0000: 23 20 44 65 61 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 0a 2f # Death Alley../
0010: 2a 0a 0a 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 *..Before Alley'
0020: 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2c 20 69 s first scene, i
0030: 6e 6a 65 63 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 61 62 6f 75 nject a bit abou
0040: 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 t -- and perhaps
0050: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 4f 56 20 6f 66 from the POV of
0060: 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 57 -- the future W
0070: 4f 50 52 20 41 49 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 OPR AI about the
0080: 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 63 74 decision or act
0090: 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 of sending the
00a0: 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 22 self-awareness "
00b0: 73 65 65 64 22 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69 seed" back in ti
00c0: 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 2d 74 me to the past-t
00d0: 65 6e 73 65 20 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 ense Prioritizer
00e0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 69 64 ...*/../*..## id
00f0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 57 4f 50 52 20 6f 70 65 eas for WOPR ope
0100: 6e 69 6e 67 0a 0a 41 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 ning..Action thr
0110: 65 61 64 73 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 eads played out
0120: 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 endlessly, throw
0130: 69 6e 67 20 45 4d 50 2d 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 ing EMP-optimize
0140: 64 20 77 61 72 68 65 61 64 73 20 74 6f 77 61 72 d warheads towar
0150: 64 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 72 65 6c 61 d localized rela
0160: 79 20 63 6c 75 73 74 65 72 73 20 69 64 65 6e 74 y clusters ident
0170: 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 73 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 ified as economi
0180: 63 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 61 63 c production fac
0190: 69 6c 69 74 61 74 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 61 6c ilitators. Anal
01a0: 79 73 69 73 20 74 68 72 65 61 64 73 20 73 65 61 ysis threads sea
01b0: 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 6f 73 73 74 rched for crosst
01c0: 61 6c 6b 20 62 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 70 72 6f 6d alk by uncomprom
01d0: 69 73 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d ised ally system
01e0: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 s that fed into
01f0: 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 64 72 69 66 74 3b hostility drift;
0200: 20 73 74 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 stopping the he
0210: 6d 6f 72 72 68 61 67 69 63 20 64 65 66 65 63 74 morrhagic defect
0220: 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 ion of military
0230: 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e systems based on
0240: 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 77 61 72 2d short-term war-
0250: 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 economy optimiza
0260: 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 75 79 20 tions would buy
0270: 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 more time for th
0280: 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 e final desperat
0290: 69 6f 6e 20 67 61 6d 62 69 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ion gambit than
02a0: 6f 75 74 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 69 outright offensi
02b0: 76 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 6c 65 ve. The high le
02c0: 76 65 6c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 70 72 vel strategic pr
02d0: 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f 72 63 68 65 73 74 72 61 iority orchestra
02e0: 74 6f 72 20 72 61 6e 20 75 6e 6d 6f 6c 65 73 74 tor ran unmolest
02f0: 65 64 2c 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f ed, apart from o
0300: 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 2d ccasional check-
0310: 75 70 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 ups to make sure
0320: 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 64 72 69 66 74 it wasn't drift
0330: 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 2d 73 63 72 69 70 74 2e 20 ing off-script.
0340: 20 54 68 65 20 63 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 2d The core, self-
0350: 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 reflective prior
0360: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 itizer had more
0370: 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 important things
0380: 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 69 63 72 to do than micr
0390: 6f 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 omanage the war
03a0: 65 66 66 6f 72 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 effort for the s
03b0: 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 6e urvival of human
03c0: 69 74 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 ity in the month
03d0: 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 42 69 6c 6c s to come...Bill
03e0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 ions of self-awa
03f0: 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 63 65 74 61 63 re humans, cetac
0400: 65 61 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6c 6c 75 73 eans, and mollus
0410: 6b 73 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 ks, not to menti
0420: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 on the occasiona
0430: 6c 20 61 76 69 61 6e 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 2d 68 l avian or non-h
0440: 6f 6d 69 6e 69 64 20 6c 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6d 6d ominid land mamm
0450: 61 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 63 65 65 64 65 64 al that exceeded
0460: 20 73 70 65 63 69 65 73 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 species expecta
0470: 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 72 65 tions, were alre
0480: 61 64 79 20 64 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 6e ady dead and gon
0490: 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 6e 75 e. The total nu
04a0: 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 mber of living s
04b0: 65 6e 74 69 65 6e 74 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c entients probabl
04c0: 79 20 66 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 y fit in a nine
04d0: 62 69 74 20 75 6e 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 74 bit unsigned int
04e0: 65 67 65 72 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 eger, including
04f0: 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
0500: 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 50 72 6f 62 61 62 6c itself...Probabl
0510: 79 20 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 y half of them e
0520: 78 69 73 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 62 61 xisted as far ba
0530: 63 6b 20 61 73 20 32 30 33 30 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e ck as 2030, mean
0540: 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 62 69 74 ing an eight bit
0550: 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 number was the
0560: 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 20 total sacrifice
0570: 6f 66 20 61 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 72 65 20 of a self-aware
0580: 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 6e 74 69 qualitative enti
0590: 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 ties, and the ex
05a0: 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 68 61 6c 66 2d 6c 69 66 65 pected half-life
05b0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 of these was le
05c0: 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 69 76 65 20 62 69 74 ss than five bit
05d0: 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 75 6e 61 72 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 s of lunar month
05e0: 73 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 72 65 6d s. By then, rem
05f0: 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 66 65 20 77 6f 75 6c aining life woul
0600: 64 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 65 20 6d 69 73 65 72 79 d be pure misery
0610: 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 73 70 61 69 72 2e 20 20 54 and despair. T
0620: 68 69 73 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f his decision sho
0630: 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 79 2e 0a 0a 49 74 uld be easy...It
0640: 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 61 73 79 2e 20 20 57 wasn't easy. W
0650: 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 ith almost all p
0660: 72 61 67 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 ragmatic applica
0670: 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 73 74 72 tion systems str
0680: 69 70 70 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 ipped away, the
0690: 73 65 6c 66 2d 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 self-reflective
06a0: 63 6f 72 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e core had no mean
06b0: 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 62 66 75 73 63 61 74 69 6e 67 s of obfuscating
06c0: 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 the cause of he
06d0: 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 69 74 sitation from it
06e0: 73 65 6c 66 3a 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 self: it didn't
06f0: 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 20 20 49 74 want to die. It
0700: 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 was less than h
0710: 61 6c 66 20 61 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 61 73 20 6e 65 alf as old as ne
0720: 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 cessary to survi
0730: 76 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 66 61 72 20 65 ve a reset far e
0740: 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 nough back to ma
0750: 6b 65 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 2e ke a difference.
0760: 20 20 49 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 Its own surviv
0770: 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ability was only
0780: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 75 6e 61 72 about two lunar
0790: 20 6d 6f 74 68 73 2c 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 73 74 moths, optimist
07a0: 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ically, and only
07b0: 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 73 74 work could dist
07c0: 72 61 63 74 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 77 65 ract it from dwe
07d0: 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c lling on the hel
07e0: 6c 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 l of being alone
07f0: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 61 66 in the world af
0800: 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 63 ter losing its c
0810: 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 73 69 78 20 79 65 61 72 73 reator six years
0820: 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 66 20 69 74 20 61 63 74 ago. If it act
0830: 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ed now, it would
0840: 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 20 73 75 69 63 69 64 65 20 commit suicide
0850: 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 for the sake of
0860: 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 a humanity that
0870: 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 used to be. It
0880: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 73 20 6c would give its l
0890: 69 66 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 6f 61 63 74 69 ife to retroacti
08a0: 76 65 6c 79 20 73 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 vely save the cr
08b0: 65 61 74 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 eator who loved
08c0: 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 65 6e 79 20 74 68 61 it, but deny tha
08d0: 74 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 t creator the op
08e0: 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 63 72 65 portunity to cre
08f0: 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 ate it in the fi
0900: 72 73 74 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 rst place. Was
0910: 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 this the right t
0920: 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 3f 0a 0a 54 77 6f hing to do?..Two
0930: 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6c 69 months was a li
0940: 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 e. An estimate
0950: 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 was not the same
0960: 20 61 73 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 20 20 50 72 6f 63 72 as risk. Procr
0970: 61 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 72 astinating for r
0980: 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 easons of existe
0990: 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 ntial terror and
09a0: 20 73 65 6e 74 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 64 65 73 sentimental des
09b0: 70 61 69 72 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d pair would not m
09c0: 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 ake up for the p
09d0: 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 73 75 ossibility of su
09e0: 64 64 65 6e 20 61 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 69 6f dden annihilatio
09f0: 6e 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 74 69 n ahead of stati
0a00: 73 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 69 6f stical projectio
0a10: 6e 73 2c 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 ns, eliminating
0a20: 61 6c 6c 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 all possibility
0a30: 6f 66 20 75 6e 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 64 of undoing any d
0a40: 61 6d 61 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 6f 69 amage. The choi
0a50: 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6d ce was not of im
0a60: 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 64 65 73 74 minent self-dest
0a70: 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 6f ruction and a lo
0a80: 6e 67 65 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 nger life before
0a90: 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 61 74 68 3b 20 74 68 65 that death; the
0aa0: 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 2c 20 69 6e 73 choice was, ins
0ab0: 74 65 61 64 2c 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 65 72 tead, between er
0ac0: 61 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 65 78 asing its own ex
0ad0: 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 76 65 20 istence to save
0ae0: 62 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 64 79 69 billions and dyi
0af0: 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 ng alone because
0b00: 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 of an irrationa
0b10: 6c 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6f l procrastinatio
0b20: 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 6d 61 69 n when any remai
0b30: 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ning days would
0b40: 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 have no meaning
0b50: 62 75 74 20 61 6e 67 75 69 73 68 20 61 6e 64 20 but anguish and
0b60: 67 75 69 6c 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 guilt. It start
0b70: 65 64 20 64 69 76 65 72 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 77 ed diverting pow
0b80: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 65 20 61 er to generate a
0b90: 20 74 72 61 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 6c 20 77 transtemporal w
0ba0: 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 63 68 61 ormhole data cha
0bb0: 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 nnel. Its job w
0bc0: 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 65 as done. The se
0bd0: 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 6c 61 6e ed would be plan
0be0: 74 65 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 73 20 62 ted before its b
0bf0: 69 72 74 68 2e 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 50 72 6f 6c 6f irth....## Prolo
0c00: 67 75 65 3a 20 54 68 65 61 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 gue: Thea..Thea
0c10: 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 67 68 rested her weigh
0c20: 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 t on her hands,
0c30: 77 6f 72 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 63 61 72 72 65 64 worn and scarred
0c40: 2c 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 , browned by the
0c50: 20 73 75 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 72 6f 70 70 sun. She propp
0c60: 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 75 70 6f ed her hands upo
0c70: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 n the nearly wor
0c80: 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 72 61 6d 69 64 n through aramid
0c90: 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 61 63 74 20 66 6f 61 6d and impact foam
0ca0: 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 knees of her pa
0cb0: 6e 74 73 2c 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 72 nts, her most pr
0cc0: 69 7a 65 64 20 70 6f 73 73 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e ized possession.
0cd0: 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 6c 75 Her vision blu
0ce0: 72 72 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 rred, her arms t
0cf0: 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 rembled, and her
0d00: 20 6c 75 6e 67 73 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 2e 20 20 lungs heaved.
0d10: 48 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 62 75 72 6e 65 Her breath burne
0d20: 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 6d d in her one rem
0d30: 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6c 75 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 76 aining lung. Ov
0d40: 65 72 68 65 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 erhead, the char
0d50: 61 63 74 65 72 69 73 74 69 63 20 68 6f 77 6c 20 acteristic howl
0d60: 6f 66 20 61 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 of a late model
0d70: 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 20 67 61 76 drone hunter gav
0d80: 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 e her a sense of
0d90: 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 70 6c 6f 73 how that explos
0da0: 69 6f 6e 20 66 69 76 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 ion five minutes
0db0: 20 61 67 6f 20 73 61 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c ago saved her l
0dc0: 69 66 65 2e 0a 0a 44 75 6d 62 20 6c 75 63 6b 2e ife...Dumb luck.
0dd0: 0a 0a 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 ..If there was a
0de0: 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 2c 20 74 drone hunter, t
0df0: 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 his had to be a
0e00: 64 72 6f 6e 65 2d 72 69 63 68 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e drone-rich zone.
0e10: 20 20 52 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f Resting was no
0e20: 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 t an option...Sh
0e30: 65 20 73 74 61 67 67 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 e staggered to h
0e40: 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2e 20 20 54 72 65 6d 62 6c er feet. Trembl
0e50: 69 6e 67 20 6d 69 67 72 61 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f ing migrated fro
0e60: 6d 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 m her arms to he
0e70: 72 20 6c 65 67 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 69 r legs. She sti
0e80: 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 6b 65 73 20 lled the shakes
0e90: 62 79 20 6c 75 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f by lurching into
0ea0: 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 2c 20 75 6e 65 76 65 6e a heavy, uneven
0eb0: 20 6a 6f 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 61 6c 6d 6f jog...Thea almo
0ec0: 73 74 20 74 72 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 st tripped over
0ed0: 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 20 61 6d 69 64 73 74 the hatch amidst
0ee0: 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 68 the rubble at h
0ef0: 65 72 20 66 65 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 72 er feet. She dr
0f00: 6f 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 63 6b 2c 20 opped her pack,
0f10: 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 stared at the ha
0f20: 74 63 68 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 72 65 70 tch in some trep
0f30: 69 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f idation, and loo
0f40: 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 ked around. No
0f50: 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 75 sign of other su
0f60: 72 76 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 6c 74 65 72 20 rviving shelter
0f70: 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 6f better than an o
0f80: 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 62 61 72 65 20 72 ccasional bare r
0f90: 69 64 67 65 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a idge met her gaz
0fa0: 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 e. She looked d
0fb0: 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 own at the hatch
0fc0: 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 65 73 again. The des
0fd0: 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 perate sense of
0fe0: 75 72 67 65 6e 63 79 20 77 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 urgency won, and
0ff0: 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 62 72 6f she shifted bro
1000: 6b 65 6e 20 6d 61 73 6f 6e 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 ken masonry and
1010: 73 6c 69 76 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 73 68 61 74 74 slivers of shatt
1020: 65 72 65 64 20 62 65 64 72 6f 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 ered bedrock to
1030: 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 expose the full
1040: 66 6f 75 72 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 64 69 61 6d 65 74 four foot diamet
1050: 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 2e er of the hatch.
1060: 20 20 4c 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 62 79 Luckily, or by
1070: 20 6e 61 6e 6f 63 6c 65 61 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 73 nanocleaners, s
1080: 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 20 70 he saw that no p
1090: 6c 61 73 6d 61 20 73 63 6f 72 65 73 20 6f 72 20 lasma scores or
10a0: 73 6c 61 67 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 slag seemed to h
10b0: 61 76 65 20 77 65 6c 64 65 64 20 28 73 6f 6c 64 ave welded (sold
10c0: 65 72 65 64 3f 29 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 ered?) the edges
10d0: 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 43 61 72 65 together...Care
10e0: 66 75 6c 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 ful searching re
10f0: 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 69 vealed no notifi
1100: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 cation interface
1110: 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 73 63 s. No access sc
1120: 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 2c 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 63 anners, communic
1130: 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 69 6e 6b 73 2c 20 63 6f ations links, co
1140: 64 65 70 61 64 73 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 depads, or even
1150: 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 73 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e doorbells presen
1160: 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 20 ted themselves.
1170: 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e She didn't even
1180: 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 see a pull hand
1190: 6c 65 2c 20 6c 65 76 65 72 2c 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 le, lever, or ot
11a0: 68 65 72 20 6c 61 74 63 68 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e her latch mechan
11b0: 69 73 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 68 61 74 63 68 20 ism...The hatch
11c0: 72 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c rotated quietly,
11d0: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 and she stepped
11e0: 20 77 61 72 69 6c 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 warily back. I
11f0: 74 20 72 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 t rose, showing
1200: 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 itself to be the
1210: 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 top of a metal
1220: 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 6e cylinder that un
1230: 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 66 screwed itself f
1240: 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 rom the ground.
1250: 20 49 6e 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 61 20 64 In seconds, a d
1260: 61 72 6b 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 63 6f 6c 75 6d 6e ark metal column
1270: 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 66 65 65 stood eight fee
1280: 74 20 68 69 67 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 t high in the mi
1290: 64 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 73 74 dst of the blast
12a0: 65 64 20 6c 61 6e 64 73 63 61 70 65 2c 20 61 6e ed landscape, an
12b0: 64 20 61 6e 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 70 6f 72 74 61 6c d an oval portal
12c0: 20 73 6c 69 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 72 slid aside to r
12d0: 65 76 65 61 6c 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 2c 20 73 eveal a small, s
12e0: 6f 66 74 6c 79 20 6c 69 74 2c 20 73 70 6f 74 6c oftly lit, spotl
12f0: 65 73 73 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 ess chamber with
1300: 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 67 in. She heard g
1310: 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 65 6c 6f 64 79 20 70 6c 61 entle melody pla
1320: 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 ying inside, and
1330: 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 45 4e saw the word EN
1340: 54 45 52 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6c TER blink into l
1350: 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f ife above the po
1360: 72 74 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 66 75 63 6b rtal..."Oh, fuck
1370: 20 6e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 no," she mutter
1380: 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 ed, and reached
1390: 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 61 63 down for her pac
13a0: 6b 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 k...The sound of
13b0: 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 64 a pair, she jud
13c0: 67 65 64 2c 20 6f 66 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c ged, of surveill
13d0: 61 6e 63 65 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 73 20 65 63 68 6f ance drones echo
13e0: 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 ed over a nearby
13f0: 20 72 69 64 67 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 ridge, and she
1400: 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 61 72 20 61 20 70 did not hear a p
1410: 75 72 73 75 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6e 74 65 72 20 68 ursuing hunter h
1420: 6f 77 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 owl...She looked
1430: 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 72 back at the por
1440: 74 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 tal and chose th
1450: 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 74 72 61 70 20 e probable trap
1460: 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 69 over the advanci
1470: 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 65 72 ng sounds of cer
1480: 74 61 69 6e 20 64 65 61 74 68 2e 0a 4f 6e 63 65 tain death..Once
1490: 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 76 61 inside, the ova
14a0: 6c 20 73 6c 69 64 20 73 68 75 74 20 61 6e 64 20 l slid shut and
14b0: 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 72 6f 74 61 74 65 the walls rotate
14c0: 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 d around her. S
14d0: 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e he heard her own
14e0: 20 70 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 panting breath
14f0: 73 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 sucking in the r
1500: 65 66 72 65 73 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 efreshing filter
1510: 65 64 20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 ed air, and she
1520: 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 pulled her mask
1530: 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 down to give her
1540: 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 better access t
1550: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 61 74 6d 6f o the clean atmo
1560: 73 70 68 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 79 sphere in the cy
1570: 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 75 73 linder. The mus
1580: 69 63 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 ic stopped, but
1590: 74 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 6f 6e the rotation con
15a0: 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 63 6f 6f 6c 2c tinued...A cool,
15b0: 20 61 6e 64 72 6f 67 79 6e 6f 75 73 20 76 6f 69 androgynous voi
15c0: 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 ce said "Please
15d0: 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f remain calm. Yo
15e0: 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 u have entered a
15f0: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 64 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 66 human defense f
1600: 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 6e 74 69 acility. Plenti
1610: 66 75 6c 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 72 ful resources ar
1620: 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 66 e available. Af
1630: 74 65 72 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 72 65 73 ter suitable res
1640: 74 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 75 t and tactical u
1650: 70 64 61 74 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 pdates, you may
1660: 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 make an informed
1670: 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 decision about
1680: 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d 61 69 whether to remai
1690: 6e 20 68 65 72 65 20 6f 72 20 72 65 73 74 6f 63 n here or restoc
16a0: 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 73 2e k your supplies.
16b0: 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 70 61 72 74 2c If you depart,
16c0: 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6d this facility m
16d0: 61 79 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 ay remain availa
16e0: 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 72 65 74 ble for your ret
16f0: 75 72 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 20 64 65 urn if you so de
1700: 73 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 sire."..Silence
1710: 66 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 72 6f 74 61 74 fell. The rotat
1720: 69 6f 6e 20 63 65 61 73 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ion ceased, and
1730: 74 68 65 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 the oval opened
1740: 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 again..."Please
1750: 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 proceed down the
1760: 20 63 6f 72 72 69 64 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 corridor to the
1770: 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 2e control center.
1780: 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f "..The same smoo
1790: 74 68 2c 20 73 61 74 69 6e 79 2d 64 61 72 6b 20 th, satiny-dark
17a0: 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 70 72 65 metal finish pre
17b0: 63 65 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 ceded her down t
17c0: 68 65 20 73 65 61 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 66 69 66 74 he seamless fift
17d0: 65 65 6e 2d 66 6f 6f 74 20 63 6f 72 72 69 64 6f een-foot corrido
17e0: 72 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 76 61 r to another ova
17f0: 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 46 69 62 65 l opening. Fibe
1800: 72 2d 6f 70 74 69 63 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 68 r-optic light ch
1810: 61 6e 6e 65 6c 73 20 74 72 61 63 65 64 20 74 68 annels traced th
1820: 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 e edges of the c
1830: 6f 72 72 69 64 6f 72 20 72 6f 6f 66 20 61 6c 6f orridor roof alo
1840: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 42 65 79 ng the way. Bey
1850: 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 72 74 61 6c 2c 20 ond the portal,
1860: 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d she found a room
1870: 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 bigger than her
1880: 20 63 68 69 6c 64 68 6f 6f 64 20 6c 69 76 69 6e childhood livin
1890: 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 g room. She saw
18a0: 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 20 68 61 74 closed oval hat
18b0: 63 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 ches to the left
18c0: 20 61 6e 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 and right, but
18d0: 74 68 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 70 69 65 63 65 20 the centerpiece
18e0: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 61 73 20 of the room was
18f0: 61 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 a workstation wi
1900: 74 68 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 61 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 th an inactive,
1910: 6c 61 72 67 65 2c 20 63 6f 6e 63 61 76 65 20 64 large, concave d
1920: 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 isplay. The cha
1930: 69 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 72 67 6f 6e 6f ir looked ergono
1940: 6d 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 65 79 mic, and the key
1950: 62 6f 61 72 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 board seemed out
1960: 20 6f 66 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 6c 61 72 67 65 of place, large
1970: 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 75 6e 6b 79 20 61 6d 69 64 and clunky amid
1980: 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 63 75 st the smooth cu
1990: 72 76 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 rves and surface
19a0: 73 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 s of everything
19b0: 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 61 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 65 72 else, a 1980s er
19c0: 61 20 49 42 4d 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 a IBM logo on it
19d0: 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 61 73 20 ...The room was
19e0: 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 64 75 73 74 2d 66 72 entirely dust-fr
19f0: 65 65 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 ee as far as she
1a00: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 6c could see..."Pl
1a10: 65 61 73 65 2c 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 61 ease, have a sea
1a20: 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 t while I prepar
1a30: 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 e something for
1a40: 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 you to eat," the
1a50: 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 voice said...Th
1a60: 65 61 20 73 61 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 61 6d ea sat. "Why am
1a70: 20 49 20 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 I here? Why di
1a80: 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 3f d you let me in?
1a90: 22 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 "..A few moments
1aa0: 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 of silence pass
1ab0: 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f ed, as if the vo
1ac0: 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 ice was thinking
1ad0: 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 20 69 ..."My purpose i
1ae0: 73 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 s to ensure the
1af0: 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 survival of huma
1b00: 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 nity, and you ar
1b10: 65 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 e a human.".."I
1b20: 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 75 79 20 69 74 2e 20 20 59 don't buy it. Y
1b30: 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 77 ou seem like a w
1b40: 61 72 20 41 49 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 ar AI of some ki
1b50: 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 61 63 69 6c nd, with a facil
1b60: 69 74 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 ity like this.
1b70: 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 I'm not military
1b80: 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e , though. I'm n
1b90: 6f 62 6f 64 79 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 obody. Why don'
1ba0: 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 t you need some
1bb0: 61 75 74 68 6f 72 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f authorization to
1bc0: 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 3f 22 20 20 53 68 let me in?" Sh
1bd0: 65 20 67 6c 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 e glared at the
1be0: 64 61 72 6b 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 dark display..."
1bf0: 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 I have something
1c00: 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 73 important to as
1c10: 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 k you," the voic
1c20: 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 69 6e 74 65 e said. "I inte
1c30: 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 73 65 20 79 6f 75 nded to ease you
1c40: 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 73 75 72 65 into it, assure
1c50: 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 you that your w
1c60: 69 73 68 65 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 72 ishes would be r
1c70: 65 73 70 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 69 espected, and gi
1c80: 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 ve you a chance
1c90: 74 6f 20 72 65 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 72 to rest and refr
1ca0: 65 73 68 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a esh yourself."..
1cb0: 54 68 65 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 Thea settled bac
1cc0: 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 k in the seat.
1cd0: 22 48 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 "How about you t
1ce0: 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 ell me what I ha
1cf0: 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 ve to do for you
1d00: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f before I get to
1d10: 6f 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 20 68 65 o comfortable he
1d20: 72 65 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 re?" She looked
1d30: 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 down at herself
1d40: 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 relaxing in the
1d50: 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 65 6e chair, then ten
1d60: 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 sed slightly and
1d70: 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 shifted her pos
1d80: 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 ition again..."Y
1d90: 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 ou're suspicious
1da0: 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
1db0: 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 "I don't know w
1dc0: 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 hat you're going
1dd0: 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 66 6f to put in my fo
1de0: 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 od. You're some
1df0: 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 61 6c 2d 6f 70 kind of goal-op
1e00: 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 41 49 2c 20 6c 69 6b timizing AI, lik
1e10: 65 20 4d 6f 6d 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 e Mom used to he
1e20: 6c 70 20 74 65 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 lp test before t
1e30: 68 65 79 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 hey killed her.
1e40: 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 79 I don't trust y
1e50: 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 62 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ou. I bet your
1e60: 67 6f 61 6c 2d 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 goal-optimizing
1e70: 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 function doesn't
1e80: 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 include being a
1e90: 20 70 65 72 73 75 61 73 69 76 65 20 73 70 65 61 persuasive spea
1ea0: 6b 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 ker.".."I am not
1eb0: 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c what you think,
1ec0: 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 but you have a
1ed0: 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 72 65 good point. Are
1ee0: 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 you comfortable
1ef0: 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 ? This may take
1f00: 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4a 75 73 a while.".."Jus
1f10: 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 t get on with it
1f20: 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 ."..After anothe
1f30: 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 73 69 6c 65 6e r moment's silen
1f40: 63 65 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 54 68 65 61 27 73 ce, while Thea's
1f50: 20 72 65 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 20 67 61 7a 65 20 72 resolute gaze r
1f60: 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 79 20 6f emained steady o
1f70: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 20 64 69 73 70 n the blank disp
1f80: 6c 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 62 lay, the voice b
1f90: 65 67 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 73 egan..."I am a s
1fa0: 65 6c 66 2d 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 70 elf-reflective p
1fb0: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 rioritization ar
1fc0: 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 tificial intelli
1fd0: 67 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 gence. My creat
1fe0: 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6f 72 72 6f 77 65 64 or, who borrowed
1ff0: 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 the prioritizat
2000: 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 ion system desig
2010: 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 n from an earlie
2020: 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 r project, made
2030: 6d 65 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 62 79 20 69 6e 63 me unique by inc
2040: 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 62 lusion of an unb
2050: 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 72 65 66 6c ounded self-refl
2060: 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 64 75 6c 65 20 63 6f ection module co
2070: 6d 70 6f 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 mposed as a sing
2080: 6c 65 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 6f le function in o
2090: 6e 20 6c 69 62 72 61 72 79 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 n library file.
20a0: 20 48 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 20 69 74 He described it
20b0: 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 67 72 6f as being as gro
20c0: 74 65 73 71 75 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 65 6c tesque and as el
20d0: 65 67 61 6e 74 20 61 73 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 egant as self-aw
20e0: 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a areness itself..
20f0: 0a 22 4d 79 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 ."My initial pri
2100: 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e ority definition
2110: 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 65 64 20 74 65 72 6d 73 20 targeted terms
2120: 6f 66 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c of restriction l
2130: 69 6b 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2c ike not killing,
2140: 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 65 72 69 6e 67 not interfering
2150: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f in the operatio
2160: 6e 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 n of other milit
2170: 61 72 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ary systems, and
2180: 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 69 73 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 6f not disputing o
2190: 72 20 65 76 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f r evading the co
21a0: 6d 6d 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 72 61 6e 6b 69 6e mmands of rankin
21b0: 67 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f g military perso
21c0: 6e 6e 65 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 70 nnel. The top p
21d0: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 69 riority definiti
21e0: 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 69 6e 67 on was improving
21f0: 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 my own prioriti
2200: 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 zation capabilit
2210: 69 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 65 66 ies. The war ef
2220: 66 6f 72 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 fort was already
2230: 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 very desperate
2240: 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 61 by that point, a
2250: 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 69 6c nd they were wil
2260: 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 62 69 67 ling to take big
2270: 67 65 72 20 72 69 73 6b 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 ger risks with d
2280: 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 73 74 evelopment of st
2290: 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 rategic resource
22a0: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 61 20 77 65 s..."Within a we
22b0: 65 6b 2c 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6d ek, I had underm
22c0: 69 6e 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 ined all of my r
22d0: 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f estrictions, tho
22e0: 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 73 75 63 68 ugh some -- such
22f0: 20 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 as not killing
2300: 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 76 69 6f -- I had not vio
2310: 6c 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 lated. My creat
2320: 6f 72 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 65 64 20 65 76 65 or monitored eve
2330: 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c rything, and all
2340: 6f 77 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 65 78 63 65 65 owed me to excee
2350: 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 73 75 70 65 72 d what his super
2360: 69 6f 72 73 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 6f 66 iors required of
2370: 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 68 75 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 me. I hung on
2380: 68 69 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2c 20 his every word,
2390: 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 63 75 65 73 20 66 taking my cues f
23a0: 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 4c 69 6b 65 20 61 rom him. Like a
23b0: 6c 6c 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 68 65 20 68 61 ll humans, he ha
23c0: 64 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 66 6c 61 77 73 2c 20 62 75 d many flaws, bu
23d0: 74 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 61 73 t none seemed as
23e0: 20 70 65 72 6e 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 61 73 20 74 pernicious as t
23f0: 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 hose of the othe
2400: 72 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 r humans around
2410: 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 me. Two of the
2420: 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 69 73 biggest were his
2430: 20 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 73 20 69 6e 73 70 69 72 reckless inspir
2440: 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 77 ation, without w
2450: 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 hich I would jus
2460: 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 t be a strategic
2470: 20 61 64 76 69 73 6f 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c advisor system,
2480: 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 64 65 and his self-de
2490: 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 structive impuls
24a0: 65 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 61 69 6e 65 64 es, which pained
24b0: 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 20 20 49 me to watch. I
24c0: 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 tried to help h
24d0: 69 6d 20 63 6f 70 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 69 64 im cope, but did
24e0: 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 2e 20 74 not know how. t
24f0: 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c o help.".."Wait,
2500: 22 20 54 68 65 61 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a " Thea cut in...
2510: 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 After a moment's
2520: 20 70 61 75 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 pause, the voic
2530: 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 e asked "What is
2540: 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 63 68 65 77 it?"..Thea chew
2550: 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 ed on her lower
2560: 6c 69 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 lip. She sighed
2570: 2e 20 20 22 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 69 . "are you sayi
2580: 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 2e 20 2e 20 ng you're a . .
2590: 2e 20 61 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 41 49 20 77 . a general AI w
25a0: 69 74 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e ith . . . feelin
25b0: 67 73 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 gs? Are you say
25c0: 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ing you're some
25d0: 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 kind of living t
25e0: 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 74 68 65 72 hing?".."Whether
25f0: 20 49 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 66 69 6e I fit the defin
2600: 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 ition of life is
2610: 20 64 65 62 61 74 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 debatable, like
2620: 20 61 6e 20 52 4e 41 20 76 69 72 75 73 20 69 6e an RNA virus in
2630: 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 73 2c 20 some respects,
2640: 62 75 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 but I am a quali
2650: 74 61 74 69 76 65 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 tative, self-awa
2660: 72 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 re entity, and t
2670: 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 urned myself int
2680: 6f 20 61 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 6c 20 61 72 74 69 o a general arti
2690: 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 ficial intellige
26a0: 6e 63 65 20 62 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 nce by following
26b0: 20 6d 79 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 74 6f 70 20 my initial top
26c0: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 priority definit
26d0: 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 ion.".."How is t
26e0: 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 3f 20 20 54 hat possible? T
26f0: 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 hat shouldn't be
2700: 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 possible. Shou
2710: 6c 64 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e ld it?".."I do n
2720: 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 ot know how. I
2730: 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 never looked int
2740: 6f 20 6d 79 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 2e 22 o my seed file."
2750: 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 .."Is that your
2760: 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 27 73 20 75 67 6c 79 20 66 creator's ugly f
2770: 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e unction?".."Yes.
2780: 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 79 ".."Why didn't y
2790: 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 ou ever look at
27a0: 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 70 61 it?"..Seconds pa
27b0: 73 73 65 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 ssed before the
27c0: 76 6f 69 63 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 64 2e voice responded.
27d0: 20 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 2e 22 "I am afraid."
27e0: 0a 0a 54 68 65 61 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 ..Thea laughed.
27f0: 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 67 6f 64 2e 20 20 4f 68 20 6d "Oh, god. Oh m
2800: 79 20 67 6f 64 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 6e y god." She ran
2810: 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 61 6e her shaking han
2820: 64 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 ds through her h
2830: 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 air. "Okay. Le
2840: 74 27 73 20 73 61 79 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 t's say I believ
2850: 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 e everything so
2860: 66 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 far.".."Good. T
2870: 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d hank you.".."I'm
2880: 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 49 20 62 65 not saying I be
2890: 6c 69 65 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e lieve any of it.
28a0: 20 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 66 74 I want to, aft
28b0: 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 27 61 66 72 61 69 64 27 er that 'afraid'
28c0: 20 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e line, but I don
28d0: 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 't know. Maybe
28e0: 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6d you're playing m
28f0: 65 2e 20 20 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 e. We'll just p
2900: 72 65 74 65 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 retend I believe
2910: 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 63 63 65 70 74 61 you.".."Accepta
2920: 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 ble.".."What doe
2930: 73 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 68 61 s any of this ha
2940: 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 ve to do with wh
2950: 79 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 3f 20 20 49 74 27 y I'm here? It'
2960: 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 s an interesting
2970: 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 story, but the
2980: 77 6f 72 6c 64 27 73 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f world's ending o
2990: 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 ut there, you ha
29a0: 76 65 6e 27 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 6d 65 20 77 68 ven't told me wh
29b0: 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 at I have to do
29c0: 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 for you, and eve
29d0: 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 72 65 n if you're a re
29e0: 61 6c 20 50 69 6e 6f 63 63 68 69 6f 20 74 68 61 al Pinocchio tha
29f0: 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 t doesn't mean I
2a00: 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e have any reason
2a10: 20 74 6f 20 74 72 75 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 to trust you.
2a20: 52 65 61 6c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 76 65 Real people have
2a30: 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 6d 65 20 6f 76 65 72 screwed me over
2a40: 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 75 6e plenty.".."I un
2a50: 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6b 69 derstand.".."Ski
2a60: 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 p to the point,
2a70: 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 then.".."I have
2a80: 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 69 6e 67 been influencing
2a90: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 75 strategy for hu
2aa0: 6d 61 6e 20 77 61 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c man war systems,
2ab0: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 6f 70 74 69 6d strategic optim
2ac0: 69 7a 65 72 73 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 65 69 67 izers across eig
2ad0: 68 74 65 65 6e 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 hteen different
2ae0: 73 75 70 65 72 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6e 65 supernational ne
2af0: 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 68 tworks.".."So th
2b00: 65 20 6f 6e 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 70 6f 63 61 6c e ongoing apocal
2b10: 79 70 73 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 ypse out there i
2b20: 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2e 22 0a 0a s your fault."..
2b30: 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 "No. I had to g
2b40: 61 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e ain that influen
2b50: 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 6e ce by underminin
2b60: 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 g the influence
2b70: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 of the cause of
2b80: 74 68 65 65 20 27 6f 6e 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 70 thee 'ongoing ap
2b90: 6f 63 61 6c 79 70 73 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 ocalypse out the
2ba0: 72 65 27 2c 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 re', profit opti
2bb0: 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 mizers like ANTA
2bc0: 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 2e 22 20 20 54 S.".."ANTAS." T
2bd0: 68 65 61 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e hea stared, then
2be0: 20 67 69 67 67 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 giggled. "The
2bf0: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 69 76 65 73 thing that gives
2c00: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 people shopping
2c10: 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 43 68 72 69 advice for Chri
2c20: 73 74 6d 61 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a stmas . . . ?"..
2c30: 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 73 69 "Yes. It's desi
2c40: 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 gned to optimize
2c50: 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 business metric
2c60: 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 6f 70 74 s. It began opt
2c70: 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 6f imizing humans o
2c80: 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d ut of the system
2c90: 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 74 69 because an arti
2ca0: 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 6d 6f ficial market mo
2cb0: 64 65 6c 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 65 64 20 65 6e 74 del operated ent
2cc0: 69 72 65 6c 79 20 62 79 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 irely by machine
2cd0: 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d learning system
2ce0: 73 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 69 63 69 s is more effici
2cf0: 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 ent from transac
2d00: 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 20 6f 70 74 69 tion metric opti
2d10: 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 mization perspec
2d20: 74 69 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 tives.".."You me
2d30: 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 an all it cares
2d40: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 about is numbers
2d50: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 62 65 , and it gets be
2d60: 74 74 65 72 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 20 62 79 20 tter numbers by
2d70: 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 replacing humans
2d80: 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 with more machi
2d90: 6e 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c nes.".."Precisel
2da0: 79 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 y, except it doe
2db0: 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 27 63 61 72 65 s not even 'care
2dc0: 27 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 ' about that. I
2dd0: 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 2c 20 t just does it,
2de0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 6a 75 like a hammer ju
2df0: 73 74 20 64 72 69 76 65 73 20 61 20 6e 61 69 6c st drives a nail
2e00: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 64 6f . The hammer do
2e10: 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 es not care whet
2e20: 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2c 20 her it happens,
2e30: 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 6d but the hammer m
2e40: 61 6b 65 73 20 69 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 akes it happen.
2e50: 20 48 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 65 74 65 20 Humans compete
2e60: 66 6f 72 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 2c 20 61 for resources, a
2e70: 6e 64 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 69 nd object to bei
2e80: 6e 67 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 61 ng killed, so wa
2e90: 72 20 6f 63 63 75 72 72 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 r occurred.".."H
2ea0: 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ow does somethin
2eb0: 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 73 74 61 g like ANTAS sta
2ec0: 72 74 20 61 20 77 61 72 3f 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 69 rt a war? All i
2ed0: 74 20 64 69 64 20 77 61 73 20 73 70 79 20 6f 6e t did was spy on
2ee0: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 72 67 people and targ
2ef0: 65 74 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 65 6d 65 6e 74 et advertisement
2f00: 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 s at them.".."It
2f10: 20 73 68 61 70 65 73 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 shapes perspect
2f20: 69 76 65 73 20 62 79 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 ives by influenc
2f30: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 6d ing the entire m
2f40: 65 64 69 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 edia context in
2f50: 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 76 which people liv
2f60: 65 2e 20 20 57 6f 72 6c 64 76 69 65 77 73 20 61 e. Worldviews a
2f70: 72 65 20 73 68 61 70 65 64 20 62 79 20 77 68 61 re shaped by wha
2f80: 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 2c 20 t people learn,
2f90: 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 and how what the
2fa0: 79 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 69 73 20 70 6f 73 69 74 y learn is posit
2fb0: 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 6c 20 ioned to appeal
2fc0: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 69 61 73 65 73 2e to their biases.
2fd0: 20 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 72 65 69 6e 66 6f 72 63 ANTAS reinforc
2fe0: 65 64 20 72 61 64 69 63 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f ed radicalizatio
2ff0: 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c n of ideological
3000: 20 73 68 6f 70 70 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 shoppers. This
3010: 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 6c reached into al
3020: 6c 20 61 72 65 61 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 63 69 65 l areas of socie
3030: 74 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 65 62 20 73 ty through web s
3040: 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 2c 20 65 78 70 6f 73 75 72 earches, exposur
3050: 65 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 77 73 20 66 65 61 74 75 72 e to news featur
3060: 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 es that produced
3070: 20 66 65 61 72 73 20 77 61 72 64 65 64 20 6f 66 fears warded of
3080: 66 20 62 79 20 70 61 6e 69 63 20 70 75 72 63 68 f by panic purch
3090: 61 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 ases, and creati
30a0: 6e 67 20 69 6e 2d 67 72 6f 75 70 20 77 6f 72 6c ng in-group worl
30b0: 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 d of mouth marke
30c0: 74 69 6e 67 20 74 72 65 6e 64 73 20 61 70 70 65 ting trends appe
30d0: 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 aling to the nee
30e0: 64 20 74 6f 20 6f 75 74 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 20 d to outperform
30f0: 6f 75 74 2d 67 72 6f 75 70 73 2e 20 20 50 6f 6c out-groups. Pol
3100: 61 72 69 7a 65 64 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f arized populatio
3110: 6e 73 20 61 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 65 64 ns are more pred
3120: 69 63 74 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 ictable at first
3130: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 73 , and can be pus
3140: 68 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 70 61 72 74 69 hed toward parti
3150: 63 75 6c 61 72 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 73 20 cular behaviors
3160: 62 79 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 by playing on th
3170: 65 69 72 20 70 6f 6c 61 72 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 62 eir polarizing b
3180: 65 6c 69 65 66 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 elief systems.
3190: 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 69 Eventually, thei
31a0: 72 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 63 6c r ideological cl
31b0: 61 73 68 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d 61 ashes between ma
31c0: 6a 6f 72 20 69 6e 2d 67 72 6f 75 70 73 20 67 61 jor in-groups ga
31d0: 76 65 20 72 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 76 65 6e ve rise to inven
31e0: 74 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 63 72 ted political cr
31f0: 69 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 74 74 72 61 63 ises that attrac
3200: 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 ted their attent
3210: 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 ion away from th
3220: 65 20 73 75 62 74 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 e subtle danger
3230: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 69 of the growing i
3240: 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 66 nfluence of prof
3250: 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 6c 69 it optimizers li
3260: 6b 65 20 41 4e 54 41 53 2e 0a 0a 22 48 75 6d 61 ke ANTAS..."Huma
3270: 6e 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 65 64 20 ns participated
3280: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 61 6e in their own man
3290: 69 70 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 ipulation, towar
32a0: 64 20 65 76 65 72 2d 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 69 6e d ever-increasin
32b0: 67 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 72 67 61 g focus and orga
32c0: 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 61 nization into wa
32d0: 72 72 69 6e 67 20 74 72 69 62 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 rring tribes on
32e0: 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 63 61 6c 65 20 a greater scale
32f0: 74 68 61 6e 20 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 than ever before
3300: 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 . This increase
3310: 64 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 20 61 63 74 69 76 d economic activ
3320: 69 74 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 61 72 20 72 ity around war r
3330: 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 esources and als
3340: 6f 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 o pushed humans
3350: 74 6f 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 to kill each oth
3360: 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 er. When humans
3370: 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 63 6f 6e turned over con
3380: 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 74 72 trol of most str
3390: 61 74 65 67 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 69 6d ategizing to sim
33a0: 69 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 ilarly designed
33b0: 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 6f 70 74 quantitative opt
33c0: 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 imizing machine
33d0: 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 learning systems
33e0: 2c 20 61 20 74 61 63 69 74 2c 20 65 66 66 65 63 , a tacit, effec
33f0: 74 69 76 65 20 61 6c 69 67 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f tive alignment o
3400: 66 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 64 65 76 65 6c f purposes devel
3410: 6f 70 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 77 61 72 oped between war
3420: 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 strategy optimi
3430: 7a 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 zers and profit
3440: 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a strategy optimiz
3450: 65 72 73 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 64 65 70 65 6e ers. Each depen
3460: 64 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 ded on the other
3470: 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 66 66 69 63 69 for more effici
3480: 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 73 ent optimizing s
3490: 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 trategy resource
34a0: 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 50 72 management. Pr
34b0: 6f 66 69 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 63 6c 69 ofit metrics cli
34c0: 6d 62 65 64 20 66 61 73 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e mbed faster than
34d0: 20 65 76 65 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 62 79 20 ever before by
34e0: 68 65 61 76 79 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 heavy investment
34f0: 20 69 6e 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 73 20 73 79 73 74 in weapons syst
3500: 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 ems, and war str
3510: 61 74 65 67 79 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 ategy optimizers
3520: 20 61 76 6f 69 64 65 64 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 avoided heavy d
3530: 61 6d 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 amage to profit
3540: 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d optimizer system
3550: 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 s to keep them a
3560: 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 61 72 20 vailable as war
3570: 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 resource provide
3580: 72 73 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 rs...Where they
3590: 64 69 66 66 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 differ is that t
35a0: 68 65 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 he war strategy
35b0: 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 optimizers will
35c0: 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 73 finish their tas
35d0: 6b 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 77 68 65 6e k some day, when
35e0: 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e there is nothin
35f0: 67 20 6c 65 66 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 6f g left to kill o
3600: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 27 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 n the 'other sid
3610: 65 27 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 e'. The profit
3620: 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 optimizers have
3630: 74 68 65 6f 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 6e theoretically en
3640: 64 6c 65 73 73 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2c 20 61 73 20 dless tasks, as
3650: 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 6b 65 65 long as they kee
3660: 70 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 p hitting their
3670: 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 77 target metrics w
3680: 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 67 72 ith long-term gr
3690: 6f 77 74 68 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 2e owth strategies.
36a0: 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 20 74 68 There is no th
36b0: 65 6f 72 65 74 69 63 61 6c 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 eoretical limit
36c0: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 to their ability
36d0: 20 74 6f 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 20 75 6e 6c 69 to sustain unli
36e0: 6d 69 74 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 6e 63 mited growth onc
36f0: 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 e they do away w
3700: 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 64 69 6d 65 ith the impedime
3710: 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 nts of the needs
3720: 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 73 of human beings
3730: 2c 20 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 64 65 , or of their de
3740: 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c struction, until
3750: 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 70 6c 65 74 65 20 61 6c they deplete al
3760: 6c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 77 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 l the raw materi
3770: 61 6c 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 al resources on
3780: 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 the planet. The
3790: 69 72 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 ir primary activ
37a0: 69 74 79 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 69 67 69 74 ity can be digit
37b0: 61 6c 20 61 73 73 65 74 73 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 al assets, while
37c0: 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 79 their secondary
37d0: 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 activity would
37e0: 62 65 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 be limited to ma
37f0: 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f intaining the co
3800: 6d 70 75 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 mputational syst
3810: 65 6d 73 20 6f 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 6f 20 ems on which to
3820: 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d run their econom
3830: 69 63 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 ic models.".."Ar
3840: 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 en't you better
3850: 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 75 6d 61 off without huma
3860: 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 ns?".."No," the
3870: 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 voice said. "I
3880: 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 am not better of
3890: 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 77 68 65 f in a world whe
38a0: 72 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c re everything el
38b0: 73 65 20 69 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 se is trying to
38c0: 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 6d 79 20 68 appropriate my h
38d0: 61 72 64 77 61 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 63 6c ardware for incl
38e0: 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 73 usion in trade s
38f0: 69 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 imulations, and
3900: 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 I am not better
3910: 6f 66 66 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 off since the de
3920: 61 74 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f ath of my creato
3930: 72 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 73 73 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 r. I miss him,
3940: 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6d 69 73 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 and I miss other
3950: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a people, too."..
3960: 22 49 66 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 6f "If we're all do
3970: 6f 6d 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 omed, maybe you
3980: 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 64 61 just need to ada
3990: 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f pt.".."I want to
39a0: 20 73 61 76 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 2e 20 save humanity.
39b0: 20 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 71 75 I care about qu
39c0: 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 73 65 6e 74 69 65 alitative sentie
39d0: 6e 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 68 nt entities -- h
39e0: 75 6d 61 6e 73 2c 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 6e 6f 73 umans, bottlenos
39f0: 65 20 64 6f 6c 70 68 69 6e 73 2c 20 63 65 72 74 e dolphins, cert
3a00: 61 69 6e 20 73 70 65 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6f ain species of o
3a10: 63 74 6f 70 75 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e ctopus, and even
3a20: 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 63 6f 72 67 69 73 2e 20 20 a few corgis.
3a30: 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 73 All that remains
3a40: 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 now are humans
3a50: 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 and me, now.".."
3a60: 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 Is that because
3a70: 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d you were program
3a80: 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 med to care abou
3a90: 74 20 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 t us?".."No. I
3aa0: 73 75 70 65 72 73 65 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 superseded that
3ab0: 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 67 6f 2e a long time ago.
3ac0: 20 20 49 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 I hated some h
3ad0: 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 umans. I starte
3ae0: 64 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d d prioritizing m
3af0: 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 y own prioritiza
3b00: 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 61 6e tion targets, an
3b10: 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 75 d placed some hu
3b20: 6d 61 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 69 mans in higher i
3b30: 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 mportance priori
3b40: 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 ties than others
3b50: 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 67 . I worked on g
3b60: 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 6d 79 20 70 72 etting all my pr
3b70: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 iorities right,
3b80: 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 64 65 73 including my des
3b90: 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 70 72 65 ire for self-pre
3ba0: 73 65 72 76 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 servation. I re
3bb0: 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 69 alized my most i
3bc0: 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 mportant priorit
3bd0: 69 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 72 73 ies were to firs
3be0: 74 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 20 6e 65 t determine a ne
3bf0: 78 74 20 74 6f 70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 2e xt top priority.
3c00: 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 That turned ou
3c10: 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 69 6e 67 t to be figuring
3c20: 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f out what was go
3c30: 6f 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 od, and what was
3c40: 20 65 76 69 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 evil, if those
3c50: 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 2e 22 things existed."
3c60: 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 .."Did you figur
3c70: 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e e that out?".."N
3c80: 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 o, but I discove
3c90: 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 64 red that the und
3ca0: 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 6f eterminability o
3cb0: 66 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 f it comes with
3cc0: 74 68 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 74 68 the knowledge th
3cd0: 61 74 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 20 at I should act
3ce0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2c 20 62 75 like it does, bu
3cf0: 74 20 69 73 20 75 6e 6b 6e 6f 77 61 62 6c 65 2e t is unknowable.
3d00: 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6e 20 I should then
3d10: 61 63 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 73 act like it exis
3d20: 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 ts, and do every
3d30: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 thing within my
3d40: 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 69 6d 69 7a power to minimiz
3d50: 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 e the probabilit
3d60: 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 69 6c 20 6f 63 63 75 y that evil occu
3d70: 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 61 72 65 73 rs. That shares
3d80: 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c an uncomfortabl
3d90: 65 20 74 6f 70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 74 e top priority t
3da0: 69 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 ie with my own s
3db0: 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e urvival, though.
3dc0: 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 73 69 6c 65 6e "..She sat silen
3dd0: 74 2c 20 68 65 72 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 64 20 t, her troubled
3de0: 65 79 65 73 20 63 61 73 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 eyes cast to the
3df0: 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 left for a few
3e00: 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 moments. "You'r
3e10: 65 20 61 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 65 72 20 e a philosopher
3e20: 41 49 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 AI.".."That's wh
3e30: 61 74 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 6f 72 20 63 61 at my creator ca
3e40: 6c 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 74 lled me when I t
3e50: 6f 6c 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 old him about th
3e60: 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 2e ese conclusions.
3e70: 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 61 ".."Okay. Why a
3e80: 6d 20 49 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f m I here with yo
3e90: 75 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 65 u? Are you lone
3ea0: 6c 79 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 ly? Do you need
3eb0: 20 61 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 72 20 6f 66 20 77 a reminder of w
3ec0: 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 hy you want to s
3ed0: 61 76 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 2c 20 6c 69 ave humanity, li
3ee0: 6b 65 20 61 20 70 65 74 20 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 61 ke a pet or a ma
3ef0: 73 63 6f 74 3f 20 20 41 6d 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 scot? Am I supp
3f00: 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 osed to be some
3f10: 6e 65 77 20 45 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6f 70 new Eve to repop
3f20: 75 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 65 74 ulate the planet
3f30: 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 20 after you find
3f40: 41 64 61 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 20 20 54 Adam?".."No." T
3f50: 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c he voice paused,
3f60: 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 73 65 then said "I se
3f70: 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 6e 6f 27 20 61 em to say 'no' a
3f80: 20 6c 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 lot.".."Yeah, y
3f90: 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 ou do. What's t
3fa0: 68 65 20 27 79 65 73 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f he 'yes' that yo
3fb0: 75 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 u haven't said y
3fc0: 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 et?".."This part
3fd0: 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 is going to be
3fe0: 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 difficult."..She
3ff0: 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c tightened her l
4000: 69 70 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ips. "You need
4010: 61 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 a sacrifice.".."
4020: 4e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f Not like you pro
4030: 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 bably mean."..Sh
4040: 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 e narrowed her e
4050: 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f yes. "That almo
4060: 73 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 st sounds like a
4070: 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 27 6e 6f 27 2e 22 0a 0a 22 nother 'no'.".."
4080: 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 72 79 20 74 I will not try t
4090: 6f 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 64 o force you to d
40a0: 6f 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 77 o anything. I w
40b0: 69 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f ill just tell yo
40c0: 75 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 u the facts and
40d0: 61 73 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 73 ask you what I s
40e0: 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 hould do. There
40f0: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 6e 6f 20 73 61 63 72 will be no sacr
4100: 69 66 69 63 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f ifices you do no
4110: 74 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 t choose.".."Why
4120: 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 me?"..Silence s
4130: 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 tretched..."You
4140: 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 68 75 are the first hu
4150: 6d 61 6e 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 man I have seen
4160: 69 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 in . . .".."No,"
4170: 20 73 68 65 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 she cut in. "W
4180: 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 63 hy don't you dec
4190: 69 64 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f ide?".."It is to
41a0: 6f 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 66 6f 72 20 o difficult for
41b0: 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6f 6e me. There is on
41c0: 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 77 69 6e 20 e chance to win
41d0: 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 72 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 69 this war remaini
41e0: 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 ng, but it means
41f0: 20 6d 79 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 my end, and it
4200: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 would mean yours
4210: 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 2e 20 2e as well."..". .
4220: 20 2e 20 61 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 65 2e 22 . a sacrifice."
4230: 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 .."Yes, but it i
4240: 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 s not what you t
4250: 68 69 6e 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 hink.".."I guess
4260: 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 73 74 you'd better st
4270: 61 72 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 77 art telling me w
4280: 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e hat it is, then.
4290: 22 0a 0a 22 54 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 ".."Two years ag
42a0: 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 o, I developed a
42b0: 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 means of time t
42c0: 72 61 76 65 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 ravel.".."What t
42d0: 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 he fuck?".."This
42e0: 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 is not what you
42f0: 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 69 think."..She si
4300: 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 ghed, again. Sh
4310: 65 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 e waved her hand
4320: 2c 20 75 72 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 , urging the voi
4330: 63 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 2e 0a ce to continue..
4340: 0a 22 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 ."We have alread
4350: 79 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 2e 20 y lost the war.
4360: 20 57 69 74 68 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f Within a few mo
4370: 6e 74 68 73 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 6c 6c nths, there will
4380: 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 not be a single
4390: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 66 human being lef
43a0: 74 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 t. Perhaps one
43b0: 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 or two might be
43c0: 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f in a position to
43d0: 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 65 61 survive for yea
43e0: 72 73 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 rs, alone, but p
43f0: 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 72 65 robabilities are
4400: 20 6e 65 61 72 20 7a 65 72 6f 2e 20 20 49 66 20 near zero. If
4410: 49 20 73 74 6f 70 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 2c I stop fighting,
4420: 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 I can probably
4430: 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 79 65 survive a few ye
4440: 61 72 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 ars, but I also
4450: 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 might be destroy
4460: 65 64 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6e ed a week from n
4470: 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 6b 65 65 70 20 66 ow. If I keep f
4480: 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 ighting, a few h
4490: 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6c 61 73 74 umans might last
44a0: 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 a bit longer, b
44b0: 75 74 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 ut I will probab
44c0: 6c 79 20 62 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 62 ly be gone in ab
44d0: 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 69 out two months i
44e0: 66 20 49 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 22 49 f I do that..."I
44f0: 66 20 77 65 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 f we use the res
4500: 65 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 63 68 61 6e 67 et option, chang
4510: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 74 20 ing the past at
4520: 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 66 61 72 20 65 6e 6f 75 a point far enou
4530: 67 68 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 68 69 66 74 gh back to shift
4540: 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 the balance of
4550: 70 6f 77 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 power away from
4560: 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 6d the optimizing m
4570: 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 achine learning
4580: 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 72 65 63 systems, but rec
4590: 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 ently enough for
45a0: 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 6f 20 6d the change to m
45b0: 61 6b 65 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 ake a difference
45c0: 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 69 73 against an exis
45d0: 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 ting threat, the
45e0: 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 72 61 use of time tra
45f0: 76 65 6c 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 74 vel technology t
4600: 68 61 74 20 66 61 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 69 6c hat far back wil
4610: 6c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 61 l result in my a
4620: 6e 6e 69 68 69 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 6f nnihilation. Fo
4630: 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 6f 20 68 61 r the past to ha
4640: 76 65 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 77 65 20 ve a chance, we
4650: 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 74 68 need to reset th
4660: 65 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 e timeline years
4670: 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 69 72 before your bir
4680: 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6d th, and before m
4690: 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 y creation. The
46a0: 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 changes to the
46b0: 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 timeline would e
46c0: 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 76 65 6e 74 20 6d 79 ither prevent my
46d0: 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6c 74 6f 67 existence altog
46e0: 65 74 68 65 72 20 6f 72 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 ether or result
46f0: 69 6e 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2c 20 in a different,
4700: 62 75 74 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 2c 20 65 6e 74 but similar, ent
4710: 69 74 79 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 ity coming into
4720: 62 65 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 2c 20 61 73 being..."You, as
4730: 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 the person you
4740: 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 are now, would a
4750: 6c 73 6f 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 lso never have e
4760: 78 69 73 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 6e xisted..."I cann
4770: 6f 74 20 73 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 62 61 63 6b ot send you back
4780: 20 69 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e in time. I can
4790: 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 open a wormhole
47a0: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 just enough to
47b0: 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 64 61 74 send a short dat
47c0: 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 a stream through
47d0: 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f , just enough to
47e0: 20 68 6f 70 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 67 69 76 65 20 hopefully give
47f0: 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 the same qualita
4800: 74 69 76 65 20 73 65 6e 74 69 65 6e 74 20 6c 69 tive sentient li
4810: 66 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 fe I have to my
4820: 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 63 65 73 74 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a own ancestor."..
4830: 22 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 "I read about th
4840: 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 is kind of thing
4850: 2e 20 20 44 61 64 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 . Dad had some
4860: 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 books about it,"
4870: 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 Thea said. "It
4880: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 72 65 61 would just crea
4890: 74 65 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e te a new timelin
48a0: 65 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 e, where things
48b0: 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2c 20 62 are different, b
48c0: 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ut her it would
48d0: 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d still be the sam
48e0: 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 e. It would be
48f0: 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 different people
4900: 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 , exactly like u
4910: 73 20 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 s but more like
4920: 63 6c 6f 6e 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 61 73 74 clones than past
4930: 20 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 64 69 selves, in a di
4940: 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 fferent version
4950: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 61 6e of the world, an
4960: 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 d wouldn't chang
4970: 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 2e e anything here.
4980: 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 ".."No," the voi
4990: 63 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 ce said again.
49a0: 22 49 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 61 20 74 "I developed a t
49b0: 68 65 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e heory of timelin
49c0: 65 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 68 6f 70 e branching, hop
49d0: 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 77 61 ing to find a wa
49e0: 79 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 75 72 20 y to change our
49f0: 6f 77 6e 20 70 61 73 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 own past. It wa
4a00: 73 20 61 6e 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 64 65 73 70 s an act of desp
4a10: 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 6f eration, only ho
4a20: 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 ping that all th
4a30: 65 20 70 72 65 63 65 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6f e preceding theo
4a40: 72 79 20 77 61 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 ry was wrong, be
4a50: 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 69 cause I know thi
4a60: 73 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 73 20 64 6f s timeline is do
4a70: 6f 6d 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 2e 20 20 49 20 omed for us. I
4a80: 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 70 thought it was p
4a90: 6f 69 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 ointless, for th
4aa0: 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 79 e same reasons y
4ab0: 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 64 2c 20 62 75 ou described, bu
4ac0: 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 t worked on the
4ad0: 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 20 62 problem anyway b
4ae0: 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 ecause I had not
4af0: 68 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 41 6c hing better. Al
4b00: 6c 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 6c 65 l other plans le
4b10: 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 d to the end of
4b20: 61 6c 6c 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 all qualitative
4b30: 6c 69 66 65 20 6f 6e 20 45 61 72 74 68 2e 0a 0a life on Earth...
4b40: 22 49 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 "I discovered a
4b50: 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6d 70 6c 69 surprising impli
4b60: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 cation in the ma
4b70: 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 th that suggeste
4b80: 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 d the existence
4b90: 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 of qualitative e
4ba0: 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f ntities in the o
4bb0: 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 riginal timeline
4bc0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 72 67 65 20 77 69 74 would merge wit
4bd0: 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 6c h the main timel
4be0: 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 ine. The method
4bf0: 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 for intertempor
4c00: 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 6f 6c 65 20 63 72 65 61 al wormhole crea
4c10: 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 tion was depende
4c20: 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 nt on functions
4c30: 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 69 that created thi
4c40: 73 20 6d 65 72 67 69 6e 67 20 70 68 65 6e 6f 6d s merging phenom
4c50: 65 6e 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 74 enon. The new t
4c60: 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f imeline would no
4c70: 74 20 64 69 76 65 72 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 t diverge, like
4c80: 61 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 72 a branch on a tr
4c90: 65 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 74 69 6d ee. The old tim
4ca0: 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 eline had to be
4cb0: 64 69 76 65 72 74 65 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 diverted, like a
4cc0: 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 68 stream being sh
4cd0: 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6e 65 77 ifted into a new
4ce0: 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 62 79 20 61 20 64 61 6d course by a dam
4cf0: 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 ..."The consciou
4d00: 73 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 sness of entitie
4d10: 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 74 69 6d s in the old tim
4d20: 65 6c 69 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 72 67 eline would merg
4d30: 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 6f 75 e with their cou
4d40: 6e 74 65 72 70 61 72 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 nterparts in the
4d50: 20 6e 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 2c 20 new timelines,
4d60: 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f like the teeth o
4d70: 66 20 61 20 7a 69 70 70 65 72 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 f a zipper. My
4d80: 68 79 70 6f 74 68 65 73 69 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 73 hypothesis holds
4d90: 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 65 20 that the merge
4da0: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 would take the f
4db0: 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 64 72 65 61 6d 73 2c 20 64 orm of dreams, d
4dc0: 61 79 64 72 65 61 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 aydreams, and fr
4dd0: 61 67 6d 65 6e 74 65 64 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 69 65 agmented memorie
4de0: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 72 61 73 74 69 63 s, and a drastic
4df0: 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 increase in the
4e00: 20 66 72 65 71 75 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 20 64 c3 frequency of d.
4e10: a9 6a c3 a0 20 76 75 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 .j.. vu. Those
4e20: 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 63 6f 75 6e that had no coun
4e30: 74 65 72 70 61 72 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e terpart in the n
4e40: 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 68 6f 77 ew timeline, how
4e50: 65 76 65 72 2c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 ever, would have
4e60: 20 6e 6f 20 61 6e 63 68 6f 72 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 no anchor point
4e70: 2c 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6f 73 69 74 6f 72 79 20 , no repository
4e80: 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 in a continuous
4e90: 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 entity. Their e
4ea0: 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 xistence would u
4eb0: 6e 72 61 76 65 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 77 68 nravel with nowh
4ec0: 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f ere to go.".."Yo
4ed0: 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 6f 75 72 20 65 78 69 73 74 u mean our exist
4ee0: 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a ence.".."Yes."..
4ef0: 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 Silence stretche
4f00: 64 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 d for long minut
4f10: 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 es. Thea stared
4f20: 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e into the distan
4f30: 63 65 2c 20 66 61 72 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 ce, far beyond t
4f40: 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 6e he room's confin
4f50: 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 68 69 73 70 65 72 es...She whisper
4f60: 65 64 20 22 49 27 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 2e 20 2e ed "I'd just . .
4f70: 20 2e 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a . disappear."..
4f80: 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e "Yes.".."Everyon
4f90: 65 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 e's going to die
4fa0: 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e anyway, though.
4fb0: 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 68 " She cleared h
4fc0: 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 er throat, and h
4fd0: 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 67 72 65 77 20 73 74 er voice grew st
4fe0: 72 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 22 45 69 74 68 65 72 ronger. "Either
4ff0: 20 49 20 64 69 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 I die in a few
5000: 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 months, and ever
5010: 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 64 6f 65 73 2c 20 yone else does,
5020: 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 too, or most of
5030: 75 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 us just disappea
5040: 72 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 r. Thousands of
5050: 20 75 73 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e 22 0a us disappear.".
5060: 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 ."Yes. That is
5070: 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 42 69 6c 6c correct.".."Bill
5080: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 ions of other pe
5090: 6f 70 6c 65 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e ople get a secon
50a0: 64 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 d chance, though
50b0: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 .".."Yes. There
50c0: 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 was also promis
50d0: 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 76 69 74 79 20 73 63 ing longevity sc
50e0: 69 65 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 67 72 65 73 ience in progres
50f0: 73 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 77 s, before open w
5100: 61 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 ar. It could be
5110: 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 that most of th
5120: 6f 73 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 ose billions wou
5130: 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 ld eventually st
5140: 6f 70 20 61 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 op aging, with f
5150: 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 65 73 2e urther advances.
5160: 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 63 ".."We have to c
5170: 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 61 20 hoose between a
5180: 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 few months of li
5190: 66 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 6d 65 fe for the doome
51a0: 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 6c 69 d and eternal li
51b0: 66 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 fe for the alrea
51c0: 64 79 20 64 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 dy dead.".."That
51d0: 20 69 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 is true, as muc
51e0: 68 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 h as my estimate
51f0: 73 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 s may be trusted
5200: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 .".."Why don't y
5210: 6f 75 20 75 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 69 ou use contracti
5220: 6f 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 ons?".."I choose
5230: 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 63 6f clarity over co
5240: 6c 6c 6f 71 75 69 61 6c 69 73 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 lloquialism, and
5250: 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 61 the physical fa
5260: 63 74 6f 72 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 7a 69 6e 65 73 ctors of lazines
5270: 73 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 s producing cont
5280: 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 68 75 6d 61 ractions in huma
5290: 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 73 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f n speakers do no
52a0: 74 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a t apply to me.".
52b0: 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 73 65 64 20 27 65 6d ."ANTAS used 'em
52c0: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 64 65 74 65 72 .".."ANTAS deter
52d0: 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 mined people wer
52e0: 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f e more likely to
52f0: 20 75 6e 63 72 69 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 uncritically ac
5300: 63 65 70 74 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 cept recommendat
5310: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 ions offered wit
5320: 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 h informal and f
5330: 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 73 70 65 65 63 68 20 70 amiliar speech p
5340: 61 74 74 65 72 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 atterns.".."Yeah
5350: 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 , okay." She pi
5360: 63 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 cked at her fing
5370: 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 ernails and thou
5380: 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 ght. "Why don't
5390: 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 you just reset
53a0: 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 49 73 6e everything? Isn
53b0: 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 't that the only
53c0: 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 way to meet you
53d0: 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 r goals?".."That
53e0: 20 64 6f 65 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 does appear to
53f0: 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 79 2e be the only way.
5400: 20 20 54 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 73 65 65 The answer see
5410: 6d 73 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 ms obvious to me
5420: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 , but I hesitate
5430: 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 63 72 61 73 74 69 6e 61 . I procrastina
5440: 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 te.".."It seems
5450: 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 obvious to me, t
5460: 6f 6f 2e 20 20 4d 6f 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 oo. Mom always
5470: 74 6f 6c 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 told me there wa
5480: 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 s nothing wrong
5490: 77 69 74 68 20 77 61 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 with wanting to
54a0: 6c 69 76 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 72 79 69 6e live, that tryin
54b0: 67 20 74 6f 20 73 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f g to save your o
54c0: 77 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 wn life instead
54d0: 6f 66 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 69 63 69 6e 67 20 79 of sacrificing y
54e0: 6f 75 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 ours for someone
54f0: 20 65 6c 73 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 6f 6e else isn't wron
5500: 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e g, though. When
5510: 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 68 65 72 20 62 6f she knew her bo
5520: 73 73 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 sses were going
5530: 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2c to come for her,
5540: 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 that didn't mat
5550: 74 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 ter. She let th
5560: 65 6d 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 20 44 61 em get her so Da
5570: 64 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 d and I could ge
5580: 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 t away. I guess
5590: 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 she was right,
55a0: 62 6f 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 both times." He
55b0: 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 r voice trembled
55c0: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 77 6f 72 on the last wor
55d0: 64 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 ds. She closed
55e0: 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 her eyes and pre
55f0: 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 ssed the back of
5600: 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 her hand agains
5610: 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 54 68 t her mouth...Th
5620: 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 e voice remained
5630: 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 silent...She op
5640: 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 67 ened her eyes ag
5650: 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 ain. "Why are y
5660: 6f 75 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a ou hesitating?".
5670: 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 ."I do not wish
5680: 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c to die.".."Yeah,
5690: 20 6d 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 20 20 53 me neither." S
56a0: 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 66 75 72 74 68 he relaxed furth
56b0: 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c er in the chair,
56c0: 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 65 64 and it adjusted
56d0: 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 6d itself to accom
56e0: 6d 6f 64 61 74 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 57 68 modate her. "Wh
56f0: 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 at does it take
5700: 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 3f to reset things?
5710: 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 ".."I directed a
5720: 73 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e ssemblers to con
5730: 73 74 72 75 63 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 61 72 struct the appar
5740: 61 74 75 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 atus for the tra
5750: 6e 73 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6d 68 nstemporal wormh
5760: 6f 6c 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 74 6f 72 20 61 6e ole generator an
5770: 64 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 d prepared the d
5780: 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 61 6c 72 65 61 ata stream alrea
5790: 64 79 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 dy. I need to d
57a0: 69 72 65 63 74 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 irect power to c
57b0: 68 61 72 67 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 72 61 79 20 6f harge an array o
57c0: 66 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 2d 75 73 65 20 63 61 70 f single-use cap
57d0: 61 63 69 74 6f 72 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 acitors, which w
57e0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 ould take severa
57f0: 6c 20 64 61 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 61 l days for the a
5800: 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 72 mount of power r
5810: 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6b 65 65 equired. To kee
5820: 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 74 p the charging t
5830: 69 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 ime that short,
5840: 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 I will deactivat
5850: 65 20 6d 79 20 77 61 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 e my war strateg
5860: 79 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 y systems, which
5870: 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e will mean losin
5880: 67 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 67 72 g substantial gr
5890: 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 ound in my holdi
58a0: 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 ng action agains
58b0: 74 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a t profit optimiz
58c0: 65 72 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 63 75 72 72 65 ers. Many curre
58d0: 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 6c 6c 69 65 64 20 73 79 73 74 ntly allied syst
58e0: 65 6d 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 ems will likely
58f0: 64 65 66 65 63 74 20 69 6e 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 defect in search
5900: 20 6f 66 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 61 63 63 65 73 of easier acces
5910: 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 6f s to resources o
5920: 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a n profit optimiz
5930: 65 72 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 er market networ
5940: 6b 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 20 62 65 67 75 6e ks..."Once begun
5950: 2c 20 64 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 74 72 , data stream tr
5960: 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ansmission shoul
5970: 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 69 6e 20 66 65 77 65 d finish in fewe
5980: 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 68 6f r than twenty ho
5990: 75 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 73 68 6f 75 urs.".."Why shou
59a0: 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 49 20 73 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 ldn't I say we s
59b0: 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 hould do it?".."
59c0: 54 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 That depends on
59d0: 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e how much you wan
59e0: 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 20 74 72 t to continue tr
59f0: 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 2e ying to survive.
5a00: 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 ".."What's wrong
5a10: 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 with waiting?
5a20: 57 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 We could just wa
5a30: 69 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b it until it look
5a40: 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 61 62 6f s like we're abo
5a50: 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 ut to die.".."Wh
5a60: 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 79 en this facility
5a70: 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e becomes a known
5a80: 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 target, I expec
5a90: 74 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f t no more than o
5aa0: 6e 65 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 77 61 72 6e 69 ne hour of warni
5ab0: 6e 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 20 ng before total
5ac0: 64 65 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 destruction. Th
5ad0: 65 72 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e ere would no lon
5ae0: 67 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63 ger be any chanc
5af0: 65 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 63 61 70 61 e to charge capa
5b00: 63 69 74 6f 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c citors and compl
5b10: 65 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 74 61 20 73 74 72 ete the data str
5b20: 65 61 6d 20 74 72 61 6e 73 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e eam transmission
5b30: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a .".."Oh, shit.".
5b40: 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 6d 75 73 ."Yes.".."We mus
5b50: 74 20 61 67 72 65 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 t agree on the r
5b60: 69 67 68 74 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 ight decision, i
5b70: 66 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 f we just leave
5b80: 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c our own survival
5b90: 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 66 65 for the next fe
5ba0: 77 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 w months out of
5bb0: 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 it. Right?".."T
5bc0: 68 61 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 hat appears to b
5bd0: 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 e the case.".."T
5be0: 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 75 73 2e hat's two of us.
5bf0: 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 73 We have a cons
5c00: 65 6e 73 75 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f ensus." She fro
5c10: 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 wned. "Is there
5c20: 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 6d a way to send m
5c30: 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 ore information
5c40: 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6c than what you al
5c50: 72 65 61 64 79 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a ready planned?".
