n2020  Hex Artifact Content

Artifact a4fcc728bc0c1b0345a3476345ee7cceb589d74400cad16a264bd2e4f24bba87:


0000: 23 20 44 65 61 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 0a 2f  # Death Alley../
0010: 2a 0a 0a 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27  *..Before Alley'
0020: 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2c 20 69  s first scene, i
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0050: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 4f 56 20 6f 66   from the POV of
0060: 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 57   -- the future W
0070: 4f 50 52 20 41 49 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  OPR AI about the
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0090: 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20   of sending the 
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00b0: 73 65 65 64 22 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69  seed" back in ti
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00e0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 69 64  ...*/../*..## id
00f0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 57 4f 50 52 20 6f 70 65  eas for WOPR ope
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12e20 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20  e, but she just 
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12e40 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20  r a moment with 
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
12f10 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e  ight of the moon
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
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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
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130f0 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20  thumb and three 
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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 
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131e0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f  and handed it to
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13210 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73   number into his
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13260 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72   the escrow aler
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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
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132d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63  on her front poc
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13340 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b  ...He took it, k
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13360 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70  on her, and step
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13380 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74  ssed the bag int
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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
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133f0 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69  d whoever was si
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 
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135c0 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73  car with surpris
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135e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61  Alley sat down a
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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
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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
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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
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13720 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79   glasses so they
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137e0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20  the prioritizer 
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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
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13970 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c  .."Okay."  She l
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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 
13a70 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 65 70 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20  next step is to 
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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
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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
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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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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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13f10 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 6c 61  someone on a cla
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140c0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  " she asked the 
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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
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15090 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 61 63 74 69  ing like a tacti
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150b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68   other side.  Sh
150c0 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c  e wasn't what Al
150d0 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20  ley expected in 
150e0 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 6e  an anonymous gun
150f0 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54   parts trade...T
15100 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 68  he redhead watch
15110 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 41  ed steadily as A
15120 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c  lley approached,
15130 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65   with what turne
15140 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 69  d out to be vivi
15150 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54  d green eyes.  T
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
15190 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75  ural redhead, bu
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
152f0 61 6e 74 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20  ant white teeth 
15300 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69  with a broad smi
15310 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20  le.  "Yeah, you 
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
15370 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71  y accepted the q
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
15550 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c  n accessory rail
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
155b0 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20  r other models, 
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
15820 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75  lmost but not qu
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
158d0 6e 6e 65 72 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e  nners sometimes.
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
15a30 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69  eant to say 'fli
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
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161a0 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74  gn, then.".."Tot
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161c0 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e  two release poin
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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
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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
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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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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 
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16380 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61   it down your pa
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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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163e0 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75    There are a bu
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16410 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68  .."Here."  She h
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16430 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64  ley, who started
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16450 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70  .  "Don't try op
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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
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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
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16500 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75   of these in you
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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 
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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
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16670 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79  .  I'll just buy
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16690 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75  hill the fuck ou
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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
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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
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16720 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f  psing baton into
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16750 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79  Just put it in y
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16770 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65  't make Cliff ne
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16790 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65  g here with a we
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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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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
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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
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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
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169a0 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79   You're probably
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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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16a60 62 75 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41  buying."..---..A
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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
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16c10 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20  thought she was 
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16cf0 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73   pointed the bus
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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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16d50 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20  n front of her, 
16d60 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e  and the other en
16d70 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64  d pointed toward
16d80 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20   the ceiling to 
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16da0 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 62 6f 74  y pressed on bot
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
16df0 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65  nded, and the de
16e00 76 69 63 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70  vice nearly jump
16e10 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 61  ed out of her ha
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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
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16ed0 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 6d 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65  the seams betwee
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16f10 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70   end on the carp
16f20 65 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65  et just past the
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16f50 66 65 6c 74 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65  felt solid...She
16f60 20 68 65 6c 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20   held down what 
16f70 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68  Carmen called th
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16f90 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65   and she set the
16fa0 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74   head of the bat
16fb0 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63  on against the c
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16fd0 53 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e  She pressed down
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17000 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73   found that if s
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17020 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 68 61  -- but not so ha
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17040 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69  to throw her wei
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17060 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64   the baton would
17070 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70   smoothly collap
17080 73 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64  se into the hand
17090 6c 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20  le again.  Each 
170a0 74 65 6c 65 73 63 6f 70 69 63 20 73 65 63 74 69  telescopic secti
170b0 6f 6e 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20  on clicked into 
170c0 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 74 65 72  place, one after
170d0 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e   another...The n
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170f0 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20  ed it, she held 
17100 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61  the baton down a
17110 74 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20  t her side, the 
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17140 64 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66  d angle at the f
17150 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69  loor.  Holding i
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17170 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 65 61 73 69  he found it easi
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171b0 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 69 70 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6d   her grip felt m
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171f0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 6d 70 20 6f 75 74 20   would jump out 
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17250 63 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67  classes years ag
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17270 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73  ure she could us
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17290 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 73 68 65  .  She hoped she
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18420 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 20  re's a problem, 
18430 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74  I'll try contact
18440 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65  ing you the same
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
184b0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20   down so we can 
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
184f0 72 65 61 74 68 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 79 6f  reathe.  "No, yo
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18510 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 74 68 65  get in touch the
18520 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74   same way we set
18530 20 74 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27   this up.  That'
18540 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47  ll be fine.".."G
18550 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 66 69  ood.  You can fi
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185b0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 64 6f  odded..."Good do
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185e0 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 66 69    "You can go fi
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18610 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67  said.  "Have a g
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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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18650 73 74 65 70 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e  steps, then turn
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18670 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74   until she got t
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186a0 74 77 69 63 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20  twice along the 
186b0 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d  way, then once m
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186d0 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65  going around the
186e0 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62   corner of the b
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18710 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 75  she started it u
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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
187c0 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 68 65  g?" she asked he
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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18840 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73  he prioritizer s
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18870 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20  high preference 
18880 66 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 45 73 74  for safety.  Est
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188b0 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63  poor safety outc
188c0 6f 6d 65 73 20 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f 77  omes is very low
188d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73   for these trans
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188f0 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20  severity may be 
18900 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75  high for poor ou
18910 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c  tcomes..."I will
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18950 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63  a high preferenc
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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 
18a00 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e  said "I am recon
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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
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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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18b10 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22   them again.".."
