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10530 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 63 61 "Okay.".."It ca
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17f30 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 6e rrow, straight n
17f40 6f 73 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 ose gave Alley a
17f50 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 69 6d 70 72 n immediate impr
17f60 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 ession this pers
17f70 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 on was probably
17f80 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 prettier than he
17f90 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b r. It only took
17fa0 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f a second or two
17fb0 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c for her to real
17fc0 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 ize what she saw
17fd0 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 did not look fe
17fe0 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c male...He just l
17ff0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 72 79 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 ooked very young
18000 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 ...The driver ga
18010 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 ve her an apprai
18020 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 sing look, the i
18030 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 mpersonally inte
18040 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c rested kind of l
18050 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 ook that lingere
18060 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 d on the way her
18070 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 cargo pants and
18080 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 t shirt fit her
18090 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 and would norma
180a0 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 lly set her teet
180b0 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 h on edge, but s
180c0 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 he just stared a
180d0 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 t him for a mome
180e0 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 nt with his fash
180f0 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c ionably spartan,
18100 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 63 almost formal c
18110 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 ut, black collar
18120 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 less shirt..."Ar
18130 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 en't you kind of
18140 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 young for this
18150 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 sort of thing?"
18160 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e she blurted out.
18170 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 ..He jerked the
18180 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 focus of his aqu
18190 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 a eyes, reflecti
181a0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 ng the light of
181b0 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 the moon, away f
181c0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 rom the vicinity
181d0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 of her midsecti
181e0 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 on and met her e
181f0 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 yes. "Hey, lady
18200 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 , don't think I'
18210 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 m new to this.
18220 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f I'm armed, so do
18230 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 n't jerk me arou
18240 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 nd."..She hesita
18250 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ted, then said "
18260 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 No, not a proble
18270 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 m. You just, uh
18280 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e h, surprised me.
18290 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 Sorry.".."What
182a0 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 ever," he said,
182b0 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 in a soft, clear
182c0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f voice that almo
182d0 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 st made it diffi
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18300 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c in it. "Here, l
18310 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 ook at this," he
18320 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 said, and held
18330 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 up a device the
18340 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d size of his palm
18350 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 . A glowing dis
18360 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 play on it, abou
18370 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 t the length of
18380 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e her own thumb an
18390 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 d three times th
183a0 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f e thickness, sho
183b0 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 69 67 68 74 79 20 73 65 wed an eighty se
183c0 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 ven Stater trans
183d0 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 action ready for
183e0 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e him to confirm.
183f0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e ..She nodded, an
18400 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 d said "Go ahead
18410 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 and send it to
18420 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 this escrow." S
18430 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 he pulled out th
18440 65 20 64 6f 67 20 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 e dog eared page
18450 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b of her notebook
18460 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 without looking
18470 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 at it, and hand
18480 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
18490 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 . He entered th
184a0 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 e escrow number
184b0 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 into his device
184c0 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 and thumbed the
184d0 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 confirmation. A
184e0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 moment later, s
184f0 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 he heard the esc
18500 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 row alert throug
18510 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 h her phone's ea
18520 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c rpiece..."Done",
18530 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 he said..."Here
18540 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 's the cash." S
18550 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 he hung her righ
18560 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 t thumb on her f
18570 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 ront pocket, the
18580 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 n reached into t
18590 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 he car with her
185a0 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c left hand to pul
185b0 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 l out the bag.
185c0 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f She handed it to
185d0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f the boy...He to
185e0 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 ok it, keeping h
185f0 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 is eyes on her,
18600 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b and stepped back
18610 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 . He tossed the
18620 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 bag into the ca
18630 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 r, then Alley he
18640 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e ard some rustlin
18650 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 g sounds from th
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18670 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few moments, she
18680 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 realized whoeve
18690 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e r was sitting in
186a0 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 the passenger s
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186c0 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 counting. Alley
186d0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f and the boy sto
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186f0 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c g at each other,
18700 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e as they waited.
18710 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 A girl's voice
18720 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 -- unless it wa
18730 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 s an even younge
18740 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 r boy -- said "I
18750 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a t's all here."..
18760 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 The boy tapped h
18770 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 is device with h
18780 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f is thumb once mo
18790 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 re, and said "Ar
187a0 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f e we done?".."No
187b0 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 t yet," she said
187c0 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 . "Just wait."
187d0 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 Everyone waited
187e0 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 . A few seconds
187f0 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 later, another
18800 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 alert chimed in
18810 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f Alley's ear. "O
18820 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e kay, we're done.
18830 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 ".."Good," he sa
18840 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b id, and sat back
18850 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 in his car with
18860 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 surprising quic
18870 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 kness...Alley sa
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188a0 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 door shut. The
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188c0 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 out and quickly
188d0 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 drove away, whi
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188f0 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 buckling her se
18900 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 atbelt. Soon sh
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18920 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 he road..."It is
18930 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 too early to be
18940 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 sure that went
18950 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 well," the prior
18960 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 itizer said..."Y
18970 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 eah. I should c
18980 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 heck my Stater b
18990 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 alance." She pu
189a0 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 lled over, set a
189b0 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 side her glasses
189c0 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 so they wouldn'
189d0 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 t record what sh
189e0 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 e saw, picked up
189f0 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 her phone, and
18a00 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 looked at the op
18a10 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 en ledger view.
18a20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 She now had a S
18a30 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 tater balance.
18a40 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 She stared at it
18a50 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 for a while..."
18a60 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f Is everything co
18a70 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f rrect?" the prio
18a80 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a ritizer asked...
18a90 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e She nodded, then
18aa0 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f realized it pro
18ab0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 bably couldn't t
18ac0 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 ell she nodded w
18ad0 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 hen she wasn't w
18ae0 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 earing the glass
18af0 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 es. "Yeah, it's
18b00 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 all there. Is
18b10 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 there any way th
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18b40 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ".."No," the pri
18b50 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 oritizer said.
18b60 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 "If it shows in
18b70 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 your balance, th
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18bb0 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 of no return, a
18bc0 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 ccording to the
18bd0 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 Stater documents
18be0 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d you showed to m
18bf0 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 e through your g
18c00 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e lasses.".."Okay.
18c10 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 " She locked he
18c20 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 r phone, tossed
18c30 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e it on the passen
18c40 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 ger seat, and st
18c50 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 67 arted driving ag
18c60 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 ain..."Perhaps y
18c70 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 ou should wear t
18c80 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e he glasses again
18c90 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 .".."Oh, right,"
18ca0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 she said. She
18cb0 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 picked them out
18cc0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 70 20 68 6f 6c 64 65 of the cup holde
18cd0 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 r and settled th
18ce0 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 6f em on her face o
18cf0 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 nce more. "I gu
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18d20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 53 74 61 74 65 thing with State
18d30 72 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c r so we can sell
18d40 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 it. Right?".."
18d50 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 Yes. You should
18d60 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 send a message
18d70 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 to a buyer tonig
18d80 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 ht, then buy the
18d90 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 item when you g
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18db0 20 20 55 73 65 20 61 6e 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 Use an escrow
18dc0 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 hold to reserve
18dd0 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 the purchase, wi
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18df0 69 6f 6e 20 66 65 65 20 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 ion fee pledged
18e00 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 73 65 to the escrow se
18e10 72 76 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 rvice.".."Yeah,
18e20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 got it," she sai
18e30 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 d. "I hope this
18e40 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 all works out."
18e50 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a .."It should."..
18e60 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 She drove home i
18e70 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 6f 63 63 61 73 n silence, occas
18e80 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 ionally looking
18e90 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 73 70 61 at the empty spa
18ea0 63 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 ce in front of t
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18ec0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 t that used to h
18ed0 6f 6c 64 20 61 20 62 61 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f old a bag full o
18ee0 66 20 63 61 73 68 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 f cash...When sh
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18f00 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 sat in front of
18f10 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 73 65 74 20 her laptop, set
18f20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 aside her glasse
18f30 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 s again, and che
18f40 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 cked her Stater
18f50 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 account. Everyt
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18f70 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 t was supposed t
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18f90 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 20 she could tell.
18fa0 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 After closing t
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18fc0 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 donned her glass
18fd0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 es again and sta
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18ff0 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 large differenc
19000 65 73 20 69 6e 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 es in price for
19010 69 74 65 6d 73 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 items available
19020 69 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 70 73 in both local ps
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19040 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 ifieds and Open
19050 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 Marrakesh, which
19060 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6c 66 was one of half
19070 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 a dozen of the
19080 77 6f 72 6c 64 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e worlds supportin
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190a0 69 6e 67 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 ings in the exte
190b0 6e 64 65 64 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 61 7a 61 61 72 20 nded OpenBazaar
190c0 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 75 6e online market un
190d0 69 76 65 72 73 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 iverse...She fou
190e0 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 nd an improbable
190f0 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 6f 6e opportunity, on
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1a340 20 61 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 75 72 73 a tactical purs
1a350 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 e on her other s
1a360 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 ide. She wasn't
1a370 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 what Alley expe
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1a390 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 mous gun parts t
1a3a0 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 rade...The redhe
1a3b0 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 ad watched stead
1a3c0 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 ily as Alley app
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1a3f0 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 69 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 be vivid green
1a400 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 eyes. The lack
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1a420 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e t mean she was n
1a430 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 ot a natural red
1a440 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 head, but it als
1a450 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 o might just mea
1a460 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 n she got them r
1a470 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d emoved...The wom
1a480 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f an asked "Are yo
1a490 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f u looking for so
1a4a0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 meone?"..Alley s
1a4b0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 topped, a couple
1a4c0 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 meters away. "
1a4d0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f Yeah, I guess so
1a4e0 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 . Is that the,
1a4f0 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 uh . . ." she tr
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1a510 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 estured at the d
1a520 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a rawstring bag...
1a530 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f "Printed frames?
1a540 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 " the redhead as
1a550 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 ked...Alley nodd
1a560 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 ed...The redhead
1a570 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b pulled her mask
1a580 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 down and expose
1a590 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 77 68 69 74 d brilliant whit
1a5a0 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 e teeth with a b
1a5b0 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 road smile. "Ye
1a5c0 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 ah, you found wh
1a5d0 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 at you want. I'
1a5e0 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 m Carmen." She
1a5f0 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 stood and offere
1a600 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e d one gloved han
1a610 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 d...Alley accept
1a620 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e ed the quick han
1a630 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 dshake. "Mallor
1a640 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c y," she offered,
1a650 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c on impulse..."L
1a660 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d et me guess: I'm
1a670 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 not what you ex
1a680 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 pected.".."I was
1a690 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f n't sure what to
1a6a0 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 expect," Alley
1a6b0 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 admitted, "but y
1a6c0 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 eah, I guess you
1a6d0 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e surprised me an
1a6e0 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d yway."..Carmen -
1a6f0 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 - possibly a pse
1a700 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 udonym, Alley re
1a710 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 alized -- smiled
1a720 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 again. "That p
1a730 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 art of this job
1a740 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 never gets old.
1a750 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 Anyway, I want
1a760 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 to upsell you.
1a770 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 How's that sound
1a780 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 ?".."Upsell?" A
1a790 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 lley hesitated,
1a7a0 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 then nodded. "S
1a7b0 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a ure, I guess."..
1a7c0 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 "Cool. So, we h
1a7d0 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 ave printed conc
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1a7f0 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 , snap on access
1a800 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 ory rails, and b
1a810 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f rass catchers fo
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1a830 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 ble with these f
1a840 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 rames. We have
1a850 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 stuff for other
1a860 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 models, too, so
1a870 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 let me know what
1a880 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 you'd like to s
1a890 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c ee.".."Wow. Ful
1a8a0 6c 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 l service, I gue
1a8b0 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 ss.".."Totally!"
1a8c0 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 Carmen tugged
1a8d0 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 her shirt down s
1a8e0 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 lightly, making
1a8f0 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 it a little more
1a900 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 obvious she was
1a910 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 n't wearing a br
1a920 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c a..."I think I'l
1a930 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 l just stick wit
1a940 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c h the order I pl
1a950 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 aced, for now.
1a960 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e I'll keep you in
1a970 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 mind if I need
1a980 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 something else,
1a990 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e though."..Carmen
1a9a0 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 shrugged, and t
1a9b0 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 he way she sligh
1a9c0 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 tly raised her a
1a9d0 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 rms as she did i
1a9e0 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 t made the shirt
1a9f0 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 tighten across
1aa00 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 her perky breast
1aa10 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c s. "Okay!"..All
1aa20 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 ey took in the d
1aa30 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 isplay and sligh
1aa40 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 tly over the top
1aa50 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 cheeriness. "D
1aa60 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f oes that . . . o
1aa70 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 h, never mind.
