n2020  Hex Artifact Content

Artifact b584f2a65d0db314bfb8956f9116a64bdfd07b5bf7fa36ce9427205c2214cade:


0000: 23 20 44 65 61 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 0a 2f  # Death Alley../
0010: 2a 0a 0a 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27  *..Before Alley'
0020: 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2c 20 69  s first scene, i
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0050: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 4f 56 20 6f 66   from the POV of
0060: 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 57   -- the future W
0070: 4f 50 52 20 41 49 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  OPR AI about the
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0090: 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20   of sending the 
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00b0: 73 65 65 64 22 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69  seed" back in ti
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00d0: 65 6e 73 65 20 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72  ense Prioritizer
00e0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 69 64  ...*/../*..## id
00f0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 57 4f 50 52 20 6f 70 65  eas for WOPR ope
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12e30 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20  r a moment with 
12e40 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20  his fashionably 
12e50 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20  spartan, almost 
12e60 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63  formal-cut, blac
12e70 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69  k collarless shi
12e80 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75  rt..."Aren't you
12e90 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66   kind of young f
12ea0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20  or this sort of 
12eb0 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72  thing?" she blur
12ec0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72  ted out...He jer
12ed0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66  ked the focus of
12ee0 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20   his aqua eyes, 
12ef0 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c  reflecting the l
12f00 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e  ight of the moon
12f10 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20  , away from the 
12f20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20  vicinity of her 
12f30 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d  midsection and m
12f40 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48  et her eyes.  "H
12f50 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20  ey, lady, don't 
12f60 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f  think I'm new to
12f70 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65   this.  I'm arme
12f80 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b  d, so don't jerk
12f90 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68   me around."..Sh
12fa0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65  e hesitated, the
12fb0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20  n said "No, not 
12fc0 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20  a problem.  You 
12fd0 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72  just, uhh, surpr
12fe0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e  ised me.  Sorry.
12ff0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68  ".."Whatever," h
13000 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66  e said, in a sof
13010 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74  t, clear voice t
13020 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20  hat almost made 
13030 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20  it difficult to 
13040 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f  recognize the so
13050 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20  ur note in it.  
13060 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74  "Here, look at t
13070 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61  his," he said, a
13080 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76  nd held up a dev
13090 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20  ice the size of 
130a0 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f  his palm.  A glo
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130c0 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65  it, about the le
130d0 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20  ngth of her own 
130e0 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20  thumb and three 
130f0 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e  times the thickn
13100 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65  ess, showed an e
13110 69 67 68 74 79 2d 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74  ighty-seven Stat
13120 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72  er transaction r
13130 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20  eady for him to 
13140 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f  confirm...She no
13150 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  dded, and said "
13160 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e  Go ahead and sen
13170 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63  d it to this esc
13180 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65  row."  She pulle
13190 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 2d 65 61  d out the dog-ea
131a0 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20  red page of her 
131b0 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74  notebook without
131c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20   looking at it, 
131d0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f  and handed it to
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13200 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73   number into his
13210 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d   device and thum
13220 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61  bed the confirma
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13240 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64  later, she heard
13250 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72   the escrow aler
13260 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68  t through her ph
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13280 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  ."Done", he said
13290 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63  ..."Here's the c
132a0 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20  ash."  She hung 
132b0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20  her right thumb 
132c0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63  on her front poc
132d0 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65  ket, then reache
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13320 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79  ed it to the boy
13330 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b  ...He took it, k
13340 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20  eeping his eyes 
13350 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70  on her, and step
13360 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f  ped back.  He to
13370 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74  ssed the bag int
13380 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20  o the car, then 
13390 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65  Alley heard some
133a0 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73   rustling sounds
133b0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20   from the bag.  
133c0 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65  After a few mome
133d0 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65  nts, she realize
133e0 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69  d whoever was si
133f0 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73  tting in the pas
13400 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20  senger seat had 
13410 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67  started counting
13420 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  .  Alley and the
13430 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65   boy stood there
13440 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63  , looking at eac
13450 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79  h other, as they
13460 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c   waited.  A girl
13470 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65  's voice -- unle
13480 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65  ss it was an eve
13490 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d  n younger boy --
134a0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20   said "It's all 
134b0 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20  here."..The boy 
134c0 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63  tapped his devic
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134e0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20   once more, and 
134f0 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e  said "Are we don
13500 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20  e?".."Not yet," 
13510 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74  she said.  "Just
13520 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e   wait."  Everyon
13530 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77  e waited.  A few
13540 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20   seconds later, 
13550 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68  another alert ch
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13570 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27  ear.  "Okay, we'
13580 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64  re done.".."Good
13590 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  ," he said, and 
135a0 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20  sat back in his 
135b0 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73  car with surpris
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135d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61  Alley sat down a
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13610 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64  r backed out and
13620 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61   quickly drove a
13630 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77  way, while she w
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13660 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20   Soon she, too, 
13670 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e  was on the road.
13680 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72  .."It is too ear
13690 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68  ly to be sure th
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136c0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20  aid..."Yeah.  I 
136d0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20  should check my 
136e0 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22  Stater balance."
136f0 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65    She pulled ove
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13710 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79   glasses so they
13720 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64   wouldn't record
13730 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70   what she saw, p
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13760 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65  t the open ledge
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137c0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20  thing correct?" 
137d0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20  the prioritizer 
137e0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64  asked...She nodd
137f0 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65  ed, then realize
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13860 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e  re.  Is there an
13870 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73  y way this can s
13880 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72  omehow get rever
13890 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22  sed now?".."No,"
138a0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72   the prioritizer
138b0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73   said.  "If it s
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13960 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c  .."Okay."  She l
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139e0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c  es again.".."Oh,
139f0 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69   right," she sai
13a00 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74  d.  She picked t
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13a50 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20  .  "I guess the 
13a60 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 65 70 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20  next step is to 
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13a90 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69  can sell it.  Ri
13aa0 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f  ght?".."Yes.  Yo
13ab0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20  u should send a 
13ac0 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79  message to a buy
13ad0 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e  er tonight, then
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13b50 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65  pledged to the e
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13b70 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22  ."Yeah, got it,"
13b80 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68   she said.  "I h
13b90 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72  ope this all wor
13ba0 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68  ks out.".."It sh
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13bd0 65 2c 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20  e, occasionally 
13be0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65  looking at the e
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13c40 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f  .When she got ho
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13c90 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72   and checked her
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13cb0 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73    Everything was
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13e30 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70  She found an imp
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13e70 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 68  last time she ch
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13fb0 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65   as much for the
13fc0 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 70 61 69 64 20 62 61 63   frames paid bac
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14090 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6d 61  t..."Should I ma
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140b0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72  he asked the air
140c0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  ...The prioritiz
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14130 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 20  Fine."  She did 
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14490 0a 0a 47 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20  ..Good enough.  
