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103d0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ?".."Do you have
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10440 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 . . . no, not r
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10470 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ".."Now is a goo
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10f80 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 ."Oh.".."If I ha
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10fa0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d the relative im
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10fc0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c goals, please l
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10fe0 63 61 6e 20 72 65 63 61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 65 20 can recalculate
10ff0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 prioritization."
11000 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b .."No, that work
11010 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b s for me. Thank
11020 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 s.".."Good. We
11030 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 79 20 should start by
11040 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 looking at crypt
11050 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 ocurrency prices
11060 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 6f 75 ."..Two more hou
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110c0 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e Stater, the stan
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110e0 20 74 68 65 20 4c 79 64 69 61 6e 20 64 69 67 69 the Lydian digi
110f0 74 61 6c 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 65 74 74 tal account sett
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11110 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 77 61 She set up a wa
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111a0 2a 2f 20 46 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 */ For the sake
111b0 6f 66 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 of keeping some
111c0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 61 66 65 information safe
111d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 6e from digital sn
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111f0 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 notebook and pe
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11220 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f became an obvio
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11290 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 72 72 s she would carr
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112e0 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f sure she was no
112f0 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c t wearing the gl
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11330 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c so that it woul
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11360 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 that could be u
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113b0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 once she had th
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11410 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 dollars anywhere
11420 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 in the Inland E
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11440 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 76 69 61 20 65 a message via e
11450 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 ncrypted applica
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11470 6f 70 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 op to ask about
11480 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 61 buying a small a
11490 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c mount of Stater,
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114b0 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 response almost
114c0 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 immediately. It
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114f0 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 place in a polic
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11520 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 ed at the messag
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11580 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
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127c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 , and she opened
127d0 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 her door. The
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12880 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 car, and tugged
12890 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 61 her stocking ca
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128b0 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 lower on her hea
128c0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 d...A figure in
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12970 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c crossover, diml
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129e0 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 t. Alley heard
129f0 71 75 69 65 74 20 76 6f 69 63 65 73 2c 20 6e 65 quiet voices, ne
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12b40 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c d...Alley saw bl
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12c90 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 and a narrow, st
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12cf0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f than her. It o
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12d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 look female...H
12d50 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 e just looked ve
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12d70 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 river gave her a
12d80 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f n appraising loo
12d90 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 k, the impersona
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12db0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 ind of look that
12dc0 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 lingered on the
12dd0 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 way her cargo p
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12df0 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 fit her and wou
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12e10 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 her teeth on edg
12e20 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 e, but she just
12e30 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f stared at him fo
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12e50 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 his fashionably
12e60 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 spartan, almost
12e70 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 formal-cut, blac
12e80 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 k collarless shi
12e90 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 rt..."Aren't you
12ea0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 kind of young f
12eb0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 or this sort of
12ec0 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 thing?" she blur
12ed0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 ted out...He jer
12ee0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 ked the focus of
12ef0 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 his aqua eyes,
12f00 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c reflecting the l
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12f20 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 , away from the
12f30 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 vicinity of her
12f40 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d midsection and m
12f50 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 et her eyes. "H
12f60 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ey, lady, don't
12f70 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f think I'm new to
12f80 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 this. I'm arme
12f90 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b d, so don't jerk
12fa0 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 me around."..Sh
12fb0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 e hesitated, the
12fc0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 n said "No, not
12fd0 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 a problem. You
12fe0 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 just, uhh, surpr
12ff0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e ised me. Sorry.
13000 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 ".."Whatever," h
13010 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 e said, in a sof
13020 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 t, clear voice t
13030 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 hat almost made
13040 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 it difficult to
13050 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f recognize the so
13060 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 ur note in it.
13070 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 "Here, look at t
13080 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 his," he said, a
13090 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 nd held up a dev
130a0 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 ice the size of
130b0 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f his palm. A glo
130c0 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 wing display on
130d0 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 it, about the le
130e0 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 ngth of her own
130f0 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 thumb and three
13100 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e times the thickn
13110 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 ess, showed an e
13120 69 67 68 74 79 2d 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 ighty-seven Stat
13130 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 er transaction r
13140 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 eady for him to
13150 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f confirm...She no
13160 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 dded, and said "
13170 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e Go ahead and sen
13180 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 d it to this esc
13190 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 row." She pulle
131a0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 2d 65 61 d out the dog-ea
131b0 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 red page of her
131c0 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 notebook without
131d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 looking at it,
131e0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f and handed it to
131f0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e the boy. He en
13200 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 tered the escrow
13210 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 number into his
13220 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d device and thum
13230 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 bed the confirma
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13250 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 later, she heard
13260 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 the escrow aler
13270 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 t through her ph
13280 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a one's earpiece..
13290 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ."Done", he said
132a0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 ..."Here's the c
132b0 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 ash." She hung
132c0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 her right thumb
132d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 on her front poc
132e0 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 ket, then reache
132f0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 d into the car w
13300 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e ith her left han
13310 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 d to pull out th
13320 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 e bag. She hand
13330 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
13340 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b ...He took it, k
13350 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 eeping his eyes
13360 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 on her, and step
13370 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f ped back. He to
13380 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 ssed the bag int
13390 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 o the car, then
133a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 Alley heard some
133b0 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 rustling sounds
133c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 from the bag.
133d0 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 After a few mome
133e0 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 nts, she realize
133f0 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 d whoever was si
13400 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 tting in the pas
13410 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 senger seat had
13420 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 started counting
13430 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 . Alley and the
13440 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 boy stood there
13450 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 , looking at eac
13460 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 h other, as they
13470 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c waited. A girl
13480 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 's voice -- unle
13490 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 ss it was an eve
134a0 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d n younger boy --
134b0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 said "It's all
134c0 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 here."..The boy
134d0 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 tapped his devic
134e0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 e with his thumb
134f0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 once more, and
13500 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e said "Are we don
13510 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 e?".."Not yet,"
13520 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 she said. "Just
13530 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e wait." Everyon
13540 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 e waited. A few
13550 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 seconds later,
13560 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 another alert ch
13570 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 imed in Alley's
13580 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 ear. "Okay, we'
13590 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 re done.".."Good
135a0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ," he said, and
135b0 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 sat back in his
135c0 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 car with surpris
135d0 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a ing quickness...
135e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 Alley sat down a
135f0 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c nd hurriedly pul
13600 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 led her door shu
13610 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 t. The crossove
13620 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 r backed out and
13630 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 quickly drove a
13640 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 way, while she w
13650 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e as still bucklin
13660 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 g her seatbelt.
13670 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 Soon she, too,
13680 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e was on the road.
13690 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 .."It is too ear
136a0 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 ly to be sure th
136b0 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 at went well," t
136c0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
136d0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 aid..."Yeah. I
136e0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 should check my
136f0 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 Stater balance."
13700 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 She pulled ove
13710 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 r, set aside her
13720 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 glasses so they
13730 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 wouldn't record
13740 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 what she saw, p
13750 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f icked up her pho
13760 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ne, and looked a
13770 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 t the open ledge
13780 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 r view. She now
13790 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 had a Stater ba
137a0 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 lance. She star
137b0 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 ed at it for a w
137c0 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 hile..."Is every
137d0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 thing correct?"
137e0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
137f0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 asked...She nodd
13800 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ed, then realize
13810 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f d it probably co
13820 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 uldn't tell she
13830 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 nodded when she
13840 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 wasn't wearing t
13850 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 he glasses. "Ye
13860 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 ah, it's all the
13870 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e re. Is there an
13880 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 y way this can s
13890 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 omehow get rever
138a0 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 sed now?".."No,"
138b0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
138c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 said. "If it s
138d0 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c hows in your bal
138e0 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ance, that shoul
138f0 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 d mean the trans
13900 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 action crossed t
13910 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 he point of no r
13920 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 eturn, according
13930 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 to the Stater d
13940 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f ocuments you sho
13950 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 wed to me throug
13960 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 h your glasses."
13970 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c .."Okay." She l
13980 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c ocked her phone,
13990 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 tossed it on th
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139b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 , and started dr
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139f0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c es again.".."Oh,
13a00 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 right," she sai
13a10 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 d. She picked t
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13a60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 . "I guess the
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13a80 62 75 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 buy something wi
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13aa0 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 can sell it. Ri
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13ad0 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 message to a buy
13ae0 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e er tonight, then
13af0 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 buy the item wh
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13b60 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 pledged to the e
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13b80 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 ."Yeah, got it,"
13b90 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 she said. "I h
13ba0 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 ope this all wor
13bb0 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 ks out.".."It sh
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13bf0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 looking at the e
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13c50 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f .When she got ho
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13ca0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and checked her
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13cc0 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 Everything was
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13cf0 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c far as she coul
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13d20 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 ow, she donned h
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13d40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f and started loo
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13dd0 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 6e of half a dozen
13de0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 73 20 73 of the worlds s
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13e40 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d .She found an im
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13e80 20 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 last time she c
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13f60 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 Marrakesh would
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13fe0 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e back in dollars.
13ff0 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6d 65 She checked me
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14050 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c to buy a multipl
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14070 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 trader like the
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140a0 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 left..."Should I
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140c0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 " she asked the
140d0 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 air...The priori
140e0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 20 tizer answered.
140f0 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b "This looks lik
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14120 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 have found.".."
14130 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
14140 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 "Fine." She d
14150 69 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 72 65 73 65 id a little rese
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141a0 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 planned to buy a
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14260 20 20 44 6f 75 62 6c 65 2d 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e Double-checkin
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14280 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e e of that was in
14290 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 cluded in the fr
142a0 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 ames. She sent
142b0 61 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 a reply to the c
142c0 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 2c 20 74 68 lassified ad, th
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142e0 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e bed. She had n
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14300 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 73 she was done, s
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14320 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 ..The next morni
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14340 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 62 for a response b
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143b0 65 74 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 et in San Bernar
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143e0 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 70 20 on a street map
143f0 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 and noticed it w
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14430 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 49 2d just south of I-
14440 31 30 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 10, where it see
14450 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d med to be custom
14460 61 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 ary for people t
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14480 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 77 tments on fire w
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144a0 75 74 2e 0a 0a 47 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 ut...Good enough
144b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 61 . She liked tha
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144d0 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 he would show u
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14510 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 mething to conce
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14610 72 2e 0a 0a 52 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 r...Rather than
14620 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 reply, she set u
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146b0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e for an in-person
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146e0 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 20 20 for the trade.
146f0 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 One of the times
14700 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 was hours befor
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14740 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 One of the locat
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14770 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 from the night
14780 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 before, and she
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147c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 63 61 other sketchy ca
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147e0 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 61 20 6c 6f o she chose a lo
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14840 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 here, only about
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14940 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 back, which wou
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14970 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 to provide the
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149a0 20 72 6f 61 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 road if he lost
149b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 . She never not
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149e0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 like this might
149f0 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a be the answer..
14a00 0a 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 .Open Marrakesh
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14a80 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 the funds to th
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14aa0 65 73 65 72 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 eserved the purc
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14ac0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 getting ready t
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14af0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 ecided she had e
14b00 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 nough time to sa
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14b60 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 74 68 s she learned th
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14bc0 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 A few more minu
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14c00 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ty owner could n
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14cf0 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 .That was not th
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14ec0 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 The other was a
14ed0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c black late model
14ee0 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 72 Audi with a per
14ef0 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 son in the front
14f00 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 seat. The wind
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14f80 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 at...As she appr
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14fa0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 , she saw that a
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15020 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2e nd black gloves.
15030 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 Some kind of c
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150b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 other side. Sh
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150f0 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 parts trade...T
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15120 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c lley approached,
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15160 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b he lack of freck
15170 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 les might mean s
15180 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 he was not a nat
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151a0 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 t it also might
151b0 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f just mean she go
151c0 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a t them removed..
151d0 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 .The woman asked
151e0 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e "Are you lookin
151f0 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a g for someone?".
15200 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 .Alley stopped,
15210 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 a couple meters
15220 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 away. "Yeah, I
15230 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 guess so. Is th
15240 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e at the, uh . . .
15250 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 " she trailed of
15260 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 f, and gestured
15270 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e at the drawstrin
15280 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 g bag..."Printed
15290 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 frames?" the re
152a0 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c dhead asked...Al
152b0 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 ley nodded...The
152c0 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 redhead pulled
152d0 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e her mask down an
152e0 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 d exposed brilli
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15300 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 with a broad smi
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15320 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 found what you w
15330 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e ant. I'm Carmen
15340 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e ." She stood an
15350 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c d offered one gl
15360 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 oved hand...Alle
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15380 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 uick handshake.
15390 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 "Mallory," she
153a0 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 offered, on impu
153b0 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 lse..."Let me gu
153c0 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 ess: I'm not wha
153d0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 t you expected."
153e0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 .."I wasn't sure
153f0 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c what to expect,
15400 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 " Alley admitted
15410 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 , "but yeah, I g
15420 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 uess you surpris
15430 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a ed me anyway."..
15440 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 Carmen -- possib
15450 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 ly a pseudonym,
15460 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d Alley realized -
15470 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 - smiled again.
15480 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 "That part of t
15490 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 his job never ge
154a0 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c ts old. Anyway,
154b0 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c I want to upsel
154c0 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 l you. How's th
154d0 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 at sound?".."Ups
154e0 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 ell?" Alley hes
154f0 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 itated, then nod
15500 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 ded. "Sure, I g
15510 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 uess.".."Cool.
15520 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e So, we have prin
15530 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 ted concealment
15540 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f holsters, snap o
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15560 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 s, and brass cat
15570 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 chers for models
15580 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 compatible with
15590 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 these frames.
155a0 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f We have stuff fo
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155c0 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b too, so let me k
155d0 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c now what you'd l
155e0 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ike to see.".."W
155f0 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 ow. Full-servic
15600 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 e, I guess.".."T
15610 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e otally!" Carmen
15620 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 tugged her shir
15630 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c t down slightly,
15640 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 making it a lit
15650 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 tle more obvious
15660 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 she wasn't wear
15670 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 ing a bra..."I t
15680 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 hink I'll just s
15690 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 tick with the or
156a0 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f der I placed, fo
156b0 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 r now. I'll kee
156c0 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 p you in mind if
156d0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e I need somethin
156e0 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 g else, though."
156f0 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..Carmen shrugge
15700 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 d, and the way s
15710 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 he slightly rais
15720 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 ed her arms as s
15730 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 he did it made t
15740 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e he shirt tighten
15750 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b across her perk
15760 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 y breasts. "Oka
15770 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 y!"..Alley took
15780 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 in the display a
15790 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 nd slightly over
157a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e the top cheerin
157b0 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 ess. "Does that
157c0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 . . . oh, never
157d0 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 mind. I guess
157e0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 I should just se
157f0 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f e the frames, no
15800 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 w."..Carmen narr
15810 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 owed her eyes, a
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15830 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 ite suspiciously
15840 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and tilted her
15850 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 head. "No, wai
15860 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f t. What were yo
15870 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 u going to ask?"
15880 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c .."Nothing," All
15890 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 ey said. "I hav
158a0 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 en't been very s
158b0 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 ociable lately,
158c0 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 and forget my ma
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158e0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f ".."Ooh, inappro
158f0 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 priate questions
15900 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 . Those are my
15910 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 favorite kind.
15920 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c You should total
15930 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ly ask!"..Alley
15940 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 signed. "I was
15950 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 just wondering i
15960 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c f you're natural
15970 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 ly this, uh, fri
15980 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 endly, or if you
15990 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 're like this be
159a0 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f cause it gets yo
159b0 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c u a lot of upsel
159c0 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 ls." Carmen lau
159d0 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ghed, and Alley
159e0 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 found it infecti
159f0 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 ous. She caught
15a00 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 herself snicker
15a10 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 ing, too..."Why
15a20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d do I think you m
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15a40 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 rty' instead of
15a50 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 'friendly'?"..Al
15a60 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 ley shrugged. S
15a70 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f he tried, with o
15a80 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 nly moderate suc
15a90 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 cess, to suppres
15aa0 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 s her smile..."W
15ab0 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f as it that obvio
15ac0 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 us?"..Alley said
15ad0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Yeah, I guess
15ae0 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 so. Sorry.".."I
15af0 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 guess it's a bi
15b00 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e t of everything.
15b10 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 I'm usually pr
15b20 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 etty cheery, but
15b30 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 Cliff -- he's t
15b40 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 he guy I work wi
15b50 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 th -- Cliff and
15b60 49 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 I decided to try
15b70 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 this out. With
15b80 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 the kind of amb
15b90 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 itious young cry
15ba0 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 ptotrader guys w
15bb0 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 e usually get, t
15bc0 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 he upsells and r
15bd0 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 epeat business w
15be0 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 e get goes way u
15bf0 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 p when I'm doing
15c00 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e the trades. In
15c10 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f two years, we o
15c20 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 nly had one guy
15c30 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 who decided me b
15c40 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 eing a pretty gi
15c50 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 rl made me an ea
15c60 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 sy target, too,
15c70 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 so it's pretty s
15c80 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f afe."..Alley fro
15c90 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 wned. "Yeah," s
15ca0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 he said. "I gue
15cb0 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 ss that's a dang
15cc0 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e er. What happen
15cd0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c ed?".."Oh, shit,
15ce0 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 " Carmen said.
15cf0 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 "You must be new
15d00 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c at this. Well,
15d10 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 I pulled out my
15d20 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 baton and Cliff
15d30 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f put a red dot o
15d40 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 n the guy's ches
15d50 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 t with the laser
15d60 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 sight on his ri
15d70 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 fle. The guy ba
15d80 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 cked down in a h
15d90 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 urry. Are you c
15da0 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 arrying protecti
15db0 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 on?"..Alley star
15dc0 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 ted opening her
15dd0 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 mouth to reply,
15de0 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 but Carmen cut i
15df0 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 n again..."No, d
15e00 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 on't tell me wha
15e10 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e t you're carryin
15e20 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 g. You shouldn'
15e30 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 t get in the hab
15e40 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 it of telling pe
15e50 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ople stuff like
15e60 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 that. Get yours
15e70 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 elf three things
15e80 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 , if you don't a
15e90 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e lready have 'em.
15ea0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 You need peppe
15eb0 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e r spray or a son
15ec0 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 ic repellant, a
15ed0 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e collapsing baton
15ee0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f , and backup who
15ef0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 knows what he's
15f00 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 doing, like Cli
15f10 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b ff.".."Uh, thank
15f20 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 s," Alley said.
15f30 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 "Aren't those c
15f40 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 ollapsing batons
15f50 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 illegal?".."Yea
15f60 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 h, California su
15f70 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 cks that way. G
15f80 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f irls aren't allo
15f90 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 wed to protect t
15fa0 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b hemselves, you k
15fb0 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 now." She pulle
15fc0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 d something abou
15fd0 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 t the size of a
15fe0 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 whiteboard marke
15ff0 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 r out of her bac
16000 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 k pocket. "See
16010 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 this? This is a
16020 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 good baton."..A
16030 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 lley looked at t
16040 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 he black anodize
16050 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e d aluminum cylin
16060 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 der when Carmen
16070 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 held it up. It
16080 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 had some kind of
16090 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 logo on it and
160a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 a couple of depr
160b0 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 essed ovals on t
160c0 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 he side..."Push
160d0 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 these two spots
160e0 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 to pop it out.
160f0 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 Just push the se
16100 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 cond one, here,
16110 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 and push the bus
16120 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 iness end agains
16130 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 t something hard
16140 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 to collapse the
16150 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f baton back into
16160 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 the handle. Ye
16170 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 ah?"..Alley nodd
16180 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 ed. "I guess th
16190 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 at's a good desi
161a0 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 gn, then.".."Tot
161b0 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 ally. With the
161c0 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e two release poin
161d0 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c ts, you're not l
161e0 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e ikely to acciden
161f0 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 tally pop it out
16200 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 when you don't
16210 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 want to, and thi
16220 73 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 s type is more s
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16240 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 to retract than
16250 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 the things where
16260 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 you just snap y
16270 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 our hand out to
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16290 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 ay, you need one
162a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 of these, and i
162b0 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 t's easy to toss
162c0 20 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 it somewhere be
162d0 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f fore cops get to
162e0 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 you if you're a
162f0 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 fraid of getting
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16310 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c oncealed weapon,
16320 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 or if you cut a
16330 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 little hole in
16340 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f the inside of yo
16350 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 ur pocket when y
16360 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 ou're wearing pa
16370 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 nts you can drop
16380 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 it down your pa
16390 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 nt leg, and mayb
163a0 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 e step on it to
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163d0 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e n, or something.
163e0 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 There are a bu
163f0 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 nch of ways to g
16400 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e et away with it.
16410 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 .."Here." She h
16420 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c eld it out to Al
16430 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ley, who started
16440 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 to reach for it
16450 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 . "Don't try op
16460 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 ening it here, b
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16480 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 it at home. Th
16490 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 at way you don't
164a0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 have to worry a
164b0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 bout getting cau
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164d0 20 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 Unlike our pist
164e0 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 ol frames, walki
164f0 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 ng home with one
16500 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 of these in you
16510 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 r pocket is ille
16520 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d gal, and a cop m
16530 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 ight just try se
16540 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 lling one to you
16550 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 to get an excus
16560 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e e to harass you.
16570 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 "..Alley froze w
16580 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c ith her hand hal
16590 66 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f fway to the bato
165a0 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 n handle. "Are
165b0 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 you giving this
165c0 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 to me?" she aske
165d0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 d..."Yeah. Uh,
165e0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 just a sec'," Ca
165f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 rmen said. She
16600 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 lowered her hand
16610 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 with the baton
16620 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 in it and looked
16630 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 toward the Audi
16640 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 . "Yes, Cliff,
16650 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 I'm giving her t
16660 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e he fucking baton
16670 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 . I'll just buy
16680 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 another one! C
16690 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 hill the fuck ou
166a0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 t."..Alley lower
166b0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 ed her hand and
166c0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 turned her head
166d0 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 to look at the p
166e0 61 72 6b 65 64 20 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 arked sedan...Ca
166f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c rmen grabbed All
16700 65 79 27 73 20 77 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 ey's wrist and p
16710 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 ressed the colla
16720 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f psing baton into
16730 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e her hand. "Don
16740 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 't look at it.
16750 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 Just put it in y
16760 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e our pocket. Don
16770 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 't make Cliff ne
16780 72 76 6f 75 73 20 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e rvous by standin
16790 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65 g here with a we
167a0 61 70 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e apon in your han
167b0 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 d, even if it's
167c0 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 one I gave you."
167d0 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c .."Uh, yeah," Al
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167f0 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 cked it into her
16800 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 back pocket. "
16810 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 Thanks." She sh
16820 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 owed her empty h
16830 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 ands to Carmen,
16840 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e where the person
16850 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 in the Audi cou
16860 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 77 ld see them as w
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16880 61 73 20 68 61 72 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b as harmless look
16890 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ing as she could
168a0 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c manage..."Yeah,
168b0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 well, us girls
168c0 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 gotta stick toge
168d0 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ther. Right?"..
168e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Alley nodded..."
168f0 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e Good. Let's fin
16900 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 ish the deal. T
16910 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 hen, get in touc
16920 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 h some time if y
16930 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 ou think you mig
16940 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 ht want to do th
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16960 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 too. We're get
16970 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 ting a lot of bu
16980 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c siness, and coul
16990 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 d use the help.
169a0 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 You're probably
169b0 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 pretty enough t
169c0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c o get the upsell
169d0 73 2c 20 65 61 73 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 s, easy, though
169e0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 I don't know how
169f0 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 you look behind
16a00 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 the mask.".."I'
16a10 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 ll keep that in
16a20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 mind."..Carmen g
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16a40 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 tring bag. "Her
16a50 65 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 e's what you're
16a60 62 75 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 buying."..---..A
16a70 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f t home, Alley fo
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16aa0 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 gloves, and wore
16ab0 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 a pair when she
16ac0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f looked more clo
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16ae0 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 gun frames she b
16af0 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f ought. After go
16b00 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f ing over them fo
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16b20 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 she put them ba
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16b60 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 tending baton ne
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16bc0 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f nything...She lo
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16be0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 decided she wou
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16c50 20 62 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 69 6e but never havin
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16c70 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c fore she careful
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16ce0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 68 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 much harm. She
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16d10 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 ally toward the
16d20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 floor to her lef
16d30 74 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 68 61 t, using both ha
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16d60 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e and the other en
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16d80 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the ceiling to
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16db0 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 h contact points
16dc0 2c 20 61 73 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 20 , as Carmen had
16dd0 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 instructed her.
16de0 20 41 20 64 75 6c 6c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 A dull snap sou
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16e00 76 69 63 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 vice nearly jump
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16e40 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 n instant from s
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16e60 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 e of a whiteboar
16e70 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 d marker to a st
16e80 69 66 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 iff metal baton
16e90 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 72 64 73 about two thirds
16ea0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 of a meter long
16eb0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 . She held it u
16ec0 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 p and looked at
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18450 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 way we set this
18460 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 up. Yeah?".."Y
18470 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 eah," she echoed
18480 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 ..."If I can't f
18490 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 ind you that way
184a0 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 , I'll track you
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184c0 74 61 6c 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 talk."..After a
184d0 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few seconds, she
184e0 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 remembered to b
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18600 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
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18630 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 dded...She backe
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187a0 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d What the fuck am
187b0 20 49 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e I actually doin
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187d0 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 rself...---..Sit
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18820 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 kinds of deals I
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188b0 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 poor safety outc
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188d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 for these trans
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18900 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 high for poor ou
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189c0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 ks.".."You are w
189d0 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 elcome.".."What'
189e0 73 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a s next, then?"..
189f0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
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18a50 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 . This may take
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18a70 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ..Alley looked a
18a80 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f t the envelope o
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18ab0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 s and counted th
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18b20 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 What? Why?".."W
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18b40 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c , /* it looked l
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18b60 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 one of them appe
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18b90 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 United States f
18ba0 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e ederal reserve n
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18bc0 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 ppeared to be ve
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18be0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e some of these n
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18c00 72 66 65 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 rfeit. Please c
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18c20 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 I watch."..Alle
18c30 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 y frowned at the
18c40 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 stack, and star
18c50 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 ted counting aga
18c60 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 in. Toward the
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18c90 20 66 65 77 20 6e 65 77 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 few new-looking
18ca0 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 bills in the st
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18ce0 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 That is the note
18cf0 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 whose thickness
18d00 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 appears to be i
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18d20 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 y pulled it out
18d30 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 of the stack and
18d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 looked closer.
18d50 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 It felt stiffer
18d60 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 than most bills
18d70 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 , but that could
18d80 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 just be due to
18d90 69 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 it being new. S
18da0 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 he rubbed it to
18db0 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 get a feel for i
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18dd0 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 it separated int
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18df0 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 h, shit," she sa
18e00 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 id. "That scary
18e10 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 war veteran guy
18e20 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 accidentally ga
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18e40 75 6e 64 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 undred. Fuck.
18e50 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 What if it wasn'
18e60 74 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 t an accident?
18e70 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 Maybe it's a tes
18e80 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 t.".."That seems
18e90 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b extremely unlik
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18eb0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 tizer said..."Ye
18ec0 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 ah." She sighed
18ed0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 . "I guess you'
18ee0 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c re right, actual
18ef0 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 ly.".."I have a
18f00 70 6c 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 plan of action t
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18f20 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 morrow."..Alley
18f30 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 started to nod,
18f40 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 then looked at t
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18f60 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 in her hand. "
18f70 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 Wait. I should
18f80 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 give this bill b
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18fa0 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 ".."For a high p
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18fc0 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 to high severit
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18fe0 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 not a good choi
18ff0 63 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ce. You should
19000 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 avoid meeting wi
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19020 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 high potential
19030 66 6f 72 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a for violence."..
19040 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 Alley laughed qu
19050 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 ietly. "Yeah,"
19060 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 she said, "you'r
19070 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 e right. I got
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190d0 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e lucky break, an
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19110 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 I might not be i
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19130 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e I meet him again
19140 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 to give back hi
19150 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 s misplaced mone
19160 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 y?.."It doesn't
19170 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 feel right, just
19180 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e keeping his mon
19190 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ey, though.".."W
191a0 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 hy do you feel t
191b0 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 hat way?" the pr
191c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ioritizer asked.
191d0 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 .."It's dishones
191e0 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 t," she said..."
191f0 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 You did not lie
19200 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e to him.".."True.
19210 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c ".."Did you real
19220 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 ize there might
19230 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 be more money th
19240 61 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 an he intended t
19250 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 o give you when
19260 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 you counted the
19270 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e first time?".."N
19280 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 o.".."How is tha
19290 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 t dishonest?"..A
192a0 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 lley's lips tigh
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1e320 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c "Ah . . . yeah,
1e330 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 I guess I'm thi
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1e490 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 74 silicone tray, t
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1e550 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 2d 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e ..."Self-taught.
1e560 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 "..Alley started
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1e5e0 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c of Coke. "Here,
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1e730 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72 "..He swigged fr
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1e780 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e e opened her can
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1e850 20 63 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 6f 6e cut the tape on
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1e8a0 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e He stopped movin
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1e970 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f get it. Hah! O
1e980 6c 27 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 l' Dave must've
1e990 6d 61 64 65 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d made quite an im
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1e9b0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
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1e9f0 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c scared now..."L
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1ea10 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 looks like he p
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1ea70 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 and he's about
1ea80 61 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 as gentle as a d
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1eab0 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 ts I had him mac
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1ead0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
1eae0 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 box and shifted
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1eb10 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 h, right," he sa
1eb20 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 id. "No, they a
1eb30 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c ren't gun parts,
1eb40 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 either. They'r
1eb50 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 e parts for a cu
1eb60 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 stom prosthetic
1eb70 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 arm I'm building
1eb80 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 for a little gi
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1ec00 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e Really?".."Yeah.
