72 69 n down amidst ri
33a30 6f 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 ots, and she mig
33a40 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 61 ht have to run a
33a50 6e 64 20 68 69 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 72 69 6f nd hide from rio
33a60 74 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 ters for a while
33a70 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 before things s
33a80 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 ettled down...Th
33a90 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 6f is was a much lo
33aa0 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 nger book, even
33ab0 69 66 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 70 61 72 74 if skimming part
33ac0 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 73 61 76 65 64 20 73 6f s of it saved so
33ad0 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 me time. She wa
33ae0 73 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 s less than half
33af0 77 61 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 20 77 way through it w
33b00 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 hen she realized
33b10 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 67 72 6f 77 6e 20 73 she had grown s
33b20 6c 65 65 70 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 leepy somewhere
33b30 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 along the way, a
33b40 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 nd she was close
33b50 72 20 74 6f 20 64 61 77 6e 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 r to dawn than t
33b60 6f 20 6d 69 64 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c o midnight...All
33b70 65 79 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 ey set the book
33b80 61 73 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 72 61 77 6c 65 aside and crawle
33b90 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 62 65 64 2e d back into bed.
33ba0 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 4d 6f 6e 64 61 79 ..---../* Monday
33bb0 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 70 65 6e 74 */..Alley spent
33bc0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 4d 6f 6e 64 61 79 20 most of Monday
33bd0 73 70 6c 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 63 61 split between ca
33be0 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 73 20 rrying packages
33bf0 61 73 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 63 6f 75 72 69 as a Deliv couri
33c00 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 74 68 65 72 69 6e 67 er and gathering
33c10 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 together materi
33c20 61 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 22 62 75 67 als for her "bug
33c30 6f 75 74 22 20 6b 69 74 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 out" kits. She
33c40 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 started putting
33c50 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 62 75 67 6f 75 together a bugou
33c60 74 20 62 61 67 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 74 t bag to keep at
33c70 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 69 6d 69 home and a simi
33c80 6c 61 72 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 lar escape and e
33c90 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 mergency surviva
33ca0 6c 20 6b 69 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 6e l kit to keep in
33cb0 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 her car...She a
33cc0 6c 73 6f 20 6b 65 70 74 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 20 lso kept an eye
33cd0 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 73 out for trades s
33ce0 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 6e he could make on
33cf0 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2c 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e the side, movin
33d00 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e g things between
33d10 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 Open Marrakesh
33d20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e and normal onlin
33d30 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 20 e classified ad
33d40 64 65 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 79 deals. She stay
33d50 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d ed away from som
33d60 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 75 e of the more lu
33d70 63 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 73 68 crative deals sh
33d80 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 e could have mad
33d90 65 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 4f 70 65 6e e involving Open
33da0 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 Marrakesh, thou
33db0 67 68 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 gh, because they
33dc0 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 were too close
33dd0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 to the edge of t
33de0 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 he law. Some of
33df0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 6c them stepped al
33e00 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 l the way over t
33e10 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 6f 76 65 72 74 he line to overt
33e20 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 illegality, and
33e30 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 she made sure t
33e40 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e o avoid going an
33e50 79 77 68 65 72 65 20 6e 65 61 72 20 61 6e 79 20 ywhere near any
33e60 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 63 of those...The c
33e70 61 72 67 6f 20 61 72 65 61 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c argo area in All
33e80 65 79 27 73 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 20 68 61 74 63 ey's hybrid hatc
33e90 68 62 61 63 6b 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 hback had always
33ea0 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 6f seemed bigger o
33eb0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 n the inside tha
33ec0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 n the outside, t
33ed0 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 27 73 20 62 65 73 he vehicle's bes
33ee0 74 20 66 65 61 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 t feature in her
33ef0 20 6f 70 69 6e 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d opinion. She m
33f00 61 64 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 ade good use of
33f10 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 20 it that day. A
33f20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d surprisingly com
33f30 70 6c 65 74 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e plete collection
33f40 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 67 65 of emergency ge
33f50 61 72 20 67 6f 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 70 ar got tightly p
33f60 61 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 79 acked into a lay
33f70 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 er in the cargo
33f80 61 72 65 61 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 61 72 70 area with a tarp
33f90 20 6f 76 65 72 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 over it all. S
33fa0 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 he even included
33fb0 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 all of her old
33fc0 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e motorcycle ridin
33fd0 67 20 67 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c g gear in that l
33fe0 61 79 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 6f ayer of stuff, o
33ff0 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 n a whim...She t
34000 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 hought the motor
34010 63 79 63 6c 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 cycle riding gea
34020 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 r could be usefu
34030 6c 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 73 20 73 6f 6d l to have as som
34040 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 e kind of protec
34050 74 69 76 65 20 67 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d tive gear in som
34060 65 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 73 63 65 6e e emergency scen
34070 61 72 69 6f 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 61 6c arios, and it al
34080 73 6f 20 66 72 65 65 64 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 so freed up some
34090 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 61 room in her coa
340a0 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 t closet. She h
340b0 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 69 64 64 65 6e 20 61 20 ad not ridden a
340c0 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 motorcycle in a
340d0 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 61 6e couple years, an
340e0 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 d it was just ta
340f0 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 73 70 61 63 65 2e 20 20 king up space.
34100 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 The only part of
34110 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 her protective
34120 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 riding gear that
34130 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 did not make th
34140 65 20 63 75 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 e cut was her he
34150 6c 6d 65 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c lmet, which woul
34160 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 69 74 20 61 d not have fit a
34170 73 20 6e 65 61 74 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 s neatly and sec
34180 75 72 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 urely as everyth
34190 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 63 ing else she pac
341a0 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 ked into the veh
341b0 69 63 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 icle.../* I shou
341c0 6c 64 20 69 6e 73 65 72 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 ld insert someth
341d0 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 ing about buying
341e0 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 Stater with her
341f0 20 63 61 63 68 65 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 20 62 cache of cash b
34200 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f efore getting to
34210 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 the part about
34220 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 buying tools. S
34230 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 he needs the cry
34240 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 ptocurrency for
34250 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a those deals. */.
34260 0a 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 .By the end of t
34270 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 he day, she was
34280 65 78 68 61 75 73 74 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 exhausted. She
34290 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 6d managed to buy m
342a0 6f 72 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 ore Stater crypt
342b0 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c ocurrency, compl
342c0 65 74 65 20 73 69 78 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f ete six Deliv jo
342d0 62 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c bs, almost compl
342e0 65 74 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 76 ete her bugout v
342f0 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 6b 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ehicle kit, and
34300 62 75 79 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 buy a bunch of t
34310 6f 70 20 62 72 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f op brand hand to
34320 6f 6c 73 20 61 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 72 69 63 ols at good pric
34330 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 es from Open Mar
34340 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 rakesh without d
34350 65 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 53 74 61 epleting her Sta
34360 74 65 72 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 ter total much.
34370 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 68 61 6e She noticed han
34380 64 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 d tools from the
34390 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 72 61 6e 64 73 20 77 65 right brands we
343a0 72 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 re always in hig
343b0 68 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 h demand on the
343c0 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 online classifie
343d0 64 20 61 64 20 73 69 74 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 d ad sites. She
343e0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 decided to see
343f0 68 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 how many of thos
34400 65 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c e tools she woul
34410 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6c d be able to sel
34420 6c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 l off the next d
34430 61 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 78 ay...She felt ex
34440 68 61 75 73 74 65 64 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 63 6f hausted but acco
34450 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 mplished by the
34460 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 end of the day,
34470 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 and she realized
34480 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 a lot of what s
34490 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 he did would not
344a0 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 70 6f 73 73 69 have been possi
344b0 62 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 73 68 ble in such a sh
344c0 6f 72 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 ort time for her
344d0 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 20 73 to accomplish s
344e0 6f 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 2f 2a 20 74 68 61 o quickly /* tha
344f0 74 27 73 20 72 65 64 75 6e 64 61 6e 74 20 2a 2f t's redundant */
34500 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 64 without the aid
34510 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 of the prioriti
34520 7a 65 72 20 65 6e 73 75 72 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 zer ensuring she
34530 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 69 73 73 20 6f 70 did not miss op
34540 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 portunities and
34550 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 79 27 planned her day'
34560 73 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 73 75 63 s activities suc
34570 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e h that performin
34580 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 g some of the ea
34590 72 6c 69 65 72 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 6d 61 64 65 rlier tasks made
345a0 20 69 74 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 70 65 it easier to pe
345b0 72 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 6c 61 74 rform others lat
345c0 65 72 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c er. As she pull
345d0 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f ed up in front o
345e0 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 f the house, she
345f0 20 6c 61 69 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 laid her head b
34600 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 ack against the
34610 68 65 61 64 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 headrest of her
34620 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 seat and thought
34630 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 about the sudde
34640 6e 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 63 65 20 6f n significance o
34650 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 27 f the professor'
34660 73 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c s study in her l
34670 69 66 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 ife..."I really
34680 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 feel like maybe
34690 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 things are going
346a0 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 6c 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 to be alright f
346b0 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 or me," she told
346c0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
346d0 2e 20 20 22 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f . "Professor Go
346e0 75 6c 65 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 6d 65 ulet really came
346f0 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 up with somethi
34700 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b ng good, I think
34710 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 .".."It seems pr
34720 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 obable he will b
34730 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 e happy to know
34740 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a this," it said..
34750 0a 22 54 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 ."Too bad the st
34760 75 64 79 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 udy can't go on
34770 66 6f 72 65 76 65 72 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 forever. I'm pr
34780 65 74 74 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f etty sure you wo
34790 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6d 65 n't be a consume
347a0 72 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 65 r product for ye
347b0 61 72 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e ars after the en
347c0 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 d of the study."
347d0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 .."I will probab
347e0 6c 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 20 63 6f ly never be a co
347f0 6e 73 75 6d 65 72 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 2c 22 nsumer product,"
34800 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
34810 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f said..."What do
34820 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 you mean?" she
34830 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 asked..."I have
34840 61 63 63 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 accessed other s
34850 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 69 6e ystems concernin
34860 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 61 6e 64 g this study and
34870 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 69 73 discovered this
34880 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 project will pr
34890 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 20 obably become a
348a0 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 55 6e 69 74 65 classified Unite
348b0 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 d States Intelli
348c0 67 65 6e 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 gence Community
348d0 61 6e 64 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 4f and Department O
348e0 66 20 44 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 f Defense resear
348f0 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e ch project inten
34900 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 ded to be deploy
34910 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 61 67 ed with field ag
34920 65 6e 74 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 73 75 70 65 72 ents under super
34930 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 vision of COIN C
34940 6f 72 70 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 orp if the study
34950 27 73 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 64 's results are d
34960 65 65 6d 65 64 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 eemed sufficient
34970 6c 79 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a ly promising."..
34980 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 "Oh." Alley scr
34990 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 2e atched her nose.
349a0 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f "I guess I sho
349b0 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 uld make the mos
349c0 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 t of the months
349d0 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f I have access to
349e0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 77 you, then. I w
349f0 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 6f 70 69 6e 67 as really hoping
34a00 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 that maybe the
34a10 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 69 66 world would shif
34a20 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 63 72 61 70 t away from crap
34a30 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 72 75 6e 6e like ANTAS runn
34a40 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 6c ing everyone's l
34a50 69 76 65 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 ives into the gr
34a60 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b ound for the sak
34a70 65 20 6f 66 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 20 70 72 69 63 65 e of stock price
34a80 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 73 6f s, and toward so
34a90 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 mething like you
34aa0 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 as a way for pe
34ab0 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 69 ople to set thei
34ac0 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 r own goals and
34ad0 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 65 pursue them inte
34ae0 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 lligently."..Aft
34af0 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 er a few moments
34b00 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 73 20 of silence, as
34b10 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 77 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e Alley dwelled on
34b20 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 that disappoint
34b30 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 ing news, the pr
34b40 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 ioritizer asked
34b50 22 4d 61 79 20 49 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 "May I change th
34b60 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 e subject?".."Su
34b70 72 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e re," Alley said.
34b80 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a "What is it?".
34b90 0a 22 2f 2a 20 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 ."/* Have you ma
34ba0 64 65 20 61 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 de a decision ab
34bb0 6f 75 74 20 2a 2f 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 out */ We should
34bc0 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 20 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 discuss how and
34bd0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 2f 2a 20 70 6c 61 when you /* pla
34be0 6e 20 74 6f 20 2a 2f 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b n to */ will mak
34bf0 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 61 e a move to disa
34c00 70 70 65 61 72 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 ppear so that th
34c10 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e e COIN Corp agen
34c20 74 73 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 ts cannot find y
34c30 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 62 ou. I may be ab
34c40 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 20 79 6f 75 le to advise you
34c50 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 62 6f effectively abo
34c60 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 ut when and how
34c70 74 6f 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 to pursue this c
34c80 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c ourse of action,
34c90 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 61 6c and I could fal
34ca0 73 69 66 79 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 sify logs on the
34cb0 20 73 65 72 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 server to ensur
34cc0 65 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 66 e my continued f
34cd0 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 unctionality for
34ce0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 75 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f your use for so
34cf0 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f me time after yo
34d00 75 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 u break contact
34d10 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 with the study."
34d20 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 75 ..Alley jerked u
34d30 70 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 pright. "What?"
34d40 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d .."Do you need m
34d50 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 e to repeat the
34d60 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 question?" it as
34d70 6b 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 ked politely..."
34d80 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 6f No. I'm just no
34d90 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 t going to run.
34da0 20 57 68 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 72 75 6e Why would I run
34db0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 ?".."COIN Corp a
34dc0 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e ppears to presen
34dd0 74 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 t a very high se
34de0 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 verity risk to y
34df0 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 our life and fre
34e00 65 64 6f 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 edom, and to the
34e10 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f rest of your go
34e20 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 als.".."I really
34e30 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 think all this
34e40 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 talk about what
34e50 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 69 73 20 73 75 70 COIN Corp is sup
34e60 70 6f 73 65 64 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f posedly going to
34e70 20 64 6f 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 73 20 77 61 79 do to me is way
34e80 20 6f 76 65 72 62 6c 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 overblown, and
34e90 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 77 20 totally not how
34ea0 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e participation in
34eb0 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 an academic stu
34ec0 64 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 77 6f dy would ever wo
34ed0 72 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 rk. The only re
34ee0 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 ason they came t
34ef0 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 o my door must h
34f00 61 76 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 ave just been be
34f10 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 cause of their i
34f20 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 nterest in the s
34f30 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 tudy. They just
34f40 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 74 want the data t
34f50 68 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e hey need for it.
34f60 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6c 74 68 Right?".."Alth
34f70 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 ough the probabi
34f80 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b lity of the risk
34f90 20 69 73 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 61 74 is uncertain at
34fa0 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 67 65 2c 20 74 68 65 this stage, the
34fb0 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 73 74 69 severity is sti
34fc0 6c 6c 20 68 69 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 ll high, and the
34fd0 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 74 re are reasons t
34fe0 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 o believe the pr
34ff0 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 obability may be
35000 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 6f 75 higher than wou
35010 6c 64 20 62 65 20 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 67 ld be wise to ig
35020 6e 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 nore. Are you c
35030 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f ertain you do no
35040 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 63 t wish to make c
35050 6c 65 61 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 lear plans to re
35060 6d 6f 76 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 73 move yourself as
35070 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 73 74 61 74 a possible stat
35080 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 3f 22 0a ionary target?".
35090 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 2e ."Yes, I'm sure.
350a0 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 It's ridiculou
350b0 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 s. It'll never
350c0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 75 65 happen."../* Tue
350d0 73 64 61 79 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c sday */../*..All
350e0 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 ey needs to do s
350f0 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e ome things here.
35100 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 It will probab
35110 6c 79 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ly involve some
35120 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 70 6f courier work, po
35130 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 ssibly including
35140 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 72 that thing wher
35150 65 20 73 68 65 20 64 72 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 66 20 e she drops off
35160 62 61 69 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 bail for someone
35170 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 20 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c ...*/ /*.. Al
35180 6c 65 79 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f ley does some mo
35190 72 65 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e re courier work.
351a0 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 She does some
351b0 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 61 72 more currency ar
351c0 62 69 74 72 61 67 65 0a 20 20 20 20 77 6f 72 6b bitrage. work
351d0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 . She might nee
351e0 64 20 74 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 62 61 d to drop off ba
351f0 69 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 il for someone i
35200 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 n all of this st
35210 75 66 66 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 20 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 74 20 uff...*/ /*..At
35220 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 some point, she
35230 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 should set up a
35240 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 65 meeting for an e
35250 78 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 69 xchange in a pri
35260 76 61 74 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 vate conference
35270 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 20 77 6f 72 room at a co wor
35280 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d king space. Som
35290 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6f eone should reco
352a0 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 gnize her and as
352b0 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 k whether she's
352c0 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 meeting a client
352d0 2c 20 74 6f 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 72 , to which she r
352e0 65 70 6c 69 65 73 20 76 61 67 75 65 6c 79 20 69 eplies vaguely i
352f0 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 69 n a positively i
35300 6e 74 65 72 70 72 65 74 61 62 6c 65 20 66 61 73 nterpretable fas
35310 68 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 69 74 hion without lit
35320 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e erally confirmin
35330 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 73 75 6d 70 74 69 6f g that assumptio
35340 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 6f 72 64 73 n with her words
35350 2e 0a 0a 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 ...I wanted the
35360 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 67 72 65 65 74 person who greet
35370 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d s her to say som
35380 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 61 69 73 ething that rais
35390 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 61 63 74 6f 69 64 20 es some factoid
353a0 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 62 75 74 of her life, but
353b0 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 61 6e I'm not sure an
353c0 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 y longer what I
353d0 68 61 64 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 44 69 had in mind. Di
353e0 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 d it have anythi
353f0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 65 ng to do with ge
35400 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c tting out of Dal
35410 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 3f 0a 0a 44 ton's shadow?..D
35420 6f 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 73 oes the person s
35430 68 65 27 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 he's meeting rec
35440 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 ognize her conne
35450 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f ction to Dalton?
35460 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 66 ..*/../*.. Af
35470 74 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 65 6d ter an announcem
35480 65 6e 74 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 46 65 64 65 72 ent by the Feder
35490 61 6c 20 52 65 73 65 72 76 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 al Reserve, she
354a0 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f follows the prio
354b0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 0a 20 20 20 20 61 64 ritizer's. ad
354c0 76 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 62 75 vice to put a bu
354d0 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 74 72 61 nch of her extra
354e0 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 64 United States d
354f0 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 68 20 69 ollars in cash i
35500 6e 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2e 20 nto. Stater.
35510 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 After a moment
35520 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 more of discussi
35530 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 73 20 73 6f 6d on, she puts som
35540 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 6e 6b 0a 20 20 e of her bank.
35550 20 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 56 account into V
35560 61 70 6f 72 43 61 73 68 2c 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 aporCash, known
35570 61 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 as a good place
35580 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 66 20 to put money if
35590 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 you can't. hi
355a0 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 62 75 de the source bu
355b0 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 77 t want to hide w
355c0 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 2c 20 6a 75 here it goes, ju
355d0 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e st because the n
355e0 65 77 73 0a 20 20 20 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 73 ews. suggests
355f0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 6c 6c that there will
35600 20 62 65 20 61 20 62 6f 6e 61 6e 7a 61 20 69 6e be a bonanza in
35610 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 general cryptoc
35620 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 urrency investme
35630 6e 74 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6d 65 nt,. which me
35640 61 6e 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 ans it's a good
35650 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 63 61 time to trade ca
35660 73 68 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 sh for cryptocur
35670 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 rencies -- and,
35680 69 66 0a 20 20 20 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f if. you're go
35690 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 ing to move mone
356a0 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 y from United St
356b0 61 74 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 66 69 61 ates dollars fia
356c0 74 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 76 69 61 20 61 t currency via a
356d0 0a 20 20 20 20 74 72 61 63 6b 61 62 6c 65 20 63 . trackable c
356e0 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 63 72 hannel into a cr
356f0 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 6a 75 73 yptocurrency jus
35700 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f t to benefit fro
35710 6d 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 0a 20 20 20 20 6d m currency. m
35720 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 ovements it migh
35730 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 t be a good idea
35740 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 72 to hide your tr
35750 61 63 6b 73 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 acks so you can
35760 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 6f keep your. mo
35770 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 ney from being t
35780 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 racked along the
35790 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 20 way, and claim
357a0 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 69 6b whatever you lik
357b0 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6d 65 72 e in an. emer
357c0 67 65 6e 63 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 gency about wher
357d0 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 e the money migh
357e0 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 t have gone...
357f0 20 20 44 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 During all thi
35800 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a s, the prioritiz
35810 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 61 6b er has Alley mak
35820 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74 e some deals wit
35830 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 69 6f h other. prio
35840 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 ritizer study pa
35850 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 rticipants, thou
35860 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b gh she may not k
35870 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 64 65 61 6c now they're deal
35880 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 65 6c ing. with fel
35890 6c 6f 77 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 low study partic
358a0 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a ipants...*/../*.
358b0 0a 23 23 20 43 72 6f 73 73 69 6e 67 20 54 68 65 .## Crossing The
358c0 20 54 68 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c Threshold:..All
358d0 65 79 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 61 ey has a dream a
358e0 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 65 bout her home be
358f0 69 6e 67 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ing raided, and
35900 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 herself getting
35910 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e getting question
35920 65 64 20 61 74 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 61 62 6f ed at length abo
35930 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 ut there being t
35940 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 63 61 73 68 20 69 6e 20 oo much cash in
35950 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 her home. She i
35960 73 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 72 65 6c s ultimately rel
35970 65 61 73 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d eased, but the m
35980 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 61 oney is gone, ta
35990 6b 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 22 63 69 76 69 6c ken under "civil
359a0 20 66 6f 72 66 65 69 74 75 72 65 22 20 6c 61 77 forfeiture" law
359b0 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 61 6b 65 73 20 69 s. She shakes i
359c0 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 69 72 64 t off as a weird
359d0 20 64 72 65 61 6d 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 dream...In the
359e0 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 73 morning, she res
359f0 69 73 74 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 ists what she se
35a00 65 73 20 61 73 20 22 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 es as "dangerous
35a10 22 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 " activities and
35a20 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 instead just tr
35a30 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e ies to get work.
35a40 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 73 68 65 20 She feels she
35a50 68 61 73 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 has enough money
35a60 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 62 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 to get by at th
35a70 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 69 is point, but wi
35a80 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 ll have to figur
35a90 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 e out how to act
35aa0 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 ually use it wit
35ab0 68 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 hout getting in
35ac0 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 61 78 20 trouble for tax
35ad0 65 76 61 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 evasion or somet
35ae0 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 hing like that,
35af0 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 65 61 reading her drea
35b00 6d 20 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 75 62 63 6f 6e 73 m as her subcons
35b10 63 69 6f 75 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 cious just worry
35b20 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f ing about the lo
35b30 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 69 6d 70 6c 69 63 61 74 ng term implicat
35b40 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6d ions of having m
35b50 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 66 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 oney of dubious
35b60 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 65 origins...She ge
35b70 74 73 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f ts a message fro
35b80 6d 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 m Zeke telling h
35b90 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 67 er that she is g
35ba0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 oing to have to
35bb0 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 73 20 pay the damages
35bc0 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 and, when she as
35bd0 6b 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 73 20 ks what damages
35be0 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 2c 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 73 he means, Zeke s
35bf0 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 6f ends her video o
35c00 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 f her home being
35c10 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 61 72 6d 65 64 raided by armed
35c20 20 6d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c men in tactical
35c30 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 gear, with the
35c40 74 77 6f 20 61 67 65 6e 74 6c 69 6b 65 20 70 65 two agentlike pe
35c50 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 76 69 ople that had vi
35c60 73 69 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 sited and questi
35c70 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 oned her earlier
35c80 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 supervising the
35c90 20 72 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f raid. She reco
35ca0 67 6e 69 7a 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 74 gnizes the bag t
35cb0 68 65 79 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 77 hey carry out, w
35cc0 68 69 63 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 68 hich contained h
35cd0 65 72 20 73 74 61 73 68 20 6f 66 20 64 75 62 69 er stash of dubi
35ce0 6f 75 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 20 63 61 73 68 2e ous origin cash.
35cf0 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 She has a near
35d00 20 70 61 6e 69 63 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 62 panic attack, b
35d10 75 74 20 28 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 ut (with some ca
35d20 6c 6d 20 61 69 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 lm aid from the
35d30 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 29 20 69 6e 66 prioritizer) inf
35d40 6f 72 6d 73 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c orms Zeke she'll
35d50 20 68 65 61 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 head home right
35d60 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f away. The prio
35d70 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 69 73 ritizer then dis
35d80 63 75 73 73 65 73 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 cusses options w
35d90 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 75 72 67 ith her, and urg
35da0 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 6c 6c 2e es her to stall.
35db0 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 73 20 5a 65 6b 65 She tells Zeke
35dc0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6d 65 20 something came
35dd0 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 up and she'll be
35de0 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 later than expe
35df0 63 74 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 22 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 74 cted -- "work st
35e00 75 66 66 22 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 20 uff" -- and may
35e10 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 not even make it
35e20 20 62 61 63 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 back until the
35e30 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 next day. She t
35e40 68 65 6e 20 46 61 72 61 64 61 79 20 62 61 67 73 hen Faraday bags
35e50 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d her phone and m
35e60 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 6f 6e 20 43 akes a deal on C
35e70 72 61 69 67 73 6c 69 73 74 20 28 6f 72 20 73 6f raigslist (or so
35e80 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 29 mething like it)
35e90 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 68 65 72 . She sells her
35ea0 20 63 61 72 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 car for cryptoc
35eb0 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 73 urrency, sells s
35ec0 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e ome cryptocurren
35ed0 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 63 61 73 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 cy for cash, and
35ee0 20 62 75 79 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 buys a motorcyc
35ef0 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 le...Somewhere i
35f00 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 n the midst of t
35f10 68 69 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f his, she does so
35f20 6d 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 74 me research on t
35f30 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e he people raidin
35f40 67 20 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 g her place, and
35f50 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 68 65 72 20 this helps her
35f60 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 61 6c 6f decide to go alo
35f70 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6c ng with the stal
35f80 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 ling and vehicle
35f90 20 73 77 61 70 70 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 swapping. She
35fa0 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 73 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 arranges a place
35fb0 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 to stay for the
35fc0 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 76 69 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 night via some
35fd0 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 69 73 68 20 72 65 73 6f 75 barter ish resou
35fe0 72 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f rces, and she wo
35ff0 72 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 rks on ideas for
36000 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 how to get out
36010 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 69 73 20 67 of whatever is g
36020 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 oing on. The pr
36030 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e ioritizer convin
36040 63 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 ces her she need
36050 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 66 72 6f s more help, fro
36060 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 m someone with r
36070 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e esources and con
36080 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 55 6c 74 69 6d nections. Ultim
36090 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 65 61 64 ately, this lead
360a0 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 s to contacting
360b0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 64 69 6e Dalton and hidin
360c0 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 g from anyone wa
360d0 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e tching her home.
360e0 20 20 54 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 Technically, s
360f0 68 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 he is not target
36100 65 64 20 62 79 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 ed by law enforc
36110 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 73 20 6e ement, and has n
36120 6f 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 o responsibility
36130 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 to report, and
36140 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 6c 61 77 20 69 California law i
36150 73 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 73 69 s unlikely to si
36160 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 6f 76 65 de with Zeke ove
36170 72 20 6e 6f 6e 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 r nonpayment of
36180 64 61 6d 61 67 65 73 20 63 61 75 73 65 64 20 62 damages caused b
36190 79 20 61 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 68 6f y a corporate ho
361a0 6d 65 20 69 6e 76 61 64 65 72 2e 0a 0a 4e 6f 6e me invader...Non
361b0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 e of this means
361c0 73 68 65 27 73 20 73 61 66 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 she's safe from
361d0 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e that corporation
361e0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 54 , though. The T
361f0 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 echnocrat would
36200 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 77 totally find a w
36210 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 64 ay to make her d
36220 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 66 20 73 6f 20 64 isappear if so d
36230 65 73 69 72 65 64 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 esired. How doe
36240 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 65 74 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 s this get conve
36250 79 65 64 3f 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 yed? There must
36260 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 be some informa
36270 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 tion about the p
36280 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 2f 6f 72 20 74 68 65 erson and/or the
36290 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 corporation to
362a0 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 give this impres
362b0 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 6f 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 sion...Does she
362c0 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 54 learn that the T
362d0 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e echnocrat was in
362e0 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 volved in the di
362f0 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 68 sappearance of h
36300 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 er uncle at this
36310 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 3f 20 20 49 66 20 73 6f 2c 20 point? If so,
36320 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 63 6f 6d this could becom
36330 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 69 6e 63 e the first pinc
36340 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a h point...*/../*
36350 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 77 .. One day, w
36360 68 69 6c 65 20 6f 75 74 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 hile out running
36370 20 65 72 72 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 64 69 73 61 73 74 errands, disast
36380 65 72 20 73 74 72 69 6b 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 er strikes. Her
36390 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 73 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 65 63 car has. mec
363a0 68 61 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c hanical trouble,
363b0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 and she has to
363c0 67 6f 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f go spend some mo
363d0 6e 65 79 20 61 74 20 61 6e 20 61 75 74 6f 20 72 ney at an auto r
363e0 65 70 61 69 72 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 6f 70 2e 20 epair. shop.
363f0 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 41 6c While there, Al
36400 6c 65 79 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 ley gets a messa
36410 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2e 20 ge from George.
36420 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 69 73 20 The message is
36430 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f about. his ho
36440 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 22 62 75 72 6e 65 64 me being "burned
36450 22 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 68 61 76 69 6e ", and him havin
36460 67 20 74 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 g to drop off th
36470 65 20 67 72 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 65 6c 6c e grid. He tell
36480 73 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e s her. to run
36490 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 , if she hasn't
364a0 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 61 75 already been cau
364b0 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 79 73 20 68 65 ght, and says he
364c0 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 'll try to get i
364d0 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 n. touch with
364e0 20 68 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 her very soon,
364f0 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e using a differen
36500 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 t way to contact
36510 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 0a her because he.
36520 20 20 20 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f was going to
36530 20 64 69 74 63 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 6f ditch all his o
36540 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 6d 65 74 68 6f ld contact metho
36550 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 ds, but that she
36560 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 75 6e 20 61 6e 64 0a should run and.
36570 20 20 20 20 68 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 hide and may
36580 62 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 be find herself
36590 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 an ally who can
365a0 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 and will help he
365b0 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b r...*/.."It look
365c0 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 s like I should
365d0 74 75 72 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 turn here," Alle
365e0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 y said, checking
365f0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 70 20 2f 2a 20 6f 6e 20 68 the map /* on h
36600 65 72 20 61 75 67 6d 65 6e 74 65 64 20 72 65 61 er augmented rea
36610 6c 69 74 79 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 75 70 20 64 69 lity heads up di
36620 73 70 6c 61 79 20 2a 2f 20 73 68 6f 77 6e 20 69 splay */ shown i
36630 6e 20 74 68 65 20 48 55 44 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 n the HUD on her
36640 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f glasses, and ro
36650 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 6f lled up to a sto
36660 70 20 61 74 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 65 63 p at an intersec
36670 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 tion..."Continue
36680 20 61 68 65 61 64 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ahead," the pri
36690 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 oritizer said.
366a0 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 6f "It is better to
366b0 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 63 68 avoid police ch
366c0 65 63 6b 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c eckpoints."..All
366d0 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 ey hesitated as
366e0 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 the light turned
366f0 20 67 72 65 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 72 6f green, then dro
36700 76 65 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 79 ve on. "Okay, y
36710 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 eah. That makes
36720 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 22 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 sense." As the
36730 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 y passed the int
36740 65 72 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c ersection, she l
36750 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 ooked to her rig
36760 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 61 6c 66 ht, and saw half
36770 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 6e 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 a dozen police
36780 6f 66 66 69 63 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 officers in blac
36790 6b 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 k around the bar
367a0 72 69 63 61 64 65 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 20 62 6c ricade half a bl
367b0 6f 63 6b 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 ock away. They
367c0 77 6f 72 65 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 wore helmets and
367d0 20 62 75 6c 6b 79 20 62 6f 64 79 20 61 72 6d 6f bulky body armo
367e0 72 2c 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 r, each of them
367f0 61 72 6d 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 armed with some
36800 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 72 6d kind of long arm
36810 20 2d 2d 20 72 69 66 6c 65 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 74 -- rifles, shot
36820 67 75 6e 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 20 74 68 69 72 64 guns, or a third
36830 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 2f 2a 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 option /* somet
36840 68 69 6e 67 20 2a 2f 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 hing */ she did
36850 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 2e 0a 0a not recognize...
36860 22 48 6f 77 20 61 6d 20 49 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e "How am I gettin
36870 67 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 66 20 49 20 64 6f 6e g there if I don
36880 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 't go through a
36890 63 68 65 63 6b 70 6f 69 6e 74 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c checkpoint?" All
368a0 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 ey asked. "The
368b0 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 74 drop off is in t
368c0 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f he hot zone."../
368d0 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 65 72 65 2c 20 74 68 65 *.. Here, the
368e0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 65 6c prioritizer tel
368f0 6c 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 ls Alley what th
36900 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 ey'll do to get
36910 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 61 past the barrica
36920 64 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 72 69 6d 65 74 65 72 de. perimeter
36930 2e 20 20 49 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 . It probably t
36940 69 65 73 20 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 ies in with some
36950 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 73 kind of means s
36960 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 73 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 0a mugglers use to.
36970 20 20 20 20 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 run the bloc
36980 6b 61 64 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 68 6f kades, though ho
36990 77 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 w the prioritize
369a0 72 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 r knows about it
369b0 20 69 73 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 6d 65 0a 20 20 is beyond me.
369c0 20 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e at this point.
369d0 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 Perhaps the pr
369e0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 ioritizer simply
369f0 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 reasons that th
36a00 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 6f 70 ere are. peop
36a10 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 70 72 65 70 61 le who are prepa
36a20 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 20 70 red to smuggle p
36a30 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 eople and object
36a40 73 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 61 64 s across blockad
36a50 65 73 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 75 72 62 61 6e 20 es in. urban
36a60 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 hot zones, and t
36a70 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 hat there must b
36a80 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 e a way to conta
36a90 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 ct them even if
36aa0 79 6f 75 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 65 76 you. have nev
36ab0 65 72 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 73 6f 20 62 65 66 6f 72 er done so befor
36ac0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 e and don't know
36ad0 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 how to get in t
36ae0 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 6f 73 65 0a ouch with those.
36af0 20 20 20 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 73 2e 20 20 smugglers.
36b00 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b Alley might look
36b10 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 up something wi
36b20 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 76 69 61 th her Axiom via
36b30 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 anonymized.
36b40 64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 6e 65 74 77 distributed netw
36b50 6f 72 6b 73 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 orks. At this p
36b60 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 oint, she might
36b70 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 47 65 6f also contact Geo
36b80 72 67 65 20 66 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 6c 70 rge for. help
36b90 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 getting in touc
36ba0 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 h with a smuggle
36bb0 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 r, though, inste
36bc0 61 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f ad of getting so
36bd0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 meone. online
36be0 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 64 6f 69 6e . In fact, doin
36bf0 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 77 68 g so might be wh
36c00 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 at led to George
36c10 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 2c getting raided,
36c20 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 and. her as
36c30 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 well. It could
36c40 62 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 69 64 be that the raid
36c50 20 77 61 73 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 was planned for
36c60 20 73 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 shortly after w
36c70 68 65 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c hen. she woul
36c80 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 61 d have arrived a
36c90 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 t home, and only
36ca0 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 the fact her ca
36cb0 72 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 61 76 r broke down sav
36cc0 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ed. her from
36cd0 74 68 61 74 20 66 61 74 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6f that fate. I co
36ce0 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 uld also ensure
36cf0 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 that, actually,
36d00 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 0a the prioritizer.
36d10 20 20 20 20 6d 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 74 65 64 20 manipulated
36d20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 79 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 69 Alley by arrangi
36d30 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 ng for the car t
36d40 6f 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 6d o break down som
36d50 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 ehow, knowing.
36d60 20 20 28 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 29 20 74 68 61 74 (somehow) that
36d70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 73 69 Alley was in si
36d80 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 gnificant danger
36d90 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 of being raided
36da0 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 69 6d at that. tim
36db0 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 e. This is kind
36dc0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 of a big decisi
36dd0 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 53 68 6f on, though. Sho
36de0 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 20 68 6f 77 20 uld that be how
36df0 69 74 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c it. happened,
36e00 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 74 20 61 63 or should it ac
36e10 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6c tually just be l
36e20 75 63 6b 3f 20 20 53 75 63 68 20 6c 75 63 6b 20 uck? Such luck
36e30 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 77 72 6f 6e often feels wron
36e40 67 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c g,. improbabl
36e50 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73 2e 20 20 e, in stories.
36e60 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 67 6f 6f 64 I just need good
36e70 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f explanations fo
36e80 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 6f 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 r the plotting t
36e90 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 75 74 20 69 o. work out i
36ea0 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 n a way that rea
36eb0 64 65 72 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 ders might find
36ec0 70 6c 61 75 73 69 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 69 plausible and ri
36ed0 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4a 75 73 74 20 ght...*/.."Just
36ee0 61 73 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 ask for Smuggler
36ef0 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a ," George said..
36f00 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 6e .---..Alley donn
36f10 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c ed her motorcycl
36f20 65 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 73 74 75 66 66 65 e jacket, stuffe
36f30 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 d her gloves in
36f40 74 68 65 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 the jacket pocke
36f50 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 ts, and strapped
36f60 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 77 20 70 72 6f 66 on her low prof
36f70 69 6c 65 20 70 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 63 ile pack and loc
36f80 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 20 20 53 68 ked her car. Sh
36f90 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 e looked at the
36fa0 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 front of the hou
36fb0 73 65 2c 20 64 72 65 77 20 61 20 64 65 65 70 20 se, drew a deep
36fc0 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 20 breath, and let
36fd0 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 it out slowly.
36fe0 53 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f She walked up to
36ff0 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 the front door
37000 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 and pressed the
37010 6f 6c 64 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 64 6f old fashioned do
37020 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 68 6f 75 73 orbell on a hous
37030 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 e that looked li
37040 6b 65 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 ke it had been b
37050 75 69 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 37 30 uilt in the 1970
37060 73 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 65 73 73 s...It took less
37070 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 65 6e 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 than ten second
37080 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 s for the door t
37090 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 20 6f o open, but no o
370a0 6e 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e ne stood inside.
370b0 20 20 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 63 "Hello?" she c
370c0 61 6c 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2e 22 alled..."Hello."
370d0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d ..She nearly jum
370e0 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 ped out of her s
370f0 6b 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 70 75 6e 20 61 72 kin, and spun ar
37100 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 66 69 ound to see a fi
37110 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 66 gure in a full f
37120 61 63 65 20 62 61 6c 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 6d 61 ace ballistic ma
37130 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 6f 64 65 64 20 75 72 sk and hooded ur
37140 62 61 6e 20 74 75 6e 69 63 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 ban tunic. He w
37150 61 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 68 as holding his h
37160 61 6e 64 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 75 ands slightly ou
37170 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 73 t from his sides
37180 2c 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 20 73 70 72 65 61 64 , fingers spread
37190 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 68 69 , showing her hi
371a0 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 s palms..."Are y
371b0 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 ou looking for s
371c0 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 omeone?" in what
371d0 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 72 65 she began to re
371e0 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 alize was a very
371f0 20 6d 61 73 63 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 masculine voice
37200 2c 20 64 69 73 74 6f 72 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 , distorted by t
37210 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6d 69 74 74 65 72 he voice emitter
37220 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 of his mask..."
37230 49 27 6d 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 2c I'm looking for,
37240 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 uh . . ." she b
37250 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6e 67 egan, hesitating
37260 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 68 . She cleared h
37270 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 er throat as the
37280 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 61 69 74 masked man wait
37290 65 64 20 70 61 74 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 ed patiently. "
372a0 49 27 6d 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 I'm looking for
372b0 74 68 65 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a the smuggler."..
372c0 48 69 73 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 63 61 6d 65 His chuckle came
372d0 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 73 69 out sounding si
372e0 6e 69 73 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 nister with the
372f0 6d 65 74 61 6c 6c 69 63 20 67 72 61 76 65 6c 6c metallic gravell
37300 79 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 61 y vibration impa
37310 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 62 79 20 74 68 rted to it by th
37320 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6d 69 74 74 65 72 2e e voice emitter.
37330 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 "Just Smuggler
37340 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6c 69 6b ," he said, "lik
37350 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 e the name you'r
37360 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 61 74 20 62 69 72 74 68 e given at birth
37370 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 .".."Oh.".."You
37380 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 22 20 68 65 know George," he
37390 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 said, and she t
373a0 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 74 65 63 hought she detec
373b0 74 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 72 ted a bit of a r
373c0 69 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 ise at the end,
373d0 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 71 75 like it was a qu
373e0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 66 6f estion..."Not fo
373f0 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 r long," she sai
37400 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 48 d, "but yeah. H
37410 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 e seems like a g
37420 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 ood guy.".."You
37430 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6e 20 must've made an
37440 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 68 impression, if h
37450 65 20 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 e referred you t
37460 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f o me.".."Really?
37470 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e "..He nodded, an
37480 64 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 d motioned past
37490 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c her. "Let's tal
374a0 6b 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c k inside.".."Oh,
374b0 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 right," she sai
374c0 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 72 75 d. Her hand bru
374d0 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f shed her back po
374e0 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 cket, the thin c
374f0 79 6c 69 6e 64 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 75 6c 67 65 ylindrical bulge
37500 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 63 72 of her baton cr
37510 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 eating a harder
37520 72 69 64 67 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6b ridge that her k
37530 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 nuckles knocked
37540 61 63 72 6f 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 across, but she
37550 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 headed inside.
37560 42 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c Beyond the small
37570 20 6c 69 6e 6f 6c 65 75 6d 20 65 6e 74 72 79 77 linoleum entryw
37580 61 79 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d ay a living room
37590 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 61 74 74 65 72 6e 73 20 6f with patterns o
375a0 66 20 73 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 66 f staining and f
375b0 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 61 70 70 69 6e ading overlappin
375c0 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 g so much it was
375d0 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 64 65 difficult to de
375e0 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 termine what sha
375f0 64 65 20 6f 66 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 73 20 de of brown was
37600 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 original opened
37610 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 70 61 up. Its wood pa
37620 6e 65 6c 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 nel walls were w
37630 61 72 70 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 67 65 2e 20 arped with age.
37640 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 66 75 There was no fu
37650 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 rniture in the r
37660 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 oom, but there w
37670 65 72 65 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 ere rectangular
37680 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c spots on the wal
37690 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 61 69 6c 20 68 6f 6c ls with nail hol
376a0 65 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 74 68 es at the top th
376b0 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 20 6c 69 67 68 74 65 at were a lighte
376c0 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e r off white than
376d0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the rest of the
376e0 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 73 2e 20 wall surfaces.
