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103d0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ?".."Do you have
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10440 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 . . . no, not r
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10470 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ".."Now is a goo
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10f80 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 ."Oh.".."If I ha
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10fa0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d the relative im
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10fc0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c goals, please l
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10fe0 63 61 6e 20 72 65 63 61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 65 20 can recalculate
10ff0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 prioritization."
11000 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b .."No, that work
11010 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b s for me. Thank
11020 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 s.".."Good. We
11030 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 79 20 should start by
11040 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 looking at crypt
11050 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 ocurrency prices
11060 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 6f 75 ."..Two more hou
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110c0 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e Stater, the stan
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110e0 20 74 68 65 20 4c 79 64 69 61 6e 20 64 69 67 69 the Lydian digi
110f0 74 61 6c 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 65 74 74 tal account sett
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11110 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 77 61 She set up a wa
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111a0 2a 2f 20 46 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 */ For the sake
111b0 6f 66 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 of keeping some
111c0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 61 66 65 information safe
111d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 6e from digital sn
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111f0 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 notebook and pe
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11220 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f became an obvio
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11290 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 72 72 s she would carr
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112e0 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f sure she was no
112f0 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c t wearing the gl
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11330 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c so that it woul
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11360 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 that could be u
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113b0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 once she had th
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11410 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 dollars anywhere
11420 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 in the Inland E
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11440 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 76 69 61 20 65 a message via e
11450 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 ncrypted applica
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11470 6f 70 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 op to ask about
11480 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 61 buying a small a
11490 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c mount of Stater,
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114b0 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 response almost
114c0 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 immediately. It
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114f0 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 place in a polic
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11520 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 ed at the messag
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11580 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
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127c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 , and she opened
127d0 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 her door. The
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12880 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 car, and tugged
12890 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 61 her stocking ca
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128b0 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 lower on her hea
128c0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 d...A figure in
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12970 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c crossover, diml
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129e0 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 t. Alley heard
129f0 71 75 69 65 74 20 76 6f 69 63 65 73 2c 20 6e 65 quiet voices, ne
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12b40 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c d...Alley saw bl
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12c90 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 and a narrow, st
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12cf0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f than her. It o
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12d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 look female...H
12d50 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 e just looked ve
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12d70 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 river gave her a
12d80 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f n appraising loo
12d90 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 k, the impersona
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12db0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 ind of look that
12dc0 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 lingered on the
12dd0 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 way her cargo p
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12df0 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 fit her and wou
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12e10 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 her teeth on edg
12e20 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 e, but she just
12e30 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f stared at him fo
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12e50 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 his fashionably
12e60 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 spartan, almost
12e70 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 formal-cut, blac
12e80 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 k collarless shi
12e90 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 rt..."Aren't you
12ea0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 kind of young f
12eb0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 or this sort of
12ec0 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 thing?" she blur
12ed0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 ted out...He jer
12ee0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 ked the focus of
12ef0 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 his aqua eyes,
12f00 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c reflecting the l
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12f20 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 , away from the
12f30 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 vicinity of her
12f40 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d midsection and m
12f50 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 et her eyes. "H
12f60 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ey, lady, don't
12f70 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f think I'm new to
12f80 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 this. I'm arme
12f90 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b d, so don't jerk
12fa0 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 me around."..Sh
12fb0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 e hesitated, the
12fc0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 n said "No, not
12fd0 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 a problem. You
12fe0 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 just, uhh, surpr
12ff0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e ised me. Sorry.
13000 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 ".."Whatever," h
13010 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 e said, in a sof
13020 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 t, clear voice t
13030 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 hat almost made
13040 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 it difficult to
13050 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f recognize the so
13060 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 ur note in it.
13070 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 "Here, look at t
13080 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 his," he said, a
13090 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 nd held up a dev
130a0 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 ice the size of
130b0 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f his palm. A glo
130c0 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 wing display on
130d0 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 it, about the le
130e0 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 ngth of her own
130f0 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 thumb and three
13100 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e times the thickn
13110 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 ess, showed an e
13120 69 67 68 74 79 2d 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 ighty-seven Stat
13130 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 er transaction r
13140 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 eady for him to
13150 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f confirm...She no
13160 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 dded, and said "
13170 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e Go ahead and sen
13180 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 d it to this esc
13190 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 row." She pulle
131a0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 2d 65 61 d out the dog-ea
131b0 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 red page of her
131c0 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 notebook without
131d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 looking at it,
131e0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f and handed it to
131f0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e the boy. He en
13200 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 tered the escrow
13210 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 number into his
13220 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d device and thum
13230 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 bed the confirma
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13250 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 later, she heard
13260 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 the escrow aler
13270 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 t through her ph
13280 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a one's earpiece..
13290 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ."Done", he said
132a0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 ..."Here's the c
132b0 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 ash." She hung
132c0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 her right thumb
132d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 on her front poc
132e0 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 ket, then reache
132f0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 d into the car w
13300 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e ith her left han
13310 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 d to pull out th
13320 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 e bag. She hand
13330 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
13340 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b ...He took it, k
13350 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 eeping his eyes
13360 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 on her, and step
13370 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f ped back. He to
13380 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 ssed the bag int
13390 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 o the car, then
133a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 Alley heard some
133b0 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 rustling sounds
133c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 from the bag.
133d0 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 After a few mome
133e0 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 nts, she realize
133f0 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 d whoever was si
13400 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 tting in the pas
13410 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 senger seat had
13420 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 started counting
13430 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 . Alley and the
13440 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 boy stood there
13450 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 , looking at eac
13460 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 h other, as they
13470 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c waited. A girl
13480 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 's voice -- unle
13490 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 ss it was an eve
134a0 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d n younger boy --
134b0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 said "It's all
134c0 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 here."..The boy
134d0 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 tapped his devic
134e0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 e with his thumb
134f0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 once more, and
13500 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e said "Are we don
13510 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 e?".."Not yet,"
13520 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 she said. "Just
13530 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e wait." Everyon
13540 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 e waited. A few
13550 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 seconds later,
13560 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 another alert ch
13570 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 imed in Alley's
13580 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 ear. "Okay, we'
13590 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 re done.".."Good
135a0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ," he said, and
135b0 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 sat back in his
135c0 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 car with surpris
135d0 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a ing quickness...
135e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 Alley sat down a
135f0 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c nd hurriedly pul
13600 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 led her door shu
13610 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 t. The crossove
13620 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 r backed out and
13630 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 quickly drove a
13640 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 way, while she w
13650 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e as still bucklin
13660 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 g her seatbelt.
13670 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 Soon she, too,
13680 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e was on the road.
13690 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 .."It is too ear
136a0 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 ly to be sure th
136b0 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 at went well," t
136c0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
136d0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 aid..."Yeah. I
136e0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 should check my
136f0 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 Stater balance."
13700 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 She pulled ove
13710 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 r, set aside her
13720 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 glasses so they
13730 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 wouldn't record
13740 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 what she saw, p
13750 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f icked up her pho
13760 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ne, and looked a
13770 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 t the open ledge
13780 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 r view. She now
13790 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 had a Stater ba
137a0 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 lance. She star
137b0 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 ed at it for a w
137c0 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 hile..."Is every
137d0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 thing correct?"
137e0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
137f0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 asked...She nodd
13800 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ed, then realize
13810 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f d it probably co
13820 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 uldn't tell she
13830 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 nodded when she
13840 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 wasn't wearing t
13850 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 he glasses. "Ye
13860 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 ah, it's all the
13870 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e re. Is there an
13880 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 y way this can s
13890 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 omehow get rever
138a0 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 sed now?".."No,"
138b0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
138c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 said. "If it s
138d0 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c hows in your bal
138e0 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ance, that shoul
138f0 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 d mean the trans
13900 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 action crossed t
13910 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 he point of no r
13920 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 eturn, according
13930 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 to the Stater d
13940 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f ocuments you sho
13950 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 wed to me throug
13960 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 h your glasses."
13970 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c .."Okay." She l
13980 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c ocked her phone,
13990 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 tossed it on th
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139b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 , and started dr
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139f0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c es again.".."Oh,
13a00 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 right," she sai
13a10 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 d. She picked t
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13a60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 . "I guess the
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13a80 62 75 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 buy something wi
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13aa0 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 can sell it. Ri
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13ad0 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 message to a buy
13ae0 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e er tonight, then
13af0 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 buy the item wh
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13b60 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 pledged to the e
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13b80 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 ."Yeah, got it,"
13b90 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 she said. "I h
13ba0 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 ope this all wor
13bb0 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 ks out.".."It sh
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13bf0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 looking at the e
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13c50 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f .When she got ho
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13ca0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and checked her
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13cc0 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 Everything was
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13cf0 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c far as she coul
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13d20 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 ow, she donned h
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13d40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f and started loo
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13dd0 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 6e of half a dozen
13de0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 73 20 73 of the worlds s
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13e40 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d .She found an im
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13e80 20 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 last time she c
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13f60 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 Marrakesh would
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13fe0 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e back in dollars.
13ff0 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6d 65 She checked me
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14050 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c to buy a multipl
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14070 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 trader like the
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140a0 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 left..."Should I
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140c0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 " she asked the
140d0 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 air...The priori
140e0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 20 tizer answered.
140f0 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b "This looks lik
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14120 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 have found.".."
14130 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
14140 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 "Fine." She d
14150 69 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 72 65 73 65 id a little rese
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141a0 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 planned to buy a
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14260 20 20 44 6f 75 62 6c 65 2d 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e Double-checkin
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14280 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e e of that was in
14290 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 cluded in the fr
142a0 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 ames. She sent
142b0 61 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 a reply to the c
142c0 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 2c 20 74 68 lassified ad, th
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142e0 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e bed. She had n
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14300 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 73 she was done, s
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14320 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 ..The next morni
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14340 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 62 for a response b
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143b0 65 74 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 et in San Bernar
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143e0 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 70 20 on a street map
143f0 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 and noticed it w
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14430 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 49 2d just south of I-
14440 31 30 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 10, where it see
14450 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d med to be custom
14460 61 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 ary for people t
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14480 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 77 tments on fire w
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144a0 75 74 2e 0a 0a 47 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 ut...Good enough
144b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 61 . She liked tha
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144d0 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 he would show u
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14510 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 mething to conce
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14610 72 2e 0a 0a 52 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 r...Rather than
14620 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 reply, she set u
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146b0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e for an in-person
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146e0 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 20 20 for the trade.
146f0 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 One of the times
14700 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 was hours befor
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14740 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 One of the locat
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14770 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 from the night
14780 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 before, and she
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147c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 63 61 other sketchy ca
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147e0 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 61 20 6c 6f o she chose a lo
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14840 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 here, only about
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14940 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 back, which wou
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14970 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 to provide the
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149a0 20 72 6f 61 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 road if he lost
149b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 . She never not
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149e0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 like this might
149f0 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a be the answer..
14a00 0a 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 .Open Marrakesh
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14a80 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 the funds to th
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14aa0 65 73 65 72 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 eserved the purc
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14ac0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 getting ready t
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14af0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 ecided she had e
14b00 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 nough time to sa
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14b60 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 74 68 s she learned th
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14bc0 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 A few more minu
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14c00 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ty owner could n
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14cf0 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 .That was not th
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14ec0 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 The other was a
14ed0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c black late model
14ee0 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 72 Audi with a per
14ef0 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 son in the front
14f00 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 seat. The wind
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14f80 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 at...As she appr
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14fa0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 , she saw that a
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15020 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2e nd black gloves.
15030 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 Some kind of c
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150b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 other side. Sh
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150f0 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 parts trade...T
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15120 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c lley approached,
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15160 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b he lack of freck
15170 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 les might mean s
15180 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 he was not a nat
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151a0 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 t it also might
151b0 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f just mean she go
151c0 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a t them removed..
151d0 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 .The woman asked
151e0 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e "Are you lookin
151f0 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a g for someone?".
15200 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 .Alley stopped,
15210 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 a couple meters
15220 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 away. "Yeah, I
15230 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 guess so. Is th
15240 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e at the, uh . . .
15250 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 " she trailed of
15260 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 f, and gestured
15270 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e at the drawstrin
15280 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 g bag..."Printed
15290 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 frames?" the re
152a0 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c dhead asked...Al
152b0 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 ley nodded...The
152c0 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 redhead pulled
152d0 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e her mask down an
152e0 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 d exposed brilli
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15300 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 with a broad smi
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15320 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 found what you w
15330 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e ant. I'm Carmen
15340 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e ." She stood an
15350 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c d offered one gl
15360 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 oved hand...Alle
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15380 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 uick handshake.
15390 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 "Mallory," she
153a0 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 offered, on impu
153b0 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 lse..."Let me gu
153c0 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 ess: I'm not wha
153d0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 t you expected."
153e0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 .."I wasn't sure
153f0 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c what to expect,
15400 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 " Alley admitted
15410 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 , "but yeah, I g
15420 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 uess you surpris
15430 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a ed me anyway."..
15440 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 Carmen -- possib
15450 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 ly a pseudonym,
15460 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d Alley realized -
15470 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 - smiled again.
15480 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 "That part of t
15490 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 his job never ge
154a0 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c ts old. Anyway,
154b0 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c I want to upsel
154c0 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 l you. How's th
154d0 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 at sound?".."Ups
154e0 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 ell?" Alley hes
154f0 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 itated, then nod
15500 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 ded. "Sure, I g
15510 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 uess.".."Cool.
15520 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e So, we have prin
15530 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 ted concealment
15540 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f holsters, snap o
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15560 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 s, and brass cat
15570 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 chers for models
15580 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 compatible with
15590 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 these frames.
155a0 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f We have stuff fo
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155c0 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b too, so let me k
155d0 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c now what you'd l
155e0 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ike to see.".."W
155f0 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 ow. Full-servic
15600 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 e, I guess.".."T
15610 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e otally!" Carmen
15620 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 tugged her shir
15630 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c t down slightly,
15640 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 making it a lit
15650 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 tle more obvious
15660 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 she wasn't wear
15670 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 ing a bra..."I t
15680 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 hink I'll just s
15690 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 tick with the or
156a0 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f der I placed, fo
156b0 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 r now. I'll kee
156c0 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 p you in mind if
156d0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e I need somethin
156e0 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 g else, though."
156f0 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..Carmen shrugge
15700 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 d, and the way s
15710 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 he slightly rais
15720 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 ed her arms as s
15730 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 he did it made t
15740 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e he shirt tighten
15750 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b across her perk
15760 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 y breasts. "Oka
15770 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 y!"..Alley took
15780 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 in the display a
15790 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 nd slightly over
157a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e the top cheerin
157b0 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 ess. "Does that
157c0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 . . . oh, never
157d0 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 mind. I guess
157e0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 I should just se
157f0 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f e the frames, no
15800 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 w."..Carmen narr
15810 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 owed her eyes, a
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15830 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 ite suspiciously
15840 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and tilted her
15850 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 head. "No, wai
15860 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f t. What were yo
15870 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 u going to ask?"
15880 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c .."Nothing," All
15890 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 ey said. "I hav
158a0 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 en't been very s
158b0 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 ociable lately,
158c0 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 and forget my ma
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158e0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f ".."Ooh, inappro
158f0 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 priate questions
15900 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 . Those are my
15910 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 favorite kind.
15920 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c You should total
15930 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ly ask!"..Alley
15940 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 signed. "I was
15950 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 just wondering i
15960 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c f you're natural
15970 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 ly this, uh, fri
15980 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 endly, or if you
15990 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 're like this be
159a0 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f cause it gets yo
159b0 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c u a lot of upsel
159c0 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 ls." Carmen lau
159d0 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ghed, and Alley
159e0 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 found it infecti
159f0 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 ous. She caught
15a00 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 herself snicker
15a10 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 ing, too..."Why
15a20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d do I think you m
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15a40 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 rty' instead of
15a50 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 'friendly'?"..Al
15a60 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 ley shrugged. S
15a70 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f he tried, with o
15a80 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 nly moderate suc
15a90 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 cess, to suppres
15aa0 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 s her smile..."W
15ab0 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f as it that obvio
15ac0 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 us?"..Alley said
15ad0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Yeah, I guess
15ae0 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 so. Sorry.".."I
15af0 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 guess it's a bi
15b00 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e t of everything.
15b10 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 I'm usually pr
15b20 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 etty cheery, but
15b30 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 Cliff -- he's t
15b40 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 he guy I work wi
15b50 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 th -- Cliff and
15b60 49 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 I decided to try
15b70 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 this out. With
15b80 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 the kind of amb
15b90 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 itious young cry
15ba0 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 ptotrader guys w
15bb0 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 e usually get, t
15bc0 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 he upsells and r
15bd0 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 epeat business w
15be0 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 e get goes way u
15bf0 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 p when I'm doing
15c00 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e the trades. In
15c10 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f two years, we o
15c20 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 nly had one guy
15c30 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 who decided me b
15c40 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 eing a pretty gi
15c50 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 rl made me an ea
15c60 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 sy target, too,
15c70 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 so it's pretty s
15c80 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f afe."..Alley fro
15c90 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 wned. "Yeah," s
15ca0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 he said. "I gue
15cb0 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 ss that's a dang
15cc0 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e er. What happen
15cd0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c ed?".."Oh, shit,
15ce0 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 " Carmen said.
15cf0 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 "You must be new
15d00 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c at this. Well,
15d10 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 I pulled out my
15d20 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 baton and Cliff
15d30 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f put a red dot o
15d40 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 n the guy's ches
15d50 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 t with the laser
15d60 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 sight on his ri
15d70 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 fle. The guy ba
15d80 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 cked down in a h
15d90 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 urry. Are you c
15da0 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 arrying protecti
15db0 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 on?"..Alley star
15dc0 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 ted opening her
15dd0 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 mouth to reply,
15de0 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 but Carmen cut i
15df0 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 n again..."No, d
15e00 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 on't tell me wha
15e10 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e t you're carryin
15e20 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 g. You shouldn'
15e30 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 t get in the hab
15e40 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 it of telling pe
15e50 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ople stuff like
15e60 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 that. Get yours
15e70 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 elf three things
15e80 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 , if you don't a
15e90 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e lready have 'em.
15ea0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 You need peppe
15eb0 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e r spray or a son
15ec0 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 ic repellant, a
15ed0 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e collapsing baton
15ee0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f , and backup who
15ef0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 knows what he's
15f00 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 doing, like Cli
15f10 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b ff.".."Uh, thank
15f20 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 s," Alley said.
15f30 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 "Aren't those c
15f40 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 ollapsing batons
15f50 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 illegal?".."Yea
15f60 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 h, California su
15f70 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 cks that way. G
15f80 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f irls aren't allo
15f90 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 wed to protect t
15fa0 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b hemselves, you k
15fb0 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 now." She pulle
15fc0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 d something abou
15fd0 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 t the size of a
15fe0 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 whiteboard marke
15ff0 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 r out of her bac
16000 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 k pocket. "See
16010 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 this? This is a
16020 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 good baton."..A
16030 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 lley looked at t
16040 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 he black anodize
16050 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e d aluminum cylin
16060 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 der when Carmen
16070 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 held it up. It
16080 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 had some kind of
16090 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 logo on it and
160a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 a couple of depr
160b0 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 essed ovals on t
160c0 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 he side..."Push
160d0 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 these two spots
160e0 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 to pop it out.
160f0 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 Just push the se
16100 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 cond one, here,
16110 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 and push the bus
16120 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 iness end agains
16130 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 t something hard
16140 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 to collapse the
16150 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f baton back into
16160 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 the handle. Ye
16170 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 ah?"..Alley nodd
16180 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 ed. "I guess th
16190 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 at's a good desi
161a0 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 gn, then.".."Tot
161b0 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 ally. With the
161c0 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e two release poin
161d0 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c ts, you're not l
161e0 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e ikely to acciden
161f0 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 tally pop it out
16200 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 when you don't
16210 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 want to, and thi
16220 73 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 s type is more s
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16240 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 to retract than
16250 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 the things where
16260 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 you just snap y
16270 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 our hand out to
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16290 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 ay, you need one
162a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 of these, and i
162b0 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 t's easy to toss
162c0 20 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 it somewhere be
162d0 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f fore cops get to
162e0 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 you if you're a
162f0 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 fraid of getting
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16310 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c oncealed weapon,
16320 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 or if you cut a
16330 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 little hole in
16340 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f the inside of yo
16350 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 ur pocket when y
16360 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 ou're wearing pa
16370 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 nts you can drop
16380 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 it down your pa
16390 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 nt leg, and mayb
163a0 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 e step on it to
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163d0 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e n, or something.
163e0 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 There are a bu
163f0 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 nch of ways to g
16400 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e et away with it.
16410 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 .."Here." She h
16420 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c eld it out to Al
16430 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ley, who started
16440 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 to reach for it
16450 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 . "Don't try op
16460 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 ening it here, b
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16480 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 it at home. Th
16490 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 at way you don't
164a0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 have to worry a
164b0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 bout getting cau
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164d0 20 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 Unlike our pist
164e0 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 ol frames, walki
164f0 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 ng home with one
16500 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 of these in you
16510 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 r pocket is ille
16520 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d gal, and a cop m
16530 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 ight just try se
16540 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 lling one to you
16550 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 to get an excus
16560 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e e to harass you.
16570 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 "..Alley froze w
16580 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c ith her hand hal
16590 66 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f fway to the bato
165a0 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 n handle. "Are
165b0 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 you giving this
165c0 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 to me?" she aske
165d0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 d..."Yeah. Uh,
165e0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 just a sec'," Ca
165f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 rmen said. She
16600 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 lowered her hand
16610 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 with the baton
16620 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 in it and looked
16630 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 toward the Audi
16640 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 . "Yes, Cliff,
16650 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 I'm giving her t
16660 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e he fucking baton
16670 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 . I'll just buy
16680 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 another one! C
16690 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 hill the fuck ou
166a0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 t."..Alley lower
166b0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 ed her hand and
166c0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 turned her head
166d0 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 to look at the p
166e0 61 72 6b 65 64 20 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 arked sedan...Ca
166f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c rmen grabbed All
16700 65 79 27 73 20 77 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 ey's wrist and p
16710 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 ressed the colla
16720 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f psing baton into
16730 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e her hand. "Don
16740 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 't look at it.
16750 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 Just put it in y
16760 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e our pocket. Don
16770 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 't make Cliff ne
16780 72 76 6f 75 73 20 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e rvous by standin
16790 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65 g here with a we
167a0 61 70 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e apon in your han
167b0 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 d, even if it's
167c0 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 one I gave you."
167d0 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c .."Uh, yeah," Al
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167f0 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 cked it into her
16800 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 back pocket. "
16810 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 Thanks." She sh
16820 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 owed her empty h
16830 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 ands to Carmen,
16840 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e where the person
16850 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 in the Audi cou
16860 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 77 ld see them as w
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16880 61 73 20 68 61 72 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b as harmless look
16890 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ing as she could
168a0 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c manage..."Yeah,
168b0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 well, us girls
168c0 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 gotta stick toge
168d0 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ther. Right?"..
168e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Alley nodded..."
168f0 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e Good. Let's fin
16900 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 ish the deal. T
16910 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 hen, get in touc
16920 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 h some time if y
16930 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 ou think you mig
16940 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 ht want to do th
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16960 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 too. We're get
16970 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 ting a lot of bu
16980 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c siness, and coul
16990 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 d use the help.
169a0 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 You're probably
169b0 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 pretty enough t
169c0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c o get the upsell
169d0 73 2c 20 65 61 73 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 s, easy, though
169e0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 I don't know how
169f0 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 you look behind
16a00 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 the mask.".."I'
16a10 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 ll keep that in
16a20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 mind."..Carmen g
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16a40 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 tring bag. "Her
16a50 65 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 e's what you're
16a60 62 75 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 buying."..---..A
16a70 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f t home, Alley fo
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16aa0 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 gloves, and wore
16ab0 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 a pair when she
16ac0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f looked more clo
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16ae0 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 gun frames she b
16af0 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f ought. After go
16b00 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f ing over them fo
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16b20 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 she put them ba
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16b60 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 tending baton ne
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16bc0 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f nything...She lo
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16be0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 decided she wou
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16c50 20 62 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 69 6e but never havin
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16c70 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c fore she careful
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16ce0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 68 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 much harm. She
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16d10 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 ally toward the
16d20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 floor to her lef
16d30 74 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 68 61 t, using both ha
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16d60 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e and the other en
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16d80 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the ceiling to
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16db0 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 h contact points
16dc0 2c 20 61 73 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 20 , as Carmen had
16dd0 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 instructed her.
16de0 20 41 20 64 75 6c 6c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 A dull snap sou
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16e00 76 69 63 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 vice nearly jump
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16e40 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 n instant from s
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16e60 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 e of a whiteboar
16e70 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 d marker to a st
16e80 69 66 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 iff metal baton
16e90 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 72 64 73 about two thirds
16ea0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 of a meter long
16eb0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 . She held it u
16ec0 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 p and looked at
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18450 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 way we set this
18460 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 up. Yeah?".."Y
18470 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 eah," she echoed
18480 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 ..."If I can't f
18490 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 ind you that way
184a0 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 , I'll track you
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184c0 74 61 6c 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 talk."..After a
184d0 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few seconds, she
184e0 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 remembered to b
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18600 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
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18630 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 dded...She backe
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187a0 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d What the fuck am
187b0 20 49 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e I actually doin
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187d0 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 rself...---..Sit
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18820 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 kinds of deals I
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188b0 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 poor safety outc
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188d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 for these trans
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18900 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 high for poor ou
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189c0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 ks.".."You are w
189d0 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 elcome.".."What'
189e0 73 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a s next, then?"..
189f0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
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18a50 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 . This may take
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18a70 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ..Alley looked a
18a80 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f t the envelope o
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18ab0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 s and counted th
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18b20 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 What? Why?".."W
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18b40 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c , /* it looked l
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18b60 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 one of them appe
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18b90 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 United States f
18ba0 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e ederal reserve n
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18bc0 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 ppeared to be ve
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18be0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e some of these n
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18c00 72 66 65 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 rfeit. Please c
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18c20 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 I watch."..Alle
18c30 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 y frowned at the
18c40 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 stack, and star
18c50 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 ted counting aga
18c60 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 in. Toward the
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18c90 20 66 65 77 20 6e 65 77 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 few new-looking
18ca0 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 bills in the st
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18ce0 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 That is the note
18cf0 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 whose thickness
18d00 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 appears to be i
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18d20 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 y pulled it out
18d30 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 of the stack and
18d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 looked closer.
18d50 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 It felt stiffer
18d60 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 than most bills
18d70 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 , but that could
18d80 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 just be due to
18d90 69 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 it being new. S
18da0 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 he rubbed it to
18db0 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 get a feel for i
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18dd0 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 it separated int
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18df0 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 h, shit," she sa
18e00 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 id. "That scary
18e10 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 war veteran guy
18e20 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 accidentally ga
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18e40 75 6e 64 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 undred. Fuck.
18e50 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 What if it wasn'
18e60 74 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 t an accident?
18e70 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 Maybe it's a tes
18e80 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 t.".."That seems
18e90 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b extremely unlik
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18eb0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 tizer said..."Ye
18ec0 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 ah." She sighed
18ed0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 . "I guess you'
18ee0 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c re right, actual
18ef0 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 ly.".."I have a
18f00 70 6c 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 plan of action t
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18f20 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 morrow."..Alley
18f30 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 started to nod,
18f40 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 then looked at t
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18f60 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 in her hand. "
18f70 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 Wait. I should
18f80 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 give this bill b
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18fa0 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 ".."For a high p
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18fc0 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 to high severit
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18fe0 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 not a good choi
18ff0 63 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ce. You should
19000 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 avoid meeting wi
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19020 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 high potential
19030 66 6f 72 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a for violence."..