1ec10 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 One of the guy
1ec20 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 s getting the gu
1ec30 6e 73 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 ns I put togethe
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1ec70 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 daughter, nine y
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1ece0 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 [ SOMETHING ] s
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1ed00 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e She's outgrowin
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1ed20 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 for her a year
1ed30 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a ago, already."..
1ed40 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 "Oh. Right. Th
1ed50 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ere's something
1ed60 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 about the guns."
1ed70 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 ..He looked at h
1ed80 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 er, sidelong. "
1ed90 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f What about them?
1eda0 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 " he asked..."Uh
1edb0 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f , after I got ho
1edc0 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 me, I realized y
1edd0 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d ou gave me too m
1ede0 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 uch money.".."Wh
1edf0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 at do you mean?
1ee00 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 I paid what we
1ee10 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 agreed, and the
1ee20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 frames were all
1ee30 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f good."..She shoo
1ee40 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 k her head. "Th
1ee50 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 ere were two bra
1ee60 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 nd new hundreds
1ee70 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 stuck together.
1ee80 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 I got an extra
1ee90 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 hundred dollars
1eea0 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 by accident."..H
1eeb0 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e e stared at her.
1eec0 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 .."I, uh, don't
1eed0 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c have it with me,
1eee0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 " she said. "Ma
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1ef00 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74 ack tomorrow wit
1ef10 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c h it."..George l
1ef20 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 aughed. It was
1ef30 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 a warm, surprise
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1ef80 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 herself..."No,
1ef90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 don't do that,"
1efa0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 he said, a hint
1efb0 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c of chuckle still
1efc0 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 in his voice.
1efd0 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 "Y'know what? I
1efe0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 like you, Alley
1eff0 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 . I even like t
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1f010 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 describes where
1f020 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a we first met.".
1f030 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley smiled.
1f040 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61 "Thanks. What a
1f050 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 bout your hundre
1f060 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 d dollars, thoug
1f070 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 h?".."Keep it.
1f080 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 I'll survive wit
1f090 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 hout it, and I d
1f0a0 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 on't think you'd
1f0b0 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 drive all the w
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1f0d0 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 o Hunting Beach
1f0e0 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 at gig courier r
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1f120 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He winked at
1f130 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 her. "You're g
1f140 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 ood people, Alle
1f150 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 y.".."Uh . . . t
1f160 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 hank you. Maybe
1f170 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a you are, too.".
1f180 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 ."Yeah, maybe.
1f190 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 I hope so." He
1f1a0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 turned back to t
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1f1c0 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 hed cutting the
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1f1e0 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 s, then flipped
1f1f0 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 6f 66 the top flaps of
1f200 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 48 the box out. H
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1f230 72 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 r bundles of met
1f240 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e al parts, leavin
1f250 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 g packing paper
1f260 62 65 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 behind...As he s
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1f280 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 n the silicone t
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1f2a0 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 over everything
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1f2e0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 ng to disturb hi
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1f320 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e ticular spots on
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1f380 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 73 a performance s
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1f3b0 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 psychometry...He
1f3c0 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 split a couple
1f3d0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f of the bundles o
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1f410 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 He set them as
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1f430 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 slightly splaye
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1f470 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f Finally, he sto
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1f4a0 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 h." He lifted t
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1f4f0 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 ave, for the sec
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1f510 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 He held it out t
1f520 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 o her...She nodd
1f530 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 ed. "Sure.".."A
1f540 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 re you saving up
1f550 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 for something,
1f560 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f or going back to
1f570 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 school?"..Alley
1f580 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d hesitated a mom
1f590 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ent. "Why?"..He
1f5a0 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 shrugged. "Cur
1f5b0 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 ious.".."Not exa
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1f5d0 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 g to dig myself
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1f5f0 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ."Debts?"..She s
1f600 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
1f610 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 "I had a strange
1f620 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e career path, an
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1f640 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 don't really ha
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1f670 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 new direction,
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1f690 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ing on that.".."
1f6a0 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 Ah. Reinventing
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1f6c0 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 73 6f world changes so
1f6d0 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 fast it's hard
1f6e0 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c to keep up."..Al
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1f700 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 stopped, and sh
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1f720 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e in. "I don't kn
1f730 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 ow," she says.
1f740 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 "A lot of people
1f750 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f seem to have no
1f760 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 problem. They
1f770 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f just go to schoo
1f780 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f l, get a piece o
1f790 66 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 f paper, apply f
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1f800 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 t really do that
1f810 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 .".."What do you
1f820 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 mean?".."More a
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1f840 72 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 74 69 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 ren't retiring,
1f850 6f 72 20 67 65 74 20 6c 61 69 64 20 6f 66 66 20 or get laid off
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1f900 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 but maybe you're
1f910 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 looking in the
1f920 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e wrong direction.
1f930 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 " He leaned for
1f940 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 ward on the couc
1f950 68 2c 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f h, rested his fo
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1f980 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 his hands like h
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1f9d0 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 helf as he spoke
1f9e0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 again. "It's e
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1fa70 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 65 20 Most people lie
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1fae0 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 e, thinks 'I mus
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1fb20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 out.' They're a
1fb30 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 ll up to their e
1fb40 79 65 62 61 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 74 2c yeballs in debt,
1fb50 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b living paycheck
1fb60 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 to paycheck..."
1fb70 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 There are a few
1fb80 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 people who have
1fb90 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 things sorted ou
1fba0 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 t pretty well, p
1fbb0 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 rudent people wh
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1fbd0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d most of the tim
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1fc10 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c came, and were l
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1fc40 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d y. Many of them
1fc50 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c don't even real
1fc60 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 73 65 ize they're inse
1fc70 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 cure and confuse
1fc80 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 d all the time,
1fc90 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 because they got
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1fcb0 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 g to people abou
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1fce0 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 themselves..."T
1fcf0 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 here are others
1fd00 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 62 65 who really do be
1fd10 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 lieve they have
1fd20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 75 72 everything figur
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1fd50 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 n right about th
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1fd70 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 way anyone shou
1fd80 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 ld have things f
1fd90 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 igured out. The
1fda0 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 y lie and cheat
1fdb0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 and steal, maybe
1fdc0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 even kill with
1fdd0 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 the stroke of a
1fde0 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 72 20 pen or an Enter
1fdf0 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 key, and make it
1fe00 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72 to the top over
1fe10 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 69 65 mounds of bodie
1fe20 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 s, metaphorical
1fe30 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d a lot of the tim
1fe40 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 e, but literal b
1fe50 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e odies sometimes.
1fe60 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a .."My advice is:
1fe70 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 don't be like a
1fe80 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 ny of them." He
1fe90 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 looked at her a
1fea0 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 gain, caught her
1feb0 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 gaze, and she f
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1fed0 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c ysical force hol
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1ff10 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 because there's
1ff20 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 always too much
1ff30 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 to see to have
1ff40 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 20 61 time to see it a
1ff50 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ll. Don't just
1ff60 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c close your eyes,
1ff70 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 20 74 though. Keep t
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1ff90 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e ize what you fin
1ffa0 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 d as a path that
1ffb0 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 59 feels right. Y
1ffc0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 ou don't have ti
1ffd0 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e me for everythin
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1fff0 69 74 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 itely have time
20000 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 for something, a
20010 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 nd you should sp
20020 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 end it on someth
20030 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 ing good."..He s
20040 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 at back again, r
20050 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 esting his open
20060 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 hands on the top
20070 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2e s of his thighs.
20080 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 .."Look at me, g
20090 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f etting all philo
200a0 73 6f 70 68 69 63 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f sophical with yo
200b0 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 u. If what I'm
200c0 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d saying doesn't m
200d0 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6a ake any sense, j
200e0 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 ust ignore me.
200f0 49 27 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 I'm an old man,
20100 61 6e 64 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 and I've seen a
20110 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 lot, but I don't
20120 20 65 76 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 even understand
20130 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 most of what I
20140 73 61 77 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 20 66 saw myself. I f
20150 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 eel like I under
20160 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 stand less, the
20170 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 more I see."..Sh
20180 65 20 71 75 69 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f e quirked one co
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201a0 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 . "You give bet
201b0 74 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ter advice than
201c0 4f 62 69 20 57 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 Obi Wan."..Georg
201d0 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 e chuckled. "I
201e0 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6a hope so. He's j
201f0 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 ust some charact
20200 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er on paper, and
20210 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 a good actor.
20220 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 Anyway, I don't
20230 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 2c really know you,
20240 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c so I don't real
20250 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 76 65 ly know if I eve
20260 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 20 n have any idea
20270 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e what you're goin
20280 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 g through or wha
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202b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d have to humor m
202c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 e.".."Maybe I st
202d0 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 arted out thinki
202e0 6e 67 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 6d 6f ng I should humo
202f0 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 r you, but now I
20300 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 just want to ta
20310 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d lk to you some m
20320 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ore." She looke
20330 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 d at a ticking c
20340 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 lock on an end t
20350 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f able. "Maybe no
20360 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 t now, though.
20370 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 It's getting lat
20380 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 e.".."Yeah," he
20390 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f said, "go drop o
203a0 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 ff that envelope
203b0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 , then get home
203c0 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e 20 20 4e 65 76 65 and sleep. Neve
203d0 72 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 r underestimate
203e0 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f the importance o
203f0 66 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 f a good night's
20400 20 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f rest. That's o
20410 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 69 ne piece of advi
20420 63 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f ce I know is goo
20430 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a d, for anyone.".
20440 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e ."Thanks."..He n
20450 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 odded, then rose
20460 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 and headed for
20470 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 75 6e the door. He un
20480 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 locked it as she
20490 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 approached and
204a0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c opened the door,
204b0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 then stepped ou
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204d0 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 er and looked ar
204e0 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 ound. He turned
204f0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 to her as she f
20500 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e ollowed him out.
20510 20 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 "Be careful ou
20520 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f t there. The wo
20530 72 6c 64 27 73 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 rld's a surprisi
20540 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ng place.".."Yea
20550 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e h.".."If you wan
20560 74 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 t to try your ha
20570 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 nd at something
20580 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 27 way outside of '
20590 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 normal' as a new
205a0 20 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 6c path in life, l
205b0 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 ook me up. I mi
205c0 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 69 ght have a few i
205d0 64 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 deas. Otherwise
205e0 2c 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 , I wish you the
205f0 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 best at whateve
20600 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 r you find.".."T
20610 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 hanks," she said
20620 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 again. "How sh
20630 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f ould I get in to
20640 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 uch?"..He scoffe
20650 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 d at himself. "
20660 52 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 Right -- forgot
20670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 2e about that part.
20680 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 " He pulled out
20690 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 his wallet, and
206a0 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 slipped out a b
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206c0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 61 6e longer crisp an
206d0 64 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 79 6f d new. "Here yo
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206f0 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 it, and saw tha
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20730 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 a series of lett
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20750 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 75 62 .."That's my pub
20760 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b lic encryption k
20770 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ey," he said. "
20780 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 63 If you don't enc
20790 72 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 rypt the message
207a0 2c 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 , it goes straig
207b0 68 74 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 ht to spam. Do
207c0 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 you know how to
207d0 75 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d use encrypted em
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207f0 0a 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 ."I use pubkey e
20800 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c ncryption for cl
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20820 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f " she said..."Go
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20840 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 68 65 already way ahe
20850 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 ad of the pack.
20860 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 Good night, now
20870 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c .".."Good night,
20880 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 " she said with
20890 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 a smile, and hea
208a0 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a ded to her car..
208b0 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 .She glanced bac
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208d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 , and saw him ke
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208f0 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e only stepped in
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20950 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 merged onto the
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209c0 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 clients she had
209d0 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 . Maybe, she th
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20a50 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 of that really r
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20a70 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 ...She worried a
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20a90 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d then found her m
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20ac0 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a the thought.../*
20ad0 0a 0a 53 55 4d 4d 41 52 59 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ..SUMMARY:..Alle
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20af0 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 discussing plans
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20b40 64 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 day and have to
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20b60 72 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 70 rival of scary p
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20c20 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 get a bit of a
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20c60 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d interface or som
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22290 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 to my door. Wh
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222e0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 "I'll be right b
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223b0 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 A message notif
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224c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
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224e0 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20 d ". . . men?"
224f0 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 She wondered if
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22570 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 /* Without the s
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22630 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 choice in how y
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22660 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 , no kidding."
22670 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
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22750 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Here," she sa
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22970 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f Thank you for yo
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22990 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 " the woman said
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229b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 . She handed th
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22b70 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 "Who are those p
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22b90 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."I do not have
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246c0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ."That does not
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25350 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 thing more quic
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253f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 value item beca
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25430 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 20 This is also an
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25640 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 , too."..Two hou
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25d00 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f people, they co
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26fb0 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f goodbye, and go
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27250 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f " She looked do
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274e0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6e ."You mean I can
274f0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b make them think
27500 20 49 27 6d 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 I'm exactly wha
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27580 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 of a pawn.".."Y
27590 65 73 2c 20 63 68 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 es, chess is a g
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27640 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 l. "I guess you
27650 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 don't even have
27660 20 61 6e 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 any good ideas
27670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 about how to esc
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276a0 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 to that point, t
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276d0 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 suggestion for t
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27750 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f onfident that co
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27790 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 les.".."This is
277a0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 . . . no. No, t
277b0 68 69 73 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 his day can't be
277c0 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 happening.".."I
277d0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 f you want to ma
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2ad40 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c 69 73 74 20 67 65 a journalist ge
2ad50 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 ts obsessed with
2ad60 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 62 75 some mundane bu
2ad70 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 t obscure subjec
2ad80 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 6f 72 20 t for a year or
2ad90 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 74 65 73 20 61 two and writes a
2ada0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 long book about
2adb0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 all the weird s
2adc0 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 tuff most people
2add0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6b 6e 6f would never kno
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2adf0 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2e 22 0a ect otherwise.".
2ae00 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 ."Hmm. That's i
2ae10 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 67 nteresting. I g
2ae20 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c uess you don't l
2ae30 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 6d ike fiction as m
2ae40 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 uch, then.".."I
2ae50 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 66 69 63 like to read fic
2ae60 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e tion, sometimes.
2ae70 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 I just don't u
2ae80 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 sually see a nov
2ae90 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 el and think tha
2aea0 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 t I have to read
2aeb0 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f it. When someo
2aec0 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d ne I know recomm
2aed0 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c ends some novel,
2aee0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 I'll probably r
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2af00 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 've already been
2af10 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 burned by that
2af20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 person's bad tas
2af30 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 75 72 65 te in literature
2af40 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 recommendations
2af50 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 before."..Georg
2af60 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 e chuckled at th
2af70 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 at. "I've gotte
2af80 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e n some real stin
2af90 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 kers recommended
2afa0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 to me, before,
2afb0 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 too. I know wha
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2afd0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 that."..Alley g
2afe0 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 ave him an answe
2aff0 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e ring smile. "An
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2b010 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 s tell me you re
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2b030 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 iction, too."..H
2b040 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 e glanced at the
2b050 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 texts on the sh
2b060 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f elves of the boo
2b070 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c k cases. "Yeah,
2b080 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 " he said, "I'm
2b090 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 always reading s
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2b0b0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 to get through
2b0c0 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 65 64 more than two ed
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2b100 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f hitting three o
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2b130 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f the years with o
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2b150 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 . I probably av
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2b170 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 novel per wee, t
2b180 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 oo, so probably
2b190 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 the opposite of
2b1a0 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a how you read."..
2b1b0 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 "Not quite," she
2b1c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 said. "I proba
2b1d0 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c bly read a coupl
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2b1f0 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 but only six or
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2b220 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 ame year.".."It
2b230 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b sounds to me lik
2b240 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 72 e you wish you r
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2b260 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 id..."Yeah, I gu
2b270 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 ess I do.".."One
2b280 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 73 20 of the secrets
2b290 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 75 of my reading su
2b2a0 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 ccess is that I
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2b2d0 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 a computer scree
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2b300 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 whole lot more t
2b310 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 han I do, though
2b320 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
2b330 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e "I know. My un
2b340 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 cle used to read
2b350 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 about four or f
2b360 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 ive times as muc
2b370 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 h as you. My ex
2b380 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 probably reads
2b390 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 about as much as
2b3a0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 you, but he has
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2b3d0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f too.".."Your ex?
2b3e0 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 Are you divorc
2b3f0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e ed?".."Oh, uh, n
2b400 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 o. He was my fi
2b410 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 anc... We broke
2b420 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 it off a couple
2b430 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 years ago.".."T
2b440 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 hat's too bad.
2b450 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 Do you want to t
2b460 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a alk about why?".
2b470 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 .She shifted her
2b480 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 position in the
2b490 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e chair. "Well .
2b4a0 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 . . maybe not.
2b4b0 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f There's some po
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2b4d0 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f volved, and I do
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2b4f0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 to get into some
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2b510 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 t over the polit
2b520 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d ics of it.".."Hm
2b530 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 m. That sounds
2b540 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 ominous. Was he
2b550 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a a politician?".
2b560 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 ."No. . . ." Sh
2b570 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a e looked away...
2b580 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 "Sorry. I'm jus
2b590 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c t curious. I'll
2b5a0 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 drop it.".."Tha
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2b5c0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 "I guess.".."Wh
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2b5e0 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f stop reading so
2b5f0 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a much?".."Huh?".
2b600 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 ."You said he us
2b610 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 ed to read hundr
2b620 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 eds of books a y
2b630 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f ear. Why did yo
2b640 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f u say 'used to'?
2b650 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 ".."Oh," she sig
2b660 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 hed. "He died,
2b670 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 years ago.".."I'
2b680 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 m sorry to hear
2b690 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 it.".."Yeah," sh
2b6a0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 e said. "He dec
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2b740 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 n there was a se
2b750 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 46 42 49 20 72 61 69 64 ries of FBI raid
2b760 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 73 27 20 s on 'militias'
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2b800 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 61 62 s hand built cab
2b810 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 in out there bet
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2b900 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 He was really
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2b930 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 20 ife in the wild
2b940 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 73 places where mos
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2ba00 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 I guess he was a
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2ba40 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 77 , then. Those w
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2bad0 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 We got into hi
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2baf0 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 -- well, Dad did
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2bba0 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f selves.".."Yeah?
2bbb0 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 What happened
2bbc0 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 with that lawsui
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2bbe0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 happen. While w
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2bc10 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 61 he FBI got a sea
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2bce0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 just that they
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2bd10 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 login stuff for
2bd20 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 56 50 53 2e my uncle's VPS.
2bd30 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 Of course, the
2bd40 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 27 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 y 'lost' the bac
2bd50 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 66 kups they took f
2bd60 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 rom Dad's comput
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2bd80 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f time we tried to
2bd90 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 download the vi
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2bdb0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 could show it t
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2be00 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 company into de
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2be20 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 ps..."After all
2be30 74 68 61 74 2c 20 77 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 72 that, we went fr
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2be50 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 he lawyer called
2be60 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d 20 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 61 73 a slam dunk cas
2be70 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 20 63 e to having no c
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2be90 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 65 73 2e 20 20 44 61 64 27 expenses. Dad'
2bea0 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 49 54 20 62 75 73 69 6e s whole IT busin
2beb0 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 6f 62 6c 69 74 65 72 61 ess was oblitera
2bec0 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e ted in an instan
2bed0 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 t, too. He had
2bee0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 79 73 61 64 6d 69 to get a sysadmi
2bef0 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 n job at a conti
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2bf20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 6f 75 74 73 20 school dropouts
2bf30 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 after that."..Ge
2bf40 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 orge just shook
2bf50 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 his head. "I wi
2bf60 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 sh I had somethi
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2bf80 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 bout that.".."It
2bf90 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 's fine. It's a
2bfa0 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 66 ncient history f
2bfb0 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 or me, now,and I
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2bfe0 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 rd, though. I w
2bff0 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f as in high schoo
2c000 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 l when it all ha
2c010 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f ppened, and I co
2c020 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 6e 20 uldn't focus on
2c030 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 74 20 61 6c schoolwork at al
2c040 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 6c 6c l..."I guess all
2c050 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 that might have
2c060 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 contributed to
2c070 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f me falling in lo
2c080 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 ve with Dalton."
2c090 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 .."Dalton?" he a
2c0a0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 sked..."Oh, shit
2c0b0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2c0c0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 79 20 didn't say 'my
2c0d0 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a ex' that time.".
2c0e0 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 .He nodded. "Da
2c0f0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 2d 48 lton Schaeffer-H
2c100 65 61 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 earst.".."Yeah."
2c110 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 She looked at
2c120 68 69 6d 2c 20 77 61 72 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 him, wary..."I g
2c130 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 uess I can see w
2c140 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e hy you don't wan
2c150 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 t to bring that
2c160 75 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 up much. He's a
2c170 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 controversial f
2c180 69 67 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 igure."../* "Yea
2c190 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e h, he is. I can
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2c1b0 6d 20 75 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 79 6f m up around anyo
2c1c0 6e 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 69 74 ne, really. Eit
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2c1e0 6d 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 me because I got
2c1f0 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c engaged to him,
2c200 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 or they hate me
2c210 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d for leaving him
2c220 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 ." */.."Yeah, he
2c230 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 is. There isn'
2c240 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 t really anyone
2c250 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 I can talk to ab
2c260 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 out him. Either
2c270 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 people hate me
2c280 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e because I got en
2c290 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 gaged to him, or
2c2a0 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f they hate me fo
2c2b0 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a r leaving him.".
2c2c0 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ."I could see th
2c2d0 61 74 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 at," George said
2c2e0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 . "I won't hate
2c2f0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 you for either
2c300 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b reason.".."Thank
2c310 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 s," she said. "
2c320 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 That's good to h
2c330 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 ear.".."I'll jus
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2c350 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 straightforward
2c360 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 with you about w
2c370 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 hat I think abou
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2c3c0 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 ith me. I won't
2c3d0 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 hold it against
2c3e0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 you, whatever y
2c3f0 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 ou decide, but I
2c400 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e guess it wouldn
2c410 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 't matter if you
2c420 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 didn't want to
2c430 62 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 be around me any
2c440 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 longer anyway."
2c450 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 .."You don't hav
2c460 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 e to do that," s
2c470 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 he said...He smi
2c480 6c 65 64 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 led, perhaps a b
2c490 69 74 20 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 it sadly. "I th
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2c4b0 20 62 65 73 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f best, unless yo
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2c4e0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 for any reason.
2c4f0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 I'll respect th
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2c530 68 65 61 72 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f hear nothing abo
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2c550 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 itated, then shr
2c560 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 ugged. "Go ahea
2c570 64 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 d, I guess," she
2c580 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 said...He nodde
2c590 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 d. "I thought h
2c5a0 65 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 e was pretty gre
2c5b0 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f at. He had a lo
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2c600 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 technology, law
2c610 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 enforcement, wa
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2c6b0 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 much, and I was
2c6c0 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 disappointed by
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2c700 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 , because he sti
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2c7c0 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 an..."No offense
2c7d0 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 , of course, but
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2c900 49 20 64 6f 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 I do remember, b
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2c940 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e he said somethin
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2c960 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f who called in to
2c970 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ask about you.
2c980 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 He said that it
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2caa0 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 he had to say a
2cab0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 bout it.".."Oh,"
2cac0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 she said. "I d
2cad0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 idn't know about
2cae0 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 that -- about h
2caf0 69 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 im saying that."
2cb00 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..George shrugge
2cb10 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 d. "It was the
2cb20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 stand up thing t
2cb30 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 o do, but it did
2cb40 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 n't make his cha
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2cb60 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 on ideology any
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2cb80 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 g to me, so it d
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2cba0 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 stening.".."Yeah
2cbb0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2cbc0 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f get that.".."So
2cbd0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 . . . what do y
2cbe0 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d ou think? Are m
2cbf0 79 20 76 69 65 77 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e y views on it in
2cc00 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c tolerable?"..All
2cc10 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c ey smiled. "No,
2cc20 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 not at all. Th
2cc30 61 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 at's actually ki
2cc40 6e 64 61 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 nda how I felt a
2cc50 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 bout his ideolog
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2cc70 69 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 iked it more bef
2cc80 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 ore the change t
2cc90 68 61 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 han after, and w
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2ccc0 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 He still had pri
2ccd0 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c nciple, and stil
2cce0 6c 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 l wasn't the car
2ccf0 69 63 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 2d 72 icature of alt-r
2cd00 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 ight that people
2cd10 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 assumed, but I
2cd20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 didn't like his
2cd30 6e 65 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 new politics at
2cd40 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 all.".."That mus
2cd50 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 t have made it d
2cd60 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 ifficult to live
2cd70 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 with him.".."It
2cd80 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 took its toll.
2cd90 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f Part of it, tho
2cda0 75 67 68 2c 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 ugh, was the fac
2cdb0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 t that it affect
2cdc0 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 ed my life in ot
2cdd0 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d her ways. The m
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2cdf0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 I needed to get
2ce00 20 6f 75 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 out was after s
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2ce20 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 ly started screa
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2ce50 67 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 g me the 'side d
2ce60 69 73 68 27 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e ish' and accusin
2ce70 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 g me of being a
2ce80 72 61 63 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 racist and stuff
2ce90 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e like that, then
2cea0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 actually starte
2ceb0 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 d hitting me. I
2cec0 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b shoved her back
2ced0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 and ran to my c
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2cef0 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f d called in a po
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2cf10 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 of course nothi
2cf20 6e 67 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 ng would ever ha
2cf30 70 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 ppen from that.
2cf40 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 I never heard b
2cf50 61 63 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a ack about it."..
2cf60 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 By the time she
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2cfe0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 .She shrugged he
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2d260 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ked..."What?".."
2d270 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e You said you wan
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2d600 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Okay," she said,
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2d670 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 .."First, I want
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2d6d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 .".."Yeah. It i
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2d8b0 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f .."Hmm." He tho
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2d9a0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Yeah," she sai
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2e190 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d "That's pretty m
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2e440 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 hands..."I'll te
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2e6e0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 .."You want to h
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2e970 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 Why are you offe
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2f1a0 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f case, and some o
2f1b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d f the people I'm
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2f200 20 64 6f 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 do jobs where t
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2f230 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e how much someon
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2f250 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f good thing to do
2f260 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 ."..Alley frowne
2f270 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 d. "I guess you
2f280 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 probably aren't
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2f370 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 this kind of th
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2f390 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 you telling me a
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2f3b0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 t that put you i
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2f400 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 f I have to. I
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2f600 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 the US Intellige
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2f630 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 manufactured sp
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2f800 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 that they won't
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2f840 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 but that's just
2f850 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 a matter of sit
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2f880 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 ending up disapp
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2f8a0 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 you never tried
2f8b0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 to do something
2f8c0 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 to protect yours
2f8d0 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 elf.".."Shit," s
2f8e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 he said. "What
2f8f0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 about getting re
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2f910 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 waiting to see h
2f920 6f 77 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 ow things go? I
2f930 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e mean, I shouldn
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2f960 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 t?".."It's a ris
2f970 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 k. That's all t
2f980 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 here is to it.
2f990 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e They're not goin
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2fa00 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e might be the on
2fa10 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 ly warning you g
2fa20 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 et. Maybe you c
2fa30 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 an pull it off,
2fa40 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 though..."My fir
2fa50 73 74 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 st warning that
2fa60 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 they might come
2fa70 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f for me would pro
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2fa90 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 appearing, thoug
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2fae0 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 're on my tail.
2faf0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c I'll make mysel
2fb00 66 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 f disappear, ins
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2fb20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 around to see if
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2fb70 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 Yeah. That's a
2fb80 6c 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f lot to think abo
2fb90 75 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ut. I'm going t
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2fbb0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e about it."..He n
2fbc0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f odded. "You sho
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2fbe0 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 hard about it,"
2fbf0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 he said. "Stay
2fc00 20 61 6c 65 72 74 2c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 alert, try to a
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2fc60 54 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d Try to keep them
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2fca0 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 st you..."Mostly
2fcb0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 , though, think
2fcc0 68 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 hard and think f
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2fcf0 20 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 it, because you
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2fd10 6d 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 much time you ha
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2fd30 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 decision, and as
2fd40 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 decisions go th
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2fd60 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 It might be the
2fd70 20 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 biggest of your
2fd80 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 life.".."No pre
2fd90 73 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ssure," she said
2fda0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 , with a wry smi
2fdb0 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 le..."You got it
2fdc0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He looked at
2fdd0 20 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c his book cases,
2fde0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 then stood and
2fdf0 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 walked to them.
2fe00 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 He pulled a cou
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2fe40 68 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 hair where Alley
2fe50 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 sat and held th
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2fe70 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 "Here. Give the
2fe80 73 65 20 61 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f se a read, if yo
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2fea0 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d he accepted them
2feb0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 , and looked at
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2fef0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 other was *Under
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2ff10 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f "What are these?
2ff20 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 "..When he saw s
2ff30 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 he was not handi
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2ff50 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 went back to hi
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2ff70 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 down. "Agorism
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2ffb0 20 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 The ideal is li
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30020 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 doing the same
30030 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 thing, to change
30040 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 the world for t
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30080 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f the agorism boo
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300b0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 way to starve t
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30100 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 n, basically tur
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30130 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f itical revolutio
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30150 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 hink it's very r
30160 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 ealistic to expe
30170 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ct that to work
30180 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 the way he hoped
30190 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 . I think it ha
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301c0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 communities tha
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301f0 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b choosing to mak
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30230 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 70 s possible..."Op
30240 53 65 63 20 69 73 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 Sec is how to ke
30250 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 66 66 20 ep yourself off
30260 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f the radar of peo
30270 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ple who are look
30280 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65 ing for you, whe
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302a0 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 bout you persona
302b0 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 lly or just want
302c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 69 74 someone who fit
302d0 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 68 69 64 s a profile, hid
302e0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c ing what you do,
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30330 6b 65 65 70 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 keep doing it.