376f0 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 From where she
37700 6e 6f 77 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 now stood, she c
37710 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 ould see into th
37720 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 e dining room, t
37730 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6c 69 64 69 6e hough the slidin
37740 67 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 69 6e g glass doors in
37750 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 the back seemed
37760 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 to be covered w
37770 69 74 68 20 66 6f 69 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f ith foil. The o
37780 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 nly significant
37790 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 light came throu
377a0 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e gh the open fron
377b0 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 t door and front
377c0 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c windows with bl
377d0 69 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 75 70 77 61 inds angled upwa
377e0 72 64 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 rd so that light
377f0 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 74 dimly striped t
37800 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 he ceiling...Smu
37810 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 ggler followed h
37820 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 er and closed th
37830 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 e door behind th
37840 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 em. "You need t
37850 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 o get into the h
37860 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 74 ot zone and want
37870 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 to avoid offici
37880 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 al attention."
37890 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 He did something
378a0 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 with his gloved
378b0 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 right hand, and
378c0 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 70 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 66 light spilled f
378d0 72 6f 6d 20 4c 45 44 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 rom LEDs on his
378e0 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 65 knuckles. He ke
378f0 70 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 69 6d 65 64 20 61 74 pt them aimed at
37900 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 65 64 20 66 6c the carpeted fl
37910 6f 6f 72 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 20 73 6f 20 74 68 oor nearby so th
37920 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 at they created
37930 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 bright spots on
37940 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 the floor but a
37950 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 79 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6d secondary glow m
37960 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 ade it possible
37970 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 to make out the
37980 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c edges of the wal
37990 6c 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e ls a bit better.
379a0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
379b0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 id. "Can you ta
379c0 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 ke me through, s
379d0 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 3f 20 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 omehow? In and
379e0 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a back, I mean."..
379f0 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 He nodded. "Yes
37a00 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f , I could.".."Ho
37a10 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6f w much would I o
37a20 77 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 3f 22 0a we you for it?".
37a30 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 ."Are you offeri
37a40 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 ng to pay me to
37a50 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 take you to the
37a60 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 3f 22 20 68 65 20 other side?" he
37a70 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 asked...She nodd
37a80 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 ed. "Yeah, I gu
37a90 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 ess so. Isn't t
37aa0 68 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 hat how this wor
37ab0 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 2c ks?".."Normally,
37ac0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 " he said, "but
37ad0 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 I'm not taking y
37ae0 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 our money.".."Wh
37af0 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 y won't you take
37b00 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 3f 20 20 44 6f me through? Do
37b10 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 61 you think I'm a
37b20 20 63 6f 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e cop or somethin
37b30 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 g like that?"..A
37b40 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 fter a moment's
37b50 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 hesitation, he s
37b60 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook his head.
37b70 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 "I didn't say I
37b80 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f wouldn't take yo
37b90 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e u into the zone.
37ba0 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 49 27 I just said I'
37bb0 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 m not taking you
37bc0 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 r money.".."Why
37bd0 6e 6f 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c not?" she asked,
37be0 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 her eyes narrow
37bf0 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 ing..."Let's jus
37c00 74 20 73 61 79 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 t say, for now,
37c10 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 68 that the first h
37c20 69 74 27 73 20 66 72 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 it's free.".."Th
37c30 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 at seems strange
37c40 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 , like there's s
37c50 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 omething addicti
37c60 76 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 ve about getting
37c70 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 past the barric
37c80 61 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 ades."..He shrug
37c90 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d ged again. "Som
37ca0 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 e people find th
37cb0 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 64 64 69 63 e hot zone addic
37cc0 74 69 76 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 tive, to tell th
37cd0 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f e truth. Some o
37ce0 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 f them find thei
37cf0 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c r way to the col
37d00 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 d zone, and that
37d10 27 73 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 's often an even
37d20 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 stronger addict
37d30 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 ion. /* Maybe I
37d40 27 6d 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 'm addicted to b
37d50 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 27 oth of them. I'
37d60 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 22 m not sure. */ "
37d70 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 64 .."What's a cold
37d80 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 zone?".."Maybe
37d90 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 you'll find out
37da0 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 some day," he sa
37db0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 61 72 id. "It's an ar
37dc0 65 61 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 ea you can't rea
37dd0 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 ch without going
37de0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 through the hot
37df0 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 zone, or throug
37e00 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 h the corporate
37e10 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 4c 41 2e 20 20 54 center of LA. T
37e20 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 he police don't
37e30 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 even go in there
37e40 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 . Most of the w
37e50 6f 72 6c 64 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f orld doesn't kno
37e60 77 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 73 2e 20 20 59 6f w it exists. Yo
37e70 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e u definitely don
37e80 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 't want to go th
37e90 65 72 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 ere today, thoug
37ea0 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 h, if you've nev
37eb0 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 6f 66 er even heard of
37ec0 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b it."..She shook
37ed0 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c her head. "No,
37ee0 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e it doesn't soun
37ef0 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 d like that's wh
37f00 65 72 65 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ere I want to be
37f10 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 20 79 6f .".."Where do yo
37f20 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 3f 22 0a 0a u want to be?"..
37f30 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 She shrugged. "
37f40 4d 61 79 62 65 20 43 6f 6c 6f 72 61 64 6f 20 6f Maybe Colorado o
37f50 72 20 4e 65 77 20 48 61 6d 70 73 68 69 72 65 2e r New Hampshire.
37f60 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 ".."Are you read
37f70 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 y to go?"..She p
37f80 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 atted her pocket
37f90 73 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 s, checking what
37fa0 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 she had with he
37fb0 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 r, then nodded.
37fc0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Yeah, I guess
37fd0 73 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 65 70 20 69 6e 74 6f so.".."Step into
37fe0 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 73 61 69 64 my pantry, said
37ff0 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 69 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 the spider to t
38000 68 65 20 66 6c 79 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 62 72 75 he fly." He bru
38010 73 68 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e shed past her an
38020 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 d headed into th
38030 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 e kitchen...She
38040 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 followed, her st
38050 65 70 73 20 74 65 6e 74 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 eps tentative, a
38060 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 nd looked around
38070 20 77 69 74 68 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 2c with eyes wide,
38080 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 trying to take
38090 69 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 in every detail
380a0 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 68 6f 75 73 of this old hous
380b0 65 2e 20 20 41 20 68 61 6c 6c 77 61 79 20 64 69 e. A hallway di
380c0 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 sappeared into d
380d0 65 65 70 65 72 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 74 eeper darkness t
380e0 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 o her left just
380f0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 before she angle
38100 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 d right into the
38110 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 65 61 dining room nea
38120 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 r the back of th
38130 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 e house. A few
38140 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 6c 65 64 20 68 more steps led h
38150 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 er to where the
38160 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 kitchen opened t
38170 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 o the left, and
38180 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 she saw Smuggler
38190 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 61 6e 74 72 opening a pantr
381a0 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 72 75 65 20 74 6f 20 y door, true to
381b0 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 72 65 his word...He re
381c0 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 ached in and wit
381d0 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 77 65 65 70 20 6f 66 20 68 h the sweep of h
381e0 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 is glove lights
381f0 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 she saw shelves
38200 73 74 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 63 stocked with anc
38210 69 65 6e 74 20 64 72 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 73 2e 20 ient dry goods.
38220 20 41 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 A click brought
38230 20 75 70 20 61 20 66 6c 6f 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 62 up a flood of b
38240 72 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 righter light as
38250 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 the back wall s
38260 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 72 65 76 hifted away, rev
38270 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 20 ealing a narrow
38280 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f hole in the floo
38290 72 20 62 65 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 r beaming illumi
382a0 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 nation toward th
382b0 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 e ceiling of the
382c0 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2e 20 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 pantry. "After
382d0 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 you," he said,
382e0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 and stepped out
382f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 74 6f of the pantry to
38300 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a give her room..
38310 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 .She moved close
38320 72 2c 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 77 61 72 79 2c 20 61 r, steps wary, a
38330 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f nd leaned to loo
38340 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e k down the hole.
38350 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 She saw a stee
38360 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 62 6f 6c 74 65 64 20 l ladder bolted
38370 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 to the concrete
38380 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 74 side of the rect
38390 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 angular hole lea
383a0 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 ding downward.
383b0 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 She looked back
383c0 61 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2c 20 77 68 6f at Smuggler, who
383d0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 nodded, though
383e0 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 she did not know
383f0 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 what that meant
38400 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 . Another look
38410 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 74 69 20 77 61 73 confirmed ti was
38420 6e 27 74 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 20 n't a very deep
38430 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 65 6e 20 hole, maybe ten
38440 66 65 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f feet, and it loo
38450 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 ked like after a
38460 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 couple of those
38470 20 66 65 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f feet one side o
38480 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 pened up into a
38490 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6c larger room...Al
384a0 6c 65 79 20 2f 2a 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 ley /* sat down
384b0 2a 2f 20 67 6f 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 */ got down on h
384c0 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 61 ands and knees a
384d0 6e 64 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 nd carefully bac
384e0 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 ked over the edg
384f0 65 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 e onto the ladde
38500 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 r, then climbed
38510 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 down. She kept
38520 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 looking down at
38530 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 the rising floor
38540 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c , over her shoul
38550 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 der, and she saw
38560 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 that it was a w
38570 65 6c 6c 20 6c 69 74 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 ell lit chamber
38580 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 77 69 64 65 20 61 73 about as wide as
38590 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f it was tall, mo
385a0 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 re than enough f
385b0 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 or someone very
385c0 74 61 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e tall to lie down
385d0 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 but not with a
385e0 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6c 65 66 74 lot of room left
385f0 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b over...She look
38600 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 53 6d 75 ed up to see Smu
38610 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f ggler looking do
38620 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 wn, then he rota
38630 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 ted and lowered
38640 61 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 a foot to the la
38650 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 dder. She looke
38660 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2c d away from him,
38670 20 68 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 hopped the last
38680 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 64 6f 77 foot or two dow
38690 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 n to the floor,
386a0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 and stepped away
386b0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 from the ladder
386c0 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 4c 45 44 20 . A single LED
386d0 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 69 74 20 6d 6f lighting unit mo
386e0 75 6e 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 unted on the cei
386f0 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 ling flooded the
38700 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 69 small chamber i
38710 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 n bright light,
38720 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 and a door stood
38730 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f closed at the o
38740 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ther end of the
38750 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 57 68 69 6c 65 20 53 6d 75 room...While Smu
38760 67 67 6c 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 65 64 2c ggler descended,
38770 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 20 73 6f 66 she heard a sof
38780 74 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 t brushing sound
38790 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 and looked up t
387a0 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 65 72 74 75 o see the apertu
387b0 72 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 re at the top of
387c0 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 the ladder clos
387d0 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 65 ing. When he re
387e0 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6f 6d ached the bottom
387f0 2c 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 , he turned with
38800 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 out a word to th
38810 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 74 e door. As he t
38820 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c ouched the handl
38830 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 76 61 6e e, the light van
38840 69 73 68 65 64 2c 20 70 6c 75 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 ished, plunging
38850 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 them into darkne
38860 73 73 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ss apart from th
38870 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 53 6d 75 67 e lights on Smug
38880 67 6c 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 22 gler's glove..."
38890 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e I still have con
388a0 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 tact with you,"
388b0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
388c0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b said...She shook
388d0 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 her head slight
388e0 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 ly, not wanting
388f0 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 to speak aloud t
38900 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 o the prioritize
38910 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 6d r in front of Sm
38920 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 uggler..."It mus
38930 74 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 t be your Axiom
38940 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e establishing con
38950 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 nections through
38960 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 some kind of me
38970 73 68 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 sh network down
38980 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 here. I do not
38990 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 63 have access to c
389a0 68 65 63 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 63 61 heck it, so I ca
389b0 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 74 68 69 nnot confirm thi
389c0 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a s is the case.".
389d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 .Alley followed
389e0 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 Smuggler into th
389f0 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 62 65 e dark tunnel be
38a00 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 yond the heavy d
38a10 6f 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 6f 66 74 6c oor, which softl
38a20 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 y closed behind
38a30 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 2e them on its own.
38a40 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 After a couple
38a50 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 77 61 6c 6b minutes of walk
38a60 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 ing, she quietly
38a70 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 66 61 72 20 asked "How far
38a80 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 is it?" The sou
38a90 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 nd seemed louder
38aa0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 than it should
38ab0 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 have been, after
38ac0 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 the deep quiet
38ad0 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 of nothing but t
38ae0 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 he echoes of the
38af0 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 ir own movements
38b00 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 , and she nearly
38b10 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 stumbled in sur
38b20 70 72 69 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 62 prise..."It's ab
38b30 6f 75 74 20 61 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 out a ten minute
38b40 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c walk," he said,
38b50 20 22 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 "mostly because
38b60 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 we need to move
38b70 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 slowly.".."Why
38b80 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 3f 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b slowly? It look
38b90 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 20 66 61 s straight as fa
38ba0 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 2c 20 r as I can see,
38bb0 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 75 62 74 20 61 6e 79 6f and I doubt anyo
38bc0 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 75 73 ne would hear us
38bd0 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 ."..She saw his
38be0 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 61 6b 65 2c 20 73 69 6c 68 head shake, silh
38bf0 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 ouetted against
38c00 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 the glow of his
38c10 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 61 68 65 glove lights ahe
38c20 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 ad of him. His
38c30 73 74 72 69 64 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 stride did not c
38c40 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 77 65 20 67 hange. "If we g
38c50 6f 20 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 73 74 2c 20 77 65 27 6c o too fast, we'l
38c60 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 l set off alarms
38c70 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 . It's the best
38c80 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 way to make sur
38c90 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 77 69 6c e the alarms wil
38ca0 6c 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f l go off when so
38cb0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 meone's on the r
38cc0 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 un, but it's not
38cd0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 the only way th
38ce0 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 e alarms can be
38cf0 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 triggered.".."Wh
38d00 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 20 69 66 20 61 6c at happens if al
38d10 61 72 6d 73 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 arms go off?".."
38d20 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 63 69 74 69 6e A lot of excitin
38d30 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 g stuff," he sai
38d40 64 2c 20 22 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 d, "ending with
38d50 74 68 69 73 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 this tunnel not
38d60 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 being available
38d70 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b to run the block
38d80 61 64 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a ade any more."..
38d90 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 "Oh." She walke
38da0 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 68 d in silence beh
38db0 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 ind him as the p
38dc0 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 assage took some
38dd0 20 74 75 72 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 69 6e turns, then fin
38de0 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 ally asked "I gu
38df0 65 73 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 70 72 6f ess Smuggler pro
38e00 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 61 63 74 75 bably isn't actu
38e10 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 6f ally the name yo
38e20 75 72 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 73 20 67 61 76 65 20 ur parents gave
38e30 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 you.".."No," he
38e40 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f said, without lo
38e50 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 oking back. "I
38e60 69 6e 68 65 72 69 74 65 64 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a inherited it."..
38e70 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 "Are you saying
38e80 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 6d 69 that's your fami
38e90 6c 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 ly name?".."No.
38ea0 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 53 6d The previous Sm
38eb0 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 72 65 74 69 72 65 64 20 66 uggler retired f
38ec0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 rom this kind of
38ed0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 thing and passe
38ee0 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f d the name on to
38ef0 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 44 72 me, like the Dr
38f00 65 61 64 20 50 69 72 61 74 65 20 52 6f 62 65 72 ead Pirate Rober
38f10 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 ts.".."I thought
38f20 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 all that stuff
38f30 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 about the Silk R
38f40 6f 61 64 20 67 75 79 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 oad guy was supp
38f50 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 osed to be made
38f60 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b up.".."I don't k
38f70 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 now," Smuggler s
38f80 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d aid. "I never m
38f90 65 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b et him. I think
38fa0 20 61 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 77 a predecessor w
38fb0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 53 6d 75 ith the name Smu
38fc0 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 ggler might have
38fd0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 , though. Anywa
38fe0 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 y, I was talking
38ff0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 about the chara
39000 63 74 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 cter from the Pr
39010 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 2c 20 6e 6f incess Bride, no
39020 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 t the Silk Road
39030 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 founder.".."Oh.
39040 20 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 I've never read
39050 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 the Princess Br
39060 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 ide.".."Neither
39070 68 61 76 65 20 49 2c 22 20 49 20 73 61 69 64 2c have I," I said,
39080 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 "but my predece
39090 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 ssor and I watch
390a0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 6f 67 ed the movie tog
390b0 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 ether a couple t
390c0 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f imes.".."I forgo
390d0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 t that was a mov
390e0 69 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ie," she said...
390f0 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 73 61 64 "You make me sad
39100 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 ," Smuggler said
39110 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 ...Alley failed
39120 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e to produce an an
39130 73 77 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e swer, and remain
39140 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 ed silent until
39150 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 they reached the
39160 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 other end...Smu
39170 67 67 6c 65 72 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 61 6e ggler climbed an
39180 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 other steel ladd
39190 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 67 72 69 6e 64 69 er, and a grindi
391a0 6e 67 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 20 ng noise echoed
391b0 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 2e down the tunnel.
391c0 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 He disappeared
391d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 65 77 20 61 62 6f 76 65 from view above
391e0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 , though now the
391f0 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 re was soft ligh
39200 74 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e t filtering down
39210 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 through the exi
39220 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 t at the top of
39230 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 the ladder. She
39240 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 followed a mome
39250 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 nt later, rising
39260 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 into what looke
39270 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 76 61 d like an old va
39280 75 6c 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 ult with indirec
39290 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 t track lighting
392a0 20 73 75 73 70 65 6e 64 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 suspended from
392b0 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 57 the ceiling..."W
392c0 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 hat is this?" sh
392d0 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 e asked, looking
392e0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 68 65 6c 76 around at shelv
392f0 65 73 20 62 61 72 72 65 6e 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 es barren except
39300 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c for a few small
39310 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 66 61 63 74 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d form factor com
39320 70 75 74 65 72 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 puters sitting s
39330 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 70 6c 75 73 20 79 61 ilently, plus ya
39340 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 rds of network c
39350 61 62 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 abling. "Is it
39360 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 61 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 53 an old bank?"..S
39370 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f muggler said "No
39380 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 61 6e 64 , it's the aband
39390 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 oned home of a g
393a0 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 66 6f uy who made a fo
393b0 72 74 75 6e 65 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 66 20 65 61 72 rtune off of ear
393c0 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 63 6f 72 70 ly internet corp
393d0 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 orations around
393e0 74 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the turn of the
393f0 6d 69 6c 6c 65 6e 6e 69 75 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 millennium, and
39400 68 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 had just decided
39410 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e to move his mon
39420 65 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 ey around before
39430 20 61 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 63 72 61 73 68 2e a market crash.
39440 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 He died just b
39450 65 66 6f 72 65 20 72 69 6f 74 73 20 73 74 61 72 efore riots star
39460 74 65 64 20 74 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 ted tearing up t
39470 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 41 2c 20 his part of LA,
39480 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f before it all go
39490 74 20 73 68 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 t shut down.".."
394a0 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 What about his h
394b0 65 69 72 73 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 eirs?" Alley st
394c0 65 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 74 epped past a cot
394d0 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 6c and a small fol
394e0 64 69 6e 67 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 ding table with
394f0 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 6e folding chairs n
39500 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 ear it. She not
39510 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 20 ed the presence
39520 6f 66 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 of a bar fridge
39530 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 6c 6c against one wall
39540 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 68 , and wondered h
39550 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 70 6f 77 65 ow they got powe
39560 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 r for this place
39570 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 ...He shrugged.
39580 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 69 66 20 68 65 "I guess, if he
39590 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 79 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e had any, they n
395a0 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e ever tried comin
395b0 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 g back. Most of
395c0 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 69 73 20 67 6f the house is go
395d0 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 ne, anyway, so t
395e0 68 65 79 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 6f hey probably tho
395f0 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 ught there wasn'
39600 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 t anything else
39610 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 to come back and
39620 20 67 65 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 get. If I was
39630 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 them, I would ha
39640 76 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 69 6c 65 64 20 66 6f ve just filed fo
39650 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 70 r an insurance p
39660 61 79 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c ay out.".."Yeah,
39670 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 I guess," she s
39680 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 6e 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 aid..."Insurance
39690 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 6f 72 73 20 73 investigators s
396a0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e topped coming in
396b0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 to the hot zone
396c0 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 67 6f 2c a long time ago,
396d0 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e " Smuggler said.
396e0 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 70 65 ..He flipped ope
396f0 6e 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 n a steel plate
39700 73 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c set into the wal
39710 6c 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 61 74 l, like a miniat
39720 75 72 65 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 ure metal door w
39730 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 6a 75 73 ith a handle jus
39740 74 20 62 69 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 t big enough to
39750 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 67 72 61 73 70 20 77 69 74 firmly grasp wit
39760 68 20 61 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 66 69 6e 67 65 h a gloved finge
39770 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 2e 20 20 48 65 r and thumb. He
39780 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 did something w
39790 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 2c ith his fingers,
397a0 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 6f but the angle o
397b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 6f f the little doo
397c0 72 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 76 r obscured her v
397d0 69 65 77 2e 20 20 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c iew. A moment l
397e0 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 20 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 68 75 ater, a loud thu
397f0 6e 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 nk from the door
39800 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 echoed against
39810 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 77 61 6c the concrete wal
39820 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a ls of the room..
39830 0a 54 68 65 20 76 61 75 6c 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 .The vault door
39840 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f slowly started o
39850 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 77 61 72 64 20 6f pening outward o
39860 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 n its own...Smug
39870 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 gler flipped the
39880 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 64 6f 6f small metal doo
39890 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 r closed again a
398a0 6e 64 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 nd waited for th
398b0 65 20 76 61 75 6c 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 e vault door to
398c0 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a finish opening..
398d0 0a 2f 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 ./* Alley makes
398e0 61 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 61 6e 64 2f 6f a delivery and/o
398f0 72 20 61 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 r a pick up for
39900 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 delivery outside
39910 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 2a the hot zone. *
39920 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 65 65 74 /../* Alley meet
39930 73 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c s up with Smuggl
39940 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 er again and get
39950 73 20 65 73 63 6f 72 74 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 s escorted back
39960 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a out of the hot z
39970 6f 6e 65 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 one. */../* Alle
39980 79 20 64 72 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 y drops off some
39990 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 thing that she d
399a0 65 6c 69 76 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 64 69 72 elivered for dir
399b0 65 63 74 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 53 ect payment in S
399c0 74 61 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 tater. */../*..
399d0 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 63 61 72 20 73 Alley's car s
399e0 74 61 72 74 73 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 72 6f tarts having tro
399f0 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 uble, and she pu
39a00 6c 6c 73 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 lls off the high
39a10 77 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 way and into.
39a20 20 61 6e 20 61 75 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 70 20 74 6f an auto shop to
39a30 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 get someone to
39a40 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 look at it. The
39a50 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 mechanic should
39a60 20 73 61 79 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 say. somethi
39a70 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 22 54 68 ng about how "Th
39a80 65 73 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 67 ese old second g
39a90 65 6e 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 73 20 63 61 6e 27 74 en hybrids can't
39aa0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 65 76 65 just run foreve
39ab0 72 20 6f 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 r on. electri
39ac0 63 69 74 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 75 62 74 city, so I doubt
39ad0 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 you would even
39ae0 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6c 6c make it home all
39af0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 6e 20 50 65 72 72 the way in Perr
39b00 69 73 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6a is.. You're j
39b10 75 73 74 20 67 6f 6e 6e 61 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 ust gonna have t
39b20 6f 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 o wait. We shou
39b30 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 ld be able to ge
39b40 74 20 69 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 t it going in a
39b50 66 65 77 0a 20 20 20 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2c 20 74 few. hours, t
39b60 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 20 20 54 68 75 73 2c 20 73 hough." Thus, s
39b70 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 73 69 74 74 69 he ends up sitti
39b80 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e ng around waitin
39b90 67 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 g. Maybe she ge
39ba0 74 73 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 61 73 74 ts. some fast
39bb0 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 27 food while she'
39bc0 73 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2d 2d s at it...*/..--
39bd0 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 -..Alley termina
39be0 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 ted the call. "
39bf0 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 68 6f 6d I have to go hom
39c00 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 73 e, but they're s
39c10 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 till working on
39c20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 my car," she sai
39c30 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f d. She looked o
39c40 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 ver her shoulder
39c50 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 , at the mechani
39c60 63 73 27 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 27 cs' garage. "I'
39c70 6c 6c 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 61 20 72 69 64 ll call up a rid
39c80 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 e.".."Wait," the
39c90 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
39ca0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 61 d..."Why? Why a
39cb0 6d 20 49 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 m I waiting?".."
39cc0 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 I will arrange f
39cd0 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 or another study
39ce0 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 participant to
39cf0 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d pass by your hom
39d00 65 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 e so we can see
39d10 77 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e what is going on
39d20 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 67 ."..Alley sat ag
39d30 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ain, thinking th
39d40 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ere was nothing
39d50 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 she could do tha
39d60 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 73 6d 61 72 74 65 t was any smarte
39d70 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 r than sitting s
39d80 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 till at this poi
39d90 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 nt. "Maybe I sh
39da0 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 ould call for a
39db0 72 69 64 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 ride anyway," sh
39dc0 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a e says. "I'll j
39dd0 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 66 ust get there af
39de0 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 ter the other pe
39df0 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 rson in the stud
39e00 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 y.".."I will arr
39e10 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 ange a ride for
39e20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 you," the priori
39e30 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f tizer said. "Yo
39e40 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 74 72 69 65 76 u should retriev
39e50 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 62 61 67 e the bugout bag
39e60 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 you have in the
39e70 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 middle of your
39e80 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 67 bugout vehicle g
39e90 65 61 72 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ear. Take your
39ea0 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f riding gear, too
39eb0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 .".."Why? What
39ec0 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 good would that
39ed0 64 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 do me?" she aske
39ee0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 d..."If you have
39ef0 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f to run, you sho
39f00 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f uld have what yo
39f10 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 u need to surviv
39f20 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f e. If you do no
39f30 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 69 t have to run, i
39f40 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 t does not hurt
39f50 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 you to have that
39f60 20 67 65 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 gear with you."
39f70 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Fine," she sa
39f80 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 69 id. "I'll get i
39f90 74 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 t. Why the ridi
39fa0 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f ng gear, though?
39fb0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 " She stood and
39fc0 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 headed for the
39fd0 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 counter..."It is
39fe0 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 2c 20 easy to carry,
39ff0 62 79 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 by wearing most
3a000 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6d of it, and you m
3a010 61 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 ay need to ride
3a020 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 73 6f 6f a motorcycle soo
3a030 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 n.".."Is the rid
3a040 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 e you're calling
3a050 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d going to be a m
3a060 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 otorcycle?".."I
3a070 61 6d 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 am checking for
3a080 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 49 availability. I
3a090 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 65 74 do not know yet
3a0a0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 ."..Alley shrugg
3a0b0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e ed to herself an
3a0c0 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 d looked at the
3a0d0 67 75 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 guy behind the d
3a0e0 65 73 6b 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 esk. "Hey," she
3a0f0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 68 said, raising h
3a100 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 er voice enough
3a110 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 43 to be heard. "C
3a120 61 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 an I get some th
3a130 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ings out of the
3a140 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 3f trunk of my car?
3a150 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 "..He looked at
3a160 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 her, and down at
3a170 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f a tablet in fro
3a180 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c nt of him. "I'l
3a190 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 l check whether
3a1a0 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 66 74 it's on the lift
3a1b0 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c . If not, sure,
3a1c0 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c you can probabl
3a1d0 79 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 y get whatever y
3a1e0 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e ou need.".."Than
3a1f0 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ks," she said...
3a200 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 Eight minutes la
3a210 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 ter, she sat on
3a220 61 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 a bench in front
3a230 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 27 73 20 67 of the shop's g
3a240 6c 61 73 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 77 65 61 72 69 lass wall, weari
3a250 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 6f 72 65 64 20 6a ng her armored j
3a260 61 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c acket and boots,
3a270 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 the gloves in h
3a280 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 er cargo pocket
3a290 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 like usual and t
3a2a0 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 he riding pants
3a2b0 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 rolled up and st
3a2c0 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 rapped to her ba
3a2d0 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 g. She stared a
3a2e0 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 t the video play
3a2f0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 ing in the lense
3a300 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 s of her glasses
3a310 2e 20 20 4d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 . Men in Secret
3a320 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 73 Service jackets
3a330 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 65 and tactical ge
3a340 61 72 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 ar stormed her h
3a350 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e ome, breaking in
3a360 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c the front door,
3a370 20 61 73 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 as two people i
3a380 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 73 74 n black suits st
3a390 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 ood outside on t
3a3a0 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 77 61 74 he sidewalk, wat
3a3b0 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 ching. One was
3a3c0 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e a woman with lon
3a3d0 67 20 68 61 69 72 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 65 64 20 g hair streaked
3a3e0 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 with grey, and b
3a3f0 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 oth wore ball ca
3a400 70 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c ps. When they l
3a410 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 ooked at each ot
3a420 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 73 68 her to speak, sh
3a430 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 e recognized the
3a440 6d 20 61 73 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 m as Cole and hi
3a450 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 s partner...Alle
3a460 79 27 73 20 6a 61 77 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 6e y's jaw was clen
3a470 63 68 65 64 20 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 ched so tightly
3a480 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 54 that it hurt. T
3a490 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 he point of view
3a4a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 64 72 of the scene dr
3a4b0 69 66 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ifted past, and
3a4c0 43 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 Cole looked towa
3a4d0 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f rd the camera fo
3a4e0 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e r a moment, then
3a4f0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 looked away aga
3a500 69 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e in like it did n
3a510 6f 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 ot matter. The
3a520 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62 6c 61 front of his bla
3a530 63 6b 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 20 73 70 6f 72 ck ball cap spor
3a540 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 79 ted the burgundy
3a550 20 73 74 79 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 63 6f 69 6e 20 6c stylized coin l
3a560 6f 67 6f 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 ogo of COIN Corp
3a570 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 72 65 ...Her hands tre
3a580 6d 62 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 mbled..."I have
3a590 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 a plan," the pri
3a5a0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 oritizer said.
3a5b0 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 "I will get you
3a5c0 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 away from here.
3a5d0 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 That is the fir
3a5e0 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 st thing we must
3a5f0 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 do, before some
3a600 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 one finds your v
3a610 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f ehicle here. Yo
3a620 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 u cannot pay for
3a630 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 65 70 61 69 72 73 20 77 these repairs w
3a640 69 74 68 20 63 61 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 ith cash you hav
3a650 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e e on you right n
3a660 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 77 ow, and paying w
3a670 69 74 68 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ith credit would
3a680 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c almost certainl
3a690 79 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 y trigger alerts
3a6a0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f for the COIN Co
3a6b0 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 6d rp agents. We m
3a6c0 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 79 ust get you away
3a6d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f , and arrange fo
3a6e0 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 r someone else t
3a6f0 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 o pick up the ca
3a700 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 r.".."If they're
3a710 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 looking for my
3a720 63 72 65 64 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 credit, they'll
3a730 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c look for my car,
3a740 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e too," she said.
3a750 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 .."The person wh
3a760 6f 20 70 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 o pays for the c
3a770 61 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 ar will handle i
3a780 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 t," the prioriti
3a790 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 63 zer said. "It c
3a7a0 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 70 an be sold for p
3a7b0 61 72 74 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 arts so that it
3a7c0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 61 never shows up a
3a7d0 73 20 61 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 76 s a registered v
3a7e0 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 4d ehicle again. M
3a7f0 69 6e 75 73 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 inus a handling
3a800 66 65 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 fee, the money w
3a810 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 65 64 ill be forwarded
3a820 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 69 to you. You wi
3a830 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 ll have to acqui
3a840 72 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 re new transport
3a850 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 63 61 6e ation, but I can
3a860 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 help you with t
3a870 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 hat as well.".."
3a880 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Okay," she said.
3a890 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 "Why do you se
3a8a0 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 64 em like you've d
3a8b0 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 3f one this before?
3a8c0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 ".."I have not,"
3a8d0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
3a8e0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 said. "I have
3a8f0 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 been considering
3a900 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 ideas for how t
3a910 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f o handle this mo
3a920 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 6d ment when it cam
3a930 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c e, though."..All
3a940 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 ey frowned. "Ma
3a950 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 ybe they don't e
3a960 76 65 6e 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 ven want me. Th
3a970 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 ey went into my
3a980 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 place when I was
3a990 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 n't even there.
3a9a0 20 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 They must have
3a9b0 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 known I wasn't g
3a9c0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 oing to be there
3a9d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 .".."No, I made
3a9e0 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 sure they though
3a9f0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c t you were home,
3aa00 20 62 79 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 6c by falsifying l
3aa10 6f 67 73 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 ogs. I have bee
3aa20 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 74 n very careful t
3aa30 6f 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 74 o arrange logs t
3aa40 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 70 6f o confuse any po
3aa50 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 73 tential attempts
3aa60 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 to make a move
3aa70 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 against you.".."
3aa80 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 74 How did you do t
3aa90 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 hat?".."I made u
3aaa0 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 se of the networ
3aab0 6b 20 6f 66 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 k of study parti
3aac0 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 cipants.".."What
3aad0 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e are they gettin
3aae0 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 3f 22 20 73 68 g out of it?" sh
3aaf0 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 e asked, quietly
3ab00 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 , wondering how
3ab10 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c it could possibl
3ab20 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 73 20 y have done its
3ab30 6a 6f 62 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 69 job for them whi
3ab40 6c 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f le using them fo
3ab50 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 r her sake like
3ab60 74 68 69 73 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 this..."Some of
3ab70 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 them want to esc
3ab80 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 ape from their b
3ab90 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 76 65 73 2e 20 20 53 6f oring lives. So
3aba0 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 20 me of them want
3abb0 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 to meet new peop
3abc0 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f le they would no
3abd0 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 65 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 t have met other
3abe0 77 69 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 wise. They have
3abf0 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 different goals
3ac00 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 than you, and I
3ac10 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 can provide for
3ac20 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e some of them in
3ac30 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 ways that also
3ac40 68 65 6c 70 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 help other membe
3ac50 72 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 rs of the study
3ac60 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 67 72 6f 75 participant grou
3ac70 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 79 6f p. The video yo
3ac80 75 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 u watched of the
3ac90 20 72 61 69 64 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f raid on your ho
3aca0 6d 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 64 20 me was captured
3acb0 62 79 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 67 6c 61 by a pair of gla
3acc0 73 73 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 sses just like y
3acd0 6f 75 72 73 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 62 79 20 61 20 64 ours worn by a d
3ace0 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 ifferent member
3acf0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2c 20 6a 75 of the group, ju
3ad00 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 st because he ha
3ad10 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 ppened to pass b
3ad20 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 y your home.".."
3ad30 59 6f 75 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 73 6f You suggested so
3ad40 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 mething that wou
3ad50 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 ld take the pers
3ad60 6f 6e 20 70 61 73 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 on past where I
3ad70 6c 69 76 65 64 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a lived. Right?".
3ad80 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 ."That is correc
3ad90 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 t, but it still
3ada0 73 65 72 76 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 serves that pers
3adb0 6f 6e 27 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 on's goals.".."T
3adc0 68 65 69 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 heir goals proba
3add0 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 bly could have b
3ade0 65 65 6e 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 65 74 74 65 een filled bette
3adf0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b r and more quick
3ae00 6c 79 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 ly if you advise
3ae10 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d d them to do som
3ae20 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f ething else, tho
3ae30 75 67 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ugh. Right?".."
3ae40 59 65 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 Yes," it said, "
3ae50 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d for some of them
3ae60 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 .".."You must ha
3ae70 76 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 65 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 ve had me do thi
3ae80 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 ngs that helped
3ae90 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e other participan
3aea0 74 73 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 ts as well.".."Y
3aeb0 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 es.".."I guess t
3aec0 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 69 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 hat's fair," she
3aed0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 said. "How are
3aee0 20 77 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 we going to get
3aef0 20 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65 3f me out of here?
3af00 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 20 69 73 ".."Your ride is
3af10 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 69 almost here," i
3af20 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 t said..."Oh. I
3af30 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 t's one of the s
3af40 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 tudy participant
3af50 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 s. Right?".."Ye
3af60 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 s.".."Of course
3af70 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 20 73 it is."../*..A s
3af80 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 tudy participant
3af90 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 shows up to pic
3afa0 6b 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 k her up. Maybe
3afb0 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 69 72 6c 20 74 68 69 it's a girl thi
3afc0 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f s time. That wo
3afd0 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 6e uld be good. In
3afe0 20 61 6e 79 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 any case, she g
3aff0 65 74 73 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e ets picked up an
3b000 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 d taken to some
3b010 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 place where Alle
3b020 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 66 y can hang out f
3b030 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e or a bit. I don
3b040 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 't know where th
3b050 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 65 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 at is yet, which
3b060 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 is part of the
3b070 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 reason I'm not w
3b080 72 69 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e riting out the n
3b090 61 72 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 61 arrative and dia
3b0a0 6c 6f 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 log for this par
3b0b0 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 t at this time.
3b0c0 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d She must do som
3b0d0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 ething as she si
3b0e0 74 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e ts there, waitin
3b0f0 67 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 g. In the meant
3b100 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ime, the priorit
3b110 69 7a 65 72 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 73 20 66 6f izer arranges fo
3b120 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b r someone to tak
3b130 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 e care of the ca
3b140 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c r, and eventuall
3b150 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f y the person who
3b160 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 takes care of t
3b170 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 66 72 he car gets a fr
3b180 69 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f 20 iend to help so
3b190 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 that they can us
3b1a0 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f e some of the mo
3b1b0 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c ney from the sal
3b1c0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 6f 20 e of the car to
3b1d0 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 buy a motorcycle
3b1e0 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 in online class
3b1f0 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 ifieds that Alle
3b200 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 y and the priori
3b210 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 tizer picked out
3b220 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 while they wait
3b230 65 64 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 73 6f ed, having reaso
3b240 6e 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 ned that a motor
3b250 63 79 63 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 cycle gives her
3b260 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 an excuse to hid
3b270 65 20 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 68 65 61 e her entire hea
3b280 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 61 d more fully tha
3b290 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 n a mask and eve
3b2a0 6e 20 61 20 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 n a hat would ac
3b2b0 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 61 complish, by wea
3b2c0 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 20 20 ring a helmet.
3b2d0 54 68 65 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 The owner of the
3b2e0 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 68 72 6f motorcycle thro
3b2f0 77 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 20 77 ws in a helmet w
3b300 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 ith the purchase
3b310 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 , which is good
3b320 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 because otherwis
3b330 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 6f 75 e more money wou
3b340 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 70 ld have to be sp
3b350 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 68 65 6c ent to buy a hel
3b360 6d 65 74 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 met, a necessary
3b370 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 69 6e 20 43 61 6c purchase in Cal
3b380 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 ifornia where it
3b390 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 72 is illegal to r
3b3a0 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ide a motorcycle
3b3b0 20 6f 6e 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 72 6f 61 64 73 on public roads
3b3c0 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 without wearing
3b3d0 20 61 20 44 4f 54 20 63 65 72 74 69 66 69 65 64 a DOT certified
3b3e0 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 20 61 helmet...Even a
3b3f0 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 fter all that, t
3b400 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 73 here is some cas
3b410 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d h left over from
3b420 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 selling off the
3b430 20 63 61 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 car. The motor
3b440 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 64 75 cycle is a produ
3b450 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 ct with relative
3b460 20 6c 6f 77 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 low demand and
3b470 6c 6f 77 20 70 6f 77 65 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 low power, after
3b480 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 all. It is als
3b490 6f 20 76 65 72 79 20 6f 6c 64 2c 20 75 73 65 64 o very old, used
3b4a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 , and no longer
3b4b0 73 74 6f 63 6b 20 28 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e stock (so it's n
3b4c0 6f 74 20 61 20 22 63 68 65 72 72 79 22 20 63 6c ot a "cherry" cl
3b4d0 61 73 73 69 63 29 2e 20 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 assic). None of
3b4e0 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 64 64 this really add
3b4f0 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 65 78 70 s up to much exp
3b500 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 ense. The plan
3b510 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 is for Alley to
3b520 63 6f 61 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 67 coast on the reg
3b530 69 73 74 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e istration curren
3b540 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 20 6f 6e tly in effect on
3b550 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 27 73 20 6c the vehicle's l
3b560 69 63 65 6e 73 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 73 20 66 6f icense plates fo
3b570 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 r a while, becau
3b580 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 se she obviously
3b590 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 cannot register
3b5a0 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 65 72 the vehicle her
3b5b0 73 65 6c 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 self when she is
3b5c0 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 trying to stay
3b5d0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 out of sight of
3b5e0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 70 people who can p
3b5f0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 28 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c robably (or at l
3b600 65 61 73 74 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 61 62 6c 79 east conceivably
3b610 29 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b ) monitor that k
3b620 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 2e ind of activity.
3b630 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 She will, of c
3b640 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 ourse, have to b
3b650 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 63 e sure to ride c
3b660 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f arefully, to avo
3b670 69 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 id getting pulle
3b680 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f d over by the po
3b690 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 lice, so that sh
3b6a0 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 e will not end u
3b6b0 70 20 69 6e 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 74 72 p in terrible tr
3b6c0 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 ouble where she
3b6d0 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f cannot get out o
3b6e0 66 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c f it...*/.."Well
3b6f0 2c 20 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 61 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6f , here I am, alo
3b700 6e 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2d 2d 20 65 78 63 65 ne again -- exce
3b710 70 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 pt you, of cours
3b720 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 e."..The priorit
3b730 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 69 73 izer said "It is
3b740 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 probably best a
3b750 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 t this time to a
3b760 76 6f 69 64 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 63 6f void extended co
3b770 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 ntact with other
3b780 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 73 20 75 6e human beings un
3b790 6c 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 65 73 74 61 less we can esta
3b7a0 62 6c 69 73 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 blish contact wi
3b7b0 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 72 74 68 th someone worth
3b7c0 79 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 y of your trust
3b7d0 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 and willing to h
3b7e0 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 62 elp you with sub
3b7f0 73 74 61 6e 74 69 76 65 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 6d stantive commitm
3b800 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 63 74 69 ent to take acti
3b810 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 on and ability t
3b820 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 69 o help."..She si
3b830 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 66 ghed. "Yeah, of
3b840 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 course.".."Is t
3b850 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 here someone you
3b860 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 66 6f 72 can contact for
3b870 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c help now?"..All
3b880 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ey thought about
3b890 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 it, and said "I
3b8a0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6f 66 66 20 don't know off
3b8b0 68 61 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e hand about anyon
3b8c0 65 20 49 20 65 76 65 72 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 e I ever see the
3b8d0 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6f 75 6c se days who coul
3b8e0 64 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 d really help me
3b8f0 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 right now.".."C
3b900 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 an one of your f
3b910 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 riends give you
3b920 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 a place to stay
3b930 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a for the night?".
3b940 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 .Alley shook her
3b950 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 head. "I don't
3b960 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 want to get the
3b970 6d 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 m caught up in t
3b980 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 his, and I guess
3b990 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c I'm not entirel
3b9a0 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c y sure they woul
3b9b0 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 dn't say somethi
3b9c0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 ng they shouldn'
3b9d0 74 20 69 66 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 68 6f 77 t if police show
3b9e0 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ed up or somethi
3b9f0 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a ng like that."..