19040 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 Alley laughed qu
19050 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 ietly. "Yeah,"
19060 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 she said, "you'r
19070 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 e right. I got
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190d0 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e lucky break, an
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19110 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 I might not be i
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19130 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e I meet him again
19140 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 to give back hi
19150 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 s misplaced mone
19160 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 y?.."It doesn't
19170 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 feel right, just
19180 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e keeping his mon
19190 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ey, though.".."W
191a0 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 hy do you feel t
191b0 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 hat way?" the pr
191c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ioritizer asked.
191d0 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 .."It's dishones
191e0 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 t," she said..."
191f0 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 You did not lie
19200 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e to him.".."True.
19210 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c ".."Did you real
19220 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 ize there might
19230 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 be more money th
19240 61 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 an he intended t
19250 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 o give you when
19260 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 you counted the
19270 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e first time?".."N
19280 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 o.".."How is tha
19290 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 t dishonest?"..A
192a0 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 lley's lips tigh
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1e320 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c "Ah . . . yeah,
1e330 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 I guess I'm thi
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1e490 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 74 silicone tray, t
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1e550 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 2d 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e ..."Self-taught.
1e560 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 "..Alley started
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1e5e0 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c of Coke. "Here,
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1e730 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72 "..He swigged fr
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1e780 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e e opened her can
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1e850 20 63 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 6f 6e cut the tape on
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1e8a0 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e He stopped movin
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1e970 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f get it. Hah! O
1e980 6c 27 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 l' Dave must've
1e990 6d 61 64 65 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d made quite an im
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1e9b0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
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1e9f0 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c scared now..."L
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1ea10 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 looks like he p
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1ea70 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 and he's about
1ea80 61 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 as gentle as a d
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1eab0 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 ts I had him mac
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1ead0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
1eae0 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 box and shifted
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1eb10 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 h, right," he sa
1eb20 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 id. "No, they a
1eb30 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c ren't gun parts,
1eb40 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 either. They'r
1eb50 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 e parts for a cu
1eb60 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 stom prosthetic
1eb70 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 arm I'm building
1eb80 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 for a little gi
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1ec00 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e Really?".."Yeah.
1ec10 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 One of the guy
1ec20 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 s getting the gu
1ec30 6e 73 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 ns I put togethe
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1ec70 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 daughter, nine y
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1ece0 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 [ SOMETHING ] s
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1ed00 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e She's outgrowin
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1ed20 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 for her a year
1ed30 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a ago, already."..
1ed40 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 "Oh. Right. Th
1ed50 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ere's something
1ed60 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 about the guns."
1ed70 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 ..He looked at h
1ed80 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 er, sidelong. "
1ed90 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f What about them?
1eda0 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 " he asked..."Uh
1edb0 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f , after I got ho
1edc0 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 me, I realized y
1edd0 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d ou gave me too m
1ede0 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 uch money.".."Wh
1edf0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 at do you mean?
1ee00 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 I paid what we
1ee10 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 agreed, and the
1ee20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 frames were all
1ee30 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f good."..She shoo
1ee40 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 k her head. "Th
1ee50 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 ere were two bra
1ee60 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 nd new hundreds
1ee70 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 stuck together.
1ee80 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 I got an extra
1ee90 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 hundred dollars
1eea0 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 by accident."..H
1eeb0 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e e stared at her.
1eec0 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 .."I, uh, don't
1eed0 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c have it with me,
1eee0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 " she said. "Ma
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1ef00 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74 ack tomorrow wit
1ef10 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c h it."..George l
1ef20 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 aughed. It was
1ef30 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 a warm, surprise
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1ef80 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 herself..."No,
1ef90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 don't do that,"
1efa0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 he said, a hint
1efb0 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c of chuckle still
1efc0 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 in his voice.
1efd0 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 "Y'know what? I
1efe0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 like you, Alley
1eff0 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 . I even like t
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1f010 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 describes where
1f020 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a we first met.".
1f030 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley smiled.
1f040 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61 "Thanks. What a
1f050 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 bout your hundre
1f060 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 d dollars, thoug
1f070 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 h?".."Keep it.
1f080 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 I'll survive wit
1f090 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 hout it, and I d
1f0a0 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 on't think you'd
1f0b0 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 drive all the w
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1f0d0 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 o Hunting Beach
1f0e0 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 at gig courier r
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1f120 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He winked at
1f130 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 her. "You're g
1f140 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 ood people, Alle
1f150 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 y.".."Uh . . . t
1f160 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 hank you. Maybe
1f170 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a you are, too.".
1f180 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 ."Yeah, maybe.
1f190 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 I hope so." He
1f1a0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 turned back to t
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1f1c0 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 hed cutting the
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1f1e0 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 s, then flipped
1f1f0 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 6f 66 the top flaps of
1f200 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 48 the box out. H
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1f230 72 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 r bundles of met
1f240 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e al parts, leavin
1f250 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 g packing paper
1f260 62 65 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 behind...As he s
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1f280 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 n the silicone t
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1f2a0 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 over everything
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1f2e0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 ng to disturb hi
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1f320 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e ticular spots on
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1f380 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 73 a performance s
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1f3b0 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 psychometry...He
1f3c0 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 split a couple
1f3d0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f of the bundles o
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1f410 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 He set them as
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1f430 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 slightly splaye
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1f470 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f Finally, he sto
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1f4a0 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 h." He lifted t
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1f4f0 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 ave, for the sec
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1f510 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 He held it out t
1f520 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 o her...She nodd
1f530 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 ed. "Sure.".."A
1f540 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 re you saving up
1f550 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 for something,
1f560 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f or going back to
1f570 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 school?"..Alley
1f580 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d hesitated a mom
1f590 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ent. "Why?"..He
1f5a0 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 shrugged. "Cur
1f5b0 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 ious.".."Not exa
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1f5d0 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 g to dig myself
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1f5f0 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ."Debts?"..She s
1f600 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
1f610 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 "I had a strange
1f620 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e career path, an
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1f640 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 don't really ha
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1f670 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 new direction,
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1f690 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ing on that.".."
1f6a0 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 Ah. Reinventing
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1f6c0 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 73 6f world changes so
1f6d0 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 fast it's hard
1f6e0 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c to keep up."..Al
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1f700 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 stopped, and sh
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1f720 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e in. "I don't kn
1f730 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 ow," she says.
1f740 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 "A lot of people
1f750 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f seem to have no
1f760 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 problem. They
1f770 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f just go to schoo
1f780 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f l, get a piece o
1f790 66 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 f paper, apply f
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1f800 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 t really do that
1f810 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 .".."What do you
1f820 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 mean?".."More a
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1f840 72 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 74 69 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 ren't retiring,
1f850 6f 72 20 67 65 74 20 6c 61 69 64 20 6f 66 66 20 or get laid off
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1f900 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 but maybe you're
1f910 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 looking in the
1f920 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e wrong direction.
1f930 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 " He leaned for
1f940 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 ward on the couc
1f950 68 2c 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f h, rested his fo
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1f980 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 his hands like h
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1f9d0 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 helf as he spoke
1f9e0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 again. "It's e
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1fa70 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 65 20 Most people lie
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1fae0 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 e, thinks 'I mus
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1fb20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 out.' They're a
1fb30 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 ll up to their e
1fb40 79 65 62 61 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 74 2c yeballs in debt,
1fb50 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b living paycheck
1fb60 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 to paycheck..."
1fb70 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 There are a few
1fb80 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 people who have
1fb90 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 things sorted ou
1fba0 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 t pretty well, p
1fbb0 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 rudent people wh
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1fbd0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d most of the tim
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1fc10 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c came, and were l
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1fc40 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d y. Many of them
1fc50 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c don't even real
1fc60 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 73 65 ize they're inse
1fc70 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 cure and confuse
1fc80 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 d all the time,
1fc90 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 because they got
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1fcb0 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 g to people abou
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1fce0 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 themselves..."T
1fcf0 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 here are others
1fd00 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 62 65 who really do be
1fd10 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 lieve they have
1fd20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 75 72 everything figur
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1fd50 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 n right about th
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1fd70 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 way anyone shou
1fd80 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 ld have things f
1fd90 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 igured out. The
1fda0 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 y lie and cheat
1fdb0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 and steal, maybe
1fdc0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 even kill with
1fdd0 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 the stroke of a
1fde0 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 72 20 pen or an Enter
1fdf0 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 key, and make it
1fe00 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72 to the top over
1fe10 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 69 65 mounds of bodie
1fe20 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 s, metaphorical
1fe30 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d a lot of the tim
1fe40 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 e, but literal b
1fe50 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e odies sometimes.
1fe60 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a .."My advice is:
1fe70 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 don't be like a
1fe80 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 ny of them." He
1fe90 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 looked at her a
1fea0 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 gain, caught her
1feb0 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 gaze, and she f
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1fed0 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c ysical force hol
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1ff10 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 because there's
1ff20 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 always too much
1ff30 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 to see to have
1ff40 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 20 61 time to see it a
1ff50 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ll. Don't just
1ff60 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c close your eyes,
1ff70 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 20 74 though. Keep t
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1ff90 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e ize what you fin
1ffa0 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 d as a path that
1ffb0 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 59 feels right. Y
1ffc0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 ou don't have ti
1ffd0 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e me for everythin
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1fff0 69 74 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 itely have time
20000 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 for something, a
20010 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 nd you should sp
20020 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 end it on someth
20030 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 ing good."..He s
20040 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 at back again, r
20050 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 esting his open
20060 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 hands on the top
20070 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2e s of his thighs.
20080 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 .."Look at me, g
20090 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f etting all philo
200a0 73 6f 70 68 69 63 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f sophical with yo
200b0 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 u. If what I'm
200c0 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d saying doesn't m
200d0 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6a ake any sense, j
200e0 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 ust ignore me.
200f0 49 27 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 I'm an old man,
20100 61 6e 64 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 and I've seen a
20110 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 lot, but I don't
20120 20 65 76 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 even understand
20130 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 most of what I
20140 73 61 77 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 20 66 saw myself. I f
20150 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 eel like I under
20160 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 stand less, the
20170 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 more I see."..Sh
20180 65 20 71 75 69 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f e quirked one co
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201a0 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 . "You give bet
201b0 74 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ter advice than
201c0 4f 62 69 20 57 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 Obi Wan."..Georg
201d0 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 e chuckled. "I
201e0 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6a hope so. He's j
201f0 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 ust some charact
20200 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er on paper, and
20210 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 a good actor.
20220 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 Anyway, I don't
20230 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 2c really know you,
20240 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c so I don't real
20250 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 76 65 ly know if I eve
20260 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 20 n have any idea
20270 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e what you're goin
20280 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 g through or wha
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202b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d have to humor m
202c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 e.".."Maybe I st
202d0 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 arted out thinki
202e0 6e 67 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 6d 6f ng I should humo
202f0 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 r you, but now I
20300 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 just want to ta
20310 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d lk to you some m
20320 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ore." She looke
20330 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 d at a ticking c
20340 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 lock on an end t
20350 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f able. "Maybe no
20360 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 t now, though.
20370 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 It's getting lat
20380 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 e.".."Yeah," he
20390 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f said, "go drop o
203a0 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 ff that envelope
203b0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 , then get home
203c0 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e 20 20 4e 65 76 65 and sleep. Neve
203d0 72 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 r underestimate
203e0 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f the importance o
203f0 66 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 f a good night's
20400 20 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f rest. That's o
20410 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 69 ne piece of advi
20420 63 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f ce I know is goo
20430 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a d, for anyone.".
20440 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e ."Thanks."..He n
20450 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 odded, then rose
20460 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 and headed for
20470 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 75 6e the door. He un
20480 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 locked it as she
20490 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 approached and
204a0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c opened the door,
204b0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 then stepped ou
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204d0 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 er and looked ar
204e0 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 ound. He turned
204f0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 to her as she f
20500 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e ollowed him out.
20510 20 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 "Be careful ou
20520 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f t there. The wo
20530 72 6c 64 27 73 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 rld's a surprisi
20540 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ng place.".."Yea
20550 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e h.".."If you wan
20560 74 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 t to try your ha
20570 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 nd at something
20580 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 27 way outside of '
20590 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 normal' as a new
205a0 20 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 6c path in life, l
205b0 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 ook me up. I mi
205c0 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 69 ght have a few i
205d0 64 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 deas. Otherwise
205e0 2c 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 , I wish you the
205f0 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 best at whateve
20600 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 r you find.".."T
20610 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 hanks," she said
20620 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 again. "How sh
20630 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f ould I get in to
20640 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 uch?"..He scoffe
20650 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 d at himself. "
20660 52 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 Right -- forgot
20670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 2e about that part.
20680 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 " He pulled out
20690 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 his wallet, and
206a0 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 slipped out a b
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206c0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 61 6e longer crisp an
206d0 64 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 79 6f d new. "Here yo
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206f0 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 it, and saw tha
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20730 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 a series of lett
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20750 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 75 62 .."That's my pub
20760 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b lic encryption k
20770 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ey," he said. "
20780 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 63 If you don't enc
20790 72 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 rypt the message
207a0 2c 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 , it goes straig
207b0 68 74 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 ht to spam. Do
207c0 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 you know how to
207d0 75 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d use encrypted em
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207f0 0a 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 ."I use pubkey e
20800 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c ncryption for cl
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20820 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f " she said..."Go
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20840 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 68 65 already way ahe
20850 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 ad of the pack.
20860 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 Good night, now
20870 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c .".."Good night,
20880 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 " she said with
20890 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 a smile, and hea
208a0 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a ded to her car..
208b0 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 .She glanced bac
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208d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 , and saw him ke
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208f0 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e only stepped in
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20950 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 merged onto the
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209c0 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 clients she had
209d0 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 . Maybe, she th
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20a50 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 of that really r
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20a70 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 ...She worried a
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20a90 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d then found her m
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20ac0 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a the thought.../*
20ad0 0a 0a 53 55 4d 4d 41 52 59 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ..SUMMARY:..Alle
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20af0 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 discussing plans
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20b40 64 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 day and have to
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20b60 72 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 70 rival of scary p
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20c20 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 get a bit of a
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20c60 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d interface or som
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22290 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 to my door. Wh
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222e0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 "I'll be right b
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223b0 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 A message notif
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224c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
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224e0 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20 d ". . . men?"
224f0 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 She wondered if
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22570 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 /* Without the s
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22630 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 choice in how y
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22660 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 , no kidding."
22670 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
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22750 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Here," she sa
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22970 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f Thank you for yo
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22990 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 " the woman said
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229b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 . She handed th
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22b70 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 "Who are those p
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22b90 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."I do not have
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246c0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ."That does not
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25350 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 thing more quic
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253f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 value item beca
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25430 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 20 This is also an
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25640 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 , too."..Two hou
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25d00 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f people, they co
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26fb0 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f goodbye, and go
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27250 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f " She looked do
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274e0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6e ."You mean I can
274f0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b make them think
27500 20 49 27 6d 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 I'm exactly wha
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27580 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 of a pawn.".."Y
27590 65 73 2c 20 63 68 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 es, chess is a g
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27640 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 l. "I guess you
27650 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 don't even have
27660 20 61 6e 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 any good ideas
27670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 about how to esc
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276a0 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 to that point, t
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276d0 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 suggestion for t
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27750 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f onfident that co
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27790 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 les.".."This is
277a0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 . . . no. No, t
277b0 68 69 73 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 his day can't be
277c0 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 happening.".."I
277d0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 f you want to ma
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2ad40 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c 69 73 74 20 67 65 a journalist ge
2ad50 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 ts obsessed with
2ad60 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 62 75 some mundane bu
2ad70 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 t obscure subjec
2ad80 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 6f 72 20 t for a year or
2ad90 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 74 65 73 20 61 two and writes a
2ada0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 long book about
2adb0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 all the weird s
2adc0 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 tuff most people
2add0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6b 6e 6f would never kno
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2adf0 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2e 22 0a ect otherwise.".
2ae00 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 ."Hmm. That's i
2ae10 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 67 nteresting. I g
2ae20 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c uess you don't l
2ae30 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 6d ike fiction as m
2ae40 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 uch, then.".."I
2ae50 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 66 69 63 like to read fic
2ae60 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e tion, sometimes.
2ae70 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 I just don't u
2ae80 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 sually see a nov
2ae90 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 el and think tha
2aea0 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 t I have to read
2aeb0 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f it. When someo
2aec0 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d ne I know recomm
2aed0 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c ends some novel,
2aee0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 I'll probably r
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2af00 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 've already been
2af10 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 burned by that
2af20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 person's bad tas
2af30 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 75 72 65 te in literature
2af40 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 recommendations
2af50 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 before."..Georg
2af60 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 e chuckled at th
2af70 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 at. "I've gotte
2af80 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e n some real stin
2af90 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 kers recommended
2afa0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 to me, before,
2afb0 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 too. I know wha
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2afd0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 that."..Alley g
2afe0 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 ave him an answe
2aff0 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e ring smile. "An
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2b010 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 s tell me you re
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2b030 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 iction, too."..H
2b040 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 e glanced at the
2b050 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 texts on the sh
2b060 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f elves of the boo
2b070 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c k cases. "Yeah,
2b080 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 " he said, "I'm
2b090 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 always reading s
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2b0b0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 to get through
2b0c0 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 65 64 more than two ed
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2b100 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f hitting three o
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2b130 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f the years with o
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2b150 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 . I probably av
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2b170 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 novel per wee, t
2b180 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 oo, so probably
2b190 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 the opposite of
2b1a0 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a how you read."..
2b1b0 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 "Not quite," she
2b1c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 said. "I proba
2b1d0 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c bly read a coupl
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2b1f0 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 but only six or
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2b220 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 ame year.".."It
2b230 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b sounds to me lik
2b240 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 72 e you wish you r
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2b260 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 id..."Yeah, I gu
2b270 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 ess I do.".."One
2b280 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 73 20 of the secrets
2b290 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 75 of my reading su
2b2a0 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 ccess is that I
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2b2d0 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 a computer scree
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2b300 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 whole lot more t
2b310 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 han I do, though
2b320 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
2b330 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e "I know. My un
2b340 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 cle used to read
2b350 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 about four or f
2b360 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 ive times as muc
2b370 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 h as you. My ex
2b380 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 probably reads
2b390 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 about as much as
2b3a0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 you, but he has
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2b3d0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f too.".."Your ex?
2b3e0 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 Are you divorc
2b3f0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e ed?".."Oh, uh, n
2b400 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 o. He was my fi
2b410 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 anc... We broke
2b420 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 it off a couple
2b430 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 years ago.".."T
2b440 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 hat's too bad.
2b450 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 Do you want to t
2b460 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a alk about why?".
2b470 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 .She shifted her
2b480 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 position in the
2b490 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e chair. "Well .
2b4a0 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 . . maybe not.
2b4b0 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f There's some po
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2b4d0 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f volved, and I do
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2b4f0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 to get into some
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2b510 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 t over the polit
2b520 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d ics of it.".."Hm
2b530 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 m. That sounds
2b540 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 ominous. Was he
2b550 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a a politician?".
2b560 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 ."No. . . ." Sh
2b570 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a e looked away...
2b580 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 "Sorry. I'm jus
2b590 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c t curious. I'll
2b5a0 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 drop it.".."Tha
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2b5c0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 "I guess.".."Wh
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2b5e0 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f stop reading so
2b5f0 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a much?".."Huh?".
2b600 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 ."You said he us
2b610 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 ed to read hundr
2b620 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 eds of books a y
2b630 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f ear. Why did yo
2b640 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f u say 'used to'?
2b650 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 ".."Oh," she sig
2b660 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 hed. "He died,
2b670 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 years ago.".."I'
2b680 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 m sorry to hear
2b690 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 it.".."Yeah," sh
2b6a0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 e said. "He dec
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2b740 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 n there was a se
2b750 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 46 42 49 20 72 61 69 64 ries of FBI raid
2b760 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 73 27 20 s on 'militias'
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2b800 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 61 62 s hand built cab
2b810 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 in out there bet
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2b900 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 He was really
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2b930 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 20 ife in the wild
2b940 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 73 places where mos
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2ba00 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 I guess he was a
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2ba40 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 77 , then. Those w
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2bad0 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 We got into hi
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2baf0 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 -- well, Dad did
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2bba0 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f selves.".."Yeah?
2bbb0 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 What happened
2bbc0 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 with that lawsui
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2bbe0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 happen. While w
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2bc10 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 61 he FBI got a sea
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2bce0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 just that they
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2bd10 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 login stuff for
2bd20 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 56 50 53 2e my uncle's VPS.
2bd30 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 Of course, the
2bd40 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 27 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 y 'lost' the bac
2bd50 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 66 kups they took f
2bd60 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 rom Dad's comput
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2bd80 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f time we tried to
2bd90 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 download the vi
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2bdb0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 could show it t
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2be00 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 company into de
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2be20 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 ps..."After all
2be30 74 68 61 74 2c 20 77 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 72 that, we went fr
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2be50 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 he lawyer called
2be60 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d 20 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 61 73 a slam dunk cas
2be70 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 20 63 e to having no c
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2be90 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 65 73 2e 20 20 44 61 64 27 expenses. Dad'
2bea0 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 49 54 20 62 75 73 69 6e s whole IT busin
2beb0 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 6f 62 6c 69 74 65 72 61 ess was oblitera
2bec0 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e ted in an instan
2bed0 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 t, too. He had
2bee0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 79 73 61 64 6d 69 to get a sysadmi
2bef0 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 n job at a conti
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2bf20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 6f 75 74 73 20 school dropouts
2bf30 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 after that."..Ge
2bf40 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 orge just shook
2bf50 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 his head. "I wi
2bf60 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 sh I had somethi
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2bf80 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 bout that.".."It
2bf90 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 's fine. It's a
2bfa0 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 66 ncient history f
2bfb0 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 or me, now,and I
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2bfe0 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 rd, though. I w
2bff0 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f as in high schoo
2c000 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 l when it all ha
2c010 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f ppened, and I co
2c020 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 6e 20 uldn't focus on
2c030 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 74 20 61 6c schoolwork at al
2c040 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 6c 6c l..."I guess all
2c050 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 that might have
2c060 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 contributed to
2c070 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f me falling in lo
2c080 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 ve with Dalton."
2c090 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 .."Dalton?" he a
2c0a0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 sked..."Oh, shit
2c0b0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2c0c0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 79 20 didn't say 'my
2c0d0 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a ex' that time.".
2c0e0 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 .He nodded. "Da
2c0f0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 2d 48 lton Schaeffer-H
2c100 65 61 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 earst.".."Yeah."
2c110 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 She looked at
2c120 68 69 6d 2c 20 77 61 72 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 him, wary..."I g
2c130 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 uess I can see w
2c140 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e hy you don't wan
2c150 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 t to bring that
2c160 75 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 up much. He's a
2c170 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 controversial f
2c180 69 67 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 igure."../* "Yea
2c190 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e h, he is. I can
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2c1b0 6d 20 75 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 79 6f m up around anyo
2c1c0 6e 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 69 74 ne, really. Eit
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2c1e0 6d 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 me because I got
2c1f0 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c engaged to him,
2c200 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 or they hate me
2c210 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d for leaving him
2c220 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 ." */.."Yeah, he
2c230 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 is. There isn'
2c240 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 t really anyone
2c250 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 I can talk to ab
2c260 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 out him. Either
2c270 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 people hate me
2c280 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e because I got en
2c290 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 gaged to him, or
2c2a0 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f they hate me fo
2c2b0 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a r leaving him.".
2c2c0 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ."I could see th
2c2d0 61 74 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 at," George said
2c2e0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 . "I won't hate
2c2f0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 you for either
2c300 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b reason.".."Thank
2c310 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 s," she said. "
2c320 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 That's good to h
2c330 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 ear.".."I'll jus
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2c350 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 straightforward
2c360 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 with you about w
2c370 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 hat I think abou
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2c3c0 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 ith me. I won't
2c3d0 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 hold it against
2c3e0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 you, whatever y
2c3f0 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 ou decide, but I
2c400 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e guess it wouldn
2c410 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 't matter if you
2c420 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 didn't want to
2c430 62 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 be around me any
2c440 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 longer anyway."
2c450 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 .."You don't hav
2c460 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 e to do that," s
2c470 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 he said...He smi
2c480 6c 65 64 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 led, perhaps a b
2c490 69 74 20 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 it sadly. "I th
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2c4b0 20 62 65 73 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f best, unless yo
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2c4e0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 for any reason.
2c4f0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 I'll respect th
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2c530 68 65 61 72 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f hear nothing abo
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2c550 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 itated, then shr
2c560 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 ugged. "Go ahea
2c570 64 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 d, I guess," she
2c580 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 said...He nodde
2c590 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 d. "I thought h
2c5a0 65 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 e was pretty gre
2c5b0 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f at. He had a lo
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2c600 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 technology, law
2c610 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 enforcement, wa
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2c6b0 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 much, and I was
2c6c0 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 disappointed by
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2c700 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 , because he sti
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2c7c0 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 an..."No offense
2c7d0 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 , of course, but
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2c900 49 20 64 6f 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 I do remember, b
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2c940 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e he said somethin
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2c960 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f who called in to
2c970 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ask about you.
2c980 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 He said that it
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2caa0 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 he had to say a
2cab0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 bout it.".."Oh,"
2cac0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 she said. "I d
2cad0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 idn't know about
2cae0 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 that -- about h
2caf0 69 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 im saying that."
2cb00 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..George shrugge
2cb10 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 d. "It was the
2cb20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 stand up thing t
2cb30 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 o do, but it did
2cb40 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 n't make his cha
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2cb60 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 on ideology any
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2cb80 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 g to me, so it d
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2cba0 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 stening.".."Yeah
2cbb0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2cbc0 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f get that.".."So
2cbd0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 . . . what do y
2cbe0 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d ou think? Are m
2cbf0 79 20 76 69 65 77 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e y views on it in
2cc00 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c tolerable?"..All
2cc10 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c ey smiled. "No,
2cc20 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 not at all. Th
2cc30 61 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 at's actually ki
2cc40 6e 64 61 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 nda how I felt a
2cc50 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 bout his ideolog
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2cc70 69 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 iked it more bef
2cc80 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 ore the change t
2cc90 68 61 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 han after, and w
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2ccc0 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 He still had pri
2ccd0 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c nciple, and stil
2cce0 6c 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 l wasn't the car
2ccf0 69 63 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 2d 72 icature of alt-r
2cd00 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 ight that people
2cd10 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 assumed, but I
2cd20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 didn't like his
2cd30 6e 65 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 new politics at
2cd40 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 all.".."That mus
2cd50 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 t have made it d
2cd60 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 ifficult to live
2cd70 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 with him.".."It
2cd80 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 took its toll.
2cd90 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f Part of it, tho
2cda0 75 67 68 2c 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 ugh, was the fac
2cdb0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 t that it affect
2cdc0 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 ed my life in ot
2cdd0 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d her ways. The m
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2cdf0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 I needed to get
2ce00 20 6f 75 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 out was after s
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2ce20 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 ly started screa
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2ce50 67 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 g me the 'side d
2ce60 69 73 68 27 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e ish' and accusin
2ce70 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 g me of being a
2ce80 72 61 63 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 racist and stuff
2ce90 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e like that, then
2cea0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 actually starte
2ceb0 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 d hitting me. I
2cec0 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b shoved her back
2ced0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 and ran to my c
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2cef0 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f d called in a po
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2cf10 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 of course nothi
2cf20 6e 67 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 ng would ever ha
2cf30 70 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 ppen from that.
2cf40 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 I never heard b
2cf50 61 63 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a ack about it."..
2cf60 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 By the time she
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2cfe0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 .She shrugged he
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2d260 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ked..."What?".."