30340 54 68 61 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f That book is abo
30350 75 74 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f ut OpSec for peo
30360 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c ple who live bel
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304b0 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 , for reasons ot
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304d0 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 nd murder, such
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305a0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 " She looked at
305b0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e the books again
305c0 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e ..."You can thin
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30690 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a the good guys.".
306a0 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b ."Are you some k
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306c0 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e ?"..He shrugged.
306d0 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e "Maybe. Volun
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306f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 2d like an anarcho-
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30730 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 telling people
30740 74 6f 20 76 6f 74 65 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 to vote Republic
30750 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 an.".."Yeah," sh
30760 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 e said, "that's
30770 74 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 the feeling I wa
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30790 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 et.".."Does that
307a0 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 bother you?" he
307b0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 asked..."No. I
307c0 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f liked Dalton mo
307d0 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 re in those days
307e0 2e 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 . Hell, I fell
307f0 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d in love with him
30800 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 in those days."
30810 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e .."You don't con
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30830 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f voluntaryist, o
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30850 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
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30870 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 you?".."No, I g
30880 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 uess not.".."Wha
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308c0 65 6c 66 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 elf a little wit
308d0 68 20 61 20 64 72 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e h a dry chuckle.
308e0 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e "I don't know.
308f0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 I guess I'm ra
30900 62 69 64 6c 79 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c bidly apolitical
30910 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 .".."You might h
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30950 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 think, then," he
30960 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 said..."I said
30970 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 apolitical, not
30980 61 6e 74 69 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 antipolitical, t
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309c0 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 ay," George said
309d0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 . "I get it. W
309e0 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 ill you read the
309f0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c books?".."Yeah,
30a00 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c " she said, "I'l
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30a20 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d . I'll get them
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30a70 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 'll get more of
30a80 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 them. Just pass
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30aa0 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 one who needs th
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30ac0 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 , if you don't w
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30ae0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
30af0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c said, uncertainl
30b00 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 y..."Have you ha
30b10 64 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c d dinner?".."No,
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30b50 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c king I'm hungry,
30b60 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 and you're welc
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30b80 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 I was going to
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30c20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f before you go ho
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30ca0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 ks."../*..George
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30d00 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 He knows this
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30de0 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 .*/../*..This mi
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30e40 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b or something lik
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30e90 68 61 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 had given her.
30ea0 53 68 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 She wrinkled her
30eb0 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 20 nose at the no
30ec0 66 72 69 6c 6c 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 20 frills cover, a
30ed0 63 68 65 61 70 6c 79 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61 cheaply made tra
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30f00 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e black border an
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30f50 6d 65 20 76 61 6e 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 me vanity press
30f60 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 62 thing, where nob
30f70 6f 64 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 6f 74 ody had even bot
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30f90 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 design the cover
30fa0 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 at all...She re
30fb0 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 63 6f 76 65 ad the full cove
30fc0 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 r to herself..."
30fd0 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 An Agorist Prime
30fe0 72 0a 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e r.."Counter Econ
30ff0 6f 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 omics, Total Fre
31000 65 64 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 edom, And You.."
31010 53 61 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f Samuel Edward Ko
31020 6e 6b 69 6e 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 nkin III"..She f
31030 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 lipped it over.
31040 20 54 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c The back was bl
31050 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 ank...She opened
31060 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 it and flipped
31070 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 through the firs
31080 74 20 66 65 77 20 70 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 t few pages. Sh
31090 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e e found it had n
310a0 6f 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 o table of conte
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310c0 20 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 publishing or c
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310e0 75 6d 6d 61 72 79 2c 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 ummary, dedicati
310f0 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 on, or review qu
31100 6f 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 otes. The first
31110 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 69 64 69 page was a ridi
31120 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 culously short p
31130 72 65 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c reface. The fol
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31150 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 77 6f the first of two
31160 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 pages of introd
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31190 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 chapter one of t
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311b0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 74 20 6f into the meat o
311c0 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 f it already...T
311d0 68 65 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 75 he pages were nu
311e0 6d 62 65 72 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 mbered, starting
311f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 with 1. The fi
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31210 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 n on a page numb
31220 65 72 65 64 20 34 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f ered 4...She clo
31230 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 sed the book aga
31240 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 in and read the
31250 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e cover once more.
31260 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e .."Maybe Sam Kon
31270 6b 69 6e 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 kin is a friend
31280 6f 66 20 68 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 of his," she sai
31290 64 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 d, meaning a fri
312a0 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e end of George's.
312b0 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 ../* The preface
312c0 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 page was number
312d0 65 64 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 ed 1. The last
312e0 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 page of the inde
312f0 78 20 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f x -- once she lo
31300 6f 6b 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 oked -- was 50.
31310 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 */..She looked a
31320 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 t the first page
31330 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 again, and the
31340 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f number one. Boo
31350 6b 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ks never started
31360 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d with a page num
31370 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ber of one. She
31380 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 flipped to the
31390 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 end, and saw tha
313a0 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 t the last page
313b0 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 showed the numbe
313c0 72 20 35 30 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 r 50, on the las
313d0 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f t page of the bo
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313f0 6c 65 61 73 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 20 least it had an
31400 69 6e 64 65 78 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 index, but that
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31430 78 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 x it had could b
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33fe0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 65 ..."I really fee
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34040 22 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 "Professor Goule
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34080 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ."It seems proba
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340a0 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 69 appy to know thi
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34140 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 I will probably
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341a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 ed..."I have acc
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34220 74 61 74 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e tates Intelligen
34230 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 ce Community and
34240 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 4f 66 20 44 Department Of D
34250 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 efense research
34260 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 project intended
34270 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 20 to be deployed
34280 77 69 74 68 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 61 67 65 6e 74 with field agent
34290 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 s under supervis
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342b0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 27 73 20 if the study's
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342e0 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 promising.".."Oh
342f0 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 ." Alley scratc
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34310 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 I guess I should
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34470 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c silence, as All
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344e0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 " Alley said. "
344f0 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 2f What is it?".."/
34500 2a 20 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 64 65 20 * Have you made
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34520 20 2a 2f 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 */ We should di
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345a0 20 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 I may be able
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34690 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 75 70 72 69 lley jerked upri
346a0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ght. "What?".."
346b0 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 Do you need me t
346c0 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 o repeat the que
346d0 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 stion?" it asked
346e0 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e politely..."No.
346f0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 I'm just not g
34700 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 oing to run. Wh
34710 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 72 75 6e 3f 22 0a y would I run?".
34720 0a 22 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 70 70 65 ."COIN Corp appe
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34790 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 .".."I really th
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347e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6f 76 to me is way ov
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34840 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f The only reaso
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34870 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 63 61 75 just been becau
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348a0 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 y. They just wa
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348c0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 need for it. R
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34900 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 uncertain at th
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34980 62 65 20 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 be wise to ignor
34990 65 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 65 72 74 e. Are you cert
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349b0 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 63 6c 65 61 ish to make clea
349c0 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 r plans to remov
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349e0 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e possible station
349f0 61 72 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ary target?".."Y
34a00 65 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 20 49 es, I'm sure. I
34a10 74 27 73 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 2e 20 t's ridiculous.
34a20 20 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 It'll never hap
34a30 70 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 pen."../*..Alley
34a40 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d needs to do som
34a50 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 e things here.
34a60 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 It will probably
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35ca0 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4f 6e ..*/../*.. On
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36830 0a 0a 22 4a 75 73 74 20 61 73 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 .."Just ask for
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36a20 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 65 "Hello."..She ne
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36b00 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 .."Are you looki
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36b20 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 in what she beg
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36ba0 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 68 65 ." she began, he
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36c10 67 6c 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 69 73 20 63 68 75 63 gler."..His chuc
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36cd0 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65 6f ".."You know Geo
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36cf0 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 nd she thought s
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36d40 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 22 ."Not for long,"
36d50 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 she said, "but
36d60 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 yeah. He seems
36d70 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 2e like a good guy.
36d80 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 ".."You must've
36d90 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 made an impressi
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36dc0 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f "Really?"..He no
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36e00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 .".."Oh, right,"
36e10 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 she said. Her
36e20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 hand brushed her
36e30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 back pocket, th
36e40 65 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 72 69 63 e thin cylindric
36e50 61 6c 20 62 75 6c 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 al bulge of her
36e60 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 baton creating a
36e70 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 72 69 64 67 65 20 74 68 harder ridge th
36e80 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 at her knuckles
36e90 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 2c 20 knocked across,
36ea0 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 but she headed i
36eb0 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 42 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 nside. Beyond t
36ec0 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6e 6f 6c 65 75 he small linoleu
36ed0 6d 20 65 6e 74 72 79 77 61 79 20 61 20 6c 69 76 m entryway a liv
36ee0 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 61 ing room with pa
36ef0 74 74 65 72 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 69 6e 69 tterns of staini
36f00 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 66 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 ng and fading ov
36f10 65 72 6c 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 erlapping so muc
36f20 68 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 h it was difficu
36f30 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 lt to determine
36f40 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 64 65 20 6f 66 20 62 72 what shade of br
36f50 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c own was original
36f60 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 opened up. Its
36f70 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 20 77 61 6c 6c wood panel wall
36f80 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 61 72 70 65 64 20 77 69 s were warped wi
36f90 74 68 20 61 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 th age. There w
36fa0 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 as no furniture
36fb0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 in the room, but
36fc0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 63 74 there were rect
36fd0 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e angular spots on
36fe0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 the walls with
36ff0 6e 61 69 6c 20 68 6f 6c 65 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 nail holes at th
37000 65 20 74 6f 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 e top that were
37010 61 20 6c 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 a lighter off wh
37020 69 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 ite than the res
37030 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 75 t of the wall su
37040 72 66 61 63 65 73 2e 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 rfaces. From wh
37050 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 74 6f 6f ere she now stoo
37060 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 d, she could see
37070 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 into the dining
37080 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 room, though th
37090 65 20 73 6c 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 e sliding glass
370a0 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 doors in the bac
370b0 6b 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 k seemed to be c
370c0 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 69 6c overed with foil
370d0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 67 6e . The only sign
370e0 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 ificant light ca
370f0 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f me through the o
37100 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 pen front door a
37110 6e 64 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 nd front windows
37120 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 67 with blinds ang
37130 6c 65 64 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 73 6f 20 74 68 led upward so th
37140 61 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 73 at light dimly s
37150 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 triped the ceili
37160 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6f ng...Smuggler fo
37170 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 llowed her and c
37180 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 losed the door b
37190 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 6f ehind them. "Yo
371a0 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e u need to get in
371b0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 to the hot zone
371c0 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 and want to avoi
371d0 64 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6e d official atten
371e0 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 tion." He did s
371f0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 omething with hi
37200 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 s gloved right h
37210 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 and, and light s
37220 70 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 4c 45 44 73 pilled from LEDs
37230 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 on his knuckles
37240 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 . He kept them
37250 61 69 6d 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 aimed at the car
37260 70 65 74 65 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 6e 65 61 72 peted floor near
37270 62 79 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 by so that they
37280 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 created bright s
37290 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f pots on the floo
372a0 72 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 r but a secondar
372b0 79 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 70 y glow made it p
372c0 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 ossible to make
372d0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 out the edges of
372e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 the walls a bit
372f0 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c better..."Yeah,
37300 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 " she said. "Ca
37310 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 n you take me th
37320 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 3f 20 rough, somehow?
37330 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 In and back, I
37340 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 mean."..He nodde
37350 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c d. "Yes, I coul
37360 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 d.".."How much w
37370 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6f 77 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 ould I owe you f
37380 6f 72 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f or it?".."Are yo
37390 75 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 61 u offering to pa
373a0 79 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 y me to take you
373b0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 to the other si
373c0 64 65 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a de?" he asked...
373d0 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 She nodded. "Ye
373e0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 ah, I guess so.
373f0 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 Isn't that how
37400 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e this works?".."N
37410 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 ormally," he sai
37420 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 d, "but I'm not
37430 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 taking your mone
37440 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 y.".."Why won't
37450 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f you take me thro
37460 75 67 68 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 ugh? Do you thi
37470 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6f 72 20 nk I'm a cop or
37480 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
37490 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d hat?"..After a m
374a0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 oment's hesitati
374b0 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 on, he shook his
374c0 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 head. "I didn'
374d0 74 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 t say I wouldn't
374e0 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 take you into t
374f0 68 65 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 he zone. I just
37500 20 73 61 69 64 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 said I'm not ta
37510 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e king your money.
37520 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 6e 6f 74 3f 22 20 73 68 ".."Why not?" sh
37530 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 e asked, her eye
37540 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4c s narrowing..."L
37550 65 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 2c 20 66 et's just say, f
37560 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 or now, that the
37570 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 68 69 74 27 73 20 66 72 65 first hit's fre
37580 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 e.".."That seems
37590 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 strange, like t
375a0 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 here's something
375b0 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 addictive about
375c0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 getting past th
375d0 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 61 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a e barricades."..
375e0 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 He shrugged agai
375f0 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 n. "Some people
37600 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f find the hot zo
37610 6e 65 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 74 6f ne addictive, to
37620 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e tell the truth.
37630 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 Some of them f
37640 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f ind their way to
37650 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 the cold zone,
37660 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 66 74 65 6e and that's often
37670 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 an even stronge
37680 72 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a r addiction. /*
37690 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 27 6d 20 61 64 64 69 63 Maybe I'm addic
376a0 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 ted to both of t
376b0 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 hem. I'm not su
376c0 72 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 re. */ ".."What'
376d0 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a s a cold zone?".
376e0 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 ."Maybe you'll f
376f0 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 ind out some day
37700 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 ," he said. "It
37710 27 73 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 20 79 6f 75 20 63 's an area you c
37720 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f an't reach witho
37730 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 ut going through
37740 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f the hot zone, o
37750 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f r through the co
37760 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 6f rporate center o
37770 66 20 4c 41 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 f LA. The polic
37780 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 20 e don't even go
37790 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 in there. Most
377a0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 64 6f 65 of the world doe
377b0 73 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 sn't know it exi
377c0 73 74 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 sts. You defini
377d0 74 65 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 tely don't want
377e0 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 64 61 to go there toda
377f0 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f y, though, if yo
37800 75 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 u've never even
37810 68 65 61 72 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 heard of it."..S
37820 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
37830 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 d. "No, it does
37840 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 n't sound like t
37850 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 77 61 hat's where I wa
37860 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 nt to be.".."Whe
37870 72 65 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 re do you want t
37880 6f 20 62 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 o be?"..She shru
37890 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 43 6f gged. "Maybe Co
378a0 6c 6f 72 61 64 6f 20 6f 72 20 4e 65 77 20 48 61 lorado or New Ha
378b0 6d 70 73 68 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 mpshire.".."Are
378c0 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f you ready to go?
378d0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 "..She patted he
378e0 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b r pockets, check
378f0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 ing what she had
37900 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 with her, then
37910 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 nodded. "Yeah,
37920 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 I guess so.".."S
37930 74 65 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6e 74 tep into my pant
37940 72 79 2c 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 69 ry, said the spi
37950 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 79 2e 22 der to the fly."
37960 20 20 48 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 70 61 73 He brushed pas
37970 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 t her and headed
37980 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 into the kitche
37990 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 n...She followed
379a0 2c 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 74 65 6e 74 , her steps tent
379b0 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ative, and looke
379c0 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 65 79 d around with ey
379d0 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 es wide, trying
379e0 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 to take in every
379f0 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 detail of this
37a00 6f 6c 64 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 68 61 old house. A ha
37a10 6c 6c 77 61 79 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 llway disappeare
37a20 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 65 70 65 72 20 64 61 d into deeper da
37a30 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 rkness to her le
37a40 66 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 ft just before s
37a50 68 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 he angled right
37a60 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 into the dining
37a70 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 room near the ba
37a80 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e ck of the house.
37a90 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 65 A few more ste
37aa0 70 73 20 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 ps led her to wh
37ab0 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 ere the kitchen
37ac0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 opened to the le
37ad0 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 ft, and she saw
37ae0 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 Smuggler opening
37af0 20 61 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 a pantry door,
37b00 74 72 75 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 true to his word
37b10 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e ...He reached in
37b20 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 77 and with the sw
37b30 65 65 70 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 eep of his glove
37b40 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 lights she saw
37b50 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 shelves stocked
37b60 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 64 72 79 with ancient dry
37b70 20 67 6f 6f 64 73 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6c 69 63 6b goods. A click
37b80 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 66 6c brought up a fl
37b90 6f 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 ood of brighter
37ba0 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 light as the bac
37bb0 6b 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 k wall shifted a
37bc0 77 61 79 2c 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 way, revealing a
37bd0 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 narrow hole in
37be0 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 61 6d 69 6e the floor beamin
37bf0 67 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 g illumination t
37c00 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e oward the ceilin
37c10 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2e g of the pantry.
37c20 20 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 "After you," h
37c30 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 e said, and step
37c40 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 ped out of the p
37c50 61 6e 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 antry to give he
37c60 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 r room...She mov
37c70 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2c 20 73 74 65 70 73 ed closer, steps
37c80 20 77 61 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 wary, and leane
37c90 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 d to look down t
37ca0 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 he hole. She sa
37cb0 77 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 w a steel ladder
37cc0 20 62 6f 6c 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 bolted to the c
37cd0 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 oncrete side of
37ce0 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 the rectangular
37cf0 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 hole leading dow
37d00 6e 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b nward. She look
37d10 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 ed back at Smugg
37d20 6c 65 72 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c ler, who nodded,
37d30 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 though she did
37d40 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 not know what th
37d50 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 at meant. Anoth
37d60 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 er look confirme
37d70 64 20 74 69 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 20 76 65 d ti wasn't a ve
37d80 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 6d 61 ry deep hole, ma
37d90 79 62 65 20 74 65 6e 20 66 65 65 74 2c 20 61 6e ybe ten feet, an
37da0 64 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 d it looked like
37db0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 after a couple
37dc0 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 65 65 74 20 6f 6e of those feet on
37dd0 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 e side opened up
37de0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 72 into a larger r
37df0 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 2f 2a 20 73 oom...Alley /* s
37e00 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 2a 2f 20 67 6f 74 20 64 at down */ got d
37e10 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 own on hands and
37e20 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 72 65 66 knees and caref
37e30 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 ully backed over
37e40 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 the edge onto t
37e50 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 he ladder, then
37e60 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 53 climbed down. S
37e70 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 he kept looking
37e80 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 69 down at the risi
37e90 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 ng floor, over h
37ea0 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er shoulder, and
37eb0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 she saw that it
37ec0 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 2d 6c 69 74 20 was a well-lit
37ed0 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 chamber about as
37ee0 20 77 69 64 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 wide as it was
37ef0 74 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 tall, more than
37f00 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f enough for someo
37f10 6e 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 74 61 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 ne very tall to
37f20 6c 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 lie down but not
37f30 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 72 with a lot of r
37f40 6f 6f 6d 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a oom left over...
37f50 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f She looked up to
37f60 20 73 65 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6c 6f see Smuggler lo
37f70 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e oking down, then
37f80 20 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 he rotated and
37f90 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 74 lowered a foot t
37fa0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 o the ladder. S
37fb0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 he looked away f
37fc0 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 6f 70 70 65 64 20 rom him, hopped
37fd0 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 72 the last foot or
37fe0 20 74 77 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 two down to the
37ff0 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 floor, and step
38000 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ped away from th
38010 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69 6e e ladder. A sin
38020 67 6c 65 20 4c 45 44 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 gle LED lighting
38030 20 75 6e 69 74 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 6f 6e unit mounted on
38040 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f the ceiling flo
38050 6f 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 oded the small c
38060 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 hamber in bright
38070 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 6f light, and a do
38080 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 or stood closed
38090 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 at the other end
380a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 57 of the room...W
380b0 68 69 6c 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 64 65 hile Smuggler de
380c0 73 63 65 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 scended, she hea
380d0 72 64 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 rd a soft brushi
380e0 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ng sound and loo
380f0 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ked up to see th
38100 65 20 61 70 65 72 74 75 72 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 e aperture at th
38110 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 e top of the lad
38120 64 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 68 der closing. Wh
38130 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 en he reached th
38140 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6f 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 e bottom, he tur
38150 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 6f ned without a wo
38160 72 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 rd to the door.
38170 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 As he touched t
38180 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c he handle, the l
38190 69 67 68 74 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2c 20 70 ight vanished, p
381a0 6c 75 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 lunging them int
381b0 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 61 72 74 o darkness apart
381c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 from the lights
381d0 20 6f 6e 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 27 73 20 67 on Smuggler's g
381e0 6c 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 love..."I still
381f0 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 have contact wit
38200 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f h you," the prio
38210 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 ritizer said...S
38220 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
38230 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 d slightly, not
38240 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b wanting to speak
38250 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 aloud to the pr
38260 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f ioritizer in fro
38270 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 0a nt of Smuggler..
38280 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 ."It must be you
38290 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 r Axiom establis
382a0 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 hing connections
382b0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 through some ki
382c0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 73 68 20 6e 65 74 77 6f nd of mesh netwo
382d0 72 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 rk down here. I
382e0 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 do not have acc
382f0 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 74 2c ess to check it,
38300 20 73 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e so I cannot con
38310 66 69 72 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 firm this is the
38320 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 case."..Alley f
38330 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 ollowed Smuggler
38340 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 74 into the dark t
38350 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 unnel beyond the
38360 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 69 heavy door, whi
38370 63 68 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 ch softly closed
38380 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 behind them on
38390 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 its own. After
383a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 a couple minutes
383b0 20 6f 66 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 of walking, she
383c0 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 quietly asked "
383d0 48 6f 77 20 66 61 72 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 How far is it?"
383e0 20 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 The sound seeme
383f0 64 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 d louder than it
38400 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 should have bee
38410 6e 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 65 n, after the dee
38420 70 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 p quiet of nothi
38430 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 ng but the echoe
38440 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d s of their own m
38450 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 ovements, and sh
38460 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 e nearly stumble
38470 64 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 0a 0a d in surprise...
38480 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 74 65 "It's about a te
38490 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 22 20 n minute walk,"
384a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 he said, "mostly
384b0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 because we need
384c0 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e to move slowly.
384d0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 3f 20 ".."Why slowly?
384e0 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 It looks straig
384f0 68 74 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 ht as far as I c
38500 61 6e 20 73 65 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f an see, and I do
38510 75 62 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ubt anyone would
38520 20 68 65 61 72 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 hear us."..She
38530 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 61 saw his head sha
38540 6b 65 2c 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 ke, silhouetted
38550 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 77 against the glow
38560 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 of his glove li
38570 67 68 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 ghts ahead of hi
38580 6d 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 74 72 69 64 65 20 64 m. His stride d
38590 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 id not change.
385a0 22 49 66 20 77 65 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 "If we go too fa
385b0 73 74 2c 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 st, we'll set of
385c0 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 f alarms. It's
385d0 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 the best way to
385e0 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c make sure the al
385f0 61 72 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 arms will go off
38600 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 when someone's
38610 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 on the run, but
38620 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c it's not the onl
38630 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 y way the alarms
38640 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 65 can be triggere
38650 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 d.".."What happe
38660 6e 73 20 69 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 67 6f 20 ns if alarms go
38670 6f 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 off?".."A lot of
38680 20 65 78 63 69 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c exciting stuff,
38690 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 65 6e 64 69 " he said, "endi
386a0 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 75 6e ng with this tun
386b0 6e 65 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 76 nel not being av
386c0 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 74 ailable to run t
386d0 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 61 64 65 20 61 6e 79 20 he blockade any
386e0 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 more.".."Oh." S
386f0 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c he walked in sil
38700 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 ence behind him
38710 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 as the passage t
38720 6f 6f 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 2c 20 ook some turns,
38730 74 68 65 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b then finally ask
38740 65 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 53 6d 75 67 ed "I guess Smug
38750 67 6c 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 73 gler probably is
38760 6e 27 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 n't actually the
38770 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72 65 6e name your paren
38780 74 73 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ts gave you.".."
38790 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 No," he said, wi
387a0 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 thout looking ba
387b0 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e 68 65 72 69 74 65 ck. "I inherite
387c0 64 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 d it.".."Are you
387d0 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 saying that's y
387e0 6f 75 72 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 3f our family name?
387f0 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 ".."No. The pre
38800 76 69 6f 75 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 72 vious Smuggler r
38810 65 74 69 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 etired from this
38820 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 kind of thing a
38830 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 nd passed the na
38840 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b me on to me, lik
38850 65 20 74 68 65 20 44 72 65 61 64 20 50 69 72 61 e the Dread Pira
38860 74 65 20 52 6f 62 65 72 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 te Roberts.".."I
38870 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 thought all tha
38880 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 t stuff about th
38890 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 67 75 79 20 e Silk Road guy
388a0 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 was supposed to
388b0 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 be made up.".."I
388c0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 53 6d don't know," Sm
388d0 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 uggler said. "I
388e0 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 never met him.
388f0 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 20 70 72 65 64 65 I think a prede
38900 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 cessor with the
38910 6e 61 6d 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6d 69 name Smuggler mi
38920 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ght have, though
38930 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 73 . Anyway, I was
38940 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 talking about t
38950 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 66 72 6f he character fro
38960 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 m the Princess B
38970 72 69 64 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 ride, not the Si
38980 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 2e lk Road founder.
38990 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65 ".."Oh. I've ne
389a0 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 ver read the Pri
389b0 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ncess Bride.".."
389c0 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 49 2c 22 Neither have I,"
389d0 20 49 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 79 I said, "but my
389e0 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 predecessor and
389f0 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d I watched the m
38a00 6f 76 69 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 ovie together a
38a10 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a couple times."..
38a20 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 "I forgot that w
38a30 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 as a movie," she
38a40 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b said..."You mak
38a50 65 20 6d 65 20 73 61 64 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 e me sad," Smugg
38a60 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 ler said...Alley
38a70 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 failed to produ
38a80 63 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 61 6e ce an answer, an
38a90 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65 6e d remained silen
38aa0 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 61 t until they rea
38ab0 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 ched the other e
38ac0 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 63 6c nd...Smuggler cl
38ad0 69 6d 62 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 imbed another st
38ae0 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 eel ladder, and
38af0 61 20 67 72 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 a grinding noise
38b00 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 echoed down the
38b10 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 73 tunnel. He dis
38b20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 appeared from vi
38b30 65 77 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ew above, though
38b40 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 now there was s
38b50 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 oft light filter
38b60 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 ing down through
38b70 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 the exit at the
38b80 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 top of the ladd
38b90 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 er. She followe
38ba0 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 d a moment later
38bb0 2c 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 68 , rising into wh
38bc0 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 at looked like a
38bd0 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 76 61 75 6c 74 20 77 69 74 68 n old vault with
38be0 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 indirect track
38bf0 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 73 75 73 70 65 6e 64 lighting suspend
38c00 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c ed from the ceil
38c10 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 ing..."What is t
38c20 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c his?" she asked,
38c30 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 looking around
38c40 61 74 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 62 61 72 72 65 at shelves barre
38c50 6e 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 n except for a f
38c60 65 77 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 66 61 ew small form fa
38c70 63 74 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 20 73 ctor computers s
38c80 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c itting silently,
38c90 20 70 6c 75 73 20 79 61 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 6e plus yards of n
38ca0 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 61 62 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 etwork cabling.
38cb0 20 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 "Is it an old b
38cc0 61 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 ank?"..Smuggler
38cd0 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 said "No, it's t
38ce0 68 65 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 6f 6d he abandoned hom
38cf0 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 6d e of a guy who m
38d00 61 64 65 20 61 20 66 6f 72 74 75 6e 65 20 6f 66 ade a fortune of
38d10 66 20 6f 66 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 f of early inter
38d20 6e 65 74 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 net corporations
38d30 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e around the turn
38d40 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 6c 65 6e 6e 69 of the millenni
38d50 75 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 um, and had just
38d60 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 decided to move
38d70 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e his money aroun
38d80 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 d before a marke
38d90 74 20 63 72 61 73 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 65 t crash. He die
38da0 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 72 69 d just before ri
38db0 6f 74 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 65 61 72 ots started tear
38dc0 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 ing up this part
38dd0 20 6f 66 20 4c 41 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 of LA, before i
38de0 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 74 20 73 68 75 74 20 64 t all got shut d
38df0 6f 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f own.".."What abo
38e00 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 69 72 73 3f 22 20 20 ut his heirs?"
38e10 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 Alley stepped pa
38e20 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 st a cot and a s
38e30 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 61 62 mall folding tab
38e40 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 le with folding
38e50 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 6e 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 20 chairs near it.
38e60 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 She noted the p
38e70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 62 61 72 resence of a bar
38e80 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 fridge against
38e90 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f one wall, and wo
38ea0 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 ndered how they
38eb0 67 6f 74 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 got power for th
38ec0 69 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 is place...He sh
38ed0 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 rugged. "I gues
38ee0 73 2c 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 79 s, if he had any
38ef0 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 , they never tri
38f00 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 ed coming back.
38f10 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 Most of the hou
38f20 73 65 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 se is gone, anyw
38f30 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 72 6f 62 ay, so they prob
38f40 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 ably thought the
38f50 72 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 re wasn't anythi
38f60 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 ng else to come
38f70 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 2e 20 20 49 back and get. I
38f80 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 49 20 f I was them, I
38f90 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 would have just
38fa0 66 69 6c 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 filed for an ins
38fb0 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 70 61 79 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 urance pay out."