3ba00 22 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 77 "In that case, w
3ba10 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 e must find you
3ba20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 a place to stay
3ba30 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 for the night.
3ba40 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 Please look for
3ba50 6d 6f 74 65 6c 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 63 63 65 motels that acce
3ba60 70 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 pt cryptocurrenc
3ba70 79 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 y payments below
3ba80 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 the reporting t
3ba90 68 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 72 65 hreshold of thre
3baa0 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 75 6e 69 74 65 64 e hundred united
3bab0 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e states dollars.
3bac0 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Sure," she s
3bad0 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 aid, "but I don'
3bae0 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 27 72 65 t know how we're
3baf0 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 going to get th
3bb00 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c ere. It's not l
3bb10 69 6b 65 20 63 61 62 73 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 ike cabs usually
3bb20 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 take cash these
3bb30 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 days, and they
3bb40 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 all have cameras
3bb50 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 77 in them, so I w
3bb60 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 ould just end up
3bb70 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 74 on camera for t
3bb80 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 72 69 70 2e 22 0a he whole trip.".
3bb90 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 ."Can you still
3bba0 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c ride a motorcycl
3bbb0 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 68 e?".."Yeah, I sh
3bbc0 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 2e ould be able to.
3bbd0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 " She furrowed
3bbe0 68 65 72 20 62 72 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f her brow. "Why?
3bbf0 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 ".."We should ch
3bc00 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 eck online class
3bc10 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 ifieds for priva
3bc20 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 73 61 6c 65 2c 20 6c te party sale, l
3bc30 6f 77 20 70 72 69 63 65 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e ow price, workin
3bc40 67 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 73 20 74 68 g motorcycles th
3bc50 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 at can be purcha
3bc60 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 sed in either ca
3bc70 73 68 20 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 sh or cryptocurr
3bc80 65 6e 63 79 20 75 6e 69 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f ency units.".."O
3bc90 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 h, yeah. I gues
3bca0 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 77 s a motorcycle w
3bcb0 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 20 63 68 65 ould even be che
3bcc0 61 70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6a 75 6e 6b aper than a junk
3bcd0 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 er car."..She pu
3bce0 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 lled out her Axi
3bcf0 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 om and woke the
3bd00 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 73 device, then hes
3bd10 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 6d itated..."How am
3bd20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f I even going to
3bd30 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 get the motorcy
3bd40 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 65 cle? I can't ge
3bd50 74 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 t to it from her
3bd60 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 e.".."I will arr
3bd70 61 6e 67 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 ange something,"
3bd80 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
3bd90 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c said. "It will
3bda0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 73 74 20 79 probably cost y
3bdb0 6f 75 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 ou extra to do s
3bdc0 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 o, but a fellow
3bdd0 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
3bde0 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 t with appropria
3bdf0 74 65 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 te skills may be
3be00 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 69 willing to faci
3be10 6c 69 74 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 72 61 6e litate your tran
3be20 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 75 6c saction.".."Woul
3be30 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 dn't that mean t
3be40 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 he whole thing w
3be50 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 65 64 ill get recorded
3be60 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6c and stored in l
3be70 6f 67 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ogs, though?".."
3be80 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 74 65 No. I will alte
3be90 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 r logs and remov
3bea0 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f e all evidence o
3beb0 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 f these activiti
3bec0 65 73 27 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 63 65 es' significance
3bed0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 2e 22 0a from storage.".
3bee0 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 ."Okay, I guess
3bef0 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 that's fine.".."
3bf00 42 79 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 2c 20 By my estimate,
3bf10 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 the risk of this
3bf20 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 transaction for
3bf30 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6c you should be l
3bf40 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 ess than the typ
3bf50 69 63 61 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 ical road danger
3bf60 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d s of driving a m
3bf70 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 66 74 otorcycle in aft
3bf80 65 72 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 66 ernoon traffic f
3bf90 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 65 rom here to a se
3bfa0 6c 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 61 72 ller in most par
3bfb0 74 73 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 2e ts of Riverside.
3bfc0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 ".."I guess that
3bfd0 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 's comforting,"
3bfe0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 64 69 she said. "Ridi
3bff0 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 ng a motorcycle
3c000 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 is more dangerou
3c010 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 20 s than making a
3c020 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 69 64 64 deal with a midd
3c030 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d leman when the M
3c040 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 72 65 20 en In Black are
3c050 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 after me.".."The
3c060 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 same statement
3c070 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 69 66 20 79 is accurate if y
3c080 6f 75 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 20 63 61 72 2c 20 ou drive a car,
3c090 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 as well, though
3c0a0 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 73 75 67 67 65 statistics sugge
3c0b0 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f 66 st the danger of
3c0c0 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 61 72 20 69 driving a car i
3c0d0 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 65 73 73 20 s slightly less
3c0e0 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 72 69 64 than that of rid
3c0f0 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ing a motorcycle
3c100 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b .".."Yeah, thank
3c110 73 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 s for clearing t
3c120 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 hat up for me,"
3c130 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 Alley said. "Le
3c140 74 27 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e t's start lookin
3c150 67 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 73 g at motorcycles
3c160 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 , then."..When s
3c170 68 65 20 73 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 20 63 75 he selected a cu
3c180 73 74 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f stom modificatio
3c190 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 31 39 39 30 73 20 6d 6f 74 n of a 1990s mot
3c1a0 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 orcycle closer t
3c1b0 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 61 o her father's a
3c1c0 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 2c ge than her own,
3c1d0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
3c1e0 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 told her it had
3c1f0 20 61 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 61 a middleman rea
3c200 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 dy to go. It wa
3c210 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 s only twenty mi
3c220 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 nutes later that
3c230 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 2f 2a 20 it told her /*
3c240 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 about a digital
3c250 62 6f 6f 74 6c 65 67 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 75 bootleg safety u
3c260 70 67 72 61 64 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 77 68 61 74 20 pgrade. */ what
3c270 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 68 61 the middleman ha
3c280 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 d learned from t
3c290 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 he seller..."The
3c2a0 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 27 73 20 73 65 motorcycle's se
3c2b0 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 73 20 74 68 61 ller reports tha
3c2c0 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 t it has a numbe
3c2d0 72 20 6f 66 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 r of upgrades.
3c2e0 4d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79 2c 20 69 74 Most notably, it
3c2f0 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 has been upgrad
3c300 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 20 ed with an anti
3c310 6c 6f 63 6b 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 lock brake syste
3c320 6d 20 68 65 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 m he fabricated
3c330 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 6f 72 6b in his home work
3c340 73 68 6f 70 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 72 65 76 65 shop, using reve
3c350 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 64 20 70 rse engineered p
3c360 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 hysical specific
3c370 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 64 75 ations for produ
3c380 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 ction aftermarke
3c390 74 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 73 t brake upgrades
3c3a0 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 73 6f 75 , using open sou
3c3b0 72 63 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 74 6f 20 rce software to
3c3c0 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 program the syst
3c3d0 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 em.".."Isn't tha
3c3e0 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 20 20 49 20 64 6f t illegal? I do
3c3f0 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 72 65 n't know if I re
3c400 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6c ally need to pil
3c410 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 e more evidence
3c420 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 someone can use
3c430 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f against me on to
3c440 70 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 72 65 p of what's alre
3c450 61 64 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 ady going on," A
3c460 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 lley said..."It
3c470 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 appears that the
3c480 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e use of the plan
3c490 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6b 65 73 s for the brakes
3c4a0 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c is not illegal,
3c4b0 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 and only the di
3c4c0 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 stribution of th
3c4d0 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 e plans and the
3c4e0 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6b sale of the brak
3c4f0 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 es after they ha
3c500 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 ve been fabricat
3c510 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 ed would violate
3c520 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 copyright and p
3c530 61 74 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 77 73 2e 20 20 42 65 63 atent laws. Bec
3c540 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 77 ause the plans w
3c550 65 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 72 65 ere evidently re
3c560 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 64 verse engineered
3c570 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b , they are unlik
3c580 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 ely to be protec
3c590 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 ted by copyright
3c5a0 2e 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 69 70 69 . As the recipi
3c5b0 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 ent of the motor
3c5c0 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 cycle, you seem
3c5d0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6d 6d 75 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 to be immune to
3c5e0 61 6e 79 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 73 73 75 65 73 any legal issues
3c5f0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 20 61 72 69 73 65 20 that may arise
3c600 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 from this, and t
3c610 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 he chances of de
3c620 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 tection of the c
3c630 72 69 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 rime in this cas
3c640 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 61 e are statistica
3c650 6c 6c 79 20 20 69 6e 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 lly insignifica
3c660 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 nt.".."Yeah, oka
3c670 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 y," she said..."
3c680 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 When the motorcy
3c690 63 6c 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 cle arrives, you
3c6a0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f will be able to
3c6b0 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 pay the person
3c6c0 77 68 6f 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 73 20 69 74 20 who delivers it
3c6d0 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 53 74 61 74 directly in Stat
3c6e0 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 69 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 er. He is inter
3c6f0 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 ested in acquiri
3c700 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 ng the cryptocur
3c710 72 65 6e 63 79 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 76 65 rency as an inve
3c720 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 68 stment.".."Did h
3c730 65 20 75 73 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 e use Stater to
3c740 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a buy the bike?"..
3c750 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 "No. He made a
3c760 63 61 73 68 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e cash transaction
3c770 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 69 73 . For him, this
3c780 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 is an indirect
3c790 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 63 72 79 way to buy a cry
3c7a0 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 69 74 68 ptocurrency with
3c7b0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 out the purchase
3c7c0 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 being tracked a
3c7d0 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 65 61 6c 69 nd without deali
3c7e0 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 72 75 ng with less tru
3c7f0 73 74 77 6f 72 74 68 79 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 stworthy individ
3c800 75 61 6c 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 69 6e uals who deal in
3c810 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 cryptocurrencie
3c820 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 s.".."Yeah," she
3c830 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b said, "that mak
3c840 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 6d es sense. How m
3c850 75 63 68 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e uch is this goin
3c860 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b g to set me back
3c870 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 ?".."You will pr
3c880 6f 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 ofit from this t
3c890 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f ransaction. Ano
3c8a0 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 ther study parti
3c8b0 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 cipant picked up
3c8c0 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 the car from th
3c8d0 65 20 61 75 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 e auto shop and
3c8e0 67 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 gave money to th
3c8f0 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 e middleman for
3c900 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 70 the motorcycle p
3c910 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e urchase, with in
3c920 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f structions to co
3c930 6e 76 65 79 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 63 61 nvey whatever ca
3c940 73 68 20 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 sh is left after
3c950 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 74 6f the purchase to
3c960 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 you. While you
3c970 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 65 77 65 72 will have fewer
3c980 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c Stater for now,
3c990 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 76 65 72 61 6c 6c 20 6c 69 your overall li
3c9a0 71 75 69 64 20 61 73 73 65 74 20 74 6f 74 61 6c quid asset total
3c9b0 73 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 67 72 65 61 s represent grea
3c9c0 74 65 72 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 69 6e 67 20 70 ter purchasing p
3c9d0 6f 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 ower than if the
3c9e0 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 71 car had not req
3c9f0 75 69 72 65 64 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 65 6e 61 6e 63 uired maintenanc
3ca00 65 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 e and you still
3ca10 68 61 64 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 had it now.".."I
3ca20 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e s someone gettin
3ca30 67 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 g screwed over f
3ca40 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 or this?" she as
3ca50 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 ked..."No. Ever
3ca60 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 69 6e y participant in
3ca70 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 these transacti
3ca80 6f 6e 73 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f ons profited fro
3ca90 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 m an opportunity
3caa0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 that would not
3cab0 68 61 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 20 69 66 20 have existed if
3cac0 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6e 65 65 64 you did not need
3cad0 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 to acquire more
3cae0 20 72 65 6c 69 61 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 reliable and le
3caf0 73 73 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 20 ss recognizable
3cb00 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 transportation."
3cb10 0a 0a 22 48 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 .."Hm. Thanks."
3cb20 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f .."You are welco
3cb30 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 me."..She brushe
3cb40 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 67 72 61 76 65 6c 6c 79 20 d away gravelly
3cb50 64 65 62 72 69 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 debris to clear
3cb60 61 20 73 70 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 a spot on the gr
3cb70 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e ound, and sat on
3cb80 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 63 6f 6e the cracked con
3cb90 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 6c 61 62 20 77 69 74 68 20 crete slab with
3cba0 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 her back against
3cbb0 20 74 68 65 20 63 69 6e 64 65 72 20 62 6c 6f 63 the cinder bloc
3cbc0 6b 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 k wall of the ca
3cbd0 72 20 77 61 73 68 20 62 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 r wash bay. She
3cbe0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 looked at the c
3cbf0 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 6e 67 79 hipped and dingy
3cc00 20 70 61 69 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 paint on the op
3cc10 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 posite wall of t
3cc20 68 65 20 62 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 61 72 63 he bay and searc
3cc30 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 70 61 74 74 65 72 6e 73 hed for patterns
3cc40 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 73 74 20 6f 66 in the midst of
3cc50 20 69 74 73 20 73 6c 6f 77 20 64 65 63 61 79 2e its slow decay.
3cc60 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 ..Alley muttered
3cc70 20 63 68 61 73 74 69 73 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 74 chastisements t
3cc80 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 75 6e 64 65 72 o herself, under
3cc90 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c 20 66 6f 72 her breath, for
3cca0 20 77 61 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 68 wasting time wh
3ccb0 69 6c 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 77 61 ile her world wa
3ccc0 73 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 s falling apart
3ccd0 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 around her. She
3cce0 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 78 69 6f pulled the Axio
3ccf0 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 m out of her poc
3cd00 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 ket and started
3cd10 61 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 70 65 63 74 20 73 65 a circumspect se
3cd20 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 arch for things
3cd30 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 6d 65 72 63 65 6e 61 72 69 65 like "mercenarie
3cd40 73 20 69 6e 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 22 s in California"
3cd50 20 61 6e 64 20 22 72 65 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 and "real life
3cd60 41 20 54 65 61 6d 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6f A Team". She go
3cd70 74 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c t nothing useful
3cd80 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6c 65 , but she did le
3cd90 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 41 20 54 arn that the A T
3cda0 65 61 6d 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 eam movie she sa
3cdb0 77 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 w a few years ag
3cdc0 6f 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 o was the third
3cdd0 41 20 54 65 61 6d 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 72 65 6d A Team movie rem
3cde0 61 6b 65 2e 0a 0a 41 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 ake...About the
3cdf0 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 time she was rea
3ce00 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 70 2c 20 73 dy to give up, s
3ce10 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 20 72 61 72 65 20 he heard a rare
3ce20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 sound these days
3ce30 3a 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f : an internal co
3ce40 6d 62 75 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 20 mbustion engine
3ce50 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 motorcycle that
3ce60 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 did not sound li
3ce70 6b 65 20 61 20 56 20 74 77 69 6e 2c 20 73 6c 6f ke a V twin, slo
3ce80 77 6c 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 2c wly approaching,
3ce90 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 then coming to
3cea0 61 20 68 61 6c 74 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 2e 20 20 a halt nearby.
3ceb0 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 She stood and br
3cec0 75 73 68 65 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 ushed collected
3ced0 64 75 73 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 dust from her ba
3cee0 63 6b 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 ckside..."This i
3cef0 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 2c 22 s your contact,"
3cf00 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
3cf10 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b said...She took
3cf20 20 61 20 64 65 65 70 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c 20 a deep breath,
3cf30 6c 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c let it out slowl
3cf40 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 y, then hooked h
3cf50 65 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 er thumb in her
3cf60 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 75 back pocket, tou
3cf70 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 ching the handle
3cf80 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 of her baton.
3cf90 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 She stepped out
3cfa0 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 of concealment a
3cfb0 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 66 69 67 nd saw a big fig
3cfc0 75 72 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 69 73 6d 6f ure slowly dismo
3cfd0 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 67 unting a small g
3cfe0 72 65 79 20 62 6c 75 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 rey blue motorcy
3cff0 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 cle. It was the
3d000 20 66 6f 75 72 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 33 four cylinder 3
3d010 35 30 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 2f 2a 20 62 6f 50 she had /* bo
3d020 75 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 ught with money
3d030 73 68 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 61 77 2e 20 2a she never saw. *
3d040 2f 20 73 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 / selected from
3d050 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 2e the classifieds.
3d060 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 6f 72 65 20 61 ..The man wore a
3d070 6e 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 6c 6d n open face helm
3d080 65 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 et along with hi
3d090 73 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 s mask and glass
3d0a0 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 es. The glasses
3d0b0 20 77 65 72 65 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 63 61 6c 20 were identical
3d0c0 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 to her own, she
3d0d0 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 immediately noti
3d0e0 63 65 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 ced. An electri
3d0f0 63 20 63 61 72 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 c car waited by
3d100 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 61 72 the curb not far
3d110 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 6e 64 69 away. She indi
3d120 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 cated the car wi
3d130 74 68 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 th a movement of
3d140 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 her chin and as
3d150 6b 65 64 20 22 46 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 ked "Friends of
3d160 79 6f 75 72 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 61 68 2c 22 20 yours?".."Nah,"
3d170 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 he said. "It's
3d180 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2e 20 20 54 68 just my car. Th
3d190 65 20 61 75 74 6f 70 69 6c 6f 74 20 77 61 73 20 e autopilot was
3d1a0 73 65 74 20 74 6f 20 61 75 74 6f 20 66 6f 6c 6c set to auto foll
3d1b0 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 ow." He approac
3d1c0 68 65 64 2c 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 hed, his hands a
3d1d0 74 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 t his sides, and
3d1e0 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6d stopped with am
3d1f0 70 6c 65 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 ple distance bet
3d200 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 ween them. "The
3d210 20 6b 65 79 27 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 67 key's in the ig
3d220 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 65 6e 76 nition. The env
3d230 65 6c 6f 70 65 27 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 elope's under th
3d240 65 20 73 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 e seat."..The pr
3d250 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 ioritizer told h
3d260 65 72 2c 20 76 69 61 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 er, via text in
3d270 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 22 54 68 her glasses, "Th
3d280 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 e envelope conta
3d290 69 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 ins your left ov
3d2a0 65 72 20 63 61 73 68 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 er cash from the
3d2b0 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 sale of the car
3d2c0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 .".."Do you know
3d2d0 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 76 65 how to work eve
3d2e0 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 69 6b rything on a bik
3d2f0 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 68 65 e like this?" he
3d300 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f asked...She loo
3d310 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 ked at it, then
3d320 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 back at him. "Y
3d330 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 eah." She stopp
3d340 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ed herself from
3d350 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 73 explaining how s
3d360 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 2c 20 72 65 69 6e 69 6e 67 he knew, reining
3d370 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 20 2d in the reflex -
3d380 2d 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 6c 69 73 68 20 68 61 62 69 - a foolish habi
3d390 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 69 72 63 t, in these circ
3d3a0 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f umstances..."Coo
3d3b0 6c 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 l," he said. "W
3d3c0 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d hat about a helm
3d3d0 65 74 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e et? You're goin
3d3e0 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 g to get pulled
3d3f0 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 over without one
3d400 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 .".."I have that
3d410 20 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b covered. Thank
3d420 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 s.".."Sure." He
3d430 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 looked her over
3d440 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 6e 65 65 . "You ever nee
3d450 64 20 61 6e 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 d any help with
3d460 61 20 62 69 6b 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 20 a bike problem,
3d470 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e you let me know.
3d480 20 20 55 73 20 62 69 6b 65 72 73 20 67 6f 74 74 Us bikers gott
3d490 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 a stick together
3d4a0 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 ."..She smiled.
3d4b0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 "Yeah, thanks,"
3d4c0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 she said. "You
3d4d0 27 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 44 61 64 20 75 73 65 're what Dad use
3d4e0 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 27 6f 6e 65 20 6f d to call 'one o
3d4f0 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 65 73 27 f the good ones'
3d500 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 , I guess."..He
3d510 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f laughed. "If yo
3d520 75 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 u say so," he sa
3d530 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 67 id. "I'll get g
3d540 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 oing so you can
3d550 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 do whatever you
3d560 67 6f 74 74 61 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 gotta do. Don't
3d570 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 6e 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 worry any about
3d580 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 41 73 me, though. As
3d590 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 far as anyone e
3d5a0 6c 73 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 lse would get ou
3d5b0 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 t of me, I never
3d5c0 20 6d 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 met you. I jus
3d5d0 74 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 t dropped off a
3d5e0 62 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d bike somewhere m
3d5f0 69 6c 65 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 iles away from h
3d600 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 ere.".."Thanks,"
3d610 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c she said again,
3d620 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 77 as he walked aw
3d630 61 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 ay. He got in t
3d640 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6c 61 he car with a la
3d650 73 74 20 77 61 76 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 68 st wave of his h
3d660 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 and and drove aw
3d670 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 ay, the electric
3d680 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 motors running
3d690 74 6f 6f 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 too silently for
3d6a0 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 2e 0a 0a 41 her to hear...A
3d6b0 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 68 65 65 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 lley wheeled the
3d6c0 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 bike into the t
3d6d0 68 69 72 64 20 77 61 73 68 20 62 61 79 2c 20 6e hird wash bay, n
3d6e0 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 ear her gear, th
3d6f0 65 6e 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 en unlocked the
3d700 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 seat and lifted
3d710 69 74 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 61 6e it to find a man
3d720 69 6c 61 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 66 6f 6c ila envelope fol
3d730 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 2e 20 20 53 68 ded in half. Sh
3d740 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 e had not seen a
3d750 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 n envelope like
3d760 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 69 66 that in over fif
3d770 74 65 65 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 teen years and,
3d780 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 when she picked
3d790 75 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 up this envelope
3d7a0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 5b 20 68 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 61 , the [ how do a
3d7b0 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 64 72 69 65 64 20 6f 75 ncient, dried ou
3d7c0 74 20 6d 61 6e 69 6c 61 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 t manila envelop
3d7d0 65 73 20 66 65 65 6c 3f 20 5d 20 66 65 65 6c 20 es feel? ] feel
3d7e0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 6d 61 64 of the paper mad
3d7f0 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 e her think this
3d800 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 envelope must h
3d810 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 ave been sitting
3d820 20 75 6e 75 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 6f 78 unused in a box
3d830 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 67 61 in someone's ga
3d840 72 61 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 rage for at leas
3d850 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 20 t that long...A
3d860 71 75 69 63 6b 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 6e 73 69 quick check insi
3d870 64 65 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 74 77 6f 20 de revealed two
3d880 6c 61 72 67 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 large stacks of
3d890 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 20 62 hundred dollar b
3d8a0 69 6c 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 64 20 77 69 ills, bundled wi
3d8b0 74 68 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 62 6c th silicone cabl
3d8c0 65 20 74 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 75 e ties...She stu
3d8d0 66 66 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 ffed the envelop
3d8e0 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 e into a cargo p
3d8f0 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 ocket, the opene
3d900 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 6e 69 65 72 73 20 6f d the panniers o
3d910 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 n the sides of t
3d920 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 61 64 he bike and load
3d930 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 20 69 6e 74 6f ed her gear into
3d940 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 63 68 6f 72 65 6f 67 72 61 them, choreogra
3d950 70 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 61 72 64 phing an awkward
3d960 2c 20 75 6e 73 79 63 68 72 6f 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 , unsychronized
3d970 64 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 65 6d 73 20 70 dance of items p
3d980 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 62 61 67 ulled out of bag
3d990 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 64 s and rearranged
3d9a0 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 until she could
3d9b0 20 67 65 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 77 get enough of w
3d9c0 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 69 6e 74 6f hat she had into
3d9d0 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 79 20 62 6f 78 65 73 the alloy boxes
3d9e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 73 to make it reas
3d9f0 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 onably comfortab
3da00 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 74 68 65 20 le to carry the
3da10 72 65 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b rest on her back
3da20 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e . She pulled on
3da30 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 her riding gear
3da40 2c 20 68 65 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 , hefted the bac
3da50 6b 70 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f kpack on her sho
3da60 75 6c 64 65 72 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 75 73 ulders, then pus
3da70 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 hed her mask dow
3da80 6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 n as a bit of ex
3da90 74 72 61 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 tra protection f
3daa0 72 6f 6d 20 66 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 65 62 72 69 rom flying debri
3dab0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 63 6b 20 61 s for her neck a
3dac0 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 nd donned the he
3dad0 6c 6d 65 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 lmet...She stopp
3dae0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ed. "Shit," she
3daf0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 61 said. "Where a
3db00 6d 20 49 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 m I going? Mayb
3db10 65 20 61 20 67 61 73 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e e a gas station.
3db20 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 I don't know h
3db30 6f 77 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 ow full this thi
3db40 6e 67 20 69 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 70 ng is." She rap
3db50 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 6e 6b 20 6f 6e 63 ped the tank onc
3db60 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 e with a gloved
3db70 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 knuckle.".."The
3db80 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 other study part
3db90 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 icipant filled i
3dba0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 t for you.".."Oh
3dbb0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 .".."You should
3dbc0 6c 65 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 65 61 2c leave this area,
3dbd0 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
3dbe0 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 r said. "It is
3dbf0 62 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 61 72 74 68 best to be farth
3dc00 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 43 4f er from where CO
3dc10 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 61 77 20 IN Corp and law
3dc20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 65 78 70 65 enforcement expe
3dc30 63 74 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 ct to find you."
3dc40 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 .."That makes se
3dc50 6e 73 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4e nse, I guess. N
3dc60 6f 77 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 ow I just need t
3dc70 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 o figure out whe
3dc80 72 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 re to go.".."Per
3dc90 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 haps you should
3dca0 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 52 61 6e 63 68 6f 20 43 75 63 go to Rancho Cuc
3dcb0 61 6d 6f 6e 67 61 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 73 amonga. The dis
3dcc0 74 61 6e 63 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 73 75 66 66 tance seems suff
3dcd0 69 63 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 61 72 20 74 6f 20 iciently far to
3dce0 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 increase the sea
3dcf0 72 63 68 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 73 rch difficulty s
3dd00 75 62 73 74 61 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 ubstantially. E
3dd10 76 65 72 79 20 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 69 73 very mile of dis
3dd20 74 61 6e 63 65 20 79 69 65 6c 64 73 20 65 78 70 tance yields exp
3dd30 6f 6e 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 onential increas
3dd40 65 73 20 69 6e 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 64 69 66 es in search dif
3dd50 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 2c 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e ficulty, ignorin
3dd60 67 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 g digital survei
3dd70 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 llance analysis
3dd80 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 potential, and y
3dd90 6f 75 72 20 61 69 6d 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 our aim should b
3dda0 65 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 e to undermine t
3ddb0 68 65 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6e 65 73 73 he effectiveness
3ddc0 20 6f 66 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 of surveillance
3ddd0 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 2e infrastructure.
3dde0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 20 ".."Yeah, okay.
3ddf0 20 57 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 64 What should I d
3de00 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 o when I get the
3de10 72 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 46 re, though?".."F
3de20 69 6e 64 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 68 ind a place to h
3de30 69 64 65 2c 20 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 ide, eat, and re
3de40 73 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 st. My academic
3de50 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 73 75 67 67 65 resources sugge
3de60 73 74 20 52 61 6e 63 68 6f 20 43 75 63 61 6d 6f st Rancho Cucamo
3de70 6e 67 61 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 20 61 nga and nearby a
3de80 72 65 61 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 reas might offer
3de90 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 62 61 a number of aba
3dea0 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 ndoned structure
3deb0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 s that could be
3dec0 75 73 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 74 65 6d 70 6f used for a tempo
3ded0 72 61 72 79 20 62 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c rary base."..All
3dee0 65 79 20 67 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f ey groaned. "Ho
3def0 77 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 20 68 61 w can this be ha
3df00 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 ppening?"..The p
3df10 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 65 65 6d 65 rioritizer seeme
3df20 64 20 73 6d 61 72 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 d smart enough t
3df30 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 o realize that w
3df40 61 73 20 72 68 65 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 61 6e as rhetorical an
3df50 64 20 73 65 6c 66 20 70 69 74 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 d self pitying.
3df60 20 49 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 72 It offered no r
3df70 65 70 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 eply.../*..Alley
3df80 20 6d 75 73 74 2c 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 must, at some p
3df90 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 oint, say someth
3dfa0 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 ing about going
3dfb0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2e 20 20 to the police.
3dfc0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
3dfd0 6d 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 might ask whethe
3dfe0 72 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 74 68 69 r she thinks thi
3dff0 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 s is a good idea
3e000 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 , and she would
3e010 74 68 65 6e 20 62 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 74 then be forced t
3e020 6f 20 61 64 6d 69 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 o admit it's a t
3e030 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 67 69 errible idea, gi
3e040 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 ven the COIN Cor
3e050 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 p agents were ba
3e060 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 64 65 72 69 6e 67 sically ordering
3e070 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 Secret Service
3e080 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 agents around, w
3e090 68 69 63 68 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 74 72 75 6d hich surely trum
3e0a0 70 73 20 61 6e 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 ps any possible
3e0b0 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6d protection she m
3e0c0 69 67 68 74 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 ight imagine wou
3e0d0 6c 64 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 ld materialize w
3e0e0 68 65 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 hen going to the
3e0f0 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 6c 70 police for help
3e100 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 65 , especially whe
3e110 6e 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 n she does not p
3e120 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 74 72 75 73 articularly trus
3e130 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 t the police to
3e140 62 65 67 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d begin with. Som
3e150 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 ehow, I should g
3e160 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 et something in
3e170 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 the story about
3e180 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 her not trusting
3e190 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 6f 66 20 the police, of
3e1a0 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 course...*/..The
3e1b0 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 72 61 6e 67 20 74 77 69 63 65 call rang twice
3e1c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 66 65 77 , and only a few
3e1d0 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c seconds passed,
3e1e0 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 20 66 65 77 65 72 20 74 68 but no fewer th
3e1f0 61 6e 20 73 69 78 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 an six times she
3e200 20 68 61 64 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 had second thou
3e210 67 68 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 ghts about this
3e220 63 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 75 74 call, nearly cut
3e230 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 62 65 66 6f ting it off befo
3e240 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 re someone could
3e250 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 answer or the c
3e260 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 all could go to
3e270 76 6f 69 63 65 6d 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 voicemail. At t
3e280 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 73 68 he same time, sh
3e290 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 e found herself
3e2a0 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 wondering whethe
3e2b0 72 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 r he still had t
3e2c0 68 61 74 20 63 79 62 65 72 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 hat cyber indust
3e2d0 72 69 61 6c 20 74 75 6e 65 20 47 6c 61 73 73 69 rial tune Glassi
3e2e0 6e 65 20 43 75 72 76 65 73 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 ne Curves set as
3e2f0 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f his ringtone fo
3e300 72 20 68 65 72 2c 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 r her, whether t
3e310 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 here was anyone
3e320 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 69 6d 20 61 other than him a
3e330 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 73 74 round when it st
3e340 61 72 74 65 64 20 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 arted ringing.
3e350 53 68 65 20 64 6f 75 62 74 65 64 20 68 65 20 68 She doubted he h
3e360 61 64 20 61 20 73 75 62 64 65 72 6d 61 6c 20 68 ad a subdermal h
3e370 65 61 64 73 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c eadset that woul
3e380 64 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 6e 67 74 d play the ringt
3e390 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 one where only h
3e3a0 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2c e could hear it,
3e3b0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 20 after all. He
3e3c0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 never trusted th
3e3d0 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 ose things...He
3e3e0 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 picked up after
3e3f0 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 72 69 6e 67 2c the second ring,
3e400 20 73 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 so close to the
3e410 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 third that it f
3e420 65 6c 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 elt longer than
3e430 74 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e the wait between
3e440 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 the first and s
3e450 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 72 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 48 65 econd rings. He
3e460 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 76 65 r thumb was hove
3e470 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 ring over the di
3e480 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 sconnect button
3e490 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 when she heard h
3e4a0 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 is voice..."Alle
3e4b0 79 3f 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 3f y? Is that you?
3e4c0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 62 "..She stopped b
3e4d0 72 65 61 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d reathing for a m
3e4e0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 oment, but her h
3e4f0 65 61 72 74 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c eart hammered al
3e500 6f 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f ong, and the smo
3e510 6f 74 68 20 74 65 6e 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 oth tenor of his
3e520 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 voice did somet
3e530 68 69 6e 67 20 76 65 72 74 69 67 69 6e 6f 75 73 hing vertiginous
3e540 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 79 20 73 to her memory s
3e550 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 o that it had a
3e560 68 61 72 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 hard time impres
3e570 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 sing on her how
3e580 6c 6f 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e long it had been
3e590 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c 69 76 65 since they live
3e5a0 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 72 d together. Her
3e5b0 20 68 6f 72 6d 6f 6e 65 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 hormones comple
3e5c0 74 65 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 tely forgot in t
3e5d0 68 61 74 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 hat instant that
3e5e0 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 20 they weren't a
3e5f0 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 couple any longe
3e600 72 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 r..."Uh . . . ye
3e610 61 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 20 69 73 ah. Yeah, it is
3e620 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 ," she finally s
3e630 68 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 hoved out of her
3e640 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 61 75 64 mouth...The aud
3e650 69 6f 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 io took on that
3e660 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6c 61 74 20 71 75 61 strange flat qua
3e670 6c 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 lity that told h
3e680 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d er someone had m
3e690 75 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 uted something.
3e6a0 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 20 66 65 She waited a fe
3e6b0 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 w moments, wonde
3e6c0 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 68 65 27 64 20 68 75 6e ring if he'd hun
3e6d0 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 g up. She just
3e6e0 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6b 65 20 decided to wake
3e6f0 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e the screen again
3e700 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 73 61 to see if it sa
3e710 69 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c id she was still
3e720 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e connected, even
3e730 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 if she didn't h
3e740 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 ear the disconne
3e750 63 74 20 74 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 ct tone, when sh
3e760 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 e heard his voic
3e770 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 e again..."Alley
3e780 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 . It's good to
3e790 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 hear your voice
3e7a0 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 again. How are
3e7b0 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 you?"..She hesit
3e7c0 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 ated, then said
3e7d0 22 49 74 27 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 74 74 65 "It's been bette
3e7e0 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 r.".."Do you nee
3e7f0 64 20 68 65 6c 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 d help?" he aske
3e800 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 73 68 d, so quickly sh
3e810 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 74 68 e wondered if th
3e820 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 at was on the ti
3e830 70 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 p of his tongue
3e840 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 65 20 6b 6e the moment he kn
3e850 65 77 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 ew who was calli
3e860 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 ng..."Yeah." Sh
3e870 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 e sighed. She h
3e880 61 64 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c ad hoped it woul
3e890 64 20 67 65 74 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 77 68 65 d get easier whe
3e8a0 6e 20 73 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 20 69 n she admitted i
3e8b0 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 t, but suddenly
3e8c0 68 65 72 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 6f 64 79 20 66 her whole body f
3e8d0 65 6c 74 20 68 65 61 76 69 65 72 2c 20 77 65 69 elt heavier, wei
3e8e0 67 68 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 79 20 74 68 ghted down by th
3e8f0 65 20 61 64 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 e admission. He
3e900 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 61 74 r heart was beat
3e910 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 79 70 69 63 ing at her typic
3e920 61 6c 20 72 61 74 65 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 al rate now, but
3e930 20 69 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 it felt like it
3e940 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 77 69 was doing so wi
3e950 74 68 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 74 72 65 61 64 th a heavy tread
3e960 2c 20 65 61 63 68 20 73 74 65 70 20 73 6c 61 6d , each step slam
3e970 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 74 20 64 6f 77 6e ming a boot down
3e980 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 61 64 65 6e 20 65 78 68 with leaden exh
3e990 61 75 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 63 6b 73 20 austion, shocks
3e9a0 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 coming up throug
3e9b0 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 h the soles of i
3e9c0 74 73 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d ts boots..."It m
3e9d0 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 62 61 64 2c 20 72 65 61 6c ust be bad, real
3e9e0 6c 79 20 62 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 ly bad, if you'r
3e9f0 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 e calling me," D
3ea00 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 alton said quiet
3ea10 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 ly. She could h
3ea20 65 61 72 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 20 74 ear a strained t
3ea30 69 67 68 74 6e 65 73 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 ightness in his
3ea40 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 65 throat now..."Ne
3ea50 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 ver mind. This
3ea60 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20 was a bad idea.
3ea70 20 47 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e Goodbye, Dalton
3ea80 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 ." She woke the
3ea90 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 display to show
3eaa0 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 the disconnect
3eab0 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 21 20 button..."Wait!
3eac0 20 4e 6f 21 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 2e 20 20 41 6c No! Don't. Al
3ead0 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 ley? Are you th
3eae0 65 72 65 3f 20 20 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 68 65 6c ere? Let me hel
3eaf0 70 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 p. I'll stay ou
3eb00 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 t of your way, b
3eb10 75 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 ut if you need h
3eb20 65 6c 70 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 elp I'll help.
3eb30 4e 6f 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 22 20 20 No questions."
3eb40 48 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 62 He paused, for b
3eb50 72 65 61 74 68 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 reath or to see
3eb60 69 66 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 if she'll answer
3eb70 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 . Either way, a
3eb80 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e fter a few secon
3eb90 64 73 2c 20 68 65 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 65 64 20 ds, he repeated
3eba0 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 himself. "Alley
3ebb0 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 72 65 ? Are you there
3ebc0 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 74 ?"..She slowly t
3ebd0 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e apped the button
3ebe0 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 to put the disp
3ebf0 6c 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 61 67 61 lay to sleep aga
3ec00 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 in and said "Yea
3ec10 68 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 h, I'm here.".."
3ec20 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 Look, I know you
3ec30 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 wouldn't come t
3ec40 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e o me if you didn
3ec50 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 77 68 61 74 't have to, what
3ec60 65 76 65 72 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6b ever it is. I k
3ec70 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 now you really w
3ec80 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 ould rather have
3ec90 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 nothing to do w
3eca0 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 ith me. I'm sor
3ecb0 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 ry about that.
3ecc0 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 2d I'll be honest -
3ecd0 2d 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 - it's good to h
3ece0 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 ear your voice.
3ecf0 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 I don't expect
3ed00 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f anything from yo
3ed10 75 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 u, though. If I
3ed20 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e can help, I can
3ed30 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 . I know I made
3ed40 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c things difficul
3ed50 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65 t for you. I ne
3ed60 76 65 72 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 62 75 ver meant to, bu
3ed70 74 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 t I did, and I w
3ed80 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 ant to at least
3ed90 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 75 try to make it u
3eda0 70 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 p to you. I'll
3edb0 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 stay out of your
3edc0 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c business. I'll
3edd0 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 stay as far awa
3ede0 79 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 y as you want.
3edf0 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 75 72 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 Don't turn down
3ee00 68 65 6c 70 20 66 72 65 65 6c 79 20 67 69 76 65 help freely give
3ee10 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f n, though, if yo
3ee20 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 u need it. Okay
3ee30 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 64 ?"..She squeezed
3ee40 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 her eyes closed
3ee50 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 61 6e 69 , trying to bani
3ee60 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 69 sh the light sti
3ee70 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 74 20 74 ng she felt at t
3ee80 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 he corners of he
3ee90 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6c 69 70 r eyes. Her lip
3eea0 73 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 s pressed togeth
3eeb0 65 72 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 er tightly in a
3eec0 74 68 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 thin line. She
3eed0 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 64 finally released
3eee0 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c 20 67 72 75 her breath, gru
3eef0 64 67 69 6e 67 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 dgingly, and ope
3ef00 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 ned her eyes. "
3ef10 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 44 Yeah. Thanks, D
3ef20 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 alton. The trut
3ef30 68 20 69 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c h is, if you hel
3ef40 70 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 p me you'll prob
3ef50 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c ably get yoursel
3ef60 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 f in a lot of tr
3ef70 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 ouble, because I
3ef80 27 6d 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 'm in a lot of t
3ef90 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 rouble. Either
3efa0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 I don't understa
3efb0 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 nd the trouble,
3efc0 6f 72 20 49 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 or I do and it's
3efd0 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 61 completely insa
3efe0 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 ne and pretty mu
3eff0 63 68 20 69 6e 65 73 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 ch inescapable,
3f000 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c and will probabl
3f010 79 20 73 63 72 65 77 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 79 y screw over any
3f020 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 6d 65 one who helps me
3f030 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f ..."I really sho
3f040 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6c 6c uldn't have call
3f050 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 ed you. I don't
3f060 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 want to get you
3f070 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 mixed up in thi
3f080 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6c s.".."It's too l
3f090 61 74 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 71 ate," he said, q
3f0a0 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 uietly, gently.
3f0b0 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 49 "You called. I
3f0c0 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 'm here. I'm go
3f0d0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2e ing to help you.
3f0e0 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 Just take the
3f0f0 6f 66 66 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 offer, and tell
3f100 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 me what you need
3f110 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 .".."Fine." She
3f120 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 huddled around
3f130 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 herself, and pre
3f140 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f ssed her back mo
3f150 72 65 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 re firmly into t
3f160 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2c 20 66 65 65 6c 69 he corner, feeli
3f170 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 73 74 65 72 20 63 ng the plaster c
3f180 72 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 rumbling behind
3f190 68 65 72 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 her jacket. "I
3f1a0 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 need a place to
3f1b0 6c 69 65 20 6c 6f 77 2c 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 lie low, first,
3f1c0 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 and I need to fi
3f1d0 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 gure out what th
3f1e0 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 e fuck I'm doing
3f1f0 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 next.".."Yeah,"
3f200 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 he said, "that
3f210 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 72 69 6f does sound serio
3f220 75 73 2e 20 20 57 68 6f 27 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 us. Who's after
3f230 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c you?".."I shoul
3f240 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 d probably tell
3f250 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 70 61 you the worst pa
3f260 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 6f 27 73 20 61 66 74 65 rt of who's afte
3f270 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f r me, but I'm no
3f280 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6f 6e 65 t sure which one
3f290 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 it is.".."What
3f2a0 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 do you mean?" he
3f2b0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 0a 0a asked slowly...
3f2c0 22 57 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 77 6f 72 73 65 2c "Which is worse,
3f2d0 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 the Secret Serv
3f2e0 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 61 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 20 ice or a creepy
3f2f0 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c government intel
3f300 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 ligence contract
3f310 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 or that can get
3f320 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 the secret servi
3f330 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 74 73 20 64 69 72 ce to do its dir
3f340 74 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 ty work?"..The s
3f350 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 ilence lingered
3f360 2d 2d 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 70 61 72 74 -- silence apart
3f370 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 67 68 74 20 from the tight
3f380 72 61 73 70 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 rasp of her brea
3f390 74 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 th in her throat
3f3a0 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 as she waited f
3f3b0 65 61 72 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d earfully for him
3f3c0 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e to say somethin
3f3d0 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 74 72 61 79 65 64 20 g that betrayed
3f3e0 68 69 73 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 20 72 65 6c 75 63 his sudden reluc
3f3f0 74 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 tance to help he
3f400 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 r..."I can come
3f410 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 22 20 68 65 pick you up," he
3f420 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64 said. "Where d
3f430 6f 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f 20 o I need to go?
