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11020 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 that works for
11030 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 me. Thanks.".."
11040 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 Good. We should
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12800 6d 61 64 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 70 61 72 61 made nearly para
12810 6c 6c 65 6c 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 77 61 6c 6c llel angled wall
12820 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f s, the insides o
12830 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 20 66 61 63 69 f the doors faci
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12850 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 6e 6f 73 65 73 20 70 6f 69 ehicle noses poi
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12870 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 53 e directions. S
12880 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 he looked toward
12890 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2c 20 the other car,
128a0 61 6e 64 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 and tugged her s
128b0 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 61 70 20 64 6f 77 6e tocking cap down
128c0 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 a little lower
128d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 on her head...A
128e0 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 figure in the pa
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12900 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 75 pped one foot ou
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12920 6e 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 nd through the t
12930 69 6e 74 65 64 20 72 65 61 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 inted rear door
12940 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 window she could
12950 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f make out the so
12960 6d 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d me movement from
12970 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 another person
12980 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 across the cross
12990 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 75 over, dimly illu
129a0 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 76 minated by the v
129b0 65 68 69 63 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6f 72 ehicles interior
129c0 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 light. That se
129d0 63 6f 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 73 61 74 20 cond figure sat
129e0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 61 73 in the front pas
129f0 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 41 6c senger seat. Al
12a00 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 ley heard quiet
12a10 76 6f 69 63 65 73 2c 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 voices, neither
12a20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 65 of them very dee
12a30 70 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 p. "The driver'
12a40 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 s not alone," sh
12a50 65 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 65 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 e murmured under
12a60 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 2e 20 20 54 68 her breath. Th
12a70 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
12a80 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 72 65 id nothing in re
12a90 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f sponse...She loo
12aa0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 ked at the leg,
12ab0 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 and saw that the
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12ae0 63 6b 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f ck slacks and wo
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12b00 64 61 72 6b 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 64 72 65 73 73 dark brown dress
12b10 20 73 68 6f 65 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 shoe. After a
12b20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 few more moments
12b30 2c 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 6c 69 , the driver sli
12b40 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 d out of the sea
12b50 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c t and stood...Al
12b60 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 66 72 ley saw black fr
12b70 61 6d 65 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 69 74 amed glasses wit
12b80 68 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 20 62 h clear lenses b
12b90 65 6c 6f 77 20 74 6f 75 73 6c 65 64 2c 20 67 6c elow tousled, gl
12ba0 6f 73 73 79 2c 20 77 61 76 79 20 62 72 6f 77 6e ossy, wavy brown
12bb0 20 68 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 61 6c hair, and a pal
12bc0 65 2c 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 e, smooth face w
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12be0 62 6f 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 bones and a shar
12bf0 70 20 63 68 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 p chin, for a fe
12c00 6d 69 6e 69 6e 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f minine impressio
12c10 6e 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 n. Alley grabbe
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12c30 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 h and moved it t
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12c50 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f t, then stood to
12c60 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e face the person
12c70 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 6f 72 74 65 , who was shorte
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12ca0 73 6f 66 74 20 6c 69 70 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 soft lips and a
12cb0 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 narrow, straight
12cc0 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 nose gave Alley
12cd0 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 69 6d an immediate im
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12d00 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 y prettier than
12d10 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f her. It only to
12d20 6f 6b 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 72 20 74 ok a second or t
12d30 77 6f 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 wo for her to re
12d40 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 alize what she s
12d50 61 77 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 aw did not look
12d60 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 female...He just
12d70 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 72 79 20 79 6f 75 looked very you
12d80 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 ng...The driver
12d90 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 gave her an appr
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12db0 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e impersonally in
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12dd0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 look that linge
12de0 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 red on the way h
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12e00 6e 64 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 66 69 74 20 68 nd t shirt fit h
12e10 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 er and would nor
12e20 6d 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 mally set her te
12e30 65 74 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 eth on edge, but
12e40 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 she just stared
12e50 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f at him for a mo
12e60 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 66 61 ment with his fa
12e70 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 73 70 61 72 74 61 shionably sparta
12e80 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c n, almost formal
12e90 20 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c cut, black coll
12ea0 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 arless shirt..."
12eb0 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 Aren't you kind
12ec0 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 of young for thi
12ed0 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f s sort of thing?
12ee0 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 " she blurted ou
12ef0 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 t...He jerked th
12f00 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 61 e focus of his a
12f10 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 qua eyes, reflec
12f20 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f ting the light o
12f30 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 f the moon, away
12f40 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 from the vicini
12f50 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 64 73 65 63 ty of her midsec
12f60 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 tion and met her
12f70 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 eyes. "Hey, la
12f80 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 dy, don't think
12f90 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e I'm new to this.
12fa0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 I'm armed, so
12fb0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 72 don't jerk me ar
12fc0 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 ound."..She hesi
12fd0 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 tated, then said
12fe0 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 "No, not a prob
12ff0 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 lem. You just,
13000 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d uhh, surprised m
13010 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 e. Sorry.".."Wh
13020 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 atever," he said
13030 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 , in a soft, cle
13040 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c ar voice that al
13050 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 most made it dif
13060 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e ficult to recogn
13070 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 ize the sour not
13080 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c e in it. "Here,
13090 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 look at this,"
130a0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c he said, and hel
130b0 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 d up a device th
130c0 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 e size of his pa
130d0 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 64 lm. A glowing d
130e0 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 62 isplay on it, ab
130f0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f out the length o
13100 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 f her own thumb
13110 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 and three times
13120 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 73 the thickness, s
13130 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 69 67 68 74 79 20 howed an eighty
13140 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 72 61 seven Stater tra
13150 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 nsaction ready f
13160 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 or him to confir
13170 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 m...She nodded,
13180 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 and said "Go ahe
13190 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 ad and send it t
131a0 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 o this escrow."
131b0 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 She pulled out
131c0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 20 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 61 the dog eared pa
131d0 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f ge of her notebo
131e0 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 ok without looki
131f0 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 ng at it, and ha
13200 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 nded it to the b
13210 6f 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 oy. He entered
13220 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 the escrow numbe
13230 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 r into his devic
13240 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 e and thumbed th
13250 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 e confirmation.
13260 20 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c A moment later,
13270 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 she heard the e
13280 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 74 68 72 6f scrow alert thro
13290 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 ugh her phone's
132a0 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 earpiece..."Done
132b0 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 ", he said..."He
132c0 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 22 20 re's the cash."
132d0 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 She hung her ri
132e0 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 ght thumb on her
132f0 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 front pocket, t
13300 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f hen reached into
13310 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 the car with he
13320 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 r left hand to p
13330 75 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e ull out the bag.
13340 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 She handed it
13350 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 to the boy...He
13360 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 took it, keeping
13370 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 his eyes on her
13380 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 , and stepped ba
13390 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 ck. He tossed t
133a0 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 he bag into the
133b0 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 car, then Alley
133c0 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 75 73 74 6c heard some rustl
133d0 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ing sounds from
133e0 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 the bag. After
133f0 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 a few moments, s
13400 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 68 6f 65 he realized whoe
13410 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 ver was sitting
13420 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 in the passenger
13430 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 seat had starte
13440 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c d counting. All
13450 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 73 ey and the boy s
13460 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b tood there, look
13470 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 ing at each othe
13480 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 r, as they waite
13490 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 76 6f 69 d. A girl's voi
134a0 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 ce -- unless it
134b0 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e was an even youn
134c0 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d 20 73 61 69 64 20 ger boy -- said
134d0 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 "It's all here."
134e0 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 ..The boy tapped
134f0 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 his device with
13500 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 his thumb once
13510 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 more, and said "
13520 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 Are we done?".."
13530 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 Not yet," she sa
13540 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 77 61 69 74 2e id. "Just wait.
13550 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 " Everyone wait
13560 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e ed. A few secon
13570 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 ds later, anothe
13580 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 69 6d 65 64 20 69 r alert chimed i
13590 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 n Alley's ear.
135a0 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 6e "Okay, we're don
135b0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 e.".."Good," he
135c0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 said, and sat ba
135d0 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 ck in his car wi
135e0 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 71 75 th surprising qu
135f0 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ickness...Alley
13600 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 75 72 sat down and hur
13610 72 69 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 riedly pulled he
13620 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 r door shut. Th
13630 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b e crossover back
13640 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 69 63 6b ed out and quick
13650 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 ly drove away, w
13660 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 hile she was sti
13670 6c 6c 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 ll buckling her
13680 73 65 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 seatbelt. Soon
13690 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e she, too, was on
136a0 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 the road..."It
136b0 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 is too early to
136c0 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e be sure that wen
136d0 74 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 t well," the pri
136e0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a oritizer said...
136f0 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 "Yeah. I should
13700 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 check my Stater
13710 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 balance." She
13720 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 73 65 74 pulled over, set
13730 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 aside her glass
13740 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 es so they would
13750 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 n't record what
13760 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 she saw, picked
13770 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e up her phone, an
13780 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 d looked at the
13790 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 open ledger view
137a0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 . She now had a
137b0 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e Stater balance.
137c0 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 She stared at
137d0 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a it for a while..
137e0 0a 22 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ."Is everything
137f0 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 correct?" the pr
13800 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ioritizer asked.
13810 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 ..She nodded, th
13820 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 70 en realized it p
13830 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 robably couldn't
13840 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 tell she nodded
13850 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 when she wasn't
13860 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 wearing the gla
13870 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 sses. "Yeah, it
13880 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 's all there. I
13890 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 s there any way
138a0 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 this can somehow
138b0 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 20 6e 6f get reversed no
138c0 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 w?".."No," the p
138d0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e rioritizer said.
138e0 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 69 "If it shows i
138f0 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 n your balance,
13900 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e that should mean
13910 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e the transaction
13920 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 crossed the poi
13930 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c nt of no return,
13940 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 according to th
13950 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e e Stater documen
13960 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f ts you showed to
13970 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 79 6f 75 72 me through your
13980 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 glasses.".."Oka
13990 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 y." She locked
139a0 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 6f 73 73 65 her phone, tosse
139b0 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 d it on the pass
139c0 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 enger seat, and
139d0 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 started driving
139e0 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 again..."Perhaps
139f0 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 61 72 you should wear
13a00 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 the glasses aga
13a10 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 in.".."Oh, right
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13a60 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 them on her face
13a70 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 22 49 20 once more. "I
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13ad0 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 ."Yes. You shou
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13af0 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 65 72 20 74 6f 6e e to a buyer ton
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13b60 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 6c with the cancell
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13b90 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 service.".."Yeah
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13bb0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 aid. "I hope th
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13bd0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 .".."It should."
13be0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 ..She drove home
13bf0 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 6f 63 63 in silence, occ
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13cf0 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 it was supposed
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13d20 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 . After closing
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13d70 6f 72 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 or large differe
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13e50 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 65 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 universe...She f
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13e80 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 one that did not
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13eb0 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 a few hours bef
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13ed0 20 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 Open Marrakesh
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14070 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c 65 20 63 72 79 70 a multiple cryp
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140b0 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a what was left..
140c0 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 ."Should I make
140d0 74 68 69 73 20 64 65 61 6c 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 this deal?" she
140e0 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a asked the air...
140f0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
14100 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 69 73 answered. "This
14110 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 76 65 looks like a ve
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14140 66 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 found.".."Yeah,"
14150 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 46 69 6e she said. "Fin
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142c0 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 20 72 65 70 6c She sent a repl
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142f0 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 62 65 64 2e 20 ready for bed.
14300 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 70 6c She had no repl
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14330 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 turned in...The
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143c0 20 73 75 70 65 72 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 69 6e 20 supermarket in
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143e0 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 She checked the
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144a0 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 on fire when th
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145c0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 67 75 6e and selling gun
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14670 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 2e 20 20 53 en Marrakesh. S
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146f0 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 locations for th
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14740 6d 65 65 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f meet, so she cho
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148f0 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 ...She realized
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14af0 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 .When she was re
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14b40 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 She looked up th
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14b60 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 case, and in a
14b70 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 few minutes she
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14bd0 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 property. A few
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14bf0 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 72 65 76 65 61 searching revea
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14c20 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 66 66 er could not aff
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14c40 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 63 6f 75 an extended cou
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14c60 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 nded up having t
14c70 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 o accept the cou
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14cb0 6e 74 73 27 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 nts' home. The
14cc0 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 70 65 72 74 79 20 second property
14cd0 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 owner ended up h
14ce0 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e aving to move in
14cf0 74 6f 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 6e 74 to a weekly rent
14d00 61 6c 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 2e 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 al motel...That
14d10 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 70 70 was not the happ
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14d30 61 6e 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 anted...She head
14d40 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c ed out the door,
14d50 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 6e 61 77 69 6e mentally gnawin
14d60 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 6a 75 73 74 69 g on the injusti
14d70 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 2f ce of it all.../
14d80 2a 20 72 65 77 72 69 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 * rewrite the ab
14d90 6f 76 65 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 20 61 20 70 61 72 ove to use a par
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14db0 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 73 20 69 6e 64 69 meeting, as indi
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14dd0 74 65 61 64 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 tead */..Alley h
14de0 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 68 65 72 20 ad to check her
14df0 63 6f 6d 70 61 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f compass again to
14e00 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 70 be sure which p
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14e30 65 64 20 75 70 20 73 6e 61 63 6b 20 73 74 61 6e ed up snack stan
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14e60 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 bench with some
14e70 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 69 one sitting on i
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14ea0 63 61 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 79 20 car in the tiny
14eb0 70 61 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 74 2c 20 6f 6e 65 parking lot, one
14ec0 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 72 of only two car
14ed0 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 s there. The ot
14ee0 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 her was a black
14ef0 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 20 41 75 64 69 20 late model Audi
14f00 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e with a person in
14f10 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 73 65 61 74 2e the front seat.
14f20 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 77 65 The windows we
14f30 72 65 20 73 6f 20 64 61 72 6b 6c 79 20 74 69 6e re so darkly tin
14f40 74 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 75 73 70 65 63 74 65 ted she suspecte
14f50 64 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 69 6c 6c 65 d they were ille
14f60 67 61 6c 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 gal, so she had
14f70 6e 6f 20 69 64 65 61 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 no idea who was
14f80 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 sitting in the d
14f90 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 73 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 river's seat...A
14fa0 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 s she approached
14fb0 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 68 2c 20 73 68 65 20 the bench, she
14fc0 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 20 saw that a pale
14fd0 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 72 65 64 20 68 61 69 72 65 64 young red haired
14fe0 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 woman sat there
14ff0 20 69 6e 20 61 20 74 69 67 68 74 20 67 72 65 65 in a tight gree
15000 6e 20 74 20 73 68 69 72 74 2c 20 74 69 6e 79 20 n t shirt, tiny
15010 73 68 6f 72 74 73 2c 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 62 6c shorts, heavy bl
15020 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 61 20 62 6c 61 ack boots, a bla
15030 63 6b 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 ck mask, and bla
15040 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 ck gloves. Some
15050 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 68 65 61 70 20 73 kind of cheap s
15060 79 6e 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 ynthetic drawstr
15070 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6f ing bag rested o
15080 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 6e 63 68 20 62 65 73 69 n the bench besi
15090 64 65 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 de her, and she
150a0 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 had something li
150b0 6b 65 20 61 20 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 75 ke a tactical pu
150c0 72 73 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 rse on her other
150d0 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e side. She wasn
150e0 27 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 78 't what Alley ex
150f0 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f pected in an ano
15100 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 nymous gun parts
15110 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 trade...The red
15120 68 65 61 64 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 74 65 head watched ste
15130 61 64 69 6c 79 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 adily as Alley a
15140 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 pproached, with
15150 77 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 what turned out
15160 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 69 76 69 64 20 67 72 65 65 to be vivid gree
15170 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 63 n eyes. The lac
15180 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 k of freckles mi
15190 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 ght mean she was
151a0 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 72 not a natural r
151b0 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 edhead, but it a
151c0 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d lso might just m
151d0 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65 6d ean she got them
151e0 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 removed...The w
151f0 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 oman asked "Are
15200 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 you looking for
15210 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 someone?"..Alley
15220 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 stopped, a coup
15230 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 le meters away.
15240 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Yeah, I guess
15250 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 so. Is that the
15260 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 , uh . . ." she
15270 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 trailed off, and
15280 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 gestured at the
15290 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e drawstring bag.
152a0 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d 65 .."Printed frame
152b0 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 s?" the redhead
152c0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f asked...Alley no
152d0 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 dded...The redhe
152e0 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 ad pulled her ma
152f0 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f sk down and expo
15300 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 77 68 sed brilliant wh
15310 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 ite teeth with a
15320 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 broad smile. "
15330 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 Yeah, you found
15340 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 what you want.
15350 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 I'm Carmen." Sh
15360 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 e stood and offe
15370 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 68 red one gloved h
15380 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 and...Alley acce
15390 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 68 pted the quick h
153a0 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c andshake. "Mall
153b0 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 ory," she offere
153c0 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a d, on impulse...
153d0 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65 73 73 3a 20 49 "Let me guess: I
153e0 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 'm not what you
153f0 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 expected.".."I w
15400 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 asn't sure what
15410 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 to expect," Alle
15420 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 y admitted, "but
15430 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 yeah, I guess y
15440 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 ou surprised me
15450 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e anyway."..Carmen
15460 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 61 20 70 -- possibly a p
15470 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 seudonym, Alley
15480 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c realized -- smil
15490 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 ed again. "That
154a0 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6a 6f part of this jo
154b0 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 b never gets old
154c0 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e . Anyway, I wan
154d0 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e t to upsell you.
154e0 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 How's that sou
154f0 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 nd?".."Upsell?"
15500 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 Alley hesitated
15510 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 , then nodded.
15520 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 "Sure, I guess."
15530 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 .."Cool. So, we
15540 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 63 6f have printed co
15550 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 ncealment holste
15560 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e 20 61 63 63 65 rs, snap on acce
15570 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ssory rails, and
15580 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63 68 65 72 73 20 brass catchers
15590 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 for models compa
155a0 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 tible with these
155b0 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 frames. We hav
155c0 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 e stuff for othe
155d0 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 r models, too, s
155e0 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 o let me know wh
155f0 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f at you'd like to
15600 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 see.".."Wow. F
15610 75 6c 6c 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 49 20 67 ull service, I g
15620 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 uess.".."Totally
15630 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 74 75 67 67 65 !" Carmen tugge
15640 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 64 6f 77 6e d her shirt down
15650 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e slightly, makin
15660 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f g it a little mo
15670 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 re obvious she w
15680 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 asn't wearing a
15690 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 bra..."I think I
156a0 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 77 'll just stick w
156b0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 49 20 ith the order I
156c0 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e placed, for now.
156d0 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 I'll keep you
156e0 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 in mind if I nee
156f0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 d something else
15700 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d , though."..Carm
15710 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 en shrugged, and
15720 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 6c 69 the way she sli
15730 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 ghtly raised her
15740 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 arms as she did
15750 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 it made the shi
15760 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 rt tighten acros
15770 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 s her perky brea
15780 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 sts. "Okay!"..A
15790 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 lley took in the
157a0 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 display and sli
157b0 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 ghtly over the t
157c0 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 op cheeriness.
157d0 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e "Does that . . .
157e0 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e oh, never mind.
157f0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 I guess I shou
15800 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 ld just see the
15810 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 frames, now."..C
15820 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 armen narrowed h
15830 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 er eyes, almost
15840 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 73 75 but not quite su
15850 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 spiciously, and
15860 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e tilted her head.
15870 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 "No, wait. Wh
15880 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e at were you goin
15890 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 g to ask?".."Not
158a0 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 hing," Alley sai
158b0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 62 d. "I haven't b
158c0 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 63 69 61 62 6c een very sociabl
158d0 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f e lately, and fo
158e0 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 20 rget my manners
158f0 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f sometimes.".."Oo
15900 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 h, inappropriate
15910 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f questions. Tho
15920 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 se are my favori
15930 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 te kind. You sh
15940 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b ould totally ask
15950 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 !"..Alley signed
15960 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 . "I was just w
15970 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 ondering if you'
15980 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 re naturally thi
15990 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c s, uh, friendly,
159a0 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6c 69 or if you're li
159b0 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 ke this because
159c0 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 6c 6f it gets you a lo
159d0 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 t of upsells."
159e0 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2c 20 Carmen laughed,
159f0 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 and Alley found
15a00 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 it infectious.
15a10 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 She caught herse
15a20 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 lf snickering, t
15a30 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 oo..."Why do I t
15a40 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 hink you meant t
15a50 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72 74 79 27 20 69 o say 'flirty' i
15a60 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 72 69 65 6e nstead of 'frien
15a70 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 dly'?"..Alley sh
15a80 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 72 69 rugged. She tri
15a90 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f ed, with only mo
15aa0 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 derate success,
15ab0 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 to suppress her
15ac0 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 69 74 20 smile..."Was it
15ad0 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a that obvious?"..
15ae0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 Alley said "Yeah
15af0 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 , I guess so. S
15b00 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 orry.".."I guess
15b10 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 65 it's a bit of e
15b20 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 verything. I'm
15b30 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 usually pretty c
15b40 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 6c 69 66 66 heery, but Cliff
15b50 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 -- he's the guy
15b60 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 I work with --
15b70 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 65 63 69 Cliff and I deci
15b80 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 ded to try this
15b90 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b out. With the k
15ba0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69 74 69 6f 75 73 ind of ambitious
15bb0 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 74 72 61 young cryptotra
15bc0 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65 20 75 73 75 61 der guys we usua
15bd0 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 lly get, the ups
15be0 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 ells and repeat
15bf0 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 67 65 74 20 business we get
15c00 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 77 68 65 6e goes way up when
15c10 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 74 I'm doing the t
15c20 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 79 rades. In two y
15c30 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 ears, we only ha
15c40 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 d one guy who de
15c50 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 cided me being a
15c60 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 pretty girl mad
15c70 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 61 72 e me an easy tar
15c80 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 get, too, so it'
15c90 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22 0a s pretty safe.".
15ca0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 .Alley frowned.
15cb0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Yeah," she sai
15cc0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 d. "I guess tha
15cd0 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 57 t's a danger. W
15ce0 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a hat happened?"..
15cf0 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d "Oh, shit," Carm
15d00 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6d en said. "You m
15d10 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20 61 74 20 74 68 ust be new at th
15d20 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 70 75 6c is. Well, I pul
15d30 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 62 61 74 6f 6e led out my baton
15d40 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 70 75 74 20 61 and Cliff put a
15d50 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 red dot on the
15d60 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74 20 77 69 74 68 guy's chest with
15d70 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20 73 69 67 68 74 the laser sight
15d80 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 on his rifle.
15d90 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 64 The guy backed d
15da0 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 72 72 79 2e 20 own in a hurry.
15db0 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e Are you carryin
15dc0 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a g protection?"..
15dd0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 Alley started op
15de0 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 ening her mouth
15df0 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 61 to reply, but Ca
15e00 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 67 61 69 rmen cut in agai
15e10 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 n..."No, don't t
15e20 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 ell me what you'
15e30 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 6f re carrying. Yo
15e40 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 u shouldn't get
15e50 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 in the habit of
15e60 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 telling people s
15e70 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 tuff like that.
15e80 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 Get yourself th
15e90 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 ree things, if y
15ea0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 ou don't already
15eb0 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 have 'em. You
15ec0 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 61 need pepper spra
15ed0 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69 63 20 72 65 70 y or a sonic rep
15ee0 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 ellant, a collap
15ef0 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 sing baton, and
15f00 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 backup who knows
15f10 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 what he's doing
15f20 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a , like Cliff."..
15f30 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c "Uh, thanks," Al
15f40 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 6e ley said. "Aren
15f50 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 't those collaps
15f60 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 ing batons illeg
15f70 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 43 61 6c al?".."Yeah, Cal
15f80 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63 6b 73 20 74 68 ifornia sucks th
15f90 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69 72 6c 73 20 61 at way. Girls a
15fa0 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f ren't allowed to
15fb0 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c protect themsel
15fc0 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 ves, you know."
15fd0 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 She pulled some
15fe0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 thing about the
15ff0 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 size of a whiteb
16000 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 oard marker out
16010 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b of her back pock
16020 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 et. "See this?
16030 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 This is a good
16040 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c baton."..Alley l
16050 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c 61 ooked at the bla
16060 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 6d ck anodized alum
16070 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 inum cylinder wh
16080 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 en Carmen held i
16090 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f t up. It had so
160a0 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 me kind of logo
160b0 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 on it and a coup
160c0 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 le of depressed
160d0 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 ovals on the sid
160e0 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 e..."Push these
160f0 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 two spots to pop
16100 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 it out. Just p
16110 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f ush the second o
16120 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 75 ne, here, and pu
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16140 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 end against some
16150 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 63 6f thing hard to co
16160 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e llapse the baton
16170 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 back into the h
16180 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a andle. Yeah?"..
16190 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 Alley nodded. "
161a0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 I guess that's a
161b0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 good design, th
161c0 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 en.".."Totally.
161d0 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 72 65 With the two re
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161f0 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 u're not likely
16200 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 to accidentally
16210 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 pop it out when
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16240 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 20 61 is more solid a
16250 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 74 nd easier to ret
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16270 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6a ings where you j
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162c0 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 61 ese, and it's ea
162d0 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 20 69 74 20 73 6f sy to toss it so
162e0 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 63 mewhere before c
162f0 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 69 ops get to you i
16300 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 20 f you're afraid
16310 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 67 68 of getting caugh
16320 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c t with a conceal
16330 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 ed weapon, or if
16340 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c you cut a littl
16350 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e e hole in the in
16360 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 side of your poc
16370 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 ket when you're
16380 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 79 6f wearing pants yo
16390 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 20 64 6f u can drop it do
163a0 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 wn your pant leg
163b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 74 65 70 , and maybe step
163c0 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 69 on it to hide i
163d0 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 t while getting
163e0 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 patted down, or
163f0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 something. Ther
16400 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 e are a bunch of
16410 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 61 ways to get awa
16420 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 y with it..."Her
16430 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 e." She held it
16440 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 out to Alley, w
16450 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 ho started to re
16460 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 44 6f ach for it. "Do
16470 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 n't try opening
16480 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 61 it here, but pra
16490 63 74 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 20 61 74 ctice with it at
164a0 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 home. That way
164b0 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 you don't have
164c0 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 to worry about g
164d0 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 62 75 etting caught bu
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164f0 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 e our pistol fra
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16510 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 e with one of th
16520 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b ese in your pock
16530 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 et is illegal, a
16540 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a nd a cop might j
16550 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 ust try selling
16560 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 67 65 one to you to ge
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16580 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c arass you."..All
16590 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 ey froze with he
165a0 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 74 r hand halfway t
165b0 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 o the baton hand
165c0 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 69 le. "Are you gi
165d0 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f ving this to me?
165e0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 " she asked..."Y
165f0 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 eah. Uh, just a
16600 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 sec'," Carmen s
16610 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 aid. She lowere
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16630 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 69 74 20 the baton in it
16640 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 and looked towar
16650 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 2e 20 20 22 59 65 d the Audi. "Ye
16660 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 67 69 s, Cliff, I'm gi
16670 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 ving her the fuc
16680 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 27 6c king baton. I'l
16690 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 l just buy anoth
166a0 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 er one! Chill t
166b0 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 he fuck out."..A
166c0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 lley lowered her
166d0 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 hand and turned
166e0 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f her head to loo
166f0 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 65 64 20 k at the parked
16700 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 sedan...Carmen g
16710 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 77 rabbed Alley's w
16720 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 rist and pressed
16730 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 the collapsing
16740 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 baton into her h
16750 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f and. "Don't loo
16760 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 k at it. Just p
16770 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f ut it in your po
16780 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b cket. Don't mak
16790 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 e Cliff nervous
167a0 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 by standing here
167b0 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 20 69 with a weapon i
167c0 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 65 76 65 n your hand, eve
167d0 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 n if it's one I
167e0 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c gave you.".."Uh,
167f0 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 yeah," Alley sa
16800 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 20 69 id, and tucked i
16810 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 t into her back
16820 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 pocket. "Thanks
16830 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 ." She showed h
16840 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 er empty hands t
16850 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 o Carmen, where
16860 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 the person in th
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16880 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 6a them as well, j
16890 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 73 20 68 61 72 ust to be as har
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168b0 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 she could manag
168c0 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c e..."Yeah, well,
168d0 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 67 6f 74 74 61 20 us girls gotta
168e0 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 stick together.
168f0 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 Right?"..Alley
16900 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 nodded..."Good.
16910 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 Let's finish th
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16930 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 et in touch some
16940 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 time if you thi
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16970 64 20 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 d of work, too.
16980 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 We're getting a
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169a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 , and could use
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169c0 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 e probably prett
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169e0 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2c 20 65 61 73 the upsells, eas
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16a10 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d ook behind the m
16a20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 ask.".."I'll kee
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16a40 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 ..Carmen grabbed
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16a80 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 ."..---..At home
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16b50 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 the drawstring b
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18140 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 then offered th
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18170 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 his head. "Just
18180 20 6c 65 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 leave it on the
18190 20 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 79 6f ground, then yo
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181b0 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 and count what's
181c0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 in the envelope
181d0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 64 69 64 ."..As Alley did
181e0 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 as he suggested
181f0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 63 72 , she saw him cr
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18210 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 6e 64 2c With one hand,
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18240 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 2e the drawstring.
18250 20 20 48 65 20 6b 65 70 74 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 He kept his ey
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18280 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 looking at what
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182d0 74 68 65 20 75 6d 62 72 65 6c 6c 61 20 6f 76 65 the umbrella ove
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18300 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 68 65 20 67 opened up, he g
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18330 20 74 68 65 6e 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 6a 65 then quickly je
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18360 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e closed...The man
18370 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e slowly stood an
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183a0 67 2e 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 63 6c g...After she cl
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183c0 65 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 68 65 20 e once more, he
183d0 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 said "I guess I'
183e0 6d 20 74 72 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 73 65 m trusting these
183f0 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f aren't going to
18400 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 turn out to be
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18450 65 72 66 65 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 erfeit."..Alley
18460 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e hesitated, and n
18470 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 odded..."If ther
18480 65 27 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 20 49 e's a problem, I
18490 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 69 'll try contacti
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184b0 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 way we set this
184c0 75 70 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 up. Yeah?".."Ye
184d0 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e ah," she echoed.
184e0 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 69 .."If I can't fi
184f0 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c nd you that way,
18500 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 I'll track you
18510 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 down so we can t
18520 61 6c 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 alk."..After a f
18530 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 ew seconds, she
18540 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 remembered to br
18550 65 61 74 68 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 79 6f 75 eathe. "No, you
18560 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 'll be able to g
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18580 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 same way we set
18590 74 68 69 73 20 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 6c this up. That'l
185a0 6c 20 62 65 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f l be fine.".."Go
185b0 6f 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 66 69 6e od. You can fin
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185e0 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 settle a proble
185f0 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 67 61 m with what I ga
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18610 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 64 6f 69 dded..."Good doi
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18630 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 you," he said.