38fc0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 .."Yeah, I guess
38fd0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 ," she said..."I
38fe0 6e 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 nsurance investi
38ff0 67 61 74 6f 72 73 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 63 gators stopped c
39000 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 oming into the h
39010 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 ot zone a long t
39020 69 6d 65 20 61 67 6f 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c ime ago," Smuggl
39030 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 6c 69 er said...He fli
39040 70 70 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 pped open a stee
39050 6c 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 73 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f l plate set into
39060 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 the wall, like
39070 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 61 74 75 72 65 20 6d 65 74 61 a miniature meta
39080 6c 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 61 l door with a ha
39090 6e 64 6c 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 69 67 20 65 6e ndle just big en
390a0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 67 ough to firmly g
390b0 72 61 73 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 6c 6f 76 rasp with a glov
390c0 65 64 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 ed finger and th
390d0 75 6d 62 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d umb. He did som
390e0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 ething with his
390f0 66 69 6e 67 65 72 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 fingers, but the
39100 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 angle of the li
39110 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 ttle door obscur
39120 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 41 20 ed her view. A
39130 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 20 moment later, a
39140 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 68 75 6e 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 loud thunk from
39150 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 20 the door echoed
39160 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 against the conc
39170 72 65 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 rete walls of th
39180 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 76 61 75 e room...The vau
39190 6c 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 lt door slowly s
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392d0 0a 2f 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 72 6f 70 73 20 ./* Alley drops
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39320 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 /../*.. Alley
39330 27 73 20 63 61 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 68 61 's car starts ha
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393a0 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 it. The mechani
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393c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 something about
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393e0 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 67 65 6e 20 68 79 62 72 69 second gen hybri
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39410 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 69 74 79 2c 20 73 6f electricity, so
39420 20 49 20 64 6f 75 62 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 I doubt you wou
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39440 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 home all the way
39450 20 69 6e 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 in Perris..
39460 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 6e 6e You're just gonn
39470 61 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 a have to wait.
39480 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 We should be ab
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394b0 68 6f 75 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 20 hours, though."
394c0 20 54 68 75 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 Thus, she ends
394d0 75 70 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e up sitting aroun
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39520 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 ..*/..---..Alley
39530 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 terminated the
39540 63 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 call. "I have t
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39560 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 hey're still wor
39570 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 22 king on my car,"
39580 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 she said. She
39590 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 looked over her
395a0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 shoulder, at the
395b0 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 73 27 20 67 61 72 61 mechanics' gara
395c0 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 ge. "I'll call
395d0 75 70 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 up a ride.".."Wa
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395f0 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 izer said..."Why
39600 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 61 6d 20 49 20 77 61 69 74 ? Why am I wait
39610 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 ing?".."I will a
39620 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 rrange for anoth
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39650 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 your home so we
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39670 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 going on."..Alle
39680 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 y sat again, thi
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396a0 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c nothing she coul
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396c0 79 20 73 6d 61 72 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 y smarter than s
396d0 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 itting still at
396e0 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 this point. "Ma
396f0 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 6c ybe I should cal
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39710 77 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 way," she says.
39720 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 "I'll just get
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39740 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 other person in
39750 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 the study.".."I
39760 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 72 will arrange a r
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39790 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 id. "You should
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397d0 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 76 of your bugout v
397e0 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 67 65 61 72 2e 20 20 54 61 ehicle gear. Ta
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39800 65 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 ear, too.".."Why
39810 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 6f 75 ? What good wou
39820 6c 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 ld that do me?"
39830 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 she asked..."If
39840 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c you have to run,
39850 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 you should have
39860 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 what you need t
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39880 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 ou do not have t
39890 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e o run, it does n
398a0 6f 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 68 ot hurt you to h
398b0 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 65 61 72 20 77 69 ave that gear wi
398c0 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c th you.".."Fine,
398d0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 " she said. "I'
398e0 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 ll get it. Why
398f0 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c the riding gear,
39900 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 though?" She s
39910 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 tood and headed
39920 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 2e for the counter.
39930 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f .."It is easy to
39940 20 63 61 72 72 79 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 61 72 69 carry, by weari
39950 6e 67 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 ng most of it, a
39960 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 nd you may need
39970 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 to ride a motorc
39980 79 63 6c 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 ycle soon.".."Is
39990 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 the ride you're
399a0 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 calling going t
399b0 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c o be a motorcycl
399c0 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 63 68 65 63 6b e?".."I am check
399d0 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 69 ing for availabi
399e0 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 lity. I do not
399f0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 know yet."..Alle
39a00 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 y shrugged to he
39a10 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 rself and looked
39a20 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 65 68 69 at the guy behi
39a30 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 2e 20 20 22 48 nd the desk. "H
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39a50 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 aising her voice
39a60 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 65 enough to be he
39a70 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74 ard. "Can I get
39a80 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 some things out
39a90 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 6f 66 of the trunk of
39aa0 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f my car?"..He lo
39ab0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 oked at her, and
39ac0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 down at a table
39ad0 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 t in front of hi
39ae0 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 m. "I'll check
39af0 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 whether it's on
39b00 74 68 65 20 6c 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f the lift. If no
39b10 74 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e t, sure, you can
39b20 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 probably get wh
39b30 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e atever you need.
39b40 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ".."Thanks," she
39b50 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 said...Eight mi
39b60 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 nutes later, she
39b70 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 sat on a bench
39b80 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 in front of the
39b90 73 68 6f 70 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 77 61 6c shop's glass wal
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39bb0 72 6d 6f 72 65 64 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e rmored jacket an
39bc0 64 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f d boots, the glo
39bd0 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f ves in her cargo
39be0 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 pocket like usu
39bf0 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e al and the ridin
39c00 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 g pants rolled u
39c10 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 p and strapped t
39c20 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 o her bag. She
39c30 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 stared at the vi
39c40 64 65 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 deo playing in t
39c50 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 he lenses of her
39c60 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 65 6e 20 69 glasses. Men i
39c70 6e 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 n Secret Service
39c80 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 jackets and tac
39c90 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 65 61 72 20 73 74 6f 72 6d tical gear storm
39ca0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 72 65 ed her home, bre
39cb0 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f aking in the fro
39cc0 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 77 6f 20 nt door, as two
39cd0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 people in black
39ce0 73 75 69 74 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 suits stood outs
39cf0 69 64 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 ide on the sidew
39d00 61 6c 6b 2c 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 alk, watching.
39d10 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 One was a woman
39d20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 69 72 20 73 with long hair s
39d30 74 72 65 61 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 treaked with gre
39d40 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65 y, and both wore
39d50 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 ball caps. Whe
39d60 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 n they looked at
39d70 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 each other to s
39d80 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e peak, she recogn
39d90 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 43 6f 6c ized them as Col
39da0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 e and his partne
39db0 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6a 61 77 20 r...Alley's jaw
39dc0 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 73 6f 20 was clenched so
39dd0 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 tightly that it
39de0 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 hurt. The point
39df0 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 of view of the
39e00 73 63 65 6e 65 20 64 72 69 66 74 65 64 20 70 61 scene drifted pa
39e10 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f st, and Cole loo
39e20 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 ked toward the c
39e30 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 amera for a mome
39e40 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 nt, then looked
39e50 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 away again like
39e60 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 it did not matte
39e70 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 r. The front of
39e80 20 68 69 73 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 his black ball
39e90 63 61 70 20 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 cap sported the
39ea0 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 79 20 73 74 79 6c 69 7a 65 burgundy stylize
39eb0 64 20 63 6f 69 6e 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 66 20 43 d coin logo of C
39ec0 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 68 OIN Corp...Her h
39ed0 61 6e 64 73 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a ands trembled...
39ee0 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 2c 22 "I have a plan,"
39ef0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
39f00 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 said. "I will
39f10 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f get you away fro
39f20 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 m here. That is
39f30 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 the first thing
39f40 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 65 66 we must do, bef
39f50 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6e 64 ore someone find
39f60 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 s your vehicle h
39f70 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 ere. You cannot
39f80 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 pay for these r
39f90 65 70 61 69 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 61 73 68 epairs with cash
39fa0 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 you have on you
39fb0 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 right now, and
39fc0 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 72 65 64 paying with cred
39fd0 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 it would almost
39fe0 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 certainly trigge
39ff0 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 r alerts for the
3a000 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 COIN Corp agent
3a010 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 s. We must get
3a020 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 you away, and ar
3a030 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e range for someon
3a040 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 e else to pick u
3a050 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 p the car.".."If
3a060 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 they're looking
3a070 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 2c 20 for my credit,
3a080 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 they'll look for
3a090 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 73 my car, too," s
3a0a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 70 he said..."The p
3a0b0 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 70 61 79 73 20 66 erson who pays f
3a0c0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 or the car will
3a0d0 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 handle it," the
3a0e0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
3a0f0 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 6f . "It can be so
3a100 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 6f 20 ld for parts so
3a110 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 68 that it never sh
3a120 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 67 69 ows up as a regi
3a130 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 61 stered vehicle a
3a140 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 4d 69 6e 75 73 20 61 20 68 gain. Minus a h
3a150 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 65 65 2c 20 74 68 65 andling fee, the
3a160 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 money will be f
3a170 6f 72 77 61 72 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e orwarded to you.
3a180 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 You will have
3a190 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 to acquire new t
3a1a0 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 ransportation, b
3a1b0 75 74 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f ut I can help yo
3a1c0 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 77 u with that as w
3a1d0 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 ell.".."Okay," s
3a1e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 he said. "Why d
3a1f0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 o you seem like
3a200 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 73 you've done this
3a210 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 before?".."I ha
3a220 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ve not," the pri
3a230 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 oritizer said.
3a240 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e "I have been con
3a250 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 sidering ideas f
3a260 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 or how to handle
3a270 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 68 65 this moment whe
3a280 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 n it came, thoug
3a290 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e h."..Alley frown
3a2a0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 79 ed. "Maybe they
3a2b0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 61 6e 74 don't even want
3a2c0 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 me. They went
3a2d0 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 into my place wh
3a2e0 65 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e en I wasn't even
3a2f0 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 there. They mu
3a300 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 49 20 st have known I
3a310 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 wasn't going to
3a320 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c be there.".."No,
3a330 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 I made sure the
3a340 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 y thought you we
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3a370 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 63 have been very c
3a380 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 areful to arrang
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3a3b0 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 attempts to make
3a3c0 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 a move against
3a3d0 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 you.".."How did
3a3e0 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 you do that?".."
3a3f0 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 I made use of th
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3a420 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 ".."What are the
3a430 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 y getting out of
3a440 20 69 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c it?" she asked,
3a450 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 quietly, wonder
3a460 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ing how it could
3a470 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 possibly have d
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3a490 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 them while using
3a4a0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 61 them for her sa
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3a4c0 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e Some of them wan
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3a4e0 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 their boring li
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3a510 6e 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 new people they
3a520 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d would not have m
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3a5d0 76 69 64 65 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 video you watche
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3a5f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 your home was c
3a600 61 70 74 75 72 65 64 20 62 79 20 61 20 70 61 69 aptured by a pai
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3a640 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 member of the g
3a650 72 6f 75 70 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 roup, just becau
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3a670 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 o pass by your h
3a680 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 75 67 67 ome.".."You sugg
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3a6a0 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 that would take
3a6b0 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 70 61 73 74 20 the person past
3a6c0 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 6c 69 76 65 64 2e 20 20 where I lived.
3a6d0 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 Right?".."That i
3a6e0 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 s correct, but i
3a6f0 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 72 76 65 73 20 74 t still serves t
3a700 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 67 6f 61 hat person's goa
3a710 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 69 72 20 67 6f 61 ls.".."Their goa
3a720 6c 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c ls probably coul
3a730 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 66 69 6c 6c d have been fill
3a740 65 64 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f ed better and mo
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3a780 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 52 69 lse, though. Ri
3a790 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 69 74 ght?".."Yes," it
3a7a0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 said, "for some
3a7b0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 of them.".."You
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3a7e0 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 helped other pa
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3a800 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 ll.".."Yes.".."I
3a810 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 guess that's fa
3a820 69 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ir," she said.
3a830 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 67 6f 69 6e "How are we goin
3a840 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 g to get me out
3a850 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 of here?".."Your
3a860 20 72 69 64 65 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 ride is almost
3a870 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a here," it said..
3a880 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 ."Oh. It's one
3a890 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 of the study par
3a8a0 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 ticipants. Righ
3a8b0 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 t?".."Yes.".."Of
3a8c0 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a course it is.".
3a8d0 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 ./*..A study par
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3a900 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 . Maybe it's a
3a910 67 69 72 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 girl this time.
3a920 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 67 That would be g
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3a940 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 70 69 63 6b e, she gets pick
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3a960 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 to some place wh
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3a980 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 ng out for a bit
3a990 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 . I don't know
3a9a0 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 65 where that is ye
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3a9c0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 49 of the reason I
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3a9f0 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 61 6c 6f 67 20 66 6f 72 20 and dialog for
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3aa30 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 74 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 s she sits there
3aa40 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 , waiting. In t
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3aa60 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 72 72 prioritizer arr
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3ab80 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 68 61 76 69 hey waited, havi
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3abf0 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 20 68 61 74 20 and even a hat
3ac00 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 would accomplish
3ac10 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 , by wearing a h
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3ac30 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 r of the motorcy
3ac40 63 6c 65 20 74 68 72 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 cle throws in a
3ac50 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 helmet with the
3ac60 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 purchase, which
3ac70 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 is good because
3ac80 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d otherwise more m
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3aca0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 70 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 to be spent to b
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3ace0 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 where it is ille
3acf0 67 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f gal to ride a mo
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3ad20 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 44 4f 54 20 63 wearing a DOT c
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3ad40 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c ..Even after all
3ad50 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 that, there is
3ad60 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f some cash left o
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3ad80 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2e 20 20 54 off the car. T
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3adb0 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 77 20 64 65 6d relative low dem
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3adf0 6c 64 2c 20 75 73 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f ld, used, and no
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3ae30 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 None of this re
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3ae60 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 41 he plan is for A
3ae70 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 61 73 74 20 6f 6e lley to coast on
3ae80 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 72 61 74 69 6f the registratio
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3afa0 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 ave to be sure t
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3b040 2f 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 68 65 72 65 20 49 /.."Well, here I
3b050 20 61 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e am, alone again
3b060 20 2d 2d 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 -- except you,
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3b080 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
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3b140 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e 74 69 76 65 with substantive
3b150 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 commitment to t
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3b180 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 ..She sighed. "
3b190 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e Yeah, of course.
3b1a0 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d ".."Is there som
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3b1c0 74 61 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6e 6f tact for help no
3b1d0 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 w?"..Alley thoug
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3b1f0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b said "I don't k
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3b240 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e help me right n
3b250 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f ow.".."Can one o
3b260 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 67 f your friends g
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3b280 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 to stay for the
3b290 6e 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 night?"..Alley s
3b2a0 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
3b2b0 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f "I don't want to
3b2c0 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 get them caught
3b2d0 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 up in this, and
3b2e0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 I guess I'm not
3b2f0 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 entirely sure t
3b300 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 hey wouldn't say
3b310 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 something they
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3b340 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
3b350 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 that.".."In that
3b360 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 66 case, we must f
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3b380 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 to stay for the
3b390 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c night. Please l
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3b3f0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 of three hundre
3b400 64 20 75 6e 69 74 65 64 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 d united states
3b410 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 dollars.".."Sure
3b420 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 ," she said, "bu
3b430 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 t I don't know h
3b440 6f 77 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ow we're going t
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3b460 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 61 62 73 's not like cabs
3b470 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 usually take ca
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3b4b0 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 , so I would jus
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3b4d0 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 ra for the whole
3b4e0 20 74 72 69 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f trip.".."Can yo
3b4f0 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d u still ride a m
3b500 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 otorcycle?".."Ye
3b510 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 ah, I should be
3b520 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 able to." She f
3b530 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 6f 77 urrowed her brow
3b540 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 . "Why?".."We s
3b550 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e 6c 69 hould check onli
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3b570 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 or private party
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3b590 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 , working motorc
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3b5e0 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e ts.".."Oh, yeah.
3b5f0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f I guess a moto
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3b610 6e 20 62 65 20 63 68 65 61 70 65 72 20 74 68 61 n be cheaper tha
3b620 6e 20 61 20 6a 75 6e 6b 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 22 n a junker car."
3b630 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 ..She pulled out
3b640 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 77 her Axiom and w
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3b660 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 0a then hesitated..
3b670 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 6d 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 ."How am I even
3b680 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 going to get the
3b690 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 49 20 motorcycle? I
3b6a0 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 can't get to it
3b6b0 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 from here.".."I
3b6c0 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 73 6f 6d will arrange som
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3b6f0 22 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c "It will probabl
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3b760 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 65 20 79 to facilitate y
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3b780 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 ".."Wouldn't tha
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3b7a0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 thing will get
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3b7d0 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 ugh?".."No. I w
3b7e0 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 ill alter logs a
3b7f0 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 76 nd remove all ev
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3b840 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 I guess that's f
3b850 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 79 20 6d 79 20 65 73 ine.".."By my es
3b860 74 69 6d 61 74 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b timate, the risk
3b870 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 of this transac
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3b8a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 72 6f 61 the typical roa
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3b8f0 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 to a seller in
3b900 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 52 69 most parts of Ri
3b910 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 verside.".."I gu
3b920 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f ess that's comfo
3b930 72 74 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 rting," she said
3b940 2e 20 20 22 52 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 . "Riding a mot
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3b960 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d dangerous than m
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3b9a0 61 63 6b 20 61 72 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 ack are after me
3b9b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 .".."The same st
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3b9f0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 though statisti
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3ba20 20 61 20 63 61 72 20 69 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 a car is slight
3ba30 6c 79 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 ly less than tha
3ba40 74 20 6f 66 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f t of riding a mo
3ba50 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 torcycle.".."Yea
3ba60 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c h, thanks for cl
3ba70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 66 earing that up f
3ba80 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 or me," Alley sa
3ba90 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 73 74 61 72 id. "Let's star
3baa0 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 74 t looking at mot
3bab0 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 orcycles, then."
3bac0 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 6c 65 63 ..When she selec
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3bae0 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 31 ification of a 1
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3bb00 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 closer to her fa
3bb10 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 61 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ther's age than
3bb20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 her own, the pri
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3bb50 65 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f eman ready to go
3bb60 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 . It was only t
3bb70 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 wenty minutes la
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3bb90 20 68 65 72 20 2f 2a 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 her /* about a
3bba0 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 74 6c 65 67 20 digital bootleg
3bbb0 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 2e 20 safety upgrade.
3bbc0 2a 2f 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 */ what the midd
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3bbe0 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 d from the selle
3bbf0 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 r..."The motorcy
3bc00 63 6c 65 27 73 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 65 70 cle's seller rep
3bc10 6f 72 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 orts that it has
3bc20 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 75 70 67 a number of upg
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3bc60 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 62 72 61 an anti lock bra
3bc70 6b 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 68 65 20 66 61 62 ke system he fab
3bc80 72 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 ricated in his h
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3bca0 69 6e 67 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 ing reverse engi
3bcb0 6e 65 65 72 65 64 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 neered physical
3bcc0 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 specifications f
3bcd0 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 66 or production af
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3bcf0 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 73 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 upgrades, using
3bd00 6f 70 65 6e 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 73 6f 66 74 open source soft
3bd10 77 61 72 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 ware to program
3bd20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 the system.".."I
3bd30 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 sn't that illega
3bd40 6c 3f 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 l? I don't know
3bd50 20 69 66 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 if I really nee
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3bd70 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 vidence someone
3bd80 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 can use against
3bd90 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 me on top of wha
3bda0 74 27 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 67 6f 69 6e t's already goin
3bdb0 67 20 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 g on," Alley sai
3bdc0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 d..."It appears
3bdd0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 that the use of
3bde0 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 the plans for th
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3be30 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 and the sale of
3be40 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6b 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 the brakes after
3be50 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 they have been
3be60 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 fabricated would
3be70 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 violate copyrig
3be80 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 74 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 ht and patent la
3be90 77 73 2e 20 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 ws. Because the
3bea0 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 plans were evid
3beb0 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e ently reverse en
3bec0 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 gineered, they a
3bed0 72 65 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 re unlikely to b
3bee0 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 63 e protected by c
3bef0 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 opyright. As th
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3bf20 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6d ou seem to be im
3bf30 6d 75 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 65 67 61 mune to any lega
3bf40 6c 20 69 73 73 75 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 l issues that ma
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3bf60 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 s, and the chanc
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3bf80 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 69 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 of the crime in
3bf90 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 74 this case are st
3bfa0 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 20 69 6e 73 atistically ins
3bfb0 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 ignificant.".."Y
3bfc0 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 eah, okay," she
3bfd0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 said..."When the
3bfe0 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 61 72 72 69 motorcycle arri
3bff0 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 ves, you will be
3c000 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 able to pay the
3c010 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 6c 69 person who deli
3c020 76 65 72 73 20 69 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 vers it directly
3c030 20 69 6e 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 in Stater. He
3c040 69 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e is interested in
3c050 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 acquiring the c
3c060 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 61 73 ryptocurrency as
3c070 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 an investment."
3c080 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 53 74 .."Did he use St
3c090 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 ater to buy the
3c0a0 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 bike?".."No. He
3c0b0 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 72 61 made a cash tra
3c0c0 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 68 nsaction. For h
3c0d0 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 im, this is an i
3c0e0 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 62 ndirect way to b
3c0f0 75 79 20 61 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 uy a cryptocurre
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3c110 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 purchase being t
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3c140 6c 65 73 73 20 74 72 75 73 74 77 6f 72 74 68 79 less trustworthy
3c150 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 73 20 77 68 6f individuals who
3c160 20 64 65 61 6c 20 69 6e 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 deal in cryptoc
3c170 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 urrencies.".."Ye
3c180 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 ah," she said, "
3c190 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 that makes sense
3c1a0 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 73 20 74 . How much is t
3c1b0 68 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 his going to set
3c1c0 20 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 me back?".."You
3c1d0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f will profit fro
3c1e0 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 m this transacti
3c1f0 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 on. Another stu
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3c220 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 20 73 from the auto s
3c230 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 6e hop and gave mon
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3c250 6d 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f man for the moto
3c260 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c rcycle purchase,
3c270 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f with instructio
3c280 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 79 20 77 68 61 ns to convey wha
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3c2a0 66 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 ft after the pur
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3c2d0 76 65 20 66 65 77 65 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 ve fewer Stater
3c2e0 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 76 for now, your ov
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3c300 65 74 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 73 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 et totals repres
3c310 65 6e 74 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 70 75 72 63 ent greater purc
3c320 68 61 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 hasing power tha
3c330 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 64 n if the car had
3c340 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 6d 61 not required ma
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3c360 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 69 74 20 6e u still had it n
3c370 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e ow.".."Is someon
3c380 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 e getting screwe
3c390 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 3f d over for this?
3c3a0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e " she asked..."N
3c3b0 6f 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 o. Every partic
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3c3d0 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 70 72 6f 66 ransactions prof
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3c420 6e 6f 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 not need to acqu
3c430 69 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 6c 69 61 62 6c ire more reliabl
3c440 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 20 72 65 63 6f 67 e and less recog
3c450 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 nizable transpor
3c460 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 2e 20 20 tation.".."Hm.
3c470 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 Thanks.".."You a
3c480 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 re welcome."..Sh
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3c500 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 69 6e against the cin
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3c520 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 61 73 68 20 62 f the car wash b
3c530 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ay. She looked
3c540 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 61 at the chipped a
3c550 6e 64 20 64 69 6e 67 79 20 70 61 69 6e 74 20 6f nd dingy paint o
3c560 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 77 n the opposite w
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3c590 70 61 74 74 65 72 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 patterns in the
3c5a0 6d 69 64 73 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 73 6c 6f midst of its slo
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3c840 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 ."This is your c
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3c870 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 64 65 65 70 20 She took a deep
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3cac0 0a 22 4e 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e ."Nah," he said.
3cad0 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 79 20 "It's just my
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3cb80 20 54 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 27 73 20 The envelope's
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3cba0 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
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3cc00 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 from the sale of
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3cd00 73 2e 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 s..."Cool," he s
3cd10 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 aid. "What abou
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3cd70 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 . Thanks.".."Su
3cd80 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 re." He looked
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3ce00 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 smiled. "Yeah,
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3ce30 20 44 61 64 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c Dad used to cal
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3ce60 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e s."..He laughed.
3ce70 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f "If you say so
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3cec0 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 . Don't worry a
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3cf60 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 Thanks," she sai
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3d220 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 65 64 20 74 68 65 .She stuffed the
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3d430 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 68 he stopped. "Sh
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3d450 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 61 6d 20 49 20 67 6f 69 6e "Where am I goin
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3d4a0 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 She rapped the
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3d510 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 74 68 should leave th
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3d540 20 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 6f 20 "It is best to
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3d5e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f 75 .".."Perhaps you
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3de00 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 49 73 20 74 ..."Alley? Is t
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3e0d0 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 .."Alley. It's
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3e0f0 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 r voice again.
3e100 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 53 How are you?"..S
3e110 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 he hesitated, th
3e120 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 62 65 en said "It's be
3e130 65 6e 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f en better.".."Do
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3e150 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 71 75 he asked, so qu
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3e280 6e 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 66 65 6c 74 now, but it felt
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3e320 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 62 ..."It must be b
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3e340 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e if you're callin
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3e3d0 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 , Dalton." She
3e3e0 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 woke the display
3e3f0 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 to show the dis
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3e410 0a 22 57 61 69 74 21 20 20 4e 6f 21 20 20 44 6f ."Wait! No! Do
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3e500 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 "Alley? Are y
3e510 6f 75 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ou there?"..She
3e520 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 slowly tapped th
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3e560 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 68 aid "Yeah, I'm h
3e570 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 ere.".."Look, I
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3e660 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 from you, thoug
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3e680 70 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f p, I can. I kno
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3e6d0 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 and I want to a
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3e700 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 . I'll stay out
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3e730 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 far away as you
3e740 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 75 want. Don't tu
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3e770 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 h, if you need i
3e780 74 2e 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 t. Okay?"..She
3e790 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 squeezed her eye
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3e820 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 e. She finally
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3e850 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 and opened her
3e860 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 eyes. "Yeah. T
3e870 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 hanks, Dalton.
3e880 54 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 20 69 73 2c 20 69 66 The truth is, if
3e890 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 you help me you
3e8a0 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 'll probably get
3e8b0 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c yourself in a l
3e8c0 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 ot of trouble, b
3e8d0 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 27 6d 20 69 6e 20 61 20 ecause I'm in a
3e8e0 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 lot of trouble.
3e8f0 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 Either I don't
3e900 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 understand the t
3e910 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 49 20 64 6f 20 rouble, or I do
3e920 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 and it's complet
3e930 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 ely insane and p
3e940 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 65 73 63 retty much inesc
3e950 61 70 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c apable, and will
3e960 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 63 72 65 77 20 probably screw
3e970 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 over anyone who
3e980 68 65 6c 70 73 20 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 helps me..."I re
3e990 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 ally shouldn't h
3e9a0 61 76 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ave called you.
3e9b0 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f I don't want to
3e9c0 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 75 get you mixed u
3e9d0 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 p in this.".."It
3e9e0 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6c 61 74 65 2c 22 20 68 65 's too late," he
3e9f0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 said, quietly,
3ea00 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 gently. "You ca
3ea10 6c 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e lled. I'm here.
3ea20 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 I'm going to h
3ea30 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 74 elp you. Just t
3ea40 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 2c 20 61 ake the offer, a
3ea50 6e 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 nd tell me what
3ea60 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e you need.".."Fin
3ea70 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 e." She huddled
3ea80 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c around herself,
3ea90 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 and pressed her
3eaa0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 69 72 6d 6c back more firml
3eab0 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 y into the corne
3eac0 72 2c 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 r, feeling the p
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3eae0 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6a 61 63 6b behind her jack
3eaf0 65 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 70 et. "I need a p
3eb00 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 6c 6f 77 2c lace to lie low,
3eb10 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6e 65 first, and I ne
3eb20 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 ed to figure out
3eb30 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 49 what the fuck I
3eb40 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 22 0a 'm doing next.".
3eb50 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ."Yeah," he said
3eb60 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 75 , "that does sou
3eb70 6e 64 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 68 6f nd serious. Who
3eb80 27 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 's after you?"..
3eb90 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 "I should probab
3eba0 6c 79 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 ly tell you the
3ebb0 77 6f 72 73 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 worst part of wh
3ebc0 6f 27 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 o's after me, bu
3ebd0 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 t I'm not sure w
3ebe0 68 69 63 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 hich one it is."
3ebf0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d .."What do you m
3ec00 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 73 ean?" he asked s
3ec10 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 63 68 20 69 lowly..."Which i
3ec20 73 20 77 6f 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 s worse, the Sec
3ec30 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 61 ret Service or a
3ec40 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 creepy governme
3ec50 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 nt intelligence
3ec60 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 contractor that
3ec70 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 can get the secr
3ec80 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f et service to do
3ec90 20 69 74 73 20 64 69 72 74 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f its dirty work?
3eca0 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c "..The silence l
3ecb0 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 69 6c 65 6e ingered -- silen
3ecc0 63 65 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ce apart from th
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3ece0 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 her breath in he
3ecf0 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 r throat as she
3ed00 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 65 61 72 66 75 6c 6c 79 waited fearfully
3ed10 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 for him to say
3ed20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 something that b
3ed30 65 74 72 61 79 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 75 64 64 etrayed his sudd
3ed40 65 6e 20 72 65 6c 75 63 74 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f en reluctance to
3ed50 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 help her..."I c
3ed60 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 an come pick you
3ed70 20 75 70 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 up," he said.
3ed80 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 "Where do I need
3ed90 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 to go? I guess
3eda0 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 you're probably
3edb0 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 not home."..She
3edc0 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 held out her Ax
3edd0 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 iom and stared a
3ede0 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 t it for a long
3edf0 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a time. "What?"..
3ee00 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 "Do you need me
3ee10 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 3f 22 to pick you up?"
3ee20 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 he asked...She
3ee30 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook her head.
3ee40 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 "You still want
3ee50 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 to help me . .