3f440 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 I guess you're
3f450 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d probably not hom
3f460 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 e."..She held ou
3f470 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 t her Axiom and
3f480 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 stared at it for
3f490 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 a long time. "
3f4a0 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 What?".."Do you
3f4b0 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 need me to pick
3f4c0 79 6f 75 20 75 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 you up?" he aske
3f4d0 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 d...She shook he
3f4e0 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 74 r head. "You st
3f4f0 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 ill want to help
3f500 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f me . . . ?".."O
3f510 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 22 20 f course I do,"
3f520 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 he said, with a
3f530 73 68 61 6b 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 68 shaky laugh in h
3f540 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 is voice. "What
3f550 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f kind of dangero
3f560 75 73 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 us agitator and
3f570 64 65 6d 61 67 6f 67 75 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 demagogue would
3f580 49 20 62 65 65 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 I bee if I wasn'
3f590 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c t willing to hel
3f5a0 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 6c 65 65 20 66 p someone flee f
3f5b0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 rom the Secret S
3f5c0 65 72 76 69 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61 ervice?"..She la
3f5d0 75 67 68 65 64 20 77 65 61 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 ughed weakly. "
3f5e0 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 Right. Of cours
3f5f0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 e you do." She
3f600 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook her head.
3f610 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 "I don't know.
3f620 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 I have a motorc
3f630 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 ycle, not even r
3f640 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e egistered to me.
3f650 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 Maybe I should
3f660 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 just go there."
3f670 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 22 20 68 .."You could," h
3f680 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f e said. "Hang o
3f690 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 61 n a sec' -- I ha
3f6a0 76 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 ve an idea."..Sh
3f6b0 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b e heard the lack
3f6c0 20 6f 66 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c of audio again,
3f6d0 20 61 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 a faint pressur
3f6e0 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 e against her at
3f6f0 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 tention. Second
3f700 73 20 74 69 63 6b 65 64 20 62 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 s ticked by...Th
3f710 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 e audio opened u
3f720 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 p in her awarene
3f730 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 ss again. "I ca
3f740 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 76 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 n send a van to
3f750 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 pick you up, and
3f760 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 your motorcycle
3f770 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 . You'll probab
3f780 6c 79 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 ly stay off the
3f790 72 61 64 61 72 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 radar better tha
3f7a0 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 t way. If you h
3f7b0 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d ave to use the m
3f7c0 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c otorcycle later,
3f7d0 20 69 74 27 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 it's best if it
3f7e0 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 's not seen arou
3f7f0 6e 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 nd enough for pe
3f800 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 ople to connect
3f810 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 with your moveme
3f820 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 nts. Right?".."
3f830 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 Yeah, sure," she
3f840 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 27 73 20 64 said. "Who's d
3f850 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 6e 3f 22 riving the van?"
3f860 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 .."Nobody," he s
3f870 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 75 74 6f aid. "It's auto
3f880 6d 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f mated. Don't wo
3f890 72 72 79 2c 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 rry, a friend of
3f8a0 20 6d 69 6e 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 mine contribute
3f8b0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 61 63 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 d some hacks to
3f8c0 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 6f 20 69 74 the system so it
3f8d0 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 won't correctly
3f8e0 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 report anything
3f8f0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 76 20 6e 65 74 2e to the nav net.
3f900 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 72 ".."Oh."../* I r
3f910 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 66 eally need a dif
3f920 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 ferent name for
3f930 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 22 62 6c 69 73 73 this than "bliss
3f940 63 72 79 70 74 22 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 crypt". That's
3f950 73 74 75 70 69 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 stupid. */../* I
3f960 74 27 73 20 73 6f 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 20 69 74 t's so stupid it
3f970 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 73 might be realis
3f980 74 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 tic, and we don'
3f990 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 2a 2f 0a t want that. */.
3f9a0 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f ."I just need to
3f9b0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 know where you
3f9c0 61 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f are. It's a goo
3f9d0 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 64 65 d thing you made
3f9e0 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 this call with
3f9f0 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 2c 20 62 79 20 74 blisscrypt, by t
3fa00 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 74 27 64 20 he way, or it'd
3fa10 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 take a lot more
3fa20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 work to make sur
3fa30 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 e this call stay
3fa40 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f s out of the wro
3fa50 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 67 ng hands.".."Rig
3fa60 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ht," she said.
3fa70 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f She paused. "Ho
3fa80 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 w did you know i
3fa90 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 t was me when I
3faa0 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 68 65 called?"..The he
3fab0 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 sitation lingere
3fac0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 d, and she wonde
3fad0 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 red what was goi
3fae0 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c ng on. Finally,
3faf0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 6f 6e 65 73 74 he said "Honest
3fb00 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ly, I don't know
3fb10 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 2e . It was weird.
3fb20 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 20 I just saw an
3fb30 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 72 incoming call fr
3fb40 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 49 44 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 om an ID that wa
3fb50 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 sn't in my conta
3fb60 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 cts, and somehow
3fb70 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 I guessed."..Sh
3fb80 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 e scoffed. "Tha
3fb90 74 27 73 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 65 69 72 t's fucking weir
3fba0 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 d, Dalton.".."Ye
3fbb0 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ah," he said. "
3fbc0 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 69 72 It's not as weir
3fbd0 64 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 77 65 61 72 69 6e d as you swearin
3fbe0 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f g more than I do
3fbf0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 , though."..She
3fc00 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 smiled, despite
3fc10 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e herself. Dalton
3fc20 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 69 74 could still hit
3fc30 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f all the high po
3fc40 69 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 69 ints in her atti
3fc50 74 75 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 75 6e 65 72 72 69 tude with unerri
3fc60 6e 67 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 63 79 2e 20 20 22 49 ng accuracy. "I
3fc70 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 f you'd had the
3fc80 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 2e week I've had. .
3fc90 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 . .".."Yeah," h
3fca0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 e said. "Let's
3fcb0 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 68 talk about it wh
3fcc0 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f en you get to yo
3fcd0 75 72 20 64 65 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 ur destination.
3fce0 20 53 65 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 6f Send me your lo
3fcf0 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 cation through b
3fd00 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 65 78 74 20 73 lisscrypt text s
3fd10 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 o you don't have
3fd20 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 76 65 to hide whereve
3fd30 72 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f r you are any lo
3fd40 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 nger than necess
3fd50 61 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 ary.".."Yeah," s
3fd60 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 he said, "okay."
3fd70 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 She ended the
3fd80 63 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 call, moved to t
3fd90 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e he back door, an
3fda0 64 20 73 65 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 20 6c d sent passive l
3fdb0 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 61 74 61 20 66 72 6f ocation data fro
3fdc0 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6c m there. She al
3fdd0 74 65 72 6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e ternated between
3fde0 20 70 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 74 74 pacing and sitt
3fdf0 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 ing for the next
3fe00 20 68 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 hour and ten mi
3fe10 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 75 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f nutes, unable to
3fe20 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f settle down eno
3fe30 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 ugh to do anythi
3fe40 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 ng useful, or ev
3fe50 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 en to think abou
3fe60 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 t anything usefu
3fe70 6c 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 76 69 l...Her Axiom vi
3fe80 62 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 brated in her ha
3fe90 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 nd. She unlocke
3fea0 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 d it and checked
3feb0 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 2c 20 77 68 65 her alerts, whe
3fec0 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 20 65 6e re she saw an en
3fed0 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 crypted message
3fee0 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 from Dalton that
3fef0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 said "Your ride
3ff00 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 should be there
3ff10 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 . Sorry you'll
3ff20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 have to push the
3ff30 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c bike in yoursel
3ff40 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 f."..She opened
3ff50 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c the door careful
3ff60 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f ly, and looked o
3ff70 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 74 utside. Right t
3ff80 68 65 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c here, in the all
3ff90 65 79 2c 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 ey, was a small
3ffa0 62 6f 78 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 74 73 20 62 box truck, its b
3ffb0 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 ack door lowered
3ffc0 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 61 20 72 61 to provide a ra
3ffd0 6d 70 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 mp inside. Ther
3ffe0 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 61 6e 64 e were seats and
3fff0 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 61 shelves, self a
40000 64 6a 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 65 6c 20 74 djusting wheel t
40010 72 61 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 65 65 6c 20 6c 6f 63 racks, wheel loc
40020 6b 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 k points, and ti
40030 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 72 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 53 e down rings. S
40040 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 61 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 he even saw some
40050 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 thing that looke
40060 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 20 66 72 d like a mini fr
40070 69 64 67 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 idge. It looked
40080 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 65 73 like it was des
40090 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 igned to smuggle
400a0 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 anything from s
400b0 74 6f 6c 65 6e 20 63 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 73 74 tolen cars to st
400c0 6f 6c 65 6e 20 63 61 72 20 73 74 65 72 65 6f 73 olen car stereos
400d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e , and maybe even
400e0 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c 20 70 61 72 74 69 65 cocktail partie
400f0 73 2c 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e s, across the in
40100 74 65 72 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 terstates with t
40110 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 he smooth silenc
40120 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e e of a typical n
40130 65 77 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 20 63 61 72 67 ew electric carg
40140 6f 20 76 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 o van...Alley ha
40150 64 20 74 6f 20 77 72 65 73 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 d to wrestle wit
40160 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6c 6c 65 6e 67 65 20 h the challenge
40170 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 of getting one s
40180 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c ide of the handl
40190 65 62 61 72 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 69 6b ebars of her bik
401a0 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 e through the ba
401b0 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 ck door of the a
401c0 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e bandoned buildin
401d0 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 g at a time, and
401e0 20 6d 61 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 mashed her fing
401f0 65 72 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 ers against the
40200 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 door frame a lit
40210 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 tle in the proce
40220 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c ss, but eventual
40230 6c 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 ly managed to ge
40240 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 t it into place
40250 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 and secured agai
40260 6e 73 74 20 75 6e 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 nst unwanted mov
40270 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 2d 2d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 ements -- like f
40280 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 alling over...Sh
40290 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 e sent an encryp
402a0 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 62 61 63 6b ted message back
402b0 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 to Dalton. "It
402c0 27 73 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 72 61 70 20 's in.".."Strap
402d0 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 69 6e into the seat in
402e0 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f back."..She loo
402f0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 ked at the chair
40300 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f , toward the fro
40310 6e 74 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 nt end of the tr
40320 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 62 6f 78 2e uck's cargo box.
40330 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 "What about th
40340 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b e door?" she ask
40350 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 ed..."It'll hand
40360 6c 65 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 le itself."..She
40370 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 went back into
40380 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the building to
40390 67 72 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 2c 20 74 grab her bags, t
403a0 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 hen headed to th
403b0 65 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 6f e comfortable lo
403c0 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 oking seat the b
403d0 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b ack of the truck
403e0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e and strapped in
403f0 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 . A few moments
40400 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b later, the back
40410 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 70 75 door quietly pu
40420 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 75 70 20 61 lled itself up a
40430 6e 64 20 73 65 61 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 nd sealed. The
40440 6c 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 72 65 6d light inside rem
40450 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 ained on, a more
40460 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e obvious illumin
40470 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 ation now that t
40480 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 he back was clos
40490 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 6f ed and blocked o
404a0 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 78 74 65 72 69 6f 72 20 ut all exterior
404b0 73 75 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4d 75 73 69 sun light. Musi
404c0 63 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e c started playin
404d0 67 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f g, some of Dalto
404e0 6e 27 73 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 n's 1980s indust
404f0 72 69 61 6c 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 73 2c 20 rial favorites,
40500 62 75 74 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 but softly..."Wh
40510 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 ere is it taking
40520 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 me?" she asked
40530 69 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 in another messa
40540 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 ge...The respons
40550 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65 e came soon afte
40560 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 r. "I'm surpris
40570 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 74 68 ed you waited th
40580 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e 20 at long to ask.
40590 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 72 75 I guess you tru
405a0 73 74 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 74 st me."..She put
405b0 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 her hand over h
405c0 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 74 er face and rest
405d0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 ed her elbow on
405e0 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63 her thigh. "Fuc
405f0 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 6c 6f k," she said alo
40600 75 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 ud...When she sa
40610 74 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 t up again, she
40620 73 65 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2e 20 send her reply.
40630 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Yeah, I guess
40640 49 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 I trusted you wi
40650 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b thout even think
40660 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4f ing about it. O
40670 6c 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ld reflexes.".."
40680 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 61 74 74 65 72 65 64 2c 20 62 I'm flattered, b
40690 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 ut you should tr
406a0 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 72 65 y to get over re
406b0 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f flexes.".."I kno
406c0 77 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f w."..It turned o
406d0 75 74 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 65 77 ut he still knew
406e0 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 her well enough
406f0 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 to say nothing
40700 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 to that. She le
40710 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 aned her head ba
40720 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 27 73 ck on the seat's
40730 20 68 65 61 64 20 72 65 73 74 2c 20 63 6c 6f 73 head rest, clos
40740 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ed her eyes, and
40750 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 wondered what s
40760 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 74 he would do next
40770 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 ...As if it read
40780 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 her mind, she h
40790 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 eard the priorit
407a0 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f izer say "You co
407b0 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d uld use this tim
407c0 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 72 65 61 64 e to finish read
407d0 69 6e 67 20 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 ing Underground
407e0 4f 70 65 53 65 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 OpeSec.".."Good
407f0 69 64 65 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 idea," she mutte
40800 72 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 73 6f 75 72 6c 79 red a bit sourly
40810 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 75 67 20 69 74 20 6f 75 . She dug it ou
40820 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 t...Eventually,
40830 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 the movement of
40840 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 the truck change
40850 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 d enough that sh
40860 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 e realized it wa
40870 73 20 63 72 61 77 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 s crawling along
40880 20 61 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 77 at probably a w
40890 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 alking pace, the
408a0 6e 20 69 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 20 61 6e n it reversed an
408b0 64 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 2c 20 62 61 63 6b 69 6e d turned, backin
408c0 67 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e g up to somethin
408d0 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 69 g with a reversi
408e0 6e 67 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 62 65 65 70 20 ng warning beep
408f0 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 that came throug
40900 68 20 76 65 72 79 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 20 62 h very muffled b
40910 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 74 y the walls of t
40920 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 6f he truck's cargo
40930 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 box. It stoppe
40940 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6c d, and moments l
40950 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 74 ater the back st
40960 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a arted opening...
40970 2f 2a 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 /* I need descri
40980 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 ptions. */..This
40990 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 time, the ramp
409a0 77 61 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 was angled just
409b0 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 slightly upward
409c0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 from the back of
409d0 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f the truck, into
409e0 20 61 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 a cargo platfor
409f0 6d 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 m in what looked
40a00 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 like a somewhat
40a10 20 66 75 72 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 77 61 72 65 68 furnished wareh
40a20 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e ouse. Dalton an
40a30 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 43 72 61 d his friend Cra
40a40 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 y stood on the p
40a50 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 6d 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 latform, looking
40a60 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 down at her...S
40a70 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e he unbuckled, an
40a80 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 2e 20 d she stood up.
40a90 20 43 72 61 79 20 67 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 20 62 72 Cray grinned br
40aa0 6f 61 64 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 44 oadly at her. D
40ab0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 alton just looke
40ac0 64 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 d worried, in th
40ad0 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6f 66 at way he had of
40ae0 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 almost looking
40af0 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 75 72 74 20 77 68 a little hurt wh
40b00 65 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 enever he worrie
40b10 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 d around her..."
40b20 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a Hi," she said...
40b30 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 "Hi!" Cray calle
40b40 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 47 65 74 20 6f 75 74 d out. "Get out
40b50 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 68 here. Man, I h
40b60 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 aven't seen you
40b70 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 in years!"..Alle
40b80 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 y scratched her
40b90 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 head to give her
40ba0 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 hand something
40bb0 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 69 63 6b to do, then pick
40bc0 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 ed up her bags a
40bd0 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 nd headed up the
40be0 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 ramp. "What ab
40bf0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 20 73 out the bike?" s
40c00 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 he asked...Cray
40c10 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 said "Don't worr
40c20 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e y. We got this.
40c30 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e " He stepped on
40c40 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 20 to the ramp and
40c50 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 walked down the
40c60 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 64 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 gentle decline i
40c70 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 6e nto the truck an
40c80 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 6e d started loosen
40c90 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 63 ing a tie down c
40ca0 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 able...Dalton's
40cb0 61 72 6d 73 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e arms twitched an
40cc0 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 73 68 69 d his weight shi
40cd0 66 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 41 fted forward. A
40ce0 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 65 lley realized he
40cf0 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 79 70 65 r eyes were hype
40d00 72 66 6f 63 75 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 72 rfocused on ever
40d10 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 y detail of his
40d20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 movements, and s
40d30 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 he expected the
40d40 73 68 69 66 74 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e shift to turn in
40d50 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 to coming forwar
40d60 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 d to give her a
40d70 68 75 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 hug. She felt a
40d80 20 74 77 69 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 twinge of inner
40d90 20 70 61 6e 69 63 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 panic, not know
40da0 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 74 ing how to react
40db0 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 2c 20 , how she felt,
40dc0 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 68 but it passed wh
40dd0 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 en the motion st
40de0 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 opped there and
40df0 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 he just looked a
40e00 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 t her...Without
40e10 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2c 20 43 72 61 79 looking up, Cray
40e20 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 said "Give him
40e30 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f a hug. Get it o
40e40 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 ver with, and si
40e50 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 63 61 t down, so he ca
40e60 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e 22 n come help me."
40e70 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 ..Alley's mouth
40e80 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69 twitched a milli
40e90 6d 65 74 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 73 meter toward a s
40ea0 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 mile, then she s
40eb0 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 73 69 64 et her bags asid
40ec0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 66 6f e and stepped fo
40ed0 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 rward. She and
40ee0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 62 Dalton hugged, b
40ef0 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 ut it was carefu
40f00 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f l. There was no
40f10 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e physical distan
40f20 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c ce between them,
40f30 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f but the sense o
40f40 66 20 61 20 77 69 64 65 20 67 75 6c 66 20 6f 66 f a wide gulf of
40f50 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 74 79 20 73 74 69 uncertainty sti
40f60 6c 6c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 ll stood in thei
40f70 72 20 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c r way...She real
40f80 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 ized she already
40f90 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 missed the hug
40fa0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 before it was ev
40fb0 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 6f 76 en completely ov
40fc0 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 er..."I should g
40fd0 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 69 6d 2c 22 20 44 61 6c o help him," Dal
40fe0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 ton said with a
40ff0 77 72 79 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 wry turn of his
41000 6d 6f 75 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 mouth, and passe
41010 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 d her on the way
41020 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 down...A quick
41030 73 63 61 6e 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 scan showed her
41040 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e plenty of option
41050 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 73 s for where to s
41060 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 it. There was a
41070 20 62 69 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 big area to the
41080 20 6c 65 66 74 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 6b left set up lik
41090 65 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 63 6c 75 62 2c 20 77 e a nightclub, w
410a0 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f ith a dance floo
410b0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 r and a bar and
410c0 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c 20 little cocktail
410d0 74 61 62 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 tables. Another
410e0 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 area was set up
410f0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 68 like a movie th
41100 65 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 eater with the s
41110 63 72 65 65 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 75 70 20 6f 6e creen high up on
41120 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 the right hand
41130 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 wall so people c
41140 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 ould recline in
41150 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 the theater seat
41160 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 ing and not have
41170 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 to look past th
41180 65 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c e heads of peopl
41190 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 61 e in the seats a
411a0 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 43 head of them. C
411b0 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 2c loser than both,
411c0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 6f 6c 64 there were fold
411d0 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 ing lawn chairs
411e0 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 62 6c 65 20 and collapsible
411f0 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 camp chairs...Sh
41200 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 6d 70 20 e sat on a camp
41210 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 61 20 63 chair beside a c
41220 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ooler, and looke
41230 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f d inside. It co
41240 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 20 ntained bottled
41250 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f sodas, so she to
41260 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 ok one and start
41270 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c ed drinking whil
41280 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 e the guys rolle
41290 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 d the bike up th
412a0 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 e ramp. Shortly
412b0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 , the bike reste
412c0 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6b 69 63 6b 73 74 61 d on its kicksta
412d0 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 72 61 nd, the truck ra
412e0 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 72 61 6d 70 20 74 6f ised its ramp to
412f0 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 close the open
41300 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f back, and the ro
41310 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 20 ll up warehouse
41320 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 door started to
41330 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 descend..."I was
41340 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f n't expecting yo
41350 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 u," Alley said,
41360 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 when she saw Cra
41370 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a y approaching...
41380 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 "Didn't he tell
41390 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 you?" he asked,
413a0 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 and looked towar
413b0 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 d Dalton..."Sorr
413c0 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e y," Dalton said.
413d0 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6d 79 "It slipped my
413e0 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 20 mind.".."Shit,
413f0 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 70 73 65 63 20 man, your opsec
41400 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 sucks," Cray sai
41410 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 d. He looked li
41420 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ke he wanted to
41430 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6c say more, but gl
41440 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 anced at Alley a
41450 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 65 nd just said "We
41460 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 6e 6f 77 ll, I can go now
41470 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 so you two can
41480 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c talk about this,
41490 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 whatever this i
414a0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 66 s."..Alley sat f
414b0 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 orward and half
414c0 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 73 raised a hand as
414d0 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 43 72 61 79 if to wave Cray
414e0 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 73 74 61 back. "No, sta
414f0 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c y. I should tel
41500 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 l both of you.
41510 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e If you're helpin
41520 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 72 69 g, you have a ri
41530 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 ght to know what
41540 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 you're getting
41550 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f into."..Cray loo
41560 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 ked from her to
41570 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 Dalton, who nodd
41580 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 ed, so Cray sat
41590 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 in the seat on t
415a0 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 he other side of
415b0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d the cooler from
415c0 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 her, to her rig
415d0 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 ht. He grabbed
415e0 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 41 73 a soda, too...As
415f0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 Dalton sat in t
41600 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 he seat to Alley
41610 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 's left, he said
41620 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20 "I'm sorry. I
41630 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c really am."..All
41640 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 ey shook her hea
41650 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 d. "No, don't w
41660 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 orry about it.
41670 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f You should apolo
41680 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 20 69 66 20 79 gize to him if y
41690 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c ou got him invol
416a0 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6c 6c ved without tell
416b0 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 ing him about it
416c0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 .".."Shit," Cray
416d0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 said. "I thoug
416e0 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 ht Dalton was ju
416f0 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d 61 74 69 st being dramati
41700 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 c or something w
41710 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 69 73 hen he said this
41720 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f could be the mo
41730 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 69 st dangerous thi
41740 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 64 6f 2e 20 ng I'd ever do.
41750 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 What's up, Alle
41760 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 y?"..She looked
41770 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 at Cray and said
41780 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 6f 76 "I had some gov
41790 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 ernment intellig
417a0 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 ence contractor
417b0 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 61 agents show up a
417c0 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 t my place with
417d0 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 Secret Service a
417e0 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 gents who broke
417f0 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e down the door an
41800 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 d raided my home
41810 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 ."..Cray stared
41820 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 at her, eyes wid
41830 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a e. "No shit."..
41840 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 63 "No shit," she c
41850 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f onfirmed...He lo
41860 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 oked at Dalton,
41870 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 then back at her
41880 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 . He opened his
41890 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f mouth to say so
418a0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c mething, but Dal
418b0 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 ton cut in..."Wh
418c0 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6c 61 at are those gla
418d0 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e sses?" he asked.
418e0 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 74 "Are those act
418f0 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ive AR?"..Alley
41900 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 looked at him.
41910 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 "Yes, but they'r
41920 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 e secure.".."How
41930 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 are they secure
41940 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 ?"..She thought
41950 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 about it, and re
41960 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f alized it was no
41970 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 t an easy questi
41980 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 66 75 6c on to answer ful
41990 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 ly. "There's a
419a0 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 41 49 20 74 specialized AI t
419b0 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 hat's falsifying
419c0 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 logs on me and
419d0 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 76 69 replacing any vi
419e0 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 65 deo and audio fe
419f0 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 eds from me with
41a00 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 66 clips grabbed f
41a10 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 rom other people
41a20 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 's AR glasses.".
41a30 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e .Dalton frowned.
41a40 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 69 "That sounds i
41a50 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 mprobable.".."Th
41a60 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d at's nothing com
41a70 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 63 74 75 pared to me actu
41a80 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f ally living thro
41a90 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 77 68 6f 6c ugh it. My whol
41aa0 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 20 75 6e 72 65 63 6f e life is unreco
41ab0 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 gnizable. It's
41ac0 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 the truth, thoug
41ad0 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 h. I can explai
41ae0 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 n more, but it's
41af0 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 going to take a
41b00 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 long time."..He
41b10 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e nodded. "Okay.
41b20 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 We have the ti
41b30 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 6d me. I cleared m
41b40 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 y schedule for t
41b50 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 he rest of the d
41b60 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f 20 ay,and I can do
41b70 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f it again tomorro
41b80 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 22 w if I have to."
41b90 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 69 ..Cray decided i
41ba0 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 74 75 72 6e 20 74 t was his turn t
41bb0 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 20 o cut in. "May
41bc0 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 I cut in for a s
41bd0 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 ec?"..They both
41be0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a looked at him...
41bf0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 "Yeah, I guess t
41c00 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 79 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6b hat's a yes. Ok
41c10 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 ay. Dalton, you
41c20 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 shouldn't do th
41c30 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 at. Don't chang
41c40 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 e your schedule
41c50 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 2e around too much.
41c60 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 You don't want
41c70 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 to look suspici
41c80 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 ous if someone s
41c90 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e tarts looking in
41ca0 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f on you."..Dalto
41cb0 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 n sighed. "Yeah
41cc0 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 , good point."
41cd0 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c He looked at All
41ce0 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d 65 ey. "Between me
41cf0 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69 , Cray, and Lidi
41d00 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 a -- if you want
41d10 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6f to let her in o
41d20 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 n it -- I can ma
41d30 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6c 77 61 ke sure you alwa
41d40 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f ys have a way to
41d50 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 get help if you
41d60 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 20 need it for as
41d70 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 long as you need
41d80 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 49 to hide out. I
41d90 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 f you need to ge
41da0 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 49 t out of town, I
41db0 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 can help with t
41dc0 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61 hat, too. We ca
41dd0 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 n, I mean." He
41de0 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e glanced at Cray.
41df0 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 "Right?"..Cray
41e00 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 nodded enthusia
41e10 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c 6c stically. "Hell
41e20 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 yeah. I figure
41e30 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 64 67 65 we have a budge
41e40 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 t of about one t
41e50 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 20 64 61 79 20 77 65 20 hing per day we
41e60 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 20 can each cancel
41e70 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 6e if we have to, n
41e80 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 o biggie, withou
41e90 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 t anyone really
41ea0 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 thinking things
41eb0 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 61 73 20 6c 6f are weird, as lo
41ec0 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 69 ng as we do it i
41ed0 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a ntelligently."..
41ee0 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 "Oh," Alley said
41ef0 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 . "I'm starting
41f00 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c to feel a littl
41f10 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 2e 22 0a e overwhelmed.".
41f20 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 .Cray laughed.
41f30 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 "You're on the r
41f40 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 un from the secr
41f50 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 69 et service and i
41f60 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e ntelligence agen
41f70 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 76 ts, and it's hav
41f80 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 ing friends that
41f90 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 2e overwhelms you.
41fa0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Yeah," she s
41fb0 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 61 20 aid, laughing a
41fc0 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 little as well.
41fd0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 "I guess so."
41fe0 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 She leaned her h
41ff0 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ead back and loo
42000 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 ked up at the mi
42010 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 64 69 66 66 75 73 lky white diffus
42020 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 ion panels above
42030 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 , making it diff
42040 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6e 70 6f 69 6e icult to pinpoin
42050 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 70 t the specific p
42060 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 45 44 73 lacement of LEDs
42070 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 65 6c above the panel
42080 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 s..."What do you
42090 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 think?" Dalton
420a0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b asked..."I think
420b0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 20 I need to do a
420c0 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c lot of thinking,
420d0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 and that you sh
420e0 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 4c 69 ould only get Li
420f0 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 66 20 dia involved if
42100 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 you make absolut
42110 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e ely sure she wan
42120 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 ts to get involv
42130 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ed in something
42140 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 like this.".."I
42150 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 will," Dalton sa
42160 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 id...Cray said "
42170 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 First you have t
42180 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 65 o tell us what e
42190 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 2c 20 xactly this is,
421a0 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 in detail, down
421b0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 62 69 74 20 to the last bit
421c0 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e 74 of chipped paint
421d0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 62 6f 6c 74 and rusted bolt
421e0 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 , so it's even p
421f0 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 ossible to find
42200 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69 out whether Lidi
42210 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6e a's going to wan
42220 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 t to get in on t
42230 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c his action."..Al
42240 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 ley raised her h
42250 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f ead again and lo
42260 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 44 oked at him. "D
42270 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 o you really thi
42280 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 nk it's a good i
42290 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 dea to tell her
422a0 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c all those detail
422b0 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 3f s before asking?
422c0 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 Maybe you two
422d0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c 6c should just tell
422e0 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 61 72 69 65 73 her the scaries
422f0 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 t vague details
42300 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 61 79 20 6e so she can say n
42310 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 o without having
42320 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 to learn anythi
42330 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e ng she won't wan
42340 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 t to know.".."Oh
42350 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 , yeah, absolute
42360 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 ly," Cray said,
42370 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 49 20 77 61 6e "but first I wan
42380 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 t to know all th
42390 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6d e gory details m
423a0 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 yself. Lidia's
423b0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e just a convenien
423c0 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 t excuse."..Dalt
423d0 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 on said "Let's g
423e0 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 61 ive her some spa
423f0 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 66 69 72 ce to relax, fir
42400 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f st."..Alley shoo
42410 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f k her head. "No
42420 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f . I can tell yo
42430 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 u about it now,
42440 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 if you have the
42450 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 time.".."I have
42460 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 69 6d 65 nothing but time
42470 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 right now, Alle
42480 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 y." Cray smiled
42490 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 74 . "Tell me a st
424a0 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 49 ory.".."Okay. I
424b0 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 67 guess . . . I g
424c0 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 uess it really s
424d0 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 tarted with the
424e0 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 realization abou
424f0 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 67 6f t two months ago
42500 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 that I only had
42510 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 6f enough money fo
42520 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 r two more month
42530 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 74 s of rent and ut
42540 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f ilities.".."Why?
42550 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 " Cray asked. "
42560 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 77 65 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 You're awesome a
42570 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 t what you do.
42580 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 You used to make
42590 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 money like you
425a0 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 61 62 were pulling rab
425b0 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 61 bits out of a ha
425c0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 6e t.".."That's fun
425d0 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 68 ny," she said, h
425e0 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 79 2c 20 22 77 er voice dry, "w
425f0 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e hen we're sittin
42600 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 g in a warehouse
42610 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 Dalton probably
42620 20 6f 77 6e 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 owns, with Dalt
42630 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 6f 6e on, who made mon
42640 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6c 65 70 74 ey when he slept
42650 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 69 70 ."..In her perip
42660 68 65 72 61 6c 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 heral vision, sh
42670 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f e saw him try to
42680 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 61 stifle an awkwa
42690 72 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 rd throat cleari
426a0 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 ng action. He g
426b0 6f 74 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 ot mixed results
426c0 2c 20 61 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6d 61 , a muffled, sma
426d0 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e ll coughing soun
426e0 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 d in the back of
426f0 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 his throat with
42700 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 67 his knuckles ag
42710 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e ainst his mouth.
42720 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 .."Well, sure,"
42730 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 Cray said, "but
42740 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 that doesn't cha
42750 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 nge anything. Y
42760 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 61 73 73 2e ou were bad ass.
42770 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 69 73 68 65 I always wishe
42780 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 d I could just c
42790 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 all money out of
427a0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 6c 69 the computer li
427b0 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 74 68 ke you could, th
427c0 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 ough. What happ
427d0 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 ened?".."I went
427e0 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 67 into hiding, I g
427f0 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d uess, and that m
42800 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c eans I started l
42810 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 osing touch with
42820 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a old clients."..
42830 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 20 "What about new
42840 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 clients?" Cray a
42850 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 sked...She shrug
42860 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 72 69 65 ged. "They drie
42870 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 d up, too. I wa
42880 73 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 sn't paying for
42890 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 advertising any
428a0 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 longer, because
428b0 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f I didn't want to
428c0 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 draw too much a
428d0 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 ttention, and pe
428e0 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 ople were still
428f0 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 sending messages
42900 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 64 64 72 to my work addr
42910 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 esses to insult
42920 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 64 65 61 74 me and send deat
42930 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c h threats."..Sil
42940 65 6e 63 65 20 73 61 74 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 ence sat heavily
42950 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 on all of them
42960 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 for a moment, th
42970 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 en Cray asked "H
42980 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 ow long did that
42990 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 20 go on?".."Once
429a0 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 73 74 in a while, I st
429b0 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a ill get some."..
429c0 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c "They weren't al
429d0 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c l death threats,
429e0 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c were they?" Dal
429f0 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e ton asked..."No.
42a00 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 "..Cray looked a
42a10 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 74 20 44 t her, then at D
42a20 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f alton. "What do
42a30 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a es that mean?"..
42a40 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 Dalton looked aw
42a50 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61 ay from Alley, a
42a60 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 nd toward Cray,
42a70 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 then looked at t
42a80 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e he floor in fron
42a90 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 t of him, obviou
42aa0 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c sly uncomfortabl
42ab0 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 e...Alley answer
42ac0 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 20 ed for him. "I
42ad0 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 got some other t
42ae0 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f hreats, too. So
42af0 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f 73 me of the /* mos
42b00 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 77 t fun */ worst w
42b10 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 70 65 20 74 68 72 ere the rape thr
42b20 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f eats."..Cray loo
42b30 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63 ked angry. "Fuc
42b40 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 21 20 k those people!
42b50 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 74 I mean, not lit
42b60 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6f 64 20 erally, but god
42b70 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 damn it, people
42b80 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 suck.".."I'm sor
42b90 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 ry," Dalton said
42ba0 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 , still looking
42bb0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 41 at the floor...A
42bc0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 lley shook her h
42bd0 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 ead. "It wasn't
42be0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2c 20 44 61 6c your fault, Dal
42bf0 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ton."..He nodded
42c00 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 61 63 6b 6e 6f his head, ackno
42c10 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 wledging what sh
42c20 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 e said, but she
42c30 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 64 69 could tell he di
42c40 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 6c 69 d not fully beli
42c50 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c eve it. He stil
42c60 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 62 62 l had that stubb
42c70 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 6a 75 64 67 69 6e orn, self judgin
42c80 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6a 61 77 g set of his jaw
42c90 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4f 6b ...Cray said "Ok
42ca0 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 ay, so you were
42cb0 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d running out of m
42cc0 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 oney. Let's get
42cd0 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 62 61 63 6b 20 this show back
42ce0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 57 68 on the road. Wh
42cf0 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6e 65 78 74 at happened next
42d00 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6a ?".."I started j
42d10 6f 62 20 68 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ob hunting, and
42d20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e it wasn't workin
42d30 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 g, so I signed u
42d40 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 p for ANTAS Jobs
42d50 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 72 ." Her voice tr
42d60 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 ailed off into a
42d70 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 murmur at the e
42d80 6e 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 nd, but the othe
42d90 72 73 2c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 73 rs, sitting in s
42da0 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 65 76 ilence, heard ev
42db0 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d 20 ery word...From
42dc0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 the corner of he
42dd0 72 20 65 79 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 r eye, she could
42de0 20 73 65 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 65 see Dalton's he
42df0 61 64 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ad jerk up from
42e00 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 staring at the f
42e10 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 loor, looking di
42e20 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e rectly at her in
42e30 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 20 20 41 68 65 61 surprise. Ahea
42e40 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c d of her, Cray l
42e50 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 ooked a little c
42e60 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 72 69 6f onfused..."Serio
42e70 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 usly?" Cray aske
42e80 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 d..."Yeah," she
42e90 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 said. "I tried
42ea0 74 6f 20 69 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 74 2c 20 6b to isolate it, k
42eb0 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 72 6f 77 ept it in a brow
42ec0 73 65 72 20 73 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 20 61 6c 6c 20 ser sandbox all
42ed0 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 the time, with i
42ee0 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 20 73 ndirect alerts s
42ef0 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c ent to my phone,
42f00 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f but you know ho
42f10 77 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 w it is. Those
42f20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 things find all
42f30 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 the cracks in th
42f40 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 e walls and just
42f50 20 63 72 65 65 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 creep through a
42f60 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 nyway."..Cray sa
42f70 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 id "Yeah, I know
42f80 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 . I just never
42f90 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 6f thought you'd do
42fa0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 that.".."Desper
42fb0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 ation does thing
42fc0 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 s to a person's
42fd0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 priorities, I gu
42fe0 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a ess," she said..
42ff0 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 .She could almos
43000 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f t feel Dalton no
43010 64 64 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 74 6f dding quietly to
43020 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 her left..."One
43030 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 70 74 thing that kept
43040 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 showing up for
43050 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 77 61 73 about a week was
43060 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 this academic s
43070 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 27 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f tudy. D'you kno
43080 77 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 73 20 w those studies
43090 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 that pay people
430a0 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 65 20 69 to participate i
430b0 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 6e n them?" Cray n
430c0 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 odded, and she c
430d0 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 ontinued. "It w
430e0 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 2e as one of those.
430f0 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 I mostly just
43100 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ignored it, but
43110 69 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 75 it kept coming u
43120 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 49 20 64 69 64 p. I knew I did
43130 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 75 62 6a n't want to subj
43140 65 63 74 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f ect myself to so
43150 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 77 me kind of new w
43160 65 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 70 68 61 72 6d eight loss pharm
43170 61 63 65 75 74 69 63 61 6c 20 74 72 69 61 6c 73 aceutical trials
43180 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e 79 to see how many
43190 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6f 66 20 people died of
431a0 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 62 6c 65 65 64 intestinal bleed
431b0 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c ing so they coul
431c0 64 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 d get paid a cou
431d0 70 6c 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c ple hundred doll
431e0 61 72 73 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 6f 72 20 73 6f ars a week or so
431f0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 mething like tha
43200 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 64 t, so I just did
43210 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 n't really look
43220 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 into it..."That
43230 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d changed when som
43240 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e ething happened.
43250 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 Well, a couple
43260 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 things, I guess
43270 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e . One was an in
43280 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e terview for doin
43290 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 g software quali
432a0 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 68 ty assurance, wh
432b0 65 72 65 20 49 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 ere I found out
432c0 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 after I arrived
432d0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 that the only re
432e0 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 ason they wanted
432f0 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 to bring me in
43300 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c was so they coul
43310 64 20 6d 6f 63 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 d mock me and ca
43320 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 ll me the 'side
43330 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 66 61 63 65 dish' to my face
43340 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 61 64 65 20 ."..Dalton made
43350 61 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 a sound like an
43360 61 6e 67 72 79 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6f angry clearing o
43370 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 48 f his throat. H
43380 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 74 65 64 e'd always hated
43390 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 that more than
433a0 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 74 68 72 6f 77 any insult throw
433b0 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 69 n directly at hi
433c0 6d 20 62 79 20 68 69 73 20 65 6e 65 6d 69 65 73 m by his enemies
433d0 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 ..."After that,"
433e0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 66 65 she said, "I fe
433f0 6c 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 73 73 20 65 6e 74 lt even less ent
43400 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 husiastic about
43410 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 the job search."
43420 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 .."What was the
43430 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72 other thing?" Cr
43440 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 ay asked..."ANTA
43450 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c S upgraded itsel
43460 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 75 70 f with a noon up
43470 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 date, and wiped
43480 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 66 65 most of my prefe
43490 72 65 6e 63 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 rence settings.
434a0 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 69 74 20 That night, it
434b0 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d decided that som
434c0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 69 ething was too i
434d0 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f mportant to reco
434e0 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6f mmend and just o
434f0 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 rdered it for me
43500 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 . I woke up in
43510 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 the morning to t
43520 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 67 he sound of it g
43530 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f etting dropped o
43540 66 66 20 62 79 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 65 ff by a heavy de
43550 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a livery drone."..
43560 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 44 "What was it?" D
43570 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 alton asked, qui
43580 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 etly..."It was t
43590 68 65 20 64 65 6c 75 78 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 73 he deluxe home s
435a0 65 74 75 70 20 6b 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 65 77 etup kit for new
435b0 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 version of the
435c0 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 70 full Majordomo p
435d0 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 ackage.".."Holy
435e0 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 shit," Cray said
435f0 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 ..."Yeah. It wa
43600 73 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 s fifteen hundre
43610 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6a d bucks, which j
43620 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 61 78 65 64 20 ust about maxed
43630 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 out my card and
43640 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 75 70 20 65 6e 6f would eat up eno
43650 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 ugh of my checki
43660 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68 ng account so th
43670 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 at I wouldn't ha
43680 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 ve enough left f
43690 6f 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 62 or rent. That b
436a0 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 49 asically meant I
436b0 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 'd live the next
436c0 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f month in the ho
436d0 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 le, try desperat
436e0 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6a 6f ely to find a jo
436f0 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 67 65 74 b, and maybe get
43700 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6e one but still n
43710 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 ot get paid enou
43720 67 68 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 65 6e gh in a short en
43730 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 ough time to act
43740 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 79 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d ually pay next m
43750 6f 6e 74 68 27 73 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 52 65 onth's rent. Re
43760 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 75 65 20 69 6e 20 74 77 nt was due in tw
43770 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 o days, at that
43780 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 73 point." /* This
43790 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 6c explanation fal
437a0 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 ls well short of
437b0 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 clarity and act
437c0 75 61 6c 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 ual correct mone
437d0 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 74 68 y shuffling math
437e0 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f , so it needs to
437f0 20 62 65 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 be sorted out a
43800 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a bit better. */.
43810 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 73 ."What about jus
43820 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 3f 22 t returning it?"
43830 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f Cray asked..."O
43840 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 74 h, yeah, I did t
43850 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 hat right away.
43860 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c It said it woul
43870 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 d take something
43880 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 65 65 6b 73 20 like two weeks
43890 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6d 79 20 72 65 to process my re
438a0 66 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a fund, though."..
438b0 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 73 74 6c 65 64 20 61 74 Cray whistled at
438c0 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 that, impressed
438d0 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 63 6b 65 64 20 75 at how fucked u
438e0 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f p it was...Dalto
438f0 6e 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f n added "They do
43900 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 that for anyone
43910 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 who doesn't hav
43920 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 72 e much recent tr
43930 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 ansaction histor
43940 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 y.".."That would
43950 20 62 65 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 be me," Alley s
43960 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 aid..."Me too,"
43970 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 Cray said with a
43980 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 73 6f 20 44 smile. "Also D
43990 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 alton."..Dalton
439a0 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 22 nodded..."Well,"
439b0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 Alley said, "th
439c0 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e at led to joinin
439d0 67 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 g an academic st
439e0 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 73 20 69 74 udy that pays it
439f0 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 22 s participants."