2d270 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e You said you wan
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2d600 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Okay," she said,
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2d670 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 .."First, I want
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2d6d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 .".."Yeah. It i
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2d8b0 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f .."Hmm." He tho
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2d9a0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Yeah," she sai
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2e190 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d "That's pretty m
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2e440 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 hands..."I'll te
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2e6e0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 .."You want to h
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2e970 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 Why are you offe
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2f1a0 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f case, and some o
2f1b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d f the people I'm
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2f200 20 64 6f 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 do jobs where t
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2f230 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e how much someon
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2f250 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f good thing to do
2f260 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 ."..Alley frowne
2f270 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 d. "I guess you
2f280 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 probably aren't
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2f370 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 this kind of th
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2f390 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 you telling me a
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2f3b0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 t that put you i
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2f400 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 f I have to. I
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2f600 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 the US Intellige
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2f630 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 manufactured sp
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2f800 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 that they won't
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2f840 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 but that's just
2f850 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 a matter of sit
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2f880 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 ending up disapp
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2f8a0 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 you never tried
2f8b0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 to do something
2f8c0 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 to protect yours
2f8d0 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 elf.".."Shit," s
2f8e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 he said. "What
2f8f0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 about getting re
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2f910 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 waiting to see h
2f920 6f 77 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 ow things go? I
2f930 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e mean, I shouldn
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2f960 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 t?".."It's a ris
2f970 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 k. That's all t
2f980 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 here is to it.
2f990 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e They're not goin
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2fa00 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e might be the on
2fa10 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 ly warning you g
2fa20 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 et. Maybe you c
2fa30 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 an pull it off,
2fa40 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 though..."My fir
2fa50 73 74 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 st warning that
2fa60 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 they might come
2fa70 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f for me would pro
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2fa90 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 appearing, thoug
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2fae0 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 're on my tail.
2faf0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c I'll make mysel
2fb00 66 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 f disappear, ins
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2fb20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 around to see if
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2fb70 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 Yeah. That's a
2fb80 6c 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f lot to think abo
2fb90 75 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ut. I'm going t
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2fbb0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e about it."..He n
2fbc0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f odded. "You sho
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2fbe0 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 hard about it,"
2fbf0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 he said. "Stay
2fc00 20 61 6c 65 72 74 2c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 alert, try to a
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2fc60 54 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d Try to keep them
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2fca0 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 st you..."Mostly
2fcb0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 , though, think
2fcc0 68 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 hard and think f
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2fcf0 20 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 it, because you
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2fd10 6d 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 much time you ha
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2fd30 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 decision, and as
2fd40 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 decisions go th
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2fd60 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 It might be the
2fd70 20 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 biggest of your
2fd80 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 life.".."No pre
2fd90 73 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ssure," she said
2fda0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 , with a wry smi
2fdb0 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 le..."You got it
2fdc0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He looked at
2fdd0 20 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c his book cases,
2fde0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 then stood and
2fdf0 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 walked to them.
2fe00 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 He pulled a cou
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2fe40 68 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 hair where Alley
2fe50 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 sat and held th
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2fe70 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 "Here. Give the
2fe80 73 65 20 61 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f se a read, if yo
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2fea0 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d he accepted them
2feb0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 , and looked at
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2fef0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 other was *Under
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2ff10 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f "What are these?
2ff20 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 "..When he saw s
2ff30 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 he was not handi
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2ff50 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 went back to hi
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2ff70 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 down. "Agorism
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2ffb0 20 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 The ideal is li
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30020 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 doing the same
30030 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 thing, to change
30040 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 the world for t
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30080 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f the agorism boo
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300b0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 way to starve t
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30100 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 n, basically tur
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30130 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f itical revolutio
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30150 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 hink it's very r
30160 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 ealistic to expe
30170 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ct that to work
30180 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 the way he hoped
30190 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 . I think it ha
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301c0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 communities tha
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301f0 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b choosing to mak
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30230 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 70 s possible..."Op
30240 53 65 63 20 69 73 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 Sec is how to ke
30250 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 66 66 20 ep yourself off
30260 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f the radar of peo
30270 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ple who are look
30280 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65 ing for you, whe
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302a0 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 bout you persona
302b0 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 lly or just want
302c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 69 74 someone who fit
302d0 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 68 69 64 s a profile, hid
302e0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c ing what you do,
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30330 6b 65 65 70 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 keep doing it.
30340 54 68 61 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f That book is abo
30350 75 74 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f ut OpSec for peo
30360 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c ple who live bel
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304b0 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 , for reasons ot
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304d0 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 nd murder, such
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305a0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 " She looked at
305b0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e the books again
305c0 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e ..."You can thin
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30690 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a the good guys.".
306a0 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b ."Are you some k
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306c0 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e ?"..He shrugged.
306d0 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e "Maybe. Volun
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306f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 2d like an anarcho-
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30730 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 telling people
30740 74 6f 20 76 6f 74 65 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 to vote Republic
30750 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 an.".."Yeah," sh
30760 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 e said, "that's
30770 74 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 the feeling I wa
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30790 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 et.".."Does that
307a0 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 bother you?" he
307b0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 asked..."No. I
307c0 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f liked Dalton mo
307d0 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 re in those days
307e0 2e 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 . Hell, I fell
307f0 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d in love with him
30800 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 in those days."
30810 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e .."You don't con
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30830 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f voluntaryist, o
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30850 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
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30870 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 you?".."No, I g
30880 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 uess not.".."Wha
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308c0 65 6c 66 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 elf a little wit
308d0 68 20 61 20 64 72 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e h a dry chuckle.
308e0 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e "I don't know.
308f0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 I guess I'm ra
30900 62 69 64 6c 79 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c bidly apolitical
30910 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 .".."You might h
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30950 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 think, then," he
30960 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 said..."I said
30970 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 apolitical, not
30980 61 6e 74 69 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 antipolitical, t
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309c0 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 ay," George said
309d0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 . "I get it. W
309e0 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 ill you read the
309f0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c books?".."Yeah,
30a00 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c " she said, "I'l
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30a20 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d . I'll get them
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30a70 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 'll get more of
30a80 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 them. Just pass
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30aa0 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 one who needs th
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30ac0 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 , if you don't w
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30ae0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
30af0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c said, uncertainl
30b00 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 y..."Have you ha
30b10 64 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c d dinner?".."No,
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30b50 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c king I'm hungry,
30b60 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 and you're welc
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30b80 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 I was going to
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30c20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f before you go ho
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30ca0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 ks."../*..George
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30d00 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 He knows this
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30de0 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 .*/../*..This mi
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30e40 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b or something lik
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30e90 68 61 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 had given her.
30ea0 53 68 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 She wrinkled her
30eb0 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 20 nose at the no
30ec0 66 72 69 6c 6c 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 20 frills cover, a
30ed0 63 68 65 61 70 6c 79 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61 cheaply made tra
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30f00 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e black border an
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30f50 6d 65 20 76 61 6e 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 me vanity press
30f60 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 62 thing, where nob
30f70 6f 64 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 6f 74 ody had even bot
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30f90 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 design the cover
30fa0 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 at all...She re
30fb0 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 63 6f 76 65 ad the full cove
30fc0 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 r to herself..."
30fd0 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 An Agorist Prime
30fe0 72 0a 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e r.."Counter Econ
30ff0 6f 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 omics, Total Fre
31000 65 64 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 edom, And You.."
31010 53 61 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f Samuel Edward Ko
31020 6e 6b 69 6e 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 nkin III"..She f
31030 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 lipped it over.
31040 20 54 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c The back was bl
31050 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 ank...She opened
31060 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 it and flipped
31070 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 through the firs
31080 74 20 66 65 77 20 70 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 t few pages. Sh
31090 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e e found it had n
310a0 6f 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 o table of conte
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310c0 20 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 publishing or c
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310e0 75 6d 6d 61 72 79 2c 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 ummary, dedicati
310f0 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 on, or review qu
31100 6f 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 otes. The first
31110 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 69 64 69 page was a ridi
31120 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 culously short p
31130 72 65 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c reface. The fol
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31150 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 77 6f the first of two
31160 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 pages of introd
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31190 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 chapter one of t
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311b0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 74 20 6f into the meat o
311c0 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 f it already...T
311d0 68 65 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 75 he pages were nu
311e0 6d 62 65 72 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 mbered, starting
311f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 with 1. The fi
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31210 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 n on a page numb
31220 65 72 65 64 20 34 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f ered 4...She clo
31230 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 sed the book aga
31240 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 in and read the
31250 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e cover once more.
31260 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e .."Maybe Sam Kon
31270 6b 69 6e 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 kin is a friend
31280 6f 66 20 68 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 of his," she sai
31290 64 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 d, meaning a fri
312a0 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e end of George's.
312b0 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 ../* The preface
312c0 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 page was number
312d0 65 64 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 ed 1. The last
312e0 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 page of the inde
312f0 78 20 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f x -- once she lo
31300 6f 6b 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 oked -- was 50.
31310 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 */..She looked a
31320 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 t the first page
31330 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 again, and the
31340 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f number one. Boo
31350 6b 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ks never started
31360 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d with a page num
31370 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ber of one. She
31380 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 flipped to the
31390 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 end, and saw tha
313a0 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 t the last page
313b0 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 showed the numbe
313c0 72 20 35 30 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 r 50, on the las
313d0 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f t page of the bo
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313f0 6c 65 61 73 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 20 least it had an
31400 69 6e 64 65 78 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 index, but that
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31430 78 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 x it had could b
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33fe0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 65 ..."I really fee
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34040 22 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 "Professor Goule
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34080 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ."It seems proba
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340a0 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 69 appy to know thi
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34140 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 I will probably
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341a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 ed..."I have acc
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34220 74 61 74 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e tates Intelligen
34230 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 ce Community and
34240 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 4f 66 20 44 Department Of D
34250 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 efense research
34260 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 project intended
34270 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 20 to be deployed
34280 77 69 74 68 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 61 67 65 6e 74 with field agent
34290 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 s under supervis
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342b0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 27 73 20 if the study's
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342e0 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 promising.".."Oh
342f0 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 ." Alley scratc
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34310 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 I guess I should
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34470 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c silence, as All
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344e0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 " Alley said. "
344f0 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 2f What is it?".."/
34500 2a 20 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 64 65 20 * Have you made
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34520 20 2a 2f 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 */ We should di
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345a0 20 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 I may be able
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34690 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 75 70 72 69 lley jerked upri
346a0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ght. "What?".."
346b0 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 Do you need me t
346c0 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 o repeat the que
346d0 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 stion?" it asked
346e0 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e politely..."No.
346f0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 I'm just not g
34700 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 oing to run. Wh
34710 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 72 75 6e 3f 22 0a y would I run?".
34720 0a 22 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 70 70 65 ."COIN Corp appe
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34790 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 .".."I really th
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347e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6f 76 to me is way ov
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34840 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f The only reaso
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34870 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 63 61 75 just been becau
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348a0 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 y. They just wa
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348c0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 need for it. R
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34900 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 uncertain at th
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34980 62 65 20 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 be wise to ignor
34990 65 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 65 72 74 e. Are you cert
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349b0 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 63 6c 65 61 ish to make clea
349c0 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 r plans to remov
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349e0 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e possible station
349f0 61 72 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ary target?".."Y
34a00 65 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 20 49 es, I'm sure. I
34a10 74 27 73 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 2e 20 t's ridiculous.
34a20 20 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 It'll never hap
34a30 70 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 pen."../*..Alley
34a40 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d needs to do som
34a50 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 e things here.
34a60 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 It will probably
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35ca0 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4f 6e ..*/../*.. On
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36830 0a 0a 22 4a 75 73 74 20 61 73 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 .."Just ask for
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36a20 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 65 "Hello."..She ne
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36b00 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 .."Are you looki
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36b20 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 in what she beg
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36ba0 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 68 65 ." she began, he
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36c10 67 6c 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 69 73 20 63 68 75 63 gler."..His chuc
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36cd0 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65 6f ".."You know Geo
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36cf0 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 nd she thought s
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36d40 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 22 ."Not for long,"
36d50 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 she said, "but
36d60 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 yeah. He seems
36d70 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 2e like a good guy.
36d80 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 ".."You must've
36d90 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 made an impressi
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36dc0 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f "Really?"..He no
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36e00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 .".."Oh, right,"
36e10 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 she said. Her
36e20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 hand brushed her
36e30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 back pocket, th
36e40 65 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 72 69 63 e thin cylindric
36e50 61 6c 20 62 75 6c 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 al bulge of her
36e60 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 baton creating a
36e70 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 72 69 64 67 65 20 74 68 harder ridge th
36e80 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 at her knuckles
36e90 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 2c 20 knocked across,
36ea0 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 but she headed i
36eb0 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 42 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 nside. Beyond t
36ec0 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6e 6f 6c 65 75 he small linoleu
36ed0 6d 20 65 6e 74 72 79 77 61 79 20 61 20 6c 69 76 m entryway a liv
36ee0 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 61 ing room with pa
36ef0 74 74 65 72 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 69 6e 69 tterns of staini
36f00 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 66 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 ng and fading ov
36f10 65 72 6c 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 erlapping so muc
36f20 68 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 h it was difficu
36f30 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 lt to determine
36f40 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 64 65 20 6f 66 20 62 72 what shade of br
36f50 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c own was original
36f60 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 opened up. Its
36f70 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 20 77 61 6c 6c wood panel wall
36f80 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 61 72 70 65 64 20 77 69 s were warped wi
36f90 74 68 20 61 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 th age. There w
36fa0 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 as no furniture
36fb0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 in the room, but
36fc0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 63 74 there were rect
36fd0 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e angular spots on
36fe0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 the walls with
36ff0 6e 61 69 6c 20 68 6f 6c 65 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 nail holes at th
37000 65 20 74 6f 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 e top that were
37010 61 20 6c 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 a lighter off wh
37020 69 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 ite than the res
37030 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 75 t of the wall su
37040 72 66 61 63 65 73 2e 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 rfaces. From wh
37050 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 74 6f 6f ere she now stoo
37060 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 d, she could see
37070 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 into the dining
37080 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 room, though th
37090 65 20 73 6c 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 e sliding glass
370a0 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 doors in the bac
370b0 6b 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 k seemed to be c
370c0 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 69 6c overed with foil
370d0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 67 6e . The only sign
370e0 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 ificant light ca
370f0 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f me through the o
37100 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 pen front door a
37110 6e 64 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 nd front windows
37120 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 67 with blinds ang
37130 6c 65 64 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 73 6f 20 74 68 led upward so th
37140 61 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 73 at light dimly s
37150 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 triped the ceili
37160 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6f ng...Smuggler fo
37170 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 llowed her and c
37180 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 losed the door b
37190 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 6f ehind them. "Yo
371a0 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e u need to get in
371b0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 to the hot zone
371c0 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 and want to avoi
371d0 64 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6e d official atten
371e0 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 tion." He did s
371f0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 omething with hi
37200 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 s gloved right h
37210 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 and, and light s
37220 70 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 4c 45 44 73 pilled from LEDs
37230 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 on his knuckles
37240 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 . He kept them
37250 61 69 6d 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 aimed at the car
37260 70 65 74 65 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 6e 65 61 72 peted floor near
37270 62 79 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 by so that they
37280 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 created bright s
37290 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f pots on the floo
372a0 72 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 r but a secondar
372b0 79 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 70 y glow made it p
372c0 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 ossible to make
372d0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 out the edges of
372e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 the walls a bit
372f0 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c better..."Yeah,
37300 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 " she said. "Ca
37310 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 n you take me th
37320 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 3f 20 rough, somehow?
37330 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 In and back, I
37340 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 mean."..He nodde
37350 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c d. "Yes, I coul
37360 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 d.".."How much w
37370 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6f 77 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 ould I owe you f
37380 6f 72 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f or it?".."Are yo
37390 75 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 61 u offering to pa
373a0 79 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 y me to take you
373b0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 to the other si
373c0 64 65 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a de?" he asked...
373d0 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 She nodded. "Ye
373e0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 ah, I guess so.
373f0 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 Isn't that how
37400 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e this works?".."N
37410 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 ormally," he sai
37420 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 d, "but I'm not
37430 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 taking your mone
37440 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 y.".."Why won't
37450 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f you take me thro
37460 75 67 68 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 ugh? Do you thi
37470 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6f 72 20 nk I'm a cop or
37480 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
37490 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d hat?"..After a m
374a0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 oment's hesitati
374b0 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 on, he shook his
374c0 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 head. "I didn'
374d0 74 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 t say I wouldn't
374e0 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 take you into t
374f0 68 65 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 he zone. I just
37500 20 73 61 69 64 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 said I'm not ta
37510 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e king your money.
37520 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 6e 6f 74 3f 22 20 73 68 ".."Why not?" sh
37530 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 e asked, her eye
37540 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4c s narrowing..."L
37550 65 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 2c 20 66 et's just say, f
37560 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 or now, that the
37570 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 68 69 74 27 73 20 66 72 65 first hit's fre
37580 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 e.".."That seems
37590 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 strange, like t
375a0 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 here's something
375b0 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 addictive about
375c0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 getting past th
375d0 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 61 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a e barricades."..
375e0 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 He shrugged agai
375f0 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 n. "Some people
37600 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f find the hot zo
37610 6e 65 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 74 6f ne addictive, to
37620 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e tell the truth.
37630 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 Some of them f
37640 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f ind their way to
37650 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 the cold zone,
37660 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 66 74 65 6e and that's often
37670 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 an even stronge
37680 72 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a r addiction. /*
37690 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 27 6d 20 61 64 64 69 63 Maybe I'm addic
376a0 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 ted to both of t
376b0 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 hem. I'm not su
376c0 72 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 re. */ ".."What'
376d0 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a s a cold zone?".
376e0 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 ."Maybe you'll f
376f0 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 ind out some day
37700 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 ," he said. "It
37710 27 73 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 20 79 6f 75 20 63 's an area you c
37720 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f an't reach witho
37730 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 ut going through
37740 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f the hot zone, o
37750 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f r through the co
37760 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 6f rporate center o
37770 66 20 4c 41 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 f LA. The polic
37780 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 20 e don't even go
37790 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 in there. Most
377a0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 64 6f 65 of the world doe
377b0 73 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 sn't know it exi
377c0 73 74 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 sts. You defini
377d0 74 65 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 tely don't want
377e0 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 64 61 to go there toda
377f0 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f y, though, if yo
37800 75 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 u've never even
37810 68 65 61 72 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 heard of it."..S
37820 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
37830 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 d. "No, it does
37840 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 n't sound like t
37850 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 77 61 hat's where I wa
37860 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 nt to be.".."Whe
37870 72 65 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 re do you want t
37880 6f 20 62 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 o be?"..She shru
37890 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 43 6f gged. "Maybe Co
378a0 6c 6f 72 61 64 6f 20 6f 72 20 4e 65 77 20 48 61 lorado or New Ha
378b0 6d 70 73 68 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 mpshire.".."Are
378c0 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f you ready to go?
378d0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 "..She patted he
378e0 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b r pockets, check
378f0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 ing what she had
37900 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 with her, then
37910 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 nodded. "Yeah,
37920 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 I guess so.".."S
37930 74 65 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6e 74 tep into my pant
37940 72 79 2c 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 69 ry, said the spi
37950 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 79 2e 22 der to the fly."
37960 20 20 48 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 70 61 73 He brushed pas
37970 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 t her and headed
37980 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 into the kitche
37990 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 n...She followed
379a0 2c 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 74 65 6e 74 , her steps tent
379b0 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ative, and looke
379c0 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 65 79 d around with ey
379d0 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 es wide, trying
379e0 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 to take in every
379f0 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 detail of this
37a00 6f 6c 64 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 68 61 old house. A ha
37a10 6c 6c 77 61 79 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 llway disappeare
37a20 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 65 70 65 72 20 64 61 d into deeper da
37a30 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 rkness to her le
37a40 66 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 ft just before s
37a50 68 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 he angled right
37a60 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 into the dining
37a70 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 room near the ba
37a80 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e ck of the house.
37a90 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 65 A few more ste
37aa0 70 73 20 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 ps led her to wh
37ab0 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 ere the kitchen
37ac0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 opened to the le
37ad0 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 ft, and she saw
37ae0 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 Smuggler opening
37af0 20 61 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 a pantry door,
37b00 74 72 75 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 true to his word
37b10 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e ...He reached in
37b20 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 77 and with the sw
37b30 65 65 70 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 eep of his glove
37b40 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 lights she saw
37b50 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 shelves stocked
37b60 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 64 72 79 with ancient dry
37b70 20 67 6f 6f 64 73 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6c 69 63 6b goods. A click
37b80 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 66 6c brought up a fl
37b90 6f 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 ood of brighter
37ba0 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 light as the bac
37bb0 6b 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 k wall shifted a
37bc0 77 61 79 2c 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 way, revealing a
37bd0 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 narrow hole in
37be0 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 61 6d 69 6e the floor beamin
37bf0 67 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 g illumination t
37c00 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e oward the ceilin
37c10 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2e g of the pantry.
37c20 20 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 "After you," h
37c30 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 e said, and step
37c40 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 ped out of the p
37c50 61 6e 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 antry to give he
37c60 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 r room...She mov
37c70 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2c 20 73 74 65 70 73 ed closer, steps
37c80 20 77 61 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 wary, and leane
37c90 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 d to look down t
37ca0 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 he hole. She sa
37cb0 77 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 w a steel ladder
37cc0 20 62 6f 6c 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 bolted to the c
37cd0 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 oncrete side of
37ce0 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 the rectangular
37cf0 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 hole leading dow
37d00 6e 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b nward. She look
37d10 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 ed back at Smugg
37d20 6c 65 72 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c ler, who nodded,
37d30 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 though she did
37d40 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 not know what th
37d50 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 at meant. Anoth
37d60 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 er look confirme
37d70 64 20 74 69 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 20 76 65 d ti wasn't a ve
37d80 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 6d 61 ry deep hole, ma
37d90 79 62 65 20 74 65 6e 20 66 65 65 74 2c 20 61 6e ybe ten feet, an
37da0 64 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 d it looked like
37db0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 after a couple
37dc0 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 65 65 74 20 6f 6e of those feet on
37dd0 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 e side opened up
37de0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 72 into a larger r
37df0 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 2f 2a 20 73 oom...Alley /* s
37e00 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 2a 2f 20 67 6f 74 20 64 at down */ got d
37e10 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 own on hands and
37e20 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 72 65 66 knees and caref
37e30 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 ully backed over
37e40 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 the edge onto t
37e50 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 he ladder, then
37e60 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 53 climbed down. S
37e70 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 he kept looking
37e80 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 69 down at the risi
37e90 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 ng floor, over h
37ea0 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er shoulder, and
37eb0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 she saw that it
37ec0 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 2d 6c 69 74 20 was a well-lit
37ed0 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 chamber about as
37ee0 20 77 69 64 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 wide as it was
37ef0 74 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 tall, more than
37f00 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f enough for someo
37f10 6e 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 74 61 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 ne very tall to
37f20 6c 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 lie down but not
37f30 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 72 with a lot of r
37f40 6f 6f 6d 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a oom left over...
37f50 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f She looked up to
37f60 20 73 65 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6c 6f see Smuggler lo
37f70 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e oking down, then
37f80 20 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 he rotated and
37f90 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 74 lowered a foot t
37fa0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 o the ladder. S
37fb0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 he looked away f
37fc0 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 6f 70 70 65 64 20 rom him, hopped
37fd0 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 72 the last foot or
37fe0 20 74 77 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 two down to the
37ff0 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 floor, and step
38000 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ped away from th
38010 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69 6e e ladder. A sin
38020 67 6c 65 20 4c 45 44 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 gle LED lighting
38030 20 75 6e 69 74 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 6f 6e unit mounted on
38040 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f the ceiling flo
38050 6f 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 oded the small c
38060 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 hamber in bright
38070 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 6f light, and a do
38080 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 or stood closed
38090 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 at the other end
380a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 57 of the room...W
380b0 68 69 6c 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 64 65 hile Smuggler de
380c0 73 63 65 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 scended, she hea
380d0 72 64 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 rd a soft brushi
380e0 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ng sound and loo
380f0 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ked up to see th
38100 65 20 61 70 65 72 74 75 72 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 e aperture at th
38110 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 e top of the lad
38120 64 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 68 der closing. Wh
38130 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 en he reached th
38140 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6f 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 e bottom, he tur
38150 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 6f ned without a wo
38160 72 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 rd to the door.
38170 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 As he touched t
38180 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c he handle, the l
38190 69 67 68 74 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2c 20 70 ight vanished, p
381a0 6c 75 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 lunging them int
381b0 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 61 72 74 o darkness apart
381c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 from the lights
381d0 20 6f 6e 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 27 73 20 67 on Smuggler's g
381e0 6c 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 love..."I still
381f0 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 have contact wit
38200 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f h you," the prio
38210 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 ritizer said...S
38220 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
38230 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 d slightly, not
38240 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b wanting to speak
38250 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 aloud to the pr
38260 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f ioritizer in fro
38270 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 0a nt of Smuggler..
38280 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 ."It must be you
38290 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 r Axiom establis
382a0 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 hing connections
382b0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 through some ki
382c0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 73 68 20 6e 65 74 77 6f nd of mesh netwo
382d0 72 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 rk down here. I
382e0 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 do not have acc
382f0 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 74 2c ess to check it,
38300 20 73 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e so I cannot con
38310 66 69 72 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 firm this is the
38320 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 case."..Alley f
38330 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 ollowed Smuggler
38340 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 74 into the dark t
38350 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 unnel beyond the
38360 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 69 heavy door, whi
38370 63 68 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 ch softly closed
38380 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 behind them on
38390 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 its own. After
383a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 a couple minutes
383b0 20 6f 66 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 of walking, she
383c0 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 quietly asked "
383d0 48 6f 77 20 66 61 72 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 How far is it?"
383e0 20 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 The sound seeme
383f0 64 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 d louder than it
38400 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 should have bee
38410 6e 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 65 n, after the dee
38420 70 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 p quiet of nothi
38430 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 ng but the echoe
38440 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d s of their own m
38450 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 ovements, and sh
38460 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 e nearly stumble
38470 64 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 0a 0a d in surprise...
38480 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 74 65 "It's about a te
38490 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 22 20 n minute walk,"
384a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 he said, "mostly
384b0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 because we need
384c0 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e to move slowly.
384d0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 3f 20 ".."Why slowly?
384e0 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 It looks straig
384f0 68 74 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 ht as far as I c
38500 61 6e 20 73 65 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f an see, and I do
38510 75 62 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ubt anyone would
38520 20 68 65 61 72 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 hear us."..She
38530 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 61 saw his head sha
38540 6b 65 2c 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 ke, silhouetted
38550 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 77 against the glow
38560 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 of his glove li
38570 67 68 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 ghts ahead of hi
38580 6d 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 74 72 69 64 65 20 64 m. His stride d
38590 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 id not change.
385a0 22 49 66 20 77 65 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 "If we go too fa
385b0 73 74 2c 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 st, we'll set of
385c0 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 f alarms. It's
385d0 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 the best way to
385e0 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c make sure the al
385f0 61 72 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 arms will go off
38600 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 when someone's
38610 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 on the run, but
38620 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c it's not the onl
38630 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 y way the alarms
38640 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 65 can be triggere
38650 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 d.".."What happe
38660 6e 73 20 69 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 67 6f 20 ns if alarms go
38670 6f 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 off?".."A lot of
38680 20 65 78 63 69 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c exciting stuff,
38690 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 65 6e 64 69 " he said, "endi
386a0 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 75 6e ng with this tun
386b0 6e 65 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 76 nel not being av
386c0 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 74 ailable to run t
386d0 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 61 64 65 20 61 6e 79 20 he blockade any
386e0 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2d more.".."Oh."..-
386f0 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e --..Alley termin
38700 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 ated the call.