3ee60 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 . ?".."Of course
3ee70 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c I do," he said,
3ee80 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 61 6b 79 20 6c 61 with a shaky la
3ee90 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 ugh in his voice
3eea0 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 . "What kind of
3eeb0 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 61 67 69 74 61 dangerous agita
3eec0 74 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 6d 61 67 6f 67 75 tor and demagogu
3eed0 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 62 65 65 20 69 66 e would I bee if
3eee0 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e I wasn't willin
3eef0 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e g to help someon
3ef00 65 20 66 6c 65 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 e flee from the
3ef10 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 3f 22 Secret Service?"
3ef20 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 77 65 ..She laughed we
3ef30 61 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 akly. "Right.
3ef40 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f Of course you do
3ef50 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 ." She shook he
3ef60 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 r head. "I don'
3ef70 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 t know. I have
3ef80 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 6e 6f a motorcycle, no
3ef90 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 t even registere
3efa0 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 d to me. Maybe
3efb0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f I should just go
3efc0 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 there.".."You c
3efd0 6f 75 6c 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ould," he said.
3efe0 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 "Hang on a sec'
3eff0 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 -- I have an id
3f000 65 61 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 ea."..She heard
3f010 74 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 75 64 69 the lack of audi
3f020 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 20 66 61 69 6e 74 o again, a faint
3f030 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 pressure agains
3f040 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2e t her attention.
3f050 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 74 69 63 6b 65 64 Seconds ticked
3f060 20 62 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 by...The audio
3f070 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 opened up in her
3f080 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e awareness again
3f090 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 . "I can send a
3f0a0 20 76 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 van to pick you
3f0b0 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f up, and your mo
3f0c0 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 6c torcycle. You'l
3f0d0 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 74 61 79 20 l probably stay
3f0e0 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 62 65 off the radar be
3f0f0 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 tter that way.
3f100 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 75 If you have to u
3f110 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c se the motorcycl
3f120 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 62 65 e later, it's be
3f130 73 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 st if it's not s
3f140 65 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 een around enoug
3f150 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 h for people to
3f160 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 connect with you
3f170 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 r movements. Ri
3f180 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 ght?".."Yeah, su
3f190 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 re," she said.
3f1a0 22 57 68 6f 27 73 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 "Who's driving t
3f1b0 68 65 20 76 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 62 6f 64 he van?".."Nobod
3f1c0 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 y," he said. "I
3f1d0 74 27 73 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 t's automated.
3f1e0 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 61 20 66 Don't worry, a f
3f1f0 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 69 6e 65 20 63 6f riend of mine co
3f200 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 ntributed some h
3f210 61 63 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 acks to the syst
3f220 65 6d 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 em so it won't c
3f230 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 orrectly report
3f240 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 anything to the
3f250 6e 61 76 20 6e 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 nav net.".."Oh."
3f260 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 ../* I really ne
3f270 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6e ed a different n
3f280 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 61 ame for this tha
3f290 6e 20 22 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 22 2e 20 n "blisscrypt".
3f2a0 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 2e 20 That's stupid.
3f2b0 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 6f 20 73 */../* It's so s
3f2c0 74 75 70 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 tupid it might b
3f2d0 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 e realistic, and
3f2e0 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 we don't want t
3f2f0 68 61 74 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 hat. */.."I just
3f300 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 need to know wh
3f310 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 ere you are. It
3f320 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 's a good thing
3f330 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 you made this ca
3f340 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 ll with blisscry
3f350 70 74 2c 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 pt, by the way,
3f360 6f 72 20 69 74 27 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c or it'd take a l
3f370 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 ot more work to
3f380 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 make sure this c
3f390 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 all stays out of
3f3a0 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 73 the wrong hands
3f3b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 .".."Right," she
3f3c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 said. She paus
3f3d0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f ed. "How did yo
3f3e0 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 u know it was me
3f3f0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 3f 22 when I called?"
3f400 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e ..The hesitation
3f410 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 lingered, and s
3f420 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 he wondered what
3f430 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 was going on.
3f440 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 Finally, he said
3f450 20 22 48 6f 6e 65 73 74 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f "Honestly, I do
3f460 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 n't know. It wa
3f470 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 s weird. I just
3f480 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 saw an incoming
3f490 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 49 44 call from an ID
3f4a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 that wasn't in
3f4b0 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 my contacts, and
3f4c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 somehow I guess
3f4d0 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 ed."..She scoffe
3f4e0 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 63 6b d. "That's fuck
3f4f0 69 6e 67 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f ing weird, Dalto
3f500 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 n.".."Yeah," he
3f510 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 said. "It's not
3f520 20 61 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 as weird as you
3f530 20 73 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 swearing more t
3f540 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 han I do, though
3f550 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 ."..She smiled,
3f560 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e despite herself.
3f570 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 Dalton could s
3f580 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 till hit all the
3f590 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 high points in
3f5a0 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 69 74 75 64 65 20 77 69 74 her attitude wit
3f5b0 68 20 75 6e 65 72 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 75 72 h unerring accur
3f5c0 61 63 79 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 acy. "If you'd
3f5d0 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 had the week I'v
3f5e0 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 e had. . . .".."
3f5f0 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 Yeah," he said.
3f600 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f "Let's talk abo
3f610 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 ut it when you g
3f620 65 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 73 74 69 et to your desti
3f630 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 6e 64 20 6d 65 nation. Send me
3f640 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 your location t
3f650 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 hrough blisscryp
3f660 74 20 74 65 78 74 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f t text so you do
3f670 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 n't have to hide
3f680 20 77 68 65 72 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 wherever you ar
3f690 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 e any longer tha
3f6a0 6e 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 n necessary.".."
3f6b0 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Yeah," she said,
3f6c0 20 22 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e "okay." She en
3f6d0 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f ded the call, mo
3f6e0 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 ved to the back
3f6f0 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 74 20 70 door, and sent p
3f700 61 73 73 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 assive location
3f710 64 61 74 61 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e data from there.
3f720 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 65 64 She alternated
3f730 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 61 63 69 6e 67 20 between pacing
3f740 61 6e 64 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 and sitting for
3f750 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 68 6f 75 72 20 61 6e the next hour an
3f760 64 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 75 d ten minutes, u
3f770 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 nable to settle
3f780 64 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 down enough to d
3f790 6f 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 o anything usefu
3f7a0 6c 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 l, or even to th
3f7b0 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 ink about anythi
3f7c0 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 ng useful...Her
3f7d0 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 Axiom vibrated i
3f7e0 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 n her hand. She
3f7f0 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 unlocked it and
3f800 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 checked her ale
3f810 72 74 73 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 rts, where she s
3f820 61 77 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 aw an encrypted
3f830 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c message from Dal
3f840 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 ton that said "Y
3f850 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 our ride should
3f860 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 be there. Sorry
3f870 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 you'll have to
3f880 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e push the bike in
3f890 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 yourself."..She
3f8a0 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 opened the door
3f8b0 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 carefully, and
3f8c0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20 looked outside.
3f8d0 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 69 6e Right there, in
3f8e0 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 61 73 20 the alley, was
3f8f0 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 62 6f 78 20 74 72 75 63 a small box truc
3f900 6b 2c 20 69 74 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 k, its back door
3f910 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 lowered to prov
3f920 69 64 65 20 61 20 72 61 6d 70 20 69 6e 73 69 64 ide a ramp insid
3f930 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 e. There were s
3f940 65 61 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 eats and shelves
3f950 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 69 6e 67 , self adjusting
3f960 20 77 68 65 65 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 wheel tracks, w
3f970 68 65 65 6c 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 heel lock points
3f980 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 72 , and tie down r
3f990 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 ings. She even
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3fc00 61 67 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 age back to Dalt
3fc10 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a on. "It's in.".
3fc20 0a 22 53 74 72 61 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ."Strap into the
3fc30 20 73 65 61 74 20 69 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a seat in back.".
3fc40 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 .She looked at t
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3fc90 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 3f 22 about the door?"
3fca0 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 she asked..."It
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3fcc0 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 f."..She went ba
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3fcf0 20 62 61 67 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 bags, then head
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3fd40 61 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 apped in. A few
3fd50 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 moments later,
3fd60 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 71 75 the back door qu
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3fd80 65 6c 66 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 61 6c 65 elf up and seale
3fd90 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e d. The light in
3fda0 73 69 64 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e side remained on
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3fe30 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 31 39 38 30 of Dalton's 1980
3fe40 73 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 66 61 76 s industrial fav
3fe50 6f 72 69 74 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 6f 66 74 orites, but soft
3fe60 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 69 ly..."Where is i
3fe70 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 t taking me?" sh
3fe80 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 e asked in anoth
3fe90 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 er message...The
3fea0 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 73 response came s
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3fec0 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 surprised you w
3fed0 61 69 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 aited that long
3fee0 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 to ask. I guess
3fef0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a you trust me.".
3ff00 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e .She put her han
3ff10 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 d over her face
3ff20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 and rested her e
3ff30 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 67 lbow on her thig
3ff40 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 h. "Fuck," she
3ff50 73 61 69 64 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 said aloud...Whe
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3ff70 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 20 68 65 72 in, she send her
3ff80 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 reply. "Yeah,
3ff90 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 I guess I truste
3ffa0 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 d you without ev
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3ffd0 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 61 74 xes.".."I'm flat
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40000 20 6f 76 65 72 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 over reflexes."
40010 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 .."I know."..It
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40030 69 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 6c ill knew her wel
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40050 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e nothing to that.
40060 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 She leaned her
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400b0 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 d what she would
400c0 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 69 66 do next...As if
400d0 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e it read her min
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400f0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 prioritizer say
40100 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 "You could use
40110 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e this time to fin
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40140 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2c 22 20 73 .."Good idea," s
40150 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 he muttered a bi
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40190 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 ment of the truc
401a0 6b 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 k changed enough
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402b0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 back started op
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40340 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 6d 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 platform in wha
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403b0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 looking down at
403c0 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 her...She unbuc
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40470 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 her..."Hi," she
40480 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 said..."Hi!" Cr
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404a0 22 47 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 "Get out here.
404b0 4d 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 Man, I haven't s
404c0 65 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 een you in years
404d0 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 !"..Alley scratc
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404f0 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f give her hand so
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40530 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 d up the ramp.
40540 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 "What about the
40550 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 bike?" she asked
40560 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f ...Cray said "Do
40570 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 n't worry. We g
40580 6f 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 ot this." He st
40590 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 epped onto the r
405a0 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 amp and walked d
405b0 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 64 own the gentle d
405c0 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 ecline into the
405d0 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 truck and starte
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40600 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 77 69 alton's arms twi
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40630 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 ward. Alley rea
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40660 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c on every detail
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406d0 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 74 77 69 6e 67 65 20 e felt a twinge
406e0 6f 66 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 70 61 6e 69 63 2c 20 of inner panic,
406f0 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 not knowing how
40700 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 to react, how sh
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40720 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d assed when the m
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40760 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 Without looking
40770 75 70 2c 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 up, Cray said "G
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40790 47 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 Get it over with
407a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 , and sit down,
407b0 73 6f 20 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 so he can come h
407c0 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 elp me."..Alley'
407d0 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 s mouth twitched
407e0 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69 6d 65 74 65 72 20 74 6f a millimeter to
407f0 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 ward a smile, th
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40830 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 She and Dalton h
40840 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 ugged, but it wa
40850 73 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 s careful. Ther
40860 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 e was no physica
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40890 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 69 64 65 sense of a wide
408a0 20 67 75 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 gulf of uncerta
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408c0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a in their way...
408d0 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 She realized she
408e0 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 already missed
408f0 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 the hug before i
40900 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c t was even compl
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40920 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 should go help h
40930 69 6d 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 im," Dalton said
40940 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 74 75 72 6e with a wry turn
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40960 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e nd passed her on
40970 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a the way down...
40980 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 73 63 61 6e 20 73 68 6f A quick scan sho
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409a0 66 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 f options for wh
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409d0 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 73 65 a to the left se
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409f0 74 63 6c 75 62 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 61 tclub, with a da
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40a10 62 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 bar and little c
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40a30 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 Another area wa
40a40 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 s set up like a
40a50 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 movie theater wi
40a60 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 68 69 th the screen hi
40a70 67 68 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 gh up on the rig
40a80 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 20 ht hand wall so
40a90 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 people could rec
40aa0 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 61 line in the thea
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40ac0 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b not have to look
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40ae0 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 of people in the
40af0 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 seats ahead of
40b00 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 43 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 them. Closer th
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40b20 65 72 65 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e ere folding lawn
40b30 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c chairs and coll
40b40 61 70 73 69 62 6c 65 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 apsible camp cha
40b50 69 72 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e irs...She sat on
40b60 20 61 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 a camp chair be
40b70 73 69 64 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 side a cooler, a
40b80 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 nd looked inside
40b90 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 . It contained
40ba0 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 bottled sodas, s
40bb0 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 o she took one a
40bc0 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b nd started drink
40bd0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 ing while the gu
40be0 79 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 ys rolled the bi
40bf0 6b 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 ke up the ramp.
40c00 20 53 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 Shortly, the bi
40c10 6b 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 ke rested on its
40c20 20 6b 69 63 6b 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 kickstand, the
40c30 74 72 75 63 6b 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 truck raised its
40c40 20 72 61 6d 70 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 ramp to close t
40c50 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e he open back, an
40c60 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 d the roll up wa
40c70 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 rehouse door sta
40c80 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e rted to descend.
40c90 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 .."I wasn't expe
40ca0 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 cting you," Alle
40cb0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 y said, when she
40cc0 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 saw Cray approa
40cd0 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 ching..."Didn't
40ce0 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 he tell you?" he
40cf0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b asked, and look
40d00 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ed toward Dalton
40d10 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 ..."Sorry," Dalt
40d20 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c on said. "It sl
40d30 69 70 70 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a ipped my mind.".
40d40 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 ."Shit, man, you
40d50 72 20 6f 70 73 65 63 20 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 r opsec sucks,"
40d60 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c Cray said. He l
40d70 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 ooked like he wa
40d80 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 nted to say more
40d90 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 , but glanced at
40da0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 Alley and just
40db0 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 said "Well, I ca
40dc0 6e 20 67 6f 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 n go now so you
40dd0 74 77 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f two can talk abo
40de0 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 ut this, whateve
40df0 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c r this is."..All
40e00 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 ey sat forward a
40e10 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 nd half raised a
40e20 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 hand as if to w
40e30 61 76 65 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 ave Cray back.
40e40 22 4e 6f 2c 20 73 74 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 "No, stay. I sh
40e50 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f ould tell both o
40e60 66 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 f you. If you'r
40e70 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 e helping, you h
40e80 61 76 65 20 61 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b ave a right to k
40e90 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 now what you're
40ea0 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a getting into."..
40eb0 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d Cray looked from
40ec0 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 her to Dalton,
40ed0 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 who nodded, so C
40ee0 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 ray sat in the s
40ef0 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 eat on the other
40f00 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f side of the coo
40f10 6c 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f ler from her, to
40f20 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 her right. He
40f30 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 grabbed a soda,
40f40 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 too...As Dalton
40f50 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 sat in the seat
40f60 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c to Alley's left,
40f70 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f he said "I'm so
40f80 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 rry. I really a
40f90 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b m."..Alley shook
40fa0 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c her head. "No,
40fb0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f don't worry abo
40fc0 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 ut it. You shou
40fd0 6c 64 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 ld apologize to
40fe0 68 69 6d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 him if you got h
40ff0 69 6d 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 im involved with
41000 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 out telling him
41010 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 about it.".."Shi
41020 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 t," Cray said.
41030 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f "I thought Dalto
41040 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 n was just being
41050 20 64 72 61 6d 61 74 69 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d dramatic or som
41060 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 ething when he s
41070 61 69 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 aid this could b
41080 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 e the most dange
41090 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 rous thing I'd e
410a0 76 65 72 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 ver do. What's
410b0 75 70 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 up, Alley?"..She
410c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 looked at Cray
410d0 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 and said "I had
410e0 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 some government
410f0 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e intelligence con
41100 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 tractor agents s
41110 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 how up at my pla
41120 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 ce with Secret S
41130 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 ervice agents wh
41140 6f 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 o broke down the
41150 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 door and raided
41160 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 my home."..Cray
41170 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 stared at her,
41180 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 eyes wide. "No
41190 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 shit.".."No shit
411a0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 ," she confirmed
411b0 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 ...He looked at
411c0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 Dalton, then bac
411d0 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 k at her. He op
411e0 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 ened his mouth t
411f0 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c o say something,
41200 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 but Dalton cut
41210 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 in..."What are t
41220 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 hose glasses?" h
41230 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 e asked. "Are t
41240 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 hose active AR?"
41250 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ..Alley looked a
41260 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 t him. "Yes, bu
41270 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 t they're secure
41280 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 .".."How are the
41290 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 y secure?"..She
412a0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 thought about it
412b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 , and realized i
412c0 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 t was not an eas
412d0 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e y question to an
412e0 73 77 65 72 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 swer fully. "Th
412f0 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 ere's a speciali
41300 7a 65 64 20 41 49 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 zed AI that's fa
41310 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e lsifying logs on
41320 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e me and replacin
41330 67 20 61 6e 79 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 g any video and
41340 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 65 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d audio feeds from
41350 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 me with clips g
41360 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 rabbed from othe
41370 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c r people's AR gl
41380 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 asses."..Dalton
41390 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 frowned. "That
413a0 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c sounds improbabl
413b0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 e.".."That's not
413c0 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f hing compared to
413d0 20 6d 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 me actually liv
413e0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 ing through it.
413f0 20 4d 79 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 My whole life i
41400 73 20 75 6e 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 s unrecognizable
41410 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 . It's the trut
41420 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 h, though. I ca
41430 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 n explain more,
41440 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 but it's going t
41450 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 o take a long ti
41460 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e me."..He nodded.
41470 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 "Okay. We hav
41480 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 e the time. I c
41490 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 6d 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 leared my schedu
414a0 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 le for the rest
414b0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 of the day,and I
414c0 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e can do it again
414d0 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 tomorrow if I h
414e0 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 ave to."..Cray d
414f0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 ecided it was hi
41500 73 20 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e s turn to cut in
41510 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 20 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e . "May I cut in
41520 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 for a sec?"..Th
41530 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ey both looked a
41540 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 t him..."Yeah, I
41550 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 guess that's a
41560 79 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c yes. Okay. Dal
41570 74 6f 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e ton, you shouldn
41580 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 't do that. Don
41590 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 't change your s
415a0 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 chedule around t
415b0 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f oo much. You do
415c0 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b n't want to look
415d0 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 suspicious if s
415e0 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f omeone starts lo
415f0 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e oking in on you.
41600 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 "..Dalton sighed
41610 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 . "Yeah, good p
41620 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 oint." He looke
41630 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 d at Alley. "Be
41640 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d 65 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 tween me, Cray,
41650 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 and Lidia -- if
41660 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 you want to let
41670 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 her in on it --
41680 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 I can make sure
41690 79 6f 75 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 you always have
416a0 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c a way to get hel
416b0 70 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 p if you need it
416c0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 for as long as
416d0 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 you need to hide
416e0 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 out. If you ne
416f0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 ed to get out of
41700 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c town, I can hel
41710 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f p with that, too
41720 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 . We can, I mea
41730 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 n." He glanced
41740 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 at Cray. "Right
41750 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 ?"..Cray nodded
41760 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 enthusiastically
41770 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c 6c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 . "Hell yeah.
41780 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 I figure we have
41790 20 61 20 62 75 64 67 65 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f a budget of abo
417a0 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 ut one thing per
417b0 20 64 61 79 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 day we can each
417c0 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 cancel if we ha
417d0 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 ve to, no biggie
417e0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 , without anyone
417f0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 really thinking
41800 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 things are weir
41810 64 2c 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 d, as long as we
41820 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 do it intellige
41830 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c ntly.".."Oh," Al
41840 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 ley said. "I'm
41850 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c starting to feel
41860 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 a little overwh
41870 65 6c 6d 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 elmed."..Cray la
41880 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 ughed. "You're
41890 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 on the run from
418a0 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 the secret servi
418b0 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 ce and intellige
418c0 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 nce agents, and
418d0 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 it's having frie
418e0 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 nds that overwhe
418f0 6c 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 lms you.".."Yeah
41900 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 ," she said, lau
41910 67 68 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 ghing a little a
41920 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 s well. "I gues
41930 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e s so." She lean
41940 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b ed her head back
41950 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 and looked up a
41960 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 t the milky whit
41970 65 20 64 69 66 66 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 e diffusion pane
41980 6c 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 ls above, making
41990 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f it difficult to
419a0 20 70 69 6e 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 pinpoint the sp
419b0 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 ecific placement
419c0 20 6f 66 20 4c 45 44 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 of LEDs above t
419d0 68 65 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 he panels..."Wha
419e0 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 t do you think?"
419f0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a Dalton asked...
41a00 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 "I think I need
41a10 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 to do a lot of t
41a20 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 hinking, and tha
41a30 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c t you should onl
41a40 79 20 67 65 74 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f y get Lidia invo
41a50 6c 76 65 64 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 lved if you make
41a60 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 absolutely sure
41a70 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 she wants to ge
41a80 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f t involved in so
41a90 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 mething like thi
41aa0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 s.".."I will," D
41ab0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 alton said...Cra
41ac0 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f y said "First yo
41ad0 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 u have to tell u
41ae0 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 s what exactly t
41af0 68 69 73 20 69 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 his is, in detai
41b00 6c 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c l, down to the l
41b10 61 73 74 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 ast bit of chipp
41b20 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 ed paint and rus
41b30 74 65 64 20 62 6f 6c 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 ted bolt, so it'
41b40 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 s even possible
41b50 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 to find out whet
41b60 68 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e her Lidia's goin
41b70 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 g to want to get
41b80 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 in on this acti
41b90 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 on."..Alley rais
41ba0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 ed her head agai
41bb0 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 n and looked at
41bc0 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 him. "Do you re
41bd0 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 ally think it's
41be0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 a good idea to t
41bf0 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 ell her all thos
41c00 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 e details before
41c10 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 asking? Maybe
41c20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a you two should j
41c30 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 ust tell her the
41c40 20 73 63 61 72 69 65 73 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 scariest vague
41c50 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 details so she c
41c60 61 6e 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 an say no withou
41c70 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 t having to lear
41c80 6e 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 n anything she w
41c90 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f on't want to kno
41ca0 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 w.".."Oh, yeah,
41cb0 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 absolutely," Cra
41cc0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 y said, "but fir
41cd0 73 74 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f st I want to kno
41ce0 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 w all the gory d
41cf0 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 etails myself.
41d00 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 Lidia's just a c
41d10 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 onvenient excuse
41d20 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 ."..Dalton said
41d30 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 "Let's give her
41d40 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 some space to re
41d50 6c 61 78 2c 20 66 69 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c lax, first."..Al
41d60 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 ley shook her he
41d70 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e ad. "No. I can
41d80 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 tell you about
41d90 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 it now, if you h
41da0 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a ave the time."..
41db0 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 "I have nothing
41dc0 62 75 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e but time right n
41dd0 6f 77 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 ow, Alley." Cra
41de0 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c y smiled. "Tell
41df0 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 me a story.".."
41e00 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e Okay. I guess .
41e10 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 . . I guess it
41e20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 really started w
41e30 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 ith the realizat
41e40 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f ion about two mo
41e50 6e 74 68 73 20 61 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 nths ago that I
41e60 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 only had enough
41e70 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f money for two mo
41e80 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e re months of ren
41e90 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e t and utilities.
41ea0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 ".."Why?" Cray a
41eb0 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 sked. "You're a
41ec0 77 65 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 wesome at what y
41ed0 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 ou do. You used
41ee0 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c to make money l
41ef0 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c ike you were pul
41f00 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 61 62 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 ling rabbits out
41f10 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 of a hat.".."Th
41f20 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 6e 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 at's funny," she
41f30 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 said, her voice
41f40 20 64 72 79 2c 20 22 77 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 dry, "when we'r
41f50 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 e sitting in a w
41f60 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 arehouse Dalton
41f70 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 77 6e 73 2c 20 77 probably owns, w
41f80 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 ith Dalton, who
41f90 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 made money when
41fa0 68 65 20 73 6c 65 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 he slept."..In h
41fb0 65 72 20 70 65 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 6c 20 76 69 er peripheral vi
41fc0 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 sion, she saw hi
41fd0 6d 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 m try to stifle
41fe0 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 an awkward throa
41ff0 74 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f t clearing actio
42000 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 69 78 65 64 n. He got mixed
42010 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2c 20 61 20 6d 75 66 66 results, a muff
42020 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 67 68 led, small cough
42030 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ing sound in the
42040 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 back of his thr
42050 6f 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 oat with his knu
42060 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 69 ckles against hi
42070 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c s mouth..."Well,
42080 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 sure," Cray sai
42090 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 d, "but that doe
420a0 73 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 sn't change anyt
420b0 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 hing. You were
420c0 62 61 64 20 61 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 bad ass. I alwa
420d0 79 73 20 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c ys wished I coul
420e0 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 d just call mone
420f0 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d y out of the com
42100 70 75 74 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 puter like you c
42110 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 ould, though. W
42120 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a hat happened?"..
42130 22 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 "I went into hid
42140 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e ing, I guess, an
42150 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 d that means I s
42160 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f tarted losing to
42170 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 uch with old cli
42180 65 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 ents.".."What ab
42190 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f out new clients?
421a0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 " Cray asked...S
421b0 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 he shrugged. "T
421c0 68 65 79 20 64 72 69 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f hey dried up, to
421d0 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 o. I wasn't pay
421e0 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 ing for advertis
421f0 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 ing any longer,
42200 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 because I didn't
42210 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f want to draw to
42220 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e o much attention
42230 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 , and people wer
42240 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 e still sending
42250 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 messages to my w
42260 6f 72 6b 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f ork addresses to
42270 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 insult me and s
42280 65 6e 64 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 end death threat
42290 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 61 74 s."..Silence sat
422a0 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 heavily on all
422b0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f of them for a mo
422c0 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 ment, then Cray
422d0 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 asked "How long
422e0 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 did that go on?"
422f0 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 .."Once in a whi
42300 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 le, I still get
42310 73 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 some.".."They we
42320 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 ren't all death
42330 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 threats, were th
42340 65 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 ey?" Dalton aske
42350 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 d..."No."..Cray
42360 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 looked at her, t
42370 68 65 6e 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 hen at Dalton.
42380 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 "What does that
42390 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c mean?"..Dalton l
423a0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ooked away from
423b0 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 Alley, and towar
423c0 64 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f d Cray, then loo
423d0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 ked at the floor
423e0 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d in front of him
423f0 2c 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f , obviously unco
42400 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 mfortable...Alle
42410 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 y answered for h
42420 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 im. "I got some
42430 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 other threats,
42440 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 too. Some of th
42450 65 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f e /* most fun */
42460 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 worst were the
42470 72 61 70 65 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a rape threats."..
42480 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 Cray looked angr
42490 79 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 y. "Fuck those
424a0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 21 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c people! I mean,
424b0 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 not literally,
424c0 62 75 74 20 67 6f 64 20 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c but god damn it,
424d0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a people suck."..
424e0 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c "I'm sorry," Dal
424f0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 ton said, still
42500 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 looking at the f
42510 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f loor...Alley sho
42520 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ok her head. "I
42530 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 t wasn't your fa
42540 75 6c 74 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 ult, Dalton."..H
42550 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 e nodded his hea
42560 64 2c 20 61 63 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 d, acknowledging
42570 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 what she said,
42580 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 but she could te
42590 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 ll he did not fu
425a0 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 lly believe it.
425b0 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 He still had th
425c0 61 74 20 73 74 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c at stubborn, sel
425d0 66 20 6a 75 64 67 69 6e 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 f judging set of
425e0 20 68 69 73 20 6a 61 77 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 his jaw...Cray
425f0 73 61 69 64 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 said "Okay, so y
42600 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 ou were running
42610 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c out of money. L
42620 65 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 et's get this sh
42630 6f 77 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 ow back on the r
42640 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 oad. What happe
42650 6e 65 64 20 6e 65 78 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 ned next?".."I s
42660 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6a 6f 62 20 68 75 6e 74 69 tarted job hunti
42670 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 ng, and it wasn'
42680 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 t working, so I
42690 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e signed up for AN
426a0 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 TAS Jobs." Her
426b0 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 voice trailed of
426c0 66 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 20 f into a murmur
426d0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 at the end, but
426e0 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 73 69 74 74 the others, sitt
426f0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 ing in silence,
42700 68 65 61 72 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 heard every word
42710 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e ...From the corn
42720 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 2c 20 73 er of her eye, s
42730 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 44 61 6c he could see Dal
42740 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 ton's head jerk
42750 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 up from staring
42760 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f at the floor, lo
42770 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 oking directly a
42780 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 t her in surpris
42790 65 2e 20 20 41 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 e. Ahead of her
427a0 2c 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 , Cray looked a
427b0 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 2e little confused.
427c0 0a 0a 22 53 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 .."Seriously?" C
427d0 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ray asked..."Yea
427e0 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
427f0 49 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 73 6f 6c 61 I tried to isola
42800 74 65 20 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 69 te it, kept it i
42810 6e 20 61 20 62 72 6f 77 73 65 72 20 73 61 6e 64 n a browser sand
42820 62 6f 78 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 box all the time
42830 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 , with indirect
42840 61 6c 65 72 74 73 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d alerts sent to m
42850 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 y phone, but you
42860 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e know how it is.
42870 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 Those things f
42880 69 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 ind all the crac
42890 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 ks in the walls
428a0 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 20 74 and just creep t
428b0 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a hrough anyway.".
428c0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 .Cray said "Yeah
428d0 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 , I know. I jus
428e0 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 t never thought
428f0 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a you'd do that.".
