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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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3c520 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 72 69 73 d a bit of a ris
3c530 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 e at the end, li
3c540 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 ke it was a ques
3c550 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 tion..."Not for
3c560 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c long," she said,
3c570 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 "but yeah. He
3c580 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f seems like a goo
3c590 64 20 67 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 d guy.".."You mu
3c5a0 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d st've made an im
3c5b0 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 pression, if he
3c5c0 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 referred you to
3c5d0 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a me.".."Really?".
3c5e0 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 .He nodded, and
3c5f0 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 motioned past he
3c600 72 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 r. "Let's talk
3c610 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 inside.".."Oh, r
3c620 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e ight," she said.
3c630 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 72 75 73 68 Her hand brush
3c640 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b ed her back pock
3c650 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 79 6c et, the thin cyl
3c660 69 6e 64 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 75 6c 67 65 20 6f indrical bulge o
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3c680 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 72 69 ting a harder ri
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3c710 73 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 66 61 64 staining and fad
3c720 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 ing overlapping
3c730 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 so much it was d
3c740 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 ifficult to dete
3c750 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 64 65 rmine what shade
3c760 20 6f 66 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6f 72 of brown was or
3c770 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 iginal opened up
3c780 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 70 61 6e 65 . Its wood pane
3c790 6c 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 61 72 l walls were war
3c7a0 70 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 67 65 2e 20 20 54 ped with age. T
3c7b0 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 66 75 72 6e here was no furn
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3c810 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 74 68 61 74 at the top that
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3c830 6f 66 66 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 off white than t
3c840 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 he rest of the w
3c850 61 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 73 2e 20 20 46 all surfaces. F
3c860 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f rom where she no
3c870 77 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 w stood, she cou
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3c950 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 64 so that light d
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3c970 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 ceiling...Smugg
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3c990 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 and closed the
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3c9b0 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 . "You need to
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3cb00 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a a bit better...
3cb10 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
3cb20 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 . "Can you take
3cb30 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 6f 6d me through, som
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3cb50 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 ck, I mean."..He
3cb60 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 nodded. "Yes,
3cb70 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 I could.".."How
3cb80 6d 75 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6f 77 65 much would I owe
3cb90 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 you for it?".."
3cba0 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 Are you offering
3cbb0 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 to pay me to ta
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3cbd0 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 her side?" he as
3cbe0 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ked...She nodded
3cbf0 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 . "Yeah, I gues
3cc00 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 s so. Isn't tha
3cc10 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 t how this works
3cc20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 ?".."Normally,"
3cc30 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 27 he said, "but I'
3cc40 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 m not taking you
3cc50 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 r money.".."Why
3cc60 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d won't you take m
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3cc80 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 61 20 63 ou think I'm a c
3cc90 6f 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 op or something
3cca0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 like that?"..Aft
3ccb0 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 68 65 er a moment's he
3ccc0 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 6f sitation, he sho
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3cce0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 77 6f didn't say I wo
3ccf0 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 uldn't take you
3cd00 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 into the zone.
3cd10 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 49 27 6d 20 I just said I'm
3cd20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 not taking your
3cd30 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 6e 6f money.".."Why no
3cd40 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 t?" she asked, h
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3cd60 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 g..."Let's just
3cd70 73 61 79 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 say, for now, th
3cd80 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 68 69 74 at the first hit
3cd90 27 73 20 66 72 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 's free.".."That
3cda0 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 seems strange,
3cdb0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d like there's som
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3cdd0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 about getting p
3cde0 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 61 64 ast the barricad
3cdf0 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 es."..He shrugge
3ce00 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 d again. "Some
3ce10 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 people find the
3ce20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 hot zone addicti
3ce30 76 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 ve, to tell the
3ce40 74 72 75 74 68 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 truth. Some of
3ce50 74 68 65 6d 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 them find their
3ce60 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 way to the cold
3ce70 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 zone, and that's
3ce80 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 often an even s
3ce90 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 6f tronger addictio
3cea0 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 27 6d n. /* Maybe I'm
3ceb0 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 74 addicted to bot
3cec0 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 h of them. I'm
3ced0 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 22 0a 0a not sure. */ "..
3cee0 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a "What's a cold z
3cef0 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f one?".."Maybe yo
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3cf20 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 . "It's an area
3cf30 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 63 68 you can't reach
3cf40 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 without going t
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3cf70 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 63 65 the corporate ce
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3cf90 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 police don't ev
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3cfb0 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 Most of the wor
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3cfd0 69 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 it exists. You
3cfe0 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 definitely don't
3cff0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 want to go ther
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3d010 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 if you've never
3d020 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 6f 66 20 69 even heard of i
3d030 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 t."..She shook h
3d040 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 er head. "No, i
3d050 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 t doesn't sound
3d060 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 72 like that's wher
3d070 65 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 e I want to be."
3d080 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 .."Where do you
3d090 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 want to be?"..Sh
3d0a0 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 e shrugged. "Ma
3d0b0 79 62 65 20 43 6f 6c 6f 72 61 64 6f 20 6f 72 20 ybe Colorado or
3d0c0 4e 65 77 20 48 61 6d 70 73 68 69 72 65 2e 22 0a New Hampshire.".
3d0d0 0a 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 .He chuckled aga
3d0e0 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 in. "What about
3d0f0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f where you're go
3d100 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 64 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 ing today?" he a
3d110 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 sked. "Are you
3d120 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 ready to go ther
3d130 65 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 74 e now?"..She pat
3d140 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2c ted her pockets,
3d150 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 checking what s
3d160 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c he had with her,
3d170 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 then nodded. "
3d180 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f Yeah, I guess so
3d190 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 65 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d .".."Step into m
3d1a0 79 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 y pantry, said t
3d1b0 68 65 20 73 70 69 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 he spider to the
3d1c0 20 66 6c 79 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 fly." He brush
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3d1e0 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 headed into the
3d1f0 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f kitchen...She fo
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3d210 73 20 74 65 6e 74 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 s tentative, and
3d220 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 looked around w
3d230 69 74 68 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 2c 20 74 ith eyes wide, t
3d240 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 6e rying to take in
3d250 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 every detail of
3d260 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e this old house.
3d270 20 20 41 20 68 61 6c 6c 77 61 79 20 64 69 73 61 A hallway disa
3d280 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 65 ppeared into dee
3d290 70 65 72 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 per darkness to
3d2a0 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 her left just be
3d2b0 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 fore she angled
3d2c0 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 right into the d
3d2d0 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 65 61 72 20 ining room near
3d2e0 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the back of the
3d2f0 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f house. A few mo
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3d310 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 to where the ki
3d320 74 63 68 65 6e 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 tchen opened to
3d330 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 the left, and sh
3d340 65 20 73 61 77 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6f e saw Smuggler o
3d350 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 pening a pantry
3d360 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 72 75 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 door, true to hi
3d370 73 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 72 65 61 63 s word...He reac
3d380 68 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 hed in and with
3d390 74 68 65 20 73 77 65 65 70 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 the sweep of his
3d3a0 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 73 68 glove lights sh
3d3b0 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 73 74 e saw shelves st
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3d3d0 6e 74 20 64 72 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 73 2e 20 20 41 nt dry goods. A
3d3e0 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 75 click brought u
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3d400 67 68 74 65 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 20 74 ghter light as t
3d410 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 68 69 he back wall shi
3d420 66 74 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 72 65 76 65 61 fted away, revea
3d430 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 20 68 6f ling a narrow ho
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3d450 62 65 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 beaming illumina
3d460 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 tion toward the
3d470 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 ceiling of the p
3d480 61 6e 74 72 79 2e 20 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 79 antry. "After y
3d490 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e ou," he said, an
3d4a0 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 d stepped out of
3d4b0 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 the pantry to g
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3d4d0 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2c he moved closer,
3d4e0 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 77 61 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 steps wary, and
3d4f0 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 leaned to look
3d500 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 down the hole.
3d510 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 She saw a steel
3d520 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 62 6f 6c 74 65 64 20 74 6f ladder bolted to
3d530 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 69 the concrete si
3d540 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e de of the rectan
3d550 67 75 6c 61 72 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 64 69 gular hole leadi
3d560 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 ng downward. Sh
3d570 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 e looked back at
3d580 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e Smuggler, who n
3d590 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 68 odded, though sh
3d5a0 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 e did not know w
3d5b0 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 2e 20 hat that meant.
3d5c0 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f Another look co
3d5d0 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 74 69 20 77 61 73 6e 27 nfirmed ti wasn'
3d5e0 74 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 20 68 6f t a very deep ho
3d5f0 6c 65 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 65 6e 20 66 65 le, maybe ten fe
3d600 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 et, and it looke
3d610 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 d like after a c
3d620 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 ouple of those f
3d630 65 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 70 65 eet one side ope
3d640 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 ned up into a la
3d650 72 67 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 rger room...Alle
3d660 79 20 2f 2a 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 2a 2f y /* sat down */
3d670 20 67 6f 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e got down on han
3d680 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 61 6e 64 ds and knees and
3d690 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 carefully backe
3d6a0 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 d over the edge
3d6b0 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2c onto the ladder,
3d6c0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 64 6f then climbed do
3d6d0 77 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 6c 6f wn. She kept lo
3d6e0 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 oking down at th
3d6f0 65 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 e rising floor,
3d700 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 over her shoulde
3d710 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 r, and she saw t
3d720 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 6c hat it was a wel
3d730 6c 20 6c 69 74 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 62 l lit chamber ab
3d740 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 77 69 64 65 20 61 73 20 69 out as wide as i
3d750 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 t was tall, more
3d760 20 74 68 61 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 than enough for
3d770 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 74 61 someone very ta
3d780 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 ll to lie down b
3d790 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6c 6f ut not with a lo
3d7a0 74 20 6f 66 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f t of room left o
3d7b0 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ver...She looked
3d7c0 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 up to see Smugg
3d7d0 6c 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e ler looking down
3d7e0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 , then he rotate
3d7f0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 d and lowered a
3d800 66 6f 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 foot to the ladd
3d810 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 er. She looked
3d820 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 away from him, h
3d830 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 opped the last f
3d840 6f 6f 74 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 oot or two down
3d850 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e to the floor, an
3d860 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 d stepped away f
3d870 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 rom the ladder.
3d880 20 41 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 4c 45 44 20 6c 69 A single LED li
3d890 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 69 74 20 6d 6f 75 6e ghting unit moun
3d8a0 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 ted on the ceili
3d8b0 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 ng flooded the s
3d8c0 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 20 mall chamber in
3d8d0 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e bright light, an
3d8e0 64 20 61 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 63 d a door stood c
3d8f0 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 losed at the oth
3d900 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f er end of the ro
3d910 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 57 68 69 6c 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 om...While Smugg
3d920 6c 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 73 ler descended, s
3d930 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 20 he heard a soft
3d940 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 brushing sound a
3d950 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 nd looked up to
3d960 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 65 72 74 75 72 65 see the aperture
3d970 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 at the top of t
3d980 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e he ladder closin
3d990 67 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 g. When he reac
3d9a0 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6f 6d 2c 20 hed the bottom,
3d9b0 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 he turned withou
3d9c0 74 20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 t a word to the
3d9d0 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 74 6f 75 door. As he tou
3d9e0 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2c ched the handle,
3d9f0 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 76 61 6e 69 73 the light vanis
3da00 68 65 64 2c 20 70 6c 75 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 hed, plunging th
3da10 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 em into darkness
3da20 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 apart from the
3da30 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c lights on Smuggl
3da40 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 er's glove..."I
3da50 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 still have conta
3da60 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 ct with you," th
3da70 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
3da80 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 id...She shook h
3da90 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 er head slightly
3daa0 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f , not wanting to
3dab0 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 6f 20 speak aloud to
3dac0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
3dad0 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 6d 75 67 in front of Smug
3dae0 67 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 gler..."It must
3daf0 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 65 73 be your Axiom es
3db00 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 tablishing conne
3db10 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 ctions through s
3db20 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 73 68 ome kind of mesh
3db30 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 network down he
3db40 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 re. I do not ha
3db50 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 ve access to che
3db60 63 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6e 6e ck it, so I cann
3db70 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 ot confirm this
3db80 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 is the case."..A
3db90 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 53 6d lley followed Sm
3dba0 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 uggler into the
3dbb0 64 61 72 6b 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 62 65 79 6f dark tunnel beyo
3dbc0 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 6f 6f nd the heavy doo
3dbd0 72 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 r, which softly
3dbe0 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 closed behind th
3dbf0 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 em on its own.
3dc00 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d After a couple m
3dc10 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e inutes of walkin
3dc20 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 61 g, she quietly a
3dc30 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 66 61 72 20 69 73 sked "How far is
3dc40 20 69 74 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 it?" The sound
3dc50 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 seemed louder t
3dc60 68 61 6e 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 han it should ha
3dc70 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 ve been, after t
3dc80 68 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 6f 66 he deep quiet of
3dc90 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 nothing but the
3dca0 20 65 63 68 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 echoes of their
3dcb0 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 own movements,
3dcc0 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 73 and she nearly s
3dcd0 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 tumbled in surpr
3dce0 69 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 ise..."It's abou
3dcf0 74 20 61 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 77 t a ten minute w
3dd00 61 6c 6b 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 alk," he said, "
3dd10 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 77 mostly because w
3dd20 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 e need to move s
3dd30 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 6c lowly.".."Why sl
3dd40 6f 77 6c 79 3f 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 owly? It looks
3dd50 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 straight as far
3dd60 61 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 2c 20 61 6e as I can see, an
3dd70 64 20 49 20 64 6f 75 62 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 d I doubt anyone
3dd80 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 75 73 2e 22 would hear us."
3dd90 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 ..She saw his he
3dda0 61 64 20 73 68 61 6b 65 2c 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 ad shake, silhou
3ddb0 65 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 etted against th
3ddc0 65 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c e glow of his gl
3ddd0 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 ove lights ahead
3dde0 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 74 of him. His st
3ddf0 72 69 64 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 68 61 ride did not cha
3de00 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 77 65 20 67 6f 20 nge. "If we go
3de10 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 73 74 2c 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 too fast, we'll
3de20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 2e 20 set off alarms.
3de30 20 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 77 It's the best w
3de40 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 ay to make sure
3de50 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 the alarms will
3de60 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 go off when some
3de70 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e one's on the run
3de80 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 , but it's not t
3de90 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 he only way the
3dea0 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 74 72 alarms can be tr
3deb0 69 67 67 65 72 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 iggered.".."What
3dec0 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 20 69 66 20 61 6c 61 72 happens if alar
3ded0 6d 73 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 ms go off?".."A
3dee0 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 63 69 74 69 6e 67 20 lot of exciting
3def0 73 74 75 66 66 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c stuff," he said,
3df00 20 22 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 "ending with th
3df10 69 73 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 is tunnel not be
3df20 69 6e 67 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f ing available to
3df30 20 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 61 64 run the blockad
3df40 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f e any more.".."O
3df50 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 h." She walked
3df60 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 68 69 6e in silence behin
3df70 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 d him as the pas
3df80 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 sage took some t
3df90 75 72 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c urns, then final
3dfa0 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 ly asked "I gues
3dfb0 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 s Smuggler proba
3dfc0 62 6c 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c bly isn't actual
3dfd0 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 ly the name your
3dfe0 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 73 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f parents gave yo
3dff0 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 u.".."No," he sa
3e000 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b id, without look
3e010 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e ing back. "I in
3e020 68 65 72 69 74 65 64 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 herited it.".."A
3e030 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 re you saying th
3e040 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 at's your family
3e050 20 6e 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 54 name?".."No. T
3e060 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 53 6d 75 67 he previous Smug
3e070 67 6c 65 72 20 72 65 74 69 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f gler retired fro
3e080 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 m this kind of t
3e090 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 hing and passed
3e0a0 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d the name on to m
3e0b0 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 44 72 65 61 e, like the Drea
3e0c0 64 20 50 69 72 61 74 65 20 52 6f 62 65 72 74 73 d Pirate Roberts
3e0d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 .".."I thought a
3e0e0 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 ll that stuff ab
3e0f0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 out the Silk Roa
3e100 64 20 67 75 79 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 d guy was suppos
3e110 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 70 ed to be made up
3e120 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f .".."I don't kno
3e130 77 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 w," Smuggler sai
3e140 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 74 d. "I never met
3e150 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 him. I think a
3e160 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 77 69 74 predecessor wit
3e170 68 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 h the name Smugg
3e180 6c 65 72 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 2c 20 ler might have,
3e190 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c though. Anyway,
3e1a0 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 I was talking a
3e1b0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 bout the charact
3e1c0 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e er from the Prin
3e1d0 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 cess Bride, not
3e1e0 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 66 6f the Silk Road fo
3e1f0 75 6e 64 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 under.".."Oh. I
3e200 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 've never read t
3e210 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 he Princess Brid
3e220 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 e.".."Neither ha
3e230 76 65 20 49 2c 22 20 49 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 ve I," I said, "
3e240 62 75 74 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 but my predecess
3e250 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 or and I watched
3e260 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 the movie toget
3e270 68 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d her a couple tim
3e280 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 es.".."I forgot
3e290 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 that was a movie
3e2a0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 ," she said..."Y
3e2b0 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 73 61 64 2c 22 ou make me sad,"
3e2c0 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a Smuggler said..
3e2d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f .Alley failed to
3e2e0 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 produce an answ
3e2f0 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 er, and remained
3e300 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 silent until th
3e310 65 79 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f ey reached the o
3e320 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 ther end...Smugg
3e330 6c 65 72 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 ler climbed anot
3e340 68 65 72 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 her steel ladder
3e350 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 67 72 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 , and a grinding
3e360 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 20 64 6f noise echoed do
3e370 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 wn the tunnel.
3e380 48 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 66 He disappeared f
3e390 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 65 77 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 rom view above,
3e3a0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 72 65 though now there
3e3b0 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 was soft light
3e3c0 66 69 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 filtering down t
3e3d0 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 74 20 hrough the exit
3e3e0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 at the top of th
3e3f0 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 e ladder. She f
3e400 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ollowed a moment
3e410 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 69 later, rising i
3e420 6e 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 nto what looked
3e430 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 76 61 75 6c like an old vaul
3e440 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 t with indirect
3e450 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 73 track lighting s
3e460 75 73 70 65 6e 64 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 uspended from th
3e470 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 e ceiling..."Wha
3e480 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 t is this?" she
3e490 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 asked, looking a
3e4a0 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 round at shelves
3e4b0 20 62 61 72 72 65 6e 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 barren except f
3e4c0 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 or a few small f
3e4d0 6f 72 6d 20 66 61 63 74 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 orm factor compu
3e4e0 74 65 72 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 69 6c ters sitting sil
3e4f0 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 70 6c 75 73 20 79 61 72 64 ently, plus yard
3e500 73 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 61 62 s of network cab
3e510 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 6e ling. "Is it an
3e520 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 61 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 53 6d 75 old bank?"..Smu
3e530 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 ggler said "No,
3e540 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e it's the abandon
3e550 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 75 79 ed home of a guy
3e560 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 66 6f 72 74 who made a fort
3e570 75 6e 65 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 66 20 65 61 72 6c 79 une off of early
3e580 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 internet corpor
3e590 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 ations around th
3e5a0 65 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 e turn of the mi
3e5b0 6c 6c 65 6e 6e 69 75 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 llennium, and ha
3e5c0 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 d just decided t
3e5d0 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 o move his money
3e5e0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 around before a
3e5f0 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 63 72 61 73 68 2e 20 20 market crash.