18b20 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57  What?  Why?".."W
18b30 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64  hile you counted
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
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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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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
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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
18d10 6e 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  ncorrect."..Alle
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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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
18ea0 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69  ely," the priori
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 
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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
18f50 68 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64  he extra hundred
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
18f90 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e  ack to that guy.
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
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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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190c0 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 6d 79  count that as my
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190e0 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68  d forget about h
190f0 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61  im, or take it a
19100 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20  s evidence that 
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
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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
192b0 74 65 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65  tened for a mome
192c0 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 64 69  nt.  "I guess di
192d0 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68  shonest isn't th
192e0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 77 6f 72 64 2c 20 62 75  e right word, bu
192f0 74 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 64 76  t I'm taking adv
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19310 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 64   some way that d
19320 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68  oesn't feel righ
19330 74 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 49 20 6b 6e  t.  For all I kn
19340 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64  ow, that hundred
19350 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 62 65   might end up be
19360 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e  ing the differen
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19390 20 68 69 6d 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d   him hard at som
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193b0 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 74 20 61  hitting him at a
193c0 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65  ll.".."Do you fe
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193e0 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f  hat consideratio
193f0 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a  n, personally?".
19400 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c  ./*.."Not exactl
19410 79 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65  y owe him, I gue
19420 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27  ss, but he hasn'
19430 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20  t done anything 
19440 74 6f 20 68 75 72 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 61  to hurt me or ta
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19460 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74  me, or done anyt
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19490 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20   so I shouldn't 
194a0 61 73 73 75 6d 65 20 68 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20  assume he isn't 
194b0 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 77  worth treating w
194c0 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22  ith respect.".."
194d0 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20  I will consider 
194e0 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64  this when consid
194f0 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 72 69  ering future pri
19500 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61  oritization stra
19510 74 65 67 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20  tegy.".."Cool.  
19520 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e  I'm going to sen
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1e320 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c   "Ah . . . yeah,
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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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1e8e0 20 62 6f 78 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 68   box a moment, h
1e8f0 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64  is brow furrowed
1e900 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e  .  After a momen
1e910 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77  t more, his brow
1e920 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 2c 61 6e 64 20 68 65   smoothed,and he
1e930 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e   smiled, the lin
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1e950 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79 65 73 20 64 65 65  uth and eyes dee
1e960 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 49 20  pening.  "Oh, I 
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 
1e9c0 61 77 61 79 2c 20 75 6e 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65  away, unsure whe
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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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1ea30 74 68 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 2c  th for a living,
1ea40 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 65   but he just use
1ea50 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20  s the shit.  He 
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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
1ea90 61 69 73 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 78 20  aisy.  This box 
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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
1eac0 68 69 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53  hine for me."..S
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
1eaf0 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 20 6f   uncomfortably o
1eb00 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 22 41  n her chair..."A
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
1eb90 72 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20  rl."..Alley sat 
1eba0 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69  back in her chai
1ebb0 72 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 20 73 6c 69 67  r, relaxing slig
1ebc0 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 69  htly, and she si
1ebd0 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 63 61  pped from her ca
1ebe0 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 77 61 6c 6c 6f  n.  After swallo
1ebf0 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  wing, she said "
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
1ec40 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65  r with the frame
1ec50 73 20 49 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 61 73 20 74  s I bought has t
1ec60 68 69 73 20 63 75 74 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20  his cute little 
1ec70 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79  daughter, nine y
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1ecb0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 63 72  ng the police cr
1ecc0 61 63 6b 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70  ackdown on the p
1ecd0 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65  rotesters at the
1ece0 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73   [ SOMETHING ] s
1ecf0 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 73 73 61 63 72 65 2e 20  treet massacre. 
