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103d0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ?".."Do you have
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10440 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 . . . no, not r
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10470 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ".."Now is a goo
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10f80 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 ."Oh.".."If I ha
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10fa0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d the relative im
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10fc0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c goals, please l
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10fe0 63 61 6e 20 72 65 63 61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 65 20 can recalculate
10ff0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 prioritization."
11000 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b .."No, that work
11010 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b s for me. Thank
11020 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 s.".."Good. We
11030 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 79 20 should start by
11040 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 looking at crypt
11050 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 ocurrency prices
11060 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 6f 75 ."..Two more hou
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110c0 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e Stater, the stan
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110e0 20 74 68 65 20 4c 79 64 69 61 6e 20 64 69 67 69 the Lydian digi
110f0 74 61 6c 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 65 74 74 tal account sett
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11110 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 77 61 She set up a wa
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111a0 2a 2f 20 46 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 */ For the sake
111b0 6f 66 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 of keeping some
111c0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 61 66 65 information safe
111d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 6e from digital sn
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111f0 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 notebook and pe
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11220 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f became an obvio
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11290 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 72 72 s she would carr
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112e0 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f sure she was no
112f0 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c t wearing the gl
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11330 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c so that it woul
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11360 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 that could be u
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113b0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 once she had th
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11410 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 dollars anywhere
11420 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 in the Inland E
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11440 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 76 69 61 20 65 a message via e
11450 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 ncrypted applica
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11470 6f 70 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 op to ask about
11480 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 61 buying a small a
11490 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c mount of Stater,
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114b0 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 response almost
114c0 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 immediately. It
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114f0 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 place in a polic
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11520 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 ed at the messag
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11580 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
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127c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 , and she opened
127d0 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 her door. The
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12880 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 car, and tugged
12890 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 61 her stocking ca
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128b0 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 lower on her hea
128c0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 d...A figure in
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12970 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c crossover, diml
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129e0 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 t. Alley heard
129f0 71 75 69 65 74 20 76 6f 69 63 65 73 2c 20 6e 65 quiet voices, ne
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12b40 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c d...Alley saw bl
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12c90 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 and a narrow, st
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12cf0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f than her. It o
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12d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 look female...H
12d50 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 e just looked ve
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12d70 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 river gave her a
12d80 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f n appraising loo
12d90 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 k, the impersona
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12db0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 ind of look that
12dc0 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 lingered on the
12dd0 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 way her cargo p
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12df0 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 fit her and wou
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12e10 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 her teeth on edg
12e20 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 e, but she just
12e30 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f stared at him fo
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12e50 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 his fashionably
12e60 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 spartan, almost
12e70 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 formal-cut, blac
12e80 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 k collarless shi
12e90 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 rt..."Aren't you
12ea0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 kind of young f
12eb0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 or this sort of
12ec0 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 thing?" she blur
12ed0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 ted out...He jer
12ee0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 ked the focus of
12ef0 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 his aqua eyes,
12f00 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c reflecting the l
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12f20 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 , away from the
12f30 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 vicinity of her
12f40 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d midsection and m
12f50 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 et her eyes. "H
12f60 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ey, lady, don't
12f70 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f think I'm new to
12f80 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 this. I'm arme
12f90 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b d, so don't jerk
12fa0 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 me around."..Sh
12fb0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 e hesitated, the
12fc0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 n said "No, not
12fd0 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 a problem. You
12fe0 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 just, uhh, surpr
12ff0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e ised me. Sorry.
13000 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 ".."Whatever," h
13010 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 e said, in a sof
13020 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 t, clear voice t
13030 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 hat almost made
13040 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 it difficult to
13050 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f recognize the so
13060 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 ur note in it.
13070 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 "Here, look at t
13080 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 his," he said, a
13090 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 nd held up a dev
130a0 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 ice the size of
130b0 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f his palm. A glo
130c0 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 wing display on
130d0 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 it, about the le
130e0 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 ngth of her own
130f0 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 thumb and three
13100 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e times the thickn
13110 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 ess, showed an e
13120 69 67 68 74 79 2d 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 ighty-seven Stat
13130 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 er transaction r
13140 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 eady for him to
13150 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f confirm...She no
13160 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 dded, and said "
13170 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e Go ahead and sen
13180 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 d it to this esc
13190 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 row." She pulle
131a0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 2d 65 61 d out the dog-ea
131b0 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 red page of her
131c0 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 notebook without
131d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 looking at it,
131e0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f and handed it to
131f0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e the boy. He en
13200 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 tered the escrow
13210 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 number into his
13220 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d device and thum
13230 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 bed the confirma
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13250 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 later, she heard
13260 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 the escrow aler
13270 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 t through her ph
13280 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a one's earpiece..
13290 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ."Done", he said
132a0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 ..."Here's the c
132b0 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 ash." She hung
132c0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 her right thumb
132d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 on her front poc
132e0 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 ket, then reache
132f0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 d into the car w
13300 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e ith her left han
13310 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 d to pull out th
13320 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 e bag. She hand
13330 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
13340 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b ...He took it, k
13350 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 eeping his eyes
13360 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 on her, and step
13370 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f ped back. He to
13380 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 ssed the bag int
13390 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 o the car, then
133a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 Alley heard some
133b0 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 rustling sounds
133c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 from the bag.
133d0 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 After a few mome
133e0 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 nts, she realize
133f0 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 d whoever was si
13400 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 tting in the pas
13410 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 senger seat had
13420 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 started counting
13430 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 . Alley and the
13440 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 boy stood there
13450 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 , looking at eac
13460 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 h other, as they
13470 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c waited. A girl
13480 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 's voice -- unle
13490 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 ss it was an eve
134a0 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d n younger boy --
134b0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 said "It's all
134c0 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 here."..The boy
134d0 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 tapped his devic
134e0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 e with his thumb
134f0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 once more, and
13500 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e said "Are we don
13510 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 e?".."Not yet,"
13520 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 she said. "Just
13530 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e wait." Everyon
13540 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 e waited. A few
13550 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 seconds later,
13560 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 another alert ch
13570 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 imed in Alley's
13580 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 ear. "Okay, we'
13590 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 re done.".."Good
135a0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ," he said, and
135b0 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 sat back in his
135c0 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 car with surpris
135d0 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a ing quickness...
135e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 Alley sat down a
135f0 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c nd hurriedly pul
13600 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 led her door shu
13610 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 t. The crossove
13620 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 r backed out and
13630 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 quickly drove a
13640 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 way, while she w
13650 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e as still bucklin
13660 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 g her seatbelt.
13670 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 Soon she, too,
13680 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e was on the road.
13690 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 .."It is too ear
136a0 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 ly to be sure th
136b0 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 at went well," t
136c0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
136d0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 aid..."Yeah. I
136e0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 should check my
136f0 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 Stater balance."
13700 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 She pulled ove
13710 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 r, set aside her
13720 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 glasses so they
13730 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 wouldn't record
13740 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 what she saw, p
13750 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f icked up her pho
13760 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ne, and looked a
13770 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 t the open ledge
13780 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 r view. She now
13790 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 had a Stater ba
137a0 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 lance. She star
137b0 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 ed at it for a w
137c0 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 hile..."Is every
137d0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 thing correct?"
137e0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
137f0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 asked...She nodd
13800 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ed, then realize
13810 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f d it probably co
13820 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 uldn't tell she
13830 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 nodded when she
13840 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 wasn't wearing t
13850 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 he glasses. "Ye
13860 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 ah, it's all the
13870 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e re. Is there an
13880 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 y way this can s
13890 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 omehow get rever
138a0 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 sed now?".."No,"
138b0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
138c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 said. "If it s
138d0 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c hows in your bal
138e0 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ance, that shoul
138f0 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 d mean the trans
13900 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 action crossed t
13910 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 he point of no r
13920 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 eturn, according
13930 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 to the Stater d
13940 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f ocuments you sho
13950 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 wed to me throug
13960 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 h your glasses."
13970 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c .."Okay." She l
13980 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c ocked her phone,
13990 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 tossed it on th
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139b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 , and started dr
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139f0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c es again.".."Oh,
13a00 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 right," she sai
13a10 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 d. She picked t
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13a60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 . "I guess the
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13a80 62 75 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 buy something wi
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13aa0 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 can sell it. Ri
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13ad0 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 message to a buy
13ae0 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e er tonight, then
13af0 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 buy the item wh
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13b60 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 pledged to the e
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13b80 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 ."Yeah, got it,"
13b90 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 she said. "I h
13ba0 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 ope this all wor
13bb0 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 ks out.".."It sh
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13bf0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 looking at the e
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13c50 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f .When she got ho
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13ca0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and checked her
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13cc0 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 Everything was
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13cf0 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c far as she coul
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13d20 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 ow, she donned h
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13d40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f and started loo
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13dd0 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 6e of half a dozen
13de0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 73 20 73 of the worlds s
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13e40 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d .She found an im
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13e80 20 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 last time she c
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13f60 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 Marrakesh would
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13fe0 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e back in dollars.
13ff0 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6d 65 She checked me
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14050 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c to buy a multipl
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14070 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 trader like the
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140a0 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 left..."Should I
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140c0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 " she asked the
140d0 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 air...The priori
140e0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 20 tizer answered.
140f0 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b "This looks lik
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14120 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 have found.".."
14130 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
14140 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 "Fine." She d
14150 69 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 72 65 73 65 id a little rese
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141a0 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 planned to buy a
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14260 20 20 44 6f 75 62 6c 65 2d 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e Double-checkin
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14280 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e e of that was in
14290 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 cluded in the fr
142a0 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 ames. She sent
142b0 61 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 a reply to the c
142c0 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 2c 20 74 68 lassified ad, th
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142e0 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e bed. She had n
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14300 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 73 she was done, s
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14320 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 ..The next morni
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14340 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 62 for a response b
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143b0 65 74 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 et in San Bernar
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143e0 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 70 20 on a street map
143f0 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 and noticed it w
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14430 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 49 2d just south of I-
14440 31 30 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 10, where it see
14450 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d med to be custom
14460 61 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 ary for people t
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14480 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 77 tments on fire w
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144a0 75 74 2e 0a 0a 47 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 ut...Good enough
144b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 61 . She liked tha
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144d0 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 he would show u
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14510 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 mething to conce
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14610 72 2e 0a 0a 52 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 r...Rather than
14620 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 reply, she set u
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146b0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e for an in-person
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146e0 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 20 20 for the trade.
146f0 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 One of the times
14700 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 was hours befor
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14740 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 One of the locat
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14770 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 from the night
14780 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 before, and she
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147c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 63 61 other sketchy ca
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147e0 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 61 20 6c 6f o she chose a lo
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14840 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 here, only about
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14940 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 back, which wou
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14970 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 to provide the
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149a0 20 72 6f 61 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 road if he lost
149b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 . She never not
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149e0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 like this might
149f0 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a be the answer..
14a00 0a 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 .Open Marrakesh
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14a80 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 the funds to th
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14aa0 65 73 65 72 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 eserved the purc
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14ac0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 getting ready t
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14af0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 ecided she had e
14b00 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 nough time to sa
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14b60 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 74 68 s she learned th
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14bc0 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 A few more minu
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14c00 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ty owner could n
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14cf0 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 .That was not th
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14ec0 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 The other was a
14ed0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c black late model
14ee0 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 72 Audi with a per
14ef0 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 son in the front
14f00 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 seat. The wind
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14f80 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 at...As she appr
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14fa0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 , she saw that a
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15020 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2e nd black gloves.
15030 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 Some kind of c
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150b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 other side. Sh
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150f0 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 parts trade...T
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15120 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c lley approached,
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15160 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b he lack of freck
15170 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 les might mean s
15180 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 he was not a nat
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151a0 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 t it also might
151b0 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f just mean she go
151c0 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a t them removed..
151d0 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 .The woman asked
151e0 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e "Are you lookin
151f0 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a g for someone?".
15200 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 .Alley stopped,
15210 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 a couple meters
15220 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 away. "Yeah, I
15230 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 guess so. Is th
15240 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e at the, uh . . .
15250 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 " she trailed of
15260 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 f, and gestured
15270 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e at the drawstrin
15280 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 g bag..."Printed
15290 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 frames?" the re
152a0 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c dhead asked...Al
152b0 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 ley nodded...The
152c0 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 redhead pulled
152d0 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e her mask down an
152e0 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 d exposed brilli
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15300 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 with a broad smi
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15320 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 found what you w
15330 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e ant. I'm Carmen
15340 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e ." She stood an
15350 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c d offered one gl
15360 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 oved hand...Alle
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15380 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 uick handshake.
15390 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 "Mallory," she
153a0 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 offered, on impu
153b0 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 lse..."Let me gu
153c0 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 ess: I'm not wha
153d0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 t you expected."
153e0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 .."I wasn't sure
153f0 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c what to expect,
15400 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 " Alley admitted
15410 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 , "but yeah, I g
15420 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 uess you surpris
15430 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a ed me anyway."..
15440 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 Carmen -- possib
15450 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 ly a pseudonym,
15460 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d Alley realized -
15470 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 - smiled again.
15480 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 "That part of t
15490 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 his job never ge
154a0 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c ts old. Anyway,
154b0 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c I want to upsel
154c0 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 l you. How's th
154d0 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 at sound?".."Ups
154e0 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 ell?" Alley hes
154f0 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 itated, then nod
15500 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 ded. "Sure, I g
15510 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 uess.".."Cool.
15520 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e So, we have prin
15530 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 ted concealment
15540 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f holsters, snap o
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15560 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 s, and brass cat
15570 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 chers for models
15580 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 compatible with
15590 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 these frames.
155a0 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f We have stuff fo
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155c0 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b too, so let me k
155d0 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c now what you'd l
155e0 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ike to see.".."W
155f0 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 ow. Full-servic
15600 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 e, I guess.".."T
15610 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e otally!" Carmen
15620 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 tugged her shir
15630 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c t down slightly,
15640 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 making it a lit
15650 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 tle more obvious
15660 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 she wasn't wear
15670 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 ing a bra..."I t
15680 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 hink I'll just s
15690 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 tick with the or
156a0 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f der I placed, fo
156b0 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 r now. I'll kee
156c0 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 p you in mind if
156d0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e I need somethin
156e0 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 g else, though."
156f0 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..Carmen shrugge
15700 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 d, and the way s
15710 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 he slightly rais
15720 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 ed her arms as s
15730 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 he did it made t
15740 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e he shirt tighten
15750 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b across her perk
15760 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 y breasts. "Oka
15770 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 y!"..Alley took
15780 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 in the display a
15790 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 nd slightly over
157a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e the top cheerin
157b0 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 ess. "Does that
157c0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 . . . oh, never
157d0 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 mind. I guess
157e0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 I should just se
157f0 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f e the frames, no
15800 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 w."..Carmen narr
15810 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 owed her eyes, a
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15830 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 ite suspiciously
15840 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and tilted her
15850 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 head. "No, wai
15860 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f t. What were yo
15870 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 u going to ask?"
15880 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c .."Nothing," All
15890 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 ey said. "I hav
158a0 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 en't been very s
158b0 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 ociable lately,
158c0 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 and forget my ma
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158e0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f ".."Ooh, inappro
158f0 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 priate questions
15900 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 . Those are my
15910 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 favorite kind.
15920 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c You should total
15930 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ly ask!"..Alley
15940 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 signed. "I was
15950 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 just wondering i
15960 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c f you're natural
15970 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 ly this, uh, fri
15980 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 endly, or if you
15990 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 're like this be
159a0 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f cause it gets yo
159b0 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c u a lot of upsel
159c0 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 ls." Carmen lau
159d0 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ghed, and Alley
159e0 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 found it infecti
159f0 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 ous. She caught
15a00 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 herself snicker
15a10 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 ing, too..."Why
15a20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d do I think you m
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15a40 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 rty' instead of
15a50 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 'friendly'?"..Al
15a60 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 ley shrugged. S
15a70 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f he tried, with o
15a80 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 nly moderate suc
15a90 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 cess, to suppres
15aa0 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 s her smile..."W
15ab0 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f as it that obvio
15ac0 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 us?"..Alley said
15ad0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Yeah, I guess
15ae0 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 so. Sorry.".."I
15af0 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 guess it's a bi
15b00 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e t of everything.
15b10 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 I'm usually pr
15b20 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 etty cheery, but
15b30 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 Cliff -- he's t
15b40 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 he guy I work wi
15b50 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 th -- Cliff and
15b60 49 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 I decided to try
15b70 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 this out. With
15b80 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 the kind of amb
15b90 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 itious young cry
15ba0 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 ptotrader guys w
15bb0 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 e usually get, t
15bc0 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 he upsells and r
15bd0 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 epeat business w
15be0 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 e get goes way u
15bf0 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 p when I'm doing
15c00 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e the trades. In
15c10 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f two years, we o
15c20 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 nly had one guy
15c30 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 who decided me b
15c40 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 eing a pretty gi
15c50 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 rl made me an ea
15c60 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 sy target, too,
15c70 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 so it's pretty s
15c80 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f afe."..Alley fro
15c90 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 wned. "Yeah," s
15ca0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 he said. "I gue
15cb0 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 ss that's a dang
15cc0 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e er. What happen
15cd0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c ed?".."Oh, shit,
15ce0 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 " Carmen said.
15cf0 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 "You must be new
15d00 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c at this. Well,
15d10 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 I pulled out my
15d20 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 baton and Cliff
15d30 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f put a red dot o
15d40 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 n the guy's ches
15d50 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 t with the laser
15d60 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 sight on his ri
15d70 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 fle. The guy ba
15d80 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 cked down in a h
15d90 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 urry. Are you c
15da0 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 arrying protecti
15db0 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 on?"..Alley star
15dc0 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 ted opening her
15dd0 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 mouth to reply,
15de0 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 but Carmen cut i
15df0 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 n again..."No, d
15e00 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 on't tell me wha
15e10 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e t you're carryin
15e20 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 g. You shouldn'
15e30 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 t get in the hab
15e40 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 it of telling pe
15e50 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ople stuff like
15e60 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 that. Get yours
15e70 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 elf three things
15e80 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 , if you don't a
15e90 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e lready have 'em.
15ea0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 You need peppe
15eb0 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e r spray or a son
15ec0 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 ic repellant, a
15ed0 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e collapsing baton
15ee0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f , and backup who
15ef0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 knows what he's
15f00 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 doing, like Cli
15f10 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b ff.".."Uh, thank
15f20 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 s," Alley said.
15f30 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 "Aren't those c
15f40 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 ollapsing batons
15f50 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 illegal?".."Yea
15f60 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 h, California su
15f70 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 cks that way. G
15f80 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f irls aren't allo
15f90 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 wed to protect t
15fa0 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b hemselves, you k
15fb0 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 now." She pulle
15fc0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 d something abou
15fd0 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 t the size of a
15fe0 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 whiteboard marke
15ff0 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 r out of her bac
16000 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 k pocket. "See
16010 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 this? This is a
16020 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 good baton."..A
16030 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 lley looked at t
16040 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 he black anodize
16050 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e d aluminum cylin
16060 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 der when Carmen
16070 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 held it up. It
16080 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 had some kind of
16090 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 logo on it and
160a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 a couple of depr
160b0 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 essed ovals on t
160c0 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 he side..."Push
160d0 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 these two spots
160e0 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 to pop it out.
160f0 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 Just push the se
16100 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 cond one, here,
16110 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 and push the bus
16120 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 iness end agains
16130 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 t something hard
16140 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 to collapse the
16150 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f baton back into
16160 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 the handle. Ye
16170 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 ah?"..Alley nodd
16180 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 ed. "I guess th
16190 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 at's a good desi
161a0 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 gn, then.".."Tot
161b0 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 ally. With the
161c0 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e two release poin
161d0 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c ts, you're not l
161e0 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e ikely to acciden
161f0 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 tally pop it out
16200 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 when you don't
16210 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 want to, and thi
16220 73 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 s type is more s
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16240 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 to retract than
16250 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 the things where
16260 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 you just snap y
16270 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 our hand out to
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16290 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 ay, you need one
162a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 of these, and i
162b0 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 t's easy to toss
162c0 20 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 it somewhere be
162d0 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f fore cops get to
162e0 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 you if you're a
162f0 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 fraid of getting
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16310 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c oncealed weapon,
16320 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 or if you cut a
16330 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 little hole in
16340 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f the inside of yo
16350 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 ur pocket when y
16360 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 ou're wearing pa
16370 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 nts you can drop
16380 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 it down your pa
16390 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 nt leg, and mayb
163a0 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 e step on it to
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163d0 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e n, or something.
163e0 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 There are a bu
163f0 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 nch of ways to g
16400 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e et away with it.
16410 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 .."Here." She h
16420 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c eld it out to Al
16430 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ley, who started
16440 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 to reach for it
16450 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 . "Don't try op
16460 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 ening it here, b
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16480 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 it at home. Th
16490 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 at way you don't
164a0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 have to worry a
164b0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 bout getting cau
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164d0 20 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 Unlike our pist
164e0 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 ol frames, walki
164f0 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 ng home with one
16500 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 of these in you
16510 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 r pocket is ille
16520 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d gal, and a cop m
16530 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 ight just try se
16540 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 lling one to you
16550 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 to get an excus
16560 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e e to harass you.
16570 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 "..Alley froze w
16580 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c ith her hand hal
16590 66 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f fway to the bato
165a0 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 n handle. "Are
165b0 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 you giving this
165c0 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 to me?" she aske
165d0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 d..."Yeah. Uh,
165e0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 just a sec'," Ca
165f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 rmen said. She
16600 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 lowered her hand
16610 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 with the baton
16620 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 in it and looked
16630 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 toward the Audi
16640 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 . "Yes, Cliff,
16650 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 I'm giving her t
16660 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e he fucking baton
16670 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 . I'll just buy
16680 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 another one! C
16690 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 hill the fuck ou
166a0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 t."..Alley lower
166b0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 ed her hand and
166c0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 turned her head
166d0 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 to look at the p
166e0 61 72 6b 65 64 20 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 arked sedan...Ca
166f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c rmen grabbed All
16700 65 79 27 73 20 77 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 ey's wrist and p
16710 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 ressed the colla
16720 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f psing baton into
16730 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e her hand. "Don
16740 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 't look at it.
16750 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 Just put it in y
16760 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e our pocket. Don
16770 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 't make Cliff ne
16780 72 76 6f 75 73 20 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e rvous by standin
16790 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65 g here with a we
167a0 61 70 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e apon in your han
167b0 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 d, even if it's
167c0 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 one I gave you."
167d0 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c .."Uh, yeah," Al
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167f0 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 cked it into her
16800 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 back pocket. "
16810 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 Thanks." She sh
16820 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 owed her empty h
16830 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 ands to Carmen,
16840 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e where the person
16850 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 in the Audi cou
16860 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 77 ld see them as w
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16880 61 73 20 68 61 72 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b as harmless look
16890 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ing as she could
168a0 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c manage..."Yeah,
168b0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 well, us girls
168c0 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 gotta stick toge
168d0 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ther. Right?"..
168e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Alley nodded..."
168f0 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e Good. Let's fin
16900 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 ish the deal. T
16910 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 hen, get in touc
16920 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 h some time if y
16930 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 ou think you mig
16940 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 ht want to do th
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16960 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 too. We're get
16970 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 ting a lot of bu
16980 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c siness, and coul
16990 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 d use the help.
169a0 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 You're probably
169b0 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 pretty enough t
169c0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c o get the upsell
169d0 73 2c 20 65 61 73 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 s, easy, though
169e0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 I don't know how
169f0 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 you look behind
16a00 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 the mask.".."I'
16a10 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 ll keep that in
16a20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 mind."..Carmen g
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16a40 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 tring bag. "Her
16a50 65 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 e's what you're
16a60 62 75 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 buying."..---..A
16a70 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f t home, Alley fo
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16aa0 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 gloves, and wore
16ab0 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 a pair when she
16ac0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f looked more clo
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16ae0 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 gun frames she b
16af0 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f ought. After go
16b00 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f ing over them fo
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16b20 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 she put them ba
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16b60 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 tending baton ne
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16bc0 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f nything...She lo
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16be0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 decided she wou
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16c50 20 62 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 69 6e but never havin
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16c70 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c fore she careful
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16ce0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 68 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 much harm. She
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16d10 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 ally toward the
16d20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 floor to her lef
16d30 74 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 68 61 t, using both ha
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16d60 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e and the other en
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16d80 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the ceiling to
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16db0 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 h contact points
16dc0 2c 20 61 73 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 20 , as Carmen had
16dd0 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 instructed her.
16de0 20 41 20 64 75 6c 6c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 A dull snap sou
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16e00 76 69 63 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 vice nearly jump
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16e40 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 n instant from s
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16e60 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 e of a whiteboar
16e70 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 d marker to a st
16e80 69 66 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 iff metal baton
16e90 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 72 64 73 about two thirds
16ea0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 of a meter long
16eb0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 . She held it u
16ec0 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 p and looked at
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18450 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 way we set this
18460 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 up. Yeah?".."Y
18470 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 eah," she echoed
18480 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 ..."If I can't f
18490 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 ind you that way
184a0 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 , I'll track you
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184c0 74 61 6c 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 talk."..After a
184d0 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few seconds, she
184e0 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 remembered to b
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18600 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
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18630 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 dded...She backe
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187a0 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d What the fuck am
187b0 20 49 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e I actually doin
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187d0 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 rself...---..Sit
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18820 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 kinds of deals I
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188b0 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 poor safety outc
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188d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 for these trans
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18900 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 high for poor ou
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189c0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 ks.".."You are w
189d0 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 elcome.".."What'
189e0 73 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a s next, then?"..
189f0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
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18a50 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 . This may take
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18a70 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ..Alley looked a
18a80 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f t the envelope o
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18ab0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 s and counted th
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18b20 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 What? Why?".."W
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18b40 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c , /* it looked l
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18b60 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 one of them appe
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18b90 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 United States f
18ba0 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e ederal reserve n
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18bc0 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 ppeared to be ve
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18be0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e some of these n
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18c00 72 66 65 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 rfeit. Please c
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18c20 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 I watch."..Alle
18c30 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 y frowned at the
18c40 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 stack, and star
18c50 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 ted counting aga
18c60 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 in. Toward the
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18c90 20 66 65 77 20 6e 65 77 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 few new-looking
18ca0 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 bills in the st
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18ce0 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 That is the note
18cf0 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 whose thickness
18d00 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 appears to be i
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18d20 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 y pulled it out
18d30 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 of the stack and
18d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 looked closer.