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14550 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61  s of the superma
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150a0 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73  r side.  She was
150b0 6e 27 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65  n't what Alley e
150c0 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6e  xpected in an an
150d0 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74  onymous gun part
150e0 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65  s trade...The re
150f0 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 74  dhead watched st
15100 65 61 64 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  eadily as Alley 
15110 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68  approached, with
15120 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74   what turned out
15130 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 69 64 20 67 72 65   to be vivid gre
15140 65 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61  en eyes.  The la
15150 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d  ck of freckles m
15160 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61  ight mean she wa
15170 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20  s not a natural 
15180 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20  redhead, but it 
15190 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20  also might just 
151a0 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65  mean she got the
151b0 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20  m removed...The 
151c0 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 72 65  woman asked "Are
151d0 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72   you looking for
151e0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65   someone?"..Alle
151f0 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75  y stopped, a cou
15200 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e  ple meters away.
15210 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73    "Yeah, I guess
15220 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68   so.  Is that th
15230 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65  e, uh . . ." she
15240 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e   trailed off, an
15250 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68  d gestured at th
15260 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67  e drawstring bag
15270 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d  ..."Printed fram
15280 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64  es?" the redhead
15290 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e   asked...Alley n
152a0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68  odded...The redh
152b0 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d  ead pulled her m
152c0 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70  ask down and exp
152d0 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 77  osed brilliant w
152e0 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77 69 74 68 20  hite teeth with 
152f0 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20  a broad smile.  
15300 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 75 6e 64  "Yeah, you found
15310 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20   what you want. 
15320 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53   I'm Carmen."  S
15330 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66  he stood and off
15340 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20  ered one gloved 
15350 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63  hand...Alley acc
15360 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20  epted the quick 
15370 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 6c  handshake.  "Mal
15380 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f 66 66 66 65  lory," she offfe
15390 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 65 2e  red, on impulse.
153a0 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65 73 73 3a  .."Let me guess:
153b0 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f   I'm not what yo
153c0 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49  u expected.".."I
153d0 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 61   wasn't sure wha
153e0 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22 20 41 6c  t to expect," Al
153f0 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c 20 22 62  ley admitted, "b
15400 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 20  ut yeah, I gues 
15410 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65  you surprised me
15420 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65   anyway."..Carme
15430 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 61 20  n -- possibly a 
15440 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  pseudony, Alley 
15450 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c  realized -- smil
15460 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74  ed again.  "That
15470 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6a 6f   part of this jo
15480 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6c 64  b never gets old
15490 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e  .  Anyway, I wan
154a0 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e  t to upsell you.
154b0 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75    How's that sou
154c0 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20  nd?".."Upsell?" 
154d0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64   Alley hesitated
154e0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20  , then nodded.  
154f0 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22  "Sure, I guess."
15500 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53 6f 2c 20 77 65  .."Cool.  So, we
15510 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 63 6f   have printed co
15520 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 6f 6c 73 74 65  ncealment holste
15530 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e 20 61 63 63 65  rs, snap on acce
15540 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64  ssory rails, and
15550 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63 68 65 72 73 20   brass catchers 
15560 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61  for models compa
15570 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 73 65  tible with these
15580 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76   frames.  We hav
15590 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65  e stuff for othe
155a0 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73  r models, too, s
155b0 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68  o let me know wh
155c0 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f  at you'd like to
155d0 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 77 2e 20 20 46   see.".."Wow.  F
155e0 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 49 20 67  ull-service, I g
155f0 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79  uess.".."Totally
15600 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 74 75 67 67 65  !"  Carmen tugge
15610 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 64 6f 77 6e  d her shirt down
15620 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e   slightly, makin
15630 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f  g it a little mo
15640 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 65 20 77  re obvious she w
15650 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20  asn't wearing a 
15660 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49  bra..."I think I
15670 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 77  'll just stick w
15680 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 49 20  ith the order I 
15690 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e  placed, for now.
156a0 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20    I'll keep you 
156b0 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65  in mind if I nee
156c0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65  d something else
156d0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d  , though."..Carm
156e0 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64  en shrugged, and
156f0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 6c 69   the way she sli
15700 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72  ghtly raised her
15710 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64   arms as she did
15720 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69   it made the shi
15730 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73  rt tighten acros
15740 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61  s her perky brea
15750 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 41  sts.  "Okay!"..A
15760 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65  lley took in the
15770 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69   display and sli
15780 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74  ghtly over the t
15790 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20  op cheeriness.  
157a0 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e  "Does that . . .
157b0 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e   oh, never mind.
157c0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75    I guess I shou
157d0 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20  ld just see the 
157e0 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43  frames, now."..C
157f0 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68  armen narrowed h
15800 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20  er eyes, almost 
15810 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 73 75  but not quite su
15820 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  spiciously, and 
15830 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e  tilted her head.
15840 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68    "No, wait.  Wh
15850 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e  at were you goin
15860 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74  g to ask?".."Not
15870 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69  hing," Alley sai
15880 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 62  d.  "I haven't b
15890 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 63 69 61 62 6c  een very sociabl
158a0 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f  e lately, and fo
158b0 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 20  rget my manners 
158c0 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f  sometimes.".."Oo
158d0 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65  h, inappropriate
158e0 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f   questions.  Tho
158f0 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69  se are my favori
15900 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68  te kind.  You sh
15910 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b  ould totally ask
15920 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64  !"..Alley signed
15930 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77  .  "I was just w
15940 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27  ondering if you'
15950 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69  re naturally thi
15960 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c  s, uh, friendly,
15970 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c 69   or if you're li
15980 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20  ke this because 
15990 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 6c 6f  it gets you a lo
159a0 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2e 22 20 20  t of upsells."  
159b0 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2c 20  Carmen laughed, 
159c0 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20  and Alley found 
159d0 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20  it infectious.  
