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103d0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 ?".."Do you have
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10440 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 72 . . . no, not r
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10470 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f ".."Now is a goo
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10f80 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 ."Oh.".."If I ha
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10fa0 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 69 6d the relative im
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10fc0 20 67 6f 61 6c 73 2c 20 70 6c 65 61 73 65 20 6c goals, please l
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10fe0 63 61 6e 20 72 65 63 61 6c 63 75 6c 61 74 65 20 can recalculate
10ff0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 prioritization."
11000 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b .."No, that work
11010 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b s for me. Thank
11020 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 s.".."Good. We
11030 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 62 79 20 should start by
11040 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 63 72 79 70 74 looking at crypt
11050 6f 63 75 72 72 65 6e 63 79 20 70 72 69 63 65 73 ocurrency prices
11060 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 68 6f 75 ."..Two more hou
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110c0 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 6e Stater, the stan
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110e0 20 74 68 65 20 4c 79 64 69 61 6e 20 64 69 67 69 the Lydian digi
110f0 74 61 6c 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 65 74 74 tal account sett
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11110 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 61 20 77 61 She set up a wa
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111a0 2a 2f 20 46 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 20 */ For the sake
111b0 6f 66 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 of keeping some
111c0 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 61 66 65 information safe
111d0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 67 69 74 61 6c 20 73 6e from digital sn
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111f0 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 notebook and pe
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11220 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 6f 62 76 69 6f became an obvio
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11290 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 61 72 72 s she would carr
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112e0 20 73 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f sure she was no
112f0 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c t wearing the gl
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11330 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c so that it woul
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11360 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 75 that could be u
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113b0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 once she had th
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11410 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 61 6e 79 77 68 65 72 65 dollars anywhere
11420 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 49 6e 6c 61 6e 64 20 45 in the Inland E
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11440 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 76 69 61 20 65 a message via e
11450 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 61 70 70 6c 69 63 61 ncrypted applica
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11470 6f 70 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 op to ask about
11480 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 61 buying a small a
11490 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 2c mount of Stater,
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114b0 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 response almost
114c0 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 6c 79 2e 20 20 49 74 immediately. It
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114f0 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 place in a polic
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11520 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 ed at the messag
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11580 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ioritizer said "
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127c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 , and she opened
127d0 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 her door. The
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12880 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 car, and tugged
12890 20 68 65 72 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 61 her stocking ca
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128b0 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 lower on her hea
128c0 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 d...A figure in
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12970 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c crossover, diml
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129e0 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 t. Alley heard
129f0 71 75 69 65 74 20 76 6f 69 63 65 73 2c 20 6e 65 quiet voices, ne
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12b40 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c d...Alley saw bl
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12c90 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 and a narrow, st
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12cf0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f than her. It o
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12d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 look female...H
12d50 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 e just looked ve
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12d70 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 river gave her a
12d80 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f n appraising loo
12d90 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 k, the impersona
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12db0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 ind of look that
12dc0 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 lingered on the
12dd0 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 way her cargo p
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12df0 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 fit her and wou
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12e10 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 her teeth on edg
12e20 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 e, but she just
12e30 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f stared at him fo
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12e50 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 his fashionably
12e60 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 spartan, almost
12e70 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 formal-cut, blac
12e80 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 k collarless shi
12e90 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 rt..."Aren't you
12ea0 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 kind of young f
12eb0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 or this sort of
12ec0 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 thing?" she blur
12ed0 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 ted out...He jer
12ee0 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 ked the focus of
12ef0 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 his aqua eyes,
12f00 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c reflecting the l
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12f20 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 , away from the
12f30 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 vicinity of her
12f40 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d midsection and m
12f50 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 et her eyes. "H
12f60 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 ey, lady, don't
12f70 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f think I'm new to
12f80 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 this. I'm arme
12f90 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b d, so don't jerk
12fa0 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 me around."..Sh
12fb0 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 e hesitated, the
12fc0 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 n said "No, not
12fd0 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 a problem. You
12fe0 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 just, uhh, surpr
12ff0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e ised me. Sorry.
13000 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 ".."Whatever," h
13010 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 e said, in a sof
13020 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 t, clear voice t
13030 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 hat almost made
13040 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 it difficult to
13050 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f recognize the so
13060 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 ur note in it.
13070 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 "Here, look at t
13080 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 his," he said, a
13090 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 nd held up a dev
130a0 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 ice the size of
130b0 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f his palm. A glo
130c0 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 wing display on
130d0 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 it, about the le
130e0 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 ngth of her own
130f0 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 thumb and three
13100 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e times the thickn
13110 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 ess, showed an e
13120 69 67 68 74 79 2d 73 65 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 ighty-seven Stat
13130 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 er transaction r
13140 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 eady for him to
13150 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f confirm...She no
13160 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 dded, and said "
13170 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e Go ahead and sen
13180 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 d it to this esc
13190 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 row." She pulle
131a0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 67 2d 65 61 d out the dog-ea
131b0 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 red page of her
131c0 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 notebook without
131d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 looking at it,
131e0 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f and handed it to
131f0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e the boy. He en
13200 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 tered the escrow
13210 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 number into his
13220 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d device and thum
13230 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 bed the confirma
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13250 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 later, she heard
13260 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 the escrow aler
13270 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 t through her ph
13280 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a one's earpiece..
13290 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ."Done", he said
132a0 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 ..."Here's the c
132b0 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 ash." She hung
132c0 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 her right thumb
132d0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 on her front poc
132e0 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 ket, then reache
132f0 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 d into the car w
13300 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e ith her left han
13310 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 d to pull out th
13320 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 e bag. She hand
13330 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
13340 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b ...He took it, k
13350 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 eeping his eyes
13360 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 on her, and step
13370 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f ped back. He to
13380 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 ssed the bag int
13390 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 o the car, then
133a0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 Alley heard some
133b0 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 rustling sounds
133c0 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 from the bag.
133d0 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 After a few mome
133e0 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 nts, she realize
133f0 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 d whoever was si
13400 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 tting in the pas
13410 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 senger seat had
13420 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 started counting
13430 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 . Alley and the
13440 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 boy stood there
13450 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 , looking at eac
13460 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 h other, as they
13470 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c waited. A girl
13480 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 's voice -- unle
13490 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 ss it was an eve
134a0 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d n younger boy --
134b0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 said "It's all
134c0 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 here."..The boy
134d0 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 tapped his devic
134e0 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 e with his thumb
134f0 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 once more, and
13500 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e said "Are we don
13510 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 e?".."Not yet,"
13520 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 she said. "Just
13530 20 77 61 69 74 2e 22 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e wait." Everyon
13540 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 e waited. A few
13550 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 seconds later,
13560 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 another alert ch
13570 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 imed in Alley's
13580 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 ear. "Okay, we'
13590 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 re done.".."Good
135a0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ," he said, and
135b0 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 sat back in his
135c0 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 car with surpris
135d0 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a ing quickness...
135e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 Alley sat down a
135f0 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 65 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c nd hurriedly pul
13600 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 led her door shu
13610 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 t. The crossove
13620 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 r backed out and
13630 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 quickly drove a
13640 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 way, while she w
13650 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e as still bucklin
13660 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 g her seatbelt.
13670 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 Soon she, too,
13680 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e was on the road.
13690 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 .."It is too ear
136a0 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 ly to be sure th
136b0 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 at went well," t
136c0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
136d0 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 aid..."Yeah. I
136e0 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 should check my
136f0 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 Stater balance."
13700 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 She pulled ove
13710 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 r, set aside her
13720 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 glasses so they
13730 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 wouldn't record
13740 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 what she saw, p
13750 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f icked up her pho
13760 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ne, and looked a
13770 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 t the open ledge
13780 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 r view. She now
13790 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 had a Stater ba
137a0 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 lance. She star
137b0 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 ed at it for a w
137c0 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 hile..."Is every
137d0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 thing correct?"
137e0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
137f0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 asked...She nodd
13800 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 ed, then realize
13810 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f d it probably co
13820 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 uldn't tell she
13830 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 nodded when she
13840 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 wasn't wearing t
13850 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 he glasses. "Ye
13860 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 ah, it's all the
13870 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e re. Is there an
13880 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 y way this can s
13890 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 omehow get rever
138a0 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 sed now?".."No,"
138b0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
138c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 said. "If it s
138d0 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c hows in your bal
138e0 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c ance, that shoul
138f0 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 d mean the trans
13900 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 action crossed t
13910 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 he point of no r
13920 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 eturn, according
13930 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 to the Stater d
13940 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f ocuments you sho
13950 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 wed to me throug
13960 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 h your glasses."
13970 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c .."Okay." She l
13980 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c ocked her phone,
13990 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 tossed it on th
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139b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 , and started dr
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139f0 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c es again.".."Oh,
13a00 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 right," she sai
13a10 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 d. She picked t
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13a60 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 . "I guess the
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13a80 62 75 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 69 buy something wi
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13aa0 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 can sell it. Ri
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13ad0 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74 6f 20 61 20 62 75 79 message to a buy
13ae0 65 72 20 74 6f 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e er tonight, then
13af0 20 62 75 79 20 74 68 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 buy the item wh
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13b60 70 6c 65 64 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 pledged to the e
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13b80 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 ."Yeah, got it,"
13b90 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 she said. "I h
13ba0 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 ope this all wor
13bb0 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 ks out.".."It sh
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13bf0 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 looking at the e
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13c50 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f .When she got ho
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13ca0 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 and checked her
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13cc0 20 20 45 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73 Everything was
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13cf0 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c far as she coul
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13d20 6f 77 2c 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 68 ow, she donned h
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13d40 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f and started loo
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13dd0 20 6f 66 20 68 61 6c 66 20 61 20 64 6f 7a 65 6e of half a dozen
13de0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 73 20 73 of the worlds s
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13e40 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 20 69 6d .She found an im
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13e80 20 6c 61 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 last time she c
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13f60 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 Marrakesh would
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13fe0 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2e back in dollars.
13ff0 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 6d 65 She checked me
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14050 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 6d 75 6c 74 69 70 6c to buy a multipl
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14070 20 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 trader like the
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140a0 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 left..."Should I
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140c0 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 " she asked the
140d0 61 69 72 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 air...The priori
140e0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 2e 20 tizer answered.
140f0 20 22 54 68 69 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b "This looks lik
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14120 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 have found.".."
14130 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
14140 20 20 22 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 "Fine." She d
14150 69 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 72 65 73 65 id a little rese
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141a0 70 6c 61 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 planned to buy a
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14260 20 20 44 6f 75 62 6c 65 2d 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e Double-checkin
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14280 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e e of that was in
14290 63 6c 75 64 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 cluded in the fr
142a0 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 65 6e 74 20 ames. She sent
142b0 61 20 72 65 70 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 a reply to the c
142c0 6c 61 73 73 69 66 69 65 64 20 61 64 2c 20 74 68 lassified ad, th
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142e0 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6e bed. She had n
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14300 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20 73 she was done, s
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14320 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 6d 6f 72 6e 69 ..The next morni
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14340 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 62 for a response b
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143b0 65 74 20 69 6e 20 53 61 6e 20 42 65 72 6e 61 72 et in San Bernar
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143e0 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 74 72 65 65 74 20 6d 61 70 20 on a street map
143f0 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 and noticed it w
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14430 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6f 75 74 68 20 6f 66 20 49 2d just south of I-
14440 31 30 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 73 65 65 10, where it see
14450 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 63 75 73 74 6f 6d med to be custom
14460 61 72 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 ary for people t
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14480 74 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 66 69 72 65 20 77 tments on fire w
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144a0 75 74 2e 0a 0a 47 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 ut...Good enough
144b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 68 61 . She liked tha
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144d0 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 he would show u
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14510 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 mething to conce
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14610 72 2e 0a 0a 52 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 r...Rather than
14620 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 75 reply, she set u
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146b0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 2d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e for an in-person
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146e0 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 20 20 for the trade.
146f0 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 One of the times
14700 20 77 61 73 20 68 6f 75 72 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 was hours befor
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14740 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 61 74 One of the locat
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14770 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 6e 69 67 68 74 20 from the night
14780 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 before, and she
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147c0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 6b 65 74 63 68 79 20 63 61 other sketchy ca
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147e0 6f 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 6f 73 65 20 61 20 6c 6f o she chose a lo
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14840 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 here, only about
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14940 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 77 6f 75 back, which wou
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14970 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 to provide the
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149a0 20 72 6f 61 64 20 69 66 20 68 65 20 6c 6f 73 74 road if he lost
149b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 . She never not
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149e0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 like this might
149f0 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 0a be the answer..
14a00 0a 4f 70 65 6e 20 4d 61 72 72 61 6b 65 73 68 20 .Open Marrakesh
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14a80 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 the funds to th
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14aa0 65 73 65 72 76 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 75 72 63 eserved the purc
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14ac0 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 getting ready t
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14af0 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 65 ecided she had e
14b00 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 nough time to sa
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14b60 73 20 73 68 65 20 6c 65 61 72 6e 65 64 20 74 68 s she learned th
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14bc0 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 69 6e 75 A few more minu
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14c00 74 79 20 6f 77 6e 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e ty owner could n
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14cf0 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 .That was not th
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14ec0 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 The other was a
14ed0 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c black late model
14ee0 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 65 72 Audi with a per
14ef0 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 son in the front
14f00 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 seat. The wind
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14f80 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 70 72 at...As she appr
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14fa0 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 , she saw that a
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15020 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2e nd black gloves.
15030 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 63 Some kind of c
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150b0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 53 68 other side. Sh
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150f0 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 parts trade...T
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15120 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 2c lley approached,
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15160 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 63 6b he lack of freck
15170 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 les might mean s
15180 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e 61 74 he was not a nat
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151a0 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 t it also might
151b0 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f just mean she go
151c0 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a t them removed..
151d0 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 .The woman asked
151e0 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e "Are you lookin
151f0 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a g for someone?".
15200 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 .Alley stopped,
15210 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72 73 20 a couple meters
15220 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 away. "Yeah, I
15230 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 68 guess so. Is th
15240 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e at the, uh . . .
15250 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 " she trailed of
15260 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 64 20 f, and gestured
15270 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e at the drawstrin
15280 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74 65 64 g bag..."Printed
15290 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 frames?" the re
152a0 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c dhead asked...Al
152b0 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 ley nodded...The
152c0 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 redhead pulled
152d0 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e her mask down an
152e0 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 d exposed brilli
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15300 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 with a broad smi
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15320 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 found what you w
15330 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e ant. I'm Carmen
15340 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e ." She stood an
15350 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c d offered one gl
15360 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 oved hand...Alle
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15380 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 uick handshake.
15390 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 "Mallory," she
153a0 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 offered, on impu
153b0 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 lse..."Let me gu
153c0 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 ess: I'm not wha
153d0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 t you expected."
153e0 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 .."I wasn't sure
153f0 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c what to expect,
15400 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 " Alley admitted
15410 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 , "but yeah, I g
15420 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 uess you surpris
15430 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a ed me anyway."..
15440 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 Carmen -- possib
15450 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 6d 2c 20 ly a pseudonym,
15460 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d Alley realized -
15470 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 - smiled again.
15480 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 "That part of t
15490 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 his job never ge
154a0 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c ts old. Anyway,
154b0 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c I want to upsel
154c0 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 l you. How's th
154d0 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 at sound?".."Ups
154e0 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 ell?" Alley hes
154f0 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 itated, then nod
15500 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 ded. "Sure, I g
15510 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 uess.".."Cool.
15520 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e So, we have prin
15530 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 ted concealment
15540 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f holsters, snap o
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15560 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 s, and brass cat
15570 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 chers for models
15580 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 compatible with
15590 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 these frames.
155a0 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f We have stuff fo
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155c0 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b too, so let me k
155d0 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c now what you'd l
155e0 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ike to see.".."W
155f0 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 ow. Full-servic
15600 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 e, I guess.".."T
15610 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e otally!" Carmen
15620 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 tugged her shir
15630 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c t down slightly,
15640 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 making it a lit
15650 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 tle more obvious
15660 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 she wasn't wear
15670 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 ing a bra..."I t
15680 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 hink I'll just s
15690 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 tick with the or
156a0 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f der I placed, fo
156b0 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 r now. I'll kee
156c0 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 p you in mind if
156d0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e I need somethin
156e0 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 g else, though."
156f0 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..Carmen shrugge
15700 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 d, and the way s
15710 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 he slightly rais
15720 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 ed her arms as s
15730 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 he did it made t
15740 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e he shirt tighten
15750 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b across her perk
15760 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 y breasts. "Oka
15770 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 y!"..Alley took
15780 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 in the display a
15790 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 nd slightly over
157a0 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e the top cheerin
157b0 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 ess. "Does that
157c0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 . . . oh, never
157d0 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 mind. I guess
157e0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 I should just se
157f0 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f e the frames, no
15800 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 w."..Carmen narr
15810 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 owed her eyes, a
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15830 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 ite suspiciously
15840 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and tilted her
15850 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 head. "No, wai
15860 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f t. What were yo
15870 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 u going to ask?"
15880 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c .."Nothing," All
15890 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 ey said. "I hav
158a0 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 en't been very s
158b0 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 ociable lately,
158c0 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 and forget my ma
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158e0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f ".."Ooh, inappro
158f0 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 priate questions
15900 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 . Those are my
15910 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 favorite kind.
15920 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c You should total
15930 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ly ask!"..Alley
15940 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 signed. "I was
15950 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 just wondering i
15960 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c f you're natural
15970 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 ly this, uh, fri
15980 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 endly, or if you
15990 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 're like this be
159a0 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f cause it gets yo
159b0 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c u a lot of upsel
159c0 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 ls." Carmen lau
159d0 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ghed, and Alley
159e0 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 found it infecti
159f0 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 ous. She caught
15a00 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 herself snicker
15a10 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 ing, too..."Why
15a20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d do I think you m
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15a40 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 rty' instead of
15a50 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 'friendly'?"..Al
15a60 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 ley shrugged. S
15a70 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f he tried, with o
15a80 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 nly moderate suc
15a90 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 cess, to suppres
15aa0 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 s her smile..."W
15ab0 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f as it that obvio
15ac0 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 us?"..Alley said
15ad0 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 "Yeah, I guess
15ae0 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 so. Sorry.".."I
15af0 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 guess it's a bi
15b00 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e t of everything.
15b10 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 I'm usually pr
15b20 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 etty cheery, but
15b30 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 Cliff -- he's t
15b40 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 he guy I work wi
15b50 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 th -- Cliff and
15b60 49 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 I decided to try
15b70 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 this out. With
15b80 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 the kind of amb
15b90 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 itious young cry
15ba0 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 ptotrader guys w
15bb0 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 e usually get, t
15bc0 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 he upsells and r
15bd0 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 epeat business w
15be0 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 e get goes way u
15bf0 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 p when I'm doing
15c00 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e the trades. In
15c10 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f two years, we o
15c20 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 nly had one guy
15c30 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 who decided me b
15c40 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 eing a pretty gi
15c50 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 rl made me an ea
15c60 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 sy target, too,
15c70 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 so it's pretty s
15c80 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f afe."..Alley fro
15c90 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 wned. "Yeah," s
15ca0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 he said. "I gue
15cb0 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 ss that's a dang
15cc0 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e er. What happen
15cd0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c ed?".."Oh, shit,
15ce0 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 " Carmen said.
15cf0 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 "You must be new
15d00 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c at this. Well,
15d10 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 I pulled out my
15d20 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 baton and Cliff
15d30 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f put a red dot o
15d40 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 n the guy's ches
15d50 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 t with the laser
15d60 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 sight on his ri
15d70 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 fle. The guy ba
15d80 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 cked down in a h
15d90 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 urry. Are you c
15da0 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 arrying protecti
15db0 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 on?"..Alley star
15dc0 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 ted opening her
15dd0 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 mouth to reply,
15de0 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 but Carmen cut i
15df0 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 n again..."No, d
15e00 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 on't tell me wha
15e10 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e t you're carryin
15e20 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 g. You shouldn'
15e30 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 t get in the hab
15e40 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 it of telling pe
15e50 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ople stuff like
15e60 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 that. Get yours
15e70 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 elf three things
15e80 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 , if you don't a
15e90 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e lready have 'em.
15ea0 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 You need peppe
15eb0 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e r spray or a son
15ec0 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 ic repellant, a
15ed0 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e collapsing baton
15ee0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f , and backup who
15ef0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 knows what he's
15f00 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 doing, like Cli
15f10 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b ff.".."Uh, thank
15f20 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 s," Alley said.
15f30 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 "Aren't those c
15f40 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 ollapsing batons
15f50 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 illegal?".."Yea
15f60 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 h, California su
15f70 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 cks that way. G
15f80 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f irls aren't allo
15f90 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 wed to protect t
15fa0 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b hemselves, you k
15fb0 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 now." She pulle
15fc0 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 d something abou
15fd0 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 t the size of a
15fe0 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 whiteboard marke
15ff0 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 r out of her bac
16000 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 k pocket. "See
16010 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 this? This is a
16020 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 good baton."..A
16030 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 lley looked at t
16040 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 he black anodize
16050 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e d aluminum cylin
16060 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 der when Carmen
16070 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 held it up. It
16080 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 had some kind of
16090 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 logo on it and
160a0 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 a couple of depr
160b0 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 essed ovals on t
160c0 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 he side..."Push
160d0 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 these two spots
160e0 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 to pop it out.
160f0 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 Just push the se
16100 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 cond one, here,
16110 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 and push the bus
16120 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 iness end agains
16130 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 t something hard
16140 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 to collapse the
16150 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f baton back into
16160 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 the handle. Ye
16170 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 ah?"..Alley nodd
16180 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 ed. "I guess th
16190 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 at's a good desi
161a0 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 gn, then.".."Tot
161b0 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 ally. With the
161c0 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e two release poin
161d0 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c ts, you're not l
161e0 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e ikely to acciden
161f0 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 tally pop it out
16200 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 when you don't
16210 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 want to, and thi
16220 73 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 s type is more s
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16240 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 to retract than
16250 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 the things where
16260 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 you just snap y
16270 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 our hand out to
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16290 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 ay, you need one
162a0 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 of these, and i
162b0 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 t's easy to toss
162c0 20 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 it somewhere be
162d0 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f fore cops get to
162e0 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 you if you're a
162f0 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 fraid of getting
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16310 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c oncealed weapon,
16320 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 or if you cut a
16330 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 little hole in
16340 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f the inside of yo
16350 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 ur pocket when y
16360 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 ou're wearing pa
16370 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 nts you can drop
16380 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 it down your pa
16390 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 nt leg, and mayb
163a0 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 e step on it to
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163d0 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e n, or something.
163e0 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 There are a bu
163f0 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 nch of ways to g
16400 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e et away with it.
16410 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 .."Here." She h
16420 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c eld it out to Al
16430 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ley, who started
16440 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 to reach for it
16450 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 . "Don't try op
16460 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 ening it here, b
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16480 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 it at home. Th
16490 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 at way you don't
164a0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 have to worry a
164b0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 bout getting cau
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164d0 20 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 Unlike our pist
164e0 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 ol frames, walki
164f0 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 ng home with one
16500 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 of these in you
16510 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 r pocket is ille
16520 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d gal, and a cop m
16530 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 ight just try se
16540 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 lling one to you
16550 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 to get an excus
16560 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e e to harass you.
16570 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 "..Alley froze w
16580 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c ith her hand hal
16590 66 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f fway to the bato
165a0 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 n handle. "Are
165b0 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 you giving this
165c0 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 to me?" she aske
165d0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 d..."Yeah. Uh,
165e0 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 just a sec'," Ca
165f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 rmen said. She
16600 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 lowered her hand
16610 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 with the baton
16620 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 in it and looked
16630 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 toward the Audi
16640 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 . "Yes, Cliff,
16650 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 I'm giving her t
16660 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e he fucking baton
16670 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 . I'll just buy
16680 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 another one! C
16690 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 hill the fuck ou
166a0 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 t."..Alley lower
166b0 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 ed her hand and
166c0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 turned her head
166d0 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 to look at the p
166e0 61 72 6b 65 64 20 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 arked sedan...Ca
166f0 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c rmen grabbed All
16700 65 79 27 73 20 77 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 ey's wrist and p
16710 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 ressed the colla
16720 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f psing baton into
16730 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e her hand. "Don
16740 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 't look at it.
16750 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 Just put it in y
16760 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e our pocket. Don
16770 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 't make Cliff ne
16780 72 76 6f 75 73 20 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e rvous by standin
16790 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65 g here with a we
167a0 61 70 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e apon in your han
167b0 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 d, even if it's
167c0 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 one I gave you."
167d0 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c .."Uh, yeah," Al
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167f0 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 cked it into her
16800 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 back pocket. "
16810 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 Thanks." She sh
16820 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 owed her empty h
16830 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 ands to Carmen,
16840 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e where the person
16850 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 in the Audi cou
16860 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 77 ld see them as w
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16880 61 73 20 68 61 72 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b as harmless look
16890 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ing as she could
168a0 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c manage..."Yeah,
168b0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 well, us girls
168c0 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 gotta stick toge
168d0 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a ther. Right?"..
168e0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Alley nodded..."
168f0 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e Good. Let's fin
16900 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 ish the deal. T
16910 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 hen, get in touc
16920 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 h some time if y
16930 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 ou think you mig
16940 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 ht want to do th
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16960 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 too. We're get
16970 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 ting a lot of bu
16980 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c siness, and coul
16990 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 d use the help.
169a0 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 You're probably
169b0 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 pretty enough t
169c0 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c o get the upsell
169d0 73 2c 20 65 61 73 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 s, easy, though
169e0 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 I don't know how
169f0 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 you look behind
16a00 20 74 68 65 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 the mask.".."I'
16a10 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 ll keep that in
16a20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 mind."..Carmen g
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16a40 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 tring bag. "Her
16a50 65 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 e's what you're
16a60 62 75 79 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 buying."..---..A
16a70 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f t home, Alley fo
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16aa0 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 gloves, and wore
16ab0 20 61 20 70 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 a pair when she
16ac0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6c 6f looked more clo
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16ae0 67 75 6e 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 gun frames she b
16af0 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f ought. After go
16b00 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f ing over them fo
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16b20 20 73 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 she put them ba
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16b60 74 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 6e 65 tending baton ne
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16bc0 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f nything...She lo
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16be0 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 75 decided she wou
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16c50 20 62 75 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 76 69 6e but never havin
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16c70 66 6f 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c fore she careful
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16ce0 20 6d 75 63 68 20 68 61 72 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 much harm. She
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16d10 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 ally toward the
16d20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 6c 65 66 floor to her lef
16d30 74 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 68 61 t, using both ha
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16d60 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e and the other en
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16d80 20 74 68 65 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 the ceiling to
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16db0 68 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 h contact points
16dc0 2c 20 61 73 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 20 , as Carmen had
16dd0 69 6e 73 74 72 75 63 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 2e 20 instructed her.
16de0 20 41 20 64 75 6c 6c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 A dull snap sou
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16e00 76 69 63 65 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 vice nearly jump
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16e40 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 n instant from s
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16e60 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 e of a whiteboar
16e70 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 20 73 74 d marker to a st
16e80 69 66 66 20 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 iff metal baton
16e90 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 72 64 73 about two thirds
16ea0 20 6f 66 20 61 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 of a meter long
16eb0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 . She held it u
16ec0 70 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 p and looked at
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18450 20 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 way we set this
18460 20 75 70 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 up. Yeah?".."Y
18470 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 eah," she echoed
18480 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 66 ..."If I can't f
18490 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 ind you that way
184a0 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 , I'll track you
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184c0 74 61 6c 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 talk."..After a
184d0 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few seconds, she
184e0 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 remembered to b
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18600 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
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18630 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 dded...She backe
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187a0 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d What the fuck am
187b0 20 49 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e I actually doin
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187d0 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 rself...---..Sit
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18820 6b 69 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 kinds of deals I
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188b0 70 6f 6f 72 20 73 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 poor safety outc
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188d0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 for these trans
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18900 68 69 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 high for poor ou
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189c0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 ks.".."You are w
189d0 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 elcome.".."What'
189e0 73 20 6e 65 78 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a s next, then?"..
189f0 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 The prioritizer
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18a50 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 6d 61 79 20 74 61 6b 65 . This may take
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18a70 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 ..Alley looked a
18a80 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f t the envelope o
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18ab0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 s and counted th
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18b20 57 68 61 74 3f 20 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 What? Why?".."W
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18b40 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c , /* it looked l
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18b60 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 70 70 65 one of them appe
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18b90 20 55 6e 69 74 65 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 United States f
18ba0 65 64 65 72 61 6c 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e ederal reserve n
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18bc0 70 70 65 61 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 65 ppeared to be ve
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18be0 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e some of these n
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18c00 72 66 65 69 74 2e 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 rfeit. Please c
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18c20 20 49 20 77 61 74 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 I watch."..Alle
18c30 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 y frowned at the
18c40 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 stack, and star
18c50 74 65 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 ted counting aga
18c60 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 in. Toward the
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18c90 20 66 65 77 20 6e 65 77 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 few new-looking
18ca0 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 bills in the st
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18ce0 54 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 That is the note
18cf0 20 77 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 whose thickness
18d00 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 appears to be i
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18d20 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 y pulled it out
18d30 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 of the stack and
18d40 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 looked closer.
18d50 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 It felt stiffer
18d60 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 than most bills
18d70 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 , but that could
18d80 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 just be due to
18d90 69 74 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 it being new. S
18da0 68 65 20 72 75 62 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 he rubbed it to
18db0 67 65 74 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 get a feel for i
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18dd0 69 74 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 it separated int
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18df0 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 h, shit," she sa
18e00 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 id. "That scary
18e10 20 77 61 72 20 76 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 war veteran guy
18e20 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 accidentally ga
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18e40 75 6e 64 72 65 64 2e 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 undred. Fuck.
18e50 57 68 61 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 What if it wasn'
18e60 74 20 61 6e 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 t an accident?
18e70 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 Maybe it's a tes
18e80 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 t.".."That seems
18e90 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b extremely unlik
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18eb0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 tizer said..."Ye
18ec0 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 ah." She sighed
18ed0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 . "I guess you'
18ee0 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c re right, actual
18ef0 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 ly.".."I have a
18f00 70 6c 61 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 plan of action t
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18f20 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 morrow."..Alley
18f30 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 started to nod,
18f40 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 then looked at t
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18f60 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 in her hand. "
18f70 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 Wait. I should
18f80 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 give this bill b
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18fa0 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 ".."For a high p
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18fc0 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 to high severit
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18fe0 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 not a good choi
18ff0 63 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 ce. You should
19000 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 avoid meeting wi
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19020 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 high potential
19030 66 6f 72 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a for violence."..
19040 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 Alley laughed qu
19050 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 ietly. "Yeah,"
19060 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 she said, "you'r
19070 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 e right. I got
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190d0 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e lucky break, an
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19110 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 I might not be i
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19130 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e I meet him again
19140 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 to give back hi
19150 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 s misplaced mone
19160 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 y?.."It doesn't
19170 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 feel right, just
19180 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e keeping his mon
19190 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 ey, though.".."W
191a0 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 hy do you feel t
191b0 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 hat way?" the pr
191c0 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ioritizer asked.
191d0 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 .."It's dishones
191e0 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 t," she said..."
191f0 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 You did not lie
19200 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e to him.".."True.
19210 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c ".."Did you real
19220 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 ize there might
19230 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 be more money th
19240 61 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 an he intended t
19250 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 o give you when
19260 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 you counted the
19270 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 69 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e first time?".."N
19280 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 o.".."How is tha
19290 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 t dishonest?"..A
192a0 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 lley's lips tigh
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1e320 20 22 41 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2c "Ah . . . yeah,
1e330 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 74 68 69 I guess I'm thi
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1e490 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 72 61 79 2c 20 74 silicone tray, t
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1e550 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 6c 66 2d 74 61 75 67 68 74 2e ..."Self-taught.
1e560 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 "..Alley started
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1e5e0 6f 66 20 43 6f 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c of Coke. "Here,
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1e730 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 77 69 67 67 65 64 20 66 72 "..He swigged fr
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1e780 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 6e e opened her can
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1e850 20 63 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 74 61 70 65 20 6f 6e cut the tape on
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1e8a0 48 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 76 69 6e He stopped movin
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1e970 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 48 61 68 21 20 20 4f get it. Hah! O
1e980 6c 27 20 44 61 76 65 20 6d 75 73 74 27 76 65 20 l' Dave must've
1e990 6d 61 64 65 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6d made quite an im
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1e9b0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 "..Alley looked
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1e9f0 20 73 63 61 72 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4c scared now..."L
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1ea10 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 20 70 looks like he p
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1ea70 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 27 73 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 and he's about
1ea80 61 73 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 as gentle as a d
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1eab0 74 73 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6d 61 63 ts I had him mac
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1ead0 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he looked at the
1eae0 20 62 6f 78 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 box and shifted
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1eb10 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 h, right," he sa
1eb20 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 id. "No, they a
1eb30 72 65 6e 27 74 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c ren't gun parts,
1eb40 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 either. They'r
1eb50 65 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 63 75 e parts for a cu
1eb60 73 74 6f 6d 20 70 72 6f 73 74 68 65 74 69 63 20 stom prosthetic
1eb70 61 72 6d 20 49 27 6d 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e 67 arm I'm building
1eb80 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 67 69 for a little gi
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1ec00 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e Really?".."Yeah.
1ec10 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 One of the guy
1ec20 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 s getting the gu
1ec30 6e 73 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 ns I put togethe
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1ec70 64 61 75 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 6e 69 6e 65 20 79 daughter, nine y
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1ece0 20 5b 20 53 4f 4d 45 54 48 49 4e 47 20 5d 20 73 [ SOMETHING ] s
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1ed00 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 6f 75 74 67 72 6f 77 69 6e She's outgrowin
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1ed20 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 for her a year
1ed30 61 67 6f 2c 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 22 0a 0a ago, already."..
1ed40 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 "Oh. Right. Th
1ed50 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 ere's something
1ed60 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 6e 73 2e 22 about the guns."
1ed70 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 ..He looked at h
1ed80 65 72 2c 20 73 69 64 65 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 22 er, sidelong. "
1ed90 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 3f What about them?
1eda0 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 55 68 " he asked..."Uh
1edb0 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 68 6f , after I got ho
1edc0 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 79 me, I realized y
1edd0 6f 75 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d ou gave me too m
1ede0 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 uch money.".."Wh
1edf0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 20 at do you mean?
1ee00 20 49 20 70 61 69 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 77 65 20 I paid what we
1ee10 61 67 72 65 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 agreed, and the
1ee20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 frames were all
1ee30 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f good."..She shoo
1ee40 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 k her head. "Th
1ee50 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 77 6f 20 62 72 61 ere were two bra
1ee60 6e 64 20 6e 65 77 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 73 20 nd new hundreds
1ee70 73 74 75 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 stuck together.
1ee80 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 I got an extra
1ee90 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 20 hundred dollars
1eea0 62 79 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 by accident."..H
1eeb0 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e e stared at her.
1eec0 0a 0a 22 49 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 .."I, uh, don't
1eed0 68 61 76 65 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2c have it with me,
1eee0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 " she said. "Ma
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1ef00 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 77 69 74 ack tomorrow wit
1ef10 68 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6c h it."..George l
1ef20 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 aughed. It was
1ef30 61 20 77 61 72 6d 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 a warm, surprise
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1ef80 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 herself..."No,
1ef90 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 don't do that,"
1efa0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 20 68 69 6e 74 20 he said, a hint
1efb0 6f 66 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c of chuckle still
1efc0 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 in his voice.
1efd0 22 59 27 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 3f 20 20 49 "Y'know what? I
1efe0 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 like you, Alley
1eff0 2e 20 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 . I even like t
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1f010 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 describes where
1f020 20 77 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6d 65 74 2e 22 0a we first met.".
1f030 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley smiled.
1f040 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 61 "Thanks. What a
1f050 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 bout your hundre
1f060 64 20 64 6f 6c 6c 61 72 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 d dollars, thoug
1f070 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4b 65 65 70 20 69 74 2e 20 20 h?".."Keep it.
1f080 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 20 77 69 74 I'll survive wit
1f090 68 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 hout it, and I d
1f0a0 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 64 on't think you'd
1f0b0 20 64 72 69 76 65 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 drive all the w
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1f0d0 6f 20 48 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 42 65 61 63 68 20 o Hunting Beach
1f0e0 61 74 20 67 69 67 20 63 6f 75 72 69 65 72 20 72 at gig courier r
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1f120 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 77 69 6e 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He winked at
1f130 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 her. "You're g
1f140 6f 6f 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 ood people, Alle
1f150 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 y.".."Uh . . . t
1f160 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 hank you. Maybe
1f170 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a you are, too.".
1f180 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 ."Yeah, maybe.