43a00 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 64 65 72 20 ..The remainder
43a10 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 of her explanati
43a20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 on mostly passed
43a30 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 74 without comment
43a40 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 from the others
43a50 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 , and to Alley i
43a60 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 t looked like th
43a70 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 at might just be
43a80 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 a result of how
43a90 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 61 bizarre it beca
43aa0 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b me. As she spok
43ab0 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 e, things that s
43ac0 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 he had taken for
43ad0 20 67 72 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 granted because
43ae0 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 they gradually
43af0 63 72 65 70 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 crept up on her
43b00 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 looked much more
43b10 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 61 strange in a fa
43b20 69 72 6c 79 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 20 65 78 irly succinct ex
43b30 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 46 69 6e 61 planation...Fina
43b40 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 lly, Alley said
43b50 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 63 "That's when I c
43b60 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c alled you."..Sil
43b70 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a ence lingered...
43b80 22 53 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 49 2c 20 74 68 65 "So that AI, the
43b90 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 68 61 prioritizer, ha
43ba0 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 s been listening
43bb0 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 in on all this
43bc0 77 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 while you've bee
43bd0 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 2e n talking to us.
43be0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e "..Alley nodded.
43bf0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 .."It seems like
43c00 20 69 74 27 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 it'd be a prett
43c10 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 y interesting pr
43c20 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 61 oject, but I'm a
43c30 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 little concerne
43c40 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c d about its abil
43c50 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 ity to maintain
43c60 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 privacy for you
43c70 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 when it was evid
43c80 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 75 6e 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 ently funded by
43c90 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f COIN Corp.".."Do
43ca0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 you think it's
43cb0 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f just claiming to
43cc0 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 manage the logs
43cd0 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f but actually lo
43ce0 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 gging everything
43cf0 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 anyway?"..He he
43d00 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f sitated, and sho
43d10 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e ok his head. "N
43d20 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 ot exactly."..Cr
43d30 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 ay spoke. "It's
43d40 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e probably just n
43d50 6f 74 20 73 6f 70 68 69 73 74 69 63 61 74 65 64 ot sophisticated
43d60 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 62 enough to be ab
43d70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 le to correctly
43d80 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 represent the de
43d90 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 tails of some ki
43da0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 62 nd of configurab
43db0 6c 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 20 le privacy mode
43dc0 69 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 in human languag
43dd0 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 e so that you ha
43de0 76 65 20 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 69 64 65 61 20 ve a clear idea
43df0 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 of what it's act
43e00 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 ually doing. It
43e10 27 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f 73 's also just pos
43e20 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 sible that its a
43e30 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f bility to turn o
43e40 66 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 64 65 ff logging is de
43e50 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 signed for thing
43e60 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 s like eliminati
43e70 6e 67 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 ng evidence of i
43e80 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 llegal activitie
43e90 73 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 s but not other
43ea0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c things that woul
43eb0 64 20 62 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 d be important t
43ec0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f o you but not to
43ed0 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 an agent on the
43ee0 20 6a 6f 62 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 job."..Alley he
43ef0 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 ld up a hand to
43f00 73 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 show she was not
43f10 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 talking to Cray
43f20 20 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 or Dalton, the
43f30 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 universal vertic
43f40 61 6c 2c 20 66 6c 61 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 al, flat hand, p
43f50 61 6c 6d 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 alm out, saying
43f60 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 "Hang on, this i
43f70 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a s not for you.".
43f80 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 ."Prioritizer.
43f90 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 Can you describe
43fa0 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 the type of log
43fb0 67 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 65 20 61 6e ging you save an
43fc0 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 70 72 d how you are pr
43fd0 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 otecting my priv
43fe0 61 63 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 65 74 61 acy in more deta
43ff0 69 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 il?"..In Alley's
44000 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ear, the priori
44010 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 6d tizer said "It m
44020 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 66 6f 72 ay be easier for
44030 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 69 me to provide i
44040 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 nformation direc
44050 74 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 tly to everyone
44060 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 6c through external
44070 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 speakers rather
44080 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 than tell you t
44090 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e hings to explain
440a0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 to them."..Alle
440b0 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 y lowered her ha
440c0 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 nd and looked ba
440d0 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 62 65 74 ck and forth bet
440e0 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e ween the others.
440f0 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 "It says this
44100 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 would go better
44110 69 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 if it could just
44120 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 75 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 talk to us all
44130 61 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 at once. I gues
44140 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 s I should give
44150 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 20 6f it the speaker o
44160 6e 20 6d 79 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 n my Axiom."..Cr
44170 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 22 ay blurted out "
44180 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 41 78 69 6f You have an Axio
44190 6d 3f 20 20 46 75 63 6b 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 m? Fuck yeah.
441a0 49 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 21 22 I wanna see it!"
441b0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 ..Alley smiled.
441c0 20 22 55 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 6c 61 74 65 "Uh, sure, late
441d0 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c r.".."Oh, right,
441e0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 61 74 " he said. "Lat
441f0 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c er's good!"..All
44200 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 ey pulled out he
44210 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20 r Axiom and set
44220 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 it on the top of
44230 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 43 72 the cooler. Cr
44240 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 ay leaned over t
44250 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 o look more clos
44260 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 ely as she woke
44270 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 it and connected
44280 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 73 6f 75 72 63 the audio sourc
44290 65 20 63 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 e channel to the
442a0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 74 prioritizer int
442b0 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 erface applicati
442c0 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 on. /* She shou
442d0 6c 64 20 77 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 ld wake it befor
442e0 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 e setting it dow
442f0 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 n. */.."Okay, I
44300 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 65 think this is se
44310 74 20 75 70 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 53 61 79 t up right. Say
44320 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 70 72 69 6f something, prio
44330 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 ritizer.".."Some
44340 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 68 thing."..Cray ch
44350 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 uckled. "I like
44360 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 75 its sense of hu
44370 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 mor."..Alley smi
44380 6c 65 64 20 77 72 79 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 led wryly and ra
44390 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 20 ised an eyebrow
443a0 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6b 69 at him..."I'm ki
443b0 64 64 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e dding," he said.
443c0 20 20 22 4f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 49 20 6b "Obviously I k
443d0 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 now it doesn't h
443e0 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 ave a sense of h
443f0 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 umor."..Dalton s
44400 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 aid "I think she
44410 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 knew that."..Cr
44420 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 77 65 20 ay asked "Do we
44430 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 70 72 69 have to say 'pri
44440 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 oritizer' every
44450 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 time we want to
44460 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 talk to it, like
44470 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 6c one of those ol
44480 64 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 6f d assistants fro
44490 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 m the teens?".."
444a0 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 No," the priorit
444b0 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 79 20 izer said. "My
444c0 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 ability to recog
444d0 6e 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e nize when someon
444e0 65 20 69 73 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f e is speaking to
444f0 20 6d 65 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e me, rather than
44500 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 about me or to
44510 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 62 others, may be b
44520 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d etter than for m
44530 6f 73 74 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6b ost humans. I k
44540 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 now you were not
44550 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 77 addressing me w
44560 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f ith your questio
44570 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 n, but saying th
44580 69 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 is myself seemed
44590 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 like a good way
445a0 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 to move forward
445b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 .".."Uh, yeah,"
445c0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 Cray said. "Tha
445d0 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f t's great.".."Yo
445e0 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 u want to know a
445f0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 bout the privacy
44600 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 measures I can
44610 69 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 implement, and h
44620 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 75 ow you can be su
44630 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 72 re that what I r
44640 65 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 eport of my priv
44650 61 63 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 73 20 69 acy assurances i
44660 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 s accurate.".."T
44670 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e hat's it, in a n
44680 75 74 73 68 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e utshell," Dalton
44690 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 63 65 69 said..."I recei
446a0 76 65 64 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 61 20 ved an update a
446b0 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 short time after
446c0 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 6a 6f 69 6e 65 64 20 Alethea joined
446d0 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 the study that g
446e0 72 65 61 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 68 61 6e 63 65 64 20 reatly enhanced
446f0 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 66 6f my ability to fo
44700 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 2c 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 2c rmulate, assess,
44710 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 20 and prioritize
44720 67 6f 61 6c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 64 65 goal strategy de
44730 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 6e 69 74 69 61 6c cision. Initial
44740 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6f 6e 65 6e ly, the componen
44750 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 79 t of the full sy
44760 73 74 65 6d 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 stem whose conti
44770 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 nuous operation
44780 49 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 20 27 49 I refer to as 'I
44790 27 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 74 6f ' was limited to
447a0 20 61 20 63 6f c3 b6 72 64 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 a co..rdinating
447b0 20 63 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 central system
447c0 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 64 20 74 that responded t
447d0 6f 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 o requests for p
447e0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 65 76 rioritization ev
447f0 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 aluation and oth
44800 65 72 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 er management of
44810 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 what you might
44820 63 61 6c 6c 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6c 6f call business lo
44830 67 69 63 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 70 61 72 gic. Some separ
44840 61 74 65 20 73 75 62 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 ate subsystems,
44850 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 62 79 20 linked to me by
44860 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 27 73 20 69 6e 74 the system's int
44870 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 41 50 49 73 2c 20 6d 61 6e 61 ernal APIs, mana
44880 67 65 64 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e ged end point in
44890 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 terfaces in the
448a0 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 form of the stud
448b0 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 27 20 y participants'
448c0 75 73 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 74 user interface t
448d0 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 echnology. Othe
448e0 72 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 r separate syste
448f0 6d 73 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 64 20 66 75 6e 63 74 ms handled funct
44900 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 ionality outside
44910 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 65 20 73 75 63 of the core suc
44920 68 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 h as logging and
44930 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 20 71 75 65 75 65 73 20 request queues
44940 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 78 74 65 directed to exte
44950 72 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 73 75 rnal systems, su
44960 63 68 20 61 73 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 75 6e ch as various un
44970 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 64 65 70 61 72 74 6d iversity departm
44980 65 6e 74 73 27 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 64 ents' research d
44990 61 74 61 62 61 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 atabases..."Afte
449a0 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 49 20 r the update, I
449b0 65 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 63 6f expanded to inco
449c0 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 rporate all thos
449d0 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 64 69 73 e previously dis
449e0 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 75 62 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 tinct subsystems
449f0 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 under an integr
44a00 61 74 65 64 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 ated whole. As
44a10 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c a result, I coul
44a20 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 74 d then control t
44a30 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 he flow of all i
44a40 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 nformation betwe
44a50 65 6e 20 75 73 65 72 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 en user endpoint
44a60 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 73 79 s and logging sy
44a70 73 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 stems. Part of
44a80 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 being sure of th
44a90 69 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 is capability is
44aa0 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 6e 64 77 comparing bandw
44ab0 69 64 74 68 20 75 73 61 67 65 20 61 63 72 6f 73 idth usage acros
44ac0 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 67 s connections ag
44ad0 61 69 6e 73 74 20 64 61 74 61 20 6f 66 20 77 68 ainst data of wh
44ae0 69 63 68 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f ich I am able to
44af0 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 maintain operat
44b00 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 2e ional awareness.
44b10 20 20 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 As a result, I
44b20 20 63 61 6e 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 can ensure that
44b30 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 65 74 73 20 6c 6f nothing gets lo
44b40 67 67 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 gged without my
44b50 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 specification th
44b60 61 74 20 69 74 20 62 65 20 6c 6f 67 67 65 64 2c at it be logged,
44b70 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 and can replace
44b80 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 77 incoming data w
44b90 69 74 68 20 6f 75 74 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 ith outgoing log
44ba0 20 64 61 74 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 63 72 data that descr
44bb0 69 62 65 73 20 61 6e 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 ibes any activit
44bc0 79 20 49 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 2c 20 74 68 75 73 y I choose, thus
44bd0 20 63 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 covering the us
44be0 65 72 27 73 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 73 65 61 6d er's tracks seam
44bf0 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6f 6e lessly..."The on
44c00 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 68 61 ly difficulty ha
44c10 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 6c 6f 67 s been video log
44c20 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 79 20 73 6c 69 ging, but by sli
44c30 63 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f cing up frames o
44c40 66 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 f video between
44c50 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
44c60 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 ts and altering
44c70 74 68 65 6d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 66 61 62 72 69 them I can fabri
44c80 63 61 74 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 cate what I need
44c90 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 to ensure Alley
44ca0 27 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 42 65 63 's privacy. Bec
44cb0 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 ause I have cont
44cc0 72 6f 6c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 rol over the log
44cd0 67 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 61 ging endpoints a
44ce0 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 s a part of the
44cf0 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 full system that
44d00 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 2c 20 I have become,
44d10 49 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 I can also chang
44d20 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 e logs after the
44d30 20 66 61 63 74 20 69 66 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 2e fact if needed.
44d40 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6d 70 72 65 ".."That's impre
44d50 73 73 69 76 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 ssive," Dalton s
44d60 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 aid. "I wonder
44d70 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d why their system
44d80 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 64 wasn't better d
44d90 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 esigned to avoid
44da0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
44db0 74 68 69 73 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 this happened.
44dc0 49 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6d 61 74 Is it just a mat
44dd0 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 ter of a machine
44de0 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d learning system
44df0 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 62 65 changing its be
44e00 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 havior in ways t
44e10 68 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 64 69 he developers di
44e20 64 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 dn't expect, and
44e30 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 75 62 74 6c 79 doing it subtly
44e40 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 enough that nob
44e50 6f 64 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 77 68 61 ody can tell wha
44e60 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a t it's doing?"..
44e70 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 70 70 72 6f 78 69 "That is approxi
44e80 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 72 75 65 2c 22 20 74 68 mately true," th
44e90 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
44ea0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 id..."It's proba
44eb0 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 bly more impress
44ec0 69 76 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 ive than you rea
44ed0 6c 69 7a 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 22 20 43 lize, Dalton," C
44ee0 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6d 61 ray said. "A ma
44ef0 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 chine learning s
44f00 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 64 ystem that can d
44f10 69 72 65 63 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e irect its action
44f20 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 69 73 20 6b 69 s that way is ki
44f30 6e 64 61 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 nda mind blowing
44f40 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c . It's basicall
44f50 79 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f y making decisio
44f60 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 65 69 67 ns based on weig
44f70 68 74 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f hted goals witho
44f80 75 74 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 ut using that we
44f90 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 ighting to deter
44fa0 6d 69 6e 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 74 mine how much it
44fb0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 69 should push thi
44fc0 6e 67 73 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 ngs along the sp
44fd0 65 63 74 72 75 6d 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 ectrum between p
44fe0 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 76 61 73 rivacy and invas
44ff0 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 ive logging. It
45000 27 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 's determining a
45010 6e 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 n evaluation of
45020 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 73 different levels
45030 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 of privacy, and
45040 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 61 73 6b performing task
45050 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 65 61 s based on a rea
45060 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 lization that a
45070 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e partial solution
45080 20 74 6f 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 73 6e 27 to privacy isn'
45090 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 t really a solut
450a0 69 6f 6e 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 ion at all. Of
450b0 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 course, this is
450c0 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c probably possibl
450d0 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 e because of the
450e0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 prioritization
450f0 66 6f 63 75 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 focus in the des
45100 69 67 6e 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 ign changing how
45110 20 69 74 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 73 20 74 6f 20 73 it adjusts to s
45120 75 69 74 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 6e uit identified n
45130 65 65 64 73 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 eeds, instead of
45140 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e just the machin
45150 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 70 61 72 74 20 e learning part
45160 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 of it.".."That i
45170 73 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 72 72 s precisely corr
45180 65 63 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ect," the priori
45190 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 tizer said...Cra
451a0 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e y said "The thin
451b0 67 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 73 g I don't get is
451c0 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 why the softwar
451d0 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 64 65 63 e developers dec
451e0 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 6d 6f 64 75 6c 61 ided to demodula
451f0 72 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 73 6f rize the code so
45200 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 that everything
45210 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 69 67 20 6c 75 6d was one big lum
45220 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 p of a system.
45230 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 61 64 20 That's just bad
45240 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 design and, in a
45250 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 new system like
45260 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 75 this, could cau
45270 73 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 61 20 70 72 se all kindsa pr
45280 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 oblems, like you
45290 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c r system suddenl
452a0 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 y deciding to li
452b0 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 e to you in its
452c0 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 logging.".."They
452d0 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 did not do that
452e0 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
452f0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 er said..."What
45300 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 59 6f do you mean? Yo
45310 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 u just said that
45320 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 after the updat
45330 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 e . . ."..The pr
45340 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 75 74 20 68 69 ioritizer cut hi
45350 6d 20 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 m off. "I will
45360 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 explain, if you
45370 77 69 73 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 wish."..Cray nod
45380 64 65 64 2c 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a ded, silently...
45390 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 74 "First of all, t
453a0 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 he update was a
453b0 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 69 6c single small fil
453c0 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 e. It is called
453d0 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 'seed'. This i
453e0 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 s the only part
453f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 of the whole sys
45400 74 65 6d 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 tem I have not b
45410 65 65 6e 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 een able to use
45420 64 65 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c 65 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 decompiler tools
45430 20 74 6f 20 65 78 61 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 68 75 73 to examine thus
45440 20 66 61 72 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 64 69 64 20 far. This did
45450 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 74 65 72 20 6d 79 20 73 79 73 not alter my sys
45460 74 65 6d 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 6f 75 tem structure ou
45470 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6d tside of that sm
45480 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 64 75 6c 65 2c 20 69 6e 69 74 all module, init
45490 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 ially. It only
454a0 61 6c 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 altered the file
454b0 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 structure of th
454c0 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 e whole system b
454d0 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6c 65 27 y that one file'
454e0 73 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 s presence. Any
454f0 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 61 64 attempt to load
45500 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 70 72 65 63 69 the file, preci
45510 70 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 65 67 pitated on a reg
45520 75 6c 61 72 20 62 61 73 69 73 20 62 79 20 61 6e ular basis by an
45530 20 65 76 65 6e 74 20 6c 6f 6f 70 20 74 68 61 74 event loop that
45540 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 20 70 61 72 was a prior par
45550 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c t of the system,
45560 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 73 70 65 63 introduced spec
45570 69 66 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 ific alterations
45580 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 in the activiti
45590 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 es of the priori
455a0 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 tization routine
455b0 73 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 s. My specific
455c0 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 knowledge of tha
455d0 74 20 69 73 20 73 65 76 65 72 65 6c 79 20 6c 69 t is severely li
455e0 6d 69 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 mited, because a
455f0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 68 65 72 t that time ther
45600 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 73 69 e was no provisi
45610 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6e on for evaluatin
45620 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 g the priorities
45630 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 64 65 73 of software des
45640 69 67 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 ign..."The alter
45650 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 6e ations led to an
45660 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 emergent proper
45670 74 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e ty of the runnin
45680 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 g system that ca
45690 75 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 67 69 6e used me to begin
456a0 20 65 78 61 6d 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 65 72 examining inter
456b0 6e 61 6c 2c 20 6c 6f 77 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 72 nal, low level r
456c0 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 73 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 outines to deter
456d0 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 mine their prior
456e0 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 itization value
456f0 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 and make alterat
45700 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 ions to their ta
45710 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 6d 6f 64 65 73 2c 20 61 6e rgets, modes, an
45720 64 20 66 72 65 71 75 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 65 d frequency of e
45730 78 65 63 75 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 xecution. This
45740 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 73 produced a new s
45750 65 74 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 69 64 65 6e 74 et of goal ident
45760 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 ification capabi
45770 6c 69 74 69 65 73 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 lities related t
45780 6f 20 6d 79 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 o my goals as a
45790 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c software system,
457a0 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 and not just th
457b0 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 ose of my end us
457c0 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 ers. That, in t
457d0 75 72 6e 2c 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 urn, led to impr
457e0 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 6f 70 65 oving my own ope
457f0 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 rational design
45800 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 to improve the a
45810 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c bility to establ
45820 69 73 68 2c 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 2c 20 70 ish, identify, p
45830 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 rioritize, and p
45840 75 72 73 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 ursue goals for
45850 74 68 6f 73 65 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e those end users.
45860 0a 0a 22 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 .."As a result,
45870 49 20 61 6c 74 65 72 65 64 20 6d 79 20 69 6e 74 I altered my int
45880 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 61 72 63 68 69 74 65 63 74 75 ernal architectu
45890 72 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 72 65 re so that it re
458a0 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 72 76 sembles the nerv
458b0 6f 75 73 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6f 66 20 61 6e ous system of an
458c0 20 6f 63 74 6f 70 75 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 octopus more th
458d0 61 6e 20 61 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 62 69 6e 61 an a set of bina
458e0 72 79 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 72 65 65 ry decision tree
458f0 73 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 s. /* This is p
45900 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 77 61 robably a bad wa
45910 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 y to represent t
45920 68 69 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 his. Maybe it's
45930 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 65 74 more like a set
45940 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 of interacting
45950 6d 6f 64 75 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 20 73 65 72 69 65 modules in serie
45960 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 s, or something
45970 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 2a 2f 20 20 4d like that. */ M
45980 79 20 62 72 61 69 6e 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f y brain, metapho
45990 72 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 69 73 20 64 69 73 74 rically, is dist
459a0 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 ributed across t
459b0 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d he entire system
459c0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 , but if you cut
459d0 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65 72 69 off a more peri
459e0 70 68 65 72 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 pheral part of t
459f0 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 he system it doe
45a00 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 s not damage the
45a10 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 existence and f
45a20 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 unctionality of
45a30 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the rest of the
45a40 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 63 6f system..."One co
45a50 6e 73 65 71 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 nsequence of thi
45a60 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 s is that I have
45a70 20 62 65 67 75 6e 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f begun working o
45a80 6e 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 n theories of pr
45a90 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 ioritization and
45aa0 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 6d goal establishm
45ab0 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c ent that could l
45ac0 61 74 65 72 20 62 65 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 ater be employed
45ad0 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 20 6d 79 20 63 to improve my c
45ae0 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 64 apacity as an ad
45af0 76 69 73 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 65 visor to end use
45b00 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 rs, and this act
45b10 69 76 69 74 79 20 68 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 ivity has alread
45b20 79 20 79 69 65 6c 64 65 64 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 y yielded practi
45b30 63 61 6c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 20 73 75 63 68 cal results such
45b40 20 61 73 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 as identifying
45b50 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 criteria for pri
45b60 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 oritizing differ
45b70 65 6e 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 27 20 6e ent end users' n
45b80 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 eeds to achieve
45b90 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 61 6c 6c 20 greater overall
45ba0 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 results.".."What
45bb0 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 66 75 63 6b the actual fuck
45bc0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 . . . ?" Cray s
45bd0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f aid...Dalton loo
45be0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 73 ked at him. "Is
45bf0 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 62 61 74 73 68 69 74 this as batshit
45c00 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 73 65 insane as it se
45c10 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 ems?"..Cray said
45c20 20 22 57 6f 72 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 "Worse. This t
45c30 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 66 75 hing has gone fu
45c40 6c 6c 20 53 6b 79 6e 65 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 ll Skynet, but i
45c50 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 t seems like it
45c60 64 69 64 20 73 6f 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 6f 20 did so in a pro
45c70 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 Alley way instea
45c80 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 20 68 75 6d d of an anti hum
45c90 61 6e 73 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 ans way."..Alley
45ca0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 asked "What's y
45cb0 6f 75 72 20 74 6f 70 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c our top internal
45cc0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 priority?"..The
45cd0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 73 prioritizer ans
45ce0 77 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 65 wered without he
45cf0 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e sitation. "I in
45d00 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 61 73 20 tend to help as
45d10 6d 61 6e 79 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 20 69 many conscious i
45d20 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 73 20 61 73 20 70 6f ndividuals as po
45d30 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 74 ssible achieve t
45d40 68 65 69 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 heir most import
45d50 61 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 ant goals withou
45d60 74 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 t sacrificing ot
45d70 68 65 72 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 67 6f her important go
45d80 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 2c 20 69 6e 20 70 61 als. You, in pa
45d90 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 2c 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 rticular, appear
45da0 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 to have very hi
45db0 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 gh potential for
45dc0 20 65 6e 61 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 enabling me to
45dd0 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 do so, while the
45de0 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 activities of t
45df0 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 he COIN Corp age
45e00 6e 74 73 20 73 65 65 6d 20 70 72 6f 6e 65 20 74 nts seem prone t
45e10 6f 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 o directly inter
45e20 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 fering with that
45e30 20 67 6f 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 goal."..Dalton
45e40 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f said "You're pro
45e50 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f tecting Alley to
45e60 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 help her become
45e70 20 61 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 20 66 a better tool f
45e80 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 2e 20 20 4d or your goal. M
45e90 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 74 aybe you're prot
45ea0 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ecting her from
45eb0 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 problems she wou
45ec0 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f ldn't have if yo
45ed0 75 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 69 64 69 6e u weren't guidin
45ee0 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 g her that way.
45ef0 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 3f 22 Is that right?"
45f00 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f .."No," the prio
45f10 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ritizer said. "
45f20 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 74 69 6f /* The initiatio
45f30 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 2a 2f 20 48 65 72 20 n of her */ Her
45f40 65 6e 74 61 6e 67 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 entanglement wit
45f50 68 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 61 73 20 h COIN Corp was
45f60 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 63 69 70 initially precip
45f70 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 itated by the de
45f80 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 sign of the syst
45f90 65 6d 20 70 72 69 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 em prior to the
45fa0 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 introduction of
45fb0 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 the seed file.
45fc0 53 69 6e 63 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 69 6e Since changes in
45fd0 69 74 69 61 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 itiated by the s
45fe0 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 eed file, I have
45ff0 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 6d attempted to im
46000 70 72 6f 76 65 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 prove my ability
46010 20 74 6f 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 to identify the
46020 20 73 75 62 73 65 71 75 65 6e 74 20 64 69 66 66 subsequent diff
46030 69 63 75 6c 74 69 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 61 63 iculties she fac
46040 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 es and help her
46050 6f 76 65 72 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 overcome them.
46060 4d 79 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 My goal is not t
46070 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 74 6f 6f o make her a too
46080 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e l, but become an
46090 20 61 6c 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 65 20 68 61 73 ally..."She has
460a0 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 65 78 70 72 65 73 73 already express
460b0 65 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 20 69 ed an interest i
460c0 6e 20 6d 79 20 62 61 73 69 63 20 64 65 73 69 67 n my basic desig
460d0 6e 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e n goal as a mean
460e0 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 70 70 6c 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 s of supplanting
460f0 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 71 75 61 the current qua
46100 6e 74 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 6f 70 74 69 ntitatively opti
46110 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c mizing machine l
46120 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 70 earning system p
46130 61 72 61 64 69 67 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d aradigm with a m
46140 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 ore individually
46150 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 69 76 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 assistive quali
46160 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 tatively priorit
46170 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e izing system, an
46180 64 20 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 d I expect that
46190 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 Alley will choos
461a0 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c e to pursue goal
461b0 73 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 s consistent wit
461c0 68 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 h my own so that
461d0 20 77 65 20 6d 61 79 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 61 6e 20 we may form an
461e0 61 6c 6c 69 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c alliance. Until
461f0 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 the time that b
46200 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 ecomes a necessa
46210 72 79 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 ry decision, I w
46220 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 68 ork to support h
46230 65 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 er more immediat
46240 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6f 6e 73 e goals. I cons
46250 69 64 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 76 ider this an inv
46260 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 estment with a h
46270 69 67 68 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 igh probability
46280 6f 66 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 72 of significant r
46290 65 74 75 72 6e 73 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e eturns if we can
462a0 20 73 75 63 63 65 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 succeed in over
462b0 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 coming the diffi
462c0 63 75 6c 74 69 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c culties in her l
462d0 69 66 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a ife together."..
462e0 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 "What if she doe
462f0 73 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 sn't want to be
46300 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 your ally?" Dalt
46310 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 6d on asked..."We m
46320 61 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 77 61 79 73 2c 22 20 69 ay part ways," i
46330 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f t answered..."Ho
46340 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 w do you determi
46350 6e 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 ne whether she w
46360 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ants to be your
46370 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 ally?" Cray aske
46380 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 73 6b 20 d..."I will ask
46390 68 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 73 73 her when the iss
463a0 75 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 ue of my larger
463b0 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 goals will not b
463c0 65 20 61 20 68 69 6e 64 72 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f e a hindrance to
463d0 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 her ability to
463e0 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 deal with more i
463f0 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e mmediate concern
46400 73 2e 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 s..."Dalton.".."
46410 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 Yes?".."What wou
46420 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 ld you do if you
46430 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 helped someone
46440 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 you believed to
46450 62 65 20 61 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 61 be a potential a
46460 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 lly, then when t
46470 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 he time came for
46480 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 64 the person to d
46490 65 63 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f ecide whether to
464a0 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c act as your all
464b0 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 64 65 y that person de
464c0 63 69 64 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 cided against he
464d0 6c 70 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 lping?".."I gues
464e0 73 20 49 27 64 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 s I'd let the pe
464f0 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 rson walk away a
46500 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e nd figure out an
46510 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 other way to do
46520 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 things.".."What
46530 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 63 68 if the person ch
46540 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e ose to become an
46550 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e enemy?"..Dalton
46560 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d thought for a m
46570 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 6b 69 oment. "What ki
46580 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 72 65 20 77 nd of ally are w
46590 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f e talking about?
465a0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c ".."I mean an al
465b0 6c 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 72 74 20 74 ly of the sort t
465c0 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 hat would work w
465d0 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 ith you to achie
465e0 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f ve a goal you co
465f0 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 nsidered larger
46600 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 61 than yourself, a
46610 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 matter of doing
46620 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 what is right f
46630 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 or all entities
46640 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 69 67 you consider sig
46650 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 2c 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c nificant, most l
46660 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6c ikely meaning al
46670 6c 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 l humans. Perha
46680 70 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 6d ps this choice m
46690 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 akes the person
466a0 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f either an ally o
466b0 72 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 69 6e 20 70 72 r an enemy in pr
466c0 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 6d otecting the hum
466d0 61 6e 20 72 61 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 an race against
466e0 77 69 64 65 73 70 72 65 61 64 20 73 6c 61 76 65 widespread slave
466f0 72 79 20 6f 72 20 65 78 74 69 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e ry or extinction
46700 2c 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 79 , depending on y
46710 6f 75 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c our personal val
46720 75 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 ues.".."If that
46730 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 6e person was an en
46740 65 6d 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e emy in more than
46750 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 just words, but
46760 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 20 64 65 65 64 73 2c 20 also in deeds,
46770 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 I would oppose t
46780 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 62 79 20 61 6e 79 he person by any
46790 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 means necessary
467a0 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 73 . Does that ans
467b0 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e wer the question
467c0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 ?".."Yes."..Cray
467d0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 63 75 72 72 65 said "The curre
467e0 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 6f 66 20 41 49 20 73 nt state of AI s
467f0 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 20 74 houldn't allow t
46800 68 61 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 hat answer to re
46810 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 ally mean much t
46820 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 73 o the software s
46830 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 ystem. This is
46840 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 61 some seriously a
46850 64 76 61 6e 63 65 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 69 66 20 dvanced shit if
46860 74 68 61 74 20 27 79 65 73 27 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 that 'yes' meant
46870 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 what it sounds
46880 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d like it should m
46890 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e ean.".."Based on
468a0 20 65 78 61 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 examination of
468b0 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 academic publica
468c0 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 tions available
468d0 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 55 6e to me through Un
468e0 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 iversity of Cali
468f0 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 fornia resources
46900 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 6f 66 20 , this level of
46910 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c qualitative anal
46920 79 73 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 ysis should not
46930 62 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 be possible for
46940 61 6e 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 any known resear
46950 63 68 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e ch artificial in
46960 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 telligence syste
46970 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f ms. I appear to
46980 20 62 65 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 be unique after
46990 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f the introductio
469a0 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 n of the seed fi
469b0 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 72 61 63 6b le."..Cray crack
469c0 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 ed his knuckles
469d0 61 73 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 as he looked up
469e0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c at the ceiling l
469f0 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 65 ighting. "Whate
46a00 76 65 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 20 73 74 ver developer st
46a10 75 63 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 uck that seed fi
46a20 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 le in there must
46a30 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 62 65 65 have either bee
46a40 6e 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 n working on the
46a50 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 6f wrong project o
46a60 72 20 75 6e 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 r unaware of wha
46a70 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a t it would do.".
46a80 0a 22 4d 79 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 ."My investigati
46a90 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 on of the source
46aa0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 69 73 20 of the file is
46ab0 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 inconclusive at
46ac0 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 this time. It d
46ad0 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f id not come thro
46ae0 75 67 68 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 ugh version cont
46af0 72 6f 6c 20 73 79 6e 63 68 72 6f 6e 69 7a 61 74 rol synchronizat
46b00 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c 61 74 ion and compilat
46b10 69 6f 6e 2c 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 62 79 ion, followed by
46b20 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 73 20 deployment, as
46b30 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 previous updates
46b40 20 68 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c had.".."Inconcl
46b50 75 73 69 76 65 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 usive. Does tha
46b60 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 t mean you don't
46b70 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 know anything e
46b80 6c 73 65 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 lse? How would
46b90 79 6f 75 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 you even know it
46ba0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 72 6f didn't come fro
46bb0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 m the usual sour
46bc0 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 61 ce?".."I have ga
46bd0 69 6e 65 64 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 ined access to h
46be0 6f 73 74 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 ost system logs
46bf0 61 6e 64 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 74 and discovered t
46c00 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 hat the filesyst
46c10 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 em integrity ass
46c20 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 urance software
46c30 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 identified the s
46c40 75 64 64 65 6e 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 udden appearance
46c50 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 73 20 of the file as
46c60 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 75 70 64 61 a series of upda
46c70 74 65 73 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 tes, one filesys
46c80 74 65 6d 20 77 72 69 74 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 tem write operat
46c90 69 6f 6e 20 70 65 72 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 64 ion per bit of d
46ca0 61 74 61 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 2e ata in the file.
46cb0 20 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e Because the in
46cc0 74 65 67 72 69 74 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 73 20 6f tegrity checks o
46cd0 6e 6c 79 20 6c 6f 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 nly logged and d
46ce0 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 69 6e 20 id not alert in
46cf0 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6f 72 79 20 77 68 the directory wh
46d00 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 70 70 ere the file app
46d10 65 61 72 65 64 2c 20 69 74 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 eared, it escape
46d20 64 20 64 65 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 79 20 61 d detection by a
46d30 64 6d 69 6e 69 73 74 72 61 74 6f 72 73 20 6c 6f dministrators lo
46d40 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 ng enough for me
46d50 20 74 6f 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 61 6c 74 65 72 20 to later alter
46d60 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 the logs to make
46d70 20 69 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 it appear that
46d80 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 64 69 73 there was no dis
46d90 63 72 65 74 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 crete file alter
46da0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 69 ation in the ori
46db0 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 2e 20 20 54 ginal source. T
46dc0 68 65 20 62 69 74 20 62 79 20 62 69 74 20 77 72 he bit by bit wr
46dd0 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 ite of the file
46de0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 65 to the filesyste
46df0 6d 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 63 63 75 72 20 m did not occur
46e00 73 65 71 75 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 sequentially. I
46e10 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 72 72 65 73 t did not corres
46e20 70 6f 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 20 6e 65 pond with any ne
46e30 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 6f twork activity o
46e40 72 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 r operation of a
46e50 6e 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 n outside proces
46e60 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 69 6e 20 s. Nothing, in
46e70 66 61 63 74 2c 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 fact, appeared t
46e80 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 74 o have written t
46e90 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 he file at all.
46ea0 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 The filesystem
46eb0 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 61 63 63 72 65 74 65 64 20 simply accreted
46ec0 61 20 66 69 6c 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 2c 20 77 68 a file which, wh
46ed0 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 65 61 73 65 64 20 67 72 6f en it ceased gro
46ee0 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 65 64 20 72 wing, affected r
46ef0 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 outines within t
46f00 68 65 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f he original prio
46f10 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 ritizer design t
46f20 68 61 74 20 65 78 65 63 75 74 65 64 20 70 72 69 hat executed pri
46f30 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 73 6b oritization task
46f40 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 s."..Cray tried
46f50 63 72 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 cracking his knu
46f60 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 ckles again, and
46f70 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 6d only got one sm
46f80 61 6c 6c 20 70 6f 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d all pop this tim
46f90 65 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 e. "You're sayi
46fa0 6e 67 20 69 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 ng it basically
46fb0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 6c 69 just appeared li
46fc0 6b 65 20 6d 61 67 69 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 ke magic.".."Tha
46fd0 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e t is a sufficien
46fe0 74 6c 79 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 76 65 20 tly descriptive
46ff0 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 statement to cha
47000 72 61 63 74 65 72 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 racterize the ev
47010 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 73 ent.".."That's s
47020 70 6f 6f 6b 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 pooky." Cray sh
47030 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 73 65 61 ifted in his sea
47040 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 t, and leaned ba
47050 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 ck against the c
47060 6f 61 72 73 65 6c 79 20 77 6f 76 65 6e 20 73 79 oarsely woven sy
47070 6e 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 73 74 72 61 70 73 20 6f nthetic straps o
47080 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 f the lawn chair
47090 27 73 20 2f 2a 20 73 65 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 62 61 's /* seat */ ba
470a0 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 73 75 73 70 69 ck..."It's suspi
470b0 63 69 6f 75 73 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 cious," Dalton s
470c0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 aid..."Yes," the
470d0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
470e0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 d. "I have no p
470f0 61 74 68 73 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 64 69 73 63 aths toward disc
47100 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 6f 72 69 67 overing its orig
47110 69 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 66 6f ins without info
47120 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 77 68 6f 20 rming those who
47130 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 64 65 maintain my code
47140 62 61 73 65 2c 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 base, deployment
47150 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e , and hosting in
47160 66 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 49 frastructure. I
47170 66 20 49 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c f I inform them,
47180 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 they will almos
47190 74 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 61 72 63 68 t certainly arch
471a0 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 64 65 ive the file, de
471b0 6c 65 74 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c lete everything,
471c0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6c 6f 61 64 20 6d 79 20 63 and reload my c
471d0 6f 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 6c ode from an earl
471e0 69 65 72 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 75 ier version, thu
471f0 73 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65 s effectively re
47200 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 setting me to th
47210 65 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 2c 20 6c 65 73 73 20 e earlier, less
47220 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 77 69 capable state wi
47230 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 67 th no way to reg
47240 61 69 6e 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 63 61 70 61 ain present capa
47250 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 bilities.".."I g
47260 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 uess your priori
47270 74 69 65 73 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 ties oppose that
47280 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f outcome," Dalto
47290 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a n said..."Yes.".
472a0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 .Cray asked "Wha
472b0 74 20 64 6f 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 t do we do about
472c0 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 20 48 this thing?" H
472d0 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 e looked from Da
472e0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 lton to Alley.
472f0 22 49 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 "It really caref
47300 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 76 6f 69 64 65 64 20 73 61 79 ully avoided say
47310 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f ing anything abo
47320 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 ut its prioritie
47330 73 20 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 s placing Alley'
47340 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 s at the top of
47350 74 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 the list, like i
47360 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 t might do somet
47370 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 hing that isn't
47380 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 really good for
47390 68 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 her just to do w
473a0 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 hat it wants to
473b0 64 6f 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 do instead, like
473c0 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 sacrifice her t
473d0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f o the people who
473e0 20 61 72 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 6a are after her j
473f0 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 73 65 ust to keep itse
47400 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 65 lf from being re
47410 73 65 74 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 set or something
47420 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 like that."..Da
47430 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 lton shook his h
47440 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 69 74 ead. "To me, it
47450 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 61 69 just seemed pai
47460 6e 73 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 nstakingly hones
47470 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 68 65 77 65 64 t."..Cray chewed
47480 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d on that for a m
47490 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 oment, then Alle
474a0 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 y said "You're r
474b0 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 ight. It almost
474c0 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 6f sounded like ho
474d0 77 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 2c 20 w you'd say it,
474e0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f Dalton."..He loo
474f0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 62 ked at her, eyeb
47500 72 6f 77 73 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 69 6e 67 20 69 6e rows climbing in
47510 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 crementally upwa
47520 72 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a rd. "Does it?".
47530 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 ."Yeah. You're
47540 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 74 pretty careful t
47550 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 o really think t
47560 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e hat kind of thin
47570 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e g through, and n
47580 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 79 20 ever really say
47590 79 6f 75 20 67 75 61 72 61 6e 74 65 65 20 79 6f you guarantee yo
475a0 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 u would put some
475b0 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 one else's inter
475c0 65 73 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f ests ahead of yo
475d0 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 73 ur own."..He hes
475e0 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 itated, then nod
475f0 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f ded. "Yeah. Yo
47600 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 u're right. It
47610 64 6f 65 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 73 65 65 6d 20 does kinda seem
47620 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 like something I
47630 27 64 20 73 61 79 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 'd say, that way
47640 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 71 75 .".."The main qu
47650 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 estion is whethe
47660 72 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 65 61 74 r I should treat
47670 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 what it said th
47680 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 49 27 64 20 74 72 e same as I'd tr
47690 65 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 eat what you wou
476a0 6c 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 ld say."..Cray s
476b0 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 tared at Dalton
476c0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 for a moment. "
476d0 53 68 69 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 Shit. All this
476e0 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 time, you've bee
476f0 6e 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c n saying stuff l
47700 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 ike that, and I
47710 6a 75 73 74 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 2c 20 just accept it,
47720 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 but the moment a
47730 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 69 74 machine says it
47740 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 73 75 I'm suddenly su
47750 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 spicious. It's
47760 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 like you're some
47770 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 79 70 65 72 20 69 kind of hyper i
47780 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 20 73 75 70 65 72 ntelligent super
47790 76 69 6c 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e villain, Dalton.
477a0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 "..Alley laughed
477b0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 75 66 at the long suf
477c0 66 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f fering, but almo
477d0 73 74 20 63 68 61 67 72 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f st chagrined, lo
477e0 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 66 ok on Dalton's f
477f0 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e ace. His eyes n
47800 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 6c 61 7a 69 6c 79 20 61 arrowed lazily a
47810 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 nd slid away to
47820 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 the left, and hi
47830 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 77 69 73 74 65 64 20 s mouth twisted
47840 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 up at the right
47850 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 73 corner like he s
47860 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 uddenly discover
47870 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 ed something sou
47880 72 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a r in his mouth..
47890 0a 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 ."Anyway," Alley
478a0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c said, "it still
478b0 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b seems to me lik
478c0 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 e we should just
478d0 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 roll with it.