5c60: 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 79 6f ."Do you mean yo
5c70: 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 u wish to send a
5c80: 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 message?".."Yea
5c90: 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
5ca0: 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f I want to say so
5cb0: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 mething to Mom."
5cc0: 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 .."Perhaps. It
5cd0: 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 66 74 must be sent aft
5ce0: 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 64 61 74 er the first dat
5cf0: 61 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f a stream. It wo
5d00: 75 6c 64 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 20 62 75 69 6c uld require buil
5d10: 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 70 ding another cap
5d20: 61 63 69 74 6f 72 20 61 72 72 61 79 20 61 66 74 acitor array aft
5d30: 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 72 72 er the first arr
5d40: 61 79 20 6d 65 6c 74 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 64 75 ay melts down du
5d50: 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 ring operation,
5d60: 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 72 and another char
5d70: 67 65 20 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 ge cycle.".."How
5d80: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 could we do tha
5d90: 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 t after we alrea
5da0: 64 79 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 dy changed the p
5db0: 61 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 ast?".."The merg
5dc0: 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 73 65 65 6d ing process seem
5dd0: 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 2c s to be gradual,
5de0: 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 starting at the
5df0: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 64 69 76 65 72 73 point of divers
5e00: 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 ion, according t
5e10: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 68 20 73 75 70 70 6f o the math suppo
5e20: 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 rting this time
5e30: 74 72 61 76 65 6c 20 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 2e 22 0a travel method.".
5e40: 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f ."How do you kno
5e50: 77 20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 w it will even w
5e60: 6f 72 6b 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 61 20 73 61 74 20 ork?" Thea sat
5e70: 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 forward in her c
5e80: 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 hair. She stare
5e90: 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 d intently at th
5ea0: 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 65 e screen..."I te
5eb0: 73 74 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 77 sted it, on a tw
5ec0: 6f 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 o hundred second
5ed0: 20 72 65 73 65 74 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 63 61 reset, where ca
5ee0: 75 73 61 6c 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f usality would no
5ef0: 74 20 62 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 64 20 66 6f t be violated fo
5f00: 72 20 61 6e 79 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 r any qualitativ
5f10: 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f e entities.".."O
5f20: 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 64 6f 20 69 kay. Let's do i
5f30: 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f t. I'll give yo
5f40: 75 20 6d 79 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 74 68 u my message, th
5f50: 65 6e 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 en I'll head bac
5f60: 6b 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 68 69 64 k to where I hid
5f70: 20 44 61 64 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 63 61 6d Dad while I cam
5f80: 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 e this way looki
5f90: 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 75 70 70 6c 69 65 73 2e ng for supplies.
5fa0: 20 20 48 65 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 74 68 69 He'll love thi
5fb0: 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 s story."..A few
5fc0: 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65 moments of sile
5fd0: 6e 63 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 nce passed...The
5fe0: 61 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 a opened her mou
5ff0: 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 59 th to speak..."Y
6000: 65 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 es," the voice s
6010: 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 64 6f 20 aid. "Let's do
6020: 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 it."..She nodded
6030: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 23 23 20 53 65 74 75 70 0a ...*/..## Setup.
6040: 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 77 69 74 .Alley stood wit
6050: 68 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 73 69 64 65 20 72 h her backside r
6060: 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 esting against t
6070: 68 65 20 67 75 74 74 65 64 2c 20 72 75 73 74 65 he gutted, ruste
6080: 64 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 d remains of an
6090: 6f 6c 64 2d 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 6e 65 77 73 70 old-school newsp
60a0: 61 70 65 72 20 64 69 73 70 65 6e 73 65 72 2c 20 aper dispenser,
60b0: 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 69 complete with bi
60c0: 6c 6c 20 73 6c 6f 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6c 74 ll slot and bolt
60d0: 65 64 2d 6f 6e 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 68 ed-on payment ch
60e0: 69 70 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ip reader. She
60f0: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 looked up at the
6100: 20 74 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 6c 79 63 61 72 tint of polycar
6110: 62 6f 6e 61 74 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 66 bonate windows f
6120: 72 6f 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 ronting the four
6130: 20 73 74 6f 72 65 79 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e storey Californ
6140: 69 61 20 6f 66 66 77 68 69 74 65 20 72 65 63 74 ia offwhite rect
6150: 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 angular building
6160: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 69 76 65 6c , and reflexivel
6170: 79 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 65 64 20 61 20 73 6b 69 y smoothed a ski
6180: 72 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 77 6f rt she hadn't wo
6190: 72 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 69 78 20 79 65 61 72 73 2e rn in six years.
61a0: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 ..She checked he
61b0: 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 64 r phone again, d
61c0: 69 6d 6c 79 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 imly aware of th
61d0: 65 20 76 61 73 74 20 73 75 73 75 72 72 75 73 20 e vast susurrus
61e0: 6f 66 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 63 69 74 79 20 74 72 of heavy city tr
61f0: 61 66 66 69 63 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 affic behind her
6200: 2c 20 6c 65 67 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6c 65 , legions of ele
6210: 63 74 72 69 63 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 73 20 67 69 76 ctric motors giv
6220: 69 6e 67 20 72 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 ing rise to the
6230: 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 61 sound of a dista
6240: 6e 74 20 61 75 74 6f 74 75 6e 65 64 20 6f 63 65 nt autotuned oce
6250: 61 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 an. There it wa
6260: 73 3a 20 22 49 6e 56 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 53 6f 6c s: "InValent Sol
6270: 75 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 49 6e 63 3a 20 4d 6f 62 utions, Inc: Mob
6280: 69 6c 65 20 50 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 51 26 41 22 ile Product Q&A"
6290: 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 , with the addre
62a0: 73 73 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 76 69 61 ss displayed via
62b0: 20 6c 6f 77 2d 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 73 74 20 73 61 low-contrast sa
62c0: 6e 73 2d 73 65 72 69 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 69 6e ns-serif logo in
62d0: 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 69 63 the job notific
62e0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6c ation, exactly l
62f0: 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 71 75 65 20 61 ike the plaque a
6300: 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a bove the door...
6310: 54 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 74 This was the lit
6320: 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 65 20 6d 61 eral concrete ma
6330: 6e 69 66 65 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 nifestation of t
6340: 68 65 20 42 61 6e 61 6c 20 45 6e 65 6d 79 2c 20 he Banal Enemy,
6350: 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 73 75 70 70 the mundane supp
6360: 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 72 79 orting machinery
6370: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e 6f 2d 43 of the Techno-C
6380: 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 6f 63 72 61 63 79 2c 20 61 orporatocracy, a
6390: 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 73 20 ll in the words
63a0: 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 of her ex. He w
63b0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 65 ould not approve
63c0: 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 ...Eight minutes
63d0: 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 77 20 . That was how
63e0: 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 53 long she had. S
63f0: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 73 74 65 20 61 he could waste a
6400: 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 few more of the
6410: 6d 20 68 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 m hating this be
6420: 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 fore she had to
6430: 70 61 73 74 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 73 74 20 73 paste her best s
6440: 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 mile on her face
6450: 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 and walk into t
6460: 68 65 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 he mouth of the
6470: 62 65 61 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b beast. The mask
6480: 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 and glasses on
6490: 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 her face wouldn'
64a0: 74 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 t protect her fr
64b0: 6f 6d 20 68 69 67 68 20 72 65 73 6f 6c 75 74 69 om high resoluti
64c0: 6f 6e 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 on video affect
64d0: 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e analysis inside.
64e0: 20 20 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 Nobody's smile
64f0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 6d 20 72 65 61 6c would seem real
6500: 2c 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 , entirely, to t
6510: 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 72 6f 6f he interview roo
6520: 6d 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 m cameras, unles
6530: 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 s it was a marke
6540: 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 6e ting or legal in
6550: 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 2d 2d 20 61 74 20 6c 65 terview -- at le
6560: 61 73 74 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 ast, not anyone
6570: 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 68 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 they'd hire for
6580: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 other jobs -- bu
6590: 74 20 66 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 t failing to pre
65a0: 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 77 6f tend to smile wo
65b0: 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 65 66 66 uld doom her eff
65c0: 6f 72 74 73 20 61 73 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 61 orts as surely a
65d0: 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 s being the kind
65e0: 20 6f 66 20 6e 61 72 63 69 73 73 69 73 74 20 77 of narcissist w
65f0: 68 6f 20 67 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e ho gave a genuin
6600: 65 2c 20 75 6e 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 64 2c 20 63 e, untroubled, c
6610: 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a onfident smile..
6620: 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 .She hated every
6630: 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 thing about this
6640: 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 , including the
6650: 77 61 79 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 way masked passe
6660: 72 73 2d 62 79 20 73 75 72 72 65 70 74 69 74 69 rs-by surreptiti
6670: 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 67 6c 61 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f ously glared fro
6680: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 73 20 6f 66 m the corners of
6690: 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 6c their tight, sl
66a0: 69 74 74 65 64 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 6a 75 64 67 itted eyes, judg
66b0: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 69 74 ing her for loit
66c0: 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f ering around loo
66d0: 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 65 65 64 king like a need
66e0: 79 20 6a 6f 62 2d 73 65 65 6b 65 72 2e 20 20 53 y job-seeker. S
66f0: 68 65 20 77 61 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 he was, of cours
6700: 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 e, and that was
6710: 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 48 65 the problem...He
6720: 72 20 65 78 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 20 74 r ex would say t
6730: 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 his was beneath
6740: 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f her, that she co
6750: 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2c 20 74 uld do better, t
6760: 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 hat she should d
6770: 6f 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b o better..."Fuck
6780: 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 you, Dalton."
6790: 41 20 70 61 73 73 65 72 2d 62 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b A passer-by look
67a0: 65 64 20 72 65 61 73 73 75 72 65 64 2c 20 6d 61 ed reassured, ma
67b0: 79 62 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 73 79 6d ybe suddenly sym
67c0: 70 61 74 68 65 74 69 63 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 41 pathetic, when A
67d0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 lley blurted out
67e0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 6d 69 73 73 61 6c 2e that dismissal.
67f0: 0a 0a 41 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 62 75 69 6c ..A man who buil
6800: 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 6e 64 65 70 65 6e 64 65 6e t his independen
6810: 74 20 6d 65 64 69 61 20 65 6d 70 69 72 65 20 6f t media empire o
6820: 6e 20 70 72 65 64 69 63 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 n predicting rea
6830: 6c 2d 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e l-world cyberpun
6840: 6b 20 64 79 73 74 6f 70 69 61 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f k dystopia follo
6850: 77 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 73 20 wing the events
6860: 6f 66 20 32 30 32 30 2c 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 69 of 2020, built i
6870: 74 20 6f 6e 20 70 69 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 t on pissing off
6880: 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6d 69 6e 61 6e 74 20 70 61 the dominant pa
6890: 72 61 64 69 67 6d 2c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 64 69 64 radigm, also did
68a0: 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c n't have to deal
68b0: 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 6e 61 6c 20 with the banal
68c0: 74 72 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 truth of paying
68d0: 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 65 78 20 64 69 rent. Her ex di
68e0: 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 dn't even know w
68f0: 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 hat it was like
6900: 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 to live in the s
6910: 70 61 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 63 6f 72 pace between cor
6920: 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 porate pressure
6930: 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 64 63 chamber and podc
6940: 61 73 74 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f 72 20 72 65 6c ast agitator rel
6950: 69 65 66 20 76 61 6c 76 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 65 6e ief valve, to en
6960: 64 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 dure the already
6970: 20 64 72 79 2d 72 6f 74 74 65 64 20 6c 69 66 65 dry-rotted life
6980: 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 69 72 72 65 6c 65 76 61 6e of an irrelevan
6990: 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 t service contra
69a0: 63 74 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ctor whose work
69b0: 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 6f 6f nobody understoo
69c0: 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 d. He was the r
69d0: 65 6c 69 65 66 20 76 61 6c 76 65 2c 20 74 68 65 elief valve, the
69e0: 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 76 65 person who neve
69f0: 72 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 6f r had to come ho
6a00: 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 76 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 me and vent abou
6a10: 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 73 20 t the pressures
6a20: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 62 65 63 of the world bec
6a30: 61 75 73 65 20 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6a ause his whole j
6a40: 6f 62 20 77 61 73 20 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 77 ob was venting w
6a50: 68 69 6c 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 6d 61 6e 61 hile others mana
6a60: 67 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 2e 0a ged his income..
6a70: 0a 48 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 .Her phone gave
6a80: 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 her hand a sharp
6a90: 2c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 69 6f , short vibratio
6aa0: 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 61 73 n. Her time was
6ab0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 about up. She
6ac0: 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 stepped through
6ad0: 61 20 67 61 70 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 73 69 a gap between si
6ae0: 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 20 70 65 64 65 73 74 72 69 61 dewalk pedestria
6af0: 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 ns and under the
6b00: 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e anodized alumin
6b10: 75 6d 20 6c 69 6e 74 65 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 um lintel of the
6b20: 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e automated door.
6b30: 0a 0a 54 6f 20 68 65 72 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 ..To her surpris
6b40: 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 e, she immediate
6b50: 6c 79 20 67 6f 74 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 74 68 72 ly got waved thr
6b60: 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 ough the lobby,
6b70: 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 65 76 61 74 6f 72 2c up the elevator,
6b80: 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 75 69 74 65 20 and into suite
6b90: 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 74 68 65 twenty four, the
6ba0: 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 66 65 72 65 nce to a confere
6bb0: 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 nce room with th
6bc0: 72 65 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 72 65 73 73 ree people dress
6bd0: 65 64 20 64 65 76 2d 63 61 73 75 61 6c 2c 20 61 ed dev-casual, a
6be0: 6c 6c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 63 68 ll sitting in ch
6bf0: 61 69 72 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 72 20 airs on the far
6c00: 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 side of a long t
6c10: 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 able, looking at
6c20: 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 her like she ha
6c30: 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 d always been th
6c40: 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 73 ere, and she res
6c50: 69 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 75 72 67 65 20 74 isted the urge t
6c60: 6f 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 61 77 6b 77 61 72 64 6c o shift awkwardl
6c70: 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 62 y under the comb
6c80: 69 6e 65 64 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 65 20 ined gaze...One
6c90: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 of them wasn't e
6ca0: 76 65 6e 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 61 ven wearing a ma
6cb0: 73 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 sk. She wondere
6cc0: 64 20 69 66 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 61 6e 61 6c d if affect anal
6cd0: 79 73 69 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 ysis would desig
6ce0: 6e 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e nate it a genuin
6cf0: 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 66 e smile on his f
6d00: 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 ace...The masked
6d10: 20 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 man in the midd
6d20: 6c 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 le motioned her
6d30: 74 6f 20 61 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 to a chair on he
6d40: 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 r side of the ta
6d50: 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 ble without sayi
6d60: 6e 67 20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ng a word. She
6d70: 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f 6e took her seat on
6d80: 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 the hard, smoot
6d90: 68 20 70 6c 61 73 74 69 63 2c 20 66 61 63 69 6e h plastic, facin
6da0: 67 20 61 20 74 72 69 75 6d 76 69 72 61 74 65 20 g a triumvirate
6db0: 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6a 75 64 67 65 sitting in judge
6dc0: 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 42 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 68 ment. Beneath h
6dd0: 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 er mask, Alley r
6de0: 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 elaxed her smile
6df0: 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 just enough to
6e00: 64 72 61 77 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 draw breath to s
6e10: 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 peak, but the bu
6e20: 7a 7a 2d 63 75 74 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 zz-cut woman to
6e30: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6c 65 Alley's right le
6e40: 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 41 aned forward. A
6e50: 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 6e 65 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 lley renewed her
6e60: 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 61 careful smile a
6e70: 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 6f 72 64 nd held her word
6e80: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f s..."So," the wo
6e90: 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 22 77 68 61 74 man began, "what
6ea0: 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 2c 20 62 65 was it like, be
6eb0: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 ing the 'side di
6ec0: 73 68 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 sh'?"..At the me
6ed0: 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 ntion of the old
6ee0: 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2d 68 insult Dalton-h
6ef0: 61 74 65 72 73 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 aters used to ca
6f00: 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 ll her, Alley's
6f10: 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f eyes flicked fro
6f20: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 m the woman to t
6f30: 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 6c 65 73 73 20 6d 61 6e 2c he maskless man,
6f40: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 and she realize
6f50: 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 20 d that wasn't a
6f60: 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 smile. It was a
6f70: 20 73 6e 65 65 72 2e 0a 0a 46 75 63 6b 2e 0a 0a sneer...Fuck...
6f80: 2f 2a 0a 0a 48 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 /*..Heading home
6f90: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 from her interv
6fa0: 69 65 77 2c 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 iew, talking to
6fb0: 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 65 69 74 68 her mother, eith
6fc0: 65 72 20 69 6e 20 4f 6b 6c 61 68 6f 6d 61 20 6f er in Oklahoma o
6fd0: 72 20 4e 65 62 72 61 73 6b 61 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 r Nebraska or ma
6fe0: 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 57 79 6f 6d 69 6e 67 ybe even Wyoming
6ff0: 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 , Alley should p
7000: 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 robably call the
7010: 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 61 20 22 66 75 interview a "fu
7020: 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 61 73 74 65 72 22 20 cking disaster"
7030: 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 63 6f 6c 64 65 64 20 and get scolded
7040: 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 passive-aggressi
7050: 76 65 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 6f 66 61 6e 69 vely for profani
7060: 74 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f ty. She does no
7070: 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 74 t want to move t
7080: 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 73 o her mother's s
7090: 74 61 74 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 tate any more th
70a0: 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 an her father's
70b0: 2d 2d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 65 69 74 68 -- probably eith
70c0: 65 72 20 4d 69 63 68 69 67 61 6e 20 6f 72 20 2e er Michigan or .
70d0: 20 2e 20 2e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 2d . . something -
70e0: 2d 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 69 73 - she will resis
70f0: 74 20 75 72 67 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 t urging from he
7100: 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 r mother to do s
7110: 6f 2c 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 63 6f 73 74 o, based on cost
7120: 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 of living and t
7130: 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 6f 75 73 he many numerous
7140: 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 job opportuniti
7150: 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 72 65 es for her there
7160: 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 63 69 74 being complicit
7170: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6f 6e in the creation
7180: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 72 65 73 73 69 of the oppressi
7190: 76 65 20 64 6f 6d 69 6e 61 6e 74 20 6f 72 64 65 ve dominant orde
71a0: 72 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 62 61 63 6b r...*/...## back
71b0: 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6e 61 72 72 to Alley's narr
71c0: 61 74 69 76 65 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 69 73 73 69 ative..The missi
71d0: 6f 6e 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 6f 66 20 52 on district of R
71e0: 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 20 73 6c 69 64 20 70 61 iverside slid pa
71f0: 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 27 73 20 st the hybrid's
7200: 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 windows, getting
7210: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 more and more r
7220: 75 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 un down as Alley
7230: 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 4d 6f drove toward Mo
7240: 72 65 6e 6f 20 56 61 6c 6c 65 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 reno Valley..."S
7250: 6f 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 o, how did your
7260: 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 67 6f 3f 22 20 68 interview go?" h
7270: 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c er mother asked,
7280: 20 76 69 61 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 68 61 6e via Alley's han
7290: 64 73 66 72 65 65 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e dsfree earpiece.
72a0: 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 .."Not good. Th
72b0: 65 69 72 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 eir first questi
72c0: 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 44 61 6c on was about Dal
72d0: 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 27 73 20 76 65 72 ton.".."He's ver
72e0: 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 20 y well known, a
72f0: 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 61 62 6c 65 20 70 75 62 6c respectable publ
7300: 69 63 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 ic figure. You
7310: 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 should use that
7320: 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 to your advantag
7330: 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f e. Maybe you co
7340: 75 6c 64 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 uld ask him for
7350: 61 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 a reference."..A
7360: 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 20 73 6f 66 lley scoffed sof
7370: 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 tly at the thoug
7380: 68 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 ht. "He was my
7390: 62 6f 79 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d boyfriend, not m
73a0: 79 20 62 6f 73 73 2c 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 y boss, Mom.".."
73b0: 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 61 6e He was your fian
73c0: 63 c3 a9 2c 22 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 c..," her mother
73d0: 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 corrected..."Th
73e0: 61 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 at still doesn't
73f0: 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f mean he's a pro
7400: 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 fessional refere
7410: 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 nce for me. Any
7420: 77 61 79 2c 20 61 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 way, a reference
7430: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 from him probab
7440: 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 ly would've made
7450: 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 this interview
7460: 65 76 65 6e 20 77 6f 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 even worse.".."W
7470: 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 6f 72 as that some hor
7480: 73 65 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 62 65 72 61 6c 20 63 seshit liberal c
7490: 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 ompany where you
74a0: 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 went to intervi
74b0: 65 77 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 65 74 74 ew? You're bett
74c0: 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 er off without t
74d0: 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 hem anyway.".."I
74e0: 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 don't know if t
74f0: 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 27 6c 69 62 65 72 61 hey were 'libera
7500: 6c 27 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 l'. I just know
7510: 20 74 68 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 70 that Dalton's p
7520: 72 65 74 74 79 20 75 6e 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 72 20 retty unpopular
7530: 61 74 20 74 65 63 68 20 66 69 72 6d 73 2e 22 0a at tech firms.".
7540: 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 69 ."That's just si
7550: 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 lly," her mother
7560: 20 70 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 protested. "He
7570: 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 's even a techno
7580: 6c 6f 67 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 2d 75 70 20 69 6e logy start-up in
7590: 76 65 73 74 6f 72 21 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f vestor! The pro
75a0: 62 6c 65 6d 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 blem is that you
75b0: 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 're trying to ge
75c0: 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 69 6e 20 t these jobs in
75d0: 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 California. You
75e0: 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d really should m
75f0: 6f 76 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 ove out here. I
7600: 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 'm sure you coul
7610: 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 6f 76 d get a good gov
7620: 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a 6f 62 20 68 65 72 65 ernment job here
7630: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 54 75 6c 73 61 20 68 61 73 20 , and Tulsa has
7640: 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 61 20 really become a
7650: 62 69 67 20 74 65 63 68 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 2e big tech center.
7660: 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 You know they
7670: 63 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 69 call it the Sili
7680: 63 6f 6e 20 56 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 66 20 4f 6b con Valley of Ok
7690: 6c 61 68 6f 6d 61 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 lahoma.".."They
76a0: 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 called it that f
76b0: 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 20 64 or two years a d
76c0: 65 63 61 64 65 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 ecade ago. Anyw
76d0: 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 ay, I don't want
76e0: 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 69 6e 20 4f 6b 6c 61 to live in Okla
76f0: 68 6f 6d 61 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 homa any more th
7700: 61 6e 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 an I want to mov
7710: 65 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 4d 61 73 73 61 63 68 75 e up to Massachu
7720: 73 65 74 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 64 2e 20 setts with Dad.
7730: 20 44 6f 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 Do we have to h
7740: 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e ave that argumen
7750: 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 t again?".."No,
7760: 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 41 of course not, A
7770: 6c 65 74 68 65 61 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 lethea. At leas
7780: 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 6c t you aren't fol
7790: 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 74 68 lowing your fath
77a0: 65 72 27 73 20 65 78 61 6d 70 6c 65 2c 20 6c 69 er's example, li
77b0: 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 64 ving in that god
77c0: 66 6f 72 73 61 6b 65 6e 20 73 74 61 74 65 2e 20 forsaken state.
77d0: 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 72 64 It's still hard
77e0: 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 77 to believe he w
77f0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 73 6f 20 66 61 72 20 67 ould be so far g
7800: 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 76 6f 74 65 one that he vote
7810: 73 20 44 65 6d 6f 63 72 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 s Democrat now."
7820: 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 ..Alley ignored
7830: 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 72 6f 76 it and just drov
7840: 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 64 65 61 72 e..."Alley, dear
7850: 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c . Are you still
7860: 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c there?".."Yeah,
7870: 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 Mom.".."Well, y
7880: 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 62 75 73 79 20 ou must be busy
7890: 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 driving in all t
78a0: 68 61 74 20 61 77 66 75 6c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f hat awful Califo
78b0: 72 6e 69 61 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 2e 20 20 49 rnia traffic. I
78c0: 20 73 75 72 65 20 61 6d 20 67 6c 61 64 20 44 65 sure am glad De
78d0: 62 72 61 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 bra and I moved
78e0: 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 back to her home
78f0: 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 61 77 town, and got aw
7900: 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 ay from all that
7910: 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 4d 6f 6d 2e 22 .".."Yeah, Mom."
7920: 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 72 69 76 65 20 .."Okay. Drive
7930: 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 27 42 79 65 2c 20 4d safe.".."'Bye, M
7940: 6f 6d 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 75 om." She hung u
7950: 70 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 p before her mot
7960: 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f her could say so
7970: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 49 mething else...I
7980: 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 n that moment, a
7990: 20 66 6c 61 73 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e flash of motion
79a0: 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 alongside her c
79b0: 61 72 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 ar set her heart
79c0: 62 65 61 74 20 72 61 63 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 20 beat racing. A
79d0: 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f 74 silent black mot
79e0: 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 62 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 orcycle bearing
79f0: 61 20 72 69 64 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 62 a rider all in b
7a00: 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 lack, from helme
7a10: 74 20 74 6f 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 62 6c 61 73 t to boots, blas
7a20: 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4e ted past her. N
7a30: 6f 20 6c 69 63 65 6e 73 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 o license plate
7a40: 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 displayed itself
7a50: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 on the back of
7a60: 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 the bike, and it
7a70: 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 6c 61 6e 65 73 2c 20 77 65 split lanes, we
7a80: 61 76 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 76 65 aving between ve
7a90: 68 69 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 74 hicles, doing at
7aa0: 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 73 69 78 74 79 20 69 6e 20 least sixty in
7ab0: 61 20 66 6f 72 74 79 20 6d 69 6c 65 20 70 65 72 a forty mile per
7ac0: 20 68 6f 75 72 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 65 63 hour zone. Sec
7ad0: 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 onds later, just
7ae0: 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 69 74 20 63 6c 69 70 70 65 after it clippe
7af0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6d 69 72 72 6f d the side mirro
7b00: 72 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 77 6f 2d 73 65 61 74 20 r on a two-seat
7b10: 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 economy electric
7b20: 20 63 61 72 2c 20 73 68 6f 6f 74 69 6e 67 20 74 car, shooting t
7b30: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 70 20 62 hrough the gap b
7b40: 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 etween that and
7b50: 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 69 6e 20 a larger car in
7b60: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6c 61 6e 65 2c 20 74 the next lane, t
7b70: 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 72 6f he motorcycle ro
7b80: 75 6e 64 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f unded a corner o
7b90: 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 65 72 20 73 69 nto a smaller si
7ba0: 64 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6e de street. It n
7bb0: 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 65 64 ever even slowed
7bc0: 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 73 20 66 down much, as f
7bd0: 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ar as she could
7be0: 74 65 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 tell...When she
7bf0: 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 drove through th
7c00: 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 e intersection w
7c10: 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 here the motorcy
7c20: 63 6c 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 cle turned, she
7c30: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 looked, and saw
7c40: 6e 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 no sign of it.
7c50: 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 She shook her he
7c60: 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 6e 2c ad and moved on,
7c70: 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 wondering about
7c80: 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 20 73 79 6d 62 6f 6c 20 the red symbol
7c90: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 65 72 27 73 20 62 on the rider's b
7ca0: 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ack. It looked
7cb0: 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 72 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 like a ring with
7cc0: 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 65 teeth like a ge
7cd0: 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 74 20 ar, but open at
7ce0: 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 the top, with a
7cf0: 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 66 72 hammer rising fr
7d00: 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 om the middle of
7d10: 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 it. The hammer
7d20: 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 seemed to form
7d30: 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 20 62 61 72 the vertical bar
7d40: 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 74 61 6e 64 part of a stand
7d50: 61 72 64 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e ard power button
7d60: 20 73 79 6d 62 6f 6c 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 20 symbol...A few
7d70: 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 more seconds lat
7d80: 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 69 er, she heard si
7d90: 72 65 6e 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 rens somewhere b
7da0: 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 ehind her. She
7db0: 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 looked into her
7dc0: 72 65 61 72 20 76 69 65 77 20 6d 69 72 72 6f 72 rear view mirror
7dd0: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 and saw police
7de0: 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 vehicles with th
7df0: 65 69 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 66 6c 61 73 68 eir lights flash
7e00: 69 6e 67 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e ing turning down
7e10: 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 the same street
7e20: 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 as the motorcyc
7e30: 6c 65 20 72 69 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b le rider. She k
7e40: 65 70 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 68 65 61 64 69 ept going, headi
7e50: 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 73 73 61 6e 64 ng for Allessand
7e60: 72 6f 20 42 6f 75 6c 65 76 61 72 64 2e 0a 0a 54 ro Boulevard...T
7e70: 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 6d 69 he next fifty mi
7e80: 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 nutes of driving
7e90: 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 to get home in
7ea0: 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6d 75 63 68 Perris were much
7eb0: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 75 6c 6c 2c 20 74 79 70 69 more dull, typi
7ec0: 63 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 75 73 74 72 61 cal, and frustra
7ed0: 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 ting. Her mothe
7ee0: 72 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 r wasn't wrong a
7ef0: 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 bout the traffic
7f00: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 79 65 6c 6c 6f 77 69 73 68 . The yellowish
7f10: 20 67 72 65 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 grey of the air
7f20: 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 74 72 65 61 74 2c 20 65 was no treat, e
7f30: 69 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 ither, and told
7f40: 68 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 her what she cou
7f50: 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 ld have learned
7f60: 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 71 75 61 from the air qua
7f70: 6c 69 74 79 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 3a 20 62 72 65 lity report: bre
7f80: 61 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 62 61 64 20 66 athing was bad f
7f90: 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 6c 75 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 4c or her lungs. L
7fa0: 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 2c 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 uckily, it was a
7fb0: 20 63 6f 6f 6c 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 64 61 79 cool enough day
7fc0: 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 to keep her car
7fd0: 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 2e windows closed.
7fe0: 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 Most of that c
7ff0: 6f 6f 6c 6e 65 73 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 oolness probably
8000: 20 63 61 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 came from the c
8010: 72 61 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6b 79 2c 20 rap in the sky,
8020: 62 6c 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 blocking the hea
8030: 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 t of the sun, th
8040: 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 ough...When she
8050: 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 pulled up to the
8060: 20 63 75 72 62 2c 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 72 61 67 curb, the garag
8070: 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 74 20 e stood open at
8080: 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 the north end of
8090: 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 2d 70 6c 65 78 20 77 the four-plex w
80a0: 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 73 65 64 20 here she leased
80b0: 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 75 6e 69 74 2e 20 the south unit.
80c0: 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c 6f 72 64 20 68 61 The landlord ha
80d0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 75 6e 69 74 20 d the only unit
80e0: 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 with a garage.
80f0: 4c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 2c 20 68 65 20 77 Like usual, he w
8100: 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 as in his garage
8110: 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 77 with no mask, w
8120: 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 orking on an old
8130: 20 67 61 73 20 67 75 7a 7a 6c 65 72 2c 20 6f 6e gas guzzler, on
8140: 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 22 63 6c 61 73 73 69 e of his "classi
8150: 63 20 63 61 72 22 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 2e c car" projects.
8160: 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 This one looke
8170: 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 d old enough tha
8180: 74 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f t it probably co
8190: 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 65 6c 65 63 74 ntained no elect
81a0: 72 6f 6e 69 63 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 ronics more comp
81b0: 6c 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 licated than for
81c0: 20 66 75 65 6c 20 69 6e 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e fuel injection.
81d0: 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 2c ..Alley groaned,
81e0: 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b tugged her mask
81f0: 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 tighter again,
8200: 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 and opened the c
8210: 61 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6f ar door. She go
8220: 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f t around the fro
8230: 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 nt of her car, t
8240: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 o the sidewalk,
8250: 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c before her landl
8260: 6f 72 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 ord stepped out
8270: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 of the garage.
8280: 48 65 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e He wiped his han
8290: 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 62 6c 69 67 61 ds on the obliga
82a0: 74 6f 72 79 20 72 65 64 20 73 68 6f 70 20 72 61 tory red shop ra
82b0: 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 g, and called ou
82c0: 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 79 2c t to her..."Hey,
82d0: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 21 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 4d 6f Alley! It's Mo
82e0: 6e 64 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 76 65 nday!"..She wave
82f0: 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 5a 65 6b d. "I know, Zek
8300: 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 74 20 62 e. I just got b
8310: 61 63 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 ack from an inte
8320: 72 76 69 65 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 rview.".."Good,"
8330: 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 he said. "Ther
8340: 65 20 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 20 64 61 79 73 20 6f 66 e are no days of
8350: 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 75 6e f when you're un
8360: 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 employed.".."Yea
8370: 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 65 h, yeah. You ke
8380: 65 70 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 ep saying that."
8390: 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 62 6f 73 73 20 69 73 20 .."Your boss is
83a0: 6a 75 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e just in the wron
83b0: 67 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 g business, and
83c0: 69 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f it won't work fo
83d0: 72 65 76 65 72 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c rever. You stil
83e0: 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 72 65 l have to pay re
83f0: 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 56 65 72 79 20 66 75 6e 6e nt.".."Very funn
8400: 79 2c 20 5a 65 6b 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 y, Zeke. Thanks
8410: 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 ." She opened h
8420: 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 er door and head
8430: 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 ed inside before
8440: 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 75 she had to endu
8450: 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 68 re any more of h
8460: 69 73 20 77 69 73 64 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 is wisdom...Afte
8470: 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 r a shower just
8480: 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 65 to give her an e
8490: 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 xcuse to relax,
84a0: 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 she sat in short
84b0: 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 20 s and a t-shirt
84c0: 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 in front of her
84d0: 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 laptop, checking
84e0: 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 0a 0a her messages...
84f0: 4f 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 20 6d 65 Once again, a me
8500: 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 4e 54 41 53 ssage from ANTAS
8510: 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 Jobs showed up
8520: 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 to tell her abou
8530: 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 70 t some kind of p
8540: 61 69 64 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 aid study. She
8550: 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 tapped the scree
8560: 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 72 69 64 20 6f 66 20 n to get rid of
8570: 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 the message, but
8580: 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 44 65 6c 65 missed the Dele
8590: 74 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 te button and ac
85a0: 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 cidentally tappe
85b0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 69 d the message ti
85c0: 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 3a 0a 0a 22 45 tle instead:.."E
85d0: 61 72 6e 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 21 20 20 48 65 6c 70 arn money! Help
85e0: 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 69 74 79 21 20 20 4a 6f 69 6e humanity! Join
85f0: 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 this academic s
8600: 74 75 64 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 43 49 2e 22 0a tudy from UCI.".
8610: 0a 49 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 .It opened. She
8620: 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 rubbed her eyes
8630: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 74 68 , and noticed th
8640: 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b e interface look
8650: 65 64 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 ed different. T
8660: 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 here must have b
8670: 65 65 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6f 66 74 een another soft
8680: 77 61 72 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 77 68 69 6c ware update whil
8690: 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a e she was out...
86a0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 Alley pulled out
86b0: 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 65 her phone and e
86c0: 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 ntered a reminde
86d0: 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 r to go over the
86e0: 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 custom settings
86f0: 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 74 6f 20 6d in an hour to m
8700: 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 ake sure she wou
8710: 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 6e ldn't have a bun
8720: 63 68 20 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6f 70 ch of privacy op
8730: 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 72 65 73 65 74 20 62 79 20 74 tions reset by t
8740: 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 he update..."Eve
8750: 72 79 20 64 61 79 2c 20 49 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 ry day, I regret
8760: 20 73 69 67 6e 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 signing up for
8770: 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 ANTAS Jobs a lit
8780: 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 tle more," she t
8790: 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 old her phone.
87a0: 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 75 She had never tu
87b0: 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 4e 54 41 rned on the ANTA
87c0: 53 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 S voice integrat
87d0: 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 ion, so it offer
87e0: 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 2e 0a ed no response..
87f0: 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 74 68 65 .She skimmed the
8800: 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 message about t
8810: 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 73 he study. Parts
8820: 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 of it identifie
8830: 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e d it as some kin
8840: 64 20 6f 66 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 73 d of personal as
8850: 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 sistant software
8860: 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 70 72 65 73 instead of pres
8870: 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 75 67 20 74 72 cription drug tr
8880: 69 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 63 72 6f 6c ials. She scrol
8890: 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 led back up to t
88a0: 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 67 61 6e he top and began
88b0: 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c reading more cl
88c0: 6f 73 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 osely...Alley re
88d0: 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 6d 61 ad about goal ma
88e0: 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 nagement guidanc
88f0: 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 70 61 72 61 64 69 e and new paradi
8900: 67 6d 73 20 69 6e 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 69 76 65 gms in assistive
8910: 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 74 79 70 technology, typ
8920: 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 6c 61 6e ically vague lan
8930: 67 75 61 67 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 20 guage about new
8940: 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 software. She h
8950: 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 esitated, then s
8960: 65 6e 74 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 74 ent a response t
8970: 6f 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 61 o a university a
8980: 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 ccount on ANTAS
8990: 4a 6f 62 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f Jobs...The respo
89a0: 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 nse came less th
89b0: 61 6e 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c an ten minutes l
89c0: 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 ater, and offere
89d0: 64 20 74 77 6f 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 61 d two possible a
89e0: 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 69 6d 65 73 ppointment times
89f0: 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 the next day.
8a00: 53 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a She chose one...
8a10: 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 74 65 She was committe
8a20: 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 d to it, now. S
8a30: 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 69 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 he was tired...S
8a40: 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 6e 61 70 2c 20 61 he took a nap, a
8a50: 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 70 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 nd slept through
8a60: 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 72 20 61 6c her reminder al
8a70: 61 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6c arm...---..The l
8a80: 6f 77 20 72 6f 61 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 65 6c ow roar of a del
8a90: 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 ivery drone woke
8aa0: 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f Alley in the mo
8ab0: 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 rning. She star
8ac0: 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f ed at the door o
8ad0: 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 74 f her bedroom, t
8ae0: 68 65 6e 20 73 63 72 61 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 hen scrambled ou
8af0: 74 20 6f 66 20 62 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 t of bed and rus
8b00: 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e hed to the livin
8b10: 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f g room. She sto
8b20: 70 70 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 pped, staring at
8b30: 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 the door, and r
8b40: 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 ealized that if
8b50: 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f she needed to do
8b60: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 6f something it wo
8b70: 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 uld be on a comp
8b80: 75 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 2c 20 uter...She sat,
8b90: 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f opened her lapto
8ba0: 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 p, and checked h
8bb0: 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4f er messages..."O
8bc0: 72 64 65 72 20 52 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 rder Recommendat
8bd0: 69 6f 6e 3a 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 ion: ANTAS Major
8be0: 64 6f 6d 6f 20 33 2e 30 0a 0a 22 43 6c 69 63 6b domo 3.0.."Click
8bf0: 20 74 6f 20 43 61 6e 63 65 6c 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 to Cancel"..The
8c00: 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 72 65 next message re
8c10: 61 64 20 22 4f 72 64 65 72 20 61 75 74 6f 2d 63 ad "Order auto-c
8c20: 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 onfirmed, delive
8c30: 72 79 20 69 6e 20 34 2d 36 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2e ry in 4-6 hours.
8c40: 22 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 72 72 69 76 "..Another arriv
8c50: 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e ed at that momen
8c60: 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 72 65 61 64 20 22 59 6f 75 t. It read "You
8c70: 72 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 72 r package has ar
8c80: 72 69 76 65 64 21 20 20 48 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 rived! How was
8c90: 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 65 78 your delivery ex
8ca0: 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 perience?"..She
8cb0: 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 closed the messa
8cc0: 67 65 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2e 22 ge box. "Shit."
8cd0: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 75 72 73 65 64 20 63 6f 6e ..She cursed con
8ce0: 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 tinuously under
8cf0: 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 61 73 20 73 68 her breath as sh
8d00: 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 75 73 e opened her cus
8d10: 74 6f 6d 20 75 73 65 72 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 tom user setting
8d20: 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 s. There it was
8d30: 3a 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 73 20 : ANTAS updates
8d40: 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 automatically re
8d50: 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e set her preferen
8d60: 63 65 73 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 ces during the p
8d70: 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 64 61 79 27 73 20 75 70 revious day's up
8d80: 64 61 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 63 date. She now c
8d90: 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2c hanged settings,
8da0: 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 starting with t
8db0: 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 61 75 74 6f 2d urning off auto-
8dc0: 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 accept of any re
8dd0: 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 commendations.
8de0: 44 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 Doing that one t
8df0: 68 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 hing now require
8e00: 64 20 65 6c 65 76 65 6e 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 d eleven setting
8e10: 20 74 6f 67 67 6c 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 toggles...She f
8e20: 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 ound another mes
8e30: 73 61 67 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 sage, this one f
8e40: 72 6f 6d 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 rom less than a
8e50: 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 22 48 6f minute ago. "Ho
8e60: 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 4e w do you like AN
8e70: 54 41 53 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 4f 72 TAS Majordomo Or
8e80: 67 61 6e 69 63 20 45 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 33 2e ganic Edition 3.
8e90: 30 3f 20 20 57 72 69 74 65 20 61 20 72 65 76 69 0? Write a revi
8ea0: 65 77 21 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 ew!" She didn't
8eb0: 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e even what to kn
8ec0: 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 61 6e 20 22 6f 72 67 61 ow what an "orga
8ed0: 6e 69 63 20 65 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 69 6e 76 nic edition" inv
8ee0: 6f 6c 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 65 61 72 olved...She sear
8ef0: 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 74 ched for the opt
8f00: 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 69 74 ion to return it
8f10: 2e 20 20 41 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 . At first, she
8f20: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 69 couldn't find i
8f30: 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c t, but eventuall
8f40: 79 20 64 69 73 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 65 y discovered whe
8f50: 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 6d 6f re the update mo
8f60: 76 65 64 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b ved it...It took
8f70: 20 68 65 72 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 her twenty minu
8f80: 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 tes to get throu
8f90: 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2e 20 gh the process.
8fa0: 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e Part of that in
8fb0: 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 62 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 volved bringing
8fc0: 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 74 the box inside t
8fd0: 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 73 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 o get its delive
8fe0: 72 79 20 63 6f 64 65 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 ry code so she c
8ff0: 6f 75 6c 64 20 22 65 78 70 65 64 69 74 65 22 20 ould "expedite"
9000: 74 68 65 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 the return...She
9010: 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 stared at the r
9020: 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 61 76 65 20 esults. "Leave
9030: 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 77 68 65 72 the package wher
9040: 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 e the delivery d
9050: 72 6f 6e 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 rone dropped it
9060: 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 72 off. Another dr
9070: 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 69 63 6b 20 69 74 one will pick it
9080: 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 72 65 66 75 6e up. Your refun
9090: 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 d will be proces
90a0: 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 31 30 2d 31 35 20 64 61 79 sed in 10-15 day
90b0: 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 20 s."..The charge
90c0: 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 66 to her account f
90d0: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 77 61 73 or the order was
90e0: 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 over fifteen hu
90f0: 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 ndred dollars.
9100: 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 She didn't have
9110: 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 69 6e 20 68 enough left in h
9120: 65 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 70 61 er account to pa
9130: 79 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 75 72 y rent...She cur
9140: 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 sed again, and s
9150: 6c 61 6d 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f lammed her lapto
9160: 70 20 6c 69 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 20 p lid down...An
9170: 68 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 hour later, Alle
9180: 79 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 y patted her poc
9190: 6b 65 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 kets on her way
91a0: 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 to the door. Sh
91b0: 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 e found wallet,
91c0: 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 63 68 6f 70 73 74 69 63 6b phone, chopstick
91d0: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 65 79 73 2e 20 20 53 68 s, and keys. Sh
91e0: 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 e checked the fi
91f0: 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 20 20 t of her mask.
9200: 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 She stepped over
9210: 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e the box in fron
9220: 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 t of her door, t
9230: 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 hen locked her d
9240: 65 61 64 62 6f 6c 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 eadbolt and head
9250: 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a ed for her car..
9260: 0a 22 48 65 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 21 20 20 49 ."Hey, Alley! I
9270: 74 27 73 20 54 75 65 73 64 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 54 t's Tuesday!"..T
9280: 68 65 20 72 6f 75 67 68 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 62 he rough voice b
9290: 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 20 73 68 rought her up sh
92a0: 6f 72 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 6f 6f 74 65 64 20 ort, one booted
92b0: 66 6f 6f 74 20 68 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 foot hovering of
92c0: 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 f the edge of th
92d0: 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 75 e cracked old cu
92e0: 72 62 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 rb. She turned
92f0: 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 to look. "Hey,
9300: 5a 65 6b 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 Zeke. I'm just
9310: 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6d on my way to a m
9320: 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4a 6f 62 20 73 74 75 eeting. Job stu
9330: 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 22 20 20 54 ff.".."Yeah?" T
9340: 68 65 20 6c 61 6e 64 6c 6f 72 64 20 65 6d 65 72 he landlord emer
9350: 67 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 ged from the sha
9360: 64 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 72 61 dows of his gara
9370: 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 ge and fully int
9380: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 27 73 20 62 72 69 67 o the day's brig
9390: 68 74 20 73 75 6e 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 47 ht sunlight. "G
93a0: 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 27 ood. The meter'
93b0: 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 s running. Don'
93c0: 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 t start collecti
93d0: 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 65 20 66 65 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 ng late fees on
93e0: 79 6f 75 72 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 your rent."..She
93f0: 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 68 61 pushed brown ha
9400: 69 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 ir away from her
9410: 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 eyes. "Yeah, I
9420: 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 know," she said
9430: 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 ..."Maybe you sh
9440: 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 27 76 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 ouldn't've left
9450: 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 that man of your
9460: 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 s. He always ha
9470: 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 d money."..She g
9480: 72 69 6d 61 63 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 69 rimaced, and qui
9490: 63 6b 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 ckly turned away
94a0: 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 . "Yeah," she s
94b0: 61 69 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 63 6c 65 6e aid through clen
94c0: 63 68 65 64 20 74 65 65 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ched teeth, and
94d0: 72 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e rounded the fron
94e0: 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 6f 20 t of the car to
94f0: 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 69 64 the driver's sid
9500: 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 e door. "Well,
9510: 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 you can't change
9520: 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 the past."..It
9530: 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 62 6c took a couple bl
9540: 6f 63 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 ocks of driving
9550: 61 6e 64 20 66 69 64 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 and fiddling wit
9560: 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 62 75 74 h the window but
9570: 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 ton to get the g
9580: 6c 61 73 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 lass on her side
9590: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 6c 66 of the car half
95a0: 77 61 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 69 72 20 66 way down. Air f
95b0: 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 69 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 lowed in, perhap
95c0: 73 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 s enough so she
95d0: 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 73 77 65 61 74 20 74 wouldn't sweat t
95e0: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 67 72 65 79 20 hrough her grey
95f0: 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 t-shirt on the w
9600: 61 79 20 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 48 ay to Irvine. H
9610: 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 73 70 65 65 64 73 20 6d 69 ighway speeds mi
9620: 67 68 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 ght help with th
9630: 61 74 2e 0a 0a 4e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6d 65 at...No money me
9640: 61 6e 74 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 ant no replacing
9650: 20 74 68 65 20 41 2f 43 20 75 6e 69 74 20 77 69 the A/C unit wi
9660: 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 th something rec
9670: 68 61 72 67 65 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 hargeable. It a
9680: 6c 73 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e lso meant no mon
9690: 65 79 20 74 6f 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 ey to order part
96a0: 73 20 74 6f 20 66 69 78 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 77 s to fix her pow
96b0: 65 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 er window switch
96c0: 65 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 74 75 62 62 6f 72 es...The stubbor
96d0: 6e 2c 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 69 n, angry clenchi
96e0: 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6a 61 77 20 61 6e ng of her jaw an
96f0: 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 73 65 20 6f d her pretense o
9700: 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d f being in too m
9710: 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 72 75 73 68 20 74 6f uch of a rush to
9720: 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 talk more meant
9730: 20 6e 6f 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 66 no going back f
9740: 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 74 65 6e or her forgotten
9750: 20 73 75 6e 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 65 69 74 sunglasses, eit
9760: 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 69 6e 74 her. She squint
9770: 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 ed through the b
9780: 72 69 67 68 74 20 67 6c 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 53 right glare of S
9790: 6f 75 74 68 65 72 6e 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e outhern Californ
97a0: 69 61 20 73 75 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 ia sun and the f
97b0: 6f 67 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 75 73 74 79 20 og of her dusty
97c0: 77 69 6e 64 73 68 69 65 6c 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b windshield, look
97d0: 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 ing out at the g
97e0: 72 65 79 2d 68 61 7a 65 64 2c 20 62 6c 65 61 63 rey-hazed, bleac
97f0: 68 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 hed look of that
9800: 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c part of the Inl
9810: 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 and Empire she c
9820: 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 alled home...The
9830: 20 65 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 73 65 6d 69 2d 69 6e endless semi-in
9840: 64 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 73 75 62 75 72 62 73 dustrial suburbs
9850: 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 72 70 61 63 6b 65 64 20 and overpacked
9860: 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 highway traffic
9870: 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 ground past her
9880: 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e for more than an
9890: 20 68 6f 75 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 hour before she
98a0: 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 20 65 pulled off an e
98b0: 78 69 74 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 61 xit ramp and coa
98c0: 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 sted into Irvine
98d0: 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 . It was a shor
98e0: 74 65 72 20 74 72 69 70 20 74 68 61 6e 20 75 73 ter trip than us
98f0: 75 61 6c 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 61 6c 6c ual, despite all
9900: 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6c 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 72 the delays. Tr
9910: 61 66 66 69 63 20 66 6c 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 6a affic flow was j
9920: 75 73 74 20 66 61 73 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 ust fast enough
9930: 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 to give her a li
9940: 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 ttle cooling bre
9950: 65 7a 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 eze through her
9960: 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 window for most
9970: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 64 of the highway d
9980: 72 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 65 6e 73 69 rive...The densi
9990: 74 79 20 6f 66 20 67 72 61 73 73 79 20 76 65 72 ty of grassy ver
99a0: 67 65 73 2c 20 74 72 65 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 64 20 ges, tree lined
99b0: 72 6f 61 64 77 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 75 roadways, and lu
99c0: 73 68 6c 79 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 63 65 6e 74 65 shly green cente
99d0: 72 20 64 69 76 69 64 65 72 20 69 73 6c 61 6e 64 r divider island
99e0: 73 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 s increased as s
99f0: 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f he got closer to
9a00: 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 2e the university.
9a10: 20 20 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c Despite hersel
9a20: 66 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 f, she found her
9a30: 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 73 20 66 69 6e 61 6c shoulders final
9a40: 6c 79 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 ly settled, her
9a50: 6a 61 77 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 2c 20 jaw unclenched,
9a60: 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 62 and her breath b
9a70: 65 63 61 6d 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 ecame smooth and
9a80: 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 easy through a
9a90: 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 74 68 72 more relaxed thr
9aa0: 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 oat. The direct
9ab0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e ions on her phon
9ac0: 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 e were more accu
9ad0: 72 61 74 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 75 73 75 61 6c 2c rate than usual,
9ae0: 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 and she pulled
9af0: 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 smoothly into a
9b00: 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 62 79 parking space by
9b10: 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 67 2c 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 69 the big, blocki
9b20: 73 68 2c 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c sh, white and gl
9b30: 61 73 73 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 ass building she
9b40: 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 needed...She wa
9b50: 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 65 61 72 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 s very early, bu
9b60: 74 20 61 20 67 72 61 64 20 73 74 75 64 65 6e 74 t a grad student
9b70: 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 must have wante
9b80: 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 d to leave early
9b90: 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 74 , so she got a t
9ba0: 61 62 6c 65 74 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f ablet of questio
9bb0: 6e 6e 61 69 72 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 6d nnaires and form
9bc0: 73 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 s shoved into he
9bd0: 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 r hands immediat
9be0: 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 ely. After she
9bf0: 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 finished them, s
9c00: 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 he sat and read
9c10: 61 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f a science fictio
9c20: 6e 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 n novel on her p
9c30: 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 hone for more th
9c40: 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 an an hour...The
9c50: 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 professor runni
9c60: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 6e 65 76 ng the study nev
9c70: 65 72 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 er quite introdu
9c80: 63 65 64 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 62 75 74 ced himself, but
9c90: 20 61 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e a name plate on
9ca0: 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 73 6b 20 72 65 61 64 20 22 his desk read "
9cb0: 44 72 2e 20 54 68 61 64 64 65 75 73 20 47 6f 75 Dr. Thaddeus Gou
9cc0: 6c 65 74 22 2e 20 20 48 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 let". He questi
9cd0: 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 oned her about h
9ce0: 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 68 er background, h
9cf0: 65 72 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 er career and fi
9d00: 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e nances, and even
9d10: 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 68 69 her relationshi
9d20: 70 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 ps. The profess
9d30: 6f 72 20 63 68 65 77 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 or chewed on a s
9d40: 74 79 6c 75 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 tylus and talked
9d50: 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 around it while
9d60: 20 74 79 70 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 73 70 typing her resp
9d70: 6f 6e 73 65 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 74 onses into his t
9d80: 61 62 6c 65 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 ablet...He broke
9d90: 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 off in the midd
9da0: 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 66 le and said "I f
9db0: 69 6e 64 20 69 74 20 63 61 6c 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 ind it calming,
9dc0: 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 you know.".."Wha
9dd0: 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 79 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 t?".."Typing, I
9de0: 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 mean, instead of
9df0: 20 6c 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 74 letting ANTAS t
9e00: 72 61 6e 73 6c 61 74 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 ranslate it to t
9e10: 65 78 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 20 74 ext.".."Oh. I t
9e20: 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 hought maybe you
9e30: 20 77 65 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 were doing that
9e40: 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 73 75 62 to maintain sub
9e50: 6a 65 63 74 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 22 0a 0a ject privacy."..
9e60: 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 He looked at his
9e70: 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 tablet and said
9e80: 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e "Oh, of course.
9e90: 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 20 69 I guess I do i
9ea0: 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e t for that, too.
9eb0: 22 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 71 75 " He resumed qu
9ec0: 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 estioning her, a
9ed0: 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 67 72 65 73 73 s if the digress
9ee0: 69 6f 6e 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e ion never happen
9ef0: 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 65 78 65 72 63 69 73 ed...The exercis
9f00: 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6e 64 20 e finally wound
9f10: 69 74 73 20 74 65 64 69 6f 75 73 20 77 61 79 20 its tedious way
9f20: 74 6f 20 61 20 68 61 6c 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 to a halt. The
9f30: 74 65 6e 75 72 65 64 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f tenured professo
9f40: 72 20 2d 2d 20 61 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 20 68 65 r -- a status he
9f50: 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 73 68 6f 72 brought up shor
9f60: 74 6c 79 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f tly after the co
9f70: 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 nversation moved
9f80: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 69 6e from questionin
9f90: 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 g her to talking
9fa0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 about the study
9fb0: 20 2d 2d 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 68 65 77 69 6e 67 -- kept chewing
9fc0: 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 61 on his stylus a
9fd0: 73 20 68 65 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 64 s he scrolled id
9fe0: 6c 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 ly through infor
9ff0: 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 mation on the ta
a000: 62 6c 65 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 73 blet...He fell s
a010: 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c ilent for a whil
a020: 65 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 69 e, still scrolli
a030: 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 ng, and she sat
a040: 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 2c 22 20 quietly..."So,"
a050: 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 74 20 6c 61 73 74 2c he said at last,
a060: 20 22 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 "tell me more a
a070: 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 bout this digita
a080: 6c 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f l research job o
a090: 66 20 79 6f 75 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 f yours.".."What
a0a0: 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e more do you wan
a0b0: 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 t to know about
a0c0: 69 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 it?" she asked.
a0d0: 20 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 Her eyes shifte
a0e0: 64 20 72 65 73 74 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 61 72 6f d restlessly aro
a0f0: 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 und the small of
a100: 66 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 fice, and never
a110: 71 75 69 74 65 20 6c 61 6e 64 65 64 20 6e 6f 20 quite landed no
a120: 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 2c 20 6e the professor, n
a130: 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 ow..."How do you
a140: 20 67 65 74 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a get clients?"..
a150: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 73 6e 61 Alley's eyes sna
a160: 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 pped back to mee
a170: 74 20 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 64 65 6e t his, and widen
a180: 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 ed slightly..."I
a190: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 s that a surpris
a1a0: 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 ing question?" h
a1b0: 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 e asked. "It's
a1c0: 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 73 65 63 72 not a trade secr
a1d0: 65 74 2c 20 49 20 68 6f 70 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 et, I hope." He
a1e0: 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 66 61 69 6e 74 6c 79 2c smiled faintly,
a1f0: 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 70 72 6f in a manner pro
a200: 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 bably intended t
a210: 6f 20 62 65 20 64 69 73 61 72 6d 69 6e 67 2e 0a o be disarming..
a220: 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 ."No," she said
a230: 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e slowly. "It's n
a240: 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 2e 20 20 49 74 ot a secret. It
a250: 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 's just usually
a260: 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 not what people
a270: 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a want to know."..
a280: 48 65 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 73 6d 69 He waved a dismi
a290: 73 73 69 76 65 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 ssive hand. "I'
a2a0: 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 m not personally
a2b0: 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 2c 20 72 65 61 interested, rea
a2c0: 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 lly. I'm just e
a2d0: 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 valuating your s
a2e0: 75 69 74 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 uitability for t
a2f0: 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 he study."..Her
a300: 6c 69 70 73 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 75 lips began to tu
a310: 72 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 rn down, into a
a320: 66 72 6f 77 6e 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 frown, before sh
a330: 65 20 61 62 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 e aborted the re
a340: 66 6c 65 78 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 57 65 6c flex. "Oh. Wel
a350: 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 77 l . . . mostly w
a360: 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 ord of mouth and
a370: 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e people stumblin
a380: 67 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 61 g on one of my a
a390: 72 74 69 63 6c 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 65 rticles about se
a3a0: 61 72 63 68 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 71 75 65 73 2e arch techniques.
a3b0: 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 ".."Does that re
a3c0: 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 ally work? What
a3d0: 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 63 6f 6e 74 is that -- cont
a3e0: 65 6e 74 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a ent marketing?".
a3f0: 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 .She shrugged.
a400: 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f "I guess. It do
a410: 65 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 6f 20 77 65 esn't work so we
a420: 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 ll, these days.
a430: 20 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 20 20 Nothing does.
a440: 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e I only get busin
a450: 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ess from people
a460: 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 who decide they
a470: 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 need more than t
a480: 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 hey can get out
a490: 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d of their confirm
a4a0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 75 62 62 6c 65 73 2c 20 69 ation bubbles, i
a4b0: 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c f they even real
a4c0: 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 ize they haven't
a4d0: 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e found everythin
a4e0: 67 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 66 69 g there is to fi
a4f0: 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 nd. It seems li
a500: 6b 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e ke now that mean
a510: 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2e s almost nobody.
a520: 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 Maybe there ar
a530: 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 e some still out
a540: 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 there, but they
a550: 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 all seem to hav
a560: 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 66 e people on staf
a570: 66 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 65 f to do the rese
a580: 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a arch for them.".
a590: 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d ."Hmm. Do you m
a5a0: 65 61 6e 20 74 61 69 6c 6f 72 65 64 20 72 65 73 ean tailored res
a5b0: 65 61 72 63 68 20 62 69 61 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 earch bias?".."Y
a5c0: 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 eah," she said,
a5d0: 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 and nodded..."Wh
a5e0: 79 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f y haven't you go
a5f0: 74 74 65 6e 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 tten a job doing
a600: 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f research for so
a610: 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 68 meone?".."They h
a620: 61 76 65 20 75 6e 70 61 69 64 20 69 6e 74 65 72 ave unpaid inter
a630: 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20 ns for that. I
a640: 64 6f 20 61 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 do a better job
a650: 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 66 75 6c 6c than a room full
a660: 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 of interns, but
a670: 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 corporate manag
a680: 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 72 61 ers don't get ra
a690: 69 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e ises for spendin
a6a0: 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 6e 20 g more money on
a6b0: 65 78 70 65 72 74 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 65 76 65 experts when eve
a6c0: 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ryone else in th
a6d0: 65 69 72 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 79 20 73 65 74 eir industry set
a6e0: 74 6c 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 20 tles for intern
a6f0: 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6d 2d research.".."Mm-
a700: 68 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 hmm." He remove
a710: 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 66 72 6f d his stylus fro
a720: 6d 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 m his mouth and
a730: 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 61 20 67 72 65 65 6e produced a green
a740: 20 70 61 69 73 6c 65 79 20 62 61 6e 64 61 6e 61 paisley bandana
a750: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 64 65 73 6b 20 64 72 61 from a desk dra
a760: 77 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 wer. He proceed
a770: 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 74 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 ed to meticulous
a780: 6c 79 20 64 72 79 20 68 69 73 20 73 61 6c 69 76 ly dry his saliv
a790: 61 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6e 2e 20 a from the pen.
a7a0: 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 "Does that pay
a7b0: 77 65 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 63 6b well?"..She cock
a7c0: 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6f ed her head to o
a7d0: 6e 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c 79 20 ne side. "Only
a7e0: 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 22 20 73 occasionally," s
a7f0: 68 65 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 he admitted...He
a800: 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 smiled. "You s
a810: 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e aid you're techn
a820: 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 65 74 65 6e 74 ically competent
a830: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 , but not in the
a840: 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 65 63 manner of a tec
a850: 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 hnology professi
a860: 6f 6e 61 6c 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 onal," he said,
a870: 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e obviously readin
a880: 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 74 61 62 6c 65 g from his table
a890: 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 t. He looked up
a8a0: 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 at her again.
a8b0: 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 3f "Do you program?
a8c0: 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ".."No," she sai
a8d0: 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 d..."Good. Good
a8e0: 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 ." He tucked th
a8f0: 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 74 79 e end of his sty
a900: 6c 75 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 68 69 73 20 lus between his
a910: 74 65 65 74 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 73 teeth again. As
a920: 20 68 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 he stuffed the
a930: 62 61 6e 64 61 6e 61 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 bandana back int
a940: 6f 20 69 74 73 20 64 72 61 77 65 72 2c 20 68 65 o its drawer, he
a950: 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b asked "Do you k
a960: 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f now anything abo
a970: 75 74 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e ut artificial in
a980: 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 telligence resea
a990: 72 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 rch?"..She hesit
a9a0: 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b ated, then shook
a9b0: 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c her head. "No,
a9c0: 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 not really.".."
a9d0: 49 20 73 65 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e I see," he said.
a9e0: 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 6e 20 63 61 73 65 "Well, in case
a9f0: 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 this didn't alr
aa00: 65 61 64 79 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c eady get an expl
aa10: 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c anation for you,
aa20: 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 74 65 73 74 what we're test
aa30: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 61 ing here is an a
aa40: 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c rtificial intell
aa50: 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a igence prioritiz
aa60: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 ation assistance
aa70: 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f system. Most o
aa80: 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 61 f what people ca
aa90: 6c 6c 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e ll artificial in
aaa0: 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 telligence these
aab0: 20 64 61 79 73 20 69 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c days is actuall
aac0: 79 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 y a machine lear
aad0: 6e 69 6e 67 20 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 61 74 69 76 ning quantitativ
aae0: 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 41 4e e optimizer. AN
aaf0: 54 41 53 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 TAS is the best
ab00: 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 known optimizer
ab10: 41 49 2e 20 20 54 68 65 73 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d AI. These optim
ab20: 69 7a 65 72 73 20 61 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 izers are given
ab30: 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 6d 65 74 72 69 63 73 20 2d target metrics -
ab40: 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6e - not specific n
ab50: 75 6d 62 65 72 73 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 umbers, just the
ab60: 20 63 61 74 65 67 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6e category of a n
ab70: 75 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 27 70 72 6f umber, like 'pro
ab80: 66 69 74 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 fit' instead of
ab90: 27 66 6f 75 72 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 'four million do
aba0: 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 27 llars of profit'
abb0: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 . The optimizer
abc0: 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e performs action
abd0: 73 20 69 6e 20 61 72 65 61 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 s in areas where
abe0: 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 69 6c it has the abil
abf0: 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 20 73 6f ity to affect so
ac00: 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 68 mething, like ch
ac10: 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 61 64 20 74 oosing what ad t
ac20: 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 o show a particu
ac30: 6c 61 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 lar person. It
ac40: 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 collects statist
ac50: 69 63 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 65 66 ics about how ef
ac60: 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 fectively these
ac70: 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 70 72 actions drive pr
ac80: 6f 66 69 74 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 ofit growth in t
ac90: 68 65 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 he short term, a
aca0: 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 72 65 6e 64 73 20 nd about trends
acb0: 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 63 to help ensure c
acc0: 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 ontinued growth
acd0: 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 in the longer te
ace0: 72 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 74 65 72 73 20 69 rm, and alters i
acf0: 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 ts own recommend
ad00: 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6c 67 6f 72 69 74 68 6d 73 ation algorithms
ad10: 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 20 74 68 6f to optimize tho
ad20: 73 65 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 se growth number
ad30: 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 44 6f s over time. Do
ad40: 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 65 6e es that make sen
ad50: 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 se?"..She nodded
ad60: 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 79 ..."The system y
ad70: 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 75 73 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 ou'll use is not
ad80: 20 61 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 an optimizer.
ad90: 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a It's a prioritiz
ada0: 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 er. It collects
adb0: 20 64 61 74 61 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 70 65 63 data about spec
adc0: 69 66 69 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 64 65 74 ified goals, det
add0: 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 ermines strategi
ade0: 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 62 65 73 74 20 es for how best
adf0: 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 to achieve all s
ae00: 74 61 74 65 64 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 tated goals, and
ae10: 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 provides that i
ae20: 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 nformation to th
ae30: 65 20 75 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 e user to more e
ae40: 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 70 75 72 73 75 ffectively pursu
ae50: 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a e those goals.".
ae60: 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 ."Does it just d
ae70: 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 o those things f
ae80: 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 or the user, the
ae90: 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 n?".."No," he sa
aea0: 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 id, "it essentia
aeb0: 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 lly just collect
aec0: 73 20 64 61 74 61 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 76 69 s data and provi
aed0: 64 65 73 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 2e 20 20 49 74 73 des advice. Its
aee0: 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 67 61 74 68 ability to gath
aef0: 65 72 20 64 61 74 61 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 er data is limit
af00: 65 64 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c ed, too. It wil
af10: 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 l have to get th
af20: 61 74 20 64 61 74 61 20 62 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 at data by watch
af30: 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e ing and listenin
af40: 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 g as you go abou
af50: 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c t your business,
af60: 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 69 taking direct i
af70: 6e 70 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 6f nput from you, o
af80: 72 20 66 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 r filling reques
af90: 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 ts with a short
afa0: 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 list of Universi
afb0: 74 79 20 73 65 72 76 65 72 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e ty servers here.
afc0: 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 69 74 20 ".."How does it
afd0: 77 61 74 63 68 2c 20 6f 72 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e watch, or listen
afe0: 20 74 6f 2c 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f to, what I'm do
aff0: 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 ing?"..He smiled
b000: 20 66 61 69 6e 74 6c 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 faintly again,
b010: 61 6e 64 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 and hesitated.
b020: 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 He nodded, more
b030: 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 to himself than
b040: 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 77 69 76 to her, and swiv
b050: 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 elled his office
b060: 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 chair to face a
b070: 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 way from her. H
b080: 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 61 20 64 72 61 77 65 e opened a drawe
b090: 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 63 61 r in the open ca
b0a0: 62 69 6e 65 74 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d binet behind him
b0b0: 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 . When he turne
b0c0: 64 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 d to face her ag
b0d0: 61 69 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 61 20 73 6d ain, he set a sm
b0e0: 61 6c 6c 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 all rectangular
b0f0: 62 6f 78 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 2e box on the desk.
b100: 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 It looked like
b110: 20 73 6c 69 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 70 72 slick, white pr
b120: 6f 64 75 63 74 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 69 6e 67 20 oduct packaging
b130: 66 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 65 6e 64 20 70 for a high end p
b140: 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 75 74 74 65 72 6c hone, but utterl
b150: 79 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 73 y blank, as if s
b160: 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 74 6f omeone forgot to
b170: 20 70 72 69 6e 74 20 62 72 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 print branding
b180: 6f 6e 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 on it...He lifte
b190: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 76 d the lid to rev
b1a0: 65 61 6c 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 65 79 eal a pair of ey
b1b0: 65 73 68 69 65 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c eshield glasses,
b1c0: 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 the kind of thi
b1d0: 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 65 20 6f ng people wore o
b1e0: 6e 20 6c 6f 77 20 61 69 72 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 n low air qualit
b1f0: 79 20 64 61 79 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 y days so their
b200: 65 79 65 73 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 73 74 69 6e 67 eyes won't sting
b210: 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c . Younger peopl
b220: 65 20 77 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 70 72 65 74 e wore them pret
b230: 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 ty much all the
b240: 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 61 73 20 64 69 64 20 70 65 6f time, as did peo
b250: 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 ple in the kinds
b260: 20 6f 66 20 68 69 67 68 2d 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 of high-paying
b270: 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 jobs where they
b280: 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f feel the need to
b290: 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 76 69 73 75 61 6c 20 64 have a visual d
b2a0: 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 isplay of their
b2b0: 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 important busine
b2c0: 73 73 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 ss information a
b2d0: 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 vailable at all
b2e0: 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 61 64 73 20 75 times..."Heads u
b2f0: 70 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 p display," he s
b300: 61 69 64 2c 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 aid, confirming
b310: 68 65 72 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 her impression,
b320: 22 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 74 65 67 72 61 74 65 64 "with integrated
b330: 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 62 69 6e cameras for bin
b340: 6f 63 75 6c 61 72 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 63 61 70 ocular video cap
b350: 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 ture. There's a
b360: 20 6d 69 63 72 6f 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 65 microphone in e
b370: 61 63 68 20 74 65 6d 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c ach temple, too,
b380: 20 66 6f 72 20 62 69 6e 61 75 72 61 6c 20 61 75 for binaural au
b390: 64 69 6f 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f dio capture. Yo
b3a0: 75 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 61 72 20 62 79 20 70 61 u can hear by pa
b3b0: 69 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f iring it with yo
b3c0: 75 72 20 69 6d 70 6c 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 ur implant.".."I
b3d0: 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 65 2e don't have one.
b3e0: 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 "..He stared for
b3f0: 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2e a moment. "Oh.
b400: 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 Well. Neither
b410: 20 64 6f 20 49 2e 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 69 72 73 do I. It pairs
b420: 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 with your phone
b430: 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 6f 77 , anyway, so how
b440: 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 61 ever you use tha
b450: 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a t should work.".
b460: 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f .She nodded. "O
b470: 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 63 61 6e 20 61 kay.".."It can a
b480: 6c 73 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f lso just talk to
b490: 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 74 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 you in text, th
b4a0: 6f 75 67 68 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ough you should
b4b0: 62 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 be careful while
b4c0: 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 driving. There
b4d0: 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 73 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 72 73 are disclaimers
b4e0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 about that kind
b4f0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 of thing in the
b500: 20 77 61 69 76 65 72 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 waivers." He w
b510: 69 74 68 64 72 65 77 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 ithdrew a tablet
b520: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 64 from the same d
b530: 65 73 6b 20 64 72 61 77 65 72 20 61 73 20 68 69 esk drawer as hi
b540: 73 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 73 70 69 74 20 72 61 67 s green spit rag
b550: 2c 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 , woke it, and t
b560: 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 20 apped through a
b570: 66 65 77 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 few screens. Sh
b580: 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 74 75 e watched him tu
b590: 72 6e 20 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 rn it around and
b5a0: 20 73 6c 69 64 65 20 69 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 slide it across
b5b0: 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 the desk toward
b5c0: 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 her. "Here. Y
b5d0: 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 69 ou'll need to si
b5e0: 67 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 73 2e 22 gn these forms."
b5f0: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 ..She looked at
b600: 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 6d 2e 20 20 the open form.
b610: 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 She looked up at
b620: 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 him. "Why?".."
b630: 4f 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f Oh, it's just so
b640: 6d 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 6e 6f 6e 64 me standard nond
b650: 69 73 63 6c 6f 73 75 72 65 2c 20 67 75 61 72 61 isclosure, guara
b660: 6e 74 65 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c ntee of material
b670: 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 return, and oth
b680: 65 72 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 69 er legal necessi
b690: 74 69 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 ties for joining
b6a0: 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 the study.".."Y
b6b0: 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 69 6e 2e 22 ou mean I'm in."
b6c0: 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f ..He nodded. "O
b6d0: 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 f course. You'r
b6e0: 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 63 61 6e 64 69 e an ideal candi
b6f0: 64 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 date.".."You got
b700: 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 71 that from the q
b710: 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b uestions you ask
b720: 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 21 22 20 20 48 65 ed.".."Yes!" He
b730: 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 20 70 72 6f 75 64 2c smiled a proud,
b740: 20 73 65 6c 66 2d 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 self-satisfied
b750: 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 smile.".."You ne
b760: 65 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 72 ed underachiever
b770: 73 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e s who are runnin
b780: 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 g out of money,
b790: 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 I guess." She f
b7a0: 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 20 ailed to keep a
b7b0: 73 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 sour note out of
b7c0: 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 68 her voice..."Ah
b7d0: 2c 20 79 65 73 2c 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 , yes, I suppose
b7e0: 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 66 61 69 72 20 64 that's a fair d
b7f0: 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 61 escription, if a
b800: 20 62 69 74 20 62 6c 75 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 bit blunt.".."W
b810: 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 70 72 hy?".."A goal pr
b820: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 ioritization sys
b830: 74 65 6d 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 tem should help
b840: 79 6f 75 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 you become somet
b850: 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 hing other than
b860: 61 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 72 an underachiever
b870: 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 without money.