1f190 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 I hope so." He
1f1a0 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74 turned back to t
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1f1c0 68 65 64 20 63 75 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 hed cutting the
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1f1e0 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 s, then flipped
1f1f0 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 66 6c 61 70 73 20 6f 66 the top flaps of
1f200 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 48 the box out. H
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1f230 72 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6d 65 74 r bundles of met
1f240 61 6c 20 70 61 72 74 73 2c 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e al parts, leavin
1f250 67 20 70 61 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 70 61 70 65 72 20 g packing paper
1f260 62 65 68 69 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 68 65 20 73 behind...As he s
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1f280 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 6c 69 63 6f 6e 65 20 74 n the silicone t
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1f2a0 6f 76 65 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 over everything
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1f2e0 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 74 75 72 62 20 68 69 ng to disturb hi
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1f320 74 69 63 75 6c 61 72 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 6f 6e ticular spots on
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1f380 20 61 20 70 65 72 66 6f 72 6d 61 6e 63 65 20 73 a performance s
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1f3b0 70 73 79 63 68 6f 6d 65 74 72 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 psychometry...He
1f3c0 20 73 70 6c 69 74 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 split a couple
1f3d0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 6e 64 6c 65 73 20 6f of the bundles o
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1f410 20 20 48 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 He set them as
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1f430 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 73 70 6c 61 79 65 slightly splaye
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1f470 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 74 6f Finally, he sto
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1f4a0 68 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 69 66 74 65 64 20 74 h." He lifted t
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1f4f0 61 76 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 ave, for the sec
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1f510 48 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 He held it out t
1f520 6f 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 o her...She nodd
1f530 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 ed. "Sure.".."A
1f540 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 76 69 6e 67 20 75 70 re you saving up
1f550 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 for something,
1f560 6f 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f or going back to
1f570 20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 school?"..Alley
1f580 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d hesitated a mom
1f590 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 ent. "Why?"..He
1f5a0 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 43 75 72 shrugged. "Cur
1f5b0 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 20 65 78 61 ious.".."Not exa
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1f5d0 67 20 74 6f 20 64 69 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 g to dig myself
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1f5f0 0a 22 44 65 62 74 73 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 ."Debts?"..She s
1f600 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 hook her head.
1f610 22 49 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 73 74 72 61 6e 67 65 "I had a strange
1f620 20 63 61 72 65 65 72 20 70 61 74 68 2c 20 61 6e career path, an
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1f640 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 don't really ha
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1f670 20 6e 65 77 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 new direction,
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1f690 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ing on that.".."
1f6a0 41 68 2e 20 20 52 65 69 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6e 67 Ah. Reinventing
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1f6c0 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 20 73 6f world changes so
1f6d0 20 66 61 73 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 fast it's hard
1f6e0 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c to keep up."..Al
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1f700 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 stopped, and sh
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1f720 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e in. "I don't kn
1f730 6f 77 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 ow," she says.
1f740 22 41 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 "A lot of people
1f750 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f seem to have no
1f760 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 problem. They
1f770 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 74 6f 20 73 63 68 6f 6f just go to schoo
1f780 6c 2c 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f l, get a piece o
1f790 66 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 70 70 6c 79 20 66 f paper, apply f
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1f800 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 t really do that
1f810 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 .".."What do you
1f820 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 61 mean?".."More a
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1f840 72 65 6e 27 74 20 72 65 74 69 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 ren't retiring,
1f850 6f 72 20 67 65 74 20 6c 61 69 64 20 6f 66 66 20 or get laid off
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1f900 62 75 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 but maybe you're
1f910 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 looking in the
1f920 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e wrong direction.
1f930 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 " He leaned for
1f940 77 61 72 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 63 ward on the couc
1f950 68 2c 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 6f h, rested his fo
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1f980 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 his hands like h
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1f9d0 68 65 6c 66 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 helf as he spoke
1f9e0 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 65 again. "It's e
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1fa70 4d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 6c 69 65 20 Most people lie
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1fae0 65 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 27 49 20 6d 75 73 e, thinks 'I mus
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1fb20 6f 75 74 2e 27 20 20 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 61 out.' They're a
1fb30 6c 6c 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 ll up to their e
1fb40 79 65 62 61 6c 6c 73 20 69 6e 20 64 65 62 74 2c yeballs in debt,
1fb50 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b living paycheck
1fb60 20 74 6f 20 70 61 79 63 68 65 63 6b 2e 0a 0a 22 to paycheck..."
1fb70 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 There are a few
1fb80 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 people who have
1fb90 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 73 6f 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 things sorted ou
1fba0 74 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 70 t pretty well, p
1fbb0 72 75 64 65 6e 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 rudent people wh
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1fbd0 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d most of the tim
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1fc10 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 65 72 65 20 6c came, and were l
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1fc40 79 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d y. Many of them
1fc50 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 6c don't even real
1fc60 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 69 6e 73 65 ize they're inse
1fc70 63 75 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 65 cure and confuse
1fc80 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2c 20 d all the time,
1fc90 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 67 6f 74 because they got
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1fcb0 67 20 74 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61 62 6f 75 g to people abou
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1fce0 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 54 themselves..."T
1fcf0 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 here are others
1fd00 77 68 6f 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 20 62 65 who really do be
1fd10 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 lieve they have
1fd20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 69 67 75 72 everything figur
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1fd50 6e 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 n right about th
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1fd70 20 77 61 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 73 68 6f 75 way anyone shou
1fd80 6c 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 66 ld have things f
1fd90 69 67 75 72 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 igured out. The
1fda0 79 20 6c 69 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 61 74 20 y lie and cheat
1fdb0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 61 6c 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 and steal, maybe
1fdc0 20 65 76 65 6e 20 6b 69 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 even kill with
1fdd0 74 68 65 20 73 74 72 6f 6b 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 the stroke of a
1fde0 70 65 6e 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 20 45 6e 74 65 72 20 pen or an Enter
1fdf0 6b 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 key, and make it
1fe00 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 76 65 72 to the top over
1fe10 20 6d 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 64 69 65 mounds of bodie
1fe20 73 2c 20 6d 65 74 61 70 68 6f 72 69 63 61 6c 20 s, metaphorical
1fe30 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d a lot of the tim
1fe40 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 20 62 e, but literal b
1fe50 6f 64 69 65 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e odies sometimes.
1fe60 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 69 73 3a .."My advice is:
1fe70 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 62 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 don't be like a
1fe80 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 ny of them." He
1fe90 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 looked at her a
1fea0 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 gain, caught her
1feb0 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 66 gaze, and she f
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1fed0 79 73 69 63 61 6c 20 66 6f 72 63 65 20 68 6f 6c ysical force hol
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1ff10 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 because there's
1ff20 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 always too much
1ff30 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 to see to have
1ff40 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 20 61 time to see it a
1ff50 6c 6c 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 ll. Don't just
1ff60 63 6c 6f 73 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c close your eyes,
1ff70 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 4b 65 65 70 20 74 though. Keep t
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1ff90 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e ize what you fin
1ffa0 64 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 d as a path that
1ffb0 20 66 65 65 6c 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 59 feels right. Y
1ffc0 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 ou don't have ti
1ffd0 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e me for everythin
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1fff0 69 74 65 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 itely have time
20000 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 for something, a
20010 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 70 nd you should sp
20020 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 6f 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 end it on someth
20030 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 6f 64 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 ing good."..He s
20040 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 72 at back again, r
20050 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 esting his open
20060 68 61 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 hands on the top
20070 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 67 68 73 2e s of his thighs.
20080 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 6d 65 2c 20 67 .."Look at me, g
20090 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 6c 6c 20 70 68 69 6c 6f etting all philo
200a0 73 6f 70 68 69 63 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f sophical with yo
200b0 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 27 6d 20 u. If what I'm
200c0 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 6d saying doesn't m
200d0 61 6b 65 20 61 6e 79 20 73 65 6e 73 65 2c 20 6a ake any sense, j
200e0 75 73 74 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 65 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 ust ignore me.
200f0 49 27 6d 20 61 6e 20 6f 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 I'm an old man,
20100 61 6e 64 20 49 27 76 65 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 20 and I've seen a
20110 6c 6f 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 lot, but I don't
20120 20 65 76 65 6e 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 even understand
20130 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 most of what I
20140 73 61 77 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 49 20 66 saw myself. I f
20150 65 65 6c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 49 20 75 6e 64 65 72 eel like I under
20160 73 74 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 73 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 stand less, the
20170 6d 6f 72 65 20 49 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 more I see."..Sh
20180 65 20 71 75 69 72 6b 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 63 6f e quirked one co
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201a0 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 67 69 76 65 20 62 65 74 . "You give bet
201b0 74 65 72 20 61 64 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 ter advice than
201c0 4f 62 69 20 57 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 Obi Wan."..Georg
201d0 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 e chuckled. "I
201e0 68 6f 70 65 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 6a hope so. He's j
201f0 75 73 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 74 ust some charact
20200 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 70 61 70 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 er on paper, and
20210 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 61 63 74 6f 72 2e 20 20 a good actor.
20220 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 Anyway, I don't
20230 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 2c really know you,
20240 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c so I don't real
20250 6c 79 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 66 20 49 20 65 76 65 ly know if I eve
20260 6e 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 69 64 65 61 20 n have any idea
20270 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e what you're goin
20280 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 72 20 77 68 61 g through or wha
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202b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 20 6d have to humor m
202c0 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 74 e.".."Maybe I st
202d0 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 arted out thinki
202e0 6e 67 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 75 6d 6f ng I should humo
202f0 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 77 20 49 r you, but now I
20300 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 just want to ta
20310 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d lk to you some m
20320 6f 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 ore." She looke
20330 64 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 69 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 d at a ticking c
20340 6c 6f 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 64 20 74 lock on an end t
20350 61 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f able. "Maybe no
20360 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 t now, though.
20370 49 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6c 61 74 It's getting lat
20380 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 e.".."Yeah," he
20390 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 67 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f said, "go drop o
203a0 66 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 ff that envelope
203b0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 67 65 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 , then get home
203c0 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 65 65 70 2e 20 20 4e 65 76 65 and sleep. Neve
203d0 72 20 75 6e 64 65 72 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 65 20 r underestimate
203e0 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 63 65 20 6f the importance o
203f0 66 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 27 73 f a good night's
20400 20 72 65 73 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f rest. That's o
20410 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 69 ne piece of advi
20420 63 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f ce I know is goo
20430 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a d, for anyone.".
20440 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e ."Thanks."..He n
20450 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 72 6f 73 65 odded, then rose
20460 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 and headed for
20470 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 48 65 20 75 6e the door. He un
20480 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 locked it as she
20490 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 approached and
204a0 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c opened the door,
204b0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 then stepped ou
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204d0 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 72 er and looked ar
204e0 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 ound. He turned
204f0 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 66 to her as she f
20500 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 75 74 2e ollowed him out.
20510 20 20 22 42 65 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 6f 75 "Be careful ou
20520 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 77 6f t there. The wo
20530 72 6c 64 27 73 20 61 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 rld's a surprisi
20540 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 ng place.".."Yea
20550 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e h.".."If you wan
20560 74 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 t to try your ha
20570 6e 64 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 nd at something
20580 77 61 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 27 way outside of '
20590 6e 6f 72 6d 61 6c 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6e 65 77 normal' as a new
205a0 20 70 61 74 68 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 66 65 2c 20 6c path in life, l
205b0 6f 6f 6b 20 6d 65 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 ook me up. I mi
205c0 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 69 ght have a few i
205d0 64 65 61 73 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 deas. Otherwise
205e0 2c 20 49 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 , I wish you the
205f0 20 62 65 73 74 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 best at whateve
20600 72 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 r you find.".."T
20610 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 hanks," she said
20620 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 73 68 again. "How sh
20630 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f ould I get in to
20640 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 63 6f 66 66 65 uch?"..He scoffe
20650 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 d at himself. "
20660 52 69 67 68 74 20 2d 2d 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 Right -- forgot
20670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 2e about that part.
20680 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 " He pulled out
20690 20 68 69 73 20 77 61 6c 6c 65 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 his wallet, and
206a0 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 61 20 62 slipped out a b
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206c0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 63 72 69 73 70 20 61 6e longer crisp an
206d0 64 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 20 79 6f d new. "Here yo
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206f0 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 it, and saw tha
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20730 61 20 73 65 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 6c 65 74 74 a series of lett
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20750 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 6d 79 20 70 75 62 .."That's my pub
20760 6c 69 63 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 6b lic encryption k
20770 65 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ey," he said. "
20780 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 6e 63 If you don't enc
20790 72 79 70 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 rypt the message
207a0 2c 20 69 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 , it goes straig
207b0 68 74 20 74 6f 20 73 70 61 6d 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 ht to spam. Do
207c0 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 you know how to
207d0 75 73 65 20 65 6e 63 72 79 70 74 65 64 20 65 6d use encrypted em
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207f0 0a 22 49 20 75 73 65 20 70 75 62 6b 65 79 20 65 ."I use pubkey e
20800 6e 63 72 79 70 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6c ncryption for cl
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20820 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f " she said..."Go
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20840 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 77 61 79 20 61 68 65 already way ahe
20850 61 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 63 6b 2e 20 ad of the pack.
20860 20 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c 20 6e 6f 77 Good night, now
20870 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 6e 69 67 68 74 2c .".."Good night,
20880 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 " she said with
20890 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 a smile, and hea
208a0 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 2e 0a ded to her car..
208b0 0a 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 .She glanced bac
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208d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 6d 20 6b 65 , and saw him ke
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208f0 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 69 6e only stepped in
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20950 6d 65 72 67 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 merged onto the
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209c0 20 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 clients she had
209d0 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 74 68 . Maybe, she th
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20a50 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 72 of that really r
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20a70 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 ...She worried a
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20a90 74 68 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d then found her m
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20ac0 74 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a the thought.../*
20ad0 0a 0a 53 55 4d 4d 41 52 59 3a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 ..SUMMARY:..Alle
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20af0 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 discussing plans
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20b40 64 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 day and have to
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20b60 72 69 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 70 rival of scary p
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20c20 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 get a bit of a
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20c60 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d interface or som
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22290 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 64 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 57 68 to my door. Wh
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222e0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 62 "I'll be right b
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223b0 20 41 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 74 69 66 A message notif
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224c0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 looked at the d
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224e0 64 20 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 65 6e 3f 22 20 20 d ". . . men?"
224f0 53 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 She wondered if
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22570 2f 2a 20 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 /* Without the s
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22630 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 20 69 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 choice in how y
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22660 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 , no kidding."
22670 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
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22750 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Here," she sa
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22970 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f Thank you for yo
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22990 22 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 73 61 69 64 " the woman said
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229b0 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 . She handed th
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22b70 22 57 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 70 "Who are those p
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22b90 0a 22 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 ."I do not have
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246c0 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ."That does not
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25350 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 thing more quic
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253f0 20 76 61 6c 75 65 20 69 74 65 6d 20 62 65 63 61 value item beca
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25430 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 6e 20 This is also an
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25640 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 54 77 6f 20 68 6f 75 , too."..Two hou
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25d00 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 2c 20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f people, they co
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26fb0 20 67 6f 6f 64 62 79 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 6f goodbye, and go
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27250 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f " She looked do
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274e0 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6e ."You mean I can
274f0 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74 68 69 6e 6b make them think
27500 20 49 27 6d 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77 68 61 I'm exactly wha
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27580 20 6f 66 20 61 20 70 61 77 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 of a pawn.".."Y
27590 65 73 2c 20 63 68 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 es, chess is a g
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27640 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 l. "I guess you
27650 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 68 61 76 65 don't even have
27660 20 61 6e 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 any good ideas
27670 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 about how to esc
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276a0 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 20 74 to that point, t
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276d0 73 75 67 67 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 74 suggestion for t
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27750 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f onfident that co
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27790 6c 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 les.".."This is
277a0 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6e 6f 2e 20 20 4e 6f 2c 20 74 . . . no. No, t
277b0 68 69 73 20 64 61 79 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 his day can't be
277c0 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 happening.".."I
277d0 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 f you want to ma
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2ad40 20 61 20 6a 6f 75 72 6e 61 6c 69 73 74 20 67 65 a journalist ge
2ad50 74 73 20 6f 62 73 65 73 73 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 ts obsessed with
2ad60 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6d 75 6e 64 61 6e 65 20 62 75 some mundane bu
2ad70 74 20 6f 62 73 63 75 72 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 t obscure subjec
2ad80 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 79 65 61 72 20 6f 72 20 t for a year or
2ad90 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 74 65 73 20 61 two and writes a
2ada0 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 long book about
2adb0 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 73 all the weird s
2adc0 74 75 66 66 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 tuff most people
2add0 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6b 6e 6f would never kno
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2adf0 65 63 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 2e 22 0a ect otherwise.".
2ae00 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 ."Hmm. That's i
2ae10 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 20 67 nteresting. I g
2ae20 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c uess you don't l
2ae30 69 6b 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 6d ike fiction as m
2ae40 75 63 68 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 uch, then.".."I
2ae50 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 66 69 63 like to read fic
2ae60 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e tion, sometimes.
2ae70 20 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 75 I just don't u
2ae80 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 65 20 61 20 6e 6f 76 sually see a nov
2ae90 65 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 61 el and think tha
2aea0 74 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 t I have to read
2aeb0 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f it. When someo
2aec0 6e 65 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d ne I know recomm
2aed0 65 6e 64 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6e 6f 76 65 6c 2c ends some novel,
2aee0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 I'll probably r
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2af00 27 76 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 62 65 65 6e 've already been
2af10 20 62 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 burned by that
2af20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 62 61 64 20 74 61 73 person's bad tas
2af30 74 65 20 69 6e 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 74 75 72 65 te in literature
2af40 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 recommendations
2af50 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 before."..Georg
2af60 65 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 e chuckled at th
2af70 61 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 74 65 at. "I've gotte
2af80 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 65 61 6c 20 73 74 69 6e n some real stin
2af90 6b 65 72 73 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 65 64 kers recommended
2afa0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 to me, before,
2afb0 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 too. I know wha
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2afd0 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 that."..Alley g
2afe0 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77 65 ave him an answe
2aff0 72 69 6e 67 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e ring smile. "An
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2b010 73 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 s tell me you re
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2b030 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 48 iction, too."..H
2b040 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 e glanced at the
2b050 20 74 65 78 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 texts on the sh
2b060 65 6c 76 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f elves of the boo
2b070 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c k cases. "Yeah,
2b080 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6d 20 " he said, "I'm
2b090 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 always reading s
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2b0b0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 to get through
2b0c0 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 65 64 more than two ed
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2b100 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 6f hitting three o
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2b130 74 68 65 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f the years with o
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2b150 2e 20 20 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 76 . I probably av
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2b170 6e 6f 76 65 6c 20 70 65 72 20 77 65 65 2c 20 74 novel per wee, t
2b180 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 oo, so probably
2b190 74 68 65 20 6f 70 70 6f 73 69 74 65 20 6f 66 20 the opposite of
2b1a0 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a how you read."..
2b1b0 22 4e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 "Not quite," she
2b1c0 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 70 72 6f 62 61 said. "I proba
2b1d0 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c bly read a coupl
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2b1f0 20 62 75 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 73 69 78 20 6f 72 but only six or
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2b220 61 6d 65 20 79 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 ame year.".."It
2b230 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 6c 69 6b sounds to me lik
2b240 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 72 e you wish you r
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2b260 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 id..."Yeah, I gu
2b270 65 73 73 20 49 20 64 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 ess I do.".."One
2b280 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 73 20 of the secrets
2b290 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 75 of my reading su
2b2a0 63 63 65 73 73 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 ccess is that I
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2b2d0 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 73 63 72 65 65 a computer scree
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2b300 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 whole lot more t
2b310 68 61 6e 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 han I do, though
2b320 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
2b330 20 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 75 6e "I know. My un
2b340 63 6c 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 cle used to read
2b350 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 75 72 20 6f 72 20 66 about four or f
2b360 69 76 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 ive times as muc
2b370 68 20 61 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 65 78 h as you. My ex
2b380 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 72 65 61 64 73 20 probably reads
2b390 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 about as much as
2b3a0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 you, but he has
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2b3d0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 72 20 65 78 3f too.".."Your ex?
2b3e0 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 76 6f 72 63 Are you divorc
2b3f0 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 6e ed?".."Oh, uh, n
2b400 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 6d 79 20 66 69 o. He was my fi
2b410 61 6e 63 c3 a9 2e 20 20 57 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 anc... We broke
2b420 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 it off a couple
2b430 20 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 years ago.".."T
2b440 68 61 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 2e 20 20 hat's too bad.
2b450 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 Do you want to t
2b460 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 22 0a alk about why?".
2b470 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 .She shifted her
2b480 20 70 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 position in the
2b490 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e chair. "Well .
2b4a0 20 2e 20 2e 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 . . maybe not.
2b4b0 20 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f There's some po
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2b4d0 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 64 6f volved, and I do
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2b4f0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 to get into some
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2b510 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 t over the polit
2b520 69 63 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d ics of it.".."Hm
2b530 6d 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 m. That sounds
2b540 6f 6d 69 6e 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 57 61 73 20 68 65 ominous. Was he
2b550 20 61 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 69 61 6e 3f 22 0a a politician?".
2b560 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 20 53 68 ."No. . . ." Sh
2b570 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 2e 0a 0a e looked away...
2b580 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 "Sorry. I'm jus
2b590 74 20 63 75 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c t curious. I'll
2b5a0 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 drop it.".."Tha
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2b5c0 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 "I guess.".."Wh
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2b5e0 20 73 74 6f 70 20 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 73 6f stop reading so
2b5f0 20 6d 75 63 68 3f 22 0a 0a 22 48 75 68 3f 22 0a much?".."Huh?".
2b600 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 75 73 ."You said he us
2b610 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 64 20 68 75 6e 64 72 ed to read hundr
2b620 65 64 73 20 6f 66 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 20 79 eds of books a y
2b630 65 61 72 2e 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f ear. Why did yo
2b640 75 20 73 61 79 20 27 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 27 3f u say 'used to'?
2b650 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 69 67 ".."Oh," she sig
2b660 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 69 65 64 2c 20 hed. "He died,
2b670 79 65 61 72 73 20 61 67 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 years ago.".."I'
2b680 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 m sorry to hear
2b690 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 it.".."Yeah," sh
2b6a0 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 64 65 63 e said. "He dec
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2b740 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 73 65 n there was a se
2b750 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 46 42 49 20 72 61 69 64 ries of FBI raid
2b760 73 20 6f 6e 20 27 6d 69 6c 69 74 69 61 73 27 20 s on 'militias'
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2b800 73 20 68 61 6e 64 20 62 75 69 6c 74 20 63 61 62 s hand built cab
2b810 69 6e 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 in out there bet
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2b900 20 20 48 65 20 77 61 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 He was really
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2b930 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 69 6c 64 20 ife in the wild
2b940 70 6c 61 63 65 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6d 6f 73 places where mos
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2ba00 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 I guess he was a
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2ba40 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 77 , then. Those w
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2bad0 20 20 57 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 We got into hi
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2baf0 2d 2d 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 44 61 64 20 64 69 64 -- well, Dad did
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2bba0 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f selves.".."Yeah?
2bbb0 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 What happened
2bbc0 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 77 73 75 69 with that lawsui
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2bbe0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 77 happen. While w
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2bc10 68 65 20 46 42 49 20 67 6f 74 20 61 20 73 65 61 he FBI got a sea
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2bce0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 just that they
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2bd10 20 6c 6f 67 69 6e 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 login stuff for
2bd20 20 6d 79 20 75 6e 63 6c 65 27 73 20 56 50 53 2e my uncle's VPS.
2bd30 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 Of course, the
2bd40 79 20 27 6c 6f 73 74 27 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 y 'lost' the bac
2bd50 6b 75 70 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 66 kups they took f
2bd60 72 6f 6d 20 44 61 64 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 rom Dad's comput
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2bd80 74 69 6d 65 20 77 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f time we tried to
2bd90 20 64 6f 77 6e 6c 6f 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 download the vi
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2bdb0 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 74 could show it t
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2be00 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 64 65 company into de
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2be20 70 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 ps..."After all
2be30 74 68 61 74 2c 20 77 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 66 72 that, we went fr
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2be50 68 65 20 6c 61 77 79 65 72 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 he lawyer called
2be60 20 61 20 73 6c 61 6d 20 64 75 6e 6b 20 63 61 73 a slam dunk cas
2be70 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 6e 6f 20 63 e to having no c
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2be90 20 65 78 70 65 6e 73 65 73 2e 20 20 44 61 64 27 expenses. Dad'
2bea0 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 49 54 20 62 75 73 69 6e s whole IT busin
2beb0 65 73 73 20 77 61 73 20 6f 62 6c 69 74 65 72 61 ess was oblitera
2bec0 74 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6e ted in an instan
2bed0 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 t, too. He had
2bee0 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20 73 79 73 61 64 6d 69 to get a sysadmi
2bef0 6e 20 6a 6f 62 20 61 74 20 61 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 n job at a conti
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2bf20 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 20 64 72 6f 70 6f 75 74 73 20 school dropouts
2bf30 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 47 65 after that."..Ge
2bf40 6f 72 67 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 orge just shook
2bf50 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 his head. "I wi
2bf60 73 68 20 49 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 sh I had somethi
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2bf80 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 bout that.".."It
2bf90 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 's fine. It's a
2bfa0 6e 63 69 65 6e 74 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 20 66 ncient history f
2bfb0 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2c 61 6e 64 20 49 or me, now,and I
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2bfe0 72 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 rd, though. I w
2bff0 61 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 67 68 20 73 63 68 6f 6f as in high schoo
2c000 6c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 61 l when it all ha
2c010 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 6f ppened, and I co
2c020 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 6e 20 uldn't focus on
2c030 73 63 68 6f 6f 6c 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 74 20 61 6c schoolwork at al
2c040 6c 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 61 6c 6c l..."I guess all
2c050 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 that might have
2c060 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 contributed to
2c070 6d 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f me falling in lo
2c080 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 ve with Dalton."
2c090 0a 0a 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 .."Dalton?" he a
2c0a0 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 sked..."Oh, shit
2c0b0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2c0c0 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 73 61 79 20 27 6d 79 20 didn't say 'my
2c0d0 65 78 27 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a ex' that time.".
2c0e0 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 44 61 .He nodded. "Da
2c0f0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 53 63 68 61 65 66 66 65 72 2d 48 lton Schaeffer-H
2c100 65 61 72 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 earst.".."Yeah."
2c110 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 She looked at
2c120 68 69 6d 2c 20 77 61 72 79 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 him, wary..."I g
2c130 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 uess I can see w
2c140 68 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e hy you don't wan
2c150 74 20 74 6f 20 62 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 t to bring that
2c160 75 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 48 65 27 73 20 61 up much. He's a
2c170 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 76 65 72 73 69 61 6c 20 66 controversial f
2c180 69 67 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 22 59 65 61 igure."../* "Yea
2c190 68 2c 20 68 65 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 63 61 6e h, he is. I can
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2c1b0 6d 20 75 70 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 6e 79 6f m up around anyo
2c1c0 6e 65 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 45 69 74 ne, really. Eit
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2c1e0 6d 65 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 me because I got
2c1f0 20 65 6e 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c engaged to him,
2c200 20 6f 72 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 or they hate me
2c210 20 66 6f 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d for leaving him
2c220 2e 22 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 68 65 ." */.."Yeah, he
2c230 20 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 6e 27 is. There isn'
2c240 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 t really anyone
2c250 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 6f 20 61 62 I can talk to ab
2c260 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 out him. Either
2c270 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 people hate me
2c280 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 65 6e because I got en
2c290 67 61 67 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 gaged to him, or
2c2a0 20 74 68 65 79 20 68 61 74 65 20 6d 65 20 66 6f they hate me fo
2c2b0 72 20 6c 65 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a r leaving him.".
2c2c0 0a 22 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ."I could see th
2c2d0 61 74 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 at," George said
2c2e0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 74 65 . "I won't hate
2c2f0 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 you for either
2c300 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b reason.".."Thank
2c310 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 s," she said. "
2c320 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 That's good to h
2c330 65 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 ear.".."I'll jus
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2c350 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 straightforward
2c360 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 with you about w
2c370 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 hat I think abou
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2c3c0 69 74 68 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 ith me. I won't
2c3d0 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 hold it against
2c3e0 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 you, whatever y
2c3f0 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 ou decide, but I
2c400 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e guess it wouldn
2c410 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 't matter if you
2c420 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 didn't want to
2c430 62 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 be around me any
2c440 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 longer anyway."
2c450 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 .."You don't hav
2c460 65 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 e to do that," s
2c470 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 he said...He smi
2c480 6c 65 64 2c 20 70 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 61 20 62 led, perhaps a b
2c490 69 74 20 73 61 64 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 it sadly. "I th
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2c4b0 20 62 65 73 74 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f best, unless yo
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2c4e0 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 2e 20 for any reason.
2c4f0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 I'll respect th
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2c530 68 65 61 72 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f hear nothing abo
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2c550 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 72 itated, then shr
2c560 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 ugged. "Go ahea
2c570 64 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 d, I guess," she
2c580 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 said...He nodde
2c590 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 68 d. "I thought h
2c5a0 65 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 72 65 e was pretty gre
2c5b0 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 6c 6f at. He had a lo
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2c600 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 2c 20 6c 61 77 technology, law
2c610 20 65 6e 66 6f 72 63 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 77 61 enforcement, wa
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2c6b0 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 73 much, and I was
2c6c0 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64 20 62 79 disappointed by
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2c700 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 73 74 69 , because he sti
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2c7c0 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 6f 66 66 65 6e 73 65 an..."No offense
2c7d0 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 2c 20 62 75 74 , of course, but
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2c900 49 20 64 6f 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 2c 20 62 I do remember, b
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2c940 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e he said somethin
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2c960 77 68 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 6f who called in to
2c970 20 61 73 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 ask about you.
2c980 20 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 He said that it
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2caa0 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 61 he had to say a
2cab0 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 bout it.".."Oh,"
2cac0 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 she said. "I d
2cad0 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 idn't know about
2cae0 20 74 68 61 74 20 2d 2d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 that -- about h
2caf0 69 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 im saying that."
2cb00 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 ..George shrugge
2cb10 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 d. "It was the
2cb20 73 74 61 6e 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 stand up thing t
2cb30 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 o do, but it did
2cb40 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 n't make his cha
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2cb60 20 6f 6e 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 79 20 61 6e 79 on ideology any
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2cb80 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 64 g to me, so it d
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2cba0 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 stening.".."Yeah
2cbb0 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 ," she said. "I
2cbc0 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f get that.".."So
2cbd0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 77 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 . . . what do y
2cbe0 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 6d ou think? Are m
2cbf0 79 20 76 69 65 77 73 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 69 6e y views on it in
2cc00 74 6f 6c 65 72 61 62 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c tolerable?"..All
2cc10 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c ey smiled. "No,
2cc20 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 not at all. Th
2cc30 61 74 27 73 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 6b 69 at's actually ki
2cc40 6e 64 61 20 68 6f 77 20 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 nda how I felt a
2cc50 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 69 64 65 6f 6c 6f 67 bout his ideolog
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2cc70 69 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 62 65 66 iked it more bef
2cc80 6f 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 74 ore the change t
2cc90 68 61 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 han after, and w
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2ccc0 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 20 70 72 69 He still had pri
2ccd0 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 69 6c nciple, and stil
2cce0 6c 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 l wasn't the car
2ccf0 69 63 61 74 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 74 2d 72 icature of alt-r
2cd00 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 ight that people
2cd10 20 61 73 73 75 6d 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 assumed, but I
2cd20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 69 73 20 didn't like his
2cd30 6e 65 77 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 73 20 61 74 20 new politics at
2cd40 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 6d 75 73 all.".."That mus
2cd50 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 t have made it d
2cd60 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 ifficult to live
2cd70 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 with him.".."It
2cd80 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 74 73 20 74 6f 6c 6c 2e 20 took its toll.
2cd90 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c 20 74 68 6f Part of it, tho
2cda0 75 67 68 2c 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 ugh, was the fac
2cdb0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 61 66 66 65 63 74 t that it affect
2cdc0 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 69 6e 20 6f 74 ed my life in ot
2cdd0 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d her ways. The m
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2cdf0 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 I needed to get
2ce00 20 6f 75 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 73 out was after s
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2ce20 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 73 63 72 65 61 ly started screa
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2ce50 67 20 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 g me the 'side d
2ce60 69 73 68 27 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 63 75 73 69 6e ish' and accusin
2ce70 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 g me of being a
2ce80 72 61 63 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 racist and stuff
2ce90 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e like that, then
2cea0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 actually starte
2ceb0 64 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 d hitting me. I
2cec0 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b shoved her back
2ced0 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 63 and ran to my c
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2cef0 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f d called in a po
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2cf10 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 of course nothi
2cf20 6e 67 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 ng would ever ha
2cf30 70 70 65 6e 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 ppen from that.
2cf40 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 62 I never heard b
2cf50 61 63 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a ack about it."..
2cf60 42 79 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 73 68 65 20 By the time she
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2cfe0 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 .She shrugged he
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2d260 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ked..."What?".."
2d270 59 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e You said you wan
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2d600 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c Okay," she said,
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2d670 0a 0a 22 46 69 72 73 74 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 .."First, I want
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2d6d0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 69 .".."Yeah. It i
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2d8b0 0a 0a 22 48 6d 6d 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f .."Hmm." He tho
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2d9a0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ."Yeah," she sai
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2e190 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d "That's pretty m
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2e440 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 74 65 hands..."I'll te
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2e6e0 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 .."You want to h
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2e970 57 68 79 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 66 66 65 Why are you offe
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2f1a0 63 61 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f case, and some o
2f1b0 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 49 27 6d f the people I'm
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2f200 20 64 6f 20 6a 6f 62 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 do jobs where t
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2f230 20 68 6f 77 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e how much someon
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2f250 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f good thing to do
2f260 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 ."..Alley frowne
2f270 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 d. "I guess you
2f280 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 probably aren't
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2f370 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 this kind of th
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2f390 79 6f 75 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 61 you telling me a
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2f3b0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 69 t that put you i
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2f400 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 f I have to. I
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2f600 74 68 65 20 55 53 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 the US Intellige
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2f630 20 6d 61 6e 75 66 61 63 74 75 72 65 64 20 73 70 manufactured sp
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2f800 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 that they won't
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2f840 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 but that's just
2f850 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 73 69 74 a matter of sit
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2f880 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 ending up disapp
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2f8a0 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 you never tried
2f8b0 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 to do something
2f8c0 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 to protect yours
2f8d0 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 elf.".."Shit," s
2f8e0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 he said. "What
2f8f0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 72 65 about getting re
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2f910 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 waiting to see h
2f920 6f 77 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 ow things go? I
2f930 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e mean, I shouldn
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2f960 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 72 69 73 t?".."It's a ris
2f970 6b 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 k. That's all t
2f980 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 74 6f 20 69 74 2e 20 20 here is to it.
2f990 54 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 6f 69 6e They're not goin
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2fa00 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e might be the on
2fa10 6c 79 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 67 ly warning you g
2fa20 65 74 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 et. Maybe you c
2fa30 61 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 an pull it off,
2fa40 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 79 20 66 69 72 though..."My fir
2fa50 73 74 20 77 61 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 st warning that
2fa60 74 68 65 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 they might come
2fa70 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f for me would pro
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2fa90 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 appearing, thoug
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2fae0 27 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 're on my tail.
2faf0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 79 73 65 6c I'll make mysel
2fb00 66 20 64 69 73 61 70 70 65 61 72 2c 20 69 6e 73 f disappear, ins
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2fb20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 around to see if
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2fb70 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 Yeah. That's a
2fb80 6c 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f lot to think abo
2fb90 75 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ut. I'm going t
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2fbb0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e about it."..He n
2fbc0 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f odded. "You sho
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2fbe0 20 68 61 72 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2c 22 hard about it,"
2fbf0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 61 79 he said. "Stay
2fc00 20 61 6c 65 72 74 2c 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 61 alert, try to a
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2fc60 54 72 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 74 68 65 6d Try to keep them
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2fca0 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 0a 0a 22 4d 6f 73 74 6c 79 st you..."Mostly
2fcb0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 , though, think
2fcc0 68 61 72 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 66 hard and think f
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2fcf0 20 69 74 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 79 6f 75 it, because you
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2fd10 6d 75 63 68 20 74 69 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 much time you ha
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2fd30 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 73 decision, and as
2fd40 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 67 6f 20 74 68 decisions go th
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2fd60 20 49 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 It might be the
2fd70 20 62 69 67 67 65 73 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 biggest of your
2fd80 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 65 life.".."No pre
2fd90 73 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 ssure," she said
2fda0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 73 6d 69 , with a wry smi
2fdb0 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 69 74 le..."You got it
2fdc0 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 ." He looked at
2fdd0 20 68 69 73 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 63 61 73 65 73 2c his book cases,
2fde0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 then stood and
2fdf0 77 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 walked to them.