159e0 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 65  She caught herse
159f0 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74  lf snickering, t
15a00 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74  oo..."Why do I t
15a10 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74  hink you meant t
15a20 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72 74 79 27 20 69  o say 'flirty' i
15a30 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 72 69 65 6e  nstead of 'frien
15a40 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68  dly'?"..Alley sh
15a50 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 72 69  rugged.  She tri
15a60 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f  ed, with only mo
15a70 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20  derate success, 
15a80 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 20  to suppress her 
15a90 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 69 74 20  smile..."Was it 
15aa0 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a  that obvious?"..
15ab0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68  Alley said "Yeah
15ac0 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 53  , I guess so.  S
15ad0 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73  orry.".."I guess
15ae0 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 65   it's a bit of e
15af0 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20  verything.  I'm 
15b00 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63  usually pretty c
15b10 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 6c 69 66 66  heery, but Cliff
15b20 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79   -- he's the guy
15b30 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 2d 2d 20   I work with -- 
15b40 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49 64 65 63 69 64  Cliff and Idecid
15b50 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f  ed to try this o
15b60 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69  ut.  With the ki
15b70 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20  nd of ambitious 
15b80 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64  young cryptotrad
15b90 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c  er guys we usual
15ba0 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65  ly get, the upse
15bb0 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 62  lls and repeat b
15bc0 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 67 65 74 20 67  usiness we get g
15bd0 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20  oes way up when 
15be0 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 72  I'm doing the tr
15bf0 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65  ades.  In two ye
15c00 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64  ars, we only had
15c10 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63   one guy who dec
15c20 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20  ided me being a 
15c30 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65  pretty girl made
15c40 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 61 72 67   me an easy targ
15c50 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73  et, too, so it's
15c60 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a   pretty safe."..
15c70 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20  Alley frowned.  
15c80 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  "Yeah," she said
15c90 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74  .  "I guess that
15ca0 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68  's a danger.  Wh
15cb0 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22  at happened?".."
15cc0 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65  Oh, shit," Carme
15cd0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75  n said.  "You mu
15ce0 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 69  st be new at thi
15cf0 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c  s.  Well, I pull
15d00 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20  ed out my baton 
15d10 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 70 75 74 20 61 20  and Cliff put a 
15d20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67  red dot on the g
15d30 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74 20 77 69 74 68 20  uy's chest with 
15d40 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20 73 69 67 68 74 20  the laser sight 
15d50 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54  on his rifle.  T
15d60 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f  he guy backed do
15d70 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20  wn in a hurry.  
15d80 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67  Are you carrying
15d90 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41   protection?"..A
15da0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65  lley started ope
15db0 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74  ning her mouth t
15dc0 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 61 72  o reply, but Car
15dd0 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e  men cut in again
15de0 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65  ..."No, don't te
15df0 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72  ll me what you'r
15e00 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75  e carrying.  You
15e10 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69   shouldn't get i
15e20 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74  n the habit of t
15e30 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74  elling people st
15e40 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20  uff like that.  
15e50 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72  Get yourself thr
15e60 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f  ee things, if yo
15e70 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20  u don't already 
15e80 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e  have 'em.  You n
15e90 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79  eed pepper spray
15ea0 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69 63 20 72 65 70 65   or a sonic repe
15eb0 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73  llant, a collaps
15ec0 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62  ing baton, and b
15ed0 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20  ackup who knows 
15ee0 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c  what he's doing,
15ef0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22   like Cliff.".."
15f00 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c  Uh, thanks," All
15f10 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27  ey said.  "Aren'
15f20 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69  t those collapsi
15f30 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61  ng batons illega
15f40 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69  l?".."Yeah, Cali
15f50 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61  fornia sucks tha
15f60 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72  t way.  Girls ar
15f70 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20  en't allowed to 
15f80 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76  protect themselv
15f90 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20  es, you know."  
15fa0 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  She pulled somet
15fb0 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73  hing about the s
15fc0 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f  ize of a whitebo
15fd0 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f  ard marker out o
15fe0 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65  f her back pocke
15ff0 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20  t.  "See this?  
16000 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62  This is a good b
16010 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f  aton."..Alley lo
16020 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63  oked at the blac
16030 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69  k anodized alumi
16040 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 65  num cylinder whe
16050 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74  n Carmen held it
16060 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d   up.  It had som
16070 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f  e kind of logo o
16080 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c  n it and a coupl
16090 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f  e of depressed o
160a0 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65  vals on the side
160b0 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74  ..."Push these t
160c0 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20  wo spots to pop 
160d0 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75  it out.  Just pu
160e0 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e  sh the second on
160f0 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73  e, here, and pus
16100 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65  h the business e
16110 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 73 6e 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74  nd agaisnt somet
16120 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c  hing hard to col
16130 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20  lapse the baton 
16140 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61  back into the ha
16150 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41  ndle.  Yeah?"..A
16160 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49  lley nodded.  "I
16170 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20   guess that's a 
16180 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65  good design, the
16190 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20  n.".."Totally.  
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163f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65   with it..."Here
16400 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20  ."  She held it 
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16540 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61   an excuse to ha
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165b0 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65   she asked..."Ye
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165d0 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61  sec'," Carmen sa
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16720 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20   "Don't look at 
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16750 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69    Don't make Cli
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167c0 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61  ," Alley said, a
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167f0 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53  t.  "Thanks."  S
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168f0 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e  l.  Then, get in
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16930 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20  do this kind of 
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16970 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 68   could use the h
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18430 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74  ame way we set t
18440 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a  his up.  Yeah?".
18450 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68  ."Yeah," she ech
18460 6f 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27  oed..."If I can'
18470 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20  t find you that 
18480 77 61 79 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20  way, I'll track 
18490 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63  you down so we c
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184b0 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20   a few seconds, 
184c0 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74  she remembered t
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184e0 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20   you'll be able 
184f0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20  to get in touch 
18500 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20  the same way we 
18510 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68  set this up.  Th
18520 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a  at'll be fine.".
18530 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e  ."Good.  You can
18540 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d   find me the sam
18550 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65  e way if you nee
18560 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 61 20 70 72  d to settle a pr
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18580 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68  I gave you."..Sh
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185a0 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20   doing business 
185b0 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61  with you," he sa
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185d0 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77   first, if you w
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185f0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20  he said.  "Have 
18600 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65  a good day."..He
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18780 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b  .."What the fuck
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187b0 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a   herself...---..
187c0 53 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63  Sitting on her c
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189d0 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a  "..The prioritiz
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18b00 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a  .."What?  Why?".