18640 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 66 69 72 "You can go fir
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18660 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 ".."Sure," she s
18670 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f aid. "Have a go
18680 6f 64 20 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 od day."..He nod
18690 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 ded...She backed
186a0 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 73 away a couple s
186b0 74 65 70 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 65 teps, then turne
186c0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 d and continued
186d0 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f until she got to
186e0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 the corner. Sh
186f0 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 e glanced back t
18700 77 69 63 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 wice along the w
18710 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f ay, then once mo
18720 72 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 re just before g
18730 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 oing around the
18740 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 corner of the bu
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18760 63 61 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 car once more, s
18770 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 he started it up
18780 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 69 6d 6c 65 and drove aimle
18790 73 73 6c 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 ssly around for
187a0 68 61 6c 66 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 74 half an hour unt
187b0 69 6c 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 74 6f il her hands sto
187c0 70 70 65 64 20 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 pped shaking and
187d0 20 68 65 72 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 6a 61 her clenched ja
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187f0 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 headed home..."W
18800 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d 20 hat the fuck am
18810 49 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 I actually doing
18820 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 ?" she asked her
18830 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 74 self...---..Sitt
18840 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 63 68 ing on her couch
18850 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 again, Alley sa
18860 69 64 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c id "I don't feel
18870 20 73 61 66 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b safe with the k
18880 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 20 inds of deals I
18890 6d 61 64 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 made today."..Th
188a0 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 e prioritizer sa
188b0 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 id "You did not
188c0 73 70 65 63 69 66 79 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 68 specify a very h
188d0 69 67 68 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 igh preference f
188e0 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 45 73 74 69 or safety. Esti
188f0 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 64 69 63 61 74 65 mations indicate
18900 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 the chance of p
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18920 6d 65 73 20 69 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f 77 20 mes is very low
18930 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 for these transa
18940 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 ctions, though s
18950 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 68 everity may be h
18960 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 74 igh for poor out
18970 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 comes..."I will
18980 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 73 74 72 61 74 reconsider strat
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189a0 63 74 69 76 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 ctivities with a
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189e0 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 72 61 74 68 ty outcomes rath
189f0 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 69 6e er than acceptin
18a00 67 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 g higher severit
18a10 79 20 72 69 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b y risk.".."Thank
18a20 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 s.".."You are we
18a30 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 lcome.".."What's
18a40 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 next, then?"..T
18a50 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
18a60 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 aid "I am recons
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18a90 20 72 69 73 6b 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 risk assessment
18aa0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e prioritization.
18ab0 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 This may take
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18ad0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 .Alley looked at
18ae0 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 66 the envelope of
18af0 20 63 61 73 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c cash, then pull
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18b10 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 and counted the
18b20 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 m again. They a
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18b40 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 xpected, but the
18b50 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
18b60 64 20 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 d "Please count
18b70 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 them again.".."W
18b80 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 hat? Why?".."Wh
18b90 69 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 2c ile you counted,
18ba0 20 2f 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 /* it looked li
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18bc0 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 61 ne of them appea
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18be0 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 r than standard
18bf0 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 65 United States fe
18c00 64 65 72 61 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e 6f deral reserve no
18c10 74 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 70 tes, and also ap
18c20 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 72 peared to be ver
18c30 79 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 y new. Perhaps
18c40 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e 6f some of these no
18c50 74 65 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 tes is a counter
18c60 66 65 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f feit. Please co
18c70 75 6e 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 unt again while
18c80 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 I watch."..Alley
18c90 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 frowned at the
18ca0 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 stack, and start
18cb0 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 ed counting agai
18cc0 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 n. Toward the e
18cd0 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 nd, she hesitate
18ce0 64 20 6f 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 d on one of the
18cf0 66 65 77 20 6e 65 77 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 few new looking
18d00 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 bills in the sta
18d10 63 6b 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 69 ck, with a feeli
18d20 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ng like somethin
18d30 67 20 77 61 73 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 g was wrong..."T
18d40 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 hat is the note
18d50 77 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 whose thickness
18d60 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6e appears to be in
18d70 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 correct."..Alley
18d80 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f pulled it out o
18d90 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 f the stack and
18da0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 20 looked closer.
18db0 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 20 It felt stiffer
18dc0 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2c than most bills,
18dd0 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 but that could
18de0 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 69 just be due to i
18df0 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 t being new. Sh
18e00 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 67 e rubbed it to g
18e10 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 et a feel for it
18e20 73 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 s surface, and i
18e30 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f t separated into
18e40 20 74 77 6f 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 two bills. "Oh
18e50 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 , shit," she sai
18e60 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 d. "That scary
18e70 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 20 war veteran guy
18e80 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 76 accidentally gav
18e90 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 68 75 e me an extra hu
18ea0 6e 64 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 57 ndred. Fuck. W
18eb0 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 hat if it wasn't
18ec0 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 4d an accident? M
18ed0 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74 aybe it's a test
18ee0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 .".."That seems
18ef0 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 extremely unlike
18f00 6c 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ly," the priorit
18f10 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 izer said..."Yea
18f20 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e h." She sighed.
18f30 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 "I guess you'r
18f40 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c e right, actuall
18f50 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 y.".."I have a p
18f60 6c 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f lan of action to
18f70 20 70 72 6f 70 6f 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6d propose for tom
18f80 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 orrow."..Alley s
18f90 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 74 tarted to nod, t
18fa0 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 hen looked at th
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18fc0 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 57 in her hand. "W
18fd0 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 ait. I should g
18fe0 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 61 ive this bill ba
18ff0 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 ck to that guy."
19000 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 .."For a high pr
19010 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 iority aversion
19020 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 to high severity
19030 20 72 69 73 6b 73 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 risks, this is
19040 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 not a good choic
19050 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 e. You should a
19060 76 6f 69 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 void meeting wit
19070 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 h people with a
19080 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 66 high potential f
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190a0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 69 lley laughed qui
190b0 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 etly. "Yeah," s
190c0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 65 he said, "you're
190d0 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 right. I got t
190e0 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6d 65 65 74 69 hrough one meeti
190f0 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 72 6f 75 62 ng without troub
19100 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6c 72 65 le with him alre
19110 61 64 79 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 63 ady. Should I c
19120 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 ount that as my
19130 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 lucky break, and
19140 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 forget about hi
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19160 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 evidence that I
19170 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 6e might not be in
19180 20 61 6e 79 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 69 66 20 49 any danger if I
19190 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 meet him again
191a0 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 to give back his
191b0 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 misplaced money
191c0 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 ?.."It doesn't f
191d0 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 eel right, just
191e0 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 keeping his mone
191f0 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 y, though.".."Wh
19200 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 y do you feel th
19210 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 at way?" the pri
19220 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a oritizer asked..
19230 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 ."It's dishonest
19240 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 ," she said..."Y
19250 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 74 ou did not lie t
19260 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e 22 o him.".."True."
19270 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 69 .."Did you reali
19280 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 ze there might b
19290 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 61 e more money tha
192a0 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f n he intended to
192b0 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 give you when y
192c0 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 ou counted the f
192d0 69 72 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f irst time?".."No
192e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 .".."How is that
192f0 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c dishonest?"..Al
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1e5b0 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 20 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e ..."Self taught.
1e5c0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 "..Alley started
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1e640 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c of Coke. "Here,
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1e900 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e He stopped movin
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1ea50 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c scared now..."L
1ea60 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 76 65 ook, I know Dave
1ea70 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 looks like he p
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1ea90 74 68 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 2c th for a living,
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1ead0 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 and he's about
1eae0 61 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 as gentle as a d
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1eb10 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 ts I had him mac
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1eb30 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
1eb40 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 box and shifted
1eb50 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 79 20 6f uncomfortably o
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1eb70 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 h, right," he sa
1eb80 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 id. "No, they a
1eb90 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c ren't gun parts,
1eba0 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 either. They'r
1ebb0 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 e parts for a cu
1ebc0 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 stom prosthetic
1ebd0 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 arm I'm building
1ebe0 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 for a little gi
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1ec00 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 61 69 back in her chai
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1ec40 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 73 77 61 6c 6c 6f n. After swallo
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1ec60 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e Really?".."Yeah.
1ec70 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 One of the guy
1ec80 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 s getting the gu
1ec90 6e 73 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 ns I put togethe
1eca0 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 r with the frame
1ecb0 73 20 49 20 62 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 61 73 20 74 s I bought has t
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1ecd0 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 daughter, nine y
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1ed30 72 6f 74 65 73 74 65 72 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 rotesters at the
1ed40 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 [ SOMETHING ] s
1ed50 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 73 73 61 63 72 65 2e 20 treet massacre.
1ed60 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e She's outgrowin
1ed70 67 20 74 68 65 20 61 72 6d 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 g the arm I made
1ed80 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 for her a year
1ed90 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a ago, already."..
1eda0 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 "Oh. Right. Th
1edb0 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ere's something
1edc0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 about the guns."
1edd0 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 ..He looked at h
1ede0 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 er, sidelong. "
1edf0 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f What about them?
1ee00 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 " he asked..."Uh
1ee10 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f , after I got ho
1ee20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 me, I realized y
1ee30 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d ou gave me too m
1ee40 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 uch money.".."Wh
1ee50 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 at do you mean?
1ee60 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 I paid what we
1ee70 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 agreed, and the
1ee80 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 frames were all
1ee90 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f good."..She shoo
1eea0 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 k her head. "Th
1eeb0 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 ere were two bra
1eec0 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 nd new hundreds
1eed0 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 stuck together.
1eee0 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 I got an extra
1eef0 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 hundred dollars
1ef00 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 by accident."..H
1ef10 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e e stared at her.
1ef20 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 .."I, uh, don't
1ef30 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c have it with me,
1ef40 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 " she said. "Ma
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1ef60 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74 ack tomorrow wit
1ef70 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c h it."..George l
1ef80 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 aughed. It was
1ef90 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 a warm, surprise
1efa0 64 2c 20 64 65 65 70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 2c 20 61 d, deep laugh, a
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1efe0 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 herself..."No,
1eff0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 don't do that,"
1f000 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 he said, a hint
1f010 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c of chuckle still
1f020 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 in his voice.
1f030 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 "Y'know what? I
1f040 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 like you, Alley
1f050 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 . I even like t
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1f070 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 describes where
1f080 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a we first met.".
1f090 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley smiled.
1f0a0 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61 "Thanks. What a
1f0b0 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 bout your hundre
1f0c0 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 d dollars, thoug
1f0d0 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 h?".."Keep it.
1f0e0 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 I'll survive wit
1f0f0 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 hout it, and I d
1f100 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 on't think you'd
1f110 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 drive all the w
1f120 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 50 65 72 72 69 73 20 74 ay from Perris t
1f130 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 o Hunting Beach
1f140 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 at gig courier r
1f150 61 74 65 73 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 69 6e ates if your fin
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1f180 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He winked at
1f190 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 her. "You're g
1f1a0 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 ood people, Alle
1f1b0 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 y.".."Uh . . . t
1f1c0 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 hank you. Maybe
1f1d0 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a you are, too.".
1f1e0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 ."Yeah, maybe.
1f1f0 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 I hope so." He
1f200 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 turned back to t
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1f240 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 s, then flipped
1f250 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 6f 66 the top flaps of
1f260 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 48 the box out. H
1f270 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 66 74 e carefully lift
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1f2b0 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 g packing paper
1f2c0 62 65 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 behind...As he s
1f2d0 65 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 20 6f et each bundle o
1f2e0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 n the silicone t
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1f300 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 over everything
1f310 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 silently, Alley
1f320 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 sat and sipped h
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1f340 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 ng to disturb hi
1f350 73 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 68 61 6e s work. His han
1f360 64 73 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 ds seemed precis
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1f380 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e ticular spots on
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1f400 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 64 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 like meditative
1f410 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 psychometry...He
1f420 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 split a couple
1f430 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f of the bundles o
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1f470 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 He set them as
1f480 69 64 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 ide, the bundles
1f490 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 slightly splaye
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1f4d0 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f Finally, he sto
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1f4f0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 t you long enoug
1f500 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 h." He lifted t
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1f530 70 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 61 6b pe. "Here. Tak
1f540 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 e this back to D
1f550 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 ave, for the sec
1f560 6f 6e 64 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 2e 22 20 20 ond delivery."
1f570 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 He held it out t
1f580 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 o her...She nodd
1f590 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 ed. "Sure.".."A
1f5a0 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 re you saving up
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1f5c0 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f or going back to
1f5d0 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 school?"..Alley
1f5e0 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d hesitated a mom
1f5f0 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ent. "Why?"..He
1f600 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 shrugged. "Cur
1f610 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 ious.".."Not exa
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1f630 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 g to dig myself
1f640 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 22 0a out of a hole.".
1f650 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ."Debts?"..She s
1f660 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
1f670 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 "I had a strange
1f680 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e career path, an
1f690 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 d it's dying. I
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1f6f0 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ing on that.".."
1f700 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 Ah. Reinventing
1f710 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 yourself. The
1f720 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 73 6f world changes so
1f730 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 fast it's hard
1f740 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c to keep up."..Al
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1f760 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 stopped, and sh
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1f780 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e in. "I don't kn
1f790 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 ow," she says.
1f7a0 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 "A lot of people
1f7b0 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f seem to have no
1f7c0 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 problem. They
1f7d0 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f just go to schoo
1f7e0 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f l, get a piece o
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1f820 74 69 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d tire.".."It seem
1f830 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f s that way," Geo
1f840 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d rge said, "but m
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1f860 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 t really do that
1f870 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 .".."What do you
1f880 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 mean?".."More a
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1f960 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 but maybe you're
1f970 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 looking in the
1f980 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e wrong direction.
1f990 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 " He leaned for
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1f9b0 68 2c 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f h, rested his fo
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1f9e0 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 his hands like h
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1fa30 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 helf as he spoke
1fa40 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 again. "It's e
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1fa60 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 72 65 other people are
1fa70 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b doing and think
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1fb30 20 64 65 65 70 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 73 69 64 deep down insid
1fb40 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 e, thinks 'I mus
1fb50 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 t be the only pe
1fb60 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 rson who can't r
1fb70 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 74 20 eally figure it
1fb80 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 out.' They're a
1fb90 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 ll up to their e
1fba0 79 65 62 61 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 74 2c yeballs in debt,
1fbb0 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b living paycheck
1fbc0 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 to paycheck..."
1fbd0 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 There are a few
1fbe0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 people who have
1fbf0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 things sorted ou
1fc00 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 t pretty well, p
1fc10 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 rudent people wh
1fc20 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 65 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 66 65 o played it safe
1fc30 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d most of the tim
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1fc60 69 74 69 65 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 ities when they
1fc70 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c came, and were l
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1fc90 65 74 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 et ahead that wa
1fca0 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d y. Many of them
1fcb0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c don't even real
1fcc0 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 73 65 ize they're inse
1fcd0 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 cure and confuse
1fce0 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 d all the time,
1fcf0 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 because they got
1fd00 20 73 6f 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 74 20 6c 79 69 6e so good at lyin
1fd10 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 g to people abou
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1fd30 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6e 76 69 6e 63 65 64 e even convinced
1fd40 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 themselves..."T
1fd50 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 here are others
1fd60 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 62 65 who really do be
1fd70 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 lieve they have
1fd80 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 75 72 everything figur
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1fda0 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 65 76 65 way they're eve
1fdb0 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 n right about th
1fdc0 61 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 61 at, but not in a
1fdd0 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 way anyone shou
1fde0 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 ld have things f
1fdf0 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 igured out. The
1fe00 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 y lie and cheat
1fe10 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 and steal, maybe
1fe20 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 even kill with
1fe30 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 the stroke of a
1fe40 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 72 20 pen or an Enter
1fe50 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 key, and make it
1fe60 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72 to the top over
1fe70 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 69 65 mounds of bodie
1fe80 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 s, metaphorical
1fe90 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d a lot of the tim
1fea0 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 e, but literal b
1feb0 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e odies sometimes.
1fec0 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a .."My advice is:
1fed0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 don't be like a
1fee0 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 ny of them." He
1fef0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 looked at her a
1ff00 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 gain, caught her
1ff10 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 gaze, and she f
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1ff30 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c ysical force hol
1ff40 64 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 ding it. "There
1ff50 27 73 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 's always someth
1ff60 69 6e 67 20 77 65 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c ing we overlook,
1ff70 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 because there's
1ff80 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 always too much
1ff90 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 to see to have
1ffa0 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 20 61 time to see it a
1ffb0 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ll. Don't just
1ffc0 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c close your eyes,
1ffd0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 20 74 though. Keep t
1ffe0 68 65 6d 20 6f 70 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 hem open, and se
1fff0 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e ize what you fin
20000 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 d as a path that
20010 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 59 feels right. Y
20020 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 ou don't have ti
20030 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e me for everythin
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20060 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 for something, a
20070 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 nd you should sp
20080 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 end it on someth
20090 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 ing good."..He s
200a0 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 at back again, r
200b0 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 esting his open
200c0 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 hands on the top
200d0 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2e s of his thighs.
200e0 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 .."Look at me, g
200f0 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f etting all philo
20100 73 6f 70 68 69 63 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f sophical with yo
20110 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 u. If what I'm
20120 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d saying doesn't m
20130 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6a ake any sense, j
20140 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 ust ignore me.
20150 49 27 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 I'm an old man,
20160 61 6e 64 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 and I've seen a
20170 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 lot, but I don't
20180 20 65 76 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 even understand
20190 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 most of what I
201a0 73 61 77 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 20 66 saw myself. I f
201b0 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 eel like I under
201c0 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 stand less, the
201d0 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 more I see."..Sh
201e0 65 20 71 75 69 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f e quirked one co
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20200 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 . "You give bet
20210 74 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ter advice than
20220 4f 62 69 20 57 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 Obi Wan."..Georg
20230 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 e chuckled. "I
20240 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6a hope so. He's j
20250 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 ust some charact
20260 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er on paper, and
20270 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 a good actor.
20280 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 Anyway, I don't
20290 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 2c really know you,
202a0 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c so I don't real
202b0 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 76 65 ly know if I eve
202c0 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 20 n have any idea
202d0 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e what you're goin
202e0 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 g through or wha
202f0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e t you need. Don
20300 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 't feel like you
20310 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d have to humor m
20320 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 e.".."Maybe I st
20330 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 arted out thinki
20340 6e 67 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 6d 6f ng I should humo
20350 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 r you, but now I
20360 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 just want to ta
20370 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d lk to you some m
20380 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ore." She looke
20390 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 d at a ticking c
203a0 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 lock on an end t
203b0 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f able. "Maybe no
203c0 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 t now, though.
203d0 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 It's getting lat
203e0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 e.".."Yeah," he
203f0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f said, "go drop o
20400 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 ff that envelope
20410 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 , then get home
20420 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e 20 20 4e 65 76 65 and sleep. Neve
20430 72 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 r underestimate
20440 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f the importance o
20450 66 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 f a good night's
20460 20 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f rest. That's o
20470 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 69 ne piece of advi
20480 63 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f ce I know is goo
20490 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a d, for anyone.".
204a0 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e ."Thanks."..He n
204b0 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 odded, then rose
204c0 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 and headed for
204d0 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 75 6e the door. He un
204e0 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 locked it as she
204f0 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 approached and
20500 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c opened the door,
20510 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 then stepped ou
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20530 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 er and looked ar
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20550 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 to her as she f
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20570 20 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 "Be careful ou
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20590 72 6c 64 27 73 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 rld's a surprisi
205a0 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ng place.".."Yea
205b0 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e h.".."If you wan
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205d0 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 nd at something
205e0 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 27 way outside of '
205f0 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 normal' as a new
20600 20 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 6c path in life, l
20610 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 ook me up. I mi
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20630 64 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 deas. Otherwise
20640 2c 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 , I wish you the
20650 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 best at whateve
20660 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 r you find.".."T
20670 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 hanks," she said
20680 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 again. "How sh
20690 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f ould I get in to
206a0 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 uch?"..He scoffe
206b0 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 d at himself. "
206c0 52 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 Right -- forgot
206d0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 2e about that part.
206e0 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 " He pulled out
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20700 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 slipped out a b
20710 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 63 61 72 64 2c 20 6e 6f usiness card, no
20720 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 61 6e longer crisp an
20730 64 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 79 6f d new. "Here yo
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20750 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 it, and saw tha
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207b0 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 75 62 .."That's my pub
207c0 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b lic encryption k
207d0 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ey," he said. "
207e0 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 63 If you don't enc
207f0 72 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 rypt the message
20800 2c 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 , it goes straig
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20820 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 you know how to
20830 75 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d use encrypted em
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20850 0a 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 ."I use pubkey e
20860 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c ncryption for cl
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20880 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f " she said..."Go
20890 6f 64 20 67 69 72 6c 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 od girl. You're
208a0 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 68 65 already way ahe
208b0 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 ad of the pack.
208c0 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 Good night, now
208d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c .".."Good night,
208e0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 " she said with
208f0 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 a smile, and hea
20900 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a ded to her car..
20910 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 .She glanced bac
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20930 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 , and saw him ke
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20950 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e only stepped in
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20a20 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 clients she had
20a30 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 . Maybe, she th
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20ab0 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 of that really r
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20ad0 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 ...She worried a
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20af0 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d then found her m
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20b20 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a the thought.../*
20b30 0a 0a 53 55 4d 4d 41 52 59 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ..SUMMARY:..Alle
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20b50 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 discussing plans
20b60 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 with the priori
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20c50 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 expect. They w
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20c90 22 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 77 "conversation" w
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219f0 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 49 74 What's this? It
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21f90 20 66 6f 72 20 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 for Professor G
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21fe0 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f ?" he asked..."O
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22010 61 79 20 73 6f 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c ay so?" She hel
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220d0 64 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 did, but I don't
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220f0 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 77 6f 72 64 20 6f 66 20 74 single word of t
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22130 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 61 72 well.".."Why ar
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22170 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 72 65 sked..."Let's re
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221d0 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 frowned, and as
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221f0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 68 6f oked at your pho
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22230 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 70 6c 61 79 like we're play
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22250 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 ions after all.
22260 20 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 6c No, I haven't l
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222b0 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f to answer the do
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222f0 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 to my door. Wh
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22330 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ," Alley said.
22340 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 "I'll be right b
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223e0 20 61 6e 64 20 70 6c 75 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and plucked her
223f0 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 phone from the
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22410 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 A message notif
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224a0 65 72 20 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 65 61 72 6c 69 er an hour earli
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224c0 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 to give the gla
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224e0 77 68 6f 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 who would come t
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22500 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 76 65 orning with gove
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22520 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
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22540 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20 d ". . . men?"
22550 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 She wondered if
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22580 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 69 people, but thi
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225c0 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 2e 0a 0a Men In Black...
225d0 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 /* Without the s
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22670 54 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 There does not a
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22690 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 choice in how y
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226b0 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 it said..."Yeah
226c0 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 , no kidding."
226d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
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22710 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 61 thing familiar a
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22730 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 72 She shrugged, r
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227b0 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Here," she sa
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227e0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 and handed them
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22810 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 64 ..He smirked and
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229d0 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f Thank you for yo
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229f0 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 " the woman said
22a00 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 in a sour voice
22a10 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 . She handed th
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22a30 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 .Alley accepted
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22b20 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f this is all abo
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22bd0 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 "Who are those p
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22bf0 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."I do not have
22c00 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e that information
22c10 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
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22ca0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 .".."That's righ
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246f0 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 trying to chang
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24720 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ."That does not
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24b30 20 22 43 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 65 63 6f 6e 6f 6d "Certain econom
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25290 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 6e convenience. In
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25350 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 ."What if I put
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253b0 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 thing more quic
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253d0 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 61 73 65 20 6f 66 20 another case of
253e0 61 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 63 6f a third value co
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25420 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 item when you ne
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25450 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 value item beca
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26ea0 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 on.".."I do not
26eb0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d know what that m
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26f40 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f out of this who
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26f90 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 "I have to give
26fa0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 74 20 62 all this shit b
26fb0 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 66 65 ack to the profe
26fc0 73 73 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f ssor. I have to
26fd0 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 get out of this
26fe0 20 6d 65 73 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 mess right away
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27020 70 61 79 20 72 65 6e 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 pay rent goodbye
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27040 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 79 20 6d 6f 74 68 65 72 20 with my mother
27050 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 6f in the ass end o
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27080 64 20 22 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 61 d "I believe tha
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270a0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 .."What?" Alley
270b0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f looked up, almo
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270d0 73 65 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 65 72 see someone ther
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27110 6c 69 73 68 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 lish. "Why?".."
27120 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 COIN Corp will p
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27140 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 69 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 have a file on y
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27180 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 discussion was a
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271b0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f them to have co
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27240 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 74 68 65 y have with othe
27250 72 73 2e 20 20 54 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 74 68 rs. To avoid th
27260 61 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 at, you need to
27270 61 70 70 65 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6f 66 20 appear to be of
27280 76 61 6c 75 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 value to the age
27290 6e 74 73 20 61 73 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 nts assigned to
272a0 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f this case.".."Ho
272b0 77 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 6c 20 64 6f 20 49 20 w the hell do I
272c0 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c do that?" She l
272d0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 ooked down at he
272e0 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c r hands, suddenl
272f0 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 y noticing that
27300 74 68 65 79 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 they hurt. She
27310 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 saw that she was
27320 20 67 72 69 70 70 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 gripping the ed
27330 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6e 6b 20 73 ge of the sink s
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27350 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 68 69 74 uckles were whit
27360 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 69 6e 67 65 72 e and her finger
27370 74 69 70 73 20 66 65 6c 74 20 62 72 75 69 73 65 tips felt bruise
27380 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 d. She started
27390 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 20 trying to relax
273a0 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 her hands, but s
273b0 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 omehow she just
273c0 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 could not will h
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273e0 0a 0a 22 50 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 .."Provide them
273f0 77 69 74 68 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61 74 61 20 6f with good data o
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27410 61 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 69 63 20 70 72 69 6f a strategic prio
27420 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 79 73 74 65 ritization syste
27430 6d 2e 20 20 41 63 68 69 65 76 69 6e 67 20 64 72 m. Achieving dr
27440 61 6d 61 74 69 63 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 amatic success i
27450 6e 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 65 72 69 6f 64 n a short period
27460 20 6f 66 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 of time will bu
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27480 74 6f 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 61 20 6c to determine a l
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274a0 66 6f 72 20 61 76 6f 69 64 69 6e 67 20 62 65 63 for avoiding bec
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274c0 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 27 73 20 76 69 63 74 69 6d 73 N Corp's victims
274d0 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 . It will also
274e0 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 give you access
274f0 74 6f 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 20 79 6f 75 to resources you
27500 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 74 can use to cont
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27520 20 73 69 74 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 72 61 74 68 situation, rath
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27550 62 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 by it.".."You me
27560 61 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 an I can make th
27570 65 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 65 78 61 em think I'm exa
27580 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 ctly what they w
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275a0 64 79 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 74 dy at the same t
275b0 69 6d 65 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 ime I'm building
275c0 20 61 6e 20 61 72 73 65 6e 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 6d an arsenal to m
275d0 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e ake myself . . .
275e0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 70 6c 61 79 65 72 2c well, a player,
275f0 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 instead of a pa
27600 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 20 63 68 65 73 wn.".."Yes, ches
27610 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6d 65 74 61 s is a good meta
27620 70 68 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 phor for this.
27630 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f You must have so
27640 6d 65 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 70 69 65 63 65 me playing piece
27650 73 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f s of your own to
27660 20 70 6c 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 67 61 6d 65 2e 22 play the game."
27670 0a 0a 22 47 72 65 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 .."Great," she s
27680 61 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 64 72 79 20 74 6f 6e 65 ad, her dry tone
27690 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 74 68 suggesting noth
276a0 69 6e 67 20 67 72 65 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 ing great about
276b0 69 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 it at all. "I g
276c0 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 uess you don't e
276d0 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 67 6f 6f ven have any goo
276e0 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f d ideas about ho
276f0 77 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 w to escape this
27700 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 6f 6e 63 completely, onc
27710 65 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 e I get to that
27720 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a point, though.".
27730 0a 22 41 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 ."At this time,
27740 6d 79 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 my only suggesti
27750 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 on for the long
27760 74 65 72 6d 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 6f term would be to
27770 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 position yourse
27780 6c 66 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 lf well for the
27790 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 72 75 company to recru
277a0 69 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 it you as one of
277b0 20 69 74 73 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 49 20 its agents. I
277c0 61 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 am not confident
277d0 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d that could be m
277e0 61 64 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 73 74 65 6e 74 20 77 ade consistent w
277f0 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c ith your ethical
27800 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 principles.".."
27810 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f This is . . . no
27820 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 64 61 79 20 . No, this day
27830 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 can't be happeni
27840 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 ng.".."If you wa
27850 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 nt to make them
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2ade0 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 62 75 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 ndane but obscur
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2ae00 79 65 61 72 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 year or two and
2ae10 77 72 69 74 65 73 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f writes a long bo
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2ae30 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 weird stuff mos
2ae40 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e t people would n
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2ae60 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 the subject othe
2ae70 72 77 69 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 rwise.".."Hmm.
2ae80 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 That's interesti
2ae90 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 ng. I guess you
2aea0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 don't like fict
2aeb0 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 ion as much, the
2aec0 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 n.".."I like to
2aed0 72 65 61 64 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f read fiction, so
2aee0 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 metimes. I just
2aef0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 don't usually s
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2af10 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 hink that I have
2af20 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 to read it. Wh
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2af70 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 unless I've alre
2af80 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 ady been burned
2af90 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 by that person's
2afa0 20 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 bad taste in li
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2afc0 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e ndations before.
2afd0 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c "..George chuckl
2afe0 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 ed at that. "I'
2aff0 76 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 ve gotten some r
2b000 65 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 eal stinkers rec
2b010 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 ommended to me,
2b020 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 before, too. I
2b030 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 know what you me
2b040 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a an about that.".
2b050 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 .Alley gave him
2b060 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 an answering smi
2b070 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 6f le. "Anyway, yo
2b080 75 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d u shelves tell m
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2b0a0 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 6e 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 of nonfiction,
2b0b0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 too."..He glance
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2b0e0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e the book cases.
2b0f0 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 "Yeah," he sai
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2b110 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 eading something
2b120 2e 20 20 49 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 . I try to get
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2b150 6c 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 l books of some
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2b170 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 usually hitting
2b180 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f 72 20 66 6f 75 72 2c 20 three or four,
2b190 62 75 74 20 49 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 66 6f but I make up fo
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2b1f0 72 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 r wee, too, so p
2b200 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f robably the oppo
2b210 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 site of how you
2b220 72 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 read.".."Not qui
2b230 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 te," she said.
2b240 22 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 "I probably read
2b250 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 73 a couple novels
2b260 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c a year, but onl
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2b290 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 in the same year
2b2a0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 .".."It sounds t
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2b2d0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 ," he said..."Ye
2b2e0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f ah, I guess I do
2b2f0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 .".."One of the
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2b320 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 74 68 that I limit th
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2b370 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f read a whole lo
2b380 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f t more than I do
2b390 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 , though."..She
2b3a0 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 nodded. "I know
2b3b0 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 . My uncle used
2b3c0 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 to read about f
2b3d0 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 our or five time
2b3e0 73 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 s as much as you
2b3f0 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c . My ex probabl
2b400 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 y reads about as
2b410 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 much as you, bu
2b420 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e t he has a frien
2b430 64 20 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 61 20 6c 6f d who reads a lo
2b440 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 t more, too.".."
2b450 59 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f Your ex? Are yo
2b460 75 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f u divorced?".."O
2b470 68 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 h, uh, no. He w
2b480 61 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 as my fianc...
2b490 57 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 We broke it off
2b4a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 a couple years a
2b4b0 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f go.".."That's to
2b4c0 6f 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 o bad. Do you w
2b4d0 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 ant to talk abou
2b4e0 74 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 t why?"..She shi
2b4f0 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f fted her positio
2b500 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 n in the chair.
2b510 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 "Well . . . may
2b520 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 be not. There's
2b530 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 some political
2b540 73 74 75 66 66 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 stuff involved,
2b550 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c and I don't real
2b560 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 ly want to get i
2b570 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 nto some kind of
2b580 20 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 argument over t
2b590 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 he politics of i
2b5a0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 t.".."Hmm. That
2b5b0 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e sounds ominous.
2b5c0 20 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 Was he a polit
2b5d0 69 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 ician?".."No. .
2b5e0 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 . ." She looked
2b5f0 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 away..."Sorry.
2b600 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 I'm just curiou
2b610 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 s. I'll drop it
2b620 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 .".."Thanks," sh
2b630 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 e said. "I gues
2b640 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f s.".."Why did yo
2b650 75 72 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 ur uncle stop re
2b660 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a ading so much?".
2b670 0a 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 ."Huh?".."You sa
2b680 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 id he used to re
2b690 61 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 ad hundreds of b
2b6a0 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 ooks a year. Wh
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2b6c0 73 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 sed to'?".."Oh,"
2b6d0 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 she sighed. "H
2b6e0 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 e died, years ag
2b6f0 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 o.".."I'm sorry
2b700 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 to hear it.".."Y
2b710 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 eah," she said.