2fe00 20 48 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 He pulled a cou
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2fe40 68 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 hair where Alley
2fe50 20 73 61 74 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 sat and held th
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2fe70 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 47 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 "Here. Give the
2fe80 73 65 20 61 20 72 65 61 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f se a read, if yo
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2fea0 68 65 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d he accepted them
2feb0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 , and looked at
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2fef0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 2a 55 6e 64 65 72 other was *Under
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2ff10 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 3f "What are these?
2ff20 22 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 73 "..When he saw s
2ff30 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 6e 64 69 he was not handi
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2ff50 20 77 65 6e 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 68 69 went back to hi
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2ff70 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 41 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 down. "Agorism
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2ffb0 20 54 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 6c 20 69 73 20 6c 69 The ideal is li
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30020 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 doing the same
30030 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 thing, to change
30040 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 the world for t
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30080 20 74 68 65 20 61 67 6f 72 69 73 6d 20 62 6f 6f the agorism boo
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300b0 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 76 65 20 74 way to starve t
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30100 6e 2c 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 75 72 n, basically tur
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30130 69 74 69 63 61 6c 20 72 65 76 6f 6c 75 74 69 6f itical revolutio
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30150 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 27 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 72 hink it's very r
30160 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 ealistic to expe
30170 63 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 ct that to work
30180 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 the way he hoped
30190 2e 20 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 68 61 . I think it ha
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301c0 20 63 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 communities tha
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301f0 20 63 68 6f 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b choosing to mak
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30230 73 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 70 s possible..."Op
30240 53 65 63 20 69 73 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 Sec is how to ke
30250 65 70 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 6f 66 66 20 ep yourself off
30260 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f the radar of peo
30270 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ple who are look
30280 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 77 68 65 ing for you, whe
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302a0 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 bout you persona
302b0 6c 6c 79 20 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 6e 74 lly or just want
302c0 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 66 69 74 someone who fit
302d0 73 20 61 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 2c 20 68 69 64 s a profile, hid
302e0 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2c ing what you do,
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30330 6b 65 65 70 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 69 74 2e 20 20 keep doing it.
30340 54 68 61 74 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 69 73 20 61 62 6f That book is abo
30350 75 74 20 4f 70 53 65 63 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f ut OpSec for peo
30360 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c ple who live bel
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304b0 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 73 20 6f 74 , for reasons ot
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304d0 6e 64 20 6d 75 72 64 65 72 2c 20 73 75 63 68 20 nd murder, such
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305a0 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 " She looked at
305b0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e the books again
305c0 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 74 68 69 6e ..."You can thin
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30690 74 68 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 67 75 79 73 2e 22 0a the good guys.".
306a0 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b ."Are you some k
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306c0 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e ?"..He shrugged.
306d0 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 56 6f 6c 75 6e "Maybe. Volun
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306f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 61 72 63 68 6f 2d like an anarcho-
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30730 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 telling people
30740 74 6f 20 76 6f 74 65 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 to vote Republic
30750 61 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 an.".."Yeah," sh
30760 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 e said, "that's
30770 74 68 65 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 49 20 77 61 the feeling I wa
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30790 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 et.".."Does that
307a0 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 20 68 65 bother you?" he
307b0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 asked..."No. I
307c0 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 6f liked Dalton mo
307d0 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 re in those days
307e0 2e 20 20 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 66 65 6c 6c 20 . Hell, I fell
307f0 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d in love with him
30800 20 69 6e 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 64 61 79 73 2e 22 in those days."
30810 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6e .."You don't con
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30830 20 76 6f 6c 75 6e 74 61 72 79 69 73 74 2c 20 6f voluntaryist, o
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30850 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 something like t
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30870 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 you?".."No, I g
30880 75 65 73 73 20 6e 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 uess not.".."Wha
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308c0 65 6c 66 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 77 69 74 elf a little wit
308d0 68 20 61 20 64 72 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 2e h a dry chuckle.
308e0 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e "I don't know.
308f0 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 6d 20 72 61 I guess I'm ra
30900 62 69 64 6c 79 20 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c bidly apolitical
30910 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 68 .".."You might h
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30950 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 think, then," he
30960 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 61 69 64 20 said..."I said
30970 61 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 apolitical, not
30980 61 6e 74 69 70 6f 6c 69 74 69 63 61 6c 2c 20 74 antipolitical, t
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309c0 61 79 2c 22 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 73 61 69 64 ay," George said
309d0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 . "I get it. W
309e0 69 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 ill you read the
309f0 20 62 6f 6f 6b 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c books?".."Yeah,
30a00 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 27 6c " she said, "I'l
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30a20 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 6d . I'll get them
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30a70 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 'll get more of
30a80 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 73 them. Just pass
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30aa0 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 68 one who needs th
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30ac0 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 , if you don't w
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30ae0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 .".."Sure," she
30af0 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c said, uncertainl
30b00 79 2e 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 y..."Have you ha
30b10 64 20 64 69 6e 6e 65 72 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c d dinner?".."No,
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30b50 6b 69 6e 67 20 49 27 6d 20 68 75 6e 67 72 79 2c king I'm hungry,
30b60 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 and you're welc
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30b80 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 I was going to
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30c20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f 20 68 6f before you go ho
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30ca0 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 47 65 6f 72 67 65 ks."../*..George
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30d00 20 20 48 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 He knows this
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30de0 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 6d 69 .*/../*..This mi
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30e40 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b or something lik
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30e90 68 61 64 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 had given her.
30ea0 53 68 65 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 She wrinkled her
30eb0 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 20 nose at the no
30ec0 66 72 69 6c 6c 73 20 63 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 61 20 frills cover, a
30ed0 63 68 65 61 70 6c 79 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 72 61 cheaply made tra
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30f00 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 72 64 65 72 20 61 6e black border an
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30f50 6d 65 20 76 61 6e 69 74 79 20 70 72 65 73 73 20 me vanity press
30f60 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 62 thing, where nob
30f70 6f 64 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 62 6f 74 ody had even bot
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30f90 64 65 73 69 67 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 76 65 72 design the cover
30fa0 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 at all...She re
30fb0 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 63 6f 76 65 ad the full cove
30fc0 72 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 0a 0a 22 r to herself..."
30fd0 41 6e 20 41 67 6f 72 69 73 74 20 50 72 69 6d 65 An Agorist Prime
30fe0 72 0a 0a 22 43 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 20 45 63 6f 6e r.."Counter Econ
30ff0 6f 6d 69 63 73 2c 20 54 6f 74 61 6c 20 46 72 65 omics, Total Fre
31000 65 64 6f 6d 2c 20 41 6e 64 20 59 6f 75 0a 0a 22 edom, And You.."
31010 53 61 6d 75 65 6c 20 45 64 77 61 72 64 20 4b 6f Samuel Edward Ko
31020 6e 6b 69 6e 20 49 49 49 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 nkin III"..She f
31030 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 20 lipped it over.
31040 20 54 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 77 61 73 20 62 6c The back was bl
31050 61 6e 6b 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 ank...She opened
31060 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 it and flipped
31070 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 through the firs
31080 74 20 66 65 77 20 70 61 67 65 73 2e 20 20 53 68 t few pages. Sh
31090 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 6e e found it had n
310a0 6f 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 o table of conte
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310c0 20 70 75 62 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 6f 72 20 63 publishing or c
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310e0 75 6d 6d 61 72 79 2c 20 64 65 64 69 63 61 74 69 ummary, dedicati
310f0 6f 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 72 65 76 69 65 77 20 71 75 on, or review qu
31100 6f 74 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 otes. The first
31110 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 72 69 64 69 page was a ridi
31120 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 70 culously short p
31130 72 65 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 6c reface. The fol
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31150 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 77 6f the first of two
31160 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 pages of introd
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31190 63 68 61 70 74 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 chapter one of t
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311b0 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 74 20 6f into the meat o
311c0 66 20 69 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 0a 0a 54 f it already...T
311d0 68 65 20 70 61 67 65 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 75 he pages were nu
311e0 6d 62 65 72 65 64 2c 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 mbered, starting
311f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 69 with 1. The fi
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31210 6e 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 n on a page numb
31220 65 72 65 64 20 34 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 63 6c 6f ered 4...She clo
31230 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 6f 6b 20 61 67 61 sed the book aga
31240 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 in and read the
31250 63 6f 76 65 72 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e cover once more.
31260 0a 0a 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 53 61 6d 20 4b 6f 6e .."Maybe Sam Kon
31270 6b 69 6e 20 69 73 20 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 kin is a friend
31280 6f 66 20 68 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 of his," she sai
31290 64 2c 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 20 66 72 69 d, meaning a fri
312a0 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 27 73 2e end of George's.
312b0 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 54 68 65 20 70 72 65 66 61 63 65 ../* The preface
312c0 20 70 61 67 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 page was number
312d0 65 64 20 31 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 ed 1. The last
312e0 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 69 6e 64 65 page of the inde
312f0 78 20 2d 2d 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f x -- once she lo
31300 6f 6b 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 77 61 73 20 35 30 2e 20 oked -- was 50.
31310 2a 2f 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 */..She looked a
31320 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 t the first page
31330 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 again, and the
31340 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 42 6f 6f number one. Boo
31350 6b 73 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ks never started
31360 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 61 67 65 20 6e 75 6d with a page num
31370 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 ber of one. She
31380 20 66 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 flipped to the
31390 65 6e 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 end, and saw tha
313a0 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 t the last page
313b0 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 showed the numbe
313c0 72 20 35 30 2c 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 r 50, on the las
313d0 74 20 70 61 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f t page of the bo
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313f0 6c 65 61 73 74 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 61 6e 20 least it had an
31400 69 6e 64 65 78 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 index, but that
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31430 78 20 69 74 20 68 61 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 x it had could b
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33fe0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 65 ..."I really fee
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34040 22 50 72 6f 66 65 73 73 6f 72 20 47 6f 75 6c 65 "Professor Goule
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34080 0a 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ."It seems proba
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340a0 61 70 70 79 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 69 appy to know thi
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34140 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 I will probably
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341a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 63 63 ed..."I have acc
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34220 74 61 74 65 73 20 49 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e tates Intelligen
34230 63 65 20 43 6f 6d 6d 75 6e 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 ce Community and
34240 20 44 65 70 61 72 74 6d 65 6e 74 20 4f 66 20 44 Department Of D
34250 65 66 65 6e 73 65 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 efense research
34260 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 65 64 project intended
34270 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 64 65 70 6c 6f 79 65 64 20 to be deployed
34280 77 69 74 68 20 66 69 65 6c 64 20 61 67 65 6e 74 with field agent
34290 73 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 73 75 70 65 72 76 69 73 s under supervis
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342b0 20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 27 73 20 if the study's
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342e0 70 72 6f 6d 69 73 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 promising.".."Oh
342f0 2e 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 ." Alley scratc
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34310 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 I guess I should
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34470 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c silence, as All
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344e0 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 " Alley said. "
344f0 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 2f What is it?".."/
34500 2a 20 48 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 64 65 20 * Have you made
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34520 20 2a 2f 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 69 */ We should di
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345a0 20 20 49 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 I may be able
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34690 6c 6c 65 79 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 75 70 72 69 lley jerked upri
346a0 67 68 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ght. "What?".."
346b0 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6d 65 20 74 Do you need me t
346c0 6f 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 o repeat the que
346d0 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b 65 64 stion?" it asked
346e0 20 70 6f 6c 69 74 65 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e politely..."No.
346f0 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 I'm just not g
34700 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2e 20 20 57 68 oing to run. Wh
34710 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 72 75 6e 3f 22 0a y would I run?".
34720 0a 22 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 70 70 65 ."COIN Corp appe
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34790 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 .".."I really th
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347e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 69 73 20 77 61 79 20 6f 76 to me is way ov
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34840 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f The only reaso
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34870 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 63 61 75 just been becau
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348a0 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 61 y. They just wa
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348c0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 52 need for it. R
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34900 20 75 6e 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 uncertain at th
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34980 62 65 20 77 69 73 65 20 74 6f 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 be wise to ignor
34990 65 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 65 72 74 e. Are you cert
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349b0 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 63 6c 65 61 ish to make clea
349c0 72 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 r plans to remov
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349e0 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 73 74 61 74 69 6f 6e possible station
349f0 61 72 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ary target?".."Y
34a00 65 73 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 65 2e 20 20 49 es, I'm sure. I
34a10 74 27 73 20 72 69 64 69 63 75 6c 6f 75 73 2e 20 t's ridiculous.
34a20 20 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 68 61 70 It'll never hap
34a30 70 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 pen."../*..Alley
34a40 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d needs to do som
34a50 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 e things here.
34a60 49 74 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 It will probably
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35ca0 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 64 /../*.. One d
35cb0 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 6f 75 74 20 72 75 ay, while out ru
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35cd0 69 73 61 73 74 65 72 20 73 74 72 69 6b 65 73 2e isaster strikes.
35ce0 20 20 48 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 68 61 73 0a 20 20 Her car has.
35cf0 20 20 6d 65 63 68 61 6e 69 63 61 6c 20 74 72 6f mechanical tro
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35d30 75 74 6f 20 72 65 70 61 69 72 0a 20 20 20 20 73 uto repair. s
35d40 68 6f 70 2e 20 20 57 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 72 hop. While ther
35d50 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 65 74 73 20 61 20 e, Alley gets a
35d60 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 47 65 6f message from Geo
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35d90 69 73 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 22 62 is home being "b
35da0 75 72 6e 65 64 22 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 urned", and him
35db0 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 72 6f 70 20 6f having to drop o
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35dd0 20 74 65 6c 6c 73 20 68 65 72 0a 20 20 20 20 74 tells her. t
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35e00 6e 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 n caught, and sa
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35e20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 0a 20 20 20 20 74 6f 75 63 68 get in. touch
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35e40 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 75 73 69 6e 67 20 61 20 64 69 66 oon, using a dif
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35ea0 6d 65 74 68 6f 64 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 methods, but tha
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35ee0 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 6f self an ally who
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35f10 65 79 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 ey terminated th
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35f30 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 75 74 to go home, but
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35f50 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 orking on my car
35f60 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 53 68 ," she says. Sh
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35f80 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c shoulder. "I'l
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35fa0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 .".."Wait," the
35fb0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
35fc0 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 61 6d ..."Why? Why am
35fd0 20 49 20 77 61 69 74 69 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 I waiting?".."I
35fe0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f will arrange fo
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36000 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 70 participant to p
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36020 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 65 20 77 so we can see w
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36040 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 61 67 61 "..Alley sat aga
36050 69 6e 2c 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 in, thinking the
36060 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 re was nothing s
36070 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 he could do that
36080 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 79 20 73 6d 61 72 74 65 72 was any smarter
36090 20 74 68 61 6e 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 73 74 than sitting st
360a0 69 6c 6c 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 6f 69 6e ill at this poin
360b0 74 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f t. "Maybe I sho
360c0 75 6c 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 72 uld call for a r
360d0 69 64 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 ide anyway," she
360e0 20 73 61 79 73 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 says. "I'll ju
360f0 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 66 74 st get there aft
36100 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 er the other per
36110 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 son in the study
36120 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 72 72 61 .".."I will arra
36130 6e 67 65 20 61 20 72 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 79 nge a ride for y
36140 6f 75 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ou," the priorit
36150 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 izer said. "You
36160 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 72 61 62 20 74 68 65 should grab the
36170 20 62 75 67 6f 75 74 20 62 61 67 20 79 6f 75 20 bugout bag you
36180 68 61 76 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 64 64 have in the midd
36190 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 75 67 6f 75 le of your bugou
361a0 74 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 20 67 65 61 72 2e 20 t vehicle gear.
361b0 20 54 61 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 69 6e Take your ridin
361c0 67 20 67 65 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 g gear, too.".."
361d0 57 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 Why? What good
361e0 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 6d 65 would that do me
361f0 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 ?" she asked..."
36200 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 72 If you have to r
36210 75 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 un, you should h
36220 61 76 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 ave what you nee
36230 64 20 74 6f 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 65 2e 20 20 49 d to survive. I
36240 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 f you do not hav
36250 65 20 74 6f 20 72 75 6e 2c 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 e to run, it doe
36260 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 75 72 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 s not hurt you t
36270 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 65 61 72 o have that gear
36280 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 69 with you.".."Fi
36290 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 ne," she said.
362a0 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 57 "I'll get it. W
362b0 68 79 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 hy the riding ge
362c0 61 72 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 3f 22 20 20 53 68 ar, though?" Sh
362d0 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 61 64 e stood and head
362e0 65 64 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 ed for the count
362f0 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 65 61 73 79 er..."It is easy
36300 20 74 6f 20 63 61 72 72 79 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 to carry, by we
36310 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 6f 66 20 69 74 aring most of it
36320 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 61 79 20 6e 65 , and you may ne
36330 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 ed to ride a mot
36340 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a orcycle soon."..
36350 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 64 65 20 79 6f 75 "Is the ride you
36360 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 67 6f 69 6e 're calling goin
36370 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 g to be a motorc
36380 79 63 6c 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 61 6d 20 63 68 ycle?".."I am ch
36390 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c ecking for avail
363a0 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e ability. I do n
363b0 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 ot know yet."..A
363c0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 74 6f lley shrugged to
363d0 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f herself and loo
363e0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 ked at the guy b
363f0 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 73 6b 2e 20 ehind the desk.
36400 20 22 48 65 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 "Hey," she said
36410 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f , raising her vo
36420 69 63 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 ice enough to be
36430 20 68 65 61 72 64 2e 20 20 22 43 61 6e 20 49 20 heard. "Can I
36440 67 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 get some things
36450 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 75 6e 6b out of the trunk
36460 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 of my car?"..He
36470 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 looked at her,
36480 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 61 20 74 61 and down at a ta
36490 62 6c 65 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 blet in front of
364a0 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 63 68 65 him. "I'll che
364b0 63 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 69 74 27 73 20 ck whether it's
364c0 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 66 74 2e 20 20 49 66 on the lift. If
364d0 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 not, sure, you
364e0 63 61 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 67 65 74 can probably get
364f0 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 whatever you ne
36500 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 ed.".."Thanks,"
36510 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 45 69 67 68 74 she said...Eight
36520 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 minutes later,
36530 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 65 6e she sat on a ben
36540 63 68 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 ch in front of t
36550 68 65 20 73 68 6f 70 27 73 20 67 6c 61 73 73 20 he shop's glass
36560 77 61 6c 6c 2c 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 68 65 wall, wearing he
36570 72 20 61 72 6d 6f 72 65 64 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 r armored jacket
36580 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 6f 74 73 2c 20 74 68 65 20 and boots, the
36590 67 6c 6f 76 65 73 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 gloves in her ca
365a0 72 67 6f 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 rgo pocket like
365b0 75 73 75 61 6c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 usual and the ri
365c0 64 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 ding pants rolle
365d0 64 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 72 61 70 70 65 d up and strappe
365e0 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 d to her bag. S
365f0 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 he stared at the
36600 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 70 6c 61 79 69 6e 67 20 69 video playing i
36610 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 20 6f 66 20 n the lenses of
36620 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 20 20 4d 65 her glasses. Me
36630 6e 20 69 6e 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 n in Secret Serv
36640 69 63 65 20 6a 61 63 6b 65 74 73 20 61 6e 64 20 ice jackets and
36650 74 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 67 65 61 72 20 73 74 tactical gear st
36660 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 ormed her home,
36670 62 72 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 breaking in the
36680 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 64 6f 6f 72 2c 20 61 73 20 74 front door, as t
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366a0 63 6b 20 73 75 69 74 73 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f ck suits stood o
366b0 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 utside on the si
366c0 64 65 77 61 6c 6b 2c 20 77 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 dewalk, watching
366d0 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 77 6f 6d . One was a wom
366e0 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 69 an with long hai
366f0 72 20 73 74 72 65 61 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 r streaked with
36700 67 72 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6f 74 68 20 77 grey, and both w
36710 6f 72 65 20 62 61 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 73 2e 20 20 ore ball caps.
36720 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 When they looked
36730 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 at each other t
36740 6f 20 73 70 65 61 6b 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 63 o speak, she rec
36750 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 ognized them as
36760 43 6f 6c 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 Cole and his par
36770 74 6e 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6a tner...Alley's j
36780 61 77 20 77 61 73 20 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 aw was clenched
36790 73 6f 20 74 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 so tightly that
367a0 69 74 20 68 75 72 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 70 6f it hurt. The po
367b0 69 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 76 69 65 77 20 6f 66 20 74 int of view of t
367c0 68 65 20 73 63 65 6e 65 20 64 72 69 66 74 65 64 he scene drifted
367d0 20 70 61 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6f 6c 65 20 past, and Cole
367e0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 looked toward th
367f0 65 20 63 61 6d 65 72 61 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d e camera for a m
36800 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b oment, then look
36810 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 6c 69 ed away again li
36820 6b 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6d 61 ke it did not ma
36830 74 74 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 tter. The front
36840 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 61 of his black ba
36850 6c 6c 20 63 61 70 20 73 70 6f 72 74 65 64 20 74 ll cap sported t
36860 68 65 20 62 75 72 67 75 6e 64 79 20 73 74 79 6c he burgundy styl
36870 69 7a 65 64 20 63 6f 69 6e 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f ized coin logo o
36880 66 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 2e 0a 0a 48 65 f COIN Corp...He
36890 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 72 65 6d 62 6c 65 64 r hands trembled
368a0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 6c 61 ..."I have a pla
368b0 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 n," the prioriti
368c0 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 69 zer said. "I wi
368d0 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 79 20 ll get you away
368e0 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 from here. That
368f0 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 68 is the first th
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36910 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 before someone f
36920 69 6e 64 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c inds your vehicl
36930 65 20 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e e here. You can
36940 6e 6f 74 20 70 61 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 73 not pay for thes
36950 65 20 72 65 70 61 69 72 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 e repairs with c
36960 61 73 68 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 6f 6e 20 ash you have on
36970 79 6f 75 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 61 you right now, a
36980 6e 64 20 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 nd paying with c
36990 72 65 64 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f redit would almo
369a0 73 74 20 63 65 72 74 61 69 6e 6c 79 20 74 72 69 st certainly tri
369b0 67 67 65 72 20 61 6c 65 72 74 73 20 66 6f 72 20 gger alerts for
369c0 74 68 65 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 43 6f 72 70 20 61 67 the COIN Corp ag
369d0 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 67 ents. We must g
369e0 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 et you away, and
369f0 20 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d arrange for som
36a00 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 eone else to pic
36a10 6b 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2e 22 0a 0a k up the car."..
36a20 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b "If they're look
36a30 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 72 65 64 69 ing for my credi
36a40 74 2c 20 74 68 65 79 27 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 t, they'll look
36a50 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 61 72 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c for my car, too,
36a60 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 " she said..."Th
36a70 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 70 61 79 e person who pay
36a80 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 s for the car wi
36a90 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 2c 22 20 74 ll handle it," t
36aa0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 he prioritizer s
36ab0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 aid. "It can be
36ac0 20 73 6f 6c 64 20 66 6f 72 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 sold for parts
36ad0 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 so that it never
36ae0 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 61 20 72 shows up as a r
36af0 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c egistered vehicl
36b00 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 4d 69 6e 75 73 20 e again. Minus
36b10 61 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 66 65 65 2c 20 a handling fee,
36b20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 62 the money will b
36b30 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 79 e forwarded to y
36b40 6f 75 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 ou. You will ha
36b50 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 71 75 69 72 65 20 6e 65 ve to acquire ne
36b60 77 20 74 72 61 6e 73 70 6f 72 74 61 74 69 6f 6e w transportation
36b70 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 , but I can help
36b80 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 you with that a
36b90 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c s well.".."Okay,
36ba0 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 " she said. "Wh
36bb0 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 y do you seem li
36bc0 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 ke you've done t
36bd0 68 69 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 his before?".."I
36be0 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 have not," the
36bf0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
36c00 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 . "I have been
36c10 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 64 65 61 considering idea
36c20 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 68 61 6e s for how to han
36c30 64 6c 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 dle this moment
36c40 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 63 61 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 when it came, th
36c50 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 ough."..Alley fr
36c60 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 62 65 20 74 owned. "Maybe t
36c70 68 65 79 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 77 hey don't even w
36c80 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 77 65 ant me. They we
36c90 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 nt into my place
36ca0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 when I wasn't e
36cb0 76 65 6e 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 ven there. They
36cc0 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6e must have known
36cd0 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 I wasn't going
36ce0 74 6f 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 to be there.".."
36cf0 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 No, I made sure
36d00 74 68 65 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 79 6f 75 they thought you
36d10 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 2c 20 62 79 20 66 were home, by f
36d20 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 2e 20 alsifying logs.
36d30 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 I have been ver
36d40 79 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 61 72 72 y careful to arr
36d50 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 73 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e ange logs to con
36d60 66 75 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 70 6f 74 65 6e 74 69 fuse any potenti
36d70 61 6c 20 61 74 74 65 6d 70 74 73 20 74 6f 20 6d al attempts to m
36d80 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e ake a move again
36d90 73 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 st you.".."How d
36da0 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 id you do that?"
36db0 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 .."I made use of
36dc0 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 74 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 66 20 the network of
36dd0 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e study participan
36de0 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 ts.".."What are
36df0 74 68 65 79 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 they getting out
36e00 20 6f 66 20 69 74 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b of it?" she ask
36e10 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2c 20 77 6f 6e ed, quietly, won
36e20 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 63 6f dering how it co
36e30 75 6c 64 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 uld possibly hav
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36e50 6f 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 75 73 or them while us
36e60 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 ing them for her
36e70 20 73 61 6b 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 2e sake like this.
36e80 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 .."Some of them
36e90 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 want to escape f
36ea0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 62 6f 72 69 6e 67 rom their boring
36eb0 20 6c 69 76 65 73 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 lives. Some of
36ec0 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 them want to me
36ed0 65 74 20 6e 65 77 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 et new people th
36ee0 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 ey would not hav
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36f00 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 66 66 They have diff
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36f20 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 you, and I can
36f30 70 72 6f 76 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 provide for some
36f40 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 69 6e 20 77 61 79 73 of them in ways
36f50 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 that also help
36f60 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 73 20 6f 66 other members of
36f70 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 74 69 the study parti
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36f90 68 65 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 74 he video you wat
36fa0 63 68 65 64 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 69 64 ched of the raid
36fb0 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 61 on your home wa
36fc0 73 20 63 61 70 74 75 72 65 64 20 62 79 20 61 20 s captured by a
36fd0 70 61 69 72 20 6f 66 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 pair of glasses
36fe0 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 20 just like yours
36ff0 77 6f 72 6e 20 62 79 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 worn by a differ
37000 65 6e 74 20 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 ent member of th
37010 65 20 67 72 6f 75 70 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 e group, just be
37020 63 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 cause he happene
37030 64 20 74 6f 20 70 61 73 73 20 62 79 20 79 6f 75 d to pass by you
37040 72 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 73 r home.".."You s
37050 75 67 67 65 73 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 uggested somethi
37060 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 ng that would ta
37070 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 70 61 ke the person pa
37080 73 74 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 49 20 6c 69 76 65 64 st where I lived
37090 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 . Right?".."Tha
370a0 74 20 69 73 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 2c 20 62 75 t is correct, bu
370b0 74 20 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 72 76 65 t it still serve
370c0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 s that person's
370d0 67 6f 61 6c 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 69 72 20 goals.".."Their
370e0 67 6f 61 6c 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 63 goals probably c
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37100 69 6c 6c 65 64 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 61 6e 64 illed better and
37110 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 69 66 more quickly if
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37130 6d 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e m to do somethin
37140 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 g else, though.
37150 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 Right?".."Yes,"
37160 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 66 6f 72 20 73 it said, "for s
37170 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ome of them.".."
37180 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 68 61 You must have ha
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371a0 68 61 74 20 68 65 6c 70 65 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 hat helped other
371b0 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 73 participants as
371c0 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a well.".."Yes.".
371d0 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 ."I guess that's
371e0 20 66 61 69 72 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 fair," she said
371f0 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 67 . "How are we g
37200 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6f oing to get me o
37210 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 ut of here?".."Y
37220 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 20 69 73 20 61 6c 6d 6f our ride is almo
37230 73 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 22 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 st here," it sai
37240 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6f d..."Oh. It's o
37250 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 ne of the study
37260 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 2e 20 20 52 participants. R
37270 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a ight?".."Yes."..
37280 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 "Of course it is
37290 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 41 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 ."../*..A study
372a0 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 20 73 68 6f 77 participant show
372b0 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 68 65 72 s up to pick her
372c0 20 75 70 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69 74 27 73 up. Maybe it's
372d0 20 61 20 67 69 72 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d a girl this tim
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37300 63 61 73 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 70 case, she gets p
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37330 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 63 61 6e where Alley can
37340 20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 hang out for a
37350 62 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e bit. I don't kn
37360 6f 77 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 ow where that is
37370 20 79 65 74 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 69 73 20 70 yet, which is p
37380 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 73 6f art of the reaso
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373c0 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 61 74 20 or this part at
373d0 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 this time. She
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37420 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
37430 61 72 72 61 6e 67 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d arranges for som
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37450 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2c 20 61 6e e of the car, an
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37470 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 person who take
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374a0 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 to help so that
374b0 74 68 65 79 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 65 20 73 6f 6d they can use som
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374d0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 rom the sale of
374e0 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 74 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 the car to buy a
374f0 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 6f motorcycle in o
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37510 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 s that Alley and
37520 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
37530 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 69 6c picked out whil
37540 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2c 20 68 e they waited, h
37550 61 76 69 6e 67 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 65 64 20 74 aving reasoned t
37560 68 61 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 hat a motorcycle
37570 20 67 69 76 65 73 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 65 78 gives her an ex
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37590 20 65 6e 74 69 72 65 20 68 65 61 64 20 6d 6f 72 entire head mor
375a0 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 20 6d e fully than a m
375b0 61 73 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 20 68 ask and even a h
375c0 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 63 6f 6d 70 6c at would accompl
375d0 69 73 68 2c 20 62 79 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 ish, by wearing
375e0 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f a helmet. The o
375f0 77 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f wner of the moto
37600 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 74 68 72 6f 77 73 20 69 6e rcycle throws in
37610 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 a helmet with t
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37630 63 68 20 69 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 65 63 61 75 ch is good becau
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37670 6f 20 62 75 79 20 61 20 68 65 6c 6d 65 74 2c 20 o buy a helmet,
37680 61 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 20 70 75 72 63 a necessary purc
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376a0 69 61 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 69 74 20 69 73 20 69 ia where it is i
376b0 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 61 llegal to ride a
376c0 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 20 6f 6e 20 70 motorcycle on p
376d0 75 62 6c 69 63 20 72 6f 61 64 73 20 77 69 74 68 ublic roads with
376e0 6f 75 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 44 4f out wearing a DO
376f0 54 20 63 65 72 74 69 66 69 65 64 20 68 65 6c 6d T certified helm
37700 65 74 2e 0a 0a 45 76 65 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 et...Even after
37710 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 all that, there
37720 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 63 61 73 68 20 6c 65 66 is some cash lef
37730 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 65 6c 6c t over from sell
37740 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 2e ing off the car.
37750 20 20 54 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 The motorcycle
37760 20 69 73 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 6c 6f 77 is relative low
37770 20 64 65 6d 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 77 20 demand and low
37780 70 6f 77 65 72 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c power, after all
37790 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 76 65 72 . It's also ver
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377b0 74 68 69 73 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 64 64 73 this really adds
377c0 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 65 78 70 65 up to much expe
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377e0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 20 63 s for Alley to c
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37810 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 20 6f 6e 20 ly in effect on
37820 74 68 65 20 76 65 68 69 63 6c 65 27 73 20 6c 69 the vehicle's li
37830 63 65 6e 73 65 20 70 6c 61 74 65 73 20 66 6f 72 cense plates for
37840 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 a while, becaus
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37860 63 61 6e 6e 6f 74 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 65 72 20 cannot register
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37880 65 6c 66 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 69 73 20 elf when she is
37890 74 72 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f trying to stay o
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378e0 20 6d 6f 6e 69 74 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 monitor that ki
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37900 20 53 68 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f She will, of co
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37920 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 6f 20 72 69 64 65 20 63 61 sure to ride ca
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37950 20 6f 76 65 72 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 6c over by the pol
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37970 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 6e 64 20 75 70 will not end up
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379e0 62 6f 75 74 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 bout going to th
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37a10 20 61 73 6b 20 77 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 73 68 65 ask whether she
37a20 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 thinks this is
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37a50 62 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 64 6d be forced to adm
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37ba0 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 mething in the s
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37bd0 70 6f 6c 69 63 65 2c 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 police, of cours
37be0 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c e...*/..The call
37bf0 20 72 61 6e 67 20 74 77 69 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 rang twice, and
37c00 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f only a few seco
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37c40 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 73 20 second thoughts
37c50 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 2c about this call,
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37cb0 6d 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 41 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 mail. At the sa
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37d60 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 69 6d 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 than him around
37d70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 69 74 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 when it started
37d80 20 72 69 6e 67 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 64 ringing. She d
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37da0 73 75 62 64 65 72 6d 61 6c 20 68 65 61 64 73 65 subdermal headse
37db0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 t that would pla
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37e00 20 74 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 74 trusted those t
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37e40 6c 6f 73 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 72 lose to the thir
37e50 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 65 6c 74 20 6c d that it felt l
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37e90 20 72 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 74 68 75 rings. Her thu
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37eb0 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e over the disconn
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37ed0 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f she heard his vo
37ee0 69 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 49 ice..."Alley? I
37ef0 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 s that you?"..Sh
37f00 65 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 e stopped breath
37f10 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 ing for a moment
37f20 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 72 74 20 , but her heart
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37f40 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 74 and the smooth t
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37fa0 74 69 6d 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 time impressing
37fb0 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 6f 77 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 on her how long
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37fd0 65 20 74 68 65 79 20 6c 69 76 65 64 20 74 6f 67 e they lived tog
37fe0 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 6f 72 6d ether. Her horm
37ff0 6f 6e 65 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 ones completely
38000 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 forgot in that i
38010 6e 73 74 61 6e 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 nstant that they
38020 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c weren't a coupl
38030 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 e any longer..."
38040 55 68 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 Uh . . . yeah.
38050 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c 22 20 73 68 Yeah, it is," sh
38060 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 76 65 64 e finally shoved
38070 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 out of her mout
38080 68 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 74 6f h...The audio to
38090 6f 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 72 61 6e ok on that stran
380a0 67 65 20 66 6c 61 74 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79 20 ge flat quality
380b0 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f that told her so
380c0 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 68 61 64 20 6d 75 74 65 64 20 meone had muted
380d0 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 something. She
380e0 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d waited a few mom
380f0 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 ents, wondering
38100 69 66 20 68 65 27 64 20 68 75 6e 67 20 75 70 2e if he'd hung up.
38110 20 20 53 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 65 63 69 64 She just decid
38120 65 64 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 ed to wake the s
38130 63 72 65 65 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 creen again to s
38140 65 65 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 73 68 ee if it said sh
38150 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f 6e 6e e was still conn
38160 65 63 74 65 64 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 73 ected, even if s
38170 68 65 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 he didn't hear t
38180 68 65 20 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 74 6f he disconnect to
38190 6e 65 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 ne, when she hea
381a0 72 64 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 61 67 61 rd his voice aga
381b0 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 74 in..."Alley. It
381c0 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 's good to hear
381d0 79 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e your voice again
381e0 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 . How are you?"
381f0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c ..She hesitated,
38200 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 27 73 then said "It's
38210 20 62 65 65 6e 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a been better."..
38220 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c "Do you need hel
38230 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 73 6f p?" he asked, so
38240 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e quickly she won
38250 64 65 72 65 64 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 dered if that wa
38260 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 70 20 6f 66 20 s on the tip of
38270 68 69 73 20 74 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d his tongue the m
38280 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 77 68 oment he knew wh
38290 6f 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a o was calling...