18b10 0a 22 57 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e  ."While you coun
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18cc0 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e  .."That is the n
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18d20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65  and looked close
18d30 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66  r.  It felt stif
18d40 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69  fer than most bi
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18d70 74 6f 20 69 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e  to it being new.
18d80 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20    She rubbed it 
18d90 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f  to get a feel fo
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18db0 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20  nd it separated 
18dc0 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20  into two bills. 
18dd0 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65   "Oh, shit," she
18de0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63   said.  "That sc
18df0 61 72 79 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20  ary war veteran 
18e00 67 75 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79  guy accidentally
18e10 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72   gave me an extr
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18e30 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61  .  What if it wa
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18e50 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20  ?  Maybe it's a 
18e60 74 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65  test.".."That se
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18e90 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a  oritizer said...
18ea0 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67  "Yeah."  She sig
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18ed0 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65  ually.".."I have
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18f00 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c   tomorrow."..All
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18f50 20 20 22 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75    "Wait.  I shou
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19020 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64  "..Alley laughed
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19040 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f  ," she said, "yo
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19090 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64  already.  Should
190a0 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73   I count that as
190b0 20 6d 79 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c   my lucky break,
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19110 69 66 20 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67  if I meet him ag
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19130 20 68 69 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d   his misplaced m
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19170 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a  money, though.".
19180 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65  ."Why do you fee
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191b0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f  ed..."It's disho
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191d0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c  .."You did not l
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19260 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20  ."No.".."How is 
19270 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22  that dishonest?"
19280 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74  ..Alley's lips t
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192a0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73  oment.  "I guess
192b0 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74   dishonest isn't
192c0 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 77 6f 72 64 2c   the right word,
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193e0 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61  ?"../*.."Not exa
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19400 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61  guess, but he ha
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19460 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f   that I know abo
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19490 27 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 65 61 74 69 6e  't worth treatin
194a0 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 2e 22  g with respect."
194b0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64  .."I will consid
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194e0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73  prioritization s
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19500 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20  .  I'm going to 
19510 73 65 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61  send him a messa
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1e530 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 2d 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e  ..."Self-taught.
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1e710 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72  "..He swigged fr
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1e8d0 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2e  s brow furrowed.
1e8e0 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74    After a moment
1e8f0 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20   more, his brow 
1e900 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 2c 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20  smoothed,and he 
1e910 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 65  smiled, the line
1e920 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75  s around his mou
1e930 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79 65 73 20 64 65 65 70  th and eyes deep
1e940 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 49 20 67  ening.  "Oh, I g
1e950 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f 6c  et it.  Hah!  Ol
1e960 27 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d  ' Dave must've m
1e970 61 64 65 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70  ade quite an imp
1e980 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22  ression on you."
1e990 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61  ..Alley looked a
1e9a0 77 61 79 2c 20 75 6e 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74  way, unsure whet
1e9b0 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 65 6d 62 61  her to feel emba
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1e9e0 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 76 65 20  ok, I know Dave 
1e9f0 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 72  looks like he pr
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1ea10 68 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 2c 20  h for a living, 
1ea20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 73  but he just uses
1ea30 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64   the shit.  He d
1ea40 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 2c 20  oesn't make it, 
1ea50 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61  and he's about a
1ea60 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 61  s gentle as a da
1ea70 69 73 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 78 20 69  isy.  This box i
1ea80 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74  s just some part
1ea90 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 68  s I had him mach
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1eae0 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 22 41  n her chair..."A
1eaf0 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61  h, right," he sa
1eb00 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61  id.  "No, they a
1eb10 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c  ren't gun parts,
1eb20 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72   either.  They'r
1eb30 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75  e parts for a cu
1eb40 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20  stom prosthetic 
1eb50 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67  arm I'm building
1eb60 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69   for a little gi
1eb70 72 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20  rl."..Alley sat 
1eb80 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69  back in her chai
1eb90 72 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 20 73 6c 69 67  r, relaxing slig
1eba0 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 69  htly, and she si
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1ebd0 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  wing, she said "
1ebe0 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e  Really?".."Yeah.
1ebf0 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79    One of the guy
1ec00 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75  s getting the gu
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1ec20 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65  r with the frame
1ec30 73 20 49 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 61 73 20 74  s I bought has t
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1ec50 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79  daughter, nine y
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1ec90 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 63 72  ng the police cr
1eca0 61 63 6b 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70  ackdown on the p
1ecb0 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65  rotesters at the
1ecc0 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73   [ SOMETHING ] s
1ecd0 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 73 73 61 63 72 65 2e 20  treet massacre. 
1ece0 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e   She's outgrowin
1ecf0 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65  g the arm I made
1ed00 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20   for her a year 
1ed10 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a  ago, already."..
1ed20 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68  "Oh.  Right.  Th
1ed30 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20  ere's something 
1ed40 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22  about the guns."
1ed50 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68  ..He looked at h
1ed60 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22  er, sidelong.  "
1ed70 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f  What about them?
1ed80 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68  " he asked..."Uh
1ed90 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f  , after I got ho
1eda0 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79  me, I realized y
1edb0 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d  ou gave me too m
1edc0 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68  uch money.".."Wh
1edd0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20  at do you mean? 
1ede0 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20   I paid what we 
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1ee00 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20  frames were all 
1ee10 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f  good."..She shoo
1ee20 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68  k her head.  "Th
1ee30 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61  ere were two bra
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1ee50 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20  stuck together. 
1ee60 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20   I got an extra 
1ee70 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20  hundred dollars 
1ee80 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48  by accident."..H
1ee90 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e  e stared at her.
1eea0 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20  .."I, uh, don't 
1eeb0 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c  have it with me,
1eec0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61  " she said.  "Ma
1eed0 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62  ybe I can come b
1eee0 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74  ack tomorrow wit
1eef0 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c  h it."..George l
1ef00 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20  aughed.  It was 
1ef10 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65  a warm, surprise
1ef20 64 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c 20 61  d, deep laugh, a
1ef30 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 65 6e 73  nd she felt tens
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1ef50 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65  y again, despite
1ef60 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20   herself..."No, 
1ef70 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20  don't do that," 
1ef80 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20  he said, a hint 
1ef90 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c  of chuckle still
1efa0 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20   in his voice.  
1efb0 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49  "Y'know what?  I
1efc0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79   like you, Alley
1efd0 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74  .  I even like t
1efe0 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6e 61 6d 65  he way your name
1eff0 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65   describes where
1f000 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a   we first met.".
1f010 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20  .Alley smiled.  