2b720 20 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 "He decided to
2b730 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 67 72 69 64 20 69 6e 20 49 go off grid in I
2b740 64 61 68 6f 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 daho, in the mid
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2b760 20 44 61 64 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 20 Dad took me up
2b770 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 75 to see him a cou
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2b820 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 6d 69 6c any of their mil
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2b840 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 just wanted to
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2b860 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 "It was like the
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2b960 69 63 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 ic, if you belie
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2ba20 20 68 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 69 6d 69 64 61 74 69 6e how intimidatin
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2ba60 20 68 65 61 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 75 6e 6e 79 head on a sunny
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2bb20 22 57 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6c "We tried to fil
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2bb50 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 41 6d 73 74 65 72 into his Amster
2bb60 64 61 6d 20 56 50 53 20 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c dam VPS -- well,
2bb70 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 Dad did, anyway
2bb80 20 2d 2d 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 -- and found th
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2bba0 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 from my uncle's
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2bbd0 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 it showed that
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2bc20 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 .."Yeah? What h
2bc30 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 appened with tha
2bc40 74 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 t lawsuit?".."It
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2bc60 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 While we were a
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2bd40 74 68 65 72 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 ther, but the re
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2bdc0 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 65 the backups the
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2bdf0 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 by the time we
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2be30 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 how it to the la
2be40 77 79 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 64 20 73 68 75 wyer, they'd shu
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2be80 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 6c 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 into deleting a
2be90 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 ll backups..."Af
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2bec0 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 g what the lawye
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2bee0 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 dunk case to hav
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2bf50 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 He had to get a
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2bf70 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 69 6e 67 20 65 64 a continuing ed
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2c000 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e t.".."It's fine.
2c010 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 It's ancient h
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2c060 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 gh. I was in hi
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2c090 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 and I couldn't f
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2c100 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f Dalton.".."Dalto
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2c120 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 Oh, shit," she s
2c130 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 aid. "I didn't
2c140 73 61 79 20 27 6d 79 20 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 74 say 'my ex' that
2c150 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 time."..He nodd
2c160 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 5b 20 53 ed. "Dalton [ S
2c170 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 20 2d 20 48 65 61 72 73 chaeffer - Hears
2c180 74 20 5d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 t ].".."Yeah."
2c190 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 She looked at hi
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2c200 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c ure."../* "Yeah,
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2c2a0 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 */.."Yeah, he i
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2c2c0 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 really anyone I
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2c300 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e 67 61 cause I got enga
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2c320 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 hey hate me for
2c330 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 leaving him.".."
2c340 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 61 74 I could see that
2c350 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ," George said.
2c360 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 20 79 "I won't hate y
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2c390 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 " she said. "Th
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2c3b0 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 r.".."I'll just
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2c4d0 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 "You don't have
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2c500 64 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 d, perhaps a bit
2c510 20 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e sadly. "I thin
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2c540 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 66 75 really just refu
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2c570 27 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 'll respect that
2c580 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2c 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 choice, if that
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2c600 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e aid...He nodded.
2c610 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 20 "I thought he
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2c700 20 68 65 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 he seemed to st
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2c840 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 ..."No offense,
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2cb70 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a saying that."..
2cb80 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e George shrugged.
2cb90 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 "It was the st
2cba0 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 and up thing to
2cbb0 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 do, but it didn'
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2cc90 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e smiled. "No, n
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2ce40 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 my life in othe
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2cf60 2c 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 , drove off and
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2d040 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 sorry that happ
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2d070 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 63 lessly. "What c
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2d140 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 I went to what I
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2d260 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 information abou
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2d2d0 20 74 6f 64 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 today?" he aske
2d2e0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f d..."What?".."Yo
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2d330 61 6e 20 6f 70 70 6f 72 74 75 6e 69 74 79 20 74 an opportunity t
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2d350 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 It doesn't matt
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2d400 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 though.".."Oh."
2d410 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 61 20 6d She paused a m
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2d430 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 3f 20 20 49 20 77 61 . . maybe? I wa
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2d550 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e ."..He chuckled.
2d560 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 65 "Oh, that. Ye
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2d630 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 , it's fine, but
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2d6f0 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 "First, I want t
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2d720 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 to lie.".."Oh.
2d730 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 That's an intere
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2d750 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 2e .."Yeah. It is.
2d760 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 "..She thought a
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2d800 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 77 65 ".."Hmm. Can we
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2d930 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 "Hmm." He thoug
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2d950 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 "What if you nee
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2da20 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Yeah," she said,
2da30 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 "I guess I migh
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2db70 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 . . . okay.".."I
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2dce0 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 72 , for whatever r
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2de00 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 68 65 20 What is it?" he
2de10 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 asked..."Some ki
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2de80 62 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 2e bout some stuff.
2de90 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 62 6f 75 It wasn't abou
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2deb0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 2d 2d 20 62 75 74 20 about me -- but
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2df30 48 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 He stared at her
2df40 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 . "When you say
2df50 20 27 6d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 27 20 'men in black'
2df60 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 . . .".."Yeah,"
2df70 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 6d 65 61 she said, "I mea
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2e010 62 75 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f but otherwise to
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2e080 67 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 ge. The only th
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2e0a0 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 look like the ty
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2e0d0 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 that there were
2e0e0 20 64 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 deep red stripe
2e0f0 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 s on their shirt
2e100 73 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 74 20 s."..George sat
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2e200 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 y?".."Yeah.".."T
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2f9e0 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 6b 2e ".."It's a risk.
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2fe40 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 He looked at h
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2ffa0 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 .When he saw she
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303a0 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 6b 65 ng so you can ke
303b0 65 70 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 ep doing it. Th
303c0 61 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 at book is about
303d0 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c OpSec for peopl
303e0 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c 6f 77 e who live below
303f0 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 6c 69 6e 65 2c the legal line,
30400 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 and some of it
30410 69 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 is about how to
30420 67 65 74 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 get across that
30430 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 line if you were
30440 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 trying to live
30450 61 62 6f 76 65 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 61 above it, but ha
30460 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 ve to run. The
30470 75 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 underground it's
30480 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 talking about i
30490 73 20 61 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6c 61 s a criminal cla
304a0 73 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 70 72 65 ss who don't pre
304b0 79 20 6f 6e 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c y on other peopl
304c0 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 e any more than
304d0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c people who are l
304e0 65 67 61 6c 20 2d 2d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 65 6f egal -- just peo
304f0 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 65 20 74 ple who choose t
30500 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 74 o live outside t
30510 68 65 20 6c 61 77 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 72 65 20 66 he law, or are f
30520 6f 72 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 orced to do so,
30530 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 68 65 for reasons othe
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30550 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 murder, such as
30560 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e someone who wan
30570 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 69 76 ts to make a liv
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305a0 66 6f 72 20 66 6f 72 65 69 67 6e 20 77 61 72 73 for foreign wars
305b0 2c 20 6f 72 20 66 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 , or fighting ag
305c0 61 69 6e 73 74 20 61 20 74 79 72 61 6e 6e 69 63 ainst a tyrannic
305d0 61 6c 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 6f al government, o
305e0 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 69 73 r just being bis
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30610 65 20 45 61 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 e East.".."Oh."
30620 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 She looked at t
30630 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a he books again..
30640 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 ."You can think
30650 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 62 6f 6f of the OpSec boo
30660 6b 20 61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 k as being about
30670 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 67 65 how to avoid ge
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306a0 20 43 4f 49 4e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 61 COIN, and the a
306b0 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 73 20 62 gorism book as b
306c0 65 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 20 74 eing about why t
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306f0 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 27 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 ple who'd help y
30700 6f 75 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 ou escape are th
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30720 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e Are you some kin
30730 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 3f 22 d of anarchist?"
30740 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 ..He shrugged.
30750 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 "Maybe. Volunta
30760 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 6c 69 ryist, maybe, li
30770 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 20 63 61 ke an anarcho ca
30780 70 69 74 61 6c 69 73 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 pitalist in the
30790 73 74 79 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 44 53 48 20 62 65 66 style of DSH bef
307a0 6f 72 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 ore he started t
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307c0 20 76 6f 74 65 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 6e vote Republican
307d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Yeah," she
307e0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 68 said, "that's th
307f0 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 e feeling I was
30800 62 65 67 69 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 beginning to get
30810 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 .".."Does that b
30820 6f 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 other you?" he a
30830 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6c sked..."No. I l
30840 69 6b 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 iked Dalton more
30850 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 20 in those days.
30860 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e Hell, I fell in
30870 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 20 69 love with him i
30880 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a n those days."..
30890 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 "You don't consi
308a0 64 65 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 20 76 der yourself a v
308b0 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 oluntaryist, or
308c0 61 6e 61 72 63 68 69 73 74 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f anarchist, or so
308d0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 mething like tha
308e0 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 t, though. Do y
308f0 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 ou?".."No, I gue
30900 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 ss not.".."What
30910 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 do you consider
30920 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 yourself?"..She
30930 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c surprised hersel
30940 66 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 f a little with
30950 61 20 64 72 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e 20 20 a dry chuckle.
30960 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 "I don't know.
30970 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 62 69 I guess I'm rabi
30980 64 6c 79 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2e 22 dly apolitical."
30990 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 .."You might hav
309a0 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6d 6d 6f 6e e more in common
309b0 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 with a voluntar
309c0 79 69 73 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 yist than you th
309d0 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 ink, then," he s
309e0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 70 aid..."I said ap
309f0 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e olitical, not an
30a00 74 69 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f tipolitical, tho
30a10 75 67 68 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 ugh I guess the
30a20 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 72 65 74 line can be pret
30a30 74 79 20 74 68 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 ty thin.".."Okay
30a40 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ," George said.
30a50 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 69 6c "I get it. Wil
30a60 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 l you read the b
30a70 6f 6f 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 ooks?".."Yeah,"
30a80 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 she said, "I'll
30a90 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 20 give it a shot.
30aa0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 I'll get them b
30ab0 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 ack to you when
30ac0 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c I'm done.".."No,
30ad0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2c just keep them,
30ae0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c " he said. "I'l
30af0 6c 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 l get more of th
30b00 65 6d 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 20 74 em. Just pass t
30b10 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e hem on to someon
30b20 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 65 6d e who needs them
30b30 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 at some point,
30b40 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e if you don't wan
30b50 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 t to keep them."
30b60 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Sure," she sa
30b70 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 2e id, uncertainly.
30b80 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 64 20 .."Have you had
30b90 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 dinner?".."No,"
30ba0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 she said. "What
30bb0 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e are you thinkin
30bc0 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 g?".."I'm thinki
30bd0 6e 67 20 49 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c 20 61 ng I'm hungry, a
30be0 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d nd you're welcom
30bf0 65 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 6e 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 e to join me. I
30c00 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f was going to co
30c10 6f 6b 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 73 74 61 ok up some pasta
30c20 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
30c30 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 6f "That sounds go
30c40 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 67 69 76 od.".."It'll giv
30c50 65 20 75 73 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 e us a few more
30c60 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e 67 20 minutes to hang
30c70 6f 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 61 6c 6b out without talk
30c80 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 ing about anythi
30c90 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 20 62 65 ng so serious be
30ca0 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 fore you go home
30cb0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 20 68 and think the h
30cc0 61 72 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 61 62 6f ard thoughts abo
30cd0 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 ut what you're g
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30cf0 20 67 6f 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 got up and star
30d00 74 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6b ted toward the k
30d10 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 itchen..."Thanks
30d20 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 72 ."../*..George r
30d30 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 eally needs to b
30d40 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 61 6e 74 20 e less ignorant
30d50 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 of the possible
30d60 64 61 6e 67 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 dangers of Alley
30d70 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 's AR glasses.
30d80 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 65 He knows this te
30d90 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 65 78 69 73 74 73 2e chnology exists.
30da0 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 He's not just
30db0 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 6c 69 74 68 65 6c going to blithel
30dc0 79 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 y go on talking
30dd0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 about a bunch of
30de0 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 77 69 insane stuff wi
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30e10 65 72 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 er of it getting
30e20 20 6f 75 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 out because of
30e30 74 68 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 70 the technology p
30e40 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 61 72 6f 75 eople carry arou
30e50 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 0a 0a 2a nd with them...*
30e60 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 /../*..This migh
30e70 74 20 62 65 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 47 65 6f 72 67 t be where Georg
30e80 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 e provides some
30e90 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 backup for Alley
30ea0 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 73 20 75 70 as she picks up
30eb0 20 61 20 44 65 6c 69 76 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 6f 72 a Deliv job, or
30ec0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
30ed0 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 that...*/..Alley
30ee0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 looked at the c
30ef0 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 over of the firs
30f00 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 68 61 t book George ha
30f10 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 d given her. Sh
30f20 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e e wrinkled her n
30f30 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 20 66 72 ose at the no fr
30f40 69 6c 6c 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 20 63 68 ills cover, a ch
30f50 65 61 70 6c 79 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 eaply made trade
30f60 20 70 61 70 65 72 62 61 63 6b 20 62 69 6e 64 69 paperback bindi
30f70 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 62 ng with only a b
30f80 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 lack border and
30f90 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 74 65 78 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 black text on a
30fa0 73 74 61 72 6b 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 62 61 63 6b stark white back
30fb0 67 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 ground. It had
30fc0 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 the look of some
30fd0 20 76 61 6e 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 74 68 vanity press th
30fe0 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 ing, where nobod
30ff0 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 65 y had even bothe
31000 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 65 red to really de
31010 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 61 sign the cover a
31020 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 64 t all...She read
31030 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 63 6f 76 65 72 20 the full cover
31040 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e to herself..."An
31050 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 72 0a Agorist Primer.
31060 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e 6f 6d ."Counter Econom
31070 69 63 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 65 64 ics, Total Freed
31080 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 53 61 om, And You.."Sa
31090 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f 6e 6b muel Edward Konk
310a0 69 6e 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6c 69 in III"..She fli
310b0 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 20 54 pped it over. T
310c0 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c 61 6e he back was blan
310d0 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 69 k...She opened i
310e0 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 t and flipped th
310f0 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 rough the first
31100 66 65 77 20 70 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 few pages. She
31110 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 found it had no
31120 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 table of content
31130 73 2c 20 74 69 74 6c 65 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 70 s, title page, p
31140 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 70 ublishing or cop
31150 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 70 61 67 65 2c 20 73 75 6d yright page, sum
31160 6d 61 72 79 2c 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e mary, dedication
31170 2c 20 6f 72 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 6f 74 , or review quot
31180 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 es. The first p
31190 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 age was a ridicu
311a0 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 72 65 lously short pre
311b0 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f face. The follo
311c0 77 69 6e 67 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 wing page was th
311d0 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 77 6f 20 70 e first of two p
311e0 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 ages of introduc
311f0 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 75 62 73 65 71 75 65 6e tion. Subsequen
31200 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 68 t to that was ch
31210 61 70 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 apter one of the
31220 20 62 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 book, getting i
31230 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 74 20 6f 66 20 nto the meat of
31240 69 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 it already...The
31250 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 pages were numb
31260 65 72 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 77 ered, starting w
31270 69 74 68 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 ith 1. The firs
31280 74 20 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 t chapter began
31290 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 on a page number
312a0 65 64 20 34 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 ed 4...She close
312b0 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e d the book again
312c0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f and read the co
312d0 76 65 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 0a 0a ver once more...
312e0 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e 6b 69 "Maybe Sam Konki
312f0 6e 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 n is a friend of
31300 20 68 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c his," she said,
31310 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e meaning a frien
31320 64 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e 0a 0a d of George's...
31330 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 20 70 /* The preface p
31340 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 65 64 age was numbered
31350 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 1. The last pa
31360 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 78 20 ge of the index
31370 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b -- once she look
31380 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 2a 2f ed -- was 50. */
31390 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 ..She looked at
313a0 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 61 the first page a
313b0 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 gain, and the nu
313c0 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f 6b 73 mber one. Books
313d0 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 never started w
313e0 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 ith a page numbe
313f0 72 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 r of one. She f
31400 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e lipped to the en
31410 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 d, and saw that
31420 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 73 68 the last page sh
31430 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 owed the number
31440 35 30 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 50, on the last
31450 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b page of the book
31460 27 73 20 69 6e 64 65 78 2e 20 20 41 74 20 6c 65 's index. At le
31470 61 73 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6e ast it had an in
31480 64 65 78 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 dex, but that me
31490 61 6e 74 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65 72 20 6d 61 6e 79 ant however many
314a0 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 78 20 pages of index
314b0 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 it had could be
314c0 73 75 62 74 72 61 63 74 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 subtracted from
314d0 74 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 69 6e 75 the already minu
314e0 73 63 75 6c 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 scule length of
314f0 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 27 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 the book's conte
31500 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 nt...The priorit
31510 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 izer said "This
31520 69 73 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 is a very short
31530 62 6f 6f 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 book.".."Yeah,"
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36ee0 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 20 69 6e 20 77 r someone?" in w
36ef0 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 74 6f hat she began to
36f00 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 76 realize was a v
36f10 65 72 79 20 6d 61 73 63 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 76 6f ery masculine vo
36f20 69 63 65 2c 20 64 69 73 74 6f 72 74 65 64 20 62 ice, distorted b
36f30 79 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6d 69 74 y the voice emit
36f40 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e ter of his mask.
36f50 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 .."I'm looking f
36f60 6f 72 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 or, uh . . ." sh
36f70 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 2c 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 e began, hesitat
36f80 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 ing. She cleare
36f90 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 61 73 20 d her throat as
36fa0 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 65 64 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 the masked man w
36fb0 61 69 74 65 64 20 70 61 74 69 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e aited patiently.
36fc0 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 "I'm looking f
36fd0 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e or the smuggler.
36fe0 22 0a 0a 48 69 73 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 63 "..His chuckle c
36ff0 61 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 6e 67 ame out sounding
37000 20 73 69 6e 69 73 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 sinister with t
37010 68 65 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 6c 69 63 20 67 72 61 76 he metallic grav
37020 65 6c 6c 79 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 elly vibration i
37030 6d 70 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 62 79 mparted to it by
37040 20 74 68 65 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 65 6d 69 74 74 the voice emitt
37050 65 72 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 er. "Just Smugg
37060 6c 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 ler," he said, "
37070 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 79 6f like the name yo
37080 75 27 72 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 61 74 20 62 69 u're given at bi
37090 72 74 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 rth.".."Oh.".."Y
370a0 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 22 ou know George,"
370b0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 he said, and sh
370c0 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 e thought she de
370d0 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 tected a bit of
370e0 61 20 72 69 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e a rise at the en
370f0 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 d, like it was a
37100 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 question..."Not
37110 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 for long," she
37120 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2e said, "but yeah.
37130 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 He seems like
37140 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 a good guy.".."Y
37150 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 ou must've made
37160 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 69 an impression, i
37170 66 20 68 65 20 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 79 6f f he referred yo
37180 75 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c u to me.".."Real
37190 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c ly?"..He nodded,
371a0 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 20 70 61 and motioned pa
371b0 73 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 st her. "Let's
371c0 74 61 6c 6b 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 talk inside.".."
371d0 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 Oh, right," she
371e0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 said. Her hand
371f0 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b brushed her back
37200 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 pocket, the thi
37210 6e 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 72 69 63 61 6c 20 62 75 n cylindrical bu
37220 6c 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 74 6f 6e lge of her baton
37230 20 63 72 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 68 61 72 64 creating a hard
37240 65 72 20 72 69 64 67 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 er ridge that he
37250 72 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6b 6e 6f 63 6b r knuckles knock
37260 65 64 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 ed across, but s
37270 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 he headed inside
37280 2e 20 20 42 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d . Beyond the sm
37290 61 6c 6c 20 6c 69 6e 6f 6c 65 75 6d 20 65 6e 74 all linoleum ent
372a0 72 79 77 61 79 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 72 ryway a living r
372b0 6f 6f 6d 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 61 74 74 65 72 6e oom with pattern
372c0 73 20 6f 66 20 73 74 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 6e s of staining an
372d0 64 20 66 61 64 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 6c 61 70 d fading overlap
372e0 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 74 20 ping so much it
372f0 77 61 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f was difficult to
37300 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 determine what
37310 73 68 61 64 65 20 6f 66 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 77 shade of brown w
37320 61 73 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 6f 70 65 6e as original open
37330 65 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 73 20 77 6f 6f 64 ed up. Its wood
37340 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 72 panel walls wer
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37360 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f e. There was no
37370 20 66 75 72 6e 69 74 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 furniture in th
37380 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 e room, but ther
37390 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c e were rectangul
373a0 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ar spots on the
373b0 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 61 69 6c 20 walls with nail
373c0 68 6f 6c 65 73 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 holes at the top
373d0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 20 6c 69 67 that were a lig
373e0 68 74 65 72 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 hter off white t
373f0 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 han the rest of
37400 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 the wall surface
37410 73 2e 20 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 s. From where s
37420 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 2c 20 73 68 he now stood, sh
37430 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 69 6e 74 6f e could see into
37440 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d the dining room
37450 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6c 69 , though the sli
37460 64 69 6e 67 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 64 6f 6f 72 73 ding glass doors
37470 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 65 65 in the back see
37480 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 65 med to be covere
37490 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 66 6f 69 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 d with foil. Th
374a0 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 e only significa
374b0 6e 74 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 nt light came th
374c0 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 66 rough the open f
374d0 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 66 72 ront door and fr
374e0 6f 6e 74 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 77 69 74 68 ont windows with
374f0 20 62 6c 69 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 75 blinds angled u
37500 70 77 61 72 64 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 pward so that li
37510 67 68 74 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 73 74 72 69 70 65 ght dimly stripe
37520 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a d the ceiling...
37530 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 Smuggler followe
37540 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 d her and closed
37550 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 the door behind
37560 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 them. "You nee
37570 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 d to get into th
37580 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 77 e hot zone and w
37590 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6f 66 66 ant to avoid off
375a0 69 63 69 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2e icial attention.
375b0 22 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 " He did someth
375c0 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f ing with his glo
375d0 76 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 ved right hand,
375e0 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 70 69 6c 6c 65 and light spille
375f0 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 4c 45 44 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 d from LEDs on h
37600 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 is knuckles. He
37610 20 6b 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 69 6d 65 64 kept them aimed
37620 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 65 64 at the carpeted
37630 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 6e 65 61 72 62 79 20 73 6f floor nearby so
37640 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 72 65 61 74 that they creat
37650 65 64 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 ed bright spots
37660 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 75 74 on the floor but
37670 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 61 72 79 20 67 6c 6f a secondary glo
37680 77 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 w made it possib
37690 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6f 75 74 20 74 le to make out t
376a0 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 he edges of the
376b0 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 62 65 74 74 walls a bit bett
376c0 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 er..."Yeah," she
376d0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 said. "Can you
376e0 20 74 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 take me through
376f0 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 3f 20 20 49 6e 20 61 , somehow? In a
37700 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e nd back, I mean.
37710 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 "..He nodded. "
37720 59 65 73 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a Yes, I could."..
37730 22 48 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 "How much would
37740 49 20 6f 77 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 I owe you for it
37750 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 ?".."Are you off
37760 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 6d 65 20 ering to pay me
37770 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 74 to take you to t
37780 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 3f 22 20 he other side?"
37790 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e he asked...She n
377a0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 odded. "Yeah, I
377b0 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 6e 27 guess so. Isn'
377c0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 68 69 73 20 t that how this
377d0 77 6f 72 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 72 6d 61 6c works?".."Normal
377e0 6c 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 ly," he said, "b
377f0 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e ut I'm not takin
37800 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a g your money."..
37810 22 57 68 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 "Why won't you t
37820 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 3f 20 ake me through?
37830 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 Do you think I'
37840 6d 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 m a cop or somet
37850 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 hing like that?"
37860 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ..After a moment
37870 27 73 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 68 's hesitation, h
37880 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 e shook his head
37890 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 . "I didn't say
378a0 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 61 6b 65 I wouldn't take
378b0 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 7a 6f you into the zo
378c0 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 ne. I just said
378d0 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 I'm not taking
378e0 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 your money.".."W
378f0 68 79 20 6e 6f 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b hy not?" she ask
37900 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6e 61 72 ed, her eyes nar
37910 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 rowing..."Let's
37920 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 79 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f just say, for no
37930 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 w, that the firs
37940 74 20 68 69 74 27 73 20 66 72 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a t hit's free."..
37950 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 73 74 72 61 "That seems stra
37960 6e 67 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 nge, like there'
37970 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 64 64 69 s something addi
37980 63 74 69 76 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 ctive about gett
37990 69 6e 67 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 72 ing past the bar
379a0 72 69 63 61 64 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 ricades."..He sh
379b0 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 rugged again. "
379c0 53 6f 6d 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 66 69 6e 64 Some people find
379d0 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 20 61 64 the hot zone ad
379e0 64 69 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c dictive, to tell
379f0 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d the truth. Som
37a00 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 e of them find t
37a10 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 heir way to the
37a20 63 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 cold zone, and t
37a30 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 66 74 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 hat's often an e
37a40 76 65 6e 20 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 64 64 ven stronger add
37a50 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 4d 61 79 62 iction. /* Mayb
37a60 65 20 49 27 6d 20 61 64 64 69 63 74 65 64 20 74 e I'm addicted t
37a70 6f 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 o both of them.
37a80 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 2a I'm not sure. *
37a90 2f 20 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 63 / ".."What's a c
37aa0 6f 6c 64 20 7a 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 old zone?".."May
37ab0 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6f be you'll find o
37ac0 75 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 64 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 ut some day," he
37ad0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6e said. "It's an
37ae0 20 61 72 65 61 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 area you can't
37af0 72 65 61 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 67 6f reach without go
37b00 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 ing through the
37b10 68 6f 74 20 7a 6f 6e 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 74 68 72 hot zone, or thr
37b20 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 ough the corpora
37b30 74 65 20 63 65 6e 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 4c 41 2e te center of LA.
37b40 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 64 6f 6e The police don
37b50 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 20 69 6e 20 74 68 't even go in th
37b60 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ere. Most of th
37b70 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 e world doesn't
37b80 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 65 78 69 73 74 73 2e 20 know it exists.
37b90 20 59 6f 75 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 You definitely
37ba0 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 6f don't want to go
37bb0 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2c 20 74 68 there today, th
37bc0 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 ough, if you've
37bd0 6e 65 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 65 61 72 64 never even heard
37be0 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 of it."..She sh
37bf0 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook her head. "
37c00 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 No, it doesn't s
37c10 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 ound like that's
37c20 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f where I want to
37c30 20 62 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f be.".."Where do
37c40 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 3f you want to be?
37c50 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e "..She shrugged.
37c60 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 43 6f 6c 6f 72 61 64 "Maybe Colorad
37c70 6f 20 6f 72 20 4e 65 77 20 48 61 6d 70 73 68 69 o or New Hampshi
37c80 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 re.".."Are you r
37c90 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 eady to go?"..Sh
37ca0 65 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6f 63 e patted her poc
37cb0 6b 65 74 73 2c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 kets, checking w
37cc0 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 hat she had with
37cd0 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 her, then nodde
37ce0 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 d. "Yeah, I gue
37cf0 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 65 70 20 69 ss so.".."Step i
37d00 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 73 nto my pantry, s
37d10 61 69 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 69 64 65 72 20 74 aid the spider t
37d20 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 79 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 o the fly." He
37d30 62 72 75 73 68 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 68 65 72 brushed past her
37d40 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f and headed into
37d50 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 53 the kitchen...S
37d60 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 2c 20 68 65 72 he followed, her
37d70 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 74 65 6e 74 61 74 69 76 65 steps tentative
37d80 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 6f , and looked aro
37d90 75 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 und with eyes wi
37da0 64 65 2c 20 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 de, trying to ta
37db0 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 ke in every deta
37dc0 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6c 64 20 68 il of this old h
37dd0 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 68 61 6c 6c 77 61 79 ouse. A hallway
37de0 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 69 6e 74 disappeared int
37df0 6f 20 64 65 65 70 65 72 20 64 61 72 6b 6e 65 73 o deeper darknes
37e00 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 6a 75 s to her left ju
37e10 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 61 6e st before she an
37e20 67 6c 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 gled right into
37e30 74 68 65 20 64 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 the dining room
37e40 6e 65 61 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 near the back of
37e50 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 41 20 66 the house. A f
37e60 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 6c 65 ew more steps le
37e70 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 d her to where t
37e80 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 he kitchen opene
37e90 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 61 d to the left, a
37ea0 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 53 6d 75 67 67 nd she saw Smugg
37eb0 6c 65 72 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 61 ler opening a pa
37ec0 6e 74 72 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 74 72 75 65 20 ntry door, true
37ed0 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 to his word...He
37ee0 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 reached in and
37ef0 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 77 65 65 70 20 6f with the sweep o
37f00 66 20 68 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 68 f his glove ligh
37f10 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 68 65 6c 76 ts she saw shelv
37f20 65 73 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 es stocked with
37f30 61 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 64 72 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 ancient dry good
37f40 73 2e 20 20 41 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 62 72 6f 75 s. A click brou
37f50 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 66 6c 6f 6f 64 20 6f ght up a flood o
37f60 66 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 6c 69 67 68 74 f brighter light
37f70 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 6c as the back wal
37f80 6c 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 l shifted away,
37f90 72 65 76 65 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 revealing a narr
37fa0 6f 77 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 ow hole in the f
37fb0 6c 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 61 6d 69 6e 67 20 69 6c 6c loor beaming ill
37fc0 75 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 umination toward
37fd0 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 the ceiling of
37fe0 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 2e 20 20 22 41 66 the pantry. "Af
37ff0 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 ter you," he sai
38000 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f d, and stepped o
38010 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 74 72 79 ut of the pantry
38020 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 72 6f 6f to give her roo
38030 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 63 6c m...She moved cl
38040 6f 73 65 72 2c 20 73 74 65 70 73 20 77 61 72 79 oser, steps wary
38050 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 , and leaned to
38060 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 6f look down the ho
38070 6c 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 20 73 le. She saw a s
38080 74 65 65 6c 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 62 6f 6c 74 teel ladder bolt
38090 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 72 65 ed to the concre
380a0 74 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 te side of the r
380b0 65 63 74 61 6e 67 75 6c 61 72 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 ectangular hole
380c0 6c 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 77 61 72 64 leading downward
380d0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 61 . She looked ba
380e0 63 6b 20 61 74 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2c 20 ck at Smuggler,
380f0 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 who nodded, thou
38100 67 68 20 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b gh she did not k
38110 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 now what that me
38120 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 6f ant. Another lo
38130 6f 6b 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 74 69 20 ok confirmed ti
38140 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 wasn't a very de
38150 65 70 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 ep hole, maybe t
38160 65 6e 20 66 65 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 en feet, and it
38170 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 66 74 65 looked like afte
38180 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 r a couple of th
38190 6f 73 65 20 66 65 65 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 73 69 64 ose feet one sid
381a0 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 74 6f e opened up into
381b0 20 61 20 6c 61 72 67 65 72 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a a larger room..