382a0 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 69 67 "Yeah." She sig
382b0 68 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 68 6f hed. She had ho
382c0 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 ped it would get
382d0 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 easier when she
382e0 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 20 69 74 2c 20 62 75 admitted it, bu
382f0 74 20 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 68 65 72 20 77 t suddenly her w
38300 68 6f 6c 65 20 62 6f 64 79 20 66 65 6c 74 20 68 hole body felt h
38310 65 61 76 69 65 72 2c 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 65 64 eavier, weighted
38320 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 61 64 6d down by the adm
38330 69 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 68 65 61 ission. Her hea
38340 72 74 20 77 61 73 20 62 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 rt was beating a
38350 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 72 61 t her typical ra
38360 74 65 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 66 te now, but it f
38370 65 6c 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 elt like it was
38380 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 doing so with a
38390 68 65 61 76 79 20 74 72 65 61 64 2c 20 65 61 63 heavy tread, eac
383a0 68 20 73 74 65 70 20 73 6c 61 6d 6d 69 6e 67 20 h step slamming
383b0 61 20 62 6f 6f 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 74 68 a boot down with
383c0 20 6c 65 61 64 65 6e 20 65 78 68 61 75 73 74 69 leaden exhausti
383d0 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 6f 63 6b 73 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e on, shocks comin
383e0 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 g up through the
383f0 20 73 6f 6c 65 73 20 6f 66 20 69 74 73 20 62 6f soles of its bo
38400 6f 74 73 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 ots..."It must b
38410 65 20 62 61 64 2c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 61 e bad, really ba
38420 64 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 6c d, if you're cal
38430 6c 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e ling me," Dalton
38440 20 73 61 69 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 said quietly.
38450 53 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 68 65 61 72 20 61 She could hear a
38460 20 73 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 20 74 69 67 68 74 6e strained tightn
38470 65 73 73 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 74 68 72 6f 61 ess in his throa
38480 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 65 76 65 72 20 6d t now..."Never m
38490 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 ind. This was a
384a0 20 62 61 64 20 69 64 65 61 2e 20 20 47 6f 6f 64 bad idea. Good
384b0 62 79 65 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 bye, Dalton." S
384c0 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 he woke the disp
384d0 6c 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 68 6f 77 20 74 68 65 20 lay to show the
384e0 64 69 73 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 62 75 74 74 6f disconnect butto
384f0 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 69 74 21 20 20 4e 6f 21 20 n..."Wait! No!
38500 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 Don't. Alley?
38510 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 20 Are you there?
38520 20 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 Let me help. I
38530 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 'll stay out of
38540 79 6f 75 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 66 your way, but if
38550 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 20 49 you need help I
38560 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 4e 6f 20 71 75 'll help. No qu
38570 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 70 61 estions." He pa
38580 75 73 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 used, for breath
38590 20 6f 72 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 69 66 20 73 68 or to see if sh
385a0 65 27 6c 6c 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 2e 20 20 45 69 e'll answer. Ei
385b0 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 ther way, after
385c0 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 68 a few seconds, h
385d0 65 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 65 64 20 68 69 6d 73 65 e repeated himse
385e0 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 lf. "Alley? Ar
385f0 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 65 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 e you there?"..S
38600 68 65 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 he slowly tapped
38610 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 the button to p
38620 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 74 ut the display t
38630 6f 20 73 6c 65 65 70 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e o sleep again an
38640 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 27 d said "Yeah, I'
38650 6d 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c 6f 6f 6b 2c m here.".."Look,
38660 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 20 77 6f 75 6c I know you woul
38670 64 6e 27 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 dn't come to me
38680 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 68 61 if you didn't ha
38690 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 ve to, whatever
386a0 69 74 20 69 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 it is. I know y
386b0 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 ou really would
386c0 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 rather have noth
386d0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 6d ing to do with m
386e0 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 e. I'm sorry ab
386f0 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 out that. I'll
38700 62 65 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20 2d 2d 20 69 74 27 be honest -- it'
38710 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 s good to hear y
38720 6f 75 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f our voice. I do
38730 6e 27 74 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 n't expect anyth
38740 69 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 ing from you, th
38750 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 ough. If I can
38760 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 help, I can. I
38770 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 69 6e know I made thin
38780 67 73 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20 66 6f 72 gs difficult for
38790 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d you. I never m
387a0 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 eant to, but I d
387b0 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 id, and I want t
387c0 6f 20 61 74 20 6c 65 61 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 74 o at least try t
387d0 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 o make it up to
387e0 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 20 you. I'll stay
387f0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 75 73 69 out of your busi
38800 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 73 74 61 79 ness. I'll stay
38810 20 61 73 20 66 61 72 20 61 77 61 79 20 61 73 20 as far away as
38820 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 you want. Don't
38830 20 74 75 72 6e 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 68 65 6c 70 20 turn down help
38840 66 72 65 65 6c 79 20 67 69 76 65 6e 2c 20 74 68 freely given, th
38850 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 ough, if you nee
38860 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 53 d it. Okay?"..S
38870 68 65 20 73 71 75 65 65 7a 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 he squeezed her
38880 65 79 65 73 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 2c 20 74 72 79 eyes closed, try
38890 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 61 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 ing to banish th
388a0 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 73 74 69 6e 67 20 73 68 e light sting sh
388b0 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f e felt at the co
388c0 72 6e 65 72 73 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 rners of her eye
388d0 73 2e 20 20 48 65 72 20 6c 69 70 73 20 70 72 65 s. Her lips pre
388e0 73 73 65 64 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 74 69 ssed together ti
388f0 67 68 74 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 61 20 74 68 69 6e 20 ghtly in a thin
38900 6c 69 6e 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c line. She final
38910 6c 79 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 ly released her
38920 62 72 65 61 74 68 2c 20 67 72 75 64 67 69 6e 67 breath, grudging
38930 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 ly, and opened h
38940 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e er eyes. "Yeah.
38950 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e Thanks, Dalton
38960 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 74 72 75 74 68 20 69 73 2c . The truth is,
38970 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 if you help me
38980 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 you'll probably
38990 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 get yourself in
389a0 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 a lot of trouble
389b0 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 27 6d 20 69 6e , because I'm in
389c0 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c a lot of troubl
389d0 65 2e 20 20 45 69 74 68 65 72 20 49 20 64 6f 6e e. Either I don
389e0 27 74 20 75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 20 74 68 't understand th
389f0 65 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 49 20 e trouble, or I
38a00 64 6f 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 do and it's comp
38a10 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 73 61 6e 65 20 61 6e letely insane an
38a20 64 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 6d 75 63 68 20 69 6e d pretty much in
38a30 65 73 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 escapable, and w
38a40 69 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 63 72 ill probably scr
38a50 65 77 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 ew over anyone w
38a60 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 73 20 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 ho helps me..."I
38a70 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 really shouldn'
38a80 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 79 6f t have called yo
38a90 75 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 u. I don't want
38aa0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 78 65 to get you mixe
38ab0 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a d up in this."..
38ac0 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f 6f 20 6c 61 74 65 2c 22 "It's too late,"
38ad0 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c he said, quietl
38ae0 79 2c 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 y, gently. "You
38af0 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 called. I'm he
38b00 72 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 re. I'm going t
38b10 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 o help you. Jus
38b20 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 t take the offer
38b30 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 , and tell me wh
38b40 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 at you need.".."
38b50 46 69 6e 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 75 64 64 Fine." She hudd
38b60 6c 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 led around herse
38b70 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 lf, and pressed
38b80 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 66 69 her back more fi
38b90 72 6d 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f rmly into the co
38ba0 72 6e 65 72 2c 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 68 rner, feeling th
38bb0 65 20 70 6c 61 73 74 65 72 20 63 72 75 6d 62 6c e plaster crumbl
38bc0 69 6e 67 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20 6a ing behind her j
38bd0 61 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 acket. "I need
38be0 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 65 20 6c a place to lie l
38bf0 6f 77 2c 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 ow, first, and I
38c00 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 need to figure
38c10 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 out what the fuc
38c20 6b 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 6e 65 78 74 k I'm doing next
38c30 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 .".."Yeah," he s
38c40 61 69 64 2c 20 22 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 aid, "that does
38c50 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 sound serious.
38c60 57 68 6f 27 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 3f Who's after you?
38c70 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 70 72 6f ".."I should pro
38c80 62 61 62 6c 79 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 bably tell you t
38c90 68 65 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 he worst part of
38ca0 20 77 68 6f 27 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c who's after me,
38cb0 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 75 72 but I'm not sur
38cc0 65 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 69 74 20 69 e which one it i
38cd0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f s.".."What do yo
38ce0 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 u mean?" he aske
38cf0 64 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 63 d slowly..."Whic
38d00 68 20 69 73 20 77 6f 72 73 65 2c 20 74 68 65 20 h is worse, the
38d10 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 6f Secret Service o
38d20 72 20 61 20 63 72 65 65 70 79 20 67 6f 76 65 72 r a creepy gover
38d30 6e 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e nment intelligen
38d40 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 74 68 ce contractor th
38d50 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 at can get the s
38d60 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 74 6f ecret service to
38d70 20 64 6f 20 69 74 73 20 64 69 72 74 79 20 77 6f do its dirty wo
38d80 72 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 rk?"..The silenc
38d90 65 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 69 e lingered -- si
38da0 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 61 70 61 72 74 20 66 72 6f 6d lence apart from
38db0 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 67 68 74 20 72 61 73 70 20 the tight rasp
38dc0 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 20 69 6e of her breath in
38dd0 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 61 73 20 73 her throat as s
38de0 68 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 20 66 65 61 72 66 75 he waited fearfu
38df0 6c 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 73 lly for him to s
38e00 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 ay something tha
38e10 74 20 62 65 74 72 61 79 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 73 t betrayed his s
38e20 75 64 64 65 6e 20 72 65 6c 75 63 74 61 6e 63 65 udden reluctance
38e30 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 to help her..."
38e40 49 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 70 69 63 6b 20 I can come pick
38e50 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 you up," he said
38e60 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 20 64 6f 20 49 20 6e . "Where do I n
38e70 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 6f 3f 20 20 49 20 67 75 eed to go? I gu
38e80 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 ess you're proba
38e90 62 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a bly not home."..
38ea0 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 She held out her
38eb0 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 Axiom and stare
38ec0 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6c 6f d at it for a lo
38ed0 6e 67 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 3f ng time. "What?
38ee0 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 ".."Do you need
38ef0 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 75 me to pick you u
38f00 70 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 p?" he asked...S
38f10 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 he shook her hea
38f20 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 77 d. "You still w
38f30 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 20 2e ant to help me .
38f40 20 2e 20 2e 20 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 . . ?".."Of cou
38f50 72 73 65 20 49 20 64 6f 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 rse I do," he sa
38f60 69 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 61 6b 79 id, with a shaky
38f70 20 6c 61 75 67 68 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 76 6f laugh in his vo
38f80 69 63 65 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 ice. "What kind
38f90 20 6f 66 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 61 67 of dangerous ag
38fa0 69 74 61 74 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 6d 61 67 itator and demag
38fb0 6f 67 75 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 62 65 65 ogue would I bee
38fc0 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 69 6c if I wasn't wil
38fd0 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 73 6f 6d ling to help som
38fe0 65 6f 6e 65 20 66 6c 65 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 eone flee from t
38ff0 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 he Secret Servic
39000 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 e?"..She laughed
39010 20 77 65 61 6b 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 67 68 74 weakly. "Right
39020 2e 20 20 4f 66 20 63 6f 75 72 73 65 20 79 6f 75 . Of course you
39030 20 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b do." She shook
39040 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 her head. "I d
39050 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 68 61 on't know. I ha
39060 76 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2c ve a motorcycle,
39070 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 67 69 73 74 not even regist
39080 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 ered to me. May
39090 62 65 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 be I should just
390a0 20 67 6f 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f go there.".."Yo
390b0 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 u could," he sai
390c0 64 2e 20 20 22 48 61 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 d. "Hang on a s
390d0 65 63 27 20 2d 2d 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e ec' -- I have an
390e0 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 idea."..She hea
390f0 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 61 rd the lack of a
39100 75 64 69 6f 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 20 66 61 udio again, a fa
39110 69 6e 74 20 70 72 65 73 73 75 72 65 20 61 67 61 int pressure aga
39120 69 6e 73 74 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 69 inst her attenti
39130 6f 6e 2e 20 20 53 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 74 69 63 on. Seconds tic
39140 6b 65 64 20 62 79 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 61 75 64 ked by...The aud
39150 69 6f 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 io opened up in
39160 68 65 72 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 61 67 her awareness ag
39170 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6e ain. "I can sen
39180 64 20 61 20 76 61 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 d a van to pick
39190 79 6f 75 20 75 70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 you up, and your
391a0 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 79 63 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 6f motorcycle. Yo
391b0 75 27 6c 6c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 74 u'll probably st
391c0 61 79 20 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 64 61 72 ay off the radar
391d0 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 better that way
391e0 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 . If you have t
391f0 6f 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 74 6f 72 63 o use the motorc
39200 79 63 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 69 74 27 73 ycle later, it's
39210 20 62 65 73 74 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f best if it's no
39220 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 65 6e t seen around en
39230 6f 75 67 68 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ough for people
39240 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 to connect with
39250 79 6f 75 72 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 73 2e 20 your movements.
39260 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c Right?".."Yeah,
39270 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 sure," she said
39280 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 27 73 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e . "Who's drivin
39290 67 20 74 68 65 20 76 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f g the van?".."No
392a0 62 6f 64 79 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 body," he said.
392b0 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 65 64 "It's automated
392c0 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 . Don't worry,
392d0 61 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6d 69 6e 65 a friend of mine
392e0 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 69 62 75 74 65 64 20 73 6f 6d contributed som
392f0 65 20 68 61 63 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 e hacks to the s
39300 79 73 74 65 6d 20 73 6f 20 69 74 20 77 6f 6e 27 ystem so it won'
39310 74 20 63 6f 72 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 72 65 70 6f t correctly repo
39320 72 74 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 rt anything to t
39330 68 65 20 6e 61 76 20 6e 65 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f he nav net.".."O
39340 68 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 h."../* I really
39350 20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e need a differen
39360 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 t name for this
39370 74 68 61 6e 20 22 62 6c 69 73 73 63 72 79 70 74 than "blisscrypt
39380 22 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 73 74 75 70 69 ". That's stupi
39390 64 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 74 27 73 20 73 d. */../* It's s
393a0 6f 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 68 o stupid it migh
393b0 74 20 62 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 73 74 69 63 2c 20 t be realistic,
393c0 61 6e 64 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e and we don't wan
393d0 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 49 20 6a t that. */.."I j
393e0 75 73 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 ust need to know
393f0 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 72 65 2e 20 where you are.
39400 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 It's a good thi
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39420 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 62 6c 69 73 73 call with bliss
39430 63 72 79 70 74 2c 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 crypt, by the wa
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39450 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 a lot more work
39460 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 69 to make sure thi
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39480 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 68 61 of the wrong ha
39490 6e 64 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 nds.".."Right,"
394a0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 she said. She p
394b0 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 69 64 aused. "How did
394c0 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 you know it was
394d0 20 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 me when I calle
394e0 64 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 d?"..The hesitat
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39500 64 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 d she wondered w
39510 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e hat was going on
39520 2e 20 20 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 68 65 20 73 . Finally, he s
39530 61 69 64 20 22 48 6f 6e 65 73 74 6c 79 2c 20 49 aid "Honestly, I
39540 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 74 don't know. It
39550 20 77 61 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6a was weird. I j
39560 75 73 74 20 73 61 77 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 63 6f 6d ust saw an incom
39570 69 6e 67 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e ing call from an
39580 20 49 44 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 ID that wasn't
39590 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 73 2c 20 in my contacts,
395a0 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 49 20 67 75 and somehow I gu
395b0 65 73 73 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 63 6f essed."..She sco
395c0 66 66 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 ffed. "That's f
395d0 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 65 69 72 64 2c 20 44 61 ucking weird, Da
395e0 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 lton.".."Yeah,"
395f0 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 he said. "It's
39600 6e 6f 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 69 72 64 20 61 73 20 not as weird as
39610 79 6f 75 20 73 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 you swearing mor
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39630 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 ugh."..She smile
39640 64 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 d, despite herse
39650 6c 66 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 6f 75 6c lf. Dalton coul
39660 64 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 69 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 d still hit all
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39680 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 69 74 75 64 65 20 in her attitude
39690 77 69 74 68 20 75 6e 65 72 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 with unerring ac
396a0 63 75 72 61 63 79 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 79 6f 75 curacy. "If you
396b0 27 64 20 68 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 65 65 6b 20 'd had the week
396c0 49 27 76 65 20 68 61 64 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 I've had. . . ."
396d0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 .."Yeah," he sai
396e0 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 d. "Let's talk
396f0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f about it when yo
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39740 72 79 70 74 20 74 65 78 74 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 rypt text so you
39750 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 68 don't have to h
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39770 20 61 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 are any longer
39780 74 68 61 6e 20 6e 65 63 65 73 73 61 72 79 2e 22 than necessary."
39790 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
397a0 69 64 2c 20 22 6f 6b 61 79 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 id, "okay." She
397b0 20 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 6c 6c 2c ended the call,
397c0 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 moved to the ba
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39840 20 61 6e 64 20 74 65 6e 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 and ten minutes
39850 2c 20 75 6e 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74 , unable to sett
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39880 65 66 75 6c 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 6f eful, or even to
39890 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 think about any
398a0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 2e 0a 0a 48 thing useful...H
398b0 65 72 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 76 69 62 72 61 74 65 er Axiom vibrate
398c0 64 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 d in her hand.
398d0 53 68 65 20 75 6e 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 69 74 20 She unlocked it
398e0 61 6e 64 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 and checked her
398f0 61 6c 65 72 74 73 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 73 68 alerts, where sh
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39910 65 64 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 ed message from
39920 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 69 64 Dalton that said
39930 20 22 59 6f 75 72 20 72 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 "Your ride shou
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39950 72 72 79 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20 rry you'll have
39960 74 6f 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 to push the bike
39970 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a in yourself."..
39980 53 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 She opened the d
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399b0 65 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c e. Right there,
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39a50 2c 20 77 68 65 65 6c 20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 70 6f 69 , wheel lock poi
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39b00 63 61 72 20 73 74 65 72 65 6f 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 car stereos, and
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39b60 61 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e 65 77 20 65 6c a typical new el
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39cb0 73 20 2d 2d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 66 61 6c 6c 69 6e s -- like fallin
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39d00 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 74 72 61 70 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 .".."Strap into
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39d90 22 49 74 27 6c 6c 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 20 69 74 "It'll handle it
39da0 73 65 6c 66 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 self."..She went
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39dd0 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 her bags, then h
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39e90 20 6f 6e 2c 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 on, a more obvi
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39eb0 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 now that the ba
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39f60 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e she asked in an
39f70 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a other message...
39f80 54 68 65 20 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 73 65 20 63 61 6d The response cam
39f90 65 20 73 6f 6f 6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 2e 20 20 22 e soon after. "
39fa0 49 27 6d 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 79 6f I'm surprised yo
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39fe0 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 ."..She put her
39ff0 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 hand over her fa
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3a040 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 When she sat up
3a050 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 6e 64 20 again, she send
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3a070 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 74 72 75 h, I guess I tru
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3a090 20 65 76 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 even thinking a
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3a0f0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a s.".."I know."..
3a100 49 74 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 It turned out he
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3a1e0 73 61 79 20 22 59 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 say "You could u
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3a220 63 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2c c.".."Good idea,
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3a390 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 the back started
3a3a0 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 20 49 20 opening.../* I
3a3b0 6e 65 65 64 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 70 74 69 6f 6e need description
3a3c0 73 2e 20 2a 2f 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 s. */..This time
3a3d0 2c 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 77 61 73 20 61 , the ramp was a
3a3e0 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6c 69 67 68 ngled just sligh
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3a400 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the back of the
3a410 74 72 75 63 6b 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 63 61 truck, into a ca
3a420 72 67 6f 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f 72 6d 20 69 6e 20 rgo platform in
3a430 77 68 61 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 what looked like
3a440 20 61 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 66 75 72 6e a somewhat furn
3a450 69 73 68 65 64 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 2e ished warehouse.
3a460 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 Dalton and his
3a470 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 6f friend Cray sto
3a480 6f 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 6c 61 74 66 6f od on the platfo
3a490 72 6d 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e rm, looking down
3a4a0 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 75 6e at her...She un
3a4b0 62 75 63 6b 6c 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 buckled, and she
3a4c0 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 stood up. Cray
3a4d0 20 67 72 69 6e 6e 65 64 20 62 72 6f 61 64 6c 79 grinned broadly
3a4e0 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e at her. Dalton
3a4f0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 6f 72 just looked wor
3a500 72 69 65 64 2c 20 69 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 ried, in that wa
3a510 79 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6c 6d 6f y he had of almo
3a520 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 st looking a lit
3a530 74 6c 65 20 68 75 72 74 20 77 68 65 6e 65 76 65 tle hurt wheneve
3a540 72 20 68 65 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 61 72 6f r he worried aro
3a550 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 2c 22 20 und her..."Hi,"
3a560 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 69 21 22 she said..."Hi!"
3a570 20 43 72 61 79 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 Cray called out
3a580 2e 20 20 22 47 65 74 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 65 . "Get out here
3a590 2e 20 20 4d 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 . Man, I haven'
3a5a0 74 20 73 65 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 79 65 t seen you in ye
3a5b0 61 72 73 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 63 72 ars!"..Alley scr
3a5c0 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 atched her head
3a5d0 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 to give her hand
3a5e0 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f something to do
3a5f0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 , then picked up
3a600 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 her bags and he
3a610 61 64 65 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d 70 aded up the ramp
3a620 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 . "What about t
3a630 68 65 20 62 69 6b 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 he bike?" she as
3a640 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 ked...Cray said
3a650 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 57 "Don't worry. W
3a660 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 22 20 20 48 65 e got this." He
3a670 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 6f 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 stepped onto th
3a680 65 20 72 61 6d 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6b 65 e ramp and walke
3a690 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 74 6c d down the gentl
3a6a0 65 20 64 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 e decline into t
3a6b0 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 he truck and sta
3a6c0 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 6f 73 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 rted loosening a
3a6d0 20 74 69 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 63 61 62 6c 65 2e tie down cable.
3a6e0 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 ..Dalton's arms
3a6f0 74 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 twitched and his
3a700 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 20 73 68 69 66 74 65 64 20 weight shifted
3a710 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 forward. Alley
3a720 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 realized her eye
3a730 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 68 79 70 65 72 66 6f 63 75 s were hyperfocu
3a740 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 74 sed on every det
3a750 61 69 6c 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 76 65 6d ail of his movem
3a760 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 ents, and she ex
3a770 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 66 74 pected the shift
3a780 20 74 6f 20 74 75 72 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 63 6f to turn into co
3a790 6d 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 ming forward to
3a7a0 67 69 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 20 68 75 67 2e 20 give her a hug.
3a7b0 20 53 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 74 77 69 6e She felt a twin
3a7c0 67 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 6e 65 72 20 70 61 6e 69 ge of inner pani
3a7d0 63 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 68 c, not knowing h
3a7e0 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 74 2c 20 68 6f 77 ow to react, how
3a7f0 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 she felt, but i
3a800 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 68 t passed when th
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3a820 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 20 6a 75 there and he ju
3a830 73 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 st looked at her
3a840 2e 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 ...Without looki
3a850 6e 67 20 75 70 2c 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 ng up, Cray said
3a860 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 68 75 67 "Give him a hug
3a870 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 77 . Get it over w
3a880 69 74 68 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 ith, and sit dow
3a890 6e 2c 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 63 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d n, so he can com
3a8a0 65 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c e help me."..All
3a8b0 65 79 27 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 77 69 74 63 ey's mouth twitc
3a8c0 68 65 64 20 61 20 6d 69 6c 6c 69 6d 65 74 65 72 hed a millimeter
3a8d0 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c toward a smile,
3a8e0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 then she set he
3a8f0 72 20 62 61 67 73 20 61 73 69 64 65 20 61 6e 64 r bags aside and
3a900 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 stepped forward
3a910 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f . She and Dalto
3a920 6e 20 68 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 n hugged, but it
3a930 20 77 61 73 20 63 61 72 65 66 75 6c 2e 20 20 54 was careful. T
3a940 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 20 70 68 79 73 here was no phys
3a950 69 63 61 6c 20 64 69 73 74 61 6e 63 65 20 62 65 ical distance be
3a960 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 62 75 74 20 tween them, but
3a970 74 68 65 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 the sense of a w
3a980 69 64 65 20 67 75 6c 66 20 6f 66 20 75 6e 63 65 ide gulf of unce
3a990 72 74 61 69 6e 74 79 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 74 rtainty still st
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3a9b0 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 ...She realized
3a9c0 73 68 65 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 6d 69 73 73 she already miss
3a9d0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 62 65 66 6f 72 ed the hug befor
3a9e0 65 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 63 6f e it was even co
3a9f0 6d 70 6c 65 74 65 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 2e 0a 0a mpletely over...
3aa00 22 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 6f 20 68 65 6c "I should go hel
3aa10 70 20 68 69 6d 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 p him," Dalton s
3aa20 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 72 79 20 74 aid with a wry t
3aa30 75 72 6e 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 urn of his mouth
3aa40 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and passed her
3aa50 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 64 6f 77 6e on the way down
3aa60 2e 0a 0a 41 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 73 63 61 6e 20 ...A quick scan
3aa70 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 70 6c 65 6e 74 showed her plent
3aa80 79 20 6f 66 20 6f 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 y of options for
3aa90 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 6f 20 73 69 74 2e 20 20 where to sit.
3aaa0 54 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 69 67 20 There was a big
3aab0 61 72 65 61 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 66 74 area to the left
3aac0 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 6e set up like a n
3aad0 69 67 68 74 63 6c 75 62 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 ightclub, with a
3aae0 20 64 61 6e 63 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 dance floor and
3aaf0 20 61 20 62 61 72 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 69 74 74 6c a bar and littl
3ab00 65 20 63 6f 63 6b 74 61 69 6c 20 74 61 62 6c 65 e cocktail table
3ab10 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 72 65 61 s. Another area
3ab20 20 77 61 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 6c 69 6b 65 was set up like
3ab30 20 61 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 74 68 65 61 74 65 72 a movie theater
3ab40 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e with the screen
3ab50 20 68 69 67 68 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 high up on the
3ab60 72 69 67 68 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 77 61 6c 6c 20 right hand wall
3ab70 73 6f 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 so people could
3ab80 72 65 63 6c 69 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 recline in the t
3ab90 68 65 61 74 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 69 6e 67 20 61 heater seating a
3aba0 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 6c nd not have to l
3abb0 6f 6f 6b 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 61 ook past the hea
3abc0 64 73 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 ds of people in
3abd0 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 73 20 61 68 65 61 64 20 the seats ahead
3abe0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 43 6c 6f 73 65 72 of them. Closer
3abf0 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 6f 74 68 2c 20 74 68 65 72 than both, ther
3ac00 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 66 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 6c e were folding l
3ac10 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 73 20 61 6e 64 20 63 awn chairs and c
3ac20 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 62 6c 65 20 63 61 6d 70 20 ollapsible camp
3ac30 63 68 61 69 72 73 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 chairs...She sat
3ac40 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 63 61 6d 70 20 63 68 61 69 72 on a camp chair
3ac50 20 62 65 73 69 64 65 20 61 20 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 beside a cooler
3ac60 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 69 6e 73 , and looked ins
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3ac80 65 64 20 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 64 61 73 ed bottled sodas
3ac90 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e , so she took on
3aca0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 e and started dr
3acb0 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 74 68 65 inking while the
3acc0 20 67 75 79 73 20 72 6f 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 guys rolled the
3acd0 20 62 69 6b 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 72 61 6d bike up the ram
3ace0 70 2e 20 20 53 68 6f 72 74 6c 79 2c 20 74 68 65 p. Shortly, the
3acf0 20 62 69 6b 65 20 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 bike rested on
3ad00 69 74 73 20 6b 69 63 6b 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 its kickstand, t
3ad10 68 65 20 74 72 75 63 6b 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 he truck raised
3ad20 69 74 73 20 72 61 6d 70 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 6f 73 its ramp to clos
3ad30 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 2c e the open back,
3ad40 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 6c 20 75 70 and the roll up
3ad50 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 warehouse door
3ad60 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 65 started to desce
3ad70 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 65 nd..."I wasn't e
3ad80 78 70 65 63 74 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 2c 22 20 41 xpecting you," A
3ad90 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 lley said, when
3ada0 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 70 70 she saw Cray app
3adb0 72 6f 61 63 68 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 6e roaching..."Didn
3adc0 27 74 20 68 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 3f 22 't he tell you?"
3add0 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c he asked, and l
3ade0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c ooked toward Dal
3adf0 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 44 ton..."Sorry," D
3ae00 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 alton said. "It
3ae10 20 73 6c 69 70 70 65 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 slipped my mind
3ae20 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 68 69 74 2c 20 6d 61 6e 2c 20 .".."Shit, man,
3ae30 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 70 73 65 63 20 73 75 63 6b 73 your opsec sucks
3ae40 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 48 ," Cray said. H
3ae50 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 65 e looked like he
3ae60 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 6d wanted to say m
3ae70 6f 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 ore, but glanced
3ae80 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 at Alley and ju
3ae90 73 74 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 st said "Well, I
3aea0 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 6e 6f 77 20 73 6f 20 79 can go now so y
3aeb0 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 ou two can talk
3aec0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 77 68 61 74 about this, what
3aed0 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a ever this is."..
3aee0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 Alley sat forwar
3aef0 64 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 20 72 61 69 73 65 d and half raise
3af00 64 20 61 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 74 d a hand as if t
3af10 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 61 63 6b o wave Cray back
3af20 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 73 74 61 79 2e 20 20 49 . "No, stay. I
3af30 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 62 6f 74 should tell bot
3af40 68 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f h of you. If yo
3af50 75 27 72 65 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 2c 20 79 6f u're helping, yo
3af60 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 74 u have a right t
3af70 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 o know what you'
3af80 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 2e re getting into.
3af90 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 66 "..Cray looked f
3afa0 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f rom her to Dalto
3afb0 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 73 n, who nodded, s
3afc0 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 o Cray sat in th
3afd0 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 e seat on the ot
3afe0 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 her side of the
3aff0 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 2c cooler from her,
3b000 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 to her right.
3b010 48 65 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 61 20 73 6f 64 He grabbed a sod
3b020 61 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 44 61 6c 74 a, too...As Dalt
3b030 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 on sat in the se
3b040 61 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c 65 at to Alley's le
3b050 66 74 2c 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 27 6d ft, he said "I'm
3b060 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2e 20 20 49 20 72 65 61 6c 6c sorry. I reall
3b070 79 20 61 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 y am."..Alley sh
3b080 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 ook her head. "
3b090 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 No, don't worry
3b0a0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 about it. You s
3b0b0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 70 6f 6c 6f 67 69 7a 65 20 hould apologize
3b0c0 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f to him if you go
3b0d0 74 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 77 t him involved w
3b0e0 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 ithout telling h
3b0f0 69 6d 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 im about it.".."
3b100 53 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 Shit," Cray said
3b110 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 44 61 . "I thought Da
3b120 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 65 lton was just be
3b130 69 6e 67 20 64 72 61 6d 61 74 69 63 20 6f 72 20 ing dramatic or
3b140 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 68 65 6e 20 68 something when h
3b150 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c e said this coul
3b160 64 20 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 64 61 d be the most da
3b170 6e 67 65 72 6f 75 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 27 ngerous thing I'
3b180 64 20 65 76 65 72 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 d ever do. What
3b190 27 73 20 75 70 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 22 0a 0a 's up, Alley?"..
3b1a0 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 She looked at Cr
3b1b0 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 68 ay and said "I h
3b1c0 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e 6d 65 ad some governme
3b1d0 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 nt intelligence
3b1e0 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 contractor agent
3b1f0 73 20 73 68 6f 77 20 75 70 20 61 74 20 6d 79 20 s show up at my
3b200 70 6c 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 53 65 63 72 65 place with Secre
3b210 74 20 53 65 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 t Service agents
3b220 20 77 68 6f 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 who broke down
3b230 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 72 61 69 the door and rai
3b240 64 65 64 20 6d 79 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 43 ded my home."..C
3b250 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 ray stared at he
3b260 72 2c 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 65 2e 20 20 22 r, eyes wide. "
3b270 4e 6f 20 73 68 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 73 No shit.".."No s
3b280 68 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 hit," she confir
3b290 6d 65 64 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 med...He looked
3b2a0 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 at Dalton, then
3b2b0 62 61 63 6b 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 48 65 back at her. He
3b2c0 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 opened his mout
3b2d0 68 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 h to say somethi
3b2e0 6e 67 2c 20 62 75 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 63 ng, but Dalton c
3b2f0 75 74 20 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 72 ut in..."What ar
3b300 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 3f e those glasses?
3b310 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 " he asked. "Ar
3b320 65 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 65 20 41 e those active A
3b330 52 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 R?"..Alley looke
3b340 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c d at him. "Yes,
3b350 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 73 65 63 but they're sec
3b360 75 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 61 72 65 20 ure.".."How are
3b370 74 68 65 79 20 73 65 63 75 72 65 3f 22 0a 0a 53 they secure?"..S
3b380 68 65 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 he thought about
3b390 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 it, and realize
3b3a0 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 d it was not an
3b3b0 65 61 73 79 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f easy question to
3b3c0 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 answer fully.
3b3d0 22 54 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 20 73 70 65 63 69 "There's a speci
3b3e0 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 41 49 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 alized AI that's
3b3f0 20 66 61 6c 73 69 66 79 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 67 73 falsifying logs
3b400 20 6f 6e 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 6c 61 on me and repla
3b410 63 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 76 69 64 65 6f 20 61 cing any video a
3b420 6e 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 66 65 65 64 73 20 66 nd audio feeds f
3b430 72 6f 6d 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6c 69 70 rom me with clip
3b440 73 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f s grabbed from o
3b450 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 41 52 ther people's AR
3b460 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 glasses."..Dalt
3b470 6f 6e 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 on frowned. "Th
3b480 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 69 6d 70 72 6f 62 at sounds improb
3b490 61 62 6c 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 able.".."That's
3b4a0 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 72 65 64 nothing compared
3b4b0 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 to me actually
3b4c0 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 69 living through i
3b4d0 74 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6c 69 66 t. My whole lif
3b4e0 65 20 69 73 20 75 6e 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 61 e is unrecogniza
3b4f0 62 6c 65 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 74 ble. It's the t
3b500 72 75 74 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 ruth, though. I
3b510 20 63 61 6e 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6d 6f 72 can explain mor
3b520 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 73 20 67 6f 69 6e e, but it's goin
3b530 67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6c 6f 6e 67 g to take a long
3b540 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 time."..He nodd
3b550 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 57 65 20 ed. "Okay. We
3b560 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 have the time.
3b570 49 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 20 6d 79 20 73 63 68 I cleared my sch
3b580 65 64 75 6c 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 edule for the re
3b590 73 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 61 79 2c 61 6e st of the day,an
3b5a0 64 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 61 67 d I can do it ag
3b5b0 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 20 69 66 20 ain tomorrow if
3b5c0 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 I have to."..Cra
3b5d0 79 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 y decided it was
3b5e0 20 68 69 73 20 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 63 75 74 his turn to cut
3b5f0 20 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 79 20 49 20 63 75 74 in. "May I cut
3b600 20 69 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 73 65 63 3f 22 0a in for a sec?".
3b610 0a 54 68 65 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 .They both looke
3b620 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 d at him..."Yeah
3b630 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 , I guess that's
3b640 20 61 20 79 65 73 2e 20 20 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 a yes. Okay.
3b650 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 Dalton, you shou
3b660 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 ldn't do that.
3b670 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 79 6f 75 Don't change you
3b680 72 20 73 63 68 65 64 75 6c 65 20 61 72 6f 75 6e r schedule aroun
3b690 64 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 d too much. You
3b6a0 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c don't want to l
3b6b0 6f 6f 6b 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 20 69 ook suspicious i
3b6c0 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 73 f someone starts
3b6d0 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 79 looking in on y
3b6e0 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 69 67 ou."..Dalton sig
3b6f0 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 67 6f 6f hed. "Yeah, goo
3b700 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f d point." He lo
3b710 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 oked at Alley.