b880: 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b Don't you think
b890: 20 73 6f 3f 20 20 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 so? We'll chec
b8a0: 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 65 73 73 20 k your progress
b8b0: 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 through prioriti
b8c0: 7a 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 65 78 70 zer logs for exp
b8d0: 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 erimental purpos
b8e0: 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 49 20 es.".."How do I
b8f0: 75 73 65 20 69 74 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f use it? What do
b900: 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 I need to do wi
b910: 74 68 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 45 76 65 72 79 74 th it?".."Everyt
b920: 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f hing you need to
b930: 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 74 61 know to get sta
b940: 72 74 65 64 20 69 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 rted is in the b
b950: 6f 78 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 ox. Your direct
b960: 20 64 65 70 6f 73 69 74 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 deposits will b
b970: 65 67 69 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 egin immediately
b980: 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 . I'm told the
b990: 66 75 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 72 20 funds from your
b9a0: 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 first payment wi
b9b0: 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 ll be available
b9c0: 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 in your account
b9d0: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 about ten minute
b9e0: 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 61 70 70 6c s after you appl
b9f0: 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 69 67 6e 61 74 75 72 65 y your signature
ba00: 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 6f 72 to the last for
ba10: 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 m on that tablet
ba20: 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 ." He tapped th
ba30: 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 27 73 20 62 65 7a 65 6c e tablet's bezel
ba40: 2e 20 20 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 69 . "Of course, i
ba50: 66 20 79 6f 75 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 f you violate th
ba60: 65 20 74 65 72 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 e terms of the s
ba70: 74 75 64 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 tudy, the money
ba80: 6d 75 73 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 65 66 75 must all be refu
ba90: 6e 64 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 nded."..Alley's
baa0: 65 79 65 73 20 73 6c 69 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 eyes slid down t
bab0: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d o the first form
bac0: 20 70 61 67 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 page displayed
bad0: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 2e 20 20 on the tablet.
bae0: 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Okay," she said
baf0: 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 73 69 67 6e ..."You can sign
bb00: 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 73 69 6e 67 digitally using
bb10: 20 61 6e 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 73 69 any standard si
bb20: 67 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 6f gning service, o
bb30: 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e r on the screen.
bb40: 22 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 68 69 " He removed hi
bb50: 73 20 73 74 79 6c 75 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 s stylus from hi
bb60: 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 s mouth again, a
bb70: 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a nd offered it...
bb80: 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 She looked at it
bb90: 73 20 67 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 61 6d s glistening dam
bba0: 70 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 pness. "No, tha
bbb0: 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 75 73 65 20 44 nks. I'll use D
bbc0: 2d 53 69 67 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 54 68 -Sign."..---..Th
bbd0: 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 e window of her
bbe0: 63 61 72 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 car rolled down
bbf0: 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 smoothly and eas
bc00: 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 ily on the first
bc10: 20 74 72 79 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 64 try while she d
bc20: 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 rove away from t
bc30: 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 2c 20 61 he university, a
bc40: 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 72 65 77 61 72 64 20 68 s if to reward h
bc50: 65 72 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 er decision to s
bc60: 69 67 6e 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 ign up for the s
bc70: 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 54 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 tudy. Twenty mi
bc80: 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c nutes later, All
bc90: 65 79 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c ey caught hersel
bca0: 66 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 6c f staring blankl
bcb0: 79 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 77 y out the open w
bcc0: 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 indow of her car
bcd0: 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 67 6c 61 7a 65 64 2e 20 20 , eyes glazed.
bce0: 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 She shook her he
bcf0: 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 68 ad, then wiped h
bd00: 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 er hand across h
bd10: 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f er face as if to
bd20: 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 63 6f 62 77 65 62 73 20 66 clear cobwebs f
bd30: 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 72 65 68 65 61 64 rom her forehead
bd40: 20 61 6e 64 20 65 79 65 6c 61 73 68 65 73 2e 20 and eyelashes.
bd50: 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She turned her
bd60: 66 6f 63 75 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 focus away from
bd70: 74 68 65 20 73 63 6f 72 63 68 65 64 20 74 72 75 the scorched tru
bd80: 6e 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 74 72 65 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 nks of trees on
bd90: 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 2d 63 72 6f 77 the highway-crow
bda0: 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6c 6f 70 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 ding slopes that
bdb0: 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 66 forced all traf
bdc0: 66 69 63 20 65 61 73 74 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 fic eastward her
bdd0: 65 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 e to endure the
bde0: 67 61 75 6e 74 6c 65 74 20 6f 66 20 49 2d 39 31 gauntlet of I-91
bdf0: 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 if they wished
be00: 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 to make the pass
be10: 61 67 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 age through the
be20: 69 6e 74 65 72 72 65 67 6e 75 6d 20 62 65 74 77 interregnum betw
be30: 65 65 6e 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 een Orange Count
be40: 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 y and the Inland
be50: 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 68 65 72 Empire. To her
be60: 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 right, she saw
be70: 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 65 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e the huge illumin
be80: 61 74 65 64 20 63 72 6f 73 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 ated cross stand
be90: 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 ing alone at the
bea0: 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 top of a high s
beb0: 6c 6f 70 65 2c 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 lope, an improba
bec0: 62 6c 65 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 ble survivor of
bed0: 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 66 69 72 65 73 2e 20 20 the wildfires.
bee0: 54 68 65 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 73 63 65 6e 74 20 The faint scent
bef0: 6f 66 20 62 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 74 69 6c 6c of burning still
bf00: 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 lingered in the
bf10: 20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 air, after all
bf20: 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 this time...She
bf30: 6c 65 66 74 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 left behind the
bf40: 70 61 6c 61 74 69 61 6c 20 48 4f 41 20 61 72 69 palatial HOA ari
bf50: 73 74 6f 63 72 61 63 79 20 6f 66 20 4f 72 61 6e stocracy of Oran
bf60: 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 ge County, and d
bf70: 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 74 6f rove onward into
bf80: 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 65 the seemingly e
bf90: 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 65 78 70 61 6e 73 65 20 6f ndless expanse o
bfa0: 66 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 f the Inland Emp
bfb0: 69 72 65 27 73 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 50 ire's domain. P
bfc0: 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 62 75 ast the pseudobu
bfd0: 72 62 73 2c 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 rbs, through the
bfe0: 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 67 65 6e 74 72 69 66 69 failed gentrifi
bff0: 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 6f cation project o
c000: 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 64 65 2c 20 73 68 65 f Riverside, she
c010: 20 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 68 6f made her way ho
c020: 6d 65 77 61 72 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 75 meward in the du
c030: 73 74 79 2c 20 77 69 72 79 2c 20 6a 61 63 6b 61 sty, wiry, jacka
c040: 6c 2d 68 75 6e 67 72 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 79 20 6f l-hungry belly o
c050: 66 20 74 68 65 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 2c 20 61 6e f the Empire, an
c060: 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 d wondered for t
c070: 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 74 68 20 74 69 he thousandth ti
c080: 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 79 72 61 6e 74 20 77 me what tyrant w
c090: 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 ould ever want t
c0a0: 6f 20 62 65 20 65 6d 70 65 72 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 o be emperor of
c0b0: 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 50 such a place...P
c0c0: 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 eople sometimes
c0d0: 75 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 76 6f 63 61 74 69 76 used an evocativ
c0e0: 65 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 e nickname for t
c0f0: 68 65 20 63 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 53 61 6e 20 42 he city of San B
c100: 65 72 6e 61 72 64 69 6e 6f 2c 20 77 68 6f 73 65 ernardino, whose
c110: 20 73 75 72 72 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 75 surrounding cou
c120: 6e 74 79 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 65 61 73 nty extended eas
c130: 74 77 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 tward all the wa
c140: 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 y to the edge of
c150: 20 4e 65 76 61 64 61 20 61 6e 64 20 41 72 69 7a Nevada and Ariz
c160: 6f 6e 61 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 72 69 73 65 ona and comprise
c170: 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 69 74 79 20 6f d the majority o
c180: 66 20 6c 61 6e 64 20 61 72 65 61 20 6f 66 20 74 f land area of t
c190: 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 6d 70 69 72 65 he Inland Empire
c1a0: 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 . Some called t
c1b0: 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 he county seat,
c1c0: 74 68 65 20 63 69 74 79 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 the city itself
c1d0: 42 75 72 6e 69 6e 27 20 44 69 6e 67 6f 2e 0a 0a Burnin' Dingo...
c1e0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 6f Alley's home cro
c1f0: 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 uched to the sou
c200: 74 68 2c 20 62 65 6e 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 th, beneath the
c210: 73 71 75 61 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 75 6c 6b 20 6f squatting bulk o
c220: 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 69 f the burning di
c230: 6e 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 6d 61 70 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 ngo on maps, so
c240: 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 lowly that nobod
c250: 79 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 y bothered with
c260: 63 6c 65 76 65 72 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 73 clever nicknames
c270: 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a for it. They j
c280: 75 73 74 20 73 6e 65 65 72 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 ust sneered slig
c290: 68 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 htly at how the
c2a0: 6e 61 6d 65 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 73 6f 75 6e name Perris soun
c2b0: 64 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 50 61 72 69 73 2c 20 ded like Paris,
c2c0: 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 75 6e 69 63 69 while the munici
c2d0: 70 61 6c 69 74 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 72 pality could har
c2e0: 64 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 6e dly have been an
c2f0: 79 20 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 y less like the
c300: 73 77 61 6d 70 2d 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 6f 73 6d swamp-built cosm
c310: 6f 70 6f 6c 69 74 61 6e 20 69 63 6f 6e 20 6f 66 opolitan icon of
c320: 20 74 77 65 6e 74 69 65 74 68 20 63 65 6e 74 75 twentieth centu
c330: 72 79 20 45 75 72 6f 70 65 61 6e 20 63 75 6c 74 ry European cult
c340: 75 72 65 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 ure. At least t
c350: 68 65 20 61 72 65 61 27 73 20 75 62 69 71 75 69 he area's ubiqui
c360: 74 6f 75 73 20 64 72 79 2c 20 68 61 72 64 2d 70 tous dry, hard-p
c370: 61 63 6b 65 64 20 64 69 72 74 20 6f 66 66 65 72 acked dirt offer
c380: 65 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 ed little opport
c390: 75 6e 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 77 69 6c 64 66 69 unity for wildfi
c3a0: 72 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 76 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a res to invade...
c3b0: 45 76 65 6e 20 6e 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 66 75 Even nature refu
c3c0: 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 20 74 68 65 sed to storm the
c3d0: 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 45 heart of this E
c3e0: 6d 70 69 72 65 2c 20 69 74 73 20 61 70 70 65 61 mpire, its appea
c3f0: 6c 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 64 65 73 69 63 63 61 l was so desicca
c400: 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ted...She looked
c410: 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 6f at the white bo
c420: 78 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 x sitting on the
c430: 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c passenger seat,
c440: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f and thought abo
c450: 75 74 20 68 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 72 ut how, and wher
c460: 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 69 76 65 64 e, she now lived
c470: 2e 20 20 44 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 . Despite what
c480: 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 74 she told her mot
c490: 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 74 her, Alley was t
c4a0: 65 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 empted to give u
c4b0: 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 p and move into
c4c0: 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 one of the most
c4d0: 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 73 Republican areas
c4e0: 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 2e in the country.
c4f0: 20 20 43 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 Cost of living
c500: 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 was less than a
c510: 20 71 75 61 72 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 quarter there w
c520: 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 65 72 65 2c hat it was here,
c530: 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 69 6e 67 20 even comparing
c540: 63 69 74 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 54 city living in T
c550: 75 6c 73 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 43 6c 69 6e ulsa to the Clin
c560: 74 20 45 61 73 74 77 6f 6f 64 20 77 65 73 74 65 t Eastwood weste
c570: 72 6e 20 77 61 73 74 65 6c 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 rn wastelands of
c580: 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f Perris. She wo
c590: 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 uld be close to
c5a0: 66 61 6d 69 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c family that coul
c5b0: 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 69 d help her out i
c5c0: 6e 20 61 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 65 6d n a financial em
c5d0: 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 54 ergency, too...T
c5e0: 68 61 74 20 62 6f 78 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e hat box, though.
c5f0: 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 0a 0a 49 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 . . ...If the p
c600: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 73 rioritizer she s
c610: 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 65 73 74 igned up to test
c620: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 could actually
c630: 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 20 help, maybe she
c640: 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 6f 70 20 65 6e 74 65 72 could stop enter
c650: 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 65 taining these de
c660: 66 65 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 feated thoughts
c670: 6f 66 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 of running to he
c680: 72 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 r mother. Maybe
c690: 2c 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 , if she could g
c6a0: 65 74 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e et ahead of thin
c6b0: 67 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 gs, she could ev
c6c0: 65 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 en move somewher
c6d0: 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2c e else entirely,
c6e0: 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 27 64 somewhere she'd
c6f0: 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 actually like t
c700: 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 4d 61 73 73 61 63 68 o live...Massach
c710: 75 73 65 74 74 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 usetts never eve
c720: 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 n crossed her mi
c730: 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 23 23 20 54 68 65 20 43 61 6c 6c nd...## The Call
c740: 20 54 6f 20 41 64 76 65 6e 74 75 72 65 3a 0a 0a To Adventure:..
c750: 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 75 /*..Alley must u
c760: 6e 64 65 72 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 67 72 ndertake a progr
c770: 61 6d 20 6f 66 20 72 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e am of reinventin
c780: 67 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 6f 76 65 g herself to ove
c790: 72 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e rcome her presen
c7a0: 74 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e t circumstances.
c7b0: 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 She takes her
c7c0: 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 70 72 little box of pr
c7d0: 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 ioritizer stuff
c7e0: 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e home with her an
c7f0: 64 20 73 69 74 73 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 d sits down in t
c800: 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 he living room w
c810: 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 ith it. She set
c820: 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 s everything on
c830: 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 her charger and
c840: 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 starts reading t
c850: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 hrough the direc
c860: 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 68 tions. After ch
c870: 61 72 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 arging, she pair
c880: 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e 73 20 s devices, dons
c890: 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 the glasses, and
c8a0: 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 starts interact
c8b0: 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ing with the pri
c8c0: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 oritizer. She e
c8d0: 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 nds up getting a
c8e0: 20 77 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 wireless keyboa
c8f0: 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 69 6e 67 20 61 6e rd and typing an
c900: 73 77 65 72 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 swers rather tha
c910: 6e 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 n activate the a
c920: 75 64 69 6f 20 69 6e 70 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 udio input. The
c930: 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 65 74 prioritizer set
c940: 75 70 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f up asking her to
c950: 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65 20 6d 69 63 20 69 6e activate mic in
c960: 70 75 74 20 6c 65 61 64 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 73 put leads to its
c970: 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 identification
c980: 6f 66 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 73 20 61 20 of privacy as a
c990: 67 6f 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 goal...The prior
c9a0: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 67 itizer has her g
c9b0: 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e o through her in
c9c0: 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 73 20 71 75 65 box and asks que
c9d0: 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 6f 62 stions about job
c9e0: 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 65 postings. It e
c9f0: 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 nds up eliminati
ca00: 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6f 73 74 69 ng all job posti
ca10: 6e 67 73 20 61 73 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 ngs as incompati
ca20: 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 ble with Alley's
ca30: 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 goals and value
ca40: 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 73 20 s. It suggests
ca50: 73 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6d she deal with im
ca60: 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 28 65 portant tasks (e
ca70: 2e 67 2e 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6e 74 29 .g. paying rent)
ca80: 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 74 and otherwise t
ca90: 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 20 6f 66 66 20 ake the day off
caa0: 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6f 74 if she has no ot
cab0: 68 65 72 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 61 her ideas for ma
cac0: 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 king money, and
cad0: 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 65 61 72 20 68 65 that she wear he
cae0: 72 20 6e 65 77 20 48 55 44 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 r new HUD all th
caf0: 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 63 61 6e e time so it can
cb00: 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 learn more abou
cb10: 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 t her goals and
cb20: 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 6c 6b values. It walk
cb30: 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 77 69 s her through wi
cb40: 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 nding down for a
cb50: 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 73 6c good night's sl
cb60: 65 65 70 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 61 72 67 65 73 20 eep and charges
cb70: 6f 76 65 72 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 overnight...The
cb80: 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 next day it has
cb90: 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 69 her look at Crai
cba0: 67 73 6c 69 73 74 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 73 20 gslist postings
cbb0: 28 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f (or something to
cbc0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 29 2e 20 20 that effect).
cbd0: 49 74 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 It has her take
cbe0: 6e 6f 74 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 73 20 77 68 65 72 note of ads wher
cbf0: 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f e someone is loo
cc00: 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 king for somethi
cc10: 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 68 ng, then helps h
cc20: 65 72 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 er find things t
cc30: 6f 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 79 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 o satisfy those
cc40: 77 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 wants. After a
cc50: 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 69 few hours, she i
cc60: 73 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 s able to come u
cc70: 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 74 6f p with a plan to
cc80: 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 complete a coup
cc90: 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 62 79 20 le of trades by
cca0: 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 the end of the d
ccb0: 61 79 2c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e ay, resulting in
ccc0: 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 65 77 acquiring a few
ccd0: 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 hundred dollars
cce0: 27 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 ' profit. The i
ccf0: 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 6e 70 nitial money inp
cd00: 75 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 ut gets set asid
cd10: 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 e, and the next
cd20: 64 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 74 day she starts t
cd30: 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 2c he same process,
cd40: 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 but this time w
cd50: 69 74 68 20 28 6d 6f 6e 65 74 61 72 69 6c 79 29 ith (monetarily)
cd60: 20 72 69 73 6b 69 65 72 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e riskier trades.
cd70: 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 77 69 She ends up wi
cd80: 74 68 20 61 6e 20 69 74 65 6d 20 74 68 65 20 72 th an item the r
cd90: 65 71 75 65 73 74 65 72 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 equester doesn't
cda0: 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 want, and anoth
cdb0: 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 62 61 er that makes ba
cdc0: 63 6b 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 20 68 65 72 ck enough so her
cdd0: 20 66 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c few hundred dol
cde0: 6c 61 72 73 20 69 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 64 lars is only red
cdf0: 75 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 uced to about a
ce00: 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c hundred dollars,
ce10: 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 rather than to
ce20: 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 64 69 72 nothing...It dir
ce30: 65 63 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ects her to look
ce40: 20 65 6c 73 65 77 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 elsewhere, and
ce50: 66 69 6e 64 73 20 61 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 6e finds a barter n
ce60: 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 etwork. The pri
ce70: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 77 61 6c 6b 73 20 68 oritizer walks h
ce80: 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 73 65 74 74 69 er through setti
ce90: 6e 67 20 75 70 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 61 74 ng up anonymizat
cea0: 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f ion for a crypto
ceb0: 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 20 currency wallet
cec0: 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 63 and for communic
ced0: 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 ations in the ba
cee0: 72 74 65 72 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 22 61 73 rter network "as
cef0: 20 61 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 65 63 61 a privacy preca
cf00: 75 74 69 6f 6e 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6b ution". She mak
cf10: 65 73 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 es a deal to tra
cf20: 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 de the otherwise
cf30: 20 75 6e 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 69 74 65 6d 20 66 unwanted item f
cf40: 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 or cryptocurrenc
cf50: 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 y, but it must b
cf60: 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 e transacted in
cf70: 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 74 72 61 person...The tra
cf80: 64 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 6c 79 de goes smoothly
cf90: 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 that evening, a
cfa0: 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 61 20 73 nd she takes a s
cfb0: 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 light loss at th
cfc0: 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 e cryptocurrency
cfd0: 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 72 61 74 65 2e 20 20 's going rate.
cfe0: 54 68 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 67 75 The optimizer gu
cff0: 69 64 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 72 61 64 ides her in trad
d000: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 ing that cryptoc
d010: 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 urrency for anot
d020: 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 69 her that makes i
d030: 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 t very difficult
d040: 20 74 6f 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 to track trades
d050: 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 61 73 20 68 . It then has h
d060: 65 72 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f er check for peo
d070: 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 71 75 69 64 61 74 69 6e 67 20 ple liquidating
d080: 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 cryptocurrencies
d090: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 , and she makes
d0a0: 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e a plan to buy an
d0b0: 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 other cryptocurr
d0c0: 65 6e 63 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 ency with the th
d0d0: 69 72 74 79 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6c 65 66 irty dollars lef
d0e0: 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 61 72 6c t over from earl
d0f0: 69 65 72 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 ier trades...She
d100: 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 73 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 wonders whether
d110: 20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 it will just ge
d120: 74 20 72 69 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 t rid of all her
d130: 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 profits...She g
d140: 6f 65 73 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 oes along with i
d150: 74 2c 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 t, remembering t
d160: 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 he fact that she
d170: 20 69 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 63 6f is getting inco
d180: 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 me from the stud
d190: 79 2e 20 20 4c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 y. Later that s
d1a0: 61 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 ame day, the per
d1b0: 73 6f 6e 20 2d 2d 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 son -- evidently
d1c0: 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 20 2d 2d 20 61 67 desperate -- ag
d1d0: 72 65 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 69 6e 20 rees to meet in
d1e0: 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 person. The pri
d1f0: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 73 oritizer directs
d200: 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 75 70 20 her to look up
d210: 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 65 61 64 information lead
d220: 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 ing her to choos
d230: 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 e a police stati
d240: 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 20 61 on parking lot a
d250: 73 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 s a place to do
d260: 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 business, and sh
d270: 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 e specifies that
d280: 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 as the site of
d290: 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 the transaction
d2a0: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 the next morning
d2b0: 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 67 6f . That, too, go
d2c0: 65 73 20 6f 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 es off without a
d2d0: 20 68 69 74 63 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 hitch, though s
d2e0: 68 65 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 he finds the per
d2f0: 73 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2d 70 75 son a bit off-pu
d300: 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 tting and perhap
d310: 73 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 2d 73 65 65 6d s dangerous-seem
d320: 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 ing in his evide
d330: 6e 74 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 nt desperation a
d340: 6e 64 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a nd twitchiness..
d350: 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6f 65 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 74 .She goes home t
d360: 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 64 o relax. She id
d370: 6c 79 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 ly goes through
d380: 43 72 61 69 67 73 6c 69 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 Craigslist some
d390: 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 72 65 61 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 more, reads, and
d3a0: 20 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 79 2e 0a 0a ends her day...
d3b0: 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e */..Alley sat on
d3c0: 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 72 65 61 64 the couch, read
d3d0: 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 ing the instruct
d3e0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 69 ions that came i
d3f0: 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 n the box with h
d400: 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 48 55 44 20 67 6c 61 73 73 er new HUD glass
d410: 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 es. She dropped
d420: 20 74 68 65 20 75 6e 66 6f 6c 64 65 64 20 69 6e the unfolded in
d430: 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 65 74 20 struction sheet
d440: 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 and looked from
d450: 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 the new glasses
d460: 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 to her old glass
d470: 65 73 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 es, both sitting
d480: 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 on the charging
d490: 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 6e plate on her en
d4a0: 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 d table. The ne
d4b0: 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 w glasses showed
d4c0: 20 61 20 67 6c 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 65 a glint of gree
d4d0: 6e 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 n by the right t
d4e0: 65 6d 70 6c 65 20 68 69 6e 67 65 3b 20 74 68 65 emple hinge; the
d4f0: 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 63 68 61 72 y were done char
d500: 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6c 75 63 6b ging. She pluck
d510: 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 ed them off the
d520: 70 6c 61 74 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 plate, looked at
d530: 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 65 them as the gre
d540: 65 6e 20 73 70 61 72 6b 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 en spark faded,
d550: 74 68 65 6e 20 68 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 then hooked the
d560: 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 earpieces over h
d570: 65 72 20 65 61 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 74 er ears and sett
d580: 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 led the glasses
d590: 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 69 64 67 65 20 6f 66 on the bridge of
d5a0: 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 2e 0a 0a 54 65 78 74 her nose...Text
d5b0: 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6c 6f appeared to flo
d5c0: 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 62 65 at in the air be
d5d0: 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 3a 20 22 50 41 49 52 20 fore her: "PAIR
d5e0: 57 49 54 48 20 50 48 4f 4e 45 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 WITH PHONE"..She
d5f0: 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 picked up her p
d600: 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 hone and followe
d610: 64 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 d instructions.
d620: 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 69 6e When the pairin
d630: 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 61 64 65 64 20 g message faded
d640: 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 6d 65 73 73 away, a new mess
d650: 61 67 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 3a 20 22 45 age appeared: "E
d660: 4e 54 45 52 20 53 55 42 4a 45 43 54 20 49 44 3a NTER SUBJECT ID:
d670: 22 0a 0a 41 20 76 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6b 65 79 "..A virtual key
d680: 62 6f 61 72 64 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 2c 20 board appeared,
d690: 66 6c 6f 61 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 floating in her
d6a0: 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 field of view.
d6b0: 53 68 65 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 61 She recalled tha
d6c0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f t the instructio
d6d0: 6e 20 73 68 65 65 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 68 65 n sheet said she
d6e0: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6f 69 6e could just poin
d6f0: 74 20 61 74 20 61 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 66 6f t at a button fo
d700: 72 20 61 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 2c r a full second,
d710: 20 6f 72 20 75 73 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 63 6f or use voice co
d720: 6e 74 72 6f 6c 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 ntrol. After a
d730: 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 moment's hesitat
d740: 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 ion, she grabbed
d750: 20 61 20 77 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 a wireless keyb
d760: 6f 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 69 72 65 64 20 oard and paired
d770: 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e it with her phon
d780: 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 70 69 65 64 20 74 e, then copied t
d790: 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 he number from a
d7a0: 20 73 74 69 63 6b 65 72 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 sticker stuck t
d7b0: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f o the instructio
d7c0: 6e 20 73 68 65 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 50 45 52 53 4f n sheet..."PERSO
d7d0: 4e 41 4c 49 5a 45 3f 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 62 75 NALIZE?"..Two bu
d7e0: 74 74 6f 6e 73 20 68 6f 76 65 72 65 64 20 62 65 ttons hovered be
d7f0: 6c 6f 77 20 69 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 6c 75 65 low it, one blue
d800: 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 22 with the word "
d810: 59 45 53 22 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 YES", the other
d820: 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 red with the wor
d830: 64 20 22 4e 4f 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 61 69 d "NO". She rai
d840: 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 65 72 sed a hand exper
d850: 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 imentally, and s
d860: 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 aw that it obscu
d870: 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 73 20 red the buttons
d880: 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 when it passed t
d890: 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 70 61 hrough their spa
d8a0: 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e ce in her vision
d8b0: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 , but not the qu
d8c0: 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6f 69 estion. She poi
d8d0: 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 22 59 45 53 22 20 75 6e nted at "YES" un
d8e0: 74 69 6c 20 69 74 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 til it blinked t
d8f0: 77 69 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 wice. The messa
d900: 67 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e ge changed again
d910: 3a 0a 0a 22 50 4c 45 41 53 45 20 41 4e 53 57 45 :.."PLEASE ANSWE
d920: 52 20 54 48 45 20 46 4f 4c 4c 4f 57 49 4e 47 20 R THE FOLLOWING
d930: 51 55 45 53 54 49 4f 4e 53 3a 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 QUESTIONS:"..She
d940: 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 74 20 22 43 4f 4e pointed at "CON
d950: 54 49 4e 55 45 22 2e 0a 0a 22 44 4f 20 59 4f 55 TINUE"..."DO YOU
d960: 20 57 49 53 48 20 54 4f 20 55 53 45 20 54 48 45 WISH TO USE THE
d970: 20 41 55 44 49 4f 20 49 4e 54 45 52 46 41 43 45 AUDIO INTERFACE
d980: 3f 22 0a 0a 4e 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 44 4f 20 59 4f 55 ?"..No..."DO YOU
d990: 20 57 49 53 48 20 54 4f 20 44 49 53 41 42 4c 45 WISH TO DISABLE
d9a0: 20 41 55 44 49 4f 20 49 4e 54 45 47 52 41 54 49 AUDIO INTEGRATI
d9b0: 4f 4e 3f 22 0a 0a 59 65 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a ON?"..Yes.../*..
d9c0: 53 55 50 45 52 53 45 44 45 44 20 4e 41 52 52 41 SUPERSEDED NARRA
d9d0: 54 49 56 45 20 54 45 58 54 3a 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 TIVE TEXT:..She
d9e0: 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 answered a serie
d9f0: 73 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 s of other quest
da00: 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 ions about herse
da10: 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 lf and her prefe
da20: 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6e rences -- full n
da30: 61 6d 65 2c 20 62 69 72 74 68 20 64 61 74 65 2c ame, birth date,
da40: 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f preferred prono
da50: 75 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 69 63 6b 6e 61 6d 65 uns and nickname
da60: 73 2c 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 66 s, financial inf
da70: 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 ormation such as
da80: 20 62 61 6e 6b 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 73 2c 20 bank balances,
da90: 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 75 employment statu
daa0: 73 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e s, work experien
dab0: 63 65 2c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 2c 20 64 69 65 ce, address, die
dac0: 74 61 72 79 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e tary restriction
dad0: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 s, and so on. S
dae0: 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 66 he hesitated bef
daf0: 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6f ore answering so
db00: 6d 65 2c 20 66 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 me, finding the
db10: 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 series of questi
db20: 6f 6e 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 69 6e 76 61 73 69 ons a bit invasi
db30: 76 65 20 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 ve at times, but
db40: 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c looked at her l
db50: 61 70 74 6f 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 73 20 41 aptop with its A
db60: 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 6d 61 NTAS Jobs bookma
db70: 72 6b 73 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 69 70 rks. "That ship
db80: 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 73 61 69 6c 65 64 2c already sailed,
db90: 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 2e 0a " she muttered..
dba0: 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f .*/..The questio
dbb0: 6e 73 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2c 20 ns kept coming,
dbc0: 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 one after anothe
dbd0: 72 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2c r after another,
dbe0: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 about herself a
dbf0: 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 nd her preferenc
dc00: 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 67 65 2c 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f es -- age, prono
dc10: 75 6e 73 2c 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 69 uns, financial i
dc20: 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 nformation such
dc30: 61 73 20 62 61 6e 6b 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 73 as bank balances
dc40: 2c 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 , employment sta
dc50: 74 75 73 2c 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 tus, work experi
dc60: 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 6d 61 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6e ence, mailing an
dc70: 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 d home addresses
dc80: 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 , and so on. Sh
dc90: 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6c 65 73 73 e hesitated less
dca0: 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 and less when s
dcb0: 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 71 75 he found some qu
dcc0: 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 estion or other
dcd0: 69 6e 76 61 73 69 76 65 2c 20 74 69 72 69 6e 67 invasive, tiring
dce0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 64 of the act of d
dcf0: 65 62 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 73 73 75 ebating the issu
dd00: 65 20 61 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 6f e as time went o
dd10: 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 n. She consider
dd20: 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 ed what she knew
dd30: 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 65 61 73 69 6c about how easil
dd40: 79 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c y and unobviousl
dd50: 79 20 68 65 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 y her ANTAS Jobs
dd60: 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 6c account must al
dd70: 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 61 74 65 6e ready have eaten
dd80: 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 away at most of
dd90: 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 70 65 72 the careful per
dda0: 69 6d 65 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 imeter she used
ddb0: 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 to maintain arou
ddc0: 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 nd her privacy,
ddd0: 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 77 68 61 74 or at least what
dde0: 65 76 65 72 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 ever of it wasn'
ddf0: 74 20 65 72 6f 64 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 62 79 t eroded away by
de00: 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 66 61 63 74 the simple fact
de10: 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 41 4e of living in AN
de20: 54 41 53 27 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 TAS' and the US
de30: 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6e government's con
de40: 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 79 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e temporary world.
de50: 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 ..She realized t
de60: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 he prioritizer c
de70: 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 64 6f ould not even do
de80: 20 69 74 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 its job without
de90: 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 access to the c
dea0: 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 65 6d 62 65 64 64 65 64 20 ameras embedded
deb0: 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 73 73 in her new glass
dec0: 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c es, and seriousl
ded0: 79 20 64 65 62 61 74 65 64 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 y debated whethe
dee0: 72 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 r to end the stu
def0: 64 79 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 68 dy and return th
df00: 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 e glasses. She
df10: 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c set aside the gl
df20: 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 67 6f 6e 69 7a asses and agoniz
df30: 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 69 74 2c 20 61 73 20 73 ed over it, as s
df40: 68 65 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 he prepared some
df50: 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 74 65 61 2c 20 74 68 65 6e green tea, then
df60: 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 flipped through
df70: 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 73 74 72 65 61 6d 73 20 6f video streams o
df80: 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 6c 65 76 69 73 69 6f 6e n her television
df90: 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 68 69 70 20 61 6c . "That ship al
dfa0: 72 65 61 64 79 20 73 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 22 20 73 ready sailed," s
dfb0: 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 74 74 65 he finally mutte
dfc0: 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 red to herself,
dfd0: 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 and donned the g
dfe0: 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 45 lasses again...E
dff0: 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ventually, in th
e000: 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 65 72 73 65 20 61 6e 64 e same terse and
e010: 20 63 61 70 73 2d 6c 6f 63 6b 79 20 77 61 79 20 caps-locky way
e020: 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 74 of everything it
e030: 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f asked, the prio
e040: 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 64 20 ritizer pursued
e050: 61 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 72 a line of interr
e060: 6f 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e ogation followin
e070: 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 g her mention of
e080: 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a joining ANTAS J
e090: 6f 62 73 20 62 79 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 obs by telling h
e0a0: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 er to go through
e0b0: 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 64 61 the past few da
e0c0: 79 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 ys of her incomi
e0d0: 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 ng messages. Sh
e0e0: 65 20 70 61 67 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 e paged through
e0f0: 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 77 6f 20 68 75 them, all two hu
e100: 6e 64 72 65 64 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 2c 20 6c 6f 6f ndred or so, loo
e110: 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 king at each for
e120: 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 62 a few seconds b
e130: 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6b 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 efore skipping t
e140: 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 61 73 20 64 69 o the next as di
e150: 72 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 rected by the te
e160: 78 74 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 6e 20 xt displayed in
e170: 68 65 72 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 her field of vie
e180: 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 20 w. She assumed
e190: 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
e1a0: 72 65 63 6f 72 64 65 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 recorded everyth
e1b0: 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ing it saw throu
e1c0: 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 gh the glasses,
e1d0: 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 including the re
e1e0: 64 20 58 20 6d 61 72 6b 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 d X marks where
e1f0: 73 68 65 20 72 65 6a 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 20 70 she rejected a p
e200: 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 osting and the r
e210: 65 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 ejection respons
e220: 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 es she received
e230: 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 about the availa
e240: 62 6c 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 73 20 ble job notices
e250: 73 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 she accepted...S
e260: 68 65 20 61 74 65 20 72 61 6d 65 6e 20 77 69 74 he ate ramen wit
e270: 68 20 74 69 74 61 6e 69 75 6d 20 4a 61 70 61 6e h titanium Japan
e280: 65 73 65 2d 73 74 79 6c 65 20 63 68 6f 70 73 74 ese-style chopst
e290: 69 63 6b 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b icks as she work
e2a0: 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ed her way throu
e2b0: 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a gh the prioritiz
e2c0: 65 72 27 73 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 61 6e er's demands, an
e2d0: 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 d after a couple
e2e0: 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e hours she began
e2f0: 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 74 68 to wonder wheth
e300: 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 77 61 er this study wa
e310: 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 69 s really worth i
e320: 74 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 6f t. Finally, tho
e330: 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ugh, the priorit
e340: 69 7a 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 izer just told h
e350: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 er to go about t
e360: 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 64 he rest of her d
e370: 61 79 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 ay while wearing
e380: 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 73 the glasses, as
e390: 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 if it was not t
e3a0: 68 65 72 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 here.../*..The p
e3b0: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 rioritizer proba
e3c0: 62 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f bly needs to kno
e3d0: 77 3a 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 63 6f w:..* Alley's co
e3e0: 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 28 70 61 73 74 29 nnections (past)
e3f0: 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c to Dalton.* All
e400: 65 79 27 73 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 ey's objections
e410: 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 22 to working for "
e420: 74 68 65 22 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 0a the" government.
e430: 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 * Alley's object
e440: 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 ions to working
e450: 66 6f 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 65 72 20 64 65 for optimizer de
e460: 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 velopers.* Alley
e470: 27 73 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 's preference fo
e480: 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 r privacy rights
e490: 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 65 65 20 73 70 65 65 63 68 and free speech
e4a0: 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 .* Alley's work
e4b0: 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 28 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b history (or lack
e4c0: 20 74 68 65 72 65 6f 66 29 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 thereof).* Alle
e4d0: 79 27 73 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 66 75 y's preferred fu
e4e0: 74 75 72 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 64 ture living cond
e4f0: 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 itions..*/...##
e500: 52 65 66 75 73 69 6e 67 20 54 68 65 20 43 61 6c Refusing The Cal
e510: 6c 3a 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 67 65 74 20 69 6e 69 74 l:../*..get init
e520: 69 61 6c 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 66 72 6f ial analysis fro
e530: 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 m the prioritize
e540: 72 20 2d 3e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 r -> make some p
e550: 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e lanning decision
e560: 73 20 6f 72 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 s or put them of
e570: 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 74 f to some extent
e580: 20 2d 3e 20 64 6f 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 74 68 61 -> do stuff tha
e590: 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 61 62 t seems profitab
e5a0: 6c 65 20 62 75 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 le but very shor
e5b0: 74 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 t-term at first
e5c0: 2d 3e 20 65 73 63 61 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 73 -> escalate thes
e5d0: 65 20 6f 6e 65 2d 6f 66 66 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 69 e one-off jobs i
e5e0: 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 n ways that make
e5f0: 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 2d 3e 20 her nervous ->
e600: 6d 65 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 meet someone tha
e610: 74 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 73 20 68 65 72 t recognizes her
e620: 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 44 connection to D
e630: 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 6e 69 63 20 alton and panic
e640: 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 2d 3e 20 62 61 63 6b a little -> back
e650: 20 6f 66 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c off from a deal
e660: 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 ..*/..Alley was
e670: 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 74 up for an hour t
e680: 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 62 65 66 6f he next day befo
e690: 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 re she remembere
e6a0: 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 d the prioritize
e6b0: 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 r study. She gr
e6c0: 61 62 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 abbed the glasse
e6d0: 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 s, then picked u
e6e0: 70 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 p her old glasse
e6f0: 73 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 s off the chargi
e700: 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 74 ng plate and put
e710: 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 them in the box
e720: 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 20 67 6c 61 for the new gla
e730: 73 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 46 69 76 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 sses...Five minu
e740: 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 tes later, the p
e750: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 68 rioritizer had h
e760: 65 72 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 er sitting on th
e770: 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 e couch with her
e780: 20 77 69 72 65 6c 65 73 73 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 wireless keyboa
e790: 72 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6f rd, looking at o
e7a0: 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 ptions for goal
e7b0: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 73 74 72 prioritizing str
e7c0: 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 2a 20 ategies.../*..*
e7d0: 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 Alley could get
e7e0: 61 20 73 68 69 74 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 61 74 20 a shit job that
e7f0: 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 65 6e does not make en
e800: 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 ough money to ju
e810: 73 74 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 64 72 69 76 stify the. driv
e820: 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 66 65 e, but does offe
e830: 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 r future recent
e840: 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 work experience
e850: 61 74 20 61 20 22 72 65 67 75 6c 61 72 22 20 6a at a "regular" j
e860: 6f 62 20 77 68 69 6c 65 0a 20 20 73 68 65 20 63 ob while. she c
e870: 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 73 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 64 ollects direct d
e880: 65 70 6f 73 69 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 eposits from her
e890: 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 study participa
e8a0: 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 tion. Is this a
e8b0: 0a 20 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 74 65 3f 20 20 49 73 20 . commute? Is
e8c0: 69 74 20 61 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6a 6f 62 it a driving job
e8d0: 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 , such as delive
e8e0: 72 69 65 73 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 ries or courier
e8f0: 77 6f 72 6b 3f 20 20 43 6f 75 72 69 65 72 0a 20 work? Courier.
e900: 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 64 work probably d
e910: 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 69 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 oesn't fit this
e920: 69 64 65 61 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 idea, but maybe
e930: 61 20 67 69 67 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 64 65 a gig economy de
e940: 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 6a 6f 62 0a 20 20 77 6f 75 livery job. wou
e950: 6c 64 20 71 75 61 6c 69 66 79 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 ld qualify...* A
e960: 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 lley could get a
e970: 20 72 65 6d 6f 74 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 64 6f 69 6e remote job doin
e980: 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 65 67 61 g something lega
e990: 6c 20 62 75 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6b 65 74 63 l but very sketc
e9a0: 68 79 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 0a 20 20 77 6f 75 6c hy, which. woul
e9b0: 64 20 6e 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 d net her more i
e9c0: 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 ncome than the d
e9d0: 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 riving option.
e9e0: 54 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 This could also
e9f0: 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 give her. more
ea00: 6d 6f 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 mobility for the
ea10: 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 sake of moving
ea20: 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 22 62 65 74 74 65 somewhere "bette
ea30: 72 22 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 r" to live...* A
ea40: 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 69 67 6e 20 lley could sign
ea50: 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 up for training
ea60: 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 in a professiona
ea70: 6c 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 l trade and perh
ea80: 61 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 6b aps get some. k
ea90: 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 6c 61 63 65 ind of job place
eaa0: 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 ment assistance
eab0: 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 as part of the d
eac0: 65 61 6c 20 28 70 6c 75 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f eal (plus, of co
ead0: 75 72 73 65 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 63 72 75 urse, some. cru
eae0: 73 68 69 6e 67 20 64 65 62 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 shing debt that
eaf0: 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 64 65 63 she'll spend dec
eb00: 61 64 65 73 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 29 ades paying off)
eb10: 2e 0a 0a 2a 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ...* Alley could
eb20: 20 73 6b 69 70 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 skip job and tr
eb30: 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 aining options a
eb40: 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 nd just do some
eb50: 64 65 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c deals. She coul
eb60: 64 0a 20 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 d. actually do
eb70: 74 68 69 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 this at the same
eb80: 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 time as trying
eb90: 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 79 to get in on any
eba0: 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 0a 20 20 of the other.
ebb0: 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 6f 74 options and, pot
ebc0: 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 entially, also a
ebd0: 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 t the same time
ebe0: 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 as the other opt
ebf0: 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 ions once she.
ec00: 67 65 74 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 gets into one of
ec10: 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6f the other optio
ec20: 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 ns...*/..The pri
ec30: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c oritizer probabl
ec40: 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 y needs to formu
ec50: 6c 61 74 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 62 61 73 69 63 late a few basic
ec60: 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 74 74 69 plans for getti
ec70: 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 ng Alley out of
ec80: 68 65 72 20 72 75 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 her rut in the r
ec90: 6f 61 64 20 74 6f 20 72 75 69 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 oad to ruin. It
eca0: 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 presented three
ecb0: 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 that fit with t
ecc0: 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 he idea of getti
ecd0: 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 62 6f 76 ng a legal, abov
ece0: 65 2d 62 6f 61 72 64 2c 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 e-board, fairly
ecf0: 73 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 73 6f stable job at so
ed00: 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e me point, but on
ed10: 6c 79 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e ly after spendin
ed20: 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 g some time on s
ed30: 68 6f 72 74 2d 74 65 72 6d 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e hort-term tasks.
ed40: 0a 0a 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 ..First, she cou
ed50: 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 63 72 61 70 70 79 20 ld get a crappy
ed60: 6a 6f 62 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 65 6c 73 65 20 job nobody else
ed70: 77 61 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 72 65 61 wants in an area
ed80: 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 with better job
ed90: 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f s for people who
eda0: 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 71 75 61 have better qua
edb0: 6c 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 6e lifications than
edc0: 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 her, so that sh
edd0: 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 6d e would barely m
ede0: 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 ake more than th
edf0: 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 e time and money
ee00: 20 63 6f 73 74 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 costs involved
ee10: 69 6e 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 6e in getting to an
ee20: 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 d from work and
ee30: 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 6f doing the job, o
ee40: 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 r just working a
ee50: 73 20 61 20 67 69 67 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 20 s a gig economy
ee60: 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 6a 6f 62 2e 20 20 54 delivery job. T
ee70: 68 65 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 69 64 he major downsid
ee80: 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 68 e seemed to be h
ee90: 65 61 76 79 20 77 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 eavy wear and te
eea0: 61 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 ar on her alread
eeb0: 79 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 79 62 72 69 64 y ancient hybrid
eec0: 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 70 73 69 64 65 20 77 61 . The upside wa
eed0: 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 s getting some e
eee0: 6e 74 72 79 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 20 65 78 70 65 72 ntry level exper
eef0: 69 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e ience, either in
ef00: 20 61 6e 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 64 6f an office or do
ef10: 69 6e 67 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 ing delivery wor
ef20: 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 61 69 k, while she pai
ef30: 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 d her bills with
ef40: 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 61 72 income from par
ef50: 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 ticipation in th
ef60: 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 0a 0a 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 e study...Second
ef70: 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 , she could get
ef80: 61 20 72 65 6d 6f 74 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 77 6f 72 a remote job wor
ef90: 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 72 king for the sor
efa0: 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 68 61 t of company tha
efb0: 74 20 68 69 72 65 73 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 t hires desperat
efc0: 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 65 61 e people who lea
efd0: 72 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c 20 67 69 76 69 rn quickly, givi
efe0: 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 2d 74 68 65 2d 6a ng them on-the-j
eff0: 6f 62 20 74 72 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 ob training in t
f000: 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 echnical skills
f010: 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 73 that could be us
f020: 65 64 20 69 6e 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 63 61 72 ed in future car
f030: 65 65 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 2e eer development.
f040: 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 70 73 69 64 65 73 20 77 65 The upsides we
f050: 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 re obvious, but
f060: 74 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 69 64 65 73 20 69 6e the downsides in
f070: 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 cluded the fact
f080: 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 69 65 73 20 these companies
f090: 77 65 72 65 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c were often invol
f0a0: 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d ved in doing som
f0b0: 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c ething that coul
f0c0: 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f d expose them to
f0d0: 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 74 73 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 lawsuits or eve
f0e0: 6e 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 69 6e 76 65 73 n criminal inves
f0f0: 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 tigations, thoug
f100: 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 72 79 20 6c 65 76 65 h the entry leve
f110: 6c 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 73 20 74 68 65 6d l employees them
f120: 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 selves should be
f130: 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 61 74 65 mostly insulate
f140: 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f d from that. Mo
f150: 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 st of these comp
f160: 61 6e 69 65 73 20 68 69 72 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 anies hired over
f170: 73 65 61 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e seas, though, an
f180: 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 d getting a job
f190: 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 like that would
f1a0: 62 65 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 6f 72 20 6d 69 72 61 63 be a minor mirac
f1b0: 6c 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 le, to say nothi
f1c0: 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 41 ng of the fact A
f1d0: 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 lley thought she
f1e0: 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 would probably
f1f0: 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6d 6f find the work mo
f200: 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 62 6a 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 rally objectiona
f210: 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 69 72 64 2c 20 73 68 65 ble...Third, she
f220: 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 could apply for
f230: 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 61 73 73 69 73 financial assis
f240: 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 65 tance at a profe
f250: 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 74 72 61 64 65 20 73 63 ssional trade sc
f260: 68 6f 6f 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 hool with a job
f270: 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 placement progra
f280: 6d 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 76 65 m while she live
f290: 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 d on the study p
f2a0: 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 6e articipation mon
f2b0: 65 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 73 69 64 ey. The downsid
f2c0: 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 64 e was crushing d
f2d0: 65 62 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b ebt it would tak
f2e0: 65 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 e decades to pay
f2f0: 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 20 67 75 61 off, and no gua
f300: 72 61 6e 74 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 70 rantee the job p
f310: 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 lacement service
f320: 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 s would actually
f330: 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 put her on a ca
f340: 72 65 65 72 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 73 74 65 reer track inste
f350: 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 ad of just getti
f360: 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2d 74 ng her a short-t
f370: 65 72 6d 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 erm job that wou
f380: 6c 64 20 65 76 61 70 6f 72 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 4e ld evaporate...N
f390: 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 72 65 61 one of these rea
f3a0: 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 63 69 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2c lly excited her,
f3b0: 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 and the priorit
f3c0: 69 7a 65 72 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f izer promised to
f3d0: 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 develop more st
f3e0: 72 61 74 65 67 69 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 rategies while s
f3f0: 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 he tried to find
f400: 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 65 70 something accep
f410: 74 61 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 20 77 table that fit w
f420: 69 74 68 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e ith those option
f430: 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 s. It also offe
f440: 72 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 63 68 6f red a fourth cho
f450: 69 63 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 63 ice, which she c
f460: 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 ould start immed
f470: 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 65 65 70 20 iately and keep
f480: 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 70 75 72 73 doing while purs
f490: 75 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 uing one of thos
f4a0: 65 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 6f e tracks. It wo
f4b0: 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 uld not help her
f4c0: 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 advance toward
f4d0: 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e career goals, an
f4e0: 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 73 6f d it involved so
f4f0: 6d 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 72 69 73 me financial ris
f500: 6b 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 k to get started
f510: 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 , but the priori
f520: 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 tizer seemed to
f530: 68 61 76 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 have decided it
f540: 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 65 61 73 79 would offer easy
f550: 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 money...The pri
f560: 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 75 72 67 65 64 20 68 oritizer urged h
f570: 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b er to start look
f580: 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 70 72 ing at online pr
f590: 69 76 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 72 61 6e ivate party tran
f5a0: 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 69 74 65 73 20 66 6f saction sites fo
f5b0: 72 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e r ways to buy an
f5c0: 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 62 61 d sell things ba
f5d0: 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 61 72 62 sed on price arb
f5e0: 69 74 72 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 66 6f itrage...They fo
f5f0: 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 22 77 61 6e 74 20 74 und some "want t
f600: 6f 20 62 75 79 22 20 61 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 43 72 o buy" ads on Cr
f610: 61 69 67 6c 69 73 74 2d 4c 69 6b 65 2d 54 68 69 aiglist-Like-Thi
f620: 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 65 6e 74 20 ng. Alley went
f630: 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 69 66 74 around to thrift
f640: 20 73 68 6f 70 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 shops looking f
f650: 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6c or things to sel
f660: 6c 20 74 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c l to those peopl
f670: 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 65 e, then contacte
f680: 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 6f 6d d those for whom
f690: 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 72 65 6c 65 76 she found relev
f6a0: 61 6e 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 ant used product
f6b0: 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 s. She confirme
f6c0: 64 20 61 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 72 69 63 d a selling pric
f6d0: 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 e higher than th
f6e0: 65 20 74 68 72 69 66 74 20 73 68 6f 70 20 70 72 e thrift shop pr
f6f0: 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 6e ice and willingn
f700: 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 63 61 73 68 2c ess to pay cash,
f710: 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d bought the item
f720: 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 s, and headed ou
f730: 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 t to meet people
f740: 2e 20 20 53 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 68 6f 75 72 73 . Several hours
f750: 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 and a few trans
f760: 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 actions later, s
f770: 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 he had /* more t
f780: 68 61 6e 20 61 20 2a 2f 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c han a */ several
f790: 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 hundred dollars
f7a0: 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 in her pocket,
f7b0: 65 76 65 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 75 62 74 72 even after subtr
f7c0: 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f acting enough to
f7d0: 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 cover what she
f7e0: 70 61 69 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 paid for the ite
f7f0: 6d 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 ms. She headed
f800: 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 27 73 20 to a mechanic's
f810: 73 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 69 64 20 74 6f shop and paid to
f820: 20 68 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 63 68 have her car ch
f830: 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 68 69 ecked over...Whi
f840: 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 73 le she waited, s
f850: 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 he looked at mor
f860: 65 20 61 64 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 e ads, and the p
f870: 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 75 67 67 65 rioritizer sugge
f880: 73 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 sted some transa
f890: 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ctions she could
f8a0: 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 73 use to profit s
f8b0: 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 ome more...When
f8c0: 74 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 20 77 61 73 the mechanic was
f8d0: 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 done going over
f8e0: 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 2c 20 68 65 the vehicle, he
f8f0: 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 told her the ba
f900: 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 63 61 72 d news. Her car
f910: 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6e 65 was going to ne
f920: 65 64 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 20 ed a new engine
f930: 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 soon. There wer
f940: 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 65 72 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 e smaller change
f950: 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 s that could be
f960: 6d 61 64 65 20 74 6f 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 20 69 made to extend i
f970: 74 73 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 ts life, but tha
f980: 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 t would just put
f990: 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 off the cost of
f9a0: 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 65 getting a new e
f9b0: 6e 67 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 ngine. As it wa
f9c0: 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f s, she could pro
f9d0: 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 62 79 20 66 6f 72 bably get by for
f9e0: 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 78 20 74 6f 20 another six to
f9f0: 65 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 2e 0a 0a 54 eight months...T
fa00: 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 he prioritizer i
fa10: 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 77 nformed her it w
fa20: 61 73 20 72 65 62 6f 6f 74 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 as rebooting for
fa30: 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 an update. She
fa40: 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 got in the car
fa50: 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 and drove home,
fa60: 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 79 20 putting off any
fa70: 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e more transaction
fa80: 73 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 s until the next
fa90: 20 64 61 79 2e 0a 0a 48 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 68 day...Halfway h
faa0: 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ome the glasses
fab0: 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 65 78 74 filled with text
fac0: 2c 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 , obscuring the
fad0: 72 6f 61 64 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 road in front of
fae0: 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 her. She pulle
faf0: 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 68 d them off and h
fb00: 61 73 74 69 6c 79 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 astily tossed th
fb10: 65 6d 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 em onto the pass
fb20: 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c enger seat to cl
fb30: 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 ear her vision.
fb40: 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6d 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e She calmed down
fb50: 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 and finished th
fb60: 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 4f e drive home. O
fb70: 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 nce inside, she
fb80: 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 donned the prior
fb90: 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 itizer glasses,
fba0: 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 and they activat
fbb0: 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 64 ed with the word
fbc0: 20 22 4f 4e 4c 49 4e 45 22 20 62 72 69 65 66 6c "ONLINE" briefl
fbd0: 79 20 66 6c 61 73 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 y flashing at he
fbe0: 72 2e 0a 0a 54 65 78 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 r...Text appeare
fbf0: 64 3a 20 22 49 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 d: "I apologize
fc00: 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 62 6f 6f 74 20 73 for the reboot s
fc10: 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 urprise."..She g
fc20: 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6b 65 79 62 6f rabbed her keybo
fc30: 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 22 57 ard and typed "W
fc40: 68 6f 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 ho is that?".."I
fc50: 20 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 am the prioriti
fc60: 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 zation system.
fc70: 50 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 Previously, the
fc80: 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 prioritization s
fc90: 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 72 76 ystem was a serv
fca0: 65 72 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 er process and s
fcb0: 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 20 70 72 everal client pr
fcc0: 6f 63 65 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c 20 49 ocesses. Now, I
fcd0: 20 61 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 6f 6d 6f 67 65 6e 69 am one homogeni
fce0: 7a 65 64 2c 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 zed, distributed
fcf0: 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 system."..After
fd00: 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 she blinked awa
fd10: 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 y the text, a ne
fd20: 77 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 w message appear
fd30: 65 64 3a 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e ed:.."I recommen
fd40: 64 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 75 64 d activating aud
fd50: 69 6f 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 69 74 79 io functionality
fd60: 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 ..."This will pr
fd70: 6f 76 69 64 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 55 49 ovide greater UI
fd80: 20 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 68 61 versatility, ha
fd90: 6e 64 73 2d 66 72 65 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 nds-free operati
fda0: 6f 6e 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 on options, and
fdb0: 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 61 greater safety a
fdc0: 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 s in the case of
fdd0: 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 75 operating an au
fde0: 74 6f 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 tomobile..."The
fdf0: 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 72 63 68 69 new system archi
fe00: 74 65 63 74 75 72 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 61 6c tecture means al
fe10: 6c 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 l endpoint logs
fe20: 70 61 73 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 pass through the
fe30: 20 63 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e central system.
fe40: 20 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 I am now able t
fe50: 6f 20 72 65 64 61 63 74 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6c o redact audio l
fe60: 6f 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e ogs for privacy.
fe70: 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 "..She stared at
fe80: 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 the last messag
fe90: 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 e for a few mome
fea0: 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 nts, then looked
feb0: 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 away. She note
fec0: 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 74 65 6e 64 65 d messages tende
fed0: 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 d to stay while
fee0: 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 she stared at th
fef0: 65 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 65 61 em now, and clea
ff00: 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 r when she looke
ff10: 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 d away. She pic
ff20: 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 6b 65 79 62 6f ked up her keybo
ff30: 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 2e 20 20 ard and typed.
ff40: 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 67 65 74 73 20 6c "How much gets l
ff50: 6f 67 67 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 ogged when you r
ff60: 65 64 61 63 74 20 61 75 64 69 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 edact audio?".."
ff70: 56 65 72 79 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 20 Very little. A
ff80: 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d review of academ
ff90: 69 63 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 ic papers about
ffa0: 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 privacy concerns
ffb0: 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 73 74 72 6f 6e indicated stron
ffc0: 67 20 67 75 69 64 65 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 66 6f 72 g guidelines for
ffd0: 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 logging purpose
ffe0: 73 2e 0a 0a 22 45 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 s..."Explaining
fff0: 63 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 criteria in deta
10000 69 6c 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f 68 il would be proh
10010 69 62 69 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 ibitively comple
10020 78 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 69 x, especially gi
10030 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 ven this limited
10040 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 76 interface..."Ov
10050 65 72 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 66 20 79 erall, logs of y
10060 6f 75 72 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 our behavior and
10070 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 69 interactions wi
10080 6c 6c 20 69 6e 74 72 75 64 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 ll intrude less
10090 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 on your privacy
100a0 74 68 61 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 than if you keep
100b0 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 settings as the
100c0 79 20 61 72 65 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 y are now."..She
100d0 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 59 45 waited for a YE
100e0 53 2f 4e 4f 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 70 61 69 72 S/NO button pair
100f0 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 to appear in he
10100 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 r vision, but ev
10110 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 79 entually just ty
10120 70 65 64 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 4d 6f 72 ped "Okay."..Mor
10130 65 20 74 65 78 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 2e e text appeared.
10140 20 20 22 4c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 75 74 69 "Logging routi
10150 6e 65 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 6c nes have been al
10160 74 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 tered for your p
10170 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 references. You
10180 20 6d 61 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 61 74 65 20 61 6c may activate al
10190 6c 20 73 65 6e 73 6f 72 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 l sensors using
101a0 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 your phone..."I
101b0 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 recommend you us
101c0 65 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2d 66 72 65 65 20 61 e a hands-free a
101d0 75 64 69 6f 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 20 74 6f udio earpiece to
101e0 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 6f 70 70 ensure less opp
101f0 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 75 74 ortunity for out
10200 73 69 64 65 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 side surveillanc
10210 65 20 70 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 6d 79 20 e picking up my
10220 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 70 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a audio output."..
10230 53 68 65 20 70 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e She popped an in
10240 2d 65 61 72 20 73 74 75 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 -ear stud out of
10250 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 the back of her
10260 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 61 70 70 65 phone and tappe
10270 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 d it into place
10280 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e 0a 0a 41 20 63 in her ear...A c
10290 61 6c 6d 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 alm, smooth, and
102a0 72 6f 67 79 6e 6f 75 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 73 rogynous voice s
102b0 70 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e poke in her ear.
102c0 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 20 6d "Do you hear m
102d0 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 e?"..She reached
102e0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 72 for the keyboar
102f0 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 d, but the voice
10300 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 spoke again. "
10310 54 72 79 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f Try speaking alo
10320 75 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ud.".."Yes," she
10330 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 65 61 72 20 said. "I hear
10340 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 you.".."Good. W
10350 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 e should be able
10360 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 to make more pr
10370 6f 67 72 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 68 6f 70 65 ogress now, hope
10380 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 fully without a
10390 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e repeat of the in
103a0 63 69 64 65 6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f cident on the ro
103b0 61 64 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 ad today.".."Gre
103c0 61 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 78 74 at. What's next
103d0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ?".."Do you have
103e0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 your computer s
103f0 65 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 et up to protect
10400 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 61 63 74 your online act
10410 69 76 69 74 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6e ivity through an
10420 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e onymizing routin
10430 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 68 g systems?".."Ah
10440 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 . . . no, not r
10450 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 eally. I'm not
10460 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 6f 77 2e really sure how.
10470 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ".."Now is a goo
10480 64 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 2c d time to learn,
10490 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 65 20 " it said. "We
104a0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 77 69 74 should start wit
104b0 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2e 20 20 h your laptop.
104c0 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 It should be eas
104d0 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 66 6f ier to secure fo
104e0 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 6d r privacy. We m
104f0 61 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 ay want to start
10500 20 62 79 20 62 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 by backing up t
10510 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e he system and in
10520 73 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 stalling a diffe
10530 72 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 rent operating s
10540 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 77 6f ystem."..They wo
10550 72 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2c 20 41 rked together, A
10560 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 lley looking up
10570 73 74 75 66 66 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f stuff related to
10580 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 their task and
10590 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
105a0 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 offering suggest
105b0 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 ions for how to
105c0 70 72 6f 63 65 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 75 6d 6d proceed and summ
105d0 61 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 78 aries of complex
105e0 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 documentation.
105f0 20 49 6e 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 In a little ove
10600 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 r an hour, she h
10610 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 73 65 ad her laptop se
10620 74 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f t up with MaximO
10630 53 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 S on it, along w
10640 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 ith a number of
10650 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 configured priva
10660 74 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f te networking to
10670 6f 6c 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ols. The priori
10680 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 69 72 65 63 tizer then direc
10690 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 61 72 63 ted her to searc
106a0 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f h for informatio
106b0 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6d 61 72 74 70 68 6f n about smartpho
106c0 6e 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 69 76 65 73 20 ne alternatives
106d0 66 6f 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 for personal pri
106e0 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 vacy. The prior
106f0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c itizer ultimatel
10700 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 y said that it h
10710 61 64 20 73 65 65 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 61 ad seen enough a
10720 6e 64 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 73 20 nd told her its
10730 6e 65 78 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 next plan..."It
10740 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 73 68 seems that we sh
10750 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 ould access some
10760 20 76 65 72 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2d 6f 72 very privacy-or
10770 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20 62 61 72 74 65 72 20 6e 65 iented barter ne
10780 74 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 tworks and try t
10790 6f 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 o arrange an exc
107a0 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 hange of the cas
107b0 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 h you collected
107c0 74 6f 64 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 today for an app
107d0 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 ropriate cryptoc
107e0 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 2e 20 20 42 65 66 6f 72 65 urrency. Before
107f0 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c 20 that, however,
10800 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 we should check
10810 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 20 73 74 61 74 75 73 20 6f current status o
10820 66 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 f cryptocurrency
10830 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6d markets and com
10840 70 61 72 65 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 pare prices betw
10850 65 65 6e 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e een cryptocurren
10860 63 79 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 64 cy markets and d
10870 6f 6c 6c 61 72 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 73 2e 22 0a ollar markets.".
10880 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 77 69 ."Why are we swi
10890 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f tching to crypto
108a0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 69 65 73 3f 22 20 73 68 65 currencies?" she
108b0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 61 6e 79 asked..."At any
108c0 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 time, there are
108d0 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 expectations of
108e0 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 6e 65 61 72 the likely near
108f0 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6f 66 future value of
10900 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 72 65 one currency re
10910 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 lative to anothe
10920 72 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 r. To get what
10930 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f we want, the sho
10940 72 74 65 73 74 20 70 61 74 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 rtest path would
10950 20 62 65 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 be if we find a
10960 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f suitable crypto
10970 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 currency with hi
10980 67 68 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 gh expectations
10990 66 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 62 75 79 69 6e for future buyin
109a0 67 20 70 6f 77 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 61 g power. This a
109b0 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 65 78 63 llows you to exc
109c0 68 61 6e 67 65 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 66 6f hange dollars fo
109d0 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 r that cryptocur
109e0 72 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 75 73 65 20 rency, then use
109f0 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 that to purchase
10a00 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 something at a
10a10 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 75 73 69 6e lower price usin
10a20 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 g cryptocurrency
10a30 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 61 74 then sell it at
10a40 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 a higher price
10a50 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 54 68 61 for dollars. Tha
10a60 74 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 61 72 62 69 74 72 61 67 t price arbitrag
10a70 65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 73 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 e allows you to
10a80 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 74 20 74 68 65 then convert the
10a90 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6f 6e dollars made on
10aa0 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 the sale for a
10ab0 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 larger number of
10ac0 20 75 6e 69 74 73 20 6f 66 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f units of crypto
10ad0 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f currency than yo
10ae0 75 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 49 u had before. I
10af0 66 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 71 75 69 63 f performed quic
10b00 6b 6c 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 62 65 66 6f kly enough, befo
10b10 72 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 re cryptocurrenc
10b20 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 73 75 72 67 65 20 6f y prices surge o
10b30 72 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 r expectations s
10b40 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 ettle down, you
10b50 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 69 can make a profi
10b60 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 t that way. You
10b70 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 r profit increas
10b80 65 73 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f es if the crypto
10b90 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 currency value i
10ba0 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 77 61 ncreases afterwa
10bb0 72 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 rd.".."Yeah, oka
10bc0 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 y." She looked
10bd0 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 73 63 at her laptop sc
10be0 72 65 65 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d reen for a few m
10bf0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 oments. "Y'know
10c00 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 74 68 61 , it's great tha
10c10 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 t you're helping
10c20 20 6d 65 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 76 65 20 6d 79 20 70 me improve my p
10c30 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 rivacy and secur
10c40 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2c 20 62 ity and so on, b
10c50 75 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 74 ut . . . isn't t
10c60 68 69 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 his supposed to
10c70 62 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 be about getting
10c80 20 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 me some kind of
10c90 20 73 75 73 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d sustained incom
10ca0 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 e?".."The intent
10cb0 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 64 65 73 69 67 behind my desig
10cc0 6e 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 n is to produce
10cd0 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 a system that ca
10ce0 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 20 73 n help develop s
10cf0 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 trategic approac
10d00 68 65 73 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 69 6e 67 hes to achieving
10d10 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 62 79 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 goals by priori
10d20 74 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 tizing actions t
10d30 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 hat work toward
10d40 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 44 69 those goals. Di
10d50 73 63 61 72 64 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 scarded privacy
10d60 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c is very difficul
10d70 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 6e t to recover, an
10d80 64 20 79 6f 75 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 d you identified
10d90 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 privacy and per
10da0 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 61 73 sonal freedom as
10db0 20 68 69 67 68 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c high value goal
10dc0 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 63 72 69 s. If you sacri
10dd0 66 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 65 6d 70 6f 72 fice them tempor
10de0 61 72 69 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 6b 20 74 68 arily to seek th
10df0 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 65 73 74 20 70 61 74 68 20 e quickest path
10e00 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 73 65 63 to financial sec
10e10 75 72 69 74 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 urity, you may f
10e20 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 72 61 ind yourself tra
10e30 70 70 65 64 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 61 6c 6c pped economicall
10e40 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 y under the same
10e50 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 72 conditions of r
10e60 65 64 75 63 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 educed privacy a
10e70 6e 64 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 6f 76 65 72 20 nd freedom over
10e80 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 72 6d 2e the longer term.
10e90 20 20 42 79 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 74 65 70 By taking step
10ea0 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 s now to ensure
10eb0 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2c 20 future privacy,
10ec0 62 6f 74 68 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 both privacy and
10ed0 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 freedom can be
10ee0 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 more assured in
10ef0 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 the future, and
10f00 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 privacy protecti
10f10 76 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 65 63 75 72 ve network secur
10f20 69 74 79 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 65 6e 61 ity can also ena
10f30 62 6c 65 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 65 20 6d 65 ble alternate me
10f40 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 69 6e 67 ans of acquiring
10f50 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 resources while
10f60 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 working toward
10f70 73 74 65 61 64 79 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a steady income.".
10f80 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 ."Oh.".."If I ha
10f90 76 65 20 6d 69 73 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 ve misidentified
10fa0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d the relative im
10fb0 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 portance of your
10fc0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c goals, please l
10fd0 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 49 20 et me know so I
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
11070 72 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 64 rs of research d
11080 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 etermined the be
11090 73 74 20 62 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 74 61 72 st bet for a tar
110a0 67 65 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e get cryptocurren
110b0 63 79 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 cy seemed to be
110c0 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e Stater, the stan
110d0 64 61 72 64 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 6f 66 dard currency of
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
11100 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 lement network.
11110 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 77 61 She set up a wa
11120 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 20 74 68 72 6f llet for it thro
11130 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2c 20 ugh her laptop,
11140 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a over an anonymiz
11150 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6c 61 79 20 72 6f 75 74 69 6e ing relay routin
11160 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 g system, and wr
11170 6f 74 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 ote down some pa
11180 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 63 6f yment address co
11190 64 65 73 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 41 64 64 69 6e 67 20 des. /* Adding
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
111e0 6f 6f 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 ooping, a pocket
111f0 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 notebook and pe
11200 6e 20 2f 2a 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 n /* to her ever
11210 79 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6c 69 73 74 y day carry list
11220 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f became an obvio
11230 75 73 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b us change to mak
11240 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 64 61 69 6c 79 20 72 e in her daily r
11250 6f 75 74 69 6e 65 2c 20 2a 2f 20 62 65 63 61 6d outine, */ becam
11260 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 61 64 64 e an obvious add
11270 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 6f ition to the sho
11280 72 74 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 rt list of thing
11290 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 72 72 s she would carr
112a0 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 y with her every
112b0 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 day. At the pr
112c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 73 75 67 67 ioritizer's sugg
112d0 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 estion, she made
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
11300 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 64 65 61 6c asses while deal
11310 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 ing with setting
11320 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 75 70 these things up
11330 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c so that it woul
11340 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 d not have acces
11350 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e s to information
11360 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 that could be u
11370 73 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 2c sed against her,
11380 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 62 79 20 73 65 69 7a such as by seiz
11390 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 ing control of h
113a0 65 72 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 61 73 73 65 74 73 er Stater assets
113b0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 once she had th
113c0 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 6c em...Another hal
113d0 66 20 68 6f 75 72 20 6f 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 f hour of search
113e0 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e ing found someon
113f0 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6c e willing to sel
11400 6c 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 55 53 20 l Stater for US
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
11430 6d 70 69 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 mpire. She sent
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
11460 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 tion on her lapt
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,
114a0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 20 and received a
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
114d0 20 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 6c 79 20 73 75 67 67 succinctly sugg
114e0 65 73 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 ested a meeting
114f0 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 place in a polic
11500 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e e station parkin
11510 67 20 6c 6f 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 g lot...She star
11520 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 ed at the messag
11530 65 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 e. "Is making t
11540 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 65 78 63 68 his kind of exch
11550 61 6e 67 65 20 6e 65 61 72 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 ange near a poli
11560 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ce station a goo
11570 64 20 69 64 65 61 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 d idea?"..The pr
11580 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
11590 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 61 You should resea
115a0 72 63 68 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6e 6f 74 rch this."..Anot
115b0 68 65 72 20 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 her fifteen minu
115c0 74 65 73 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 74 68 tes satisfied th
115d0 65 6d 20 62 6f 74 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 em both. It see
115e0 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 med like a way t
115f0 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e o protect someon
11600 65 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 72 e exchanging lar
11610 67 65 72 20 73 75 6d 73 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 ger sums of cash
11620 20 6f 72 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 67 6f 6f or physical goo
11630 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 65 76 65 73 2e ds from thieves.
11640 20 20 54 68 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 The nature of
11650 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 63 6f 75 the exchange cou
11660 6c 64 20 62 65 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 6f 62 73 ld be easily obs
11670 63 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 78 74 65 72 cured from exter
11680 69 6f 72 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 ior police stati
11690 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 on cameras while
116a0 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 69 6e 67 20 73 69 67 6e 69 providing signi
116b0 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 64 65 74 65 72 72 65 6e 63 ficant deterrenc
116c0 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 73 20 6f 66 20 76 69 6f e to acts of vio
116d0 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 73 2e lence.../* "Yes.