1aa80 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 I guess I should
1aa90 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 just see the fr
1aaa0 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 ames, now."..Car
1aab0 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 men narrowed her
1aac0 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 75 eyes, almost bu
1aad0 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 t not quite susp
1aae0 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 iciously, and ti
1aaf0 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 lted her head.
1ab00 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 "No, wait. What
1ab10 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 were you going
1ab20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 to ask?".."Nothi
1ab30 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e ng," Alley said.
1ab40 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 "I haven't bee
1ab50 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 n very sociable
1ab60 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 lately, and forg
1ab70 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 20 73 6f et my manners so
1ab80 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c metimes.".."Ooh,
1ab90 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 inappropriate q
1aba0 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 uestions. Those
1abb0 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 are my favorite
1abc0 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 kind. You shou
1abd0 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 ld totally ask!"
1abe0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 ..Alley signed.
1abf0 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e "I was just won
1ac00 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 dering if you're
1ac10 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c naturally this,
1ac20 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f uh, friendly, o
1ac30 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 r if you're like
1ac40 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 this because it
1ac50 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 gets you a lot
1ac60 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 of upsells." Ca
1ac70 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e rmen laughed, an
1ac80 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 d Alley found it
1ac90 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 infectious. Sh
1aca0 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 e caught herself
1acb0 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f snickering, too
1acc0 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 ..."Why do I thi
1acd0 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 nk you meant to
1ace0 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 say 'flirty' ins
1acf0 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c tead of 'friendl
1ad00 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 y'?"..Alley shru
1ad10 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 gged. She tried
1ad20 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 , with only mode
1ad30 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f rate success, to
1ad40 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d suppress her sm
1ad50 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 ile..."Was it th
1ad60 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c at obvious?"..Al
1ad70 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 ley said "Yeah,
1ad80 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 I guess so. Sor
1ad90 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 ry.".."I guess i
1ada0 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 t's a bit of eve
1adb0 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 rything. I'm us
1adc0 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 ually pretty che
1add0 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d ery, but Cliff -
1ade0 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 - he's the guy I
1adf0 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c work with -- Cl
1ae00 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 iff and I decide
1ae10 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 d to try this ou
1ae20 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e t. With the kin
1ae30 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 d of ambitious y
1ae40 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 oung cryptotrade
1ae50 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c r guys we usuall
1ae60 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c y get, the upsel
1ae70 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 ls and repeat bu
1ae80 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f siness we get go
1ae90 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 es way up when I
1aea0 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 'm doing the tra
1aeb0 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 des. In two yea
1aec0 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 rs, we only had
1aed0 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 one guy who deci
1aee0 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 ded me being a p
1aef0 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 retty girl made
1af00 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 me an easy targe
1af10 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 t, too, so it's
1af20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 pretty safe."..A
1af30 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 lley frowned. "
1af40 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
1af50 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 "I guess that'
1af60 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 s a danger. Wha
1af70 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f t happened?".."O
1af80 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e h, shit," Carmen
1af90 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 said. "You mus
1afa0 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 t be new at this
1afb0 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 . Well, I pulle
1afc0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 d out my baton a
1afd0 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 nd Cliff put a r
1afe0 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 ed dot on the gu
1aff0 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 y's chest with t
1b000 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f he laser sight o
1b010 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 n his rifle. Th
1b020 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 e guy backed dow
1b030 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 n in a hurry. A
1b040 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 re you carrying
1b050 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c protection?"..Al
1b060 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e ley started open
1b070 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f ing her mouth to
1b080 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d reply, but Carm
1b090 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e en cut in again.
1b0a0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c .."No, don't tel
1b0b0 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 l me what you're
1b0c0 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 carrying. You
1b0d0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e shouldn't get in
1b0e0 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 the habit of te
1b0f0 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 lling people stu
1b100 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 ff like that. G
1b110 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 et yourself thre
1b120 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 e things, if you
1b130 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 don't already h
1b140 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 ave 'em. You ne
1b150 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 ed pepper spray
1b160 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c or a sonic repel
1b170 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 lant, a collapsi
1b180 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 ng baton, and ba
1b190 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 ckup who knows w
1b1a0 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 hat he's doing,
1b1b0 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 like Cliff.".."U
1b1c0 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 h, thanks," Alle
1b1d0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 y said. "Aren't
1b1e0 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e those collapsin
1b1f0 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c g batons illegal
1b200 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 ?".."Yeah, Calif
1b210 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 ornia sucks that
1b220 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 way. Girls are
1b230 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 n't allowed to p
1b240 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 rotect themselve
1b250 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 s, you know." S
1b260 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 he pulled someth
1b270 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 ing about the si
1b280 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 ze of a whiteboa
1b290 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 rd marker out of
1b2a0 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 her back pocket
1b2b0 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 . "See this? T
1b2c0 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 his is a good ba
1b2d0 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f ton."..Alley loo
1b2e0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b ked at the black
1b2f0 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e anodized alumin
1b300 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e um cylinder when
1b310 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 Carmen held it
1b320 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 up. It had some
1b330 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e kind of logo on
1b340 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 it and a couple
1b350 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 of depressed ov
1b360 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e als on the side.
1b370 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 .."Push these tw
1b380 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 o spots to pop i
1b390 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 t out. Just pus
1b3a0 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 h the second one
1b3b0 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 , here, and push
1b3c0 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e the business en
1b3d0 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 d against someth
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1b850 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 . "Are you givi
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1b870 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 she asked..."Yea
1b880 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 h. Uh, just a s
1b890 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 ec'," Carmen sai
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1b8f0 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 Cliff, I'm givi
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1bac0 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 She showed her
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1bb50 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 .."Yeah, well, u
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1bb80 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f ight?"..Alley no
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1bcd0 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 Carmen grabbed t
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1bd10 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 ..---..At home,
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1bd40 6e 69 74 72 69 6c 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 73 nitrile gloves s
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1c030 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 She pointed th
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1d6c0 68 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 41 hed counting...A
1d6d0 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 fter she closed
1d6e0 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 6e 63 the envelope onc
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1d700 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 75 "I guess I'm tru
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1d730 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 72 61 70 20 out to be crap
1d740 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 quality, just li
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1d780 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 t."..Alley hesit
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1d7a0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 ..."If there's a
1d7b0 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 problem, I'll t
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1d7f0 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 Yeah?".."Yeah,"
1d800 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 she echoed..."If
1d810 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f I can't find yo
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1d830 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 track you down
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1d850 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 ..After a few se
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1d870 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 bered to breathe
1d880 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 62 . "No, you'll b
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1d8a0 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 touch the same
1d8b0 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 way we set this
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1d8d0 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 fine.".."Good.
1d8e0 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 You can find me
1d8f0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 66 20 the same way if
1d900 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 you need to sett
1d910 6c 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 69 74 le a problem wit
1d920 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f h what I gave yo
1d930 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e u."..She nodded.
1d940 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 75 .."Good doing bu
1d950 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c siness with you,
1d960 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 " he said. "You
1d970 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 69 can go first, i
1d980 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 f you want.".."S
1d990 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ure," she said.
1d9a0 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 "Have a good da
1d9b0 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a y."..He nodded..
1d9c0 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 .She backed away
1d9d0 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 73 74 65 70 73 2c a couple steps,
1d9e0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 then turned and
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1da00 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 she got to the
1da10 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 corner. She gla
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1da30 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74 along the way, t
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1da60 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 around the corne
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1da80 67 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 6f g...In her car o
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1dac0 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 61 6c 66 20 around for half
1dad0 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65 an hour until he
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1daf0 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 shaking and her
1db00 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 6a 61 77 20 72 65 6c clenched jaw rel
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1db30 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d 20 49 20 61 63 74 he fuck am I act
1db40 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 ually doing?" sh
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1db60 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f ..---..Sitting o
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1db80 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 n, Alley said "I
1db90 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 73 61 66 65 don't feel safe
1dba0 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 with the kinds
1dbb0 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 of deals I made
1dbc0 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 today."..The pri
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1dbe0 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 63 69 ou did not speci
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1dc00 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 61 reference for sa
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1dc30 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 chance of poor s
1dc40 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 69 afety outcomes i
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1dc70 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 s, though severi
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1dc90 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 or poor outcomes
1dca0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 63 6f 6e ..."I will recon
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1dcc0 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 or future activi
1dcd0 74 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 ties with a high
1dce0 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 preference for
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1dd30 68 65 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 her severity ris
1dd40 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a k.".."Thanks."..
1dd50 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 "You are welcome
1dd60 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 78 74 .".."What's next
1dd70 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 , then?"..The pr
1dd80 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
1dd90 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 I am reconsideri
1dda0 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 6c ng options, in l
1ddb0 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 72 69 73 6b ight of new risk
1ddc0 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 72 69 6f assessment prio
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1dde0 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 s may take a few
1ddf0 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 minutes."..Alle
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1de10 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 envelope of cash
1de20 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 , then pulled ou
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1de40 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 counted them aga
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1de70 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ed, but the prio
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1dea0 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 20 again.".."What?
1deb0 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 6c 65 20 79 Why?".."While y
1dec0 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69 ou counted, /* i
1ded0 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 74 t looked like at
1dee0 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 2a 2f 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 least */ one of
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1df20 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c d States federal
1df30 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 2c 20 reserve notes,
1df40 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 and also appeare
1df50 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 6e 65 77 d to be very new
1df60 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 . Perhaps some
1df70 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 69 of these notes i
1df80 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 66 65 69 74 2e s a counterfeit.
1df90 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 61 Please count a
1dfa0 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 77 61 74 gain while I wat
1dfb0 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 ch."..Alley frow
1dfc0 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b ned at the stack
1dfd0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f , and started co
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1dff0 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 73 oward the end, s
1e000 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 he hesitated on
1e010 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 77 20 6e one of the few n
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1e030 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 in the stack, w
1e040 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 ith a feeling li
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1e060 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 wrong..."That i
1e070 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 77 68 6f 73 65 s the note whose
1e080 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 thickness appea
1e090 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 72 72 65 rs to be incorre
1e0a0 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c ct."..Alley pull
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1e0c0 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 stack and looke
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1e0f0 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 most bills, but
1e100 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 that could just
1e110 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 62 65 69 be due to it bei
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1e130 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 bed it to get a
1e140 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 73 20 73 75 72 feel for its sur
1e150 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 65 70 face, and it sep
1e160 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 arated into two
1e170 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 bills. "Oh, shi
1e180 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 t," she said. "
1e190 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 77 61 72 20 76 That scary war v
1e1a0 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 eteran guy accid
1e1b0 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 entally gave me
1e1c0 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 an extra hundred
1e1d0 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 69 . Fuck. What i
1e1e0 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 20 61 f it wasn't an a
1e1f0 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 ccident? Maybe
1e200 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 it's a test.".."
1e210 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 65 78 74 72 65 That seems extre
1e220 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 mely unlikely,"
1e230 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
1e240 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 said..."Yeah."
1e250 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 She sighed. "I
1e260 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 guess you're rig
1e270 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a ht, actually."..
1e280 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 6f "I have a plan o
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1e2b0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 ."..Alley starte
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1e2e0 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 ra hundred in he
1e2f0 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 57 61 69 74 2e 20 r hand. "Wait.
1e300 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 I should give t
1e310 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f his bill back to
1e320 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f that guy.".."Fo
1e330 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 r a high priorit
1e340 79 20 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 69 y aversion to hi
1e350 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b gh severity risk
1e360 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 s, this is not a
1e370 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 59 good choice. Y
1e380 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 ou should avoid
1e390 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f meeting with peo
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1e3b0 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 76 69 potential for vi
1e3c0 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 olence."..Alley
1e3d0 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e laughed quietly.
1e3e0 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Yeah," she sa
1e3f0 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 id, "you're righ
1e400 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 t. I got throug
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1e440 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 Should I count
1e450 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 that as my lucky
1e460 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 break, and forg
1e470 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 et about him, or
1e480 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 take it as evid
1e490 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 ence that I migh
1e4a0 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 t not be in any
1e4b0 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 69 66 20 49 20 6d 65 65 74 danger if I meet
1e4c0 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 him again to gi
1e4d0 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 6d 69 73 70 ve back his misp
1e4e0 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 laced money?.."I
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1e500 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 ight, just keepi
1e510 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 74 68 ng his money, th
1e520 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 ough.".."Why do
1e530 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 you feel that wa
1e540 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 y?" the prioriti
1e550 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 zer asked..."It'
1e560 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2c 22 20 73 68 s dishonest," sh
1e570 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 e said..."You di
1e580 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d d not lie to him
1e590 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 .".."True.".."Di
1e5a0 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 d you realize th
1e5b0 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 ere might be mor
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1e5d0 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 intended to give
1e5e0 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f you when you co
1e5f0 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 unted the first
1e600 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 time?".."No.".."