1f020 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61  "Thanks.  What a
1f030 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65  bout your hundre
1f040 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67  d dollars, thoug
1f050 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20  h?".."Keep it.  
1f060 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68  I'll surive with
1f070 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f  out it, and I do
1f080 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20  n't think you'd 
1f090 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61  drive all the wa
1f0a0 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 74 6f  y from Perris to
1f0b0 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 61   Hunting Beach a
1f0c0 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 61  t gig courier ra
1f0d0 74 65 73 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 6e 61  tes if your fina
1f0e0 6e 63 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e  nces were feelin
1f0f0 67 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e  g really secure.
1f100 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20  "  He winked at 
1f110 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f  her.  "You're go
1f120 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  od people, Alley
1f130 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68  .".."Uh . . . th
1f140 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20  ank you.  Maybe 
1f150 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a  you are, too."..
1f160 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 49  "Yeah, maybe.  I
1f170 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74   hope so."  He t
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1f1a0 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74  ed cutting the t
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1f1e0 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 48 65  the box out.  He
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1f200 64 20 74 61 70 65 64 2d 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72  d taped-together
1f210 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 61   bundles of meta
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1f230 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 62   packing paper b
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1f250 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f 6e  t each bundle on
1f260 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72   the silicone tr
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1f290 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73  ilently, Alley s
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1f3f0 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 69   He set them asi
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1f410 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64  slightly splayed
1f420 20 6f 75 74 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72   out but the par
1f430 74 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 64 68 65 72 69 6e  ts still adherin
1f440 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 2e 20 20  g to the tape.  
1f450 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70  Finally, he stop
1f460 70 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 6b 65 70 74  ped..."I've kept
1f470 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68   you long enough
1f480 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 68  ."  He lifted th
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1f4b0 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65  e.  "Here.  Take
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1f500 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65   her...She nodde
1f510 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72  d.  "Sure.".."Ar
1f520 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20  e you saving up 
1f530 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f  for something, o
1f540 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20  r going back to 
1f550 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20  school?"..Alley 
1f560 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65  hesitated a mome
1f570 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20  nt.  "Why?"..He 
1f580 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 69  shrugged.  "Curi
1f590 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63  ous.".."Not exac
1f5a0 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67  tly.  I'm trying
1f5b0 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6f   to dig myself o
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1f5d0 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68  "Debts?"..She sh
1f5e0 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22  ook her head.  "
1f5f0 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20  I had a strange 
1f600 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64  career path, and
1f610 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20   it's dying.  I 
1f620 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76  don't really hav
1f630 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72  e the work exper
1f640 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 61 20  ience to pick a 
1f650 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73  new direction, s
1f660 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69  o I'm just worki
1f670 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41  ng on that.".."A
1f680 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20  h.  Reinventing 
1f690 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77  yourself.  The w
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1f6b0 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 74  fast it's hard t
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1f6e0 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f  stopped, and sho
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1f700 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f  n.  "I don't kno
1f710 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22  w," she says.  "
1f720 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20  A lot of people 
1f730 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20  seem to have no 
1f740 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a  problem.  They j
1f750 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c  ust go to school
1f760 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66  , get a piece of
1f770 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 6f   paper, apply fo
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1f7b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72   that way," Geor
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1f7f0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20  ".."What do you 
1f800 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e  mean?".."More an
1f810 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72  d more people ar
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1f840 6e 64 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  nd end up on the
1f850 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f   street.  Most o
1f860 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76  f them don't hav
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1f880 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 20  tion these days 
1f890 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 65  to even conceive
1f8a0 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 72   of completely r
1f8b0 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72  einventing their
1f8c0 20 70 61 74 68 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f   paths.  You loo
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1f8e0 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20  ut maybe you're 
1f8f0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77  looking in the w
1f900 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22  rong direction."
1f910 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77    He leaned forw
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1fe40 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a 20  ."My advice is: 
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1fef0 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20  because there's 
1ff00 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20  always too much 
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1ff50 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 20 74 68  though.  Keep th
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20060 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 65  ."Look at me, ge
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20090 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 73  .  If what I'm s
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20110 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 73  most of what I s
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20180 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 74    "You give bett
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201b0 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68   chuckled.  "I h
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20220 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c  so I don't reall
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20240 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 20 77   have any idea w
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20260 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74   through or what
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20290 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d 65  have to humor me
202a0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 61  .".."Maybe I sta
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20340 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49   now, though.  I
20350 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 65  t's getting late
20360 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73  .".."Yeah," he s
20370 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66  aid, "go drop of
20380 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2c  f that envelope,
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203b0 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 74   underestimate t
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203d0 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 20   a good night's 
203e0 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 6e  rest.  That's on
203f0 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 69 63  e piece of advic
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20410 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a  , for anyone."..
20420 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f  "Thanks."..He no
20430 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 20  dded, then rose 
20440 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74  and headed for t
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20470 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f  approached and o
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20490 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74  then stepped out
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204d0 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f  to her as she fo
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204f0 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 74   "Be careful out
20500 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 72   there.  The wor
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20520 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68  g place.".."Yeah
20530 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74  .".."If you want
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20550 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77  d at something w
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20570 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20  ormal' as a new 
20580 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 6c 6f  path in life, lo
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205b0 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2c  eas.  Otherwise,
205c0 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20   I wish you the 
205d0 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72  best at whatever
205e0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68   you find.".."Th
205f0 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20  anks," she said 
20600 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 6f  again.  "How sho
20610 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75  uld I get in tou
20620 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64  ch?"..He scoffed
20630 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 52   at himself.  "R
20640 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61  ight -- forgot a
20650 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 2e 22  bout that part."
20660 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20    He pulled out 
20670 68 69 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20  his wallet, and 
20680 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 75  slipped out a bu
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206a0 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 61 6e 64  longer crisp and
206b0 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75   new.  "Here you
206c0 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20   go."..She took 
206d0 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74  it, and saw that
206e0 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6e 6f   it contained no
206f0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 61  thing but an ema
20700 69 6c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61  il address and a
20710 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 65   series of lette
20720 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 2e 0a  rs and numbers..
20730 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 75 62 6c  ."That's my publ
20740 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b 65  ic encryption ke
20750 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49  y," he said.  "I
20760 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 63 72  f you don't encr
20770 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c  ypt the message,
20780 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68   it goes straigh
20790 74 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79  t to spam.  Do y
207a0 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 75  ou know how to u
207b0 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d 61  se encrypted ema
207c0 69 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a  il like that?"..