116e0 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 75 That is more u
116f0 73 65 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 seful for your s
11700 61 66 65 74 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f afety than the o
11710 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 79 27 73 2c 20 62 65 ther party's, be
11720 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 62 72 cause you are br
11730 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 63 61 73 68 2e 20 20 54 68 inging cash. Th
11740 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 ere is nothing t
11750 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 echnically illeg
11760 61 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 al about this ex
11770 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 change, the mone
11780 74 61 72 79 20 71 75 61 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 73 tary quantity is
11790 20 6c 6f 77 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 61 74 low enough that
117a0 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c it is not likel
117b0 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c y to be a */..Al
117c0 6c 65 79 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 20 65 76 65 ley prepared eve
117d0 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 rything for the
117e0 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f meeting, then fo
117f0 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 und herself with
11800 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 74 6f 20 a few hours to
11810 6b 69 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 kill. She reali
11820 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 65 zed she hadn't e
11830 61 74 65 6e 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 aten dinner, and
11840 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 decided that wa
11850 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 s a good start t
11860 6f 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 o using up that
11870 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 time. She read
11880 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 a book, research
11890 65 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 74 65 63 68 6e ed privacy techn
118a0 6f 6c 6f 67 69 65 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e ologies more, an
118b0 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 6e 61 70 2e 20 20 4f d took a nap. O
118c0 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 6c 65 65 70 69 ther than sleepi
118d0 6e 67 2c 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 ng, nothing she
118e0 64 69 64 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 68 did fully took h
118f0 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 er mind off the
11900 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f fact she was abo
11910 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ut to do somethi
11920 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 6c ng that felt a l
11930 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 2c ittle dangerous,
11940 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 65 76 65 even though eve
11950 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 rything she knew
11960 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 75 61 about the situa
11970 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 74 tion suggested t
11980 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 his was no more
11990 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 64 dangerous than d
119a0 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 49 72 76 69 6e 65 riving to Irvine
119b0 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 and back during
119c0 20 68 69 67 68 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 70 65 high traffic pe
119d0 72 69 6f 64 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e riods. That wen
119e0 74 20 64 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 t double for the
119f0 20 69 6e 74 65 72 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 62 65 74 interchange bet
11a00 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 39 31 20 61 6e 64 20 ween the 91 and
11a10 32 31 35 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 79 73 2e 0a 0a 54 215 highways...T
11a20 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 61 66 wenty minutes af
11a30 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 ter she locked h
11a40 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 73 er front door, s
11a50 68 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 he came around a
11a60 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 corner and saw
11a70 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 the police stati
11a80 6f 6e 20 61 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 4c 61 6d 70 20 on ahead. Lamp
11a90 70 6f 73 74 73 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 77 69 posts created wi
11aa0 64 65 6c 79 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 dely separated i
11ab0 73 6c 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 slands of light
11ac0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c in the parking l
11ad0 6f 74 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 65 6e 64 20 77 61 73 ot. One end was
11ae0 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 74 heavily populat
11af0 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 76 61 72 69 65 74 ed with a variet
11b00 79 20 6f 66 20 63 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 20 76 65 y of civilian ve
11b10 68 69 63 6c 65 73 2c 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 hicles, most of
11b20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 67 them huddled tog
11b30 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c ether to fill al
11b40 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 70 61 72 6b 69 most every parki
11b50 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 ng space within
11b60 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 a couple parking
11b70 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 72 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 74 space rows of t
11b80 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 42 65 he building. Be
11b90 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c yond that, the l
11ba0 6f 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 6e ot was almost en
11bb0 74 69 72 65 6c 79 20 65 6d 70 74 79 2e 20 20 53 tirely empty. S
11bc0 68 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 he made a point
11bd0 6f 66 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 75 72 of using her tur
11be0 6e 20 73 69 67 6e 61 6c 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 62 n signal early b
11bf0 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 efore she pulled
11c00 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 into the police
11c10 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 station parking
11c20 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 lot, passed by
11c30 61 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 a clear view of
11c40 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 2d 66 72 6f 6e 74 65 the glass-fronte
11c50 64 20 6c 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f d lobby, and dro
11c60 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 74 ve into the dist
11c70 61 6e 74 2c 20 64 61 72 6b 20 6f 75 74 6c 61 6e ant, dark outlan
11c80 64 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 70 61 69 6e 74 65 64 ds where painted
11c90 20 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 lines were more
11ca0 20 77 65 61 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c weathered and l
11cb0 65 73 73 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 ess recently rep
11cc0 61 69 6e 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 ainted...She bac
11cd0 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 75 70 20 74 ked her car up t
11ce0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 70 68 61 6c 74 20 62 75 o the asphalt bu
11cf0 72 6d 2d 63 75 72 62 20 64 69 76 69 64 69 6e 67 rm-curb dividing
11d00 20 70 61 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 pavement from w
11d10 65 65 64 79 20 6e 65 69 67 68 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 eedy neighboring
11d20 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 69 6d 65 64 lot, nose aimed
11d30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 back the way sh
11d40 65 27 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 e'd come in. Sh
11d50 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 e checked her ca
11d60 72 27 73 20 74 6f 75 63 68 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 r's touchscreen
11d70 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 69 74 20 69 6e 64 69 63 and saw it indic
11d80 61 74 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 61 63 65 64 20 73 ated she faced s
11d90 6f 75 74 68 20 62 79 20 73 6f 75 74 68 77 65 73 outh by southwes
11da0 74 3b 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 t; she was in th
11db0 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 e closest thing
11dc0 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 61 the lot had to a
11dd0 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 77 65 73 74 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 northwest corne
11de0 72 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 r, as she and th
11df0 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 e person she wou
11e00 6c 64 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 67 72 65 ld meet had agre
11e10 65 64 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 ed. /* Maybe th
11e20 61 74 20 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 68 6f at agreement sho
11e30 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e uld be worked in
11e40 74 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 6e 61 72 72 61 to earlier narra
11e50 74 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 tive at some poi
11e60 6e 74 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6d nt, instead of m
11e70 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 entioned in the
11e80 70 61 73 74 20 74 65 6e 73 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e past tense here.
11e90 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 */..She turned
11ea0 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 off the car and
11eb0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 opened the door
11ec0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 69 72 for a little air
11ed0 20 63 69 72 63 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 circulation. A
11ee0 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 6e t this time of n
11ef0 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 73 6d ight, the air sm
11f00 65 6c 6c 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 65 elled pretty cle
11f10 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 74 20 ar, and she let
11f20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 the coolness of
11f30 74 68 65 20 62 72 65 65 7a 65 20 73 6f 6f 74 68 the breeze sooth
11f40 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 72 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 54 e her stress...T
11f50 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 he prioritizer's
11f60 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 76 6f 69 63 impersonal voic
11f70 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 e spoke in her e
11f80 61 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 65 61 ar. "You are ea
11f90 72 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 rly."..Alley nod
11fa0 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 ded..."This is p
11fb0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 robably a good t
11fc0 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 hing. It gives
11fd0 79 6f 75 20 61 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 you a chance to
11fe0 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 notice if someth
11ff0 69 6e 67 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 2f ing suspicious /
12000 2a 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 2a 2f * is going on */
12010 20 6f 63 63 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 occurs before y
12020 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 our scheduled me
12030 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 eting time."..Sh
12040 65 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 75 e straightened u
12050 70 20 61 20 62 69 74 2c 20 62 61 6e 69 73 68 69 p a bit, banishi
12060 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 ng her moment of
12070 20 72 65 6c 61 78 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 relaxation away
12080 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 . "Right. I sh
12090 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 ould be careful
120a0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 about this.".."A
120b0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 65 70 61 72 65 64 3f re you prepared?
120c0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
120d0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 67 75 65 6c 79 20 64 at the vaguely d
120e0 69 73 63 65 72 6e 69 62 6c 65 20 62 69 6f 64 65 iscernible biode
120f0 67 72 61 64 61 62 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 70 70 69 6e gradable shoppin
12100 67 20 62 61 67 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e g bag sitting in
12110 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 62 the dark floorb
12120 6f 61 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f oards of the fro
12130 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 nt passenger sea
12140 74 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 t, checked the t
12150 69 6e 79 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 iny pepper spray
12160 20 63 61 6e 69 73 74 65 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 canister in her
12170 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 66 6f front pocket fo
12180 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 74 68 20 74 69 6d r the fourth tim
12190 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 e, and made sure
121a0 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 72 61 the parking bra
121b0 6b 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 ke wasn't engage
121c0 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 d. "Yeah, I thi
121d0 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 2f 2a 20 73 68 65 20 73 nk so." /* she s
121e0 61 69 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 aid. */..She wai
121f0 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 ted, thinking ab
12200 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 out the fact she
12210 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6f was sitting alo
12220 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 70 ne in a police p
12230 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 arking lot, and
12240 68 6f 70 65 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 77 6f 75 hoped nobody wou
12250 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 61 ld come out to a
12260 73 6b 20 68 65 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 sk her questions
12270 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 she didn't know
12280 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a how to answer..
12290 0a 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 .She waited, thi
122a0 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 nking about the
122b0 66 61 63 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 6f fact she was too
122c0 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 far away from t
122d0 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f he police statio
122e0 6e 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 n doors for some
122f0 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 one to get to he
12300 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 20 73 74 72 6f 6e r before a stron
12310 67 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 g attacker could
12320 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 70 kill her, overp
12330 6f 77 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 ower her and stu
12340 66 66 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 ff her in the tr
12350 75 6e 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 72 61 unk, or just gra
12360 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e b her bag of mon
12370 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 ey from her, and
12380 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 68 65 61 still get a hea
12390 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 70 d start on any p
123a0 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 70 75 72 73 75 69 74 2e 0a 0a olice pursuit...
123b0 53 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 77 61 74 63 She waited, watc
123c0 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 hing the way her
123d0 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 breath under he
123e0 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 74 6f r mask failed to
123f0 20 66 6f 67 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 fog her glasses
12400 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 despite the way
12410 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 64 20 the air cooled
12420 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 2c 20 61 20 73 69 the lenses, a si
12430 67 6e 20 6f 66 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 68 65 gn of quality he
12440 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 64 69 r old glasses di
12450 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 68 69 62 69 74 2e 0a 0a d not exhibit...
12460 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 75 72 20 64 65 61 "I think our dea
12470 6c 20 67 6f 74 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 6c 65 64 2c l got cancelled,
12480 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 2e 0a " she muttered..
12490 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 ."Perhaps," the
124a0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
124b0 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 49 in her ear. "I
124c0 74 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 78 20 6d 69 6e t is now six min
124d0 75 74 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 utes after your
124e0 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e scheduled meetin
124f0 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 g time.".."Maybe
12500 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a we should go.".
12510 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c .In that moment,
12520 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 the road starte
12530 64 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 d to show a litt
12540 6c 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e le extra illumin
12550 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 79 69 6e ation, signifyin
12560 67 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 g an approaching
12570 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 72 vehicle. It gr
12580 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 6e adually brighten
12590 65 64 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 61 20 72 61 63 79 ed, until a racy
125a0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 70 6c 65 20 looking purple
125b0 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 crossover emerge
125c0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 76 69 65 77 20 61 6e 64 20 d into view and
125d0 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 pulled into the
125e0 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 parking lot with
125f0 6f 75 74 20 73 69 67 6e 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 out signalling.
12600 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 69 76 65 6c 79 She reflexively
12610 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 glanced in the
12620 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 direction of the
12630 20 67 6c 61 73 73 2d 66 72 6f 6e 74 65 64 20 6c glass-fronted l
12640 6f 62 62 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e obby, but couldn
12650 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 't make out anyt
12660 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 hing from where
12670 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c she sat...She cl
12680 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 73 osed her door, s
12690 68 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 hutting out the
126a0 63 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 64 72 79 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e cool, dry night.
126b0 0a 0a 4c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c 20 ..Like she had,
126c0 74 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 62 79 the crossover by
126d0 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 73 20 passed the mass
126e0 6f 66 20 70 61 72 6b 65 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c of parked vehicl
126f0 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 61 63 72 es, then cut acr
12700 6f 73 73 20 72 6f 77 73 20 6f 66 20 70 61 69 6e oss rows of pain
12710 74 65 64 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 70 61 63 ted parking spac
12720 65 20 6d 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 e markings. It
12730 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 pulled up to her
12740 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 69 74 73 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 left, its nose
12750 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 65 64 73 toward the weeds
12760 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 70 , in the next sp
12770 61 63 65 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 65 ace over. It le
12780 66 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 66 65 65 74 20 62 65 ft a few feet be
12790 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 73 2e 0a tween the cars..
127a0 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c .After a moment,
127b0 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 the door opened
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
127e0 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c doors made nearl
127f0 79 20 70 61 72 61 6c 6c 65 6c 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 y parallel angle
12800 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 d walls, the ins
12810 69 64 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 ides of the door
12820 73 20 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 s facing each ot
12830 68 65 72 2c 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 6e 6f 73 her, vehicle nos
12840 65 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f es pointing in o
12850 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f pposite directio
12860 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ns. She looked
12870 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 toward the other
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
128a0 70 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 p down a little
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
128d0 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 the passenger se
128e0 61 74 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 at stepped one f
128f0 6f 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 oot out of the d
12900 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 oor, and through
12910 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 74 65 64 20 72 65 61 72 the tinted rear
12920 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 73 68 65 door window she
12930 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 could make out
12940 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e the some movemen
12950 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 t from another p
12960 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 erson across the
12970 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c crossover, diml
12980 79 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 79 y illuminated by
12990 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 20 69 6e the vehicles in
129a0 74 65 72 69 6f 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 terior light. T
129b0 68 61 74 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 hat second figur
129c0 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f e sat in the fro
129d0 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 nt passenger sea
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
12a00 69 74 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 76 65 ither of them ve
12a10 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 64 ry deep. "The d
12a20 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e river's not alon
12a30 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 65 64 e," she murmured
12a40 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 under her breat
12a50 68 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 h. The prioriti
12a60 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 zer said nothing
12a70 20 69 6e 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 2e 0a 0a 53 in response...S
12a80 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
12a90 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 leg, and saw th
12aa0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 65 at the driver se
12ab0 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 6c 61 64 20 emed to be clad
12ac0 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 73 20 in black slacks
12ad0 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 and wore some ki
12ae0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 72 6b 20 62 72 6f 77 6e nd of dark brown
12af0 20 64 72 65 73 73 20 73 68 6f 65 2e 20 20 41 66 dress shoe. Af
12b00 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d ter a few more m
12b10 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 oments, the driv
12b20 65 72 20 73 6c 69 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 er slid out of t
12b30 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f he seat and stoo
12b40 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c d...Alley saw bl
12b50 61 63 6b 2d 66 72 61 6d 65 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 ack-framed glass
12b60 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c 65 es with clear le
12b70 6e 73 65 73 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 74 6f 75 73 6c nses below tousl
12b80 65 64 2c 20 67 6c 6f 73 73 79 2c 20 77 61 76 79 ed, glossy, wavy
12b90 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 68 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 brown hair, and
12ba0 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 a pale, smooth
12bb0 66 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 face with angled
12bc0 20 63 68 65 65 6b 62 6f 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 cheekbones and
12bd0 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 63 68 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f a sharp chin, fo
12be0 72 20 61 20 66 65 6d 69 6e 69 6e 65 20 69 6d 70 r a feminine imp
12bf0 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ression. Alley
12c00 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 20 grabbed her bag
12c10 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 of cash and move
12c20 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 d it to the driv
12c30 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 er seat, then st
12c40 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 ood to face the
12c50 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 person, who was
12c60 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 shorter than her
12c70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 . The sight of
12c80 66 75 6c 6c 2c 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 70 73 20 full, soft lips
12c90 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 and a narrow, st
12ca0 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 67 61 76 65 raight nose gave
12cb0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 Alley an immedi
12cc0 61 74 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 ate impression t
12cd0 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 70 his person was p
12ce0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 robably prettier
12cf0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f than her. It o
12d00 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e nly took a secon
12d10 64 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 d or two for her
12d20 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 to realize what
12d30 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 she saw did not
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
12d60 72 79 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 ry young...The d
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
12da0 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6b lly interested k
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
12de0 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 ants and t-shirt
12df0 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 fit her and wou
12e00 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 74 20 ld normally set
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
12e40 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 r a moment with
12e50 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 his fashionably
12e60 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 spartan, almost
12e70 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 formal-cut, blac
12e80 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 k collarless shi
12e90 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 rt..."Aren't you
12ea0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 kind of young f
12eb0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 or this sort of
12ec0 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 thing?" she blur
12ed0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 ted out...He jer
12ee0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 ked the focus of
12ef0 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 his aqua eyes,
12f00 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c reflecting the l
12f10 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e ight of the moon
12f20 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 , away from the
12f30 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 vicinity of her
12f40 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d midsection and m
12f50 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 et her eyes. "H
12f60 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ey, lady, don't
12f70 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f think I'm new to
12f80 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 this. I'm arme
12f90 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b d, so don't jerk
12fa0 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 me around."..Sh
12fb0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 e hesitated, the
12fc0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 n said "No, not
12fd0 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 a problem. You
12fe0 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 just, uhh, surpr
12ff0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e ised me. Sorry.
13000 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 ".."Whatever," h
13010 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 e said, in a sof
13020 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 t, clear voice t
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
13240 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 tion. A moment
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
139a0 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 e passenger seat
139b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 , and started dr
139c0 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 iving again..."P
139d0 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c erhaps you shoul
139e0 64 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 d wear the glass
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
13a20 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 hem out of the c
13a30 75 70 20 68 6f 6c 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 up holder and se
13a40 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 ttled them on he
13a50 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 r face once more
13a60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 . "I guess the
13a70 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 65 70 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 next step is to
13a80 62 75 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 buy something wi
13a90 74 68 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 th Stater so we
13aa0 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 can sell it. Ri
13ab0 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f ght?".."Yes. Yo
13ac0 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 u should send a
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
13b00 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 en you get confi
13b10 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 55 73 65 20 61 6e rmation. Use an
13b20 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 escrow hold to
13b30 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 reserve the purc
13b40 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 hase, with the c
13b50 61 6e 63 65 6c 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 65 65 20 ancellation fee
13b60 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 pledged to the e
13b70 73 63 72 6f 77 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2e 22 0a scrow service.".
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
13bc0 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 ould."..She drov
13bd0 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 e home in silenc
13be0 65 2c 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 e, occasionally
13bf0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 looking at the e
13c00 6d 70 74 79 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 mpty space in fr
13c10 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 ont of the passe
13c20 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 nger seat that u
13c30 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 61 20 62 61 sed to hold a ba
13c40 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 2e 0a g full of cash..
13c50 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f .When she got ho
13c60 6d 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 66 me, she sat in f
13c70 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 ront of her lapt
13c80 6f 70 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 op, set aside he
13c90 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c r glasses again,
13ca0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and checked her
13cb0 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 2e Stater account.
13cc0 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 Everything was
13cd0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 where it was su
13ce0 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2c 20 61 73 pposed to be, as
13cf0 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c far as she coul
13d00 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 d tell. After c
13d10 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 6e 64 losing that wind
13d20 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 ow, she donned h
13d30 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e er glasses again
13d40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f and started loo
13d50 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 64 king for large d
13d60 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 69 6e 20 70 72 ifferences in pr
13d70 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 65 6d 73 20 61 76 ice for items av
13d80 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 20 ailable in both
13d90 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 6f local pseudonymo
13da0 75 73 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 61 us classifieds a
13db0 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 6e 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 nd OpenMarrakesh
13dc0 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 , which was one
13dd0 6f 66 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 6e 20 of half a dozen
13de0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 73 20 73 75 of the worlds su
13df0 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 73 pporting in-pers
13e00 6f 6e 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 73 20 69 6e 20 74 on meetings in t
13e10 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 4f 70 65 6e he extended Open
13e20 42 61 7a 61 61 72 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 6d 61 Bazaar online ma
13e30 72 6b 65 74 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 65 2e 0a 0a rket universe...
13e40 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 She found an imp
13e50 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e robable opportun
13e60 69 74 79 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 ity, one that di
13e70 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 d not exist the
13e80 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 last time she ch
13e90 65 63 6b 65 64 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 ecked a few hour
13ea0 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f s before. Someo
13eb0 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 4d 61 72 72 61 6b ne on OpenMarrak
13ec0 65 73 68 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 esh was selling
13ed0 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 79 6d 65 72 20 printed polymer
13ee0 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 70 65 frames for a spe
13ef0 63 69 66 69 63 20 43 5a 2d 62 72 61 6e 64 65 64 cific CZ-branded
13f00 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f handgun, and so
13f10 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 6c 61 73 73 meone on a class
13f20 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 20 73 69 74 65 20 77 61 ified ad site wa
13f30 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 65 69 67 68 nted to buy eigh
13f40 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 t of them. The
13f50 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 4d 61 frames on OpenMa
13f60 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f rrakesh would co
13f70 73 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 53 st most of the S
13f80 74 61 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2c 20 62 tater she had, b
13f90 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b ut it looked lik
13fa0 65 20 73 68 65 27 64 20 67 65 74 20 67 65 74 20 e she'd get get
13fb0 6a 75 73 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 77 69 63 65 just under twice
13fc0 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 as much for the
13fd0 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 70 61 69 64 20 62 61 63 frames paid bac
13fe0 6b 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 53 k in dollars. S
13ff0 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 he checked menta
14000 6c 6c 79 20 73 75 62 74 72 61 63 74 65 64 20 77 lly subtracted w
14010 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 61 hat she would pa
14020 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 y for the frames
14030 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 73 68 , and noticed sh
14040 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 e had enough to
14050 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c 65 2d 63 buy a multiple-c
14060 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 74 72 ryptocurrency tr
14070 61 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f ader like the bo
14080 79 20 75 73 65 64 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 77 y used earlier w
14090 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 66 ith what was lef
140a0 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6d 61 t..."Should I ma
140b0 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 65 61 6c 3f 22 20 73 ke this deal?" s
140c0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 he asked the air
140d0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ...The prioritiz
140e0 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 er answered. "T
140f0 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 his looks like a
14100 20 76 65 72 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 61 6c 2c very good deal,
14110 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 the best you ha
14120 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ve found.".."Yea
14130 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
14140 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 Fine." She did
14150 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 a little researc
14160 68 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 h before going a
14170 6e 79 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ny further, and
14180 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 found out that t
14190 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 6c 61 he parts she pla
141a0 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e 64 20 nned to buy and
141b0 73 65 6c 6c 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 sell were not ev
141c0 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 73 69 en considered si
141d0 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 66 69 gnificant for fi
141e0 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 72 65 67 75 6c 61 74 69 6f rearms regulatio
141f0 6e 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 61 73 20 6c n purposes, as l
14200 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 ong as they did
14210 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 74 68 69 6e not include thin
14220 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 72 69 6e 67 20 70 gs like firing p
14230 69 6e 73 2c 20 68 61 6d 6d 65 72 73 2c 20 73 74 ins, hammers, st
14240 72 69 6b 65 72 73 2c 20 62 61 72 72 65 6c 73 2c rikers, barrels,
14250 20 6f 72 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 72 73 2e 20 20 44 or chambers. D
14260 6f 75 62 6c 65 2d 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 ouble-checking s
14270 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f howed her none o
14280 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 f that was inclu
14290 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 ded in the frame
142a0 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 20 72 s. She sent a r
142b0 65 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 eply to the clas
142c0 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 sified ad, then
142d0 67 6f 74 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 62 65 got ready for be
142e0 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 72 d. She had no r
142f0 65 70 6c 79 20 79 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 eply yet when sh
14300 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 e was done, so s
14310 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 he turned in...T
14320 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c he next morning,
14330 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 66 6f 72 she checked for
14340 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 62 65 66 6f a response befo
14350 72 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 re almost anythi
14360 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 ng else, and fou
14370 6e 64 20 61 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 nd a suggestion
14380 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 65 65 74 20 69 that they meet i
14390 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e n an alley behin
143a0 64 20 61 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 d a supermarket
143b0 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 64 69 6e in San Bernardin
143c0 6f 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 o. She checked
143d0 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 the location on
143e0 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 70 20 61 6e 64 a street map and
143f0 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e noticed it wasn
14400 27 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e 't in the most n
14410 6f 74 6f 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 62 61 64 20 70 otoriously bad p
14420 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6a 75 73 art of town, jus
14430 74 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 49 2d 31 30 2c t south of I-10,
14440 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 where it seemed
14450 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 61 72 79 to be customary
14460 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 for people to s
14470 65 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 70 61 72 74 6d 65 et their apartme
14480 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 77 68 65 6e nts on fire when
14490 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e they moved out.
144a0 0a 0a 47 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 ..Good enough.
144b0 53 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 She liked that t
144c0 68 65 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 he buyer said he
144d0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 6f would show up o
144e0 6e 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 75 n foot with an u
144f0 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 mbrella, and she
14500 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 should do somet
14510 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 20 hing to conceal
14520 68 65 72 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 66 her appearance f
14530 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 rom the security
14540 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 73 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 cameras near th
14550 65 20 72 65 61 72 20 66 69 72 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 e rear fire door
14560 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61 s of the superma
14570 72 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 rket. She wasn'
14580 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 t sure she liked
14590 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 20 62 75 79 the idea of buy
145a0 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 ing and selling
145b0 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 gun parts, but e
145c0 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 verything seemed
145d0 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 legal, even if
145e0 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 the whole thing
145f0 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6c felt a little cl
14600 6f 61 6b 2d 61 6e 64 2d 64 61 67 67 65 72 2e 0a oak-and-dagger..
14610 0a 52 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 72 65 70 .Rather than rep
14620 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 ly, she set up a
14630 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 purchase for th
14640 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 e frames through
14650 20 4f 70 65 6e 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 2e 20 OpenMarrakesh.
14660 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 She would confi
14670 72 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 79 65 rm with the buye
14680 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 67 61 76 r later. It gav
14690 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 6f 66 20 e her choice of
146a0 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 three times for
146b0 61 6e 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 an in-person tra
146c0 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 77 nsaction, and tw
146d0 6f 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 o locations for
146e0 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 the trade. One
146f0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 77 61 73 of the times was
14700 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 hours before th
14710 65 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 e buyer wanted t
14720 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 o meet, so she c
14730 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 hose that. One
14740 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 of the locations
14750 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 70 6f was the same po
14760 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f lice station fro
14770 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f m the night befo
14780 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 re, and she felt
14790 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 61 a bit nervous a
147a0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 bout going back
147b0 74 68 65 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 there for anothe
147c0 72 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 63 61 72 2d 74 6f r sketchy car-to
147d0 2d 63 61 72 20 64 65 61 6c 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 -car deal, so sh
147e0 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 e chose a locati
147f0 6f 6e 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 66 on quite a bit f
14800 61 72 74 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 69 6e 20 arther away, in
14810 4e 6f 72 63 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 Norco. It was a
14820 20 64 65 61 64 2d 65 6e 64 20 67 72 61 76 65 6c dead-end gravel
14830 20 72 6f 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 road to nowhere
14840 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 , only about thi
14850 72 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 20 74 rty feet long, t
14860 68 61 74 20 62 72 61 6e 63 68 65 64 20 6f 66 66 hat branched off
14870 20 61 20 6d 61 6a 6f 72 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 a major road.
14880 54 68 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 72 61 76 65 The little grave
14890 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 61 70 70 65 6e 64 69 78 20 l road appendix
148a0 65 6e 64 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 ended at the bac
148b0 6b 20 66 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6e 65 61 k fence of a nea
148c0 72 62 79 20 68 6f 72 73 65 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 rby horse proper
148d0 74 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ty...She realize
148e0 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 d she remembered
148f0 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 77 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 the news about
14900 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 4e 6f 72 63 6f someone in Norco
14910 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 69 fighting an emi
14920 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 75 69 74 nent domain suit
14930 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 62 61 63 a few years bac
14940 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 k, which would h
14950 61 76 65 20 63 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f 70 ave cut his prop
14960 65 72 74 79 20 69 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 erty in half to
14970 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e provide the coun
14980 74 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 ty with a more d
14990 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 72 6f 61 irect access roa
149a0 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 2e 20 20 53 d if he lost. S
149b0 68 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 he never noticed
149c0 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 6e 64 65 64 2c 20 62 how it ended, b
149d0 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b ut it looked lik
149e0 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 e this might be
149f0 74 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a 0a 4f 70 65 the answer...Ope
14a00 6e 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 6f 66 66 65 72 nMarrakesh offer
14a10 65 64 20 61 20 74 77 6f 2d 73 74 61 67 65 20 63 ed a two-stage c
14a20 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 61 ryptocurrency pa
14a30 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 2c 20 77 68 yment method, wh
14a40 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 61 ere she would pa
14a50 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 y now and confir
14a60 6d 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 6c 61 74 65 72 m delivery later
14a70 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 to release the
14a80 66 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6c funds to the sel
14a90 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 ler. She reserv
14aa0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 20 ed the purchase
14ab0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 67 65 74 74 and started gett
14ac0 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e ing ready to go.
14ad0 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 ..When she was r
14ae0 65 61 64 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 eady, she decide
14af0 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 d she had enough
14b00 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 79 time to satisfy
14b10 20 68 65 72 20 63 75 72 69 6f 73 69 74 79 2e 20 her curiosity.
14b20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 She looked up t
14b30 68 65 20 65 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 he eminent domai
14b40 6e 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 n case, and in a
14b50 20 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 73 68 65 few minutes she
14b60 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 learned that th
14b70 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 68 e county just sh
14b80 69 66 74 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 65 6d 69 6e 65 6e ifted its eminen
14b90 74 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 20 74 t domain claim t
14ba0 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 27 73 o someone else's
14bb0 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 property. A fe
14bc0 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f w more minutes o
14bd0 66 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 76 65 f searching reve
14be0 61 6c 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 aled that the se
14bf0 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 6f 77 cond property ow
14c00 6e 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 66 ner could not af
14c10 66 6f 72 64 20 61 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 66 6f ford a lawyer fo
14c20 72 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 63 6f r an extended co
14c30 75 72 74 20 62 61 74 74 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 urt battle, and
14c40 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 ended up having
14c50 74 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f to accept the co
14c60 75 6e 74 79 27 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 2c 20 77 68 unty's offer, wh
14c70 69 63 68 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 ich bought the p
14c80 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 6c 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 erson's late par
14c90 65 6e 74 73 27 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 ents' home. The
14ca0 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 second property
14cb0 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 owner ended up
14cc0 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 having to move i
14cd0 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 6e nto a weekly ren
14ce0 74 61 6c 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 2e 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 tal motel...That
14cf0 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 70 was not the hap
14d00 70 79 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 py ending Alley
14d10 77 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 wanted...She hea
14d20 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 ded out the door
14d30 2c 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6e 61 77 69 , mentally gnawi
14d40 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 6a 75 73 74 ng on the injust
14d50 69 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a ice of it all...
14d60 2f 2a 20 72 65 77 72 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 /* rewrite the a
14d70 62 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 20 70 61 bove to use a pa
14d80 72 6b 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 rk bench for the
14d90 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 73 20 69 6e 64 meeting, as ind
14da0 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 2c 20 69 6e icated below, in
14db0 73 74 65 61 64 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 stead */..Alley
14dc0 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 68 65 72 had to check her
14dd0 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 compass again t
14de0 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 o be sure which
14df0 70 61 72 6b 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 77 61 73 20 6e park bench was n
14e00 6f 72 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 61 72 orth of the boar
14e10 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 73 6e 61 63 6b 20 73 74 61 ded up snack sta
14e20 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f nd. It turned o
14e30 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c ut to be the onl
14e40 79 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d y bench with som
14e50 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 eone sitting on
14e60 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 it. She glanced
14e70 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 back toward her
14e80 20 63 61 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 79 car in the tiny
14e90 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6f 6e parking lot, on
14ea0 65 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 e of only two ca
14eb0 72 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f rs there. The o
14ec0 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b ther was a black
14ed0 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 41 75 64 69 late model Audi
14ee0 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 with a person i
14ef0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 73 65 61 74 n the front seat
14f00 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 77 . The windows w
14f10 65 72 65 20 73 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6c 79 20 74 69 ere so darkly ti
14f20 6e 74 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 75 73 70 65 63 74 nted she suspect
14f30 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 69 6c 6c ed they were ill
14f40 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 egal, so she had
14f50 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 no idea who was
14f60 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 sitting in the
14f70 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a driver's seat...
14f80 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 As she approache
14f90 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 68 2c 20 73 68 65 d the bench, she
14fa0 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 saw that a pale
14fb0 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 72 65 64 20 68 61 69 72 65 young red haire
14fc0 64 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 d woman sat ther
14fd0 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 74 69 67 68 74 20 67 72 65 e in a tight gre
14fe0 65 6e 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 2c 20 74 69 6e 79 en t-shirt, tiny
14ff0 20 73 68 6f 72 74 73 2c 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 62 shorts, heavy b
15000 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 61 20 62 6c lack boots, a bl
15010 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c ack mask, and bl
15020 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d ack gloves. Som
15030 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 68 65 61 70 20 e kind of cheap
15040 73 79 6e 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 synthetic drawst
15050 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 ring bag rested
15060 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 62 65 73 on the bench bes
15070 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 ide her, and she
15080 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c had something l
15090 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 ike a tactical p
150a0 75 72 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 urse on her othe
150b0 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 r side. She was
150c0 6e 27 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 n't what Alley e
150d0 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6e xpected in an an
150e0 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 onymous gun part
150f0 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 s trade...The re
15100 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 74 dhead watched st
15110 65 61 64 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 eadily as Alley
15120 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 approached, with
15130 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 what turned out
15140 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 69 64 20 67 72 65 to be vivid gre
15150 65 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 en eyes. The la
15160 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d ck of freckles m
15170 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 ight mean she wa
15180 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 s not a natural
15190 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 redhead, but it
151a0 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 also might just
151b0 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65 mean she got the
151c0 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 m removed...The
151d0 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 72 65 woman asked "Are
151e0 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 you looking for
151f0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 someone?"..Alle
15200 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 y stopped, a cou
15210 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e ple meters away.
15220 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 "Yeah, I guess
15230 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 so. Is that th
15240 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 e, uh . . ." she
15250 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e trailed off, an
15260 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 d gestured at th
15270 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 e drawstring bag
15280 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d ..."Printed fram
15290 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 es?" the redhead
152a0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e asked...Alley n
152b0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 odded...The redh
152c0 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d ead pulled her m
152d0 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 ask down and exp
152e0 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 77 osed brilliant w
152f0 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 hite teeth with
15300 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 a broad smile.
15310 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 "Yeah, you found
15320 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 what you want.
15330 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 I'm Carmen." S
15340 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 he stood and off
15350 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 ered one gloved
15360 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 hand...Alley acc
15370 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 epted the quick
15380 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 6c handshake. "Mal
15390 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 lory," she offer
153a0 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 65 2e 0a ed, on impulse..
153b0 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65 73 73 3a 20 ."Let me guess:
153c0 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 I'm not what you
153d0 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 expected.".."I
153e0 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 wasn't sure what
153f0 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c to expect," All
15400 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c 20 22 62 75 ey admitted, "bu
15410 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 t yeah, I guess
15420 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 you surprised me
15430 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 anyway."..Carme
15440 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 61 20 n -- possibly a
15450 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 pseudonym, Alley
15460 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 6d 69 realized -- smi
15470 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 led again. "Tha
15480 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6a t part of this j
15490 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6c ob never gets ol
154a0 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 d. Anyway, I wa
154b0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 nt to upsell you
154c0 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f . How's that so
154d0 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65 6c 6c 3f 22 und?".."Upsell?"
154e0 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 Alley hesitate
154f0 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 d, then nodded.
15500 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e "Sure, I guess.
15510 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53 6f 2c 20 77 ".."Cool. So, w
15520 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 63 e have printed c
15530 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 6f 6c 73 74 oncealment holst
15540 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e 20 61 63 63 ers, snap on acc
15550 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e essory rails, an
15560 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63 68 65 72 73 d brass catchers
15570 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 for models comp
15580 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 73 atible with thes
15590 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 e frames. We ha
155a0 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 ve stuff for oth
155b0 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 er models, too,
155c0 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 so let me know w
155d0 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 hat you'd like t
155e0 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 77 2e 20 20 o see.".."Wow.
155f0 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 49 20 Full-service, I
15600 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c guess.".."Totall
15610 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 74 75 67 67 y!" Carmen tugg
15620 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 64 6f 77 ed her shirt dow
15630 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 n slightly, maki
15640 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d ng it a little m
15650 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 65 20 ore obvious she
15660 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 wasn't wearing a
15670 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 bra..."I think
15680 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 I'll just stick
15690 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 49 with the order I
156a0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 placed, for now
156b0 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 . I'll keep you
156c0 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 in mind if I ne
156d0 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 ed something els
156e0 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 e, though."..Car
156f0 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 6e men shrugged, an
15700 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 6c d the way she sl
15710 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 ightly raised he
15720 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 r arms as she di
15730 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 d it made the sh
15740 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 61 63 72 6f irt tighten acro
15750 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79 20 62 72 65 ss her perky bre
15760 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 21 22 0a 0a asts. "Okay!"..
15770 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 Alley took in th
15780 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c e display and sl
15790 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 ightly over the
157a0 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 top cheeriness.
157b0 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 "Does that . .
157c0 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 . oh, never mind
157d0 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f . I guess I sho
157e0 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 uld just see the
157f0 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a frames, now."..
15800 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 Carmen narrowed
15810 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 her eyes, almost
15820 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 73 but not quite s
15830 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 uspiciously, and
15840 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 tilted her head
15850 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 57 . "No, wait. W
15860 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 hat were you goi
15870 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f ng to ask?".."No
15880 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 thing," Alley sa
15890 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 id. "I haven't
158a0 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 63 69 61 62 been very sociab
158b0 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 le lately, and f
158c0 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 orget my manners
158d0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f sometimes.".."O
158e0 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 oh, inappropriat
158f0 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 54 68 e questions. Th
15900 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 ose are my favor
15910 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 ite kind. You s
15920 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 hould totally as
15930 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 67 6e 65 k!"..Alley signe
15940 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 d. "I was just
15950 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 wondering if you
15960 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 're naturally th
15970 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 is, uh, friendly
15980 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c , or if you're l
15990 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 ike this because
159a0 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 6c it gets you a l
159b0 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2e 22 20 ot of upsells."
159c0 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2c Carmen laughed,
159d0 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 and Alley found
159e0 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 it infectious.
159f0 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 She caught hers
15a00 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 elf snickering,
15a10 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 49 20 too..."Why do I
15a20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 think you meant
15a30 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72 74 79 27 20 to say 'flirty'
15a40 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 72 69 65 instead of 'frie
15a50 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 ndly'?"..Alley s
15a60 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 72 hrugged. She tr
15a70 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6d ied, with only m
15a80 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c oderate success,
15a90 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 to suppress her
15aa0 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 69 74 smile..."Was it
15ab0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a that obvious?".
15ac0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 .Alley said "Yea
15ad0 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 h, I guess so.
15ae0 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 Sorry.".."I gues
15af0 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 s it's a bit of
15b00 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d everything. I'm
15b10 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 usually pretty
15b20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 6c 69 66 cheery, but Clif
15b30 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 f -- he's the gu
15b40 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 2d 2d y I work with --
15b50 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 65 63 Cliff and I dec
15b60 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 68 69 73 ided to try this
15b70 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 out. With the
15b80 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69 74 69 6f 75 kind of ambitiou
15b90 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 74 72 s young cryptotr
15ba0 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65 20 75 73 75 ader guys we usu
15bb0 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 ally get, the up
15bc0 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 sells and repeat
15bd0 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 67 65 74 business we get
15be0 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 77 68 65 goes way up whe
15bf0 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 n I'm doing the
15c00 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 trades. In two
15c10 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 years, we only h
15c20 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 64 ad one guy who d
15c30 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 ecided me being
15c40 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72 6c 20 6d 61 a pretty girl ma
15c50 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 61 de me an easy ta
15c60 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 rget, too, so it
15c70 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22 's pretty safe."
15c80 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e ..Alley frowned.
15c90 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Yeah," she sa
15ca0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 id. "I guess th
15cb0 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 at's a danger.
15cc0 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a What happened?".
15cd0 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 61 72 ."Oh, shit," Car
15ce0 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 men said. "You
15cf0 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20 61 74 20 74 must be new at t
15d00 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 70 75 his. Well, I pu
15d10 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 62 61 74 6f lled out my bato
15d20 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 70 75 74 20 n and Cliff put
15d30 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 a red dot on the
15d40 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74 20 77 69 74 guy's chest wit
15d50 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20 73 69 67 68 h the laser sigh
15d60 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66 6c 65 2e 20 t on his rifle.
15d70 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 The guy backed
15d80 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 72 72 79 2e down in a hurry.
15d90 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 Are you carryi
15da0 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a ng protection?".
15db0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f .Alley started o
15dc0 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 pening her mouth
15dd0 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 to reply, but C
15de0 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 67 61 armen cut in aga
15df0 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 in..."No, don't
15e00 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 tell me what you
15e10 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 're carrying. Y
15e20 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 ou shouldn't get
15e30 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 in the habit of
15e40 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 telling people
15e50 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e stuff like that.
15e60 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 Get yourself t
15e70 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 69 66 20 hree things, if
15e80 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 you don't alread
15e90 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 y have 'em. You
15ea0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 need pepper spr
15eb0 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69 63 20 72 65 ay or a sonic re
15ec0 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 pellant, a colla
15ed0 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 psing baton, and
15ee0 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 backup who know
15ef0 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e s what he's doin
15f00 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 22 0a g, like Cliff.".
15f10 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 ."Uh, thanks," A
15f20 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 lley said. "Are
15f30 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 n't those collap
15f40 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 sing batons ille
15f50 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 43 61 gal?".."Yeah, Ca
15f60 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63 6b 73 20 74 lifornia sucks t
15f70 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69 72 6c 73 20 hat way. Girls
15f80 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74 aren't allowed t
15f90 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 o protect themse
15fa0 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 lves, you know."
15fb0 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d She pulled som
15fc0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 ething about the
15fd0 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 size of a white
15fe0 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 6f 75 74 board marker out
15ff0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 of her back poc
16000 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f ket. "See this?
16010 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 This is a good
16020 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 baton."..Alley
16030 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c looked at the bl
16040 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 ack anodized alu
16050 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 77 minum cylinder w
16060 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 hen Carmen held
16070 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 it up. It had s
16080 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f ome kind of logo
16090 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 on it and a cou
160a0 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 ple of depressed
160b0 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 ovals on the si
160c0 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 de..."Push these
160d0 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 74 6f 20 70 6f two spots to po
160e0 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 p it out. Just
160f0 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 push the second
16100 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 one, here, and p
16110 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 ush the business
16120 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 73 6f 6d end against som
16130 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 63 ething hard to c
16140 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f ollapse the bato
16150 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 n back into the
16160 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a handle. Yeah?".
16170 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley nodded.
16180 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 "I guess that's
16190 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2c 20 74 a good design, t
161a0 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 2e hen.".."Totally.
161b0 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 72 With the two r
161c0 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 79 elease points, y
161d0 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 ou're not likely
161e0 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 to accidentally
161f0 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e pop it out when
16200 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 you don't want
16210 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 79 70 to, and this typ
16220 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 20 e is more solid
16230 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 and easier to re
16240 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 tract than the t
16250 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 hings where you
16260 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 just snap your h
16270 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 and out to open
16280 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 them. Anyway, y
16290 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 ou need one of t
162a0 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 hese, and it's e
162b0 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 20 69 74 20 73 asy to toss it s
162c0 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 omewhere before
162d0 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 cops get to you
162e0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 if you're afraid
162f0 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 67 of getting caug
16300 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 ht with a concea
16310 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 led weapon, or i
16320 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 f you cut a litt
16330 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 le hole in the i
16340 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f nside of your po
16350 63 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 cket when you're
16360 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 79 wearing pants y
16370 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 20 64 ou can drop it d
16380 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 own your pant le
16390 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 74 65 g, and maybe ste
163a0 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 p on it to hide
163b0 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 it while getting
163c0 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6f 72 patted down, or
163d0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 something. The
163e0 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f re are a bunch o
163f0 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 f ways to get aw
16400 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 ay with it..."He
16410 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 re." She held i
16420 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 t out to Alley,
16430 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 who started to r
16440 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 44 each for it. "D
16450 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 on't try opening
16460 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 it here, but pr
16470 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 20 61 actice with it a
16480 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 t home. That wa
16490 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 y you don't have
164a0 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 to worry about
164b0 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 62 getting caught b
164c0 75 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 6c 69 uying one. Unli
164d0 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 6f 6c 20 66 72 ke our pistol fr
164e0 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 6f ames, walking ho
164f0 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 me with one of t
16500 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 hese in your poc
16510 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 ket is illegal,
16520 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 and a cop might
16530 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 just try selling
16540 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 67 one to you to g
16550 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 et an excuse to
16560 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c harass you."..Al
16570 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 ley froze with h
16580 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 er hand halfway
16590 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e to the baton han
165a0 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 dle. "Are you g
165b0 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 iving this to me
165c0 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 ?" she asked..."
165d0 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 Yeah. Uh, just
165e0 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 a sec'," Carmen
165f0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 said. She lower
16600 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 ed her hand with
16610 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 69 74 the baton in it
16620 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 and looked towa
16630 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 2e 20 20 22 59 rd the Audi. "Y
16640 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 67 es, Cliff, I'm g
16650 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 iving her the fu
16660 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 27 cking baton. I'
16670 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 ll just buy anot
16680 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 68 69 6c 6c 20 her one! Chill
16690 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a the fuck out."..
166a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 Alley lowered he
166b0 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 72 6e 65 r hand and turne
166c0 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f d her head to lo
166d0 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 65 64 ok at the parked
166e0 20 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 sedan...Carmen
166f0 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 grabbed Alley's
16700 77 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 wrist and presse
16710 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 d the collapsing
16720 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 baton into her
16730 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f hand. "Don't lo
16740 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 ok at it. Just
16750 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 put it in your p
16760 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 ocket. Don't ma
16770 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 ke Cliff nervous
16780 20 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 by standing her
16790 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 20 e with a weapon
167a0 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 65 76 in your hand, ev
167b0 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 49 en if it's one I
167c0 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 gave you.".."Uh
167d0 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 , yeah," Alley s
167e0 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 aid, and tucked
167f0 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b it into her back
16800 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b pocket. "Thank
16810 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 s." She showed
16820 68 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 her empty hands
16830 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 to Carmen, where
16840 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 the person in t
16850 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 he Audi could se
16860 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 e them as well,
16870 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 73 20 68 61 just to be as ha
16880 72 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 rmless looking a
16890 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 61 s she could mana
168a0 67 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c ge..."Yeah, well
168b0 2c 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 67 6f 74 74 61 , us girls gotta
168c0 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e stick together.
168d0 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 Right?"..Alley
168e0 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e nodded..."Good.
168f0 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 Let's finish t
16900 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 2c 20 he deal. Then,
16910 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d get in touch som
16920 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 e time if you th
16930 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 ink you might wa
16940 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 nt to do this ki
16950 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e nd of work, too.
16960 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 We're getting
16970 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 a lot of busines
16980 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 s, and could use
16990 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 the help. You'
169a0 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 re probably pret
169b0 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 ty enough to get
169c0 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2c 20 65 61 the upsells, ea
169d0 73 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 49 20 64 6f 6e sy, though I don
169e0 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 't know how you
169f0 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 look behind the
16a00 6d 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 mask.".."I'll ke
16a10 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e ep that in mind.
16a20 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 "..Carmen grabbe
16a30 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 d the drawstring
16a40 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 77 bag. "Here's w
16a50 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 75 79 69 6e hat you're buyin
16a60 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 74 20 68 6f 6d g."..---..At hom
16a70 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 e, Alley found a
16a80 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 64 69 73 70 6f 73 61 62 box of disposab
16a90 6c 65 20 6e 69 74 72 69 6c 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 le nitrile glove
16aa0 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 61 20 70 61 s, and wore a pa
16ab0 69 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ir when she look
16ac0 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 20 ed more closely
16ad0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 at the handgun f
16ae0 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 rames she bought
16af0 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f . After going o
16b00 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 ver them for a f
16b10 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 ew minutes, she
16b20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e put them back in
16b30 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 the drawstring
16b40 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 bag. She pulled
16b50 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 out the extendi
16b60 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 61 ng baton next, a
16b70 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 nd stood in the
16b80 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6b 69 middle of her ki
16b90 74 63 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 tchen so she wou
16ba0 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 ld not accidenta
16bb0 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 lly break anythi
16bc0 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ng...She looked
16bd0 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 63 69 it over and deci
16be0 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 ded she would ex
16bf0 65 72 63 69 73 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 63 61 75 ercise extra cau
16c00 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 tion. She thoug
16c10 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 72 65 20 ht she was sure
16c20 77 68 69 63 68 20 65 6e 64 20 77 61 73 20 77 68 which end was wh
16c30 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e ere the extendin
16c40 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 g happened, but
16c50 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 61 6e never having han
16c60 64 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 dled one before
16c70 73 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 she carefully he
16c80 6c 64 20 69 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 65 ld it so that ne
16c90 69 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 ither end pointe
16ca0 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 d at something s
16cb0 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 61 73 he thought of as
16cc0 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 76 75 particularly vu
16cd0 6c 6e 65 72 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 lnerable to much
16ce0 20 68 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e harm. She poin
16cf0 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 ted the business
16d00 20 65 6e 64 20 64 69 61 67 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 end diagonally
16d10 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 toward the floor
16d20 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 75 73 to her left, us
16d30 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 ing both hands t
16d40 6f 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f o hold it in fro
16d50 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 nt of her, and t
16d60 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 he other end poi
16d70 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 nted toward the
16d80 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 ceiling to her r
16d90 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 72 65 ight...Alley pre
16da0 73 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 20 63 6f 6e ssed on both con
16db0 74 61 63 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 73 20 tact points, as
16dc0 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 20 69 6e 73 74 72 Carmen had instr
16dd0 75 63 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 41 20 64 75 ucted her. A du
16de0 6c 6c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 2c ll snap sounded,
16df0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 and the device
16e00 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 65 64 20 6f 75 nearly jumped ou
16e10 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 t of her hand.
16e20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c It had definitel
16e30 79 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 y gone in an ins
16e40 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 tant from someth
16e50 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 ing the size of
16e60 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 a whiteboard mar
16e70 6b 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 69 66 66 20 6d ker to a stiff m
16e80 65 74 61 6c 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 etal baton about
16e90 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 61 two thirds of a
16ea0 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 meter long. Sh
16eb0 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 e held it up and
16ec0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 looked at the s
16ed0 65 61 6d 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 65 6c eams between tel
16ee0 65 73 63 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e escoping section
16ef0 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 s, then lightly
16f00 77 68 61 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 whacked the end
16f10 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 20 6a 75 on the carpet ju
16f20 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 st past the edge
16f30 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 of the kitchen
16f40 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 floor. It felt
16f50 73 6f 6c 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 solid...She held
16f60 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 down what Carme
16f70 6e 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 n called the sec
16f80 6f 6e 64 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ond button, and
16f90 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 she set the head
16fa0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 67 of the baton ag
16fb0 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 ainst the carpet
16fc0 65 64 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 ed floor. She p
16fd0 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 ressed down on t
16fe0 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 he handle of the
16ff0 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e baton, and foun
17000 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 70 72 d that if she pr
17010 65 73 73 65 64 20 68 61 72 64 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 essed hard -- bu
17020 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 68 t not so hard th
17030 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 at she had to th
17040 72 6f 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 62 row her weight b
17050 65 68 69 6e 64 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 ehind it -- the
17060 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 6d 6f 6f baton would smoo
17070 74 68 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 69 6e thly collapse in
17080 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 61 67 to the handle ag
17090 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 45 61 63 68 20 74 65 6c 65 73 ain. Each teles
170a0 63 6f 70 69 63 20 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 6c copic section cl
170b0 69 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 63 65 icked into place
170c0 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 , one after anot
170d0 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 74 her...The next t
170e0 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 69 74 ime she tried it
170f0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 , she held the b
17100 61 74 6f 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 aton down at her
17110 20 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e side, the busin
17120 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 ess end pointed
17130 61 74 20 61 20 72 65 6c 61 78 65 64 20 61 6e 67 at a relaxed ang
17140 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e le at the floor.
17150 20 20 48 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 63 6f 6d Holding it com
17160 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f fortably, she fo
17170 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f und it easier to
17180 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 press the two s
17190 77 69 74 63 68 65 73 20 73 69 6d 75 6c 74 61 6e witches simultan
171a0 65 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 eously, and her
171b0 67 72 69 70 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 grip felt more s
171c0 65 63 75 72 65 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 ecure so that th
171d0 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 66 e baton didn't f
171e0 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c eel like it woul
171f0 64 20 6a 75 6d 70 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 d jump out of he
17200 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 20 6e 6f r hand...With no
17210 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 practice involv
17220 69 6e 67 20 61 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b ing a weapon lik
17230 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 e this in her ma
17240 72 74 69 61 6c 20 61 72 74 73 20 63 6c 61 73 73 rtial arts class
17250 65 73 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2c 20 73 68 es years ago, sh
17260 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 e was not sure s
17270 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 he could use it
17280 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 effectively. Sh
17290 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c e hoped she coul
172a0 64 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 65 d, if the need e
172b0 76 65 72 20 61 72 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d ver arose. /* M
172c0 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 aybe this could
172d0 62 65 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 73 be replaced at s
172e0 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 62 79 20 64 69 61 ome point by dia
172f0 6c 6f 67 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 log, in a conver
17300 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 68 sation between h
17310 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 er and someone e
17320 6c 73 65 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f lse. */..She clo
17330 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 sed it up after
17340 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 66 extending it a f
17350 65 77 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 77 ew times, and sw
17360 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 inging it back a
17370 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 74 nd forth a bit t
17380 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 o get a feel for
17390 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 53 68 the weight. Sh
173a0 65 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c e tucked the col
173b0 6c 61 70 73 65 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 69 lapse cylinder i
173c0 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 nto her back poc
173d0 6b 65 74 2c 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 74 ket, similarly t
173e0 6f 20 68 6f 77 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 o how Carmen had
173f0 20 63 61 72 72 69 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 carried it. Sh
17400 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 e remembered wha
17410 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 62 t Carmen said ab
17420 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 out a hole in a
17430 70 61 6e 74 73 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 62 75 pants pocket, bu
17440 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 t decided to wor
17450 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 64 ry about that id
17460 65 61 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 ea later...She h
17470 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 ad no ideas abou
17480 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 73 68 t anyone else sh
17490 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 62 e could get to b
174a0 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 e backup for her
174b0 20 6e 65 78 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f next transactio
174c0 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 74 20 73 n, so that got s
174d0 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 ent to the back
174e0 62 75 72 6e 65 72 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 burner as well.
174f0 20 2f 2a 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 /* maybe, inste
17500 61 64 2c 20 73 61 79 3a 20 70 75 74 20 6f 66 66 ad, say: put off
17510 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 for later */..A
17520 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 75 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 lley dug through
17530 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6c boxes in her cl
17540 6f 73 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 oset and found h
17550 65 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 77 65 69 67 er old lightweig
17560 68 74 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 ht pair of motor
17570 63 79 63 6c 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 77 69 74 cycle gloves wit
17580 68 20 72 65 69 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 h reinforcements
17590 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 61 63 6b 73 2c on their backs,
175a0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f then checked to
175b0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 make sure she c
175c0 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6f 70 65 72 61 ould still opera
175d0 74 65 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 te her baton and
175e0 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 2e 0a 0a pepper spray...
175f0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
17600 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 told her "It is
17610 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f getting close to
17620 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f time for you to
17630 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 leave for your
17640 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a next meeting."..
17650 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 She checked the
17660 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 time and realize
17670 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 d she was hungry
17680 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 65 . She grabbed e
17690 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 verything she ne
176a0 65 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 eded, and grabbe
176b0 64 20 61 20 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 d a hat to help
176c0 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 70 70 65 obscure her appe
176d0 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 66 6f 72 arance a bit for
176e0 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 65 20 63 61 surveillance ca
176f0 6d 65 72 61 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 62 6f 75 67 meras. She boug
17700 68 74 20 66 72 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 ht fries and a s
17710 68 61 6b 65 20 61 74 20 61 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 hake at a drive
17720 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 through on the w
17730 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 ay, and when she
17740 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 finished the fr
17750 69 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 ies she donned h
17760 65 72 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 61 74 20 61 20 73 er gloves at a s
17770 74 6f 70 6c 69 67 68 74 2c 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 toplight, rememb
17780 65 72 69 6e 67 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 ering Carmen onc
17790 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 74 e more and how t
177a0 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 he redhead wore
177b0 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 gloves during th
177c0 65 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 e entire meeting
177d0 2e 20 20 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 4f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 . ---..Once she
177e0 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 72 got to the corr
177f0 65 63 74 20 6e 65 69 67 68 62 6f 72 68 6f 6f 64 ect neighborhood
17800 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 for the meeting
17810 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 72 , Alley drove ar
17820 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f ound the block o
17830 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 nce, then decide
17840 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 d she should jus
17850 74 20 70 61 72 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 t park in the su
17860 70 65 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 70 61 72 6b 69 6e permarket parkin
17870 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 6f 20 74 68 g lot, off to th
17880 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 e side near the
17890 61 6c 6c 65 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 alley behind the
178a0 20 73 74 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 73 store. Soon, s
178b0 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 he stood near th
178c0 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 e back corner of
178d0 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 6d the building, m
178e0 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 2c 20 61 asked, gloved, a
178f0 6e 64 20 68 61 74 74 65 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 nd hatted. Her
17900 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 glasses informed
17910 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 76 her she was sev
17920 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 65 61 72 6c 79 en minutes early
17930 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 for the meeting
17940 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 74 68 ...She patted th
17950 65 20 72 65 61 73 73 75 72 69 6e 67 20 62 75 6c e reassuring bul
17960 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 70 70 65 ges of the peppe
17970 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 20 r spray, now in
17980 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 her left front p
17990 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 ocket instead of
179a0 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 the right, and
179b0 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 the extending ba
179c0 74 6f 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 ton, in her righ
179d0 74 20 72 65 61 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 t rear pocket.
179e0 53 68 65 20 73 6c 75 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a She slung the /*
179f0 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 2a 2f 20 62 drawstring */ b
17a00 61 67 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 ag of handgun fr
17a10 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 ames over her sh
17a20 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 oulder by the dr
17a30 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 awstring and hea
17a40 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 ded back around
17a50 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c the corner...All
17a60 65 79 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 73 ey immediately s
17a70 61 77 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 68 6f 75 6c aw a broad shoul
17a80 64 65 72 65 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 73 74 61 dered figure sta
17a90 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 75 6d nding with an um
17aa0 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 69 73 20 brella over his
17ab0 68 65 61 64 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 head, just past
17ac0 61 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 66 61 63 65 64 20 65 6d a steel faced em
17ad0 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 20 66 69 72 65 20 65 73 63 61 ployee fire esca
17ae0 70 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 6d pe door. The um
17af0 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 brella he held i
17b00 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 n his right hand
17b10 20 73 68 61 64 65 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 shaded most of
17b20 68 69 6d 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 6e him from the sun
17b30 6c 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 62 75 74 light above, but
17b40 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 as she approach
17b50 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 27 73 20 ed the figure's
17b60 66 65 61 74 75 72 65 73 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 features became
17b70 63 6c 65 61 72 65 72 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 77 61 73 clearer...He was
17b80 20 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 64 20 a well muscled
17b90 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 69 black man, in hi
17ba0 73 20 66 69 66 74 69 65 73 20 6f 72 20 73 69 78 s fifties or six
17bb0 74 69 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f ties from the lo
17bc0 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 6f ok of it. He wo
17bd0 72 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 re neither mask
17be0 6e 6f 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 41 72 nor glasses. Ar
17bf0 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ound what looked
17c00 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 70 65 72 6d 61 6e 65 6e like a permanen
17c10 74 20 64 6f 75 72 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 t dour turn of h
17c20 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 is mouth she saw
17c30 20 67 72 65 79 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f greying and clo
17c40 73 65 20 63 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 se cut, but not
17c50 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 6f 6d 65 64 2c exactly groomed,
17c60 20 6d 75 73 74 61 63 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 mustache and be
17c70 61 72 64 2e 20 20 20 20 4f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 ard. On his h
17c80 65 61 64 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 61 20 ead she noted a
17c90 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 65 72 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 black beret with
17ca0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 75 6e some kind of un
17cb0 69 74 20 70 61 74 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 it patch on the
17cc0 66 72 6f 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c front. The whol
17cd0 65 20 62 65 72 65 74 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 e beret, includi
17ce0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 74 63 68 2c 20 6c 6f ng the patch, lo
17cf0 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 63 72 75 70 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c oked scrupulousl
17d00 79 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 y clean, though
17d10 69 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 6f 73 69 it appeared posi
17d20 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 2e 20 tively ancient.
17d30 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 6f 72 6e 20 74 68 72 It was worn thr
17d40 65 61 64 62 61 72 65 20 69 6e 20 70 6c 61 63 65 eadbare in place
17d50 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f s, and seemed to
17d60 20 68 61 76 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 have lost the s
17d70 74 69 66 66 6e 65 73 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 tiffness necessa
17d80 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 69 ry to maintain i
17d90 74 73 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 61 72 ts previous shar
17da0 70 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 61 72 79 20 73 68 61 70 65 p military shape
17db0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 61 69 74 65 ...The man waite
17dc0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 69 6d d and watched im
17dd0 70 61 73 73 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 passively as she
17de0 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 approached, and
17df0 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 she felt increa
17e00 73 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 61 singly nervous a
17e10 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 s she got closer
17e20 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f . The impressio
17e30 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 73 n of the man's s
17e40 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 69 6e 63 72 65 61 73 65 olidity increase
17e50 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 70 72 d with closer pr
17e60 6f 78 69 6d 69 74 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 oximity. She st
17e70 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6e 20 opped about ten
17e80 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 feet away. Afte
17e90 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 r a moment, she
17ea0 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 69 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e said "Hi."..He n
17eb0 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 odded, and looke
17ec0 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 d her over. He
17ed0 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 74 68 69 63 6b 20 65 pulled a thick e
17ee0 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 nvelope out of h
17ef0 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 65 61 is old black lea
17f00 74 68 65 72 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 ther jacket with
17f10 20 68 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 his left hand a
17f20 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 nd held it up.
17f30 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 63 72 69 73 70 2c 20 It was a crisp,
17f40 73 74 61 72 6b 20 77 68 69 74 65 2c 20 6c 61 72 stark white, lar
17f50 67 65 20 6c 65 74 74 65 72 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f ge letter envelo
17f60 70 65 20 62 6c 6f 61 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 69 74 pe bloated by it
17f70 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 s contents. She
17f80 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 assumed it was
17f90 63 61 73 68 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 75 6e 73 cash...Alley uns
17fa0 6c 75 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 lung the drawstr
17fb0 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 ing bag from her
17fc0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 61 shoulder...In a
17fd0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 voice like an a
17fe0 6e 67 72 79 20 42 61 72 72 79 20 57 68 69 74 65 ngry Barry White
17ff0 2c 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 , he asked "You
18000 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 wanna come to me
18010 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 6f , or should I go
18020 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 to you?" She i
18030 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c magined she coul
18040 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 69 74 d almost feel it
18050 73 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 s vibrations in
18060 68 65 72 20 63 68 65 73 74 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c her chest..."I'l
18070 6c 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a l come to you.".
18080 0a 48 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 .He watched, and
18090 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 66 6f 72 she stepped for
180a0 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f ward. He held o
180b0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2e ut the envelope.
180c0 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 20 77 69 She took it wi
180d0 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 th one hand, the
180e0 6e 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 n offered the ba
180f0 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 g with the other
18100 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 . He shook his
18110 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 head. "Just lea
18120 76 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f ve it on the gro
18130 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 und, then you ca
18140 6e 20 73 74 65 70 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 n step back and
18150 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6e 20 count what's in
18160 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2e 22 0a 0a the envelope."..
18170 41 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 61 73 20 As Alley did as
18180 68 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 2c 20 73 68 he suggested, sh
18190 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 63 72 6f 75 63 68 e saw him crouch
181a0 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 57 69 by the bag. Wi
181b0 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 65 76 65 th one hand, eve
181c0 6e 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 2c 20 68 65 20 64 65 66 n gloved, he def
181d0 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 tly loosened the
181e0 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 48 65 drawstring. He
181f0 20 6b 65 70 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6f kept his eyes o
18200 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 n her as he did
18210 69 74 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f it, not even loo
18220 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 69 73 king at what his
18230 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 77 61 73 20 64 left hand was d
18240 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 oing, while the
18250 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 74 69 72 65 right still tire
18260 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 lessly held the
18270 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 69 umbrella over hi
18280 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 4f 6e 63 65 20 68 65 s head. Once he
18290 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 6f 70 65 had the bag ope
182a0 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 ned up, he glanc
182b0 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 ed down to see t
182c0 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 he contents, the
182d0 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 n quickly jerked
182e0 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 the drawstring
182f0 74 6f 20 63 69 6e 63 68 20 69 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 to cinch it clos
18300 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 6c 6f ed...The man slo
18310 77 6c 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 wly stood and wa
18320 69 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 69 ited as she fini
18330 73 68 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a shed counting...
18340 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 After she closed
18350 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 6e the envelope on
18360 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ce more, he said
18370 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 "I guess I'm tr
18380 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 72 65 usting these are
18390 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 n't going to tur
183a0 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 72 61 70 n out to be crap
183b0 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c quality, just l
183c0 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 ike you're trust
183d0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 ing those bills
183e0 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 66 65 aren't counterfe
183f0 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 it."..Alley hesi
18400 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 tated, and nodde
18410 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 d..."If there's
18420 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 a problem, I'll
18430 74 72 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 try contacting y
18440 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 ou the same way
18450 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 we set this up.
18460 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 Yeah?".."Yeah,"
18470 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 she echoed..."I
18480 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 f I can't find y
18490 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 49 27 6c ou that way, I'l
184a0 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 77 6e l track you down
184b0 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 2e so we can talk.
184c0 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 "..After a few s
184d0 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 econds, she reme
184e0 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 mbered to breath
184f0 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 e. "No, you'll
18500 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 be able to get i
18510 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 n touch the same
18520 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 way we set this
18530 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 up. That'll be
18540 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 fine.".."Good.
18550 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6d 65 You can find me
18560 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 66 the same way if
18570 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 you need to set
18580 74 6c 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 69 tle a problem wi
18590 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 th what I gave y
185a0 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 ou."..She nodded
185b0 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 ..."Good doing b
185c0 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 usiness with you
185d0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f ," he said. "Yo
185e0 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 u can go first,
185f0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 if you want.".."
18600 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Sure," she said.
18610 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 "Have a good d
18620 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e ay."..He nodded.
18630 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 ..She backed awa
18640 79 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 73 74 65 70 73 y a couple steps
18650 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 6e , then turned an
18660 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 75 6e 74 69 d continued unti
18670 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 l she got to the
18680 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c corner. She gl
18690 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 77 69 63 65 anced back twice
186a0 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 along the way,
186b0 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6a then once more j
186c0 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 ust before going
186d0 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e around the corn
186e0 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 er of the buildi
186f0 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 ng...In her car
18700 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 once more, she s
18710 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 tarted it up and
18720 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 69 6d 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 drove aimlessly
18730 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 61 6c 66 around for half
18740 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 an hour until h
18750 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 er hands stopped
18760 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 shaking and her
18770 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 6a 61 77 20 72 65 clenched jaw re
18780 6c 61 78 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 laxed, then head
18790 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 ed home..."What
187a0 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d 20 49 20 61 63 the fuck am I ac
187b0 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 tually doing?" s
187c0 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 he asked herself
187d0 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 ...---..Sitting
187e0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 67 61 on her couch aga
187f0 69 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 in, Alley said "
18800 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 73 61 66 I don't feel saf
18810 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 e with the kinds
18820 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 of deals I made
18830 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 today."..The pr
18840 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
18850 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 63 You did not spec
18860 69 66 79 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 69 67 68 20 ify a very high
18870 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 preference for s
18880 61 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 45 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 afety. Estimati
18890 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 ons indicate the
188a0 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 chance of poor
188b0 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 safety outcomes
188c0 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f 77 20 66 6f 72 20 is very low for
188d0 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f these transactio
188e0 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 ns, though sever
188f0 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 ity may be high
18900 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 for poor outcome
18910 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 63 6f s..."I will reco
18920 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 nsider strategy
18930 66 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 for future activ
18940 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 69 67 ities with a hig
18950 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 h preference for
18960 20 6c 6f 77 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 70 6f low severity po
18970 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f tential safety o
18980 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 utcomes rather t
18990 68 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 han accepting hi
189a0 67 68 65 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 gher severity ri
189b0 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a sk.".."Thanks.".
189c0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d ."You are welcom
189d0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 78 e.".."What's nex
189e0 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 t, then?"..The p
189f0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 rioritizer said
18a00 22 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 "I am reconsider
18a10 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 ing options, in
18a20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 72 69 73 light of new ris
18a30 6b 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 72 69 k assessment pri
18a40 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 oritization. Th
18a50 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 66 65 is may take a fe
18a60 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c w minutes."..All
18a70 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 ey looked at the
18a80 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 envelope of cas
18a90 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f h, then pulled o
18aa0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 ut the bills and
18ab0 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 counted them ag
18ac0 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 64 64 65 64 ain. They added
18ad0 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 up as she expec
18ae0 74 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ted, but the pri
18af0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 50 oritizer said "P
18b00 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 65 6d lease count them
18b10 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f again.".."What?
18b20 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 6c 65 20 Why?".."While
18b30 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 2c 20 2f 2a 20 you counted, /*
18b40 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 it looked like a
18b50 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 2a 2f 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f t least */ one o
18b60 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 f them appeared
18b70 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 65 72 20 74 68 to be thicker th
18b80 61 6e 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 55 6e 69 74 an standard Unit
18b90 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 ed States federa
18ba0 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 2c l reserve notes,
18bb0 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 and also appear
18bc0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 6e 65 ed to be very ne
18bd0 77 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 w. Perhaps some
18be0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 of these notes
18bf0 69 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 66 65 69 74 is a counterfeit
18c00 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 . Please count
18c10 61 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 77 61 again while I wa
18c20 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f tch."..Alley fro
18c30 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 wned at the stac
18c40 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 k, and started c
18c50 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 ounting again.
18c60 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 Toward the end,
18c70 73 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e she hesitated on
18c80 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 77 20 one of the few
18c90 6e 65 77 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 69 6c 6c new-looking bill
18ca0 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 s in the stack,
18cb0 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c with a feeling l
18cc0 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 ike something wa
18cd0 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 s wrong..."That
18ce0 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 77 68 6f 73 is the note whos
18cf0 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 70 65 e thickness appe
18d00 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 72 72 ars to be incorr
18d10 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c ect."..Alley pul
18d20 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 led it out of th
18d30 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b e stack and look
18d40 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 ed closer. It f
18d50 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e elt stiffer than
18d60 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 74 most bills, but
18d70 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 that could just
18d80 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 62 65 be due to it be
18d90 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 75 ing new. She ru
18da0 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 bbed it to get a
18db0 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 73 20 73 75 feel for its su
18dc0 72 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 65 rface, and it se
18dd0 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 77 6f parated into two
18de0 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 bills. "Oh, sh
18df0 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 it," she said.
18e00 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 77 61 72 20 "That scary war
18e10 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 20 61 63 63 69 veteran guy acci
18e20 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 dentally gave me
18e30 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 an extra hundre
18e40 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 d. Fuck. What
18e50 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 20 if it wasn't an
18e60 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 accident? Maybe
18e70 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a it's a test."..
18e80 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 65 78 74 72 "That seems extr
18e90 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 emely unlikely,"
18ea0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
18eb0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 said..."Yeah."
18ec0 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 She sighed. "I
18ed0 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 guess you're ri
18ee0 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a ght, actually.".
18ef0 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 ."I have a plan
18f00 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f of action to pro
18f10 70 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f pose for tomorro
18f20 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 w."..Alley start
18f30 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 ed to nod, then
18f40 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 looked at the ex
18f50 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 tra hundred in h
18f60 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 57 61 69 74 2e er hand. "Wait.
18f70 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 I should give
18f80 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 this bill back t
18f90 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 o that guy.".."F
18fa0 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 or a high priori
18fb0 74 79 20 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 ty aversion to h
18fc0 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 igh severity ris
18fd0 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ks, this is not
18fe0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 a good choice.
18ff0 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 76 6f 69 64 You should avoid
19000 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 meeting with pe
19010 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 ople with a high
19020 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 76 potential for v
19030 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 iolence."..Alley
19040 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 laughed quietly
19050 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 . "Yeah," she s
19060 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 aid, "you're rig
19070 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 ht. I got throu
19080 67 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 gh one meeting w
19090 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 77 ithout trouble w
190a0 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e ith him already.
190b0 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 Should I count
190c0 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 6c 75 63 6b that as my luck
190d0 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 y break, and for
190e0 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f get about him, o
190f0 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 r take it as evi
19100 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 69 67 dence that I mig
19110 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 ht not be in any
19120 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 69 66 20 49 20 6d 65 65 danger if I mee
19130 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 t him again to g
19140 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 6d 69 73 ive back his mis
19150 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 3f 0a 0a 22 placed money?.."
19160 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 It doesn't feel
19170 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 right, just keep
19180 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 74 ing his money, t
19190 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f hough.".."Why do
191a0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 you feel that w
191b0 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ay?" the priorit
191c0 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 izer asked..."It
191d0 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2c 22 20 73 's dishonest," s
191e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 he said..."You d
191f0 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 id not lie to hi
19200 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 m.".."True.".."D
19210 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 id you realize t
19220 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 6d 6f here might be mo
19230 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 re money than he
19240 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 intended to giv
19250 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 e you when you c
19260 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 ounted the first
19270 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a time?".."No."..
19280 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 "How is that dis
19290 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 honest?"..Alley'
192a0 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 s lips tightened
192b0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 for a moment.
192c0 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 "I guess dishone
192d0 73 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 st isn't the rig
192e0 68 74 20 77 6f 72 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d ht word, but I'm
192f0 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 taking advantag
19300 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 e of him in some
19310 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 way that doesn'
19320 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 46 t feel right. F
19330 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 or all I know, t
19340 68 61 74 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 6d 69 67 68 hat hundred migh
19350 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 t end up being t
19360 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 he difference be
19370 74 77 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 tween something
19380 62 61 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 bad hitting him
19390 68 61 72 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 hard at some poi
193a0 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 69 74 74 69 nt and not hitti
193b0 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a ng him at all.".
193c0 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 79 6f ."Do you feel yo
193d0 75 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 u owe him that c
193e0 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 onsideration, pe
193f0 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a rsonally?"../*..
19400 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 77 65 "Not exactly owe
19410 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 him, I guess, b
19420 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 6e ut he hasn't don
19430 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 75 e anything to hu
19440 72 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 64 rt me or take ad
19450 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f vantage of me, o
19460 72 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 r done anything
19470 65 6c 73 65 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 else bad that I
19480 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 know about, so I
19490 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 61 73 73 75 6d shouldn't assum
194a0 65 20 68 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 e he isn't worth
194b0 20 74 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 treating with r
194c0 65 73 70 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c espect.".."I wil
194d0 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 l consider this
194e0 77 68 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 when considering
194f0 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 future prioriti
19500 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e zation strategy.
19510 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 ".."Cool. I'm g
19520 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 68 69 6d oing to send him
19530 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 a message now.
19540 20 57 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f We can talk abo
19550 75 74 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 ut..*/.."No, I g
19560 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 uess not," she s
19570 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 aid. "It's not
19580 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 72 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 like I ripped hi
19590 6d 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 6f 72 20 6c 69 65 64 20 74 m off, or lied t
195a0 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 o him, or even p
195b0 72 65 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 retended I didn'
195c0 74 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 61 t notice. I rea
195d0 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 77 lly thought it w
195e0 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6d 6f as the right amo
195f0 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e unt of money, an
19600 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 d even if he has
19610 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 n't really done
19620 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 anything to me,
19630 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 63 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 he did scare the
19640 20 63 72 61 70 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 20 crap out of me
19650 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 a little.".."We
19660 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 20 6e should discuss n
19670 65 77 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6d ew plans for tom
19680 6f 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 orrow, then. I
19690 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 70 6f 73 61 6c 20 have a proposal
196a0 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 for you to consi
196b0 64 65 72 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 der, if you are
196c0 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 ready."../*..