1ed00 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e   She's outgrowin
1ed10 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65  g the arm I made
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
1eef0 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62  ybe I can come b
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
1ef40 64 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c 20 61  d, deep laugh, a
1ef50 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 65 6e 73  nd she felt tens
1ef60 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61  ion draining awa
1ef70 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65  y again, despite
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
1f000 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6e 61 6d 65  he way your name
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
1f0c0 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 74  ay from Perris t
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
1f0f0 61 74 65 73 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 6e  ates if your fin
1f100 61 6e 63 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69  ances were feeli
1f110 6e 67 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65  ng really secure
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 
1f1d0 74 61 70 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65  tape at the edge
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
1f210 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 66 74  e carefully lift
1f220 65 64 20 74 61 70 65 64 2d 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65  ed taped-togethe
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
1f270 65 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f  et each bundle o
1f280 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74  n the silicone t
1f290 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20  ray, and looked 
1f2a0 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20  over everything 
1f2b0 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  silently, Alley 
1f2c0 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 68  sat and sipped h
1f2d0 65 72 20 43 6f 6b 65 2c 20 75 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69  er Coke, unwilli
1f2e0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69  ng to disturb hi
1f2f0 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 68 61 6e  s work.  His han
1f300 64 73 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 72 65 63 69 73  ds seemed precis
1f310 65 6c 79 20 64 72 61 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72  ely drawn to par
1f320 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e  ticular spots on
1f330 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20   various parts, 
1f340 61 73 20 69 66 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 20 6d 65 6d  as if muscle mem
1f350 6f 72 79 20 67 75 69 64 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 64  ory guided him d
1f360 65 66 74 6c 79 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79  eftly where they
1f370 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 69 6e   needed to go in
1f380 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 73   a performance s
1f390 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20  omething almost 
1f3a0 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 64 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20  like meditative 
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
1f3e0 66 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20  f larger parts, 
1f3f0 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75  and looked throu
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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
1f420 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73  ide, the bundles
1f430 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65   slightly splaye
1f440 64 20 6f 75 74 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61  d out but the pa
1f450 72 74 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 64 68 65 72 69  rts still adheri
1f460 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 2e 20  ng to the tape. 
1f470 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f   Finally, he sto
1f480 70 70 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 6b 65 70  pped..."I've kep
1f490 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67  t you long enoug
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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1f4c0 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f  ed out an envelo
1f4d0 70 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 61 6b  pe.  "Here.  Tak
1f4e0 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44  e this back to D
1f4f0 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63  ave, for the sec
1f500 6f 6e 64 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 2e 22 20 20  ond delivery."  
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
1f5c0 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 79 69 6e  ctly.  I'm tryin
1f5d0 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20  g to dig myself 
1f5e0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 22 0a  out of a hole.".
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
1f630 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49  d it's dying.  I
1f640 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61   don't really ha
1f650 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65  ve the work expe
1f660 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 61  rience to pick a
1f670 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20   new direction, 
1f680 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b  so I'm just work
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
1f6b0 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20   yourself.  The 
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
1f6f0 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e  ley nodded, then
1f700 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68   stopped, and sh
1f710 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61  ook her head aga
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
1f7a0 6f 72 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f  or a job, and wo
1f7b0 72 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65  rk until they re
1f7c0 74 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d  tire.".."It seem
1f7d0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f  s that way," Geo
1f7e0 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d  rge said, "but m
1f7f0 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27  ost of them don'
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
1f830 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61  nd more people a
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 
1f860 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68  and end up on th
1f870 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20  e street.  Most 
1f880 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61  of them don't ha
1f890 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e  ve enough imagin
1f8a0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73  ation these days
1f8b0 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76   to even conceiv
1f8c0 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20  e of completely 
1f8d0 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69  reinventing thei
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1f8f0 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20  ok like you do, 
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
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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 
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1fb90 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75  things sorted ou
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1fda0 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20  y lie and cheat 
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1fdc0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20   even kill with 
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1fe00 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72   to the top over
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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
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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
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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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1ff10 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73   because there's
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1ff40 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 20 61  time to see it a
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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
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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 
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201a0 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74  .  "You give bet
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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 
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20200 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64  er on paper, and
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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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20300 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61   just want to ta
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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204f0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66   to her as she f
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
207e0 61 69 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a  ail like that?".
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
20810 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c  ients sometimes,
20820 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f  " she said..."Go
20830 6f 64 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65  od girl.  You're
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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20900 73 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20  side and closed 
20910 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68  the door when sh
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20930 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62  the end of his b
20940 6c 6f 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20  lock...When she 
20950 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20  merged onto the 
20960 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e  highway, she won
20970 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 74 68  dered what he th
20980 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20  ought she meant 
20990 62 79 20 22 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 22 2e 20 20 48  by "clients".  H
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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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20a10 6e 67 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 44 65  ng related to De
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21ba0 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 20 77 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20  ..."May we come 
21bb0 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74  in to talk about
21bc0 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61   this?" the woma
21bd0 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  n asked...Alley 
21be0 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 67  caught the man g
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21c00 72 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6c  r an irritated l
21c10 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e  ook.  "No, I don
21c20 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 41 6c  't think so," Al
21c30 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22  ley answered..."
21c40 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64  Are you involved
21c50 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20   in too many US 
21c60 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73  Intelligence res
21c70 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74  earch projects t
21c80 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20  o know what I'm 
21c90 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 20  talking about?" 
21ca0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73  he asked..."It's
21cb0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 2c 22 20   the opposite," 
21cc0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20  she said, as if 
21cd0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27  really she didn'
21ce0 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72  t think he under
21cf0 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  stood.  "I don't
21d00 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61   know anything a
21d10 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65  bout any US Inte
21d20 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63  lligence researc
21d30 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 79  h projects in my
21d40 20 6c 69 66 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e   life right now.