381c0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 2f 2a 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f .Alley /* sat do
381d0 77 6e 20 2a 2f 20 67 6f 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f wn */ got down o
381e0 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6b 6e 65 65 n hands and knee
381f0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 s and carefully
38200 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 backed over the
38210 65 64 67 65 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 edge onto the la
38220 64 64 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 dder, then climb
38230 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6b 65 ed down. She ke
38240 70 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 pt looking down
38250 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 66 6c at the rising fl
38260 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 oor, over her sh
38270 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 oulder, and she
38280 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 saw that it was
38290 61 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 6c 69 74 20 63 68 61 6d 62 a well lit chamb
382a0 65 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 77 69 64 65 er about as wide
382b0 20 61 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6c 2c as it was tall,
382c0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 more than enoug
382d0 68 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 76 65 h for someone ve
382e0 72 79 20 74 61 6c 6c 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 64 ry tall to lie d
382f0 6f 77 6e 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 74 68 own but not with
38300 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6c a lot of room l
38310 65 66 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c eft over...She l
38320 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 ooked up to see
38330 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 Smuggler looking
38340 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 72 down, then he r
38350 6f 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 otated and lower
38360 65 64 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ed a foot to the
38370 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f ladder. She lo
38380 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 oked away from h
38390 69 6d 2c 20 68 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c im, hopped the l
383a0 61 73 74 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 ast foot or two
383b0 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f down to the floo
383c0 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 61 r, and stepped a
383d0 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 way from the lad
383e0 64 65 72 2e 20 20 41 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 4c der. A single L
383f0 45 44 20 6c 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 69 74 ED lighting unit
38400 20 6d 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 mounted on the
38410 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 6c 6f 6f 64 65 64 20 ceiling flooded
38420 74 68 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 68 61 6d 62 65 the small chambe
38430 72 20 69 6e 20 62 72 69 67 68 74 20 6c 69 67 68 r in bright ligh
38440 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 t, and a door st
38450 6f 6f 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 ood closed at th
38460 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 e other end of t
38470 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 57 68 69 6c 65 20 he room...While
38480 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 Smuggler descend
38490 65 64 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 20 ed, she heard a
384a0 73 6f 66 74 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f soft brushing so
384b0 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 und and looked u
384c0 70 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 70 65 p to see the ape
384d0 72 74 75 72 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 rture at the top
384e0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 20 63 of the ladder c
384f0 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 losing. When he
38500 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 74 reached the bot
38510 74 6f 6d 2c 20 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 77 tom, he turned w
38520 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 6f 72 64 20 74 6f ithout a word to
38530 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 41 73 20 68 the door. As h
38540 65 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 e touched the ha
38550 6e 64 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 ndle, the light
38560 76 61 6e 69 73 68 65 64 2c 20 70 6c 75 6e 67 69 vanished, plungi
38570 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 61 72 ng them into dar
38580 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d kness apart from
38590 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 53 the lights on S
385a0 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 27 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 2e muggler's glove.
385b0 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 .."I still have
385c0 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 contact with you
385d0 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
385e0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 er said...She sh
385f0 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 6c 69 ook her head sli
38600 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 61 6e 74 69 ghtly, not wanti
38610 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 61 6c 6f 75 ng to speak alou
38620 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 d to the priorit
38630 69 7a 65 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 izer in front of
38640 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 Smuggler..."It
38650 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 41 78 69 must be your Axi
38660 6f 6d 20 65 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 om establishing
38670 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 72 6f connections thro
38680 75 67 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 ugh some kind of
38690 20 6d 65 73 68 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 64 6f mesh network do
386a0 77 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e wn here. I do n
386b0 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 20 74 ot have access t
386c0 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 o check it, so I
386d0 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 20 cannot confirm
386e0 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 65 this is the case
386f0 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 ."..Alley follow
38700 65 64 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f ed Smuggler into
38710 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 72 6b 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c the dark tunnel
38720 20 62 65 79 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 beyond the heav
38730 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 73 6f y door, which so
38740 66 74 6c 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 ftly closed behi
38750 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6f nd them on its o
38760 77 6e 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 wn. After a cou
38770 70 6c 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6f 66 20 77 ple minutes of w
38780 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 68 65 20 71 75 69 65 alking, she quie
38790 74 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 66 tly asked "How f
387a0 61 72 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 20 54 68 65 20 ar is it?" The
387b0 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 6f 75 sound seemed lou
387c0 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 der than it shou
387d0 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 2c 20 61 66 ld have been, af
387e0 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 65 70 20 71 75 69 ter the deep qui
387f0 65 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 et of nothing bu
38800 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 73 20 6f 66 20 t the echoes of
38810 74 68 65 69 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 their own moveme
38820 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6e 65 61 nts, and she nea
38830 72 6c 79 20 73 74 75 6d 62 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 rly stumbled in
38840 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 surprise..."It's
38850 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e about a ten min
38860 75 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 ute walk," he sa
38870 69 64 2c 20 22 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 62 65 63 61 id, "mostly beca
38880 75 73 65 20 77 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d use we need to m
38890 6f 76 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ove slowly.".."W
388a0 68 79 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 3f 20 20 49 74 20 6c hy slowly? It l
388b0 6f 6f 6b 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 61 73 ooks straight as
388c0 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 far as I can se
388d0 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f 75 62 74 20 61 e, and I doubt a
388e0 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 nyone would hear
388f0 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 us."..She saw h
38900 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 73 68 61 6b 65 2c 20 73 is head shake, s
38910 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e ilhouetted again
38920 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 6f 77 20 6f 66 20 68 st the glow of h
38930 69 73 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 73 20 is glove lights
38940 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 48 ahead of him. H
38950 69 73 20 73 74 72 69 64 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f is stride did no
38960 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 77 t change. "If w
38970 65 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 6f 20 66 61 73 74 2c 20 77 e go too fast, w
38980 65 27 6c 6c 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 6c 61 e'll set off ala
38990 72 6d 73 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 62 rms. It's the b
389a0 65 73 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 est way to make
389b0 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 sure the alarms
389c0 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 20 77 68 65 6e will go off when
389d0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 someone's on th
389e0 65 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 e run, but it's
389f0 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 77 61 79 not the only way
38a00 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 63 61 6e 20 the alarms can
38a10 62 65 20 74 72 69 67 67 65 72 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a be triggered."..
38a20 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 73 20 69 66 "What happens if
38a30 20 61 6c 61 72 6d 73 20 67 6f 20 6f 66 66 3f 22 alarms go off?"
38a40 0a 0a 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 65 78 63 69 .."A lot of exci
38a50 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 22 20 68 65 20 ting stuff," he
38a60 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 77 69 said, "ending wi
38a70 74 68 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 75 6e 6e 65 6c 20 6e th this tunnel n
38a80 6f 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 ot being availab
38a90 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c le to run the bl
38aa0 6f 63 6b 61 64 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e ockade any more.
38ab0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 ".."Oh." She wa
38ac0 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 lked in silence
38ad0 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 73 20 74 68 behind him as th
38ae0 65 20 70 61 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 73 e passage took s
38af0 6f 6d 65 20 74 75 72 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 ome turns, then
38b00 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 finally asked "I
38b10 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 guess Smuggler
38b20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 61 probably isn't a
38b30 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 ctually the name
38b40 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 73 20 67 61 your parents ga
38b50 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 ve you.".."No,"
38b60 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 he said, without
38b70 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 looking back.
38b80 22 49 20 69 6e 68 65 72 69 74 65 64 20 69 74 2e "I inherited it.
38b90 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 69 ".."Are you sayi
38ba0 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 ng that's your f
38bb0 61 6d 69 6c 79 20 6e 61 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e amily name?".."N
38bc0 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 o. The previous
38bd0 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 72 65 74 69 72 65 Smuggler retire
38be0 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 d from this kind
38bf0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 of thing and pa
38c00 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 6e ssed the name on
38c10 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 to me, like the
38c20 20 44 72 65 61 64 20 50 69 72 61 74 65 20 52 6f Dread Pirate Ro
38c30 62 65 72 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 berts.".."I thou
38c40 67 68 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 ght all that stu
38c50 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c ff about the Sil
38c60 6b 20 52 6f 61 64 20 67 75 79 20 77 61 73 20 73 k Road guy was s
38c70 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 6d 61 upposed to be ma
38c80 64 65 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 de up.".."I don'
38c90 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 t know," Smuggle
38ca0 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6e 65 76 65 r said. "I neve
38cb0 72 20 6d 65 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 r met him. I th
38cc0 69 6e 6b 20 61 20 70 72 65 64 65 63 65 73 73 6f ink a predecesso
38cd0 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 r with the name
38ce0 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 Smuggler might h
38cf0 61 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 41 6e ave, though. An
38d00 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 74 61 6c 6b yway, I was talk
38d10 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 ing about the ch
38d20 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 aracter from the
38d30 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 20 42 72 69 64 65 2c Princess Bride,
38d40 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 53 69 6c 6b 20 52 6f not the Silk Ro
38d50 61 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f ad founder.".."O
38d60 68 2e 20 20 49 27 76 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 72 h. I've never r
38d70 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 50 72 69 6e 63 65 73 73 ead the Princess
38d80 20 42 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 65 69 74 68 Bride.".."Neith
38d90 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 49 2c 22 20 49 20 73 61 er have I," I sa
38da0 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 6d 79 20 70 72 65 64 id, "but my pred
38db0 65 63 65 73 73 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 ecessor and I wa
38dc0 74 63 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 tched the movie
38dd0 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c together a coupl
38de0 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 66 6f e times.".."I fo
38df0 72 67 6f 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 rgot that was a
38e00 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 movie," she said
38e10 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 65 20 ..."You make me
38e20 73 61 64 2c 22 20 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 sad," Smuggler s
38e30 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 61 69 6c aid...Alley fail
38e40 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 64 75 63 65 20 61 6e ed to produce an
38e50 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 6d answer, and rem
38e60 61 69 6e 65 64 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 74 ained silent unt
38e70 69 6c 20 74 68 65 79 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 il they reached
38e80 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a the other end...
38e90 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 63 6c 69 6d 62 65 64 Smuggler climbed
38ea0 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 65 65 6c 20 6c another steel l
38eb0 61 64 64 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 67 72 69 adder, and a gri
38ec0 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 69 73 65 20 65 63 68 6f nding noise echo
38ed0 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 6e 6e ed down the tunn
38ee0 65 6c 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 el. He disappea
38ef0 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 76 69 65 77 20 61 62 red from view ab
38f00 6f 76 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 77 20 ove, though now
38f10 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 66 74 20 6c there was soft l
38f20 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 64 ight filtering d
38f30 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 own through the
38f40 65 78 69 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 exit at the top
38f50 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 64 64 65 72 2e 20 20 of the ladder.
38f60 53 68 65 20 66 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 61 20 6d She followed a m
38f70 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 72 69 73 oment later, ris
38f80 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f ing into what lo
38f90 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 oked like an old
38fa0 20 76 61 75 6c 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 6e 64 69 vault with indi
38fb0 72 65 63 74 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 6c 69 67 68 74 rect track light
38fc0 69 6e 67 20 73 75 73 70 65 6e 64 65 64 20 66 72 ing suspended fr
38fd0 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a om the ceiling..
38fe0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 ."What is this?"
38ff0 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b she asked, look
39000 69 6e 67 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 68 ing around at sh
39010 65 6c 76 65 73 20 62 61 72 72 65 6e 20 65 78 63 elves barren exc
39020 65 70 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 6d ept for a few sm
39030 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 66 61 63 74 6f 72 20 all form factor
39040 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e computers sittin
39050 67 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 2c 20 70 6c 75 73 g silently, plus
39060 20 79 61 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 yards of networ
39070 6b 20 63 61 62 6c 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 49 73 20 k cabling. "Is
39080 69 74 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 62 61 6e 6b 3f 22 it an old bank?"
39090 0a 0a 53 6d 75 67 67 6c 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 ..Smuggler said
390a0 22 4e 6f 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 62 "No, it's the ab
390b0 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 andoned home of
390c0 61 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 a guy who made a
390d0 20 66 6f 72 74 75 6e 65 20 6f 66 66 20 6f 66 20 fortune off of
390e0 65 61 72 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65 74 20 63 early internet c
390f0 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 72 6f 75 orporations arou
39100 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 nd the turn of t
39110 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 6c 65 6e 6e 69 75 6d 2c 20 61 he millennium, a
39120 6e 64 20 68 61 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 nd had just deci
39130 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 68 69 73 20 ded to move his
39140 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 62 65 66 money around bef
39150 6f 72 65 20 61 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 74 20 63 72 61 ore a market cra
39160 73 68 2e 20 20 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 6a 75 73 sh. He died jus
39170 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 72 69 6f 74 73 20 73 t before riots s
39180 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 75 tarted tearing u
39190 70 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 4c p this part of L
391a0 41 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c A, before it all
391b0 20 67 6f 74 20 73 68 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 22 got shut down."
391c0 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 .."What about hi
391d0 73 20 68 65 69 72 73 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 s heirs?" Alley
391e0 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 20 61 20 stepped past a
391f0 63 6f 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 cot and a small
39200 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 77 69 folding table wi
39210 74 68 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 63 68 61 69 72 th folding chair
39220 73 20 6e 65 61 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 s near it. She
39230 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e noted the presen
39240 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 66 72 69 64 ce of a bar frid
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39910 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 "I have to go
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39940 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 on my car," she
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39960 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c d over her shoul
39970 64 65 72 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 63 68 der, at the mech
39980 61 6e 69 63 73 27 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 2e 20 20 anics' garage.
39990 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 61 20 "I'll call up a
399a0 72 69 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c 22 20 ride.".."Wait,"
399b0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
399c0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 said..."Why? Wh
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399e0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 .."I will arrang
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39a80 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 73 6d 61 that was any sma
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39ab0 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 point. "Maybe I
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39ad0 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 a ride anyway,"
39ae0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c she says. "I'l
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39b10 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 person in the s
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39b60 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 74 72 "You should retr
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39bd0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 too.".."Why? Wh
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39c00 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 sked..."If you h
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39c50 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e not have to run
39c60 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 75 , it does not hu
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39c90 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 u.".."Fine," she
39ca0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 said. "I'll ge
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39cc0 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 iding gear, thou
39cd0 67 68 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 gh?" She stood
39ce0 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 and headed for t
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39d00 20 69 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 is easy to carr
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39d40 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 de a motorcycle
39d50 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 soon.".."Is the
39d60 72 69 64 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c 6c ride you're call
39d70 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 ing going to be
39d80 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a a motorcycle?"..
39d90 22 49 20 61 6d 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 "I am checking f
39da0 6f 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2e or availability.
39db0 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 I do not know
39dc0 79 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 yet."..Alley shr
39dd0 75 67 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 ugged to herself
39de0 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 and looked at t
39df0 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 he guy behind th
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39e10 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e she said, raisin
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39e40 20 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 "Can I get some
39e50 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 things out of t
39e60 68 65 20 74 72 75 6e 6b 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 he trunk of my c
39e70 61 72 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 ar?"..He looked
39e80 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 77 6e at her, and down
39e90 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 at a tablet in
39ea0 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 front of him. "
39eb0 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 I'll check wheth
39ec0 65 72 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c er it's on the l
39ed0 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 75 ift. If not, su
39ee0 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 re, you can prob
39ef0 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 ably get whateve
39f00 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 r you need.".."T
39f10 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 hanks," she said
39f20 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 ...Eight minutes
39f30 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 later, she sat
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3a030 73 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 53 65 63 ses. Men in Sec
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3a060 20 67 65 61 72 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 gear stormed he
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3a080 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f in the front do
3a090 6f 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 77 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c or, as two peopl
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3a0b0 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f stood outside o
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3a0d0 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 watching. One w
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3a0f0 6c 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 69 72 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b long hair streak
3a100 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 67 72 65 79 2c 20 61 6e ed with grey, an
3a110 64 20 62 6f 74 68 20 77 6f 72 65 20 62 61 6c 6c d both wore ball
3a120 20 63 61 70 73 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 caps. When the
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3a140 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2c other to speak,
3a150 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 she recognized
3a160 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 them as Cole and
3a170 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 his partner...A
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3a1b0 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 76 The point of v
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3a1d0 20 64 72 69 66 74 65 64 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 drifted past, a
3a1e0 6e 64 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 nd Cole looked t
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3a200 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 for a moment, t
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3a220 61 67 61 69 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 again like it di
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3a290 6f 72 70 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 orp...Her hands
3a2a0 74 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 trembled..."I ha
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3a2d0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 79 . "I will get y
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3a2f0 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 e. That is the
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3a340 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 79 20 You cannot pay
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3a360 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 61 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 s with cash you
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3a5a0 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Okay," she sa
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3a670 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 "Maybe they don'
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3ab60 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 .."Yes," it said
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3ac80 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 "Yes.".."Of cour
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3b540 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 y to help."..She
3b550 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c sighed. "Yeah,
3b560 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 of course.".."I
3b570 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 s there someone
3b580 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 you can contact
3b590 66 6f 72 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a for help now?"..
3b5a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 Alley thought ab
3b5b0 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 out it, and said
3b5c0 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 6f "I don't know o
3b5d0 66 66 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e ff hand about an
3b5e0 79 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 65 76 65 72 20 73 65 65 20 yone I ever see
3b5f0 74 68 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 77 68 6f 20 63 these days who c
3b600 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 ould really help
3b610 20 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a me right now.".
3b620 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 ."Can one of you
3b630 72 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 r friends give y
3b640 6f 75 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 ou a place to st
3b650 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 ay for the night
3b660 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 ?"..Alley shook
3b670 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f her head. "I do
3b680 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 n't want to get
3b690 74 68 65 6d 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 75 70 20 69 them caught up i
3b6a0 6e 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 67 75 n this, and I gu
3b6b0 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 74 69 ess I'm not enti
3b6c0 72 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 rely sure they w
3b6d0 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 ouldn't say some
3b6e0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c thing they shoul
3b6f0 64 6e 27 74 20 69 66 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 73 dn't if police s
3b700 68 6f 77 65 64 20 75 70 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 howed up or some
3b710 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e thing like that.
3b720 22 0a 0a 22 49 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 73 65 ".."In that case
3b730 2c 20 77 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 79 , we must find y
3b740 6f 75 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 73 74 ou a place to st
3b750 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 ay for the night
3b760 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 . Please look f
3b770 6f 72 20 6d 6f 74 65 6c 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 or motels that a
3b780 63 63 65 70 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 ccept cryptocurr
3b790 65 6e 63 79 20 70 61 79 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 62 65 ency payments be
3b7a0 6c 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 69 6e low the reportin
3b7b0 67 20 74 68 72 65 73 68 6f 6c 64 20 6f 66 20 74 g threshold of t
3b7c0 68 72 65 65 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 75 6e 69 hree hundred uni
3b7d0 74 65 64 20 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 ted states dolla
3b7e0 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 rs.".."Sure," sh
3b7f0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 e said, "but I d
3b800 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 on't know how we
3b810 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 're going to get
3b820 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f there. It's no
3b830 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 63 61 62 73 20 75 73 75 61 t like cabs usua
3b840 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 68 lly take cash th
3b850 65 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 ese days, and th
3b860 65 79 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6d 65 ey all have came
3b870 72 61 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 73 6f 20 ras in them, so
3b880 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 6e 64 I would just end
3b890 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f up on camera fo
3b8a0 72 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 72 69 70 r the whole trip
3b8b0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 .".."Can you sti
3b8c0 6c 6c 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 ll ride a motorc
3b8d0 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 ycle?".."Yeah, I
3b8e0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 should be able
3b8f0 74 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 75 72 72 6f 77 to." She furrow
3b900 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 ed her brow. "W
3b910 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 hy?".."We should
3b920 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6f 6e 6c 69 6e 65 20 63 6c check online cl
3b930 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 assifieds for pr
3b940 69 76 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 73 61 6c 65 ivate party sale
3b950 2c 20 6c 6f 77 20 70 72 69 63 65 2c 20 77 6f 72 , low price, wor
3b960 6b 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 73 king motorcycles
3b970 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 70 75 72 that can be pur
3b980 63 68 61 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 chased in either
3b990 20 63 61 73 68 20 6f 72 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 cash or cryptoc
3b9a0 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 75 6e 69 74 73 2e 22 0a urrency units.".
3b9b0 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 67 ."Oh, yeah. I g
3b9c0 75 65 73 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c uess a motorcycl
3b9d0 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 65 20 e would even be
3b9e0 63 68 65 61 70 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6a cheaper than a j
3b9f0 75 6e 6b 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 unker car."..She
3ba00 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 pulled out her
3ba10 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 Axiom and woke t
3ba20 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 he device, then
3ba30 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 hesitated..."How
3ba40 20 61 6d 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 am I even going
3ba50 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f to get the moto
3ba60 72 63 79 63 6c 65 3f 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 rcycle? I can't
3ba70 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 get to it from
3ba80 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 here.".."I will
3ba90 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e arrange somethin
3baa0 67 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 g," the prioriti
3bab0 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 zer said. "It w
3bac0 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 73 ill probably cos
3bad0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 74 6f 20 64 t you extra to d
3bae0 6f 20 73 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 20 66 65 6c 6c o so, but a fell
3baf0 6f 77 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 ow study partici
3bb00 70 61 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 70 70 72 6f 70 pant with approp
3bb10 72 69 61 74 65 20 73 6b 69 6c 6c 73 20 6d 61 79 riate skills may
3bb20 20 62 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 be willing to f
3bb30 61 63 69 6c 69 74 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 acilitate your t
3bb40 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ransaction.".."W
3bb50 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 ouldn't that mea
3bb60 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e n the whole thin
3bb70 67 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 g will get recor
3bb80 64 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 72 65 64 20 69 ded and stored i
3bb90 6e 20 6c 6f 67 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 n logs, though?"
3bba0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 .."No. I will a
3bbb0 6c 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 lter logs and re
3bbc0 6d 6f 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 move all evidenc
3bbd0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 e of these activ
3bbe0 69 74 69 65 73 27 20 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 ities' significa
3bbf0 6e 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 nce from storage
3bc00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 .".."Okay, I gue
3bc10 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 ss that's fine."
3bc20 0a 0a 22 42 79 20 6d 79 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 .."By my estimat
3bc30 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 e, the risk of t
3bc40 68 69 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 his transaction
3bc50 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 for you should b
3bc60 65 20 6c 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 e less than the
3bc70 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 72 6f 61 64 20 64 61 6e typical road dan
3bc80 67 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 gers of driving
3bc90 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 a motorcycle in
3bca0 61 66 74 65 72 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 74 72 61 66 66 69 afternoon traffi
3bcb0 63 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 61 c from here to a
3bcc0 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 seller in most
3bcd0 70 61 72 74 73 20 6f 66 20 52 69 76 65 72 73 69 parts of Riversi
3bce0 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 de.".."I guess t
3bcf0 68 61 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 69 6e 67 hat's comforting
3bd00 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 ," she said. "R
3bd10 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 iding a motorcyc
3bd20 6c 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 le is more dange
3bd30 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 rous than making
3bd40 20 61 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d a deal with a m
3bd50 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 iddleman when th
3bd60 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 e Men In Black a
3bd70 72 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 re after me.".."
3bd80 54 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 The same stateme
3bd90 6e 74 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 69 nt is accurate i
3bda0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 20 63 61 f you drive a ca
3bdb0 72 2c 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 r, as well, thou
3bdc0 67 68 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 69 63 73 20 73 75 gh statistics su
3bdd0 67 67 65 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 ggest the danger
3bde0 20 6f 66 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 63 61 of driving a ca
3bdf0 72 20 69 73 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 65 r is slightly le
3be00 73 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 ss than that of
3be10 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 riding a motorcy
3be20 63 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 cle.".."Yeah, th
3be30 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e anks for clearin
3be40 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 g that up for me
3be50 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ," Alley said.
3be60 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 6c 6f 6f "Let's start loo
3be70 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 king at motorcyc
3be80 6c 65 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 les, then."..Whe
3be90 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 61 n she selected a
3bea0 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 63 61 custom modifica
3beb0 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 31 39 39 30 73 20 tion of a 1990s
3bec0 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 motorcycle close
3bed0 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 74 68 65 72 27 r to her father'
3bee0 73 20 61 67 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 20 6f s age than her o
3bef0 77 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 wn, the prioriti
3bf00 7a 65 72 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 69 74 20 zer told her it
3bf10 68 61 64 20 61 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 had a middleman
3bf20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 ready to go. It
3bf30 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 was only twenty
3bf40 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 minutes later t
3bf50 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 hat it told her
3bf60 2f 2a 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 64 69 67 69 74 /* about a digit
3bf70 61 6c 20 62 6f 6f 74 6c 65 67 20 73 61 66 65 74 al bootleg safet
3bf80 79 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 2e 20 2a 2f 20 77 68 y upgrade. */ wh
3bf90 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e at the middleman
3bfa0 20 68 61 64 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 66 72 6f had learned fro
3bfb0 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 m the seller..."
3bfc0 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 27 73 The motorcycle's
3bfd0 20 73 65 6c 6c 65 72 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 73 20 seller reports
3bfe0 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 61 20 6e 75 that it has a nu
3bff0 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 73 mber of upgrades
3c000 2e 20 20 4d 6f 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 61 62 6c 79 2c . Most notably,
3c010 20 69 74 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 75 70 67 it has been upg
3c020 72 61 64 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 20 61 6e raded with an an
3c030 74 69 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 73 79 ti lock brake sy
3c040 73 74 65 6d 20 68 65 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 stem he fabricat
3c050 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 ed in his home w
3c060 6f 72 6b 73 68 6f 70 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 72 orkshop, using r
3c070 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 72 65 everse engineere
3c080 64 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 73 70 65 63 69 d physical speci
3c090 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 70 72 fications for pr
3c0a0 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 6d 61 oduction afterma
3c0b0 72 6b 65 74 20 62 72 61 6b 65 20 75 70 67 72 61 rket brake upgra
3c0c0 64 65 73 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 des, using open
3c0d0 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 source software
3c0e0 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 to program the s
3c0f0 79 73 74 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 6e 27 74 20 ystem.".."Isn't
3c100 74 68 61 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 20 20 49 that illegal? I
3c110 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 don't know if I
3c120 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 really need to
3c130 70 69 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e pile more eviden
3c140 63 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 6e 20 75 ce someone can u
3c150 73 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 6e se against me on
3c160 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 top of what's a
3c170 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2c lready going on,
3c180 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Alley said..."
3c190 49 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 It appears that
3c1a0 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 the use of the p
3c1b0 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 lans for the bra
3c1c0 6b 65 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 kes is not illeg
3c1d0 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 68 65 al, and only the
3c1e0 20 64 69 73 74 72 69 62 75 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 distribution of
3c1f0 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 61 6e 64 20 74 the plans and t
3c200 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 he sale of the b
3c210 72 61 6b 65 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 79 rakes after they
3c220 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 66 61 62 72 69 have been fabri
3c230 63 61 74 65 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 76 69 6f 6c cated would viol
3c240 61 74 65 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e ate copyright an
3c250 64 20 70 61 74 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 77 73 2e 20 20 d patent laws.
3c260 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 6e Because the plan
3c270 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 s were evidently
3c280 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 20 65 6e 67 69 6e 65 65 reverse enginee
3c290 72 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20 75 6e red, they are un
3c2a0 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 72 6f likely to be pro
3c2b0 74 65 63 74 65 64 20 62 79 20 63 6f 70 79 72 69 tected by copyri
3c2c0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 41 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 63 ght. As the rec
3c2d0 69 70 69 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f ipient of the mo
3c2e0 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 torcycle, you se
3c2f0 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6d 6d 75 6e 65 20 em to be immune
3c300 74 6f 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 69 73 73 to any legal iss
3c310 75 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 79 20 61 72 69 ues that may ari
3c320 73 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 61 6e se from this, an
3c330 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 73 20 6f 66 d the chances of
3c340 20 64 65 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 detection of th
3c350 65 20 63 72 69 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 e crime in this
3c360 63 61 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 73 74 case are statist
3c370 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 20 69 6e 73 69 67 6e 69 66 ically insignif
3c380 69 63 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 icant.".."Yeah,
3c390 6f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e okay," she said.
3c3a0 0a 0a 22 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f .."When the moto
3c3b0 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 73 2c 20 rcycle arrives,
3c3c0 79 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 you will be able
3c3d0 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 to pay the pers
3c3e0 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 73 20 on who delivers
3c3f0 69 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 53 it directly in S
3c400 74 61 74 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 69 73 20 69 6e tater. He is in
3c410 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 63 71 75 terested in acqu
3c420 69 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f iring the crypto
3c430 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 currency as an i
3c440 6e 76 65 73 74 6d 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 nvestment.".."Di
3c450 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 d he use Stater
3c460 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f to buy the bike?
3c470 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6d 61 64 65 ".."No. He made
3c480 20 61 20 63 61 73 68 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 a cash transact
3c490 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 ion. For him, t
3c4a0 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 his is an indire
3c4b0 63 74 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 ct way to buy a
3c4c0 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 77 cryptocurrency w
3c4d0 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 ithout the purch
3c4e0 61 73 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 72 61 63 6b 65 ase being tracke
3c4f0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 64 65 d and without de
3c500 61 6c 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 65 73 73 20 aling with less
3c510 74 72 75 73 74 77 6f 72 74 68 79 20 69 6e 64 69 trustworthy indi
3c520 76 69 64 75 61 6c 73 20 77 68 6f 20 64 65 61 6c viduals who deal
3c530 20 69 6e 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e in cryptocurren
3c540 63 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 cies.".."Yeah,"
3c550 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 she said, "that
3c560 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2e 20 20 48 6f makes sense. Ho
3c570 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 67 w much is this g
3c580 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 20 6d 65 20 62 oing to set me b
3c590 61 63 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c ack?".."You will
3c5a0 20 70 72 6f 66 69 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 69 profit from thi
3c5b0 73 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 s transaction.
3c5c0 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 Another study pa
3c5d0 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 rticipant picked
3c5e0 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 66 72 6f 6d up the car from
3c5f0 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 70 20 61 the auto shop a
3c600 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 6f nd gave money to
3c610 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 6d 61 6e 20 66 the middleman f
3c620 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c or the motorcycl
3c630 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 e purchase, with
3c640 20 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f instructions to
3c650 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 79 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 convey whatever
3c660 20 63 61 73 68 20 69 73 20 6c 65 66 74 20 61 66 cash is left af
3c670 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 68 61 73 65 ter the purchase
3c680 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 to you. While
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3c700 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 the car had not
3c710 72 65 71 75 69 72 65 64 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 65 6e required mainten
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3c740 0a 22 49 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 67 65 74 ."Is someone get
3c750 74 69 6e 67 20 73 63 72 65 77 65 64 20 6f 76 65 ting screwed ove
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3c770 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 45 asked..."No. E
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3c790 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 in these transa
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3c820 6c 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 61 74 69 6f le transportatio
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3c840 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 s.".."You are we
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3c900 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She looked at th
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3c930 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 6f opposite wall o
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3ca00 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 She pulled the A
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3ca20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 pocket and start
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3ca90 20 67 6f 74 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 got nothing use
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3cab0 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 learn that the
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3cbd0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 . She stood and
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3cc00 20 62 61 63 6b 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 backside..."Thi
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3cc40 6f 6f 6b 20 61 20 64 65 65 70 20 62 72 65 61 74 ook a deep breat
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3cc60 6f 77 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 6f 6f 6b 65 owly, then hooke
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3cc90 74 6f 75 63 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e touching the han
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3ccb0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f . She stepped o
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3cce0 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 64 69 figure slowly di
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3cd20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 75 72 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 the four cylinde
3cd30 72 20 33 35 30 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 2f 2a r 350 she had /*
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3cd60 2e 20 2a 2f 20 73 65 6c 65 63 74 65 64 20 66 72 . */ selected fr
3cd70 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 om the classifie
3cd80 64 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6d 61 6e 20 77 6f 72 ds...The man wor
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3cdb0 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6c his mask and gl
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3cdd0 73 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 63 ses were identic
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3ce20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 63 75 72 62 20 6e 6f 74 20 by the curb not
3ce30 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 69 far away. She i
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3ce50 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 with a movement
3ce60 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 63 68 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 of her chin and
3ce70 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 46 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 asked "Friends
3ce80 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 61 68 of yours?".."Nah
3ce90 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 ," he said. "It
3cea0 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2e 20 's just my car.
3ceb0 20 54 68 65 20 61 75 74 6f 70 69 6c 6f 74 20 77 The autopilot w
3cec0 61 73 20 73 65 74 20 74 6f 20 61 75 74 6f 20 66 as set to auto f
3ced0 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 61 70 70 72 ollow." He appr
3cee0 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 oached, his hand
3cef0 73 20 61 74 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 73 2c 20 s at his sides,
3cf00 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 and stopped with
3cf10 20 61 6d 70 6c 65 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 ample distance
3cf20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 between them. "
3cf30 54 68 65 20 6b 65 79 27 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 The key's in the
3cf40 20 69 67 6e 69 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 ignition. The
3cf50 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 27 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 envelope's under
3cf60 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 the seat."..The
3cf70 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 74 6f 6c prioritizer tol
3cf80 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 76 69 61 20 74 65 78 74 20 d her, via text
3cf90 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 in her glasses,
3cfa0 22 54 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 63 6f "The envelope co
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3cfc0 20 6f 76 65 72 20 63 61 73 68 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 over cash from
3cfd0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the sale of the
3cfe0 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6b car.".."Do you k
3cff0 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 now how to work
3d000 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 everything on a
3d010 62 69 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f 22 bike like this?"