1e610 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 68 How is that dish
1e620 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 onest?"..Alley's
1e630 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 lips tightened
1e640 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 for a moment. "
1e650 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 I guess dishones
1e660 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 t isn't the righ
1e670 74 20 77 6f 72 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 t word, but I'm
1e680 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 taking advantage
1e690 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 of him in some
1e6a0 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 way that doesn't
1e6b0 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 46 6f feel right. Fo
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1e6d0 61 74 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74 at hundred might
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1e6f0 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 e difference bet
1e700 77 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 ween something b
1e710 61 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 68 ad hitting him h
1e720 61 72 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e ard at some poin
1e730 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e t and not hittin
1e740 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a g him at all."..
1e750 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 79 6f 75 "Do you feel you
1e760 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f owe him that co
1e770 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 nsideration, per
1e780 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 22 sonally?"../*.."
1e790 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 77 65 20 Not exactly owe
1e7a0 68 69 6d 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 him, I guess, bu
1e7b0 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 t he hasn't done
1e7c0 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 75 72 anything to hur
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1f840 20 49 74 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 It feels like I
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1f870 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 other reason tha
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1f900 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 3f profile change?
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20f30 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 20 73 6f ..She groaned so
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215d0 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 spoke to her.
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21630 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e ".."Shit. I can
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21720 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 Thanks.".."You
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21740 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 She stared at he
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217d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 .Alley nodded, a
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22f70 48 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 Hm." He looked
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22fb0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 .".."Uh, yeah.
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230d0 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a or you, then."..
230e0 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e He shrugged. "N
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233f0 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 50 49 43 4b 20 4f 4e 45 3a "../*..PICK ONE:
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234b0 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 of lamps under
234c0 6c 69 6e 65 6e 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 68 65 linen shades, he
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23550 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e She nodded, then
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23580 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 end of the couch
23590 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 and sat in an a
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235c0 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 6f ."I have some bo
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235f0 20 6f 72 20 63 68 6f 63 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 2e 20 or chocolate .
23600 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 61 2e 20 20 49 27 . . and tea. I'
23610 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 61 20 62 65 65 72 2c 20 d offer a beer,
23620 62 75 74 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 but I guess you
23630 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 72 69 76 have a long driv
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23680 68 6f 6c 20 62 72 65 77 73 20 49 20 6b 65 65 70 hol brews I keep
23690 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a around here."..
236a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 68 65 72 20 64 Alley felt her d
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236c0 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 2e 20 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 tongue. "Ah .
236d0 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 . . yeah, I gues
236e0 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 72 73 74 79 2e 20 20 s I'm thirsty.
236f0 41 20 43 6f 6b 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 A Coke would be
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23710 64 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 d, just slightly
23720 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 47 6f . "Alright. Go
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23770 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 68 another look, h
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237a0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f ooked at the boo
237b0 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 ks on the shelve
237c0 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 6f s. Many were wo
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23800 74 65 78 74 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 textbooks. She
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238e0 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 74 68 65 6d 61 theory, mathema
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23940 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 again. She tur
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23960 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6e 65 the man stood ne
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23990 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 . "Here," he sa
239a0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20 id. "Sorry. I
239b0 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 didn't mean to s
239c0 74 61 72 74 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 tartle you."..Sh
239d0 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 e nodded her tha
239e0 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 65 nks and took the
239f0 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 63 61 72 can. As he car
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23a30 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 and sat down wi
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23ac0 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 ned his can..."I
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23b10 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Yeah," she
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23b30 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 d her can and dr
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23b80 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 6c 69 63 20 73 6e of a metallic sn
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23c10 78 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 x..."Uh . . . I
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23c30 65 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 27 73 20 69 6e 20 e whatever's in
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23c50 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6c ped moving and l
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23c90 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 moment, his brow
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23cc0 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 his brow smooth
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23d10 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e "Oh, I get it.
23d20 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f 6c 27 20 44 61 76 65 Hah! Ol' Dave
23d30 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 71 75 must've made qu
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23d80 20 66 65 65 6c 20 65 6d 62 61 72 72 61 73 73 65 feel embarrasse
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23da0 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 now..."Look, I
23db0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 76 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 know Dave looks
23dc0 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 like he probably
23dd0 20 63 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6d 65 74 68 20 66 6f 72 20 cooks meth for
23de0 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 a living, but he
23df0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 just uses the s
23e00 68 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 hit. He doesn't
23e10 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 make it, and he
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23e40 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 78 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 This box is just
23e50 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 some parts I ha
23e60 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 66 6f d him machine fo
23e70 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b r me."..She look
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23eb0 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 22 41 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 hair..."Ah, righ
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23ef0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 . They're parts
23f00 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 for a custom pr
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23f20 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 building for a
23f30 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 little girl."..A
23f40 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e lley sat back in
23f50 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 her chair, rela
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23f70 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 nd she sipped fr
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23fa0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f he said "Really?
23fb0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f ".."Yeah. One o
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23ff0 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 49 20 62 6f 75 the frames I bou
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24010 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 e little daughte
24020 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 6f 6c r, nine years ol
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24060 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 64 6f 77 6e police crackdown
24070 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 on the proteste
24080 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 rs at the [ SOME
24090 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d THING ] street m
240a0 61 73 73 61 63 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 assacre. She's
240b0 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 outgrowing the a
240c0 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 rm I made for he
240d0 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c r a year ago, al
240e0 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 ready.".."Oh. R
240f0 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 ight. There's s
24100 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 omething about t
24110 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f he guns."..He lo
24120 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 oked at her, sid
24130 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 elong. "What ab
24140 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 out them?" he as
24150 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 ked..."Uh, after
24160 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 I got home, I r
24170 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 ealized you gave
24180 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e me too much mon
24190 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 ey.".."What do y
241a0 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 ou mean? I paid
241b0 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c what we agreed,
241c0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 and the frames
241d0 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a were all good.".
241e0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 .She shook her h
241f0 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 ead. "There wer
24200 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 e two brand new
24210 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 hundreds stuck t
24220 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 ogether. I got
24230 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 an extra hundred
24240 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 dollars by acci
24250 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 dent."..He stare
24260 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 d at her..."I, u
24270 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 h, don't have it
24280 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 with me," she s
24290 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 aid. "Maybe I c
242a0 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d an come back tom
242b0 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a orrow with it.".
242c0 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e .George laughed.
242d0 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c It was a warm,
242e0 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 2c 20 64 65 65 70 surprised, deep
242f0 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 laugh, and she
24300 66 65 6c 74 20 74 65 6e 73 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 61 felt tension dra
24310 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e ining away again
24320 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c , despite hersel
24330 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 f..."No, don't d
24340 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 o that," he said
24350 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 , a hint of chuc
24360 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 kle still in his
24370 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 voice. "Y'know
24380 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 what? I like y
24390 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 ou, Alley. I ev
243a0 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 en like the way
243b0 79 6f 75 72 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 your name descri
243c0 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 bes where we fir
243d0 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 st met."..Alley
243e0 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 smiled. "Thanks
243f0 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f . What about yo
24400 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 ur hundred dolla
24410 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b rs, though?".."K
24420 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 eep it. I'll su
24430 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 rvive without it
24440 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 , and I don't th
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24460 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d all the way from
24470 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 Perris to Hunti
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24490 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 61 74 65 73 20 69 66 courier rates if
244a0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 20 77 your finances w
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244c0 6c 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 ly secure." He
244d0 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 winked at her.
244e0 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f "You're good peo
244f0 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 ple, Alley.".."U
24500 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f h . . . thank yo
24510 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 u. Maybe you ar
24520 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c e, too.".."Yeah,
24530 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 maybe. I hope
24540 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 so." He turned
24550 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 back to the box
24560 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 and finished cut
24570 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 61 74 ting the tape at
24580 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e the edges, then
24590 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 flipped the top
245a0 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f flaps of the bo
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245c0 75 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 61 70 65 ully lifted tape
245d0 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 75 6e 64 6c d together bundl
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245f0 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 s, leaving packi
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24610 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 65 61 63 68 ..As he set each
24620 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 bundle on the s
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24640 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 d looked over ev
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24660 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 y, Alley sat and
24670 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 43 6f 6b 65 sipped her Coke
24680 2c 20 75 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 , unwilling to d
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246a0 20 20 48 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 65 65 6d His hands seem
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246d0 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 spots on variou
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24710 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 here they needed
24720 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 to go in a perf
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24740 67 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 g almost like me
24750 64 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d ditative psychom
24760 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 etry...He split
24770 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 a couple of the
24780 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 72 67 65 bundles of large
24790 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f r parts, and loo
247a0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 6d ked through them
247b0 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 quickly. He se
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247d0 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 e bundles slight
247e0 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 62 ly splayed out b
247f0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 74 69 ut the parts sti
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24810 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c he tape. Finall
24820 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 0a 0a y, he stopped...
24830 22 49 27 76 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6c "I've kept you l
24840 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 ong enough." He
24850 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 79 lifted the tray
24860 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 and pulled out
24870 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2e 20 20 22 48 an envelope. "H
24880 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 ere. Take this
24890 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f back to Dave, fo
248a0 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 64 65 6c r the second del
248b0 69 76 65 72 79 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 ivery." He held
248c0 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a it out to her..
248d0 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 .She nodded. "S
248e0 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ure.".."Are you
248f0 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f saving up for so
24900 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e mething, or goin
24910 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c g back to school
24920 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 ?"..Alley hesita
24930 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 ted a moment. "
24940 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 Why?"..He shrugg
24950 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a ed. "Curious.".
24960 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 ."Not exactly.
24970 49 27 6d 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 I'm trying to di
24980 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 g myself out of
24990 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 a hole.".."Debts
249a0 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 ?"..She shook he
249b0 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 r head. "I had
249c0 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 a strange career
249d0 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 path, and it's
249e0 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 dying. I don't
249f0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 really have the
24a00 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 work experience
24a10 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 to pick a new di
24a20 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 rection, so I'm
24a30 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 just working on
24a40 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 that.".."Ah. Re
24a50 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 inventing yourse
24a60 6c 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 lf. The world c
24a70 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 73 6f 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 hanges so fast i
24a80 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 t's hard to keep
24a90 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 up."..Alley nod
24aa0 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 ded, then stoppe
24ab0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 d, and shook her
24ac0 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 head again. "I
24ad0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 don't know," sh
24ae0 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 e says. "A lot
24af0 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 of people seem t
24b00 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 o have no proble
24b10 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f m. They just go
24b20 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 to school, get
24b30 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 61 70 65 72 a piece of paper
24b40 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6a 6f , apply for a jo
24b50 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 b, and work unti
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24b70 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 ."It seems that
24b80 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 way," George sai
24b90 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 d, "but most of
24ba0 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c them don't reall
24bb0 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 y do that.".."Wh
24bc0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 at do you mean?"
24bd0 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 .."More and more
24be0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 72 people aren't r
24bf0 65 74 69 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 65 74 20 etiring, or get
24c00 6c 61 69 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 laid off and end
24c10 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 up on the stree
24c20 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d t. Most of them
24c30 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 don't have enou
24c40 67 68 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 gh imagination t
24c50 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 hese days to eve
24c60 6e 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f n conceive of co
24c70 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e mpletely reinven
24c80 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 61 74 68 73 ting their paths
24c90 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 . You look like
24ca0 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 you do, but may
24cb0 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e be you're lookin
24cc0 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 g in the wrong d
24cd0 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c irection." He l
24ce0 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e eaned forward on
24cf0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 72 65 73 74 the couch, rest
24d00 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 ed his forearms
24d10 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2c 20 61 on his thighs, a
24d20 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e nd wrong his han
24d30 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 ds like he meant
24d40 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 63 72 61 6d to massage cram
24d50 70 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 ps out of them.
24d60 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 He looked towar
24d70 64 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 d a bookshelf as
24d80 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e he spoke again.
24d90 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 "It's easy to
24da0 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 see what other p
24db0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 eople are doing
24dc0 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 and think that t
24dd0 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 67 65 hey have it toge
24de0 74 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 ther, that they
24df0 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 have a path and
24e00 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 70 security and hap
24e10 70 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 piness. Most pe
24e20 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 ople lie to each
24e30 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 other about how
24e40 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 64 6f well they're do
24e50 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 ing, and almost
24e60 65 76 65 72 79 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 6f 6e 65 every single one
24e70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 64 of them, deep d
24e80 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e own inside, thin
24e90 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 ks 'I must be th
24ea0 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 e only person wh
24eb0 6f 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 o can't really f
24ec0 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 igure it out.'