21d50 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f    Do you want to
21d60 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75   tell me why you
21d70 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f  're here, or sho
21d80 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 70 6c 61 79 20 61 20 67 75  uld we play a gu
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21da0 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20  he woman's eyes 
21db0 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68  narrowed, and sh
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21e00 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c   leaned into All
21e10 65 79 27 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 70  ey's personal sp
21e20 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64  ace.  He blocked
21e30 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 65   half of the vie
21e40 77 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77  w between the tw
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21e60 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 63   man's partner c
21e70 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20  losed her mouth 
21e80 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64  again, surprised
21e90 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f   by the intrusio
21ea0 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75  n...He said "You
21eb0 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20   have access to 
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21ed0 6c 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63  l task assistanc
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21f20 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 74 75 64 79  ating in a study
21f30 20 66 6f 72 20 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47   for Professor G
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21f50 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66  versity of Calif
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21f70 74 20 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 73  t ring any bells
21f80 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f  ?" he asked..."O
21f90 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64  h.  Yeah.  Why d
21fa0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73  idn't you just s
21fb0 61 79 20 73 6f 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c  ay so?"  She hel
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21fe0 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 67  ly backed off ag
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22000 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74   you did not act
22010 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 69  ually read the i
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22030 65 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79  ere given when y
22040 6f 75 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72  ou signed up for
22050 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68   the study."..Sh
22060 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20  e shrugged.  "I 
22070 64 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  did, but I don't
22080 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 20   remember every 
22090 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 74  single word of t
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220b0 20 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65   It must have be
220c0 65 6e 20 62 75 72 69 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79  en buried pretty
220d0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72   well.".."Why ar
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220f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73   your AR glasses
22100 3f 22 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61  ?" he suddenly a
22110 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 72 65  sked..."Let's re
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22130 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 79 6f  t when I told yo
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22150 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6a 61 6d 61 73 2c 22   in my pajamas,"
22160 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65   Alley said...He
22170 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73   frowned, and as
22180 6b 65 64 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f  ked "Have you lo
22190 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f  oked at your pho
221a0 6e 65 20 79 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e  ne yet this morn
221b0 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20  ing?".."This is 
221c0 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c  starting to feel
221d0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79   like we're play
221e0 69 6e 67 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 71 75 65 73 74  ing twenty quest
221f0 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20  ions after all. 
22200 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 6c   No, I haven't l
22210 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e  ooked at my phon
22220 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66  e.  I got out of
22230 20 62 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c   bed, made mysel
22240 66 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 64 65 63 65 6e 74 20  f barely decent 
22250 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f  to answer the do
22260 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20  or, and came to 
22270 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 65  welcome you chee
22280 72 66 75 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 62 69 72 64 73  rful early birds
22290 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68   to my door.  Wh
222a0 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20  y?".."I suggest 
222b0 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d  you check your m
222c0 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65  essages.".."Fine
222d0 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  ," Alley said.  
222e0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62  "I'll be right b
222f0 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67  ack."  She manag
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22320 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 62  ming the door, b
22330 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65 6e  ut it wasn't gen
22340 74 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 69 74 20 74 68  tle...She hit th
22350 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 63 6b  e button to lock
22360 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20   the door, then 
22370 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68  sat on the couch
22380 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72   and plucked her
22390 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20   phone from the 
223a0 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 20  charging plate. 
223b0 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66   A message notif
223c0 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20  ication blinked 
223d0 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64  at her...Alley d
223e0 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69  onned the priori
223f0 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20  tizer's glasses 
22400 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20  and checked her 
22410 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 68  messages.  One h
22420 61 64 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  ad arrived from 
22430 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 6f 76  the professor ov
22440 65 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69  er an hour earli
22450 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72  er.  It told her
22460 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61   to give the gla
22470 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 20  sses to the men 
22480 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74  who would come t
22490 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d  o see her that m
224a0 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 76 65  orning with gove
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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
224d0 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65  oor, and muttere
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 
22500 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 65 78  the professor ex
22510 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74  pected different
22520 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69   people, but thi
22530 73 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 6c  s was clearly cl
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22550 62 65 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74  be he just meant
22560 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a   Men In Black...
22570 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73  /* Without the s
22580 74 75 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2c 20  tud in her ear, 
22590 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20  the prioritizer 
225a0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20  could not speak 
225b0 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 75 64 69 62 6c 79 2c 20  to her audibly, 
225c0 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78 74  but it used text
225d0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20   again. */..The 
225e0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63  prioritizer plac
225f0 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66  ed text in her f
22600 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 22  ield of view.  "
22610 54 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61  There does not a
22620 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68  ppear to be much
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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22650 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68   it said..."Yeah
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 
22680 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e  the door a momen
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226b0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 61  thing familiar a
226c0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 20  bout that guy." 
226d0 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 72   She shrugged, r
226e0 65 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64  eturned to the d
226f0 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20  oor, and opened 
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22720 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 64  broke off in mid
22730 2d 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20  -discussion and 
22740 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e  looked at Alley.
22750 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61  .."Here," she sa
22760 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20  id.  She pulled 
22770 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20  off the glasses 
22780 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20  and handed them 
22790 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 6f  to the closest o
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227b0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 64  ..He smirked and
227c0 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20   handed them to 
227d0 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64  his partner, and
227e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65   the woman pulle
227f0 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20  d a small black 
22800 64 69 73 63 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20  disc out of her 
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22820 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 77 68   of her thumb wh
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22840 75 6e 64 65 72 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 66  under pressure f
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22870 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69  device, and a li
22880 67 68 74 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69  ght began to bli
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228a0 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e   The charging in
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228c0 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 62 6c 69   the glasses bli
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228f0 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 6e   held the disc n
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22910 66 6f 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 73 65 63 6f  for several seco
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22930 67 68 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 62 6c 69 6e  ght stopped blin
22940 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 70  king and she rep
22950 6c 61 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 69  laced the disc i
22960 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22  n her pocket..."