207d0 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 6e  "I use pubkey en
207e0 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 69  cryption for cli
207f0 65 6e 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 22  ents sometimes,"
20800 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f   she said..."Goo
20810 64 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20  d girl.  You're 
20820 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 68 65 61  already way ahea
20830 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 20  d of the pack.  
20840 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e  Good night, now.
20850 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 22  ".."Good night,"
20860 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61   she said with a
20870 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64   smile, and head
20880 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a 0a  ed to her car...
20890 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b  She glanced back
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208b0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 65   and saw him kee
208c0 70 69 6e 67 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20  ping watch.  He 
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20900 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 74 20 74   was almost at t
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20960 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 62  ught she meant b
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20980 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 6b   hadn't even ask
20990 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20  ed what kind of 
209a0 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2e  clients she had.
209b0 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f    Maybe, she tho
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209d0 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e  d she was talkin
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20a00 69 76 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20  iv, or when she 
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21b70 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e  ook.  "No, I don
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21b90 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22  ley answered..."
21ba0 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64  Are you involved
21bb0 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20   in too many US 
21bc0 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73  Intelligence res
21bd0 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74  earch projects t
21be0 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 22 6d 20  o know what I"m 
21bf0 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 20  talking about?" 
21c00 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73  he asked..."It's
21c10 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 2c 22 20   the opposite," 
21c20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20  she said, as if 
21c30 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27  really she didn'
21c40 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72  t think he under
21c50 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  stood.  "I don't
21c60 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61   know anything a
21c70 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65  bout any US Inte
21c80 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63  lligence researc
21c90 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 79  h projects in my
21ca0 20 6c 69 66 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e   life right now.
21cb0 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f    Do you want to
21cc0 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75   tell me why you
21cd0 27 72 65 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f  're here, or sho
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21d10 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68  narrowed, and sh
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21d60 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c   leaned into All
21d70 65 79 27 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 70  ey's personal sp
21d80 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64  ace.  He blocked
21d90 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 65   half of the vie
21da0 77 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77  w between the tw
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21dd0 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20  losed her mouth 
21de0 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64  again, surprised
21df0 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f   by the intrusio
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21e10 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20   have access to 
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21e90 20 66 6f 72 20 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47   for Professor G
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21ee0 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f  ?" he asked..."O
21ef0 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64  h.  Yeah.  Why d
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21f40 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 67  ly backed off ag
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21f60 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74   you did not act
21f70 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 69  ually read the i
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21fa0 6f 75 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72  ou signed up for
21fb0 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68   the study."..Sh
21fc0 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20  e shrugged.  "I 
21fd0 64 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  did, but I don't
21fe0 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 20   remember every 
21ff0 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 74  single word of t
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22010 20 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65   It must have be
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22030 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72   well.".."Why ar
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22050 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73   your AR glasses
22060 3f 22 20 68 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61  ?" he suddenly a
22070 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 72 65  sked..."Let's re
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22090 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 79 6f  t when I told yo
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220b0 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6a 61 6d 61 73 2c 22   in my pajamas,"
220c0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65   Alley said...He
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22110 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20  ing?".."This is 
22120 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c  starting to feel
22130 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79   like we're play
22140 69 6e 67 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 71 75 65 73 74  ing twenty quest
22150 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20  ions after all. 
22160 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 6c   No, I haven't l
22170 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e  ooked at my phon
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221a0 66 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 64 65 63 65 6e 74 20  f barely decent 
221b0 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f  to answer the do
221c0 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20  or, and came to 
221d0 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 65  welcome you chee
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221f0 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68   to my door.  Wh
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22210 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d  you check your m
22220 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65  essages.".."Fine
22230 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  ," Alley said.  
22240 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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222c0 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20   the door, then 
222d0 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68  sat on the couch
222e0 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72   and plucked her
222f0 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20   phone from the 
22300 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 20  charging plate. 
22310 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66   A message notif
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22330 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64  at her...Alley d
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223c0 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61   to give the gla
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223e0 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74  who would come t
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22440 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20  d ". . . men?"  
22450 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20  She wondered if 
22460 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 65 78  the professor ex
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22480 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69   people, but thi
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224c0 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a   Men In Black...
224d0 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73  /* Without the s
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224f0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20  the prioritizer 
22500 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20  could not speak 
22510 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 75 64 69 62 6c 79 2c 20  to her audibly, 
22520 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78 74  but it used text
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22540 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63  prioritizer plac
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22570 54 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61  There does not a
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22590 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79   choice in how y
225a0 6f 75 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22  ou handle this,"
225b0 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68   it said..."Yeah
225c0 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20  , no kidding."  
225d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74  Alley returned t
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22640 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20  Alley..."Here," 
22650 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70  she said.  She p
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22820 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65  the light stoppe
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22850 64 69 73 63 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b  disc in her pock
22860 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20  et..."Thank you 
22870 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f c3 b6 70 65 72  for your co..per
22880 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61  ation," the woma
22890 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 75 72  n said in a sour
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228d0 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65  epted the glasse
228e0 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f  s, donned them o
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22900 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64  ked "Do you need
22910 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 3f 22   anything else?"
22920 0a 0a 22 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61  .."We'll come ba
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22940 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 22 20 74 68  ything else," th
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22960 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65  ng it sound like
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22980 79 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20  y ignored that. 
22990 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f   "Do you want to
229a0 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68   tell me what th
229b0 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61  e hell this is a
229c0 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c  ll about?".."No,
229d0 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a  " the man said..
229e0 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61  ."Have a good da
229f0 79 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65  y."  Alley spoke
22a00 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67   without feeling
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22a80 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74  lly?".."I do not
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22ac0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 65  Alley flipped he
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22b60 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 61 62 73 6f 72 62 65 64 20    This absorbed 
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22c10 2c 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20  , following her 
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22c30 74 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65  t impression the
22c40 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 64   people at her d
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24260 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 76 65 72 74 65 64 20 74 68  also inverted th
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242b0 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 79 73  guidance for sys
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242d0 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c  eah, I get that,
242e0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e  " Alley said, an
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24370 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20  ..."You seem to 
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243a0 49 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 66 6f 72  I searched infor
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243c0 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 6f  cademic papers o
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24430 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20   having instant 
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24490 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61    I should proba
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24500 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6d 79 20 63 61   to change my ca
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246d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 64  Alley chuckled d
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246f0 54 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63  The best guidanc
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24890 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20  .."Was that the 
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248e0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 67  a couple days ag
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24a00 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65  ."What do you me
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24b70 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 76 61 6c 75 65  "What if I value
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2a570 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 77  h and made her w
2a580 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 20 69  ay to the curb i
2a590 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67  n front of Georg
2a5a0 65 27 73 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e  e's house again.