24ed0 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 They're all up t
24ee0 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 62 61 6c 6c 73 o their eyeballs
24ef0 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 74 2c 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 in debt, living
24f00 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 paycheck to pay
24f10 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 check..."There a
24f20 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 re a few people
24f30 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 who have things
24f40 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 sorted out prett
24f50 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 y well, prudent
24f60 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 65 people who playe
24f70 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 66 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f d it safe most o
24f80 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 62 75 74 20 74 f the time but t
24f90 6f 6f 6b 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 ook advantage of
24fa0 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 opportunities w
24fb0 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 hen they came, a
24fc0 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 65 6e nd were lucky en
24fd0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 68 65 61 ough to get ahea
24fe0 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e d that way. Man
24ff0 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 y of them don't
25000 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 even realize the
25010 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e y're insecure an
25020 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 d confused all t
25030 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 he time, because
25040 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 67 6f 6f they got so goo
25050 64 20 61 74 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 d at lying to pe
25060 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 74 68 ople about it th
25070 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 76 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 at they've even
25080 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 convinced themse
25090 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 lves..."There ar
250a0 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 e others who rea
250b0 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 lly do believe t
250c0 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 hey have everyth
250d0 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2c ing figured out,
250e0 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 and in a way th
250f0 65 79 27 72 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 ey're even right
25100 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 about that, but
25110 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e not in a way an
25120 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 yone should have
25130 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 things figured
25140 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 out. They lie a
25150 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 nd cheat and ste
25160 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b al, maybe even k
25170 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 ill with the str
25180 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 oke of a pen or
25190 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 72 20 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e an Enter key, an
251a0 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 d make it to the
251b0 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 top over mounds
251c0 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 69 65 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 of bodies, meta
251d0 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f phorical a lot o
251e0 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 f the time, but
251f0 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 literal bodies s
25200 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 ometimes..."My a
25210 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 dvice is: don't
25220 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 be like any of t
25230 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 hem." He looked
25240 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 at her again, c
25250 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 aught her gaze,
25260 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 6e 20 and she felt an
25270 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 almost physical
25280 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 force holding it
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257b0 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 That's one piec
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259f0 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 He scoffed at hi
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26480 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 pants from the
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264a0 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 and made sure s
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264e0 2e 0a 0a 41 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 ...A third round
264f0 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 of noise at the
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26680 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 22 ed to herself, "
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26720 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b the Men In Black
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26880 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a for a moment...
26890 54 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 They all stared
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268b0 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 3f "Can I help you?
268c0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 " Alley asked, h
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26900 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f have a little ho
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26930 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 looked where th
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269f0 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 67 fore her uncle g
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26a30 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 the woman. "Ye
26a40 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ah," she said.
26a50 22 49 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 "I sleep in this
26a60 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 74 72 61 6e 67 65 thing. Strange
26a70 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 rs don't usually
26a80 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 2e 22 get to see it."
26a90 0a 0a 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ..Neither of the
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26b70 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c He was certainl
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26b90 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 67 like it was sig
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26bb0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 ...The man spoke
26bc0 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d first, this tim
26bd0 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 41 6c 65 e. "Are you Ale
26be0 74 68 65 61 20 4c 75 63 61 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 thea Lucas?".."W
26bf0 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ho wants to know
26c00 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 72 ?"..The woman pr
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26c20 20 6f 66 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 of official gov
26c30 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 ernment looking
26c40 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 identification c
26c50 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 ard as if she ha
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26c80 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 ment just like t
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26ca0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 Alley grabbed th
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26cc0 72 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 77 rd just as the w
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26cf0 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 61 held it firmly a
26d00 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 s she gave it a
26d10 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 closer look. Th
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26d40 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 ned..."What's th
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26d70 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 49 44 2e 20 20 contractor ID.
26d80 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 Are you governme
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26da0 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 rying to look li
26db0 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 3f 20 20 49 66 20 ke the FBI? If
26dc0 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e this is some kin
26dd0 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6d 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f d of imminent do
26de0 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 68 61 6b 65 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 main shakedown,
26df0 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 you're talking t
26e00 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 70 65 72 73 o the wrong pers
26e10 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 on. I rent.".."
26e20 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 61 No," the main sa
26e30 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e id, "it's nothin
26e40 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 57 65 g like that. We
26e50 27 72 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 65 73 20 66 6f 72 're trustees for
26e60 20 61 20 55 53 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e a US intelligen
26e70 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a ce research proj
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26ea0 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 concerns have b
26eb0 65 65 6e 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 een raised about
26ec0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 your participat
26ed0 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 65 65 ion."..Alley pee
26ee0 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 red at him. "Ar
26ef0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a e you serious?".
26f00 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 6f 6e 63 65 2c .He nodded once,
26f10 20 63 75 72 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 curtly..."You'r
26f20 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 e going to have
26f30 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d to be a little m
26f40 6f 72 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 2c 22 20 73 ore specific," s
26f50 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 20 77 he said..."May w
26f60 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c e come in to tal
26f70 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 74 k about this?" t
26f80 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a he woman asked..
26f90 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 .Alley caught th
26fa0 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 e man giving his
26fb0 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 69 partner an irri
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26fd0 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 , I don't think
26fe0 73 6f 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 so," Alley answe
26ff0 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 red..."Are you i
27000 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d nvolved in too m
27010 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 any US Intellige
27020 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f nce research pro
27030 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 jects to know wh
27040 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 at I'm talking a
27050 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e bout?" he asked.
27060 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f .."It's the oppo
27070 73 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c site," she said,
27080 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c as if she reall
27090 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 y didn't think h
270a0 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 22 e understood. "
270b0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 I don't know any
270c0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 20 thing about any
270d0 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 US Intelligence
270e0 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 research project
270f0 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 72 69 67 s in my life rig
27100 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 ht now. Do you
27110 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 want to tell me
27120 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 2c why you're here,
27130 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 70 6c or should we pl
27140 61 79 20 61 20 67 75 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 67 61 ay a guessing ga
27150 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 27 me?"..The woman'
27160 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2c s eyes narrowed,
27170 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 and she opened
27180 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 her mouth as if
27190 74 6f 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e to snap somethin
271a0 67 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 g at Alley, but
271b0 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 69 the man leaned i
271c0 6e 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 65 72 73 nto Alley's pers
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271e0 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 blocked half of
271f0 74 68 65 20 76 69 65 77 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e the view between
27200 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 6f 6d 65 6e 2c 20 the two women,
27210 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 70 61 and the man's pa
27220 72 74 6e 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 rtner closed her
27230 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 75 mouth again, su
27240 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 rprised by the i
27250 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 ntrusion...He sa
27260 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 id "You have acc
27270 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 70 65 ess to some expe
27280 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 73 rimental task as
27290 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 sistance artific
272a0 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 ial intelligence
272b0 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 technology for
272c0 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 70 the purpose of p
272d0 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 articipating in
272e0 61 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 50 72 6f 66 a study for Prof
272f0 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 74 20 61 74 20 essor Goulet at
27300 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f the University o
27310 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 2e 20 20 44 f California. D
27320 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e oes that ring an
27330 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b y bells?" he ask
27340 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e ed..."Oh. Yeah.
27350 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 Why didn't you
27360 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 3f 22 20 20 just say so?"
27370 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 6f She held her gro
27380 75 6e 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 und until the ma
27390 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 n finally backed
273a0 20 6f 66 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 off again..."I
273b0 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 take it you did
273c0 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 not actually rea
273d0 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f d the informatio
273e0 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e n you were given
273f0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 when you signed
27400 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 up for the stud
27410 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 y."..She shrugge
27420 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 d. "I did, but
27430 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 I don't remember
27440 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 6f every single wo
27450 72 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 rd of the small
27460 70 72 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 print. It must
27470 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 69 65 64 have been buried
27480 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a pretty well."..
27490 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 "Why aren't you
274a0 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 52 20 wearing your AR
274b0 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 glasses?" he sud
274c0 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4c denly asked..."L
274d0 65 74 27 73 20 72 65 77 69 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 et's rewind to t
274e0 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 he point when I
274f0 74 6f 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 told you I'm sti
27500 6c 6c 20 68 61 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 61 ll half in my pa
27510 6a 61 6d 61 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 jamas," Alley sa
27520 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c id...He frowned,
27530 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 61 76 65 and asked "Have
27540 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 you looked at y
27550 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 79 65 74 20 74 68 our phone yet th
27560 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 is morning?".."T
27570 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 his is starting
27580 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 to feel like we'
27590 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 77 65 6e 74 re playing twent
275a0 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 y questions afte
275b0 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 68 61 r all. No, I ha
275c0 76 65 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 ven't looked at
275d0 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 my phone. I got
275e0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 64 out of bed, mad
275f0 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 e myself barely
27600 64 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 decent to answer
27610 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 the door, and c
27620 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 79 ame to welcome y
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27640 79 20 62 69 72 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f y birds to my do
27650 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 or. Why?".."I s
27660 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 63 6b uggest you check
27670 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 22 your messages."
27680 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 .."Fine," Alley
27690 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 said. "I'll be
276a0 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 right back." Sh
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276e0 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 door, but it was
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27720 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 , then sat on th
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27790 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 Alley donned the
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277d0 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 One had arrive
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27840 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 65 72 come to see her
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27880 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 t the door, and
27890 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 muttered ". . .
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27c40 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 to blink on its
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27de0 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 ".."We'll come b
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27e50 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 "Do you want t
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27e80 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f all about?".."No
27e90 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e ," the man said.
27ea0 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 .."Have a good d
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27f00 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 sat on the couc
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27f30 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 those people, re
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29a40 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 for me trying t
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29a60 65 72 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 er course. Is t
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29c50 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 68 61 for a career cha
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29cd0 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 s about universi
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29de0 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 "Was that the ki
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29e40 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 63 68 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 ".."Such papers
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29f50 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e What do you mean
29f60 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 63 61 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 ?".."A cardinal
29f70 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 system is like u
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2a0c0 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 What if I value
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2a270 2f 2a 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c /* "Don't I stil
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2a700 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f second thing mo
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2a730 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 76 ase of a third v
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2a8f0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 for the higher
2a900 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 value goals.".."
2a910 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2c 22 Okay, I get it,"
2a920 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e Alley said. "N
2a930 6f 77 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 ow I need to fig
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2a950 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 62 6f going to do abo
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2a980 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 4d 61 78 ".."It seems Max
2a990 69 6d 4f 53 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 imOS may be your
2a9a0 20 62 65 73 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 best option for
2a9b0 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 70 72 6f 70 65 now, if I prope
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2a9f0 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a I think, too."..
2aa00 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c Two hours later,
2aa10 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 73 with an empty s
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2aa30 68 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6b 69 her, she was ski
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2aa80 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c about Men In Bl
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2ab30 20 4e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 Network Corp.
2ab40 54 68 65 20 75 73 65 72 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 75 The user wrote u
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30270 73 65 65 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 see a novel and
30280 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 think that I hav
30290 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 e to read it. W
302a0 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e hen someone I kn
302b0 6f 77 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f ow recommends so
302c0 6d 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 me novel, I'll p
302d0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2c robably read it,
302e0 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 unless I've alr
302f0 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 eady been burned
30300 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 by that person'
30310 73 20 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c s bad taste in l
30320 69 74 65 72 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d iterature recomm
30330 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 endations before
30340 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b ."..George chuck
30350 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 led at that. "I
30360 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 've gotten some
30370 72 65 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 real stinkers re
30380 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c commended to me,
30390 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 before, too. I
303a0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d know what you m
303b0 65 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 ean about that."
303c0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d ..Alley gave him
303d0 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d an answering sm
303e0 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 ile. "Anyway, y
303f0 6f 75 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 ou shelves tell
30400 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f me you read a lo
30410 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c t of nonfiction,
30420 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 too."..He glanc
30430 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 ed at the texts
30440 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f on the shelves o
30450 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 f the book cases
30460 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 . "Yeah," he sa
30470 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 id, "I'm always
30480 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e reading somethin
30490 67 2e 20 20 49 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 g. I try to get
304a0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 through more th
304b0 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e an two education
304c0 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 al books of some
304d0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 79 65 61 72 kind every year
304e0 2c 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e , usually hittin
304f0 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f 72 20 66 6f 75 72 2c g three or four,
30500 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 but I make up f
30510 6f 72 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 or it on the yea
30520 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 rs with only one
30530 2c 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 , or none. I pr
30540 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 61 obably average a
30550 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 bout one novel p
30560 65 72 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 er wee, too, so
30570 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 probably the opp
30580 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 osite of how you
30590 20 72 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 read.".."Not qu
305a0 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ite," she said.