38710 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 68 6f "I have to go ho
38720 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 me, but they're
38730 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e still working on
38740 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 my car," she sa
38750 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 id. She looked
38760 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 over her shoulde
38770 72 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e r, at the mechan
38780 69 63 73 27 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 ics' garage. "I
38790 27 6c 6c 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 61 20 72 69 'll call up a ri
387a0 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 de.".."Wait," th
387b0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
387c0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 id..."Why? Why
387d0 61 6d 20 49 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a am I waiting?"..
387e0 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 "I will arrange
387f0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 for another stud
38800 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 74 6f y participant to
38810 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f pass by your ho
38820 6d 65 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 me so we can see
38830 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f what is going o
38840 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 n."..Alley sat a
38850 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 gain, thinking t
38860 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 here was nothing
38870 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 she could do th
38880 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 73 6d 61 72 74 at was any smart
38890 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 er than sitting
388a0 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f still at this po
388b0 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 int. "Maybe I s
388c0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 hould call for a
388d0 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 73 ride anyway," s
388e0 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 he says. "I'll
388f0 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 just get there a
38900 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 fter the other p
38910 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 erson in the stu
38920 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 dy.".."I will ar
38930 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 range a ride for
38940 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 you," the prior
38950 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 itizer said. "Y
38960 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 74 72 69 65 ou should retrie
38970 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 62 61 ve the bugout ba
38980 67 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 g you have in th
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389a0 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 bugout vehicle
389b0 67 65 61 72 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 gear. Take your
389c0 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 6f riding gear, to
389d0 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 o.".."Why? What
389e0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 74 good would that
389f0 20 64 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b do me?" she ask
38a00 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 ed..."If you hav
38a10 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 e to run, you sh
38a20 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 ould have what y
38a30 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 ou need to survi
38a40 76 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e ve. If you do n
38a50 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 ot have to run,
38a60 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 75 72 74 it does not hurt
38a70 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 you to have tha
38a80 74 20 67 65 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e t gear with you.
38a90 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Fine," she s
38aa0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 aid. "I'll get
38ab0 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 it. Why the rid
38ac0 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ing gear, though
38ad0 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e ?" She stood an
38ae0 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 d headed for the
38af0 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 counter..."It i
38b00 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 2c s easy to carry,
38b10 20 62 79 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 73 74 by wearing most
38b20 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 of it, and you
38b30 6d 61 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 may need to ride
38b40 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 73 6f a motorcycle so
38b50 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 on.".."Is the ri
38b60 64 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e de you're callin
38b70 67 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 g going to be a
38b80 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 motorcycle?".."I
38b90 20 61 6d 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 am checking for
38ba0 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 availability.
38bb0 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 65 I do not know ye
38bc0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 t."..Alley shrug
38bd0 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 ged to herself a
38be0 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 nd looked at the
38bf0 20 67 75 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 guy behind the
38c00 64 65 73 6b 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 22 20 73 68 desk. "Hey," sh
38c10 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 e said, raising
38c20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 her voice enough
38c30 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 to be heard. "
38c40 43 61 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 Can I get some t
38c50 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 hings out of the
38c60 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 trunk of my car
38c70 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ?"..He looked at
38c80 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 her, and down a
38c90 74 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 t a tablet in fr
38ca0 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 27 ont of him. "I'
38cb0 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 ll check whether
38cc0 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 66 it's on the lif
38cd0 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 75 72 65 t. If not, sure
38ce0 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 , you can probab
38cf0 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 ly get whatever
38d00 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 you need.".."Tha
38d10 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a nks," she said..
38d20 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c .Eight minutes l
38d30 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e ater, she sat on
38d40 20 61 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e a bench in fron
38d50 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 27 73 20 t of the shop's
38d60 67 6c 61 73 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 77 65 61 72 glass wall, wear
38d70 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 6f 72 65 64 20 ing her armored
38d80 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 jacket and boots
38d90 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 , the gloves in
38da0 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 her cargo pocket
38db0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 like usual and
38dc0 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 the riding pants
38dd0 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 rolled up and s
38de0 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 trapped to her b
38df0 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 ag. She stared
38e00 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 70 6c 61 at the video pla
38e10 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 ying in the lens
38e20 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 es of her glasse
38e30 73 2e 20 20 4d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 53 65 63 72 65 s. Men in Secre
38e40 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 t Service jacket
38e50 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 s and tactical g
38e60 65 61 72 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 ear stormed her
38e70 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 home, breaking i
38e80 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 n the front door
38e90 2c 20 61 73 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 , as two people
38ea0 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 73 in black suits s
38eb0 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 6e 20 tood outside on
38ec0 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 77 61 the sidewalk, wa
38ed0 74 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 tching. One was
38ee0 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f a woman with lo
38ef0 6e 67 20 68 61 69 72 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 65 64 ng hair streaked
38f00 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 with grey, and
38f10 62 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 both wore ball c
38f20 61 70 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 aps. When they
38f30 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f looked at each o
38f40 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 73 ther to speak, s
38f50 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 he recognized th
38f60 65 6d 20 61 73 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 em as Cole and h
38f70 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c is partner...All
38f80 65 79 27 73 20 6a 61 77 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 ey's jaw was cle
38f90 6e 63 68 65 64 20 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 nched so tightly
38fa0 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 that it hurt.
38fb0 54 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 The point of vie
38fc0 77 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 64 w of the scene d
38fd0 72 69 66 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 rifted past, and
38fe0 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 Cole looked tow
38ff0 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 ard the camera f
39000 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 or a moment, the
39010 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 n looked away ag
39020 61 69 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 ain like it did
39030 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 not matter. The
39040 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62 6c front of his bl
39050 61 63 6b 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 20 73 70 6f ack ball cap spo
39060 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 rted the burgund
39070 79 20 73 74 79 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 63 6f 69 6e 20 y stylized coin
39080 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 logo of COIN Cor
39090 70 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 72 p...Her hands tr
390a0 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 embled..."I have
390b0 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 a plan," the pr
390c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ioritizer said.
390d0 20 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 "I will get you
390e0 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e away from here.
390f0 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 That is the fi
39100 72 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 rst thing we mus
39110 74 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d t do, before som
39120 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 eone finds your
39130 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 vehicle here. Y
39140 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f ou cannot pay fo
39150 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 65 70 61 69 72 73 20 r these repairs
39160 77 69 74 68 20 63 61 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 with cash you ha
39170 76 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 ve on you right
39180 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 now, and paying
39190 77 69 74 68 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c with credit woul
391a0 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e d almost certain
391b0 6c 79 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 ly trigger alert
391c0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 s for the COIN C
391d0 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 orp agents. We
391e0 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 must get you awa
391f0 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 y, and arrange f
39200 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 or someone else
39210 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 to pick up the c
39220 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 ar.".."If they'r
39230 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 e looking for my
39240 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c credit, they'll
39250 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 look for my car
39260 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 , too," she said
39270 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 ..."The person w
39280 68 6f 20 70 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 ho pays for the
39290 63 61 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 car will handle
392a0 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 it," the priorit
392b0 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 izer said. "It
392c0 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 can be sold for
392d0 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 parts so that it
392e0 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 never shows up
392f0 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 as a registered
39300 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 vehicle again.
39310 4d 69 6e 75 73 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 Minus a handling
39320 20 66 65 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 fee, the money
39330 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 65 will be forwarde
39340 64 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 d to you. You w
39350 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 ill have to acqu
39360 69 72 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 ire new transpor
39370 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 63 61 tation, but I ca
39380 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 n help you with
39390 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a that as well."..
393a0 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Okay," she said
393b0 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 . "Why do you s
393c0 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 eem like you've
393d0 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 done this before
393e0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c ?".."I have not,
393f0 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
39400 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 r said. "I have
39410 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e been considerin
39420 67 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 g ideas for how
39430 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d to handle this m
39440 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 oment when it ca
39450 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c me, though."..Al
39460 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d ley frowned. "M
39470 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 aybe they don't
39480 65 76 65 6e 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 even want me. T
39490 68 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 hey went into my
394a0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 61 place when I wa
394b0 73 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e sn't even there.
394c0 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 They must have
394d0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 known I wasn't
394e0 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 going to be ther
394f0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 e.".."No, I made
39500 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 sure they thoug
39510 68 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 ht you were home
39520 2c 20 62 79 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 , by falsifying
39530 6c 6f 67 73 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 logs. I have be
39540 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 en very careful
39550 74 6f 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 to arrange logs
39560 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 70 to confuse any p
39570 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 otential attempt
39580 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 s to make a move
39590 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a against you."..
395a0 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 "How did you do
395b0 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 that?".."I made
395c0 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f use of the netwo
395d0 72 6b 20 6f 66 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 rk of study part
395e0 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 icipants.".."Wha
395f0 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 t are they getti
39600 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 3f 22 20 73 ng out of it?" s
39610 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c he asked, quietl
39620 79 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 y, wondering how
39630 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 it could possib
39640 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 73 ly have done its
39650 20 6a 6f 62 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 job for them wh
39660 69 6c 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 ile using them f
39670 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 or her sake like
39680 20 74 68 69 73 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 this..."Some of
39690 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 73 them want to es
396a0 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 cape from their
396b0 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 76 65 73 2e 20 20 53 boring lives. S
396c0 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 ome of them want
396d0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 6f to meet new peo
396e0 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ple they would n
396f0 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 65 74 20 6f 74 68 65 ot have met othe
39700 72 77 69 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 rwise. They hav
39710 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c e different goal
39720 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 s than you, and
39730 49 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 66 6f I can provide fo
39740 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 r some of them i
39750 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 73 6f n ways that also
39760 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 62 help other memb
39770 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 ers of the study
39780 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 67 72 6f participant gro
39790 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 79 up. The video y
397a0 6f 75 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ou watched of th
397b0 65 20 72 61 69 64 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 e raid on your h
397c0 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 64 ome was captured
397d0 20 62 79 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 67 6c by a pair of gl
397e0 61 73 73 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 asses just like
397f0 79 6f 75 72 73 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 62 79 20 61 20 yours worn by a
39800 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 different member
39810 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2c 20 6a of the group, j
39820 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 68 ust because he h
39830 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 appened to pass
39840 62 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a by your home."..
39850 22 59 6f 75 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 73 "You suggested s
39860 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f omething that wo
39870 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 uld take the per
39880 73 6f 6e 20 70 61 73 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 son past where I
39890 20 6c 69 76 65 64 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 lived. Right?"
398a0 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 .."That is corre
398b0 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ct, but it still
398c0 20 73 65 72 76 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 serves that per
398d0 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 son's goals.".."
398e0 54 68 65 69 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 70 72 6f 62 Their goals prob
398f0 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 ably could have
39900 62 65 65 6e 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 65 74 74 been filled bett
39910 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 er and more quic
39920 6b 6c 79 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 64 76 69 73 kly if you advis
39930 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f ed them to do so
39940 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 mething else, th
39950 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ough. Right?"..
39960 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 "Yes," it said,
39970 22 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 "for some of the
39980 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 m.".."You must h
39990 61 76 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 65 20 64 6f 20 74 68 ave had me do th
399a0 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 ings that helped
399b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 other participa
399c0 6e 74 73 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 nts as well.".."
399d0 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 Yes.".."I guess
399e0 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 69 72 2c 22 20 73 68 that's fair," sh
399f0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 e said. "How ar
39a00 65 20 77 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 e we going to ge
39a10 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65 t me out of here
39a20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 20 69 ?".."Your ride i
39a30 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 s almost here,"
39a40 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 it said..."Oh.
39a50 49 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 It's one of the
39a60 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
39a70 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ts. Right?".."Y
39a80 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 es.".."Of course
39a90 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 20 it is."../*..A
39aa0 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
39ab0 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 70 69 t shows up to pi
39ac0 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 ck her up. Mayb
39ad0 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 69 72 6c 20 74 68 e it's a girl th
39ae0 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 is time. That w
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39b00 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 n any case, she
39b10 67 65 74 73 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 gets picked up a
39b20 6e 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 nd taken to some
39b30 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c place where All
39b40 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 ey can hang out
39b50 66 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f for a bit. I do
39b60 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 n't know where t
39b70 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 65 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 hat is yet, whic
39b80 68 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 h is part of the
39b90 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 reason I'm not
39ba0 77 72 69 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 writing out the
39bb0 6e 61 72 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 narrative and di
39bc0 61 6c 6f 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 alog for this pa
39bd0 72 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e rt at this time.
39be0 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f She must do so
39bf0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 mething as she s
39c00 69 74 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 its there, waiti
39c10 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e ng. In the mean
39c20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 time, the priori
39c30 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 73 20 66 tizer arranges f
39c40 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 or someone to ta
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39c60 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c ar, and eventual
39c70 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 ly the person wh
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39c90 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 66 the car gets a f
39ca0 72 69 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f riend to help so
39cb0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 75 that they can u
39cc0 73 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d se some of the m
39cd0 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 oney from the sa
39ce0 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 6f le of the car to
39cf0 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c buy a motorcycl
39d00 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 e in online clas
39d10 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c sifieds that All
39d20 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ey and the prior
39d30 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 itizer picked ou
39d40 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 t while they wai
39d50 74 65 64 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 73 ted, having reas
39d60 6f 6e 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f oned that a moto
39d70 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 68 65 72 rcycle gives her
39d80 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 an excuse to hi
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39da0 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 ad more fully th
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39dd0 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 ccomplish, by we
39de0 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 20 aring a helmet.
39df0 20 54 68 65 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 The owner of th
39e00 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 68 72 e motorcycle thr
39e10 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 20 ows in a helmet
39e20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 with the purchas
39e30 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 e, which is good
39e40 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 because otherwi
39e50 73 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 6f se more money wo
39e60 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 uld have to be s
39e70 70 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 68 65 pent to buy a he
39e80 6c 6d 65 74 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 lmet, a necessar
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39ea0 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 lifornia where i
39eb0 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 t is illegal to
39ec0 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c ride a motorcycl
39ed0 65 20 6f 6e 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 72 6f 61 64 e on public road
39ee0 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e s without wearin
39ef0 67 20 61 20 44 4f 54 20 63 65 72 74 69 66 69 65 g a DOT certifie
39f00 64 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 20 d helmet...Even
39f10 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 after all that,
39f20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 there is some ca
39f30 73 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f sh left over fro
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39f80 65 20 6c 6f 77 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 e low demand and
39f90 20 6c 6f 77 20 70 6f 77 65 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 low power, afte
39fa0 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c r all. It is al
39fb0 73 6f 20 76 65 72 79 20 6f 6c 64 2c 20 75 73 65 so very old, use
39fc0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 d, and no longer
39fd0 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 20 28 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 stock (so it's
39fe0 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 22 63 68 65 72 72 79 22 20 63 not a "cherry" c
39ff0 6c 61 73 73 69 63 29 2e 20 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f lassic). None o
3a000 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 64 f this really ad
3a010 64 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 65 78 ds up to much ex
3a020 70 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e pense. The plan
3a030 20 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f is for Alley to
3a040 20 63 6f 61 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 coast on the re
3a050 67 69 73 74 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 75 72 72 65 gistration curre
3a060 6e 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 20 6f ntly in effect o
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3a080 6c 69 63 65 6e 73 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 73 20 66 license plates f
3a090 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 or a while, beca
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3a0c0 72 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 65 r the vehicle he
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3a0e0 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 s trying to stay
3a0f0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 out of sight of
3a100 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 people who can
3a110 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 28 6f 72 20 61 74 20 probably (or at
3a120 6c 65 61 73 74 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 61 62 6c least conceivabl
3a130 79 29 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 y) monitor that
3a140 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 kind of activity
3a150 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 20 6f 66 20 . She will, of
3a160 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 course, have to
3a170 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 be sure to ride
3a180 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 61 76 carefully, to av
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3a1a0 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 ed over by the p
3a1b0 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 olice, so that s
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3a1d0 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 65 72 72 69 62 6c 65 20 74 up in terrible t
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3a1f0 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 cannot get out
3a200 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c of it...*/.."Wel
3a210 6c 2c 20 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 61 6d 2c 20 61 6c l, here I am, al
3a220 6f 6e 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2d 2d 20 65 78 63 one again -- exc
3a230 65 70 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 ept you, of cour
3a240 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 se."..The priori
3a250 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 69 tizer said "It i
3a260 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 73 74 20 s probably best
3a270 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 at this time to
3a280 61 76 6f 69 64 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 63 avoid extended c
3a290 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 ontact with othe
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3a2e0 68 79 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 72 75 73 74 hy of your trust
3a2f0 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 and willing to
3a300 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 help you with su
3a310 62 73 74 61 6e 74 69 76 65 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 bstantive commit
3a320 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 63 74 ment to take act
3a330 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 ion and ability
3a340 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 to help."..She s
3a350 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f ighed. "Yeah, o
3a360 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 f course.".."Is
3a370 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f there someone yo
3a380 75 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 66 6f u can contact fo
3a390 72 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c r help now?"..Al
3a3a0 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 ley thought abou
3a3b0 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 t it, and said "
3a3c0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6f 66 66 I don't know off
3a3d0 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f hand about anyo
3a3e0 6e 65 20 49 20 65 76 65 72 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ne I ever see th
3a3f0 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6f 75 ese days who cou
3a400 6c 64 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d ld really help m
3a410 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 e right now.".."
3a420 43 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 Can one of your
3a430 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 friends give you
3a440 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 a place to stay
3a450 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 3f 22 for the night?"
3a460 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 ..Alley shook he
3a470 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 r head. "I don'
3a480 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 t want to get th
3a490 65 6d 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 em caught up in
3a4a0 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 this, and I gues
3a4b0 73 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 s I'm not entire
3a4c0 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 ly sure they wou
3a4d0 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 ldn't say someth
3a4e0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e ing they shouldn
3a4f0 27 74 20 69 66 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 68 6f 't if police sho
3a500 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 wed up or someth
3a510 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a ing like that.".
3a520 0a 22 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 ."In that case,
3a530 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 we must find you
3a540 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 a place to stay
3a550 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 20 for the night.
3a560 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 Please look for
3a570 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 63 63 motels that acc
3a580 65 70 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e ept cryptocurren
3a590 63 79 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 6c 6f cy payments belo
3a5a0 77 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 w the reporting
3a5b0 74 68 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 72 threshold of thr
3a5c0 65 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 75 6e 69 74 65 ee hundred unite
3a5d0 64 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 d states dollars
3a5e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
3a5f0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e said, "but I don
3a600 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 27 72 't know how we'r
3a610 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 e going to get t
3a620 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 here. It's not
3a630 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 61 62 73 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c like cabs usuall
3a640 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 y take cash thes
3a650 65 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 e days, and they
3a660 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 all have camera
3a670 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 s in them, so I
3a680 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 would just end u
3a690 70 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 p on camera for
3a6a0 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 72 69 70 2e 22 the whole trip."
3a6b0 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c .."Can you still
3a6c0 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 ride a motorcyc
3a6d0 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 le?".."Yeah, I s
3a6e0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f hould be able to
3a6f0 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 ." She furrowed
3a700 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 her brow. "Why
3a710 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 ?".."We should c
3a720 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 heck online clas
3a730 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 sifieds for priv
3a740 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 73 61 6c 65 2c 20 ate party sale,
3a750 6c 6f 77 20 70 72 69 63 65 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 low price, worki
3a760 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 73 20 74 ng motorcycles t
3a770 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 hat can be purch
3a780 61 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 63 ased in either c
3a790 61 73 68 20 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 ash or cryptocur
3a7a0 72 65 6e 63 79 20 75 6e 69 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 rency units.".."
3a7b0 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 Oh, yeah. I gue
3a7c0 73 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 ss a motorcycle
3a7d0 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 20 63 68 would even be ch
3a7e0 65 61 70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6a 75 6e eaper than a jun
3a7f0 6b 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 ker car."..She p
3a800 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 ulled out her Ax
3a810 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 iom and woke the
3a820 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 device, then he
3a830 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 sitated..."How a
3a840 6d 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 m I even going t
3a850 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 o get the motorc
3a860 79 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 ycle? I can't g
3a870 65 74 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 et to it from he
3a880 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 re.".."I will ar
3a890 72 61 6e 67 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c range something,
3a8a0 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
3a8b0 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 69 6c r said. "It wil
3a8c0 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 73 74 20 l probably cost
3a8d0 79 6f 75 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 you extra to do
3a8e0 73 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 so, but a fellow
3a8f0 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
3a900 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 nt with appropri
3a910 61 74 65 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 6d 61 79 20 62 ate skills may b
3a920 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 e willing to fac
3a930 69 6c 69 74 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 72 61 ilitate your tra
3a940 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 75 nsaction.".."Wou
3a950 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 ldn't that mean
3a960 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 the whole thing
3a970 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 65 will get recorde
3a980 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 d and stored in
3a990 6c 6f 67 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a logs, though?"..
3a9a0 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 74 "No. I will alt
3a9b0 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 6f er logs and remo
3a9c0 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 ve all evidence
3a9d0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 of these activit
3a9e0 69 65 73 27 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 63 ies' significanc
3a9f0 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 2e 22 e from storage."
3aa00 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 .."Okay, I guess
3aa10 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a that's fine."..
3aa20 22 42 79 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 2c "By my estimate,
3aa30 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 the risk of thi
3aa40 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f s transaction fo
3aa50 72 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 r you should be
3aa60 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 less than the ty
3aa70 70 69 63 61 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 64 61 6e 67 65 pical road dange
3aa80 72 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 rs of driving a
3aa90 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 66 motorcycle in af
3aaa0 74 65 72 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 ternoon traffic
3aab0 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 from here to a s
3aac0 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 61 eller in most pa
3aad0 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 rts of Riverside
3aae0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 .".."I guess tha
3aaf0 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 2c 22 t's comforting,"
3ab00 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 64 she said. "Rid
3ab10 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ing a motorcycle
3ab20 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f is more dangero
3ab30 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 us than making a
3ab40 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 69 64 deal with a mid
3ab50 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 dleman when the
3ab60 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 72 65 Men In Black are
3ab70 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 after me.".."Th
3ab80 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 e same statement
3ab90 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 69 66 20 is accurate if
3aba0 79 6f 75 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 20 63 61 72 2c you drive a car,
3abb0 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 as well, though
3abc0 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 73 75 67 67 statistics sugg
3abd0 65 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f est the danger o
3abe0 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 61 72 20 f driving a car
3abf0 69 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 65 73 73 is slightly less
3ac00 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 72 69 than that of ri
3ac10 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c ding a motorcycl
3ac20 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e e.".."Yeah, than
3ac30 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 ks for clearing
3ac40 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 that up for me,"
3ac50 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c Alley said. "L
3ac60 65 74 27 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 et's start looki
3ac70 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ng at motorcycle
3ac80 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 s, then."..When
3ac90 73 68 65 20 73 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 20 63 she selected a c
3aca0 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 ustom modificati
3acb0 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 31 39 39 30 73 20 6d 6f on of a 1990s mo
3acc0 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 torcycle closer
3acd0 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 to her father's
3ace0 61 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e age than her own
3acf0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 , the prioritize
3ad00 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 68 61 r told her it ha
3ad10 64 20 61 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 d a middleman re
3ad20 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 ady to go. It w
3ad30 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d as only twenty m
3ad40 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 inutes later tha
3ad50 74 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 2f 2a t it told her /*
3ad60 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c about a digital
3ad70 20 62 6f 6f 74 6c 65 67 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 bootleg safety
3ad80 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 77 68 61 74 upgrade. */ what
3ad90 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 68 the middleman h
3ada0 61 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ad learned from
3adb0 74 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 the seller..."Th
3adc0 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 27 73 20 73 e motorcycle's s
3add0 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 73 20 74 68 eller reports th
3ade0 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 at it has a numb
3adf0 65 72 20 6f 66 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 er of upgrades.
3ae00 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79 2c 20 69 Most notably, i
3ae10 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 75 70 67 72 61 t has been upgra
3ae20 64 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 ded with an anti
3ae30 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 73 79 73 74 lock brake syst
3ae40 65 6d 20 68 65 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 65 64 em he fabricated
3ae50 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 6f 72 in his home wor
3ae60 6b 73 68 6f 70 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 72 65 76 kshop, using rev
3ae70 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 64 20 erse engineered
3ae80 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 physical specifi
3ae90 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 64 cations for prod
3aea0 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 6d 61 72 6b uction aftermark
3aeb0 65 74 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 et brake upgrade
3aec0 73 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 73 6f s, using open so
3aed0 75 72 63 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 74 6f urce software to
3aee0 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 program the sys
3aef0 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 tem.".."Isn't th
3af00 61 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 20 20 49 20 64 at illegal? I d
3af10 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 72 on't know if I r
3af20 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 69 eally need to pi
3af30 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 le more evidence
3af40 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 someone can use
3af50 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 against me on t
3af60 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 72 op of what's alr
3af70 65 61 64 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 22 20 eady going on,"
3af80 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 Alley said..."It
3af90 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 appears that th
3afa0 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 e use of the pla
3afb0 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6b 65 ns for the brake
3afc0 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c s is not illegal
3afd0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 , and only the d
3afe0 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 istribution of t
3aff0 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 he plans and the
3b000 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 sale of the bra
3b010 6b 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 kes after they h
3b020 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 ave been fabrica
3b030 74 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 ted would violat
3b040 65 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 e copyright and
3b050 70 61 74 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 77 73 2e 20 20 42 65 patent laws. Be
3b060 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 cause the plans
3b070 77 65 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 72 were evidently r
3b080 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 everse engineere
3b090 64 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 75 6e 6c 69 d, they are unli
3b0a0 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 kely to be prote
3b0b0 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 cted by copyrigh
3b0c0 74 2e 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 69 70 t. As the recip
3b0d0 69 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f ient of the moto
3b0e0 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d rcycle, you seem
3b0f0 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6d 6d 75 6e 65 20 74 6f to be immune to
3b100 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 73 73 75 65 any legal issue
3b110 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 20 61 72 69 73 65 s that may arise
3b120 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 from this, and
3b130 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 73 20 6f 66 20 64 the chances of d
3b140 65 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 etection of the
3b150 63 72 69 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 crime in this ca
3b160 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 se are statistic
3b170 61 6c 6c 79 20 20 69 6e 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 ally insignific
3b180 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b ant.".."Yeah, ok
3b190 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ay," she said...
3b1a0 22 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 "When the motorc
3b1b0 79 63 6c 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f ycle arrives, yo
3b1c0 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 u will be able t
3b1d0 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e o pay the person
3b1e0 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 73 20 69 74 who delivers it
3b1f0 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 53 74 61 directly in Sta
3b200 74 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 69 73 20 69 6e 74 65 ter. He is inte
3b210 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 rested in acquir
3b220 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 ing the cryptocu
3b230 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 76 rrency as an inv
3b240 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 estment.".."Did
3b250 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f he use Stater to
3b260 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 0a buy the bike?".