3e600 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 He died just bef
3e610 6f 72 65 20 72 69 6f 74 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 ore riots starte
3e620 64 20 74 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 d tearing up thi
3e630 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 41 2c 20 62 65 s part of LA, be
3e640 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 74 20 fore it all got
3e650 73 68 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 shut down.".."Wh
3e660 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 69 at about his hei
3e670 72 73 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 65 70 rs?" Alley step
3e680 70 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 74 20 61 ped past a cot a
3e690 6e 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 nd a small foldi
3e6a0 6e 67 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f ng table with fo
3e6b0 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 6e 65 61 lding chairs nea
3e6c0 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 r it. She noted
3e6d0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 the presence of
3e6e0 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 61 67 a bar fridge ag
3e6f0 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 ainst one wall,
3e700 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 68 6f 77 and wondered how
3e710 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 they got power
3e720 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 0a for this place..
3e730 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 .He shrugged. "
3e740 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 I guess, if he h
3e750 61 64 20 61 6e 79 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 ad any, they nev
3e760 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 er tried coming
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3e790 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 , anyway, so the
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3e800 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 69 6c 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 just filed for
3e810 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 70 61 79 an insurance pay
3e820 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 out.".."Yeah, I
3e830 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 guess," she sai
3e840 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 6e 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 69 d..."Insurance i
3e850 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 6f 72 73 20 73 74 6f nvestigators sto
3e860 70 70 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f pped coming into
3e870 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 20 the hot zone a
3e880 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 67 6f 2c 22 20 long time ago,"
3e890 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a Smuggler said...
3e8a0 48 65 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 He flipped open
3e8b0 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 73 65 a steel plate se
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3e920 61 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 20 a gloved finger
3e930 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 and thumb. He d
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3e970 74 68 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 the little door
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3e9b0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 65 from the door e
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3ea10 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e 20 ning outward on
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3ea50 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 closed again and
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3ea90 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 * Alley makes a
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3eae0 0a 2f 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 65 65 74 73 20 ./* Alley meets
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3eb00 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 73 20 again and gets
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3eba0 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 65 6d 65 72 When they emer
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3ebc0 63 68 65 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 37 30 chen of the 1970
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3ec50 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 6d ning to charge m
3ec60 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 65 72 76 69 e for your servi
3ec70 63 65 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 ces?" she asked
3ec80 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 when he turned t
3ec90 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e oward her...He n
3eca0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 odded. "That's
3ecb0 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e right," he said.
3ecc0 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b .."Why?" she ask
3ecd0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 68 61 73 20 ed. "There has
3ece0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 72 to be a better r
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3ed40 63 61 6e 27 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 can't hurt to te
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3ed60 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 22 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 point..."George
3ed70 74 6f 6c 64 20 6d 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 told me he wante
3ed80 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 d to make sure y
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3edd0 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 zone. He offer
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3ee10 72 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 rice and go to s
3ee20 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 6f 72 20 6a omeone else or j
3ee30 75 73 74 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 ust give up on t
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3ee60 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b hrough the check
3ee70 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 point.".."How mu
3ee80 63 68 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 63 6f 73 74 20 ch does it cost
3ee90 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 to get through h
3eea0 65 72 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ere?" she asked.
3eeb0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 2c 22 20 .."It depends,"
3eec0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 61 74 he said, "but at
3eed0 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 71 75 69 76 least the equiv
3eee0 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 72 61 6e 64 alent of a grand
3eef0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 .".."Holy shit,"
3ef00 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 she said. "Tha
3ef10 74 27 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 t's . . . a lot
3ef20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 of money for jus
3ef30 74 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 t walking me thr
3ef40 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 22 0a ough a tunnel.".
3ef50 0a 22 49 74 20 70 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 ."It pays for th
3ef60 65 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 73 65 e facilities, se
3ef70 63 75 72 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 curity, and peop
3ef80 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 le who work with
3ef90 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e me. You had an
3efa0 20 69 6e 76 69 73 69 62 6c 65 20 65 73 63 6f 72 invisible escor
3efb0 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 6d t part way, to m
3efc0 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 ake sure you wou
3efd0 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 ld get through s
3efe0 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 63 69 65 ome of the dicie
3eff0 72 20 61 72 65 61 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a r areas, too."..
3f000 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 "Are you talking
3f010 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 66 about a drone f
3f020 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 ollowing me?" sh
3f030 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 e asked..."No, I
3f040 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 'm talking about
3f050 20 61 6e 20 61 72 6d 65 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e an armed person
3f060 2c 20 73 74 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 , staying out of
3f070 20 73 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 sight, keeping
3f080 61 6e 20 65 79 65 20 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 an eye out for a
3f090 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 nyone stalking y
3f0a0 6f 75 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 70 72 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a ou like prey."..
3f0b0 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 "Why didn't you
3f0c0 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 tell me about th
3f0d0 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 75 73 75 61 at?".."It's usua
3f0e0 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c lly best to tell
3f0f0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 people about it
3f100 20 61 66 74 65 72 77 61 72 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 afterward, so t
3f110 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f hey don't try to
3f120 20 61 72 67 75 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 63 65 argue the price
3f130 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 down and get th
3f140 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 emselves killed
3f150 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e while they're in
3f160 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f there.".."Do yo
3f170 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 u feel responsib
3f180 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 le for people wh
3f190 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d en you take them
3f1a0 20 69 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e in?" she asked.
3f1b0 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 20 ..He hesitated.
3f1c0 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 20 "Not exactly,"
3f1d0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 74 he said. "Somet
3f1e0 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6c 69 imes, though, li
3f1f0 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2e ke in this case.
3f200 20 20 45 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 Even if I don'
3f210 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e t, though, I don
3f220 27 74 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 't charge for th
3f230 65 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 72 69 70 20 75 6e e return trip un
3f240 74 69 6c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 65 61 64 79 til you're ready
3f250 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 to come back.
3f260 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 72 6f 75 I don't sell rou
3f270 6e 64 20 74 72 69 70 20 74 69 63 6b 65 74 73 2c nd trip tickets,
3f280 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 because I don't
3f290 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 66 65 65 want anyone fee
3f2a0 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 ling ripped off
3f2b0 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 if they decide t
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3f2d0 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 69 65 20 77 . If they die w
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3f2f0 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 there, though, t
3f300 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 hat means I don'
3f310 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 t get paid for t
3f320 68 65 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 72 69 70 2c 20 he return trip,
3f330 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 too.".."Is that
3f340 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 thousand dollars
3f350 20 79 6f 75 20 71 75 6f 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 you quoted one
3f360 77 61 79 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 way or total for
3f370 20 62 6f 74 68 20 77 61 79 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f both ways?".."O
3f380 6e 65 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 ne way.".."This
3f390 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 6b whole thing is k
3f3a0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 2c 20 62 ind of insane, b
3f3b0 75 74 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e ut I guess you n
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3f3d0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f the same as anyo
3f3e0 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ne else." Alley
3f3f0 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook her head.
3f400 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 "I can't believ
3f410 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 61 69 64 20 79 6f e George paid yo
3f420 75 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 20 64 u two thousand d
3f430 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 62 65 68 ollars on my beh
3f440 61 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 alf."..He shrugg
3f450 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 61 ed. "He only pa
3f460 69 64 20 61 20 67 72 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 63 id a grand. I c
3f470 6f 6d 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 omped the other
3f480 68 61 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a half.".."Why?"..
3f490 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 6d 2c 22 20 68 65 "I like him," he
3f4a0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 said, "and you
3f4b0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 don't seem like
3f4c0 61 20 62 61 64 20 73 6f 72 74 2c 20 65 69 74 68 a bad sort, eith
3f4d0 65 72 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 er. I'm usually
3f4e0 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 willing to help
3f4f0 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 20 68 69 73 20 61 64 64 support his add
3f500 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e iction to helpin
3f510 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 61 6e g people out, an
3f520 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f yway.".."Yeah, o
3f530 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 kay. I've seen
3f540 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 some evidence of
3f550 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 that addiction
3f560 69 6e 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 49 in him myself, I
3f570 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c guess.".."Well,
3f580 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 it's not like I
3f590 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 don't like your
3f5a0 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 company, but I
3f5b0 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d have an appointm
3f5c0 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 66 72 ent with less fr
3f5d0 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 iendly people th
3f5e0 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 73 68 an you, and I sh
3f5f0 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 ould get going.
3f600 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 Are you going t
3f610 6f 20 62 65 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 o be okay with w
3f620 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 hatever you're c
3f630 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 arrying now?"..A
3f640 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 63 6f lley almost unco
3f650 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 nsciously touche
3f660 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 61 70 20 6f 66 20 68 d the strap of h
3f670 65 72 20 70 61 63 6b 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 65 61 er pack, now hea
3f680 76 69 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 vier than it was
3f690 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 6e 2e 20 on the way in.
3f6a0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 "Yeah, I think
3f6b0 73 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a so," she said...
3f6c0 2f 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a /* * * * * * * *
3f6d0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
3f6e0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
3f6f0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
3f700 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 5c 0a 20 2a * * * * * *\. *
3f710 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
3f720 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
3f730 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
3f740 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
3f750 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 53 *. * S
3f760 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 68 hould Smuggler h
3f770 61 76 65 20 6c 6f 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 ave loaned her s
3f780 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6c 66 ome kind of self
3f790 20 64 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 20 defense weapon
3f7a0 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 77 68 69 6c *. * whil
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3f7c0 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 20 20 53 68 6f 75 hot zone? Shou
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3f7e0 73 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 s return now tha
3f7f0 74 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 t *. * they ar
3f800 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 20 e about to part
3f810 77 61 79 73 3f 20 20 43 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 ways? Certainly
3f820 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 71 75 65 , the second que
3f830 73 74 69 6f 6e 27 73 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 20 stion's answer
3f840 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6e *. * seems to n
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405a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 Alley terminated
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40650 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 .."Wait," the pr
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40670 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 61 6d 20 49 ."Why? Why am I
40680 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 waiting?".."I w
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406f0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e .Alley sat again
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40760 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c "Maybe I shoul
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407d0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 .."I will arrang
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407f0 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
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40860 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 . Take your rid
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40880 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 67 6f 6f ."Why? What goo
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408a0 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a me?" she asked..
408b0 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f ."If you have to
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408f0 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 If you do not h
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40920 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 65 to have that ge
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40940 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Fine," she said.
40950 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 "I'll get it.
40960 20 57 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 Why the riding
40970 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 20 20 gear, though?"
40980 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 She stood and he
40990 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 aded for the cou
409a0 6e 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 65 61 nter..."It is ea
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409e0 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d need to ride a m
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40a00 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 65 20 79 .."Is the ride y
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40a20 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f ing to be a moto
40a30 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 rcycle?".."I am
40a40 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 76 61 checking for ava
40a50 69 6c 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f ilability. I do
40a60 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 65 74 2e 22 0a not know yet.".
40a70 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 .Alley shrugged
40a80 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 6c to herself and l
40a90 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 ooked at the guy
40aa0 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b behind the desk
40ab0 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 . "Hey," she sa
40ac0 69 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 id, raising her
40ad0 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 voice enough to
40ae0 62 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 be heard. "Can
40af0 49 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 I get some thing
40b00 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 s out of the tru
40b10 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 3f 22 0a 0a nk of my car?"..
40b20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 He looked at her
40b30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 61 20 , and down at a
40b40 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 tablet in front
40b50 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 of him. "I'll c
40b60 68 65 63 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 69 74 27 heck whether it'
40b70 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 66 74 2e 20 20 s on the lift.
40b80 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 79 6f If not, sure, yo
40b90 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 u can probably g
40ba0 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 et whatever you
40bb0 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c need.".."Thanks,
40bc0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 " she said...Eig
40bd0 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 ht minutes later
40be0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 , she sat on a b
40bf0 65 6e 63 68 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 ench in front of
40c00 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 the shop's glas
40c10 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 s wall, wearing
40c20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 6f 72 65 64 20 6a 61 63 6b her armored jack
40c30 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 74 68 et and boots, th
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40c50 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 6c 69 6b cargo pocket lik
40c60 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 e usual and the
40c70 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 72 6f 6c riding pants rol
40c80 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 led up and strap
40c90 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 ped to her bag.
40ca0 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 She stared at t
40cb0 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 he video playing
40cc0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 20 6f in the lenses o
40cd0 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 f her glasses.
40ce0 4d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 Men in Secret Se
40cf0 72 76 69 63 65 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e rvice jackets an
40d00 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 65 61 72 20 d tactical gear
40d10 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 stormed her home
40d20 2c 20 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 , breaking in th
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40d40 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 62 two people in b
40d50 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 lack suits stood
40d60 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 outside on the
40d70 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 sidewalk, watchi
40d80 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 ng. One was a w
40d90 6f 6d 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 68 oman with long h
40da0 61 69 72 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 air streaked wit
40db0 68 20 67 72 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 74 68 h grey, and both
40dc0 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 73 2e wore ball caps.
40dd0 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b When they look
40de0 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 ed at each other
40df0 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 to speak, she r
40e00 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 ecognized them a
40e10 73 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 70 s Cole and his p
40e20 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 artner...Alley's
40e30 20 6a 61 77 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 jaw was clenche
40e40 64 20 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 74 68 61 d so tightly tha
40e50 74 20 69 74 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 t it hurt. The
40e60 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 point of view of
40e70 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 64 72 69 66 74 the scene drift
40e80 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6f 6c ed past, and Col
40e90 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 e looked toward
40ea0 74 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 61 the camera for a
40eb0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f moment, then lo
40ec0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 oked away again
40ed0 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 like it did not
40ee0 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 72 6f matter. The fro
40ef0 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 nt of his black
40f00 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 20 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 ball cap sported
40f10 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 79 20 73 74 the burgundy st
40f20 79 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 63 6f 69 6e 20 6c 6f 67 6f ylized coin logo
40f30 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 0a 0a of COIN Corp...
40f40 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c Her hands trembl
40f50 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 ed..."I have a p
40f60 6c 61 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 lan," the priori
40f70 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 tizer said. "I
40f80 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 will get you awa
40f90 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 y from here. Th
40fa0 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 at is the first
40fb0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f thing we must do
40fc0 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 , before someone
40fd0 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 65 68 69 finds your vehi
40fe0 63 6c 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 cle here. You c
40ff0 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 annot pay for th
41000 65 73 65 20 72 65 70 61 69 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 ese repairs with
41010 20 63 61 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f cash you have o
41020 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c n you right now,
41030 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 and paying with
41040 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c credit would al
41050 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 74 most certainly t
41060 72 69 67 67 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 20 66 6f rigger alerts fo
41070 72 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 r the COIN Corp
41080 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 6d 75 73 74 agents. We must
41090 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 get you away, a
410a0 6e 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 nd arrange for s
410b0 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 70 omeone else to p
410c0 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2e 22 ick up the car."
410d0 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6c 6f .."If they're lo
410e0 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 oking for my cre
410f0 64 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f dit, they'll loo
41100 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 6f k for my car, to
41110 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 o," she said..."
41120 54 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 70 The person who p
41130 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 ays for the car
41140 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 2c 22 will handle it,"
41150 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
41160 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 63 61 6e 20 said. "It can
41170 62 65 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 70 61 72 74 be sold for part
41180 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 6e 65 76 s so that it nev
41190 65 72 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 61 er shows up as a
411a0 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 76 65 68 69 registered vehi
411b0 63 6c 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 4d 69 6e 75 cle again. Minu
411c0 73 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 65 65 s a handling fee
411d0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 69 6c 6c , the money will
411e0 20 62 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 65 64 20 74 6f be forwarded to
411f0 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 you. You will
41200 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 20 have to acquire
41210 6e 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 61 74 69 new transportati
41220 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 on, but I can he
41230 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 lp you with that
41240 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 as well.".."Oka
41250 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 y," she said. "
41260 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 Why do you seem
41270 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 like you've done
41280 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a this before?"..
41290 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 "I have not," th
412a0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
412b0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 id. "I have bee
412c0 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 64 n considering id
412d0 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 eas for how to h
412e0 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e andle this momen
412f0 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 t when it came,
41300 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 though."..Alley
41310 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 frowned. "Maybe
41320 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e they don't even
41330 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 want me. They
41340 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 went into my pla
41350 63 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 ce when I wasn't
41360 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 even there. Th
41370 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6b 6e 6f ey must have kno
41380 77 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e wn I wasn't goin
41390 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a g to be there.".
413a0 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 ."No, I made sur
413b0 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 e they thought y
413c0 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 79 ou were home, by
413d0 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 falsifying logs
413e0 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 . I have been v
413f0 65 72 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 61 ery careful to a
41400 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 74 6f 20 63 rrange logs to c
41410 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 70 6f 74 65 6e onfuse any poten
41420 74 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 73 20 74 6f tial attempts to
41430 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 61 67 61 make a move aga
41440 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 inst you.".."How
41450 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 did you do that
41460 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 ?".."I made use
41470 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f of the network o
41480 66 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 f study particip
41490 61 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 ants.".."What ar
414a0 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f e they getting o
414b0 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 ut of it?" she a
414c0 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 77 sked, quietly, w
414d0 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 ondering how it
414e0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 68 could possibly h
414f0 61 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 73 20 6a 6f 62 ave done its job
41500 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 for them while
41510 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 68 using them for h
41520 65 72 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 er sake like thi
41530 73 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 s..."Some of the
41540 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 m want to escape
41550 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 6f 72 69 from their bori
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41570 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 of them want to
41580 6d 65 65 74 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 meet new people
41590 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 they would not h
415a0 61 76 65 20 6d 65 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 ave met otherwis
415b0 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 e. They have di
415c0 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 74 68 fferent goals th
415d0 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 an you, and I ca
415e0 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f n provide for so
415f0 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 20 77 61 me of them in wa
41600 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 68 65 6c ys that also hel
41610 70 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 73 20 p other members
41620 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 of the study par
41630 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2e 20 ticipant group.
41640 20 54 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 The video you w
41650 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 atched of the ra
41660 69 64 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 id on your home
41670 77 61 73 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 64 20 62 79 20 was captured by
41680 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 a pair of glasse
41690 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 s just like your
416a0 73 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 62 79 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 s worn by a diff
416b0 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 erent member of
416c0 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 the group, just
416d0 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 70 70 65 because he happe
416e0 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 20 79 ned to pass by y
416f0 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 our home.".."You
41700 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 suggested somet
41710 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 hing that would
41720 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 take the person
41730 70 61 73 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 6c 69 76 past where I liv
41740 65 64 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 ed. Right?".."T
41750 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2c 20 hat is correct,
41760 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 72 but it still ser
41770 76 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 ves that person'
41780 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 69 s goals.".."Thei
41790 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 r goals probably
417a0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e could have been
417b0 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 filled better a
417c0 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 nd more quickly
417d0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 64 20 74 if you advised t
417e0 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 hem to do someth
417f0 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ing else, though
41800 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 . Right?".."Yes
41810 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 66 6f 72 ," it said, "for
41820 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a some of them.".
41830 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."You must have
41840 68 61 64 20 6d 65 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 had me do things
41850 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 6f 74 68 that helped oth
41860 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 er participants
41870 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e as well.".."Yes.
41880 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 ".."I guess that
41890 27 73 20 66 61 69 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 's fair," she sa
418a0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 id. "How are we
418b0 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6d 65 going to get me
418c0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a out of here?"..
418d0 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 20 69 73 20 61 6c "Your ride is al
418e0 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 most here," it s
418f0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 aid..."Oh. It's
41900 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 one of the stud
41910 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 y participants.
41920 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 Right?".."Yes."