18d50 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 It felt stiffer
18d60 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 than most bills
18d70 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 , but that could
18d80 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 just be due to
18d90 69 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 it being new. S
18da0 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 he rubbed it to
18db0 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 get a feel for i
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18dd0 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 it separated int
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18df0 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 h, shit," she sa
18e00 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 id. "That scary
18e10 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 war veteran guy
18e20 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 accidentally ga
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18e40 75 6e 64 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 undred. Fuck.
18e50 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 What if it wasn'
18e60 74 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 t an accident?
18e70 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 Maybe it's a tes
18e80 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 t.".."That seems
18e90 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b extremely unlik
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18eb0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 tizer said..."Ye
18ec0 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 ah." She sighed
18ed0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 . "I guess you'
18ee0 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c re right, actual
18ef0 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 ly.".."I have a
18f00 70 6c 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 plan of action t
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18f20 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 morrow."..Alley
18f30 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 started to nod,
18f40 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 then looked at t
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18f60 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 in her hand. "
18f70 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 Wait. I should
18f80 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 give this bill b
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18fa0 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 ".."For a high p
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18fc0 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 to high severit
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18fe0 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 not a good choi
18ff0 63 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ce. You should
19000 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 avoid meeting wi
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19020 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 high potential
19030 66 6f 72 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a for violence."..
19040 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 Alley laughed qu
19050 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 ietly. "Yeah,"
19060 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 she said, "you'r
19070 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 e right. I got
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190d0 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e lucky break, an
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19110 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 I might not be i
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19130 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e I meet him again
19140 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 to give back hi
19150 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 s misplaced mone
19160 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 y?.."It doesn't
19170 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 feel right, just
19180 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e keeping his mon
19190 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ey, though.".."W
191a0 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 hy do you feel t
191b0 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 hat way?" the pr
191c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ioritizer asked.
191d0 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 .."It's dishones
191e0 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 t," she said..."
191f0 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 You did not lie
19200 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e to him.".."True.
19210 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c ".."Did you real
19220 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 ize there might
19230 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 be more money th
19240 61 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 an he intended t
19250 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 o give you when
19260 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 you counted the
19270 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e first time?".."N
19280 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 o.".."How is tha
19290 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 t dishonest?"..A
192a0 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 lley's lips tigh
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1e320 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c "Ah . . . yeah,
1e330 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 I guess I'm thi
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1e490 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 74 silicone tray, t
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1e550 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 2d 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e ..."Self-taught.
1e560 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 "..Alley started
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1e5e0 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c of Coke. "Here,
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1e730 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72 "..He swigged fr
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1e780 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e e opened her can
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1e850 20 63 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 6f 6e cut the tape on
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1e8a0 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e He stopped movin
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1e970 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f get it. Hah! O
1e980 6c 27 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 l' Dave must've
1e990 6d 61 64 65 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d made quite an im
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1e9b0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
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1e9f0 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c scared now..."L
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1ea10 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 looks like he p
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1ea70 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 and he's about
1ea80 61 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 as gentle as a d
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1eab0 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 ts I had him mac
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1ead0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
1eae0 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 box and shifted
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1eb10 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 h, right," he sa
1eb20 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 id. "No, they a
1eb30 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c ren't gun parts,
1eb40 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 either. They'r
1eb50 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 e parts for a cu
1eb60 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 stom prosthetic
1eb70 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 arm I'm building
1eb80 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 for a little gi
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1ec00 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e Really?".."Yeah.
1ec10 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 One of the guy
1ec20 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 s getting the gu
1ec30 6e 73 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 ns I put togethe
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1ec70 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 daughter, nine y
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1ece0 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 [ SOMETHING ] s
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1ed00 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e She's outgrowin
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1ed20 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 for her a year
1ed30 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a ago, already."..
1ed40 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 "Oh. Right. Th
1ed50 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ere's something
1ed60 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 about the guns."
1ed70 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 ..He looked at h
1ed80 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 er, sidelong. "
1ed90 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f What about them?
1eda0 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 " he asked..."Uh
1edb0 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f , after I got ho
1edc0 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 me, I realized y
1edd0 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d ou gave me too m
1ede0 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 uch money.".."Wh
1edf0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 at do you mean?
1ee00 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 I paid what we
1ee10 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 agreed, and the
1ee20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 frames were all
1ee30 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f good."..She shoo
1ee40 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 k her head. "Th
1ee50 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 ere were two bra
1ee60 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 nd new hundreds
1ee70 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 stuck together.
1ee80 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 I got an extra
1ee90 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 hundred dollars
1eea0 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 by accident."..H
1eeb0 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e e stared at her.
1eec0 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 .."I, uh, don't
1eed0 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c have it with me,
1eee0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 " she said. "Ma
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1ef00 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74 ack tomorrow wit
1ef10 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c h it."..George l
1ef20 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 aughed. It was
1ef30 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 a warm, surprise
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1ef80 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 herself..."No,
1ef90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 don't do that,"
1efa0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 he said, a hint
1efb0 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c of chuckle still
1efc0 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 in his voice.
1efd0 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 "Y'know what? I
1efe0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 like you, Alley
1eff0 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 . I even like t
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1f010 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 describes where
1f020 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a we first met.".
1f030 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley smiled.
1f040 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61 "Thanks. What a
1f050 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 bout your hundre
1f060 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 d dollars, thoug
1f070 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 h?".."Keep it.
1f080 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 I'll survive wit
1f090 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 hout it, and I d
1f0a0 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 on't think you'd
1f0b0 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 drive all the w
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1f0d0 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 o Hunting Beach
1f0e0 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 at gig courier r
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1f120 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He winked at
1f130 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 her. "You're g
1f140 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 ood people, Alle
1f150 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 y.".."Uh . . . t
1f160 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 hank you. Maybe
1f170 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a you are, too.".
1f180 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 ."Yeah, maybe.
1f190 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 I hope so." He
1f1a0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 turned back to t
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1f1c0 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 hed cutting the
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1f1e0 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 s, then flipped
1f1f0 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 6f 66 the top flaps of
1f200 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 48 the box out. H
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1f230 72 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 r bundles of met
1f240 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e al parts, leavin
1f250 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 g packing paper
1f260 62 65 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 behind...As he s
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1f280 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 n the silicone t
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1f2a0 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 over everything
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1f2e0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 ng to disturb hi
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1f320 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e ticular spots on
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1f380 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 73 a performance s
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1f3b0 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 psychometry...He
1f3c0 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 split a couple
1f3d0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f of the bundles o
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1f410 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 He set them as
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1f430 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 slightly splaye
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1f470 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f Finally, he sto
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1f4a0 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 h." He lifted t
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1f4f0 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 ave, for the sec
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1f510 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 He held it out t
1f520 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 o her...She nodd
1f530 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 ed. "Sure.".."A
1f540 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 re you saving up
1f550 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 for something,
1f560 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f or going back to
1f570 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 school?"..Alley
1f580 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d hesitated a mom
1f590 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ent. "Why?"..He
1f5a0 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 shrugged. "Cur
1f5b0 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 ious.".."Not exa
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1f5d0 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 g to dig myself
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1f5f0 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ."Debts?"..She s
1f600 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
1f610 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 "I had a strange
1f620 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e career path, an
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1f640 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 don't really ha
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1f670 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 new direction,
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1f690 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ing on that.".."
1f6a0 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 Ah. Reinventing
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1f6c0 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 73 6f world changes so
1f6d0 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 fast it's hard
1f6e0 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c to keep up."..Al
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1f700 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 stopped, and sh
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1f720 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e in. "I don't kn
1f730 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 ow," she says.
1f740 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 "A lot of people
1f750 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f seem to have no
1f760 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 problem. They
1f770 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f just go to schoo
1f780 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f l, get a piece o
1f790 66 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 f paper, apply f
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1f800 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 t really do that
1f810 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 .".."What do you
1f820 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 mean?".."More a
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1f840 72 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 74 69 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 ren't retiring,
1f850 6f 72 20 67 65 74 20 6c 61 69 64 20 6f 66 66 20 or get laid off
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1f900 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 but maybe you're
1f910 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 looking in the
1f920 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e wrong direction.
1f930 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 " He leaned for
1f940 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 ward on the couc
1f950 68 2c 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f h, rested his fo
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1f980 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 his hands like h
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1f9d0 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 helf as he spoke
1f9e0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 again. "It's e
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1fa70 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 65 20 Most people lie
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1fae0 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 e, thinks 'I mus
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1fb20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 out.' They're a
1fb30 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 ll up to their e
1fb40 79 65 62 61 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 74 2c yeballs in debt,
1fb50 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b living paycheck
1fb60 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 to paycheck..."
1fb70 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 There are a few
1fb80 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 people who have
1fb90 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 things sorted ou
1fba0 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 t pretty well, p
1fbb0 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 rudent people wh
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1fbd0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d most of the tim
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1fc10 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c came, and were l
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1fc40 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d y. Many of them
1fc50 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c don't even real
1fc60 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 73 65 ize they're inse
1fc70 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 cure and confuse
1fc80 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 d all the time,
1fc90 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 because they got
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1fcb0 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 g to people abou
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1fce0 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 themselves..."T
1fcf0 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 here are others
1fd00 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 62 65 who really do be
1fd10 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 lieve they have
1fd20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 75 72 everything figur
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1fd50 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 n right about th
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1fd70 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 way anyone shou
1fd80 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 ld have things f
1fd90 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 igured out. The
1fda0 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 y lie and cheat
1fdb0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 and steal, maybe
1fdc0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 even kill with
1fdd0 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 the stroke of a
1fde0 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 72 20 pen or an Enter
1fdf0 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 key, and make it
1fe00 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72 to the top over
1fe10 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 69 65 mounds of bodie
1fe20 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 s, metaphorical
1fe30 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d a lot of the tim
1fe40 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 e, but literal b
1fe50 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e odies sometimes.
1fe60 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a .."My advice is:
1fe70 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 don't be like a
1fe80 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 ny of them." He
1fe90 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 looked at her a
1fea0 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 gain, caught her
1feb0 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 gaze, and she f
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1fed0 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c ysical force hol
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1ff10 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 because there's
1ff20 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 always too much
1ff30 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 to see to have
1ff40 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 20 61 time to see it a
1ff50 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ll. Don't just
1ff60 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c close your eyes,
1ff70 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 20 74 though. Keep t
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1ff90 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e ize what you fin
1ffa0 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 d as a path that
1ffb0 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 59 feels right. Y
1ffc0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 ou don't have ti
1ffd0 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e me for everythin
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1fff0 69 74 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 itely have time
20000 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 for something, a
20010 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 nd you should sp
20020 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 end it on someth
20030 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 ing good."..He s
20040 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 at back again, r
20050 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 esting his open
20060 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 hands on the top
20070 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2e s of his thighs.
20080 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 .."Look at me, g
20090 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f etting all philo
200a0 73 6f 70 68 69 63 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f sophical with yo
200b0 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 u. If what I'm
200c0 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d saying doesn't m
200d0 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6a ake any sense, j
200e0 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 ust ignore me.
200f0 49 27 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 I'm an old man,
20100 61 6e 64 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 and I've seen a
20110 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 lot, but I don't
20120 20 65 76 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 even understand
20130 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 most of what I
20140 73 61 77 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 20 66 saw myself. I f
20150 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 eel like I under
20160 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 stand less, the
20170 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 more I see."..Sh
20180 65 20 71 75 69 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f e quirked one co
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201a0 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 . "You give bet
201b0 74 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ter advice than
201c0 4f 62 69 20 57 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 Obi Wan."..Georg
201d0 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 e chuckled. "I
201e0 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6a hope so. He's j
201f0 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 ust some charact
20200 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er on paper, and
20210 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 a good actor.
20220 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 Anyway, I don't
20230 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 2c really know you,
20240 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c so I don't real
20250 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 76 65 ly know if I eve
20260 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 20 n have any idea
20270 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e what you're goin
20280 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 g through or wha
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202b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d have to humor m
202c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 e.".."Maybe I st
202d0 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 arted out thinki
202e0 6e 67 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 6d 6f ng I should humo
202f0 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 r you, but now I
20300 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 just want to ta
20310 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d lk to you some m
20320 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ore." She looke
20330 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 d at a ticking c
20340 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 lock on an end t
20350 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f able. "Maybe no
20360 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 t now, though.
20370 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 It's getting lat
20380 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 e.".."Yeah," he
20390 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f said, "go drop o
203a0 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 ff that envelope
203b0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 , then get home
203c0 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e 20 20 4e 65 76 65 and sleep. Neve
203d0 72 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 r underestimate
203e0 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f the importance o
203f0 66 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 f a good night's
20400 20 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f rest. That's o
20410 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 69 ne piece of advi
20420 63 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f ce I know is goo
20430 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a d, for anyone.".
20440 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e ."Thanks."..He n
20450 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 odded, then rose
20460 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 and headed for
20470 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 75 6e the door. He un
20480 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 locked it as she
20490 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 approached and
204a0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c opened the door,
204b0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 then stepped ou
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204d0 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 er and looked ar
204e0 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 ound. He turned
204f0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 to her as she f
20500 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e ollowed him out.
20510 20 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 "Be careful ou
20520 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f t there. The wo
20530 72 6c 64 27 73 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 rld's a surprisi
20540 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ng place.".."Yea
20550 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e h.".."If you wan
20560 74 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 t to try your ha
20570 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 nd at something
20580 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 27 way outside of '
20590 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 normal' as a new
205a0 20 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 6c path in life, l
205b0 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 ook me up. I mi
205c0 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 69 ght have a few i
205d0 64 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 deas. Otherwise
205e0 2c 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 , I wish you the
205f0 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 best at whateve
20600 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 r you find.".."T
20610 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 hanks," she said
20620 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 again. "How sh
20630 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f ould I get in to
20640 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 uch?"..He scoffe
20650 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 d at himself. "
20660 52 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 Right -- forgot
20670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 2e about that part.
20680 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 " He pulled out
20690 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 his wallet, and
206a0 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 slipped out a b
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206c0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 61 6e longer crisp an
206d0 64 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 79 6f d new. "Here yo
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206f0 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 it, and saw tha
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20730 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 a series of lett
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20750 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 75 62 .."That's my pub
20760 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b lic encryption k
20770 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ey," he said. "
20780 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 63 If you don't enc
20790 72 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 rypt the message
207a0 2c 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 , it goes straig
207b0 68 74 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 ht to spam. Do
207c0 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 you know how to
207d0 75 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d use encrypted em
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207f0 0a 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 ."I use pubkey e
20800 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c ncryption for cl
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20820 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f " she said..."Go
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20840 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 68 65 already way ahe
20850 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 ad of the pack.
20860 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 Good night, now
20870 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c .".."Good night,
20880 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 " she said with
20890 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 a smile, and hea
208a0 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a ded to her car..
208b0 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 .She glanced bac
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208d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 , and saw him ke
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208f0 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e only stepped in
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20950 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 merged onto the
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209c0 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 clients she had
209d0 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 . Maybe, she th
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20a50 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 of that really r
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20a70 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 ...She worried a
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20a90 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d then found her m
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20ac0 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a the thought.../*
20ad0 0a 0a 53 55 4d 4d 41 52 59 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ..SUMMARY:..Alle
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20af0 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 discussing plans
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20b40 64 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 day and have to
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20b60 72 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 70 rival of scary p
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20c20 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 get a bit of a
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20c60 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d interface or som
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22290 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 to my door. Wh
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222e0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 "I'll be right b
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223b0 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 A message notif
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224c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
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224e0 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20 d ". . . men?"
224f0 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 She wondered if
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22570 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 /* Without the s
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22630 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 choice in how y
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22660 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 , no kidding."
22670 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
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22750 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Here," she sa
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22970 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f Thank you for yo
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22990 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 " the woman said
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229b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 . She handed th
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22b70 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 "Who are those p
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22b90 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."I do not have
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246c0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ."That does not
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25350 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 thing more quic
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253f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 value item beca
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25430 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 20 This is also an
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25640 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 , too."..Two hou
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25d00 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f people, they co
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26fb0 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f goodbye, and go
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27250 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f " She looked do
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274e0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6e ."You mean I can
274f0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b make them think
27500 20 49 27 6d 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 I'm exactly wha
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27580 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 of a pawn.".."Y
27590 65 73 2c 20 63 68 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 es, chess is a g
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27640 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 l. "I guess you
27650 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 don't even have
27660 20 61 6e 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 any good ideas
27670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 about how to esc
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276a0 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 to that point, t
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276d0 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 suggestion for t
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27750 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f onfident that co
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27790 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 les.".."This is
277a0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 . . . no. No, t
277b0 68 69 73 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 his day can't be
277c0 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 happening.".."I
277d0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 f you want to ma
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2ad40 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c 69 73 74 20 67 65 a journalist ge
2ad50 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 ts obsessed with
2ad60 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 62 75 some mundane bu
2ad70 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 t obscure subjec
2ad80 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 6f 72 20 t for a year or
2ad90 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 74 65 73 20 61 two and writes a
2ada0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 long book about
2adb0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 all the weird s
2adc0 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 tuff most people
2add0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6b 6e 6f would never kno
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2adf0 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2e 22 0a ect otherwise.".
2ae00 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 ."Hmm. That's i
2ae10 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 67 nteresting. I g
2ae20 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c uess you don't l
2ae30 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 6d ike fiction as m
2ae40 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 uch, then.".."I
2ae50 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 66 69 63 like to read fic
2ae60 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e tion, sometimes.
2ae70 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 I just don't u
2ae80 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 sually see a nov
2ae90 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 el and think tha
2aea0 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 t I have to read
2aeb0 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f it. When someo
2aec0 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d ne I know recomm
2aed0 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c ends some novel,
2aee0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 I'll probably r
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2af00 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 've already been
2af10 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 burned by that
2af20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 person's bad tas
2af30 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 75 72 65 te in literature
2af40 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 recommendations
2af50 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 before."..Georg
2af60 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 e chuckled at th
2af70 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 at. "I've gotte
2af80 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e n some real stin
2af90 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 kers recommended
2afa0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 to me, before,
2afb0 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 too. I know wha
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2afd0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 that."..Alley g
2afe0 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 ave him an answe
2aff0 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e ring smile. "An
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2b010 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 s tell me you re
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2b030 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 iction, too."..H
2b040 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 e glanced at the
2b050 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 texts on the sh
2b060 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f elves of the boo
2b070 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c k cases. "Yeah,
2b080 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 " he said, "I'm
2b090 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 always reading s
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2b0b0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 to get through
2b0c0 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 65 64 more than two ed
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2b100 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f hitting three o
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2b130 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f the years with o
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2b150 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 . I probably av
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2b170 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 novel per wee, t
2b180 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 oo, so probably
2b190 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 the opposite of
2b1a0 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a how you read."..
2b1b0 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 "Not quite," she
2b1c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 said. "I proba
2b1d0 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c bly read a coupl
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2b1f0 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 but only six or
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2b220 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 ame year.".."It
2b230 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b sounds to me lik
2b240 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 72 e you wish you r
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2b260 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 id..."Yeah, I gu
2b270 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 ess I do.".."One
2b280 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 73 20 of the secrets
2b290 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 75 of my reading su
2b2a0 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 ccess is that I
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2b2d0 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 a computer scree
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2b300 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 whole lot more t
2b310 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 han I do, though
2b320 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
2b330 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e "I know. My un
2b340 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 cle used to read
2b350 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 about four or f
2b360 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 ive times as muc
2b370 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 h as you. My ex
2b380 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 probably reads
2b390 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 about as much as
2b3a0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 you, but he has
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2b3d0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f too.".."Your ex?
2b3e0 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 Are you divorc
2b3f0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e ed?".."Oh, uh, n
2b400 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 o. He was my fi
2b410 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 anc... We broke
2b420 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 it off a couple
2b430 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 years ago.".."T
2b440 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 hat's too bad.
2b450 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 Do you want to t
2b460 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a alk about why?".
2b470 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 .She shifted her
2b480 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 position in the
2b490 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e chair. "Well .
2b4a0 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 . . maybe not.
2b4b0 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f There's some po
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2b4d0 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f volved, and I do
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2b4f0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 to get into some
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2b510 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 t over the polit
2b520 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d ics of it.".."Hm
2b530 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 m. That sounds
2b540 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 ominous. Was he
2b550 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a a politician?".
2b560 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 ."No. . . ." Sh
2b570 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a e looked away...
2b580 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 "Sorry. I'm jus
2b590 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c t curious. I'll
2b5a0 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 drop it.".."Tha
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2b5c0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 "I guess.".."Wh
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2b5e0 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f stop reading so
2b5f0 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a much?".."Huh?".
2b600 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 ."You said he us
2b610 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 ed to read hundr
2b620 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 eds of books a y
2b630 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f ear. Why did yo
2b640 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f u say 'used to'?
2b650 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 ".."Oh," she sig
2b660 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 hed. "He died,
2b670 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 years ago.".."I'
2b680 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 m sorry to hear
2b690 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 it.".."Yeah," sh
2b6a0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 e said. "He dec
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2b740 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 n there was a se
2b750 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 46 42 49 20 72 61 69 64 ries of FBI raid
2b760 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 73 27 20 s on 'militias'
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2b800 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 61 62 s hand built cab
2b810 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 in out there bet
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2b900 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 He was really
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2b930 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 20 ife in the wild
2b940 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 73 places where mos
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2ba00 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 I guess he was a
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2ba40 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 77 , then. Those w
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2bad0 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 We got into hi
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2baf0 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 -- well, Dad did
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2bba0 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f selves.".."Yeah?
2bbb0 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 What happened
2bbc0 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 with that lawsui
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2bbe0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 happen. While w
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2bc10 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 61 he FBI got a sea
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2bce0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 just that they
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2bd10 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 login stuff for
2bd20 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 56 50 53 2e my uncle's VPS.
2bd30 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 Of course, the
2bd40 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 27 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 y 'lost' the bac
2bd50 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 66 kups they took f
2bd60 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 rom Dad's comput
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2bd80 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f time we tried to
2bd90 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 download the vi
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2bdb0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 could show it t
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2be00 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 company into de
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2be20 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 ps..."After all
2be30 74 68 61 74 2c 20 77 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 72 that, we went fr
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2be50 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 he lawyer called
2be60 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d 20 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 61 73 a slam dunk cas
2be70 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 20 63 e to having no c
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2be90 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 65 73 2e 20 20 44 61 64 27 expenses. Dad'
2bea0 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 49 54 20 62 75 73 69 6e s whole IT busin
2beb0 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 6f 62 6c 69 74 65 72 61 ess was oblitera
2bec0 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e ted in an instan
2bed0 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 t, too. He had
2bee0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 79 73 61 64 6d 69 to get a sysadmi
2bef0 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 n job at a conti
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2bf20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 6f 75 74 73 20 school dropouts
2bf30 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 after that."..Ge
2bf40 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 orge just shook
2bf50 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 his head. "I wi
2bf60 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 sh I had somethi
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2bf80 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 bout that.".."It
2bf90 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 's fine. It's a
2bfa0 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 66 ncient history f
2bfb0 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 or me, now,and I
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2bfe0 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 rd, though. I w
2bff0 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f as in high schoo
2c000 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 l when it all ha
2c010 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f ppened, and I co
2c020 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 6e 20 uldn't focus on
2c030 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 74 20 61 6c schoolwork at al
2c040 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 6c 6c l..."I guess all
2c050 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 that might have
2c060 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 contributed to
2c070 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f me falling in lo
2c080 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 ve with Dalton."
2c090 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 .."Dalton?" he a
2c0a0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 sked..."Oh, shit
2c0b0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2c0c0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 79 20 didn't say 'my
2c0d0 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a ex' that time.".
2c0e0 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 .He nodded. "Da
2c0f0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 2d 48 lton Schaeffer-H
2c100 65 61 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 earst.".."Yeah."
2c110 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 She looked at
2c120 68 69 6d 2c 20 77 61 72 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 him, wary..."I g
2c130 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 uess I can see w
2c140 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e hy you don't wan
2c150 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 t to bring that
2c160 75 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 up much. He's a
2c170 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 controversial f
2c180 69 67 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 igure."../* "Yea
2c190 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e h, he is. I can
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2c1b0 6d 20 75 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 79 6f m up around anyo
2c1c0 6e 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 69 74 ne, really. Eit
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2c1e0 6d 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 me because I got
2c1f0 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c engaged to him,
2c200 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 or they hate me
2c210 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d for leaving him
2c220 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 ." */.."Yeah, he
2c230 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 is. There isn'
2c240 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 t really anyone
2c250 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 I can talk to ab
2c260 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 out him. Either
2c270 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 people hate me
2c280 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e because I got en
2c290 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 gaged to him, or
2c2a0 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f they hate me fo
2c2b0 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a r leaving him.".
2c2c0 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ."I could see th
2c2d0 61 74 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 at," George said
2c2e0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 . "I won't hate
2c2f0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 you for either
2c300 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b reason.".."Thank
2c310 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 s," she said. "
2c320 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 That's good to h
2c330 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 ear.".."I'll jus
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2c350 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 straightforward
2c360 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 with you about w
2c370 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 hat I think abou
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2c3c0 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 ith me. I won't
2c3d0 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 hold it against
2c3e0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 you, whatever y
2c3f0 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 ou decide, but I
2c400 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e guess it wouldn
2c410 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 't matter if you
2c420 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 didn't want to
2c430 62 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 be around me any
2c440 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 longer anyway."
2c450 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 .."You don't hav
2c460 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 e to do that," s
2c470 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 he said...He smi
2c480 6c 65 64 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 led, perhaps a b
2c490 69 74 20 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 it sadly. "I th
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2c4b0 20 62 65 73 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f best, unless yo
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2c4e0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 for any reason.
2c4f0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 I'll respect th
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2c530 68 65 61 72 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f hear nothing abo
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2c550 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 itated, then shr
2c560 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 ugged. "Go ahea
2c570 64 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 d, I guess," she
2c580 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 said...He nodde
2c590 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 d. "I thought h
2c5a0 65 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 e was pretty gre
2c5b0 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f at. He had a lo
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2c600 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 technology, law
2c610 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 enforcement, wa
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2c6b0 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 much, and I was
2c6c0 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 disappointed by
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2c700 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 , because he sti
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2c7c0 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 an..."No offense
2c7d0 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 , of course, but
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2c900 49 20 64 6f 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 I do remember, b
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2c940 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e he said somethin
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2c960 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f who called in to
2c970 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ask about you.