22970 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f  Thank you for yo
22980 75 72 20 63 6f 2d 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c  ur co-operation,
22990 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64  " the woman said
229a0 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65   in a sour voice
229b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68  .  She handed th
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229d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20  .Alley accepted 
229e0 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e  the glasses, don
229f0 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f  ned them once mo
22a00 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44  re, and asked "D
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22a20 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 27  ing else?".."We'
22a30 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 66 20  ll come back if 
22a40 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67  we need anything
22a50 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20   else," the man 
22a60 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20  said, making it 
22a70 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 68 72  sound like a thr
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22ab0 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c  me what the hell
22ac0 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f   this is all abo
22ad0 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20  ut?".."No," the 
22ae0 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65  man said..."Have
22af0 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 20 20 41   a good day."  A
22b00 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f  lley spoke witho
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22b20 73 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64  she closed the d
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22b40 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e  n...Alley sat on
22b50 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75   the couch.  "Fu
22b60 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  ck," she said.  
22b70 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70  "Who are those p
22b80 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a  eople, really?".
22b90 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20  ."I do not have 
22ba0 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e  that information
22bb0 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  ," the prioritiz
22bc0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20  er said.  "Your 
22bd0 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63  internet researc
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22bf0 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 6d  help you learn m
22c00 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20  ore about them, 
22c10 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b  but it seems lik
22c20 65 6c 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f  ely your questio
22c30 6e 20 77 61 73 20 72 68 65 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c  n was rhetorical
22c40 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 67 68  .".."That's righ
22c50 74 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 70 70  t."  Alley flipp
22c60 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 6f 70  ed her laptop op
22c70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73  en and started s
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2a440 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  "Yeah," she said
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2a640 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 72   "That sounds gr
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2a670 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 20  Good.  I'll see 
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2aa20 48 65 72 20 61 6d 75 73 65 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65  Her amused smile
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2acc0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73  "Yeah, I guess s
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2ace0 72 65 61 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22  read, Alley?".."
2acf0 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f  Mostly nonfictio
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2ad10 20 62 69 6f 67 72 61 70 68 69 65 73 2c 20 68 69   biographies, hi
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2ad30 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65  and things where
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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
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2adb0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73   all the weird s
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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
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2aea0 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64  t I have to read
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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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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
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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
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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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2b0e0 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 65 76 65  of some kind eve
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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
2b140 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 65  nly one, or none
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
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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
2b200 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f   eight nonfictio
2b210 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73  n books in the s
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
2b250 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61  ead more," he sa
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 
2b2b0 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49  limit the time I
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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
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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
2b3b0 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65   a friend who re
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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
2b4e0 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20  n't really want 
2b4f0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65  to get into some
2b500 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e   kind of argumen
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
2b5b0 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20  nks," she said. 
2b5c0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68   "I guess.".."Wh
2b5d0 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65  y did your uncle
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
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2b650 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67  ".."Oh," she sig
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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
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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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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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2bb10 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20  found the video 
2bb20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 79 20  backups from my 
2bb30 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 6e  uncle's camera n
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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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2bc50 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76  erything that ev
2bc60 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61  en looked like a
2bc70 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79   computer.  They
2bc80 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20   claimed it was 
2bc90 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  connected to the
2bca0 69 72 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e  ir investigation
2bcb0 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 44  s of my uncle, D
2bcc0 61 64 27 73 20 62 72 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75  ad's brother, bu
2bcd0 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 77 61 73  t the result was
2bce0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20   just that they 
2bcf0 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64  got our download
2bd00 65 64 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  ed video and the
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
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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
2bda0 64 65 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65  deo again, so we
2bdb0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74   could show it t
2bdc0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 2c 20 74 68  o the lawyer, th
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2bde0 68 65 20 56 50 53 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73  he VPS and press
2bdf0 75 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6e 67  ured the hosting
2be00 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65   company into de
2be10 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 75  leting all backu
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
2be80 61 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66  ase and a lot of
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
2bf00 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20  nuing education 
2bf10 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 67 68 20  school for high 
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
2bf70 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61  ng good to say a
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
2bfc0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76   just had to mov
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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
2c1a0 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 68 69  't even bring hi
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
2c1d0 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20  her people hate 
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
2c340 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20  t be completely 
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
2c380 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63  t him, and you c
2c390 61 6e 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65  an decide whethe
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2c3b0 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77  ing more to do w
2c3c0 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74  ith me.  I won't
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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
2c540 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73  ut it."..She hes
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
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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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2c6c0 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79   disappointed by
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2c7c0 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65  an..."No offense
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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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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
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2cb00 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65  ..George shrugge
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2cb20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74  stand up thing t
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2cbb0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49  ," she said.  "I
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2cc00 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c  tolerable?"..All
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2cc20 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68   not at all.  Th
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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
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2cd00 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65  ight that people
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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
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2cd70 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74   with him.".."It
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2cd90 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f   Part of it, tho
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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
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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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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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2cf40 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62   I never heard b
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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
2cff0 6c 70 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74  lplessly.  "What
2d000 20 63 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6a 75   can I do?  I ju
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2d020 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e   going to distan
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2d050 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68  troversy as much
2d060 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6e 64 20   as I could and 
2d070 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20  try to wait for 
2d080 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72  the world to for
2d090 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49  get about me.  I
2d0a0 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 68  t still hasn't h
2d0b0 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e  appened, though.