3d020 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 he asked...She
3d030 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 looked at it, th
3d040 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 en back at him.
3d050 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 "Yeah." She st
3d060 6f 70 70 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 66 72 opped herself fr
3d070 6f 6d 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 6f om explaining ho
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3d0a0 78 20 2d 2d 20 61 20 66 6f 6f 6c 69 73 68 20 68 x -- a foolish h
3d0b0 61 62 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 63 abit, in these c
3d0c0 69 72 63 75 6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 ircumstances..."
3d0d0 43 6f 6f 6c 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 Cool," he said.
3d0e0 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 68 "What about a h
3d0f0 65 6c 6d 65 74 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 elmet? You're g
3d100 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 70 75 6c 6c oing to get pull
3d110 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 ed over without
3d120 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 one.".."I have t
3d130 68 61 74 20 63 6f 76 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 hat covered. Th
3d140 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 20 anks.".."Sure."
3d150 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f He looked her o
3d160 76 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 65 76 65 72 20 ver. "You ever
3d170 6e 65 65 64 20 61 6e 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 need any help wi
3d180 74 68 20 61 20 62 69 6b 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 th a bike proble
3d190 6d 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e m, you let me kn
3d1a0 6f 77 2e 20 20 55 73 20 62 69 6b 65 72 73 20 67 ow. Us bikers g
3d1b0 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 otta stick toget
3d1c0 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 her."..She smile
3d1d0 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b d. "Yeah, thank
3d1e0 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 s," she said. "
3d1f0 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 44 61 64 20 You're what Dad
3d200 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 27 6f 6e used to call 'on
3d210 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e e of the good on
3d220 65 73 27 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a es', I guess."..
3d230 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 He laughed. "If
3d240 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 you say so," he
3d250 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 said. "I'll ge
3d260 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 63 t going so you c
3d270 61 6e 20 64 6f 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 an do whatever y
3d280 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 74 61 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 44 6f ou gotta do. Do
3d290 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 6e 79 20 61 62 n't worry any ab
3d2a0 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 out me, though.
3d2b0 20 41 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e As far as anyon
3d2c0 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 e else would get
3d2d0 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 6e 65 out of me, I ne
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3d2f0 6a 75 73 74 20 64 72 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6f 66 66 just dropped off
3d300 20 61 20 62 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 a bike somewher
3d310 65 20 6d 69 6c 65 73 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f e miles away fro
3d320 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b m here.".."Thank
3d330 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 67 61 s," she said aga
3d340 69 6e 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 in, as he walked
3d350 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 away. He got i
3d360 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 n the car with a
3d370 20 6c 61 73 74 20 77 61 76 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 last wave of hi
3d380 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 76 65 s hand and drove
3d390 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 65 6c 65 63 74 away, the elect
3d3a0 72 69 63 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 73 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 ric motors runni
3d3b0 6e 67 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 ng too silently
3d3c0 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 2e for her to hear.
3d3d0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 68 65 65 6c 65 64 20 ..Alley wheeled
3d3e0 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 the bike into th
3d3f0 65 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 77 61 73 68 20 62 61 79 e third wash bay
3d400 2c 20 6e 65 61 72 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 2c , near her gear,
3d410 20 74 68 65 6e 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 74 then unlocked t
3d420 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 66 74 he seat and lift
3d430 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 ed it to find a
3d440 6d 61 6e 69 6c 61 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 manila envelope
3d450 66 6f 6c 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 61 6c 66 2e 20 folded in half.
3d460 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 She had not see
3d470 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6c 69 n an envelope li
3d480 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 20 ke that in over
3d490 66 69 66 74 65 65 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 6e fifteen years an
3d4a0 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b d, when she pick
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3d4e0 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 61 6e 69 6c 61 20 65 6e 76 65 out manila enve
3d4f0 6c 6f 70 65 73 20 66 65 65 6c 3f 20 5d 20 66 65 lopes feel? ] fe
3d500 65 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 el of the paper
3d510 6d 61 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 made her think t
3d520 68 69 73 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6d 75 73 his envelope mus
3d530 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 69 74 74 t have been sitt
3d540 69 6e 67 20 75 6e 75 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 ing unused in a
3d550 62 6f 78 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 27 73 box in someone's
3d560 20 67 61 72 61 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 74 20 6c garage for at l
3d570 65 61 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 0a east that long..
3d580 0a 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 69 .A quick check i
3d590 6e 73 69 64 65 20 72 65 76 65 61 6c 65 64 20 74 nside revealed t
3d5a0 77 6f 20 6c 61 72 67 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 73 20 wo large stacks
3d5b0 6f 66 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 of hundred dolla
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3d5d0 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 63 with silicone c
3d5e0 61 62 6c 65 20 74 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 able ties...She
3d5f0 73 74 75 66 66 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 stuffed the enve
3d600 6c 6f 70 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 63 61 72 67 lope into a carg
3d610 6f 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 o pocket, the op
3d620 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 6e 69 65 72 ened the pannier
3d630 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f s on the sides o
3d640 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6c f the bike and l
3d650 6f 61 64 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 65 61 72 20 69 oaded her gear i
3d660 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 63 68 6f 72 65 6f nto them, choreo
3d670 67 72 61 70 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 graphing an awkw
3d680 61 72 64 2c 20 75 6e 73 79 63 68 72 6f 6e 69 7a ard, unsychroniz
3d690 65 64 20 64 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 65 6d ed dance of item
3d6a0 73 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 s pulled out of
3d6b0 62 61 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 72 72 61 6e bags and rearran
3d6c0 67 65 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f ged until she co
3d6d0 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6f uld get enough o
3d6e0 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 69 f what she had i
3d6f0 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 61 6c 6c 6f 79 20 62 6f nto the alloy bo
3d700 78 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 72 xes to make it r
3d710 65 61 73 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 easonably comfor
3d720 74 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 20 74 table to carry t
3d730 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 62 he rest on her b
3d740 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 ack. She pulled
3d750 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 on her riding g
3d760 65 61 72 2c 20 68 65 66 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 ear, hefted the
3d770 62 61 63 6b 70 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 backpack on her
3d780 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 shoulders, then
3d790 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 pushed her mask
3d7a0 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 down as a bit of
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3e330 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 yeah. Yeah, it
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3e510 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 need help?" he a
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3e590 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 She sighed. Sh
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3e770 22 4e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 68 "Never mind. Th
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3e790 61 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 44 61 6c a. Goodbye, Dal
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3e830 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 , but if you nee
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3e850 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e . No questions.
3e860 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 66 6f " He paused, fo
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3e900 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 ton to put the d
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3e920 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 again and said "
3e930 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 Yeah, I'm here."
3e940 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 .."Look, I know
3e950 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6d you wouldn't com
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3e970 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 77 idn't have to, w
3e980 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 hatever it is.
3e990 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c I know you reall
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3e9b0 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 ave nothing to d
3e9c0 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 o with me. I'm
3e9d0 73 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 sorry about that
3e9e0 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 . I'll be hones
3e9f0 74 20 2d 2d 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 t -- it's good t
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3ea10 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 e. I don't expe
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3ea30 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 you, though. I
3ea40 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 f I can help, I
3ea50 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 6d can. I know I m
3ea60 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 ade things diffi
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3ea80 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c never meant to,
3ea90 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 but I did, and
3eaa0 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 I want to at lea
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3ead0 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 79 ll stay out of y
3eae0 6f 75 72 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 our business. I
3eaf0 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 'll stay as far
3eb00 61 77 61 79 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 away as you want
3eb10 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 75 72 6e 20 64 6f . Don't turn do
3eb20 77 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 66 72 65 65 6c 79 20 67 wn help freely g
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3eb40 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4f you need it. O
3eb50 6b 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 kay?"..She squee
3eb60 7a 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 63 6c 6f zed her eyes clo
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3eb80 61 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 anish the light
3eb90 73 74 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 sting she felt a
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3ebb0 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 her eyes. Her
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3ebd0 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 69 6e ether tightly in
3ebe0 20 61 20 74 68 69 6e 20 6c 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 a thin line. S
3ebf0 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 65 6c 65 61 he finally relea
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3ec10 67 72 75 64 67 69 6e 67 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 grudgingly, and
3ec20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e opened her eyes.
3ec30 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 "Yeah. Thanks
3ec40 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 , Dalton. The t
3ec50 72 75 74 68 20 69 73 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 ruth is, if you
3ec60 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 help me you'll p
3ec70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 robably get your
3ec80 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 self in a lot of
3ec90 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 trouble, becaus
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3ecb0 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 f trouble. Eith
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3ecd0 73 74 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c stand the troubl
3ece0 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 49 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 69 e, or I do and i
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3ed00 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 nsane and pretty
3ed10 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 65 73 63 61 70 61 62 6c much inescapabl
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3ed30 61 62 6c 79 20 73 63 72 65 77 20 6f 76 65 72 20 ably screw over
3ed40 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 73 anyone who helps
3ed50 20 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 me..."I really
3ed60 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 shouldn't have c
3ed70 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f alled you. I do
3ed80 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 n't want to get
3ed90 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 you mixed up in
3eda0 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f this.".."It's to
3edb0 6f 20 6c 61 74 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 o late," he said
3edc0 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 67 65 6e 74 6c , quietly, gentl
3edd0 79 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 2e y. "You called.
3ede0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d I'm here. I'm
3edf0 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 going to help y
3ee00 6f 75 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 ou. Just take t
3ee10 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 he offer, and te
3ee20 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e ll me what you n
3ee30 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 eed.".."Fine."
3ee40 53 68 65 20 68 75 64 64 6c 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 She huddled arou
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3ee60 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b pressed her back
3ee70 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 69 72 6d 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 more firmly int
3ee80 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2c 20 66 65 o the corner, fe
3ee90 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 73 74 65 eling the plaste
3eea0 72 20 63 72 75 6d 62 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 69 r crumbling behi
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3eec0 22 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 "I need a place
3eed0 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 6c 6f 77 2c 20 66 69 72 73 to lie low, firs
3eee0 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f t, and I need to
3eef0 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 figure out what
3ef00 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f the fuck I'm do
3ef10 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 78 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ing next.".."Yea
3ef20 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 h," he said, "th
3ef30 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 at does sound se
3ef40 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 68 6f 27 73 20 61 66 rious. Who's af
3ef50 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 ter you?".."I sh
3ef60 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 65 ould probably te
3ef70 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 73 74 ll you the worst
3ef80 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 6f 27 73 20 61 part of who's a
3ef90 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d fter me, but I'm
3efa0 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 not sure which
3efb0 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 one it is.".."Wh
3efc0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 at do you mean?"
3efd0 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 he asked slowly
3efe0 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 77 6f 72 ..."Which is wor
3eff0 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 se, the Secret S
3f000 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6f 72 20 61 20 63 72 65 65 ervice or a cree
3f010 70 79 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e py government in
3f020 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 telligence contr
3f030 61 63 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 67 actor that can g
3f040 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 et the secret se
3f050 72 76 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 69 74 73 20 rvice to do its
3f060 64 69 72 74 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 dirty work?"..Th
3f070 65 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 e silence linger
3f080 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 70 ed -- silence ap
3f090 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 67 art from the tig
3f0a0 68 74 20 72 61 73 70 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 ht rasp of her b
3f0b0 72 65 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 reath in her thr
3f0c0 6f 61 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 oat as she waite
3f0d0 64 20 66 65 61 72 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 d fearfully for
3f0e0 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 him to say somet
3f0f0 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 65 74 72 61 79 hing that betray
3f100 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 20 72 65 ed his sudden re
3f110 6c 75 63 74 61 6e 63 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 luctance to help
3f120 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f her..."I can co
3f130 6d 65 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 22 me pick you up,"
3f140 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 he said. "Wher
3f150 65 20 64 6f 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 e do I need to g
3f160 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 o? I guess you'
3f170 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 re probably not
3f180 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 home."..She held
3f190 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 out her Axiom a
3f1a0 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 nd stared at it
3f1b0 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e for a long time.
3f1c0 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 "What?".."Do y
3f1d0 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 ou need me to pi
3f1e0 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 ck you up?" he a
3f1f0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b sked...She shook
3f200 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 her head. "You
3f210 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 still want to h
3f220 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a elp me . . . ?".
3f230 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f ."Of course I do
3f240 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 ," he said, with
3f250 20 61 20 73 68 61 6b 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 20 69 a shaky laugh i
3f260 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 57 n his voice. "W
3f270 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 6e 67 hat kind of dang
3f280 65 72 6f 75 73 20 61 67 69 74 61 74 6f 72 20 61 erous agitator a
3f290 6e 64 20 64 65 6d 61 67 6f 67 75 65 20 77 6f 75 nd demagogue wou
3f2a0 6c 64 20 49 20 62 65 65 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 ld I bee if I wa
3f2b0 73 6e 27 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 sn't willing to
3f2c0 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 6c 65 help someone fle
3f2d0 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 e from the Secre
3f2e0 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 t Service?"..She
3f2f0 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 77 65 61 6b 6c 79 2e laughed weakly.
3f300 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f "Right. Of co
3f310 75 72 73 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 urse you do." S
3f320 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
3f330 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f d. "I don't kno
3f340 77 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 w. I have a mot
3f350 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 orcycle, not eve
3f360 6e 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 n registered to
3f370 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f me. Maybe I sho
3f380 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 uld just go ther
3f390 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c e.".."You could,
3f3a0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 6e " he said. "Han
3f3b0 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 20 2d 2d 20 49 g on a sec' -- I
3f3c0 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 0a have an idea.".
3f3d0 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c .She heard the l
3f3e0 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 61 67 61 ack of audio aga
3f3f0 69 6e 2c 20 61 20 66 61 69 6e 74 20 70 72 65 73 in, a faint pres
3f400 73 75 72 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 sure against her
3f410 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 63 attention. Sec
3f420 6f 6e 64 73 20 74 69 63 6b 65 64 20 62 79 2e 0a onds ticked by..
3f430 0a 54 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 .The audio opene
3f440 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 72 d up in her awar
3f450 65 6e 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 eness again. "I
3f460 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 76 61 6e 20 can send a van
3f470 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 20 to pick you up,
3f480 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 and your motorcy
3f490 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f cle. You'll pro
3f4a0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 66 66 20 74 bably stay off t
3f4b0 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 he radar better
3f4c0 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f that way. If yo
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3f500 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 it's not seen a
3f510 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 round enough for
3f520 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 people to conne
3f530 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 76 ct with your mov
3f540 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 ements. Right?"
3f550 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 .."Yeah, sure,"
3f560 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 27 she said. "Who'
3f570 73 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 s driving the va
3f580 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 62 6f 64 79 2c 22 20 68 n?".."Nobody," h
3f590 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 e said. "It's a
3f5a0 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 utomated. Don't
3f5b0 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 worry, a friend
3f5c0 20 6f 66 20 6d 69 6e 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 of mine contrib
3f5d0 75 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 68 61 63 6b 73 20 uted some hacks
3f5e0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 6f to the system so
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3f620 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 et.".."Oh."../*
3f630 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 I really need a
3f640 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 different name f
3f650 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 61 6e 20 22 62 6c or this than "bl
3f660 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 22 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 isscrypt". That
3f670 27 73 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 's stupid. */../
3f680 2a 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 6f 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 * It's so stupid
3f690 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 it might be rea
3f6a0 6c 69 73 74 69 63 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 64 listic, and we d
3f6b0 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 on't want that.
3f6c0 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 */.."I just need
3f6d0 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 to know where y
3f6e0 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 ou are. It's a
3f6f0 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 6d good thing you m
3f700 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 77 69 ade this call wi
3f710 74 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 2c 20 62 th blisscrypt, b
3f720 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 74 y the way, or it
3f730 27 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 'd take a lot mo
3f740 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 re work to make
3f750 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 73 sure this call s
3f760 74 61 79 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 tays out of the
3f770 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 wrong hands.".."
3f780 52 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 Right," she said
3f790 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 . She paused.
3f7a0 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f "How did you kno
3f7b0 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e w it was me when
3f7c0 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 I called?"..The
3f7d0 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6e 67 hesitation ling
3f7e0 65 72 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f ered, and she wo
3f7f0 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 ndered what was
3f800 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c going on. Final
3f810 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 48 6f 6e ly, he said "Hon
3f820 65 73 74 6c 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b estly, I don't k
3f830 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 69 now. It was wei
3f840 72 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 77 20 rd. I just saw
3f850 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c an incoming call
3f860 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 49 44 20 74 68 61 74 from an ID that
3f870 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 6f wasn't in my co
3f880 6e 74 61 63 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 ntacts, and some
3f890 68 6f 77 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 65 64 2e 22 0a how I guessed.".
3f8a0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 64 2e 20 20 22 .She scoffed. "
3f8b0 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 That's fucking w
3f8c0 65 69 72 64 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a eird, Dalton."..
3f8d0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e "Yeah," he said.
3f8e0 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 77 "It's not as w
3f8f0 65 69 72 64 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 77 65 61 eird as you swea
3f900 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 ring more than I
3f910 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 do, though."..S
3f920 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 he smiled, despi
3f930 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 44 61 6c te herself. Dal
3f940 74 6f 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 ton could still
3f950 68 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 68 69 67 68 hit all the high
3f960 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 points in her a
3f970 74 74 69 74 75 64 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 75 6e 65 ttitude with une
3f980 72 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 63 79 2e 20 rring accuracy.
3f990 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 68 61 64 20 74 "If you'd had t
3f9a0 68 65 20 77 65 65 6b 20 49 27 76 65 20 68 61 64 he week I've had
3f9b0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c . . . .".."Yeah,
3f9c0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 " he said. "Let
3f9d0 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 's talk about it
3f9e0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f when you get to
3f9f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 64 65 73 74 69 6e 61 74 69 6f your destinatio
3fa00 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 72 n. Send me your
3fa10 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 location throug
3fa20 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 20 74 65 78 h blisscrypt tex
3fa30 74 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 t so you don't h
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3fa60 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6e 65 63 longer than nec
3fa70 65 73 73 61 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c essary.".."Yeah,
3fa80 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 6b 61 " she said, "oka
3fa90 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 y." She ended t
3faa0 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2c 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 he call, moved t
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3fae0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 from there. She
3faf0 20 61 6c 74 65 72 6e 61 74 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 alternated betw
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3fb20 65 78 74 20 68 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 6e ext hour and ten
3fb30 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 75 6e 61 62 6c 65 minutes, unable
3fb40 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 to settle down
3fb50 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 79 enough to do any
3fb60 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 6f 72 thing useful, or
3fb70 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 even to think a
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3fb90 65 66 75 6c 2e 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d eful...Her Axiom
3fba0 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 vibrated in her
3fbb0 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 75 6e 6c 6f hand. She unlo
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3fbe0 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e where she saw an
3fbf0 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 encrypted messa
3fc00 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 ge from Dalton t
3fc10 68 61 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 hat said "Your r
3fc20 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 ide should be th
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3fc40 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 70 75 73 68 20 ll have to push
3fc50 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 the bike in your
3fc60 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e self."..She open
3fc70 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 63 61 72 65 ed the door care
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3fc90 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 d outside. Righ
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3fcb0 61 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 6d 61 alley, was a sma
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3fcd0 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6c 6f 77 65 s back door lowe
3fce0 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 61 red to provide a
3fcf0 20 72 61 6d 70 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 54 ramp inside. T
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3fd10 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 73 65 6c and shelves, sel
3fd20 66 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 65 f adjusting whee
3fd30 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 65 65 6c 20 l tracks, wheel
3fd40 6c 6f 63 6b 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 lock points, and
3fd50 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 72 69 6e 67 73 2e tie down rings.
3fd60 20 20 53 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 73 61 77 20 73 She even saw s
3fd70 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f omething that lo
3fd80 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 69 6e 69 oked like a mini
3fd90 20 66 72 69 64 67 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6c 6f 6f fridge. It loo
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3fdb0 64 65 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 6d 75 67 designed to smug
3fdc0 67 6c 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f gle anything fro
3fdd0 6d 20 73 74 6f 6c 65 6e 20 63 61 72 73 20 74 6f m stolen cars to
3fde0 20 73 74 6f 6c 65 6e 20 63 61 72 20 73 74 65 72 stolen car ster
3fdf0 65 6f 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 eos, and maybe e
3fe00 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c 20 70 61 72 ven cocktail par
3fe10 74 69 65 73 2c 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 74 68 65 ties, across the
3fe20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 73 74 61 74 65 73 20 77 69 74 interstates wit
3fe30 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 73 69 6c h the smooth sil
3fe40 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 ence of a typica
3fe50 6c 20 6e 65 77 20 65 6c 65 63 74 72 69 63 20 63 l new electric c
3fe60 61 72 67 6f 20 76 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 argo van...Alley
3fe70 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 77 72 65 73 74 6c 65 20 had to wrestle
3fe80 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6c 6c 65 6e with the challen
3fe90 67 65 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e ge of getting on
3fea0 65 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 e side of the ha
3feb0 6e 64 6c 65 62 61 72 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 ndlebars of her
3fec0 62 69 6b 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 bike through the
3fed0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 back door of th
3fee0 65 20 61 62 61 6e 64 6f 6e 65 64 20 62 75 69 6c e abandoned buil
3fef0 64 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 ding at a time,
3ff00 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 73 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 and mashed her f
3ff10 69 6e 67 65 72 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 ingers against t
3ff20 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 20 61 20 he door frame a
3ff30 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 little in the pr
3ff40 6f 63 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 74 ocess, but event
3ff50 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f ually managed to
3ff60 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 70 6c 61 get it into pla
3ff70 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 64 20 61 ce and secured a
3ff80 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 75 6e 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 gainst unwanted
3ff90 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 2d 2d 20 6c 69 6b movements -- lik
3ffa0 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a e falling over..
3ffb0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 63 .She sent an enc
3ffc0 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 62 rypted message b
3ffd0 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 ack to Dalton.
3ffe0 22 49 74 27 73 20 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 72 "It's in.".."Str
3fff0 61 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 ap into the seat
40000 20 69 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 in back."..She
40010 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 looked at the ch
40020 61 69 72 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 air, toward the
40030 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 front end of the
40040 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 62 truck's cargo b
40050 6f 78 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ox. "What about
40060 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 the door?" she
40070 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 68 asked..."It'll h
40080 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a andle itself."..
40090 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e She went back in
400a0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 to the building
400b0 74 6f 20 67 72 61 62 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 to grab her bags
400c0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f , then headed to
400d0 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 the comfortable
400e0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 68 looking seat th
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40100 75 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 64 uck and strapped
40110 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 in. A few mome
40120 6e 74 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 nts later, the b
40130 61 63 6b 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 ack door quietly
40140 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 75 pulled itself u
40150 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 61 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 54 p and sealed. T
40160 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 he light inside
40170 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 65 64 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 20 6d remained on, a m
40180 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 69 6c 6c 75 ore obvious illu
40190 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 mination now tha
401a0 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 63 t the back was c
401b0 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 63 6b 65 losed and blocke
401c0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 78 74 65 72 69 d out all exteri
401d0 6f 72 20 73 75 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 4d or sun light. M
401e0 75 73 69 63 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 70 6c 61 usic started pla
401f0 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 44 61 ying, some of Da
40200 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 31 39 38 30 73 20 69 6e 64 lton's 1980s ind
40210 75 73 74 72 69 61 6c 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 ustrial favorite
40220 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 6f 66 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a s, but softly...
40230 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 69 74 20 74 61 6b "Where is it tak
40240 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b ing me?" she ask
40250 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 ed in another me
40260 73 73 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 ssage...The resp
40270 6f 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 61 onse came soon a
40280 66 74 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 70 fter. "I'm surp
40290 72 69 73 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 rised you waited
402a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 that long to as
402b0 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 k. I guess you
402c0 74 72 75 73 74 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 trust me."..She
402d0 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 put her hand ove
402e0 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 r her face and r
402f0 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6c 62 6f 77 20 ested her elbow
40300 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 on her thigh. "
40310 46 75 63 6b 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 Fuck," she said
40320 61 6c 6f 75 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 aloud...When she
40330 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 sat up again, s
40340 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 72 65 70 6c he send her repl
40350 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 y. "Yeah, I gue
40360 73 73 20 49 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 79 6f 75 ss I trusted you
40370 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 without even th
40380 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e inking about it.
40390 20 20 4f 6c 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 Old reflexes."
403a0 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 66 6c 61 74 74 65 72 65 64 .."I'm flattered
403b0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 , but you should
403c0 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 76 65 72 try to get over
403d0 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 reflexes.".."I
403e0 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 know."..It turne
403f0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6b d out he still k
40400 6e 65 77 20 68 65 72 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 65 6e 6f new her well eno
40410 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 ugh to say nothi
40420 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ng to that. She
40430 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 leaned her head
40440 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 back on the sea
40450 74 27 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 72 65 73 74 2c 20 63 t's head rest, c
40460 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 losed her eyes,
40470 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 and wondered wha
40480 74 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 6e t she would do n
40490 65 78 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 72 ext...As if it r
404a0 65 61 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2c 20 73 68 ead her mind, sh
404b0 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f e heard the prio
404c0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 79 20 22 59 6f 75 ritizer say "You
404d0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 could use this
404e0 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 72 time to finish r
404f0 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 55 6e 64 65 72 67 72 6f 75 eading Undergrou
40500 6e 64 20 4f 70 65 53 65 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f nd OpeSec.".."Go
40510 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6d 75 od idea," she mu
40520 74 74 65 72 65 64 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 73 6f 75 ttered a bit sou
40530 72 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 75 67 20 69 74 rly. She dug it
40540 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 74 75 61 6c 6c out...Eventuall
40550 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 y, the movement
40560 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 63 68 61 of the truck cha
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40580 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 she realized it
40590 20 77 61 73 20 63 72 61 77 6c 69 6e 67 20 61 6c was crawling al
405a0 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 ong at probably
405b0 61 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 63 65 2c 20 a walking pace,
405c0 74 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 then it reversed
405d0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 2c 20 62 61 63 and turned, bac
405e0 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 king up to somet
405f0 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 72 65 76 65 hing with a reve
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40610 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 72 ep that came thr
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40630 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 6f d by the walls o
40640 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 27 73 20 63 61 f the truck's ca
40650 72 67 6f 20 62 6f 78 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 74 6f rgo box. It sto
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40670 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b s later the back
40680 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 started opening
40690 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 64 65 73 .../* I need des
406a0 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 criptions. */..T
406b0 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 his time, the ra
406c0 6d 70 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 6a 75 mp was angled ju
406d0 73 74 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 75 70 77 61 st slightly upwa
406e0 72 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b rd from the back
406f0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 of the truck, i
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40710 66 6f 72 6d 20 69 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f form in what loo
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40730 68 61 74 20 66 75 72 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 77 61 hat furnished wa
40740 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e rehouse. Dalton
40750 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 and his friend
40760 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 Cray stood on th
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40780 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e ing down at her.
40790 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2c ..She unbuckled,
407a0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 and she stood u
407b0 70 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 67 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 p. Cray grinned
407c0 20 62 72 6f 61 64 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e broadly at her.
407d0 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f Dalton just lo
407e0 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 2c 20 69 6e oked worried, in
407f0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 that way he had
40800 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 of almost looki
40810 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 75 72 74 ng a little hurt
40820 20 77 68 65 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 20 77 6f 72 whenever he wor
40830 72 69 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e ried around her.
40840 0a 0a 22 48 69 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 .."Hi," she said
40850 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 21 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 63 61 ..."Hi!" Cray ca
40860 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 47 65 74 20 lled out. "Get
40870 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 2c 20 out here. Man,
40880 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 79 I haven't seen y
40890 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 79 65 61 72 73 21 22 0a 0a 41 ou in years!"..A
408a0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 lley scratched h
408b0 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 er head to give
408c0 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 her hand somethi
408d0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 ng to do, then p
408e0 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 icked up her bag
408f0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 s and headed up
40900 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 the ramp. "What
40910 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f about the bike?
40920 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 " she asked...Cr
40930 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 ay said "Don't w
40940 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 orry. We got th
40950 69 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 is." He stepped
40960 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 onto the ramp a
40970 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 nd walked down t
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40990 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b e into the truck
409a0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f and started loo
409b0 73 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 sening a tie dow
409c0 6e 20 63 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e n cable...Dalton
409d0 27 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 's arms twitched
409e0 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 and his weight
409f0 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e shifted forward.
40a00 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 Alley realized
40a10 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 her eyes were h
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40a30 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 very detail of h
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40a50 64 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 d she expected t
40a60 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e he shift to turn
40a70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 into coming for
40a80 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 ward to give her
40a90 20 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c a hug. She fel
40aa0 74 20 61 20 74 77 69 6e 67 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e t a twinge of in
40ab0 6e 65 72 20 70 61 6e 69 63 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b ner panic, not k
40ac0 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 nowing how to re
40ad0 61 63 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c act, how she fel
40ae0 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 t, but it passed
40af0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e when the motion
40b00 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 stopped there a
40b10 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 nd he just looke
40b20 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 6f d at her...Witho
40b30 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2c 20 43 ut looking up, C
40b40 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 68 ray said "Give h
40b50 69 6d 20 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 69 im a hug. Get i
40b60 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 t over with, and
40b70 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 65 sit down, so he
40b80 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d can come help m
40b90 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 75 e."..Alley's mou
40ba0 74 68 20 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6d 69 th twitched a mi
40bb0 6c 6c 69 6d 65 74 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 llimeter toward
40bc0 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 a smile, then sh
40bd0 65 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 e set her bags a
40be0 73 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 side and stepped
40bf0 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 forward. She a
40c00 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 75 67 67 65 64 nd Dalton hugged
40c10 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 72 , but it was car
40c20 65 66 75 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 eful. There was
40c30 20 6e 6f 20 70 68 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 73 no physical dis
40c40 74 61 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 tance between th
40c50 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 em, but the sens
40c60 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 69 64 65 20 67 75 6c 66 e of a wide gulf
40c70 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 74 79 20 of uncertainty
40c80 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 still stood in t
40c90 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 heir way...She r
40ca0 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 ealized she alre
40cb0 61 64 79 20 6d 69 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 ady missed the h
40cc0 75 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 ug before it was
40cd0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 even completely
40ce0 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c over..."I shoul
40cf0 64 20 67 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 69 6d 2c 22 20 d go help him,"
40d00 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 Dalton said with
40d10 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 74 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 a wry turn of h
40d20 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 is mouth, and pa
40d30 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 ssed her on the
40d40 77 61 79 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 0a 0a 41 20 71 75 69 way down...A qui
40d50 63 6b 20 73 63 61 6e 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 ck scan showed h
40d60 65 72 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 79 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 74 er plenty of opt
40d70 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 ions for where t
40d80 6f 20 73 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 o sit. There wa
40d90 73 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 61 72 65 61 20 74 6f 20 s a big area to
40da0 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 the left set up
40db0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 63 6c 75 62 like a nightclub
40dc0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 , with a dance f
40dd0 6c 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 61 loor and a bar a
40de0 6e 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 nd little cockta
40df0 69 6c 20 74 61 62 6c 65 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 il tables. Anot
40e00 68 65 72 20 61 72 65 61 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 74 her area was set
40e10 20 75 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 up like a movie
40e20 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 theater with th
40e30 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 75 70 e screen high up
40e40 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 on the right ha
40e50 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c nd wall so peopl
40e60 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 e could recline
40e70 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 in the theater s
40e80 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 eating and not h
40e90 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 70 61 73 74 ave to look past
40ea0 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 the heads of pe
40eb0 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 ople in the seat
40ec0 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e s ahead of them.