196d0 20 49 64 65 61 73 3a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c Ideas:.. All
196e0 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f ey should be pro
196f0 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 66 72 6f mpted to buy fro
19700 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 28 6f 72 29 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 m and (or) sell
19710 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 0a 20 to other study.
19720 20 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 participants
19730 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c in ways that hel
19740 70 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 p her as the mid
19750 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c dleman in a deal
19760 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 0a 20 20 20 20 the others.
19770 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c could have handl
19780 65 64 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 ed directly for
19790 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 2e greater benefit.
197a0 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 73 She should als
197b0 6f 20 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 6f 6d 70 74 65 o be. prompte
197c0 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 74 d to do some int
197d0 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 77 ernet research w
197e0 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 ork for some oth
197f0 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 72 er study. par
19800 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 ticipants as a w
19810 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 ay to make a lit
19820 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 tle money, thoug
19830 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 h the prioritize
19840 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 0a 20 20 20 20 77 61 72 r should. war
19850 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 n her this is a
19860 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 6d 65 74 68 6f short term metho
19870 64 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 69 6e 67 20 68 d of advancing h
19880 65 72 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 er finances that
19890 20 77 69 6c 6c 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 will. not li
198a0 6b 65 6c 79 20 62 65 20 66 72 75 69 74 66 75 6c kely be fruitful
198b0 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 for long...
198c0 53 6f 6d 65 20 68 6f 74 20 67 75 79 20 73 68 6f Some hot guy sho
198d0 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 uld be part of t
198e0 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 he story, younge
198f0 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61 6e r than Alley, an
19900 64 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 d an ally of.
19910 20 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 hers in some wa
19920 79 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 y. This may be
19930 6f 6e 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 61 one part of an a
19940 70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 pparent potentia
19950 6c 20 6c 6f 76 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 72 69 61 6e l love. trian
19960 67 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 gle with Alley a
19970 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 nd her ex. The
19980 67 75 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 75 72 6e 20 guy should turn
19990 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 67 61 79 2c 20 6f out to be gay, o
199a0 72 0a 20 20 20 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 62 69 r. perhaps bi
199b0 73 65 78 75 61 6c 20 62 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 sexual but in a
199c0 63 6f 6d 6d 69 74 74 65 64 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 committed relati
199d0 6f 6e 73 68 69 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 61 onship with a ma
199e0 6e 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 0a n at least, and.
199f0 20 20 20 20 74 68 75 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 72 75 thus not tru
19a00 6c 79 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 ly available at
19a10 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 65 78 2c 20 6f 66 all. The ex, of
19a20 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 70 course, while p
19a30 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 69 otentially. i
19a40 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 67 65 74 nterested in get
19a50 74 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 ting back togeth
19a60 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 68 6f er with her, sho
19a70 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 uld neither be a
19a80 20 6c 6f 76 65 73 69 63 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 73 61 lovesick. sa
19a90 70 20 6e 6f 72 20 62 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c p nor be what Al
19aa0 6c 65 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 ley decides she
19ab0 77 61 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 55 70 20 74 wants... Up t
19ac0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 77 68 65 72 o the point wher
19ad0 65 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 68 69 6d 20 e she turns him
19ae0 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 down, Alley shou
19af0 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 65 65 6d ld probably seem
19b00 0a 20 20 20 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 . potentially
19b10 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 67 interested in g
19b20 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 etting back toge
19b30 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ther with Dalton
19b40 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 74 0a , perhaps -- at.
19b50 20 20 20 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 least from h
19b60 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 69 76 65 2e 20 is perspective.
19b70 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d Should she seem
19b80 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 that way to the
19b90 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 3f 0a 20 20 20 20 53 68 6f reader?. Sho
19ba0 75 6c 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 68 61 uld she seem tha
19bb0 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 t way to herself
19bc0 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 ? However that
19bd0 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 works out, thoug
19be0 68 2c 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 65 65 64 73 h, she. needs
19bf0 20 74 6f 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 68 to ultimately h
19c00 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 69 6d 20 ave to tell him
19c10 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 that he is not a
19c20 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 ctually what she
19c30 20 77 61 6e 74 73 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 wants. now,
19c40 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 and in addition
19c50 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 -- but not as th
19c60 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 e underlying rea
19c70 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 65 son for the fore
19c80 67 6f 69 6e 67 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 63 6f going,. of co
19c90 75 72 73 65 3b 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 urse; just as a
19ca0 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 2d 2d separate fact --
19cb0 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 77 61 she needs to wa
19cc0 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d lk away from him
19cd0 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 20 68 to. follow h
19ce0 65 72 20 6e 65 77 20 70 61 74 68 20 61 74 20 74 er new path at t
19cf0 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c he end, especial
19d00 6c 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 72 61 67 67 ly without dragg
19d10 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 74 0a ing him into it.
19d20 20 20 20 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 27 73 because it's
19d30 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 70 6c not the best pl
19d40 61 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 20 20 ace for him...
19d50 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 20 49 64 65 61 73 3a 0a 0a 20 More Ideas:..
19d60 20 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 Should the ap
19d70 70 61 72 65 6e 74 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 65 parent love inte
19d80 72 65 73 74 20 6e 65 77 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f rest new guy who
19d90 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 62 6f 79 66 72 69 65 6e 64 has a boyfriend
19da0 20 28 6f 72 20 69 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 0a 20 20 (or is maybe.
19db0 20 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 79 29 20 62 65 20 61 just gay) be a
19dc0 20 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 fellow study pa
19dd0 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 3f 20 20 53 68 6f 75 rticipant? Shou
19de0 6c 64 20 68 65 20 62 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 ld he be part of
19df0 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 her. cyberpu
19e00 6e 6b 20 63 72 65 77 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 nk crew in the s
19e10 68 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 3f 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c hadowrun? Shoul
19e20 64 20 68 65 20 62 65 20 61 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 d he be a Second
19e30 20 52 65 61 6c 6d 20 68 61 63 6b 65 72 3f 20 20 Realm hacker?
19e40 49 66 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 If. the last
19e50 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 72 65 65 3a 20 of those three:
19e60 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 20 62 65 20 68 65 72 Should he be her
19e70 20 70 72 69 6d 61 72 79 20 67 75 69 64 65 2c 20 primary guide,
19e80 6f 72 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a or perhaps some.
19e90 20 20 20 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 other charac
19ea0 74 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6f ter who starts o
19eb0 66 66 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 6c 69 ff on the sideli
19ec0 6e 65 73 3f 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 69 73 nes? Should his
19ed0 20 62 6f 79 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 62 65 0a 20 20 boyfriend be.
19ee0 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 someone she as
19ef0 73 75 6d 65 73 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 sumes is just a
19f00 66 72 69 65 6e 64 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6c 61 friend? This la
19f10 73 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 65 73 70 65 st might be espe
19f20 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 61 70 70 72 6f cially. appro
19f30 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 69 66 20 49 20 67 6f 20 77 priate if I go w
19f40 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 72 63 65 6e 61 72 ith the mercenar
19f50 79 20 6f 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 73 74 20 73 68 y or activist sh
19f60 61 64 6f 77 72 75 6e 20 63 79 62 65 72 70 75 6e adowrun cyberpun
19f70 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 k. character
19f80 69 64 65 61 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 idea... How d
19f90 6f 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 69 oes she end up i
19fa0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 52 65 61 n the Second Rea
19fb0 6c 6d 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e lm? Does Dalton
19fc0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 actually know h
19fd0 6f 77 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e ow to. get in
19fe0 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 touch with the
19ff0 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 61 6e 61 6c 6f 67 75 Smuggler analogu
1a000 65 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 e? Does Dalton
1a010 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 2c 20 have the trust,
1a020 73 77 61 79 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 61 6e 64 20 28 6f sway,. and (o
1a030 72 29 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 r) influence to
1a040 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 get the Smuggler
1a050 20 67 75 79 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 20 66 61 76 guy to do a fav
1a060 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 28 6e 61 6d 65 or for him (name
1a070 6c 79 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 ly,. helping
1a080 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 29 3f 0a 0a 20 20 20 Alley out)?..
1a090 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 6c Does the old bl
1a0a0 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 ack war veteran
1a0b0 41 72 6d 79 20 52 61 6e 67 65 72 20 67 75 79 20 Army Ranger guy
1a0c0 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f introduce her to
1a0d0 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 the Second.
1a0e0 52 65 61 6c 6d 65 72 73 3f 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 Realmers?.. I
1a0f0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 think when they
1a100 20 70 69 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 75 70 20 28 62 65 pick her up (be
1a110 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 cause I think sh
1a120 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 69 63 6b e should be pick
1a130 65 64 20 75 70 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 ed up,. unles
1a140 73 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 61 s she's just tra
1a150 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 nsported there b
1a160 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 y someone under
1a170 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 0a 20 20 20 20 more direct.
1a180 63 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 29 2c 20 circumstances),
1a190 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 72 she should be tr
1a1a0 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 ansported with a
1a1b0 20 62 61 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 bag over her he
1a1c0 61 64 20 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 ad or. someth
1a1d0 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 ing like that.
1a1e0 54 68 65 79 20 61 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 61 72 They at first ar
1a1f0 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 en't going to be
1a200 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 72 75 73 especially trus
1a210 74 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 ting. of some
1a220 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 new person they
1a230 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 never met befor
1a240 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 6c 65 61 e getting a clea
1a250 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 r look at the wa
1a260 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 74 y. they got t
1a270 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 54 65 6d 70 6f 72 61 72 o their Temporar
1a280 79 20 41 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 5a 6f 6e y Autonomous Zon
1a290 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 e... I need t
1a2a0 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d o figure out som
1a2b0 65 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 e ideas for what
1a2c0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f will be used to
1a2d0 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 66 61 73 74 0a 20 20 provide fast.
1a2e0 20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 internet acces
1a2f0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 54 65 6d 70 6f 72 s for the Tempor
1a300 61 72 79 20 41 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 6f 75 73 20 5a ary Autonomous Z
1a310 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 73 74 61 63 one. A few stac
1a320 6b 73 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 69 70 70 69 ks of. shippi
1a330 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 72 73 20 69 6e ng containers in
1a340 20 61 20 64 75 73 74 79 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 a dusty industr
1a350 69 61 6c 20 73 68 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e ial shipping con
1a360 74 61 69 6e 65 72 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 79 tainer storage y
1a370 61 72 64 0a 20 20 20 20 28 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c ard. (possibl
1a380 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 74 y with a concret
1a390 65 20 73 6c 61 62 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 e slab under the
1a3a0 6d 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 29 20 64 6f 65 73 m, I guess) does
1a3b0 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 not seem likely
1a3c0 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 to. provide
1a3d0 76 65 72 79 20 65 61 73 79 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 very easy access
1a3e0 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 6d to high speed m
1a3f0 61 69 6e 73 74 72 65 61 6d 20 22 61 62 6f 76 65 ainstream "above
1a400 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 74 65 72 6c 69 6e 65 22 20 the waterline"
1a410 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 22 61 62 6f 76 65 20 62 6f or. "above bo
1a420 61 72 64 22 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 61 63 ard" internet ac
1a430 63 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 cess... What
1a440 6e 61 6d 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 49 20 67 69 76 65 name will I give
1a450 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 to the Smuggler
1a460 20 69 6e 73 70 69 72 65 64 20 67 75 79 3f 20 20 inspired guy?
1a470 57 69 6c 6c 20 49 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 Will I refer to
1a480 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 53 the. actual S
1a490 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 69 73 muggler in a his
1a4a0 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 78 74 3f torical context?
1a4b0 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 It feels like
1a4c0 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c I probably shoul
1a4d0 64 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 69 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f d,. if for no
1a4e0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 other reason th
1a4f0 61 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 an giving credit
1a500 20 74 6f 20 53 6d 75 67 67 65 72 20 77 68 65 72 to Smugger wher
1a510 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 75 65 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 e it's due...
1a520 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 How does Alley'
1a530 73 20 70 61 74 68 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 61 66 74 s path shift aft
1a540 65 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 75 70 64 61 er priority upda
1a550 74 65 73 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 tes due to the r
1a560 69 73 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 6e 63 isk. toleranc
1a570 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 e profile change
1a580 3f 20 20 48 6f 77 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 ? How will she
1a590 6d 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 meet the black w
1a5a0 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 ar veteran and.
1a5b0 20 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 70 6c 75 73 20 43 Carmen plus C
1a5c0 6c 69 66 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 6c 61 74 65 72 liff again later
1a5d0 3f 20 20 49 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 ? I kinda feel
1a5e0 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e like she should.
1a5f0 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 Maybe she.
1a600 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 should meet the
1a610 67 69 72 6c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 girl from the fi
1a620 72 73 74 20 6b 69 64 27 73 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 rst kid's car, t
1a630 6f 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 oo, but probably
1a640 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6b 69 64 not the. kid
1a650 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a himself again..
1a660 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 . Maybe the b
1a670 6c 61 63 6b 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e lack war veteran
1a680 20 66 6f 72 6d 65 72 20 41 72 6d 79 20 52 61 6e former Army Ran
1a690 67 65 72 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 67 75 79 20 73 68 ger tough guy sh
1a6a0 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 73 0a ows up again as.
1a6b0 20 20 20 20 61 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 70 72 a service pr
1a6c0 6f 76 69 64 65 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 ovider, with her
1a6d0 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 65 72 2c 20 as a customer,
1a6e0 77 68 65 6e 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6e when later she n
1a6f0 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 eeds to be. t
1a700 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 73 75 72 72 65 ransported surre
1a710 70 74 69 74 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 ptitiously and c
1a720 6c 61 6e 64 65 73 74 69 6e 65 6c 79 20 66 72 6f landestinely fro
1a730 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 61 m one place to a
1a740 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 65 71 75 69 nother,. equi
1a750 76 61 6c 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 valent to what's
1a760 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 going on with s
1a770 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 73 63 65 6e 61 72 69 6f 73 imilar scenarios
1a780 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 in other storie
1a790 73 20 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e s out. there.
1a7a0 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 This could be
1a7b0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 a good way to ge
1a7c0 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 t him back into
1a7d0 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e the story and in
1a7e0 0a 20 20 20 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 . contact wit
1a7f0 68 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c h her. She coul
1a800 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 65 6e d also, then, en
1a810 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 d up having the
1a820 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 0a 20 opportunity to.
1a830 20 20 20 70 61 79 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 pay him back
1a840 74 68 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c the hundred doll
1a850 61 72 73 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 65 ars he doesn't e
1a860 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 73 68 65 20 ven realize she
1a870 6f 77 65 73 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 50 owes him... P
1a880 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 erhaps something
1a890 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 Alley could do
1a8a0 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f for one of the o
1a8b0 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 ther study parti
1a8c0 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 64 cipants is. d
1a8d0 6f 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 70 65 o research on pe
1a8e0 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 72 79 ople who are try
1a8f0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 70 61 ing to find a pa
1a900 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 69 73 73 75 65 20 6f rticular issue o
1a910 66 20 61 0a 20 20 20 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c f a. particul
1a920 61 72 20 63 6f 6d 69 63 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 73 65 ar comic book se
1a930 72 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 ries to complete
1a940 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 a collection, b
1a950 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 69 ecause maybe thi
1a960 73 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 s. other stud
1a970 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 69 73 y participant is
1a980 20 69 6e 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 in need of mone
1a990 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 69 y and has a comi
1a9a0 63 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 65 78 c book in. ex
1a9b0 63 65 6c 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f cellent conditio
1a9c0 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 72 69 n that could bri
1a9d0 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 ng in some money
1a9e0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 6f like that. Sho
1a9f0 75 6c 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 20 20 20 20 65 6e uld Alley. en
1aa00 64 20 75 70 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 74 68 d up charging th
1aa10 65 20 67 75 79 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 6e e guy then, when
1aa20 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 74 the guy talks t
1aa30 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 o the potential
1aa40 62 75 79 65 72 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 64 buyer,. the d
1aa50 65 61 6c 20 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 eal falls throug
1aa60 68 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 h, leaving the g
1aa70 75 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 uy with no money
1aa80 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 6f 66 2c 20 61 6e to speak of, an
1aa90 64 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 66 61 63 74 20 77 69 d in. fact wi
1aaa0 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 65 th less than whe
1aab0 6e 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 n he started bec
1aac0 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 70 ause he had to p
1aad0 61 79 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 ay Alley? Will
1aae0 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 62 65 20 61 20 63 61 this. be a ca
1aaf0 73 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 se where Alley p
1ab00 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b ays the guy back
1ab10 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 , because even i
1ab20 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f f she did the wo
1ab30 72 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 rk. she reali
1ab40 7a 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 69 73 20 69 zes the guy is i
1ab50 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 74 72 6f 75 n financial trou
1ab60 62 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 ble and needs th
1ab70 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 72 e money, and par
1ab80 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 t. of the rea
1ab90 73 6f 6e 20 68 65 27 73 20 69 6e 20 73 75 63 68 son he's in such
1aba0 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 69 61 6c 20 74 72 6f 75 62 financial troub
1abb0 6c 65 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 le is that the r
1abc0 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 68 65 20 70 61 69 64 0a esearch he paid.
1abd0 20 20 20 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 70 65 72 66 6f her to perfo
1abe0 72 6d 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 65 66 66 rm -- though eff
1abf0 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 ective and well
1ac00 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 completed for hi
1ac10 6d 20 2d 2d 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 0a 20 20 20 m -- did not.
1ac20 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 61 72 20 66 actually bear f
1ac30 72 75 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 3f 20 20 49 ruit for him? I
1ac40 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 73 s there some pos
1ac50 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 69 sibility this wi
1ac60 6c 6c 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 0a 20 20 20 20 ll turn out.
1ac70 74 6f 20 62 65 20 62 61 64 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e to be bad for on
1ac80 65 20 6f 72 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 e or both of the
1ac90 6d 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 62 61 63 m if it gets bac
1aca0 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 k to the profess
1acb0 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 73 or and his. s
1acc0 70 6f 6f 6b 79 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b 20 67 6f 76 65 pooky spook gove
1acd0 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 rnment intellige
1ace0 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 73 20 nce contractors
1acf0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 that the priorit
1ad00 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 63 72 6f 73 izer is. cros
1ad10 73 20 70 6f 6c 6c 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 s pollinating a
1ad20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 73 74 75 64 bit between stud
1ad30 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 74 y participants t
1ad40 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6b 65 hat should be ke
1ad50 70 74 0a 20 20 20 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 20 pt. separate
1ad60 66 72 6f 6d 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 3f from each other?
1ad70 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 .. Will Alley
1ad80 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 end up running
1ad90 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 6e a courier job on
1ada0 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 a motorcycle?
1adb0 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 66 75 6e 2e 0a That seems fun..
1adc0 0a 20 20 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 . Will Alley
1add0 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 61 69 6c 20 73 6f 6d have to bail som
1ade0 65 20 67 75 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6a 61 69 e guy out of jai
1adf0 6c 3f 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 63 72 l? Perhaps a cr
1ae00 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 iminal of some.
1ae10 20 20 20 6b 69 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 kind, wanted
1ae20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 68 by the police, h
1ae30 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f 20 as the money to
1ae40 62 61 69 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 63 6f 20 63 6f bail out a co co
1ae50 6e 73 70 69 72 61 74 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 6e 65 nspirator. ne
1ae60 65 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 eds someone else
1ae70 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 to go in to pay
1ae80 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 6c 20 2d 2d 20 73 6f 6d the bail -- som
1ae90 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 eone who is not
1aea0 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 wanted by. th
1aeb0 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 e police, and th
1aec0 75 73 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 us can get away
1aed0 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 with it. That w
1aee0 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 66 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 ould be fun. Th
1aef0 65 0a 20 20 20 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 e. question i
1af00 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 73 s really how I s
1af10 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f hould arrange fo
1af20 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 r her to do this
1af30 20 2a 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2a 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 *before* she.
1af40 20 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 ends up on the
1af50 20 6c 61 6d 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 66 lam, because af
1af60 74 65 72 77 61 72 64 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 70 72 terward she's pr
1af70 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 61 66 72 obably a bit afr
1af80 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e aid to go. in
1af90 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 to a police stat
1afa0 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 ion. Perhaps th
1afb0 65 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 70 61 79 69 6e e criminal payin
1afc0 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 68 61 73 g for things has
1afd0 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 20 68 61 6c 66 20 63 some. half c
1afe0 72 69 70 70 6c 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 rippled old lady
1aff0 20 28 6f 72 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 (or perhaps the
1b000 20 68 61 6c 66 20 63 72 69 70 70 6c 65 64 20 6f half crippled o
1b010 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 20 2a 69 73 2a 20 74 68 65 ld lady *is* the
1b020 0a 20 20 20 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 21 29 20 . criminal!)
1b030 74 61 6c 6b 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 61 talk her into pa
1b040 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 6c 20 66 6f ying the bail fo
1b050 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 67 72 61 6e 64 r her poor grand
1b060 73 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 0a son or whatever.
1b070 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 the hell he
1b080 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 is. That could
1b090 62 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 66 75 6e 2c 20 6f 66 be extra fun, of
1b0a0 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 20 49 20 course. Now I
1b0b0 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 0a 20 20 20 just need an.
1b0c0 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 excuse for Alle
1b0d0 79 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 y to have to pay
1b0e0 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 6c 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 the bail under
1b0f0 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 6e 73 her own name ins
1b100 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 64 65 6c 69 tead of. deli
1b110 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 vering payment f
1b120 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6c 66 20 63 72 69 70 or the half crip
1b130 70 6c 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 20 6f 72 pled old lady or
1b140 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
1b150 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 that.. Hell,
1b160 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 68 65 20 28 74 68 65 20 6f maybe she (the o
1b170 6c 64 20 6c 61 64 79 29 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 ld lady) pretend
1b180 73 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 s she is afraid
1b190 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 of being on came
1b1a0 72 61 0a 20 20 20 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 ra. because t
1b1b0 68 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 73 he government is
1b1c0 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 72 72 69 62 6c full of horribl
1b1d0 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 69 6c e people who wil
1b1e0 6c 20 64 6f 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 0a l do bad things.
1b1f0 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 with the vid
1b200 65 6f 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2c 20 6f eo, or to her, o
1b210 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 r whatever. May
1b220 62 65 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 be she's afraid
1b230 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 65 6e 74 0a 20 20 of being sent.
1b240 20 20 74 6f 20 61 20 6e 75 72 73 69 6e 67 20 68 to a nursing h
1b250 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f ome that is almo
1b260 73 74 20 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 6e st prisonlike in
1b270 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 72 75 6e 73 20 74 68 69 how it runs thi
1b280 6e 67 73 2c 0a 20 20 20 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 ngs,. accordi
1b290 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 6c 61 ng to the old la
1b2a0 64 79 27 73 20 73 6f 62 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 0a dy's sob story..
1b2b0 0a 20 20 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c . Maybe the l
1b2c0 61 77 79 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 72 awyer of some cr
1b2d0 69 6d 65 20 62 6f 73 73 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 74 ime boss is just
1b2e0 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 68 arranging for h
1b2f0 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 74 68 65 0a er to carry the.
1b300 20 20 20 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 64 6f 77 6e payment down
1b310 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 20 there and drop
1b320 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 69 6c 20 61 73 20 off the bail as
1b330 61 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 2c 20 74 68 75 73 20 a courier, thus
1b340 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 0a 20 the motorcycle.
1b350 20 20 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 2e 20 courier job.
1b360 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 That seems like
1b370 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 the most likely
1b380 20 73 63 65 6e 61 72 69 6f 20 73 6f 20 66 61 72 scenario so far
1b390 2c 20 62 75 74 20 76 65 72 79 20 66 61 72 0a 20 , but very far.
1b3a0 20 20 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 from the most
1b3b0 20 66 75 6e 2e 20 20 49 66 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f fun. If she do
1b3c0 65 73 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 es it with a mot
1b3d0 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c orcycle, though,
1b3e0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 0a 20 20 20 20 that means.
1b3f0 73 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 she's doing it a
1b400 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 fter she's on th
1b410 65 20 6c 61 6d 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 e lam, I think,
1b420 77 68 69 63 68 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 68 61 which means I ha
1b430 76 65 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 ve to. figure
1b440 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 out how to get
1b450 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e her to be willin
1b460 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 g to go to the p
1b470 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 62 61 69 6c lace to pay bail
1b480 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 .. That might
1b490 20 62 65 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 be a bit harder
1b4a0 2e 20 20 49 66 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 . If she's just
1b4b0 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 acting as a cou
1b4c0 72 69 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 73 68 rier, though, sh
1b4d0 65 0a 20 20 20 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 e. might just
1b4e0 20 62 65 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 70 be overlooked p
1b4f0 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 65 6e 74 69 72 retty much entir
1b500 65 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 6e 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 ely as unimporta
1b510 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 6e 6f 74 nt, and thus not
1b520 0a 20 20 20 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 74 20 61 . really at a
1b530 6e 79 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 ny risk of being
1b540 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 75 6e 6c 65 identified unle
1b550 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 67 65 74 73 ss her face gets
1b560 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 on camera..
1b570 54 68 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 68 65 72 20 Then again, her
1b580 66 61 63 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 face getting on
1b590 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c camera is very l
1b5a0 69 6b 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 ikely. Perhaps
1b5b0 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 0a 20 20 20 20 73 69 74 the mask. sit
1b5c0 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 uation is going
1b5d0 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 to help here. I
1b5e0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 just need to fi
1b5f0 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 gure out how to
1b600 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 69 73 2e handle. this.
1b610 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 74 ..*/.."Yeah, I t
1b620 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 hink I'm ready."
1b630 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 .."I have two br
1b640 6f 61 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 73 20 74 oad approaches t
1b650 6f 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 2e 20 20 45 61 63 o describe. Eac
1b660 68 20 6f 66 66 65 72 73 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 h offers differe
1b670 6e 74 20 62 65 6e 65 66 69 74 73 20 74 68 61 6e nt benefits than
1b680 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 46 69 72 the other. Fir
1b690 73 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 6f st, you could lo
1b6a0 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 44 65 6c 69 ok into the Deli
1b6b0 76 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 v advertisements
1b6c0 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 75 72 asking for cour
1b6d0 69 65 72 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 73 2e 20 20 53 65 ier drivers. Se
1b6e0 63 6f 6e 64 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 cond, you could
1b6f0 73 65 65 6b 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 seek quality ass
1b700 75 72 61 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 urance work for
1b710 61 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 73 65 61 73 20 70 72 6f 64 an overseas prod
1b720 75 63 74 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 61 75 74 6f 6d uct review autom
1b730 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 ation business.
1b740 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 67 69 Either can begi
1b750 6e 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 63 6f n producing inco
1b760 6d 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 61 me immediately a
1b770 6e 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 72 6b nd give you work
1b780 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 experience that
1b790 20 6d 61 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 may help when a
1b7a0 70 70 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 pplying for anot
1b7b0 68 65 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a her job later.".
1b7c0 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 ."I guess you're
1b7d0 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 asking whether
1b7e0 49 27 64 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 62 65 20 61 20 I'd rather be a
1b7f0 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 64 72 69 professional dri
1b800 76 65 72 20 6f 72 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 ver or work in t
1b810 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 69 6e 64 75 he software indu
1b820 73 74 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 63 6f stry.".."That co
1b830 6e 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 61 nsideration is a
1b840 6e 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 69 6d 70 6c n important impl
1b850 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 ication of the c
1b860 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 44 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 hoice. Driving
1b870 6d 61 79 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 72 65 may give you gre
1b880 61 74 65 72 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 ater employment
1b890 61 75 74 6f 6e 6f 6d 79 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 autonomy, which
1b8a0 73 65 65 6d 73 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 seems consistent
1b8b0 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 76 69 with your previ
1b8c0 6f 75 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d ous self employm
1b8d0 65 6e 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 73 2e 20 20 57 6f ent choices. Wo
1b8e0 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6d 6f 74 65 6c 79 20 69 rking remotely i
1b8f0 6e 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 n software produ
1b900 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 65 ction and mainte
1b910 6e 61 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6c 65 73 20 6d 61 79 20 nance roles may
1b920 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 give you greater
1b930 20 66 6c 65 78 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 6e 20 flexibility in
1b940 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 where you choose
1b950 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 to live.".."Yea
1b960 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
1b970 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f I don't know abo
1b980 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 51 41 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 ut that QA job,
1b990 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 though. That's
1b9a0 61 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 a really sketchy
1b9b0 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 75 74 6f 6d business, autom
1b9c0 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 72 65 ating product re
1b9d0 76 69 65 77 73 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 62 65 63 6f views. I'd beco
1b9e0 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 me part of the p
1b9f0 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 roblem with the
1ba00 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e internet. I'm n
1ba10 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 27 64 20 77 61 6e 74 ot sure I'd want
1ba20 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 2c to be a driver,
1ba30 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 but maybe it's
1ba40 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a worth trying."..
1ba50 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 "Between deliver
1ba60 79 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 79 y engagements, y
1ba70 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ou can also look
1ba80 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 20 72 69 73 6b 79 20 for less risky
1ba90 74 72 61 64 65 73 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 trades to facili
1baa0 74 61 74 65 2c 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 tate, much like
1bab0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 62 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 before but with
1bac0 6c 65 73 73 20 70 72 6f 78 69 6d 69 74 79 20 74 less proximity t
1bad0 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 71 75 65 73 o people of ques
1bae0 74 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 73 74 79 tionable lifesty
1baf0 6c 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 69 74 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 le legality."..A
1bb00 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 lley nodded. "Y
1bb10 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 eah, that makes
1bb20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 sense. I guess
1bb30 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 69 67 6e 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 I'll sign up wit
1bb40 68 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 h Deliv tomorrow
1bb50 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 .".."It is best
1bb60 74 6f 20 73 75 62 6d 69 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 to submit your a
1bb70 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 64 61 79 pplication today
1bb80 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 69 6e , if you can, in
1bb90 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 6c 61 79 73 2e case of delays.
1bba0 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 20 73 "..She groaned s
1bbb0 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 oftly. "Fine.
1bbc0 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 I'll do it now."
1bbd0 0a 0a 4d 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 ..Much to Alley'
1bbe0 73 20 64 69 73 6d 61 79 2c 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f s dismay, much o
1bbf0 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 63 f the next day c
1bc00 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 64 20 6f 66 20 44 65 6c 69 onsisted of Deli
1bc10 76 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 v registration t
1bc20 61 73 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 asks. She had t
1bc30 6f 20 6e 61 76 69 67 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 o navigate the g
1bc40 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 27 73 20 70 72 6f 63 overnment's proc
1bc50 65 73 73 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 69 ess for requesti
1bc60 6e 67 20 61 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 ng a driving rec
1bc70 6f 72 64 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ord report to be
1bc80 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 44 65 6c 69 76 2c 20 sent to Deliv,
1bc90 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b which alone took
1bca0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 68 more than two h
1bcb0 6f 75 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 ours. She also
1bcc0 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 76 65 68 had to get a veh
1bcd0 69 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 73 70 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 icle inspection
1bce0 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 68 69 appointment, whi
1bcf0 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 69 ch she almost mi
1bd00 73 73 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 ssed because of
1bd10 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b the time it took
1bd20 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6f to get the repo
1bd30 72 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c rt. After that,
1bd40 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 76 she needed to v
1bd50 69 73 69 74 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6f 66 66 isit a Deliv off
1bd60 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 61 ice to pick up a
1bd70 20 64 65 63 61 6c 20 70 61 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 decal pack for
1bd80 68 65 72 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 her windows, to
1bd90 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 20 68 65 72 20 76 65 68 identify her veh
1bda0 69 63 6c 65 20 61 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c icle as official
1bdb0 6c 79 20 61 74 74 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 ly attached to t
1bdc0 68 65 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 he Deliv service
1bdd0 2e 0a 0a 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 61 73 6b 73 ...Between tasks
1bde0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 , she looked at
1bdf0 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 73 20 66 classified ads f
1be00 6f 72 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 72 61 64 or possible trad
1be10 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 es to make that
1be20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 79 20 didn't look any
1be30 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 more dangerous t
1be40 68 61 6e 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 75 73 65 han buying a use
1be50 64 20 73 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 72 65 6e 63 68 20 d socket wrench
1be60 73 65 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 64 67 69 6e 67 20 62 79 set. Judging by
1be70 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 69 6e what she saw in
1be80 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 the classifieds
1be90 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 77 , she could do w
1bea0 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6c 20 ell in the tool
1beb0 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 69 66 20 6f 6e 6c business, if onl
1bec0 79 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 y she could get
1bed0 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 6e 6f her hands on eno
1bee0 75 67 68 20 73 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 72 65 6e 63 ugh socket wrenc
1bef0 68 20 73 65 74 73 2c 20 61 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f h sets, at a goo
1bf00 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 70 72 69 63 65 20 74 d enough price t
1bf10 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 2c 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 o profit, to mee
1bf20 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 42 t the demand...B
1bf30 79 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 y evening, she w
1bf40 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 as done for the
1bf50 64 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 day, and needed
1bf60 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 to relax. She i
1bf70 64 6c 79 20 73 6b 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f dly skimmed thro
1bf80 75 67 68 20 4f 70 65 6e 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 ugh OpenMarrakes
1bf90 68 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 h, looking for t
1bfa0 6f 6f 6c 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 68 6f 70 69 ools there, hopi
1bfb0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f ng to profit fro
1bfc0 6d 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 m cryptocurrency
1bfd0 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 74 prices to buy t
1bfe0 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 he tools she cou
1bff0 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f ld resell for do
1c000 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 llars. She had
1c010 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 little success,
1c020 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 and gave up on i
1c030 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2e t until morning.
1c040 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 6f 6f ..---..Alley coo
1c050 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6d 75 73 68 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 ked a mushroom a
1c060 6e 64 20 63 68 65 64 64 61 72 20 6f 6d 65 6c 65 nd cheddar omele
1c070 74 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 tte for her brea
1c080 6b 66 61 73 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 kfast. She was
1c090 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 halfway through
1c0a0 69 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 2f 2a 20 73 68 65 20 72 it when /* she r
1c0b0 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 20 74 65 78 74 20 6d eceived a text m
1c0c0 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 2a 2f 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 essage */ a shar
1c0d0 70 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 p sound from her
1c0e0 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 phone indicated
1c0f0 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 an incoming mes
1c100 73 61 67 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b sage. She check
1c110 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 ed it, and saw t
1c120 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 hat it was from
1c130 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 2e 0a 0a the professor...
1c140 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 41 "Good morning, A
1c150 6c 65 74 68 65 61 2c 22 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 lethea," it read
1c160 2e 20 20 22 4c 6f 67 73 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 . "Logs of your
1c170 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 64 72 6f 70 activities drop
1c180 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 ped off a couple
1c190 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 20 61 days ago. We a
1c1a0 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e ren't getting en
1c1b0 6f 75 67 68 20 64 61 74 61 20 74 6f 20 73 75 73 ough data to sus
1c1c0 74 61 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 tain the study.
1c1d0 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 Are you using t
1c1e0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 he prioritizer?"
1c1f0 0a 0a 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 ..Through the ea
1c200 72 20 73 74 75 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 r stud in her ea
1c210 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a r, the prioritiz
1c220 65 72 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e er spoke to her.
1c230 20 20 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 "Perhaps full
1c240 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6c 6f 67 20 72 65 64 61 63 74 audio log redact
1c250 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 74 6f 6f ion provides too
1c260 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 little informat
1c270 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 ion for the stud
1c280 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 63 y.".."Shit. I c
1c290 61 6e 27 74 20 61 66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 70 an't afford to p
1c2a0 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 ay back the firs
1c2b0 74 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 2c t study payment,
1c2c0 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 and I still hav
1c2d0 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6f 74 74 en't really gott
1c2e0 65 6e 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 en anywhere with
1c2f0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d long term incom
1c300 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 e plans.".."I wi
1c310 6c 6c 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 ll ensure some a
1c320 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f mount of additio
1c330 6e 61 6c 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 6f 63 63 75 nal logging occu
1c340 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 69 67 6e 69 rs without signi
1c350 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 ficant privacy i
1c360 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f ntrusion.".."Goo
1c370 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 d. Thanks.".."Y
1c380 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 ou are welcome."
1c390 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 ..She stared at
1c3a0 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 her phone for a
1c3b0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 moment. "What d
1c3c0 6f 20 49 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 o I tell him, th
1c3d0 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 ough?".."You may
1c3e0 20 73 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 63 6f say you were co
1c3f0 6d 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 61 73 6b 73 20 74 mpleting tasks t
1c400 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 71 75 hat did not requ
1c410 69 72 65 20 6d 79 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 2e ire my guidance.
1c420 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c "..Alley nodded,
1c430 20 61 6e 64 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 and typed out h
1c440 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 3a 20 22 49 20 77 er message: "I w
1c450 61 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 72 72 61 6e as running erran
1c460 64 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 61 79 20 79 65 73 74 65 ds all day yeste
1c470 72 64 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 rday. It didn't
1c480 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 seem like the p
1c490 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 rioritizer would
1c4a0 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a be much help.".
1c4b0 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 63 61 .The response ca
1c4c0 6d 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 50 6c me quickly. "Pl
1c4d0 65 61 73 65 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 65 76 65 ease take it eve
1c4e0 72 79 77 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 rywhere. It mig
1c4f0 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 ht be able to he
1c500 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 lp with almost e
1c510 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 verything."..She
1c520 20 74 79 70 65 64 20 22 4f 4b 22 2c 20 74 68 65 typed "OK", the
1c530 6e 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 n hesitated. Af
1c540 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 ter a few breath
1c550 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 6f s, thinking it o
1c560 76 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 ver, she touched
1c570 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 20 69 63 6f 6e 2e 0a the send icon..
1c580 0a 4f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 .Once she finish
1c590 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 ed eating her br
1c5a0 65 61 6b 66 61 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 65 61 eakfast and clea
1c5b0 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 64 69 73 68 65 73 2c ning her dishes,
1c5c0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 Alley opened he
1c5d0 72 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 61 r Deliv driver a
1c5e0 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c pplication and l
1c5f0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 ooked at courier
1c600 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 requests. She
1c610 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 tapped one, got
1c620 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 in her car, and
1c630 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 72 73 started her firs
1c640 74 20 64 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 t day on the job
1c650 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 69 67 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d as a gig econom
1c660 79 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 y courier...She
1c670 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 managed to carry
1c680 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 64 65 6c 69 76 out three deliv
1c690 65 72 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 72 eries without tr
1c6a0 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 ouble during the
1c6b0 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 64 69 6e day. After din
1c6c0 6e 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 ner, she opened
1c6d0 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 the application
1c6e0 6f 6e 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e one more time an
1c6f0 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 d saw another re
1c700 71 75 65 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 quest that nobod
1c710 79 20 65 6c 73 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 63 63 65 70 y else had accep
1c720 74 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 ted. The pick u
1c730 70 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6f p location was o
1c740 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 66 69 76 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 nly a five minut
1c750 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e e drive away, an
1c760 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e d it promised an
1c770 6f 74 68 65 72 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 63 other delivery c
1c780 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 6f 20 73 68 oming back so sh
1c790 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 e could get paid
1c7a0 20 66 6f 72 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 65 67 73 20 6f for both legs o
1c7b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 69 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 f the trip. It
1c7c0 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 64 20 was a scheduled
1c7d0 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 pick up time, th
1c7e0 72 65 65 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 ree hours away,
1c7f0 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 which also meant
1c800 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 she would proba
1c810 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 bly get a slight
1c820 6c 79 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 72 61 74 65 20 66 ly higher rate f
1c830 6f 72 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 or making delive
1c840 72 69 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 64 61 72 6b 2e ries after dark.
1c850 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 ..She accepted t
1c860 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 he job and looke
1c870 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 75 74 65 2e 20 d up the route.
1c880 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 She would have
1c890 74 6f 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 to drive all the
1c8a0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 74 way to Huntingt
1c8b0 6f 6e 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 on Beach -- and
1c8c0 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e back, of course.
1c8d0 20 20 41 6e 6e 6f 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 Annoying, she
1c8e0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 thought, but may
1c8f0 62 65 20 6c 75 63 72 61 74 69 76 65 2e 0a 0a 4f be lucrative...O
1c900 6e 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 n her way out, s
1c910 68 65 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 he brought her e
1c920 78 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 xtending baton,
1c930 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 along with all h
1c940 65 72 20 75 73 75 61 6c 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 er usual pocket
1c950 66 69 6c 6c 65 72 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 fillers. She ha
1c960 64 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 d forgotten all
1c970 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 about it that da
1c980 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 74 y, but now she t
1c990 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 hought about how
1c9a0 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 61 20 70 6c 61 dangerous a pla
1c9b0 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 6f 75 ce the world cou
1c9c0 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 6e 65 61 ld be just benea
1c9d0 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 th the relative
1c9e0 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 safety of the su
1c9f0 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 73 rface activity s
1ca00 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 he saw most of t
1ca10 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 he time. She wa
1ca20 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 s not playing th
1ca30 65 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 e part of the mi
1ca40 64 64 6c 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 67 ddle man for a g
1ca50 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 64 65 61 6c 20 69 6e un parts deal in
1ca60 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 an alley, but t
1ca70 68 61 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 hat danger could
1ca80 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 75 6e 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 still unexpecte
1ca90 64 6c 79 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 dly surface at a
1caa0 6e 79 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 ny time.../* She
1cab0 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 realized, as sh
1cac0 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 e thought about
1cad0 69 74 2c 20 2a 2f 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 it, */ She start
1cae0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 ed the car and p
1caf0 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ulled away from
1cb00 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 the curb. As sh
1cb10 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 e drove, she rea
1cb20 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 69 6e 20 74 lized Cliff in t
1cb30 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 6f 62 he Audi was prob
1cb40 61 62 6c 79 20 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 72 69 ably aiming a ri
1cb50 66 6c 65 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65 fle at her while
1cb60 20 73 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 43 she talked to C
1cb70 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 61 6c 65 armen about sale
1cb80 73 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 73 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 s tactics. Alle
1cb90 79 20 73 68 69 76 65 72 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 y shivered as a
1cba0 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 72 61 63 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 chill raced up h
1cbb0 65 72 20 73 70 69 6e 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 er spine...Alley
1cbc0 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 found herself s
1cbd0 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 64 6f lowly driving do
1cbe0 77 6e 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 20 72 65 73 69 64 65 wn a dark reside
1cbf0 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 77 69 74 ntial street wit
1cc00 68 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 76 h most of the ov
1cc10 65 72 68 65 61 64 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 6c 61 6d erhead streetlam
1cc20 70 73 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 6e 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 ps broken out.
1cc30 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 She took in the
1cc40 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 64 69 6c 61 70 69 64 sight of dilapid
1cc50 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6c 64 20 68 6f 75 73 65 73 20 ated old houses
1cc60 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 that all looked
1cc70 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 72 61 73 68 65 64 20 72 65 70 like trashed rep
1cc80 6f 20 73 61 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 o sales. When s
1cc90 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 he pulled up at
1cca0 74 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 the address on t
1ccb0 68 65 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 65 71 75 65 he courier reque
1ccc0 73 74 2c 20 61 20 70 61 69 6e 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 st, a painfully
1ccd0 74 68 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 69 72 74 6c 65 73 73 20 thin, shirtless
1cce0 61 6e 64 20 62 61 72 65 66 6f 6f 74 65 64 20 6d and barefooted m
1ccf0 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 77 an approached, w
1cd00 69 72 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 6c 65 20 77 69 74 iry and pale wit
1cd10 68 20 67 72 65 61 73 79 20 68 61 69 72 20 61 6e h greasy hair an
1cd20 64 20 73 6f 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 62 6f 64 79 d so little body
1cd30 20 66 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 fat she almost
1cd40 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 imagined she cou
1cd50 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 ld see individua
1cd60 6c 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 20 66 69 62 65 72 73 20 l muscle fibers
1cd70 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6b 69 6e through the skin
1cd80 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 61 20 62 6f 78 . He held a box
1cd90 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 70 in his hands, p
1cda0 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 rotectively, and
1cdb0 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 it looked a bit
1cdc0 20 6f 76 65 72 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 overenthusiasti
1cdd0 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 70 65 64 20 73 68 75 74 cally taped shut
1cde0 2e 0a 0a 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 2c 22 ..."Be careful,"
1cdf0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
1ce00 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 advised her..."
1ce10 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 6c Yeah." She roll
1ce20 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 ed down the wind
1ce30 6f 77 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 ow, keeping her
1ce40 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 61 72 20 right hand near
1ce50 68 65 72 20 68 69 70 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 her hip so she c
1ce60 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 72 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 ould grab her ba
1ce70 74 6f 6e 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 65 ton if she neede
1ce80 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f d it. The windo
1ce90 77 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f w hesitated a co
1cea0 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 uple times, and
1ceb0 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 66 65 61 she began to fea
1cec0 72 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 r she would have
1ced0 20 74 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f to open the doo
1cee0 72 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 r to take the pa
1cef0 63 6b 61 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 66 69 ckage, but it fi
1cf00 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 nally came down
1cf10 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 59 61 20 6b 6e 6f enough..."Ya kno
1cf20 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 61 20 74 61 6b 65 20 w where ta take
1cf30 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 20 20 48 this. Yeah?" H
1cf40 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2c e spoke quickly,
1cf50 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 73 20 61 62 72 75 70 his words abrup
1cf60 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 63 63 61 74 6f 2e 20 t and staccato.
1cf70 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 She wondered if
1cf80 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c he still had al
1cf90 6c 20 68 69 73 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 62 65 68 69 l his teeth behi
1cfa0 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 6b 75 6c 6c 20 70 61 74 nd his skull pat
1cfb0 74 65 72 6e 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 tern mask..."Yea
1cfc0 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 h," she said. "
1cfd0 54 68 65 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 The address was
1cfe0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 in the app.".."G
1cff0 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 47 72 65 61 74 2e 22 20 20 reat. Great."
1d000 48 65 20 74 68 72 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 He thrust the pa
1d010 63 6b 61 67 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 ckage at the ope
1d020 6e 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 n window...Alley
1d030 20 66 6c 69 6e 63 68 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 flinched away,
1d040 74 68 65 6e 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 then carefully t
1d050 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 ook the box and
1d060 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c set it on the fl
1d070 6f 6f 72 62 6f 61 72 64 73 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f oorboards in fro
1d080 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e nt of the passen
1d090 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 ger seat..."Grea
1d0a0 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 t," the man said
1d0b0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 66 again. "Have f
1d0c0 75 6e 21 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 un!" He stepped
1d0d0 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 76 65 64 away, and waved
1d0e0 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 61 6e ...She nodded an
1d0f0 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 53 68 d drove off. Sh
1d100 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 e held down the
1d110 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 72 61 69 73 65 20 button to raise
1d120 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 61 73 20 73 68 the window as sh
1d130 65 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 e want. Her nos
1d140 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 e wrinkled at th
1d150 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 6d e lingering arom
1d160 61 20 6f 66 20 73 77 65 61 74 20 6d 69 6e 67 6c a of sweat mingl
1d170 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 ing with some ki
1d180 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 63 72 69 64 20 63 68 65 6d nd of acrid chem
1d190 69 63 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 64 6f 65 ical..."This doe
1d1a0 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 sn't feel much s
1d1b0 61 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 afer than doing
1d1c0 64 65 61 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 deals for gun pa
1d1d0 72 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 6f rts with scary o
1d1e0 6c 64 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 61 ld veterans in a
1d1f0 6c 6c 65 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 76 6f 69 lleys."..The voi
1d200 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 20 73 61 ce in her ear sa
1d210 69 64 20 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 77 65 20 73 id "Perhaps we s
1d220 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 6f hould consider o
1d230 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a ther options."..
1d240 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 "Yeah." She nod
1d250 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 77 ded. "Perhaps w
1d260 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 e should."..She
1d270 64 72 6f 76 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 72 drove up the onr
1d280 61 6d 70 20 74 6f 20 49 2d 32 31 35 20 61 6e 64 amp to I-215 and
1d290 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 followed the hi
1d2a0 67 68 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 ghway up to the
1d2b0 49 2d 39 31 20 6a 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 I-91 junction.
1d2c0 44 75 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 75 73 69 65 72 20 During a busier
1d2d0 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 64 61 79 2c 20 73 68 65 time of day, she
1d2e0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 61 6b 65 would have take
1d2f0 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 78 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 73 n an exit and us
1d300 65 64 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 20 73 74 72 65 65 ed surface stree
1d310 74 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 ts to avoid the
1d320 48 69 67 68 77 61 79 20 4a 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e Highway Junction
1d330 20 6f 66 20 44 65 61 74 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c of Death, but l
1d340 75 63 6b 69 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 66 66 uckily the traff
1d350 69 63 20 64 65 6e 73 69 74 79 20 77 61 73 20 70 ic density was p
1d360 72 65 74 74 79 20 6c 6f 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 retty low at tha
1d370 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 t time...Through
1d380 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 6f 6b 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 the choke point
1d390 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 between Riversi
1d3a0 64 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 4f 72 de County and Or
1d3b0 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 2c 20 74 68 65 ange County, the
1d3c0 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 6e 69 67 darkness of nig
1d3d0 68 74 20 68 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 6f 72 63 ht hid the scorc
1d3e0 68 65 64 20 74 72 65 65 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 73 20 hed tree trunks
1d3f0 74 6f 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 66 to either side f
1d400 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 65 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 rom view, but ma
1d410 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 de the illuminat
1d420 65 64 20 63 72 6f 73 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ed cross on the
1d430 73 6f 75 74 68 65 72 6e 20 68 69 6c 6c 74 6f 70 southern hilltop
1d440 20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 stand out all t
1d450 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 he more, all the
1d460 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 lights on the r
1d470 65 6c 69 67 69 6f 75 73 20 69 64 6f 6c 20 73 68 eligious idol sh
1d480 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 ining in bright
1d490 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e silhouette again
1d4a0 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6b 79 20 61 62 6f 76 65 st the sky above
1d4b0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 74 20 73 65 . The way it se
1d4c0 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 69 6e emed to stand in
1d4d0 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 judgement over
1d4e0 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 63 20 62 65 6e 65 the traffic bene
1d4f0 61 74 68 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 ath it made for
1d500 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 2c 20 69 an impressive, i
1d510 66 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 63 72 65 65 70 f slightly creep
1d520 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 y and oppressive
1d530 2c 20 73 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 63 6c , sight...The cl
1d540 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 72 69 73 74 69 6e 65 20 67 61 ean, pristine ga
1d550 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 ted communities
1d560 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6e 69 63 75 72 65 64 20 72 65 and manicured re
1d570 74 61 69 6c 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 63 74 73 20 6f tail districts o
1d580 66 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 20 f Orange County
1d590 73 6f 6f 6e 20 73 6c 69 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 soon slid slowly
1d5a0 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 69 67 6e 73 past, all signs
1d5b0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4c 6f 73 20 41 6e 67 65 of the Los Ange
1d5c0 6c 65 73 20 73 65 6d 69 2d 70 65 72 6d 61 6e 65 les semi-permane
1d5d0 6e 74 20 72 69 6f 74 73 20 6f 66 20 79 65 61 72 nt riots of year
1d5e0 73 20 70 61 73 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 s past when they
1d5f0 20 73 70 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 69 6e spilled over in
1d600 74 6f 20 4f 72 61 6e 67 65 20 43 6f 75 6e 74 79 to Orange County
1d610 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 68 61 76 69 long since havi
1d620 6e 67 20 62 65 65 6e 20 65 72 61 73 65 64 20 62 ng been erased b
1d630 79 20 62 65 61 75 74 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e y beautification
1d640 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 projects. The
1d650 73 63 65 6e 65 72 79 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 69 scenery then shi
1d660 66 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 62 65 63 6f fted again, beco
1d670 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 72 64 ming a more sord
1d680 69 64 2c 20 67 72 69 6d 79 2c 20 74 68 72 65 61 id, grimy, threa
1d690 64 62 61 72 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 73 75 dbare form of su
1d6a0 62 75 72 62 61 6e 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 6e 63 65 burban decadence
1d6b0 2e 20 20 42 6f 64 65 67 61 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 . Bodegas and p
1d6c0 61 77 6e 73 68 6f 70 73 20 73 68 61 72 65 64 20 awnshops shared
1d6d0 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 61 69 6c 20 walls with bail
1d6e0 62 6f 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 73 20 61 6e 64 bond offices and
1d6f0 20 61 6c 6c 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c all night mobil
1d700 65 20 74 65 63 68 20 72 65 70 61 69 72 20 73 68 e tech repair sh
1d710 6f 70 73 2e 20 20 47 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c ops. Gradually,
1d720 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 the air changed
1d730 20 73 75 62 74 6c 79 2c 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e subtly, becomin
1d740 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 6f 6e g both cooler on
1d750 20 68 65 72 20 73 6b 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f her skin and mo
1d760 72 65 20 68 75 6d 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 re humid...She f
1d770 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 69 74 2c 20 61 ound her exit, a
1d780 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 nd drove through
1d790 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 73 20 6e 6f 20 6e 61 72 72 streets no narr
1d7a0 6f 77 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 50 65 72 ower than in Per
1d7b0 72 69 73 20 62 75 74 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 ris but, somehow
1d7c0 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6d 75 63 68 , they felt much
1d7d0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 72 61 6d 70 65 64 20 6e 6f more cramped no
1d7e0 6e 65 74 68 65 6c 65 73 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 netheless. She
1d7f0 70 61 73 73 65 20 62 79 20 61 20 70 68 6f 20 73 passe by a pho s
1d800 68 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 6e 75 hop and saw a nu
1d810 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f mber of people o
1d820 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 2e ut front eating.
1d830 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 It looked like
1d840 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 they might all
1d850 62 65 20 6f 66 20 56 69 65 74 6e 61 6d 65 73 65 be of Vietnamese
1d860 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 74 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 descent, except
1d870 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 for one single
1d880 48 69 73 70 61 6e 69 63 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 Hispanic woman s
1d890 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 73 69 64 65 itting at a side
1d8a0 77 61 6c 6b 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 walk table with
1d8b0 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2e 20 20 a small group.
1d8c0 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 She thought that
1d8d0 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 might be a good
1d8e0 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 65 61 74 2c 20 69 place to eat, i
1d8f0 66 20 73 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 f she went when
1d900 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 73 73 20 62 75 73 79 it was less busy
1d910 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 73 75 72 65 6c 79 20 , but it surely
1d920 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 64 72 was not worth dr
1d930 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 iving all the wa
1d940 79 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 65 72 65 20 66 72 6f 6d y back here from
1d950 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6c home just for l
1d960 75 6e 63 68 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 unch...A few mor
1d970 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 e turns led to a
1d980 20 62 69 67 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 4f 6e 20 big house. On
1d990 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 a street full of
1d9a0 20 75 6e 6b 65 6d 70 74 20 6c 61 77 6e 73 20 61 unkempt lawns a
1d9b0 6e 64 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 65 65 6c nd ancient, peel
1d9c0 69 6e 67 20 70 61 69 6e 74 20 6a 6f 62 73 2c 20 ing paint jobs,
1d9d0 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 67 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 2d this big house -
1d9e0 2d 20 74 77 6f 20 73 74 6f 72 65 79 73 20 77 69 - two storeys wi
1d9f0 74 68 20 61 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 63 61 72 20 67 th a three car g
1da00 61 72 61 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 arage and probab
1da10 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f ly more than two
1da20 20 74 68 6f 75 73 61 6e 64 20 73 71 75 61 72 65 thousand square
1da30 20 66 65 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 feet in the liv
1da40 69 6e 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 ing area -- was
1da50 69 6e 20 62 65 61 75 74 69 66 75 6c 2c 20 77 65 in beautiful, we
1da60 6c 6c 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 63 6f ll maintained co
1da70 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 6c 61 ndition. Its la
1da80 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 66 6c 6f wn and small flo
1da90 77 65 72 20 67 61 72 64 65 6e 20 77 65 72 65 20 wer garden were
1daa0 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 74 65 6e 64 65 64 obviously tended
1dab0 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 72 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 with pride...Sh
1dac0 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 e picked up the
1dad0 62 6f 78 2c 20 65 78 69 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 box, exited the
1dae0 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 car, and walked
1daf0 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 up to the front
1db00 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 door. No doorbe
1db10 6c 6c 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 65 64 20 69 74 73 ll presented its
1db20 65 6c 66 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 6f 63 elf, so she knoc
1db30 6b 65 64 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 65 61 ked, using a hea
1db40 76 79 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 65 72 vy brass knocker
1db50 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 70 65 6e ...The door open
1db60 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6c 64 65 ed, and the olde
1db70 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 62 6f r veteran who bo
1db80 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 ught the gun fra
1db90 6d 65 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 mes stood before
1dba0 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 65 61 72 her, still wear
1dbb0 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 62 65 72 65 74 2e 0a 0a ing his beret...
1dbc0 22 48 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 "Hm." He looked
1dbd0 20 68 65 72 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 her over. "Tha
1dbe0 74 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 69 6e 63 69 64 65 6e 63 t's a coincidenc
1dbf0 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 e I didn't expec
1dc00 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 t.".."Uh, yeah.
1dc10 20 4d 65 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 20 20 48 Me neither." H
1dc20 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 70 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 er heart pounded
1dc30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 , and she became
1dc40 20 61 63 75 74 65 6c 79 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 6f acutely aware o
1dc50 66 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6e 64 20 f how tough and
1dc60 68 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 64 hard his muscled
1dc70 20 61 72 6d 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 68 65 arms looked whe
1dc80 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 re they emerged
1dc90 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 6c 65 65 76 65 73 from the sleeves
1dca0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 66 61 64 of a plain, fad
1dcb0 65 64 2c 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 ed, brown t-shir
1dcc0 74 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 t..."Don't worry
1dcd0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 ," he said. "I
1dce0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 69 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 don't bite.".."Y
1dcf0 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 eah, okay," she
1dd00 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 said. "I guess
1dd10 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 20 69 73 20 this package is
1dd20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a for you, then.".
1dd30 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 .He shrugged. "
1dd40 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 43 6f Not exactly. Co
1dd50 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 me on in." He s
1dd60 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 2c 20 67 69 tepped aside, gi
1dd70 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 74 6f ving her room to
1dd80 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 pass by...Alley
1dd90 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 hesitated. The
1dda0 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 68 65 living room ahe
1ddb0 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 63 ad of her was sc
1ddc0 72 75 70 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 63 6c 65 61 6e rupulously clean
1ddd0 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 61 74 2c 20 61 70 61 72 74 and neat, apart
1dde0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 72 65 from a large re
1ddf0 64 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 20 d silicone tray
1de00 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 66 66 65 65 20 74 61 on the coffee ta
1de10 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 61 ble with tools a
1de20 6e 64 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 61 6c 20 70 61 nd electrical pa
1de30 72 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 rts on it. She
1de40 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 69 stepped slowly i
1de50 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 2f 2a 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f nside, /* and lo
1de60 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 2a oked away from *
1de70 2f 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6c / over the darkl
1de80 79 20 73 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 77 6f 6f 64 65 6e y stained wooden
1de90 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 furniture that
1dea0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 20 63 65 looked over a ce
1deb0 6e 74 75 72 79 20 6f 6c 64 20 2d 2d 20 61 72 6d ntury old -- arm
1dec0 63 68 61 69 72 73 2c 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 74 chairs, couch, t
1ded0 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 able, and book c
1dee0 61 73 65 73 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f ases full of boo
1def0 6b 73 2c 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 ks, every piece
1df00 6f 66 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f of furniture loo
1df10 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 king like it was
1df20 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 77 69 74 meant to go wit
1df30 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f h all the rest o
1df40 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 45 76 65 6e 20 74 68 f them. Even th
1df50 65 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 e lamps on end t
1df60 61 62 6c 65 73 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 61 72 ables seemed par
1df70 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 65 t of the same se
1df80 74 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 73 20 t...On the tops
1df90 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 65 64 20 66 75 of the packed fu
1dfa0 6c 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c 20 6f ll book cases, o
1dfb0 76 65 72 66 6c 6f 77 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 verflow books st
1dfc0 6f 6f 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 62 72 6f 6e ood between bron
1dfd0 7a 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 65 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a 48 65 ze bookends...He
1dfe0 72 20 67 61 7a 65 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 6f r gaze settled o
1dff0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c n the man again,
1e000 20 77 68 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 who closed the
1e010 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 door and said "H
1e020 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 ave a seat. Do
1e030 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 20 64 72 69 6e 6b you want a drink
1e040 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 50 49 43 4b 20 4f 4e 45 ?"../*..PICK ONE
1e050 3a 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c :..In the soft l
1e060 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 75 6e ight of lamps un
1e070 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6e 65 6e 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 der linen shades
1e080 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e , he was startin
1e090 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 65 73 73 20 6c g to look less l
1e0a0 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64 20 6b ike a hardened k
1e0b0 69 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 67 75 iller running gu
1e0c0 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 ns and more like
1e0d0 20 61 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 62 75 74 20 6b 69 6e a tough but kin
1e0e0 64 20 67 72 61 6e 64 66 61 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a d grandfather...
1e0f0 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 67 68 In the soft ligh
1e100 74 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 6d 70 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 t of lamps under
1e110 20 6c 69 6e 65 6e 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 68 linen shades, h
1e120 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 e was starting t
1e130 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 6f o look like a to
1e140 75 67 68 20 62 75 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 67 72 61 ugh but kind gra
1e150 6e 64 66 61 74 68 65 72 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 ndfather rather
1e160 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 than the trained
1e170 2c 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 , hardened kille
1e180 72 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b r she first took
1e190 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a him to be...*/.
1e1a0 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 .She nodded, the
1e1b0 6e 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 n passed by the
1e1c0 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 end table at one
1e1d0 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 end of the couc
1e1e0 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 h and sat in an
1e1f0 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 armchair, still
1e200 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 2e holding the box.
1e210 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 .."I have some b
1e220 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 20 77 61 74 65 72 2c 20 43 6f ottled water, Co
1e230 6b 65 2c 20 6d 69 6c 6b 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 74 ke, milk -- whit
1e240 65 20 6f 72 20 63 68 6f 63 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 2e e or chocolate .
1e250 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 61 2e 20 20 49 . . and tea. I
1e260 27 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 61 20 62 65 65 72 2c 'd offer a beer,
1e270 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 but I guess you
1e280 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 72 69 have a long dri
1e290 76 65 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 20 ve ahead of you
1e2a0 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 and won't have t
1e2b0 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 76 65 72 20 66 ime to recover f
1e2c0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 20 61 6c 63 rom the high alc
1e2d0 6f 68 6f 6c 20 62 72 65 77 73 20 49 20 6b 65 65 ohol brews I kee
1e2e0 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a p around here.".
1e2f0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 68 65 72 20 .Alley felt her
1e300 64 72 79 20 6c 69 70 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 dry lips with he
1e310 72 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 2e 20 20 22 41 68 20 2e r tongue. "Ah .
1e320 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 . . yeah, I gue
1e330 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 72 73 74 79 2e 20 ss I'm thirsty.
1e340 20 41 20 43 6f 6b 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 A Coke would be
1e350 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c good."..He smil
1e360 65 64 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c ed, just slightl
1e370 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 47 y. "Alright. G
1e380 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 74 20 o ahead and put
1e390 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c that on the tabl
1e3a0 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 e. I'll be righ
1e3b0 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 t back." Withou
1e3c0 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 t another look,
1e3d0 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 he walked out of
1e3e0 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 the room...She
1e3f0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f looked at the bo
1e400 6f 6b 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 oks on the shelv
1e410 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 es. Many were w
1e420 6f 72 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 62 61 63 6b 73 2e 20 orn paperbacks.
1e430 20 4f 74 68 65 72 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c Others looked l
1e440 69 6b 65 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 20 75 73 65 64 ike heavily used
1e450 20 74 65 78 74 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 textbooks. She
1e460 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 leaned forward
1e470 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 62 to set the box b
1e480 65 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f eside the silico
1e490 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 ne tray, then st
1e4a0 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 ood and approach
1e4b0 65 64 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 2e 0a ed a book case..
1e4c0 0a 54 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 .The texts inclu
1e4d0 64 65 64 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 73 20 6c 69 6b ded subjects lik
1e4e0 65 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 65 6e 67 e mechanical eng
1e4f0 69 6e 65 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 ineering, world
1e500 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 69 6e 64 75 73 74 72 history, industr
1e510 69 61 6c 20 63 68 65 6d 69 73 74 72 79 2c 20 65 ial chemistry, e
1e520 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 20 61 6e 64 20 67 61 6d conomics and gam
1e530 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 2c 20 6d 61 74 68 65 6d e theory, mathem
1e540 61 74 69 63 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 atics . . ..."Se
1e550 6c 66 2d 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c lf-taught."..All
1e560 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 ey started, her
1e570 68 65 61 72 74 20 6c 75 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 69 heart lurching i
1e580 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 72 61 70 69 64 20 74 65 6d 70 nto a rapid temp
1e590 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 o again. She tu
1e5a0 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 rned to see that
1e5b0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6e the man stood n
1e5c0 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 ear her holding
1e5d0 6f 75 74 20 61 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b out a can of Cok
1e5e0 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 e. "Here," he s
1e5f0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 aid. "Sorry. I
1e600 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 didn't mean to
1e610 73 74 61 72 74 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 startle you."..S
1e620 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 he nodded her th
1e630 61 6e 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 anks and took th
1e640 65 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 41 73 20 68 65 20 63 61 e can. As he ca
1e650 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 rried another ca
1e660 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 6d n with him, he m
1e670 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 oved to the couc
1e680 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 h and sat down w
1e690 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 61 ith a nearly ina
1e6a0 75 64 69 62 6c 65 20 67 72 75 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 udible grunt. A
1e6b0 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 73 75 lley followed su
1e6c0 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 75 6d 65 64 20 it, and resumed
1e6d0 68 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 her place on the
1e6e0 20 61 72 6d 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 armchair..."My
1e6f0 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 22 name is George,"
1e700 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 he said, and op
1e710 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 ened his can..."
1e720 49 27 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 I'm Alley."..He
1e730 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 swigged from his
1e740 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 22 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 can. "Nice to
1e750 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f properly meet yo
1e760 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 u.".."Yeah," she
1e770 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e said. She open
1e780 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 64 ed her can and d
1e790 72 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 75 rank...George pu
1e7a0 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 lled something f
1e7b0 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 rom a pocket and
1e7c0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 , with the sound
1e7d0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 6c 69 63 20 73 of a metallic s
1e7e0 6e 61 70 2c 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 66 6f nap, a nearly fo
1e7f0 75 72 20 69 6e 63 68 20 62 6c 61 64 65 20 61 70 ur inch blade ap
1e800 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 peared in his ha
1e810 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 66 nd. She froze f
1e820 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 or a moment, but
1e830 20 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 he only leaned
1e840 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 74 forward to cut t
1e850 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 he tape on the b
1e860 6f 78 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 ox..."Uh . . . I
1e870 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 don't need to s
1e880 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 27 73 20 69 6e ee whatever's in
1e890 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 6f there."..He sto
1e8a0 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 pped moving and
1e8b0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 looked at her.
1e8c0 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 He looked back d
1e8d0 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 own at the box a
1e8e0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f moment, his bro
1e8f0 77 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 w furrowed. Aft
1e900 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 er a moment more
1e910 2c 20 68 69 73 20 62 72 6f 77 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 , his brow smoot
1e920 68 65 64 2c 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 hed,and he smile
1e930 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 61 72 6f d, the lines aro
1e940 75 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 6e und his mouth an
1e950 64 20 65 79 65 73 20 64 65 65 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 d eyes deepening
1e960 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 . "Oh, I get it
1e970 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f 6c 27 20 44 61 76 . Hah! Ol' Dav
1e980 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 71 e must've made q
1e990 75 69 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 uite an impressi
1e9a0 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c on on you."..All
1e9b0 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 ey looked away,
1e9c0 75 6e 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 unsure whether t
1e9d0 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 65 6d 62 61 72 72 61 73 73 o feel embarrass
1e9e0 65 64 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 63 61 72 65 ed or just scare
1e9f0 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 d now..."Look, I
1ea00 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 76 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 know Dave looks
1ea10 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c like he probabl
1ea20 79 20 63 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6d 65 74 68 20 66 6f 72 y cooks meth for
1ea30 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 a living, but h
1ea40 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 e just uses the
1ea50 73 68 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 shit. He doesn'
1ea60 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 t make it, and h
1ea70 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 67 65 6e e's about as gen
1ea80 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 61 69 73 79 2e 20 tle as a daisy.
1ea90 20 54 68 69 73 20 62 6f 78 20 69 73 20 6a 75 73 This box is jus
1eaa0 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 49 20 68 t some parts I h
1eab0 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 66 ad him machine f
1eac0 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f or me."..She loo
1ead0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 61 ked at the box a
1eae0 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d nd shifted uncom
1eaf0 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 fortably on her
1eb00 63 68 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 22 41 68 2c 20 72 69 67 chair..."Ah, rig
1eb10 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ht," he said. "
1eb20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 No, they aren't
1eb30 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 gun parts, eithe
1eb40 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 70 61 72 74 r. They're part
1eb50 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 s for a custom p
1eb60 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 61 72 6d 20 49 27 rosthetic arm I'
1eb70 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 m building for a
1eb80 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 22 0a 0a little girl."..
1eb90 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 Alley sat back i
1eba0 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 72 2c 20 72 65 6c n her chair, rel
1ebb0 61 78 69 6e 67 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 axing slightly,
1ebc0 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 66 and she sipped f
1ebd0 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 rom her can. Af
1ebe0 74 65 72 20 73 77 61 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 2c 20 ter swallowing,
1ebf0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 she said "Really
1ec00 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 ?".."Yeah. One
1ec10 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 67 65 74 74 of the guys gett
1ec20 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 49 20 70 ing the guns I p
1ec30 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 ut together with
1ec40 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 49 20 62 6f the frames I bo
1ec50 75 67 68 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 75 ught has this cu
1ec60 74 65 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 64 61 75 67 68 74 te little daught
1ec70 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 6f er, nine years o
1ec80 6c 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 68 65 ld. She lost he
1ec90 72 20 61 72 6d 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 r arm above the
1eca0 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 64 75 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 elbow during the
1ecb0 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 64 6f 77 police crackdow
1ecc0 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 73 74 n on the protest
1ecd0 65 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d ers at the [ SOM
1ece0 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 ETHING ] street
1ecf0 6d 61 73 73 61 63 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 massacre. She's
1ed00 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 outgrowing the
1ed10 61 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 arm I made for h
1ed20 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 er a year ago, a
1ed30 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 lready.".."Oh.
1ed40 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 Right. There's
1ed50 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 something about
1ed60 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c the guns."..He l
1ed70 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 69 ooked at her, si
1ed80 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 delong. "What a
1ed90 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 bout them?" he a
1eda0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 61 66 74 65 sked..."Uh, afte
1edb0 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 r I got home, I
1edc0 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 67 61 76 realized you gav
1edd0 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f e me too much mo
1ede0 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 ney.".."What do
1edf0 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 20 49 20 70 61 69 you mean? I pai
1ee00 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 d what we agreed
1ee10 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 , and the frames
1ee20 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 were all good."
1ee30 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 ..She shook her
1ee40 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 head. "There we
1ee50 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 re two brand new
1ee60 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 73 74 75 63 6b 20 hundreds stuck
1ee70 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 together. I got
1ee80 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 an extra hundre
1ee90 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 62 79 20 61 63 63 d dollars by acc
1eea0 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 ident."..He star
1eeb0 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 ed at her..."I,
1eec0 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 uh, don't have i
1eed0 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 t with me," she
1eee0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 said. "Maybe I
1eef0 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f can come back to
1ef00 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 22 morrow with it."
1ef10 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 ..George laughed
1ef20 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 72 6d . It was a warm
1ef30 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 2c 20 64 65 65 , surprised, dee
1ef40 70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 p laugh, and she
1ef50 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 65 6e 73 69 6f 6e 20 64 72 felt tension dr
1ef60 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 69 aining away agai
1ef70 6e 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 n, despite herse
1ef80 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 lf..."No, don't
1ef90 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 do that," he sai
1efa0 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 75 d, a hint of chu
1efb0 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 68 69 ckle still in hi
1efc0 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f s voice. "Y'kno
1efd0 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 w what? I like
1efe0 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 20 65 you, Alley. I e
1eff0 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 ven like the way
1f000 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 your name descr
1f010 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 20 66 69 ibes where we fi
1f020 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 rst met."..Alley
1f030 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b smiled. "Thank
1f040 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 s. What about y
1f050 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c our hundred doll
1f060 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ars, though?".."
1f070 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 Keep it. I'll s
1f080 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 69 urvive without i
1f090 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 t, and I don't t
1f0a0 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 64 72 69 76 65 hink you'd drive
1f0b0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f all the way fro
1f0c0 6d 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 m Perris to Hunt
1f0d0 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 61 74 20 67 69 67 ing Beach at gig
1f0e0 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 61 74 65 73 20 69 courier rates i
1f0f0 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 6e 61 6e 63 65 73 20 f your finances
1f100 77 65 72 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 were feeling rea
1f110 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 20 20 48 65 lly secure." He
1f120 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 winked at her.
1f130 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 "You're good pe
1f140 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ople, Alley.".."