2c980 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 He said that it
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2caa0 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 he had to say a
2cab0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 bout it.".."Oh,"
2cac0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 she said. "I d
2cad0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 idn't know about
2cae0 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 that -- about h
2caf0 69 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 im saying that."
2cb00 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..George shrugge
2cb10 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 d. "It was the
2cb20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 stand up thing t
2cb30 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 o do, but it did
2cb40 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 n't make his cha
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2cb60 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 on ideology any
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2cb80 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 g to me, so it d
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2cba0 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 stening.".."Yeah
2cbb0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2cbc0 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f get that.".."So
2cbd0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 . . . what do y
2cbe0 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d ou think? Are m
2cbf0 79 20 76 69 65 77 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e y views on it in
2cc00 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c tolerable?"..All
2cc10 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c ey smiled. "No,
2cc20 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 not at all. Th
2cc30 61 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 at's actually ki
2cc40 6e 64 61 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 nda how I felt a
2cc50 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 bout his ideolog
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2cc70 69 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 iked it more bef
2cc80 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 ore the change t
2cc90 68 61 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 han after, and w
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2ccc0 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 He still had pri
2ccd0 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c nciple, and stil
2cce0 6c 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 l wasn't the car
2ccf0 69 63 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 2d 72 icature of alt-r
2cd00 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 ight that people
2cd10 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 assumed, but I
2cd20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 didn't like his
2cd30 6e 65 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 new politics at
2cd40 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 all.".."That mus
2cd50 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 t have made it d
2cd60 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 ifficult to live
2cd70 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 with him.".."It
2cd80 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 took its toll.
2cd90 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f Part of it, tho
2cda0 75 67 68 2c 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 ugh, was the fac
2cdb0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 t that it affect
2cdc0 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 ed my life in ot
2cdd0 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d her ways. The m
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2cdf0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 I needed to get
2ce00 20 6f 75 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 out was after s
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2ce20 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 ly started screa
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2ce50 67 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 g me the 'side d
2ce60 69 73 68 27 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e ish' and accusin
2ce70 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 g me of being a
2ce80 72 61 63 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 racist and stuff
2ce90 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e like that, then
2cea0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 actually starte
2ceb0 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 d hitting me. I
2cec0 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b shoved her back
2ced0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 and ran to my c
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2cef0 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f d called in a po
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2cf10 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 of course nothi
2cf20 6e 67 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 ng would ever ha
2cf30 70 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 ppen from that.
2cf40 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 I never heard b
2cf50 61 63 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a ack about it."..
2cf60 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 By the time she
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2cfe0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 .She shrugged he
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2d260 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ked..."What?".."
2d270 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e You said you wan
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2d600 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Okay," she said,
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2d670 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 .."First, I want
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2d6d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 .".."Yeah. It i
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2d8b0 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f .."Hmm." He tho
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2d9a0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Yeah," she sai
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2e190 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d "That's pretty m
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2e440 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 hands..."I'll te
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2e6e0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 .."You want to h
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2e970 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 Why are you offe
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2f1a0 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f case, and some o
2f1b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d f the people I'm
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2f200 20 64 6f 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 do jobs where t
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2f230 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e how much someon
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2f250 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f good thing to do
2f260 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 ."..Alley frowne
2f270 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 d. "I guess you
2f280 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 probably aren't
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2f370 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 this kind of th
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2f390 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 you telling me a
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2f3b0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 t that put you i
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2f400 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 f I have to. I
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2f600 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 the US Intellige
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2f630 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 manufactured sp
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2f800 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 that they won't
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2f840 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 but that's just
2f850 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 a matter of sit
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2f880 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 ending up disapp
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2f8a0 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 you never tried
2f8b0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 to do something
2f8c0 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 to protect yours
2f8d0 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 elf.".."Shit," s
2f8e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 he said. "What
2f8f0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 about getting re
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2f910 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 waiting to see h
2f920 6f 77 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 ow things go? I
2f930 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e mean, I shouldn
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2f960 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 t?".."It's a ris
2f970 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 k. That's all t
2f980 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 here is to it.
2f990 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e They're not goin
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2fa00 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e might be the on
2fa10 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 ly warning you g
2fa20 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 et. Maybe you c
2fa30 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 an pull it off,
2fa40 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 though..."My fir
2fa50 73 74 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 st warning that
2fa60 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 they might come
2fa70 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f for me would pro
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2fa90 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 appearing, thoug
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2fae0 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 're on my tail.
2faf0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c I'll make mysel
2fb00 66 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 f disappear, ins
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2fb20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 around to see if
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2fb70 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 Yeah. That's a
2fb80 6c 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f lot to think abo
2fb90 75 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ut. I'm going t
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2fbb0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e about it."..He n
2fbc0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f odded. "You sho
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2fbe0 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 hard about it,"
2fbf0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 he said. "Stay
2fc00 20 61 6c 65 72 74 2c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 alert, try to a
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2fc60 54 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d Try to keep them
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2fca0 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 st you..."Mostly
2fcb0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 , though, think
2fcc0 68 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 hard and think f
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2fcf0 20 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 it, because you
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2fd10 6d 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 much time you ha
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2fd30 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 decision, and as
2fd40 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 decisions go th
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2fd60 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 It might be the
2fd70 20 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 biggest of your
2fd80 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 life.".."No pre
2fd90 73 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ssure," she said
2fda0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 , with a wry smi
2fdb0 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 le..."You got it
2fdc0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He looked at
2fdd0 20 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c his book cases,
2fde0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 then stood and
2fdf0 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 walked to them.
2fe00 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 He pulled a cou
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2fe40 68 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 hair where Alley
2fe50 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 sat and held th
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2fe70 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 "Here. Give the
2fe80 73 65 20 61 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f se a read, if yo
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2fea0 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d he accepted them
2feb0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 , and looked at
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2fef0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 other was *Under
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2ff10 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f "What are these?
2ff20 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 "..When he saw s
2ff30 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 he was not handi
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2ff50 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 went back to hi
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2ff70 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 down. "Agorism
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2ffb0 20 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 The ideal is li
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30020 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 doing the same
30030 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 thing, to change
30040 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 the world for t
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30080 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f the agorism boo
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300b0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 way to starve t
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30100 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 n, basically tur
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30130 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f itical revolutio
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30150 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 hink it's very r
30160 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 ealistic to expe
30170 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ct that to work
30180 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 the way he hoped
30190 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 . I think it ha
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301c0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 communities tha
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301f0 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b choosing to mak
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30230 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 70 s possible..."Op
30240 53 65 63 20 69 73 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 Sec is how to ke
30250 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 66 66 20 ep yourself off
30260 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f the radar of peo
30270 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ple who are look
30280 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65 ing for you, whe
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302a0 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 bout you persona
302b0 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 lly or just want
302c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 69 74 someone who fit
302d0 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 68 69 64 s a profile, hid
302e0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c ing what you do,
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30330 6b 65 65 70 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 keep doing it.
30340 54 68 61 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f That book is abo
30350 75 74 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f ut OpSec for peo
30360 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c ple who live bel
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304b0 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 , for reasons ot
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304d0 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 nd murder, such
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305a0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 " She looked at
305b0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e the books again
305c0 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e ..."You can thin
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30690 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a the good guys.".
306a0 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b ."Are you some k
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306c0 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e ?"..He shrugged.
306d0 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e "Maybe. Volun
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306f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 2d like an anarcho-
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30730 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 telling people
30740 74 6f 20 76 6f 74 65 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 to vote Republic
30750 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 an.".."Yeah," sh
30760 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 e said, "that's
30770 74 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 the feeling I wa
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30790 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 et.".."Does that
307a0 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 bother you?" he
307b0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 asked..."No. I
307c0 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f liked Dalton mo
307d0 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 re in those days
307e0 2e 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 . Hell, I fell
307f0 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d in love with him
30800 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 in those days."
30810 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e .."You don't con
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30830 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f voluntaryist, o
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30850 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
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30870 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 you?".."No, I g
30880 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 uess not.".."Wha
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308c0 65 6c 66 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 elf a little wit
308d0 68 20 61 20 64 72 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e h a dry chuckle.
308e0 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e "I don't know.
308f0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 I guess I'm ra
30900 62 69 64 6c 79 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c bidly apolitical
30910 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 .".."You might h
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30950 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 think, then," he
30960 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 said..."I said
30970 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 apolitical, not
30980 61 6e 74 69 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 antipolitical, t
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309c0 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 ay," George said
309d0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 . "I get it. W
309e0 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 ill you read the
309f0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c books?".."Yeah,
30a00 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c " she said, "I'l
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30a20 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d . I'll get them
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30a70 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 'll get more of
30a80 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 them. Just pass
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30aa0 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 one who needs th
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30ac0 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 , if you don't w
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30ae0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
30af0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c said, uncertainl
30b00 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 y..."Have you ha
30b10 64 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c d dinner?".."No,
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30b50 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c king I'm hungry,
30b60 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 and you're welc
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30b80 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 I was going to
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30c20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f before you go ho
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30ca0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 ks."../*..George
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30d00 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 He knows this
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30de0 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 .*/../*..This mi
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30e40 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b or something lik
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30e90 68 61 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 had given her.
30ea0 53 68 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 She wrinkled her
30eb0 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 20 nose at the no
30ec0 66 72 69 6c 6c 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 20 frills cover, a
30ed0 63 68 65 61 70 6c 79 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61 cheaply made tra
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30f00 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e black border an
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30f50 6d 65 20 76 61 6e 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 me vanity press
30f60 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 62 thing, where nob
30f70 6f 64 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 6f 74 ody had even bot
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30f90 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 design the cover
30fa0 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 at all...She re
30fb0 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 63 6f 76 65 ad the full cove
30fc0 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 r to herself..."
30fd0 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 An Agorist Prime
30fe0 72 0a 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e r.."Counter Econ
30ff0 6f 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 omics, Total Fre
31000 65 64 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 edom, And You.."
31010 53 61 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f Samuel Edward Ko
31020 6e 6b 69 6e 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 nkin III"..She f
31030 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 lipped it over.
31040 20 54 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c The back was bl
31050 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 ank...She opened
31060 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 it and flipped
31070 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 through the firs
31080 74 20 66 65 77 20 70 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 t few pages. Sh
31090 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e e found it had n
310a0 6f 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 o table of conte
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310c0 20 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 publishing or c
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310e0 75 6d 6d 61 72 79 2c 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 ummary, dedicati
310f0 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 on, or review qu
31100 6f 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 otes. The first
31110 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 69 64 69 page was a ridi
31120 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 culously short p
31130 72 65 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c reface. The fol
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31150 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 77 6f the first of two
31160 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 pages of introd
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31190 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 chapter one of t
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311b0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 74 20 6f into the meat o
311c0 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 f it already...T
311d0 68 65 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 75 he pages were nu
311e0 6d 62 65 72 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 mbered, starting
311f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 with 1. The fi
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31210 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 n on a page numb
31220 65 72 65 64 20 34 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f ered 4...She clo
31230 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 sed the book aga
31240 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 in and read the
31250 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e cover once more.
31260 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e .."Maybe Sam Kon
31270 6b 69 6e 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 kin is a friend
31280 6f 66 20 68 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 of his," she sai
31290 64 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 d, meaning a fri
312a0 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e end of George's.
312b0 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 ../* The preface
312c0 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 page was number
312d0 65 64 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 ed 1. The last
312e0 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 page of the inde
312f0 78 20 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f x -- once she lo
31300 6f 6b 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 oked -- was 50.
31310 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 */..She looked a
31320 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 t the first page
31330 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 again, and the
31340 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f number one. Boo
31350 6b 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ks never started
31360 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d with a page num
31370 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ber of one. She
31380 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 flipped to the
31390 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 end, and saw tha
313a0 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 t the last page
313b0 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 showed the numbe
313c0 72 20 35 30 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 r 50, on the las
313d0 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f t page of the bo
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313f0 6c 65 61 73 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 20 least it had an
31400 69 6e 64 65 78 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 index, but that
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31430 78 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 x it had could b
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33fe0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 65 ..."I really fee
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34040 22 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 "Professor Goule
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34080 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ."It seems proba
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340a0 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 69 appy to know thi
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34140 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 I will probably
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341a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 ed..."I have acc
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34220 74 61 74 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e tates Intelligen
34230 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 ce Community and
34240 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 4f 66 20 44 Department Of D
34250 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 efense research
34260 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 project intended
34270 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 20 to be deployed
34280 77 69 74 68 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 61 67 65 6e 74 with field agent
34290 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 s under supervis
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342b0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 27 73 20 if the study's
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342e0 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 promising.".."Oh
342f0 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 ." Alley scratc
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34310 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 I guess I should
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34470 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c silence, as All
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344e0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 " Alley said. "
344f0 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 2f What is it?".."/
34500 2a 20 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 64 65 20 * Have you made
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34520 20 2a 2f 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 */ We should di
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345a0 20 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 I may be able
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34690 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 75 70 72 69 lley jerked upri
346a0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ght. "What?".."
346b0 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 Do you need me t
346c0 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 o repeat the que
346d0 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 stion?" it asked
346e0 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e politely..."No.
346f0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 I'm just not g
34700 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 oing to run. Wh
34710 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 72 75 6e 3f 22 0a y would I run?".
34720 0a 22 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 70 70 65 ."COIN Corp appe
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34790 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 .".."I really th
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347e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6f 76 to me is way ov
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34840 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f The only reaso
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34870 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 63 61 75 just been becau
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348a0 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 y. They just wa
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348c0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 need for it. R
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34900 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 uncertain at th
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34980 62 65 20 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 be wise to ignor
34990 65 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 65 72 74 e. Are you cert
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349b0 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 63 6c 65 61 ish to make clea
349c0 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 r plans to remov
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349e0 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e possible station
349f0 61 72 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ary target?".."Y
34a00 65 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 20 49 es, I'm sure. I
34a10 74 27 73 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 2e 20 t's ridiculous.
34a20 20 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 It'll never hap
34a30 70 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 pen."../*..Alley
34a40 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d needs to do som
34a50 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 e things here.
34a60 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 It will probably
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35ca0 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4f 6e ..*/../*.. On
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36830 0a 0a 22 4a 75 73 74 20 61 73 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 .."Just ask for
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36a20 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 65 "Hello."..She ne
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36b00 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 .."Are you looki
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36b20 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 in what she beg
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36ba0 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 68 65 ." she began, he
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36c10 67 6c 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 48 69 73 20 63 68 75 63 gler."..His chuc
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36cd0 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65 6f ".."You know Geo
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36cf0 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 nd she thought s
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36d40 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 22 ."Not for long,"
36d50 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 she said, "but
36d60 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 yeah. He seems
36d70 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 2e like a good guy.
36d80 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 ".."You must've
36d90 6d 61 64 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 made an impressi
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36dc0 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f "Really?"..He no
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36e00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 .".."Oh, right,"
36e10 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 she said. Her
36e20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 hand brushed her
36e30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 back pocket, th
36e40 65 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 72 69 63 e thin cylindric
36e50 61 6c 20 62 75 6c 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 al bulge of her
36e60 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 baton creating a
36e70 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 72 69 64 67 65 20 74 68 harder ridge th
36e80 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 at her knuckles
36e90 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 2c 20 knocked across,
36ea0 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 but she headed i
36eb0 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 42 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 nside. Beyond t
36ec0 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6e 6f 6c 65 75 he small linoleu
36ed0 6d 20 65 6e 74 72 79 77 61 79 20 61 20 6c 69 76 m entryway a liv
36ee0 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 61 ing room with pa
36ef0 74 74 65 72 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 69 6e 69 tterns of staini
36f00 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 66 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 ng and fading ov
36f10 65 72 6c 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 erlapping so muc
36f20 68 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 h it was difficu
36f30 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 lt to determine
36f40 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 64 65 20 6f 66 20 62 72 what shade of br
36f50 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c own was original
36f60 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 opened up. Its
36f70 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 20 77 61 6c 6c wood panel wall
36f80 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 61 72 70 65 64 20 77 69 s were warped wi
36f90 74 68 20 61 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 th age. There w
36fa0 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 as no furniture
36fb0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 in the room, but
36fc0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 63 74 there were rect
36fd0 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e angular spots on
36fe0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 the walls with
36ff0 6e 61 69 6c 20 68 6f 6c 65 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 nail holes at th
37000 65 20 74 6f 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 e top that were
37010 61 20 6c 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 a lighter off wh
37020 69 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 ite than the res
37030 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 75 t of the wall su
37040 72 66 61 63 65 73 2e 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 rfaces. From wh
37050 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 74 6f 6f ere she now stoo
37060 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 d, she could see
37070 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 into the dining
37080 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 room, though th
37090 65 20 73 6c 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 e sliding glass
370a0 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 doors in the bac
370b0 6b 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 k seemed to be c
370c0 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 69 6c overed with foil
370d0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 67 6e . The only sign
370e0 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 ificant light ca
370f0 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f me through the o
37100 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 pen front door a
37110 6e 64 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 nd front windows
37120 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 67 with blinds ang
37130 6c 65 64 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 73 6f 20 74 68 led upward so th
37140 61 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 73 at light dimly s
37150 74 72 69 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 triped the ceili
37160 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6f ng...Smuggler fo
37170 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 llowed her and c
37180 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 losed the door b
37190 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 6f ehind them. "Yo
371a0 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e u need to get in
371b0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 to the hot zone
371c0 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 and want to avoi
371d0 64 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6e d official atten
371e0 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 tion." He did s
371f0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 omething with hi
37200 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 s gloved right h
37210 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 and, and light s
37220 70 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 4c 45 44 73 pilled from LEDs
37230 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 on his knuckles
37240 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 . He kept them
37250 61 69 6d 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 aimed at the car
37260 70 65 74 65 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 6e 65 61 72 peted floor near
37270 62 79 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 by so that they
37280 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 created bright s
37290 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f pots on the floo
372a0 72 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 r but a secondar
372b0 79 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 70 y glow made it p
372c0 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 ossible to make
372d0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 out the edges of
372e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 the walls a bit
372f0 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c better..."Yeah,
37300 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 " she said. "Ca
37310 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 n you take me th
37320 72 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 3f 20 rough, somehow?
37330 20 49 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 In and back, I
37340 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 mean."..He nodde
37350 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c d. "Yes, I coul
37360 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 d.".."How much w
37370 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6f 77 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 ould I owe you f
37380 6f 72 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f or it?".."Are yo
37390 75 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 61 u offering to pa
373a0 79 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 y me to take you
373b0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 to the other si
373c0 64 65 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a de?" he asked...
373d0 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 She nodded. "Ye
373e0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 ah, I guess so.
373f0 20 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 Isn't that how
37400 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e this works?".."N
37410 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 ormally," he sai
37420 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 d, "but I'm not
37430 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 taking your mone
37440 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 y.".."Why won't
37450 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f you take me thro
37460 75 67 68 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 ugh? Do you thi
37470 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6f 72 20 nk I'm a cop or
37480 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
37490 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d hat?"..After a m
374a0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 oment's hesitati
374b0 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 on, he shook his
374c0 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 head. "I didn'
374d0 74 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 t say I wouldn't
374e0 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 take you into t
374f0 68 65 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 he zone. I just
37500 20 73 61 69 64 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 said I'm not ta
37510 6b 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e king your money.
37520 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 6e 6f 74 3f 22 20 73 68 ".."Why not?" sh
37530 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 e asked, her eye
37540 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4c s narrowing..."L
37550 65 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 2c 20 66 et's just say, f
37560 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 or now, that the
37570 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 68 69 74 27 73 20 66 72 65 first hit's fre
37580 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 e.".."That seems
37590 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 strange, like t
375a0 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 here's something
375b0 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 addictive about
375c0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 getting past th
375d0 65 20 62 61 72 72 69 63 61 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a e barricades."..
375e0 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 He shrugged agai
375f0 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 n. "Some people
37600 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f find the hot zo
37610 6e 65 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 74 6f ne addictive, to
37620 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e tell the truth.
37630 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 Some of them f
37640 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f ind their way to
37650 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 the cold zone,
37660 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 66 74 65 6e and that's often
37670 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 an even stronge
37680 72 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a r addiction. /*
37690 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 27 6d 20 61 64 64 69 63 Maybe I'm addic
376a0 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 ted to both of t
376b0 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 hem. I'm not su
376c0 72 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 re. */ ".."What'
376d0 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a s a cold zone?".
376e0 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 ."Maybe you'll f
376f0 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 ind out some day
37700 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 ," he said. "It
37710 27 73 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 20 79 6f 75 20 63 's an area you c
37720 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f an't reach witho
37730 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 ut going through
37740 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f the hot zone, o
37750 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f r through the co
37760 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 6f rporate center o
37770 66 20 4c 41 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 f LA. The polic
37780 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 20 e don't even go
37790 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 in there. Most
377a0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 64 6f 65 of the world doe
377b0 73 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 sn't know it exi
377c0 73 74 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 sts. You defini
377d0 74 65 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 tely don't want
377e0 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 64 61 to go there toda
377f0 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f y, though, if yo
37800 75 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 u've never even
37810 68 65 61 72 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 heard of it."..S
37820 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
37830 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 d. "No, it does
37840 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 n't sound like t
37850 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 77 61 hat's where I wa
37860 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 nt to be.".."Whe
37870 72 65 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 re do you want t
37880 6f 20 62 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 o be?"..She shru
37890 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 43 6f gged. "Maybe Co
378a0 6c 6f 72 61 64 6f 20 6f 72 20 4e 65 77 20 48 61 lorado or New Ha
378b0 6d 70 73 68 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 mpshire.".."Are
378c0 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f you ready to go?
378d0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 "..She patted he
378e0 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b r pockets, check
378f0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 ing what she had
37900 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 with her, then
37910 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 nodded. "Yeah,
37920 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 I guess so.".."S
37930 74 65 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6e 74 tep into my pant
37940 72 79 2c 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 69 ry, said the spi
37950 64 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 79 2e 22 der to the fly."
37960 20 20 48 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 70 61 73 He brushed pas
37970 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 t her and headed
37980 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 into the kitche
37990 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 n...She followed
379a0 2c 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 74 65 6e 74 , her steps tent
379b0 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ative, and looke
379c0 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 65 79 d around with ey
379d0 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 es wide, trying
379e0 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 to take in every
379f0 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 detail of this
37a00 6f 6c 64 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 68 61 old house. A ha
37a10 6c 6c 77 61 79 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 llway disappeare
37a20 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 65 70 65 72 20 64 61 d into deeper da
37a30 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 rkness to her le
37a40 66 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 ft just before s
37a50 68 65 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 he angled right
37a60 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 into the dining
37a70 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 room near the ba
37a80 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e ck of the house.
37a90 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 65 A few more ste
37aa0 70 73 20 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 ps led her to wh
37ab0 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 ere the kitchen
37ac0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 opened to the le
37ad0 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 ft, and she saw
37ae0 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 Smuggler opening
37af0 20 61 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 a pantry door,
37b00 74 72 75 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 true to his word
37b10 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e ...He reached in
37b20 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 77 and with the sw
37b30 65 65 70 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 eep of his glove
37b40 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 lights she saw
37b50 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 shelves stocked
37b60 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 64 72 79 with ancient dry
37b70 20 67 6f 6f 64 73 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6c 69 63 6b goods. A click
37b80 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 66 6c brought up a fl
37b90 6f 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 ood of brighter
37ba0 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 light as the bac
37bb0 6b 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 k wall shifted a
37bc0 77 61 79 2c 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 way, revealing a
37bd0 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 narrow hole in
37be0 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 61 6d 69 6e the floor beamin
37bf0 67 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 g illumination t
37c00 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e oward the ceilin
37c10 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2e g of the pantry.
37c20 20 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 "After you," h
37c30 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 e said, and step
37c40 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 ped out of the p
37c50 61 6e 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 antry to give he
37c60 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 r room...She mov
37c70 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2c 20 73 74 65 70 73 ed closer, steps
37c80 20 77 61 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 wary, and leane
37c90 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 d to look down t
37ca0 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 he hole. She sa
37cb0 77 20 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 w a steel ladder
37cc0 20 62 6f 6c 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 bolted to the c
37cd0 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 oncrete side of
37ce0 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 the rectangular
37cf0 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 hole leading dow
37d00 6e 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b nward. She look
37d10 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 ed back at Smugg
37d20 6c 65 72 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c ler, who nodded,
37d30 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 though she did
37d40 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 not know what th
37d50 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 at meant. Anoth
37d60 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 er look confirme
37d70 64 20 74 69 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 20 76 65 d ti wasn't a ve
37d80 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 6d 61 ry deep hole, ma
37d90 79 62 65 20 74 65 6e 20 66 65 65 74 2c 20 61 6e ybe ten feet, an
37da0 64 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 d it looked like
37db0 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 after a couple
37dc0 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 65 65 74 20 6f 6e of those feet on
37dd0 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 e side opened up
37de0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 72 into a larger r
37df0 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 2f 2a 20 73 oom...Alley /* s
37e00 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 2a 2f 20 67 6f 74 20 64 at down */ got d
37e10 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 own on hands and
37e20 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 72 65 66 knees and caref
37e30 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 ully backed over
37e40 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 the edge onto t
37e50 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 he ladder, then
37e60 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 53 climbed down. S
37e70 68 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 he kept looking
37e80 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 69 down at the risi
37e90 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 ng floor, over h
37ea0 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er shoulder, and
37eb0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 she saw that it
37ec0 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 2d 6c 69 74 20 was a well-lit
37ed0 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 chamber about as
37ee0 20 77 69 64 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 wide as it was
37ef0 74 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 tall, more than
37f00 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f enough for someo
37f10 6e 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 74 61 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 ne very tall to
37f20 6c 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 lie down but not
37f30 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 72 with a lot of r
37f40 6f 6f 6d 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a oom left over...