2d0c0 20 20 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74    I went to what
2d0d0 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 77 61 73 20 67   I thought was g
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2d130 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e   approved the in
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2d160 66 20 68 69 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 69 6e 67 20  f his underling 
2d170 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64  developers could
2d180 20 68 65 63 6b 6c 65 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20   heckle me when 
2d190 49 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68  I showed up.  Th
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2d1f0 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74  out my name on t
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2d210 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61   realized they a
2d220 6c 6c 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 67  ll hated me, I g
2d230 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74  uess.".."Is that
2d240 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20   why you called 
2d250 6d 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73  me today?" he as
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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2d290 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 41 72  t what I do.  Ar
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2d2c0 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65   to work with me
2d2d0 3f 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61  ?  It doesn't ma
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2d2f0 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64  you were engaged
2d300 20 74 6f 20 44 53 48 3b 20 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20   to DSH; I take 
2d310 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 63  people as they c
2d320 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f  ome.  I guess yo
2d330 75 27 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77  u'd want to know
2d340 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20   what I'm doing 
2d350 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 66  before you ask f
2d360 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74  or an opportunit
2d370 79 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d  y to work with m
2d380 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68  e, though.".."Oh
2d390 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61  ."  She paused a
2d3a0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20   moment.  "Well 
2d3b0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20  . . . maybe?  I 
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2d3d0 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75  hinking that, bu
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2d3f0 73 74 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75  sting idea, I gu
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2d410 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 6c  fer to help me l
2d420 65 61 72 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6b  earn some new sk
2d430 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69  ills if I need i
2d440 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74  t, and I guess t
2d450 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6e  his might be con
2d460 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20  nected to that. 
2d470 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 65 72 72   I was just, err
2d480 2c 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75  , concerned abou
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2d4b0 74 6f 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 74  to when I sold t
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2d4d0 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65  ou."..He chuckle
2d4e0 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20  d.  "Oh, that.  
2d4f0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61  Yeah, well, I ca
2d500 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 79 2e 22 20 20 48 69 73  n see why."  His
2d510 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e   smile faded, an
2d520 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 6e 65 77 2c  d she saw a new,
2d530 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62   serious look ab
2d540 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20  out him.  "Tell 
2d550 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65  me something, be
2d560 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 70  fore I answer, p
2d570 6c 65 61 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65  lease.  A couple
2d580 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 63 74 75   of things, actu
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2d5a0 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77  n't want to answ
2d5b0 65 72 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 62  er, it's fine, b
2d5c0 75 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20  ut then I won't 
2d5d0 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73  answer your ques
2d5e0 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61  tions, about wha
2d5f0 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22  t I'm doing.".."
2d600 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c  Okay," she said,
2d610 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 75 70   an uncertain up
2d620 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6e 65  turn in the tone
2d630 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 61 63   of the word tac
2d640 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64  ked onto the end
2d650 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74  , almost like it
2d660 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e   was a question.
2d670 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74  .."First, I want
2d680 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f   to know when yo
2d690 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6b 61  u think it's oka
2d6a0 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e  y to lie.".."Oh.
2d6b0 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65    That's an inte
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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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2d8d0 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e    "What if you n
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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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2da20 22 49 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20  "I see what you 
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2deb0 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68  ..He stared at h
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2e050 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65  is that there we
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2e140 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 6e 65 77 73  They're bad news
2e150 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65  .".."Fuck."  She
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2e180 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a  lly?".."Yeah."..
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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2e1d0 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 79 20  .  I guess they 
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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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2e4a0 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 77 65 61   course.  I swea
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2e4d0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 49 20  know how well I 
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2e550 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63  that I can expec
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2e5f0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74  "  She looked at
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2e610 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65   and he could se
2e620 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65  e the fear in he
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2e660 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67  help you avoid g
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2e680 66 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 61 6b 65 20  f by them, take 
2e690 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 20 73 65 72 69  this threat seri
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2e6d0 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22  self from them."
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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2e700 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75  I do."..She thou
2e710 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22  ght about it.  "
2e720 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c  Yeah," she said,
2e730 20 22 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f   "of course.  Yo
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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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2f7d0 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65  joining..."There
2f7e0 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74  's always the ot
2f7f0 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c  her possibility,
2f800 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74   that they won't
2f810 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 79 6f   try to frame yo
2f820 75 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65  u up as connecte
2f830 64 20 74 6f 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 73 2c  d to terrorists,
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
2f860 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 69  ting around, wai
2f870 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20  ting, and maybe 
2f880 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70  ending up disapp
2f890 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20  earing, because 
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
2f900 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20  ady to run, but 
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
2f940 27 74 20 72 75 6e 20 69 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e  't run if nothin
2f950 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68  g happens.  Righ
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
2f9a0 67 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e  g to give you an
2f9b0 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c  y warning at all
2f9c0 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65  , if they can he
2f9d0 6c 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 61 63 74  lp it.  The fact
2f9e0 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61   they came to ta
2f9f0 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c  lk to you at all
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
2fa80 62 61 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 73  bably be you dis
2fa90 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67  appearing, thoug
2faa0 68 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70  h.  If that happ
2fab0 65 6e 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69  ens, I'm not goi
2fac0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e  ng to wait aroun
2fad0 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79  d to see if they
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
2fb10 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20  tead of waiting 
2fb20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66  around to see if
2fb30 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65   they'll make me
2fb40 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72   disappear befor
2fb50 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74  e I get around t
2fb60 6f 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20  o it.".."Okay.  
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
2fba0 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20  o have to think 
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
2fbd0 75 6c 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 70 72 65 74 74 79  uld think pretty
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
2fc10 76 6f 69 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68  void doing anyth
2fc20 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63  ing that might c
2fc30 61 74 63 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e  atch their atten
2fc40 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f  tion, and stay o
2fc50 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20  ut of trouble.  