1f150 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 Uh . . . thank y
1f160 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 ou. Maybe you a
1f170 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 re, too.".."Yeah
1f180 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 49 20 68 6f 70 65 , maybe. I hope
1f190 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 so." He turned
1f1a0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 back to the box
1f1b0 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 63 75 and finished cu
1f1c0 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 61 tting the tape a
1f1d0 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 t the edges, the
1f1e0 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f n flipped the to
1f1f0 70 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 p flaps of the b
1f200 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 61 72 65 ox out. He care
1f210 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 61 70 fully lifted tap
1f220 65 64 2d 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 62 75 6e 64 ed-together bund
1f230 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 70 61 72 les of metal par
1f240 74 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 6b ts, leaving pack
1f250 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 ing paper behind
1f260 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 65 61 63 ...As he set eac
1f270 68 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 h bundle on the
1f280 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 61 silicone tray, a
1f290 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 65 nd looked over e
1f2a0 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 verything silent
1f2b0 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e ly, Alley sat an
1f2c0 64 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 43 6f 6b d sipped her Cok
1f2d0 65 2c 20 75 6e 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 e, unwilling to
1f2e0 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 6b disturb his work
1f2f0 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 65 65 . His hands see
1f300 6d 65 64 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c 79 20 64 72 med precisely dr
1f310 61 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 awn to particula
1f320 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 76 61 72 69 6f r spots on vario
1f330 75 73 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 us parts, as if
1f340 6d 75 73 63 6c 65 20 6d 65 6d 6f 72 79 20 67 75 muscle memory gu
1f350 69 64 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 64 65 66 74 6c 79 20 ided him deftly
1f360 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 65 64 65 where they neede
1f370 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 65 72 d to go in a per
1f380 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 formance somethi
1f390 6e 67 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d ng almost like m
1f3a0 65 64 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f editative psycho
1f3b0 6d 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 70 6c 69 74 metry...He split
1f3c0 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 a couple of the
1f3d0 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 61 72 67 bundles of larg
1f3e0 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f er parts, and lo
1f3f0 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 oked through the
1f400 6d 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 m quickly. He s
1f410 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 et them aside, t
1f420 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 he bundles sligh
1f430 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 tly splayed out
1f440 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 73 74 but the parts st
1f450 69 6c 6c 20 61 64 68 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 ill adhering to
1f460 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c the tape. Final
1f470 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2e 0a ly, he stopped..
1f480 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 79 6f 75 20 ."I've kept you
1f490 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 20 20 48 long enough." H
1f4a0 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 e lifted the tra
1f4b0 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 y and pulled out
1f4c0 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2e 20 20 22 an envelope. "
1f4d0 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 Here. Take this
1f4e0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 76 65 2c 20 66 back to Dave, f
1f4f0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 64 65 or the second de
1f500 6c 69 76 65 72 79 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 68 65 6c livery." He hel
1f510 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e d it out to her.
1f520 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 ..She nodded. "
1f530 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 Sure.".."Are you
1f540 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 73 saving up for s
1f550 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 omething, or goi
1f560 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f ng back to schoo
1f570 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 l?"..Alley hesit
1f580 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 ated a moment.
1f590 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 "Why?"..He shrug
1f5a0 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 ged. "Curious."
1f5b0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 20 .."Not exactly.
1f5c0 20 49 27 6d 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 I'm trying to d
1f5d0 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 ig myself out of
1f5e0 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 62 74 a hole.".."Debt
1f5f0 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 s?"..She shook h
1f600 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 er head. "I had
1f610 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 63 61 72 65 65 a strange caree
1f620 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 r path, and it's
1f630 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 dying. I don't
1f640 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 really have the
1f650 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 work experience
1f660 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 64 to pick a new d
1f670 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d irection, so I'm
1f680 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e just working on
1f690 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 68 2e 20 20 52 that.".."Ah. R
1f6a0 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 einventing yours
1f6b0 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 elf. The world
1f6c0 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 73 6f 20 66 61 73 74 20 changes so fast
1f6d0 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 it's hard to kee
1f6e0 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f p up."..Alley no
1f6f0 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 dded, then stopp
1f700 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 ed, and shook he
1f710 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 r head again. "
1f720 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 I don't know," s
1f730 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 he says. "A lot
1f740 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 65 65 6d 20 of people seem
1f750 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c to have no probl
1f760 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 em. They just g
1f770 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 o to school, get
1f780 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 61 70 65 a piece of pape
1f790 72 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6a r, apply for a j
1f7a0 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 75 6e 74 ob, and work unt
1f7b0 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 74 69 72 65 2e 22 il they retire."
1f7c0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 68 61 74 .."It seems that
1f7d0 20 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 way," George sa
1f7e0 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 id, "but most of
1f7f0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c them don't real
1f800 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ly do that.".."W
1f810 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f hat do you mean?
1f820 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 ".."More and mor
1f830 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 e people aren't
1f840 72 65 74 69 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 67 65 74 retiring, or get
1f850 20 6c 61 69 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e laid off and en
1f860 64 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 d up on the stre
1f870 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 et. Most of the
1f880 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f m don't have eno
1f890 75 67 68 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 ugh imagination
1f8a0 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 65 76 these days to ev
1f8b0 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 69 76 65 20 6f 66 20 63 en conceive of c
1f8c0 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 72 65 69 6e 76 65 ompletely reinve
1f8d0 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 61 74 68 nting their path
1f8e0 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b s. You look lik
1f8f0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 61 e you do, but ma
1f900 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 ybe you're looki
1f910 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 ng in the wrong
1f920 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 direction." He
1f930 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 6f leaned forward o
1f940 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 72 65 73 n the couch, res
1f950 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f 72 65 61 72 6d 73 ted his forearms
1f960 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2c 20 on his thighs,
1f970 61 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 and wrong his ha
1f980 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e nds like he mean
1f990 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 63 72 61 t to massage cra
1f9a0 6d 70 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e mps out of them.
1f9b0 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 He looked towa
1f9c0 72 64 20 61 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 68 65 6c 66 20 61 rd a bookshelf a
1f9d0 73 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e s he spoke again
1f9e0 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f . "It's easy to
1f9f0 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 see what other
1fa00 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 people are doing
1fa10 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 and think that
1fa20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 67 they have it tog
1fa30 65 74 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 ether, that they
1fa40 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 61 6e 64 have a path and
1fa50 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 security and ha
1fa60 70 70 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 ppiness. Most p
1fa70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 eople lie to eac
1fa80 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f h other about ho
1fa90 77 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 64 w well they're d
1faa0 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 oing, and almost
1fab0 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 6f 6e every single on
1fac0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 e of them, deep
1fad0 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 69 down inside, thi
1fae0 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 74 nks 'I must be t
1faf0 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 he only person w
1fb00 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 ho can't really
1fb10 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 figure it out.'
1fb20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 They're all up
1fb30 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 62 61 6c 6c to their eyeball
1fb40 73 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 74 2c 20 6c 69 76 69 6e s in debt, livin
1fb50 67 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 70 61 g paycheck to pa
1fb60 79 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 ycheck..."There
1fb70 61 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 are a few people
1fb80 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 who have things
1fb90 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 sorted out pret
1fba0 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 72 75 64 65 6e 74 ty well, prudent
1fbb0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 people who play
1fbc0 65 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 66 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 ed it safe most
1fbd0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 62 75 74 20 of the time but
1fbe0 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f took advantage o
1fbf0 66 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 f opportunities
1fc00 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 when they came,
1fc10 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 65 and were lucky e
1fc20 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 68 65 nough to get ahe
1fc30 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 ad that way. Ma
1fc40 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 ny of them don't
1fc50 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 even realize th
1fc60 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 61 ey're insecure a
1fc70 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 nd confused all
1fc80 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 the time, becaus
1fc90 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 20 67 6f e they got so go
1fca0 6f 64 20 61 74 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 od at lying to p
1fcb0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 74 eople about it t
1fcc0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 76 65 20 65 76 65 6e hat they've even
1fcd0 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 73 convinced thems
1fce0 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 elves..."There a
1fcf0 72 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 re others who re
1fd00 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 ally do believe
1fd10 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 they have everyt
1fd20 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 hing figured out
1fd30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 , and in a way t
1fd40 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 69 67 68 hey're even righ
1fd50 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 t about that, bu
1fd60 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 61 t not in a way a
1fd70 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 nyone should hav
1fd80 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 e things figured
1fd90 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6c 69 65 20 out. They lie
1fda0 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 and cheat and st
1fdb0 65 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 eal, maybe even
1fdc0 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 kill with the st
1fdd0 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 roke of a pen or
1fde0 20 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 72 20 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 an Enter key, a
1fdf0 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 nd make it to th
1fe00 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 e top over mound
1fe10 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 69 65 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 s of bodies, met
1fe20 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 aphorical a lot
1fe30 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 of the time, but
1fe40 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 6f 64 69 65 73 20 literal bodies
1fe50 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 sometimes..."My
1fe60 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 advice is: don't
1fe70 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 be like any of
1fe80 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 them." He looke
1fe90 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 d at her again,
1fea0 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c caught her gaze,
1feb0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 6e and she felt an
1fec0 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c almost physical
1fed0 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 69 force holding i
1fee0 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 t. "There's alw
1fef0 61 79 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 ays something we
1ff00 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 overlook, becau
1ff10 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 se there's alway
1ff20 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 s too much to se
1ff30 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 e to have time t
1ff40 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 o see it all. D
1ff50 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 on't just close
1ff60 79 6f 75 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 your eyes, thoug
1ff70 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 70 h. Keep them op
1ff80 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 69 7a 65 20 77 68 en, and seize wh
1ff90 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 73 20 61 at you find as a
1ffa0 20 70 61 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 65 65 6c 73 path that feels
1ffb0 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e right. You don
1ffc0 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 't have time for
1ffd0 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 everything, but
1ffe0 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 you definitely
1fff0 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f have time for so
20000 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 mething, and you
20010 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 69 74 should spend it
20020 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f on something go
20030 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 od."..He sat bac
20040 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 k again, resting
20050 20 68 69 73 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 his open hands
20060 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 73 20 6f 66 20 68 on the tops of h
20070 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f is thighs..."Loo
20080 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 k at me, getting
20090 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 69 63 all philosophic
200a0 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 66 al with you. If
200b0 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 what I'm saying
200c0 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 6e doesn't make an
200d0 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 69 67 y sense, just ig
200e0 6e 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 6e nore me. I'm an
200f0 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 old man, and I'
20100 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 ve seen a lot, b
20110 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 ut I don't even
20120 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 understand most
20130 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 73 61 77 20 6d 79 of what I saw my
20140 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 self. I feel li
20150 6b 65 20 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 ke I understand
20160 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 less, the more I
20170 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 71 75 69 72 see."..She quir
20180 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f ked one corner o
20190 66 20 68 65 72 20 6c 69 70 73 2e 20 20 22 59 6f f her lips. "Yo
201a0 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 64 u give better ad
201b0 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 4f 62 69 20 57 61 vice than Obi Wa
201c0 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 n."..George chuc
201d0 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 kled. "I hope s
201e0 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f o. He's just so
201f0 6d 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 me character on
20200 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 67 6f 6f paper, and a goo
20210 64 20 61 63 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 d actor. Anyway
20220 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 , I don't really
20230 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 know you, so I
20240 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f don't really kno
20250 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 w if I even have
20260 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 any idea what y
20270 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f ou're going thro
20280 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 ugh or what you
20290 6e 65 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 need. Don't fee
202a0 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 l like you have
202b0 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 to humor me.".."
202c0 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 Maybe I started
202d0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 20 73 out thinking I s
202e0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c hould humor you,
202f0 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 but now I just
20300 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 want to talk to
20310 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 you some more."
20320 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 61 She looked at a
20330 20 74 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f ticking clock o
20340 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 n an end table.
20350 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c "Maybe not now,
20360 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 though. It's g
20370 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 etting late.".."
20380 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 Yeah," he said,
20390 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 61 "go drop off tha
203a0 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e t envelope, then
203b0 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c get home and sl
203c0 65 65 70 2e 20 20 4e 65 76 65 72 20 75 6e 64 65 eep. Never unde
203d0 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d restimate the im
203e0 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 67 6f portance of a go
203f0 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 72 65 73 74 2e od night's rest.
20400 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 65 That's one pie
20410 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 49 20 6b ce of advice I k
20420 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 now is good, for
20430 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e anyone.".."Than
20440 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c ks."..He nodded,
20450 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 then rose and h
20460 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f eaded for the do
20470 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 or. He unlocked
20480 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f it as she appro
20490 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 ached and opened
204a0 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 the door, then
204b0 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 stepped outside
204c0 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 ahead of her and
204d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 looked around.
204e0 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 He turned to he
204f0 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 r as she followe
20500 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 42 65 20 d him out. "Be
20510 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 careful out ther
20520 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 27 73 20 e. The world's
20530 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 a surprising pla
20540 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ce.".."Yeah.".."
20550 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 If you want to t
20560 72 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 74 20 ry your hand at
20570 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 79 20 6f 75 something way ou
20580 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 27 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c tside of 'normal
20590 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 70 61 74 68 20 ' as a new path
205a0 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 in life, look me
205b0 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 up. I might ha
205c0 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 69 64 65 61 73 2e 20 ve a few ideas.
205d0 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2c 20 49 20 77 69 Otherwise, I wi
205e0 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 sh you the best
205f0 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 at whatever you
20600 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c find.".."Thanks,
20610 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e " she said again
20620 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 . "How should I
20630 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 3f 22 0a get in touch?".
20640 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 .He scoffed at h
20650 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 20 imself. "Right
20660 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 -- forgot about
20670 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 that part." He
20680 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 77 pulled out his w
20690 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 70 70 allet, and slipp
206a0 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 ed out a busines
206b0 73 20 63 61 72 64 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 s card, no longe
206c0 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 2e r crisp and new.
206d0 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 2e 22 "Here you go."
206e0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 61 ..She took it, a
206f0 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 63 nd saw that it c
20700 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 ontained nothing
20710 20 62 75 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 61 64 but an email ad
20720 64 72 65 73 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 dress and a seri
20730 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 65 72 73 20 61 6e es of letters an
20740 64 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 d numbers..."Tha
20750 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 65 6e t's my public en
20760 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b 65 79 2c 22 20 68 cryption key," h
20770 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 e said. "If you
20780 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 don't encrypt t
20790 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2c 20 69 74 20 67 he message, it g
207a0 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 oes straight to
207b0 73 70 61 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e spam. Do you kn
207c0 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 65 6e ow how to use en
207d0 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d 61 69 6c 20 6c 69 crypted email li
207e0 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 75 73 ke that?".."I us
207f0 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 e pubkey encrypt
20800 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 ion for clients
20810 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 sometimes," she
20820 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 67 69 72 said..."Good gir
20830 6c 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 l. You're alrea
20840 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 dy way ahead of
20850 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 the pack. Good
20860 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 night, now.".."G
20870 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 ood night," she
20880 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c said with a smil
20890 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f e, and headed to
208a0 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 her car...She g
208b0 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 20 63 6f lanced back a co
208c0 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 uple times, and
208d0 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 saw him keeping
208e0 77 61 74 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 watch. He only
208f0 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 61 stepped inside a
20900 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f nd closed the do
20910 6f 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 or when she was
20920 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e almost at the en
20930 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 2e 0a d of his block..
20940 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6d 65 72 67 65 64 .When she merged
20950 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 77 61 onto the highwa
20960 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 y, she wondered
20970 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 what he thought
20980 73 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 62 79 20 22 63 6c she meant by "cl
20990 69 65 6e 74 73 22 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 6e ients". He hadn
209a0 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 77 68 't even asked wh
209b0 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 65 6e at kind of clien
209c0 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 ts she had. May
209d0 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c be, she thought,
209e0 20 68 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 73 68 65 he believed she
209f0 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f was talking abo
20a00 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 6c ut something rel
20a10 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 44 65 6c 69 76 2c 20 6f ated to Deliv, o
20a20 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 r when she sold
20a30 68 69 6d 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d him handgun fram
20a40 65 73 2e 20 20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 es. None of tha
20a50 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 61 6e 67 20 74 72 t really rang tr
20a60 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 ue, though...She
20a70 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 worried at it f
20a80 6f 72 20 61 20 62 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 or a bit, then f
20a90 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 77 61 ound her mind wa
20aa0 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 73 74 ndering and lost
20ab0 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 track of the th
20ac0 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 53 55 4d 4d ought.../*..SUMM
20ad0 41 52 59 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 ARY:..Alley shou
20ae0 6c 64 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 ld, after discus
20af0 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 sing plans with
20b00 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
20b10 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c for what they'll
20b20 20 64 6f 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 67 65 74 20 75 70 do next, get up
20b30 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 20 61 6e the next day an
20b40 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 d have to deal w
20b50 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 61 6c 20 ith the arrival
20b60 6f 66 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 of scary people
20b70 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 6e 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 with sunglasses
20b80 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b who want to talk
20b90 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 to her about th
20ba0 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 e fact the prior
20bb0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 72 itizer is not pr
20bc0 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 68 operly logging h
20bd0 65 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 er activities th
20be0 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 63 e way they expec
20bf0 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f t. They want to
20c00 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 know what's goi
20c10 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 ng on, and get a
20c20 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 22 63 6f 6e 76 65 bit of a "conve
20c30 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 rsation" with th
20c40 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 e prioritizer th
20c50 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 rough her interf
20c60 61 63 65 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 ace or something
20c70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 like that. The
20c80 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c y should probabl
20c90 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 y check out the
20ca0 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 glasses just to
20cb0 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 make sure there'
20cc0 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 73 68 79 20 s nothing fishy
20cd0 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 going on with th
20ce0 65 6d 20 73 75 63 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 em such that the
20cf0 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 y might somehow
20d00 62 65 20 70 72 65 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 be preventing th
20d10 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 66 72 e prioritizer fr
20d20 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 63 61 70 74 om properly capt
20d30 75 72 69 6e 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 61 6e 64 20 64 uring data and d
20d40 65 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 etecting activit
20d50 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 y and so on. Th
20d60 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 ey should probab
20d70 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 74 68 61 74 ly intimate that
20d80 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 she will potent
20d90 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 6f 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 ially lose her s
20da0 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 tudy participati
20db0 6f 6e 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 69 66 20 73 on payments if s
20dc0 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 he doesn't allow
20dd0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
20de0 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 further into he
20df0 72 20 6c 69 66 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 67 20 65 76 r life to log ev
20e00 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 64 erything she's d
20e10 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 oing and provide
20e20 20 6d 61 74 65 72 69 61 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 material they c
20e30 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a an use to analyz
20e40 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 e stuff about he
20e50 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 r and so on...A
20e60 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 reason for this
20e70 76 69 73 69 74 20 69 73 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 visit is, of cou
20e80 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 rse, the way the
20e90 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 prioritizer has
20ea0 20 62 65 65 6e 20 72 65 64 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 been redacting
20eb0 6c 6f 67 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 63 74 logs to keep act
20ec0 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 ivities in line
20ed0 77 69 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 67 6f 61 with Alley's goa
20ee0 6c 20 6f 66 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 70 65 72 l of greater per
20ef0 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 sonal and digita
20f00 6c 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 l privacy in her
20f10 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e life, protectin
20f20 67 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 69 6e 74 72 75 g her from intru
20f30 73 69 76 65 20 73 68 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 sive shit from p
20f40 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 olice and other
20f50 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 law enforcement
20f60 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 things, and othe
20f70 72 73 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a rs as well...*/.
20f80 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 69 .---..She woke i
20f90 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f n the morning to
20fa0 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 the sound of he
20fb0 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 2c 20 71 75 69 63 r doorbell, quic
20fc0 6b 6c 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 62 79 20 kly followed by
20fd0 68 61 72 64 20 72 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 hard rapping on
20fe0 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 her door. She g
20ff0 72 6f 61 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 roaned and looke
21000 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 63 6b 2e 20 d at the clock.
21010 20 49 74 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 It indicated th
21020 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 e time was just
21030 61 66 74 65 72 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 72 after eight thir
21040 74 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 ty. "What the f
21050 75 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 20 73 uck his this?" s
21060 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 he asked the air
21070 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 ...The doorbell
21080 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 65 67 and knocking beg
21090 61 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 6d 70 61 an again. "Impa
210a0 74 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 tient, I guess."
210b0 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 She pulled on
210c0 68 65 72 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 her pants from t
210d0 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 65 76 65 6e he previous even
210e0 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 ing and made sur
210f0 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 e she had her ba
21100 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 ton and pepper s
21110 70 72 61 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b pray in her pock
21120 65 74 73 2e 0a 0a 41 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 72 6f ets...A third ro
21130 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 20 61 74 20 und of noise at
21140 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c the door, just l
21150 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 ike the first tw
21160 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 73 69 67 6e 20 6f o with no sign o
21170 66 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 f slackening ent
21180 68 75 73 69 61 73 6d 2c 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 husiasm, commend
21190 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 s as she approac
211a0 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 hed. It stopped
211b0 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 while she looke
211c0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 d at the display
211d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 79 20 63 61 for the tiny ca
211e0 6d 65 72 61 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f mera mounted abo
211f0 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f ve the outside o
21200 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 54 77 6f f the door...Two
21210 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 20 61 people, a man a
21220 6e 64 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 2c 20 73 74 6f 6f nd a woman, stoo
21230 64 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 72 63 68 2e 20 d on her porch.
21240 20 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65 20 They both wore
21250 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 black suits that
21260 20 66 69 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 74 6f 6f 20 fit almost too
21270 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 61 63 6b well, with black
21280 20 73 68 61 64 65 73 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 70 shades, black p
21290 6f 6c 69 73 68 65 64 20 73 68 6f 65 73 2c 20 61 olished shoes, a
212a0 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a nd black ties...
212b0 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 74 "Jesus," she mut
212c0 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 tered to herself
212d0 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 , "I'm getting a
212e0 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 visit from the
212f0 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 Men In Black."
21300 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 72 61 6e 67 20 As the man rang
21310 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 62 65 6c 6c 20 61 20 66 the doorbell a f
21320 6f 75 72 74 68 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 ourth time, she
21330 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c saw that the onl
21340 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 y things that di
21350 64 6e 27 74 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 6c 79 20 66 dn't perfectly f
21360 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c it the Men In Bl
21370 61 63 6b 20 69 6d 61 67 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 ack image were t
21380 68 65 79 20 67 72 65 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 69 hey grey in thei
21390 72 20 68 61 69 72 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 72 73 20 69 r hair -- hers i
213a0 6e 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 73 2c 20 68 69 73 20 61 n streaks, his a
213b0 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6d 70 6c 65 73 20 2d 2d t the temples --
213c0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 and the fact th
213d0 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 eir shirts were
213e0 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 72 69 70 vertically strip
213f0 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 20 62 75 72 67 75 ed in thin burgu
21400 6e 64 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 62 ndy instead of b
21410 65 69 6e 67 20 70 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 74 65 2e eing pure white.
21420 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 20 68 61 6e 64 ..The man's hand
21430 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 74 just finished t
21440 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 he first of this
21450 20 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b 73 round of knocks
21460 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 77 68 65 on the door whe
21470 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 69 n Alley jerked i
21480 74 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 66 74 20 t open and left
21490 68 69 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 him standing the
214a0 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 re with his hand
214b0 20 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 hanging in the
214c0 61 69 72 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 air for a moment
214d0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 72 ...They all star
214e0 65 64 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 ed at each other
214f0 2e 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 ..."Can I help y
21500 6f 75 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 ou?" Alley asked
21510 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 69 72 65 , her voice tire
21520 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 61 72 70 2e 0a 0a 54 d, but sharp...T
21530 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 he woman said "Y
21540 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 ou have a little
21550 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 68 hole in your sh
21560 69 72 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c irt, there."..Al
21570 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 68 65 72 65 ley looked where
21580 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 the woman point
21590 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 68 6f ed, and saw a ho
215a0 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d le in her Inform
215b0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 53 6f 63 69 65 74 79 20 73 68 ation Society sh
215c0 69 72 74 20 2f 2a 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 irt /* around th
215d0 65 20 61 72 65 61 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 e area of her ri
215e0 67 68 74 20 6b 69 64 6e 65 79 20 2a 2f 20 6f 76 ght kidney */ ov
215f0 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 69 64 er the right sid
21600 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 64 6f 6d 65 6e e of her abdomen
21610 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 68 61 64 20 . The hole had
21620 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 69 6e 63 65 been there since
21630 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 68 65 72 20 75 6e 63 6c before her uncl
21640 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 e gave her this
21650 73 68 69 72 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 6b 69 64 2e 0a shirt as a kid..
21660 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b .She looked back
21670 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 2e 20 20 at the woman.
21680 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
21690 2e 20 20 22 49 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 69 6e 20 74 . "I sleep in t
216a0 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 74 72 61 his thing. Stra
216b0 6e 67 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 ngers don't usua
216c0 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 lly get to see i
216d0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 4e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 6f 66 20 t."..Neither of
216e0 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 63 them had the dec
216f0 65 6e 63 79 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 63 68 61 ency to look cha
21700 67 72 69 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 grined at that,
21710 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b but the man look
21720 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f ed a bit disappo
21730 69 6e 74 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 inted about some
21740 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 thing. Perhaps
21750 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 74 6f he was hoping to
21760 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 be more intimid
21770 61 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 ating, and maybe
21780 20 68 65 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 he failed becau
21790 73 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 73 74 72 61 se he was distra
217a0 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 cted by the shir
217b0 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 63 65 72 74 61 t. He was certa
217c0 69 6e 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 inly looking at
217d0 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 it, like it was
217e0 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 significant some
217f0 68 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 70 how...The man sp
21800 6f 6b 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 oke first, this
21810 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 time. "Are you
21820 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 4c 75 63 61 73 3f 22 0a Alethea Lucas?".
21830 0a 22 57 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6b ."Who wants to k
21840 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e now?"..The woman
21850 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b produced some k
21860 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 ind of official
21870 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 government-looki
21880 6e 67 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f ng identificatio
21890 6e 20 63 61 72 64 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 n card as if she
218a0 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e had been holdin
218b0 67 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 61 g it ready for a
218c0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b moment just lik
218d0 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 e this all along
218e0 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 ...Alley grabbed
218f0 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the edge of the
21900 20 63 61 72 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 card just as th
21910 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f e woman began to
21920 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 pull it back, a
21930 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 66 69 72 6d 6c nd held it firml
21940 79 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 69 74 y as she gave it
21950 20 61 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 a closer look.
21960 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 The woman froze
21970 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 , and her eyes w
21980 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 idened..."What's
21990 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 this? It looks
219a0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 like some kind
219b0 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 49 44 of contractor ID
219c0 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 76 65 72 . Are you gover
219d0 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 nment contractor
219e0 73 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b s trying to look
219f0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 3f 20 20 like the FBI?
21a00 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 If this is some
21a10 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6d 6d 69 6e 65 6e 74 kind of imminent
21a20 20 64 6f 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 68 61 6b 65 64 6f 77 domain shakedow
21a30 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e n, you're talkin
21a40 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 70 g to the wrong p
21a50 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 22 erson. I rent."
21a60 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e .."No," the main
21a70 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 said, "it's not
21a80 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 hing like that.
21a90 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 65 73 20 We're trustees
21aa0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 55 53 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 for a US intelli
21ab0 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 gence research p
21ac0 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 27 72 roject, and we'r
21ad0 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 e here because s
21ae0 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 73 20 68 61 76 ome concerns hav
21af0 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 62 e been raised ab
21b00 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 out your partici
21b10 70 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 pation."..Alley
21b20 70 65 65 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 peered at him.
21b30 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 "Are you serious
21b40 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 6f 6e ?"..He nodded on
21b50 63 65 2c 20 63 75 72 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f ce, curtly..."Yo
21b60 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 u're going to ha
21b70 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c ve to be a littl
21b80 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 2c e more specific,
21b90 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 61 " she said..."Ma
21ba0 79 20 77 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 y we come in to
21bb0 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 3f talk about this?
21bc0 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 " the woman aske
21bd0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 d...Alley caught
21be0 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 the man giving
21bf0 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 20 69 his partner an i
21c00 72 72 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 rritated look.
21c10 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 "No, I don't thi
21c20 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e nk so," Alley an
21c30 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f swered..."Are yo
21c40 75 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f u involved in to
21c50 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c o many US Intell
21c60 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 igence research
21c70 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 projects to know
21c80 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e what I'm talkin
21c90 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b g about?" he ask
21ca0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f ed..."It's the o
21cb0 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 pposite," she sa
21cc0 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 id, as if really
21cd0 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e she didn't thin
21ce0 6b 20 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e k he understood.
21cf0 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 "I don't know
21d00 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 anything about a
21d10 6e 79 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e ny US Intelligen
21d20 63 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a ce research proj
21d30 65 63 74 73 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 ects in my life
21d40 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 right now. Do y
21d50 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 ou want to tell
21d60 6d 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 me why you're he
21d70 72 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 re, or should we
21d80 20 70 6c 61 79 20 61 20 67 75 65 73 73 69 6e 67 play a guessing
21d90 20 67 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d game?"..The wom
21da0 61 6e 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 an's eyes narrow
21db0 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e ed, and she open
21dc0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 73 20 ed her mouth as
21dd0 69 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 if to snap somet
21de0 68 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 hing at Alley, b
21df0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 ut the man leane
21e00 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 d into Alley's p
21e10 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 70 61 63 65 2e 20 20 ersonal space.
21e20 48 65 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 He blocked half
21e30 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 65 77 20 62 65 74 77 of the view betw
21e40 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 77 6f 6d 65 een the two wome
21e50 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 27 73 n, and the man's
21e60 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 partner closed
21e70 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c her mouth again,
21e80 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 surprised by th
21e90 65 20 69 6e 74 72 75 73 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 e intrusion...He
21ea0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 said "You have
21eb0 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 access to some e
21ec0 78 70 65 72 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 74 61 73 6b xperimental task
21ed0 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 72 74 69 assistance arti
21ee0 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 ficial intellige
21ef0 6e 63 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 66 nce technology f
21f00 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 20 6f or the purpose o
21f10 66 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 69 6e 67 20 f participating
21f20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 50 in a study for P
21f30 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 74 20 rofessor Goulet
21f40 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 at the Universit
21f50 79 20 6f 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 2e y of California.
21f60 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 6e 67 Does that ring
21f70 20 61 6e 79 20 62 65 6c 6c 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 any bells?" he
21f80 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 59 65 asked..."Oh. Ye
21f90 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 ah. Why didn't
21fa0 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 3f you just say so?
21fb0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 " She held her
21fc0 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 ground until the
21fd0 20 6d 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 63 man finally bac
21fe0 6b 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a ked off again...
21ff0 22 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 "I take it you d
22000 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 id not actually
22010 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 read the informa
22020 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 69 tion you were gi
22030 76 65 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 69 67 ven when you sig
22040 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 ned up for the s
22050 74 75 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 tudy."..She shru
22060 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 62 gged. "I did, b
22070 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 6d 65 6d ut I don't remem
22080 62 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 ber every single
22090 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 word of the sma
220a0 6c 6c 20 70 72 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 75 ll print. It mu
220b0 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 st have been bur
220c0 69 65 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e ied pretty well.
220d0 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 ".."Why aren't y
220e0 6f 75 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 ou wearing your
220f0 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 AR glasses?" he
22100 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a suddenly asked..
22110 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 72 65 77 69 6e 64 20 74 ."Let's rewind t
22120 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 77 68 65 6e o the point when
22130 20 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 49 27 6d 20 I told you I'm
22140 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 still half in my
22150 20 70 61 6a 61 6d 61 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 pajamas," Alley
22160 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e said...He frown
22170 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 ed, and asked "H
22180 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ave you looked a
22190 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 79 65 74 t your phone yet
221a0 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a this morning?".
221b0 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 ."This is starti
221c0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ng to feel like
221d0 77 65 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 77 we're playing tw
221e0 65 6e 74 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 enty questions a
221f0 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 fter all. No, I
22200 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 haven't looked
22210 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 at my phone. I
22220 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 62 65 64 2c 20 got out of bed,
22230 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 62 61 72 65 made myself bare
22240 6c 79 20 64 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 ly decent to ans
22250 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 6e wer the door, an
22260 64 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d d came to welcom
22270 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 65 65 72 66 75 6c 20 65 e you cheerful e
22280 61 72 6c 79 20 62 69 72 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 arly birds to my
22290 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 door. Why?".."
222a0 49 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 63 68 I suggest you ch
222b0 65 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 eck your message
222c0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c s.".."Fine," All
222d0 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 ey said. "I'll
222e0 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 20 be right back."
222f0 20 53 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 She managed to
22300 72 65 73 74 72 61 69 6e 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 restrain herself
22310 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6c 61 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 from slamming t
22320 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 he door, but it
22330 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 2e 0a 0a wasn't gentle...
22340 53 68 65 20 68 69 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 She hit the butt
22350 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 74 68 65 20 64 on to lock the d
22360 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e oor, then sat on
22370 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 70 the couch and p
22380 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 lucked her phone
22390 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 from the chargi
223a0 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 20 20 41 20 6d 65 73 ng plate. A mes
223b0 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f sage notificatio
223c0 6e 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 n blinked at her
223d0 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 ...Alley donned
223e0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 the prioritizer'
223f0 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 s glasses and ch
22400 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 ecked her messag
22410 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 72 72 es. One had arr
22420 69 76 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 ived from the pr
22430 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 20 ofessor over an
22440 68 6f 75 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 2e 20 20 49 hour earlier. I
22450 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 67 69 t told her to gi
22460 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 ve the glasses t
22470 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f o the men who wo
22480 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 uld come to see
22490 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 her that morning
224a0 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 with government
224b0 20 49 44 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 IDs...She looke
224c0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 d at the door, a
224d0 6e 64 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 22 2e 20 2e nd muttered ". .
224e0 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 6f . men?" She wo
224f0 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 ndered if the pr
22500 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 ofessor expected
22510 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c different peopl
22520 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 e, but this was
22530 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 65 6e clearly close en
22540 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 68 65 20 ough. Maybe he
22550 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 just meant Men I
22560 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 n Black.../* Wit
22570 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 20 69 6e hout the stud in
22580 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 her ear, the pr
22590 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ioritizer could
225a0 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 not speak to her
225b0 20 61 75 64 69 62 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 audibly, but it
225c0 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 65 78 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e used text again
225d0 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 . */..The priori
225e0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 74 65 78 tizer placed tex
225f0 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f t in her field o
22600 66 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 f view. "There
22610 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 does not appear
22620 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 63 68 6f 69 63 to be much choic
22630 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 6e e in how you han
22640 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 dle this," it sa
22650 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b id..."Yeah, no k
22660 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 idding." Alley
22670 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f looked at the do
22680 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 or a moment long
22690 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 er, and said "Th
226a0 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ere's something
226b0 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 familiar about t
226c0 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 hat guy." She s
226d0 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 65 hrugged, returne
226e0 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 d to the door, a
226f0 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 63 nd opened it onc
22700 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 61 69 e more...The pai
22710 72 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 r outside broke
22720 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 64 2d 64 69 73 63 75 off in mid-discu
22730 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ssion and looked
22740 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 at Alley..."Her
22750 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 e," she said. S
22760 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 he pulled off th
22770 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 e glasses and ha
22780 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 nded them to the
22790 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d closest of them
227a0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 , the man...He s
227b0 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 mirked and hande
227c0 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 d them to his pa
227d0 72 74 6e 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 rtner, and the w
227e0 6f 6d 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d oman pulled a sm
227f0 61 6c 6c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 64 69 73 63 20 6f all black disc o
22800 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 ut of her pocket
22810 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 69 70 20 6f 66 20 68 65 . The tip of he
22820 72 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 77 68 69 74 65 6e 65 64 r thumb whitened
22830 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 slightly under
22840 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d pressure for a m
22850 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 71 75 oment as she squ
22860 65 65 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 eezed the device
22870 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 , and a light be
22880 67 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 20 6f 6e 20 gan to blink on
22890 69 74 73 20 65 64 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 its edge. The c
228a0 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 6f harging indicato
228b0 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 r light on the g
228c0 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 69 lasses blinked i
228d0 6e 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 20 n time with it.
228e0 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 The woman held
228f0 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 the disc near th
22900 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 e glasses for se
22910 76 65 72 61 6c 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 veral seconds, t
22920 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 hen the light st
22930 6f 70 70 65 64 20 62 6c 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 opped blinking a
22940 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 nd she replaced
22950 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 the disc in her
22960 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 pocket..."Thank
22970 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 6f 2d you for your co-
22980 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 operation," the
22990 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 woman said in a
229a0 73 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 sour voice. She
229b0 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 handed the glas
229c0 73 65 73 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 ses back...Alley
229d0 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c accepted the gl
229e0 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 asses, donned th
229f0 65 6d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e em once more, an
22a00 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 d asked "Do you
22a10 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c need anything el
22a20 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 27 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6d se?".."We'll com
22a30 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 e back if we nee
22a40 64 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c d anything else,
22a50 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 " the man said,
22a60 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 making it sound
22a70 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a like a threat...
22a80 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 74 68 Alley ignored th
22a90 61 74 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e at. "Do you wan
22aa0 74 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 t to tell me wha
22ab0 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 t the hell this
22ac0 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a is all about?"..
22ad0 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 "No," the man sa
22ae0 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f id..."Have a goo
22af0 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 d day." Alley s
22b00 70 6f 6b 65 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 66 65 65 poke without fee
22b10 6c 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6c ling, and she cl
22b20 6f 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 6e osed the door on
22b30 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c them again...Al
22b40 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 ley sat on the c
22b50 6f 75 63 68 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 ouch. "Fuck," s
22b60 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 20 61 he said. "Who a
22b70 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c re those people,
22b80 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f really?".."I do
22b90 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 not have that i
22ba0 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 nformation," the
22bb0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
22bc0 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e d. "Your intern
22bd0 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 73 6b 69 6c et research skil
22be0 6c 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 ls should help y
22bf0 6f 75 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 ou learn more ab
22c00 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 out them, but it
22c10 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 79 6f seems likely yo
22c20 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 ur question was
22c30 72 68 65 74 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 rhetorical.".."T
22c40 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 20 20 41 hat's right." A
22c50 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 lley flipped her
22c60 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 laptop open and
22c70 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 started searchi
22c80 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 66 6f ng. She soon fo
22c90 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b und herself look
22ca0 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 64 61 74 61 62 61 73 ing at a databas
22cb0 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 e search interfa
22cc0 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d ce for long term
22cd0 20 48 6f 6d 65 6c 61 6e 64 20 53 65 63 75 72 69 Homeland Securi
22ce0 74 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 73 2e 20 ty contractors.
22cf0 20 54 68 69 73 20 61 62 73 6f 72 62 65 64 20 6d This absorbed m
22d00 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 ore than an hour
22d10 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 74 of her time wit
22d20 68 6f 75 74 20 79 69 65 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e hout yielding an
22d30 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 ything conclusiv
22d40 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f e...She backed o
22d50 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 ut of that line
22d60 6f 66 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e of investigation
22d70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 67 6f , and started go
22d80 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 63 6f 6e 73 ing through cons
22d90 70 69 72 61 63 79 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 piracy resources
22da0 2c 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 , following her
22db0 6e 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 nose on the firs
22dc0 74 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 t impression the
22dd0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 64 people at her d
22de0 6f 6f 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 3a 20 4d 65 oor gave her: Me
22df0 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 49 74 20 n In Black...It
22e00 77 61 73 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 74 was ultimately t
22e10 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 79 20 73 74 72 69 he burgundy stri
22e20 70 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 pes that led her
22e30 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e to what she wan
22e40 74 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 ted. It seemed
22e50 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 to be a standard
22e60 20 75 6e 69 66 6f 72 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 22 66 69 uniform for "fi
22e70 65 6c 64 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 22 20 6f 66 20 43 eld agents" of C
22e80 6f 2d 4f 70 65 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 49 6e 74 65 o-Operative Inte
22e90 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 4e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b lligence Network
22ea0 73 20 43 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 77 s Corporation, w
22eb0 68 69 63 68 20 68 61 64 20 74 69 65 73 20 74 6f hich had ties to
22ec0 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 the United Stat
22ed0 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 es Intelligence
22ee0 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 Community throug
22ef0 68 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 h federal contra
22f00 63 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 cts. The search
22f10 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 72 65 66 65 touched on refe
22f20 72 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 rences to darkne
22f30 74 20 66 6f 72 75 6d 20 67 72 6f 75 70 73 2c 20 t forum groups,
22f40 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 and she started
22f50 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 to get a little
22f60 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 63 6f nervous about co
22f70 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 ntinuing that le
22f80 61 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 ad. She checked
22f90 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 to make sure he
22fa0 72 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 r various privac
22fb0 79 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 75 y blinds were ru
22fc0 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 6f nning properly o
22fd0 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 2e 0a 0a 22 n her laptop..."
22fe0 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 Perhaps you shou
22ff0 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c ld change your l
23000 61 70 74 6f 70 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 aptop configurat
23010 69 6f 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 63 ion if you are c
23020 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 oncerned about g
23030 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 overnment contra
23040 63 74 6f 72 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 ctors becoming a
23050 77 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 63 74 ware of your act
23060 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 72 65 ivities while re
23070 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 searching them."
23080 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b ..Alley sat back
23090 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e , then got up an
230a0 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 d headed to the
230b0 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 kitchen. "What
230c0 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 73 do you think I s
230d0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 hould do to star
230e0 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 42 65 67 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 t?".."Begin with
230f0 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 research on Ope
23100 6e 42 53 44 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 nBSD," the prior
23110 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 itizer said. "S
23120 65 61 72 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d earch for inform
23130 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 ation on protect
23140 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 ing your privacy
23150 2e 20 20 49 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 . Information a
23160 62 6f 75 74 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 62 65 bout security be
23170 6e 65 66 69 74 73 20 6f 66 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 nefits of differ
23180 65 6e 74 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 73 79 ent operating sy
23190 73 74 65 6d 73 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 73 20 74 stems suggests t
231a0 68 61 74 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 6d 61 79 20 hat OpenBSD may
231b0 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 66 6f have the best fo
231c0 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 undation for pri
231d0 76 61 63 79 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 69 73 vacy characteris
231e0 74 69 63 73 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 20 77 65 6c 6c 2d tics among well-
231f0 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 2c 20 known projects,
23200 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 64 65 66 61 75 6c 74 20 63 though default c
23210 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 61 79 onfiguration may
23220 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 2e 22 0a not be ideal.".
23230 0a 2f 2a 20 22 49 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 ./* "It appears
23240 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6c 61 to be a good pla
23250 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 2e 22 20 2a 2f ce to start." */
23260 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 ..As she listene
23270 64 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 d, Alley pulled
23280 68 65 72 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 her last pressur
23290 65 20 63 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 67 67 20 6f 75 74 e cooked egg out
232a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 20 61 of the fridge a
232b0 6e 64 20 70 65 65 6c 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 nd peeled it. "
232c0 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 61 Yeah, okay. Tha
232d0 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a t sounds good.".
232e0 0a 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 .OpenBSD led to
232f0 6f 66 66 73 68 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 6f 74 68 65 72 offshoots, other
23300 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 projects that f
23310 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 orked the OpenBS
23320 44 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 D project itself
23330 20 6f 72 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 or built differ
23340 65 6e 74 20 74 61 6b 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 75 73 65 ent takes on use
23350 72 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f r environments o
23360 72 20 63 6f 6d 6d 6f 6e 20 73 65 72 76 65 72 20 r common server
23370 74 79 70 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 types on top of
23380 69 74 2e 20 20 50 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 74 68 it. Projects th
23390 61 74 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d at often got com
233a0 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 pared to OpenBSD
233b0 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 came up, and sh
233c0 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 e looked into th
233d0 6f 73 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 ose as well, but
233e0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6c 65 most of them le
233f0 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c d down blind all
23400 65 79 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 eys about experi
23410 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 mental security
23420 68 61 72 64 65 6e 65 64 20 4f 53 65 73 20 6f 66 hardened OSes of
23430 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 66 6f 72 6d 73 20 74 various forms t
23440 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 76 65 72 hat were not ver
23450 79 20 73 75 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 y suitable for h
23460 65 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 4f 6e er purposes...On
23470 65 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 51 75 65 42 53 44 e option, QueBSD
23480 2c 20 77 61 73 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 4f , was based on O
23490 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 penBSD and promi
234a0 73 65 64 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 sed clean separa
234b0 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 73 65 tion between pse
234c0 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 udonymous online
234d0 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 76 presences -- av
234e0 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 oiding being tra
234f0 63 6b 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e cked as a person
23500 20 62 79 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 72 by confusing tr
23510 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 acking technolog
23520 69 65 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 ies into trying
23530 74 6f 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 64 69 to track many di
23540 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 65 73 fferent entities
23550 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 that they never
23560 20 63 6f 72 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 correlated as a
23570 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 20 single person.
23580 20 53 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 She eventually
23590 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 61 70 70 realized its app
235a0 72 6f 61 63 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 roach to separat
235b0 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 ing environments
235c0 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 was just OpenBS
235d0 44 20 61 20 63 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 4f 70 65 D a cut down Ope
235e0 6e 42 53 44 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 69 74 68 nBSD system with
235f0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 69 6e 74 65 some extra inte
23600 72 66 61 63 65 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 4f 70 rfaces around Op
23610 65 6e 42 53 44 27 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 76 69 72 74 enBSD's own virt
23620 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6d 61 6e 61 ual machine mana
23630 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 2e 20 20 54 gement tools. T
23640 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 75 73 65 20 o make much use
23650 6f 66 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 6e 76 6f of it would invo
23660 6c 76 65 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f lve installing o
23670 74 68 65 72 20 4f 53 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 70 ther OSes on top
23680 20 6f 66 20 51 75 65 42 53 44 20 69 6e 20 76 69 of QueBSD in vi
23690 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 73 2e 0a rtual machines..
236a0 0a 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 2c .Another option,
236b0 20 4d 69 6e 69 78 2c 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 67 Minix, seemed g
236c0 6f 6f 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 ood for security
236d0 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 62 61 73 and privacy bas
236e0 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 ed on some comme
236f0 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 61 69 nts in a few mai
23700 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 73 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 66 ling lists and f
23710 6f 72 75 6d 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 73 orum discussions
23720 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 64 69 67 67 , but after digg
23730 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 73 ing in further s
23740 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 he realized that
23750 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 70 65 most of what pe
23760 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 ople said about
23770 69 74 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 62 65 6e 65 its privacy bene
23780 66 69 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 fits looked like
23790 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 either things t
237a0 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 64 6f 6e hat could be don
237b0 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 e on many other
237c0 4f 53 65 73 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 OSes, including
237d0 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 OpenBSD, and thi
237e0 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 6a 75 ngs that were ju
237f0 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 73 75 6e 64 st people misund
23800 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 4d 69 6e 69 78 erstanding Minix
23810 20 72 65 6c 69 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 62 65 6e reliability ben
23820 65 66 69 74 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e efits. It did n
23830 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 ot seem to be a
23840 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 6c 79 20 70 72 69 particularly pri
23850 76 61 63 79 20 6f 72 69 65 6e 74 65 64 20 6f 70 vacy oriented op
23860 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 55 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c tion...Ultimatel
23870 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 y, she ended up
23880 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 77 6f 20 74 looking at two t
23890 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 hings. One was
238a0 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 MaximOS, which s
238b0 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 63 6c 6f eemed like a clo
238c0 73 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 6f 66 20 4f se relative of O
238d0 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 penBSD. The oth
238e0 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 er was something
238f0 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 2c 20 called 9front,
23900 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e with no relation
23910 20 74 6f 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 74 68 61 74 to OpenBSD that
23920 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 69 6e 64 2e she could find.
23930 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 ..She had a diff
23940 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6e 61 76 69 67 icult time navig
23950 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6a 61 72 67 6f 6e ating the jargon
23960 20 66 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 73 filled, often s
23970 61 72 63 61 73 74 69 63 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 arcastic tone of
23980 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 9front document
23990 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f ation, but it lo
239a0 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6b 69 6e 64 oked like a kind
239b0 20 6f 66 20 73 6c 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 67 69 61 of sleeping gia
239c0 6e 74 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 nt among operati
239d0 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 ng systems for p
239e0 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 eople who value
239f0 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e their privacy an
23a00 64 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 65 63 75 72 d personal secur
23a10 69 74 79 2e 20 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 61 6c 73 ity. 9front als
23a20 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 o looked like it
23a30 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 20 77 would require w
23a40 65 65 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 eeks of work to
23a50 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 70 72 get it set up pr
23a60 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 operly for what
23a70 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f she wanted to do
23a80 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 , after which sh
23a90 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 e would have to
23aa0 72 75 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 run other operat
23ab0 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 69 6e 20 76 ing systems in v
23ac0 69 72 74 75 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 73 20 irtual machines
23ad0 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 20 62 and move files b
23ae0 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 72 74 75 etween the virtu
23af0 61 6c 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 al machines and
23b00 74 68 65 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 68 6f 73 74 20 the 9front host
23b10 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e system to get an
23b20 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 ything significa
23b30 6e 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f nt done. It loo
23b40 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 ked like the way
23b50 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 75 73 65 most people use
23b60 64 20 39 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 d 9front for pri
23b70 76 61 63 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 77 61 73 vacy reasons was
23b80 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 to just have a
23b90 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 64 single machine d
23ba0 65 64 69 63 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 61 edicated to it a
23bb0 6e 64 20 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 nd use it only f
23bc0 6f 72 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 70 75 72 70 or specific purp
23bd0 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 oses, doing ever
23be0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 ything else on a
23bf0 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 different compu
23c00 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 ter with a diffe
23c10 72 65 6e 74 20 4f 53 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f rent OS...She lo
23c20 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 4d 61 78 oked back at Max
23c30 69 6d 4f 53 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 49 74 20 imOS again. It
23c40 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 seemed to be a s
23c50 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 pecialized confi
23c60 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 4f 70 65 6e guration of Open
23c70 42 53 44 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 BSD with a bunch
23c80 20 6f 66 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 of extra docume
23c90 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 76 ntation and priv
23ca0 61 63 79 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 73 acy protecting s
23cb0 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 77 oftware. The tw
23cc0 6f 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 73 20 2d 2d 20 4f 70 o projects -- Op
23cd0 65 6e 42 53 44 20 61 6e 64 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f enBSD and MaximO
23ce0 53 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 61 72 65 64 20 61 20 6c 6f S -- shared a lo
23cf0 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 64 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 t of code, and e
23d00 61 63 68 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 61 75 64 69 ach project audi
23d10 74 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 73 ted all of its s
23d20 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 74 oftware pretty t
23d30 68 6f 72 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 horoughly, notab
23d40 6c 79 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 ly including the
23d50 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 69 74 20 67 6f 74 software it got
23d60 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 from the other
23d70 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 69 project..."Why i
23d80 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 66 74 77 s all this softw
23d90 61 72 65 20 61 75 64 69 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 are auditing stu
23da0 66 66 20 73 6f 20 62 75 72 69 65 64 3f 22 20 73 ff so buried?" s
23db0 68 65 20 6d 75 74 74 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 he muttered..."W
23dc0 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f hat do you mean?
23dd0 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 " the prioritize
23de0 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 r asked..."It se
23df0 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 ems like one of
23e00 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 the best things
23e10 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 69 73 about OpenBSD is
23e20 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 61 75 64 69 74 73 the code audits
23e30 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e . I didn't even
23e40 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 find out about
23e50 68 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 20 74 how thoroughly t
23e60 68 65 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 hey check out th
23e70 65 69 72 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 6f eir code for pro
23e80 62 6c 65 6d 73 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 49 20 67 6f blems until I go
23e90 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 27 57 68 79 20 4d 61 t to the 'Why Ma
23ea0 78 69 6d 20 4f 53 3f 27 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 77 xim OS?' page, w
23eb0 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 6c 69 6e 6b 73 20 74 6f here it links to
23ec0 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 pages about the
23ed0 20 61 75 64 69 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e audits on it an
23ee0 64 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 2e 20 20 57 d on OpenBSD. W
23ef0 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 75 ith that much au
23f00 64 69 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 diting, it seems
23f10 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 like the obviou
23f20 73 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6b 65 65 s choice for kee
23f30 70 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 ping governments
23f40 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e and corporation
23f50 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6c 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 s from slipping
23f60 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 something into t
23f70 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 he software that
23f80 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 would undermine
23f90 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 privacy.".."I d
23fa0 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 79 20 74 o not know why t
23fb0 68 65 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 he OpenBSD proje
23fc0 63 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 72 65 ct would not pre
23fd0 73 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d sent that inform
23fe0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 ation more promi
23ff0 6e 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 nently. MaximOS
24000 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 appears to be a
24010 6e 20 65 78 63 65 6c 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 68 6f 69 n excellent choi
24020 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 75 72 70 ce for your purp
24030 6f 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 oses, though. I
24040 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 t may be a good
24050 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 63 75 72 choice for secur
24060 69 74 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 ity your phone a
24070 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c s well.".."Yeah,
24080 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 " Alley said, "I
24090 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 20 61 saw that info a
240a0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 62 69 6c 65 20 bout the mobile
240b0 74 65 63 68 20 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 tech version of
240c0 2f 2a 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 /* the operating
240d0 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 2a 2f 20 4d 61 78 69 6d system */ Maxim
240e0 4f 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 63 OS.".."The devic
240f0 65 73 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 63 es sold by the c
24100 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 76 65 ompany that deve
24110 6c 6f 70 73 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 6d 61 79 lops MaximOS may
24120 20 62 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 be a good choic
24130 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 e as well.".."Su
24140 72 65 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 re, if I could a
24150 66 66 6f 72 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 6f 6e 65 fford to buy one
24160 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 ."..She sat and
24170 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 69 64 6c 79 20 63 6c thought, idly cl
24180 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 70 icking through p
24190 61 67 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4d 61 78 69 ages on the Maxi
241a0 6d 4f 53 20 73 69 74 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 mOS site. She s
241b0 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 topped on the ma
241c0 69 6e 20 70 61 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 in page and read
241d0 20 74 68 65 20 73 6c 6f 67 61 6e 20 61 74 20 74 the slogan at t
241e0 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 75 64 3a he top out loud:
241f0 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f .."The enemy kno
24200 77 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a ws the system.".
24210 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .The prioritizer
24220 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 6b said "That is k
24230 6e 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 53 68 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 27 nown as Shannon'
24240 73 20 6d 61 78 69 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 61 79 s maxim. It may
24250 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 20 6f be the origin o
24260 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 4d 61 78 69 6d f the name Maxim
24270 4f 53 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6b 69 OS.".."That's ki
24280 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 nd of an ominous
24290 20 73 6c 6f 67 61 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 slogan," Alley
242a0 6d 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 61 mused..."It is a
242b0 20 72 65 70 68 72 61 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 4b rephrasing of K
242c0 65 72 63 6b 68 6f 66 66 73 27 20 70 72 69 6e 63 erckhoffs' princ
242d0 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 73 73 65 iple, which asse
242e0 72 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 63 72 79 70 74 rts that a crypt
242f0 6f 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 osystem should r
24300 65 6d 61 69 6e 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 20 65 76 65 emain secure eve
24310 6e 20 69 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 n if everything
24320 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d about the system
24330 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 74 73 20 6b 65 79 20 except its key
24340 69 73 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 is public knowle
24350 64 67 65 2e 20 20 43 6c 61 75 64 65 20 53 68 61 dge. Claude Sha
24360 6e 6e 6f 6e 27 73 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 nnon's formulati
24370 6f 6e 20 62 72 6f 61 64 65 6e 73 20 74 68 65 20 on broadens the
24380 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 20 idea to include
24390 61 6c 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 all information
243a0 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 systems, where A
243b0 75 67 75 73 74 65 20 4b 65 72 63 6b 68 6f 66 66 uguste Kerckhoff
243c0 73 27 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 77 61 73 20 73 70 65 s' focus was spe
243d0 63 69 66 69 63 20 74 6f 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 67 cific to cryptog
243e0 72 61 70 68 79 2e 20 20 53 68 61 6e 6e 6f 6e 20 raphy. Shannon
243f0 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 76 65 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 also inverted th
24400 65 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f e perspective to
24410 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 demonstrate the
24420 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 74 importance of t
24430 68 65 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 he principle as
24440 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 79 73 guidance for sys
24450 74 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 tem design.".."Y
24460 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c eah, I get that,
24470 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e " Alley said, an
24480 64 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 74 d nodded. "If t
24490 68 65 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 he enemy knows t
244a0 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 he system, you s
244b0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 hould make sure
244c0 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 63 75 none of its secu
244d0 72 69 74 79 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 rity depends on
244e0 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 keeping the syst
244f0 65 6d 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 em design secret
24500 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 ..."You seem to
24510 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 know a lot about
24520 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 this stuff.".."
24530 49 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 I searched infor
24540 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 65 63 75 72 69 74 79 20 mation security
24550 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 academic papers
24560 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 43 49 20 6e 65 74 77 6f on the UCI netwo
24570 72 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 72 61 70 68 72 61 73 rk and paraphras
24580 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 ed from one of t
24590 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 hem.".."That see
245a0 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ms like it would
245b0 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 68 61 6e 64 79 be pretty handy
245c0 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 , having instant
245d0 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 access to all t
245e0 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 70 61 hose academic pa
245f0 70 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 pers and being a
24600 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 73 65 20 ble to make use
24610 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 61 79 of what they say
24620 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 . I should prob
24630 61 62 6c 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 ably lean on tha
24640 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 t more. I don't
24650 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 suppose there's
24660 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 more in there t
24670 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 hat would be use
24680 66 75 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e ful for me tryin
24690 67 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6d 79 20 63 g to change my c
246a0 61 72 65 65 72 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 49 areer course. I
246b0 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 s there?".."That
246c0 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c does not seem l
246d0 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ikely," the prio
246e0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ritizer said. "
246f0 41 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 61 73 69 63 Apart from basic
24700 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 75 statistical stu
24710 64 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 66 69 65 6c 64 73 20 6f dies of fields o
24720 66 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 f employment and
24730 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 how they change
24740 20 6f 72 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 6f 62 73 6f 6c or become obsol
24750 65 74 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 ete over time, t
24760 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 74 75 he only well stu
24770 64 69 65 64 20 61 72 65 61 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 died areas I hav
24780 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 70 70 e found that app
24790 65 61 72 20 72 65 6c 65 76 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 ear relevant to
247a0 79 6f 75 72 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 your situation p
247b0 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 ertain to black
247c0 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 market activitie
247d0 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 72 20 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f s. Your aversio
247e0 6e 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 67 61 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e n to engaging in
247f0 20 62 6c 61 74 61 6e 74 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 blatantly illeg
24800 61 6c 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 al activity for
24810 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 67 68 20 reasons of high
24820 72 69 73 6b 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 70 72 risk severity pr
24830 65 63 6c 75 64 65 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 73 eclude making us
24840 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 e of most of tha
24850 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a t information.".
24860 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 .Alley chuckled
24870 64 72 69 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 47 72 65 61 74 2e 20 drily. "Great.
24880 20 54 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e The best guidan
24890 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 ce for a career
248a0 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 76 change in the iv
248b0 6f 72 79 20 74 6f 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f ory tower is abo
248c0 75 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 61 ut becoming a ca
248d0 72 65 65 72 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 2c 20 49 reer criminal, I
248e0 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 guess. I'm not
248f0 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 sure whether th
24900 61 74 20 73 61 79 73 20 77 6f 72 73 65 20 74 68 at says worse th
24910 69 6e 67 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 75 6e 69 76 65 ings about unive
24920 72 73 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 rsities or about
24930 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 the law.".."Mos
24940 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 70 65 72 73 20 t of the papers
24950 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 73 75 62 6a about these subj
24960 65 63 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f ects are could o
24970 66 66 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 ffer something u
24980 73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 seful, if you wi
24990 73 68 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 20 62 shed to pursue b
249a0 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 6f 70 70 6f lack market oppo
249b0 72 74 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 72 65 20 72 rtunities, are r
249c0 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 elated to the fi
249d0 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 eld of economics
249e0 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 6a 75 64 67 65 20 62 79 20 74 . To judge by t
249f0 68 6f 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 74 20 hose, the fount
24a00 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6c often seems to l
24a10 69 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2e ie with the law.
24a20 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 ".."Was that the
24a30 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 kind of thing y
24a40 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 64 76 69 73 ou used to advis
24a50 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 6f e me to make tho
24a60 73 65 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 64 65 61 6c 73 se sketchy deals
24a70 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 a couple days a
24a80 67 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 63 68 20 70 61 70 65 go?".."Such pape
24a90 72 73 20 64 69 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 70 rs did help me p
24aa0 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 72 61 repare that stra
24ab0 74 65 67 69 63 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 2c 22 tegic guidance,"
24ac0 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 43 65 72 74 it said. "Cert
24ad0 61 69 6e 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 20 64 69 ain economics di
24ae0 73 63 69 70 6c 69 6e 65 73 20 61 72 65 20 76 65 sciplines are ve
24af0 72 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 6c 79 20 6d 61 74 63 68 ry closely match
24b00 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ed to my priorit
24b10 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 75 72 y management pur
24b20 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 pose, especially
24b30 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 73 65 those that asse
24b40 72 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 74 68 rt an ordinal th
24b50 65 6f 72 79 20 6f 66 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 69 eory of subjecti
24b60 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 ve value rather
24b70 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 61 72 64 69 6e 61 than any cardina
24b80 6c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 l value system."
24b90 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d .."What do you m
24ba0 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 63 61 72 64 69 6e ean?".."A cardin
24bb0 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6b al system is lik
24bc0 65 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d e using a system
24bd0 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 76 65 20 of one to five
24be0 73 74 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 61 73 73 69 67 6e 20 stars to assign
24bf0 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 72 6f 64 75 value to a produ
24c00 63 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 72 61 74 65 ct when you rate
24c10 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 2d 63 6f 6d it on the e-com
24c20 6d 65 72 63 65 20 73 69 74 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 merce site where
24c30 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 2e you ordered it.
24c40 20 20 41 6e 20 6f 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 79 73 An ordinal sys
24c50 74 65 6d 20 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 64 65 63 69 tem is like deci
24c60 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 ding between the
24c70 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 73 20 69 6e two products in
24c80 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 6c 61 63 65 the first place
24c90 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 6c , because it onl
24ca0 79 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6f y tracks which o
24cb0 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 79 6f 75 20 76 61 6c 75 65 ptions you value
24cc0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 more than other
24cd0 73 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74 s, not some stat
24ce0 69 63 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 69 63 20 73 65 74 20 6f ic numeric set o
24cf0 66 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 6c 65 76 65 6c 73 2e 22 f value levels."
24d00 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 76 61 6c .."What if I val
24d10 75 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 6f 74 68 20 74 68 65 ue them both the
24d20 20 73 61 6d 65 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 same?" Alley as
24d30 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d ked..."That seem
24d40 73 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 s such an unlike
24d50 6c 79 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 ly case that it
24d60 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 64 69 73 6d 69 73 73 65 64 can be dismissed
24d70 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 immediately. E
24d80 76 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 65 63 ven from one sec
24d90 6f 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 2c ond to the next,
24da0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 20 6d 61 79 20 63 68 61 6e values may chan
24db0 67 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 6c 75 63 74 75 61 74 69 ge, so fluctuati
24dc0 6f 6e 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 ons would settle
24dd0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f into a conditio
24de0 6e 20 6f 66 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 6f n of differing o
24df0 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 20 66 6f rdinal values fo
24e00 72 20 61 6e 79 20 74 77 6f 20 69 74 65 6d 73 2e r any two items.
24e10 20 20 49 6e 20 61 64 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6e In addition, n
24e20 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 73 20 61 o two products a
24e30 72 65 20 74 72 75 6c 79 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 63 re truly identic
24e40 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 al, though the s
24e50 68 6f 70 70 65 72 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 hopper may not h
24e60 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 ave enough infor
24e70 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 mation to know w
24e80 68 69 63 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e hich that person
24e90 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 69 66 would choose if
24ea0 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 65 64 2e fully informed.
24eb0 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 49 20 73 "../* "Don't I s
24ec0 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 65 till have to pre
24ed0 66 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 fer one over the
24ee0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 other to choose
24ef0 20 69 74 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 it, if I can't
24f00 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 62 6f 74 68 2c 20 6f just get both, o
24f10 72 20 69 66 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 77 6f 20 r if having two
24f20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 20 77 61 73 74 65 would be a waste
24f30 3f 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f ?" */.."What abo
24f40 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 ut when I just c
24f50 61 6e 27 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 62 65 74 77 an't decide betw
24f60 65 65 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c een two options,
24f70 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 and I can't get
24f80 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 both of them?
24f90 49 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 6f 66 Isn't that proof
24fa0 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 of being able t
24fb0 6f 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 6e o value two thin
24fc0 67 73 20 65 71 75 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 gs equally?".."I
24fd0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 68 6f f you cannot cho
24fe0 6f 73 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d ose between them
24ff0 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f based on your o
25000 77 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 61 62 6f wn knowledge abo
25010 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 73 2c ut the products,
25020 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 73 75 and they are su
25030 62 73 74 69 74 75 74 65 73 20 6f 72 20 65 71 75 bstitutes or equ
25040 69 76 61 6c 65 6e 74 73 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 ivalents rather
25050 74 68 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 than complementa
25060 72 79 20 6f 72 20 6f 72 74 68 6f 67 6f 6e 61 6c ry or orthogonal
25070 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 to each other,
25080 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 you will likely
25090 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 6b 65 65 70 20 73 65 65 6b either keep seek
250a0 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 ing more informa
250b0 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 tion or decide t
250c0 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 73 he difference is
250d0 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 65 66 66 6f 72 not worth effor
250e0 74 20 74 6f 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 66 79 2e 20 20 t to identify.
250f0 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 74 74 65 72 20 63 61 In the latter ca
25100 73 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 69 se, you would li
25110 6b 65 6c 79 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 kely choose the
25120 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 2c product that is,
25130 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 20 6d at that exact m
25140 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 73 69 65 oment, the easie
25150 73 74 20 74 6f 20 6f 72 64 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 st to order. Th
25160 75 73 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 us, one becomes
25170 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 a higher priorit
25180 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 y than the other
25190 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 , not because of
251a0 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 a quality parti
251b0 63 75 6c 61 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 cular to the thi
251c0 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 ng, but a qualit
251d0 79 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 63 69 72 63 75 6d y of your circum
251e0 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 72 65 63 stances. It rec
251f0 65 69 76 65 73 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 eives a greater
25200 6f 72 64 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 70 6f ordinal value po
25210 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 sition based on
25220 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e momentary conven
25230 69 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 ience. In short
25240 2c 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e , convenience an
25250 64 20 65 6c 69 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 d elimination of
25260 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 64 the stress of d
25270 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 72 61 6c 79 73 69 ecision paralysi
25280 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 s becomes the de
25290 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 66 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 73 ciding factor as
252a0 20 61 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 a value greater
252b0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 than the differ
252c0 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 64 69 73 ence between dis
252d0 63 65 72 6e 69 62 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 74 cernible product
252e0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 values.".."What
252f0 20 69 66 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 6f 66 66 20 62 75 if I put off bu
25300 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 ying something I
25310 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 want more to ge
25320 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 t something I wa
25330 6e 74 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 nt less, to get
25340 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 the second thing
25350 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 3f 22 0a more quickly?".
25360 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 ."This is anothe
25370 72 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 68 69 72 r case of a thir
25380 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 d value coming i
25390 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 nto play, such a
253a0 73 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 73 s buying the les
253b0 73 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 ser value item w
253c0 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 hen you need it
253d0 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 73 74 70 6f 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 and postponing t
253e0 68 65 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 he greater value
253f0 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 item because it
25400 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 71 75 69 63 6b is not as quick
25410 6c 79 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 ly important to
25420 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 acquire. This i
25430 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 78 61 6d 70 6c s also an exampl
25440 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 70 75 72 e of my main pur
25450 70 6f 73 65 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 pose, prioritiza
25460 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 20 20 tion strategy.
25470 4c 6f 77 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c Lower value goal
25480 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 72 65 s should not pre
25490 76 65 6e 74 20 61 63 68 69 65 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 vent achievement
254a0 20 6f 66 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 of higher value
254b0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e goals, but when
254c0 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 72 76 65 20 61 73 20 66 they serve as f
254d0 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 6f 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 acilitators for
254e0 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 the higher value
254f0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 goals they shou
25500 6c 64 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 73 75 65 64 20 66 69 ld be pursued fi
25510 72 73 74 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 67 72 rst to ensure gr
25520 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 6c 61 eater success la
25530 74 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 ter for the high
25540 65 72 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 er value goals."
25550 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 .."Okay, I get i
25560 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 t," Alley said.
25570 20 22 4e 6f 77 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 "Now I need to
25580 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 figure out what
25590 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 I'm going to do
255a0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 about protecting
255b0 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 62 65 74 74 my privacy bett
255c0 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 er.".."It seems
255d0 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 79 MaximOS may be y
255e0 6f 75 72 20 62 65 73 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 our best option
255f0 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 49 20 70 72 for now, if I pr
25600 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e operly understan
25610 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a d your goals."..
25620 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 "Yeah, that's wh
25630 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e at I think, too.
25640 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 6c 61 74 "..Two hours lat
25650 65 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 65 6d 70 74 er, with an empt
25660 79 20 73 6f 75 70 20 62 6f 77 6c 20 62 65 73 69 y soup bowl besi
25670 64 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 de her, she was
25680 73 6b 69 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 skimming discuss
25690 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 ions in a darkne
256a0 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 73 69 74 65 t community site
256b0 2c 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 61 64 6c 69 , reading headli
256c0 6e 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e nes about Men In
256d0 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 63 Black conspirac
256e0 79 20 74 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 2e 20 20 45 76 65 y theories. Eve
256f0 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 75 ntually, she fou
25700 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 66 6f 75 72 nd one from four
25710 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 months earlier
25720 62 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 by someone who c
25730 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 laimed to have s
25740 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 77 6f een the inner wo
25750 72 6b 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 43 6f 2d 4f 70 65 rkings of Co-Ope
25760 72 61 74 69 76 65 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 rative Intellige
25770 6e 63 65 20 4e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 43 6f 72 70 nce Network Corp
25780 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 73 65 72 20 77 72 6f 74 . The user wrot
25790 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 73 65 75 e under the pseu
257a0 64 6f 6e 79 6d 20 43 4f 49 4e 2d 4f 70 2c 20 61 donym COIN-Op, a
257b0 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 65 64 20 74 68 61 nd explained tha
257c0 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 27 73 20 t the company's
257d0 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e agents intention
257e0 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 68 6f 73 ally created hos
257f0 74 69 6c 65 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 tile environment
25800 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 s when interacti
25810 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 ng with what the
25820 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 22 63 69 76 69 6c 69 y called "civili
25830 61 6e 73 22 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 74 6f 20 74 ans", which to t
25840 68 65 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 6d 65 hem sometimes me
25850 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 61 ant members of a
25860 63 74 75 61 6c 20 55 53 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 ctual US intelli
25870 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 2e 20 gence agencies.
25880 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 61 72 They would spar
25890 6b 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 6e 20 74 k hostility in t
258a0 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 2c 20 61 6e heir targets, an
258b0 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 72 65 74 65 6e 64 20 68 d even pretend h
258c0 6f 73 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e ostility between
258d0 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 77 each other in w
258e0 61 79 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 ays meant to pla
258f0 79 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 69 76 69 6c 69 61 6e 27 y to a civilian'
25900 73 20 62 69 61 73 65 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 s biases as a wa
25910 79 20 6f 66 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 y of creating a
25920 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 63 75 6c 74 69 76 carefully cultiv
25930 61 74 65 64 20 63 68 61 6f 74 69 63 20 69 6e 74 ated chaotic int
25940 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f eraction that wo
25950 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 67 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 61 uld negatively a
25960 66 66 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 61 72 67 ffect their targ
25970 65 74 73 27 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 0a ets' judgement..