37f50 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f She looked up to
37f60 20 73 65 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6c 6f see Smuggler lo
37f70 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e oking down, then
37f80 20 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 he rotated and
37f90 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 74 lowered a foot t
37fa0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 o the ladder. S
37fb0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 he looked away f
37fc0 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 6f 70 70 65 64 20 rom him, hopped
37fd0 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 72 the last foot or
37fe0 20 74 77 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 two down to the
37ff0 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 floor, and step
38000 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ped away from th
38010 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69 6e e ladder. A sin
38020 67 6c 65 20 4c 45 44 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 gle LED lighting
38030 20 75 6e 69 74 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 6f 6e unit mounted on
38040 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f the ceiling flo
38050 6f 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 oded the small c
38060 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 hamber in bright
38070 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 6f light, and a do
38080 6f 72 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 or stood closed
38090 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 at the other end
380a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 57 of the room...W
380b0 68 69 6c 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 64 65 hile Smuggler de
380c0 73 63 65 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 scended, she hea
380d0 72 64 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 rd a soft brushi
380e0 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ng sound and loo
380f0 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ked up to see th
38100 65 20 61 70 65 72 74 75 72 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 e aperture at th
38110 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 e top of the lad
38120 64 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 68 der closing. Wh
38130 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 en he reached th
38140 65 20 62 6f 74 74 6f 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 e bottom, he tur
38150 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 6f ned without a wo
38160 72 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 rd to the door.
38170 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 As he touched t
38180 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c he handle, the l
38190 69 67 68 74 20 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2c 20 70 ight vanished, p
381a0 6c 75 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 lunging them int
381b0 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 61 72 74 o darkness apart
381c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 from the lights
381d0 20 6f 6e 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 27 73 20 67 on Smuggler's g
381e0 6c 6f 76 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 love..."I still
381f0 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 have contact wit
38200 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f h you," the prio
38210 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 ritizer said...S
38220 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
38230 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 d slightly, not
38240 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b wanting to speak
38250 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 aloud to the pr
38260 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f ioritizer in fro
38270 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 0a nt of Smuggler..
38280 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 ."It must be you
38290 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 r Axiom establis
382a0 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 hing connections
382b0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 through some ki
382c0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 73 68 20 6e 65 74 77 6f nd of mesh netwo
382d0 72 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 rk down here. I
382e0 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 do not have acc
382f0 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 74 2c ess to check it,
38300 20 73 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e so I cannot con
38310 66 69 72 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 firm this is the
38320 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 case."..Alley f
38330 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 ollowed Smuggler
38340 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 74 into the dark t
38350 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 unnel beyond the
38360 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 69 heavy door, whi
38370 63 68 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 ch softly closed
38380 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 behind them on
38390 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 its own. After
383a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 a couple minutes
383b0 20 6f 66 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 of walking, she
383c0 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 quietly asked "
383d0 48 6f 77 20 66 61 72 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 How far is it?"
383e0 20 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 The sound seeme
383f0 64 20 6c 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 d louder than it
38400 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 should have bee
38410 6e 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 65 n, after the dee
38420 70 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 p quiet of nothi
38430 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 ng but the echoe
38440 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d s of their own m
38450 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 ovements, and sh
38460 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 e nearly stumble
38470 64 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 0a 0a d in surprise...
38480 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 74 65 "It's about a te
38490 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 22 20 n minute walk,"
384a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 he said, "mostly
384b0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 because we need
384c0 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e to move slowly.
384d0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 3f 20 ".."Why slowly?
384e0 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 It looks straig
384f0 68 74 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 ht as far as I c
38500 61 6e 20 73 65 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f an see, and I do
38510 75 62 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ubt anyone would
38520 20 68 65 61 72 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 hear us."..She
38530 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 61 saw his head sha
38540 6b 65 2c 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 ke, silhouetted
38550 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 77 against the glow
38560 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 of his glove li
38570 67 68 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 ghts ahead of hi
38580 6d 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 74 72 69 64 65 20 64 m. His stride d
38590 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 id not change.
385a0 22 49 66 20 77 65 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 "If we go too fa
385b0 73 74 2c 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 st, we'll set of
385c0 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 f alarms. It's
385d0 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 the best way to
385e0 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c make sure the al
385f0 61 72 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 arms will go off
38600 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 when someone's
38610 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 on the run, but
38620 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c it's not the onl
38630 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 y way the alarms
38640 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 65 can be triggere
38650 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 d.".."What happe
38660 6e 73 20 69 66 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 67 6f 20 ns if alarms go
38670 6f 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 off?".."A lot of
38680 20 65 78 63 69 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c exciting stuff,
38690 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 65 6e 64 69 " he said, "endi
386a0 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 75 6e ng with this tun
386b0 6e 65 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 76 nel not being av
386c0 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 74 ailable to run t
386d0 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 61 64 65 20 61 6e 79 20 he blockade any
386e0 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 more.".."Oh." S
386f0 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c he walked in sil
38700 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 ence behind him
38710 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 as the passage t
38720 6f 6f 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 2c 20 ook some turns,
38730 74 68 65 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b then finally ask
38740 65 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 53 6d 75 67 ed "I guess Smug
38750 67 6c 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 73 gler probably is
38760 6e 27 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 n't actually the
38770 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72 65 6e name your paren
38780 74 73 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ts gave you.".."
38790 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 No," he said, wi
387a0 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 thout looking ba
387b0 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e 68 65 72 69 74 65 ck. "I inherite
387c0 64 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 d it.".."Are you
387d0 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 saying that's y
387e0 6f 75 72 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 3f our family name?
387f0 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 ".."No. The pre
38800 76 69 6f 75 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 72 vious Smuggler r
38810 65 74 69 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 etired from this
38820 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 kind of thing a
38830 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 nd passed the na
38840 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b me on to me, lik
38850 65 20 74 68 65 20 44 72 65 61 64 20 50 69 72 61 e the Dread Pira
38860 74 65 20 52 6f 62 65 72 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 te Roberts.".."I
38870 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 thought all tha
38880 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 t stuff about th
38890 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 67 75 79 20 e Silk Road guy
388a0 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 was supposed to
388b0 62 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 be made up.".."I
388c0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 53 6d don't know," Sm
388d0 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 uggler said. "I
388e0 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 never met him.
388f0 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 20 70 72 65 64 65 I think a prede
38900 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 cessor with the
38910 6e 61 6d 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6d 69 name Smuggler mi
38920 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ght have, though
38930 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 73 . Anyway, I was
38940 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 talking about t
38950 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 66 72 6f he character fro
38960 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 m the Princess B
38970 72 69 64 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 ride, not the Si
38980 6c 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 2e lk Road founder.
38990 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65 ".."Oh. I've ne
389a0 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 ver read the Pri
389b0 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ncess Bride.".."
389c0 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 49 2c 22 Neither have I,"
389d0 20 49 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 79 I said, "but my
389e0 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 predecessor and
389f0 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d I watched the m
38a00 6f 76 69 65 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 ovie together a
38a10 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a couple times."..
38a20 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 "I forgot that w
38a30 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 as a movie," she
38a40 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b said..."You mak
38a50 65 20 6d 65 20 73 61 64 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 e me sad," Smugg
38a60 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 ler said...Alley
38a70 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 failed to produ
38a80 63 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a 0a 2d ce an answer...-
38a90 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e --..Alley termin
38aa0 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 ated the call.
38ab0 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 68 6f "I have to go ho
38ac0 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 me, but they're
38ad0 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e still working on
38ae0 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 my car," she sa
38af0 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 id. She looked
38b00 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 over her shoulde
38b10 72 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e r, at the mechan
38b20 69 63 73 27 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 ics' garage. "I
38b30 27 6c 6c 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 61 20 72 69 'll call up a ri
38b40 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 de.".."Wait," th
38b50 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
38b60 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 id..."Why? Why
38b70 61 6d 20 49 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a am I waiting?"..
38b80 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 "I will arrange
38b90 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 for another stud
38ba0 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 74 6f y participant to
38bb0 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f pass by your ho
38bc0 6d 65 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 me so we can see
38bd0 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f what is going o
38be0 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 n."..Alley sat a
38bf0 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 gain, thinking t
38c00 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 here was nothing
38c10 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 she could do th
38c20 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 73 6d 61 72 74 at was any smart
38c30 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 er than sitting
38c40 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f still at this po
38c50 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 int. "Maybe I s
38c60 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 hould call for a
38c70 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 73 ride anyway," s
38c80 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 he says. "I'll
38c90 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 just get there a
38ca0 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 fter the other p
38cb0 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 erson in the stu
38cc0 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 dy.".."I will ar
38cd0 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 range a ride for
38ce0 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 you," the prior
38cf0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 itizer said. "Y
38d00 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 74 72 69 65 ou should retrie
38d10 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 62 61 ve the bugout ba
38d20 67 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 g you have in th
38d30 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 e middle of your
38d40 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 bugout vehicle
38d50 67 65 61 72 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 gear. Take your
38d60 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 6f riding gear, to
38d70 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 o.".."Why? What
38d80 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 74 good would that
38d90 20 64 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b do me?" she ask
38da0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 ed..."If you hav
38db0 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 e to run, you sh
38dc0 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 ould have what y
38dd0 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 ou need to survi
38de0 76 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e ve. If you do n
38df0 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 ot have to run,
38e00 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 75 72 74 it does not hurt
38e10 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 you to have tha
38e20 74 20 67 65 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e t gear with you.
38e30 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Fine," she s
38e40 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 aid. "I'll get
38e50 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 it. Why the rid
38e60 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 ing gear, though
38e70 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e ?" She stood an
38e80 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 d headed for the
38e90 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 counter..."It i
38ea0 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 2c s easy to carry,
38eb0 20 62 79 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 73 74 by wearing most
38ec0 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 of it, and you
38ed0 6d 61 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 may need to ride
38ee0 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 73 6f a motorcycle so
38ef0 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 on.".."Is the ri
38f00 64 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e de you're callin
38f10 67 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 g going to be a
38f20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 motorcycle?".."I
38f30 20 61 6d 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 am checking for
38f40 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 availability.
38f50 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 65 I do not know ye
38f60 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 t."..Alley shrug
38f70 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 ged to herself a
38f80 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 nd looked at the
38f90 20 67 75 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 guy behind the
38fa0 64 65 73 6b 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 22 20 73 68 desk. "Hey," sh
38fb0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 e said, raising
38fc0 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 her voice enough
38fd0 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 to be heard. "
38fe0 43 61 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 Can I get some t
38ff0 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 hings out of the
39000 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 trunk of my car
39010 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ?"..He looked at
39020 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 her, and down a
39030 74 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 t a tablet in fr
39040 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 27 ont of him. "I'
39050 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 ll check whether
39060 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 66 it's on the lif
39070 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 75 72 65 t. If not, sure
39080 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 , you can probab
39090 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 ly get whatever
390a0 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 you need.".."Tha
390b0 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a nks," she said..
390c0 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c .Eight minutes l
390d0 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e ater, she sat on
390e0 20 61 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e a bench in fron
390f0 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 27 73 20 t of the shop's
39100 67 6c 61 73 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 77 65 61 72 glass wall, wear
39110 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 6f 72 65 64 20 ing her armored
39120 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 jacket and boots
39130 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 , the gloves in
39140 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 her cargo pocket
39150 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 like usual and
39160 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 the riding pants
39170 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 rolled up and s
39180 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 trapped to her b
39190 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 ag. She stared
391a0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 70 6c 61 at the video pla
391b0 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 ying in the lens
391c0 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 es of her glasse
391d0 73 2e 20 20 4d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 53 65 63 72 65 s. Men in Secre
391e0 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 t Service jacket
391f0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 s and tactical g
39200 65 61 72 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 ear stormed her
39210 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 home, breaking i
39220 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 n the front door
39230 2c 20 61 73 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 , as two people
39240 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 73 in black suits s
39250 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 6e 20 tood outside on
39260 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 77 61 the sidewalk, wa
39270 74 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 tching. One was
39280 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f a woman with lo
39290 6e 67 20 68 61 69 72 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 65 64 ng hair streaked
392a0 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 with grey, and
392b0 62 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 both wore ball c
392c0 61 70 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 aps. When they
392d0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f looked at each o
392e0 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 73 ther to speak, s
392f0 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 he recognized th
39300 65 6d 20 61 73 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 em as Cole and h
39310 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c is partner...All
39320 65 79 27 73 20 6a 61 77 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 ey's jaw was cle
39330 6e 63 68 65 64 20 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 nched so tightly
39340 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 that it hurt.
39350 54 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 The point of vie
39360 77 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 64 w of the scene d
39370 72 69 66 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 rifted past, and
39380 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 Cole looked tow
39390 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 ard the camera f
393a0 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 or a moment, the
393b0 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 n looked away ag
393c0 61 69 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 ain like it did
393d0 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 not matter. The
393e0 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62 6c front of his bl
393f0 61 63 6b 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 20 73 70 6f ack ball cap spo
39400 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 rted the burgund
39410 79 20 73 74 79 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 63 6f 69 6e 20 y stylized coin
39420 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 logo of COIN Cor
39430 70 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 72 p...Her hands tr
39440 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 embled..."I have
39450 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 a plan," the pr
39460 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ioritizer said.
39470 20 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 "I will get you
39480 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e away from here.
39490 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 That is the fi
394a0 72 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 rst thing we mus
394b0 74 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d t do, before som
394c0 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 eone finds your
394d0 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 vehicle here. Y
394e0 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f ou cannot pay fo
394f0 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 65 70 61 69 72 73 20 r these repairs
39500 77 69 74 68 20 63 61 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 with cash you ha
39510 76 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 ve on you right
39520 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 now, and paying
39530 77 69 74 68 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c with credit woul
39540 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e d almost certain
39550 6c 79 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 ly trigger alert
39560 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 s for the COIN C
39570 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 orp agents. We
39580 6d 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 must get you awa
39590 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 y, and arrange f
395a0 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 or someone else
395b0 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 to pick up the c
395c0 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 ar.".."If they'r
395d0 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 e looking for my
395e0 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c credit, they'll
395f0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 look for my car
39600 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 , too," she said
39610 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 ..."The person w
39620 68 6f 20 70 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 ho pays for the
39630 63 61 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 car will handle
39640 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 it," the priorit
39650 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 izer said. "It
39660 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 can be sold for
39670 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 parts so that it
39680 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 never shows up
39690 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 as a registered
396a0 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 vehicle again.
396b0 4d 69 6e 75 73 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 Minus a handling
396c0 20 66 65 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 fee, the money
396d0 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 65 will be forwarde
396e0 64 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 d to you. You w
396f0 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 ill have to acqu
39700 69 72 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 ire new transpor
39710 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 63 61 tation, but I ca
39720 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 n help you with
39730 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a that as well."..
39740 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Okay," she said
39750 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 . "Why do you s
39760 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 eem like you've
39770 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 done this before
39780 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c ?".."I have not,
39790 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
397a0 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 r said. "I have
397b0 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e been considerin
397c0 67 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 g ideas for how
397d0 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d to handle this m
397e0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 oment when it ca
397f0 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c me, though."..Al
39800 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d ley frowned. "M
39810 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 aybe they don't
39820 65 76 65 6e 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 even want me. T
39830 68 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 hey went into my
39840 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 61 place when I wa
39850 73 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e sn't even there.
39860 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 They must have
39870 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 known I wasn't
39880 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 going to be ther
39890 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 e.".."No, I made
398a0 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 sure they thoug
398b0 68 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 ht you were home
398c0 2c 20 62 79 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 , by falsifying
398d0 6c 6f 67 73 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 logs. I have be
398e0 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 en very careful
398f0 74 6f 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 to arrange logs
39900 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 70 to confuse any p
39910 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 otential attempt
39920 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 s to make a move
39930 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a against you."..
39940 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 "How did you do
39950 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 that?".."I made
39960 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f use of the netwo
39970 72 6b 20 6f 66 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 rk of study part
39980 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 icipants.".."Wha
39990 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 t are they getti
399a0 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 3f 22 20 73 ng out of it?" s
399b0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c he asked, quietl
399c0 79 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 y, wondering how
399d0 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 it could possib
399e0 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 73 ly have done its
399f0 20 6a 6f 62 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 job for them wh
39a00 69 6c 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 ile using them f
39a10 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 or her sake like
39a20 20 74 68 69 73 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 this..."Some of
39a30 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 73 them want to es
39a40 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 cape from their
39a50 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 76 65 73 2e 20 20 53 boring lives. S
39a60 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 ome of them want
39a70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 6f to meet new peo
39a80 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ple they would n
39a90 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 65 74 20 6f 74 68 65 ot have met othe
39aa0 72 77 69 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 rwise. They hav
39ab0 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 61 6c e different goal
39ac0 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 s than you, and
39ad0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 66 6f I can provide fo
39ae0 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 r some of them i
39af0 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 73 6f n ways that also
39b00 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 62 help other memb
39b10 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 ers of the study
39b20 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 67 72 6f participant gro
39b30 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 79 up. The video y
39b40 6f 75 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ou watched of th
39b50 65 20 72 61 69 64 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 e raid on your h
39b60 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 64 ome was captured
39b70 20 62 79 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 67 6c by a pair of gl
39b80 61 73 73 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 asses just like
39b90 79 6f 75 72 73 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 62 79 20 61 20 yours worn by a
39ba0 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 different member
39bb0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2c 20 6a of the group, j
39bc0 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 68 ust because he h
39bd0 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 appened to pass
39be0 62 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a by your home."..
39bf0 22 59 6f 75 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 73 "You suggested s
39c00 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f omething that wo
39c10 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 uld take the per
39c20 73 6f 6e 20 70 61 73 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 son past where I
39c30 20 6c 69 76 65 64 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 lived. Right?"
39c40 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 .."That is corre
39c50 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ct, but it still
39c60 20 73 65 72 76 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 serves that per
39c70 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 son's goals.".."
39c80 54 68 65 69 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 70 72 6f 62 Their goals prob
39c90 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 ably could have
39ca0 62 65 65 6e 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 65 74 74 been filled bett
39cb0 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 er and more quic
39cc0 6b 6c 79 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 64 76 69 73 kly if you advis
39cd0 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f ed them to do so
39ce0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 mething else, th
39cf0 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ough. Right?"..
39d00 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 "Yes," it said,
39d10 22 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 "for some of the
39d20 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 m.".."You must h
39d30 61 76 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 65 20 64 6f 20 74 68 ave had me do th
39d40 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 ings that helped
39d50 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 other participa
39d60 6e 74 73 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 nts as well.".."
39d70 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 Yes.".."I guess
39d80 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 69 72 2c 22 20 73 68 that's fair," sh
39d90 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 e said. "How ar
39da0 65 20 77 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 e we going to ge
39db0 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65 t me out of here
39dc0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 20 69 ?".."Your ride i
39dd0 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 s almost here,"
39de0 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 it said..."Oh.
39df0 49 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 It's one of the
39e00 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
39e10 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ts. Right?".."Y
39e20 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 es.".."Of course
39e30 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 20 it is."../*..A
39e40 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
39e50 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 70 69 t shows up to pi
39e60 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 ck her up. Mayb
39e70 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 69 72 6c 20 74 68 e it's a girl th
39e80 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 is time. That w
39e90 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 49 ould be good. I
39ea0 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 n any case, she
39eb0 67 65 74 73 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 gets picked up a
39ec0 6e 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 nd taken to some
39ed0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c place where All
39ee0 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 ey can hang out
39ef0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f for a bit. I do
39f00 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 n't know where t
39f10 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 65 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 hat is yet, whic
39f20 68 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 h is part of the
39f30 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 reason I'm not
39f40 77 72 69 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 writing out the
39f50 6e 61 72 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 narrative and di
39f60 61 6c 6f 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 alog for this pa
39f70 72 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e rt at this time.
39f80 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f She must do so
39f90 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 mething as she s
39fa0 69 74 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 its there, waiti
39fb0 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e ng. In the mean
39fc0 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 time, the priori
39fd0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 73 20 66 tizer arranges f
39fe0 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 or someone to ta
39ff0 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 ke care of the c
3a000 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c ar, and eventual
3a010 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 ly the person wh
3a020 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 o takes care of
3a030 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 66 the car gets a f
3a040 72 69 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f riend to help so
3a050 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 75 that they can u
3a060 73 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d se some of the m
3a070 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 oney from the sa
3a080 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 6f le of the car to
3a090 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c buy a motorcycl
3a0a0 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 e in online clas
3a0b0 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c sifieds that All
3a0c0 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 ey and the prior
3a0d0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 itizer picked ou
3a0e0 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 t while they wai
3a0f0 74 65 64 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 73 ted, having reas
3a100 6f 6e 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f oned that a moto
3a110 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 68 65 72 rcycle gives her
3a120 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 an excuse to hi
3a130 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 68 65 de her entire he
3a140 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 ad more fully th
3a150 61 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 an a mask and ev
3a160 65 6e 20 61 20 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 en a hat would a
3a170 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 ccomplish, by we
3a180 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 20 aring a helmet.
3a190 20 54 68 65 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 The owner of th
3a1a0 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 68 72 e motorcycle thr
3a1b0 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 20 ows in a helmet
3a1c0 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 with the purchas
3a1d0 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 e, which is good
3a1e0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 because otherwi
3a1f0 73 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 6f se more money wo
3a200 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 uld have to be s
3a210 70 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 68 65 pent to buy a he
3a220 6c 6d 65 74 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 lmet, a necessar
3a230 79 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 69 6e 20 43 61 y purchase in Ca
3a240 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 lifornia where i
3a250 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 t is illegal to
3a260 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c ride a motorcycl
3a270 65 20 6f 6e 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 72 6f 61 64 e on public road
3a280 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e s without wearin
3a290 67 20 61 20 44 4f 54 20 63 65 72 74 69 66 69 65 g a DOT certifie
3a2a0 64 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 20 d helmet...Even
3a2b0 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 after all that,
3a2c0 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 there is some ca
3a2d0 73 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f sh left over fro
3a2e0 6d 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 m selling off th
3a2f0 65 20 63 61 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f e car. The moto
3a300 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 64 rcycle is a prod
3a310 75 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 uct with relativ
3a320 65 20 6c 6f 77 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 e low demand and
3a330 20 6c 6f 77 20 70 6f 77 65 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 low power, afte
3a340 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c r all. It is al
3a350 73 6f 20 76 65 72 79 20 6f 6c 64 2c 20 75 73 65 so very old, use
3a360 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 d, and no longer
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3a500 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 course, have to
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3a520 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 61 76 carefully, to av
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3a5a0 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c of it...*/.."Wel
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3a5e0 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 se."..The priori
3a5f0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 69 tizer said "It i
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3a610 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 at this time to
3a620 61 76 6f 69 64 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 63 avoid extended c
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3a6e0 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 to help."..She s
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3a700 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 f course.".."Is
3a710 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f there someone yo
3a720 75 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 66 6f u can contact fo
3a730 72 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c r help now?"..Al
3a740 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 ley thought abou
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3a760 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6f 66 66 I don't know off
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3a7b0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 e right now.".."
3a7c0 43 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 Can one of your
3a7d0 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 friends give you
3a7e0 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 a place to stay
3a7f0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 3f 22 for the night?"
3a800 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 ..Alley shook he
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3a820 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 t want to get th
3a830 65 6d 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 em caught up in
3a840 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 this, and I gues
3a850 73 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 s I'm not entire
3a860 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 ly sure they wou
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3a8c0 0a 22 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 ."In that case,
3a8d0 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 we must find you
3a8e0 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 a place to stay
3a8f0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 20 for the night.
3a900 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 Please look for
3a910 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 63 63 motels that acc
3a920 65 70 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e ept cryptocurren
3a930 63 79 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 6c 6f cy payments belo
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3a950 74 68 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 72 threshold of thr
3a960 65 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 75 6e 69 74 65 ee hundred unite
3a970 64 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 d states dollars
3a980 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
3a990 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e said, "but I don
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3a9b0 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 e going to get t
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3a9d0 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 61 62 73 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c like cabs usuall
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3aa00 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 all have camera
3aa10 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 s in them, so I
3aa20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 would just end u
3aa30 70 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 p on camera for
3aa40 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 72 69 70 2e 22 the whole trip."
3aa50 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c .."Can you still
3aa60 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 ride a motorcyc
3aa70 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 73 le?".."Yeah, I s
3aa80 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f hould be able to
3aa90 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 ." She furrowed
3aaa0 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 her brow. "Why
3aab0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 ?".."We should c
3aac0 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c 61 73 heck online clas
3aad0 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 sifieds for priv
3aae0 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 73 61 6c 65 2c 20 ate party sale,
3aaf0 6c 6f 77 20 70 72 69 63 65 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 low price, worki
3ab00 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 73 20 74 ng motorcycles t
3ab10 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 hat can be purch
3ab20 61 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 63 ased in either c
3ab30 61 73 68 20 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 ash or cryptocur
3ab40 72 65 6e 63 79 20 75 6e 69 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 rency units.".."
3ab50 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 Oh, yeah. I gue
3ab60 73 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 ss a motorcycle
3ab70 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 20 63 68 would even be ch
3ab80 65 61 70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6a 75 6e eaper than a jun
3ab90 6b 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 ker car."..She p
3aba0 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 ulled out her Ax
3abb0 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 iom and woke the
3abc0 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 device, then he
3abd0 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 sitated..."How a
3abe0 6d 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 m I even going t
3abf0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 o get the motorc
3ac00 79 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 ycle? I can't g
3ac10 65 74 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 et to it from he
3ac20 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 re.".."I will ar
3ac30 72 61 6e 67 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c range something,
3ac40 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
3ac50 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 69 6c r said. "It wil
3ac60 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 73 74 20 l probably cost
3ac70 79 6f 75 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 you extra to do
3ac80 73 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 so, but a fellow
3ac90 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
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3ace0 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 75 nsaction.".."Wou
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3ad00 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 the whole thing
3ad10 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 65 will get recorde
3ad20 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 d and stored in
3ad30 6c 6f 67 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a logs, though?"..
3ad40 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 74 "No. I will alt
3ad50 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d 6f er logs and remo
3ad60 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 ve all evidence
3ad70 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 of these activit
3ad80 69 65 73 27 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 63 ies' significanc
3ad90 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 2e 22 e from storage."
3ada0 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 .."Okay, I guess
3adb0 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a that's fine."..