2fc60 54 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d  Try to keep them
2fc70 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67   happy without g
2fc80 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 74 68  iving them anyth
2fc90 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e  ing to use again
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
2fcd0 61 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f  ast about how yo
2fce0 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65  u want to handle
2fcf0 20 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75   it, because you
2fd00 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20   don't know how 
2fd10 6d 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61  much time you ha
2fd20 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20  ve to make that 
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
2fd50 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 68 75 67 65 2e 20  is one is huge. 
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
2fe10 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 66  ple of books off
2fe20 20 68 69 73 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68   his shelves, th
2fe30 65 6e 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63  en went to the c
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
2fe60 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20  em out to her.  
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
2fe90 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53  u have time."..S
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 
2fec0 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74  them.  One was t
2fed0 69 74 6c 65 64 20 2a 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73  itled *An Agoris
2fee0 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 2a 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20  t Primer*.  The 
2fef0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72  other was *Under
2ff00 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 53 65 63 2a 2e 20 20  ground OpSec*.  
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
2ff40 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 68 65  ng them back, he
2ff50 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69   went back to hi
2ff60 73 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20  s couch and sat 
2ff70 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20  down.  "Agorism 
2ff80 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6d  is kind of a com
2ff90 62 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 61  bination of idea
2ffa0 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 20  l and strategy. 
2ffb0 20 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69   The ideal is li
2ffc0 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20  ving outside of 
2ffd0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6f  the control of o
2ffe0 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73  thers, and the s
2fff0 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 69 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67  trategy is using
30000 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6f   that to bring o
30010 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f  ther people into
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
30050 68 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74  he better a litt
30060 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54  le at a time.  T
30070 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 77 72 6f 74 65  he guy who wrote
30080 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f   the agorism boo
30090 6b 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75  k basically thou
300a0 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 61  ght of this as a
300b0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74   way to starve t
300c0 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66  he government of
300d0 20 69 74 73 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70   its source of p
300e0 6f 77 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61  ower and eventua
300f0 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77  lly bring it dow
30100 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72  n, basically tur
30110 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d  ning the black m
30120 61 72 6b 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c  arket into a pol
30130 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f  itical revolutio
30140 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74  n, but I don't t
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
301a0 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f  s to be more abo
301b0 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67  ut just building
301c0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61   communities tha
301d0 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f  t work outside o
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301f0 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b   choosing to mak
30200 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 75  e your life abou
30210 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 73  t that part of s
30220 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61  ociety as much a
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
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30280 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65  ing for you, whe
30290 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61  ther they know a
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,
302f0 20 61 6e 64 20 65 73 63 61 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68   and escaping th
30300 65 69 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 73  eir ability to s
30310 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 64  ee what you're d
30320 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20  oing so you can 
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
30370 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6c 69 6e  ow the legal lin
30380 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 69  e, and some of i
30390 74 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74  t is about how t
303a0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 61  o get across tha
303b0 74 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65  t line if you we
303c0 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76  re trying to liv
303d0 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20  e above it, but 
303e0 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68  have to run.  Th
303f0 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74  e underground it
30400 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74  's talking about
30410 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 63   is a criminal c
30420 6c 61 73 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 70  lass who don't p
30430 72 65 79 20 6f 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f  rey on other peo
30440 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61  ple any more tha
30450 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65  n people who are
30460 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70   legal -- just p
30470 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65  eople who choose
30480 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65   to live outside
30490 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65   the law, or are
304a0 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f   forced to do so
304b0 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74  , for reasons ot
304c0 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 66 74 20 61  her than theft a
304d0 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20  nd murder, such 
304e0 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77  as someone who w
304f0 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c  ants to make a l
30500 69 76 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 70 61  iving without pa
30510 79 69 6e 67 20 74 61 78 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61  ying taxes to pa
30520 79 20 66 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 77 61  y for foreign wa
30530 72 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20  rs, or fighting 
30540 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 61 20 74 79 72 61 6e 6e  against a tyrann
30550 69 63 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c  ical government,
30560 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62   or just being b
30570 69 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20  isexual in some 
30580 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64  parts of the Mid
30590 64 6c 65 20 45 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e  dle East.".."Oh.
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
305d0 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 62  k of the OpSec b
305e0 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f  ook as being abo
305f0 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20  ut how to avoid 
30600 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69  getting thrown i
30610 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 20  nto a dark hole 
30620 62 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  by COIN, and the
30630 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73   agorism book as
30640 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79   being about why
30650 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 64   they're the bad
30660 20 67 75 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70   guys, and the p
30670 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 64 20 68 65 6c 70  eople who'd help
30680 20 79 6f 75 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 72 65 20   you escape are 
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
306b0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74  ind of anarchist
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
306e0 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20  taryist, maybe, 
306f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 2d  like an anarcho-
30700 63 61 70 69 74 61 6c 69 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68  capitalist in th
30710 65 20 73 74 79 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 44 53 48 20 62  e style of DSH b
30720 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64  efore he started
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
30780 73 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67  s beginning to g
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
30820 73 69 64 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61  sider yourself a
30830 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f   voluntaryist, o
30840 72 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20  r anarchist, or 
30850 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74  something like t
30860 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 44 6f  hat, though.  Do
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
30890 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65  t do you conside
308a0 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68  r yourself?"..Sh
308b0 65 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 73  e surprised hers
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
30920 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 6d  ave more in comm
30930 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74  on with a volunt
30940 61 72 79 69 73 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20  aryist than you 
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
30990 68 6f 75 67 68 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68  hough I guess th
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309b0 65 74 74 79 20 74 68 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b  etty thin.".."Ok
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
30a10 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74  l give it a shot
30a20 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d  .  I'll get them
30a30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65   back to you whe
30a40 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e  n I'm done.".."N
30a50 6f 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65  o, just keep the
30a60 6d 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49  m," he said.  "I
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
30a90 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65   them on to some
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
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30b20 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68  " she said.  "Wh
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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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30bb0 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20  .  "That sounds 
30bc0 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 67  good.".."It'll g
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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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30c40 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 61   hard thoughts a
30c50 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65  bout what you're
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30c70 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74  He got up and st
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30cf0 65 79 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e  ey's AR glasses.