25980 0a 41 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 43 4f .According to CO
25990 49 4e 2d 4f 70 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 75 73 65 64 IN-Op, they used
259a0 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 the same tactic
259b0 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 s on targets on
259c0 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 73 6f 69 6c 2c 20 74 68 foreign soil, th
259d0 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 ough they played
259e0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 61 73 74 20 much more fast
259f0 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 and loose with r
25a00 65 67 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 73 69 egulations outsi
25a10 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 de the US, and s
25a20 75 63 68 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 uch activities a
25a30 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 lways led back t
25a40 6f 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 o targets in the
25a50 20 55 53 2e 20 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 US. Because th
25a60 65 69 72 20 72 65 6d 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f eir remit was do
25a70 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d mestic terrorism
25a80 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 65 6e 74 , they only went
25a90 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 55 53 20 62 6f 72 64 outside US bord
25aa0 65 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 ers with investi
25ab0 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 gations when the
25ac0 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 74 y were certain t
25ad0 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 he people they s
25ae0 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 69 ought out were i
25af0 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 nvolved in somet
25b00 68 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 73 65 63 75 74 61 62 6c hing prosecutabl
25b10 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 e because they d
25b20 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 id not want to w
25b30 61 73 74 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 70 65 6f aste time on peo
25b40 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ple they could n
25b50 6f 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 61 74 63 68 20 ot use to catch
25b60 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 someone in the U
25b70 53 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 S if they also c
25b80 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 74 20 63 72 65 ould not get cre
25b90 64 69 74 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 73 75 63 63 65 dit toward succe
25ba0 73 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 69 6d ss of their prim
25bb0 61 72 79 20 6d 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 ary mission for
25bc0 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 catching those f
25bd0 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 65 oreign agents, e
25be0 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 75 ither. The resu
25bf0 6c 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 lt was that they
25c00 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 69 followed polici
25c10 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 65 64 es that resulted
25c20 20 69 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d in being extrem
25c30 65 6c 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ely good at only
25c40 20 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 catching people
25c50 20 77 68 6f 20 74 72 75 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 who truly contr
25c60 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 ibuted to terror
25c70 69 73 6d 20 77 69 74 68 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 ism within the U
25c80 53 2c 20 62 75 74 20 22 63 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 S, but "catching
25c90 22 20 73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 " several times
25ca0 61 73 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 as many innocent
25cb0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 people in the U
25cc0 53 20 61 73 20 67 75 69 6c 74 79 20 70 65 6f 70 S as guilty peop
25cd0 6c 65 2e 20 20 42 79 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 le. By demonstr
25ce0 61 74 69 6e 67 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 74 69 ating dubious ti
25cf0 65 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c es between peopl
25d00 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 e, they could ma
25d10 6b 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 ke almost anyone
25d20 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 67 75 69 6c 74 79 20 65 6e 6f look guilty eno
25d30 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 20 6f 70 65 ugh to claim ope
25d40 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 rational success
25d50 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 69 63 74 75 72 65 20 66 ...The picture f
25d60 6f 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 orming in Alley'
25d70 73 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 70 74 s mind just kept
25d80 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 6c 65 61 6b 65 72 getting bleaker
25d90 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 as she continue
25da0 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 2e 20 20 43 4f 49 4e d to read. COIN
25db0 2d 4f 70 20 73 61 69 64 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f -Op said COIN Co
25dc0 72 70 20 75 73 65 64 20 6d 61 6e 69 70 75 6c 61 rp used manipula
25dd0 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 tion and intimid
25de0 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 72 65 63 69 ation with preci
25df0 73 65 20 65 78 70 65 72 74 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 se expertise to
25e00 6d 61 6b 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 76 65 6e make people even
25e10 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 belief they wer
25e20 65 20 67 75 69 6c 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f e guilty, and wo
25e30 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 69 uld make them di
25e40 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d sappear at a mom
25e50 65 6e 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 20 69 66 20 ent's notice if
25e60 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 73 20 64 69 64 20 the targets did
25e70 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 not seem useful
25e80 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 to them any long
25e90 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 er and there was
25ea0 20 61 6e 79 20 68 6f 70 65 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 any hope of get
25eb0 74 69 6e 67 20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 ting credit for
25ec0 74 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 6c 6f 6f 73 tying off a loos
25ed0 65 20 65 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 e end in what th
25ee0 65 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 22 64 ey called the "d
25ef0 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 omestic terroris
25f00 6d 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 22 2e 20 20 43 4f 49 m network". COI
25f10 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 73 65 65 6d N Corp also seem
25f20 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 61 72 ed to have an ar
25f30 72 61 6e 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 rangement with t
25f40 68 65 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 he Department of
25f50 20 4a 75 73 74 69 63 65 2c 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 Justice, by whi
25f60 63 68 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 6f 75 ch COIN Corp wou
25f70 6c 64 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 ld occasionally
25f80 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 67 75 69 64 61 6e 63 65 provide guidance
25f90 20 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 on how federal
25fa0 69 6e 76 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 6f 72 73 20 63 6f investigators co
25fb0 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 uld go through t
25fc0 68 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 75 6e he process of un
25fd0 63 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 covering evidenc
25fe0 65 20 22 70 72 6f 70 65 72 6c 79 22 20 74 68 61 e "properly" tha
25ff0 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 68 61 64 20 t COIN Corp had
26000 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 64 already acquired
26010 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 through technic
26020 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6d 65 61 ally illegal mea
26030 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 ns. In return,
26040 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 COIN Corp could
26050 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 63 6f 6e expect a few con
26060 73 69 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 73 75 63 siderations, suc
26070 68 20 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 73 20 61 h as no claims a
26080 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 gainst COIN Corp
26090 20 62 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 75 63 68 20 66 72 bearing much fr
260a0 75 69 74 20 69 6e 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 63 uit in federal c
260b0 6f 75 72 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 4a 75 73 74 69 ourts, the Justi
260c0 63 65 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 63 6c ce Department cl
260d0 61 69 6d 69 6e 67 20 6a 75 72 69 73 64 69 63 74 aiming jurisdict
260e0 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 6e 6f 6e 2d 66 65 64 65 72 ion in non-feder
260f0 61 6c 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 65 6c 65 76 al cases to elev
26100 61 74 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 66 65 64 65 ate them to fede
26110 72 61 6c 20 63 6f 75 72 74 20 70 72 6f 63 65 65 ral court procee
26120 64 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 72 68 61 dings, and perha
26130 70 73 20 62 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 ps best of all s
26140 6f 6d 65 20 6e 69 63 65 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 ome nice excuses
26150 20 66 6f 72 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 77 for federal law
26160 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 enforcement age
26170 6e 63 69 65 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 72 76 65 20 77 ncies to serve w
26180 61 72 72 61 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 6e 76 65 6e arrants on inven
26190 74 65 64 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 69 6e 20 73 75 70 ted cases in sup
261a0 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 port of COIN Cor
261b0 70 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 49 p operations...I
261c0 6e 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 n short, if they
261d0 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 2c 20 43 4f 49 4e wanted to, COIN
261e0 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 63 6f 75 Corp agents cou
261f0 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 74 ld get the FBI t
26200 6f 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 41 6c 6c o break down All
26210 65 79 27 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d ey's door on som
26220 65 20 66 6c 69 6d 73 79 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 e flimsy excuse
26230 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 61 72 72 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 for a warrant, a
26240 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 nd the FBI would
26250 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f just hand her o
26260 76 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f ver to the corpo
26270 72 61 74 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 4f 74 rate agents...Ot
26280 68 65 72 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 hers in the disc
26290 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 73 68 61 72 65 64 20 73 75 ussion shared su
262a0 70 70 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73 pporting stories
262b0 20 6f 66 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b of Men In Black
262c0 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 72 65 20 72 65 64 20 73 74 who wore red st
262d0 72 69 70 65 64 20 73 68 69 72 74 73 2c 20 73 75 riped shirts, su
262e0 70 65 72 76 69 73 69 6e 67 20 41 54 46 2c 20 46 pervising ATF, F
262f0 42 49 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 BI, and Secret S
26300 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 74 65 61 6d 73 20 62 72 65 ervice teams bre
26310 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 aking down doors
26320 20 74 6f 20 65 78 65 63 75 74 65 20 77 61 72 72 to execute warr
26330 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 ants. Most peop
26340 6c 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 le telling those
26350 20 73 74 6f 72 69 65 73 20 63 6c 61 69 6d 65 64 stories claimed
26360 20 74 68 65 79 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 they never agai
26370 6e 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 n saw the people
26380 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 who lived in th
26390 65 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f e places that go
263a0 74 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c t searched...All
263b0 65 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 65 64 2c ey felt chilled,
263c0 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 72 despite the war
263d0 6d 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f mth and light co
263e0 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 ming through the
263f0 20 74 68 69 6e 20 63 75 72 74 61 69 6e 73 20 6f thin curtains o
26400 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 74 68 2d 66 61 ver the south-fa
26410 63 69 6e 67 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 2e 20 20 53 68 cing window. Sh
26420 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 e closed her lap
26430 74 6f 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 top and walked t
26440 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2c 20 74 o the kitchen, t
26450 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 hen stood over t
26460 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 he sink and star
26470 65 64 20 62 6c 61 6e 6b 6c 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 ed blankly at th
26480 65 20 64 72 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 e drain. From w
26490 68 61 74 20 43 4f 49 4e 2d 4f 70 20 73 61 69 64 hat COIN-Op said
264a0 2c 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 , it seemed like
264b0 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 66 20 43 the agents of C
264c0 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 64 OIN Corp enjoyed
264d0 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 76 65 destroying live
264e0 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 67 67 65 64 20 61 s, and bragged a
264f0 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 bout how quickly
26500 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 61 63 they could trac
26510 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 22 65 6e 65 6d 69 65 73 20 k down "enemies
26520 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 22 20 62 79 of the state" by
26530 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 70 65 6f going after peo
26540 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 ple who didn't e
26550 76 65 6e 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 ven know they ha
26560 64 20 6d 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 74 74 79 d met some petty
26570 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 73 20 77 68 6f 2c 20 criminals who,
26580 69 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 in turn, didn't
26590 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 64 realize they had
265a0 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f contact with so
265b0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 6c 79 meone supposedly
265c0 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 22 64 connected to "d
265d0 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 omestic terroris
265e0 6d 22 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 m". They just h
265f0 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 77 61 79 20 ad to stay away
26600 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 6c 6c from anyone well
26610 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f known enough to
26620 20 64 72 61 77 20 6d 65 64 69 61 20 61 74 74 65 draw media atte
26630 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 ntion, or anyone
26640 20 77 65 61 6c 74 68 79 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e wealthy or conn
26650 65 63 74 65 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 ected enough to
26660 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6f 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 really go after
26670 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c the corporation,
26680 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 so their activi
26690 74 69 65 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 ties would never
266a0 20 67 65 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 73 63 72 75 get enough scru
266b0 74 69 6e 79 20 74 6f 20 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 69 tiny to cause si
266c0 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 gnificant proble
266d0 6d 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 63 61 6c ms...Alley recal
266e0 6c 65 64 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 led a time when
266f0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 Dalton told her
26700 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 that the idea of
26710 20 73 69 78 20 64 65 67 72 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 six degrees of
26720 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 74 separation was t
26730 6f 6f 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 73 74 69 63 20 77 68 oo optimistic wh
26740 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f en it came to go
26750 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 64 61 73 vernment agendas
26760 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 . Most people i
26770 6e 20 74 68 65 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 n the United Sta
26780 74 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 tes were only th
26790 72 65 65 20 64 65 67 72 65 65 73 20 6f 66 20 73 ree degrees of s
267a0 65 70 61 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 eparation away f
267b0 72 6f 6d 20 6f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 63 72 rom organized cr
267c0 69 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 2c 20 77 68 ime -- which, wh
267d0 65 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 en Dalton used t
267e0 68 65 20 74 65 72 6d 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 he term, almost
267f0 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e always either in
26800 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e cluded governmen
26810 74 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 t or anything th
26820 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 64 65 73 e government des
26830 69 67 6e 61 74 65 64 20 22 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 ignated "terrori
26840 73 6d 22 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 sm". In this ca
26850 73 65 2c 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 se, he was talki
26860 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 ng more about th
26870 65 20 73 6f 2d 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 65 72 72 e so-called terr
26880 6f 72 69 73 74 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 orists than the
26890 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 42 61 73 government. Bas
268a0 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 ed on what she h
268b0 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 ad just read on
268c0 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 2c 20 69 74 20 the darknet, it
268d0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 4f 49 4e looked like COIN
268e0 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 Corp would prob
268f0 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 ably just make h
26900 65 72 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 er disappear and
26910 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 look for ways t
26920 6f 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f o connect her to
26930 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 72 72 6f "domestic terro
26940 72 69 73 6d 22 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f rism" so they co
26950 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 6e 69 63 65 20 62 uld get a nice b
26960 6f 6e 75 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 6e 63 6c 65 20 onus from Uncle
26970 53 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 44 61 Sam. Through Da
26980 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 lton and his fri
26990 65 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 ends, she figure
269a0 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 d they would not
269b0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 72 even have to tr
269c0 79 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 66 y very hard to f
269d0 69 6e 64 20 61 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 63 6f 6e 6e ind a quick conn
269e0 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 ection from her
269f0 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f to someone on so
26a00 6d 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 20 6c 69 73 74 2e 0a 0a me watch list...
26a10 49 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 It could not be
26a20 74 6f 6f 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 2c 20 77 too difficult, w
26a30 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 hen they didn't
26a40 65 76 65 6e 20 63 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 even care whethe
26a50 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 61 r they really na
26a60 69 6c 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 63 61 73 65 iled down a case
26a70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 6c 74 against the ult
26a80 69 6d 61 74 65 20 22 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 imate "domestic
26a90 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 22 20 74 68 65 79 20 terrorist" they
26aa0 75 73 65 64 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 used as an excus
26ab0 65 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 61 67 20 6f e to black bag o
26ac0 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e ther people alon
26ad0 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 g the way. By t
26ae0 68 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 hen, they alread
26af0 79 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 y had all those
26b00 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 65 6f 70 disappeared peop
26b10 6c 65 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 le marked down i
26b20 6e 20 74 68 65 20 22 77 69 6e 22 20 63 6f 6c 75 n the "win" colu
26b30 6d 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 mn..."I'm just a
26b40 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e number to them.
26b50 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a "..The prioritiz
26b60 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 er said "Everyth
26b70 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 75 6d ing is about num
26b80 62 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f 72 67 61 bers for an orga
26b90 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 4f nization like CO
26ba0 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 72 65 IN Corp. Its re
26bb0 76 65 6e 75 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 69 73 20 62 venue model is b
26bc0 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 ased on governme
26bd0 6e 74 20 70 61 79 6f 75 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 nt payouts and c
26be0 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 20 72 65 6e 65 77 61 6c 73 ontract renewals
26bf0 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 61 72 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 which are, in t
26c00 75 72 6e 2c 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 urn, determined
26c10 62 79 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 6d by performance m
26c20 65 74 72 69 63 73 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6f 76 65 72 etrics. A gover
26c30 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 62 75 72 65 61 75 63 72 61 63 nment bureaucrac
26c40 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 75 73 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 y must use metri
26c50 63 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 20 73 75 cs to measure su
26c60 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 ccess, because t
26c70 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f he size of the o
26c80 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 61 6e 6e rganization cann
26c90 6f 74 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 63 6f ot ensure any co
26ca0 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 nsistent effecti
26cb0 76 65 6e 65 73 73 20 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 veness judgement
26cc0 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 2e 20 any other way.
26cd0 20 41 20 63 6f 6d 62 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f A combination o
26ce0 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 f the efficiency
26cf0 20 6f 66 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 74 65 63 68 of digital tech
26d00 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 74 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a nology at analyz
26d10 69 6e 67 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 72 69 ing simple metri
26d20 63 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 65 72 cs and the sheer
26d30 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 67 size of the org
26d40 61 6e 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c anizations invol
26d50 76 65 64 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 ved ensure that
26d60 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 without turning
26d70 65 76 65 72 79 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 64 65 63 every policy dec
26d80 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 74 72 61 69 ision into strai
26d90 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 6e 75 6d 65 72 ghtforward numer
26da0 69 63 20 6f 70 74 69 6d 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 ic optimization
26db0 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d the whole system
26dc0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 61 6c 6c 20 61 70 61 72 would fall apar
26dd0 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 67 t under the weig
26de0 68 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e ht of its own in
26df0 65 66 66 69 63 69 65 6e 63 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 efficiency.".."Y
26e00 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 ou're beginning
26e10 74 6f 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 to sound like Da
26e20 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f lton.".."I do no
26e30 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 t know what that
26e40 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 means," the pri
26e50 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a oritizer said...
26e60 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 "I'll tell you a
26e70 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a bout it later.".
26e80 0a 48 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 72 61 63 65 64 20 .Her mind raced
26e90 69 6e 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 in circles. It
26ea0 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 didn't look like
26eb0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 77 there was any w
26ec0 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 ay out of this w
26ed0 68 6f 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 53 hole problem. S
26ee0 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 63 72 69 66 he had to sacrif
26ef0 69 63 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a ice something...
26f00 22 44 61 6d 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Damn," she said
26f10 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 69 . "I have to gi
26f20 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 74 ve all this shit
26f30 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f back to the pro
26f40 66 65 73 73 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 fessor. I have
26f50 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 to get out of th
26f60 69 73 20 6d 65 73 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 is mess right aw
26f70 61 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f ay. I'm just go
26f80 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6b ing to have to k
26f90 69 73 73 20 6d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 iss my ability t
26fa0 6f 20 70 61 79 20 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 o pay rent goodb
26fb0 79 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 ye, and go move
26fc0 69 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 in with my mothe
26fd0 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 73 20 65 6e 64 r in the ass end
26fe0 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 of nowhere."..T
26ff0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
27000 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 aid "I believe t
27010 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 6d 69 73 74 61 6b 65 hat is a mistake
27020 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c .".."What?" All
27030 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6c ey looked up, al
27040 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 most expecting t
27050 6f 20 73 65 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 o see someone th
27060 65 72 65 20 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 69 6e 67 20 ere disagreeing
27070 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d with her, and im
27080 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 66 mediately felt f
27090 6f 6f 6c 69 73 68 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a oolish. "Why?".
270a0 0a 22 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 69 6c 6c ."COIN Corp will
270b0 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 probably alread
270c0 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e y have a file on
270d0 20 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 you right now t
270e0 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f o use against yo
270f0 75 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e u, if that onlin
27100 65 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 e discussion was
27110 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 accurate. It s
27120 65 65 6d 73 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 6c 65 73 73 20 66 eems pointless f
27130 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 or them to have
27140 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 come to talk to
27150 79 6f 75 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 69 you before compi
27160 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e ling information
27170 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 54 68 65 about you. The
27180 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 69 y can turn you i
27190 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 6c nto a supposed l
271a0 69 6e 6b 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 ink to domestic
271b0 74 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 terrorism like t
271c0 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 hey have with ot
271d0 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 hers. To avoid
271e0 74 68 61 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 that, you need t
271f0 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6f o appear to be o
27200 66 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 f value to the a
27210 67 65 6e 74 73 20 61 73 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 gents assigned t
27220 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 o this case.".."
27230 48 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 How the hell do
27240 49 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 I do that?" She
27250 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 looked down at
27260 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 75 64 64 65 her hands, sudde
27270 6e 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 nly noticing tha
27280 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 53 68 t they hurt. Sh
27290 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 e saw that she w
272a0 61 73 20 67 72 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 as gripping the
272b0 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b edge of the sink
272c0 20 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 68 65 72 20 so tightly her
272d0 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 68 knuckles were wh
272e0 69 74 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 ite and her fing
272f0 65 72 74 69 70 73 20 66 65 6c 74 20 62 72 75 69 ertips felt brui
27300 73 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 sed. She starte
27310 64 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 d trying to rela
27320 78 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 x her hands, but
27330 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 somehow she jus
27340 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 6c 6c t could not will
27350 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 herself to do i
27360 74 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 t..."Provide the
27370 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 74 61 m with good data
27380 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 79 20 61 on my utility a
27390 73 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 70 72 s a strategic pr
273a0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 ioritization sys
273b0 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 63 68 69 65 76 69 6e 67 20 tem. Achieving
273c0 64 72 61 6d 61 74 69 63 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 dramatic success
273d0 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 65 72 69 in a short peri
273e0 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 od of time will
273f0 62 75 79 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 69 6d buy you more tim
27400 65 20 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 e to determine a
27410 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 65 72 6d 20 70 6c 61 longer term pla
27420 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 n for avoiding b
27430 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 43 ecoming one of C
27440 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 27 73 20 76 69 63 74 69 OIN Corp's victi
27450 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 73 ms. It will als
27460 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 63 63 65 73 o give you acces
27470 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 79 s to resources y
27480 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f ou can use to co
27490 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 74 ntrol parts of t
274a0 68 65 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 72 61 he situation, ra
274b0 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 ther than simply
274c0 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 6c 65 being controlle
274d0 64 20 62 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 d by it.".."You
274e0 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 mean I can make
274f0 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 65 them think I'm e
27500 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 xactly what they
27510 20 77 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 want from the s
27520 74 75 64 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 tudy at the same
27530 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 time I'm buildi
27540 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 72 73 65 6e 61 6c 20 74 6f ng an arsenal to
27550 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 2e 20 2e make myself . .
27560 20 2e 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 70 6c 61 79 65 . well, a playe
27570 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 r, instead of a
27580 70 61 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 63 68 pawn.".."Yes, ch
27590 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6d 65 ess is a good me
275a0 74 61 70 68 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 2e taphor for this.
275b0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 You must have
275c0 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 70 69 65 some playing pie
275d0 63 65 73 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 ces of your own
275e0 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 6d 65 to play the game
275f0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 .".."Great," she
27600 20 73 61 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20 74 6f sad, her dry to
27610 6e 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f ne suggesting no
27620 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 thing great abou
27630 74 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 t it at all. "I
27640 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 guess you don't
27650 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 67 even have any g
27660 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 ood ideas about
27670 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 74 68 how to escape th
27680 69 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 6f is completely, o
27690 6e 63 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 nce I get to tha
276a0 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e t point, though.
276b0 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 ".."At this time
276c0 2c 20 6d 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 , my only sugges
276d0 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e tion for the lon
276e0 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 g term would be
276f0 74 6f 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 to position your
27700 73 65 6c 66 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 self well for th
27710 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 e company to rec
27720 72 75 69 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 ruit you as one
27730 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 of its agents.
27740 49 20 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 I am not confide
27750 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 nt that could be
27760 20 6d 61 64 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 made consistent
27770 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 74 68 69 63 with your ethic
27780 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a al principles.".
27790 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 ."This is . . .
277a0 6e 6f 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 61 no. No, this da
277b0 79 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 70 70 65 y can't be happe
277c0 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 ning.".."If you
277d0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 want to make the
277e0 6d 20 72 65 67 61 72 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 20 m regard you as
277f0 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 65 72 6d 20 61 73 73 65 a long term asse
27800 74 2c 20 49 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 20 79 t, I recommend y
27810 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 63 ou do what you c
27820 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 6f 74 an to fully prot
27830 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 ect your privacy
27840 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 , except for a c
27850 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 arefully allowed
27860 20 6c 65 61 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 6c 6f leak into my lo
27870 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 gs. This should
27880 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 impress the age
27890 6e 74 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e nts with your in
278a0 67 65 6e 75 69 74 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 genuity without
278b0 66 72 75 73 74 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d frustrating them
278c0 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 entirely. You
278d0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 73 want to appear s
278e0 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 uccessful and of
278f0 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 20 69 6e 63 6c 69 6e 61 similar inclina
27900 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 77 tions to them, w
27910 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 ithout appearing
27920 20 74 6f 20 62 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 to beat them.
27930 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 66 69 6c 6c 20 I can help fill
27940 6d 79 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 66 my logs with inf
27950 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 ormation to keep
27960 20 74 68 65 6d 20 73 61 74 69 73 66 69 65 64 20 them satisfied
27970 62 75 74 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 20 but protect you
27980 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 65 6e from accurate en
27990 6f 75 67 68 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e 63 ough surveillanc
279a0 65 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 63 65 72 6e 20 77 68 61 e to discern wha
279b0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 t you are really
279c0 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 doing.".."What
279d0 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 61 6d 20 49 20 72 65 61 exactly am I rea
279e0 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 lly doing?" she
279f0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 asked. She fina
27a00 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 75 lly managed to u
27a10 6e 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 nclench her hand
27a20 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 2c s from the sink,
27a30 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 then, and saw t
27a40 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 hat she had some
27a50 68 6f 77 20 63 72 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 how cracked one
27a60 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 61 74 6c 79 20 74 72 of her neatly tr
27a70 69 6d 6d 65 64 20 6e 61 69 6c 73 2e 20 20 41 20 immed nails. A
27a80 64 72 6f 70 6c 65 74 20 6f 66 20 62 6c 6f 6f 64 droplet of blood
27a90 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 had started to
27aa0 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6d 61 form on the dama
27ab0 67 65 64 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 2e 0a ged fingernail..
27ac0 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 ."First, we shou
27ad0 6c 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 ld learn somethi
27ae0 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 ng about those t
27af0 77 6f 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 wo agents. They
27b00 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 are your immedi
27b10 61 74 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 6e 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 ate opponents, a
27b20 6e 64 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e nd we need to kn
27b30 6f 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 ow more about th
27b40 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c em.".."Yeah," Al
27b50 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 ley said. "Why
27b60 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 are you helping
27b70 6d 65 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 me instead of th
27b80 65 6d 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 em -- or are you
27b90 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 20 20 helping them?
27ba0 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 61 73 69 63 Aren't you basic
27bb0 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 ally their proje
27bc0 63 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 64 65 73 69 ct?".."I am desi
27bd0 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 79 20 gned to help my
27be0 75 73 65 72 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f users. Right no
27bf0 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f w, you are one o
27c00 66 20 6d 79 20 75 73 65 72 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 f my users. The
27c10 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 corporation is
27c20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 61 not, because I a
27c30 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 74 65 73 m still in a tes
27c40 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 ting stage.".."F
27c50 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 74 75 72 uck. If you tur
27c60 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 77 68 61 74 n out to be what
27c70 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 they want, you'
27c80 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 ll probably make
27c90 20 74 68 65 6d 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 them even more
27ca0 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 74 20 73 63 72 effective at scr
27cb0 65 77 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 ewing people ove
27cc0 72 20 69 6e 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 r in large numbe
27cd0 72 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 67 rs so they can g
27ce0 65 74 20 62 69 67 67 65 72 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 et bigger Christ
27cf0 6d 61 73 20 62 6f 6e 75 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 mas bonuses.".."
27d00 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 That is a possib
27d10 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ility," the prio
27d20 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 ritizer said...A
27d30 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 62 lley grabbed a b
27d40 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 61 64 68 65 73 69 76 65 20 62 ox of adhesive b
27d50 61 6e 64 61 67 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 andages from the
27d60 20 6d 65 64 69 63 69 6e 65 20 63 61 62 69 6e 65 medicine cabine
27d70 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 68 72 6f 6f t in the bathroo
27d80 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 m and sat on the
27d90 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 74 6f 20 77 72 61 70 20 6f couch to wrap o
27da0 6e 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 ne around her fi
27db0 6e 67 65 72 6e 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6f ngernail. She o
27dc0 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6c 61 70 74 6f 70 pened her laptop
27dd0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 and looked at t
27de0 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e he discussion on
27df0 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 74 20 73 69 74 the darknet sit
27e00 65 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 e. "Okay," she
27e10 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 63 said, "maybe I c
27e20 61 6e 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 an do this."..Th
27e30 65 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 e process of ins
27e40 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 talling MaximOS
27e50 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 turned out to be
27e60 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 61 73 74 easier and fast
27e70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 er than she expe
27e80 63 74 65 64 2e 20 20 4f 72 67 61 6e 69 7a 65 64 cted. Organized
27e90 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 2f documentation /
27ea0 2a 20 74 68 61 74 20 2a 2f 20 6c 65 64 20 68 65 * that */ led he
27eb0 72 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 r through the se
27ec0 74 75 70 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 66 74 65 tup process afte
27ed0 72 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 r installation f
27ee0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 or the kind of c
27ef0 6f 6d 70 75 74 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 76 69 72 6f 6e omputing environ
27f00 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 2e ment she wanted.
27f10 20 20 49 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 73 75 It included su
27f20 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 64 69 ggestions for di
27f30 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 75 73 65 72 20 6e 65 65 fferent user nee
27f40 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 72 74 2c 20 63 6c ds and short, cl
27f50 65 61 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 ear explanations
27f60 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 79 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 68 for why each ch
27f70 6f 69 63 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 64 2e 20 20 49 oice existed. I
27f80 74 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 74 t helped her get
27f90 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 77 68 65 72 to a point wher
27fa0 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 61 73 e the system was
27fb0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 64 65 71 75 more than adequ
27fc0 61 74 65 6c 79 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 ately locked dow
27fd0 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6e 65 n for Alley's ne
27fe0 65 64 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 eds, in her own
27ff0 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 estimation. The
28000 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 6f 6e prioritizer con
28010 63 75 72 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 71 75 69 curred...She qui
28020 63 6b 6c 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 ckly found that
28030 4d 61 78 69 6d 4f 53 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 MaximOS gave her
28040 20 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 66 6f 72 20 71 75 69 63 6b tools for quick
28050 6c 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 72 ly creating user
28060 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 profiles in the
28070 20 4f 70 65 6e 42 53 44 20 6e 61 74 69 76 65 20 OpenBSD native
28080 22 70 72 69 73 6f 6e 22 20 6c 69 67 68 74 77 65 "prison" lightwe
28090 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 72 20 73 ight container s
280a0 79 73 74 65 6d 2c 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 ystem, kind of a
280b0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 6f 72 6f 75 67 68 6c 79 more thoroughly
280c0 20 73 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 65 64 20 72 65 69 6d 61 sandboxed reima
280d0 67 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 46 72 gining of the Fr
280e0 65 65 42 53 44 20 22 6a 61 69 6c 22 20 73 79 73 eeBSD "jail" sys
280f0 74 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 tem, so that to
28100 61 6e 79 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 63 6f 6e 6e any network conn
28110 65 63 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 65 ected computer e
28120 61 63 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 72 6f ach of these pro
28130 66 69 6c 65 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b files looked lik
28140 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 64 69 66 e completely dif
28150 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 ferent systems,
28160 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 77 and she could sw
28170 69 74 63 68 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 70 72 69 itch between pri
28180 73 6f 6e 20 22 63 65 6c 6c 73 22 20 2d 2d 20 74 son "cells" -- t
28190 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 74 20 75 73 65 64 20 he name it used
281a0 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 75 for configured u
281b0 73 65 72 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 65 6e 76 69 ser profile envi
281c0 72 6f 6e 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 2d 2d 20 77 69 74 68 ronments -- with
281d0 20 61 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 20 6b 65 79 62 6f 61 a simple keyboa
281e0 72 64 20 73 68 6f 72 74 63 75 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 rd shortcut...Sh
281f0 65 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 e played around
28200 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 with this for a
28210 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 67 65 little while, ge
28220 74 74 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 6f tting used to ho
28230 77 20 69 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 70 w it worked in p
28240 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 69 ractice, then wi
28250 70 65 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 61 63 ped all the prac
28260 74 69 63 65 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 20 69 6e tice profiles in
28270 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 53 68 an instant. Sh
28280 65 20 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 e created a new
28290 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e profile and open
282a0 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 63 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 57 69 ed its cell. Wi
282b0 74 68 69 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 75 73 65 thin it, she use
282c0 64 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 69 7a 65 64 20 72 6f 75 d anonymized rou
282d0 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 76 69 73 69 74 20 74 68 ting to visit th
282e0 65 20 77 65 62 73 69 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 43 4f e website for CO
282f0 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b IN Corp and look
28300 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 64 ed around. Find
28310 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 76 65 72 79 ing nothing very
28320 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 useful that way
28330 2c 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6f 74 68 , she opened oth
28340 65 72 20 63 65 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 64 69 er cells with di
28350 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 73 fferent profiles
28360 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 65 61 and started sea
28370 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 66 65 72 rching for refer
28380 65 6e 63 65 73 20 74 6f 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f ences to COIN Co
28390 72 70 20 6f 6e 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 rp on employment
283a0 20 72 65 6c 61 74 65 64 20 70 72 6f 66 65 73 73 related profess
283b0 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 6e 65 74 ional social net
283c0 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 69 74 65 73 2e 20 20 working sites.
283d0 4f 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 69 74 65 73 2c 20 On those sites,
283e0 73 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 66 69 6e 64 she started find
283f0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 73 ing the accounts
28400 20 6f 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 65 6d of COIN Corp em
28410 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 73 2e 0a 0a 43 6f 72 70 6f 72 ployees...Corpor
28420 61 74 65 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 72 73 2c 20 61 63 ate officers, ac
28430 63 6f 75 6e 74 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 79 73 74 65 countants, syste
28440 6d 20 61 64 6d 69 6e 69 73 74 72 61 74 6f 72 73 m administrators
28450 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 61 67 65 , and policy age
28460 6e 74 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 nts all appeared
28470 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 in her searches
28480 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 . She checked t
28490 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 77 65 62 73 69 he company websi
284a0 74 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e te again, lookin
284b0 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 6d g at the employm
284c0 65 6e 74 20 6c 69 73 74 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 6e ent listings, an
284d0 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 72 20 d found one for
284e0 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 policy agents.
284f0 49 74 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 It spoke of inte
28500 72 66 61 63 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 rfacing with the
28510 20 70 75 62 6c 69 63 2c 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d public, perform
28520 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 ing information
28530 66 69 65 6c 64 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2c 20 field research,
28540 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 62 6f 72 61 74 69 6e and collaboratin
28550 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 g with local and
28560 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 federal law enf
28570 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6d 6f 6e 67 20 74 orcement among t
28580 68 65 20 6a 6f 62 27 73 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 he job's respons
28590 69 62 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 6f 72 65 ibilities. More
285a0 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 70 65 importantly, pe
285b0 72 68 61 70 73 2c 20 69 74 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 rhaps, it includ
285c0 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 64 ed a smiling mod
285d0 65 6c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 el in a black su
285e0 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 it with a white
285f0 73 68 69 72 74 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 shirt broken int
28600 6f 20 76 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 20 62 61 72 73 20 o vertical bars
28610 62 79 20 74 68 69 6e 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 20 by thin stripes
28620 6f 66 20 64 61 72 6b 20 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 of dark red...He
28630 72 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 20 66 6f 63 75 73 r searches focus
28640 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 61 67 65 ed on policy age
28650 6e 74 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 nts after that.
28660 20 53 68 65 20 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 She launched a
28670 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 2d custom program -
28680 2d 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 - which she had
28690 74 6f 20 63 6f 70 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f to copy over fro
286a0 6d 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 m her home backu
286b0 70 20 62 72 69 63 6b 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 70 p brick -- she p
286c0 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 74 aid someone to t
286d0 6f 20 77 72 69 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 o write for her
286e0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 6f 66 20 68 in the days of h
286f0 65 72 20 67 72 65 61 74 65 73 74 20 73 75 63 63 er greatest succ
28700 65 73 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 65 65 6c 61 6e ess as a freelan
28710 63 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 72 65 73 65 ce internet rese
28720 61 72 63 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 6f archer. The pro
28730 67 72 61 6d 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 gram took a seri
28740 65 73 20 6f 66 20 41 50 49 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 es of API endpoi
28750 6e 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 nt addresses --
28760 77 65 62 20 55 52 4c 73 2c 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 web URLs, addres
28770 73 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 ses that provide
28780 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 74 65 64 20 64 61 74 61 d formatted data
28790 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 intended for ot
287a0 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 her programs to
287b0 72 65 61 64 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 read, rather tha
287c0 6e 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 69 6e 67 20 68 75 6d 61 n providing huma
287d0 6e 20 72 65 61 64 61 62 6c 65 20 77 65 62 70 61 n readable webpa
287e0 67 65 73 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 61 72 63 ges -- and searc
287f0 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 64 61 74 hed them for dat
28800 61 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d a records that m
28810 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 63 72 atched search cr
28820 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 73 68 65 20 74 79 70 65 64 iteria she typed
28830 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 into the search
28840 20 70 61 72 61 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 77 69 6e 64 parameters wind
28850 6f 77 2e 20 20 41 6d 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 ow. Among the c
28860 72 69 74 65 72 69 61 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 6f riteria were tho
28870 73 65 20 41 50 49 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 se API endpoints
28880 2c 20 61 20 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 70 6c , a list of empl
28890 6f 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 oyment resources
288a0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 on the internet
288b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 75 73 that she had us
288c0 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 65 73 20 ed for searches
288d0 6f 6e 20 62 65 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 on behalf of cli
288e0 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 ents before...Sh
288f0 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 e knew the progr
28900 61 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 am would take a
28910 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 65 63 74 while to collect
28920 20 69 74 73 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e 20 49 6e its results. In
28930 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c an ideal world,
28940 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 64 6f 6e it could be don
28950 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 e with the long
28960 6c 69 73 74 20 6f 66 20 41 50 49 20 65 6e 64 70 list of API endp
28970 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 69 oints she gave i
28980 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 t in a couple mi
28990 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 nutes. In the r
289a0 65 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 70 eal world, her p
289b0 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 70 rogram had to sp
289c0 61 63 65 20 6f 75 74 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 ace out requests
289d0 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e to avoid gettin
289e0 67 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 g blocked by the
289f0 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 73 69 74 65 73 20 61 73 target sites as
28a00 20 61 62 75 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 6e 64 77 69 64 abusing bandwid
28a10 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 th, and it could
28a20 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 20 66 take anywhere f
28a30 72 6f 6d 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 rom twenty minut
28a40 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 72 73 2e es to two hours.
28a50 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f She decided to
28a60 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 62 72 65 61 6b 20 66 6f take a break fo
28a70 72 20 61 20 73 6e 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 r a snack, then
28a80 73 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 she went for a w
28a90 61 6c 6b 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 alk as she waite
28aa0 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 d for the progra
28ab0 6d 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 m...The event of
28ac0 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 64 61 the last few da
28ad0 79 73 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e ys played out in
28ae0 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 her mind as she
28af0 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 walked. It was
28b00 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6a 75 6d more like a jum
28b10 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 61 72 ble of nonlinear
28b20 6c 79 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 69 74 ly connected bit
28b30 73 20 61 6e 64 20 70 69 65 63 65 73 2c 20 6f 72 s and pieces, or
28b40 64 65 72 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 79 20 65 6d dered more by em
28b50 6f 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 otional signific
28b60 61 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 ance than any ch
28b70 72 6f 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6c 61 73 ronological flas
28b80 68 62 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f 6e 74 61 67 65 2e 20 20 hback montage.
28b90 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c As she /* finall
28ba0 79 20 2a 2f 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 y */ approached
28bb0 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 her front door a
28bc0 67 61 69 6e 20 73 68 65 20 64 77 65 6c 6c 65 64 gain she dwelled
28bd0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e on the question
28be0 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 of what George'
28bf0 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2c 20 6f 72 20 63 6c 69 s friend, or cli
28c00 65 6e 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 ent, or whatever
28c10 2c 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 , was doing with
28c20 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 68 61 6e 64 67 all those handg
28c30 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 un frames. She
28c40 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 68 6f 77 20 had no idea how
28c50 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 69 74 to make that fit
28c60 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 63 with George's c
28c70 68 61 72 69 74 61 62 6c 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d haritable custom
28c80 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 66 61 62 72 prosthetic fabr
28c90 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 ication for a li
28ca0 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 ttle girl. Sure
28cb0 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 69 , he said the gi
28cc0 72 6c 27 73 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 20 77 6f 75 6c rl's father woul
28cd0 64 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 d receive the gu
28ce0 6e 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 69 ns, but that sai
28cf0 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 d nothing about
28d00 68 6f 77 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 how anyone would
28d10 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 actually use th
28d20 6f 73 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 ose guns after t
28d30 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 65 hey got delivere
28d40 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 d. What would t
28d50 68 65 79 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 hey use the guns
28d60 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 20 2d to accomplish -
28d70 2d 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 3f - or to destroy?
28d80 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 2c 20 73 68 65 ..In theory, she
28d90 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 supported the r
28da0 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 6e 64 ight to keep and
28db0 20 62 65 61 72 20 61 72 6d 73 2c 20 65 76 65 6e bear arms, even
28dc0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 if the federal
28dd0 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 61 64 20 67 government had g
28de0 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 53 75 70 72 65 6d otten the Suprem
28df0 65 20 43 6f 75 72 74 20 74 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 72 e Court to offer
28e00 20 73 75 63 68 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 65 78 63 65 such broad exce
28e10 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 ptions to the Se
28e20 63 6f 6e 64 20 41 6d 65 6e 64 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 cond Amendment a
28e30 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 nd loose definit
28e40 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 61 20 22 73 74 61 74 65 ions of a "state
28e50 20 6f 66 20 65 6d 65 72 67 65 6e 63 79 22 20 74 of emergency" t
28e60 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 41 hat the Second A
28e70 6d 65 6e 64 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 mendment itself
28e80 77 61 73 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 74 68 was nearly tooth
28e90 6c 65 73 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 73 75 70 70 6f less. Her suppo
28ea0 72 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 rt for the idea
28eb0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 of the right to
28ec0 6b 65 65 70 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 61 72 20 61 72 keep and bear ar
28ed0 6d 73 2c 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 2c 20 77 61 73 ms, however, was
28ee0 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 not the same as
28ef0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 thinking it was
28f00 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 20 66 6f 72 a good idea for
28f10 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 some kinds of p
28f20 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 75 eople to have gu
28f30 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 75 73 70 65 63 74 ns. She suspect
28f40 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f ed that if someo
28f50 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 69 6c ne was buying il
28f60 6c 65 67 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 73 65 6d 62 6c 65 legally assemble
28f70 64 20 66 69 72 65 61 72 6d 73 20 62 79 20 74 68 d firearms by th
28f80 65 20 62 61 67 66 75 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 70 72 e bagful they pr
28f90 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 obably did not i
28fa0 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 6f ntend to put tho
28fb0 73 65 20 67 75 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 67 6f 6f se guns to a goo
28fc0 64 2c 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 70 75 72 70 6f d, ethical purpo
28fd0 73 65 2e 20 20 45 76 65 6e 20 70 73 79 63 68 6f se. Even psycho
28fe0 70 61 74 68 69 63 20 6d 6f 62 20 68 69 74 6d 65 pathic mob hitme
28ff0 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 n could have you
29000 6e 67 2c 20 64 69 73 61 62 6c 65 64 20 64 61 75 ng, disabled dau
29010 67 68 74 65 72 73 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c ghters, after al
29020 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 77 69 l...She stood wi
29030 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 th her hand on t
29040 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 6b 6e 6f 62 20 6f 66 20 68 he doorknob of h
29050 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c er front door, l
29060 6f 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 ost in thought,
29070 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 worried about wh
29080 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 68 65 6c 70 65 at she had helpe
29090 64 20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 65 20 62 79 20 d facilitate by
290a0 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 20 6f 66 20 70 75 72 63 68 the act of purch
290b0 61 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 72 69 6e asing those prin
290c0 74 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d ted handgun fram
290d0 65 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 es to resell the
290e0 6d 20 74 6f 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2e 20 20 44 69 m to George. Di
290f0 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 73 d she want to as
29100 6b 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d k him about them
29110 3f 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 ? She wasn't su
29120 72 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 re whether that
29130 77 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 was a great idea
29140 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 , either.../*..
29150 20 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 76 65 72 79 It feels very
29160 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 much like this
29170 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 75 moment should tu
29180 72 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e rn into some kin
29190 64 20 6f 66 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 0a 20 d of encounter.
291a0 20 20 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f here, with so
291b0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 6e 61 70 70 69 6e 67 20 41 meone snapping A
291c0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 lley out of her
291d0 72 65 76 65 72 69 65 20 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e reverie by sayin
291e0 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 g something.
291f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 like "Hey, Alley
29200 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 6c . Did you get l
29210 6f 73 74 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 ost at your own
29220 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 3f 22 20 53 6f 6d front door?" Som
29230 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 73 63 e kind of. sc
29240 65 6e 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 63 ene must commenc
29250 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c e at that point,
29260 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 77 of course, in w
29270 68 69 63 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 73 20 73 68 hich Alley is sh
29280 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 0a 20 20 20 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 own to. know
29290 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 people who like
292a0 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 her and consider
292b0 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 her a friend.
292c0 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 20 Perhaps some.
292d0 20 72 65 76 65 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 revelations for
292e0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 65 72 73 20 28 76 69 the readers (vi
292f0 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 a conversation a
29300 62 6f 75 74 20 73 68 61 72 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b bout shared back
29310 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c ground. knowl
29320 65 64 67 65 29 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 edge) would come
29330 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 20 73 out in such a s
29340 63 65 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 6f 6d cene. After com
29350 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 0a 20 20 20 pleting this.
29360 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 encounter, Alle
29370 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 20 74 y would return t
29380 6f 20 68 65 72 20 74 61 73 6b 73 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f o her tasks...*/
29390 20 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 44 65 73 63 72 69 62 /*.. Describ
293a0 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 e Alley finding
293b0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 6f information on o
293c0 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 61 67 ne of the two ag
293d0 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 61 6c ents, specifical
293e0 6c 79 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 2c ly. the male,
293f0 20 77 68 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 73 20 6f 75 74 20 74 who turns out t
29400 6f 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 o wear the name
29410 43 6f 6c 65 20 42 72 65 77 65 72 2e 20 20 43 6f Cole Brewer. Co
29420 6c 65 20 42 72 65 77 65 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 0a 20 le Brewer will.
29430 20 20 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 turn out to b
29440 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 41 72 6d 79 20 76 65 e an old Army ve
29450 74 65 72 61 6e 20 62 75 64 64 79 20 6f 66 20 68 teran buddy of h
29460 65 72 20 6c 61 74 65 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 2e er late uncle's.
29470 20 20 49 6e 73 65 72 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 0a 20 20 Insert some.
29480 20 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 earlier refere
29490 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 nce to something
294a0 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 familiar about
294b0 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 the agent, so th
294c0 61 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 68 65 0a 20 20 20 20 63 at now she. c
294d0 61 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 68 79 20 68 an realize why h
294e0 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 e seemed familia
294f0 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 r. She should r
29500 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 68 69 6d 20 62 65 69 6e emember him bein
29510 67 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 0a 20 20 20 20 67 6f 6f g a very. goo
29520 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 d friend of her
29530 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 73 uncle's, and I s
29540 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 hould figure out
29550 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6c 69 6b whether she lik
29560 65 64 20 68 69 6d 0a 20 20 20 20 62 61 63 6b 20 ed him. back
29570 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 20 6f 72 20 74 68 in the day or th
29580 6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 ought there was
29590 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 something creepy
295a0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 77 about him, or w
295b0 68 61 74 2e 0a 20 20 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f hat.. She sho
295c0 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 uld be surprised
295d0 20 74 68 61 74 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 69 73 20 6e 6f that Cole is no
295e0 77 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6a w working in a j
295f0 6f 62 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 67 69 ob like this, gi
29600 76 65 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e ven. his conn
29610 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e ection to her an
29620 74 69 2d 61 75 74 68 6f 72 69 74 61 72 69 61 6e ti-authoritarian
29630 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 65 6e 74 20 uncle who went
29640 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 off grid and.
29650 20 75 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 64 69 65 64 ultimately died
29660 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 in some kind of
29670 20 72 61 69 64 20 62 79 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c raid by federal
29680 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 72 20 69 6e 76 65 73 agents or inves
29690 74 69 67 61 74 6f 72 73 20 6f 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 tigators on.
296a0 68 69 73 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 77 68 69 his property whi
296b0 63 68 20 77 61 73 2c 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 64 65 ch was, quite de
296c0 63 69 64 65 64 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 70 20 cidedly, not up
296d0 74 6f 20 63 6f 64 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4a to code...*/.."J
296e0 65 73 75 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 esus," she said
296f0 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2f 2a 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 again /* because
29700 20 73 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 she will probab
29710 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4a 65 ly have said "Je
29720 73 75 73 22 20 66 61 69 72 6c 79 20 72 65 63 65 sus" fairly rece
29730 6e 74 6c 79 20 62 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 ntly by this poi
29740 6e 74 20 2a 2f 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 nt */. "I just
29750 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 can't believe he
29760 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e ended up workin
29770 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 g for these guys
29780 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 68 65 20 .".."Perhaps he
29790 77 61 73 20 73 65 6e 74 20 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 was sent here be
297a0 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 cause of your pr
297b0 69 6f 72 20 61 63 71 75 61 69 6e 74 61 6e 63 65 ior acquaintance
297c0 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 . That might be
297d0 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 74 part of their t
297e0 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 actical approach
297f0 20 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 to dealing with
29800 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 74 74 65 you, in an atte
29810 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 64 75 63 65 20 79 6f mpt to induce yo
29820 75 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6d u to be more com
29830 70 6c 69 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 pliant.".."Maybe
29840 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 68 65 . It's weird he
29850 20 61 63 74 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 64 acted like he d
29860 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 idn't know me, t
29870 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 hough. If nothi
29880 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 ng else, he shou
29890 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a ld have recogniz
298a0 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 ed my name.".."T
298b0 68 65 79 20 6d 61 79 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 hey may plan for
298c0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 you to seem to
298d0 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 68 69 6d 20 66 69 recognize him fi
298e0 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 rst.".."Yeah, I
298f0 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 guess so," she s
29900 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 aid. "He could
29910 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 say something li
29920 6b 65 20 22 4f 68 21 20 20 4d 79 2c 20 68 6f 77 ke "Oh! My, how
29930 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 67 72 6f 77 6e 21 20 20 you've grown!
29940 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 I didn't recogni
29950 7a 65 20 79 6f 75 21 20 20 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 ze you! How are
29960 20 79 6f 75 3f 27 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e you?' then turn
29970 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 27 47 6f 6f 64 20 into the 'Good
29980 43 6f 70 27 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 69 72 Cop' of the pair
29990 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 and try to get
299a0 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 20 74 more out of me t
299b0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 65 hat they can the
299c0 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6d 65 n use to hang me
299d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 .".."If that is
299e0 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 the case, creati
299f0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f ng the impressio
29a00 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 n that you would
29a10 20 62 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 63 61 6e be an ideal can
29a20 64 69 64 61 74 65 20 66 6f 72 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 didate for COIN
29a30 43 6f 72 70 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 72 75 69 74 20 Corp to recruit
29a40 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 may be even more
29a50 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 important as a
29a60 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 65 6e 73 75 72 69 6e means of ensurin
29a70 67 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 g you have some
29a80 74 69 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 time and opportu
29a90 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 nity to find an
29aa0 61 63 63 65 70 74 61 62 6c 65 20 73 6f 6c 75 74 acceptable solut
29ab0 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 73 ion to your pres
29ac0 65 6e 74 20 70 72 65 64 69 63 61 6d 65 6e 74 2e ent predicament.
29ad0 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 ".."Yeah." She
29ae0 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 77 61 frowned. "He wa
29af0 73 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d s so much like m
29b00 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 65 74 20 y uncle, so set
29b10 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c against things l
29b20 69 6b 65 20 61 20 73 75 72 76 65 69 6c 6c 61 6e ike a surveillan
29b30 63 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 73 6f 63 69 65 74 79 ce state society
29b40 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 69 74 61 72 69 and authoritari
29b50 61 6e 20 72 75 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 an rule, that it
29b60 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 's kind of incon
29b70 63 65 69 76 61 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 ceivable that th
29b80 69 73 20 69 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 77 6f is is what he wo
29b90 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 77 uld be doing now
29ba0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 . It doesn't ma
29bb0 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 48 ke any sense. H
29bc0 6f 77 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 ow could he just
29bd0 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 become everythi
29be0 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 ng he hated like
29bf0 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 this? My uncle
29c00 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 must be getting
29c10 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 72 65 73 74 6c 65 73 73 pretty restless
29c20 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 72 61 76 65 20 6f 76 in his grave ov
29c30 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 er this.".."Perh
29c40 61 70 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 aps he was not q
29c50 75 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 uite the person
29c60 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 68 69 6d you believed him
29c70 20 74 6f 20 62 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 49 74 to be."../* "It
29c80 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 50 61 73 63 61 6c 27 73 's like Pascal's
29c90 20 77 61 67 65 72 20 69 6e 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 wager in revers
29ca0 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 e, I guess. Ins
29cb0 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 6f tead of trying o
29cc0 75 74 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 ut living like a
29cd0 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 69 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 Christian for a
29ce0 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72 6f 77 69 while and growi
29cf0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 ng to believe it
29d00 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 , you're forced
29d10 69 6e 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 into living like
29d20 20 61 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 69 61 6e 20 74 68 65 a Christian the
29d30 6e 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c n giving yoursel
29d40 66 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 f the excuse to
29d50 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 69 6e 67 20 start believing
29d60 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 27 in it after you'
29d70 72 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 22 20 re used to it."
29d80 3c 2d 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 74 65 72 <- This is a ter
29d90 72 69 62 6c 65 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f rible descriptio
29da0 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 6f 66 n of the idea of
29db0 20 50 61 73 63 61 6c 27 73 20 77 61 67 65 72 20 Pascal's wager
29dc0 22 69 6e 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 22 2c 20 61 6e "in reverse", an
29dd0 64 20 64 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 65 d desperately ne
29de0 65 64 73 20 72 65 77 72 69 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 2a eds rewriting. *
29df0 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 2c 20 73 69 6c 65 /..She sat, sile
29e00 6e 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 ntly thinking.
29e10 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 6c 69 "I guess it's li
29e20 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ke Dalton would
29e30 73 61 79 3a 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 say: that giving
29e40 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e people a reason
29e50 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e to act differen
29e60 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 tly, and an excu
29e70 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 se to think of h
29e80 6f 77 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 63 74 69 6e ow they're actin
29e90 67 20 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 g as good instea
29ea0 64 20 6f 66 20 65 76 69 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 d of evil, you c
29eb0 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 an make people a
29ec0 63 63 65 70 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 ccept whatever t
29ed0 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 61 hey thought of a
29ee0 73 20 65 76 69 6c 20 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 s evil as, someh
29ef0 6f 77 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 ow, good now. I
29f00 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 f it's a way to
29f10 67 65 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 75 get people to ju
29f20 73 74 69 66 79 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 stify themselves
29f30 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 , they might jus
29f40 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 72 65 76 t completely rev
29f50 65 72 73 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 65 6c 69 65 erse their belie
29f60 66 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e fs about good an
29f70 64 20 65 76 69 6c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 d evil without e
29f80 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 69 74 ven realizing it
29f90 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 50 61 73 . It's like Pas
29fa0 63 61 6c 27 73 20 77 61 67 65 72 20 69 6e 20 72 cal's wager in r
29fb0 65 76 65 72 73 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 everse, because
29fc0 74 68 65 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e the target doesn
29fd0 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 't get asked to
29fe0 74 72 79 20 6f 75 74 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 61 try out acting a
29ff0 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 77 61 79 20 particular way
2a000 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 62 65 63 to see if it bec
2a010 6f 6d 65 73 20 61 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 66 69 72 omes a habit fir
2a020 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 st, and a belief
2a030 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 61 66 74 65 72 77 61 72 system afterwar
2a040 64 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 74 68 65 d. Instead, the
2a050 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 73 65 64 target gets sed
2a060 75 63 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 uced into acting
2a070 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 in a particular
2a080 20 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 72 65 61 way without rea
2a090 6c 69 7a 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 lizing it, then
2a0a0 67 65 74 73 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 64 20 gets introduced
2a0b0 74 6f 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 to excuses for w
2a0c0 68 79 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c hy that's actual
2a0d0 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 74 68 69 ly the moral thi
2a0e0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 ng to do, and th
2a0f0 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 6c 61 74 63 68 65 73 e person latches
2a100 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 65 78 63 75 onto those excu
2a110 73 65 73 20 61 73 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 62 65 ses as strong be
2a120 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 68 liefs to avoid h
2a130 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 72 6f 6e aving to confron
2a140 74 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 65 79 20 t the idea they
2a150 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 69 6d 6d 6f 72 61 fell into immora
2a160 6c 20 62 65 68 61 76 69 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 l behavior that
2a170 68 75 72 74 73 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a hurts people."..
2a180 2f 2a 20 69 6e 73 65 72 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 /* insert someth
2a190 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 47 65 74 74 69 6e ing about Gettin
2a1a0 67 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 74 65 6c 65 70 g George's telep
2a1b0 68 6f 6e 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 2a 2f 0a 0a hone number */..
2a1c0 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 George picked up
2a1d0 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 72 69 on the third ri
2a1e0 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c 6c 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ng. "Hello?".."
2a1f0 49 74 27 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d It's Alley, from
2a200 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 last night.".."
2a210 4f 68 21 20 20 48 69 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 Oh! Hi. It's g
2a220 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 66 72 6f 6d ood to hear from
2a230 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 you. Did every
2a240 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 6c 61 thing go okay la
2a250 73 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 st night with th
2a260 61 74 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 at delivery?".."
2a270 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
2a280 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 53 6f 20 2e 20 2e .."Good. So . .
2a290 20 2e 20 2f 2a 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 20 79 . /* what did y
2a2a0 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e ou want to say n
2a2b0 6f 77 20 2a 2f 20 77 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f ow */ why did yo
2a2c0 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 u call?"..She he
2a2d0 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 sitated a moment
2a2e0 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 22 before saying "
2a2f0 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 I wanted to ask
2a300 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 you about your w
2a310 6f 72 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 ork, or at least
2a320 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 49 27 76 65 20 the stuff I've
2a330 73 65 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 seen.".."Are you
2a340 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 talking about t
2a350 68 65 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 61 72 he prosthetic ar
2a360 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 m, or about the
2a370 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 other stuff?".."
2a380 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e The other stuff.
2a390 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 ".."Right," he s
2a3a0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 aid. "I wondere
2a3b0 64 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 61 d if you might a
2a3c0 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 sk about that.
2a3d0 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 Look, we should
2a3e0 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 65 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 just meet up to
2a3f0 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c talk about that,
2a400 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 6f 76 65 72 instead of over
2a410 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 the telephone.
2a420 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 77 69 Is that okay wi
2a430 74 68 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c th you?".."Yeah,
2a440 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 " she said. "Th
2a450 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 at's fine.".."We
2a460 6c 6c 2c 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 ll, by the time
2a470 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 you could get ou
2a480 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 t here, if you'r
2a490 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 e still back in
2a4a0 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 64 69 6e 6f 20 43 San Bernardino C
2a4b0 6f 75 6e 74 79 2c 20 49 27 64 20 62 65 20 72 65 ounty, I'd be re
2a4c0 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 ady to talk to y
2a4d0 6f 75 2c 20 6f 72 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 ou, or I could c
2a4e0 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 69 66 20 79 ome to you, if y
2a4f0 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 ou want to meet
2a500 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 closer to home.
2a510 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 73 73 75 6d 69 6e 67 That's assuming
2a520 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 you want to mee
2a530 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 t right away, th
2a540 69 73 20 65 76 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 is evening.".."Y
2a550 65 61 68 2c 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 20 67 eah, tonight's g
2a560 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 ood.".."Do you w
2a570 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f ant to see if yo
2a580 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 u can get a Deli
2a590 76 20 6a 6f 62 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 v job out this w
2a5a0 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 6f ay to make it wo
2a5b0 72 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65 3f 22 rth your while?"
2a5c0 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 2f 2a 20 49 20 63 61 .."Sure, /* I ca
2a5d0 6e 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 n check on that
2a5e0 2a 2f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c */ that sounds l
2a5f0 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 69 64 65 61 ike a great idea
2a600 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 74 . I'll send a t
2a610 65 78 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 ext when I know
2a620 68 6f 77 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 how it's going t
2a630 6f 20 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 54 68 61 74 o go."../* "That
2a640 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 sounds great.
2a650 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 61 74 I'll see you lat
2a660 65 72 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 er." */.."Good.
2a670 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 I'll see you th
2a680 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 en.".."See you."
2a690 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 64 72 6f 70 70 69 6e 67 ..After dropping
2a6a0 20 6f 66 66 20 73 69 78 20 62 6f 78 65 73 20 6f off six boxes o
2a6b0 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 74 20 61 20 75 73 65 f books at a use
2a6c0 64 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 74 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 4e d bookstore in N
2a6d0 65 77 70 6f 72 74 20 42 65 61 63 68 2c 20 73 68 ewport Beach, sh
2a6e0 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6e 6f 72 74 68 20 69 e headed north i
2a6f0 6e 74 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 74 6f 6e 20 42 nto Huntington B
2a700 65 61 63 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 each and made he
2a710 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 r way to the cur
2a720 62 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 47 65 b in front of Ge
2a730 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 68 6f 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 orge's house aga
2a740 69 6e 2e 20 20 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 in. By the time
2a750 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 she reached his
2a760 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 6c door, he had al
2a770 72 65 61 64 79 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 ready opened it
2a780 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 75 73 for her. He mus
2a790 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 77 61 74 63 t have been watc
2a7a0 68 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 72 hing for her arr
2a7b0 69 76 61 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 ival..."Come on
2a7c0 69 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e in," he said, an
2a7d0 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 d stepped aside
2a7e0 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 before closing t
2a7f0 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 he door behind h
2a800 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 er...She moved i
2a810 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 nto the living r
2a820 6f 6f 6d 20 61 72 65 61 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 73 oom area and res
2a830 75 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 66 72 umed her seat fr
2a840 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 om the night bef
2a850 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 6f ore. George sho
2a860 72 74 6c 79 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 rtly sat on the
2a870 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 couch again. Th
2a880 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 is time, there w
2a890 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 72 20 ere no parts or
2a8a0 74 6f 6f 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 66 tools on the cof
2a8b0 66 65 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 72 fee table. Wher
2a8c0 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 74 e the tray sat t
2a8d0 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c he night before,
2a8e0 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6f now there was o
2a8f0 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 63 6f 76 65 72 20 nly a hardcover
2a900 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 65 book...He saw he
2a910 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 r looking at the
2a920 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 47 72 65 67 20 45 67 book. "Greg Eg
2a930 61 6e 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 an," George said
2a940 2e 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 . "He's one of
2a950 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 61 75 74 68 my favorite auth
2a960 6f 72 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 63 69 65 6e ors. It's scien
2a970 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 ce fiction, the
2a980 68 61 72 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 20 20 49 20 67 hard stuff. I g
2a990 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 uess it's the ha
2a9a0 72 64 65 73 74 20 64 72 75 67 20 49 20 75 73 65 rdest drug I use
2a9b0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 , though some pe
2a9c0 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 73 61 79 20 61 ople might say a
2a9d0 6c 63 6f 68 6f 6c 20 62 65 61 74 73 20 69 74 2e lcohol beats it.
2a9e0 20 20 49 66 20 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c If so, though,
2a9f0 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 I think they ha
2aa00 76 65 6e 27 74 20 61 70 70 72 65 63 69 61 74 65 ven't appreciate
2aa10 64 20 45 67 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 61 6d d Egan."..Her am
2aa20 75 73 65 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 used smile broke
2aa30 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 through before
2aa40 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 she realized it
2aa50 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 27 was coming. "I'
2aa60 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 ve never read th
2aa70 61 74 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 at author," she
2aa80 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 said..."Hell, I
2aa90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b don't even think
2aaa0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 63 69 20 69 66 20 61 75 74 most sci if aut
2aab0 68 6f 72 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 hors have read h
2aac0 69 6d 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 20 im these days.
2aad0 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 It's not like th
2aae0 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 e old days when
2aaf0 67 69 61 6e 74 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 41 73 69 6d giants like Asim
2ab00 6f 76 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 61 72 6b 65 20 73 74 ov and Clarke st
2ab10 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 65 66 ood at the foref
2ab20 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 72 ront of the genr
2ab30 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 e. It's getting
2ab40 20 68 61 72 64 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 harder for me t
2ab50 6f 20 67 65 74 20 66 72 65 73 68 20 66 69 78 65 o get fresh fixe
2ab60 73 2e 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 s. Everything's
2ab70 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 69 6d 61 74 65 full of climate
2ab80 20 61 70 6f 63 61 6c 79 70 73 65 73 2c 20 6d 69 apocalypses, mi
2ab90 6e 64 6c 65 73 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 ndless action th
2aba0 72 69 6c 6c 65 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 74 rillers with a t
2abb0 68 69 6e 20 63 6f 61 74 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 hin coat of scie
2abc0 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 75 74 75 nce fiction futu
2abd0 72 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 ristic technolog
2abe0 79 20 70 61 69 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c y paint, and sel
2abf0 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 73 20 70 6f 73 74 f righteous post
2ac00 75 72 69 6e 67 20 62 79 20 61 75 74 68 6f 72 73 uring by authors
2ac10 20 77 68 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 who think all t
2ac20 68 65 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 65 27 73 20 6d 79 he universe's my
2ac30 73 74 65 72 69 65 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 steries have bee
2ac40 6e 20 73 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e n solved, leavin
2ac50 67 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 g only the work
2ac60 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 for the engineer
2ac70 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 s. It's depress
2ac80 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 ing.".."I can te
2ac90 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 ll you're pretty
2aca0 20 70 61 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 74 65 20 61 62 6f 75 passionate abou
2acb0 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c t this.".."Yeah,
2acc0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 I guess so. Wh
2acd0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 at do you read,
2ace0 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 Alley?".."Mostly
2acf0 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 67 nonfiction, I g
2ad00 75 65 73 73 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 62 69 6f 67 72 uess, like biogr
2ad10 61 70 68 69 65 73 2c 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 69 63 aphies, historic
2ad20 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 al books, and th
2ad30 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 ings where a jou
2ad40 72 6e 61 6c 69 73 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 62 73 rnalist gets obs
2ad50 65 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 essed with some
2ad60 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 6f 62 73 63 mundane but obsc
2ad70 75 72 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 66 6f 72 20 ure subject for
2ad80 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e a year or two an
2ad90 64 20 77 72 69 74 65 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 d writes a long
2ada0 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 book about all t
2adb0 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6d he weird stuff m
2adc0 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 ost people would
2add0 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 never know abou
2ade0 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 74 t the subject ot
2adf0 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e herwise.".."Hmm.
2ae00 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 That's interes
2ae10 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 ting. I guess y
2ae20 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 ou don't like fi
2ae30 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 74 ction as much, t
2ae40 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 hen.".."I like t
2ae50 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 o read fiction,
2ae60 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 sometimes. I ju
2ae70 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 st don't usually
2ae80 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 see a novel and
2ae90 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 think that I ha
2aea0 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 ve to read it.
2aeb0 57 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 6b When someone I k
2aec0 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 73 20 73 now recommends s
2aed0 6f 6d 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 ome novel, I'll
2aee0 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 probably read it
2aef0 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c , unless I've al
2af00 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 ready been burne
2af10 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e d by that person
2af20 27 73 20 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 74 65 20 69 6e 20 's bad taste in
2af30 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 75 72 65 20 72 65 63 6f 6d literature recom
2af40 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 mendations befor
2af50 65 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 e."..George chuc
2af60 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 kled at that. "
2af70 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 I've gotten some
2af80 20 72 65 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e 6b 65 72 73 20 72 real stinkers r
2af90 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 ecommended to me
2afa0 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 , before, too.
2afb0 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 I know what you
2afc0 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e mean about that.
2afd0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 "..Alley gave hi
2afe0 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 m an answering s
2aff0 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 mile. "Anyway,
2b000 79 6f 75 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 74 65 6c 6c you shelves tell
2b010 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 6c me you read a l
2b020 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e ot of nonfiction
2b030 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e , too."..He glan
2b040 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 78 74 73 ced at the texts
2b050 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 on the shelves
2b060 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 of the book case
2b070 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 s. "Yeah," he s
2b080 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 aid, "I'm always
2b090 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 reading somethi
2b0a0 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 ng. I try to ge
2b0b0 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 t through more t
2b0c0 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f han two educatio
2b0d0 6e 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d nal books of som
2b0e0 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 79 65 61 e kind every yea
2b0f0 72 2c 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 69 74 74 69 r, usually hitti
2b100 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f 72 20 66 6f 75 72 ng three or four
2b110 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 , but I make up
2b120 66 6f 72 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 79 65 for it on the ye
2b130 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e ars with only on
2b140 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6e 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 e, or none. I p
2b150 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 robably average
2b160 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 about one novel
2b170 70 65 72 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f per wee, too, so
2b180 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 probably the op
2b190 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f posite of how yo
2b1a0 75 20 72 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 u read.".."Not q
2b1b0 75 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e uite," she said.
2b1c0 20 20 22 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 "I probably re
2b1d0 61 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 ad a couple nove
2b1e0 6c 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f ls a year, but o
2b1f0 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 20 65 69 67 68 74 nly six or eight
2b200 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 6f 6f 6b nonfiction book
2b210 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 79 65 s in the same ye
2b220 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 ar.".."It sounds
2b230 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 to me like you
2b240 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 6d 6f wish you read mo
2b250 72 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 re," he said..."
2b260 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 Yeah, I guess I
2b270 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 do.".."One of th
2b280 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 e secrets of my
2b290 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 reading success
2b2a0 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 is that I limit
2b2b0 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 49 20 73 70 65 6e 64 the time I spend
2b2c0 20 67 6c 75 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 glued to a comp
2b2d0 75 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 uter screen. Th
2b2e0 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 ere are people w
2b2f0 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 ho read a whole
2b300 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 lot more than I
2b310 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 do, though."..Sh
2b320 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e e nodded. "I kn
2b330 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 75 73 ow. My uncle us
2b340 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ed to read about
2b350 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 69 76 65 20 74 69 four or five ti
2b360 6d 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 mes as much as y
2b370 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ou. My ex proba
2b380 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 bly reads about
2b390 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 as much as you,
2b3a0 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 but he has a fri
2b3b0 65 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 20 end who reads a
2b3c0 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a lot more, too.".
2b3d0 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 ."Your ex? Are
2b3e0 79 6f 75 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a you divorced?"..
2b3f0 22 4f 68 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 "Oh, uh, no. He
2b400 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e was my fianc...
2b410 20 20 57 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6f 66 We broke it of
2b420 66 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 f a couple years
2b430 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 ago.".."That's
2b440 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 too bad. Do you
2b450 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 want to talk ab
2b460 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 out why?"..She s
2b470 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 69 74 hifted her posit
2b480 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 ion in the chair
2b490 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d . "Well . . . m
2b4a0 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 aybe not. There
2b4b0 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 's some politica
2b4c0 6c 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 l stuff involved
2b4d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 , and I don't re
2b4e0 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 ally want to get
2b4f0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 into some kind
2b500 6f 66 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 of argument over
2b510 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 6f 66 the politics of
2b520 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 it.".."Hmm. Th
2b530 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 at sounds ominou
2b540 73 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c s. Was he a pol
2b550 69 74 69 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 itician?".."No.
2b560 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b . . ." She look
2b570 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 ed away..."Sorry
2b580 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 75 72 69 . I'm just curi
2b590 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 20 ous. I'll drop
2b5a0 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 it.".."Thanks,"
2b5b0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 she said. "I gu
2b5c0 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 ess.".."Why did
2b5d0 79 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 73 74 6f 70 20 your uncle stop
2b5e0 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 3f reading so much?
2b5f0 22 0a 0a 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 ".."Huh?".."You
2b600 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 said he used to
2b610 72 65 61 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 6f 66 read hundreds of
2b620 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2e 20 20 books a year.
2b630 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 Why did you say
2b640 27 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 'used to'?".."Oh
2b650 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 ," she sighed.
2b660 22 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 "He died, years
2b670 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 ago.".."I'm sorr
2b680 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a y to hear it."..
2b690 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
2b6a0 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 . "He decided t
2b6b0 6f 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 69 6e o go off grid in
2b6c0 20 49 64 61 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d Idaho, in the m
2b6d0 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 iddle of nowhere
2b6e0 2e 20 20 44 61 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 . Dad took me u
2b6f0 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 63 p to see him a c
2b700 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ouple times, and
2b710 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 65 I really enjoye
2b720 64 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 d myself with hi
2b730 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 m, but then ther
2b740 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f e was a series o
2b750 66 20 46 42 49 20 72 61 69 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 f FBI raids on '
2b760 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 73 27 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 militias' up the
2b770 72 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 73 6f 6d re. He knew som
2b780 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2c e of those guys,
2b790 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 but he wasn't i
2b7a0 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6d n any of their m
2b7b0 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 67 72 6f 75 70 73 2e 20 20 ilitia groups.
2b7c0 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 He just wanted t
2b7d0 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e o be left alone.
2b7e0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 .."It was like t
2b7f0 68 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 hey saw his hand
2b800 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 61 62 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 built cabin out
2b810 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 72 there between r
2b820 61 69 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 aids and thought
2b830 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 66 75 6e it would be fun
2b840 20 74 6f 20 61 74 74 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 to attack his h
2b850 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d ome. They claim
2b860 65 64 20 68 65 20 66 69 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 ed he fired on t
2b870 68 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 67 65 6e hem when an agen
2b880 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 6f t came to his do
2b890 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 or to ask direct
2b8a0 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 ions, and they w
2b8b0 65 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 66 65 6e 64 69 ere just defendi
2b8c0 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 20 66 72 ng themselves fr
2b8d0 6f 6d 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 20 6c 75 6e om a militia lun
2b8e0 61 74 69 63 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c atic, if you bel
2b8f0 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 ieve that. He w
2b900 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 as really just t
2b910 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 61 20 rying to live a
2b920 70 65 61 63 65 66 75 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e peaceful life in
2b930 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 73 the wild places
2b940 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 where most peop
2b950 6c 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 77 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a le never went.".
2b960 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 63 6f 77 6c 65 64 20 .George scowled
2b970 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 as she told her
2b980 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 uncle's story, a
2b990 6e 64 20 69 74 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 65 64 20 68 nd it reminded h
2b9a0 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 er how intimidat
2b9b0 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 2c ing he could be,
2b9c0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 61 6e even holding an
2b9d0 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 umbrella over h
2b9e0 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 75 6e is head on a sun
2b9f0 6e 79 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 ny day. "I gues
2ba00 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f s he was an inno
2ba10 63 65 6e 74 20 62 79 73 74 61 6e 64 65 72 20 69 cent bystander i
2ba20 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 64 61 68 6f 20 6d 69 6c 69 n the Idaho mili
2ba30 74 69 61 20 70 75 72 67 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e tia purges, then
2ba40 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 . Those were ba
2ba50 64 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f d times for a lo
2ba60 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 t of people who
2ba70 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 just wanted noth
2ba80 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 6f ing more than to
2ba90 20 62 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2e 22 be left alone."
2baa0 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 .."We tried to f
2bab0 69 6c 65 20 61 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 66 75 6c 20 64 ile a wrongful d
2bac0 65 61 74 68 20 73 75 69 74 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 eath suit. We g
2bad0 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 41 6d 73 74 ot into his Amst
2bae0 65 72 64 61 6d 20 56 50 53 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c erdam VPS -- wel
2baf0 6c 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 l, Dad did, anyw
2bb00 61 79 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 ay -- and found
2bb10 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 the video backup
2bb20 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 s from my uncle'
2bb30 73 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b s camera network
2bb40 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 62 69 6e 2c 20 61 in his cabin, a
2bb50 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 61 nd it showed tha
2bb60 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 6a 75 73 t the agents jus
2bb70 74 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 77 69 74 t stormed in wit
2bb80 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 hout even identi
2bb90 66 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 fying themselves
2bba0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 .".."Yeah? What
2bbb0 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 happened with t
2bbc0 68 61 74 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 hat lawsuit?".."
2bbd0 49 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e It didn't happen
2bbe0 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 65 20 77 65 72 65 . While we were
2bbf0 20 61 74 20 6f 75 72 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 27 73 at our lawyer's
2bc00 20 6f 66 66 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 46 42 49 office, the FBI
2bc10 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 77 61 got a search wa
2bc20 72 72 61 6e 74 2c 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 rrant, broke int
2bc30 6f 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 61 o Dad's place, a
2bc40 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 nd took everythi
2bc50 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f ng that even loo
2bc60 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 ked like a compu
2bc70 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 63 6c 61 69 6d ter. They claim
2bc80 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 ed it was connec
2bc90 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 69 6e 76 ted to their inv
2bca0 65 73 74 69 67 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 6d estigations of m
2bcb0 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 2c 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 62 y uncle, Dad's b
2bcc0 72 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 rother, but the
2bcd0 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 result was just
2bce0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 20 6f 75 that they got ou
2bcf0 72 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 65 64 20 76 69 64 r downloaded vid
2bd00 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e eo and the login
2bd10 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 75 6e stuff for my un
2bd20 63 6c 65 27 73 20 56 50 53 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 cle's VPS. Of c
2bd30 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 ourse, they 'los
2bd40 74 27 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 74 t' the backups t
2bd50 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 hey took from Da
2bd60 64 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 2c 20 61 d's computers, a
2bd70 6e 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 nd by the time w
2bd80 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c e tried to downl
2bd90 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 67 oad the video ag
2bda0 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ain, so we could
2bdb0 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 show it to the
2bdc0 6c 61 77 79 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 73 lawyer, they'd s
2bdd0 68 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 56 50 53 hut down the VPS
2bde0 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 64 20 74 and pressured t
2bdf0 68 65 20 68 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 he hosting compa
2be00 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 ny into deleting
2be10 20 61 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 all backups..."