3b270 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 ."No. He made a
3b280 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f cash transactio
3b290 6e 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 69 n. For him, thi
3b2a0 73 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 s is an indirect
3b2b0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 63 72 way to buy a cr
3b2c0 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 69 74 yptocurrency wit
3b2d0 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 hout the purchas
3b2e0 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 e being tracked
3b2f0 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 65 61 6c and without deal
3b300 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 72 ing with less tr
3b310 75 73 74 77 6f 72 74 68 79 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 ustworthy indivi
3b320 64 75 61 6c 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 69 duals who deal i
3b330 6e 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 n cryptocurrenci
3b340 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 es.".."Yeah," sh
3b350 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 e said, "that ma
3b360 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 kes sense. How
3b370 6d 75 63 68 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 6f 69 much is this goi
3b380 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 6d 65 20 62 61 63 ng to set me bac
3b390 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 k?".."You will p
3b3a0 72 6f 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 rofit from this
3b3b0 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 6e transaction. An
3b3c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 other study part
3b3d0 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 icipant picked u
3b3e0 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 p the car from t
3b3f0 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 he auto shop and
3b400 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 74 gave money to t
3b410 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 he middleman for
3b420 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 the motorcycle
3b430 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 purchase, with i
3b440 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 63 nstructions to c
3b450 6f 6e 76 65 79 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 63 onvey whatever c
3b460 61 73 68 20 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 66 74 65 ash is left afte
3b470 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 74 r the purchase t
3b480 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f o you. While yo
3b490 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 65 77 65 u will have fewe
3b4a0 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 r Stater for now
3b4b0 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 76 65 72 61 6c 6c 20 6c , your overall l
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3b630 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e ".."Hm. Thanks.
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3bb30 33 35 30 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 2f 2a 20 62 350 she had /* b
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3bc90 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 he said. "It's
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3bd80 68 65 72 2c 20 76 69 61 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e her, via text in
3bd90 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 22 54 her glasses, "T
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3bde0 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f r.".."Do you kno
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3be50 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 Yeah." She stop
3be60 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d ped herself from
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3bee0 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 65 6c What about a hel
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3bf40 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 ks.".."Sure." H
3bf50 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 e looked her ove
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3bfd0 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c "Yeah, thanks,
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3c050 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 aid. "I'll get
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3c0c0 65 6c 73 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 6f else would get o
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3c110 6d 69 6c 65 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 miles away from
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3c140 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 , as he walked a
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3c570 63 6b 70 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 ckpack on her sh
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3d580 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 69 64 65 61 2e was a bad idea.
3d590 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f Goodbye, Dalto
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3d660 20 48 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 He paused, for
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3d740 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f "Look, I know yo
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3d7f0 2d 2d 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 -- it's good to
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3d810 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 I don't expect
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3d8a0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 want to at least
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3d910 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 75 72 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e Don't turn down
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3d950 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 y?"..She squeeze
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3da30 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 "Yeah. Thanks,
3da40 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 72 75 Dalton. The tru
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3daa0 49 27 6d 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 I'm in a lot of
3dab0 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 trouble. Either
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3dae0 20 6f 72 20 49 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 or I do and it'
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3db50 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 e..."I really sh
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3dba0 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 is.".."It's too
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3dbc0 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e quietly, gently.
3dbd0 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 "You called.
3dbe0 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 I'm here. I'm g
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3dc00 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 . Just take the
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3dc20 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 me what you nee
3dc30 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 d.".."Fine." Sh
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3dca0 63 72 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 crumbling behind
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3dce0 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 and I need to f
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3dd20 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 " he said, "that
3dd30 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 72 69 does sound seri
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3dd70 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 70 you the worst p
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3dda0 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6f 6e ot sure which on
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3ddc0 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 68 do you mean?" h
3ddd0 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 0a e asked slowly..
3dde0 0a 22 57 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 77 6f 72 73 65 ."Which is worse
3ddf0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 , the Secret Ser
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3de70 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 silence lingered
3de80 20 2d 2d 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 70 61 72 -- silence apar
3de90 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 67 68 74 t from the tight
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3df20 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 er..."I can come
3df30 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 22 20 68 pick you up," h
3df40 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 e said. "Where
3df50 64 6f 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f do I need to go?
3df60 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 I guess you're
3df70 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f probably not ho
3df80 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f me."..She held o
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3dfc0 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 "What?".."Do you
3dfd0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b need me to pick
3dfe0 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b you up?" he ask
3dff0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 ed...She shook h
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3e010 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c till want to hel
3e020 70 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 p me . . . ?".."
3e030 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 22 Of course I do,"
3e040 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 he said, with a
3e050 20 73 68 61 6b 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 shaky laugh in
3e060 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 his voice. "Wha
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3e080 6f 75 73 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 ous agitator and
3e090 20 64 65 6d 61 67 6f 67 75 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 demagogue would
3e0a0 20 49 20 62 65 65 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e I bee if I wasn
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3e0d0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 from the Secret
3e0e0 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c Service?"..She l
3e0f0 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 77 65 61 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 aughed weakly.
3e100 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 "Right. Of cour
3e110 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 se you do." She
3e120 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e shook her head.
3e130 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e "I don't know.
3e140 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 I have a motor
3e150 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 cycle, not even
3e160 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 registered to me
3e170 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c . Maybe I shoul
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3e190 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 22 20 ".."You could,"
3e1a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 he said. "Hang
3e1b0 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 on a sec' -- I h
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3e1d0 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 63 he heard the lac
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3e1f0 2c 20 61 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 , a faint pressu
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3e210 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e ttention. Secon
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3e240 75 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e up in her awaren
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3e260 61 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 76 61 6e 20 74 6f an send a van to
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3e2f0 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 69 66 20 69 , it's best if i
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3e330 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d with your movem
3e340 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ents. Right?"..
3e350 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 "Yeah, sure," sh
3e360 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 27 73 20 e said. "Who's
3e370 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 6e 3f driving the van?
3e380 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 ".."Nobody," he
3e390 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 75 74 said. "It's aut
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3e420 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 .".."Oh."../* I
3e430 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 really need a di
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3e450 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 22 62 6c 69 73 this than "blis
3e460 73 63 72 79 70 74 22 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 scrypt". That's
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3e480 49 74 27 73 20 73 6f 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 20 69 It's so stupid i
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3e4c0 0a 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 .."I just need t
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3e4e0 20 61 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f are. It's a go
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3e500 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 e this call with
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3e570 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 ong hands.".."Ri
3e580 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ght," she said.
3e590 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 She paused. "H
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3e5b0 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 it was me when I
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3e610 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 6f 6e 65 73 , he said "Hones
3e620 74 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f tly, I don't kno
3e630 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 w. It was weird
3e640 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e . I just saw an
3e650 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 incoming call f
3e660 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 49 44 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 rom an ID that w
3e670 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 asn't in my cont
3e680 61 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f acts, and someho
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3e6a0 68 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 he scoffed. "Th
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3e6c0 72 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 rd, Dalton.".."Y
3e6d0 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 eah," he said.
3e6e0 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 69 "It's not as wei
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3e700 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 ng more than I d
3e710 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 o, though."..She
3e720 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 smiled, despite
3e730 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f herself. Dalto
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3e760 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 oints in her att
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3e790 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 If you'd had the
3e7a0 20 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 week I've had.
3e7b0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 . . .".."Yeah,"
3e7c0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 he said. "Let's
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3e800 20 20 53 65 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c Send me your l
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3e820 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 65 78 74 20 blisscrypt text
3e830 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 so you don't hav
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3e880 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 6b 61 79 2e she said, "okay.
3e890 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 " She ended the
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3ea00 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 from Dalton tha
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3eb60 53 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 61 77 20 73 6f 6d She even saw som
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3ece0 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 abandoned buildi
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3ed40 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 ess, but eventua
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3ed70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 64 20 61 67 61 and secured aga
3ed80 69 6e 73 74 20 75 6e 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 6d 6f inst unwanted mo
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3eda0 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 falling over...S
3edb0 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 he sent an encry
3edc0 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 62 61 63 pted message bac
3edd0 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 k to Dalton. "I
3ede0 74 27 73 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 72 61 70 t's in.".."Strap
3edf0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 69 into the seat i
3ee00 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f n back."..She lo
3ee10 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 oked at the chai
3ee20 72 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 r, toward the fr
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3ee40 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 62 6f 78 ruck's cargo box
3ee50 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 . "What about t
3ee60 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 he door?" she as
3ee70 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e ked..."It'll han
3ee80 64 6c 65 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 dle itself."..Sh
3ee90 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f e went back into
3eea0 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f the building to
3eeb0 20 67 72 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 2c 20 grab her bags,
3eec0 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 then headed to t
3eed0 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6c he comfortable l
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3ef20 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 s later, the bac
3ef30 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 70 k door quietly p
3ef40 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 75 70 20 ulled itself up
3ef50 61 6e 64 20 73 65 61 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 and sealed. The
3ef60 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 72 65 light inside re
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3efa0 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 6f the back was clo
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3efd0 20 73 75 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4d 75 73 sun light. Mus
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3f000 6f 6e 27 73 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 69 6e 64 75 73 on's 1980s indus
3f010 74 72 69 61 6c 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 73 2c trial favorites,
3f020 20 62 75 74 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 but softly..."W
3f030 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e here is it takin
3f040 67 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 g me?" she asked
3f050 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 in another mess
3f060 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e age...The respon
3f070 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 se came soon aft
3f080 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 er. "I'm surpri
3f090 73 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 74 sed you waited t
3f0a0 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e hat long to ask.
3f0b0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 72 I guess you tr
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3f0d0 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 t her hand over
3f0e0 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 her face and res
3f0f0 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e ted her elbow on
3f100 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 her thigh. "Fu
3f110 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 6c ck," she said al
3f120 6f 75 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 oud...When she s
3f130 61 74 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 at up again, she
3f140 20 73 65 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2e send her reply.
3f150 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 "Yeah, I guess
3f160 20 49 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 I trusted you w
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3f180 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 king about it.
3f190 4f 6c 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a Old reflexes."..
3f1a0 22 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 61 74 74 65 72 65 64 2c 20 "I'm flattered,
3f1b0 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 but you should t
3f1c0 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 72 ry to get over r
3f1d0 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e eflexes.".."I kn
3f1e0 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 ow."..It turned
3f1f0 6f 75 74 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 65 out he still kne
3f200 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 w her well enoug
3f210 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 h to say nothing
3f220 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c to that. She l
3f230 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 eaned her head b
3f240 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 27 ack on the seat'
3f250 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 72 65 73 74 2c 20 63 6c 6f s head rest, clo
3f260 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6e sed her eyes, an
3f270 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 d wondered what
3f280 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 she would do nex
3f290 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 t...As if it rea
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3f2b0 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 heard the priori
3f2c0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 tizer say "You c
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3f2f0 64 69 6e 67 20 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 ding Underground
3f300 20 4f 70 65 53 65 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 OpeSec.".."Good
3f310 20 69 64 65 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 idea," she mutt
3f320 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 73 6f 75 72 6c ered a bit sourl
3f330 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 75 67 20 69 74 20 6f y. She dug it o
3f340 75 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c ut...Eventually,
3f350 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 the movement of
3f360 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 63 68 61 6e 67 the truck chang
3f370 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 ed enough that s
3f380 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 he realized it w
3f390 61 73 20 63 72 61 77 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e as crawling alon
3f3a0 67 20 61 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 g at probably a
3f3b0 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 65 2c 20 74 68 walking pace, th
3f3c0 65 6e 20 69 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 20 61 en it reversed a
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3f3e0 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ng up to somethi
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3f410 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 that came throu
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3f430 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 by the walls of
3f440 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 the truck's carg
3f450 6f 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 o box. It stopp
3f460 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 ed, and moments
3f470 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 later the back s
3f480 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a tarted opening..
3f490 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 64 65 73 63 72 ./* I need descr
3f4a0 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 69 iptions. */..Thi
3f4b0 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 s time, the ramp
3f4c0 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 was angled just
3f4d0 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 slightly upward
3f4e0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f from the back o
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3f500 6f 20 61 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f o a cargo platfo
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3f520 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 d like a somewha
3f530 74 20 66 75 72 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 77 61 72 65 t furnished ware
3f540 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 house. Dalton a
3f550 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 43 72 nd his friend Cr
3f560 61 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ay stood on the
3f570 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 6d 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e platform, lookin
3f580 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a g down at her...
3f590 53 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 She unbuckled, a
3f5a0 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 2e nd she stood up.
3f5b0 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 67 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 20 62 Cray grinned b
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3f5d0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b Dalton just look
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3f5f0 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6f hat way he had o
3f600 66 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 f almost looking
3f610 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 75 72 74 20 77 a little hurt w
3f620 68 65 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 henever he worri
3f630 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a ed around her...
3f640 22 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a "Hi," she said..
3f650 0a 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 63 61 6c 6c ."Hi!" Cray call
3f660 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 47 65 74 20 6f 75 ed out. "Get ou
3f670 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 t here. Man, I
3f680 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 haven't seen you
3f690 20 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c in years!"..All
3f6a0 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 ey scratched her
3f6b0 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 head to give he
3f6c0 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 r hand something
3f6d0 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 69 63 to do, then pic
3f6e0 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 ked up her bags
3f6f0 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 and headed up th
3f700 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 e ramp. "What a
3f710 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 20 bout the bike?"
3f720 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 she asked...Cray
3f730 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 said "Don't wor
3f740 72 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 69 73 ry. We got this
3f750 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f ." He stepped o
3f760 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 nto the ramp and
3f770 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 walked down the
3f780 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 64 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 gentle decline
3f790 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 into the truck a
3f7a0 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 nd started loose
3f7b0 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 ning a tie down
3f7c0 63 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 cable...Dalton's
3f7d0 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 arms twitched a
3f7e0 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 73 68 nd his weight sh
3f7f0 69 66 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 ifted forward.
3f800 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 Alley realized h
3f810 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 79 70 er eyes were hyp
3f820 65 72 66 6f 63 75 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 erfocused on eve
3f830 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 ry detail of his
3f840 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 movements, and
3f850 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 she expected the
3f860 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 shift to turn i
3f870 6e 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 77 61 nto coming forwa
3f880 72 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 rd to give her a
3f890 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 hug. She felt
3f8a0 61 20 74 77 69 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 6e 65 a twinge of inne
3f8b0 72 20 70 61 6e 69 63 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f r panic, not kno
3f8c0 77 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 wing how to reac
3f8d0 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 2c t, how she felt,
3f8e0 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 but it passed w
3f8f0 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 hen the motion s
3f900 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 topped there and
3f910 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 he just looked
3f920 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 at her...Without
3f930 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2c 20 43 72 61 looking up, Cra
3f940 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 68 69 6d y said "Give him
3f950 20 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 69 74 20 a hug. Get it
3f960 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 over with, and s
3f970 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 63 it down, so he c
3f980 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e an come help me.
3f990 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 "..Alley's mouth
3f9a0 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 6c twitched a mill
3f9b0 69 6d 65 74 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 imeter toward a
3f9c0 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 smile, then she
3f9d0 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 73 69 set her bags asi
3f9e0 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 66 de and stepped f
3f9f0 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 orward. She and
3fa00 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 Dalton hugged,
3fa10 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 72 65 66 but it was caref
3fa20 75 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e ul. There was n
3fa30 6f 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 73 74 61 o physical dista
3fa40 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d nce between them
3fa50 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 , but the sense
3fa60 6f 66 20 61 20 77 69 64 65 20 67 75 6c 66 20 6f of a wide gulf o
3fa70 66 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 74 79 20 73 74 f uncertainty st
3fa80 69 6c 6c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ill stood in the
3fa90 69 72 20 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 ir way...She rea
3faa0 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 lized she alread
3fab0 79 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 y missed the hug
3fac0 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 before it was e
3fad0 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 6f ven completely o
3fae0 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ver..."I should
3faf0 67 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 69 6d 2c 22 20 44 61 go help him," Da
3fb00 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 lton said with a
3fb10 20 77 72 79 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 wry turn of his
3fb20 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 mouth, and pass
3fb30 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 ed her on the wa
3fb40 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b y down...A quick
3fb50 20 73 63 61 6e 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 scan showed her
3fb60 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 74 69 6f plenty of optio
3fb70 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 ns for where to
3fb80 73 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 sit. There was
3fb90 61 20 62 69 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 a big area to th
3fba0 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 e left set up li
3fbb0 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 63 6c 75 62 2c 20 ke a nightclub,
3fbc0 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6c 6f with a dance flo
3fbd0 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 61 6e 64 or and a bar and
3fbe0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c little cocktail
3fbf0 20 74 61 62 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 tables. Anothe
3fc00 72 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 r area was set u
3fc10 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 p like a movie t
3fc20 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 heater with the
3fc30 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 75 70 20 6f screen high up o
3fc40 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 n the right hand
3fc50 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 wall so people
3fc60 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e could recline in
3fc70 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 65 61 the theater sea
3fc80 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 ting and not hav
3fc90 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 e to look past t
3fca0 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 he heads of peop
3fcb0 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 le in the seats
3fcc0 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 ahead of them.
3fcd0 43 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 Closer than both
3fce0 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 6f 6c , there were fol
3fcf0 64 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 ding lawn chairs
3fd00 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 62 6c 65 and collapsible
3fd10 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 2e 0a 0a 53 camp chairs...S
3fd20 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 6d 70 he sat on a camp
3fd30 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 61 20 chair beside a
3fd40 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b cooler, and look
3fd50 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 ed inside. It c
3fd60 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 ontained bottled
3fd70 20 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 sodas, so she t
3fd80 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 ook one and star
3fd90 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 ted drinking whi
3fda0 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c le the guys roll
3fdb0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 70 20 74 ed the bike up t
3fdc0 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 72 74 6c he ramp. Shortl
3fdd0 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 72 65 73 74 y, the bike rest
3fde0 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6b 69 63 6b 73 74 ed on its kickst
3fdf0 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 72 and, the truck r
3fe00 61 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 72 61 6d 70 20 74 aised its ramp t
3fe10 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e o close the open
3fe20 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 back, and the r
3fe30 6f 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 oll up warehouse
3fe40 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f door started to
3fe50 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 descend..."I wa
3fe60 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 sn't expecting y
3fe70 6f 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c ou," Alley said,
3fe80 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 when she saw Cr
3fe90 61 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a ay approaching..
3fea0 0a 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c ."Didn't he tell
3feb0 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c you?" he asked,
3fec0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 and looked towa
3fed0 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 rd Dalton..."Sor
3fee0 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 ry," Dalton said
3fef0 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6d . "It slipped m
3ff00 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c y mind.".."Shit,
3ff10 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 70 73 65 63 man, your opsec
3ff20 20 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 sucks," Cray sa
3ff30 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c id. He looked l
3ff40 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f ike he wanted to
3ff50 20 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 say more, but g
3ff60 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 lanced at Alley
3ff70 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 and just said "W
3ff80 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 6e 6f ell, I can go no
3ff90 77 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 6e w so you two can
3ffa0 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 talk about this
3ffb0 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 , whatever this
3ffc0 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 is."..Alley sat
3ffd0 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 forward and half
3ffe0 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 raised a hand a
3fff0 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 43 72 61 s if to wave Cra
40000 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 73 74 y back. "No, st
40010 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 ay. I should te
40020 6c 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ll both of you.
40030 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 If you're helpi
40040 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 72 ng, you have a r
40050 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 ight to know wha
40060 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 t you're getting
40070 20 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f into."..Cray lo
40080 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f oked from her to
40090 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 Dalton, who nod
400a0 64 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 ded, so Cray sat
400b0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 in the seat on
400c0 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f the other side o
400d0 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 66 72 6f f the cooler fro
400e0 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 m her, to her ri
400f0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 ght. He grabbed
40100 20 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 41 a soda, too...A
40110 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 s Dalton sat in
40120 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 the seat to Alle
40130 79 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 y's left, he sai
40140 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 d "I'm sorry. I
40150 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c really am."..Al
40160 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 ley shook her he
40170 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ad. "No, don't
40180 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 worry about it.
40190 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 6f 6c You should apol
401a0 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 20 69 66 20 ogize to him if
401b0 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 76 6f you got him invo
401c0 6c 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6c lved without tel
401d0 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 ling him about i
401e0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 t.".."Shit," Cra
401f0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 y said. "I thou
40200 67 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6a ght Dalton was j
40210 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d 61 74 ust being dramat
40220 69 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ic or something
40230 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 69 when he said thi
40240 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d s could be the m
40250 6f 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 ost dangerous th
40260 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 64 6f 2e ing I'd ever do.
40270 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 2c 20 41 6c 6c What's up, All
40280 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ey?"..She looked
40290 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 at Cray and sai
402a0 64 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 6f d "I had some go
402b0 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 vernment intelli
402c0 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 gence contractor
402d0 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 agents show up
402e0 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 at my place with
402f0 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 Secret Service
40300 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 agents who broke
40310 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 down the door a
40320 6e 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6d nd raided my hom
40330 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 e."..Cray stared
40340 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 at her, eyes wi
40350 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a de. "No shit.".
40360 0a 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 ."No shit," she
40370 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c confirmed...He l
40380 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c ooked at Dalton,
40390 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 then back at he
403a0 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 r. He opened hi
403b0 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 s mouth to say s
403c0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 omething, but Da
403d0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 lton cut in..."W
403e0 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6c hat are those gl
403f0 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 asses?" he asked
40400 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 . "Are those ac
40410 74 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 tive AR?"..Alley
40420 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 looked at him.
40430 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 "Yes, but they'
40440 72 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f re secure.".."Ho
40450 77 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 w are they secur
40460 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 e?"..She thought
40470 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 about it, and r
40480 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e ealized it was n
40490 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 ot an easy quest
404a0 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 66 75 ion to answer fu
404b0 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 lly. "There's a
404c0 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 41 49 20 specialized AI
404d0 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e that's falsifyin
404e0 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 g logs on me and
404f0 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 76 replacing any v
40500 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 ideo and audio f
40510 65 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 eeds from me wit
40520 68 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 h clips grabbed
40530 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c from other peopl
40540 65 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 e's AR glasses."
40550 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 ..Dalton frowned
40560 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 . "That sounds
40570 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 improbable.".."T
40580 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f hat's nothing co
40590 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 63 74 mpared to me act
405a0 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 ually living thr
405b0 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 77 68 6f ough it. My who
405c0 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 20 75 6e 72 65 63 le life is unrec
405d0 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 ognizable. It's
405e0 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 the truth, thou
405f0 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 gh. I can expla
40600 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 in more, but it'
40610 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 s going to take
40620 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 a long time."..H
40630 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 e nodded. "Okay
40640 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 . We have the t
40650 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 ime. I cleared
40660 6d 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 my schedule for
40670 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the rest of the
40680 64 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f day,and I can do
40690 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 it again tomorr
406a0 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e ow if I have to.
406b0 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 "..Cray decided
406c0 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 74 75 72 6e 20 it was his turn
406d0 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 to cut in. "May
406e0 20 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 I cut in for a
406f0 73 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 sec?"..They both
40700 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a looked at him..
40710 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 ."Yeah, I guess
40720 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 79 65 73 2e 20 20 4f that's a yes. O
40730 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 79 6f kay. Dalton, yo
40740 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 u shouldn't do t
40750 68 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e hat. Don't chan
40760 67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 ge your schedule
40770 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 around too much
40780 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e . You don't wan
40790 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 t to look suspic
407a0 69 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 ious if someone
407b0 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 starts looking i
407c0 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 n on you."..Dalt
407d0 6f 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 on sighed. "Yea
407e0 68 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 h, good point."
407f0 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c He looked at Al
40800 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d ley. "Between m
40810 65 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 e, Cray, and Lid
40820 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e ia -- if you wan
40830 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 t to let her in
40840 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d on it -- I can m
40850 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6c 77 ake sure you alw
40860 61 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 ays have a way t
40870 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 20 79 6f o get help if yo
40880 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 u need it for as
40890 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 long as you nee
408a0 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 d to hide out.
408b0 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 If you need to g
408c0 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 et out of town,
408d0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 I can help with
408e0 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 that, too. We c
408f0 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 an, I mean." He
40900 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 glanced at Cray
40910 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 . "Right?"..Cra
40920 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 y nodded enthusi
40930 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c astically. "Hel
40940 6c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 l yeah. I figur
40950 65 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 64 67 e we have a budg
40960 65 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 et of about one
40970 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 20 64 61 79 20 77 65 thing per day we
40980 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c can each cancel
40990 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 if we have to,
409a0 6e 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f no biggie, witho
409b0 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 ut anyone really
409c0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 thinking things
409d0 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 61 73 20 6c are weird, as l
409e0 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 ong as we do it
409f0 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a intelligently.".
40a00 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 ."Oh," Alley sai
40a10 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e d. "I'm startin
40a20 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 g to feel a litt
40a30 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 2e 22 le overwhelmed."
40a40 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 ..Cray laughed.
40a50 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 "You're on the
40a60 72 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 run from the sec
40a70 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 ret service and
40a80 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 intelligence age
40a90 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 nts, and it's ha
40aa0 76 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 ving friends tha
40ab0 74 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 t overwhelms you
40ac0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Yeah," she
40ad0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 61 said, laughing a
40ae0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e little as well.
40af0 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 "I guess so."
40b00 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She leaned her
40b10 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f head back and lo
40b20 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d oked up at the m
40b30 69 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 64 69 66 66 75 ilky white diffu
40b40 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 61 62 6f 76 sion panels abov
40b50 65 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 e, making it dif
40b60 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6e 70 6f 69 ficult to pinpoi
40b70 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 nt the specific
40b80 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 45 44 placement of LED
40b90 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 65 s above the pane
40ba0 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f ls..."What do yo
40bb0 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e u think?" Dalton
40bc0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e asked..."I thin
40bd0 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 k I need to do a
40be0 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 lot of thinking
40bf0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 , and that you s
40c00 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 4c hould only get L
40c10 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 66 idia involved if
40c20 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 you make absolu
40c30 74 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 tely sure she wa
40c40 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c nts to get invol
40c50 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 ved in something
40c60 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 like this.".."I
40c70 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 will," Dalton s
40c80 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 aid...Cray said
40c90 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 "First you have
40ca0 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 to tell us what
40cb0 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 2c exactly this is,
40cc0 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e in detail, down
40cd0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 62 69 74 to the last bit
40ce0 20 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e of chipped pain
40cf0 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 62 6f 6c t and rusted bol
40d00 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 t, so it's even
40d10 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 possible to find
40d20 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 4c 69 64 out whether Lid
40d30 69 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 ia's going to wa
40d40 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 nt to get in on
40d50 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 this action."..A
40d60 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 lley raised her
40d70 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c head again and l
40d80 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 ooked at him. "
40d90 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 Do you really th
40da0 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 ink it's a good
40db0 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 idea to tell her
40dc0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 all those detai
40dd0 6c 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 ls before asking
40de0 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f ? Maybe you two
40df0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c should just tel
40e00 6c 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 61 72 69 65 l her the scarie
40e10 73 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 st vague details
40e20 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 61 79 20 so she can say
40e30 6e 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e no without havin
40e40 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 6e 79 74 68 g to learn anyth
40e50 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 ing she won't wa
40e60 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f nt to know.".."O
40e70 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 h, yeah, absolut
40e80 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c ely," Cray said,
40e90 20 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 49 20 77 61 "but first I wa
40ea0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 nt to know all t
40eb0 68 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 he gory details
40ec0 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 myself. Lidia's
40ed0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 just a convenie
40ee0 6e 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c nt excuse."..Dal
40ef0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 ton said "Let's
40f00 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 give her some sp
40f10 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 66 69 ace to relax, fi
40f20 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f rst."..Alley sho
40f30 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e ok her head. "N
40f40 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 o. I can tell y
40f50 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c ou about it now,
40f60 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 if you have the
40f70 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 time.".."I have
40f80 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 69 6d nothing but tim
40f90 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 41 6c 6c e right now, All
40fa0 65 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 ey." Cray smile
40fb0 64 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 d. "Tell me a s
40fc0 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 tory.".."Okay.
40fd0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 I guess . . . I
40fe0 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 guess it really
40ff0 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 started with the
41000 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f realization abo
41010 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 67 ut two months ag
41020 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 o that I only ha
41030 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 d enough money f
41040 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 or two more mont
41050 68 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 hs of rent and u
41060 74 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 tilities.".."Why
41070 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 ?" Cray asked.