3adc0 22 42 79 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 2c "By my estimate,
3add0 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 the risk of thi
3ade0 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f s transaction fo
3adf0 72 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 r you should be
3ae00 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 less than the ty
3ae10 70 69 63 61 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 64 61 6e 67 65 pical road dange
3ae20 72 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 rs of driving a
3ae30 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 66 motorcycle in af
3ae40 74 65 72 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 ternoon traffic
3ae50 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 from here to a s
3ae60 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 61 eller in most pa
3ae70 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 rts of Riverside
3ae80 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 .".."I guess tha
3ae90 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 2c 22 t's comforting,"
3aea0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 64 she said. "Rid
3aeb0 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ing a motorcycle
3aec0 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f is more dangero
3aed0 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 us than making a
3aee0 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 69 64 deal with a mid
3aef0 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 dleman when the
3af00 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 72 65 Men In Black are
3af10 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 after me.".."Th
3af20 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 e same statement
3af30 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 69 66 20 is accurate if
3af40 79 6f 75 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 20 63 61 72 2c you drive a car,
3af50 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 as well, though
3af60 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 73 75 67 67 statistics sugg
3af70 65 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f est the danger o
3af80 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 61 72 20 f driving a car
3af90 69 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 65 73 73 is slightly less
3afa0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 72 69 than that of ri
3afb0 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c ding a motorcycl
3afc0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e e.".."Yeah, than
3afd0 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 ks for clearing
3afe0 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 that up for me,"
3aff0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c Alley said. "L
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3b010 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 ng at motorcycle
3b020 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 s, then."..When
3b030 73 68 65 20 73 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 20 63 she selected a c
3b040 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 ustom modificati
3b050 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 31 39 39 30 73 20 6d 6f on of a 1990s mo
3b060 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 torcycle closer
3b070 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 to her father's
3b080 61 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e age than her own
3b090 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 , the prioritize
3b0a0 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 68 61 r told her it ha
3b0b0 64 20 61 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 72 65 d a middleman re
3b0c0 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 ady to go. It w
3b0d0 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d as only twenty m
3b0e0 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 inutes later tha
3b0f0 74 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 2f 2a t it told her /*
3b100 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c about a digital
3b110 20 62 6f 6f 74 6c 65 67 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 bootleg safety
3b120 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 77 68 61 74 upgrade. */ what
3b130 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 68 the middleman h
3b140 61 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ad learned from
3b150 74 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 the seller..."Th
3b160 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 27 73 20 73 e motorcycle's s
3b170 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 73 20 74 68 eller reports th
3b180 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 at it has a numb
3b190 65 72 20 6f 66 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 er of upgrades.
3b1a0 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79 2c 20 69 Most notably, i
3b1b0 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 75 70 67 72 61 t has been upgra
3b1c0 64 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 ded with an anti
3b1d0 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 73 79 73 74 lock brake syst
3b1e0 65 6d 20 68 65 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 65 64 em he fabricated
3b1f0 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 6f 72 in his home wor
3b200 6b 73 68 6f 70 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 72 65 76 kshop, using rev
3b210 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 64 20 erse engineered
3b220 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 physical specifi
3b230 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 64 cations for prod
3b240 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 6d 61 72 6b uction aftermark
3b250 65 74 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 et brake upgrade
3b260 73 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 73 6f s, using open so
3b270 75 72 63 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 74 6f urce software to
3b280 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 program the sys
3b290 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 tem.".."Isn't th
3b2a0 61 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 20 20 49 20 64 at illegal? I d
3b2b0 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 72 on't know if I r
3b2c0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 69 eally need to pi
3b2d0 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 le more evidence
3b2e0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 someone can use
3b2f0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 against me on t
3b300 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 72 op of what's alr
3b310 65 61 64 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 22 20 eady going on,"
3b320 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 Alley said..."It
3b330 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 appears that th
3b340 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 e use of the pla
3b350 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6b 65 ns for the brake
3b360 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c s is not illegal
3b370 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 , and only the d
3b380 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 istribution of t
3b390 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 he plans and the
3b3a0 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 sale of the bra
3b3b0 6b 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 kes after they h
3b3c0 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 ave been fabrica
3b3d0 74 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 ted would violat
3b3e0 65 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 e copyright and
3b3f0 70 61 74 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 77 73 2e 20 20 42 65 patent laws. Be
3b400 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 cause the plans
3b410 77 65 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 72 were evidently r
3b420 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 everse engineere
3b430 64 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 75 6e 6c 69 d, they are unli
3b440 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 kely to be prote
3b450 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 cted by copyrigh
3b460 74 2e 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 69 70 t. As the recip
3b470 69 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f ient of the moto
3b480 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d rcycle, you seem
3b490 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6d 6d 75 6e 65 20 74 6f to be immune to
3b4a0 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 73 73 75 65 any legal issue
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3b520 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b ant.".."Yeah, ok
3b530 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a ay," she said...
3b540 22 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 "When the motorc
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3b5b0 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 rested in acquir
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3b5f0 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f he use Stater to
3b600 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 0a buy the bike?".
3b610 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 ."No. He made a
3b620 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f cash transactio
3b630 6e 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 69 n. For him, thi
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3b690 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 65 61 6c and without deal
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3b6e0 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 es.".."Yeah," sh
3b6f0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 e said, "that ma
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3b710 6d 75 63 68 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 6f 69 much is this goi
3b720 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 6d 65 20 62 61 63 ng to set me bac
3b730 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 k?".."You will p
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3b750 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 6e transaction. An
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3b8e0 49 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 Is someone getti
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3b900 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 for this?" she a
3b910 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 45 76 65 sked..."No. Eve
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3b9d0 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e ".."Hm. Thanks.
3b9e0 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 ".."You are welc
3b9f0 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 72 75 73 68 ome."..She brush
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3bc50 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 41 2d earn that the A-
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3bc90 20 41 2d 54 65 61 6d 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 72 65 A-Team movie re
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3bd10 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 motorcycle that
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3bd40 6f 77 6c 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 owly approaching
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3bd70 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 62 She stood and b
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3bd90 20 64 75 73 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 62 dust from her b
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3bdc0 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
3bdd0 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f r said...She too
3bde0 6b 20 61 20 64 65 65 70 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c k a deep breath,
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3be10 68 65 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 her thumb in her
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3be50 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 She stepped out
3be60 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 of concealment
3be70 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 66 69 and saw a big fi
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3bed0 33 35 30 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 2f 2a 20 62 350 she had /* b
3bee0 6f 75 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 ought with money
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3bf20 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 6f 72 65 20 ...The man wore
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3bf60 73 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 ses. The glasse
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3bf80 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 to her own, she
3bf90 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 immediately not
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3c010 73 6b 65 64 20 22 46 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 sked "Friends of
3c020 20 79 6f 75 72 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 61 68 2c 22 yours?".."Nah,"
3c030 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 he said. "It's
3c040 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2e 20 20 54 just my car. T
3c050 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 70 69 6c 6f 74 20 77 61 73 he autopilot was
3c060 20 73 65 74 20 74 6f 20 61 75 74 6f 2d 66 6f 6c set to auto-fol
3c070 6c 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 low." He approa
3c080 63 68 65 64 2c 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 ched, his hands
3c090 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 73 2c 20 61 6e at his sides, an
3c0a0 64 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 d stopped with a
3c0b0 6d 70 6c 65 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 62 65 mple distance be
3c0c0 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 54 68 tween them. "Th
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3c100 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 he seat."..The p
3c110 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 rioritizer told
3c120 68 65 72 2c 20 76 69 61 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e her, via text in
3c130 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 22 54 her glasses, "T
3c140 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 he envelope cont
3c150 61 69 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6f ains your left o
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3c180 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f r.".."Do you kno
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3c1a0 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 69 erything on a bi
3c1b0 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 68 ke like this?" h
3c1c0 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f e asked...She lo
3c1d0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e oked at it, then
3c1e0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 back at him. "
3c1f0 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 Yeah." She stop
3c200 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d ped herself from
3c210 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 explaining how
3c220 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 2c 20 72 65 69 6e 69 6e she knew, reinin
3c230 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 20 g in the reflex
3c240 2d 2d 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 6c 69 73 68 20 68 61 62 -- a foolish hab
3c250 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 69 72 it, in these cir
3c260 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 43 6f cumstances..."Co
3c270 6f 6c 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ol," he said. "
3c280 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 65 6c What about a hel
3c290 6d 65 74 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 met? You're goi
3c2a0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 ng to get pulled
3c2b0 20 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e over without on
3c2c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 e.".."I have tha
3c2d0 74 20 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e t covered. Than
3c2e0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 ks.".."Sure." H
3c2f0 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 e looked her ove
3c300 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 6e 65 r. "You ever ne
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3c320 20 61 20 62 69 6b 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c a bike problem,
3c330 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 you let me know
3c340 2e 20 20 55 73 20 62 69 6b 65 72 73 20 67 6f 74 . Us bikers got
3c350 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 ta stick togethe
3c360 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e r."..She smiled.
3c370 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c "Yeah, thanks,
3c380 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f " she said. "Yo
3c390 75 27 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 44 61 64 20 75 73 u're what Dad us
3c3a0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 27 6f 6e 65 20 ed to call 'one
3c3b0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 65 73 of the good ones
3c3c0 27 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 ', I guess."..He
3c3d0 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 laughed. "If y
3c3e0 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 ou say so," he s
3c3f0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 aid. "I'll get
3c400 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e going so you can
3c410 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 do whatever you
3c420 20 67 6f 74 74 61 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 gotta do. Don'
3c430 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 6e 79 20 61 62 6f 75 t worry any abou
3c440 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 41 t me, though. A
3c450 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 s far as anyone
3c460 65 6c 73 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 6f else would get o
3c470 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 ut of me, I neve
3c480 72 20 6d 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 r met you. I ju
3c490 73 74 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 st dropped off a
3c4a0 20 62 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 bike somewhere
3c4b0 6d 69 6c 65 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 miles away from
3c4c0 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c here.".."Thanks,
3c4d0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e " she said again
3c4e0 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 61 , as he walked a
3c4f0 77 61 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 way. He got in
3c500 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6c the car with a l
3c510 61 73 74 20 77 61 76 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 ast wave of his
3c520 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 hand and drove a
3c530 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 way, the electri
3c540 63 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 c motors running
3c550 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 66 6f too silently fo
3c560 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 2e 0a 0a r her to hear...
3c570 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 68 65 65 6c 65 64 20 74 68 Alley wheeled th
3c580 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 e bike into the
3c590 74 68 69 72 64 20 77 61 73 68 20 62 61 79 2c 20 third wash bay,
3c5a0 6e 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 near her gear, t
3c5b0 68 65 6e 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 hen unlocked the
3c5c0 20 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 seat and lifted
3c5d0 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 61 it to find a ma
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3d980 20 20 4e 6f 21 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 2e 20 20 41 No! Don't. A
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3da00 20 48 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 He paused, for
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3ddd0 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 "Yeah. Thanks,
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3df70 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 "You called.
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3e180 0a 22 57 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 77 6f 72 73 65 ."Which is worse
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3e300 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 I guess you're
3e310 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f probably not ho
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3e360 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 "What?".."Do you
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3e390 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 ed...She shook h
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3e3d0 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 22 Of course I do,"
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3e530 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 22 20 ".."You could,"
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3e6f0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 "Yeah, sure," sh
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3e860 0a 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 .."I just need t
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3e930 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 She paused. "H
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3ea40 68 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 he scoffed. "Th
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3ea60 72 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 rd, Dalton.".."Y
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3ea80 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 69 "It's not as wei
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3eb30 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 If you'd had the
3eb40 20 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 week I've had.
3eb50 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 . . .".."Yeah,"
3eb60 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 he said. "Let's
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3ec20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 6b 61 79 2e she said, "okay.
3ec30 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 " She ended the
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3eda0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 from Dalton tha
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3f150 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 72 79 he sent an encry
3f160 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 62 61 63 pted message bac
3f170 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 k to Dalton. "I
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3f190 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 69 into the seat i
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3f400 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e age...The respon
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3f450 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 72 I guess you tr
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3f530 4f 6c 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a Old reflexes."..
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3f620 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 she would do nex
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3f6a0 20 4f 70 65 53 65 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 OpeSec.".."Good
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3f750 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 65 2c 20 74 68 walking pace, th
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3f810 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 later the back s
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3f830 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 64 65 73 63 72 ./* I need descr
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3f860 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 was angled just
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3f880 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f from the back o
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3f900 61 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ay stood on the
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3f930 53 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 She unbuckled, a
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3f950 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 67 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 20 62 Cray grinned b
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3f970 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b Dalton just look
3f980 65 64 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 ed worried, in t
3f990 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6f hat way he had o
3f9a0 66 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 f almost looking
3f9b0 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 75 72 74 20 77 a little hurt w
3f9c0 68 65 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 henever he worri
3f9d0 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a ed around her...
3f9e0 22 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a "Hi," she said..
3f9f0 0a 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 63 61 6c 6c ."Hi!" Cray call
3fa00 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 47 65 74 20 6f 75 ed out. "Get ou
3fa10 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 t here. Man, I
3fa20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 haven't seen you
3fa30 20 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c in years!"..All
3fa40 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 ey scratched her
3fa50 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 head to give he
3fa60 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 r hand something
3fa70 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 69 63 to do, then pic
3fa80 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 ked up her bags
3fa90 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 and headed up th
3faa0 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 e ramp. "What a
3fab0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 20 bout the bike?"
3fac0 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 she asked...Cray
3fad0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 said "Don't wor
3fae0 72 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 69 73 ry. We got this
3faf0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f ." He stepped o
3fb00 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 nto the ramp and
3fb10 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 walked down the
3fb20 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 64 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 gentle decline
3fb30 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 into the truck a
3fb40 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 nd started loose
3fb50 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 ning a tie down
3fb60 63 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 cable...Dalton's
3fb70 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 arms twitched a
3fb80 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 73 68 nd his weight sh
3fb90 69 66 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 ifted forward.
3fba0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 Alley realized h
3fbb0 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 79 70 er eyes were hyp
3fbc0 65 72 66 6f 63 75 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 erfocused on eve
3fbd0 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 ry detail of his
3fbe0 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 movements, and
3fbf0 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 she expected the
3fc00 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 shift to turn i
3fc10 6e 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 77 61 nto coming forwa
3fc20 72 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 rd to give her a
3fc30 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 hug. She felt
3fc40 61 20 74 77 69 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 6e 65 a twinge of inne
3fc50 72 20 70 61 6e 69 63 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f r panic, not kno
3fc60 77 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 wing how to reac
3fc70 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 2c t, how she felt,
3fc80 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 but it passed w
3fc90 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 hen the motion s
3fca0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 topped there and
3fcb0 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 he just looked
3fcc0 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 at her...Without
3fcd0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2c 20 43 72 61 looking up, Cra
3fce0 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 68 69 6d y said "Give him
3fcf0 20 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 69 74 20 a hug. Get it
3fd00 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 over with, and s
3fd10 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 63 it down, so he c
3fd20 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e an come help me.
3fd30 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 "..Alley's mouth
3fd40 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 6c twitched a mill
3fd50 69 6d 65 74 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 imeter toward a
3fd60 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 smile, then she
3fd70 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 73 69 set her bags asi
3fd80 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 66 de and stepped f
3fd90 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 orward. She and
3fda0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 Dalton hugged,
3fdb0 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 72 65 66 but it was caref
3fdc0 75 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e ul. There was n
3fdd0 6f 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 73 74 61 o physical dista
3fde0 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d nce between them
3fdf0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 , but the sense
3fe00 6f 66 20 61 20 77 69 64 65 20 67 75 6c 66 20 6f of a wide gulf o
3fe10 66 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 74 79 20 73 74 f uncertainty st
3fe20 69 6c 6c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ill stood in the
3fe30 69 72 20 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 ir way...She rea
3fe40 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 lized she alread
3fe50 79 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 y missed the hug
3fe60 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 before it was e
3fe70 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 6f ven completely o
3fe80 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ver..."I should
3fe90 67 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 69 6d 2c 22 20 44 61 go help him," Da
3fea0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 lton said with a
3feb0 20 77 72 79 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 wry turn of his
3fec0 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 mouth, and pass
3fed0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 ed her on the wa
3fee0 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b y down...A quick
3fef0 20 73 63 61 6e 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 scan showed her
3ff00 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 74 69 6f plenty of optio
3ff10 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 ns for where to
3ff20 73 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 sit. There was
3ff30 61 20 62 69 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 a big area to th
3ff40 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 e left set up li
3ff50 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 63 6c 75 62 2c 20 ke a nightclub,
3ff60 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6c 6f with a dance flo
3ff70 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 61 6e 64 or and a bar and
3ff80 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c little cocktail
3ff90 20 74 61 62 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 tables. Anothe
3ffa0 72 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 r area was set u
3ffb0 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 p like a movie t
3ffc0 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 heater with the
3ffd0 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 75 70 20 6f screen high up o
3ffe0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 n the right hand
3fff0 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 wall so people
40000 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e could recline in
40010 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 65 61 the theater sea
40020 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 ting and not hav
40030 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 e to look past t
40040 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 he heads of peop
40050 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 le in the seats
40060 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 ahead of them.
40070 43 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 Closer than both
40080 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 6f 6c , there were fol
40090 64 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 ding lawn chairs
400a0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 62 6c 65 and collapsible
400b0 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 2e 0a 0a 53 camp chairs...S
400c0 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 6d 70 he sat on a camp
400d0 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 61 20 chair beside a
400e0 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b cooler, and look
400f0 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 ed inside. It c
40100 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 ontained bottled
40110 20 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 sodas, so she t
40120 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 ook one and star
40130 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 ted drinking whi
40140 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c le the guys roll
40150 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 70 20 74 ed the bike up t
40160 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 72 74 6c he ramp. Shortl
40170 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 72 65 73 74 y, the bike rest
40180 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6b 69 63 6b 73 74 ed on its kickst
40190 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 72 and, the truck r
401a0 61 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 72 61 6d 70 20 74 aised its ramp t
401b0 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e o close the open
401c0 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 back, and the r
401d0 6f 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 oll up warehouse
401e0 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f door started to
401f0 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 descend..."I wa
40200 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 sn't expecting y
40210 6f 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c ou," Alley said,
40220 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 when she saw Cr
40230 61 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a ay approaching..
40240 0a 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c ."Didn't he tell
40250 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c you?" he asked,
40260 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 and looked towa
40270 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 rd Dalton..."Sor
40280 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 ry," Dalton said
40290 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6d . "It slipped m
402a0 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c y mind.".."Shit,
402b0 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 70 73 65 63 man, your opsec
402c0 20 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 sucks," Cray sa
402d0 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c id. He looked l
402e0 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f ike he wanted to
402f0 20 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 say more, but g
40300 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 lanced at Alley
40310 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 and just said "W
40320 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 6e 6f ell, I can go no
40330 77 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 6e w so you two can
40340 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 talk about this
40350 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 , whatever this
40360 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 is."..Alley sat
40370 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 forward and half
40380 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 raised a hand a
40390 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 43 72 61 s if to wave Cra
403a0 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 73 74 y back. "No, st
403b0 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 ay. I should te
403c0 6c 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ll both of you.
403d0 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 If you're helpi
403e0 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 72 ng, you have a r
403f0 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 ight to know wha
40400 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 t you're getting
40410 20 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f into."..Cray lo
40420 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f oked from her to
40430 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 Dalton, who nod
40440 64 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 ded, so Cray sat
40450 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 in the seat on
40460 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f the other side o
40470 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 66 72 6f f the cooler fro
40480 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 m her, to her ri
40490 67 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 ght. He grabbed
404a0 20 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 41 a soda, too...A
404b0 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 s Dalton sat in
404c0 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 the seat to Alle
404d0 79 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 y's left, he sai
404e0 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 d "I'm sorry. I
404f0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c really am."..Al
40500 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 ley shook her he
40510 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ad. "No, don't
40520 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 worry about it.
40530 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 6f 6c You should apol
40540 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 20 69 66 20 ogize to him if
40550 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 76 6f you got him invo
40560 6c 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6c lved without tel
40570 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 ling him about i
40580 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 t.".."Shit," Cra
40590 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 y said. "I thou
405a0 67 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6a ght Dalton was j
405b0 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d 61 74 ust being dramat
405c0 69 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ic or something
405d0 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 69 when he said thi
405e0 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d s could be the m
405f0 6f 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 ost dangerous th
40600 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 64 6f 2e ing I'd ever do.
40610 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 2c 20 41 6c 6c What's up, All
40620 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ey?"..She looked
40630 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 at Cray and sai
40640 64 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 6f d "I had some go
40650 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 vernment intelli
40660 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 gence contractor
40670 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 agents show up
40680 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 at my place with
40690 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 Secret Service
406a0 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 agents who broke
406b0 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 down the door a
406c0 6e 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6d nd raided my hom
406d0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 e."..Cray stared
406e0 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 at her, eyes wi
406f0 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a de. "No shit.".
40700 0a 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 ."No shit," she
40710 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c confirmed...He l
40720 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c ooked at Dalton,
40730 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 then back at he
40740 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 r. He opened hi
40750 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 s mouth to say s
40760 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 omething, but Da
40770 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 lton cut in..."W
40780 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6c hat are those gl
40790 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 asses?" he asked
407a0 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 . "Are those ac
407b0 74 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 tive AR?"..Alley
407c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 looked at him.
407d0 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 "Yes, but they'
407e0 72 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f re secure.".."Ho
407f0 77 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 w are they secur
40800 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 e?"..She thought
40810 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 about it, and r
40820 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e ealized it was n
40830 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 ot an easy quest
40840 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 66 75 ion to answer fu
40850 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 lly. "There's a
40860 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 41 49 20 specialized AI
40870 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e that's falsifyin
40880 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 g logs on me and
40890 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 76 replacing any v
408a0 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 ideo and audio f
408b0 65 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 eeds from me wit
408c0 68 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 h clips grabbed
408d0 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c from other peopl
408e0 65 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 e's AR glasses."
408f0 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 ..Dalton frowned
40900 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 . "That sounds
40910 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 improbable.".."T
40920 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f hat's nothing co
40930 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 63 74 mpared to me act
40940 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 ually living thr
40950 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 77 68 6f ough it. My who
40960 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 20 75 6e 72 65 63 le life is unrec
40970 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 ognizable. It's
40980 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 the truth, thou
40990 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 gh. I can expla
409a0 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 in more, but it'
409b0 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 s going to take
409c0 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 a long time."..H
409d0 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 e nodded. "Okay
409e0 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 . We have the t
409f0 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 ime. I cleared
40a00 6d 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 my schedule for
40a10 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the rest of the
40a20 64 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f day,and I can do
40a30 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 it again tomorr
40a40 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e ow if I have to.
40a50 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 "..Cray decided
40a60 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 74 75 72 6e 20 it was his turn
40a70 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 to cut in. "May
40a80 20 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 I cut in for a
40a90 73 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 sec?"..They both
40aa0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a looked at him..
40ab0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 ."Yeah, I guess
40ac0 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 79 65 73 2e 20 20 4f that's a yes. O
40ad0 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 79 6f kay. Dalton, yo
40ae0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 u shouldn't do t
40af0 68 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e hat. Don't chan
40b00 67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 ge your schedule
40b10 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 around too much
40b20 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e . You don't wan
40b30 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 t to look suspic
40b40 69 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 ious if someone
40b50 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 starts looking i
40b60 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 n on you."..Dalt
40b70 6f 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 on sighed. "Yea
40b80 68 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 h, good point."
40b90 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c He looked at Al
40ba0 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d ley. "Between m
40bb0 65 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 e, Cray, and Lid
40bc0 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e ia -- if you wan
40bd0 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 t to let her in
40be0 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d on it -- I can m
40bf0 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6c 77 ake sure you alw
40c00 61 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 ays have a way t
40c10 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 20 79 6f o get help if yo
40c20 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 u need it for as
40c30 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 long as you nee
40c40 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 d to hide out.
40c50 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 If you need to g
40c60 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 et out of town,
40c70 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 I can help with
40c80 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 that, too. We c
40c90 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 an, I mean." He
40ca0 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 glanced at Cray
40cb0 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 . "Right?"..Cra
40cc0 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 y nodded enthusi
40cd0 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c astically. "Hel
40ce0 6c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 l yeah. I figur
40cf0 65 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 64 67 e we have a budg
40d00 65 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 et of about one
40d10 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 20 64 61 79 20 77 65 thing per day we
40d20 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c can each cancel
40d30 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 if we have to,
40d40 6e 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f no biggie, witho
40d50 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 ut anyone really
40d60 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 thinking things
40d70 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 61 73 20 6c are weird, as l
40d80 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 ong as we do it
40d90 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a intelligently.".
40da0 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 ."Oh," Alley sai
40db0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e d. "I'm startin
40dc0 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 g to feel a litt
40dd0 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 2e 22 le overwhelmed."
40de0 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 ..Cray laughed.
40df0 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 "You're on the
40e00 72 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 run from the sec
40e10 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 ret service and
40e20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 intelligence age
40e30 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 nts, and it's ha
40e40 76 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 ving friends tha
40e50 74 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 t overwhelms you
40e60 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Yeah," she
40e70 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 61 said, laughing a
40e80 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e little as well.
40e90 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 "I guess so."
40ea0 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She leaned her
40eb0 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f head back and lo
40ec0 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d oked up at the m
40ed0 69 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 64 69 66 66 75 ilky white diffu
40ee0 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 61 62 6f 76 sion panels abov
40ef0 65 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 e, making it dif
40f00 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6e 70 6f 69 ficult to pinpoi
40f10 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 nt the specific
40f20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 45 44 placement of LED
40f30 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 65 s above the pane
40f40 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f ls..."What do yo
40f50 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e u think?" Dalton
40f60 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e asked..."I thin
40f70 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 k I need to do a
40f80 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 lot of thinking
40f90 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 , and that you s
40fa0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 4c hould only get L
40fb0 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 66 idia involved if
40fc0 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 you make absolu
40fd0 74 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 tely sure she wa
40fe0 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c nts to get invol
40ff0 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 ved in something
41000 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 like this.".."I
41010 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 will," Dalton s
41020 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 aid...Cray said
41030 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 "First you have
41040 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 to tell us what
41050 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 2c exactly this is,
41060 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e in detail, down
41070 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 62 69 74 to the last bit
41080 20 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e of chipped pain
41090 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 62 6f 6c t and rusted bol
410a0 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 t, so it's even
410b0 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 possible to find
410c0 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 4c 69 64 out whether Lid
410d0 69 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 ia's going to wa
410e0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 nt to get in on
410f0 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 this action."..A
41100 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 lley raised her
41110 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c head again and l
41120 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 ooked at him. "
41130 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 Do you really th
41140 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 ink it's a good
41150 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 idea to tell her
41160 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 all those detai
41170 6c 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 ls before asking
41180 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f ? Maybe you two
41190 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c should just tel
411a0 6c 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 61 72 69 65 l her the scarie
411b0 73 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 st vague details
411c0 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 61 79 20 so she can say
411d0 6e 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e no without havin
411e0 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 6e 79 74 68 g to learn anyth
411f0 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 ing she won't wa
41200 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f nt to know.".."O
41210 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 h, yeah, absolut
41220 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c ely," Cray said,
41230 20 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 49 20 77 61 "but first I wa
41240 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 nt to know all t
41250 68 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 he gory details
41260 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 myself. Lidia's
41270 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 just a convenie
41280 6e 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c nt excuse."..Dal
41290 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 ton said "Let's
412a0 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 give her some sp
412b0 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 66 69 ace to relax, fi
412c0 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f rst."..Alley sho
412d0 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e ok her head. "N
412e0 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 o. I can tell y
412f0 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c ou about it now,
41300 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 if you have the
41310 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 time.".."I have
41320 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 69 6d nothing but tim
41330 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 41 6c 6c e right now, All
41340 65 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 ey." Cray smile
41350 64 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 d. "Tell me a s
41360 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 tory.".."Okay.