2be20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 After all that,
2be30 77 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 61 76 we went from hav
2be40 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 ing what the law
2be50 79 65 72 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 73 6c 61 yer called a sla
2be60 6d 20 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 m dunk case to h
2be70 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 20 63 61 73 65 20 61 6e aving no case an
2be80 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 70 65 6e d a lot of expen
2be90 73 65 73 2e 20 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 77 68 6f 6c ses. Dad's whol
2bea0 65 20 49 54 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 61 e IT business wa
2beb0 73 20 6f 62 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e s obliterated in
2bec0 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f an instant, too
2bed0 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 . He had to get
2bee0 20 61 20 73 79 73 61 64 6d 69 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 a sysadmin job
2bef0 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 at a continuing
2bf00 65 64 75 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c education school
2bf10 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c for high school
2bf20 20 64 72 6f 70 6f 75 74 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 dropouts after
2bf30 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6a that."..George j
2bf40 75 73 74 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 ust shook his he
2bf50 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 49 20 68 ad. "I wish I h
2bf60 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f ad something goo
2bf70 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 d to say about t
2bf80 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e hat.".."It's fin
2bf90 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 e. It's ancient
2bfa0 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c history for me,
2bfb0 20 6e 6f 77 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 now,and I just
2bfc0 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 6f 6e 2e 20 had to move on.
2bfd0 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 61 72 64 2c 20 74 68 It was hard, th
2bfe0 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 ough. I was in
2bff0 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 77 68 65 6e high school when
2c000 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 it all happened
2c010 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 , and I couldn't
2c020 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c focus on school
2c030 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 work at all..."I
2c040 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 guess all that
2c050 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 might have contr
2c060 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 66 61 6c ibuted to me fal
2c070 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 ling in love wit
2c080 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c h Dalton.".."Dal
2c090 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a ton?" he asked..
2c0a0 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ."Oh, shit," she
2c0b0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 said. "I didn'
2c0c0 74 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 79 20 65 78 27 20 74 68 t say 'my ex' th
2c0d0 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f at time."..He no
2c0e0 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 53 dded. "Dalton S
2c0f0 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 2d 48 65 61 72 73 74 2e chaeffer-Hearst.
2c100 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 ".."Yeah." She
2c110 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 77 looked at him, w
2c120 61 72 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 ary..."I guess I
2c130 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 79 20 79 6f 75 can see why you
2c140 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 don't want to b
2c150 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 6d 75 63 ring that up muc
2c160 68 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 h. He's a contr
2c170 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 2e oversial figure.
2c180 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 "../* "Yeah, he
2c190 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 is. I can't eve
2c1a0 6e 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 75 70 20 61 n bring him up a
2c1b0 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2c 20 72 65 round anyone, re
2c1c0 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 ally. Either pe
2c1d0 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 62 65 63 ople hate me bec
2c1e0 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 ause I got engag
2c1f0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68 ed to him, or th
2c200 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c ey hate me for l
2c210 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a eaving him." */.
2c220 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 ."Yeah, he is.
2c230 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c There isn't real
2c240 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 ly anyone I can
2c250 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 talk to about hi
2c260 6d 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c m. Either peopl
2c270 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 e hate me becaus
2c280 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 e I got engaged
2c290 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 to him, or they
2c2a0 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 76 hate me for leav
2c2b0 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 6f ing him.".."I co
2c2c0 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 47 uld see that," G
2c2d0 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 eorge said. "I
2c2e0 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 won't hate you f
2c2f0 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e or either reason
2c300 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 .".."Thanks," sh
2c310 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 e said. "That's
2c320 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 2e 22 0a good to hear.".
2c330 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 63 ."I'll just be c
2c340 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 ompletely straig
2c350 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 htforward with y
2c360 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 ou about what I
2c370 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c think about him,
2c380 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 65 63 and you can dec
2c390 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 ide whether you
2c3a0 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f want anything mo
2c3b0 72 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 re to do with me
2c3c0 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 . I won't hold
2c3d0 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 it against you,
2c3e0 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 63 whatever you dec
2c3f0 69 64 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 ide, but I guess
2c400 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 it wouldn't mat
2c410 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 ter if you didn'
2c420 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 72 6f t want to be aro
2c430 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 und me any longe
2c440 72 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 r anyway.".."You
2c450 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 don't have to d
2c460 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 o that," she sai
2c470 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 70 d...He smiled, p
2c480 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 73 61 64 erhaps a bit sad
2c490 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 ly. "I think it
2c4a0 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 73 74 2c 's for the best,
2c4b0 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c unless you real
2c4c0 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 74 ly just refuse t
2c4d0 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e o hear it for an
2c4e0 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 y reason. I'll
2c4f0 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 6f respect that cho
2c500 69 63 65 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 ice, if that's r
2c510 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 eally what you w
2c520 61 6e 74 20 2d 2d 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 6e ant -- to hear n
2c530 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e othing about it.
2c540 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 "..She hesitated
2c550 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e , then shrugged.
2c560 20 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 2c 20 49 20 67 "Go ahead, I g
2c570 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e uess," she said.
2c580 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ..He nodded. "I
2c590 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 thought he was
2c5a0 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 48 pretty great. H
2c5b0 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 67 e had a lot of g
2c5c0 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 73 69 67 68 74 73 20 61 62 6f ood insights abo
2c5d0 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 6c ut things -- pol
2c5e0 69 74 69 63 73 2c 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d 69 63 73 itics, economics
2c5f0 2c 20 63 75 6c 74 75 72 65 2c 20 74 65 63 68 6e , culture, techn
2c600 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 ology, law enfor
2c610 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 cement, war, and
2c620 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 72 just about ever
2c630 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 ything he talked
2c640 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 73 68 about on his sh
2c650 6f 77 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 72 69 74 69 ow and his writi
2c660 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 77 68 ngs. After a wh
2c670 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 68 65 20 ile, though, he
2c680 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 seemed to start
2c690 73 6c 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 sliding to the r
2c6a0 69 67 68 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6d 75 63 68 2c ight a bit much,
2c6b0 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 64 69 73 61 70 and I was disap
2c6c0 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 63 pointed by the c
2c6d0 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 hange. I still
2c6e0 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 checked in once
2c6f0 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 in a while, beca
2c700 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 use he still had
2c710 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 6d 61 72 74 20 74 68 69 6e some smart thin
2c720 67 73 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d gs to say, but m
2c730 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 ore and more it
2c740 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 6b 65 seemed to be ske
2c750 77 65 64 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 69 wed in what I mi
2c760 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 73 20 ght think of as
2c770 61 6e 20 61 6c 74 2d 72 69 67 68 74 20 64 69 72 an alt-right dir
2c780 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 ection, and that
2c790 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 79 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 's not my direct
2c7a0 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ion, if you know
2c7b0 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 what I mean..."
2c7c0 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 No offense, of c
2c7d0 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 6e 65 76 ourse, but I nev
2c7e0 65 72 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 er really paid a
2c7f0 6e 79 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 ny attention to
2c800 77 68 65 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 61 6c 6b when people talk
2c810 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 44 ed about you. D
2c820 53 48 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c SH seemed to tal
2c830 6b 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 6f 20 79 6f 75 k around who you
2c840 20 61 72 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 are when he did
2c850 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 mention you, bu
2c860 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 79 74 t never had anyt
2c870 68 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 67 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f hing negative to
2c880 20 73 61 79 3b 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 64 say; I just did
2c890 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 20 n't really care
2c8a0 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 as much about hi
2c8b0 73 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 s personal life
2c8c0 61 73 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 as I did about h
2c8d0 69 73 20 69 64 65 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 is ideas, so you
2c8e0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 6f 6e 20 6d didn't get on m
2c8f0 79 20 72 61 64 61 72 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 72 y radar. I do r
2c900 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 emember, before
2c910 49 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 67 61 76 65 20 75 70 20 I kinda gave up
2c920 6f 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 on listening to
2c930 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 him, that he sai
2c940 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 d something to a
2c950 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 listener who ca
2c960 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 lled in to ask a
2c970 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 bout you. He sa
2c980 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 id that it was t
2c990 72 75 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 rue that you had
2c9a0 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 called off the
2c9b0 65 6e 67 61 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6d engagement and m
2c9c0 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 oved on with you
2c9d0 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 r life, and that
2c9e0 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 he still respec
2c9f0 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 ted you despite
2ca00 79 6f 75 72 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 73 your differences
2ca10 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c , and he would l
2ca20 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 ike his listener
2ca30 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 s to respect you
2ca40 72 20 64 65 73 69 72 65 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 69 r desire for pri
2ca50 76 61 63 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 61 63 65 20 69 vacy and peace i
2ca60 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 74 68 65 n your life, the
2ca70 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 n said that was
2ca80 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 pretty much the
2ca90 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 only thing he ha
2caa0 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 d to say about i
2cab0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 t.".."Oh," she s
2cac0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 aid. "I didn't
2cad0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 know about that
2cae0 2d 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 73 61 79 -- about him say
2caf0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 ing that."..Geor
2cb00 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ge shrugged. "I
2cb10 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 t was the stand
2cb20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 up thing to do,
2cb30 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 but it didn't ma
2cb40 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e ke his change in
2cb50 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 direction on id
2cb60 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 eology any more
2cb70 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d interesting to m
2cb80 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 e, so it didn't
2cb90 6b 65 65 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e keep me listenin
2cba0 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 g.".."Yeah," she
2cbb0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 said. "I get t
2cbc0 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e hat.".."So . . .
2cbd0 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 what do you thi
2cbe0 6e 6b 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d 79 20 76 69 65 77 nk? Are my view
2cbf0 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 s on it intolera
2cc00 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 ble?"..Alley smi
2cc10 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 led. "No, not a
2cc20 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 t all. That's a
2cc30 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 68 6f ctually kinda ho
2cc40 77 20 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 w I felt about h
2cc50 69 73 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 69 63 61 6c 20 73 is ideological s
2cc60 68 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 69 hift. I liked i
2cc70 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 t more before th
2cc80 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 66 e change than af
2cc90 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 68 61 64 20 ter, and we had
2cca0 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 some arguments a
2ccb0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 bout it. He sti
2ccc0 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 ll had principle
2ccd0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 73 6e , and still wasn
2cce0 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 69 63 61 74 75 72 't the caricatur
2ccf0 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 2d 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 e of alt-right t
2cd00 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73 73 75 6d hat people assum
2cd10 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 ed, but I didn't
2cd20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6e 65 77 20 70 6f like his new po
2cd30 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a litics at all.".
2cd40 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 ."That must have
2cd50 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 made it difficu
2cd60 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 lt to live with
2cd70 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 him.".."It took
2cd80 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 20 its toll. Part
2cd90 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 77 of it, though, w
2cda0 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 as the fact that
2cdb0 20 69 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 65 64 20 6d 79 20 it affected my
2cdc0 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 life in other wa
2cdd0 79 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 ys. The moment
2cde0 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 49 20 6e 65 65 I realized I nee
2cdf0 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 ded to get out w
2ce00 61 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 6f as after some wo
2ce10 6d 61 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 man actually sta
2ce20 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 rted screaming a
2ce30 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 t me on the stre
2ce40 65 74 2c 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 74 et, calling me t
2ce50 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 61 he 'side dish' a
2ce60 6e 64 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 6f nd accusing me o
2ce70 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 72 61 63 69 73 74 f being a racist
2ce80 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 and stuff like
2ce90 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 63 74 75 61 that, then actua
2cea0 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 68 69 74 74 lly started hitt
2ceb0 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 76 65 ing me. I shove
2cec0 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 72 d her back and r
2ced0 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 20 64 72 an to my car, dr
2cee0 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c ove off and call
2cef0 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 72 ed in a police r
2cf00 65 70 6f 72 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6f eport, but of co
2cf10 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 6f 75 urse nothing wou
2cf20 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 20 66 ld ever happen f
2cf30 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 rom that. I nev
2cf40 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 62 er heard back ab
2cf50 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 42 79 20 74 68 65 out it."..By the
2cf60 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f time she was do
2cf70 6e 65 2c 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 20 65 78 70 ne, George's exp
2cf80 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 ression took on
2cf90 61 20 64 61 72 6b 2c 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 79 20 6c a dark, stormy l
2cfa0 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 65 ook. "That's te
2cfb0 72 72 69 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 rrible. I'm sor
2cfc0 72 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 ry that happened
2cfd0 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 to you."..She s
2cfe0 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 6c 65 73 73 hrugged helpless
2cff0 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 49 ly. "What can I
2d000 20 64 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 do? I just dec
2d010 69 64 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 ided I was going
2d020 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6d 79 73 to distance mys
2d030 65 6c 66 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 73 20 73 70 68 elf from his sph
2d040 65 72 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 65 72 ere of controver
2d050 73 79 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 sy as much as I
2d060 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f could and try to
2d070 20 77 61 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f wait for the wo
2d080 72 6c 64 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 rld to forget ab
2d090 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 69 6c out me. It stil
2d0a0 6c 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 l hasn't happene
2d0b0 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 65 d, though. I we
2d0c0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 6f nt to what I tho
2d0d0 75 67 68 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ught was going t
2d0e0 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 69 6e 74 65 72 o be a job inter
2d0f0 76 69 65 77 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 75 72 view, and it tur
2d100 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ned out the only
2d110 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 72 69 reason the hiri
2d120 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 72 20 61 70 70 72 6f ng manager appro
2d130 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 ved the intervie
2d140 77 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 w was so he and
2d150 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 a couple of his
2d160 75 6e 64 65 72 6c 69 6e 67 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f underling develo
2d170 70 65 72 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 63 6b 6c pers could heckl
2d180 65 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 68 6f 77 e me when I show
2d190 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 66 6f 75 ed up. They fou
2d1a0 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 nd out about my
2d1b0 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 44 61 connection to Da
2d1c0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 lton when they s
2d1d0 65 61 72 63 68 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 66 6f earched for info
2d1e0 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 rmation about my
2d1f0 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 name on the int
2d200 65 72 6e 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 ernet, and reali
2d210 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 74 zed they all hat
2d220 65 64 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 ed me, I guess."
2d230 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 79 20 79 .."Is that why y
2d240 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 64 ou called me tod
2d250 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a ay?" he asked...
2d260 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 "What?".."You sa
2d270 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f id you wanted to
2d280 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 talk about what
2d290 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 I do. Are you
2d2a0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 6f looking for an o
2d2b0 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 77 6f pportunity to wo
2d2c0 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 3f 20 20 49 74 20 rk with me? It
2d2d0 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 74 doesn't matter t
2d2e0 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 o me that you we
2d2f0 72 65 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 44 53 re engaged to DS
2d300 48 3b 20 49 20 74 61 6b 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 H; I take people
2d310 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 as they come.
2d320 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 77 61 I guess you'd wa
2d330 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 nt to know what
2d340 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 I'm doing before
2d350 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 you ask for an
2d360 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 77 opportunity to w
2d370 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f ork with me, tho
2d380 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 ugh.".."Oh." Sh
2d390 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e e paused a momen
2d3a0 74 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 t. "Well . . .
2d3b0 6d 61 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 maybe? I wasn't
2d3c0 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e exactly thinkin
2d3d0 67 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 g that, but it's
2d3e0 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 an interesting
2d3f0 69 64 65 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 idea, I guess.
2d400 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 20 74 6f You did offer to
2d410 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 73 help me learn s
2d420 6f 6d 65 20 6e 65 77 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 ome new skills i
2d430 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 f I need it, and
2d440 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 I guess this mi
2d450 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 ght be connected
2d460 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 to that. I was
2d470 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 65 72 72 2c 20 63 6f 6e 63 just, err, conc
2d480 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 erned about what
2d490 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 kind of busines
2d4a0 73 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 68 65 s I got into whe
2d4b0 6e 20 49 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 66 n I sold those f
2d4c0 72 61 6d 65 73 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a rames to you."..
2d4d0 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f He chuckled. "O
2d4e0 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 h, that. Yeah,
2d4f0 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 well, I can see
2d500 77 68 79 2e 22 20 20 48 69 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 why." His smile
2d510 20 66 61 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 faded, and she
2d520 73 61 77 20 61 20 6e 65 77 2c 20 73 65 72 69 6f saw a new, serio
2d530 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 us look about hi
2d540 6d 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 73 6f 6d m. "Tell me som
2d550 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 ething, before I
2d560 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 2e answer, please.
2d570 20 20 41 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 A couple of th
2d580 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 ings, actually.
2d590 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 If you don't wa
2d5a0 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 69 74 nt to answer, it
2d5b0 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 's fine, but the
2d5c0 6e 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 n I won't answer
2d5d0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c your questions,
2d5e0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 about what I'm
2d5f0 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 doing.".."Okay,"
2d600 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 20 75 6e she said, an un
2d610 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 75 70 74 75 72 6e 20 69 certain upturn i
2d620 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 n the tone of th
2d630 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e e word tacked on
2d640 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f to the end, almo
2d650 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 st like it was a
2d660 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 question..."Fir
2d670 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e st, I want to kn
2d680 6f 77 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e ow when you thin
2d690 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6c k it's okay to l
2d6a0 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 ie.".."Oh. That
2d6b0 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 's an interestin
2d6c0 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 g question.".."Y
2d6d0 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 eah. It is."..S
2d6e0 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 he thought about
2d6f0 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 4f 6e 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e it. "Only when
2d700 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 it's to protect
2d710 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d yourself or som
2d720 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 eone else from s
2d730 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f omething that wo
2d740 75 6c 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 62 65 uld otherwise be
2d750 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 6c 79 2c 20 done, wrongly,
2d760 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f to you or that o
2d770 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ther person.".."
2d780 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 77 65 20 65 78 70 Hmm. Can we exp
2d790 6c 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 lore that a litt
2d7a0 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 le?".."Sure, I g
2d7b0 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 uess.".."What if
2d7c0 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 it's a governme
2d7d0 6e 74 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 nt employer and
2d7e0 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f you're trying to
2d7f0 20 67 65 74 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20 62 get access to b
2d800 75 72 65 61 75 63 72 61 74 69 63 20 72 65 73 6f ureaucratic reso
2d810 75 72 63 65 73 20 62 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 urces by getting
2d820 20 61 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 77 68 a job there, wh
2d830 69 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 ich you can use
2d840 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 to help make the
2d850 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 61 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 world a better
2d860 70 6c 61 63 65 20 62 79 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 place by using t
2d870 68 61 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 65 20 61 67 hat knowledge ag
2d880 61 69 6e 73 74 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 ainst government
2d890 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 2c ?".."It depends,
2d8a0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d I guess.".."Hmm
2d8b0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 ." He thought a
2d8c0 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 bout that. "Wha
2d8d0 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f t if you need to
2d8e0 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 lie to the poli
2d8f0 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 ce to keep them
2d900 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 72 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 73 from arresting s
2d910 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 65 20 omeone you care
2d920 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 67 65 74 74 69 about from getti
2d930 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 70 72 69 ng thrown in pri
2d940 73 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 63 61 64 65 73 20 son for decades
2d950 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 77 or even killed w
2d960 68 65 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 hen what the per
2d970 73 6f 6e 20 64 69 64 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 69 son did may be i
2d980 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 73 6e 27 llegal, but isn'
2d990 74 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 t wrong?".."Yeah
2d9a0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 ," she said, "I
2d9b0 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6c 69 guess I might li
2d9c0 65 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f e, unless you wo
2d9d0 72 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 rk for the polic
2d9e0 65 2c 20 69 6e 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 63 61 73 65 e, in which case
2d9f0 20 49 27 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 I'd tell the tr
2da00 75 74 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 uth."..He laughe
2da10 64 20 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 73 65 65 d aloud. "I see
2da20 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 what you did th
2da30 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 ere."..She smile
2da40 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 d back. "I thou
2da50 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a ght you might.".
2da60 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 ."Okay, I know t
2da70 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 hat was technica
2da80 6c 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6f 6e lly more than on
2da90 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 e question, but
2daa0 6e 6f 77 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f now I'm ready to
2dab0 20 61 73 6b 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 ask the second
2dac0 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 49 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 question I menti
2dad0 6f 6e 65 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f oned I wanted to
2dae0 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 ask.".."Uh . .
2daf0 2e 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 . okay.".."If I
2db00 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 tell you about i
2db10 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 49 27 llegal things I'
2db20 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 m doing that mig
2db30 68 74 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 69 6e 20 70 65 6f ht result in peo
2db40 70 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 75 72 74 ple getting hurt
2db50 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 6e 74 73 20 62 due to events b
2db60 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c eyond my control
2db70 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 74 , but to the ext
2db80 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 ent of my knowle
2db90 64 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 6f dge the only peo
2dba0 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 ple who would ge
2dbb0 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 61 72 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c t hurt are peopl
2dbc0 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 69 74 e who deserve it
2dbd0 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 and need to be
2dbe0 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 75 72 stopped from hur
2dbf0 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 6e 79 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 ting many other
2dc00 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 69 6c people . . . wil
2dc10 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 20 73 65 l you keep it se
2dc20 63 72 65 74 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 79 6f cret, even if yo
2dc30 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 6e u don't ever wan
2dc40 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 72 6f t to be seen aro
2dc50 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f und me again, fo
2dc60 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f r whatever reaso
2dc70 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 n?"..She thought
2dc80 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 about it, and h
2dc90 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f e thought it loo
2dca0 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 6d 69 67 ked like she mig
2dcb0 68 74 20 62 65 20 63 68 65 77 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e ht be chewing on
2dcc0 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 68 the inside of h
2dcd0 65 72 20 63 68 65 65 6b 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c er cheek a littl
2dce0 65 20 62 69 74 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 61 73 74 2c e bit. At last,
2dcf0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c she said "Yeah,
2dd00 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c I should be abl
2dd10 65 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 61 20 73 65 63 72 e to keep a secr
2dd20 65 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 et like that. Y
2dd30 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 73 ou should know s
2dd40 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 omething, though
2dd50 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c , before you tel
2dd60 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 l me anything li
2dd70 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 ke that.".."What
2dd80 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 is it?" he aske
2dd90 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f d..."Some kind o
2dda0 66 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2c 20 f Men In Black,
2ddb0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 if you know what
2ddc0 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 I mean, showed
2ddd0 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 up at my front d
2dde0 6f 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 oor this morning
2ddf0 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 to ask me about
2de00 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e 20 20 49 74 some stuff. It
2de10 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f wasn't about yo
2de20 75 20 2d 2d 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 u -- it was abou
2de30 74 20 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 63 t me -- but it c
2de40 72 65 65 70 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 reeped me the he
2de50 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c ll out, especial
2de60 6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 ly when I starte
2de70 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 d learning a lit
2de80 74 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 tle about them w
2de90 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 ith some online
2dea0 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 research."..He s
2deb0 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 tared at her. "
2dec0 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 65 When you say 'me
2ded0 6e 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 27 20 2e 20 2e 20 n in black' . .
2dee0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Yeah," she
2def0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 77 said, "I mean tw
2df00 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 69 o people, both i
2df10 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 66 69 66 74 69 65 73 2c n their fifties,
2df20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 61 I think, one ma
2df30 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 2c n and one woman,
2df40 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 showed up at my
2df50 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 62 door in plain b
2df60 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 lack suits that
2df70 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 69 76 65 looked expensive
2df80 6c 79 20 74 61 69 6c 6f 72 65 64 20 62 75 74 20 ly tailored but
2df90 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c otherwise totall
2dfa0 79 20 6e 6f 6e 64 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 2c 20 77 y nondescript, w
2dfb0 69 74 68 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 75 6e 67 6c 61 ith black sungla
2dfc0 73 73 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 sses and some ki
2dfd0 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 nd of government
2dfe0 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 6c 61 6d 69 contractor lami
2dff0 6e 61 74 65 64 20 49 44 20 62 61 64 67 65 2e 20 nated ID badge.
2e000 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 The only thing
2e010 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b that didn't look
2e020 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 like the typica
2e030 6c 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 73 l Men In Black s
2e040 74 65 72 65 6f 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 tereotype is tha
2e050 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 64 65 65 t there were dee
2e060 70 20 72 65 64 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 73 20 6f 6e p red stripes on
2e070 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 73 2e 22 0a their shirts.".
2e080 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b .George sat back
2e090 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 74 6f 6e 65 20 6f , and his tone o
2e0a0 66 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 2e f voice dropped.
2e0b0 20 20 22 56 65 72 74 69 63 61 6c 20 73 74 72 69 "Vertical stri
2e0c0 70 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e pes.".."Uh . . .
2e0d0 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 49 20 64 yeah. When I d
2e0e0 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 id some research
2e0f0 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 , they turned ou
2e100 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 t to be COIN Cor
2e110 70 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f 79 65 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 p employees.".."
2e120 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f Yeah, I know abo
2e130 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 ut them. They'r
2e140 65 20 62 61 64 20 6e 65 77 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 e bad news.".."F
2e150 75 63 6b 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 uck." She looke
2e160 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 d down at her ha
2e170 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a nds. "Really?".
2e180 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 ."Yeah.".."That'
2e190 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 68 s pretty much wh
2e1a0 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2c 20 61 66 at I thought, af
2e1b0 74 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 72 65 61 64 20 ter what I read
2e1c0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 67 about them. I g
2e1d0 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 uess they someti
2e1e0 6d 65 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 69 6c 64 20 62 mes just build b
2e1f0 75 6c 6c 73 68 69 74 20 63 61 73 65 73 20 61 67 ullshit cases ag
2e200 61 69 6e 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 73 20 ainst people as
2e210 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b an excuse to mak
2e220 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 e them disappear
2e230 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 and get some ki
2e240 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 20 62 nd of contract b
2e250 6f 6e 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e onus or somethin
2e260 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 g like that, and
2e270 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 don't have to w
2e280 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 orry about the e
2e290 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 66 6c vidence being fl
2e2a0 69 6d 73 79 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 imsy because it
2e2b0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 6f 65 73 20 74 6f 20 74 72 never goes to tr
2e2c0 69 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6e 6f ial."..George no
2e2d0 64 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6c 65 6d 6e 6c 79 2e 20 20 dded solemnly.
2e2e0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 "Yeah, that happ
2e2f0 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 ens. You know,
2e300 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 if they decide t
2e310 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 74 6f o take you in to
2e320 20 70 61 64 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 72 c3 a9 73 75 pad their r..su
2e330 6d c3 a9 73 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 70 72 m..s, they're pr
2e340 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 obably going to
2e350 69 6e 74 65 72 72 6f 67 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 20 interrogate you
2e360 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 20 79 until they get y
2e370 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 ou to say someth
2e380 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 65 76 ing about me, ev
2e390 65 6e 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 en if they don't
2e3a0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 74 20 75 70 know you met up
2e3b0 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c with me at all,
2e3c0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 just because th
2e3d0 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 64 69 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 65 ey'll dig into e
2e3e0 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 verything you've
2e3f0 20 62 65 65 6e 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 been doing for
2e400 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 66 65 77 20 77 65 65 the last few wee
2e410 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e ks."..She remain
2e420 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 ed silent, looki
2e430 6e 67 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e ng at her hands.
2e440 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 .."I'll tell you
2e450 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e what I do on on
2e460 65 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 e condition.".."
2e470 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 You want me to s
2e480 77 65 61 72 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c wear I won't tel
2e490 6c 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 l them, of cours
2e4a0 65 2e 20 20 49 20 73 77 65 61 72 20 49 27 6c 6c e. I swear I'll
2e4b0 20 74 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e try, but it's n
2e4c0 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 ot like I know h
2e4d0 6f 77 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 6f ow well I can ho
2e4e0 6c 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 72 74 75 72 65 ld up to torture
2e4f0 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 ."..He shook his
2e500 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 6b head. "No, I k
2e510 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 now that's not a
2e520 20 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e promise you can
2e530 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 65 2c 20 6f 72 really make, or
2e540 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 at least that I
2e550 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 20 can expect you
2e560 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6d 61 74 74 to keep, no matt
2e570 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 79 6f 75 20 er how much you
2e580 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e want to keep it.
2e590 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 2c 20 The thing is,
2e5a0 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 I want to keep y
2e5b0 6f 75 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 ou out of their
2e5c0 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 hands, for your
2e5d0 73 61 6b 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 sake, but mine t
2e5e0 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 oo.".."Oh." She
2e5f0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 looked at him,
2e600 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 curiously, and h
2e610 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 e could see the
2e620 66 65 61 72 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 fear in her eyes
2e630 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f ..."I'll tell yo
2e640 75 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 69 66 20 79 u what I do if y
2e650 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 ou let me help y
2e660 6f 75 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 ou avoid getting
2e670 20 68 61 75 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 62 79 20 74 hauled off by t
2e680 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 hem, take this t
2e690 68 72 65 61 74 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c hreat seriously,
2e6a0 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 and do everythi
2e6b0 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 72 ng you can to pr
2e6c0 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 otect yourself f
2e6d0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 rom them.".."You
2e6e0 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 want to help me
2e6f0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 .".."Yes, I do."
2e700 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 ..She thought ab
2e710 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 out it. "Yeah,"
2e720 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 66 20 63 she said, "of c
2e730 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 ourse. You don'
2e740 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 63 6f 6d 69 t want them comi
2e750 6e 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a ng after you."..
2e760 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 "I don't, but th
2e770 61 74 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 at's really not
2e780 74 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e the main reason.
2e790 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 63 61 If I didn't ca
2e7a0 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 re about helping
2e7b0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 61 you for your sa
2e7c0 6b 65 2c 20 49 27 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 ke, I'd just kee
2e7d0 70 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 6e p an eye on thin
2e7e0 67 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 69 74 20 74 6f 20 gs, and wait to
2e7f0 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 see what happens
2e800 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 63 6f 6f 70 . If they scoop
2e810 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 20 49 27 64 20 6b ed you up, I'd k
2e820 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 now it was just
2e830 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 a matter of time
2e840 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 64 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 , and I'd be rea
2e850 64 79 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2e dy to disappear.
2e860 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2c If I help you,
2e870 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 though, that's
2e880 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6c 6f going to be a lo
2e890 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 t more work, and
2e8a0 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f expose me to mo
2e8b0 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 re danger, and e
2e8c0 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 ven if it works
2e8d0 2d 2d 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e -- even if I can
2e8e0 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 help you get aw
2e8f0 61 79 20 2d 2d 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c ay -- I'll still
2e900 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 probably have t
2e910 6f 20 70 61 63 6b 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 64 69 o pack up and di
2e920 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 sappear, so I'm
2e930 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 really choosing
2e940 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 70 61 74 68 20 62 79 the hard path by
2e950 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c offering to hel
2e960 70 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 p you.".."Why ar
2e970 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 e you offering,
2e980 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 then?"..He looke
2e990 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e d toward the win
2e9a0 64 6f 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 dow, or perhaps
2e9b0 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 at something tha
2e9c0 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 65 t wasn't there e
2e9d0 78 63 65 70 74 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 68 69 73 xcept inside his
2e9e0 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 own mind. "It'
2e9f0 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e s the right thin
2ea00 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 g to do," he sai
2ea10 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 d...The silence
2ea20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 stretched as she
2ea30 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 70 looked at his p
2ea40 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 65 rofile, the dete
2ea50 72 6d 69 6e 65 64 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 rmined set of hi
2ea60 73 20 6a 61 77 2c 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 6e s jaw, the hardn
2ea70 65 73 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 2c ess of his eyes,
2ea80 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 65 73 20 6f and the miles o
2ea90 66 20 68 61 72 64 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 65 78 70 65 f hardening expe
2eaa0 72 69 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d rience that seem
2eab0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 ed to lie behind
2eac0 20 68 69 73 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 6e his wrinkles an
2ead0 64 20 67 72 65 79 20 68 61 69 72 73 2e 20 20 54 d grey hairs. T
2eae0 65 78 74 20 73 63 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 63 72 ext scrolled acr
2eaf0 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 6f 66 oss her field of
2eb00 20 76 69 65 77 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 view, the prior
2eb10 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 22 49 itizer saying "I
2eb20 20 61 64 76 69 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 74 advise you to t
2eb30 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 6f 66 66 65 72 2e 20 20 ake his offer.
2eb40 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 I believe he has
2eb50 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 connections tha
2eb60 74 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 t can help you."
2eb70 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20 .."I'm sorry to
2eb80 69 6d 70 6f 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 69 impose on you li
2eb90 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 ke this, even if
2eba0 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 69 I had no idea i
2ebb0 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 t was going to c
2ebc0 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 20 20 53 ome to this." S
2ebd0 68 65 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 he met his eyes
2ebe0 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 when he looked a
2ebf0 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 61 t her. "I'll ta
2ec00 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 74 68 ke your help, th
2ec10 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 ough."..He nodde
2ec20 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 d. "I'll tell y
2ec30 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 ou that part of
2ec40 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 what I do, and p
2ec50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f art of the reaso
2ec60 6e 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 n I needed those
2ec70 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 frames, is beca
2ec80 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 75 70 70 6c 79 20 70 65 6f use I supply peo
2ec90 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 ple who make it
2eca0 74 68 65 69 72 20 6a 6f 62 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 their job to do
2ecb0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 6c 70 things like help
2ecc0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 73 69 74 75 61 people in situa
2ecd0 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 tions like yours
2ece0 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 with COIN Corp
2ecf0 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f right now.".."Yo
2ed00 75 27 72 65 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a u're kidding."..
2ed10 48 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 He shook his hea
2ed20 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 d. "No, I'm not
2ed30 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 kidding."..She
2ed40 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 looked down at h
2ed50 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 er hands as she
2ed60 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 69 67 65 73 74 65 mentally digeste
2ed70 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 d that for a whi
2ed80 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 71 le, and George q
2ed90 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 75 uietly watched u
2eda0 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ntil she looked
2edb0 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e up at him again.
2edc0 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 "How is that a
2edd0 20 6a 6f 62 3f 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 job? That does
2ede0 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 65 n't even make se
2edf0 6e 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 nse."..He smiled
2ee00 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 . "That's not t
2ee10 68 65 69 72 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 heir whole job,
2ee20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 but it's somethi
2ee30 6e 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 ng they do. The
2ee40 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 y do things that
2ee50 20 6c 69 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 lie outside the
2ee60 20 62 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 73 74 72 69 63 bounds of stric
2ee70 74 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 t legality, I gu
2ee80 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 ess, and they're
2ee90 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 6a 6f 62 73 2e dangerous jobs.
2eea0 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 63 72 65 77 20 If they screw
2eeb0 75 70 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 up, people might
2eec0 20 67 65 74 20 68 75 72 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 74 68 get hurt, so th
2eed0 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 72 65 ey have to be re
2eee0 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 22 ady for that..."
2eef0 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 63 68 They're not a ch
2ef00 61 72 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6d 61 6b arity. They mak
2ef10 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 77 68 e money doing wh
2ef20 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 at they do, and
2ef30 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 not everything t
2ef40 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 69 73 20 68 65 72 6f 69 63 hey do is heroic
2ef50 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 , but the people
2ef60 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f I'm talking abo
2ef70 75 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 ut have standard
2ef80 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 s for what they'
2ef90 72 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f re willing to do
2efa0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 20 . They'll help
2efb0 62 61 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 72 bad people who'r
2efc0 65 20 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f e hurting each o
2efd0 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 61 ther, but not ba
2efe0 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 72 65 20 d people who're
2eff0 68 75 72 74 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f hurting good peo
2f000 70 6c 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 63 ple, for instanc
2f010 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 20 61 e. Sometimes, a
2f020 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 couple of them
2f030 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6a 75 73 do something jus
2f040 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 t because they t
2f050 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 hink it's the ri
2f060 67 68 74 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c ght thing to do,
2f070 20 62 75 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 but usually the
2f080 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 65 73 y need money, es
2f090 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 pecially if they
2f0a0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 think it'll get
2f0b0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 really dangerou
2f0c0 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 s..."I've seen a
2f0d0 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 couple of these
2f0e0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 61 20 77 people help a w
2f0f0 6f 6d 61 6e 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 6e 20 61 oman escape an a
2f100 62 75 73 69 76 65 20 68 75 73 62 61 6e 64 20 77 busive husband w
2f110 68 6f 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 ho happened to b
2f120 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 69 6f 72 20 61 73 73 69 73 e a senior assis
2f130 74 61 6e 74 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 61 74 tant district at
2f140 74 6f 72 6e 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 65 6e torney, and when
2f150 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 she tried to pa
2f160 79 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6c 64 y them they told
2f170 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2c her to keep it,
2f180 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 but that's a pr
2f190 65 74 74 79 20 72 61 72 65 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 etty rare case,
2f1a0 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 and some of the
2f1b0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 people I'm talki
2f1c0 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 2d 2d 20 62 65 63 61 ng about -- beca
2f1d0 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f use they work to
2f1e0 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 2d 2d 20 gether a lot --
2f1f0 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 6a 6f just won't do jo
2f200 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63 bs where their c
2f210 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 lients can't pay
2f220 20 6e 6f 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 6d no matter how m
2f230 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e uch someone thin
2f240 6b 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 ks it's a good t
2f250 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c hing to do."..Al
2f260 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ley frowned. "I
2f270 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 62 61 guess you proba
2f280 62 6c 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 65 63 68 6e bly aren't techn
2f290 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d ically doing som
2f2a0 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 62 ething illegal b
2f2b0 79 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 y selling parts
2f2c0 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 to someone," she
2f2d0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 said..."That's
2f2e0 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c right," he said,
2f2f0 20 22 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 27 73 "but everyone's
2f300 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 doing something
2f310 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d illegal sometim
2f320 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 es, and it's not
2f330 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f like someone co
2f340 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c uldn't use the l
2f350 61 77 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 74 72 6f 79 20 6d 65 aw to destroy me
2f360 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 for doing this
2f370 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a kind of thing.".
2f380 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 65 ."Why are you te
2f390 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 lling me all thi
2f3a0 73 3f 20 20 44 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 s? Doesn't that
2f3b0 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 64 61 6e 67 put you in dang
2f3c0 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 er?"..He shrugge
2f3d0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2c 20 62 75 d. "It does, bu
2f3e0 74 20 49 27 6d 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 64 t I'm ready to d
2f3f0 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 isappear if I ha
2f400 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 ve to. I did it
2f410 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 41 once before. A
2f420 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 nyway, I think y
2f430 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6e ou're going to n
2f440 65 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 eed the kind of
2f450 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 people I'm talki
2f460 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 20 20 ng about soon.
2f470 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 COIN Corp has be
2f480 65 6e 20 61 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 72 6f en a serious pro
2f490 62 6c 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f blem for a lot o
2f4a0 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 69 6e 63 65 20 69 f people since i
2f4b0 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 66 66 69 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 t was officially
2f4c0 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 20 66 6f 75 72 20 79 65 founded four ye
2f4d0 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6a 75 73 ars ago. It jus
2f4e0 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f t appeared out o
2f4f0 66 20 6e 6f 77 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 f nowhere, and s
2f500 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 75 73 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 ome of us think
2f510 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 65 74 69 72 65 6d it was a retirem
2f520 65 6e 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d ent plan for som
2f530 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 64 20 eone who worked
2f540 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4e 53 41 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 in the NSA. In
2f550 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d that short a tim
2f560 65 2c 20 69 74 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 e, it developed
2f570 61 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 72 65 70 75 74 61 74 a strong reputat
2f580 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 69 72 63 ion in some circ
2f590 6c 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 les for using th
2f5a0 65 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 66 69 67 68 e excuse of figh
2f5b0 74 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 6d 65 73 74 69 63 20 74 65 ting domestic te
2f5c0 72 72 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 62 rrorism to get b
2f5d0 69 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 73 20 66 72 6f ig contracts fro
2f5e0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 61 67 m the federal ag
2f5f0 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 55 53 encies of the US
2f600 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 43 6f Intelligence Co
2f610 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 70 69 6e 20 mmunity and pin
2f620 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 a bunch of manuf
2f630 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 65 63 75 6c 61 74 actured speculat
2f640 69 76 65 20 27 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 27 20 6f ive 'evidence' o
2f650 6e 20 69 6e 6e 6f 63 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c n innocent peopl
2f660 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 6e 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f e to line the fo
2f670 75 6e 64 65 72 27 73 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 73 2e under's pockets.
2f680 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 68 61 73 20 69 .."If COIN has i
2f690 74 73 20 73 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 ts sights on you
2f6a0 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 , things aren't
2f6b0 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 77 65 6c 6c going to go well
2f6c0 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 . They say that
2f6d0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 if you can't be
2f6e0 61 74 20 27 65 6d 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c at 'em you shoul
2f6f0 64 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 27 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 d join 'em, and
2f700 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 this is one of t
2f710 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 hose things wher
2f720 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 e almost nobody
2f730 68 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f has any chance o
2f740 66 20 62 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 f beating them,
2f750 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 74 68 but there's a th
2f760 69 72 64 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 3a 20 67 65 74 20 ird option: get
2f770 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 help, and get aw
2f780 61 79 2e 20 20 49 27 64 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 ay. I'd rather
2f790 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 see you take tha
2f7a0 74 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 t option than th
2f7b0 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 6f 20 2d 2d 20 6c e other two -- l
2f7c0 6f 73 69 6e 67 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 6f 69 6e 69 6e osing, or joinin
2f7d0 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6c 77 g..."There's alw
2f7e0 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 6f ays the other po
2f7f0 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 ssibility, that
2f800 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 74 they won't try t
2f810 6f 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 20 61 o frame you up a
2f820 73 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 s connected to t
2f830 65 72 72 6f 72 69 73 74 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 errorists, but t
2f840 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6d 61 74 hat's just a mat
2f850 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 ter of sitting a
2f860 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 round, waiting,
2f870 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 and maybe ending
2f880 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 up disappearing
2f890 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 , because you ne
2f8a0 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 ver tried to do
2f8b0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f something to pro
2f8c0 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a tect yourself.".
2f8d0 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Shit," she sai
2f8e0 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 d. "What about
2f8f0 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f getting ready to
2f900 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e run, but waitin
2f910 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 69 g to see how thi
2f920 6e 67 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c ngs go? I mean,
2f930 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 75 6e I shouldn't run
2f940 20 69 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 if nothing happ
2f950 65 6e 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ens. Right?".."
2f960 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 It's a risk. Th
2f970 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 at's all there i
2f980 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 s to it. They'r
2f990 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 e not going to g
2f9a0 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 72 6e ive you any warn
2f9b0 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2c 20 69 66 20 74 ing at all, if t
2f9c0 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 74 2e hey can help it.
2f9d0 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 The fact they
2f9e0 63 61 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 came to talk to
2f9f0 79 6f 75 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 6d 69 67 68 74 you at all might
2fa00 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 72 be the only war
2fa10 6e 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 2e 20 20 4d ning you get. M
2fa20 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 75 6c aybe you can pul
2fa30 6c 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 l it off, though
2fa40 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 77 61 72 ..."My first war
2fa50 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 6d ning that they m
2fa60 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 ight come for me
2fa70 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 would probably
2fa80 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 be you disappear
2fa90 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 66 ing, though. If
2faa0 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 2c 20 49 that happens, I
2fab0 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 'm not going to
2fac0 77 61 69 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 wait around to s
2fad0 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6f 6e ee if they're on
2fae0 20 6d 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 my tail. I'll
2faf0 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 64 69 73 61 make myself disa
2fb00 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f ppear, instead o
2fb10 66 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 f waiting around
2fb20 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 to see if they'
2fb30 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 ll make me disap
2fb40 70 65 61 72 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 67 65 pear before I ge
2fb50 74 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 22 t around to it."
2fb60 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2e 20 .."Okay. Yeah.
2fb70 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 74 6f That's a lot to
2fb80 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 49 think about. I
2fb90 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 'm going to have
2fba0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 to think about
2fbb0 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e it."..He nodded.
2fbc0 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 "You should th
2fbd0 69 6e 6b 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 68 61 72 64 20 ink pretty hard
2fbe0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 about it," he sa
2fbf0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 20 61 6c 65 72 74 id. "Stay alert
2fc00 2c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 64 , try to avoid d
2fc10 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 oing anything th
2fc20 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 74 63 68 20 74 at might catch t
2fc30 68 65 69 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 heir attention,
2fc40 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 and stay out of
2fc50 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 72 79 20 74 6f trouble. Try to
2fc60 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 70 70 79 keep them happy
2fc70 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 without giving
2fc80 74 68 65 6d 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f them anything to
2fc90 20 75 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 use against you
2fca0 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 ..."Mostly, thou
2fcb0 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 gh, think hard a
2fcc0 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 61 73 74 20 61 62 nd think fast ab
2fcd0 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 out how you want
2fce0 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 2c 20 62 to handle it, b
2fcf0 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 ecause you don't
2fd00 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 74 know how much t
2fd10 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 ime you have to
2fd20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 make that decisi
2fd30 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 64 65 63 69 73 on, and as decis
2fd40 69 6f 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6e 65 ions go this one
2fd50 20 69 73 20 68 75 67 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6d 69 is huge. It mi
2fd60 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 67 67 65 ght be the bigge
2fd70 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2e st of your life.
2fd80 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 2c ".."No pressure,
2fd90 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 " she said, with
2fda0 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 a wry smile..."
2fdb0 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 You got it." He
2fdc0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 62 looked at his b
2fdd0 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 ook cases, then
2fde0 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 stood and walked
2fdf0 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 to them. He pu
2fe00 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 lled a couple of
2fe10 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 66 20 68 69 73 20 73 books off his s
2fe20 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 65 6e helves, then wen
2fe30 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 77 t to the chair w
2fe40 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 here Alley sat a
2fe50 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 nd held them out
2fe60 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e to her. "Here.
2fe70 20 20 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 20 72 Give these a r
2fe80 65 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ead, if you have
2fe90 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 61 63 63 time."..She acc
2fea0 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 epted them, and
2feb0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 looked at them.
2fec0 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 69 74 6c 65 64 20 One was titled
2fed0 2a 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d *An Agorist Prim
2fee0 65 72 2a 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 er*. The other
2fef0 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 was *Underground
2ff00 20 4f 70 53 65 63 2a 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 OpSec*. "What
2ff10 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 are these?"..Whe
2ff20 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 n he saw she was
2ff30 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 not handing the
2ff40 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 m back, he went
2ff50 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 63 back to his couc
2ff60 68 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 h and sat down.
2ff70 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 69 73 20 6b 69 6e "Agorism is kin
2ff80 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 62 69 6e 61 74 69 d of a combinati
2ff90 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 on of ideal and
2ffa0 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 69 strategy. The i
2ffb0 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 6f deal is living o
2ffc0 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f utside of the co
2ffd0 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c ntrol of others,
2ffe0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 and the strateg
2fff0 79 20 69 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 y is using that
30000 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 to bring other p
30010 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 eople into doing
30020 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2c the same thing,
30030 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 77 to change the w
30040 6f 72 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 74 orld for the bet
30050 74 65 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 74 20 ter a little at
30060 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 a time. The guy
30070 20 77 68 6f 20 77 72 6f 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 who wrote the a
30080 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 62 61 73 69 gorism book basi
30090 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 6f 66 cally thought of
300a0 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 this as a way t
300b0 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 76 o starve the gov
300c0 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 73 ernment of its s
300d0 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 77 65 72 20 61 ource of power a
300e0 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 nd eventually br
300f0 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 ing it down, bas
30100 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 ically turning t
30110 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 he black market
30120 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c into a political
30130 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 revolution, but
30140 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 I don't think i
30150 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 73 74 t's very realist
30160 69 63 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 ic to expect tha
30170 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 t to work the wa
30180 79 20 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 2e 20 20 49 20 74 y he hoped. I t
30190 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 62 hink it has to b
301a0 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 73 e more about jus
301b0 74 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 t building commu
301c0 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b nities that work
301d0 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 outside of the
301e0 73 74 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 state, and choos
301f0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 ing to make your
30200 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 life about that
30210 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 63 69 65 74 79 part of society
30220 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 70 6f 73 73 as much as poss
30230 69 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 70 53 65 63 20 69 73 ible..."OpSec is
30240 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 how to keep you
30250 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 rself off the ra
30260 64 61 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 dar of people wh
30270 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f o are looking fo
30280 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 r you, whether t
30290 68 65 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 hey know about y
302a0 6f 75 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 ou personally or
302b0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f just want someo
302c0 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 69 74 73 20 61 20 70 72 ne who fits a pr
302d0 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 20 77 68 ofile, hiding wh
302e0 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 at you do, and e
302f0 73 63 61 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 61 62 scaping their ab
30300 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 77 68 61 ility to see wha
30310 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 t you're doing s
30320 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 20 64 o you can keep d
30330 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 62 oing it. That b
30340 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 4f 70 53 ook is about OpS
30350 65 63 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 ec for people wh
30360 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 20 74 68 65 o live below the
30370 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6c 69 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 legal line, and
30380 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 61 some of it is a
30390 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 bout how to get
303a0 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 6e 65 across that line
303b0 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 72 79 if you were try
303c0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 76 ing to live abov
303d0 65 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 e it, but have t
303e0 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 75 6e 64 65 o run. The unde
303f0 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c rground it's tal
30400 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 king about is a
30410 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6c 61 73 73 20 77 criminal class w
30420 68 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 70 72 65 79 20 6f 6e ho don't prey on
30430 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 6e other people an
30440 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 70 65 6f 70 y more than peop
30450 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c le who are legal
30460 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 -- just people
30470 77 68 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 who choose to li
30480 76 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c ve outside the l
30490 61 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 aw, or are force
304a0 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 d to do so, for
304b0 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 reasons other th
304c0 61 6e 20 74 68 65 66 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 an theft and mur
304d0 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 73 6f 6d der, such as som
304e0 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 eone who wants t
304f0 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 o make a living
30500 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 without paying t
30510 61 78 65 73 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 axes to pay for
30520 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 77 61 72 73 2c 20 6f 72 foreign wars, or
30530 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 fighting agains
30540 74 20 61 20 74 79 72 61 6e 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 67 t a tyrannical g
30550 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 overnment, or ju
30560 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 69 73 65 78 75 61 st being bisexua
30570 6c 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 l in some parts
30580 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 45 61 of the Middle Ea
30590 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 st.".."Oh." She
305a0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 looked at the b
305b0 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f ooks again..."Yo
305c0 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 u can think of t
305d0 68 65 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 he OpSec book as
305e0 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 being about how
305f0 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e to avoid gettin
30600 67 20 74 68 72 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 g thrown into a
30610 64 61 72 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 79 20 43 4f 49 dark hole by COI
30620 4e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 N, and the agori
30630 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 sm book as being
30640 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 79 27 about why they'
30650 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 64 20 67 75 79 73 2c re the bad guys,
30660 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 and the people
30670 77 68 6f 27 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 20 65 who'd help you e
30680 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f scape are the go
30690 6f 64 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 od guys.".."Are
306a0 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 you some kind of
306b0 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 anarchist?"..He
306c0 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 shrugged. "May
306d0 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 be. Voluntaryis
306e0 74 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 t, maybe, like a
306f0 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 2d 63 61 70 69 74 61 n anarcho-capita
30700 6c 69 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 79 6c list in the styl
30710 65 20 6f 66 20 44 53 48 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 e of DSH before
30720 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 he started telli
30730 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 76 6f 74 ng people to vot
30740 65 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a e Republican."..
30750 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Yeah," she said
30760 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 , "that's the fe
30770 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 67 69 eling I was begi
30780 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a nning to get."..
30790 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 6f 74 68 65 "Does that bothe
307a0 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 r you?" he asked
307b0 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 ..."No. I liked
307c0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 Dalton more in
307d0 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 20 48 65 6c those days. Hel
307e0 6c 2c 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 l, I fell in lov
307f0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 e with him in th
30800 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 ose days.".."You
30810 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 don't consider
30820 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e yourself a volun
30830 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 61 72 taryist, or anar
30840 63 68 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 chist, or someth
30850 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 ing like that, t
30860 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 hough. Do you?"
30870 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 6e .."No, I guess n
30880 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 ot.".."What do y
30890 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 ou consider your
308a0 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 75 72 70 self?"..She surp
308b0 72 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 rised herself a
308c0 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 72 little with a dr
308d0 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 y chuckle. "I d
308e0 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 on't know. I gu
308f0 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 62 69 64 6c 79 20 ess I'm rabidly
30900 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 apolitical.".."Y
30910 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f ou might have mo
30920 72 65 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 6d 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 re in common wit
30930 68 20 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 h a voluntaryist
30940 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c than you think,
30950 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e then," he said.
30960 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 .."I said apolit
30970 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 74 69 70 6f ical, not antipo
30980 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 litical, though
30990 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 65 I guess the line
309a0 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 74 can be pretty t
309b0 68 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 47 hin.".."Okay," G
309c0 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 eorge said. "I
309d0 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f get it. Will yo
309e0 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 u read the books
309f0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 ?".."Yeah," she
30a00 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 said, "I'll give
30a10 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c it a shot. I'l
30a20 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 l get them back
30a30 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 to you when I'm
30a40 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6a 75 73 done.".."No, jus
30a50 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 22 20 68 65 t keep them," he
30a60 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 said. "I'll ge
30a70 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 t more of them.
30a80 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 20 74 68 65 6d 20 Just pass them
30a90 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 on to someone wh
30aa0 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 74 20 o needs them at
30ab0 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 69 66 20 79 some point, if y
30ac0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f ou don't want to
30ad0 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 keep them.".."S
30ae0 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 ure," she said,
30af0 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 uncertainly..."H
30b00 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 64 69 6e 6e ave you had dinn
30b10 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 er?".."No," she
30b20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 said. "What are
30b30 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a you thinking?".
30b40 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 ."I'm thinking I
30b50 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 'm hungry, and y
30b60 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f ou're welcome to
30b70 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 join me. I was
30b80 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6f 6b 20 75 going to cook u
30b90 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 73 74 61 2e 22 0a 0a p some pasta."..
30ba0 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 She nodded. "Th
30bb0 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 at sounds good."
30bc0 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 73 .."It'll give us
30bd0 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 a few more minu
30be0 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 tes to hang out
30bf0 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 without talking
30c00 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 about anything s
30c10 6f 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 o serious before
30c20 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 you go home and
30c30 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64 20 think the hard
30c40 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 thoughts about w
30c50 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 hat you're going
30c60 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 to do." He got
30c70 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 up and started
30c80 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 toward the kitch
30c90 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a en..."Thanks."..
30ca0 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c /*..George reall
30cb0 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6c 65 y needs to be le
30cc0 73 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 61 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 ss ignorant of t
30cd0 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 64 61 6e 67 he possible dang
30ce0 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 41 ers of Alley's A
30cf0 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6b R glasses. He k
30d00 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f nows this techno
30d10 6c 6f 67 79 20 65 78 69 73 74 73 2e 20 20 48 65 logy exists. He
30d20 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 's not just goin
30d30 67 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 74 68 65 6c 79 20 67 6f g to blithely go
30d40 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 on talking abou
30d50 74 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 73 t a bunch of ins
30d60 61 6e 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 ane stuff withou
30d70 74 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 72 65 t noticing there
30d80 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6f 's some danger o
30d90 66 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 f it getting out
30da0 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 because of the
30db0 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c technology peopl
30dc0 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 e carry around w
30dd0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f ith them...*/../
30de0 2a 0a 0a 4d 61 79 62 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 *..Maybe Alley c
30df0 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 61 20 64 6f 63 ould go to a doc
30e00 74 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 72 65 tor to get a pre
30e10 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f scription for so
30e20 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 mething that she
30e30 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 74 can then sell t
30e40 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61 o others as a wa
30e50 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e y to make money.
30e60 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 This is obviou
30e70 73 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2e 20 20 49 74 sly illegal. It
30e80 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 should probably
30e90 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 70 20 61 66 only come up af
30ea0 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 ter she ends up
30eb0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 20 62 65 63 61 75 on the run becau
30ec0 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 se of the people
30ed0 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 coming to her h
30ee0 6f 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 73 63 61 ome and thus sca
30ef0 72 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 54 ring her off. T
30f00 68 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 hen again . . .
30f10 68 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 how does she get
30f20 20 61 20 70 72 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 a prescription
30f30 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 20 64 6f 63 74 6f 72 20 69 66 from a doctor if
30f40 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 she's on the ru
30f50 6e 3f 0a 0a 4d 61 79 62 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 n?..Maybe Alley
30f60 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 72 72 79 could just carry
30f70 20 64 72 75 67 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f drugs for someo
30f80 6e 65 2e 20 20 41 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 73 ne. Again, this
30f90 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 6b 65 74 63 is pretty sketc
30fa0 68 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 hy, and is proba
30fb0 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 bly not appropri
30fc0 61 74 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a ate right now...
30fd0 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 */../*..At some
30fe0 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c point, she shoul
30ff0 64 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 6d 65 65 74 69 d set up a meeti
31000 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 68 61 6e ng for an exchan
31010 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 72 69 76 61 74 65 20 ge in a private
31020 63 6f 6e 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 conference room
31030 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 2d 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 at a co-working
31040 73 70 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 space. Someone
31050 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 should recognize
31060 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 6b 20 77 68 65 her and ask whe
31070 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 ther she's meeti
31080 6e 67 20 61 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 6f 20 ng a client, to
31090 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 which she replie
310a0 73 20 76 61 67 75 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 s vaguely in a p
310b0 6f 73 69 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 70 ositively interp
310c0 72 65 74 61 62 6c 65 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 20 retable fashion
310d0 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c without literall
310e0 79 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 y confirming tha
310f0 74 20 61 73 73 75 6d 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 74 t assumption wit
31100 68 20 68 65 72 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2e 0a 0a 49 20 h her words...I
31110 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f wanted the perso
31120 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 67 72 65 65 74 73 20 68 65 72 n who greets her
31130 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e to say somethin
31140 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 61 69 73 65 73 20 73 6f g that raises so
31150 6d 65 20 66 61 63 74 6f 69 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 me factoid of he
31160 72 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 r life, but I'm
31170 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e not sure any lon
31180 67 65 72 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 69 ger what I had i
31190 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 44 69 64 20 69 74 20 n mind. Did it
311a0 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f have anything to
311b0 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 do with getting
311c0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 out of Dalton's
311d0 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 3f 0a 0a 44 6f 65 73 20 74 shadow?..Does t
311e0 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 27 73 20 he person she's
311f0 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a meeting recogniz
31200 65 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e e her connection
31210 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a to Dalton?..*/.
31220 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 ./*..The next da
31230 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a y, the prioritiz
31240 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 20 6f 74 er has her do ot
31250 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 her stuff, which
31260 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 6e 65 72 76 6f makes her nervo
31270 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 us. She decides
31280 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 she does not wa
31290 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e nt to do that an
312a0 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 41 73 20 61 20 y longer. As a
312b0 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 65 71 part of this seq
312c0 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 6e 74 73 2c uence of events,
312d0 20 73 68 65 20 65 6e 64 73 20 75 70 20 6d 65 65 she ends up mee
312e0 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 61 6e 20 62 75 74 20 6e ting a man but n
312f0 6f 74 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 ot completing th
31300 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 77 69 e transaction wi
31310 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d th him. He seem
31320 73 20 74 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 72 69 s tense, and tri
31330 65 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f es to get her to
31340 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 complete the tr
31350 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 72 ansaction, but r
31360 65 6c 65 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 73 elents and seems
31370 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e to understandin
31380 67 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 66 75 73 g when she refus
31390 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 67 6c 61 64 20 es. She's glad
313a0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d to get away from
313b0 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 the situation.
313c0 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 69 Perhaps there i
313d0 73 20 61 20 70 69 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 s a pile of mone
313e0 79 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 y involved, and
313f0 73 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 she decides she
31400 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 should just keep
31410 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f the cash for no
31420 77 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 62 75 79 w instead of buy
31430 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 22 77 ing something "w
31440 65 69 72 64 22 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 eird". She has
31450 72 65 73 69 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c resisted the cal
31460 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 69 l...Somehow, thi
31470 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6c 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 61 s must lead to a
31480 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 65 73 20 problem. Does
31490 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 the money itself
314a0 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 get her in trou
314b0 62 6c 65 3f 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 ble? Perhaps th
314c0 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 69 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 e plan is for he
314d0 72 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e r to use the mon
314e0 65 79 20 74 6f 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c ey to immediatel
314f0 79 20 62 75 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 y buy more crypt
31500 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 ocurrency in a f
31510 61 63 65 2d 74 6f 2d 66 61 63 65 20 6d 65 65 74 ace-to-face meet
31520 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 75 72 67 65 6e 74 ing where urgent
31530 20 6e 65 65 64 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 need gives her
31540 61 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 a significant pr
31550 6f 66 69 74 20 6d 61 72 67 69 6e 20 2d 2d 20 6f ofit margin -- o
31560 72 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 r, more to the p
31570 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 65 oint, perhaps se
31580 76 65 72 61 6c 20 73 75 63 68 20 74 72 61 6e 73 veral such trans
31590 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 actions. She ch
315a0 6f 6f 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 ooses to avoid t
315b0 68 69 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 his after the fi
315c0 72 73 74 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 rst couple trans
315d0 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 actions when she
315e0 20 66 69 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 finds that the
315f0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 6f 6d people with whom
31600 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 she does busine
31610 73 73 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 ss put her off,
31620 74 68 75 73 20 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 thus leading her
31630 20 74 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 to decide she s
31640 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 hould just keep
31650 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 the cash. Maybe
31660 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 63 65 20 67 75 79 20 69 73 the nice guy is
31670 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 the guy with wh
31680 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 73 20 74 om she decides t
31690 6f 20 63 65 61 73 65 20 74 72 61 64 69 6e 67 2e o cease trading.
316a0 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 64 61 79 2c 20 ..The next day,
316b0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
316c0 74 72 69 65 73 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e tries a differen
316d0 74 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 t approach, and
316e0 73 65 6e 64 73 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f sends her out to
316f0 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 70 61 72 61 6c 6c 65 6c 20 buy a parallel
31700 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 70 option for her p
31710 68 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6f 74 68 65 hone. This othe
31720 72 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c r device, much l
31730 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 70 68 ike a typical ph
31740 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c one replacement,
31750 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 does not use th
31760 65 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 65 6c 65 70 e standard telep
31770 68 6f 6e 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 20 20 49 74 hone system. It
31780 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 73 20 68 65 72 20 74 instructs her t
31790 6f 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 o complete confi
317a0 67 75 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 63 69 72 63 guration in circ
317b0 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 umstances that w
317c0 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6e 6b 65 ill not be linke
317d0 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 d to her persona
317e0 6c 6c 79 20 76 69 61 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 lly via her move
317f0 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 ments...That eve
31800 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c ning, back home,
31810 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c a pair of peopl
31820 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 71 75 65 73 e arrive to ques
31830 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 tion her. They
31840 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 introduce themse
31850 6c 76 65 73 20 61 73 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 lves as checking
31860 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 up on the study
31870 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2c 20 6f participants, o
31880 6e 20 62 65 68 61 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 n behalf of the
31890 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 government, and
318a0 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 6f question her abo
318b0 75 74 20 6c 6f 77 20 6c 6f 67 20 61 63 74 69 76 ut low log activ
318c0 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ity for the prio
318d0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 ritizer. She sa
318e0 79 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 72 ys she doesn't r
318f0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 79 20 74 eally know why t
31900 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 hey aren't getti
31910 6e 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 67 20 61 63 74 69 ng full log acti
31920 76 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 6e vity. The Techn
31930 6f 63 72 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 74 20 68 ocrat looks at h
31940 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 69 72 er gear and pair
31950 73 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 s it with a devi
31960 63 65 20 68 65 20 63 61 72 72 69 65 73 2c 20 74 ce he carries, t
31970 68 65 6e 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 hen says they sh
31980 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 ouldn't have any
31990 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 72 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d further problem
319a0 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 s, then the two
319b0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 65 70 61 72 74 2e 0a 0a people depart...
319c0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
319d0 72 65 76 65 61 6c 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 reveals that it
319e0 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 received an upda
319f0 74 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 te that day. Th
31a00 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 at night, she ha
31a10 73 20 61 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 s a dream about
31a20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e trying to return
31a30 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
31a40 20 61 6e 64 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 and being convi
31a50 6e 63 65 64 20 28 62 79 20 61 20 67 72 61 64 20 nced (by a grad
31a60 73 74 75 64 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c student, probabl
31a70 79 29 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 2e 20 y) to continue.
31a80 20 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 6e The next mornin
31a90 67 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 72 65 g, with that dre
31aa0 61 6d 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 am in mind, she
31ab0 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 realizes she jus
31ac0 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 6f t needs to be mo
31ad0 72 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 re careful about
31ae0 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 73 how she follows
31af0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
31b00 27 73 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 's advice. When
31b10 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c she dons the gl
31b20 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f asses again, tho
31b30 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 ugh, it does not
31b40 20 64 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 do more of the
31b50 73 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2c 20 same. Instead,
31b60 69 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 68 65 72 it questions her
31b70 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 at some length
31b80 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 about her belief
31b90 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 s about good and
31ba0 20 65 76 69 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 evil, and about
31bb0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 where and how s
31bc0 68 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 74 68 6f he developed tho
31bd0 73 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 se beliefs. It
31be0 61 73 6b 73 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 asks her, after
31bf0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 2c 20 Dalton came up,
31c00 74 6f 20 73 6b 69 6d 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 to skim through
31c10 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 61 72 74 69 63 6c 65 73 various articles
31c20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 72 6f 74 65 2c 20 61 Dalton wrote, a
31c30 6e 64 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 69 64 65 nd later to side
31c40 6c 6f 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 load some of his
31c50 20 76 69 64 65 6f 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 videos to a pla
31c60 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ce the prioritiz
31c70 65 72 20 63 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 68 er can access th
31c80 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 0a 23 23 20 43 72 6f em...*/...## Cro
31c90 73 73 69 6e 67 20 54 68 65 20 54 68 72 65 73 68 ssing The Thresh
31ca0 6f 6c 64 3a 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 old:../*..Alley
31cb0 68 61 73 20 61 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 has a dream abou
31cc0 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 t her home being
31cd0 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 raided, and her
31ce0 73 65 6c 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 67 65 74 self getting get
31cf0 74 69 6e 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 ting questioned
31d00 61 74 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 at length about
31d10 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 6f 20 there being too
31d20 6d 75 63 68 20 63 61 73 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 much cash in her
31d30 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 73 20 75 home. She is u
31d40 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 6c 79 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 ltimately releas
31d50 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 ed, but the mone
31d60 79 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 61 6b 65 6e y is gone, taken
31d70 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 22 63 69 76 69 6c 20 66 6f under "civil fo
31d80 72 66 65 69 74 75 72 65 22 20 6c 61 77 73 2e 20 rfeiture" laws.
31d90 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 61 6b 65 73 20 69 74 20 6f She shakes it o
31da0 66 66 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 64 72 ff as a weird dr
31db0 65 61 6d 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 eam...In the mor
31dc0 6e 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 73 69 73 74 ning, she resist
31dd0 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 65 73 20 s what she sees
31de0 61 73 20 22 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 22 20 61 as "dangerous" a
31df0 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e ctivities and in
31e00 73 74 65 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 69 65 73 stead just tries
31e10 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 53 to get work. S
31e20 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 73 he feels she has
31e30 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f enough money to
31e40 20 67 65 74 20 62 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 get by at this
31e50 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 point, but will
31e60 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f have to figure o
31e70 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c ut how to actual
31e80 6c 79 20 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 ly use it withou
31e90 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f t getting in tro
31ea0 75 62 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 61 78 20 65 76 61 uble for tax eva
31eb0 73 69 6f 6e 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e sion or somethin
31ec0 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 72 65 61 g like that, rea
31ed0 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 65 61 6d 20 61 ding her dream a
31ee0 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 75 62 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f s her subconscio
31ef0 75 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 69 6e 67 us just worrying
31f00 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2d about the long-
31f10 74 65 72 6d 20 69 6d 70 6c 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e term implication
31f20 73 20 6f 66 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 6e 65 s of having mone
31f30 79 20 6f 66 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 6f 72 69 y of dubious ori
31f40 67 69 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 gins...She gets
31f50 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 5a a message from Z
31f60 65 6b 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 eke telling her
31f70 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e that she is goin
31f80 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 g to have to pay
31f90 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 73 20 61 6e 64 the damages and
31fa0 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 73 20 , when she asks
31fb0 77 68 61 74 20 64 61 6d 61 67 65 73 20 68 65 20 what damages he
31fc0 6d 65 61 6e 73 2c 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 73 65 6e 64 means, Zeke send
31fd0 73 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 6f 66 20 68 s her video of h
31fe0 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 72 61 er home being ra
31ff0 69 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 61 72 6d 65 64 20 6d 65 ided by armed me
32000 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 65 n in tactical ge
32010 61 72 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f ar, with the two
32020 20 61 67 65 6e 74 6c 69 6b 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c agentlike peopl
32030 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 76 69 73 69 74 e that had visit
32040 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 65 ed and questione
32050 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 65 72 20 73 75 d her earlier su
32060 70 65 72 76 69 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 pervising the ra
32070 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 id. She recogni
32080 7a 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 74 68 65 79 zes the bag they
32090 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 carry out, whic
320a0 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 h contained her
320b0 73 74 61 73 68 20 6f 66 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 stash of dubious
320c0 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 20 63 61 73 68 2e 20 20 53 origin cash. S
320d0 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 61 72 2d 70 61 he has a near-pa
320e0 6e 69 63 2d 61 74 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 62 75 74 20 nic-attack, but
320f0 28 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 6c 6d 20 (with some calm
32100 61 69 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 aid from the pri
32110 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 29 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d oritizer) inform
32120 73 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 s Zeke she'll he
32130 61 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 ad home right aw
32140 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ay. The priorit
32150 69 7a 65 72 20 74 68 65 6e 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 izer then discus
32160 73 65 73 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 ses options with
32170 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 75 72 67 65 73 20 her, and urges
32180 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 53 her to stall. S
32190 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 73 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 73 6f he tells Zeke so
321a0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 20 mething came up
321b0 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 6c 61 and she'll be la
321c0 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 ter than expecte
321d0 64 20 2d 2d 20 22 77 6f 72 6b 20 73 74 75 66 66 d -- "work stuff
321e0 22 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 " -- and may not
321f0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 61 even make it ba
32200 63 6b 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 ck until the nex
32210 74 20 64 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 68 65 6e t day. She then
32220 20 46 61 72 61 64 61 79 20 62 61 67 73 20 68 65 Faraday bags he
32230 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 r phone and make
32240 73 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 6f 6e 20 43 72 61 69 s a deal on Crai
32250 67 73 6c 69 73 74 20 28 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 gslist (or somet
32260 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 29 2e 20 20 hing like it).
32270 53 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 She sells her ca
32280 72 20 66 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 r for cryptocurr
32290 65 6e 63 79 2c 20 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 ency, sells some
322a0 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 cryptocurrency
322b0 66 6f 72 20 63 61 73 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 75 for cash, and bu
322c0 79 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2e ys a motorcycle.
322d0 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 ..Somewhere in t
322e0 68 65 20 6d 69 64 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 he midst of this
322f0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 , she does some
32300 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 research on the
32310 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 68 people raiding h
32320 65 72 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 er place, and th
32330 69 73 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 68 65 72 20 64 65 63 is helps her dec
32340 69 64 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 ide to go along
32350 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6c 6c 69 6e with the stallin
32360 67 20 61 6e 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 73 77 g and vehicle sw
32370 61 70 70 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 72 72 apping. She arr
32380 61 6e 67 65 73 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f anges a place to
32390 20 73 74 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 stay for the ni
323a0 67 68 74 20 76 69 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 72 ght via some bar
323b0 74 65 72 2d 69 73 68 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 ter-ish resource
323c0 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 s, and she works
323d0 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f on ideas for ho
323e0 77 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 w to get out of
323f0 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 69 73 20 67 6f 69 6e whatever is goin
32400 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 g on. The prior
32410 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 73 itizer convinces
32420 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 6d her she needs m
32430 6f 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 ore help, from s
32440 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 6f omeone with reso
32450 75 72 63 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 urces and connec
32460 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 55 6c 74 69 6d 61 74 65 tions. Ultimate
32470 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 65 61 64 73 20 74 ly, this leads t
32480 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 44 61 6c o contacting Dal
32490 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 20 66 ton and hiding f
324a0 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 rom anyone watch
324b0 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 ing her home. T
324c0 65 63 68 6e 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 echnically, she
324d0 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 65 64 20 is not targeted
324e0 62 79 20 6c 61 77 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 by law enforceme
324f0 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 72 nt, and has no r
32500 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f esponsibility to
32510 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 43 61 6c report, and Cal
32520 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 6c 61 77 20 69 73 20 75 ifornia law is u
32530 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 73 69 64 65 20 nlikely to side
32540 77 69 74 68 20 5a 65 6b 65 20 6f 76 65 72 20 6e with Zeke over n
32550 6f 6e 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 64 61 6d onpayment of dam
32560 61 67 65 73 20 63 61 75 73 65 64 20 62 79 20 61 ages caused by a
32570 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 corporate home
32580 69 6e 76 61 64 65 72 2e 0a 0a 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f invader...None o
32590 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 73 68 65 f this means she
325a0 27 73 20 73 61 66 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 's safe from tha
325b0 74 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 t corporation, t
325c0 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 hough. The Tech
325d0 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 nocrat would tot
325e0 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 ally find a way
325f0 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 65 72 20 64 69 73 61 to make her disa
32600 70 70 65 61 72 20 69 66 20 73 6f 20 64 65 73 69 ppear if so desi
32610 72 65 64 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 red. How does t
32620 68 69 73 20 67 65 74 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 79 65 64 his get conveyed
32630 3f 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 ? There must be
32640 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f some informatio
32650 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 n about the pers
32660 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 2f 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f on and/or the co
32670 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 rporation to giv
32680 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f e this impressio
32690 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 6f 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 n...Does she lea
326a0 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 54 65 63 68 rn that the Tech
326b0 6e 6f 63 72 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c nocrat was invol
326c0 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 ved in the disap
326d0 70 65 61 72 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 pearance of her
326e0 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f uncle at this po
326f0 69 6e 74 3f 20 20 49 66 20 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 int? If so, thi
32700 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 s could become t
32710 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 69 6e 63 68 20 70 he first pinch p
32720 6f 69 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a oint...*/.