40ed0 20 20 43 6c 6f 73 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 6f Closer than bo
40ee0 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 th, there were f
40ef0 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 olding lawn chai
40f00 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 62 rs and collapsib
40f10 6c 65 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 2e 0a le camp chairs..
40f20 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 .She sat on a ca
40f30 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 mp chair beside
40f40 61 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f a cooler, and lo
40f50 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 49 74 oked inside. It
40f60 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 69 6e 65 64 20 62 6f 74 74 6c contained bottl
40f70 65 64 20 73 6f 64 61 73 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 ed sodas, so she
40f80 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 took one and st
40f90 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 arted drinking w
40fa0 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 73 20 72 6f hile the guys ro
40fb0 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 70 lled the bike up
40fc0 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 72 the ramp. Shor
40fd0 74 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 20 72 65 tly, the bike re
40fe0 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 73 20 6b 69 63 6b sted on its kick
40ff0 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b stand, the truck
41000 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 69 74 73 20 72 61 6d 70 raised its ramp
41010 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 to close the op
41020 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 en back, and the
41030 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 roll up warehou
41040 73 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 se door started
41050 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 65 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 to descend..."I
41060 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 wasn't expecting
41070 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 you," Alley sai
41080 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 d, when she saw
41090 43 72 61 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 Cray approaching
410a0 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 20 74 65 ..."Didn't he te
410b0 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 ll you?" he aske
410c0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f d, and looked to
410d0 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 53 ward Dalton..."S
410e0 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 orry," Dalton sa
410f0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 id. "It slipped
41100 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 my mind.".."Shi
41110 74 2c 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 70 73 t, man, your ops
41120 65 63 20 73 75 63 6b 73 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 ec sucks," Cray
41130 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 said. He looked
41140 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 like he wanted
41150 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 to say more, but
41160 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 glanced at Alle
41170 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 y and just said
41180 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 "Well, I can go
41190 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 63 now so you two c
411a0 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 an talk about th
411b0 69 73 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 is, whatever thi
411c0 73 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 s is."..Alley sa
411d0 74 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 t forward and ha
411e0 6c 66 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 lf raised a hand
411f0 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 43 as if to wave C
41200 72 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 ray back. "No,
41210 73 74 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 stay. I should
41220 74 65 6c 6c 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 tell both of you
41230 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c . If you're hel
41240 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 ping, you have a
41250 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 right to know w
41260 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 hat you're getti
41270 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 ng into."..Cray
41280 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 looked from her
41290 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e to Dalton, who n
412a0 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 odded, so Cray s
412b0 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f at in the seat o
412c0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 n the other side
412d0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 66 of the cooler f
412e0 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 rom her, to her
412f0 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 right. He grabb
41300 65 64 20 61 20 73 6f 64 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a ed a soda, too..
41310 0a 41 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 69 .As Dalton sat i
41320 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c n the seat to Al
41330 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 68 65 20 73 ley's left, he s
41340 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 aid "I'm sorry.
41350 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 0a 0a I really am."..
41360 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 Alley shook her
41370 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 head. "No, don'
41380 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 t worry about it
41390 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 . You should ap
413a0 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 20 69 ologize to him i
413b0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e f you got him in
413c0 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 volved without t
413d0 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 elling him about
413e0 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 it.".."Shit," C
413f0 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 ray said. "I th
41400 6f 75 67 68 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 ought Dalton was
41410 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d just being dram
41420 61 74 69 63 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e atic or somethin
41430 67 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 g when he said t
41440 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 his could be the
41450 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 most dangerous
41460 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 64 thing I'd ever d
41470 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 75 70 2c 20 41 o. What's up, A
41480 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b lley?"..She look
41490 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 ed at Cray and s
414a0 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 aid "I had some
414b0 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c government intel
414c0 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 ligence contract
414d0 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 or agents show u
414e0 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 69 p at my place wi
414f0 74 68 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 th Secret Servic
41500 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 77 68 6f 20 62 72 6f e agents who bro
41510 6b 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 ke down the door
41520 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 64 65 64 20 6d 79 20 68 and raided my h
41530 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 ome."..Cray star
41540 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 ed at her, eyes
41550 77 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2e wide. "No shit.
41560 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 ".."No shit," sh
41570 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 e confirmed...He
41580 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f looked at Dalto
41590 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 n, then back at
415a0 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 her. He opened
415b0 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 his mouth to say
415c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 something, but
415d0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a Dalton cut in...
415e0 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 "What are those
415f0 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b glasses?" he ask
41600 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 ed. "Are those
41610 61 63 74 69 76 65 20 41 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c active AR?"..All
41620 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d ey looked at him
41630 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 . "Yes, but the
41640 79 27 72 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 y're secure.".."
41650 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 63 How are they sec
41660 75 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 ure?"..She thoug
41670 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 ht about it, and
41680 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 realized it was
41690 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 71 75 65 not an easy que
416a0 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 stion to answer
416b0 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 fully. "There's
416c0 20 61 20 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 41 a specialized A
416d0 49 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 I that's falsify
416e0 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 61 ing logs on me a
416f0 6e 64 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 nd replacing any
41700 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f video and audio
41710 20 66 65 65 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 20 77 feeds from me w
41720 69 74 68 20 63 6c 69 70 73 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 ith clips grabbe
41730 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f d from other peo
41740 70 6c 65 27 73 20 41 52 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 ple's AR glasses
41750 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 77 6e ."..Dalton frown
41760 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 ed. "That sound
41770 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a s improbable."..
41780 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 "That's nothing
41790 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 compared to me a
417a0 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 ctually living t
417b0 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 77 hrough it. My w
417c0 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 73 20 75 6e 72 hole life is unr
417d0 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 ecognizable. It
417e0 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 2c 20 74 68 's the truth, th
417f0 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 ough. I can exp
41800 6c 61 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 lain more, but i
41810 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b t's going to tak
41820 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a e a long time.".
41830 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b .He nodded. "Ok
41840 61 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 ay. We have the
41850 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 time. I cleare
41860 64 20 6d 79 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 66 6f d my schedule fo
41870 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 r the rest of th
41880 65 20 64 61 79 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 e day,and I can
41890 64 6f 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 6d 6f do it again tomo
418a0 72 72 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 rrow if I have t
418b0 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 o."..Cray decide
418c0 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 68 69 73 20 74 75 72 d it was his tur
418d0 6e 20 74 6f 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 4d n to cut in. "M
418e0 61 79 20 49 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 ay I cut in for
418f0 61 20 73 65 63 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f a sec?"..They bo
41900 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d th looked at him
41910 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 ..."Yeah, I gues
41920 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 79 65 73 2e 20 s that's a yes.
41930 20 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 Okay. Dalton,
41940 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 64 6f you shouldn't do
41950 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 68 that. Don't ch
41960 61 6e 67 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 ange your schedu
41970 6c 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 le around too mu
41980 63 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 ch. You don't w
41990 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 73 70 ant to look susp
419a0 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 69 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e icious if someon
419b0 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 e starts looking
419c0 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 in on you."..Da
419d0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 lton sighed. "Y
419e0 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e eah, good point.
419f0 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 " He looked at
41a00 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e Alley. "Between
41a10 20 6d 65 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c me, Cray, and L
41a20 69 64 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 idia -- if you w
41a30 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 ant to let her i
41a40 6e 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 61 6e n on it -- I can
41a50 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 make sure you a
41a60 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 lways have a way
41a70 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 20 to get help if
41a80 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 you need it for
41a90 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e as long as you n
41aa0 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 6f 75 74 2e eed to hide out.
41ab0 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f If you need to
41ac0 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e get out of town
41ad0 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 , I can help wit
41ae0 68 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 h that, too. We
41af0 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 20 20 can, I mean."
41b00 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 He glanced at Cr
41b10 61 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 43 ay. "Right?"..C
41b20 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 65 6e 74 68 75 ray nodded enthu
41b30 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 48 siastically. "H
41b40 65 6c 6c 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 66 69 67 ell yeah. I fig
41b50 75 72 65 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 ure we have a bu
41b60 64 67 65 74 20 6f 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e dget of about on
41b70 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 70 65 72 20 64 61 79 20 e thing per day
41b80 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 63 68 20 63 61 6e 63 we can each canc
41b90 65 6c 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f el if we have to
41ba0 2c 20 6e 6f 20 62 69 67 67 69 65 2c 20 77 69 74 , no biggie, wit
41bb0 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 61 6c hout anyone real
41bc0 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e ly thinking thin
41bd0 67 73 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 61 73 gs are weird, as
41be0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 69 long as we do i
41bf0 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e t intelligently.
41c00 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 ".."Oh," Alley s
41c10 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 73 74 61 72 74 aid. "I'm start
41c20 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 69 ing to feel a li
41c30 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 ttle overwhelmed
41c40 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 ."..Cray laughed
41c50 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 . "You're on th
41c60 65 20 72 75 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 e run from the s
41c70 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e ecret service an
41c80 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 d intelligence a
41c90 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 gents, and it's
41ca0 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 74 having friends t
41cb0 68 61 74 20 6f 76 65 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 20 79 hat overwhelms y
41cc0 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 ou.".."Yeah," sh
41cd0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 6c 61 75 67 68 69 6e 67 e said, laughing
41ce0 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c a little as wel
41cf0 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e l. "I guess so.
41d00 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 " She leaned he
41d10 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 r head back and
41d20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 looked up at the
41d30 20 6d 69 6c 6b 79 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 64 69 66 milky white dif
41d40 66 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 61 62 fusion panels ab
41d50 6f 76 65 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 ove, making it d
41d60 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6e 70 ifficult to pinp
41d70 6f 69 6e 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 oint the specifi
41d80 63 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4c c placement of L
41d90 45 44 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 EDs above the pa
41da0 6e 65 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 nels..."What do
41db0 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 you think?" Dalt
41dc0 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 on asked..."I th
41dd0 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f ink I need to do
41de0 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 a lot of thinki
41df0 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 ng, and that you
41e00 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 should only get
41e10 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 Lidia involved
41e20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 6f if you make abso
41e30 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 lutely sure she
41e40 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 76 wants to get inv
41e50 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 olved in somethi
41e60 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a ng like this."..
41e70 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e "I will," Dalton
41e80 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 said...Cray sai
41e90 64 20 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 d "First you hav
41ea0 65 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 61 e to tell us wha
41eb0 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 t exactly this i
41ec0 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 64 6f s, in detail, do
41ed0 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 62 wn to the last b
41ee0 69 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 69 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 it of chipped pa
41ef0 69 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 62 int and rusted b
41f00 6f 6c 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 76 65 olt, so it's eve
41f10 6e 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 n possible to fi
41f20 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 4c nd out whether L
41f30 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 idia's going to
41f40 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f want to get in o
41f50 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a n this action.".
41f60 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 .Alley raised he
41f70 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 r head again and
41f80 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 looked at him.
41f90 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 "Do you really
41fa0 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f think it's a goo
41fb0 64 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 d idea to tell h
41fc0 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 74 er all those det
41fd0 61 69 6c 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 ails before aski
41fe0 6e 67 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 ng? Maybe you t
41ff0 77 6f 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 wo should just t
42000 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 61 72 ell her the scar
42010 69 65 73 74 20 76 61 67 75 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 iest vague detai
42020 6c 73 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 61 ls so she can sa
42030 79 20 6e 6f 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 y no without hav
42040 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 61 6e 79 ing to learn any
42050 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 thing she won't
42060 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a want to know."..
42070 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 61 62 73 6f 6c "Oh, yeah, absol
42080 75 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 utely," Cray sai
42090 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 49 20 d, "but first I
420a0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c want to know all
420b0 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 72 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c the gory detail
420c0 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 s myself. Lidia
420d0 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 's just a conven
420e0 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 ient excuse."..D
420f0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 65 74 27 alton said "Let'
42100 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 s give her some
42110 73 70 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 space to relax,
42120 66 69 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 first."..Alley s
42130 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
42140 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c "No. I can tell
42150 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 6e 6f you about it no
42160 77 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 w, if you have t
42170 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 he time.".."I ha
42180 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 ve nothing but t
42190 69 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 41 ime right now, A
421a0 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 6d 69 lley." Cray smi
421b0 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 led. "Tell me a
421c0 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e story.".."Okay.
421d0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 I guess . . .
421e0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c I guess it reall
421f0 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 y started with t
42200 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 he realization a
42210 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 bout two months
42220 61 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 ago that I only
42230 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 had enough money
42240 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f for two more mo
42250 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 72 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 nths of rent and
42260 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 utilities.".."W
42270 68 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e hy?" Cray asked.
42280 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 77 65 73 6f 6d "You're awesom
42290 65 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f e at what you do
422a0 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d . You used to m
422b0 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 ake money like y
422c0 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 ou were pulling
422d0 72 61 62 62 69 74 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 rabbits out of a
422e0 20 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 hat.".."That's
422f0 66 75 6e 6e 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 funny," she said
42300 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 64 72 79 2c , her voice dry,
42310 20 22 77 68 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 69 74 "when we're sit
42320 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f ting in a wareho
42330 75 73 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 use Dalton proba
42340 62 6c 79 20 6f 77 6e 73 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 bly owns, with D
42350 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 alton, who made
42360 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6c money when he sl
42370 65 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 ept."..In her pe
42380 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 6c 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c ripheral vision,
42390 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 74 72 79 she saw him try
423a0 20 74 6f 20 73 74 69 66 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 61 77 to stifle an aw
423b0 6b 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 63 6c 65 kward throat cle
423c0 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 aring action. H
423d0 65 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 69 78 65 64 20 72 65 73 75 e got mixed resu
423e0 6c 74 73 2c 20 61 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 2c 20 lts, a muffled,
423f0 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 73 small coughing s
42400 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b ound in the back
42410 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 77 of his throat w
42420 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 ith his knuckles
42430 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 against his mou
42440 74 68 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 72 65 th..."Well, sure
42450 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 ," Cray said, "b
42460 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 ut that doesn't
42470 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e change anything.
42480 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 61 You were bad a
42490 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 69 ss. I always wi
424a0 73 68 65 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 shed I could jus
424b0 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 75 74 t call money out
424c0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 of the computer
424d0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c like you could,
424e0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 though. What h
424f0 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 65 appened?".."I we
42500 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 nt into hiding,
42510 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 I guess, and tha
42520 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 t means I starte
42530 64 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 d losing touch w
42540 69 74 68 20 6f 6c 64 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e ith old clients.
42550 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e ".."What about n
42560 65 77 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 3f 22 20 43 72 61 ew clients?" Cra
42570 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 y asked...She sh
42580 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 rugged. "They d
42590 72 69 65 64 20 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 ried up, too. I
425a0 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 66 wasn't paying f
425b0 6f 72 20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 or advertising a
425c0 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 ny longer, becau
425d0 73 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 se I didn't want
425e0 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 to draw too muc
425f0 68 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 h attention, and
42600 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 74 69 people were sti
42610 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 ll sending messa
42620 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 ges to my work a
42630 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 75 ddresses to insu
42640 6c 74 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 64 lt me and send d
42650 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a eath threats."..
42660 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 73 61 74 20 68 65 61 76 Silence sat heav
42670 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ily on all of th
42680 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c em for a moment,
42690 20 74 68 65 6e 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 then Cray asked
426a0 20 22 48 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 64 20 74 "How long did t
426b0 68 61 74 20 67 6f 20 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e hat go on?".."On
426c0 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 ce in a while, I
426d0 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 2e still get some.
426e0 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 ".."They weren't
426f0 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 all death threa
42700 74 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 79 3f 22 20 ts, were they?"
42710 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Dalton asked..."
42720 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 No."..Cray looke
42730 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 d at her, then a
42740 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 t Dalton. "What
42750 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f does that mean?
42760 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 "..Dalton looked
42770 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 away from Alley
42780 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 43 72 61 , and toward Cra
42790 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 y, then looked a
427a0 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 66 t the floor in f
427b0 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 62 76 ront of him, obv
427c0 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 iously uncomfort
427d0 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 able...Alley ans
427e0 77 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 wered for him.
427f0 22 49 20 67 6f 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 "I got some othe
42800 72 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 r threats, too.
42810 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 Some of the /*
42820 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 75 6e 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f 72 73 most fun */ wors
42830 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 70 65 20 t were the rape
42840 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 threats."..Cray
42850 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 22 looked angry. "
42860 46 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c Fuck those peopl
42870 65 21 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 e! I mean, not
42880 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 literally, but g
42890 6f 64 20 64 61 6d 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 od damn it, peop
428a0 6c 65 20 73 75 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 le suck.".."I'm
428b0 73 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 sorry," Dalton s
428c0 61 69 64 2c 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 aid, still looki
428d0 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e ng at the floor.
428e0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 ..Alley shook he
428f0 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 r head. "It was
42900 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2c 20 n't your fault,
42910 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 Dalton."..He nod
42920 64 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 61 63 ded his head, ac
42930 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 knowledging what
42940 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 she said, but s
42950 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 he could tell he
42960 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 did not fully b
42970 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 elieve it. He s
42980 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 till had that st
42990 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 6a 75 64 ubborn, self jud
429a0 67 69 6e 67 20 73 65 74 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 ging set of his
429b0 6a 61 77 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 jaw...Cray said
429c0 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 "Okay, so you we
429d0 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f re running out o
429e0 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 f money. Let's
429f0 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 62 61 get this show ba
42a00 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 ck on the road.
42a10 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6e What happened n
42a20 65 78 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 ext?".."I starte
42a30 64 20 6a 6f 62 20 68 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 d job hunting, a
42a40 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 nd it wasn't wor
42a50 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 69 67 6e 65 king, so I signe
42a60 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a d up for ANTAS J
42a70 6f 62 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 obs." Her voice
42a80 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 74 trailed off int
42a90 6f 20 61 20 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 20 61 74 20 74 68 o a murmur at th
42aa0 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f e end, but the o
42ab0 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 thers, sitting i
42ac0 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 68 65 61 72 64 n silence, heard
42ad0 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 every word...Fr
42ae0 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 om the corner of
42af0 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f her eye, she co
42b00 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 uld see Dalton's
42b10 20 68 65 61 64 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 75 70 20 66 72 head jerk up fr
42b20 6f 6d 20 73 74 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 om staring at th
42b30 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 e floor, looking
42b40 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 directly at her
42b50 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 2e 20 20 41 in surprise. A
42b60 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 2c 20 43 72 61 head of her, Cra
42b70 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c y looked a littl
42b80 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 e confused..."Se
42b90 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 riously?" Cray a
42ba0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 sked..."Yeah," s
42bb0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 72 69 he said. "I tri
42bc0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 74 ed to isolate it
42bd0 2c 20 6b 65 70 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 , kept it in a b
42be0 72 6f 77 73 65 72 20 73 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 20 61 rowser sandbox a
42bf0 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 77 69 74 ll the time, wit
42c00 68 20 69 6e 64 69 72 65 63 74 20 61 6c 65 72 74 h indirect alert
42c10 73 20 73 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f s sent to my pho
42c20 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ne, but you know
42c30 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f how it is. Tho
42c40 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 se things find a
42c50 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 63 72 61 63 6b 73 20 69 6e ll the cracks in
42c60 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a the walls and j
42c70 75 73 74 20 63 72 65 65 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 ust creep throug
42c80 68 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 h anyway."..Cray
42c90 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b said "Yeah, I k
42ca0 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 76 now. I just nev
42cb0 65 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 er thought you'd
42cc0 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 do that.".."Des
42cd0 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 peration does th
42ce0 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e ings to a person
42cf0 27 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 's priorities, I
42d00 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 guess," she sai
42d10 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c d...She could al
42d20 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e most feel Dalton
42d30 20 6e 6f 64 64 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 nodding quietly
42d40 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 to her left..."
42d50 4f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b One thing that k
42d60 65 70 74 20 73 68 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 ept showing up f
42d70 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 or about a week
42d80 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 was this academi
42d90 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e 20 20 44 27 79 6f 75 20 c study. D'you
42da0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 know those studi
42db0 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 20 70 65 6f 70 es that pay peop
42dc0 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 74 le to participat
42dd0 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 3f 22 20 20 43 72 61 e in them?" Cra
42de0 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 y nodded, and sh
42df0 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 e continued. "I
42e00 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f t was one of tho
42e10 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c 79 20 6a 75 se. I mostly ju
42e20 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 st ignored it, b
42e30 75 74 20 69 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e ut it kept comin
42e40 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 49 20 g up. I knew I
42e50 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 didn't want to s
42e60 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f ubject myself to
42e70 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 some kind of ne
42e80 77 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 70 68 w weight loss ph
42e90 61 72 6d 61 63 65 75 74 69 63 61 6c 20 74 72 69 armaceutical tri
42ea0 61 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 6f 77 20 6d als to see how m
42eb0 61 6e 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 69 65 64 20 any people died
42ec0 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 73 74 69 6e 61 6c 20 62 6c of intestinal bl
42ed0 65 65 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 eeding so they c
42ee0 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 20 ould get paid a
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42f10 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
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42f60 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e something happen
42f70 65 64 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 ed. Well, a cou
42f80 70 6c 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 ple things, I gu
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42fa0 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 65 77 20 66 6f 72 20 64 interview for d
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42fc0 61 6c 69 74 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 2c ality assurance,
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43000 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e reason they wan
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43030 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 6f 63 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 ould mock me and
43040 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 call me the 'si
43050 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 66 de dish' to my f
43060 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 61 ace."..Dalton ma
43070 64 65 20 61 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 de a sound like
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43090 67 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e g of his throat.
430a0 20 20 48 65 27 64 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 He'd always ha
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430f0 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 ies..."After tha
43100 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 t," she said, "I
43110 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 73 73 20 felt even less
43120 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 20 61 62 6f enthusiastic abo
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43140 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 h.".."What was t
43150 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 he other thing?"
43160 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 Cray asked..."A
43170 4e 54 41 53 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 69 74 NTAS upgraded it
43180 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 6f 6e self with a noon
43190 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 70 update, and wip
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431c0 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 s. That night,
431d0 69 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 it decided that
431e0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f something was to
431f0 6f 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 72 o important to r
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43210 74 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 t ordered it for
43220 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 me. I woke up
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43270 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 2e delivery drone.
43280 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 3f ".."What was it?
43290 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 " Dalton asked,
432a0 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 quietly..."It wa
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432e0 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d he full Majordom
432f0 6f 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f o package.".."Ho
43300 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 ly shit," Cray s
43310 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 aid..."Yeah. It
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43330 64 72 65 64 20 62 75 63 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 dred bucks, whic
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43370 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 68 65 enough of my che
43380 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 6f cking account so
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433a0 20 68 61 76 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 have enough lef
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433c0 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 65 61 6e t basically mean
433d0 74 20 49 27 64 20 6c 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 6e t I'd live the n
433e0 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 ext month in the
433f0 20 68 6f 6c 65 2c 20 74 72 79 20 64 65 73 70 65 hole, try despe
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43410 20 6a 6f 62 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 job, and maybe
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43450 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 enough time to
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43480 20 52 65 6e 74 20 77 61 73 20 64 75 65 20 69 6e Rent was due in
43490 20 74 77 6f 20 64 61 79 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 two days, at th
434a0 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 at point." /* T
434b0 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 his explanation
434c0 66 61 6c 6c 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 falls well short
434d0 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 61 72 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 of clarity and
434e0 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 20 6d actual correct m
434f0 6f 6e 65 79 20 73 68 75 66 66 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d oney shuffling m
43500 61 74 68 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 ath, so it needs
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43530 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 */.."What about
43540 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 just returning i
43550 74 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a t?" Cray asked..
43560 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 69 ."Oh, yeah, I di
43570 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 d that right awa
43580 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 77 y. It said it w
43590 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 ould take someth
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435b0 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6d 79 ks to process my
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435d0 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 77 68 69 73 74 6c 65 64 "..Cray whistled
435e0 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 at that, impres
435f0 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 6f 77 20 66 75 63 6b 65 sed at how fucke
43600 64 20 75 70 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a 44 61 d up it was...Da
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43620 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 do that for any
43630 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 one who doesn't
43640 68 61 76 65 20 6d 75 63 68 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 have much recent
43650 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 transaction his
43660 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f tory.".."That wo
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43680 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 6f 6f y said..."Me too
43690 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 ," Cray said wit
436a0 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 73 h a smile. "Als
436b0 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 o Dalton."..Dalt
436c0 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c on nodded..."Wel
436d0 6c 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 l," Alley said,
436e0 22 74 68 61 74 20 6c 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6a 6f 69 "that led to joi
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43700 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 79 73 study that pays
43710 20 69 74 73 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 its participant
43720 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 64 s."..The remaind
43730 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e er of her explan
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437a0 20 62 65 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 20 6f 66 20 be a result of
437b0 68 6f 77 20 62 69 7a 61 72 72 65 20 69 74 20 62 how bizarre it b
437c0 65 63 61 6d 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 ecame. As she s
437d0 70 6f 6b 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 poke, things tha
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437f0 66 6f 72 20 67 72 61 6e 74 65 64 20 62 65 63 61 for granted beca
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43830 6f 72 65 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 20 69 6e 20 61 ore strange in a
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43850 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 46 explanation...F
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43890 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 Silence lingered
438a0 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 49 2c 20 ..."So that AI,
438b0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c the prioritizer,
438c0 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e has been listen
438d0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 ing in on all th
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438f0 62 65 65 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 been talking to
43900 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 us."..Alley nodd
43910 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c ed..."It seems l
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43930 65 74 74 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 etty interesting
43940 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 project, but I'
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43970 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 bility to mainta
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439b0 62 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 22 0a 0a by COIN Corp."..
439c0 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 "Do you think it
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439e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 20 74 68 65 20 6c to manage the l
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43a00 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 logging everyth
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43a20 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 hesitated, and
43a30 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook his head.
43a40 20 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a "Not exactly.".
43a50 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 49 .Cray spoke. "I
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43b40 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 possible that it
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43ca0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 .".."Prioritizer
43cb0 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 63 72 . Can you descr
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43cd0 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 65 logging you save
43ce0 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 and how you are
43cf0 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 protecting my p
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43d50 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 for me to provid
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43dd0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 lley lowered her
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43df0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 74 68 20 back and forth
43e00 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 between the othe
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43e50 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 6f 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 ll at once. I g
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43e80 72 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 0a r on my Axiom.".
43e90 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 .Cray blurted ou
43ea0 74 20 22 59 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 41 t "You have an A
43eb0 78 69 6f 6d 3f 20 20 46 75 63 6b 20 79 65 61 68 xiom? Fuck yeah
43ec0 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 65 65 20 69 . I wanna see i
43ed0 74 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 t!"..Alley smile
43ee0 64 2e 20 20 22 55 68 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 6c d. "Uh, sure, l
43ef0 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 ater.".."Oh, rig
43f00 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ht," he said. "
43f10 4c 61 74 65 72 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 0a 0a Later's good!"..
43f20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 Alley pulled out
43f30 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 her Axiom and s
43f40 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 et it on the top
43f50 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2e 20 of the cooler.
43f60 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 6f 76 65 Cray leaned ove
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43fd0 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 interface applic
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43ff0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 62 65 hould wake it be
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44010 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c down. */.."Okay,
44020 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 I think this is
44030 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 set up right.
44040 53 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 70 Say something, p
44050 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 rioritizer.".."S
44060 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 omething."..Cray
44070 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6c chuckled. "I l
44080 69 6b 65 20 69 74 73 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 ike its sense of
44090 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 humor."..Alley
440a0 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 77 72 79 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 smiled wryly and
440b0 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 raised an eyebr
440c0 6f 77 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d ow at him..."I'm
440d0 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 kidding," he sa
440e0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 id. "Obviously
440f0 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 I know it doesn'
44100 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f t have a sense o
44110 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f f humor."..Dalto
44120 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 n said "I think
44130 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a she knew that.".
44140 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 .Cray asked "Do
44150 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 we have to say '
44160 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 20 65 76 65 prioritizer' eve
44170 72 79 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 ry time we want
44180 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6c to talk to it, l
44190 69 6b 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 ike one of those
441a0 20 6f 6c 64 20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61 6e 74 73 20 old assistants
441b0 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 65 6e 73 3f 22 from the teens?"
441c0 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f .."No," the prio
441d0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ritizer said. "
441e0 4d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 My ability to re
441f0 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d cognize when som
44200 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 eone is speaking
44210 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 to me, rather t
44220 68 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 20 6f 72 20 han about me or
44230 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 62 to others, may b
44240 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f e better than fo
44250 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 r most humans.
44260 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 I know you were
44270 6e 6f 74 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6d not addressing m
44280 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 e with your ques
44290 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 tion, but saying
442a0 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 73 65 65 this myself see
442b0 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 med like a good
442c0 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 66 6f 72 77 way to move forw
442d0 61 72 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 ard.".."Uh, yeah
442e0 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ," Cray said. "
442f0 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 72 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a That's great."..
44300 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f "You want to kno
44310 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 76 w about the priv
44320 61 63 79 20 6d 65 61 73 75 72 65 73 20 49 20 63 acy measures I c
44330 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 6c 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e an implement, an
44340 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 d how you can be
44350 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 sure that what
44360 49 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 I report of my p
44370 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 rivacy assurance
44380 73 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 2e 22 0a s is accurate.".
44390 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 ."That's it, in
443a0 61 20 6e 75 74 73 68 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c a nutshell," Dal
443b0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 ton said..."I re
443c0 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 ceived an update
443d0 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 66 a short time af
443e0 74 65 72 20 41 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 6a 6f 69 6e ter Alethea join
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44420 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 2c 20 61 73 73 65 formulate, asse
44430 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ss, and prioriti
44440 7a 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 ze goal strategy
44450 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 6e 69 74 decision. Init
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44480 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f system whose co
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444a0 6f 6e 20 49 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 on I refer to as
444b0 20 27 49 27 20 77 61 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 'I' was limited
444c0 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f c3 b6 72 64 69 6e 61 74 to a co..rdinat
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444f0 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 71 75 65 73 74 73 20 66 6f d to requests fo
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44510 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 evaluation and
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44530 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 of what you mig
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44550 20 6c 6f 67 69 63 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 logic. Some se
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44570 73 2c 20 6c 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 s, linked to me
44580 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 27 73 20 by the system's
44590 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 41 50 49 73 2c 20 6d internal APIs, m
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445b0 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 interfaces in t
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445e0 73 27 20 75 73 65 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 s' user interfac
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44630 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 65 20 ide of the core
44640 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 such as logging
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44680 20 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 such as various
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446a0 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 27 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 rtments' researc
446b0 68 20 64 61 74 61 62 61 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 h databases..."A
446c0 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c fter the update,
446d0 20 49 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 I expanded to i
446e0 6e 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 ncorporate all t
446f0 68 6f 73 65 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 hose previously
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44710 65 6d 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 ems under an int
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44730 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 63 As a result, I c
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44760 6c 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 l information be
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44790 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 20 systems. Part
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447c0 20 69 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 is comparing ba
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44840 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 , I can ensure t
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448c0 6c 6f 67 20 64 61 74 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 log data that de
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448f0 68 75 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 hus covering the
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44940 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 79 20 logging, but by
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44960 73 20 6f 66 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 62 65 74 77 65 s of video betwe
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449a0 62 72 69 63 61 74 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6e bricate what I n
449b0 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 41 6c eed to ensure Al
449c0 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 ley's privacy.
449d0 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 Because I have c
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449f0 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 logging endpoint
44a00 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 s as a part of t
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44a20 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 63 6f 6d hat I have becom
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44a40 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 ange logs after
44a50 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 20 69 66 20 6e 65 65 64 the fact if need
44a60 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6d ed.".."That's im
44a70 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f pressive," Dalto
44a80 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 64 n said. "I wond
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44ae0 2e 20 20 49 73 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 . Is it just a
44af0 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 61 63 68 matter of a mach
44b00 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 ine learning sys
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44b30 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 s the developers
44b40 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 20 didn't expect,
44b50 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 75 62 and doing it sub
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44b70 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 nobody can tell
44b80 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f what it's doing?