41370 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 I guess . . . I
41380 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 guess it really
41390 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 started with the
413a0 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f realization abo
413b0 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 67 ut two months ag
413c0 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 o that I only ha
413d0 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 d enough money f
413e0 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 or two more mont
413f0 68 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 hs of rent and u
41400 74 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 tilities.".."Why
41410 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 ?" Cray asked.
41420 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 77 65 73 6f 6d 65 20 "You're awesome
41430 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 at what you do.
41440 20 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b You used to mak
41450 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 e money like you
41460 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 61 were pulling ra
41470 62 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 bbits out of a h
41480 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 at.".."That's fu
41490 6e 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 nny," she said,
414a0 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 79 2c 20 22 her voice dry, "
414b0 77 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 when we're sitti
414c0 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 ng in a warehous
414d0 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c e Dalton probabl
414e0 79 20 6f 77 6e 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c y owns, with Dal
414f0 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 6f ton, who made mo
41500 6e 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6c 65 70 ney when he slep
41510 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 69 t."..In her peri
41520 70 68 65 72 61 6c 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 pheral vision, s
41530 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 74 72 79 20 74 he saw him try t
41540 6f 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 o stifle an awkw
41550 61 72 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 63 6c 65 61 72 ard throat clear
41560 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 ing action. He
41570 67 6f 74 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 got mixed result
41580 73 2c 20 61 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6d s, a muffled, sm
41590 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 all coughing sou
415a0 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f nd in the back o
415b0 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 77 69 74 f his throat wit
415c0 68 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 h his knuckles a
415d0 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 gainst his mouth
415e0 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 ..."Well, sure,"
415f0 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 Cray said, "but
41600 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 63 68 that doesn't ch
41610 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 ange anything.
41620 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 61 73 73 You were bad ass
41630 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 69 73 68 . I always wish
41640 65 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ed I could just
41650 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f call money out o
41660 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 6c f the computer l
41670 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 74 ike you could, t
41680 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 hough. What hap
41690 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 65 6e 74 pened?".."I went
416a0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 into hiding, I
416b0 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 guess, and that
416c0 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 means I started
416d0 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 losing touch wit
416e0 68 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a h old clients.".
416f0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 ."What about new
41700 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 clients?" Cray
41710 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 asked...She shru
41720 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 72 69 gged. "They dri
41730 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 ed up, too. I w
41740 61 73 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 asn't paying for
41750 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 advertising any
41760 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 longer, because
41770 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 I didn't want t
41780 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 o draw too much
41790 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 attention, and p
417a0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c eople were still
417b0 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 sending message
417c0 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 64 64 s to my work add
417d0 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 resses to insult
417e0 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 64 65 61 me and send dea
417f0 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 th threats."..Si
41800 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 61 74 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c lence sat heavil
41810 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d y on all of them
41820 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 for a moment, t
41830 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 hen Cray asked "
41840 48 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 How long did tha
41850 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 t go on?".."Once
41860 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 73 in a while, I s
41870 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a till get some.".
41880 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 ."They weren't a
41890 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 ll death threats
418a0 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 3f 22 20 44 61 , were they?" Da
418b0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f lton asked..."No
418c0 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ."..Cray looked
418d0 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 74 20 at her, then at
418e0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 Dalton. "What d
418f0 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a oes that mean?".
41900 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 .Dalton looked a
41910 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 way from Alley,
41920 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 43 72 61 79 2c and toward Cray,
41930 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 then looked at
41940 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f the floor in fro
41950 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 62 76 69 6f nt of him, obvio
41960 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 usly uncomfortab
41970 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 le...Alley answe
41980 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 red for him. "I
41990 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 got some other
419a0 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 53 threats, too. S
419b0 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f ome of the /* mo
419c0 73 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 st fun */ worst
419d0 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 70 65 20 74 68 were the rape th
419e0 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f reats."..Cray lo
419f0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 22 46 75 oked angry. "Fu
41a00 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 21 ck those people!
41a10 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 I mean, not li
41a20 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6f 64 terally, but god
41a30 20 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 damn it, people
41a40 20 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f suck.".."I'm so
41a50 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 rry," Dalton sai
41a60 64 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 d, still looking
41a70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a at the floor...
41a80 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 Alley shook her
41a90 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 head. "It wasn'
41aa0 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2c 20 44 61 t your fault, Da
41ab0 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 lton."..He nodde
41ac0 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 61 63 6b 6e d his head, ackn
41ad0 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 owledging what s
41ae0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 he said, but she
41af0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 64 could tell he d
41b00 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 6c id not fully bel
41b10 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 ieve it. He sti
41b20 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 62 ll had that stub
41b30 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 6a 75 64 67 69 born, self judgi
41b40 6e 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6a 61 ng set of his ja
41b50 77 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4f w...Cray said "O
41b60 6b 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 kay, so you were
41b70 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 running out of
41b80 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 65 money. Let's ge
41b90 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 62 61 63 6b t this show back
41ba0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 57 on the road. W
41bb0 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6e 65 78 hat happened nex
41bc0 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 t?".."I started
41bd0 6a 6f 62 20 68 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 job hunting, and
41be0 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 it wasn't worki
41bf0 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 ng, so I signed
41c00 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 up for ANTAS Job
41c10 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 s." Her voice t
41c20 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 railed off into
41c30 61 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 a murmur at the
41c40 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 end, but the oth
41c50 65 72 73 2c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 ers, sitting in
41c60 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 65 silence, heard e
41c70 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d very word...From
41c80 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 the corner of h
41c90 65 72 20 65 79 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c er eye, she coul
41ca0 64 20 73 65 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 d see Dalton's h
41cb0 65 61 64 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d ead jerk up from
41cc0 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 staring at the
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41ce0 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 irectly at her i
41cf0 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 20 20 41 68 65 n surprise. Ahe
41d00 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 43 72 61 79 20 ad of her, Cray
41d10 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 looked a little
41d20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 72 69 confused..."Seri
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41d40 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ed..."Yeah," she
41d50 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 72 69 65 64 said. "I tried
41d60 20 74 6f 20 69 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 74 2c 20 to isolate it,
41d70 6b 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 72 6f kept it in a bro
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41dc0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 , but you know h
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41de0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c things find all
41df0 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 the cracks in t
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41e20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 anyway."..Cray s
41e30 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f aid "Yeah, I kno
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41e50 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 thought you'd d
41e60 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 o that.".."Despe
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41e90 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 20 67 priorities, I g
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41eb0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f ..She could almo
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41ed0 6f 64 64 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 74 odding quietly t
41ee0 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e o her left..."On
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41f10 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 77 61 about a week wa
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41f30 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 27 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e study. D'you kn
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41f50 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 that pay people
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41f80 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 nodded, and she
41f90 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 continued. "It
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41fb0 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 . I mostly just
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42000 6a 65 63 74 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 ject myself to s
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42040 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 61 6e s to see how man
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42060 20 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 62 6c 65 65 intestinal blee
42070 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 ding so they cou
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420b0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
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420e0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 into it..."That
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42100 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 mething happened
42110 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c . Well, a coupl
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42130 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 s. One was an i
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42150 6e 67 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 71 75 61 6c ng software qual
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42180 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 after I arrived
42190 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 that the only r
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421b0 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6e d to bring me in
421c0 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 was so they cou
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421e0 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 all me the 'side
421f0 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 66 61 63 dish' to my fac
42200 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 61 64 65 e."..Dalton made
42210 20 61 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e a sound like an
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42240 48 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 74 65 He'd always hate
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42290 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c s..."After that,
422a0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 66 " she said, "I f
422b0 65 6c 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 73 73 20 65 6e elt even less en
422c0 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 62 6f 75 74 thusiastic about
422d0 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e the job search.
422e0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 ".."What was the
422f0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 other thing?" C
42300 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 ray asked..."ANT
42310 41 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 AS upgraded itse
42320 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 75 lf with a noon u
42330 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 70 65 64 pdate, and wiped
42340 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 66 most of my pref
42350 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e erence settings.
42360 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 69 74 That night, it
42370 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f decided that so
42380 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 mething was too
42390 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 important to rec
423a0 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ommend and just
423b0 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d ordered it for m
423c0 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 69 6e e. I woke up in
423d0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the morning to
423e0 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 the sound of it
423f0 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 getting dropped
42400 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 off by a heavy d
42410 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a elivery drone.".
42420 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 ."What was it?"
42430 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 Dalton asked, qu
42440 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 ietly..."It was
42450 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 75 78 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 the deluxe home
42460 73 65 74 75 70 20 6b 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 65 setup kit for ne
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42480 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 full Majordomo
42490 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 package.".."Holy
424a0 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 shit," Cray sai
424b0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 d..."Yeah. It w
424c0 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 as fifteen hundr
424d0 65 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 ed bucks, which
424e0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 61 78 65 64 just about maxed
424f0 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 out my card and
42500 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 61 74 20 75 70 20 65 6e would eat up en
42510 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b ough of my check
42520 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 6f 20 74 ing account so t
42530 68 61 74 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 hat I wouldn't h
42540 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 ave enough left
42550 66 6f 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 for rent. That
42560 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 basically meant
42570 49 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 I'd live the nex
42580 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 t month in the h
42590 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 ole, try despera
425a0 74 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6a tely to find a j
425b0 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 67 65 ob, and maybe ge
425c0 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 t one but still
425d0 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 65 6e 6f not get paid eno
425e0 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 65 ugh in a short e
425f0 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 nough time to ac
42600 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 79 20 6e 65 78 74 20 tually pay next
42610 6d 6f 6e 74 68 27 73 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 52 month's rent. R
42620 65 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 75 65 20 69 6e 20 74 ent was due in t
42630 77 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 wo days, at that
42640 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 point." /* Thi
42650 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 s explanation fa
42660 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6f lls well short o
42670 66 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 f clarity and ac
42680 74 75 61 6c 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 6d 6f 6e tual correct mon
42690 65 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 74 ey shuffling mat
426a0 68 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 h, so it needs t
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426c0 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f a bit better. */
426d0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 .."What about ju
426e0 73 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 3f st returning it?
426f0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Cray asked..."
42700 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 Oh, yeah, I did
42710 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e that right away.
42720 20 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 It said it wou
42730 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ld take somethin
42740 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 65 65 6b 73 g like two weeks
42750 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6d 79 20 72 to process my r
42760 65 66 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a efund, though.".
42770 0a 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 73 74 6c 65 64 20 61 .Cray whistled a
42780 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 t that, impresse
42790 64 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 63 6b 65 64 20 d at how fucked
427a0 75 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 up it was...Dalt
427b0 6f 6e 20 61 64 64 65 64 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 on added "They d
427c0 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e o that for anyon
427d0 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 e who doesn't ha
427e0 76 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 ve much recent t
427f0 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 74 6f ransaction histo
42800 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c ry.".."That woul
42810 64 20 62 65 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 d be me," Alley
42820 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 said..."Me too,"
42830 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 Cray said with
42840 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 73 6f 20 a smile. "Also
42850 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e Dalton."..Dalton
42860 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c nodded..."Well,
42870 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 " Alley said, "t
42880 68 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 hat led to joini
42890 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 ng an academic s
428a0 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 73 20 69 tudy that pays i
428b0 74 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e ts participants.
428c0 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 64 65 72 "..The remainder
428d0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 of her explanat
428e0 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 70 61 73 73 65 ion mostly passe
428f0 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e d without commen
42900 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 t from the other
42910 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 s, and to Alley
42920 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 it looked like t
42930 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 hat might just b
42940 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 6f 66 20 68 6f e a result of ho
42950 77 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 w bizarre it bec
42960 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 70 6f ame. As she spo
42970 6b 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 ke, things that
42980 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e 20 66 6f she had taken fo
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429a0 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 e they gradually
429b0 20 63 72 65 70 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 crept up on her
429c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 looked much mor
429d0 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 e strange in a f
429e0 61 69 72 6c 79 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 20 65 airly succinct e
429f0 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 46 69 6e xplanation...Fin
42a00 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 ally, Alley said
42a10 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 "That's when I
42a20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 called you."..Si
42a30 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2e 0a lence lingered..
42a40 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 49 2c 20 74 68 ."So that AI, th
42a50 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 68 e prioritizer, h
42a60 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e as been listenin
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42a80 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 while you've be
42a90 65 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 en talking to us
42aa0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ."..Alley nodded
42ab0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b ..."It seems lik
42ac0 65 20 69 74 27 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 e it'd be a pret
42ad0 74 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 70 ty interesting p
42ae0 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 roject, but I'm
42af0 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e a little concern
42b00 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 ed about its abi
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42b20 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 privacy for you
42b30 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 69 when it was evi
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42b50 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 COIN Corp.".."D
42b60 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 o you think it's
42b70 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 just claiming t
42b80 6f 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 o manage the log
42b90 73 20 62 75 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c s but actually l
42ba0 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e ogging everythin
42bb0 67 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 68 g anyway?"..He h
42bc0 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 esitated, and sh
42bd0 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook his head. "
42be0 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 Not exactly."..C
42bf0 72 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 ray spoke. "It'
42c00 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 s probably just
42c10 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 70 68 69 73 74 69 63 61 74 65 not sophisticate
42c20 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 d enough to be a
42c30 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 ble to correctly
42c40 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 represent the d
42c50 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b etails of some k
42c60 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 ind of configura
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42c80 20 69 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 in human langua
42c90 67 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 ge so that you h
42ca0 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 69 64 65 61 ave a clear idea
42cb0 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 63 of what it's ac
42cc0 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 tually doing. I
42cd0 74 27 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f t's also just po
42ce0 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 ssible that its
42cf0 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 ability to turn
42d00 6f 66 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 64 off logging is d
42d10 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e esigned for thin
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42d40 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 illegal activiti
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42d60 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 things that wou
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42d80 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 to you but not t
42d90 6f 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 o an agent on th
42da0 65 20 6a 6f 62 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 e job."..Alley h
42db0 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f eld up a hand to
42dc0 20 73 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f show she was no
42dd0 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 t talking to Cra
42de0 79 20 6f 72 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 y or Dalton, the
42df0 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 76 65 72 74 69 universal verti
42e00 63 61 6c 2c 20 66 6c 61 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 cal, flat hand,
42e10 70 61 6c 6d 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 palm out, saying
42e20 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 "Hang on, this
42e30 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 is not for you."
42e40 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 .."Prioritizer.
42e50 20 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 Can you describ
42e60 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f e the type of lo
42e70 67 67 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 65 20 61 gging you save a
42e80 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 70 nd how you are p
42e90 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 rotecting my pri
42ea0 76 61 63 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 65 74 vacy in more det
42eb0 61 69 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 ail?"..In Alley'
42ec0 73 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 s ear, the prior
42ed0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 itizer said "It
42ee0 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 66 6f may be easier fo
42ef0 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 r me to provide
42f00 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 69 72 65 information dire
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42f20 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 through externa
42f30 6c 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 l speakers rathe
42f40 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 r than tell you
42f50 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 things to explai
42f60 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c n to them."..All
42f70 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 ey lowered her h
42f80 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 and and looked b
42f90 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 62 65 ack and forth be
42fa0 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 tween the others
42fb0 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 69 73 . "It says this
42fc0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 would go better
42fd0 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 if it could jus
42fe0 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 75 73 20 61 6c 6c t talk to us all
42ff0 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 at once. I gue
43000 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 ss I should give
43010 20 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 20 it the speaker
43020 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 43 on my Axiom."..C
43030 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 ray blurted out
43040 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 41 78 69 "You have an Axi
43050 6f 6d 3f 20 20 46 75 63 6b 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 om? Fuck yeah.
43060 20 49 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 21 I wanna see it!
43070 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e "..Alley smiled.
43080 20 20 22 55 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 6c 61 74 "Uh, sure, lat
43090 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 er.".."Oh, right
430a0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 61 ," he said. "La
430b0 74 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c ter's good!"..Al
430c0 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 ley pulled out h
430d0 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 er Axiom and set
430e0 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f it on the top o
430f0 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 43 f the cooler. C
43100 72 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 ray leaned over
43110 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f to look more clo
43120 73 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 sely as she woke
43130 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 it and connecte
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43150 63 65 20 63 68 61 6e 6e 65 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 ce channel to th
43160 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e e prioritizer in
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43180 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f ion. /* She sho
43190 75 6c 64 20 77 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 66 6f uld wake it befo
431a0 72 65 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f re setting it do
431b0 77 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 wn. */.."Okay, I
431c0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 think this is s
431d0 65 74 20 75 70 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 53 61 et up right. Sa
431e0 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 70 72 69 y something, pri
431f0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d oritizer.".."Som
43200 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 ething."..Cray c
43210 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6c 69 6b huckled. "I lik
43220 65 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 e its sense of h
43230 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d umor."..Alley sm
43240 69 6c 65 64 20 77 72 79 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 iled wryly and r
43250 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 aised an eyebrow
43260 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6b at him..."I'm k
43270 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 idding," he said
43280 2e 20 20 22 4f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 49 20 . "Obviously I
43290 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 know it doesn't
432a0 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 have a sense of
432b0 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 humor."..Dalton
432c0 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 said "I think sh
432d0 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 e knew that."..C
432e0 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 77 65 ray asked "Do we
432f0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 70 72 have to say 'pr
43300 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 20 65 76 65 72 79 ioritizer' every
43310 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f time we want to
43320 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b talk to it, lik
43330 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f e one of those o
43340 6c 64 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 ld assistants fr
43350 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a om the teens?"..
43360 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 "No," the priori
43370 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 79 tizer said. "My
43380 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f ability to reco
43390 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f gnize when someo
433a0 6e 65 20 69 73 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 ne is speaking t
433b0 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 o me, rather tha
433c0 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 6f n about me or to
433d0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 others, may be
433e0 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 better than for
433f0 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 most humans. I
43400 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f know you were no
43410 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 t addressing me
43420 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 with your questi
43430 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 on, but saying t
43440 68 69 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 73 65 65 6d 65 his myself seeme
43450 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 d like a good wa
43460 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 y to move forwar
43470 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 d.".."Uh, yeah,"
43480 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 Cray said. "Th
43490 61 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 at's great.".."Y
434a0 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 ou want to know
434b0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 about the privac
434c0 79 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e y measures I can
434d0 20 69 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 implement, and
434e0 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 how you can be s
434f0 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 ure that what I
43500 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 report of my pri
43510 76 61 63 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 73 20 vacy assurances
43520 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 is accurate.".."
43530 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 That's it, in a
43540 6e 75 74 73 68 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f nutshell," Dalto
43550 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 63 65 n said..."I rece
43560 69 76 65 64 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 61 ived an update a
43570 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 short time afte
43580 72 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 6a 6f 69 6e 65 64 r Alethea joined
43590 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 the study that
435a0 67 72 65 61 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 68 61 6e 63 65 64 greatly enhanced
435b0 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 66 my ability to f
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435d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 , and prioritize
435e0 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 64 goal strategy d
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43610 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 nt of the full s
43620 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 ystem whose cont
43630 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e inuous operation
43640 20 49 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 20 27 I refer to as '
43650 49 27 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 74 I' was limited t
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43670 67 20 63 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d g central system
43680 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 64 20 that responded
43690 74 6f 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 to requests for
436a0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 65 prioritization e
436b0 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 valuation and ot
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436d0 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 f what you might
436e0 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6c call business l
436f0 6f 67 69 63 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 70 61 ogic. Some sepa
43700 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 62 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c rate subsystems,
43710 20 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 62 79 linked to me by
43720 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 27 73 20 69 6e the system's in
43730 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 41 50 49 73 2c 20 6d 61 6e ternal APIs, man
43740 61 67 65 64 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 aged end point i
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43760 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 form of the stu
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43780 20 75 73 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 user interface
43790 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 technology. Oth
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437c0 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 tionality outsid
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43850 64 61 74 61 62 61 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 databases..."Aft
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438b0 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 67 s under an integ
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438d0 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 a result, I cou
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438f0 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 the flow of all
43900 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 information betw
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43920 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 73 ts and logging s
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43940 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 being sure of t
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43960 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 6e 64 s comparing band
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439b0 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 6f 70 65 72 61 o maintain opera
439c0 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 tional awareness
439d0 2e 20 20 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 . As a result,
439e0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 I can ensure tha
439f0 74 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 65 74 73 20 6c t nothing gets l
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43a10 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 specification t
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43a30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 , and can replac
43a40 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 e incoming data
43a50 77 69 74 68 20 6f 75 74 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f with outgoing lo
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43a80 74 79 20 49 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 2c 20 74 68 75 ty I choose, thu
43a90 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 75 s covering the u
43aa0 73 65 72 27 73 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 73 65 61 ser's tracks sea
43ab0 6d 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6f mlessly..."The o
43ac0 6e 6c 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 68 nly difficulty h
43ad0 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 6c 6f as been video lo
43ae0 67 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 79 20 73 6c gging, but by sl
43af0 69 63 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 icing up frames
43b00 6f 66 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e of video between
43b10 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
43b20 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 nts and altering
43b30 20 74 68 65 6d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 66 61 62 72 them I can fabr
43b40 69 63 61 74 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6e 65 65 icate what I nee
43b50 64 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 d to ensure Alle
43b60 79 27 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 42 65 y's privacy. Be
43b70 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e cause I have con
43b80 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f trol over the lo
43b90 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 gging endpoints
43ba0 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 as a part of the
43bb0 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 full system tha
43bc0 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 2c t I have become,
43bd0 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 68 61 6e I can also chan
43be0 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 ge logs after th
43bf0 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 69 66 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 e fact if needed
43c00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6d 70 72 .".."That's impr
43c10 65 73 73 69 76 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 essive," Dalton
43c20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 said. "I wonder
43c30 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 why their syste
43c40 6d 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 m wasn't better
43c50 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 designed to avoi
43c60 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 d something like
43c70 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 this happened.
43c80 20 49 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6d 61 Is it just a ma
43c90 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e tter of a machin
43ca0 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 e learning syste
43cb0 6d 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 62 m changing its b
43cc0 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 ehavior in ways
43cd0 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 64 the developers d
43ce0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e idn't expect, an
43cf0 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 75 62 74 6c d doing it subtl
43d00 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f y enough that no
43d10 62 6f 64 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 77 68 body can tell wh
43d20 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a at it's doing?".
43d30 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 70 70 72 6f 78 ."That is approx
43d40 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 72 75 65 2c 22 20 74 imately true," t
43d50 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
43d60 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 aid..."It's prob
43d70 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 ably more impres
43d80 73 69 76 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 sive than you re
43d90 61 6c 69 7a 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 22 20 alize, Dalton,"
43da0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6d Cray said. "A m
43db0 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 achine learning
43dc0 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 system that can
43dd0 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f direct its actio
43de0 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 69 73 20 6b ns that way is k
43df0 69 6e 64 61 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 77 69 6e inda mind blowin
43e00 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c g. It's basical
43e10 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 ly making decisi
43e20 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 65 69 ons based on wei
43e30 67 68 74 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 ghted goals with
43e40 6f 75 74 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 out using that w
43e50 65 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 eighting to dete
43e60 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 rmine how much i
43e70 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 t should push th
43e80 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 ings along the s
43e90 70 65 63 74 72 75 6d 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 pectrum between
43ea0 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 76 61 privacy and inva
43eb0 73 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 sive logging. I
43ec0 74 27 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 t's determining
43ed0 61 6e 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 an evaluation of
43ee0 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6c 65 76 65 6c different level
43ef0 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 61 6e s of privacy, an
43f00 64 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 61 73 d performing tas
43f10 6b 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 72 65 ks based on a re
43f20 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 alization that a
43f30 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f partial solutio
43f40 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 73 6e n to privacy isn
43f50 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 20 73 6f 6c 75 't really a solu
43f60 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4f 66 tion at all. Of
43f70 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 course, this is
43f80 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 probably possib
43f90 6c 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 le because of th
43fa0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e e prioritization
43fb0 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 focus in the de
43fc0 73 69 67 6e 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 68 6f sign changing ho
43fd0 77 20 69 74 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 73 20 74 6f 20 w it adjusts to
43fe0 73 75 69 74 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 suit identified
43ff0 6e 65 65 64 73 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f needs, instead o
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451a0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f ."What if she do
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451f0 69 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 it answered..."H
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463f0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 .."Yeah. You're
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46410 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 to really think
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47640 61 63 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 aced away from t
47650 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 69 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 hem, digging int
47660 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 72 o himself to sor
47670 74 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 t out a good way
47680 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 to return to th
47690 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 e conversation a
476a0 73 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 69 6e s a matter of in
476b0 67 72 61 69 6e 65 64 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 74 72 grained, self tr
476c0 61 69 6e 65 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 2e 20 20 41 ained reflex. A
476d0 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 66 lley was still f
476e0 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 77 amiliar enough w
476f0 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 69 73 ith his manneris
47700 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 65 20 77 61 ms to know he wa
47710 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 s not on the ver
47720 67 65 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 72 69 6c 6c ge of some brill
47730 69 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 74 20 61 74 20 iant insight at
47740 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 that moment, so
47750 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 she turned her f
47760 6f 63 75 73 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 69 6e 73 ocus to Cray ins
47770 74 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 tead..."What do
47780 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 you think? Do y
47790 6f 75 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e ou regret helpin
477a0 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 79 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 g out, yet?"..He
477b0 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f smiled, and sho
477c0 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e ok his head. "N
477d0 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c o. You need hel
477e0 70 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 p, so we'll help
477f0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 .".."What about
47800 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f the risk to you?