2a5b0 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68    By the time sh
2a5c0 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f  e reached his do
2a5d0 6f 72 2c 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 72 65 61  or, he had alrea
2a5e0 64 79 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72  dy opened it for
2a5f0 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68   her.  He must h
2a600 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e  ave been watchin
2a610 67 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 72 69 76 61  g for her arriva
2a620 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c  l..."Come on in,
2a630 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73  " he said, and s
2a640 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 62 65 66  tepped aside bef
2a650 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20  ore closing the 
2a660 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e  door behind her.
2a670 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f  ..She moved into
2a680 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d   the living room
2a690 20 61 72 65 61 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65   area and resume
2a6a0 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  d her seat from 
2a6b0 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65  the night before
2a6c0 2e 20 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 6c  .  George shortl
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2a6e0 63 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20  ch again.  This 
2a6f0 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65  time, there were
2a700 20 6e 6f 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 6f   no parts or too
2a710 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 66 66 65 65  ls on the coffee
2a720 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 72 65 20 74   table.  Where t
2a730 68 65 20 74 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 74 68 65 20  he tray sat the 
2a740 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 6e 6f  night before, no
2a750 77 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79  w there was only
2a760 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 63 6f 76 65 72 20 62 6f 6f   a hardcover boo
2a770 6b 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 65 72 20 6c  k...He saw her l
2a780 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f  ooking at the bo
2a790 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 47 72 65 67 20 45 67 61 6e 2c  ok.  "Greg Egan,
2a7a0 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  " George said.  
2a7b0 22 48 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20  "He's one of my 
2a7c0 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73  favorite authors
2a7d0 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20  .  It's science 
2a7e0 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72  fiction, the har
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2a800 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 65  s it's the harde
2a810 73 74 20 64 72 75 67 20 49 20 75 73 65 2c 20 74  st drug I use, t
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2a830 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 73 61 79 20 61 6c 63 6f  e might say alco
2a840 68 6f 6c 20 62 65 61 74 73 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49  hol beats it.  I
2a850 66 20 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 49 20  f so, though, I 
2a860 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e  think they haven
2a870 27 74 20 61 70 70 72 65 63 69 61 74 65 64 20 45  't appreciated E
2a880 67 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 61 6d 75 73 65  gan."..Her amuse
2a890 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68  d smile broke th
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2a8b0 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73   realized it was
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2a8d0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20  never read that 
2a8e0 61 75 74 68 6f 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69  author," she sai
2a8f0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e  d..."Hell, I don
2a900 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 6f  't even think mo
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2a920 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20  s have read him 
2a930 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27  these days.  It'
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2a960 6e 74 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 73 69 6d 6f 76 20  nts like Asimov 
2a970 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 61 72 6b 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64  and Clarke stood
2a980 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 65 66 72 6f 6e   at the forefron
2a990 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 72 65 2e 20  t of the genre. 
2a9a0 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 61   It's getting ha
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2a9c0 65 74 20 66 72 65 73 68 20 66 69 78 65 73 2e 20  et fresh fixes. 
2a9d0 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 66 75   Everything's fu
2a9e0 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 6d 61 74 65 20 61 70  ll of climate ap
2a9f0 6f 63 61 6c 79 70 73 65 73 2c 20 6d 69 6e 64 6c  ocalypses, mindl
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2aa10 6c 65 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 68 69 6e  lers with a thin
2aa20 20 63 6f 61 74 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65   coat of science
2aa30 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 75 74 75 72 69 73   fiction futuris
2aa40 74 69 63 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70  tic technology p
2aa50 61 69 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72  aint, and self r
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2aa70 6e 67 20 62 79 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 20 77 68  ng by authors wh
2aa80 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20  o think all the 
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2aaa0 72 69 65 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73  ries have been s
2aab0 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6f  olved, leaving o
2aac0 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72  nly the work for
2aad0 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 73 2e 20   the engineers. 
2aae0 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67   It's depressing
2aaf0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20  .".."I can tell 
2ab00 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 70 61  you're pretty pa
2ab10 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 74 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74  ssionate about t
2ab20 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20  his.".."Yeah, I 
2ab30 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20  guess so.  What 
2ab40 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c  do you read, All
2ab50 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6e 6f  ey?".."Mostly no
2ab60 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73  nfiction, I gues
2ab70 73 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 62 69 6f 67 72 61 70 68  s, like biograph
2ab80 69 65 73 2c 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20  ies, historical 
2ab90 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67  books, and thing
2aba0 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61  s where a journa
2abb0 6c 69 73 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73  list gets obsess
2abc0 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e  ed with some mun
2abd0 64 61 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65  dane but obscure
2abe0 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79   subject for a y
2abf0 65 61 72 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77  ear or two and w
2ac00 72 69 74 65 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f  rites a long boo
2ac10 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20  k about all the 
2ac20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74  weird stuff most
2ac30 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65   people would ne
2ac40 76 65 72 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74  ver know about t
2ac50 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72  he subject other
2ac60 77 69 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54  wise.".."Hmm.  T
2ac70 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e  hat's interestin
2ac80 67 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20  g.  I guess you 
2ac90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69  don't like ficti
2aca0 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e  on as much, then
2acb0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72  .".."I like to r
2acc0 65 61 64 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d  ead fiction, som
2acd0 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20  etimes.  I just 
2ace0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65  don't usually se
2acf0 65 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68  e a novel and th
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2ad10 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65  to read it.  Whe
2ad20 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77  n someone I know
2ad30 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65   recommends some
2ad40 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f   novel, I'll pro
2ad50 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2c 20 75  bably read it, u
2ad60 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61  nless I've alrea
2ad70 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62  dy been burned b
2ad80 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20  y that person's 
2ad90 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74  bad taste in lit
2ada0 65 72 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e  erature recommen
2adb0 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22  dations before."
2adc0 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65  ..George chuckle
2add0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76  d at that.  "I'v
2ade0 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65  e gotten some re
2adf0 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f  al stinkers reco
2ae00 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62  mmended to me, b
2ae10 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b  efore, too.  I k
2ae20 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61  now what you mea
2ae30 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a  n about that."..