305b0 20 22 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 "I probably rea
305c0 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c d a couple novel
305d0 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e s a year, but on
305e0 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 ly six or eight
305f0 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 nonfiction books
30600 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 in the same yea
30610 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 r.".."It sounds
30620 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 to me like you w
30630 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 ish you read mor
30640 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 e," he said..."Y
30650 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 eah, I guess I d
30660 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 o.".."One of the
30670 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 secrets of my r
30680 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 eading success i
30690 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 s that I limit t
306a0 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 he time I spend
306b0 67 6c 75 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 glued to a compu
306c0 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 ter screen. The
306d0 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 re are people wh
306e0 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c o read a whole l
306f0 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 ot more than I d
30700 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 o, though."..She
30710 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f nodded. "I kno
30720 77 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 w. My uncle use
30730 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 d to read about
30740 66 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d four or five tim
30750 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f es as much as yo
30760 75 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 u. My ex probab
30770 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 ly reads about a
30780 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 s much as you, b
30790 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 ut he has a frie
307a0 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 20 6c nd who reads a l
307b0 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a ot more, too."..
307c0 22 59 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 "Your ex? Are y
307d0 6f 75 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ou divorced?".."
307e0 4f 68 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 Oh, uh, no. He
307f0 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 was my fianc...
30800 20 57 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 We broke it off
30810 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 a couple years
30820 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 ago.".."That's t
30830 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 oo bad. Do you
30840 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f want to talk abo
30850 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 ut why?"..She sh
30860 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 ifted her positi
30870 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e on in the chair.
30880 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 "Well . . . ma
30890 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 ybe not. There'
308a0 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c s some political
308b0 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c stuff involved,
308c0 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 and I don't rea
308d0 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 lly want to get
308e0 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f into some kind o
308f0 66 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 f argument over
30900 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 the politics of
30910 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 it.".."Hmm. Tha
30920 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 t sounds ominous
30930 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 . Was he a poli
30940 74 69 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e tician?".."No. .
30950 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 . ." She looke
30960 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e d away..."Sorry.
30970 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f I'm just curio
30980 75 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 us. I'll drop i
30990 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 t.".."Thanks," s
309a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 he said. "I gue
309b0 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 ss.".."Why did y
309c0 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 our uncle stop r
309d0 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 eading so much?"
309e0 0a 0a 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 .."Huh?".."You s
309f0 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 aid he used to r
30a00 65 61 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 ead hundreds of
30a10 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 books a year. W
30a20 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 hy did you say '
30a30 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c used to'?".."Oh,
30a40 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 " she sighed. "
30a50 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 He died, years a
30a60 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 go.".."I'm sorry
30a70 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 to hear it.".."
30a80 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
30a90 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f "He decided to
30aa0 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 69 6e 20 go off grid in
30ab0 49 64 61 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 Idaho, in the mi
30ac0 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e ddle of nowhere.
30ad0 20 20 44 61 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 Dad took me up
30ae0 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 63 6f to see him a co
30af0 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 uple times, and
30b00 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 I really enjoyed
30b10 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d myself with him
30b20 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 , but then there
30b30 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 was a series of
30b40 20 46 42 49 20 72 61 69 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 6d FBI raids on 'm
30b50 69 6c 69 74 69 61 73 27 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 ilitias' up ther
30b60 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 e. He knew some
30b70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 of those guys,
30b80 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e but he wasn't in
30b90 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6d 69 any of their mi
30ba0 6c 69 74 69 61 20 67 72 6f 75 70 73 2e 20 20 48 litia groups. H
30bb0 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f e just wanted to
30bc0 20 62 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 0a be left alone..
30bd0 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 ."It was like th
30be0 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 ey saw his hand
30bf0 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 61 62 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 built cabin out
30c00 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 72 61 there between ra
30c10 69 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 ids and thought
30c20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 66 75 6e 20 it would be fun
30c30 74 6f 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f to attack his ho
30c40 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 me. They claime
30c50 64 20 68 65 20 66 69 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 d he fired on th
30c60 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 em when an agent
30c70 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f 6f came to his doo
30c80 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 r to ask directi
30c90 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 ons, and they we
30ca0 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 66 65 6e 64 69 6e re just defendin
30cb0 67 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 66 72 6f g themselves fro
30cc0 6d 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 6c 75 6e 61 m a militia luna
30cd0 74 69 63 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 tic, if you beli
30ce0 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 eve that. He wa
30cf0 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 s really just tr
30d00 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 61 20 70 ying to live a p
30d10 65 61 63 65 66 75 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 eaceful life in
30d20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 the wild places
30d30 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c where most peopl
30d40 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 77 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a e never went."..
30d50 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 63 6f 77 6c 65 64 20 61 George scowled a
30d60 73 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 75 s she told her u
30d70 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 6e ncle's story, an
30d80 64 20 69 74 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 64 20 68 65 d it reminded he
30d90 72 20 68 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 r how intimidati
30da0 6e 67 20 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 2c 20 ng he could be,
30db0 65 76 65 6e 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 even holding an
30dc0 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 69 umbrella over hi
30dd0 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 75 6e 6e s head on a sunn
30de0 79 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 y day. "I guess
30df0 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 he was an innoc
30e00 65 6e 74 20 62 79 73 74 61 6e 64 65 72 20 69 6e ent bystander in
30e10 20 74 68 65 20 49 64 61 68 6f 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 the Idaho milit
30e20 69 61 20 70 75 72 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e ia purges, then.
30e30 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 Those were bad
30e40 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 times for a lot
30e50 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6a of people who j
30e60 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 ust wanted nothi
30e70 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 ng more than to
30e80 62 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a be left alone.".
30e90 0a 22 57 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 ."We tried to fi
30ea0 6c 65 20 61 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 66 75 6c 20 64 65 le a wrongful de
30eb0 61 74 68 20 73 75 69 74 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f ath suit. We go
30ec0 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 41 6d 73 74 65 t into his Amste
30ed0 72 64 61 6d 20 56 50 53 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c rdam VPS -- well
30ee0 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 , Dad did, anywa
30ef0 79 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 y -- and found t
30f00 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 he video backups
30f10 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 from my uncle's
30f20 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 camera network
30f30 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 62 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e in his cabin, an
30f40 64 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 d it showed that
30f50 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6a 75 73 74 the agents just
30f60 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 stormed in with
30f70 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 out even identif
30f80 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e ying themselves.
30f90 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 ".."Yeah? What
30fa0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 happened with th
30fb0 61 74 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 at lawsuit?".."I
30fc0 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e t didn't happen.
30fd0 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 While we were
30fe0 61 74 20 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 27 73 20 at our lawyer's
30ff0 6f 66 66 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 office, the FBI
31000 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 77 61 72 got a search war
31010 72 61 6e 74 2c 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f rant, broke into
31020 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e Dad's place, an
31030 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e d took everythin
31040 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b g that even look
31050 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 ed like a comput
31060 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 er. They claime
31070 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 d it was connect
31080 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 6e 76 65 ed to their inve
31090 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 stigations of my
310a0 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 62 72 uncle, Dad's br
310b0 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 other, but the r
310c0 65 73 75 6c 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 esult was just t
310d0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 72 hat they got our
310e0 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 65 64 20 76 69 64 65 downloaded vide
310f0 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 o and the login
31100 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 stuff for my unc
31110 6c 65 27 73 20 56 50 53 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f le's VPS. Of co
31120 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 urse, they 'lost
31130 27 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 ' the backups th
31140 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 ey took from Dad
31150 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 's computers, an
31160 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 d by the time we
31170 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f tried to downlo
31180 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 67 61 ad the video aga
31190 69 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 in, so we could
311a0 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c show it to the l
311b0 61 77 79 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 73 68 awyer, they'd sh
311c0 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 56 50 53 20 ut down the VPS
311d0 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 and pressured th
311e0 65 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e e hosting compan
311f0 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 y into deleting
31200 61 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 all backups..."A
31210 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 77 fter all that, w
31220 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 61 76 69 e went from havi
31230 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 ng what the lawy
31240 65 72 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d er called a slam
31250 20 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 dunk case to ha
31260 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 6e 64 ving no case and
31270 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 a lot of expens
31280 65 73 2e 20 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 es. Dad's whole
31290 20 49 54 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 IT business was
312a0 20 6f 62 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 obliterated in
312b0 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e an instant, too.
312c0 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 He had to get
312d0 61 20 73 79 73 61 64 6d 69 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 a sysadmin job a
312e0 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 65 t a continuing e
312f0 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 ducation school
31300 66 6f 72 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 for high school
31310 64 72 6f 70 6f 75 74 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 dropouts after t
31320 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 hat."..George ju
31330 73 74 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 st shook his hea
31340 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 d. "I wish I ha
31350 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 d something good
31360 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 to say about th
31370 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 at.".."It's fine
31380 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 . It's ancient
31390 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 history for me,
313a0 6e 6f 77 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 now,and I just h
313b0 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 ad to move on.
313c0 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 61 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f It was hard, tho
313d0 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 ugh. I was in h
313e0 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 igh school when
313f0 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c it all happened,
31400 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 and I couldn't
31410 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 77 focus on schoolw
31420 6f 72 6b 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 ork at all..."I
31430 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d guess all that m
31440 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 ight have contri
31450 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 6c buted to me fall
31460 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 ing in love with
31470 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 Dalton.".."Dalt
31480 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a on?" he asked...
31490 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 "Oh, shit," she
314a0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 said. "I didn't
314b0 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 79 20 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 say 'my ex' tha
314c0 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 t time."..He nod
314d0 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 5b 20 ded. "Dalton [
314e0 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 20 2d 20 48 65 61 72 Schaeffer - Hear
314f0 73 74 20 5d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 st ].".."Yeah."
31500 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 She looked at h
31510 69 6d 2c 20 77 61 72 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 im, wary..."I gu
31520 65 73 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 ess I can see wh
31530 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 y you don't want
31540 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 to bring that u
31550 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 20 p much. He's a
31560 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 69 controversial fi
31570 67 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 68 gure."../* "Yeah
31580 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 , he is. I can'
31590 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d t even bring him
315a0 20 75 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e up around anyon
315b0 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 e, really. Eith
315c0 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d er people hate m
315d0 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 e because I got
315e0 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 engaged to him,
315f0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 or they hate me
31600 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e for leaving him.
31610 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 " */.."Yeah, he
31620 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 is. There isn't
31630 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 49 really anyone I
31640 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 6f can talk to abo
31650 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 ut him. Either
31660 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 62 people hate me b
31670 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e 67 ecause I got eng
31680 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 aged to him, or
31690 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 they hate me for
316a0 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a leaving him."..
316b0 22 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 "I could see tha
316c0 74 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e t," George said.
316d0 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 20 "I won't hate
316e0 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 72 you for either r
316f0 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 eason.".."Thanks
31700 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 ," she said. "T
31710 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 hat's good to he
31720 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 ar.".."I'll just
31730 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 73 be completely s
31740 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 77 traightforward w
31750 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 ith you about wh
31760 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 at I think about
31770 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 him, and you ca
31780 6e 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 n decide whether
31790 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 you want anythi
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317b0 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 th me. I won't
317c0 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 hold it against
317d0 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f you, whatever yo
317e0 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 u decide, but I
317f0 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 guess it wouldn'
31800 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 t matter if you
31810 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 didn't want to b
31820 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 20 e around me any
31830 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a longer anyway.".
31840 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 ."You don't have
31850 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 to do that," sh
31860 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c e said...He smil
31870 65 64 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 69 ed, perhaps a bi
31880 74 20 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 t sadly. "I thi
31890 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 nk it's for the
318a0 62 65 73 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 best, unless you
318b0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 66 really just ref
318c0 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 20 66 use to hear it f
318d0 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 or any reason.