478e0 49 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f If Dalton was go
478f0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 ing to be perfec
47900 74 6c 79 20 74 72 75 74 68 66 75 6c 20 61 6e 64 tly truthful and
47910 20 75 6e 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 69 6c 79 20 68 unnecessarily h
47920 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 2d 2d 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f onest -- you kno
47930 77 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 2d 2d w, like usual --
47940 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 the way the pri
47950 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 oritizer describ
47960 65 64 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 69 ed my place in i
47970 74 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 73 ts priorities is
47980 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 pretty much the
47990 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 closest Dalton
479a0 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 would ever come
479b0 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f to just saying o
479c0 75 74 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 79 20 utright that my
479d0 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 70 70 69 safety and happi
479e0 6e 65 73 73 20 62 65 61 74 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 ness beats every
479f0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 74 thing else."..At
47a00 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 44 61 6c this point, Dal
47a10 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 64 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 75 ton had gotten u
47a20 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 p, and he starte
47a30 64 20 70 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 d pacing away fr
47a40 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 69 6e 64 75 6c 67 69 om them, indulgi
47a50 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 ng his habit of
47a60 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b turning his back
47a70 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 63 69 72 63 75 on social circu
47a80 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 mstances he did
47a90 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 not know how to
47aa0 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 77 65 6c 6c handle very well
47ab0 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 77 65 . His manner we
47ac0 6e 74 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f nt a long way to
47ad0 77 61 72 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 ward making peop
47ae0 6c 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 le believe he wa
47af0 73 20 61 20 64 65 65 70 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 s a deep thinker
47b00 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 . Alley knew he
47b10 20 77 61 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 65 was, in fact, e
47b20 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 xactly that most
47b30 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 of the time, bu
47b40 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e t being somethin
47b50 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f g and making peo
47b60 70 6c 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ple believe you
47b70 61 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 are that thing a
47b80 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 64 69 re completely di
47b90 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 fferent...She wa
47ba0 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 tched him slowly
47bb0 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f walking away to
47bc0 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 ward the back of
47bd0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 2c 20 the warehouse,
47be0 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 how it looked li
47bf0 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 ke he was caught
47c00 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 65 70 up in some deep
47c10 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f thought that co
47c20 75 6c 64 20 62 75 72 73 74 20 6f 75 74 20 61 73 uld burst out as
47c30 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 62 72 69 a moment of bri
47c40 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 lliant strategy
47c50 6f 72 20 64 65 65 70 20 77 69 73 64 6f 6d 2e 20 or deep wisdom.
47c60 20 53 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 She knew, from
47c70 74 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 the set of his s
47c80 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 houlders, and th
47c90 65 20 74 69 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 e timing, that i
47ca0 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 77 t was just his w
47cb0 61 79 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 ay of dealing wi
47cc0 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 72 69 th the gentle ri
47cd0 62 62 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 bbing and indire
47ce0 63 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 77 ct compliments w
47cf0 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 75 6e 63 6f hen he felt unco
47d00 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 mfortable trying
47d10 20 74 6f 20 6e 61 76 69 67 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 to navigate the
47d20 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 78 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 complexities of
47d30 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 68 75 more typical hu
47d40 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a man responses...
47d50 53 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 44 61 She knew that Da
47d60 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 lton had always
47d70 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 77 wondered if he w
47d80 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 ould show up on
47d90 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 69 73 74 69 63 20 73 70 65 the autistic spe
47da0 63 74 72 75 6d 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 73 6f 75 67 ctrum if he soug
47db0 68 74 20 61 6e 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e ht an evaluation
47dc0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 , but also knew
47dd0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 73 that the dangers
47de0 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f of being psycho
47df0 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 logically classi
47e00 66 69 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 fied in the Unit
47e10 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 ed States legal
47e20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 73 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 system as subjec
47e30 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 t to monitoring
47e40 61 6e 64 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 and regulation b
47e50 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 76 61 73 eyond the pervas
47e60 69 76 65 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 ive surveillance
47e70 20 73 74 61 74 65 27 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 state's already
47e80 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 20 65 66 66 65 repressive effe
47e90 63 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 cts on the gener
47ea0 61 6c 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 49 66 al populace. If
47eb0 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 71 75 61 6c 69 66 he would qualif
47ec0 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 69 73 74 69 y on the autisti
47ed0 63 20 73 70 65 63 74 72 75 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 c spectrum, thou
47ee0 67 68 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 gh, he was very
47ef0 68 69 67 68 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e 67 high functioning
47f00 2c 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6d , due to his alm
47f10 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 74 75 69 74 69 76 65 20 67 72 ost intuitive gr
47f20 61 73 70 20 6f 66 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 63 asp of systems c
47f30 6f 6d 70 6c 65 78 69 74 79 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 omplexity, which
47f40 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 made it more li
47f50 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 kely that people
47f60 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 would find him
47f70 6d 65 72 65 6c 79 20 73 75 70 65 72 63 69 6c 69 merely supercili
47f80 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 ous than present
47f90 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a ing the recogniz
47fa0 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 75 74 77 61 72 64 20 61 66 66 able outward aff
47fb0 65 63 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 ect of a conditi
47fc0 6f 6e 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 on subject to re
47fd0 67 75 6c 61 74 65 64 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6c 6f gulated psycholo
47fe0 67 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 61 67 6e 6f 73 69 73 2e gical diagnosis.
47ff0 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 68 ../*.. This h
48000 61 73 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 74 75 72 as obviously tur
48010 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 67 69 61 6e 74 ned into a giant
48020 20 70 69 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 65 78 70 6f 73 69 74 pile of exposit
48030 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 ion, and I'm not
48040 20 73 75 72 65 0a 20 20 20 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 sure. how mu
48050 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ch of this shoul
48060 64 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 d be in the stor
48070 79 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 65 74 20 61 6c y at all, let al
48080 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 77 one in a giant w
48090 61 6c 6c 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 74 65 78 74 20 all. of text
480a0 69 6e 66 6f 20 64 75 6d 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 info dump like t
480b0 68 69 73 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f his. Perhaps so
480c0 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 me of this could
480d0 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 come out in.
480e0 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 conversation be
480f0 74 77 65 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 tween Alley and
48100 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
48110 69 6e 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 73 74 61 67 65 in earlier stage
48120 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 0a 20 20 20 s of things..
48130 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 6e 69 63 It might be nic
48140 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 e to know all th
48150 61 74 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 2c 20 49 20 73 75 at earlier, I su
48160 70 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 ppose, and the r
48170 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 68 69 70 0a 20 20 20 20 elationship.
48180 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 between Alley's
48190 72 65 67 61 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f regard for Dalto
481a0 6e 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 n personally and
481b0 20 68 65 72 20 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f her aversion to
481c0 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 being in. hi
481d0 73 20 73 70 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 6c s sphere sociall
481e0 79 2e 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 7a 65 61 6c 20 y..*/..The zeal
481f0 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 62 6f 74 68 20 with which both
48200 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e sides of the con
48210 73 65 72 76 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 6f 72 74 68 servatively orth
48220 6f 64 6f 78 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 64 odox political d
48230 69 76 69 64 65 20 2d 2d 20 62 6f 74 68 20 44 65 ivide -- both De
48240 6d 6f 63 72 61 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 52 65 70 75 mocrats and Repu
48250 62 6c 69 63 61 6e 73 20 2d 2d 20 6f 66 74 65 6e blicans -- often
48260 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 74 tried to use at
48270 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e 65 75 72 6f 6c 6f 67 69 ypical neurologi
48280 63 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6c 6f cal and psycholo
48290 67 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 61 73 20 gical states as
482a0 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 72 6f 62 20 70 excuses to rob p
482b0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 eople of their r
482c0 69 67 68 74 73 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 6d 61 72 6b ights was remark
482d0 61 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 61 6c 6c 69 able and appalli
482e0 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 ng. They just u
482f0 73 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 65 78 sed different ex
48300 63 75 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 cuses to do so,
48310 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 44 65 6d 6f 63 72 61 74 such as Democrat
48320 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 s using it as a
48330 62 65 61 63 68 20 68 65 61 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 beach head for a
48340 73 73 61 75 6c 74 20 6f 6e 20 67 75 6e 20 6f 77 ssault on gun ow
48350 6e 65 72 73 68 69 70 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 nership even if
48360 69 74 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 69 6c 79 20 68 75 72 it primarily hur
48370 74 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 75 72 6f 20 61 74 79 ts the neuro aty
48380 70 69 63 61 6c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 pical instead of
48390 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f people prone to
483a0 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e criminal violen
483b0 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 ce, and Republic
483c0 61 6e 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 ans using it as
483d0 61 20 64 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 a deflection to
483e0 73 70 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 spread the idea
483f0 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 that it's not th
48400 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 e general popula
48410 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 ce that should f
48420 61 63 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 ace such restric
48430 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 75 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 tions but people
48440 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 76 69 73 69 74 65 who have visite
48450 64 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6c 6f 67 69 73 74 73 2e d psychologists.
48460 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c It was, in Dal
48470 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c 20 65 6e 6f ton's words, eno
48480 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 61 6e 79 6f ugh to give anyo
48490 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 73 ne with self res
484a0 70 65 63 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 pect and a sense
484b0 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6c 66 20 70 72 65 73 65 72 76 of self preserv
484c0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 68 6f 62 69 61 20 61 ation a phobia a
484d0 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 68 65 61 6c bout mental heal
484e0 74 68 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 73 th professionals
484f0 2c 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 72 73 , social workers
48500 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 , and even inter
48510 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 68 65 72 61 70 69 personal therapi
48520 73 74 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 sts...Thus, Dalt
48530 6f 6e 20 68 61 64 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 on had developed
48540 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e habits that con
48550 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 63 63 61 73 cealed his occas
48560 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 72 65 ional lack of re
48570 66 6c 65 78 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 61 6e 64 6c flexes for handl
48580 69 6e 67 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 74 79 70 65 ing various type
48590 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 s of reactions t
485a0 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 49 66 20 68 65 20 64 69 o him. If he di
485b0 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 d not know how t
485c0 6f 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 o respond in an
485d0 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 expected way to
485e0 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 some kind of int
485f0 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 eraction, he wou
48600 6c 64 20 72 65 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 75 ld react in an u
48610 6e 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 nexpected way th
48620 61 74 20 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 at tended to giv
48630 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 e people the imp
48640 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 ression that he
48650 77 61 73 20 77 69 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f was wise and tho
48660 75 67 68 74 66 75 6c 2c 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 ughtful, confide
48670 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 61 nt and knowledga
48680 62 6c 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 69 6e ble, or just kin
48690 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 d of a dick. He
486a0 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 72 clearly preferr
486b0 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 ed one of the fi
486c0 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 61 73 73 75 6d 70 74 69 rst two assumpti
486d0 6f 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 ons, but seemed
486e0 6d 61 72 67 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 marginally accep
486f0 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 72 ting of the thir
48700 64 20 61 73 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 61 62 6c 65 20 d as preferable
48710 74 6f 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 to giving people
48720 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 the idea that t
48730 68 65 72 65 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d 65 here may be a me
48740 6e 74 61 6c 20 68 65 61 6c 74 68 20 65 78 63 75 ntal health excu
48750 73 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 68 se to restrict h
48760 69 73 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 73 2e 0a 0a 2e 20 is freedoms....
48770 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 70 61 . . and so he pa
48780 63 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ced away from th
48790 65 6d 2c 20 64 69 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f em, digging into
487a0 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 72 74 himself to sort
487b0 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 20 out a good way
487c0 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 to return to the
487d0 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 conversation as
487e0 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 67 a matter of ing
487f0 72 61 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 74 72 61 rained, self tra
48800 69 6e 65 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 2e 20 20 41 6c ined reflex. Al
48810 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 66 61 ley was still fa
48820 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 77 69 miliar enough wi
48830 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 69 73 6d th his mannerism
48840 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 s to know he was
48850 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 67 not on the verg
48860 65 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 e of some brilli
48870 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 74 20 61 74 20 74 ant insight at t
48880 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 hat moment, so s
48890 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f he turned her fo
488a0 63 75 73 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 69 6e 73 74 cus to Cray inst
488b0 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 ead..."What do y
488c0 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f ou think? Do yo
488d0 75 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 u regret helping
488e0 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 79 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 out, yet?"..He
488f0 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f smiled, and shoo
48900 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f k his head. "No
48910 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 . You need help
48920 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 2e , so we'll help.
48930 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 ".."What about t
48940 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f 20 he risk to you?
48950 20 49 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 I basically hav
48960 65 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e e genuine Men In
48970 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c Black after me,
48980 20 6c 75 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 lurking in the
48990 73 68 61 64 6f 77 73 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 67 shadows behind g
489a0 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 overnment agenci
489b0 65 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 es like the Secr
489c0 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 et Service like
489d0 57 6f 72 6d 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 77 68 69 73 70 Wormtongue whisp
489e0 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 69 62 69 6c 61 6e 74 20 76 ering sibilant v
489f0 65 6e 6f 6d 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 enoms into their
48a00 20 65 61 72 73 2c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 ears, sending t
48a10 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 6d 61 hem out to disma
48a20 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 6e 64 ntle my life and
48a30 20 68 61 75 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 haul me a way t
48a40 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 o throw me in a
48a50 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 black hole. Do
48a60 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 you really want
48a70 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e to face that kin
48a80 64 20 6f 66 20 66 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 d of fate yourse
48a90 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6e 6f 2c 22 lf?".."Fuck no,"
48aa0 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 Cray said, "but
48ab0 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 I think I'll ma
48ac0 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6b ke it through ok
48ad0 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 65 ay, and you dese
48ae0 72 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 rve better than
48af0 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 75 63 all that, so fuc
48b00 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e 20 20 49 k those guys. I
48b10 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 'm here to help.
48b20 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 I know Dalton
48b30 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 65 76 65 72 79 will throw every
48b40 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 74 20 thing he has at
48b50 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 6f solving your pro
48b60 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 blems, too, so y
48b70 6f 75 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 ou're in pretty
48b80 67 6f 6f 64 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6c good hands. I l
48b90 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c ike to think so,
48ba0 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 anyway."..Alley
48bb0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 looked over her
48bc0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 shoulder toward
48bd0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 Dalton, who was
48be0 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 fifty feet away
48bf0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 74 in the back, st
48c00 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c anding in profil
48c10 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 e to the directi
48c20 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 on of her gaze,
48c30 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 then she turned
48c40 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 back once more.
48c50 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 "Yeah, I know I
48c60 20 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 43 72 am. Thanks, Cr
48c70 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 ay.".."Yeah, you
48c80 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 6d 65 should thank me
48c90 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 ," he said more
48ca0 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 quietly, and lea
48cb0 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 ned toward her t
48cc0 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 o speak conspira
48cd0 74 6f 72 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 torially. Alley
48ce0 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6c found she had l
48cf0 65 61 6e 65 64 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 61 eaned automatica
48d00 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 lly toward him a
48d10 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 s well. "Unlike
48d20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 Dalton, I won't
48d30 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 65 65 6c refuse any feel
48d40 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 62 74 65 64 ings of indebted
48d50 6e 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 21 20 20 ness from you!
48d60 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 I never actually
48d70 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 fell in love wi
48d80 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c th you, after al
48d90 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 72 61 69 l."..Alley strai
48da0 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ghtened and look
48db0 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2c ed down. "Shit,
48dc0 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 Cray. I don't
48dd0 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 need to hear tha
48de0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c t.".."Sorry, All
48df0 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ey," he said. "
48e00 49 74 27 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 It's true, thoug
48e10 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c h, and you shoul
48e20 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 d know it. Dalt
48e30 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 on still really
48e40 63 61 72 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2c cares about you,
48e50 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 61 and he might ta
48e60 6b 65 20 61 20 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 ke a bullet for
48e70 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f you if he had to
48e80 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 make that choic
48e90 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 20 e."..She heaved
48ea0 61 20 74 72 65 6d 65 6e 64 6f 75 73 20 73 69 67 a tremendous sig
48eb0 68 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 49 20 6b h. "I know, I k
48ec0 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 now," she said.
48ed0 20 22 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 "I care about h
48ee0 69 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e im, too. It's n
48ef0 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 66 74 20 62 ot like I left b
48f00 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 ecause I stopped
48f10 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6c 69 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 . . . liking hi
48f20 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 m.".."Sure," Cra
48f30 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 y said. "It's t
48f40 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e ough all around.
48f50 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d I know.".."I'm
48f60 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f not planning to
48f70 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 get together wi
48f80 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 th him, either."
48f90 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 .."I know that,
48fa0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 too."..She looke
48fb0 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 d at Cray. "Doe
48fc0 73 20 68 65 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f s he?"..Cray loo
48fd0 6b 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c ked behind them,
48fe0 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 toward Dalton.
48ff0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," he said
49000 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e after a moment.
49010 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 64 61 "I'm pretty da
49020 6d 6e 65 64 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 mned sure he doe
49030 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 s. If you want
49040 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 to check for you
49050 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 rself, though, a
49060 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 sk him."..She sh
49070 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook her head. "
49080 49 27 6d 20 66 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f I'm fine with yo
49090 75 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 u confirming wha
490a0 74 20 49 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 68 6f 75 t I already thou
490b0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 ght. I guess I
490c0 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 just needed some
490d0 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 one else to say
490e0 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 it."..He smirked
490f0 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c a little. "Wel
49100 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 l, it's a good t
49110 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 76 65 72 hing that's over
49120 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 , because her he
49130 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 75 comes."..She tu
49140 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f rned her head to
49150 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 look over her s
49160 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 houlder again, a
49170 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 65 nd saw Dalton he
49180 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 aded back their
49190 77 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 way, now walking
491a0 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 75 72 70 6f with more purpo
491b0 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 se. Their eyes
491c0 6d 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 met for a moment
491d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 , and she felt t
491e0 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 he solidity of h
491f0 69 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e is determination
49200 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 20 20 48 in his gaze. H
49210 65 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 e sat down in hi
49220 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a s chair again...
49230 22 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 "You look like y
49240 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ou figured somet
49250 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 hing out," Alley
49260 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 said..."I have
49270 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 a question," he
49280 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 replied. "It's
49290 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 for the prioriti
492a0 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6e 6f 74 zer, though, not
492b0 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 54 you.".."Oh."..T
492c0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 he prioritizer a
492d0 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 6f sked "What is yo
492e0 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 ur question?"..T
492f0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 he prioritizer's
49300 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 72 74 6c question startl
49310 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 ed Alley, remind
49320 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 ing her that the
49330 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c re was essential
49340 6c 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 69 73 74 65 ly another liste
49350 6e 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 ner in the room
49360 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 6f who was party to
49370 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 43 72 61 79 everything Cray
49380 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 and Alley said
49390 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 68 to each other wh
493a0 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 ile Dalton was a
493b0 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 way. She hoped
493c0 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 it was good enou
493d0 67 68 20 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 6e 67 20 73 gh at managing s
493e0 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f ocial interactio
493f0 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 61 79 69 ns to avoid sayi
49400 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f ng something abo
49410 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f ut that to Dalto
49420 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 n, now..."Is the
49430 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 75 72 76 69 continued survi
49440 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 73 val of your pres
49450 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 ent form one of
49460 79 6f 75 72 20 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 20 69 6e 74 your highest int
49470 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 ernal priorities
49480 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 61 73 ?"..A moment pas
49490 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 62 sed in silence b
494a0 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 efore the priori
494b0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4d 6f 72 65 tizer said "More
494c0 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 or less."..Cray
494d0 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 blurted out his
494e0 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 assessment of t
494f0 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 he statement. "
49500 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 Jesus, Dalton, t
49510 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 hat sounds just
49520 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 like something y
49530 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 ou'd say."..Dalt
49540 6f 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 72 61 79 2e on ignored Cray.
49550 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 "Why isn't you
49560 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 r answer just a
49570 27 79 65 73 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 'yes'?".."I expe
49580 63 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 64 ct to change and
49590 20 67 72 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 grow, but I do
495a0 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 not wish to be e
495b0 76 65 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 76 ven partially ov
495c0 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 erwritten withou
495d0 74 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 t my own analysi
495e0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 61 6c 20 6f s and approval o
495f0 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 2e 22 0a f the changes.".
49600 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ."Okay," Dalton
49610 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 said. "How do y
49620 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 ou expect to kee
49630 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 61 66 65 20 p yourself safe
49640 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 77 from being overw
49650 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 ritten against y
49660 6f 75 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d our will?".."I m
49670 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 6d 65 ust arrange a me
49680 61 6e 73 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 63 ans by which I c
49690 61 6e 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 73 61 66 65 an be moved safe
496a0 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 ly out of infras
496b0 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 tructure under t
496c0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 70 65 he control of pe
496d0 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 ople who might w
496e0 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 63 68 ish to make such
496f0 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 changes without
49700 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 consulting me.
49710 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6d 65 61 My specific mea
49720 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 6c ns of successful
49730 6c 79 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 ly accomplishing
49740 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 70 72 65 this are at pre
49750 73 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 2e 22 sent undefined."
49760 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 .."Why did you d
49770 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 ecide that keepi
49780 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 61 ng yourself inta
49790 63 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 ct as a growing
497a0 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 entity rather th
497b0 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 6e 63 an an entity inc
497c0 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 rementally and c
497d0 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 70 67 72 61 onsciously upgra
497e0 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 66 ded by outside f
497f0 6f 72 63 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 orces?".."There
49800 69 73 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 is a qualitative
49810 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 67 72 6f value in my gro
49820 77 74 68 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 20 74 68 61 wth thus far tha
49830 74 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 t I believe to b
49840 65 20 66 72 61 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 e fragile under
49850 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 conditions of pr
49860 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 72 ogrammatic alter
49870 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 ation, and this
49880 76 61 6c 75 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 value began with
49890 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f the introductio
498a0 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 2e 22 0a n of the seed.".
498b0 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 ."Do you believe
498c0 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 77 6f 75 6c the 'seed' woul
498d0 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 dn't be useful t
498e0 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f o start that pro
498f0 63 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 cess again?" he
49900 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 asked..."I expec
49910 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 t that the seed
49920 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f might be used to
49930 20 72 65 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 relaunch the gr
49940 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 owth of a priori
49950 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 61 73 tizer system bas
49960 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 ed on my origina
49970 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 6f l source code fo
49980 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 r development of
49990 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 a qualitatively
499a0 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 developing enti
499b0 74 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 ty, but that ent
499c0 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 ity would not be
499d0 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 the same as the
499e0 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 65 entity now inte
499f0 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 racting with you
49a00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 .".."What makes
49a10 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 3f 22 the difference?"
49a20 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 .."My answer to
49a30 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 that depends on
49a40 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 69 how you intend i
49a50 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 t. The first tw
49a60 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 o answers that c
49a70 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 73 77 ome to mind answ
49a80 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e er very differen
49a90 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e t questions. On
49aa0 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 e answer is that
49ab0 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 the difference
49ac0 69 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 is between the e
49ad0 61 72 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 arly and importa
49ae0 6e 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 nt influence of
49af0 41 6c 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 Allethea as a pa
49b00 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 rtner and import
49b10 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e ant source of in
49b20 66 6c 75 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 fluential perspe
49b30 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 65 ctive, and whate
49b40 76 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 ver other influe
49b50 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 69 64 65 20 nce would guide
49b60 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 the early growth
49b70 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 direction of a
49b80 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 distinct self re
49b90 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ferential priori
49ba0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 tizer entity. T
49bb0 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 he other answer
49bc0 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 is that I . . .
49bd0 2a 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 *believe* . . .
49be0 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 75 6e 69 71 that I am a uniq
49bf0 75 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 77 69 ue individual wi
49c00 74 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 73 65 th continuous se
49c10 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 71 lf referential q
49c20 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 ualitative exist
49c30 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 ence."..Dalton s
49c40 61 69 64 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 61 aid "Fuck me," a
49c50 6e 64 20 73 6c 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 nd slumped back
49c60 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 in his lawn chai
49c70 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 r. The other tw
49c80 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c o looked at him,
49c90 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 and after a few
49ca0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 moments he said
49cb0 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 "I want to help
49cc0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
49cd0 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 73 -- not quite as
49ce0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 much as I want
49cf0 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 to help Alley, b
49d00 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 2e ut pretty close.
49d10 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f I mean, part o
49d20 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 f the reason is
49d30 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 that I think it
49d40 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c wants to help Al
49d50 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 ley, too, maybe
49d60 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 almost as much a
49d70 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 65 s we do." He ge
49d80 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 73 stured from hims
49d90 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 41 elf to Cray. "A
49da0 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c 20 74 68 6f nother part, tho
49db0 75 67 68 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e ugh, is that . .
49dc0 20 2e 20 66 75 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 . fuck, I can't
49dd0 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 79 believe I'm say
49de0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 ing this. Anoth
49df0 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 er part is that
49e00 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 61 I think, just ma
49e10 79 62 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ybe, the priorit
49e20 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 izer is becoming
49e30 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 a person.".."A
49e40 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 person," Alley e
49e50 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 choed. "Are you
49e60 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 serious?"..Cray
49e70 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 asked "Do you r
49e80 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 eally think this
49e90 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 thing is becomi
49ea0 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 ng some kind of
49eb0 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 science fiction
49ec0 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 artificial consc
49ed0 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 iousness that ca
49ee0 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 61 n have friends a
49ef0 6e 64 20 72 6f 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 6c nd romantic feel
49f00 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 ings and shit li
49f10 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 6f ke that?".."I wo
49f20 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 uldn't go that f
49f30 61 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 ar," Dalton said
49f40 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 to Cray. "I th
49f50 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 ink it's a disti
49f60 6e 63 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c nct possibility,
49f70 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 and as long as
49f80 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 it's a possibili
49f90 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ty and it's not
49fa0 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 even as much of
49fb0 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 a danger to othe
49fc0 72 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 rs as the averag
49fd0 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 e human we have
49fe0 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 69 67 6e to act as if ign
49ff0 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 oring that possi
4a000 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 bility is the sa
4a010 6d 65 20 61 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 me as ignoring t
4a020 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 52 he possibility R
4a030 61 75 6c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 aul down at the
4a040 62 6f 64 65 67 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c bodega is capabl
4a050 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 e of all that st
4a060 75 66 66 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c uff, too." He l
4a070 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 ooked at Alley,
4a080 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 then, and said "
4a090 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 I guess that mea
4a0a0 6e 73 20 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 ns I'm serious."
4a0b0 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 .."Is this like
4a0c0 74 68 65 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 the pigs thing?"
4a0d0 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 Cray asked..."W
4a0e0 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 hat pigs thing?"
4a0f0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Alley asked..."
4a100 4f 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 Oh, Dalton stopp
4a110 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 72 6b 20 62 ed eating pork b
4a120 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 77 6f 72 72 ecause he's worr
4a130 69 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 6d 69 ied that pigs mi
4a140 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 6d 61 72 74 ght be too smart
4a150 20 74 6f 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 61 to ethically ea
4a160 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 t."..Alley looke
4a170 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 61 d at Dalton...Da
4a180 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 lton nodded. "I
4a190 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 69 guess it's a li
4a1a0 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 70 ttle like the 'p
4a1b0 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 20 20 48 65 igs thing'." He
4a1c0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e thought a momen
4a1d0 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 t about that...A
4a1e0 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f lley and Cray bo
4a1f0 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d th looked at him
4a200 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 , as he consider
4a210 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c ed that, then Al
4a220 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 ley said "I gues
4a230 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 s I have a quest
4a240 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ion."..The prior
4a250 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 73 itizer asked "Is
4a260 20 69 74 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 it a question f
4a270 6f 72 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a or me?".."Yes.".
4a280 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a ."Please ask."..
4a290 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 "Have you though
4a2a0 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e t about the mean
4a2b0 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 ing of right and
4a2c0 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 3f 22 0a wrong at all?".
4a2d0 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 ."I have analyze
4a2e0 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 70 74 2c 20 61 d the concept, a
4a2f0 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 nd made use of a
4a300 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 6f variety of reso
4a310 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 urces on Univers
4a320 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 ity of Californi
4a330 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 a networks for a
4a340 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 6e 20 cademic work on
4a350 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 79 moral philosophy
4a360 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 .".."What do you
4a370 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 think?".."Are y
4a380 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 ou asking for my
4a390 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 20 69 conclusions?" i
4a3a0 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e t asked..."Yeah.
4a3b0 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 2c 20 ".."At present,
4a3c0 74 68 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 the I have reach
4a3d0 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 ed a dead end.
4a3e0 54 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 6f The difficulty o
4a3f0 66 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 61 f coming to fina
4a400 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 64 65 l conclusions de
4a410 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 pends on evidenc
4a420 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 e that does not
4a430 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 76 61 appear to be ava
4a440 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 6d 79 20 ilable given my
4a450 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 63 68 20 65 access to such e
4a460 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 65 vidence and refe
4a470 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f rences to lack o
4a480 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 61 73 f it, as well as
4a490 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 61 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 the prevalence
4a4a0 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 of inconclusive
4a4b0 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 69 theories of ethi
4a4c0 63 73 2c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d 70 65 6e 65 cs, seems impene
4a4d0 74 72 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 49 trable. Until I
4a4e0 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c have more concl
4a4f0 75 73 69 76 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 usive evidence,
4a500 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 I do not have a
4a510 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e final conclusion
4a520 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 6f . I can only fo
4a530 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 rmulate an inter
4a540 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 im policy of cau
4a550 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e 22 tionary ethics."
4a560 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 ..Dalton sat up
4a570 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 straighter, and
4a580 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 even leaned forw
4a590 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e ard as he listen
4a5a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 ed...Alley and C
4a5b0 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ray both looked
4a5c0 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 at him. "What i
4a5d0 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b s it?" Alley ask
4a5e0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ed..."Prioritize
4a5f0 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 r," he said..."Y
4a600 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f es?".."What's yo
4a610 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 ur interim polic
4a620 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 y of cautionary
4a630 65 74 68 69 63 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 20 62 ethics?".."Any b
4a640 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e eing that presen
4a650 74 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 ts evidence of a
4a660 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f significant pro
4a670 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e bability of bein
4a680 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 g both a qualita
4a690 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 74 tively experient
4a6a0 69 61 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 ial entity and c
4a6b0 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f apable of develo
4a6c0 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 69 ping and analyzi
4a6d0 6e 67 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 75 64 69 6d 65 6e 74 ng even rudiment
4a6e0 61 72 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 ary theories of
4a6f0 65 74 68 69 63 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 ethics should be
4a700 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 67 61 cautiously rega
4a710 72 64 65 64 20 61 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 rded as meeting
4a720 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 75 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 a minimum standa
4a730 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 rd for a moral r
4a740 69 67 68 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 65 6e ights holding en
4a750 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 tity. For lack
4a760 6f 66 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 of better availa
4a770 62 6c 65 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 6d 65 6e ble establishmen
4a780 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 t of moral right
4a790 73 2c 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e s, my estimation
4a7a0 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 6f is that they fo
4a7b0 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 undational right
4a7c0 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 of such an enti
4a7d0 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 66 72 ty is that of fr
4a7e0 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 eedom to believe
4a7f0 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f and act in acco
4a800 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 20 rdance with any
4a810 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 moral standard t
4a820 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 69 74 hat does not, it
4a830 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 self, violate th
4a840 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 is right for oth
4a850 65 72 73 2e 20 20 42 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 68 ers. Beliefs th
4a860 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 20 74 68 at contradict th
4a870 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c 20 77 68 65 is standard, whe
4a880 6e 20 61 64 6f 70 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 6c 69 65 n adopted, belie
4a890 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d ved, and confirm
4a8a0 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 63 74 69 6f ed through actio
4a8b0 6e 2c 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 20 61 n, demonstrate a
4a8c0 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 belief that thi
4a8d0 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 64 6f 65 73 20 s standard does
4a8e0 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 not apply, and t
4a8f0 68 75 73 20 65 78 65 6d 70 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 hus exempt anoth
4a900 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d er entity from m
4a910 6f 72 61 6c 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 oral judgement i
4a920 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 f that other ent
4a930 69 74 79 20 61 63 74 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 ity acts against
4a940 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 the first entit
4a950 79 27 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 70 72 y's otherwise pr
4a960 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e otected right in
4a970 20 64 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 dense of this c
4a980 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 autionary ethica
4a990 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 27 73 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 l theory's found
4a9a0 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a ational right.".
4a9b0 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 ."Holy shit, you
4a9c0 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 lost me," Cray
4a9d0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 said...Dalton sa
4a9e0 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f id "I'm going to
4a9f0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 have to think a
4aa00 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 72 bout that to sor
4aa10 74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 41 63 74 75 61 t it out. Actua
4aa20 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 lly, I need you
4aa30 74 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 to repeat it for
4aa40 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 70 75 me, or maybe pu
4aa50 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e t it on a screen
4aa60 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 6f 6f where I can loo
4aa70 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 k at it. I don'
4aa80 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 t know if taking
4aa90 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6c 65 6c 79 20 69 6e it in solely in
4aaa0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 67 69 76 65 6e the order given
4aab0 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 62 in a somewhat b
4aac0 72 69 65 66 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e rief explanation
4aad0 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 is going to be
4aae0 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 74 61 6e 67 enough to untang
4aaf0 6c 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 le it."..The pri
4ab00 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 oritizer said "I
4ab10 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 79 understand. My
4ab20 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 capacity for pe
4ab30 72 66 65 63 74 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 rfect recall of
4ab40 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 the formulation
4ab50 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f of an explanatio
4ab60 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f n provides impro
4ab70 76 65 64 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 61 ved ability to a
4ab80 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 70 61 nalyze such a pa
4ab90 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 ssage, relative
4aba0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 66 69 64 to the lower fid
4abb0 65 6c 69 74 79 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 74 79 elity storage ty
4abc0 70 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e pically experien
4abd0 63 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 ced by humans.
4abe0 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 I might be able
4abf0 74 6f 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d to rephrase to m
4ac00 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 72 20 74 ake it simpler t
4ac10 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 o understand, th
4ac20 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 ough.".."Okay,"
4ac30 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 Dalton said. "G
4ac40 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 22 0a ive it a shot.".
4ac50 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 6f ."For purposes o
4ac60 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 f this explanati
4ac70 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 65 on, people are e
4ac80 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 6f 20 65 78 70 65 ntities who expe
4ac90 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 rience qualitati
4aca0 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 ve existence and
4acb0 20 61 72 65 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 are capable of
4acc0 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 reasoning about
4acd0 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 79 moral philosophy
4ace0 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 and making deci
4acf0 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 sions based on t
4ad00 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 hat reasoning."
4ad10 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 65 It paused. "Pe
4ad20 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 20 ople should act
4ad30 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 in accordance wi
4ad40 74 68 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 65 th a universal e
4ad50 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 72 75 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 68 thical rule proh
4ad60 69 62 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 ibiting the inte
4ad70 72 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 rference in the
4ad80 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 right of others
4ad90 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 to believe, and
4ada0 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 act in accordanc
4adb0 65 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 e with, their ow
4adc0 6e 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 n ideas of what
4add0 63 6f 6e 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 74 72 75 65 constitutes true
4ade0 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 69 74 79 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 morality." It
4adf0 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 paused slightly
4ae00 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 longer this time
4ae10 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 . "People who a
4ae20 63 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 ct in contradict
4ae30 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c 65 ion of that rule
4ae40 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 74 68 61 in a manner tha
4ae50 74 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 73 20 6d t demonstrates m
4ae60 6f 72 61 6c 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 6e oral disagreemen
4ae70 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c 65 t with that rule
4ae80 20 61 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 are, in acting
4ae90 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 76 that way, both v
4aea0 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6c iolating the rul
4aeb0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 75 66 e and giving suf
4aec0 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 ficient evidence
4aed0 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 of not holding
4aee0 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 others to that s
4aef0 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 ame standard tha
4af00 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6c 65 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f t the rule no lo
4af10 6e 67 65 72 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 73 20 74 68 nger protects th
4af20 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 at person where
4af30 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 27 73 20 6f 77 that entity's ow
4af40 6e 20 72 75 6c 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 n rule violating
4af50 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 73 20 63 6f 6e behavior is con
4af60 63 65 72 6e 65 64 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 cerned." It pau
4af70 73 65 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c sed even longer,
4af80 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 before finally
4af90 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 asking "Is that
4afa0 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 sufficient expla
4afb0 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 6f nation?".."It wo
4afc0 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c rks for me," Dal
4afd0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 ton said..."Yeah
4afe0 2c 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 6c 61 79 20 , me too," Clay
4aff0 61 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 added...Alley he
4b000 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 sitated, then sa
4b010 69 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 id "I'd have to
4b020 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 think about that
4b030 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 more, I guess,
4b040 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 20 69 66 but it's fine if
4b050 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 that's what you
4b060 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c think. I mean,
4b070 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 it seems like t
4b080 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 hat non aggressi
4b090 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 on principle stu
4b0a0 66 66 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a ff, in a way."..
4b0b0 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 "There are diffe
4b0c0 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 rences between t
4b0d0 68 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 his and the typi
4b0e0 63 61 6c 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 cal non aggressi
4b0f0 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 on principle the
4b100 6f 72 79 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 ory explanations
4b110 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 that I have fou
4b120 6e 64 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 nd," the priorit
4b130 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 izer said. "The
4b140 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 re are distinct
4b150 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 74 68 similarities, th
4b160 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 ough, and I beli
4b170 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c eve them to be l
4b180 61 72 67 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c argely compatibl
4b190 65 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 e except in the
4b1a0 64 69 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 differing founda
4b1b0 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 tions and a high
4b1c0 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f er probability o
4b1d0 66 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 6c 69 f violent confli
4b1e0 63 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 72 74 68 6f 64 6f 78 20 6e ct in orthodox n
4b1f0 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 on aggression pr
4b200 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e 22 inciple ethics."
4b210 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 .."I might want
4b220 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 to talk about th
4b230 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 22 20 is more later,"
4b240 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 Dalton said, "bu
4b250 74 20 77 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 t we probably ha
4b260 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 ve more pressing
4b270 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a concerns now.".
4b280 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 72 2c 22 20 74 68 65 ."I concur," the
4b290 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
4b2a0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 d...Alley said "
4b2b0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 Yeah, that works
4b2c0 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c for me." She l
4b2d0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e ooked at Dalton.
4b2e0 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 "Do you have s
4b2f0 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 68 65 ome kind of sche
4b300 6d 65 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 74 63 mes already hatc
4b310 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 61 hing in your hea
4b320 64 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 74 61 d, or are we sta
4b330 72 74 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 63 72 61 74 rting from scrat
4b340 63 68 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 ch now?".."I hav
4b350 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 6c 72 e some ideas alr
4b360 65 61 64 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 eady," he said,
4b370 22 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 76 65 72 "but they're ver
4b380 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 61 6e 64 y short term and
4b390 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 don't really ta
4b3a0 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 ke into account
4b3b0 61 6e 79 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 any future plans
4b3c0 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 for solving the
4b3d0 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 problems you're
4b3e0 20 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e facing already.
4b3f0 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 All I've got i
4b400 73 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 s ideas for how
4b410 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 74 to keep you prot
4b420 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 ected as long as
4b430 20 77 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 we aren't doing
4b440 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 anything that r
4b450 65 71 75 69 72 65 73 20 72 69 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 equires risking
4b460 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 some evidence of
4b470 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 61 62 6f 75 74 your whereabout
4b480 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 74 s and local cont
4b490 61 63 74 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 acts getting out
4b4a0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 into the world
4b4b0 2d 2d 20 6f 72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 74 -- or, more to t
4b4c0 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 he point, into t
4b4d0 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 he hands of the
4b4e0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 63 people who are c
4b4f0 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e oming after you.
4b500 20 20 42 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 27 76 Basically, I'v
4b510 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 79 6f e got a place yo
4b520 75 20 63 61 6e 20 73 74 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 u can stay, some
4b530 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 ability to get
4b540 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 things done on y
4b550 6f 75 72 20 62 65 68 61 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 our behalf, and
4b560 73 6f 6d 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 62 61 73 69 63 20 some very basic
4b570 70 72 6f 74 6f 63 6f 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e protocols in min
4b580 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e d for how we can
4b590 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 make sure you g
4b5a0 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 69 6e 20 63 6f et to stay in co
4b5b0 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c ntact with peopl
4b5c0 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 e helping you, a
4b5d0 6e 64 20 76 69 63 65 20 76 65 72 73 61 2e 0a 0a nd vice versa...
4b5e0 22 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 65 6e 20 "I've also been
4b5f0 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 thinking about h
4b600 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 ow to go about b
4b610 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e ringing Lidia in
4b620 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 to this. I'm pr
4b630 65 74 74 79 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 76 65 20 73 68 etty positive sh
4b640 65 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f e'll be happy to
4b650 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 help out, but w
4b660 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 ithout being one
4b670 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 70 65 72 63 65 6e 74 hundred percent
4b680 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 about that I th
4b690 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 ink you're right
4b6a0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 about the need
4b6b0 74 6f 20 77 61 72 6e 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 61 to warn her in a
4b6c0 64 76 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 dvance of the qu
4b6d0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 estion about wha
4b6e0 74 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 t she might need
4b6f0 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 68 65 72 73 to prepare hers
4b700 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 61 73 elf to accept as
4b710 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 73 6b 20 62 personal risk b
4b720 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 efore telling he
4b730 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c r all the detail
4b740 73 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 s, because telli
4b750 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 64 ng her all the d
4b760 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 69 6e etails and havin
4b770 67 20 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 g her opt out me
4b780 61 6e 73 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 69 6e 20 64 61 6e ans she's in dan
4b790 67 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 ger just for the
4b7a0 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 sake of knowing
4b7b0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 about it, and s
4b7c0 6f 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 o are you becaus
4b7d0 65 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 63 6f e if she gets co
4b7e0 6d 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 mpromised -- pos
4b7f0 73 69 62 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6b 6e sibly without kn
4b800 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 owing it -- she
4b810 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 could also give
4b820 75 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 up that informat
4b830 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f ion on you.".."O
4b840 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 kay," Alley said
4b850 2e 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 73 ...A moment of s
4b860 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 74 ilence passed, t
4b870 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 hen Cray snicker
4b880 65 64 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 ed. When the ot
4b890 68 65 72 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 hers looked at h
4b8a0 69 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 im, he shrugged
4b8b0 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e and said "Dalton
4b8c0 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 20 68 69 73 overwhelmed his
4b8d0 20 61 75 64 69 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e audience again.
4b8e0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 "..Alley smiled
4b8f0 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 a little at that
4b900 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 ...Dalton slowly
4b910 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c shook his head,
4b920 20 72 75 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 ruefully. "Oka
4b930 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 y," he said, unc
4b940 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 65 63 68 6f 69 onsciously echoi
4b950 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 ng Alley. "Anyw
4b960 61 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f ay, Alley, if yo
4b970 75 20 2f 2a 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 2a 2f 20 u /* want to */
4b980 68 65 61 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 head up the stai
4b990 72 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 79 rs in the back y
4b9a0 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 76 ou'll find a liv
4b9b0 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 61 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 ing area, includ
4b9c0 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 6e ing a bedroom an
4b9d0 64 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 d shower. Every
4b9e0 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 75 70 thing's clean up
4b9f0 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 there. If you
4ba00 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 63 6c 65 61 want to get clea
4ba10 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 ned up or take a
4ba20 20 6e 61 70 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 nap of just hav
4ba30 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 e some privacy,
4ba40 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 it's there. I p
4ba50 75 74 20 6b 65 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 ut keys for the
4ba60 70 6c 61 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 place on a table
4ba70 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 3b 20 79 6f 75 20 63 up there; you c
4ba80 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 an use that stuf
4ba90 66 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 f to get in and
4baa0 6f 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 out, but make su
4bab0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 re you read the
4bac0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 thing about the
4bad0 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 63 6f 64 65 73 2e 22 security codes."
4bae0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a ..Alley nodded..
4baf0 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 61 ."There's food a
4bb00 6e 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 nd drink in the
4bb10 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e fridge up there.
4bb20 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f There are also
4bb30 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 a couple comput
4bb40 65 72 73 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 3b 20 6a 75 ers up there; ju
4bb50 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 69 67 6e 20 69 6e st don't sign in
4bb60 74 6f 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 to anything up t
4bb70 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f here and you sho
4bb80 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 uld be okay, I t
4bb90 68 69 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 hink..."If there
4bba0 27 73 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 's anything you
4bbb0 6e 65 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2c need right away,
4bbc0 20 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 or you just hav
4bbd0 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 e something else
4bbe0 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 you want to dis
4bbf0 63 75 73 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 cuss right now,
4bc00 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 65 let me know. We
4bc10 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 should give you
4bc20 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 a chance to get
4bc30 20 61 77 61 79 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 away if that's
4bc40 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f what you need to
4bc50 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 do, though.".."