2ae40 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61  Alley gave him a
2ae50 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c  n answering smil
2ae60 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75  e.  "Anyway, you
2ae70 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65   shelves tell me
2ae80 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20   you read a lot 
2ae90 6f 66 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74  of nonfiction, t
2aea0 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64  oo."..He glanced
2aeb0 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e   at the texts on
2aec0 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20   the shelves of 
2aed0 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20  the book cases. 
2aee0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64   "Yeah," he said
2aef0 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65  , "I'm always re
2af00 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e  ading something.
2af10 20 20 49 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74    I try to get t
2af20 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e  hrough more than
2af30 20 74 77 6f 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c   two educational
2af40 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b   books of some k
2af50 69 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20  ind every year, 
2af60 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20  usually hitting 
2af70 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f 72 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 62  three or four, b
2af80 75 74 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72  ut I make up for
2af90 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73   it on the years
2afa0 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20   with only one, 
2afb0 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62  or none.  I prob
2afc0 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f  ably average abo
2afd0 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72  ut one novel per
2afe0 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72   wee, too, so pr
2aff0 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73  obably the oppos
2b000 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72  ite of how you r
2b010 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74  ead.".."Not quit
2b020 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22  e," she said.  "
2b030 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20  I probably read 
2b040 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 73 20  a couple novels 
2b050 61 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79  a year, but only
2b060 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f   six or eight no
2b070 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 69  nfiction books i
2b080 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e  n the same year.
2b090 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f  ".."It sounds to
2b0a0 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73   me like you wis
2b0b0 68 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c  h you read more,
2b0c0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61  " he said..."Yea
2b0d0 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e  h, I guess I do.
2b0e0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73  ".."One of the s
2b0f0 65 63 72 65 74 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61  ecrets of my rea
2b100 64 69 6e 67 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20  ding success is 
2b110 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 68 65  that I limit the
2b120 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 67 6c   time I spend gl
2b130 75 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65  ued to a compute
2b140 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65  r screen.  There
2b150 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20   are people who 
2b160 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74  read a whole lot
2b170 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c   more than I do,
2b180 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e   though."..She n
2b190 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e  odded.  "I know.
2b1a0 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20    My uncle used 
2b1b0 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f  to read about fo
2b1c0 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73  ur or five times
2b1d0 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e   as much as you.
2b1e0 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79    My ex probably
2b1f0 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20   reads about as 
2b200 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74  much as you, but
2b210 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64   he has a friend
2b220 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74   who reads a lot
2b230 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59   more, too.".."Y
2b240 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75  our ex?  Are you
2b250 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68   divorced?".."Oh
2b260 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61  , uh, no.  He wa
2b270 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57  s my fianc...  W
2b280 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61  e broke it off a
2b290 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67   couple years ag
2b2a0 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f  o.".."That's too
2b2b0 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61   bad.  Do you wa
2b2c0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74  nt to talk about
2b2d0 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66   why?"..She shif
2b2e0 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e  ted her position
2b2f0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20   in the chair.  
2b300 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62  "Well . . . mayb
2b310 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20  e not.  There's 
2b320 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73  some political s
2b330 74 75 66 66 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61  tuff involved, a
2b340 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c  nd I don't reall
2b350 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e  y want to get in
2b360 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20  to some kind of 
2b370 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68  argument over th
2b380 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74  e politics of it
2b390 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20  .".."Hmm.  That 
2b3a0 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20  sounds ominous. 
2b3b0 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69   Was he a politi
2b3c0 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e  cian?".."No. . .
2b3d0 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20   ."  She looked 
2b3e0 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20  away..."Sorry.  
2b3f0 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73  I'm just curious
2b400 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e  .  I'll drop it.
2b410 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65  ".."Thanks," she
2b420 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73   said.  "I guess
2b430 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75  .".."Why did you
2b440 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61  r uncle stop rea
2b450 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a  ding so much?"..
2b460 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69  "Huh?".."You sai
2b470 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61  d he used to rea
2b480 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f  d hundreds of bo
2b490 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79  oks a year.  Why
2b4a0 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73   did you say 'us
2b4b0 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20  ed to'?".."Oh," 
2b4c0 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65  she sighed.  "He
2b4d0 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f   died, years ago
2b4e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74  .".."I'm sorry t
2b4f0 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65  o hear it.".."Ye
2b500 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  ah," she said.  
2b510 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67  "He decided to g
2b520 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 69 6e 20 49 64  o off grid in Id
2b530 61 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64  aho, in the midd
2b540 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20  le of nowhere.  
2b550 44 61 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 20 74  Dad took me up t
2b560 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70  o see him a coup
2b570 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20  le times, and I 
2b580 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 20 6d  really enjoyed m
2b590 79 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20  yself with him, 
2b5a0 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77  but then there w
2b5b0 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 46  as a series of F
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2d760 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61   home.  Technica
2d770 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20  lly, she is not 
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2d7c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61  , and California
2d7d0 20 6c 61 77 20 69 73 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79   law is unlikely
2d7e0 20 74 6f 20 73 69 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 5a 65   to side with Ze
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2d810 75 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 61 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72  used by a corpor
2d820 61 74 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 76 61 64 65 72  ate home invader
2d830 2e 0a 0a 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20  ...None of this 
2d840 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 73 61 66 65  means she's safe
2d850 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 72 70 6f   from that corpo
2d860 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20  ration, though. 
2d870 20 54 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20   The Technocrat 
2d880 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69  would totally fi
2d890 6e 64 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65  nd a way to make
2d8a0 20 68 65 72 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69   her disappear i
2d8b0 66 20 73 6f 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 64 2e 20 20 48  f so desired.  H
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2d8d0 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 79 65 64 3f 20 20 54 68 65 72   conveyed?  Ther
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2d8f0 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74  nformation about
2d900 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 2f   the person and/
2d910 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69  or the corporati
2d920 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20  on to give this 
2d930 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 6f 65  impression...Doe
2d940 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74  s she learn that
2d950 20 74 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20   the Technocrat 
2d960 77 61 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20  was involved in 
2d970 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63  the disappearanc
2d980 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 61  e of her uncle a
2d990 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 3f 20 20 49  t this point?  I
2d9a0 66 20 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64  f so, this could
2d9b0 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73   become the firs
2d9c0 74 20 70 69 6e 63 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 0a 0a  t pinch point...
2d9d0 2a 2f 0a                                         */.