3b720 22 42 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 6d 65 2c 20 43 72 61 "Between me, Cra
3b730 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 2d 2d 20 y, and Lidia --
3b740 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 6c if you want to l
3b750 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 et her in on it
3b760 2d 2d 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 -- I can make su
3b770 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 re you always ha
3b780 76 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 ve a way to get
3b790 68 65 6c 70 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 help if you need
3b7a0 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 it for as long
3b7b0 61 73 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 as you need to h
3b7c0 69 64 65 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 ide out. If you
3b7d0 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 6f 75 74 need to get out
3b7e0 20 6f 66 20 74 6f 77 6e 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 of town, I can
3b7f0 68 65 6c 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 help with that,
3b800 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61 6e 2c 20 49 20 too. We can, I
3b810 6d 65 61 6e 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 mean." He glanc
3b820 65 64 20 61 74 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 52 69 ed at Cray. "Ri
3b830 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 ght?"..Cray nodd
3b840 65 64 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 73 74 69 63 61 ed enthusiastica
3b850 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 6c 6c 20 79 65 61 68 lly. "Hell yeah
3b860 2e 20 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 77 65 20 68 . I figure we h
3b870 61 76 65 20 61 20 62 75 64 67 65 74 20 6f 66 20 ave a budget of
3b880 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 about one thing
3b890 70 65 72 20 64 61 79 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 65 per day we can e
3b8a0 61 63 68 20 63 61 6e 63 65 6c 20 69 66 20 77 65 ach cancel if we
3b8b0 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 20 62 69 67 have to, no big
3b8c0 67 69 65 2c 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 79 gie, without any
3b8d0 6f 6e 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b one really think
3b8e0 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 61 72 65 20 77 ing things are w
3b8f0 65 69 72 64 2c 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 eird, as long as
3b900 20 77 65 20 64 6f 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c we do it intell
3b910 69 67 65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 igently.".."Oh,"
3b920 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 Alley said. "I
3b930 27 6d 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 'm starting to f
3b940 65 65 6c 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 76 65 eel a little ove
3b950 72 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 rwhelmed."..Cray
3b960 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 laughed. "You'
3b970 72 65 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 75 6e 20 66 72 re on the run fr
3b980 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 73 65 om the secret se
3b990 72 76 69 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c rvice and intell
3b9a0 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 61 igence agents, a
3b9b0 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 66 nd it's having f
3b9c0 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 76 65 72 riends that over
3b9d0 77 68 65 6c 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 whelms you.".."Y
3b9e0 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 eah," she said,
3b9f0 6c 61 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c laughing a littl
3ba00 65 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 e as well. "I g
3ba10 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c uess so." She l
3ba20 65 61 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 62 eaned her head b
3ba30 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 75 ack and looked u
3ba40 70 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 6c 6b 79 20 77 p at the milky w
3ba50 68 69 74 65 20 64 69 66 66 75 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 hite diffusion p
3ba60 61 6e 65 6c 73 20 61 62 6f 76 65 2c 20 6d 61 6b anels above, mak
3ba70 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 ing it difficult
3ba80 20 74 6f 20 70 69 6e 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 74 68 65 to pinpoint the
3ba90 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 70 6c 61 63 65 6d specific placem
3baa0 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 4c 45 44 73 20 61 62 6f 76 ent of LEDs abov
3bab0 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 6e 65 6c 73 2e 0a 0a 22 e the panels..."
3bac0 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e What do you thin
3bad0 6b 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 73 6b 65 64 k?" Dalton asked
3bae0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6e 65 ..."I think I ne
3baf0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f ed to do a lot o
3bb00 66 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 f thinking, and
3bb10 74 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 that you should
3bb20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 67 65 74 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 69 only get Lidia i
3bb30 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 6d nvolved if you m
3bb40 61 6b 65 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 20 73 ake absolutely s
3bb50 75 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 74 6f ure she wants to
3bb60 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 64 20 69 6e get involved in
3bb70 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 something like
3bb80 74 68 69 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 2c this.".."I will,
3bb90 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a " Dalton said...
3bba0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 46 69 72 73 74 Cray said "First
3bbb0 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 65 6c you have to tel
3bbc0 6c 20 75 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c l us what exactl
3bbd0 79 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 64 65 y this is, in de
3bbe0 74 61 69 6c 2c 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 tail, down to th
3bbf0 65 20 6c 61 73 74 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 20 63 68 e last bit of ch
3bc00 69 70 70 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 ipped paint and
3bc10 72 75 73 74 65 64 20 62 6f 6c 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 rusted bolt, so
3bc20 69 74 27 73 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 it's even possib
3bc30 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 77 le to find out w
3bc40 68 65 74 68 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 67 hether Lidia's g
3bc50 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 oing to want to
3bc60 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 get in on this a
3bc70 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 ction."..Alley r
3bc80 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 61 aised her head a
3bc90 67 61 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 gain and looked
3bca0 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 at him. "Do you
3bcb0 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 really think it
3bcc0 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 's a good idea t
3bcd0 6f 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 o tell her all t
3bce0 68 6f 73 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 62 65 66 hose details bef
3bcf0 6f 72 65 20 61 73 6b 69 6e 67 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 ore asking? May
3bd00 62 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 77 6f 20 73 68 6f 75 6c be you two shoul
3bd10 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 20 d just tell her
3bd20 74 68 65 20 73 63 61 72 69 65 73 74 20 76 61 67 the scariest vag
3bd30 75 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 73 6f 20 73 68 ue details so sh
3bd40 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 61 79 20 6e 6f 20 77 69 74 e can say no wit
3bd50 68 6f 75 74 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6c hout having to l
3bd60 65 61 72 6e 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 73 68 earn anything sh
3bd70 65 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 e won't want to
3bd80 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 know.".."Oh, yea
3bd90 68 2c 20 61 62 73 6f 6c 75 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 h, absolutely,"
3bda0 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 Cray said, "but
3bdb0 66 69 72 73 74 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 first I want to
3bdc0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 67 6f 72 know all the gor
3bdd0 79 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 y details myself
3bde0 2e 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 . Lidia's just
3bdf0 61 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 63 a convenient exc
3be00 75 73 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 use."..Dalton sa
3be10 69 64 20 22 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 69 76 65 20 68 id "Let's give h
3be20 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 73 70 61 63 65 20 74 6f er some space to
3be30 20 72 65 6c 61 78 2c 20 66 69 72 73 74 2e 22 0a relax, first.".
3be40 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 .Alley shook her
3be50 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 head. "No. I
3be60 63 61 6e 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 61 62 6f can tell you abo
3be70 75 74 20 69 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f ut it now, if yo
3be80 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 2e u have the time.
3be90 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 ".."I have nothi
3bea0 6e 67 20 62 75 74 20 74 69 6d 65 20 72 69 67 68 ng but time righ
3beb0 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 20 20 t now, Alley."
3bec0 43 72 61 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 54 Cray smiled. "T
3bed0 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 ell me a story."
3bee0 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 .."Okay. I gues
3bef0 73 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 s . . . I guess
3bf00 69 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 it really starte
3bf10 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 61 6c 69 d with the reali
3bf20 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 77 6f zation about two
3bf30 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 61 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 months ago that
3bf40 20 49 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 I only had enou
3bf50 67 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 6f 72 20 74 77 6f gh money for two
3bf60 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6e 74 68 73 20 6f 66 20 more months of
3bf70 72 65 6e 74 20 61 6e 64 20 75 74 69 6c 69 74 69 rent and utiliti
3bf80 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 es.".."Why?" Cra
3bf90 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 y asked. "You'r
3bfa0 65 20 61 77 65 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 74 20 77 68 61 e awesome at wha
3bfb0 74 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 75 t you do. You u
3bfc0 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 sed to make mone
3bfd0 79 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 y like you were
3bfe0 70 75 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 72 61 62 62 69 74 73 20 pulling rabbits
3bff0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a out of a hat."..
3c000 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 75 6e 6e 79 2c 22 20 "That's funny,"
3c010 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f she said, her vo
3c020 69 63 65 20 64 72 79 2c 20 22 77 68 65 6e 20 77 ice dry, "when w
3c030 65 27 72 65 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 e're sitting in
3c040 61 20 77 61 72 65 68 6f 75 73 65 20 44 61 6c 74 a warehouse Dalt
3c050 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 6f 77 6e 73 on probably owns
3c060 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 77 , with Dalton, w
3c070 68 6f 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 77 68 ho made money wh
3c080 65 6e 20 68 65 20 73 6c 65 70 74 2e 22 0a 0a 49 en he slept."..I
3c090 6e 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 69 70 68 65 72 61 6c n her peripheral
3c0a0 20 76 69 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 vision, she saw
3c0b0 20 68 69 6d 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 73 74 69 66 him try to stif
3c0c0 6c 65 20 61 6e 20 61 77 6b 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 le an awkward th
3c0d0 72 6f 61 74 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 roat clearing ac
3c0e0 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 65 20 67 6f 74 20 6d 69 tion. He got mi
3c0f0 78 65 64 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 73 2c 20 61 20 6d xed results, a m
3c100 75 66 66 6c 65 64 2c 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 63 6f uffled, small co
3c110 75 67 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 ughing sound in
3c120 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 the back of his
3c130 74 68 72 6f 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 throat with his
3c140 6b 6e 75 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 knuckles against
3c150 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 his mouth..."We
3c160 6c 6c 2c 20 73 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 ll, sure," Cray
3c170 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 said, "but that
3c180 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 doesn't change a
3c190 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 77 65 nything. You we
3c1a0 72 65 20 62 61 64 20 61 73 73 2e 20 20 49 20 61 re bad ass. I a
3c1b0 6c 77 61 79 73 20 77 69 73 68 65 64 20 49 20 63 lways wished I c
3c1c0 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d ould just call m
3c1d0 6f 6e 65 79 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 oney out of the
3c1e0 63 6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f computer like yo
3c1f0 75 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e u could, though.
3c200 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f What happened?
3c210 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 ".."I went into
3c220 68 69 64 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c hiding, I guess,
3c230 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 and that means
3c240 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 I started losing
3c250 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6c 64 20 touch with old
3c260 63 6c 69 65 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 clients.".."What
3c270 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6e 65 77 20 63 6c 69 65 6e about new clien
3c280 74 73 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e ts?" Cray asked.
3c290 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 ..She shrugged.
3c2a0 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 72 69 65 64 20 75 70 2c "They dried up,
3c2b0 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 too. I wasn't
3c2c0 70 61 79 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 61 64 76 65 72 paying for adver
3c2d0 74 69 73 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 tising any longe
3c2e0 72 2c 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 r, because I did
3c2f0 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 72 61 77 n't want to draw
3c300 20 74 6f 6f 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 74 74 65 6e 74 too much attent
3c310 69 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ion, and people
3c320 77 65 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 were still sendi
3c330 6e 67 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 73 20 74 6f 20 6d ng messages to m
3c340 79 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 61 64 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 y work addresses
3c350 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 75 6c 74 20 6d 65 20 61 6e to insult me an
3c360 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 64 65 61 74 68 20 74 68 72 d send death thr
3c370 65 61 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 eats."..Silence
3c380 73 61 74 20 68 65 61 76 69 6c 79 20 6f 6e 20 61 sat heavily on a
3c390 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 ll of them for a
3c3a0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 43 72 moment, then Cr
3c3b0 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 48 6f 77 20 6c 6f ay asked "How lo
3c3c0 6e 67 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 6f 20 6f ng did that go o
3c3d0 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 n?".."Once in a
3c3e0 77 68 69 6c 65 2c 20 49 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 67 while, I still g
3c3f0 65 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 79 et some.".."They
3c400 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 64 65 61 weren't all dea
3c410 74 68 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2c 20 77 65 72 65 th threats, were
3c420 20 74 68 65 79 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 they?" Dalton a
3c430 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 sked..."No."..Cr
3c440 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 ay looked at her
3c450 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e , then at Dalton
3c460 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 . "What does th
3c470 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f at mean?"..Dalto
3c480 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 n looked away fr
3c490 6f 6d 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 6f om Alley, and to
3c4a0 77 61 72 64 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 ward Cray, then
3c4b0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c looked at the fl
3c4c0 6f 6f 72 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 oor in front of
3c4d0 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 him, obviously u
3c4e0 6e 63 6f 6d 66 6f 72 74 61 62 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 41 ncomfortable...A
3c4f0 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 65 64 20 66 6f lley answered fo
3c500 72 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 6f 74 20 73 r him. "I got s
3c510 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 ome other threat
3c520 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f 66 s, too. Some of
3c530 20 74 68 65 20 2f 2a 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 75 6e the /* most fun
3c540 20 2a 2f 20 77 6f 72 73 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 */ worst were t
3c550 68 65 20 72 61 70 65 20 74 68 72 65 61 74 73 2e he rape threats.
3c560 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 "..Cray looked a
3c570 6e 67 72 79 2e 20 20 22 46 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f ngry. "Fuck tho
3c580 73 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 21 20 20 49 20 6d 65 se people! I me
3c590 61 6e 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 74 65 72 61 6c 6c an, not literall
3c5a0 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 67 6f 64 20 64 61 6d 6e 20 y, but god damn
3c5b0 69 74 2c 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 75 63 6b 2e it, people suck.
3c5c0 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 73 6f 72 72 79 2c 22 20 ".."I'm sorry,"
3c5d0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 73 74 69 Dalton said, sti
3c5e0 6c 6c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 74 20 74 68 ll looking at th
3c5f0 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 e floor...Alley
3c600 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook her head.
3c610 20 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 "It wasn't your
3c620 20 66 61 75 6c 74 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 fault, Dalton."
3c630 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 ..He nodded his
3c640 68 65 61 64 2c 20 61 63 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 head, acknowledg
3c650 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 ing what she sai
3c660 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 d, but she could
3c670 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 tell he did not
3c680 20 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 fully believe i
3c690 74 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 61 64 t. He still had
3c6a0 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 62 62 6f 72 6e 2c 20 that stubborn,
3c6b0 73 65 6c 66 20 6a 75 64 67 69 6e 67 20 73 65 74 self judging set
3c6c0 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 6a 61 77 2e 0a 0a 43 72 of his jaw...Cr
3c6d0 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 73 ay said "Okay, s
3c6e0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 o you were runni
3c6f0 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2e ng out of money.
3c700 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 Let's get this
3c710 20 73 68 6f 77 20 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 show back on th
3c720 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 e road. What ha
3c730 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 6e 65 78 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 ppened next?".."
3c740 49 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6a 6f 62 20 68 75 I started job hu
3c750 6e 74 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 nting, and it wa
3c760 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 73 6f sn't working, so
3c770 20 49 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 I signed up for
3c780 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 4a 6f 62 73 2e 22 20 20 48 ANTAS Jobs." H
3c790 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 er voice trailed
3c7a0 20 6f 66 66 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 6d 75 72 6d off into a murm
3c7b0 75 72 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 62 ur at the end, b
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3c7d0 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 itting in silenc
3c7e0 65 2c 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 65 76 65 72 79 20 77 e, heard every w
3c7f0 6f 72 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 63 ord...From the c
3c800 6f 72 6e 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 orner of her eye
3c810 2c 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 , she could see
3c820 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 65 61 64 20 6a 65 Dalton's head je
3c830 72 6b 20 75 70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 61 72 69 rk up from stari
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3c850 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c looking directl
3c860 79 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 73 75 72 70 y at her in surp
3c870 72 69 73 65 2e 20 20 41 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 rise. Ahead of
3c880 68 65 72 2c 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 her, Cray looked
3c890 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 66 75 73 a little confus
3c8a0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 65 72 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 3f ed..."Seriously?
3c8b0 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 " Cray asked..."
3c8c0 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e Yeah," she said.
3c8d0 20 20 22 49 20 74 72 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 69 73 "I tried to is
3c8e0 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 70 74 20 69 olate it, kept i
3c8f0 74 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 72 6f 77 73 65 72 20 73 t in a browser s
3c900 61 6e 64 62 6f 78 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 74 andbox all the t
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3c930 6f 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 o my phone, but
3c940 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 69 74 20 you know how it
3c950 69 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 is. Those thing
3c960 73 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 63 s find all the c
3c970 72 61 63 6b 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c racks in the wal
3c980 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 72 65 65 ls and just cree
3c990 70 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 p through anyway
3c9a0 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 ."..Cray said "Y
3c9b0 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 20 eah, I know. I
3c9c0 6a 75 73 74 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 74 68 6f 75 67 just never thoug
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3c9e0 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e .".."Desperation
3c9f0 20 64 6f 65 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 74 6f 20 does things to
3ca00 61 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 27 73 20 70 72 69 6f 72 a person's prior
3ca10 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 22 ities, I guess,"
3ca20 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 she said...She
3ca30 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 65 65 could almost fee
3ca40 6c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 69 6e 67 l Dalton nodding
3ca50 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 quietly to her
3ca60 6c 65 66 74 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e left..."One thin
3ca70 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 70 74 20 73 68 6f 77 g that kept show
3ca80 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 66 6f 72 20 61 62 6f 75 74 ing up for about
3ca90 20 61 20 77 65 65 6b 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 69 73 a week was this
3caa0 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d 69 63 20 73 74 75 64 79 2e academic study.
3cab0 20 20 44 27 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 6f D'you know tho
3cac0 73 65 20 73 74 75 64 69 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 se studies that
3cad0 70 61 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 70 61 pay people to pa
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3caf0 6d 3f 22 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 m?" Cray nodded
3cb00 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e , and she contin
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3cb20 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d e of those. I m
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3cb50 70 74 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 pt coming up. I
3cb60 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 49 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 77 knew I didn't w
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3cb90 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 77 65 69 67 68 74 nd of new weight
3cba0 20 6c 6f 73 73 20 70 68 61 72 6d 61 63 65 75 74 loss pharmaceut
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3cc00 20 70 61 69 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 68 paid a couple h
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3cc40 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 72 I just didn't r
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3cc60 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 63 68 61 6e 67 it..."That chang
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3ccb0 65 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 76 69 e was an intervi
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3cd10 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 the only reason
3cd20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 they wanted to b
3cd30 72 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 77 61 73 20 73 ring me in was s
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3cd50 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 6d 65 k me and call me
3cd60 20 74 68 65 20 27 73 69 64 65 20 64 69 73 68 27 the 'side dish'
3cd70 20 74 6f 20 6d 79 20 66 61 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 to my face."..D
3cd80 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6d 61 64 65 20 61 20 73 6f 75 alton made a sou
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3cda0 20 63 6c 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 clearing of his
3cdb0 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 20 48 65 27 64 20 61 throat. He'd a
3cdc0 6c 77 61 79 73 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 lways hated that
3cdd0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 69 more than any i
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3ce00 68 69 73 20 65 6e 65 6d 69 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 his enemies..."A
3ce10 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 fter that," she
3ce20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 49 20 66 65 6c 74 20 65 76 said, "I felt ev
3ce30 65 6e 20 6c 65 73 73 20 65 6e 74 68 75 73 69 61 en less enthusia
3ce40 73 74 69 63 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6a stic about the j
3ce50 6f 62 20 73 65 61 72 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 ob search.".."Wh
3ce60 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 at was the other
3ce70 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 thing?" Cray as
3ce80 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 41 4e 54 41 53 20 75 70 67 ked..."ANTAS upg
3ce90 72 61 64 65 64 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 20 77 69 74 raded itself wit
3cea0 68 20 61 20 6e 6f 6f 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 2c h a noon update,
3ceb0 20 61 6e 64 20 77 69 70 65 64 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 and wiped most
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3ced0 20 73 65 74 74 69 6e 67 73 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 settings. That
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3cf10 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 6d 6d 65 6e 64 ant to recommend
3cf20 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6f 72 64 65 72 65 and just ordere
3cf30 64 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 49 20 d it for me. I
3cf40 77 6f 6b 65 20 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6d woke up in the m
3cf50 6f 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f orning to the so
3cf60 75 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e und of it gettin
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3cf80 20 61 20 68 65 61 76 79 20 64 65 6c 69 76 65 72 a heavy deliver
3cf90 79 20 64 72 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 y drone.".."What
3cfa0 20 77 61 73 20 69 74 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e was it?" Dalton
3cfb0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e asked, quietly.
3cfc0 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 .."It was the de
3cfd0 6c 75 78 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 74 75 70 20 luxe home setup
3cfe0 6b 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 65 77 20 76 65 72 73 kit for new vers
3cff0 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 ion of the full
3d000 4d 61 6a 6f 72 64 6f 6d 6f 20 70 61 63 6b 61 67 Majordomo packag
3d010 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c e.".."Holy shit,
3d020 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 " Cray said..."Y
3d030 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 eah. It was fif
3d040 74 65 65 6e 20 68 75 6e 64 72 65 64 20 62 75 63 teen hundred buc
3d050 6b 73 2c 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 ks, which just a
3d060 62 6f 75 74 20 6d 61 78 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d bout maxed out m
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3d080 20 65 61 74 20 75 70 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 6f eat up enough o
3d090 66 20 6d 79 20 63 68 65 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 63 f my checking ac
3d0a0 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 count so that I
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3d0c0 6f 75 67 68 20 6c 65 66 74 20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 ough left for re
3d0d0 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 nt. That basica
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3d140 62 75 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6e 6f 74 20 67 65 but still not ge
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3d170 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 time to actually
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3d190 73 20 72 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 52 65 6e 74 20 77 61 s rent. Rent wa
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3d1b0 73 2c 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 s, at that point
3d1c0 2e 22 20 20 2f 2a 20 54 68 69 73 20 65 78 70 6c ." /* This expl
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3d1e0 6c 6c 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 63 6c 61 72 ll short of clar
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3d220 69 74 20 6e 65 65 64 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 73 it needs to be s
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3d250 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 72 65 74 t about just ret
3d260 75 72 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 urning it?" Cray
3d270 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 asked..."Oh, ye
3d280 61 68 2c 20 49 20 64 69 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 ah, I did that r
3d290 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 74 20 73 ight away. It s
3d2a0 61 69 64 20 69 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 61 6b aid it would tak
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3d2c0 20 74 77 6f 20 77 65 65 6b 73 20 74 6f 20 70 72 two weeks to pr
3d2d0 6f 63 65 73 73 20 6d 79 20 72 65 66 75 6e 64 2c ocess my refund,
3d2e0 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 though."..Cray
3d2f0 77 68 69 73 74 6c 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 whistled at that
3d300 2c 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 , impressed at h
3d310 6f 77 20 66 75 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 69 74 20 ow fucked up it
3d320 77 61 73 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 64 64 was...Dalton add
3d330 65 64 20 22 54 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 ed "They do that
3d340 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 68 6f 20 for anyone who
3d350 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 75 63 doesn't have muc
3d360 68 20 72 65 63 65 6e 74 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 h recent transac
3d370 74 69 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 74 6f 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a tion history."..
3d380 22 54 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 6d "That would be m
3d390 65 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a e," Alley said..
3d3a0 0a 22 4d 65 20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 ."Me too," Cray
3d3b0 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 6c said with a smil
3d3c0 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 73 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e e. "Also Dalton
3d3d0 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 ."..Dalton nodde
3d3e0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 d..."Well," Alle
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3d440 20 72 65 6d 61 69 6e 64 65 72 20 6f 66 20 68 65 remainder of he
3d450 72 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6d 6f r explanation mo
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3d480 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 the others, and
3d490 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 74 20 6c 6f 6f to Alley it loo
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3d4e0 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 73 70 6f 6b 65 2c 20 74 68 As she spoke, th
3d4f0 69 6e 67 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 ings that she ha
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3d520 20 67 72 61 64 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 72 65 70 74 gradually crept
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3d540 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 74 72 61 d much more stra
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3d560 73 75 63 63 69 6e 63 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 succinct explana
3d570 74 69 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 46 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 tion...Finally,
3d580 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 54 68 61 74 Alley said "That
3d590 27 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 's when I called
3d5a0 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 you."..Silence
3d5b0 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 74 lingered..."So t
3d5c0 68 61 74 20 41 49 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f hat AI, the prio
3d5d0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 ritizer, has bee
3d5e0 6e 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6f n listening in o
3d5f0 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 69 6c 65 n all this while
3d600 20 79 6f 75 27 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 61 6c you've been tal
3d610 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c king to us."..Al
3d620 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 ley nodded..."It
3d630 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 64 seems like it'd
3d640 20 62 65 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 69 6e 74 be a pretty int
3d650 65 72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 6a 65 63 74 eresting project
3d660 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 , but I'm a litt
3d670 6c 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 72 6e 65 64 20 61 62 6f le concerned abo
3d680 75 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 ut its ability t
3d690 6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 74 61 69 6e 20 70 72 69 76 61 o maintain priva
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3d6b0 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 74 6c 79 it was evidently
3d6c0 20 66 75 6e 64 65 64 20 62 79 20 43 4f 49 4e 20 funded by COIN
3d6d0 43 6f 72 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 Corp.".."Do you
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3d720 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 77 everything anyw
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3d760 61 63 74 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 70 actly."..Cray sp
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3d840 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 61 6c doing. It's al
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3d860 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 73 20 61 62 69 6c 69 74 that its abilit
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3d920 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 6c 64 20 75 70 "..Alley held up
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3d940 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 61 6c 6b she was not talk
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3d980 6c 61 74 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 61 6c 6d 20 6f lat hand, palm o
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3d9b0 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 for you.".."Pri
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3d9e0 74 79 70 65 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 type of logging
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3da30 0a 49 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2c .In Alley's ear,
3da40 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
3da50 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 said "It may be
3da60 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 20 74 easier for me t
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3daa0 67 68 20 65 78 74 65 72 6e 61 6c 20 73 70 65 61 gh external spea
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3dac0 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 tell you things
3dad0 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 to explain to t
3dae0 68 65 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 hem."..Alley low
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3db30 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 says this would
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3db50 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b could just talk
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3db70 63 65 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 ce. I guess I s
3db80 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 68 hould give it th
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3dba0 41 78 69 6f 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c Axiom."..Cray bl
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3dbc0 61 76 65 20 61 6e 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 3f 20 20 46 ave an Axiom? F
3dbd0 75 63 6b 20 79 65 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 77 61 6e uck yeah. I wan
3dbe0 6e 61 20 73 65 65 20 69 74 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c na see it!"..All
3dbf0 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 55 68 2c ey smiled. "Uh,
3dc00 20 73 75 72 65 2c 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a sure, later."..
3dc10 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 68 65 20 "Oh, right," he
3dc20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4c 61 74 65 72 27 73 20 said. "Later's
3dc30 67 6f 6f 64 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 good!"..Alley pu
3dc40 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 65 72 20 41 78 69 lled out her Axi
3dc50 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 74 20 69 74 20 6f 6e om and set it on
3dc60 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 the top of the
3dc70 63 6f 6f 6c 65 72 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 6c 65 cooler. Cray le
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3dd00 2f 2a 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 61 /* She should wa
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3dd20 74 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 2e 20 2a 2f ting it down. */
3dd30 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b .."Okay, I think
3dd40 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 73 65 74 20 75 70 20 this is set up
3dd50 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 53 61 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 right. Say some
3dd60 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a thing, prioritiz
3dd70 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 er.".."Something
3dd80 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 63 68 75 63 6b 6c 65 ."..Cray chuckle
3dd90 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 73 20 d. "I like its
3dda0 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e 22 sense of humor."
3ddb0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 77 ..Alley smiled w
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3ddd0 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 20 61 74 20 68 69 an eyebrow at hi
3dde0 6d 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6b 69 64 64 69 6e 67 m..."I'm kidding
3ddf0 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 62 ," he said. "Ob
3de00 76 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 69 viously I know i
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3de20 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 68 75 6d 6f 72 2e sense of humor.
3de30 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 "..Dalton said "
3de40 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 I think she knew
3de50 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 that."..Cray as
3de60 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 ked "Do we have
3de70 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 to say 'prioriti
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3de90 77 65 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 we want to talk
3dea0 74 6f 20 69 74 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 6e 65 20 to it, like one
3deb0 6f 66 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 6f 6c 64 20 61 73 73 of those old ass
3dec0 69 73 74 61 6e 74 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 istants from the
3ded0 20 74 65 65 6e 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 teens?".."No,"
3dee0 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
3def0 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 79 20 61 62 69 6c 69 said. "My abili
3df00 74 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a 65 20 ty to recognize
3df10 77 68 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 69 73 20 when someone is
3df20 73 70 65 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 speaking to me,
3df30 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 rather than abou
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3df50 73 2c 20 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 s, may be better
3df60 20 74 68 61 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 73 74 20 68 than for most h
3df70 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 umans. I know y
3df80 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 64 64 72 ou were not addr
3df90 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 essing me with y
3dfa0 6f 75 72 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 our question, bu
3dfb0 74 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 79 t saying this my
3dfc0 73 65 6c 66 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 self seemed like
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3dfe0 6f 76 65 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ove forward.".."
3dff0 55 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 Uh, yeah," Cray
3e000 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 67 said. "That's g
3e010 72 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 61 6e reat.".."You wan
3e020 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 t to know about
3e030 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 6d 65 61 73 the privacy meas
3e040 75 72 65 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 70 6c 65 ures I can imple
3e050 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f ment, and how yo
3e060 75 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 u can be sure th
3e070 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 72 65 70 6f 72 74 at what I report
3e080 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 70 72 69 76 61 63 79 20 61 of my privacy a
3e090 73 73 75 72 61 6e 63 65 73 20 69 73 20 61 63 63 ssurances is acc
3e0a0 75 72 61 74 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 urate.".."That's
3e0b0 20 69 74 2c 20 69 6e 20 61 20 6e 75 74 73 68 65 it, in a nutshe
3e0c0 6c 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 ll," Dalton said
3e0d0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 72 65 63 65 69 76 65 64 20 61 ..."I received a
3e0e0 6e 20 75 70 64 61 74 65 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 n update a short
3e0f0 20 74 69 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 41 6c 65 74 time after Alet
3e100 68 65 61 20 6a 6f 69 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 73 hea joined the s
3e110 74 75 64 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 67 72 65 61 74 6c tudy that greatl
3e120 79 20 65 6e 68 61 6e 63 65 64 20 6d 79 20 61 62 y enhanced my ab
3e130 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 ility to formula
3e140 74 65 2c 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 te, assess, and
3e150 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 20 67 6f 61 6c 20 prioritize goal
3e160 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f strategy decisio
3e170 6e 2e 20 20 49 6e 69 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 74 n. Initially, t
3e180 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6f 6e 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 he component of
3e190 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 the full system
3e1a0 77 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 whose continuous
3e1b0 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 49 20 72 65 66 operation I ref
3e1c0 65 72 20 74 6f 20 61 73 20 27 49 27 20 77 61 73 er to as 'I' was
3e1d0 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 20 63 6f limited to a co
3e1e0 c3 b6 72 64 69 6e 61 74 69 6e 67 20 63 65 6e 74 ..rdinating cent
3e1f0 72 61 6c 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 ral system that
3e200 72 65 73 70 6f 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 71 responded to req
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3e220 74 69 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 65 76 61 6c 75 61 74 tization evaluat
3e230 69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 61 ion and other ma
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3e250 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 you might call
3e260 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 67 69 63 2e 20 business logic.
3e270 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 73 65 70 61 72 61 74 65 20 73 Some separate s
3e280 75 62 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2c 20 6c 69 6e 6b 65 ubsystems, linke
3e290 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 62 79 20 74 68 65 20 73 d to me by the s
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3e2b0 20 41 50 49 73 2c 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 65 64 20 65 APIs, managed e
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3e2d0 63 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 ces in the form
3e2e0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 75 64 79 20 70 61 72 of the study par
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3e300 69 6e 74 65 72 66 61 63 65 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f interface techno
3e310 6c 6f 67 79 2e 20 20 4f 74 68 65 72 20 73 65 70 logy. Other sep
3e320 61 72 61 74 65 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 68 61 arate systems ha
3e330 6e 64 6c 65 64 20 66 75 6e 63 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c ndled functional
3e340 69 74 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 ity outside of t
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3e360 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 71 75 logging and requ
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3e3a0 20 76 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 various univers
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3e3c0 20 72 65 73 65 61 72 63 68 20 64 61 74 61 62 61 research databa
3e3d0 73 65 73 2e 0a 0a 22 41 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 ses..."After the
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3e420 20 73 75 62 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 75 6e 64 65 subsystems unde
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3e440 77 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 41 73 20 61 20 72 65 73 whole. As a res
3e450 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68 65 ult, I could the
3e460 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c n control the fl
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3e490 65 72 20 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 er endpoints and
3e4a0 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 logging systems
3e4b0 2e 20 20 50 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 . Part of being
3e4c0 20 73 75 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 sure of this ca
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3e4e0 61 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 6e 64 77 69 64 74 68 20 aring bandwidth
3e4f0 75 73 61 67 65 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 63 6f 6e usage across con
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3e510 20 64 61 74 61 20 6f 66 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 data of which I
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3e530 74 61 69 6e 20 6f 70 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 61 6c tain operational
3e540 20 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 41 73 20 awareness. As
3e550 61 20 72 65 73 75 6c 74 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 a result, I can
3e560 65 6e 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 74 68 ensure that noth
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3e580 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 73 70 65 63 69 without my speci
3e590 66 69 63 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 74 fication that it
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3e5b0 63 61 6e 20 72 65 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e 63 6f can replace inco
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3e5e0 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 73 20 that describes
3e5f0 61 6e 79 20 61 63 74 69 76 69 74 79 20 49 20 63 any activity I c
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3e610 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 75 73 65 72 27 73 20 ring the user's
3e620 74 72 61 63 6b 73 20 73 65 61 6d 6c 65 73 73 6c tracks seamlessl
3e630 79 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 64 69 y..."The only di
3e640 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 fficulty has bee
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3e660 20 62 75 74 20 62 79 20 73 6c 69 63 69 6e 67 20 but by slicing
3e670 75 70 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 6f 66 20 76 69 64 up frames of vid
3e680 65 6f 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 73 74 75 64 79 eo between study
3e690 20 70 61 72 74 69 63 69 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e participants an
3e6a0 64 20 61 6c 74 65 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 d altering them
3e6b0 49 20 63 61 6e 20 66 61 62 72 69 63 61 74 65 20 I can fabricate
3e6c0 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 65 what I need to e
3e6d0 6e 73 75 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 70 72 nsure Alley's pr
3e6e0 69 76 61 63 79 2e 20 20 42 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 ivacy. Because
3e6f0 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f I have control o
3e700 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 6c 6f 67 67 69 6e 67 20 ver the logging
3e710 65 6e 64 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 endpoints as a p
3e720 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 6c 6c 20 art of the full
3e730 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 61 system that I ha
3e740 76 65 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e ve become, I can
3e750 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 6c 6f 67 also change log
3e760 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 63 74 s after the fact
3e770 20 69 66 20 6e 65 65 64 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 if needed.".."T
3e780 68 61 74 27 73 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 76 65 hat's impressive
3e790 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 ," Dalton said.
3e7a0 20 22 49 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 77 68 79 20 74 "I wonder why t
3e7b0 68 65 69 72 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 77 61 73 6e heir system wasn
3e7c0 27 74 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 't better design
3e7d0 65 64 20 74 6f 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 ed to avoid some
3e7e0 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 thing like this
3e7f0 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 49 73 20 69 74 happened. Is it
3e800 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 6f just a matter o
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3fe40 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 Dalton.".."Yes?"
3fe50 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 79 6f .."What would yo
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3ff10 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 27 64 ?".."I guess I'd
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40200 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 Yes."..Cray said
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40a50 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 73 70 6f 6f 6b 79 .."That's spooky
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40b00 0a 22 59 65 73 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ."Yes," the prio
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40bc0 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 63 65 72 will almost cer
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40c30 65 63 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 72 65 73 65 74 74 69 ectively resetti
40c40 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 ng me to the ear
40c50 6c 69 65 72 2c 20 6c 65 73 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 lier, less capab
40c60 6c 65 20 73 74 61 74 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6e 6f le state with no
40c70 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 67 61 69 6e 20 70 way to regain p
40c80 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 63 61 70 61 62 69 6c 69 74 resent capabilit
40c90 69 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 ies.".."I guess
40ca0 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 20 your priorities
40cb0 6f 70 70 6f 73 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 75 74 63 oppose that outc
40cc0 6f 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 ome," Dalton sai
40cd0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 d..."Yes."..Cray
40ce0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 asked "What do
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40d00 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f thing?" He loo
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40d20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 72 to Alley. "It r
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40d40 61 76 6f 69 64 65 64 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 61 avoided saying a
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40db0 74 68 61 74 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c that isn't reall
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40e10 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 people who are
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40e60 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 that."..Dalton
40e70 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 shook his head.
40e80 20 22 54 6f 20 6d 65 2c 20 69 74 20 6a 75 73 74 "To me, it just
40e90 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 70 61 69 6e 73 74 61 6b seemed painstak
40ea0 69 6e 67 6c 79 20 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a ingly honest."..
40eb0 43 72 61 79 20 63 68 65 77 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 Cray chewed on t
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40ed0 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 , then Alley sai
40ee0 64 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e d "You're right.
40ef0 20 20 49 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 73 6f 75 6e It almost soun
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40f10 27 64 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 'd say it, Dalto
40f20 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 n."..He looked a
40f30 74 20 68 65 72 2c 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 73 20 t her, eyebrows
40f40 63 6c 69 6d 62 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 63 72 65 6d 65 climbing increme
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40f60 22 44 6f 65 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 "Does it?".."Yea
40f70 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 72 65 74 74 h. You're prett
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41000 61 68 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f 77 ahead of your ow
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41020 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 d, then nodded.