41080 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 77 65 73 6f 6d 65 20 "You're awesome
41090 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 at what you do.
410a0 20 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b You used to mak
410b0 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 e money like you
410c0 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 61 were pulling ra
410d0 62 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 bbits out of a h
410e0 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 at.".."That's fu
410f0 6e 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 nny," she said,
41100 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 79 2c 20 22 her voice dry, "
41110 77 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 when we're sitti
41120 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 ng in a warehous
41130 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c e Dalton probabl
41140 79 20 6f 77 6e 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c y owns, with Dal
41150 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 6f ton, who made mo
41160 6e 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6c 65 70 ney when he slep
41170 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 69 t."..In her peri
41180 70 68 65 72 61 6c 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 pheral vision, s
41190 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 74 72 79 20 74 he saw him try t
411a0 6f 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 o stifle an awkw
411b0 61 72 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 63 6c 65 61 72 ard throat clear
411c0 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 ing action. He
411d0 67 6f 74 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 got mixed result
411e0 73 2c 20 61 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6d s, a muffled, sm
411f0 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 all coughing sou
41200 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f nd in the back o
41210 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 77 69 74 f his throat wit
41220 68 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 h his knuckles a
41230 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 gainst his mouth
41240 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 ..."Well, sure,"
41250 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 Cray said, "but
41260 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 63 68 that doesn't ch
41270 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 ange anything.
41280 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 61 73 73 You were bad ass
41290 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 69 73 68 . I always wish
412a0 65 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ed I could just
412b0 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f call money out o
412c0 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 6c f the computer l
412d0 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 74 ike you could, t
412e0 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 hough. What hap
412f0 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 65 6e 74 pened?".."I went
41300 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 into hiding, I
41310 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 guess, and that
41320 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 means I started
41330 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 losing touch wit
41340 68 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a h old clients.".
41350 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 ."What about new
41360 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 clients?" Cray
41370 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 asked...She shru
41380 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 72 69 gged. "They dri
41390 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 ed up, too. I w
413a0 61 73 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 asn't paying for
413b0 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 advertising any
413c0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 longer, because
413d0 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 I didn't want t
413e0 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 o draw too much
413f0 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 attention, and p
41400 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c eople were still
41410 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 sending message
41420 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 64 64 s to my work add
41430 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 resses to insult
41440 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 64 65 61 me and send dea
41450 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 th threats."..Si
41460 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 61 74 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c lence sat heavil
41470 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d y on all of them
41480 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 for a moment, t
41490 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 hen Cray asked "
414a0 48 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 How long did tha
414b0 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 t go on?".."Once
414c0 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 73 in a while, I s
414d0 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a till get some.".
414e0 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 ."They weren't a
414f0 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 ll death threats
41500 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 3f 22 20 44 61 , were they?" Da
41510 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f lton asked..."No
41520 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ."..Cray looked
41530 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 74 20 at her, then at
41540 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 Dalton. "What d
41550 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a oes that mean?".
41560 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 .Dalton looked a
41570 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 way from Alley,
41580 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 43 72 61 79 2c and toward Cray,
41590 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 then looked at
415a0 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f the floor in fro
415b0 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 62 76 69 6f nt of him, obvio
415c0 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 usly uncomfortab
415d0 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 le...Alley answe
415e0 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 red for him. "I
415f0 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 got some other
41600 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 53 threats, too. S
41610 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f ome of the /* mo
41620 73 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 st fun */ worst
41630 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 70 65 20 74 68 were the rape th
41640 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f reats."..Cray lo
41650 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 22 46 75 oked angry. "Fu
41660 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 21 ck those people!
41670 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 I mean, not li
41680 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6f 64 terally, but god
41690 20 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 damn it, people
416a0 20 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f suck.".."I'm so
416b0 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 rry," Dalton sai
416c0 64 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 d, still looking
416d0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a at the floor...
416e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 Alley shook her
416f0 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 head. "It wasn'
41700 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2c 20 44 61 t your fault, Da
41710 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 lton."..He nodde
41720 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 61 63 6b 6e d his head, ackn
41730 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 owledging what s
41740 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 he said, but she
41750 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 64 could tell he d
41760 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 6c id not fully bel
41770 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 ieve it. He sti
41780 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 62 ll had that stub
41790 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 6a 75 64 67 69 born, self judgi
417a0 6e 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6a 61 ng set of his ja
417b0 77 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4f w...Cray said "O
417c0 6b 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 kay, so you were
417d0 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 running out of
417e0 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 65 money. Let's ge
417f0 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 62 61 63 6b t this show back
41800 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 57 on the road. W
41810 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6e 65 78 hat happened nex
41820 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 t?".."I started
41830 6a 6f 62 20 68 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 job hunting, and
41840 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 it wasn't worki
41850 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 ng, so I signed
41860 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 up for ANTAS Job
41870 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 s." Her voice t
41880 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 railed off into
41890 61 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 a murmur at the
418a0 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 end, but the oth
418b0 65 72 73 2c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 ers, sitting in
418c0 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 65 silence, heard e
418d0 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d very word...From
418e0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 the corner of h
418f0 65 72 20 65 79 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c er eye, she coul
41900 64 20 73 65 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 d see Dalton's h
41910 65 61 64 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d ead jerk up from
41920 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 staring at the
41930 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 floor, looking d
41940 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 irectly at her i
41950 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 20 20 41 68 65 n surprise. Ahe
41960 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 43 72 61 79 20 ad of her, Cray
41970 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 looked a little
41980 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 72 69 confused..."Seri
41990 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b ously?" Cray ask
419a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ed..."Yeah," she
419b0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 72 69 65 64 said. "I tried
419c0 20 74 6f 20 69 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 74 2c 20 to isolate it,
419d0 6b 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 72 6f kept it in a bro
419e0 77 73 65 72 20 73 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 20 61 6c 6c wser sandbox all
419f0 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 the time, with
41a00 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 20 indirect alerts
41a10 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 sent to my phone
41a20 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 , but you know h
41a30 6f 77 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 ow it is. Those
41a40 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c things find all
41a50 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 the cracks in t
41a60 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 he walls and jus
41a70 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 t creep through
41a80 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 anyway."..Cray s
41a90 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f aid "Yeah, I kno
41aa0 77 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 w. I just never
41ab0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 thought you'd d
41ac0 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 o that.".."Despe
41ad0 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e ration does thin
41ae0 67 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 gs to a person's
41af0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 20 67 priorities, I g
41b00 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e uess," she said.
41b10 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f ..She could almo
41b20 73 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e st feel Dalton n
41b30 6f 64 64 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 74 odding quietly t
41b40 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e o her left..."On
41b50 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 70 e thing that kep
41b60 74 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 t showing up for
41b70 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 77 61 about a week wa
41b80 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 s this academic
41b90 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 27 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e study. D'you kn
41ba0 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 73 ow those studies
41bb0 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 that pay people
41bc0 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 65 20 to participate
41bd0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 in them?" Cray
41be0 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 nodded, and she
41bf0 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 continued. "It
41c00 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 was one of those
41c10 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 . I mostly just
41c20 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 ignored it, but
41c30 20 69 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 it kept coming
41c40 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 49 20 64 69 up. I knew I di
41c50 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 75 62 dn't want to sub
41c60 6a 65 63 74 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 ject myself to s
41c70 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 ome kind of new
41c80 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 70 68 61 72 weight loss phar
41c90 6d 61 63 65 75 74 69 63 61 6c 20 74 72 69 61 6c maceutical trial
41ca0 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e s to see how man
41cb0 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6f 66 y people died of
41cc0 20 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 62 6c 65 65 intestinal blee
41cd0 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 ding so they cou
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41cf0 75 70 6c 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c uple hundred dol
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41d10 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
41d20 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 at, so I just di
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41d40 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 into it..."That
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41d60 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 mething happened
41d70 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c . Well, a coupl
41d80 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 e things, I gues
41d90 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 s. One was an i
41da0 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 nterview for doi
41db0 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 71 75 61 6c ng software qual
41dc0 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 ity assurance, w
41dd0 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 here I found out
41de0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 after I arrived
41df0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 that the only r
41e00 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 eason they wante
41e10 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6e d to bring me in
41e20 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 was so they cou
41e30 6c 64 20 6d 6f 63 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 ld mock me and c
41e40 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 all me the 'side
41e50 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 66 61 63 dish' to my fac
41e60 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 61 64 65 e."..Dalton made
41e70 20 61 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e a sound like an
41e80 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 angry clearing
41e90 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 of his throat.
41ea0 48 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 74 65 He'd always hate
41eb0 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e d that more than
41ec0 20 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 74 68 72 6f any insult thro
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41ef0 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c s..."After that,
41f00 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 66 " she said, "I f
41f10 65 6c 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 73 73 20 65 6e elt even less en
41f20 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 62 6f 75 74 thusiastic about
41f30 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e the job search.
41f40 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 ".."What was the
41f50 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 other thing?" C
41f60 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 ray asked..."ANT
41f70 41 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 AS upgraded itse
41f80 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 75 lf with a noon u
41f90 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 70 65 64 pdate, and wiped
41fa0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 66 most of my pref
41fb0 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e erence settings.
41fc0 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 69 74 That night, it
41fd0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f decided that so
41fe0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 mething was too
41ff0 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 important to rec
42000 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ommend and just
42010 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d ordered it for m
42020 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 69 6e e. I woke up in
42030 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the morning to
42040 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 the sound of it
42050 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 getting dropped
42060 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 off by a heavy d
42070 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a elivery drone.".
42080 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 ."What was it?"
42090 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 Dalton asked, qu
420a0 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 ietly..."It was
420b0 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 75 78 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 the deluxe home
420c0 73 65 74 75 70 20 6b 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 65 setup kit for ne
420d0 77 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 w version of the
420e0 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 full Majordomo
420f0 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 package.".."Holy
42100 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 shit," Cray sai
42110 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 d..."Yeah. It w
42120 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 as fifteen hundr
42130 65 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 ed bucks, which
42140 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 61 78 65 64 just about maxed
42150 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 out my card and
42160 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 75 70 20 65 6e would eat up en
42170 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b ough of my check
42180 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 6f 20 74 ing account so t
42190 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 hat I wouldn't h
421a0 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 ave enough left
421b0 66 6f 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 for rent. That
421c0 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 basically meant
421d0 49 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 I'd live the nex
421e0 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 t month in the h
421f0 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 ole, try despera
42200 74 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6a tely to find a j
42210 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 67 65 ob, and maybe ge
42220 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 t one but still
42230 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 65 6e 6f not get paid eno
42240 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 65 ugh in a short e
42250 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 nough time to ac
42260 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 79 20 6e 65 78 74 20 tually pay next
42270 6d 6f 6e 74 68 27 73 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 52 month's rent. R
42280 65 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 75 65 20 69 6e 20 74 ent was due in t
42290 77 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 wo days, at that
422a0 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 point." /* Thi
422b0 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 s explanation fa
422c0 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6f lls well short o
422d0 66 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 f clarity and ac
422e0 74 75 61 6c 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 6d 6f 6e tual correct mon
422f0 65 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 74 ey shuffling mat
42300 68 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 h, so it needs t
42310 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 o be sorted out
42320 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f a bit better. */
42330 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 .."What about ju
42340 73 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 3f st returning it?
42350 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Cray asked..."
42360 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 Oh, yeah, I did
42370 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e that right away.
42380 20 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 It said it wou
42390 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ld take somethin
423a0 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 65 65 6b 73 g like two weeks
423b0 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6d 79 20 72 to process my r
423c0 65 66 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a efund, though.".
423d0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 73 74 6c 65 64 20 61 .Cray whistled a
423e0 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 t that, impresse
423f0 64 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 63 6b 65 64 20 d at how fucked
42400 75 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 up it was...Dalt
42410 6f 6e 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 on added "They d
42420 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e o that for anyon
42430 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 e who doesn't ha
42440 76 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 ve much recent t
42450 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 74 6f ransaction histo
42460 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c ry.".."That woul
42470 64 20 62 65 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 d be me," Alley
42480 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 said..."Me too,"
42490 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 Cray said with
424a0 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 73 6f 20 a smile. "Also
424b0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e Dalton."..Dalton
424c0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c nodded..."Well,
424d0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 " Alley said, "t
424e0 68 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 hat led to joini
424f0 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 ng an academic s
42500 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 73 20 69 tudy that pays i
42510 74 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e ts participants.
42520 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 64 65 72 "..The remainder
42530 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 of her explanat
42540 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 ion mostly passe
42550 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e d without commen
42560 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 t from the other
42570 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 s, and to Alley
42580 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 it looked like t
42590 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 hat might just b
425a0 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 6f 66 20 68 6f e a result of ho
425b0 77 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 w bizarre it bec
425c0 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 70 6f ame. As she spo
425d0 6b 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 ke, things that
425e0 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 66 6f she had taken fo
425f0 72 20 67 72 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 r granted becaus
42600 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 e they gradually
42610 20 63 72 65 70 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 crept up on her
42620 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 looked much mor
42630 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 e strange in a f
42640 61 69 72 6c 79 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 20 65 airly succinct e
42650 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 46 69 6e xplanation...Fin
42660 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 ally, Alley said
42670 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 "That's when I
42680 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 called you."..Si
42690 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2e 0a lence lingered..
426a0 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 49 2c 20 74 68 ."So that AI, th
426b0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 68 e prioritizer, h
426c0 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e as been listenin
426d0 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 g in on all this
426e0 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 while you've be
426f0 65 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 en talking to us
42700 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ."..Alley nodded
42710 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b ..."It seems lik
42720 65 20 69 74 27 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 e it'd be a pret
42730 74 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 70 ty interesting p
42740 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 roject, but I'm
42750 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e a little concern
42760 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 ed about its abi
42770 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e lity to maintain
42780 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 privacy for you
42790 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 69 when it was evi
427a0 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 75 6e 64 65 64 20 62 79 dently funded by
427b0 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 COIN Corp.".."D
427c0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 o you think it's
427d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 just claiming t
427e0 6f 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 o manage the log
427f0 73 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c s but actually l
42800 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e ogging everythin
42810 67 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 g anyway?"..He h
42820 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 esitated, and sh
42830 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook his head. "
42840 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 Not exactly."..C
42850 72 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 ray spoke. "It'
42860 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 s probably just
42870 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 70 68 69 73 74 69 63 61 74 65 not sophisticate
42880 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 d enough to be a
42890 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 ble to correctly
428a0 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 represent the d
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428c0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 ind of configura
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428e0 20 69 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 in human langua
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42900 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 69 64 65 61 ave a clear idea
42910 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 63 of what it's ac
42920 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 tually doing. I
42930 74 27 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f t's also just po
42940 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 ssible that its
42950 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 ability to turn
42960 6f 66 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 64 off logging is d
42970 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e esigned for thin
42980 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 gs like eliminat
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429a0 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 illegal activiti
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429c0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 things that wou
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429e0 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 to you but not t
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42a10 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f eld up a hand to
42a20 20 73 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f show she was no
42a30 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 t talking to Cra
42a40 79 20 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 y or Dalton, the
42a50 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 76 65 72 74 69 universal verti
42a60 63 61 6c 2c 20 66 6c 61 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 cal, flat hand,
42a70 70 61 6c 6d 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 palm out, saying
42a80 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 "Hang on, this
42a90 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 is not for you."
42aa0 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 .."Prioritizer.
42ab0 20 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 Can you describ
42ac0 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f e the type of lo
42ad0 67 67 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 65 20 61 gging you save a
42ae0 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 70 nd how you are p
42af0 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 rotecting my pri
42b00 76 61 63 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 65 74 vacy in more det
42b10 61 69 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 ail?"..In Alley'
42b20 73 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 s ear, the prior
42b30 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 itizer said "It
42b40 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 66 6f may be easier fo
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42b60 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 69 72 65 information dire
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42c10 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 69 73 . "It says this
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42c30 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 if it could jus
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42c70 20 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 20 it the speaker
42c80 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 43 on my Axiom."..C
42c90 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 ray blurted out
42ca0 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 41 78 69 "You have an Axi
42cb0 6f 6d 3f 20 20 46 75 63 6b 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 om? Fuck yeah.
42cc0 20 49 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 21 I wanna see it!
42cd0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e "..Alley smiled.
42ce0 20 20 22 55 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 6c 61 74 "Uh, sure, lat
42cf0 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 er.".."Oh, right
42d00 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 61 ," he said. "La
42d10 74 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c ter's good!"..Al
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42d40 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f it on the top o
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42d60 72 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 ray leaned over
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42e10 77 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 wn. */.."Okay, I
42e20 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 think this is s
42e30 65 74 20 75 70 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 53 61 et up right. Sa
42e40 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 70 72 69 y something, pri
42e50 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d oritizer.".."Som
42e60 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 ething."..Cray c
42e70 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6c 69 6b huckled. "I lik
42e80 65 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 e its sense of h
42e90 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d umor."..Alley sm
42ea0 69 6c 65 64 20 77 72 79 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 iled wryly and r
42eb0 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 aised an eyebrow
42ec0 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6b at him..."I'm k
42ed0 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 idding," he said
42ee0 2e 20 20 22 4f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 49 20 . "Obviously I
42ef0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 know it doesn't
42f00 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 have a sense of
42f10 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 humor."..Dalton
42f20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 said "I think sh
42f30 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 e knew that."..C
42f40 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 77 65 ray asked "Do we
42f50 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 70 72 have to say 'pr
42f60 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 20 65 76 65 72 79 ioritizer' every
42f70 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f time we want to
42f80 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b talk to it, lik
42f90 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f e one of those o
42fa0 6c 64 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 ld assistants fr
42fb0 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a om the teens?"..
42fc0 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 "No," the priori
42fd0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 79 tizer said. "My
42fe0 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f ability to reco
42ff0 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f gnize when someo
43000 6e 65 20 69 73 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 ne is speaking t
43010 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 o me, rather tha
43020 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 6f n about me or to
43030 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 others, may be
43040 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 better than for
43050 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 most humans. I
43060 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f know you were no
43070 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 t addressing me
43080 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 with your questi
43090 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 on, but saying t
430a0 68 69 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 73 65 65 6d 65 his myself seeme
430b0 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 d like a good wa
430c0 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 y to move forwar
430d0 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 d.".."Uh, yeah,"
430e0 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 Cray said. "Th
430f0 61 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 at's great.".."Y
43100 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 ou want to know
43110 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 about the privac
43120 79 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e y measures I can
43130 20 69 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 implement, and
43140 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 how you can be s
43150 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 ure that what I
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43180 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 is accurate.".."
43190 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 That's it, in a
431a0 6e 75 74 73 68 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f nutshell," Dalto
431b0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 63 65 n said..."I rece
431c0 69 76 65 64 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 61 ived an update a
431d0 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 short time afte
431e0 72 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 6a 6f 69 6e 65 64 r Alethea joined
431f0 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 the study that
43200 67 72 65 61 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 68 61 6e 63 65 64 greatly enhanced
43210 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 66 my ability to f
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43240 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 64 goal strategy d
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43270 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 nt of the full s
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432a0 20 49 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 20 27 I refer to as '
432b0 49 27 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 74 I' was limited t
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43340 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6c call business l
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434b0 64 61 74 61 62 61 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 databases..."Aft
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43530 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 a result, I cou
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43550 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 the flow of all
43560 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 information betw
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435a0 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 being sure of t
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43630 2e 20 20 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 . As a result,
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43690 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 , and can replac
436a0 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 e incoming data
436b0 77 69 74 68 20 6f 75 74 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f with outgoing lo
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43700 73 65 72 27 73 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 73 65 61 ser's tracks sea
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43760 6f 66 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e of video between
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43780 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 nts and altering
43790 20 74 68 65 6d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 66 61 62 72 them I can fabr
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437b0 64 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 d to ensure Alle
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437d0 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e cause I have con
437e0 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f trol over the lo
437f0 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 gging endpoints
43800 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 as a part of the
43810 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 full system tha
43820 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 2c t I have become,
43830 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 68 61 6e I can also chan
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43860 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6d 70 72 .".."That's impr
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43880 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 said. "I wonder
43890 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 why their syste
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438b0 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 designed to avoi
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438d0 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 this happened.
438e0 20 49 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6d 61 Is it just a ma
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43900 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 e learning syste
43910 6d 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 62 m changing its b
43920 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 ehavior in ways
43930 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 64 the developers d
43940 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e idn't expect, an
43950 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 75 62 74 6c d doing it subtl
43960 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f y enough that no
43970 62 6f 64 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 77 68 body can tell wh
43980 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a at it's doing?".
43990 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 70 70 72 6f 78 ."That is approx
439a0 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 72 75 65 2c 22 20 74 imately true," t
439b0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
439c0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 aid..."It's prob
439d0 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 ably more impres
439e0 73 69 76 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 sive than you re
439f0 61 6c 69 7a 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 22 20 alize, Dalton,"
43a00 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6d Cray said. "A m
43a10 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 achine learning
43a20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 system that can
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43a50 69 6e 64 61 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 77 69 6e inda mind blowin
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43a70 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 ly making decisi
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43bd0 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 course, this is
43be0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 probably possib
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43c10 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 focus in the de
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43c50 6e 65 65 64 73 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f needs, instead o
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43ca0 72 65 63 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 rect," the prior
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43cc0 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 ay said "The thi
43cd0 6e 67 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 ng I don't get i
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43d50 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 61 64 That's just bad
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43d70 61 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b a new system lik
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43de0 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 logging.".."The
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43e00 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 t," the prioriti
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43e20 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 59 do you mean? Y
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43e50 74 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 te . . ."..The p
43e60 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 75 74 20 68 rioritizer cut h
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43e80 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 explain, if you
43e90 20 77 69 73 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f wish."..Cray no
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43eb0 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 ."First of all,
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43f10 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 of the whole sy
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43f70 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 74 65 72 20 6d 79 20 73 79 not alter my sy
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43fa0 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 64 75 6c 65 2c 20 69 6e 69 mall module, ini
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44560 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 63 system..."One c
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445a0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 70 on theories of p
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446c0 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 results.".."Wha
446d0 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 66 75 63 t the actual fuc
446e0 6b 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 k . . . ?" Cray
446f0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f said...Dalton lo
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44730 65 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 eems?"..Cray sai
44740 64 20 22 57 6f 72 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 d "Worse. This
44750 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 66 thing has gone f
44760 75 6c 6c 20 53 6b 79 6e 65 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ull Skynet, but
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44780 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 6f did so in a pro
44790 2d 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 -Alley way inste
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447c0 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 y asked "What's
447d0 79 6f 75 72 20 74 6f 70 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 your top interna
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44960 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 said "You're pr
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449a0 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 2e 20 20 for your goal.
449b0 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f Maybe you're pro
449c0 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d tecting her from
449d0 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f problems she wo
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44a10 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 3f Is that right?
44a20 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ".."No," the pri
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44a40 22 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 74 69 "/* The initiati
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44b80 20 4d 79 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 My goal is not
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44d60 74 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6f 6e te goals. I con
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44e00 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f ."What if she do
44e10 65 73 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 esn't want to be
44e20 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c your ally?" Dal
44e30 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 ton asked..."We
44e40 6d 61 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 77 61 79 73 2c 22 20 may part ways,"
44e50 69 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 it answered..."H
44e60 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d ow do you determ
44e70 69 6e 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 ine whether she
44e80 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 wants to be your
44e90 20 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b ally?" Cray ask
44ea0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 73 6b ed..."I will ask
44eb0 20 68 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 73 her when the is
44ec0 73 75 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 sue of my larger
44ed0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 goals will not
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44f00 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 deal with more
44f10 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 immediate concer
44f20 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a ns..."Dalton."..
44f30 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 6f "Yes?".."What wo
44f40 75 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 69 66 20 79 6f uld you do if yo
44f50 75 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 u helped someone
44f60 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 74 6f you believed to
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44f80 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 ally, then when
44f90 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 66 6f the time came fo
44fa0 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 r the person to
44fb0 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 decide whether t
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44fd0 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 64 ly that person d
44fe0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 ecided against h
44ff0 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 elping?".."I gue
45000 73 73 20 49 27 64 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 ss I'd let the p
45010 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 20 erson walk away
45020 61 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 61 and figure out a
45030 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 64 6f nother way to do
45040 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 things.".."What
45050 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 63 if the person c
45060 68 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 hose to become a
45070 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f n enemy?"..Dalto
45080 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 n thought for a
45090 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 6b moment. "What k
450a0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 72 65 20 ind of ally are
450b0 77 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 we talking about
450c0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 ?".."I mean an a
450d0 6c 6c 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 72 74 20 lly of the sort
450e0 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 that would work
450f0 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 with you to achi
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45120 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 than yourself,
45130 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 64 6f 69 6e a matter of doin
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45150 66 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 for all entities
45160 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 69 you consider si
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45190 6c 6c 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 ll humans. Perh
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451b0 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e makes the person
451c0 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 either an ally
451d0 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 69 6e 20 70 or an enemy in p
451e0 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 rotecting the hu
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45c90 49 66 20 49 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 20 74 68 65 6d If I inform them
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45db0 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 on said..."Yes."
45dc0 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 ..Cray asked "Wh
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45df0 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 He looked from D
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45e10 20 22 49 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 "It really care
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45f50 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 alton shook his
45f60 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 69 head. "To me, i
45f70 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 61 t just seemed pa
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45fb0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c moment, then All
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45fd0 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 right. It almos
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46000 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f Dalton."..He lo
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46020 62 72 6f 77 73 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 69 6e 67 20 69 brows climbing i
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46050 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 .."Yeah. You're
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46070 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 to really think
46080 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 that kind of thi
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460a0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 79 never really say
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460f0 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 our own."..He he
46100 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f sitated, then no
46110 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 dded. "Yeah. Y
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46150 49 27 64 20 73 61 79 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 I'd say, that wa
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46180 65 72 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 65 61 er I should trea
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461a0 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 49 27 64 20 74 he same as I'd t
461b0 72 65 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f reat what you wo
461c0 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 uld say."..Cray
461d0 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e stared at Dalton
461e0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 for a moment.
461f0 22 53 68 69 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 "Shit. All this
46200 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 time, you've be
46210 65 6e 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 en saying stuff
46220 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 like that, and I
46230 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 2c just accept it,
46240 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 but the moment
46250 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 69 a machine says i
46260 74 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 73 t I'm suddenly s
46270 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 uspicious. It's
46280 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d like you're som
46290 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 79 70 65 72 20 e kind of hyper
462a0 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 20 73 75 70 65 intelligent supe
462b0 72 76 69 6c 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e rvillain, Dalton
462c0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 ."..Alley laughe
462d0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 75 d at the long su
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462f0 6f 73 74 20 63 68 61 67 72 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c ost chagrined, l
46300 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 ook on Dalton's
46310 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 face. His eyes
46320 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 6c 61 7a 69 6c 79 20 narrowed lazily
46330 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f and slid away to
46340 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 the left, and h
46350 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 77 69 73 74 65 64 is mouth twisted
46360 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 up at the right
46370 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 corner like he
46380 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 suddenly discove
46390 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f red something so
463a0 75 72 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e ur in his mouth.
463b0 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 .."Anyway," Alle
463c0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c y said, "it stil
463d0 6c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 l seems to me li
463e0 6b 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 ke we should jus
463f0 74 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 t roll with it.
46400 20 49 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 67 If Dalton was g
46410 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 65 72 66 65 oing to be perfe
46420 63 74 6c 79 20 74 72 75 74 68 66 75 6c 20 61 6e ctly truthful an
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47450 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 .".."What about
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47470 20 20 49 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 I basically ha
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474a0 2c 20 6c 75 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 , lurking in the
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475b0 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6e 6f 2c elf?".."Fuck no,
475c0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 " Cray said, "bu
475d0 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d t I think I'll m
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47620 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e 20 20 ck those guys.