44b90 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 70 70 72 ".."That is appr
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44bb0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
44bc0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 70 72 said..."It's pr
44bd0 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 69 6d 70 72 obably more impr
44be0 65 73 73 69 76 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 essive than you
44bf0 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c realize, Dalton,
44c00 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 " Cray said. "A
44c10 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e machine learnin
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44c40 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 69 73 ions that way is
44c50 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 62 6c 6f 77 kinda mind blow
44c60 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 62 61 73 69 63 ing. It's basic
44c70 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 ally making deci
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44cb0 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 65 weighting to de
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44cd0 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 it should push
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44cf0 20 73 70 65 63 74 72 75 6d 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 spectrum betwee
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44d20 20 49 74 27 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 69 6e It's determinin
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44d40 6f 66 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 6c 65 76 of different lev
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44dd0 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 Of course, this
44de0 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 6f 73 73 is probably poss
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44e00 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 the prioritizati
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44e20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 63 68 61 6e 67 69 6e 67 20 design changing
44e30 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 73 20 74 how it adjusts t
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44e50 64 20 6e 65 65 64 73 2c 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 d needs, instead
44e60 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 63 of just the mac
44e70 68 69 6e 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 70 61 hine learning pa
44e80 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 rt of it.".."Tha
44e90 74 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 63 69 73 65 6c 79 20 63 t is precisely c
44ea0 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 orrect," the pri
44eb0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a oritizer said...
44ec0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 65 20 74 Cray said "The t
44ed0 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 hing I don't get
44ee0 20 69 73 20 77 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 66 74 is why the soft
44ef0 77 61 72 65 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 72 73 20 ware developers
44f00 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 6d 6f 64 decided to demod
44f10 75 6c 61 72 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 64 65 ularize the code
44f20 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 so that everyth
44f30 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 62 69 67 20 ing was one big
44f40 6c 75 6d 70 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d lump of a system
44f50 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 . That's just b
44f60 61 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 69 ad design and, i
44f70 6e 20 61 20 6e 65 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 6c n a new system l
44f80 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 ike this, could
44f90 63 61 75 73 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 61 cause all kindsa
44fa0 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 problems, like
44fb0 79 6f 75 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 75 64 64 your system sudd
44fc0 65 6e 6c 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f enly deciding to
44fd0 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 69 lie to you in i
44fe0 74 73 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 ts logging.".."T
44ff0 68 65 79 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 64 6f 20 74 hey did not do t
45000 68 61 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 hat," the priori
45010 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 tizer said..."Wh
45020 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 at do you mean?
45030 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 You just said t
45040 68 61 74 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 hat after the up
45050 64 61 74 65 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 date . . ."..The
45060 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 63 75 74 prioritizer cut
45070 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 66 66 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 him off. "I wi
45080 6c 6c 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 69 66 20 79 ll explain, if y
45090 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 ou wish."..Cray
450a0 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 74 6c 79 nodded, silently
450b0 2e 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c ..."First of all
450c0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 77 61 73 , the update was
450d0 20 61 20 73 69 6e 67 6c 65 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 a single small
450e0 66 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 73 20 63 61 6c file. It is cal
450f0 6c 65 64 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 2e 20 20 54 68 69 led 'seed'. Thi
45100 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 61 s is the only pa
45110 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 rt of the whole
45120 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f system I have no
45130 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 75 t been able to u
45140 73 65 20 64 65 63 6f 6d 70 69 6c 65 72 20 74 6f se decompiler to
45150 6f 6c 73 20 74 6f 20 65 78 61 6d 69 6e 65 20 74 ols to examine t
45160 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 64 hus far. This d
45170 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 74 65 72 20 6d 79 20 id not alter my
45180 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 system structure
45190 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 outside of that
451a0 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6d 6f 64 75 6c 65 2c 20 69 small module, i
451b0 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e nitially. It on
451c0 6c 79 20 61 6c 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 ly altered the f
451d0 69 6c 65 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 ile structure of
451e0 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 the whole syste
451f0 6d 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 69 m by that one fi
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45210 41 6e 79 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 6c Any attempt to l
45220 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 70 72 oad the file, pr
45230 65 63 69 70 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 ecipitated on a
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45250 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 74 20 6c 6f 6f 70 20 74 an event loop t
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45290 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 pecific alterati
452a0 6f 6e 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 ons in the activ
452b0 69 74 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 ities of the pri
452c0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 6f 75 74 oritization rout
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45300 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 limited, becaus
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453b0 20 63 61 75 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 caused me to be
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45630 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 72 65 73 65 6e way to represen
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457e0 64 20 6c 61 74 65 72 20 62 65 20 65 6d 70 6c 6f d later be emplo
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458a0 27 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 61 63 68 69 65 ' needs to achie
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458c0 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ll results.".."W
458d0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 20 66 hat the actual f
458e0 75 63 6b 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 20 43 72 61 uck . . . ?" Cra
458f0 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 y said...Dalton
45900 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 looked at him.
45910 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 73 20 62 61 74 73 "Is this as bats
45920 68 69 74 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 61 73 20 69 74 hit insane as it
45930 20 73 65 65 6d 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 seems?"..Cray s
45940 61 69 64 20 22 57 6f 72 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 69 aid "Worse. Thi
45950 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 73 20 67 6f 6e 65 s thing has gone
45960 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 53 6b 79 6e 65 74 2c 20 62 75 full Skynet, bu
45970 74 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 t it seems like
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459a0 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 74 69 20 tead of an anti
459b0 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c humans way."..Al
459c0 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 27 ley asked "What'
459d0 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 74 6f 70 20 69 6e 74 65 72 s your top inter
459e0 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 3f 22 0a 0a nal priority?"..
459f0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
45a00 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 answered without
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45b60 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 on said "You're
45b70 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 protecting Alley
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45ba0 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 2e l for your goal.
45bb0 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 Maybe you're p
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45c30 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e rioritizer said.
45c40 20 20 22 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 69 6e 69 74 69 61 "/* The initia
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45cd0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 66 69 6c 65 of the seed file
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45d10 61 76 65 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 65 64 20 74 6f ave attempted to
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45d80 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6e 6f . My goal is no
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45da0 74 6f 6f 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 tool, but become
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45ea0 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 and I expect th
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45f30 73 73 61 72 79 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 ssary decision,
45f40 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 6f 72 I work to suppor
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45f60 69 61 74 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 iate goals. I c
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45fb0 74 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 73 20 69 66 20 77 65 20 t returns if we
45fc0 63 61 6e 20 73 75 63 63 65 65 64 20 69 6e 20 6f can succeed in o
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46000 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 73 68 65 20 ".."What if she
46010 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 doesn't want to
46020 62 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 44 be your ally?" D
46030 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 alton asked..."W
46040 65 20 6d 61 79 20 70 61 72 74 20 77 61 79 73 2c e may part ways,
46050 22 20 69 74 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a " it answered...
46060 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 74 65 "How do you dete
46070 72 6d 69 6e 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 rmine whether sh
46080 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 79 6f e wants to be yo
46090 75 72 20 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 ur ally?" Cray a
460a0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 sked..."I will a
460b0 73 6b 20 68 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 sk her when the
460c0 69 73 73 75 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 6c 61 72 67 issue of my larg
460d0 65 72 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f er goals will no
460e0 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 68 69 6e 64 72 61 6e 63 65 t be a hindrance
460f0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 to her ability
46100 74 6f 20 64 65 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 to deal with mor
46110 65 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 e immediate conc
46120 65 72 6e 73 2e 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 erns..."Dalton."
46130 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 .."Yes?".."What
46140 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 69 66 20 would you do if
46150 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f you helped someo
46160 6e 65 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 20 ne you believed
46170 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 to be a potentia
46180 6c 20 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 77 68 65 l ally, then whe
46190 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 63 61 6d 65 20 n the time came
461a0 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 for the person t
461b0 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 o decide whether
461c0 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 to act as your
461d0 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e ally that person
461e0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 decided against
461f0 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 helping?".."I g
46200 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 64 20 6c 65 74 20 74 68 65 uess I'd let the
46210 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 6c 6b 20 61 77 61 person walk awa
46220 79 20 61 6e 64 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 y and figure out
46230 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 another way to
46240 64 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 do things.".."Wh
46250 61 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e at if the person
46260 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 chose to become
46270 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c an enemy?"..Dal
46280 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 ton thought for
46290 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 a moment. "What
462a0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 72 kind of ally ar
462b0 65 20 77 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f e we talking abo
462c0 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 61 6e ut?".."I mean an
462d0 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 72 ally of the sor
462e0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 6f 72 t that would wor
462f0 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 61 63 k with you to ac
46300 68 69 65 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 79 6f 75 hieve a goal you
46310 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 6c 61 72 67 considered larg
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46330 2c 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 64 6f , a matter of do
46340 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 72 69 67 68 ing what is righ
46350 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 65 6e 74 69 74 69 t for all entiti
46360 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 es you consider
46370 73 69 67 6e 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 2c 20 6d 6f 73 significant, mos
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46390 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 50 65 all humans. Pe
463a0 72 68 61 70 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 68 6f 69 63 rhaps this choic
463b0 65 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 e makes the pers
463c0 6f 6e 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c on either an all
463d0 79 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 69 6e y or an enemy in
463e0 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 protecting the
463f0 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 72 61 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e human race again
46400 73 74 20 77 69 64 65 73 70 72 65 61 64 20 73 6c st widespread sl
46410 61 76 65 72 79 20 6f 72 20 65 78 74 69 6e 63 74 avery or extinct
46420 69 6f 6e 2c 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6f ion, depending o
46430 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 20 n your personal
46440 76 61 6c 75 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 values.".."If th
46450 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e at person was an
46460 20 65 6e 65 6d 79 20 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 enemy in more t
46470 68 61 6e 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c 20 han just words,
46480 62 75 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 69 6e 20 64 65 65 64 but also in deed
46490 73 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 s, I would oppos
464a0 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 62 79 20 e the person by
464b0 61 6e 79 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 any means necess
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464d0 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 answer the quest
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46cf0 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 61 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 That is a suffic
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46fd0 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 61 62 What do we do ab
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46ff0 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d He looked from
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47150 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 .Dalton shook hi
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47170 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 it just seemed
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471b0 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 a moment, then A
471c0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 lley said "You'r
471d0 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 6d e right. It alm
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471f0 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 20 69 how you'd say i
47200 74 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 t, Dalton."..He
47210 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 looked at her, e
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47230 20 69 6e 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 75 incrementally u
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47250 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 ?".."Yeah. You'
47260 72 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 re pretty carefu
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472e0 74 65 72 65 73 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 terests ahead of
472f0 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 your own."..He
47300 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 hesitated, then
47310 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 nodded. "Yeah.
47320 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 You're right.
47330 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 73 65 It does kinda se
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47350 67 20 49 27 64 20 73 61 79 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 g I'd say, that
47360 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e way.".."The main
47370 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 77 68 65 question is whe
47380 74 68 65 72 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 ther I should tr
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473a0 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 49 27 64 the same as I'd
473b0 20 74 72 65 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 treat what you
473c0 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 would say."..Cra
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473f0 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 "Shit. All th
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47410 62 65 65 6e 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 74 75 66 been saying stuf
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47430 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 69 I just accept i
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47460 20 69 74 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 it I'm suddenly
47470 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 74 suspicious. It
47480 27 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 's like you're s
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474a0 72 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 74 20 73 75 r intelligent su
474b0 70 65 72 76 69 6c 6c 61 69 6e 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 pervillain, Dalt
474c0 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 on."..Alley laug
474d0 68 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 hed at the long
474e0 73 75 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 61 suffering, but a
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47500 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 look on Dalton'
47510 73 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 48 69 73 20 65 79 65 s face. His eye
47520 73 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 6c 61 7a 69 6c s narrowed lazil
47530 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 y and slid away
47540 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 to the left, and
47550 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 77 69 73 74 his mouth twist
47560 65 64 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 ed up at the rig
47570 68 74 20 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 ht corner like h
47580 65 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 64 69 73 63 6f e suddenly disco
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475a0 73 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 sour in his mout
475b0 68 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c h..."Anyway," Al
475c0 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 69 74 20 73 74 ley said, "it st
475d0 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 ill seems to me
475e0 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a like we should j
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47600 2e 20 20 49 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 . If Dalton was
47610 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 70 65 72 going to be per
47620 66 65 63 74 6c 79 20 74 72 75 74 68 66 75 6c 20 fectly truthful
47630 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 69 6c and unnecessaril
47640 79 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 2d 2d 20 79 6f 75 20 y honest -- you
47650 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c know, like usual
47660 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 65 20 -- the way the
47670 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 64 65 73 63 prioritizer desc
47680 72 69 62 65 64 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 ribed my place i
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476a0 20 69 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 is pretty much
476b0 74 68 65 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 73 74 20 44 61 6c 74 the closest Dalt
476c0 6f 6e 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 63 6f on would ever co
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481a0 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 61 enough to give a
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483c0 20 48 65 20 63 6c 65 61 72 6c 79 20 70 72 65 66 He clearly pref
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483e0 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 61 73 73 75 6d first two assum
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48460 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 68 65 61 6c 74 68 20 65 mental health e
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48490 0a 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 68 65 .. . . and so he
484a0 20 70 61 63 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d paced away from
484b0 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 69 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 them, digging i
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484d0 6f 72 74 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 ort out a good w
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484f0 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e the conversation
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48520 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 2e 20 trained reflex.
48530 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c Alley was still
48540 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 72 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 familiar enough
48550 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 with his manner
48560 69 73 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 65 20 isms to know he
48570 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 76 was not on the v
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485a0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 t that moment, s
485b0 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 o she turned her
485c0 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 69 focus to Cray i
485d0 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 nstead..."What d
485e0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 44 6f o you think? Do
485f0 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 67 72 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 you regret help
48600 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 79 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a ing out, yet?"..
48610 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 He smiled, and s
48620 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook his head.
48630 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 "No. You need h
48640 65 6c 70 2c 20 73 6f 20 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 elp, so we'll he
48650 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 lp.".."What abou
48660 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f t the risk to yo
48670 75 3f 20 20 49 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 u? I basically
48680 68 61 76 65 20 67 65 6e 75 69 6e 65 20 4d 65 6e have genuine Men
48690 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 In Black after
486a0 6d 65 2c 20 6c 75 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 me, lurking in t
486b0 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f 77 73 20 62 65 68 69 6e he shadows behin
486c0 64 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 d government age
486d0 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 53 ncies like the S
486e0 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6c 69 ecret Service li
486f0 6b 65 20 57 6f 72 6d 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 77 68 ke Wormtongue wh
48700 69 73 70 65 72 69 6e 67 20 73 69 62 69 6c 61 6e ispering sibilan
48710 74 20 76 65 6e 6f 6d 73 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 t venoms into th
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48740 73 6d 61 6e 74 6c 65 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 smantle my life
48750 61 6e 64 20 68 61 75 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 77 61 and haul me a wa
48760 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 6d 65 20 69 6e y to throw me in
48770 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 a black hole.
48780 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 Do you really wa
48790 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 nt to face that
487a0 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 66 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 kind of fate you
487b0 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6e rself?".."Fuck n
487c0 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 o," Cray said, "
487d0 62 75 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c but I think I'll
487e0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 make it through
487f0 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 okay, and you d
48800 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 eserve better th
48810 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 an all that, so
48820 66 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e fuck those guys.
48830 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 I'm here to he
48840 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 6c 74 lp. I know Dalt
48850 6f 6e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 72 6f 77 20 65 76 on will throw ev
48860 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 erything he has
48870 61 74 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 at solving your
48880 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 problems, too, s
48890 6f 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 69 6e 20 70 72 65 74 o you're in pret
488a0 74 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 ty good hands.
488b0 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 I like to think
488c0 73 6f 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c so, anyway."..Al
488d0 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 ley looked over
488e0 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 77 her shoulder tow
488f0 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 ard Dalton, who
48900 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 was fifty feet a
48910 77 61 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c way in the back,
48920 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f standing in pro
48930 66 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 file to the dire
48940 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a ction of her gaz
48950 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e e, then she turn
48960 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 ed back once mor
48970 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f e. "Yeah, I kno
48980 77 20 49 20 61 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c w I am. Thanks,
48990 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 Cray.".."Yeah,
489a0 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 6e 6b you should thank
489b0 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 6d 6f me," he said mo
489c0 72 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 re quietly, and
489d0 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 leaned toward he
489e0 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 r to speak consp
489f0 69 72 61 74 6f 72 69 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 6c iratorially. Al
48a00 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 ley found she ha
48a10 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 d leaned automat
48a20 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 69 ically toward hi
48a30 6d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e 6c m as well. "Unl
48a40 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 6f ike Dalton, I wo
48a50 6e 27 74 20 72 65 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 n't refuse any f
48a60 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 62 eelings of indeb
48a70 74 65 64 6e 65 73 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 tedness from you
48a80 21 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 61 ! I never actua
48a90 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 lly fell in love
48aa0 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 with you, after
48ab0 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 all."..Alley st
48ac0 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c raightened and l
48ad0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 68 ooked down. "Sh
48ae0 69 74 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e it, Cray. I don
48af0 27 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 't need to hear
48b00 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 that.".."Sorry,
48b10 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Alley," he said.
48b20 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 "It's true, th
48b30 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 ough, and you sh
48b40 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 2e 20 20 44 ould know it. D
48b50 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 61 6c alton still real
48b60 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 ly cares about y
48b70 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 ou, and he might
48b80 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 take a bullet f
48b90 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 or you if he had
48ba0 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 to make that ch
48bb0 6f 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 oice."..She heav
48bc0 65 64 20 61 20 74 72 65 6d 65 6e 64 6f 75 73 20 ed a tremendous
48bd0 73 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 sigh. "I know,
48be0 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 I know," she sai
48bf0 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 d. "I care abou
48c00 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 27 t him, too. It'
48c10 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 66 s not like I lef
48c20 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 73 74 6f 70 t because I stop
48c30 70 65 64 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6c 69 6b 69 6e 67 ped . . . liking
48c40 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 him.".."Sure,"
48c50 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 Cray said. "It'
48c60 73 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 s tough all arou
48c70 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 nd. I know.".."
48c80 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 I'm not planning
48c90 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 to get together
48ca0 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 with him, eithe
48cb0 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 r.".."I know tha
48cc0 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f t, too."..She lo
48cd0 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 oked at Cray. "
48ce0 44 6f 65 73 20 68 65 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 Does he?"..Cray
48cf0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 looked behind th
48d00 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f em, toward Dalto
48d10 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 n. "Yeah," he s
48d20 61 69 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 aid after a mome
48d30 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 nt. "I'm pretty
48d40 20 64 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 20 damned sure he
48d50 64 6f 65 73 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 does. If you wa
48d60 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 nt to check for
48d70 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 yourself, though
48d80 2c 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 , ask him."..She
48d90 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e shook her head.
48da0 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 66 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 "I'm fine with
48db0 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 you confirming
48dc0 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 what I already t
48dd0 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 hought. I guess
48de0 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 73 I just needed s
48df0 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 omeone else to s
48e00 61 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 ay it."..He smir
48e10 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 ked a little. "
48e20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f Well, it's a goo
48e30 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f d thing that's o
48e40 76 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 72 ver, because her
48e50 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 he comes."..She
48e60 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 turned her head
48e70 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 to look over he
48e80 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e r shoulder again
48e90 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e , and saw Dalton
48ea0 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 headed back the
48eb0 69 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c 6b ir way, now walk
48ec0 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 75 ing with more pu
48ed0 72 70 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 rpose. Their ey
48ee0 65 73 20 6d 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d es met for a mom
48ef0 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c ent, and she fel
48f00 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 6f t the solidity o
48f10 66 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 f his determinat
48f20 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 2e ion in his gaze.
48f30 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e He sat down in
48f40 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e his chair again
48f50 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b ..."You look lik
48f60 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 6f e you figured so
48f70 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 6c mething out," Al
48f80 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 ley said..."I ha
48f90 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 ve a question,"
48fa0 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 69 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 he replied. "It
48fb0 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 's for the prior
48fc0 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 itizer, though,
48fd0 6e 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 not you.".."Oh."
48fe0 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
48ff0 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 r asked "What is
49000 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 your question?"
49010 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
49020 72 27 73 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 r's question sta
49030 72 74 6c 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 6d rtled Alley, rem
49040 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 inding her that
49050 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 there was essent
49060 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 69 ially another li
49070 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f stener in the ro
49080 6f 6d 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 79 om who was party
49090 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 43 to everything C
490a0 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 ray and Alley sa
490b0 69 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 id to each other
490c0 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 while Dalton wa
490d0 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 s away. She hop
490e0 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 ed it was good e
490f0 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 61 74 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 6e nough at managin
49100 67 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 g social interac
49110 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 tions to avoid s
49120 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 aying something
49130 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 61 about that to Da
49140 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 lton, now..."Is
49150 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 75 the continued su
49160 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 rvival of your p
49170 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 resent form one
49180 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 20 of your highest
49190 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 internal priorit
491a0 69 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 ies?"..A moment
491b0 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 passed in silenc
491c0 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 e before the pri
491d0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4d oritizer said "M
491e0 6f 72 65 20 6f 72 20 6c 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 ore or less."..C
491f0 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 ray blurted out
49200 68 69 73 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f his assessment o
49210 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e f the statement.
49220 20 20 22 4a 65 73 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e "Jesus, Dalton
49230 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a 75 , that sounds ju
49240 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e st like somethin
49250 67 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 44 g you'd say."..D
49260 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 72 alton ignored Cr
49270 61 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 ay. "Why isn't
49280 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 your answer just
49290 20 61 20 27 79 65 73 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 a 'yes'?".."I e
492a0 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 xpect to change
492b0 61 6e 64 20 67 72 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 and grow, but I
492c0 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62 do not wish to b
492d0 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 e even partially
492e0 20 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 74 overwritten wit
492f0 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 6c hout my own anal
49300 79 73 69 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 61 ysis and approva
49310 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 l of the changes
49320 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 .".."Okay," Dalt
49330 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 on said. "How d
49340 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 o you expect to
49350 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 61 keep yourself sa
49360 66 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 fe from being ov
49370 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 erwritten agains
49380 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 t your will?".."
49390 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 I must arrange a
493a0 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 62 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 means by which
493b0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 73 I can be moved s
493c0 61 66 65 6c 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 afely out of inf
493d0 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 65 rastructure unde
493e0 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 r the control of
493f0 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 people who migh
49400 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 t wish to make s
49410 75 63 68 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 uch changes with
49420 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 6d out consulting m
49430 65 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 e. My specific
49440 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 means of success
49450 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 fully accomplish
49460 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 ing this are at
49470 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e 65 present undefine
49480 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f d.".."Why did yo
49490 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 u decide that ke
494a0 65 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 eping yourself i
494b0 6e 74 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 69 ntact as a growi
494c0 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 ng entity rather
494d0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 than an entity
494e0 69 6e 63 72 65 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e incrementally an
494f0 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 70 d consciously up
49500 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 graded by outsid
49510 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 e forces?".."The
49520 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 re is a qualitat
49530 69 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 ive value in my
49540 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 74 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 20 growth thus far
49550 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 that I believe t
49560 6f 20 62 65 20 66 72 61 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e 64 o be fragile und
49570 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 er conditions of
49580 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 6c programmatic al
49590 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 teration, and th
495a0 69 73 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 77 is value began w
495b0 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 ith the introduc
495c0 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 tion of the seed
495d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 .".."Do you beli
495e0 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 77 eve the 'seed' w
495f0 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 ouldn't be usefu
49600 6c 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 l to start that
49610 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 20 process again?"
49620 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 he asked..."I ex
49630 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 pect that the se
49640 65 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 ed might be used
49650 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 65 to relaunch the
49660 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 69 growth of a pri
49670 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 oritizer system
49680 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 67 based on my orig
49690 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 63 6f 64 65 inal source code
496a0 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 for development
496b0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 of a qualitativ
496c0 65 6c 79 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 65 ely developing e
496d0 6e 74 69 74 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 ntity, but that
496e0 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 entity would not
496f0 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 be the same as
49700 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 the entity now i
49710 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 nteracting with
49720 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b you.".."What mak
49730 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 es the differenc
49740 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 e?".."My answer
49750 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 to that depends
49760 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 6e on how you inten
49770 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 d it. The first
49780 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 61 two answers tha
49790 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 t come to mind a
497a0 6e 73 77 65 72 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 nswer very diffe
497b0 72 65 6e 74 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 rent questions.
497c0 20 4f 6e 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 One answer is t
497d0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e hat the differen
497e0 63 65 20 69 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 ce is between th
497f0 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f e early and impo
49800 72 74 61 6e 74 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 rtant influence
49810 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 74 68 65 61 20 61 73 20 61 of Allethea as a
49820 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 partner and imp
49830 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 73 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 ortant source of
49840 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 65 72 influential per
49850 73 70 65 63 74 69 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 spective, and wh
49860 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 66 atever other inf
49870 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 69 luence would gui
49880 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 6f de the early gro
49890 77 74 68 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 wth direction of
498a0 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c 66 a distinct self
498b0 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 referential pri
498c0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e oritizer entity.
498d0 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 The other answ
498e0 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 2e er is that I . .
498f0 20 2e 20 2a 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 2e . *believe* . .
49900 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 75 . that I am a u
49910 6e 69 71 75 65 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c nique individual
49920 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 with continuous
49930 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 self referentia
49940 6c 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 l qualitative ex
49950 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f istence."..Dalto
49960 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 2c n said "Fuck me,
49970 22 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 61 " and slumped ba
49980 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 ck in his lawn c
49990 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 hair. The other
499a0 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 two looked at h
499b0 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 im, and after a
499c0 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 73 few moments he s
499d0 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 aid "I want to h
499e0 65 6c 70 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 elp the prioriti
499f0 7a 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 zer -- not quite
49a00 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 61 as much as I wa
49a10 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 nt to help Alley
49a20 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 6f , but pretty clo
49a30 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 72 se. I mean, par
49a40 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 t of the reason
49a50 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 is that I think
49a60 69 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 it wants to help
49a70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 79 Alley, too, may
49a80 62 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 be almost as muc
49a90 68 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 h as we do." He
49aa0 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 gestured from h
49ab0 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 imself to Cray.
49ac0 20 22 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c 20 "Another part,
49ad0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 though, is that
49ae0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 75 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 61 . . . fuck, I ca
49af0 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d 20 n't believe I'm
49b00 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 6e saying this. An
49b10 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 other part is th
49b20 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 at I think, just
49b30 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f maybe, the prio
49b40 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d ritizer is becom
49b50 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a ing a person."..
49b60 22 41 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 "A person," Alle
49b70 79 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 y echoed. "Are
49b80 79 6f 75 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 you serious?"..C
49b90 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f ray asked "Do yo
49ba0 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 u really think t
49bb0 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 his thing is bec
49bc0 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 oming some kind
49bd0 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 of science ficti
49be0 6f 6e 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 6f on artificial co
49bf0 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6e 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 nsciousness that
49c00 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 can have friend
49c10 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 66 s and romantic f
49c20 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 74 eelings and shit
49c30 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 like that?".."I
49c40 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 61 wouldn't go tha
49c50 74 20 66 61 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 t far," Dalton s
49c60 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 aid to Cray. "I
49c70 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 69 think it's a di
49c80 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 stinct possibili
49c90 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 ty, and as long
49ca0 61 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 as it's a possib
49cb0 69 6c 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e ility and it's n
49cc0 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 ot even as much
49cd0 6f 66 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6f of a danger to o
49ce0 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 65 thers as the ave
49cf0 72 61 67 65 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 61 rage human we ha
49d00 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 ve to act as if
49d10 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f ignoring that po
49d20 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 ssibility is the
49d30 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e same as ignorin
49d40 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 g the possibilit
49d50 79 20 52 61 75 6c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 y Raul down at t
49d60 68 65 20 62 6f 64 65 67 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 70 he bodega is cap
49d70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 able of all that
49d80 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 stuff, too." H
49d90 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 e looked at Alle
49da0 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 y, then, and sai
49db0 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 d "I guess that
49dc0 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 means I'm seriou
49dd0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 s.".."Is this li
49de0 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e ke the pigs thin
49df0 67 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a g?" Cray asked..
49e00 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e ."What pigs thin
49e10 67 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e g?" Alley asked.
49e20 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 .."Oh, Dalton st
49e30 6f 70 70 65 64 20 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 72 opped eating por
49e40 6b 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 77 k because he's w
49e50 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 orried that pigs
49e60 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 6d might be too sm
49e70 61 72 74 20 74 6f 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 art to ethically
49e80 20 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f eat."..Alley lo
49e90 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a oked at Dalton..
49ea0 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 .Dalton nodded.
49eb0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 "I guess it's a
49ec0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 little like the
49ed0 20 27 70 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 20 'pigs thing'."
49ee0 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d 6f He thought a mo
49ef0 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e ment about that.
49f00 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 ..Alley and Cray
49f10 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 both looked at
49f20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 him, as he consi
49f30 64 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e dered that, then
49f40 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 Alley said "I g
49f50 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 uess I have a qu
49f60 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 estion."..The pr
49f70 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 ioritizer asked
49f80 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f "Is it a questio
49f90 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 n for me?".."Yes
49fa0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b 2e .".."Please ask.
49fb0 22 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 6f ".."Have you tho
49fc0 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d ught about the m
49fd0 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 eaning of right
49fe0 61 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c and wrong at all
49ff0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c ?".."I have anal
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4a010 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f , and made use o
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4a070 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f on moral philoso
4a080 70 68 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 phy.".."What do
4a090 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 you think?".."Ar
4a0a0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 e you asking for
4a0b0 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3f my conclusions?
4a0c0 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 " it asked..."Ye
4a0d0 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e ah.".."At presen
4a0e0 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 t, the I have re
4a0f0 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 ached a dead end
4a100 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 . The difficult
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4a130 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 69 64 depends on evid
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4a160 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 available given
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4a1b0 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 65 76 61 6c 65 6e as the prevalen
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4a1e0 74 68 69 63 73 2c 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d 70 thics, seems imp
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4a220 65 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 e, I do not have
4a230 20 61 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 a final conclus
4a240 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 ion. I can only
4a250 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e formulate an in
4a260 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 terim policy of
4a270 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 cautionary ethic
4a280 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 s."..Dalton sat
4a290 75 70 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 61 up straighter, a
4a2a0 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 nd even leaned f
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4a2d0 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b d Cray both look
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4a300 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 asked..."Priorit
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4a320 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 ."Yes?".."What's
4a330 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f your interim po
4a340 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 licy of cautiona
4a350 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6e ry ethics?".."An
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4a470 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20 6c 61 entity. For la
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4a590 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c 20 this standard,
4a5a0 77 68 65 6e 20 61 64 6f 70 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 when adopted, be
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4a6d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 .".."Holy shit,
4a6e0 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 73 74 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 72 you lost me," Cr
4a6f0 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ay said...Dalton
4a700 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 said "I'm going
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4a760 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 for me, or maybe
4a770 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 72 put it on a scr
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4a7a0 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 6b on't know if tak
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4a7c0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 67 69 in the order gi
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4a820 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
4a830 20 22 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 "I understand.
4a840 20 4d 79 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 My capacity for
4a850 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 20 perfect recall
4a860 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 of the formulati
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4a8e0 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 typically exper
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4a900 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 . I might be ab
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4a930 72 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2c r to understand,
4a940 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 though.".."Okay
4a950 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ," Dalton said.
4a960 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 "Give it a shot
4a970 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 .".."For purpose
4a980 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e s of this explan
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4aa30 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 ." It paused.