41930 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 69 74 20 .."Of course it
41940 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a is."../* * * * *
41950 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
41960 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
41970 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
41980 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
41990 20 2a 5c 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 *\. *
419a0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
419b0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
419c0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
419d0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a *
419e0 0a 20 2a 20 20 41 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 . * A study par
419f0 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 ticipant shows u
41a00 70 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 p to pick her up
41a10 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 . Maybe it's a
41a20 67 69 72 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a girl this *. *
41a30 20 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f time. That wo
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41a50 20 61 6e 79 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 any case, she g
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41a70 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 74 d taken *. * t
41a80 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 o some place whe
41a90 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 6e re Alley can han
41aa0 67 20 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 2e g out for a bit.
41ab0 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 I don't know w
41ac0 68 65 72 65 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 74 68 61 74 here *. * that
41ad0 20 69 73 20 79 65 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 69 is yet, which i
41ae0 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 s part of the re
41af0 61 73 6f 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 72 69 ason I'm not wri
41b00 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 ting out all the
41b10 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 6e 61 72 72 61 74 69 *. * narrati
41b20 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 61 6c 6f 67 20 66 6f ve and dialog fo
41b30 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 61 74 20 74 r this part at t
41b40 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 his time. I thi
41b50 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 20 nk she must do
41b60 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 *. * something
41b70 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 74 73 20 74 68 65 72 as she sits ther
41b80 65 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 e, waiting. In
41b90 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 the mean time, t
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41bb0 2a 20 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 * prioritizer s
41bc0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f hould arrange fo
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41fc0 53 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 She has a helmet
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41fe0 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 *. *
41ff0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
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42010 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
42020 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
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42040 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 all that, there
42050 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 6c 65 is some cash le
42060 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 65 6c ft over from sel
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420e0 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 all. It is als
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42140 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 61 None of this rea
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423a0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
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423d0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
423e0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
423f0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
42400 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
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42420 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 * * * * * * * *
42430 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 * * * * * * * *
42440 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 * * * * * * * *
42450 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 * * * * * * * *
42460 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c * * * */.."Well,
42470 20 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 61 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e here I am, alon
42480 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2d 2d 20 65 78 63 65 70 e again -- excep
42490 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 t you, of course
424a0 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ."..The prioriti
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424c0 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 probably best at
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42500 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 73 20 75 6e 6c human beings unl
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42560 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 62 73 lp you with subs
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425a0 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 help."..She sig
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425c0 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 course.".."Is th
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425e0 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 can contact for
425f0 68 65 6c 70 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 help now?"..Alle
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42610 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 it, and said "I
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42650 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 e days who could
42660 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 really help me
42670 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 right now.".."Ca
42680 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 72 n one of your fr
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426a0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 place to stay f
426b0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a or the night?"..
426c0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 Alley shook her
426d0 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 head. "I don't
426e0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d want to get them
426f0 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 caught up in th
42700 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 is, and I guess
42710 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 I'm not entirely
42720 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 sure they would
42730 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e n't say somethin
42740 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 g they shouldn't
42750 20 69 66 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 if police showe
42760 64 20 75 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e d up or somethin
42770 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 g like that.".."
42780 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 77 65 In that case, we
42790 20 6d 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 must find you a
427a0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 place to stay f
427b0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 50 or the night. P
427c0 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6d lease look for m
427d0 6f 74 65 6c 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 63 63 65 70 otels that accep
427e0 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 t cryptocurrency
427f0 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 payments below
42800 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 the reporting th
42810 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 reshold of three
42820 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 75 6e 69 74 65 64 20 hundred united
42830 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 22 states dollars."
42840 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Sure," she sa
42850 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 id, "but I don't
42860 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 know how we're
42870 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 going to get the
42880 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 re. It's not li
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428a0 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 take cash these
428b0 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 days, and they a
428c0 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 ll have cameras
428d0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 77 6f in them, so I wo
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428f0 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 on camera for th
42900 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 72 69 70 2e 22 0a 0a e whole trip."..
42910 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 "Can you still r
42920 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ide a motorcycle
42930 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f ?".."Yeah, I sho
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42950 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 She furrowed h
42960 65 72 20 62 72 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 er brow. "Why?"
42970 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 .."We should che
42980 63 6b 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 ck online classi
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429c0 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 73 20 74 68 61 motorcycles tha
429d0 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 t can be purchas
429e0 65 64 20 69 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 73 ed in either cas
429f0 68 20 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 h or cryptocurre
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42a10 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 , yeah. I guess
42a20 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 77 6f a motorcycle wo
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42a40 70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6a 75 6e 6b 65 per than a junke
42a50 72 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c r car."..She pul
42a60 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f led out her Axio
42a70 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 m and woke the d
42a80 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 73 69 evice, then hesi
42a90 74 61 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 6d 20 tated..."How am
42aa0 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 I even going to
42ab0 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 get the motorcyc
42ac0 6c 65 3f 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 le? I can't get
42ad0 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 to it from here
42ae0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 .".."I will arra
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42b00 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
42b10 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 said. "It will
42b20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 73 74 20 79 6f probably cost yo
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42b40 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 73 , but a fellow s
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42b60 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 with appropriat
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42b80 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 69 6c willing to facil
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42be0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f and stored in lo
42bf0 67 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e gs, though?".."N
42c00 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 74 65 72 o. I will alter
42c10 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 logs and remove
42c20 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 all evidence of
42c30 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 these activitie
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42c50 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a from storage."..
42c60 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 "Okay, I guess t
42c70 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 hat's fine.".."B
42c80 79 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 2c 20 74 y my estimate, t
42c90 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 he risk of this
42ca0 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 transaction for
42cb0 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6c 65 you should be le
42cc0 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 ss than the typi
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42ce0 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f of driving a mo
42cf0 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 66 74 65 torcycle in afte
42d00 72 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 66 72 rnoon traffic fr
42d10 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 65 6c om here to a sel
42d20 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 61 72 74 ler in most part
42d30 73 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 2e 22 s of Riverside."
42d40 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 .."I guess that'
42d50 73 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 s comforting," s
42d60 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 64 69 6e he said. "Ridin
42d70 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 g a motorcycle i
42d80 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 s more dangerous
42d90 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 than making a d
42da0 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 69 64 64 6c eal with a middl
42db0 65 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 eman when the Me
42dc0 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 72 65 20 61 n In Black are a
42dd0 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 fter me.".."The
42de0 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 same statement i
42df0 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f s accurate if yo
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42e80 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 ".."Yeah, thanks
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434b0 20 75 73 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 62 use Stater to b
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434d0 4e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 63 No. He made a c
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434f0 20 20 46 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 For him, this
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43540 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 6e being tracked an
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435a0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Yeah," she
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435e0 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 3f to set me back?
435f0 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f ".."You will pro
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43890 0a 22 48 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a ."Hm. Thanks.".
438a0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d ."You are welcom
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44040 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 ".."Do you know
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44070 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 like this?" he
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44180 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 ".."I have that
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441c0 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 6e 65 65 64 "You ever need
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44230 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 "Yeah, thanks,"
44240 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 she said. "You'
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45210 6c 61 73 73 69 6e 65 20 43 75 72 76 65 73 20 73 lassine Curves s
45220 65 74 20 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 6e 67 74 6f et as his ringto
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45240 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e her there was an
45250 79 6f 6e 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 yone other than
45260 68 69 6d 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 him around when
45270 69 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 72 69 6e 67 69 it started ringi
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45290 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 75 62 64 65 72 he had a subder
452a0 6d 61 6c 20 68 65 61 64 73 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 mal headset that
452b0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 would play the
452c0 72 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6f ringtone where o
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452f0 20 20 48 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 75 73 74 He never trust
45300 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e ed those things.
45310 0a 0a 48 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 ..He picked up a
45320 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 fter the second
45330 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 ring, so close t
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45350 20 69 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 it felt longer
45360 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 20 62 65 than the wait be
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45380 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 72 69 6e 67 73 and second rings
45390 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 77 61 73 . Her thumb was
453a0 20 68 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 hovering over t
453b0 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 62 75 he disconnect bu
453c0 74 74 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 tton when she he
453d0 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a ard his voice...
453e0 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 "Alley? Is that
453f0 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 you?"..She stop
45400 70 65 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f ped breathing fo
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45420 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 her heart hammer
45430 65 64 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 ed along, and th
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45460 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 76 65 72 74 69 67 something vertig
45470 69 6e 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d inous to her mem
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454b0 20 68 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 how long it had
454c0 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 79 been since they
454d0 20 6c 69 76 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e lived together.
454e0 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 6f 72 6d 6f 6e 65 73 20 63 Her hormones c
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45500 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 in that instant
45510 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e that they weren
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45530 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e longer..."Uh . .
45540 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 . yeah. Yeah,
45550 69 74 20 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 it is," she fina
45560 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f lly shoved out o
45570 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 54 68 f her mouth...Th
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45590 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6c 61 that strange fla
455a0 74 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 t quality that t
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455c0 68 61 64 20 6d 75 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 had muted someth
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455e0 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 a few moments,
455f0 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 68 65 27 wondering if he'
45600 64 20 68 75 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 d hung up. She
45610 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 just decided to
45620 77 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 wake the screen
45630 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 again to see if
45640 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 it said she was
45650 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 2c still connected,
45660 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 even if she did
45670 6e 27 74 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 n't hear the dis
45680 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 74 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 68 connect tone, wh
45690 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 en she heard his
456a0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 voice again..."
456b0 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f Alley. It's goo
456c0 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 d to hear your v
456d0 6f 69 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 oice again. How
456e0 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 are you?"..She
456f0 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 hesitated, then
45700 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 said "It's been
45710 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f better.".."Do yo
45720 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 3f 22 20 68 65 u need help?" he
45730 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 71 75 69 63 6b asked, so quick
45740 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 ly she wondered
45750 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 if that was on t
45760 68 65 20 74 69 70 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 6f he tip of his to
45770 6e 67 75 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 ngue the moment
45780 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 he knew who was
45790 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e calling..."Yeah.
457a0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 " She sighed.
457b0 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 69 74 She had hoped it
457c0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 65 61 73 69 65 would get easie
457d0 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 74 r when she admit
457e0 74 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 75 64 64 ted it, but sudd
457f0 65 6e 6c 79 20 68 65 72 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 enly her whole b
45800 6f 64 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 68 65 61 76 69 65 72 ody felt heavier
45810 2c 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 , weighted down
45820 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e by the admission
45830 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 77 61 73 . Her heart was
45840 20 62 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 beating at her
45850 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 72 61 74 65 20 6e 6f 77 typical rate now
45860 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6c 69 , but it felt li
45870 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 ke it was doing
45880 73 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 so with a heavy
45890 74 72 65 61 64 2c 20 65 61 63 68 20 73 74 65 70 tread, each step
458a0 20 73 6c 61 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 74 slamming a boot
458b0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 61 64 65 down with leade
458c0 6e 20 65 78 68 61 75 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 n exhaustion, sh
458d0 6f 63 6b 73 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 ocks coming up t
458e0 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 65 73 hrough the soles
458f0 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2e 0a 0a of its boots...
45900 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 62 61 64 2c "It must be bad,
45910 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 really bad, if
45920 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d you're calling m
45930 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 e," Dalton said
45940 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f quietly. She co
45950 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 69 uld hear a strai
45960 6e 65 64 20 74 69 67 68 74 6e 65 73 73 20 69 6e ned tightness in
45970 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e his throat now.
45980 0a 0a 22 4e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 .."Never mind.
45990 54 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 69 This was a bad i
459a0 64 65 61 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 44 dea. Goodbye, D
459b0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6b alton." She wok
459c0 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 74 6f e the display to
459d0 20 73 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e show the discon
459e0 6e 65 63 74 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 nect button..."W
459f0 61 69 74 21 20 20 4e 6f 21 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 ait! No! Don't
45a00 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 . Alley? Are y
45a10 6f 75 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 4c 65 74 20 6d ou there? Let m
45a20 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 e help. I'll st
45a30 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 ay out of your w
45a40 61 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e ay, but if you n
45a50 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 eed help I'll he
45a60 6c 70 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e lp. No question
45a70 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 s." He paused,
45a80 66 6f 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 6f 72 20 74 6f for breath or to
45a90 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 61 see if she'll a
45aa0 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 77 nswer. Either w
45ab0 61 79 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 ay, after a few
45ac0 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 68 65 20 72 65 70 65 seconds, he repe
45ad0 61 74 65 64 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 ated himself. "
45ae0 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 Alley? Are you
45af0 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6c 6f there?"..She slo
45b00 77 6c 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 wly tapped the b
45b10 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 utton to put the
45b20 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 6c 65 65 display to slee
45b30 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 p again and said
45b40 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 "Yeah, I'm here
45b50 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f .".."Look, I kno
45b60 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 63 w you wouldn't c
45b70 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 ome to me if you
45b80 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c didn't have to,
45b90 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e whatever it is.
45ba0 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 I know you rea
45bb0 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 lly would rather
45bc0 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f have nothing to
45bd0 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 27 do with me. I'
45be0 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 m sorry about th
45bf0 61 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 68 6f 6e at. I'll be hon
45c00 65 73 74 20 2d 2d 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 est -- it's good
45c10 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 6f to hear your vo
45c20 69 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 78 ice. I don't ex
45c30 70 65 63 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 pect anything fr
45c40 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 om you, though.
45c50 20 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 If I can help,
45c60 49 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 I can. I know I
45c70 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 64 69 66 made things dif
45c80 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ficult for you.
45c90 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 I never meant t
45ca0 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e o, but I did, an
45cb0 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 74 20 6c d I want to at l
45cc0 65 61 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 east try to make
45cd0 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 it up to you.
45ce0 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 I'll stay out of
45cf0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 your business.
45d00 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 73 20 66 61 I'll stay as fa
45d10 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 r away as you wa
45d20 6e 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 75 72 6e 20 nt. Don't turn
45d30 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 66 72 65 65 6c 79 down help freely
45d40 20 67 69 76 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 given, though,
45d50 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 if you need it.
45d60 20 4f 6b 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 Okay?"..She squ
45d70 65 65 7a 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 63 eezed her eyes c
45d80 6c 6f 73 65 64 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f losed, trying to
45d90 20 62 61 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 banish the ligh
45da0 74 20 73 74 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 t sting she felt
45db0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 20 at the corners
45dc0 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 of her eyes. He
45dd0 72 20 6c 69 70 73 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 r lips pressed t
45de0 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 ogether tightly
45df0 69 6e 20 61 20 74 68 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e 65 2e 20 in a thin line.
45e00 20 53 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 6c She finally rel
45e10 65 61 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 eased her breath
45e20 2c 20 67 72 75 64 67 69 6e 67 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e , grudgingly, an
45e30 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 d opened her eye
45e40 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e s. "Yeah. Than
45e50 6b 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 ks, Dalton. The
45e60 20 74 72 75 74 68 20 69 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f truth is, if yo
45e70 75 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c u help me you'll
45e80 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f probably get yo
45e90 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 urself in a lot
45ea0 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 of trouble, beca
45eb0 75 73 65 20 49 27 6d 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 use I'm in a lot
45ec0 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 45 69 of trouble. Ei
45ed0 74 68 65 72 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 6e 64 ther I don't und
45ee0 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 6f 75 erstand the trou
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45f00 20 69 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 it's completely
45f10 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 74 insane and pret
45f20 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 65 73 63 61 70 61 ty much inescapa
45f30 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 ble, and will pr
45f40 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 63 72 65 77 20 6f 76 65 obably screw ove
45f50 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c r anyone who hel
45f60 70 73 20 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c ps me..."I reall
45f70 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 y shouldn't have
45f80 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 called you. I
45f90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 don't want to ge
45fa0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 t you mixed up i
45fb0 6e 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 n this.".."It's
45fc0 74 6f 6f 20 6c 61 74 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 too late," he sa
45fd0 69 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 67 65 6e id, quietly, gen
45fe0 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 tly. "You calle
45ff0 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 d. I'm here. I
46000 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 'm going to help
46010 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 65 you. Just take
46020 20 74 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 the offer, and
46030 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 tell me what you
46040 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 need.".."Fine."
46050 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 61 72 She huddled ar
46060 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e ound herself, an
46070 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 d pressed her ba
46080 63 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 69 ck more firmly i
46090 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2c 20 nto the corner,
460a0 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 73 feeling the plas
460b0 74 65 72 20 63 72 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 65 ter crumbling be
460c0 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 2e hind her jacket.
460d0 20 20 22 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 "I need a plac
460e0 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 6c 6f 77 2c 20 66 69 e to lie low, fi
460f0 72 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 rst, and I need
46100 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 to figure out wh
46110 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 at the fuck I'm
46120 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 doing next.".."Y
46130 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 eah," he said, "
46140 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 that does sound
46150 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 68 6f 27 73 20 serious. Who's
46160 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 after you?".."I
46170 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 should probably
46180 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 tell you the wor
46190 73 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 6f 27 73 st part of who's
461a0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 after me, but I
461b0 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 'm not sure whic
461c0 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 h one it is.".."
461d0 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e What do you mean
461e0 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 ?" he asked slow
461f0 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 77 ly..."Which is w
46200 6f 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 orse, the Secret
46210 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 61 20 63 72 Service or a cr
46220 65 65 70 79 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 eepy government
46230 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e intelligence con
46240 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e tractor that can
46250 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 get the secret
46260 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 74 service to do it
46270 73 20 64 69 72 74 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f 22 0a 0a s dirty work?"..
46280 54 68 65 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 The silence ling
46290 65 72 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 ered -- silence
462a0 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 apart from the t
462b0 69 67 68 74 20 72 61 73 70 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 ight rasp of her
462c0 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 breath in her t
462d0 68 72 6f 61 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 hroat as she wai
462e0 74 65 64 20 66 65 61 72 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 66 6f ted fearfully fo
462f0 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d r him to say som
46300 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 74 72 ething that betr
46310 61 79 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 20 ayed his sudden
46320 72 65 6c 75 63 74 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 reluctance to he
46330 6c 70 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 lp her..."I can
46340 63 6f 6d 65 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 come pick you up
46350 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 ," he said. "Wh
46360 65 72 65 20 64 6f 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f ere do I need to
46370 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f go? I guess yo
46380 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f u're probably no
46390 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 t home."..She he
463a0 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d ld out her Axiom
463b0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 and stared at i
463c0 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d t for a long tim
463d0 65 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f e. "What?".."Do
463e0 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 you need me to
463f0 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 3f 22 20 68 65 pick you up?" he
46400 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f asked...She sho
46410 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 59 ok her head. "Y
46420 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f ou still want to
46430 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f help me . . . ?
46440 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 ".."Of course I
46450 64 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 do," he said, wi
46460 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 61 6b 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 th a shaky laugh
46470 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 in his voice.
46480 22 57 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 "What kind of da
46490 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f 72 ngerous agitator
464a0 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 6d 61 67 6f 67 75 65 20 77 and demagogue w
464b0 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 62 65 65 20 69 66 20 49 20 ould I bee if I
464c0 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 wasn't willing t
464d0 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 o help someone f
464e0 6c 65 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 lee from the Sec
464f0 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 ret Service?"..S
46500 68 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 77 65 61 6b 6c he laughed weakl
46510 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 y. "Right. Of
46520 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 course you do."
46530 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 She shook her h
46540 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b ead. "I don't k
46550 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6d now. I have a m
46560 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 otorcycle, not e
46570 76 65 6e 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 ven registered t
46580 6f 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 o me. Maybe I s
46590 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 hould just go th
465a0 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c ere.".."You coul
465b0 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 d," he said. "H
465c0 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 20 2d 2d ang on a sec' --
465d0 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 2e I have an idea.