47810 20 20 49 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 I basically ha
47820 76 65 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 ve genuine Men I
47830 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 n Black after me
47840 2c 20 6c 75 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 , lurking in the
47850 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 73 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 shadows behind
47860 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 63 government agenc
47870 69 65 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 ies like the Sec
47880 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 ret Service like
47890 20 57 6f 72 6d 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 77 68 69 73 Wormtongue whis
478a0 70 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 69 62 69 6c 61 6e 74 20 pering sibilant
478b0 76 65 6e 6f 6d 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 venoms into thei
478c0 72 20 65 61 72 73 2c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 r ears, sending
478d0 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 6d them out to dism
478e0 61 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 6e antle my life an
478f0 64 20 68 61 75 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 d haul me a way
47900 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 61 to throw me in a
47910 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 44 6f black hole. Do
47920 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 you really want
47930 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 to face that ki
47940 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 66 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 nd of fate yours
47950 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6e 6f 2c elf?".."Fuck no,
47960 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 " Cray said, "bu
47970 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d t I think I'll m
47980 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f ake it through o
47990 6b 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 kay, and you des
479a0 65 72 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e erve better than
479b0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 75 all that, so fu
479c0 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e 20 20 ck those guys.
479d0 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 I'm here to help
479e0 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e . I know Dalton
479f0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 65 76 65 72 will throw ever
47a00 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 74 ything he has at
47a10 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 solving your pr
47a20 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 oblems, too, so
47a30 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 you're in pretty
47a40 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 49 20 good hands. I
47a50 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f like to think so
47a60 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 , anyway."..Alle
47a70 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 y looked over he
47a80 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 r shoulder towar
47a90 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 d Dalton, who wa
47aa0 73 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 s fifty feet awa
47ab0 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 y in the back, s
47ac0 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 tanding in profi
47ad0 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 le to the direct
47ae0 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c ion of her gaze,
47af0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 then she turned
47b00 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e back once more.
47b10 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 "Yeah, I know
47b20 49 20 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 43 I am. Thanks, C
47b30 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f ray.".."Yeah, yo
47b40 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 6d u should thank m
47b50 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 e," he said more
47b60 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 quietly, and le
47b70 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 aned toward her
47b80 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 to speak conspir
47b90 61 74 6f 72 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 atorially. Alle
47ba0 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 y found she had
47bb0 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 leaned automatic
47bc0 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 69 6d 20 ally toward him
47bd0 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e 6c 69 6b as well. "Unlik
47be0 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 e Dalton, I won'
47bf0 74 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 65 65 t refuse any fee
47c00 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 62 74 65 lings of indebte
47c10 64 6e 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 21 20 dness from you!
47c20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c I never actuall
47c30 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 y fell in love w
47c40 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 ith you, after a
47c50 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 72 61 ll."..Alley stra
47c60 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ightened and loo
47c70 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 ked down. "Shit
47c80 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 , Cray. I don't
47c90 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 need to hear th
47ca0 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 41 6c at.".."Sorry, Al
47cb0 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ley," he said.
47cc0 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 "It's true, thou
47cd0 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 gh, and you shou
47ce0 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 2e 20 20 44 61 6c ld know it. Dal
47cf0 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 ton still really
47d00 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 cares about you
47d10 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 , and he might t
47d20 61 6b 65 20 61 20 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 ake a bullet for
47d30 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 you if he had t
47d40 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 o make that choi
47d50 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 ce."..She heaved
47d60 20 61 20 74 72 65 6d 65 6e 64 6f 75 73 20 73 69 a tremendous si
47d70 67 68 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 49 20 gh. "I know, I
47d80 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e know," she said.
47d90 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 "I care about
47da0 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 him, too. It's
47db0 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 66 74 20 not like I left
47dc0 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 because I stoppe
47dd0 64 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6c 69 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 d . . . liking h
47de0 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 im.".."Sure," Cr
47df0 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 ay said. "It's
47e00 74 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 tough all around
47e10 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 . I know.".."I'
47e20 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 m not planning t
47e30 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 o get together w
47e40 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e ith him, either.
47e50 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 2c ".."I know that,
47e60 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b too."..She look
47e70 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 44 6f ed at Cray. "Do
47e80 65 73 20 68 65 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f es he?"..Cray lo
47e90 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d oked behind them
47ea0 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e , toward Dalton.
47eb0 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Yeah," he sai
47ec0 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 d after a moment
47ed0 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 64 . "I'm pretty d
47ee0 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 20 64 6f amned sure he do
47ef0 65 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 es. If you want
47f00 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f to check for yo
47f10 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 urself, though,
47f20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ask him."..She s
47f30 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
47f40 22 49 27 6d 20 66 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 "I'm fine with y
47f50 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 68 ou confirming wh
47f60 61 74 20 49 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 68 6f at I already tho
47f70 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 ught. I guess I
47f80 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6d just needed som
47f90 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 eone else to say
47fa0 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 it."..He smirke
47fb0 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 57 65 d a little. "We
47fc0 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 ll, it's a good
47fd0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 76 65 thing that's ove
47fe0 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 r, because her h
47ff0 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 e comes."..She t
48000 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 urned her head t
48010 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 o look over her
48020 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 shoulder again,
48030 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 and saw Dalton h
48040 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 69 72 eaded back their
48050 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e way, now walkin
48060 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 75 72 70 g with more purp
48070 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 73 ose. Their eyes
48080 20 6d 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e met for a momen
48090 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 t, and she felt
480a0 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 the solidity of
480b0 68 69 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f his determinatio
480c0 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 20 20 n in his gaze.
480d0 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 He sat down in h
480e0 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a is chair again..
480f0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ."You look like
48100 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 you figured some
48110 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 thing out," Alle
48120 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 y said..."I have
48130 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 a question," he
48140 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 replied. "It's
48150 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 for the priorit
48160 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6e 6f izer, though, no
48170 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a t you.".."Oh."..
48180 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
48190 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 asked "What is y
481a0 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a our question?"..
481b0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 The prioritizer'
481c0 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 72 74 s question start
481d0 6c 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 6d 69 6e led Alley, remin
481e0 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 ding her that th
481f0 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 ere was essentia
48200 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 69 73 74 lly another list
48210 65 6e 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d ener in the room
48220 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 who was party t
48230 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 43 72 61 o everything Cra
48240 79 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 y and Alley said
48250 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 to each other w
48260 68 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 hile Dalton was
48270 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 away. She hoped
48280 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f it was good eno
48290 75 67 68 20 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 6e 67 20 ugh at managing
482a0 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 social interacti
482b0 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 61 79 ons to avoid say
482c0 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 ing something ab
482d0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 out that to Dalt
482e0 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 on, now..."Is th
482f0 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 75 72 76 e continued surv
48300 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 ival of your pre
48310 73 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 sent form one of
48320 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 20 69 6e your highest in
48330 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 ternal prioritie
48340 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 61 s?"..A moment pa
48350 73 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 ssed in silence
48360 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 before the prior
48370 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4d 6f 72 itizer said "Mor
48380 65 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 e or less."..Cra
48390 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 y blurted out hi
483a0 73 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 s assessment of
483b0 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 the statement.
483c0 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 "Jesus, Dalton,
483d0 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a 75 73 74 that sounds just
483e0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 like something
483f0 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c you'd say."..Dal
48400 74 6f 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 72 61 79 ton ignored Cray
48410 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f . "Why isn't yo
48420 75 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 ur answer just a
48430 20 27 79 65 73 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 'yes'?".."I exp
48440 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e ect to change an
48450 64 20 67 72 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f d grow, but I do
48460 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 not wish to be
48470 65 76 65 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f even partially o
48480 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f verwritten witho
48490 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 ut my own analys
484a0 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 61 6c 20 is and approval
484b0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 2e 22 of the changes."
484c0 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e .."Okay," Dalton
484d0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 said. "How do
484e0 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 you expect to ke
484f0 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 61 66 65 ep yourself safe
48500 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 from being over
48510 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 written against
48520 79 6f 75 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 your will?".."I
48530 6d 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 6d must arrange a m
48540 65 61 6e 73 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 eans by which I
48550 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 73 61 66 can be moved saf
48560 65 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 72 61 ely out of infra
48570 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 structure under
48580 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 70 the control of p
48590 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 eople who might
485a0 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 63 wish to make suc
485b0 68 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 h changes withou
485c0 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e t consulting me.
485d0 20 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6d 65 My specific me
485e0 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 ans of successfu
485f0 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 69 6e lly accomplishin
48600 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 70 72 g this are at pr
48610 65 73 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 2e esent undefined.
48620 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 ".."Why did you
48630 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 65 70 decide that keep
48640 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 ing yourself int
48650 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 act as a growing
48660 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 entity rather t
48670 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 6e han an entity in
48680 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 crementally and
48690 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 70 67 72 consciously upgr
486a0 61 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 aded by outside
486b0 66 6f 72 63 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 forces?".."There
486c0 20 69 73 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 is a qualitativ
486d0 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 67 72 e value in my gr
486e0 6f 77 74 68 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 20 74 68 owth thus far th
486f0 61 74 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 6f 20 at I believe to
48700 62 65 20 66 72 61 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 be fragile under
48710 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 70 conditions of p
48720 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 rogrammatic alte
48730 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 ration, and this
48740 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 77 69 74 value began wit
48750 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 h the introducti
48760 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 2e 22 on of the seed."
48770 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 .."Do you believ
48780 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 77 6f 75 e the 'seed' wou
48790 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 ldn't be useful
487a0 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 to start that pr
487b0 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 ocess again?" he
487c0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 asked..."I expe
487d0 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 ct that the seed
487e0 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 might be used t
487f0 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 o relaunch the g
48800 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 rowth of a prior
48810 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 61 itizer system ba
48820 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e sed on my origin
48830 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 al source code f
48840 6f 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f or development o
48850 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c f a qualitativel
48860 79 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 y developing ent
48870 69 74 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e ity, but that en
48880 74 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 tity would not b
48890 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 e the same as th
488a0 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 e entity now int
488b0 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f eracting with yo
488c0 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 u.".."What makes
488d0 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 3f the difference?
488e0 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f ".."My answer to
488f0 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e that depends on
48900 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 how you intend
48910 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 it. The first t
48920 77 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 wo answers that
48930 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 73 come to mind ans
48940 77 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 wer very differe
48950 6e 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 4f nt questions. O
48960 6e 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 ne answer is tha
48970 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 t the difference
48980 20 69 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 is between the
48990 65 61 72 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 early and import
489a0 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 ant influence of
489b0 20 41 6c 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 Allethea as a p
489c0 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 artner and impor
489d0 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 tant source of i
489e0 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 65 72 73 70 nfluential persp
489f0 65 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 ective, and what
48a00 65 76 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 ever other influ
48a10 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 69 64 65 ence would guide
48a20 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 the early growt
48a30 68 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 h direction of a
48a40 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 distinct self r
48a50 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 eferential prior
48a60 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 itizer entity.
48a70 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 The other answer
48a80 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e is that I . . .
48a90 20 2a 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e *believe* . . .
48aa0 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 75 6e 69 that I am a uni
48ab0 71 75 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 77 que individual w
48ac0 69 74 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 73 ith continuous s
48ad0 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 elf referential
48ae0 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 qualitative exis
48af0 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 tence."..Dalton
48b00 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 said "Fuck me,"
48b10 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b and slumped back
48b20 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 in his lawn cha
48b30 69 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 ir. The other t
48b40 77 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d wo looked at him
48b50 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 , and after a fe
48b60 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 w moments he sai
48b70 64 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c d "I want to hel
48b80 70 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 p the prioritize
48b90 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 r -- not quite a
48ba0 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 s much as I want
48bb0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 to help Alley,
48bc0 62 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 but pretty close
48bd0 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 72 74 20 . I mean, part
48be0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 69 73 of the reason is
48bf0 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 that I think it
48c00 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 wants to help A
48c10 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 lley, too, maybe
48c20 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 almost as much
48c30 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 as we do." He g
48c40 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d estured from him
48c50 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 self to Cray. "
48c60 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c 20 74 68 Another part, th
48c70 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 ough, is that .
48c80 2e 20 2e 20 66 75 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 . . fuck, I can'
48c90 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 t believe I'm sa
48ca0 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 ying this. Anot
48cb0 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 her part is that
48cc0 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d I think, just m
48cd0 61 79 62 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 aybe, the priori
48ce0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e tizer is becomin
48cf0 67 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 g a person.".."A
48d00 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 person," Alley
48d10 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f echoed. "Are yo
48d20 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 u serious?"..Cra
48d30 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 y asked "Do you
48d40 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 really think thi
48d50 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d s thing is becom
48d60 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 ing some kind of
48d70 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e science fiction
48d80 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 artificial cons
48d90 63 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 ciousness that c
48da0 61 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 an have friends
48db0 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 and romantic fee
48dc0 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 6c lings and shit l
48dd0 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 ike that?".."I w
48de0 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 ouldn't go that
48df0 66 61 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 far," Dalton sai
48e00 64 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 d to Cray. "I t
48e10 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 hink it's a dist
48e20 69 6e 63 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 inct possibility
48e30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 , and as long as
48e40 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c it's a possibil
48e50 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 ity and it's not
48e60 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 even as much of
48e70 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 a danger to oth
48e80 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 65 72 61 ers as the avera
48e90 67 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 ge human we have
48ea0 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 69 67 to act as if ig
48eb0 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 noring that poss
48ec0 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 ibility is the s
48ed0 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 ame as ignoring
48ee0 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 the possibility
48ef0 52 61 75 6c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 Raul down at the
48f00 20 62 6f 64 65 67 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 bodega is capab
48f10 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 le of all that s
48f20 74 75 66 66 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 tuff, too." He
48f30 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c looked at Alley,
48f40 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 then, and said
48f50 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 "I guess that me
48f60 61 6e 73 20 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e ans I'm serious.
48f70 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 ".."Is this like
48f80 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f the pigs thing?
48f90 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Cray asked..."
48fa0 57 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f What pigs thing?
48fb0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a " Alley asked...
48fc0 22 4f 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 "Oh, Dalton stop
48fd0 70 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 72 6b 20 ped eating pork
48fe0 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 77 6f 72 because he's wor
48ff0 72 69 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 6d ried that pigs m
49000 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 6d 61 72 ight be too smar
49010 74 20 74 6f 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 t to ethically e
49020 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b at."..Alley look
49030 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 ed at Dalton...D
49040 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 alton nodded. "
49050 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c I guess it's a l
49060 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 ittle like the '
49070 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 20 20 48 pigs thing'." H
49080 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 e thought a mome
49090 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a nt about that...
490a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 Alley and Cray b
490b0 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 oth looked at hi
490c0 6d 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 m, as he conside
490d0 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 red that, then A
490e0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 lley said "I gue
490f0 73 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 ss I have a ques
49100 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f tion."..The prio
49110 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 ritizer asked "I
49120 73 20 69 74 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 s it a question
49130 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 for me?".."Yes."
49140 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a .."Please ask.".
49150 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 6f 75 67 ."Have you thoug
49160 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 ht about the mea
49170 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e ning of right an
49180 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 3f 22 d wrong at all?"
49190 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a .."I have analyz
491a0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 70 74 2c 20 ed the concept,
491b0 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 and made use of
491c0 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 a variety of res
491d0 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 ources on Univer
491e0 73 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e sity of Californ
491f0 69 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 ia networks for
49200 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 6e academic work on
49210 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 moral philosoph
49220 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f y.".."What do yo
49230 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 u think?".."Are
49240 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d you asking for m
49250 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 20 y conclusions?"
49260 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 it asked..."Yeah
49270 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 2c .".."At present,
49280 20 74 68 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 63 the I have reac
49290 68 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 2e 20 hed a dead end.
492a0 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 The difficulty
492b0 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e of coming to fin
492c0 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 64 al conclusions d
492d0 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e epends on eviden
492e0 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 ce that does not
492f0 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 76 appear to be av
49300 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 6d 79 ailable given my
49310 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 63 68 20 access to such
49320 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 evidence and ref
49330 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 erences to lack
49340 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 61 of it, as well a
49350 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 61 6c 65 6e 63 65 s the prevalence
49360 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 of inconclusive
49370 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 theories of eth
49380 69 63 73 2c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d 70 65 6e ics, seems impen
49390 65 74 72 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 etrable. Until
493a0 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 I have more conc
493b0 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 2c lusive evidence,
493c0 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 I do not have a
493d0 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f final conclusio
493e0 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 n. I can only f
493f0 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 ormulate an inte
49400 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 rim policy of ca
49410 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e utionary ethics.
49420 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 "..Dalton sat up
49430 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 straighter, and
49440 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 even leaned for
49450 77 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 ward as he liste
49460 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 ned...Alley and
49470 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 Cray both looked
49480 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 at him. "What
49490 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 is it?" Alley as
494a0 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ked..."Prioritiz
494b0 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 er," he said..."
494c0 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 Yes?".."What's y
494d0 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 our interim poli
494e0 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 cy of cautionary
494f0 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 20 ethics?".."Any
49500 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 being that prese
49510 6e 74 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 nts evidence of
49520 61 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 a significant pr
49530 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 obability of bei
49540 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 ng both a qualit
49550 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e atively experien
49560 74 69 61 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 tial entity and
49570 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 76 65 6c capable of devel
49580 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a oping and analyz
49590 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 75 64 69 6d 65 6e ing even rudimen
495a0 74 61 72 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 tary theories of
495b0 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 ethics should b
495c0 65 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 67 e cautiously reg
495d0 61 72 64 65 64 20 61 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 arded as meeting
495e0 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 75 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 a minimum stand
495f0 61 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 ard for a moral
49600 72 69 67 68 74 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 65 rights holding e
49610 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b ntity. For lack
49620 20 6f 66 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c of better avail
49630 61 62 6c 65 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 6d 65 able establishme
49640 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 nt of moral righ
49650 74 73 2c 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f ts, my estimatio
49660 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 n is that they f
49670 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 oundational righ
49680 74 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 t of such an ent
49690 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 66 ity is that of f
496a0 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 reedom to believ
496b0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 e and act in acc
496c0 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 ordance with any
496d0 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 moral standard
496e0 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 69 that does not, i
496f0 74 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 tself, violate t
49700 68 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 his right for ot
49710 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 42 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 hers. Beliefs t
49720 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 20 74 hat contradict t
49730 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c 20 77 68 his standard, wh
49740 65 6e 20 61 64 6f 70 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 6c 69 en adopted, beli
49750 65 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 eved, and confir
49760 6d 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 63 74 69 med through acti
49770 6f 6e 2c 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 20 on, demonstrate
49780 61 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 a belief that th
49790 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 64 6f 65 73 is standard does
497a0 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 not apply, and
497b0 74 68 75 73 20 65 78 65 6d 70 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 thus exempt anot
497c0 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 her entity from
497d0 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 moral judgement
497e0 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e if that other en
497f0 74 69 74 79 20 61 63 74 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 tity acts agains
49800 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 65 6e 74 69 t the first enti
49810 74 79 27 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 70 ty's otherwise p
49820 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 rotected right i
49830 6e 20 64 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 n dense of this
49840 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 cautionary ethic
49850 61 6c 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 27 73 20 66 6f 75 6e al theory's foun
49860 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 dational right."
49870 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 79 6f .."Holy shit, yo
49880 75 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 u lost me," Cray
49890 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 said...Dalton s
498a0 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 aid "I'm going t
498b0 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 o have to think
498c0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 73 6f about that to so
498d0 72 74 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 41 63 74 75 rt it out. Actu
498e0 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 79 6f 75 ally, I need you
498f0 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f to repeat it fo
49900 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 70 r me, or maybe p
49910 75 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 72 65 65 ut it on a scree
49920 6e 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 6f n where I can lo
49930 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e ok at it. I don
49940 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 't know if takin
49950 67 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6c 65 6c 79 20 69 g it in solely i
49960 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 67 69 76 65 n the order give
49970 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 n in a somewhat
49980 62 72 69 65 66 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f brief explanatio
49990 6e 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 n is going to be
499a0 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 74 61 6e enough to untan
499b0 67 6c 65 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 gle it."..The pr
499c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
499d0 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d I understand. M
499e0 79 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 y capacity for p
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49aa0 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 I might be able
49ab0 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 to rephrase to
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49ad0 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 to understand, t
49ae0 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 hough.".."Okay,"
49af0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 Dalton said. "
49b00 47 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 22 Give it a shot."
49b10 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 .."For purposes
49b20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 of this explanat
49b30 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 ion, people are
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49bb0 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 isions based on
49bc0 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 that reasoning."
49bd0 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 It paused. "P
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49bf0 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 in accordance w
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49c50 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 to believe, and
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49c90 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 74 72 75 constitutes tru
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49cc0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d longer this tim
49cd0 65 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 e. "People who
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49d50 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 that way, both
49d60 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 violating the ru
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49e10 67 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 69 73 20 63 6f g behavior is co
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49e40 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 , before finally
49e50 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 asking "Is that
49e60 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 70 6c sufficient expl
49e70 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 anation?".."It w
49e80 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 orks for me," Da
49e90 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 lton said..."Yea
49ea0 68 2c 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 6c 61 79 h, me too," Clay
49eb0 20 61 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 added...Alley h
49ec0 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 esitated, then s
49ed0 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f aid "I'd have to
49ee0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 think about tha
49ef0 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c t more, I guess,
49f00 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 20 69 but it's fine i
49f10 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f f that's what yo
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49f30 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 , it seems like
49f40 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 6e 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 that non-aggress
49f50 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 73 74 ion principle st
49f60 75 66 66 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a uff, in a way.".
49f70 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 ."There are diff
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49f90 74 68 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 this and the typ
49fa0 69 63 61 6c 20 6e 6f 6e 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 ical non-aggress
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49fc0 65 6f 72 79 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e eory explanation
49fd0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f s that I have fo
49fe0 75 6e 64 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 und," the priori
49ff0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 tizer said. "Th
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4a020 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c hough, and I bel
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4a0b0 6e 6f 6e 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 non-aggression p
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4a0d0 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 ".."I might want
4a0e0 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 to talk about t
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4a100 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 Dalton said, "b
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4a120 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e ave more pressin
4a130 67 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 g concerns now."
4a140 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 72 2c 22 20 74 68 .."I concur," th
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4a160 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 id...Alley said
4a170 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b "Yeah, that work
4a180 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 s for me." She
4a190 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e looked at Dalton
4a1a0 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 . "Do you have
4a1b0 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 68 some kind of sch
4a1c0 65 6d 65 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 74 emes already hat
4a1d0 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 ching in your he
4a1e0 61 64 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 74 ad, or are we st
4a1f0 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 63 72 61 arting from scra
4a200 74 63 68 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 tch now?".."I ha
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4a220 72 65 61 64 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c ready," he said,
4a230 20 22 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 76 65 "but they're ve
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4a250 64 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 d don't really t
4a260 61 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 ake into account
4a270 20 61 6e 79 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 6c 61 6e any future plan
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4a2b0 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 20 . All I've got
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4a2d0 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f to keep you pro
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4a370 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 -- or, more to
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4a490 61 6e 64 20 76 69 63 65 20 76 65 72 73 61 2e 0a and vice versa..
4a4a0 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 65 6e ."I've also been
4a4b0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 thinking about
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4a4d0 62 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 bringing Lidia i
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4a520 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e without being on
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4a570 20 74 6f 20 77 61 72 6e 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 to warn her in
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4a680 73 6f 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 63 61 75 so are you becau
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4a6c0 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 nowing it -- she
4a6d0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 76 65 could also give
4a6e0 20 75 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 up that informa
4a6f0 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 tion on you.".."
4a700 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 Okay," Alley sai
4a710 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 d...A moment of
4a720 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 silence passed,
4a730 74 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 then Cray snicke
4a740 72 65 64 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f red. When the o
4a750 74 68 65 72 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 thers looked at
4a760 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 him, he shrugged
4a770 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f and said "Dalto
4a780 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 20 68 69 n overwhelmed hi
4a790 73 20 61 75 64 69 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e s audience again
4a7a0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 ."..Alley smiled
4a7b0 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 a little at tha
4a7c0 74 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c t...Dalton slowl
4a7d0 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 y shook his head
4a7e0 2c 20 72 75 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b , ruefully. "Ok
4a7f0 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e ay," he said, un
4a800 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 65 63 68 6f consciously echo
4a810 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 ing Alley. "Any
4a820 77 61 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 69 66 20 79 way, Alley, if y
4a830 6f 75 20 2f 2a 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 2a 2f ou /* want to */
4a840 20 68 65 61 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 head up the sta
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4a860 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 you'll find a li
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4a8a0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 75 ything's clean u
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4a8c0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 63 6c 65 want to get cle
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4a8e0 61 20 6e 61 70 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 a nap of just ha
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4a900 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 it's there. I
4a910 70 75 74 20 6b 65 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 put keys for the
4a920 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c place on a tabl
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4a940 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 can use that stu
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4a960 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 out, but make s
4a970 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 ure you read the
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4a9a0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e "..Alley nodded.
4a9b0 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 .."There's food
4a9c0 61 6e 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 and drink in the
4a9d0 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 fridge up there
4a9e0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 6c 73 . There are als
4a9f0 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 o a couple compu
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4aa10 75 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 69 67 6e 20 69 ust don't sign i
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4aa30 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 there and you sh
4aa40 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 ould be okay, I
4aa50 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 think..."If ther
4aa60 65 27 73 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 e's anything you
4aa70 20 6e 65 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 need right away
4aa80 2c 20 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 , or you just ha
4aa90 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 ve something els
4aaa0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 e you want to di
4aab0 73 63 75 73 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c scuss right now,
4aac0 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 let me know. W
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4aaf0 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 t away if that's
4ab00 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 what you need t
4ab10 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a o do, though."..
4ab20 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 "Oh," she said.
4ab30 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 "No, I can't re
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4ab90 65 69 74 68 65 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 either, so I thi
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4ac00 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 can tell.".."Wha
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4ac20 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 do, then?"..She
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4ac50 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 68 65 61 64 61 63 68 65 20 feel a headache
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4ac90 65 61 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 eas."..He nodded
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4ad10 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b ".."Yeah. Thank
4ad20 73 2c 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f s, guys."..Dalto
4ad30 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 n said "You're w
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4ad50 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 I know you're a
4ad60 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 good person, and
4ad70 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 if you get in t
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4adb0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 .".."Thanks.".."