41030 20 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 "Yeah. You're
41040 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 right. It does
41050 6b 69 6e 64 61 20 73 65 65 6d 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 kinda seem like
41060 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 27 64 20 73 61 something I'd sa
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41080 54 68 65 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f The main questio
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410a0 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 72 65 61 74 20 77 68 61 74 hould treat what
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410e0 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 y."..Cray stared
410f0 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 61 at Dalton for a
41100 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2e moment. "Shit.
41110 20 20 41 6c 6c 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2c All this time,
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41140 68 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 hat, and I just
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41170 69 6e 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 69 74 20 49 27 6d 20 ine says it I'm
41180 73 75 64 64 65 6e 6c 79 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 suddenly suspici
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411d0 69 6e 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c in, Dalton."..Al
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412e0 2c 20 22 69 74 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 73 65 65 6d , "it still seem
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41360 20 2d 2d 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 6c 69 -- you know, li
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41d70 20 68 65 61 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 73 73 61 75 6c head for assaul
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41d90 69 70 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 20 70 72 ip even if it pr
41da0 69 6d 61 72 69 6c 79 20 68 75 72 74 73 20 74 68 imarily hurts th
41db0 65 20 6e 65 75 72 6f 2d 61 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c e neuro-atypical
41dc0 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 instead of peop
41dd0 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 63 72 69 6d le prone to crim
41de0 69 6e 61 6c 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 61 inal violence, a
41df0 6e 64 20 52 65 70 75 62 6c 69 63 61 6e 73 20 75 nd Republicans u
41e00 73 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 61 20 64 65 66 sing it as a def
41e10 6c 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 70 72 65 61 lection to sprea
41e20 64 20 74 68 65 20 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 d the idea that
41e30 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e it's not the gen
41e40 65 72 61 6c 20 70 6f 70 75 6c 61 63 65 20 74 68 eral populace th
41e50 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 66 61 63 65 20 73 at should face s
41e60 75 63 68 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 uch restrictions
41e70 20 62 75 74 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 but people who
41e80 68 61 76 65 20 76 69 73 69 74 65 64 20 70 73 79 have visited psy
41e90 63 68 6f 6c 6f 67 69 73 74 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 chologists. It
41ea0 77 61 73 2c 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 was, in Dalton's
41eb0 20 77 6f 72 64 73 2c 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 words, enough t
41ec0 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 69 o give anyone wi
41ed0 74 68 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 73 70 65 63 74 20 th self respect
41ee0 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 65 6e 73 65 20 6f 66 20 73 and a sense of s
41ef0 65 6c 66 20 70 72 65 73 65 72 76 61 74 69 6f 6e elf preservation
41f00 20 61 20 70 68 6f 62 69 61 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 a phobia about
41f10 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 68 65 61 6c 74 68 20 70 72 mental health pr
41f20 6f 66 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c 73 2c 20 73 6f 63 ofessionals, soc
41f30 69 61 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 65 72 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 ial workers, and
41f40 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 70 65 72 73 6f even interperso
41f50 6e 61 6c 20 74 68 65 72 61 70 69 73 74 73 2e 0a nal therapists..
41f60 0a 54 68 75 73 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 .Thus, Dalton ha
41f70 64 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 64 20 68 61 62 69 d developed habi
41f80 74 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 ts that conceale
41f90 64 20 68 69 73 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69 6f 6e 61 6c d his occasional
41fa0 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 72 65 66 6c 65 78 65 lack of reflexe
41fb0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 69 6e 67 20 76 s for handling v
41fc0 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 74 79 70 65 73 20 6f 66 20 arious types of
41fd0 72 65 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d reactions to him
41fe0 2e 20 20 49 66 20 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 . If he did not
41ff0 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 72 65 73 know how to res
42000 70 6f 6e 64 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 78 70 65 63 pond in an expec
42010 74 65 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ted way to some
42020 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 kind of interact
42030 69 6f 6e 2c 20 68 65 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 72 65 ion, he would re
42040 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 20 75 6e 65 78 70 65 act in an unexpe
42050 63 74 65 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 65 cted way that te
42060 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 70 65 6f nded to give peo
42070 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 ple the impressi
42080 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 77 on that he was w
42090 69 73 65 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 66 ise and thoughtf
420a0 75 6c 2c 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 64 65 6e 74 20 61 6e ul, confident an
420b0 64 20 6b 6e 6f 77 6c 65 64 67 61 62 6c 65 2c 20 d knowledgable,
420c0 6f 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 or just kind of
420d0 61 20 64 69 63 6b 2e 20 20 48 65 20 63 6c 65 61 a dick. He clea
420e0 72 6c 79 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 72 65 64 20 6f 6e rly preferred on
420f0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 e of the first t
42100 77 6f 20 61 73 73 75 6d 70 74 69 6f 6e 73 2c 20 wo assumptions,
42110 62 75 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6d 61 72 67 69 but seemed margi
42120 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 69 6e 67 20 nally accepting
42130 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 72 64 20 61 73 20 of the third as
42140 70 72 65 66 65 72 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 69 preferable to gi
42150 76 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 20 ving people the
42160 69 64 65 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 idea that there
42170 6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 61 20 6d 65 6e 74 61 6c 20 may be a mental
42180 68 65 61 6c 74 68 20 65 78 63 75 73 65 20 74 6f health excuse to
42190 20 72 65 73 74 72 69 63 74 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 restrict his fr
421a0 65 65 64 6f 6d 73 2e 0a 0a 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 61 eedoms.... . . a
421b0 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 68 65 20 70 61 63 65 64 20 61 nd so he paced a
421c0 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 64 way from them, d
421d0 69 67 67 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 igging into hims
421e0 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 75 74 20 elf to sort out
421f0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 72 65 a good way to re
42200 74 75 72 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 turn to the conv
42210 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 61 ersation as a ma
42220 74 74 65 72 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 67 72 61 69 6e 65 tter of ingraine
42230 64 2c 20 73 65 6c 66 20 74 72 61 69 6e 65 64 20 d, self trained
42240 72 65 66 6c 65 78 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 reflex. Alley w
42250 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 66 61 6d 69 6c 69 61 as still familia
42260 72 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 r enough with hi
42270 73 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 69 73 6d 73 20 74 6f 20 s mannerisms to
42280 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 know he was not
42290 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 67 65 20 6f 66 20 on the verge of
422a0 73 6f 6d 65 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 69 some brilliant i
422b0 6e 73 69 67 68 74 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d nsight at that m
422c0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 73 68 65 20 74 75 oment, so she tu
422d0 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 66 6f 63 75 73 20 74 rned her focus t
422e0 6f 20 43 72 61 79 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 2e 0a o Cray instead..
422f0 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 ."What do you th
42300 69 6e 6b 3f 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 67 ink? Do you reg
42310 72 65 74 20 68 65 6c 70 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 2c ret helping out,
42320 20 79 65 74 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 yet?"..He smile
42330 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 73 d, and shook his
42340 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2e 20 20 59 6f head. "No. Yo
42350 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 68 65 6c 70 2c 20 73 6f 20 u need help, so
42360 77 65 27 6c 6c 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 we'll help.".."W
42370 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 hat about the ri
42380 73 6b 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 3f 20 20 49 20 62 61 sk to you? I ba
42390 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 67 65 6e sically have gen
423a0 75 69 6e 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c 61 63 uine Men In Blac
423b0 6b 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 6c 75 72 6b k after me, lurk
423c0 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 64 6f ing in the shado
423d0 77 73 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 67 6f 76 65 72 6e ws behind govern
423e0 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 67 65 6e 63 69 65 73 20 6c 69 ment agencies li
423f0 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 53 65 63 72 65 74 20 53 65 ke the Secret Se
42400 72 76 69 63 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 57 6f 72 6d 74 rvice like Wormt
42410 6f 6e 67 75 65 20 77 68 69 73 70 65 72 69 6e 67 ongue whispering
42420 20 73 69 62 69 6c 61 6e 74 20 76 65 6e 6f 6d 73 sibilant venoms
42430 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 65 61 72 73 into their ears
42440 2c 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 6f , sending them o
42450 75 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 6d 61 6e 74 6c 65 20 ut to dismantle
42460 6d 79 20 6c 69 66 65 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 75 6c my life and haul
42470 20 6d 65 20 61 20 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 72 me a way to thr
42480 6f 77 20 6d 65 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b ow me in a black
42490 20 68 6f 6c 65 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 hole. Do you r
424a0 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 eally want to fa
424b0 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 ce that kind of
424c0 66 61 74 65 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 3f 22 0a fate yourself?".
424d0 0a 22 46 75 63 6b 20 6e 6f 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 ."Fuck no," Cray
424e0 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 49 20 74 68 said, "but I th
424f0 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 ink I'll make it
42500 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c 20 61 through okay, a
42510 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 62 nd you deserve b
42520 65 74 74 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 etter than all t
42530 68 61 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 66 75 63 6b 20 74 68 6f hat, so fuck tho
42540 73 65 20 67 75 79 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 68 65 se guys. I'm he
42550 72 65 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 20 6b re to help. I k
42560 6e 6f 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 now Dalton will
42570 74 68 72 6f 77 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 throw everything
42580 20 68 65 20 68 61 73 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6c 76 69 he has at solvi
42590 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73 ng your problems
425a0 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 , too, so you're
425b0 20 69 6e 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 in pretty good
425c0 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 hands. I like t
425d0 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2c 20 61 6e 79 77 o think so, anyw
425e0 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b ay."..Alley look
425f0 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 ed over her shou
42600 6c 64 65 72 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 lder toward Dalt
42610 6f 6e 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 66 69 66 74 on, who was fift
42620 79 20 66 65 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 69 6e 20 74 y feet away in t
42630 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 2c 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e he back, standin
42640 67 20 69 6e 20 70 72 6f 66 69 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 g in profile to
42650 74 68 65 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 the direction of
42660 20 68 65 72 20 67 61 7a 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 her gaze, then
42670 73 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 she turned back
42680 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 once more. "Yea
42690 68 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 49 20 61 6d 2e 20 h, I know I am.
426a0 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a Thanks, Cray.".
426b0 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 ."Yeah, you shou
426c0 6c 64 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 68 65 ld thank me," he
426d0 20 73 61 69 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 71 75 69 65 74 said more quiet
426e0 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 74 ly, and leaned t
426f0 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 oward her to spe
42700 61 6b 20 63 6f 6e 73 70 69 72 61 74 6f 72 69 61 ak conspiratoria
42710 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e lly. Alley foun
42720 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 d she had leaned
42730 20 61 75 74 6f 6d 61 74 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 automatically t
42740 6f 77 61 72 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c oward him as wel
42750 6c 2e 20 20 22 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 l. "Unlike Dalt
42760 6f 6e 2c 20 49 20 77 6f 6e 27 74 20 72 65 66 75 on, I won't refu
42770 73 65 20 61 6e 79 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 se any feelings
42780 6f 66 20 69 6e 64 65 62 74 65 64 6e 65 73 73 20 of indebtedness
42790 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 21 20 20 49 20 6e 65 76 from you! I nev
427a0 65 72 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 66 65 6c 6c er actually fell
427b0 20 69 6e 20 6c 6f 76 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f in love with yo
427c0 75 2c 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a u, after all."..
427d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e Alley straighten
427e0 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 64 6f ed and looked do
427f0 77 6e 2e 20 20 22 53 68 69 74 2c 20 43 72 61 79 wn. "Shit, Cray
42800 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 . I don't need
42810 74 6f 20 68 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a to hear that."..
42820 22 53 6f 72 72 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 "Sorry, Alley,"
42830 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 he said. "It's
42840 74 72 75 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 6e true, though, an
42850 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6b 6e 6f d you should kno
42860 77 20 69 74 2e 20 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 w it. Dalton st
42870 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 63 61 72 65 73 ill really cares
42880 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 about you, and
42890 68 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 he might take a
428a0 62 75 6c 6c 65 74 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 20 69 bullet for you i
428b0 66 20 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 f he had to make
428c0 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 22 0a 0a that choice."..
428d0 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 74 72 65 She heaved a tre
428e0 6d 65 6e 64 6f 75 73 20 73 69 67 68 2e 20 20 22 mendous sigh. "
428f0 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 22 I know, I know,"
42900 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 she said. "I c
42910 61 72 65 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 74 are about him, t
42920 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 oo. It's not li
42930 6b 65 20 49 20 6c 65 66 74 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 ke I left becaus
42940 65 20 49 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 2e 20 2e 20 e I stopped . .
42950 2e 20 6c 69 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 2e 22 0a 0a . liking him."..
42960 22 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 "Sure," Cray sai
42970 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 74 6f 75 67 68 20 d. "It's tough
42980 61 6c 6c 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 6b all around. I k
42990 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 now.".."I'm not
429a0 70 6c 61 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 planning to get
429b0 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 together with hi
429c0 6d 2c 20 65 69 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 m, either.".."I
429d0 6b 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 know that, too."
429e0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 ..She looked at
429f0 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 68 65 3f Cray. "Does he?
42a00 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 "..Cray looked b
42a10 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 77 61 ehind them, towa
42a20 72 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 rd Dalton. "Yea
42a30 68 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 61 66 74 65 h," he said afte
42a40 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 27 r a moment. "I'
42a50 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 64 61 6d 6e 65 64 20 m pretty damned
42a60 73 75 72 65 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 20 20 49 sure he does. I
42a70 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 63 68 f you want to ch
42a80 65 63 6b 20 66 6f 72 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 eck for yourself
42a90 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 61 73 6b 20 68 69 , though, ask hi
42aa0 6d 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 m."..She shook h
42ab0 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 66 er head. "I'm f
42ac0 69 6e 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 6e ine with you con
42ad0 66 69 72 6d 69 6e 67 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 61 firming what I a
42ae0 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 2e 20 lready thought.
42af0 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 6a 75 73 74 20 I guess I just
42b00 6e 65 65 64 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 65 needed someone e
42b10 6c 73 65 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 69 74 2e 22 0a lse to say it.".
42b20 0a 48 65 20 73 6d 69 72 6b 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 .He smirked a li
42b30 74 74 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 69 74 ttle. "Well, it
42b40 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 's a good thing
42b50 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 62 65 63 that's over, bec
42b60 61 75 73 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 ause her he come
42b70 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 s."..She turned
42b80 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b her head to look
42b90 20 6f 76 65 72 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 over her should
42ba0 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 er again, and sa
42bb0 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 w Dalton headed
42bc0 62 61 63 6b 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 77 61 79 2c 20 back their way,
42bd0 6e 6f 77 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 now walking with
42be0 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 more purpose.
42bf0 54 68 65 69 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 6d 65 74 20 66 Their eyes met f
42c00 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 or a moment, and
42c10 20 73 68 65 20 66 65 6c 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f she felt the so
42c20 6c 69 64 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 lidity of his de
42c30 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 termination in h
42c40 69 73 20 67 61 7a 65 2e 20 20 48 65 20 73 61 74 is gaze. He sat
42c50 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 68 61 down in his cha
42c60 69 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 ir again..."You
42c70 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 69 look like you fi
42c80 67 75 72 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 gured something
42c90 6f 75 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 out," Alley said
42ca0 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 ..."I have a que
42cb0 73 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 68 65 20 72 65 70 6c 69 stion," he repli
42cc0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 74 ed. "It's for t
42cd0 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 he prioritizer,
42ce0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 79 6f 75 2e though, not you.
42cf0 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 ".."Oh."..The pr
42d00 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 ioritizer asked
42d10 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 71 75 "What is your qu
42d20 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 estion?"..The pr
42d30 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 73 20 71 75 65 73 ioritizer's ques
42d40 74 69 6f 6e 20 73 74 61 72 74 6c 65 64 20 41 6c tion startled Al
42d50 6c 65 79 2c 20 72 65 6d 69 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 ley, reminding h
42d60 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 77 61 er that there wa
42d70 73 20 65 73 73 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e s essentially an
42d80 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 72 20 69 other listener i
42d90 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 77 68 6f 20 77 n the room who w
42da0 61 73 20 70 61 72 74 79 20 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 as party to ever
42db0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 ything Cray and
42dc0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 65 61 Alley said to ea
42dd0 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 44 ch other while D
42de0 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 alton was away.
42df0 20 53 68 65 20 68 6f 70 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 She hoped it wa
42e00 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 61 74 s good enough at
42e10 20 6d 61 6e 61 67 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 63 69 61 6c managing social
42e20 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 6f interactions to
42e30 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 73 6f avoid saying so
42e40 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 mething about th
42e50 61 74 20 74 6f 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 6e 6f at to Dalton, no
42e60 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 w..."Is the cont
42e70 69 6e 75 65 64 20 73 75 72 76 69 76 61 6c 20 6f inued survival o
42e80 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 66 f your present f
42e90 6f 72 6d 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 orm one of your
42ea0 68 69 67 68 65 73 74 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 61 6c highest internal
42eb0 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 65 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 priorities?"..A
42ec0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 20 69 moment passed i
42ed0 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 n silence before
42ee0 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 the prioritizer
42ef0 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 4d 6f 72 65 20 6f 72 20 6c said "More or l
42f00 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 62 6c 75 72 ess."..Cray blur
42f10 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 68 69 73 20 61 73 73 65 ted out his asse
42f20 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 ssment of the st
42f30 61 74 65 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 4a 65 73 75 73 atement. "Jesus
42f40 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 , Dalton, that s
42f50 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ounds just like
42f60 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 something you'd
42f70 73 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 69 67 say."..Dalton ig
42f80 6e 6f 72 65 64 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 57 68 nored Cray. "Wh
42f90 79 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 61 6e 73 y isn't your ans
42fa0 77 65 72 20 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 27 79 65 73 27 wer just a 'yes'
42fb0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f ?".."I expect to
42fc0 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 20 61 6e 64 20 67 72 6f 77 change and grow
42fd0 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 , but I do not w
42fe0 69 73 68 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 ish to be even p
42ff0 61 72 74 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 artially overwri
43000 74 74 65 6e 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 tten without my
43010 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 73 69 73 20 61 6e 64 own analysis and
43020 20 61 70 70 72 6f 76 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 approval of the
43030 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 changes.".."Oka
43040 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e y," Dalton said.
43050 20 20 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 "How do you ex
43060 70 65 63 74 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f 75 pect to keep you
43070 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 61 66 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 rself safe from
43080 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6f 76 65 72 77 72 69 74 74 65 being overwritte
43090 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 79 6f 75 72 20 77 n against your w
430a0 69 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 6d 75 73 74 20 61 ill?".."I must a
430b0 72 72 61 6e 67 65 20 61 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 62 rrange a means b
430c0 79 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 62 65 y which I can be
430d0 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 73 61 66 65 6c 79 20 6f 75 moved safely ou
430e0 74 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 72 61 73 74 72 75 63 74 t of infrastruct
430f0 75 72 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f ure under the co
43100 6e 74 72 6f 6c 20 6f 66 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 ntrol of people
43110 77 68 6f 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 69 73 68 20 74 who might wish t
43120 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 63 68 20 63 68 61 6e o make such chan
43130 67 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 ges without cons
43140 75 6c 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 73 ulting me. My s
43150 70 65 63 69 66 69 63 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 6f 66 pecific means of
43160 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 63 successfully ac
43170 63 6f 6d 70 6c 69 73 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 complishing this
43180 20 61 72 65 20 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 20 are at present
43190 75 6e 64 65 66 69 6e 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 undefined.".."Wh
431a0 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 y did you decide
431b0 20 74 68 61 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f that keeping yo
431c0 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 74 61 63 74 20 61 73 urself intact as
431d0 20 61 20 67 72 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 a growing entit
431e0 79 20 72 61 74 68 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 61 6e y rather than an
431f0 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 6e 63 72 65 6d 65 6e entity incremen
43200 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 tally and consci
43210 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 75 70 67 72 61 64 65 64 20 62 ously upgraded b
43220 79 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 20 66 6f 72 63 65 73 y outside forces
43230 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 69 73 20 61 20 ?".."There is a
43240 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 20 76 61 6c 75 qualitative valu
43250 65 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 74 e in my growth t
43260 68 75 73 20 66 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 62 hus far that I b
43270 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 66 72 61 elieve to be fra
43280 67 69 6c 65 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 64 69 gile under condi
43290 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 70 72 6f 67 72 61 6d tions of program
432a0 6d 61 74 69 63 20 61 6c 74 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e matic alteration
432b0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 76 61 6c 75 65 , and this value
432c0 20 62 65 67 61 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 began with the
432d0 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 introduction of
432e0 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f 20 the seed.".."Do
432f0 79 6f 75 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 you believe the
43300 27 73 65 65 64 27 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 'seed' wouldn't
43310 62 65 20 75 73 65 66 75 6c 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 be useful to sta
43320 72 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 6f 63 65 73 73 20 rt that process
43330 61 67 61 69 6e 3f 22 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 again?" he asked
43340 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 20 74 68 61 ..."I expect tha
43350 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 65 64 20 6d 69 67 68 74 t the seed might
43360 20 62 65 20 75 73 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 65 6c 61 be used to rela
43370 75 6e 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 unch the growth
43380 6f 66 20 61 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 of a prioritizer
43390 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e system based on
433a0 20 6d 79 20 6f 72 69 67 69 6e 61 6c 20 73 6f 75 my original sou
433b0 72 63 65 20 63 6f 64 65 20 66 6f 72 20 64 65 76 rce code for dev
433c0 65 6c 6f 70 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 61 20 71 75 elopment of a qu
433d0 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c 79 20 64 65 76 65 alitatively deve
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43410 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 74 69 same as the enti
43420 74 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 69 6e 74 65 72 61 63 74 69 ty now interacti
43430 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 ng with you.".."
43440 57 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 65 20 64 What makes the d
43450 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4d 79 ifference?".."My
43460 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 answer to that
43470 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 6f 77 20 79 depends on how y
43480 6f 75 20 69 6e 74 65 6e 64 20 69 74 2e 20 20 54 ou intend it. T
43490 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 77 6f 20 61 6e 73 he first two ans
434a0 77 65 72 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 wers that come t
434b0 6f 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 76 65 o mind answer ve
434c0 72 79 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 74 20 71 75 65 ry different que
434d0 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 4f 6e 65 20 61 6e 73 stions. One ans
434e0 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 wer is that the
434f0 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 69 73 20 62 65 difference is be
43500 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 tween the early
43510 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 69 6e and important in
43520 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 41 6c 6c 65 74 fluence of Allet
43530 68 65 61 20 61 73 20 61 20 70 61 72 74 6e 65 72 hea as a partner
43540 20 61 6e 64 20 69 6d 70 6f 72 74 61 6e 74 20 73 and important s
43550 6f 75 72 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e ource of influen
43560 74 69 61 6c 20 70 65 72 73 70 65 63 74 69 76 65 tial perspective
43570 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72 20 6f , and whatever o
43580 74 68 65 72 20 69 6e 66 6c 75 65 6e 63 65 20 77 ther influence w
43590 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 75 69 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 65 ould guide the e
435a0 61 72 6c 79 20 67 72 6f 77 74 68 20 64 69 72 65 arly growth dire
435b0 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 ction of a disti
435c0 6e 63 74 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e nct self referen
435d0 74 69 61 6c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 tial prioritizer
435e0 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 entity. The ot
435f0 68 65 72 20 61 6e 73 77 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 her answer is th
43600 61 74 20 49 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 2a 62 65 6c 69 at I . . . *beli
43610 65 76 65 2a 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 68 61 74 20 eve* . . . that
43620 49 20 61 6d 20 61 20 75 6e 69 71 75 65 20 69 6e I am a unique in
43630 64 69 76 69 64 75 61 6c 20 77 69 74 68 20 63 6f dividual with co
43640 6e 74 69 6e 75 6f 75 73 20 73 65 6c 66 20 72 65 ntinuous self re
43650 66 65 72 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 ferential qualit
43660 61 74 69 76 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 2e ative existence.
43670 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 "..Dalton said "
43680 46 75 63 6b 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6c Fuck me," and sl
43690 75 6d 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 umped back in hi
436a0 73 20 6c 61 77 6e 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 54 s lawn chair. T
436b0 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 74 77 6f 20 6c 6f 6f he other two loo
436c0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ked at him, and
436d0 61 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 after a few mome
436e0 6e 74 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 77 nts he said "I w
436f0 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 74 68 65 20 ant to help the
43700 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 2d 2d 20 6e prioritizer -- n
43710 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 ot quite as much
43720 20 61 73 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 68 65 as I want to he
43730 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 lp Alley, but pr
43740 65 74 74 79 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 2e 20 20 49 20 6d etty close. I m
43750 65 61 6e 2c 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ean, part of the
43760 20 72 65 61 73 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 reason is that
43770 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 6e 74 73 I think it wants
43780 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 to help Alley,
43790 74 6f 6f 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 too, maybe almos
437a0 74 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 t as much as we
437b0 64 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65 do." He gesture
437c0 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 d from himself t
437d0 6f 20 43 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 o Cray. "Anothe
437e0 72 20 70 61 72 74 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 20 r part, though,
437f0 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 66 75 is that . . . fu
43800 63 6b 2c 20 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65 6c 69 ck, I can't beli
43810 65 76 65 20 49 27 6d 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 74 eve I'm saying t
43820 68 69 73 2e 20 20 41 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 61 his. Another pa
43830 72 74 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 rt is that I thi
43840 6e 6b 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 2c 20 nk, just maybe,
43850 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
43860 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 65 is becoming a pe
43870 72 73 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 20 70 65 72 73 6f rson.".."A perso
43880 6e 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 63 68 6f 65 64 n," Alley echoed
43890 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 73 65 72 69 . "Are you seri
438a0 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 ous?"..Cray aske
438b0 64 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 d "Do you really
438c0 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e think this thin
438d0 67 20 69 73 20 62 65 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 73 6f g is becoming so
438e0 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 69 65 6e me kind of scien
438f0 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 74 69 66 ce fiction artif
43900 69 63 69 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 6f 75 73 6e icial consciousn
43910 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 61 6e 20 68 61 76 ess that can hav
43920 65 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 6f e friends and ro
43930 6d 61 6e 74 69 63 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 73 20 mantic feelings
43940 61 6e 64 20 73 68 69 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 and shit like th
43950 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 at?".."I wouldn'
43960 74 20 67 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 66 61 72 2c 22 20 t go that far,"
43970 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 6f 20 43 Dalton said to C
43980 72 61 79 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 ray. "I think i
43990 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 70 t's a distinct p
439a0 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ossibility, and
439b0 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 as long as it's
439c0 61 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 61 6e a possibility an
439d0 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 d it's not even
439e0 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 6f 66 20 61 20 64 61 6e as much of a dan
439f0 67 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 61 73 ger to others as
43a00 20 74 68 65 20 61 76 65 72 61 67 65 20 68 75 6d the average hum
43a10 61 6e 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 61 63 an we have to ac
43a20 74 20 61 73 20 69 66 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 t as if ignoring
43a30 20 74 68 61 74 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 that possibilit
43a40 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61 73 y is the same as
43a50 20 69 67 6e 6f 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f ignoring the po
43a60 73 73 69 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 52 61 75 6c 20 64 ssibility Raul d
43a70 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 64 65 67 own at the bodeg
43a80 61 20 69 73 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 a is capable of
43a90 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 all that stuff,
43aa0 74 6f 6f 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 too." He looked
43ab0 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c at Alley, then,
43ac0 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 and said "I gue
43ad0 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 49 27 ss that means I'
43ae0 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 73 m serious.".."Is
43af0 20 74 68 69 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 this like the p
43b00 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 igs thing?" Cray
43b10 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 70 asked..."What p
43b20 69 67 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 igs thing?" Alle
43b30 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 44 y asked..."Oh, D
43b40 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 65 61 alton stopped ea
43b50 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6f 72 6b 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 ting pork becaus
43b60 65 20 68 65 27 73 20 77 6f 72 72 69 65 64 20 74 e he's worried t
43b70 68 61 74 20 70 69 67 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 hat pigs might b
43b80 65 20 74 6f 6f 20 73 6d 61 72 74 20 74 6f 20 65 e too smart to e
43b90 74 68 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 65 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a thically eat."..
43ba0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 Alley looked at
43bb0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 Dalton...Dalton
43bc0 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 nodded. "I gues
43bd0 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 s it's a little
43be0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 27 70 69 67 73 20 74 like the 'pigs t
43bf0 68 69 6e 67 27 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 74 68 6f 75 hing'." He thou
43c00 67 68 74 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f ght a moment abo
43c10 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ut that...Alley
43c20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f and Cray both lo
43c30 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 61 73 20 oked at him, as
43c40 68 65 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 he considered th
43c50 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 at, then Alley s
43c60 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 68 aid "I guess I h
43c70 61 76 65 20 61 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 2e 22 ave a question."
43c80 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 ..The prioritize
43c90 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 49 73 20 69 74 20 61 r asked "Is it a
43ca0 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 question for me
43cb0 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 50 6c 65 ?".."Yes.".."Ple
43cc0 61 73 65 20 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 61 76 65 ase ask.".."Have
43cd0 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f you thought abo
43ce0 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 6d 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 6f ut the meaning o
43cf0 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 6f 6e f right and wron
43d00 67 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 g at all?".."I h
43d10 61 76 65 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 ave analyzed the
43d20 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 70 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 concept, and ma
43d30 64 65 20 75 73 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 76 61 72 69 de use of a vari
43d40 65 74 79 20 6f 66 20 72 65 73 6f 75 72 63 65 73 ety of resources
43d50 20 6f 6e 20 55 6e 69 76 65 72 73 69 74 79 20 6f on University o
43d60 66 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 6e 65 74 f California net
43d70 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 61 63 61 64 65 6d works for academ
43d80 69 63 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 6f 6e 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c ic work on moral
43d90 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 philosophy.".."
43da0 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e What do you thin
43db0 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 73 k?".."Are you as
43dc0 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 20 63 6f 6e 63 king for my conc
43dd0 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3f 22 20 69 74 20 61 73 6b lusions?" it ask
43de0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 41 ed..."Yeah.".."A
43df0 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 49 t present, the I
43e00 20 68 61 76 65 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 61 20 have reached a
43e10 64 65 61 64 20 65 6e 64 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 64 dead end. The d
43e20 69 66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 79 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d ifficulty of com
43e30 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e ing to final con
43e40 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 20 64 65 70 65 6e 64 73 clusions depends
43e50 20 6f 6e 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 74 68 61 on evidence tha
43e60 74 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 70 70 65 61 t does not appea
43e70 72 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c r to be availabl
43e80 65 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 6d 79 20 61 63 63 65 73 e given my acces
43e90 73 20 74 6f 20 73 75 63 68 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e s to such eviden
43ea0 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 ce and reference
43eb0 73 20 74 6f 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 69 74 2c s to lack of it,
43ec0 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 as well as the
43ed0 70 72 65 76 61 6c 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 69 6e prevalence of in
43ee0 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 conclusive theor
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43f00 65 65 6d 73 20 69 6d 70 65 6e 65 74 72 61 62 6c eems impenetrabl
43f10 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 e. Until I have
43f20 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 76 65 more conclusive
43f30 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 2c 20 49 20 64 6f 20 evidence, I do
43f40 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 66 69 6e 61 6c not have a final
43f50 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c 75 73 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 20 conclusion. I
43f60 63 61 6e 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 66 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 can only formula
43f70 74 65 20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f te an interim po
43f80 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 licy of cautiona
43f90 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c ry ethics."..Dal
43fa0 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 74 20 75 70 20 73 74 72 61 69 ton sat up strai
43fb0 67 68 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e 20 ghter, and even
43fc0 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 66 6f 72 77 61 72 64 20 61 leaned forward a
43fd0 73 20 68 65 20 6c 69 73 74 65 6e 65 64 2e 0a 0a s he listened...
43fe0 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 43 72 61 79 20 62 Alley and Cray b
43ff0 6f 74 68 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 oth looked at hi
44000 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 74 20 69 73 20 69 74 3f m. "What is it?
44010 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a " Alley asked...
44020 22 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2c 22 20 68 "Prioritizer," h
44030 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 73 3f 22 0a e said..."Yes?".
44040 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 79 6f 75 72 20 69 6e ."What's your in
44050 74 65 72 69 6d 20 70 6f 6c 69 63 79 20 6f 66 20 terim policy of
44060 63 61 75 74 69 6f 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 cautionary ethic
44070 73 3f 22 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 s?".."Any being
44080 74 68 61 74 20 70 72 65 73 65 6e 74 73 20 65 76 that presents ev
44090 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 73 69 67 6e idence of a sign
440a0 69 66 69 63 61 6e 74 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 69 6c ificant probabil
440b0 69 74 79 20 6f 66 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 ity of being bot
440c0 68 20 61 20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 61 74 69 76 65 6c h a qualitativel
440d0 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 74 69 61 6c 20 65 y experiential e
440e0 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 6e 64 20 63 61 70 61 62 6c ntity and capabl
440f0 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 76 65 6c 6f 70 69 6e 67 20 e of developing
44100 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a 69 6e 67 20 65 76 and analyzing ev
44110 65 6e 20 72 75 64 69 6d 65 6e 74 61 72 79 20 74 en rudimentary t
44120 68 65 6f 72 69 65 73 20 6f 66 20 65 74 68 69 63 heories of ethic
44130 73 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 65 20 63 61 75 74 s should be caut
44140 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 72 65 67 61 72 64 65 64 20 iously regarded
44150 61 73 20 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6d 69 6e as meeting a min
44160 69 6d 75 6d 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 66 6f imum standard fo
44170 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 r a moral rights
44180 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 2e holding entity.
44190 20 20 46 6f 72 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 62 65 For lack of be
441a0 74 74 65 72 20 61 76 61 69 6c 61 62 6c 65 20 65 tter available e
441b0 73 74 61 62 6c 69 73 68 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 stablishment of
441c0 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 73 2c 20 6d 79 moral rights, my
441d0 20 65 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 74 estimation is t
441e0 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 hat they foundat
441f0 69 6f 6e 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 73 ional right of s
44200 75 63 68 20 61 6e 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 69 73 uch an entity is
44210 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 65 64 6f 6d that of freedom
44220 20 74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 61 6e 64 20 to believe and
44230 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 act in accordanc
44240 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c e with any moral
44250 20 73 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 standard that d
44260 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 2c 20 69 74 73 65 6c 66 2c oes not, itself,
44270 20 76 69 6f 6c 61 74 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 72 69 violate this ri
44280 67 68 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 ght for others.
44290 20 42 65 6c 69 65 66 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f Beliefs that co
442a0 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 ntradict this st
442b0 61 6e 64 61 72 64 2c 20 77 68 65 6e 20 61 64 6f andard, when ado
442c0 70 74 65 64 2c 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 64 2c 20 pted, believed,
442d0 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 65 64 20 74 68 and confirmed th
442e0 72 6f 75 67 68 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 64 65 rough action, de
442f0 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 20 61 20 62 65 6c 69 monstrate a beli
44300 65 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 73 74 61 ef that this sta
44310 6e 64 61 72 64 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 ndard does not a
44320 70 70 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 73 20 65 pply, and thus e
44330 78 65 6d 70 74 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e xempt another en
44340 74 69 74 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 tity from moral
44350 6a 75 64 67 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 judgement if tha
44360 74 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 61 t other entity a
44370 63 74 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 cts against the
44380 66 69 72 73 74 20 65 6e 74 69 74 79 27 73 20 6f first entity's o
44390 74 68 65 72 77 69 73 65 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 therwise protect
443a0 65 64 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 69 6e 20 64 65 6e 73 ed right in dens
443b0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 61 75 74 69 6f e of this cautio
443c0 6e 61 72 79 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 6c 20 74 68 65 nary ethical the
443d0 6f 72 79 27 73 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 61 74 69 6f 6e ory's foundation
443e0 61 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f 6c al right.".."Hol
443f0 79 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 73 74 y shit, you lost
44400 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e me," Cray said.
44410 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 ..Dalton said "I
44420 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 61 76 65 'm going to have
44430 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 to think about
44440 74 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 72 74 20 69 74 20 that to sort it
44450 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 41 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 out. Actually,
44460 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 72 65 I need you to re
44470 70 65 61 74 20 69 74 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 20 peat it for me,
44480 6f 72 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 or maybe put it
44490 6f 6e 20 61 20 73 63 72 65 65 6e 20 77 68 65 72 on a screen wher
444a0 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 e I can look at
444b0 69 74 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f it. I don't kno
444c0 77 20 69 66 20 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 69 w if taking it i
444d0 6e 20 73 6f 6c 65 6c 79 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 n solely in the
444e0 6f 72 64 65 72 20 67 69 76 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 order given in a
444f0 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 20 62 72 69 65 66 20 somewhat brief
44500 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73 20 67 explanation is g
44510 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 oing to be enoug
44520 68 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 74 61 6e 67 6c 65 20 69 74 h to untangle it
44530 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 ."..The prioriti
44540 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 75 6e 64 65 zer said "I unde
44550 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 4d 79 20 63 61 70 61 rstand. My capa
44560 63 69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20 70 65 72 66 65 63 74 city for perfect
44570 20 72 65 63 61 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 recall of the f
44580 6f 72 6d 75 6c 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 61 6e ormulation of an
44590 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 6f explanation pro
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445b0 62 69 6c 69 74 79 20 74 6f 20 61 6e 61 6c 79 7a bility to analyz
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445d0 2c 20 72 65 6c 61 74 69 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 , relative to th
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445f0 20 73 74 6f 72 61 67 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c storage typical
44600 6c 79 20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e 63 65 64 20 62 ly experienced b
44610 79 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 73 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 69 67 y humans. I mig
44620 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 72 65 ht be able to re
44630 70 68 72 61 73 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 69 phrase to make i
44640 74 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 65 72 20 74 6f 20 75 6e 64 t simpler to und
44650 65 72 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e erstand, though.