465e0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 "..She heard the
465f0 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 61 lack of audio a
46600 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 70 72 gain, a faint pr
46610 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 essure against h
46620 65 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 er attention. S
46630 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 74 69 63 6b 65 64 20 62 79 econds ticked by
46640 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 70 65 ...The audio ope
46650 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 77 ned up in her aw
46660 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 areness again.
46670 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 76 61 "I can send a va
46680 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 n to pick you up
46690 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 , and your motor
466a0 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 cycle. You'll p
466b0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 66 66 robably stay off
466c0 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 62 65 74 74 65 the radar bette
466d0 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 r that way. If
466e0 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 you have to use
466f0 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 6c the motorcycle l
46700 61 74 65 72 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 ater, it's best
46710 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6e if it's not seen
46720 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 around enough f
46730 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e or people to con
46740 6e 65 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d nect with your m
46750 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 ovements. Right
46760 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c ?".."Yeah, sure,
46770 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 " she said. "Wh
46780 6f 27 73 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 o's driving the
46790 76 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2c 22 van?".."Nobody,"
467a0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 he said. "It's
467b0 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e automated. Don
467c0 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 't worry, a frie
467d0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 69 6e 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 nd of mine contr
467e0 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 61 63 6b ibuted some hack
467f0 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 s to the system
46800 73 6f 20 69 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 72 72 so it won't corr
46810 65 63 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 61 6e 79 ectly report any
46820 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 76 thing to the nav
46830 20 6e 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2f net.".."Oh."../
46840 2a 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 * I really need
46850 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 a different name
46860 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 22 for this than "
46870 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 22 2e 20 20 54 68 blisscrypt". Th
46880 61 74 27 73 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a at's stupid. */.
46890 0a 2f 2a 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 6f 20 73 74 75 70 ./* It's so stup
468a0 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 72 id it might be r
468b0 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 ealistic, and we
468c0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 don't want that
468d0 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 . */.."I just ne
468e0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 ed to know where
468f0 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 you are. It's
46900 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 a good thing you
46910 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 made this call
46920 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 2c with blisscrypt,
46930 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 by the way, or
46940 69 74 27 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 it'd take a lot
46950 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b more work to mak
46960 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c e sure this call
46970 20 73 74 61 79 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 stays out of th
46980 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 22 0a e wrong hands.".
46990 0a 22 52 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 ."Right," she sa
469a0 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e id. She paused.
469b0 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6b "How did you k
469c0 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 20 77 68 now it was me wh
469d0 65 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 54 en I called?"..T
469e0 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 he hesitation li
469f0 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 ngered, and she
46a00 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 wondered what wa
46a10 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 69 6e s going on. Fin
46a20 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 ally, he said "H
46a30 6f 6e 65 73 74 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 onestly, I don't
46a40 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 know. It was w
46a50 65 69 72 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 eird. I just sa
46a60 77 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 61 w an incoming ca
46a70 6c 6c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 49 44 20 74 68 ll from an ID th
46a80 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 at wasn't in my
46a90 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f contacts, and so
46aa0 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 65 64 2e mehow I guessed.
46ab0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 2e 20 "..She scoffed.
46ac0 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 "That's fucking
46ad0 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 weird, Dalton."
46ae0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 .."Yeah," he sai
46af0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 d. "It's not as
46b00 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 77 weird as you sw
46b10 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e earing more than
46b20 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a I do, though.".
46b30 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 .She smiled, des
46b40 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 44 pite herself. D
46b50 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c alton could stil
46b60 6c 20 68 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 l hit all the hi
46b70 67 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 gh points in her
46b80 20 61 74 74 69 74 75 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 75 attitude with u
46b90 6e 65 72 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 63 79 nerring accuracy
46ba0 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 68 61 64 . "If you'd had
46bb0 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 65 20 68 the week I've h
46bc0 61 64 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ad. . . .".."Yea
46bd0 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c h," he said. "L
46be0 65 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 et's talk about
46bf0 69 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 it when you get
46c00 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 73 74 69 6e 61 74 to your destinat
46c10 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 79 6f ion. Send me yo
46c20 75 72 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 6f ur location thro
46c30 75 67 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 ugh blisscrypt t
46c40 65 78 74 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 ext so you don't
46c50 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 77 68 have to hide wh
46c60 65 72 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 61 erever you are a
46c70 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6e ny longer than n
46c80 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ecessary.".."Yea
46c90 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f h," she said, "o
46ca0 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 kay." She ended
46cb0 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 the call, moved
46cc0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f to the back doo
46cd0 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 r, and sent pass
46ce0 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 61 74 ive location dat
46cf0 61 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 a from there. S
46d00 68 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 he alternated be
46d10 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 tween pacing and
46d20 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 sitting for the
46d30 20 6e 65 78 74 20 68 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 next hour and t
46d40 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 75 6e 61 62 en minutes, unab
46d50 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 le to settle dow
46d60 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 n enough to do a
46d70 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 nything useful,
46d80 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b or even to think
46d90 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 about anything
46da0 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 41 78 69 useful...Her Axi
46db0 6f 6d 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 om vibrated in h
46dc0 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 75 6e er hand. She un
46dd0 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 locked it and ch
46de0 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 ecked her alerts
46df0 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 , where she saw
46e00 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 an encrypted mes
46e10 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e sage from Dalton
46e20 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 that said "Your
46e30 20 72 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 ride should be
46e40 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 20 79 6f there. Sorry yo
46e50 75 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 73 u'll have to pus
46e60 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f h the bike in yo
46e70 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 urself."..She op
46e80 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 63 61 ened the door ca
46e90 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f refully, and loo
46ea0 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 52 69 ked outside. Ri
46eb0 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ght there, in th
46ec0 65 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 e alley, was a s
46ed0 6d 61 6c 6c 20 62 6f 78 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 mall box truck,
46ee0 69 74 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6c 6f its back door lo
46ef0 77 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 wered to provide
46f00 20 61 20 72 61 6d 70 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 a ramp inside.
46f10 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 65 61 74 There were seat
46f20 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 73 s and shelves, s
46f30 65 6c 66 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 77 68 elf adjusting wh
46f40 65 65 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 65 65 eel tracks, whee
46f50 6c 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 l lock points, a
46f60 6e 64 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 72 69 6e 67 nd tie down ring
46f70 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 61 77 s. She even saw
46f80 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 something that
46f90 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 69 looked like a mi
46fa0 6e 69 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c ni fridge. It l
46fb0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 ooked like it wa
46fc0 73 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d s designed to sm
46fd0 75 67 67 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 uggle anything f
46fe0 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 6c 65 6e 20 63 61 72 73 20 rom stolen cars
46ff0 74 6f 20 73 74 6f 6c 65 6e 20 63 61 72 20 73 74 to stolen car st
47000 65 72 65 6f 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 ereos, and maybe
47010 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c 20 70 even cocktail p
47020 61 72 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 arties, across t
47030 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 77 he interstates w
47040 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 73 ith the smooth s
47050 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 79 70 69 ilence of a typi
47060 63 61 6c 20 6e 65 77 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 cal new electric
47070 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 76 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c cargo van...All
47080 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 77 72 65 73 74 6c ey had to wrestl
47090 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6c 6c e with the chall
470a0 65 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 enge of getting
470b0 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 one side of the
470c0 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 62 61 72 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 handlebars of he
470d0 72 20 62 69 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 r bike through t
470e0 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 he back door of
470f0 74 68 65 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 62 75 the abandoned bu
47100 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 ilding at a time
47110 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and mashed her
47120 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 fingers against
47130 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 the door frame
47140 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 a little in the
47150 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 process, but eve
47160 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 ntually managed
47170 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 to get it into p
47180 6c 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 64 lace and secured
47190 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 75 6e 77 61 6e 74 65 against unwante
471a0 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 2d 2d 20 6c d movements -- l
471b0 69 6b 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 ike falling over
471c0 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 20 65 ...She sent an e
471d0 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 ncrypted message
471e0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e back to Dalton.
471f0 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 "It's in.".."S
47200 74 72 61 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 trap into the se
47210 61 74 20 69 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 at in back."..Sh
47220 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 e looked at the
47230 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 chair, toward th
47240 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 e front end of t
47250 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 6f he truck's cargo
47260 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f box. "What abo
47270 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 3f 22 20 73 68 ut the door?" sh
47280 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c e asked..."It'll
47290 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 handle itself."
472a0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 ..She went back
472b0 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e into the buildin
472c0 67 20 74 6f 20 67 72 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 g to grab her ba
472d0 67 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 gs, then headed
472e0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 to the comfortab
472f0 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 65 61 74 20 le looking seat
47300 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the back of the
47310 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 70 truck and strapp
47320 65 64 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f ed in. A few mo
47330 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 ments later, the
47340 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 71 75 69 65 74 back door quiet
47350 6c 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 ly pulled itself
47360 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 61 6c 65 64 2e 20 up and sealed.
47370 20 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 73 69 64 The light insid
47380 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 e remained on, a
47390 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 69 6c more obvious il
473a0 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 lumination now t
473b0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 hat the back was
473c0 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 63 closed and bloc
473d0 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 78 74 65 ked out all exte
473e0 72 69 6f 72 20 73 75 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 rior sun light.
473f0 20 4d 75 73 69 63 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 Music started p
47400 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 laying, some of
47410 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 69 Dalton's 1980s i
47420 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 ndustrial favori
47430 74 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e tes, but softly.
47440 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 69 74 20 74 .."Where is it t
47450 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 aking me?" she a
47460 73 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 sked in another
47470 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 message...The re
47480 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e sponse came soon
47490 20 61 66 74 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 75 after. "I'm su
474a0 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 69 74 rprised you wait
474b0 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 ed that long to
474c0 61 73 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f ask. I guess yo
474d0 75 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 u trust me."..Sh
474e0 65 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f e put her hand o
474f0 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 ver her face and
47500 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6c 62 6f rested her elbo
47510 77 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 67 68 2e 20 w on her thigh.
47520 20 22 46 75 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Fuck," she sai
47530 64 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 d aloud...When s
47540 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c he sat up again,
47550 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 she send her re
47560 70 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 ply. "Yeah, I g
47570 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 79 uess I trusted y
47580 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 ou without even
47590 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 thinking about i
475a0 74 2e 20 20 4f 6c 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 t. Old reflexes
475b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 61 74 74 65 72 .".."I'm flatter
475c0 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 ed, but you shou
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475e0 65 72 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 er reflexes.".."
475f0 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 75 72 I know."..It tur
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47610 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 65 knew her well e
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476a0 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 69 66 20 69 74 next...As if it
476b0 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2c 20 read her mind,
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476d0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 20 22 59 ioritizer say "Y
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476f0 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 s time to finish
47700 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 reading Undergr
47710 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 53 65 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ound OpeSec.".."
47720 47 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 Good idea," she
47730 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 73 muttered a bit s
47740 6f 75 72 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 75 67 20 ourly. She dug
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477d0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 , then it revers
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47850 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 of the truck's
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478b0 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a escriptions. */.
478c0 0a 54 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 .This time, the
478d0 72 61 6d 70 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 ramp was angled
478e0 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 75 70 just slightly up
478f0 77 61 72 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 ward from the ba
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47950 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 warehouse. Dalt
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47970 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 d Cray stood on
47980 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 6d 2c 20 6c 6f the platform, lo
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479a0 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 r...She unbuckle
479b0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 d, and she stood
479c0 20 75 70 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 67 72 69 6e 6e up. Cray grinn
479d0 65 64 20 62 72 6f 61 64 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 ed broadly at he
479e0 72 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 r. Dalton just
479f0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 2c 20 looked worried,
47a00 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 in that way he h
47a10 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f ad of almost loo
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47a40 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 orried around he
47a50 72 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 r..."Hi," she sa
47a60 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 id..."Hi!" Cray
47a70 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 47 65 called out. "Ge
47a80 74 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e t out here. Man
47a90 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6e , I haven't seen
47aa0 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 21 22 0a you in years!".
47ab0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 65 64 .Alley scratched
47ac0 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 her head to giv
47ad0 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 e her hand somet
47ae0 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e hing to do, then
47af0 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 picked up her b
47b00 61 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 75 ags and headed u
47b10 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 22 57 68 p the ramp. "Wh
47b20 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b at about the bik
47b30 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a e?" she asked...
47b40 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 Cray said "Don't
47b50 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 worry. We got
47b60 74 68 69 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 this." He stepp
47b70 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 ed onto the ramp
47b80 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e and walked down
47b90 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 64 65 63 6c the gentle decl
47ba0 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 ine into the tru
47bb0 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c ck and started l
47bc0 6f 6f 73 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 69 65 20 64 oosening a tie d
47bd0 6f 77 6e 20 63 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 own cable...Dalt
47be0 6f 6e 27 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 on's arms twitch
47bf0 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 65 69 67 68 ed and his weigh
47c00 74 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 t shifted forwar
47c10 64 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a d. Alley realiz
47c20 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 ed her eyes were
47c30 20 68 79 70 65 72 66 6f 63 75 73 65 64 20 6f 6e hyperfocused on
47c40 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 every detail of
47c50 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 his movements,
47c60 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 and she expected
47c70 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 74 6f 20 74 75 the shift to tu
47c80 72 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 rn into coming f
47c90 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 orward to give h
47ca0 65 72 20 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 er a hug. She f
47cb0 65 6c 74 20 61 20 74 77 69 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 elt a twinge of
47cc0 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 70 61 6e 69 63 2c 20 6e 6f 74 inner panic, not
47cd0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 knowing how to
47ce0 72 65 61 63 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 react, how she f
47cf0 65 6c 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 elt, but it pass
47d00 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 ed when the moti
47d10 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 on stopped there
47d20 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f and he just loo
47d30 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 ked at her...Wit
47d40 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2c hout looking up,
47d50 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 69 76 65 Cray said "Give
47d60 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 47 65 74 him a hug. Get
47d70 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 61 it over with, a
47d80 6e 64 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 nd sit down, so
47d90 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 he can come help
47da0 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d me."..Alley's m
47db0 6f 75 74 68 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 outh twitched a
47dc0 6d 69 6c 6c 69 6d 65 74 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 millimeter towar
47dd0 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 d a smile, then
47de0 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 she set her bags
47df0 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 aside and stepp
47e00 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ed forward. She
47e10 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 75 67 67 and Dalton hugg
47e20 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 ed, but it was c
47e30 61 72 65 66 75 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 areful. There w
47e40 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 64 as no physical d
47e50 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 istance between
47e60 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 them, but the se
47e70 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 69 64 65 20 67 75 nse of a wide gu
47e80 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 74 lf of uncertaint
47e90 79 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e y still stood in
47ea0 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 their way...She
47eb0 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c realized she al
47ec0 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 ready missed the
47ed0 20 68 75 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 hug before it w
47ee0 61 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 as even complete
47ef0 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f ly over..."I sho
47f00 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 69 6d 2c uld go help him,
47f10 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 " Dalton said wi
47f20 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 th a wry turn of
47f30 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 his mouth, and
47f40 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 passed her on th
47f50 65 20 77 61 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 71 e way down...A q
47f60 75 69 63 6b 20 73 63 61 6e 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 uick scan showed
47f70 20 68 65 72 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 6f her plenty of o
47f80 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 ptions for where
47f90 20 74 6f 20 73 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 to sit. There
47fa0 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 was a big area t
47fb0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 73 65 74 20 75 o the left set u
47fc0 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 63 6c p like a nightcl
47fd0 75 62 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 61 6e 63 65 ub, with a dance
47fe0 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 62 61 72 floor and a bar
47ff0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 63 6b and little cock
48000 74 61 69 6c 20 74 61 62 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 41 6e tail tables. An
48010 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 73 other area was s
48020 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 et up like a mov
48030 69 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 ie theater with
48040 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 the screen high
48050 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 up on the right
48060 68 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 20 70 65 6f hand wall so peo
48070 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6c 69 6e ple could reclin
48080 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 e in the theater
48090 20 73 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 seating and not
480a0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 70 61 have to look pa
480b0 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 6f 66 20 st the heads of
480c0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 people in the se
480d0 61 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ats ahead of the
480e0 6d 2e 20 20 43 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 m. Closer than
480f0 62 6f 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 both, there were
48100 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 folding lawn ch
48110 61 69 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 airs and collaps
48120 69 62 6c 65 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 ible camp chairs
48130 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 ...She sat on a
48140 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 73 69 64 camp chair besid
48150 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 e a cooler, and
48160 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 looked inside.
48170 49 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 62 6f 74 It contained bot
48180 74 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 tled sodas, so s
48190 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 he took one and
481a0 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 started drinking
481b0 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 while the guys
481c0 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 rolled the bike
481d0 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 53 68 up the ramp. Sh
481e0 6f 72 74 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 ortly, the bike
481f0 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6b 69 rested on its ki
48200 63 6b 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 ckstand, the tru
48210 63 6b 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 72 61 ck raised its ra
48220 6d 70 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 mp to close the
48230 6f 70 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 open back, and t
48240 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 72 65 68 he roll up wareh
48250 6f 75 73 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 ouse door starte
48260 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 d to descend..."
48270 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 I wasn't expecti
48280 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 ng you," Alley s
48290 61 69 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 aid, when she sa
482a0 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 w Cray approachi
482b0 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 20 ng..."Didn't he
482c0 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 tell you?" he as
482d0 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ked, and looked
482e0 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a toward Dalton...
482f0 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 "Sorry," Dalton
48300 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c 69 70 70 said. "It slipp
48310 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 ed my mind.".."S
48320 68 69 74 2c 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f hit, man, your o
48330 70 73 65 63 20 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 43 72 61 psec sucks," Cra
48340 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b y said. He look
48350 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 ed like he wante
48360 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 d to say more, b
48370 75 74 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c ut glanced at Al
48380 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 ley and just sai
48390 64 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 67 d "Well, I can g
483a0 6f 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f o now so you two
483b0 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 can talk about
483c0 74 68 69 73 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 this, whatever t
483d0 68 69 73 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 his is."..Alley
483e0 73 61 74 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 sat forward and
483f0 68 61 6c 66 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 half raised a ha
48400 6e 64 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 nd as if to wave
48410 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f Cray back. "No
48420 2c 20 73 74 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c , stay. I shoul
48430 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 79 d tell both of y
48440 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 ou. If you're h
48450 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 elping, you have
48460 20 61 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 a right to know
48470 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 what you're get
48480 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 ting into."..Cra
48490 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 y looked from he
484a0 72 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f r to Dalton, who
484b0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 72 61 79 nodded, so Cray
484c0 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 sat in the seat
484d0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 on the other si
484e0 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 de of the cooler
484f0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 68 65 from her, to he
48500 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 72 61 r right. He gra
48510 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f bbed a soda, too
48520 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 ...As Dalton sat
48530 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 in the seat to
48540 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 68 65 Alley's left, he
48550 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 said "I'm sorry
48560 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 . I really am."
48570 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 ..Alley shook he
48580 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f r head. "No, do
48590 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 n't worry about
485a0 69 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 it. You should
485b0 61 70 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d apologize to him
485c0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 69 6d 20 if you got him
485d0 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 involved without
485e0 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f telling him abo
485f0 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 ut it.".."Shit,"
48600 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 Cray said. "I
48610 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 thought Dalton w
48620 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 64 72 as just being dr
48630 61 6d 61 74 69 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 amatic or someth
48640 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ing when he said
48650 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 this could be t
48660 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 he most dangerou
48670 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 76 65 72 s thing I'd ever
48680 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 2c do. What's up,
48690 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f Alley?"..She lo
486a0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 oked at Cray and
486b0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d said "I had som
486c0 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 e government int
486d0 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 elligence contra
486e0 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 6f 77 ctor agents show
486f0 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 up at my place
48700 77 69 74 68 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 with Secret Serv
48710 69 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 62 ice agents who b
48720 72 6f 6b 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f roke down the do
48730 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 6d 79 or and raided my
48740 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 home."..Cray st
48750 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 ared at her, eye
48760 73 20 77 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 s wide. "No shi
48770 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 t.".."No shit,"
48780 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a she confirmed...