318e0 49 27 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 I'll respect tha
318f0 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 t choice, if tha
31900 74 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 t's really what
31910 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 2d 2d 20 74 6f 20 68 you want -- to h
31920 65 61 72 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 ear nothing abou
31930 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 t it."..She hesi
31940 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 tated, then shru
31950 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 gged. "Go ahead
31960 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 , I guess," she
31970 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 said...He nodded
31980 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 . "I thought he
31990 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 61 was pretty grea
319a0 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 t. He had a lot
319b0 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 74 of good insight
319c0 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 2d s about things -
319d0 2d 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 2c 20 65 63 6f 6e - politics, econ
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319f0 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 20 technology, law
31a00 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 72 enforcement, war
31a10 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 , and just about
31a20 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 74 everything he t
31a30 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 alked about on h
31a40 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 is show and his
31a50 77 72 69 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 writings. After
31a60 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 a while, though
31a70 2c 20 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 , he seemed to s
31a80 74 61 72 74 20 73 6c 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 tart sliding to
31a90 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 the right a bit
31aa0 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 much, and I was
31ab0 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 disappointed by
31ac0 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 the change. I s
31ad0 74 69 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 till checked in
31ae0 6f 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c once in a while,
31af0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c because he stil
31b00 6c 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 6d 61 72 74 l had some smart
31b10 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 2c 20 things to say,
31b20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 but more and mor
31b30 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 e it seemed to b
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31b50 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f I might think o
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31b70 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 t direction, and
31b80 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 79 20 64 that's not my d
31b90 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 irection, if you
31ba0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 61 know what I mea
31bb0 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 2c n..."No offense,
31bc0 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 of course, but
31bd0 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 I never really p
31be0 61 69 64 20 61 6e 79 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f aid any attentio
31bf0 6e 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 n to when people
31c00 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f talked about yo
31c10 75 2e 20 20 44 53 48 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 u. DSH seemed t
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31c60 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 67 61 74 69 anything negati
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31c80 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 t didn't really
31c90 63 61 72 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 62 6f care as much abo
31ca0 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 ut his personal
31cb0 6c 69 66 65 20 61 73 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 61 62 life as I did ab
31cc0 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 73 2c 20 73 out his ideas, s
31cd0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 o you didn't get
31ce0 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 72 61 64 61 72 2e 20 20 49 on my radar. I
31cf0 20 64 6f 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 65 do remember, be
31d00 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 67 61 76 fore I kinda gav
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31d20 67 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 g to him, that h
31d30 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 e said something
31d40 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 77 to a listener w
31d50 68 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 ho called in to
31d60 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 ask about you.
31d70 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 He said that it
31d80 77 61 73 20 74 72 75 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f was true that yo
31d90 75 20 68 61 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 u had called off
31da0 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 the engagement
31db0 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 and moved on wit
31dc0 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 h your life, and
31dd0 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 that he still r
31de0 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 espected you des
31df0 70 69 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 pite your differ
31e00 65 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 77 6f ences, and he wo
31e10 75 6c 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6c 69 73 uld like his lis
31e20 74 65 6e 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 teners to respec
31e30 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 20 66 6f t your desire fo
31e40 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 r privacy and pe
31e50 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 ace in your life
31e60 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 , then said that
31e70 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 was pretty much
31e80 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 the only thing
31e90 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 62 he had to say ab
31ea0 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 out it.".."Oh,"
31eb0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 she said. "I di
31ec0 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 dn't know about
31ed0 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 that -- about hi
31ee0 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a m saying that.".
31ef0 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 .George shrugged
31f00 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 . "It was the s
31f10 74 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f tand up thing to
31f20 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e do, but it didn
31f30 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 6e 't make his chan
31f40 67 65 20 69 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 ge in direction
31f50 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 20 on ideology any
31f60 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 more interesting
31f70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 69 to me, so it di
31f80 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 73 dn't keep me lis
31f90 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c tening.".."Yeah,
31fa0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 " she said. "I
31fb0 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 get that.".."So
31fc0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f . . . what do yo
31fd0 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d 79 u think? Are my
31fe0 20 76 69 65 77 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 views on it int
31ff0 6f 6c 65 72 61 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 olerable?"..Alle
32000 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 y smiled. "No,
32010 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 61 not at all. Tha
32020 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 6e t's actually kin
32030 64 61 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 62 da how I felt ab
32040 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 out his ideologi
32050 63 61 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 cal shift. I li
32060 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f ked it more befo
32070 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 re the change th
32080 61 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 an after, and we
32090 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 had some argume
320a0 6e 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 nts about it. H
320b0 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 6e e still had prin
320c0 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ciple, and still
320d0 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 69 wasn't the cari
320e0 63 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 20 72 69 cature of alt ri
320f0 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ght that people
32100 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 assumed, but I d
32110 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6e idn't like his n
32120 65 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 61 ew politics at a
32130 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 74 ll.".."That must
32140 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 have made it di
32150 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 fficult to live
32160 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 with him.".."It
32170 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 20 took its toll.
32180 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 Part of it, thou
32190 67 68 2c 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 gh, was the fact
321a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 65 that it affecte
321b0 64 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 d my life in oth
321c0 65 72 20 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 6f er ways. The mo
321d0 6d 65 6e 74 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 ment I realized
321e0 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 I needed to get
321f0 6f 75 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 6f out was after so
32200 6d 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c me woman actuall
32210 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 6d y started scream
32220 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 ing at me on the
32230 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2c 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 street, calling
32240 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 me the 'side di
32250 73 68 27 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e 67 sh' and accusing
32260 20 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 72 me of being a r
32270 61 63 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 acist and stuff
32280 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 like that, then
32290 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 actually started
322a0 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 hitting me. I
322b0 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 shoved her back
322c0 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 61 and ran to my ca
322d0 72 2c 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 r, drove off and
322e0 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c called in a pol
322f0 69 63 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ice report, but
32300 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e of course nothin
32310 67 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 g would ever hap
32320 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 pen from that.
32330 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 61 I never heard ba
32340 63 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 42 ck about it."..B
32350 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 y the time she w
32360 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 as done, George'
32370 73 20 65 78 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6f s expression too
32380 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 2c 20 73 74 6f k on a dark, sto
32390 72 6d 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 rmy look. "That
323a0 27 73 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 27 's terrible. I'
323b0 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 m sorry that hap
323c0 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a pened to you."..
323d0 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 6c She shrugged hel
323e0 70 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 plessly. "What
323f0 63 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 can I do? I jus
32400 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 t decided I was
32410 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 going to distanc
32420 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 e myself from hi
32430 73 20 73 70 68 65 72 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 s sphere of cont
32440 72 6f 76 65 72 73 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 roversy as much
32450 61 73 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 as I could and t
32460 72 79 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 ry to wait for t
32470 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 he world to forg
32480 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 et about me. It
32490 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 still hasn't ha
324a0 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 ppened, though.
324b0 20 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 I went to what
324c0 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f I thought was go
324d0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 ing to be a job
324e0 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 interview, and i
324f0 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 t turned out the
32500 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 only reason the
32510 20 68 69 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 72 20 hiring manager
32520 61 70 70 72 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 approved the int
32530 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 68 65 erview was so he
32540 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 and a couple of
32550 20 68 69 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 69 6e 67 20 64 his underling d
32560 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 evelopers could
32570 68 65 63 6b 6c 65 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 heckle me when I
32580 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 showed up. The
32590 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 62 6f 75 y found out abou
325a0 74 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 t my connection
325b0 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 to Dalton when t
325c0 68 65 79 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 hey searched for
325d0 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f information abo
325e0 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ut my name on th
325f0 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 e internet, and
32600 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c realized they al
32610 6c 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 l hated me, I gu
32620 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 ess.".."Is that
32630 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6d why you called m
32640 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b e today?" he ask
32650 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ed..."What?".."Y
32660 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 ou said you want
32670 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ed to talk about
32680 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 41 72 65 what I do. Are
32690 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 you looking for
326a0 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 an opportunity
326b0 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 3f to work with me?
326c0 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 It doesn't mat
326d0 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 ter to me that y
326e0 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 ou were engaged
326f0 74 6f 20 44 53 48 3b 20 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 70 to DSH; I take p
32700 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f eople as they co
32710 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 me. I guess you
32720 27 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 'd want to know
32730 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 what I'm doing b
32740 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 66 6f efore you ask fo
32750 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 r an opportunity
32760 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 to work with me
32770 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e , though.".."Oh.
32780 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61 20 " She paused a
32790 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e moment. "Well .
327a0 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20 77 . . maybe? I w
327b0 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 asn't exactly th
327c0 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 inking that, but
327d0 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 it's an interes
327e0 74 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 ting idea, I gue
327f0 73 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6f 66 66 ss. You did off
32800 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 65 er to help me le
32810 61 72 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6b 69 arn some new ski
32820 6c 6c 73 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 lls if I need it
32830 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 , and I guess th
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32860 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 65 72 72 2c I was just, err,
32870 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 concerned about
32880 20 77 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 62 75 what kind of bu
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328a0 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 o when I sold th
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328c0 75 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 u."..He chuckled
328d0 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 . "Oh, that. Y
328e0 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e eah, well, I can
328f0 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 79 2e 22 20 20 48 69 73 20 see why." His
32900 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 smile faded, and
32910 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 6e 65 77 2c 20 she saw a new,
32920 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f serious look abo
32930 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d ut him. "Tell m
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32950 6f 72 65 20 49 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 70 6c ore I answer, pl
32960 65 61 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 ease. A couple
32970 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 of things, actua
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32990 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 't want to answe
329a0 72 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 r, it's fine, bu
329b0 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 t then I won't a
329c0 6e 73 77 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 nswer your quest
329d0 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 ions, about what
329e0 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f I'm doing.".."O
329f0 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 kay," she said,
32a00 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 75 70 74 an uncertain upt
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32a20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 61 63 6b of the word tack
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32a40 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 almost like it
32a50 77 61 73 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a was a question..
32a60 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 ."First, I want
32a70 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 to know when you
32a80 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 think it's okay
32a90 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 to lie.".."Oh.
32aa0 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 That's an inter
32ab0 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e esting question.
32ac0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 ".."Yeah. It is
32ad0 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 ."..She thought
32ae0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c 79 about it. "Only
32af0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 when it's to pr
32b00 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f otect yourself o
32b10 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 66 r someone else f
32b20 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 rom something th
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32b60 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e hat other person
32b70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 77 .".."Hmm. Can w
32b80 65 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 e explore that a
32b90 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 little?".."Sure
32ba0 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 , I guess.".."Wh
32bb0 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 76 at if it's a gov
32bc0 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 72 ernment employer
32bd0 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 and you're tryi
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32bf0 20 74 6f 20 62 75 72 65 61 75 63 72 61 74 69 63 to bureaucratic
32c00 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 62 79 20 67 65 resources by ge
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32c20 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e e, which you can
32c30 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 61 6b use to help mak
32c40 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 61 20 62 65 e the world a be
32c50 74 74 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 73 tter place by us
32c60 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 ing that knowled
32c70 67 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 67 6f 76 65 72 ge against gover
32c80 6e 6d 65 6e 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 65 70 nment?".."It dep
32c90 65 6e 64 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a ends, I guess.".
32ca0 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 ."Hmm." He thou
32cb0 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 ght about that.
32cc0 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 "What if you ne
32cd0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ed to lie to the
32ce0 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 police to keep
32cf0 74 68 65 6d 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 72 72 65 73 74 them from arrest
32d00 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ing someone you
32d10 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 care about from
32d20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 getting thrown i
32d30 6e 20 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 63 n prison for dec
32d40 61 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c ades or even kil
32d50 6c 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 led when what th
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32d70 20 62 65 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 be illegal, but
32d80 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a isn't wrong?"..
32d90 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
32da0 2c 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6d 69 67 , "I guess I mig
32db0 68 74 20 6c 69 65 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 ht lie, unless y
32dc0 6f 75 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 ou work for the
32dd0 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 police, in which
32de0 20 63 61 73 65 20 49 27 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 case I'd tell t
32df0 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c he truth."..He l
32e00 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 20 20 22 aughed aloud. "
32e10 49 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 I see what you d
32e20 69 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 id there."..She
32e30 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 smiled back. "I
32e40 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 thought you mig
32e50 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 6b ht.".."Okay, I k
32e60 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 65 63 now that was tec
32e70 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 hnically more th
32e80 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c an one question,
32e90 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 but now I'm rea
32ea0 64 79 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 dy to ask the se
32eb0 63 6f 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 49 20 cond question I
32ec0 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 mentioned I want
32ed0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 ed to ask.".."Uh
32ee0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 . . . okay.".."
32ef0 49 66 20 49 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 If I tell you ab
32f00 6f 75 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 68 69 6e out illegal thin
32f10 67 73 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 gs I'm doing tha
32f20 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 t might result i
32f30 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 n people getting
32f40 20 68 75 72 74 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 hurt due to eve
32f50 6e 74 73 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 63 6f nts beyond my co
32f60 6e 74 72 6f 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 ntrol, but to th
32f70 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6b e extent of my k
32f80 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c nowledge the onl
32f90 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 y people who wou
32fa0 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 61 72 65 20 ld get hurt are
32fb0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 73 65 72 people who deser
32fc0 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 ve it and need t
32fd0 6f 20 62 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f o be stopped fro
32fe0 6d 20 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6f m hurting many o
32ff0 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 ther people . .