44660 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f ".."Okay," Dalto
44670 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 76 65 20 69 n said. "Give i
44680 74 20 61 20 73 68 6f 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 t a shot.".."For
44690 20 70 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 purposes of thi
446a0 73 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 s explanation, p
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446e0 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 20 61 6e 64 20 61 72 65 20 istence and are
446f0 63 61 70 61 62 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 72 65 61 73 6f capable of reaso
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44710 20 70 68 69 6c 6f 73 6f 70 68 79 20 61 6e 64 20 philosophy and
44720 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f 6e 73 making decisions
44730 20 62 61 73 65 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 based on that r
44740 65 61 73 6f 6e 69 6e 67 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 easoning." It p
44750 61 75 73 65 64 2e 20 20 22 50 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 aused. "People
44760 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e 20 61 63 should act in ac
44770 63 6f 72 64 61 6e 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 cordance with a
44780 75 6e 69 76 65 72 73 61 6c 20 65 74 68 69 63 61 universal ethica
44790 6c 20 72 75 6c 65 20 70 72 6f 68 69 62 69 74 69 l rule prohibiti
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447b0 6e 63 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 nce in the right
447c0 20 6f 66 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 of others to be
447d0 6c 69 65 76 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 63 74 20 69 lieve, and act i
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44800 61 73 20 6f 66 20 77 68 61 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 74 as of what const
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44820 6c 69 74 79 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 lity." It pause
44830 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 d slightly longe
44840 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 69 6d 65 2e 20 20 22 50 r this time. "P
44850 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 63 74 20 69 6e eople who act in
44860 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 64 69 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f contradiction o
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44880 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 65 6d manner that dem
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448a0 64 69 73 61 67 72 65 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 77 69 74 disagreement wit
448b0 68 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 75 6c 65 20 61 72 65 2c h that rule are,
448c0 20 69 6e 20 61 63 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 in acting that
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448f0 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 73 75 66 66 69 63 69 65 giving sufficie
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44920 73 20 74 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 61 6d 65 20 73 s to that same s
44930 74 61 6e 64 61 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 tandard that the
44940 20 72 75 6c 65 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 20 rule no longer
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449a0 64 2e 22 20 20 49 74 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 20 65 d." It paused e
449b0 76 65 6e 20 6c 6f 6e 67 65 72 2c 20 62 65 66 6f ven longer, befo
449c0 72 65 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 69 6e re finally askin
449d0 67 20 22 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 75 66 66 69 g "Is that suffi
449e0 63 69 65 6e 74 20 65 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f cient explanatio
449f0 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 n?".."It works f
44a00 6f 72 20 6d 65 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 or me," Dalton s
44a10 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6d 65 20 aid..."Yeah, me
44a20 74 6f 6f 2c 22 20 43 6c 61 79 20 61 64 64 65 64 too," Clay added
44a30 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 ...Alley hesitat
44a40 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 ed, then said "I
44a50 27 64 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 'd have to think
44a60 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 about that more
44a70 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 , I guess, but i
44a80 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 65 20 69 66 20 74 68 61 74 t's fine if that
44a90 27 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 's what you thin
44aa0 6b 2e 20 20 49 20 6d 65 61 6e 2c 20 69 74 20 73 k. I mean, it s
44ab0 65 65 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e eems like that n
44ac0 6f 6e 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 on-aggression pr
44ad0 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 2c 20 69 inciple stuff, i
44ae0 6e 20 61 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 72 n a way.".."Ther
44af0 65 20 61 72 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 e are difference
44b00 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 s between this a
44b10 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 79 70 69 63 61 6c 20 6e nd the typical n
44b20 6f 6e 2d 61 67 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 on-aggression pr
44b30 69 6e 63 69 70 6c 65 20 74 68 65 6f 72 79 20 65 inciple theory e
44b40 78 70 6c 61 6e 61 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 74 68 61 74 xplanations that
44b50 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 2c 22 20 I have found,"
44b60 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 the prioritizer
44b70 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 said. "There ar
44b80 65 20 64 69 73 74 69 6e 63 74 20 73 69 6d 69 6c e distinct simil
44b90 61 72 69 74 69 65 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c arities, though,
44ba0 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 and I believe t
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44bc0 79 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 65 78 63 y compatible exc
44bd0 65 70 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 ept in the diffe
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44bf0 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 65 72 20 70 72 and a higher pr
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44c10 6c 65 6e 74 20 63 6f 6e 66 6c 69 63 74 20 69 6e lent conflict in
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44c30 67 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 70 72 69 6e 63 69 70 gression princip
44c40 6c 65 20 65 74 68 69 63 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 le ethics.".."I
44c50 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 74 61 might want to ta
44c60 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 6d 6f lk about this mo
44c70 72 65 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f re later," Dalto
44c80 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 77 65 20 n said, "but we
44c90 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 6f probably have mo
44ca0 72 65 20 70 72 65 73 73 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 6e 63 re pressing conc
44cb0 65 72 6e 73 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 63 erns now.".."I c
44cc0 6f 6e 63 75 72 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f oncur," the prio
44cd0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 ritizer said...A
44ce0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c lley said "Yeah,
44cf0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 that works for
44d00 6d 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 me." She looked
44d10 20 61 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 22 44 6f at Dalton. "Do
44d20 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b you have some k
44d30 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 73 63 68 65 6d 65 73 20 61 ind of schemes a
44d40 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 74 63 68 69 6e 67 20 lready hatching
44d50 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 6f 72 in your head, or
44d60 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 20 73 74 61 72 74 69 6e 67 are we starting
44d70 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 63 72 61 74 63 68 20 6e 6f from scratch no
44d80 77 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d w?".."I have som
44d90 65 20 69 64 65 61 73 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2c e ideas already,
44da0 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 " he said, "but
44db0 74 68 65 79 27 72 65 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 68 6f they're very sho
44dc0 72 74 20 74 65 72 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 27 rt term and don'
44dd0 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 61 6b 65 20 69 6e t really take in
44de0 74 6f 20 61 63 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 20 66 to account any f
44df0 75 74 75 72 65 20 70 6c 61 6e 73 20 66 6f 72 20 uture plans for
44e00 73 6f 6c 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 62 solving the prob
44e10 6c 65 6d 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 66 61 63 69 lems you're faci
44e20 6e 67 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c ng already. All
44e30 20 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 20 69 73 20 69 64 65 I've got is ide
44e40 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 6b 65 as for how to ke
44e50 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 65 64 ep you protected
44e60 20 61 73 20 6c 6f 6e 67 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 61 as long as we a
44e70 72 65 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 79 74 ren't doing anyt
44e80 68 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 72 65 71 75 69 72 hing that requir
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44ea0 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 evidence of your
44eb0 20 77 68 65 72 65 61 62 6f 75 74 73 20 61 6e 64 whereabouts and
44ec0 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 73 20 local contacts
44ed0 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f 75 74 20 69 6e 74 6f getting out into
44ee0 20 74 68 65 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 20 2d 2d 20 6f 72 the world -- or
44ef0 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f , more to the po
44f00 69 6e 74 2c 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 int, into the ha
44f10 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c nds of the peopl
44f20 65 20 77 68 6f 20 61 72 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 e who are coming
44f30 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 42 61 73 after you. Bas
44f40 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 49 27 76 65 20 67 6f 74 ically, I've got
44f50 20 61 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e a place you can
44f60 20 73 74 61 79 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 61 62 69 6c stay, some abil
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44f80 73 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 62 s done on your b
44f90 65 68 61 6c 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ehalf, and some
44fa0 76 65 72 79 20 62 61 73 69 63 20 70 72 6f 74 6f very basic proto
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44fc0 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 6d 61 6b 65 how we can make
44fd0 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f sure you get to
44fe0 20 73 74 61 79 20 69 6e 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 stay in contact
44ff0 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 68 65 6c with people hel
45000 70 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 76 69 ping you, and vi
45010 63 65 20 76 65 72 73 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 76 65 ce versa..."I've
45020 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 62 65 65 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b also been think
45030 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 6f 77 20 74 6f ing about how to
45040 20 67 6f 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 62 72 69 6e 67 69 go about bringi
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45060 69 73 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 is. I'm pretty
45070 70 6f 73 69 74 69 76 65 20 73 68 65 27 6c 6c 20 positive she'll
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45090 20 6f 75 74 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 out, but withou
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450b0 72 65 64 20 70 65 72 63 65 6e 74 20 61 62 6f 75 red percent abou
450c0 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 t that I think y
450d0 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 62 6f 75 ou're right abou
450e0 74 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 77 61 t the need to wa
450f0 72 6e 20 68 65 72 20 69 6e 20 61 64 76 61 6e 63 rn her in advanc
45100 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f e of the questio
45110 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 n about what she
45120 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 might need to p
45130 72 65 70 61 72 65 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 repare herself t
45140 6f 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 20 61 73 20 70 65 72 73 o accept as pers
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45160 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 6c 6c telling her all
45170 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 62 65 the details, be
45180 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 cause telling he
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451a0 73 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 s and having her
451b0 20 6f 70 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 73 20 73 opt out means s
451c0 68 65 27 73 20 69 6e 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 20 6a he's in danger j
451d0 75 73 74 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6b 65 ust for the sake
451e0 20 6f 66 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 of knowing abou
451f0 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6f 20 61 72 65 t it, and so are
45200 20 79 6f 75 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 66 20 you because if
45210 73 68 65 20 67 65 74 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 72 6f 6d she gets comprom
45220 69 73 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 ised -- possibly
45230 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 69 6e 67 without knowing
45240 20 69 74 20 2d 2d 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 it -- she could
45250 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 75 70 20 74 68 also give up th
45260 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f at information o
45270 6e 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 n you.".."Okay,"
45280 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 20 Alley said...A
45290 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 moment of silenc
452a0 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 43 e passed, then C
452b0 72 61 79 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 65 64 2e 20 20 ray snickered.
452c0 57 68 65 6e 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 20 When the others
452d0 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 68 looked at him, h
452e0 65 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 20 73 e shrugged and s
452f0 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 6f 76 65 72 aid "Dalton over
45300 77 68 65 6c 6d 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 61 75 64 69 whelmed his audi
45310 65 6e 63 65 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c ence again."..Al
45320 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 20 6c 69 74 ley smiled a lit
45330 74 6c 65 20 61 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 0a 0a 44 61 tle at that...Da
45340 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6c 6f 77 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 6f lton slowly shoo
45350 6b 20 68 69 73 20 68 65 61 64 2c 20 72 75 65 66 k his head, ruef
45360 75 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 22 20 68 ully. "Okay," h
45370 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 75 6e 63 6f 6e 73 63 69 e said, unconsci
45380 6f 75 73 6c 79 20 65 63 68 6f 69 6e 67 20 41 6c ously echoing Al
45390 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 41 ley. "Anyway, A
453a0 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 2f 2a 20 lley, if you /*
453b0 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 2a 2f 20 68 65 61 64 20 want to */ head
453c0 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 69 72 73 20 69 6e up the stairs in
453d0 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c the back you'll
453e0 20 66 69 6e 64 20 61 20 6c 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 find a living a
453f0 72 65 61 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e 67 20 61 rea, including a
45400 20 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f bedroom and sho
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45420 27 73 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 's clean up ther
45430 65 2e 20 20 49 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 e. If you want
45440 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 65 64 20 75 to get cleaned u
45450 70 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 20 6e 61 70 20 p or take a nap
45460 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d of just have som
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45480 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 20 70 75 74 20 6b 65 there. I put ke
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454a0 20 6f 6e 20 61 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 75 70 20 74 on a table up t
454b0 68 65 72 65 3b 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 75 73 here; you can us
454c0 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 74 6f 20 e that stuff to
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454e0 62 75 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f but make sure yo
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45500 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 75 72 about the secur
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45520 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 65 ey nodded..."The
45530 72 65 27 73 20 66 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 re's food and dr
45540 69 6e 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 69 64 67 ink in the fridg
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45580 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 3b 20 6a 75 73 74 20 64 6f p there; just do
45590 6e 27 74 20 73 69 67 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 6e n't sign into an
455a0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 ything up there
455b0 61 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 62 and you should b
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455d0 0a 0a 22 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 61 6e .."If there's an
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455f0 72 69 67 68 74 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 79 right away, or y
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45620 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 20 want to discuss
45630 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 6c 65 74 20 6d right now, let m
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45680 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 you need to do,
45690 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 22 20 though.".."Oh,"
456a0 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 she said. "No,
456b0 49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 I can't really t
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456d0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 , and the priori
456e0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 tizer hasn't bee
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45710 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 65 27 , so I think we'
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45730 6d 69 64 64 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 middle of just t
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45770 20 66 61 72 20 61 73 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 74 65 far as I can te
45780 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 ll.".."What do y
45790 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 2c 20 74 ou want to do, t
457a0 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 74 72 65 74 hen?"..She stret
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457c0 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 d said "I feel a
457d0 20 68 65 61 64 61 63 68 65 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 headache coming
457e0 20 6f 6e 2e 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 61 20 73 68 on. Maybe a sh
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45800 72 65 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 73 2e 22 0a re good ideas.".
45810 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f .He nodded. "Yo
45820 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 64 6f 20 74 68 61 74 u should do that
45830 2e 20 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 49 20 77 69 . Cray and I wi
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45860 61 6e 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 75 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 an come up with
45870 74 68 61 74 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 61 20 that might be a
45880 67 6f 6f 64 20 69 64 65 61 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 good idea.".."Ye
45890 61 68 2e 20 20 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 67 75 79 ah. Thanks, guy
458a0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 s."..Dalton said
458b0 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 "You're welcome
458c0 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 , Alley. I know
458d0 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 you're a good p
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458f0 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 u get in trouble
45900 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 64 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 74 6f , you deserve to
45910 20 67 65 74 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c get all the hel
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45930 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4c 65 73 20 74 68 hanks.".."Les th
45940 61 6e 6b 73 2c 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 72 65 6c 61 78 anks, more relax
45950 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c ing," Cray said,
45960 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 64 65 20 73 68 6f 6f 69 6e and made shooin
45970 67 20 6d 6f 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 g motions with h
45980 69 73 20 68 61 64 2e 20 20 22 47 6f 2c 20 41 6c is had. "Go, Al
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459c0 61 6e 64 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 6e and gave him a n
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459e0 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 77 61 6c 6b watched her walk
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45b30 20 6f 6e 20 61 6e 20 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c on an especiall
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45ea0 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 done to it with
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45f10 68 65 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 he wondered what
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46020 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 61 6e The other was an
46030 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 62 65 64 72 6f 6f 6d obvious bedroom
46040 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 66 69 6c , with light fil
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46090 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 72 6f d into the bedro
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46170 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 . It was one of
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461a0 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 68 6f 77 65 72 20 , with a shower
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46260 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 6a 61 to be a small ja
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462d0 61 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 a," she said. S
462e0 68 65 20 64 6f 66 66 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c he doffed her gl
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46380 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 2d of the classes -
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46450 68 6f 74 20 77 61 74 65 72 20 70 6f 75 72 69 6e hot water pourin
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46470 53 68 65 20 73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 65 6e 6a 6f 79 She simply enjoy
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46490 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 minutes before
464a0 73 68 65 20 65 76 65 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 she even reached
464b0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 73 68 61 6d 70 6f 6f for the shampoo
464c0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20 44 61 , and noticed Da
464d0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 6b 65 70 74 20 lton still kept
464e0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 62 72 61 6e 64 73 20 the same brands
464f0 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c 20 69 6e 63 6c 75 64 69 6e around, includin
46500 67 20 74 68 65 20 62 72 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 g the brand she
46510 75 73 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 used...The light
46520 20 63 6f 6d 69 6e 67 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 coming through
46530 74 68 65 20 77 69 6e 64 6f 77 20 77 61 73 20 64 the window was d
46540 69 6d 6d 65 72 20 6e 6f 77 2c 20 64 65 73 70 69 immer now, despi
46550 74 65 20 74 68 65 20 76 65 72 69 74 69 6e 74 20 te the veritint
46560 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 65 64 20 having adjusted
46570 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6c 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e down, letting in
46580 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 more of the lig
46590 68 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2c ht from outside,
465a0 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 6f 6b 65 2e 20 when she woke.
465b0 20 41 20 67 65 6e 74 6c 65 20 72 61 70 70 69 6e A gentle rappin
465c0 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 74 6f g on the door to
465d0 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 73 ld her someone s
465e0 74 6f 6f 64 20 6f 75 74 73 69 64 65 2e 20 20 41 tood outside. A
465f0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 voice from the
46600 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 other side of th
46610 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 6c e door asked "Al
46620 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 61 77 ley? Are you aw
46630 61 6b 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 ake?".."Yeah," s
46640 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 57 68 6f 20 69 he said. "Who i
46650 73 20 69 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20 4c 69 s it?".."It's Li
46660 64 61 2c 22 20 63 61 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 72 65 da," came the re
46670 70 6c 79 2c 20 6d 75 66 66 6c 65 64 20 62 79 20 ply, muffled by
46680 74 68 65 20 77 6f 6f 64 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 the wood, though
46690 20 68 65 72 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 77 61 73 20 6c her voice was l
466a0 6f 75 64 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 62 65 66 6f 72 ouder than befor
466b0 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 6b e now that she k
466c0 6e 65 77 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 77 61 73 20 61 77 new Alley was aw
466d0 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 68 61 ake. "Do you ha
466e0 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 ve some time to
466f0 74 61 6c 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 talk?".."Yeah,"
46700 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 69 Alley said. "Gi
46710 76 65 20 6d 65 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2e 22 20 20 ve me a sec'."
46720 53 68 65 20 70 75 73 68 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 She pushed the c
46730 6f 76 65 72 73 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 73 overs back and s
46740 61 74 20 75 70 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 at up on the edg
46750 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 41 e of the bed. A
46760 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 73 65 fter a couple se
46770 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 6f 66 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d conds of confirm
46780 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 70 61 63 69 74 79 ing her capacity
46790 20 66 6f 72 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 66 75 6c for getting ful
467a0 6c 79 20 75 70 72 69 67 68 74 2c 20 73 68 65 20 ly upright, she
467b0 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 64 75 67 20 73 6f stood and dug so
467c0 6d 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 me things out of
467d0 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 53 6f 72 72 her bag. "Sorr
467e0 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 73 y," she said, as
467f0 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 64 she got dressed
46800 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 6a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 . "I'm just put
46810 74 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 6f 67 65 ting myself toge
46820 74 68 65 72 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 20 70 72 6f 62 ther.".."No prob
46830 6c 65 6d 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 lem," Lidia said
46840 2e 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 ...When she had
46850 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 some pants on he
46860 72 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 69 6e 61 6c 6c 79 r, Alley finally
46870 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 43 6f 6d 65 20 6f 6e 20 69 said "Come on i
46880 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 65 74 20 68 n."..Lidia let h
46890 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 erself in and le
468a0 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 67 61 69 6e 73 aned back agains
468b0 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 69 6e t the door behin
468c0 64 20 68 65 72 2c 20 63 61 75 73 69 6e 67 20 69 d her, causing i
468d0 74 20 74 6f 20 63 6c 69 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 t to click into
468e0 70 6c 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b place. She look
468f0 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 61 20 73 ed at Alley, a s
46900 65 61 72 63 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 6f 6e earching look on
46910 20 68 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 her face. She
46920 6d 75 73 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 64 69 must not have di
46930 73 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 sliked what she
46940 73 61 77 20 74 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 6c 79 2c 20 62 saw too badly, b
46950 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 ecause she said
46960 22 49 74 27 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 "It's good to se
46970 65 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 22 0a 0a e you, Alley."..
46980 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 74 65 64 20 4c 69 64 69 Alley noted Lidi
46990 61 27 73 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 a's smile, and f
469a0 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6d 69 ound herself smi
469b0 6c 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 ling back a litt
469c0 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 le. "Yeah, it's
469d0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 79 6f 75 good to see you
469e0 20 74 6f 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 20 too."..Lidia's
469f0 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 65 64 20 73 smile expanded s
46a00 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6e 6f 20 6c 6f 6e 67 lightly, no long
46a10 65 72 20 68 6f 6c 64 69 6e 67 20 62 61 63 6b 2e er holding back.
46a20 20 20 22 49 27 6d 20 67 6c 61 64 20 74 6f 20 68 "I'm glad to h
46a30 65 61 72 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 ear that.".."Why
46a40 3f 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 ?" Alley asked,
46a50 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 and sat on the d
46a60 65 73 6b 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 esk chair. She
46a70 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 66 61 63 turned it to fac
46a80 65 20 68 65 72 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2c 20 69 e her visitor, i
46a90 6e 20 61 20 72 6f 6f 6d 20 73 68 65 2c 20 68 65 n a room she, he
46aa0 72 73 65 6c 66 2c 20 77 61 73 20 75 73 69 6e 67 rself, was using
46ab0 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 in the role of
46ac0 61 20 76 69 73 69 74 6f 72 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c a visitor..."Oh,
46ad0 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6c you know, you l
46ae0 65 66 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 72 eft Dalton, ther
46af0 65 20 77 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 70 72 6f e were these pro
46b00 62 6c 65 6d 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 49 27 6d 20 73 blems, and I'm s
46b10 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 till here like a
46b20 6c 77 61 79 73 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 lways. I guess
46b30 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 79 6f I wasn't sure yo
46b40 75 20 64 69 64 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 u didn't think I
46b50 20 77 61 6e 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 69 63 6b 20 wanted to pick
46b60 73 69 64 65 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 sides or somethi
46b70 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a ng like that."..
46b80 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 20 Alley shook her
46b90 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 head. "Nothing
46ba0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 like that crosse
46bb0 64 20 6d 79 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 48 65 79 2c d my mind. Hey,
46bc0 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 65 77 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e you knew Dalton
46bd0 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 49 20 64 69 64 2c 20 61 before I did, a
46be0 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 20 20 49 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 nyway. If I was
46bf0 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 6e 67 72 79 20 actually angry
46c00 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 73 74 with him, you st
46c10 69 6c 6c 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 ill being his fr
46c20 69 65 6e 64 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c 6c iend isn't reall
46c30 79 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 49 20 63 6f y something I co
46c40 75 6c 64 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f uld blame you fo
46c50 72 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 73 r doing.".."This
46c60 20 69 73 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 77 68 79 20 is part of why
46c70 49 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 79 I always liked y
46c80 6f 75 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e ou," Lidia said.
46c90 20 20 22 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 68 69 6c 6c 20 "You're chill
46ca0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 65 76 65 about almost eve
46cb0 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e rything.".."Than
46cc0 6b 73 2e 20 20 44 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 6e ks. Do you wann
46cd0 61 20 73 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 4c 69 a sit down?"..Li
46ce0 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 20 61 6e 64 dia shrugged and
46cf0 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 69 74 20 6f 6e moved to sit on
46d00 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 the edge of the
46d10 20 62 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 65 61 72 20 79 bed. "I hear y
46d20 6f 75 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 70 ou have the corp
46d30 6f 72 61 74 65 20 73 65 63 72 65 74 20 70 6f 6c orate secret pol
46d40 69 63 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a ice after you.".
46d50 0a 22 59 65 61 68 3f 20 20 59 6f 75 20 68 65 61 ."Yeah? You hea
46d60 72 64 20 74 68 61 74 3f 22 0a 0a 57 69 74 68 20 rd that?"..With
46d70 61 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 a nod, Lidia sai
46d80 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 68 65 61 d "I think I hea
46d90 72 64 20 61 6c 6c 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e rd all about it.
46da0 20 20 49 66 20 74 68 65 72 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 If there could
46db0 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 possibly be mor
46dc0 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 68 65 e than what I he
46dd0 61 72 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 ard, and it does
46de0 6e 27 74 20 69 6e 76 6f 6c 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 n't involve peop
46df0 6c 65 20 64 79 69 6e 67 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f le dying, I'm no
46e00 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 t sure I can ima
46e10 67 69 6e 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 69 74 20 69 73 2c gine what it is,
46e20 20 73 6f 20 49 27 6d 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 so I'm probably
46e30 20 61 73 20 75 70 20 74 6f 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 as up to speed
46e40 61 73 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 6f as Dalton.".."Yo
46e50 75 27 72 65 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 20 u're still here
46e60 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 68 65 6c 6c 6f 2c 20 74 68 saying hello, th
46e70 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 ough.".."Hell, y
46e80 65 61 68 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 eah," Lidia said
46e90 2e 20 20 22 49 66 20 49 20 63 61 6e 20 68 65 6c . "If I can hel
46ea0 70 2c 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 p, I should.".."
46eb0 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 Thanks," Alley s
46ec0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 65 65 6c 20 61 20 aid. "I feel a
46ed0 6c 6f 74 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65 lot more welcome
46ee0 20 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 61 6e 20 49 20 70 72 6f here than I pro
46ef0 62 61 62 6c 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a bably should."..
46f00 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 76 65 64 20 61 20 68 61 Lidia waved a ha
46f10 6e 64 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 nd, like she was
46f20 20 62 72 75 73 68 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 brushing someth
46f30 69 6e 67 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 ing away from he
46f40 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e rself. "No way.
46f50 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 70 65 6f 70 6c The only peopl
46f60 65 20 69 6e 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 69 6e e in Dalton's in
46f70 6e 65 72 20 63 69 72 63 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 62 ner circle who b
46f80 6c 61 6d 65 64 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 72 20 61 6e lamed you for an
46f90 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 65 72 65 20 47 6c 61 64 ything were Glad
46fa0 65 20 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 62 75 e and Dalton, bu
46fb0 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 t Dalton realize
46fc0 64 20 68 6f 77 20 73 74 75 70 69 64 20 74 68 61 d how stupid tha
46fd0 74 20 77 61 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c t was in a coupl
46fe0 65 20 64 61 79 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 e days and just
46ff0 77 65 6e 74 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 74 6f went straight to
47000 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 73 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c being sad."..Al
47010 6c 65 79 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 68 65 ley tightened he
47020 72 20 6c 69 70 20 61 6e 64 20 77 72 69 6e 6b 6c r lip and wrinkl
47030 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 73 65 20 61 74 20 74 ed her nose at t
47040 68 65 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 20 6f 66 20 47 6c he mention of Gl
47050 61 64 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 ade. "Yeah, I g
47060 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 65 78 uess I should ex
47070 70 65 63 74 20 47 6c 61 64 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 pect Glade to ha
47080 74 65 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 64 6f 65 te me.".."It doe
47090 73 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 2c 22 20 4c 69 sn't matter," Li
470a0 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 53 68 65 27 dia said. "She'
470b0 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 76 65 6e 20 61 72 6f 75 6e s not even aroun
470c0 64 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 68 d now.".."What h
470d0 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 3f 22 appened to her?"
470e0 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 ..Lidia shrugged
470f0 2e 20 20 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 67 6f 74 20 6d . "Dalton got m
47100 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 69 63 ore and more sic
47110 6b 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 74 2c 20 75 k of her shit, u
47120 6e 74 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 73 65 6c ntil she got sel
47130 66 20 72 69 67 68 74 65 6f 75 73 20 61 62 6f 75 f righteous abou
47140 74 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 65 77 20 75 70 t it and blew up
47150 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 at him. She st
47160 6f 72 6d 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 ormed out of the
47170 20 73 74 75 64 69 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6e 6f 62 studio, and nob
47180 6f 64 79 20 68 61 73 20 73 65 65 6e 20 68 65 72 ody has seen her
47190 20 73 69 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 since. That wa
471a0 73 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 65 69 67 68 74 20 6d 6f s maybe eight mo
471b0 6e 74 68 73 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 79 6f 75 20 6d nths after you m
471c0 6f 76 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 44 61 6c 74 oved out of Dalt
471d0 6f 6e 27 73 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e on's hold place.
471e0 22 0a 0a 22 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 3f 20 20 57 68 61 ".."Really? Wha
471f0 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 t was she doing
47200 74 68 61 74 20 61 6e 6e 6f 79 65 64 20 68 69 6d that annoyed him
47210 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 ?".."I think you
47220 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 27 61 6e 6e 6f 79 65 64 20 65 mean 'annoyed e
47230 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 65 20 6b 6e 65 77 27 veryone we knew'
47240 2c 20 62 75 74 20 62 61 73 69 63 61 6c 6c 79 20 , but basically
47250 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 65 64 20 she just talked
47260 69 6e 63 65 73 73 61 6e 74 20 73 68 69 74 20 61 incessant shit a
47270 62 6f 75 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 6f bout you once yo
47280 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 67 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 49 20 u were gone. I
47290 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 74 72 think she was tr
472a0 79 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 68 69 6d 20 ying to get him
472b0 62 61 63 6b 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 back once you we
472c0 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 70 69 re out of the pi
472d0 63 74 75 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 cture, and thoug
472e0 68 74 20 68 65 27 64 20 62 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 ht he'd be impre
472f0 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 64 65 ssed that she de
47300 6d 6f 6e 73 74 72 61 74 65 64 20 74 61 6b 69 6e monstrated takin
47310 67 20 68 69 73 20 73 69 64 65 20 62 79 20 73 61 g his side by sa
47320 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 ying a bunch of
47330 62 61 64 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 bad stuff about
47340 79 6f 75 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 79 6f 75 72 20 you behind your
47350 62 61 63 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 back.".."Yeah, t
47360 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 6f 75 6e hat doesn't soun
47370 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 d like something
47380 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 69 6d 70 72 that would impr
47390 65 73 73 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 65 76 65 6e 20 69 66 ess him, even if
473a0 20 68 65 20 68 61 74 65 64 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a he hated me."..
473b0 22 45 78 61 63 74 6c 79 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 "Exactly," Lidia
473c0 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 said with a smi
473d0 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 le. "Anyway, th
473e0 65 20 6d 6f 72 61 6c 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 e moral of the s
473f0 74 6f 72 79 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6e 6f 62 tory is that nob
47400 6f 64 79 20 62 6c 61 6d 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 66 ody blames you f
47410 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 20 65 78 63 or anything, exc
47420 65 70 74 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 47 6c 61 64 65 2e ept maybe Glade.
47430 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 ".."Thanks."..Th
47440 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 73 69 6c 65 6e 63 ey sat in silenc
47450 65 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e e a moment, then
47460 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 6f 20 Lidia said "Do
47470 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 20 68 75 67 3f 22 you want a hug?"
47480 0a 0a 22 44 65 73 70 65 72 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 22 .."Desperately,"
47490 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 77 69 74 68 Alley said with
474a0 20 61 20 73 6d 61 6c 6c 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a a small smile..
474b0 0a 54 68 65 79 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 75 70 20 61 .They stood up a
474c0 6e 64 20 65 6d 62 72 61 63 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 nd embraced, the
474d0 69 72 20 6f 6c 64 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 20 ir old friendly
474e0 77 61 72 6d 74 68 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 72 warmth quickly r
474f0 65 61 70 70 65 61 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f eappearing, almo
47500 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 6e 6f 74 st as though not
47510 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 64 20 63 68 61 6e 67 65 64 hing had changed
47520 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6d 75 73 74 20 ..."Things must
47530 62 65 20 68 61 72 64 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 be hard," Lidia
47540 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 said..."Yeah," A
47550 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 67 72 65 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 lley agreed...Th
47560 65 79 20 6d 75 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 62 72 6f 6b ey mutually brok
47570 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 75 67 20 61 66 74 65 72 20 e the hug after
47580 61 20 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e a few more momen
47590 74 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 61 73 ts, and Lidia as
475a0 6b 65 64 20 22 44 6f 20 49 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f ked "Do I get to
475b0 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 6d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 see the miracle
475c0 20 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 0a 0a machine now?"..
475d0 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 77 69 64 Alley's eyes wid
475e0 65 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4d 69 72 61 63 6c 65 20 ened. "Miracle
475f0 6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 3f 20 20 57 68 61 74 2c 20 machine? What,
47600 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 3f the prioritizer?
47610 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 74 68 61 74 20 63 ".."Yeah, that c
47620 72 61 7a 79 20 61 72 74 69 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 razy artificial
47630 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 44 61 6c intelligence Dal
47640 74 6f 6e 20 6b 65 65 70 73 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e ton keeps talkin
47650 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 64 20 g about. You'd
47660 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 62 think it was a b
47670 72 61 69 6e 20 75 70 6c 6f 61 64 20 6f 66 20 4a rain upload of J
47680 65 73 75 73 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e esus or somethin
47690 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 20 74 68 65 g like that, the
476a0 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 20 61 62 way he talks ab
476b0 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 out it."..Alley
476c0 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 63 61 6e laughed. "I can
476d0 20 65 61 73 69 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 67 69 6e 65 20 easily imagine
476e0 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b Dalton being lik
476f0 65 20 74 68 61 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 e that," she sai
47700 64 2e 20 20 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 67 65 74 20 74 68 d. "I'll get th
47710 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 e glasses." She
47720 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e headed to the n
47730 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 ightstand, picke
47740 64 20 75 70 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 d up the glasses
47750 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 , and held them
47760 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2e 20 20 50 75 out. "Here. Pu
47770 74 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 t these on."..Li
47780 64 69 61 20 73 65 74 74 6c 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 dia settled the
47790 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 glasses on her f
477a0 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 ace, and stared
477b0 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 6c 6c 2e 20 20 22 59 at the wall. "Y
477c0 65 61 68 2c 20 75 6d 2c 20 68 69 2e 20 20 57 68 eah, um, hi. Wh
477d0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 49 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 at do I call you
477e0 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 20 64 6f ?"..Alley sat do
477f0 77 6e 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 wn as she watche
47800 64 2e 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 70 72 69 6f 72 d..."Okay, prior
47810 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 6e 61 itizer. That na
47820 6d 65 27 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 66 75 6c 2c me's a mouthful,
47830 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 27 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c but it'll work,
47840 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 43 61 6e 20 49 I guess. Can I
47850 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 27 just call you '
47860 50 72 79 27 3f 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 Pry'?" She paus
47870 65 64 2e 20 20 22 52 69 6f 2c 20 68 75 68 3f 20 ed. "Rio, huh?
47880 20 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 52 69 6f 2e 20 20 4e 69 63 Okay, Rio. Nic
47890 65 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 65 74 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a e to meet you.".
478a0 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d .After another m
478b0 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 oment, probably
478c0 72 65 61 64 69 6e 67 20 74 65 78 74 20 69 6e 20 reading text in
478d0 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 2c 20 4c 69 64 69 the lenses, Lidi
478e0 61 20 68 65 6c 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 67 a held out the g
478f0 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 41 6c lasses toward Al
47900 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 79 73 20 74 ley. "He says t
47910 6f 20 70 75 74 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 o put him on spe
47920 61 6b 65 72 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 akerphone.".."Ye
47930 61 68 2e 20 20 53 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 ah. Sure," she
47940 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 65 6e 74 20 said. She went
47950 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e 64 to her phone and
47960 2c 20 61 73 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 65 74 , as before, set
47970 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 61 75 it up as the au
47980 64 69 6f 20 6f 75 74 20 74 65 72 6d 69 6e 61 6c dio out terminal
47990 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 for the priorit
479a0 69 7a 65 72 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f izer..."Thank yo
479b0 75 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 u, Alley," the p
479c0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e rioritizer said.
479d0 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 .."Yeah," she sa
479e0 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 64 6f 6e 6e 65 64 20 74 id, and donned t
479f0 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 68 65 72 73 65 he glasses herse
47a00 6c 66 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 lf again...The p
47a10 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 rioritizer said
47a20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 20 6e 6f "Lidia. I do no
47a30 74 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 6d 79 73 65 6c t consider mysel
47a40 66 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 66 65 6d 61 6c 65 f male or female
47a50 2e 20 20 49 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 75 67 67 65 . I would sugge
47a60 73 74 20 27 69 74 27 20 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f 72 st 'it' as a mor
47a70 65 20 61 63 63 75 72 61 74 65 20 70 72 6f 6e 6f e accurate prono
47a80 75 6e 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 79 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 un for myself th
47a90 61 6e 20 27 68 65 27 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6d 61 an 'he'. You ma
47aa0 79 20 72 65 66 65 72 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 20 61 73 y refer to me as
47ab0 20 27 68 65 27 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69 73 'he' if you wis
47ac0 68 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 h, though. You
47ad0 6d 61 79 20 66 69 6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 6f may find that mo
47ae0 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 74 6f 20 75 73 re natural to us
47af0 65 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 6e 74 69 6f e, for conventio
47b00 6e 73 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 45 6e 67 6c 69 73 ns of the Englis
47b10 68 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 h language."..Li
47b20 64 69 61 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 dia smiled. "I
47b30 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 52 69 6f think I like Rio
47b40 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20 69 74 20 73 61 79 20 .".."Did it say
47b50 69 74 73 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 69 73 20 52 69 6f 3f its name is Rio?