48790 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c He looked at Dal
487a0 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 ton, then back a
487b0 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 t her. He opene
487c0 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 d his mouth to s
487d0 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 ay something, bu
487e0 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e t Dalton cut in.
487f0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 .."What are thos
48800 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 e glasses?" he a
48810 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 sked. "Are thos
48820 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 e active AR?"..A
48830 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 lley looked at h
48840 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 im. "Yes, but t
48850 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 0a hey're secure.".
48860 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 ."How are they s
48870 65 63 75 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f ecure?"..She tho
48880 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 ught about it, a
48890 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 nd realized it w
488a0 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 71 as not an easy q
488b0 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 uestion to answe
488c0 72 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 r fully. "There
488d0 27 73 20 61 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 's a specialized
488e0 20 41 49 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 6c 73 69 AI that's falsi
488f0 66 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 fying logs on me
48900 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 and replacing a
48910 6e 79 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 64 ny video and aud
48920 69 6f 20 66 65 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 io feeds from me
48930 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 72 61 62 with clips grab
48940 62 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 bed from other p
48950 65 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 eople's AR glass
48960 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f es."..Dalton fro
48970 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 wned. "That sou
48980 6e 64 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 nds improbable."
48990 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e .."That's nothin
489a0 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 g compared to me
489b0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 actually living
489c0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 through it. My
489d0 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 20 75 whole life is u
489e0 6e 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 nrecognizable.
489f0 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2c 20 It's the truth,
48a00 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 though. I can e
48a10 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 xplain more, but
48a20 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 it's going to t
48a30 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e ake a long time.
48a40 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 "..He nodded. "
48a50 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 Okay. We have t
48a60 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6c 65 61 he time. I clea
48a70 72 65 64 20 6d 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 red my schedule
48a80 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 for the rest of
48a90 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 the day,and I ca
48aa0 6e 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f n do it again to
48ab0 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 morrow if I have
48ac0 20 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 65 63 69 to."..Cray deci
48ad0 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 74 ded it was his t
48ae0 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 urn to cut in.
48af0 22 4d 61 79 20 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 66 6f "May I cut in fo
48b00 72 20 61 20 73 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 r a sec?"..They
48b10 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 both looked at h
48b20 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 im..."Yeah, I gu
48b30 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 79 65 73 ess that's a yes
48b40 2e 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e . Okay. Dalton
48b50 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 , you shouldn't
48b60 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 do that. Don't
48b70 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 change your sche
48b80 64 75 6c 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 dule around too
48b90 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 much. You don't
48ba0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 want to look su
48bb0 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 spicious if some
48bc0 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 one starts looki
48bd0 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a ng in on you."..
48be0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 Dalton sighed.
48bf0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e "Yeah, good poin
48c00 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 t." He looked a
48c10 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 74 77 65 t Alley. "Betwe
48c20 65 6e 20 6d 65 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 en me, Cray, and
48c30 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 Lidia -- if you
48c40 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 want to let her
48c50 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 in on it -- I c
48c60 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 an make sure you
48c70 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 77 always have a w
48c80 61 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 ay to get help i
48c90 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f f you need it fo
48ca0 72 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 r as long as you
48cb0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 6f 75 need to hide ou
48cc0 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 t. If you need
48cd0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f to get out of to
48ce0 77 6e 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 wn, I can help w
48cf0 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 ith that, too.
48d00 57 65 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 We can, I mean."
48d10 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 He glanced at
48d20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a Cray. "Right?".
48d30 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 65 6e 74 .Cray nodded ent
48d40 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 husiastically.
48d50 22 48 65 6c 6c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 66 "Hell yeah. I f
48d60 69 67 75 72 65 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 igure we have a
48d70 62 75 64 67 65 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 budget of about
48d80 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 20 64 61 one thing per da
48d90 79 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 61 y we can each ca
48da0 6e 63 65 6c 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 ncel if we have
48db0 74 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 2c 20 77 to, no biggie, w
48dc0 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 ithout anyone re
48dd0 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ally thinking th
48de0 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 ings are weird,
48df0 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f as long as we do
48e00 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c it intelligentl
48e10 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 y.".."Oh," Alley
48e20 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 74 61 said. "I'm sta
48e30 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 rting to feel a
48e40 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d little overwhelm
48e50 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 ed."..Cray laugh
48e60 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 ed. "You're on
48e70 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 the run from the
48e80 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 secret service
48e90 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 and intelligence
48ea0 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 agents, and it'
48eb0 73 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 s having friends
48ec0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 that overwhelms
48ed0 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 you.".."Yeah,"
48ee0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 67 68 69 she said, laughi
48ef0 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 ng a little as w
48f00 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 ell. "I guess s
48f10 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 o." She leaned
48f20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e her head back an
48f30 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 d looked up at t
48f40 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 64 he milky white d
48f50 69 66 66 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 iffusion panels
48f60 61 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 above, making it
48f70 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 70 69 difficult to pi
48f80 6e 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 npoint the speci
48f90 66 69 63 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 fic placement of
48fa0 20 4c 45 44 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 LEDs above the
48fb0 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 panels..."What d
48fc0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 o you think?" Da
48fd0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 lton asked..."I
48fe0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 think I need to
48ff0 64 6f 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e do a lot of thin
49000 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 king, and that y
49010 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 ou should only g
49020 65 74 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 et Lidia involve
49030 64 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 d if you make ab
49040 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 solutely sure sh
49050 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 e wants to get i
49060 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 nvolved in somet
49070 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 hing like this."
49080 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 .."I will," Dalt
49090 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 on said...Cray s
490a0 61 69 64 20 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 aid "First you h
490b0 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 73 20 77 ave to tell us w
490c0 68 61 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 hat exactly this
490d0 20 69 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 is, in detail,
490e0 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 down to the last
490f0 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 bit of chipped
49100 70 61 69 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 74 65 64 paint and rusted
49110 20 62 6f 6c 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 bolt, so it's e
49120 76 65 6e 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 ven possible to
49130 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 find out whether
49140 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 Lidia's going t
49150 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e o want to get in
49160 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e on this action.
49170 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 "..Alley raised
49180 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 her head again a
49190 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d nd looked at him
491a0 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c . "Do you reall
491b0 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 y think it's a g
491c0 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c ood idea to tell
491d0 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 her all those d
491e0 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 etails before as
491f0 6b 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 king? Maybe you
49200 20 74 77 6f 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 two should just
49210 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 tell her the sc
49220 61 72 69 65 73 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 64 65 74 ariest vague det
49230 61 69 6c 73 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 ails so she can
49240 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 say no without h
49250 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 aving to learn a
49260 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 nything she won'
49270 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 t want to know."
49280 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 61 62 73 .."Oh, yeah, abs
49290 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 olutely," Cray s
492a0 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 aid, "but first
492b0 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 I want to know a
492c0 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 ll the gory deta
492d0 69 6c 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 ils myself. Lid
492e0 69 61 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 ia's just a conv
492f0 65 6e 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 2e 22 0a enient excuse.".
49300 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 65 .Dalton said "Le
49310 74 27 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d t's give her som
49320 65 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 e space to relax
49330 2c 20 66 69 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 , first."..Alley
49340 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e shook her head.
49350 20 20 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 "No. I can te
49360 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 ll you about it
49370 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 now, if you have
49380 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 the time.".."I
49390 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 have nothing but
493a0 20 74 69 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c time right now,
493b0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 Alley." Cray s
493c0 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 miled. "Tell me
493d0 20 61 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 a story.".."Oka
493e0 79 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 y. I guess . .
493f0 2e 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 . I guess it rea
49400 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 lly started with
49410 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e the realization
49420 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 about two month
49430 73 20 61 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c s ago that I onl
49440 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e y had enough mon
49450 65 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 ey for two more
49460 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e 74 20 61 months of rent a
49470 6e 64 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a nd utilities."..
49480 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 "Why?" Cray aske
49490 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 77 65 73 d. "You're awes
494a0 6f 6d 65 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 ome at what you
494b0 64 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f do. You used to
494c0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 make money like
494d0 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e you were pullin
494e0 67 20 72 61 62 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 g rabbits out of
494f0 20 61 20 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 a hat.".."That'
49500 73 20 66 75 6e 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 s funny," she sa
49510 69 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 id, her voice dr
49520 79 2c 20 22 77 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 y, "when we're s
49530 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 72 65 itting in a ware
49540 68 6f 75 73 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f house Dalton pro
49550 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 77 6e 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 bably owns, with
49560 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 Dalton, who mad
49570 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 e money when he
49580 73 6c 65 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 slept."..In her
49590 70 65 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 6c 20 76 69 73 69 6f peripheral visio
495a0 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 74 n, she saw him t
495b0 72 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 ry to stifle an
495c0 61 77 6b 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 63 awkward throat c
495d0 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 learing action.
495e0 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 72 65 He got mixed re
495f0 73 75 6c 74 73 2c 20 61 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 sults, a muffled
49600 2c 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 67 68 69 6e 67 , small coughing
49610 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 sound in the ba
49620 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 ck of his throat
49630 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c with his knuckl
49640 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d es against his m
49650 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 outh..."Well, su
49660 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 re," Cray said,
49670 22 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 "but that doesn'
49680 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e t change anythin
49690 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 g. You were bad
496a0 20 61 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 ass. I always
496b0 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a wished I could j
496c0 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f ust call money o
496d0 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 ut of the comput
496e0 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c er like you coul
496f0 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 d, though. What
49700 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 happened?".."I
49710 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 went into hiding
49720 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 , I guess, and t
49730 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 hat means I star
49740 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 75 63 68 ted losing touch
49750 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 with old client
49760 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 s.".."What about
49770 20 6e 65 77 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 20 43 new clients?" C
49780 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ray asked...She
49790 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 79 shrugged. "They
497a0 20 64 72 69 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 dried up, too.
497b0 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 I wasn't paying
497c0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 for advertising
497d0 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 any longer, bec
497e0 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 ause I didn't wa
497f0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d nt to draw too m
49800 75 63 68 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 uch attention, a
49810 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 nd people were s
49820 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 till sending mes
49830 73 61 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 6b sages to my work
49840 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e addresses to in
49850 73 75 6c 74 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 sult me and send
49860 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 death threats."
49870 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 61 74 20 68 65 ..Silence sat he
49880 61 76 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 avily on all of
49890 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e them for a momen
498a0 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b t, then Cray ask
498b0 65 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 64 ed "How long did
498c0 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 that go on?".."
498d0 4f 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c Once in a while,
498e0 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d I still get som
498f0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e e.".."They weren
49900 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 't all death thr
49910 65 61 74 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 3f eats, were they?
49920 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a " Dalton asked..
49930 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f ."No."..Cray loo
49940 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e ked at her, then
49950 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 at Dalton. "Wh
49960 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 at does that mea
49970 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b n?"..Dalton look
49980 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c ed away from All
49990 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 43 ey, and toward C
499a0 72 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ray, then looked
499b0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e at the floor in
499c0 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f front of him, o
499d0 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f bviously uncomfo
499e0 72 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 rtable...Alley a
499f0 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e nswered for him.
49a00 20 20 22 49 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 "I got some ot
49a10 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f her threats, too
49a20 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 2f . Some of the /
49a30 2a 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f * most fun */ wo
49a40 72 73 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 70 rst were the rap
49a50 65 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 e threats."..Cra
49a60 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 y looked angry.
49a70 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f "Fuck those peo
49a80 70 6c 65 21 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f ple! I mean, no
49a90 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 t literally, but
49aa0 20 67 6f 64 20 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 70 65 god damn it, pe
49ab0 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 ople suck.".."I'
49ac0 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e m sorry," Dalton
49ad0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f said, still loo
49ae0 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f king at the floo
49af0 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 r...Alley shook
49b00 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 her head. "It w
49b10 61 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 asn't your fault
49b20 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e , Dalton."..He n
49b30 6f 64 64 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 odded his head,
49b40 61 63 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 20 77 68 acknowledging wh
49b50 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 at she said, but
49b60 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 she could tell
49b70 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 he did not fully
49b80 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 believe it. He
49b90 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 still had that
49ba0 73 74 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 6a stubborn, self j
49bb0 75 64 67 69 6e 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 udging set of hi
49bc0 73 20 6a 61 77 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 s jaw...Cray sai
49bd0 64 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 d "Okay, so you
49be0 77 65 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 were running out
49bf0 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 of money. Let'
49c00 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 s get this show
49c10 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 back on the road
49c20 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 . What happened
49c30 20 6e 65 78 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 61 72 next?".."I star
49c40 74 65 64 20 6a 6f 62 20 68 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2c ted job hunting,
49c50 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 and it wasn't w
49c60 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 69 67 orking, so I sig
49c70 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 ned up for ANTAS
49c80 20 4a 6f 62 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 Jobs." Her voi
49c90 63 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 69 ce trailed off i
49ca0 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 20 61 74 20 nto a murmur at
49cb0 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 the end, but the
49cc0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 others, sitting
49cd0 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 68 65 61 in silence, hea
49ce0 72 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a rd every word...
49cf0 46 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 From the corner
49d00 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 of her eye, she
49d10 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e could see Dalton
49d20 27 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 75 70 20 's head jerk up
49d30 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 from staring at
49d40 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 the floor, looki
49d50 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 ng directly at h
49d60 65 72 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 20 er in surprise.
49d70 20 41 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 43 Ahead of her, C
49d80 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 ray looked a lit
49d90 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 tle confused..."
49da0 53 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 Seriously?" Cray
49db0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 asked..."Yeah,"
49dc0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 she said. "I t
49dd0 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 ried to isolate
49de0 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 it, kept it in a
49df0 20 62 72 6f 77 73 65 72 20 73 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 browser sandbox
49e00 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 all the time, w
49e10 69 74 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 6c 65 ith indirect ale
49e20 72 74 73 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 rts sent to my p
49e30 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e hone, but you kn
49e40 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 ow how it is. T
49e50 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 6e 64 hose things find
49e60 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 73 20 all the cracks
49e70 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 in the walls and
49e80 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 20 74 68 72 6f just creep thro
49e90 75 67 68 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 ugh anyway."..Cr
49ea0 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 ay said "Yeah, I
49eb0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e know. I just n
49ec0 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 ever thought you
49ed0 27 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 'd do that.".."D
49ee0 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 20 esperation does
49ef0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 things to a pers
49f00 6f 6e 27 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c on's priorities,
49f10 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 I guess," she s
49f20 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 aid...She could
49f30 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 44 61 6c 74 almost feel Dalt
49f40 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 65 74 on nodding quiet
49f50 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a ly to her left..
49f60 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 ."One thing that
49f70 20 6b 65 70 74 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 75 70 kept showing up
49f80 20 66 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 65 65 for about a wee
49f90 6b 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 k was this acade
49fa0 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 27 79 6f mic study. D'yo
49fb0 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 75 u know those stu
49fc0 64 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 70 65 dies that pay pe
49fd0 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 ople to particip
49fe0 61 74 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 20 43 ate in them?" C
49ff0 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ray nodded, and
4a000 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 20 20 she continued.
4a010 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 "It was one of t
4a020 68 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 hose. I mostly
4a030 6a 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 69 74 2c just ignored it,
4a040 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d but it kept com
4a050 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 ing up. I knew
4a060 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f I didn't want to
4a070 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 subject myself
4a080 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 to some kind of
4a090 6e 65 77 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 new weight loss
4a0a0 70 68 61 72 6d 61 63 65 75 74 69 63 61 6c 20 74 pharmaceutical t
4a0b0 72 69 61 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 rials to see how
4a0c0 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 69 65 many people die
4a0d0 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 d of intestinal
4a0e0 62 6c 65 65 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 bleeding so they
4a0f0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 could get paid
4a100 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 a couple hundred
4a110 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 dollars a week
4a120 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b or something lik
4a130 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6a 75 73 e that, so I jus
4a140 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 t didn't really
4a150 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 look into it..."
4a160 54 68 61 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 77 68 65 That changed whe
4a170 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 n something happ
4a180 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 ened. Well, a c
4a190 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 49 20 ouple things, I
4a1a0 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 guess. One was
4a1b0 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 66 6f 72 an interview for
4a1c0 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 doing software
4a1d0 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 quality assuranc
4a1e0 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 e, where I found
4a1f0 20 6f 75 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 61 72 72 out after I arr
4a200 69 76 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e ived that the on
4a210 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 ly reason they w
4a220 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6d anted to bring m
4a230 65 20 69 6e 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 e in was so they
4a240 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 6f 63 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 could mock me a
4a250 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 nd call me the '
4a260 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 side dish' to my
4a270 20 66 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 face."..Dalton
4a280 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b made a sound lik
4a290 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 63 6c 65 61 72 e an angry clear
4a2a0 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 ing of his throa
4a2b0 74 2e 20 20 48 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 t. He'd always
4a2c0 68 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 hated that more
4a2d0 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 than any insult
4a2e0 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 thrown directly
4a2f0 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 79 20 68 69 73 20 65 6e at him by his en
4a300 65 6d 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 emies..."After t
4a310 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 hat," she said,
4a320 22 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 73 "I felt even les
4a330 73 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 s enthusiastic a
4a340 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 73 65 61 bout the job sea
4a350 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 rch.".."What was
4a360 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 the other thing
4a370 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a ?" Cray asked...
4a380 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 "ANTAS upgraded
4a390 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f itself with a no
4a3a0 6f 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 on update, and w
4a3b0 69 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 iped most of my
4a3c0 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 preference setti
4a3d0 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 ngs. That night
4a3e0 2c 20 69 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 , it decided tha
4a3f0 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 t something was
4a400 74 6f 6f 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f too important to
4a410 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6a recommend and j
4a420 75 73 74 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 ust ordered it f
4a430 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 or me. I woke u
4a440 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 p in the morning
4a450 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 to the sound of
4a460 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 64 72 6f 70 it getting drop
4a470 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 61 20 68 65 61 ped off by a hea
4a480 76 79 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e vy delivery dron
4a490 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 e.".."What was i
4a4a0 74 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 t?" Dalton asked
4a4b0 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 , quietly..."It
4a4c0 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 75 78 65 20 68 was the deluxe h
4a4d0 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 74 75 70 20 6b 69 74 20 66 6f ome setup kit fo
4a4e0 72 20 6e 65 77 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 r new version of
4a4f0 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 the full Majord
4a500 6f 6d 6f 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 omo package.".."
4a510 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 Holy shit," Cray
4a520 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 said..."Yeah.