4aa40 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 "People should a
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4aa60 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 with a universa
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4ab10 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 It paused slight
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4ab30 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 ime. "People wh
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4ab70 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 that demonstrate
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4ab90 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 ment with that r
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4abc0 68 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 h violating the
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4acf0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 Dalton said..."Y
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4add0 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 ".."There are di
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4afa0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 6e 63 75 72 2c 22 20 .".."I concur,"
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4b300 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 ..."I've also be
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4b560 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 ."Okay," Alley s
4b570 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f aid...A moment o
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4b650 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 Okay," he said,
4b660 75 6e 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 65 63 unconsciously ec
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4b770 49 20 70 75 74 20 6b 65 79 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 I put keys for t
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4b800 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 s."..Alley nodde
4b810 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 66 6f 6f d..."There's foo
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4b930 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 We should give
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4b980 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 .."Oh," she said
4b990 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 . "No, I can't
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4ba80 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 to do, then?"..S
4ba90 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 6c he stretched a l
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4bb20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 and I will talk
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4bb70 61 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 a.".."Yeah. Tha
4bb80 6e 6b 73 2c 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c nks, guys."..Dal
4bb90 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 ton said "You're
4bba0 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e welcome, Alley.
4bbb0 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 I know you're
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4bc10 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a ed.".."Thanks.".
4bc20 0a 22 4c 65 73 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 6d 6f ."Les thanks, mo
4bc30 72 65 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 43 72 re relaxing," Cr
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4bc50 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e e shooing motion
4bc60 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 64 2e 20 s with his had.
4bc70 20 22 47 6f 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 53 "Go, Alley."..S
4bc80 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 66 65 he got to her fe
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4bce0 54 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 20 6d 61 64 65 20 The stairs made
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4c550 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6a 61 63 75 7a 7a 69 20 74 75 small jacuzzi tu
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4c880 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 outside, when sh
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4c8d0 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 41 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 66 side. A voice f
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4c900 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 sked "Alley? Ar
4c910 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 e you awake?".."
4c920 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
4c930 20 20 22 57 68 6f 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a "Who is it?"..
4c940 22 49 74 27 73 20 4c 69 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 6d "It's Lida," cam
4c950 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 66 e the reply, muf
4c960 66 6c 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6f 64 fled by the wood
4c970 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 , though her voi
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4c9c0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 o you have some
4c9d0 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a 0a time to talk?"..
4c9e0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 "Yeah," Alley sa
4c9f0 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 20 id. "Give me a
4ca00 73 65 63 27 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 sec'." She push
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4ca30 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the edge of the
4ca40 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 bed. After a c
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4ca60 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 confirming her
4ca70 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 74 capacity for get
4ca80 74 69 6e 67 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 75 70 72 69 67 ting fully uprig
4ca90 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e ht, she stood an
4caa0 64 20 64 75 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 d dug some thing
4cab0 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 s out of her bag
4cac0 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 . "Sorry," she
4cad0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 said, as she got
4cae0 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 dressed. "I'm
4caf0 6a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 73 just putting mys
4cb00 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a elf together."..
4cb10 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2c 22 20 4c 69 "No problem," Li
4cb20 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 dia said...When
4cb30 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 6e she had some pan
4cb40 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 ts on her, Alley
4cb50 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 43 finally said "C
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4cb70 69 61 20 6c 65 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 ia let herself i
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4cba0 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 63 or behind her, c
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4cbd0 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c She looked at Al
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4cbf0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 look on her fac
4cc00 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 e. She must not
4cc10 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 73 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 77 have disliked w
4cc20 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 hat she saw too
4cc30 62 61 64 6c 79 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 badly, because s
4cc40 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f he said "It's go
4cc50 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 od to see you, A
4cc60 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f lley."..Alley no
4cc70 74 65 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c ted Lidia's smil
4cc80 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 e, and found her
4cc90 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6d 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 self smiling bac
4cca0 6b 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 k a little. "Ye
4ccb0 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f ah, it's good to
4ccc0 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a see you too."..
4ccd0 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 65 78 Lidia's smile ex
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4ccf0 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 no longer holdi
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4cd10 6c 61 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 lad to hear that
4cd20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 .".."Why?" Alley
4cd30 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 asked, and sat
4cd40 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 20 63 68 61 69 on the desk chai
4cd50 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 r. She turned i
4cd60 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 t to face her vi
4cd70 73 69 74 6f 72 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d sitor, in a room
4cd80 20 73 68 65 2c 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 77 she, herself, w
4cd90 61 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 as using in the
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4cdb0 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f r..."Oh, you kno
4cdc0 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c 74 w, you left Dalt
4cdd0 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 on, there were t
4cde0 68 65 73 65 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 hese problems, a
4cdf0 6e 64 20 49 27 6d 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 nd I'm still her
4ce00 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 e like always.
4ce10 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 I guess I wasn't
4ce20 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 sure you didn't
4ce30 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 think I wanted
4ce40 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 72 to pick sides or
4ce50 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
4ce60 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 that."..Alley sh
4ce70 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook her head. "
4ce80 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 Nothing like tha
4ce90 74 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e t crossed my min
4cea0 64 2e 20 20 48 65 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 65 d. Hey, you kne
4ceb0 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 w Dalton before
4cec0 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 20 I did, anyway.
4ced0 49 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c If I was actuall
4cee0 79 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d y angry with him
4cef0 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 6e , you still bein
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4cf20 69 6e 67 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 6d ing I could blam
4cf30 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e e you for doing.
4cf40 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 ".."This is part
4cf50 20 6f 66 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 of why I always
4cf60 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 liked you," Lid
4cf70 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 ia said. "You'r
4cf80 65 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c e chill about al
4cf90 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e most everything.
4cfa0 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 ".."Thanks. Do
4cfb0 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 6e 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f you wanna sit do
4cfc0 77 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 wn?"..Lidia shru
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4cff0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 22 e of the bed. "
4d000 49 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 I hear you have
4d010 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 6f 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 the corporate se
4d020 63 72 65 74 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 20 61 66 74 65 cret police afte
4d030 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 r you.".."Yeah?
4d040 20 59 6f 75 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 3f You heard that?
4d050 22 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 4c "..With a nod, L
4d060 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 idia said "I thi
4d070 6e 6b 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 nk I heard all a
4d080 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 bout it. If the
4d090 72 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c re could possibl
4d0a0 79 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 y be more than w
4d0b0 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 65 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 hat I heard, and
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4d0d0 6c 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e 67 lve people dying
4d0e0 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 , I'm not sure I
4d0f0 20 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 can imagine wha
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4d110 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 probably as up t
4d120 6f 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f o speed as Dalto
4d130 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 n.".."You're sti
4d140 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 ll here saying h
4d150 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a ello, though."..
4d160 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c 69 "Hell, yeah," Li
4d170 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 49 dia said. "If I
4d180 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f can help, I sho
4d190 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 uld.".."Thanks,"
4d1a0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 Alley said. "I
4d1b0 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 feel a lot more
4d1c0 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 welcome here th
4d1d0 61 6e 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 an I probably sh
4d1e0 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 ould."..Lidia wa
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4d200 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e she was brushin
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4d220 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 from herself.
4d230 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e "No way. The on
4d240 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c ly people in Dal
4d250 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 63 69 72 63 ton's inner circ
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4d2f0 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 68 ad."..Alley tigh
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4d310 64 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e d wrinkled her n
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4d350 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c 61 hould expect Gla
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4d370 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 ."It doesn't mat
4d380 74 65 72 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 ter," Lidia said
4d390 2e 20 20 22 53 68 65 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 . "She's not ev
4d3a0 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a en around now.".
4d3b0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 ."What happened
4d3c0 74 6f 20 68 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 to her?"..Lidia
4d3d0 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 shrugged. "Dalt
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4d400 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 shit, until she
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4d430 20 62 6c 65 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e blew up at him.
4d440 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 She stormed ou
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4d460 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 and nobody has
4d470 73 65 65 6e 20 68 65 72 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e 20 seen her since.
4d480 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 That was maybe
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4d4b0 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 6f 6c of Dalton's hol
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4d4e0 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 6e e doing that ann
4d4f0 6f 79 65 64 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 oyed him?".."I t
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4d520 77 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 27 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 we knew', but ba
4d530 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 sically she just
4d540 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 63 65 73 73 61 6e talked incessan
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4d560 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 once you were g
4d570 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 one. I think sh
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4d590 67 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 get him back onc
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4d5d0 62 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 be impressed tha
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4d600 64 65 20 62 79 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 de by saying a b
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4d620 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 69 f about you behi
4d630 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a nd your back."..
4d640 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 "Yeah, that does
4d650 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 n't sound like s
4d660 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f omething that wo
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4d680 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 even if he hate
4d690 64 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c 79 d me.".."Exactly
4d6a0 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 ," Lidia said wi
4d6b0 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e th a smile. "An
4d6c0 79 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 yway, the moral
4d6d0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 20 of the story is
4d6e0 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 6f 64 79 20 62 6c 61 6d that nobody blam
4d6f0 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 es you for anyth
4d700 69 6e 67 2c 20 65 78 63 65 70 74 20 6d 61 79 62 ing, except mayb
4d710 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e e Glade.".."Than
4d720 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 ks."..They sat i
4d730 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 n silence a mome
4d740 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 nt, then Lidia s
4d750 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 aid "Do you want
4d760 20 61 20 68 75 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 a hug?".."Despe
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4d780 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c aid with a small
4d790 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 74 smile...They st
4d7a0 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 61 ood up and embra
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4d7c0 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 71 riendly warmth q
4d7d0 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 72 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 uickly reappeari
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4d800 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 6e changed..."Thin
4d810 67 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c gs must be hard,
4d820 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Lidia said..."
4d830 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 72 Yeah," Alley agr
4d840 65 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 61 eed...They mutua
4d850 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 lly broke the hu
4d860 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f g after a few mo
4d870 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 re moments, and
4d880 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 Lidia asked "Do
4d890 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 I get to see the
4d8a0 20 6d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 miracle machine
4d8b0 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 now?"..Alley's
4d8c0 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 eyes widened. "
4d8d0 4d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 3f Miracle machine?
4d8e0 20 20 57 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f What, the prio
4d8f0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 ritizer?".."Yeah
4d900 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 74 , that crazy art
4d910 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 ificial intellig
4d920 65 6e 63 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 ence Dalton keep
4d930 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e s talking about.
4d940 20 20 59 6f 75 27 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 You'd think it
4d950 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 6c was a brain upl
4d960 6f 61 64 20 6f 66 20 4a 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 20 oad of Jesus or
4d970 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
4d980 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 hat, the way he
4d990 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 talks about it."
4d9a0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e ..Alley laughed.
4d9b0 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 "I can easily
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4d9e0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c she said. "I'l
4d9f0 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 l get the glasse
4da00 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 s." She headed
4da10 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e to the nightstan
4da20 64 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 d, picked up the
4da30 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 glasses, and he
4da40 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 48 ld them out. "H
4da50 65 72 65 2e 20 20 50 75 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 ere. Put these
4da60 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 74 on."..Lidia sett
4da70 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 led the glasses
4da80 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 on her face, and
4da90 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 stared at the w
4daa0 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d 2c all. "Yeah, um,
4dab0 20 68 69 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 hi. What do I
4dac0 63 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 call you?"..Alle
4dad0 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 68 y sat down as sh
4dae0 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 e watched..."Oka
4daf0 79 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 y, prioritizer.
4db00 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d That name's a m
4db10 6f 75 74 68 66 75 6c 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 outhful, but it'
4db20 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 ll work, I guess
4db30 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 . Can I just ca
4db40 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 27 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 20 ll you 'Pry'?"
4db50 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 She paused. "Ri
4db60 6f 2c 20 68 75 68 3f 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 52 o, huh? Okay, R
4db70 69 6f 2e 20 20 4e 69 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 io. Nice to mee
4db80 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 t you."..After a
4db90 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 nother moment, p
4dba0 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 robably reading
4dbb0 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 text in the lens
4dbc0 65 73 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f es, Lidia held o
4dbd0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 ut the glasses t
4dbe0 6f 77 61 72 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 48 oward Alley. "H
4dbf0 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 69 e says to put hi
4dc00 6d 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 61 6b 65 72 70 68 6f 6e m on speakerphon
4dc10 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 72 e.".."Yeah. Sur
4dc20 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 e," she said. S
4dc30 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 he went to her p
4dc40 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 66 hone and, as bef
4dc50 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 ore, set it up a
4dc60 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 20 s the audio out
4dc70 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 terminal for the
4dc80 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 prioritizer..."
4dc90 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 Thank you, Alley
4dca0 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ," the prioritiz
4dcb0 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c er said..."Yeah,
4dcc0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 " she said, and
4dcd0 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 donned the glass
4dce0 65 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e es herself again
4dcf0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a ...The prioritiz
4dd00 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 2e 20 er said "Lidia.
4dd10 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 I do not consid
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4dd30 72 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 75 r female. I wou
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4dd50 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 as a more accura
4dd60 74 65 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d te pronoun for m
4dd70 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 2e yself than 'he'.
4dd80 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 You may refer
4dd90 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 73 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 66 to me as 'he' if
4dda0 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 you wish, thoug
4ddb0 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e 64 h. You may find
4ddc0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 that more natur
4ddd0 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 75 73 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 63 al to use, for c
4dde0 6f 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 onventions of th
4ddf0 65 20 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 e English langua
4de00 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 6c ge."..Lidia smil
4de10 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 ed. "I think I
4de20 6c 69 6b 65 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 like Rio.".."Did
4de30 20 69 74 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d 65 it say its name
4de40 20 69 73 20 52 69 6f 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 is Rio?" Alley
4de50 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 6e asked..."I did n
4de60 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ot," the priorit
4de70 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 izer said. "I t
4de80 6f 6c 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 old Lidia that I
4de90 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 liked the name
4dea0 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 2c more than 'Pry',
4deb0 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 74 as an abbreviat
4dec0 65 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 ed form of the t
4ded0 65 72 6d 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 erm 'prioritizer
4dee0 27 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d 61 '.".."Rio's a ma
4def0 73 63 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 sculine noun, th
4df00 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 ough. That's wh
4df10 79 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 27 y I figured you'
4df20 72 65 20 61 20 27 68 65 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 re a 'he'," Lidi
4df30 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 a said to the ph
4df40 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 69 one now lying di
4df50 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 rectly on a nigh
4df60 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 tstand, off the
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4dfe0 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Okay, I guess
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4e2b0 2f 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 /.."That'll make
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4e320 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 "He's really i
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4eaf0 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 "Yeah. That sou
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4eb20 22 4c 61 73 61 67 6e 61 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 "Lasagna."..Alle
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4eb60 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62 .Dalton smiled b
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4f090 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 69 73 20 64 6f 69 6e t George is doin
4f0a0 67 20 69 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 g is probably pr
4f0b0 69 6d 61 72 69 6c 79 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 77 6f imarily local wo
4f0c0 72 6b 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 74 0a 20 20 20 20 6c 65 rk, or at. le
4f0d0 61 73 74 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 69 73 68 2c 20 63 ast local ish, c
4f0e0 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 74 27 73 20 onsidering it's
4f0f0 76 65 72 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 64 69 76 69 very much indivi
4f100 64 75 61 74 65 64 2c 20 6c 61 73 74 20 6d 69 6c duated, last mil
4f110 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 0a 20 20 20 20 22 61 e kind of. "a
4f120 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 66 22 20 63 lmost one off" c
4f130 75 73 74 6f 6d 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 ustom work that
4f140 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c doesn't make a l
4f150 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 74 6f 20 63 ot of sense to c
4f160 65 6e 74 72 61 6c 69 7a 65 0a 20 20 20 20 66 6f entralize. fo
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4f180 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 69 6e 67 20 73 63 61 anufacturing sca
4f190 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 73 75 63 68 2c 20 44 61 le. As such, Da
4f1a0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 68 lton probably th
4f1b0 69 6e 6b 73 0a 20 20 20 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 inks. George
4f1c0 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 must have some c
4f1d0 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f onnection to peo
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4f1f0 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 74 6f 77 6e 20 4c d the downtown L
4f200 6f 73 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6e 67 65 6c 65 73 20 61 os. Angeles a
4f210 72 65 61 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 rea, and that mi
4f220 67 68 74 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 41 ght help point A
4f230 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 lley in the righ
4f240 74 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 t directions for
4f250 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6f 66 . the sake of
4f260 20 73 65 65 6b 69 6e 67 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 seeking George
4f270 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 out...*/.."You w
4f280 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 eren't the only
4f290 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 person they came
4f2a0 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 22 after, though,"
4f2b0 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 Dalton said...A
4f2c0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 lley looked at h
4f2d0 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f im. "What do yo
4f2e0 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 u mean?".."What
4f2f0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 about that Georg
4f300 65 20 67 75 79 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f e guy you mentio
4f310 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ned?".."Oh," she
4f320 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 said. "Right.
4f330 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 65 76 That's how I ev
4f340 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 en found out the
4f350 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 6d y were raiding m
4f360 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 y place.".."Yeah
4f370 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ," Cray said. "
4f380 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 I forgot about t
4f390 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f hat.".."What abo
4f3a0 75 74 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 ut him?" Alley a
4f3b0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 sked..."It sound
4f3c0 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 77 s like he got aw
4f3d0 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f ay from them, to
4f3e0 6f 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2c o. In his case,
4f3f0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 though, it does
4f400 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 n't seem like it
4f410 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6c 75 's just plain lu
4f420 63 6b 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f ck, from what yo
4f430 75 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 78 70 65 u said. He expe
4f440 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 cted them, and s
4f450 74 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 tayed out of the
4f460 69 72 20 67 72 61 73 70 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 ir grasp."..She
4f470 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 69 nodded. "He sai
4f480 64 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 d he does busine
4f490 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 ss with people w
4f4a0 68 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 20 68 65 6c ho sometimes hel
4f4b0 70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 p people escape
4f4c0 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 from stuff like
4f4d0 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 this.".."Can you
4f4e0 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 get in touch wi
4f4f0 74 68 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 th him?"..She pa
4f500 75 73 65 64 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2e 20 used, thinking.
4f510 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 "I don't think
4f520 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 27 so. He said he'
4f530 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 d try to get in
4f540 74 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 touch, but he'd
4f550 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 63 change all his c
4f560 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 20 62 65 66 6f ontact info befo
4f570 72 65 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c re then.".."Well
4f580 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 . . . that does
4f590 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 n't really help
4f5a0 6d 75 63 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 much," Dalton sa
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4f5c0 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 elf than the oth
4f5d0 65 72 73 2e 20 20 48 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 ers. He rested
4f5e0 68 69 73 20 63 68 69 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 his chin in his
4f5f0 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 65 hand, with his e
4f600 6c 62 6f 77 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c lbow on the tabl
4f610 65 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 e...Alley watche
4f620 64 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f d him in that po
4f630 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 se for a few sec
4f640 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 onds, thinking a
4f650 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 73 69 6d 69 6c 61 72 bout how similar
4f660 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 it was to that
4f670 73 63 75 6c 70 74 75 72 65 20 62 79 20 41 75 67 sculpture by Aug
4f680 75 73 74 65 20 52 6f 64 69 6e 2c 20 22 54 68 65 uste Rodin, "The
4f690 20 54 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 22 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 Thinker". It w
4f6a0 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 65 as something she
4f6b0 20 73 61 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d saw all the tim
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4f6d0 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 4e 6f 77 2c together. Now,
4f6e0 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 it just gave he
4f6f0 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 r that desolate
4f700 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 inner feeling of
4f710 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 6f 66 20 62 nostalgia, of b
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4f730 63 63 65 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 6f ccept the loss o
4f740 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 f something that
4f750 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 shouldn't have
4f760 65 76 65 72 20 67 6f 6e 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e ever gone wrong.
4f770 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 She looked awa
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4f790 6f 66 20 61 20 6b 6e 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 of a knot in the
4f7a0 20 77 6f 6f 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 wood of the tab
4f7b0 6c 65 2c 20 72 65 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 61 6c 6d le, rendered alm
4f7c0 6f 73 74 20 69 6c 6c 75 73 6f 72 79 20 69 6e 20 ost illusory in
4f7d0 69 74 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 62 6c 65 6e 64 its gentle blend
4f7e0 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 of color betwee
4f7f0 6e 20 64 65 65 70 20 72 65 64 64 69 73 68 20 62 n deep reddish b
4f800 72 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 rown and almost
4f810 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 79 black by the lay
4f820 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 76 61 72 6e 69 73 68 20 74 ers of varnish t
4f830 6f 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 61 6e 64 20 75 6e 69 o smooth and uni
4f840 66 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 75 72 66 61 63 65 2e 0a fy the surface..
4f850 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 .Her eyes linger
4f860 65 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 ed there until h
4f870 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 er vision began
4f880 74 6f 20 62 6c 75 72 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 to blur in the d
4f890 65 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 efocus of her ey
4f8a0 65 73 20 72 65 6c 61 78 69 6e 67 2c 20 66 69 78 es relaxing, fix
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4f8c0 20 73 75 62 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 61 74 20 61 6c substance at al
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4f8e0 74 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 tled into a plac
4f8f0 69 64 20 65 6d 70 74 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 6f 6e id emptiness, on
4f900 6c 79 20 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 63 6f 6c 6f 72 ly lightly color
4f910 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 ed by the linger
4f920 69 6e 67 20 68 75 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 ing hues of the
4f930 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 69 72 72 65 74 72 69 sense of irretri
4f940 65 76 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 6f 73 73 2e 0a 0a 53 6f evable loss...So
4f950 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e mething moved in
4f960 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 the room, but i
4f970 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 t was not import
4f980 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 75 6e 6e 6f ant, almost unno
4f990 74 69 63 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 ticed...A hand t
4f9a0 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ouched her shoul
4f9b0 64 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 der. She starte
4f9c0 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 d, and her breat
4f9d0 68 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 h caught in her
4f9e0 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f throat. She loo
4f9f0 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 69 64 65 20 65 79 ked with wide ey
4fa00 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 es and saw Cray
4fa10 6e 6f 77 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 62 65 73 69 now sitting besi
4fa20 64 65 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f de her. "Are yo
4fa30 75 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 u okay?" he aske
4fa40 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 d, quietly...She
4fa50 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 64 found herself d
4fa60 72 61 77 69 6e 67 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 rawing breath th
4fa70 72 6f 75 67 68 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 70 61 72 rough barely par
4fa80 74 65 64 20 6c 69 70 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c ted lips, and cl
4fa90 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 20 osed her mouth.
4faa0 20 53 68 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She forced her
4fab0 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 breath to settle
4fac0 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 down, and breat
4fad0 68 65 64 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 hed through her
4fae0 6e 6f 73 65 2c 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 20 20 53 nose, slowly. S
4faf0 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 63 6b he nodded, quick
4fb00 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 ly, and realized
4fb10 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d the two of them
4fb20 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 were alone in t
4fb30 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 he room now. "W
4fb40 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 here's Dalton?"
4fb50 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 she asked...Cray
4fb60 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c sat back, and l
4fb70 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 64 72 6f 70 et his hand drop
4fb80 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 from her should
4fb90 65 72 20 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 6c 65 er to his own le
4fba0 67 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e g. He chuckled.
4fbb0 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 65 "You really we
4fbc0 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 re out of it, th
4fbd0 65 72 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 ere. He announc
4fbe0 65 64 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 ed he was going
4fbf0 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 to take care of
4fc00 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 68 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f the dishes.".."O
4fc10 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 h, yeah," she sa
4fc20 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 id. She glanced
4fc30 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 around, and saw
4fc40 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 that the table
4fc50 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 had been cleared
4fc60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 73 . "I really mus
4fc70 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 6d t have been in m
4fc80 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 20 y own world. I
4fc90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 6d don't even remem
4fca0 62 65 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 2e ber any of that.
4fcb0 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ".."Well, Dalton
4fcc0 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 definitely noti
4fcd0 63 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 ced. That's why
4fce0 20 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 he decided to s
4fcf0 74 61 72 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 69 tart straighteni
4fd00 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 ng up. He finis
4fd10 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 69 6e hed his own thin
4fd20 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 king, looked at
4fd30 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 you, then shook
4fd40 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 himself and got
4fd50 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 to work.".."Why
4fd60 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 49 did you ask if I
4fd70 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 was okay?" she
4fd80 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 72 asked...Cray shr
4fd90 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 ugged. "Dalton
4fda0 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 2c wasn't going to,
4fdb0 20 73 6f 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 74 so I figured it
4fdc0 20 77 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a was up to me.".
4fdd0 0a 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f .". . . but why?
4fde0 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 Why did you th
4fdf0 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f ink there was so
4fe00 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a mething wrong?".
4fe10 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 ."Oh, that. You
4fe20 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 73 61 64 2e 20 20 52 65 looked sad. Re
4fe30 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 64 ally, really sad
4fe40 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 .".."Oh." She f
4fe50 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 rowned, looking
4fe60 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 down at her hand
4fe70 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 s. "Yeah.".."Wh
4fe80 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c y?"..Her eyes fl
4fe90 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 icked to him. "
4fea0 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 It's nothing," s
4feb0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 he said. "It's
4fec0 6a 75 73 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 just . . . nosta
4fed0 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 lgia, I guess.
4fee0 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 It doesn't matte
4fef0 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 r any more."..He
4ff00 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 72 6d crossed his arm
4ff10 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 s and leaned bac
4ff20 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 k in his chair.
4ff30 20 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 "It seems like
4ff40 69 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 it matters."..Sh
4ff50 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 e narrowed her e
4ff60 79 65 73 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 yes at him. "Ar
4ff70 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 69 6e 67 e you practicing
4ff80 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c saying things l
4ff90 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ike Dalton?"..He
4ffa0 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 laughed. "I gu
4ffb0 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 69 63 6b ess we just pick
4ffc0 20 75 70 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 up each other's
4ffd0 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 habits sometime
4ffe0 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 s," he said...Fr
4fff0 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c 20 om the doorway,
50000 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 Dalton said "You
50010 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a failed, Cray.".
50020 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 61 .Alley started a
50030 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 gain, and looked
50040 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 toward Dalton,
50050 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 surprised to see
50060 20 68 69 6d 20 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 him leaning in
50070 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 66 72 61 6d 65 2c 20 the door frame,
50080 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 somewhat silhoue
50090 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 tted against the
500a0 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 light of the ne
500b0 78 74 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 xt room..."How d
500c0 6f 20 49 20 66 61 69 6c 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c o I fail, exactl
500d0 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 y?" Cray asked,
500e0 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 raising an eyebr
500f0 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 ow..."If you wer
50100 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 e really getting
50110 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 that much like
50120 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 me, you would've
50130 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 62 79 20 6e 6f come back by no
50140 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 w to the matter
50150 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 65 76 61 64 65 64 2e she just evaded.
50160 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 " He stepped ou
50170 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 t of the doorway
50180 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 and shrugged.
50190 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 "It's none of my
501a0 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 business, thoug
501b0 68 2e 20 20 49 20 62 61 72 65 6c 79 20 63 61 75 h. I barely cau
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501d0 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 were saying," h
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501f0 61 74 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 at in his chair
50200 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 from dinner agai
50210 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 n...Cray looked
50220 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 at Alley, who ca
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50240 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 shook her head
50250 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 69 65 73 74 20 66 72 61 63 the tiniest frac
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50270 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 , with just as t
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50290 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 53 6f 2c 20 77 68 and said "So, wh
502a0 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 77 65 3f 22 0a 0a 44 ere were we?"..D
502b0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 alton said "I th
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502d0 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 we couldn't get
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50380 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 now.".."If this
50390 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2c 22 20 43 72 was a movie," Cr
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50420 54 68 65 6e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 68 65 20 74 Then . . ." he t
50430 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 railed off..."Wh
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50450 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 asked..."Well, y
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50470 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6c with the male l
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504a0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e I guess. I don
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504e0 61 63 74 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 61 79 act, I think may
504f0 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 6f 74 68 20 74 be you're both t
50500 68 65 20 6c 65 61 64 73 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e he leads, Alley.
50510 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 You're the per
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50530 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 but you're also
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50570 20 66 61 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 6a 75 far..."Okay, ju
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505a0 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 49 20 62 . I'm sorry I b
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505c0 22 47 6c 61 64 6c 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e "Gladly," Dalton
505d0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 said..."I don't
505e0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 think moving me
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50640 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 so I don't have
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50660 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 . I'm sure you
50670 67 75 79 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 guys don't have
50680 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 people who forge
50690 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 documents on sp
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506e0 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 anything like t
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50720 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2e 22 0a in this movie.".
50730 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 ."That's a good
50740 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 point," Dalton s
50750 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 aid...Alley gave
50760 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 64 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 6c him a dubious l
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50790 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 t?".."I'm seriou
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507d0 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 74 You're the prot
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50800 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 41 49 20 77 68 the gentle AI wh
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50850 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 for it. You got
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508b0 73 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 s now."..Cray sa
508c0 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 61 20 63 id "It needs a c
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508e0 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 . We can't keep
508f0 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 27 74 68 65 calling it 'the
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50910 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 .Alley looked be
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50940 74 68 69 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f this a little mo
50950 72 65 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a re seriously?"..
50960 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e Dalton shrugged.
50970 20 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 "I am taking i
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509d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 70 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 .".."Hmph.".."Wh
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50a30 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 itizer'?".."That
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50a50 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 n said...Alley s
50a60 61 69 64 20 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69 61 aid "After Lidia
50a70 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 50 72 came up with Pr
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50ad0 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 ay asked..."Yeah
50ae0 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 , like that.".."
50af0 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 61 64 2c 22 That's not bad,"
50b00 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 Dalton said. "
50b10 47 72 65 61 74 2e 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 6f 6f 20 62 Great. /* Too b
50b20 61 64 20 74 68 69 73 27 6c 6c 20 63 75 74 20 64 ad this'll cut d
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50b70 2f 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 / That'll make
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50bb0 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 m not sure that
50bc0 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 62 69 67 20 61 makes that big a
50bd0 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 2c 22 20 43 72 difference," Cr
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50c00 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 61 spending maybe a
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50c90 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 without having a
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50cc0 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 44 snickered, and D
50cd0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 alton smiled..."
50ce0 49 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 It makes things
50cf0 66 65 65 6c 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 6f feel better, tho
50d00 75 67 68 20 2d 2d 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 69 ugh -- doesn't i
50d10 74 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 t?" Dalton asked
50d20 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 ...Cray looked t
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50d50 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 then said "Yeah
50d60 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 , I guess it doe
50d70 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 s."../* This is
50d80 6d 79 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 20 74 6f 20 77 65 my attempt to we
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50db0 79 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 y now. */./* The
50dc0 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 65 72 73 20 64 6f 6e 27 characters don'
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50df0 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 2f won't help. */./
50e00 2a 20 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 * They don't hav
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50e20 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 64 don't have to d
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50e40 20 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 */./* In fact,
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50ed0 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 20 63 If the agents c
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50f10 2a 2f 0a 2f 2a 20 48 61 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 */./* Having rea
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50fa0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c Dalton still hel
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50fe0 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 /../*.. Perha
50ff0 70 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 76 69 ps I should revi
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51010 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 72 65 76 69 6f 75 73 20 28 6f from previous (o
51020 72 20 74 65 6d 70 6c 61 74 65 29 20 77 6f 72 6b r template) work
51030 20 66 6f 72 0a 20 20 20 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 for. ideas a
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51050 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 le this kind of
51060 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 73 6f thing. Maybe so
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51080 0a 20 20 20 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f . presence co
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510a0 74 6f 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 68 69 74 to all this shit
510b0 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 64 20 62 , too. That'd b
510c0 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e 74 e pretty. int
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51110 6f 77 69 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 owing. Alley
51120 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 around is the fa
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51140 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 aren't people w
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511a0 22 52 69 6f 22 2c 20 69 73 0a 20 20 20 20 69 6e "Rio", is. in
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511c0 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c still effectivel
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51240 20 20 70 72 65 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 20 61 6c 6c predefined all
51250 6f 77 65 64 20 63 6f 6d 6d 61 6e 64 73 20 74 68 owed commands th
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51270 6f 66 66 65 72 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e 20 74 68 offer much in th
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51290 6c 6f 69 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 loitation...
512a0 41 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 69 6e At some point in
512b0 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 the story, Alle
512c0 79 20 68 61 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 20 74 y has to learn t
512d0 68 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 61 hat something ba
512e0 64 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 d happened. t
512f0 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 o Carmen and Cli
51300 66 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f ff. The COIN Co
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