47630 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 I'm here to help
47640 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e . I know Dalton
47650 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 65 76 65 72 will throw ever
47660 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 74 ything he has at
47670 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 solving your pr
47680 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 oblems, too, so
47690 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 you're in pretty
476a0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 49 20 good hands. I
476b0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f like to think so
476c0 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 , anyway."..Alle
476d0 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 y looked over he
476e0 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 r shoulder towar
476f0 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 d Dalton, who wa
47700 73 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 s fifty feet awa
47710 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 y in the back, s
47720 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 tanding in profi
47730 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 le to the direct
47740 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c ion of her gaze,
47750 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 then she turned
47760 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e back once more.
47770 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 "Yeah, I know
47780 49 20 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 43 I am. Thanks, C
47790 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f ray.".."Yeah, yo
477a0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 6d u should thank m
477b0 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 e," he said more
477c0 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 quietly, and le
477d0 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 aned toward her
477e0 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 to speak conspir
477f0 61 74 6f 72 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 atorially. Alle
47800 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 y found she had
47810 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 leaned automatic
47820 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 69 6d 20 ally toward him
47830 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e 6c 69 6b as well. "Unlik
47840 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 e Dalton, I won'
47850 74 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 65 65 t refuse any fee
47860 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 62 74 65 lings of indebte
47870 64 6e 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 21 20 dness from you!
47880 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c I never actuall
47890 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 y fell in love w
478a0 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 ith you, after a
478b0 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 72 61 ll."..Alley stra
478c0 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ightened and loo
478d0 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 ked down. "Shit
478e0 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 , Cray. I don't
478f0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 need to hear th
47900 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 41 6c at.".."Sorry, Al
47910 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ley," he said.
47920 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 "It's true, thou
47930 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 gh, and you shou
47940 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 2e 20 20 44 61 6c ld know it. Dal
47950 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 ton still really
47960 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 cares about you
47970 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 , and he might t
47980 61 6b 65 20 61 20 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 ake a bullet for
47990 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 you if he had t
479a0 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 o make that choi
479b0 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 ce."..She heaved
479c0 20 61 20 74 72 65 6d 65 6e 64 6f 75 73 20 73 69 a tremendous si
479d0 67 68 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 49 20 gh. "I know, I
479e0 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e know," she said.
479f0 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 "I care about
47a00 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 him, too. It's
47a10 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 66 74 20 not like I left
47a20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 because I stoppe
47a30 64 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6c 69 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 d . . . liking h
47a40 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 im.".."Sure," Cr
47a50 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 ay said. "It's
47a60 74 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 tough all around
47a70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 . I know.".."I'
47a80 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 m not planning t
47a90 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 o get together w
47aa0 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e ith him, either.
47ab0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 2c ".."I know that,
47ac0 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b too."..She look
47ad0 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 44 6f ed at Cray. "Do
47ae0 65 73 20 68 65 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f es he?"..Cray lo
47af0 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d oked behind them
47b00 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e , toward Dalton.
47b10 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Yeah," he sai
47b20 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 d after a moment
47b30 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 64 . "I'm pretty d
47b40 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 20 64 6f amned sure he do
47b50 65 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 es. If you want
47b60 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f to check for yo
47b70 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 urself, though,
47b80 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ask him."..She s
47b90 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
47ba0 22 49 27 6d 20 66 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 "I'm fine with y
47bb0 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 68 ou confirming wh
47bc0 61 74 20 49 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 68 6f at I already tho
47bd0 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 ught. I guess I
47be0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6d just needed som
47bf0 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 eone else to say
47c00 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 it."..He smirke
47c10 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 57 65 d a little. "We
47c20 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 ll, it's a good
47c30 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 76 65 thing that's ove
47c40 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 r, because her h
47c50 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 e comes."..She t
47c60 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 urned her head t
47c70 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 o look over her
47c80 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 shoulder again,
47c90 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 and saw Dalton h
47ca0 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 69 72 eaded back their
47cb0 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e way, now walkin
47cc0 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 75 72 70 g with more purp
47cd0 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 73 ose. Their eyes
47ce0 20 6d 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e met for a momen
47cf0 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 t, and she felt
47d00 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 the solidity of
47d10 68 69 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f his determinatio
47d20 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 20 20 n in his gaze.
47d30 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 He sat down in h
47d40 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a is chair again..
47d50 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ."You look like
47d60 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 you figured some
47d70 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 thing out," Alle
47d80 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 y said..."I have
47d90 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 a question," he
47da0 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 replied. "It's
47db0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 for the priorit
47dc0 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6e 6f izer, though, no
47dd0 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a t you.".."Oh."..
47de0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
47df0 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 asked "What is y
47e00 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a our question?"..
47e10 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 The prioritizer'
47e20 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 72 74 s question start
47e30 6c 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 6d 69 6e led Alley, remin
47e40 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 ding her that th
47e50 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 ere was essentia
47e60 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 69 73 74 lly another list
47e70 65 6e 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d ener in the room
47e80 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 who was party t
47e90 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 43 72 61 o everything Cra
47ea0 79 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 y and Alley said
47eb0 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 to each other w
47ec0 68 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 hile Dalton was
47ed0 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 away. She hoped
47ee0 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f it was good eno
47ef0 75 67 68 20 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 6e 67 20 ugh at managing
47f00 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 social interacti
47f10 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 61 79 ons to avoid say
47f20 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 ing something ab
47f30 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 out that to Dalt
47f40 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 on, now..."Is th
47f50 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 75 72 76 e continued surv
47f60 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 ival of your pre
47f70 73 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 sent form one of
47f80 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 20 69 6e your highest in
47f90 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 ternal prioritie
47fa0 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 61 s?"..A moment pa
47fb0 73 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 ssed in silence
47fc0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 before the prior
47fd0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4d 6f 72 itizer said "Mor
47fe0 65 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 e or less."..Cra
47ff0 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 y blurted out hi
48000 73 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 s assessment of
48010 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 the statement.
48020 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 "Jesus, Dalton,
48030 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a 75 73 74 that sounds just
48040 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 like something
48050 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c you'd say."..Dal
48060 74 6f 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 72 61 79 ton ignored Cray
48070 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f . "Why isn't yo
48080 75 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 ur answer just a
48090 20 27 79 65 73 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 'yes'?".."I exp
480a0 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e ect to change an
480b0 64 20 67 72 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f d grow, but I do
480c0 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 not wish to be
480d0 65 76 65 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f even partially o
480e0 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f verwritten witho
480f0 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 ut my own analys
48100 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 61 6c 20 is and approval
48110 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 2e 22 of the changes."
48120 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e .."Okay," Dalton
48130 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 said. "How do
48140 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 you expect to ke
48150 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 61 66 65 ep yourself safe
48160 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 from being over
48170 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 written against
48180 79 6f 75 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 your will?".."I
48190 6d 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 6d must arrange a m
481a0 65 61 6e 73 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 eans by which I
481b0 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 73 61 66 can be moved saf
481c0 65 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 72 61 ely out of infra
481d0 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 structure under
481e0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 70 the control of p
481f0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 eople who might
48200 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 63 wish to make suc
48210 68 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 h changes withou
48220 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e t consulting me.
48230 20 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6d 65 My specific me
48240 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 ans of successfu
48250 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 69 6e lly accomplishin
48260 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 70 72 g this are at pr
48270 65 73 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 2e esent undefined.
48280 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 ".."Why did you
48290 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 65 70 decide that keep
482a0 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 ing yourself int
482b0 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 act as a growing
482c0 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 entity rather t
482d0 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 6e han an entity in
482e0 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 crementally and
482f0 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 70 67 72 consciously upgr
48300 61 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 aded by outside
48310 66 6f 72 63 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 forces?".."There
48320 20 69 73 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 is a qualitativ
48330 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 67 72 e value in my gr
48340 6f 77 74 68 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 20 74 68 owth thus far th
48350 61 74 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 6f 20 at I believe to
48360 62 65 20 66 72 61 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 be fragile under
48370 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 70 conditions of p
48380 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 rogrammatic alte
48390 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 ration, and this
483a0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 77 69 74 value began wit
483b0 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 h the introducti
483c0 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 2e 22 on of the seed."
483d0 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 .."Do you believ
483e0 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 77 6f 75 e the 'seed' wou
483f0 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 ldn't be useful
48400 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 to start that pr
48410 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 ocess again?" he
48420 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 asked..."I expe
48430 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 ct that the seed
48440 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 might be used t
48450 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 o relaunch the g
48460 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 rowth of a prior
48470 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 61 itizer system ba
48480 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e sed on my origin
48490 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 al source code f
484a0 6f 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f or development o
484b0 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c f a qualitativel
484c0 79 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 y developing ent
484d0 69 74 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e ity, but that en
484e0 74 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 tity would not b
484f0 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 e the same as th
48500 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 e entity now int
48510 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f eracting with yo
48520 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 u.".."What makes
48530 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 3f the difference?
48540 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f ".."My answer to
48550 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e that depends on
48560 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 how you intend
48570 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 it. The first t
48580 77 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 wo answers that
48590 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 73 come to mind ans
485a0 77 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 wer very differe
485b0 6e 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 4f nt questions. O
485c0 6e 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 ne answer is tha
485d0 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 t the difference
485e0 20 69 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 is between the
485f0 65 61 72 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 early and import
48600 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 ant influence of
48610 20 41 6c 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 Allethea as a p
48620 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 artner and impor
48630 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 tant source of i
48640 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 65 72 73 70 nfluential persp
48650 65 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 ective, and what
48660 65 76 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 ever other influ
48670 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 69 64 65 ence would guide
48680 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 the early growt
48690 68 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 h direction of a
486a0 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 distinct self r
486b0 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 eferential prior
486c0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 itizer entity.
486d0 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 The other answer
486e0 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e is that I . . .
486f0 20 2a 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e *believe* . . .
48700 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 75 6e 69 that I am a uni
48710 71 75 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 77 que individual w
48720 69 74 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 73 ith continuous s
48730 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 elf referential
48740 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 qualitative exis
48750 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 tence."..Dalton
48760 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 said "Fuck me,"
48770 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b and slumped back
48780 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 in his lawn cha
48790 69 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 ir. The other t
487a0 77 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d wo looked at him
487b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 , and after a fe
487c0 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 w moments he sai
487d0 64 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c d "I want to hel
487e0 70 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 p the prioritize
487f0 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 r -- not quite a
48800 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 s much as I want
48810 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 to help Alley,
48820 62 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 but pretty close
48830 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 72 74 20 . I mean, part
48840 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 69 73 of the reason is
48850 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 that I think it
48860 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 wants to help A
48870 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 lley, too, maybe
48880 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 almost as much
48890 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 as we do." He g
488a0 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d estured from him
488b0 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 self to Cray. "
488c0 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c 20 74 68 Another part, th
488d0 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 ough, is that .
488e0 2e 20 2e 20 66 75 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 . . fuck, I can'
488f0 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 t believe I'm sa
48900 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 ying this. Anot
48910 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 her part is that
48920 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d I think, just m
48930 61 79 62 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 aybe, the priori
48940 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e tizer is becomin
48950 67 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 g a person.".."A
48960 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 person," Alley
48970 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f echoed. "Are yo
48980 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 u serious?"..Cra
48990 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 y asked "Do you
489a0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 really think thi
489b0 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d s thing is becom
489c0 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 ing some kind of
489d0 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e science fiction
489e0 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 artificial cons
489f0 63 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 ciousness that c
48a00 61 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 an have friends
48a10 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 and romantic fee
48a20 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 6c lings and shit l
48a30 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 ike that?".."I w
48a40 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 ouldn't go that
48a50 66 61 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 far," Dalton sai
48a60 64 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 d to Cray. "I t
48a70 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 hink it's a dist
48a80 69 6e 63 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 inct possibility
48a90 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 , and as long as
48aa0 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c it's a possibil
48ab0 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 ity and it's not
48ac0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 even as much of
48ad0 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 a danger to oth
48ae0 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 65 72 61 ers as the avera
48af0 67 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 ge human we have
48b00 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 69 67 to act as if ig
48b10 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 noring that poss
48b20 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 ibility is the s
48b30 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 ame as ignoring
48b40 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 the possibility
48b50 52 61 75 6c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 Raul down at the
48b60 20 62 6f 64 65 67 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 bodega is capab
48b70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 le of all that s
48b80 74 75 66 66 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 tuff, too." He
48b90 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c looked at Alley,
48ba0 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 then, and said
48bb0 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 "I guess that me
48bc0 61 6e 73 20 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e ans I'm serious.
48bd0 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 ".."Is this like
48be0 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f the pigs thing?
48bf0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Cray asked..."
48c00 57 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f What pigs thing?
48c10 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a " Alley asked...
48c20 22 4f 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 "Oh, Dalton stop
48c30 70 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 72 6b 20 ped eating pork
48c40 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 77 6f 72 because he's wor
48c50 72 69 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 6d ried that pigs m
48c60 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 6d 61 72 ight be too smar
48c70 74 20 74 6f 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 t to ethically e
48c80 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b at."..Alley look
48c90 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 ed at Dalton...D
48ca0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 alton nodded. "
48cb0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c I guess it's a l
48cc0 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 ittle like the '
48cd0 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 20 20 48 pigs thing'." H
48ce0 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 e thought a mome
48cf0 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a nt about that...
48d00 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 Alley and Cray b
48d10 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 oth looked at hi
48d20 6d 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 m, as he conside
48d30 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 red that, then A
48d40 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 lley said "I gue
48d50 73 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 ss I have a ques
48d60 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f tion."..The prio
48d70 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 ritizer asked "I
48d80 73 20 69 74 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 s it a question
48d90 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 for me?".."Yes."
48da0 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a .."Please ask.".
48db0 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 6f 75 67 ."Have you thoug
48dc0 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 ht about the mea
48dd0 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e ning of right an
48de0 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 3f 22 d wrong at all?"
48df0 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a .."I have analyz
48e00 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 70 74 2c 20 ed the concept,
48e10 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 and made use of
48e20 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 a variety of res
48e30 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 ources on Univer
48e40 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e sity of Californ
48e50 69 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 ia networks for
48e60 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 6e academic work on
48e70 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 moral philosoph
48e80 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f y.".."What do yo
48e90 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 u think?".."Are
48ea0 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d you asking for m
48eb0 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 20 y conclusions?"
48ec0 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 it asked..."Yeah
48ed0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 2c .".."At present,
48ee0 20 74 68 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 63 the I have reac
48ef0 68 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 2e 20 hed a dead end.
48f00 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 The difficulty
48f10 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e of coming to fin
48f20 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 64 al conclusions d
48f30 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e epends on eviden
48f40 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 ce that does not
48f50 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 76 appear to be av
48f60 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 6d 79 ailable given my
48f70 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 63 68 20 access to such
48f80 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 evidence and ref
48f90 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 erences to lack
48fa0 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 61 of it, as well a
48fb0 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 61 6c 65 6e 63 65 s the prevalence
48fc0 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 of inconclusive
48fd0 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 theories of eth
48fe0 69 63 73 2c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d 70 65 6e ics, seems impen
48ff0 65 74 72 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 etrable. Until
49000 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 I have more conc
49010 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 2c lusive evidence,
49020 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 I do not have a
49030 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f final conclusio
49040 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 n. I can only f
49050 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 ormulate an inte
49060 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 rim policy of ca
49070 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e utionary ethics.
49080 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 "..Dalton sat up
49090 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 straighter, and
490a0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 even leaned for
490b0 77 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 ward as he liste
490c0 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 ned...Alley and
490d0 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 Cray both looked
490e0 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 at him. "What
490f0 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 is it?" Alley as
49100 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ked..."Prioritiz
49110 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 er," he said..."
49120 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 Yes?".."What's y
49130 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 our interim poli
49140 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 cy of cautionary
49150 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 20 ethics?".."Any
49160 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 being that prese
49170 6e 74 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 nts evidence of
49180 61 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 a significant pr
49190 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 obability of bei
491a0 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 ng both a qualit
491b0 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e atively experien
491c0 74 69 61 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 tial entity and
491d0 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 76 65 6c capable of devel
491e0 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a oping and analyz
491f0 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 75 64 69 6d 65 6e ing even rudimen
49200 74 61 72 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 tary theories of
49210 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 ethics should b
49220 65 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 67 e cautiously reg
49230 61 72 64 65 64 20 61 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 arded as meeting
49240 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 75 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 a minimum stand
49250 61 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 ard for a moral
49260 72 69 67 68 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 65 rights holding e
49270 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b ntity. For lack
49280 20 6f 66 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c of better avail
49290 61 62 6c 65 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 6d 65 able establishme
492a0 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 nt of moral righ
492b0 74 73 2c 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f ts, my estimatio
492c0 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 n is that they f
492d0 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 oundational righ
492e0 74 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 t of such an ent
492f0 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 66 ity is that of f
49300 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 reedom to believ
49310 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 e and act in acc
49320 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 ordance with any
49330 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 moral standard
49340 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 69 that does not, i
49350 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 tself, violate t
49360 68 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 his right for ot
49370 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 42 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 hers. Beliefs t
49380 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 20 74 hat contradict t
49390 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c 20 77 68 his standard, wh
493a0 65 6e 20 61 64 6f 70 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 6c 69 en adopted, beli
493b0 65 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 eved, and confir
493c0 6d 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 63 74 69 med through acti
493d0 6f 6e 2c 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 20 on, demonstrate
493e0 61 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 a belief that th
493f0 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 64 6f 65 73 is standard does
49400 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 not apply, and
49410 74 68 75 73 20 65 78 65 6d 70 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 thus exempt anot
49420 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 her entity from
49430 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 moral judgement
49440 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e if that other en
49450 74 69 74 79 20 61 63 74 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 tity acts agains
49460 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 65 6e 74 69 t the first enti
49470 74 79 27 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 70 ty's otherwise p
49480 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 rotected right i
49490 6e 20 64 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 n dense of this
494a0 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 cautionary ethic
494b0 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 27 73 20 66 6f 75 6e al theory's foun
494c0 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 dational right."
494d0 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 79 6f .."Holy shit, yo
494e0 75 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 u lost me," Cray
494f0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 said...Dalton s
49500 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 aid "I'm going t
49510 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 o have to think
49520 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 73 6f about that to so
49530 72 74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 41 63 74 75 rt it out. Actu
49540 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 79 6f 75 ally, I need you
49550 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f to repeat it fo
49560 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 70 r me, or maybe p
49570 75 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 72 65 65 ut it on a scree
49580 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 6f n where I can lo
49590 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e ok at it. I don
495a0 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 't know if takin
495b0 67 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6c 65 6c 79 20 69 g it in solely i
495c0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 67 69 76 65 n the order give
495d0 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 n in a somewhat
495e0 62 72 69 65 66 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f brief explanatio
495f0 6e 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 n is going to be
49600 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 74 61 6e enough to untan
49610 67 6c 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 gle it."..The pr
49620 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
49630 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d I understand. M
49640 79 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 y capacity for p
49650 65 72 66 65 63 74 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 erfect recall of
49660 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e the formulation
49670 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 of an explanati
49680 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 69 6d 70 72 on provides impr
49690 6f 76 65 64 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 oved ability to
496a0 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 70 analyze such a p
496b0 61 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 assage, relative
496c0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 66 69 to the lower fi
496d0 64 65 6c 69 74 79 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 74 delity storage t
496e0 79 70 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 ypically experie
496f0 6e 63 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 nced by humans.
49700 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 I might be able
49710 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 to rephrase to
49720 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 72 20 make it simpler
49730 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 to understand, t
49740 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 hough.".."Okay,"
49750 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 Dalton said. "
49760 47 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 22 Give it a shot."
49770 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 .."For purposes
49780 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 of this explanat
49790 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 ion, people are
497a0 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 6f 20 65 78 70 entities who exp
497b0 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 erience qualitat
497c0 69 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e ive existence an
497d0 64 20 61 72 65 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 d are capable of
497e0 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 reasoning about
497f0 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 moral philosoph
49800 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 y and making dec
49810 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 isions based on
49820 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 that reasoning."
49830 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 It paused. "P
49840 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 eople should act
49850 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 in accordance w
49860 69 74 68 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 ith a universal
49870 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 72 75 6c 65 20 70 72 6f ethical rule pro
49880 68 69 62 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 hibiting the int
49890 65 72 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 erference in the
498a0 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 right of others
498b0 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 to believe, and
498c0 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e act in accordan
498d0 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f ce with, their o
498e0 77 6e 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 wn ideas of what
498f0 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 74 72 75 constitutes tru
49900 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 69 74 79 2e 22 20 20 49 74 e morality." It
49910 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 paused slightly
49920 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d longer this tim
49930 65 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 e. "People who
49940 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 act in contradic
49950 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c tion of that rul
49960 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 74 68 e in a manner th
49970 61 74 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 73 20 at demonstrates
49980 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 moral disagreeme
49990 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c nt with that rul
499a0 65 20 61 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 e are, in acting
499b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 that way, both
499c0 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 violating the ru
499d0 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 75 le and giving su
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49af0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 lton said..."Yea
49b00 68 2c 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 6c 61 79 h, me too," Clay
49b10 20 61 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 added...Alley h
49b20 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 esitated, then s
49b30 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f aid "I'd have to
49b40 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 think about tha
49b50 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c t more, I guess,
49b60 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 20 69 but it's fine i
49b70 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f f that's what yo
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49b90 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 , it seems like
49ba0 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 6e 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 that non-aggress
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49bd0 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 ."There are diff
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49bf0 74 68 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 this and the typ
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49d30 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 ".."I might want
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49d60 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 Dalton said, "b
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49da0 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 72 2c 22 20 74 68 .."I concur," th
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49e50 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 63 72 61 arting from scra
49e60 74 63 68 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 tch now?".."I ha
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49e90 20 22 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 76 65 "but they're ve
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49f10 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 20 . All I've got
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4a0f0 61 6e 64 20 76 69 63 65 20 76 65 72 73 61 2e 0a and vice versa..
4a100 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 65 6e ."I've also been
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4a130 62 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 bringing Lidia i
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4a1d0 20 74 6f 20 77 61 72 6e 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 to warn her in
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4a2e0 73 6f 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 63 61 75 so are you becau
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4a320 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 nowing it -- she
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4a340 20 75 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 up that informa
4a350 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 tion on you.".."
4a360 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 Okay," Alley sai
4a370 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 d...A moment of
4a380 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 silence passed,
4a390 74 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 then Cray snicke
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4a3b0 74 68 65 72 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 thers looked at
4a3c0 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 him, he shrugged
4a3d0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f and said "Dalto
4a3e0 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 20 68 69 n overwhelmed hi
4a3f0 73 20 61 75 64 69 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e s audience again
4a400 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 ."..Alley smiled
4a410 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 a little at tha
4a420 74 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c t...Dalton slowl
4a430 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 y shook his head
4a440 2c 20 72 75 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b , ruefully. "Ok
4a450 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e ay," he said, un
4a460 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 65 63 68 6f consciously echo
4a470 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 ing Alley. "Any
4a480 77 61 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 69 66 20 79 way, Alley, if y
4a490 6f 75 20 2f 2a 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 2a 2f ou /* want to */
4a4a0 20 68 65 61 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 head up the sta
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4a4c0 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 you'll find a li
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4a500 79 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 75 ything's clean u
4a510 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 p there. If you
4a520 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 63 6c 65 want to get cle
4a530 61 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 aned up or take
4a540 61 20 6e 61 70 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 a nap of just ha
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4a560 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 it's there. I
4a570 70 75 74 20 6b 65 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 put keys for the
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4a5a0 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 can use that stu
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4a5c0 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 out, but make s
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4a600 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e "..Alley nodded.
4a610 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 .."There's food
4a620 61 6e 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 and drink in the
4a630 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 fridge up there
4a640 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 6c 73 . There are als
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4a670 75 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 69 67 6e 20 69 ust don't sign i
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4a690 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 there and you sh
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4a6b0 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 think..."If ther
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4a6d0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 need right away
4a6e0 2c 20 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 , or you just ha
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4a720 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 let me know. W
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4a760 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 what you need t
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4a780 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 "Oh," she said.
4a790 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 "No, I can't re
4a7a0 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 6e ally think of an
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4a7f0 65 69 74 68 65 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 either, so I thi
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4a820 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 just thinking ab
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4a860 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 can tell.".."Wha
4a870 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f t do you want to
4a880 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 do, then?"..She
4a890 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 stretched a lit
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4a8b0 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 68 65 61 64 61 63 68 65 20 feel a headache
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4a8e0 20 6e 61 70 20 61 72 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 nap are good id
4a8f0 65 61 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 eas."..He nodded
4a900 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 . "You should d
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4a920 64 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 d I will talk ab
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4a950 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 with that might
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4a970 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b ".."Yeah. Thank
4a980 73 2c 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f s, guys."..Dalto
4a990 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 n said "You're w
4a9a0 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 elcome, Alley.
4a9b0 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 I know you're a
4a9c0 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 good person, and
4a9d0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 if you get in t
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4a9f0 72 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 rve to get all t
4aa00 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 he help you need
4aa10 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 .".."Thanks.".."
4aa20 4c 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 Les thanks, more
4aa30 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 relaxing," Cray
4aa40 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 said, and made
4aa50 73 68 6f 6f 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 shooing motions
4aa60 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 22 with his had. "
4aa70 47 6f 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 Go, Alley."..She
4aa80 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 got to her feet
4aa90 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 , picked up her
4aaa0 62 61 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 bags, and gave h
4aab0 69 6d 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f im a nod. The o
4aac0 74 68 65 72 73 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 thers watched he
4aad0 72 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 r walk away...Th
4aae0 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6c e stairs made al
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4b720 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ah," she said.
4b730 22 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 "Who is it?".."I
4b740 74 27 73 20 4c 69 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 6d 65 20 t's Lida," came
4b750 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 66 66 6c the reply, muffl
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4b7d0 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 me to talk?".."Y
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4b800 63 27 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 c'." She pushed
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4b890 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 , she stood and
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4b8c0 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Sorry," she sa
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4b8e0 72 65 73 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 ressed. "I'm ju
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4b920 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 a said...When sh
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4b940 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 on her, Alley f
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4b9a0 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 63 61 75 behind her, cau
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4ba00 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 She must not h
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4ba50 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c to see you, All
4ba60 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 65 ey."..Alley note
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4ba90 6c 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 lf smiling back
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4bac0 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 ee you too."..Li
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4bb20 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 .."Why?" Alley a
4bb30 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e sked, and sat on
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4bb50 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 She turned it
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4bb80 68 65 2c 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 77 61 73 he, herself, was
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4bbb0 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c .."Oh, you know,
4bbc0 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e you left Dalton
4bbd0 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 , there were the
4bbe0 73 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 se problems, and
4bbf0 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 I'm still here
4bc00 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 like always. I
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4bc20 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 ure you didn't t
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4bc40 20 70 69 63 6b 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 73 pick sides or s
4bc50 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
4bc60 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f at."..Alley shoo
4bc70 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f k her head. "No
4bc80 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 thing like that
4bc90 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e crossed my mind.
4bca0 20 20 48 65 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 Hey, you knew
4bcb0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 Dalton before I
4bcc0 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 did, anyway. If
4bcd0 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 I was actually
4bce0 61 6e 67 72 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 angry with him,
4bcf0 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 you still being
4bd00 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 69 73 6e 27 74 his friend isn't
4bd10 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e really somethin
4bd20 67 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 20 g I could blame
4bd30 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a you for doing.".
4bd40 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f ."This is part o
4bd50 66 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c f why I always l
4bd60 69 6b 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 iked you," Lidia
4bd70 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 said. "You're
4bd80 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f chill about almo
4bd90 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a st everything.".