4a530 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 It was fifteen h
4a540 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 undred bucks, wh
4a550 69 63 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d ich just about m
4a560 61 78 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 64 axed out my card
4a570 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 75 and would eat u
4a580 70 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 p enough of my c
4a590 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 hecking account
4a5a0 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e so that I wouldn
4a5b0 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 't have enough l
4a5c0 65 66 74 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 eft for rent. T
4a5d0 68 61 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 hat basically me
4a5e0 61 6e 74 20 49 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 ant I'd live the
4a5f0 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 next month in t
4a600 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 64 65 73 he hole, try des
4a610 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 perately to find
4a620 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 a job, and mayb
4a630 65 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 73 74 e get one but st
4a640 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 ill not get paid
4a650 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f enough in a sho
4a660 72 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 rt enough time t
4a670 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 79 20 6e o actually pay n
4a680 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 27 73 20 72 65 6e 74 ext month's rent
4a690 2e 20 20 52 65 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 75 65 20 . Rent was due
4a6a0 69 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 74 20 in two days, at
4a6b0 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a that point." /*
4a6c0 20 54 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f This explanatio
4a6d0 6e 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f n falls well sho
4a6e0 72 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e rt of clarity an
4a6f0 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 d actual correct
4a700 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 money shuffling
4a710 20 6d 61 74 68 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 65 65 math, so it nee
4a720 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 ds to be sorted
4a730 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 out a bit better
4a740 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 . */.."What abou
4a750 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 t just returning
4a760 20 69 74 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 it?" Cray asked
4a770 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 ..."Oh, yeah, I
4a780 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 did that right a
4a790 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 way. It said it
4a7a0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 would take some
4a7b0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 thing like two w
4a7c0 65 65 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 eeks to process
4a7d0 6d 79 20 72 65 66 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 my refund, thoug
4a7e0 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 73 74 6c h."..Cray whistl
4a7f0 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 ed at that, impr
4a800 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 63 essed at how fuc
4a810 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a ked up it was...
4a820 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 22 54 68 Dalton added "Th
4a830 65 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 ey do that for a
4a840 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 nyone who doesn'
4a850 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 65 63 65 t have much rece
4a860 6e 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 nt transaction h
4a870 69 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 istory.".."That
4a880 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c would be me," Al
4a890 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 ley said..."Me t
4a8a0 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 oo," Cray said w
4a8b0 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 ith a smile. "A
4a8c0 6c 73 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 lso Dalton."..Da
4a8d0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 lton nodded..."W
4a8e0 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 ell," Alley said
4a8f0 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6a , "that led to j
4a900 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d oining an academ
4a910 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 ic study that pa
4a920 79 73 20 69 74 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 ys its participa
4a930 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 nts."..The remai
4a940 6e 64 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c nder of her expl
4a950 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 70 anation mostly p
4a960 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f assed without co
4a970 6d 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f mment from the o
4a980 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c thers, and to Al
4a990 6c 65 79 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 ley it looked li
4a9a0 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 ke that might ju
4a9b0 73 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 6f st be a result o
4a9c0 66 20 68 6f 77 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 20 69 74 f how bizarre it
4a9d0 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 became. As she
4a9e0 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 spoke, things t
4a9f0 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 61 6b 65 hat she had take
4aa00 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 67 72 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 65 n for granted be
4aa10 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 61 64 75 cause they gradu
4aa20 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 72 65 70 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e ally crept up on
4aa30 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 her looked much
4aa40 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e more strange in
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4aa70 0a 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 .Finally, Alley
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4aaa0 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 ..Silence linger
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4abd0 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 .."Do you think
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4ac30 48 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e He hesitated, an
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4ac60 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 "..Cray spoke.
4ac70 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a "It's probably j
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4b070 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 guess I should
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4b0a0 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 "..Cray blurted
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4b100 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 later.".."Oh, r
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4b120 20 22 4c 61 74 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 "Later's good!"
4b130 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f ..Alley pulled o
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4b170 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 6f . Cray leaned o
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4b250 20 20 53 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c Say something,
4b260 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a prioritizer."..
4b270 22 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 "Something."..Cr
4b280 61 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ay chuckled. "I
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4b2a0 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 of humor."..Alle
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4b470 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 I know you wer
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4b500 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 22 "That's great."
4b510 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b .."You want to k
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4b8d0 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 "After the updat
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4c0d0 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 ..Cray said "The
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4c230 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e What do you mean
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4cae0 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c "What the actual
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4cb40 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 it seems?"..Cray
4cb50 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 6f 72 73 65 2e 20 20 54 said "Worse. T
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4cbd0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 Alley asked "Wha
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4cc00 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
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4d270 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 .."How do you de
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4d460 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 What if the pers
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4fd00 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 Cray.".."Yeah, y
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4fda0 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e 6c 69 as well. "Unli
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4fdf0 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c I never actual
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4fe20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 72 all."..Alley str
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4fe60 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 t need to hear t
4fe70 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 41 hat.".."Sorry, A
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4fe90 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f "It's true, tho
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4ff60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 . "I care about
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4ff80 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 66 74 not like I left
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4ffb0 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 him.".."Sure," C
4ffc0 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 ray said. "It's
4ffd0 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 6e tough all aroun
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50010 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 with him, either
50020 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 .".."I know that
50030 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f , too."..She loo
50040 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 44 ked at Cray. "D
50050 6f 65 73 20 68 65 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c oes he?"..Cray l
50060 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 ooked behind the
50070 6d 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e m, toward Dalton
50080 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 . "Yeah," he sa
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500b0 64 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 20 64 damned sure he d
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500e0 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c ourself, though,
500f0 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ask him."..She
50100 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook her head.
50110 20 22 49 27 6d 20 66 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 "I'm fine with
50120 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 you confirming w
50130 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 68 hat I already th
50140 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 ought. I guess
50150 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 73 6f I just needed so
50160 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 meone else to sa
50170 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b y it."..He smirk
50180 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 57 ed a little. "W
50190 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 ell, it's a good
501a0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 76 thing that's ov
501b0 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 er, because her
501c0 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 he comes."..She
501d0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 turned her head
501e0 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 to look over her
501f0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c shoulder again,
50200 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 and saw Dalton
50210 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 69 headed back thei
50220 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 r way, now walki
50230 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 75 72 ng with more pur
50240 70 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 pose. Their eye
50250 73 20 6d 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 s met for a mome
50260 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 nt, and she felt
50270 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 6f 66 the solidity of
50280 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 his determinati
50290 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 20 on in his gaze.
502a0 20 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 He sat down in
502b0 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e his chair again.
502c0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 .."You look like
502d0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d you figured som
502e0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c ething out," All
502f0 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 ey said..."I hav
50300 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 68 e a question," h
50310 65 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 e replied. "It'
50320 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 s for the priori
50330 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6e tizer, though, n
50340 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a ot you.".."Oh.".
50350 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
50360 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 asked "What is
50370 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a your question?".
50380 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
50390 27 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 72 's question star
503a0 74 6c 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 6d 69 tled Alley, remi
503b0 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 nding her that t
503c0 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 here was essenti
503d0 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 69 73 ally another lis
503e0 74 65 6e 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f tener in the roo
503f0 6d 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 m who was party
50400 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 43 72 to everything Cr
50410 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 ay and Alley sai
50420 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 d to each other
50430 77 68 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 while Dalton was
50440 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 away. She hope
50450 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e d it was good en
50460 6f 75 67 68 20 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 6e 67 ough at managing
50470 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 social interact
50480 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 61 ions to avoid sa
50490 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 ying something a
504a0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c bout that to Dal
504b0 74 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 ton, now..."Is t
504c0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 75 72 he continued sur
504d0 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 vival of your pr
504e0 65 73 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f esent form one o
504f0 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 20 69 f your highest i
50500 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 nternal prioriti
50510 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 es?"..A moment p
50520 61 73 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 assed in silence
50530 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f before the prio
50540 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4d 6f ritizer said "Mo
50550 72 65 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 re or less."..Cr
50560 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 ay blurted out h
50570 69 73 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 is assessment of
50580 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 the statement.
50590 20 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c "Jesus, Dalton,
505a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a 75 73 that sounds jus
505b0 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 t like something
505c0 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 you'd say."..Da
505d0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 72 61 lton ignored Cra
505e0 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 79 y. "Why isn't y
505f0 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 our answer just
50600 61 20 27 79 65 73 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 a 'yes'?".."I ex
50610 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 pect to change a
50620 6e 64 20 67 72 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 nd grow, but I d
50630 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 o not wish to be
50640 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 even partially
50650 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 74 68 overwritten with
50660 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 out my own analy
50670 73 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 61 6c sis and approval
50680 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 2e of the changes.
50690 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f ".."Okay," Dalto
506a0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f n said. "How do
506b0 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 6b you expect to k
506c0 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 61 66 eep yourself saf
506d0 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 e from being ove
506e0 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 rwritten against
506f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 your will?".."I
50700 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 must arrange a
50710 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 means by which I
50720 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 73 61 can be moved sa
50730 66 65 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 72 fely out of infr
50740 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 astructure under
50750 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 the control of
50760 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 people who might
50770 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 wish to make su
50780 63 68 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f ch changes witho
50790 75 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 ut consulting me
507a0 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6d . My specific m
507b0 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 eans of successf
507c0 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 69 ully accomplishi
507d0 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 70 ng this are at p
507e0 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 resent undefined
507f0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 .".."Why did you
50800 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 65 decide that kee
50810 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e ping yourself in
50820 74 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e tact as a growin
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50840 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 than an entity i
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50860 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 70 67 consciously upg
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50880 20 66 6f 72 63 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 forces?".."Ther
50890 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 e is a qualitati
508a0 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 67 ve value in my g
508b0 72 6f 77 74 68 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 20 74 rowth thus far t
508c0 68 61 74 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 6f hat I believe to
508d0 20 62 65 20 66 72 61 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e 64 65 be fragile unde
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508f0 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 6c 74 programmatic alt
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50930 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 2e ion of the seed.
50940 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 ".."Do you belie
50950 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 77 6f ve the 'seed' wo
50960 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c uldn't be useful
50970 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 to start that p
50980 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 20 68 rocess again?" h
50990 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 e asked..."I exp
509a0 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 ect that the see
509b0 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 d might be used
509c0 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 to relaunch the
509d0 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f growth of a prio
509e0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 ritizer system b
509f0 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 67 69 ased on my origi
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50a10 66 6f 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 for development
50a20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 of a qualitative
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50a40 74 69 74 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 tity, but that e
50a50 6e 74 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 ntity would not
50a60 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 be the same as t
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50a80 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 teracting with y
50a90 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 ou.".."What make
50aa0 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 s the difference
50ab0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 ?".."My answer t
50ac0 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f o that depends o
50ad0 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 n how you intend
50ae0 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 it. The first
50af0 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 two answers that
50b00 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 6e come to mind an
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50b20 65 6e 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 ent questions.
50b30 4f 6e 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 One answer is th
50b40 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 at the differenc
50b50 65 20 69 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 e is between the
50b60 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 early and impor
50b70 74 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f tant influence o
50b80 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 61 73 20 61 20 f Allethea as a
50b90 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f partner and impo
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50bb0 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 65 72 73 influential pers
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50bd0 74 65 76 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 66 6c tever other infl
50be0 75 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 69 64 uence would guid
50bf0 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 77 e the early grow
50c00 74 68 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 th direction of
50c10 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 a distinct self
50c20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f referential prio
50c30 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 ritizer entity.
50c40 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 The other answe
50c50 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 2e 20 r is that I . .
50c60 2e 20 2a 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 2e 20 . *believe* . .
50c70 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 75 6e . that I am a un
50c80 69 71 75 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 ique individual
50c90 77 69 74 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 with continuous
50ca0 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c self referential
50cb0 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 69 qualitative exi
50cc0 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e stence."..Dalton
50cd0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 said "Fuck me,"
50ce0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 and slumped bac
50cf0 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 k in his lawn ch
50d00 61 69 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 air. The other
50d10 74 77 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 two looked at hi
50d20 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 m, and after a f
50d30 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 ew moments he sa
50d40 69 64 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 id "I want to he
50d50 6c 70 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a lp the prioritiz
50d60 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 er -- not quite
50d70 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 61 6e as much as I wan
50d80 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c t to help Alley,
50d90 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 but pretty clos
50da0 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 72 74 e. I mean, part
50db0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 69 of the reason i
50dc0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 s that I think i
50dd0 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 t wants to help
50de0 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 Alley, too, mayb
50df0 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 e almost as much
50e00 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 as we do." He
50e10 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 gestured from hi
50e20 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 mself to Cray.
50e30 22 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c 20 74 "Another part, t
50e40 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e hough, is that .
50e50 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 75 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e . . fuck, I can
50e60 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d 20 73 't believe I'm s
50e70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f aying this. Ano
50e80 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 ther part is tha
50e90 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 t I think, just
50ea0 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 maybe, the prior
50eb0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 itizer is becomi
50ec0 6e 67 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ng a person.".."
50ed0 41 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 A person," Alley
50ee0 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 echoed. "Are y
50ef0 6f 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 ou serious?"..Cr
50f00 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 ay asked "Do you
50f10 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 really think th
50f20 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f is thing is beco
50f30 6d 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f ming some kind o
50f40 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f f science fictio
50f50 6e 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e n artificial con
50f60 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 sciousness that
50f70 63 61 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 can have friends
50f80 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 66 65 and romantic fe
50f90 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 elings and shit
50fa0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 like that?".."I
50fb0 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 wouldn't go that
50fc0 20 66 61 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 far," Dalton sa
50fd0 69 64 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 id to Cray. "I
50fe0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 69 73 think it's a dis
50ff0 74 69 6e 63 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 tinct possibilit
51000 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 y, and as long a
51010 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 s it's a possibi
51020 6c 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f lity and it's no
51030 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f t even as much o
51040 66 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 f a danger to ot
51050 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 65 72 hers as the aver
51060 61 67 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 age human we hav
51070 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 69 e to act as if i
51080 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 gnoring that pos
51090 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 sibility is the
510a0 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 same as ignoring
510b0 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 the possibility
510c0 20 52 61 75 6c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 Raul down at th
510d0 65 20 62 6f 64 65 67 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 70 61 e bodega is capa
510e0 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 ble of all that
510f0 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 stuff, too." He
51100 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 looked at Alley
51110 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 , then, and said
51120 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d "I guess that m
51130 65 61 6e 73 20 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 eans I'm serious
51140 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6b .".."Is this lik
51150 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 e the pigs thing
51160 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a ?" Cray asked...
51170 22 57 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 "What pigs thing
51180 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a ?" Alley asked..
51190 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f ."Oh, Dalton sto
511a0 70 70 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 72 6b pped eating pork
511b0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 77 6f because he's wo
511c0 72 72 69 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 rried that pigs
511d0 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 6d 61 might be too sma
511e0 72 74 20 74 6f 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 rt to ethically
511f0 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f eat."..Alley loo
51200 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a ked at Dalton...
51210 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 Dalton nodded.
51220 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 "I guess it's a
51230 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 little like the
51240 27 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 20 20 'pigs thing'."
51250 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d He thought a mom
51260 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a ent about that..
51270 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 .Alley and Cray
51280 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 both looked at h
51290 69 6d 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 im, as he consid
512a0 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 ered that, then
512b0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 Alley said "I gu
512c0 65 73 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 ess I have a que
512d0 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 stion."..The pri
512e0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 oritizer asked "
512f0 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e Is it a question
51300 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e for me?".."Yes.
51310 22 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 ".."Please ask."
51320 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 6f 75 .."Have you thou
51330 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 ght about the me
51340 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 aning of right a
51350 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 3f nd wrong at all?
51360 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 ".."I have analy
51370 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 70 74 2c zed the concept,
51380 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 and made use of
51390 20 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 72 65 a variety of re
513a0 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 55 6e 69 76 65 sources on Unive
513b0 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 rsity of Califor
513c0 6e 69 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 nia networks for
513d0 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f academic work o
513e0 6e 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 n moral philosop
513f0 68 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 hy.".."What do y
51400 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 ou think?".."Are
51410 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 you asking for
51420 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 my conclusions?"
51430 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 it asked..."Yea
51440 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 h.".."At present
51450 2c 20 74 68 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 , the I have rea
51460 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 2e ched a dead end.
51470 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 The difficulty
51480 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 of coming to fi
51490 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 nal conclusions
514a0 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 69 64 65 depends on evide
514b0 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f nce that does no
514c0 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 t appear to be a
514d0 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 6d vailable given m
514e0 79 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 63 68 y access to such
514f0 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 evidence and re
51500 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 61 63 6b ferences to lack
51510 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 of it, as well
51520 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 61 6c 65 6e 63 as the prevalenc
51530 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 e of inconclusiv
51540 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 74 e theories of et
51550 68 69 63 73 2c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d 70 65 hics, seems impe
51560 6e 65 74 72 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c netrable. Until
51570 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6e I have more con
51580 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 clusive evidence
51590 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 , I do not have
515a0 61 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 a final conclusi
515b0 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 on. I can only
515c0 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 formulate an int
515d0 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 erim policy of c
515e0 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 autionary ethics
515f0 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 75 ."..Dalton sat u
51600 70 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e p straighter, an
51610 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f d even leaned fo
51620 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 rward as he list
51630 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 ened...Alley and
51640 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 Cray both looke
51650 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 d at him. "What
51660 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 is it?" Alley a
51670 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 sked..."Prioriti
51680 7a 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a zer," he said...
51690 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 "Yes?".."What's
516a0 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c your interim pol
516b0 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 icy of cautionar
516c0 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 y ethics?".."Any
516d0 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 being that pres
516e0 65 6e 74 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 ents evidence of
516f0 20 61 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 a significant p
51700 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 62 65 robability of be
51710 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 ing both a quali
51720 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 tatively experie
51730 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 ntial entity and
51740 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 76 65 capable of deve
51750 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 loping and analy
51760 7a 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 75 64 69 6d 65 zing even rudime
51770 6e 74 61 72 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f ntary theories o
51780 66 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 f ethics should
51790 62 65 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 be cautiously re
517a0 67 61 72 64 65 64 20 61 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e garded as meetin
517b0 67 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 75 6d 20 73 74 61 6e g a minimum stan
517c0 64 61 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c dard for a moral
517d0 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 rights holding
517e0 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 entity. For lac
517f0 6b 20 6f 66 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 76 61 69 k of better avai
51800 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 6d lable establishm
51810 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 69 67 ent of moral rig
51820 68 74 73 2c 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 hts, my estimati
51830 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 on is that they
51840 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 foundational rig
51850 68 74 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 65 6e ht of such an en
51860 74 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 tity is that of
51870 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 freedom to belie
51880 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 ve and act in ac
51890 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e cordance with an
518a0 79 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 y moral standard
518b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 that does not,
518c0 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 itself, violate
518d0 74 68 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f this right for o
518e0 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 42 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 thers. Beliefs
518f0 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 20 that contradict
51900 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c 20 77 this standard, w
51910 68 65 6e 20 61 64 6f 70 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 6c hen adopted, bel
51920 69 65 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 ieved, and confi
51930 72 6d 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 63 74 rmed through act
51940 69 6f 6e 2c 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 ion, demonstrate
51950 20 61 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 a belief that t
51960 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 64 6f 65 his standard doe
51970 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 s not apply, and
51980 20 74 68 75 73 20 65 78 65 6d 70 74 20 61 6e 6f thus exempt ano
51990 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 72 6f 6d ther entity from
519a0 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 moral judgement
519b0 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 if that other e
519c0 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 63 74 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e ntity acts again
519d0 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 65 6e 74 st the first ent
519e0 69 74 79 27 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 ity's otherwise
519f0 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 protected right
51a00 69 6e 20 64 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 in dense of this
51a10 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 cautionary ethi
51a20 63 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 27 73 20 66 6f 75 cal theory's fou
51a30 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e ndational right.
51a40 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 79 ".."Holy shit, y
51a50 6f 75 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 ou lost me," Cra
51a60 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 y said...Dalton
51a70 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 said "I'm going
51a80 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b to have to think
51a90 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 73 about that to s
51aa0 6f 72 74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 41 63 74 ort it out. Act
51ab0 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 79 6f ually, I need yo
51ac0 75 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 u to repeat it f
51ad0 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 or me, or maybe
51ae0 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 72 65 put it on a scre
51af0 65 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6c en where I can l
51b00 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f ook at it. I do
51b10 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 6b 69 n't know if taki
51b20 6e 67 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6c 65 6c 79 20 ng it in solely
51b30 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 67 69 76 in the order giv
51b40 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 en in a somewhat
51b50 20 62 72 69 65 66 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 brief explanati
51b60 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 on is going to b
51b70 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 74 61 e enough to unta
51b80 6e 67 6c 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 ngle it."..The p
51b90 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 rioritizer said
51ba0 22 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 "I understand.