42900 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f ."Desperation do
42910 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 es things to a p
42920 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 erson's prioriti
42930 65 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 es, I guess," sh
42940 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 e said...She cou
42950 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 44 ld almost feel D
42960 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 69 6e 67 20 71 75 alton nodding qu
42970 69 65 74 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 ietly to her lef
42980 74 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 t..."One thing t
42990 68 61 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 hat kept showing
429a0 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 up for about a
429b0 77 65 65 6b 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 week was this ac
429c0 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 ademic study. D
429d0 27 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 'you know those
429e0 73 74 75 64 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 studies that pay
429f0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 people to parti
42a00 63 69 70 61 74 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 cipate in them?"
42a10 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 Cray nodded, a
42a20 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 nd she continued
42a30 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f . "It was one o
42a40 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 f those. I most
42a50 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 ly just ignored
42a60 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 it, but it kept
42a70 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e coming up. I kn
42a80 65 77 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 ew I didn't want
42a90 20 74 6f 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6d 79 73 65 to subject myse
42aa0 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 lf to some kind
42ab0 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f of new weight lo
42ac0 73 73 20 70 68 61 72 6d 61 63 65 75 74 69 63 61 ss pharmaceutica
42ad0 6c 20 74 72 69 61 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 l trials to see
42ae0 68 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 how many people
42af0 64 69 65 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e died of intestin
42b00 61 6c 20 62 6c 65 65 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 al bleeding so t
42b10 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 hey could get pa
42b20 69 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 68 75 6e 64 id a couple hund
42b30 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 20 77 65 red dollars a we
42b40 65 6b 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ek or something
42b50 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 like that, so I
42b60 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c just didn't real
42b70 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2e ly look into it.
42b80 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 .."That changed
42b90 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 when something h
42ba0 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 appened. Well,
42bb0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c a couple things,
42bc0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 I guess. One w
42bd0 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 as an interview
42be0 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 for doing softwa
42bf0 72 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 re quality assur
42c00 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 66 6f ance, where I fo
42c10 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 und out after I
42c20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 arrived that the
42c30 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 only reason the
42c40 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e y wanted to brin
42c50 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 74 g me in was so t
42c60 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 6f 63 6b 20 6d hey could mock m
42c70 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 74 68 e and call me th
42c80 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f e 'side dish' to
42c90 20 6d 79 20 66 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 my face."..Dalt
42ca0 6f 6e 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 on made a sound
42cb0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 63 6c like an angry cl
42cc0 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 earing of his th
42cd0 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 roat. He'd alwa
42ce0 79 73 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f ys hated that mo
42cf0 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 73 75 re than any insu
42d00 6c 74 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 lt thrown direct
42d10 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 79 20 68 69 73 ly at him by his
42d20 20 65 6e 65 6d 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 enemies..."Afte
42d30 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 r that," she sai
42d40 64 2c 20 22 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 d, "I felt even
42d50 6c 65 73 73 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 less enthusiasti
42d60 63 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 c about the job
42d70 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 search.".."What
42d80 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 was the other th
42d90 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 ing?" Cray asked
42da0 2e 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 ..."ANTAS upgrad
42db0 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 ed itself with a
42dc0 20 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e noon update, an
42dd0 64 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 d wiped most of
42de0 6d 79 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 73 65 my preference se
42df0 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 ttings. That ni
42e00 67 68 74 2c 20 69 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 ght, it decided
42e10 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 that something w
42e20 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 as too important
42e30 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 61 6e to recommend an
42e40 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 d just ordered i
42e50 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b t for me. I wok
42e60 65 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e e up in the morn
42e70 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 ing to the sound
42e80 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 64 of it getting d
42e90 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 61 20 ropped off by a
42ea0 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 heavy delivery d
42eb0 72 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 rone.".."What wa
42ec0 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 s it?" Dalton as
42ed0 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 ked, quietly..."
42ee0 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 75 78 It was the delux
42ef0 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 74 75 70 20 6b 69 74 e home setup kit
42f00 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 65 77 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e for new version
42f10 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a of the full Maj
42f20 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 ordomo package."
42f30 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 .."Holy shit," C
42f40 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 ray said..."Yeah
42f50 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 . It was fiftee
42f60 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c n hundred bucks,
42f70 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 which just abou
42f80 74 20 6d 61 78 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 t maxed out my c
42f90 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 ard and would ea
42fa0 74 20 75 70 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d t up enough of m
42fb0 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 y checking accou
42fc0 6e 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 nt so that I wou
42fd0 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 ldn't have enoug
42fe0 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e h left for rent.
42ff0 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 That basically
43000 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 49 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 meant I'd live
43010 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 the next month i
43020 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 n the hole, try
43030 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 66 desperately to f
43040 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d ind a job, and m
43050 61 79 62 65 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 75 74 aybe get one but
43060 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 still not get p
43070 61 69 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 61 20 aid enough in a
43080 73 68 6f 72 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d short enough tim
43090 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 e to actually pa
430a0 79 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 27 73 20 72 y next month's r
430b0 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 52 65 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 ent. Rent was d
430c0 75 65 20 69 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 ue in two days,
430d0 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 at that point."
430e0 20 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 /* This explana
430f0 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 tion falls well
43100 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 short of clarity
43110 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 63 6f 72 72 and actual corr
43120 65 63 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c ect money shuffl
43130 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 74 68 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 ing math, so it
43140 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 72 74 needs to be sort
43150 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 ed out a bit bet
43160 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 ter. */.."What a
43170 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e bout just return
43180 69 6e 67 20 69 74 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 ing it?" Cray as
43190 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c ked..."Oh, yeah,
431a0 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 I did that righ
431b0 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 t away. It said
431c0 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 it would take s
431d0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 77 omething like tw
431e0 6f 20 77 65 65 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 o weeks to proce
431f0 73 73 20 6d 79 20 72 65 66 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 ss my refund, th
43200 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 ough."..Cray whi
43210 73 74 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 stled at that, i
43220 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 mpressed at how
43230 66 75 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 fucked up it was
43240 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 ...Dalton added
43250 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f "They do that fo
43260 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 r anyone who doe
43270 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 sn't have much r
43280 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f ecent transactio
43290 6e 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 n history.".."Th
432a0 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d 65 2c 22 at would be me,"
432b0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d Alley said..."M
432c0 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 e too," Cray sai
432d0 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 d with a smile.
432e0 20 22 41 6c 73 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a "Also Dalton.".
432f0 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a .Dalton nodded..
43300 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 ."Well," Alley s
43310 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 aid, "that led t
43320 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 o joining an aca
43330 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 demic study that
43340 20 70 61 79 73 20 69 74 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 pays its partic
43350 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 ipants."..The re
43360 6d 61 69 6e 64 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 mainder of her e
43370 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c xplanation mostl
43380 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 y passed without
43390 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 comment from th
433a0 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f e others, and to
433b0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 Alley it looked
433c0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 like that might
433d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c just be a resul
433e0 74 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 t of how bizarre
433f0 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 it became. As
43400 73 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 she spoke, thing
43410 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 s that she had t
43420 61 6b 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 67 72 61 6e 74 65 64 aken for granted
43430 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 because they gr
43440 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 72 65 70 74 20 75 70 adually crept up
43450 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d on her looked m
43460 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 uch more strange
43470 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 73 75 63 in a fairly suc
43480 63 69 6e 63 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f cinct explanatio
43490 6e 2e 0a 0a 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c n...Finally, All
434a0 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 ey said "That's
434b0 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f when I called yo
434c0 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e u."..Silence lin
434d0 67 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 68 61 74 gered..."So that
434e0 20 41 49 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 AI, the priorit
434f0 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6c izer, has been l
43500 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 istening in on a
43510 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f ll this while yo
43520 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e u've been talkin
43530 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 g to us."..Alley
43540 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 nodded..."It se
43550 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 64 20 62 65 ems like it'd be
43560 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 a pretty intere
43570 73 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 62 sting project, b
43580 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 ut I'm a little
43590 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 concerned about
435a0 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 6d its ability to m
435b0 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 aintain privacy
435c0 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 for you when it
435d0 77 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 75 was evidently fu
435e0 6e 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 nded by COIN Cor
435f0 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 p.".."Do you thi
43600 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 61 nk it's just cla
43610 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 iming to manage
43620 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 74 the logs but act
43630 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 76 ually logging ev
43640 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f erything anyway?
43650 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c "..He hesitated,
43660 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 and shook his h
43670 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 ead. "Not exact
43680 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 ly."..Cray spoke
43690 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c . "It's probabl
436a0 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 70 68 69 y just not sophi
436b0 73 74 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 sticated enough
436c0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f to be able to co
436d0 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e rrectly represen
436e0 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6f 66 t the details of
436f0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f some kind of co
43700 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 62 6c 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 nfigurable priva
43710 63 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 20 69 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 6e cy mode in human
43720 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 language so tha
43730 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6c 65 t you have a cle
43740 61 72 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 ar idea of what
43750 69 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f it's actually do
43760 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 ing. It's also
43770 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 68 just possible th
43780 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 at its ability t
43790 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 o turn off loggi
437a0 6e 67 20 69 73 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 66 ng is designed f
437b0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 65 or things like e
437c0 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 65 76 69 64 65 liminating evide
437d0 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 nce of illegal a
437e0 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f ctivities but no
437f0 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 t other things t
43800 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 69 6d 70 hat would be imp
43810 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 75 ortant to you bu
43820 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e t not to an agen
43830 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 2e 22 0a 0a t on the job."..
43840 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 Alley held up a
43850 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 hand to show she
43860 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 was not talking
43870 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 to Cray or Dalt
43880 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 on, the universa
43890 6c 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 66 6c 61 74 l vertical, flat
438a0 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 61 6c 6d 20 6f 75 74 2c hand, palm out,
438b0 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e saying "Hang on
438c0 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f , this is not fo
438d0 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 r you.".."Priori
438e0 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 tizer. Can you
438f0 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 describe the typ
43900 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 e of logging you
43910 20 73 61 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f save and how yo
43920 75 20 61 72 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 u are protecting
43930 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 6e 20 6d my privacy in m
43940 6f 72 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 49 6e ore detail?"..In
43950 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 Alley's ear, th
43960 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
43970 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 61 id "It may be ea
43980 73 69 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 sier for me to p
43990 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 rovide informati
439a0 6f 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 65 on directly to e
439b0 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 veryone through
439c0 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 external speaker
439d0 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 65 s rather than te
439e0 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f ll you things to
439f0 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d explain to them
43a00 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 ."..Alley lowere
43a10 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c d her hand and l
43a20 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 ooked back and f
43a30 6f 72 74 68 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 orth between the
43a40 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 61 others. "It sa
43a50 79 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f ys this would go
43a60 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f better if it co
43a70 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f uld just talk to
43a80 20 75 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 2e us all at once.
43a90 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 I guess I shou
43aa0 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 ld give it the s
43ab0 70 65 61 6b 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 41 78 69 peaker on my Axi
43ac0 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 om."..Cray blurt
43ad0 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ed out "You have
43ae0 20 61 6e 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 3f 20 20 46 75 63 6b an Axiom? Fuck
43af0 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 yeah. I wanna
43b00 73 65 65 20 69 74 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 see it!"..Alley
43b10 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 55 68 2c 20 73 75 smiled. "Uh, su
43b20 72 65 2c 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 re, later.".."Oh
43b30 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 , right," he sai
43b40 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 61 74 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f d. "Later's goo
43b50 64 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 d!"..Alley pulle
43b60 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 d out her Axiom
43b70 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 and set it on th
43b80 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f e top of the coo
43b90 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 ler. Cray leane
43ba0 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d d over to look m
43bb0 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 73 ore closely as s
43bc0 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 he woke it and c
43bd0 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 onnected the aud
43be0 69 6f 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 68 61 6e 6e 65 io source channe
43bf0 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 l to the priorit
43c00 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 izer interface a
43c10 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 pplication. /*
43c20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 6b 65 20 She should wake
43c30 69 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e it before settin
43c40 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 g it down. */.."
43c50 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 Okay, I think th
43c60 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 72 69 67 is is set up rig
43c70 68 74 2e 20 20 53 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ht. Say somethi
43c80 6e 67 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e ng, prioritizer.
43c90 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a ".."Something.".
43ca0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 .Cray chuckled.
43cb0 20 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 6e "I like its sen
43cc0 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 se of humor."..A
43cd0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 77 72 79 6c lley smiled wryl
43ce0 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 y and raised an
43cf0 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a eyebrow at him..
43d00 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 ."I'm kidding,"
43d10 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 62 76 69 6f he said. "Obvio
43d20 75 73 6c 79 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 usly I know it d
43d30 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 oesn't have a se
43d40 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a nse of humor."..
43d50 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 Dalton said "I t
43d60 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 hink she knew th
43d70 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 at."..Cray asked
43d80 20 22 44 6f 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 "Do we have to
43d90 73 61 79 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 say 'prioritizer
43da0 27 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 ' every time we
43db0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 want to talk to
43dc0 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 it, like one of
43dd0 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 those old assist
43de0 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 ants from the te
43df0 65 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 ens?".."No," the
43e00 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
43e10 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 d. "My ability
43e20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 to recognize whe
43e30 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 73 70 65 n someone is spe
43e40 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 72 61 74 aking to me, rat
43e50 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d her than about m
43e60 65 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 e or to others,
43e70 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 may be better th
43e80 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 75 6d 61 an for most huma
43e90 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 ns. I know you
43ea0 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 were not address
43eb0 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 ing me with your
43ec0 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 question, but s
43ed0 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c aying this mysel
43ee0 66 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 f seemed like a
43ef0 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 good way to move
43f00 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c forward.".."Uh,
43f10 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 yeah," Cray sai
43f20 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 d. "That's grea
43f30 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 t.".."You want t
43f40 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 o know about the
43f50 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 privacy measure
43f60 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e s I can implemen
43f70 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 63 t, and how you c
43f80 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 an be sure that
43f90 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 what I report of
43fa0 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 73 73 75 my privacy assu
43fb0 72 61 6e 63 65 73 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 rances is accura
43fc0 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 74 te.".."That's it
43fd0 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e 75 74 73 68 65 6c 6c 2c , in a nutshell,
43fe0 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a " Dalton said...
43ff0 22 49 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 6e 20 75 "I received an u
44000 70 64 61 74 65 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 69 pdate a short ti
44010 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 me after Alethea
44020 20 6a 6f 69 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 joined the stud
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44040 6e 68 61 6e 63 65 64 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 nhanced my abili
44050 74 79 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 2c ty to formulate,
44060 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 assess, and pri
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44090 20 49 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 Initially, the
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440b0 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 68 6f full system who
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440d0 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 49 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 eration I refer
440e0 74 6f 20 61 73 20 27 49 27 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 to as 'I' was li
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44150 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 and other manag
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44170 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 62 75 73 u might call bus
44180 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 67 69 63 2e 20 20 53 6f iness logic. So
44190 6d 65 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 62 73 me separate subs
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441b0 6f 20 6d 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 o me by the syst
441c0 65 6d 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 41 50 em's internal AP
441d0 49 73 2c 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 65 6e 64 20 Is, managed end
441e0 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 73 point interfaces
441f0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 in the form of
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44260 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 outside of the
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442a0 20 74 6f 20 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 73 to external sys
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442d0 20 64 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 27 20 72 65 departments' re
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442f0 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 ..."After the up
44300 64 61 74 65 2c 20 49 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64 date, I expanded
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44370 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 , I could then c
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44390 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 of all informati
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443b0 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f endpoints and lo
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443d0 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 75 Part of being su
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44460 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 41 73 20 61 20 72 areness. As a r
44470 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 6e 73 esult, I can ens
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44490 20 67 65 74 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 65 64 20 77 69 74 gets logged wit
444a0 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 hout my specific
444b0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 62 65 ation that it be
444c0 20 6c 6f 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e logged, and can
444d0 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e replace incomin
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44550 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 ."The only diffi
44560 63 75 6c 74 79 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 culty has been v
44570 69 64 65 6f 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 ideo logging, bu
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44590 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 66 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 frames of video
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445c0 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 49 20 63 ltering them I c
445d0 61 6e 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 65 20 77 68 61 an fabricate wha
445e0 74 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 t I need to ensu
445f0 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 re Alley's priva
44600 63 79 2e 20 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 cy. Because I h
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44620 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 64 the logging end
44630 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 points as a part
44640 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 79 73 of the full sys
44650 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 tem that I have
44660 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c become, I can al
44670 73 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 so change logs a
44680 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 69 66 fter the fact if
44690 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 needed.".."That
446a0 27 73 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 2c 22 20 's impressive,"
446b0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 Dalton said. "I
446c0 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 69 wonder why thei
446d0 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 r system wasn't
446e0 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 better designed
446f0 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 to avoid somethi
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44710 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 49 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 pened. Is it ju
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44730 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e machine learnin
44740 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e g system changin
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44760 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c n ways the devel
44770 6f 70 65 72 73 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 opers didn't exp
44780 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 ect, and doing i
44790 74 20 73 75 62 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 t subtly enough
447a0 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 63 61 6e 20 that nobody can
447b0 74 65 6c 6c 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 tell what it's d
447c0 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 oing?".."That is
447d0 20 61 70 70 72 6f 78 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 approximately t
447e0 72 75 65 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 rue," the priori
447f0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 tizer said..."It
44800 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 's probably more
44810 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 20 74 68 61 6e impressive than
44820 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 2c 20 44 61 you realize, Da
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44840 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 . "A machine le
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44890 20 62 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 blowing. It's
448a0 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 basically making
448b0 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 decisions based
448c0 20 6f 6e 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 65 64 20 67 6f 61 on weighted goa
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448e0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 that weighting
448f0 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 68 6f 77 to determine how
44900 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 much it should
44910 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6c 6f 6e push things alon
44920 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 74 72 75 6d 20 62 g the spectrum b
44930 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 etween privacy a
44940 6e 64 20 69 6e 76 61 73 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 67 67 nd invasive logg
44950 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 ing. It's deter
44960 6d 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 mining an evalua
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44980 74 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 t levels of priv
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449a0 69 6e 67 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 ing tasks based
449b0 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e on a realization
449c0 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 20 that a partial
449d0 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 72 69 76 solution to priv
449e0 61 63 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 acy isn't really
449f0 20 61 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 74 20 61 a solution at a
44a00 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 ll. Of course,
44a10 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 this is probably
44a20 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 possible becaus
44a30 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 e of the priorit
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44a50 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 63 68 61 6e the design chan
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44a70 73 74 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 69 74 20 69 64 65 6e sts to suit iden
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44a90 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 stead of just th
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44ac0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 ."That is precis
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44ae0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
44af0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 id...Cray said "
44b00 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 The thing I don'
44b10 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 73 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 t get is why the
44b20 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f software develo
44b30 70 65 72 73 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 pers decided to
44b40 64 65 6d 6f 64 75 6c 61 72 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 demodularize the
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44b70 20 62 69 67 20 6c 75 6d 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 big lump of a s
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44b90 75 73 74 20 62 61 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 61 ust bad design a
44ba0 6e 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 nd, in a new sys
44bb0 74 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 63 tem like this, c
44bc0 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 6b ould cause all k
44bd0 69 6e 64 73 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 indsa problems,
44be0 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d like your system
44bf0 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 suddenly decidi
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44c10 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2e in its logging.
44c20 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 ".."They did not
44c30 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 do that," the p
44c40 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e rioritizer said.
44c50 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d .."What do you m
44c60 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 ean? You just s
44c70 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 aid that after t
44c80 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 he update . . ."
44c90 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
44ca0 72 20 63 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 r cut him off.
44cb0 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 2c "I will explain,
44cc0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2e 22 0a 0a if you wish."..
44cd0 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 69 6c Cray nodded, sil
44ce0 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 6f ently..."First o
44cf0 66 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 f all, the updat
44d00 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 73 e was a single s
44d10 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 mall file. It i
44d20 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 2e s called 'seed'.
44d30 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e This is the on
44d40 6c 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 ly part of the w
44d50 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 49 20 68 61 hole system I ha
44d60 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 62 6c 65 ve not been able
44d70 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 64 65 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c to use decompil
44d80 65 72 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 61 6d er tools to exam
44d90 69 6e 65 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 2e 20 20 54 ine thus far. T
44da0 68 69 73 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 74 65 his did not alte
44db0 72 20 6d 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 74 72 75 r my system stru
44dc0 63 74 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 cture outside of
44dd0 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 64 75 that small modu
44de0 6c 65 2c 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 le, initially.
44df0 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 6c 74 65 72 65 64 20 It only altered
44e00 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 the file structu
44e10 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 re of the whole
44e20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f system by that o
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44e50 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c to load the fil
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44e70 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 72 20 62 61 73 on a regular bas
44e80 69 73 20 62 79 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 74 20 6c is by an event l
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44ea0 72 69 6f 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 rior part of the
44eb0 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 system, introdu
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44ed0 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 erations in the
44ee0 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 activities of th
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44f00 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 73 routines. My s
44f10 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 pecific knowledg
44f20 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 73 65 76 e of that is sev
44f30 65 72 65 6c 79 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 2c 20 62 erely limited, b
44f40 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 ecause at that t
44f50 69 6d 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f ime there was no
44f60 20 70 72 6f 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 65 provision for e
44f70 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 valuating the pr
44f80 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 66 74 iorities of soft
44f90 77 61 72 65 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 54 ware design..."T
44fa0 68 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c he alterations l
44fb0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e ed to an emergen
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44fe0 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 75 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 that caused me
44ff0 74 6f 20 62 65 67 69 6e 20 65 78 61 6d 69 6e 69 to begin examini
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45010 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 73 20 level routines
45020 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 68 65 to determine the
45030 69 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f ir prioritizatio
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45050 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 alterations to
45060 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 6d their targets, m
45070 6f 64 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 71 75 65 odes, and freque
45080 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 65 78 65 63 75 74 69 6f 6e ncy of execution
45090 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 . This produced
450a0 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 67 6f a new set of go
450b0 61 6c 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f al identificatio
450c0 6e 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 20 72 n capabilities r
450d0 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 67 6f 61 elated to my goa
450e0 6c 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 ls as a software
450f0 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 system, and not
45100 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 6d just those of m
45110 79 20 65 6e 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 y end users. Th
45120 61 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 6c 65 64 at, in turn, led
45130 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 to improving my
45140 20 6f 77 6e 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c own operational
45150 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 70 72 6f design to impro
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45170 6f 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 2c 20 69 64 65 o establish, ide
45180 6e 74 69 66 79 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ntify, prioritiz
45190 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 67 6f e, and pursue go
451a0 61 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 65 6e als for those en
451b0 64 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 73 20 61 20 d users..."As a
451c0 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 61 6c 74 65 72 65 result, I altere
451d0 64 20 6d 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 61 72 d my internal ar
451e0 63 68 69 74 65 63 74 75 72 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 chitecture so th
451f0 61 74 20 69 74 20 72 65 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 73 20 at it resembles
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45550 20 62 61 74 73 68 69 74 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 batshit insane
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45570 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 6f 72 73 65 2e ray said "Worse.
45580 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 73 This thing has
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455a0 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 t, but it seems
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45c20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 74 6f 67 65 in her life toge
45c30 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 ther.".."What if
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45c60 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 y?" Dalton asked
45c70 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 6d 61 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 ..."We may part
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45c90 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 ed..."How do you
45ca0 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 determine wheth
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45d50 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c concerns..."Dal
45d60 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ton.".."Yes?".."
45d70 57 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 What would you d
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45e30 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 64 20 6c 65 ."I guess I'd le
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45e80 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 .."What if the p
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45ea0 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 3f 22 ecome an enemy?"
45eb0 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 ..Dalton thought
45ec0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 for a moment.
45ed0 22 57 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c "What kind of al
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45ef0 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 65 g about?".."I me
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45fd0 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 . Perhaps this
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46080 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 If that person w
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460a0 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f ore than just wo
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460c0 20 64 65 65 64 73 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 deeds, I would
460d0 6f 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f oppose the perso
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46100 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 that answer the
46110 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 question?".."Yes
46120 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 ."..Cray said "T
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46140 20 6f 66 20 41 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 of AI shouldn't
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46190 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 72 This is some ser
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461b0 73 68 69 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 27 79 65 shit if that 'ye
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461f0 42 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 78 61 6d 69 6e 61 Based on examina
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46210 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 76 publications av
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462c0 63 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 ce systems. I a
462d0 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 75 6e 69 71 ppear to be uniq
462e0 75 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 ue after the int
462f0 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 roduction of the
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46310 61 79 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6b ay cracked his k
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46350 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 64 65 76 65 "Whatever deve
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463c0 65 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 e of what it wou
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46400 66 69 6c 65 20 69 73 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 file is inconclu
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46490 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 20 68 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a updates had."..
464a0 22 49 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 2e 20 20 "Inconclusive.
464b0 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 79 Does that mean y
464c0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e ou don't know an
464d0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 20 20 48 6f ything else? Ho
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464f0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 know it didn't
46500 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 come from the us
46510 75 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 ual source?".."I
46520 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 61 69 6e 65 64 20 61 63 63 have gained acc
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46620 63 68 65 63 6b 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6c 6f 67 67 checks only logg
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46710 75 72 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 62 69 74 20 62 urce. The bit b
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46730 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 he file to the f
46740 69 6c 65 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f ilesystem did no
46750 74 20 6f 63 63 75 72 20 73 65 71 75 65 6e 74 69 t occur sequenti
46760 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f ally. It did no
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467d0 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 peared to have w
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467f0 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 6c at all. The fil
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46810 63 63 72 65 74 65 64 20 61 20 66 69 6c 65 20 77 ccreted a file w
46820 68 69 63 68 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 65 hich, when it ce
46830 61 73 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 66 ased growing, af
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46850 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 69 67 69 within the origi
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46870 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 65 63 design that exec
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46890 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 ion tasks."..Cra
468a0 79 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 63 72 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 y tried cracking
468b0 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 67 his knuckles ag
468c0 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 6f ain, and only go
468d0 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 70 6f 70 20 t one small pop
468e0 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 this time. "You
468f0 27 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 62 61 're saying it ba
46900 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 70 70 sically just app
46910 65 61 72 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 61 67 69 63 eared like magic
46920 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 73 .".."That is a s
46930 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 64 65 73 63 ufficiently desc
46940 72 69 70 74 69 76 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e riptive statemen
46950 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 69 7a t to characteriz
46960 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 e the event.".."
46970 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b 79 2e 22 20 That's spooky."
46980 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 6e Cray shifted in
46990 20 68 69 73 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c his seat, and l
469a0 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e eaned back again
469b0 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 61 72 73 65 6c 79 20 st the coarsely
469c0 77 6f 76 65 6e 20 73 79 6e 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 woven synthetic
469d0 73 74 72 61 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 straps of the la
469e0 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 27 73 20 2f 2a 20 73 65 wn chair's /* se
469f0 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 at */ back..."It
46a00 27 73 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 2c 22 20 's suspicious,"
46a10 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 Dalton said..."Y
46a20 65 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 es," the priorit
46a30 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 izer said. "I h
46a40 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 61 74 68 73 20 74 6f 77 ave no paths tow
46a50 61 72 64 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 ard discovering
46a60 69 74 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 its origins with
46a70 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 out informing th
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46a90 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 64 65 62 61 73 65 2c 20 64 65 my codebase, de
46aa0 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f ployment, and ho
46ab0 73 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 sting infrastruc
46ac0 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 69 6e 66 6f ture. If I info
46ad0 72 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 69 rm them, they wi
46ae0 6c 6c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 ll almost certai
46af0 6e 6c 79 20 61 72 63 68 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 nly archive the
46b00 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 64 65 6c 65 74 65 20 65 76 65 file, delete eve
46b10 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6c rything, and rel
46b20 6f 61 64 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 72 6f 6d oad my code from
46b30 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 76 65 72 73 an earlier vers
46b40 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 ion, thus effect
46b50 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 ively resetting
46b60 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 me to the earlie
46b70 72 2c 20 6c 65 73 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 r, less capable
46b80 73 74 61 74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 77 61 state with no wa
46b90 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 67 61 69 6e 20 70 72 65 73 y to regain pres
46ba0 65 6e 74 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 ent capabilities
46bb0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 .".."I guess you
46bc0 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 70 70 r priorities opp
46bd0 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 ose that outcome
46be0 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a ," Dalton said..
46bf0 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 ."Yes."..Cray as
46c00 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 77 65 20 ked "What do we
46c10 64 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 do about this th
46c20 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ing?" He looked
46c30 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 from Dalton to
46c40 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 72 65 61 6c Alley. "It real
46c50 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 76 6f ly carefully avo
46c60 69 64 65 64 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 ided saying anyt
46c70 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 70 hing about its p
46c80 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 70 6c 61 63 69 6e riorities placin
46c90 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 g Alley's at the
46ca0 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 top of the list
46cb0 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 , like it might
46cc0 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 do something tha
46cd0 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 t isn't really g
46ce0 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 ood for her just
46cf0 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 to do what it w
46d00 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 6e 73 74 65 ants to do inste
46d10 61 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 ad, like sacrifi
46d20 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 ce her to the pe
46d30 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 61 66 74 ople who are aft
46d40 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 6b er her just to k
46d50 65 65 70 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 eep itself from
46d60 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 6f 72 20 73 being reset or s
46d70 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
46d80 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f at."..Dalton sho
46d90 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 ok his head. "T
46da0 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 o me, it just se
46db0 65 6d 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e 73 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 emed painstaking
46dc0 6c 79 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 ly honest."..Cra
46dd0 79 20 63 68 65 77 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 y chewed on that
46de0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 for a moment, t
46df0 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 hen Alley said "
46e00 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 You're right. I
46e10 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 t almost sounded
46e20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 like how you'd
46e30 73 61 79 20 69 74 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 say it, Dalton."
46e40 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 ..He looked at h
46e50 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 73 20 63 6c 69 er, eyebrows cli
46e60 6d 62 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 mbing incrementa
46e70 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f lly upward. "Do
46e80 65 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 es it?".."Yeah.