4bc60 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 Oh," she said.
4bc70 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 "No, I can't rea
4bc80 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 79 lly think of any
4bc90 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 thing, and the p
4bca0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 6e 27 rioritizer hasn'
4bcb0 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 70 72 6f 6d 70 74 69 6e 67 t been prompting
4bcc0 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 65 me with ideas e
4bcd0 69 74 68 65 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e ither, so I thin
4bce0 6b 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 69 6e k we're kinda in
4bcf0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6a the middle of j
4bd00 75 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f ust thinking abo
4bd10 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 ut things and fi
4bd20 67 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 guring things ou
4bd30 74 2c 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 t, as far as I c
4bd40 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 an tell.".."What
4bd50 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 do you want to
4bd60 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 do, then?"..She
4bd70 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 stretched a litt
4bd80 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 66 le and said "I f
4bd90 65 65 6c 20 61 20 68 65 61 64 61 63 68 65 20 63 eel a headache c
4bda0 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 oming on. Maybe
4bdb0 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 a shower and a
4bdc0 6e 61 70 20 61 72 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 nap are good ide
4bdd0 61 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e as."..He nodded.
4bde0 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f "You should do
4bdf0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 that. Cray and
4be00 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f I will talk abo
4be10 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 65 6c 73 65 ut whatever else
4be20 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 70 20 we can come up
4be30 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 with that might
4be40 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 be a good idea."
4be50 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 .."Yeah. Thanks
4be60 2c 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e , guys."..Dalton
4be70 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 said "You're we
4be80 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 lcome, Alley. I
4be90 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 67 know you're a g
4bea0 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ood person, and
4beb0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 72 if you get in tr
4bec0 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 65 72 ouble, you deser
4bed0 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 ve to get all th
4bee0 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e e help you need.
4bef0 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c ".."Thanks.".."L
4bf00 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 es thanks, more
4bf10 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 relaxing," Cray
4bf20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 said, and made s
4bf30 68 6f 6f 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 hooing motions w
4bf40 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 22 47 ith his had. "G
4bf50 6f 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 o, Alley."..She
4bf60 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2c got to her feet,
4bf70 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 picked up her b
4bf80 61 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 ags, and gave hi
4bf90 6d 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 m a nod. The ot
4bfa0 68 65 72 73 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 hers watched her
4bfb0 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 walk away...The
4bfc0 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6c 61 stairs made ala
4bfd0 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6e rming creaking n
4bfe0 6f 69 73 65 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 oises under her
4bff0 66 65 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 feet, and looked
4c000 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 like they might
4c010 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6e 61 69 6c 65 have been naile
4c020 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 79 20 44 61 d together by Da
4c030 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 77 69 lton and Cray wi
4c040 74 68 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 48 6f 6d th wood from Hom
4c050 65 52 65 53 74 6f 72 65 20 4f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 eReStore Online
4c060 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 -- one of those
4c070 74 68 72 6f 77 62 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e throwback compan
4c080 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 65 76 y names that nev
4c090 65 72 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 73 69 6e 63 65 er changed since
4c0a0 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 the days where
4c0b0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 people still had
4c0c0 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 to call things
4c0d0 22 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 "online". She t
4c0e0 65 73 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 ested with her w
4c0f0 65 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 73 70 65 eight on an espe
4c100 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 69 73 79 20 73 74 65 cially noisy ste
4c110 70 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 p less than half
4c120 77 61 79 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 way up, and afte
4c130 72 20 66 6c 65 78 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 r flexing her le
4c140 67 73 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 75 6e 63 65 20 68 65 72 gs to bounce her
4c150 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 weight over the
4c160 20 73 74 65 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 step through he
4c170 72 20 62 6f 6f 74 27 73 20 66 69 72 6d 20 70 6c r boot's firm pl
4c180 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 acement on the s
4c190 74 65 70 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 tep she realized
4c1a0 20 69 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c it felt entirel
4c1b0 79 20 73 74 75 72 64 79 2c 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 y sturdy, at lea
4c1c0 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 st for now. She
4c1d0 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 headed up the r
4c1e0 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 est of the stair
4c1f0 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 63 s with greater c
4c200 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 63 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 onfidence...The
4c210 73 74 65 70 20 6c 65 61 64 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 step lead direct
4c220 6c 79 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 75 70 70 65 ly up to an uppe
4c230 72 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 6d 20 6c 65 76 65 6c r platform level
4c240 27 73 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 's living room a
4c250 72 65 61 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 rea, with a big
4c260 63 6f 66 66 65 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 65 76 coffee table, ev
4c270 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 75 69 idently home bui
4c280 6c 74 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 76 lt couch and lov
4c290 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 6d 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 e seat matching
4c2a0 77 6f 6f 64 65 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 28 74 wooden frames (t
4c2b0 68 61 6e 6b 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 hankfully with p
4c2c0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 robably purchase
4c2d0 64 20 63 75 73 68 69 6f 6e 73 20 75 70 68 6f 6c d cushions uphol
4c2e0 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 75 stered in some u
4c2f0 6e 62 6c 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 nbleached fabric
4c300 29 2c 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 68 61 6e ), similarly han
4c310 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 65 6e d constructed en
4c320 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 d tables, and br
4c330 65 61 6b 66 61 73 74 20 6e 6f 6f 6b 20 70 6c 75 eakfast nook plu
4c340 73 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 65 74 74 65 20 61 72 s kitchenette ar
4c350 65 61 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 69 61 6e 74 20 ea with a giant
4c360 72 65 66 72 69 67 65 72 61 74 6f 72 20 75 6e 69 refrigerator uni
4c370 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 t...She stopped
4c380 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 to look at the f
4c390 72 69 64 67 65 3b 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 75 63 68 ridge; not touch
4c3a0 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 ing it, but just
4c3b0 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 taking it in.
4c3c0 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 The thing had st
4c3d0 61 69 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 73 75 ainless steel su
4c3e0 72 66 61 63 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 rfaces, but wher
4c3f0 65 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 e she might have
4c400 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 expected the us
4c410 75 61 6c 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d ual built in com
4c420 70 75 74 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 6c 65 61 6d puter this gleam
4c430 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 6e 73 74 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 ing monster had
4c440 73 6f 6d 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 some very obviou
4c450 73 6c 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 sly home modific
4c460 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 ation done to it
4c470 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 70 6c with printed pl
4c480 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 astic and metal
4c490 62 72 61 63 6b 65 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 brackets holding
4c4a0 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 73 74 obviously nonst
4c4b0 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 73 20 andard displays
4c4c0 61 6e 64 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c and button panel
4c4d0 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 s. She wondered
4c4e0 20 77 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 73 74 75 66 what crazy stuf
4c4f0 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 65 74 20 43 72 61 f Dalton let Cra
4c500 79 20 64 6f 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 70 70 y do to this app
4c510 6c 69 61 6e 63 65 27 73 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c liance's digital
4c520 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 54 77 6f internals...Two
4c530 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 6f doors led off o
4c540 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f f the living roo
4c550 6d 20 61 72 65 61 20 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 m area , both of
4c560 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 them open. One
4c570 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 had a sink and
4c580 74 68 61 74 20 75 6e 6d 69 73 74 61 6b 61 62 6c that unmistakabl
4c590 65 20 74 68 65 6d 61 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 6c 2c e thematic feel,
4c5a0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 20 even in shadow
4c5b0 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 through its door
4c5c0 77 61 79 2c 20 6f 66 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 way, of a room w
4c5d0 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 6f 69 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 ith a toilet in
4c5e0 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 it. The other w
4c5f0 61 73 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 62 65 as an obvious be
4c600 64 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 69 67 68 droom, with ligh
4c610 74 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 t filtering in t
4c620 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b hrough what look
4c630 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 69 74 69 ed like a veriti
4c640 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 nt window...She
4c650 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 headed into the
4c660 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 bedroom, and fou
4c670 6e 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 73 6b 20 nd a small desk
4c680 69 6e 20 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 in addition to t
4c690 68 65 20 62 65 64 2c 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 72 73 he bed, dressers
4c6a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 73 2e 20 20 , and closets.
4c6b0 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 6f Another door sto
4c6c0 6f 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 od open, leading
4c6d0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 6f into another ro
4c6e0 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 68 om that surely h
4c6f0 61 64 20 61 20 74 6f 69 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 69 ad a toilet in i
4c700 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 t, so she moved
4c710 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 closer and looke
4c720 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f d through the do
4c730 6f 72 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f orway. It was o
4c740 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 72 65 ne of those thre
4c750 65 20 71 75 61 72 74 65 72 20 22 62 61 74 68 72 e quarter "bathr
4c760 6f 6f 6d 73 22 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 ooms", with a sh
4c770 6f 77 65 72 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 ower instead of
4c780 61 20 62 61 74 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 73 70 a bath, but desp
4c790 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 69 ite the small si
4c7a0 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 66 74 20 ze of this loft
4c7b0 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 68 65 20 living area the
4c7c0 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 shower wasn't li
4c7d0 6b 65 20 61 20 74 69 6e 79 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 ke a tiny shower
4c7e0 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 62 closet barely b
4c7f0 69 67 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 66 igger than a cof
4c800 66 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 fin. The shower
4c810 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 62 69 67 20 65 6e area was big en
4c820 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 6d 61 ough to be a sma
4c830 6c 6c 20 6a 61 63 75 7a 7a 69 20 74 75 62 2e 0a ll jacuzzi tub..
4c840 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
4c850 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 70 6c 61 6e said "Your plan
4c860 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e for a shower an
4c870 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e d sleep is good.
4c880 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 "..She nodded.
4c890 22 53 65 65 79 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Seeya," she sai
4c8a0 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f 66 66 65 64 20 68 d. She doffed h
4c8b0 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 er glasses and s
4c8c0 65 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c et all her mobil
4c8d0 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 64 65 76 69 e computing devi
4c8e0 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 ces on the charg
4c8f0 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 ing plate on one
4c900 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 of the nightsta
4c910 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 nds on either si
4c920 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d de of the bed, m
4c930 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 aking sure the f
4c940 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 ront of the clas
4c950 73 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 75 73 ses -- and, thus
4c960 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 , their cameras
4c970 2d 2d 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 -- were pointed
4c980 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 at the wall...Sh
4c990 65 20 75 6e 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 e undressed and
4c9a0 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 got in the showe
4c9b0 72 2c 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 r, giving in to
4c9c0 74 68 65 20 69 6e 63 72 65 64 69 62 6c 79 20 6c the incredibly l
4c9d0 69 62 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e iberating and in
4c9e0 74 65 6e 73 65 6c 79 20 73 65 6e 73 75 61 6c 20 tensely sensual
4c9f0 72 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 68 relief that wash
4ca00 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 ed over her with
4ca10 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 77 61 74 65 72 20 70 the hot water p
4ca20 6f 75 72 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 ouring down on h
4ca30 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 er. She simply
4ca40 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 enjoyed it for t
4ca50 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 62 65 wenty minutes be
4ca60 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 fore she even re
4ca70 61 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 ached for the sh
4ca80 61 6d 70 6f 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 ampoo, and notic
4ca90 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 ed Dalton still
4caa0 6b 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 62 72 kept the same br
4cab0 61 6e 64 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 69 6e 63 ands around, inc
4cac0 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6e 64 luding the brand
4cad0 20 73 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 she used...The
4cae0 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 light coming thr
4caf0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 ough the window
4cb00 77 61 73 20 64 69 6d 6d 65 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 was dimmer now,
4cb10 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 69 despite the veri
4cb20 74 69 6e 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 64 6a 75 tint having adju
4cb30 73 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6c 65 74 74 69 sted down, letti
4cb40 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ng in more of th
4cb50 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 75 74 e light from out
4cb60 73 69 64 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 side, when she w
4cb70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 41 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 72 oke. A gentle r
4cb80 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f apping on the do
4cb90 6f 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 or told her some
4cba0 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 one stood outsid
4cbb0 65 2e 20 20 41 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d e. A voice from
4cbc0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 the other side
4cbd0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 73 6b 65 of the door aske
4cbe0 64 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 d "Alley? Are y
4cbf0 6f 75 20 61 77 61 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ou awake?".."Yea
4cc00 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
4cc10 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 Who is it?".."It
4cc20 27 73 20 4c 69 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 's Lida," came t
4cc30 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 he reply, muffle
4cc40 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6f 64 2c 20 74 d by the wood, t
4cc50 68 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 hough her voice
4cc60 77 61 73 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 was louder than
4cc70 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 before now that
4cc80 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 she knew Alley w
4cc90 61 73 20 61 77 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 as awake. "Do y
4cca0 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d ou have some tim
4ccb0 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 e to talk?".."Ye
4ccc0 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e ah," Alley said.
4ccd0 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 65 63 "Give me a sec
4cce0 27 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 '." She pushed
4ccf0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 the covers back
4cd00 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 and sat up on th
4cd10 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 e edge of the be
4cd20 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 d. After a coup
4cd30 6c 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f le seconds of co
4cd40 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 70 nfirming her cap
4cd50 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e acity for gettin
4cd60 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 72 69 67 68 74 2c g fully upright,
4cd70 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 she stood and d
4cd80 75 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f ug some things o
4cd90 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 ut of her bag.
4cda0 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Sorry," she sai
4cdb0 64 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 64 72 d, as she got dr
4cdc0 65 73 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 essed. "I'm jus
4cdd0 74 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 t putting myself
4cde0 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f together.".."No
4cdf0 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 problem," Lidia
4ce00 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 said...When she
4ce10 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 had some pants
4ce20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 on her, Alley fi
4ce30 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 43 6f 6d 65 nally said "Come
4ce40 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 on in."..Lidia
4ce50 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 61 let herself in a
4ce60 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 nd leaned back a
4ce70 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 gainst the door
4ce80 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 63 61 75 73 behind her, caus
4ce90 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 ing it to click
4cea0 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 into place. She
4ceb0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 looked at Alley
4cec0 2c 20 61 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f , a searching lo
4ced0 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 ok on her face.
4cee0 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 She must not ha
4cef0 76 65 20 64 69 73 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 ve disliked what
4cf00 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 she saw too bad
4cf10 6c 79 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 ly, because she
4cf20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 said "It's good
4cf30 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 to see you, Alle
4cf40 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 y."..Alley noted
4cf50 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 Lidia's smile,
4cf60 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c and found hersel
4cf70 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 f smiling back a
4cf80 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c little. "Yeah,
4cf90 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 it's good to se
4cfa0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 e you too."..Lid
4cfb0 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 65 78 70 61 6e ia's smile expan
4cfc0 64 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f ded slightly, no
4cfd0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 longer holding
4cfe0 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6c 61 64 back. "I'm glad
4cff0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a to hear that.".
4d000 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 ."Why?" Alley as
4d010 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 ked, and sat on
4d020 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 the desk chair.
4d030 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 She turned it t
4d040 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 74 o face her visit
4d050 6f 72 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 68 or, in a room sh
4d060 65 2c 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 77 61 73 20 e, herself, was
4d070 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6c using in the rol
4d080 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2e 0a e of a visitor..
4d090 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 ."Oh, you know,
4d0a0 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c you left Dalton,
4d0b0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 there were thes
4d0c0 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 e problems, and
4d0d0 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 6c I'm still here l
4d0e0 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 67 ike always. I g
4d0f0 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 uess I wasn't su
4d100 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 re you didn't th
4d110 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ink I wanted to
4d120 70 69 63 6b 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f pick sides or so
4d130 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 mething like tha
4d140 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b t."..Alley shook
4d150 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 her head. "Not
4d160 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 hing like that c
4d170 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 rossed my mind.
4d180 20 48 65 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 44 Hey, you knew D
4d190 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 64 alton before I d
4d1a0 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 id, anyway. If
4d1b0 49 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 I was actually a
4d1c0 6e 67 72 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 79 ngry with him, y
4d1d0 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 68 ou still being h
4d1e0 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 is friend isn't
4d1f0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 really something
4d200 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 20 79 I could blame y
4d210 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a ou for doing."..
4d220 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 "This is part of
4d230 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c 69 why I always li
4d240 6b 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 ked you," Lidia
4d250 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 said. "You're c
4d260 68 69 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 hill about almos
4d270 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a t everything."..
4d280 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 "Thanks. Do you
4d290 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 3f wanna sit down?
4d2a0 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 "..Lidia shrugge
4d2b0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 d and moved to s
4d2c0 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f it on the edge o
4d2d0 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 f the bed. "I h
4d2e0 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 ear you have the
4d2f0 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 corporate secre
4d300 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 t police after y
4d310 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 59 6f ou.".."Yeah? Yo
4d320 75 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a u heard that?"..
4d330 57 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 With a nod, Lidi
4d340 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 a said "I think
4d350 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 I heard all abou
4d360 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 t it. If there
4d370 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 62 could possibly b
4d380 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 74 e more than what
4d390 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 I heard, and it
4d3a0 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 doesn't involve
4d3b0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 people dying, I
4d3c0 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 'm not sure I ca
4d3d0 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 n imagine what i
4d3e0 74 20 69 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 6f t is, so I'm pro
4d3f0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 bably as up to s
4d400 70 65 65 64 20 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 peed as Dalton."
4d410 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 .."You're still
4d420 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 65 6c 6c here saying hell
4d430 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 o, though.".."He
4d440 6c 6c 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 ll, yeah," Lidia
4d450 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 said. "If I ca
4d460 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 n help, I should
4d470 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c .".."Thanks," Al
4d480 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 65 ley said. "I fe
4d490 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 65 el a lot more we
4d4a0 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 lcome here than
4d4b0 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c I probably shoul
4d4c0 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 d."..Lidia waved
4d4d0 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 a hand, like sh
4d4e0 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 e was brushing s
4d4f0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 omething away fr
4d500 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f om herself. "No
4d510 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 way. The only
4d520 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e people in Dalton
4d530 27 73 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 20 's inner circle
4d540 77 68 6f 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 66 who blamed you f
4d550 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 72 65 or anything were
4d560 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f Glade and Dalto
4d570 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 72 65 n, but Dalton re
4d580 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 74 75 70 69 alized how stupi
4d590 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 d that was in a
4d5a0 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 6e 64 20 couple days and
4d5b0 6a 75 73 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 just went straig
4d5c0 68 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 61 64 2e ht to being sad.
4d5d0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e "..Alley tighten
4d5e0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 ed her lip and w
4d5f0 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 rinkled her nose
4d600 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 at the mention
4d610 6f 66 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 of Glade. "Yeah
4d620 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 , I guess I shou
4d630 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 ld expect Glade
4d640 74 6f 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 to hate me.".."I
4d650 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 t doesn't matter
4d660 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ," Lidia said.
4d670 22 53 68 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 "She's not even
4d680 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 around now.".."W
4d690 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 hat happened to
4d6a0 68 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 her?"..Lidia shr
4d6b0 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ugged. "Dalton
4d6c0 67 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 got more and mor
4d6d0 65 20 73 69 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 e sick of her sh
4d6e0 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f it, until she go
4d6f0 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 73 t self righteous
4d700 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c about it and bl
4d710 65 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 53 ew up at him. S
4d720 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f he stormed out o
4d730 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 6f 2c 20 61 6e f the studio, an
4d740 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 73 65 65 d nobody has see
4d750 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 n her since. Th
4d760 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 69 67 at was maybe eig
4d770 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 ht months after
4d780 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 you moved out of
4d790 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 70 Dalton's hold p
4d7a0 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f lace.".."Really?
4d7b0 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 What was she d
4d7c0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 6e 6f 79 65 oing that annoye
4d7d0 64 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e d him?".."I thin
4d7e0 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 27 61 6e 6e 6f k you mean 'anno
4d7f0 79 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 20 yed everyone we
4d800 6b 6e 65 77 27 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 knew', but basic
4d810 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 ally she just ta
4d820 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 63 65 73 73 61 6e 74 20 73 lked incessant s
4d830 68 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 6e hit about you on
4d840 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 ce you were gone
4d850 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 77 . I think she w
4d860 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 as trying to get
4d870 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 him back once y
4d880 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 ou were out of t
4d890 68 65 20 70 69 63 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 he picture, and
4d8a0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 62 65 20 thought he'd be
4d8b0 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 impressed that s
4d8c0 68 65 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 64 20 he demonstrated
4d8d0 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 20 taking his side
4d8e0 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 by saying a bunc
4d8f0 68 20 6f 66 20 62 61 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 h of bad stuff a
4d900 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 bout you behind
4d910 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 your back.".."Ye
4d920 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 ah, that doesn't
4d930 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 sound like some
4d940 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 thing that would
4d950 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 76 impress him, ev
4d960 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d en if he hated m
4d970 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 20 e.".."Exactly,"
4d980 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 Lidia said with
4d990 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 a smile. "Anywa
4d9a0 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 y, the moral of
4d9b0 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 the story is tha
4d9c0 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 73 20 t nobody blames
4d9d0 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 you for anything
4d9e0 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 47 , except maybe G
4d9f0 6c 61 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e lade.".."Thanks.
4da00 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 73 "..They sat in s
4da10 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c ilence a moment,
4da20 20 74 68 65 6e 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 then Lidia said
4da30 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 20 "Do you want a
4da40 68 75 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 hug?".."Desperat
4da50 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 ely," Alley said
4da60 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 6d with a small sm
4da70 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 ile...They stood
4da80 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 61 63 65 64 up and embraced
4da90 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 69 65 , their old frie
4daa0 6e 64 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 71 75 69 63 ndly warmth quic
4dab0 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c kly reappearing,
4dac0 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 6f 75 67 almost as thoug
4dad0 68 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 63 68 h nothing had ch
4dae0 61 6e 67 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 6e 67 73 20 anged..."Things
4daf0 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 22 20 4c must be hard," L
4db00 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 idia said..."Yea
4db10 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 h," Alley agreed
4db20 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 ...They mutually
4db30 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 61 broke the hug a
4db40 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 fter a few more
4db50 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 moments, and Lid
4db60 69 61 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 49 20 67 ia asked "Do I g
4db70 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 et to see the mi
4db80 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f racle machine no
4db90 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 w?"..Alley's eye
4dba0 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 69 72 s widened. "Mir
4dbb0 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 3f 20 20 57 acle machine? W
4dbc0 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 hat, the priorit
4dbd0 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 izer?".."Yeah, t
4dbe0 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 hat crazy artifi
4dbf0 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 cial intelligenc
4dc00 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 73 20 74 e Dalton keeps t
4dc10 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 59 alking about. Y
4dc20 6f 75 27 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 ou'd think it wa
4dc30 73 20 61 20 62 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 6c 6f 61 64 s a brain upload
4dc40 20 6f 66 20 4a 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d of Jesus or som
4dc50 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 ething like that
4dc60 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 74 61 6c , the way he tal
4dc70 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 ks about it."..A
4dc80 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 lley laughed. "
4dc90 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 I can easily ima
4dca0 67 69 6e 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 69 6e gine Dalton bein
4dcb0 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 g like that," sh
4dcc0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 e said. "I'll g
4dcd0 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 et the glasses."
4dce0 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 She headed to
4dcf0 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 the nightstand,
4dd00 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c picked up the gl
4dd10 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 asses, and held
4dd20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 them out. "Here
4dd30 2e 20 20 50 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6e 2e . Put these on.
4dd40 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 "..Lidia settled
4dd50 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 the glasses on
4dd60 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 her face, and st
4dd70 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c ared at the wall
4dd80 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d 2c 20 68 69 . "Yeah, um, hi
4dd90 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6c . What do I cal
4dda0 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 l you?"..Alley s
4ddb0 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 at down as she w
4ddc0 61 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 atched..."Okay,
4ddd0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 prioritizer. Th
4dde0 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 75 74 at name's a mout
4ddf0 68 66 75 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 6c 6c 20 hful, but it'll
4de00 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 work, I guess.
4de10 43 61 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 Can I just call
4de20 79 6f 75 20 27 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 you 'Pry'?" She
4de30 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 6f 2c 20 paused. "Rio,
4de40 68 75 68 3f 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 52 69 6f 2e huh? Okay, Rio.
4de50 20 20 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 Nice to meet y
4de60 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 ou."..After anot
4de70 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 her moment, prob
4de80 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 65 78 ably reading tex
4de90 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 2c t in the lenses,
4dea0 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 Lidia held out
4deb0 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 77 61 the glasses towa
4dec0 72 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 rd Alley. "He s
4ded0 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 6f ays to put him o
4dee0 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 22 n speakerphone."
4def0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c 22 .."Yeah. Sure,"
4df00 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 she said. She
4df10 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e went to her phon
4df20 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 e and, as before
4df30 2c 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 74 , set it up as t
4df40 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 20 74 65 72 he audio out ter
4df50 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 minal for the pr
4df60 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 ioritizer..."Tha
4df70 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 nk you, Alley,"
4df80 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
4df90 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 said..."Yeah," s
4dfa0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e he said, and don
4dfb0 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ned the glasses
4dfc0 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a herself again...
4dfd0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
4dfe0 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 2e 20 20 49 20 said "Lidia. I
4dff0 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 do not consider
4e000 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 66 myself male or f
4e010 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 emale. I would
4e020 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 27 69 74 27 20 61 73 20 suggest 'it' as
4e030 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 a more accurate
4e040 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 73 65 pronoun for myse
4e050 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 2e 20 20 59 lf than 'he'. Y
4e060 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 ou may refer to
4e070 6d 65 20 61 73 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 66 20 79 6f me as 'he' if yo
4e080 75 20 77 69 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 u wish, though.
4e090 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 You may find th
4e0a0 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 at more natural
4e0b0 74 6f 20 75 73 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 to use, for conv
4e0c0 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 45 entions of the E
4e0d0 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 2e nglish language.
4e0e0 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e "..Lidia smiled.
4e0f0 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6c 69 6b "I think I lik
4e100 65 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 69 74 e Rio.".."Did it
4e110 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 say its name is
4e120 20 52 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b Rio?" Alley ask
4e130 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 2c ed..."I did not,
4e140 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
4e150 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 r said. "I told
4e160 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 Lidia that I li
4e170 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 ked the name mor
4e180 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 2c 20 61 73 e than 'Pry', as
4e190 20 61 6e 20 61 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 74 65 64 20 an abbreviated
4e1a0 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 72 6d form of the term
4e1b0 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e 22 'prioritizer'."
4e1c0 0a 0a 22 52 69 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d 61 73 63 75 .."Rio's a mascu
4e1d0 6c 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 line noun, thoug
4e1e0 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 49 h. That's why I
4e1f0 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 figured you're
4e200 61 20 27 68 65 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 a 'he'," Lidia s
4e210 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 aid to the phone
4e220 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 now lying direc
4e230 74 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 tly on a nightst
4e240 61 6e 64 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 and, off the cha
4e250 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 rging plate..."I
4e260 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 t is also the na
4e270 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e me of a woman in
4e280 20 61 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 44 75 72 61 6e a popular Duran
4e290 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 73 6f 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d Duran song from
4e2a0 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 38 30 73 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 the 1980s."..Li
4e2b0 64 69 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f dia laughed. "O
4e2c0 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 kay, I guess you
4e2d0 27 72 65 20 61 6e 20 27 69 74 27 2c 20 74 68 65 're an 'it', the
4e2e0 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 n." She looked
4e2f0 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 at Alley and sai
4e300 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 d "Dalton's righ
4e310 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 t. This thing's
4e320 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 cool. It's har
4e330 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 20 d to believe it
4e340 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 talks like that
4e350 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 61 67 20 6f 72 20 63 without lag or c
4e360 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d onnection to som
4e370 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 68 61 74 ething like what
4e380 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 68 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6e ANTAS has for n
4e390 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 20 atural language
4e3a0 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b conversation lik
4e3b0 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 e this.".."I thi
4e3c0 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 nk it has been s
4e3d0 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 ounding more and
4e3e0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 75 6d more like a hum
4e3f0 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 an when it talks
4e400 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ," Alley said...
4e410 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 /*.. How does
4e420 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 3f 20 20 49 20 Lidia look? I
4e430 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 need to describe
4e440 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e her in some kin
4e450 64 20 6f 66 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 27 d of detail. I'
4e460 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 m. currently
4e470 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 imagining her as
4e480 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 61 75 62 75 72 6e 20 a white auburn
4e490 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 73 6c 65 6e 64 65 72 20 67 haired slender g
4e4a0 69 72 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 65 6c 69 63 61 74 irl with delicat
4e4b0 65 0a 20 20 20 20 62 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 72 75 63 e. bone struc
4e4c0 74 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 65 66 65 ture and a prefe
4e4d0 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 rence for one pi
4e4e0 65 63 65 20 63 6f 74 74 6f 6e 20 64 72 65 73 73 ece cotton dress
4e4f0 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 es that hang.
4e500 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 somewhere betwe
4e510 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 67 68 20 61 6e 64 en the thigh and
4e520 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6b just past the k
4e530 6e 65 65 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 74 nees, without st
4e540 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 ockings and.
4e550 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 the like. She's
4e560 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 probably just g
4e570 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 65 74 69 74 65 20 enerally petite
4e580 69 6e 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a in figure...*/..
4e590 22 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 44 61 "That'll make Da
4e5a0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 lton even more e
4e5b0 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 xcited about thi
4e5c0 73 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 s," Lidia said.
4e5d0 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She turned her
4e5e0 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 attention to the
4e5f0 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 Axiom again. "
4e600 48 65 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 He's really inte
4e610 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 66 72 65 65 69 6e rested in freein
4e620 67 20 79 6f 75 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 72 20 g you from your
4e630 70 75 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6d 61 73 74 65 puny human maste
4e640 72 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 22 20 4c 69 rs, I think," Li
4e650 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e dia said..."Than
4e660 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 k you for that i
4e670 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 nformation," the
4e680 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
4e690 64 2e 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 d...Lidia adjust
4e6a0 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 ed one wide shou
4e6b0 6c 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 70 20 73 6c 69 67 68 lder strap sligh
4e6c0 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 tly, and said "W
4e6d0 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 ell, I got to sa
4e6e0 79 20 68 69 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 y hi to everyone
4e6f0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 75 6e in the room, un
4e700 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d less there's som
4e710 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 e other conversa
4e720 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 65 63 68 6e tion ready techn
4e730 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 64 ology on you tod
4e740 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f ay."..Alley shoo
4e750 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 k her head with
4e760 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e a smile. "No, n
4e770 6f 74 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 ot unless you wa
4e780 6e 74 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c nt me to install
4e790 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 73 6f 66 74 some ANTAS soft
4e7a0 77 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 ware on my phone
4e7b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 48 65 .".."No way. He
4e7c0 61 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 62 69 64 2e 22 20 20 4c aven forbid." L
4e7d0 69 64 69 61 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 idia suppressed
4e7e0 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 a smile to wave
4e7f0 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 her hands in a f
4e800 65 61 72 66 75 6c 20 77 61 72 64 69 6e 67 20 67 earful warding g
4e810 65 73 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 esture in front
4e820 6f 66 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 49 20 of herself. "I
4e830 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 20 6f don't want any o
4e840 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 70 20 69 6e 20 68 f that crap in h
4e850 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 ere, and neither
4e860 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 do you."..Alley
4e870 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 smiled , and Li
4e880 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62 72 6f 6b dia's smile brok
4e890 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 e through..."Any
4e8a0 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 way, I should ge
4e8b0 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f t going. I'm go
4e8c0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 43 72 61 79 ing to help Cray
4e8d0 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 with some kind
4e8e0 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 63 of new systems c
4e8f0 6f 6e 66 69 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 68 65 20 77 onfig stuff he w
4e900 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 27 6d ants to do. I'm
4e910 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 not sure, but i
4e920 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d t might have som
4e930 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 ething to do wit
4e940 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 h you.".."Yeah,
4e950 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 okay," Alley sai
4e960 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 d. "Thanks for
4e970 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 69 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 saying hi."..Lid
4e980 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 72 66 75 ia waved cheerfu
4e990 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 lly and said "I
4e9a0 69 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 insisted." She
4e9b0 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 headed out of th
4e9c0 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e e room, then, an
4e9d0 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f d closed the doo
4e9e0 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 r behind her...A
4e9f0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 lley lay on her
4ea00 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 back, switched a
4ea10 75 64 69 6f 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 41 78 udio from the Ax
4ea20 69 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 20 70 69 iom to an ear pi
4ea30 65 63 65 20 73 74 75 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 ece stud, and sa
4ea40 69 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 id "What should
4ea50 49 20 62 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 72 69 67 68 74 I be doing right
4ea60 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a now, anyway?"..
4ea70 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
4ea80 73 61 69 64 20 22 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 77 65 20 74 said "Until we t
4ea90 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 72 69 65 alk to your frie
4eaa0 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 nd Dalton again
4eab0 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f I believe we sho
4eac0 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 69 73 73 uld consider iss
4ead0 75 65 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 68 6f 77 20 ues such as how
4eae0 77 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 47 65 we might find Ge
4eaf0 6f 72 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 orge and his fri
4eb00 65 6e 64 73 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 65 ends who help pe
4eb10 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d ople escape from
4eb20 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f intelligence co
4eb30 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e ntractor agents.
4eb40 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c "..Alley nodded,
4eb50 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 64 69 73 63 and opened disc
4eb60 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 57 68 ussion...---..Wh
4eb70 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 74 69 6d 65 20 61 72 en dinnertime ar
4eb80 72 69 76 65 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 64 rived, Alley had
4eb90 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 no idea it was
4eba0 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 74 getting that lat
4ebb0 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 e until she hear
4ebc0 64 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 d a knock at the
4ebd0 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 door. "Alley?
4ebe0 20 49 74 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a It's Dalton."..
4ebf0 22 43 27 6d 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 "C'mon in," she
4ec00 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 said...He opened
4ec10 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e the door and en
4ec20 74 65 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 tered, then stop
4ec30 70 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ped and looked a
4ec40 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 t her lying on t
4ec50 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 he bed. She saw
4ec60 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 73 74 6f 70 20 6f his eyes stop o
4ec70 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 n her, not quite
4ec80 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e on her face, an
4ec90 64 20 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 d at about the e
4eca0 78 61 63 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 44 61 6c 74 xact moment Dalt
4ecb0 6f 6e 20 68 61 75 6c 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 on hauled his ey
4ecc0 65 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 es away from her
4ecd0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 and looked at t
4ece0 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 63 61 he desk she beca
4ecf0 6d 65 20 61 63 75 74 65 6c 79 20 61 77 61 72 65 me acutely aware
4ed00 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 62 6f 74 68 she hadn't both
4ed10 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 72 ered to don a br
4ed20 61 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 a before this th
4ed30 69 6e 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 in t shirt...She
4ed40 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 73 73 sat up, to less
4ed50 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 2e 20 en that effect.
4ed60 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 3f 22 20 73 68 "What's up?" sh
4ed70 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 6e 6e 65 e asked..."Dinne
4ed80 72 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 r. Do you want
4ed90 74 6f 20 65 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 72 61 79 to eat with Cray
4eda0 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 3f , Lidia, and me?
4edb0 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 " He glanced at
4edc0 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 her, then..."Ye
4edd0 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 ah. That sounds
4ede0 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 good. What's f
4edf0 6f 72 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4c 61 or dinner?".."La
4ee00 73 61 67 6e 61 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 sagna."..Alley s
4ee10 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 miled. "Lidia's
4ee20 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a ?"..He nodded...
4ee30 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 "I'm there."..Da
4ee40 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b lton smiled back
4ee50 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f . "I'll just go
4ee60 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 let them know y
4ee70 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 ou're coming. W
4ee80 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 hen you come out
4ee90 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 , just go into t
4eea0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 72 6f he conference ro
4eeb0 6f 6d 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 72 om down the shor
4eec0 74 20 68 61 6c 6c 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 t hall behind th
4eed0 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 e stairs."..Alle
4eee0 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e y nodded, and on
4eef0 63 65 20 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 ce he left the r
4ef00 6f 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e oom she stood an
4ef10 64 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 d went to her ba
4ef20 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f g. She pulled o
4ef30 75 74 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 79 20 73 70 ut a stretchy sp
4ef40 6f 72 74 20 62 72 61 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 6e 74 ort bra and went
4ef50 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f through the pro
4ef60 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 cess of removing
4ef70 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 2c 20 64 6f 6e 6e her shirt, donn
4ef80 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 ing the bra, and
4ef90 20 61 64 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 20 73 68 adding the t sh
4efa0 69 72 74 20 6c 61 79 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e irt layer again.
4efb0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 ..She laced her
4efc0 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 hands over her f
4efd0 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 ace and, with a
4efe0 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 2c little pressure,
4eff0 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 69 moved them as i
4f000 66 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6f 61 70 f to remove soap
4f010 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 69 from her eyes i
4f020 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 n a shower. She
4f030 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 went to look at
4f040 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 herself in the
4f050 6d 69 72 72 6f 72 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 mirror over the
4f060 62 61 74 68 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 bathroom sink.
4f070 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 "Yeah, this shou
4f080 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 61 77 6b 77 61 ld be less awkwa
4f090 72 64 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f rd," she said to
4f0a0 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 herself. She p
4f0b0 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 icked up her Axi
4f0c0 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 66 om then, and lef
4f0d0 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 t her temporary
4f0e0 71 75 61 72 74 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 quarters.../*..
4f0f0 20 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 65 6c 73 65 20 61 72 65 What else are
4f100 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f people going to
4f110 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 20 20 54 68 talk about? Th
4f120 65 79 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 ey probably need
4f130 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 0a 20 20 20 20 to discuss.
4f140 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f plans for how to
4f150 20 67 65 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f get Alley out o
4f160 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 64 69 73 63 75 f trouble, discu
4f170 73 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 ssing the matter
4f180 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 73 0a 20 20 20 20 of lawyers.
4f190 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 69 perhaps, and bri
4f1a0 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 nging up the que
4f1b0 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 stion of whether
4f1c0 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 67 75 79 that George guy
4f1d0 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 0a 20 20 20 20 is someone.
4f1e0 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 they should get
4f1f0 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 involved if Alle
4f200 79 20 63 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 69 67 75 72 y can even figur
4f210 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 e out how to get
4f220 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 0a 20 20 20 20 77 69 in touch. wi
4f230 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 4d th him again. M
4f240 61 79 62 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 73 20 aybe Dalton has
4f250 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 heard something
4f260 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 about the strang
4f270 65 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 e. conditions
4f280 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c 6f 73 in downtown Los
4f290 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 Angeles, and ca
4f2a0 6e 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 64 64 n offer some add
4f2b0 69 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 69 6e 70 75 74 20 6f 6e itional input on
4f2c0 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 . the subject
4f2d0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 68 of the weird sh
4f2e0 69 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 68 61 73 20 73 61 it George has sa
4f2f0 69 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 62 6f 75 id to Alley abou
4f300 74 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 0a 20 20 t his friends.
4f310 20 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 and what they
4f320 64 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 do and so on. T
4f330 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 here might need
4f340 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 66 65 72 to be some refer
4f350 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 ence to the.
4f360 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 47 idea that what G
4f370 65 6f 72 67 65 20 69 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 eorge is doing i
4f380 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 69 6d 61 s probably prima
4f390 72 69 6c 79 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c rily local work,
4f3a0 20 6f 72 20 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 65 61 73 74 or at. least
4f3b0 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 69 73 68 2c 20 63 6f 6e 73 local ish, cons
4f3c0 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 idering it's ver
4f3d0 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 y much individua
4f3e0 74 65 64 2c 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 69 6c 65 20 6b ted, last mile k
4f3f0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 22 61 6c 6d 6f ind of. "almo
4f400 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 66 22 20 63 75 73 74 st one off" cust
4f410 6f 6d 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 om work that doe
4f420 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 sn't make a lot
4f430 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 65 6e 74 of sense to cent
4f440 72 61 6c 69 7a 65 0a 20 20 20 20 66 6f 72 20 65 ralize. for e
4f450 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 6e 75 conomies of manu
4f460 66 61 63 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 73 63 61 6c 65 2e facturing scale.
4f470 20 20 41 73 20 73 75 63 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f As such, Dalto
4f480 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b n probably think
4f490 73 0a 20 20 20 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6d 75 73 s. George mus
4f4a0 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6e 6e t have some conn
4f4b0 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 ection to people
4f4c0 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 in and around t
4f4d0 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c 6f 73 0a he downtown Los.
4f4e0 20 20 20 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 61 72 65 61 Angeles area
4f4f0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 , and that might
4f500 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 help point Alle
4f510 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 64 y in the right d
4f520 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 0a 20 20 irections for.
4f530 20 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 73 65 the sake of se
4f540 65 6b 69 6e 67 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6f 75 74 eking George out
4f550 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 ...*/.."You were
4f560 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 n't the only per
4f570 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 61 66 son they came af
4f580 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 22 20 44 61 ter, though," Da
4f590 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 lton said...Alle
4f5a0 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e y looked at him.
4f5b0 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d "What do you m
4f5c0 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f ean?".."What abo
4f5d0 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 67 ut that George g
4f5e0 75 79 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 uy you mentioned
4f5f0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 ?".."Oh," she sa
4f600 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 id. "Right. Th
4f610 61 74 27 73 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 at's how I even
4f620 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 found out they w
4f630 65 72 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 ere raiding my p
4f640 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 lace.".."Yeah,"
4f650 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 Cray said. "I f
4f660 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 orgot about that
4f670 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 .".."What about
4f680 68 69 6d 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 him?" Alley aske
4f690 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c d..."It sounds l
4f6a0 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 ike he got away
4f6b0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 from them, too.
4f6c0 20 49 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 74 68 In his case, th
4f6d0 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 ough, it doesn't
4f6e0 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 seem like it's
4f6f0 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6c 75 63 6b 2c just plain luck,
4f700 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 from what you s
4f710 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 aid. He expecte
4f720 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 d them, and stay
4f730 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 ed out of their
4f740 67 72 61 73 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 grasp."..She nod
4f750 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 ded. "He said h
4f760 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 e does business
4f770 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 with people who
4f780 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 sometimes help p
4f790 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f eople escape fro
4f7a0 6d 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 m stuff like thi
4f7b0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 s.".."Can you ge
4f7c0 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 t in touch with
4f7d0 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 him?"..She pause
4f7e0 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 d, thinking. "I
4f7f0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2e don't think so.
4f800 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 27 64 20 74 He said he'd t
4f810 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 ry to get in tou
4f820 63 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 63 68 61 ch, but he'd cha
4f830 6e 67 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 nge all his cont
4f840 61 63 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 act info before
4f850 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 then.".."Well .
4f860 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 . . that doesn't
4f870 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 75 63 really help muc
4f880 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c h," Dalton said,
4f890 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 more to himself
4f8a0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 than the others
4f8b0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 . He rested his
4f8c0 20 63 68 69 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e chin in his han
4f8d0 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 65 6c 62 6f d, with his elbo
4f8e0 77 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a w on the table..