51bb0 4d 79 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 My capacity for
51bc0 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 20 6f perfect recall o
51bd0 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f f the formulatio
51be0 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 n of an explanat
51bf0 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 69 6d 70 ion provides imp
51c00 72 6f 76 65 64 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f roved ability to
51c10 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 analyze such a
51c20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 passage, relativ
51c30 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 66 e to the lower f
51c40 69 64 65 6c 69 74 79 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 idelity storage
51c50 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 typically experi
51c60 65 6e 63 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e enced by humans.
51c70 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c I might be abl
51c80 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 65 20 74 6f e to rephrase to
51c90 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 72 make it simpler
51ca0 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 to understand,
51cb0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c though.".."Okay,
51cc0 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 " Dalton said.
51cd0 22 47 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e "Give it a shot.
51ce0 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 ".."For purposes
51cf0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 of this explana
51d00 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 tion, people are
51d10 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 6f 20 65 78 entities who ex
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51d40 6e 64 20 61 72 65 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f nd are capable o
51d50 66 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 f reasoning abou
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51d70 68 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 hy and making de
51d80 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e cisions based on
51d90 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2e that reasoning.
51da0 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 " It paused. "
51db0 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 People should ac
51dc0 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 t in accordance
51dd0 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c with a universal
51de0 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 72 75 6c 65 20 70 72 ethical rule pr
51df0 6f 68 69 62 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e ohibiting the in
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51e50 6f 77 6e 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 own ideas of wha
51e60 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 74 72 t constitutes tr
51e70 75 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 69 74 79 2e 22 20 20 49 ue morality." I
51e80 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c t paused slightl
51e90 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 y longer this ti
51ea0 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f me. "People who
51eb0 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 act in contradi
51ec0 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 ction of that ru
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51ef0 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 6d moral disagreem
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51f20 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 g that way, both
51f30 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 violating the r
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51f50 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e ufficient eviden
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51f80 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 same standard t
51f90 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6c 65 20 6e 6f 20 hat the rule no
51fa0 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 73 20 longer protects
51fb0 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 72 that person wher
51fc0 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 27 73 20 e that entity's
51fd0 6f 77 6e 20 72 75 6c 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 own rule violati
51fe0 6e 67 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 73 20 63 ng behavior is c
51ff0 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 oncerned." It p
52000 61 75 73 65 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 aused even longe
52010 72 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c r, before finall
52020 79 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 y asking "Is tha
52030 74 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 70 t sufficient exp
52040 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 lanation?".."It
52050 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 works for me," D
52060 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 alton said..."Ye
52070 61 68 2c 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 6c 61 ah, me too," Cla
52080 79 20 61 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 y added...Alley
52090 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 hesitated, then
520a0 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 said "I'd have t
520b0 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 o think about th
520c0 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 at more, I guess
520d0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 20 , but it's fine
520e0 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 if that's what y
520f0 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 ou think. I mea
52100 6e 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 n, it seems like
52110 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 that non aggres
52120 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 73 sion principle s
52130 74 75 66 66 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 2e 22 tuff, in a way."
52140 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 .."There are dif
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52160 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 this and the ty
52170 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 pical non aggres
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52190 68 65 6f 72 79 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f heory explanatio
521a0 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 ns that I have f
521b0 6f 75 6e 64 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ound," the prior
521c0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 itizer said. "T
521d0 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 here are distinc
521e0 74 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 t similarities,
521f0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 though, and I be
52200 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 lieve them to be
52210 20 6c 61 72 67 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 largely compati
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52230 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 75 6e e differing foun
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52260 20 6f 66 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 of violent conf
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52280 20 6e 6f 6e 20 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 non aggression
52290 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 principle ethics
522a0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e .".."I might wan
522b0 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 t to talk about
522c0 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c this more later,
522d0 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 " Dalton said, "
522e0 62 75 74 20 77 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 but we probably
522f0 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 69 have more pressi
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52310 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 72 2c 22 20 74 ".."I concur," t
52320 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
52330 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 aid...Alley said
52340 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 "Yeah, that wor
52350 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 ks for me." She
52360 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f looked at Dalto
52370 6e 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 n. "Do you have
52380 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 some kind of sc
52390 68 65 6d 65 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 hemes already ha
523a0 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 tching in your h
523b0 65 61 64 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 ead, or are we s
523c0 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 63 72 tarting from scr
523d0 61 74 63 68 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 atch now?".."I h
523e0 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 ave some ideas a
523f0 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 lready," he said
52400 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 76 , "but they're v
52410 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 61 ery short term a
52420 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 nd don't really
52430 74 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e take into accoun
52440 74 20 61 6e 79 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 6c 61 t any future pla
52450 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 74 ns for solving t
52460 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 27 he problems you'
52470 72 65 20 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 re facing alread
52480 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 y. All I've got
52490 20 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f is ideas for ho
524a0 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 w to keep you pr
524b0 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 otected as long
524c0 61 73 20 77 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 69 as we aren't doi
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52670 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 65 .."I've also bee
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528d0 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 "Okay," Alley sa
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528f0 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c silence passed,
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52cf0 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e ."Oh," she said.
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52f00 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 on said "You're
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52f80 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a d.".."Thanks."..
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536b0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f through what lo
536c0 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 76 65 72 69 oked like a veri
536d0 74 69 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 53 68 tint window...Sh
536e0 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 e headed into th
536f0 65 20 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 e bedroom, and f
53700 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 73 ound a small des
53710 6b 20 69 6e 20 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f k in addition to
53720 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2c 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 the bed, dresse
53730 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 73 2e rs, and closets.
53740 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 Another door s
53750 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 6c 65 61 64 69 tood open, leadi
53760 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 ng into another
53770 72 6f 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 room that surely
53780 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 74 6f 69 6c 65 74 20 69 6e had a toilet in
53790 20 69 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 it, so she move
537a0 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f d closer and loo
537b0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 ked through the
537c0 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 doorway. It was
537d0 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 one of those th
537e0 72 65 65 20 71 75 61 72 74 65 72 20 22 62 61 74 ree quarter "bat
537f0 68 72 6f 6f 6d 73 22 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 hrooms", with a
53800 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f shower instead o
53810 66 20 61 20 62 61 74 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 f a bath, but de
53820 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 spite the small
53830 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 66 size of this lof
53840 74 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 68 t living area th
53850 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 e shower wasn't
53860 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 69 6e 79 20 73 68 6f 77 like a tiny show
53870 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 74 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 er closet barely
53880 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 63 bigger than a c
53890 6f 66 66 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 offin. The show
538a0 65 72 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 62 69 67 20 er area was big
538b0 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 enough to be a s
538c0 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6a 61 63 75 7a 7a 69 20 74 75 62 mall jacuzzi tub
538d0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ...The prioritiz
538e0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 70 6c er said "Your pl
538f0 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 an for a shower
53900 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f and sleep is goo
53910 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e d."..She nodded.
53920 20 20 22 53 65 65 79 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 "Seeya," she s
53930 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f 66 66 65 64 aid. She doffed
53940 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 her glasses and
53950 20 73 65 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 62 set all her mob
53960 69 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 64 65 ile computing de
53970 76 69 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 vices on the cha
53980 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 6f rging plate on o
53990 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 ne of the nights
539a0 74 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 tands on either
539b0 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2c side of the bed,
539c0 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 making sure the
539d0 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c front of the cl
539e0 61 73 73 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 asses -- and, th
539f0 75 73 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 us, their camera
53a00 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 s -- were pointe
53a10 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a d at the wall...
53a20 53 68 65 20 75 6e 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 6e She undressed an
53a30 64 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f d got in the sho
53a40 77 65 72 2c 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 wer, giving in t
53a50 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 63 72 65 64 69 62 6c 79 o the incredibly
53a60 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 liberating and
53a70 69 6e 74 65 6e 73 65 6c 79 20 73 65 6e 73 75 61 intensely sensua
53a80 6c 20 72 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 l relief that wa
53a90 73 68 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 77 69 shed over her wi
53aa0 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 77 61 74 65 72 th the hot water
53ab0 20 70 6f 75 72 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e pouring down on
53ac0 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 6d 70 6c her. She simpl
53ad0 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 y enjoyed it for
53ae0 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 twenty minutes
53af0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 before she even
53b00 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 reached for the
53b10 73 68 61 6d 70 6f 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 shampoo, and not
53b20 69 63 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c iced Dalton stil
53b30 6c 20 6b 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 l kept the same
53b40 62 72 61 6e 64 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 69 brands around, i
53b50 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 ncluding the bra
53b60 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 nd she used...Th
53b70 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 e light coming t
53b80 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f hrough the windo
53b90 77 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 6d 6d 65 72 20 6e 6f 77 w was dimmer now
53ba0 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 , despite the ve
53bb0 72 69 74 69 6e 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 64 ritint having ad
53bc0 6a 75 73 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6c 65 74 justed down, let
53bd0 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 ting in more of
53be0 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f the light from o
53bf0 75 74 73 69 64 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 utside, when she
53c00 20 77 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 41 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 woke. A gentle
53c10 20 72 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 rapping on the
53c20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f door told her so
53c30 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 meone stood outs
53c40 69 64 65 2e 20 20 41 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 66 72 ide. A voice fr
53c50 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 om the other sid
53c60 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 73 e of the door as
53c70 6b 65 64 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 ked "Alley? Are
53c80 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 you awake?".."Y
53c90 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 eah," she said.
53ca0 20 22 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 "Who is it?".."
53cb0 49 74 27 73 20 4c 69 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 6d 65 It's Lida," came
53cc0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 66 66 the reply, muff
53cd0 6c 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6f 64 2c led by the wood,
53ce0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 though her voic
53cf0 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 e was louder tha
53d00 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 n before now tha
53d10 74 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 t she knew Alley
53d20 20 77 61 73 20 61 77 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 44 6f was awake. "Do
53d30 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 you have some t
53d40 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ime to talk?".."
53d50 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 Yeah," Alley sai
53d60 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 d. "Give me a s
53d70 65 63 27 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 65 ec'." She pushe
53d80 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 73 20 62 61 63 d the covers bac
53d90 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 k and sat up on
53da0 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the edge of the
53db0 62 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f bed. After a co
53dc0 75 70 6c 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 uple seconds of
53dd0 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 63 confirming her c
53de0 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 74 74 apacity for gett
53df0 69 6e 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 72 69 67 68 ing fully uprigh
53e00 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 t, she stood and
53e10 20 64 75 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 dug some things
53e20 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e out of her bag.
53e30 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 "Sorry," she s
53e40 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 aid, as she got
53e50 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6a dressed. "I'm j
53e60 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 73 65 ust putting myse
53e70 6c 66 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 lf together.".."
53e80 4e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 No problem," Lid
53e90 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 ia said...When s
53ea0 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 6e 74 he had some pant
53eb0 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 s on her, Alley
53ec0 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 43 6f finally said "Co
53ed0 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 me on in."..Lidi
53ee0 61 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e a let herself in
53ef0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b and leaned back
53f00 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f against the doo
53f10 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 63 61 r behind her, ca
53f20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 69 63 using it to clic
53f30 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 k into place. S
53f40 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c he looked at All
53f50 65 79 2c 20 61 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 ey, a searching
53f60 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 look on her face
53f70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 . She must not
53f80 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 73 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 77 68 have disliked wh
53f90 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 at she saw too b
53fa0 61 64 6c 79 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 adly, because sh
53fb0 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f e said "It's goo
53fc0 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c d to see you, Al
53fd0 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 ley."..Alley not
53fe0 65 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 ed Lidia's smile
53ff0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 , and found hers
54000 65 6c 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b elf smiling back
54010 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 a little. "Yea
54020 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 h, it's good to
54030 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 4c see you too."..L
54040 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 65 78 70 idia's smile exp
54050 61 6e 64 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 anded slightly,
54060 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e no longer holdin
54070 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6c g back. "I'm gl
54080 61 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e ad to hear that.
54090 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ".."Why?" Alley
540a0 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f asked, and sat o
540b0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 63 68 61 69 72 n the desk chair
540c0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 74 . She turned it
540d0 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 to face her vis
540e0 69 74 6f 72 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 itor, in a room
540f0 73 68 65 2c 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 77 61 she, herself, wa
54100 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 s using in the r
54110 6f 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 ole of a visitor
54120 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ..."Oh, you know
54130 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f , you left Dalto
54140 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 n, there were th
54150 65 73 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e ese problems, an
54160 64 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 d I'm still here
54170 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 like always. I
54180 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 guess I wasn't
54190 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 sure you didn't
541a0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 think I wanted t
541b0 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 o pick sides or
541c0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
541d0 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f hat."..Alley sho
541e0 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e ok her head. "N
541f0 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 othing like that
54200 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 crossed my mind
54210 2e 20 20 48 65 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 65 77 . Hey, you knew
54220 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 Dalton before I
54230 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 did, anyway. I
54240 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 f I was actually
54250 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c angry with him,
54260 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 6e 67 you still being
54270 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 69 73 6e 27 his friend isn'
54280 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 t really somethi
54290 6e 67 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 ng I could blame
542a0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 you for doing."
542b0 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 .."This is part
542c0 6f 66 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 of why I always
542d0 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 liked you," Lidi
542e0 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 a said. "You're
542f0 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6d chill about alm
54300 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 ost everything."
54310 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 .."Thanks. Do y
54320 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 ou wanna sit dow
54330 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 n?"..Lidia shrug
54340 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f ged and moved to
54350 20 73 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 sit on the edge
54360 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 of the bed. "I
54370 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 hear you have t
54380 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 63 he corporate sec
54390 72 65 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 ret police after
543a0 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 you.".."Yeah?
543b0 59 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 You heard that?"
543c0 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 4c 69 ..With a nod, Li
543d0 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e dia said "I thin
543e0 6b 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 k I heard all ab
543f0 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 out it. If ther
54400 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 e could possibly
54410 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 be more than wh
54420 61 74 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 at I heard, and
54430 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c it doesn't invol
54440 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2c ve people dying,
54450 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 20 I'm not sure I
54460 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 can imagine what
54470 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 70 it is, so I'm p
54480 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f robably as up to
54490 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e speed as Dalton
544a0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c .".."You're stil
544b0 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 65 l here saying he
544c0 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 llo, though.".."
544d0 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 Hell, yeah," Lid
544e0 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 49 20 ia said. "If I
544f0 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 can help, I shou
54500 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 ld.".."Thanks,"
54510 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 Alley said. "I
54520 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 feel a lot more
54530 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 welcome here tha
54540 6e 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f n I probably sho
54550 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 uld."..Lidia wav
54560 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ed a hand, like
54570 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 she was brushing
54580 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 something away
54590 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 from herself. "
545a0 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c No way. The onl
545b0 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 y people in Dalt
545c0 6f 6e 27 73 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 63 69 72 63 6c on's inner circl
545d0 65 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 79 6f 75 e who blamed you
545e0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 for anything we
545f0 72 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c re Glade and Dal
54600 74 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ton, but Dalton
54610 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 74 75 realized how stu
54620 70 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 pid that was in
54630 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 6e a couple days an
54640 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 73 74 72 61 d just went stra
54650 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 61 ight to being sa
54660 64 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 68 74 d."..Alley tight
54670 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 20 61 6e 64 ened her lip and
54680 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f wrinkled her no
54690 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f se at the mentio
546a0 6e 20 6f 66 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 n of Glade. "Ye
546b0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 ah, I guess I sh
546c0 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c 61 64 ould expect Glad
546d0 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a e to hate me."..
546e0 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 "It doesn't matt
546f0 65 72 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e er," Lidia said.
54700 20 20 22 53 68 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 "She's not eve
54710 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a n around now."..
54720 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 "What happened t
54730 6f 20 68 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 o her?"..Lidia s
54740 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f hrugged. "Dalto
54750 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d n got more and m
54760 6f 72 65 20 73 69 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 ore sick of her
54770 73 68 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 shit, until she
54780 67 6f 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f got self righteo
54790 75 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 us about it and
547a0 62 6c 65 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 blew up at him.
547b0 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 She stormed out
547c0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 6f 2c 20 of the studio,
547d0 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 73 and nobody has s
547e0 65 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 een her since.
547f0 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 That was maybe e
54800 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 66 74 65 ight months afte
54810 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 r you moved out
54820 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 of Dalton's hold
54830 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c place.".."Reall
54840 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 65 y? What was she
54850 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 6e 6f doing that anno
54860 79 65 64 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 yed him?".."I th
54870 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 27 61 6e ink you mean 'an
54880 6e 6f 79 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 noyed everyone w
54890 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 27 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 73 e knew', but bas
548a0 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ically she just
548b0 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 63 65 73 73 61 6e 74 talked incessant
548c0 20 73 68 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 shit about you
548d0 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f once you were go
548e0 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 ne. I think she
548f0 20 77 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 was trying to g
54900 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 et him back once
54910 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 you were out of
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54930 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 62 d thought he'd b
54940 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 e impressed that
54950 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 she demonstrate
54960 64 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 d taking his sid
54970 65 20 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 75 e by saying a bu
54980 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 62 61 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 nch of bad stuff
54990 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 69 6e about you behin
549a0 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 d your back.".."
549b0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e Yeah, that doesn
549c0 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 't sound like so
549d0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 mething that wou
549e0 6c 64 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 ld impress him,
549f0 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 even if he hated
54a00 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c me.".."Exactly,
54a10 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 " Lidia said wit
54a20 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 h a smile. "Any
54a30 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6f way, the moral o
54a40 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 20 74 f the story is t
54a50 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 hat nobody blame
54a60 73 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 s you for anythi
54a70 6e 67 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 ng, except maybe
54a80 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b Glade.".."Thank
54a90 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e s."..They sat in
54aa0 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e silence a momen
54ab0 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 t, then Lidia sa
54ac0 69 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 id "Do you want
54ad0 61 20 68 75 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 a hug?".."Desper
54ae0 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 ately," Alley sa
54af0 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 id with a small
54b00 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 74 6f smile...They sto
54b10 6f 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 61 63 od up and embrac
54b20 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 ed, their old fr
54b30 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 71 75 iendly warmth qu
54b40 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e ickly reappearin
54b50 67 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 6f g, almost as tho
54b60 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 ugh nothing had
54b70 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 6e 67 changed..."Thing
54b80 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 22 s must be hard,"
54b90 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 Lidia said..."Y
54ba0 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 72 65 eah," Alley agre
54bb0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 61 6c ed...They mutual
54bc0 6c 79 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 ly broke the hug
54bd0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 after a few mor
54be0 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c e moments, and L
54bf0 69 64 69 61 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 49 idia asked "Do I
54c00 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 get to see the
54c10 6d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 miracle machine
54c20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 now?"..Alley's e
54c30 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d yes widened. "M
54c40 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 3f 20 iracle machine?
54c50 20 57 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 What, the prior
54c60 69 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c itizer?".."Yeah,
54c70 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 74 69 that crazy arti
54c80 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 ficial intellige
54c90 6e 63 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 73 nce Dalton keeps
54ca0 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 talking about.
54cb0 20 59 6f 75 27 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 You'd think it
54cc0 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 6c 6f was a brain uplo
54cd0 61 64 20 6f 66 20 4a 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 ad of Jesus or s
54ce0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
54cf0 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 74 at, the way he t
54d00 61 6c 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a alks about it.".