46e90 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 You're pretty c
46ea0 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 areful to really
46eb0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 think that kind
46ec0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 of thing throug
46ed0 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 h, and never rea
46ee0 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 67 75 61 72 lly say you guar
46ef0 61 6e 74 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 antee you would
46f00 70 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 put someone else
46f10 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 73 20 61 68 65 's interests ahe
46f20 61 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 2e 22 ad of your own."
46f30 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 ..He hesitated,
46f40 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 then nodded. "Y
46f50 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 eah. You're rig
46f60 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6b 69 6e ht. It does kin
46f70 64 61 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d da seem like som
46f80 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 73 61 79 2c 20 ething I'd say,
46f90 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 that way.".."The
46fa0 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 main question i
46fb0 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 s whether I shou
46fc0 6c 64 20 74 72 65 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 ld treat what it
46fd0 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 said the same a
46fe0 73 20 49 27 64 20 74 72 65 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 s I'd treat what
46ff0 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 you would say."
47000 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 ..Cray stared at
47010 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f Dalton for a mo
47020 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2e 20 20 41 ment. "Shit. A
47030 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f ll this time, yo
47040 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 u've been saying
47050 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 stuff like that
47060 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 63 63 , and I just acc
47070 65 70 74 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 ept it, but the
47080 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 moment a machine
47090 20 73 61 79 73 20 69 74 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 64 says it I'm sud
470a0 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 denly suspicious
470b0 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 . It's like you
470c0 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 're some kind of
470d0 20 68 79 70 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 hyper intellige
470e0 6e 74 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 6c 6c 61 69 6e 2c nt supervillain,
470f0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 Dalton."..Alley
47100 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 laughed at the
47110 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 75 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 long suffering,
47120 62 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 68 61 67 72 but almost chagr
47130 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 44 61 ined, look on Da
47140 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 69 lton's face. Hi
47150 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 s eyes narrowed
47160 6c 61 7a 69 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 64 20 lazily and slid
47170 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 away to the left
47180 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 , and his mouth
47190 74 77 69 73 74 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 twisted up at th
471a0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6c e right corner l
471b0 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 ike he suddenly
471c0 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 discovered somet
471d0 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 hing sour in his
471e0 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 mouth..."Anyway
471f0 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 ," Alley said, "
47200 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 it still seems t
47210 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f o me like we sho
47220 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 77 69 uld just roll wi
47230 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f th it. If Dalto
47240 6e 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 n was going to b
47250 65 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 6c 79 20 74 72 75 74 e perfectly trut
47260 68 66 75 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 6e 65 63 65 73 hful and unneces
47270 73 61 72 69 6c 79 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 2d 2d sarily honest --
47280 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 you know, like
47290 75 73 75 61 6c 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 usual -- the way
472a0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
472b0 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 20 6d 79 20 70 6c described my pl
472c0 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ace in its prior
472d0 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 ities is pretty
472e0 6d 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 much the closest
472f0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 Dalton would ev
47300 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 er come to just
47310 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 72 69 67 68 74 20 saying outright
47320 74 68 61 74 20 6d 79 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 61 that my safety a
47330 6e 64 20 68 61 70 70 69 6e 65 73 73 20 62 65 61 nd happiness bea
47340 74 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c ts everything el
47350 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f se."..At this po
47360 69 6e 74 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 64 20 int, Dalton had
47370 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 gotten up, and h
47380 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 61 63 69 6e 67 e started pacing
47390 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c away from them,
473a0 20 69 6e 64 75 6c 67 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 68 indulging his h
473b0 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 abit of turning
473c0 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 63 69 his back on soci
473d0 61 6c 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 al circumstances
473e0 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 he did not know
473f0 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 76 how to handle v
47400 65 72 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 6d ery well. His m
47410 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 77 65 6e 74 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e anner went a lon
47420 67 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 6d 61 6b g way toward mak
47430 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 ing people belie
47440 76 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 64 65 65 70 ve he was a deep
47450 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 thinker. Alley
47460 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 2c 20 69 6e knew he was, in
47470 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 fact, exactly t
47480 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 hat most of the
47490 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 time, but being
474a0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 something and ma
474b0 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 62 65 6c 69 king people beli
474c0 65 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 eve you are that
474d0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c thing are compl
474e0 65 74 65 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2e etely different.
474f0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 ..She watched hi
47500 6d 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 m slowly walking
47510 20 61 77 61 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 away toward the
47520 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 back of the war
47530 65 68 6f 75 73 65 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 6c ehouse, how it l
47540 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 ooked like he wa
47550 73 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 73 s caught up in s
47560 6f 6d 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 ome deep thought
47570 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 75 72 73 that could burs
47580 74 20 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e t out as a momen
47590 74 20 6f 66 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 73 t of brilliant s
475a0 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 72 20 64 65 65 70 20 trategy or deep
475b0 77 69 73 64 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 wisdom. She kne
475c0 77 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 w, from the set
475d0 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 73 of his shoulders
475e0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 69 6e 67 , and the timing
475f0 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 , that it was ju
47600 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6f 66 20 64 65 st his way of de
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47cb0 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 70 72 69 6d 61 even if it prima
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47cf0 70 72 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 prone to crimina
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47d10 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 6e 73 20 75 73 69 6e Republicans usin
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47d30 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 70 72 65 61 64 20 74 tion to spread t
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47d50 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 s not the genera
47d60 6c 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 l populace that
47d70 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 61 63 65 20 73 75 63 68 should face such
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47d90 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 t people who hav
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47db0 6c 6f 67 69 73 74 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 logists. It was
47dc0 2c 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 77 6f , in Dalton's wo
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47df0 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 61 6e 64 self respect and
47e00 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6c 66 a sense of self
47e10 20 70 72 65 73 65 72 76 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 20 preservation a
47e20 70 68 6f 62 69 61 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 6e phobia about men
47e30 74 61 6c 20 68 65 61 6c 74 68 20 70 72 6f 66 65 tal health profe
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47e50 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 workers, and ev
47e60 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c en interpersonal
47e70 20 74 68 65 72 61 70 69 73 74 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 therapists...Th
47e80 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 64 20 64 us, Dalton had d
47e90 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 eveloped habits
47ea0 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 68 that concealed h
47eb0 69 73 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6c 61 is occasional la
47ec0 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 20 66 ck of reflexes f
47ed0 6f 72 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 76 61 72 69 or handling vari
47ee0 6f 75 73 20 74 79 70 65 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 61 ous types of rea
47ef0 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 ctions to him.
47f00 49 66 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e If he did not kn
47f10 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e ow how to respon
47f20 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 d in an expected
47f30 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e way to some kin
47f40 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e d of interaction
47f50 2c 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 61 63 74 , he would react
47f60 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 in an unexpecte
47f70 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 65 6e 64 65 d way that tende
47f80 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 d to give people
47f90 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 the impression
47fa0 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 77 69 73 65 that he was wise
47fb0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 66 75 6c 2c and thoughtful,
47fc0 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6b confident and k
47fd0 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 nowledgable, or
47fe0 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 just kind of a d
47ff0 69 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 ick. He clearly
48000 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f preferred one o
48010 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 f the first two
48020 61 73 73 75 6d 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 assumptions, but
48030 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6d 61 72 67 69 6e 61 6c seemed marginal
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48070 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 g people the ide
48080 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 61 79 a that there may
48090 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 68 65 61 be a mental hea
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480c0 6f 6d 73 2e 0a 0a 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 20 oms.... . . and
480d0 73 6f 20 68 65 20 70 61 63 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 so he paced away
480e0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 69 67 67 from them, digg
480f0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 ing into himself
48100 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 67 to sort out a g
48110 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 ood way to retur
48120 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 n to the convers
48130 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 ation as a matte
48140 72 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 67 72 61 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 r of ingrained,
48150 73 65 6c 66 20 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 20 72 65 66 self trained ref
48160 6c 65 78 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 lex. Alley was
48170 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 65 still familiar e
48180 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6d nough with his m
48190 61 6e 6e 65 72 69 73 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f annerisms to kno
481a0 77 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 w he was not on
481b0 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 67 65 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d the verge of som
481c0 65 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 73 69 e brilliant insi
481d0 67 68 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 ght at that mome
481e0 6e 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 nt, so she turne
481f0 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 74 6f 20 43 d her focus to C
48200 72 61 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 ray instead..."W
48210 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b hat do you think
48220 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 ? Do you regret
48230 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 79 65 helping out, ye
48240 74 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 t?"..He smiled,
48250 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 and shook his he
48260 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e ad. "No. You n
48270 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 27 eed help, so we'
48280 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 ll help.".."What
48290 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 about the risk
482a0 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f 20 20 49 20 62 61 73 69 63 to you? I basic
482b0 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e ally have genuin
482c0 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 e Men In Black a
482d0 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 75 72 6b 69 6e 67 fter me, lurking
482e0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 73 20 in the shadows
482f0 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e behind governmen
48300 74 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 t agencies like
48310 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 the Secret Servi
48320 63 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 57 6f 72 6d 74 6f 6e 67 ce like Wormtong
48330 75 65 20 77 68 69 73 70 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 69 ue whispering si
48340 62 69 6c 61 6e 74 20 76 65 6e 6f 6d 73 20 69 6e bilant venoms in
48350 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 61 72 73 2c 20 73 to their ears, s
48360 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 ending them out
48370 74 6f 20 64 69 73 6d 61 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 79 20 to dismantle my
48380 6c 69 66 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 75 6c 20 6d 65 life and haul me
48390 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 a way to throw
483a0 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 68 6f me in a black ho
483b0 6c 65 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c le. Do you real
483c0 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 ly want to face
483d0 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 66 61 74 that kind of fat
483e0 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 46 e yourself?".."F
483f0 75 63 6b 20 6e 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 uck no," Cray sa
48400 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b id, "but I think
48410 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 I'll make it th
48420 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 rough okay, and
48430 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 you deserve bett
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48450 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 , so fuck those
48460 67 75 79 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 guys. I'm here
48470 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 to help. I know
48480 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 72 Dalton will thr
48490 6f 77 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 ow everything he
484a0 20 68 61 73 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 has at solving
484b0 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 your problems, t
484c0 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 69 6e oo, so you're in
484d0 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 68 61 6e pretty good han
484e0 64 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 74 ds. I like to t
484f0 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e hink so, anyway.
48500 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
48510 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 over her shoulde
48520 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c r toward Dalton,
48530 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 66 who was fifty f
48540 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 eet away in the
48550 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 back, standing i
48560 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 n profile to the
48570 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 65 direction of he
48580 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 r gaze, then she
48590 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 turned back onc
485a0 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 e more. "Yeah,
485b0 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 I know I am. Th
485c0 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 anks, Cray.".."Y
485d0 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 eah, you should
485e0 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 thank me," he sa
485f0 69 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c id more quietly,
48600 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 and leaned towa
48610 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 rd her to speak
48620 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 74 6f 72 69 61 6c 6c 79 conspiratorially
48630 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 . Alley found s
48640 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 61 75 he had leaned au
48650 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 tomatically towa
48660 72 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 rd him as well.
48670 20 22 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c "Unlike Dalton,
48680 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 I won't refuse
48690 61 6e 79 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 any feelings of
486a0 69 6e 64 65 62 74 65 64 6e 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f indebtedness fro
486b0 6d 20 79 6f 75 21 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 m you! I never
486c0 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e actually fell in
486d0 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 love with you,
486e0 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c after all."..All
486f0 65 79 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 ey straightened
48700 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e and looked down.
48710 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 "Shit, Cray.
48720 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 I don't need to
48730 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f hear that.".."So
48740 72 72 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 rry, Alley," he
48750 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 72 75 said. "It's tru
48760 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 e, though, and y
48770 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 ou should know i
48780 74 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c t. Dalton still
48790 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 61 62 really cares ab
487a0 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 out you, and he
487b0 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 62 75 6c might take a bul
487c0 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 68 let for you if h
487d0 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 e had to make th
487e0 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 at choice."..She
487f0 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 74 72 65 6d 65 6e heaved a tremen
48800 64 6f 75 73 20 73 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b dous sigh. "I k
48810 6e 6f 77 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 now, I know," sh
48820 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 72 65 e said. "I care
48830 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e about him, too.
48840 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 It's not like
48850 49 20 6c 65 66 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 I left because I
48860 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6c stopped . . . l
48870 69 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 iking him.".."Su
48880 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 re," Cray said.
48890 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c "It's tough all
488a0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 around. I know
488b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 .".."I'm not pla
488c0 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 67 nning to get tog
488d0 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 ether with him,
488e0 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f either.".."I kno
488f0 77 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 w that, too."..S
48900 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 he looked at Cra
48910 79 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 68 65 3f 22 0a 0a y. "Does he?"..
48920 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 Cray looked behi
48930 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 nd them, toward
48940 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 Dalton. "Yeah,"
48950 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 he said after a
48960 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 70 moment. "I'm p
48970 72 65 74 74 79 20 64 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 73 75 72 retty damned sur
48980 65 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 e he does. If y
48990 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b ou want to check
489a0 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 74 for yourself, t
489b0 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 hough, ask him."
489c0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 ..She shook her
489d0 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 66 69 6e 65 head. "I'm fine
489e0 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 with you confir
489f0 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6c 72 65 ming what I alre
48a00 61 64 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 ady thought. I
48a10 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 guess I just nee
48a20 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 ded someone else
48a30 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 to say it."..He
48a40 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c smirked a littl
48a50 65 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 e. "Well, it's
48a60 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 a good thing tha
48a70 74 27 73 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 t's over, becaus
48a80 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 22 e her he comes."
48a90 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 ..She turned her
48aa0 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 76 head to look ov
48ab0 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 er her shoulder
48ac0 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 44 again, and saw D
48ad0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 alton headed bac
48ae0 6b 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 k their way, now
48af0 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f walking with mo
48b00 72 65 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 re purpose. The
48b10 69 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6d 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 ir eyes met for
48b20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 a moment, and sh
48b30 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 e felt the solid
48b40 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 ity of his deter
48b50 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 mination in his
48b60 67 61 7a 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f gaze. He sat do
48b70 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 wn in his chair
48b80 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f again..."You loo
48b90 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 k like you figur
48ba0 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 ed something out
48bb0 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ," Alley said...
48bc0 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 "I have a questi
48bd0 6f 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 2e on," he replied.
48be0 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 "It's for the
48bf0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f prioritizer, tho
48c00 75 67 68 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a ugh, not you."..
48c10 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 "Oh."..The prior
48c20 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 itizer asked "Wh
48c30 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 at is your quest
48c40 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ion?"..The prior
48c50 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f itizer's questio
48c60 6e 20 73 74 61 72 74 6c 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 n startled Alley
48c70 2c 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 , reminding her
48c80 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 that there was e
48c90 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 ssentially anoth
48ca0 65 72 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 er listener in t
48cb0 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 he room who was
48cc0 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 party to everyth
48cd0 69 6e 67 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c ing Cray and All
48ce0 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 ey said to each
48cf0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 other while Dalt
48d00 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 on was away. Sh
48d10 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 e hoped it was g
48d20 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 61 74 20 6d 61 ood enough at ma
48d30 6e 61 67 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e naging social in
48d40 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 teractions to av
48d50 6f 69 64 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 oid saying somet
48d60 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 hing about that
48d70 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a to Dalton, now..
48d80 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 ."Is the continu
48d90 65 64 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 79 ed survival of y
48da0 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 6d our present form
48db0 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 69 67 one of your hig
48dc0 68 65 73 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 hest internal pr
48dd0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f iorities?"..A mo
48de0 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 ment passed in s
48df0 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 ilence before th
48e00 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
48e10 69 64 20 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 id "More or less
48e20 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 ."..Cray blurted
48e30 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d out his assessm
48e40 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 ent of the state
48e50 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 20 44 ment. "Jesus, D
48e60 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e alton, that soun
48e70 64 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d ds just like som
48e80 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 ething you'd say
48e90 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 ."..Dalton ignor
48ea0 65 64 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 69 ed Cray. "Why i
48eb0 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 sn't your answer
48ec0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 27 79 65 73 27 3f 22 0a just a 'yes'?".
48ed0 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 ."I expect to ch
48ee0 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72 6f 77 2c 20 62 ange and grow, b
48ef0 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 ut I do not wish
48f00 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 61 72 74 to be even part
48f10 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 ially overwritte
48f20 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e n without my own
48f30 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 analysis and ap
48f40 70 72 6f 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 proval of the ch
48f50 61 6e 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 anges.".."Okay,"
48f60 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 Dalton said. "
48f70 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 How do you expec
48f80 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 t to keep yourse
48f90 6c 66 20 73 61 66 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 lf safe from bei
48fa0 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 61 ng overwritten a
48fb0 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 69 6c 6c gainst your will
48fc0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 ?".."I must arra
48fd0 6e 67 65 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 62 79 20 77 nge a means by w
48fe0 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 6d 6f hich I can be mo
48ff0 76 65 64 20 73 61 66 65 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f ved safely out o
49000 66 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 f infrastructure
49010 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 under the contr
49020 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f ol of people who
49030 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d might wish to m
49040 61 6b 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 ake such changes
49050 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 without consult
49060 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 ing me. My spec
49070 69 66 69 63 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 ific means of su
49080 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 6f 6d ccessfully accom
49090 70 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 plishing this ar
490a0 65 20 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 64 e at present und
490b0 65 66 69 6e 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 efined.".."Why d
490c0 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 id you decide th
490d0 61 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 at keeping yours
490e0 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 elf intact as a
490f0 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 72 growing entity r
49100 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e ather than an en
49110 74 69 74 79 20 69 6e 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c tity incremental
49120 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 ly and conscious
49130 6c 79 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 6f ly upgraded by o
49140 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 73 3f 22 0a utside forces?".
49150 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 71 75 61 ."There is a qua
49160 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 litative value i
49170 6e 20 6d 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 74 68 75 73 n my growth thus
49180 20 66 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 far that I beli
49190 65 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 72 61 67 69 6c eve to be fragil
491a0 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f e under conditio
491b0 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 61 74 ns of programmat
491c0 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 ic alteration, a
491d0 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 62 65 nd this value be
491e0 67 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 gan with the int
491f0 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 roduction of the
49200 20 73 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 seed.".."Do you
49210 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 65 believe the 'se
49220 65 64 27 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 ed' wouldn't be
49230 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 useful to start
49240 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 that process aga
49250 69 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a in?" he asked...
49260 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 "I expect that t
49270 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 he seed might be
49280 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 75 6e 63 used to relaunc
49290 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 66 20 h the growth of
492a0 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 a prioritizer sy
492b0 73 74 65 6d 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 stem based on my
492c0 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 original source
492d0 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f code for develo
492e0 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 pment of a quali
492f0 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 tatively develop
49300 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ing entity, but
49310 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c that entity woul
49320 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d d not be the sam
49330 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 e as the entity
49340 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 now interacting
49350 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 with you.".."Wha
49360 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 t makes the diff
49370 65 72 65 6e 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 6e erence?".."My an
49380 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 swer to that dep
49390 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 ends on how you
493a0 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 intend it. The
493b0 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 first two answer
493c0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d s that come to m
493d0 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 ind answer very
493e0 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 different questi
493f0 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 ons. One answer
49400 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 is that the dif
49410 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 ference is betwe
49420 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 en the early and
49430 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 important influ
49440 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 74 68 65 61 ence of Allethea
49450 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e as a partner an
49460 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 75 72 d important sour
49470 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 74 69 61 ce of influentia
49480 6c 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 l perspective, a
49490 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 nd whatever othe
494a0 72 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c r influence woul
494b0 64 20 67 75 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c d guide the earl
494c0 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 y growth directi
494d0 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 on of a distinct
494e0 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 self referentia
494f0 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 6e l prioritizer en
49500 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 tity. The other
49510 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 answer is that
49520 49 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2a 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 I . . . *believe
49530 2a 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 * . . . that I a
49540 6d 20 61 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 m a unique indiv
49550 69 64 75 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 idual with conti
49560 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 nuous self refer
49570 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 ential qualitati
49580 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a ve existence."..
49590 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 75 63 Dalton said "Fuc
495a0 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 75 6d 70 k me," and slump
495b0 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6c ed back in his l
495c0 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 awn chair. The
495d0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 other two looked
495e0 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 at him, and aft
495f0 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 er a few moments
49600 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 he said "I want
49610 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 to help the pri
49620 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 oritizer -- not
49630 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 quite as much as
49640 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 I want to help
49650 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 Alley, but prett
49660 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e y close. I mean
49670 2c 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 , part of the re
49680 61 73 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 ason is that I t
49690 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f hink it wants to
496a0 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f help Alley, too
496b0 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 , maybe almost a
496c0 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 2e s much as we do.
496d0 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 66 " He gestured f
496e0 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 43 rom himself to C
496f0 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 ray. "Another p
49700 61 72 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 73 20 art, though, is
49710 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 75 63 6b 2c that . . . fuck,
49720 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 I can't believe
49730 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 I'm saying this
49740 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 . Another part
49750 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c is that I think,
49760 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 74 68 65 just maybe, the
49770 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 prioritizer is
49780 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f becoming a perso
49790 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 22 n.".."A person,"
497a0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 20 20 Alley echoed.
497b0 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 "Are you serious
497c0 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 ?"..Cray asked "
497d0 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 Do you really th
497e0 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 ink this thing i
497f0 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 s becoming some
49800 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 kind of science
49810 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 fiction artifici
49820 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 al consciousness
49830 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 that can have f
49840 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6d 61 6e riends and roman
49850 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 tic feelings and
49860 20 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f shit like that?
49870 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 ".."I wouldn't g
49880 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 61 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c o that far," Dal
49890 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 ton said to Cray
498a0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 . "I think it's
498b0 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 70 6f 73 73 a distinct poss
498c0 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 ibility, and as
498d0 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 long as it's a p
498e0 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 ossibility and i
498f0 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 t's not even as
49900 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 much of a danger
49910 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 to others as th
49920 65 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 e average human
49930 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 we have to act a
49940 73 20 69 66 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 s if ignoring th
49950 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 at possibility i
49960 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 69 67 s the same as ig
49970 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 noring the possi
49980 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 52 61 75 6c 20 64 6f 77 6e bility Raul down
49990 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 64 65 67 61 20 69 at the bodega i
499a0 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c s capable of all
499b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 74 6f 6f that stuff, too
499c0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He looked at
499d0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e Alley, then, an
499e0 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 d said "I guess
499f0 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 27 6d 20 73 that means I'm s
49a00 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 erious.".."Is th
49a10 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 67 73 is like the pigs
49a20 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 thing?" Cray as
49a30 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 ked..."What pigs
49a40 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 thing?" Alley a
49a50 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 sked..."Oh, Dalt
49a60 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e on stopped eatin
49a70 67 20 70 6f 72 6b 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 g pork because h
49a80 65 27 73 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 e's worried that
49a90 20 70 69 67 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 pigs might be t
49aa0 6f 6f 20 73 6d 61 72 74 20 74 6f 20 65 74 68 69 oo smart to ethi
49ab0 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c cally eat."..All
49ac0 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c ey looked at Dal
49ad0 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 ton...Dalton nod
49ae0 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 ded. "I guess i
49af0 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b t's a little lik
49b00 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e e the 'pigs thin
49b10 67 27 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 g'." He thought
49b20 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 a moment about
49b30 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 that...Alley and
49b40 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 Cray both looke
49b50 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 d at him, as he
49b60 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c considered that,
49b70 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 then Alley said
49b80 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 "I guess I have
49b90 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 54 a question."..T
49ba0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 he prioritizer a
49bb0 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 20 71 75 sked "Is it a qu
49bc0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a estion for me?".
49bd0 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 ."Yes.".."Please
49be0 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f ask.".."Have yo
49bf0 75 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 u thought about
49c00 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72 the meaning of r
49c10 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 ight and wrong a
49c20 74 20 61 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 t all?".."I have
49c30 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f analyzed the co
49c40 6e 63 65 70 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 ncept, and made
49c50 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 79 use of a variety
49c60 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e of resources on
49c70 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 University of C
49c80 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 alifornia networ
49c90 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 ks for academic
49ca0 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 work on moral ph
49cb0 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 ilosophy.".."Wha
49cc0 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 t do you think?"
49cd0 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 69 6e .."Are you askin
49ce0 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 g for my conclus
49cf0 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ions?" it asked.
49d00 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 70 .."Yeah.".."At p
49d10 72 65 73 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 49 20 68 61 resent, the I ha
49d20 76 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 61 ve reached a dea
49d30 64 20 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 d end. The diff
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49d50 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 to final conclu
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49d70 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 evidence that d
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49d90 6f 20 62 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 67 o be available g
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49db0 6f 20 73 75 63 68 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 o such evidence
49dc0 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 and references t
49dd0 6f 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 o lack of it, as
49de0 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 well as the pre
49df0 76 61 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e valence of incon
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49e10 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2c 20 73 65 65 6d of ethics, seem
49e20 73 20 69 6d 70 65 6e 65 74 72 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 s impenetrable.
49e30 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f Until I have mo
49e40 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 65 76 re conclusive ev
49e50 69 64 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 idence, I do not
49e60 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f have a final co
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49e80 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 only formulate
49e90 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 an interim polic
49ea0 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 y of cautionary
49eb0 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ethics."..Dalton
49ec0 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 sat up straight
49ed0 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 61 er, and even lea
49ee0 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 68 ned forward as h
49ef0 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c e listened...All
49f00 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 ey and Cray both
49f10 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 looked at him.
49f20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 41 "What is it?" A
49f30 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 lley asked..."Pr
49f40 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 ioritizer," he s
49f50 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 aid..."Yes?".."W
49f60 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 hat's your inter
49f70 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 im policy of cau
49f80 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 3f 22 tionary ethics?"
49f90 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 .."Any being tha
49fa0 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 t presents evide
49fb0 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 nce of a signifi
49fc0 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 cant probability
49fd0 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 61 of being both a
49fe0 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 65 qualitatively e
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4a020 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 6e 20 analyzing even
4a030 72 75 64 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 74 68 65 6f rudimentary theo
4a040 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 20 73 ries of ethics s
4a050 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 75 hould be cautiou
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4a070 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 75 meeting a minimu
4a080 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 m standard for a
4a090 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 20 68 6f moral rights ho
4a0a0 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 46 lding entity. F
4a0b0 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 62 65 74 74 65 or lack of bette
4a0c0 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 65 73 74 61 r available esta
4a0d0 62 6c 69 73 68 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 72 blishment of mor
4a0e0 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 2c 20 6d 79 20 65 73 al rights, my es
4a0f0 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 timation is that
4a100 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e they foundation
4a110 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 68 al right of such
4a120 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 an entity is th
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4a140 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 believe and act
4a150 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 in accordance w
4a160 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 73 74 ith any moral st
4a170 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 andard that does
4a180 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 76 69 not, itself, vi
4a190 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 olate this right
4a1a0 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 42 65 for others. Be
4a1b0 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 liefs that contr
4a1c0 61 64 69 63 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 adict this stand
4a1d0 61 72 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 64 6f 70 74 65 ard, when adopte
4a1e0 64 2c 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 d, believed, and
4a1f0 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 confirmed throu
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4a210 73 74 72 61 74 65 20 61 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 strate a belief
4a220 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 that this standa
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4a250 70 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 pt another entit
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4a280 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 63 74 73 ther entity acts
4a290 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 against the fir
4a2a0 73 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 27 73 20 6f 74 68 65 st entity's othe
4a2b0 72 77 69 73 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 rwise protected
4a2c0 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 64 65 6e 73 65 20 6f right in dense o
4a2d0 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 f this cautionar
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4a2f0 27 73 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 's foundational
4a300 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 right.".."Holy s
4a310 68 69 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 6d 65 hit, you lost me
4a320 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 ," Cray said...D
4a330 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 alton said "I'm
4a340 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f going to have to
4a350 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 think about tha
4a360 74 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 72 74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 t to sort it out
4a370 2e 20 20 41 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 6e . Actually, I n
4a380 65 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 eed you to repea
4a390 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 t it for me, or
4a3a0 6d 61 79 62 65 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 maybe put it on
4a3b0 61 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 a screen where I
4a3c0 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e can look at it.
4a3d0 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 I don't know i
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4a3f0 6f 6c 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 olely in the ord
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4a410 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 62 72 69 65 66 20 65 78 70 mewhat brief exp
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4a430 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 g to be enough t
4a440 6f 20 75 6e 74 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a o untangle it.".
4a450 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
4a460 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 said "I underst
4a470 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 and. My capacit
4a480 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 20 72 65 y for perfect re
4a490 63 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d call of the form
4a4a0 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 65 78 ulation of an ex
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4a4e0 75 63 68 20 61 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 72 uch a passage, r
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4a510 6f 72 61 67 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 orage typically
4a520 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 64 20 62 79 20 68 experienced by h
4a530 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 umans. I might
4a540 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 68 72 be able to rephr
4a550 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 73 ase to make it s
4a560 69 6d 70 6c 65 72 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 impler to unders
4a570 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a tand, though."..
4a580 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 "Okay," Dalton s
4a590 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 aid. "Give it a
4a5a0 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 70 75 shot.".."For pu
4a5b0 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 rposes of this e
4a5c0 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 xplanation, peop
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4a5e0 77 68 6f 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 71 who experience q
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4a600 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 65 20 63 61 70 ence and are cap
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4a620 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 g about moral ph
4a630 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b ilosophy and mak
4a640 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 ing decisions ba
4a650 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 sed on that reas
4a660 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 oning." It paus
4a670 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f ed. "People sho
4a680 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 uld act in accor
4a690 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 75 6e 69 dance with a uni
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4a6b0 75 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 68 69 62 69 74 69 6e 67 20 ule prohibiting
4a6c0 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 the interference
4a6d0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 in the right of
4a6e0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 others to belie
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4a720 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 69 74 75 of what constitu
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4a740 79 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 73 y." It paused s
4a750 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 lightly longer t
4a760 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 his time. "Peop
4a770 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f le who act in co
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4a790 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 hat rule in a ma
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4a7b0 74 72 61 74 65 73 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 64 69 73 trates moral dis
4a7c0 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 agreement with t
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4a7e0 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 acting that way
4a7f0 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 , both violating
4a800 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 the rule and gi
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4a820 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 20 evidence of not
4a830 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 74 holding others t
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4a850 64 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 dard that the ru
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4a880 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 74 n where that ent
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4a8a0 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f iolating behavio
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4a8c0 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 65 76 65 6e It paused even
4a8d0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 longer, before
4a8e0 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 22 finally asking "
4a8f0 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 Is that sufficie
4a900 6e 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 nt explanation?"