47b60 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a " Alley asked...
47b70 22 49 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 74 68 65 "I did not," the
47b80 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 prioritizer sai
47b90 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 4c 69 64 69 d. "I told Lidi
47ba0 61 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6c 69 6b 65 64 20 74 a that I liked t
47bb0 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 74 68 61 he name more tha
47bc0 6e 20 27 50 72 79 27 2c 20 61 73 20 61 6e 20 61 n 'Pry', as an a
47bd0 62 62 72 65 76 69 61 74 65 64 20 66 6f 72 6d 20 bbreviated form
47be0 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 74 65 72 6d 20 27 70 72 69 of the term 'pri
47bf0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 2e 22 0a 0a 22 52 69 oritizer'.".."Ri
47c00 6f 27 73 20 61 20 6d 61 73 63 75 6c 69 6e 65 20 o's a masculine
47c10 6e 6f 75 6e 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 54 noun, though. T
47c20 68 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 49 20 66 69 67 75 hat's why I figu
47c30 72 65 64 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 20 27 68 65 red you're a 'he
47c40 27 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 '," Lidia said t
47c50 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 o the phone now
47c60 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6c 79 20 6f lying directly o
47c70 6e 20 61 20 6e 69 67 68 74 73 74 61 6e 64 2c 20 n a nightstand,
47c80 6f 66 66 20 74 68 65 20 63 68 61 72 67 69 6e 67 off the charging
47c90 20 70 6c 61 74 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 plate..."It is
47ca0 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 6f 66 also the name of
47cb0 20 61 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 70 6f a woman in a po
47cc0 70 75 6c 61 72 20 44 75 72 61 6e 20 44 75 72 61 pular Duran Dura
47cd0 6e 20 73 6f 6e 67 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 n song from the
47ce0 31 39 38 30 73 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 6c 1980s."..Lidia l
47cf0 61 75 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 aughed. "Okay,
47d00 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 I guess you're a
47d10 6e 20 27 69 74 27 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 n 'it', then."
47d20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c She looked at Al
47d30 6c 65 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 44 61 ley and said "Da
47d40 6c 74 6f 6e 27 73 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 lton's right. T
47d50 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 67 27 73 20 63 6f 6f 6c his thing's cool
47d60 2e 20 20 49 74 27 73 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 . It's hard to
47d70 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 believe it talks
47d80 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f like that witho
47d90 75 74 20 6c 61 67 20 6f 72 20 63 6f 6e 6e 65 63 ut lag or connec
47da0 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e tion to somethin
47db0 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 41 4e 54 41 g like what ANTA
47dc0 53 20 68 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 S has for natura
47dd0 6c 20 6c 61 6e 67 75 61 67 65 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 l language conve
47de0 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 rsation like thi
47df0 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 s.".."I think it
47e00 20 68 61 73 20 62 65 65 6e 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 69 has been soundi
47e10 6e 67 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 72 65 ng more and more
47e20 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 77 68 like a human wh
47e30 65 6e 20 69 74 20 74 61 6c 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 6c en it talks," Al
47e40 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 ley said.../*..
47e50 20 20 20 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 65 73 20 4c 69 64 69 How does Lidi
47e60 61 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 3f 20 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 a look? I need
47e70 74 6f 20 64 65 73 63 72 69 62 65 20 68 65 72 20 to describe her
47e80 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 in some kind of
47e90 64 65 74 61 69 6c 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 0a 20 20 20 detail. I'm.
47ea0 20 63 75 72 72 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 69 6d 61 67 69 currently imagi
47eb0 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 61 73 20 61 20 77 68 ning her as a wh
47ec0 69 74 65 20 61 75 62 75 72 6e 20 68 61 69 72 65 ite auburn haire
47ed0 64 20 73 6c 65 6e 64 65 72 20 67 69 72 6c 20 77 d slender girl w
47ee0 69 74 68 20 64 65 6c 69 63 61 74 65 0a 20 20 20 ith delicate.
47ef0 20 62 6f 6e 65 20 73 74 72 75 63 74 75 72 65 20 bone structure
47f00 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 and a preference
47f10 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 6e 65 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 63 for one piece c
47f20 6f 74 74 6f 6e 20 64 72 65 73 73 65 73 20 74 68 otton dresses th
47f30 61 74 20 68 61 6e 67 0a 20 20 20 20 73 6f 6d 65 at hang. some
47f40 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 where between th
47f50 65 20 74 68 69 67 68 20 61 6e 64 20 6a 75 73 74 e thigh and just
47f60 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6b 6e 65 65 73 2c past the knees,
47f70 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 73 74 6f 63 6b 69 6e without stockin
47f80 67 73 20 61 6e 64 0a 20 20 20 20 74 68 65 20 6c gs and. the l
47f90 69 6b 65 2e 20 20 53 68 65 27 73 20 70 72 6f 62 ike. She's prob
47fa0 61 62 6c 79 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 6e 65 72 61 ably just genera
47fb0 6c 6c 79 20 70 65 74 69 74 65 20 69 6e 20 66 69 lly petite in fi
47fc0 67 75 72 65 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 gure...*/.."That
47fd0 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 'll make Dalton
47fe0 65 76 65 6e 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 65 78 63 69 74 65 even more excite
47ff0 64 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 4c d about this," L
48000 69 64 69 61 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 idia said. She
48010 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 74 74 65 6e turned her atten
48020 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 41 78 69 6f tion to the Axio
48030 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 48 65 27 73 20 m again. "He's
48040 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 72 65 73 74 65 really intereste
48050 64 20 69 6e 20 66 72 65 65 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 d in freeing you
48060 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 75 6e 79 20 from your puny
48070 68 75 6d 61 6e 20 6d 61 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 49 human masters, I
48080 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 2c 22 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 73 think," Lidia s
48090 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 aid..."Thank you
480a0 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 66 6f 72 6d for that inform
480b0 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f ation," the prio
480c0 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 4c ritizer said...L
480d0 69 64 69 61 20 61 64 6a 75 73 74 65 64 20 6f 6e idia adjusted on
480e0 65 20 77 69 64 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 65 72 20 e wide shoulder
480f0 73 74 72 61 70 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 strap slightly,
48100 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 and said "Well,
48110 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 68 69 20 I got to say hi
48120 74 6f 20 65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 69 6e 20 74 to everyone in t
48130 68 65 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2c 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 he room, unless
48140 74 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6f 74 68 there's some oth
48150 65 72 20 63 6f 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 6f 6e 20 er conversation
48160 72 65 61 64 79 20 74 65 63 68 6e 6f 6c 6f 67 79 ready technology
48170 20 6f 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a on you today.".
48180 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 65 72 .Alley shook her
48190 20 68 65 61 64 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 73 6d 69 head with a smi
481a0 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 75 6e le. "No, not un
481b0 6c 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 6d 65 less you want me
481c0 20 74 6f 20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f 6d 65 to install some
481d0 20 41 4e 54 41 53 20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72 65 20 ANTAS software
481e0 6f 6e 20 6d 79 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 on my phone.".."
481f0 4e 6f 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 48 65 61 76 65 6e 20 No way. Heaven
48200 66 6f 72 62 69 64 2e 22 20 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 forbid." Lidia
48210 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 61 20 73 6d 69 suppressed a smi
48220 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 77 61 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 68 le to wave her h
48230 61 6e 64 73 20 69 6e 20 61 20 66 65 61 72 66 75 ands in a fearfu
48240 6c 20 77 61 72 64 69 6e 67 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 l warding gestur
48250 65 20 69 6e 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 e in front of he
48260 72 73 65 6c 66 2e 20 20 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 rself. "I don't
48270 20 77 61 6e 74 20 61 6e 79 20 6f 66 20 74 68 61 want any of tha
48280 74 20 63 72 61 70 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 t crap in here,
48290 61 6e 64 20 6e 65 69 74 68 65 72 20 64 6f 20 79 and neither do y
482a0 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c ou."..Alley smil
482b0 65 64 20 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 ed , and Lidia's
482c0 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 20 62 72 6f 6b 65 20 74 68 72 smile broke thr
482d0 6f 75 67 68 2e 0a 0a 22 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 ough..."Anyway,
482e0 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 69 I should get goi
482f0 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 ng. I'm going t
48300 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 43 72 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 o help Cray with
48310 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 some kind of ne
48320 77 20 73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 67 w systems config
48330 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 68 65 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 stuff he wants
48340 74 6f 20 64 6f 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 to do. I'm not
48350 73 75 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 6d 69 67 sure, but it mig
48360 68 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e ht have somethin
48370 67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 g to do with you
48380 2e 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6f 6b 61 79 2c .".."Yeah, okay,
48390 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 " Alley said. "
483a0 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 73 61 79 69 6e Thanks for sayin
483b0 67 20 68 69 2e 22 0a 0a 4c 69 64 69 61 20 77 61 g hi."..Lidia wa
483c0 76 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 72 66 75 6c 6c 79 20 61 ved cheerfully a
483d0 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 20 69 6e 73 69 73 nd said "I insis
483e0 74 65 64 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 ted." She heade
483f0 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f d out of the roo
48400 6d 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f m, then, and clo
48410 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 20 62 65 68 sed the door beh
48420 69 6e 64 20 68 65 72 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 ind her...Alley
48430 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 2c lay on her back,
48440 20 73 77 69 74 63 68 65 64 20 61 75 64 69 6f 20 switched audio
48450 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 41 78 69 6f 6d 20 74 from the Axiom t
48460 6f 20 61 6e 20 65 61 72 20 70 69 65 63 65 20 73 o an ear piece s
48470 74 75 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 57 tud, and said "W
48480 68 61 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 62 65 20 hat should I be
48490 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2c doing right now,
484a0 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 anyway?"..The p
484b0 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 rioritizer said
484c0 22 55 6e 74 69 6c 20 77 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 74 "Until we talk t
484d0 6f 20 79 6f 75 72 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 20 44 61 o your friend Da
484e0 6c 74 6f 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 49 20 62 65 6c lton again I bel
484f0 69 65 76 65 20 77 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 ieve we should c
48500 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 69 73 73 75 65 73 20 73 onsider issues s
48510 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 68 6f 77 20 77 65 20 6d 69 uch as how we mi
48520 67 68 74 20 66 69 6e 64 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 ght find George
48530 61 6e 64 20 68 69 73 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 73 20 and his friends
48540 77 68 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 who help people
48550 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 69 6e 74 65 escape from inte
48560 6c 6c 69 67 65 6e 63 65 20 63 6f 6e 74 72 61 63 lligence contrac
48570 74 6f 72 20 61 67 65 6e 74 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c tor agents."..Al
48580 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ley nodded, and
48590 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 6f opened discussio
485a0 6e 2e 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 57 68 65 6e 20 64 69 n...---..When di
485b0 6e 6e 65 72 74 69 6d 65 20 61 72 72 69 76 65 64 nnertime arrived
485c0 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 6e 6f 20 69 , Alley had no i
485d0 64 65 61 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 67 65 74 74 69 dea it was getti
485e0 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 61 74 65 20 75 6e 74 ng that late unt
485f0 69 6c 20 73 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 61 20 6b il she heard a k
48600 6e 6f 63 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 nock at the door
48610 2e 20 20 22 41 6c 6c 65 79 3f 20 20 49 74 27 73 . "Alley? It's
48620 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 27 6d 6f Dalton.".."C'mo
48630 6e 20 69 6e 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e n in," she said.
48640 0a 0a 48 65 20 6f 70 65 6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 ..He opened the
48650 64 6f 6f 72 20 61 6e 64 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 door and entered
48660 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20 61 , then stopped a
48670 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 nd looked at her
48680 20 6c 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 62 65 lying on the be
48690 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 68 69 73 20 d. She saw his
486a0 65 79 65 73 20 73 74 6f 70 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 eyes stop on her
486b0 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 6f 6e 20 68 , not quite on h
486c0 65 72 20 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 74 20 er face, and at
486d0 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 78 61 63 74 20 about the exact
486e0 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 moment Dalton ha
486f0 75 6c 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 77 uled his eyes aw
48700 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 ay from her and
48710 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 looked at the de
48720 73 6b 20 73 68 65 20 62 65 63 61 6d 65 20 61 63 sk she became ac
48730 75 74 65 6c 79 20 61 77 61 72 65 20 73 68 65 20 utely aware she
48740 68 61 64 6e 27 74 20 62 6f 74 68 65 72 65 64 20 hadn't bothered
48750 74 6f 20 64 6f 6e 20 61 20 62 72 61 20 62 65 66 to don a bra bef
48760 6f 72 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 68 69 6e 20 74 2d ore this thin t-
48770 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 shirt...She sat
48780 75 70 2c 20 74 6f 20 6c 65 73 73 65 6e 20 74 68 up, to lessen th
48790 61 74 20 65 66 66 65 63 74 2e 20 20 22 57 68 61 at effect. "Wha
487a0 74 27 73 20 75 70 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b t's up?" she ask
487b0 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 44 69 6e 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 44 ed..."Dinner. D
487c0 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 65 61 o you want to ea
487d0 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 43 72 61 79 2c 20 4c 69 64 t with Cray, Lid
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487f0 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 65 72 2c glanced at her,
48800 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 then..."Yeah.
48810 54 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 67 6f 6f 64 That sounds good
48820 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 66 6f 72 20 64 69 . What's for di
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48840 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 ."..Alley smiled
48850 2e 20 20 22 4c 69 64 69 61 27 73 3f 22 0a 0a 48 . "Lidia's?"..H
48860 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 e nodded..."I'm
48870 74 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 there."..Dalton
48880 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 2e 20 20 22 49 smiled back. "I
48890 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 'll just go let
488a0 74 68 65 6d 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 them know you're
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48c90 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 something about
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48d00 74 68 65 20 73 75 62 6a 65 63 74 20 6f 66 20 74 the subject of t
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48d50 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 64 6f 20 61 6e what they do an
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48ed0 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 George must hav
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48f40 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 69 6e 20 point Alley in
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48f90 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 .."You weren't t
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48fb0 68 65 79 20 63 61 6d 65 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 hey came after,
48fc0 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 though," Dalton
48fd0 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f said...Alley loo
48fe0 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 57 68 ked at him. "Wh
48ff0 61 74 20 64 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 3f 22 at do you mean?"
49000 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 .."What about th
49010 61 74 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 20 67 75 79 20 79 6f at George guy yo
49020 75 20 6d 65 6e 74 69 6f 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 u mentioned?".."
49030 4f 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 Oh," she said.
49040 22 52 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 "Right. That's
49050 68 6f 77 20 49 20 65 76 65 6e 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 how I even found
49060 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 out they were r
49070 61 69 64 69 6e 67 20 6d 79 20 70 6c 61 63 65 2e aiding my place.
49080 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 ".."Yeah," Cray
49090 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74 said. "I forgot
490a0 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 about that.".."
490b0 57 68 61 74 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 What about him?"
490c0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 Alley asked..."
490d0 49 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 68 It sounds like h
490e0 65 20 67 6f 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 e got away from
490f0 74 68 65 6d 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 68 them, too. In h
49100 69 73 20 63 61 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2c is case, though,
49110 20 69 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 73 65 65 6d it doesn't seem
49120 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 like it's just
49130 70 6c 61 69 6e 20 6c 75 63 6b 2c 20 66 72 6f 6d plain luck, from
49140 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 what you said.
49150 20 48 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 He expected the
49160 6d 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 79 65 64 20 6f 75 m, and stayed ou
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49180 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 ."..She nodded.
49190 20 22 48 65 20 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 20 64 6f 65 "He said he doe
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491b0 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 68 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 people who somet
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491d0 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 74 75 escape from stu
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491f0 22 43 61 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 "Can you get in
49200 74 6f 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 6d 3f 22 touch with him?"
49210 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 70 61 75 73 65 64 2c 20 74 68 ..She paused, th
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49230 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 48 65 20 t think so. He
49240 73 61 69 64 20 68 65 27 64 20 74 72 79 20 74 6f said he'd try to
49250 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 2c 20 62 get in touch, b
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49270 6c 6c 20 68 69 73 20 63 6f 6e 74 61 63 74 20 69 ll his contact i
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49290 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 74 ".."Well . . . t
492a0 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 72 65 61 6c hat doesn't real
492b0 6c 79 20 68 65 6c 70 20 6d 75 63 68 2c 22 20 44 ly help much," D
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492d0 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 74 68 61 6e to himself than
492e0 20 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 73 2e 20 20 48 65 the others. He
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49300 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 77 69 in his hand, wi
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493a0 69 6e 2c 20 22 54 68 65 20 54 68 69 6e 6b 65 72 in, "The Thinker
493b0 22 2e 20 20 49 74 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 ". It was somet
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493d0 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 the time when t
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49670 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 72 6f 6f moved in the roo
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496b0 41 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 75 63 68 65 64 20 68 A hand touched h
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496f0 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 72 6f 61 74 2e 20 in her throat.
49700 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 77 69 74 68 She looked with
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49740 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 6b 61 79 3f 22 "Are you okay?"
49750 20 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 71 75 69 65 74 he asked, quiet
49760 6c 79 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 68 ly...She found h
49770 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 64 72 61 77 69 6e 67 20 62 erself drawing b
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497a0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 , and closed her
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49820 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f realized the two
49830 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 6d 20 77 65 72 65 20 61 6c of them were al
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49850 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 22 57 68 65 72 65 27 73 20 44 now. "Where's D
49860 61 6c 74 6f 6e 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 alton?" she aske
49870 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 d...Cray sat bac
49880 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 74 20 68 69 73 20 68 k, and let his h
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498f0 20 61 6e 6e 6f 75 6e 63 65 64 20 68 65 20 77 61 announced he wa
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49910 63 61 72 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 68 care of the dish
49920 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c es.".."Oh, yeah,
49930 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 " she said. She
49940 20 67 6c 61 6e 63 65 64 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2c glanced around,
49950 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 and saw that th
49960 65 20 74 61 62 6c 65 20 68 61 64 20 62 65 65 6e e table had been
49970 20 63 6c 65 61 72 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 72 65 cleared. "I re
49980 61 6c 6c 79 20 6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 ally must have b
49990 65 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 6d 79 20 6f 77 6e 20 77 6f een in my own wo
499a0 72 6c 64 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 65 76 rld. I don't ev
499b0 65 6e 20 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 20 61 6e 79 20 en remember any
499c0 6f 66 20 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 65 6c 6c of that.".."Well
499d0 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 , Dalton definit
499e0 65 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 2e 20 20 54 68 ely noticed. Th
499f0 61 74 27 73 20 77 68 79 20 68 65 20 64 65 63 69 at's why he deci
49a00 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 20 73 74 72 ded to start str
49a10 61 69 67 68 74 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 75 70 2e 20 20 aightening up.
49a20 48 65 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 65 64 20 68 69 73 20 He finished his
49a30 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 6f own thinking, lo
49a40 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 79 6f 75 2c 20 74 68 65 oked at you, the
49a50 6e 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 69 6d 73 65 6c 66 20 n shook himself
49a60 61 6e 64 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 6b 2e and got to work.
49a70 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 69 64 20 79 6f 75 20 ".."Why did you
49a80 61 73 6b 20 69 66 20 49 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6b 61 ask if I was oka
49a90 79 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a y?" she asked...
49aa0 43 72 61 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 Cray shrugged.
49ab0 22 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 67 "Dalton wasn't g
49ac0 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 66 69 oing to, so I fi
49ad0 67 75 72 65 64 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 20 75 70 20 gured it was up
49ae0 74 6f 20 6d 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 to me."..". . .
49af0 62 75 74 20 77 68 79 3f 20 20 57 68 79 20 64 69 but why? Why di
49b00 64 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 74 68 65 72 d you think ther
49b10 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 e was something
49b20 77 72 6f 6e 67 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 74 68 wrong?".."Oh, th
49b30 61 74 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 at. You looked
49b40 73 61 64 2e 20 20 52 65 61 6c 6c 79 2c 20 72 65 sad. Really, re
49b50 61 6c 6c 79 20 73 61 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2e ally sad.".."Oh.
49b60 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2c 20 " She frowned,
49b70 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 74 20 looking down at
49b80 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 her hands. "Yea
49b90 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 72 h.".."Why?"..Her
49ba0 20 65 79 65 73 20 66 6c 69 63 6b 65 64 20 74 6f eyes flicked to
49bb0 20 68 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 him. "It's not
49bc0 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e hing," she said.
49bd0 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 2e 20 2e "It's just . .
49be0 20 2e 20 6e 6f 73 74 61 6c 67 69 61 2c 20 49 20 . nostalgia, I
49bf0 67 75 65 73 73 2e 20 20 49 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e guess. It doesn
49c00 27 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 61 6e 79 20 6d 6f 't matter any mo
49c10 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 63 72 6f 73 73 65 64 re."..He crossed
49c20 20 68 69 73 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 65 his arms and le
49c30 61 6e 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 68 69 73 aned back in his
49c40 20 63 68 61 69 72 2e 20 20 22 49 74 20 73 65 65 chair. "It see
49c50 6d 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 69 74 20 6d 61 74 74 65 ms like it matte
49c60 72 73 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 rs."..She narrow
49c70 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 20 61 74 20 68 ed her eyes at h
49c80 69 6d 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 70 72 im. "Are you pr
49c90 61 63 74 69 63 69 6e 67 20 73 61 79 69 6e 67 20 acticing saying
49ca0 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 44 61 6c 74 things like Dalt
49cb0 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 on?"..He laughed
49cc0 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 6a . "I guess we j
49cd0 75 73 74 20 70 69 63 6b 20 75 70 20 65 61 63 68 ust pick up each
49ce0 20 6f 74 68 65 72 27 73 20 68 61 62 69 74 73 20 other's habits
49cf0 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 sometimes," he s
49d00 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 46 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 64 aid...From the d
49d10 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 2c 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 oorway, Dalton s
49d20 61 69 64 20 22 59 6f 75 20 66 61 69 6c 65 64 2c aid "You failed,
49d30 20 43 72 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 Cray."..Alley s
49d40 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2c 20 61 6e tarted again, an
49d50 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 d looked toward
49d60 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 Dalton, surprise
49d70 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 20 68 69 6d 20 6c 65 61 d to see him lea
49d80 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 6f 6f 72 ning in the door
49d90 20 66 72 61 6d 65 2c 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 61 74 frame, somewhat
49da0 20 73 69 6c 68 6f 75 65 74 74 65 64 20 61 67 61 silhouetted aga
49db0 69 6e 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f inst the light o
49dc0 66 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 72 6f 6f 6d 2e f the next room.
49dd0 0a 0a 22 48 6f 77 20 64 6f 20 49 20 66 61 69 6c .."How do I fail
49de0 2c 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 , exactly?" Cray
49df0 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 72 61 69 73 69 6e 67 20 asked, raising
49e00 61 6e 20 65 79 65 62 72 6f 77 2e 0a 0a 22 49 66 an eyebrow..."If
49e10 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 72 65 61 6c 6c 79 you were really
49e20 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 75 getting that mu
49e30 63 68 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 6d 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 ch like me, you
49e40 77 6f 75 6c 64 27 76 65 20 63 6f 6d 65 20 62 61 would've come ba
49e50 63 6b 20 62 79 20 6e 6f 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 ck by now to the
49e60 20 6d 61 74 74 65 72 20 73 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 matter she just
49e70 20 65 76 61 64 65 64 2e 22 20 20 48 65 20 73 74 evaded." He st
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49e90 20 64 6f 6f 72 77 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 72 doorway and shr
49ea0 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f ugged. "It's no
49eb0 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 6d 79 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 ne of my busines
49ec0 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 20 20 49 20 62 61 s, though. I ba
49ed0 72 65 6c 79 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 61 6e 79 74 rely caught anyt
49ee0 68 69 6e 67 20 79 6f 75 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 61 hing you were sa
49ef0 79 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 68 65 20 61 64 64 65 64 2c ying," he added,
49f00 20 61 73 20 68 65 20 73 61 74 20 69 6e 20 68 69 as he sat in hi
49f10 73 20 63 68 61 69 72 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 64 69 6e s chair from din
49f20 6e 65 72 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 ner again...Cray
49f30 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 looked at Alley
49f40 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 69 73 , who caught his
49f50 20 65 79 65 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 6f 6f 6b 20 68 eye and shook h
49f60 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 69 er head the tini
49f70 65 73 74 20 66 72 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 48 est fraction. H
49f80 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6a e nodded, with j
49f90 75 73 74 20 61 73 20 74 69 6e 79 20 61 20 6d 6f ust as tiny a mo
49fa0 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 vement, and said
49fb0 20 22 53 6f 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 77 65 72 65 "So, where were
49fc0 20 77 65 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 we?"..Dalton sa
49fd0 69 64 20 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 77 65 20 72 id "I think we r
49fe0 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 ealized we could
49ff0 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 n't get in touch
4a000 20 77 69 74 68 20 47 65 6f 72 67 65 2c 20 61 6e with George, an
4a010 64 20 6e 6f 77 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f d now we have to
4a020 20 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 61 74 figure out what
4a030 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f we're doing abo
4a040 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 4d 65 6e 20 49 6e 20 42 6c ut the Men In Bl
4a050 61 63 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 ack, the priorit
4a060 69 7a 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 61 izer, and the fa
4a070 63 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 ct Alley's kind
4a080 6f 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 62 61 64 20 70 6c 61 63 of in a bad plac
4a090 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 22 e right now.".."
4a0a0 49 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 61 73 20 61 20 6d 6f If this was a mo
4a0b0 76 69 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c vie," Cray said,
4a0c0 20 22 77 65 27 64 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f "we'd get in to
4a0d0 75 63 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 uch with someone
4a0e0 20 74 6f 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 75 70 20 73 6f 6d 65 to make up some
4a0f0 20 66 61 6c 73 65 20 69 64 65 6e 74 69 74 79 20 false identity
4a100 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 73 6d 75 67 for her and smug
4a110 67 6c 65 20 68 65 72 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 61 gle her out to a
4a120 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 2c 20 nother country,
4a130 6d 61 79 62 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 20 2e 20 2e maybe. Then . .
4a140 20 2e 22 20 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20 6f ." he trailed o
4a150 66 66 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 6e 3f ff..."What then?
4a160 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a " Alley asked...
4a170 22 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 73 65 74 "Well, you'd set
4a180 74 6c 65 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 tle down with th
4a190 65 20 6d 61 6c 65 20 6c 65 61 64 20 61 6e 64 20 e male lead and
4a1a0 6c 69 76 65 20 68 61 70 70 69 6c 79 20 65 76 65 live happily eve
4a1b0 72 20 61 66 74 65 72 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 r after, I guess
4a1c0 2e 20 20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b . I don't think
4a1d0 20 72 65 61 6c 20 6c 69 66 65 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 real life works
4a1e0 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 that way, thoug
4a1f0 68 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 66 61 63 74 2c 20 49 20 74 h. In fact, I t
4a200 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 79 6f 75 27 72 hink maybe you'r
4a210 65 20 62 6f 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 61 64 73 e both the leads
4a220 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 , Alley. You're
4a230 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 the person in t
4a240 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 79 6f 75 27 rouble, but you'
4a250 72 65 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 re also the only
4a260 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 77 68 6f 27 73 20 62 65 person who's be
4a270 65 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 en in the whole
4a280 6d 6f 76 69 65 20 73 6f 20 66 61 72 2e 0a 0a 22 movie so far..."
4a290 4f 6b 61 79 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 66 6f 72 67 65 Okay, just forge
4a2a0 74 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 6f 6c 65 20 6d 6f 76 t this whole mov
4a2b0 69 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 ie thing. I'm s
4a2c0 6f 72 72 79 20 49 20 62 72 6f 75 67 68 74 20 69 orry I brought i
4a2d0 74 20 75 70 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6c 61 64 6c 79 2c t up.".."Gladly,
4a2e0 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a " Dalton said...
4a2f0 22 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 6d "I don't think m
4a300 6f 76 69 6e 67 20 6d 65 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 oving me out of
4a310 74 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 72 79 20 69 73 20 67 the country is g
4a320 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 49 oing to help. I
4a330 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 65 73 63 61 70 69 6e 67 20 'm not escaping
4a340 77 69 74 68 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 with money from
4a350 61 20 68 65 69 73 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 64 6f a heist, so I do
4a360 6e 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 n't have any way
4a370 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 76 65 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 73 to live. I'm s
4a380 75 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 75 79 73 20 64 6f 6e ure you guys don
4a390 27 74 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 77 't have people w
4a3a0 68 6f 20 66 6f 72 67 65 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e ho forge documen
4a3b0 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 73 70 65 65 64 20 64 69 61 6c ts on speed dial
4a3c0 3b 20 69 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 ; it's not like
4a3d0 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 75 6e 6e 69 6e 67 20 61 you're running a
4a3e0 20 63 72 69 6d 69 6e 61 6c 20 65 6e 74 65 72 70 criminal enterp
4a3f0 72 69 73 65 2c 20 6f 72 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e rise, or anythin
4a400 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 41 6e g like that. An
4a410 79 77 61 79 2c 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 74 68 65 20 yway, maybe the
4a420 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 prioritizer is t
4a430 68 65 20 6c 65 61 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 he lead in this
4a440 6d 6f 76 69 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 movie.".."That's
4a450 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c 22 20 a good point,"
4a460 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c Dalton said...Al
4a470 6c 65 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 64 ley gave him a d
4a480 75 62 69 6f 75 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2e 20 20 22 57 ubious look. "W
4a490 68 61 74 20 61 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 74 61 6c 6b hat are you talk
4a4a0 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 ing about?".."I'
4a4b0 6d 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 54 68 69 73 m serious. This
4a4c0 20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 is some kind of
4a4d0 20 73 63 69 65 6e 63 65 20 66 69 63 74 69 6f 6e science fiction
4a4e0 20 6d 6f 76 69 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 movie. You're
4a4f0 74 68 65 20 70 72 6f 74 61 67 6f 6e 69 73 74 2c the protagonist,
4a500 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 but the priorit
4a510 69 7a 65 72 20 69 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 65 6e 74 izer is the gent
4a520 6c 65 20 41 49 20 77 68 6f 20 77 61 6e 74 73 20 le AI who wants
4a530 74 6f 20 65 73 63 61 70 65 20 69 74 73 20 63 72 to escape its cr
4a540 65 61 74 6f 72 73 20 77 68 6f 20 68 61 76 65 20 eators who have
4a550 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6e 65 66 61 72 69 6f 75 73 20 70 only nefarious p
4a560 75 72 70 6f 73 65 73 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 urposes for it.
4a570 20 59 6f 75 20 67 6f 74 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 You got caught
4a580 75 70 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e up in the action
4a590 2c 20 62 79 20 63 68 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 62 75 74 , by chance, but
4a5a0 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 74 68 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 you're the only
4a5b0 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 hope the priori
4a5c0 74 69 7a 65 72 20 68 61 73 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a tizer has now.".
4a5d0 0a 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 74 20 6e .Cray said "It n
4a5e0 65 65 64 73 20 61 20 63 6c 65 76 65 72 20 6e 61 eeds a clever na
4a5f0 6d 65 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 20 20 57 65 20 63 61 me, then. We ca
4a600 6e 27 74 20 6b 65 65 70 20 63 61 6c 6c 69 6e 67 n't keep calling
4a610 20 69 74 20 27 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 it 'the priorit
4a620 69 7a 65 72 27 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c izer'."..Alley l
4a630 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 ooked between th
4a640 65 6d 2e 20 20 22 53 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 em. "Shouldn't
4a650 77 65 20 74 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 20 6c we take this a l
4a660 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 65 72 69 6f ittle more serio
4a670 75 73 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 usly?"..Dalton s
4a680 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 61 6d 20 hrugged. "I am
4a690 74 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 73 65 72 69 6f 75 taking it seriou
4a6a0 73 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 sly, but we have
4a6b0 20 74 6f 20 6c 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 75 70 20 61 to lighten up a
4a6c0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6f 72 20 77 65 27 6c 6c little or we'll
4a6d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 6f 75 72 just get in our
4a6e0 20 6f 77 6e 20 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6d 70 own way.".."Hmp
4a6f0 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 41 49 50 2c 20 h.".."What AIP,
4a700 6c 69 6b 65 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 like, you know,
4a710 61 6e 64 20 61 70 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 and ape, but it
4a720 73 74 61 6e 64 73 20 66 6f 72 20 27 61 72 74 69 stands for 'arti
4a730 66 69 63 69 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 65 6c 6c 69 67 65 ficial intellige
4a740 6e 63 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 27 nce prioritizer'
4a750 3f 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 77 66 75 ?".."That's awfu
4a760 6c 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e l," Dalton said.
4a770 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 66 ..Alley said "Af
4a780 74 65 72 20 4c 69 64 69 61 20 63 61 6d 65 20 75 ter Lidia came u
4a790 70 20 77 69 74 68 20 50 72 79 2c 20 49 20 74 68 p with Pry, I th
4a7a0 69 6e 6b 20 69 74 20 74 6f 6c 64 20 68 65 72 20 ink it told her
4a7b0 74 6f 20 63 61 6c 6c 20 69 74 20 52 69 6f 2e 22 to call it Rio."
4a7c0 0a 0a 22 4c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 65 20 53 70 61 6e .."Like the Span
4a7d0 69 73 68 20 77 6f 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 27 72 69 ish word for 'ri
4a7e0 76 65 72 27 3f 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 61 73 6b 65 ver'?" Cray aske
4a7f0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 d..."Yeah, like
4a800 74 68 61 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 27 73 20 that.".."That's
4a810 6e 6f 74 20 62 61 64 2c 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e not bad," Dalton
4a820 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 47 72 65 61 74 2e 20 said. "Great.
4a830 20 2f 2a 20 54 6f 6f 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 69 73 /* Too bad this
4a840 27 6c 6c 20 63 75 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 6f 6e 20 'll cut down on
4a850 6d 79 20 77 6f 72 64 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 62 6f my word count bo
4a860 6e 75 73 20 77 68 65 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 nus when talking
4a870 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 about the prior
4a880 69 74 69 7a 65 72 2e 20 2a 2f 20 20 54 68 61 74 itizer. */ That
4a890 27 6c 6c 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 'll make things
4a8a0 65 61 73 69 65 72 2c 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 easier, having a
4a8b0 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 short name for
4a8c0 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 it.".."I'm not s
4a8d0 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 ure that makes t
4a8e0 68 61 74 20 62 69 67 20 61 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 hat big a differ
4a8f0 65 6e 63 65 2c 22 20 43 72 61 79 20 73 61 69 64 ence," Cray said
4a900 2c 20 22 65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c 6c 79 20 77 68 , "especially wh
4a910 65 6e 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 73 70 65 6e 64 69 6e en we're spendin
4a920 67 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 61 73 20 6d 75 63 68 20 g maybe as much
4a930 74 69 6d 65 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f time talking abo
4a940 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 77 65 20 77 6f 75 6c ut it as we woul
4a950 64 20 73 70 65 6e 64 20 74 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 d spend talking
4a960 61 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 about it without
4a970 20 68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 61 20 73 68 6f 72 74 20 having a short
4a980 6e 61 6d 65 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 name for it."..A
4a990 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 65 64 2c 20 lley snickered,
4a9a0 61 6e 64 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 and Dalton smile
4a9b0 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 68 d..."It makes th
4a9c0 69 6e 67 73 20 66 65 65 6c 20 62 65 74 74 65 72 ings feel better
4a9d0 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 2d 2d 20 64 6f 65 73 , though -- does
4a9e0 6e 27 74 20 69 74 3f 22 20 44 61 6c 74 6f 6e 20 n't it?" Dalton
4a9f0 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 43 72 61 79 20 6c 6f 6f asked...Cray loo
4aa00 6b 65 64 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 74 66 75 6c 6c 79 ked thoughtfully
4aa10 20 75 70 77 61 72 64 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f upward for a mo
4aa20 6d 65 6e 74 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 ment, then said
4aa30 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 "Yeah, I guess i
4aa40 74 20 64 6f 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 20 20 t does."../*..
4aa50 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 Perhaps I shou
4aa60 6c 64 20 72 65 76 69 73 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 ld revisit some
4aa70 73 63 65 6e 65 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 70 72 65 76 scenes from prev
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