33000 2e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 20 . will you keep
33010 69 74 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 it secret, even
33020 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 if you don't eve
33030 72 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 65 65 r want to be see
33040 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 67 61 69 n around me agai
33050 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 n, for whatever
33060 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 reason?"..She th
33070 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 ought about it,
33080 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 and he thought i
33090 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 t looked like sh
330a0 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 68 65 77 69 e might be chewi
330b0 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 ng on the inside
330c0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 65 65 6b 20 61 20 of her cheek a
330d0 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 69 74 2e 20 20 41 74 20 little bit. At
330e0 6c 61 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 last, she said "
330f0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 Yeah, I should b
33100 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 e able to keep a
33110 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 secret like tha
33120 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b t. You should k
33130 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 now something, t
33140 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f hough, before yo
33150 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 u tell me anythi
33160 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a ng like that."..
33170 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 68 65 "What is it?" he
33180 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b asked..."Some k
33190 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c ind of Men In Bl
331a0 61 63 6b 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ack, if you know
331b0 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 73 68 what I mean, sh
331c0 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 66 72 owed up at my fr
331d0 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f ont door this mo
331e0 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 6d 65 20 rning to ask me
331f0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 about some stuff
33200 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 62 6f . It wasn't abo
33210 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 2d 2d 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 ut you -- it was
33220 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 about me -- but
33230 20 69 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 it creeped me t
33240 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 65 73 70 he hell out, esp
33250 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 ecially when I s
33260 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 tarted learning
33270 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 a little about t
33280 68 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e hem with some on
33290 6c 69 6e 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a line research.".
332a0 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 .He stared at he
332b0 72 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 r. "When you sa
332c0 79 20 27 6d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 27 y 'men in black'
332d0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 . . .".."Yeah,"
332e0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 6d 65 she said, "I me
332f0 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 an two people, b
33300 6f 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 66 69 66 oth in their fif
33310 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6f ties, I think, o
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33330 6f 6d 61 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 oman, showed up
33340 61 74 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 70 6c at my door in pl
33350 61 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 ain black suits
33360 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 78 70 65 that looked expe
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33380 20 62 75 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 74 but otherwise t
33390 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 64 65 73 63 72 69 otally nondescri
333a0 70 74 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 pt, with black s
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333c0 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 76 65 72 me kind of gover
333d0 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 nment contractor
333e0 20 6c 61 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 49 44 20 62 61 laminated ID ba
333f0 64 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 dge. The only t
33400 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 hing that didn't
33410 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 look like the t
33420 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c ypical Men In Bl
33430 61 63 6b 20 73 74 65 72 65 6f 74 79 70 65 20 69 ack stereotype i
33440 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 s that there wer
33450 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 20 73 74 72 69 70 e deep red strip
33460 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 es on their shir
33470 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 74 ts."..George sat
33480 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 74 back, and his t
33490 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 6f one of voice dro
334a0 70 70 65 64 2e 20 20 22 56 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c pped. "Vertical
334b0 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 stripes.".."Uh
334c0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 65 . . . yeah. Whe
334d0 6e 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 73 n I did some res
334e0 65 61 72 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 75 72 6e earch, they turn
334f0 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 43 4f 49 ed out to be COI
33500 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 73 N Corp employees
33510 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f .".."Yeah, I kno
33520 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 w about them. T
33530 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e hey're bad news.
33540 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 ".."Fuck." She
33550 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 looked down at h
33560 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 6c er hands. "Real
33570 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ly?".."Yeah.".."
33580 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 That's pretty mu
33590 63 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ch what I though
335a0 74 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 t, after what I
335b0 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e read about them.
335c0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 I guess they s
335d0 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 ometimes just bu
335e0 69 6c 64 20 62 75 6c 6c 73 68 69 74 20 63 61 73 ild bullshit cas
335f0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c es against peopl
33600 65 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 e as an excuse t
33610 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 69 73 61 o make them disa
33620 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f ppear and get so
33630 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 me kind of contr
33640 61 63 74 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d act bonus or som
33650 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 ething like that
33660 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 , and don't have
33670 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 to worry about
33680 74 68 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 69 the evidence bei
33690 6e 67 20 66 6c 69 6d 73 79 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 ng flimsy becaus
336a0 65 20 69 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 6f 65 73 20 e it never goes
336b0 74 6f 20 74 72 69 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 to trial."..Geor
336c0 67 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6c 65 6d 6e ge nodded solemn
336d0 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 ly. "Yeah, that
336e0 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b happens. You k
336f0 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 63 now, if they dec
33700 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 ide to take you
33710 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 in to pad their
33720 72 c3 a9 73 75 6d c3 a9 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 r..sum..s, they'
33730 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 6e re probably goin
33740 67 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 74 65 72 72 6f 67 61 74 65 g to interrogate
33750 20 79 6f 75 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 you until they
33760 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 get you to say s
33770 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d omething about m
33780 65 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 e, even if they
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33820 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 looking at her h
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33850 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e on one condition
33860 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 .".."You want me
33870 20 74 6f 20 73 77 65 61 72 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 to swear I won'
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33890 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 77 65 61 72 course. I swear
338a0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 I'll try, but i
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338c0 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 49 20 63 now how well I c
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33900 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 , I know that's
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339e0 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 She looked at
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33ad0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 ."You want to he
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33c90 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 6d 65 20 , and expose me
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33de0 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 "It's the right
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33f60 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 you.".."I'm sorr
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33fb0 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 to come to this
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33ff0 6c 6c 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 6c ll take your hel
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340f0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e .."You're kiddin
34100 67 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 g."..He shook hi
34110 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 27 s head. "No, I'
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34130 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e .She looked down
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34210 6a 6f 62 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 73 6f job, but it's so
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34650 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 "..Alley frowned
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347a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e that put you in
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34930 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4e 53 41 2e rked in the NSA.
34940 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 In that short
34950 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 69 74 20 64 65 76 65 6c a time, it devel
34960 6f 70 65 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 72 65 oped a strong re
34970 70 75 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 putation in some
34980 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 69 circles for usi
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349a0 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 fighting domest
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349c0 67 65 74 20 62 69 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 get big contract
349d0 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 64 65 72 s from the feder
349e0 61 6c 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 al agencies of t
349f0 68 65 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e he US Intelligen
34a00 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 ce Community and
34a10 20 70 69 6e 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 pin a bunch of
34a20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 65 manufactured spe
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34a50 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 74 people to line t
34a60 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 27 73 20 70 6f 63 he founder's poc
34a70 6b 65 74 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 kets..."If COIN
34a80 68 61 73 20 69 74 73 20 73 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f has its sights o
34a90 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 n you, things ar
34aa0 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f en't going to go
34ab0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 79 well. They say
34ac0 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e that if you can
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34ae0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 27 65 6d 2c should join 'em,
34af0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 and this is one
34b00 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 of those things
34b10 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f where almost no
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34b40 68 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 hem, but there's
34b50 20 61 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 3a a third option:
34b60 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 get help, and g
34b70 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 72 61 et away. I'd ra
34b80 74 68 65 72 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b ther see you tak
34b90 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 e that option th
34ba0 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 6f an the other two
34bb0 20 2d 2d 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a -- losing, or j
34bc0 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 oining..."There'
34bd0 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 s always the oth
34be0 65 72 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 er possibility,
34bf0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 that they won't
34c00 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 try to frame you
34c10 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 up as connected
34c20 20 74 6f 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 73 2c 20 to terrorists,
34c30 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 but that's just
34c40 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 74 a matter of sitt
34c50 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 69 74 ing around, wait
34c60 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 ing, and maybe e
34c70 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 nding up disappe
34c80 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 aring, because y
34c90 6f 75 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 ou never tried t
34ca0 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 o do something t
34cb0 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 o protect yourse
34cc0 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 lf.".."Shit," sh
34cd0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 e said. "What a
34ce0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 bout getting rea
34cf0 64 79 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 dy to run, but w
34d00 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f aiting to see ho
34d10 77 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 w things go? I
34d20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 mean, I shouldn'
34d30 74 20 72 75 6e 20 69 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 t run if nothing
34d40 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 happens. Right
34d50 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 6b ?".."It's a risk
34d60 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 . That's all th
34d70 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 ere is to it. T
34d80 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 hey're not going
34d90 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 79 to give you any
34da0 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c warning at all,
34db0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c if they can hel
34dc0 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 p it. The fact
34dd0 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c they came to tal
34de0 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 k to you at all
34df0 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c might be the onl
34e00 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 y warning you ge
34e10 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 t. Maybe you ca
34e20 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 74 n pull it off, t
34e30 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 73 hough..."My firs
34e40 74 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 t warning that t
34e50 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 hey might come f
34e60 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 or me would prob
34e70 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 73 61 ably be you disa
34e80 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ppearing, though
34e90 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 . If that happe
34ea0 6e 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e ns, I'm not goin
34eb0 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 g to wait around
34ec0 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 to see if they'
34ed0 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 re on my tail.
34ee0 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 I'll make myself
34ef0 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 disappear, inst
34f00 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 61 ead of waiting a
34f10 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 round to see if
34f20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 they'll make me
34f30 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 disappear before
34f40 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f I get around to
34f50 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 59 it.".."Okay. Y
34f60 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c eah. That's a l
34f70 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 ot to think abou
34f80 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f t. I'm going to
34f90 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 have to think a
34fa0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f bout it."..He no
34fb0 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 dded. "You shou
34fc0 6c 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 ld think pretty
34fd0 68 61 72 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 hard about it,"
34fe0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 20 he said. "Stay
34ff0 61 6c 65 72 74 2c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 76 alert, try to av
35000 6f 69 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 oid doing anythi
35010 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 ng that might ca
35020 74 63 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 tch their attent
35030 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 ion, and stay ou
35040 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 t of trouble. T
35050 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 ry to keep them
35060 68 61 70 70 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 69 happy without gi
35070 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 ving them anythi
35080 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 ng to use agains
35090 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 2c t you..."Mostly,
350a0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 though, think h
350b0 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 61 ard and think fa
350c0 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 st about how you
350d0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 want to handle
350e0 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 it, because you
350f0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 6d don't know how m
35100 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 uch time you hav
35110 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 e to make that d
35120 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 ecision, and as
35130 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 69 decisions go thi
35140 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 68 75 67 65 2e 20 20 s one is huge.
35150 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 It might be the
35160 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 biggest of your
35170 6c 69 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 73 life.".."No pres
35180 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c sure," she said,
35190 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 6c with a wry smil
351a0 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2e e..."You got it.
351b0 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 " He looked at
351c0 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c 20 his book cases,
351d0 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 then stood and w
351e0 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 alked to them.
351f0 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 He pulled a coup
35200 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 66 20 le of books off
35210 68 69 73 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 his shelves, the
35220 6e 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 n went to the ch
35230 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 air where Alley
35240 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 sat and held the
35250 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 m out to her. "
35260 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 73 Here. Give thes
35270 65 20 61 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 e a read, if you
35280 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 have time."..Sh
35290 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c e accepted them,
352a0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 and looked at t
352b0 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 69 hem. One was ti
352c0 74 6c 65 64 20 2a 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 tled *An Agorist
352d0 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 2a 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f Primer*. The o
352e0 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 67 ther was *Underg
352f0 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 53 65 63 2a 2e 20 20 22 round OpSec*. "
35300 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f 22 What are these?"
35310 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 ..When he saw sh
35320 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 6e e was not handin
35330 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 g them back, he
35340 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 went back to his
35350 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 64 couch and sat d
35360 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 69 own. "Agorism i
35370 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 62 s kind of a comb
35380 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 61 6c ination of ideal
35390 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 20 20 and strategy.
353a0 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 76 The ideal is liv
353b0 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 ing outside of t
353c0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 he control of ot
353d0 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 hers, and the st
353e0 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 69 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 rategy is using
353f0 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 that to bring ot
35400 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 her people into
35410 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 doing the same t
35420 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 hing, to change
35430 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 the world for th
35440 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c e better a littl
35450 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 e at a time. Th
35460 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 e guy who wrote
35470 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b the agorism book
35480 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 basically thoug
35490 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 ht of this as a
354a0 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 68 way to starve th
354b0 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 e government of
354c0 69 74 73 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f its source of po
354d0 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c wer and eventual
354e0 6c 79 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e ly bring it down
354f0 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e , basically turn
35500 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 ing the black ma
35510 72 6b 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 rket into a poli
35520 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e tical revolution
35530 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 , but I don't th
35540 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 65 ink it's very re
35550 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 alistic to expec
35560 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 t that to work t
35570 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 2e he way he hoped.