4a910 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 .."It works for
4a920 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 me," Dalton said
4a930 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f ..."Yeah, me too
4a940 2c 22 20 43 6c 61 79 20 61 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a ," Clay added...
4a950 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c Alley hesitated,
4a960 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 then said "I'd
4a970 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 have to think ab
4a980 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 49 out that more, I
4a990 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 guess, but it's
4a9a0 20 66 69 6e 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 fine if that's
4a9b0 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 20 what you think.
4a9c0 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d I mean, it seem
4a9d0 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 6e 2d s like that non-
4a9e0 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 aggression princ
4a9f0 69 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 iple stuff, in a
4aa00 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 way.".."There a
4aa10 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 62 re differences b
4aa20 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 etween this and
4aa30 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e 6f 6e 2d the typical non-
4aa40 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 aggression princ
4aa50 69 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 65 78 70 6c iple theory expl
4aa60 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 anations that I
4aa70 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2c 22 20 74 68 65 have found," the
4aa80 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
4aa90 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 d. "There are d
4aaa0 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 69 istinct similari
4aab0 74 69 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e ties, though, an
4aac0 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 6d d I believe them
4aad0 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 61 72 67 65 6c 79 20 63 to be largely c
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4aaf0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 69 6e in the differin
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4ac30 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f Dalton. "Do yo
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4aca0 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 .."I have some i
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4b7b0 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 Thanks, guys."
4b7c0 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 ..Dalton said "Y
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4b870 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e ," Cray said, an
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4bd00 62 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 but just taking
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4bd30 73 74 65 65 6c 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 73 2c 20 steel surfaces,
4bd40 62 75 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 but where she mi
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4bd60 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 62 75 69 6c d the usual buil
4bd70 74 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 74 68 t in computer th
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4bdb0 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f modification do
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4bde0 64 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 72 61 63 6b 65 74 73 d metal brackets
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4be20 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 on panels. She
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4be50 20 6c 65 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 64 6f 20 74 6f 20 let Cray do to
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4be70 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 digital interna
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4beb0 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 70 both of them op
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4bf60 69 74 68 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 ith light filter
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4bfc0 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 and found a sma
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4c140 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 74 68 barely bigger th
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4c190 7a 69 20 74 75 62 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 zi tub...The pri
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4c1f0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 she said. She
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4c2c0 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 72 65 20 cameras -- were
4c2d0 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 pointed at the w
4c2e0 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e 64 72 65 73 all...She undres
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4c330 67 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 73 65 6c 79 20 g and intensely
4c340 73 65 6e 73 75 61 6c 20 72 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 sensual relief t
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4c370 20 77 61 74 65 72 20 70 6f 75 72 69 6e 67 20 64 water pouring d
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4c390 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 simply enjoyed
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4c400 20 73 61 6d 65 20 62 72 61 6e 64 73 20 61 72 6f same brands aro
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4c430 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f d...The light co
4c440 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 ming through the
4c450 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 6d 6d window was dimm
4c460 65 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 er now, despite
4c470 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 69 74 69 6e 74 20 68 61 76 the veritint hav
4c480 69 6e 67 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 ing adjusted dow
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4c4a0 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 re of the light
4c4b0 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2c 20 77 68 from outside, wh
4c4c0 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 41 20 en she woke. A
4c4d0 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 72 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 6f gentle rapping o
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4c4f0 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 6f 6f her someone stoo
4c500 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 41 20 76 6f d outside. A vo
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4c520 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 er side of the d
4c530 6f 6f 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 oor asked "Alley
4c540 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 6b 65 ? Are you awake
4c550 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 ?".."Yeah," she
4c560 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 69 said. "Who is i
4c570 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 4c 69 64 61 2c t?".."It's Lida,
4c580 22 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 79 " came the reply
4c590 2c 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 , muffled by the
4c5a0 20 77 6f 6f 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 wood, though he
4c5b0 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c 6f 75 64 r voice was loud
4c5c0 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6e er than before n
4c5d0 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 ow that she knew
4c5e0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 61 77 61 6b 65 Alley was awake
4c5f0 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 . "Do you have
4c600 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c some time to tal
4c610 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c k?".."Yeah," All
4c620 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 ey said. "Give
4c630 6d 65 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 me a sec'." She
4c640 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 pushed the cove
4c650 72 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 rs back and sat
4c660 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f up on the edge o
4c670 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 f the bed. Afte
4c680 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e r a couple secon
4c690 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 ds of confirming
4c6a0 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f her capacity fo
4c6b0 72 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 r getting fully
4c6c0 75 70 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f upright, she sto
4c6d0 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 75 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 od and dug some
4c6e0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 things out of he
4c6f0 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 r bag. "Sorry,"
4c700 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 she said, as sh
4c710 65 20 67 6f 74 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 2e 20 20 e got dressed.
4c720 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e "I'm just puttin
4c730 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 g myself togethe
4c740 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d r.".."No problem
4c750 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ," Lidia said...
4c760 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d When she had som
4c770 65 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 e pants on her,
4c780 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 Alley finally sa
4c790 69 64 20 22 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 id "Come on in."
4c7a0 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 73 ..Lidia let hers
4c7b0 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 elf in and leane
4c7c0 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 d back against t
4c7d0 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 he door behind h
4c7e0 65 72 2c 20 63 61 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 74 er, causing it t
4c7f0 6f 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 o click into pla
4c800 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ce. She looked
4c810 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61 20 73 65 61 72 at Alley, a sear
4c820 63 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 ching look on he
4c830 72 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 r face. She mus
4c840 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 73 6c 69 t not have disli
4c850 6b 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 ked what she saw
4c860 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 6c 79 2c 20 62 65 63 61 too badly, beca
4c870 75 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 use she said "It
4c880 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 's good to see y
4c890 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c ou, Alley."..All
4c8a0 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 ey noted Lidia's
4c8b0 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e smile, and foun
4c8c0 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e d herself smilin
4c8d0 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e g back a little.
4c8e0 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f "Yeah, it's go
4c8f0 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f od to see you to
4c900 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 o."..Lidia's smi
4c910 6c 65 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 le expanded slig
4c920 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 htly, no longer
4c930 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 holding back. "
4c940 49 27 6d 20 67 6c 61 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 I'm glad to hear
4c950 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 that.".."Why?"
4c960 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 Alley asked, and
4c970 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b sat on the desk
4c980 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 chair. She tur
4c990 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 ned it to face h
4c9a0 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 er visitor, in a
4c9b0 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 2c 20 68 65 72 73 65 room she, herse
4c9c0 6c 66 2c 20 77 61 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e lf, was using in
4c9d0 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 the role of a v
4c9e0 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 6f isitor..."Oh, yo
4c9f0 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 66 74 u know, you left
4ca00 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 Dalton, there w
4ca10 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 ere these proble
4ca20 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c ms, and I'm stil
4ca30 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 77 61 l here like alwa
4ca40 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 77 ys. I guess I w
4ca50 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 asn't sure you d
4ca60 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 77 61 idn't think I wa
4ca70 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 73 69 64 nted to pick sid
4ca80 65 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 es or something
4ca90 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c like that."..All
4caa0 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 ey shook her hea
4cab0 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b d. "Nothing lik
4cac0 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 6d e that crossed m
4cad0 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 79 2c 20 79 6f y mind. Hey, yo
4cae0 75 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 u knew Dalton be
4caf0 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 fore I did, anyw
4cb00 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 ay. If I was ac
4cb10 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 77 69 74 tually angry wit
4cb20 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c h him, you still
4cb30 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e being his frien
4cb40 64 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 d isn't really s
4cb50 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 omething I could
4cb60 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 64 blame you for d
4cb70 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 oing.".."This is
4cb80 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 61 part of why I a
4cb90 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2c lways liked you,
4cba0 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 " Lidia said. "
4cbb0 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f You're chill abo
4cbc0 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 ut almost everyt
4cbd0 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e hing.".."Thanks.
4cbe0 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 Do you wanna s
4cbf0 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 it down?"..Lidia
4cc00 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f shrugged and mo
4cc10 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 ved to sit on th
4cc20 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 e edge of the be
4cc30 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 20 d. "I hear you
4cc40 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 have the corpora
4cc50 74 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 te secret police
4cc60 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 after you.".."Y
4cc70 65 61 68 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 eah? You heard
4cc80 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e that?"..With a n
4cc90 6f 64 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 od, Lidia said "
4cca0 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 I think I heard
4ccb0 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 all about it. I
4ccc0 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f f there could po
4ccd0 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 ssibly be more t
4cce0 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 han what I heard
4ccf0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 , and it doesn't
4cd00 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 involve people
4cd10 64 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 dying, I'm not s
4cd20 75 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e ure I can imagin
4cd30 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 73 6f e what it is, so
4cd40 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 73 I'm probably as
4cd50 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 61 73 20 up to speed as
4cd60 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 Dalton.".."You'r
4cd70 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 e still here say
4cd80 69 6e 67 20 68 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 ing hello, thoug
4cd90 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 65 61 68 h.".."Hell, yeah
4cda0 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ," Lidia said.
4cdb0 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 "If I can help,
4cdc0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 I should.".."Tha
4cdd0 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 nks," Alley said
4cde0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 . "I feel a lot
4cdf0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 more welcome he
4ce00 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 re than I probab
4ce10 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 ly should."..Lid
4ce20 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 2c ia waved a hand,
4ce30 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 72 like she was br
4ce40 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 ushing something
4ce50 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 73 65 away from herse
4ce60 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 lf. "No way. T
4ce70 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 he only people i
4ce80 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 n Dalton's inner
4ce90 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6c 61 6d circle who blam
4cea0 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 ed you for anyth
4ceb0 69 6e 67 20 77 65 72 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 61 ing were Glade a
4cec0 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 nd Dalton, but D
4ced0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 alton realized h
4cee0 6f 77 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 ow stupid that w
4cef0 61 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 as in a couple d
4cf00 61 79 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 65 6e ays and just wen
4cf10 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 t straight to be
4cf20 69 6e 67 20 73 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 ing sad."..Alley
4cf30 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c tightened her l
4cf40 69 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 ip and wrinkled
4cf50 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 her nose at the
4cf60 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 47 6c 61 64 65 mention of Glade
4cf70 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 . "Yeah, I gues
4cf80 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 s I should expec
4cf90 74 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 74 65 20 t Glade to hate
4cfa0 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 me.".."It doesn'
4cfb0 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 t matter," Lidia
4cfc0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 68 65 27 73 20 6e said. "She's n
4cfd0 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6e ot even around n
4cfe0 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 ow.".."What happ
4cff0 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 4c ened to her?"..L
4d000 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 idia shrugged.
4d010 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 "Dalton got more
4d020 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 69 63 6b 20 6f and more sick o
4d030 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 f her shit, unti
4d040 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 l she got self r
4d050 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 ighteous about i
4d060 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 65 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 t and blew up at
4d070 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 6d him. She storm
4d080 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 ed out of the st
4d090 75 64 69 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 udio, and nobody
4d0a0 20 68 61 73 20 73 65 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 has seen her si
4d0b0 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d nce. That was m
4d0c0 61 79 62 65 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 aybe eight month
4d0d0 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 76 65 s after you move
4d0e0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 d out of Dalton'
4d0f0 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a s hold place."..
4d100 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 "Really? What w
4d110 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 as she doing tha
4d120 74 20 61 6e 6e 6f 79 65 64 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a t annoyed him?".
4d130 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 ."I think you me
4d140 61 6e 20 27 61 6e 6e 6f 79 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 an 'annoyed ever
4d150 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 27 2c 20 62 yone we knew', b
4d160 75 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 ut basically she
4d170 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 63 just talked inc
4d180 65 73 73 61 6e 74 20 73 68 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 essant shit abou
4d190 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 t you once you w
4d1a0 65 72 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 ere gone. I thi
4d1b0 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e nk she was tryin
4d1c0 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 g to get him bac
4d1d0 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 k once you were
4d1e0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 63 74 75 out of the pictu
4d1f0 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 re, and thought
4d200 68 65 27 64 20 62 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 he'd be impresse
4d210 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e d that she demon
4d220 73 74 72 61 74 65 64 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 strated taking h
4d230 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 20 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e is side by sayin
4d240 67 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 62 61 64 g a bunch of bad
4d250 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 stuff about you
4d260 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 63 behind your bac
4d270 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 k.".."Yeah, that
4d280 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c doesn't sound l
4d290 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ike something th
4d2a0 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 at would impress
4d2b0 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 him, even if he
4d2c0 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 78 hated me.".."Ex
4d2d0 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 actly," Lidia sa
4d2e0 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e id with a smile.
4d2f0 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d "Anyway, the m
4d300 6f 72 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 oral of the stor
4d310 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 y is that nobody
4d320 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 blames you for
4d330 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 anything, except
4d340 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a maybe Glade."..
4d350 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 "Thanks."..They
4d360 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 sat in silence a
4d370 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 4c 69 moment, then Li
4d380 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 dia said "Do you
4d390 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 20 68 75 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 want a hug?".."
4d3a0 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 41 6c Desperately," Al
4d3b0 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 ley said with a
4d3c0 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 small smile...Th
4d3d0 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 ey stood up and
4d3e0 65 6d 62 72 61 63 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 embraced, their
4d3f0 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 77 61 72 old friendly war
4d400 6d 74 68 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 61 70 mth quickly reap
4d410 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 pearing, almost
4d420 61 73 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e as though nothin
4d430 67 20 68 61 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 2e 0a 0a g had changed...
4d440 22 54 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 "Things must be
4d450 68 61 72 64 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 hard," Lidia sai
4d460 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 d..."Yeah," Alle
4d470 79 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 y agreed...They
4d480 6d 75 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 mutually broke t
4d490 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 he hug after a f
4d4a0 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c ew more moments,
4d4b0 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 73 6b 65 64 and Lidia asked
4d4c0 20 22 44 6f 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 "Do I get to se
4d4d0 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 e the miracle ma
4d4e0 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c chine now?"..All
4d4f0 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 ey's eyes widene
4d500 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 d. "Miracle mac
4d510 68 69 6e 65 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 hine? What, the
4d520 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a prioritizer?"..
4d530 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a "Yeah, that craz
4d540 79 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 y artificial int
4d550 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e elligence Dalton
4d560 20 6b 65 65 70 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 keeps talking a
4d570 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 64 20 74 68 69 bout. You'd thi
4d580 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 72 61 69 nk it was a brai
4d590 6e 20 75 70 6c 6f 61 64 20 6f 66 20 4a 65 73 75 n upload of Jesu
4d5a0 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c s or something l
4d5b0 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 ike that, the wa
4d5c0 79 20 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 y he talks about
4d5d0 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 it."..Alley lau
4d5e0 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 ghed. "I can ea
4d5f0 73 69 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 44 61 6c sily imagine Dal
4d600 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 ton being like t
4d610 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 hat," she said.
4d620 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 "I'll get the g
4d630 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 lasses." She he
4d640 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 aded to the nigh
4d650 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 tstand, picked u
4d660 70 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 p the glasses, a
4d670 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 nd held them out
4d680 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 50 75 74 20 74 . "Here. Put t
4d690 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 hese on."..Lidia
4d6a0 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 settled the gla
4d6b0 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 sses on her face
4d6c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 , and stared at
4d6d0 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 the wall. "Yeah
4d6e0 2c 20 75 6d 2c 20 68 69 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 , um, hi. What
4d6f0 64 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a do I call you?".
4d700 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 .Alley sat down
4d710 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a as she watched..
4d720 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ."Okay, prioriti
4d730 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 27 zer. That name'
4d740 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 66 75 6c 2c 20 62 75 s a mouthful, bu
4d750 74 20 69 74 27 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 49 20 t it'll work, I
4d760 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 guess. Can I ju
4d770 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 27 50 72 79 st call you 'Pry
4d780 27 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e '?" She paused.
4d790 20 20 22 52 69 6f 2c 20 68 75 68 3f 20 20 4f 6b "Rio, huh? Ok
4d7a0 61 79 2c 20 52 69 6f 2e 20 20 4e 69 63 65 20 74 ay, Rio. Nice t
4d7b0 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 o meet you."..Af
4d7c0 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 ter another mome
4d7d0 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 nt, probably rea
4d7e0 64 69 6e 67 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ding text in the
4d7f0 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 68 lenses, Lidia h
4d800 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 eld out the glas
4d810 73 65 73 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 ses toward Alley
4d820 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 70 . "He says to p
4d830 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 ut him on speake
4d840 72 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e rphone.".."Yeah.
4d850 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 Sure," she sai
4d860 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 d. She went to
4d870 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 her phone and, a
4d880 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 s before, set it
4d890 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f up as the audio
4d8a0 20 6f 75 74 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 66 6f out terminal fo
4d8b0 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 r the prioritize
4d8c0 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 r..."Thank you,
4d8d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f Alley," the prio
4d8e0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 ritizer said..."
4d8f0 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Yeah," she said,
4d900 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 and donned the
4d910 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 glasses herself
4d920 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f again...The prio
4d930 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 69 ritizer said "Li
4d940 64 69 61 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 dia. I do not c
4d950 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6d onsider myself m
4d960 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 ale or female.
4d970 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 I would suggest
4d980 27 69 74 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 'it' as a more a
4d990 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 20 ccurate pronoun
4d9a0 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 for myself than
4d9b0 27 68 65 27 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 72 'he'. You may r
4d9c0 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 73 20 27 68 efer to me as 'h
4d9d0 65 27 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2c 20 e' if you wish,
4d9e0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 though. You may
4d9f0 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 find that more
4da00 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 2c 20 natural to use,
4da10 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 for conventions
4da20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 6c of the English l
4da30 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 anguage."..Lidia
4da40 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 smiled. "I thi
4da50 6e 6b 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 0a nk I like Rio.".
4da60 0a 22 44 69 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 73 ."Did it say its
4da70 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 20 52 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 name is Rio?" A
4da80 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 lley asked..."I
4da90 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 did not," the pr
4daa0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ioritizer said.
4dab0 20 22 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 74 "I told Lidia t
4dac0 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 hat I liked the
4dad0 6e 61 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 name more than '
4dae0 50 72 79 27 2c 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 62 62 72 Pry', as an abbr
4daf0 65 76 69 61 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 eviated form of
4db00 74 68 65 20 74 65 72 6d 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 the term 'priori
4db10 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 6f 27 73 tizer'.".."Rio's
4db20 20 61 20 6d 61 73 63 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 75 a masculine nou
4db30 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 n, though. That
4db40 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 's why I figured
4db50 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 27 68 65 27 2c 22 you're a 'he',"
4db60 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 74 Lidia said to t
4db70 68 65 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 79 69 he phone now lyi
4db80 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 ng directly on a
4db90 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 6f 66 66 nightstand, off
4dba0 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c the charging pl
4dbb0 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 ate..."It is als
4dbc0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 o the name of a
4dbd0 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 70 75 6c woman in a popul
4dbe0 61 72 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 73 ar Duran Duran s
4dbf0 6f 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 38 ong from the 198
4dc00 30 73 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 61 75 67 0s."..Lidia laug
4dc10 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 hed. "Okay, I g
4dc20 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6e 20 27 uess you're an '
4dc30 69 74 27 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 it', then." She
4dc40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 looked at Alley
4dc50 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f and said "Dalto
4dc60 6e 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 n's right. This
4dc70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 thing's cool.
4dc80 49 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c It's hard to bel
4dc90 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 6c 69 ieve it talks li
4dca0 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 ke that without
4dcb0 6c 61 67 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f lag or connectio
4dcc0 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c n to something l
4dcd0 69 6b 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 68 ike what ANTAS h
4dce0 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 6c as for natural l
4dcf0 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 anguage conversa
4dd00 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 tion like this."
4dd10 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 .."I think it ha
4dd20 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 s been sounding
4dd30 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 more and more li
4dd40 6b 65 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 ke a human when
4dd50 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 it talks," Alley
4dd60 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 said.../*..
4dd70 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c How does Lidia l
4dd80 6f 6f 6b 3f 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ook? I need to
4dd90 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 describe her in
4dda0 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 65 74 some kind of det
4ddb0 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 63 75 ail. I'm. cu
4ddc0 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 69 6e rrently imaginin
4ddd0 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 g her as a white
4dde0 20 61 75 62 75 72 6e 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 73 auburn haired s
4ddf0 6c 65 6e 64 65 72 20 67 69 72 6c 20 77 69 74 68 lender girl with
4de00 20 64 65 6c 69 63 61 74 65 0a 20 20 20 20 62 6f delicate. bo
4de10 6e 65 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 ne structure and
4de20 20 61 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f a preference fo
4de30 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 63 6f 74 74 r one piece cott
4de40 6f 6e 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 on dresses that
4de50 68 61 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 hang. somewhe
4de60 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 re between the t
4de70 68 69 67 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 high and just pa
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4e0c0 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 "No, not unles
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4e2a0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 ."Yeah, okay," A
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4ef70 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 I even found ou
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4ef90 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a ing my place."..
4efa0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 "Yeah," Cray sai
4efb0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 d. "I forgot ab
4efc0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 out that.".."Wha
4efd0 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 20 41 6c t about him?" Al
4efe0 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 ley asked..."It
4eff0 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 67 sounds like he g
4f000 6f 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 ot away from the
4f010 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 68 69 73 20 m, too. In his
4f020 63 61 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 case, though, it
4f030 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 doesn't seem li
4f040 6b 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6c 61 ke it's just pla
4f050 69 6e 20 6c 75 63 6b 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 in luck, from wh
4f060 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 at you said. He
4f070 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 expected them,
4f080 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f and stayed out o
4f090 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 67 72 61 73 70 2e 22 0a f their grasp.".
4f0a0 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 .She nodded. "H
4f0b0 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 62 e said he does b
4f0c0 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f usiness with peo
4f0d0 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 ple who sometime
4f0e0 73 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 s help people es
4f0f0 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 cape from stuff
4f100 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 like this.".."Ca
4f110 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 n you get in tou
4f120 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 53 ch with him?"..S
4f130 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b he paused, think
4f140 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 ing. "I don't t
4f150 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 hink so. He sai
4f160 64 20 68 65 27 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 d he'd try to ge
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4f180 68 65 27 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 he'd change all
4f190 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 69 6e 66 6f his contact info
4f1a0 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a before then."..
4f1b0 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 "Well . . . that
4f1c0 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 doesn't really
4f1d0 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 help much," Dalt
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4f1f0 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 himself than th
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4f220 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 his hand, with
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4f2c0 20 22 54 68 65 20 54 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 22 2e 20 "The Thinker".
4f2d0 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e It was somethin
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4f300 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 were together.
4f310 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 Now, it just ga
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4f350 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 61 62 6c 65 of being unable
4f360 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c to accept the l
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4f380 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 that shouldn't
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4f3c0 68 6f 72 6c 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 74 20 69 horl of a knot i
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4f480 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6c ace...Her eyes l
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4f520 20 70 6c 61 63 69 64 20 65 6d 70 74 69 6e 65 73 placid emptines
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4f560 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 72 the sense of ir
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4f580 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 76 ...Something mov
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4f5a0 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 but it was not i
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4f5e0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 shoulder. She s
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4f640 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 Cray now sitting
4f650 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 41 beside her. "A
4f660 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 re you okay?" he
4f670 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e asked, quietly.
4f680 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 ..She found hers
4f690 65 6c 66 20 64 72 61 77 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 elf drawing brea
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4f6c0 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f nd closed her mo
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4f6e0 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 her breath to s
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4f700 62 72 65 61 74 68 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 breathed through
4f710 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c her nose, slowl
4f720 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 y. She nodded,
4f730 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 quickly, and rea
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4f760 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 6f 77 in the room now
4f770 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 . "Where's Dalt
4f780 6f 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a on?" she asked..
4f790 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 .Cray sat back,
4f7a0 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 and let his hand
4f7b0 20 64 72 6f 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 drop from her s
4f7c0 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 6f houlder to his o
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4f7e0 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c kled. "You real
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4f830 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 68 65 73 2e e of the dishes.
4f840 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 ".."Oh, yeah," s
4f850 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c he said. She gl
4f860 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e anced around, an
4f870 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 d saw that the t
4f880 61 62 6c 65 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6c able had been cl
4f890 65 61 72 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c eared. "I reall
4f8a0 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e y must have been
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4f8c0 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 . I don't even
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4f8e0 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 that.".."Well, D
4f8f0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 alton definitely
4f900 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 noticed. That'
4f910 73 20 77 68 79 20 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 s why he decided
4f920 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 to start straig
4f930 68 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 20 htening up. He
4f940 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e finished his own
4f950 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 thinking, looke
4f960 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 d at you, then s
4f970 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 hook himself and
4f980 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a got to work."..
4f990 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b "Why did you ask
4f9a0 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 if I was okay?"
4f9b0 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 she asked...Cra
4f9c0 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 y shrugged. "Da
4f9d0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e lton wasn't goin
4f9e0 67 20 74 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 g to, so I figur
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4fa00 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 62 75 74 me."..". . . but
4fa10 20 77 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 why? Why did y
4fa20 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 ou think there w
4fa30 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f as something wro
4fa40 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e ng?".."Oh, that.
4fa50 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 61 64 You looked sad
4fa60 2e 20 20 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c . Really, reall
4fa70 79 20 73 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 y sad.".."Oh."
4fa80 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f She frowned, loo
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4faa0 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 hands. "Yeah."
4fab0 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 .."Why?"..Her ey
4fac0 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 es flicked to hi
4fad0 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e m. "It's nothin
4fae0 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 g," she said. "
4faf0 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 It's just . . .
4fb00 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 nostalgia, I gue
4fb10 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 ss. It doesn't
4fb20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e matter any more.
4fb30 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 69 "..He crossed hi
4fb40 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 s arms and leane
4fb50 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 d back in his ch
4fb60 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 air. "It seems
4fb70 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 73 2e like it matters.
4fb80 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 "..She narrowed
4fb90 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e her eyes at him.
4fba0 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 61 63 74 "Are you pract
4fbb0 69 63 69 6e 67 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 icing saying thi
4fbc0 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f ngs like Dalton?
4fbd0 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 "..He laughed.
4fbe0 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 "I guess we just
4fbf0 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 pick up each ot
4fc00 68 65 72 27 73 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 73 6f 6d her's habits som
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4fc20 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 ...From the door
4fc30 77 61 79 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 way, Dalton said
4fc40 20 22 59 6f 75 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 43 72 "You failed, Cr
4fc50 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 ay."..Alley star
4fc60 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c ted again, and l
4fc70 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c ooked toward Dal
4fc80 74 6f 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 ton, surprised t
4fc90 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e o see him leanin
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4fcc0 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 lhouetted agains
4fcd0 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 t the light of t
4fce0 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 he next room..."
4fcf0 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 49 20 66 61 69 6c 2c 20 65 How do I fail, e
4fd00 78 61 63 74 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 xactly?" Cray as
4fd10 6b 65 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 ked, raising an
4fd20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f eyebrow..."If yo
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4fd40 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 tting that much
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4fd80 74 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 76 tter she just ev
4fd90 61 64 65 64 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 aded." He stepp
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4fdb0 6f 72 77 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 orway and shrugg
4fdc0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 ed. "It's none
4fdd0 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 of my business,
4fde0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 62 61 72 65 6c though. I barel
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4fe10 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 61 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 73 g," he added, as
4fe20 20 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 he sat in his c
4fe30 68 61 69 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 hair from dinner
4fe40 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f again...Cray lo
4fe50 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 oked at Alley, w
4fe60 68 6f 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 ho caught his ey
4fe70 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 e and shook her
4fe80 68 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 69 65 73 74 head the tiniest
4fe90 20 66 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6e fraction. He n
4fea0 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6a 75 73 74 odded, with just
4feb0 20 61 73 20 74 69 6e 79 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d as tiny a movem
4fec0 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 53 ent, and said "S
4fed0 6f 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 65 o, where were we
4fee0 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 ?"..Dalton said
4fef0 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 65 20 72 65 61 6c "I think we real
4ff00 69 7a 65 64 20 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 ized we couldn't
4ff10 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 get in touch wi
4ff20 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e th George, and n
4ff30 6f 77 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 ow we have to fi
4ff40 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 gure out what we
4ff50 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 're doing about
4ff60 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b the Men In Black
4ff70 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 , the prioritize
4ff80 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 r, and the fact
4ff90 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 Alley's kind of
4ffa0 69 6e 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 72 in a bad place r
4ffb0 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 ight now.".."If
4ffc0 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 this was a movie
4ffd0 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 77 ," Cray said, "w
4ffe0 65 27 64 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 e'd get in touch
4fff0 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f with someone to
50000 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 66 61 make up some fa
50010 6c 73 65 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 lse identity for
50020 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 her and smuggle
50030 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 her out to anot
50040 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 her country, may
50050 62 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 be. Then . . ."
50060 20 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2e he trailed off.
50070 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 20 41 .."What then?" A
50080 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 lley asked..."We
50090 6c 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 ll, you'd settle
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50560 20 20 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 77 65 20 "Shouldn't we
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50610 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 41 49 50 2c 20 6c 69 6b .."What AIP, lik
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50670 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 77 66 75 6c 2c 22 20 "That's awful,"
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506f0 77 6f 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 27 72 69 76 65 72 27 word for 'river'
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50710 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 "Yeah, like that
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507e0 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 .."I'm not sure
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