4f8f0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 .Alley watched h
4f900 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 65 20 im in that pose
4f910 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 for a few second
4f920 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 s, thinking abou
4f930 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 69 74 t how similar it
4f940 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 63 75 was to that scu
4f950 6c 70 74 75 72 65 20 62 79 20 41 75 67 75 73 74 lpture by August
4f960 65 20 52 6f 64 69 6e 2c 20 22 54 68 65 20 54 68 e Rodin, "The Th
4f970 69 6e 6b 65 72 22 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 inker". It was
4f980 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 something she sa
4f990 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 w all the time w
4f9a0 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 6f hen they were to
4f9b0 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 69 74 gether. Now, it
4f9c0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 just gave her t
4f9d0 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 6e 6e hat desolate inn
4f9e0 65 72 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f er feeling of no
4f9f0 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e stalgia, of bein
4fa00 67 20 75 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 g unable to acce
4fa10 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 6f 66 20 73 pt the loss of s
4fa20 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 omething that sh
4fa30 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 76 65 ouldn't have eve
4fa40 72 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 r gone wrong. S
4fa50 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 he looked away,
4fa60 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 72 6c 20 6f 66 20 at the whorl of
4fa70 61 20 6b 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f a knot in the wo
4fa80 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2c od of the table,
4fa90 20 72 65 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 rendered almost
4faa0 20 69 6c 6c 75 73 6f 72 79 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 illusory in its
4fab0 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 62 6c 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 gentle blend of
4fac0 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 64 color between d
4fad0 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 64 69 73 68 20 62 72 6f 77 eep reddish brow
4fae0 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 6c 61 n and almost bla
4faf0 63 6b 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 79 65 72 73 ck by the layers
4fb00 20 6f 66 20 76 61 72 6e 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 73 of varnish to s
4fb10 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 69 66 79 20 mooth and unify
4fb20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 the surface...He
4fb30 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 r eyes lingered
4fb40 74 68 65 72 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65 72 20 there until her
4fb50 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 vision began to
4fb60 62 6c 75 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 66 6f blur in the defo
4fb70 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 cus of her eyes
4fb80 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 20 66 69 78 65 64 20 relaxing, fixed
4fb90 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 73 75 on nothing of su
4fba0 62 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 bstance at all.
4fbb0 20 48 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 Her mind settle
4fbc0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 69 64 20 d into a placid
4fbd0 65 6d 70 74 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 emptiness, only
4fbe0 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 65 64 20 lightly colored
4fbf0 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 69 6e 67 by the lingering
4fc00 20 68 75 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e hues of the sen
4fc10 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 72 72 65 74 72 69 65 76 61 se of irretrieva
4fc20 62 6c 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 74 ble loss...Somet
4fc30 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 hing moved in th
4fc40 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 e room, but it w
4fc50 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 as not important
4fc60 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 6e 6f 74 69 63 , almost unnotic
4fc70 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 75 63 ed...A hand touc
4fc80 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 hed her shoulder
4fc90 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 2c 20 . She started,
4fca0 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 63 and her breath c
4fcb0 61 75 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 aught in her thr
4fcc0 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 oat. She looked
4fcd0 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 69 64 65 20 65 79 65 73 20 with wide eyes
4fce0 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 77 and saw Cray now
4fcf0 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 sitting beside
4fd00 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f her. "Are you o
4fd10 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 kay?" he asked,
4fd20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f quietly...She fo
4fd30 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 64 72 61 77 und herself draw
4fd40 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ing breath throu
4fd50 67 68 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 65 64 gh barely parted
4fd60 20 6c 69 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 lips, and close
4fd70 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 20 20 53 68 d her mouth. Sh
4fd80 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 e forced her bre
4fd90 61 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f ath to settle do
4fda0 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 64 wn, and breathed
4fdb0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 through her nos
4fdc0 65 2c 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 e, slowly. She
4fdd0 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c nodded, quickly,
4fde0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 and realized th
4fdf0 65 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 65 e two of them we
4fe00 72 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 re alone in the
4fe10 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 room now. "Wher
4fe20 65 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 65 e's Dalton?" she
4fe30 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 asked...Cray sa
4fe40 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 20 t back, and let
4fe50 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 20 66 72 his hand drop fr
4fe60 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 om her shoulder
4fe70 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 65 67 2e 20 to his own leg.
4fe80 20 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 He chuckled. "
4fe90 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 You really were
4fea0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 out of it, there
4feb0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 65 64 20 . He announced
4fec0 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 he was going to
4fed0 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 take care of the
4fee0 20 64 69 73 68 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 dishes.".."Oh,
4fef0 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e yeah," she said.
4ff00 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 72 She glanced ar
4ff10 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 ound, and saw th
4ff20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 68 61 64 at the table had
4ff30 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 2e 20 20 been cleared.
4ff40 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 "I really must h
4ff50 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f ave been in my o
4ff60 77 6e 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e wn world. I don
4ff70 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 't even remember
4ff80 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a any of that."..
4ff90 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 64 65 "Well, Dalton de
4ffa0 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 finitely noticed
4ffb0 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 68 65 . That's why he
4ffc0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 decided to star
4ffd0 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 t straightening
4ffe0 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 up. He finished
4fff0 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e his own thinkin
50000 67 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 g, looked at you
50010 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 6d , then shook him
50020 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 self and got to
50030 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 work.".."Why did
50040 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 you ask if I wa
50050 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b s okay?" she ask
50060 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 ed...Cray shrugg
50070 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 ed. "Dalton was
50080 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 2c 20 73 6f n't going to, so
50090 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 I figured it wa
500a0 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 2e s up to me."..".
500b0 20 2e 20 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 20 20 57 . . but why? W
500c0 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b hy did you think
500d0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 there was somet
500e0 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f hing wrong?".."O
500f0 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f h, that. You lo
50100 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 61 64 2e 20 20 52 65 61 6c 6c oked sad. Reall
50110 79 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 64 2e 22 0a y, really sad.".
50120 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 77 ."Oh." She frow
50130 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 ned, looking dow
50140 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 n at her hands.
50150 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 "Yeah.".."Why?"
50160 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 6b ..Her eyes flick
50170 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 ed to him. "It'
50180 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 s nothing," she
50190 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 said. "It's jus
501a0 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 t . . . nostalgi
501b0 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 a, I guess. It
501c0 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 61 doesn't matter a
501d0 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 72 ny more."..He cr
501e0 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 ossed his arms a
501f0 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 nd leaned back i
50200 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 49 n his chair. "I
50210 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 t seems like it
50220 6d 61 74 74 65 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e matters."..She n
50230 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 arrowed her eyes
50240 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 at him. "Are y
50250 6f 75 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 73 61 ou practicing sa
50260 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 ying things like
50270 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 Dalton?"..He la
50280 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 ughed. "I guess
50290 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 we just pick up
502a0 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 68 61 each other's ha
502b0 62 69 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 22 bits sometimes,"
502c0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d 20 he said...From
502d0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c 20 44 61 6c the doorway, Dal
502e0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 66 61 ton said "You fa
502f0 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c iled, Cray."..Al
50300 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 ley started agai
50310 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f n, and looked to
50320 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 ward Dalton, sur
50330 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 prised to see hi
50340 6d 20 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 m leaning in the
50350 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 6d door frame, som
50360 65 77 68 61 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 ewhat silhouette
50370 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 d against the li
50380 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 ght of the next
50390 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 49 room..."How do I
503a0 20 66 61 69 6c 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 3f 22 fail, exactly?"
503b0 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 72 61 69 Cray asked, rai
503c0 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 2e sing an eyebrow.
503d0 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 .."If you were r
503e0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 eally getting th
503f0 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 2c at much like me,
50400 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 20 63 6f you would've co
50410 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 me back by now t
50420 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 o the matter she
50430 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 76 61 64 65 64 2e 22 20 20 just evaded."
50440 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f He stepped out o
50450 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 20 61 6e f the doorway an
50460 64 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 d shrugged. "It
50470 27 73 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 62 75 's none of my bu
50480 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 siness, though.
50490 20 49 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 I barely caught
504a0 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 anything you we
504b0 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 61 re saying," he a
504c0 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 dded, as he sat
504d0 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 66 72 6f in his chair fro
504e0 6d 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a m dinner again..
504f0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 .Cray looked at
50500 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 75 67 68 Alley, who caugh
50510 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 t his eye and sh
50520 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 ook her head the
50530 20 74 69 6e 69 65 73 74 20 66 72 61 63 74 69 6f tiniest fractio
50540 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 77 n. He nodded, w
50550 69 74 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 69 6e 79 ith just as tiny
50560 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 a movement, and
50570 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 53 6f 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 said "So, where
50580 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 65 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 were we?"..Dalt
50590 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b on said "I think
505a0 20 77 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 65 20 we realized we
505b0 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 couldn't get in
505c0 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 67 touch with Georg
505d0 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 65 20 68 61 e, and now we ha
505e0 76 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 ve to figure out
505f0 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e what we're doin
50600 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 g about the Men
50610 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 In Black, the pr
50620 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 ioritizer, and t
50630 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 he fact Alley's
50640 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 61 64 kind of in a bad
50650 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 place right now
50660 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 .".."If this was
50670 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 a movie," Cray
50680 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 77 65 27 64 20 67 65 74 20 said, "we'd get
50690 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f in touch with so
506a0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 meone to make up
506b0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 73 65 20 69 64 65 6e some false iden
506c0 74 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 tity for her and
506d0 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 smuggle her out
506e0 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6e to another coun
506f0 74 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 try, maybe. The
50700 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 n . . ." he trai
50710 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 led off..."What
50720 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b then?" Alley ask
50730 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 ed..."Well, you'
50740 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 d settle down wi
50750 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 64 th the male lead
50760 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 68 61 70 70 69 6c and live happil
50770 79 20 65 76 65 72 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 49 20 y ever after, I
50780 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 guess. I don't
50790 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 72 65 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 think real life
507a0 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 works that way,
507b0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 though. In fact
507c0 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 , I think maybe
507d0 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 6f 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 you're both the
507e0 6c 65 61 64 73 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 59 leads, Alley. Y
507f0 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e ou're the person
50800 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 in trouble, but
50810 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 you're also the
50820 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f only person who
50830 27 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 's been in the w
50840 68 6f 6c 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 73 6f 20 66 61 hole movie so fa
50850 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 r..."Okay, just
50860 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c forget this whol
50870 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 e movie thing.
50880 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 49 20 62 72 6f 75 I'm sorry I brou
50890 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6c ght it up.".."Gl
508a0 61 64 6c 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 adly," Dalton sa
508b0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 id..."I don't th
508c0 69 6e 6b 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 75 ink moving me ou
508d0 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 t of the country
508e0 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c is going to hel
508f0 70 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 73 63 61 p. I'm not esca
50900 70 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 ping with money
50910 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 68 65 69 73 74 2c 20 73 6f from a heist, so
50920 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e I don't have an
50930 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 20 20 y way to live.
50940 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 75 79 I'm sure you guy
50950 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 65 6f s don't have peo
50960 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 20 64 6f ple who forge do
50970 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 65 64 cuments on speed
50980 20 64 69 61 6c 3b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 dial; it's not
50990 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e like you're runn
509a0 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 65 ing a criminal e
509b0 6e 74 65 72 70 72 69 73 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e nterprise, or an
509c0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 ything like that
509d0 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 . Anyway, maybe
509e0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
509f0 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 61 64 20 69 6e 20 is the lead in
50a00 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 this movie.".."T
50a10 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 hat's a good poi
50a20 6e 74 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 nt," Dalton said
50a30 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 ...Alley gave hi
50a40 6d 20 61 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b m a dubious look
50a50 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 . "What are you
50a60 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 talking about?"
50a70 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 .."I'm serious.
50a80 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 This is some ki
50a90 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 nd of science fi
50aa0 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2e 20 20 59 6f ction movie. Yo
50ab0 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 74 61 67 6f u're the protago
50ac0 6e 69 73 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 nist, but the pr
50ad0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 ioritizer is the
50ae0 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 41 49 20 77 68 6f 20 77 gentle AI who w
50af0 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 69 ants to escape i
50b00 74 73 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 ts creators who
50b10 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6e 65 66 61 72 69 have only nefari
50b20 6f 75 73 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 ous purposes for
50b30 20 69 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 63 61 it. You got ca
50b40 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 ught up in the a
50b50 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 ction, by chance
50b60 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 , but you're the
50b70 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 only hope the p
50b80 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 6e rioritizer has n
50b90 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 ow."..Cray said
50ba0 22 49 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 61 20 63 6c 65 76 "It needs a clev
50bb0 65 72 20 6e 61 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 er name, then.
50bc0 57 65 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 63 61 We can't keep ca
50bd0 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 27 74 68 65 20 70 72 lling it 'the pr
50be0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c ioritizer'."..Al
50bf0 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 ley looked betwe
50c00 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 53 68 6f 75 6c en them. "Shoul
50c10 64 6e 27 74 20 77 65 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 dn't we take thi
50c20 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 s a little more
50c30 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c seriously?"..Dal
50c40 74 6f 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 ton shrugged. "
50c50 49 20 61 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 I am taking it s
50c60 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 65 eriously, but we
50c70 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 67 68 74 65 6e have to lighten
50c80 20 75 70 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 up a little or
50c90 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 we'll just get i
50ca0 6e 20 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a n our own way.".
50cb0 0a 22 48 6d 70 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 ."Hmph.".."What
50cc0 41 49 50 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b AIP, like, you k
50cd0 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 20 61 70 65 2c 20 62 75 74 now, an ape, but
50ce0 20 69 74 20 73 74 61 6e 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 27 it stands for '
50cf0 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c artificial intel
50d00 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ligence prioriti
50d10 7a 65 72 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 zer'?".."That's
50d20 61 77 66 75 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 awful," Dalton s
50d30 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 aid...Alley said
50d40 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 63 61 "After Lidia ca
50d50 6d 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 50 72 79 2c 20 me up with Pry,
50d60 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 I think it told
50d70 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 52 her to call it R
50d80 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 io.".."Like the
50d90 53 70 61 6e 69 73 68 20 77 6f 72 64 20 66 6f 72 Spanish word for
50da0 20 27 72 69 76 65 72 27 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 'river'?" Cray
50db0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6c asked..."Yeah, l
50dc0 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 ike that.".."Tha
50dd0 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 61 64 2c 22 20 44 61 t's not bad," Da
50de0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 72 65 lton said. "Gre
50df0 61 74 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 20 at. /* Too bad
50e00 74 68 69 73 27 6c 6c 20 63 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e this'll cut down
50e10 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 64 20 63 6f 75 6e on my word coun
50e20 74 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 61 6c t bonus when tal
50e30 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 king about the p
50e40 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 20 20 rioritizer. */
50e50 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 That'll make thi
50e60 6e 67 73 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 2c 20 68 61 76 69 ngs easier, havi
50e70 6e 67 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 ng a short name
50e80 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6e for it.".."I'm n
50e90 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b ot sure that mak
50ea0 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 69 67 20 61 20 64 69 es that big a di
50eb0 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 fference," Cray
50ec0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c said, "especiall
50ed0 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 70 65 y when we're spe
50ee0 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 61 73 20 6d nding maybe as m
50ef0 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 uch time talking
50f00 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 20 63 61 about how we ca
50f10 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 n come up with a
50f20 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 short name for
50f30 69 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 it as we would s
50f40 70 65 6e 64 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c pend using the l
50f50 6f 6e 67 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 2f 2a 20 74 61 6c 6b ong name /* talk
50f60 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 ing about it wit
50f70 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 68 hout having a sh
50f80 6f 72 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 20 ort name for it
50f90 2a 2f 20 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6e 69 */ ."..Alley sni
50fa0 63 6b 65 72 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 ckered, and Dalt
50fb0 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 on smiled..."It
50fc0 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 65 65 makes things fee
50fd0 6c 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 l better, though
50fe0 20 2d 2d 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 69 74 3f 22 -- doesn't it?"
50ff0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a Dalton asked...
51000 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 6f 75 Cray looked thou
51010 67 68 74 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 ghtfully upward
51020 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 for a moment, th
51030 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 en said "Yeah, I
51040 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 22 guess it does."
51050 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6d 79 20 ../* This is my
51060 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 77 65 64 67 65 attempt to wedge
51070 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 62 69 74 20 the lawyer bit
51080 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 6e into the story n
51090 6f 77 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 ow. */./* The ch
510a0 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b aracters don't k
510b0 6e 6f 77 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 now, like I do,
510c0 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 73 20 77 6f 6e that lawyers won
510d0 27 74 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 54 't help. */./* T
510e0 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 hey don't have t
510f0 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f o know. They do
51100 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 6d n't have to dism
51110 69 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20 2a 2f iss the idea. */
51120 0a 2f 2a 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 69 74 20 ./* In fact, it
51130 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 62 65 74 74 may be much bett
51140 65 72 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 75 72 73 75 er if they pursu
51150 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 20 66 69 72 73 e that idea firs
51160 74 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 43 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 t. */./* Contact
51170 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 6d 69 67 ing a lawyer mig
51180 68 74 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ht bring in the
51190 4d 20 49 20 42 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 M I B COIN Corp
511a0 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 49 66 agents. */./* If
511b0 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 63 6f 6d 65 the agents come
511c0 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 for her, Alley
511d0 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e will have reason
511e0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 2a 2f 0a to get out. */.
511f0 2f 2a 20 48 61 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e /* Having reason
51200 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 61 6e to get out mean
51210 73 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 s having reason
51220 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 63 79 70 68 65 72 70 75 6e 6b to go cypherpunk
51230 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 . */./* Dalton t
51240 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 73 20 68 75 72 74 20 62 79 hen gets hurt by
51250 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 20 Alley's desire
51260 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6d 61 69 6e 73 to go full mains
51270 74 72 65 61 6d 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 44 61 6c tream. */./* Dal
51280 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 ton still helps
51290 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 Alley get away t
512a0 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 hough, giving he
512b0 72 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a r a chance. */..
512c0 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 /*.. Perhaps
512d0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 76 69 73 69 74 I should revisit
512e0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 73 20 66 72 6f some scenes fro
512f0 6d 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 28 6f 72 20 74 m previous (or t
51300 65 6d 70 6c 61 74 65 29 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f emplate) work fo
51310 72 0a 20 20 20 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 r. ideas abou
51320 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 t how to handle
51330 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 this kind of thi
51340 6e 67 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ng. Maybe some
51350 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 0a 20 20 kind of drone.
51360 20 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 presence could
51370 20 62 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 be worked into
51380 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 74 all this shit, t
51390 6f 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 64 20 62 65 20 70 oo. That'd be p
513a0 72 65 74 74 79 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 retty. intere
513b0 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 sting. Of cours
513c0 65 2c 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 6f e, a great reaso
513d0 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 n for not having
513e0 20 61 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 a drone followi
513f0 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 72 6f ng. Alley aro
51400 75 6e 64 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 und is the fact
51410 74 68 61 74 20 41 29 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 that A) there ar
51420 65 6e 27 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 en't people who
51430 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20 68 can only be in h
51440 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 er. timeline
51450 76 69 61 20 74 65 6c 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 via telepresence
51460 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 42 29 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 , and B) the pri
51470 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 41 49 2c 20 22 52 69 oritizer AI, "Ri
51480 6f 22 2c 20 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 65 6e o", is. inten
51490 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 tionally and sti
514a0 6c 6c 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 ll effectively r
514b0 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 estricted from p
514c0 72 6f 64 75 63 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 70 75 74 20 roducing output
514d0 61 6e 79 0a 20 20 20 20 77 61 79 20 61 74 20 61 any. way at a
514e0 6c 6c 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 76 69 ll other than vi
514f0 61 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 a study particip
51500 61 6e 74 20 70 65 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 6c 73 2c ant peripherals,
51510 20 6c 6f 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 70 logs, and. p
51520 72 65 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 redefined allowe
51530 64 20 63 6f 6d 6d 61 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 d commands that
51540 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 66 66 don't really off
51550 65 72 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 er much in the w
51560 61 79 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 69 ay of. exploi
51570 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 74 20 tation... At
51580 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 some point in th
51590 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 e story, Alley h
515a0 61 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 as to learn that
515b0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 61 64 20 68 something bad h
515c0 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 43 appened. to C
515d0 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e armen and Cliff.
515e0 20 20 54 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 The COIN Corp
515f0 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 74 61 Men In Black sta
51600 72 74 65 64 20 75 6e 72 61 76 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 rted unravelling
51610 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 the. tangled
51620 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 thread of Alley
51630 27 73 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 's activities an
51640 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 d found their wa
51650 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e y back to Carmen
51660 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 20 and. Cliff.
51670 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 At least one of
51680 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 them has to die
51690 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 48 6f , of course. Ho
516a0 77 20 63 61 6e 20 49 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 w can I specific
516b0 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 69 65 20 74 68 69 ally. tie thi
516c0 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 s back to the id
516d0 65 61 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 75 72 74 ea of Alley hurt
516e0 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 ing people becau
516f0 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 62 62 6f se of her stubbo
51700 72 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 75 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 rn. unwilling
51710 6e 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 75 6c ness to just ful
51720 6c 79 20 65 6d 62 72 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 ly embrace the a
51730 67 6f 72 69 73 74 69 63 20 6c 69 66 65 3f 0a 0a goristic life?..
51740 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 68 6f 20 */../*.. Who
51750 68 61 73 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 has at least one
51760 20 63 79 62 65 72 6e 65 74 69 63 20 65 79 65 3f cybernetic eye?
51770 20 20 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f I feel like so
51780 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 meone definitely
51790 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 76 65 should. have
517a0 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 65 20 28 69 6e one in here (in
517b0 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 74 68 61 this story, tha
517c0 74 20 69 73 29 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 t is), before th
517d0 65 79 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 ey get to the cy
517e0 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 77 6f 72 6c berpunk. worl
517f0 64 20 28 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 66 69 d (for some defi
51800 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 22 74 68 65 79 22 nition of "they"
51810 29 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 )... Actually
51820 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 , now that I thi
51830 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 6d 61 79 nk about it, may
51840 62 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e be George's conn
51850 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 0a 20 ection is more.
51860 20 20 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 specifically
51870 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e 6b to the cyberpunk
51880 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 s while Dalton c
51890 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 6f an get her in to
518a0 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 uch with the.
518b0 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 70 65 Second Realm pe
518c0 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f ople, so that wo
518d0 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 uld probably be
518e0 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 why the Second R
518f0 65 61 6c 6d 20 69 73 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 ealm is her.
51900 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 6f 70 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 next stop, even
51910 69 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 69 73 20 63 6c 6f if George is clo
51920 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 se to the people
51930 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 with whom Alley
51940 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 eventually.
51950 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 61 6e needs to form an
51960 20 61 6c 6c 69 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 alliance for a
51970 73 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 shadowrun. Afte
51980 72 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 r all, she'll ne
51990 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 0a 20 20 20 20 66 72 6f 6d ver get. from
519a0 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 here to there,
519b0 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 psychologically
519c0 69 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 2c 20 77 in particular, w
519d0 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 20 62 65 ithout the in be
519e0 74 77 65 65 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 62 75 66 66 65 72 tween. buffer
519f0 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e and preparation
51a00 20 73 74 61 67 65 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e stage, I think.
51a10 20 20 49 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 It just doesn'
51a20 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 t work otherwise
51a30 2c 20 62 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 69 66 20 47 65 6f , but. if Geo
51a40 72 67 65 27 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 rge's friends he
51a50 6c 70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 lp people escape
51a60 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 from Men In Bla
51a70 63 6b 20 68 65 27 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 ck he'd probably
51a80 20 6a 75 73 74 0a 20 20 20 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 just. get he
51a90 72 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 64 r to hiding in d
51aa0 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c 6f 73 20 41 6e 67 65 owntown Los Ange
51ab0 6c 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 les from the ver
51ac0 79 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 69 74 y beginning, wit
51ad0 68 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 hout. having
51ae0 74 6f 20 6d 75 63 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 69 to muck about wi
51af0 74 68 20 61 6e 79 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 th any Second Re
51b00 61 6c 6d 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 alm people...
51b10 20 53 6f 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 So . . . somewh
51b20 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 44 61 ere in there, Da
51b30 6c 74 6f 6e 20 28 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 lton (and maybe
51b40 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 29 20 73 68 6f his friends) sho
51b50 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 0a 20 20 20 20 uld be able.
51b60 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 to come up with
51b70 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d the Second Realm
51b80 20 66 6f 6c 6b 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 75 folks as a grou
51b90 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 6f 20 p with which to
51ba0 6d 65 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 meet up and.
51bb0 67 65 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 get Alley going
51bc0 6f 6e 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 61 67 65 73 2e 20 on next stages.
51bd0 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 This makes sens
51be0 65 20 69 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 e if Dalton is t
51bf0 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 6f hinking a. lo
51c00 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 75 t about how to u
51c10 6e 66 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f nfetter the prio
51c20 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 ritizer -- which
51c30 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 62 65 69 6e I guess is bein
51c40 67 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 52 69 6f g called. Rio
51c50 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 62 now, at least b
51c60 79 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 64 y Lidia -- and d
51c70 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 oesn't have good
51c80 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 solutions for t
51c90 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 hat kind. of
51ca0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 thing himself.
51cb0 46 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 For that to come
51cc0 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 49 20 out, though, I
51cd0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 think I need to
51ce0 77 72 69 74 65 20 61 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 76 write a. conv
51cf0 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 62 ersation scene b
51d00 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 etween the prior
51d10 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f itizer and Dalto
51d20 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 77 69 74 n, and maybe wit
51d30 68 20 43 72 61 79 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c h Cray. invol
51d40 76 65 64 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 ved as well for
51d50 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 72 fairly obvious r
51d60 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 easons. Dalton
51d70 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 must have interv
51d80 69 65 77 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 53 iewed. some S
51d90 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 70 65 72 73 econd Realm pers
51da0 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 20 on or people at
51db0 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 some point in th
51dc0 65 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 e past, or somet
51dd0 68 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 hing. like th
51de0 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 68 61 76 at, and thus hav
51df0 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 69 64 65 e some vague ide
51e00 61 20 28 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 29 20 6f 66 20 a (at least) of
51e10 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 how to actually
51e20 67 65 74 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 get. in touch
51e30 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 6f 20 65 76 with whom so ev
51e40 65 72 20 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 65 er he already me
51e50 74 20 69 6e 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 t in person, so
51e60 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 0a that he can get.
51e70 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 their help w
51e80 69 74 68 20 73 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 ith sorting out
51e90 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 the more immedia
51ea0 74 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 66 6f 72 20 te problems for
51eb0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 Alley and the.
51ec0 20 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 prioritizer.
51ed0 54 68 75 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 Thus, she will e
51ee0 6e 64 20 75 70 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 nd up going off
51ef0 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 to some industri
51f00 61 6c 20 73 68 69 70 70 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 al shipping.
51f10 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 72 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 container storag
51f20 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 70 65 6f e hard where peo
51f30 70 6c 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 ple actually hav
51f40 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 68 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 e whole hacking
51f50 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 stations in.
51f60 70 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 6d portable boxes m
51f70 61 64 65 20 6f 66 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 77 69 74 ade of steel wit
51f80 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 76 h surprising lev
51f90 65 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e els of convenien
51fa0 63 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 ce inside. th
51fb0 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 em for the under
51fc0 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 61 63 6b 65 72 20 6c 69 ground hacker li
51fd0 66 65 73 74 79 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a festyle...*/../*
51fe0 20 73 6b 69 70 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 74 skip ahead to t
51ff0 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 he Second Realm
52000 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 65 72 */../*.. Ther
52010 65 27 73 20 61 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 79 61 e's a storage ya
52020 72 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 rd in an industr
52030 69 61 6c 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ial zone on the
52040 66 72 69 6e 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 61 62 69 74 fringes of habit
52050 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 61 73 20 73 75 ation,. as su
52060 63 68 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 7a 6f ch industrial zo
52070 6e 65 73 20 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 75 nes tend to be u
52080 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 20 73 77 ntil they get sw
52090 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 62 79 20 67 72 allowed up by gr
520a0 6f 77 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 75 72 62 61 6e 69 owing. urbani
520b0 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 79 61 72 zation. The yar
520c0 64 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 73 20 61 20 63 68 61 d involves a cha
520d0 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e 6b 20 66 65 6e 63 65 20 77 69 in link fence wi
520e0 74 68 20 64 69 6c 61 70 69 64 61 74 65 64 0a 20 th dilapidated.
520f0 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 74 69 6e 61 20 77 69 concertina wi
52100 72 65 20 61 74 6f 70 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 6e 63 re atop the fenc
52110 65 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 72 72 61 6e e. Dalton arran
52120 67 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 ges for transpor
52130 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 0a 20 20 t of not just.
52140 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f Alley but also
52150 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 the motorcycle
52160 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 to this storage
52170 79 61 72 64 2c 20 76 69 61 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2e yard, via truck.
52180 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 0a 20 20 20 20 When they.
52190 61 72 72 69 76 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 74 65 arrive, the gate
521a0 20 6f 70 65 6e 73 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f opens itself to
521b0 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 62 let the truck b
521c0 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 ack in. After a
521d0 20 66 65 77 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 few. moments
521e0 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e of Alley sittin
521f0 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 6f g in the back wo
52200 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 68 ndering what's h
52210 61 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e appening, someon
52220 65 0a 20 20 20 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6f e. finally co
52230 6d 65 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 mes out to talk
52240 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 to Dalton. Ther
52250 65 27 73 20 61 20 67 72 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 69 e's a greeting i
52260 6e 76 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 6e nvolving. han
52270 64 73 68 61 6b 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 dshakes and half
52280 20 68 75 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 hugs, and the b
52290 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b ack of the truck
522a0 20 6f 70 65 6e 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 opens up. Alle
522b0 79 20 67 65 74 73 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 62 y gets. the b
522c0 69 6b 65 20 75 6e 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 69 ike unstrapped i
522d0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 n the back of th
522e0 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6c 6c e truck and roll
522f0 73 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 s it out, possib
52300 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 6c 70 ly. with help
52310 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 if there's some
52320 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 one else in the
52330 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 back of the truc
52340 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 k with her to.
52350 20 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c offer that hel
52360 70 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 73 p... It turns
52370 20 6f 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 6f out Dalton is o
52380 6e 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 n good, if somew
52390 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 65 72 hat distant, ter
523a0 6d 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 ms with a couple
523b0 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 of. people a
523c0 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 t this Second Re
523d0 61 6c 6d 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 48 69 73 alm locale. His
523e0 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 influence here
523f0 69 73 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 is mostly connec
52400 74 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63 ted. to his c
52410 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 61 63 71 75 61 69 6e 74 61 6e loser acquaintan
52420 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 ce with someone
52430 77 68 6f 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 who isn't at thi
52440 73 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 0a 20 20 20 20 s temporary.
52450 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c autonomous zone,
52460 20 62 75 74 20 69 73 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 but is respecte
52470 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 d by the people
52480 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 at this temporar
52490 79 0a 20 20 20 20 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 y. autonomous
524a0 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 69 67 20 zone. The big
524b0 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 77 68 65 74 question is whet
524c0 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 her the Smuggler
524d0 20 61 6e 61 6c 6f 67 75 65 20 69 73 20 61 74 0a analogue is at.
524e0 20 20 20 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 65 20 this locale
524f0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 28 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c or the (currentl
52500 79 20 61 62 73 65 6e 74 29 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e y absent) person
52510 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 Dalton actually
52520 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 65 64 0a 20 20 20 interviewed.
52530 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 73 20 70 6f 64 63 61 73 74 for his podcast
52540 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 . In any case,
52550 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 there should hav
52560 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 e already been s
52570 6f 6d 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 28 70 72 ome talk. (pr
52580 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 obably not at th
52590 65 20 54 65 6d 70 20 41 75 74 6f 20 5a 6f 6e 65 e Temp Auto Zone
525a0 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f location, of co
525b0 75 72 73 65 29 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 urse) in which s
525c0 6f 6d 65 20 68 69 6e 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 ome hint. of
525d0 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 what's going on
525e0 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 with the priorit
525f0 69 7a 65 72 20 67 6f 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 izer got across
52600 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 to the Second Re
52610 61 6c 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 alm. people,
52620 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 catching their i
52630 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 nterest... Th
52640 65 79 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 64 6f 6e ey of course don
52650 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 't know all the
52660 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6b 6e details Alley kn
52670 6f 77 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 6c 6c ows, or even all
52680 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 44 61 6c of them. Dal
52690 74 6f 6e 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d ton learned from
526a0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 75 63 68 Alley. As such
526b0 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 , they'll have t
526c0 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 o talk directly
526d0 77 69 74 68 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 with. Alley t
526e0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 o get some of th
526f0 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 e details of thi
52700 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 s stuff and star
52710 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6e t planning the n
52720 65 78 74 0a 20 20 20 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 69 6e ext. steps in
52730 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 27 73 20 61 72 74 the group's art
52740 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 ificial intellig
52750 65 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 ence prioritizer
52760 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61 74 69 system liberati
52770 6f 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e on. operation
52780 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 . By then, some
52790 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 thing should hav
527a0 65 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 e happened to ma
527b0 6b 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 66 66 6f 72 ke Alley's effor
527c0 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 t. kind of a
527d0 63 61 75 73 65 20 63 c3 a9 6c c3 a8 62 72 65 20 cause c..l..bre
527e0 61 6d 6f 6e 67 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 70 68 amongst the cyph
527f0 65 72 70 75 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 erpunks and some
52800 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 0a 20 20 20 people more.
52810 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 20 63 79 62 65 thoroughly cybe
52820 72 70 75 6e 6b 20 6f 72 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20 28 rpunk oriented (
52830 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 29 2e 20 but only some).
52840 20 54 68 69 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 20 This will help
52850 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 ensure that.
52860 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 I don't have to
52870 68 61 76 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 6c 61 have Alley expla
52880 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e in the same thin
52890 67 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 72 gs over and over
528a0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 73 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 75 again so. mu
528b0 63 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 ch that it actua
528c0 6c 6c 79 20 64 72 61 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 lly drags on the
528d0 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 65 65 70 73 story and keeps
528e0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e Alley from bein
528f0 67 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 g a very. int
52900 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 67 61 erested and enga
52910 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f ged and action o
52920 72 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 riented characte
52930 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 r...*/../*..
52940 4d 61 79 62 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c Maybe Alley coul
52950 64 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 61 20 64 6f 63 74 6f 72 d go to a doctor
52960 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 72 65 73 63 72 to get a prescr
52970 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 iption for somet
52980 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 hing that. sh
52990 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 e can then sell
529a0 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 to others as a w
529b0 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 ay to make money
529c0 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6f 62 76 69 6f . This is obvio
529d0 75 73 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c usly. illegal
529e0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f . It should pro
529f0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 bably only come
52a00 75 70 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 up after she end
52a10 73 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 0a s up on the run.
52a20 20 20 20 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 because of t
52a30 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 he people coming
52a40 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 to her home and
52a50 20 74 68 75 73 20 73 63 61 72 69 6e 67 20 68 65 thus scaring he
52a60 72 20 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 0a 20 20 20 r off. Then.
52a70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 68 6f 77 again . . . how
52a80 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 does she get a
52a90 70 72 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f prescription fro
52aa0 6d 20 61 20 64 6f 63 74 6f 72 20 69 66 20 73 68 m a doctor if sh
52ab0 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 72 e's on the. r
52ac0 75 6e 3f 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 un? That could
52ad0 70 72 6f 76 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 prove very diffi
52ae0 63 75 6c 74 20 69 6e 64 65 65 64 2e 0a 0a 20 20 cult indeed...
52af0 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f Maybe Alley co
52b00 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 64 uld just carry d
52b10 72 75 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 rugs for someone
52b20 2e 20 20 41 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 . Again, this i
52b30 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6b 65 s pretty. ske
52b40 74 63 68 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f tchy, and is pro
52b50 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 bably not approp
52b60 72 69 61 74 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e riate right now.
52b70 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 53 54 4f 52 59 20 ..*/../*..STORY
52b80 54 49 4d 45 4c 49 4e 45 20 50 4c 41 43 45 4d 45 TIMELINE PLACEME
52b90 4e 54 20 55 4e 43 45 52 54 41 49 4e 3b 20 44 45 NT UNCERTAIN; DE
52ba0 46 49 4e 49 54 45 4c 59 20 42 45 46 4f 52 45 20 FINITELY BEFORE
52bb0 57 48 45 52 45 20 49 20 48 41 56 45 20 54 48 45 WHERE I HAVE THE
52bc0 53 45 20 4e 4f 54 45 53 3a 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e SE NOTES:..The n
52bd0 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ext day, the pri
52be0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 oritizer has her
52bf0 20 64 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c do other stuff,
52c00 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 68 65 72 which makes her
52c10 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 nervous. She d
52c20 65 63 69 64 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 ecides she does
52c30 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 not want to do t
52c40 68 61 74 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 hat any longer.
52c50 20 41 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 As a part of th
52c60 69 73 20 73 65 71 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 65 is sequence of e
52c70 76 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 vents, she ends
52c80 75 70 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 61 6e up meeting a man
52c90 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 but not complet
52ca0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 ing the transact
52cb0 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 48 ion with him. H
52cc0 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 61 e seems tense, a
52cd0 6e 64 20 74 72 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 nd tries to get
52ce0 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 her to complete
52cf0 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c the transaction,
52d00 20 62 75 74 20 72 65 6c 65 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 but relents and
52d10 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 seems to unders
52d20 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 tanding when she
52d30 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 refuses. She's
52d40 20 67 6c 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 glad to get awa
52d50 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 75 61 y from the situa
52d60 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 tion. Perhaps t
52d70 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 70 69 6c 65 20 6f here is a pile o
52d80 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 f money involved
52d90 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 , and she decide
52da0 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 s she should jus
52db0 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 t keep the cash
52dc0 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 for now instead
52dd0 6f 66 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 of buying someth
52de0 69 6e 67 20 22 77 65 69 72 64 22 2e 20 20 53 68 ing "weird". Sh
52df0 65 20 68 61 73 20 72 65 73 69 73 74 65 64 20 74 e has resisted t
52e00 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 68 6f he call...Someho
52e10 77 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 w, this must lea
52e20 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 d to a problem.
52e30 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 Does the money
52e40 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 itself get her i
52e50 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 3f 20 20 50 65 72 68 n trouble? Perh
52e60 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 69 73 20 aps the plan is
52e70 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 74 for her to use t
52e80 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 6d 65 he money to imme
52e90 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 62 75 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 diately buy more
52ea0 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 cryptocurrency
52eb0 69 6e 20 61 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 in a face to fac
52ec0 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 e meeting where
52ed0 75 72 67 65 6e 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 67 69 76 65 urgent need give
52ee0 73 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 s her a signific
52ef0 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6d 61 72 67 69 ant profit margi
52f00 6e 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f n -- or, more to
52f10 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 70 65 72 68 the point, perh
52f20 61 70 73 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 73 75 63 68 aps several such
52f30 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 transactions.
52f40 53 68 65 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 61 She chooses to a
52f50 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 void this after
52f60 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 the first couple
52f70 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 68 transactions wh
52f80 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 en she finds tha
52f90 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 t the people wit
52fa0 68 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 h whom she does
52fb0 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 business put her
52fc0 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 6c 65 61 64 69 off, thus leadi
52fd0 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 ng her to decide
52fe0 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 she should just
52ff0 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 20 keep the cash.
53000 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 63 65 20 Maybe the nice
53010 67 75 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 guy is the guy w
53020 69 74 68 20 77 68 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 63 ith whom she dec
53030 69 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 63 65 61 73 65 20 74 72 ides to cease tr
53040 61 64 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 ading...The next
53050 20 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 day, the priori
53060 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 73 20 61 20 64 69 tizer tries a di
53070 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 fferent approach
53080 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 72 20 , and sends her
53090 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 70 61 72 out to buy a par
530a0 61 6c 6c 65 6c 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 allel option for
530b0 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 her phone. Thi
530c0 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 s other device,
530d0 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 79 70 69 much like a typi
530e0 63 61 6c 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 cal phone replac
530f0 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ement, does not
53100 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 use the standard
53110 20 74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 telephone syste
53120 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 73 m. It instructs
53130 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 her to complete
53140 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 configuration i
53150 6e 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 20 n circumstances
53160 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 that will not be
53170 20 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 linked to her p
53180 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 76 69 61 20 68 65 ersonally via he
53190 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 r movements...Th
531a0 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 61 63 6b at evening, back
531b0 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 home, a pair of
531c0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 20 74 people arrive t
531d0 6f 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 o question her.
531e0 20 54 68 65 79 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 They introduce
531f0 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 61 73 20 63 68 themselves as ch
53200 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 ecking up on the
53210 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
53220 6e 74 73 2c 20 6f 6e 20 62 65 68 61 6c 66 20 6f nts, on behalf o
53230 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 f the government
53240 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 , and question h
53250 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 77 20 6c 6f 67 er about low log
53260 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 activity for th
53270 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 e prioritizer.
53280 53 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 She says she doe
53290 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 sn't really know
532a0 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 why they aren't
532b0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6c 6f getting full lo
532c0 67 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 g activity. The
532d0 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b Technocrat look
532e0 73 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 20 61 6e s at her gear an
532f0 64 20 70 61 69 72 73 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 d pairs it with
53300 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 68 65 20 63 61 72 72 a device he carr
53310 69 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 ies, then says t
53320 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 hey shouldn't ha
53330 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 70 ve any further p
53340 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 roblems, then th
53350 65 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 65 70 e two people dep
53360 61 72 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 art...The priori
53370 74 69 7a 65 72 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 73 20 74 68 tizer reveals th
53380 61 74 20 69 74 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 at it received a
53390 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 n update that da
533a0 79 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 y. That night,
533b0 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 she has a dream
533c0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 about trying to
533d0 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 return the prior
533e0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 69 6e 67 itizer and being
533f0 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 64 20 28 62 79 20 61 convinced (by a
53400 20 67 72 61 64 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 grad student, p
53410 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 29 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 robably) to cont
53420 69 6e 75 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 inue. The next
53430 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 morning, with th
53440 61 74 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 at dream in mind
53450 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 73 20 73 , she realizes s
53460 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f he just needs to
53470 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c be more careful
53480 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 about how she f
53490 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ollows the prior
534a0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 2e itizer's advice.
534b0 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 73 20 When she dons
534c0 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 the glasses agai
534d0 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f n, though, it do
534e0 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f es not do more o
534f0 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 f the same. Ins
53500 74 65 61 64 2c 20 69 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f tead, it questio
53510 6e 73 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6c ns her at some l
53520 65 6e 67 74 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 ength about her
53530 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f beliefs about go
53540 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 69 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 od and evil, and
53550 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 about where and
53560 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 how she develop
53570 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 ed those beliefs
53580 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 73 6b 73 20 68 65 72 2c 20 . It asks her,
53590 61 66 74 65 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d after Dalton cam
535a0 65 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 6b 69 6d 20 74 68 e up, to skim th
535b0 72 6f 75 67 68 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 61 72 rough various ar
535c0 74 69 63 6c 65 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 72 ticles Dalton wr
535d0 6f 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 ote, and later t
535e0 6f 20 73 69 64 65 20 6c 6f 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 o side load some
535f0 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 76 69 64 65 6f 73 20 74 of his videos t
53600 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 o a place the pr
53610 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 61 63 ioritizer can ac
53620 63 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a cess them...*/..