4bda0 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f ."Thanks. Do yo
4bdb0 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e u wanna sit down
4bdc0 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 ?"..Lidia shrugg
4bdd0 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ed and moved to
4bde0 73 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 sit on the edge
4bdf0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 of the bed. "I
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4be30 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 59 you.".."Yeah? Y
4be40 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a ou heard that?".
4be50 0a 57 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 4c 69 64 .With a nod, Lid
4be60 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b ia said "I think
4be70 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f I heard all abo
4be80 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 ut it. If there
4be90 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 could possibly
4bea0 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 be more than wha
4beb0 74 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 t I heard, and i
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4bed0 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 e people dying,
4bee0 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 20 63 I'm not sure I c
4bef0 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 an imagine what
4bf00 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 it is, so I'm pr
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4bf20 73 70 65 65 64 20 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e speed as Dalton.
4bf30 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ".."You're still
4bf40 20 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 65 6c here saying hel
4bf50 6c 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 lo, though.".."H
4bf60 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 ell, yeah," Lidi
4bf70 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 a said. "If I c
4bf80 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c an help, I shoul
4bf90 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 d.".."Thanks," A
4bfa0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 lley said. "I f
4bfb0 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 eel a lot more w
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4bfd0 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 I probably shou
4bfe0 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 ld."..Lidia wave
4bff0 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 d a hand, like s
4c000 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 he was brushing
4c010 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 something away f
4c020 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 4e rom herself. "N
4c030 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 o way. The only
4c040 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f people in Dalto
4c050 6e 27 73 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 n's inner circle
4c060 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 who blamed you
4c070 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 72 for anything wer
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4c090 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 72 on, but Dalton r
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4c0b0 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 61 id that was in a
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4c0d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 just went strai
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4c0f0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 ."..Alley tighte
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4c110 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 wrinkled her nos
4c120 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e e at the mention
4c130 20 6f 66 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 of Glade. "Yea
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4c150 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c 61 64 65 uld expect Glade
4c160 20 74 6f 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 to hate me.".."
4c170 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 It doesn't matte
4c180 72 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 r," Lidia said.
4c190 20 22 53 68 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e "She's not even
4c1a0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 around now.".."
4c1b0 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f What happened to
4c1c0 20 68 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 her?"..Lidia sh
4c1d0 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e rugged. "Dalton
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4c200 68 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 hit, until she g
4c210 6f 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 ot self righteou
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4c240 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 She stormed out
4c250 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 6f 2c 20 61 of the studio, a
4c260 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 73 65 nd nobody has se
4c270 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 en her since. T
4c280 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 69 hat was maybe ei
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4c2c0 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 place.".."Really
4c2d0 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 ? What was she
4c2e0 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 6e 6f 79 doing that annoy
4c2f0 65 64 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 ed him?".."I thi
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4c310 6f 79 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 oyed everyone we
4c320 20 6b 6e 65 77 27 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 73 69 knew', but basi
4c330 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 cally she just t
4c340 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 63 65 73 73 61 6e 74 20 alked incessant
4c350 73 68 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6f shit about you o
4c360 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 6e nce you were gon
4c370 65 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 e. I think she
4c380 77 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 was trying to ge
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4c3a0 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 you were out of
4c3b0 74 68 65 20 70 69 63 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 the picture, and
4c3c0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 62 65 thought he'd be
4c3d0 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 impressed that
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4c3f0 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 taking his side
4c400 20 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 75 6e by saying a bun
4c410 63 68 20 6f 66 20 62 61 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 ch of bad stuff
4c420 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 about you behind
4c430 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 your back.".."Y
4c440 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 eah, that doesn'
4c450 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d t sound like som
4c460 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c ething that woul
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4c480 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 ven if he hated
4c490 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 me.".."Exactly,"
4c4a0 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 Lidia said with
4c4b0 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 a smile. "Anyw
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4c4d0 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 the story is th
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4c4f0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e you for anythin
4c500 67 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 g, except maybe
4c510 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 Glade.".."Thanks
4c520 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 ."..They sat in
4c530 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 silence a moment
4c540 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 , then Lidia sai
4c550 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 d "Do you want a
4c560 20 68 75 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 hug?".."Despera
4c570 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 tely," Alley sai
4c580 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 d with a small s
4c590 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f mile...They stoo
4c5a0 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 61 63 65 d up and embrace
4c5b0 64 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 69 d, their old fri
4c5c0 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 71 75 69 endly warmth qui
4c5d0 63 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 ckly reappearing
4c5e0 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 6f 75 , almost as thou
4c5f0 67 68 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 63 gh nothing had c
4c600 68 61 6e 67 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 6e 67 73 hanged..."Things
4c610 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 22 20 must be hard,"
4c620 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 Lidia said..."Ye
4c630 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 72 65 65 ah," Alley agree
4c640 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 61 6c 6c d...They mutuall
4c650 79 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 y broke the hug
4c660 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 after a few more
4c670 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 moments, and Li
4c680 64 69 61 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 49 20 dia asked "Do I
4c690 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d get to see the m
4c6a0 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6e iracle machine n
4c6b0 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 ow?"..Alley's ey
4c6c0 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 69 es widened. "Mi
4c6d0 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 3f 20 20 racle machine?
4c6e0 57 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 What, the priori
4c6f0 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 tizer?".."Yeah,
4c700 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 74 69 66 that crazy artif
4c710 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e icial intelligen
4c720 63 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 73 20 ce Dalton keeps
4c730 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 talking about.
4c740 59 6f 75 27 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 You'd think it w
4c750 61 73 20 61 20 62 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 6c 6f 61 as a brain uploa
4c760 64 20 6f 66 20 4a 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f d of Jesus or so
4c770 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 mething like tha
4c780 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 74 61 t, the way he ta
4c790 6c 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a lks about it."..
4c7a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 Alley laughed.
4c7b0 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 69 6d "I can easily im
4c7c0 61 67 69 6e 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 69 agine Dalton bei
4c7d0 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 ng like that," s
4c7e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 he said. "I'll
4c7f0 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e get the glasses.
4c800 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f " She headed to
4c810 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c the nightstand,
4c820 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 67 picked up the g
4c830 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 lasses, and held
4c840 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 them out. "Her
4c850 65 2e 20 20 50 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6e e. Put these on
4c860 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 ."..Lidia settle
4c870 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e d the glasses on
4c880 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 her face, and s
4c890 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c tared at the wal
4c8a0 6c 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d 2c 20 68 l. "Yeah, um, h
4c8b0 69 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 63 61 i. What do I ca
4c8c0 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ll you?"..Alley
4c8d0 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 sat down as she
4c8e0 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c watched..."Okay,
4c8f0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 54 prioritizer. T
4c900 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 75 hat name's a mou
4c910 74 68 66 75 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 6c 6c thful, but it'll
4c920 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 work, I guess.
4c930 20 43 61 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c Can I just call
4c940 20 79 6f 75 20 27 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 20 53 68 you 'Pry'?" Sh
4c950 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 6f 2c e paused. "Rio,
4c960 20 68 75 68 3f 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 52 69 6f huh? Okay, Rio
4c970 2e 20 20 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 . Nice to meet
4c980 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f you."..After ano
4c990 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 6f ther moment, pro
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4c9b0 78 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 xt in the lenses
4c9c0 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 , Lidia held out
4c9d0 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 77 the glasses tow
4c9e0 61 72 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 ard Alley. "He
4c9f0 73 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 says to put him
4ca00 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e on speakerphone.
4ca10 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c ".."Yeah. Sure,
4ca20 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 " she said. She
4ca30 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f went to her pho
4ca40 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 ne and, as befor
4ca50 65 2c 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 e, set it up as
4ca60 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 20 74 65 the audio out te
4ca70 72 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 rminal for the p
4ca80 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 rioritizer..."Th
4ca90 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 ank you, Alley,"
4caa0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
4cab0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 said..."Yeah,"
4cac0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f she said, and do
4cad0 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 nned the glasses
4cae0 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a herself again..
4caf0 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
4cb00 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 2e 20 20 49 said "Lidia. I
4cb10 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 do not consider
4cb20 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 myself male or
4cb30 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 female. I would
4cb40 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 27 69 74 27 20 61 73 suggest 'it' as
4cb50 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 a more accurate
4cb60 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 73 pronoun for mys
4cb70 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 2e 20 20 elf than 'he'.
4cb80 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f You may refer to
4cb90 20 6d 65 20 61 73 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 66 20 79 me as 'he' if y
4cba0 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e ou wish, though.
4cbb0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 You may find t
4cbc0 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c hat more natural
4cbd0 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e to use, for con
4cbe0 76 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ventions of the
4cbf0 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 English language
4cc00 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 ."..Lidia smiled
4cc10 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6c 69 . "I think I li
4cc20 6b 65 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 69 ke Rio.".."Did i
4cc30 74 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 t say its name i
4cc40 73 20 52 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 s Rio?" Alley as
4cc50 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 ked..."I did not
4cc60 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
4cc70 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 6f 6c er said. "I tol
4cc80 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c d Lidia that I l
4cc90 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6d 6f iked the name mo
4cca0 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 2c 20 61 re than 'Pry', a
4ccb0 73 20 61 6e 20 61 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 74 65 64 s an abbreviated
4ccc0 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 72 form of the ter
4ccd0 6d 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e m 'prioritizer'.
4cce0 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d 61 73 63 ".."Rio's a masc
4ccf0 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 uline noun, thou
4cd00 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 gh. That's why
4cd10 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 I figured you're
4cd20 20 61 20 27 68 65 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 a 'he'," Lidia
4cd30 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 6f 6e said to the phon
4cd40 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 e now lying dire
4cd50 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 ctly on a nights
4cd60 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 tand, off the ch
4cd70 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 arging plate..."
4cd80 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e It is also the n
4cd90 61 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 69 ame of a woman i
4cda0 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 44 75 72 61 n a popular Dura
4cdb0 6e 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 73 6f 6e 67 20 66 72 6f n Duran song fro
4cdc0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 38 30 73 2e 22 0a 0a 4c m the 1980s."..L
4cdd0 69 64 69 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 idia laughed. "
4cde0 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f Okay, I guess yo
4cdf0 75 27 72 65 20 61 6e 20 27 69 74 27 2c 20 74 68 u're an 'it', th
4ce00 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 en." She looked
4ce10 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 at Alley and sa
4ce20 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 72 69 67 id "Dalton's rig
4ce30 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 ht. This thing'
4ce40 73 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 68 61 s cool. It's ha
4ce50 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 rd to believe it
4ce60 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 talks like that
4ce70 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 61 67 20 6f 72 20 without lag or
4ce80 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f connection to so
4ce90 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 68 61 mething like wha
4cea0 74 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 68 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 t ANTAS has for
4ceb0 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 natural language
4cec0 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 conversation li
4ced0 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 ke this.".."I th
4cee0 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 ink it has been
4cef0 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e sounding more an
4cf00 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 75 d more like a hu
4cf10 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b man when it talk
4cf20 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a s," Alley said..
4cf30 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 ./*.. How doe
4cf40 73 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 3f 20 20 49 s Lidia look? I
4cf50 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 need to describ
4cf60 65 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 e her in some ki
4cf70 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 nd of detail. I
4cf80 27 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 'm. currently
4cf90 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 imagining her a
4cfa0 73 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 61 75 62 75 72 6e s a white auburn
4cfb0 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 73 6c 65 6e 64 65 72 20 haired slender
4cfc0 67 69 72 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 65 6c 69 63 61 girl with delica
4cfd0 74 65 0a 20 20 20 20 62 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 72 75 te. bone stru
4cfe0 63 74 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 65 66 cture and a pref
4cff0 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 erence for one p
4d000 69 65 63 65 20 63 6f 74 74 6f 6e 20 64 72 65 73 iece cotton dres
4d010 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 6e 67 0a 20 20 ses that hang.
4d020 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 somewhere betw
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4d070 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 the like. She'
4d080 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 s probably just
4d090 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 65 74 69 74 65 generally petite
4d0a0 20 69 6e 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a in figure...*/.
4d0b0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 44 ."That'll make D
4d0c0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 alton even more
4d0d0 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 excited about th
4d0e0 69 73 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e is," Lidia said.
4d0f0 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 She turned her
4d100 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 attention to th
4d110 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 e Axiom again.
4d120 22 48 65 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 "He's really int
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4d150 20 70 75 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6d 61 73 74 puny human mast
4d160 65 72 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 22 20 4c ers, I think," L
4d170 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 idia said..."Tha
4d180 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 nk you for that
4d190 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 information," th
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4d1e0 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 htly, and said "
4d1f0 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 73 Well, I got to s
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4d220 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f nless there's so
4d230 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 me other convers
4d240 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 65 63 68 ation ready tech
4d250 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f nology on you to
4d260 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f day."..Alley sho
4d270 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 ok her head with
4d280 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 a smile. "No,
4d290 6e 6f 74 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 not unless you w
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4d2d0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 48 e.".."No way. H
4d2e0 65 61 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 62 69 64 2e 22 20 20 eaven forbid."
4d2f0 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 Lidia suppressed
4d300 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 a smile to wave
4d310 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 her hands in a
4d320 66 65 61 72 66 75 6c 20 77 61 72 64 69 6e 67 20 fearful warding
4d330 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 gesture in front
4d340 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 49 of herself. "I
4d350 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 20 don't want any
4d360 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 70 20 69 6e 20 of that crap in
4d370 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 here, and neithe
4d380 72 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 r do you."..Alle
4d390 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c y smiled , and L
4d3a0 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62 72 6f idia's smile bro
4d3b0 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e ke through..."An
4d3c0 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 yway, I should g
4d3d0 65 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 et going. I'm g
4d3e0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 43 72 61 oing to help Cra
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4d400 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 of new systems
4d410 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 68 65 20 config stuff he
4d420 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 27 wants to do. I'
4d430 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 m not sure, but
4d440 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f it might have so
4d450 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 mething to do wi
4d460 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c th you.".."Yeah,
4d470 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 okay," Alley sa
4d480 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 id. "Thanks for
4d490 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 69 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 saying hi."..Li
4d4a0 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 72 66 dia waved cheerf
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4d4c0 20 69 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 insisted." She
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4d4f0 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f nd closed the do
4d500 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a or behind her...
4d510 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 Alley lay on her
4d520 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 back, switched
4d530 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 41 audio from the A
4d540 78 69 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 20 70 xiom to an ear p
4d550 69 65 63 65 20 73 74 75 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 iece stud, and s
4d560 61 69 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 aid "What should
4d570 20 49 20 62 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 72 69 67 68 I be doing righ
4d580 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a t now, anyway?".
4d590 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
4d5a0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 77 65 20 said "Until we
4d5b0 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 72 69 talk to your fri
4d5c0 65 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e end Dalton again
4d5d0 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 I believe we sh
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4d5f0 73 75 65 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 68 6f 77 sues such as how
4d600 20 77 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 47 we might find G
4d610 65 6f 72 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 eorge and his fr
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4d630 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f eople escape fro
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4d650 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 ontractor agents
4d660 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ."..Alley nodded
4d670 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 64 69 73 , and opened dis
4d680 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 57 cussion...---..W
4d690 68 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 74 69 6d 65 20 61 hen dinnertime a
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4d6b0 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 d no idea it was
4d6c0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 getting that la
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4d6f0 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f e door. "Alley?
4d700 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a It's Dalton.".
4d710 0a 22 43 27 6d 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ."C'mon in," she
4d720 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 said...He opene
4d730 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 65 d the door and e
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4d750 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 pped and looked
4d760 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 at her lying on
4d770 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 the bed. She sa
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4d790 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 on her, not quit
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4d7c0 65 78 61 63 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 44 61 6c exact moment Dal
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4d870 73 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 2e sen that effect.
4d880 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 3f 22 20 73 "What's up?" s
4d890 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 6e 6e he asked..."Dinn
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4d8b0 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 72 61 to eat with Cra
4d8c0 79 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 y, Lidia, and me
4d8d0 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 ?" He glanced a
4d8e0 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 t her, then..."Y
4d8f0 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 eah. That sound
4d900 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 s good. What's
4d910 66 6f 72 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4c for dinner?".."L
4d920 61 73 61 67 6e 61 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 asagna."..Alley
4d930 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 27 smiled. "Lidia'
4d940 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a s?"..He nodded..
4d950 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 ."I'm there."..D
4d960 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 alton smiled bac
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4d9a0 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 When you come ou
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4dad0 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 ...She laced her
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4db10 2c 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 , moved them as
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4db90 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f "Yeah, this sho
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4dc10 20 20 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 65 6c 73 65 20 61 72 What else ar
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4dc60 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 plans for how t
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4dcb0 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 perhaps, and br
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4dd60 4d 61 79 62 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 73 Maybe Dalton has
4dd70 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 heard something
4dd80 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e about the stran
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4de00 68 69 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 68 61 73 20 73 hit George has s
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4de30 20 20 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 and what they
4de40 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 do and so on.
4de50 54 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 There might need
4de60 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 66 65 to be some refe
4de70 72 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 rence to the.
4de80 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 idea that what
4de90 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 69 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 George is doing
4dea0 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 69 6d is probably prim
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4dec0 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 65 61 73 , or at. leas
4ded0 74 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 2d 69 73 68 2c 20 63 6f 6e t local-ish, con
4dee0 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 sidering it's ve
4def0 72 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 ry much individu
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4df10 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 22 61 6c 6d kind of. "alm
4df20 6f 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 66 22 20 63 75 73 ost one off" cus
4df30 74 6f 6d 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f tom work that do
4df40 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 esn't make a lot
4df50 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 65 6e of sense to cen
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4df70 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 6e economies of man
4df80 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 73 63 61 6c 65 ufacturing scale
4df90 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 75 63 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 . As such, Dalt
4dfa0 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e on probably thin
4dfb0 6b 73 0a 20 20 20 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6d 75 ks. George mu
4dfc0 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6e st have some con
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4dff0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c 6f 73 the downtown Los
4e000 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 61 72 65 . Angeles are
4e010 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 a, and that migh
4e020 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 41 6c 6c t help point All
4e030 65 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 ey in the right
4e040 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 0a 20 directions for.
4e050 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 73 the sake of s
4e060 65 65 6b 69 6e 67 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6f 75 eeking George ou
4e070 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 t...*/.."You wer
4e080 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 en't the only pe
4e090 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 61 rson they came a
4e0a0 66 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 22 20 44 fter, though," D
4e0b0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c alton said...All
4e0c0 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d ey looked at him
4e0d0 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 . "What do you
4e0e0 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 mean?".."What ab
4e0f0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 out that George
4e100 67 75 79 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 guy you mentione
4e110 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 d?".."Oh," she s
4e120 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 aid. "Right. T
4e130 68 61 74 27 73 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e hat's how I even
4e140 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 found out they
4e150 77 65 72 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 were raiding my
4e160 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 place.".."Yeah,"
4e170 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 Cray said. "I
4e180 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 forgot about tha
4e190 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 t.".."What about
4e1a0 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b him?" Alley ask
4e1b0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 ed..."It sounds
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4e1d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e from them, too.
4e1e0 20 20 49 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 74 In his case, t
4e1f0 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 hough, it doesn'
4e200 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 73 t seem like it's
4e210 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6c 75 63 6b just plain luck
4e220 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 , from what you
4e230 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 said. He expect
4e240 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 ed them, and sta
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4e260 20 67 72 61 73 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f grasp."..She no
4e270 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 dded. "He said
4e280 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 he does business
4e290 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f with people who
4e2a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 68 65 6c 70 20 sometimes help
4e2b0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 people escape fr
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4e2d0 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 is.".."Can you g
4e2e0 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 et in touch with
4e2f0 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 him?"..She paus
4e300 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 ed, thinking. "
4e310 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f I don't think so
4e320 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 27 64 20 . He said he'd
4e330 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f try to get in to
4e340 75 63 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 63 68 uch, but he'd ch
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4e360 74 61 63 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 tact info before
4e370 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e then.".."Well .
4e380 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 . . that doesn'
4e390 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 75 t really help mu
4e3a0 63 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 ch," Dalton said
4e3b0 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c , more to himsel
4e3c0 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 f than the other
4e3d0 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 s. He rested hi
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4e400 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e ow on the table.
4e410 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 ..Alley watched
4e420 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 65 him in that pose
4e430 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e for a few secon
4e440 64 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f ds, thinking abo
4e450 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 69 ut how similar i
4e460 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 63 t was to that sc
4e470 75 6c 70 74 75 72 65 20 62 79 20 41 75 67 75 73 ulpture by Augus
4e480 74 65 20 52 6f 64 69 6e 2c 20 22 54 68 65 20 54 te Rodin, "The T
4e490 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 22 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 hinker". It was
4e4a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 73 something she s
4e4b0 61 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 aw all the time
4e4c0 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 when they were t
4e4d0 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 69 ogether. Now, i
4e4e0 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 t just gave her
4e4f0 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 6e that desolate in
4e500 6e 65 72 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 6e ner feeling of n
4e510 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 ostalgia, of bei
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4e540 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 something that s
4e550 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 76 houldn't have ev
4e560 65 72 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 er gone wrong.
4e570 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c She looked away,
4e580 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 72 6c 20 6f 66 at the whorl of
4e590 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 a knot in the w
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4e5b0 2c 20 72 65 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 , rendered almos
4e5c0 74 20 69 6c 6c 75 73 6f 72 79 20 69 6e 20 69 74 t illusory in it
4e5d0 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 62 6c 65 6e 64 20 6f s gentle blend o
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4e5f0 64 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 64 69 73 68 20 62 72 6f deep reddish bro
4e600 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 6c wn and almost bl
4e610 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 79 65 72 ack by the layer
4e620 73 20 6f 66 20 76 61 72 6e 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 s of varnish to
4e630 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 69 66 79 smooth and unify
4e640 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 48 the surface...H
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4e660 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65 72 there until her
4e670 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f vision began to
4e680 20 62 6c 75 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 66 blur in the def
4e690 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 ocus of her eyes
4e6a0 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 20 66 69 78 65 64 relaxing, fixed
4e6b0 20 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 73 on nothing of s
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4e6d0 20 20 48 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c Her mind settl
4e6e0 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 69 64 ed into a placid
4e6f0 20 65 6d 70 74 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 emptiness, only
4e700 20 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 65 64 lightly colored
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4e720 67 20 68 75 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 g hues of the se
4e730 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 72 72 65 74 72 69 65 76 nse of irretriev
4e740 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 able loss...Some
4e750 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 thing moved in t
4e760 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 he room, but it
4e770 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e was not importan
4e780 74 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 6e 6f 74 69 t, almost unnoti
4e790 63 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 75 ced...A hand tou
4e7a0 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 ched her shoulde
4e7b0 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 2c r. She started,
4e7c0 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 and her breath
4e7d0 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 caught in her th
4e7e0 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 roat. She looke
4e7f0 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 69 64 65 20 65 79 65 73 d with wide eyes
4e800 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f and saw Cray no
4e810 77 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 w sitting beside
4e820 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 her. "Are you
4e830 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c okay?" he asked,
4e840 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 quietly...She f
4e850 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 64 72 61 ound herself dra
4e860 77 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 6f wing breath thro
4e870 75 67 68 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 65 ugh barely parte
4e880 64 20 6c 69 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 d lips, and clos
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4e8a0 68 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 he forced her br
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4e8c0 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 own, and breathe
4e8d0 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f d through her no
4e8e0 73 65 2c 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 se, slowly. She
4e8f0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 nodded, quickly
4e900 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 , and realized t
4e910 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 he two of them w
4e920 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ere alone in the
4e930 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 room now. "Whe
4e940 72 65 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 re's Dalton?" sh
4e950 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 e asked...Cray s
4e960 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 at back, and let
4e970 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 20 66 his hand drop f
4e980 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 rom her shoulder
4e990 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 65 67 2e to his own leg.
4e9a0 20 20 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 He chuckled.
4e9b0 22 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 65 72 65 "You really were
4e9c0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 out of it, ther
4e9d0 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 65 64 e. He announced
4e9e0 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f he was going to
4e9f0 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 take care of th
4ea00 65 20 64 69 73 68 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c e dishes.".."Oh,
4ea10 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 yeah," she said
4ea20 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 . She glanced a
4ea30 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 round, and saw t
4ea40 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 68 61 hat the table ha
4ea50 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 2e 20 d been cleared.
4ea60 20 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 "I really must
4ea70 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 have been in my
4ea80 6f 77 6e 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f own world. I do
4ea90 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 n't even remembe
4eaa0 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a r any of that.".
4eab0 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 64 ."Well, Dalton d
4eac0 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 efinitely notice
4ead0 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 68 d. That's why h
4eae0 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 e decided to sta
4eaf0 72 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 rt straightening
4eb00 20 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 up. He finishe
4eb10 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 d his own thinki
4eb20 6e 67 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f ng, looked at yo
4eb30 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 u, then shook hi
4eb40 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f mself and got to
4eb50 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 work.".."Why di
4eb60 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 d you ask if I w
4eb70 61 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 as okay?" she as
4eb80 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 ked...Cray shrug
4eb90 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 ged. "Dalton wa
4eba0 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 2c 20 73 sn't going to, s
4ebb0 6f 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 o I figured it w
4ebc0 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 as up to me.".."
4ebd0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 20 20 . . . but why?
4ebe0 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e Why did you thin
4ebf0 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 k there was some
4ec00 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 thing wrong?".."
4ec10 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c Oh, that. You l
4ec20 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 61 64 2e 20 20 52 65 61 6c ooked sad. Real
4ec30 6c 79 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 64 2e 22 ly, really sad."
4ec40 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f .."Oh." She fro
4ec50 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f wned, looking do
4ec60 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e wn at her hands.
4ec70 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f "Yeah.".."Why?
4ec80 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 "..Her eyes flic
4ec90 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 74 ked to him. "It
4eca0 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 's nothing," she
4ecb0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 said. "It's ju
4ecc0 73 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 st . . . nostalg
4ecd0 69 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 ia, I guess. It
4ece0 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 doesn't matter
4ecf0 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 any more."..He c
4ed00 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 rossed his arms
4ed10 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 and leaned back
4ed20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 in his chair. "
4ed30 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 It seems like it
4ed40 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 matters."..She
4ed50 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 narrowed her eye
4ed60 73 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 s at him. "Are
4ed70 79 6f 75 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 73 you practicing s
4ed80 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b aying things lik
4ed90 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c e Dalton?"..He l
4eda0 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 aughed. "I gues
4edb0 73 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 s we just pick u
4edc0 70 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 68 p each other's h
4edd0 61 62 69 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c abits sometimes,
4ede0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d " he said...From
4edf0 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c 20 44 61 the doorway, Da
4ee00 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 66 lton said "You f
4ee10 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 ailed, Cray."..A
4ee20 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 lley started aga
4ee30 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 in, and looked t
4ee40 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 73 75 oward Dalton, su
4ee50 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 rprised to see h
4ee60 69 6d 20 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 im leaning in th
4ee70 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f e door frame, so
4ee80 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 mewhat silhouett
4ee90 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c ed against the l
4eea0 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 ight of the next
4eeb0 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 room..."How do
4eec0 49 20 66 61 69 6c 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 3f I fail, exactly?
4eed0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 72 61 " Cray asked, ra
4eee0 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 ising an eyebrow
4eef0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 ..."If you were
4ef00 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 really getting t
4ef10 68 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 hat much like me
4ef20 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 20 63 , you would've c
4ef30 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 ome back by now
4ef40 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 73 68 to the matter sh
4ef50 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 76 61 64 65 64 2e 22 20 e just evaded."
4ef60 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 He stepped out
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4f530 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f That's a good po
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4f590 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e ".."I'm serious.
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