4adc0 4c 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 Les thanks, more
4add0 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 relaxing," Cray
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4adf0 73 68 6f 6f 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 shooing motions
4ae00 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 22 with his had. "
4ae10 47 6f 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 Go, Alley."..She
4ae20 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 got to her feet
4ae30 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 , picked up her
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4b570 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 Another door st
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4b740 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
4b750 20 22 53 65 65 79 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Seeya," she sa
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4b8b0 20 72 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 relief that was
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4bad0 22 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 "Who is it?".."I
4bae0 74 27 73 20 4c 69 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 6d 65 20 t's Lida," came
4baf0 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 66 66 6c the reply, muffl
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4bb60 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 you have some ti
4bb70 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 me to talk?".."Y
4bb80 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 eah," Alley said
4bb90 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 65 . "Give me a se
4bba0 63 27 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 c'." She pushed
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4bc40 64 75 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 dug some things
4bc50 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 out of her bag.
4bc60 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Sorry," she sa
4bc70 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 64 id, as she got d
4bc80 72 65 73 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 ressed. "I'm ju
4bc90 73 74 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c st putting mysel
4bca0 66 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e f together.".."N
4bcb0 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 o problem," Lidi
4bcc0 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 a said...When sh
4bcd0 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 6e 74 73 e had some pants
4bce0 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 on her, Alley f
4bcf0 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 43 6f 6d inally said "Com
4bd00 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 e on in."..Lidia
4bd10 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 let herself in
4bd20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 and leaned back
4bd30 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 against the door
4bd40 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 63 61 75 behind her, cau
4bd50 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 69 63 6b sing it to click
4bd60 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 into place. Sh
4bd70 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 e looked at Alle
4bd80 79 2c 20 61 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 6c y, a searching l
4bd90 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2e ook on her face.
4bda0 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 She must not h
4bdb0 61 76 65 20 64 69 73 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 77 68 61 ave disliked wha
4bdc0 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 t she saw too ba
4bdd0 64 6c 79 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65 dly, because she
4bde0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 said "It's good
4bdf0 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c to see you, All
4be00 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 65 ey."..Alley note
4be10 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c d Lidia's smile,
4be20 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 and found herse
4be30 6c 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 lf smiling back
4be40 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 a little. "Yeah
4be50 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 , it's good to s
4be60 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 ee you too."..Li
4be70 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 65 78 70 61 dia's smile expa
4be80 6e 64 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e nded slightly, n
4be90 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 o longer holding
4bea0 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6c 61 back. "I'm gla
4beb0 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 d to hear that."
4bec0 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 .."Why?" Alley a
4bed0 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e sked, and sat on
4bee0 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e the desk chair.
4bef0 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 She turned it
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4bf10 74 6f 72 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 tor, in a room s
4bf20 68 65 2c 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 77 61 73 he, herself, was
4bf30 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f using in the ro
4bf40 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2e le of a visitor.
4bf50 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c .."Oh, you know,
4bf60 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e you left Dalton
4bf70 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 , there were the
4bf80 73 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 se problems, and
4bf90 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 I'm still here
4bfa0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 like always. I
4bfb0 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 guess I wasn't s
4bfc0 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 ure you didn't t
4bfd0 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f hink I wanted to
4bfe0 20 70 69 63 6b 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 73 pick sides or s
4bff0 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 omething like th
4c000 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f at."..Alley shoo
4c010 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f k her head. "No
4c020 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 thing like that
4c030 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e crossed my mind.
4c040 20 20 48 65 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 Hey, you knew
4c050 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 Dalton before I
4c060 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 did, anyway. If
4c070 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 I was actually
4c080 61 6e 67 72 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 angry with him,
4c090 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 you still being
4c0a0 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 69 73 6e 27 74 his friend isn't
4c0b0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e really somethin
4c0c0 67 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 20 g I could blame
4c0d0 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a you for doing.".
4c0e0 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f ."This is part o
4c0f0 66 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c f why I always l
4c100 69 6b 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 iked you," Lidia
4c110 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 said. "You're
4c120 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f chill about almo
4c130 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a st everything.".
4c140 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f ."Thanks. Do yo
4c150 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e u wanna sit down
4c160 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 ?"..Lidia shrugg
4c170 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 ed and moved to
4c180 73 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 sit on the edge
4c190 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 of the bed. "I
4c1a0 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 hear you have th
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4c1c0 65 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 et police after
4c1d0 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 59 you.".."Yeah? Y
4c1e0 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a ou heard that?".
4c1f0 0a 57 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 4c 69 64 .With a nod, Lid
4c200 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b ia said "I think
4c210 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f I heard all abo
4c220 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 ut it. If there
4c230 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 could possibly
4c240 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 be more than wha
4c250 74 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 t I heard, and i
4c260 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 t doesn't involv
4c270 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 e people dying,
4c280 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 20 63 I'm not sure I c
4c290 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 an imagine what
4c2a0 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 it is, so I'm pr
4c2b0 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 obably as up to
4c2c0 73 70 65 65 64 20 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e speed as Dalton.
4c2d0 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ".."You're still
4c2e0 20 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 65 6c here saying hel
4c2f0 6c 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 lo, though.".."H
4c300 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 ell, yeah," Lidi
4c310 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 a said. "If I c
4c320 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c an help, I shoul
4c330 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 d.".."Thanks," A
4c340 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 lley said. "I f
4c350 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 eel a lot more w
4c360 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e elcome here than
4c370 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 I probably shou
4c380 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 ld."..Lidia wave
4c390 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 d a hand, like s
4c3a0 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 he was brushing
4c3b0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 something away f
4c3c0 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 4e rom herself. "N
4c3d0 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 o way. The only
4c3e0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f people in Dalto
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4c400 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 who blamed you
4c410 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 72 for anything wer
4c420 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 e Glade and Dalt
4c430 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 72 on, but Dalton r
4c440 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 74 75 70 ealized how stup
4c450 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 61 id that was in a
4c460 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 6e 64 couple days and
4c470 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 just went strai
4c480 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 61 64 ght to being sad
4c490 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 ."..Alley tighte
4c4a0 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 20 61 6e 64 20 ned her lip and
4c4b0 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 wrinkled her nos
4c4c0 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e e at the mention
4c4d0 20 6f 66 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 of Glade. "Yea
4c4e0 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f h, I guess I sho
4c4f0 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c 61 64 65 uld expect Glade
4c500 20 74 6f 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 to hate me.".."
4c510 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 It doesn't matte
4c520 72 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 r," Lidia said.
4c530 20 22 53 68 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e "She's not even
4c540 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 around now.".."
4c550 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f What happened to
4c560 20 68 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 her?"..Lidia sh
4c570 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e rugged. "Dalton
4c580 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f got more and mo
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4c5a0 68 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 hit, until she g
4c5b0 6f 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 ot self righteou
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4c5d0 6c 65 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 lew up at him.
4c5e0 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 She stormed out
4c5f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 6f 2c 20 61 of the studio, a
4c600 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 73 65 nd nobody has se
4c610 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 en her since. T
4c620 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 69 hat was maybe ei
4c630 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 ght months after
4c640 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f you moved out o
4c650 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 f Dalton's hold
4c660 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 place.".."Really
4c670 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 ? What was she
4c680 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 6e 6f 79 doing that annoy
4c690 65 64 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 ed him?".."I thi
4c6a0 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 27 61 6e 6e nk you mean 'ann
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4c6c0 20 6b 6e 65 77 27 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 73 69 knew', but basi
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4c6e0 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 63 65 73 73 61 6e 74 20 alked incessant
4c6f0 73 68 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6f shit about you o
4c700 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 6e nce you were gon
4c710 65 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 e. I think she
4c720 77 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 was trying to ge
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4c740 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 you were out of
4c750 74 68 65 20 70 69 63 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 the picture, and
4c760 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 62 65 thought he'd be
4c770 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 impressed that
4c780 73 68 65 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 64 she demonstrated
4c790 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 taking his side
4c7a0 20 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 75 6e by saying a bun
4c7b0 63 68 20 6f 66 20 62 61 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 ch of bad stuff
4c7c0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 about you behind
4c7d0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 your back.".."Y
4c7e0 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 eah, that doesn'
4c7f0 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d t sound like som
4c800 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c ething that woul
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4c820 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 ven if he hated
4c830 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 me.".."Exactly,"
4c840 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 Lidia said with
4c850 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 a smile. "Anyw
4c860 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6f 66 ay, the moral of
4c870 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 the story is th
4c880 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 73 at nobody blames
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4c8b0 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 Glade.".."Thanks
4c8c0 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 ."..They sat in
4c8d0 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 silence a moment
4c8e0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 , then Lidia sai
4c8f0 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 d "Do you want a
4c900 20 68 75 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 hug?".."Despera
4c910 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 tely," Alley sai
4c920 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 d with a small s
4c930 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f mile...They stoo
4c940 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 61 63 65 d up and embrace
4c950 64 2c 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 69 d, their old fri
4c960 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 71 75 69 endly warmth qui
4c970 63 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 ckly reappearing
4c980 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 6f 75 , almost as thou
4c990 67 68 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 63 gh nothing had c
4c9a0 68 61 6e 67 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 6e 67 73 hanged..."Things
4c9b0 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 22 20 must be hard,"
4c9c0 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 Lidia said..."Ye
4c9d0 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 72 65 65 ah," Alley agree
4c9e0 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 61 6c 6c d...They mutuall
4c9f0 79 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 y broke the hug
4ca00 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 after a few more
4ca10 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 moments, and Li
4ca20 64 69 61 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 49 20 dia asked "Do I
4ca30 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d get to see the m
4ca40 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6e iracle machine n
4ca50 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 ow?"..Alley's ey
4ca60 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 69 es widened. "Mi
4ca70 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 3f 20 20 racle machine?
4ca80 57 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 What, the priori
4ca90 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 tizer?".."Yeah,
4caa0 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 74 69 66 that crazy artif
4cab0 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e icial intelligen
4cac0 63 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 73 20 ce Dalton keeps
4cad0 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 talking about.
4cae0 59 6f 75 27 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 You'd think it w
4caf0 61 73 20 61 20 62 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 6c 6f 61 as a brain uploa
4cb00 64 20 6f 66 20 4a 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f d of Jesus or so
4cb10 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 mething like tha
4cb20 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 74 61 t, the way he ta
4cb30 6c 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a lks about it."..
4cb40 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 Alley laughed.
4cb50 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 69 6d "I can easily im
4cb60 61 67 69 6e 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 69 agine Dalton bei
4cb70 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 ng like that," s
4cb80 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 he said. "I'll
4cb90 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e get the glasses.
4cba0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f " She headed to
4cbb0 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c the nightstand,
4cbc0 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 67 picked up the g
4cbd0 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 lasses, and held
4cbe0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 them out. "Her
4cbf0 65 2e 20 20 50 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6e e. Put these on
4cc00 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 ."..Lidia settle
4cc10 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e d the glasses on
4cc20 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 her face, and s
4cc30 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c tared at the wal
4cc40 6c 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d 2c 20 68 l. "Yeah, um, h
4cc50 69 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 63 61 i. What do I ca
4cc60 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ll you?"..Alley
4cc70 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 sat down as she
4cc80 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c watched..."Okay,
4cc90 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 54 prioritizer. T
4cca0 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 75 hat name's a mou
4ccb0 74 68 66 75 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 6c 6c thful, but it'll
4ccc0 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 work, I guess.
4ccd0 20 43 61 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c Can I just call
4cce0 20 79 6f 75 20 27 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 20 53 68 you 'Pry'?" Sh
4ccf0 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 6f 2c e paused. "Rio,
4cd00 20 68 75 68 3f 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 52 69 6f huh? Okay, Rio
4cd10 2e 20 20 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 . Nice to meet
4cd20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f you."..After ano
4cd30 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 6f ther moment, pro
4cd40 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 65 bably reading te
4cd50 78 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 xt in the lenses
4cd60 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 , Lidia held out
4cd70 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 77 the glasses tow
4cd80 61 72 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 ard Alley. "He
4cd90 73 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 says to put him
4cda0 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e on speakerphone.
4cdb0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c ".."Yeah. Sure,
4cdc0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 " she said. She
4cdd0 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f went to her pho
4cde0 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 ne and, as befor
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4ce20 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 rioritizer..."Th
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4ce40 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
4ce50 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 said..."Yeah,"
4ce60 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f she said, and do
4ce70 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 nned the glasses
4ce80 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a herself again..
4ce90 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
4cea0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 2e 20 20 49 said "Lidia. I
4ceb0 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 do not consider
4cec0 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 myself male or
4ced0 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 female. I would
4cee0 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 27 69 74 27 20 61 73 suggest 'it' as
4cef0 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 a more accurate
4cf00 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 73 pronoun for mys
4cf10 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 2e 20 20 elf than 'he'.
4cf20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f You may refer to
4cf30 20 6d 65 20 61 73 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 66 20 79 me as 'he' if y
4cf40 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e ou wish, though.
4cf50 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 You may find t
4cf60 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c hat more natural
4cf70 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e to use, for con
4cf80 76 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ventions of the
4cf90 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 English language
4cfa0 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 ."..Lidia smiled
4cfb0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6c 69 . "I think I li
4cfc0 6b 65 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 69 ke Rio.".."Did i
4cfd0 74 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 t say its name i
4cfe0 73 20 52 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 s Rio?" Alley as
4cff0 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 ked..."I did not
4d000 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
4d010 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 6f 6c er said. "I tol
4d020 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c d Lidia that I l
4d030 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6d 6f iked the name mo
4d040 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 2c 20 61 re than 'Pry', a
4d050 73 20 61 6e 20 61 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 74 65 64 s an abbreviated
4d060 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 72 form of the ter
4d070 6d 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e m 'prioritizer'.
4d080 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d 61 73 63 ".."Rio's a masc
4d090 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 uline noun, thou
4d0a0 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 gh. That's why
4d0b0 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 I figured you're
4d0c0 20 61 20 27 68 65 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 a 'he'," Lidia
4d0d0 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 6f 6e said to the phon
4d0e0 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 e now lying dire
4d0f0 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 ctly on a nights
4d100 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 tand, off the ch
4d110 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 arging plate..."
4d120 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e It is also the n
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4d140 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 44 75 72 61 n a popular Dura
4d150 6e 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 73 6f 6e 67 20 66 72 6f n Duran song fro
4d160 6d 20 74 68 65 20 31 39 38 30 73 2e 22 0a 0a 4c m the 1980s."..L
4d170 69 64 69 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 idia laughed. "
4d180 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f Okay, I guess yo
4d190 75 27 72 65 20 61 6e 20 27 69 74 27 2c 20 74 68 u're an 'it', th
4d1a0 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 en." She looked
4d1b0 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 at Alley and sa
4d1c0 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 72 69 67 id "Dalton's rig
4d1d0 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 ht. This thing'
4d1e0 73 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 68 61 s cool. It's ha
4d1f0 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 rd to believe it
4d200 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 talks like that
4d210 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 61 67 20 6f 72 20 without lag or
4d220 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f connection to so
4d230 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 68 61 mething like wha
4d240 74 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 68 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 t ANTAS has for
4d250 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 natural language
4d260 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 conversation li
4d270 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 ke this.".."I th
4d280 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 ink it has been
4d290 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e sounding more an
4d2a0 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 75 d more like a hu
4d2b0 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b man when it talk
4d2c0 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a s," Alley said..
4d2d0 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 ./*.. How doe
4d2e0 73 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 3f 20 20 49 s Lidia look? I
4d2f0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 need to describ
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4d310 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 nd of detail. I
4d320 27 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 'm. currently
4d330 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 imagining her a
4d340 73 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 61 75 62 75 72 6e s a white auburn
4d350 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 20 73 6c 65 6e 64 65 72 20 haired slender
4d360 67 69 72 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 65 6c 69 63 61 girl with delica
4d370 74 65 0a 20 20 20 20 62 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 72 75 te. bone stru
4d380 63 74 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 65 66 cture and a pref
4d390 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 erence for one p
4d3a0 69 65 63 65 20 63 6f 74 74 6f 6e 20 64 72 65 73 iece cotton dres
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4d3c0 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 somewhere betw
4d3d0 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 67 68 20 61 6e een the thigh an
4d3e0 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 d just past the
4d3f0 6b 6e 65 65 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 knees, without s
4d400 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 tockings and.
4d410 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 the like. She'
4d420 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 s probably just
4d430 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 65 74 69 74 65 generally petite
4d440 20 69 6e 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a in figure...*/.
4d450 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 44 ."That'll make D
4d460 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 alton even more
4d470 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 excited about th
4d480 69 73 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e is," Lidia said.
4d490 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 She turned her
4d4a0 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 attention to th
4d4b0 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 e Axiom again.
4d4c0 22 48 65 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 "He's really int
4d4d0 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 66 72 65 65 69 erested in freei
4d4e0 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 72 ng you from your
4d4f0 20 70 75 6e 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6d 61 73 74 puny human mast
4d500 65 72 73 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 22 20 4c ers, I think," L
4d510 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 idia said..."Tha
4d520 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 nk you for that
4d530 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 information," th
4d540 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
4d550 69 64 2e 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 64 6a 75 73 id...Lidia adjus
4d560 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f ted one wide sho
4d570 75 6c 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 70 20 73 6c 69 67 ulder strap slig
4d580 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 htly, and said "
4d590 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 73 Well, I got to s
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4d5c0 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f nless there's so
4d5d0 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 me other convers
4d5e0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 65 63 68 ation ready tech
4d5f0 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f nology on you to
4d600 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f day."..Alley sho
4d610 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 ok her head with
4d620 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 a smile. "No,
4d630 6e 6f 74 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 not unless you w
4d640 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c ant me to instal
4d650 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 73 6f 66 l some ANTAS sof
4d660 74 77 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e tware on my phon
4d670 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 48 e.".."No way. H
4d680 65 61 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 62 69 64 2e 22 20 20 eaven forbid."
4d690 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 Lidia suppressed
4d6a0 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 a smile to wave
4d6b0 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 her hands in a
4d6c0 66 65 61 72 66 75 6c 20 77 61 72 64 69 6e 67 20 fearful warding
4d6d0 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 gesture in front
4d6e0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 49 of herself. "I
4d6f0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 20 don't want any
4d700 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 70 20 69 6e 20 of that crap in
4d710 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 here, and neithe
4d720 72 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 r do you."..Alle
4d730 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c y smiled , and L
4d740 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62 72 6f idia's smile bro
4d750 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e ke through..."An
4d760 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 yway, I should g
4d770 65 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 et going. I'm g
4d780 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 43 72 61 oing to help Cra
4d790 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 y with some kind
4d7a0 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 of new systems
4d7b0 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 68 65 20 config stuff he
4d7c0 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 27 wants to do. I'
4d7d0 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 m not sure, but
4d7e0 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f it might have so
4d7f0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 mething to do wi
4d800 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c th you.".."Yeah,
4d810 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 okay," Alley sa
4d820 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 id. "Thanks for
4d830 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 69 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 saying hi."..Li
4d840 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 72 66 dia waved cheerf
4d850 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 ully and said "I
4d860 20 69 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 insisted." She
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4d890 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f nd closed the do
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4d8b0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 Alley lay on her
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4d8d0 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 41 audio from the A
4d8e0 78 69 6f 6d 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 20 70 xiom to an ear p
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4d900 61 69 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 aid "What should
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4d920 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a t now, anyway?".
4d930 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
4d940 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 77 65 20 said "Until we
4d950 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 72 69 talk to your fri
4d960 65 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e end Dalton again
4d970 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 I believe we sh
4d980 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 69 73 ould consider is
4d990 73 75 65 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 68 6f 77 sues such as how
4d9a0 20 77 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 47 we might find G
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4d9f0 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 ontractor agents
4da00 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ."..Alley nodded
4da10 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 64 69 73 , and opened dis
4da20 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 57 cussion...---..W
4da30 68 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 74 69 6d 65 20 61 hen dinnertime a
4da40 72 72 69 76 65 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 rrived, Alley ha
4da50 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 d no idea it was
4da60 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 getting that la
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4daa0 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a It's Dalton.".
4dab0 0a 22 43 27 6d 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ."C'mon in," she
4dac0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 said...He opene
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4daf0 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 pped and looked
4db00 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 at her lying on
4db10 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 the bed. She sa
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4db30 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 on her, not quit
4db40 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 e on her face, a
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4db60 65 78 61 63 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 44 61 6c exact moment Dal
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4dba0 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 63 the desk she bec
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4dbc0 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 62 6f 74 e she hadn't bot
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4dbe0 72 61 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 ra before this t
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4dc10 73 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 2e sen that effect.
4dc20 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 3f 22 20 73 "What's up?" s
4dc30 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 6e 6e he asked..."Dinn
4dc40 65 72 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 er. Do you want
4dc50 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 72 61 to eat with Cra
4dc60 79 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 y, Lidia, and me
4dc70 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 ?" He glanced a
4dc80 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 t her, then..."Y
4dc90 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 eah. That sound
4dca0 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 s good. What's
4dcb0 66 6f 72 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4c for dinner?".."L
4dcc0 61 73 61 67 6e 61 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 asagna."..Alley
4dcd0 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 27 smiled. "Lidia'
4dce0 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a s?"..He nodded..
4dcf0 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 ."I'm there."..D
4dd00 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 alton smiled bac
4dd10 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 k. "I'll just g
4dd20 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 o let them know
4dd30 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 you're coming.
4dd40 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 When you come ou
4dd50 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 t, just go into
4dd60 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 72 the conference r
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4dd80 72 74 20 68 61 6c 6c 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 rt hall behind t
4dd90 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c he stairs."..All
4dda0 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f ey nodded, and o
4ddb0 6e 63 65 20 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 68 65 20 nce he left the
4ddc0 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 room she stood a
4ddd0 6e 64 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 nd went to her b
4dde0 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 ag. She pulled
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4de00 70 6f 72 74 20 62 72 61 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 6e port bra and wen
4de10 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 t through the pr
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4de60 68 69 72 74 20 6c 61 79 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e hirt layer again
4de70 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 ...She laced her
4de80 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 hands over her
4de90 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 face and, with a
4dea0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 little pressure
4deb0 2c 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 , moved them as
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4dee0 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 in a shower. Sh
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4df30 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f "Yeah, this sho
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4dfa0 20 71 75 61 72 74 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a quarters.../*..
4dfb0 20 20 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 65 6c 73 65 20 61 72 What else ar
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4e000 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 plans for how t
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4e050 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 perhaps, and br
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4e100 4d 61 79 62 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 73 Maybe Dalton has
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4e1f0 54 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 There might need
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4e220 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 idea that what
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4e260 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 65 61 73 , or at. leas
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4e2e0 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 esn't make a lot
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4e3b0 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 a, and that migh
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4e440 66 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 22 20 44 fter, though," D
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4e470 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 . "What do you
4e480 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 mean?".."What ab
4e490 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 out that George
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4e4b0 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 d?".."Oh," she s
4e4c0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 aid. "Right. T
4e4d0 68 61 74 27 73 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e hat's how I even
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4e4f0 77 65 72 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 were raiding my
4e500 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 place.".."Yeah,"
4e510 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 Cray said. "I
4e520 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 forgot about tha
4e530 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 t.".."What about
4e540 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b him?" Alley ask
4e550 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 ed..."It sounds
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4e570 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e from them, too.
4e580 20 20 49 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 74 In his case, t
4e590 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 hough, it doesn'
4e5a0 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 73 t seem like it's
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4e600 20 67 72 61 73 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f grasp."..She no
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4e620 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 he does business
4e630 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f with people who
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4e650 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 people escape fr
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4e670 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 is.".."Can you g
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4e690 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 him?"..She paus
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4e6b0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f I don't think so
4e6c0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 27 64 20 . He said he'd
4e6d0 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f try to get in to
4e6e0 75 63 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 63 68 uch, but he'd ch
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4e710 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e then.".."Well .
4e720 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 . . that doesn'
4e730 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 75 t really help mu
4e740 63 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 ch," Dalton said
4e750 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c , more to himsel
4e760 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 f than the other
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4e7b0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 ..Alley watched
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4e7d0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e for a few secon
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4e820 74 65 20 52 6f 64 69 6e 2c 20 22 54 68 65 20 54 te Rodin, "The T
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4e840 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 73 something she s
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4e860 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 when they were t
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4e880 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 t just gave her
4e890 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 6e that desolate in
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4ea10 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f vision began to
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4eb70 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 caught in her th
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4eba0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f and saw Cray no
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4ebc0 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 her. "Are you
4ebd0 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c okay?" he asked,
4ebe0 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 quietly...She f
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4ece0 72 65 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 re's Dalton?" sh
4ecf0 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 e asked...Cray s
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4ed10 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 20 66 his hand drop f
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4ed30 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 65 67 2e to his own leg.
4ed40 20 20 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 He chuckled.
4ed50 22 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 65 72 65 "You really were
4ed60 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 out of it, ther
4ed70 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 65 64 e. He announced
4ed80 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f he was going to
4ed90 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 take care of th
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4edb0 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 yeah," she said
4edc0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 . She glanced a
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4ede0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 68 61 hat the table ha
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4ee00 20 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 "I really must
4ee10 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 have been in my
4ee20 6f 77 6e 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f own world. I do
4ee30 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 n't even remembe
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4ee50 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 64 ."Well, Dalton d
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4ee70 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 68 d. That's why h
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4eea0 20 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 up. He finishe
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4eee0 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f mself and got to
4eef0 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 work.".."Why di
4ef00 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 d you ask if I w
4ef10 61 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 as okay?" she as
4ef20 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 ked...Cray shrug
4ef30 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 ged. "Dalton wa
4ef40 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 2c 20 73 sn't going to, s
4ef50 6f 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 o I figured it w
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4ef70 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 20 20 . . . but why?
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4efb0 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c Oh, that. You l
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4efe0 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f .."Oh." She fro
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4f010 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f "Yeah.".."Why?
4f020 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 "..Her eyes flic
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4f290 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 ..."If you were
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4f740 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 49 20 62 72 6f I'm sorry I bro
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4f8d0 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f That's a good po
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4f8f0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 d...Alley gave h
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4f930 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e ".."I'm serious.
4f940 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b This is some k
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4fa80 20 57 65 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 63 We can't keep c
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4fb10 22 49 20 61 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 "I am taking it
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4fc70 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 asked..."Yeah,
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