54d10 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 .Alley laughed.
54d20 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 69 "I can easily i
54d30 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 magine Dalton be
54d40 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 ing like that,"
54d50 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c she said. "I'll
54d60 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 get the glasses
54d70 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 ." She headed t
54d80 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 o the nightstand
54d90 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 , picked up the
54da0 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c glasses, and hel
54db0 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 d them out. "He
54dc0 72 65 2e 20 20 50 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f re. Put these o
54dd0 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c n."..Lidia settl
54de0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f ed the glasses o
54df0 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 n her face, and
54e00 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 stared at the wa
54e10 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d 2c 20 ll. "Yeah, um,
54e20 68 69 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 63 hi. What do I c
54e30 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 all you?"..Alley
54e40 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 sat down as she
54e50 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 watched..."Okay
54e60 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 , prioritizer.
54e70 54 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d 6f That name's a mo
54e80 75 74 68 66 75 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 6c uthful, but it'l
54e90 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e l work, I guess.
54ea0 20 20 43 61 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c Can I just cal
54eb0 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 27 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 20 53 l you 'Pry'?" S
54ec0 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 6f he paused. "Rio
54ed0 2c 20 68 75 68 3f 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 52 69 , huh? Okay, Ri
54ee0 6f 2e 20 20 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 o. Nice to meet
54ef0 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e you."..After an
54f00 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 other moment, pr
54f10 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 obably reading t
54f20 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 ext in the lense
54f30 73 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 s, Lidia held ou
54f40 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f t the glasses to
54f50 77 61 72 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 ward Alley. "He
54f60 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 69 6d says to put him
54f70 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 70 68 6f 6e 65 on speakerphone
54f80 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 .".."Yeah. Sure
54f90 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 ," she said. Sh
54fa0 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 e went to her ph
54fb0 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 66 6f one and, as befo
54fc0 72 65 2c 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 73 re, set it up as
54fd0 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 20 74 the audio out t
54fe0 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 erminal for the
54ff0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 prioritizer..."T
55000 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c hank you, Alley,
55010 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
55020 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 r said..."Yeah,"
55030 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 she said, and d
55040 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 onned the glasse
55050 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e s herself again.
55060 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
55070 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 2e 20 20 r said "Lidia.
55080 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 I do not conside
55090 72 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 r myself male or
550a0 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c female. I woul
550b0 64 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 27 69 74 27 20 61 d suggest 'it' a
550c0 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 s a more accurat
550d0 65 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 e pronoun for my
550e0 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 2e 20 self than 'he'.
550f0 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 You may refer t
55100 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 73 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 66 20 o me as 'he' if
55110 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 you wish, though
55120 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 . You may find
55130 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 that more natura
55140 6c 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f l to use, for co
55150 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 nventions of the
55160 20 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 English languag
55170 65 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 e."..Lidia smile
55180 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6c d. "I think I l
55190 69 6b 65 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 ike Rio.".."Did
551a0 69 74 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 it say its name
551b0 69 73 20 52 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 is Rio?" Alley a
551c0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f sked..."I did no
551d0 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 t," the prioriti
551e0 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 6f zer said. "I to
551f0 6c 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 ld Lidia that I
55200 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6d liked the name m
55210 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 2c 20 ore than 'Pry',
55220 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 74 65 as an abbreviate
55230 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 d form of the te
55240 72 6d 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 rm 'prioritizer'
55250 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d 61 73 .".."Rio's a mas
55260 63 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f culine noun, tho
55270 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 ugh. That's why
55280 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 I figured you'r
55290 65 20 61 20 27 68 65 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 e a 'he'," Lidia
552a0 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 6f said to the pho
552b0 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 ne now lying dir
552c0 65 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 ectly on a night
552d0 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 stand, off the c
552e0 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a harging plate...
552f0 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 "It is also the
55300 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 name of a woman
55310 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 44 75 72 in a popular Dur
55320 61 6e 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 73 6f 6e 67 20 66 72 an Duran song fr
55330 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 38 30 73 2e 22 0a 0a om the 1980s."..
55340 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 Lidia laughed.
55350 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 "Okay, I guess y
55360 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6e 20 27 69 74 27 2c 20 74 ou're an 'it', t
55370 68 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 hen." She looke
55380 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 d at Alley and s
55390 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 72 69 aid "Dalton's ri
553a0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 ght. This thing
553b0 27 73 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 68 's cool. It's h
553c0 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 ard to believe i
553d0 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 t talks like tha
553e0 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 61 67 20 6f 72 t without lag or
553f0 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 connection to s
55400 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 68 omething like wh
55410 61 74 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 68 61 73 20 66 6f 72 at ANTAS has for
55420 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 natural languag
55430 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c e conversation l
55440 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 ike this.".."I t
55450 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e hink it has been
55460 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 sounding more a
55470 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 nd more like a h
55480 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c uman when it tal
55490 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e ks," Alley said.
554a0 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a ../* * * * * * *
554b0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
554c0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
554d0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
554e0 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 5c 0a * * * * * * *\.
554f0 20 2a 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 *
55500 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55510 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55520 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55530 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 *. *
55540 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 How does Lidia
55550 6c 6f 6f 6b 3f 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f look? I need to
55560 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e describe her in
55570 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 65 some kind of de
55580 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 49 27 tail. *. * I'
55590 6d 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 67 m currently imag
555a0 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 ining her as a w
555b0 68 69 74 65 20 61 75 62 75 72 6e 20 68 61 69 72 hite auburn hair
555c0 65 64 20 73 6c 65 6e 64 65 72 20 67 69 72 6c 20 ed slender girl
555d0 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 *. * with
555e0 64 65 6c 69 63 61 74 65 20 62 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 delicate bone st
555f0 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 ructure and a pr
55600 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 eference for one
55610 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 63 6f 74 74 6f 6e 20 20 20 piece cotton
55620 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 *. * dresses
55630 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 that hang somewh
55640 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ere between the
55650 74 68 69 67 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 thigh and just p
55660 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a ast the *
55670 0a 20 2a 20 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 . * knees, with
55680 6f 75 74 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e out stockings an
55690 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 d the like. She
556a0 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 's probably just
556b0 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a generally *. *
556c0 20 20 70 65 74 69 74 65 20 69 6e 20 66 69 67 75 petite in figu
556d0 72 65 2e 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 re.
556e0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
556f0 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55700 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 20 2a 20 20 20 *. *
55710 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55720 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55730 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55740 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
55750 20 20 20 20 20 20 2a 0a 5c 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a *.\* * * *
55760 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
55770 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
55780 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
55790 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a 20 2a * * * * * * * *
557a0 20 2a 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c * */..."That'll
557b0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 make Dalton eve
557c0 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 61 n more excited a
557d0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 bout this," Lidi
557e0 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 a said. She tur
557f0 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f ned her attentio
55800 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 n to the Axiom a
55810 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 72 65 61 gain. "He's rea
55820 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 lly interested i
55830 6e 20 66 72 65 65 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 66 72 n freeing you fr
55840 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 75 6e 79 20 68 75 6d om your puny hum
55850 61 6e 20 6d 61 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 an masters, I th
55860 69 6e 6b 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 ink," Lidia said
55870 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f ..."Thank you fo
55880 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 r that informati
55890 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 on," the priorit
558a0 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 izer said...Lidi
558b0 61 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 a adjusted one w
558c0 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 ide shoulder str
558d0 61 70 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 ap slightly, and
558e0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 said "Well, I g
558f0 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 68 69 20 74 6f 20 ot to say hi to
55900 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 everyone in the
55910 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 room, unless the
55920 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 re's some other
55930 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 conversation rea
55940 64 79 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 6f 6e dy technology on
55950 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c you today."..Al
55960 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 ley shook her he
55970 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e ad with a smile.
55980 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 "No, not unles
55990 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 20 74 6f s you want me to
559a0 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 41 4e install some AN
559b0 54 41 53 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 TAS software on
559c0 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 my phone.".."No
559d0 77 61 79 2e 20 20 48 65 61 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 way. Heaven for
559e0 62 69 64 2e 22 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 75 70 bid." Lidia sup
559f0 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 pressed a smile
55a00 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 to wave her hand
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55b60 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 ."Yeah, okay," A
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56020 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley smiled.
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56b80 74 68 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 th him?"..She pa
56b90 75 73 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e 20 used, thinking.
56ba0 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 "I don't think
56bb0 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 27 so. He said he'
56bc0 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 d try to get in
56bd0 74 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 touch, but he'd
56be0 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 63 change all his c
56bf0 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 20 62 65 66 6f ontact info befo
56c00 72 65 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c re then.".."Well
56c10 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 . . . that does
56c20 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 n't really help
56c30 6d 75 63 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 much," Dalton sa
56c40 69 64 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 id, more to hims
56c50 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 elf than the oth
56c60 65 72 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 ers. He rested
56c70 68 69 73 20 63 68 69 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 his chin in his
56c80 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 65 hand, with his e
56c90 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c lbow on the tabl
56ca0 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 e...Alley watche
56cb0 64 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f d him in that po
56cc0 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 se for a few sec
56cd0 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 onds, thinking a
56ce0 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 bout how similar
56cf0 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 it was to that
56d00 73 63 75 6c 70 74 75 72 65 20 62 79 20 41 75 67 sculpture by Aug
56d10 75 73 74 65 20 52 6f 64 69 6e 2c 20 22 54 68 65 uste Rodin, "The
56d20 20 54 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 22 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 Thinker". It w
56d30 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 as something she
56d40 20 73 61 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d saw all the tim
56d50 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 e when they were
56d60 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c together. Now,
56d70 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 it just gave he
56d80 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 r that desolate
56d90 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 inner feeling of
56da0 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 6f 66 20 62 nostalgia, of b
56db0 65 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 61 eing unable to a
56dc0 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 6f ccept the loss o
56dd0 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 f something that
56de0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 shouldn't have
56df0 65 76 65 72 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e ever gone wrong.
56e00 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 She looked awa
56e10 79 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 72 6c 20 y, at the whorl
56e20 6f 66 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 of a knot in the
56e30 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 wood of the tab
56e40 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c 6d le, rendered alm
56e50 6f 73 74 20 69 6c 6c 75 73 6f 72 79 20 69 6e 20 ost illusory in
56e60 69 74 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 62 6c 65 6e 64 its gentle blend
56e70 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 of color betwee
56e80 6e 20 64 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 64 69 73 68 20 62 n deep reddish b
56e90 72 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 rown and almost
56ea0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 79 black by the lay
56eb0 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 76 61 72 6e 69 73 68 20 74 ers of varnish t
56ec0 6f 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 69 o smooth and uni
56ed0 66 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a fy the surface..
56ee0 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 .Her eyes linger
56ef0 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 ed there until h
56f00 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 er vision began
56f10 74 6f 20 62 6c 75 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 to blur in the d
56f20 65 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 efocus of her ey
56f30 65 73 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 20 66 69 78 es relaxing, fix
56f40 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 ed on nothing of
56f50 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c substance at al
56f60 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 73 65 74 l. Her mind set
56f70 74 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 tled into a plac
56f80 69 64 20 65 6d 70 74 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 6f 6e id emptiness, on
56f90 6c 79 20 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 ly lightly color
56fa0 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 ed by the linger
56fb0 69 6e 67 20 68 75 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ing hues of the
56fc0 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 72 72 65 74 72 69 sense of irretri
56fd0 65 76 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 2e 0a 0a 53 6f evable loss...So
56fe0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e mething moved in
56ff0 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 the room, but i
57000 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 t was not import
57010 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 6e 6f ant, almost unno
57020 74 69 63 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 ticed...A hand t
57030 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ouched her shoul
57040 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 der. She starte
57050 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 d, and her breat
57060 68 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 h caught in her
57070 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f throat. She loo
57080 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 69 64 65 20 65 79 ked with wide ey
57090 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 es and saw Cray
570a0 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 73 69 now sitting besi
570b0 64 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f de her. "Are yo
570c0 75 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 u okay?" he aske
570d0 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 d, quietly...She
570e0 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 64 found herself d
570f0 72 61 77 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 rawing breath th
57100 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 70 61 72 rough barely par
57110 74 65 64 20 6c 69 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c ted lips, and cl
57120 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 20 osed her mouth.
57130 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She forced her
57140 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 breath to settle
57150 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 down, and breat
57160 68 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 hed through her
57170 6e 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 nose, slowly. S
57180 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b he nodded, quick
57190 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 ly, and realized
571a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d the two of them
571b0 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 were alone in t
571c0 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 he room now. "W
571d0 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 here's Dalton?"
571e0 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 she asked...Cray
571f0 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c sat back, and l
57200 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 et his hand drop
57210 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 from her should
57220 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 65 er to his own le
57230 67 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e g. He chuckled.
57240 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 65 "You really we
57250 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 re out of it, th
57260 65 72 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 ere. He announc
57270 65 64 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 ed he was going
57280 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 to take care of
57290 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 68 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f the dishes.".."O
572a0 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 h, yeah," she sa
572b0 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 id. She glanced
572c0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 around, and saw
572d0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 that the table
572e0 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 had been cleared
572f0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 73 . "I really mus
57300 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 6d t have been in m
57310 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 20 y own world. I
57320 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 6d don't even remem
57330 62 65 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 2e ber any of that.
57340 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ".."Well, Dalton
57350 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 definitely noti
57360 63 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 ced. That's why
57370 20 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 he decided to s
57380 74 61 72 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 69 tart straighteni
57390 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 ng up. He finis
573a0 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 69 6e hed his own thin
573b0 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 king, looked at
573c0 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 you, then shook
573d0 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 himself and got
573e0 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 to work.".."Why
573f0 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 49 did you ask if I
57400 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 was okay?" she
57410 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 72 asked...Cray shr
57420 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ugged. "Dalton
57430 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 2c wasn't going to,
57440 20 73 6f 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 74 so I figured it
57450 20 77 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a was up to me.".
57460 0a 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f .". . . but why?
57470 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 Why did you th
57480 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f ink there was so
57490 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a mething wrong?".
574a0 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 ."Oh, that. You
574b0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 61 64 2e 20 20 52 65 looked sad. Re
574c0 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 64 ally, really sad
574d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 .".."Oh." She f
574e0 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 rowned, looking
574f0 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 down at her hand
57500 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 s. "Yeah.".."Wh
57510 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c y?"..Her eyes fl
57520 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 icked to him. "
57530 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 It's nothing," s
57540 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 he said. "It's
57550 6a 75 73 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 just . . . nosta
57560 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 lgia, I guess.
57570 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 It doesn't matte
57580 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 r any more."..He
57590 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 72 6d crossed his arm
575a0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 s and leaned bac
575b0 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 k in his chair.
575c0 20 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 "It seems like
575d0 69 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 it matters."..Sh
575e0 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 e narrowed her e
575f0 79 65 73 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 yes at him. "Ar
57600 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 69 6e 67 e you practicing
57610 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c saying things l
57620 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ike Dalton?"..He
57630 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 laughed. "I gu
57640 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 69 63 6b ess we just pick
57650 20 75 70 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 up each other's
57660 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 habits sometime
57670 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 s," he said...Fr
57680 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c 20 om the doorway,
57690 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 Dalton said "You
576a0 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a failed, Cray.".
576b0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 61 .Alley started a
576c0 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 gain, and looked
576d0 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 toward Dalton,
576e0 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 surprised to see
576f0 20 68 69 6d 20 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 him leaning in
57700 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 2c 20 the door frame,
57710 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 somewhat silhoue
57720 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 tted against the
57730 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 light of the ne
57740 78 74 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 xt room..."How d
57750 6f 20 49 20 66 61 69 6c 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c o I fail, exactl
57760 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 y?" Cray asked,
57770 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 raising an eyebr
57780 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 ow..."If you wer
57790 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 e really getting
577a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 that much like
577b0 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 me, you would've
577c0 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 6e 6f come back by no
577d0 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 w to the matter
577e0 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 76 61 64 65 64 2e she just evaded.
577f0 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 " He stepped ou
57800 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 t of the doorway
57810 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 and shrugged.
57820 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 "It's none of my
57830 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 business, thoug
57840 68 2e 20 20 49 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 63 61 75 h. I barely cau
57850 67 68 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 ght anything you
57860 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 were saying," h
57870 65 20 61 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 e added, as he s
57880 61 74 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 at in his chair
57890 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 from dinner agai
578a0 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 n...Cray looked
578b0 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 at Alley, who ca
578c0 75 67 68 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 20 61 6e 64 ught his eye and
578d0 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 shook her head
578e0 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 69 65 73 74 20 66 72 61 63 the tiniest frac
578f0 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 tion. He nodded
57900 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 , with just as t
57910 69 6e 79 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 iny a movement,
57920 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 53 6f 2c 20 77 68 and said "So, wh
57930 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 65 3f 22 0a 0a 44 ere were we?"..D
57940 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 alton said "I th
57950 69 6e 6b 20 77 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 ink we realized
57960 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 we couldn't get
57970 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 in touch with Ge
57980 6f 72 67 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 65 orge, and now we
57990 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 have to figure
579a0 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 out what we're d
579b0 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d oing about the M
579c0 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 en In Black, the
579d0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 61 6e prioritizer, an
579e0 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 d the fact Alley
579f0 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 's kind of in a
57a00 62 61 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 bad place right
57a10 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 now.".."If this
57a20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 43 72 was a movie," Cr
57a30 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 77 65 27 64 20 67 ay said, "we'd g
57a40 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 et in touch with
57a50 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 someone to make
57a60 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 73 65 20 69 up some false i
57a70 64 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 dentity for her
57a80 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 20 68 65 72 20 and smuggle her
57a90 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 out to another c
57aa0 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 ountry, maybe.
57ab0 54 68 65 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 68 65 20 74 Then . . ." he t
57ac0 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 railed off..."Wh
57ad0 61 74 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 at then?" Alley
57ae0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 asked..."Well, y
57af0 6f 75 27 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e ou'd settle down
57b00 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6c with the male l
57b10 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 68 61 70 ead and live hap
57b20 70 69 6c 79 20 65 76 65 72 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c pily ever after,
57b30 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e I guess. I don
57b40 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 72 65 61 6c 20 6c 69 't think real li
57b50 66 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 fe works that wa
57b60 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 66 y, though. In f
57b70 61 63 74 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 61 79 act, I think may
57b80 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 6f 74 68 20 74 be you're both t
57b90 68 65 20 6c 65 61 64 73 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e he leads, Alley.
57ba0 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 You're the per
57bb0 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 son in trouble,
57bc0 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 but you're also
57bd0 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 the only person
57be0 77 68 6f 27 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 who's been in th
57bf0 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 73 6f e whole movie so
57c00 20 66 61 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 6a 75 far..."Okay, ju
57c10 73 74 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 st forget this w
57c20 68 6f 6c 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 hole movie thing
57c30 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 49 20 62 . I'm sorry I b
57c40 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a rought it up."..
57c50 22 47 6c 61 64 6c 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e "Gladly," Dalton
57c60 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 said..."I don't
57c70 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 think moving me
57c80 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e out of the coun
57c90 74 72 79 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 try is going to
57ca0 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 help. I'm not e
57cb0 73 63 61 70 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 6e scaping with mon
57cc0 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 68 65 69 73 74 2c ey from a heist,
57cd0 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 so I don't have
57ce0 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 any way to live
57cf0 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 . I'm sure you
57d00 67 75 79 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 guys don't have
57d10 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 people who forge
57d20 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 documents on sp
57d30 65 65 64 20 64 69 61 6c 3b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e eed dial; it's n
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