30d00 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20    He knows this 
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30d40 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e  ely go on talkin
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30d60 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20  of insane stuff 
30d70 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67  without noticing
30d80 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61   there's some da
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30dc0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 61 72   people carry ar
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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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30e20 65 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 73 20  ey as she picks 
30e30 75 70 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20  up a Deliv job, 
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30e60 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65  ey looked at the
30e70 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69   cover of the fi
30e80 72 73 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20  rst book George 
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
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30ed0 63 68 65 61 70 6c 79 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61  cheaply made tra
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30f20 61 20 73 74 61 72 6b 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 61  a stark white ba
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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
30f80 68 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20  hered to really 
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
310b0 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 69 74 6c 65 20 70 61 67 65 2c  nts, title page,
310c0 20 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63   publishing or c
310d0 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 73  opyright page, s
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
31140 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20  lowing page was 
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
31170 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 75 62 73 65 71 75  uction.  Subsequ
31180 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20  ent to that was 
31190 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74  chapter one of t
311a0 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67  he book, getting
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
31200 72 73 74 20 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 62 65 67 61  rst chapter bega
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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
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313d0 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f  t page of the bo
313e0 6f 6b 27 73 20 69 6e 64 65 78 2e 20 20 41 74 20  ok's index.  At 
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 
31410 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 20 6d 61  meant however ma
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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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31490 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 69  itizer said "Thi
314a0 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72  s is a very shor
314b0 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c  t book.".."Yeah,
314c0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53  " Alley said.  S
314d0 68 65 20 72 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65  he ran her finge
314e0 72 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 69  rs down the disi
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31500 2c 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20  , held together 
31510 62 79 20 6f 66 66 2d 77 68 69 74 65 20 63 6c 6f  by off-white clo
31520 74 68 20 74 61 70 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e  th tape.  Someon
31530 65 20 68 61 64 20 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 6f 6e  e had written on
31540 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61   the tape with a
31550 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 3a 0a 0a   black marker:..
31560 22 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d  "An Agorist Prim
31570 65 72 2c 20 62 79 20 53 45 4b 33 22 0a 0a 54 68  er, by SEK3"..Th
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315a0 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 76 65 2c 20 62 65   lot of love, be
315b0 65 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75  en thumbed throu
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315d0 54 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 73 68 65  The corners, she
315e0 20 73 61 77 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 65 6c 6c 6f   saw, were yello
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31620 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 65 6c 61 6d 69 6e 61   slowly delamina
31630 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 65 61 72 73 2e 0a  ting for years..
31640 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72  .The prioritizer
31650 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e   spoke up again.
31660 20 20 22 52 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 6f    "Reading it wo
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31680 77 20 63 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e  w cost investmen
31690 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20  t of your time. 
316a0 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72   Do you read mor
316b0 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79  e quickly than y
316c0 6f 75 20 73 70 65 61 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65  ou speak?"..Alle
316d0 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20  y thought about 
316e0 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74  what the priorit
316f0 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65  izer asked.  "Ye
31700 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65  ah, I do.  I gue
31710 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 6f 70  ss I should stop
31720 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 64 67 69   literally judgi
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31740 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74   cover and start
31750 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61   reading.".."Tha
31760 74 20 69 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c  t is what I woul
31770 64 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 61  d recommend.  Ma
31780 79 20 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68  y I read it with
31790 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f   you?"..Alley lo
317a0 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65  oked up from the
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317c0 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 66  he wall across f
317d0 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 64 20  rom her.  "Read 
317e0 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e  it with me . . .
317f0 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 6e   ?".."I only wan
31800 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68  t you to wear th
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31840 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20  as you hold the 
31850 62 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61  book open to rea
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31870 49 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65  I effectively re
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31890 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74  ny human, except
318a0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 72 65 61 64   some speed read
318b0 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 68 6f 6c 64 65  ing record holde
318c0 72 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64  rs, so it should
318d0 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e   not inconvenien
318e0 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68  ce you beyond th
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31900 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a  r the glasses.".
31910 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65  ."Uh, yeah, sure
31920 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54  ," she said..."T
31930 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20  hank you."..She 
31940 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65  shrugged and ope
31950 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 41  ned the book.  A
31960 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6d  pparently, a com
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31990 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20   book, too.  It 
319a0 6d 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61  must seem like a
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36d80 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20  ".."You must've 
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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37ac0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65  opened to the le
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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
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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
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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
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37c90 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74  d to look down t
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37cc0 20 62 6f 6c 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63   bolted to the c
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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
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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
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37de0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 72   into a larger r
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37e40 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74   the edge onto t
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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
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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
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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
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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