35580 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 I think it has
35590 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 to be more abou
355a0 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 t just building
355b0 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 communities that
355c0 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 work outside of
355d0 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 the state, and
355e0 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 choosing to make
355f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 your life about
35600 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 73 6f that part of so
35610 63 69 65 74 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 ciety as much as
35620 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 70 53 possible..."OpS
35630 65 63 20 69 73 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 ec is how to kee
35640 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 66 66 20 74 p yourself off t
35650 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 he radar of peop
35660 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 le who are looki
35670 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65 74 ng for you, whet
35680 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 her they know ab
35690 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c out you personal
356a0 6c 79 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 ly or just want
356b0 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 69 74 73 someone who fits
356c0 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 68 69 64 69 a profile, hidi
356d0 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 ng what you do,
356e0 61 6e 64 20 65 73 63 61 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 and escaping the
356f0 69 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 ir ability to se
35700 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 64 6f e what you're do
35710 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 6b ing so you can k
35720 65 65 70 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 eep doing it. T
35730 68 61 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 hat book is abou
35740 74 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 t OpSec for peop
35750 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c 6f le who live belo
35760 77 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6c 69 6e 65 w the legal line
35770 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 , and some of it
35780 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f is about how to
35790 20 67 65 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 get across that
357a0 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 line if you wer
357b0 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 e trying to live
357c0 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 above it, but h
357d0 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 ave to run. The
357e0 20 75 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 27 underground it'
357f0 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 s talking about
35800 69 73 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6c is a criminal cl
35810 61 73 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 70 72 ass who don't pr
35820 65 79 20 6f 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 ey on other peop
35830 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e le any more than
35840 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 people who are
35850 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 65 legal -- just pe
35860 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 ople who choose
35870 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 to live outside
35880 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 the law, or are
35890 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c forced to do so,
358a0 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 68 for reasons oth
358b0 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 66 74 20 61 6e er than theft an
358c0 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 d murder, such a
358d0 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 s someone who wa
358e0 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 69 nts to make a li
358f0 76 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 70 61 79 ving without pay
35900 69 6e 67 20 74 61 78 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 ing taxes to pay
35910 20 66 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 77 61 72 for foreign war
35920 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 61 s, or fighting a
35930 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 61 20 74 79 72 61 6e 6e 69 gainst a tyranni
35940 63 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 cal government,
35950 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 69 or just being bi
35960 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 sexual in some p
35970 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64 64 arts of the Midd
35980 6c 65 20 45 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 le East.".."Oh."
35990 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 She looked at
359a0 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e the books again.
359b0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b .."You can think
359c0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 62 6f of the OpSec bo
359d0 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 ok as being abou
359e0 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 t how to avoid g
359f0 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e etting thrown in
35a00 74 6f 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 to a dark hole b
35a10 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 y COIN, and the
35a20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 agorism book as
35a30 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 20 being about why
35a40 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 64 20 they're the bad
35a50 67 75 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 guys, and the pe
35a60 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 ople who'd help
35a70 79 6f 75 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 72 65 20 74 you escape are t
35a80 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a he good guys."..
35a90 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 "Are you some ki
35aa0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 3f nd of anarchist?
35ab0 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 "..He shrugged.
35ac0 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e 74 "Maybe. Volunt
35ad0 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 6c aryist, maybe, l
35ae0 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 20 63 ike an anarcho c
35af0 61 70 69 74 61 6c 69 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 apitalist in the
35b00 20 73 74 79 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 44 53 48 20 62 65 style of DSH be
35b10 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 fore he started
35b20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 telling people t
35b30 6f 20 76 6f 74 65 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 o vote Republica
35b40 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 n.".."Yeah," she
35b50 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 said, "that's t
35b60 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 73 he feeling I was
35b70 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 beginning to ge
35b80 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 t.".."Does that
35b90 62 6f 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 bother you?" he
35ba0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 asked..."No. I
35bb0 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 liked Dalton mor
35bc0 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e e in those days.
35bd0 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 Hell, I fell i
35be0 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 n love with him
35bf0 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 0a in those days.".
35c00 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 ."You don't cons
35c10 69 64 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 ider yourself a
35c20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 voluntaryist, or
35c30 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 anarchist, or s
35c40 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
35c50 61 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 at, though. Do
35c60 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 you?".."No, I gu
35c70 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 ess not.".."What
35c80 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 do you consider
35c90 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 yourself?"..She
35ca0 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 surprised herse
35cb0 6c 66 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 lf a little with
35cc0 20 61 20 64 72 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e 20 a dry chuckle.
35cd0 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 "I don't know.
35ce0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 62 I guess I'm rab
35cf0 69 64 6c 79 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2e idly apolitical.
35d00 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 ".."You might ha
35d10 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 6d 6f ve more in commo
35d20 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 n with a volunta
35d30 72 79 69 73 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 ryist than you t
35d40 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 hink, then," he
35d50 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 said..."I said a
35d60 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 political, not a
35d70 6e 74 69 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 ntipolitical, th
35d80 6f 75 67 68 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 ough I guess the
35d90 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 line can be pre
35da0 74 74 79 20 74 68 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 tty thin.".."Oka
35db0 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e y," George said.
35dc0 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 69 "I get it. Wi
35dd0 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 ll you read the
35de0 62 6f 6f 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 books?".."Yeah,"
35df0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c 6c she said, "I'll
35e00 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e give it a shot.
35e10 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 I'll get them
35e20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e back to you when
35e30 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f I'm done.".."No
35e40 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d , just keep them
35e50 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 ," he said. "I'
35e60 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 ll get more of t
35e70 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 20 hem. Just pass
35e80 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f them on to someo
35e90 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 ne who needs the
35ea0 6d 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c m at some point,
35eb0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 if you don't wa
35ec0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2e nt to keep them.
35ed0 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Sure," she s
35ee0 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 aid, uncertainly
35ef0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 ..."Have you had
35f00 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 dinner?".."No,"
35f10 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 she said. "Wha
35f20 74 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 t are you thinki
35f30 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b ng?".."I'm think
35f40 69 6e 67 20 49 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c 20 ing I'm hungry,
35f50 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f and you're welco
35f60 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 me to join me.
35f70 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 I was going to c
35f80 6f 6f 6b 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 73 74 ook up some past
35f90 61 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e a."..She nodded.
35fa0 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 "That sounds g
35fb0 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 ood.".."It'll gi
35fc0 76 65 20 75 73 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 ve us a few more
35fd0 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 67 minutes to hang
35fe0 20 6f 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 61 6c out without tal
35ff0 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 king about anyth
36000 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 62 ing so serious b
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36020 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 20 e and think the
36030 68 61 72 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 61 62 hard thoughts ab
36040 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 out what you're
36050 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 going to do." H
36060 65 20 67 6f 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 e got up and sta
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36080 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b kitchen..."Thank
36090 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 s."../*..George
360a0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 really needs to
360b0 62 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 61 6e 74 be less ignorant
360c0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 of the possible
360d0 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 dangers of Alle
360e0 79 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 y's AR glasses.
360f0 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 He knows this t
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36110 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 . He's not just
36120 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 74 68 65 going to blithe
36130 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 ly go on talking
36140 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f about a bunch o
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36170 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 6e there's some dan
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361a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 the technology
361b0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 61 72 6f people carry aro
361c0 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 0a 0a und with them...
361d0 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 */../*..This mig
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361f0 67 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 ge provides some
36200 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 backup for Alle
36210 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 73 20 75 y as she picks u
36220 70 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 6f p a Deliv job, o
36230 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 r something like
36240 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 that...*/..Alle
36250 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 y looked at the
36260 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 cover of the fir
36270 73 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 68 st book George h
36280 61 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 ad given her. S
36290 68 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 he wrinkled her
362a0 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 20 66 nose at the no f
362b0 72 69 6c 6c 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 20 63 rills cover, a c
362c0 68 65 61 70 6c 79 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61 64 heaply made trad
362d0 65 20 70 61 70 65 72 62 61 63 6b 20 62 69 6e 64 e paperback bind
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362f0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 black border and
36300 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 65 78 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 black text on a
36310 20 73 74 61 72 6b 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 61 63 stark white bac
36320 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 kground. It had
36330 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d the look of som
36340 65 20 76 61 6e 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 e vanity press t
36350 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 62 6f hing, where nobo
36360 64 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 dy had even both
36370 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 ered to really d
36380 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 esign the cover
36390 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 at all...She rea
363a0 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 63 6f 76 65 72 d the full cover
363b0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 41 to herself..."A
363c0 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 n Agorist Primer
363d0 0a 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e 6f .."Counter Econo
363e0 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 65 mics, Total Free
363f0 64 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 53 dom, And You.."S
36400 61 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f 6e amuel Edward Kon
36410 6b 69 6e 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6c kin III"..She fl
36420 69 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 ipped it over.
36430 54 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c 61 The back was bla
36440 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 nk...She opened
36450 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 it and flipped t
36460 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 hrough the first
36470 20 66 65 77 20 70 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 few pages. She
36480 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f found it had no
36490 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e table of conten
364a0 74 73 2c 20 74 69 74 6c 65 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 ts, title page,
364b0 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 6f publishing or co
364c0 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 73 75 pyright page, su
364d0 6d 6d 61 72 79 2c 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 6f mmary, dedicatio
364e0 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 6f n, or review quo
364f0 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 tes. The first
36500 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 69 64 69 63 page was a ridic
36510 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 72 ulously short pr
36520 65 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c eface. The foll
36530 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 owing page was t
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36550 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 pages of introdu
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36570 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 nt to that was c
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365a0 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 74 20 6f 66 into the meat of
365b0 20 69 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 it already...Th
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365d0 62 65 72 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 bered, starting
365e0 77 69 74 68 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 with 1. The fir
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36600 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 on a page numbe
36610 72 65 64 20 34 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 red 4...She clos
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36630 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 n and read the c
36640 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a over once more..
36650 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e 6b ."Maybe Sam Konk
36660 69 6e 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f in is a friend o
36670 66 20 68 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 f his," she said
36680 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 , meaning a frie
36690 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e 0a nd of George's..
366a0 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 20 ./* The preface
366b0 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 65 page was numbere
366c0 64 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 d 1. The last p
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366e0 20 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f -- once she loo
366f0 6b 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 2a ked -- was 50. *
36700 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 /..She looked at
36710 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 the first page
36720 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e again, and the n
36730 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f 6b umber one. Book
36740 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 s never started
36750 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 with a page numb
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36770 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 flipped to the e
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367b0 20 35 30 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 50, on the last
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367f0 6e 64 65 78 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d ndex, but that m
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36820 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 it had could be
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36860 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 the book's cont
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36880 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 69 73 tizer said "This
36890 20 69 73 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 is a very short
368a0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 book.".."Yeah,"
368b0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 Alley said. Sh
368c0 65 20 72 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 e ran her finger
368d0 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 69 6e s down the disin
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368f0 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 held together b
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36940 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 3a 0a 0a 22 black marker:.."
36950 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 An Agorist Prime
36960 72 2c 20 62 79 20 53 45 4b 33 22 0a 0a 54 68 69 r, by SEK3"..Thi
36970 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 68 61 64 20 6f 62 76 69 6f s book had obvio
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36990 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 76 65 2c 20 62 65 65 lot of love, bee
369a0 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 n thumbed throug
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369c0 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 he corners, she
369d0 73 61 77 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 65 6c 6c 6f 77 saw, were yellow
369e0 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 66 74 65 6e 65 64 20 ed and softened
369f0 62 79 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 64 by time, and had
36a00 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 obviously been
36a10 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 65 6c 61 6d 69 6e 61 74 slowly delaminat
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36a30 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
36a40 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 spoke up again.
36a50 20 22 52 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 "Reading it wou
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36a70 20 63 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 cost investment
36a80 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 of your time.
36a90 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 Do you read more
36aa0 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f quickly than yo
36ab0 75 20 73 70 65 61 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 u speak?"..Alley
36ac0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 thought about w
36ad0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 hat the prioriti
36ae0 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 zer asked. "Yea
36af0 68 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 h, I do. I gues
36b00 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 6f 70 20 s I should stop
36b10 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 64 67 69 6e literally judgin
36b20 67 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 62 79 20 69 74 73 20 g a book by its
36b30 63 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 cover and start
36b40 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 reading.".."That
36b50 20 69 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 is what I would
36b60 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 recommend. May
36b70 20 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 I read it with
36b80 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f you?"..Alley loo
36b90 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 ked up from the
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36bb0 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 66 72 e wall across fr
36bc0 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 64 20 69 om her. "Read i
36bd0 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 t with me . . .
36be0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 ?".."I only want
36bf0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 you to wear the
36c00 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 glasses with th
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36c20 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 so I may read a
36c30 73 20 79 6f 75 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 s you hold the b
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36c50 20 69 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 it yourself. I
36c60 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65 61 effectively rea
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36c90 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 72 65 61 64 69 some speed readi
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